Leader's Edge podcast

#Business #Leaders Edge #A Council Platform

35:56

In this premiere episode of "The God Hook," host Carol Costello introduces the chilling story of Richard Beasley, infamously known as the Ohio Craigslist Killer. In previously unreleased jailhouse recordings, Beasley portrays himself as a devout Christian, concealing his manipulative and predatory behavior. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Beasley's deceitfulness extends beyond the victims he buried in shallow graves. Listen to the preview of a bonus conversation between Carol and Emily available after the episode. Additional info at carolcostellopresents.com . Do you have questions about this series? Submit them for future Q&A episodes . Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see additional videos, photos, and conversations. For early and ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content, subscribe to the podcast via Supporting Cast or Apple Podcasts. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder SPECIAL THANKS Kevin Huffman Zoe Louisa Lewis GUESTS Doug Oplinger - Former Managing Editor of the Akron Beacon Journal Volkan Topalli - Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology Amir Hussain - Professor of Theological Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://evergreenpodcasts.supportingcast.fm…

Leader's Edge

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Established in 2004, Leader’s Edge is the award-winning content platform for The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers, covering legal and legislative issues, international business and regulation, management trends and best practices, technology, and more. Leader’s Edge is written and recorded for large and mid-sized commercial insurance and employee benefit executives around the globe.

194 episodes

Leader's Edge

updated about 23 hours ago

Series home•Feed

194 episodes

#Business #Leaders Edge #A Council Platform

All episodes

1
Risk Management in the Middle Market 20:05

23 hours ago20:05

20:05

In this episode, Kristina Talkowski, head of commercial lines, middle market for Nationwide, shares takeaways from a recent survey of small and medium sized businesses. Among the range of risk management issues covered are economic concerns, supply chain disruptions, cyber threats and regulatory compliance issues. She also discusses gaps in risk preparedness for middle market businesses, industry opportunities, and more.…

1
Personal Lines with Beth Ferrin 17:54

8 days ago17:54

17:54

A conversation with the president of McGohan Brabender. A native of Ashland, Ohio, Beth Ferrin shares how growing up in Amish country shaped her formative years, what it's like being the first female president of her firm, and the importance of advocacy in her role.

1
Private Equity Investment Appetites Maturing 21:24

13 days ago21:24

21:24

In this episode Leader's Edge talks with Matthew Scally and Grier Dienstag from McKinsey. Both authors of “Investing in insurance: The value imperative,” discuss recent private investment trends in insurance. They also evaluate what made 2024 M&A unique, and share why they expect increased deal activity this year.…

1
Insurtech Startups Apply AI to Back-Office Woes 16:22

28 days ago16:22

16:22

The BrokerTech Ventures 2025 Accelerator startups are putting artificial intelligence to work in new ways, rethinking back-office processes from telephony support to employee offboarding, says Accelerator Executive Director John Jackovin. Talking to Leader’s Edge on the eve of the multiday, in-person BTV Mania, Jackovin shares insights on new areas of startup focus, investment trends, and what BTV startups and partners have to look forward to when they gather this week.…

1
Personal Lines with Michael Blackshear 15:50

5 weeks ago15:50

15:50

A conversation with Ryan Specialty’s chief compliance and privacy officer and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion. In this episode, Michael Blackshear discusses how growing up in New York City shaped him, how his consistent pursuit of education informs his role, and finding out that his father was an undercover detective.…

1
A Sputnik Moment for the AI Industry 24:05

6 weeks ago24:05

24:05

At the start of 2025 the AI industry and stock market were both blindsided. By the end of Monday, Jan. 27, nearly $1 trillion in value had been wiped off the Nasdaq 100. U.S. tech companies that had invested billions of dollars in AI now faced new competition from DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup. Supposedly only costing $6 million to develop, and as intelligent as OpenAI’s reasoning models, the open-source application became the most downloaded free app for iPhone when released. For Brandon Nuttall, chief digital and AI officer at industry data solutions provider Xceedance, this was a Sputnik moment for the AI industry–referring to moment in which the Soviet Union surprised the United States and jump-started the space race in 1957 by sending the first artificial satellite into space. In this podcast, Nuttall discusses the risks for companies that use DeepSeek, how the AI was created, and why it needs significantly less energy than other large language models.…

1
Coach K Talks Leadership, Vulnerability, and the Greatest Rivalry in Sports 20:33

8 weeks ago20:33

20:33

In an interview conducted on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum last Fall, Leader's Edge spoke with Mike Krzyzewski, former head coach for Duke University men's basketball and the Team USA Olympics team. Krzyzewski shares stories of leadership, talent, and rivalries with Editor-in-Chief Sandy Laycox, who attended the University of North Carolina, Duke’s primary rival. Although Krzyzewski is retired, the rivalry burns strong.…

1
Personal Lines with Sarah Friend 29:12

10 weeks ago29:12

29:12

A conversation with the president of The Partners Group. In this episode, Sarah Friend shares how and why she started her own podcast, the importance of community in retaining young professionals, and her philosophy on leadership.

1
Reporting from the Eaton Fire 21:33

10 weeks ago21:33

21:33

While on assignment to cover the disproportionate impact of natural catastrophes on low-income families and small businesses, journalist Russ Banham was evacuated from his own Los Angeles home. A Los Angeles County native, Banham himself was forced to evacuate his home with his family as the Eaton Fire edged toward his neighborhood in January. After the fire was contained, Russ was able to return to his neighborhood and house, still intact. He shares his personal experience and details from his reporting.…

1
Flexibility, Choice, and Compliance? Top Benefits Trends in 2025 23:49

13 weeks ago23:49

23:49

In this episode, Council VP of Health Policy & Strategy Katie King sits down with Dave Kerrigan, founder and CEO of benefits solution aggregator BenefitPitch, to get his take on the trends driving brokers and employers to prioritize solutions that thread the needle on controlling costs and retaining employees. From AI in benefits to the growth of individual coverage HRAs, Kerrigan discusses which solutions are top of mind, which are falling out of favor, and where we might see the most trend growths in 2025.…

1
Personal Lines with Benjamin Verlingue 21:43

14 weeks ago21:43

21:43

In this episode we meet Benjamin Verlingue, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Adelaide Group. Verlingue shares his story of becoming the 4th generation to run his family’s insurance business. He discusses what changes he wants to see during his time of leadership, and differences and misconceptions between U.S. and France.…

1
Women’s Health in Focus 24:53

15 weeks ago24:53

24:53

In this podcast episode, we discuss women’s health and healthcare with chief medical officer Dr. Janet Choi and chief development officer Julie Stadlbauer from Progyny, a fertility, family building and women’s health benefits provider. From the history of exclusion in medical research, to the fragmented system and myriad point solutions now available, women’s healthcare requires expertise and navigation, the experts say. And it’s an opportunity for employers to better serve this crucial population.…

1
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Lessons From Presidents Past 27:50

16 weeks ago27:50

27:50

In the second interview conducted on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum in October, Leader's Edge spoke with Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin offers insights on the political strife, past and present, that has challenged numerous generations of Americans. She also offers anecdotes concerning the history of the presidency, a message on the importance of young people bringing change to the world, and leadership lessons applicable to all.…

1
Middle Market Mindset 11:12

16 weeks ago11:12

11:12

In this episode, Matt Waters, head of US Middle Market for AXA XL, shares what it has taken for his team to build out its business over the past couple of years. Waters also discusses what characteristics impact the middle market and what industry segments the company is focused on.

1
ILF Open Mic 24:04

17 weeks ago24:04

24:04

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the 2024 Insurance Leadership Forum, Leader's Edge held open mic hours in the magazine's podcast booth where conference guests could sit down and share thoughts on any topic. First to join in conversation was Kevin Davis, president of Kevin Davis Insurance Services, who shared how he uses his own podcast to help his business. Next, Leader’s Edge’s book reviewer Scott Naugle discussed the similarities between recommending a book and an insurance policy.…

Leader's Edge

1
The End of Alien Abduction Coverage? 13:18

17 weeks ago13:18

13:18

“If I’m doing my job right, I’m going to make you laugh and think at the same time” For over 34 years Mike St. Lawrence traveled the United States selling alien abduction insurance on local TV news and radio shows. With nearly 7,000 coverages sold at a $24.95 asking price, the Florida resident offered a $10 million payout for proof of abduction. The catch: The payout would come at $1 annually for 10 million years. Following our 2021 interview with St. Lawrence, podcast producer Zach Ewell recently attempted to reach the self-proclaimed comedian insurer to see how his business was going and pick his mind on current UFO phenomena.…

Leader's Edge

1
Congress Avoids Gov’t Shutdown, for Now 18:04

20 weeks ago18:04

18:04

A Christmas miracle on Capitol Hill keeps the federal government funded through March 14, 2025. In this year-end episode of Politics & Risk, The Council’s senior vice president and vice president of government affairs, Joel Kopperud and Blaire Bartlett, discuss the turmoil in Washington, D.C., as Congress struggles to keep the government open through the new year. Additionally, Bartlett interviews Republican Rep. David Joyce, of Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. The congressman offers his thoughts on the incoming presidential administration and hot-button legislation pertaining to cannabis and banking.…

Leader's Edge

1
HSA Deep Dive 17:18

21 weeks ago17:18

17:18

Mark Siebold, SVP and head of workplace solutions at Wintrust Workplace Solutions, offers a comprehensive overview of health savings accounts (HSAs) and the benefits to both employers and employees.

Leader's Edge

1
The Story of Insurance in America 20:25

21 weeks ago20:25

20:25

Soldiers engaging in combat with native tribes in post-Civil War America. The free press waging a war of words on companies in the Wild West. A massive parade celebrating the tricentennial of the Massachusetts colony. These are all scenes that shaped the way American’s think about risk, from author Katherine Hempstead’s new book Uncovered: The Story of Insurance in America . The book shares how the American insurance industry developed over a period of centuries. In this discussion, Hempstead takes us through the stories and people in her book.…

Leader's Edge

1
Fashion, International Etiquette, and Risk 16:37

24 weeks ago16:37

16:37

Lívia Albuquerque Bisoni has had a fascinating life. After working in Brazil’s fashion industry and then pivoting to insurance and moving to Portugal, the 33-year-old today is head of international and institutional relations for MDS Group. Fresh off her team’s win in the Global Broker Smackdown at the 2024 Insurance Leadership Forum, Bisoni shares with Leader’s Edge how she was able to switch careers, the importance of international business etiquette, and what risk trends she foresees impacting clients next year.…

Leader's Edge

1
Behind the Curtain 22:16

26 weeks ago22:16

22:16

Given his background working with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and medical insurers, as well as working with individuals to fill their prescriptions, Dr. Simon Leung, Vice President, Head of Pharmacy, Conner Strong & Buckelew has in some ways seen it all. Leung’s experience has shaped his approach to pharmacy benefit consulting and his view on transparency with respect to drug costs. He discusses where all the different industry players disagree, which cost-saving levers employers have access to and the value of different types of data that inform client strategy.…

Leader's Edge

1
Former NATO Commander Admiral James Stavridis on Cyber and Geopolitical Risk 17:27

26 weeks ago17:27

17:27

Leader's Edge was on-site at The Council's Insurance Leadership Forum in October to capture the conversations and energy that always accompany this key industry gathering. In the first of three special interviews conducted at ILF, retired U.S. Navy Admiral James Stavridis, former NATO supreme allied commander Europe and a current board member of global broker Aon, discusses what risks American companies face from abroad, what trends he foresees impacting the world, and what U.S. citizens can do to tamp down the political divisiveness running rampant in our country.…

Leader's Edge

1
Personal Lines with Dottie Chalmers Cutter 31:13

27 weeks ago31:13

31:13

In this episode we meet Dottie Chalmers Cutter, Chief Operating Officer of Chalmers Insurance Group. Cutter shares her story of becoming the 4th generation to run her family’s insurance business. She also discusses the importance of company culture and hard work.

Leader's Edge

1
A Fully Optimized Digital Industry 19:02

31 weeks ago19:02

19:02

Everyone in the insurance value chain wins when the broker is equipped with better data, says Jeff Cohen, senior vice president at Zywave. Cohen paints a vivid picture of what a fully optimized digital industry could look like, but cautions that we’re not there yet. He discusses where the industry is on this journey, why digital evolution is moving at the pace that it is, and what we can do about it. He also digs into the differences between manual and digital processes, how to bring out useful data points for insureds, and how Zywave is building its data from the ground up.…

Leader's Edge

1
Looking Around Corners and Breaking Glass 18:20

31 weeks ago18:20

18:20

Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers executive chairman Ken Crerar sits down for a candid conversation on leading The Council through 30 years of growth, change, disruption, and success.

Leader's Edge

1
Financial Tools for an Uncertain Economy 19:29

31 weeks ago19:29

19:29

Being a bank-owned premium financing company means that the economic environment, especially changes in banking, is a major factor in the business landscape, says Ben Rubin, chief risk officer for FIRST Insurance Funding & Wintrust Life Finance. In this podcast, sponsored by First Insurance Funding, Rubin discusses the particulars of the current financial services environment and how brokers can position premium financing in their conversations with clients. He also explains the different options it provides, how different sized companies might use premium financing in different ways, and more.…

Leader's Edge

1
Personal Lines with Ryan L. Smith 24:24

32 weeks ago24:24

24:24

In this episode we meet Ryan L. Smith Executive Vice President of Atlanta Life Insurance. Smith shares how his childhood entrepreneurial mindset led him to working with NBA legend Magic Johnson. He also discusses his perspective on life insurance, and why its vital for a family member to have.

Leader's Edge

1
Great Fire to a Burgeoning Market: History of Lloyd's 17:52

32 weeks ago17:52

17:52

For hundreds of years the insurance market known as Lloyd's of London has played a notorious role in the world of risk and finance. To understand how this market started, podcast producer Zach Ewell spoke with Geraldine Morgan, a history enthusiast who gives tours in London England around the history of Lloyds and insurance. Morgan takes us on a tour from the great fire of London of 1666 to the establishment of Lloyd’s Coffee Shop. To learn more about Morgan's tour you can visit her website .…

Leader's Edge

1
Executing on Specialty 12:57

33 weeks ago12:57

12:57

One year into the newly created role of head of North America, AXIS' Mike McKenna joins the Leader’s Edge podcast to discuss how he plans to execute on opportunities in the market as Axis dives deeper into specialty lines. McKenna drills down into where the opportunities are in the difficult casualty market, discusses the company’s new Lloyd’s syndicate focused on the energy transition, and talks about serving the lower middle market effectively.…

Leader's Edge

1
Brokers, Insurtechs Ready to Connect 15:48

35 weeks ago15:48