It’s not often that a podcast draws more attention than expected. But when Steve Badger is involved, you’d better expect the unexpected.
Our upcoming conversation (6 PM EST tonight – register here: https://lnkd.in/eR5T6bsy) has generated far more signups than anticipated. And I’ve been asking myself why. What is it about Steve Badger that draws such a crowd? Why did at least six public adjusters today ask me to ask questions that will embarrass Badger?
Yes, he’s opinionated. Yes, he’s a fierce advocate for the insurance industry. Many in the policyholder community strongly disagree with him. But that’s not the whole story.
What draws people to Steve Badger isn’t just what he says. It’s how he says it. It’s the fact that he says it unapologetically. And more importantly, he’s willing to back it up.
Uncomfortable Convictions Have a Strange Power
Honesty is difficult when it may hurt you or challenge your view of the world. Much of what Steve says makes people on the policyholder side uncomfortable. He challenges long-held assumptions in the policyholder community. He confronts narratives that many of us have lived and breathed for decades. And he doesn’t hedge his words.
But here’s the thing: he doesn’t think he’s wrong.
Most of the time, he has courtroom wins, legal precedent, and confident logic behind him. People may not like what he says, but they know he didn’t come to the fight unarmed. That’s why they show up. Even those who vehemently disagree with him tune in because they know they’re going to get something real, not rehearsed.
We live in a time when public discourse has become more tribal and polarized—especially in whatever corner of the insurance world you are from. Each side is quick to paint the other as morally or professionally inferior. Yet here comes Steve, who walks straight into the lion’s den with a grin and a belief that his arguments can stand the heat.
Contenders Seek Truth, Not Comfort
In a recent post, Austin Merlin Myers Is a Contender, I spoke about the difference between Contenders and Pretenders. Pretenders seek applause and affirmation. They want to be right, liked, and left unchallenged.
Contenders seek truth, even if it’s uncomfortable. They’re willing to walk into tough conversations, face down criticism, and learn something through the process.
Steve Badger may be on the other side of the fence, but he’s a Contender. He’s not afraid to walk into a policyholder-heavy room and argue his case. And to be fair, I’ve done the same on panels where I’m the lone voice for policyholders. These moments sharpen us. They humble us. They move the discussion forward.
Whether we like it or not, insurance industry leaders like Steve Badger raise the standard. They make those of us advocating for policyholders work harder, build stronger cases, and sharpen our logic and legal reasoning. They expose weaknesses. Sometimes, these are in our facts, sometimes in our logic, and sometimes in our comfort zones. Sometimes, they simply confront the reality that we are on the wrong side of an insurance coverage or valuation situation, and we do not get our way.
That’s not a threat. That’s an opportunity.
This webinar is not about agreeing with Steve Badger. Indeed, I love to point out his illogic and challenge him when he is way off base. Yet, this is about engaging with him and with the bigger ideas that shape our industry. We’ll be diving into those ideas tonight, and I hope you’ll join us.
Again, here’s the link to register
Come curious. Come with your question. But come ready for a real conversation.
Because that’s what Contenders do.
Thought For The Day
“Some people bring happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.”
—Oscar Wilde
