The William Blair Thinking Podcast

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses how the Iran conflict, AI-driven investment themes from William Blair’s 46th Growth Stock Conference, persistent inflation pressures, and Kevin Warsh’s early approach as Fed chair are shaping the macro outlook for the second half of 2026.

William Blair industrials analyst Ross Sparenblek discusses how humanoid robotics could mark a structural shift in productivity by extending AI’s capabilities from digital tasks into real-world physical labor. He outlines the key forces accelerating adoption, from demographic pressures to supply chain dynamics, while highlighting both the long-term opportunity and the technical and scaling challenges still ahead.

As geopolitical tensions persist and inflation concerns resurface, equity markets remain resilient while bond markets signal a more cautious outlook. Richard de Chazal unpacks what’s driving this divergence, the durability of the U.S. consumer, and why quality may be coming back into focus.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair's group head of healthcare technology and services research , discusses how policy reform, reimbursement changes, technology innovation, and consumer preferences are accelerating a shift in care delivery toward outpatient, virtual, and home based settings. He outlines why this trend is reaching an inflection point in 2026 and what it could mean for providers, payers, employers, and healthcare investors.

AI is transforming drug discovery, but not by replacing the lab. In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Matt Larew, partner and equity research analyst covering life science tools and diagnostics, explains where AI is accelerating early discovery, why wet lab validation still matters, and what real progress looks like as adoption moves from hype to practice.

War-driven energy shocks, sticky inflation, and an unusually split Fed are back at the center of the macro conversation. In this month’s Monthly Macro, William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal assesses what those dynamics, and the growing influence of AI, mean for bonds, equities, and portfolio risk.

In this episode of Biotech Breakthroughs, Matt Phipps, group head of biotech research, speaks with William Blair biotech analyst Myles Minter about how gene editing is moving from early hype toward clinically validated therapies. They discuss lessons from the first approved ex vivo product and highlight key 2026 catalysts across CRISPR, base editing, RNA editing, and DNA writing.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal unpacks the market implications of the U.S.–Iran conflict, discussing how the war is reshaping inflation and growth risks and challenging central banks’ playbooks, and why markets may be underpricing the possibility of a more prolonged disruption. Richard also touches on emerging stress in private credit beneath the surface.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and co-head of technology, media, and communications research, Jason Ader, unpack the sharp selloff in software stocks and the growing fear around AI-driven disruption. They explore why the “software apocalypse” narrative may be overblown, how AI could ultimately expand the software market, and what investors should watch as winners and losers begin to separate.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down rising geopolitical tensions, sticky inflation risks, Fed policy uncertainty, and the durability of U.S. growth amid fiscal stimulus and the evolving AI-driven productivity cycle.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses why 2026 looks brighter for the economy, exploring the impact of AI-driven investment, evolving policy risks, and the surprising strength of the American consumer. *This episode was recorded December 16th, 2025

Tony Frascotti, William Blair's Head of Private Shares Trading, discusses the evolving landscape of private shares trading, highlighting market shifts, the expanding influence of AI and crypto sectors, and the changing dynamics of IPOs and liquidity for late-stage private companies. *This episode was recorded December 8th, 2025

William Blair financial technology analyst Andrew Jeffrey discusses how stablecoins, regulatory clarity, and new payment rails are transforming global B2B transactions. *This episode was recorded November 17, 2025

William Blair’s group head of healthcare technology and services analyst, Ryan Daniels, explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing healthcare revenue cycle management by automating financial workflows, reducing costs, and reshaping the industry’s future for providers and vendors.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and group head of energy and power technologies Jed Dorsheimer explore the seismic changes reshaping the U.S. energy landscape as rising electricity costs and surging demand—especially from AI—put unprecedented pressure on the grid. The discussion also unpacks a five pillar plan for energy abundance, the balance between renewables and firm baseload power, and the economic and geopolitical forces driving a new era in energy markets.

William Blair energy and environmental services analyst Tim Mulrooney and macro analyst Richard de Chazal explore how reshoring, AI infrastructure, and labor and energy challenges are driving transformation across the U.S. economy.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and energy analyst Neal Dingmann discuss how rapid technological advances, shrinking inventories, and relentless demand—especially for natural gas—are reshaping the energy sector, driving new strategies and investment opportunities for the years ahead.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and specialty retail analyst Dylan Carden unpack why retail stocks are under pressure despite solid earnings, exploring the impact of tariffs, supply chain shifts, and what it means for the holiday season. This episode was recorded on August 22, 2025.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair’s group head of healthcare technology and services, returns to discuss the accelerating transformation of specialty care in the face of rising acuity, delayed diagnoses, and regulatory shifts. From bundled payments to AI-driven coordination, this episode explores how providers and investors are reshaping oncology, cardiology, and other high-impact disease states.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal dissects July’s economic surprises—from noisy GDP data and sticky inflation to the disruptive rise of stablecoins and a renewed case for small- and mid-cap stocks. This episode was recorded on August 1, 2025.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Fed’s softer tone, how companies are adapting to tariffs and labor shifts, and why housing and hiring trends are setting the stage for a dynamic second half of 2025.

Sharon Zackfia, head of consumer research at William Blair, shares insights from over a decade of Glassdoor data to reveal how culture, leadership, and operational models—not just pay—shape employee satisfaction and long-term brand success in the restaurant sector.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair's group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, explores how America’s rapidly growing senior population is reshaping healthcare, technology, and everyday services through the powerful trend of aging in place.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal unpacks the latest on global tariffs, inflation pressures, recession risks, and why smidcap stocks might be poised for a comeback in a shifting economic landscape. *This episode was recorded on May 28, 2025

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal breaks down a wild month of macroeconomic news, focusing on the impact of President Trump's tariff policies on the global economy, equity and bond markets, consumer confidence and corporate inventory strategies. Richard also shares his firsthand experience of Spain's recent power outage and its unexpected lessons. *Recorded April 30, 2025

Global services analyst Trevor Romeo discusses the impact of recent economic uncertainties on the staffing industry, highlighting key trends and challenges faced by companies and exploring the evolving landscape of job openings and the future of staffing.

William Blair biotech analysts Matt Phipps and Andy Hsieh discuss Andy's innovative scoring system for evaluating investigational agents in obesity treatment. This system, highlighted in Andy's report “Shaping the Future: Innovations and Trends in Obesity Treatment,” considers both weight loss and gastrointestinal side effects to provide a more comprehensive clinical assessment. Tune in to hear their insights on the future of obesity therapies, upcoming industry catalysts, and more.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the juxtaposition between weak consumer sentiment and solid economic data, exploring whether a recession is imminent and the implications of shifting inflation regimes, fiscal policy dominance, and ongoing tariff uncertainty.

Delve into William Blair’s latest generative AI report, “Navigating the Boom: Confronting GenAI’s Most Pressing Questions.” Featuring insights from technology analysts Jason Ader, Arjun Bhatia, and Sebastien Naji, this episode explores the current state of AI, industry trends, and the future of AI development.

Tony Frascotti, head of private shares trading at William Blair, discusses the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities in the private shares market, delving into the impact of macroeconomic factors, the influence of AI on investment strategies, and the resurgence of the crypto market. Tony also provides insights into the current state of late-stage investments, the role of data in driving market decisions, and the evolving landscape of private shares trading.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal reflects on February’s economic narratives, including the impact of noisy data, government spending cuts, climate change, mass deportations, recent inflation data, and the evolving nature of inflation on future monetary policy decisions. *Recorded February 25, 2025

William Blair global services analyst Andrew Nicholas, CPA, discusses findings from his team’s extensive inaugural survey of accounting services executives, covering industry dynamics such as organic revenue growth, technology use, and M&A trends.

In the first Monthly Macro episode of 2025, William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal recounts the numerous events that have shaped the economic landscape since the start of the year, exploring the implications of recent executive policies, the Fed's decision to hold rates steady, the unusual behavior of Treasury yields, and what these developments mean for the economy as we move further into 2025.

William Blair equity research analyst Maggie Nolan dives into the latest trends in IT services, exploring the impact of generative AI, data infrastructure, and political influences on the industry.

Ryan Daniels, William Blair group head of the healthcare technology and services research sector, discusses the latest trends in the digital healthcare marketplace, focusing on consumer-facing solutions, the rise and fall of digital health companies, and the evolving investment landscape.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal looks back at the economic highlights of 2024 and shares his insights and predictions for the U.S. economy in 2025, emphasizing resilience, consumer strength, and potential risks ahead.

Consumer analysts Dylan Carden and Phillip Blee discuss their team’s latest Consumer Pulse report, including holiday shopping trends, anticipated consumer spend, the popularity of gift cards, and the resilience of value and convenience retailers. *This episode was recorded on December 6, 2024

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal and consumer analyst Dylan Carden delve into the implications of the recent U.S. election results on tariffs, the specialty retail sector, and broader economic trends. *Recorded November 21, 2024

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the latest economic trends, including third-quarter earnings, rising Treasury yields, and the impact of recent Fed rate cuts. He also delves into consumer sentiment and the paradox of strong retail sales amid a “vibecession.”

Jason Ader, co-group head of William Blair's technology, media, and communications research sector, interviews Sebastien Naji, an equity research associate specializing in semiconductors and infrastructure systems, on their team’s latest report, “From Chips to Systems: How AI Is Revolutionizing Compute and Infrastructure,” which explores the shift from serial to parallel computing, the rise of AI accelerators, and the evolving landscape of semiconductor companies.

Global services sector analyst Trevor Romeo dives into his team’s latest white paper on the North American waste and recycling industry, exploring key structural trends and the growing imbalance between waste generation and landfill capacity.

William Blair technology analyst Dylan Becker joins Adam Klauber, group head of the financial services and technology research sector, to discuss highlights from the seventh annual William Blair Insurance, Banking, and Wealth Technology Conference. They delve into key trends in the insurance technology space, including labor constraints, legacy modernization, and the integration of AI infrastructure.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal discusses the Federal Reserve’s 50-basis-point rate cut and its implications for future monetary policy. He also explores the factors behind this decision, the muted impact of the recent tightening cycle, and what it all means for the economy moving forward.

William Blair consumer sector analyst Phillip Blee joins William Blair Thinking Presents to explore the volatile demand for furniture and home improvement projects over the past four years and provide insights into the industry’s 2024 outlook, including key themes such as the housing market, deflation, rising ocean freight costs and long-term growth potential.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the behavioral healthcare industry has experienced an unprecedented surge in the need for innovation, increased access to care, and demand for services. In this episode of the William Blair Thinking Presents podcast, Ryan Daniels, CFA, partner, and group head of William Blair’s healthcare technology and services sector, discusses how long-term investments in cutting-edge healthcare technology solutions can effectively address these growing needs.

William Blair macro analyst Richard de Chazal digs into myriad macroeconomic and market-related events from the past month, including ongoing market volatility, second-quarter earnings season, the intensifying presidential election, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s pivotal Jackson Hole speech.

The casualty side of the insurance industry is being hit by rising levels of claims and losses. In this episode of William Blair Thinking Presents, Adam Klauber, CFA, partner, group head of the financial services and technology sector, provides a framework for understanding the depth of the issue and delves into the underlying nature and causes.

Ryan Daniels, CFA, partner and group head of healthcare technology and services discusses provider burnout across the US health care market, how its creating capacity issues in the industry, and the potential for technology solutions in other workforce investments to help reduce workloads and increase access to care.

Macro analyst Richard de Chazal touches on inflation’s continued downward trajectory, the recent market rotation toward small-cap stocks, and June’s strong retail sales report.

William Blair group head of global services, Tim Mulrooney follows up on his last episode about the PFAS market to detail how the recent Supreme Court ruling known as Loper Bright could have far-reaching implications on all types of regulations, including environmental ones like PFAS.