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The 229 Podcast

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The 229 Podcast

Podcasts Hosted by Bill Russell, Sarah Richardson, and Drex DeFord

Flagship interviews, security programming, and more from our community—strategy, operations, and what’s next in health IT.

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Every episode from the 229 channel, newest first—updated as episodes publish.

Newsday: OpenAI's Big Healthcare Launch and a New Age of Personal Records

·Newsday

Newsday: OpenAI's Big Healthcare Launch and a New Age of Personal Records

January 19, 2026: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson unpack OpenAI's two major healthcare announcements that could fundamentally reshape how patients interact with their health data—and how health systems govern AI. ChatGPT Health promises to finally deliver on the personal health record dream, letting patients aggregate everything from Apple Health to medical records in one secure place. Meanwhile, ChatGPT for Healthcare gives CIOs the governed sandbox they've been desperate for. H

Flourish Sound Bytes: $14M Cost Reduction and Standing up the Next Generation with Heather Nelson

·Flourish Soundbytes

Flourish Sound Bytes: $14M Cost Reduction and Standing up the Next Generation with Heather Nelson

January 15, 2025: When Heather Nelson stepped into the SVP and CIO role at Boston Children's Hospital from outside the organization, she knew she had to earn trust before driving change. Over the next few years, she led three major restructures, optimized their Epic environment, reduced third-party applications from 400 to 186, and delivered $14 million in cost savings. But her most powerful insight? "You can be the hero and the villain in the same sentence." In this conversation, Heather reveal

The 229 Podcast: Strategy, Culture, and Innovation at Providence with Cherodeep Goswami

·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Strategy, Culture, and Innovation at Providence with Cherodeep Goswami

January 15, 2026: How do you lead 120,000 caregivers across seven states while maintaining a relationship-first philosophy? Providence CIDO, Cherodeep Goswami , reveals how his health system reduced patient wait times by seven days through disciplined innovation and the power of asking "why". From the unique practice of reflections in faith-based healthcare to navigating AI governance at scale, Cherodeep shares candid insights on what separates successful digital transformation from "lipstick on

2 Minute Drill: AI Agents as the Next Insider Threat with Drex DeFord

·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: AI Agents as the Next Insider Threat with Drex DeFord

As healthcare organizations deploy AI agents across clinical, business, and research operations, we're creating a new class of insider threat—one that works 24/7, follows instructions perfectly, and moves at machine speed. Drexel explores why AI agents with tool access become de facto insiders and why we need clear boundaries, tight access controls, and human approval workflows before these powerful assistants cause unintended damage. The key insight: the moment an AI agent gets tools, it become

Executive Interview: Demystifying Identity and Digital Experiences with Steve Gwizdala

·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Demystifying Identity and Digital Experiences with Steve Gwizdala

January 14, 2026: Identity has evolved from a back-office security concern into the foundation of healthcare's competitive strategy. Steve Gwizdala , VP of Healthcare at Ping Identity , reveals how health systems are rethinking identity to win patient loyalty in an era of unprecedented choice. With patients selecting care based on digital convenience and clinicians demanding frictionless access, the stakes have never been higher. From eliminating password fatigue to preparing for agentic AI thre

Solution Showcase: From Data Chaos to Connected Care with Mike Cordeiro and Joe Diver

·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: From Data Chaos to Connected Care with Mike Cordeiro and Joe Diver

January 14, 2026: When 50% of your urgent care patients walk in with zero medical history, how do you deliver quality care? Mike Cordeiro , Senior Director of Interoperability Market and Product Strategy at MEDITECH , and Joe Diver , Signature Healthcare ’s CIO, discuss how they transformed fragmented records into a unified view that nearly 400 clinicians adopted in record time. One physician called it "the best technical change in years." Learn why interoperability isn't just about regulatory c

Newsday: Epic Faces Lawsuits and the AI Proving Ground with This Week Health

·Newsday

Newsday: Epic Faces Lawsuits and the AI Proving Ground with This Week Health

January 12, 2026: Epic is defending three simultaneous lawsuits while CIOs grapple with vendors imposing staggering price increases—some as high as 600%. Bill, Sarah, and Drex tackle the uncomfortable truth about AI leadership: it's time to figure it out or risk getting left behind. They explore why AI with context is transformative while AI without it looks foolish, discuss whether board members know how to hire AI-savvy CIOs, and predict a major shift in how healthcare organizations approach t

2 Minute Drill: Healthcare's Cybersecurity Workforce Crisis With Drex DeFord

·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: Healthcare's Cybersecurity Workforce Crisis With Drex DeFord

Drex breaks down ISC2's 2025 cybersecurity workforce study and explains why healthcare's security staffing problem isn't about finding more people—it's about broken operating models and unrealistic expectations. He covers the critical skills gap in translating cyber risk to business risk, the burnout driving away mid-career talent, and why third-party risk management has become more complex than ever. Plus, practical solutions healthcare CISOs are using: growing security teams internally by hiri

The 229 Podcast: Inside Stanford Medicine’s AI Sandbox With Michael Pfeffer, MD

·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Podcast: Inside Stanford Medicine’s AI Sandbox With Michael Pfeffer, MD

January 8, 2026: Dr. Michael Pfeffer , SVP and CIDO at Stanford Medicine , reveals how his team built a secure AI sandbox in just six weeks—and what they learned from analyzing thousands of user prompts. From ambient scribes that actually work to ChatEHR transforming clinical workflows in real-time, Michael shares the practical wins and honest challenges of deploying AI across an academic medical center. Discover why different AI models excel at different tasks, how Stanford approaches governanc

Flourish: Leadership Here, Near, and Far with Lisa Davis, Janet Malzone, and Kristine Jarvis

·Flourish

Flourish: Leadership Here, Near, and Far with Lisa Davis, Janet Malzone, and Kristine Jarvis

January 8, 2026: Three powerhouse executives tackle healthcare's most complex sourcing decisions in this essential conversation. Lisa Davis , former CIO and Founder/CEO of Lisa Davis Advisory ; Janet Malzone , Former CEO and Board Member; and Kristine Jarvis , Organizational Transformation Leader , reveal what leaders get wrong about offshore, nearshore, and automation strategies. From the pre-mortem technique that prevents million-dollar failures to the cultural metrics most organizations ignor

Solution Showcase: Cloud Migration Lessons and Strategy with Chuck Christian and Charles Anastos

·Solution Showcase

Solution Showcase: Cloud Migration Lessons and Strategy with Chuck Christian and Charles Anastos

January 7, 2026: Chuck Christian , CTO of Franciscan Health , and Charles Anastos , Senior Partner at Chartis , share the unfiltered story of migrating a 12-hospital Epic environment to Microsoft Azure—including the moment their hosting partner suddenly exited the business mid-contract. Chuck reveals why they rejected the "easy button" of Epic hosting, how they navigated a complex RFP with six vendors, and the non-negotiables that made or broke partnerships. From building a dedicated cloud cost

This Week Health 2026 Snapshot: Expanding Events, Training, & Community Growth

·This Week Health: Live

This Week Health 2026 Snapshot: Expanding Events, Training, & Community Growth

January 6, 2026: Healthcare is transforming through connection, and 2026 promises to take that mission further than ever before. This Week Health is expanding its reach with 63 events across 30 cities, bringing healthcare leaders together for deeper conversations and meaningful relationships. From coast-to-coast dinners connecting local leaders to new training programs educating both sides of the healthcare IT ecosystem, the focus remains on building bench strength across the industry. With 176

Newsday: The $7B ServiceNow-Armis Deal & What's Coming in 2026 with Jason Rose

·Newsday

Newsday: The $7B ServiceNow-Armis Deal & What's Coming in 2026 with Jason Rose

January 5, 2026: ServiceNow's $7 billion acquisition of Armis signals a major shift in healthcare IT consolidation strategy. Jason Rose , CEO of Clearsense dives into what this deal means for health systems juggling overlapping security tools and bloated app portfolios. The conversation shifts to bold predictions for 2026, including a massive wave of multi-billion dollar health system mergers and the rural hospital crisis. Jason reveals how Trinity Health eliminated $100 million in operational c

2025 Healthcare Recap: CIO Pressures, AI Advances, and Cultural Shifts

December 29, 2025: As 2025 draws to a close, Drex, Sarah, and Bill gather to reflect on a year of struggles and triumphs. From unprecedented CIO turnover among top talent to the stark reality of workforce exhaustion, this candid conversation reveals why even quality leaders are finding themselves displaced. They explore how fear has stifled innovation, why AI advanced faster than expected with synthetic media, and how organizational culture emerged as the true differentiator in digital transform

Reflecting on the 2025 AI Rush: What Worked, What Failed, and What's Next

December 23, 2025: The AI revolution swept through healthcare in 2025, but did it deliver on its promises? Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson pull back the curtain on what really happened in AI this year—from North Korean deep fakes infiltrating hospital workforces to the sobering reality of billion-dollar AI investments with ROI timelines stretching to 2030. They reveal why ambient listening became the breakout use case, which organizations are actually making progress, and the cri

Executive Interview: Inside Insights Into Abridge’s ‘The Conversation’ Event with Guru Sundar

·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: Inside Insights Into Abridge’s ‘The Conversation’ Event with Guru Sundar

December 22, 2025: What makes a healthcare event truly transformative? Guru Sundar , VP of Marketing at Abridge , explores their unique event, ‘The Conversation’, that blends art, science, and healthcare innovation. From Laird Hamilton's insights on trusting your subconscious to John McEnroe's lesson on staying true to your brand, this discussion reveals how cross-industry inspiration drives healthcare forward. Discover why Eric Larson shocked attendees by suggesting health systems close non-cli

Newsday: CMS ACCESS Model & Tech-Enabled Care with Laura O’Toole

·Newsday

Newsday: CMS ACCESS Model & Tech-Enabled Care with Laura O’Toole

December 19, 2025: CMS has unveiled its new ACCESS Model—an ambitious 10-year initiative aimed at expanding digital, tech-enabled care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries. In this discussion, Laura O’Toole , CEO of SureTest , joins Bill and Sarah to unpack how outcome-based reimbursement could finally accelerate innovation in remote monitoring and chronic disease management. They explore what this shift means for CIOs, including the need for stronger data interoperability, integrated analytic

The 229 Rewind: 2025's Boldest Healthcare IT Moves

·The 229 Podcast

The 229 Rewind: 2025's Boldest Healthcare IT Moves

2025 wasn't just another year in healthcare IT—it was a year of constant change. Leaders stopped waiting for permission and started building the future themselves. From AI implementations that deliver results in weeks instead of years, to cybersecurity boundaries that actually hold, to predictive care models that flip the reactive healthcare script entirely. This rewind captures the breakthrough moments, the honest struggles, and the conversations that made room after room go silent before someo

Executive Interview: How Real-Time Location Data Could Transform Hospitals with Philipp von Gilsa

·Executive Interview

Executive Interview: How Real-Time Location Data Could Transform Hospitals with Philipp von Gilsa

December 17, 2025: Real-time location data is revolutionizing hospital operations, but most executives haven't grasped the full magnitude of what's now possible with AI. Philipp von Gilsa , CEO of Kontakt.io , reveals how combining RTLS with AI agents enables immediate interventions when operations break down - no more dashboards, just actionable intelligence in the moment. From predicting equipment needs to optimizing patient flow, health systems are achieving real operating margin improvements

2 Minute Drill: Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Spark a Global Race Against Attackers with Drex DeFord

·2 Minute Drill

2 Minute Drill: Zero-Day Vulnerabilities Spark a Global Race Against Attackers with Drex DeFord

A critical vulnerability called React to Shell exposed tens of thousands of systems worldwide, triggering immediate exploitation by threat actors—including China-nexus groups—within minutes of disclosure. Drex breaks down how this flaw turns innocent web requests into remote access backdoors, why CloudFlare's emergency response accidentally caused widespread outages, and what this high-stakes race teaches us about rapid response patching in healthcare. When attackers move at internet speed, your