Level Up Claims

Galen Hair
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The Level Up Claims Podcast brings you real conversations with the leaders, builders, and disruptors shaping the property damage, restoration, and insurance-claims world. Each week, we dig into the strategies, systems, and mindset needed to grow, whether you're a contractor, public adjuster, attorney, or anyone working in the claims ecosystem. From business growth and leadership to industry trends, complex losses, tech, and entrepreneurship, we spotlight the people who refuse to settle and are pushing the industry forward. No fluff. No sales pitches. Just actionable insight from those who've lived it. If you're ready to think bigger, operate smarter, and level up your impact, you're in the right place.

  1. 3 days ago

    Stop Being the Hero: How to Lead People Right with Josh Troche - Episode 196

    What happens when the person who knows how everything works suddenly walks out the door? A growing business can look successful on the outside while quietly depending on undocumented processes, individual employees, and systems that were never built to scale. Josh Troche joins Galen Hair to talk about what happens when growth exposes those weaknesses, and what leaders can do about it. From documenting critical processes to building trust with employees, Josh explains why great leadership isn't about having all the answers. It's about creating an organization where people know what to do, know when to ask for help, and have a leader willing to remove the obstacles in their way. In this episode: Why growth can expose broken business systems The danger of having one person who knows how everything works Why processes need to evolve as companies grow How documenting processes protects a business when employees leave Why leaders should focus on removing obstacles, not doing everyone's job The simple leadership question: "How can I help?" How to create an environment where employees actually ask for help Why trust takes years to build and seconds to destroy Why difficult conversations need to happen early and often The 1% improvement mindset that keeps businesses moving forward Reach out to us! Connect with Josh Troche https://www.pedalstomperproductions.com/ Connect with Galen M. Hair https://insuranceclaimhq.com hair@hairshunnarah.com https://levelupclaim.com/

  2. 9 Sept

    When a Public Adjuster Blew the Whistle on Hurricane Ian with Shaun Markwardt - Episode 195

    What happens when an insurance adjuster realizes the estimates he's working on are being changed without his knowledge? For Shaun Markwardt, better known as the Claims Cowboy, that moment changed everything. After more than 20 years on the insurance side, including time as both a staff and independent adjuster, Shaun says Hurricane Ian exposed practices he could no longer ignore. He ultimately left the insurance industry, became a public adjuster, and began using his experience to educate policyholders and mentor others in the claims profession. Highlights: The Hurricane Ian experience that changed Shaun's career What happens when an estimate is changed under an adjuster's name Why Shaun believes documentation and audit trails matter The story behind the "Claims Cowboy" His three core values: integrity, hard work, and grit Why new public adjusters need a financial bankroll How to avoid burnout in the claims industry Shaun's advice: Don't take anything in this business personally Why Shaun still has hope for the future of the profession Reach out to us! Connect with Shaun Markwardt https://claimscowboy.com/ Connect with Galen M. Hair https://insuranceclaimhq.com hair@hairshunnarah.com https://levelupclaim.com/

  3. 2 Sept

    The Subconscious Habits in the Way of Business Growth with Dr. Joseph Drolshagen - Episode 194

    What if the biggest obstacle to growing your business isn't your competition, your strategy, or the market, but the beliefs and subconscious patterns influencing your decisions every day? On this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with business growth coach and author Joseph Drolshagen to explore the hidden patterns that cause entrepreneurs and leaders to self-sabotage, stay stuck, and settle for less than what they actually want. Highlights: Why successful people can still unconsciously self-sabotage The subconscious programming influencing up to 85% of our results, according to Joseph How Joseph turned down the opportunity to take over a million-dollar construction company Why alignment should come before strategy How other people's experiences can become limiting beliefs of our own Why entrepreneurs often need to throttle back instead of work harder How small, individualized habits can create lasting change The "blue moments" and unexpected opportunities that can emerge from alignment Why the ultimate goal isn't just more revenue, but making business fun and exciting again Reach out to us! Connect with Joseph Drolshagen https://www.josephadrolshagen.com/ Connect with Galen M. Hair https://insuranceclaimhq.com hair@hairshunnarah.com https://levelupclaim.com/

  4. 26 Aug

    The Hidden Cost of Hustle: How Leaders Avoid Burnout Without Losing Their Edge with Ian Michael Cedar - Episode 193

    Success is supposed to create freedom. So why do so many successful leaders feel more trapped than ever? On this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with executive coach and former Broadway tour producer Michael Ian Cedar to talk about the hidden cost of ambition, burnout, leadership, and what it takes to build a successful career without losing yourself along the way. Highlights: Why "I'll be happy when..." can become a dangerous way to live The surprising connection between Broadway performers and high-performing executives Why presence is foundational to better leadership How sensitivity and empathy can make you a stronger leader—not a weaker one Why your people shouldn't feel like interruptions to your day The difference between maximum energy and optimum energy Michael's airplane analogy for avoiding burnout What it really means to level up

  5. 19 Aug

    Are YOU The Bottleneck in Your Business? with Alane Boyd - Episode 192

    What happens when the founder becomes the person holding everything together? In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with serial entrepreneur and workflow automation expert Alane Boyd, who built a social media agency to 600 clients and 125 employees before selling the company in 2018. Alane shares the systems and mindset shifts that helped her build a business that could scale without relying on one person to keep everything moving. In this episode: Why founders struggle to let go How to start documenting your business processes Why project management should encompass your entire company Using AI and automation to eliminate repetitive work How better systems can improve employee satisfaction and retention Identifying hidden revenue leaks Why adding more people isn't always the answer The difference between growing and scaling Getting out of your own way as a leader Episode Resources: ·      Connect with Alane Boyd ·      https://www.alaneboyd.com/ ·      Connect with Galen M. Hair ·      https://insuranceclaimhq.com ·      hair@hairshunnarah.com ·      https://levelupclaim.com/

  6. 12 Aug

    The Game of Ten: Stop Overthinking and Start Trusting Yourself with Steve Barton - Episode 191

    What if becoming a better leader isn't about gathering more information, analyzing more possibilities, or thinking harder? In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen sits down with Steve Barton, high-performance executive coach and creator of the Game of Ten, for a conversation about the things that can quietly hold high achievers back: overthinking, fear, self-doubt, guilt, shame, and the constant need to control the outcome. Steve shares the personal experience that took him from growing his family's flower business from roughly $200,000 to more than $2 million in annual sales to realizing that business success didn't automatically equal happiness. That realization ultimately led him into personal development, coaching, and the framework he now calls the Game of Ten. The conversation gets into intuition, awareness, leadership, decision-making, personal growth, and why some of the smartest and most successful people can still get trapped in their own heads. In this episode: Why successful people can still feel unfulfilled The difference between business success and internal confidence Steve's Game of Ten framework Why high achievers often get stuck in the "7, 8, or 9" How overthinking can become its own form of addiction Why awareness may be more valuable than simply collecting more information Learning to use thoughts, emotions, skills, and identity as tools rather than letting them control you The tension between logic and intuition in leadership Letting go of control and becoming more comfortable with uncertainty Steve's six phrases for getting back to the present moment What "leveling up" means when the goal isn't simply more success At its core, this is a conversation about learning to stop second-guessing yourself, become more aware, and lead from a place of greater confidence and authenticity.

  7. 5 Aug

    AI, IT & Leadership: Are You Using Technology the Right Way? with Lara Hamilton - Episode 190

    Technology is supposed to make business easier. So why does it sometimes feel like it's making everything harder? In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen sits down with Lara Hamilton, a multifamily IT and software support leader, to talk about the intersection of technology, AI, leadership, and operational efficiency. Lara shares her unconventional path from banking operations to multifamily IT, how she learned to eliminate inefficient processes, and why businesses need to make sure their technology actually works for their people. They also dive into the opportunities and risks of AI, including data security, employee education, governance, and the importance of verifying what AI tells you. But perhaps the biggest lesson is about leadership: the goal of technology isn't to eliminate the human element. It's to free people up to do the things only people can do. In this episode: Why technology should eliminate operational friction—not create more of it The importance of documenting processes before automating them How AI can improve reporting and efficiency The security risks businesses need to consider when employees use AI Why every company needs clear AI governance policies How leaders can use technology to give employees more room to think and grow Recognizing when your IT team is overwhelmed and becoming reactive Why taking care of your people ultimately means taking care of your clients Lara's philosophy on leadership, growth, and what it means to level up Lara's perspective is especially relevant for leaders trying to navigate rapid technological change without losing sight of the people their businesses are built around.

  8. 29 Jul

    Why Your Team Isn't Taking Initiative (And How to Fix It) with Dr. Katie Trowbridge - Episode 189

    What if the biggest challenge facing your team isn't a lack of talent, but rather it's a lack of leadership that encourages people to think?   In this episode of the Level Up Claims Podcast, Galen Hair sits down with Dr. Katie Trowbridge, educator, leadership export, and author of Lead Boldly, Think Deeply, to discuss why today's workplaces are producing more compliance than creativity… and what you can do to change it.   Highlights: ·      Why employees stop taking initiative, and how leaders accidentally create it ·      The difference between managing people and teaching people to think ·      How AI should support leaders, not replace human connection ·      Building trust through meaningful recognition and authentic leadership ·      Why curiosity is becoming one of the most valuable leadership skills ·      The CREATE Method and how it develops stronger, more engaged teams ·      Small leadership habits that create long-term cultural change   Episode Resources: ·      Connect with Dr. Katie Trowbride ·      https://www.katietrowbridge.com/ ·      Connect with Galen M. Hair ·      https://insuranceclaimhq.com ·      hair@hairshunnarah.com ·      https://levelupclaim.com/

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About

The Level Up Claims Podcast brings you real conversations with the leaders, builders, and disruptors shaping the property damage, restoration, and insurance-claims world. Each week, we dig into the strategies, systems, and mindset needed to grow, whether you're a contractor, public adjuster, attorney, or anyone working in the claims ecosystem. From business growth and leadership to industry trends, complex losses, tech, and entrepreneurship, we spotlight the people who refuse to settle and are pushing the industry forward. No fluff. No sales pitches. Just actionable insight from those who've lived it. If you're ready to think bigger, operate smarter, and level up your impact, you're in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    Galen Hair
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    196
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Insurance Claim HQ
  • Show Website
    Level Up Claims