Podcast
Compound Wisdom Podcast
Hosted by Dante McClain · EN
Compound Wisdom is an interview series with leaders, operators, and changemakers across industries. We dig into judgment, execution, and the second-order effects behind durable wins—so ideas can stack, not just inspire. Expect clear thinking, candid stories, and playbooks you can use tomorrow, not someday.
16episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Hormone Shift Nobody Warns You About
5d ago00:39:27Tap to summarize"It's not your fault that hormone changes actually happen. It is well documented." – Sarah GibsonIn this week's episode, Steve sits down with Sarah Gibson and Abbey Walsh, co-founders of Vitality Health Matrix, for his first-ever two-person podcast — and for good reason. Sarah brings a medical lens as a physician associate with a background in trauma and critical care, while Abbey brings a nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle lens built from years of coaching and a master's in nutrition. Together they unpack why "eat less, exercise more" fails so many women, and how hormones, labs, and DNA actually hold the answers traditional medicine keeps missing.Sarah and Abbey share their own health struggles — from unexplained weight gain and night-shift burnout to miscarriages and undiagnosed thyroid disease — and how those experiences led them to build a company around the "matrix method," a system that blends blood labs, DNA testing, and personalized protocols to treat the root cause instead of chasing symptoms. They also get into the practical side of the business: their 90-day concierge program, why they refuse to let clients pick and choose pieces of their plan, the return of medical peptides after FDA restrictions, and the new book "Empowered Weight Loss" written to make this information accessible to patients and clinicians alike. The episode closes with their shared belief: hormone changes aren't a discipline problem, they're biology — and women deserve a healthcare team built around that truth.Takeaways"Eat less, exercise more" often fails because it ignores the hormonal shifts happening underneath.Hormone changes start as early as 35 — fifteen years before menopause even begins.Normal lab ranges and optimal lab ranges are not the same thing.Vitamin D is a hormone regulator, not just a vitamin — and most women over 40 are critically low.DNA testing reveals how your body responds to specific medications, peptides, and even caffeine.Healing the root cause requires combining medical, nutrition, and lifestyle expertise — not picking just one.A 90-day, all-in program outperforms a la carte care because partial solutions get partial results.Peptides like BPC-157 can help preserve muscle while losing fat, not just weight on the scale.Curiosity and self-advocacy are essential when a provider says your labs are "fine" but you don't feel fine.Investing in your health now prevents relying on traditional medicine to manage chronic illness later.Chapters00:00 Intro: Two founders, one mission for women's health 01:27 Why this is a two-person podcast — and why it works 02:22 Sarah's story: from critical care PA to 60 pounds heavier 03:53 What traditional medicine got wrong about Sarah's labs 05:20 Abbey's path: from Zumba instructor to nutrition expert 07:19 The miscarriages and thyroid disease that changed everything 08:20 How Sarah and Abbey's businesses merged into one 10:25 Building the toolbox: supplements, DNA testing, and protocols 11:13 Who they treat — and how men entered the picture 12:01 Inside the 90-day concierge program 14:04 Why DNA testing changes the long-term game 15:20 The five hormone imbalances and the Matrix Method 16:11 What your DNA reveals about caffeine, alcohol, and GLP-1s 18:53 One team, one philosophy — even with multiple providers 21:04 The FDA, peptides, and what's coming back this year 23:12 Leveling up clients from healing to optimization 26:21 Inside the book: Empowered Weight Loss 28:06 Breaking down the book's three parts 30:09 Why clinicians need this information too 31:13 Normal vs. optimal: the vitamin D example 34:36 Final advice: stay curious, and it's not your fault
Transcribe →The 3% Problem: Why Almost Nobody With Alcohol Use Disorder Gets the Medication That Could Change Their Life
2w ago00:25:29Tap to summarize"Recovery is possible. Treatment options are likely more diverse than you may be aware of."– Jonathan GlassmanIn this week's episode of Compound Wisdom, host Steve Sood sits down with Jonathan Glassman — CEO of Oar Health — to dig into one of the most personal and purpose-driven startup stories in modern telehealth: how a healthcare strategy consultant turned his own decade-long struggle with alcohol use disorder into a platform that has now helped over 75,000 people drink less or quit entirely.Jonathan shares how he went from binge drinking to blackout to finding naltrexone through a single empathetic primary care physician — and how that turning point became the seed for Oar Health. He explains why only 3% of people with alcohol use disorder ever get prescribed medication, how telehealth is uniquely positioned to close that gap, and why privacy isn't just a feature for their members — it's often the deciding factor in whether someone seeks help at all.They also get into the harder side of building in healthcare — what happened when naltrexone went into national shortage during one of Oar's fastest growth periods, how the team made painful decisions to protect existing members even at the cost of new growth, and why Jonathan sees AI as a tool for empowering patients rather than replacing providers. The episode closes with Jonathan's direct message to anyone struggling with their drinking: you don't have to wait for rock bottom, and it is never too late to start.TakeawaysNaltrexone works by blocking the reward and pleasure signals that make alcohol feel good — it doesn't require sobriety as a goal.Only 3% of people with alcohol use disorder are ever prescribed medication — telehealth exists to close that gap.Privacy is often the deciding factor — no waiting rooms, no pharmacy lines, and discreet delivery changes who seeks help.Recovery looks different for everyone — Oar Health doesn't prescribe a single program; they build around the individual.When a crisis hits, set one clear, non-negotiable principle and fold every operation around it.A drug shortage can be a crash course — Ōr came out of their naltrexone shortage with deeper pharma supply chain relationships than they ever expected to need.AI belongs in operations, not in direct patient care — at least until patients say otherwise.The best use of AI in healthcare may be helping patients walk into appointments better prepared, not replacing the appointment.Cutting back on drinking is rarely just about drinking — it tends to become a catalyst for broader life change.You don't have to wait for rock bottom. Recovery is possible, and it's never too late to begin.Chapters00:01 — Intro: How a healthcare insider's personal struggle became a 75,000-member platform01:27 — What Oar Health does and why it exists02:22 — From binge drinking to blackout — Jonathan's personal story05:20 — Finding the right physician: empathy, moderation, and naltrexone07:50 — How naltrexone actually works in the brain10:31 — Spotting the market gap: telehealth for ED and hair loss, but not for AUD?13:02 — Why only 3% of people with alcohol use disorder ever get prescribed medication15:06 — What telehealth has gotten right — and where it still falls short17:40 — The fragmented healthcare system problem and where Oar fits in18:12 — Privacy as a product feature: why it matters more in stigmatized conditions19:21 — What Oar is building next: coaching, peer support, and smoother care transitions22:08 — Beyond sobriety: the liver, brain, and gut supplement Oar is launching24:52 — GLP-1s, peptides, and what the evidence says about addiction28:46 — The naltrexone shortage: two years of crisis management and what it cost32:35 — The bright line rule that saved existing members — and froze new growth35:10 — Compounded naltrexone and the Sinclair Method community38:22 — Daily vs. targeted use: how flexible is the medication really?41:05 — AI at Oar: where they lean in and where they draw the line44:49 — The future of AI in healthcare: better prep, more empathy, not less47:01 — Advice for anyone struggling: recovery is possible, and options are wider than you think
Transcribe →The Heartbeat of Game Day: Shea Fears on Scaling, Sacrifice & What Comes Next
3w ago00:32:22Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode of Compound Wisdom, host Steve Sood sits down with Shea Fears — Director of Corporate Locations at Game Day Men's Health — to dig into one of the most remarkable scaling stories in healthcare franchising: how a small team of believers turned 5 clinics into 998+ franchise locations across North America in just two years.Shea shares how she joined Game Day six years ago as one of the brand's earliest employees, helped open their second location in Southern California during the height of COVID, and built the operational infrastructure that made hypergrowth possible — all before franchising was even on the table.Shea explains why TRT clinics weren't mainstream when she started, how COVID unexpectedly accelerated demand for men's health services, and how a simple whiteboard session revealed they'd sold 600 franchise locations in a single year — a number that shocked even the most seasoned franchise experts they knew.They also get into the harder side of scaling — what it's really like managing medical compliance across multiple states, why running healthcare franchises is nothing like running restaurant franchises, and how Game Day built a medical advisory board and provider network that keeps clinical standards tight at scale.The episode closes with Shea's vision for Her Way — the women's health companion brand she helped build — and her personal journey of reclaiming her own identity and health after six years of being, as founder Evan Miller puts it, "the heartbeat of Game Day."TakeawaysThe best opportunities often don't look like opportunities — Game Day grew fastest during COVID when everyone expected it to slow down.You don't need to know everything about franchising to start — Game Day's first franchise buyer was a patient who simply believed in the brand.Speed matters in healthcare franchising — the ability to make fast, decisive decisions separates operators from administrators.Medical compliance isn't optional at scale — different states have different regulations, and ignoring that will break your model.Your first franchise owners set the culture — Game Day's earliest franchisees came from their own patient base, which built instant brand loyalty.Corporate locations are your guinea pigs — test everything there before rolling it out to franchisees.A strong medical advisory board is non-negotiable — clinical credibility protects both patients and the brand at scale.Expanding into women's health isn't just a business decision — it's a natural extension of a proven clinical model.Your identity and your company are not the same thing — the healthiest leaders know where one ends and the other begins.When you're the heartbeat of something bigger than yourself, personal growth becomes part of the mission.00:00 — Intro: 998 US franchises, 46 in Canada — and why they stopped selling01:27 — Shea's origin story: From healthcare admin to Game Day's earliest employee02:13 — What Southern California looked like when TRT clinics weren't a thing03:34 — Joining during COVID: Why they expected red lights and got green ones instead04:46 — How COVID accelerated demand for men's health and membership-based care05:12 — From corporate clinics to franchising: How the idea was born06:57 — The first franchise sale: A patient who just wanted to be part of the brand07:52 — The whiteboard moment: "Holy crap, we just sold 600 franchise locations"08:21 — Why outside franchise experts couldn't believe what Game Day was doing09:18 — Scaling from 600 to 998+ locations — and the decision to stop selling11:24 — Why medical franchises are exponentially harder than restaurant franchises16:17 — Multi-state compliance: How Game Day manages regulations across 50 states17:41 — Building the provider network and medical advisory board that holds it together18:42 — Stem cells, peptides, and what Game Day won't touch until regulations catch up21:05 — Her Way: Building the women's health companion brand from the ground up23:01 — Handing over Her Way and shifting back to Game Day corporate operations24:49 — Being the "heartbeat of Game Day" — what that title really costs26:21 — Personal transformation: Health, identity, and rebuilding a personal brand28:12 — Final thoughts: What's next for Game Day, Her Way, and Shea personally
Transcribe →Don't ask what the other guys are doing. Ask what's best for your patient – Anthony Kantor
4w ago00:26:46Tap to summarizeIn this week's episode of Compound Wisdom, host Steve sits down with Anthony Kantor — co-founder and operator of Ivím Health — to dig into one of the most overlooked secrets in telehealth: building something that actually works for patients, not just for growth metrics.Anthony shares how he and his brother, Taylor, bootstrapped a family-run telehealth company from the ground up, pivoted into the GLP-1 wave at exactly the right moment, and built a high-touch care model by keeping providers in-house when everyone else was outsourcing.Anthony explains why they started with peptides after his mom's Crohn's remission on BPC-157, how a single TikTok video took them from 15 patients to 150 in a month, and why they turned down external provider networks to maintain full control over patient experience.They also get into the messier side of scaling — what it's really like visiting compounding pharmacies in person, why female HRT is more symptom-based than people think, and how AI is already changing what providers can handle at scale.The episode closes with Anthony's belief that the telehealth space is about to see consolidation — and that the companies obsessed with patient outcomes, not exits, are the ones that will survive it.Takeaways1. Start by understanding the patient problem deeply — Ivím Health was born from a personal health story, not a market opportunity.2. Don't chase trends blindly — they almost passed on GLP-1s before understanding the cardio-metabolic benefits.3. Keeping providers in-house costs more upfront but gives you full control over patient experience and clinical quality.4. Organic growth beats paid ads early on — Ivím Health didn't spend a dollar on marketing for the first year.5. Visit your compounding pharmacies in person — if you're putting it in a patient's body, you should know where it comes from.6. Labs aren't always necessary for female HRT — symptom-based care can be more effective, but patient comfort matters too.7. Build tech that personalizes the journey, not just the prescription — engagement is what drives outcomes.8. Use AI to empower providers first, not replace them — the best healthcare will always be a hybrid model.9. If one compounder is doing something no one else is, that's a red flag, not a competitive advantage.10. When the mission is bigger than the business opportunity, patient trust becomes your moat.Chapters00:00 — Intro: Telehealth consolidation is coming — and why Ivím Health isn't worried01:27 — The origin story: From Crohn's remission to building a peptide platform03:29 — How a family of four bootstrapped a telehealth company with zero investors03:51 — The GLP-1 pivot: Why they almost said no, and what changed their mind04:53 — From 15 patients to 150 in 30 days: The TikTok moment that changed everything05:42 — Building for patient experience, not just growth metrics07:22 — Why Ivím Health keeps all providers in-house — and what that costs08:31 — The medications they offer now — and why peptides are coming back09:18 — Female HRT beta learnings: Labs, symptom-based care, and insurance dynamics11:24 — The peptide landscape in 2024 — what's coming back and when16:17 — Compounding pharmacy diligence: Why visiting in person matters17:41 — The seven-pharmacy algorithm — routing prescriptions for speed and quality18:42 — AI for providers, not patients (yet): How Ivím Health is using automation to scale care21:05 — Why healthcare will be the last industry to go fully AI — empathy still matters23:01 — Doubling provider efficiency with AI — from 1:1000 to 1:2000 patient ratios24:49 — Where telehealth is going: Consolidation, exits, and who stays standing26:21 — Why Ivím Health isn't looking to cash out — and what kind of partners they'd actually take28:12 — Final thoughts: Patient outcomes over everything
Transcribe →Why AI Should Help Doctors — Not Replace Them
Apr 2300:22:52Tap to summarize“Healthcare shouldn’t feel like a black box.” – Dr. Myra AhmadIn this week’s episode, Steve sits down with Dr. Myra Ahmad (Founder & CEO of Mochi Health) to break down how telehealth is evolving—and why most healthcare systems still fail patients.Dr. Myra explains how Mochi Health is building a marketplace model that connects providers, pharmacies, and patients into one seamless system—focused on long-term care, not just prescriptions. She shares why continuity with the same doctor matters, how transparent pricing is reshaping patient behavior, and why traditional healthcare often prioritizes systems over people.The conversation dives into the GLP-1 explosion, the rise of peptides, and what’s actually coming next in weight loss and preventative medicine. They also unpack the role of AI in healthcare, where it works best (operations, workflows, efficiency) and where it still falls short (patient trust and real care). The episode closes with a grounded look at the “wild west” of online medications, how to think about safety and regulation, and what the next 3–5 years of telemedicine will really look like.TakeawaysMost healthcare systems are built around operations—not patient experience.Continuity of care (seeing the same provider long-term) leads to better outcomes.GLP-1 drugs triggered massive demand—but they’re just the first wave.Future treatments will expand into more conditions beyond weight loss.Transparency in pricing is a major reason patients are shifting to telehealth.AI is powerful for backend tasks—but not ready to replace doctors.Patients still want human trust when it comes to medical decisions.The peptide market is growing fast—but lacks consistent oversight.Many online medications operate in a regulatory “gray zone.”Telehealth’s growth will be driven by convenience, cost clarity, and access.Chapters00:00 Intro: Why healthcare systems fail patients 00:49 What Mochi Health actually does 02:10 Dr. Myra’s background & why she built Mochi 03:30 The gap in care delivery most people don’t see 05:10 Marketplace vs. traditional telehealth models 07:20 Why continuity with one doctor matters 09:15 GLP-1 drugs: from skepticism to global demand 12:40 What’s next in weight loss & new medications 15:30 Oral vs injectable treatments: what actually works 18:20 Peptides: hype, risks, and future potential 21:10 The “wild west” of online medications 24:00 AI in healthcare: where it works vs. where it fails 27:30 How Mochi uses AI to improve provider workflows 30:10 Pharmacy partnerships & quality control 33:40 Women’s health, HRT, and telehealth expansion 36:20 Pricing transparency vs traditional healthcare 39:10 The future of telemedicine (next 3–5 years) 42:00 What’s next for Mochi Health
Transcribe →Why AI Should Help Doctors — Not Replace Them
Apr 800:22:52Tap to summarize“AI should power the system — not replace the doctor.” – Myra AhmedIn this episode of Compound Wisdom, Steve Sood sits down with Myra A., founder of Mochi Health, to break down where modern healthcare actually breaks — and why most solutions are solving the wrong layer of the problem.Myra’s entry into healthcare was driven by a single question: where do patients fall out of care? That question led her to build Mochi Health — not as another telehealth brand pushing prescriptions, but as a marketplace connecting providers and pharmacies under one system.Mochi’s model challenges the dominant telehealth approach. Instead of vertical integration and branding, it focuses on infrastructure — giving providers tools to operate, and patients the ability to choose, compare, and stay with the same doctor over time. Continuity, not transactions, becomes the core product.The conversation then moves into the GLP-1 surge. Myra explains how initial skepticism around injectables quickly flipped into one of the largest demand waves in healthcare. What started as a niche treatment has now triggered a broader shift toward proactive care — with more drugs and categories already in development.But with demand comes fragmentation. The discussion explores the rise of peptides and the “wild west” layer of the market — where consumers are increasingly ordering unregulated substances online. Myra highlights the gap between demand and oversight, and why testing infrastructure is still catching up.On AI, the stance is clear. Most companies are applying AI at the wrong interface. Mochi uses it to remove operational burden — documentation, scheduling, billing — while keeping the doctor-patient relationship fully human. Efficiency is the goal, not replacement.The episode closes with a broader view of where telehealth is heading — toward transparency, provider-led care, and systems that reduce friction rather than add layers. The next wave won’t be about more tools. It will be about better structure.This is a grounded conversation on healthcare infrastructure, emerging drug markets, and the role of AI in rebuilding trust at scale.TakeawaysMochi Health is built as a marketplace, not a prescription-first platform Continuity of care is a core differentiator in their model Patients can choose and stay with providers long term GLP-1 demand reshaped consumer expectations in healthcare Future drug pipelines extend beyond weight loss into broader conditions Oral alternatives currently lack strong efficacy compared to injectables Peptides represent a growing but fragmented market Unregulated demand is rising due to lack of access and transparency Testing and compliance infrastructure is still developing AI is most effective in back-office workflows Documentation, billing, and scheduling are key AI use cases Patient-facing AI still lacks trust and reliability Provider efficiency directly improves patient outcomes Telehealth growth is driven by pricing transparency gaps Insurance systems often lack clarity for patients Mochi integrates providers, pharmacies, and workflows into one system Pharmacy onboarding includes testing and compliance validation Women’s health and HRT demand is increasing on platforms Future growth includes partnerships and device integrations Healthcare is shifting toward system-level redesign, not surface fixesChapters00:00 – Building provider and pharmacy infrastructure 02:00 – Why Mochi Health was created 05:30 – Marketplace vs traditional telehealth models 10:00 – Continuity of care and provider relationships 15:30 – The GLP-1 demand shift 21:00 – Future of weight loss and drug pipelines 26:00 – Oral vs injectable treatment limitations 30:30 – Peptides and emerging categories 35:30 – Risks of unregulated drug markets 40:00 – AI in healthcare systems 45:00 – Back-office automation vs patient interaction 50:00 – Provider tools and workflow optimization 55:00 – Pharmacy vetting and compliance 01:00:00 – Women’s health and HRT expansion 01:05:00 – Telehealth vs traditional care models 01:10:00 – Insurance and pricing transparency 01:15:00 – Future roadmap for Mochi Health 01:20:00 – Closing insightsTags#CompoundWisdom #MyraAhmed #MochiHealth #Telehealth #GLP1 #Peptides #HealthcareInnovation #DigitalHealth #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareSystems #PharmaTrends #ProviderLedCare #PatientExperience #HealthTech #FutureOfHealthcare
Transcribe →The Problem With One-Prescription Weight Loss Clinics
Feb 2700:27:43Tap to summarize“Medication is a tool — not a shortcut.” – Jason JacobsonIn this episode of Compound Wisdom, Steve Sood sits down with Jason Jacobson, emergency-trained nurse practitioner and founder of Slim Wellness, to break down what most telehealth companies get wrong about weight loss, hormones, and long-term metabolic care.Jason’s path into medicine wasn’t linear. A high school dropout who rebuilt his life through tech, sales, and eventually emergency medicine, he now splits his time between the ER, academia, and a brick-and-mortar clinic designed to counter the “prescription-first” telehealth model.Slim Wellness was sparked by a personal catalyst. After watching his bonus daughter gain significant weight following birth control and struggle to find real answers, Jason saw firsthand how mainstream clinics default to surface-level solutions — especially once GLP-1s entered the spotlight. His response was to build a provider-led, high-touch platform centered on root-cause analysis rather than transactional prescribing.The conversation moves beyond generic weight loss talk and into structural care gaps: why “eat less, move more” is often clinical laziness, how PCOS is frequently mishandled, and why hormones sit at the center of metabolic dysfunction.Jason outlines the four pillars he prioritizes in PCOS treatment — inflammation, hormones, nutrition, and movement — and explains why most women are cycled through algorithms without meaningful personalization . His model begins with full metabolic labs, narrative-driven intake conversations, and expectation setting that emphasizes time horizon over 30-day transformations.They also unpack peptides. Jason clarifies what peptides actually are — short amino acid chains that signal native biological processes — and why misunderstanding their mechanism fuels regulatory tension. The discussion touches on insulin as the earliest peptide example, evolving FDA positions, compounding scrutiny, Ryan Haight Act implications, and the uncertain reclassification environment.The episode closes with a sober look at telehealth’s future: political volatility, DEA oversight, testosterone regulation, concierge-style differentiation, and the risk of large marketing-driven platforms commoditizing care.This is a grounded conversation about metabolic medicine, regulatory reality, and what it takes to scale care without sacrificing clinical integrity.TakeawaysJason transitioned from tech and sales into emergency medicine before launching Slim WellnessSlim Wellness was inspired by a personal PCOS and weight-loss journeyMost telehealth platforms prioritize medication over metabolic strategyPCOS treatment requires addressing inflammation, hormones, nutrition, and movement “Eat less, move more” without guidance is not a treatment planPeptides are signaling molecules, not synthetic tricks Insulin was one of the earliest peptide therapies Regulatory shifts around peptides and testosterone could reshape telehealthConcierge-style access may become a competitive moatProvider-led continuity of care differentiates from marketing-driven telemedicineChapters00:00 – From high school dropout to emergency medicine 03:00 – Why Slim Wellness was built differently 06:30 – PCOS, hormones, and metabolic root causes 11:00 – The four pillars of PCOS treatment 15:00 – Peptides explained simply 19:00 – Regulatory scrutiny and telehealth uncertainty 23:00 – Concierge care vs scale-first models 27:00 – Hims vs Ro and competitive positioning 29:30 – Blind question and closingTags#CompoundWisdom #JasonJacobson #SlimWellness #PCOS #Telehealth #Peptides #HormoneOptimization #GLP1 #MetabolicHealth #ConciergeMedicine #HealthcareRegulation #Longevity #ProviderLedCare #WeightLossMedicine
Transcribe →The Dark Side of “Easy Telehealth” (And the Fix)
Feb 2300:37:21Tap to summarize“Anybody who thinks AI can’t replace part of their job is mistaken.” – Dr. Jonathan KaplanIn this episode of Compound Wisdom, Steve Sood sits down with Dr. Jonathan Kaplan, board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Dr. Well, to break down the collision between telehealth, GLP-1s, peptides, AI, and the future of provider-owned healthcare platforms.Jonathan walks through his path from scrubbing into surgeries at age 11 in Louisiana to launching a price-transparency tool for cosmetic procedures, which eventually evolved into a national provider-to-consumer telehealth infrastructure serving 200+ practices. What started as solving a simple pricing problem turned into subscriptions, weight management programs, and ultimately a scalable compounding-backed medication platform.The conversation moves beyond surface-level GLP hype and into structural realities: continuity of care vs independent contractor telehealth models, 503A pharmacy strategy, regulatory risk around research-use peptides, and why most operators misunderstand compounding economics. Jonathan explains the development of GLP-1 Squared (a semaglutide + tirzepatide combination), why differentiation matters in a tightening regulatory environment, and how serious players are preparing for FDA scrutiny rather than avoiding it.They also go deep on AI — not just as a buzzword, but as infrastructure. From asynchronous smart consults to autonomous surgical robotics, Jonathan argues that AI will penetrate every layer of medicine faster than most expect. The real question isn’t whether it happens — it’s who adapts responsibly.The episode closes with insights on longevity demand, peptide reclassification, Big Pharma acquisition behavior, and how social media — when done strategically — can drive real patient acquisition instead of vanity metrics.This is a grounded conversation about operator leverage, regulatory positioning, and building healthcare models that can survive the next 24 months.TakeawaysDr. Kaplan began observing surgeries at age 11 and chose plastic surgery at 16.Early frustration with cosmetic price opacity led him to build a pricing automation tool.That tool evolved into BuildMyHealth and later Dr. Well.Dr. Well operates as a provider-to-consumer (PTC) platform, not DTC.Continuity of care is the structural weakness in many telehealth models.GLP-1 subscriptions created infrastructure for scaling compounded meds.GLP-1 Squared combines semaglutide + tirzepatide in a differentiated formulation.Patent filings and IND pathways signal long-term positioning, not short-term arbitrage.Research-use-only peptides carry legal and liability exposure.503A pharmacies will likely replace gray-market labs over time.AI is being used internally for platform acceleration, not autonomous prescribing (yet).Autonomous robotic surgery is likely closer than most assume.Longevity demand is expanding the total addressable market, not shrinking it.Big Pharma will likely acquire longevity-focused startups rather than build internally.Social media growth requires algorithm fluency and constant adaptation.MiniChat-style automation improves patient conversion workflows.Head-banging persistence preceded viral growth.GLP-1 adoption acts as a gateway into broader longevity experimentation.Compliance-first models will outlast Shopify-style gray sellers.Infrastructure ownership > trend chasing.Chapters00:00 – Early exposure to surgery and choosing plastic surgery 02:30 – Cosmetic pricing frustration and tech origins 04:20 – From price estimator to telehealth infrastructure 06:00 – Provider-to-consumer vs direct-to-consumer models 08:40 – GLP-1 growth and subscription mechanics 10:30 – Building GLP-1 Squared and regulatory differentiation 13:00 – Compounding, 503A strategy, and risk tolerance 15:20 – AI in platform development 17:00 – Autonomous surgery and timeline predictions 19:30 – Peptides, Category 2 status, and reclassification outlook 22:00 – Longevity demand and market expansion 24:10 – Big Pharma acquisition behavior 26:00 – Personal stack: GLP-1 Squared + NAD 28:30 – Social media growth strategy and viral moments 31:00 – Automation, MiniChat, and conversion systems 33:30 – Blind question and closing thoughtsTags#CompoundWisdom #DrJonathanKaplan #DrWell #GLP1 #Longevity #Telehealth #Peptides #CompoundingPharmacy #AIinHealthcare #PlasticSurgery #HealthcareInnovation #ProviderEconomics #WeightLossMedicine #HealthTech #MedicalEntrepreneurship
Transcribe →The Fastest Way to Expose a Bad Deal
Feb 1300:30:21Tap to summarize“If you’re gonna hire a consultant, hire the consultant — not the pitch.” – Heath WolfsonIn this episode of Compound Wisdom, Steve Sood sits down with Heath Wolfson, founder of FrontCare, to break down what it actually takes to build and scale businesses in regulated, fast-moving categories like GLP-1 clinics, compounding, and creator-led health platforms. Heath walks through his path from nightlife and event marketing to defense contracting after 9/11, scaling a safety retrofit company into a nine-figure exit, then building one of Facebook’s largest publishing engines before shifting into longevity and metabolic health operations.The conversation focuses on operator reality vs sales hype: how to vet opportunities, spot compliance risks, avoid conflicted vendor ecosystems, and design clinic models that are capital-efficient and fast to launch. Heath explains why many GLP-1 and peptide ventures are structured wrong, how consulting should transfer real operational leverage (not dependency), and how FrontCare gives creators and small businesses a compliant path into telehealth-style wellness monetization. The episode closes with tactical advice on hiring, scaling teams, and why a few high-impact players outperform large mediocre teams.TakeawaysHeath Wolfson built a $100M+ safety retrofit business within 18 months post-9/11.His background is operator-led, not theory-led or purely financial.He later scaled a Facebook publishing network to ~25M monthly users.Many GLP-1 clinic offers are sales-driven, not compliance-driven.Vendor kickbacks often distort physician, pharmacy, and insurance referrals.Due diligence must go beyond spreadsheets into real operations.Consulting should deliver execution frameworks, not just strategy decks.“Hire the consultant, not the pitch” is his core rule.Franchise-style models often lock owners into conflicted distribution.His clinic model targets low build-out cost and fast launch timelines.Simpler clinic formats can open in ~4–6 weeks with limited capital.Transparency in vendors prevents operator lock-in.FrontCare enables creators to monetize wellness compliantly.Creators can use white-label telehealth-style storefronts.Influencer wellness monetization is shifting from apparel to health.GLP-1 adoption accelerated interest in broader longevity tools.Research-only peptide markets are likely to face tighter regulation.Compliance structure will outlast gray-market Shopify sellers.Scaling teams too fast reduces efficiency and profitability.A few key operators outperform many average hires.Chapters00:00 – Welcome and Heath’s background setup00:29 – College, nightlife, and early career direction01:30 – Defense contracting and post-9/11 retrofit opportunity03:10 – Building and exiting a nine-figure safety business04:05 – Tattoo industry roll-up attempt and 2008 disruption05:00 – Taking over a publishing group as CEO06:10 – Early Facebook monetization and ad stack testing07:30 – Scaling to massive Facebook distribution08:40 – Exit from media and move to Florida09:15 – First exposure to GLP-1 and compounding reality10:30 – Spotting fraud signals in clinic pitches11:40 – Learning the clinic model by doing13:10 – Rebuilding the GLP-1 clinic model correctly14:20 – What real consulting should provide16:00 – Vendor neutrality and operator advantage17:05 – Why most med-spa assumptions are wrong18:30 – Designing low-cost, fast-launch clinics20:10 – Consulting economics and break-even timelines22:00 – From consulting to platform: FrontCare23:40 – Creator monetization and white-label health25:10 – Influencer commerce vs wellness commerce27:00 – GLP-1 as gateway to longevity demand28:20 – Peptides, regulation, and risk30:10 – Compliance vs gray-market sellers31:00 – Scaling teams: key players vs many hires33:00 – Efficiency lessons from downsizing34:10 – Blind question: building teams that scale35:40 – Closing thoughts and next-guest questionTags#CompoundWisdom #HeathWolfson #FrontCare #GLP1 #LongevityBusiness #Telehealth #ClinicOperations #HealthStartups #CreatorEconomy #WellnessCommerce #Peptides #Compounding #Consulting #OperatorMindset #TeamScaling
Transcribe →Why Side Effects Often Start Weeks Later
Feb 901:02:28Tap to summarize“It takes five or six doses to reach equilibrium.” — Dr. Ian EllisIn this episode of Compound Wisdom, Steve Suen sits down with Dr. Ian Ellis — former ER physician, fitness specialist, and founder of a multi-state telehealth clinic — to break down what most people misunderstand about GLP-1 medications and why standard dosing protocols often lead to unnecessary side effects, muscle loss, and early drop-off. Instead of fixed weekly dose ladders, Dr. Ellis argues for a pharmacokinetic, level-based model that targets the exact drug concentration where a patient feels and functions best.Dr. Ellis shares his personal journey from obsessive fitness and disordered eating patterns through emergency medicine burnout and significant weight gain, to discovering GLP-1 therapy firsthand. His early experience with semaglutide produced dramatic appetite control — but also severe side effects and unexpected muscle loss under standard dosing. That failure pushed him to study the drug’s half-life and accumulation curves, leading to a key insight: each weekly dose stacks on top of what’s already in the body, meaning patients are often escalating into overdose territory without realizing it.From there, the conversation turns practical and technical. Dr. Ellis explains his “My Level” dosing approach — a calculator-driven system that models drug levels in the body and adjusts each dose to return patients to their personal sweet spot instead of blindly increasing amounts. He describes how this method helps patients use significantly less medication, experience fewer side effects, retain more muscle mass, and stay on therapy longer — while still matching or exceeding expected weight-loss outcomes.They also cover real-world scenarios most protocols don’t handle well: travel timing, missed doses, running out of medication, and plateau phases. Dr. Ellis explains why standard instructions fail in these cases and how level-targeted dosing provides precise catch-up and adjustment strategies. The broader theme is that GLP-1 drugs are powerful but narrow-window tools — and without precision, the industry risks creating a thinner but weaker, less functional population instead of a healthier one.The throughline of the episode is straightforward: GLP-1s are potentially transformative, but only if dosing becomes individualized, data-driven, and physiology-aware rather than schedule-based.TakeawaysDr. Ian Ellis is a former ER physician who left emergency medicine to focus on metabolic and longevity care.He founded a telehealth clinic focused on GLP-1s, peptides, and regenerative health.His interest in weight and fitness began in his teens and evolved into extreme dieting patterns.He describes a long period of obsessive training, restriction, and rebound weight gain.Medical school, residency, and family pressures led to major weight gain and burnout.He first used semaglutide under a standard dosing ladder without tight supervision.Early GLP-1 use reduced appetite dramatically but triggered escalating side effects.Weekly GLP-1 dosing stacks because half the drug is still present at the next dose.Patients reach higher drug levels each week even if the dose number is unchanged. Sequence 01Standard dose escalation can push patients into intolerance and GI distress.He recorded severe nausea, GI symptoms, and functional impairment at higher levels.A body composition scan showed large muscle loss during rapid GLP-1 weight loss.He argues muscle loss + frailty risk is under-discussed in GLP-1 protocols.He studied GLP-1 pharmacokinetics and built spreadsheet models of blood levels.This led to his “My Level” concept — target the best-feeling drug level, not a fixed dose.The method asks: how much do I take today to get back to my target level? Sequence 01He built a dosing engine and app to automate these calculations at scale. Sequence 01Patients identify their “sweet spot” based on hunger, energy, and side-effect profile.Doses are then adjusted dynamically to maintain that level.Micro-adjustments are preferred over large dose jumps.Small level increases often restart weight loss after plateaus.Many patients never need to reach manufacturer max doses.Clinic patients often use roughly ¼–½ of labeled max dosing. Sequence 01Reported outcomes match or exceed expected weight-loss averages.Lower dosing reduces cost burden and dropout risk.Industry attrition rates approach ~50% in the first year.He attributes most dropouts to side effects and expense. Sequence 01Level-based dosing aims to reduce both drivers.The system also handles travel timing and missed doses precisely.Catch-up dosing is calculated instead of guessed. Sequence 01He believes GLP-1s can be population-level game changers if dosed correctly.Poor dosing could instead produce a thinner but weaker population.His stated mission is expanding access to precision GLP-1 dosing.Chapters00:00 – Opening hook: the idea of a “best level” of medicine00:58 – Guest intro: ER physician, fitness background, telehealth founder02:00 – Early life, sports, and fear of science04:10 – Injury, rehab, and path into medicine07:30 – Emergency medicine reality vs prevention10:30 – Frustration with chronic disease management model12:00 – Extreme fitness and dieting behaviors15:00 – Binge–restrict cycles and metabolic fallout18:00 – Weight gain during medical training and burnout21:40 – Discovering semaglutide23:00 – First GLP-1 appetite suppression experience27:00 – Side effects begin under fixed dosing29:30 – Severe reaction after dose escalation30:30 – Body comp scan shows major muscle loss32:30 – Pharmacokinetics deep dive34:00 – Drug accumulation and steady state explained36:00 – The “sweet spot” level insight37:30 – From fixed dose to target level model38:15 – Building the My Level calculator40:45 – Travel, missed doses, and catch-up logic42:30 – Plateaus and micro-level increases44:00 – Why lower long-term doses win45:20 – Clinic outcomes vs manufacturer dosing48:00 – App development and scaling the model49:00 – Dropout rates and adherence problem50:00 – Vision for the future of GLP-1 dosingClosing – Precision over protocol
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