Podcast appearances and mentions of Brad Smith

Episode 757: Neal and Toby look into December's inflation rolled out, which showed slight progress but ultimately didn't change anyone's concern on affordability.   Speaking of Microsoft, the company's president, Brad Smith, has pledged to build more AI data centers without the American taxpayer picking up the bill on electricity. A direct shot at Microsoft's Copilot. Meanwhile, Anthropic's new Claude AI-powered Cowork tool for general computing with no coding required. Finally, greenhouse gas emissions are going back up again…but why?  Explore Indeed's full findings at https://www.indeed.com/2026hiringtrends Subscribe to Morning Brew Daily for more of the news you need to start your day. Share the show with a friend, and leave us a review on your favorite podcast app. Listen to Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.swap.fm/l/mbd-note⁠⁠⁠  Watch Morning Brew Daily Here:⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MorningBrewDailyShow⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Satya Nadella gave up much of his CEO duties in 2025. Are we on the cusp of a new CEO? And does some money manager/political duo like Amy Hood and Brad Smith actually make more sense in this role than an engineer-type for the modern Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to win our hearts and minds on AI After spending three years trying to jam AI down our collective throats, Microsoft has only met resistance. Now, the real marketing begins Governments and regulators: Microsoft will build out its AI infrastructure by actually paying for it and respecting the communities in which this happens Customers: Satya Nadella is blogging, and he wants us to stop complaining about AI. He's the wrong messenger Windows 11 First Patch Tuesday of 2026 brings security and bug fixes but no new features First update of 2026 brings Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator, new IT policies for Copilot, other changes to Dev & Beta Dev is about to switch to 26H1 IDC says that PC sales rose 8.1 percent in 2025, warns again about 2026 The good & bad of Paul's Panther Lake laptop Dell doesn't sell any PCs to consumers so it obviously has opinions about why consumers don't buy PCs for AI Microsoft will soon retire its Lens mobile app AI Apple predictably partners with Google to bring Gemini to Siri Samsung correctly points out we're all using AI already so there's no reason to complain about it We can't trust AI, so Microsoft is letting Copilot go shopping with our credit cards We can't trust AI, so OpenAI is giving ChatGPT access to our private health data Gmail is getting more AI because email is the low-hanging fruit of data collection Xbox and gaming Developer Direct returns on January 22 with Fable and Forza 6 gameplay Microsoft to bring Avowed to PS5 in February Tips and picks Tip of the week: Kick off 2026 with a security checkup App pick of the week: Microsoft Local Foundry RunAs Radio this week: Azure in 2026 with Jeremy Winter Brown liquor pick of the week: Don Julio 70 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/windows

Satya Nadella gave up much of his CEO duties in 2025. Are we on the cusp of a new CEO? And does some money manager/political duo like Amy Hood and Brad Smith actually make more sense in this role than an engineer-type for the modern Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to win our hearts and minds on AI After spending three years trying to jam AI down our collective throats, Microsoft has only met resistance. Now, the real marketing begins Governments and regulators: Microsoft will build out its AI infrastructure by actually paying for it and respecting the communities in which this happens Customers: Satya Nadella is blogging, and he wants us to stop complaining about AI. He's the wrong messenger Windows 11 First Patch Tuesday of 2026 brings security and bug fixes but no new features First update of 2026 brings Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator, new IT policies for Copilot, other changes to Dev & Beta Dev is about to switch to 26H1 IDC says that PC sales rose 8.1 percent in 2025, warns again about 2026 The good & bad of Paul's Panther Lake laptop Dell doesn't sell any PCs to consumers so it obviously has opinions about why consumers don't buy PCs for AI Microsoft will soon retire its Lens mobile app AI Apple predictably partners with Google to bring Gemini to Siri Samsung correctly points out we're all using AI already so there's no reason to complain about it We can't trust AI, so Microsoft is letting Copilot go shopping with our credit cards We can't trust AI, so OpenAI is giving ChatGPT access to our private health data Gmail is getting more AI because email is the low-hanging fruit of data collection Xbox and gaming Developer Direct returns on January 22 with Fable and Forza 6 gameplay Microsoft to bring Avowed to PS5 in February Tips and picks Tip of the week: Kick off 2026 with a security checkup App pick of the week: Microsoft Local Foundry RunAs Radio this week: Azure in 2026 with Jeremy Winter Brown liquor pick of the week: Don Julio 70 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/windows

Satya Nadella gave up much of his CEO duties in 2025. Are we on the cusp of a new CEO? And does some money manager/political duo like Amy Hood and Brad Smith actually make more sense in this role than an engineer-type for the modern Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to win our hearts and minds on AI After spending three years trying to jam AI down our collective throats, Microsoft has only met resistance. Now, the real marketing begins Governments and regulators: Microsoft will build out its AI infrastructure by actually paying for it and respecting the communities in which this happens Customers: Satya Nadella is blogging, and he wants us to stop complaining about AI. He's the wrong messenger Windows 11 First Patch Tuesday of 2026 brings security and bug fixes but no new features First update of 2026 brings Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator, new IT policies for Copilot, other changes to Dev & Beta Dev is about to switch to 26H1 IDC says that PC sales rose 8.1 percent in 2025, warns again about 2026 The good & bad of Paul's Panther Lake laptop Dell doesn't sell any PCs to consumers so it obviously has opinions about why consumers don't buy PCs for AI Microsoft will soon retire its Lens mobile app AI Apple predictably partners with Google to bring Gemini to Siri Samsung correctly points out we're all using AI already so there's no reason to complain about it We can't trust AI, so Microsoft is letting Copilot go shopping with our credit cards We can't trust AI, so OpenAI is giving ChatGPT access to our private health data Gmail is getting more AI because email is the low-hanging fruit of data collection Xbox and gaming Developer Direct returns on January 22 with Fable and Forza 6 gameplay Microsoft to bring Avowed to PS5 in February Tips and picks Tip of the week: Kick off 2026 with a security checkup App pick of the week: Microsoft Local Foundry RunAs Radio this week: Azure in 2026 with Jeremy Winter Brown liquor pick of the week: Don Julio 70 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/windows

Satya Nadella gave up much of his CEO duties in 2025. Are we on the cusp of a new CEO? And does some money manager/political duo like Amy Hood and Brad Smith actually make more sense in this role than an engineer-type for the modern Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to win our hearts and minds on AI After spending three years trying to jam AI down our collective throats, Microsoft has only met resistance. Now, the real marketing begins Governments and regulators: Microsoft will build out its AI infrastructure by actually paying for it and respecting the communities in which this happens Customers: Satya Nadella is blogging, and he wants us to stop complaining about AI. He's the wrong messenger Windows 11 First Patch Tuesday of 2026 brings security and bug fixes but no new features First update of 2026 brings Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator, new IT policies for Copilot, other changes to Dev & Beta Dev is about to switch to 26H1 IDC says that PC sales rose 8.1 percent in 2025, warns again about 2026 The good & bad of Paul's Panther Lake laptop Dell doesn't sell any PCs to consumers so it obviously has opinions about why consumers don't buy PCs for AI Microsoft will soon retire its Lens mobile app AI Apple predictably partners with Google to bring Gemini to Siri Samsung correctly points out we're all using AI already so there's no reason to complain about it We can't trust AI, so Microsoft is letting Copilot go shopping with our credit cards We can't trust AI, so OpenAI is giving ChatGPT access to our private health data Gmail is getting more AI because email is the low-hanging fruit of data collection Xbox and gaming Developer Direct returns on January 22 with Fable and Forza 6 gameplay Microsoft to bring Avowed to PS5 in February Tips and picks Tip of the week: Kick off 2026 with a security checkup App pick of the week: Microsoft Local Foundry RunAs Radio this week: Azure in 2026 with Jeremy Winter Brown liquor pick of the week: Don Julio 70 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/windows

Satya Nadella gave up much of his CEO duties in 2025. Are we on the cusp of a new CEO? And does some money manager/political duo like Amy Hood and Brad Smith actually make more sense in this role than an engineer-type for the modern Microsoft? Microsoft is trying to win our hearts and minds on AI After spending three years trying to jam AI down our collective throats, Microsoft has only met resistance. Now, the real marketing begins Governments and regulators: Microsoft will build out its AI infrastructure by actually paying for it and respecting the communities in which this happens Customers: Satya Nadella is blogging, and he wants us to stop complaining about AI. He's the wrong messenger Windows 11 First Patch Tuesday of 2026 brings security and bug fixes but no new features First update of 2026 brings Copilot-powered image descriptions in Narrator, new IT policies for Copilot, other changes to Dev & Beta Dev is about to switch to 26H1 IDC says that PC sales rose 8.1 percent in 2025, warns again about 2026 The good & bad of Paul's Panther Lake laptop Dell doesn't sell any PCs to consumers so it obviously has opinions about why consumers don't buy PCs for AI Microsoft will soon retire its Lens mobile app AI Apple predictably partners with Google to bring Gemini to Siri Samsung correctly points out we're all using AI already so there's no reason to complain about it We can't trust AI, so Microsoft is letting Copilot go shopping with our credit cards We can't trust AI, so OpenAI is giving ChatGPT access to our private health data Gmail is getting more AI because email is the low-hanging fruit of data collection Xbox and gaming Developer Direct returns on January 22 with Fable and Forza 6 gameplay Microsoft to bring Avowed to PS5 in February Tips and picks Tip of the week: Kick off 2026 with a security checkup App pick of the week: Microsoft Local Foundry RunAs Radio this week: Azure in 2026 with Jeremy Winter Brown liquor pick of the week: Don Julio 70 Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell Download or subscribe to Windows Weekly at https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly Check out Paul's blog at thurrott.com The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of Carl Franklin. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: zscaler.com/security helixsleep.com/windows

Carl Quintanilla, Sara Eisen, & David Faber kicked off a big morning on Wall Street with more fallout related to the DOJ-Powell probe, before hitting 2 other key stories of the day: consumer inflation & bank earnings. Evercore's Julian Emanuel and former Barclays CEO Bob Diamond joined the team to give their takes on the action.  Plus: Microsoft out with a new 5-part plan to reduce consumer impact from its growing energy, water, and land use tied to AI... President Brad Smith broke down the move and what comes next this hour.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Let's start with the Bad News?The ICE game3 UnitedHealth Group Minnetonka41 Target Minneapolis105 U.S. Bancorp; IR site not working: Minneapolis108 Best Buy Richfield115 CHS Inver Grove Heights174 3M Maplewood216 General Mills Golden Valley230 Ameriprise Financial MinneapolisAnthony Saglimbene, Chief Market Strategist, Ameriprise Financial: Is Corporate America Up For Its First Big Test Of 2026? 1/12/2026“geopolitical and Washington headlines have increased risk, from developments in Venezuela to broader policy noise, including the pending International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) decision which didn't occur last week, affordability proposals in Washington, and unexpected policies and executive orders that could impact housing and defense companies”233 C.H. Robinson Eden Prairie262 Land O'Lakes Arden Hills274 Ecolab St. Paul319 Xcel Energy Minneapolis352 Hormel Foods Austin388 Thrivent Financial MinneapolisThe Good GameThe oil CEO who stood up to Trump is a follower of the disciplined ‘Exxon way' with a history of blunt statementsBig Oil executives met at the White House to discuss investing billions to revive Venezuela's oil industry.Exxon Mobil CEO Darren Woods pushed back, calling Venezuela “uninvestable” without long-term reforms.President Trump reacted angrily, calling Exxon “too cute” and signaling he may exclude the company from Venezuela.Woods declined to appease Trump at the expense of Exxon shareholders.Analysts said Exxon stock would likely have fallen if it committed billions to Venezuela's uneconomic, high-risk environment.Veteran analyst Jim Wicklund said Woods was the only executive willing to speak plainly.Industry has little urgency to return to Venezuela, and no deal can offset the extreme political risk.Even sweeter terms wouldn't change the math: political risk outweighs potential rewards by “a factor of 10.”Microsoft Pledges to Pay More for Electricity, Drawing Praise From Trump A senior Microsoft executive on Tuesday addressed the impact data centers have on the electrical costs for home consumers, an increasingly touchy subject that became a political hot button in November's elections.In a blog post ahead of a speech on artificial intelligence, Brad Smith, Microsoft's president, reiterated that Microsoft wants to pay for the electricity its data center use and avoid affecting everyday customers. “We'll ask utilities and public commissions to set our rates high enough to cover the electricity costs for our data centers,” Mr. Smith wrote.US Judge Allows Orsted to Resume $5 Billion Rhode Island Offshore Wind Project Halted by TrumpRevolution Wind is a $5 billion development co-owned by Orsted that aims to deliver renewable power to Rhode Island and Connecticut. It is the first of five offshore wind projects paused by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum in late December over what officials described as radar interference risks identified by the Department of Defense.Trump tries to reduce CEO pay and halt billions in stock buybacks at defense contractorsThe executive order is creating a “new, government-mandated form of ESG,” referring to the environmental, social, and governance framework that grew prominent in recent years and prodded CEOs to focus on their companies' broader stakeholder impact and not just shareholders.Ironically, the prioritization of ESG was derided as “woke” by critics and the administration has been generally hostile toward ESG. The defense contractor order is conceptually similar in that it prods companies to prioritize a customer over maximizing value for shareholders.President Donald Trump signed an executive order zeroing in on pay packages for executives at large defense contractors deemed to have underperformed on existing government contracts while chasing newer, bigger deals, according to the White House. At the same time, the order claims, these companies have bought back billions in stock, enriching both shareholders and executives.“Effective immediately, they are not permitted in any way, shape, or form to pay dividends or buy back stock, until such time as they are able to produce a superior product, on time and on budget,” the order, titled “Prioritizing the Warfighter in Defense Contracting,” states.The order further directs the Secretary of War to identify contractors that have underperformed the terms of their deals with the government and hatch a plan to resolve delays and production issues. If the resolution plan is insufficient, according to the secretary, future contracts will include provisions banning stock buybacks and dividends and will prohibit tying pay to “short-term financial metrics” such as free cash flow or earnings per share.Trump elaborated in a post on his messaging platform Truth Social last week, railing against pay packages in the defense industry, claiming they are “exorbitant and unjustifiable” given the delays in delivering military equipment. Until those issues are remediated, “no Executive should be allowed to make in excess of $5 Million Dollars which, as high as it sounds, is a mere fraction of what they are making now,” the president wrote.US oil lobby group backs repeal of climate rule for vehicles, not power plantsThe American Petroleum Institute supports the Environmental Protection Agency's proposal to repeal the foundation of greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles but not for power plants and other stationary industrial facilities."We would not support repealing the endangerment finding for stationary sources," API President Mike Sommers told reporters, adding that the trade group believes it has "the greatest standing" from a regulatory perspective and it is clear the EPA has authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from those sources.Judge: Trump violated Fifth Amendment by ending energy grants in only blue statesCourt Rules Trump DOE Violated the Constitution When It Cancelled Clean Energy Funding in Specific StatesAdministration Action Violated Constitutional Guarantee to Equal Protection Under the LawNorway Pushes Electric Vehicles to Nearly All New Car Sales in 2025Electric vehicles accounted for 95.9 percent of all new car registrations in Norway in 2025, rising to almost 98 percent in December, placing the country far ahead of global peers.A mix of targeted tax relief for low cost electric vehicles and rising charges on petrol and diesel cars has reshaped consumer demand and manufacturer strategy.Norway's approach contrasts with the wider European Union, where weaker demand has prompted a rollback of the planned 2035 ban on internal combustion engine vehicles.Meet autistic Barbie: the newest Mattel doll launched in line intended to celebrate diversityMattel said it developed the autistic doll over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit organization that advocates for the rights and better media representation of people with autismThe eyes of the new Barbie shift slightly to the side to represent how some people with autism sometimes avoid direct eye contact, he said. The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.The development team debated whether to dress the doll in a tight or a loose-fitting outfit, Pervez said. Some autistic people wear loose clothes because they are sensitive to the feel of fabric seams, while others wear figure-hugging garments to give them a sense of where their bodies are, he said. The team ended up choosing an A-line dress with short sleeves and a flowy skirt that provides less fabric-to-skin contact.The doll also wears flat shoes to promote stability and ease of movement, according to Mattel.Each doll comes with a pink finger clip fidget spinner, noise-canceling headphones and a pink tablet modeled after the devices some autistic people who struggle to speak use to communicate.Elon Musk's X Under UK Investigation Over Grok's Sexualized A.I. ImagesA British regulator said it had started a formal investigation into Mr. Musk's chatbot over the spread of illegal images.Malaysia and Indonesia block Musk's Grok over sexually explicit deepfakes Meta removes nearly 550,000 social media accounts under Australian age ban This new crash test dummy could keep women safer in car accidentsWhile regulators have been testing crash impacts for decades, there's a dearth of data on women, who face a higher risk of death in auto accidents. In November, regulators unveiled THOR-05F — short for “Test device for Human Occupant Restraint, 5th-percentile Female” — the first crash test dummy specifically based on a woman's body.Elon Musk's Lawsuit Accusing ChatGPT-Maker OpenAI Of Betraying Its Nonprofit Mission Can Go To Trial, Judge Rules‍ ‍Trump calls for 1-year 10% cap on credit card interest ratesThis is a mistake President': Bill Ackman responds to Trump's call for a one-year 10% cap on credit card interestActivist investors set record number of campaigns in 2025Last year's number of attacks marked a nearly 5% increase over 2024 and eclipsed the previous record of 249 made in 2018, the data showed.

In this episode of InSights, presented by Haley Marketing, Brad Bialy sits down with Brad Smith to unpack why selling staffing services is harder than ever—and how tightly integrated sales, marketing, and AI-driven buyer enablement are becoming the real competitive advantage heading into 2026. About the Guest Brad Smith is Chief Strategy Officer at Haley Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience helping staffing firms turn digital marketing, technology, and strategy into predictable growth. A Certified Inbound Marketing professional, Brad is a frequent industry speaker and contributor to leading staffing publications. Key Takeaways Selling got harder—but avoidance won't fix it. Activity beats hope when markets tighten. Buyer education now happens before sales conversations. Specialization creates leverage in crowded markets. AI amplifies systems—it doesn't replace them. Timestamps [01:10] – Why sales feels harder than ever [02:35] – The real reason leaders avoid quotas [04:45] – When inbound stopped being enough [05:10] – The shocking truth about 72 touches [07:00] – Why reps quit before momentum starts [09:15] – Turning marketing into sales leverage [10:45] – How buyers decide before calling you [12:40] – What buyer enablement actually includes [15:10] – A $1.1M lesson in control and scale [18:05] – Why marketing can't fix broken sales [21:00] – Focus beats doing everything for everyone [26:20] – How AI shifts from advantage to necessity About the Host Brad Bialy is a trusted voice and highly sought-after speaker in the staffing and recruiting industry, known for helping firms grow through integrated marketing, sales, and recruiting strategies. With over 13 years at Haley Marketing and a proven track record guiding hundreds of firms, Brad brings deep expertise and a fresh, actionable perspective to every engagement. He's the host of Take the Stage and InSights, two of the staffing industry's leading podcasts with more than 200,000 downloads. Sponsors InSights is presented by Haley Marketing. The old way of selling staffing is dead. Let's fix it – with smarter strategies and HUGE DISCOUNTS on modern lead gen tools:

Generative AI is spreading fast, but not evenly. In this special edition of Tools and Weapons, I sit down with Juan Lavista Ferres, Director of Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, to unpack the latest AI Diffusion Report and what it reveals about who benefits most from this new technology.We explore why diffusion, not just invention, determines long-term impact, examine the widening gap between the Global North and Global South, and spotlight the countries setting the pace, including the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and South Korea. We also discuss the rise of models like China's DeepSeek and what shifting adoption patterns mean for the future of AI worldwide.

We are off for the next few weeks, so we are again reaching into the Discord Game Club interview archive. This time around, BioStats and Calamity Nolan interview Brad Smith, who talks about his independent developer life, art, punk, and skateboarding, among other topics. Twitch: timlongojr and twinsunscorp  Discord  DevGameClub@gmail.com

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Brad Smith about his new novel, Billy Crawford's Double Play (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025).  Everything is legal – if you can get away with it. Billy Crawford is a hero. The star of the Rose City Rounders, the baseball player has been thrilling fans of the city for years. But Billy's not as young as he used to be and his tendency to play hard is catching up with him. A string of losses for the Rounders puts his position at risk as the team's owner, local developer Carroll Miller, doesn't like being associated with anything that loses. Miller's thinking of making changes, and not just at the team. When he decides to enter politics Billy suddenly finds himself facing an offer he can't refuse. In this wise-cracking, fast-paced novel, Brad Smith lampoons today's scandal-ridden politics and politicians. But among the laughter, Smith also shows us there can be hope, and even integrity, where we least expect it. Award-winning author Brad Smith is a novelist and screenwriter, born and raised in southern Ontario. Billy Crawford's Double Play is his fifteenth novel. His 2019 novel – The Return of Kid Cooper – won the Spur Award for Best Western Traditional Novel from the Western Writers of America. His novels One-Eyed Jacks and Copperhead Road were shortlisted for the Dashiell Hammett Prize. He adapted his book All Hat to feature film, starring Keith Carradine and Luke Kirby. He now lives in a ninety-year-old farmhouse near the north shore of Lake Erie, where he tinkers, respectively, on his vintage cars and his golf swing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this NBN episode, host Hollay Ghadery speaks with Brad Smith about his new novel, Billy Crawford's Double Play (Wolsak & Wynn, 2025).  Everything is legal – if you can get away with it. Billy Crawford is a hero. The star of the Rose City Rounders, the baseball player has been thrilling fans of the city for years. But Billy's not as young as he used to be and his tendency to play hard is catching up with him. A string of losses for the Rounders puts his position at risk as the team's owner, local developer Carroll Miller, doesn't like being associated with anything that loses. Miller's thinking of making changes, and not just at the team. When he decides to enter politics Billy suddenly finds himself facing an offer he can't refuse. In this wise-cracking, fast-paced novel, Brad Smith lampoons today's scandal-ridden politics and politicians. But among the laughter, Smith also shows us there can be hope, and even integrity, where we least expect it. Award-winning author Brad Smith is a novelist and screenwriter, born and raised in southern Ontario. Billy Crawford's Double Play is his fifteenth novel. His 2019 novel – The Return of Kid Cooper – won the Spur Award for Best Western Traditional Novel from the Western Writers of America. His novels One-Eyed Jacks and Copperhead Road were shortlisted for the Dashiell Hammett Prize. He adapted his book All Hat to feature film, starring Keith Carradine and Luke Kirby. He now lives in a ninety-year-old farmhouse near the north shore of Lake Erie, where he tinkers, respectively, on his vintage cars and his golf swing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Vassy Kapelos is joined by strategists Kathleen Monk, James Moore, and Scott Reid, Governor of Delaware Matt Meyer, interim NDP Leader Don Davies, and Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith.

In this episode Brad puts me in the hot seat to break down how I actually use podcasting as a relationship engine, a content machine, and a long-game business strategy. We talk consistency, guests, gear, distribution, and why downloads don't matter nearly as much as people think.Key Highlights:- Podcasting is a mindset, not a metric:It's about relationships, reps, and distribution — not downloads.- Stop worrying about saturation:There isn't your podcast yet. That's the only one missing.- Consistency wins:I've released my Friday rant every week for 5+ years — no excuses.- 1,200+ episodes later…The show became my own mastermind, business school, and network builder.- Best guests aren't the "big names.":My highest-performing episode was a first-time guest with a powerful story.- Ask questions others don't:Look for what lights your guest up, not just what they're known for.- Start simple:Cheap mic, basic webcam, Zoom/Riverside — and launch with 10 episodes ready.- Repurpose everything:One episode becomes clips, emails, blogs, YouTube — a full content ecosystem.- Let the first 35 episodes teach you:The show evolves. Don't force a niche too early.- Podcasting grows your business indirectly:Warm relationships - cold DMs. Clients often come months later.If you liked this episode, share it with someone sitting on the fence about starting a podcast. Consistency compounds — hit record and show up.

In this Business Breakdown Live episode, Brad and I sit down with the incredible Jackie Hirsch, a veteran business broker who's seen hundreds of deals go right—and plenty go wrong. We dive deep into one of the most under-discussed but critical topics in business: integrity. Whether you're buying, selling, or partnering, Jackie shares how to recognize red flags early, trust your intuition when something feels off, and protect yourself with data and due diligence.We swap wild stories—from fake bank statements and shady buyers to deals saved by gut instinct—and break down the fine line between taking a risk and ignoring your better judgment. Jackie also shares her best insider tips for first-time buyers and sellers: how long deals really take, what to look for in an attorney, and why preparation is everything.Key Takeaways:- Integrity over income. No amount of money is worth compromising your values.- Trust your intuition. If something feels off—even without data—it probably is.- Back it up with data. Gut feelings matter, but always verify through research and documents.- Beware of fake funding. Confirm proof of funds directly with a lender before wasting time.- Preparation wins deals. Show up with your bio, financials, and a clear understanding of your experience.- Find the right legal help. Work with attorneys who specialize in business transactions, not generalists.- Play the long game. You're not just closing deals—you're building a reputation and lifelong relationships.Final thought:Business moves fast, but integrity lasts forever. Trust your instincts, do your homework, and remember—a deal that doesn't feel right is one you don't need to chase.

Today's guest, Brad Smith, is a lifelong adventurer- married to his wife, Beth, since 1988, father of three adult children, and a competitive athlete who's spent decades on the tennis and squash courts and is now an active pickleball player and college squash official.He's been investing in real estate since age 19, owning hundreds of units over the years across cities like Hoboken, Jersey City, and Chicago.Now, he channels his passion into two lavender farms that double as destination event venues. The newest, Princeton Lavender, features 8.l6 acres of lavender fields, friendly farm animals, and a tunning post-and-beam event barn designed for gatherings of all sizes. He loves collaborating with musicians, caterers, and guests to bring memorable events to life.

Greg Brady is joined by Alex Pierson, Host of the Alex Pierson Show noon to 3pm on 640 Toronto & Brad Smith, Guest host on 640 Toronto to answer questions from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Greg Brady is joined by Alex Pierson, Host of the Alex Pierson Show noon to 3pm on 640 Toronto & Brad Smith, Guest host on 640 Toronto to answer questions from you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Smith Chats with Tom Korski Blacklock's reporter. about Carney's promises about housing and Melanie Joly's failure as minister of Industry to read the Stellantis contract. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brad Smith discusses hazing in Canadian sports and land acknowledgement issues in Canada with Blacklocks reporter Tom Korski Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Microsoft's Brad Smith is warning about new taxes // AGREE TO DISAGREE: "It's all about race" // WE HEAR YOU! and WORDS TO LIVE BY

From chalkboards to tablets, technology has transformed the NFL. In this episode, Ed Policy, president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, joins Brad to explore how digital tools on the sidelines and innovation hubs like TitletownTech are reshaping the game and driving economic growth beyond Lambeau Field. From growing up in an Ohio football family to steering a uniquely community-owned franchise into the future, it's a conversation about leadership, tech, and purpose in a changing world. Ed also shares the three principles guiding every decision: win football games, keep the Packers in Green Bay, and strengthen the community.

07 Nov 2025. Emirates Group has announced another record-breaking half-year, with profits up 13% year-on-year. We crunch those Emirates numbers like a bag of inflight nuts with aviation expert Nick Humphrey. Plus, Microsoft’s Brad Smith joins The Business Breakfast’s Georgia Tolley to discuss the $15 billion investment into the UAE by 2030 to enhance AI and cloud infrastructure and train local talent. And the UAE has unveiled a Dhs170 billion transport overhaul - new highways, wider roads, and faster commutes. We ask Phil Clarke what it really means for drivers and the economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves signals a slew of tax hikes in her upcoming budget while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned MPs in the House Of Commons of the need to make ‘tough but fair' decisions. Philips posts a 3 per cent growth in sales in the third quarter and has hiked its FY margin forecast. In tech news, OpenAI inks a $30bn deal with Amazon to use its AWS cloud infrastructure while Microsoft wins approval to export Nvidia chips to the UAE. CEO Brad Smith tells CNBC that A.I. investments will eventually bear fruit. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos joins Brad Smith for a conversation about the constant reinvention behind one of the world's most influential entertainment platforms. They explore how bold leadership and a culture of innovation keep Netflix ahead—not just as a media company, but as a force shaping industries and audiences alike. Ted shares how intuition and data combine to turn daring ideas into practical solutions—from scaling storytelling across 190 countries to relentlessly creating content that gets under the skin of viewers and makes them feel deeply connected to the stories they watch.

Welcome back to another Business Live Show! Today we go live with Brad Smith and Contractor Keith (36 years in the trades, 300+ homes built) for a candid teardown of Keith's next chapter. After a life-altering health crisis and a move to The Villages, he's shifting from spec builds to systems, automations, and AI—launching Punchlist Media (Notion workspaces, n8n automations, custom LLM knowledge bases) and scoping a community + marketplace concept for AI builders and buyers. We map his MVP, tame imposter syndrome, and design a business that optimizes for peace, purpose, and steady cash flow—not chaos.Key Highlights:- Why the pivot: How a major health scare, caregiver support, and a cross-country move clarified Keith's decision to leave high-stress spec building for ops systems and AI.- Punchlist Media (v1): Notion as a relational database (not a spreadsheet), n8n for low-cost automations, and custom LLMs to turn SOPs into searchable knowledge.- “Strata” (working title): A community + marketplace for solo AI devs & small teams (think Shopify × Stack Overflow × Upwork × Gumroad) with code, gigs, and peer support.- Community before code: Build a free flagship Notion template, weekly build-in-public updates, live office hours, and a newsletter to validate before heavy software.- Imposter syndrome, solved: Your story is the brand. Ship value, show the process, and let people join the journey—credibility compounds in public.- Designing for life: Pick the game you want to play—Keith optimizes for sanity and cash flow, not a $100M exit. Systems + people = durable calm growth.- Selling the trades is hard: Contractors are skeptical; a smarter wedge is AI + operations for any small business—earn trust with utility, not hype.If today's live breakdown helped, share it with a friend, drop a review, and join us Wednesdays at 2:30 PM ET on X & LinkedIn for the next live teardown.

Welcome back to Construct your life! In this week's special Business Live show, Brad and I sat down with Clint Fiore, founder of Dealonomy, to unpack one of the most innovative shifts happening in the business brokerage world right now.After a decade of helping entrepreneurs buy and sell companies, Clint decided to flip the model on its head. Instead of catering to sellers like every traditional brokerage, Dealonomy is designed to be the most buyer-friendly platform on the planet. Think of it as a curated, high-quality marketplace — no more messy listings, ghost brokers, or bait-and-switch deals.Clint breaks down how he raised $3 million, built a tech-driven team, and created a system that makes buying and selling businesses faster, smoother, and more transparent — all while keeping relationships at the center of the process. We talk about what buyers get wrong, how to stand out as a great buyer, and why empathy, patience, and listening skills are still the ultimate deal-closing tools.This one's for entrepreneurs, dealmakers, and searchers who are tired of the old-school M&A grind and ready to see how technology and heart can actually work together to change the game.Key Highlights:- How Clint flipped the traditional brokerage model — from sell-side to buy-side focused.- The $3M raise that built Dealonomy, and how he assembled an all-star investor and advisory team.- Why most business marketplaces fail — and how Dealonomy vets only “good deals for good people.”- The platform's AI-powered financial analysis that streamlines valuations and offers real-time insights.- The “freemium” membership model that aligns incentives with serious buyers.- How buyers can stand out by leading with empathy, clarity, and strong communication.- Why relationship skills are becoming more important than ever in a high-tech world.- The long-term vision: becoming the trusted, quality-first platform people think of before BizBuySell.If you're serious about buying or selling a business, or just curious where the future of small business acquisitions is headed, check out Dealonomy.com and connect with Clint on X and LinkedIn.And if you enjoyed this live breakdown, share it with someone who's in the deal game — it might just change how they look at buying and selling forever.

Roger Waters joins the show to talk about Gaza, the UN, free speech & what he wants the president of Colombia to do. Plus, he reacts to the latest crackdowns on speech, the war in Ukraine, & why some musicians are such cowards when it comes to Israel. For the full discussion, please join us on Patreon at - https://www.patreon.com/posts/patreon-full-140151702 But first, we're joined by Vaniya Agrawal & Hossam Nasr, two former Microsoft workers who helped pressure the company to bar the Israeli military from using Microsoft services to spy on millions of Palestinian civilian phone calls made each day in Gaza & the occupied West Bank & stored in Microsoft's vast Azure cloud computing platform. But there's more work to be done, as Microsoft continues to collaborate w/Israel in other ways. Of course, we can't leave you hanging on Trump's deal so we will ALSO be joined by Mouin Rabbani & Craig Mokhiber who will break down what's really happening in Gaza. Roger Waters is a singer, songwriter & musician, best known for being a member of the legendary rock band, Pink Floyd. He's also an outspoken activist for peace, a free Palestine & several other causes that get him in trouble. Vaniya is an organizer w/No Azure for Apartheid & ex-Microsoft worker who was terminated for protesting at Microsoft's 50th anniversary keynote event, where she disrupted a panel of current & former Microsoft CEOs including Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, & Steve Ballmer. Since then, she has continued organizing w/NoAA to apply pressure on Microsoft executives to meet workers' demands. Most recently Vaniya was arrested twice last month for participating in encampments on Microsoft campus, & occupying the office of Microsoft President Brad Smith at Microsoft's global headquarters. Hossam Nasr is the co-founder of No Azure for Apartheid & a former Microsoft worker. He worked at the company for 3 years before being fired in October last year for organizing a vigil on Microsoft campus for the Palestinians killed in Gaza. Since then, he has organized w/NOAA to pressure Microsoft to end its relationship w/the Israeli military & confronted executives at company events. Most recently Hossam was arrested twice last month after participating in the Liberated Zone encampment on Microsoft's campus & the sit-in at Brad Smith's office. Mouin Rabbani is a researcher, analyst & commentator specializing in Palestinian affairs, the Arab-Israeli conflict & the contemporary Middle East. He has among other positions previously served as Principal Political Affairs Officer w/the Office of the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Head of Middle East w/the Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, Senior Middle East Analyst & Special Advisor on Israel-Palestine w/the Int'l Crisis Group. Rabbani is Co-Editor of Jadaliyya & a Contributing Editor of Middle East Report. Craig Mokhiber is an American former United Nations (UN) human rights official & a specialist in international human rights law, policy, & methodology. On October 28, 2023, Mokhiber stepped down as the director of the New York office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). In his final letter to High Commissioner, he harshly criticized the organization's response to the war in Gaza, calling Israel's military intervention a "textbook genocide" & accusing the UN of failing to act. ***Please support The Katie Halper Show *** For bonus content, exclusive interviews, to support independent media & to help make this program possible, please join us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thekatiehalpershow Get your Katie Halper Show Merch here! https://katiehalper.myspreadshop.com/all Follow Katie on Twitter: https://x.com/kthalps Follow Katie on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kthalps Follow Katie on TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kthalps

Microsoft president Brad Smith takes on Washington Democrats. President Trump called out Seattle’s crime crisis. // Big Local: A Lynnwood city council candidate has domestic violence convictions on his record. A Federal Way Walmart is closing, which means its employees have to either transfer to a new store or lose their jobs. Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders is dealing with potentially major cuts. The Port of Seattle will remain open even if there is a shutdown. // You Pick the Topic: The Chicago Teachers Union paid tribute to a domestic terrorist and convicted cop-killer.

Guest host Brad Smith and the panel of: Steve Paikin, Author and Broadcaster, host of The Paikin Podcast, Chloe Brown, policy analyst and former Toronto mayoral candidate, Discuss: 1 - Are apologies, monuments, ceremonies, and land acknowledgements meaningful if they're not matched by resource allocation and structural change? How do we hold today's governments accountable for harms that happened in the past but still affect people now? 2 - Chow warns funding shortfall for asylum seekers equivalent to two per cent tax hike: Is there any way to get around this without a tax hike? 3 - Ford considers rolling out more cameras to investigate home invasions: Is this an invasion of privacy? Ford does say that he will seek residents permission as well so shouldn't he be asking residents permission to remove speed cameras? How effective would these cameras even be, we have speed cameras being watched by cameras and they still get vandalized and criminals aren't caught.. 4 - Ready to fall back? Here's when daylight time ends in Canada: Can we just end the time change? Why can't we just fall back and stay there? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Brad Smith spoke with Steve Teekens is an Ojibway, member of Nipissing First Nation and passionate advocate for Indigenous rights and Executive Director at Na-Me-Res a Toronto-based organization that provides outreach and temporary, transitional and permanent housing to Indigenous men living on the streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Brad Smith spoke to Marguerite Pigott, Film Commissioner & Director of Entertainment Industries, City of Toronto about Trump says U.S. to impose 100% tariff on all foreign-made movies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Brad Smith spoke with Clayton Campbell, President of the Toronto Police Association & Hank Idsinga, 640 Toronto's Crime Specialist, former police inspector about the annual board meetings of the Canadian Police Association joined by Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Brad Smith spoke to Mike Colle, Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Ward 8 Eglinton-Lawrence about Councillors back Chow on speed cameras, oppose Ford ban. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest host Brad Smith spoke with Dr. Eric Kam, Economics Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University about, interim parliamentary budget officer Jason Jacques, warns the country's fiscal outlook has Canada “at the precipice,” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Brad Smith (https://x.com/bradsmithcoach).In this episode, I talk with Brad Smith, the co-founder of Automation Links, a business that helps other companies automate their marketing. Brad's company is doing an incredible $100k a month with 80% margins, and he shares the secrets behind his high-margin business model.He explains the power of being omnipresent and why a customer needs to see you 24 times on four different channels before they trust you.The most mind-blowing part? We dive deep into a marketing strategy involving pixels. Brad breaks down how these small pieces of code can track visitors to your website and social media posts, allowing you to retarget them with ads for a fraction of the cost. It's a secret weapon for scaling your business!Questions This Episode Answers:• How can pixels help you track and retarget customers for a quarter of the cost?• What is the "one action item" every business owner should do today, even if they aren't ready for ads?• Why does staying small and profitable lead to a better quality of life than chasing massive top-line revenue?• How can you get your ad to the top of Google Maps searches with zero competition?• What is a simple "themed day" system for creating a consistent social media content calendar?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Brad and His Business01:17 The Role of Automation Links02:07 Revenue and Growth Insights03:55 Investment Opportunities and Business Philosophy10:57 Digital Marketing Channels Explained14:19 The Power of Pixels in Marketing17:17 Setting Up Pixels for Your Business19:06 Targeting Your Audience Effectively19:39 Setting Up Pixels for Better Ad Targeting20:35 Using Ads to Boost Organic Growth22:09 Leveraging YouTube and Google's Ad Network22:52 Pixel Tracking for Small Businesses24:05 Practical Examples and Tips for Businesses26:39 Choosing the Right Channel and Content Strategy33:36 SEO and AI: The Future of Search35:57 Content Calendar Strategy36:25 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Washington state just enacted one of the largest tax increases in state history, and even Microsoft's president is calling it insane. $9.2 billion in new taxes, including a brutal 35% estate tax that makes Hawaii's 20% look reasonable – at least Hawaii has beaches! We break down how Washington's tax-happy legislature is driving businesses and billionaires away, from Jeff Bezos saving $1 billion by fleeing to Florida to 61% of businesses citing taxes as their reason to leave. Microsoft's Brad Smith didn't mince words: if you're going to charge premium prices, you better deliver premium results. But Washington keeps throwing more money at failing programs while taxing everything from business operations to literally dying in the state. Meanwhile, progressive think tanks are publishing studies claiming the wealth exodus is a "myth" – tell that to Bezos and his billion-dollar tax savings.Is this what voters actually wanted when they elected these tax-obsessed politicians? How long before even big tech says enough is enough? The cavalry isn't coming to save Washington businesses – they're on their own in this progressive tax wonderland.

Marshall President, Brad Smith, highlights the accomplishments of the Ascend WV program. The Cardinal Institute weighs in on possible improvements to PEIA. Brad Howe breaks down the Mountaineers' loss at Ohio and more information on Appalachian Power rate increases. 

Die Proteste beim Konzern Microsoft gegen seine mögliche Beteiligung an den Kriegsverbrechen Israels reißen nicht ab Die Protestgruppe „No Azure for Apartheid“, bestehend aus ehemaligen und gegenwärtigen Microsoft-Mitarbeitern, hat am Dienstag das Büro des Microsoft-Präsidenten Brad Smith kurzzeitig besetzt, um gegen die mögliche Beteiligung an israelischen Kriegsverbrechen ihres Arbeitgebers zu protestieren. Dies führte zuWeiterlesen

After four years and 100 episodes of extraordinary conversations with world-class leaders, what are the most powerful leadership lessons that have emerged? In this milestone episode, hosts Simon Kingston and Marla Oates dig through the Redefiners archives to share the top 10 leadership insights. From Ruth Porat's revelation that not having a rigid career plan was her secret weapon, and Debra Martin Chase's unshakeable determination in Hollywood, to Will Guidara's $2 hot dog that redefined hospitality excellence—these aren't just inspiring anecdotes. They're battle-tested lessons from leaders who've built careers with real impact across technology, finance, entertainment, hospitality, and global governance. Simon and Marla reveal their most memorable moments from conversations with CEOs like Adena Friedman at Nasdaq, Brad Smith at Microsoft, Tony Capuano at Marriott, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at the World Trade Organization. They explore how these leaders navigated everything from AI transformation and crisis management to building authentic cultures and making unpopular decisions. "Do people need to learn before they leap? I actually think they need to leap in order to learn.” – Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair and President Four things you'll learn from this episode: Why the most successful leaders embrace uncertainty and leave their doors open to unexpected opportunities How to build the resilience and grit needed to navigate setbacks and transform failure into your competitive advantage The critical importance of putting people first during times of crisis and organizational transition Why authentic leadership—being unapologetically yourself—creates the strongest foundation for long-term successFeatured leaders: Ruth Porat, President and Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google Adena Friedman, Chair and CEO, Nasdaq Debra Martin Chase, Film and Television Producer Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft David Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co-Chairman, Carlyle Group Dee Caffari, Record-Breaking Yachtswoman Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, World Trade Organization Tony Capuano, President and CEO, Marriott International Bill Roedy, Former Chair and CEO, MTV International Sarah Mensah, President, Jordan Brand Will Guidara, Restauranteur and Author

Well that was awful. Adam and Adam go deep and review the 1-0 loss to the Pigeons. We get into line up choices, window additions, and whether Brad Smith should ever see the field again...Listen up because we had to review it!@TheKingAdRock73 @NinoOne @sbucks67 @crackityFC @ComeOnYouFCC @fccincinnati @Zuhause513 @MLS #AllForCincy #FCCincy #YAL #WestEndBoys

Recent tech company protests are highlighting the connection between worker power and free speech here in Seattle. On Sunday, protestors, including current and former Microsoft employees, kayaked across Lake Washington to the homes of Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and President Brad Smith. From the water they unfurled banners reading “Microsoft kills kids” and “Satya + Brad = War Criminals”. This was the latest in a week of action calling for the company to cut ties with the Israeli government and military. On Tuesday, protestors briefly occupied a plaza in Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters, declaring it a “Liberated Zone” encampment. On Wednesday, another protest at the campus led to several arrests. KUOW labor and economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg was at Wednesday’s protest, and is here with us to discuss the specific demands of Microsoft, and how the state of the tech industry is changing employee power. Guest: Monica Nickelsburg is KUOW’s labor and economy reporter. She’s also the cohost of Booming: A weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest Related stories: Protesters occupy Microsoft HQ, demand it cut ties with Israeli military - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes. Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brad Smith has now been with the City of Fort Collins Colorado for 9 years working with the building department, the municipal utility, and directly with builders and trade partners to ensure that homes built in the city meet the requirements of the Energy Code.He is continuing a tradition in Fort Collins of goal setting but more importantly measurement and data gathering to ensure that the city gets what it expects. Brad is leading thecodes segment of the cities trek to carbon neutrality by 2030 and has helped to lay out a performance based Zero Carbon Construction Code aimed at achieving zero carbon emissions for all new construction by 2030. This involves determining energy and carbon reduction targets for each three-year release of the cities energy code and then giving builders and architects the freedom to determine the most cost-effective way of achieving the requirement.Brad Smith on LinkedIn Current City of Fort Collins Energy Code Fort Collins Zero Carbon Construction CodeMary's Mountain Cookies

I was so excited to put this funny, unfiltered conversation out into the world—but in the rush of things, the last part of our chat didn't make it into the original release. So here it is, the full version of my episode with Brad Smith—because it's just too good not to share again.We unpack some of the wildest recent moments in pop culture—like a CEO's meltdown at a Coldplay concert and the drama heating up around The Golden Bachelor. We get into the good, the bad, and the hilarious sides of reality TV, share behind-the-scenes stories, and open up about some deeply personal topics, including fertility and the pressures women face. It's real, honest, and full of laughs—just the way I like it.@BradCSmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Summary:Welcome back! In this episode, I sit down with Brad Smith—entrepreneur, content strategist, and the mind behind an innovative content house that's flipping the script on how service-based businesses build authority and trust. Brad shares how he's turning podcasting and video production into business-building machines, even for those too nervous to hit record. We dive into real, actionable strategies for content creation, internal podcasting, scaling without losing authenticity, and why the future belongs to businesses that can be both personal and operationally smart.This one's packed with real talk, no fluff—just raw insight on creating value, building systems, and staying true to your mission in a world drowning in fake hype.Key Highlights:- Content that Converts: Brad's content house gives nervous business owners a safe, high-quality space to create video and podcast content—no excuses, just results.- Internal Podcasts Are the Future: From HVAC techs to roofers, Brad explains why internal podcasts are the most underrated tool for training and scaling culture.- Action Over Theory: Brad's formula? Skip the hype. Deliver step-by-step, tactical content your audience can actually use. It's how he's winning on YouTube.- Scale with Boundaries: Distribution is key—but so is setting limits. Brad shares the hard truths about scalability, staying in your lane, and avoiding burnout.- Train the Host, Own the Brand: As Brad expands to multiple content house locations, he talks about systemizing the process—down to training interviewers and planning killer questions.- Be the Lighthouse: Forget one-hit wonders. Brad's mission is about building community, being consistent, and scaling human connection in a digital world.Final Tips:If you're building a service-based brand, stop waiting for confidence—create content anyway. Focus on consistency, clarity, and connection. Think small, scalable, and personal. Whether you're building a podcast, content house, or agency—do it with real intention, or don't do it at all.If this episode fired you up, share it with someone who needs a push to hit record. Let's keep building.

In this episode, I sit down with Brad Smith to unpack some of the wildest recent moments in pop culture—like a CEO's meltdown at a Coldplay concert and the drama heating up around The Golden Bachelor. We get into the good, the bad, and the hilarious sides of reality TV, share a few behind-the-scenes stories, and open up about some deeply personal topics, including fertility and the pressures women face. It's real, unfiltered, and full of laughs—just the way I like it.@bradcsmith Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark kicks off hour 2 with Axios Reporter, Kerry Flynn, and they talk about CNN updating its FAST (Free ad-supported streaming television) channel with new host, Brad Smith, and will offer bite-sized and continuing news clips. Kerry unpacks it for us and explains how it will be a refreshed offering of CNN Headlines with exclusive programming. The FAST networks are gaining in crowd as we have ‘cord-nevers' aka people who never subscribed to cable. They also discuss how Max will yet again become HBO Max, and CNN is trying to leverage their brand to reach younger audiences where they are.