The Intersect: Healthcare Designed Across Disciplines

This episode will delve into the recent advancements and implications of DeepSeek's AI models, particularly focusing on their impact on the AI landscape and the broader tech industry. The discussion will cover: • DeepSeek's Model Architecture and Innovations : The episode will explore the architecture of DeepSeek's models, including DeepSeekMoE (Mixture of Experts) and DeepSeekMLA (mul...

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of email newsletters, exploring the latest trends and strategies to ensure your messages get opened and engaged with. Based on Beehiiv's 2025 State of Email Newsletters report, we uncover key insights that will help you maximize your newsletter's potential. We'll start by examining the current email landscape, highlighting the fact that emai...

This episode delves into the groundbreaking findings of the Harvard Study of Adult Development , the longest study of human life ever conducted. For 85 years, this research project has tracked over 2,000 individuals across three generations, initially focusing on two groups: Harvard College sophomores and boys from disadvantaged backgrounds. The study, which initially included only white men, now...

This episode features a 1978 talk by Milton Friedman on the economics of medical care, recorded at the Mayo Foundation. Friedman argues that the trend towards increasing government involvement in healthcare is detrimental to patients, physicians, and other healthcare personnel. He contends that government intervention, including the expansion of programs like Medicare and Medicaid, leads to contro...

This episode explores how Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, revolutionized corporate communication by banning PowerPoint presentations and championing written narratives. In 2004, Bezos replaced bullet points with memos and narratives, forcing his executive team to express their ideas using clear, simple language. This shift to written communication set the foundation for Amazon's remarkable...

This episode explores the major schools of economic thought, tracing their historical development and key differences. Beginning with classical economics and its focus on the labor theory of value, the discussion moves to the Marginal Revolution , a pivotal shift that introduced mathematical tools and the concept of marginal value. This revolution laid the groundwork for Austrian economics , which...

In this episode, we dive into the key technological and societal shifts that are reshaping our world. We explore how artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving, with foundation models capable of understanding language and leading to frontier applications like robot automation. However, the continued scaling of these models faces headwinds due to decreasing availability of high-quality language da...

This episode is an overview of an interview with entrepreneur Daniel Priestley and Steven Bartlett on The Diary of a CEO⁠ , focusing on adapting to the digital age.  Priestley emphasizes building a strong personal brand  as crucial for success, advocating for leveraging digital platforms and scalable business models. He proposes practical frameworks like the 7-11-4 rule for brand building and the...

 We're delving into the fascinating, yet often destructive, world of financial speculation, drawing on historical patterns to understand why these cycles of boom and bust continue to occur. We explore the common features of speculative episodes, as outlined in John Kenneth Galbraith's work A Short History of Financial Euphoria , and discuss how these patterns manifest in various markets. T...

We're discussing Tae Kim's biography of Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia - The Nvidia Way: Jensen Huang and the Making of a Tech Giant . The book chronicles Huang's life and career , highlighting his  unique management style and company culture . The book  explores Nvidia's journey from a struggling startup to a tech giant , focusing on key moments of innovation, near-failure, and strat...

This episode discusses the life and business strategies of Sol Price, founder of FedMart and Price Club, and his profound impact on Costco, as told in the (hard to find) book Sol Price: Retail Revolutionary & Social Innovator by Robert Price . Price's innovative retail model , emphasizing low margins, high-quality products, and exceptional employee treatment, is analyzed. The episode trace...

This episode analyzes the digital health investment landscape in 2024, revealing key shifts and trends that shaped the sector. A major highlight is the ascendancy of AI-focused companies, which garnered a remarkable 42% of total digital health funding and 31% of all deals, both unprecedented highs. This substantial investment signals a clear preference among investors for companies that exhibit ro...

In this episode, we delve into the unbundling of venture capital , exploring the significant shift in power from established firms to individual investors. We'll investigate how a decline in trust towards institutions , coupled with the growing influence of individual personalities, has reshaped how founders select their investors. Key areas of discussion will include: •The evolving dynamics o...

This episode explores the life and career of Henry Singleton, the founder of Teledyne , a highly successful and unconventional industrialist. Known for his long-term vision and independent thinking, Singleton defied conventional business practices. We examine his unique approach to capital allocation, focusing on his strategic use of stock buybacks to maximize shareholder value. Singleton's st...

This special episode discusses President Trump's executive orders and their impact on healthcare. These orders reverse several of President Biden's healthcare policies and establish a new agenda. Executive orders are presidential directives to federal agencies on managing issues. They do not need congressional approval and have the force of law. Key changes include: • Special Enrollment Pe...

This episode of The Intersect discusses a document ( Reconciliation Options ) circulating among Republican lawmakers that proposes significant cuts to healthcare spending. The goal of these cuts is to offset the cost of extending expiring tax cuts, given that healthcare represents the largest expenditure for the federal government. Here's a breakdown of the key proposals: •Non-profit status for ho...

Today we delve into the surprising world of cognitive science and explore the hidden motives behind our medical behaviors. We'll examine the idea that modern medicine functions, in part, as a conspicuous caring ritual, an elaborate adult version of "kiss the boo-boo," where patients seek not just healing, but also a demonstration of support. We'll discuss how this "conspicuo...

This week, we delve into the fascinating world of advertising, exploring how ads influence our consumer behavior. We'll go beyond the traditional view of ads as tools that target our individual emotions, using Pavlovian conditioning to make us buy things. Instead, we will examine the social dynamics at play, particularly the third-person effect , where we believe that others are more susceptib...

This week, we're diving into Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRAs . These arrangements allow employers to provide their employees with pre-tax funds to purchase their own health insurance on the exchanges. We'll explore how venture capital firms are backing startups that aim to disrupt the traditional employer-sponsored health insurance market and what this mean...

How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren is a definitive guide to becoming an engaged, thoughtful, and effective reader. Originally published in 1940 and later updated, this book lays out a systematic approach to reading across all genres and levels of complexity. Mortimer J. Adler, a philosopher and educator known for promoting “The Great Books” curriculum, teamed up with Cha...

This episode is based on the book Creative Blindness (And How to Cure It) by Dave Trott —a sharp, thought-provoking collection of anecdotes and lessons on creativity, problem-solving, and communication. Trott, an acclaimed copywriter and creative director, is known for his no-nonsense, insightful approach to advertising and storytelling. His career spans decades, during which he founded some of th...

This episode explores how a startup, XO Health , is disrupting the health insurance landscape by addressing the frustrations of traditional coverage. Founded by former insurance executive Swati Mathai, XO Health is leveraging modern technology to streamline data collection and use, while introducing a novel payment model designed to empower both doctors and patients. Instead of the conventional fe...

In this episode of The Intersect , we explore Bill Bernbach Said , a collection of unforgettable quotes and insights from the man who revolutionized modern advertising. Bill Bernbach, co-founder of Doyle Dane Bernbach (DDB), was more than an adman—he was a creative philosopher who understood the art and psychology of communication better than anyone. His words remind us that true creativity transc...

This episode of The Intersect covers a discussion with Steve Krauss, Sophia, Morgan, and Andrew from Bessemer Venture Partners, who delve into their healthcare predictions for 2025. The conversation covers several key areas, providing insights for entrepreneurs, executives, and investors. The first prediction focuses on the resurgence of Obamacare exchanges due to the introduction of Individual Co...

This week on The Intersect, we delve into groundbreaking cellular research that's challenging our understanding of memory and intelligence. Scientists at NYU's Center for Neural Science have discovered that memory isn't exclusive to brain cells; it's a fundamental feature of cellular biology . Their study, published in Nature Communications , reveals that non-neural cells, like kidney cells, can e...