Owen McCarthy: Cowbells, Code, and Campaign Trails

On this episode of #TheShot of #DigitalHealth Therapy, Jim Joyce and I went from cowbells to code to campaign trails with the one and only Owen McCarthy. We covered a LOT: ✅ Bootstrapping MedRhythms from a napkin sketch to FDA approval ✅ Licensing Stevie Wonder’s music to help stroke patients walk again ✅ Why Maine needs robotic homes (and maybe fewer regulations) ✅ How it feels to run for Governor with a quick thought on the Big Beautiful Bill ✅ oh... and even spoke about the very real Uncle Thump (not Trump) Owen’s journey from logging trucks to legislative vision is the very definition of full circle. And spoiler: you don’t want to miss his advice to future founders 👇 Fun Mentions as always: Steve Seuntjens Marco Mohwinckel Roberto Ascione William Stevens Tech Tour Brian Harris Ann Mond Johnson Megan Coder 00:00–02:00 — Opening from Switzerland: Cowbells, Confessions & TechTour Hosts kick off with scenic vibes and introduce Owen from a mountaintop moment. 02:00–04:30 — Roots in Rural Maine: Logging, Cows & College Dreams Owen shares his upbringing in Patten, Maine, with stories of family, hard work, and dad’s unforgettable advice. 04:30–08:30 — From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: How MedRhythms Started From water treatment sales to Harvard to building a healthtech company with heart (and rhythm). 08:30–14:00 — Bootstrapping to Breakthrough: MedRhythms, Brian Harris & Real Outcomes The early days of therapy, scaling manually, and why universal music licensing took 18 months. 14:00–16:30 — Working with Stevie Wonder: Music, IP, and Big Biz Buy-In The surprising (and charming) tale of pitching Universal and name-dropping Stevie mid-deal. 16:30–21:00 — Defining DTx: Alliance Building, Policy Work, and Lessons Learned What it takes to create an industry from scratch, and why “starting with reimbursement” matters. 21:00–24:00 — The Case for Rural Tech: Healthcare Access in Remote Maine Why digital care and EMS are urgent lifelines in the U.S.’s oldest and second-most rural state. 24:00–27:30 — Jumping into Politics: What Drove Owen to Run for Governor Owen reflects on his decision to run, family conversations, and chasing calm in the hurricane. 27:30–37:30 — Platform Breakdown: Housing, Energy, Healthcare & Modular Dreams A detailed look at his policies: robotic homes, energy equity, and cancer care via telehealth. 37:30–43:00 — Legacy, Leadership & Advice to Future Founders From Uncle Thump to reimbursement-first strategy, Owen gets real about impact and longevity.