In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner welcomes Ellen Kelsay, President and CEO of the Business Group on Health, for a timely conversation on the findings of the 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey and what they signal for employers heading into the next phase of workforce health strategy.

The survey offers one of the clearest snapshots available of how large employers are responding to accelerating health care costs, mounting pharmacy pressure, and growing concerns about care quality.

As President and CEO of the Business Group on Health, Ellen Kelsay brings more than 30 years of experience in employer-sponsored health care, including senior leadership roles at Mercer and Aetna. Since 2019, she has led the organization’s strategy, advocacy, and research agenda, working directly with self-funded employers as they confront some of the most consequential health care decisions of the past decade.

Drawing directly on the 2026 survey findings, Seth and Ellen explore:

• Health care costs at a critical inflection point: Employers reported a 9% increase in health care costs, the highest level in more than a decade, underscoring why cost containment alone is no longer a viable long-term strategy.
• A forced reset in health care strategy: The survey shows employers actively reassessing benefit designs and vendor ecosystems, with a growing focus on integration, transparency, and coordination as levers to improve both cost control and care quality.
• Shifting from reaction to prevention: Findings point to renewed employer attention on primary care, prevention, and healthy behaviors, alongside careful experimentation with supply-side innovations such as value-based care and alternative health plan models.
• Engagement as a make-or-break factor: Survey insights reinforce that even well-designed programs fail without sustained engagement, prompting employers to simplify offerings, improve communications, and clarify shared accountability for outcomes.
• Employers as trusted guides: The survey highlights an expanding role for employers as credible sources of health information, particularly as employees navigate misinformation, complex benefits, and rapidly changing care options.
• Wellbeing investments under scrutiny, not retreat: Contrary to expectations, the findings show continued and in some cases growing investment in wellbeing initiatives, reflecting their perceived role in addressing downstream cost and productivity challenges.
• Health literacy moving to the center of strategy: While not always named explicitly, the survey reinforces the importance of equipping employees to understand benefits, evaluate care options, and make informed decisions, especially as AI accelerates access to health information.
• Preparing for longer working lives: The findings also point to the need for employers to adapt health and wellbeing strategies to support an aging workforce with evolving needs across longer career spans.

Ellen and Seth discuss why the 2026 Employer Health Care Strategy Survey is becoming a practical guide for employers navigating rising costs, limited options, and growing complexity.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner welcomes Janis Davis-Street—nutritionist, educator, public health leader, and global wellness strategist—to unpack the complexities of workforce health literacy and share lessons from her impressive career.

Janis brings a unique blend of frontline experience and academic depth to the conversation, with roots in nutrition and health education, a doctorate, and advanced certifications in organizational leadership and informatics.

Her career journey spans pivotal roles at NASA, where she contributed to space nutrition science and youth outreach, and nearly two decades at Chevron, championing global cardiovascular health initiatives and adapting wellbeing programs for diverse, multinational workforces.

Seth and Janis also discuss:

• Translating science into action, highlighting the art of turning complex nutrition and health research into practical, accessible information for astronauts, students, and employees alike.
• The importance of tailored communication, noting that effective health messaging requires local context and lessons from customizing outreach for global populations to ensure representation and relevance in every region.
• Visual inclusivity, emphasizing that imagery in wellness campaigns matters and participants must see themselves reflected to feel engaged and respected.
• Cultural sensitivity, stressing that partnering with local teams—through language, context, and community stories—helps overcome barriers and drive trust.
• Peer Health Educators (PHE), describing how Chevron’s model empowers trained employees to provide basic health education, advocate for prevention, and refer peers to expert resources, expanding workforce engagement.
• Data-driven impact, explaining that participation and outcomes are tracked, with Chevron’s Enterprise Health Index creating organizational accountability and keeping leaders invested in health culture.
• The power of collaboration, highlighting that health, HR, and benefits teams must break silos and jointly nurture a culture of health for real impact.
• The growing urgency of health literacy, noting that misinformation—especially during the pandemic and now the AI era—affects everyone, making addressing it and increasing equitable access a priority.
• Responsible use of AI, emphasizing that new digital tools present both promise and risk, requiring critical thinking, source verification, and prompt engineering to combat misinformation in health.

For anyone invested in workforce wellbeing, global health, or effective communication, this conversation underscores that impactful health initiatives are not one-size-fits-all—they require empathy, inclusivity, and practical translation of knowledge into action.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website.

Links:

Janis Davis-Street: www.linkedin.com/in/janis-davis-street-26232315/

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Seth Serxner welcomes Blair Durham, co-founder and CEO of Black BRAND, to discuss the intersection of workforce health literacy, economic empowerment, and community development, with a special focus on narrowing the racial wealth gap in Hampton Roads.

Blair Durham is a dynamic leader who has spent the past decade building Black BRAND - Hampton Roads’ Regional Black Chamber of Commerce - into a powerhouse for business and professional development. With a background in psychology and sociology, and a keen passion for social equity, Blair is leading transformative initiatives in entrepreneurship, workforce preparation, access to capital, and financial sustainability that aim to strengthen and expand Black-owned businesses while fostering regional economic growth.

Seth and Blair explore the strategies and outcomes of Black BRAND’s work, touching on the vital importance of health literacy in personal and collective economic success. Their conversation offers powerful insights for anyone interested in building healthier, more resilient, and inclusive communities.

Key takeaways from their conversation:

☑️ Black BRAND is committed to addressing gaps in business development, professional advancement, and entrepreneurship for the Black community - while simultaneously promoting regional economic growth.

☑️ Black BRAND has facilitated millions of dollars in grants and loan access, and is now working to build its own financial institution to better serve graduates and local businesses.

☑️ With over 700 entrepreneurs supported since COVID and targeted initiatives for women in workforce development, Black BRAND meticulously tracks outcomes to demonstrate real impact to funders and the community.

☑️ Blair emphasizes that Black BRAND’s focus on workforce readiness and inclusive economic development transcends political winds, serving a broad business case that benefits all.

☑️ Recognizing that health literacy is the single greatest determinant of health outcomes, Black BRAND integrates wellness initiatives - from educational forums to healthy workplace practices - into its broader economic mission.

☑️ The organization is pioneering efforts to raise awareness among business owners about the critical connection between their personal well-being and professional success.

Blair’s optimism and clear-eyed vision highlight the power of community-rooted partnerships and targeted action to advance both health and economic well-being.

Links:

Blair Durham: https://www.linkedin.com/in/blair-durham-15528a17a/

Black Brand: https://www.blackbrand.biz

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy — the ability to understand and act on health information — is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs. Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy — and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast is produced by the HR podcast production agency.

Employer healthcare cost inflation in the US is accelerating - yet Americans live nearly five years less than people in other developed nations. Many families now face out-of-pocket expenses that exceed their available cash, even with employer-sponsored coverage.

Garner Health analyzes roughly 75% of all claims nationwide, allowing it to evaluate virtually every doctor in the country. Their data shows that low-performing physicians can have four times the complication rates and are five times more likely to deliver unnecessary care.

Seth Serxner recently spoke with Kirk Czonstka, SVP of Strategic Alliances at Garner Health, about how the company uses claims and analytics to identify top doctors and help people get better care while spending less.

Seth and Kirk also discuss:

☑️ The Rising Cost and Declining Quality of U.S. Healthcare: Despite increased spending, life expectancy lags, and cost inflation for employers is unsustainable.

☑️ Complexity Doesn’t Equal Engagement: Adding more vendors and solutions hasn’t translated into meaningful employee action, with less than 5% using traditional tools.

☑️ The Doctor Makes the Difference: Analysis shows that individual physician performance, not just the right network or hospital, has the greatest impact on cost and outcomes. Guiding patients to high-performing providers achieves an average of 27% savings per episode of care, without compromising quality.

☑️ High Variation in Care Quality: Data reveals alarming differences even within the same facility; low-performing doctors can drive up to four times the complications, and five times more unnecessary care.

☑️ Overcoming Provider Pushback: While no doctor likes tough feedback, transparent, evidence-based performance metrics help both employers and providers identify improvement opportunities.

☑️ Driving Change in Provider Behavior: Health systems and large physician groups are leveraging Garner’s analytics to inform referrals and internal practice transformation for better performance.

☑️ Making Quality Data Consumer-Friendly: Recognizing the average employee isn’t a data analyst, Garner simplifies choices and incentivizes use by reimbursing out-of-pocket costs when recommended providers are chosen.

☑️ The Role of Health Literacy: With barely 1 in 10 Americans considered health literate, empowering people to understand and act on trusted data is as critical as the data itself, and financial incentives can be an effective catalyst.

☑️ Addressing Disparities in Care: While still aspirational, Kirk’s team is working to leverage demographic information to further personalize recommendations and address differential care by ethnicity and gender.

☑️ And much more.

If you care about cutting healthcare costs and making smarter choices, you won’t want to miss this episode.

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy - the ability to understand and act on health information - is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs.

Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

Visit the podcast home page here: www.edlogics.com/podcast.

About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com

In this special episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner swaps seats with Tom Chamberlain for an engaging exploration of the intersection between health literacy, wellbeing, and practical daily habits - guided by Seth's new book, “The Wellbeing Effect: Bite-Sized Practices for Busy People to Lead Happier, Healthier Lives”.

Seth Serxner, Chief Health Officer at EdLogics, is a nationally recognized expert in health promotion and workplace wellbeing. With advanced degrees in psychology, public health, and health promotion from leading California universities, Seth has spent decades translating behavioral science into actionable strategies - in academia, the private sector, and as an author and thought leader.

His personal journey, shaped by both academic rigor and a life-changing injury, has fueled his dedication to making health concepts accessible and empowering for everyday individuals and organizations.

Tom and Seth also discuss:

☑️ The Wellbeing Effect: His new book was inspired by a desire to reach employees directly, offering practical, evidence-based tips after seeing the impact of his wellbeing webinars during COVID.

☑️ Personal Adversity as Teacher: A serious ski accident gave Seth firsthand insight into navigating the healthcare system and deepened his appreciation for foundational wellbeing practices.

☑️ Mastering Behavior Change: Lasting change requires more than inspiration: Seth breaks down behavior change into awareness, skill-building, and maintenance, all anchored by personal purpose.

☑️ From Wellness to Wellbeing: Traditional “wellness” targets risk factors, while “wellbeing” focuses on living longer, happier lives. Seth outlines three domains: foundational, emotional, and holistic wellbeing.

☑️ Health Literacy as Foundation: Health literacy is a powerful determinant of health, even more than income or education. Understanding and navigating the healthcare system is core to personal and community wellbeing.

☑️ The Power of Purpose, Awe, and Social Connections: Seth highlights the science behind purpose, awe, gratitude, humor, and meaningful social connections as often-overlooked but critical elements of wellbeing and resilience.

☑️ Addressing Loneliness and Caregiving: Tackling loneliness—often called a new epidemic—and supporting caregivers are essential for improving health outcomes across all generations.

☑️ Community and Workforce Impact: Employers and communities are recognizing that boosting health literacy and wellbeing drives better health outcomes, lifts whole populations, and fosters healthier, happier workplaces.

This episode is a compelling reminder that small, intentional steps, grounded in science, purpose, and connection, can generate outsized impacts on our personal and collective health.

Buy the book: sethserxner.com/book-2/

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, host Seth Serxner sits down with Nia Pommerenke, Founder of SeaBright Culture Solutions, to talk about what it really takes to build a workplace culture that champions health, wellbeing, and lasting success.

Nia shares how clear values, strong leadership, and an engaged environment drive not only retention and productivity but also health literacy and trust. The big takeaway? Defining and living your culture from the top down isn’t optional - it's the smartest investment you can make in your people and your company's future.

Nia has spent over 25 years immersed in the world of HR, always gravitating towards the elements that shape people’s experience at work: culture, engagement, and leadership. Nearly a decade ago, she launched her own consulting business, initially offering a broad range of HR services.

However, Nia soon discovered her passion for workplace culture and has since made it the core of her work. Today, she is dedicated to helping organizations strengthen culture as a key driver of both well-being and performance.

Seth and Nia also discuss:

☑️ The criticality of culture assessments before making changes.

☑️ Distinguishing between stated values and lived values in the workplace.

☑️ Why organizations often misdiagnose problems, overlooking culture as the root cause.

☑️ The implications of leaders seeing culture as a "leadership imperative."

☑️ The vital role of psychological safety for wellbeing and performance.

☑️ Strategies to stop the spread of disengagement.

☑️ Concrete actions senior leaders can take to model the desired culture.

Building a healthier workplace isn’t about surface-level programs or slogans - it’s about embedding core values, fostering psychological safety, and supporting leaders to sustain change.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit the EdLogics website: www.edlogics.com/solutions-for-employers

Links:

Website: www.seabrighthr.com

LinkedIn profile: www.linkedin.com/in/nia-pommerenke

Visit EdLogics.

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy — the ability to understand and act on health information — is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs. Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy — and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast is produced by the business podcast agency.

Success, as traditionally defined through wealth, titles, accolades, and the perfect life, is often seen as the pinnacle. But what happens when you get there and feel suffocated instead of fulfilled?

For Joe Gagnon, CEO of RaYnmaker, entrepreneur, adventurer, and author, that moment came at age 39. Despite a career packed with highlights - partner at Ernst & Young, IPOs, acquisition by IBM, and leading a billion-dollar division, he found himself in what he called “the greatest rut of my life.”

In this episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Joe shares that his shift wasn’t sparked by a single epiphany, but by a growing awareness that his path no longer aligned with his deeper purpose.

He pivoted from corporate leadership to the startup world - but more importantly, he began a personal transformation: embracing movement, reflection, nutrition, and above all, service to others as the foundation of a fulfilling life.

In this episode on the concept of 'life literacy', Seth and Joe also discuss:

☑️ Defining Your Why: Purpose fuels persistence. When you know why, the how gets easier.

☑️ Service as Motivation: Serving others can spark growth, but watch for burnout.

☑️Consistency vs. Spontaneity: Routines build progress, but spontaneity keeps it alive. Structure with room to breathe.

☑️The Five Pillars: Nutrition, exercise, mindset, community, sleep.

☑️ Agency and Control: Small wins rebuild a sense of control. Empowerment starts with choice and autonomy.

☑️ Overcoming the Comfort Zone: Discomfort is a growth signal. Lean in - confidence lives on the other side.

☑️ Life Literacy vs. Health Literacy: Life literacy = emotional agility, resilience, wise choices.

☑️ Making Time for Yourself: Start with 15 minutes a day. You deserve space to grow - no guilt required.

Listen to the full episode for actionable insights and motivational stories. Find your why. Forge your habits. Serve others by showing up as your best self.

Website: www.thehighperformancelife.net

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joegagnon

About The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast

Improving health literacy — the ability to understand and act on health information — is key to improving health outcomes and lowering costs.

Together with business and community leaders, we'll explore effective, behavior-changing solutions that can improve health literacy and drive engagement in corporate and public health and wellness programs.

To learn more, visit EdLogics at www.edlogics.com.

Many fully insured employers are seeing sharp increases in healthcare premiums - some reporting hikes of 15%, 20%, even 30%. A major driver behind these rising costs? Overpriced and specialty medications continue to strain benefit budgets and impact long-term sustainability.

In the latest episode of The Health Literacy 2.0 Podcast, Doug Roehm, President and Lead Strategic Consultant at Strategic Services Group, shares strategies to address this challenge. He highlights innovative ways to engage employees, from gamification to virtual care, and offers fresh insights on managing cost inflation while improving health literacy.

Seth and Doug also discuss:

☑️ Strategies used to engage Native American tribes and unions in health and wellness programs, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and trust-building.

☑️ The current challenges employers face in managing rising healthcare costs, especially concerning pharmacy benefits and high-cost specialty medications.

☑️ Medicare reference-based pricing as a cost-control strategy, and how employers can apply it to negotiate better healthcare rates.

☑️ Techniques for increasing employee engagement in health literacy efforts, including simplified communication, relatable content, and incentives.

☑️The role of gamification - using tools like Edlogics - to make health education interactive and appealing, boosting participation and knowledge retention.

☑️ Integrating EAP (Employee Assistance Program) with behavioral health services to create a more cohesive, accessible support system for employees.

☑️ The use of health care navigation services to relieve HR teams and empower employees with clearer benefit guidance and smarter healthcare decisions.

☑️ And much more.

Tune in to discover how engagement can transform your organization's health outcomes and make informed choices.

Learn About EdLogics

Want to see how EdLogics' gamified platform can boost health literacy, drive engagement in health and wellness programs, and help people live happier, healthier lives?

Visit EdLogics.