Message from Mike: Thanks for stopping by. I'm taking a step back from the podcast for now—after six years of weekly episodes, the deadline-driven rhythm of the show began to crowd out the creative side. Please drop me a line on the contact page—I'd love to hear from you. I hope you enjoy the past episodes!
The Business of Pharmacy™

Listen to Past Episodes

Why Six Figures Isn’t a Financial Plan | Tim Ulbrich, PharmD,  Your Financial Pharmacist, Co-Founder/CEO
June 8, 2025

Why Six Figures Isn’t a Financial Plan | Tim Ulbrich, PharmD,  Your Financial Pharmacist, Co-Founder/CEO

I sat down with Tim Ulbrich, PharmD, Co-Founder and CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist, to unpack a tough reality: why so many pharmacists earning six figures still feel broke. We dug into crushing student debt, soaring housing...
Guest: Tim Ulbrich
The Power of Speaking to 20,000 People About PBMs | Benjamin Jolley, PharmD  Apex Pharmacy Consulting
June 1, 2025

The Power of Speaking to 20,000 People About PBMs | Benjamin Jolley, PharmD  Apex Pharmacy Consulting

I sat down with Benjamin Jolley, a third-generation pharmacist who recently addressed a crowd of 20,000 about the broken world of PBMs. We dug into the power of that moment, the hidden mechanics of pharmacy monopolies, and wh...
Guest: Benjamin Jolley
Great Negotiation Means Everyone Wins | Arun Swaminathan, MM, PhD Pharm. Sci. Coya Therapeutics, CEO, Board Member
May 25, 2025

Great Negotiation Means Everyone Wins | Arun Swaminathan, MM, PhD Pharm. Sci. Coya Therapeutics, CEO, Board Member

Biotech CEO Arun Swaminathan reveals how true pharmaceutical deals are strategic “marriages”—not transactions. Hear how Coya Therapeutics leverages partnerships, builds trust, and aims to transform ALS care. A candid look at ...
Guest: Arun Swaminathan
From Biotech Startup to Stock Market | Paul Romness, MHA, Health Policy OS Therapies, CEO
May 18, 2025

From Biotech Startup to Stock Market | Paul Romness, MHA, Health Policy OS Therapies, CEO

Can a small biotech change cancer care—and turn a profit? Paul Romness, CEO of OS Therapies, shares how his five-person team took on one of the deadliest pediatric cancers, went public, and might just shake up the system. Fro...
Guest: Paul Romness
The Medical Data Behind Everyday Wearables | Marco Benitez, BME ROOK, CEO and Founder
May 11, 2025

The Medical Data Behind Everyday Wearables | Marco Benitez, BME ROOK, CEO and Founder

Marco Benitez, founder of ROOK, reveals how his company turns chaotic wearable data into clean, actionable insights. From fitness rings to Dexcom integrations, hear how ROOK bridges tech and healthcare, enabling remote monito...
Guest: Marco Benitez
From Early Struggles to Pharmacy Staffing Leader | Autumn-Kyoko Cushman, BS ShiftRx, CEO, Co-Founder
May 4, 2025

From Early Struggles to Pharmacy Staffing Leader | Autumn-Kyoko Cushman, BS ShiftRx, CEO, Co-Founder

I sat down with Autumn Kyoko Cushman, co-founder of ShiftRx, staffing leader, to hear how she and her team clawed their way back from the edge. From bounced credit cards to nationwide scale—this one’s raw, real, and a must-li...
Guest: Autumn-Kyoko Cushman
Koelzer Brothers Reminisce: Lessons from the Pharmacy & Dad | Pete, Tom, Tim, & Mike Koelzer Koelzer
April 27, 2025

Koelzer Brothers Reminisce: Lessons from the Pharmacy & Dad | Pete, Tom, Tim, & Mike Koelzer Koelzer

The host and his brothers (Mike Koelzer, along with brothers Pete Koelzer⁠, ⁠Tom Koelzer⁠, ⁠and Tim Koelzer⁠) return to where it all started—the family drugstore. From early paper routes to late nights after close mopping the...
Guests: Tim Koelzer , Pete Koelzer , Tom Koelzer
How Pharmacies Get Penalized for Buying Wrong | Kris Rhea, MBA Pharmacy Marketplace, Dir. of Business. Dev.
April 20, 2025

How Pharmacies Get Penalized for Buying Wrong | Kris Rhea, MBA Pharmacy Marketplace, Dir. of Business. Dev.

I sat down again with Kris Rhea to unpack how pharmacies are silently losing money—just by buying wrong . We talk wholesaler games, misunderstood contracts, and the AI tool trying to fix it all. If you’ve ever felt like your ...
Guest: Kris Rhea
Redefining Pharmacy Benefits Without the Gimmicks | Joey Dizenhouse, FSA, MAAA SlateRx, President & CEO
April 13, 2025

Redefining Pharmacy Benefits Without the Gimmicks | Joey Dizenhouse, FSA, MAAA SlateRx, President & CEO

I sat down with Joey Dizenhouse, CEO of SlateRx, to talk about redefining pharmacy benefits—minus the gimmicks. We dug into transparency, real fiduciary alignment, and how SlateRx is tackling PBM dysfunction head-on. If you'r...
Guest: Joey Dizenhouse, FSA, MAAA
Navigating Legal Minefields for Independent Pharmacies | Dae Lee, PharmD & Adam Farkas, Attys Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
April 7, 2025

Navigating Legal Minefields for Independent Pharmacies | Dae Lee, PharmD & Adam Farkas, Attys Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

I sat down with attorneys Dae Lee and Adam Farkas to dig into the legal mess surrounding GLP-1 compounding, PBM overreach, and the brutal reality facing independent pharmacies. Dae’s a pharmacist-attorney, Adam’s a legal powe...
Guests: Dae Lee , Adam Farkas
Exit Your Pharmacy Without Sacrificing its Value | Michelle Woosley, PharmD, MBA Cornerstone Business Services, VP, IB-Healthcare
March 30, 2025

Exit Your Pharmacy Without Sacrificing its Value | Michelle Woosley, PharmD, MBA Cornerstone Business Services, VP, IB-Healthcare

Michelle Woosley blends pharmacy know-how with M&A savvy. She shares how independent pharmacy owners can build value, avoid costly mistakes, and attract serious buyers—including private equity. Thinking about selling your pha...
Guest: Michelle Woosley
Marketing to Independent Pharmacies | Nicolle McClure & Bruce Kneeland
March 23, 2025

Marketing to Independent Pharmacies | Nicolle McClure & Bruce Kneeland

What makes a pharmacy—or a pharmacy vendor—stand out? Nicolle McClure and Bruce Kneeland join me to unpack real-world marketing strategies, pitfalls, and how pharmacies can avoid bland messaging. We dig into trust, niche focu...
Guests: Bruce Kneeland , Nicolle McClure
Exploring Pharmacy Tech and Digital Healthcare | Rick Ratliff, BChE, MBA MedAdvisor Solutions , CEO
March 16, 2025

Exploring Pharmacy Tech and Digital Healthcare | Rick Ratliff, BChE, MBA MedAdvisor Solutions , CEO

Discover how cutting-edge pharmacy technology and digital healthcare are transforming patient care. In this episode, Rick Ratliff, CEO of MedAdvisor Solutions, dives into the latest innovations shaping the industry. From medi...
Guest: Rick Ratliff
The Future of Compounding Pharmacies | Brett Pine Revelation Pharma, CBDO
March 9, 2025

The Future of Compounding Pharmacies | Brett Pine Revelation Pharma, CBDO

What happens when independent pharmacies join forces instead of going it alone? Brett Pine, Chief Business Development Officer at Revelation Pharma, dives into the evolving world of compounding pharmacies, mergers, and acquis...
Guest: Brett Pine
Optimizing Pharmacy Efficiency with Precision Dosing Technology | Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS DoseMeRx, CSSO
March 3, 2025

Optimizing Pharmacy Efficiency with Precision Dosing Technology | Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS DoseMeRx, CSSO

In this episode, Sharmeen Roy, PharmD, BCPS , Chief Strategy & Science Officer at DoseMeRx , discusses the power of precision dosing technology in optimizing pharmacy operations and improving patient outcomes. Learn how valid...
Guest: Sharmeen Roy
Is Selling Medical Equipment Smart? | Acacia Flory, Retail Experience Consultant
Feb. 24, 2025

Is Selling Medical Equipment Smart? | Acacia Flory, Retail Experience Consultant

Is selling medical equipment the next big move for your pharmacy? Join retail experience consultant Acacia Flory as she shares insights from 20 years in retail and her passion for helping pharmacies boost profits beyond presc...
Guest: Acacia Flory
Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats | Brett Gallant, Founder & Director Adaptive Office Solutions
Feb. 17, 2025

Protecting Your Business from Cyber Threats | Brett Gallant, Founder & Director Adaptive Office Solutions

Cyber threats aren’t a question of "if"—they’re a question of "when." Brett Gallant, Founder & Director of Adaptive Office Solutions, joins the podcast to break down the real risks businesses face, the costly mistakes compani...
Guest: Brett Gallant
From Basement Lab to NASDAQ | Lew Bender, M. Chem. Eng, MBA Intensity Therapeutics, Founder & CEO
Feb. 10, 2025

From Basement Lab to NASDAQ | Lew Bender, M. Chem. Eng, MBA Intensity Therapeutics, Founder & CEO

MIT-trained chemical engineer Lew Bender shares his journey from drug delivery innovation to tackling cancer. From building a biotech company from scratch to navigating the challenges of FDA approval and Wall Street, Lew dive...
Guest: Lew Bender
Market Research for Better Healthcare | Michaela Gascon, MBA KJT, President & CEO
Feb. 3, 2025

Market Research for Better Healthcare | Michaela Gascon, MBA KJT, President & CEO

Dive into the intersection of market research, healthcare, and AI with Michaela Gascon, President & CEO of KJT. Discover how her team informs life sciences strategies, tackles complex healthcare challenges, and leverages AI. ...
Guest: Michaela Gascon
AI Answering Pharmacy Calls | Brennen Hodge, MBA VOXO, VP of Product
Jan. 27, 2025

AI Answering Pharmacy Calls | Brennen Hodge, MBA VOXO, VP of Product

Explore the future of pharmacy communication with Brennen Hodge, VP of Product at Voxo. Discover AI-powered IVAs revolutionizing patient interactions, automating refills, and boosting efficiency. Unpack insights on technology...
Guest: Brennen Hodge
Breaking Away from PBMs | Kyle McCormick, PharmD Owner, Blueberry Pharmacy
Jan. 20, 2025

Breaking Away from PBMs | Kyle McCormick, PharmD Owner, Blueberry Pharmacy

Discover how Kyle McCormick, owner of Blueberry Pharmacy, revolutionized pharmacy care with a completely insurance-free, cost-plus pricing model. Hear his candid take on PBMs, his clash with Mark Cuban, and how transparency a...
Guest: Kyle McCormick
Solving Pharmacy Pain Points with Technology | Mehrdad Hariri RPh, CPh, MBA, RxConnexion, CEO/President
Jan. 13, 2025

Solving Pharmacy Pain Points with Technology | Mehrdad Hariri RPh, CPh, MBA, RxConnexion, CEO/President

Mehrdad Hariri, CEO of RX Connection, shares his journey as a pharmacist turned tech innovator. From building solutions for pharmacy pain points to delivering nationwide care, Mehrdad discusses overcoming challenges, leveragi...
Guest: Mehrdad Hariri
The Journey to Autonomous Pharmacy | Randall Lipps, B.Ec. & B.A. Omnicell, CEO and Founder
Jan. 6, 2025

The Journey to Autonomous Pharmacy | Randall Lipps, B.Ec. & B.A. Omnicell, CEO and Founder

Join us on this week’s episode of The Business of Pharmacy Podcast™ as we speak with Randall Lipps, CEO and founder of Omnicell. Discover the journey toward autonomous pharmacy, how technology is transforming healthcare, and ...
Guest: Randall Lipps
Empowering Pharmacy Techs as Community Health Workers | Anne Eisenbeis, PharmD, MBA, CPESN, Lead Network Facilitator
Dec. 30, 2024

Empowering Pharmacy Techs as Community Health Workers | Anne Eisenbeis, PharmD, MBA, CPESN, Lead Network Facilitator

Pharmacy technicians trained as Community Health Workers (CHWs) are transforming patient care. Anne Eisenbeis, PharmD, MBA, explains how CHWs bridge healthcare and social support, improve outcomes, and generate revenue. Learn...
Guest: Anne Eisenbeis