Shot of Digital Health Therapy

What do angel investing, cosmonaut training, and funding a 10-year health community project have in common? Esther Dyson. Obviously. In our latest episode #164 of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I had the pleasure to catchup with Esther. We covered: Why she funded Wellville to rebuild social fabric in underserved communities (and what she really learned) What 23andMe got right — and what it didn’t... Her next chapter: writing "Term Limits", a book about being human in the age of infinite AI And why “making new mistakes” is a better life motto than “move fast and break things” Esther’s wisdom is as timeless as her curiosity — and we’re just glad she finally made it on #TheShot. Fun mentions as always: Matthew Holt Unity Stoakes Marina Borukhovich Rick Brush Peter H. Diamandis Linda Avey Stepan Pachikov Anne Wojcicki Section Breakdown (Topics + Timestamps): Intro & Background Setup Esther joins & shares how this podcast started as a pandemic experiment. 00:00 – 04:00 Esther’s Life Journey in 3 Speeds From Oppenheimer roots to Forbes to cosmonaut training. 04:00 – 08:00 Cosmonaut Training & Health Discovery How a space detour saved her life. 08:00 – 12:00 Wellness Habits & Biohacking Wisdom Swimming, eating early, and NOT eating at cocktail parties. 12:00 – 14:00 Becoming an Angel Investor How a million-dollar challenge turned her into an investor. 14:00 – 17:00 Why She Started Wellville From judging the Healthcare XPrize to 10 years of social fabric repair. 18:00 – 25:00 Hard Truths About Systems & Poverty Trust, grants-as-drugs, and funding that's actually fair. 25:00 – 27:00 On Government, Prevention & Food Systems Sugar taxes, vaccines, and the real trends that matter. 27:00 – 29:00 23andMe’s Rise, Fall, and Lessons She got the education, not the return. 29:00 – 33:00 Term Limits & Being Fully Human Why we need constraints, not infinity — and why Pam the hygienist is the real hero. 35:00 – 44:00

Imagine starting life with a speech impediment and ending up as a Broadway's beatboxing, improv master - that’s Anthony Veneziale’s journey! A presentation and storytelling expert, Grammy-nominated star of both Broadway and film, he is the co-creator of the acclaimed Freestyle Love Supreme, an improvised, hip hop, live musical performance with a rolling cast of characters including the likes of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Christopher Jackson and Daveed Diggs. Anthony proves that the best ideas come from embracing yes, and... Jim Joyce and I had a blast on today's episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth today as it was packed with epic freestyle moments, brain science, and enough energy to light up all of Las Vegas. Bonus: We even got Anthony to drop a custom freestyle rap about ClearIP! If you want to laugh, learn, and maybe rethink how improv can revolutionize creativity, mental health, and business, this one’s for you. Top 3 Key Insights Improv fuels confidence, creativity & problem-solving Brain science proves improv enhances cognition & mental agility Saying ‘Yes, And’ unlocks innovation & business success Fun mentions as always: Matthew Holt Daniel Couchman Kendall Roberto Ascione Kristin Milburn Frontiers Health Rachel Loui Christie Pitts Matt Loeb #YesAnd #Improvisation #Creativity #Neuroscience #MentalFitness #FreestyleInnovation Podcast Breakdown Welcome & Icebreaker (00:00 - 03:00) Hosts discuss podcast rankings, meeting Anthony, and app testing. Anthony’s Origin Story (03:00 - 07:00) From speech therapy struggles to founding Freestyle Love Supreme. The Birth of Freestyle Love Supreme (07:00 - 10:00) How a college improv troupe shaped his career & led to Broadway. The Magic of Improv (10:00 - 14:00) Why improv is a tool for confidence, creativity & problem-solving. Neuroscience & Improv (14:00 - 19:00) Brain science behind improv, fMRI studies, and cognitive benefits. Mindless, Inc. & AI-Powered Games (19:00 - 25:00) AI-driven mental fitness games & their impact on mental health. The Art of Freestyle & Startup Pitches (25:00 - 29:00) Freestyling startup pitches at AARP & turning ideas into rap. Clear IP Freestyle Moment (29:00 - 33:00) Anthony creates an impromptu rap about Jim’s startup. The Power of Yes, And (33:00 - 36:00) How embracing ‘yes, and’ can transform business & creativity. Closing Advice & Big Takeaways (36:00 - End) Anthony’s wisdom for entrepreneurs & creators.

Music as medicine? More like a prescription for good vibes! In our latest episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I jammed with Rachel Francine, CEO of Musical Health Technologies aka SingFit, the company bringing singing-based therapy to people worldwide. Turns out, belting out tunes can be as powerful as a prescription—especially for dementia care Rachel’s journey? From growing up in a beanbag factory (yes, really) with an opera-singing inventor dad, to riding every major tech wave before it was cool. Now, she’s scaling music therapy to change lives at scale—because, let’s be real, we could all use some more dopamine and less stress. What’s next? SingFit is making waves in care homes, hospitals, and even football clubs.. Top 5 Key Takeaways Singing is therapy Music unlocks memories Less meds, more music Singing reduces anxiety & agitation Singing reduces anxiety & agitation Scaling music therapy Fun mentions as always: Andy Tubman Chandana Fitzgerald Francesca Wuttke Ali Parsa Jorge Juan Fernández García [00:00 - 04:00] | Intro & Banter Jim & Eugene joke about podcast delays, St. Patrick’s Day, and Irish gifts to the White House. [04:00 - 10:00] | Meet Rachel Francine: A Life in Tech From VHS vs. Beta to CitySearch, Rachel recounts her wild career journey. [10:00 - 15:00] | Growing Up in a Beanbag Factory with an Opera-Singing Inventor Dad Yes, really. Also, how patents were dinner table conversations. [15:00 - 20:00] | From Nashville to Music Tech: The Road to SingFit Rachel’s experience in the music industry & early digital platforms. [20:00 - 27:00] | What is SingFit? And Why Singing is Medicine Explaining the science of active music therapy and its impact. [27:00 - 33:00] | Case Studies: Dementia, Autism & Mental Health How singing reduces agitation, anxiety, and even hospital visits. [33:00 - 37:00] | Scaling Music Therapy: The Market Challenge Why music therapists are rare & how SingFit is bridging the gap. [37:00 - 40:00] | The Future of SingFit & Big Announcements Coming Expansion to B2C, football clubs, and a mystery mega-partnership. [40:00 - 42:00] | Jim’s “Famous Last Question” Rachel’s advice? Follow the money & understand the music business. [42:00 - End] | Wrap-Up & Subscribe! Final thoughts, audience shout-outs, and the importance of hitting that subscribe button.

#TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy took a deep dive with Payal Bhandari M.D. ,and let’s just say... minds were blown, hearts were inspired, and Jim Joyce almost started singing “Country Roads” when he heard Payal was from West Virginia. From AI & diagnostics to functional medicine vs. traditional care, Payal didn't hold back. If you think your annual check-up is comprehensive, wait until she tells you how our health system is stuck in the past and why your microbiome is screaming for attention. We tackled everything—personalized medicine, integrative care, RFK Jr.'s "Make America Healthy Again" movement, and why your data is so valuable.. If you want science, heart, and a side of humor in your healthcare discussions, this is the episode for you! Top 5 Key Takeaways Data knows more than you think about you.. Traditional & functional medicine should be friends, not foes. AI + biomarkers = precision medicine goldmine. U.S. healthcare system = sick care, not healthcare. Music is medicine. Literally. Fun mentions as always: Mark Hyman, MD Sandra Scheinbaum, Ph.D. Larry Shore MD, FAAFP Matthew Holt Lucy Reynales Ritesh Patel ViVE Marina Borukhovich

Ever wonder what happens when you mix a lawyer’s mindset, cold-calling resilience, and a deep love for healthcare investment? You get Richard Lungen, a guy who turned rejection into an art form and convinced 100+ healthcare execs to hand over $$$ for HC9 Ventures. From almost becoming a prosecutor to building provider networks before networks were cool, Richard’s journey is packed with wisdom, war stories, and a deep appreciation for just how hard healthcare really is. We covered everything from sales tactics to the power of listening to quarterly reports like it’s the latest #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy podcast with Jim Joyce. If you're an entrepreneur trying to break into healthcare, here’s your golden ticket to understanding how to navigate this industry—spoiler alert: it’s a LONG game. Top 5 Key Takeaways Cold calling still works – Just know your target! Listen to earnings calls – They’re free market intelligence! Healthcare sales take years – So start now. Know your audience – Investors & buyers don’t want guesses. .... and great advice from Richard to entrepreneurs.. Fun mentions: Pete Antunes John Wray Tim Wentworth Charlie Falcone #DigitalHealth #HealthcareInvestment #VentureCapital #Entrepreneurship #HC9Ventures #TheShotPodcast

AI, healthcare, and a nostalgic trip down digital memory lane—this week, Brian Kalis, Managing Director at Accenture Health joined Jim Joyce and I on this week's #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy and made us all question why we weren’t launching startups in Web 1.0. Brian’s journey has been a blend of tech geekery, consulting wizardry, and AI-fueled optimism. We covered: The real deal behind AI adoption in healthcare Why health systems are drowning in red tape How health plans are finally picking up the pace ( yes, really?!) Also, a friendly PSA: AI agents might soon be negotiating with AI agents, leaving us humans to watch from the sidelines with popcorn. ..... Also, be nice to AI—they’re watching..... Fun mentions as always: Ankit Jain Infinitus Systems, Inc. Jeff Ruby John Brownlee Ethan Mollick

Ever wonder what really drives success? Fearless risk-taking, AI-powered interns, and, uh… a chicken heart?! This week on #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I sat down with the energetic Rachel Loui, who’s been through everything from management consulting, big pharma and big tech to hacking fear itself. She’s teaching companies how to conquer AI anxiety, embrace neuropsychology in business, and—oh yeah—how to not bring an actual chicken heart to a meeting. Tune in to learn why fear is the biggest enemy of growth, why pharma is still playing catch-up, and before your AI intern takes over your job. Top 5 Key Takeaways Fear blocks growth—hack it, don’t fight it. Gen AI is your (nearly) free 24/7 intern. Pharma still lags behind in AI adoption.. Data and psychology.... oh and ... a chicken heart can get you an A. Show Breakdown 00:00 - 02:00 | Back to Normal Format & AI Backgrounds Jim and Eugene discuss returning to regular podcasting and Jim’s AI-generated hotel room mishap. 02:01 - 05:00 | Meet Rachel: Life Starts with Death Rachel shares her philosophy on making bold life choices by imagining her 102-year-old self looking back. 05:01 - 08:00 | The Chicken Heart Story Rachel’s childhood experiment with a real chicken heart sets the tone for her lifelong passion for efficiency and impact. 08:01 - 12:00 | From Pharma to Strategy in China Rachel’s path from management consulting to Boehringer Ingelheim and leading strategy in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. 12:01 - 16:00 | Startup Lessons & the Reality of Selling to Doctors How Rachel’s digital health startup failed, but taught her valuable lessons about sales, psychology, and tech adoption in healthcare. 16:01 - 20:00 | Google & Sales Psychology Applying data-driven insights from pharma to Google, managing $500M in revenue, and why sales is ultimately about psychology. 20:01 - 25:00 | Gen AI = Your Free Intern Rachel explains why AI is like a 24/7 intern and how companies can leverage it instead of fearing it. 25:01 - 30:00 | Pharma & AI: Playing Catch-Up (Again) The industry’s slow AI adoption, learning from consumer brands, and struggles with data-driven decisions. 30:01 - 34:00 | Global Pharma Strategy: Germany vs. China Rachel breaks down the cultural challenges of working between German HQ and the Chinese healthcare market. 34:01 - 36:00 | Final Advice: Be Bold, No Fear Rachel’s key advice for entrepreneurs: push past fear, take risks, and explore new skills—even improv!

Kicking Off #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy 2025 with a new format! We're thrilled to launch the first episode of 2025 experimenting with long-form content — a whopping ~2-hour deep dive.. and I could not think of anyone better to be our guinea pig than than Jay Parkinson, MD, MPH, the legendary pioneer of virtual care. From childhood dirt bikes to reimagining healthcare through design thinking, Jay took us on a fascinating journey. This isn't just another episode—it's a masterclass on disruption, grit, and patience. Plus, we had a few laughs along the way (who knew golf courses could inspire healthcare innovation?). Top 5 Key Takeaways: "Patients need relationships and results—it's all about balance." Virtual care thrives with teamwork, not silos. Healthcare innovation = simplifying complexity creatively. The iPhone revolutionized how docs and patients connect. Burnout is real; staying curious is the antidote. Fun mentions as always: Steve Seuntjens Matt Loeb Christie Pitts Yoky Matsuoka Peter Pronovost MD, PhD, FCCM Mark Hyman, MD grant harrison David Karp Bryce Roberts Scott Shreeve, MD John Hallock Guy Friedman Alex LeBrun Vinod Khosla Panasonic Well YourCoach.Health -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Play-by-Play Kickoff & 2025 Vision (00:00 - 08:00) A lively intro to the new format, reflections on CES & JPM, and a warm welcome to Jay Parkinson. Jay’s Origin Story (08:01 - 20:00) From Missouri’s dirt roads to WashU, Jay shares his unique path, early inspirations, and love for design. Preventive Medicine Redefined (20:01 - 35:00) Insights into Jay’s time at Hopkins and how systems thinking shaped his view of population health. The Birth of Virtual Care (35:01 - 51:00) How the iPhone and tech-savvy culture in Williamsburg catalyzed Jay’s first practice model. Hello Health: Disrupting Primary Care (51:01 - 01:06:00) The challenges, funding, and lessons learned in creating a tech-forward physical + virtual care model. Sherpaa: The Pioneer of Virtual Primary Care (01:06:01 - 01:23:00) Building the foundations of sticky patient-doctor relationships via virtual care. Crossover Health & Strategic Scaling (01:23:01 - 01:32:00) The hybrid care model and Jay’s role in revolutionizing care delivery infrastructure. Tech Evolution & The Role of AI (01:32:01 - 01:41:00) AI's role in healthcare: tools, challenges, and why behavior change is the ultimate hurdle. Reflection on Healthcare Complexity (01:41:01 - 01:51:00) A candid discussion about systemic collapse, resilience, and the future of care. Parting Wisdom (01:51:01 - End) Jay’s advice to young disruptors: "Be patient, stay curious, and always keep learning."