The Claim Hunters

Hosted by Chris Tidball

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May 2026

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About the show

In a world where businesses and individuals leave billions of dollars unclaimed, hidden in plain sight, The Claim Hunters takes you behind the scenes with the experts who recover what others overlook. From uncovering unclaimed property to investigating complex fraud schemes, we’ll dive into real stories of high-stakes financial recoveries, the tools used by industry-leading professionals, and the strategies that help businesses and individuals recover lost assets. Whether it’s insurance claims, tax credits, or fraud investigations, The Claim Hunters will give you an inside look into how experts track down missing cash and uncover hidden wealth. Each episode brings you face-to-face with the professionals who turn financial mysteries into success stories.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

May 28, 202615 min

67 - Bridging the Generational Divide: Training Tomorrow’s Claims Experts in a Digital Age with Tracy Yaun

In this episode of Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Tracy Yaun, Head of Casualty Claims for the US and Canada at AXA XL. They explore key challenges in the insurance claims industry, including fraud detection, medical billing abuse, and the strategic use of social media evidence. The conversation also addresses the growing knowledge gap as experienced professionals retire, highlighting AXA XL's investment in early career training programs. Additionally, they examine AI's expanding role in claims management while emphasizing the continued importance of human judgment, relationship-building, and the need for clear regulatory frameworks governing AI use in insurance.To learn more about Tracy's work, click HERE.Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 26, 202611 min

66 - When AI Meets Injury Claims: How Technology is Revolutionizing Major Case Management with Matthew Deming

In this episode of the Claim Hunters podcast, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Matthew Deming, a major case unit liability administrator at Acadia Insurance. Matthew discusses handling large casualty claims, including construction defects, severe injuries like TBIs and fractures, and trends such as unnecessary medical treatments inflating claim costs. He addresses the challenges of nuclear verdicts, fraud detection, and the complexities of multi-party mediations. Matthew also highlights how AI tools are streamlining his workflow through document summarization and note-taking, allowing him to focus more effectively on critical claim details.To learn more about Matthew's work, click HERE.Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 21, 202624 min

65 - Remote, Reliable, and Ready: A Bold Approach to Claims Adjusting in a Post-Pandemic World with Dave Fernandez

In this episode of The Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball sits down with Dave Fernandez, Chief Claims Officer at Kingstone Insurance.Dave shares his unexpected journey into insurance, from a temporary role at Progressive to over three decades in the industry. The conversation covers Kingstone's growth plans, the shift to fully remote work, and the importance of hiring self-motivated, curious adjusters. They also explore AI's role as a productivity tool rather than a replacement for human judgment, and discuss strategies for improving retention in an industry facing ongoing staffing challenges.To learn more about Dave's work, click HERE.Connect with Dave on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 19, 202621 min

64 - When Drones Meet Desk Jobs: The New Age of Insurance Claims with Rob Bowers

In this episode of the Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball interviews Rob Bowers, Chief Claims Officer at Westfield, as he reflects on his nearly four-decade career ahead of retirement.Rob discusses the dramatic evolution of claims handling, from handwritten logs to AI, drones, and satellite imagery. He shares insights on remote work, the "Amazon mindset" of modern customers, nuclear verdicts, and the irreplaceable role of human empathy in claims. Rob closes by expressing excitement about retirement, grandchildren, travel, and continued community service.To learn more about Rob's work, click HERE.Connect with Rob on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 14, 202624 min

63 - Litigation in the Age of AI: Rising Impacts on Plaintiff Advocacy and Defense Costs with Taylor Smith

In this episode of the Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball interviews Taylor Smith, Founder and President of Suite 200 Solutions, about the 2026 CLM Defense Council study.They discuss rising claim severity, increasing indemnity and defense costs, and the growing use of AI by plaintiff firms to secure larger settlements. The conversation highlights the defense industry's struggle to keep pace with AI-driven advocacy, a generational staffing crisis in defense firms, and the shortcomings of traditional hourly billing models. Taylor emphasizes the urgent need for insurers and defense counsel to modernize through AI adoption, alternative fee arrangements, and improved negotiation training.To learn more about Taylor's work, click HERE.Connect with Taylor on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 12, 202625 min

62 - Claims, Cyber, and Cold Ohio Winters: Tales from the Front Lines of Specialty Insurance with Krista Glenn

In this episode of the Claim Hunters podcast, your host Chris Tidball interviews Krista Glenn, Chief Claims Officer at Westfield Specialty. Krista explains how Westfield Specialty, launched in 2021, operates as a specialty division focusing on cyber, excess casualty, and professional lines, with a growing global presence. She shares her career journey from law school to building Westfield Specialty's claims team from scratch. Key topics include hiring strategies, team culture, the complexity of specialty claims, and AI's role in claims processing, which Krista views as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for human expertise.To learn more about Krista's work, click HERE.Connect with Krista on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 7, 202615 min

61 - The Hidden Battle Over Legal Invoices: Ensuring Fairness and Accuracy in Claims with Lauren Watstein

In this episode of The Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball speaks with Lauren Watstein from W. R. Berkley Corporation, who oversees legal bill review for 17 Berkley entities and manages corporate panel counsel.Lauren explains how her experienced team of legal professionals audit invoices for accuracy and compliance with billing guidelines. She highlights common red flags like pattern billing and clerical tasks billed as attorney work, while emphasizing fair, collaborative resolution. Lauren also shares her career journey from retail to legal bill review and offers practical advice for claim adjusters navigating complex legal invoices.To learn more about Lauren's work, click HERE.Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

May 5, 202618 min

60 - Adapting to Change: Remote Work, AI Tools, and Human Judgment in Today’s Claims Environment with Mike Cummings

In this episode of Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Mike Cummings, Head of Claims at Norfolk & Dedham (N&D Group).They discuss rising litigation costs, inconsistent claims handling, and strategies to combat claim severity, including social media investigations and surveillance. Mike highlights challenges with soft fraud and inflated medical bills, and shares how AI is being used to streamline claims processing and improve adjuster efficiency. They also cover the impact of winter storms on property claims, the balance between remote and hybrid work models, and the ethical and legal questions surrounding full AI automation in claims handling.To learn more about Mike's work, click HERE.Connect with Mike on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

April 30, 202613 min

59 - Fraud, Recovery, and Hope: Behind the Scenes of High Hazard Workers’ Compensation with Hope Remetta

In this episode of Claim Hunters, your host Chris Tidball speaks with Hope Remetta, Director of Claims at Berkley Industrial Comp.Hope explains her team's focus on high-severity workers' compensation claims, including fatalities, amputations, and traumatic brain injuries, involving highly skilled workers in hazardous industries. She highlights Berkley's flexible, creative approach to claims management, sharing a notable amputation case where specialized prosthetic care helped an injured worker return to work. Hope also discusses fraud challenges, third-party recoveries, and her accidental career path from aspiring speech pathologist to 21-year claims industry veteran, starting at Liberty Mutual before joining Berkley.To learn more about Hope's work, click HERE.Connect with Hope on LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.

April 28, 202615 min

58 - Cracking the Montana Litigation Code: AI, Guidelines, and Tax-Free Cars with Brandon Shannon

In this episode of Claim Hunters, host Chris Tidball speaks with Montana attorney Brandon Shannon about litigation management challenges.Brandon explains why subrogation is difficult in Montana due to the state's "made whole" rule. He highlights the importance of early case evaluation within 45–60 days and advocates for standardized litigation guidelines to improve consistency across insurers. Brandon also discusses how AI tools help summarize depositions and medical records efficiently, while attorney oversight remains essential. The conversation concludes with an interesting look at Montana's vehicle registration benefits, including no sales tax, which attracts out-of-state LLC registrations.To learn more about Brandon's work, click HERE.Connect with Brandon LinkedIn HERE.Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.Want to learn more about Chris' work at SecondLook? Check out his website at https://secondlook.net/.