Richard Helppie's Common Bridge

Turning 65 sounds like a number until it lands in your body, your mirror, and your calendar. We sit down with Mike Bryskier from the Substack “Aging Against My Will” and let the conversation roam where real life actually goes: the petty annoyances that become big, the fear you pretend you do not have, and the relief that comes when you finally laugh at it instead of trying to “embrace the journey.”

We talk about money and aging in a way that is funny but not fluffy, from senior discounts and boomer wealth to how subscription culture quietly drains y...

Independent doctors are being squeezed out of the market, and it’s not because they forgot how to practice medicine. It’s because the business side of healthcare has turned into a maze of Medicare fee schedule pressure, weak commercial payer contracts, delayed payments, denials, clawbacks, and rising costs that hit small practices the hardest.

We’re joined by Preston Alexander of Forward Slash Health for a blunt, practical conversation about what it takes to keep physicians independent. We get into the mechanics: why “managing by bank balance” hides the truth, how revenue cycle management has to connect to...

Politics gets dangerous when power is defended with vibes instead of verifiable facts. We take a hard look at how public figures talk about the courts, the Justice Department, and “deterrence” and what those words can mean for ordinary people who just want fair rules applied evenly.

We start in Michigan with Alyssa Slotkin’s attempt to hold the center while raising alarms about ideological capture, then zoom out to the bigger institutional question: when does legitimate accountability turn into political intimidation? We also weigh comments around the DOJ and high-profile investigations, because trust in law enforcement and th...

A leadership rule from the workplace turns out to be a surprisingly sharp way to think about politics: if you do not receive an award, it does not mean you did not deserve one. We start there, with the uncomfortable gap between contribution and recognition, then zoom out to how modern public life rewards the loudest claim for credit instead of the best result. If you care about clear thinking, civic responsibility, and nonpartisan analysis, this conversation is built to cut through the noise.

History then becomes our stress test. We revisit the summer of 1864, when calls...

Healthcare is one of the only industries where buyers sign thousand-page contracts, can’t see what they’re actually paying for, and then get told the solution is “trust us.” Nathan Kaufman sits down with Mark Cuban for an unscripted, brutally honest look at the incentives driving high costs, denials, and the constant feeling that someone is skimming off the top.

We dig into what Cuban calls “contractual terrorism” in PBM and ASO agreements: long, tricky benefit contracts where employers have to catch everything and the vendor only needs one loophole. We talk about vertically integrated insurance conglomerate...

Politics didn’t get more complicated, it got more tribal, and the incentives behind what you see and share are a big reason why. We kick off season eight of The Common Bridge by looking back at what we set out to do in 2019: build a fiercely nonpartisan space where people can talk policy without being forced to “join a team.” After hundreds of conversations and two presidential cycles, we’re more convinced than ever that the middle ground isn’t weakness, it’s where serious thinking lives.

We dig into how legacy media and social media algorithms m...

Health insurance is supposed to buy peace of mind, but too often it buys a new kind of stress: surprise bills, long waits, and prior authorization hurdles that hit when you’re already sick. We sit down with Nick Stefanizzi, president of Northwell Direct, to unpack a provider-led, direct-to-employer contracting model designed to lower healthcare costs while improving the actual experience of getting care.

Nick explains how Northwell Direct serves self-funded employers and unions by building a high-performance network without becoming an insurance company. We dig into the practical “product stack” behind the scenes: third-party administrators for claims...

If you’ve ever wondered what “access to care” really means, picture a region that holds 30% of Michigan’s land mass and just 3% of its population. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Tanya Darner, Market Chief Executive Officer at UP Health System, to unpack how a single regional hub in Marquette delivers Level II trauma services and specialty care for communities spread across the Upper Peninsula.

We talk about the quiet backbone of rural healthcare in Michigan: critical access hospitals. Tanya explains why keeping those small hospitals open is essential, how collaboration across CEOs and pres...

Healthcare gets argued like a spreadsheet, but most of what matters shows up as a human moment: a parent trying to make sense of a diagnosis, a patient who just wants care close to home, a kid in a hospital room who lights up because it’s bingo time. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we talk with Tina Freese Decker, president and CEO of Corewell Health, and Lamont Yoder, president of Corewell Health East, about what it really takes to improve healthcare access, affordability, and outcomes across Michigan. 

We dig into how technology can lower the cost of...

Seven days. That’s the average wait time Trinity Health Michigan says it takes to get a new patient in with a primary care doctor and it’s a clue to how affordability and access can actually improve at the same time. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, I sit down with Shannon Striebich, president and CEO of Trinity Health Michigan, to talk about what a modern health system has to do differently if we want shorter waits, stronger prevention, and healthier communities across the state.

We start with Trinity’s “coast to coast” Michigan footprint and then get specif...

Healthcare workforce shortages are not a single problem with a single fix, they are a pipeline problem. I’m joined by Russ Kavalhuna, President of Western Michigan University, to talk about what it looks like when a community decides to grow its own talent instead of hoping someone else moves in. From physicians and nurses to lab techs, radiology techs, OT, and PT, we dig into the roles that keep care available in real life, not just on paper. 

We get specific about what Western Michigan University already has in place: a strong base of allied health edu...

Health care is not just a line item for employers, it’s a defining force in whether a region can grow, attract talent, and stay competitive. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Rick Baker of the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce to connect the dots between community investment and the health care systems that keep West Michigan working.

We talk about what the Chamber actually does across 3,100 member businesses, then zoom in on what makes Grand Rapids “sticky” for graduates and early-career workers. Rick shares how quality-of-life investments and higher education partnerships help employers recrui...

A lot of health care headlines sound distant until you realize how quickly a policy tweak can turn into a long drive, a missed refill, or an ER visit that could have been prevented. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Monique Stanton, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy, to talk about why Medicaid is the number one health care issue for so many Michiganders and why people feel genuinely scared about what comes next.

We get specific about what’s changing and what isn’t. Monique explains that Medicaid income elig...

A brand-new building can look like progress, but what happens when the real problem is leadership and accountability behind locked doors? From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Michigan State Senator Michael Webber to talk candidly about state-run psychiatric hospitals, what he says he saw after taking a closer look, and why mental health care oversight can’t stay in the shadows.

We get specific about patient safety and operational failures, including the fallout from a false active shooter drill at the Hawthorne Center, the cascading trauma it created for patients and families, and what th...

Health care gets blamed on villains, but the harder truth is that most people are reacting to the incentives right in front of them. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Matt Elliott, founder of Blue Lake Ideas and former president of Bank of America Michigan, to ask the question that quietly reshapes every other debate: who is the customer in health care?

Matt brings a leadership lens he calls the “Power of And” thinking that refuses to collapse decisions into either-or. If Michigan wants a stronger future, we have to execute today and invest for...

A kid walks into the ER because they thought a THC edible was candy, and the package did the lying. That’s one of the most unsettling through-lines in my conversation with Luanne Thomas Ewald, chief operating officer at CS Mott Children’s Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women’s Hospital at University of Michigan Health, recorded at the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association. 

Luanne breaks down what’s new at Michigan Medicine, including how CS Mott keeps pushing pediatric innovation and measurable outcomes, and why a design choice matters more than a press rel...

Detroit’s next wave of health care may be built as much with partnerships as with concrete. We sit down with Dr. Adnan Munkarah, President for Care Delivery and Chief Clinical Officer at Henry Ford Health, to unpack what it takes to modernize an academic medical center while keeping a century-long commitment to the city that surrounds it.

We talk about replacing aging hospital space with a new tower and why that matters for patient care, safety, and the future of care delivery in Michigan. Dr. Munkarah walks us through the vision for a Midtown Detroit medical ca...

One choice at the DMV can ripple into hundreds of surgeries, thousands of hospital hours, and a second chance at life for people you’ll never meet. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Dorrie Dils from Gift of Life Michigan to unpack what actually happens when someone becomes an organ and tissue donor and why the system works only when families and clinicians can move with clarity and speed.

We talk about Gift of Life Michigan’s role as the state’s organ procurement organization for deceased donation, how they coordinate with Michigan transplant center...

Health care feels personal until you try to navigate it and realize how many parts are designed to be confusing. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with former Michigan U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow for a fast, candid conversation about what’s working, what’s breaking, and what Michigan communities need next.

We start with the pressure points she’s most concerned about right now: mental health access, Medicaid cuts, and affordability. Stabenow explains why community behavioral health clinics with 24-hour access matter, not just for patients in crisis, but for families, hospitals, and communities trying...

Premiums are climbing, deductibles feel heavier every year, and most people still can’t tell you why health care costs what it costs. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we talk with Dominick Pallone, CEO of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, to get a clear look at what health plans actually do in Michigan and how state policy decisions ripple straight into employer coverage and family budgets.

We start with the basics: MAHP represents nine health insurance companies covering nearly four million Michiganders, and their day-to-day work is advocacy with state lawmakers and regulators. From there, we di...

A state budget can feel like spreadsheets and deadlines until you connect it to the moment someone needs insulin, prenatal care, or an ER visit they never planned for. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Michigan State Senator Sarah Anthony, chair of appropriations, to talk through what happens when federal decisions hit a state balance sheet and the bill comes due at home.

We get specific about the pressure points: a projected $1.2 billion gap tied largely to Medicaid and SNAP food assistance, the real-world tradeoffs lawmakers face before they can fund anything new, and...

A 111-year-old Detroit institution is making one of the biggest bets in Michigan health care, and the details are more ambitious than a new building. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we talk with Denise Brooks Williams, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Henry Ford Health System, about the “Future of Health” initiative and what it takes to modernize a flagship campus while keeping community needs at the center.

We get into Destination Grand, a roughly 1.2 million square foot, $2.2 billion hospital project on West Grand Boulevard. Denise explains how all private rooms, a redesigned emergency department with...

Michigan’s biggest challenges aren’t neatly separated into “economy” over here and “health care” over there. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Representative Bill G. Schuette of Michigan’s 95th District to connect the dots between population growth, good jobs, education outcomes, and what families experience when the health system is hard to afford.

We talk about what he’s hearing from constituents who want high-quality care without the constant worry of the bill that follows. That leads us into the real-world impact of regional health systems like MyMichigan Health: not only as a major employer...

Medicaid decisions made in a capitol building can land in a hospital waiting room fast and the ripple effects are bigger than most people realize. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Brian Peters, CEO of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association, to talk about what Michigan hospitals are facing right now and what actually helps patients keep access to care.

We start with the MHA’s “convener” role and why it still matters even as healthcare consolidation creates bigger systems and sharper competition. Brian explains how Michigan maintains something rare: 100% hospital and health system member...

This episode of The Common Bridge is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association

Health care isn’t just a line item anymore, it’s the issue that keeps showing up in every hallway conversation. From the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with senior health care executive Rob Casalou to get a clear-eyed view of what’s pressuring hospitals in Michigan and across the country, and why the usual policy debates are starting to miss the...

Healthcare affordability is having a moment, and not the vague kind. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with Dr. David Miller, Executive Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs at Michigan Medicine and President of the University of Michigan Health System, to talk about what it takes to lower the total cost of care while protecting access to top-tier clinical outcomes for patients across Michigan.

We start with timely news: Michigan Medicine will continue its partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield, easing uncertainty for people who rely on specialty care and were wondering whether they could even...

This episode of The Common Bridge is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association

Healthcare costs keep climbing, but the most frustrating part might be how much of the system’s pain is self-inflicted. I sit down with Bill Manns, President and CEO of Bronson Healthcare Group in Kalamazoo and chair of the Michigan Health and Hospital Association board, to get specific about what’s driving affordability concerns for Michigan hospitals and the people they serve...

This episode of *The Common Bridge* is part of a special 21‑part series of interviews recorded with healthcare leaders from across Michigan during the 2026 Mackinac Policy Conference, in partnership with the Michigan Health and Hospital Association.

In these short conversations, with his guests, Rich explores regulation, cost pressures, workforce challenges, and the future of Healthcare in Michigan and around the Country.

A rule written in 1906 still helps decide what “counts” as learning in Michigan classrooms and we think it’s long past time to rethink it. From the Mackinac Policy Conference, we sit down with former M...

Scotland takes over Boston, travelers flood YouTube with “America is amazing,” and suddenly a question hits hard: if the country is truly collapsing, why do so many visitors leave impressed by the people, the space, and the everyday energy? We use that contrast to dig into one of the biggest forces shaping public life right now: the gap between lived experience and the media narrative. Our goal is simple and stubbornly nonpartisan: get closer to what’s real, and stop letting outrage do our thinking for us. 

From immigration protests to headline spin, we look at how incenti...

The emergency department is where America’s healthcare system tells the truth. It’s the hospital’s front door, it can’t turn people away, and it absorbs every crack in primary care access, insurance coverage, and patient flow. I’m joined by Dr. Imamu “Mu” Tomlinson, CEO of Vituity, to talk about what actually works when the waiting room is full and the incentives are misaligned.

We start with Mu’s path from a Canadian teenager dreaming of rap and basketball to a night-shift ER physician leading a 6,000+ doctor partnership with no private equity. From there, we dig into the...

The fastest way to lose faith in your country is to let a screen tell you who your neighbors are. We take that head-on, because the gap between media narratives and real life keeps growing, and it is warping how we talk about policy, elections, and each other.

Rich Helppie shares what we are building in season seven of The Common Bridge, including the expanded set of “bridges” across healthcare, education, finance, science, and world affairs. He also brings back a fresh read from the Mackinac Policy Conference in Michigan, where he recorded 21 short interviews across party line...

Primary care is where healthcare either works or quietly breaks, and Dr. Harry Albers helps us say the uncomfortable parts out loud. We talk about the emotional reality of managing chronic disease without instant wins, and the operational reality that burns physicians down: EMR documentation, inbox overload, prior authorizations, and the steady creep of uncompensated work after hours. When you stack that on top of low reimbursement and high overhead, it’s no mystery why so many primary care physicians feel trapped in a system that rewards speed over relationships. 

We also dig into the RVU treadmill and...

Hunger isn’t a distant problem, it’s often a quiet one. Host Rich Helppie sits down with Angela Moloney, President and CEO of Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeast Michigan, to unpack what food insecurity looks like today and why solving it takes more than good intentions. We connect the dots between nutrition and health care, learning and school performance, and the basic dignity of having enough to eat. 

Angela explains how a modern food bank actually works: sourcing food at scale, moving it through refrigerated warehouses, and getting it out through pantries, schools, churches, and direc...

America doesn’t feel like it’s debating anymore. It feels like it’s detonating. 

We sit down with Chip Webster, founder of Unity in Service Incorporated, to talk about what he saw after five long RV loops around the United States and why it convinced him the country isn’t just politically split, it’s socially disconnected. From conversations in RV parks to the simple heartbreak of seeing “No Littering” signs surrounded by trash, Chip argues we’ve started acting like we’re renting the country instead of owning it. That mindset shows up everywhere: how we talk, how we vot...

The fastest way to lose a democracy isn’t one dramatic moment, it’s the slow drift from problem-solving into tribal power games. Rich Helppie sits down with writer and Substack creator Chris Armitage to ask why serious policy talk keeps getting drowned out by team identity, and what regular people can do when national politics feels locked in permanent conflict.

We start with the local level, because that’s where the leverage is. School boards, city councils, and state legislatures can either defend human rights and fair outcomes or become a pipeline for ideological capture. Chris explai...

Healthcare keeps getting more expensive, less accessible, and harder to navigate, and the part that drives you crazy is that it also feels familiar. We sit down with Lou Shapiro, former CEO of Hospital for Special Surgery, to talk candidly about what changes and what never changes in the U.S. healthcare system after four decades inside hospitals, consulting, and executive leadership. If you’ve ever wondered whether healthcare is really a commodity, why “cheaper” care can cost more in the long run, or why consolidation keeps happening even when it doesn’t fix the fundamentals, this conversation goes straight...

AI is pushing America into a new infrastructure era, and it’s bigger than potholes and bridges. When Professor Rick Geddes from Cornell joins us, we zoom out and connect the dots between infrastructure policy, infrastructure finance, and “infretech” the technology that makes civil and social infrastructure run smarter, safer, and more efficiently. Along the way, we clear up a confusion that trips up even experienced leaders: the difference between infrastructure funding (who ultimately pays) and infrastructure financing (how projects get built and repaid), plus why operation and maintenance is where reliability is won or lost.

We also g...

Palm Beach County gets portrayed as sunshine and wealth, but that picture leaves out the families choosing between rent and groceries, seniors stretched by HOA hikes, and working parents who cannot keep up with prices. I sit down with Ruth Mageria, executive leader at Cros Ministries, to talk about the real mechanics of hunger and food insecurity and what it takes to keep neighbors fed with healthy food, not just something to fill a stomach.

We dig into how a community food pantry actually works, why a food bank is different, and how USDA emergency food assistance...

Healthcare keeps getting labeled “more complex,” but that line can become a trap. When leaders accept it as truth, they stop simplifying, stop teaching, and stop making clear decisions. I sat down with Quint Studer to talk about what’s actually breaking healthcare operations and hospital finances right now and what we can do that’s practical, not performative.

Quint connects the dots between Medicare Advantage denials, the ballooning cost of fighting those denials, and the painful reality of physician enterprise losses. We talk about why independent private practice has become financially unsustainable for many doctors, why employme...

Price caps make for great politics and terrible bedside reality when they ignore how hospitals actually survive. Nate Kaufman sits down with healthcare analyst and futurist Dr. Jeff Goldsmith for a blunt conversation about why “just cap hospital prices” can sound like reform while quietly setting up the next access crisis, especially for safety net hospitals and rural communities with heavy Medicare and Medicaid payer mix.

We dig into the “Rand fallacy,” the trap of treating hospital price transparency rankings as a proxy for sustainability or value. Jeff explains why a hospital can look like a bargain on paper...