Agency Nation Radio

Exploring AI: Optimizing AI Usage

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the fourth and final episode in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup. Host Colby Royal Tunick, founder and CEO of Refocus AI in San Diego, California, is joined by Patrick McBride, owner of The McBride Agency in Dixon, Illinois. Together, they dive into how AI is transforming everyday agency operations and how to optimize it effectively. They explore the streamlining workflows and enhancing client experience to find the right balance between automation and the human touch. Learn more about ACT. https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/ Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

GEICO Talks Independent Agents and Highlights from Applied Net 2025

Recorded live from Applied Net 2025 in Las Vegas, this special edition of Agency Nation Radio features insights from the industry’s biggest event. On this episode, Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine, talks with Carrie Poindexter, senior director of agency operations and Jonathan Somich, director of communications at GEICO, about attending Applied Net for the very first time. Also, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk, talks with Richard Hartley, co-founder and CEO of Cytora, about Applied Systems’ acquisition of the company and how AI can help the industry reclaim time to reinvest in both work and life. Then, Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), sits down with Brenna Johnson, vice president of product management at EZLynx, to discuss innovations that make life easier for users. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

Embracing Change With Marianne Policastro-Wik

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we chat with Marianne Policastro-Wik, owner of Insurance Associates of Central CT in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Raised in Hartford, Connecticut—once known as the insurance capital of the world—Policastro-Wik found the industry to be a natural fit. But it was her passion for helping others that truly defined her path. With a foundation in social work and a trajectory into senior leadership, she has built a career grounded in relationships and strategic insight. Today, she leads her agency—recognized as a 2025 Best Practices Agency—through a thoughtful modernization effort, embracing technology while preserving the personal connections that define their success. “Technology should strengthen our relationships, not replace them,” she says. “That’s the balance.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Policastro-Wik was also featured in the October issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online. https://www.iamagazine.com/2025/10/01/declaration-of-independents-marianne-policastro-wik/

Exploring AI: Implementing Tools

This episode of Agency Nation Radio is the third in a special series about artificial intelligence (AI) brought to you by the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology’s (ACT) AI workgroup.  Host Kasey Connors, executive director of ACT, is joined by Jake Holehouse, owner of HH Insurance in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Dale Steinke, director, Agent for the Future Advisors at Liberty Mutual. The discussion dives into the realities of implementing AI tools in an agency—how to start small, gain team buy-in and integrate AI into existing workflows. Holehouse shares first-hand lessons from introducing AI across his agency, while Dale offers research-backed insights on adoption, policies and measuring impact. Together, they highlight how agencies can overcome fear, avoid missteps and use AI to free up staff for higher-value client work. Learn more about ACT. https://www.independentagent.com/agency-management/technology/ Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.

From One Generation to the Next: Navigating Agency Succession Planning

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Peter van Aartrijk, executive vice president at Aartrijk is joined by Lee Gaudette, president of Gaudette Insurance, and his son, Peter Gaudette, commercial insurance advisor at Gaudette Insurance, and Keith Mangini, Vice President and Commercial Team Leader at InsurBanc. They explore father-son work dynamics, succession planning in family agencies, and the aspirations that drive the next generation forward. The conversation also offers practical tips for family-owned agencies preparing to change ownership. “Succession isn’t just about passing down a business,” Mangini says. “It’s setting up that next generation for success. As a lender, I can help build that financial bridge, but the real success comes from the family being aligned on the vision and how they're going to move forward in the future.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts.