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The Backstory

The Backstory

Written by: Jarrard Inc.
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 The Backstory, formerly the High Stakes Podcast, is a new, limited series from Jarrard Inc. President and Co-Founder Anne Hancock Toomey. For nearly two decades, Jarrard – one of the nation’s top communications consulting firms for healthcare – has partnered with thousands of leaders across the country who are striving to make healthcare better every day. But this isn’t a podcast about healthcare, or politics or even communications. It’s about authentic leadership. The Backstory is about demystifying respected leaders who’ve had a lot of success along the way because of the kind of leaders they’ve chosen to be. Each person Anne interviews is visionary, of course. They’re smart as hell, and they’re fierce about their business and their mission. They’re also humble, kind and create the kind of environments in which people can thrive. They’re not perfect. But they are real. And it’s the combination of those two things that makes each one of them great. In every episode, Anne’s guest digs into who they are, where they come from and what’s influenced them to be the person and the leader that they are today.© 2024, Jarrard Inc. Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 207. From Clinical Dietician to CEO of Allina Health, with Lisa Shannon

    207. From Clinical Dietician to CEO of Allina Health, with Lisa Shannon
    Jan 7 2026
    In Season 2, Episode 7, Anne Hancock Toomey sits down with Lisa Shannon, CEO of Allina Health, to discuss her impressive trajectory from a rural community in Ohio to leading a health system with 12 hospitals and dozens of clinics across Minnesota and Wisconsin. Shannon began her career as a hospital-based dietician, growing and evolving to become a highly respected executive and leader. That success came from the early influence of her grandmother, along with, of course, mentors and leaders along the way. Shannon talks about a devastating medical error that affected her family early in her life. Indeed, one of Shannon’s priorities throughout her leadership career has been the pursuit of zero safety events, which includes creating a culture where anyone and everyone is empowered to speak up. She also offers insights into balancing work and family and emphasizes the significance of listening to one's instincts in making career choices. 2:02 Early Life and Influences 4:42 First Jobs and Early Career 7:50 College and Career Path 15:36 Leadership Journey and Mentorship 16:58 Patient Safety and Cultural Change 21:38 Career Highlights and Challenges 30:59 Leadership Insights from the Role of CEO 35:04 Balancing Career and Family 39:43 Lightning Round and Closing Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • 206. From Dairy Farmer to Intermountain Health CEO, with Rob Allen

    206. From Dairy Farmer to Intermountain Health CEO, with Rob Allen
    Dec 17 2025
    Rob Allen is CEO of Intermountain Health, one of the nation's largest and most innovative health systems. In this episode, host Anne Hancock Toomey talks with allen Allen about his journey from growing up on a dairy farm in Wyoming to becoming a healthcare CEO at the age of 28. And if you're thinking you've heard the farm-to-CEO story before, you'd be right. Several of Anne's Backstory guests come from a similar background and here, they discuss parts of that life that may point people to careers in executive leadership. Beyond that, Allen discusses the valuable lessons learned from his rural upbringing, the various roles he undertook in healthcare from nursing homes to hospitals, and his commitment to servant leadership. He delves into his early career challenges, including turnarounds of financially struggling hospitals, the significance of a people-first mindset, and the necessity of addressing the correct problems in leadership. As he recounts his progression through different roles at Intermountain Health, Rob emphasizes the importance of transparency, hope, and engaging employees to achieve organizational success. He also opens up about balancing his demanding career with family life and offers advice for aspiring leaders. The conversation highlights Rob's visionary approach in simplifying healthcare and expanding proactive care, and the importance of authenticity, purpose, and compassion in leadership. 2:24 Early Life on the Farm 6:35 Influential Figures 8:38 College Years and Career Beginnings 11:40 Transition to Healthcare Administration & Leadership Challenges 17:28 Turnaround Success Stories 21:01 Career Moves and New Opportunities 22:14 Returning to Intermountain Health 24:37 Building a Hospital in Park City 33:05 Balancing Family and Career 35:27 Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
  • 205. From Bike Mechanic to Oura CEO, with Tom Hale

    205. From Bike Mechanic to Oura CEO, with Tom Hale
    Nov 26 2025
    Tom Hale is the CEO of health tech company Oura. Producing one of the most prominent wearables out there (The Oura Ring), Oura is working to improve health and wellness through sustainable behavior change. In this episode, Hale and host Anne Hancock Toomey discuss his journey from working as a bike mechanic in Reno, Nevada, to a career spanning some of the most notable tech companies of the past 20+ years: Macromedia, Adobe, Linden Lab (creator of Second Life), HomeAway, and SurveyMonkey. He discusses the transformative impact of Oura's smart ring on his personal health, as well as his professional mission to shift healthcare towards preventative care through technology and AI. Hale also reflects on the lessons learned from his diverse career, emphasizing the importance of human-centric leadership, accountability, and ambition. The conversation offers valuable insights into the future of health tech and the power of mission-driven companies. 3:18 Early Life and Influences 7:31 First Jobs and Formative Experiences 10:11 Career Beginnings and Influences 13:27 Macromedia and Adobe: Lessons in Leadership 18:27 Linden Labs and the Early Metaverse 21:33 Joining HomeAway: The Birth of Vacation Rentals 25:24 Lessons from SurveyMonkey and the Importance of Brand 27:18 Joining Oura 32:37 The Vision for Oura and Healthcare Transformation 34:33 Leadership Insights and Lightning Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    40 mins
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