#240 Matt Kalina (TandemStride) — The Business of Trauma Recovery

Feb 12, 2026

Ask episode

Chapters

Transcript

Episode notes

Matt Kalina — Founder and CEO of TandemStride

Matt Kalina is the Founder and CEO of TandemStride, a healthcare marketplace that connects trauma survivors with peers, care partners, and providers to support long-term recovery. Inspired by his family’s firsthand experience with traumatic injury, Matt is dedicated to building solutions that close the gap between emergency care and ongoing support. With his leadership, TandemStride is advancing a more connected and compassionate model of recovery.

In our conversation, Matt and I explore the often-overlooked realities of life after traumatic injury, why peer support is such a powerful layer of care, how his family adapted to his brother’s traumatic loss of his both his legs in 2012 and have come together through TandemStride to building the support platform they wish had existed by meeting people in moments of real crisis, not months later. We also talk about Matt’s evolution as a leadership, his Ohio go-to-market strategy, the power of incentives, the business of trauma, working with his family in the company, empathy, and coming into your life’s work.

Matt is an inspiring entrepreneur and this was a really special conversation – please enjoy.

00:00 Introduction to Tandem Stride
02:46 Introduction and Personal Connection
04:42 The Journey to Tandem Stride
07:15 Identifying Gaps in Injury Care
09:47 Understanding Patient Needs
12:21 Building the Tandem Stride Platform
15:13 Engagement and Outreach Strategies
17:57 Navigating Healthcare Partnerships
20:30 The Business Model and Future Vision
33:39 Engaging in Healthcare Innovation
34:42 Defining the Vision for TandemStride
37:37 Creating a New Category in Injury Care
40:09 Changing Incentives in Healthcare
44:07 Long-Term Policy Initiatives
45:05 Personal Growth as a Leader
48:59 Family Dynamics in Business
51:46 Exciting Developments Ahead
54:53 Embracing Uncertainty in Entrepreneurship
59:21 Outro

-----

LINKS:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kalinamatt/
https://www.tandemstride.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Cut-Through-Shortcut-That-Everything/dp/0960083766

-----

SPONSOR:
Roundstone Insurance
Roundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.

Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs. Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.

Cerity Partners
Cerity Partners, a full-service investment and wealth management firm serving high-net-worth individuals, entrepreneurs, and business owners, is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. The firm has local roots in Cleveland and across Ohio, and like this podcast, Cerity Partners advisors specialize in serving the interests of local entrepreneurs and business leaders. They understand how to manage the total picture of wealth, both personal and professional. Cerity Partners has a unified team of specialists who collaborate on almost every aspect of a client’s financial life, including business ownership. The firm’s national presence means it can offer the resources and specialized knowledge of the largest institutions with the independence and service of a neighbor. The Cerity Partners Cleveland team understands the complexity that comes with wealth, and they adhere to fiduciary standards. Discover the financial lay of your land.

Learn more at ceritypartners.com/NPR or call 216-464-6266.

-----

Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here: https://layoftheland.ck.page/5f0c1e28fa

Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/

Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayoftheland

https://www.jeffreys.page/