The Zemar Podcast

Brokers, Spreadsheets, and Other Things That Haven’t Changed Since 1997

This episode dives into the all-too-familiar boardroom ritual: reviewing the company's health plan with furrowed brows, followed by the annual shrug and “let’s just raise the deductible again.” Butch Zemar calls out this Groundhog Day behavior with a fresh prescription—less déjà vu, more innovation. Drawing inspiration from Big Hero 6 (because who says insurance can’t be animated?), he challenges businesses to think differently.
Brokers still clinging to 1990s playbooks?
CFOs allergic to change?
It's time for a reality check and possibly a cartoon intervention.
Butch Zemar walks us through a case study that would make even the most cynical auditor perk up: a company shaved nearly $300K off their health costs over six years by doing the unthinkable—collaborating with their accountant. Even when claims spiked 52%, their strategy cut it back to 22%. The message is clear: switching carriers isn’t a strategy, and hope isn’t a cost containment tool. Tune in to learn why your accountant might be the real superhero you’ve been ignoring—cape not included.
 
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Skate Your Lane: Beer League Strategies for Boardroom Survival

In this episode, we lace up the skates, tape our sticks (badly), and take a hard-checking look at how beer league hockey can teach business professionals more than a dozen leadership seminars and a thousand "synergy" emails ever could. What starts as a midlife crisis on ice turns into a full-on MBA in grit, leverage, and learning not to chase the puck—or the next shiny business trend.
Between getting yelled at by semi-retired goalies and misplaying every position imaginable, the lessons come fast, slippery, and slightly bruised. Spoiler: brute force rarely wins—unless your KPI is “most time spent in the penalty box.” From boardrooms to breakaways, we explore how playing your position, using the right tools, and not mistaking motion for progress are key to scoring real wins. Whether you're a sales rookie, a startup founder, or just trying to survive the inbox power play, this one’s for you. Work smarter. Skate harder. And for the love of all things strategic—stay out of the crease.
 
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When Your Moral Compass Has Better GPS Than Your Insurance Network

This episode takes a bold stand for a concept often left behind after the annual ethics training: integrity. From a 19th-century shipwreck survivor refusing to sell out his story to Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat, we explore how standing up for what’s right has always been uncomfortable, unpopular—and often unprofitable. Naturally, that brings us to today’s healthcare industry, where "ethical pricing" is apparently a mythical creature and major players keep pharmaceutical rebates as secret as Area 51.
Listeners will enjoy a tour through the tangled world of rebate hoarding, price inflation, and "transparency" that only a legal team could love. It's a reminder that moral courage isn’t just for history books—it’s also for employers who are tired of footing the bill for an industry that can’t spell “value-based care” without an asterisk. Whether you're a broker, a benefits manager, or someone who’s ever stared at a $300 Band-Aid on an EOB, this episode offers real talk, corporate clap back, and a gentle push to start demanding better—preferably before 2028.
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Breaking Up with the Status Quo - It’s Not You, It’s Your 14% Premium Hike

In this episode, we tackle everyone’s favorite workplace fantasy: achieving long-term goals without sacrificing lunch breaks, sanity, or the sacred Slack meme thread. From health insurance horror stories to motivational gym metaphors, it’s a brutally honest look at why your benefits plan (and your personal growth strategy) tend to fall apart around Q2. The solution? Stop treating progress like a New Year’s resolution and start building actual systems—because spoiler: “We’ll circle back on that” is not a strategy.
Also up for discussion are the fine art of pretending double-digit premium increases are just “part of the process” and how Purdue University managed to keep its healthcare costs flatter than your company’s last birthday cake. We dive into why consistent action beats quarterly panic, why brokers need to stop playing it safe, and why your Fitbit steps don't count unless you're also stepping up your benefits strategy. If you’ve ever wanted to fire your comfort zone and promote strategic discipline, this episode is your performance review wake-up call.
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The Premium Is Too Damn High: A Strategic Deep Dive into Annual Sadness

Ah, health insurance: the annual corporate Hunger Games where employers try to look generous, employees pretend to understand their benefits, and everyone ends up Googling “What is coinsurance?” at 2 a.m. This episode dives into the heart of every HR manager's favorite nightmare—managing costs while offering benefits that don’t cause immediate mutiny in the break room. From the post-WWII days of “Hey, free coverage!” to today’s 14% premium hikes and $7,000 deductibles, we've strayed just slightly from the original vision.
But don't worry, there is hope. We cover real-world strategies that don’t involve printing out motivational posters about “wellness.” Think: telemedicine programs that keep people out of the ER (and away from WebMD doom spirals), claims advocacy that actually advocates, and convincing employees that generic meds aren't part of a government conspiracy. Whether you’re running a 500-person company or managing a team of three and a Keurig, this episode will leave you with ideas, and maybe a renewed desire to finally explain urgent care vs. emergency care without using interpretive dance.
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Staying in Your Lane! Unless You’re in a Penalty Kill Situation

This episode hits the sweet spot between locker room grit and boardroom buzzwords. From high school guard rotations to youth hockey chaos, it’s a deep dive into how sports build skills that every executive LinkedIn post pretends they were born with: mindset, grit, team synergy, and an unshakable ability to take a hit and spin it into a Q3 growth opportunity. The lesson? Whether you're breaking into the zone or the market, you’d better keep your feet moving—and your metaphors mixed.
You’ll also get a crash course in the real-world application of “back checking” as both a defensive hockey strategy and a highly scalable business mindset for post-failure regrouping. There’s discussion of Mo (momentum, not middle management), an impromptu TED Talk on the ROI of doing your actual job, and strong opinions on staying in your lane—unless you're a startup founder, in which case, you’re playing every position including mascot. If you’ve ever wondered how a 50-mile run, a guitar mistake, and a missed power play can all turn into leadership advice, this one’s for you.
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Saved $120K and Nobody Cried (Except Maybe the Benefits Broker)

Welcome to the wild intersection of strategic parenting and small-business leadership, where bedtime negotiations require more finesse than a boardroom merger, and every family meal feels like an offsite with zero catering budget. In this episode, we explore what happens when you attempt to scale a family of four high-energy hockey-playing boys while maintaining operational efficiency, emotional bandwidth, and a hockey tournament travel itinerary. Spoiler: no one's hitting their Q1 goals, but everyone’s learning agility is through the roof.
We also unpack a real-life case study of a bloated benefits plan that it needed a full-blown fiscal intervention. After much stakeholder misalignment and a few “we’ll circle back” moments, one employer finally pivoted from “fiscally stubborn” to “strategically agile,” saving $120,000 without completely tanking morale. Whether you're managing headcount or just trying to keep your kids from mutiny during homework hour, this episode delivers insights on adaptability, resilience, and how to deliver value when everything around you is on fire—metaphorically, of course... probably.
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The Process-Driven Approach to Business Success

In this episode, Butch Zemar dives into why process matters more than results when it comes to business growth and sustainability. CFOs and HR leaders often focus on revenue and cost-cutting, but Zemar argues that these are just byproducts of a well-structured strategy. Businesses that rely solely on sales tactics without refining their internal processes ultimately face inefficiencies, stagnation, and increased risk. Drawing comparisons to professional athletes, daily discipline and incremental improvements drive long-term success, rather than chasing short-term wins.
The outdated approach to health insurance renewals, where brokers simply negotiate premiums instead of addressing the core cost drivers. He advocates for leveraging AI and automation to streamline HR functions, from benefits administration to payroll integration, allowing companies to focus on strategy rather than being reactive. With insights on sales growth, cost management, and technology adoption, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways for CFOs and HR professionals looking to build a scalable, process-oriented business model that stands the test of time.
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Eye In The Sky Never Lies: Sports, Scuba, and Business Replays

This episode explores the transformative power of video analysis across various fields, from sports and military operations to business and risk management. The discussion begins with the evolution of video technology in athletics, highlighting how recorded game footage has become an essential tool for skill development and strategic improvement.  The conversation then transitions to the use of cameras aboard aircraft carriers, detailing the unique vantage point of “Vultures’ Roll,” where crew members observe flight operations up close, offering insights into precision and discipline in high-stakes environments.
In scuba diving, underwater footage aids divers in refining techniques and ensuring safety. Drawing parallels to business, the conversation emphasizes how companies can leverage data analysis and continuous review to identify inefficiencies and missed opportunities.
From health insurance renewals to corporate risk management, the ability to capture and assess critical information can lead to significant cost savings and strategic improvements. The discussion reinforces the importance of using technology to gain clarity, enhance decision-making, and drive better outcomes in both professional and operational settings.
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Cutting Costs with Discipline: Smarter Benefits Strategies

This episode explores the crucial role of discipline in both personal and professional success, framing it as a muscle that requires constant exercise. Even highly disciplined individuals, like military personnel, can struggle with maintaining it. The discussion highlights Parkinson’s Law, which states that tasks expand to fill the time allotted, emphasizing the power of setting shorter deadlines to increase efficiency. 
Applying these principles to business, the discussion underscores the importance of disciplined decision-making in benefits programs. Many companies fail to address the root causes of high expenses, simply spending more without a strategic plan. The episode provides a compelling case for disciplined cost management, demonstrating how businesses can achieve substantial savings—potentially millions—by staying focused on the right activities. By eliminating inefficiencies and embracing disciplined actions, organizations can achieve transformative results in both their financial health and overall productivity.
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