Episodes

  • Your Employer Can Cover Your GLP-1 Without Insurance

    Your Employer Can Cover Your GLP-1 Without Insurance
    Apr 8 2026

    EPISODE SUMMARY

    Have you lost GLP-1 coverage through your employer? Or maybe you never had it to begin with? In this episode, Amanda sits down with Jay Bregman, founder and CEO of Andel, to break down a real solution that exists right now. Andel is one of more than 18 vetted partners inside Eli Lilly's Employer Connect program, and it is built differently from every other option on that list. No PMPM fees. No administrative overhead. No prior authorization. A membership fee under $10 per fill and a direct-to-employer price already lower than Lilly's own cash pay option. Amanda shares the data on why employers dropped coverage in the first place, what it is actually costing them not to cover it, and what the research says about productivity, morale, and talent retention when employees have access or lose it. Plus exactly how to refer your own employer to the program in five minutes without waiting for HR to figure it out.

    GUEST BIO

    Jay Bregman is the founder and CEO of Andel, a healthcare technology platform enabling high-cost medications including GLP-1s to be accessible through employer benefits. A serial entrepreneur with 20-plus years of experience, he previously co-founded Hailo, the first pan-European ride-hailing company later acquired as Lyft Europe, and founded Thimble, acquired by S&P 500 insurer Arch Insurance.

    Website: andel.org LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaybregman Company: linkedin.com/company/joinandel

    IN THIS EPISODE

    [0:00] Jay's background and how watching Senate drug pricing hearings sparked the idea

    [3:30] What the word "andel" means and why the cooperative model is the foundation

    [6:40] The Lilly Zepbound KwikPen direct-to-employer partnership explained

    [13:00] The full confirmed pricing breakdown and what an employee actually pays

    [17:00] Why the platform fee is the same for small and large employers

    [19:00] How the employee experience works from app download to next-day delivery

    [24:00] Employer ROI, productivity gains, and the business case

    [29:00] The research on employees who lost GLP-1 coverage and what it showed

    [33:00] Why Andel is expanding beyond GLP-1s to all high-cost employer drugs

    [51:00] Nonprofit partnerships and the 5% profit fund for underserved patients

    RESOURCES MENTIONED

    Refer your employer now: andel.org/referral

    Andel main site: andel.org

    Andel on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/joinandel

    Jay Bregman on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jaybregman

    Lilly Employer Connect launch announcement: fiercehealthcare.com/payers/eli-lilly-launches-its-direct-employer-platform-obesity-drugs

    Lilly Direct cash pay pricing: lillydirect.com

    Aon GLP-1 multi-year study: aon.com/en/insights/articles/workforce-focused-analysis-on-glp-1s

    Kristi Turner episode — Lost GLP-1 Coverage Through Employer: glp1studio.substack.com/p/lost-glp1-coverage-through-employer

    Jennifer Sansabrino episode — GLP-1 Coverage for Teens: glp1studio.substack.com/p/glp1-coverage-for-teens-one-moms-fight

    GLP-1 Access and Contact Congress: glp1studio.substack.com/p/contact-congress-for-glp1-access

    Obesity Action Coalition: obesityaction.org

    STRONG Framework white paper: glp1strong.com

    RELATED EPISODES

    Lost GLP-1 Coverage Through Your Employer — Kristi Turner glp1studio.substack.com/p/lost-glp1-coverage-through-employer

    GLP-1 Coverage for Teens — Jennifer Sansabrino glp1studio.substack.com/p/glp1-coverage-for-teens-one-moms-fight



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    54 mins
  • Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Medication: Treating Obesity as a Disease

    Bariatric Surgery vs GLP-1 Medication: Treating Obesity as a Disease
    Mar 22 2026
    Episode Title: Bariatric Surgery and GLP-1s Are the Same Treatment — with Stephanie Wagner, MS RDN | The Bariatric Food CoachEpisode Description:If you've ever felt like you failed after bariatric surgery — or after stopping a GLP-1 — this episode is for you. Registered dietitian and Bariatric Food Coach Stephanie Wagner, MS RDN joins Amanda Bonello to break down exactly how bariatric surgery works, why it boosts your body's own GLP-1 production, and what actually happens when weight comes back. Spoiler: it's not a character flaw. It's biology.They cover every type of bariatric surgery (sleeve, bypass, lap band, duodenal switch, SADI-S), the hormonal science behind each one, and why adding a GLP-1 medication after surgery isn't starting over — it's continuing your treatment. Plus the insurance code that might be unlocking free dietitian visits you didn't know you had.In This Episode:Why bariatric nutrition and GLP-1 nutrition are almost identical — same disease, different toolsA plain-English breakdown of gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, lap band, duodenal switch, and SADI-SHow bariatric surgery hijacks your hormones (in the best way) — and why that effect fades over timeWeight regain after bariatric surgery: the biology behind it and why you never failed your treatmentMotivational interviewing and why the counseling side of obesity care matters as much as the clinical sideThe insurance code 97802 — call your insurer and ask if you have Medical Nutrition Therapy benefits. Many private plans cover unlimited dietitian visits at zero out-of-pocket costHydration tips that actually stick, straight from Atomic HabitsQuote of the Episode:"If we truly viewed obesity as a chronic disease… then bariatric surgery and GLP-1 medications are treatments, not tests you pass or fail." — Stephanie Wagner, MS RDNAbout Steph WagnerStephanie Wagner, MS RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist specializing in bariatric surgery patients since 2009 and the founder of Bariatric Food Coach. She is the author of Best Fork Forward: Everyday Dinners After Weight Loss Surgery — 60 high-protein recipes, 30 minutes or less, with a photo for every single one.🌐 bariatricfoodcoach.com📸 Instagram: @bariatricfoodcoach📘 Facebook | 🎥 YouTube | 📌 Pinterest: Bariatric Food Coach📖 Best Fork Forward on Amazon [💰 AFFILIATE LINK]Premier Access Membership from $19/month — HSA/FSA eligible. Nearly 700 recipes, GLP-1 video course, AI meal planner, and an active community running since 2015.Resources MentionedBest Fork Forward by Steph Wagner — Amazon [💰 AFFILIATE]Atomic Habits by James Clear — habit science behind the hydration tips [💰 AFFILIATE]Insurance code 97802 — Medical Nutrition Therapy. Call your insurer and ask.doTERRA food-grade essential oils — one drop in your water bottle, lasts forever, costs almost nothing[BACKLINK: Dr. Lindsay Ogle episode — she introduced Amanda to Steph]Timestamps00:00 — What is a Bariatric Food Coach?02:25 — Dietitian vs. nutritionist vs. health coach: what actually matters07:27 — Steph's own weight loss journey and the stigma inside the profession10:07 — Why nutrition counseling fails people — and what motivational interviewing fixes16:28 — Amanda's family member: GLP-1, then surgery, no support throughout22:22 — Every type of bariatric surgery explained in plain English29:28 — The shame of weight regain and why you never failed your treatment30:05 — How bariatric surgery boosts natural GLP-1 — and what happens when that fades33:48 — "You never fail chemotherapy." The analogy that changes everything39:11 — Insurance code 97802 and free dietitian access44:54 — Best Fork Forward, the AI meal planner, and the online community51:05 — Hydration tips that actually workSubscribe to GLP-1 Studio on Substack for the full written companion piece to this episode — with the science sourced and linked. glp1studio.substack.comWhen you advocate for yourself, you advocate for all of us.Disclosure: GLP-1 Studio is a for-profit media company founded by Amanda Bonello. The GLP-1 Collective is a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit, also founded by Amanda Bonello. These are two distinct legal entities. GLP-1 Studio does not receive funding from the GLP-1 Collective, and the Collective does not direct or fund the editorial content produced by GLP-1 Studio. This content was not sponsored or commissioned by any pharmaceutical company, telehealth provider, or clinical organization. Steph Wagner did not pay for her appearance. This content contains affiliate links. If you purchase through those links, GLP-1 Studio may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Get full access to GLP-1 Studio at glp1studio.substack.com/subscribe
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    58 mins
  • Safe Drugs Act & State Bills Threaten Compounded GLP-1 Access

    Safe Drugs Act & State Bills Threaten Compounded GLP-1 Access
    Feb 12 2026

    Here’s a clean, professional Show Notes section you can use:

    Show Notes

    In this episode, I’m joined by Sabina Hemmi, founder of GLP Winner, to break down the growing wave of federal and state legislation targeting compounded GLP-1 medications.

    We discuss:

    Why transparent GLP-1 pricing matters

    How GLP Winner helps patients compare clinics without deceptive funnels

    The federal Safe Drugs Act and emerging state bills

    How some legislation could impact all compounding, not just GLP-1s

    What this means for hospice care, pediatrics, veterinary medicine, and more

    Why patient advocacy at the state level matters right now

    The real-life side effects and lived experience behind the policy debate

    If you live in a state where legislation is moving, contact your representative and share your story. Patient voices are making a difference.

    Connect with Sabina

    TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawliepopInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawliepops/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawliepopX/Twitter: https://x.com/lawliepopSubstack: https://substack.com/@lawliepopLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabina-hemmi/

    Resources

    Visit GLP-1 Studio for the latest bill updates and advocacy tools.



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    1 hr and 1 min
  • The Shotsy App: A GLP-1 Tool For Self-Advocacy

    The Shotsy App: A GLP-1 Tool For Self-Advocacy
    Jan 10 2026

    In this episode of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast, host Amanda Bonello sits down with Aja Beckett, founder of Shotsy, to talk about GLP-1 self-advocacy, personalized dosing, and the moment everything changes when food noise finally goes quiet.

    Aja shares her personal GLP-1 journey, including navigating insurance barriers, prior authorizations, and paying hundreds of dollars a month just to access care. Together, Amanda and Aja unpack why obesity is a chronic disease, not a willpower problem, and why “eat less, move more” has failed so many people.

    They also explore how tracking symptoms, side effects, and dosing patterns can empower patients to have better conversations with their doctors, especially when standard titration schedules don’t fit real bodies or real lives.

    This conversation is about more than an app. It’s about dignity, access, and finally understanding that it’s not your fault.

    Follow Aja:

    - 🌐 Website- 📱 Instagram- 💻LinkedIn (Aja)- 💻LinkedIn (Shotsy)- 📱 TikTok

    In This Episode, We Cover:

    - Aja’s experience living with obesity, Hashimoto’s, and chronic inflammation- The reality of GLP-1 access, insurance denials, and high out-of-pocket costs- What “food noise” really is and what it feels like when it turns off- Why one-size-fits-all dosing doesn’t work for most patients- How tracking data can support self-advocacy with doctors and insurers- Navigating maintenance when there is little to no clinical guidance- Letting go of shame and reclaiming your right to care

    Disclaimer: This episode is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider regarding your health and treatment decisions.Learn more and listen here:

    - 🎙️ GLP-1 Studio Podcast- 🎧 Spotify- 📱 Apple- 📖 SubStack- 💻 YouTube



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    45 mins
  • What BioCare & Robard Are Getting Right About GLP-1 Nutrition and Support

    What BioCare & Robard Are Getting Right About GLP-1 Nutrition and Support
    Dec 23 2025

    In this episode of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast, host Amanda Bonello speaks with Caroline Colavita of BioCare Nutrition and Mario Testa of Robard Corporation about nutrition support for GLP-1 patients and the realities of modern weight loss care.

    This conversation covers protein intake on GLP-1 medications, muscle preservation, body composition data, and how companies like BioCare and Robard are adapting clinical nutrition support for today’s GLP-1 and obesity-care landscape.

    Topics discussed:

    - Nutrition support for GLP-1 patients- Protein intake and muscle preservation during weight loss- Body composition scans and data-driven reassurance- Lead concerns in protein supplements and third-party testing- BioCare Nutrition’s patient-centered approach- Robard’s long history in clinical nutrition programs- Community and trust in GLP-1 care

    The GLP-1 Studio Podcast focuses on patient education, lived experience, and vetted resources for people navigating GLP-1 medications and obesity care.

    Disclosure:This interview and episode were not sponsored. Amanda Bonello is a BioCare affiliate and may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to listeners. BioCare separately compensated Amanda for a specific in-store video, which did not influence this episode or discussion.



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    56 mins
  • "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?

    "Ozempic Saved My Life" But What Happens When Coverage Stops?
    Nov 21 2025
    People reach out to me all the time, in emails, and DMs, with their tiny digital smoke signals, all carrying the same quiet, desperate heartbeat:Please… tell me how to stay on the medication that finally gave me my life back.Some come in hopeful. Some sound like the last exhale before slipping underwater. Every single one reminds me this isn’t a side project, it’s the line between staying afloat and being pulled under.But when Cherie Shanholtz showed up in my inbox, her message hit different.The subject line read: “Desperate help needed for life-saving medication.”Cherie’s Story: A Life RebuiltCherie once weighed nearly 380 pounds.Severe obesity.Insulin resistance.Metabolic syndrome.All the things society labels as “choices,” when in reality her biology had been stacking the odds against her for decades.When she finally got on Ozempic, her world bloomed like a flower and she flew out of it reborn, a little fairy with pixie dust still on her wings.“Ozempic Saved My Life.”Cherie lost over 235 pounds.Her blood pressure came down. Her cholesterol improved. And her breathing finally stopped acting like a full-time job.She could move without hurting, and actually live in her body instead of going twelve rounds with it every day.But this is the part we don’t focus on enough. GLP-1s don’t just give you great selfies, they give you selfhood. She told me, “I always dreamed of wearing beautiful, feminine clothes,” and for the first time in her adult life, she could actually put them on and feel like the woman she’d imagined as a little girl.Joy in feeling beautiful is not vanity. It’s deeply human, and she deserved every bit of it.…for the first time, I can wear clothes that make me feel beautiful and truly like a woman again.”“I finally can look in the mirror without flinching.”Some people have concerns about GLP-1s causing depression or suicidal thoughts… no honey. The reality for most of us is the opposite.What’s actually depressing is living with chronic inflammation, constant pain, exhaustion, shame, judgment, and being blamed for things you were never in control of to begin with.When your body stops fighting you, your mind finally gets to breathe. The weight isn’t just physical, it’s emotional. And losing it gives you back pieces of yourself you thought were gone forever.Cherie could finally see herself again.And just when she started to trust that this otherworldly experience was real, her insurance ripped the carpet out from under her.A Lifeline Pulled AwayFor six months, her insurance covered the medication that made all of this possible. And then out of nowhere it just stopped. No warning. No explanation. One day she was covered, and the next she was stranded.Cherie paid $800 out-of-pocket trying to hold her life together. * She sold belongings. * Skipped essentials. * Pushed her mental health beyond its limits. Eventually she found a compounded option, cheaper but still too much after months of bleeding herself dry.And the stress, the crushing fear of losing the body she fought for, cost her her job.“The overwhelming depression and anxiety—not just from losing my lifeline, but from the fear of regaining the weight and losing all that I had worked so hard for—are the main reasons I lost my job.”This is what GLP-1 patients are actually living when people call these “vanity drugs” and giggle when they get taken away. This isn’t about Instagram angles. This is survival.A BMI of 40 or higher can mean up to “14 years of life lost.” But beyond the stats, there’s a heavy mental health toll.Imagine having the freedom to:* Fly without a seatbelt extender. * Eat in a restaurant without the side-eye. * Shop in the “regular” section instead of being relegated to the plus-size aisle.* Buy clothes because you like them, not because they’re the only thing that fits.* Ride a roller coaster.* Take a photo with friends without hiding behind them.* To feel human.Imagine finally getting a glimpse of what “normal” feels like, holding the things other people don’t even notice… and then watching every single one of them slip through your fingers.Imagine standing there, helpless, as your own life starts playing in reverse. Like watching a rerun you never wanted to see again, only this time you can’t look away. You know exactly how it ends… and the dread settles in your bones long before the credits roll.This is the difference between functioning and falling apart.Cherie is still fighting, and I’m helping her with every tool I can. But stories like hers are only going to become more common as we head into 2026.“This struggle has affected every part of my life, but I’m still fighting.”Help Cherie hang in there 🙏Disclaimer: I don’t get a cent from the button above. This is Cherie’s GoFundMe, that she created and manages herself. I am simply sharing it for her with hopes that some big hearted individuals will be willing to help a ...
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    23 mins
  • Dr. Nina Crowley: Director of Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA

    Dr. Nina Crowley: Director of Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA
    Nov 14 2025
    There are people in obesity care who make everything click: the science, the humanity, the why behind the numbers. Dr. Nina Crowley is one of those rare souls.She’s a Registered Dietitian, Health Psychologist, and bona-fide Body Composition Expert who has spent two decades in the obesity-care trenches helping both patients and clinicians do better by people living in larger bodies.She leads Clinical Education and Partnerships at SECA – Precision for Health, serves on the Board of Directors for the Obesity Action Coalition, and somehow still finds time to host her own podcast, In the Know with Nina. She’s wicked smart, deeply compassionate, and the kind of educator who can explain complex research without ever talking down to you. Think science in stilettos.In The Know With NinaI first met Nina through Dr. Lindsay Ogle (one of my favorite obesity specialists and a beloved Season One guest of the GLP-1 Studio Podcast.) Lindsay has this uncanny talent for connecting people who were clearly meant to collaborate, and Nina was no exception. We hit it off immediately.I had the privilege of being featured on her show, where we talked about advocacy, access, and freedom from food noise. At that time Nina joined me to record the episode you’re reading about now, where she makes “bioimpedance vector analysis” sound like plain English… a magic trick, honestly.We wrapped the interview, sent it off for editing, and I figured the story would pause there for a moment… ObesityWeekFast-forward. I arrived at ObesityWeek representing the GLP-1 Studio Podcast and was heading back to my hotel when the universe decided to get playful. I didn’t just see one familiar face. I saw three.Nina, Mike on a Mission, and Zach Niemiec.Nina was instantly recognizable because she was in the middle of a handstand in front of the Olympic rings at Centennial Olympic Park. It was a pose I’d seen often in her LinkedIn posts, and it was pretty easy to assume this woman knows how to have fun when you see her flipped upside down with a smile on her face at every serious conference.We laughed, took a selfie, and promised to catch up later. Unfortunately, later never happened because reasons, but there will absolutely be a next time. And my story with Mike and Zach? Historical relevance that deserves a chapter of its own later. And that tiny bit of serendipity ended up mattering more than I expected.SECA ExhibitHere’s where the universe pulled its little full-circle moment: the episode we recorded together, this episode, was already in queue. I had just spent an hour listening to Nina re-explain, in detail, how the SECA system measures fat, muscle, and water using something called bioimpedance analysis.Then I’m walking the exhibit floor with my GLP-1 girl gang and there it is. A full on SECA exhibit: 2 machines, and a giant screen that displayed the results.Historically, sharing my stats would make me want to melt into the floor like a spilled latte, but let’s be real, we were all on GLP-1s and the whole point of this journey was to stop hiding and start self-advocating.Besides, it felt like fate was tapping me on the shoulder saying:The GLP-1 Girlies Get ScannedNaturally, my friends wanted in, and it’s a good thing we jumped in when we did. It was practically a mosh pit by the time we finished.One by one, they got scanned, all of them landing solidly in the healthy muscle range. Our resident fitness baddie, was nearly off the charts.Then I stepped up to the plate and when my results flashed onto the big screen, my jaw dropped. Now I didn’t just understand the data… I felt it.When The Data Becomes PersonalThis wasn’t your average bathroom scale. The vibrations running through my legs sent me, and seeing those charts was giving MRI without the MRI.This was the exact science Nina had explained on the podcast, but now it was in living color with my name on it. I realized something important. I didn’t just understand it before. I only thought I did. This time it actually landed.The NumbersBMI said average but “overweight,” but my skeletal-muscle index told a different story. It said healthy, strong, and absolutely capable. And for the first time in my life, getting weighed in public didn’t make me shrink. It made me curious.The scan told me I had a healthy amount of muscle, but that I could stand to build about two more pounds. It wasn’t judgmental. It was factual.Weight: 179.9 lbsBMI: 27.4Fat Mass: 71.4 lbs (about 40%)Fat-Free Mass: 108.5 lbs (about 60%)Skeletal Muscle: 50.6 lbsRecommended Goal: Gain 2 lbs of muscleWas the number on the scale flattering? Absolutely not. But let’s be honest, I’m on a GLP-1 for a reason. These numbers weren’t an insult; they were a road map.And that small note, gain two pounds of muscle, became a healthy, science-based, totally achievable goal.Girl, Get Your Protein OnBioCare makes protein specifically for the GLP-1 girlies. It helps you hit your protein goals and stay ...
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    43 mins
  • The Biggest Announcement in GLP-1 Patient History

    The Biggest Announcement in GLP-1 Patient History
    Nov 11 2025

    GLP-1 Studio Podcast – Studio Special

    Host: Amanda Bonello

    On November 6th, 2025, the White House announced pricing agreements with Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk that could reshape GLP-1 access for millions of Americans.

    For the first time ever, Medicare and Medicaid will cover GLP-1 medications for obesity—with just a $50 copay. Brand name medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are coming down to Most-Favored-Nation pricing, finally putting Americans on par with what other countries pay.

    Discounted cash pay prices through TrumpRx are expected by the end of 2025. The full Medicare and Medicaid rollout is expected by April 2026.

    For those who've been rationing doses, going without, or watching every door close—there is finally hope.

    In this episode:

    What the TrumpRx program means for pricing

    How Most-Favored-Nation pricing works

    What changes for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurance

    What this moment means after a year of advocacy

    Resources:

    Full pricing breakdown chart in the article below

    Data sources: White House Fact Sheet (11/6/25), Eli Lilly & Co. press release (11/6/25), Novo Nordisk company announcement No. 32/2025

    Connect with Amanda Bonello and the GLP-1 Studio Podcast: Learn more at GLP1Studio.com

    Disclaimer: This content is for informational and advocacy purposes only. It reflects my personal understanding of recent policy announcements and publicly available information. I am not a medical professional or government representative. Always consult your healthcare provider for medical advice and check official sources for current policy and coverage details.



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    7 mins