Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast

RedSail Technologies
  • 4.9 (35)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

On the Catalyst podcast, we dive into current events that are shaping how pharmacists approach their patients and their business. Fuel your passion for pharmacy, one conversation at a time.

  1. The Benefits of NCPA Memberships — Owners Share Their Journey

    23H AGO

    The Benefits of NCPA Memberships — Owners Share Their Journey

    This week, we sit down with Mark Ey, Jade Ranger, and Hashim Zaibak for an honest look at the current landscape of independent pharmacy and the role NCPA plays in supporting owners across the country. Together, they share how advocacy, networking, and shared experience make a real difference—whether you're managing a single location or multiple sites. The guests open up about how NCPA shaped their journeys, the challenges they face each year, and why staying connected to other owners is critical.  Become a member now: https://ncpa.org/membership  00:00 – Introductions & Opening the Conversation  02:00 – Meet the Pharmacy Owners  04:00 – What NCPA Really Does for Independent Pharmacies  06:00 – The Path to Joining NCPA  08:00 – Why Independent Pharmacies Need a Unified Voice  10:00 – Understanding the ROI of NCPA Membership  12:00 – Real Financial & Operational Benefits  14:00 – The Power of Networking Across States    Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Mark Ey | SVP & COO, NCPA  Jade Ranger | Owner/Pharmacist, The Prescription Shoppe  Hashim Zaibak | Founder, Hayat Pharmacy    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    18 min
  2. How One Pharmacist Grew to 3 Locations in 5 Years with Kyle Beyer

    FEB 11

    How One Pharmacist Grew to 3 Locations in 5 Years with Kyle Beyer

    Think ownership requires slow growth? Think again. Independent pharmacy owner Kyle Beyer joins us to discuss how he went from chain pharmacist to multi-location owner of North Shore Pharmacy in only five years. He talks about the opportunities and obstacles of ownership: from buying during COVID, building a compounding hub, scaling through partner networks, and navigating the changing landscape of PBMs. If you’re wondering what it really takes to grow in today’s industry, Kyle’s is the success story you need to hear.  00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introduction  01:30 – The North Shore Expansion Story (3 Locations & Growing)  07:54 – Buying a Pharmacy Right Before COVID Hit  11:14 – Building a Compounding Hub & New Revenue Streams  13:19 – Partner Network Success & the Rise of the “Sticky Patient”  17:26 – Supplements, DME & Front-End Profit Strategies  23:29 – Scaling With Technology: Processes, Staff & Pioneer Features  33:15 – Medicare True-Ups & What Pharmacy Owners Should Watch    Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Kyle Beyer | Owner, North Shore Pharmacy    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    47 min
  3. She Refused to Let PBMs Decide Her Future with Fair Jones

    FEB 4

    She Refused to Let PBMs Decide Her Future with Fair Jones

    In this episode, we sit down with Fair Jones, Owner of Sav‑Mor Drugs & Gifts in Grenada, Mississippi, to talk all things ownership and advocacy. Fair shares her experiences stepping into pharmacy ownership in 2019, navigating curbside-only operations during COVID, and why reimbursement/PBM pressures pushed her to start speaking up online — including the moment she realized she made $0.88 on six prescriptions. In doing so, Fair shows how to balance meeting margins and pushing for reform in the industry.  Follow Fair's Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/FairRx   00:00 – Welcome & Episode Intro  00:23 – Fair’s Early Path Into Pharmacy  04:55 – Retail Burnout & the Push Toward Ownership  08:16 – Taking Ownership of Sav‑Mor in 2019  11:53 – Six Months of Curbside‑Only During COVID  17:21 – Med Sync, Inventory Control & Staying Afloat  23:30 – The $0.88 Reimbursement Story  29:17 – Becoming a Voice for Pharmacy Advocacy  33:33 – Full‑Circle Moment at Ole Miss  38:09 – Tech, Tools & Pioneer‑Driven Efficiency    Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Fair Jones | Owner, Sav-Mor Drugs and Gifts    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    48 min
  4. How a Small‑Town Pharmacy Became a Lifeline in Idaho’s Mountains

    JAN 28

    How a Small‑Town Pharmacy Became a Lifeline in Idaho’s Mountains

    This week, we sat down with Valley Apothecary co‑owner Paula Shaffer to talk about building a community‑focused independent pharmacy in Ketchum, Idaho. Paula shares how their team expanded services like compounding, testing, supplements, and vaccinations—plus how they became a critical resource during COVID‑19. Along the way, she reflects on challenges facing independent pharmacies, the impact of technology on workflow, and how she supports better health in even the most remote of mountain towns.    00:00 - Introducing Valley Apothecary  03:15 - Paula’s path to pharmacy ownership  07:58 - Serving a small mountain community  12:34 - Compounding, supplements & added services  15:40 - Becoming the town’s primary vaccinators  18:56 - Overcoming barriers in independent pharmacy  23:42 - Switching to new technology & workflow gains  32:10 - The future of community-focused pharmacy care    Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Paula Shaffer | Owner, Valley Apothecary    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    43 min
  5. Alec Ginsberg on Tradition, Innovation & The Fight for Change

    JAN 7

    Alec Ginsberg on Tradition, Innovation & The Fight for Change

    Alec Ginsberg, COO of C.O. Bigelow, takes us inside America’s oldest pharmacy to share its 187-year history (and why it’s still thriving today). From celebrity customers to the fight against PBMs, Alec shows how independent pharmacies can survive and why he launched Drugstore Cowboy to educate consumers and push for change. If you care about the future of healthcare, this is a conversation worth hearing.    Subscribe to Drugstore Cowboy here: https://drugstorecowboy.com/     01:50 - Inside America’s Oldest Pharmacy  06:37 - Celebrities Need Pharmacists Too  11:07 - Why I Chose the Counter Over the Stage  18:10 - Staffing Like Service Actually Matters  20:51 - The Business Beyond the Counter: Cosmetics & Hotels  25:36 - Drugstore Cowboy: Why I’m Poking the Bull  40:30 - The $80K Patient: What PBMs Do to Real People  52:38 - The Mom Test: Why Service Still Wins     Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest:  Alec Ginsberg | COO, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    59 min
  6. Fixing Pharmacy Staffing Shortages with Autumn-Kyoko Cushman | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 147

    12/11/2025

    Fixing Pharmacy Staffing Shortages with Autumn-Kyoko Cushman | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 147

    Autumn-Kyoko Cushman “AK” joins the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast to share her journey from Navy hospital corpsman to co‑founder of ShiftRx. She talks about overcoming personal challenges, building a pharmacy staffing marketplace, and unveiling Holly, their new AI healthcare administrator launching in January. This episode is about resilience, innovation, and reimagining the future of healthcare.    Learn more about ShiftRx: https://www.shiftrx.io/    00:00 — Intro and episode overview  01:22 — Welcome, AK’s background, and episode goals  03:28 — 2008 crisis, entrepreneurship at home, and path to the Navy  06:45 — Executive medicine, healthcare reform insights, and COVID side gigs  10:51 — IBM, precision medicine, mom’s diagnosis, and mission shift  19:32 — Founding ShiftRx: marketplace challenges and impact  23:36 — Meet Holly: AI healthcare administrator + January launch  44:19 — Move to SF, funding, and the future of AI in pharmacy (closing)    Hosted By: Johnathon Duhon | VP of PMS Sales, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Autumn-Kyoko Cushman | CEO, ShiftRx    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    49 min
  7. She Took On CVS, Won New Laws, and Saved Her Pharmacy with Jennifer Shannon | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 146

    12/05/2025

    She Took On CVS, Won New Laws, and Saved Her Pharmacy with Jennifer Shannon | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 146

    Jennifer Shannon, PharmD shares one of the most inspiring journeys in independent pharmacy. From opening Lily’s Pharmacy with no patients, to building a pioneering transitions-of-care program, to fighting PBM patient steering at the state level, Jennifer has pushed for better care at every turn.  She walks through how FairRx saved their business, how her community rallied behind her, how her kids supported seniors during COVID, and how she and her husband now run a 39-stall equine farm. It’s a story of advocacy, resilience, and redefining what pharmacy can be.  This episode also marks a special moment for our team — a heartfelt farewell to Mark Bivins, whose presence, leadership, and passion helped shape so much of what this podcast has become.    00:00 — Jennifer Shannon’s Origin Story & Why She Opened Lily’s Pharmacy  03:42 — Building a Pharmacy With No Patients: Community, Cupcakes & Persistence  08:55 — The Transitions-of-Care Program That Changed Everything  14:12 — Taking on CVS/Caremark & Testifying Against PBM Abuse  21:40 — The Birth of FairRx and Fighting to Save Their Pharmacy  29:03 — Kids Helping Seniors During COVID: A Community Moment  34:28 — How Jennifer Became an “Accidental” Equine Pharmacist  41:10 — A Heartfelt Farewell to Mark Bivins    Hosted By: Mark Bivins  Guest: Jennifer Shannon | Owner of Lily’s Pharmacy    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    54 min
  8. Inside the Fight for Pharmacy Immunization Rights with Marc Ost | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 145

    10/22/2025

    Inside the Fight for Pharmacy Immunization Rights with Marc Ost | Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast Episode 145

    Pharmacists have been vaccinating for years—it's about time they get the recognition (and reimbursement) they deserve. Marc Ost, Co-Owner of Eric’s RX Shoppe in Horsham, PA, is here to make it happen. Marc joins us to talk about how he’s driving change in vaccine access and reimbursement, from advocating with the FTC and state legislators to pioneering at-home immunization billing codes. He also shares what’s new this year in vaccine administration, how pharmacies can adapt to new Part B service codes, and why telling your story to lawmakers still matters.  👉 Learn how independent pharmacists are working to improve vaccination access and provide care to all communities.  https://www.ericsrx.com/   00:00 – Intro: Expanding Vaccine Access Through Independent Pharmacies02:10 – Patient Confidence & Combating Vaccine Confusion06:10 – Working With the State to Maintain Vaccine Access10:00 – The Reality of Vaccine Reimbursement & Billing Medical vs. PBM12:58 – Optimizing Workflow & Billing Efficiency in PioneerRx18:00 – Starting an Immunization Program From Scratch32:00 – At-Home Vaccinations: Using New Medicare CPT Codes42:00 – Advocacy & PBM Reform: Making It About Patient Impact   Hosted By: Mark Bivins | Chief Growth Officer, RedSail Technologies  Guest: Marc Ost | Co-Owner at Eric’s RX Shoppe & Community Pharmacy Services    Looking for more information about independent pharmacy? Visit https://www.redsailtechnologies.com

    57 min
See All (260)

4.9
out of 5
35 Ratings

About

On the Catalyst podcast, we dive into current events that are shaping how pharmacists approach their patients and their business. Fuel your passion for pharmacy, one conversation at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    RedSail Technologies
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    260
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 036477
  • Show Website
    Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast