Podcast appearances and mentions of Chris Crawford

Mike Macdonald didn't go for it on 4th and 1 in a critical situation yesterday and Ian doesn't understand why. He also questions what was going on in Klint Kubiak's head on offensive decisions this weekend? MOLLYWHOP MONDAY! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to break down the Mariners' series against the Braves this weekend. What could have been a disaster turned into a rally. How much does Julio Rodriguez mean to this team right now? Consistency is key. What are we expecting from Bryan Woo tonight? Finally, the guys discuss the Mariners chances to still win the AL West. The college football weekend turned out well for the Huskies and the Cougs. Ian was back on the Palouse! HUGH MILLEN, HARDCORE FOOTBALL! Hugh takes us through the X's and O's of the Seahawks game yesterday - what happened with the play calling? Nobody breaks it down better. Checking in on the Text Line! FACT OR FICTION! Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this engaging conversation, Thomas' guest shares his journey through the world of Jiu-Jitsu, discussing his love for coffee, the pride he takes in his accomplishments, and the challenges he has faced along the way. He reflects on his training experiences with Eddie Bravo and the 10th Planet system, the dynamics of grappling with different body types, and the importance of mental health in combat sports. Chris also opens up about a life-changing car accident and how it impacted his training and mindset.Here is The RŌL Radio with an EBI 24 semi-finalist, an Eddie Bravo black belt, and the owner of Bolo Sport Jiu-Jitsu, Chris Crawford.www.rolacademy.tv 30% discount with ROLRADIO code at checkout. Over 1500 videos for your Jiu-Jitsu journey.FREE Access to ROL TV - https://rolacademy.tv/yt/269-the-rol-radiohttp://www.therolradio.comhttps://www.instagram.com/therolradiohttps://www.facebook.com/therolradiohttps://www.instagram.com/chriscrawford10p/https://www.instagram.com/bolosport.usa/Episode Highlights:2:22 Bonding Over Coffee6:29 Training at 10thP HQ9:29 Staying Motivated While Away from Home14:25 Does Size Matter17:52 Meathead Mentality23:58 Chris' Gets His BJJ Start27:06 The 10thP Experience32:34 Passion Inside and Outside of Martial Arts37:16 Life Changing Events48:21 Competition and Personal GrowthSupport the show

What a weekend of college football! The Sounders stole the show, despite the classlessness shown by their opponent. Ian runs down the best and the worst of what we saw in CFB this weekend, especially in our region. Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to react to the Mariners callups and the weekend that was. It's a bummer for Donovan Solano getting let go. What should we expect from Harry Ford in his call up? Mollywhop continues and the guys continue to discuss the Mariners and the new fandom we're seeing in Seattle. What can they do in Tampa Bay this week? The guys dive into Dan Wilson as a manager. Hardcore Football with Hugh Millen! Hugh breaks down what he saw from Arch Manning in Texas' loss to Ohio State this weekend. What happened to Kalen DeBoer's Alabama team this weekend? Hugh takes us through NFL week 1 and what we should expect from the Seahawks as they take on the 49ers. We check the text line and finally, talk to Softy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford is in for Ian, Seahawks are cutting down their roster today, MVS leads the list of names that have been cut so far, are you surprised? Is Cal Raleigh going to win the MVP? How big was the win vs San Diego last night? How integral is Jorge Polanco to the offense? Seahawks cuts update, Dylan Moore to the Rangers, Carlos Santana placed on waivers by Guardians. Corbin Smith from Emerald City Spectrum and Locked on Seahawks joins the show to break down the Seahawks 53-man roster, what surprised him, and more. Checking the textline. Softy joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I am speaking with Dave Chase from Health Rosetta, and I'm asking Dave Chase three inferno-level burning questions—questions that, across the country, many self-insured employers are trying to find the answers to. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. Now, an important underlying point that comes across loud and clear but remains unsaid, actually, in the conversation that follows is this: There are amazing brokers and EBCs (employee benefit consultants) and benefits advisors or TPAs (third-party administrators) who put their clients first and have the receipts (ie, they have data and they're willing to share it to prove this). And then there are those with the exact same titles, often enough, who are very much the opposite of this but super charming, I'm sure. I mean, it'd be a stretch to assume that the same roles don't apply to brokers or EBCs that apply for titles like hospital administrators where there's great ones and really not great ones; but everybody often gets lumped into the same category or even the term hospitals. Each of these terms is a broad stroke and contains multitudes. And do listen to the bonus clip from two weeks ago with Jonathan Baran for just more on this point. We dig into it for like 10 minutes or something. I also talk about this same concept in an upcoming episode with Mick Connors, MD. So, keep that underlying and unsaid theme in mind because a lot of these questions do boil down to, How do you figure out who's on the up-and-up and who's not? And if you need an example of the latter category, listen to the show with Ann Lewandowski (EP476) about the whistleblower lawsuit or the show with AJ Loiacono (EP379) about the myriad of brokers taking $7 or $14 per script written payable by the PBM (pharmacy benefit manager) and not reported on, as far as I know. This is very much still going on today, by the way, despite the CAA (Consolidated Appropriations Act) and the 5500 forms. Alright, so, first burning question, Question 1: After seeing J&J (Johnson & Johnson) and Wells Fargo sued for fiduciary breaches, what specific questions do I need to ask my benefits advisor to prove that my benefits advisor actually protects my interests? Okay, paraphrased, this question is employers trying to figure out what they can ask or how they can figure out if their benefits advisor or broker or employee benefit consultant is really as trustworthy as they'd like you to believe they are. There's been a whole bunch of shows that circle up on this. The thing is, though, the stakes are very, very high right now. So, yeah, I can see why this is turning into a burning question for anyone worried they might get sued personally unless they can figure out how to vet, for real in writing, who their broker, EBC, or advisor serves actually at the end of the day. Question 2 that I ask Dave Chase, and I'm not giving you the answers to these questions. You gotta listen to the show. But here's the second question I ask: How do I avoid personal liability when my TPA contract has hidden conflicts that could trigger an ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) lawsuit? Kind of a continuation of Question 1, but yeah, you can tell that self-insured employer teams are really digging in here and many, many are very aware of, first of all, the extent and depth of middle people doing things like, again, allegedly taking $20 million of employer clients' money and funding their executive bonus pool. So, yeah, definitely this is another doozy of a burning question. Also on these same topics, listen to the show with Justin Leader (EP433) and also the one with Cynthia Fisher (EP457) about spread pricing. Question 3 that I ask Dave Chase: My pharmacy costs keep climbing despite PBM guarantees. How do I tell if I am being systematically overcharged? Well, if your consultants are taking your rebates to fund their executive bonus pools, as I just mentioned there's a whole show about with Ann Lewandowski, or if they're taking $7 a script for every script that gets written for your members, which, yeah, that's afoot. I've seen the contracts and the cease and desists currently flying around our industry about that one. Or read that Osceola County lawsuit against their longtime brokers. Bottom line and end of this intro, informed employer teams are, for sure, wondering these questions. But even more than just wondering, what these questions signify to me, kind of at the macro level, they're realizing the danger of kind of sitting on that knowledge or just assuming that because everybody else is doing whatever, it's somehow safe—though status quo is getting kind of more and more dicey every single day. As some additional foreshadowing, this show finishes up with Dave Chase talking about the open-source resources that are available so that you too can create a high-performance health plan where members get higher-quality healthcare and, as Dave Chase says, the cost savings for free. There are links to many things that you can get from Health Rosetta and their sister company, Nautilus. Again, all the stuff is for free. Go to nautilushealth.org. That's their main Web site. Dave Chase, who has been on this podcast—I think this is his third time, although it has been a while—Dave Chase is co-founder and CEO of Health Rosetta. Also mentioned in this episode are Health Rosetta; Jonathan Baran; Mick Connors, MD; Ann Lewandowski; AJ Loiacono; Chris Deacon; VerSan Consulting; Justin Leader; Cynthia Fisher; Nautilus; Andreas Mang; Blackstone; Jon Camire; Claire Brockbank; Elizabeth Mitchell; Scott Haas; Paul Holmes; Chris Crawford; Luke Slindee, PharmD; Mark Cuban; Marilyn Bartlett, CPA, CGMA, CMA, CFM; Leah Binder; and Dawn Cornelis.   You can learn more at Health Rosetta and follow Dave on LinkedIn.   Dave Chase is on a mission to restore hope, health, and economic well-being to communities through healthcare transformation. As creator of the community-owned health plan (COHP) model, he is building a nationwide movement that turns health plans from drivers of wage stagnation into vessels for well-being and wealth creation. As founder of Health Rosetta, Dave has helped transform healthcare for thousands of employers covering more than five million Americans. What began with identifying just five successful health plans nationwide has grown into a movement with thousands of sustainable successes that deliver superior care at 20% to 50% lower costs. In 2024, his team launched Nautilus Health Institute, catalyzed with $4 million in Health Rosetta intellectual property and investment. Nautilus provides open-source standards, contracting templates, and technology infrastructure (including METL, an open-source healthcare data platform) that establish new market norms benefiting employers, clinicians, and communities. Dave's work in healthcare transformation has reached over 10 million people through best-selling books (The CEO's Guide to Restoring the American Dream, The Opioid Crisis Wake-up Call, Relocalizing Health), media, TED Talks, and TV/film appearances. He has received the World Health Care Congress's Lifetime Achievement Award for Health Benefits Innovation. Dave is dedicated to transforming healthcare through transparency, community ownership, and proven solutions that restore the American Dream.   06:36 What questions does a plan sponsor need to ask their consultant, EBC, or broker to ensure they are protecting the interest of the plan sponsor? 07:59 EP478 with Andreas Mang and Jon Camire. 08:49 EP453 with Claire Brockbank. 09:51 EP433 with Justin Leader. 09:53 EP436 with Elizabeth Mitchell. 11:03 How can plan sponsors avoid personal liability when their TPA has hidden conflicts of interest? 11:40 Tiara Yachts v. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan lawsuit. 13:48 EP483 (Part 1) with Jonathan Baran. 14:18 EP457 with Cynthia Fisher. 16:18 The Marshall-Hickenlooper bill called the Price Tags Act. 16:50 Summer Short with Elizabeth Mitchell. 17:36 How do plan sponsors figure out if they are being overcharged for pharmacy benefits? 18:09 EP365 with Scott Haas. 20:18 EP397 with Paul Holmes. 20:22 EP465 with Chris Crawford. 20:37 EP429 with Luke Slindee, PharmD. 22:56 EP476 with Ann Lewandowski. 28:38 Where to find open-source resources to help guide plan sponsors with making better health plan decisions. 29:47 How the open-source trend is growing for health transparency. 30:48 What to look forward to at RosettaFest.   You can learn more at Health Rosetta and follow Dave on LinkedIn.   @chasedave discusses questions #plansponsors need to ask on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #financialhealth #patientoutcomes #primarycare #digitalhealth #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Jonathan Baran (Part 2), Jonathan Baran (Part 1), Jonathan Baran (Bonus Episode), Dr Stan Schwartz (Summer Shorts), Preston Alexander, Dr Tom X Lee (Take Two: EP445), Dr Tom X Lee (Bonus Episode), Dr Benjamin Schwartz, Dr John Lee (Take Two: EP438), Kimberly Carleson, Ann Lewandowski (Summer Shorts), Andreas Mang and Jon Camire (EP479)

Should the Seahawks be taking a look at a trade for Trey Hendrickson? Ian also dives into the weird schedule Washington State has this year and that it's odd to be playing for essentially nothing. It's hard for Cougar fans to be yearning for 2026 before 2025 even kicks off. Bud Withers, Longtime Sportswriter and Author stops by the studio to discuss the history of the Apple Cup and its questionable future. He believes it's too good to not play into the future, despite the changes. Ian ponders whether the 'rivalry' will continue between UW and WSU. The Mariners lost in ugly fashion again today, 11-2. What was to be one of the strongest rotations down the stretch sees the best pitchers faltering. However, Ian explains the sunshine on the horizon. Jamey Vinnick, Cougfan.com tells Ian why Klay Thompson was over in Pullman this weekend - is there a new partnership on the horizon beyond Klay as an alum? Jamey dives into the roster, many of whom we don't really know. Jimmy Rogers and his staff have a LOT to prove and we're going to see that in the way they operate. It will be even tougher to retain players than Jake Dickert had it. Jamey also thinks Zevi Eckhaus is definitely the most in command of the offense, even thought there's been an open competition at QB. Giovanni Savarese, former Portland Timbers Manager joins Ian to preview tonight's Leagues Match between the Sounders and Puebla. Chris Crawford, My Oh Why! Chris joins Ian to lament the awful road trip we saw from the Mariners. Do we have a Dan Wilson problem? Chris says we don't have a Dan Wilson solution and he's not making the team better. How worried are we about the starting rotation? Plus, we can't believe we're still seeing Dylan Moore on this roster. Finally, we go to the silver linings: Geno, Julio and Dumper. We check in on the texts and crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian is back! Mariners drop the series vs the Mets but the Little League Classic was really fun. Mollywhop Monday with Nathan Bishop and Chris Crawford as the Mariners go 2-4 last week, is there a threat of this team not making the playoffs? Mollywhop monday continues: what do we think of MLB expansion and therefore: re alignment? Hardcore Football with Hugh Millen: what is he seeing from the running game, specifically the offensive line, in the first two games of the preseason? Checking the textline. Softy joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Okay, to review from Part 1 of this conversation, and if you didn't listen to it because you think you know how this whole skyrocketing healthcare costs thing works, let me tell you, I myself had a few revelations. So, go back and listen. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. But to be fair, if you didn't already, sure, fine. Listen to Part 2 here first and then do it backwards. It probably won't make that much difference, except you'll need to contend with me totally ruining the Part 1 suspense because here's the negative flywheel, starting with the axle. Employers and other plan sponsors have been convinced to buy discounts, including discounts or discounts by their other aliases: rebates and probably shared savings, too, I would throw in this category. This is the grease that keeps the flywheel spinning. What's the “why” there? It's a genius idea if you think about it. And if you're not fully understanding what I'm about to say, go back, for sure, and listen to Part 1 of this episode because this is a very fundamental concept that has come up over and over and over again on this podcast. Cora Opsahl (EP452) talked about it. Claire Brockbank (EP453); Eric Bricker, MD (EP472); Chris Crawford (EP465) for just four shows off the top of my head in the past, you know, eight months or so. Here's the concept: If you buy discounts, your costs will go up. Am I saying this theoretically? No, I'm not. Look at the last 20 years. Have costs gone up way higher than inflation? Yes, they have. What are we doing? We're buying discounts. So, it's hard to argue. Renewals every single year will just keep going up the longer that we buy discounts. We talk about this, Jonathan Baran and I, in Part 1, how carriers have created a really very self-serving buying framework where employers are trained to buy discounts. Discounts are the axle, and the buying of discounts becomes the top of our flywheel. And then some so inclined hospital system executives, there are certainly executives standing 10,000 feet from any bedside, so they really have zero idea how care or patients or even clinicians are impacted. But if plan sponsors buy discounts, those at health systems who are so inclined now have no real incentive to rein in prices or focus on appropriate care even. And if you are so inclined, if you're very margin focused as a healthcare executive, you know, first things first, go gut primary care. That is step one in every playbook, and we definitely talk about that in Part 1 of this episode. And also, again, in about 10 episodes from earlier this year. Another thing that you're gonna wanna do if your prime imperative is margin at a healthcare system is maximize the revenue off of every transaction. So, hey … hello, EHR systems. So now you have health system prices creeping up and up, unfettered, you know, just exacerbated by consolidation and a bunch of other different things. But you've got healthcare prices creeping up, you have volume the same or higher because we're not preventing chronic disease like you would with advanced primary care, for example. And now we're back at the “Oh wow, let me sell you another discount. And renewal is only 9% or whatever.” Thus, the flywheel spins. Alright, so let's turn this wheel around, shall we? Flip it 180. What's the fix? This is what Jonathan Baran talks about in the episode that follows, but he says, Hey, how about this? Instead of putting “get bigger discounts” in the middle of the flywheel, why don't we put “buy better member health”? That's a good start. Buy a health plan that delivers better member health at an affordable price. Buy the care, not buy a discount off of a price we can't see for net price we can't see. Is it insurance? I don't know. Right? Like, just buy the healthcare. Cutting to the chase, Jonathan Baran advocates for a paradigm shift where employers invest in primary care, adopt better benefit designs, more aligned to cost and quality so that members are incented toward better cost and quality, employee navigation services to guide employees to make more informed healthcare decisions. So again, by changing the focus from buying discounts to buying actual healthcare, Jonathan says, we can reverse the negative cycle and improve overall health outcomes. As I've said multiple times already, my guest today is Jonathan Baran. He has been, for a long time, a healthcare entrepreneur. Today he is co-founder and CEO of Self Fund Health in Wisconsin, committed to challenging the expensive healthcare system in Wisconsin. Self Fund Health, I am always so pleased to tell you, did make a really, really kind offer to help out RHV (Relentless Health Value) financially. You and the tribe here are really great folks who I truly, truly appreciate. So, please do support Self Fund Health if you are in Wisconsin. This podcast is sponsored by Self Fund Health today. Also mentioned in this episode are Self Fund Health; Cora Opsahl; Claire Brockbank; Eric Bricker, MD; Chris Crawford; Cynthia Fisher; Scott Haas; Peter Hayes; Matt McQuide; RxSaveCard; Mark Cuban; Ramy Khalil, MD; Candace Shaffer; and Tom Nash.   You can learn more at Self Fund Health and follow Jonathan on LinkedIn.   Jonathan Baran is a serial healthcare IT entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Self Fund Health, a fast-growing health plan redefining how employers buy and manage healthcare. With a mission to eliminate waste and realign incentives in the healthcare system, Self Fund Health empowers employers to take control of rising costs by giving employees access to high-value providers at no cost, while replacing traditional insurance with real-time technology, dedicated nurses, and an aligned ecosystem of care. Prior to founding Self Fund Health, Jonathan was the co-founder and CEO of Healthfinch, one of the pioneering companies to build apps on top of electronic medical records. Healthfinch automated routine workflows for physicians using clinical data, significantly improving efficiency and patient care. Under Jonathan's leadership, Healthfinch raised over $15 million in venture capital and scaled to more than 50 employees. The company received national recognition, including being named a “Cool Vendor” by Gartner, a “Top Emerging Vendor” by KLAS, and one of Modern Healthcare's “Best Places to Work.” In 2020, Healthfinch was acquired by HealthCatalyst. Jonathan holds both a bachelor's and master's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He lives in Madison, Wisconsin, and continues to push the boundaries of innovation in employer-sponsored healthcare.   05:23 Where to start in reversing the flywheel. 06:57 Why investing in primary care is pivotal to containing healthcare costs. 10:02 EP453 with Claire Brockbank. 10:04 EP452 with Cora Opsahl. 10:07 EP457 with Cynthia Fisher. 10:12 EP365 with Scott Haas. 10:13 EP465 with Chris Crawford. 10:14 EP475 with Peter Hayes. 11:11 EP468 with Matt McQuide. 11:13 EP472 with Eric Bricker, MD. 12:14 “The most expensive thing in healthcare is the pen of the primary care doctor.” 13:04 How the role of the broker has to fundamentally change. 16:16 What will the single most challenging aspect of this restructuring become? 20:20 How self-funded employers can be amazing customers in containing the rising cost flywheel in healthcare. 22:56 How do EHRs and other medical record systems play into reversing the flywheel of rising healthcare costs? 23:57 Ramy Khalil, MD's post on interoperability. 24:59 Why is it important for employers to drive volume differently? 25:38 How Self Fund Health is helping in this regard.   You can learn more at Self Fund Health and follow Jonathan on LinkedIn.   @JonathanBaran discusses how to contain increasing #healthcarecosts on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #financialhealth #patientoutcomes #primarycare #digitalhealth #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Jonathan Baran (Part 1), Jonathan Baran (Bonus Episode), Dr Stan Schwartz (Summer Shorts), Preston Alexander, Dr Tom X Lee (Take Two: EP445), Dr Tom X Lee (Bonus Episode), Dr Benjamin Schwartz, Dr John Lee (Take Two: EP438), Kimberly Carleson, Ann Lewandowski (Summer Shorts), Andreas Mang and Jon Camire (EP479), Justin Leader (Take Two: EP433)  

Chris Crawford is in for Ian and we have a lot to digest about the Mariners right now. What can we expect from a consistency perspective based on what we've seen from the lineup, and more recently, the pitching? Should Donovan Solano be more involved? We listen back to Kevin Seitzer's interview with Chuck and Buck this morning and learn more about the team's belief in the new lineup. Chris and Anders react to what Seitzer had to say about the new additions in Naylor and Geno. Chris has a lot more confidence in the lineup facing opposition pitching right now and he tells you why. Chris throws it out the question: when players have health issues, when is it ok to boo? Coach Mike Holmgren joins Chris to give us some insight on what we can ascertain from the preseason. He also weighs in on the reinstitution of the fullback here in Seattle. How important is the time of possession in a game? Coach dives into the mentality of the offensive line and what makes them physically capable of doing the job. Coach says he'd give Jalen Milroe some significant time in the rest of the preseason, and likes him a lot. Checking in on the Text Line! Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford is in for Ian and we revel in the Mariners seven game win-streak, as well as Ichiro's jersey retirement and celebration. MOLLYWHOP MONDAY! Nathan Bishop joins Chris and Anders to break down the success we're seeing with the Mariners right now and how sustainable it is. What can we reasonably expect from this lineup and pitching staff throughout the rest of the regular season? MOLLYWHOP continues! The guys weigh in on who is more important to bring back to the Mariners beyond this season: Eugenio Suarez or Josh Naylor? Is it possible to bring them both back? Chris finally gets to talk about the Seahawks and we revisit what they showed in their first preseason game. What battles are worth watching in the remainder of preseason? Checking in on the Text Line! Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest Preacher Chris CrawfordPreached August 10, 2025

Guest Preacher Chris CrawfordPreached August 10, 2025

In this episode Stacey Richter speaks with Jonathan Baran, CEO of Self Fund Health in a detailed exploration of what they term the 'Flywheel Downward Spiral' of American healthcare costs. The conversation delves into how electronic health records (EHR) and the incentives driving insurers, brokers, and hospital systems contribute to consistently rising healthcare premiums.  Key points include how insurers profit from high premiums, the misleading marketing focus on discounts rather than actual costs, and the role of EHR systems in maximizing hospital profits rather than improving patient care. The episode sets the stage for a subsequent discussion on reversing these trends, aiming to align healthcare outcomes with cost reductions. Self Fund Health, I am so pleased to tell you, as I am always so pleased to tell you, did make such a kind offer to help out Relentless Health Value financially. You and the tribe here are really, really great folks who I truly appreciate. Please support Self Fund Health if you are in Wisconsin. This episode is sponsored by Self Fund Health. === LINKS ===

Welcome to Dev Game Club, where this week we continue our series on indie games, by looking at Papers, Please. We talk a bit about Lucas Pope, its creator, and then turn to the game's mechanics and themes. Dev Game Club looks at classic video games and plays through them over several episodes, providing commentary. Sections played: One or two playthroughs Issues covered: tactile job simulation games, empathy and commentary, tactility and user interfaces, how it plays, the mechanics post-day, plate-spinning, all the various things you have to check, a nerve-wracking experience, stamping passports, turning the screws, paying vs not paying for things, stereotypical regimes, indie games coming up with new interesting mechanics and AAA borrowing them, justifying denial of entry, having your options limited by bureaucracy, ways that days can end, the timer pressure, dehumanizing the process, describing the board game Train, opportunities for subversion, coins, being recruited for espionage, a precedent for weapon power mechanics. Games, people, and influences mentioned or discussed: Shirley Jackson, The Lottery, Cart Life, Persuasive Games, Ian Bogost, Fez, Naughty Dog, Helsing's Fire, Return of the Obra Dinn, Moida Mansion, Playdate, Mars After Midnight, The Lives of Others, Fumito Ueda, Uncharted 2, Balance of Power, Chris Crawford, Seamus McNally, Train, Brenda Romero, Keita Takahashi, Katamari Damacy, To A T, Pidy Retsym/Mystery Dip, Quoggim Logglehoggle, NES, Cave Story, Blaster Master, Daisuke Amaya, Outer Wilds, Kirk Hamilton, Aaron Evers, Mark Garcia.  Next time: Twitch: timlongojr  Discord  DevGameClub@gmail.com  (show notes updated to attempt to force AP to update)

It was a great week for the Mariners last week, from the trade deadline to the series win vs the Rangers, and Ian is starting to believe. Mollywhop Monday with Nathan Bishop and Chris Crawford as the boys are excited by what the team is doing in going for it all this year. Mollywhop Monday continues: IF the playoffs started today, who would you want as the 3 starters? Corbin Smith from Emerald City Spectrum joins the show to talk about Seahawks practice and what he’s looking for going into Thursdays Seahawks preseason game. Checking the Textline. Softy joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford joins Ian for a trade deadline special! Right off the bat we have breaking news within the AL West as the Astros agree to a trade to reacquire Carlos Correa from the Twins. We get first blush reactions to the moves the Mariners made so far. Eno Sarris, The Athletic reacts to the Mariners trades and where they stand with their new, bolstered roster. The odds are looking pretty good for the team as we look toward the postseason. Chris and Ian react to Eno's thoughts on the Mariners and just how excited we can be where they are right now. Corbin Smith, Emerald City Spectrum sits down with Ian at Seahawks HQ to discuss Charles Cross' finger surgery, as well as the look of the offensive line right now. Plus, the latest standouts at training camp. Chris jumps in with the latest MLB trade deadline moves.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robbie Ouzts, Seahawks FB sits down with Ian and is ready for the 'real football' to begin, as padded practices start today. He discusses how he sees his role as fullback in this offense, his experience at Alabama with Nick Saban, what we should know about his teammate Jalen Milroe and what he sees in Mile Macdonald. Bottom line, Ouzts can't wait to hit people. The Mariners split with the Angels this weekend, and it was a missed opportunity as the A's swept the Astros. Ian is ready for a balls and strikes challenge system. Ichiro was inducted into the Hall of Fame yesterday and we listen to the best part of his speech, which was just fantastic. Ichiro's commitment to the fans is above any. Kenny McIntosh went down with a significant knee injury over the weekend and it's feared to be season-ending. It's not good for the Seahawks but just a bummer for Kenny. Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to break down this weekend' series against the Angels. Chris isn't happy with Dan Wilson's management of Bryan Woo on Friday, and feels as though there are times when the players haven't been backed up by their manager. We saw something similar with Logan Gilbert yesterday. However, he admits it's an eye test. Nathan says it's hard to know what happens behind closed clubhouse doors, but Wilson should've gotten himself ejected for Woo. Plus, thoughts on Josh Naylor's Seattle debut. How important is it for the Mariners to add to the roster over the next few days? They go through players available, who would help the most and what the M's would have to give up to get them. The guys reflect on Ichiro Suzuki as he was inducted into the MLB HOF this weekend. Corbin Smith, Emerald City Spectrum sits down to tell us what he saw over the weekend and the bummer that is Kenny McIntosh's ACL tear. It does create an opportunity for Damien Martinez, though. He also tells us what he's seen in the first four days of training camp, as well as why he's so excited to see the guys in pads today. Ian's interview with Ernest Jones IV last week procured some great insight on this team, as well as his own journey this past year. We listen back to the highlights. We Check in on the Text Line and Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the fourth hour, Dave Softy Mahler welcomes on Chuck Powell and Chris Crawford to discuss the big news of the evening as the Mariners traded for 1B Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, breaking down the deal, plus we hear Jim Bowden’s expertise.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford joins Dave Softy Mahler to discuss today’s breaking news that the M’s are trading for first baseman Josh Naylor from the Arizona Diamondbacks, what he will bring to the Mariners lineup, what Seattle gave up, and what else they will need to do.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ernest Jones IV, Seahawks Linebacker sits down with Ian to discuss the reasons the Seahawks are a fit for him, what he sees in the Mike Macdonald defense, why he loves Devon Witherspoon and the immense potential the offense has this season. Hugh Millen joins Ian to give his thoughts on Cooper Kupp - does he still have the explosiveness we once saw? Hugh continues with a breakdown of Jalen Milroe, who he sees directly on the bubble to make the team or not. Chris Crawford, My oh Why explains the significance of the Yankees acquiring Ryan McMahon today. He breaks down what the Mariners are getting in Josh Naylor and what they lost in the prospects they traded for him. Danny O'Neil, The Dang Apostrophe! Danny gives his thoughts on the Seahawks' roster construction this season and reacts to the Mariners trade for Naylor. Tell me something good! In four weeks, Georgetown will be releasing The Mayor IPA! Corbin Smith, Emerald City Spectrum sits down with Ian to discuss Ernest Jones IV, who he sees as one of the more underrated players on this Seahawks defense. There appears to be a lot of 'buy in' this year, more like we saw during the Pete Carroll height of success. Corbin has seen unbelievable technical imrpovements from Jalen Milroe in just a few short months. Checking in on the Text Line! Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the third hour, Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain discuss what a salary cap in baseball could look like, then listen and react to sound from Justin Hollander with Chris Crawford earlier today before chatting with Phil Steele about UW, the Big 10, and college football.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford is in for Ian Furness! And we break down all of the Seattle Mariners position groups compared to the rest of the division. We continue to rank the position groups of the Seattle Mariners against the AL West. Daily Power Play. Mariners GM Justin Hollander joins the show to talk about the MLB Draft, MLB Trade deadline, and more. Checking the textline. Softy joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Believe it or not, we ARE excited that our guy won the HR Derby last night, crazy right? Chris Crawford joins the show to talk about the HR Derby, the MLB draft as a whole, and so much more. Daily Power Play. John Lund joins the show to talk HR Derby, the shakeup at FS1, and more shenanigans. What's the latest on the NBA Expansion talk? Dick Fain joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB Draft analyst Chris Crawford has been a staple on our show for years. He joined us to talk about some of the Reds' selections in this year's draft.Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530. Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listenGet more: https://linktr.ee/MoEggerFollow on X: @MoEggerInstagram too: @MoEgger

Mariners head into the All Star break on a series win. M's secured their first round pick who seemed to be a consensus #1 overall. Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to recap the Mariners series as they're in the All Star break right now. How can we evaluate them at this point? Nathan won't settle for no moves this season and Chris says nobody is untouchable in a trade situation. Mollywhop continues! There is some rumor whispering in the world of the NBA and Ian has some predictions. We explore common sense, which is unusual for us. SEC Media Day is going on and Ian discusses the nonsense of the NCAA. Checking in on the Undrafted Free Agent Text Line! Crosstalk with Dick Fain!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MLB Draft analyst Chris Crawford has been a staple on our show for years. He joined us to talk about some of the Reds' selections in this year's draft.Podcasts of The Mo Egger Radio Show are a service of Longnecks Sports Grill.Listen to the show live weekday afternoons 3:00 - 6:00 on ESPN1530. Listen Live: ESPN1530.com/listenGet more: https://linktr.ee/MoEggerFollow on X: @MoEggerInstagram too: @MoEgger

Chris Crawford is in for Ian Furness and there is so much to celebrate about the Mayor of Maple Valley. The Mariners are in a tough spot right now and they need reinforcements. Who would you be excited for in a trade situation? We go through the Chris list. InThe Daily Power Play! Mike Benton joins Chris to evaluate the Kraken offseason and what changes we'll see in the structure of the team. Keith Law, The Athletic joins Chris to give us a preview of the Mariners draft and the prospects in their system. We check in on the text line and talk with Dick Fain!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mariners sweep the Pirates, but somehow gain no ground on the Astros. Does being an All-Star matter? Mollywhop Monday with Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop after the Mariners go 5-2 last week, as the pitching is rounding into form, and Randy is officially heating up. The Mollywhop boys are back to talk about the Mariner All Stars and if Julio deserves to go, but more importantly, if we should care if he "deserves" it, All Star games are meant to be fun, and having more players from your team there is a good thing. Why are Mariner fans complaining about the Mariners getting more All Star players? Checking the Textline. Dick Fain joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a busy weekend for Seattle sports. Jalen Ramsey to the Steelers with DK Metcalf on the roster will make for some interesting practices. Talent trumps everything. Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to review the Mariners weekend that was as they took the series from the Rangers on the road. Mollywhop Monday continues! BREAKING NEWS: NHL trades and qualifying offers from the Kraken to Kaapo Kakko, Ryker Evans and Tye Kartye. Berkly Catton and Jake O'Brien sit down with Ian Furness following the NHL draft and discuss the draft process and what it's like to join the Kraken franchise. We reflect on the Lenny Wilkens statue unveiling and just how special it was. Jess was there and shared the sentiments from Climate Pledge Arena. We check in on the text line!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford is in for Ian! The Mariners RAKED against the Twins yesterday and Cal Raleigh hit his 32nd dinger of the year (not to mention Julio belting one out, among others). Are you confident in their sustainability at this point of the season? Joe Sheehan, The Joe Sheehan Newsletter joins us and he's on a Cal Raleigh tear. We are here for it. Who would make sense for the Mariners if they were to pursue toward the trade deadline? Joe says no matter what's happening right now, it's too early to start considering dealing for any team. The Daily Power Play! Mike Benton gives his thoughts on the Marchmont trade after speaking with the new Kraken acquisition this morning. Manny Acta, Mariners Bench Coach joins Chris to talk about the team's recent offensive prowess, the health of those in the lineup and what he expects from Julio as we head into the summer months. We take listener texts on their confidence in the Mariners right now and wrap things up in crosstalk with Dick Fain!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chris Crawford is in for Ian! We are in good moods because of the Mariners' performance, but not happy about what happened in the NBA. MOLLYWHOP SPECIAL! Nathan Bishop joins Chris Crawford and Anders Hirst for a full-blown breakdown of the Mariners' weekend. Nathan is...happy? The guys break down the series, the moves the team recently made and look ahead to what to expect leading up to the All-Star break. Cal Raleigh is named AL player of the week, which isn't unexpected, but is his offensive performance sustainable as an everyday player? The Daily Power Play! We reflect on the most recent moves the Kraken have made. Are we bad people for rooting against OKC? David Stern created the ultimate leverage in the NBA by moving the Sonics - forcing teams to build new stadiums. Howard Schultz was the most complicit and Clay Bennett never had an intention of keeping the team. We saw the downfall of the Seattle Center after the team's departure - and it's absolutely not the fault of the fans. Checking in on the Text Line! Listeners weigh in on the OKC Championship. Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exploring the Complexities of Pharma Rebates with Ann Lewandowski In this Summer Short episode of Relentless Health Value, host Stacey Richter converses again with Ann Lewandowski about the intricate dynamics of pharmaceutical rebates, or as Lewandowski prefers, post-sale concessions.  The discussion delves into the nuances of these rebates, the impact they have on drug costs, and the hidden consequences for patients and plan sponsors.  They highlight articles and insights by Austin Chelko and Peter Hayes, touching on how rebates can disadvantage the pursuit of lower-cost generics and biosimilars, and can obstruct pharmacogenetic testing that ensures drug efficacy and safety.  The conversation also critiques the opacity of rebates, deemed trade secrets by pharma and PBM companies, and underscores the ethical and financial dilemmas posed by the current rebate-driven system. === LINKS ===

Why does it feel like there's much less interest in football at this time of the year than in years past?   Joe Sheehan joins the show to talk about Julio Rodriguez at this point of the season, is his recent hot streak sustainable?   Daily Power Play with Mike Benton.   How much interest is there for football at this point in the year?  What are expectations for the Seahawks this year?   Checking the Textline.   Softy joins for cross talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mariners were on the ropes this weekend and came away with a sweep over the Guardians. How impactful was Saturday's win?   Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join us for Mollywhop Monday! How do we evaluate the Mariners over this weekend and are we seeing them heading in the right direction? Is the Astros' recent success for real? Plus, why are we having to defend Julio Rodriguez right now?   Mollywhop Monday continues with some thoughts on the Rafael Devers trade as it applies to moves the Mariners haven't made.   Ian, Anders and Jess give their thoughts on the Giants' acquisition of Rafael Devers, why the Mariners didn't go after him and why Devers would've been a great fit in Seattle. Ian maintains that everyone in baseball knew about this happening ahead of time, so why did the Giants have an inside track? Ian gives his take on JJ Spaun's US Open win. We also hear from Tod Leiweke, who discussed the team's investment in fan experience.    Ian discusses the demand we see for professional sporting events, the price it costs to access them and why we're talking about it during the FIFA Club World Cup.   Crosstalk with Softy!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mariners drop the weekend series to the Angels, but George Kirby salvages the series on Sunday, does it mean anything?    It's a Molly Whop Monday with Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop after a 1-5 week...this roster sucks and we're wasting an MVP season from Cal Raleigh.   The boys are back for a second segment, should the Mariners consider bringing up Harry Ford?   New Seattle Kraken head coach Lane Lambert joins the show as he sits down with Ian Furness and talks about what drew him to Seattle, his structure, and more.   Checking the Textline.   Softy joins for cross talk.

In this episode of Relentless Health Value, host Stacey Richter sits down with Peter Hayes to discuss the major forces driving change in the healthcare industry. Hayes outlines three critical factors: changing public opinion, heightened transparency, and new regulations such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act.  He emphasizes the unprecedented convergence of these elements, creating a pivotal moment for healthcare transformation. The discussion delves into the erosion of trust within the healthcare system and the growing public unrest over high costs and inefficiencies.  Hayes also highlights the role of state-level initiatives as experimental laboratories for potential national solutions. The episode concludes with a call to focus on root causes and collaborative approaches to restore trust and improve healthcare affordability and quality. === LINKS ===

All LA teams are out of the postseason across the NBA and NHL. You hate to see it. The Mariners keep winning, apparently against all odds. While we might have issues with the team's ownership, it shouldn't take away from enjoying how well the team is playing right now. Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop help us make sense of why the Mariners are playing so well right now. We keep asking if the offense is sustainable - is it? The AL West is looking bad and the guys tell us how we can measure the M's success in a weak division. We have a touch of breaking news, and finally we celebrate a new endeavor for Chris and Anders. We continue with Chris and Nathan and get an update on George Kirby. Plus, how can we evaluate Julio Rodriguez at this point? Seahawks rookie minicamp took place over the weekend and we hear from head coach Mike Macdonald for his first evaluation of the new rookie draft picks and undrafted free agent signings. Ian tells us what we can learn in a short time so far. It's quite interesting to think about how the Seahawks might use Jalen Milroe. We check in on the text line and finally, crosstalk with Softy.

In Episode 474 of 'Relentless Health Value', host Stacey Richter interviews Dr. Yashaswini Singh, an economist and assistant professor at Brown University, about the growing influence of private equity (PE) in healthcare.  The conversation delves into the corporate transformation of medicine, highlighting the potential misalignment between business interests and patient care. Dr. Singh discusses the diverse strategies PE firms use to drive profitability, such as increasing negotiated prices, consolidating market share, employing real estate leasebacks, and emphasizing performance metrics that may not align with patient benefits.  The episode also examines the significant impacts these strategies have on physicians, including increased turnover and changes in practice patterns, as well as the broader implications for patients and communities. Dr. Singh stresses the importance of informed leadership, education, policy enforcement, and transparency to ensure that private investments ultimately benefit healthcare systems without compromising patient care. === LINKS ===

From a bedroom coder to Game Developer's Conference OG to the creator of one of the greatest one-on-one action strategy games of the 8 bit era, Jeff Johannigman worked for some of the most legendary companies of the 80s, Epyx, Electronic Arts, and Origin.   In Part 1, we talk about those early days, including the making of games such as G.I. Joe and Savage Empire and working with important figures like Ihor Wolosenko, Dani Bunten, Chris Crawford, Warren Spector, and Richard Garriot. Jeff's insight and storytelling skill make this a wonderful chat. Recorded: September 2024 Video version: https://www.patreon.com/posts/jeff-johannigman-125624209 Get us on your mobile device: Android: https://www.google.com/podcasts?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly92aWRlb2dhbWVuZXdzcm9vbXRpbWVtYWNoaW5lLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz iOS: https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/video-game-newsroom-time-machine And if you like what we are doing here at the podcast, don't forget to like us on your podcasting app of choice, YouTube, and/or support us on patreon! https://www.patreon.com/VGNRTM Send comments on  Mastodon @videogamenewsroomtimemachine@oldbytes.space Or twitter @videogamenewsr2 Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/vgnrtm Or https://bsky.app/profile/vgnrtm.bsky.social Or videogamenewsroomtimemachine@gmail.com Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannigman/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Program_Exchange https://www.mobygames.com/person/2821/jeff-johannigman/credits/ https://www.mobygames.com/company/14/br%C3%B8derbund-software-inc/ Jerry Wolosenko - Synapse - https://www.patreon.com/posts/42014024 The Video Game Crash 40th Anniversary - Part 2: Everyone Else - https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-game-crash-76259421 The Video Game Crash 40th Anniversary - Part 1: Atari - https://www.patreon.com/posts/video-game-crash-75643983 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relax_(video_game) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epyx Michael Katz Part 1 - Coleco - Epyx - Mattel - https://www.patreon.com/posts/35169258 https://www.mobygames.com/game/10151/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie_(1984_video_game) https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2013/07/g-i-joe-c64-early-glimpse/ https://www.mobygames.com/person/962/dennis-caswell/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/115/starflight/ Don Daglow Part 1 - PDP - Mattel - Intellivision - EA https://www.patreon.com/posts/38445119 https://www.mobygames.com/game/1353/demon-stalkers/ https://www.mobygames.com/person/8515/danielle-berry/ https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/182619/mule-the-board-game https://www.reddit.com/r/amiga/comments/pbj1qp/why_electronic_arts_is_committed_to_the_amiga_1985/?rdt=32890 https://www.mobygames.com/game/company:2/platform:genesis/sort:-date/page:1/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/1837/gauntlet/screenshots/macintosh/ https://www.mobygames.com/game/1837/gauntlet/screenshots/macintosh/586818/ https://www.mobygames.com/person/127/warren-spector/ https://www.wcnews.com/wcpedia/Blueprints https://www.mobygames.com/game/823/wing-commander-ii-vengeance-of-the-kilrathi/ https://wiki.ultimacodex.com/wiki/File:Savage_empire_large.jpg https://gdconf.com/about-gdc  Recommended Links: The History of How We Play: https://thehistoryofhowweplay.wordpress.com/ Gaming Alexandria: https://www.gamingalexandria.com/wp/ They Create Worlds: https://tcwpodcast.podbean.com/ Digital Antiquarian: https://www.filfre.net/ The Arcade Blogger: https://arcadeblogger.com/ Retro Asylum: http://retroasylum.com/category/all-posts/ Retro Game Squad: http://retrogamesquad.libsyn.com/ Playthrough Podcast: https://playthroughpod.com/ Retromags.com: https://www.retromags.com/ Games That Weren't - https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/ Copyright Karl Kuras

The draft is in the books and the Seahawks got quite a haul. Ian reflects on the picks.   MollyWhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to talk about the Mariners SIX straight series wins, Jorge Polanco as the AL player of the week and Seattle playing fun baseball. The bottom half of the lineup has been outperforming and JP Crawford deserves a ton of credit.   The Daily Power Play!   Nick Sheridan, Alabama QB Coach and Co-Offensive Coordinator joined Ian over the weekend to talk about Jalen Milroe and what the Seahawks are getting in their new quarterback selected in the 3rd round on Friday. We get a feel for Milroe, plus some new Seahawks Coach went up against.   Checking in on the Text Line!   Crosstalk with Softy, live from the EQC!

The Mariners have been clutch lately, and it's not too early to recognize that. The NFL Draft is days away and there's not much more we can speculate on - Ian just wants it to be here already! Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join us to give a realistic view of the excitement we're feeling about the Mariners right now. Are we allowed to be pumped? How real is Rowdy Tellez right now? The Daily Power Play! We have breaking news as the Kraken are parting ways with Dan Bylsma. The Seahawks are days away from the NFL Draft and we take a listen to John Schneider and Mike Macdonald's press conference regarding the way it's set up for the team. We Check in on the Text Line! Listeners react to the Kraken decision to part ways with Dan Bylsma. Finally, we crosstalk with Softy!

Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop have to be happy about the 5-1 Mariners over the last two series, especially the weekend sweep. Ian and the guys break down what they saw.   Mollywhop Monday continues as we just can't get enough of the Mariners who succeeded back to .500.   The Daily Power Play!   Bobby Casper, Real Golf Radio tells Ian why this may have been the best Masters he's ever witnessed. What made it so special and where does Rory rank all time now?   Checking in on the Text Line!   Crosstalk with Softy!

This week on Tales From a Luxury Yacht Chef with Lisa Mead, I catch up with Chris Crawford, a commercial photographer originally from South Africa. He talks about his career starting off in advertising before making a life changing move overseas.Contact Information:Insta: @chriscrawfoWebsite: chriscrawfordphotography.com.au

Bummer for Robles yesterday after a fault weekend of loss for the Mariners. Seattle is lacking 'everyday guys' in the infield. They're just running out last year's roster and hoping for something different. Also, what is the NHL doing with their schedule?   Mollywhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to break down the Mariners three game loss on the road over the weekend. Things aren't looking great right now and there have been some questionable decisions. Is Dan Wilson really an upgrade over Scott Servais?   Mollywhop part 2 as the boys discuss how to replace Victor Robles and more.   Mariners are enduring their worst start to the season since 2008, but the most frustrating thing is it is just every issue that everyone was concerned about coming into the season.  The NCAA Men's basketball national championship is tonight...do we need Cinderella stories in the tournament?   Checking in on the Text Line!   Crosstalk with Softy!

The Mariners split the weekend - so can we judge them already? We dive into the group chat.   MollyWhop Monday! Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop join Ian to react to opening weekend and the Mariners splitting with the A's. They also ponder the fan reaction to Julio Rodgriguez and why it's so negative.   The Daily Power Play!    The women's NCAA Tournament is lesser without JuJu Watkins in it. Ian dives into the stats for the men's brackets, which proves that chalk is king this year. We delve into the perception of Julio Rodriguez in this market and the reasons why fans seemingly aren't willing to support him.   Checking in on the Text Line! Mariners fans weigh in on the team's opening series and Julio Rodriguez.   Crosstalk with Softy!

Climate Pledge kicked ass this weekend and showed out this weekend.  Mitch Haniger got released over the weekend.   Molly Whop Monday with Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop as MLB Opening Week is here! We talk about the new Mariners streaming deal and more.   Molly Whop part 2: how does this roster look, specifically the infield.   What were the biggest takeaways from the games at Climate Pledge Arena over the weekend? Are we done seeing Cinderella stories?   Checking the Tullamore Dew Textline.   Softy joins for cross talk.

NCAA brackets are set and the Seahawks have a new look. Ian thinks they're a better team after the moves they made.   Mollywhop Monday with Chris Crawford and Nathan Bishop! Chris and Nathan react to the news that Logan Gibert will get the first pitch on opening day, what the back end of the rotation might look like and look ahead to opening day.   The Daily Power Play! Despite the overtime loss, the Kraken played extremely well yesterday. Is Jani Nyman the real deal?   We pay tribute to Slick Watts as he passed away over the weekend at the age of 73. The NCAA brackets are set and we have games in Seattle! Ian tells you what you need to know. Plus, North Carolina sets a bad precedent for college sports.   Checking in on the Text Line!   Crosstalk with Softy!

The Hidden Costs of PBMs: How Aggregate Discount Guarantees Inflate Drug Prices. In episode 465 of Relentlessly Seeking Value, host Stacey Richter interviews Chris Crawford, CEO of RxSaveCard, about the inflated costs within the pharmacy benefits industry. The discussion centers around a lawsuit involving J&J, highlighting how large PBMs can significantly overcharge for drugs that are available much cheaper through cash-pay options like Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs. Crawford explains how Aggregate Discount Guarantees, a common contracting mechanism, often fail to control spread pricing effectively and instead may lead to higher costs for plan sponsors and employees. The episode also covers how RxSaveCard can help employers and employees access these lower cash prices, circumventing the inflated costs from traditional PBMs. === LINKS ===

Emergency room costs now make up 6% of total healthcare plan spending—why? In this episode, host Stacey Richter welcomes Al Lewis to break down the data behind rising ER expenses, separating fact from fiction. They discuss whether increased patient acuity or widespread upcoding is driving costs, the impact of the No Surprises Act, and why plan sponsors struggle to negotiate fair ER rates. Plus, Al shares actionable strategies for employers to push back against inflated charges. If you want to understand the hidden forces behind escalating ER bills, this is a must-listen. You can find the charts and links mentioned in the show notes in the link below. === LINKS ===

Every Gen X'er listening to this is gonna be singing that Clash song in your head for the rest of the day. So, let's turn our attention to Medicare Advantage policy. And on the show today, I grill the one and only Betsy Seals to find out which policies she thinks are going to stay and which are going to go. For a full transcript of this episode, click here. If you enjoy this podcast, be sure to subscribe to the free weekly newsletter to be a member of the Relentless Tribe. Obviously, this is very much in the context of a new administration and also just other things that are going on. But today we talk about the following four “stay or go” policy areas. Here's the first policy area we talk about: changes and activities within the Stars program. How will the Medicare Advantage Stars program change or not? Not only with this new administration, but also there are lawsuits and how they will impact the goings-on moving forward. Second policy, will it stay or will it go, that we talk about is risk adjustment and all of the activity in government oversight and focus on recoupment of improper payments as kind of the overarching bucket and what will be the incoming administration's method around risk adjustment. This is certainly on many people's minds. The third “will it stay or will it go” policy that we discuss is the use of AI (artificial intelligence) by Medicare Advantage plans. What does the appropriate oversight of the use in AI look like? Lots of talk about those prior auth AI algorithms and the high levels of denied care. A big topic of everybody's collective mind is looking at how to ensure that oversight is appropriate and that we're using AI for good and that it's not having any adverse impact. So that's the third will it stay or will it go. Fourth, and lastly, the whole agent broker realm—additional CMS and government oversight over misleading or inaccurate information coming from the marketing or the agent broker marketing world. How will that look in 2025 and moving forward? This last one, I'm kind of all over the nuance there after reading posts and comments by Samantha George, and I would recommend following her on LinkedIn would be my suggestion. I am reflecting back on the Ann Kempski episode (EP444), where we talk about the whole, really consider the downstream impact when making any policy changes, because there can be unintended consequences. Now, in a show about carriers—in this case, Medicare Advantage carriers—I'd be pretty tone deaf not to mention the nation's ire at carriers at this exact moment in time, some of it extremely well earned and some of it reflective of an extremely dysfunctional healthcare system. I'd also be tone deaf not to mention the MedPAC (Medicare Payment Advisory Commission) report, which states that Medicare Advantage plans receive payments from CMS that are 122% of spending for similar beneficiaries in traditional Medicare. This translates to an estimated $83 billion in higher spending in 2024. And I would lastly be remiss not to mention how Medicare Advantage plans are most carriers' most profitable service lines, with average earnings of around $1800 per enrollee. All of what I said is not some kind of grand revelation, of course, to most listeners of this show. And it's also not the topic of the conversation today, although some of this did get asked and answered in the earlier shows (EP387, EP375, EP291) with Betsy Seals. One thing I will remind everyone about is that there are regional carriers that are not the big five who may or may not be doing big five types of things. And also, it is actually really difficult to run a Medicare Advantage plan successfully. They call it risk for a reason. One thing I really appreciated about the conversation with Betsy Seals that follows is her advice to contemplate value to the patient and make sure that anybody working on the carrier side, you have enough of a bead on what's actually happening to be able to identify when things are going off the rails, which does not seem to be the case in some instances. This also, by the way, having a bead on what's actually happening on the ground, helps to ensure compliance and that's piece of advice two. Last piece of advice is to learn how to be proactive and not reactive. And this is eminently more possible vis-à-vis data that's available and learning how to use it well. Betsy Seals, my guest today, has had a very busy last couple of years since she was on Relentless Health Value the last time. Betsy is CEO and co-founder of Rebellis Group, a managed care consulting firm focused specifically in Medicare Advantage. Rebellis was actually acquired in February of 2024 and joined as a family of a couple of other consulting firms that now Betsy heads up. So, in short, she's really busy. Also mentioned in this episode are Samantha George; Ann Kempski; Rebellis Group; and Vivian Ho, PhD.   You can learn more at rebellisgroup.com and alerionadvisors.com and by following Betsy on LinkedIn.   Betsy Seals is the CEO of Alerion Advisors, a family of companies dedicated to delivering unparalleled consulting services across the healthcare spectrum. As a parent organization, Alerion Advisors unites three specialized firms—Rebellis Group, Advent Advisory, and Toney Healthcare—to provide health plans and their partners with comprehensive, innovative, and results-driven solutions. With over 25 years of experience in the managed care industry, Betsy is a nationally recognized leader known for her regulatory expertise and strategic insights. Betsy brings to the table a solid mix of leadership and business acumen, as well as regulatory and strategic knowledge within the managed care landscape. Betsy's expertise is focused in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, compliance, sales and marketing, strategy, supplemental benefit landscape, innovative benefit design that address social determinants of health (SDoH), and health plan operations.   05:09 Will the Star Ratings program stay in this new administration? 08:08 How will the lawsuits against CMS policies play out with this new administration? 10:24 Why is it hard for Medicare Advantage plans to survive, let alone thrive? 16:22 How does AI directly impact beneficiary lives? 21:38 What's going on now with the override payments? 27:08 How is non-collaboration going to impact Medicare beneficiaries moving forward? 31:45 Why is it important to become more technologically savvy in compliance?   You can learn more at rebellisgroup.com and alerionadvisors.com and by following Betsy on LinkedIn.   @betsyseals discusses #medicareadvantage policies on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #changemanagement #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Wendell Potter (Encore! EP384), Dr Scott Conard, Stacey Richter (INBW42), Chris Crawford, Dr Rushika Fernandopulle, Bill Sarraille, Stacey Richter (INBW41), Andreas Mang (Encore! EP419), Dr Komal Bajaj, Cynthia Fisher