Podcasts about j j

(1) Memphis Sports HOF cont' then Texas v Ohio St & what this week could mean for Arch + Dove hunting? (2) Frank Bonner from the CA joins to discuss Memphis football. (3) RI Jewelers- Official Jewelers of J&J with rings like the one Taylor got!

本期主播：刘仁铖、赵丽娜、迟斌、陈述、啊鑫、史炎刘仁铖（小红书：刘仁铖真不错）赵丽娜（@叫我赵赵赵丽娜）（「上下半场」主播）迟斌（@迟斌）（「A座B座」主播）陈述（@陈述oo）啊鑫（小红书：啊鑫BuglsFuture）史炎（@史炎nacl）本期节目聊了聊「计划与变化」，可以说是最扣题的一期，开场就有突发情况！精致老花镜为什么能值4000块？顶级J人能J到什么地步？什么样的计划更好实现？播客届有自己的小彩旗？依旧是没有按照大纲聊的一期，有时候不按计划可能有出乎意料的精彩，希望大家都能拥抱变化~时间轴：00:04:04 计划成为变化，变化变成计划00:07:17 怎么样才能更好地实现计划？00:12:52 对于人生的规划00:30:42 顶级J人的规划01:06:09 P人的奇妙生活01:11:33 一些临时起意的创业经历01:18:34 不在计划内的asmr01:23:17 理财计划主打一个心态调整01:29:33 比赛与演出的突发情况01:37:43 旅行中的意外经历01:41:25 认真计划，拥抱变化不开玩笑热卖周边：除了收听播客，也欢迎支持我们的热卖周边哦！微信搜索猫头鹰喜剧小程序→商城→好物，购买即刻拥有主播同款周边哦！线下演出：冰冰的脱口秀专场《不懂事儿》正在全国巡演！将会去到多个城市，希望能和大家见面！具体开票及购票信息请到公众号：万冰冰脱口秀每周在北京和上海还有我们的脱口秀演出，微信搜索小程序「猫头鹰喜剧」，线下脱口秀演出等你来～来相爱：【听友群】公众号“猫头鹰喜剧”回复“听友群”，小助手会把你拉进群聊哦～【微博】@不开玩笑JokesAside【小红书】@不开玩笑【抖音】@不开玩笑商务合作：欢迎发送邮件至 lvtianxiong@yeah.net音乐采样：Al Bowlly - The Very Thought of YouTortoise - Cliff Dweller Society策划：史炎、大雄、马军剪辑：「内容中苔创作中心」孔老师发布：冰块

(1) ESPN Launches a new "all inclusive App" and J&J revisit the "SuperBox" (2) Drew Hill, Daily Memphian Host, discussed the Grizzlies lease and downtown

Hour 1--J&J Show Wednesday 8/20/25---Grizzlies lease info & Parth Upadhyaya joins J&J in Seg 2 on Tigers/FedEx deal

Tigers, FedEx, and the expectations on MEMPHIS FOOTBALL compared to Hoops with Parth Upadhyaya with J&J in-studio

(1) Ja, Grizzlies, Tigers adding 2 players, Cal return & NFL QB excitement (2) Willie Kemp, former Memphis Tigers star & Whitehaven Coach, joined J&J

(1) "Respect Burgers" from Jason for Ja 3 shoes, DJ Okoth & Mem Women's Soccer (2) Jonah Dylan, Comm Appeal Tigers FB, on WR Brahm and Tiger FB expectations (3) Jonah Dylan, Comm Appeal Tigers FB, on WR Brahm and Tiger FB expectations and salutations for the day from J&J

Memphis Football--Jonah Dylan, Memphis Commercial Appeal, with J&J on the Tigers new receiver Braham Jr. and expectations

Tom E. Curran and Phil Perry break down the Patriots first day of joint practices with the Vikings. Phil offers his overall impressions, as he was in Minnesota to witness the whole thing. He then breaks down the offense and defense, and he explains what he saw from Drake Maye. Finally, the guys hit on Stefon Diggs' arc and what Patriots fans can expect from him.0:33 - Phil Perry breaks down what he saw from the Patriots offense in joint practice against the Vikings3:06 - Drake Maye's numbers from practice5:23 - Phil Perry breaks down the Patriots defense7:11 - Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye speak more about Maye's leadership15:13 - How has Mike Vrabel as the Patriots are now a few weeks into training camp?20:52 - How did everyone else look?23:11 - What kind of trajectory is Stefon Diggs on? WATCH every episode of the Patriots Talk podcast on YouTubeFollow NBC Sports Boston:NBCSportsBoston.comX @NBCSpatriotsFacebookInstagramTikTok

On this episode of "The Founder's Sandbox", Brenda speaks with Donovan Ryckis; CEO of Ethos Benefits, the nation's leading fiduciary benefits consultant in mid- -large market employers. Ethos Benefits was founded in 2016, after a chance request from a client of Donovan when he operated as a financial advisor--the client was faced with an increase in the companies' health insurance bill for the companies' employee plan that would have had a financial burden that threatened the sustainability of the company.   ‘Ethos' represents the guiding principle, character, or spirit of a person or organization. It's the ‘why' that drives decision-making and fuel's purpose.   Through Donovan's origin story we will have our eyes opened as business owners to the potential risks of employer sponsored healthcare plans and how to mitigate these risks. You can find out more about Donovan and Ethos at: www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis Upcoming master class on August 14th https://ethosbenefits.com/ https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/ For a limited time only access the documentary: It's not personal, it's just  healthcare. https://ethosbenefits.com/documentary/     Transcript:  00:04 Welcome back to the Founder's Sandbox. I am Brenda McCabe, your host on this monthly podcast. It reaches  business owners and entrepreneurs who learn about building resilient, scalable, and 00:32 purpose-driven companies, all with great corporate governance. I am Brenda McCabe, and I am your host. And the guests that come to the podcast are not only those founders and business owners who are sharing their experiences, but also corporate directors,  investors,  and professional service providers who, like me, want to use the power of the private enterprise, small, medium, and large, to create change for a better world. 01:00 Through storytelling here and a recreated  sandbox,  my goal is to equip  one startup founder or one business owner at a time to build a better world through great corporate governance. Today, my guest is Donovan Rikas.  He is joining the podcast as CEO of Ethos Benefits, the nation's leading fiduciary benefits consultant in the mid to large market employer space. 01:29 So I'm absolutely delighted to bring in a professional service provider in  the employer benefits area, which  we're going to  unpeel  this  sector  today in the podcast. it's fascinating. So thank you, Donovan, for joining me today. Thank you, Brenda. Thanks for having me. Excellent. So  the company you and Chelsea, your wife and president of Ethos Benefits, 01:59 was founded in 2016, which wasn't that  long ago.  But it happened serendipitously.  You got a chance request because at that time, you were a financial advisor, right? Yes. When  your client was faced with an increase  in the company's health insurance bill for their employee plan,  pardon me, that would have had such a financial burden,  it would have threatened the sustainability of 02:27 the company and that's your client. So what did you do Donovan? What was the origin  of Ethos Benefits? Thank you. Yeah, so that's exactly right. I started as a financial advisor.  So Ethos Benefits was formerly a registered investment advisory, which was Jay Donovan Financial.  And one of the interesting things that are a little bit different on the security side versus the insurance world is 02:56 the ability to  license and designate yourself as a fiduciary advisor to your clients.  So that's really important and that's kind of where we started as financial advisors. So that essentially means that you're not gonna be commission-based with variable commissions based on what you wanna sell and the client doesn't really understand, right? You're gonna be  transparent with how you earn any compensation. 03:23 and you're not gonna have any conflicts of interest that might change  the recommendations or advice that you're giving them. So it's gonna be flat fee and you get to work with them directly instead of working for the financial institutions and the insurance companies kind of in the background that are actually the ones incentivizing. Cause  it's this odd relationship where it's like you think the financial advisor is working for you but they're actually incentivized by the institutions  that they're representing. Very important clarification because we do have a question 03:53 further on, which is, you know, what, what, how does the 401k management, right about employers 401 plan, mirror that of healthcare benefits? Yeah, for sure. You'll start to see some of those. So that's how we're working as financial advisors. And that's an important distinction as we get into an explanation of 04:22 the whole healthcare industry and how that works. So you're exactly right. I was working as a financial advisor, working with business owners  because they had more kind of complicated planning and tax structures and things that I could do to really make a difference.  And what I realized is when most of them had commission-based advisors, they'd rush to sell a product, mutual funds  with upfront loads and REITs that had  proprietary commissions and all this kind of stuff. And then they would leave without worrying about any of the 04:52 tax consequences,  you know, islets or trusts or even wills, right? Like all these extra things that business owners needed to set up their own personal wealth, but also their company, their 401k, maybe combining a defined benefit plan. So that was kind of the niche I chose.  And it was incredibly lucrative. I loved it.  Was doing exactly what I wanted to do until that client kind of asked me for that help, like you alluded to. 05:21 And it was 40 % increase on his health insurance. He said, my broker says, this is it. There is nothing else. Can you help? And I didn't know any idea. Like I had no idea about health insurance or what I do. But yeah, just- No, no. problem. 05:39 And certainly as a financial advisor, it kind of seemed like going backwards and beneath me. didn't really want to do it, but I was like, I could hear the panic in his voice. And I was like, yeah, absolutely. Just send me everything you have. And after about three weeks, basically making as many connections in the industry and learning as much as I could and trying different things, we basically mitigated that increase entirely. 06:05 And he actually came three points under where he was currently today before that increase. And we didn't take away any benefits from employees. We didn't put them in smaller  HMO networks. We didn't increase deductibles or increase their premiums. None of the usual tricks.  So this was a like for like solution. We actually improved the plan a bit and came in under.  And it really made me realize in that moment, it wasn't my experience or my education or my smarts that 06:34 may be able to do this,  it was a lack of conflicts  in compensation and incentives,  right? Because his broker does about $7 billion a year annually.  I didn't come in with more market knowledge, leverage, or experience. I just didn't have conflicts of interest and compensation. That's what  started me down this path.  And  back then,  you hadn't yet  created Ethos Benefits with that name. 07:03 So when I did a little bit of research,  I couldn't have been more delighted that you actually reached out to to be featured on the founder sandbox because of two reasons, you the word fiduciary, right?  It was in  your basically your call to action, right? Or your or the definition of company. So,  you know, you  are  the governance of a company goes way beyond making a profit for shareholders. 07:32 the duty of care, the duty of loyalty and the duty of obedience is really the underpinning elements of  fiduciary duty. And on your website, you say our ethos is simple fiduciary first. So we're going to appeal that in here in a minute here. So act in the best interest of those we serve,  no matter the cost. You also on the website,  you you had a purpose ethos represents the guiding principle. 08:01 character or spirit of an organization or a person is the why that drives decision making and feels purpose. So I,  I looked like I was reading what next act advisors may consult a firm is about is just really finding those purpose driven. So  with that, I wanted to just, you know, ask you,  what was that you had that first client that first aha moment, and 08:29 How long did it take you and did when did you realize that this could be a a career change for you, right? Rather than a financial advisor, you were actually actually a health care benefits advisor, right? Yeah, I mean, I think I think the first moment is, you know, being being a financial advisor was very lucrative. And I like the people I was working with. I liked working with entrepreneurs and business owners and and, you know, just 08:58 I found them inspiring and I was curious about the things they're doing. And  I think that kind of lifts everybody up when you keep a circle like that, right? Like you  push yourself harder, you learn, educate and do different things.  So I love the clients I was working with. Like I said,  maybe  working on personal wealth for individuals though, isn't the most rewarding thing you could be doing. seeing that... 09:25 Don't get me wrong, I was paid well enough. It would have took me a long time to figure out that it wasn't very personally fulfilling.  But seeing that first case, mean, the first thing I did when I got that successful proposal back, before I presented it to the clients is I was looking at the math  of what does this cost? What difference does this make per paycheck to all the individuals in this planet? And then I'd look at somebody, my God, this person's got a wife and two kids. Look at the difference in premium there. 09:54 I was calculating my work in return to the average American worker and realizing like me putting myself aside to  proactively, strategically go after this problem instead of making a decision for my own personal commission, looking at how much that impacted everybody. And that was powerful. 10:20 I'm going on 20 years in financial services and every aspect of it, I've seen people who prioritize commissions over, you know, a better product, a better outcome for an individual. But the idea that that could be done on scale to where you're now making that decision for yourself over 200, 500, 2000, 3000 employees, like that's pretty disgusting, right? So seeing that that kind of impact could be made. 10:49 I mean, it was  it was really not a question after that I knew I was transitioning my business. Excellent. Excellent. So  my own path  after 25 years in Europe  was quite an eye opening experience when I came back to the United States, I am a US citizen, but I had to get you know, I've been working for myself and I had to get self insured. So  I got back this is like 11:18 12 years ago, I got the Affordable Care Act for dummies from my local library.  I had not yet transferred my tax certification to the United States takes quite a few years when you've been gone so long.  So you because you do have to sub venture tax returns and all that. And then  I ran into I met Marshall Allen, the author of never pay the first bill and the other ways to fight the healthcare system and when 11:46 Marshall Allen actually spoke at  a graduate or alumni event of University Chicago. And  I was, you know, reading these books. And you know, eventually,  I got my own broker to help me get onto the exchange. But it every year has been  an experience.  I'm fortunate to be part of a  membership organization through which  for small  and medium sized businesses and I get  PPO through 12:14 I won't mention names, but  I was  blessed because just  and I'm 12 years in the United States, you have to knock on a lot of doors to actually get health care when you are a small business  owner  and really  understand what  you are paying for,  not only your premiums of what are the services  that are provided. So can you talk about  the average 12:44 premium for a family of four and some of the  numbers that you discovered  and believe  we as a country could actually improve  on the outcomes, healthcare outcomes with the actual spend we have today, right? Yeah, we're getting the numbers are pretty wild. mean, I feel like we're really kind of getting to a breaking point with it.  You know, 13:12 For what I work on, employer-sponsored healthcare, 186 million Americans are covered under employer-sponsored healthcare plan. These plans can average increases anywhere from seven to 10 % annually. We see a lot of reports that come out that kind of measure these things. Kaiser Family Foundation does one, Milliman Index is another one. So there's a lot of studies that kind of measure this annually and changes for employers across the board. 13:41 What we saw this year for 2025 was the average cost for a family of four under employer sponsored health care plan is $35,119, which is just an astonishing number. That is unaffordable for an employer. That's unaffordable for an employee. And it's unaffordable for them to split that cost as well, which is how these, yeah, that's how they're structured in some way or another. 14:11 And another number to know that kind of governs this is the ACA affordability percentage, which is essentially where employers have to contribute, they have to contribute enough to keep the premium under this amount, which is 9.02 % this year. So premium for one of your employees cannot exceed 9.02 % of their take-home pay. 14:39 And this is updated on an annual basis, correct? Correct. Yeah, it fluctuates a little bit, but it's always right at 9, 8.5, 9.2, it's balanced up and down. But that's a pretty astonishing number too. And I see a lot of companies that are basically designing their contribution just to stay under that. it's, obviously they'd love to do more, but with the way these costs increase annually, sooner or later, they get to that point. 15:07 where they're kind of designing it just to be under 9 % of the employee's income. Okay, that's  astonishing.  And I'm happy that you  are working nationwide now with employer benefits with companies that, what's the size of the companies that you typically sell to? So we only work with large employers these days. And if we have somebody come in a little bit under, we have some associate agencies that we can kind of refer them to. 15:36 I'd say our minimum is usually like 250 eligible employees all the way up to 5000. Yeah, so anywhere in that mix. Excellent. So when again, I first met you was unaware because you've basically become nationwide in the last what two, three years, right? I'd say around COVID. Yeah, I took off right. So when I was speaking with you spent some time on the website. 16:06 I was trying to understand the sales alignment. So how you reach customers, those employees that have 250 between 250 and 5,000 employees, right? My first reaction was, OK, Donovan, go in with either of these benefits. You do a cost down, right? You've done, you basically work yourself out of the job. You corrected me. So for my audience, so how? 16:32 does ethos benefits work for a company, right?  What is that?  Is it is it an annual  engagement  talk walk me through the work you Yeah, I mean, things are happening on a daily like when we break down our scope of services, we'll actually show them like,  these are daily, these are weekly tasks, these are monthly, quarterly and annual because there's so much happening.  So  we're talking about the employee benefit space. Yes, it's  the 17:01 kind of designing consulting for the annual premium for a 12 month period. I think that's what people first consider.  But there's also a ton of compliance factors that have to happen throughout the year that that company has to fill out, right? Could be anything from section  125s,  5,500s,  wrap documents, all kinds of notices and disclosures  that need to be done.  Also, you know, we deal with benefits administration. So that's... 17:29 How are the employees making elections, seeing premiums? Is that integrating into payroll?  So functions like that with eligibility in and out of the company  adjusting that.  But also we kind of discussed and talked about the fact that health care is incredibly complex. So all the same market influences, where the market's at, interest rates,  inflation, all that kind of stuff affects  health care rates just like any other company in the market. 17:58 but it also gets as granular as  new medical procedures, new drugs, new generic drugs that are now an option.  It can even go down, you know, locally or regionally to where we get a new CFO in a hospital group and that starts changing the reimbursement rates that they're requesting from the insurance. So we see that where kind of a CFO comes in and they start flexing, making life difficult in a particular region or with a hospital group. 18:28 So all these things are kind of coming together and changing every single day.  Also the fact of the sheer amount of bills,  claims that come through.  So what we see on average,  this is a pretty crazy number, but  what we see on average is 18 claims  per employee per year. Okay, that's a lot.  That's a lot. So if we had just a hundred employees, that'd be 1800. 18:56 basically accounts payable  into the company. And that's part of our job too, because as you might imagine, hospitals make tons of mistakes on the bills, about 80 % of the bills have mistakes.  And then we also have to make sure that those are coming in at fair reimbursement rates to the company, because what hospitals bill is a spectrum for the exact same procedure. And the only difference is the payer. It's not the patient, it's not the complexity, it's not the physician, like it's literally 19:25 just the insurance card that can affect that difference in reimbursement rates. So all these things kind of come together where, yes, it  very much is a daily  task for me and my team on different things that we're working on. And- Are you an advocate in any way for the employees? Yes,  very much. So, you know, it's two, there's two complicated ecosystems at the same time that we're trying to navigate. 19:52 One is certainly the healthcare finance, which is what we're working with the company. But healthcare delivery for employees and members is just as complicated and confusing as far as where do I go? What is this gonna cost? What's the next step? Can I get a second opinion? How would that work? Right? And also helping navigate them to their highest cost or their lowest cost, highest quality and understanding what that is and giving them options to seek care at. 20:21 at lower prices if that's available. Excellent.  So your  delivery platform, is it like a customer success team  that  is assigned solely to that client? How does it work? Yeah, so it's kind of different. every employer is starting at a different place. They also have different ideas of where their end place or where their goal is. 20:49 healthcare delivery, kind of working on some things like that, there might be a couple of different ways we handle it. One might be having a direct  primary care provider. So the idea of a direct  primary care provider is basically same day, next day appointments with your primary care physician  and 30 to 60 minute visit times, not the average, which is seven minutes with a PCP, which is what most people get across the country.  And  with that DPC provider, you can also do things like 21:18 stitches,  blood work, get generic meds. So we're talking about more of a comprehensive service when you actually need it, not  the 14, 18 day  primary care. So that might be one of the ways we help with healthcare delivery.  It might be a nurse concierge where they have a nurse that they can help find providers,  navigate them. That might be a part of it.  So it kind of depends. then also  a lot of the times are 21:47 Our team will basically act as a care coach, where if they have anything going on, they can just call us. We'll help them set appointments, navigate them towards care, help them with their ID problems. Fantastic. Anything else you'd like to share or shed some light on the service offering of ETHOS benefits? So we're going to jump into a legal question in a minute here. 22:13 Yeah, I mean, it always just depends on the employer.  what I would say is generally they find everything we do to be  more comprehensive. And I think that's just the nature of the fact that we're not seeking compensation from the insurance providers or working with the client, because  it's my belief that we don't have a single thing to sell to an employer.  Employers have a health care problem. And we're here to solve that and work through that in any 22:42 way that they need at that given time.  So we're not,  you know, pushing those solutions are having those conflicts.  It's an excellent segue down into  current lawsuits  that are popping up with respect to,  first of all 401k, lawyer, and now healthcare benefits. So before we jump into that some specific cases, you know, for my listeners, what does fiduciary mean? 23:12 in your business model, right? Please. Yeah. So fiduciary for us is certainly always acting in the best interest of those that you represent. It's the highest standard of care.  So you mentioned a couple of things  earlier, loyalty, obedience. I think the biggest thing where companies may think they're acting as a fiduciary and they're not, because while we carry that duty to our employers and our clients, 23:40 Employers have that duty to all of their employees. And that's something that are kind of educating them because a lot of them don't realize it. But  I think the big duty that is  left out or misunderstood is the duty of prudence.  Okay. So did they go far enough in investigating solutions and understanding the problem and working through it and having a committee within the company to kind of help go through that? Because what I mean, in a compensation package, there is nothing more important 24:10 than the cost of health care and the options in health care, right? And how those decisions are being made.  So I see the duty of  prudence being the kind of  most 24:23 I, the duty with the most opportunity, let's say, maybe, maybe the most misunderstood because  the employer sometimes think, well, you know, the broker came in and he showed me one or two other options.  This is the least worst option. Therefore that's what we're doing. And I think that's enough. Right.  And that is not the case.  And it's only until there's a 40 % increase due, right. It doesn't employer say  my business is not sustainable. 24:51 So actually healthcare is what not the number two or number three expense  in the company's PNL today. Correct. Right. So walk me through some of these  recent lawsuits.  Yeah, I think we have companies like J &J and JP Morgan. Speak to me about that. 25:14 Yeah, J. J. J. P. Morgan, Wells Fargo. A lot of them are almost they're copied and in some parts of the complaint,  because it's very much the same thing. the first one we saw was  Lewandowski versus Johnson and Johnson. And this is for their health care plan. You know, they're a Fortune 50 company.  I think they somewhere around 160,000 employees. 25:42 and they have a benefits committee and a benefits team of 16 or 18 people. So a big team of people to help make these decisions, understand them and vet them. And the lawsuit is basically for their decision of pharmacy benefit manager. So a pharmacy benefit manager essentially sets the price for any drugs that employees could get within the plan. And it lays out 35 or so specific examples of drugs 26:12 but basically they agreed to pay  up to  13,000 times  the cost of the drug that's available, just cash pay.  employee and employer funds are agreeing to pay that kind of multiple on a drug that's available without insurance, much, much cheaper.  And the  lawsuit is brought by the plaintiffs, who are they? 26:40 am Lewandowski. So she's she's the plaintiff. And then I believe as it's developed, other employees have kind of came on. So 13,000 was it do you know, I know that you're not directly involved in this case. Nor should you speak to it if that is the case. But is the transparency of the data? Can you get that data if you were an employee to then understand the 27:09 multiples that your employer plan has agreed to pay to the pharmacy benefit. I'm aghast. 13, I think the number is 13,226. So when this came out last January, the first thing I did is I read through the whole complaint. It was like 130 pages went through all these. So for all the drugs that were mentioned, I ran 27:40 J &J's prices, again, Fortune 50, 150, 160,000 employees. So you would assume they're getting leveraged prices, they're making great decisions, all those kinds of things. I ran those prices against what my clients were paying. And in the smallest, like I think our smallest in my book of business, like 100 insured employees somewhere around there, they were paying 94 % less. 28:06 for the same, for one fill of all the same drugs. So the math worked out to be like 135,000 for J &J for one fill of each of those. And my clients were like 3000 or 4000, don't know, it's all my LinkedIn. posted the public letter as soon as it came out. But I basically price referenced them. So it's not a question of leverage or buying power, know, all the ridiculous things you hear. 28:34 when you're talking to  an insurance broker for these types of decisions,  it's literally, it comes down to that question of prudence. Like,  how did you vet these decisions?  Do you know how the pharmacy benefit manager is getting paid? Do you know what these drug benchmarks are against the cash price?  And that's  where I think this lawsuit is gonna be a slam dunk. Like, there is no reason for a company that size with that big of a benefits committee to hire such a conflicted PBM, is what they call it. 29:04 You heard it here on the founder sandbox. So stay tuned for  any other  lawsuits that are  worthy of mention. Do all of them? Are they all related to the pharmacy benefit manager conundrum?  There's there's all kinds of lawsuits. I think the PBMs are the lowest hanging fruit because it's so easy to benchmark. But certainly the same arguments exist with  hospital reimbursement rates. 29:33 And we're starting to see those as well. Excellent. Well, thank you  for sharing  a bit more  details on  the  recent,  I guess,  health care benefits in the news, right? Lawsuits.  Going to get a little bit technical here. 29:57 because you allowed me to.  the framework of the CAA of 2020 and 2021, that's the minimum set of standards for activities to benchmark health care plans.  And so  what are they?  Because it then leads into  some of the common sense strategies  that employers can deploy immediately.  So can you walk? Because this is just as yesterday, it's actually during the pandemic. What's the CAA? 30:27 of 2020, 2021. Thank you. Yeah. So that's the interesting part of this. So the reason I said a decade ago, over a decade ago, I was waiting for these health care lawsuits to happen. It's because Arissa has always stated that  employers have this fiduciary responsibility, just like they had with  401k. The problem has been, and the reason these lawsuits didn't come sooner, is that health insurance companies  make this data hard to access. 30:56 different carriers were released different amounts.  And there was no set of compliance standards for employers to understand this is how I go about making it, making these decisions and benchmarking these decisions, right? Like  it was all just too vague, too opaque. The data was too gagged and withheld from the employers.  So the starting point of how do I know I'm being prudent or not, that's kind of what wasn't known prior to the  CAA of 2021. 31:27 So  the CAA  basically defined a set of minimum standards  that you have to do to even pretend like you're being a prudent fiduciary for your healthcare plan. So there's four things, but there's three main things. I'll mention the fourth thing as well, because there's funny stuff about that.  So the first one  should be the most obvious, and  it's kind of our founding story, which is understanding 31:53 your broker compensation before you enter into any arrangement or agreement for your upcoming plan. So that should not only be how much,  it should be when, what type of bonus is there. If you're looking at carrier A, B, and C, really what it says is you should know what is their compensation for carrier A, B, and C before you make an arrangement, because they will be different. And that will change the recommendation, the advice, the conversation that you're having with that broker. 32:23 is critical. That is so critical. And  in reading these transparency commission  disclosures from  brokers, it is wild, the stuff that they put in there and how conflicted their advice is.  One of them that I looked at last week said, broker acknowledges that their parent company has equity in the insurance carriers that they're recommending. Oh my gosh. So they're essentially saying, 32:52 We are an insurance company that's going to bias our recommendations to the own companies we have equity in. It's like, that's no longer a party you should take advice from, right? 33:07 Okay, so that's part one.  Yeah, no, this is this is  and you know,  I without it's gonna get too technical because the gag clause and  the prescription DC reporting so that you know, basically CAA has provided the set of benchmarks, right, which  you need to at least checkmark right before you actually do. 33:35 engage or decide on your employer benefit plan.  Yeah. To be in compliance with your fiduciary duty, particularly that of prudence. Yeah.  Yeah. And I think companies shouldn't look at as a checkmark. I think if they apply it with a good faith effort, they'll see like, oh,  it's not compliance. This is a framework  for making better decisions.  Right.  And that's what it's meant to do. It's meant to say, 34:05 Know your compensation, know your drug benchmarks,  and  eliminate any gag clauses to your data because you need your data to make decisions. So I think if companies make a faith effort, they'll automatically get better outcomes. That's the way here. Excellent. Well, thank you, Donovan. I want to give me this time to actually  speak about  how to contact you,  your company. But more importantly, 34:34 There is  you're hosting a webinar on August 14, which is right around the corner. Can you  give us some more details?  The details will be in the show notes,  but speak to the event that ethos benefits is hosting on August 14 2025. Thanks. Yeah, thank  you.  Yeah. So on the 14th, we're doing a fiduciary workshop masterclass, which is basically understanding what your 35:03 what your duties are, how to get through them, how to navigate them, how to have this framework for decision making and document that process as well. And it's all geared towards just achieving those better outcomes for your company, eliminating any of these risks and really creating positive results for your people. Excellent. And any information with respect to how to reach out to you beyond the- Yeah, sorry. the registration is on a banner on the top of our 35:33 on our homepage. So ethos benefits.com. If you connect with me on LinkedIn, LinkedIn,  Donovan, ragas, you can find it there as well.  Great. Well, I'm coming to the  part of my podcast, which  brings us back to the sandbox.  In my work, I'm all about working with purpose driven, scalable, and resilient companies. 36:00 And so I ask my guest, what is the meaning of each of those terms? What does purpose mean to you? 36:08 Purpose, what does it mean to you? That's such a big question that you can go a lot away from. You know, I feel like purpose should be almost like a hidden driver. It's almost not like a well-considered thing. It's just kind of driving you forward.  I think our purpose  is progress,  right? Like if something can be done better, it should be and just kind of moving forward with that. 36:35 We're trying to move one company at a time, but also the industry and better outcomes  for the country. 36:43 And that good feel factor when you get up in the morning and know that you're doing good, right? Yeah, absolutely. Let's just sleep well at night. Right? Yes. Amazing. How about resilience? You did share with me off  camera that yeah, while you abandoned the financials,  advisory role, it took almost five years, right to really find product market fit, right  and build this because it's a very unknown right industry. 37:12 unknown service within a very, very  complex industry, right? Yeah. So resilience for you, what does that mean?  Yeah, I think you're right. You know, it took us a while because we were sharing such a wildly different message than what people were hearing from their brokers. And sometimes they look at you and be like, well, you're small, they're big, that must mean they're right, right.  So I think resilience is being able to go from 37:42 failure to failure without any loss in energy, right? So when something doesn't go your way and you have an obstacle, an outcome that is less than desired, it's about being able to push on still without losing any of your optimism or energy. And that's all we do. So. Thank you for what you do. And scalable. What does scalable mean? 38:07 Scalable is certainly about having an actual documented process. I think when you're getting into something new as a company or a new system or procedure process, if it's not something that everybody in the company could repeat in the same way that I do, just inherently the way I do it because of my background and education, if it's not repeatable for everybody and everybody doesn't understand the purpose for those steps, 38:36 the outcomes from those steps, like the end result, it's definitely not gonna be scalable. Thank you. Final question. Did you have fun on the sandbox today? I did. Thank you so much for having  me. Thank you, Donovan.  So to my listeners, if you liked this episode with Donovan Rikas from Ethos Benefits,  sign up for the monthly release of founders, business owners, corporate directors, and professional service providers that share their experiences. 39:06 and how to build with strong governance a resilient, scalable, and purpose-driven company to make profits for good. Signing off for this month, thank you very much. Have a great day.  

This week  J  & J dig into Jared's hilarious origin story as a summer camper in New England, and how it still resonates with his life today. The episode kicks off with listener feedback on Jared's ongoing Summer Dating Challenge, followed by a laugh-out-loud “Icky or Picky” that's both “yummy” and divisive. Next, the hosts answer a listener's question about how to date more intentionally in a world full of people still "figuring out their relationship type." Finally, J+J wrap up with a Red Flag or Deal Breakers, where they dive into travel compatibility, the chronic relationship type, and a bold move from someone handing out their number. 00:00 - Intro 13:00 - Jared's New England Camp Days 20:39 - Summer Dating Challenge 39:12 - More Is Not More 54:01 - Different Vacation Styles in Couples #Dating #Advice #Hinge #Debate #RedFlag #Dealbreaker #DatingApps #Podcast #Summer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions. When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, LG or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.Devin: What is your superpower?Diana: Relentless passion.Breast cancer treatment is long overdue for a revolution. Diana Tucker, CEO of SenoGuard, is leading the charge with an innovative alternative to post-lumpectomy radiation. Using advanced cryoablation technology, SenoGuard freezes the cavity where a tumor is removed, eliminating residual cancer cells in one procedure.Radiation has been the standard of care for decades, but it comes with significant physical, emotional, and financial costs. Diana explained in today's episode, “Radiation is horrible both clinically and cosmetically. It changes the shape, size, and feel of the breast. Many women face long-term emotional and physical side effects.” She shared the tragic story of a young breast cancer survivor whose radiation treatment ultimately damaged her heart. “I am very passionate about eliminating radiation if at all possible,” she said.SenoGuard's approach simplifies treatment. “The patient goes in for her tumor excision, and immediately we freeze the cavity where the tumor has been removed,” Diana said. “It's one and done. The patient can go back to work the very next day.” This innovation not only reduces the physical toll on patients but also addresses significant disparities in access to care. Many women forego lumpectomies because daily radiation sessions are unaffordable or inaccessible, especially in rural areas. Diana noted, “Almost 30% of women who qualify for a lumpectomy choose mastectomy instead because they can't afford the time or cost of radiation.”To bring this groundbreaking technology to market, SenoGuard is raising capital through a regulated investment crowdfunding campaign on WeFunder. Diana emphasized the importance of public support, saying, “Everybody knows someone who has had breast cancer. By investing, people feel they are not just supporting a cause but making a difference for society.”SenoGuard's cryoablation technology has the potential to transform breast cancer treatment, making it less toxic, more accessible, and kinder to patients. By supporting their crowdfunding campaign, you could help bring this life-changing innovation to millions of women.tl;dr:Diana Tucker shared how SenoGuard's cryoablation technology eliminates the need for post-lumpectomy radiation.Radiation's side effects often force women to choose mastectomies, highlighting the need for better options.SenoGuard's innovation reduces treatment time, costs, and disparities in accessing breast cancer care.Diana described her relentless passion and how it drives her to overcome challenges in her work.SenoGuard is raising funds via a WeFunder campaign to bring this life-changing technology to market.How to Develop Relentless Passion As a SuperpowerDiana Tucker's superpower is her relentless passion for solving problems she truly believes in. As she explained in today's episode, “When I have a sincere understanding, I become very passionate, enthusiastic, and relentless to get that…across the finish line.” Her superpower drives her to tackle challenges with unwavering determination, especially when the stakes are high.Story Illustrating SuperpowerDiana shared a story from her early career, where she was tasked with bringing a French ophthalmology solution to the U.S. market. “The CEO told me, ‘If you can figure out how to bring this over to America, you have a job. If you can't, you're fired.'” Fueled by determination, she successfully introduced the technology, which became the standard of care. Years later, an ophthalmologist recognized her contribution with heartfelt gratitude, highlighting the profound and lasting impact of her work.Tips for Developing the SuperpowerFind Your Passion: Identify problems that deeply resonate with you to fuel your enthusiasm and drive.Share Your Vision: Build a team by inspiring others with your passion and clear vision.Never Give Up: When faced with roadblocks, find creative workarounds to keep moving forward.Believe in Yourself: Confidence in your abilities is key to overcoming challenges and achieving your goals.By following Diana's example and advice, you can make relentless passion a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileDiana Tucker (she/her):CEO, SenoGuardAbout SenoGuard: SenoGuard is pioneering a transformative approach to breast cancer treatment by offering a radiation-free alternative following lumpectomy. Our innovative technology uses advanced cryoablation--freezing residual cancer cells during surgery--to eliminate the need for weeks of post-op radiation.This method significantly reduces patient burden, especially for the 28% who face barriers like distance, cost, or time constraints.Supported by National Science Foundation grants, SenoGuard's solution is designed to be accessible in community hospitals, expanding treatment options globally. Led by a seasoned team with over a century of combined experience in women's healthcare, SenoGuard is committed to enhancing patient outcomes and accessibility.Website: SenoGuard.comCompany Facebook Page: facebook.com/senoguardOther URL: wefunder.com/senoguardincBiographical Information: Diana Tucker is a strategic marketing executive with a distinguished track record in launching and growing innovative, paradigm-shifting medical technologies. With deep expertise in market analysis and opportunity identification, she has led high-impact global marketing initiatives across diagnostics, medical devices, and oncology. Known for her ability to anticipate market trends and apply creative strategies that drive adoption of innovative products, Diana has held leadership roles at companies such as Agendia, AMO, and J&J; as well as being a contributing editor for Thompson Reuters Biomedical Business International newsletter covering financial impacts of emerging technologies across all surgical specialties worldwide.  Diana has continually demonstrated her talent for turning unmet clinical needs into successful business opportunities. Diana holds a B.S. in Molecular & Cellular Biology from UC Irvine and an MBA in Marketing from Pepperdine University.Personal Facebook Profile: facebook.com/dianatuckerLinkedin: linkedin.com/in/dianaltuckerSupport Our SponsorsOur generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today's advertisers include FundingHope, Rancho Affordable Housing (Proactive), and Dopple. Learn more about advertising with us here.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Hiten Sonpal, RISE Robotics | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear |  Matthew Mead, Hempitecture |  Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Dr. Nicole Paulk, Siren Biotechnology | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on August 19, 2025, at 1:30 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.SuperCrowdHour, August 20, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe, CEO and Founder of The Super Crowd, Inc., will lead a session on "Your Portal, Your Future: How to Choose the Right Reg CF Platform." With so many investment crowdfunding portals available today, selecting the right one can be overwhelming for both founders and investors. In this session, Devin will break down the critical factors to consider—such as platform fees, audience demographics, compliance support, industry focus, and overall user experience. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or an investor exploring where to put your dollars to work, you'll walk away with a clearer understanding of how to evaluate and choose the platform that best aligns with your goals. Don't miss this practical, insight-packed hour designed to help you take your next step in the Reg CF ecosystem with confidence.SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. Apply for the Live Pitch here. VIPs get access to our better-than-in-person networking, including backstage passes, VIP networking and an exclusive VIP webinar! Get your VIP access for just $25. A select group of affordable sponsorship opportunities is still available. Learn more here.Community Event CalendarSuccessful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.Join Dorian Dickinson, founder & CEO of FundingHope, for Startup.com's monthly crowdfunding workshop, where he'll dive into strategies for successfully raising capital through investment crowdfunding. June 24 at noon Eastern.Future Forward Summit: San Francisco, Wednesday, June 25 · 3:30 - 8:30 pm PDT.Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Impact Accelerator Summit is a live in-person event taking place in Austin, Texas, from October 23–25, 2025. This exclusive gathering brings together 100 heart-centered, conscious entrepreneurs generating $1M+ in revenue with 20–30 family offices and venture funds actively seeking to invest in world-changing businesses. Referred by Michael Dash, participants can expect an inspiring, high-impact experience focused on capital connection, growth, and global impact.Call for community action:Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefiting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

This Day in Legal History: Medicare and Medicaid Signed into BeingOn July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Social Security Amendments of 1965 into law, creating the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The signing took place at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri, with former President Harry S. Truman—an early advocate for national health insurance—present and symbolically receiving the first Medicare card. Medicare was designed to provide hospital and medical insurance to Americans aged 65 and older, regardless of income or medical history. Medicaid, created alongside Medicare, offered healthcare assistance to low-income individuals and families.At the time, nearly half of Americans over 65 had no health insurance. The passage of Medicare was a landmark achievement of Johnson's Great Society initiative and built on decades of political struggle over healthcare reform. The legislation amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act and was strongly opposed by many in the medical establishment and conservative politicians who labeled it as “socialized medicine.” Nevertheless, the program gained rapid popularity and provided immediate relief to millions.Administered by the federal government, Medicare initially had two parts: Part A, covering hospital insurance, and Part B, covering outpatient and physician services. It has since evolved to include prescription drug coverage (Part D) and options for private plans (Medicare Advantage). The law reshaped the American healthcare landscape and established the principle that access to healthcare for seniors was a federal responsibility.The U.S. Senate confirmed Emil Bove, a former lawyer for Donald Trump and senior Justice Department official, to a lifetime seat on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a narrow 50-49 vote. Bove faced unified Democratic opposition and criticism from over 900 former DOJ employees, who claimed he undermined the department's integrity. His nomination prompted a Democratic walkout during the Senate Judiciary Committee's vote and drew sharp condemnation from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.Despite controversy, Republicans praised Bove's background as a federal terrorism prosecutor and his legal work defending Trump in several criminal cases. His confirmation shifts the appellate court's balance back in favor of Republican appointees. Critics cited Bove's alleged directives that defied judicial authority and political interference in a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams. Bove denied wrongdoing in both instances. His confirmation is part of Trump's renewed effort in his second term to reshape the judiciary, following over 230 appointments in his first term. Trump has also nominated another close adviser, Jennifer Mascott, to the same court.Trump lawyer Bove confirmed to US appeals court, overcoming Democratic opposition | ReutersBove Confirmed to Appeals Court After Whistleblowers Emerge (1)A White House crypto task force established by President Trump is set to release a highly anticipated report outlining the administration's policy goals for the digital asset sector. The report, expected Wednesday, will address tokenization, market structure legislation, and a regulatory framework for blockchain-based financial products. Created by executive order shortly after Trump took office in January, the group is led by Bo Hines and includes top officials such as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and SEC Chair Paul Atkins.The document is expected to support expanded use of tokenization, which converts traditional assets like stocks and real estate into blockchain-based tokens. The report may call on the SEC to create a framework enabling firms like Coinbase to offer tokenized securities, though specific language remains under wraps. It will also outline the White House's preferences for crypto legislation currently advancing in Congress, including follow-up to the recently passed stablecoin law.Trump has made pro-crypto policies a centerpiece of his administration, reversing many of the enforcement actions taken under President Biden, such as lawsuits against Coinbase and Binance. While the industry sees the report as a roadmap for mainstream integration, concerns remain about conflicts of interest, particularly given Trump's financial ties to crypto ventures and meme coins. The administration has denied any ethical violations.White House set to unveil closely watched crypto policy report | ReutersThe Trump administration has formally requested the release of grand jury transcripts related to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, citing public interest and mounting pressure over the government's handling of the sex trafficking cases. Prosecutors filed late-night motions with U.S. District Judges Richard Berman and Paul Engelmayer, arguing that the sealed testimony should now be disclosed, though the judges had previously asked for stronger legal justification. Grand jury records are typically secret, with limited exceptions for disclosure.Trump said he directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to seek the unsealing after the Justice Department reaffirmed its conclusion that Epstein died by suicide and that there was no list of elite clients—a stance that frustrated some Trump supporters who suspect a cover-up. Epstein died in 2019 before his trial; Maxwell, convicted in 2021, is serving a 20-year sentence and has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction.In a related effort, a Florida judge recently denied a separate request to release grand jury records from earlier state investigations into Epstein, ruling they did not meet legal exceptions. Even if the federal judges allow the current transcripts to be unsealed, the documents may not reveal new information, since much of the testimony was covered during Maxwell's trial. The transcripts also wouldn't encompass the full scope of investigative material held by the government.Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, a former Trump lawyer, recently met with Maxwell for two days, reportedly seeking any names or evidence she could provide about others potentially involved. Neither Blanche nor Maxwell's attorney has commented in detail on those meetings.Trump administration asks judges to release Epstein, Maxwell grand jury transcripts | ReutersA Massachusetts jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay over $42 million to Paul Lovell, who developed mesothelioma after decades of using the company's talc products. Lovell and his wife sued in 2021, claiming the talc contained asbestos that he unknowingly inhaled, and accused J&J of failing to warn consumers despite knowing the risks. The jury awarded damages for pain, suffering, and medical costs.J&J denied any wrongdoing, calling the verdict “junk science” and saying its products are asbestos-free and safe, with plans to appeal the decision. The company ended U.S. sales of talc-based baby powder in 2020. This case adds to a string of multi-million-dollar verdicts against J&J in talc-related mesothelioma lawsuits, although some have been overturned on appeal.J&J is facing over 63,000 active lawsuits, and possibly up to 100,000 claims in total, most alleging ovarian cancer from talc use. The company's attempts to resolve the claims through bankruptcy have failed in court three times, including a $10 billion settlement proposal rejected in March. The Lovell case is part of ongoing litigation that continues to test J&J's legal strategy and product safety claims.Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $42M after jury finds talc caused man's cancer | Reuters This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe

(1) Caitlyn Clark update, Taylor Rooks gets married & J&J on HS earrings & more (2) Frank Bonner, Daily Memphian Tigers Football, on Memphis QB & Silverfield

Hear Christopher McKim's journey with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and the latest clinical trial results from dermatologist, Dr. Christine Cornejo. Join this discussion with moderator Archie Franklin as Christopher McKim, a BMS employee living with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and Dr. Christine Cornejo, Director and US Medical Engagement Lead for Dermatology and Rheumatology at BMS, offer a patient and physician's perspective on treating plaque psoriasis from the inside. Listen as Chris presents his journey along with Dr. Cornejo addressing effectiveness and safety information with clinical trial results for a prescription oral treatment option. The intent of this episode is to encourage those who have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis to work with their health care provider to find a treatment option that is right for them. This episode is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb. For more information view Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide . ·       (0:00)   Intro to Psoriasis Uncovered and guest welcome to Bristol Myers Squibb employee and patient Christopher McKim and Dr. Christine Cornejo, Director and US Medical Engagement Lead for Dermatology and Rheumatology at Bristol Myers Squibb. ·       (2:15)  Where the journey to finding the right treatment option for Chris and his moderate to severe plaque psoriasis began.  ·       (3:09)   The decision by Chris and his provider to try an oral systemic medication. ·       (3:28)  The effects and impact of an oral systemic treatment for Chris and his plaque psoriasis. ·       (4:09)   Dr. Cornejo addresses efficacy and clinical trials results. ·       (5:58)   Common side effects and safety concerns for the treatment Chris and his health care provider decided to try.   ·       (6:28)   Health considerations patients and providers should discuss prior to using a systemic treatment.    ·       (6:54)   What to do should side effects occur. ·       (7:10)   How Chris feels with clearer skin after making a change in treatment. ·       (8:14)   Indication and Important Safety Information. Key Takeaways: ·       Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis is a systemic disease.    ·       If you're ready to treat from the inside there is a treatment option that may help.   ·       Work with a health care provider to find the right treatment for moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.   ·       Be proactive by taking steps to learn about treatment options including effectiveness, side effects, safety concerns, and what should be discussed with a health care provider before beginning a new treatment for plaque psoriasis.  Guest Bios:   Christopher (Chris) McKim joined BMS in June of 2022. In his current role he is a Regional Marketer for the dermatology division, prior to that he provided support for 9 Therapeutic Area Specialists for the Pacific South District in the GI division.  Prior to joining BMS, Chris worked at Sanofi, J&J, Leo Pharma, and Sun Pharma in various field and home office roles. Chris resides in beautiful San Diego with his family Susan (wife), Morgan 18, Maddy 16, Mason 14 and two Golden Retrievers and enjoys traveling, cooking and anything associated with the ocean (Deep Sea Fishing, S.C.U.B.A. diving, snorkeling, and boogie boarding). Dr. Christine Cornejo joined Bristol Myers Squibb in 2024 as Director, Medical Engagement Lead for Dermatology and Rheumatology. Prior to joining BMS, she practiced dermatology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA, where she specialized in melanoma and high-risk skin cancer management and served as the Director of Confocal Microscopy. She also served as an Instructor at Harvard Medical School and led the Immunology and Infectious Diseases course for 1st year medical students. Resources: Current Oral Systemic Treatments For additional questions about treatment options contact the NPF Patient Navigation Center

(1) Hulk Hogan passed away, OVER/UNDERS on Memphis FB, Memphis Hoops (2) Drew Hill, Daily Memphian, with J&J on Grizz summer and the stadium lease

(1) ..."Cam" Mr. Beast winner continued then news of Ozzy Osbourne passing away at 76 (2) Justin Fuente joined J&J to discuss Memphis, stepping into radio, and NIL (3) NFL notes including 49ers news, Raiders, and Pete Carroll

(1) "Cap or No Cap" Silverfield #16th best coach? Grizzlies Lease go or no go? (2) Jessica Benson, Grind City, w/J&J on Memphis, the Big 12, & Grizz Summer

(1) William Bedford, Memphis Tigers, Bedford, Derrick Rose with Gary Parrish archive (2) Bennett Doyle joins J&J in-studio and talks about Family Vacas (3) Bennett Doyle with J&J on the Titans (4) CEO and the mistress

J&J high school jobs, Summer Grizz & Iisalo Dandridge NCAA & Lionel Hollins fun

The show opens with June's PPI numbers and we were below expectations, showing inflation still isn't a problem, despite the dire warnings from so many. VP Vance cast the tie breaking vote to push the first recission bill through, cutting $9B in spending, including $1B for NPR and PBS. President Trump also announced saving the largest natural gas energy plant in all of North America while he was in Pennsylvania. Then, today, he announced a huge deal with the country of Bahrain. We have to return to more Epstein conversation, but this time, I think I finally have a much better handle on the strategy of this White House. We use a piece produced by CNN's Kaitlin Collins to illustrate what I believe is happening behind the scenes. Next, we dive into an undercover piece from the O'Keefe Media Group catching a J&J scientist throwing their Covid-19 vaccine under the bus. Other scandals discussed include Sen. Adam Schiff's (D-CA) attempt to re-frame his mortgage fraud woes and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) wants criminal charges brought on Dr. Anthony Fauci. The Trump administration is halting all access of illegals to Federal programs, meant to save up to $40B annually. An anti-Semitic professor at Georgetown has been removed as Islamic studies department chair. Trump has convinced a dozen Republicans to support stopping any attempt to form a CBDC. We close with another trade deal win for the United States with Indonesia. And, finally, one of Trump's judge appoints gets through the Senate; it only took six months. Please take a moment to rate and review the show and then share the episode on social media. You can find me on Facebook, X, Instagram, GETTR,  TRUTH Social and YouTube by searching for The Alan Sanders Show. And, consider becoming a sponsor of the show by visiting my Patreon page!!

(1) Memphis needs to win football games... and more in J&J's "Cap or No Cap" (2) Jonah Dylan, Memphis Commercial Appeal, on Tigers & who will be starting QB

In this insightful episode of IDEA Collider, Mike welcomes Mathai Mammen, Chairman and CEO of Parabilis Medicines. Mathai shares his extensive journey through academia, MD PhD program at Harvard, co-founding Theravance, and leadership roles at Merck and J&J. They delve into Mathai's innovative approach to creating transformative medicines, navigating the biotech industry, and the unique challenges of targeting 'undruggable' proteins. They also discuss the role of AI in drug discovery, the importance of strategic risk, and fostering team resilience and spirit in both large and small pharma companies. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background00:56 Founding Thebans and Career Highlights01:43 Leadership at Merck and J&J02:18 Innovative Approaches at Parabilis Medicines04:09 Defining and Tackling Undruggable Targets09:27 Multivalent Drug Design and Bispecifics13:53 AI and Data Science in Drug Development19:28 Building and Leading World-Class Teams25:41 The Importance of Holding Conviction as an Entrepreneur26:25 Learning from Setbacks in the Biotech Industry30:10 Challenges and Innovations in Drug Development32:28 Navigating the Ups and Downs of the Biotech Industry36:02 The Mission and Future of Parabilis40:35 Personal Reflections and Advice for Entrepreneurs46:46 Book Recommendations and Closing Thoughts Don't forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate, and Review! Keep up with Mathai Mammen;LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathai-mammen/Website: https://parabilismed.com/ Follow Mike Rea On;Website: https://www.ideapharma.com/X: https://x.com/ideapharmaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bigidea/ Listen to more fantastic podcast episodes: https://podcast.ideapharma.com/

(1) John's trip, Summer League moves, Mashack, GG Jackson and roster Grizz look (2) J&J go to Jessica Benson in Salt Lake City Summer League on Cam Spencer etc

(1) Odds to be Rookie of the Year for Coward and Grizz process hiring Tuomas Iisalo (2) Bennett Doyle from Grind City Media joins J&J in-studio (3) Round 2 of the NBA Draft live tonight on 92.9 FM ESPN

(1) Cedric Coward picked at #11 by the Memphis Grizzlies & J&J like the pick (2) Drew Hill from the Daily Memphian with J&J on Coward pick & Grizz plan Ja/J

(1) Brad Stevens & Celtics wizardry & J&J remember Joe Lee McNelis remembered (2) Grizzlies #16 pick and a mock draft look for tonight's 1st round

(1) Oklahoma City win the 2025 NBA Title and got some injury help with Haliburton (2) J&J on Durant trade and what the Grizzlies should do with #16 1st Rounder

Day 2: J&J on Stephen A. Smith Memphis crime follow up comments

Jason Fitz--with J&J on Stephen A. Smith using crime stats to hammer Memphis and referencing Jimmy Butler

(1) OKC wins Game 5 & Stephen A Smith blames Memphis crime for player issues (2) Jessica Benson joins J&J on Bane trade + Ja Morants tweets love for the 901

Science and technology will bring more change to health care over the next decade than we saw in the past century, says Joaquin Duato, Chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson, and a 2025 Distinguished Leadership Award honoree. What drives his confidence, and how is the company creating this future?     Join David K. Young and Duato to discover what he has learned in 36 years at J&J, how the company innovates in science and technology, and how the company supports employees and communities.  This Leadership in Challenging Times discussion is featured as a C-Suite Perspectives podcast and a special CED Policy Watch Webcast. Leadership in Challenging Times features timely and insightful discussions with the outstanding CEOs who are recipients of CED's Distinguished Leadership Awards. Business leader honorees discuss the unprecedented challenges facing the nation and how they are helping chart a path forward for both their companies and communities in which they operate.      (04:08) Leadership Philosophy and Company Culture (06:48) Secrets to Johnson & Johnson's Longevity (09:11) Transforming Health Care with Science and Technology (12:09) Investment Strategies in Health Care Innovation (15:53) Advancing Technology and AI at Johnson & Johnson (18:38) Addressing the Global Health Care Workforce Shortfall (19:41) Ensuring Access to Health Care for Underserved Communities   For more from The Conference Board:  CED Announces Recipients of Its 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards  CED Distinguished Leadership Awards Celebration 

(1) Ja Morant leaves Mike Miller agency and more on Game 4 of the NBA Finals (2) Anthony Sain from BCM joins J&J to discuss Ja agent move and more

NFL and local football: Olive Branch, Miss State and NFL Super Bowl Champion KJ Wright in-studio with J&J

(1) ... Okc vs Pacers continued...then Calvin Austin is in prime position to be the #2 receiver for Aaron&Steelers (2) Jason Fitz, Yahoo! Radio, joins J&J and reviews NBA Finals & a look at NFL

Memphis Tigers: Frank Bonner, Daily Memphian, with J&J on Silverfield expectations and Memphis' QB situation

(1) Respect Burgers for Michael Beasley, Sons of famous dads, & John's Riley (2) Geoff Calkins on Grizz decisions in light of Edey injury and OKC vs. Pacers (3) J&J presented by Robert Irwin Jewelers & more on Rick Carlisle & Pacers

(1) Zach Edey is out for the start of '25 season. J&J toss out some options (2) Game 2 NBA Finals SGA cooked and continues to cook + Beasley 1-v-1 v Lance Stephenson

..."Fade Brad" NBA continued from Hour 2 (1) NBA finals history (2) Parth Upadhyaya from the Daily Memphian on the Tigers non-conf and more (3) Sonic sponsors J&J + more on Novak Djokic

(1) Rundown on Memphis adding Utah State to basketball schedule, NBA Finals and Aaron Rodgers (2) Legends talk from J&J on Novak Djokic, Agassi and Tennis (3) "Fade Brad" start/ NBA

(1) Over/Unders - SGA points, total series games for NBA Finals, Crazy NY sports radio rants (2) Drew Hill, Daily Memphian Grizzlies Beat, joins J&J to discuss Grizz moves, the Finals, NY Knicks coaching search and parenthood

(1) J&J discuss if Memphis is the biggest loser in college basketball off-season (2) John Henson, Former NBA Star/North Carolina and Field of 68, discussed UNC NIL, Kentucky and college hoops with J&J

(1) Memphis Football times released (2) Story about All-American Rejects & "Fade Brad" pick for tonight (3) Rob Dauster-College BB Insider Field of 68-on Tourney expansion & Haggerty (4) J&J on Aaron Rodgers, Steelers OTAs, & Pickens with Pittsburgh

(1) J&J's Over Unders on years remaining for Conley in the NBA & NYK v Pacers (2) Drew Hill, Daily Memphian, on Mike Conley, Grizz vs. Thunder future & CBB

(1) J&J the improbable comeback by the Indiana Pacers and Haliburton (2) Drew Hill joins J&J on Jaren contract, SGA, NBA Playoffs & more on Precious

(1) "Fade Brad" with special info on the Cosby Family and Knicks game tonight (2) Coach Norton Hurd IV - joins J&J to discuss amazing Memphis EYBL NIKE event

(1) J&J discuss the Pacers, Knicks and the Oklahoma City Thunder moving on past Jokic and the Nuggets (2) Jason gives a full report on Massive NIKE EYBL event in Memphis & Ja shoes

Josh Pastner, UNLV Head Coach, joins J&J (5/14) to discuss Memphis vs. UNLV matchup, recruiting, and Tigers

It's In the News.. a look at the top headlines and stories in the diabetes community. This week's top stories: A new Austrailian study aims to prevent type 1, the new twiist pump will integrate with Eversnse CGM as well as Libre, diabetes deaths are down in the US, Dexcom U is looking for college athletes, and more! Find out more about Moms' Night Out  Please visit our Sponsors & Partners - they help make the show possible! Learn more about Gvoke Glucagon Gvoke HypoPen® (glucagon injection): Glucagon Injection For Very Low Blood Sugar (gvokeglucagon.com) Omnipod - Simplify Life Learn about Dexcom   Check out VIVI Cap to protect your insulin from extreme temperatures The best way to keep up with Stacey and the show is by signing up for our weekly newsletter: Sign up for our newsletter here Here's where to find us: Facebook (Group) Facebook (Page) Instagram Twitter Check out Stacey's books! Learn more about everything at our home page www.diabetes-connections.com  Reach out with questions or comments: info@diabetes-connections.com Episode transcription with links: Hello and welcome to Diabetes Connections In the News! I'm Stacey Simms and every other Friday I bring you a short episode with the top diabetes stories and headlines happening now. XX A world-first human trial of a drug designed to treat the underlying cause of type 1 diabetes has begun in Australia. University of Queensland researcher Ranjeny Thomas said the experimental drug — dubbed ASITI-201 — was designed to retrain the immune system so it no longer attacks the insulin-producing pancreatic cells, known as beta cells. The drug, given as an injection under the skin, combines fragments of a protein found in the beta cells of people with type 1 diabetes and vitamin D to calm the immune response. She said if effective, the drug would initially be given to patients with type 1 diabetes as soon as possible after diagnosis to preserve remaining pancreatic cells and reduce the amount of insulin needed. But eventually, if screening programs can be developed to pick up people at risk of developing type 1 diabetes, it may be possible to "prevent the progression of the disease altogether". The first in-human trial of 36 participants will test the safety of the drug, but blood tests will also determine the impact of the therapy on a patient's immune system and glucose tolerance. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-29/type-1-diabetes-drug-trial-auto-immune-disease-science/105223022 XX   Diabetes deaths in the U.S. have fallen to some of the lowest rates in years, according to new preliminary figures published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reversing a surge in mortality that was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.   There were 26.4 deaths per 100,000 people from diabetes, according to early death certificate data for the third quarter of 2024 published this month by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics.   Death rates from diabetes peaked in 2021, according to CDC figures, at 31.1 deaths per 100,000 people for that year. Diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in 2021. The CDC says the link between COVID-19 and diabetes may be to blame for that increase.   "Data show an increase in mortality rates for all people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and research shows that people with underlying conditions, including diabetes, are more likely to become very sick from COVID-19 and have a higher risk of hospitalization and death," Christopher Holliday, head of the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, told CBS News in a statement.   Holliday added that research shows the pandemic may also have made it harder for Americans to properly manage the disease, ranging from interruptions to physical activity to disruptions to routine medical care diagnosing and treating the disease.   https://www.cbsnews.com/news/diabetes-deaths-lowest-levels-years-early-cdc-figures/ XX Big news for the Eversense CGM – they have their first pump partner. Sequel Med Tech says the twist pump will integrate with Senseonics Eversense 365 continuous glucose monitor (CGM). This collaboration would make twiist the first AID system compatible with Eversense 365, the world's first and only one-year CGM. Sequel and Senseonics say they have already started their work to integrate the latest-generation, 365-day implantable sensor with twiist. They expect to make the integrated offering available in the third quarter of this year. This marks the second CGM integration for Sequel, which partnered with Abbott and its FreeStyle Libre platform earlier this year. This week we also got a peek at the packaging and delivery of the twist as the first people posted about wearing it. We'll follow up and learn more about this newest insulin pump in the us. Senseonics, meanwhile, brought the first year-long CGM to market last year, launching Eversense 365 with its global distribution partner, Ascensia Diabetes Care, in October 2024. The system also received clearance as an integrated CGM (iCGM) system, meaning it can work with compatible medical devices. Those include insulin pumps as part of automated insulin delivery systems. https://www.drugdeliverybusiness.com/sequel-senseonics-integrate-cgm-insulin-pump/ XX Medtronic has announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the Simplera Sync sensor for use with the MiniMed 780G system. With this approval, the MiniMed 780G system now offers more flexibility for users of the company's most advanced insulin delivery system featuring Meal Detection technology with both the Guardian 4 sensor and Simplera Sync sensor.   The Simplera Sync is a disposable, all-in-one sensor that requires no fingersticks with SmartGuard or overtape and features a simple, two-step insertion process. It is the company's newest addition to its CGM portfolio, which expands options and provides greater flexibility for users.   The MiniMed 780G system's adaptive algorithm automatically anticipates, adjusts, and corrects glucose levels every 5 minutes, 24/7 – working around the clock so users can focus on what matters. It's the only system featuring Meal Detection technology, which detects rising sugar levels and delivers more insulin as needed to help users keep glucose levels in range more often – even when users occasionally forget to dose insulin for snacks or meals or underestimate their carbs.   The system uses a “treat to target” approach and flexible glucose targets as low as 100 mg/dL, which, combined with its adaptive algorithm allows it to more closely mirror the glucose levels of someone not living with diabetes.   Real-world data of the system shows global users consistently achieve time in range above international targets of 70% when using optimal settings (active insulin time of two hours and 100 mg/dL target glucose). It is also the only system that works with the world's only infusion set that lasts up to 7 days so that users only have to change their infusion set once per week and can experience 96% fewer injections compared to multiple daily injections.   “We're committed to driving innovation that makes life easier for those living with diabetes so they can forget about their diabetes as much as possible throughout the day,” said Que Dallara, EVP and president of Medtronic Diabetes. “Our MiniMed 780G system delivers advanced diabetes technology for so many around the world, and we're excited to continue evolving this experience with expanded CGM options —including our Simplera Sync sensor, which we look forward to bringing to people living with diabetes in the U.S.”   A limited launch of the Simplera Sync sensor will begin in the U.S. in the fall of 2025. Today, the MiniMed 780G system can be used with the Guardian 4 sensor.   Like this:https://med-techinsights.com/2025/04/29/simplera-sync-sensor-for-minimed-780g-now-fda-approved/ XX Front office changes at Insulet.. The former head of Johnson & Johnson's worldwide medtech business, Ashley McEvoy will take over as president and CEO from Jim Hollingshead, who has led Insulet since 2022. In its announcement of the leadership change, Insulet said that Hollingshead and the company mutually agreed to part ways, effective immediately. McEvoy served as worldwide medtech chairman at J&J from 2018 until her departure in late 2023, the culmination of nearly 30 years at the company and several executive roles—including president of its Ethicon division and group chairman of vision and diabetes care. Since then, she has also served as a board member at Procter & Gamble. https://www.fiercebiotech.com/medtech/insulet-taps-former-jj-medtech-head-ashley-mcevoy-be-ceo XX New free mobile game launched this week to make type 1 diabetes onboarding faster easier and less overwhelming. It's called Level One.. created by Level Ex (Powered by Relevate Health), the studio behind award-winning medical games for medical professionals. Level Ex CEO Sam Glassenberg created the game after a – quote  - brutal onboarding experience when his daughter was diagnosed five years ago He says  It took a year to understand how to manage this disease. So we fixed it. We built a game that can train your brain to do it in a matter of hours." The game is launching in partnership with leading diabetes organizations Beyond Type 1 and Breakthrough T1D Play, who are integrating Level One into their outreach and educational campaigns to support newly diagnosed families worldwide. Download Level One on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/level-one-a-diabetes-game/id6739605694 Learn more: https://playlevelone.com   https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/level-ex-launches-level-one-a-free-mobile-game-to-redefine-type-1-diabetes-onboarding-302440929.html XX   Collagen is widely recognized for its role in maintaining healthy skin, but its importance extends far beyond that. As the most abundant protein in the human body, collagen provides essential structure and support to nearly all tissues and organs.   Now, researchers at Carnegie Mellon's Feinberg Lab have made a major breakthrough using their novel Freeform Reversible Embedding of Suspended Hydrogels (FRESH) 3D bioprinting technique. This method enables the precise printing of soft, living cells and tissues. Leveraging this technology, the team successfully created the first-ever microphysiologic system, also known as a tissue model, constructed entirely from collagen. This advancement opens new possibilities for studying disease and engineering tissue therapies, including potential treatments for conditions like Type 1 diabetes.   Traditionally, small-scale models of human tissue, referred to as microfluidics, organ-on-chip devices, or microphysiologic systems, have been fabricated using synthetic materials such as silicone rubber or plastics. These materials were necessary due to limitations in earlier manufacturing techniques. However, because they are not biologically native, they fail to fully replicate natural tissue environments, restricting their effectiveness in biomedical research and therapeutic development.   “Now, we can build microfluidic systems in the Petri dish entirely out of collagen, cells, and other proteins, with unprecedented structural resolution and fidelity,” explained Adam Feinberg, a professor of biomedical engineering and materials science & engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. “Most importantly, these models are fully biologic, which means cells function better.”   Building Complex Tissues with FRESH Bioprinting In new research published in Science Advances, the group demonstrates the use of this FRESH bioprinting advancement, building more complex vascularized tissues out of fully biologic materials, to create a pancreatic-like tissue that could potentially be used in the future to treat Type 1 diabetes. This advancement in FRESH bioprinting builds on the team's earlier work published in Science, by improving the resolution and quality to create fluidic channels that are like blood vessels down to about 100-micron diameter.   “There were several key technical developments to the FRESH printing technology that enabled this work,” described Daniel Shiwarski, assistant professor of bioengineering at the University of Pittsburgh and prior postdoctoral fellow in the Feinberg lab. “By implementing a single-step bioprinting fabrication process, we manufactured collagen-based perfusable CHIPS in a wide range of designs that exceed the resolution and printed fidelity of any other known bioprinting approach to date. Further, when combined with multi-material 3D bioprinting of ECM proteins, growth factors, and cell-laden bioinks and integration into a custom bioreactor platform, we were able to create a centimeter-scale pancreatic-like tissue construct capable of producing glucose-stimulated insulin release exceeding current organoid based approaches.” https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-bioprint-living-tissues-that-could-revolutionize-diabetes-treatment/ XX Another study showing the blood sugar benefit of walking after a meal. Skeletal muscle plays a central role in glucose uptake. Exercise stimulates glucose transport into muscle cells through insulin-independent pathways, notably through the action of glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4), which is responsible for transporting glucose from blood to skeletal muscles.4 This means that even without a robust insulin response, physical activity can facilitate glucose clearance from the bloodstream. These effects also occur without requiring high-intensity exercise, making postprandial walking accessible to a broad range of individuals, including those with limited exercise tolerance. multiple studies show that starting activity within 30 minutes after a meal is optimal. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Walking-After-Meals-Small-Habit-Big-Metabolic-Gains.aspx XX Dexcom brings back Dexcom U for a 4th years. This is a name, image and license program for college athletes with diabetes and includes a nationwide open call for passionate and inspiring college athletes to join its roster. Now through May 23, athletes, coaches, friends and family members can nominate candidates through an online submission. Those selected, along with the eight returning athletes from last year, will be invited to attend the Dexcom U Signing Day Camp this summer, hosted by Dexcom Warrior and Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews. https://www.hmenews.com/article/dexcom-u-returns-for-fourth-season

The federal drug purchasing program known as 340B was created in 1992 to help select provider organizations stretch scarce resources to care for patients. More than three decades later, health systems of all shapes and sizes have come to rely on 340B for their financial sustainability. But the program has come under criticism. And in recent years, it's been under more scrutiny, with manufacturers, state governments, and federal regulators proposing changes to how it operates. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Gina Lohr and Chloe Bakst to unpack the origin and controversy around 340B. They debate whether 340B has strayed from its intended purpose and break down the proposed changes to the program, how likely they are to go into effect, and what those changes would mean for health systems. Plus, stay tuned to the end of the episode, where co-host Rae Woods discusses the recent healthcare-focused executive order and what it signals for the future of this administration's drug policy. Let us know what you think about today's discussion, or share your ideas for future episode topics by leaving us a voice message or emailing us. Links: 340B Drug Pricing Program 340B reimbursement cuts may be looming: What you need to know J&J's 340B rebate model is receiving pushback. Here's why. Congress is weighing spending cuts. How will they impact healthcare? [Relentless Health Value] EP448 (Part 1): 340B: Where It Started, Where It Is Now, and Who Is Really Benefiting From This Massive Program, With Shawn Gremminger [Relentless Health Value] EP448 (Part 2): 340B: Why Employers Should Probably Care About What's Happening Here, With Shawn Gremminger GLP-1 innovation showcase A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.