Shows
The Benefit WhispererWhy “Good Discounts” Are Costing You a Fortune. Inside a Smarter Healthcare Model: Reference-Based Pricing with Adam Russo, Esq. (Ep. 09)Is your PPO network actually saving you money—or just selling you a myth?
In this eye-opening episode of The Benefit Whisperer, host Ralph Weber sits down with Adam Russo, co-founder and CEO of The Phia Group, to expose the broken economics of traditional healthcare pricing. They dive deep into the real story behind Reference-Based Pricing (RBP), why most brokers avoid it, and how smart employers are slashing costs without cutting care.
✅ The truth about PPO “discounts”✅ Why laziness—not logic—drives plan design✅ How RBP protects patients from surprise billing✅ What AI and price trans...2025-05-2141 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourBreaking The SilenceWe spend the whole program with Nadav Wieman, a former IDF sniper and now executive director of Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli veterans who expose the reality of life in the Occupied Territories and work to end the occupation. He and Ralph discuss Nadav’s experience in the IDF and his work trying to turn the tide of sentiment in Israel against the ongoing genocide.Nadav Weiman is the executive director of Breaking the Silence, an organization of Israeli veterans who expose the reality of life in the Occupied Territories and work to end the oc...2025-05-171h 19
The Rising FilmmakerFrom Discovering Tom Cruise to Discovering Tomorrow's Stars: Jerald J. Silverhardt's Guide to the Hollywood SpotlightEver wonder what it really takes to make it in Hollywood? Join Ralph as he delves into a candid conversation with veteran talent manager and producer Jerry Silverhardt, the man who discovered icons like Tom Cruise and Dylan McDermott. Beyond the star-studded stories, Jerry shares his invaluable insights on identifying raw talent, the crucial elements for longevity in the industry, and the authentic principles that have guided his remarkable 43-year career. Aspiring filmmakers and actors will gain actionable advice on navigating the ever-evolving landscape of Hollywood, understanding what seasoned professionals truly look for, and the importance of staying true...2025-04-1951 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourFighting DOGE!Ralph welcomes Robert Weissman, co-president of Public Citizen, whose group has filed eight lawsuits that have significantly slowed the Trump/Musk cabal’s attempt to dismantle the government. Then, our resident Constitutional scholar Bruce Fein reports on Public Interest Law Day at Harvard Law School and how important it is for law schools in general to step up to meet this constitutional crisis. Plus, Ralph answers listener questions!Robert Weissman is a staunch public interest advocate and activist, as well as an expert on a wide variety of issues ranging from corporate accountability and government tr...2025-04-051h 48
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianCan't Pay the IRS? How can you Avoid Major Penalties with These 4 Strategies?Feeling the IRS pressure? You're definitely not alone! Today, Ralph Estep Jr. dives into the nitty-gritty of what to do when you can’t pay Uncle Sam. We’re laying down four simple strategies to help you dodge those pesky penalties and regain your financial footing. By the end of our chat, you’ll be packing away that stress and stepping into the light of confidence by learning 4 strategies to avoid major IRS penalties.Read today's blog articleCheck out the full podcast episode hereEver felt that heart-stopping moment when you realize you ow...2025-03-2828 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianIs Cheap Advice Really Worth the Price?Cheap tax and accounting advice might sound like a sweet deal, but it can turn into a financial trap faster than you can say "audit." Today, we're diving into why investing in good guidance is like putting on a financial superhero cape—totally worth it! We’ll chat about the hidden costs of free advice and how those seemingly harmless shortcuts can lead to expensive mistakes. Plus, I'm here to give you some solid steps to break free from the chaos of tax confusion. Stick around because by the end of this episode, you’ll be ready to tackle your f...2025-03-2529 min
The Benefit WhispererUnlocking the Potential of Your Employee Benefits (Ep. 3)How can understanding your employee benefits transform your business’s future? Welcome to The Benefit Whisperer!
In this episode, Ralph Weber explores the hidden potential of employee benefits. He explores how you can rethink your approach to healthcare to attract top talent and cut costs. Ralph shares his journey from air traffic control to the world of group benefits, revealing insider secrets and strategies to help you design the perfect plan for your business and employees.
Key conversations include:
Ralph’s Background: From air traffic control to group benefits expertise
The Evol...2025-03-1129 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhat’s the secret to deducting home equity loan interest? Find out now!Feeling trapped by debt and living paycheck to paycheck? Well, there's a light at the end of that tunnel! In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into how to break free from financial stress and align your cash flow with what really matters in life—like God’s purpose. Ralph Estep Jr., our financial evangelist, shares tips on managing home equity, saving at the grocery store, and tackling everyday expenses that can drain your wallet faster than you can say "budgeting." So grab your favorite snack, kick back, and let’s get ready to take control of our finances t...2025-02-2254 min
Edutainment LearningRon Vachris: CEO of CostcoRon began his career in 1982 with the Price Company in the Phoenix, Arizona market. Ron held several management positions in operations before being promoted to Warehouse Manager in Colorado in 1992. After 7 years as a Warehouse Manager in both Colorado and Arizona, Ron was promoted to Vice President of Operations in the San Diego Region in 1999. In 2010, Ron moved to Washington where he was promoted to Senior Vice President of the Northwest Region. August 2015, Ron started in the Real Estate department, working on International and Domestic New Markets and Expansion. Shortly after, Ron became the Executive Vice President of merchandising...2025-02-1325 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhy Are New Car Owners Most at Risk for This Insurance Nightmare?Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be daunting, especially when you find yourself facing a financial gap due to depreciation. Ralph Estep Jr. tackles this critical issue by discussing the importance of gap insurance, which protects you from the difference between what your car is worth and what you still owe on your loan. He shares a heartfelt listener question from Jessica, who is grappling with a $7,000 deficit after her SUV was totaled. With insightful statistics and personal anecdotes, Ralph emphasizes the need for proactive financial planning and the role of insurance in safeguarding your future. Tune...2025-01-2436 min
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)STAGE ONE: Day Ten: Health, Wealth And Happiness Challenge - Debt Trap and Emotional SpendingSTAGE ONE: Day Ten: Health, Wealth And Happiness Challenge - Debt Trap and Emotional Spending Day Ten: Avoiding Financial Pitfalls – Debt Traps and Emotional Spending In this episode of Join Up Dots, we dive deep into the world of financial pitfalls—the sneaky traps that can derail even the most diligent among us. We’re talking about debt traps, emotional spending, and how everyday habits can stealthily drain your bank account. More importantly, we’ll explore how to recognize these patterns, break free from them, and build a more sustainable financial future. Debt traps often start small, like that store credit c...2025-01-1518 minThe Benefit WhispererUnlocking the Potential of Your Employee Benefits (Ep. 1)How can understanding your employee benefits transform your business’s future? Welcome to The Benefit Whisperer!
Ralph Weber kicks off his new podcast adventure by discussing the hidden potential of employee benefits. He explores how you can rethink your approach to healthcare to attract top talent and cut costs. Ralph shares his journey from air traffic control to the world of group benefits, revealing insider secrets and strategies to help you design the perfect plan for your business and employees.
Key conversations include:
Ralph’s Background: From air traffic control to group benef...2025-01-0700 min
Ralph & Mel#YOLOThis episode features:
Ralph and Mel have words about Oliver hitting high school next year, the price of fuel and Ralph's distaste for it. We've also touched on a very interesting topic - Can you love someone and not like them? We're divided in our answers.
Also #YOLO
Not your average father-daughter podcast.
Candid, raw and recorded in our warehouse. We're giving you pub chat without the pub. So just the chat. Ralph is nearing 60, and Mel is at the
ripe age of 32.
We're talking everything. The...2024-12-1525 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhat is title insurance and why do I need it?Title insurance is a crucial safeguard for homeowners, protecting against unexpected claims and potential financial disasters. In this episode, Ralph addresses a heartfelt question from a listener, Michael, who is grappling with the decision of whether to purchase title insurance amidst mounting closing costs for his dream home. Ralph explains the differences between lender's title insurance, which only protects the lender, and owner's title insurance, which provides essential coverage for the homeowner's equity. Through a compelling real-life story about a youth pastor named David, Ralph illustrates the dire consequences of skipping this important coverage, highlighting how a seemingly small...2024-11-3037 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhat are 7 things I can do to get the highest price when selling my car?Are you leaving thousands of dollars on the table when selling your car? Today, Ralph shares a compelling story about a client named Bill, who transformed a $12,000 trade-in offer into an impressive $17,500 through a private sale. Ralph outlines seven essential principles that can help you maximize your car's selling price, including the importance of documentation, strategic timing, and professional detailing. He emphasizes that taking the time to sell privately, despite the challenges, can yield significantly better financial outcomes. Tune in to discover not only practical steps to enhance your vehicle's value but also insights on navigating the selling process...2024-11-2023 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourMedicare (Dis)Advantage, Medical Blind Spots, & Supreme Court StenchAs the Medicare enrollment period gets underway again, we welcome Dr. Adam Gaffney to remind us the ways all those heavily advertised Medicare Advantage programs are ripping you off. Then we receive another house call from Dr. Marty Makary, author of Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health about the effect of medical groupthink on all kinds of accepted treatments from peanut allergies to opioid addiction. Finally, founder of Media Matters, David Brock stops by to discuss his latest book, Stench: The Making of the Thomas Court and the Unmaking of America.2024-10-261h 46
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhat is meant by surveillance pricing and does it cost us more?Surveillance pricing is a creeping reality in today's digital economy, impacting how much you pay for everyday products. As Ralph explores the unsettling practice of dynamic, personalized pricing, he reveals how companies use your online behavior and data to determine what price to charge you. This can lead to significant disparities in pricing for the same products, leaving consumers feeling manipulated and distrustful. Ralph provides insights on how to protect your finances from these tactics, emphasizing the importance of awareness and strategic online behavior. Additionally, he delves into the ethical implications of such practices from a Christian perspective, urging...2024-10-2222 minRalph & MelSecond Marriages & The Price of ChipsNot your average father-daughter podcast. Candid, raw and recorded in our warehouse. We're giving you pub chat without the pub. So just the chat. Ralph is nearing 60, and Mel is at the ripe age of 32.
We're talking everything. The good, the bad, the ugly & the beautiful.
We dive deep into relationships, religion, politics and pop culture. We get into mental health and the psychology behind literally everything we do and don’t do in this life. There is absolutely nothing off-limits and if there’s something that needs to be discussed, it will be discussed.
2024-10-1352 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWhat are 9 unexpected costs of selling your home?Ralph dives into the often-overlooked hidden costs of selling a home, a topic that can leave many homeowners unprepared and financially strained. He outlines nine unexpected expenses, from presale home inspections to capital gains taxes, that can significantly impact your wallet. Ralph emphasizes the importance of budgeting and preparation to manage these costs effectively, drawing on real-life stories of homeowners who faced surprising hurdles during their selling process. By weaving in a biblical perspective, specifically Proverbs 24:27, Ralph underscores the value of planning and preparation in life’s major decisions. Throughout the episode, Ralph offers actionable steps to help listeners na...2024-10-0221 min
Ticket PriceThe Lord of the Rings 1978We made it! We are at the end of our one-year anniversary celebration. The end of our Lord of the Rings journey. We are reviewing the 1978 Ralph Bakshi animated film, The Lord of the RIngs. Is this adaption of J.R.R. Tolkien's work worthy of the title of King of the Lord of the Rings or does it need to be cast out of Middle-Earth forever?
Join us in a game of bingo with Ticket Price bingo boards. Link below.
Ticket Price BINGO Boards.pdf - Google Drive
2024-09-272h 04
Ralph Nader Radio HourSaving Lives On The Road/Ralph Answers Your QuestionsRalph welcomes fellow auto safety advocate, Jackie Gillan, past President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes, save lives and prevent injuries. Then, Ralph outlines the latest issue of the Capitol Hill Citizen and responds to your feedback from recent programs.Jackie Gillan is past President of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, a coalition working together to reduce motor vehicle crashes, save lives and prevent injuries through the adoption of federal and state laws, policies and programs. Ms. Gillan has held senior policy positions for three state...2024-06-151h 26
Ralph Nader Radio HourThe HammerRalph welcomes labor journalist Hamilton Nolan to discuss his latest book, "The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and the Struggle for the Soul of Labor". They'll get into why some of the biggest names in organized labor have gotten so bad at organizing labor, and they'll highlight the labor organizers who are effectively wielding power. Then, Ralph is joined by child advocate and original Nader's Raider Robert Fellmeth to discuss the dangers of online anonymity. Plus, a creative call to action from Ralph!Hamilton Nolan is a labor journalist who writes regularly for In These Times magazine and The Gu...2024-05-111h 34
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)BUSINESS INTERVIEW: How To Convert Customers DirectlyBusiness Interview: How To Convert Customers Directly Randy Rayess is today’s guest joining us on the Steve Jobs inspired Join Up Dots business podcast. He is the co-founder of Outgrow, a new way to add interactive content on your business and website. He also has a very interesting backstory to where he is today Alongside his business partner Pratham, he started a mobile app development marketplace in 2012 called VenturePact. This was a site for entrepreneurs to connect with mobile development teams. The challenge at that time was that mobile app development was relatively new, expensive and it was hard to as...2024-04-2252 min
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)LISTENER QUESTIONS: Paying The PriceLISTENER QUESTIONS: Paying The Price 🎙️ Join Up Dots Podcast Summary: Unpacking Life's Price Tags In our latest Join Up Dots episode, we delved into the profound concept that "everything has a price." We explored real-life scenarios where choices come with hidden costs, leaving listeners with insights that challenge their perspectives. Here's a snapshot of what went down: 🌟 Episode Highlights: Balancing Act Between Work and Life: Listeners like Sarah from Austin, TX, found resonance in the struggle of maintaining work-life harmony. We dished out tips on finding that elusive balance without sacrificing personal joy. #WorkLifeHarmony Mindful Decision-Making in Daily Life: James from Man...2024-02-0218 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourGrassroots Groups for GazaRalph welcomes leaders from two grassroots groups advocating against the war on Gaza. First, from Tel Aviv, we are joined by Ido Setter of “Standing Together” a movement aimed at mobilizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel in pursuit of peace, equality, and social and climate justice. Then, here in America, Stefanie Fox, executive director of Jewish Voice For Peace, reports on their work taking action in Congress, on the streets, and in the press to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza.Ido Setter works on Standing Together's digital mobilization team. Standing Together is a grassroots movement mobi...2024-01-271h 16
Join Up Dots - Business Coaching Made Easy (With A Bit Of Life Coaching Too)LIFE COACHING: Everything In Life Has A Price🎙️ Podcast Summary: "Unveiling the Price Tags of Life" Join us in the latest episode of Join Up Dots as we unravel the profound meaning behind the phrase "everything has a price." We dive into the everyday scenarios where choices come with hidden costs, and how being aware of these costs can reshape our decisions. 🌟 Key Takeaways: The Sneaky Cost of Social Media: 🕰️ Sacrificing an hour for a social media binge might mean missed opportunities for productivity and personal growth. #TimeVsSocialMedia Money Choices and Experiences: 💰 Skipping that weekend getaway to save money could cost you the priceless memories and experiences with loved ones. #Mon...2024-01-2214 min
Ask Ralph: Financially Confident ChristianWacky Business Story Headlines In this episode of Ask Ralph, host Ralph Estep, Jr. explores the wackiest business news stories that have made headlines. These stories remind us that entrepreneurship is full of surprises and that truth can often be stranger than fiction. The first story highlights the Million-Dollar Potato Salad campaign launched on Kickstarter in 2014. Zack Brown raised over a million dollars from thousands of backers for his simple potato salad recipe. While some criticized it as a waste of money, others saw it as a testament to the power of crowdfunding and the randomness of the internet. Next, Ralph discusses the...2024-01-1709 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourBig GamblingRalph welcomes Professor John Kindt to discuss his recent article in the Capitol Hill Citizen, "Time to Criminalize Internet Gambling." Then, our resident international law expert Bruce Fein takes us to the International Court of Justice and explains the lawsuit that South Africa has filed against Israel, which alleges genocide. Finally, Ralph has some choice words about Boeing's latest disaster. John Kindt is Professor Emeritus of Business Administration at the University of Illinois Gies College of Business, where his teaching focuses on—among other topics—the socio-economics of gambling and legal policies. Mr. Kindt has frequently testified as an e...2024-01-131h 27
goodsugarRAW DEAL w/ Chloe Sorvino Corporate Food Greed | goodsugar 184Long before the emergence of COVID-19 and the ominous proclamation from the chairman of Tyson Foods regarding the fragility of the food supply chain in the United States, the meat industry in America was teetering on the edge of collapse. In the backdrop of years of consolidation, price manipulation, and power plays orchestrated by influential figures within the industry, the repercussions have been felt by consumers and the environment alike. The deleterious effects not only harm our well-being but also serve as a source of enrichment for a select few. In this illuminating exploration, financial journalist Chloe...2023-11-2847 min
Ralph Nader Radio HourJustifying the Unjustifiable in PalestineRalph is joined by author and human rights activist Miko Peled. They discuss the excuses that Israel uses to defend the atrocities they commit against Palestinians, and the truth behind all the propaganda. Miko Peled is an author, writer, speaker, and human rights activist living in the United States. He is considered by many to be one of the clearest voices calling for justice in Palestine, support of the Palestinian call for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) and the creation of a single democracy with equal rights in all of historic Palestine. Mr. Peled was born and r...2023-11-251h 05
Weird Stories; If Fog Could SingGift"Run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, runDon't give the farmer his fun, fun, funHe'll get by without his rabbit pieSo run, rabbit, run, rabbit, run, run, run"Noel Gay, Ralph Butler"Funny, how what makes you move is so simple and the field you must move in is so crowded."Rabbit Run, John Updike Content Warning:Strong Language and Disturbing Scenes2023-09-2725 min