Our Latest Podcasts
PoolSide is a thought-leadership podcast dedicated to the ideas, opportunities, challenges,
and innovations shaping the future of public entity risk pools. Hosted by Michelle Béchamps
of Béchamps & Associates, in partnership with GEM, the show brings together industry leaders
and practitioners to explore timely topics like governance, productivity, technology, risk, and organizational change. Through insightful conversations and real-world perspectives, PoolSide brings people together to exchange expertise, spark new thinking, and strengthen the pooling community—helping organizations navigate complexity and build a smarter, more resilient future.
11
Transcending the Transaction
What does it really take to earn loyalty when speed and automation dominate nearly every industry? In Episode #11 of PoolSide, we welcome Jay Baer, Hall of Fame keynote speaker, customer experience and marketing expert, and author of Human.Kind. and Ignite a Word-of-Mouth Wave. As public entity pools gain efficiency through innovation, the real question becomes: What are we doing with the capacity we get back? In relationship-driven industries like pooling, our differentiator has never been speed alone. It’s trust, proximity, and personal connection. Jay shares how intentional moments spark loyalty, why advocacy is earned through experiences, and how leaders can ignite a wave, one meaningful interaction at a time.
10
The Productivity Paradox
In this milestone one-year anniversary episode, we unpack a question facing public entity risk pools everywhere: Are we actually becoming more productive—or just busier?
Michelle is joined by Ann Gergen, Executive Director of AGRiP, to explore the real forces reshaping productivity in pooling today, including:
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How AI and pooled intelligence are changing expertise, judgment, and decision-making
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The impact of shifting demographics and career longevity on innovation and advancement
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Why knowledge loss from board and staff turnover quietly erodes productivity
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How cognitive and organizational bias can slow progress—even in data-rich environments
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09
Leading Across Generations (Without The Stereotypes)
As 2026 approaches, leadership looks different from just a few years ago. Gen Z is now stepping into management, Millennials are running teams, and Gen X and Boomers are guiding organizations through transitions shaped by hybrid work, fast-moving tech, and bigger questions about meaning and motivation. In this episode of PoolSide, we’re joined by Kim Lear, founder of Inlay Insights, to talk about what actually works when leading across generations—plus practical ways to communicate better, build trust faster, and get the best from multi-generational teams (without the stereotypes).
08
Protecting the Badge
In this episode, Michelle sits down with Jack Ryan, Attorney & Co-Director at the Legal and Liability Risk Management Institute (LLRMI) — one of the nation’s leading voices in law enforcement risk management and liability — to talk about how agencies can lead with accountability and stay ahead of emerging legal trends.
