Insurance Gone Wild

2026: The Year Insurance Finally Calms Down (Please Don’t Jinx It)

Dennis is cautiously optimistic (which is terrifying), Stephanie is calling out the chaos (as usual), and together they try to explain why 2026 might be the year insurance stops punching everyone in the face monthly.
On the property and auto side, things are… dare we say… stabilizing? Premium increases are slowing, new carriers are popping up, and underwriting is loosening just enough to give people hope. On the health side? Absolute mayhem. Premiums are exploding, legislation is muddying the waters, and more people are quietly asking, “Do I really need insurance… or just luck?”
From reinsurance and deductibles to politicians meddling where they shouldn’t and why “free healthcare” is never actually free, Dennis and Stephanie break it all down with zero filters, strong opinions, and more than a few side rants.
Spoiler: nothing is getting cheaper — but it might stop getting worse. And right now, that counts as good news. 
Chapters
00:00:00 – Welcome to 2026: Lower Expectations, Lower Increases00:10:33 – Home & Auto Rates: Still High, Just Less Insulting00:12:49 – Reconstruction Costs vs. Reality (Spoiler: Math Ain’t Mathing)00:17:34 – COVID, Freezes, and Why Everything Broke at Once00:21:25 – Politicians, Insurance, and Why This Never Ends Well00:25:06 – Health Insurance Premiums: Choose Your Own Financial Disaster00:32:54 – Dropping Coverage, Going Bare, and Hoping Nothing Happens00:37:39 – Preventative Care: Use It Before You Rage Quit00:42:15 – Socialized Medicine: Great If You’re Healthy, Awful If You’re Not00:43:05 – Taxes, Incentives, and Why Nothing Is Actually “Free”
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
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AI Is Taking Our Jobs… But Can It Underwrite a Dance Floor?

AI is everywhere right now—writing emails, answering phones, predicting the weather (badly), and apparently trying to underwrite insurance. So naturally, Dennis and Stephanie sit down to ask the important questions: Is AI actually smarter than people… or just faster at being confidently wrong?
From financial advisors and political insider trading to hailstorms, dance floors, restaurant liquor percentages, and that one client who thinks a rear-end collision destroyed their serpentine belt, this episode goes deep into where AI might help insurance—and where it absolutely should not be trusted without adult supervision.
They argue (a lot), agree (occasionally), roast carriers for not knowing their own appetite, and somehow end up with Stephanie defending AI and Dennis yelling at bots. If you’ve ever been told “yes,” then “no,” then “well… maybe” by underwriting—this one’s for you.
Human touch still matters. AI still guesses. And no, the robot cannot answer your question.
Chapters
00:00:00 - Welcome Back to Chaos (It’s Been a Week, Again)00:01:11 - AI Is Affecting Everything… Including Our Patience00:02:46 - Financial Advisors, Algorithms, and Following Politicians’ Trades00:04:05 - Why Insurance Companies Tried to Kill Agents (And Failed)00:06:19 - Where AI Actually Touches Agents Today00:08:11 - New Construction, Bad Data, and AI Saying “No” for the Wrong Reasons00:11:36 - Weather Prediction: Why 45% Rain Means Nothing00:13:15 - Actuaries, Guessing, and Why Rates Keep Going Up00:17:05 - Claims Without Adjusters (What Could Possibly Go Wrong?)00:18:39 - Fraud, Roof Photos, and Why Your Neighbor’s House Matters00:20:32 - Fender Benders, Fake Damage, and the Serpentine Belt Incident00:23:28 - When AI Should Flag Claims (But Not Decide Them)00:26:19 - Chat Bots, Phone Bots, and Dennis’ Deep Hatred of All Bots00:29:48 - Underwriting Appetite: Restaurants, Alcohol, and Dance Floors00:33:56 - Calling Back Until You Get the “Right” Answer00:38:54 - Human Error vs Automation (The Real Problem)00:41:12 - Stephanie Accidentally Defends AI00:42:40 - The Future of AI, Human Touch, and Why This Argument Isn’t Over

Santa’s Insurance Nightmare & Holiday Claim Chaos

It’s the Christmas edition of Insurance Gone Wild, which means Dennis and Stephanie are festive, tired, and absolutely done with “quick questions” that are definitely claims.
From a brutally accurate insurance-themed Christmas poem to breaking down the absurd amount of coverage Santa would actually need to operate the North Pole, this episode hits all the holiday chaos agents know too well. Frozen pipes, last-minute coverage regrets, RV winterization fails, uninsured December gambles, and why nobody should ever say “hypothetically” to an insurance agent.
It’s funny, painfully real, slightly unhinged, and exactly what happens when holiday cheer meets deductibles, exclusions, and reality. Merry Christmas… now what are your limits again?
⏱️ Chapters
00:00:00 – Christmas at the Agency (Yes, We’re Still Working)00:01:26 – ’Twas the Night Before Christmas… Insurance Edition00:04:04 – “Just a Quick Question” (It’s Never Quick)00:06:31 – What Insurance Does Santa Actually Need?00:09:28 – Naughty vs. Nice: HR Problems at the North Pole00:11:19 – Liquor Liability, Eggnog & Bad Decisions00:12:16 – Holiday Claims: Fire, Water & Theft Season00:14:10 – Why Winter Damage Hits the South Differently00:16:08 – RV Winterization Mistakes You’ll Regret00:20:04 – One Freeze Is All It Takes00:24:26 – Traveling for the Holidays? Protect Your House00:26:13 – December & January: The Worst Months to Be Uninsured00:29:08 – Health Insurance While Traveling (Read the Fine Print)00:31:08 – Final Holiday Advice & Reality Check
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
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Going Naked… Is An Insurance Thing

Texas is the only state where workers’ comp isn’t required… which leads a lot of business owners to hear “optional” and translate it as “free pass.” Dennis and Stephanie break down what workers’ comp actually does, why Texas is so weird about it, what “going naked” really means, and the very un-fun reality: even if you don’t carry a policy, you may still be on the hook for medical bills, lost wages, and lawsuits.
They also get into monopolistic states (where you have to buy comp through the state), why workers’ comp coverage is regulated (so it’s basically the same everywhere), how class codes can make or break your premium, and the classic “they got hurt over the weekend but limped in Monday” problem.
Questions / comments / rude remarks: 817-753-0093Email: contact@igwpodcast.comAnd yes—like, subscribe, and do it “for the love.”
Chapters
00:00 - Welcome back: “It’s been a week” (again)00:01 - Movember, Dwight Yoakam vibes, and losing shirt buttons00:02 - Workers’ comp 101 and why Texas is the outlier00:03 - “Not required” doesn’t mean “no liability”00:04 - The official Texas term: “going naked”00:06 - Why words like “consummation” should’ve stayed out of contracts00:07 - Monopolistic states: when the state is your workers’ comp carrier00:08 - Workers’ comp history: from ancient injuries to modern policies00:10 - Big point: workers’ comp coverage is regulated (same coverage, different price)00:11 - Class codes + asking better questions = fewer ugly surprises00:12 - Claims perspective: workers’ comp feels “guilty until proven innocent”00:13 - Employer’s liability: where the lawsuit limits actually matter00:16 - Occupational accident insurance: cheaper, but you’re not lawsuit-proof00:18 - Industrial Revolution injuries and the “unholy trinity” defenses00:23 - Quick U.S. timeline: Wisconsin first, Mississippi last00:24 - “I don’t have employees, they’re all 1099” (here we go…)00:26 - If your subs don’t have their own insurance, it climbs the ladder00:28 - Ballpark premium talk + how to bake comp costs into pricing00:33 - Peace of mind vs. the unknown cost of “something happens”00:36 - Lawsuit extras: loss of consortium (yes, that one)00:38 - The billboard effect: why lawsuits are everywhere now00:41 - Nuclear vs. atomic verdicts (and lawsuit financing)00:44 - Wrap-up: Texas comp isn’t required, but risk still shows up to work00:47 - Final plug: call, email, like, subscribe “for the love”
 
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Your Insurance Claim Isn’t a Mystery Novel (But Sometimes It’s Close)

Ever get an insurance story from a “friend of a friend” and it somehow ends with “and then they didn’t pay”? Dennis and Stephanie unpack what a bad day in insurance really looks like—when it’s just the telephone game, when it’s actually the carrier being… the carrier, and when you find out the “life insurance policy” is actually a life insurance… not-a-thing.
Also: alien abduction insurance is real, apparently goldfish surgery is real, and Dennis once paid $100 for a $7 rat to receive what can only be described as boutique medical care.
Plus, they get into why “cheap” coverage can be wildly expensive later, why higher liability limits make your insurance company suddenly develop motivation, and how one claim can turn into a whole bad year if you’re underinsured.Chapters00:00 - Welcome to Insurance Gone Wild… and apparently “hair”00:23 - “Who is she?”: marriage, mystery hairs, and poor Brian01:16 - What’s a “worst day in insurance” really look like?02:14 - The telephone game: why claim stories never add up03:34 - “Company X” and the roof claim fight you can set your watch to04:32 - Plot twist: Company X actually pays a roof claim (everyone panics)06:38 - Agents begging carriers: just do the right thing07:23 - “Company Y” and the reputation faceplant (lawsuit talk)08:19 - The “don’t pay claims” playbook and why cheap is… cheap09:10 - Landlords vs. homeowners: who can afford to gamble?10:28 - The $100 x 15 rental homes math moment11:26 - The gut-punch call: “We had a death… what life policy do they have?”12:57 - How much life insurance is enough (and why “some” beats “none”)14:50 - Emotional whiplash: alien abduction is the next step, obviously15:28 - Yes, alien abduction insurance is real (and the probing logistics)17:32 - Pet insurance gets unhinged: goldfish surgery + Dennis’ rat IV saga20:14 - The rat dies anyway (because of course it does)22:48 - A million-dollar mustache: the barber’s worst nightmare23:51 - Celebrity body-part insurance and what it actually covers26:13 - Insuring lottery numbers?? Make it make sense27:20 - Fraud corner: “I lost my car in my own garage”28:44 - UK farmer insures cows for alien impregnation (sure, why not)29:32 - Claims are like seeing a cop: even when you did nothing, you panic32:27 - Why making a claim is just… a pain32:59 - Lawsuits, state minimum limits, and why the company writes the check fast34:35 - Why higher liability limits = the company fights harder (for themselves)35:55 - Real talk: affordability, teen drivers, and why people drop limits36:24 - Umbrella coverage + “don’t screw up, pal”36:55 - Underinsured: turning a bad day into a bad year37:02 - How to reach the show + “listen to what I’m trying to say” outro
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
Get a Quote!Panatela Group: https://panatelagroup.com/Call: 817-753-0093

Call Your Agent, Not the 800 Number (and Stop Slipping on Aisle 12)

Dennis and Stephanie are back, slightly feral from life and over-caffeinated, to talk about everyone’s favorite topic: insurance claims and the chaos gremlins who come with them.
In this episode they drag busted water heaters, confused adjusters who don’t seem to know the actual policy, subs who cut clearly marked gas lines, and people who magically “discover” five extra passengers after a fender bender. They break down why you should call your agent before you mash that 800 number, why you have to mitigate damage (yes, you were right to dry your house out), how diminished value on your car really works, and why people suddenly find their inner actor the minute money is mentioned.
They also get into group health freak-outs, slip-and-fall frequent flyers, and one “imbibing” former client who absolutely proved why you should just tell your agent the truth the first time.
If you’ve ever stared at a mess and thought, “Is this a claim or just a Tuesday?” — this one’s for you.
Chapters
0:00 – Cold Open & Name Butchering1:25 – Texas Fall, Coffee, and Catching Our Breath1:37 – The Busted Water Heater & The ‘You Shouldn’t Have Done That’ Adjuster3:13 – Where Have All the Good Adjusters Gone?6:02 – When Your Agent Shows Up to the Adjuster Meeting7:40 – Before You Call the 800 Number… Call Your Agent8:42 – Gas Line, Subcontractor, and “Please Breathe”11:18 – Group Health Panic: “I’m Going to Get Dropped!”13:50 – Car Accident 101 & Diminished Value17:18 – Cones, Closed Lanes & “Yeah… You’re Still at Fault”21:29 – Take Pictures, Take Video, Trust No One After Money Enters the Chat23:52 – Greed, Fender Benders & Professional Claimants26:34 – If You’re Afraid to Call Your Agent… Get a New Agent28:17 – The “Imbibing” Former Client & Why You Shouldn’t Lie30:56 – Final Takeaway: Call Us Before You Freak Out

From Pilgrims to Pirates to Poultry: The Real Thanksgiving Story

Welcome to the Thanksgiving episode of Insurance Gone Wild — the only show bold enough to connect the Pilgrims, Lloyd’s of London, deep-fried poultry explosions, and Uncle Ron slipping on gravy like it’s Mario Kart.
Dennis brings the history (and weirdly, pirates), Stephanie brings the sarcasm and public safety warnings (mostly required), and together they walk you through why Thanksgiving is basically a disaster waiting to be financially protected.
From frozen-turkey missiles to flaming grills, bad Uber drivers, holiday alcohol confidence, burnt lawns, broken teeth, and the Great Snowpocalypse of 2021 — this episode proves one undeniable fact: the holidays are fun until somebody files a claim.
Grab a plate, grab your policy, and maybe don’t fry anything indoors.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
0:00 — Welcome to Holiday ChaosDennis and Stephanie kick off with questionable energy, mild confusion, and zero alcohol. Allegedly.
0:47 — History No One Asked ForDennis explains the origin of insurance using pilgrims, pirates, and very patient listeners.
4:50 — Stephanie Regrets Her Career ChoicesA live internal monologue accidentally leaks out.
9:09 — Pirates Still Exist, ApparentlyAnd somehow this matters to your Thanksgiving.
9:40 — Deep-Frying: The Annual Homeowners’ Deductible LotteryAlso known as: “Is that turkey frozen?” … “Eh, probably fine.”
11:41 — When Holiday Spirit Means InjuryBurned grills, airborne turkeys, broken windows, and suspiciously quick insurance calls.
12:48 — The Drunk Driving GauntletFeaturing the world’s least qualified Uber driver and Stephanie’s rising blood pressure.
15:21 — Slippery Gravy & Slipperier Family DynamicsLiability meets side-eye across the dining table.
16:23 — When the Dog Eats Dinner FirstA Great Dane vs a pork loin: spoiler, the dog won.
17:40 — Backyard Football & Broken FencesTurkey Bowl: A proud American tradition of avoidable claims.
19:57 — Kitchen Fire? Outdoor Fire? All Fires Welcome.Bonus content: "Deep frying inside is not a personality."
20:45 — Snowmageddon PTSDStephanie tries to bring a fire pit indoors. Everyone survives. Barely.
24:10 — The Rare Case of Responsible ThinkingKerosene heaters, firewood, and no frozen pipes. A holiday miracle.
25:16 — Insurance Companies vs. The Ice AgeEveryone was angry, cold, and Googling "pipe bursts — now what?"
26:13 — Holiday Brains: Scientific Fact™From Nov 1 to Dec 31: joy, chaos, and questionable judgment skyrocket.
27:18 — Final Thoughts: Try Not to Burn Anything DownBecause your deductible should never be the most expensive part of Thanksgiving.
Want your own chaos story featured?📩 contact@igwpodcast.com
📞 817-753-0093
Happy Thanksgiving—may your turkey be thawed and your insurance active.

So… Is This Even Insurance?

Dennis rolls into the studio smelling slightly like the outdoors and questionable life choices, while Stephanie immediately reminds him she is not, under any circumstances, a “camping person.” After a brief detour through glow sticks, freezing tents, and childhood trauma involving nature, the two dive into a wild but shockingly practical topic: health sharing plans.
Are they insurance? (No.)Do they act like insurance? (Kind of.)Can they save people thousands and make hospitals rethink their billing nonsense? (Oh… absolutely.)
From $180,000 hospital bills cut down to $53,000 to the infamous duplicate billing game, Dennis and Stephanie break down how health sharing works, who it’s good for, who should run far away, and how businesses can add it as a cheaper option without ticking off the Affordable Care Act police.
Whether you’re trying to save money, trying to understand the disaster that is American billing codes, or just here for Stephanie roasting Dennis for smelling like camping — this episode is for you.
For More Information: https://www1.impacthealthsharing.com/?referral_id=04500801
⏱️ CHAPTERS00:00 — Dennis smells like camping and Stephanie hates nature05:28 — Glow sticks, tents, and why bugs ruin everything08:48 — Wait… what even IS health sharing?10:27 — Billing without chaos? Sounds fake.11:17 — “This isn’t insurance.” (Cue dramatic music.)17:59 — Who qualifies and who definitely shouldn’t27:05 — The $180,000 hospital bill story31:43 — When the deductible hits…and then stops hitting37:07 — Should YOU switch? (Spoiler: maybe)40:26 — How to ask questions without making Stephanie cry
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
Get a Quote!Panatela Group: https://panatelagroup.com/Call: 817-753-0093

When Smart People Get Dumb Insurance

It’s open enrollment chaos and Dennis and Stephanie are in rare form—part parenting therapy (“kids = feral”), part insurance intervention. They roast the industry’s favorite hobby—feelings masquerading as facts—then walk through why “coverage vs. cost” isn’t a slogan, it’s survival. Restaurants learn why a sewer backup can be a $20k cleanup, GCs learn “products-completed” isn’t optional, and everyone learns how to handle the classic “tree limb smashed my tenant’s car” drama without turning a question into a claim. Come for the sarcasm, stay for the free advice your broker should’ve given you.
Chapters
00:00:00 – Feral Season: Kids, cameras, and chaos00:02:06 – Veterans event takeaway: smart people, wrong insurance00:03:13 – Feelings vs. facts (HR edition)00:06:09 – “You don’t know what you don’t know” (and that’s pricey)00:08:14 – The mantra: Coverage over cost00:09:17 – Wing shop, big mop: the $20k sewer-backup story00:12:22 – Environmental “uh-ohs” and greasy what-ifs00:13:30 – How much to add backup coverage? (Math that actually maths)00:16:16 – When agents say “no”: drawing the line on bad risk00:17:12 – Dear builders: products-completed is not a suggestion00:18:27 – Why carriers ghost risk-takers (defense bills say hi)00:22:26 – Order-taker vs. advisor: interviewing your agent (and vice versa)00:25:08 – Tree limb vs. tenant’s car: who files the claim?00:30:00 – Open enrollment vibes: not bad, just… different00:31:08 – Housekeeping: subs, comments, and apple-juice confessions
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
Get a Quote!Panatela Group: https://panatelagroup.com/Call: 817-753-0093

Here’s Your Company Car (It’s Yours)

Welcome back to Insurance Gone Wild—the show where we won’t fix the insurance industry, but we will absolutely roast it while helping you avoid accidentally bankrupting yourself. This week we tackle the Great Company Vehicle Mirage (“We’ll give you a $500 allowance—just use your car 🙂”), why that “sweet deal” can implode if you don’t ask your carrier the right questions, and how Non-Owned Auto Coverage (Symbol 9) protects your employer (not you, champ). We break down business-use vs. personal policies for realtors, agents, foremen, and trades, when a personal policy might say “LOL nope,” why companies love allowances more than fleets, and the legal circus where lawyers sue everyone with a pulse. You’ll also hear the infamous pee-break truck-rolls-into-a-house claim, a subcontractor vs. clearly marked gas line drama, and the trailer-full-of-tools tale that ended a business—plus a detour into curling-iron warning labels because of course. Bottom line: ask questions, disclose changes, and get the coverage that actually covers you—because our two immutable laws still apply: It depends and Insurance sucks.
 Chapters0:00:00 “Welcome Back to Insurance Group Therapy”0:00:26 Stephanie Has Seen Dennis Too Much Today (Send Thoughts & Prayers)0:01:11 The Big Beautiful Hot Mess That Is Congress + Insurance News0:01:48 Our Two Laws of Insurance: It Depends & Insurance Sucks0:02:57 So Your Job Makes You Drive Everywhere… Let’s Talk.0:04:03 Business Use vs. Personal Use: The Code Words That Matter0:06:22 Introducing: Non-Owned Auto Coverage (Symbol 9) AKA “Your Company Protects Themselves, Not You”0:10:44 Why Companies Give You a Car Allowance (Spoiler: It’s Cheap, Not Smart)0:12:26 The “I Just Stopped to Pee and My Truck Rolled Into a House” Story0:14:49 Lawyers: They Will Sue Everyone Including Your Dog0:18:44 Daycares, Subcontractors, Deliveries & Liability Dominoes0:23:21 Curling Iron Warning Labels & Society Decline (A Brief Intermission)0:24:47 Gas Line Meets Backhoe: The Construction Claim Case Study0:27:52 The “Trailer Full of Tools” Business Ender (RIP to That Company)0:30:08 Wrap Up + Send Us Your Dumb, Wild, Brilliant Insurance Questions
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If you have questions, comments, concerns, strong opinions, or spicy rude remarks (we welcome those):📩 contact@igwpodcast.com
📞 817-753-0093
We’ll answer your insurance questions whether or not you ever give us a dime.Because we genuinely care.…And also because we like being right.
 
Email: Contact@IGWpodcast.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/InsuranceGoneWild
Get a Quote!Panatela Group: https://panatelagroup.com/Call: 817-753-0093