Would You Pay the Ransom? How Hackers Target Healthcare | Joe Gellatly, Medcurity
Ransomware gangs don't just lock hospital data anymore. They copy it first, then haggle over the price.
Joe Gellatly is the co-founder and CEO of Medcurity, a Spokane company that helps hospitals and clinics measure and lower their HIPAA security risk all year, not once a year. Blake asks him how a ransomware attack actually plays out, why healthcare only gets audited after a breach, how AI has made phishing almost impossible to spot, and how Medcurity uses AI agents to show up when people ask ChatGPT who to hire.
Cowles Ventures has backed Medcurity since its early days.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:55 Two decades in healthcare, and the niche nobody wanted
2:30 The practice manager who couldn't sleep
3:21 Why a 120-page report changes nothing
4:57 Why your medical records are worth stealing
6:11 Ransomware: who pays and how much
6:56 When a backup isn't enough
7:31 Negotiating with hackers
7:59 Why hospitals keep it quiet
9:30 How AI sped up cyber attacks
10:02 Phishing is still the way in
11:08 Spear phishing at scale
13:19 We cloned our CEO's voice
14:15 "Joe never writes this well"
14:57 How a security risk analysis works
17:19 On-site walkthroughs in all 50 states
18:49 Why badge audits matter
19:55 Selling security to hospitals
20:51 No audit until after a breach
21:45 The customers who call after an attack
22:47 AI in the exam room
25:04 The risk of sitting out AI
26:38 How AI changed Medcurity
28:06 AI agents running marketing
29:51 How ChatGPT decides who to recommend
32:15 "Grok says you're the best"
33:45 How a founder's job changes
37:31 Move fast, don't break anything
38:19 Asking ChatGPT to put Medcurity out of business
40:52 What he'd do differently
43:51 Are entry-level jobs coming back?
47:00 Skip the AI course
48:15 The next five years
52:17 Joe's advice: lean in now
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#Cybersecurity #HIPAA #HealthcareIT #Spokane #CowlesVenturesPodcast
22 Oct 2026
How Big Is My Fish? Building Fishtechy From a North Idaho River | Lawrence Sowell
How big is my fish? Lawrence Sowell turned the oldestquestion in fishing into Fishtechy, a company that measures fish from a photo using the Proof Ball and AI.
Lawrence has started businesses in music promotion, realestate, marketing and app development, lived in Panama and in an RV, and now builds Fishtechy from Cataldo, Idaho, on the Coeur d'Alene River. Blake Gibson asks him how he learns a new industry fast, why Fishtechy won't charge a subscription, how he earns anglers' trust with their data, and what he'slearned about raising money.
In this episode:
- Inventing the Proof Ball, and why it had to be a ball
- Why Fishtechy has no subscription
- Letting anglers share data fish by fish
- Launching before the app was ready
- Talking to investors before you need to raise
- The real schedule behind "it must be nice"
14 Oct 2026
Are Insurers Pulling Out of Your Neighborhood? | Jared Shippey, COUNTRY Financial
Insurers are pulling out of entire states and zip codes. Here's what that means for your home and what to do if your insurer drops you.Jared Shippey has spent nine years as a COUNTRY Financial representative in the Spokane area and runs his own agency, Guardianship Group Insurance. He started as a "scratch agent" with zero clients. Blake asks him what homeowners and drivers actually need to know before something goes wrong.Quick answers from this episode:- Are insurers leaving the Spokane area? Some carriers are refusing new quotes in certain states, zip codes and areas after big losses, and wildfire is now part of that here. 21:39- Can you still get coverage if you're dropped? Usually yes. Another carrier may take you, though often at a higher rate. Talk to your agent, real estate agent or lender. 24:18- Should you file a small claim? Call your agent first. A small payout can be followed by 3 to 5 years of higher rates. 28:16- Is minimum liability coverage enough? Jared says no. Going from state minimums to $100K, $250K or even $1M in liability usually costs less than people expect. 17:03- No claims in 20 years? Ask about raising your deductible to lower your premium. 29:05- Will AI replace insurance agents? Maybe for simple policies, but people still want a person when something goes wrong. 42:33Chapters0:00 Cold open0:41 From selling shoes to running his own agency3:59 Going full commission: sink or swim5:00 Starting from zero as a scratch agent9:07 Buying leads vs building referrals9:38 Working ON your business, not IN it12:06 Hiring his first team member14:35 Top 3 things to check on your insurance policy17:03 Liability limits and why minimum coverage is risky21:39 Wildfires: why insurers are pulling out of zip codes24:18 Dropped by your insurer? You still have options26:06 Why insurance rates go up (and sometimes down)28:16 Call your agent before you file a claim29:05 No claims in 20 years? Raise your deductible29:34 What separates a good insurance agent33:15 Word of mouth, sponsorships and the Spokane community36:16 Building a business with four kids at home39:39 His #1 advice: go with your gut (and Go for No)42:33 Will AI replace insurance agents?44:32 After the fire: what to do right nowSubscribe for more conversations with Inland Northwest founders, operators and business owners:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn5RNL7RaW3LEul5inqcVXw?sub_confirmation=1This episode is general information, not insurance or financial advice. Coverage, rates and eligibility vary by carrier, property and state. Talk to a licensed agent about your situation.#Spokane #HomeInsurance #Wildfire #Insurance #CowlesVenturesPodcast
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