Pharma Sessions

Hosted by Jonathan Kaskey

Business Health Fitness ScienceInterviews guests

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Navigating pharmaceutical launch excellence through strategy, technology and career stories. (And sharing fun moments too!)

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58 recent

June 8, 2026Episode 129 min

The Question Behind the Question - Field Training with Jennifer Muszik

What separates a good pharma sales rep from a great one? According to Jennifer Muszik, it's the ability to understand the question behind the question — the real need behind what a customer is asking.In this episode, Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Jennifer Muszik, Head of Learning & Development at Alkermes and board member of LTEN, to unpack what it takes to build world-class training programs in the pharmaceutical industry. Jennifer shares her journey from 17 years at Pfizer to leading L&D across some of pharma's most recognized organizations — and why she almost always hires people who've actually done the job they're training others to do.They get into the nuances of training new hires vs. seasoned veterans, how to engage your highest performers without making them feel attacked, and why former teachers and coaches often make the best pharma reps. Plus: a candid conversation about where AI can genuinely help — and where human connection is still irreplaceable.Topics covered:Why field experience makes better trainersThe "pull-through" problem after POA meetingsUsing AI for knowledge transfer (and its limits)How LTEN is shaping the future of pharma L&D Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

May 28, 2026Episode 3230 min

Why the Small Details Reveal Everything About Your CDMO Partner with Frank Sorce

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Frank Sorce, Chief Commercial Officer at UPM Pharmaceuticals, to share insights into the critical decisions involved in selecting contract development and manufacturing organizations (CDMOs).Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.comEpisode Resources:Frank Sorce on LinkedInUPM Pharmaceuticals WebsiteJonathan Kaskey on LinkedInXSUNT Corporation Website Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

May 21, 2026Episode 3136 min

Why Medical Knowledge Isn’t Reaching Patients with Dr. Simon Chowdhury

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Simon Chowdhury, a Consultant Medical Oncologist based at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, to talk about Open Medicine, a platform designed to take what’s inside the minds of the world’s leading oncologists and make it accessible to any clinician on a mobile phone.Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice.The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

May 14, 2026Episode 3032 min

Timothy Smith on AI, Data, and Drug Discovery at Takeda

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Timothy Smith, Senior Director of AI Innovation and Head of the Data Sciences Communities at Takeda, to explore how AI is transforming drug discovery and development, why trust and governance are still major hurdles, and why the biggest bottleneck in pharma innovation might not be technology but people. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

May 7, 2026Episode 2936 min

Lessons on Leading Through Uncertainty in Pharma

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey welcomes back Danie du Plessis, the first-ever guest on Pharma Sessions, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to lead in medical affairs today. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

April 30, 2026Episode 2832 min

Where AI Delivers Real Value in Pharma Today with Emily Lewis

Here’s what keeps pharma leaders awake at night: 70% to 80% of ChatGPT usage is healthcare-related; however, most pharmaceutical organizations still treat AI as a future consideration rather than an immediate competitive necessity. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Emily Lewis, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Lead for Digital Care Transformation at UCB, to explore why LLMs alone won’t move medicine forward, how to build cross-functional AI literacy across your organization, and the regulatory workflows where AI will deliver impact fastest. Disclaimer: Pharma Sessions is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Guest opinions are their own and do not reflect the views of the host or sponsors. Use of any information provided is at the listener’s own risk and does not imply endorsement of specific products or strategies. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

April 23, 2026Episode 2725 min

How Medical Affairs Becomes the Connector with Sonia Talwar

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Sonia Talwar, Senior Director of Scientific Communications and Medical Information in Hematology/Oncology at Pharmacosmos Therapeutics, to discuss how medical affairs can evolve from a reactive support function into a true strategic connector. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

April 16, 2026Episode 2632 min

Why Manufacturing Is the New Competitive Edge in Cell and Gene Therapy

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Eytan Abraham, the Chief Commercial and Technology Officer at Minaris Advanced Therapies, to dive into how pharma companies can choose the right CDMO partners, the future of cell and gene therapy manufacturing, and the hard-earned lessons behind building sustainable, high-performance organizations in one of the most complex areas of medicine. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

April 9, 2026Episode 2521 min

The Future of Healthcare with Dr. David Shulkin, former Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Part 2

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey sits down for a second time with Dr. David Shulkin, President of Shulkin Solutions, to challenge the pharmaceutical industry’s fundamental approach to drug pricing and argue that outcomes-based contracting is the path forward for sustainable profitability and patient access. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com

April 2, 2026Episode 2431 min

The Future of Healthcare with Dr. David Shulkin, former Secretary of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs Part 1

In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. David Shulkin, President of Shulkin Solutions, to discuss what it actually takes to lead through a healthcare crisis at scale. Dr. Shulkin shares insights about the current state of U.S. public health, the intersection of policy and care delivery, the role of innovation and technology, and what must change to better serve patients. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan KaskeyFollow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack:www.pharmasessions.substack.com