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5: Mark Cuban on Reengineering Healthcare from the Outside In

Seth Sternberg sits down with entrepreneur, investor, and Cost Plus Drugs co-founder Mark Cuban to explore the structural flaws of the American healthcare system—and how technology and transparency can disrupt it. Drawing on his legacy as a tech pioneer and serial problem solver, Mark shares how his entrepreneurial journey led him to tackle one of the hardest industries on Earth. They dive into the mechanics of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), the hidden world of prescription drug rebates, and how a new era of open-source direct contracting is eliminating middlemen to put power back into the hands of employers and patients. They explore: * Disrupting the "Asteroid Field": How to successfully challenge entrenched healthcare monopolies by operating on the outside of the system rather than attempting to change it from within. * The PBM Problem Exposed: A breakdown of how Pharmacy Benefit Managers utilize scale capture, hidden kickbacks, and formulary control to extract margins at the expense of patients. * Direct Contracting & Cost Plus Wellness: How Mark’s open-source initiative, costpluswellness.com, allows employers and medical providers to bypass commercial payers, eliminate administrative overhead, and boost yields. * AI as the Ultimate Medical Ally: How artificial intelligence is shifting from a corporate differentiator into a 24/7 personalized resource for patients navigating complex medical and pharmaceutical data. * Cultivating Lifelong Driven Success: Mark reflects on his childhood, the foundational power of an agile mindset, and why curiosity remains the absolute greatest skill in an AI-driven world. About Mark Cuban: Mark Cuban is a prominent entrepreneur, investor, and the co-founder of Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company, a public-benefit corporation dedicated to producing and providing low-cost, transparently priced generic and specialty medications. Widely recognized as a pioneer of the early consumer internet, Mark co-founded AudioNet (which became Broadcast.com) in 1995 and successfully sold it to Yahoo! in 1999. He is also well known for his long tenure as a prominent "Shark" on ABC's Shark Tank and as the former majority owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks. Connect with Mark Cuban: * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cuban-06a0755b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-cuban-06a0755b/] * X: https://x.com/mcuban [https://x.com/mcuban] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcuban/ [https://www.instagram.com/mcuban/] * LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sethjs [https://linkedin.com/in/sethjs] Listen to Aging Intelligence: * Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/41idKLJ [https://bit.ly/41idKLJ] * Spotify: https://bit.ly/3R6LPwc [https://bit.ly/3R6LPwc] * YouTube: https://bit.ly/4buRqDn [https://bit.ly/4buRqDn]

4: Alex Konrad on Founders, Media, and Building Durable Companies

Seth Sternberg sits down with Alex Konrad, founder of Upstarts Media and former Forbes senior editor, to explore what actually drives startup success—and why so many companies struggle to last. Drawing on more than a decade covering founders, venture capital, and major tech shifts, Alex shares insights on what separates durable companies from hype, how media narratives shape what gets attention, and why building in overlooked spaces like aging presents unique challenges and opportunities. They explore: What actually motivates founders to start companies Why passion and “right to win” matter more than ideas How media and algorithms influence what gets attention The difference between durable companies and hype-driven ones Why many important industries (like aging) struggle to break through How technologies like AI evolve from differentiators to table stakes As the startup landscape evolves, this conversation offers a grounded look at how founders can think about building long-term value—not just chasing short-term momentum. About Alex Konrad: Alex Konrad is the founder and editor of Upstarts Media, a publication focused on the startup ecosystem from inception through IPO. He previously spent 12 years at Forbes covering startups and venture capital, where he edited the Midas List and Cloud 100, and wrote cover stories on leaders including Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Melanie Perkins (Canva), and Assaf Rappaport (Wiz). His reporting on the Silicon Valley Bank crisis and generative AI boom earned a SABEW Honorable Mention for Best Body of Work. Follow Alex Konrad: Upstarts Media: https://www.upstartsmedia.com/ [https://www.upstartsmedia.com/] Listen to The Upstarts Podcast: https://bit.ly/3PmSe63 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrkonrad/ X: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrkonrad/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexrkonrad/] Connect with Seth Sternberg: LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/sethjs Listen to Aging Intelligence: Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/41idKLJ Spotify: https://bit.ly/3R6LPwc YouTube: https://bit.ly/4buRqDn

3: Halle Tecco on Building a Massively Better Healthcare System

In this episode of Aging Intelligence, Seth Sternberg sits down with healthcare investor, educator, and author Halle Tecco to discuss the breaking point of the American healthcare system and the innovations that can move us toward a better future. They explore: * The Transition from "Sick Care" to Preventive Care: Why our century-old system struggles to treat the chronic diseases that cause 80% of deaths today. * Aligning Financial Incentives: The challenges of long-term health investments within a payment system that operates in 12-month increments. * The Real Impact of AI in Healthcare: Moving beyond administrative efficiency to clinical delivery and "patient-centered" virtual tools. * Workforce Challenges and "Superhuman" Clinicians: How technology can empower healthcare workers rather than replace them, and the role of immigration in staffing home care. * The Growing "Hospital at Home" Movement: Why moving the site of care to the home is essential for improving access and outcomes for older adults. Halle shares her perspective as a long-time investor and advocate on why we must leverage new business models to move the healthcare safety net upstream. She also discusses the critical need to build trust with older adults as we introduce new monitoring and care technologies into their homes. About Halle Tecco: Halle Tecco has dedicated her career to making healthcare massively better. She is the founder of Rock Health and has backed and advised dozens of healthcare companies. She teaches future healthcare leaders at Columbia Business School and Harvard Medical School, and serves on the boards of Collective Health and Cofertility.  Tecco also hosts The Heart of Healthcare podcast, the #1 health tech podcast in the Top 100 Health Tech All-time charts where she talks to some of the biggest industry names about healthcare and where it’s headed. Tecco’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg. She was named as one of Goldman Sach’s Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs and listed on Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business 2023. She has spoken at the Aspen Ideas Festival, CES, TechCrunch Disrupt, and was a SXSW Keynote speaker. Tecco holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and an MPH from Johns Hopkins University. With Massively Better Healthcare (her new book), she distills 15+ years of lessons into an essential guide for leaders who want to leave the system better than they found it. Connect with Halle Tecco:   *   Instagram: instagram.com/halletecco [http://instagram.com/halletecco]   *   LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/halletecco [http://linkedin.com/in/halletecco]   *   Substack: halletecco.substack.com [http://halletecco.substack.com]   *   Website: halletecco.com [http://halletecco.com] Connect with Seth Sternberg LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sethjs [linkedin.com/in/sethjs] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq [https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq] Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AgingIntelligencePodcast [https://www.youtube.com/@AgingIntelligencePodcast] About Aging Intelligence By 2034, more Americans will be over 65 than under 18. What does that mean for the economy, society, and public policy? Aging Intelligence is hosted by Seth Sternberg, CEO and co-founder of Honor Technology, parent company of Home Instead. The podcast features conversations with investors, technologists, policymakers, and operators building the future of aging. From the longevity economy and the care workforce to housing, healthcare, and AI, Aging Intelligence explores what is changing, what is broken, and what must be built to support people as we live longer lives. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow along on Instagram: @agingintelligencepodcast [https://www.instagram.com/agingintelligencepodcast/]

2: Jonathan Fry on Building a Home Care Business in Rural America

In this episode of Aging Intelligence, Seth Sternberg sits down with Jonathan Fry, a longtime Home Instead franchise owner, to discuss what it takes to build and scale a large home care business in rural America. They explore: -How to build care in places people might consider care deserts -What it takes to recruit and retain caregivers in rural communities -Why local reputation and relationships matter so much in smaller markets -How Medicaid, VA, and private pay shape access to care -What families and entrepreneurs can learn from serving older adults outside major cities As America ages, the need for care is growing everywhere, not just in urban and suburban areas. Jonathan shares what he has learned from serving hundreds of clients across western Arkansas, and why delivering care in rural communities takes persistence, creativity, and deep local trust. About Jonathan Fry: Jonathan Fry is a Home Instead franchise owner based in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He has spent nearly two decades building one of the largest home care businesses in his region, serving older adults and families across a broad rural territory. His work offers a firsthand look at the challenges and opportunities of delivering care in smaller communities. Follow Jonathan Fry: - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fry-4a3a60360/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-fry-4a3a60360/] Connect with Seth Sternberg: - LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sethjs Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493] Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq [https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq] About Aging Intelligence By 2034, more Americans will be over 65 than under 18. What does that mean for the economy, society, and public policy? Aging Intelligence is hosted by Seth Sternberg, CEO and co-founder of Honor Technology, parent company of Home Instead. The podcast features conversations with investors, technologists, policymakers, and operators building the future of aging. From the longevity economy and the care workforce to housing, healthcare, and AI, Aging Intelligence explores what is changing, what is broken, and what must be built to support people as we live longer lives. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Follow along on Instagram: @agingintelligencepodcast

1: Phil Weiser on AI Scams, Smart Regulation, and the Future of Aging Policy

In this episode of Aging Intelligence, Seth Sternberg sits down with Phil Weiser, Attorney General of Colorado, to discuss how aging is reshaping public policy and what government can realistically do to protect older adults. They explore: * How AI has supercharged scams like the “grandkid scam” * The role of intermediaries in preventing fraud * Workforce shortages in caregiving * Housing policy and multigenerational living * Loneliness and prevention in healthcare As more Americans live longer lives, pressure on healthcare systems, labor markets, and families continues to grow. Phil shares how he thinks about smart regulation, prevention versus reaction, and why aging policy is as much an economic issue as it is a social one. About Phil Weiser: Phil Weiser is the Attorney General of Colorado and a candidate for Governor of Colorado. He previously served as a law professor, law school dean, and senior official in the U.S. Department of Justice. His work focuses on consumer protection, regulatory design, and strengthening public trust. Follow Phil Weiser: * Website: philforcolorado.com [http://philforcolorado.com] * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/philweiser [http://linkedin.com/in/philweiser/] * X: x.com/pweiser [http://x.com/pweiser] Connect with Seth Sternberg: * LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sethjs [http://linkedin.com/in/sethjs] Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/aging-intelligence-with-seth-sternberg/id1885002493]Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq [https://open.spotify.com/show/5eHyaUt86F6pVxrArqDykq]