Best Laurie McGraw Podcasts (2025)

1
Catching Cancer Early: Susan Tousi's Quest to Save Lives with a Simple Blood Test || EP.208 22:15

3d ago22:15

22:15

"I come from a long line of medical doctors... but I myself was driven by things that move fast in terms of technology." From a family of physicians, Susan Tousi chose a different path—one that would eventually revolutionize how we detect cancer. After decades building multi-hundred million dollar businesses at HP and Kodak, digitizing how the worl…

1
Why Do 80% of People Choose to Work Through Cancer? With Gina Jacobson || EP.207 12:24

10d ago12:24

12:24

"You might not have been born for this, but you almost died for it." When Gina Jacobson's husband spoke those words, he captured the profound transformation that turned a stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis into a mission. Given just one to two years to live, Gina didn't just survive—she discovered why work matters so deeply when everything else falls a…

1
What Happens When a Cancer Diagnosis at 17 Shapes Your Entire Career? With Rae McMahan || EP.206 16:56

17d ago16:56

16:56

Standing at a hospital desk at 17, facing a Hodgkin's disease diagnosis, Rae McMahan heard words that would reshape her entire life: "We don't have your prior authorization on file." That broken moment in a broken system launched a career dedicated to fixing what fails patients every day. Now, as Senior Vice President of Payer Solutions at Prescrip…

1
How One Labor Leader Transformed 30,000 Lives Through the Power of Empowerment, with Brenda Munoz || EP.205 20:24

24d ago20:24

20:24

What happens when you realize you've stopped caring about the very people you're meant to serve? For Brenda Munoz, that moment came when a laborer asked her to leave and find someone else to help him. "You're very nice," he said, "but I can tell you're trying to rush this." That wake-up call transformed not just Brenda's career, but how she thinks …

1
Two Kenyans Unite to Bridge Medicine's Most Dangerous Gap With Amee Devani || EP.204 24:11

1M ago24:11

24:11

When Amee Devani watched her mother battle colorectal cancer in Kenya, she witnessed firsthand the stark reality of healthcare inequity. That experience would reshape her entire career trajectory—from investment banking at UBS to founding a digital health startup that's revolutionizing how hospitals manage post-acute care. "I faint when they take m…

1
From Polarization to Grievance: Why Trust in Healthcare Is At a Breaking Point - Courtney Gray Haupt || EP.203 17:53

1M ago17:53

17:53

What makes this conversation urgent is what's at stake. When people with lower trust in healthcare turn to friends and family instead of medical professionals, when young adults say they'd leave their doctor over political beliefs, when misinformation spreads faster than facts—we're not just facing a communications challenge. We're facing a health …

1
Why Your Biggest "Failure" Might Be Your Greatest Career Catalyst with Colleen Bowman || EP.202 22:37

1M ago22:37

22:37

When Colleen Bowman didn't get into her dietetics internship—twice—she thought her career was over before it began. Instead, that rejection became the catalyst that launched her into becoming a transformative HR leader at one of the most unique companies in America. "I had a little too much fun in college," Colleen admits with a laugh. But that soc…

1
How Does Personal Tragedy Shape One Of The Most Powerful Women In Healthcare? w/Karen Lynch || EP. 201 31:07

2M ago31:07

31:07

When Karen Lynch became CEO of CVS Health, it was more than a milestone, it was a signal. Millions were watching. She led through the pandemic. She raised wages. She centered the patient. She broke glass ceilings again and again. “I remember the day Karen became CEO,” says host Laurie McGraw. “I think the world stood still for a minute. I smiled. I…

1
What Happens When Women Stop Waiting for a Seat—and Build the Whole Table? || EP. 200 52:30

2M ago52:30

52:30

"Who mentors the mentors?" "There's no such thing as a cold call in WBL." "How can I help you?" These powerful mantras echo through the halls of Women Business Leaders (WBL), the longest-standing executive forum for women in healthcare leadership. And for our landmark 200th episode of Inspiring Women, we're going back to where it all began. Twenty-…

1
What Happens When Behavioral Science Meets a Mother on a Mission? With Kathleen Ellmore || EP. 199 21:53

2M ago21:53

21:53

What if the same data that helps sell cereal could also save a life? Kathleen Ellmore asked that question long before most people thought to—and long before healthcare caught up. With roots in consumer marketing, she was using behavioral science to influence buying habits when the term “micro-segmentation” barely existed. But when she stepped into …

1
How Far Would You Go to Prevent Another Loss? Carissa Rollins Went All In || EP. 198 25:36

3M ago25:36

25:36

After losing both her sister and a close friend to cancer in the same year, Carissa Rollins knew she couldn’t stay where she was. As CIO of UnitedHealthcare, she had scale and power, but not proximity to the technology that might have changed those outcomes. So when the call came from Illumina, a company pioneering genomic sequencing, she listened.…

1
How Adaptability Can Be Your Greatest Leadership Strength || EP. 197 23:47

3M ago23:47

23:47

Sophia Kim has spent her career breaking molds, and building better models for leadership and care delivery. From her early start navigating journalism and consulting to leading high-growth teams in healthcare, Sophia’s path has been shaped by adaptability, ambition, and a commitment to creating change that matters. In this episode of Inspiring Wom…

1
Speak Louder or Shut Up? Rita Johnson-Mills on What Happens When DEI Becomes Too Controversial || EP. 196 31:27

3M ago31:27

31:27

What happens when the system meant to care for everyone, doesn’t? Healthcare equity isn’t theoretical. It’s about who lives, who dies, and who gets a chance. For Rita Johnson-Mills, this isn’t abstract. It’s the work of a lifetime. As a former Medicaid executive, CEO, and now board leader, she has spent decades fighting to ensure Black and Brown co…

1
Tia Newcomer on turning caregiver overwhelm into community action || EP. 195 30:14

3M ago30:14

30:14

When a diagnosis is shared, the questions come fast: What happened? How can I help? For families in crisis, support is critical—but often chaotic. Without a structure to manage communication or coordinate care, caregivers are left to navigate emotional overwhelm and logistical complexity at the same time. That’s where CaringBridge steps in. In this…

1
Remembering Your Why: Dr. Rice’s Guide to Purposeful Leadership || EP. 194 26:34

4M ago26:34

26:34

Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, the sixth president of Morehouse School of Medicine and first woman to lead as president and CEO, cuts through the noise with her refreshingly direct approach to diversifying healthcare. "If Morehouse School of Medicine is not part of the DEI story, I don't know what the DEI story is," Dr. Rice says, refusing to back do…

1
Drop the ‘empowerment’, get rid of bureaucracy instead: Jessica Neal, former Netflix talent officer, on getting back to work || EP. 193 43:57

4M ago43:57

43:57

Art school isn’t the typical starting point for a tech industry leader, but for Jessica Neal, former Chief Talent Officer at Netflix, it was the first step in an extraordinary career. In this episode, Jessica shares how she transitioned from an aspiring artist to headhunter to leading Netflix’s talent strategy during its explosive growth. Jessica e…

1
The Work Isn’t Done: Margaret ‘Peggy’ O’Kane on Quality, Data, and Driving Change || EP. 192 27:44

4M ago27:44

27:44

“We need to be more ambitious….” Margaret “Peggy” O’Kane transformed healthcare quality measurement in America when she created NCQA 35 years ago. As she reflects on what it has meant to create the foundations for quality measurement, she is also clear that the complex state of healthcare requires leaders across payers, health systems, employers, a…

1
This nutritionist is now leading monster teams as an HR Leader. Colleen Bowman shares her unconventional journey to the top. || EP. 191 21:02

4M ago21:02

21:02

Human Resources is NOT the next obvious step if you began your career as a nutritionist. Yet for Colleen Bowman, VP of HR at IAC, her unconventional path took her exactly there. And when you hear Colleen’s story, it really does all make sense. Colleen started as an athlete. So being competitive and working as a team came naturally. She always had h…

1
Women, Healthcare & Affordability: Courtney Gray Haupt on Trust in a Divisive World & the Employer’s Role || EP. 190 20:42

5M ago20:42

20:42

Spoiler alert: trust is declining – in government, established institutions, and in media. For 25 years Edelman has been studying trust given its importance as the ultimate currency of a business with its stakeholders. In this Inspiring Women episode, Laurie is speaking with Courtney Gray Haupt, the Global Health Chair and US Co-Chair of Health fro…

1
Rooted in Heritage, Driven to Lead, Serving Her Community: Brenda Munoz is an Inspiring Woman || EP. 189 23:26

5M ago23:26

23:26

She is a Latina. She is a leader. She is a visible member of her community. She is a daughter. She is a servant leader. And Brenda Munoz is also, so much more than all of that. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, Laurie McGraw speaks with Brenda Munoz, Associate Benefits Director at the Laborers Funds Administrative Office of Northern California…

1
Rae McMahan on Choosing a Different Path || EP. 188 18:11

5M ago18:11

18:11

Growing up, Rae McMahan’s parents had plans for their daughter on what it meant to be a good girl. But then, life took a different turn. Facing a life-threatening illness, receiving great care, and even then realizing that not everyone had the same access that she did, Rae decided she wanted a different path. She changed the definition of what it m…

1
Breaking Cancer Stigma at Work: Gina Jacobson’s Inspiring Journey and Mission || EP. 187 13:53

5M ago13:53

13:53

Discover how Gina Jacobson, a stage 4 cancer survivor, is revolutionizing workplace support for cancer patients. In this powerful episode of Inspiring Women, Gina shares her personal battle with colon cancer while managing a high-stakes career. Learn about the Working With Cancer initiative and how its breaking down stigmas, fostering organizationa…

1
Revolutionizing Mental Health: Obi Felten’s Mission to Empower a Million Peer Supporters || EP. 186 24:39

6M ago24:39

24:39

Can a million peer supporters transform mental health care for children and adolescents in America? Obi Felten, CEO and founder of Flourish Labs, believes it’s possible. In this eye-opening episode of Inspiring Women, host Laurie McGraw delves into Felton’s groundbreaking approach to solving the mental health crisis for youth. Felten, a former Goog…

1
Engineering Healthcare’s Future: Bree Bush on AI-Powered Command Centers || EP. 185 23:32

6M ago23:32

23:32

Discover how AI is revolutionizing hospital operations with Bree Bush, GM of Command Center at GE HealthCare. In this eye-opening episode, Bree shares her journey from mechanical engineer to healthcare innovator, revealing how GE HealthCare’s AI-driven command centers are transforming patient care and hospital efficiency. Key takeaways: Learn about…

1
Women Healthcare Leaders for Progress Standing Tall || EP. 184 16:13

6M ago16:13

16:13

No issue unified women across the U.S. more than what was at stake in the 2024 election – that is, whether the freedom to manage our own bodies and health continue to be stripped away. Women were on the ballot and women healthcare executives aimed to do something about it. In the fall of 2024, during a heated presidential election cycle… Six women …

1
75M kids in the country deserve healthcare. Ellen DaSilva and Summer Health are providing just that || EP. 183 15:31

7M ago15:31

15:31

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Ellen DaSilva, CEO and Founder of Summer Health which aims to increase the supply of pediatric care to care for the 75M children in the United States who need healthcare. Laurie and Ellen spoke at the HLTH 2024 conference. Ellen lives, eats and breathes Summer Health ever since she, someone with access…

1
Go Faster…You Can Always Slow Down Later. Lessons from the Home[ward] Grown Mentorship Program || EP. 182 27:13

7M ago27:13

27:13

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Jenny Schneider and her Home[ward] Grown mentee, Nathalie Gouailhardou, co-founder of Neurode — a wearable headband that can track and treat ADHD symptoms. This episode rounds out a full year of the Home[ward] Grown Mentorship series where every quarter, Dr. Jenny Schneider selects a CEO/Founder in…

1
From Yes to Heck Yes with Leslie Snavely || EP. 181 28:15

8M ago28:15

28:15

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Leslie Snavely, CEO of CHG Healthcare, the largest physician and clinician staffing organization in the U.S. Leslie shares her journey of rising through the ranks over 14 years at CHG, transitioning from roles in marketing and sales to leadership and eventually CEO. She credits her success to continuou…

1
Deborah Di Sanzo decided early that she wanted to change the world. Innovation means making a difference || EP. 180 26:45

8M ago26:45

26:45

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Deborah Di Sanzo, President of Best Buy Health. Deborah grew up in technology. Decades of technology, healthcare, business, executive leadership. She understood the potential of technology when she watched her systems at work in the surgery theater. She is a professor who teaches AI at Harvard. She kno…

1
The Many Detours of the Yellow Brick Road with Dr. Abbey Vandersall || EP. 179 34:11

8M ago34:11

34:11

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Abbey Vandersall, VP of Quality and Clinical Services at AMSURG. The path to medicine and quality began in …. the hospitality business. The “how did I get here” story for Dr. Vandersall is not your typical path. An early degree in nutrition is what turned her onto medicine. Seeing the graph of outc…

1
The Inspiring Women of Public Radio || EP. 178 27:23

8M ago27:23

27:23

Laurie McGraw is speaking with the Inspiring Women pioneers of public radio Breeze Richardson and Marty Durlin. These special interviews were aired on KGNU’s It’s the Economy and highlight the importance of public radio. Both Marty and Breeze provide their reasons for coming into public radio – the true town square, the opportunity for storytelling…

1
Chapter Next with Miriam Paramore || EP. 177 37:30

9M ago37:30

37:30

Speaking with Miriam Paramore, a Nashville executive powerhouse, Founder and CEO of RxUtility – a new company that aims to cut through the confusing medication costs and bring LOWEST cost medicine to you!Miriam’s smarts, energy, and passion suggests she can do it!! She also is the Founding OG of Women Healthcare Leaders for Progress. Now 500 plus w…

1
US Congresswoman and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark: Women are on the Ballot and Your Voice Matters || EP. 176 21:42

9M ago21:42

21:42

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman US Congresswoman and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. Whip Clark is one of the 28% of women to hold office in the United States Congress, she is the second woman to ever hold the position of Whip (second only to Nancy Pelosi), she is a key member of the leadership of the House and she wants you to know…

1
Treating misinformation with Dr. Geeta Nayyar, author of Dead Wrong at HLTH 2024 || EP. 175 31:03

9M ago31:03

31:03

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Geeta Nayyar, nationally recognized chief medical officer and author of Dead Wrong: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness. We are dropping this episode at HLTH2024 where Dr. Nayyar provides both the diagnosis and the treatment for misinformation illness and how this can impact…

1
Domestic Violence and Breaking the Cycle with Rebecca Darr || EP. 174 25:04

9M ago25:04

25:04

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Rebecca Darr, CEO of Wings, the largest organization in Illinois focused on breaking the cycle of domestic violence. Wings provides housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence with tremendous success when people seek help. October is Domestic Violence Awareness month. …

1
Leading the American Cancer Society and Transforming Cancer Care with Dr. Karen Knudsen || EP. 173 26:14

10M ago26:14

26:14

Join Inspiring Women Host Laurie McGraw as she sits down with Dr. Karen Knudsen, the groundbreaking first female CEO of the American Cancer Society. In this episode, Karen shares her journey from oncology researcher to leading one of the most influential organizations in cancer care. She sheds light on the staggering statistics that show one in two…

1
Navigating End-of-Life Care with Jessica McClory, CEO & Founder of Guaranteed || EP. 172 24:26

11M ago24:26

24:26

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Jessica McGlory, CEO and Founder at Guaranteed, a care company that focuses on end of life care. And we start by talking about death. Jessica shares her deeply personal journey that led to the creation of Guaranteed, when she was suddenly and unexpectedly thrown into becoming the primary caregiver for …

1
Healthcare Innovation: A Conversation with Rebekah Swain || EP. 171 22:17

12M ago22:17

22:17

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Rebekah Swain, Vice President of Managed Health Strategy, Planning, and Membership Performance at Advocate Health. Rebekah began her career in healthcare early, an original candy striper volunteer as a teenager and progressing through various roles in healthcare management. Her passion for healthcare s…

1
Leading with Purpose: Insights from Michelle Fitz-Henley || EP. 170 26:08

12M ago26:08

26:08

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Michelle Fitz-Henley, Group Human Resources Manager at Jamaica Broilers Group. Michelle shares her journey from aspiring lawyer to impactful HR leader. Despite initially aiming for a legal career, Michelle found her calling in HR at Jamaica Broilers, where she manages human resources across diverse loc…

1
Camille Wright on Being a Servant Leader || EP. 169 21:48

12M ago21:48

21:48

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Camille Wright, Director of Human Resources at American Health Marketplace. Camille oversees HR for a health insurance marketplace firm which spans 28 states. She shares her path from early days when she wanted to be a university dean to finding her calling in HR through unexpected opportunities. Joini…

1
Tiffany Gamblin on Bridging AI with Human Interaction || EP. 168 25:17

12M ago25:17

25:17

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Tiffany Gamblin, Director of HR Business Services at Paycom. Tiffany shares her journey into HR, initially considering a career in veterinary medicine but pivoting into HR under the guidance of her mother-in-law. She describes her role at Paycom overseeing HR business partners, employee relations, comp…

1
From Title IX to Behind the HR Desk: Dr. Kayla Randolph’s Leadership Insights || EP. 167 24:58

1y ago24:58

24:58

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Kayla Randolph. Managing Director of Human Resources at IDEA Public Schools, as part of the Women Who Inspire: HR Leaders Series – A collaboration between Transcarent and the Inspiring Women Podcast with Laurie McGraw. Kayla oversees HR for 11,000 employees across multiple states, emphasizing value…

1
Creativity, Impact, and Empowering Human Resources Leaders with Lana Krasnyansky || EP. 166 17:26

1y ago17:26

17:26

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Lana Krasnyansky, Senior Manager of HR Transition at TriNet, as part of the Women Who Inspire: HR Leaders Series – A collaboration between Transcarent and the Inspiring Women Podcast with Laurie McGraw Lana shares her journey and insights into leadership. Her diverse career path started with a passion …

1
Trailblazers Drs. Marjorie Rallins and Holly Miller leading the way to interoperability || EP. 165 49:14

1y ago49:14

49:14

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Women Drs. Marjorie Rallins and Holly Miller who are experts in the space of data standards setting and the landscape of interoperability. Both Marjorie and Holly have devoted their expertise and careers towards building the infrastructure and plumbing that fuels the clinical data information highway so that…

1
Celebrating Pride with Melissa Bell || EP. 164 33:30

1y ago33:30

33:30

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Melissa Bell, long time health tech executive ad CCO of Enliven Health. For Melissa, working hard was obvious and natural. She was always one to raise her hand for the next challenging assignment which gave her the reputation of being the company’s go to person for the most visible difficult projects. …

1
We Don’t Need to Pathologize Messiness. Drs. Sipra Laddha and Jenny Schneider on the Home[ward] Grown Mentorship Series || EP. 163 29:37

1y ago29:37

29:37

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Dr. Jenny Schneider about the new Home[ward] Grown program to elevate women founders and leaders that was launched last year. Dr. Sipra Laddha, CoFounder and CEO of Luna Joy discusses her experience with the program. Jenny is very vested in female founders and believes that the worn battle scars are us…

1
Jami Youmans on the importance of a strong network. || EP. 162 15:35

1y ago15:35

15:35

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Jami Youmans, President and CEO of HealthEco. Jami is an athlete and expected to be seven feet tall when she grew up and likely playing professional basketball. It was her sincere curiosity that led her to healthcare and building her company HealthEco. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series f…

1
“It has to be us.” Denielle DeWynter on making time for the next generation of women leaders. || EP. 161 15:55

1y ago15:55

15:55

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Denielle deWynter, CFO and SVP of Hearst Health. Denielle has spent twenty years in finance and half of them in various Hearst businesses. It’s the mission driven focus that Denielle finds so meaningful, making this her best position so far. In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Denielle de…

1
Kristin Rodriguez on Guiding the Hero’s Journey || EP. 160 33:41

1y ago33:41

33:41

Laurie McGraw is speaking with Inspiring Woman Kristin Rodriguez. Kristin is many things, and one of those things is that Kristin is funny. Don’t confuse her quick wit and humorous approach to career trajectory (a winding path indeed!) with anything less than her seriousness in how she expects to help Heroes. Who are the Heroes? The people who are …

1
Innovation Leader. Mid-Careerist. Happy Mother’s Day Emily Fry!! || EP. 159 17:40

1y ago17:40

17:40

In this 2024 WBL (Women Business Leaders) Series, Emily talks about her leadership journey from the point of view of a “mid careerist”. Today she is leading innovation operations at Geisinger. Her path to leadership was not a clear straight journey and she credits her prior diverse experience to giving her the confidence to lead innovation where sh…

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Laurie McGraw Podcasts

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