Change can energize or paralyze—so we chose energize. We sat down with Eric Silverman, founder of Voluntary Disruption and a four-time guest, to unpack what’s actually moving the needle in enhanced benefits today. The surprise? Products haven’t radically shifted, but execution has. Simple, high-interest options like pet insurance, ID protection, legal plans, and life paired with long-term care continue to win attention. The real breakthroughs are how teams communicate, guide choices, and run enrollment with less friction and more trust.

We dig into decision support tools and their mid-market roadblocks, then map how AI can personalize choices with Amazon-like clarity. Think smart nudges that connect plan design to real life: a high-deductible plan paired with accident coverage, or young families steered toward urgent care-friendly options. We also trace a major distribution shift—from carrier direct to advisor-led strategies—where brokers step up to own the full package: medical, pharmacy, disability, life, and voluntary. That move isn’t just good practice; it’s how you reduce risk across absenteeism, presenteeism, and unexpected costs.

Communication is where results jump. Text-first outreach beats inbox fatigue. Short, captioned videos from HR leaders outperform generic vendor clips. Family-focused messaging, including the emergency contact, turns open enrollment into a shared decision. We share a practical playbook: launch midweek, keep enrollment windows short, host content on a 24/7 microsite with searchable chapters, and go off the January 1 cycle to escape fourth-quarter chaos. Virtual, self-service enrollment replaces one-on-one sales pressure and leaves a clean digital trail that cuts buyer’s remorse and HR headaches.

If you advise employers—or lead HR—and want better participation without arm twisting, this conversation gives you the modern blueprint. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs a smarter enrollment strategy, and leave a review with your top takeaway so we can dive deeper next time.

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

What if the clinic your team actually uses is the one parked outside the office? We sit down with Chris Yarn, CEO of Walk On Clinic, to unpack why on-site and mobile primary care crush near-site options on utilization, trust, and measurable savings—often with fewer clinic days. The story begins with a simple truth: convenience wins. When clinicians are visible and familiar, employees engage more, follow through on care, and keep the relationship going virtually with the same people they see in person.

We break down a standout case: a near-site clinic three days a week just over a mile away versus a mobile clinic two days a week on-site. After ten months and 800 employees, 515 chose on-site, only 15 went near-site. That utilization shift powers tangible outcomes: lower urgent care and ER visits, time savings measured against payroll, and pharmacy strategies that can offset clinic costs. Chris explains how zero-dollar ghost claims at Medicare rates create conservative ROI models, and how plan-aligned referrals remove the “we don’t take your insurance” friction that derails self-funded plans.

You’ll hear a practical framework for choosing the right model: headcount thresholds, geographic routing for distributed workforces, and which plan designs benefit most. We also explore how a broker’s mindset shaped Walk On Clinic’s approach—quarterbacking imaging, specialty, and pharmacy decisions so plan assets get used. Along the way, Chris shares lessons on branding and visibility, from creative content to educating the market on why hybrid care—on-site plus virtual continuity—outperforms stand-alone telemedicine.

If you’re a benefits leader, broker, or operator hunting for real-world ROI and a better member experience, this conversation is a playbook for turning primary care into the true front door of the plan. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest question about building on-site access at scale.

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

We explore what executive coaching really is, how it helps leaders make better decisions and show up with presence, and why advisors can use it to grow their practice and help clients cut costs and claims. We share signals that coaching is needed, how to introduce it without awkwardness, and how to build strong referral partnerships.

• Clear definition of executive coaching and who benefits
• Common leadership traps and the “business affair” pattern
• Executive presence as a practical skill set
• Turning vague goals into measurable outcomes
• How advisors spot coaching cues in client orgs
• Scripts for raising coaching without judgment
• Building trusted referral partnerships with coaches
• Why AI and hybrid work raise the stakes

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

Healthcare costs keep climbing while employees want plans that actually fit their doctors, budgets, and lives. We tackle that tension head-on with Chad Schneider, head of broker channel at Thatch, and unpack how ICHRAs—individual coverage HRAs—let employers lock in predictable budgets while giving every employee real choice on the individual market.

We start by demystifying ICHRAs and why 2024 became the breakout year: broader carrier participation, stronger individual risk pools, and better technology. Chad breaks down the biggest barriers leaders worry about—change management, compliance, billing across multiple carriers and states—and shares how infrastructure-first platforms handle the messy “money movement” behind the scenes. From clean decision support that feels like booking travel to licensed, state-specific experts for complex cases, we show how employees can navigate dozens of plans with clarity and confidence.

Then we get tactical. You’ll hear how to design contribution strategies that create equity across age and geography, using dynamic benchmarks instead of blunt flat-dollar allowances. We explore the 11 ICHRA classes for smart carve-outs, the role of voluntary and high-impact perks, and how newer carriers are pushing legacy players to improve networks and benefits. On data, we explain what you can measure without claims visibility—engagement, satisfaction, enrollment completion—and how emerging APIs make application tracking and digital ID cards standard rather than speculative.

Looking ahead three to five years, Chad forecasts tighter integrations, more transparent pricing, and perks once reserved for large groups becoming available to small employers. The result is a practical blueprint: cap volatility, expand choice, and elevate the broker’s role from renewal jockey to program architect. If you’re ready to rethink the benefits playbook and give your team plans that fit their lives, this conversation lays out the steps and the pitfalls to avoid.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow the show, share it with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help more leaders discover smarter benefits strategies.

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

Costs are spiking, access is shrinking, and members are stuck on hold while scans get delayed—yet the fix might be hiding in plain sight. We sit down with Dr. Cristin Dickerson, CEO of Green Imaging, to unpack how independent imaging, transparent bundles, and human-led AI can lower trend, reduce friction, and actually make benefits plans feel usable. From private equity acquisitions that quietly triple rates to the national radiologist shortage sparked by years of “AI will replace you” hype, we trace the real-world forces shaping price, quality, and time-to-care.

Cristin shares a playbook advisors and employers can put to work now: build redundancy so a single tech outage doesn’t stall care, keep the front end human while automating the back office, and route members to independent centers with clear, all-in pricing. You’ll hear how a large Texas municipality sought savings but discovered a bigger win—restored access that gave employees back hours and eliminated surprise bills. We delve into what price transparency rules overlook, why hospital quotes are often incomplete, and how direct-pay bundles circumvent games that leave members vulnerable.

We also get practical on tech. Forget AI that “reads the study” in isolation; the real gains come from tools that structure reports so radiologists never take their eyes off images, and from analytics that turn one CT into population health insights like bone density, coronary calcium, and cardiac chamber sizing. Add a clinician portal that lets DPCs and primary care search by code and price, submit narrative orders, and reach a radiologist by phone, and virtual care starts to work the way it should—fast, connected, and accountable.

If you advise employers or run a health plan, this is a roadmap to cut waste without compromising care: utilize data maps and claims rebundling to model savings, favor DPC-centric designs for a simpler member experience, and help independent centers remain independent with fair, direct contracts. Subscribe, share with a colleague who battles imaging chaos, and tell us: where are your members getting stuck, and what would a clear path to a scan change look like for your team?

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

Leadership bottlenecks can silently strangle even the most promising companies. When decisions, initiatives, and progress all funnel through one person—typically the founder or CEO—growth becomes impossible. Charlie Rhea knows this pattern all too well.

As an implementer of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), Charlie has witnessed the remarkable transformation that occurs when leadership teams embrace a different way of operating. The framework he teaches provides three critical benefits that most organizations desperately need: crystal-clear vision, disciplined execution (what EOS calls "traction"), and team health built on vulnerability-based trust.

What makes EOS particularly effective is its practical simplicity. Rather than offering vague leadership principles, it delivers concrete tools like the Accountability Chart—an organizational structure that flips conventional thinking by designing around functions first, then placing people second. This approach systematically eliminates bottlenecks by distributing accountability throughout the leadership team.

The most surprising element Charlie emphasizes is the often-overlooked importance of team health. Drawing from Patrick Lencioni's work, EOS focuses on creating vulnerability-based trust—the willingness to have difficult conversations for the greater good of the company. As Charlie notes, "Culture eats strategy for breakfast," and no amount of brilliant planning can overcome a dysfunctional leadership team.

"The Five Dysfunctions of a Team" - Patrick Lencioni

"Traction" - Gino Wickman

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

High-deductible health plans have created "functionally uninsured" people who have insurance cards but can't access care due to high out-of-pocket costs, creating barriers to necessary healthcare and driving up long-term expenses. We discuss a solution with Tom Policelli of Paymedix.

• Consumer confusion about benefits is the #1 issue, with affordability a close second
• 45% of insured people avoided necessary care last year due to cost concerns
• Nearly 30% of hospitals now require payment before scheduling services
• 25% of commercially insured people have no available credit
• Healthcare utilization by lower-income tiers mimics Medicaid patterns - delaying care until emergencies
• PayMedix's "Super EOB" consolidates billing and offers 0% interest financing
• Employers using PayMedix save 2-3% annually on healthcare trend
• Unlike consumer credit companies, PayMedix uses an insurance mindset to spread risk
• PayMedix maintains 95% employer retention versus the 30% industry average
• TempoPay acquisition provides a card-based solution for pharmacy costs
• Partnerships with companies like XO Health are expanding PayMedix's reach nationwide

Visit paymedix.com to learn more about implementing these solutions.

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

A 75-year legacy built on survival, relationships and faith continues to drive innovation at Conner Insurance, where CEO Ben Conner and his team focus on providing sound counsel during life's most significant moments.

• Founded in 1949 by WWII veteran Henry Clay Conner Jr., whose 30 months surviving in Philippine jungles shaped core values of seriousness, relationships, and entrepreneurial spirit
• Second-generation leadership of four Conner brothers emphasized shepherding the next generation into leadership roles while maintaining family values
• Mission evolved from "selling policies" to walking alongside clients during critical life moments including medical diagnoses, accidents, and positive transitions
• Over 80% of clients experience flat or reduced healthcare expenses through innovative supply chain management, especially in pharmacy benefits
• Team members know individual patients by name, working to source medications affordably for both employers and employees
• Documentary "It's Not Personal, It's Just Healthcare" educates about systemic problems in healthcare delivery
• Challenges traditional strategies like high-deductible health plans that create false "consumerism" while making healthcare inaccessible
• Remains independent despite private equity consolidation in insurance industry, focusing on talent development and embracing technologies like AI

Visit connerins.com to watch the full documentary "It's Not Personal, It's Just Healthcare" and learn more about their approach.

"It's Not Personal, It's Just Healthcare"

"The Ideal Team Player" - Patrick Lencioni

🤖 Sponsored by BenePower
BenePower is an AI-powered platform helping advisors build high-impact, self-insured health plans quickly and seamlessly. By integrating best-in-class point solutions and eliminating inefficiencies, BenePower reduces costs, improves member outcomes, and positions advisors as industry leaders.
 🔗 Learn more at BenePower.com

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

Jessica DeAngelo, Chief Hiking Officer at Hike to Become, shares how unplugging in nature revolutionizes business thinking and helps executives rediscover clarity and creativity away from digital distractions.

• Former global sales director who transformed her life by committing to daily hiking after feeling overwhelmed by corporate demands and new motherhood
• Created the Hike 31 Challenge based on four principles: Hike or walk, In nature, Keep tech off, Every day
• Takes executive teams on guided hiking experiences that create space for connection and independent thought
• Incorporates forest bathing exercises that allow business leaders time alone with their thoughts
• Clients report experiencing clarity on complex problems, rediscovering joy, and generating breakthrough business ideas
• Companies see ROI through faster decision-making, innovative approaches, and reduced executive burnout
• New book "The Wild Advantage" explores how reconnecting with nature helps executives think more creatively in the age of AI

Text HIKE to 33777 to join the Hike 31 Challenge or visit Jessica DeAngelo.com to learn more about bringing this transformative experience to your team.

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com

Paid leave has transformed from a nice-to-have into a powerful retention and engagement tool for employers seeking to attract and keep top talent. Seth Turner of AbsintheSoft shares insights on how properly structured leave programs can create positive employee experiences that drive loyalty and productivity.

• 86% of employees look for paid leave when job hunting, and 42% won't apply without it
• Well-designed leave programs should address diverse workforce needs across life stages
• Employees who feel supported during leave are more likely to return engaged and become brand ambassadors
• The regulatory landscape is growing increasingly complex with 13 states now mandating paid family leave
• Technology helps streamline administration, maintain compliance, and improve employee experience
• Utilization rates vary by industry, ranging from 10-40% of employees taking leave annually
• Effective programs consider both compliance requirements and strategic business objectives
• Modern systems use AI and mobile communications to simplify processes for all stakeholders

To learn more about managing paid leave effectively, visit absensesoft.com or contact Seth directly at [email protected]

🤖 Sponsored by BenePower
BenePower is an AI-powered platform helping advisors build high-impact, self-insured health plans quickly and seamlessly. By integrating best-in-class point solutions and eliminating inefficiencies, BenePower reduces costs, improves member outcomes, and positions advisors as industry leaders.
 🔗 Learn more at BenePower.com

This episode is sponsored by Benepower, the platform of choice for a modern benefits experience. Benepower is an AI-powered benefits platform offering access to top products and services, enabling consultants and employers to create customized plans, optimize usage, and measure effectiveness. www.benepower.com