The big 5-0! In this special 50th episode of the Subrogation Support Network, Ashton Kirsch sits down with Carl Van, founder of the International Insurance Institute and one of the most sought-after claims trainers in the country. With 27 years of running workshops for carriers like State Farm, Allstate, and Progressive, Carl has spent more time listening to real claims calls than just about anyone alive — and what he's heard might surprise you. They cover: The words and phrases adjusters use...

Freight brokers have long escaped liability for cargo theft by pointing the finger at carriers — but the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe just changed the rules. In this episode, host Ashton Kirsch sits down with MWL's very own cargo subrogation attorney, Lance Jones, to break down what the ruling actually means, why framing your claim around motor vehicle safety is now everything, and how practitioners can pursue brokers in ways that simply weren't viable before. Th...

Before Pete Fowler was one of the country's leading construction defect experts, he was digging ditches to fund a rock and roll career. These days, he trades the stage for the witness stand, but the performance instincts are the same: stay composed, know your material, and never let a smart opponent rattle you. In this episode, Ashton sits down with Pete Fowler, founder of Pete Fowler Construction Consultants, a national firm with expertise spanning construction defects, fire investigation, s...

Most work comp carriers are sitting on billions in unclaimed recoveries, and they don't even know it. In this episode, host Ashton Kirsch sits down with Bradley Drew, Senior Managing Director of PACE Claims, to explore one of the most overlooked opportunities in subrogation: toxic tort claims, and specifically asbestos. Brad brings over 30 years of experience managing asbestos and bodily injury litigation, having helped process more than a million claims and $40 billion in settlements through...

Join host Ashton Kirsch for a preview of his upcoming CLM Conference presentation on negotiation strategies, featuring claims experts Amber Guenther from Alliant Insurance Services and Cortney Helfrich from Wilbur Group. This episode tackles why negotiation is the most undervalued skill in claims, applicable to everything from subrogation recoveries to defense settlements. The panel discusses practical strategies, including the 70/30 rule (listen more than you speak), how to keep emotions out...

In this episode of the Subrogation Support Network, host Ashton Kirsch sits down with Donnie Vaughn, a 15-year claims professional and author of The AI Advantage in Claims, to unpack what AI actually means for claims teams—and why it’s no longer optional to understand it. Donnie breaks down AI “101” in plain language, compares major tools (beyond just ChatGPT), and explains how claims professionals can use AI to accelerate everyday work like drafting demands, improving written communications,...

Ashton Kirsch sits down with mediator and negotiation professor Lee Mendelson for a practical, subrogation-focused conversation on what actually moves cases to resolution. Lee shares how he transitioned from running a long-time subrogation practice to mediating full-time nationwide, and why subject-matter expertise matters when selecting a mediator—especially in technical and insurance-driven disputes. They break down how strong negotiators prepare (and why most don’t), including BATNA/walkaw...

In this special crossover episode, Subrogation Support Network host Ashton Kirsch sits down with Jerrod Fussnecker, Army veteran, former JAG officer, military judge, and host of the Military Veterans in Law podcast, for a powerful conversation about service, career transitions, and the surprising ways military experience aligns with insurance and subrogation work. Ashton and Jerrod dive into Jerrod’s path from West Point to Afghanistan to the courtroom, and how the discipline, leadership, acc...

In this episode, Subrogation Support Network host Ashton Kirsch teams up with Subro Sense host Aaron Jacobs for a deep dive into something most people don’t realize happens behind the scenes: true collaboration between subrogation firms. Together, they unpack how attorneys from different organizations coordinate strategies on market-share claims, large-loss commercial property cases, MDLs, mass torts, and product failures. They also discuss the challenges of balancing different carrier risk a...

This episode is packed with energy (literally). Your host, Ashton Kirsch, sits down with Simon Keshishian, Head of Risk Management for Red Bull North America, for a high-octane conversation about what it really means to manage risk when your company is known for pushing limits. From cliff-diving events to contract clauses, Simon shares how Red Bull balances bold ideas with calculated controls, all while keeping humor (and a few dad jokes) at the center of his leadership style. They dive into ...