MasterMined: A Behavioral & Mental Health Podcast

Digital marketing costs in behavioral health are climbing fast, and many organizations don't fully understand why. In this episode, we unpack the forces driving higher acquisition costs, from Google's evolving search landscape to increased competition and AI-driven bidding. We also break down the critical metrics every operator should know, including the lifetime value to customer acquisition cost...

When leads drop, is it really a marketing problem, or something deeper? In this episode of MasterMined, Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee unpack one of the most common (and costly) mistakes in behavioral health: misdiagnosing growth issues. They break down how to identify "leakage" across your funnel, why data should drive every decision, and how admissions teams often struggle due to lack of t...

What if the future of behavioral health isn't just clinical—but deeply human? In this episode of MasterMined, Riley Osborne, Chief Growth Officer at Recovery Unplugged, shares how music, culture, and emerging technologies like AI and virtual reality are transforming how we deliver care. From a life-changing moment in a transport van to building national programs and AI-powered call centers, Riley...

In this episode of MasterMined, Jimmy Lyons, President of Further, shares how AI is transforming behavioral health admissions—not by replacing humans, but by empowering them. Drawing from both his professional background in AI and personal experience navigating treatment systems, Jimmy breaks down how speed, empathy, and operational alignment can dramatically improve patient outcomes. From elimina...

Policy decisions made in Washington can ripple quickly across behavioral health systems nationwide—and right now, providers are feeling the impact. In this episode of MasterMined, hosts Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen welcome back policy expert Andrew Kessler, Principal at Slingshot Solutions and a longtime advocate in behavioral health policy. Andrew breaks down the real-world consequences of the...

Behavioral health access remains one of the greatest challenges in healthcare—but new models powered by telehealth, integrated care teams, and AI-driven insights are transforming what's possible. In this episode of MasterMined, hosts Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen sit down with Dr. Tom Milam, Chief Medical Officer of Iris Telehealth, to explore how healthcare systems can rethink behavioral health...

In this episode of MasterMined, Jordan Young—CEO of Jordan & Associates Consulting—pulls back the curtain on what's really happening in the behavioral health hiring market. With experience spanning admissions, national conferences, and executive recruiting, Jordan has worked with more than 100 organizations and surveyed thousands of professionals across the industry. He shares what hiring managers...

What happens when lived experience, clinical expertise, and entrepreneurial grit collide? In this episode of MasterMined, Dr. Dan Callahan shares his remarkable journey—from addiction and incarceration to becoming a licensed social worker, treatment center founder, and technology innovator serving behavioral health providers nationwide. Dan opens up about how recovery shaped his leadership philoso...

Is SEO dead—or just evolving? In this episode of MasterMined , Snapshot's Digital Growth Director Abigail Carroll breaks down what behavioral health leaders must understand about search in the age of AI. From Google's market share dipping below 90% for the first time to the rise of ChatGPT and AI overviews, Abigail explains what's really changing—and what's not. She unpacks zero-click searches, ge...

In this episode of MasterMined , returning guest L.A. Galyon of Brentwood Capital Advisors joins Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper to unpack what he's seeing across healthcare investment as the industry heads toward 2026. Fresh off the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, L.A. breaks down capital trends, valuation realities, and why behavioral health remains one of the most compelling—yet...

In this episode of MasterMined , Mark Scrivner and Jeff Skillen sit down with Andrew Kessler, Principal at Slingshot Solutions, to demystify how behavioral health policy actually gets made in Washington. Andrew breaks down the difference between lobbying and advocacy, why education—not emotion alone—drives sustainable change, and how funding decisions ultimately determine whether legislation deliv...

Ward Blanchard joins MasterMined to share his deeply personal journey from a life-altering medical diagnosis and substance use disorder to becoming a nationally respected behavioral health entrepreneur. Ward unpacks how family systems, leadership accountability, and operational clarity shape better clinical outcomes—especially in outpatient care. This conversation is a practical guide for behavior...

In this MasterMined episode, Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper break down what performance-based budgeting really means for behavioral health organizations. From aligning marketing and finance around shared metrics to building budgets from real conversion data—not vibes—this conversation reframes marketing spend as a growth roadmap. Leaders will walk away with practical guidance on accou...

In this episode of MasterMined , the hosts sit down with Megan Reinhardt, Co-Founder and CEO of RAE Health, to explore how wearable technology and digital biomarkers are reshaping behavioral health treatment. Megan shares her journey into the substance use disorder space, why RAE Health prioritized rigorous research over rapid adoption, and how real-time physiological data can help clinicians and...

In this episode of MasterMined , hosts Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper unpack the realities of reputation management in behavioral health. From navigating negative reviews and activating a "posse of positivity" to preparing for media scrutiny and five-alarm PR crises, the conversation offers practical frameworks leaders can implement before reputational issues escalate. The hosts empha...

In this episode of MasterMined , hosts Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper sit down with John Thomas, President and Publisher of Psychology Today , to unpack how one of the most iconic brands in mental health has stayed relevant for nearly six decades. John shares how editorial integrity, science-based content, and an uncompromising stance on trust have fueled the platform's evolution across print, digit...

In this episode of MasterMined , hosts Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper sit down with Dr. Ali Farooqui to explore what's broken in today's mental health system—and how it can be fixed. From destigmatizing psychiatric diagnoses to building a quality-first clinical model, Dr. Farooqui shares how Healthy Minds Tennessee is redefining access, outcomes, and patient experience. The conversati...

In this episode of MasterMined , our hosts Mark Scrivner, Jeff Skillen, and Lee Pepper break down one of the industry's most persistent—and least discussed—challenges: the holiday slump. They unpack why programs are often caught off guard, how seasonality trends repeat every year, and what proactive leaders can do to stabilize census, strengthen admissions performance, and support teams during a n...

In this episode of MasterMined , Doug Edwards—Senior Vice President at HMP Global—pulls back the curtain on what truly makes a behavioral health conference succeed. From long-range planning to the advisory board process, from AI-driven disruption to timeless in-person connection, Doug shares practical, candid insight for leaders navigating a rapidly evolving landscape. Whether you sponsor, speak,...

Intervention pioneers Ken Seeley and Eric McLaughlin join MasterMined to discuss the evolution of intervention, the rise of family-system models, the legacy of A&E's Intervention , and the ethics and challenges facing today's behavioral health landscape. With decades of experience, they break down myths, offer practical guidance for families, and share a powerful framework for creating real change...

In this episode, Steve Lee—Sr. Director of Strategic Relationships at Cumberland Heights—joins Mark, Jeff, and Lee for an honest, wisdom-filled conversation about recovery, transformational leadership, ethical consistency, and the true work of relationship building in behavioral health. With more than three decades of personal sobriety and a long career spanning entrepreneurship, sales, and strate...

In this candid and deeply insightful conversation, Jeri Davis—one of the most respected executive recruiters and strategists in behavioral health—joins MasterMined to unpack the current and future state of the industry. With more than three decades influencing marketing infrastructure, leadership development, and executive recruitment, Jeri offers a rare vantage point into what's working, what's n...

In this episode of MasterMined , Mark, Lee, and Jeff sit down with Mike Lifshotz, Founder of Hatch Compliance and now VP of Business Development at Kipu Compliance, to explore how compliance systems can empower—not burden—behavioral health providers. Mike shares the origin story behind Hatch, its evolution into Kipu, and how automation, data, and empathy can reshape staff workflows, reduce risk, a...

In this episode of MasterMined , hosts Mark Scrivner and Lee Pepper sit down with Lipscomb University leaders Dr. Allison Duke and Dr. Bart Liddle to explore how business education and leadership development are evolving to meet the needs of the healthcare industry. They share insights on integrating creativity, strategy, and human-centered leadership into business education, as well as how AI is...

When clinical insight meets visionary leadership, transformation happens. In this episode, Fellowship Hall CEO Kelly Scaggs joins Mark, Jeff, and Lee to discuss leading with empathy, empowering women in behavioral health, and how saying "yes" to the opportunities that scare you can open unexpected doors. From navigating nonprofit boards to embracing AI responsibly, Kelly shares practical wisdom fo...