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Recent Episodes of The Edge of Risk
The Hidden Threat on America's Farm‑to‑Market Roads
Scott Cornell | 30 min
Reveal how tech-driven, organized cargo theft is evolving—and what it means for risk managers, insurers, and the agricultural supply chain.
From Cottage Industry to Global Solution: The Rise of Captives
Steve McElhiney | 26 min
Understand the rise and myths of captive insurance in agriculture—and how parametric and captive strategies work together.
Artificial Intelligence and Captive Insurance: An Actuarial Perspective
Steven Abel, Jason Abril | 28 min
Explore how AI is transforming actuarial work and captive strategy, from real-world use cases to governance challenges and expert judgment.
How Letters of Credit Power Collateral in Captive Insurance
Martin Ellis | 12 min
Learn how letters of credit secure captive insurance programs, support fronting requirements, and maintain investment flexibility.
Bricks or Sticks? Insurance Cost Considerations for Construction Materials
Rachel Dobbs | 8 min
Listen in for a technical breakdown utilizing data from a recent study comparing property insurance costs during and after construction.
Adapting and Rebuilding: How the Construction Industry Strengthens Communities After Natural Disasters
Angela Skow | 17 min
Assess weather risks facing the construction industry and learn why climate-adaptive materials and efficient design are key to reducing future exposure.
Energy Investment in Flux: Risk Signals Leaders Can't Ignore
Michael Kolodner | 31 min
Explore how geopolitics, market shifts, and AI growth reshape energy investment—and why collaboration beats hyperspecialization for resilient operations.
Better Outcomes: Navigating Complex Casualty Claims
Rachael Chen | 24 min
Discover why casualty claims are growing more complex and learn practical strategies to manage jury shifts, reduce risk, and improve outcomes.
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Recent Episodes of The Edge of Risk Podcast
Energy
Energy Investment in Flux: Risk Signals Leaders Can't Ignore
In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum sits down with Michael Kolodner, Marsh's US energy and power leader; to unpack how geopolitical shifts, market volatility, and evolving incentives are reshaping energy investment priorities. Together, they explore why cross-industry collaboration is becoming essential for building operational resilience in a rapidly changing risk landscape. They also highlight the risks of hyperspecialization and share practical insights leaders need to navigate today's turbulent energy landscape, driven by generative artificial intelligence growth.
Agribusiness
Trade Tides and Tight Margins: Navigating the 2026 Farm Economy
In this 11‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Faith Parum breaks down the pressures shaping the 2026 farm economy—from soaring input costs to shifting global trade policies. Listen as Dr. Parum explores how tariff and nontariff barriers are reshaping market access, what declining US soybean demand from China means for row‑crop profitability, and where producers face the greatest financial exposure.
Construction
Beyond TRIR: Using SIF-potential Data to Save Lives
Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (CRC) in Indianapolis, this 17-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with David Tibbetts, chief safety officer at Highwire. Mr. Tibbetts discusses why tracking events with the potential to result in a serious injury or fatality (SIF) provides better insight into safety performance than traditional metrics, such as total recordable incident rate (TRIR). Listen in to learn more about the importance of safety culture and identifying the highest-risk work on construction sites.
Energy
Navigating the Energy Market: How Top Brokers Are Preparing for 2026
This podcast is a snapshot of the insights you'll find at an IRMI Energy Risk & Insurance Conference—where sponsors like Marsh, attendees, and industry thought leaders come together to tackle the latest challenges. Host Joel Appelbaum and Scott Smidlein, managing director and senior client executive at Marsh, break down the 2026 energy insurance outlook in this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, recorded at the 2026 Marsh Risk North American Energy Industry Conference. They examine artificial intelligence and data center-driven power demand, policy signals from Washington, and the strain of aging assets running at full tilt.
Agribusiness
The Hidden Threat on America's Farm‑to‑Market Roads
In this 30‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Scott Cornell, vice president of transportation risk and strategy and crime and theft specialist at LogistIQ Insurance Solutions, pulls back the curtain on the growing sophistication of agricultural cargo theft. Mr. Cornell explains how criminals are leveraging technology and organized networks and what these evolving tactics mean for risk managers, insurers, and the agricultural supply chain.
Construction
Bricks or Sticks? Insurance Cost Considerations for Construction Materials
Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (CRC) in Indianapolis, this 7.5-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with Rachel Dobbs, client executive at Hylant. Ms. Dobbs describes how construction materials affect property insurance costs during and after construction and how they vary across different regions of the United States. Listen in for a technical breakdown utilizing data from a recent study comparing these costs.
Energy
Better Outcomes: Navigating Complex Casualty Claims
Casualty claims are growing more complex—and risk professionals need practical strategies to stay ahead. In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast, we're joined by Rachael Chen, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s U.S. Casualty Energy Practice, and Phil Educate, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s Claims Practice. Together, they’ll explore the factors that lead to complex claims, the shift in jury dynamics, and proactive tactics to manage troublesome claims and achieve better outcomes.
