Almost Nowhere

Piotr Lebiedz 01.06.2026 42min

Recorded live at the 2026 RPM Seminar in Chicago, this episode of Almost Nowhere explores a question that sits at the center of modern actuarial practice: what does pricing sophistication actually mean?While many North American conversations focus on modeling techniques, filing requirements, and implementation challenges, some international markets have pushed much further into demand modeling, elasticity, customer lifetime value, experimentation, and real-time deployment. To understand what that looks like in practice, Alicia Burke and Jeffrey Durham sit down with pricing actuary Piotr Lebiedz, whose experience spans some of Europe's most competitive insurance markets. The discussion covers:Why competition and regulation shape pricing innovation differently around the worldWhat U.S. actuaries can learn from pricing practices in Poland and the UKThe real strengths and limitations of GBMs versus GLMsHow demand modeling and elasticity can improve business decisions without crossing regulatory linesWhy deployment speed may matter more than model complexityThe debate around customer lifetime value and whether insurers can truly predict itHow AI and agentic workflows could reshape pricing teams in the years aheadAlong the way, Piotr challenges the idea that sophistication is simply about building more complex models. Instead, he argues that the most advanced organizations focus on people, processes, governance, and speed—using the right tools for the right problems rather than chasing complexity for its own sake. For actuaries, pricing leaders, and insurance innovators, this conversation offers a rare look inside markets where pricing strategy has become a true competitive weapon.

Betty Zhu: InsurTech After the Hype 21.05.2026 44min

Recorded live at the 2026 RPM Seminar in Chicago, this episode of Almost Nowhere cuts through the noise surrounding InsurTech, GenAI, and the future of insurance software. Alicia Burke, Max Martinelli, and guest co-host Sergey sit down with Betty Zhu to unpack one of the biggest questions facing carriers today: when should insurers build technology themselves, and when should they buy it?Drawing from nearly a decade inside pricing technology and InsurTech vendors, Betty shares an insider’s perspective on the realities behind flashy demos, AI-driven product claims, vendor evaluations, proof-of-concepts, and the growing pressure created by rapid advances in generative AI.The conversation explores:Why GenAI is making “build vs. buy” harder than everHow carriers can distinguish real expertise from polished demosThe hidden risks of in-house AI development and key-person dependencyWhy distribution, domain expertise, and long-term viability matter more than hypeHow actuarial workflows may evolve as AI lowers the barrier to building softwareFor actuaries, innovation leaders, and insurance professionals trying to navigate the next wave of AI-enabled transformation, this episode offers a grounded discussion on what creates durable value — and what may disappear as quickly as it arrived.

Beyond the Pacific: Inside Japan’s Insurance System 14.05.2026 44min

Recorded live at the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, this episode of Almost Nowhere explores how Japan’s insurance industry manages some of the most concentrated catastrophe risk in the world.Hosts Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli are joined by Suguru Fujita, Yohei Konishi, Takuro Oyama, and Kenta Ito for a conversation on earthquakes, typhoons, reinsurance structures, catastrophe modeling, public-private partnerships, and the cultural mindset behind resilience in Japan.The discussion dives into how Japanese insurers approach pricing, regulation, AI, claims response, and long-term catastrophe management — and what U.S. actuaries and insurers can learn from a system built around collaboration, preparedness, and recovery.

Jim Weiss & Howard Kunst 28.04.2026 32min

Climate risk is changing faster than actuarial practice.In this episode of Almost Nowhere, Jim Weiss challenges how actuaries think about responsibility when models, data, and assumptions start to break down. From overlooked casualty impacts to the limits of today’s frameworks, this conversation pushes beyond the usual climate narrative.Plus, what AI means for all of it — and why the real risk might not be what you think.Filmed at the 2026 CAS RPM Seminar in Chicago.

Charles Johnson 24.04.2026 48min

AI is rapidly reshaping how actuaries are trained, hired, and evaluated. In this episode, Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli talk with Charles Johnson—actuary, educator, and founder—about what’s changing across the talent pipeline.From AI-assisted learning to AI-influenced interviews, the gap between high-performing candidates and those relying too heavily on tools is widening. The conversation explores hiring challenges, why traditional interviews fall short, and how hands-on work is becoming the clearest signal of real ability.As the profession evolves, one question stands out: who will adapt—and who will fall behind?

Mario DiCaro and Shine Wang on the CAS AI Primer 06.04.2026 37min

In this episode of Almost Nowhere, we dig into the CAS AI Primer and the problem it was built to solve: a growing divide between actuaries actively experimenting with AI and those keeping their distance.Our guests, part of the CAS AI working group, explain why that gap exists—and why it matters. While some practitioners are already building, testing, and validating AI-driven workflows, others are holding back due to uncertainty, risk, and lack of a clear starting point.Access the Primer: https://www.casact.org/publications-research/research/ai-tools-and-resources

Josh Pyle 30.01.2026 39min

Josh Pyle, Head of Corporate Actuarial, Reinsurance Strategy & ERM at Root Insurance, joins Max Martinelli, Alicia Burke, and surprise co-host Sergey Filimonov for a deep dive into generative AI agents. From governance and regulation to experimentation and business alignment, we unpack where actuaries should be exploring—and where they should proceed with caution. Whether you’re prototyping your first agent or weighing build-vs-buy, this episode brings real-world perspective to a fast-moving space.

Alp Can 26.01.2026 41min

Live from the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting, Alicia Burke and Erin Olson sit down with Alp Can to talk climate risk, tipping points, and what actuaries can do when the baseline itself is shifting. From disclosure frameworks to systems thinking to using the Actuaries Climate Index, this episode reframes climate not just as a risk—but as the new context for everything else.

Sergey Filimonov interview from CAS 2025 Annual Meeting 21.01.2026 43min

In this crossover episode with Actuarial Review, Sergey Filimonov returns for round three to talk AI hype, hard truths, and what’s actually working. From compute costs and evals to regulatory gaps and sustainability risks, we get into the real impact AI is having on actuaries—and what to watch for next.🎧 Recorded live at the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting.

Michel Leonard on Geopolitics, Inflation, and Actuarial Blind Spots 12.01.2026 44min

What do trade wars, tariffs, and extreme weather have in common? They’re not just headlines—they’re actuarial inputs. Michel Léonard joins Alicia Burke and Sara Chen (Actuarial Review) to talk about modeling the unpredictable, why actuaries need to rethink volatility, and how economic risk signals are evolving faster than our frameworks.

DJ Falkson, FCAS 06.01.2026 45min

DJ Falkson joins Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli live at the CAS Annual Meeting to unpack what housing, zoning, and migration have to do with insurance risk. From his work at Lemonade to his advocacy for smarter urban design, DJ shares why actuaries need to look upstream—not just at where risk lands, but what creates it. Expect history, policy, politics, and a reading list that’ll keep you busy.

Minisode - Brandon Katz on Paleoclimatology 29.12.2025 6min

What Ancient Climates Teach Us About Modern RiskIn this special minisode of Almost Nowhere, we continue the conversation with Brandon Katz, Executive Vice President at KatRisk, recorded at the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas.Brandon, one of only a handful of insurance professionals with formal training in paleoclimatology, takes us back in time to explore how Earth’s ancient climate history can inform today’s catastrophe modeling and climate risk decisions. We discuss what long-term climate records reveal about variability, extremes, and uncertainty — and why looking millions of years into the past can help actuaries better understand the risks ahead.A thoughtful add-on to our full episode on climate data and catastrophe modeling, this minisode is perfect for listeners curious about how deep climate science connects to modern insurance practice.

Brandon Katz - The Climate Data Dilemma 17.12.2025 41min

What Actuaries Need to Know (and Avoid) in Cat ModelingRecorded live at the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting in Austin, Texas, this episode of Almost Nowhere features Brandon Katz, Executive Vice President at KatRisk, in a deep dive on climate data, catastrophe modeling, and the limits of what models can tell us.Brandon brings a rare perspective to insurance, with formal training in meteorology, climate science, and paleoclimatology, to unpack what we truly know about climate risk — and where uncertainty remains. The conversation explores how climate signals are (and aren’t) incorporated into catastrophe models, which perils have higher versus lower confidence, and how actuaries can responsibly interpret model outputs amid regulatory and stakeholder pressure.

Alicia and Max talk AI Fast Track on demand 04.12.2025 8min

We’re back from the 2025 CAS Annual Meeting—and kicking off a slate of new episodes with a quick minisode on something big: the AI Fast Track is now available on demand.Alicia and Max break down why this shift matters, how you can fit it into your year-end CE plans (attestation season, anyone?), and what makes this course a solid way to level up before the ball drops.🎁 Use code almostnowhere before December 15, 2025 for $100 off registration.Learn more:https://thecasinstitute.org/press_release/ai-fast-track-program-now-available-on-demand/

Rob Lieberthal 21.11.2025 51min

Rob Lieberthal joins Alicia Burke and guest co-host Brian Fannin in our final episode recorded at 2025 CLRS to unpack his CAS-funded research project focused on turning messy, unstructured claims data—like medical notes and adjuster reports—into actuarial insights using large language models (LLMs). From the promise of synthetic medical records to the limits of explainability, Rob shares how he and his team are building an end-to-end framework that could change how we work with complex claims data. Plus, hear how you can get involved and provide input as the project evolves.

Ted Rock from Rock Roofing 04.11.2025 48min

Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli talk with Ted Rock, owner of Rock Roofing, about everything from storm chasers and hail claims to why insurers and contractors so often talk past each other. Ted shares an unfiltered view from the other side of the claim.It’s a conversation about trust, timelines, and what happens when boots on the roof meet spreadsheets at the desk.

Geoff Werner on Telematics 16.10.2025 48min

Following our conversation with TomTom’s Vinod Poomalai on personalized insurance and mobility data, Geoff Werner joins Alicia Burke and guest co-host Mallika Bender to go deeper into telematics. From harsh braking to pricing fairness, Geoff explains how telematics is evolving from add-on to centerpiece—and why actuaries can’t afford to ignore it.They explore data portability, behavioral insights, equity concerns, and the role of telematics in claims, underwriting, and even urban planning. A must-listen for anyone serious about the future of auto insurance.

Max and Alicia talk sponsorships 09.10.2025 4min

Max Martinelli and Alicia Burke pull back the curtain on sponsored episodes. Almost Nowhere will always feature thoughtful, unsponsored conversations—but we also partner with select companies that have something real to offer our audience. We’ll keep asking the hard-hitting questions you count on. No fluff.Curious about sponsorship or ad opportunities? Reach out at podcast@casact.org.

Vinod Poomalai from TomTom 06.10.2025 38min

When actuaries talk about location data, most are still thinking in zip codes. Vinod Poomalai of TomTom joins Alicia Burke and Max Martinelli to challenge that mindset—and introduce a new world of map, traffic, and mobility data that’s reshaping pricing, claims, fraud, and more.This is our first sponsored episode of Almost Nowhere, created in partnership with TomTom. You’ll hear how one in four cars on the road today is powered by TomTom data, and how that data is now being used by insurers to improve loss ratios, sharpen driver scores, and even influence public infrastructure. Vinod also shares why small and midsize carriers shouldn’t sit this wave out—and how to get started without getting overwhelmed.

Anne Cope from IBHS 22.09.2025 48min

Dr. Anne Cope doesn’t just study storms, she builds them. In this episode, Alicia Burke and guest co-host Len Llaguno talk with the Chief Engineer of the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) about the science behind resilience. From full-scale house destruction to wildfire ignition labs and hailstorms on demand, Anne shares how engineering, data, and insurance come together to drive real-world change.They explore how research influences building codes, how insurers can use that data, and why actuaries have a critical voice in shaping the future of resilience. Whether you’re in underwriting, modeling, or policy, this one’s for you.