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Artwork for The Heart of Healthcare

The Heart of Healthcare | A Digital Health Podcast

Massively Better Healthcare
Healthcare Innovation
Digital Health
AI In Healthcare
Value-Based Care
Healthcare
Artificial Intelligence
Mental Health
Medicaid
Venture Capital
Medicare Advantage
Women's Health
Glp-1 Medications
Affordable Care Act
Prenuvo
Generative AI
Glp-1
Medicare
HIMS
Abridge
Cardiovascular Disease

🏆 2026 Webby Award-winning podcast.

Join us every Monday for conversations with the biggest names in healthcare. Hosted by health tech veterans Halle Tecco, Michael Esquivel, and Steve Kraus.

Learn more and submit your ideas for the show at the Heart of Healthcare website.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes239Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessHealth & FitnessMedicine

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Artwork for The Heart of Healthcare

Latest Episodes

Healthcare costs are taking an ever-larger bite out of American workers’ compensation. This Labor Day, we’re revisiting a conversation with Health Rosetta CEO Dave Chase about why healthcare has become so expensive and what employers can do about it.... more

It's our monthly Digital Health Download, and September's stories all circle the same tension: technology keeps promising to fix healthcare's problems, but just as often it moves them somewhere else, or creates new ones entirely. This week, Halle unp... more

YouTube

We don't talk enough about how hard it actually is to build a healthcare startup. Behind SmarterDx's story, now one of the biggest health AI exits to date, were 18 months without a single customer, a pivot that seemed to make no product sense, and tw... more

YouTube

It's back-to-school szn, and while some kids are stressing over earlier wake-ups, this year's incoming medical students have a bigger question to answer: how do you train for a career that could still have you practicing medicine in the 2070s, when t... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Michael Gao
Co-founder of SmarterDx, physician
SmarterDx
Episode: From Early Struggles to Billion+ Exit | SmarterDx Founders Michael Gao & Joshua Geleris
Joshua Geleris
Co-founder of SmarterDx, physician
SmarterDx
Episode: From Early Struggles to Billion+ Exit | SmarterDx Founders Michael Gao & Joshua Geleris
Lloyd Minor
Dean of Stanford University School of Medicine
Stanford University School of Medicine
Episode: Training Doctors for the Next 40 Years | Stanford Medical School Dean Dr. Lloyd Minor
Jonathan Slotkin
Neurosurgeon, Chief Medical Officer for Strategy and Growth at Geisinger, co-founder and general partner at Scrub Capital
Geisinger; Scrub Capital
Episode: Why We Demand Perfect Machines Yet Tolerate Human Carnage | Dr. Jonathan Slotkin
Eric Ries
Creator of The Lean Startup Methodology, author of Incorruptible
Author, Incorruptible; Lean Startup Institute
Episode: Shareholder Primacy Is Breaking Healthcare | Eric Ries
Benjamin Liu
CEO of Formation Bio
Formation Bio
Episode: Can AI Build the First New Pharma Giant in Decades? | Formation Bio CEO Ben Liu
Jeff Liu
Co-founder and CEO of Assort Health
Assort Health
Episode: Building A Healthcare Unicorn In Three Years | Assort Health Founders Jeff Liu and Jon Wang
Jon Wang
Co-founder and CEO of Assort Health
Assort Health
Episode: Building A Healthcare Unicorn In Three Years | Assort Health Founders Jeff Liu and Jon Wang
Justin Norden
Founder and CEO of Qualified Health
Qualified Health
Episode: What Healthcare Can Learn From Waymo | Qualified Health Founder and CEO Justin Norden

Hosts

Halle Tecco
Host and notable advocate in digital health and entrepreneurship
Michael Esquivel
Co-host and healthcare tech investor/operator
Steve Kraus
Co-host and health tech advisor

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 316 ratings
  • Best healthcare pod out there

    Must listen for anyone in the health world. Halle is the best!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Photography San Francisco
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Not the usual pitch

    Thank you for bringing the realness. So many podcasts are secretly pitches funded by the guest/vendor, so it’s really refreshing to not only hear your independent take, but to hear you put your guests on the hot seat instead of just taking their word for it.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matt Fox 007
    United States4 months ago
  • Super informative!

    It is such a pleasure to start my week by listening to a new episode that consistently expands my knowledge of the health care ecosystem.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steve U in San Jose
    United States7 months ago
  • Let’s Hear it for the Health Literate Hosts

    There are tons of smart people in health care. Prying knowledge out of them, however, is an art form that is effectively deployed by THOHC hosts. Pivoting easily based on unpredictable responses is to be applauded.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RedSaawwxx
    United States8 months ago
  • This podcast should be required listening!

    This is the best podcast for anyone serious about the future of healthcare. It should be required listening for anyone building a health tech company, investing in one or those trying to understand where healthcare is headed over the next decade.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Steph Cartin
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Engaging, knowledgeable hosts who pull thoughtful guests and actionable takeaways.
Independent, candid conversations with practical insights for founders, investors, and operators.
High-quality guests across digital health, AI, and health tech with a strong emphasis on real-world impact.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

From Early Struggles to Billion+ Exit | SmarterDx Founders Michael Gao & Joshua Geleris
Q: What was the hardest part of the exit process and what did you learn that you'd tell future founders?
Expect rigorous due diligence and tough negotiations; focus on being prepared to demonstrate durable value, protect the company's future trajectory, and negotiate terms that reflect the strategic value you've built.
From Early Struggles to Billion+ Exit | SmarterDx Founders Michael Gao & Joshua Geleris
Q: How did you decide to take the entrepreneurial leap while still practicing medicine?
We realized solving real hospital problems with data-driven tools could impact care at scale, so we committed to building SmarterDx, even while continuing clinical work during the pandemic to validate the need and stay close to customers.
Can Oura Become the Doctor in Your Pocket? | Oura CEO Tom Hale
Q: How does ĹŚURA think about regulatory issues and where do you draw the line between wellness and medical device classification?
ĹŚURA treats some features as wellness devices while pursuing regulatory pathways (like SAMD) for clinically relevant functions; they avoid making medical claims for wellness devices and emphasize HIPAA compliance and clinician trust.
Can Oura Become the Doctor in Your Pocket? | Oura CEO Tom Hale
Q: Is ĹŚURA a fitness company? Is it a wellness company? Is it a health care company? Is it a consumer company?
Tom Hale explains that ĹŚURA is a blend of all these roles, with a core health focus under the registry ĹŚURA Health, balancing consumer engagement with clinical rigor and enterprise relevance.
Building A Healthcare Unicorn In Three Years | Assort Health Founders Jeff Liu and Jon Wang
Q: How do you approach scaling teams and avoiding hiring mistakes in a rapid-growth environment?
Emphasize high agency, high humility, and mission-driven people; design hiring to reinforce culture and ensure people are deeply aligned with solving patient access issues.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Heart of Healthcare

What is The Heart of Healthcare about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on the evolving intersection of health, technology, and entrepreneurship, featuring high-profile founders, investors, clinicians, and researchers who are shaping digital health, AI in medicine, and healthcare delivery. Episodes typically unpack startup journeys, governance and ethics in health tech, regulatory and reimbursement dynamics, and practical lessons for building durable health tech companies. A standout trait is the host team's ability to push for actionable takeaways while grounding conversations in real-world scaling, clinical rigor, and patient impact. Listeners likely gain strategic insights for funding, partnerships, product-market fit, and navigating the complex healthcare ecosystem, making it valuable for ... more

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How many listeners does The Heart of Healthcare get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Heart of Healthcare?

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How many subscribers and views does The Heart of Healthcare have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Heart of Healthcare?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Heart of Healthcare:

1. The a16z Show
2. Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
3. The Twenty Minute VC (20VC): Venture Capital | Startup Funding | The Pitch
4. Training Data
5. Dwarkesh Podcast

How many episodes of The Heart of Healthcare are there?

The Heart of Healthcare launched 5 years ago and published 239 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Heart of Healthcare?

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Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Heart of Healthcare?

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What guests have appeared on The Heart of Healthcare?

Recent guests on The Heart of Healthcare include:

1. Michael Gao
2. Joshua Geleris
3. Lloyd Minor
4. Jonathan Slotkin
5. Eric Ries
6. Benjamin Liu
7. Jeff Liu
8. Jon Wang

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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