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Episode Description
What happens when a McKinsey alum with a personal history of OCD turns his analytical superpowers toward fixing mental health care?
In this episode of Neural Compass, Steve Duke—founder of the Hemingway Group and author of the must-read Hemingway Report—joins Jimini’s Mark Jacobstein for a compelling conversation on the present (and future) of behavioral health.
This episode touches on:
We're talking:
- Why the mental health system rewards what’s reimbursable—not necessarily what works
- How AI is already being used for emotional support—and what we aren’t talking about enough
- The trust paradox of conversational agents in mental health
- How loneliness, sleep, and social connection are massively underleveraged interventions
- What the rise of run clubs and cold plunges might teach us about health tech adoption
About Our Guest
Steve Duke is the founder of the Hemingway Group and the writer behind The Hemingway Report, a widely read weekly analysis at the intersection of mental health, business, and technology. With a background in consulting at McKinsey and leadership roles in startups, Steve brings a rare blend of analytical rigor and personal insight to the challenges facing mental health care today. His work is grounded in both lived experience and systems-level thinking—unpacking what’s broken, what’s working, and what needs reimagining. From AI adoption to reimbursement models, Steve’s writing has become essential reading for innovators navigating the future of behavioral health.
About Our Host
Mark Jacobstein is the co-founder and president of Jimini Health. A longtime entrepreneur at the intersection of AI and health tech, he now leads Jimini’s mission to transform mental and behavioral health through clinically grounded, AI-powered care.
