Insurance Town
by Heath Shearon
Welcome to Insurance Town! Your host is the Mayor of Insurance Town, Heath Shearon. After many years in different parts of the insurance world, Heath wants to share his experience with you. Join in on conversations with Heath and many of the friends he's made along the way.Insurance Town is a production of Insurance Town LLC! Find more info at http/://www.Insurancetownpodcast.comMusic: "Mornin, Noon, and Nite" by Daddy Long Legs
Episodes
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How to Recognize and Recover from Burnout (Connected Conversations in Insurance Collab)
In this episode of Insurance Town, I release an episode of Connected Conversations, host Carrie of Canopy Connect. She interviews Brooke Liu, of MarshBerry, about the “quiet, creeping” burnout high achievers often hide—what Brooke calls operating in “low power mode.” Drawing from her work with…
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How do I sell more insurance? (Full Length Audio)
This week in insurance town te Mayor Heath Shearon sits down with Christ Warren of Determined Vision for a conversation about how AI, mentorship, and a serious mission mindset are changing the way insurance professionals prospect, serve, and grow. Christ shares his journey from Cameroon to the...
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AI Is Moving Fast. But Who’s Watching the AI?
On this episode of Insurance Town, I sat down with Joseph Varga, founder of Forge Orbital, for a conversation about AI governance, agentic AI, and what businesses especially those of us in highly regulated industries like insurance need to be thinking about as this technology continues to move at...
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Networking Not Working, Live From InsuranceFest 2026
This episode is live from the Santa Monica Peir at Insurance Fest 2026. Sponsors: Canopy Connect -Making it easier for agencies to collect insurance information directly from clients and prospects, helping speed up the quoting process and improve the customer experience. Bind AI- An AI-powered...
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Can I Scale My Insurance Agency Without Losing My Culture?
This week in Insurance Town, Mayor sits down with longtime friend and fellow insurance leader Heath Barnett, co-owner of Legacy, for a conversation about growth, culture, ownership, and building a business people actually want to be part of. Heath Barnett is an insurance agency leader and…
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How do I grow my agency using Virtual Employees?
in this weeks episode, Heath Shearon sits down with Rob Lopez, CEO of V!VA, for a wide-ranging conversation about insurance, outsourcing, virtual assistants, and AI. Rob shares how his path from broadcast journalism and sports radio led him back into the insurance world, and why his focus has...
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Where do I even start when it comes to AI in my agency?
In this weeks episode the Mayor talks with Dave Rose, an agency operator at Bolt and former Liberty Mutual and Travelers leader, about what independent agents can learn from captive carriers, how connected distribution works, and how agencies can start using AI without overhauling everything.…
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How do I close more prospects ?
This week in insurance town Heath Shearon sits down with Martin Mashalov, co-founder of Gridpull, to unpack why buying more leads is not the same as getting more business. They dig into how appetite matching, renewal timing, and trigger-based prospecting can help agencies spend producer time more...
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How Can I Maximize My Conference Experience?
This week Drake Lawhead comes to visit us in Insurance Town to talk all things conference , and maximizing the conference experience. We get into what all goes into building a major industry event and how attendees can actually get value from showing up. They also dig into how ITC evolved from an...
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Should I give my clients my personal cell number ?
In this weeks Episode, I got the chance to talk to my brother, my homie, my main man, Casey Nelson of Agency X and Eclipse Insurance. We talked about a major career shift, returning to the agency side with Eclipse Insurance, and why that move is giving him a new lens on what works and what doesnt...
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Can Voice AI Transform the Insurance Customer Experience?
This week in Insurance Town, I got to sit down with Francisco Lopes of Sonant.AI for a conversation about one of the fastest-growing technologies in the insurance industry: voice AI. Artificial intelligence has become one of the biggest topics in our business, but with all the excitement comes...
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The Future of AI in Insurance with Christina Lucas {LIVE}
There are some interviews you enjoy... and then there are conversations you genuinely don't want to end. This was one of those. Recorded live from the iconic Santa Monica Pier during InsuranceFest 2026, I had the opportunity to sit down with Christina Lucas of Google Cloud, and what a fantastic...
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The Relay of information !
In this weeks episode i interview my new friend Jerry Ye, we explore how AI is transforming the insurance industry through the lens of Jerry Ye, in this engaging episode. Learn about the practical applications of AI in streamlining workflows, enhancing client relationships, and the future agency...
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How to scale a family owned insurance agency.
In this weeks episde here in Insurance Town I got to interview my friend Jackson Rollo. In this episode Jackson, president of Rollo Insurance Group, shares how a second-generation family agency achieved remarkable growth by embracing unorthodox strategies rooted in community focus, technological...
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A 90's Kid's Guide to Personal Branding
In this episode of Insurance Town, we've got a Mayor Solo episode. No guest this week, just me and my fellow citizens of Insurance Town. Today, we're tackling a topic that I think has become way more complicated than it needs to be: personal branding. I'm going to challenge some of the biggest...
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Is your AI Reactive or Proactive?
Most insurance agencies are still using AI like a search engine. They open ChatGPT. They ask a question. They get an answer. That’s useful. But it’s also reactive. The next generation of AI doesn’t wait to be told what to do. It monitors activity, organizes information, surfaces opportunities,...
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From Family Agency to Insurance Business Rising Star | Kelly Smith
In this week’s episode of Insurance Town, I had the privilege of sitting down with my good friend Kelly Smith. Kelly is one of those people who has truly lived the insurance industry from every angle. She grew up in a family agency, spent time at the front desk, worked in personal lines…
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Are You Using the Right Technology to Scale Your Insurance Agency?
In this week's episode of Insurance Town Podcast, I sat down with my good friend Mariah Gates. Mariah has become one of the insurance industry's leading voices on automation, technology adoption, and helping agencies work smarter. What makes her perspective unique is that it is grounded in…
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Your Team Is Wasting Hours Every Week Doing This
In this week's episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, I got to sit down with my good friend Carl Ziade, co-founder of Gaia, for a conversation about innovation, entrepreneurship, AI, and what it really takes to drive meaningful change inside an insurance agency. One of the things I appreciate…
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What Separates This Growing Agency from Everyone Else?
In today’s episode of Insurance Town, Heath sits down with Paul Riemer, CEO of Riemer Insurance Group and Panther Insurance. Paul shares how his agency has grown through a commitment to relationships, community involvement, strategic niche markets, and a willingness to embrace innovation while...
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How Is AI Transforming Insurance with Data Accuracy and Efficiency
In this episode of Insurance Town, I get to interview my good friend Casey Armstrong of Canopy Connect. We dive into the innovative ways Canopy Connect is revolutionizing data collection for insurance agencies. Casey shares insights on how their platform simplifies client interactions, enhances...
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How can I use Content to Build Relationships and Grow my book?
In this week’s episode of Insurance Town, I had the privilege of interviewing my friend Ema Roloff of Roloff Consulting. Ema and I dive deep into what it really means to lead in today’s digital world, especially in an industry built on relationships, trust, and communication. Ema shares her…
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How Does Hyper-Responsiveness Set Top Insurance Agencies Apart?
In this episode, Jay Wolfberg shares his remarkable journey from a small Connecticut town to leading a $32 million agency in Florida, and discusses his insights on scaling, client relationships, and franchise models in the insurance industry. Whether you're an aspiring agent or an industry…
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Am I Listening Enough to Close More Deals?
In this episode, Tyler Brown shares a grounded and practical look at what actually drives success in insurance sales. Drawing from his upbringing and career journey, Tyler explains why authentic listening is still the most underrated skill in the business. He breaks down how emotional connection...
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How can you capitalize on this shift to personalized Health Insurance?
In this episode of Insurance Town, Kevin Deutsch joins the show to unpack what’s really happening in the health insurance space right now. From the growing role of AI to the emergence of ICHRA as a disruptive model, Kevin brings a practical perspective on where the industry is headed and what it...
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Lazy River Files Part 3
In this weeks episode we release more from the Lazy River, Casey Nelson's idea that has been such an amazing addition to the show. I appreciate all of the feedback I have gotten from these, so I will leak a few more out over time! This clip is a continuation of the part 2, where we get into…
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How do I know if I am burned out or just stressed out?
This Week In Insurance Town, we uncover practical insights and inspiring stories with Chelsea Bell Carpenter as she shares her journey through the insurance industry, mental health strategies, and the importance of intentional living to combat burnout. This conversation empowers listeners to...
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What Are the Secrets to Long-Term Success in Insurance?
In this episode, Jason Peacock shares invaluable insights from his nearly three-decade career in insurance, emphasizing the importance of relationships, niching, and strategic follow-up. Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned pro, you'll find practical tips on building lasting client and...
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Choose Africa - Re-Visit
In this weeks episode of Insurance Town, The Mayor Heath Shearon, sits down with Valerie Bowden, founder of Crdle, to discuss the evolving landscape of outsourcing and the unique opportunities Africa presents. Valerie shares her journey from backpacking across Africa to establishing a successful...
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Are You Truly Connecting with Your Clients or Just Talking at Them?
You know that room in grandmas house that was that room that you didn’t sit in the furniture, you didnt touch anything? It was just pretty and you gotten threatened every time you went into that room? In this weeks episode, Monica Adwani, CPIA and I talk about that, and tie it into something that...
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Are You Ready to Enhance Your Agency's Cybersecurity and Tech Efficiency?
In this episode, Lamar Garrett from Redbird Security delves into the critical importance of agency-specific cybersecurity tailored for insurance businesses. He discusses how proactive hardware and software maintenance can significantly reduce downtime, while the integration of AI streamlines...
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More from the Lazy River Files
It's another episiode of Insurance town from the Lazy river!! With Ben Morrow, Brenden Corr, Marques Ogden, Jessica, Casey Nelson, Caleb Cramer, etc. Its Fun Sponsors Canopy Connect MAV Goli= Go.Goli.com/Mayor
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How to stop being overlooked! (warning this one is High Octane)
In this episode of Insurance Town, the Mayor sits down with his good friend, Emily Merola. Emily Merola is an executive presence expert, speaker, and founder of The Blazer Society who helps leaders go from overlooked to unmistakable. Through her work in Image + Impact and identity-first…
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From SEO to GEO: Navigating the Marketing and Search optimization game!
The Future of AI in Marketing & Insurance: Insights with Cameron Laboudi In this week's episode, the Mayor Heath Shearon sits down with Cameron LiButti of BidView Marketing. These two dive into the transformative power of artificial intelligence in reshaping marketing strategies and customer...
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The “hold my beer” of insurance !
This week in Insurance town the Mayor sits down with Sarah Koolhof, a dynamic insurance professional whose journey spans theater, rugby, and underwriting. Discover how embracing discomfort and versatility has shaped her career and passion for relationship-driven insurance work. She has been with...
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The Lazy River Files!
In this episode, we are doing something a little different. Casey Nelson and I hosted an open call live one day and we called it the lazy river. WE wanted to invite people to "float in and hang out ad float out. Ive provided a few clips here for you guys to check out. WE will release the whole 2...
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AI in your business!!
In this weeks episode, release my virtual course in Bob Dietrich and Pamela Dunn's virtual program called "Unlease AI in your Business" that released this week. Hope you enjoy it. Let me know what you think... Sponsored by: Smart Choice Canopy Connect MAV
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What should you be paying attention to in 2026?
In this week episode, Heath Shearon and Casey Nelson discuss the importance of standardizing processes in agencies, the impact of AI on business, and the potential societal reset from reducing screen time. They explore the challenges of implementing consistent procedures, the role of AI in modern...
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Insurance Agency ownership looks a little different these days
This week in Insurance Town I get to catch up with my old friend, and former colleague, Therese Potter of Envela. We have a fun conversation we get to catch up on what she has been up to all the hats she currently wears, from teaching Tai Chi to selling Insurance and everything in between, and…
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Fair creates new opportunities and revenue streams for your agency!
In this episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, I sit down with Clint Houke for a wide ranging, high trust conversation to kick off the new year the right way. This is one of those talks that feels like two industry vets standing at the whiteboard, talking honestly about what is working, what is...
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Out Of Service Keynote from IIANC
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! Thank you so much for yet another amazing year in Insurance Town!! This weeks episode is a little different, No Guest. This week i am releasing one of my keynote presentations from a conference I spoke at this year, IIANC, thank you to my friend AUBE KNIGHT and his amazing staff…
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Let's talk about influence!!
In this episode of Insurance Town, the Mayor sits down with Brian Ahearn to unpack the difference between social media influence and true leadership influence, while also sharing a meaningful conversation around faith, family, and the responsibility that comes with leading well. Brian reflects on...
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Is Self-Insuring the Future for Business Owners?
In this episode of Insurance Town, host Heath Shearon welcomes Van Carlson to discuss the evolution of risk management and the importance of self-insuring for businesses. They explore the 831B tax code, its history, and its application in modern business risk management. Van shares insights from...
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Can you lock in rates for your customers with the carriers you have in your agency?
In this weeks episode I sit down with Dylan Dimarchi of Eventual to talk about A product that is super cool
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Why blindly trusting technology can lead to significant risks...
In this engaging conversation, Heath Shearon and Alex Rodov explore the vibrant culture of Toronto, the evolution of technology and quality assurance, and the critical role of testing in the insurance industry. Alex shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the tech space,...
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How did this agency use social media to fuel their growth in middle of nowhere Oklahoma?
in this weeks episode I sat down with my good friend Poppy Danker and have a blast talking about this small down agency and how she has just exploded in growth using social media. Yes you heard that right. Its wild to see!! Ive been watching this agency since the beginning from 500 followers to…
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No such thing as a bad lead... here's why...
This week in Insurance Town I sat down with my friend Evan Smith of Mav. We had an incredible conversation about growing your sales with leads and building an inside sales team . We discussed the importance of recognizing that you have to have a vision and a plan before working with leads and not...
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AI in Insurance: Beyond the Buzzword
In this episode of the Insurance Town Podcast, Heath Shearon hosts Christopher Frankland to discuss the intersection of technology and insurance, focusing on AI's impact on the industry. They explore the concept of the 'bionic agent,' the role of AI in transforming insurance processes, and the...
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Who would you invite to your block party?
This is an episode recorded at the PIA VADC conference in Virginia Beach with my man Byron Roberts. It is a fast, on-the-ground conversation about how Openly built for independent agents, why speed still matters, and how data is shifting from rearview mirror to windshield. Quick recap Openly’s...
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Grit, Growth and Gumption , Revisted
In this weeks episode, the mayor sits down with his good friend Tinsley English to discuss her latest book titled Grit, Growth & Gumption. But this episode is way beyond that we discuss being a leader in this service industry. We discuss the challenges, the customer service, reps face, the...
About this show
Welcome to Insurance Town! Your host is the Mayor of Insurance Town, Heath Shearon. After many years in different parts of the insurance world, Heath wants to share his experience with you. Join in on conversations with Heath and many of the friends he's made along the way.Insurance Town is a production of Insurance Town LLC! Find more info at http/://www.Insurancetownpodcast.comMusic: "Mornin, Noon, and Nite" by Daddy Long Legs
Hosted by
Heath Shearon