NFL Champion Tom Brady and Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino Talk GLP1s, EMED

Summary

Podcast Summary: NFL Champion Tom Brady and Former X CEO Linda Yaccarino Talk GLP1s, EMED

Podcast: Bloomberg Talks
Host: Bloomberg
Episode Date: May 4, 2026

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Overview

This episode of Bloomberg Talks dives into the intersection of health, technology, and business transformation. The interviewer sits down with Linda Yaccarino (former CEO of X/Twitter and current CEO of EMED) and NFL legend Tom Brady (Co-owner and Chief Wellness Officer of EMED). The conversation centers on the company's efforts to make GLP1 weight-loss medications more accessible and affordable, exploring their unique business model and the motivations driving both high-profile leaders to tackle healthcare transformation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Linda Yaccarino’s Journey from Tech to Telehealth

• Transformation Through Technology: Linda credits her career to the through-line of “transformation led by technology”—from launching Peacock at NBCU, to making Twitter/X the “global town square,” and now entering healthcare with EMED.

  “When I look back on my career… it would be transformation led by technology, transformation and innovation.” – Yaccarino [01:27]

• Why EMED? As chair of EMED’s England-based female GLP1 consumer business prior to joining as CEO, Linda was “so impacted by the profound nature of the power of these GLP1 medications” and saw a clear need for better access in the US.

  “60% of people get their benefits from their employer and only 1 in 5 employers cover GLP1s right now.” – Yaccarino [02:10]

2. Tom Brady’s Health and Wellness Philosophy

• Brady’s Motivation: Tom draws from his personal experience as an elite athlete, emphasizing proactivity and discipline in health:

  “As an athlete, I realized my body was my asset…Every day I had to put the right foods in my body…in order for me to go out there and accomplish my job to the best of my ability.” – Brady [03:00]
  “I also realized there’s a lot of discipline that comes to making those daily decisions…and a lot of times [people] couldn’t take on this kind of Navy SEAL type training that I did as an athlete because not many can.” – Brady [03:33]

• Meeting People Where They Are: Brady notes the importance of tailoring solutions that make wellness accessible for typical people, not just elite athletes.

  “What I realized…was a lot of times you have to meet people where they’re at and you have to kickstart people’s journey.” – Brady [03:52]

3. EMED: How It Works & What Sets It Apart

• Access with Safeguards: EMED’s program requires qualification—blood tests and biomarker checks—before access to GLP1s, as opposed to “just filling out a form and getting a prescription.”

  “You have to qualify to get on the EMED program…we want to make sure that you’re one of those people that want to take control of your own health and take advantage of the…GLP1 medications…” – Yaccarino [05:04]

• Employer-Focused Affordable Model: The company partners with employers under a flat fee model to provide broader, more affordable access as GLP1 drug prices decline.

  “We have this health intervention of a lifetime moment…now we have a cost solution for employers because now it’s affordable for them to cover it.” – Yaccarino [05:57]

• Strategic Partnerships: Notably with CVS and investors like Aon, aiming to “break the cost curve and impact population health.”

  “Imagine these gold standard companies…woven together to break the cost curve…” – Yaccarino [06:30]

4. Market Trends: GLP1 Pills and Employer Adoption

• Pill Format Drives Adoption: The recent introduction of GLP1 oral medications (vs. injections) has led to “unprecedented adoption” among men, who are more averse to injections.

  “Unprecedented adoption of the oral pills from the early data…one of the biggest adopters or segments are men because they have hesitancy when it comes to injections…” – Yaccarino [07:04]

• Industry Moment: The hosts describe this as a pivotal time for tackling chronic disease and health costs.

5. Tom Brady on Choosing Business Ventures

• Selective Partnership: Brady wants hands-on involvement (“add a lot of value”) and seeks roles enabling personal growth and learning, often saying no to ventures that don’t align.

  “I get different opportunities…But I think I want to add a lot of value to what I’m doing…Now, still kind of relatively young in my business career, but I feel like I have a lot of room for growth.” – Brady [08:21]

6. Tom Brady’s Connection to the NFL and the Future

• NFL Ongoing Commitment: Brady confirms his ongoing involvement with the Raiders and declares,

  “Football’s my—has always been my first love. I’m really, truly obsessed with that.” – Brady [09:09]
  “I want to be in it for the rest of my life.” – Brady [09:23]

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Notable Quotes

• On Health, Wellness, and Accessibility:

  “You have to meet people where they’re at and you have to kickstart people’s journey.” – Tom Brady [03:52]

• On EMED’s Differentiation:

  “It’s not like other companies where you can just fill out a form and get a prescription. No, you stay with us.” – Linda Yaccarino [05:04]

• On Market Shifts:

  “We’re seeing an expansion of the total addressable market…unprecedented adoption of the oral pills…” – Linda Yaccarino [07:04]

• On Mentorship and Growth:

  “As an athlete I surrounded myself with incredible mentors…and then try to apply that going forward. Now, still kind of relatively young in my business career, but I feel like I have a lot of room for growth.” – Tom Brady [08:21]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:27] – Linda Yaccarino on her career shift and joining EMED
• [03:00] – Tom Brady’s health and wellness philosophy
• [05:04] – How EMED’s program ensures patient qualification
• [05:57] – Flat fee model and cost-related opportunities for employers
• [06:30] – CVS/Aon partnerships and company vision
• [07:04] – Impact of GLP1 oral medication on the market
• [08:21] – Tom Brady on choosing business opportunities
• [09:09] & [09:23] – Tom’s future in football and ongoing NFL ties

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Memorable Moments

• Linda’s assertion that “transformation led by technology” binds together her unique journey from media to tech to healthcare.
• Tom’s candid admission that while he embodies discipline, most people need accessible, manageable solutions—not Navy SEAL-style regimens.
• The light-hearted exchange regarding injection fear, with Linda joking,

  “Some of us, Tom, women, braver, stronger.” [07:31]

• Tom’s enthusiasm and humility about his “relatively young” business career and openness to learning.

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Conclusion

This episode offers a rich look into how major figures are leveraging their brand and expertise to disrupt healthcare, especially in the rapidly evolving space around GLP1 medications for weight loss and chronic disease management. Both guests emphasize innovation, accessibility, and credible health guidance, while candidly navigating questions about celebrity involvement in the health sector. For anyone interested in healthcare transformation, business leadership, or the evolving market for pharma-backed wellness, this conversation provides valuable perspectives.

Transcript

[Indiana University Narrator]

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[Bloomberg Audio Announcer]

Bloomberg Audio

[Linda Yaccarino]

Studios Podcasts Radio News let's take a

[Interviewer]

little bit of a detour right now because two prominent names in sports and business have joined for is to tackle one of the fastest growing health costs. GLP wants the former CEO of X. Her name is Linda Yaccarino. She has teamed up with NFL legend Tom Brady Brady partner to build in that. I know, right? We're sitting right here. But let me just tell you what EMED is. It's a platform dedicated to helping employers manage costs associated with weight loss drugs. Linda serves as CEO. Tom is a co owner and Chief Wellness officer and I am just delighted that they're both sitting to my right. Thank you guys for joining us.

[Linda Yaccarino]

Thank you for having us. We really appreciate it.

[Interviewer]

So let's talk a little bit about how this all came together and I'll start with both of you individually and Linda, I'll start with you because you took the helm of EMED after spending two years as the CEO of X formerly known as Twitter. And I would just love to hear about, you know, how that happened. What sort of translates from social media into, you know, running a telehealth company.

[Linda Yaccarino]

I thank you so much. It's a great question. And when I look back on my career, which will, I think logically explain how I landed at emed, you could probably mark it by one or two words and it would be transformation led by technology, transformation and innovation. Right. So throughout my career, whether I was at NBCU for so long, one of the outputs of that was launching Peacock to then go to Twitter and then X in creating the global town square. It made sense. Once I decided to leave X, what should I do next? And about six months prior to leaving X, I became chair of the board of EMED's director consumer business in England, the number one female focused GLP1 business. And why it all came together is because what I learned and was so impacted by the profound nature of the power of these GLP1 medications. And I certainly knew that access needed to happen for people, particularly in the United States. 60% of people get their benefits from their employer and only 1 in 5 employers cover GLP1s right now. So once I was really thinking and considering what to do, tackling transformation in health care to give people access to these life changing medications was a was an easy answer.

[Interviewer]

Well, let's talk about the Tom Brady of it all, because that certainly makes sense. You know, transforming. Transforming acts now, transforming emed. But Tom, how did you get involved with med and who called who?

[Tom Brady]

Well, I've been involved in health and wellness for a long time. I think as an athlete, I realize that my body was my asset. So I had to take good care of it. And every day I had to put the right foods in my body. I had to have the right hydration, the right workouts, the right training in order for me to go out there and accomplish my job to the best of my ability. I started a health and wellness business in 2013 based around all the things that I knew and that I desired. And I wanted other people to understand about how to keep their bodies and how they can stay active for a long period of time. But I also realized there's a lot of discipline that comes to making those daily decisions that allow you to be healthy. And a lot of times they couldn't take on this kind of Navy SEAL type training that I did as an athlete because not many can. Yeah, not many can. We spend hours or day and we have great resources to be able to do that. So what I realized with health and wellness in my post retirement was a lot of times you have to meet people where they're at and you have to kickstart People's Journey. And partnering with Linda and our friend Michael Ferro, who founded the company, has become a great friend of mine down in Miami. I think we can really help a lot of people and like I said to. To get people on the right program with the right individuals that's really tailored to them, they can start to begin to see some great health improvements in their life.

[Interviewer 2]

But I'm sure you have to sort of recognize the potential criticism that somebody like you, a world cap athlete, I don't think anyone's ever seen you out of shape and yet, you know, you're pitching a GLP1 alternative for some folks. And I understand the need, but why listen to Tom Brady? Why not listen to.

[Tom Brady]

I don't think you should listen to your health care professionals who you should listen to. That's the most important thing, I think for me, the ability to promote things that I really strongly believe in. And again, it's really about being proactive about your health. One thing I realized, I was able to achieve great things in my life and my career because I was very proactive. I didn't wait to get injured. I didn't wait to get sick. I tried to stay ahead of those things. I never wanted to be injured. If I was injured, I missed the game. I couldn't do what I love to do. So now that I get to go out there, do what I love to do in this next part of my life, which is try to help other people, give them the best information possible so that they can make the right decision for themselves.

[Linda Yaccarino]

I think it's really important to point out the why Tom Brady of it all in order for you. Yeah, the importance is that you have to qualify to get on the EMED program. You have to take a blood test, you have to qualify through a variety of biomarkers that we check and we want to make sure that you're one of those people that wanted take control of your own health and take advantage of the in unbelievable incremental nature of what these GLP1 medications do. So tackle chronic diseases in their tracks. So it's not like other companies where you can just fill out a form and get a prescription. No, you stay with us.

[Interviewer 2]

So you're working with the employer. This is basically a flat fee model, more or less. Is there any concern going forward as the cost of GLP1 prescriptions goes down, oral medications come on as that cost compresses, does that affect your fee model?

[Linda Yaccarino]

And it's actually so exciting because we're finally at a point where we have EMED delivers access to so many people that it's been out of reach because of the cost. So we have this health intervention of a lifetime moment. So there's a health solution for so many chronic diseases and now we have a cost solution for employers because now it's affordable for them to, to cover it. And that's exactly where Med sits at the intersection.

[Interviewer 2]

Are you going to do secondary markets like. I mean I didn't you have a partnership, I believe with CVS or.

[Linda Yaccarino]

Yes, we have a partnership with cvs, a strategic investor like Aon. So imagine these gold standard companies coming together, like minded, woven together to break the cost curve and impact population health. What a good seat to be sitting in.

[Interviewer]

I do want to talk a little bit about how the introduction of GLP1 pills has potentially changed anything. When you think about how willing employers are to cover some of these medications. It's only been a couple of months, but are you seeing any sort of impact there?

[Linda Yaccarino]

Yeah, we're seeing an expansion of the total addressable market. It's really interesting data, but unprecedented adoption of the oral pills from the early data that's coming out and also Important to note, one of the biggest adopters or segments are men because they have hesitancy when it comes to injections, but they're much more open.

[Interviewer 2]

Tell me more. Yeah, exactly.

[Tom Brady]

Why is everyone so scared of a little neoprene?

[Linda Yaccarino]

You know, some of us, Tom, women braver, stronger. But so the, the. That's why there's unprecedented demand and why it's. We're kind of in a moment here where the opportunity to be able to talk. That's what we're doing here at Milken. Talking to CEOs, talking to CFOs, that now breaking the cost curve is that time is here. We're able to do that.

[Interviewer]

I do want to go back to the Tom Brady of it all a little bit more because, Tom, you mentioned that obviously health and wellness is a huge personal thing of yours and you mentioned that, you know, you founded your own companies in the past. We, we talked to a lot of former athletes on the clothes actually about how they sort of. That's actually true. But how do you evaluate different business opportunities? How do you decide what to put your name to? And I mean, how many things are you saying no to at this point?

[Tom Brady]

Quite a bit. Yeah. I get different opportunities based on, you know, what people are really looking for and how they want me to kind of play a role in their business. But I think I want to add a lot of value to what I'm doing. It's not just really even with emed really being involved with Linda and our friend Michael who's the founder of the company, and some of the decision making, how we're going after and how we're attacking this solution is what's very important. So to be involved in different ways because I love learning. I love growing as an athlete. I surrounded myself with incredible mentors over the course of my life that I was able to learn from. I was to take the things that they could teach me and then try to apply that going forward. Now still kind of relatively young in my business career, but I feel like I have a lot of room for growth. But you're doing well.

[Interviewer 2]

Are you going to take this money, whatever you make off Emed and put that more into the Raiders?

[Tom Brady]

We're working on the Raiders for sure. There's a lot to be improved, but that's. That's it. You know, football's my. Has always been my first love. I'm really, truly obsessed with that.

[Interviewer 2]

And you're going to stay tethered to the NFL in some way, whether as absolutely ownership or broadcasting or Whatever. Yeah.

[Tom Brady]

Love football. I love team sports and I love that it keeps everyone engaged and I love that there's real outcomes every day. I think the purest thing about sports is that we can see how well we prepared. We can see what kind of work we put in because there's a scoreboard on each end of the stadium. You get to see how you did. There's something really finite about that that we're all compelled to watch. And being involved for as long as I have, it's kind of like I said, my first love. I want to be in it for the rest of my life.

[Interviewer 2]

Well, Tom, I really appreciate you being here. Linda as well. Good luck to both of you. Tom Brady, of course, NFL legend, now the co owner of Med, along with Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of eMed as well.

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