Risk & Resolve

Conner Insurance
  • 5.0 (1)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The Risk & Resolve Podcast is your go-to resource for insightful conversations at the intersection of leadership, business ownership, and the insurance industry. Hosted by Ben Conner and Todd Hufford, this podcast dives deep into the challenges and opportunities that leaders face in an ever-changing world. Each episode features candid discussions with business owners, industry experts, and thought leaders, exploring topics like innovation, risk management, and the strategies that drive success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or insurance professional, you’ll gain actionable insights and inspiration to navigate today’s complex business landscape. Tune in to Risk & Resolve—where leadership meets resilience.

  1. 3D AGO

    Faith, Power, and the Heartland: Micah Beckwith on Indiana’s Political Future

    In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith to explore his journey from ministry and agriculture into statewide leadership. Beckwith shares why he believes faith and politics are inseparable, how grassroots organizing reshaped Indiana’s lieutenant governor race, and why rural communities and agriculture are central to America’s future. From culture wars and education to farming, governance, and the risks of public service, this episode offers a candid look at leadership rooted in conviction. Main Talking Points: Beckwith’s upbringing in agriculture and the dairy industry, including the Moose Tracks origin storyFrom worship pastor to politician: why ministry led him into public officeThe role of faith in governance and why churches should engage civic lifePublic education, parental rights, and cultural influence on the next generationCOVID-era leadership, religious exemptions, and defending individual libertyHow Indiana’s lieutenant governor is chosen through a delegate conventionGrassroots politics: visiting all 92 counties and winning by 63 votesChecks and balances between governor and lieutenant governorAgriculture as national security and Indiana’s economic backboneRevitalizing rural Indiana through infrastructure, broadband, and Main Street investmentRisks of leadership, public criticism, and standing firm in conviction

    1h 14m

  2. JAN 21

    Building A Purpose-Driven Agency That Wins Long-Term with Chance Benbow

    Growth comes from clear values, brave creativity, and showing up for clients when it matters most. In this episode, we sit down with Chance Benbow, CEO of JDA Worldwide, to explore how a client-first mindset and faith-informed leadership drive measurable results across brand, digital, PR, and media. We dig into how courageous creativity, face-to-face trust, and service orientation turned a Midwestern agency into a long-term growth partner for purpose-driven brands. Chance shares lessons from his career, including: • Childhood lessons decoding ads  • Launching an agency in his twenties  • Faith-driven values and leadership  • Beating the 18-month client churn  • Building culture through in-person collaboration  • Creativity across brand, web, PR, and media  • CEO personal branding and impactful PR  • Risk, resolve, and founding Intersection Chance also shares candid insights on pride, legacy, hiring for temperament over résumé, and anchoring campaigns to measurable growth goals rather than shiny deliverables. If this episode resonates, subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review—then ask yourself: what part of your growth plan needs more courage and clarity today?

    56 min

  3. JAN 14

    Cybersecurity Preparedness and Cyber Liability Insurance: Prepare, Protect, and Recover

    Cyber Risk Isn’t Just Tech—It’s Business Continuity Cyber threats aren’t just a tech problem—they’re a business problem. In this episode, we bring together a CISO and a senior cyber broker to show how organizations can prepare, protect, and recover when ransomware, email compromise, or vendor outages hit at the worst possible moment. You’ll learn: What the latest FBI numbers really mean and why human error drives most lossesHow to move from vague worry to an evidence-based risk register leadership can fund and trackThe essential building blocks of a modern security program: policies people follow, technical controls that stick, and alignment to frameworks like NIST CSF 2.0 or CIS ControlsRecovery strategies that work under pressure: tested business continuity, documented incident response plans, disaster recovery, and the 3-2-1 backup strategy with routine restore testingCyber insurance demystified: first- and third-party coverage, breach response, forensic support, business interruption, cyber extortion, social engineering, regulatory actions, and reputational harmWhat underwriters expect today—MFA, EDR, offline backups, and phishing training—and how brokers can advocate for better termsAI-driven scams and verification protocols to strengthen defensesWe also break down how to align your cyber insurance with your security posture, so coverage responds when you need it most. With layered defenses, practiced playbooks, and clear coverage, you can absorb shocks and keep revenue moving. If this episode helps you spot a gap in your defenses, subscribe, share with a teammate, and leave a review highlighting the one control you’ll implement this quarter.

    1h 5m

  4. JAN 7

    Exposing the Great American Healthcare Heist: Whistleblowing, Reform, and $100M in Fraud with Chris Deacon

    In this powerful episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Chris Deacon—former New Jersey Treasury official, whistleblower, and author of The Great American Healthcare Heist. Chris shares how she uncovered widespread fraud and manipulation in one of the country’s largest public health plans, why she walked away from her role, and the moral, personal, and professional cost of exposing the truth. From pharmacy benefit games to $100M settlements, this is a rare, behind-the-scenes look into how the system really works—and what it takes to change it.   Main Talking Points Chris’s background: from bankruptcy attorney to managing an 820,000-member state health planThe questions that exposed flaws: “Discount off what?” and “Don’t we want smart disruption?” Her discovery: being billed $2.1M for a $675K procedure—and the rigged system behind itHow vendors manipulated EOBs and plan billing against contract termsFiling the whistleblower case that led to a $100M+ recovery for New JerseyWhy she left government—and the chilling threats she faced afterwardThe broader problem with PBMs, rebates, and healthcare middlemenHer call to action for fiduciaries and employers to stop accepting “that’s just how it’s done”Her book, The Great American Healthcare Heist, and what it revealsWhat’s next: unsealing the rest of the case and continuing the fight for transparency

    1h 15m

  5. 12/31/2025

    Looking Into 2026: Interest Rates, GLP-1 Impact, and the Future of Employer Health Plans

    In this forward-looking episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford share predictions for 2026 across interest rates, employment trends, healthcare innovation, and the rising costs of insurance. They discuss the economic forces driving employer benefits strategy, how drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro are reshaping budgets, and why some employers may start treating healthcare like a utility. From remote work realignment to the rise of PBM bypass tools, this is a must-listen for CFOs, benefits advisors, and business leaders planning ahead. Main Talking Points Interest rate history, outlook, and its downstream impact on business investmentReturn-to-office movement: trends, motives, and generational career impactThe GLP-1 effect: Zepbound, Mounjaro, and why Eli Lilly is reshaping Indiana’s economyWhy 2026 might be the most expensive year yet for employer health plansLarge claimants and unit cost inflation as primary insurance driversThe potential return of Medicare-for-All momentum and political implicationsDirect-to-consumer pharma: LillyDirect, Trump Rx, and bypassing the PBMHow GoodRx, Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus, and Scriptco are disrupting traditional pharmacyEmployers rethinking benefits: the need for felt value and compensation ROILong-term goal: managing health plans to CPI, not medical inflation myths

    54 min

  6. 12/17/2025

    Inside Indiana’s Big “I”: Advocacy, Community, And The Future Of Independent Agencies with Steve Duff

    Insurance sounds straightforward—until markets tighten, umbrellas shrink, and carriers pull back. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Duff, CEO of the Big “I” of Indiana, to unpack what’s really shaping the future of independent agencies. From rising premiums and courtroom pressures to capital, consolidation, and community, Steve brings clarity to the forces colliding across the industry—and what it takes to keep local expertise strong when the stakes are high. Steve shares his journey from a 22-year-old lobbyist to association leader and opens the playbook on how Indiana sustains a resilient property-casualty market through targeted advocacy, practical education, and intentional connection. It’s a candid look at leadership, market realities, and the systems that help agencies not just survive—but stand up stronger. Key Topics We Cover  • Indiana’s association structure and why it works • Shifts from classroom CE to online learning • Community building through low‑cost events • Legal support, E&O access, and M&A guidance • Agency consolidation, valuations, and regeneration • AI as efficiency, not a relationship replacement • How lobbying actually works at the Statehouse • Tort reform priorities and nuclear verdict costs • Third‑party litigation funding and transparency • Perpetuation planning and leadership lessons We close by connecting the dots between the Statehouse, the courthouse, and your clients’ premiums. Steve explains how education-first lobbying, coalition building, and targeted tort reform could stabilize capacity and pricing—and why nuclear verdicts ultimately hit everyday families, farms, and small fleets. He also reflects on leadership lessons learned, the responsibility of serving members well, and his goal to leave the association stronger than he found it. If you care about keeping insurance local, affordable, and smart, this episode delivers insight you can use now. Subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway or question—we’ll feature listener feedback in an upcoming episode

    1h 5m

  7. 12/10/2025

    How Workplace Chaplaincy Solves Hidden Employee Struggles

    What if the most valuable benefit in your company isn’t a perk, but a person? In this episode, we sit down with Marcus Schrader—president and CEO of Workforce Chaplains—to explore how confidential, relational care inside the workplace is addressing the emotional and spiritual needs that traditional EAPs and wellness programs often miss. From shop floors to corporate offices, Marcus reveals why more leaders are investing in chaplains and care coaches to strengthen culture, retention, and performance. Here’s what we dive into:  • faith roots and discovery of corporate chaplaincy • founding story and early risks • scale across companies, states and locations • post‑2020 surge in need and demand • inclusive care model without proselytizing • where and how conversations happen • triage boundaries and referral networks • part‑time team model and recruitment • ROI for leaders, retention and culture gains • transformation stories and long‑tail impact • fatherhood insights that shape care • resolve to lead at home and at work Whether you’re rethinking employee support, exploring care coaches, or building a culture where people feel truly seen, this conversation gives you a practical roadmap to start. If the insights resonated, subscribe to the show, share this episode with a leader who values people, and leave a review to help others discover these conversations.

    53 min

  8. 12/03/2025

    Keystone Reset: The Future of Preventive Physical Therapy with Dr. Chad Nowlin

    In this episode, Ben and Todd sit down with Dr. Chad Nowlin, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Energy Physio. Dr. Chad shares his journey out of the traditional corporate physical therapy model and unveils his cash-pay approach focused on root cause pain relief. He opens up about the limitations of diagnosis-based care, the power of preventative MSK strategies for employers, and his discovery of the Keystone Reset, arguing that better outcomes are achieved by changing the way people move, not just how they feel. Main Talking Points Dr. Chad's path from a high-volume corporate physical therapist to a cash-pay entrepreneur.The critical differences between insurance-based and cash-pay physical therapy models.The philosophy behind the Keystone Reset and treating the whole body (ankles, hips, shoulders) to solve local pain (e.g., low back).Why pain is a "lagging indicator" and the focus should be on leading indicators like movement quality.The huge opportunity for preventative MSK screening for employers and its ROI.A new model for triaging care using virtual assessments and navigating patients to high-quality local cash practitioners.How this preventative framework can drastically reduce employer work comp and health plan claims by addressing issues before they require surgery, injections, or excessive medication.

    1h 8m
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About

The Risk & Resolve Podcast is your go-to resource for insightful conversations at the intersection of leadership, business ownership, and the insurance industry. Hosted by Ben Conner and Todd Hufford, this podcast dives deep into the challenges and opportunities that leaders face in an ever-changing world. Each episode features candid discussions with business owners, industry experts, and thought leaders, exploring topics like innovation, risk management, and the strategies that drive success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, executive, or insurance professional, you’ll gain actionable insights and inspiration to navigate today’s complex business landscape. Tune in to Risk & Resolve—where leadership meets resilience.

Information

  • Creator
    Conner Insurance
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Conner Insurance
  • Show Website
    Risk & Resolve