Best ITONICS Podcasts (2025)

1
Shifting Power with Dr. Tony Iton (Encore Episode) 43:53

6d ago43:53

43:53

Whether it's the civil rights movement, marriage equality or even seatbelt laws, community organizing is how change happens in America. In this encore episode, Dr. Tony Iton shares a masterclass in how social, political and economic power shape health outcomes and how to meaningfully shift those dynamics when it matters most. Tony argues that reinv…

1
Inside Lean Startup: What Actually Works in Big Companies - Ben Hefele @Lean Startup Co. 44:23

5d ago44:23

44:23

In this conversation, Ben Haefle, CEO of Lean Startup Co., discusses the realities of corporate innovation, emphasizing the importance of core innovation over disruptive innovation. He explains the Lean Startup methodology, focusing on strategic alignment, milestones, team roles, governance, and culture. The discussion also touches on the concept o…

1
Covered California: A Startup in Government with Dr. Monica Soni 41:51

20d ago41:51

41:51

California is full of hardworking people—nurses, teachers, delivery drivers, baristas—who keep our communities running. Many of them live paycheck-to-paycheck, making too much to qualify for most government benefits, but not enough to afford the basics. For nearly 2 million Californians, Covered California provides a critical lifeline, offering acc…

1
Health Interrupted: The Stories of Six Recently Fired Federal Workers 34:26

1M ago34:26

34:26

In the wake of massive layoffs at HHS - and so many other federal agencies and programs - we are sharing the powerful stories of federal workers who had no choice but to leave their important work when they were fired post-election. You’ll hear from a former marine who was improving primary care for fellow veterans, a child of farmworkers who was e…

1
How GRAMMY Winners Are Really Chosen - Panos A. Panay @The Recording Academy 41:01

1M ago41:01

41:01

The truth behind the Grammy Awards 🏆 What does it really take to win? How are nominees selected, and what role does AI play in music today? Panos A. Panay, President of the Recording Academy, reveals everything - from the intense behind-the-scenes orchestration of music’s biggest night to how technology and creativity intersect. Get insider access …

1
Medicaid on the Brink with Katie Heidorn, Kody Kinsley & Larry Levitt 54:20

2M ago54:20

54:20

With the House approving a plan to slash $880 billion from the federal budget, all eyes are turning to Medicaid as the most likely source of cuts. I asked former North Carolina Health Secretary Kody Kinsley, KFF’s Larry Levitt and California Health Care Foundation’s Katie Heidorn to join me to discuss the likely shape and impact of proposed cuts, a…

1
The Empire State’s Big Bet with Amir Bassiri 37:20

2M ago37:20

37:20

New York Medicaid has made some big bets on social care recently, and Amir Bassiri is here to answer all our questions. The bold new program centers on nine new regional networks that will be hubs for community organizations offering housing, food and other services. Will this program survive the new administration? Only time will tell. We discuss:…

1
Car Sick with David Zipper 44:45

3M ago44:45

44:45

Driving fast on the open road is almost as American as apple pie. We all remember the thrill of our first car - a symbol of American freedom and independence. But is our love affair with cars killing us? David Zipper joins us to talk about the wide ranging health impacts of our car obsession, and how policy innovations like congestion pricing and w…

1
The Secret Life of Caregivers with Alexandra Drane 22:08

3M ago22:08

22:08

An incredible 43% of Americans are unpaid caregivers, who are often alone with the burden and blessing of caring for their loved ones as life begins and in the complex and heartbreaking final days. Studies show their mental health is suffering – 52% of “sandwich generation” caregivers report that they have actively thought about suicide in the last…

1
Transforming Primary Care with AI with Dr. Kameron Matthews 36:06

3M ago36:06

36:06

If AI is going to rapidly improve healthcare, shouldn’t we start at the ground floor - with primary care? Cityblock’s Chief Health Officer Dr. Kameron Matthews joins us to talk about how AI can reduce complexity and burnout, improve patient outcomes and free care teams to focus on human connections. We discuss: What it takes to design with and for …

1
Hard and Soft Powers with Micky Tripathi 30:36

4M ago30:36

30:36

For the past 20 years, under both Republican and Democratic administrations, the ONC has played a pivotal role shaping and regulating the health tech market. On the eve of the election, Micky Tripathi joined me to discuss the agency’s recently expanded role. Now, two months later—though it feels like a decade—the future is uncertain. Will the ONC a…

1
Innovation at the Crossroads: Strategic Choices in Disruption - Scott Brinker @Hubspot 38:13

4M ago38:13

38:13

"Why are we trying to fight all of this?" The pace of technological advancement outstrips our ability to adapt, a phenomenon captured by MarTec's Law. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mühlroth and Scott Brinker, VP of Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot delve into the complexities of technological advancement and its implications for organizations. They discus…

1
The Big Squeeze with Paul Markovich 27:16

5M ago27:16

27:16

There’s a lot of concern right now about healthcare affordability, but not enough action. Paul Markovich, the CEO of Blue Shield of California, is on a mission to bring down health costs by reducing administrative overhead and negotiating lower drug prices. In this episode we dive deep into Paul’s call to action for healthcare leaders to tackle the…

1
The Future of Aging: Are We Ready for This? - Dr. Aubrey de Grey @LEV Foundation 54:45

5M ago54:45

54:45

Join renowned aging researcher Dr. Aubrey de Grey in an enlightening conversation about the science and societal impact of anti-aging technologies. Explore the concept of aging as a medical problem, the interplay of genetics and lifestyle, and groundbreaking research at the LEV Foundation aimed at reversing the effects of aging. Discover how biolog…

1
Breaking up the Deadly Organ Transplant Monopoly with Donna Cryer 35:19

6M ago35:19

35:19

On so many issues, Congress has not been willing or able to act. But when faced with horrifying stories of death and mismanagement, Congress finally passed legislation to reform the US organ transplant system. They did so because people like Donna Cryer, a transplant recipient and patient advocate, demanded a better system for Americans who need li…

1
The Good Fight with Dr. Theresa Cullen 41:42

6M ago41:42

41:42

Dr. Theresa “Terry” Cullen is on a mission to make Pima County, Arizona one of the healthiest counties in the nation. It’s a challenging goal, and one that will take dedication and a willingness to fight for what’s right. But, Terry is a self-described, life-long pugilist – with an approach to healthcare that goes beyond policies and programs. Ever…

1
Health and the Election with Larry Levitt 39:03

6M ago39:03

39:03

With the election just days away, Larry Levitt joins me to discuss where Harris and Trump stand on key health issues: reproductive health, affordability and Medicaid. While health has not taken center stage (as it has in the past), the outcome of this election will have profound impacts on every aspect of health in the years ahead. We discuss: Why …

1
A Bold Plan to Increase Life Expectancy in NYC with Dr. Ashwin Vasan 42:02

7M ago42:02

42:02

How do you create a healthier city? As the climate shifts, screens dominate our lives and cities continue to grow - urban areas are grappling with how to put themselves on a better track to health. New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan joins The Other 80 to talk about his ambitious plan to increase health in the Big Apple, with the goa…

1
Will Machines Tell Better Stories than Humans? - Mike Todasco @SDSU 42:21

7M ago42:21

42:21

"AI is an amazing tool for brainstorming, giving ideas, and being a thought partner, but even when machines can do better than humans, we still like the story behind it. The human behind the machine is what really matters." In this episode, we exchange withMike Todasco, formerSenior Director of Innovation at PayPal and current AI Fellow at San Dieg…

1
The Way Out of The Gun Violence Crisis with Dr. Megan Ranney 44:34

7M ago44:34

44:34

In July, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a landmark advisory declaring firearm violence a national public health crisis. The advisory builds on decades of work from Dr. Megan Ranney and other researchers who advocate taking a public health approach to reducing firearm violence. She joined us at Aspen Ideas: Health to discuss what this me…

1
Has Corporate Foresight Become Obsolete? - Prof. Dr. René Rohrbeck @EDHEC 1:23:41

7M ago1:23:41

1:23:41

"Strategic foresight, as I define it, is really about the capability of organizations to, in a systematic way, create superior positions in markets of the future." In this episode, Dr. Christian Mühlroth engages in a discussion with Professor Dr. René Rohrbeck, a leading expert in strategy foresight and innovation, Professor of Strategy and EDHEC &…

1
A Case for Techno Realism with Deena Shakir 35:52

8M ago35:52

35:52

Deena Shakir is an investor who is obsessed with expanding access to the basic health services people need and often can’t access: pediatric care, community health and women’s services. Her journey to investing passed through policymaking, journalism and big tech and her early techno optimism has given way to a much more nuanced and pragmatic view.…

1
Moonshots and Bold Bets with Renee Wegrzyn 43:13

8M ago43:13

43:13

Government systems often take a lot of flack for their (sometimes) built-in inability to take risks and make big bets. So, what would it take to encourage the government to take those big, risky moonshots? For Health, that’s the role of ARPA-H – to fund new ways of improving health by investing in people with big ideas. We sat down with ARPA-H Dire…

1
The Crisis in Affordable Housing with Jeff Olivet 45:33

10M ago45:33

45:33

The US is living through an affordable housing crisis - in fact, we are short millions and millions of affordable housing units. During the pandemic, homelessness flattened with an influx of resources to help keep people housed. But, those resources have long expired and now we are seeing an uptick in homelessness across the country. Jeff Olivet, t…

1
Navigating Industry Challenges with Strategic War Gaming - Prof. Dr. Jan Oliver Schwarz @Bavarian Foresight-Institute 41:24

10M ago41:24

41:24

"The term ‘war gaming’ comes from military war gaming. I think often business leaders are experiencing competition as being something very brutal when they fight over market shares." In this episode, we welcomeProf. Dr. Jan Oliver Schwarz, a renowned expert in strategic foresight and trend analysis. As theHeadof theBavarian Foresight Instituteand a…

1
California Tackles Healthcare Affordability with Elizabeth Mitchell 41:17

10M ago41:17

41:17

California is the latest state to address healthcare affordability through cost growth targets. Elizabeth Mitchell – President and CEO of Purchaser Business Group on Health – Joins us to discuss the nuts and bolts of the 3% cost growth target recently adopted by the state. Healthcare affordability is a big issue across the country. More than half o…

1
Embracing Radical Optimism for a Future-Ready Mind State - Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt - Author of "What’s Next Is Now” 1:02:31

10M ago1:02:31

1:02:31

“We live in very dynamic times. But ask yourself, ’What can you control?’. And the only thing you can control is your way of thinking. And if you feel a little bit more optimistic, a little bit more open, I guarantee you're going to have a chance to invent that future that you always wanted to see happen.” In this captivating episode, we welcome Dr…

1
Revisiting CalAIM with Dr. Palav Babaria 41:23

11M ago41:23

41:23

The scope, scale and timeline of what California is trying to do with CalAIM is truly breathtaking. Two years after the launch of the ambitious program, which offers integrated medical and social care for California's 15 million Medicaid members, Dr. Palav Babaria joins us to discuss how it’s going and what comes next. Dr. Babaria is a primary care…

1
From Creators to Coaches: Chick-fil-A’s Innovation Transformation - Prof. Michael McCathren @Chick-fil-A 53:18

11M ago53:18

53:18

"How can you create this army of everyday innovators throughout your organization? Whether it's 100 people or 100,000 employees, democratizing innovation is key." In this episode of Innovation Rockstars, we feature Michael McCathren, Senior Principal for Enterprise Innovation at Chick-fil-A and former Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia.…

1
Community Social Capital with Dr. Rishi Manchanda 39:39

11M ago39:39

39:39

To achieve whole person care, we can try layering new social services on top of medical care. But Dr. Rishi Manchanda believes we should move further upstream and ask, what will it take to actually improve health in communities? From founding Rx the Vote to HealthBegins, Rishi is committed to building community social capital in America. We discuss…

1
How To Nail Your Startup Engagement Program - Paolo Lombardi @Taylor & Francis 1:07:53

11M ago1:07:53

1:07:53

“A [startup] program gives a very clear collaboration platform to engage with startups. It's a clear gateway that corporations can create to send a signal to the startup ecosystem, that they are ready to collaborate.” In this episode, we welcome Paolo Lombardi, author of the book ‘Startup Program Design’ and Director of Artificial Intelligence Inno…

1
From Data to Impact with Dr. Maya Petersen 40:13

12M ago40:13

40:13

June 18th is “Maya Petersen” day in San Francisco, in honor of her work building disease models that guided the region through the early days of COVID and saved countless lives. With projects spanning from developing HIV prevention strategies in East Africa to shaping new Medicaid models in California, the UC Berkeley epidemiologist is building a f…

1
The Complete Guide To Measuring Innovation Performance - Dan Toma @OUTCOME 43:31

12M ago43:31

43:31

"Measuring innovation is not about finding one perfect metric; it's about understanding the broader impact on your organization." In this enlightening episode of the Innovation Rockstars podcast, we welcome Dan Toma, acclaimed author, innovation expert, and co-founder of OUTCOME to demystify the complexities of measuring innovation performance. Dan…

1
How NC Changed Its Mind on Medicaid Expansion with Kody Kinsley 38:15

12M ago38:15

38:15

If there’s one thing politicians do little of these days it’s change their minds. But, that’s exactly what North Carolina’s General Assembly did in 2023. Ten years after the ACA was passed, and in a historic bipartisan move, they changed their minds and voted to expand Medicaid. NC Secretary of Health & Human Services Kody Kinsley joined us to talk…

1
Commercialization Eats Culture For Breakfast - Prof. Dr. Andy Wynn @TTIP Global 40:46

1y ago40:46

40:46

"No technology is ever going to make an impact today unless somebody is going to make money from it. And that's the cold hard reality." In this episode, we welcome Prof. Dr. Andy Wynn, CEO TTIP Global, Professor @ IE Business School in Madrid, and professional globetrotter. Facing Andy’s decades of international business and innovation expertise, w…

1
Think Like Zink with Dr. Anne Zink 43:40

1y ago43:40

43:40

One thing is clear from the last four years: public health leaders need to seriously upgrade their skills in communication and partnering. In this episode Anne Zink, who is stepping down as Alaska’s Chief Medical Officer, brings us a master class in both topics. Guiding the state through COVID she inspired both a Facebook fan group and the hashtag …

1
The Patient-Led Revolution with Susannah Fox 42:45

1y ago42:45

42:45

Today’s guest is Susannah Fox, author of Rebel Health: A Field Guide to the Patient-Led Revolution in Medical Care. The book is a deep dive into the expert network of patients, survivors and caregivers who are charting a new path of innovation and research. It is for anyone who feels alone, forgotten or lost in the shadows of suffering as they navi…

1
Building a Competitive Edge with AI - Andreas Welsch @Intelligence Briefing 48:31

1y ago48:31

48:31

"One of the ways that I see humans are creating a problem for AI is that these large models... rely at the end of the day on data that humans have created and even that humans have curated." In this engaging episode of the Innovation Rockstars podcast, we converse with Andreas Welsch, Chief AI Strategist at Intelligence Briefing and Adjunct Lecture…

1
COVID Leadership Lessons with Dr. Tomás Aragón 42:43

1y ago42:43

42:43

We'll be unpacking lessons from the COVID 19 pandemic for many years to come. Dr. Tomás Aragón, who leads public health for the State of California, joins us to discuss what he learned guiding America's most populous state through this challenging and disruptive period. We discuss: That public health’s deepest power lies in the ability to help dive…

1
Beyond the Boardroom: The Open Strategy Revolution - Prof. Dr. Christian Stadler @Warwick Business School 49:10

1y ago49:10

49:10

"Identify your most important problems as an organization, and then think whether you have a way to address them. That's the sweet spot where you should concentrate your strategy on." In this episode, we are delighted to welcome Prof. Dr. Christian Stadler, a strategic management expert and Professor of Strategy from the Warwick Business School. To…

1
Untangling AI Bias with Dr. Ziad Obermeyer 43:09

1y ago43:09

43:09

Using AI in healthcare comes with a lot of promise - but access to data, lack of clarity about who will pay for these tools and the challenge of creating algorithms without bias are holding us back. In 2023, TIME named Dr. Ziad Obermeyer one of the 100 most influential people working in AI. As a professor at UC Berkeley School of Public Health, and…

1
Tragic and Preventable with Dr. Monica McLemore 42:46

1y ago42:46

42:46

Black women in the US are 3-4 times more likely to die than white women from a pregnancy-related cause and overall the US has the highest rate of maternal mortality in the industrialized world. These deaths are preventable. Dr. Monica McLemore, a Professor at the University of Washington School of Nursing, says we should stop blaming women for thei…

1
A Just Cause with Karen Dale 42:54

1y ago42:54

42:54

What is your just cause? Karen Dale is DC Market President for Amerihealth Caritas. She is a bold and fearless leader whose “Why” is to be a catalyst for change to promote equity and deeply support people encountering difficulties. In this episode she shares the leadership practices that support this work from sharing power, to community co-design …

1
People-Centered Policy Design with Natalie Davis 42:57

1+ y ago42:57

42:57

We may be politically divided, but when it comes to healthcare there is actually a lot we agree on as a nation. We want healthcare that is affordable. We want a healthcare system that is easy to understand and navigate. We want to know we will receive good care when we need it most. These insights are something our guest Natalie Davis takes to hear…

1
Not Designed for Health with Steve Downs 40:18

1+ y ago40:18

40:18

The modern world, and the products we use everyday, are making us sick. But what if we could shift this trend and start to build health into everyday life? That’s exactly what Steve Downs and Thomas Goetz, co-founders of Building H, are working on. Steve, the former CTO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, joins us to discuss how Building H is he…

1
Über den Nutzen von Foresight und Szenarien - Carolin Šalé & Steffen Kuhn @Detecon Consulting 43:32

1+ y ago43:32

43:32

„Foresight ist etwas, das man kontinuierlich betreiben sollte und nicht erst im Krisenmodus. Wenn ich mich kontinuierlich mit der Zukunft beschäftige, dann werde ich in der Regel auch nicht so oft überrascht und kann die eine oder andere Sache viel schneller umsetzen in der Organisation oder vielleicht eine Strategie anpassen.“ In dieser Folge habe…

1
Caring for Rural America with Dr. Jennifer Schneider 26:40

1+ y ago26:40

26:40

Rural America is facing a healthcare crisis. Home to 60 million people, rural areas face a 23% higher mortality rate compared to urban locations due to lack of infrastructure, lower socio-economic status and provider shortages. Indeed, rural areas have half as many primary care providers and an eighth as many specialists as urban locales. In this e…

1
The Best Kept Secret with Dr. Kyu Rhee 23:50

1+ y ago23:50

23:50

Before the phrase “social drivers of health” was commonly used, Community Health Centers had already developed a model of care that was holistic, grounded in social change and embedded in the community. At this year’s HLTH Conference in Las Vegas, I sat down with Dr. Kyu Rhee, the new CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers. Dr.…

1
Navigating Tomorrow's World: Insights into Futures Studies - Daria Krivonos @Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies 47:12

1+ y ago47:12

47:12

"The future is always important but never urgent". In this episode, we step into the world of foresight and future studies by introducing you to Daria (Dasha) Krivonos, CEO of the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies. We kick things off with a glimpse into what the institute is all about, setting the stage for an exploration of how the field of…

1
In Pursuit of Scale with Dr. Shantanu Agrawal 35:56

1+ y ago35:56

35:56

Is whole health here to stay, or is it a shiny new object? Our guest today is Dr. Shantanu Agrawal, Chief Health Officer at Elevance Health. He falls soundly on the “here to stay” side of the ledger. He shares that whole health is not a side business for Elevance Health and its 47.5 million members. It is the core strategy for how the company will …

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