The Business of Pharmacy Podcast™

I sat down with Tim Ulbrich, PharmD, Co-Founder and CEO of Your Financial Pharmacist, to unpack a tough reality: why so many pharmacists earning six figures still feel broke. We dug into crushing student debt, soaring housing costs, wage stagnation—and the mindset shift needed to build real financial freedom. Tim brings clarity, strategy, and hope. This episode is sponsored by Remedichain.

I sat down with Benjamin Jolley, a third-generation pharmacist who recently addressed a crowd of 20,000 about the broken world of PBMs. We dug into the power of that moment, the hidden mechanics of pharmacy monopolies, and what real reform could look like. This one hits where policy meets reality.

Biotech CEO Arun Swaminathan reveals how true pharmaceutical deals are strategic “marriages”—not transactions. Hear how Coya Therapeutics leverages partnerships, builds trust, and aims to transform ALS care. A candid look at negotiation, leadership, and why win-win deals matter in pharma and beyond. Real insights from the C-suite.

Can a small biotech change cancer care—and turn a profit? Paul Romness, CEO of OS Therapies, shares how his five-person team took on one of the deadliest pediatric cancers, went public, and might just shake up the system. From biologics to Wall Street, this one’s got it all. Sponsored by Dae Lee of Buchanan.

Marco Benitez, founder of ROOK, reveals how his company turns chaotic wearable data into clean, actionable insights. From fitness rings to Dexcom integrations, hear how ROOK bridges tech and healthcare, enabling remote monitoring, AI-driven predictions, and more—all without the red tape of FDA regulation. The future of health is wearable. Sponsored by RemediChain.

I sat down with Autumn Kyoko Cushman, co-founder of ShiftRx, staffing leader, to hear how she and her team clawed their way back from the edge. From bounced credit cards to nationwide scale—this one’s raw, real, and a must-listen for anyone building in pharmacy.

The host and his brothers (Mike Koelzer, along with brothers Pete Koelzer⁠, ⁠Tom Koelzer⁠, ⁠and Tim Koelzer⁠) return to where it all started—the family drugstore. From early paper routes to late nights after close mopping the store, they reflect on the work ethic, values, and business lessons they learned from their dad. It’s a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look at how one small pharmacy helped shape four lives—and four very different careers.

I sat down again with Kris Rhea to unpack how pharmacies are silently losing money—just by buying wrong. We talk wholesaler games, misunderstood contracts, and the AI tool trying to fix it all. If you’ve ever felt like your drug spend makes no sense, this one’s for you.

Joey Dizenhouse, President and CEO of SlateRx, is on a mission to bring transparency and ethical practices to pharmacy benefits. In this engaging discussion, he shares insights on redefining pharmacy benefit management by cutting through the industry's gimmicks. Dizenhouse addresses the urgent need for fiduciary responsibility and realignment of incentives among stakeholders. He highlights ongoing challenges with Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Michigan and the transformative potential of the 'Pharmacy of Tomorrow' model, merging Medicare services with independent pharmacies for enhanced community health.

I sat down with attorneys Dae Lee and Adam Farkas to dig into the legal mess surrounding GLP-1 compounding, PBM overreach, and the brutal reality facing independent pharmacies. Dae’s a pharmacist-attorney, Adam’s a legal powerhouse, and together they’re helping pharmacies fight back in a system stacked against them.