In this episode, Ben Nevares sits down with Mackenzie Copley, founder of Shine, a mission-driven startup offering cash incentives to people with HIV who take their medication consistently. With a powerful blend of data, economics, empathy, and a little bit of charisma, Mackenzie breaks down how his team is working to eliminate HIV in the U.S. through behavioral incentives and health tech.
We cover:
The origin of Shine and its missionHow behavioral economics is being used to improve medication adherence
Lessons from running a nonprofit in D.C.
The ethical challenges in health tech
Mackenzie's journey from volunteer to presidential advisor
The dream to expand beyond HIV and take on the world's biggest problems
Whether you're interested in social entrepreneurship, health innovation, or how to build a purpose-driven company, this is a must-watch.
🌐 Learn more about Shine: https://www.shineapp.co/
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introducing Mackenzie & Shine
1:17 – The Discovery: U=U (Undetectable = Untransmittable)
2:18 – Incentives to Take Medication
5:05 – Cash Rewards for Health Outcomes
7:50 – Proving Shine’s Legitimacy
10:31 – Nonprofit Roots & Early Struggles
14:51 – From Nonprofit to For-Profit Model
18:16 – Partnering with Doctors & Clinics
23:56 – Passion, Naivety & Persistence
29:12 – Future Goals: Expanding Beyond HIV
33:36 – Long-Term Vision: Ending Big Problems
38:17 – Personal Background & Communication Style
40:00 – Fitness, Training, and Podcast Beginnings
44:12 – Technical Struggles of Starting a Podcast
46:22 – Editing Workflows & Using AI Tools
47:02 – Building a Podcast Team & Scaling Up
49:25 – Balancing Breaks and Consistency
50:19 – Recording Frequency & The Algorithm
52:03 – Launching Shine in Las Vegas
55:09 – Family, Relocation, and Long-Term Plans
💬 What societal problem would you solve if you had unlimited resources? Drop it in the comments below.
🔔 Subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss stories from individuals changing the world.
👍 Like this video if you believe technology and compassion can solve big problems.
📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear that solutions like Shine are out there!
#HealthTech #StartupStory #BehavioralEconomics #ShineApp #MackenzieCopley #SocialImpact #PublicHealthInnovation #HIVAwareness #UequalsU #CashIncentives #MedAdherence #FoundersJourney #PodcastInterview #HealthcareStartup
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com