Pharma Sessions
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Navigating pharmaceutical launch excellence through strategy, technology and career stories. (And sharing fun moments too!)
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Here’s what keeps pharma leaders awake at night: 70% to 80% of ChatGPT usage is healthcare-related; however, most pharmaceutical organizations still treat AI as a future consideration rather than an immediate competitive necessity. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Emily Lewis, Artificial Intelligence and Innovation Lead for Digital Care Transformation at UCB, to explore why LLMs alone won’t move medicine forward, how to build cross-functional AI literacy across your organization, and the regulatory workflows where AI will deliver impact fastest. Disclaimer: Pharma Sessions is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical, legal, or financial advice. Guest opinions are their own and do not reflect the views of the host or sponsors. Use of any information provided is at the listener’s own risk and does not imply endorsement of specific products or strategies.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Sonia Talwar, Senior Director of Scientific Communications and Medical Information in Hematology/Oncology at Pharmacosmos Therapeutics, to discuss how medical affairs can evolve from a reactive support function into a true strategic connector. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Eytan Abraham, the Chief Commercial and Technology Officer at Minaris Advanced Therapies, to dive into how pharma companies can choose the right CDMO partners, the future of cell and gene therapy manufacturing, and the hard-earned lessons behind building sustainable, high-performance organizations in one of the most complex areas of medicine. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey sits down for a second time with Dr. David Shulkin, President of Shulkin Solutions, to challenge the pharmaceutical industry’s fundamental approach to drug pricing and argue that outcomes-based contracting is the path forward for sustainable profitability and patient access. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. David Shulkin, President of Shulkin Solutions, to discuss what it actually takes to lead through a healthcare crisis at scale. Dr. Shulkin shares insights about the current state of U.S. public health, the intersection of policy and care delivery, the role of innovation and technology, and what must change to better serve patients. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Punit Kumar, the Executive Director of Customer Engagement for the US Enterprise Portfolio at Novartis, to dive into why execution excellence matters more than hype, how AI agents are freeing up your team from manual work to focus on high-impact insights, and the counterintuitive skill that matters most in pharma today: getting comfortable being uncomfortable. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Farrell Simon, Chief Commercial Officer at Trevi Therapeutics, to discuss what commercial leadership looks like long before launch, sharing lessons from a career that spans Procter & Gamble, Pfizer, and biotech. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations. Any reference to specific products, companies, regulatory pathways, or commercial strategies is provided for discussion purposes only and does not constitute endorsement or validation by the podcast, host, or sponsors.
Drug launches in oncology don’t succeed simply because the technology works; they succeed when the evidence is strong enough to change physician behavior. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Shaun Bagai, CEO of RenovoRx, to discuss the long and uncertain journey of building a medtech company grounded in clinical proof. From turning down medical school to leading a Nasdaq-listed oncology company, Shaun shares how physician feedback reshaped the company’s strategy, why investing in rigorous clinical trials can be a defining leadership decision, and why face-to-face relationships remain essential for market adoption in healthcare. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.
In this solo episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey breaks down what actually determines whether a new technology implementation in pharma succeeds or quietly dies in a steering committee meeting. After helping pharma companies implement nearly $200 million in new software platforms over the course of his career, Jonathan shares the patterns he’s seen again and again.
Drug launches don’t succeed at the finish line. They succeed or fail years earlier, when teams decide what evidence they’ll generate, how they’ll publish it, and which assumptions they’ll pressure-test before it’s too late. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Ana Bozas, Director of Clinical Evidence Strategy and Scientific Communications at Vera Therapeutics, to dive into what launch readiness really means from the medical side. Pharma Sessions provides general insights into the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry through conversations with its guests. The content shared in this podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical, legal, regulatory, or financial advice. The use of any information discussed in this episode or materials linked from the podcast is at the listener’s own risk. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Jonathan Kaskey, Pharma Sessions, its sponsors, or affiliated organizations.
Drug launches don’t succeed at the finish line. They succeed or fail years earlier, when teams decide what evidence they’ll generate, how they’ll publish it, and which assumptions they’ll pressure-test before it’s too late. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Ana Bozas, Director of Clinical Evidence Strategy and Scientific Communications at Vera Therapeutics, to dive into what launch readiness really means from the medical side.
Generative AI is changing analytics in pharma, but not in the way most people fear. In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Adam Mico, Principal Data and Analytics Strategist at Moderna, to dive into what future-proofing really looks like when AI lowers the barrier to building dashboards, writing code, and generating insights.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Jeremy Zhang, Senior Director and Head of Data Science Solutions at Otsuka, to discuss why AI initiatives succeed or fail in pharma and why it has almost nothing to do with the technology itself.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Sean Sheffler-Collins, Director of Scientific Communications and Content at Astellas Pharma, to discuss how Medical Affairs is evolving to meet HCPs' needs through omnichannel communication strategies, accessible and engaging scientific data, and technology-enabled solutions like digital microsites and AI analysis.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Trevor Landry, the Executive Director of CNS Sales at Otsuka, to unpack how commercial leaders can use data and AI without losing the on-the-ground realities that drive great selling and sustainable revenue growth.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Matthew Krzywosz, Director of Scientific Communications & Content at Astellas, to explore how Medical Affairs teams can create differentiated scientific narratives, use omnichannel strategy to amplify impact, and help brands stand out in highly competitive markets.\
In this special episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey steps behind the mic solo to share the evolving vision for the podcast and the personal career shift that inspired it. What began as a show centered on medical affairs is now broadening to reflect the realities of modern pharma: commercial strategy, analytics, AI, organizational change, and the people navigating it all. Jonathan shares the story behind his move to XSUNT and why building something meaningful again became the driving force behind his next chapter. Along the way, he reflects on what AI should be doing in pharma, why niche, domain-specific tools outperform generic platforms, and how teams can move beyond manual reporting toward real strategic impact.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Martin McLaughlin, former Head of Launch and Business Excellence at Takeda, to share the frameworks and lessons that help pharma organizations align people, processes, performance, and technology for success.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Jens Øllgaard, Head of Customer Experience at Novo Nordisk, to discuss how forward-thinking pharma leaders are dismantling silos between medical and commercial teams, leveraging AI-driven insights, and fundamentally reimagining how field teams create value in an era of declining physician access.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Anindita (Ani) Sinha, Vice President of Commercial Operations at Shionogi, to unpack practical approaches to drive market success, from translating complex data into actionable field strategies to building effective cross-functional partnerships between commercial and medical teams.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Caitlyn Krebs, Co-Founder and CEO of Nalu Bio, to share insights about AI-driven drug development, specifically targeting the endocannabinoid system (ECS) for therapeutic development in pain management, inflammation, and women’s health.
This episode of Pharma Sessions is much like a pharmacy - it has something for everyone. Tune in as we reflect on critical conversations hosted by Jonathan Kaskey, so far in the series. Whether it’s critical pathways into pharma careers, the opioid crisis, and work-life balance in the modern pharmaceutical industry, this recap explores it all. From transitioning into MSL roles to building diverse medical teams, guests share practical strategies for career advancement and cross-functional collaboration, offering valuable insights on medical affairs leadership, risk mitigation in pain management, and creating boundaries while working remotely. Think of this as the playbook for pharmaceutical professionals looking to navigate industry challenges and advance their careers.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey talks with Hetal Patel, VP of Medical Affairs at Celltrion USA, about building a medical affairs function from the ground up while launching multiple drugs. Sounds like a hot pot of pressure, decision-making and sleepless nights, doesn't it? Well, don’t let this intimidate you just yet. From transitioning out of big pharma to scaling systems with limited resources, Hetal shares practical strategies for thriving in high-pressure launch environments and how to do so without burning out.
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey interviews Dr. Adam Laitman about his unconventional path to becoming a medical director in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Laitman shares insights from his career transition from medical school to industry, highlighting the impact of his background in marketing and editorial work. The discussion covers the various career opportunities within medical affairs, the importance of diverse educational backgrounds, and the potential be...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey discusses career transitions into the pharmaceutical industry, specifically focusing on roles like Medical Science Liaisons (MSLs). The guest, Emet Anceaume is the Director of Field Medical Affairs at Immunovant. Emet is a pharmacist by training. She shares her insights on the importance of transferable skills, the challenges and strategies for breaking into pharma, and the distinction between working for big pharma and small biot...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, hosted by Jonathan Kaskey, Vince Turner shares his insights on integrating creativity into operational environments. The discussion covers Vince's career journey from financial services to pharma, and his operational strategies at Kite. Emphasis is placed on the importance of creativity in solving challenges, the value of building strong relationships, and empowering team members. And stay to the end for the buttermilk pancakes recipe (courtesy of Mel...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey talks with Paul Howe, COO at Protega Pharmaceuticals, about the current and evolving landscape of prescription opioids, abuse deterrent technologies, and the role of technology in public health. They discuss new strategies to improve outcomes for chronic pain patients while reducing addiction risks. Introduction and startling data on prescription abuse Welcome and guest introduction Paul Howe's breakfast routine&nb...
Bursting the Medical Affairs Bubble: A Conversation on Cross-Functional Collaboration In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey talks with Dr. Samin Saeed, a pharmaceutical medical affairs leader with 17 years of industry experience currently at GSK. They discuss the need for medical affairs to move beyond speaking only to themselves and to engage more openly with other functions within pharmaceutical organizations. Dr. Saeed advocates for a collaborative approach and shares h...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey sits down with Steve Cirillo-Thompson, a seasoned Chief of Staff in the pharmaceutical industry, to delve deep into the unique and often misunderstood role of a Chief of Staff. Steve shares his unconventional journey into the medical affairs space, transitioning from political science to consulting, and eventually stepping into various Chief of Staff roles at some of the leading pharmaceutical companies like Shire, Takeda, Abbvie and Ki...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Jen Mohawk, Senior Director of Medical Affairs at Apogee Therapeutics. They discuss the pressing issue of burnout, its financial implications, and how companies benefit from retaining employees rather than constantly seeking new hires. Jen shares her journey from academia to the biopharma industry, driven by her pursuit of a sustainable work-life balance. They delve into practical strategies for integrat...
Future Proofing Medical Affairs: A Conversation with Stephanie Hunter Banks In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Stephanie Hunter-Banks about the future of the medical science liaison (MSL) role and the evolving healthcare ecosystem. Stephanie shares insights on creating a culture of innovation, leveraging big data and AI, and fostering collaboration within pharma companies. She reflects on her own career journey from pharmacy to leading learning ...
Kaskey's Hierarchy of Needs in Medical Affairs: Steering towards Successful Product Launches This episode of Pharma Sessions delves into the evolving role of Medical Affairs in pharmaceutical launches, emphasizing its transition from a supportive to a strategic partnership position. Stephen Dodge, SVP of Medical Affairs at Madrigal Pharmaceuticals has launched 25 products, and shares insights into the crucial involvement of Medical Affairs in launch strategies. The discussion t...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey speaks with Lars Dreesmann, the President and Site Head for Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont about how regulatory affairs can impact patient care. They explore the challenges and opportunities in the regulatory space, including the impact of technology and AI on regulatory affairs and the potential for collaboration between pharmaceutical companies. Lars shares his transition from academia to the pharmaceutical industry, the thrill ...
This episode is sponsored by Acceleration Point. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey In this episode Jonathan and Scott Thompson, the Co-CEO of Acceleration Point, discuss the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Medical Affairs. Examples of AI use in Medical Affairs include analytics, content creation, and productivity enhancements. Scott encourages experimentation with secure, customized AI tools to improve output. He outlines a case study where AI imp...
Life is different at a biotech. But is that a good thing? Like so much in life, the answer is, "it depends." On this episode I speak with Orlando Granado-Balaez about his journey from being a nurse to transitioning into medical affairs and ultimately thriving in smaller pharmaceutical companies. He shares his experiences in different roles within medical affairs, including being the first MSL in a company and the challenges and rewards that come with building out a team. Orlan...
The Science of Sleep: Exploring its Role in Performance and Well-being for Medical Affairs In this episode of Pharma Sessions, Jonathan Kaskey is joined by Dr. Alison Kole, a sleep expert, to discuss the importance of sleep and its impact on personal and professional health. They discuss the dangers of insufficient and poor-quality sleep, including poor cognitive and creative function. On the other hand, they stress the benefits of prioritizing good quality sleep for enhanced p...
In this compelling episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey engages in an insightful discussion with esteemed guest Jose Borbolla-Escoboza. Delving into the intricacies of global launch excellence, Jose, a seasoned oncologist, shares his wealth of experience in pharmaceuticals, particularly in Mexico, the UK, and the US. Together, they explore the multifaceted process of global launch preparation and the crucial role of global in facilitating tools for local country launches.&n...
In this episode of "Pharma Sessions," host Jonathan Kaskey delves into the crucial topic of why negotiation skills are essential in the field of medical affairs. Joining him, Megan Vignos, Head of Scientific and Value Communications for US Medical at Biogen. Together, they explore the importance of negotiation in medical affairs, and how a scientific mindset can aid in building effectiveness. Megan emphasizes the significance of maintaining a positive relationship with complian...
In this episode of Pharma Sessions, host Jonathan Kaskey interviews Dr. Huma Qamar, Head of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs at Ocugen, Inc. With her extensive background in clinical research and medicine, Dr. Qamar has been a pioneer in merging these two fields. Throughout this episode, she shares her invaluable insights on gene therapy, specifically focusing on inherited retinal diseases. Here are the top five things you'll learn: 1. The importance of patient-centered outcomes re...
Join host Jonathan Kaskey in this thought-provoking episode of Pharma Sessions as he invites special guest Denise Bronner, Director of Clinical Trial Diversity and Inclusion at Janssen, to delve into critical issues facing the pharmaceutical industry. Together, they explore the challenges of data sharing, the underrepresentation of non-white individuals in clinical trials, and the need for more inclusive physician training. Top 5 learnings from the episode: The critical need for data shar...
In this episode, host Jonathan Kaskey invites Patrina Pellet to discuss effective time management strategies for medical professionals. From calendar audits to time blocking, Pellet shares valuable insights on how to optimize your daily schedule, prioritize your tasks and avoid feeling burnt out. Discover the power of color-coding and task tracking to manage your workload efficiently and achieve your goals. Tune in now to master the art of time management and increase you...
We are excited to bring you the latest episode of our podcast series where we tackled the vital role of medical information in the healthcare industry. Tim Fish is the Sr. Director of Medical Information, Knowledge Management, Med/Promo Review, Scientific Training & Development at Alkermes. Tim has been in the medical information role for 15 years and shared valuable insights on the importance of receiving and responding to inquiries, reviewing content, and researching answers in medical...
This episode is the second in Pharma Sessions' series of conversations about clinical trial diversity. The first episode was with a former pharma executive turned clinical trial consultant. In this episode we share a different, more community oriented perspective. Renarda Jones is a clinical trial professional with over 20 years’ experience in clinical research., mainly in Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease research. Starting as a research assistant, working her way up to study coordinator and cl...
In Today’s episode Tom Caravela and I explore the question–what does a perfect MSL organization to support a product launch look like? I’ve knonw Tom for years, and asked him to share his unique perspective on field medical organizations. In addition to being a certified speaker, trainer and coach as well as a podcaster, Tom is the founder of an Executive Search Firm called The Carolan Group. They’re known for their niche expertise for specializing in the recruitment and placement of highly s...
Steve Royle is an innovative pharmaceutical professional with experience in both the commercial and medical affairs sides of the industry. After starting in sales and marketing, Steve moved to the agency side of global medical communications and medical education. He went on to found Swipe Health and Rumi. Recently, Steve has used his expertise to create mymedicalafairs.com, a Netflix-style database of medical affairs events and topics. Through mymedicalaffairs.com, we crowdsourc...
Camille Pope is the Chief Medical Lead at Acclinate, helping pharmaceutical companies and healthcare organizations access and engage communities of color so research is more inclusive. She'd previously worked for several large pharmaceutical companies in both field medical and medical affairs leadership roles. We discuss the importance of diversity in clinical trials, the new FDA guidance, the impacts that a lack of trial diversity can have when presenting information to patients and provide...
Chris Caudle is a LinkedIn specialist for execs working in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. He helps clients to develop their personal brand, increase their visibility, leadership and reach bigger audiences using LinkedIn as their launchpad. In this episode Chris talks about how to use social media, specifically LinkedIn. He discusses the benefits of having a strong online brand and how to make it stand out. Chris and Jon talk give examples about using social not only for personal br...
Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey Follow along on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonkaskey/ Or join the Pharma Sessions Substack: www.pharmasessions.substack.com
Evan Reddick recently joined an exciting emerging biotech with a major phase 3 trial win, and preparing to launch a first-in-class oral medication for breast cancer, serving as the AVP and Head of Global Medical Affairs Strategy. Evan previously had a number of field and leadership roles at a large pharma. A highlight was the very first topic discussed, the framework of “Standing in Success”, and what that means for leaders. But we covered so much, I'm really excited to hear what you ha...
Riad Dirani is the VP of Global HEOR at Teva Pharmaceuticals. We talk about: Customizing data for a global audienceThe importance of a clear medical storyHow to create an insights gathering process that turns a scientific narrative into a living documentHow HEOR can best support a field teamInvolving Medical Directors in RWE generationWhat's needed to create "1 medical team" as a mindsetWhat the future holds for HEORThe views expressed here are mine and Riad's, and don’t reflect t...
Amber Spierer is the VP of Patient Affairs at EQRx, formally head of US Patient Engagement at Novartis. We talk about: Defining the patient journeyWhy understanding this journey is important strategicallyThe difference between viewing someone as a patient and as a personCurrent patient expectations around working with pharmaTacticsThe views expressed here are mine and Amber’s, and don’t reflect those of our employers. Pharma Sessions is hosted by Jonathan Kaskey Follow along on ...
I had a great chat with Pete Piliero, VP of Medical Affairs at Melinta Therapeutics. We talk about: Transitioning from clinical practice to med affairsChanges in how other groups in pharma see med affairsThe differences between access and adoption (and how to impact both)Advances in patient engagement and much moreA quick note–the views expressed here are mine and Pete’s, and don’t reflect those of our employers. At one point I reference the MAPS, Future of Medical Affairs report. You ...
Danie du Plessis is the EVP of Medical Affairs for Kyowa Kirin, a board member at the Medical Affairs Professional Society, and was previously the SVP of Global Medical Affairs for GSK. We talk about: Why Danie switched from primary care to working with pharmaIf a business background is important in med affairs leadershipLeading big organizations vs small organizationsHow important an understanding of the patient journey is to everything med affairsPharma Sessions is hosted by Jo...