The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly changing how captive insurance companies and risk retention groups operate, but where does it create the greatest value, and where should human expertise remain firmly in control? In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Joel Appelbaum is joined by Julie Bordo, president and CEO of PCH Mutual Insurance Company, a Vermont-domiciled healthcare risk...

Self-procurement tax is an often overlooked aspect of captive insurance that can create significant compliance and financial implications if not properly addressed. In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum is joined by Allan Autry, CPA and partner at Johnson Lambert, to explore when self-procurement tax applies, why it exists, and how it affects organizations using...

Insurers use risk engineers to help customers identify and mitigate risks by assessing their operations and making recommendations for improvements. The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Peter Ukstins, head of construction risk engineering at AXA XL, in a talk that was originally presented as a snap talk at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference. Listen in to Peter's insight on how face-to...

Farmers and ranchers are challenged by complex forms needed to apply for critical federal programs, among other things. In this 20-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, ZForm's Lara Goldmark, founder and CEO, and Laura Napoli, cofounder and head of marketing and partnerships, discuss US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and government-required farm program forms, especially those that...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Donny Tong, senior vice president at Truist Bank, about the role of reinsurance trusts—also referred to as "collateral" trusts—in captive insurance programs. The discussion explores how these trust structures function as collateral mechanisms between captives, fronting insurers, and reinsurers, including the opera...

As climate change drives more severe and unpredictable weather, construction projects face costly delays and other risks. This month, The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI is pleased to feature Rose Hall, founder and CEO at RH Business Ventures, LLC. Listen in as Ms. Hall discusses how the application of noncatastrophic parametric weather insurance can be utilized to help contractors and project owners...

Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association 2026 International Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Kristen Lawler discussing one of the most closely watched captive insurance tax decisions in recent years: the 2025 CFM Insurance Tax Court memorandum opinion. Drawing from her recent article in IRMI's publication Captive Insurance Company Reports, M...

Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association 2026 International Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond industry hype and into practical application within captive insurance programs. Joel Appelbaum is joined by Steven Bauman of AXA XL to examine where AI is already delivering measurable value—from unde...

This episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI explores the fast-moving world of maritime war risk insurance, from the Strait of Hormuz to market capacity, cancellation, and coverage gaps across hull, liability, and cargo. Featuring Steven Weiss, president and chief underwriting officer of Incarnation Specialty Underwriters, the conversation delivers critical insights for insurance professionals...

Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Victoria Fimea, chief captive analyst with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Ms. Fimea discusses the continued growth of Arizona's captive insurance program, emphasizing the state's measured, quality-driven approach and its collaborative e...

Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Stephen Taylor, director of the Bureau of Captive and Financial Insurance Products at the Delaware Department of Insurance. Mr. Taylor discusses Delaware's regulatory philosophy, highlighting a balance of flexibility, efficiency, and innovation supported by a collabora...

When the pressure's on, will you make the right call? In this 16-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Elise Farnham previews her IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference (AgriCon) ethics sessions and shares why moral courage isn't optional—it's essential. You'll want to hear what Ms. Farnham, president of Illumine Consulting, will present in her three-part "Ethical Decision-Mak...

Recorded live at the Captive Insurance Companies Association Conference, this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features Christine Brown, deputy commissioner of the Captive Insurance Division at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation. Ms. Brown shares her perspective on regulating within one of the most established captive domiciles globally, emphasizing Vermont's long-standing f...

Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (CRC) in Indianapolis, this 17-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with David Tibbetts, chief safety officer at Highwire. Mr. Tibbetts discusses why tracking events with the potential to result in a serious injury or fatality (SIF) provides better insight into safety performance than traditional metrics...

In this 11‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Faith Parum breaks down the pressures shaping the 2026 farm economy—from soaring input costs to shifting global trade policies. Listen as Dr. Parum explores how tariff and nontariff barriers are reshaping market access, what declining US soybean demand from China means for row‑crop profitabilit...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Joel Appelbaum speaks with Dustin Carlson, president of the 831(b) Institute, about maintaining the credibility and long-term viability of Section 831(b) micro-captives. The discussion centers on Mr. Carlson's three-part series in Captive Insurance Company Reports outlining proposed reforms aimed at addressing practices that have drawn regulator...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Joel Appelbaum welcomes Ian Davis, president of the Vermont Captive Insurance Association (VCIA), for a detailed discussion on how captive insurance advocacy works in practice. Building on a prior conversation about Vermont's legislative framework, this episode focuses on VCIA's state and federal engagement efforts—including Vermont Legislative...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum sits down with Michael Kolodner, Marsh's US energy and power leader, to unpack how geopolitical shifts, market volatility, and evolving incentives are reshaping energy investment priorities. Together, they explore why cross-industry collaboration is becoming essential for building operational resilience in a rapidly changing...

This podcast is a snapshot of the insights you'll find at an IRMI Energy Risk & Insurance Conference—where sponsors like Marsh, attendees, and industry thought leaders come together to tackle the latest challenges. Host Joel Appelbaum and Scott Smidlein, managing director and senior client executive at Marsh, break down the 2026 energy insurance outlook in this episode of The Edge of Risk Podc...

Are traditional insurance models keeping pace with innovation? In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Bill Kost, senior vice president, energy, power, and renewables risk consulting leader at Marsh, about how the insurance industry is adapting to rapid energy innovation. From emerging technologies like battery storage to the growing role of captives, t...

Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (CRC) in Indianapolis, this 7.5-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with Rachel Dobbs, client executive at Hylant. Ms. Dobbs describes how construction materials affect property insurance costs during and after construction and how they vary across different regions of the United States. Listen in for a...

In this 30‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Scott Cornell, vice president of transportation risk and strategy and crime and theft specialist at LogistIQ Insurance Solutions, pulls back the curtain on the growing sophistication of agricultural cargo theft. Mr. Cornell explains how criminals are leveraging technology and organized networks and what these evolving tactics mean for...

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has had an immediate impact within the renewable energy space. Katie Burke, vice president, US Specialty Energy and Power growth leader at Marsh Specialty Energy and Power, shares key insights into the most important components of the Act, including the sunsetting of critical tax credits and the challenges of financing projects and accelerated timelines considering s...

Casualty claims are growing more complex—and risk professionals need practical strategies to stay ahead. In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast, we're joined by Rachael Chen, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s U.S. Casualty Energy Practice, and Phil Educate, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s Claims Practice. Together, they’ll explore the factors that lead to complex claims, the shift in jury dyn...

In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Jim DeVoe-Talluto, assistant director of captive insurance at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, about what organizations need to know when applying to form a captive insurance company. Drawing on more than 2 decades of regulatory experience, Mr. DeVoe-Talluto outlines the steps applicants should expe...