9 days before we opened, we got denied a contract to serve the exact community we were built to serve. Everything in place. Every box checked. And it didn't matter. This episode is for the operators, clinicians, and executives who are tired of pretending the system rewards integrity. It doesn't. Not automatically. Not without a fight. Christopher Bennett (CEO) and David Purinton (CFO) of Ava Health sit down to unpack what actually happened — the operational reality, the financial exposure, and the decisions we made when the ground disappeared beneath us. No spin. No retrospective wisdom that makes us sound smarter than we were in the moment. Just what it actually looks like when a major payor denies a contract at the worst possible time — and how you lead through it without transferring your fear to your team or abandoning the mission for the margin. Topics covered: – What a 9-day contract denial actually does to your financial model – How payors and regulators make decisions (and what most providers misunderstand) – The difference between fighting a system and navigating one – Where providers silently give away their leverage – How to protect the mission when financial pressure starts making decisions for you – What we did next — and why If you're building in this space, this will happen to you. The question is whether you're ready. Follow us: @HelloAvaHealth on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube

We’ve been open for 30 days, and the reality of healthcare leadership is a lot more like a chess game than we expected. From the "friction" of accountability to the hope of seeing "Patient One" finally walk through the door, this is the raw truth of building Ava Health.

In this episode of Inside Ava Health, our leadership team goes behind the scenes of our first month post-opening. We’re moving past the "polished" brand image to discuss the actual operational challenges of navigating state contracts, managing provider networks, and the mental shift required to move from being a therapist to being a strategic leader.

Whether you're a healthcare professional, a therapist by trade, or a startup founder, these are the lessons we’ve learned the hard way.

Key Moments in This Episode: 0:00 – The 30-Day Reality Check: CEO vs. COO Perspectives 03:45 – The "Patient One" vs. "Patient 1000" Debate 07:20 – The Friction of Accountability: Why Systems Break 12:15 – Thinking Like a Chess Player: Strategic Moves in Healthcare 15:50 – Navigating the Kinks: State Contracts & Provider Networks 22:30 – From Therapist to Leader: The Necessary Mindset Shift 25:10 – Final Reflections: Hope, Gratitude, and Year One Goals

About Ava Health: Ava Health is dedicated to dispelling myths in the wellness sector and building a more transparent, accountable healthcare system. We share our journey—the wins and the friction—to help other providers and patients navigate the complexities of modern care.

Join the Conversation: 👉 SUBSCRIBE to follow our journey as we scale and solve the "kinks" in the system. 💬 QUESTION: What was the biggest "friction point" you hit in the first month of your business or project? Let’s talk in the comments.

What if everything you’ve been told about addiction treatment is wrong?

The rehab industry is worth billions… yet nearly 90% of people relapse. So the real question is:

Is treatment failing… or are we defining success completely wrong?

In this episode of Brokenish, we unpack the uncomfortable truth about addiction, recovery, and why the system might be measuring the wrong things entirely.

This isn’t a conversation about quick fixes or perfect sobriety. It’s about reality.

You’ll hear:

• Why relapse is NOT failure (and why treating it like one causes more harm)
• The biggest lie families are sold about “success rates” in treatment
• Why recovery is messy, nonlinear, and deeply personal
• The hidden damage caused by black-and-white thinking in mental health
• What real progress actually looks like beyond just “not using”
• Why most treatment programs focus on the wrong outcomes
• How honesty (not false hope) is the only ethical way to help people heal

We also dive into the deeper truth most people miss:

Addiction is often a symptom… not the root problem.

And if you don’t address what’s underneath, nothing changes long-term.

This episode is for:

• Anyone struggling with addiction or mental health
• Parents trying to help their child
• Professionals in the treatment space
• Anyone who’s ever felt like they “failed” recovery

Because maybe you didn’t fail.

Maybe the system failed you.