PoolSide with Michelle Bechamps

The financial playbook for pooling is changing. Nuclear verdicts may get the headlines, but they are only one piece of a much larger shift. Pools are facing a new liability landscape shaped by higher severity, expanding exposures, legislative changes, obsolete trend assumptions, and greater uncertainty about what may come next. In this episode of  PoolSide , we talk with  Mike Harrington, Presiden...

In this episode, we welcome Jay Baer, Hall of Fame keynote speaker and author of  Human. Kind.  and  Ignite a Word-of-Mouth Wave,  for a conversation about why human connection is once again becoming the most powerful growth strategy in a technology-saturated world. As public entity pools gain efficiency through innovation, the real question becomes:  What are we doing with the capacity we get bac...

We’ve never had more tools, data, or technology at our fingertips—yet many leaders feel more stretched than ever. In this milestone  one-year anniversary episode of PoolSide , we unpack a question facing public entity risk pools everywhere:  Are we actually becoming more productive—or just busier? In Episode #10, host  Michelle Bechamps  is joined by  Ann Gergen, Executive Director of AGRiP , to e...

As 2026 approaches, leadership looks different from just a few years ago. Gen Z is now stepping into management, Millennials are running teams, and Gen X and Boomers are guiding organizations through transitions shaped by hybrid work, fast-moving tech, and bigger questions about meaning and motivation. In this episode of  PoolSide , we’re joined by  Kim Lear, founder of Inlay Insights , to talk ab...

In this episode, Michelle sits down with  Jack Ryan ,  Attorney & Co-Director  at the  Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI)  — one of the nation’s leading voices in law enforcement risk management and liability — to talk about how agencies can lead with accountability and stay ahead of emerging legal trends. We discuss: • The most common litigation trends facing law enforcemen...

As cyber threats grow more complex, public entities face mounting pressure to safeguard systems, data, and community trust. In this episode of  PoolSide , we explore how risk pools are adapting—not just by offering cyber coverage, but by actively partnering with members to strengthen defenses. From evolving claims trends and coverage strategies to the frontlines of cyber hygiene, we discuss how sh...

With the passing of July 1 renewals, the insurance landscape continues to shift. In this  PoolSide  episode, we explore the mid-year state of the market—from CAT-exposed property to increasingly complex cyber threats, and from liability pressures to shifting underwriting behavior, we ask: how are risk leaders navigating renewals in 2025? Tune in for an insightful conversation with our guests Doug...

How do you make critical decisions when failure isn’t an option—and time is running out? In this episode of  PoolSide , we sit down with  Jim Wetherbee , the only American astronaut to have commanded five missions in space, and is the only person to have landed the Space Shuttle five times. He is also the author of  Controlling Risk—In a Dangerous World . Drawing on decades of experience in high-r...

Michelle and Chris McKenna, Founder/CEO and Actuary of Three Lions LLC, explore the ‘Moneyball Moment’ risk pools can have with the holistic integration of capital modeling studies into their business. Learn how capital modeling is now designed to go beyond just solvency testing to reshaping risk management and informing more robust strategic decisions for pools.

Join host Michelle Bechamps as she interviews Ken Giffin, a strategic advisor to Bechamps & Associates in pool strategic planning and brand strategy. Together, they delve into the art of storytelling in communications and brand messaging, discussing how to make public entity pooling more engaging and effective for next generation leadership. They share practical branding examples and the impor...

Financial pressures are mounting—social inflation, nuclear verdicts, and rising business costs are putting some pools in a tough spot. Many haven't seen net position declines like this in years. So, how do you secure long-term financial stability? In this episode,  Dan Smereck with Strategic Asset Alliance  and I dive into the biggest influences on net position and what tools pools are using in th...

Join us as we chat with Ann Gergen, Executive Director of AGRiP, about how AI is transforming risk pooling. From smarter decision-making to predictive analytics, Ann shares insights on the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into pooling strategies.