Podcast launching soon – Embedded Conversations

Over the years, I’ve had hundreds of conversations with people on the front line of healthcare and industry people trying to do the right thing in a system that doesn’t always make that easy.

Their stories have stayed with me. They’re not just insightful – they’re inspiring, grounding and often quietly revolutionary.

That’s what led me to create Embedded Conversations.

This podcast is an evolution of my book, Embedded. It takes the principles I talked about on the page – system thinking, genuine partnership, long-term value – and brings them to life through the voices of people actually doing the work.

I wanted to create a space where we could hear from the doers. The NHS leaders reshaping commissioning. The medtech teams finding smarter ways to partner. Even voices from outside healthcare such as chefs and cultural figures who bring a completely fresh lens to leadership and innovation.

These aren’t lofty theories from people who’ve never had to face the day to day challenges most of you have. They’re practical lessons drawn from lived experience shared with honesty, warmth and a desire to help others make progress too.

From Page to Podcast – Bringing Embedded to Life

When I wrote Embedded, my goal was to offer a practical guide for anyone trying to succeed in the complex world of healthcare sales and service. But as I spoke with commissioners, clinicians and innovators, I realised the real gold was in their personal stories.

Embedded Conversations is my way of sharing those stories with you.

Each episode builds on the themes in the book, like understanding system pressures, aligning with NHS priorities and moving from transactional selling to value-based partnerships. But instead of me telling you how it works, you’ll hear from people who’ve lived it.

You’ll hear what happens when these principles meet the realities of commissioning, primary care, leadership and cultural change. And you’ll hear the moments when things clicked – or nearly fell apart – and what those experiences can teach us all.

It’s where theory meets the messiness of real life. And, I hope, where you’ll find ideas you can put to use straight away.

The Experts You Will Hear From

One of the most exciting things about Embedded Conversations is the sheer range of voices involved. Each guest brings a fresh perspective on what it actually takes to get innovation into the NHS and keep it there.

You’ll hear from people like Gail Fortes Mayer, an ICB commissioner with deep expertise in how strategic commissioning is evolving. Gail offers real insight into the shift toward Provider Collaboratives and how companies can move from pitching products to co-designing genuine solutions that deliver across systems.

Then there’s Andy Pow, a straight talking medical accountant who breaks down what really drives behaviour in primary care. His episode is packed with clarity around GP contracts, income pressures and why traditional industry approaches so often miss the mark.

Gary Hughes, a leadership coach and former GP federation leader, brings his calming “float vs swim” mindset to bear on governance, simplicity, and collaboration. He introduces his “7 Pillars of Business Governance” – a deceptively simple but powerful framework for change.

You’ll also hear from David Thorne, who’s passionate about outcome based contracting. David shares how to move from pilot projects to scalable, risk sharing models, using data tools like PLICS to prove value and make innovation stick.

And Samantha Bramley brings something beautifully human to the mix. A leadership coach and mental fitness advocate, she talks about balancing performance with wellbeing, building resilience and leading with heart in high-pressure environments.

Each guest offers practical wisdom – not just big ideas but grounded advice you can act on.

And this is just the beginning. I’ve spent the past few months in exciting conversations with some of the more insightful industry personalities, each offering a fresh lens on what it means to embed change in complex systems.

Lessons That Stick – What Listeners Will Take Away

I tell everyone in industry that the NHS doesn’t need more theory. It needs insights it can actually use and that’s what Embedded Conversations is all about.

Each episode is packed with takeaways – not the generic kind you forget five minutes later but the sort that nudge you to think differently about your work. You’ll hear what’s worked, what hasn’t and what guests wish they’d known earlier.

Whether it’s understanding how commissioning priorities are shifting, why certain sales strategies fall flat, or how leaders stay grounded through uncertainty, these conversations give you actual tools, not just talking points.

You’ll walk away feeling informed, encouraged and ready to try something new. And maybe feel a bit less alone in the challenges they’re facing.

This podcast won’t solve every problem but it will offer a steady stream of ideas, encouragement and hard-won wisdom from people who’ve been there.

Beyond The Mic – My Ongoing Work With Pharma, Medtech And Devices

The podcast is just one part of what I do.

At its heart, Embedded Conversations reflects a mission I’ve been committed to for years; helping pharma, medtech and device companies succeed in the NHS. Not through flash in the pan tactics but by becoming trusted, long term partners.

Through workshops, mentoring programmes and strategic support, I work with teams to unpack how NHS decision making really works, how to align offers with system priorities and how to build relationships that last.

The podcast is an extension of that work; a way to share stories, spark ideas and keep the conversation going with a wider community. Whether you’re in sales, strategy or service design, I hope the episodes offer something that helps you take the next step with more clarity and confidence.

Join Me On This Journey

I created Embedded Conversations because I believe in the power of honest dialogue and the difference it can make when we truly listen to people who have lived the challenges we’re trying to solve.

If you’re navigating the NHS landscape from any angle, whether you’re leading change in pharma, medtech, primary care or beyond, these conversations are for you.

I’d love for you to be part of it.

Sign up for the podcast here to be the first to know when episodes go live. You’ll get behind the scenes updates, bonus insights linked to the book, and a front row seat to real stories shaping the future of health and care.

And if you’ve got a story worth sharing, or know someone who does, reach out. I’m always looking to hear from people leading change with purpose, creativity and grit.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

At www.scottmckenzieconsultancy.com, we work directly inside the NHS, supporting provider organisations, commissioners and system leaders to implement real change. We then help pharma, medtech and device companies interpret what’s happening, so they can engage the right stakeholders, align with NHS priorities and get their innovations embedded into care pathways.

With 10 years in pharma and more than 20 years working within the NHS, Scott brings a unique dual perspective, now captured in his book Embedded: How Pharma, MedTech & Device Companies Get Their Innovations Into NHS Pathways – And Keep Them There which distils everything he’s learned into a practical playbook. Whether you’re launching a new product or trying to unlock stalled adoption, Embedded shows you how to reframe your offer, align with NHS priorities and make change stick.