The SnapRefund Podcast

Every claim is a moment of truth, and in transportation, that moment moves fast.In Episode 32 of The SnapRefund Podcast, Anis Taylor and Cody Eddings sit down with Kyle Weaver, Chief Operating Officer of Akana Claims Management and Assistant General Counsel for a fourth-generation trucking company.Kyle brings a unique perspective to transportation claims. He’s defended claims in the courtroom, managed litigation, insurance, and risk from inside a trucking company, and now leads a claims operation focused on helping clients handle claims faster and more effectively.In this conversation, we explore what happens in the critical first 24 hours after an accident, why rapid response can change the outcome of a claim, the rising severity of trucking claims, self-insurance and large deductibles, and where payment fits into the final mile of the claims process.We also discuss the balance between empathy and a disciplined defense strategy, the role of AI and automation in claims, and what the industry needs to rethink about how transportation claims are managed.In this episode:• The genesis of Akana Claims Management• Why the first 24 hours can define a claim• Rapid response and preventing claim severity• The challenges facing motor carriers and self-insured businesses• Why payment delays cost more than the check itself• Balancing empathy with a strong defense posture• AI, automation, and the future of claims• What transportation claims could look like in the future🎙️ Guest: Kyle Weaver — COO, Akana Claims Management🎙️ Hosts: Anis Taylor & Cody EddingsIf you enjoyed the conversation, like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more conversations on insurance, claims, payments, technology, and the future of the industry.#SnapRefundPodcast #Insurance #ClaimsManagement #Trucking #Transportation #Insurtech #Claims #InsuranceTechnology #TPA #RiskManagement #AI #Payments

In Episode 31 of The SnapRefund Podcast, Anis Taylor and Cody Eddings sit down with Sebastian Lawrence, Co-Founder & CEO of Rockhopper Inc., to explore what it really takes to build trust, accuracy, and scalable operations into the financial workflows businesses rely on every day.As companies grow, operational complexity grows with them. Processes that once worked manually can quickly become bottlenecks, creating delays, inconsistencies, and costly operational risk.Sebastian shares his perspective on building Rockhopper around a foundational problem: how organizations can improve verification, streamline financial documentation, and build more reliable workflows without sacrificing speed.In this conversation, we dive into:• Why accuracy matters more as companies scale• The operational challenges behind financial verification and documentation• How technology can create trust inside business workflows• Balancing speed, precision, and execution• The challenges of scaling a technology company• Lessons from Sebastian’s background in strategy, consulting, and S&P Global• Automation and AI’s role in improving operational accuracy• Building culture, accountability, and strong operational systems• What founders often misunderstand about technology and trust• Sebastian’s vision for the future of RockhopperIf you’re interested in fintech, financial infrastructure, operational technology, startups, AI, or the future of financial workflows, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.🎙️ The SnapRefund PodcastHosted by Anis Taylor & Cody Eddings#TheSnapRefundPodcast #Fintech #FinancialTechnology #Startups #Entrepreneurship #AI #FinancialInfrastructure #Operations #Rockhopper

Leadership starts with access, and strategy only succeeds through execution.

Randi Kasongo, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the National African American Insurance Association (NAAIA), joins Anis Taylor on The SnapRefund Podcast to discuss building stronger leadership pipelines, expanding access to opportunity, and driving meaningful change across the insurance industry.

In this episode of The SnapRefund Podcast, Anis Taylor sits down with Alexander Dopazo to discuss what it really means to serve Main Street businesses through honesty, education, and long-term relationships.

As part of a family-run insurance agency with more than 25 years of experience, Alexander shares insights on building trust with clients, simplifying complex insurance decisions, and leading with a people-first mindset.

In this episode, Anis and Cody sit down with Michael Balarezo, CEO of Adjusto, a Boulder-based company building a modern personal property valuation platform designed torestore trust, transparency, and speed to the claims process.Personal property claims sit at the intersection of emotion and operations. When someone experiences a loss, they are not just reporting items. They are recounting memories, dailyessentials, and pieces of their life. Yet for decades, valuation workflows have relied on inconsistent documentation, manual processes, and opaque pricing methods that create friction between adjusters and policyholders.Adjusto is addressing one of the most sensitive and operationally complex areas in insurance by structuring valuation, improving data integrity, and aligning all parties around clarity rather thanconflict.This conversation explores how better infrastructure reduces disputes, how technology can empower adjusters instead of replacing them, and why trust in insurance must be rebuiltthrough operational excellence.

In this special episode of The SnapRefund Podcast, Anis and Cody sit down with Marissa Buckley — a powerhouse marketing leader, former CMO, and now Founder of RevUp, a fractional Chief Growth Officer firm helping tech founders build authority, sharpen their messaging, and scale through powerful founder-led content systems.With more than a decade of leadership at Security First Insurance, where she led digital transformation, branded new revenue-generating products, and built award-winning customer experiences, Marissa has shaped some of the insurance industry's strongest brands. As CMO at InsurTech Hartford, she helped elevate one of the industry's most influential ecosystems. Now with RevUp, she equips founders with the frameworks, content systems, and personal branding tools needed to stand out, own their category, and grow with intention.

In episode 26 of The SnapRefund Podcast, we sit down with Joah Spearman, Founder & CEO of TenYour, the financial empowerment platform helping working Americans prepare for and bounce back from layoffs with fast cash, peace of mind, and a pathway toward long-term generational wealth. As job instability becomes one of the biggest economic threats facing Middle-Class Americans, TenYour provides a modern safety net: simple pricing, real human support, FDIC-secured funds, and a system designed to keep people financially stable during unexpected job loss.

Episode 25 of the SnapRefund Podcast is LIVE! SnapRefund founders Anis Taylor and Cody Eddings sit down with Valkyrie Holmes, CEO & Co-Founder of FORA, for a powerful conversation on how climate-driven catastrophe losses are changing insurance and why smarter risk models are needed now.   

In this episode of The SnapRefund Podcast, Anis and Cody sit down with Brandon Littles—former adjuster, carrier leader, and Head of U.S. Claims at INSHUR—now helping carriers, MGAs, and TPAs implement AI-native claims operations at Five Sigma.

Brandon brings deep experience in change management, automation, and building modern claims teams from the ground up.

If you want real insights on AI in claims, this conversation is for you.

In this episode of the SnapRefund Podcast, Anis Taylor and Cody Eddings sit down with Bill Harris, co-founder and Chief Customer Officer of ITC Vegas, to discuss the evolution of the InsurTech landscape and the pivotal role of ITC in connecting startups, venture capitalists, and insurance incumbents.

Bill shares insights on the origins of ITC, the importance of customer experience, and the trends shaping the future of insurance, including AI and cybersecurity. He emphasizes the value of community and personal connections at events like ITC, encouraging attendees to maximize their experience through networking and engagement.