Episodios

  • Jeff Weness: From Geek Squad to AI-Powered Cancer Breakthroughs
    Oct 1 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I had the pleasure of hosting Jeff Weness, VP of Growth & Strategy at RefinedScience. From small-town Minnesota roots to global ventures in digital health and now tackling cancer with AI, Jeff’s journey is as unexpected as it is inspiring. We joked about handstands, Russian accents, and Netflix DVDs (yes, mailed in red envelopes!), but his career lessons are pure gold: listen deeply, solve real problems, and don’t be afraid to reinvent yourself. 🚀 🔑 Top 5 Key Takeaways 🎓 Career pivots can fuel long-term impact 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Partnerships drive innovation in healthcare 🖥️ Geek Squad in hospitals = genius move 💊 Molecule + digital = future of pharma 🤖 AI is reshaping oncology discovery Fun mentions as always: Daniel Couchman Kendall Health Podcast Network John Brownlee Click Therapeutics, Inc. David Benshoof Klein Curio Digital Therapeutics Inc. HealthRHYTHMS Optum 📋 00:00–03:00 | Happy Wednesday banter & Jeff joins 📋 03:00–07:00 | Minnesota roots, 4-H, and Russia exchanges 📋 07:00–11:00 | Insurance career and pivot to MBA/venture 📋 11:00–14:00 | Best Buy innovation & Geek Squad in hospitals 📋 14:00–18:00 | Corporate partnerships at Children’s Minnesota 📋 18:00–23:00 | UnitedHealth & Optum Labs: data, R&D, and digital health 📋 23:00–28:00 | Otsuka: digital therapeutics, patience, and cultural insights 📋 28:00–33:00 | The molecule + digital debate in pharma 📋 33:00–38:00 | Refined Science: AI, oncology, and drug rescue 📋 38:00–46:00 | Cancer prevalence, longevity, and Jeff’s advice: listen deeply
    Más Menos
    47 m
  • Mark Gaunya: Wrestling With Healthcare and Captivating Change
    Sep 24 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I welcomed Mark S. Gaunya, GBA, LIA - benefits innovator, wrestling fanatic, rugby convert, and author - who’s on a mission to transform healthcare from a cost center into an asset. From cutting weight in high school wrestling to cutting healthcare costs, Mark brings equal parts grit, vision, and humor to the conversation. Some highlights: 🤼 Wrestling built resilience, discipline, and vision. 📊 Finance background fuels entrepreneurial leadership. 🏥 Healthcare system works well but for the system itself.... 📖 Insurance captives and small businesses We also talked about his new book "Captivated Health: Take Control. Gain Transparency. Leverage Confidence " (pre-order on Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Captivated-Health-Control-Transparency-Confidence-ebook/dp/B0FDLRTN3M/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K4OHVOK90G8X&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Tm_j3D1shFbNcCw4NyAf7g.KQWzsyxI7bcNVqKl8zp1DYjpRcHsutI26QEvGZx-fIw&dib_tag=se&keywords=Captivated+Health%3A+Take+Control.+Gain+Transparency.+Leverage+Confidence&qid=1758741583&sprefix=captivated+health+take+control.+gain+transparency.+leverage+confidence%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1) Fun mentions as always: Megan Donnell, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP, Amanda Goltz, Jennifer Borislow CLU [00:00–02:00] Welcome & pronunciation of “Gaunya” [02:00–06:00] Family roots in healthcare & entrepreneurship [06:00–10:00] Wrestling, resilience, and rugby adventures [10:00–15:00] Finance background → entrepreneurial foundation [15:00–20:00] Transition to insurers: Blue Cross, Cigna, Destiny [20:00–26:00] Leadership lessons, early management challenges [26:00–34:00] Captivated Health model & balance sheet strategy [34:00–39:00] Captives, PBMs, and real employer ROI stories [39:00–49:00] NABIP Consumer Bill of Rights & policy vision [49:00–55:00] Advice to younger self: “Pick wisely”
    Más Menos
    57 m
  • Jason Campana, CEO of Lifespeak : From Painting Houses to Global Wellbeing
    Sep 3 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I welcomed Jason Campana, the freshly minted CEO of LifeSpeak Inc. who once learned business the hard way - running a painting company without knowing how to paint. From questionable brush strokes to scaling global wellness platforms, Jason’s career is proof that grit beats polish. Fun mentions as always: John Brownlee Kyle Rolfing Jason Von Bank Michael Held All Roads Lead to Minneapolis – Serendipitous intro & John Brownlee connection (00:00–02:00) Jason’s Early Hustle – Bootleg CDs & paper routes (02:00–04:00) College Pro Days – Painting houses, cold sales, and leadership lessons (04:00–07:00) From Paint to Fitness – Joining Fitness on Request → Wellbeats (07:00–10:00) Scaling Corporate Wellness – Pivot to digital, COVID growth, LifeSpeak acquisition (10:00–13:00) Going Public (and Back Private) – IPO, acquisitions, lessons learned (13:00–19:00) Holistic Wellbeing at LifeSpeak – Fitness, mental health, caregiving, substance use (16:00–20:00) AI & Integration – Personalization, platform unification, future of prevention (20:00–24:00) M&A Lessons – Integration pains, cultural challenges, COO perspective (25:00–28:00) What’s Next – New go-to-market, partnerships, prevention at scale (40:00–45:00)
    Más Menos
    48 m
  • Erik de Heus: From Dreaming Big to Detecting Early
    Aug 27 2025
    After a summer podcasting break, Jim Joyce and I are back and on this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, we finally cornered the legendary Erik de Heus, CEO of SkinVision (yes, only 173 episodes in… shame on us). From biking along Amsterdam canals to catching curveballs in Dutch baseball, to scaling energy startups and now leading SkinVision, Erik’s story is a mix of persistence, humility, and “just follow your dream” wisdom. If you’ve ever wondered how a kid bossing his friends on the playground ends up building digital health business that catch melanoma early and save lives at scale - this one’s for you. Fun mentions as always: Steve Seuntjens HLTH Inc. Martin Kelly ⧉ 00:00 – 02:00 | Opening banter – Jim & Eugene finally get Erik on the mic. ⧉ 02:00 – 06:00 | Early career & HP days – Amsterdam to California and back. ⧉ 06:00 – 09:00 | Childhood & sports – Football, baseball, and bossing friends. ⧉ 10:00 – 15:00 | Energy startup journey – From inception to €500M revenue. ⧉ 15:00 – 20:00 | Scaling challenges – Processes, people, and persistence. ⧉ 22:00 – 28:00 | Philips DirectLife – Competing with Fitbit + coaching layer. ⧉ 30:00 – 33:00 | Birth of PHS Capital – Early digital health investing. ⧉ 34:00 – 41:00 | SkinVision origins – Melanoma detection at scale. ⧉ 42:00 – 47:00 | Aligning incentives – Insurance, NHS, and consumer trust. ⧉ 47:00 – 54:00 | Erik’s advice & future vision – Follow your dream, validate the problem.
    Más Menos
    56 m
  • Peter Antall, MD: From Gross Anatomy to Healthtech Glory
    Jul 30 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I sit down with the Browns-abandoning, innovation-obsessed Peter Antall, MD. From dissecting cadavers to dissecting telehealth workflows, Peter shares his remarkable journey from pediatrician to healthtech pioneer - building national networks, taming 50 state regulations, and now, nudging GLP-1 users into long-term success. We also find out what gross anatomy has to do with true love. 💀❤️ Fun mentions as always: Olia Hibbard Naomi Allen Roy Schoenberg MD MPH Ido Schoenberg Ken Cahill Murray Brozinsky Julia Hu Neko Health 00:00 – Intro, garage jokes, and Peter’s warm welcome 02:30 – Growing up in Cleveland, med school romance 06:30 – Pediatrics, oncology dreams & the innovation gene 09:00 – Writing Pocket Pediatrician & symptom logic 11:00 – First telehealth forays: Specialists on Call 12:30 – Joining Amwell & the shift to consumer-grade video 18:00 – Why video > audio in clinical care 21:00 – Regulatory nightmare: 50 states, 7 were clear 23:30 – Never a malpractice case: 6M+ visits at Amwell 26:00 – AI note-taking & ambient documentation in care 30:00 – Going public with Amwell & moving on 31:30 – Brightline: Kids’ behavioral health & point solution woes 34:30 – Loneliness across all ages—tech as remedy or divider? 38:00 – Why Lark: scalable, daily AI + coach care 44:00 – GLP-1 support model: 80% persistence at 7 months 48:00 – Advice to young Peter: Think big, disrupt wisely
    Más Menos
    52 m
  • Dr. Jack Kreindler: Engineering Healthspan, From ER to the South Pole
    Jul 16 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I freeze time (and nearly our toes) with the extraordinary Dr Jack Kreindler -longevity doctor, tech founder, and Antarctic explorer. This is only our second-ever long-form episode, and we couldn't be more honored to have Jack join us for it. From designing UX with Douglas Adams to running diagnostics in sub-zero temperatures, Jack shares wisdom at the intersection of tech, healthspan, and philosophy. Yes, there's creatine. Yes, there's metaphysics. And yes, you’ll want to rethink your bedtime and your bucket list. It’s a ride through resilient humans, wild biohacks, and the hilarious humility of medicine in the age of AI. Dont miss this episode: Fun mentions as always: Daniel Kraft, MD Jordan Shlain, MD Peter H. Diamandis ☀️Maneesh Juneja Vishal Gulati 00:00:00 - Jack’s origin story: From tech to medicine 00:05:00 - UX with Douglas Adams & first tech ventures 00:12:00 - Founding CHHP & insights into performance science 00:21:00 - Commitment, coaching, and who makes it through 00:30:00 - The biohacking movement: Hope, hype, and hazards 00:41:00 - The pursuit of longevity vs acceptance of death 00:49:00 - Preventive diagnostics & experience design (Neko, Echo) 00:58:00 - AI in medicine: Augmenting empathy & reducing burnout 01:06:00 - WellFounded & experiential medicine adventures 01:18:00 - South Pole expedition & commencement reflections
    Más Menos
    1 h y 31 m
  • Owen McCarthy: Cowbells, Code, and Campaign Trails
    Jul 3 2025
    On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I went from cowbells to code to campaign trails with the one and only Owen McCarthy. We covered a LOT: ✅ Bootstrapping MedRhythms from a napkin sketch to FDA approval ✅ Licensing Stevie Wonder’s music to help stroke patients walk again ✅ Why Maine needs robotic homes (and maybe fewer regulations) ✅ How it feels to run for Governor with a quick thought on the Big Beautiful Bill ✅ oh... and even spoke about the very real Uncle Thump (not Trump) Owen’s journey from logging trucks to legislative vision is the very definition of full circle. And spoiler: you don’t want to miss his advice to future founders 👇 Fun Mentions as always: Steve Seuntjens Marco Mohwinckel Roberto Ascione William Stevens Tech Tour Brian Harris Ann Mond Johnson Megan Coder 00:00–02:00 — Opening from Switzerland: Cowbells, Confessions & TechTour Hosts kick off with scenic vibes and introduce Owen from a mountaintop moment. 02:00–04:30 — Roots in Rural Maine: Logging, Cows & College Dreams Owen shares his upbringing in Patten, Maine, with stories of family, hard work, and dad’s unforgettable advice. 04:30–08:30 — From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: How MedRhythms Started From water treatment sales to Harvard to building a healthtech company with heart (and rhythm). 08:30–14:00 — Bootstrapping to Breakthrough: MedRhythms, Brian Harris & Real Outcomes The early days of therapy, scaling manually, and why universal music licensing took 18 months. 14:00–16:30 — Working with Stevie Wonder: Music, IP, and Big Biz Buy-In The surprising (and charming) tale of pitching Universal and name-dropping Stevie mid-deal. 16:30–21:00 — Defining DTx: Alliance Building, Policy Work, and Lessons Learned What it takes to create an industry from scratch, and why “starting with reimbursement” matters. 21:00–24:00 — The Case for Rural Tech: Healthcare Access in Remote Maine Why digital care and EMS are urgent lifelines in the U.S.’s oldest and second-most rural state. 24:00–27:30 — Jumping into Politics: What Drove Owen to Run for Governor Owen reflects on his decision to run, family conversations, and chasing calm in the hurricane. 27:30–37:30 — Platform Breakdown: Housing, Energy, Healthcare & Modular Dreams A detailed look at his policies: robotic homes, energy equity, and cancer care via telehealth. 37:30–43:00 — Legacy, Leadership & Advice to Future Founders From Uncle Thump to reimbursement-first strategy, Owen gets real about impact and longevity.
    Más Menos
    44 m
  • Pat Sukhum: From Health Tech Pioneer to Mentorship Champion
    Jun 26 2025
    Who knew that picking up that Yellow pages at age 24 would lead to Big Brothers Big Sisters Twin Cities ? In this episode #169 of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce & I spoke to Pat Sukhum who took us from attic-living startup grit to changing lives at scale - 2200 youths and counting. We talked Definity Health (sold to United), RedBrick Health (sold to Virgin), Thai food, and why the humble leader is the fiercest force for good. There’s wisdom, there’s vulnerability, there’s even an IRS - Harvard study drop. Pat proves you can be both a CEO and a sidekick, and still lead with heart. Just a few highlights: 🧒 Mentorship isn’t charity, it’s shared transformation. 🤝 Relationships power nonprofit scale and social change. 🧭 Belief plus humility = true leadership growth. 💙 Oh - and don’t forget to say hi to your inner shy kid. Fun mentions as always: John Brownlee Kyle Rolfing Dave Dickey Anthony Miller Daniel Couchman Kendall TimestampTopic Summary[00:00:00]–[00:02:00]Show intro and Pat joins the session[00:02:00]–[00:04:00]Pat’s Minnesota roots and Thai-American identity[00:04:00]–[00:07:00]Early assimilation and family background[00:07:00]–[00:10:00]High school, identity crisis, and Carleton College[00:10:00]–[00:13:00]Deloitte days and founding Definity Health[00:13:00]–[00:17:00]The Big Brothers Big Sisters call and early match[00:17:00]–[00:22:00]Consumer-driven care and Definity’s acquisition[00:22:00]–[00:26:00]RedBrick Health and behavior change lessons[00:26:00]–[00:30:00]Consulting, Bind, and learning to sell[00:30:00]–[00:45:00]CEO transition, mission-driven work, and future vision
    Más Menos
    50 m