# What should you be paying attention to in 2026? Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/insurance-town-277859/what-should-you-be-paying-attention-to-in-2026 Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/insurance-town-277859/what-should-you-be-paying-attention-to-in-2026.md Podcast: [Insurance Town](https://stenobird.com/podcast/insurance-town-277859) Published: 2026-01-22T13:15:04+00:00 Episode link: https://insurancetownpodcast.com/316 Audio file: https://media.transistor.fm/3cf7f33a/7330021c.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/insurance-town-277859/episodes/what-should-you-be-paying-attention-to-in-2026 Duration seconds: 2475 ## Resource In this week episode, Heath Shearon and Casey Nelson discuss the importance of standardizing processes in agencies, the impact of AI on business, and the potential societal reset from reducing screen time. They explore the challenges of implementing consistent procedures, the role of AI in modern companies, and the cultural shift towards more face-to-face interactions. The conversation also touches on the hypothetical scenario of shutting down the internet for six months and its potential effects on society. Additionally, they delve into personal anecdotes, the significance of setting goals, and the evolving landscape of the insurance industry. Takeaways Standardizing processes is crucial for agency efficiency. AI is transforming business operations significantly. Reducing screen time could lead to a societal reset. Consistent procedures help in minimizing wasteful practices. Face-to-face interactions are becoming more valued. The internet shutdown could have profound societal effects. Agencies should focus on their most profitable clients. Building processes should involve employee input. AI tools can be both time-saving and time-consuming. Cultural shifts are moving towards more personal interactions. Setting personal goals can drive professional growth. Understanding industry trends is key to staying competitive. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction and Technical Issues 00:01:00 Standardizing Processes in Agencies 00:01:55 AI's Impact on Business 00:15:55 Cultural Shifts and Screen Time 00:20:19 Hypothetical Internet Shutdown 00:25:00 Personal Goals and Anecdotes 00:30:00 Insurance Industry Trends Sponsors: Smart Choice Canopy Connect MAV ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/insurance-town-277859/episodes/what-should-you-be-paying-attention-to-in-2026/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/insurance-town-277859/what-should-you-be-paying-attention-to-in-2026.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.