The Health Design Podcast

Eric is a strategist focused on designing experiences people genuinely desire. Over nearly 20 years, he’s worked across hospitality, transportation, and member-based communities—domains where brand, environment, and service design meet. His portfolio includes global experience strategy for Hilton’s luxury brands, premium mobility design at Uber, and the member experience vision for NeueHouse. That same foundation has made Eric a trusted partner in health and well-being, where the stakes are high and the details matter. At Cactus, he leads strategy for a high-touch longevity startup in the Middle East and has helped reimagine care delivery and environment design for Canyon Ranch, Mayo Clinic, and more. An anthropologist by training, Eric blends cultural insight with business logic and spatial storytelling. He works closely with CEOs, product leaders, and architects to shape offerings from the ground up.

In this episode of the Podcast, brand strategist Eric Matis explores how lessons from consumer brands can transform healthcare experiences. Drawing on his years at Red Scout, Cactus and his multidisciplinary background, Matis discusses brand strategy as the art of finding focus through intention and how those principles apply to patient empowerment, service design, and cultural change in healthcare. Hear how healthcare can move beyond compliance toward engagement, respect, and desirability—from oncology clinics to digital health tools.

Usually, I feel like a Nincompoop. I am embarrassed. I feel like a failure. I can't do things right. Always. But, it means I try. As an Associate Professor of Strategy and Innovation at Florida State University, I study how firms innovate and learn from failure. I have (co)founded three ventures, one failed, two are doing okay. One is R3ciprocity.com, a platform for researchers to create "non-rejectable papers" through the power of community and AI. R3ciprocity aims to allow researchers to create nearly non-rejectable research papers and grants, and have fun too! Through R3ciprocity, I also engage with a global audience of researchers and practitioners, sharing insights and hope to millions of people on research, innovation, and strategy.

I dabbled and failed to publish research in many contexts including editors, prospective entrepreneurs, medical technology, Formula 1 Racing, software development, content creators, and automobile recalls. Occasionally, it has gotten through. He has taught undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral courses on Strategy, Organizational Theory, Research Methods, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is currently on the Editorial Board of Academy of Management Review, Organization Science, Strategic Organization, serves as the Secretary of the Strategy Division in the Academy of Management. He has published in such outlets as Harvard Business Review, Journal of Management, Journal of World Business, Management Science, Organization Science, and Strategic Management Journal.

He has a PhD in Strategy from the Ivey School of Business (Western University), and degrees in Chemical Engineering, Management Science, and Sociology from the University of Waterloo. He held non-academic positions in scientific programming and public policy. He (co)founded the Ivey Medical Technology Innovation conference, CSOL, and R3ciprocity. The Carnegie School of Organizational Learning (CSOL) is the preeminent conference on decision-making and learning within and between organizations.

Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3886vB9hdqnmHkOZRFlyih?si=554c3eb0b6bd4a39 YouTube: https://youtube.com/c/r3ciprocityTeam
Platform: https://www.r3ciprocity.com

Peter Quarry studied psychology at Melbourne University in the mid-1970s. He worked
initially as a counsellor of the unemployed, then pivoted to public speaking, workshop
facilitation and content creation.

In the 1980s, he co-founded Ash Quarry Productions and became the on-screen expert
presenter of corporate training videos that, over the next two decades, gained global
recognition. His work was translated into multiple languages and won dozens of
international awards.

By the early 1990s, Peter was invited to appear on ‘Good Morning Australia’, where he
secured a regular slot as the sometimes fun, sometimes serious, ‘Resident Psychologist’,
answering viewers’ letters.

In 2021, his debut book, If I Were You – A psychologist puts himself on the couch, was
published. He is a regular contributor of psychology-related articles for major Australian
newspapers, including the Sydney Morning Herald and the Australian Financial Review.
He is currently writing a new book exploring death anxiety - and how to overcome it.

peterquarry.com

Laura Nelson is the co-founder of Sober Life Rocks and author of The Inclusive Event Planner. With a strong background in leadership and events, she champions sober-inclusive gatherings that foster real connection. Her work is inspired by her own sobriety journey and a mission to help professionals design meaningful, welcoming experiences for all. She is also excited about their first conference, Amplify, a sober-focused event amplifying sober voices, on January 15, 2026. Join her in the Sober Life Rocks Community on LinkedIn and grab a free copy of her book at SoberLifeRocks.com.

See also:
• Amplify Sober Voices – their first conference dedicated to amplifying sober voices, happening January 15, 2026, in Orlando. You can find more here: amplify.soberliferocks.com.
• The Inclusive Event Planner – her book on creating sober-inclusive, connection-driven gatherings. Details are here: inclusiveeventplanner.com.

Dr John Malios is an experienced general practitioner and medico-legal examiner, retiring after a 50-year career in general practice. He founded the Oakleigh and District Health Centre (now The General Practitioner) in 1972 and went on to serve as Convenor of Medical Panels Victoria (2012–2017) and Deputy Convenor (2007–2012).

He continues to contribute as a Presiding Member on Medical Panel Tribunals and has extensive expertise in medico-legal impairment assessment under the AMA Guides for WorkSafe and Wrongs Act claims. Dr Malios also delivers training for the Personal Injury Education Foundation (PIEF).

Currently, he is an occupational health consultant in private industry, Medical Advisor and committee member of Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Australia, a member of the consumer advocacy group for Primary Aldosteronism, and an Associate Investigator with the Hudson Institute’s Primary Aldosteronism Centre of Excellence (PACE).

Dr Malios is a Life Member of the AMA and RACGP, and a member of the Australian College of Legal Medicine.