The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI

Recorded live at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference (CRC) in Indianapolis, this 7.5-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI features a Snap Talk with Rachel Dobbs, client executive at Hylant. Ms. Dobbs describes how construction materials affect property insurance costs during and after construction and how they vary across different regions of the United States. Listen in for a technical breakdown utilizing data from a recent study comparing these costs.

In this 30‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, Scott Cornell, vice president of transportation risk and strategy and crime and theft specialist at LogistIQ Insurance Solutions, pulls back the curtain on the growing sophistication of agricultural cargo theft. Mr. Cornell explains how criminals are leveraging technology and organized networks and what these evolving tactics mean for risk managers, insurers, and the agricultural supply chain.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act has had an immediate impact within the renewable energy space. Katie Burke, vice president, US Specialty Energy and Power growth leader at Marsh Specialty Energy and Power, shares key insights into the most important components of the Act, including the sunsetting of critical tax credits and the challenges of financing projects and accelerated timelines considering such repeals. With energy needs at an all-time high, renewable energy providers must use long-term, not short-term, strategies for the longevity of the industry.

Casualty claims are growing more complex—and risk professionals need practical strategies to stay ahead. In this episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast, we're joined by Rachael Chen, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s U.S. Casualty Energy Practice, and Phil Educate, Senior Vice President in Marsh’s Claims Practice. Together, they’ll explore the factors that lead to complex claims, the shift in jury dynamics, and proactive tactics to manage troublesome claims and achieve better outcomes.

In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, host Joel Appelbaum speaks with Jim DeVoe-Talluto, assistant director of captive insurance at the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation, about what organizations need to know when applying to form a captive insurance company. Drawing on more than 2 decades of regulatory experience, Mr. DeVoe-Talluto outlines the steps applicants should expect, the most common barriers to approval, and the importance of a strong feasibility study and experienced advisers. Mr. DeVoe-Talluto also discusses Vermont's regulatory philosophy and why early planning, clarity of purpose, and strong executive buy-in significantly improve the chance of success. Whether you're exploring a first-time captive or seeking insight into regulator expectations in one of the world's largest captive domiciles, this conversation delivers timely, practical guidance directly from the source.

Steve McElhiney, partner, Captives and Alternative Risk Transfer Solutions, Augment Risk, divulges both the rising popularity, as well as some of the misconceptions, of the use of captive insurance in agriculture, in this 26-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI.

Hear Mr. McElhiney's thoughts on how parametric insurance and captive insurance can go hand in hand.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an increasingly important topic across insurance, but its implications for captive insurance and actuarial work are still taking shape. In this episode of The Edge of Risk podcast by IRMI, Steven Abel and Jason Abril of Oliver Wyman share an actuarial and technology-driven perspective on how AI is influencing insurance analytics, data governance, and risk decision-making. The discussion explores how machine learning has long been part of actuarial toolkits, while newer AI technologies are accelerating workflow automation, data enrichment, and analytical insight generation.

The conversation also examines how captives differ from commercial insurers in their AI use cases, particularly given differences in scale, mission, and access to actuarial resources. Mr. Abel and Mr. Abril address transparency concerns around AI models, emphasizing governance, documentation, and human oversight. Looking ahead, they outline why AI literacy—rather than deep technical specialization—may become a critical skill for actuaries and captive professionals as advanced analytics continue to reshape risk financing strategies.

Natural disasters and weather-related events continue to dominate headlines, with their frequency and severity increasing year over year. The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Angela Skow, vice president and head of Large and Complex Construction at CNA, to discuss how the construction industry strengthens communities after natural disasters. In this 16-and-a-half-minute episode, Ms. Skow identifies short- and long-term challenges the construction industry faces with weather-related events, such as labor and environmental considerations, and highlights the importance of integrating climate-adaptive materials with efficient designs to reduce future risk exposures. Listen in and learn more as she stresses the importance of utilizing the latest technology measures, including drones and climate-resilient building materials, to further maintain insurability for construction risks.

Elise Farnham, president of Illumine Consulting, explains hedging in agriculture. In this 14-minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, the daughter of a Kansas wheat farmer provides real-life examples of how farmers hedge commodities as part of their overall risk management strategy.

Consider this a teaser for what will be an enormously insightful session at the 2026 IRMI Emmett J Vaughan Agribusiness Conference. Click here to be notified when Conference registration opens and be eligible for the Early Bird discount.

The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI welcomes Theresa Guertin, partner at Saxe Doernberger & Vita, who was a speaker at the 2025 IRMI Construction Risk Conference in Indianapolis. Listen in for an informative discussion on coverage claims, contracts, and litigation strategy. In this 17-minute podcast episode, Ms. Guertin highlights excellent examples of policy language trends, sleeper risks, and red flags in construction insurance. She also shares her expert opinion on case law that may have a ripple effect on coverage litigation and provides highly applicable examples of best practices for construction risk transfer processes.