By Robert Nahoopii, PharmD, MS, ACE, Senior Vice President, SpendMend – Pharmacy Solutions Division
This past week, I learned that the 340B Unscripted podcast crossed the 50,000-download milestone. That number may not sound huge in the world of mainstream media, but in the podcasting world, it is a meaningful achievement. For my co-host, Greg Wilson, PharmD, 340B ACE, Director of Compliance at SpendMend, and me, it is also a reminder of why we started this journey three years ago.
I was rereading one of my early blogs recently, and in it, I wrote about what we hoped to accomplish with the podcast. At the time, our goals were simple:
- Inspire and educate pharmacy professionals
- Help covered entities maximize savings of their 340B program
- Strengthen hospitals to continue caring for vulnerable patients
Reflecting now, I am proud to say we have stayed true to those goals. Producing over 70 episodes has taken time, effort, and commitment, but it has also given us the privilege of shining a light on the importance of the 340B program and the people who make it work every day. The program touches nearly 42,000 covered entities across the U.S., representing hospitals, clinics, and health centers that provide care to millions of patients. Without 340B savings, many of these organizations would struggle to keep their doors open. That is what makes this work so important.
The 50,000 milestone also comes with perspective. The average podcast lasts only 7–10 episodes before being abandoned. About 75% never make it past that point. And only a quarter of all podcasts ever reach 50,000 downloads. Against that backdrop, this milestone feels even more significant. It tells us the content is not only being produced consistently, but it is also being heard, valued, and put to use.
Still, the most rewarding part is not the number – it is the feedback: the comments we hear at trade shows: the mentions during sales calls: and the unexpected recognition from strangers on flights home who tell us they listen to the show. Those moments remind us that what we are producing matters, and that it is helping pharmacy teams navigate a program that is both vital and complex.
Greg and I often reflect on what 50,000 really means. Time saved for busy teams. Fewer avoidable errors. Stronger compliance. More resources are going back to patient care. With legislation and policy continuing to shift, the need for clear, unscripted voices in the 340B space is greater than ever.
We could not do this without you. Thank you for listening, for sharing, and for helping us reach this milestone. Here is to the next 50,000, and to the patients and communities at the center of the 340B mission.
—Hoopi