Austin Eras

Revolutionizing Surgical Recovery and Tackling the Opioid Crisis

September 25, 2025 | Episode #020

Meet the Guest

Brand Newland

Brand Newland, PharmD, MBA, is the CEO and Co-founder of Goldfinch Health. Inspired by personal experiences with the pitfalls of surgery and a lack of proactive solutions to the Opioid Crisis, Brand helped to launch a vision toward a higher standard of care in surgery and recovery in 2018. Goldfinch Health optimizes the surgery and recovery experience, saving companies, government stakeholders, and patients, not only from the harms of opioids but also from wasting time in post-surgery recovery and money in outdated healthcare.

In 2021, Newland founded the Billion Pill Pledge with a mission to erase 1 billion opioid pills from our collective homes, medicine cabinets, and communities. Thanks to advances in science and medical practice over the last two decades, we can achieve better pain management with fewer opioids. All that’s missing is the spark. The Billion Pill Pledge is designed to catalyze collective action toward opioid first dose prevention.

Brand received a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa and holds a certification in pain management. He has also completed an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Show Notes

In today’s episode, Adam interviews Brand Newland, CEO and Co-Founder of Goldfinch Health, a company that’s transforming surgical recovery. Brand takes us through his journey from pharmacy school to becoming a healthcare entrepreneur, driven by personal experiences and the opioid crisis. He dives into Goldfinch’s mission to tackle the opioid epidemic through their Billion Pill Pledge, aiming to eliminate one billion unnecessary opioid pills from homes across the U.S.

Brand dives into the real-world consequences of opioid over-prescription and how Goldfinch’s enhanced recovery protocols are not only reducing opioid use but also speeding up recovery for patients. From his roots in small-town Nebraska to leading a thriving healthcare startup in Austin, Brand’s story is a testament to the power of innovation in the face of adversity. Tune in to hear Brand’s bold vision for the future of healthcare and the vital role Austin plays in shaping that future.

About the Podcast

Austin Eras is a podcast that unravels Austin’s transformation into a 21st-century boomtown and explores its potential future. We invite listeners to explore the ever-changing landscape of this dynamic city through a unique format where each episode of Austin Eras unfolds a story of the city dissected through time.

We’ll explore the roots of vital topics, step into the present to take the current pulse of the city’s heartbeat, and leap into the future to envision the potential that awaits. Topics will range from BBQ to transportation, professional sports to land development – and everything in between.

Revolutionizing Surgical Recovery and Tackling the Opioid Crisis

Meet the Host

Adam Flagg

CFP®, AIF®
Managing Partner, Senior Wealth Advisor

Disclosure

Austin Eras featuring Adam Flagg is brought to you by Collective Advisors. Collective Advisors offers investment advisory services through CWM, LLC an SEC registered investment advisor. Guests on Austin Eras are not affiliates of CWM, LLC and opinions expressed by guests may not reflect those of CWM, LLC. This show is intended for educational and entertainment purposes, and is not intended to provide specific legal, tax, or other professional advice. For a comprehensive review of your personal situation, always consult with a qualified professional.