Michael welcomes Erin Albert, Chief of Pharmacy Relations, Network and Professional Affairs at Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs, to explain why U.S. drug pricing is so opaque and how transparency can lower costs. Albert shares how she joined the company after publishing LinkedIn price comparisons sparked by imatinib pricing, and describes her background as a pharmacist and attorney. She breaks down how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) evolved from claims processing into powerful middlemen, driving costs through rebates tied to formulary placement and “spread” pricing, especially on generics. The conversation covers vertical integration, state policy efforts, employer incentives that favor bundled solutions, pharmacy closures and “pharmacy deserts,” and why education should include “following the money.” Albert outlines Cost Plus’s cost-plus math, fair dispensing fees, and options for consumers via CostPlusDrugs.com, TeamCubanCard.com, and CostPlusWellness.com, urging patients to shop cash prices versus insurance copays.


Timestamps:
00:24 Welcome and Setup
01:31 Erin Albert Origin Story
04:49 How Pharmacy Pricing Works
08:28 Transparency and PBM Tactics
11:09 Policy and Vertical Integration
16:47 Building a Fair Pharmacy Network
20:40 Education and Medical Benefit Markups
24:05 Pharmacists as Clinicians
27:58 Trends and Sustainable Pricing
29:35 How Consumers Take Power Back
31:29 Key Takeaways and Resources
33:38 Closing

Connect with Erin:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinalbert/
https://linktr.ee/erinalbert
https://www.markcubancostplusdrugcompany.com
https://www.costplusdrugs.com

Michael interviews Brian Elliott, CEO of Work Forward and former Google and Slack executive, about AI and the future of work through a human-centered lens. Elliott explains how his Future Forum research on workplace flexibility evolved into AI-focused advising, arguing that technology and policies are tools and the real work is alignment, culture, and motivating diverse teams. They discuss research showing most leaders say AI speeds work but few can prove ROI, often due to output over outcomes, poor goal alignment, and “AI work slop.” Elliott shares examples from Zapier, Guild, and Anthropic using outcome scorecards, training, leadership participation, and pathways for roles. They warn against performance-review metrics tied to AI usage and emphasize team-based learning, empathy, time for training, and listening to employees.

Timestamps:
00:24 Welcome and Setup
01:23 Meet Brian Elliott
02:07 From Remote to AI
03:44 Culture Over Tools
05:24 AI ROI and Alignment
07:56 Approach Goals and Pathways
11:09 Engagement and Meta Backlash
13:45 Gen X Leadership Moment
17:18 Practical Catch Up Tactics
19:23 Performance Reviews Trap
22:15 Expertise Identity and Judgment
25:50 Empathy Time and Training
29:50 Future of Transformation
32:17 Key Takeaways and Wrap
34:08 Closing

Connect with Brian:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/belliott/
https://theworkforward.substack.com
https://www.workforward.com

Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management:
https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research

Michael interviews Dr. Jasmine Escalera, founder of the nonprofit Institute for Generational Healing, about recognizing and breaking inherited survival patterns passed through families. Escalera explains generational healing, how cycles can provide strength yet hinder desired lives, and the science behind inherited responses through epigenetics, alongside spirituality, modeling, and conditioning. They discuss misconceptions about trauma, distinguishing big T and little T trauma, and defining trauma as the body’s response. Escalera addresses accountability, compassion toward parents as humans, how far back to explore family stories, and the loneliness and grief cycle breakers face when families resist change. She outlines the institute’s pillars—research, education (including a generational healing 101 course), and transformation through community-based modalities beyond talk therapy—and how beliefs shape relationships and workplace behavior. Escalera shares her own journey from hyper-independence, emphasizes asking what’s holding you back and where it was learned, and notes her strength in hard work while learning balance. She shares ways to follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram, with a website coming soon.

Timestamps:
00:24 Welcome and Guest Intro
01:57 What Generational Healing Means
04:39 Science Behind Inherited Trauma
06:58 Responsibility to Break Cycles
10:44 Defining Trauma Big and Small
15:21 Family Stories and How Far Back
18:18 Cycle Breakers and Family Pushback
21:54 Institute Pillars and Healing Modalities
24:20 Beliefs at Work and Culture
30:30 How to Know What You Carry
34:20 Closing

Connect with Jasmine:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasmine-escalera/
https://www.instagram.com/drjasmineescalera/
https://linktr.ee/drjasmineescalera

Michael's National Workforce Study on Change Management:
https://www.michaeljlopez.coach/research