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.

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