Risk & Resolve

In this special in-person episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Jim Conner—second-generation insurance entrepreneur and former president of Conner Insurance—to unpack five decades of risk-taking, family business, faith-driven leadership, and hard-earned lessons. From buying the agency at age 22 with a $50,000 note to navigating acquisitions, expansion failures, carrier relationships, and generatio...

In this powerful episode of Risk and Resolve, Wendell Potter shares his journey from health insurance executive at Cigna and Humana to becoming one of the most prominent whistleblowers in American healthcare reform. After decades inside the system, Wendell reveals how corporate priorities, shareholder pressure, and political influence shaped the modern insurance landscape—and why he ultimately chose to testify before Congress.
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In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Erik Cooper, a leader whose career path moved from music to accounting to ministry—and back into the marketplace with a mission. Erik shares how CRF (Community Reinvestment Foundation) leverages affordable housing and assisted living to generate profits that fund global missions through The Stone Table. They unpack the sacred–secular divide, what it me...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith to explore his journey from ministry and agriculture into statewide leadership. Beckwith shares why he believes faith and politics are inseparable, how grassroots organizing reshaped Indiana’s lieutenant governor race, and why rural communities and agriculture are central to America’s future. From culture wars...

Growth comes from clear values, brave creativity, and showing up for clients when it matters most. In this episode, we sit down with Chance Benbow, CEO of JDA Worldwide, to explore how a client-first mindset and faith-informed leadership drive measurable results across brand, digital, PR, and media.

We dig into how courageous creativity, face-to-face trust, and service orientation turned a Midwestern agency into a long-term growth p...

Cyber Risk Isn’t Just Tech—It’s Business Continuity

Cyber threats aren’t just a tech problem—they’re a business problem. In this episode, we bring together a CISO and a senior cyber broker to show how organizations can prepare, protect, and recover when ransomware, email compromise, or vendor outages hit at the worst possible moment.

You’ll learn:

• What the latest FBI numbers really mean and why human error drives most losses
• How to...

In this powerful episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Chris Deacon—former New Jersey Treasury official, whistleblower, and author of The Great American Healthcare Heist. Chris shares how she uncovered widespread fraud and manipulation in one of the country’s largest public health plans, why she walked away from her role, and the moral, personal, and professional cost of exposing the truth. From p...

In this forward-looking episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford share predictions for 2026 across interest rates, employment trends, healthcare innovation, and the rising costs of insurance. They discuss the economic forces driving employer benefits strategy, how drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro are reshaping budgets, and why some employers may start treating healthcare like a utility. From remote work realignmen...

Insurance sounds straightforward—until markets tighten, umbrellas shrink, and carriers pull back. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Duff, CEO of the Big “I” of Indiana, to unpack what’s really shaping the future of independent agencies. From rising premiums and courtroom pressures to capital, consolidation, and community, Steve brings clarity to the forces colliding across the industry—and what it takes to keep local expertis...

What if the most valuable benefit in your company isn’t a perk, but a person? In this episode, we sit down with Marcus Schrader—president and CEO of Workforce Chaplains—to explore how confidential, relational care inside the workplace is addressing the emotional and spiritual needs that traditional EAPs and wellness programs often miss. From shop floors to corporate offices, Marcus reveals why more leaders are investing in chaplain...

In this episode, Ben and Todd sit down with Dr. Chad Nowlin, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and founder of Energy Physio. Dr. Chad shares his journey out of the traditional corporate physical therapy model and unveils his cash-pay approach focused on root cause pain relief. He opens up about the limitations of diagnosis-based care, the power of preventative MSK strategies for employers, and his discovery of the Keystone Reset, arguin...

In this episode, Ben and Todd sit down with Michael Klein, Executive Vice President of Personal Insurance at Travelers. Michael shares his 35-year journey through the industry from actuary to executive leader and opens up about setbacks, leadership, early career talent, digitization, and why insurance is one of the most misunderstood but meaningful careers in America.

Main Talking Points
 • Michael’s path from math maj...

Discover how Tommy Martin, CEO of The Tebow Group, turned early business failures into nationwide success and now dedicates his life to amplifying faith, hope, and love through the Tim Tebow Foundation. In this inspiring episode of Risk and Resolve, Tommy shares:

        •        His journey from an “accidental” business owner to building billion-dollar financial firms.
        •        Lessons learned from early busin...

Journalist and author Bob Welch joins Risk & Resolve to unpack the making of Resolve, the true story of Lt. Clay Connor’s impossible WWII survival in the Philippines—and what it teaches us about courage, leadership, loyalty, and truth in storytelling. We also dig into the state of journalism, faith, and the duty to honor unsung heroes.  

Main talking points
        •        Why Welch writes people, not “war,” and ...

In this riveting episode, Clay Conner continues his firsthand account of life in the Philippine jungles during World War II. He reveals the inner workings of the guerrilla resistance, the ruthless political shifts among the Huk bands, and the moral decisions that defined survival. Clay also shares shocking and deeply human stories of Filipino bravery, cultural encounters, and how lessons from war carried into business and life deca...

In this Solution Spotlight episode of Risk & Resolve, host Ben Conner sits down with Jory Zunich, SVP of Growth at Nice Healthcare, to explore how one company is rewriting the rules of primary care. From a founder’s frustration with a broken system to a nationwide movement delivering affordable, accessible care — this conversation reveals how healthcare can finally work for everyone.

Episode Highlights:

• The origin story of Ni...

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford dive into Clay Conner’s harrowing encounter with the Hukbalahap rebellion, his relationship with the Negrito tribes, and his reflections on freedom, leadership, and legacy. A gripping look at war, loyalty, and the human spirit amid chaos in post-war Philippines.

Episode 6 of Risk & Resolve continues the incredible story of Clay Conner — American officer...

ACSI President Larry Taylor joins Risk & Resolve to unpack the past, present, and future of Christ-centered education. We talk quality guardrails, teacher pipelines, global growth (especially Africa), and how churches and schools can partner to disciple the next generation.  

Main Talking Points

• Larry’s journey: from public-school coach to leading Prestonwood Christian Academy and now ACSI
• Startup-to-scale lessons: facilities,...

In Episode 5 of the Clay Conner series, we follow Clay from jungle guerrilla to front-line truth-teller as U.S. forces return to the Philippines. He challenges brass on enemy positions, recounts staggering losses near Clark, and shares the surreal postwar debriefs in Washington—plus the unlikely Hollywood connection that led to his True Magazine story.

Main talking points:

• Jeeping behind the lines to link up with Ranger...