The Beyond Premium podcast ventures into the human side of the insurance industry. This series goes beyond the typical conversations about the industry to unveil the rich, personal stories that drive the space forward.
In each episode, Luke Fraser chats with industry leaders about their unique journeys - the triumphs, challenges, and moments of insight that have shaped their approach to innovation.
Join us as we explore the personal stories behind the professionals, getting to know who they are beyond what they do.
In this episode, Ian Levinsky shares his journey from studying mechanical engineering to founding Pathwork, an innovative AI insurance startup. He reflects on his experiences in management consulting and the lessons learned along the way. Ian emphasizes the importance of collaboration, the need for resilience in the face of startup challenges, and how becoming a father has reshaped his perspective on work-life balance.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Ian Levinsky
03:43 Pathwork: Revolutionizing Insurance Distribution
06:44 Career Path: From Engineering to Consulting
09:46 Lessons from Management Consulting
12:45 Transition to Insurance: EverQuote Experience
15:42 Building Pathwork: The Journey Begins
19:59 Transformative Impact of Opportunity
21:24 The Journey to Entrepreneurship
22:41 Navigating Startup Challenges
30:44 Tactical Advice for Founders
32:56 Current Focus and Team Building
35:10 Balancing Fatherhood and Work
37:04 Advice to My Younger Self
21 Jul 2025
Episode 14: Chelsea Burns, Verisk
Summary
In this conversation, Chelsea Burns shares her multifaceted career journey, from her early work in anti-genocide advocacy to her current role in corporate innovation at Verisk. She discusses the importance of connecting different divisions within large organizations, the challenges of innovation in corporate settings, and her passion for angel investing and supporting startups. Chelsea emphasizes the significance of storytelling in pitching ideas and the necessity of networking for young professionals. She also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI and its implications for various industries, particularly in climate tech and water technology.
Summary
In this episode, Chelsea Burns shares her multifaceted career journey, from her early work in anti-genocide advocacy to her current role in corporate innovation at Verisk. She discusses the importance of connecting different divisions within large organizations, the challenges of innovation in corporate settings, and her passion for angel investing and supporting startups. Chelsea emphasizes the significance of storytelling in pitching ideas and the necessity of networking for young professionals. She also reflects on the evolving landscape of AI and its implications for various industries, particularly in climate tech and water technology.
30 Jun 2025
Episode 13: Andrew Morse, The Andover Companies
Andrew Morse of The Andover Companies shares his career journey and discusses the role of storytelling and focus in leading innovation within the insurance industry, highlighting the value of diverse experiences in shaping professional approaches in this interview episode.
23 May 2025
Episode 12: Luke Fraser, Stepwise Innovation
Entrepreneur Luke Fraser of Stepwise Innovation recounts his journey from corporate jobs to entrepreneurship, highlighting qualitative research and AI's impact on product discovery; this is an interview.
7 May 2025
Episode 11: Anna Kupik, Galecki Search Associates
In this episode, Luke Fraser and Anna Kupik discuss the intricacies of recruiting, the transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship, and the evolving landscape of the insurance talent market. Anna shares her journey in recruiting, emphasizing the importance of connecting people with fulfilling careers and the challenges faced in the entrepreneurial space. They also touch on the significance of values alignment in career choices and the impact of recent layoffs on job seekers' reflections about their careers.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:32 The Role of a Recruiter
06:46 Transitioning to Headhunting
09:43 Entrepreneurial Journey at Galecki
12:37 Navigating the Insurance Market
15:46 Career Coaching and Values Alignment
18:45 The Evolving Insurance Talent Market
22:17 Advice for the Future
24:39 Celebrating Successes
27:52 Final Thoughts and Reflections
22 Apr 2025
Episode 10: Randel Bennett, Qixent
In this episode, Randel Bennett shares his unique journey into the insurance industry, discussing his passion for food and insurance, his transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurship, and the founding of Qixent. He emphasizes the importance of creating value in insurance, the challenges and opportunities within the industry, and offers advice to aspiring entrepreneurs.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Randel Bennett
02:40 Journey into the Insurance Industry
05:26 Transitioning from Corporate to Startup
10:15 Lessons from Sego and Current Work at Quixent
15:26 Innovations in the Insurance Industry
20:15 Challenges and Concerns in Insurance
25:23 Advice to Young Entrepreneurs
28 Mar 2025
Episode 9: Astrid Malval-Beharry, StratMaven
In this episode, Astrid, founder of StratMaven, shares her unique journey into the insurance industry, her experiences in consulting, and the challenges and rewards of running her own firm. She discusses the importance of work-life balance, the evolving landscape of insurance technology, and offers valuable advice for young professionals navigating their careers. Astrid emphasizes the significance of relationships, the need for boundaries in the workplace, and the exciting future trends in data analytics and AI within the insurance sector.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction to Astrid and StratMaven
02:20 Astrid's Journey into the Insurance Industry
06:27 Career Transitions and Lessons Learned
11:04 Work-Life Balance and Personal Insights
15:47 Challenges of Running a Consulting Firm
20:37 The Future of Insurance: Trends and Innovations
30:59 Advice for Young Professionals
21 Jan 2025
Episode 8: Grace Hanson, Elysian
In this episode of the Beyond Premium podcast, host Luke Fraser interviews Grace Hanson, CEO of Elysian, an AI-driven claims management company. Grace shares her unique journey from being a lawyer to a claims expert and ultimately an entrepreneur. The conversation delves into the emotional challenges of claims handling, the importance of building trust with policyholders, and how AI can revolutionize the claims process. Grace emphasizes the need for effective communication and respect in the claims experience, and she discusses her vision for Elysian as a company that prioritizes quality and trust in the insurance industry.
00:00 - Introduction to Beyond Premium Podcast
00:35 - Introduction to Grace Hanson
02:39 - Journey from Lawyer to Claims Expert
06:29 - The Emotional Landscape of Claims Handling
12:33 - Transforming Claims with AI Technology
18:35 - Building Elysian: A New Era in Claims Management
24:24 - Advice and Reflections on Entrepreneurship
13 Dec 2024
Episode 7: Marco Mirabella, Ensuro
In this episode of the Beyond Premium podcast, host Luke Fraser speaks with Marco Mirabella, founder of Ensuro, a blockchain-based reinsurance company.
They discuss Marco's journey from Italy to Asia, his experiences in venture capital, and the founding of Ensuro. The conversation then transitions into the innovative use of cryptocurrency in reinsurance, the challenges of convincing traditional players in the insurance industry, and the allure of blockchain technology.
Marco shares insights on the startup journey, the importance of identifying niche markets, and the future direction of Ensuro in the evolving landscape of digital assets and insurance.
00:00 - Introduction to Marco Mirabella
03:28 - Understanding Ensuro
05:48 - Reinsurance: Traditional vs. Blockchain Approach
10:52 - Overcoming Skepticism in the Insurance Industry
14:00 - The Allure of Cryptocurrency and Its Impact
17:46 - The Challenges of Startup Life
21:12 - Navigating Sales Rejections and Market Feedback
24:33 - Future Vision for Ensuro
22 Nov 2024
Episode 6: Amanda Southworth and Valkyrie Holmes, Faura
Valkyrie Holmes and Amanda Southworth, founders of Faura, share their vision for innovative insurance solutions and the crucial role of technology in disaster preparedness and resilience.
9 Oct 2024
Episode 5: Tony Canas, Insurance Nerds
Tony Canas shares his journey from being an insurance nerd to becoming a prominent figure in the insurance industry. He discusses his experiences in various roles within the insurance sector, the importance of engaging millennials and Gen Z in insurance careers, and the entrepreneurial journey of running his own recruiting firm. Tony emphasizes the need for the insurance industry to adapt to changing workforce expectations, particularly regarding work-life balance and diversity.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
13:09 Engaging Millennials in Insurance
30:07 Diversity and Inclusion in the Insurance Industry
32:15 The Shift to Remote Work in Insurance
35:06 Playing to Your Strengths in Your Career
11 Sept 2024
Episode 4: Nakita Devlin, Ric Insurance
Nakita Devlin, founder and CEO of Ric, discusses parametric insurance and the company's goal of providing affordable micro insurance products. Ric specializes in building parametric insurance products. The products are designed to be affordable for individuals, with payouts between $5,000 and $10,000 to help with immediate recovery after an event. Nakita also shares her journey as an entrepreneur and the challenges and opportunities she has encountered.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Background
02:08 Parametric Insurance and Micro Insurance Products
08:40 The Importance of Rapid Payouts for Recovery
12:03 The Role of Insurance in Community Resilience
31:14 Simplifying the Insurance Experience for Consumers
33:44 Future Plans: Extreme Heat and Wildfire Products
36:08 Advice for Young Professionals in the Insurance Industry
14 Aug 2024
Episode 3: Jake Tamarkin, Everyday Life Insurance
Jake and Luke discuss the journey of Everyday Life Insurance, from struggling to find product-market fit to scaling the business and dealing with customer churn. He recognized the broken market and the lack of access to life insurance for middle-income consumers. Jake reflects on the different seasons of his business and the continuous learning and growth he has experienced. The conversation covers three main themes:
finding product-market fit
scaling
the challenges of being venture-backed
Chapters
00:00: Introduction and Background
02:53: The Broken Life Insurance Market
08:03: Finding a Co-founder
11:59: Challenges of Raising Venture Capital
18:00: Collaboration and Team Building in the Insurance Industry
25:04: Continuous Learning and Growth in Entrepreneurship
26:47: Scaling Challenges and Customer Churn
30:01: The Pros and Cons of Being Venture-Backed
34:09: The Importance of Customer Satisfaction
39:25: Advice for Starting a Venture
18 Jul 2024
Episode 2: Elisa Stampf, Insure Equality
In this episode, Luke Fraser talks with Elisa Stampf, co-founder and CEO of Insure Equality. She shares her personal journey in the insurance industry and how that led her to create Insure Equality after facing harassment and discrimination. Insure Equality is a nonprofit dedicated to making insurance a more welcoming place. This conversation explores the importance of authenticity, challenging norms, and embracing change in the insurance industry. Elisa emphasizes the need for inclusivity and listening to diverse perspectives to drive innovation and create positive change in insurance going forward.
Chapters
00:00: Introduction and Background of Insure Equality
03:24: Creating a Welcoming and Inclusive Insurance Industry
11:10: Building Community and Advocating for Change
17:55: Navigating Challenges in the Corporate World
22:33: Personal Story: Overcoming Discrimination in Insurance
25:27: Challenging Traditional Norms
28:26: Creating Autonomy and Innovation
30:36: Embracing Growth and Learning
32:25: How to Engage with Insure Equality
34:47: The Summit: A Platform for Industry Transformation
24 Jun 2024
Episode 1: Chris Lowell, InnSure
In this episode of the Beyond Premium podcast, Luke Fraser interviews Chris Lowell, a managing director and board member at InnSure. They discuss Chris's background in insurance and his passion for innovation in the industry. Chris emphasizes the importance of insurance in addressing climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He also talks about the need for more research and development in the insurance sector and the opportunities for entrepreneurs to create new products and services. Chris shares his motivation for working in the insurance industry and offers advice to young professionals.
Chapters:
00:00: Introduction and Background
03:06: Chris's Journey in the Insurance Industry
06:35: The Opportunity for Innovation in Insurance
15:28: Entrepreneurial Roles and Focus on Climate Change
23:17: The Role of Insurance in Unlocking New Technology Markets
28:27: Motivation and Advice for Young Professionals
33:25: Call to Action and Contact Information
12 Jun 2024
Episode 0: Trailer
The Beyond Premium podcast ventures into the human side of the insurance industry. This series goes beyond the typical conversations about the industry to unveil the rich, personal stories that drive the space forward.
In each episode, Luke Fraser chats with industry leaders about their unique journeys - the triumphs, challenges, and moments of insight that have shaped their approach to innovation.
Join us as we explore the personal stories behind the professionals, getting to know who they are beyond what they do. From groundbreaking strategies to the daily inspirations that fuel their work, our guests give us a view into the human side of insurance innovation.
Beyond Premium is more than a podcast - it's a movement toward empathy and understanding in an industry ripe for transformation.
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 26 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
39
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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