In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, host Scott Howell kicks things off by introducing co-host Bradley Flowers and sharing news of their new real estate venture in Mobile before the conversation turns to Bradley’s frustration with the bureaucratic delays and inefficiencies involved in securing a simple permit to build three interior walls. Scott then formally introduces the episode’s special guest, his business partner Clinton Orr, appearing on the show for the first time, and the two recount the three-and-a-half-year journey filled with obstacles that finally made Clint an official agency owner. They discuss the decision to bring on Patrick McClure as a fractional sales leader who also served as something of a therapist for the partners, then dig into their early days starting out as competitors in the same Nationwide program office. Clint shares the gut punch of finishing that program only to discover there was no agency waiting for him, how he eventually joined Scott’s agency, struggled at first, and ultimately found his successful niche insuring real estate investors. Scott details how he used ChatGPT and Claude to draft their buy-sell agreement, which was later reviewed by attorneys and accountants, outlines his long-term goal of eventually selling the current agency and launching a new one with Clint as majority owner, and Clint opens up about navigating recent tough market conditions, the personal doubt he faced while weighing his future and family, and the genuine excitement he feels training a new hire and mentoring others who want to succeed in the insurance business.

Johnny Gwin, the podcast’s original and current producer, joins Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers to look back on the show’s early days, the discipline of reaching fifty episodes, and the technical challenges of those first recordings.  

He shares career advice, walks through David Ogilvy’s core advertising principles, and traces his own creativity to television, music, and formal training at Portfolio Center in Atlanta, Ga. The conversation covers the naming of Portal Insurance, the podcast’s potential future in video and broader business topics, and what Johnny has learned about the insurance industry.  

Johnny also discusses his work with Meducate AI, which uses AI-cloned physician voices for patient education, while Scott introduces his Gift Giver app idea. The episode wraps with Johnny’s straightforward editing approach of listening at 2.2x speed to catch every detail and keep the final cut tight.

Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Garrette Droege to discuss the major technological shifts reshaping insurance. Garrette shares how his theater background strengthens client work through improvisation, then explains why blockchain remains actively developed by financial institutions and how crypto is maturing into institutional digital assets and stablecoins. The conversation explores AI as a force multiplier that lets younger agents upskill quickly, covers practical tools already boosting agency productivity, and examines how AI will handle routine tasks while humans focus on higher-value work. Garrette urges owners to start experimenting with AI now, much like the early days of cyber coverage, and closes with the rising need for proof of humanity against deepfakes.

In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, host Scott Howell joins co-hosts Vishal Sankhla and Bradley Flowers to welcome special guest Andy Barker, CEO of Houchens Insurance Group. Scott opens by sharing a recent meeting with Auto Owners about securing a contract for his agency before the conversation turns to Andy’s impressive career path, which began with a transition from Cingular Wireless into insurance in 2002. Andy discusses his ownership of a D-1 sports training gym and how his passion for fitness shapes his business philosophy, then explores how technology such as Out Market AI elevates both customer and employee experiences. He details Hawkins’ successful intern program that develops young talent into future leaders, the history and cultural impact of the company’s ESOP, and a growth strategy built on strong organic performance supplemented by selective acquisitions. Andy also reflects on his initial skepticism toward artificial intelligence and how it has become a powerful workflow enhancement, before predicting that the independent agencies that thrive in the years ahead will be those remaining nimble and adaptable to change. The episode closes with a lively round of rapid-fire questions.

In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers dig into practical agency management wins, starting with Bradley’s most profitable month happening while he was on paternity leave and the KPI-based monthly/quarterly bonus structure that replaced pure commission for account managers. They stress account rounding and a smarter cross-sell process (account managers start the conversation, then hand off to an inside sales team), debate what a true “producer” is and how to handle agency vs. self-generated leads, explore the value of strong operations roles and even a fractional COO offering, and touch on industry cycles, government pressure on rates, the costly driver-to-vehicle ratio problem, hiring experienced vs. green talent, job-shadowing candidates, and the hard call of letting a toxic employee go.

In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, hosts Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome Ben Walker of Custom Insurance Solutions and CIS Private Client. Ben shares his remarkable journey from owning a KFC franchise and managing movie theaters to building a thriving high net worth personal lines agency. He opens up about the early churn and burn days of writing any business possible before niching down after buying out his partner, sparked by a visit from a Pure Insurance rep. Listeners will hear practical strategies for marketing to affluent clients through targeted direct mail, understanding their mindset around risk management rather than price, and building deep relationships that win business. Ben also discusses the story behind his book Fortified, his ambitious five year plan to lead nationally while quadrupling premium, and why he values independence over selling the agency. A must listen for agents ready to elevate their high net worth game. Find Fortified on Amazon or by messaging Ben directly.

In this episode, Scott Howell and Bradley Flowers welcome fractional sales leader Patrick McClure to share proven strategies for doubling insurance agency revenue. After a light-hearted introduction featuring Bradley’s humorous “Insurance Soup” story, Patrick discusses his journey from Clemson football to building a successful career in insurance.

He outlines his effective onboarding process, emphasizes how to run high-impact sales meetings with targeted deal strategy and role-playing, and highlights the transformative value of a fractional sales leader. Packed with practical leadership insights, this conversation delivers actionable tactics for agency growth and sales excellence.

In this episode of The Insurance Guys Podcast, Scott and Bradley sit down with Seth Zaremba, CEO of B Atomic, to discuss how his innovative platform is revolutionizing insurance agency operations.

Seth shares the evolution of Be Atomic and its Service Center, which standardizes core processes, automates routine tasks, and dramatically boosts efficiency. The conversation explores how agencies are reducing manual workloads, increasing CSR capacity, and streamlining endorsements and remarketing through smart automation and data connectivity.

Discover a practical hybrid approach that combines AI with human expertise to cut costs and improve agency performance. Seth also outlines how to get started and offers listeners a special promo code for an exclusive F1 experience.

Tune in to learn how this technology is helping agents move from paperwork panic to policy perfection.

In this unfiltered conversation with Scott Howell, Bradley unpacks the 17 things he found broken in his agency after a month away, introduces the “Client Concierge” role he borrowed from Billy Wagner that’s reshaping how Portal Insurance handles quoting and producer development. Scott brings his own takeaway from the Paradiso Mastermind — a 15-minute weekly employee check-in — and both hosts get real about soft market struggles, summer scheduling with kids, and knowing when to cut your losses on the wrong hire.

In this episode of The Insurance Guys, hosts Scott and Bradley kick things off with some lighthearted Southern banter about accents before welcoming Ryne Ring, Director of Gig Economy and Embedded Products at The Citadel, a program administrator specializing in embedded insurance solutions. The conversation explores the evolving role of AI in insurance, from its potential to cover emerging risks to cautionary tales of agents misusing the technology and losing contracts, while diving deep into embedded insurance models. Ryne shares insights on how these products integrate seamlessly into customer journeys, from popular travel insurance in Japan and innovative jewelry programs like BriteCo’s appraisal tools to master policies covering thousands of gig economy workers on platforms connecting independent contractors for tasks like cleaning or lawn care.

The discussion highlights practical opportunities for agents to participate through custom programs for rental equipment, tenant liability, and more, emphasizing benefits like consistency, customization, and stronger client relationships rather than being sidelined. Personal stories add warmth, including Ryne’s college-era diner management adventure, chaotic first days in the industry, and a memorable recruiter lunch at Taco Bell, alongside reflections on the industry’s endless learning curve and the strategic use of AI in HR and hiring. The episode wraps with ways to connect with Ryne on LinkedIn and Twitter, offering valuable takeaways for insurance professionals navigating the gig economy and embedded opportunities.