The ShiftShapers Podcast

High-deductible health plans have created "functionally uninsured" people who have insurance cards but can't access care due to high out-of-pocket costs, creating barriers to necessary healthcare and driving up long-term expenses. We discuss a solution with Tom Policelli of Paymedix. • Consumer confusion about benefits is the #1 issue, with affordability a close second • 45% of insu...

A 75-year legacy built on survival, relationships and faith continues to drive innovation at Conner Insurance, where CEO Ben Conner and his team focus on providing sound counsel during life's most significant moments. • Founded in 1949 by WWII veteran Henry Clay Conner Jr., whose 30 months surviving in Philippine jungles shaped core values of seriousness, relationships, and entrepreneurial sp...

Jessica DeAngelo, Chief Hiking Officer at Hike to Become, shares how unplugging in nature revolutionizes business thinking and helps executives rediscover clarity and creativity away from digital distractions. • Former global sales director who transformed her life by committing to daily hiking after feeling overwhelmed by corporate demands and new motherhood • Created the Hike 31 Challenge based...

Paid leave has transformed from a nice-to-have into a powerful retention and engagement tool for employers seeking to attract and keep top talent. Seth Turner of AbsintheSoft shares insights on how properly structured leave programs can create positive employee experiences that drive loyalty and productivity. • 86% of employees look for paid leave when job hunting, and 42% won't apply without...

We explore the concept of time as our most precious resource with Andrew Hartman, founder of TimeBoss, who shares a framework for achieving results without overwhelm and burnout. • Andrew's journey began when work stress caused him to lose his sense of smell for six months • 77% of knowledge workers experienced burnout in the past year, up from 75% pre-COVID • The "always on" work c...

Recorded live at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, David A. Saltzman sits down with Hans Kullberg, CEO and Founder of Avocado Health. Together, they explore how Avocado Health is solving one of the biggest challenges facing employers and employees alike: helping working parents get the right answers, right when they need them. Hans shares how his own journey as a father of five inspired him...

Recorded at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, David A. Saltzman talks with Lorenzo Amaya, Vice President of Business Development at Integrated Source One. They explore the nationwide physician shortage, the challenges of quality care and timely access, and how innovative solutions like on-site, near-site, and mobile clinics are changing healthcare delivery for employers and employees alike....

Recorded live at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, this episode of ShiftShapers features John Troutman, Vice President of Business Development at Mind Club America. Host David A. Saltzman and John discuss the “mutual mystification” surrounding mental health solutions—and how employers and advisors can start cutting through the noise with real access, real engagement, and real outcomes. From...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Reuven Shelef, CEO of Out of the Box Consulting and creator of the Untangling Complex Challenges methodology. Reuven shares why our brains default to negativity when faced with uncertainty—and how to move from emotional reactivity to clarity and action. With a blend of logic and emotional insight, Reuven helps leaders and teams...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman talks with Ramesh Kumar, CEO and co-founder of zakipoint health. Ramesh shares how a personal mission to help his father navigate healthcare led to a professional pursuit: transforming overwhelming claims data into actionable insights for employers, advisors, and members. The conversation explores the evolution of predictive modeling, the gro...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Sally Pace, CEO of Connect Healthcare Collaboration and co-founder of The Granite List—a platform built to help benefits advisors compare point solutions with clarity and confidence. Sally shares how her background in storytelling and communication led to the creation of employee engagement strategies that bridge the gap between tech...

 In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Dave Chase, co-founder of Health Rosetta, a movement that has become a national force in transforming employer-sponsored healthcare. Dave shares the deeply personal story that drove him to create Health Rosetta and the powerful framework that emerged—one focused on transparency, outcomes, and economic sustainability. The conversatio...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman speaks with Joanna Conti, founder and chairman of the nonprofit Conquer Addiction . Joanna’s journey began when her own daughter faced life-threatening alcoholism, prompting a years-long search for effective treatment—and an urgent realization: no one was measuring long-term success. Joanna shares the results of her groundbreaking research fo...

Why Reducing Variation = Better Outcomes  In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Kate Grohall, co-founder and Vice President of Value-Based Solutions at Holista. Kate shares her powerful journey from working with patients in a teaching hospital to building a transformative platform focused on reducing variation in care, cost, and outcomes. She unpacks how Holista restores...

Why Are We Paying More for Worse Health? | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Helene M. Epstein—writer, speaker, and patient advocate behind the Substack series Patient No More . Helene dives deep into America’s epidemic of medical errors, misdiagnoses, and system failures. She breaks down why even the most advanced technology and training haven’t improve...

Rethinking PPOs: How High-Performance Networks Deliver Value | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Scott Smith, founder and CEO of Logro Network, to discuss a revolution in health plan design: the nationally curated high-performance network. Scott unpacks the origins of PPOs, why the old “discount everything” approach is broken, and how a focus on to...

In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with David Contorno, president and founder of ePowered Benefits, we go beyond the strategies and structures of health plan design—diving into the real-life struggles that are shaping smarter, more compassionate solutions. Host David A. Saltzman and David Contorno discuss the realities of scaling direct primary care, creative ways to bridge care gaps, and the...

What does “smart” health plan design look like in an industry packed with legacy thinking and rising costs? In Part 1 of a special two-part ShiftShapers interview, host David A. Saltzman welcomes back David Contorno, president and founder of ePower Benefits—and one of the industry’s most well-known disruptors. David pulls back the curtain on his journey from traditional insurance to innovative pla...

Understanding Trump's Executive Order on Drug Pricing | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Tiffany Ryder, emergency medicine PA, host of Healthcare Liberty Lab , and writer at Red Flag Hero on Substack. Tiffany breaks down President Trump’s executive order on drug pricing and what it could mean for patients, providers, and pharmaceutical companies. S...

🎧 Replay Episode: Rethinking Healthcare Costs with Direct Pay Models As healthcare expenses continue to rise and insurance premiums stretch beyond affordability, more Americans are exploring alternatives. In this replay episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation with Dr. Jawad Arshad, CEO of WoW Health Solutions, on how direct pay models could reshape ambulatory care. Dr. Arshad break...

In this REPLAY episode of ShiftShapers, host David interviews Paula Muto, a practicing surgeon and founder of Uber Docs. Paula shares her perspective on the inefficiencies in the current healthcare system, comparing buying health insurance to renting an apartment, and advocates for a direct pay model to improve the situation. She explains how Uber Docs facilitates transparent, direct transactions...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with David Blair, founder and CEO of LucyRx, to explore a growing crisis in American healthcare: pharmacy deserts. As rural and underserved communities lose access to local pharmacies, millions are left without a vital link in the healthcare chain. David unpacks the economic and systemic challenges driving pharmacy closures and shar...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes compliance expert Carol Taylor, JM, of BenefitMall, for a deep dive into the rapidly evolving world of employer compliance. From court rulings and legislative penalties to HIPAA security updates and AI-driven benefit denials, Carol offers critical insights for anyone navigating today’s tangled regulatory landscape. She unpacks the la...

In this episode of ShiftShapers , host David A. Saltzman sits down with Neal Shah, co-founder of Counterforce Health, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the fight against denied health insurance claims. Shah shares his personal journey from finance into healthcare advocacy, shaped by firsthand experiences navigating the broken healthcare system for his family. That path ultimat...

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Vinay Patel, PharmD, founder of MakoRX, to expose why prescription pricing remains so confusing—and what can be done to fix it. Patel breaks down how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), vertical integration, and opaque pricing structures are driving up costs for patients—while limiting access and undermining local pharmacies. Fro...