Agency Nation Radio

Hosted by Agency Nation - Insurance Marketing and Technology Strategists

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Episodes

715

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Agency Nation is the leading digital publication helping insurance professionals dominate marketing, sales and technology in the modern marketplace. 555774

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60 recent

June 9, 2026Episode 511120 min

The Gold Standard for a Family-Run Agency with Jackson Rollo

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Jackson Rollo, president of Rollo Insurance in College Station, Texas. Insurance wasn’t always part of Jackson Rollo’s plan. Growing up around the family business gave him a firsthand look at the industry, but it wasn’t until he stepped into it himself that he discovered what would keep him there: the relationships, the responsibility, and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. “Once I had the maturity and context to understand what insurance actually is, I fell in love with it,” Rollo says. “I loved the relationships, the freedom it creates and the impact you can have.” Now serving as president of the agency, Rollo is helping shape its next chapter with a people-first approach to growth. At a time when consolidation and rapid change continue to reshape the independent agency landscape, his vision stands out for its simplicity and purpose—building a stronger business by investing in the clients, employees, and communities that have always been at its foundation. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Rollo was also featured in the June issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview or read the full issue online.

May 27, 202619 min

From Legacy to Expansion with Robert Strachan

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Robert Strachan, President of Strachan Novak Insurance in Twinsburg, Ohio. Despite growing up in an insurance agency family, Robert Strachan was convinced he didn’t want to work on the brokerage side of the business. Instead, he pursued a career with a carrier. Years later, however, he recognized the opportunity to join his father’s agency with the goal of eventually leading it himself. “Once I realized the magnitude of the opportunity I had to carry on the legacy, to carry on that opportunity of helping generations of families and businesses, it became more than just a job for me,” Strachan said. Throughout the episode, Strachan reflects on his experience navigating the transition process into agency ownership, the various types of acquisitions he has been involved in, and what he enjoys most about working in the insurance industry. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Strachan was also featured in the May issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview or read the full issue online. https://www.iamagazine.com/2026/05/01/declaration-of-independents-robert-strachan/

May 19, 202622 min

Amy Zupon, Vertafore CEO, Talks Accelerate, Digital Transformation and AI

On this special episode of Agency Nation Radio, Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine, chats with Amy Zupon, chief executive officer, and Rick Warter, chief customer officer, both from Vertafore, during last month’s Accelerate conference in Las Vegas. The Accelerate conference is an annual event for independent agents and brokers and Vertafore users to connect, learn, and get a look at what’s next for Vertafore and the industry. During Jones’ conversations with the two Vertafore leaders, they chat with him about digital transformation, keeping a human in the loop and, of course, AI. “What I think AI brings to our digital transformation is something new that is going to drive us much faster than you’ve ever seen innovation happen in the channel before,” Zupon says. “It gives us opportunities for agencies and carriers to work differently than they have in the past.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

May 6, 202615 min

Luke Bills on Liberty Mutual’s Agent Strategy, AI and the Safeco Brand

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Will Jones, editor-in-chief of Independent Agent magazine, interviews Luke Bills, president of independent agent distribution at Liberty Mutual. They discuss the retirement of the Safeco brand and what the shift to a single Liberty Mutual brand means for independent agents. They also dig into how carriers and agencies can stay aligned through change, where the market may be headed over the next few years, and how technology and AI can reduce friction in day-to-day workflows—without adding yet another disconnected tool. “Everything that agents have come to love and know about Safeco is staying the same,” Bills says. “Our people are not changing, the products don’t change, and certainly, our long-term commitment to the channel does not change.” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

April 22, 202617 min

Agency Leadership in the Age of AI: Digital Relevance in the age of AI

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Kasey Connors, executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT), dives into one of the most important themes from the 2026 Tech Trends Report: digital relevance in an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven world. Joined by Richard MackCoy of Experience.com, the conversation explores how search behavior is rapidly evolving—from traditional Google queries to conversational, AI-powered recommendations—and what that means for independent insurance agents trying to stay visible online. “Right now, the conversation totally changes and agents have the ability to be surfaced in those results based on their structured data,” Mackoy says. “It’s not just the same top three people hitting the top of Google anymore. AI is looking at all of those data points” Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

April 15, 202617 min

From Capitol Hill to Main Street: The Legislative Issues Impacting Agents Now

Headed to Capitol Hill? Before you meet with lawmakers tune in for a special episode of Agency Nation Radio where Nathan Riedel, senior vice president of federal government affairs; Raaed Hadad, director of federal government affairs; and Corey Miller, director of federal government affairs, break down the key issues shaping this year’s legislative landscape and what they mean for independent insurance agents. From regulatory pressures to market challenges, the conversation highlights how federal advocacy efforts are working to protect agents’ businesses and ensure a competitive marketplace. The discussion also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the Big “I” engages with lawmakers and prepares agents to bring their voices to Capitol Hill. Listeners will gain insight into the most pressing policy priorities, what’s at stake for the independent agency system, and how agents can get involved at the Big “I” Legislative Conference or advocating from their home states. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failures—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/category/podcasts.

April 8, 202617 min

Advocacy in Action with Scott Gray

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Scott Gray, owner of South Group Insurance Services in Meridian, Mississippi. Gray entered the independent insurance industry in his mid-30s, when his father offered him a role at the family agency. By then, he had already built a reputation as a dedicated and hardworking salesman, learning the ropes the hard way. Gray was honored with the Barney Burns Award at the 2025 Big “I” Legislative Conference. The award recognized his dedication, passion and leadership in advocating for the independent insurance agency system. “Anytime you’re recognized for your work and your effort, it’s humbling,” he says. “I was speechless … and I’m not a speechless kind of guy.” Throughout the episode, Gray shares his perspectives on selling insurance in 2026, the importance of advocacy, insights into the flood insurance market and his enthusiasm for joining hundreds of fellow Big “I” members at this month’s Legislative Conference in speaking with legislators through a unified voice. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Gray was also featured in the April issue of Independent Agent. Check out his interview or read the full issue online.

March 24, 202630 min

A Seat at the Table and What We Do with It

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jill Roth, executive vice president of Ahart Frinzi and Smith hosts a conversation with Louise “BeBe” Canter, former Big “I” president, senior vice president at USI Insurance Services, and a Woodworth Memorial Award Winner, and Angela Ripely, current Big ‘I’ chair and president of VW Brown Insurance. In the long history of the Big “I,” Canter and Ripley are the only two women who have served as the association’s chair. During Women’s History Month, they discuss leadership, what inspired them to run for the position, and what it means to use your voice inside the independent agency system. “About 15 years after I left the executive committee, I looked back and thought that was amazing to finally have a woman do that,” Canter says, recalling her presidency while still selling insurance. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.

March 11, 202618 min

Setting a New Standard for Women in Insurance with Marissa Winkelman

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, we meet Marissa Winkelman, managing partner of Webb + Winkelman in Grove, Oklahoma. Winkelman entered the insurance industry in 2012 as a receptionist at Webb Insurance and quickly realized the role wasn’t the right fit. After transitioning to a back-office position, she focused on learning the business and working her way up. By 2023, Winkelman became a managing partner of the rebranded Webb + Winkelman Insurance Company, aiming to build a culture where women can thrive. Two years later, she earned the Outstanding Female Agency Principal honor in the Liberty Mutual 2025 Agent for the Future Awards. “I’m hoping to change the standard for working moms in our industry,” Winkelman says. “That’s really the goal in an industry that used to be so male-led and male-centered.” Throughout the episode, Winkelman discusses her agency’s maternity program, what they have planned for Women’s History Month and how they give back to their community. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic and share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success and failure—stories that helped make them the professionals they are today. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine—we’ve got the stories you want to hear. For more, catch Agency Nation Radio on your favorite streaming platform or visit iamagazine.com/podcasts. Winkelman was also featured in the March issue of Independent Agent. Check out her interview or read the full issue online.

February 26, 202629 min

Hiring Smart: How Independent Agencies Can Compete for Talent

On this episode of Agency Nation Radio, Jennifer Becker, Big “I” executive director of research and education, is joined by Claudia St. John, founder and CEO of The Workplace Advisors. During the episode, they explore how small independent insurance agencies can compete with large corporations for talent; whether artificial intelligence (AI) is helping agencies address staffing shortages or simply adding another layer of complexity; and what agency owners must do to attract the next generation of professionals. “Very few people have everything you’re looking for,” St. John says. “Every agency has to figure out how to develop and grow talent.” “Everybody who has experience started somewhere—someone taught them,” she adds. Agency Nation Radio is where insurance professionals turn on the mic to share unscripted stories about leadership, technology, marketing, success, and failure—stories that helped shape their careers. From Main Street USA to the pages of Independent Agent magazine, these are the stories insurance professionals want to hear.