Hunter Ambrose Leadership Podcast

Rural healthcare isn't doomed—but most leaders are watching the wrong signals

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408344/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Jim Basch breaks down what actually separates failing rural hospitals from thriving ones, starting with the one metric boards ignore until it's too late: days cash on hand. Jim is a healthcare finance leader who specializes in turnarounds for critical access and community hospitals. He walks through the operational levers CFOs can pull right now—from zero-based budgeting and staffing discipline to overlooked revenue cycle fixes and swing bed strategy. What you'll learn: * Why AI is every rural hospital's junior analyst (and how to use it beyond Copilot) * What boards actually need to understand about AI—without the buzzwords * The hidden turnaround opportunities most consultants miss * Physician recruitment challenges, housing barriers, and fractional staffing models * Why "we don't need help" is the mentality that kills rural hospitals Plus, an unexpected conversation about Spencer Pratt running for mayor, leadership messaging, and what it reveals about public trust and governance—including the LA City Council. Connect with Jim Basch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimbasch/ Healthcare leadership resources: hunterambrose.com  To learn more about Hunter Ambrose, visit us at hunterambrose.com [http://hunterambrose.com/] and nicolebarbano.com [https://www.nicolebarbano.com/]

Dr. Xavier Clark: The Pragmatism of Leadership

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408344/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Nicole Barbano, CEO at Hunter Ambrose International, sits down with Dr. Xavier Clark to talk about leadership, communication, workplace culture, and what it will take to build healthier organizations in a post-COVID world. Dr. Clark brings a rare perspective shaped by federal leadership, organizational strategy, accessibility, and higher education. This conversation explores why so many workplaces confuse talent problems with culture problems, why communication must become a hard skill, and how leaders can create stronger, more honest relationships with their teams. This conversation explores: • Why organizations often avoid the hard conversations that actually improve culture • How communication failures quietly damage teams, trust, and retention • What leaders miss when they see resumes instead of people • Why burnout, urgency, and weak boundaries are still shaping workplace behavior • How portfolio careers, outside interests, and human-centered leadership can make professionals stronger at work • The questions leaders should ask themselves to become better in 2026 If you are hiring, leading, or rethinking how work should function, this episode offers a thoughtful and timely perspective. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drxavierclark/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drxavierclark/] Sponsor: HackedCV.ai Your resume is broken. They know how to fix it. Save 10% with promo code HUNTERAMBROSE https://HackedCV.ai [https://hackedcv.ai/] To learn more about Hunter Ambrose, visit us at hunterambrose.com [http://hunterambrose.com/] and nicolebarbano.com [https://www.nicolebarbano.com/]

Stephen Rouse: Designing the Human Side of AI

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408344/fan_mail/new] Hunter Ambrose Podcast | A Conversation with Stephen Roose, Co-Founder of Savva.ai In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Roose, Co-Founder of Savva.ai, to talk about a new chapter in how we understand our health. Savva takes the fragmented pieces of your medical life—records, labs, medications, specialist notes, wearables, fitness data—and brings them together in one place. Then, instead of relying on a single model, Savva uses multiple leading AI systems to give you clearer, more comprehensive insights. This conversation explores: • How your entire health story becomes visible when everything is connected • Why comparing perspectives across multiple AI models matters • The gap between what patients are given today vs. what they actually need • How AI can support better decisions, better care, and better long-term outcomes • What’s coming next as Savva opens its beta to early adopters If your goal is to take control of your health with clarity and confidence, this episode gives you the roadmap. Join the Savva.ai Beta https://savva.ai/ [https://savva.ai/] Sponsor: HackedCV.ai Your resume is broken. They know how to fix it. Save 10% with promo code HUNTERAMBROSE https://HackedCV.ai [https://hackedcv.ai/] Executive search, leadership hiring, and strategic advisory:  https://www.hunterambrose.com/ [https://www.hunterambrose.com/] To learn more about Hunter Ambrose, visit us at hunterambrose.com [http://hunterambrose.com/] and nicolebarbano.com [https://www.nicolebarbano.com/]

🧠 Founders of A Mind For All Seasons Reveal a New Approach to Brain Health & Cognitive Longevity

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408344/fan_mail/new] In this episode of the Hunter Ambrose Podcast, Nicole Barbano, CEO of Hunter Ambrose, is joined by co-host Robert Cavagnol, MD, MHA, FACS, for a compelling conversation with Eric Collett, CEO, and Randy Vawdrey, FNP-C, AANP, founders of A Mind For All Seasons — a company dedicated to transforming brain health, cognitive performance, and dementia care. With decades of leadership and clinical experience, Eric and Randy share how personalized, preventative brain health strategies can dramatically improve quality of life at every stage. They discuss: ◼️ Why brain health should be treated as proactively as physical health ◼️ How A Mind For All Seasons personalizes care for cognitive decline and dementia ◼️ The role of lifestyle, environment, and engagement in cognitive longevity ◼️ Common misconceptions about dementia and brain aging ◼️ What individuals, families, and organizations can do now to protect and enhance brain function 🔗 Learn More & Connect A Mind For All Seasons: https://amindforallseasons.com/ [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__amindforallseasons.com_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=IIkHxCNGer2WaCCL56dTz1YF4Y1yGOLEcEbDRDsis3GpYxUoFBSQOO5UWbmIg4cq&m=EqoqNIfruL-1PByUR9dLb15-db9TWKeJPYB9bdkpxetc9BSoeA9pAotZP-VLer_Z&s=Rpp7PEkeefZl6XO0z9pWreOPVcBzQwWvsm9fCI3V3m4&e=] Robert Cavagnol on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertcavagnol/ [https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.linkedin.com_in_robertcavagnol_&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=IIkHxCNGer2WaCCL56dTz1YF4Y1yGOLEcEbDRDsis3GpYxUoFBSQOO5UWbmIg4cq&m=EqoqNIfruL-1PByUR9dLb15-db9TWKeJPYB9bdkpxetc9BSoeA9pAotZP-VLer_Z&s=uZVLCAeUZaKr2DY63eYyzT-Atcj2VeHGeKlSGXPokdk&e=] To learn more about Hunter Ambrose, visit us at hunterambrose.com [http://hunterambrose.com/] and nicolebarbano.com [https://www.nicolebarbano.com/]

Darren Bass Has Ideas—and Answers—About What's Actually Working in Healthcare Right Now

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2408344/fan_mail/new] As President of St. Luke's North and Critical Access Region, in Kansas City, Missouri, Darren leads both urban hospitals and rural facilities in towns of 9,000 people. He's raised $43 million to build a hospital, navigated government shutdowns, and he's watching AI transform healthcare in real-time. In this conversation, Darren shares what separates thriving hospitals from struggling ones. Why every employee should understand the revenue cycle. How to build Community Advisory Boards that work.  This is straight talk about healthcare leadership, what's working, and what needs to change. Connect with Darren Bass: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-bass-dpt-fache-13128732/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/darren-bass-dpt-fache-13128732/] To learn more about Hunter Ambrose, visit us at hunterambrose.com [http://hunterambrose.com/] and nicolebarbano.com [https://www.nicolebarbano.com/]