Building Systems That Serve People, Not Profits With Alan Wiederhold

Jan 30

What happens when someone who spent decades inside the healthcare system decides to tell the truth about how it really works? In this episode, Alan Wiederhold — a 30-year healthcare industry insider, U.S. Navy veteran, PTSD survivor, author, and founder of Neuma — pulls back the curtain on how modern healthcare in America was built, who truly benefits, and why so many people are left without access to care. Drawing on firsthand experience, Alan explains how health insurance became employer-based, how pricing decisions are made behind closed doors, and why the system prioritizes profit over people.

You’ll also hear why plant medicine isn’t a magic fix but a powerful catalyst for change, why Big Pharma continues to resist it, and how accessibility can improve without abandoning safety or science. This episode explores the intersection of truth-telling, neuroscience, leadership, and resilience, and challenges us to rethink how we heal, both individually and systemically.

Listen to the Full Episode:

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

How the modern U.S. healthcare system was created.
Who decides what gets covered by insurance.
Why healthcare pricing feels opaque and inflated.
How employer-based healthcare leaves millions without coverage.
Why current plans don’t address the real cost problem.
What it’s like to challenge the system from within.
How trauma and burnout impact high performers.
The role of plant medicine in healing and clarity.
Why real change starts with the individual, not the system.

Ideas Worth Sharing:

“Insurance companies today are in business to make money.” - Alan Wiederhold
“Most people purchase their healthcare from their employer, which leaves a lot of people who don’t have access to healthcare. They don’t qualify for Medicaid, they’re not older than 65, and they’re left in no man’s land.” - Alan Wiederhold
“The problem with every healthcare plan that you look at today is that they’re not addressing the fundamental issue, which is the cost of healthcare.” - Alan Wiederhold