Mic'd Up With Ryann Hill
Shaping Policy. Elevating Voices
Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill is where policy meets people. Hosted by our Founder and CEO, Ryann Hill, this podcast brings fresh, candid conversations about the issues shaping healthcare, aging, and disability policy in Washington and across the country.
Each episode features leaders, advocates, and changemakers who are making a real difference. Together, we dig into the ideas, debates, and personal stories that drive policy forward. We also explore what it takes to turn bold visions into lasting impact.
Whether you are a policymaker, advocate, or simply curious about how decisions in DC affect communities nationwide, Mic’d Up offers a front-row seat to the conversations that matter most.
Episode Nine: Stories, Strategy, and Sickle Cell Advocacy
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, Ryann sits down with Fabienne Antoine-Nasser, Senior Director of Policy & Government Affairs at Sick Cells, and Melissa Akinlawon, Senior Director of Community Programs, for a powerful conversation about advocacy, storytelling, and the future of sickle cell disease policy in America. Together, they discuss the mission behind Sick Cells and how the organization is building a national movement to improve care, expand awareness, and elevate the voices of individuals living with sickle cell disease. The conversation explores the role of community-driven advocacy, the importance of patient stories, and how a growing network of ambassadors is helping drive change across the country and beyond. Ryann, Fabienne, and Melissa also take listeners behind the scenes of the successful relaunch of the Congressional Sickle Cell Disease Caucus.
This episode is a must-listen for healthcare advocates, policymakers, patient leaders, and anyone interested in how grassroots advocacy can shape federal policy and improve lives.
Episode Eight: Advocacy, Access, and the Fight for Disability Benefits
In this episode, Ryann is joined by Eva Sirman, Executive Director of the National Association of Disability Representatives, for a conversation about what it really takes to navigate the Social Security disability system and the professionals who guide people through it. They unpack the role of disability representatives, why the process is far more complex and time-consuming than most people realize, and how NADR helped secure key policy changes to support non-attorney advocates. The discussion also explores the current policy landscape, including rapid changes at the Social Security Administration, new leadership priorities, and the realities of advocating in a politically dynamic environment. The episode closes with a behind-the-scenes look at Capitol Hill engagement, bipartisan relationship building, and how NADR is positioning itself as a trusted resource to improve outcomes for claimants across the country.
Episode Seven: Aging Advocacy in Action: Protecting the Older Americans Act with Age Guide
In this episode, Ryann is joined by Marla Fronczak, CEO of Age Guide, and Gretchen Knowlton, Manager of Planning, Advocacy & Program Development, for a conversation about what it truly takes to protect the programs older adults and their caregivers depend on. They share how Age Guide navigated unprecedented threats to the Older Americans Act during its 60th anniversary year, the grassroots campaigns and creative advocacy events that helped turn the tide, and why so many Americans don't recognize themselves as caregivers despite providing billions of dollars in unpaid care every year. The episode closes with a look at age-friendly workplaces, livable communities, and the big-picture policy shifts that could reshape how America approaches aging for everyone.
Episode Six: Funding Strategy Can't Be An Afterthought Anymore
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, Ryann Hill sits down with Indigo Hill Strategies’ Vice President, Ebony Slaughter-Johnson, to unpack the power and complexity of federal appropriations in today’s policy climate. As legislative gridlock intensifies and pressure mounts on mandatory spending programs like Medicaid, the conversation explores why funding strategy must now sit at the center of every serious advocacy plan. Together, they break down how discretionary spending, earmarks, and programmatic language requests shape real-world outcomes, why appropriations may be the most reliable vehicle moving through Congress, and what organizations must do to compete effectively for federal resources in a tighter, more scrutinized fiscal environment.
Episode Five: Facts Tell, Stories Sell - The New Advocacy in Healthcare
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, Ryann Hill sits down with Christina Epperson of the National Medical Association and Nina DeJonghe of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine to examine how healthcare advocacy is changing in today’s federal policy environment. As evidence based policymaking gives way to political noise and misinformation, the conversation explores why facts alone are no longer enough and how physician stories are increasingly driving impact on Capitol Hill. Together, they discuss what is at risk when clinician voices are missing from policy decisions, the growing strain on the healthcare workforce, and the advocacy strategies needed to protect access, care delivery, and public trust in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Episode Four: Stars Scrutiny & Survival A Year End Look at Medicare Advantage
In this year-end episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, Ryann sits down with Rex Wallace of Rex Wallace Consulting for a clear and grounded look at how Medicare Advantage evolved throughout 2025. We cover the major trends that shaped the year, including rising expectations for plans, member experience pressures, operational challenges, and a fast-moving regulatory environment.
Episode Three: Dollars Defended, Not Donated: The NEW ROI of Social Impact
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, Ryann welcomes Christina Rodriguez, founder of The Pull, a market intelligence index redefining how the field understands ROI in social care. Their conversation explores the shift from passion driven pilots to proof driven performance, where measurable outcomes, audit readiness, and scalable value shape the future of impact. Christina breaks down the policy and market forces driving this transition, including CMS rules, Stars ratings, Medicaid waivers, and the growing emphasis on encounter accuracy. The discussion highlights how leading organizations are proving value through data, durability, and replicable results across markets. This is an essential listen for anyone working in Medicare Advantage, social care innovation, health equity, state policy, or value based care strategy.
Subscribe to The Pull here: https://thefundable15.substack.com/
Episode Two: More Than Federal - Why State Policy Matters
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Indigo Hill Strategies, Ryann Hill sits down with Davion Percy, Vice President of Community Relations and Public Policy at Luminis Health, for a dynamic conversation about why state policy matters. Together they explore Maryland’s unique approach to healthcare delivery, the state’s work to improve maternal and behavioral health, and how collaboration between hospitals, advocates, and policymakers can strengthen access and equity across communities.
Episode One: Hard Work and Heart Work - Building a Better Future for Aging
In this episode of Mic’d Up with Indigo Hill Strategies, Ryann Hill sits down with Leanne Clark Shirley, President and CEO of the American Society on Aging, for an inspiring conversation on leadership, advocacy, and the future of aging. Together they explore what it takes to drive change in a field that touches every life, balancing the hard work of policy with the heart work of building inclusive and equitable systems of care. Leanne shares her vision for uniting the diverse aging sector, lessons from her career in nonprofit leadership, and how collaboration can help create a better tomorrow for older adults and the professionals who serve them.
Episode Zero: Why This Podcast, Why Now
In the very first episode of Mic’d Up with Ryann Hill, host Ryann Hill, Founder and CEO of Indigo Hill Strategies, sets the stage for what this podcast is all about. Ryann shares the vision behind launching Mic’d Up and why creating a space for candid conversations on healthcare, aging, and disability policy matters today more than ever.
This introductory episode gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at what to expect in the series, from expert insights on federal policy to authentic stories from the people shaping change in Washington, DC and beyond.