# EP 549 Building A Better Provider Network - with Jarred Pierce Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968/ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968/ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce.md Podcast: [The ShiftShapers Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968) Published: 2026-05-19T10:00:00+00:00 Episode link: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2045524/episodes/19077970-ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce.mp3 Audio file: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2045524/episodes/19077970-ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968/episodes/ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce Duration seconds: 1342 ## Resource We talk with Jared Pierce about why many provider networks run on outdated contracts and why that breaks trust for providers, members, and plan sponsors. We dig into how Unity builds a primary, provider-aligned network for self-funded plans that protects access while still driving real savings. • Jared’s early start building PPO networks at 17 and how it shaped his view of the system • Why legacy PPO networks “live off old paper” and what that means for pricing and trust • H... ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968/episodes/ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-shiftshapers-podcast-1089968/ep-549-building-a-better-provider-network-with-jarred-pierce.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.