The MM+M Podcast

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746

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Aug 2026

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About the show

MM+M editors Jameson Fleming, Jack O'Brien, Bella Czajkowski, Lecia Bushak, and Steve Madden speak with people of note in and around the healthcare marketing world, and chat about news impacting the sector. New episodes released each week.

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60 recent

September 10, 202615 min

Former NFL star Kyle Long guards his mental health as part of J&J's Generation Fine

The NFL season has kicked off, renewing focus on America’s most popular sport. While millions of people are eagerly tuning into the action on the gridiron, Johnson & Johnson is trying to focus some of that energy on people living with anxiety and depression. In May, the pharma giant launched Generation Fine , an initiative to normalize conversations regarding mental health, with a specific emphasis on major depressive disorder. If there’s no crying in baseball, there’s even less in football – a sport defined by grit, toughness, never showing weakness and battling through constant, agonizing pain. That’s why J&J drafted Kyle Long , former NFL star and CBS Sports analyst, to dispel these longstanding misconceptions and encourage patients to get the behavioral care they need. Long, who has been public with his lifelong battles with anxiety and depression for more than a decade, joins executive editor Jack O’Brien for a special episode of the podcast to discuss his own patient journey, how he got involved in Generation Fine and what health brands to continue to improve the dialogue around mental health in America. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 9, 202652 min

The most interesting man in medical marketing

September 9, 2025 will go down as one of the most impactful days in the history of medical marketing. After months of saber rattling, the Trump administration announced that the FDA would crack down on DTC pharma ads on linear TV and social media. Yet September 9, 2025 wasn’t the apocalypse for medical marketing. Sure, there were days that turned into weeks of general unease and worry across the industry, but this is a resilient bunch. By the time we started conducting interviews with medical marketing shops for the 2026 Agency 100 , most had gotten a handle on the situation and were baking in these challenges to their media plans and broader business strategies. Following editor-at-large Steve Madden ’s feature interview with industry veteran Ritesh Patel , we’re looking back on the past 365 days. To mark the one-year anniversary of the start of the FDA’s pharma ad crackdown, executive editor Jack O’Brien joined by reporter Bella Czajkowski and pharma editor Lecia Bushak to talk about how the heightened regulatory focus has impacted pharma brands and their agency partners. Lecia also recently caught up with 4A’s Health Executive Director Jim Potter about what has changed since the crackdown began and where things go from here for the medical marketing community. You’ll get to hear some of his insights during the course of our conversation on then, now and what comes next. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 4, 202620 min

How to establish one of healthcare's best places to work

With the deadline fast approaching to submit for MM+M’s Best Places to Work program , we wanted to bring on a leader with experience fostering the best workplaces in healthcare. That leader is Michele Ehler , the head of talent at UCB. This summer, UCB was recognized as one of Axios’ Top Workplaces in Atlanta. In this conversation, Ehler offers advice for healthcare companies and medical marketing agencies seeking to create the best workplaces. Reminder: all Best Places to Work survey responses must be finalized and submitted by September 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET. No extensions will be granted. MM+M will publish the full results of its Best Places to Work report in the November-December issue of the magazine. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 2, 202643 min

What to expect at 2026 CMI Agility in Philadelphia

Heading into Labor Day weekend, we’ve got a jumbo-packed two-fer episode, with both conversations centering around the number four. First up is an interview with CMI Media Group CEO and 2026 MM+M Woman of Distinction honoree Susan Dorfman as she previews the fourth edition of the CMI Agility conference in Philadelphia . Held on Monday, September 14, Agility serves as the Agency 100 honoree ’s opportunity to urge the healthcare industry to move beyond simply focusing on "patient journey" and embrace more human-centered care. Susan is also joined by Mick Ebeling , founder of Not Impossible Labs , who is returning as a keynote speaker for the thought leadership summit. Ebeling is an out of the box thinker with a style that challenges many medical marketing conventions. I think you’ll really enjoy hearing from him in conjunction with Susan’s updates on the WPP subsidiary as it heads into the final quarter of 2026. And in lieu of our Trends segment, we’re joined by Chris Fox , VP of marketing at Cleveland Diagnostics. Chris is on to discuss the return of the company’s PSA on PSA campaign for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, why it’s critical to keep dismantling long-held stigmas surrounding prostate cancer care and survivorship, as well as how much that Novartis Super Bowl ad helped advance the cause of PSA screening. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

September 1, 202621 min

Healthcare marketing beyond the digital tipping point, a podcast presented by Inmar Media

Digital advertising has reached a tipping point in healthcare, but the movement of dollars tells only part of the story. Join Emily Welker as she explores how changing audience behavior, AI and personalization are influencing the next generation of healthcare marketing. Drawing from the latest MM+M and Inmar Healthcare Marketers Trend Report, this conversation looks at how leading brands are creating more relevant experiences, making smarter marketing decisions and measuring success in more meaningful ways. Evolution focus: A forward-looking discussion on how healthcare marketing is evolving as audience expectations, technology and measurement continue to change. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 31, 202621 min

The next front door: Connecting insight, communications and healthcare experience, a podcast sponsored by Syneos Health Communications

Healthcare marketers are under increasing pressure to create more connected, personalized experiences across an increasingly complex healthcare ecosystem. Success requires more than strong communications, it depends on understanding the people influencing decisions at every stage of the patient journey. In this episode, Greg Novello, managing director of Spherico, joins Jennifer Brunner, EVP and team lead at AnswerSuite, to explore how healthcare organizations can bridge the gap between insight and action. Using AnswerSuite's Office Champion research as a springboard, they discuss why the perspectives of office staff, providers, patients and caregivers are becoming critical inputs for smarter communications and engagement strategies. Together, they examine how communications, customer insights, behavioral data and emerging technologies — including AI — are reshaping the way healthcare brands build trust, improve access and create meaningful connections. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 26, 202637 min

Regeneron’s immersive AV experience reimagines complex science communications

Science is, in a word, complicated. Fortunately, there’s a drugmaker out there utilizing immersive audio and visual elements to break down some pretty heady concepts in a digestible, yet engaging way. Earlier this month, Regeneron debuted Science Illuminated, which is now available on Spotify . The series is borne out of the work the New York-based drugmaker has undertaken across a range of therapies, with audio narration and scientific imagery produced by the company’s employees. Reporter Bella Czajkowski brings us a conversation with Regeneron's head of research communications Ella Campbell about Science Illuminated, including the drugmaker’s reasoning for producing the series, how it was developed and what the company learned from experimenting with new approaches to science communication. For our Trends segment, executive editor Jack O’Brien is joined by Bella and pharma editor Lecia Bushak for thoughts about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s decision to publicly document freezing her eggs, the backlash to it as well as how this is a watershed moment for discussions around fertility treatments in America. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 19, 202642 min

Ellis Verdi on hospital marketing, Hillary's 2000 campaign and tropical fish

Few things in life carry as much vintage prestige as the presence of a real New York adman. That rarified air is typically reserved for the likes of a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue, a 1957 Chevy or a Patek Philippe watch. Ellis Verdi is a classic New York adman with more than a few dozen stories to tell. Ellis worked across various brands and ad agencies in the 1970s and 80s before founding his own firm, DeVito/Verdi , in the latter part of the decade. Known for its at-times irreverent, at-times provocative creative output, DeVito/Verdi has endured as a New York-based institution throughout the years and even appeared on the MM+M Agency 100 list . From a medical marketing standpoint, Ellis has worked with a number of prominent hospital and health system clients , which scratches my itch after having covered the provider sector earlier in my career. Over nearly 40 years, DeVito/Verdi has worked with Mount Sinai, Lenox Hill Hospital, Mass General, UChicago Medicine, VCU Health, BayCare and MetroHealth in Cleveland. Ellis also has tales from the halls of the White House after the agency pitched and won the right to provide ad support for former First Lady Hillary Clinton’s senate campaign in 2000. It’s our 60th anniversary year, so who better to have in the studio than an industry legend like Ellis for a longform, wide-ranging interview. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 12, 202640 min

MM+M summer intern Lola Offenback's (second) exit interview

Lola Offenback , MM+M’s editorial fellow, is finishing her second summer working with us. To quote Herman’s Hermits : “Second verse, same as the first.” Lola has once again exceeded our expectations with her versatility and resourcefulness as a reporter. She returned to MM+M just before Cannes and helped us manage the wave of news coming out of the French Riviera. From there, she took on deeper reporting assignments exploring women’s health trends , medical marketing internship programs and allergy-focused ad campaigns . She also got to cover some in-person activations around New York and hosted a two-part episode of the podcast about health brands advertising during the FIFA World Cup ahead of the final match. We’re thrilled to have one more sit-down conversation with Lola to discuss how the eight-week internship went, what she made of her second year covering the medical marketing industry and what comes next for her career. For our Trends segment, we’re talking about the proposed changes to the vaccine schedule and the policy messaging from Trump administration health officials that is untethered from the medical establishment. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

August 5, 202637 min

Hear from the most outspoken cancer patient advocate

Matthew Zachary doesn’t need any help to have his voice heard – but we’re giving him our platform anyway. As one of the most prominent cancer patient advocates in the country, Matthew has been at this for a long time, 30 years to be exact. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in college and survived, kicking off a lifelong career in healthcare advocacy. If you follow Matthew online, you know he is a prolific poster, particularly on LinkedIn . Additionally, he hosts the Out of Patients podcast and also has a new book out titled We The Patients . As you’d expect, he has plenty of thoughts on where healthcare organizations and their leadership teams can step up to help improve patient outcomes. We wanted to bottle that up in a rousing episode of the MM+M Podcast. This week, Matthew sits down for an in-person interview with reporter Bella Czajkowski about his continually relentless advocacy work, the access issues plaguing the nation’s fragmented healthcare system as well as his piano recital/book launch event at Merkin Hall. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Check us out at: mmm-online.com Check us out at: mmm-online.com Follow us: YouTube: @MMM-online TikTok: @MMMnews Instagram: @MMMnewsonline Twitter/X: @MMMnews LinkedIn: MM+M To read more of the most timely, balanced and original reporting in medical marketing, subscribe here. Music: “Deep Reflection” by DP and Triple Scoop Music. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.