Lifting the lid on the InsTech Podcast - what’s worked and what hasn’t… (407)

Lifting the lid on the InsTech Podcast - what’s worked and what hasn’t… (407)

This week, the tables turn as Matthew Grant steps behind the microphone solo to reflect on seven years, 400+ episodes and the lessons learned from building one of insurance innovation’s most recognisable podcast platforms.   From storytelling and interview technique to AI-assisted editing and the evolving role of podcasts in B2B marketing, Matthew shares an honest look at what works, what doesn’t and how InsTech is thinking about the future of content in an increasingly crowded landscape.  Rather than focusing on technology alone, this episode explores something more fundamental: why people listen, what makes conversations memorable and how meaningful stories cut through industry noise.  Listeners will hear Matthew’s practical insights on:  * Why storytelling matters more than expertise alone   * The power of keeping interviews simple, focused and human   * How educational content outperforms the hard sell   * What separates memorable podcast guests from forgettable ones   * How AI tools like Claude and NotebookLM are changing podcast production and research   * Why audio remains such a powerful medium for busy professionals   * The importance of preparation without over-scripting conversations   * How personal stories unlock better discussions and stronger audience connection   Matthew also reflects candidly on his own interviewing habits, what AI revealed about his style and why continuous improvement matters even after hundreds of episodes.  Along the way, he highlights standout conversations from previous episodes, including discussions with Sasha Haco of Unitary [https://www.instech.co/knowledge-centre/from-black-holes-to-bordereaux-building-ai-agents-for-insurance/] and serial entrepreneur Mark Cunningham of PriceHubble [https://www.instech.co/knowledge-centre/is-your-data-useful-or-useless/], both examples of how compelling personal stories can bring complex insurance innovation to life.  Whether you host a podcast, appear as a guest or simply want to communicate ideas more effectively, this episode offers a thoughtful masterclass in creating content people actually want to listen to.  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjggrant/].  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter [https://www.instech.co/sign-up-to-the-instech-newsletter/] for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

The future and how to get there (406)

In this episode, we revisit a live panel discussion from last year’s Agentic AI event, moderated by Robin Merttens featuring Ian Thompson of IMT Advisory, Sasha Haco, Co-founder and CEO of Unitary, Dr Paul Dongha from NatWest Group, and Nick Williams-Walker, Group COO at McGill and Partners.   Recorded at a moment when Agentic AI was beginning to dominate conversations across insurance, the discussion explores what the industry might look like three to five years into widespread AI adoption — and what it will take to get there.  The panel examines where insurers are already deploying AI agents, from claims investigations and underwriting support to real-time risk analysis and customer servicing. But alongside the optimism sits a more cautious conversation around governance, regulation, data complexity and the growing gap between experimentation and operational reality.  Throughout the discussion, there is a recurring tension between ambition and execution. Some panellists argue the winners will be organisations willing to move quickly with focused, incremental deployments. Others warn that poorly governed AI systems, unrealistic expectations and “fear of missing out” decision-making could create entirely new risks for the sector.  The conversation also raises broader questions about how insurance itself may evolve as AI capabilities mature — from the rise of highly automated brokers and MGAs to changing expectations around service, talent and human expertise.  With InsTech and AI Risk returning on 7 July for this year’s expanded Agentic AI event in London, this episode offers a useful opportunity to look back at the predictions, concerns and opportunities shaping the conversation just one year ago.  In this conversation, the panel discusses:  * Where insurers are already deploying AI agents across underwriting, claims and servicing   * Why governance and human oversight remain critical in regulated industries   * The operational challenges of implementing AI at scale inside large organisations   * Whether Agentic AI will augment teams or significantly reduce operational headcount   * How leadership, culture and change management will influence adoption   * Why incremental deployment may outperform large transformation programmes   * The growing importance of AI governance, accountability and security controls   * How customer expectations and service models could evolve over the next five years   * Why talent shortages may accelerate demand for AI-enabled workflows   * Which organisations are most likely to benefit from the next wave of insurance innovation Sign up to the InsTech newsletter [https://www.instech.co/sign-up-to-the-instech-newsletter/] for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

Carrie Thomas, Account Director: Datos Insights: Should I stay or should I go now? A personal perspective of flood risk in Florida (405)

In this episode, Matthew Grant is joined by Carrie Thomas, Account Director at Datos Insights, for a deeply personal look at what happens when insurance risk becomes a lived reality.  Having spent years working closely with insurers, Carrie brings a rare dual perspective, both as an industry insider and as a homeowner navigating one of the most challenging insurance markets in the world. After relocating from the Carolinas to Florida, she found herself caught in a system where cover is not only harder to access, but increasingly difficult to justify.  The conversation centres on her experience trying to secure homeowners and flood insurance in a state where carriers are withdrawing, pricing is volatile and eligibility rules create unexpected gaps. Despite not being in a designated flood zone, Carrie faced rising premiums, limited options and ultimately the decision to go without flood cover altogether.  Set against the backdrop of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, she shares what it is like to experience storm risk first-hand, from uncertainty around evacuation to the aftermath of storm surge and its impact on communities.   At the heart of the episode is a difficult but important question: when the cost of protection continues to rise, how do individuals, insurers and governments respond?  In this conversation, Carrie shares:  * Why insurers are pulling back from markets like Florida and what that means for customers  * How flood risk, eligibility and pricing can create unexpected protection gaps  * What it feels like to navigate insurance decisions during active hurricane seasons  * The trade-offs between state-backed cover and private market alternatives  * Why insurance costs are becoming a key driver in relocation decisions  * How catastrophe events are reshaping perceptions of risk at a household level  * Why improved data does not automatically lead to more affordable insurance  * How initiatives like Elevate Florida are attempting to adapt to increasing flood exposure  * What insurers are focusing on as they balance claims pressure with long-term sustainability  Carrie’s recommendations:  * Podcast: The Rest is History  * Book: Millennium by Tom Holland  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjggrant/].

Max Richter, EMEA CEO: mea: What's changed? Why AI is moving from experimentation to execution (404)

Introduction  In this episode, Robin Merttens is joined by Max Richter, EMEA CEO and Global Growth Leader at the mea Platform, to explore why AI in insurance is finally moving from theory into real operational impact.  After years advising insurers on transformation at Accenture, Max made the shift to building technology inside the workflows he once analysed. His view is clear: the industry doesn’t need more AI strategy, it needs systems that actually execute work.  The conversation focuses on a fundamental shift, from using AI to generate insights to using it to get work done. From underwriting to claims and servicing, the opportunity is no longer about reading data faster, but about automating the workflows that sit behind it.  Max also shares why previous waves of automation fell short, what’s changed in the technology landscape, and why this moment feels different. With stronger models, better integration and growing cost pressure, AI is becoming an operating model question, not just a technology one.  In this conversation, Max shares:  * Why the industry is moving from AI experimentation to execution   * The shift from automating tasks to automating entire workflows   * Why “ingestion” is only the starting point, not the end goal   * Where AI agents are already delivering real impact in underwriting and claims   * How incumbents and new entrants are approaching adoption differently   * Why starting with a clear pain point is key to scaling AI successfully   * The difference between AI theatre and production-grade outcomes   * Why collaboration with underwriters and operations teams is becoming essential  If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Robin Merttens on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinmerttens/].  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter [https://www.instech.co/sign-up-to-the-instech-newsletter/] for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.

Mark Cunningham, Managing Director: PriceHubble: Is your data useful or useless? (403)

Introduction In this episode, Matthew Grant speaks with Mark Cunningham [https://www.linkedin.com/in/markanthonycunningham/], Managing Director at PriceHubble, about how insurers can move from fragmented data to genuinely informed decision-making.  Despite decades of investment in data and analytics, many insurers still lack a clear understanding of the assets they are covering. Mark offers a candid view of where the real problems lie, and why improving outcomes starts not with more data, but with better data.  He introduces a simple but powerful framework, seeding, signalling and selling, which reframes how insurers should approach risk. From establishing a reliable baseline of what is actually on risk, to identifying meaningful signals and acting on them, the model highlights the gaps that continue to hold the industry back.  The conversation explores the practical challenges of property data, including inconsistent addressing standards and the underuse of unique identifiers such as UPRNs. Mark explains how solving these foundational issues unlocks a far richer understanding of exposure, enabling insurers to assess risk with far greater precision.  Looking ahead, the discussion turns to emerging pressures. Mark shares analysis suggesting that up to 500,000 UK properties could become effectively uninsurable within the next decade due to the combined impact of flood and subsidence. It is a stark example of how climate risk is becoming financially visible and why insurers need to rethink how they model long-term exposure.  The episode also highlights missed opportunities across the wider financial ecosystem. Despite working with similar data, insurers and mortgage lenders remain poorly aligned, creating friction in customer journeys and limiting the potential for more integrated risk assessment.  Mark also reflects on where generative AI is already making a difference, from reactivating historical leads to improving customer interactions and product recommendations. The impact is less about transformation and more about strengthening existing processes in practical, measurable ways.  At the heart of the discussion is a consistent theme: better decisions depend on better foundations, and the industry still has work to do to get the basics right.  In this conversation, Mark shares:  * Why data in insurance is either useful or useless, and the risks of relying on anything in between  * How the seeding, signalling and selling framework helps structure better risk assessment  * Why many insurers still do not fully understand what they have on risk  * How UPRNs can act as a common language for property data, and why adoption remains limited  * What new data sources are revealing about construction risk and evolving exposures  * How combining climate perils and property economics points to a growing insurability challenge  * Why insurers and mortgage lenders are still not aligned, and what that means for customers  * Where generative AI is delivering practical value today across operations and distribution  Mark’s recommendation:  * Book: The Miracle of Castel di Sangro by Joe McGinniss If you like what you’re hearing, please leave us a review on whichever platform you use or contact Matthew Grant on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjggrant/].  Sign up to the InsTech newsletter [https://www.instech.co/sign-up-to-the-instech-newsletter/] for a fresh view on the world every Wednesday morning.