Podcasts about companies

Scaling is not about working harder — it's about thinking differently.In this episode, Keith sat down with Casey Woo, former operator at WeWork, OpenAI, Flexport, and Zappos, founder of Operators Guild, and Managing Partner at FOG Ventures, to break down what it really takes to scale a company.Casey introduces the concept of the “Scaler” — the operator who thrives in complexity, builds systems that evolve, and helps companies move from chaos to clarity. He shares how the world's fastest-growing startups fail not because of bad ideas, but because they lack the operating structure needed for sustainable growth.They dive into:Why scaling is a discipline, not a phase How great operators think across product, people, and processWhat founders misunderstand about growth- Why systems—not heroics—create durable companiesHow AI is changing the way companies scaleWhether you're a founder, operator, or investor, this episode is a masterclass in building companies that don't just grow — they scale.Connect with Casey Woo: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caseywoo/ Sponsor Info: We are strategic business advisors with decades of leadership experience and a proven track record of driving businesses' growth. We specialize in creating custom-tailored strategies to introduce your company, drive growth, build leadership teams, and ensure companies implement appropriate compensation programs. Our mission is to utilize our expansive network to benefit your company https://www.compass-strategic-advisors.com/ Subscribe for more founder insights and hit the bell for notifications! Follow us on our channels for exclusive startup content and behind-the-scenes insights from interviews like this one. - Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3cFpLXfYvcUsxvsT9MwyAD?si=f5a14e779777487dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/liftoff-with-keith-newman/id1560219589Substack: https://keithnewman.substack.com/Newman Media Studios: https://newmanmediastudios.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoffwithkeith TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keithnewman74 For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: sponsorships@wherewithstudio.com#TheScaler #StartupScaling #Hypergrowth #Operators #StartupOperators #Founders #VentureCapital #FOGVentures #OperatorsGuild #BusinessGrowth #ScalingStartups #Leadership #SaaS #TechStartups #FutureOfWork

Laura Hanley, licensed therapist and workplace consultant at Big Picture Companies, joins The Manufacturing Employer to unpack generational diversity on the shop floor. Drawing from her clinical background at the Mayo Clinic and VA, Laura explains why communication and occupational empathy are key skills in today's manufacturing environment. She breaks down why older and younger workers often talk past each other, how wiring, motivation, and stress responses play into team dynamics, and why leadership rooted in empathy and data-driven insight is essential.

In this episode, Matt sits down with Greg Mehfoud, Head of Procurement at Twenty/20 Management, to unpack what really happens when you cross the line between operations and the vendor side in senior living.Greg shares what surprised him most about SaaS sales, what operators often misunderstand about vendors (and vice versa), and how procurement isn't about being sold — it's about stewardship. The conversation dives into purchasing power, relationship-driven growth, and why clarity around priorities is the missing piece in most vendor-operator conversations.If you've ever felt tension between “the dark side” and operations, this episode brings nuance, humility, and practical insight to the table.Guest Bio:Greg Mehfoud is the Head of Procurement at Twenty/20 Management, where he leads strategic purchasing and vendor partnerships across the organization's senior living communities. With experience on both the operations and SaaS vendor sides of the industry, Greg brings a rare dual perspective to procurement, sales relationships, and long-term growth strategy. He is passionate about stewardship, operational excellence, and building vendor partnerships that truly enhance resident and team member experiences.Timestamps01:35 – Pants shopping, friendship, and career pivots03:25 – Why Greg left operations for SaaS sales05:46 – The biggest surprise about being on the vendor side08:00 – Missing the impact of day-to-day operations10:41 – How vendor “wins” add up at the community level12:05 – What procurement really means (hint: it's not about being sold)14:13 – Purchasing power, stewardship, and due diligence16:00 – Calling out fluff: integrations, transparency, and hard questions18:00 – Building trust between vendors and operators20:11 – What each side misunderstands about the other23:39 – Stop stringing vendors along (and vendors, respect operator time)25:50 – Advice for anyone considering crossing sides

An increasing number of profit-making large companies in Japan are trimming their workforces, including through voluntary retirement programs.

Six companies linked to the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, are being wound down, according to new reports. One company is related to public relations, another to retail, and none appeared to be commercially active. UK correspondent Enda Brady says Ferguson was desperate for money, even emailing Epstein for help while he was in prison. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Companies shape our world: economically, politically, and culturally. In this episode of Made in Science, Dr. Wolfgang Holtkamp talks to Prof. Boris Gehlen, Endowed Professor of Business History at the University of Stuttgart, about the role of corporations in modern societies. What can business history explain that other disciplines cannot? How do companies make decisions under uncertainty? What responsibilities have they carried – historically and today – in contexts such as democracy, globalization, and regulation? Prof. Gehlen also shares his personal journey as a first-generation student who entered academia without a clear career plan – and why curiosity and courage matter more than certainty. An episode about corporate power, social responsibility and the value of studying history.

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSupport the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk Go to www.LearningLeader.com This is brought to you by Insight Global. If you need to hire one person, hire a team of people, or transform your business through Talent or Technical Services, Insight Global's team of 30,000 people around the world has the hustle and grit to deliver. www.InsightGlobal.com/LearningLeader My guest: Tom Hardin was known as "Tipper X" during Operation Perfect Hedge, the largest insider trading investigation in history. After making four illegal trades based on inside information, the FBI approached him on a Manhattan street corner and convinced him to wear a wire over 40 times, helping build 20 of the 81 cases. Key Learnings  Ambiguity is where ethical lines blur. Tom's boss said, "Do whatever it takes," after the hedge fund lost money, and as a junior employee, Tom didn't ask clarifying questions. The undiscussable becomes undiscussable. Leaders give ambiguous messages, then pretend they weren't ambiguous, employees get confused and don't question the boss, and you end up with a culture of silence. Making decisions in isolation is dangerous. The information came to Tom and he didn't talk to his boss or his wife (who probably would've slapped him around for crossing ethical lines). Psychological safety requires muscle memory. You have to practice saying "I'm just going to ask some clarifying questions here" when your boss gives ambiguous orders. Bad decisions aren't mistakes. Mistakes are made without intent, but bad decisions are made with intent. Tom told himself for years he made "mistakes," but on a drive home from speaking at a keynote, he realized: "There's no way I made mistakes. I made bad decisions." Never say never. Tom argues you're more susceptible to falling down your own slippery slope when you think "that would never be me." 80% of employees can be swayed either way. 10% are morally incorruptible, 10% are a compliance nightmare, and 80% can be influenced by the culture around them. Tone at the top means nothing. Company culture isn't the tone at the top or glossy shareholder letters; it's the behaviors employees believe will be rewarded or put them ahead. Reward character, not just results. You can't just focus on short-term performance and dollar goals without understanding how the business was made and what was behind the performance. The question isn't "what?" but "how?" If you're just focused on the numbers and not on how you got there, you have the opportunity to end up in a slippery slope situation. Celebrate people who live your values. Companies that spend millions on trips for people who live out shared values (not financial performance) are putting their money where their mouth is. Leaders must share their own ethical dilemmas. We've all been in situations where we could go left or right, and sharing how you worked through those moments makes you more endearing and a better leader. Keep a rationalization journal. When Tom and his wife have big decisions (or even little things), he writes them down in a rationalization journal and reflects on them once a month. He's still susceptible to going down another slippery slope, so checking himself on those passing thoughts improves his character over time. It's not what you say, it's what you do. Just like kids see what parents do (not what they say), employees see what behaviors leaders actually reward. $46,000 cost him $23 million. A business school professor calculated Tom would've made $23 million if he'd stayed on the hedge fund path, but he made $46,000 on the four illegal trades before getting caught. His wife was his rock. 85% of marriages end when something like this happens, and she had every right to leave. They just got married, no kids yet. But she stayed. When Tom interviewed her for the book 20 years later, she said, "All I remember is you accepted responsibility immediately. You didn't make up excuses." Running pulled him out of a shame spiral. Tom got obese as a stay-at-home dad. His wife signed him up for a 5K race (and beat him while pushing a jogging stroller). Just crossing that finish line lit a fire. He ended up running a 100-mile race.  Doing hard things teaches you that you can do hard things. When Tom had to start a speaking business because they were running out of money, he said, "I can do this" because he'd already put his body through ultramarathons. No challenge is insurmountable. He ended up with something better. It's not about status or money anymore; it's about who he is with his family and his relationships now. Windshield mentality, not rearview mirror. Tom can't change the past, but he can look forward instead of backward. A lot of people in their twenties do stupid stuff (maybe not to this degree), but now, in his forties, he can learn from it. Why not embrace it rather than try to scrub it off the internet? Eulogy virtues versus resume virtues. In his twenties, Tom only thought about resume virtues (how much money, the next job, the next stepping stone) and never about eulogy virtues (what people will say about his character when it's all over). What will people say at your eulogy? Will they still be talking about those four trades, or will they talk about who you became after? More Learning #226 - Steve Wojciechowski: How to Win Every Day #281 - George Raveling: Wisdom from MLK Jr to Michael Jordan #637 - Tom Ryan: Chosen Suffering: Become Elite in Life & Leadership Reflection Questions Tom's boss gave him an ambiguous message ("do whatever it takes"), and as a junior employee, he didn't ask clarifying questions. Think about the last ambiguous instruction you received from leadership. Did you ask clarifying questions, or did you fill in the blanks yourself? What's stopping you from creating psychological safety to ask next time? Tom argues that 80% of employees can be swayed either way by culture. Look at your organization right now. What behaviors are actually being rewarded? If someone asked your team "what gets you ahead here?" what would they honestly say? Tom asks: "Will people be talking about the resume virtues (money, titles, achievements) or the eulogy virtues (character, relationships, who you were) when you're gone?" What's one eulogy virtue you need to start prioritizing today, even if it means slowing down on resume building?

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sebastian Siemiatkowski is the co-founder and CEO of Klarna, the global digital bank with over 114 million global active users and 3.4 million transactions per day. Seb is one of the leading public company CEOs pushing the boundaries of AI.  AGENDA: 04:50 — The Real Threat to SaaS is The Switching Cost Coming Down 05:57 — What revenue multiple will software companies trade at in the future? 14:12 — Why you need to build your own customer service AI to win 23:51 — Klarna has two times the customer base of Revolut. They will beat Revolut 25:39 — How I lost a billion dollars not investing in Nubank 30:57 — Why Nubank are more likely to win the US than Revolut? 34:28 — We used to be 6,000 people. Now we are just 3,000 39:58 — When is a high valuation too high and can be dangerous? 42:45 — How we got Sequoia to invest and Michael Moritz to join the board 53:14 — If you are an investor today that is not building then you're at a fundamental disadvantage 01:11:43 — I have changed my mind on the adoption cycle... I think it will take longer than people think 20VC: Is SaaS Dead: Klarna Replaces 1,500 Internal SaaS Products | Why Systems of Record Will Die in an Agentic World | What Revenue Multiple Will Software Companies Trade At? | From 7,000 to 3,000: We Need Less People Than Ever with Sebastian Siemiatkowski

Listen and Subscribe to Money Making Conversations on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New Money Making Conversations episodes drop daily. I want to alert you, so you don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from my guests who provide tips that can help you uplift the community, improve your financial planning, motivation, or advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur. Keep winning! Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Alicia Lyttle. SUMMARY OF THE ALICIA LYTTLE INTERVIEW From “Money Making Conversations Master Class” with Rushion McDonald [ 1. Purpose of the Interview The purpose of this interview was to: Showcase Alicia Lyttle, CEO and co‑founder of Air Innovations, known widely as the “Queen of AI.” [ Educate small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits on how to leverage AI for growth. Highlight her mission to empower the African American community to not only keep up with AI—but lead in it. [ Demonstrate how AI tools can transform operations, content creation, finances, and productivity in minutes instead of months. Inspire listeners through her entrepreneurial journey, professional pivots, and personal resilience. 2. High-Level Summary Alicia Lyttle returns to the show two years after her last appearance, now positioned at the forefront of the global AI movement. She explains how her work has shifted from annual summits to monthly AI Business Summits, teaching tens of thousands of entrepreneurs how to use AI hands‑on for content, marketing, operations, and scaling. She breaks down how simple tools—such as NotebookLM, ChatGPT, Jasper, Gemini, and HeyGen—can turn a single piece of content into newsletters, PowerPoints, videos, study guides, and more. She stresses that AI is now accessible, especially with free versions like ChatGPT. Alicia also shares her origin story in AI, beginning with a 15‑year‑old speaker at Walmart Tech Live describing IBM Watson. This sparked her fascination and ultimately led her to pivot her entire company toward full-time AI training and consulting by 2022—despite skepticism from her peers. She details the massive growth of her brand, including 21,000+ live summit attendees and explosive social media expansion. The interview also addresses AI’s role in finance, healthcare, government, job disruption, and how individuals can future‑proof themselves. Her personal story of overcoming a restrictive ex-husband who told her she would “never speak again” underscores her powerful message: no one should silence your gifts. Now she speaks to thousands, leads major events, and helps others build new careers in AI. 3. Key Takeaways A. AI Is Evolving Fast—and So Must We AI is changing so quickly that entrepreneurs cannot afford to wait for annual updates. This is why Alicia shifted to monthly training summits. People need ongoing education to stay competitive. B. Hands‑On AI Education Is the Key Alicia doesn’t just lecture—she walks participants through real demonstrations: Uploading YouTube links Creating summaries Generating emails, mind maps, PowerPoints, quizzes, videos, and more…all from a single input. Her approach eliminates fear and teaches entrepreneurs how to use AI immediately. C. Accessibility Has Changed the Game The release of ChatGPT, especially the free version, democratized AI. Before that, tools like IBM Watson were too complex and expensive. Now anyone with a laptop and internet connection can build websites, write content, or automate business flows in minutes. [ D. The African American Community Must Lead—Not Follow Alicia emphasizes that historically, Black communities have been “last in line” in tech innovation, but this AI era presents a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to jump ahead.She sees it as her mission to speak everywhere Black entrepreneurs are to ensure they seize this moment. E. AI Will Replace Tasks—But People Can Future‑Proof Themselves Jobs are already shifting. Companies are laying off non–AI‑literate employees.Alicia urges people to: Become AI‑fluent Join AI committees at work Pursue certification Use AI to become their company’s internal expert “There’s no maybe—you have to learn AI,” she warns. F. AI is Transforming Every Sector: Finance, Healthcare, Government She provides insights on… AI receptionists (“Monica” and “Leslie”) that boost customer interaction to 92% Financial analysis using secure ChatGPT setups AI mental health companions Government calls for national AI leadership G. Alicia Monetizes Through Education, Certification & Consulting Her business model includes: Free monthly summits Paid masterclasses Corporate consulting AI certifications Live Atlanta workshops She teaches others to become AI consultants too. H. Her Personal Triumph Story Inspires Thousands A powerful moment is when she recounts her ex-husband saying: “There’s only one quarterback on a team—and you will never speak again.”Yet today, 1,200+ people attend her live events, and tens of thousands join her virtual trainings. Her success proves resilience and purpose overcome adversity. 4. Key Quotes On AI Opportunity “Never has there been a better time in history to start, build, or scale a business than right now.” On Training Entrepreneurs “Open your laptops… use the same prompt I use. See what results you get.” On the Power of AI Tools “You can take one episode and repurpose it into all these different content ways.” On Pivoting Her Entire Company “In 2022, I said we’re closing this business and going all in on AI.” On Being Black in Tech “My mission is to make sure our community is not left behind—but ahead of the curve.” On Personal Resilience “You will be speaking on the best stages… people will come to see you.”(A friend’s response after she was told she’d “never speak again.”) On Future-Proofing Careers “Those using AI will replace you. You have to learn how to leverage AI.” On AI as a Human-First Technology “AI plus human intelligence—that’s what takes things to the next level.” #SHMS #STRAW #BESTSteve Harvey Morning Show Online: http://www.steveharveyfm.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Companies justify commission caps as a way to control costs and create predictability. But in sales, caps send the wrong message.In this episode, Brandon breaks down why commission caps reduce output, create cultural ceilings, and push elite reps to leave for uncapped environments.You'll learn what commission caps actually signal, why big payouts are a growth indicator, and what companies should fix instead of limiting upside. If you want a sales culture built for expansion, this episode makes the case: stop capping greatness.

Here is a FAQ Video on the Courses: https://youtu.be/0F7imrzjXWs Here is a deep dive into which course is best for you: https://youtu.be/JM_jgS8M-iU https://www.b2bRevenue.com - Get Your Free E-Book on How Companies make Decisions. FAQ: 1 YEAR ACCESS, PAY MONTHLY OR ANNUALLY NOT A SUBSCRIPTION OFFICE HOURS EVERY  OTHER WEEK VIA ZOOM. 1 HOUR GROUP Q&A. UNLIMITED 1-ON-1'S  ARE FREE AS LONG AS THEY CAN BE SHARED IN THE COURSE. 1-ON-1 ARE FULL ACCESS ON DAY ONE - NOTHING IS GATED OR TIME RELEASED. ALL CONTENT IS VIDEO BASED AND SELF PACED I RECOMMEND TAKE COURSE ONCE WITHOUT NOTES OR APPLYING IT SO YOU UNDERSTAND THE BIG PICTURE FIRST. THEN TAKE AND APPLY IT STEP BY STEP. YOU START WHEN YOU WANT AND GO AS FAST OR SLOW AS NEEDED.   Email me additional questions: briangburns@me.com     — SAMPLE EMAIL TO EXPENSE THE COURSE MGR,   I have been listening to the brutal truth about sales podcast for X months and it speaks to the issues we face.   They currently offer a course that includes video instruction, group Q&A and One-on-One coaching. I'm committed to my own personal development and would like your help in expensing the course.   It would pay for itself if I closed only one new deal of $X value.   Please let me know by Friday if I can move forward with this 1 year course.   Thanks, ME Here are some student interviews from the courses:      ———————————————————————————————————— Audible 30 day Free Trial: http://www.audibletrial.com/BrutalTruth  

In this episode of The Game Deflators Podcast, hosts John and Ryan dive into a wide range of gaming news, retro games, and tabletop adventures. They kick things off with fresh additions to their collections, John's latest Dungeons & Dragons campaign plans, and gameplay impressions of Valkyrie Profile. Ryan also shares his ongoing journey through Dragon Quest—complete with a surprising fitness‑focused gaming routine. The discussion heats up as the duo breaks down Guilty Gear mechanics, the bizarre and controversial rumor linking Pokémon Go to Epstein Island, and the challenges facing High Guard as it struggles to maintain its player base. They reflect on the evolving landscape of modern video games, the importance of character selection in fighting games, and the powerful role of nostalgia in shaping gaming experiences. Later, John and Ryan explore the influence of Jeff Keighley on major game launches, the uncertain future of live‑service games, and the growing excitement around new God of War projects. They also discuss the evolution of Kena: Bridge of Spirits and recent trailer for Silent Hill. The episode wraps with a look at the Super Nintendo classic “We're Back!” and whether it's worth picking up for under $10 in today's retro market. 00:00 Introduction to the Game Deflators Podcast 02:24 Game Pickups and Dungeons & Dragons Adventures 06:11 Exploring Valkyrie Profile Gameplay 14:54 Ryan's Journey with Dragon Quest and Fitness Gaming 18:44 Guilty Gear Journey and Fighting Game Mechanics 29:28 Mastering Fighting Games: Footsies and Edge Guarding 32:18 Transitioning from Pokémon to Gaming News 34:50 The Rise and Fall of High Guard 42:58 Anticipating New Releases: God of War and Beyond 49:20 Exciting Announcements: Kena and Project Winless 01:03:31 Reflections on Game Quality 01:05:44 Inflation Deflation 01:11:20 Nostalgia and Movie Adaptations   Find us on TheGameDeflators.com Twitter - www.twitter.com/GameDeflators Facebook - www.facebook.com/TheGameDeflators Instagram - www.instagram.com/thegamedeflators   The views and opinions expressed on this channel are solely those of the author. The content within these recordings are property of their respective Designers, Writers, Creators, Owners, Organizations, Companies and Producers. Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted. Permission for intro and outro music provided by Matthew Huffaker http://www.youtube.com/user/teknoaxe 2_25_18

In this episode, CJ talks with Paul Stansik of ParkerGale Capital about what separates Simplifiers from Complicators. They unpack why most board meetings miss the point, how to answer the actual question, and why naming the real problem builds trust.—SPONSORS:Abacum is a modern FP&A platform built by former CFOs to replace slow, consultant-heavy planning tools. With self-service integrations and AI-powered workflows for forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling, Abacum helps finance teams scale without becoming software admins. Trusted by teams at Strava, Replit, and JG Wentworth—learn more at https://www.abacum.aiBrex is an intelligent finance platform that combines corporate cards, built-in expense management, and AI agents to eliminate manual finance work. By automating expense reviews and reconciliations, Brex gives CFOs more time for the high-impact work that drives growth. Join 35,000+ companies like Anthropic, Coinbase, and DoorDash at https://www.brex.com/metricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comRightRev is an automated revenue recognition platform built for modern pricing models like usage-based pricing, bundles, and mid-cycle upgrades. RightRev lets companies scale monetization without slowing down close or compliance. For RevRec that keeps growth moving, visit https://www.rightrev.comRillet is an AI-native ERP built for modern finance teams that want to close faster without fighting legacy systems. Designed to support complex revenue recognition, multi-entity operations, and real-time reporting, Rillet helps teams achieve a true zero-day close—with some customers closing in hours, not days. If you're scaling on an ERP that wasn't built in the 90s, book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/cjTabs is an AI-native revenue platform that unifies billing, collections, and revenue recognition for companies running usage-based or complex contracts. By bringing together ERP, CRM, and real product usage data into a single system of record, Tabs eliminates manual reconciliations and speeds up close and cash collection. Companies like Cortex, Statsig, and Cursor trust Tabs to scale revenue efficiently. Learn more at https://www.tabs.com/run—LINKS: Paul on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulstansik/ParkerGale Capital: https://www.parkergale.com/https://hellooperator.substack.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—TIMESTAMPS:0:00 Fixing Broken Windows in Investing3:08 What an Operating Partner Actually Does5:35 Managing Nine Portfolio Companies6:07 Where PE Investors Spend Their Time9:02 Do Investors Think About You All Day?10:16 The Operator “Bermuda Triangle”12:35 Sponsors — Abacum | Brex | Metronome15:52 The CFO “Triangle of Doom”17:47 How to Become an Investor Favorite18:42 Templates Build Trust in Board Communication20:54 Using Trusted Data22:10 The Board Payback Record Scratch23:18 Building Your “Data Diet” With the Board25:19 Sponsors — RightRev | Rillet | Tabs28:47 Signs a Team Isn't in Command31:30 Board Meetings Aren't a Performance34:16 “20 Board Meetings—Don't Waste Them”35:15 Ask Permission to Reallocate the Agenda37:54 When to Send Board Materials40:28 Simplifiers vs. Complicators41:58 The Simplifier Finds the One Question That Matters42:16 Three Traits of a Simplifier: Answer, Find, Do43:15 Why Complicated Operators Take You on a Ride44:26 Selling vs. Substance46:23 “Get There, Bob”47:25 Why We Hedge49:36 You Can't Fix a Secret52:50 Credits

The factory runs perfectly. The robots work tirelessly. Production costs plummet. And then someone asks the question that breaks the entire model: Who's buying the cars? This episode examines the economic paradox no one wants to name. Companies don't survive on efficiency alone—they survive on customers with money. If automation displaces massive amounts of human labor, the math breaks. Not morally. Mechanically. We explore what happens when the economy can produce value without you but hasn't figured out the consequences yet. How does purchasing power flow when work stops being the gatekeeper? What futures are being quietly debated behind closed doors? And why does your anxiety as a job seeker feel less like a skills gap and more like existential irrelevance? The rules are changing. The system is stalling. And the answer to one old factory joke might determine what comes next. ... Subscribe to The Recruiting Life newsletter https://jimstroud.beehiiv.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we chat with Tim Foden, a partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, one of the most well-known and formidable litigation firms in the world. Tim has built a reputation for tackling complex, bet-the-company disputes and navigating some of the most challenging legal battles across industries. We'll explore Tim's path to Boies Schiller, what it takes to succeed in an elite litigation environment, and how lawyers think about strategy when the pressure is on and the consequences are real. We'll also talk about the evolving role of trial lawyers, lessons learned from major cases, and what young attorneys and even business leaders can take away from the way top litigators approach decision-making and risk. Whether you're a lawyer, a founder, or simply curious about how major legal battles are fought and won, this episode offers a rare inside look. KEY TAKEAWAYS Mining companies are increasingly recognising the importance of involving legal counsel early in the process, especially when facing potential disputes or changes in mining codes The mining industry is heavily influenced by geopolitics, with major international powers becoming more involved in the politics surrounding mining projects Companies often make critical errors, such as failing to document agreements properly or engaging in corrupt practices like bribery, which can jeopardise their legal claims in the future When investing in mining, especially in regions like Africa and South America, it's crucial to establish a holding structure that provides treaty protection BEST MOMENTS "If you take, for example, Mali, this is a perfect example. Mali enacts a new mining code in 2023, and everyone has these existing mineral development agreements that suggest they should be immune from any changes." "Junior mining companies are run by frontiersmen... The problem is sometimes they start to get into problems with the sovereign and all of a sudden, having done everything on their own, they think they know best in that arena too." "If you pay a bribe to get a license... you might really have deprived yourself of the opportunity to bring a claim down the road." "Sovereigns are increasingly putting diplomatic pressure on states to avoid the kinds of outcomes... to get more involved, to restore licenses." GUEST RESOURCES Tim LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-l-foden-6a12496/ YouTube video of the cross-examination from day three of the Winshear Gold vs Tanzania hearing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9bX0yvyCas&list=PLTPAfLBOjfQJS8VymC4os9jvefqE7rMHO&index=5 VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠rob@mining-international.org⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands.  Hashtag Trending  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork.  The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills.  They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real.  They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt). 00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack 00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos) 00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption 02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones 04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken 06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3 08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams 11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates 14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models 18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout 21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days 24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy 32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout 34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work 35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away) 36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes 37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword 39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt 40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption 42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment 46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test 48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore 52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies 54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive) 59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money 01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks

Pippa Hudson speaks to Nicolene Schoeman Louw from Schoeman Law Incorporated about what our rights are when it comes to the handling of our personal information by companies. Lunch with Pippa Hudson is CapeTalk’s mid-afternoon show. This 2-hour respite from hard news encourages the audience to take the time to explore, taste, read and reflect. The show - presented by former journalist, baker and water sports enthusiast Pippa Hudson - is unashamedly lifestyle driven. Popular features include a daily profile interview #OnTheCouch at 1:10pm. Consumer issues are in the spotlight every Wednesday while the team also unpacks all things related to health, wealth & the environment. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Lunch with Pippa Hudson Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 13:00 and 15:00 (SA Time) to Lunch with Pippa Hudson broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/MdSlWEs or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/fDJWe69 Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hermès reported full-year 2025 revenue of €16 billion, beating expectations with resilient growth in leather goods and strong performance in the Americas and Japan. While net profit dipped slightly due to a one-off French surtax, underlying earnings and margins remained robust. Dan Koh and Audrey Siek break down the numbers, why Hermès continues to outperform peers, and what investors should watch in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 5, Episode 6: The Content Flywheel — How Pest Control Companies Dominate a Local MarketBefore we talk strategy, we have to start with the foundation: true local market dominance is built through strong teamwork between the pest control company and the marketing team. When operations, sales, and marketing are aligned—and everyone is committed to executing consistently—your results don't just improve, they compound. This type of strategy takes time, patience, and commitment, but it's one of the most permanent competitive advantages you can build.In this episode of The Pest Control Marketing Domination Podcast, we break down how to use a structured content strategy to create long-term, “evergreen” lead flow in your market. We'll use a Mind Pump-style example of how a growing contact database fuels drip campaign success—and how consistent written content and video can eventually lead to true local market dominance.You'll learn why strongly written, original content tied to specific topics wins, and how to organize it using pillar pages and topic clusters. We explain how a single authoritative “pillar” page (like Ant Control, Rodent Control, Termite Protection, etc.) can be supported by a library of related subtopic content that links back to the pillar—helping you show up for more searches, increase domain authority, and raise the visibility of every page on your website over time.Ultimately, the formula is simple: Traffic equals leads, leads equal customers. This strategy isn't about quick hacks—it's about building an asset that compounds. If you want to dominate your market for the long run, this is the roadmap.Please review us on Rhino Pest Control Marketing and let us know how we can improve in 2026.Casey Lewiscasey@rhinopros.com(925) 464-8383Follow and subscribe at the following links:https://www.youtube.com/@RhinoPestControlMarketinghttps://www.facebook.com/rhinopestcontrolmarketingLeave us a review on Google:https://g.page/r/CT9-E84ypVI0EBM/review

In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands.  Hashtag Trending  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork.  The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills.  They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real.  They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt). 00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack 00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos) 00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption 02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones 04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken 06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3 08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams 11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates 14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models 18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout 21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days 24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy 32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout 34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work 35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away) 36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes 37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword 39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt 40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption 42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment 46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test 48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore 52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies 54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive) 59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money 01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks

Jane Wooldridge, author of "Frommer's Comfort in the Wild: 1000+ Idyllic Nature Destinations—No Roughing It Required", continued her discussion of different types of travel that allow vacationers to get deep into the wild. She talked about African safaris, as well as safaris on the tundra to see polar bears; a lodge in Belize owned by one of the most famous film directors on earth; and places where you can have unique nature experiences in Armenia, Mongolia, and Bhutan.Takeaways:What you see on safari will vary depending on the time of year you go.Knowledgeable travel agents should be used when booking a complex trip like a safari.Unique accommodations, such as bird's nest lodges, tundra buggies, and yurts are a wonderful way to get deeply into nature.The episode encourages listeners to explore outdoor experiences without the necessity of roughing it, promoting comfort in nature.Companies mentioned in this episode:Frommer'sMiami HeraldSociety of American Travel WritersGreen Safari's Chisa Busanga CampTundra Buggy LodgeBlancaneaux Lodge Shinta Mani Wild LodgeFogo Island InnThree Camel LodgeGangtey Lodge

Who doesn't like Mondays? Find out on this week's PlayingFTSE Show!A difficult week in the stock market for both Steves. But which one's done badly and which one's been awful?Adyen's results are in. It's the usual growth of roughly 20% and the stock has – as usual – moved in a vertical direction, so not much to report, right?Actually no, there's a lot to talk about and not just how much better than PayPal the company is. So get strapped in for a long one – Steve D's on form this week.Roper Technologies is a stock that's found its way onto Steve W's buy list. The SaaS selloff has pushed the share price down dramatically and it now looks like an opportunity.It's a collection of vertical software businesses under one roof. And with management is making the right moves in response to the stock going down, could this be the moment?Monday.com is down mightily recently, as part of the broader software selloff. Steve D, though, is eyeing this one as a potential opportunity as the earnings are coming in strong. There's not so much good news on the guidance front. But with the stock down 50% since the start of the year, is it just too cheap to ignore? Only on this week's PlayingFTSE Podcast!► Get a free fractional share!This show is sponsored by Trading 212! To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR / GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 through this link https://www.trading212.com/Jdsfj/FTSE. Terms apply.When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than invested.Past performance doesn't guarantee future results.► Get 15% OFF Fiscal.ai:Huge thanks to our sponsor, Fiscal.ai, the best investing toolkit we've discovered! Get 15% off your subscription with code below and unlock powerful tools to analyze stocks, discover hidden gems, and build income streams. Check them out at Fiscal.ai!https://fiscal.ai/?via=steve► Follow Us On Substack:Sign up for our Substack and get light-hearted, info-packed discussions on everything from market trends and investing psychology to deep dives into different asset classes. We'll analyse what makes the best investors tick and share insights that challenge your thinking while keeping things engaging.You'll also find our new 10-week investing and research course available right now. It's completely free, with no sign-up required, no payment, and none of the usual BS. Don't miss out. Join us today and get stuck in.https://playingftse.substack.com/► Support the show:Appreciate the show and want to offer your support? You could always buy us a coffee at: https://ko-fi.com/playingftse(All proceeds reinvested into the show and not to coffee!)► Timestamps:0:00 INTRO & OUR WEEKS10:14 ADYEN38:48 AD BREAK38:54 ROPER TECH55:19 MONDAY.COM ► Show Notes:What's been going on in the financial world and why should anyone care? Find out as we dive into the latest news and try to figure out what any of it means. We talk about stocks, markets, politics, and loads of other things in a way that's accessible, light-hearted and (we hope) entertaining. For the people who know nothing, by the people who know even less. Enjoy► Wanna get in contact?Got a question for us? Drop it in the comments below or reach out to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playing_ftse/► Enquiries: Please email - playingftsepodcast@gmail(dot)com► Disclaimer: This information is for entertainment purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always consult with a qualified financial professional before making any investment decisions.

In this episode of Project Synapse, the hosts discuss how "agentic" AI has rapidly accelerated and become widely distributed, using the explosion of OpenClaw (with claims of ~160,000 instances) as a sign that autonomous agent tools are now in anyone's hands.  Hashtag Trending  would like to thank Meter for their support in bringing you this podcast. Meter delivers a complete networking stack, wired, wireless and cellular in one integrated solution that's built for performance and scale. You can find them at Meter.com/htt They compare the speed and societal impact of current AI progress to COVID-19's early days, arguing the pace may be even more destabilizing. They cover Anthropic's Claude 4.6 and OpenAI's Codex 5.3, including claims that Claude 4.6 helped produce a functional C compiler for about $20,000, and that a Cowork-like tool could be replicated in a day with Codex 5.3 after Claude reportedly took two weeks to build Cowork.  The conversation highlights improved long-context memory performance (needle-in-haystack-style metrics reportedly in the 90% range) and increasingly autonomous behavior such as self-testing, self-correction, and coordinating teams of agents. The hosts then focus on security: MCP (Model Context Protocol) as a widely adopted but "fundamentally insecure" connector requiring broad permissions; the risk of malicious tools/skills and malware in agent ecosystems; and the rise of "shadow AI," where employees or individuals deploy agents without organizational vetting—potentially leaking sensitive data or running up massive token bills.  They discuss incentives that push both humans and models toward fast answers and risky deployment, referencing burnout and an HBR study on rising expectations without proportional hiring. The episode also touches on realism and deepfakes, citing impressive new AI video generation (including a Chinese model "SEEDANCE 2.0" example) and how this erodes trust in what's real.  They conclude with practical advice for organizations—don't just say "no," create safe outlets and governance ("say how")—and briefly discuss wearables/AR, Meta's continued AI efforts (including the Meta AI app and "Vibes"), and the coming integration of AI into always-on devices. Sponsor: Meter, an integrated wired/wireless/cellular networking stack (meter.com/htt). 00:00 Cold Open + Sponsor: Meter Networking Stack 00:18 Welcome to Project Synapse (and immediate chaos) 00:57 'Something Big Is Happening': AI feels like COVID-speed disruption 02:57 OpenClaw goes viral: 160k instances and easy DIY clones 04:03 Claude Code 'Cowork' on Windows… and why it's broken 06:47 Rebuilding Cowork in a day with OpenAI Codex 5.3 08:18 Why Opus 4.6 feels like a step-change: memory, autonomy, agent teams 11:24 Model leapfrogging + the end of 'can AI write code?' debates 14:45 Hallucinations, 'I don't know,' and self-correction in modern models 18:42 Autonomous agents in practice: cron-like loops, tool use, and fallout 21:00 MCP security: powerful connectors, scary permissions, and 500 zero-days 24:33 Shadow AI & skill marketplaces: the app-store malware analogy 32:02 Incentives drive risk: move fast culture, confident wrong answers, burnout 34:16 AI Agents Boost Productivity… and Raise the Bar at Work 35:14 Warnings of a Coming AI-Driven Crash (and Why We're Not Steering Away) 36:28 "I Quit to Write Poetry": Existential Dread & On the Beach Vibes 37:21 Tech Safety Is Reactive: Seatbelts, Crashes, and the AI Double-Edged Sword 39:42 Fast-Moving Threats: Agents Hacking Infrastructure & Security Debt 40:54 From Doom to Adaptation: Using the Same Tools to Survive the Disruption 42:21 Why We're Numb to AI Warnings + The 'Free Energy' Thought Experiment 46:43 AGI Is Already Here? Prompts, Ego, and the 'If It Quacks Like a Duck' Test 48:56 Deepfake Video Leap: Seedance, Perfect Voices, and What's Real Anymore 52:39 Contain the Damage: 'Don't Say No—Say How' and Shadow AI in Companies 54:58 Holodeck on the Horizon: VR + GenAI + Wearables (Meta, Apple, OpenAI/Ive) 59:53 Meta's AI Reality Check: Bots, the Meta AI App, 'Vibes,' and Who's Making Money 01:04:41 Final Wrap + Sponsor Thanks

Is AI just a buzzword, or are we witnessing an electricity-level shift in how the world works? In this solo episode of The Greatness Machine, Darius Mirshahzadeh shares a passionate public service announcement for business owners, leaders, and operators: the AI moment is here, and it is bigger than most people realize. Drawing on his experience as an early adopter, from the early internet days to Bitcoin and blockchain, Darius explains why this wave of AI is not like the dot-com boom. It is foundational. It is transformational. He breaks down how tools like Claude and no-code automation platforms such as n8n are already replacing hours, even weeks, of manual work inside his private equity firm. From building complex financial models and investment decks in minutes to automating data enrichment projects that once took 70+ hours, Darius shares real examples of how AI workflows and agents are reshaping productivity, cost structures, and competitive advantage. His core message: this is no longer optional. Companies that aggressively adopt and train their teams to leverage AI will dramatically outperform those who hesitate. Whether you are a CEO, salesperson, operator, or individual contributor, the future belongs to those who learn to build, manage, and optimize AI-powered systems. In this episode, Darius will discuss: (00:00) The AI Revolution Begins (06:50) Embracing AI in Business (13:01) The Future of Work with AI (19:14) A Call to Action: Adapting to Change Connect with Darius: Website: https://therealdarius.com/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dariusmirshahzadeh/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imthedarius/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Thegreatnessmachine  Book: The Core Value Equation https://www.amazon.com/Core-Value-Equation-Framework-Limitless/dp/1544506708 Write a review for The Greatness Machine using this link: https://ratethispodcast.com/spreadinggreatness.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AI Slop is gonna kill the internet. Companies are gonna have agent brains. And if you travel down the same path in 2026 as you did in 2025, you're toast shorty. I spend thousands of hours each year working in and around AI. And once a year, we do our predictions and roadmap series. It's a literal cheat code to skip through the 95% of B.S and get the plan for the 5% that moves the needle. Join us for Part 2 of our AI Predictions and Roadmap series. Company AI Brains, No More Code, Slop Debt Kills internet and Agent Societies. 2026 AI Predictions and Roadmap Series Part 2 of 2 -- An Everyday AI Chat with Jordan WilsonNewsletter: Sign up for our free daily newsletterMore on this Episode: Episode PageJoin the discussion on LinkedIn: Thoughts on this? Join the convo on LinkedIn and connect with other AI leaders.Upcoming Episodes: Check out the upcoming Everyday AI Livestream lineupWebsite: YourEverydayAI.comEmail The Show: info@youreverydayai.comConnect with Jordan on LinkedInTopics Covered in This Episode:OpenAI Consumer Hardware Predictions 2026Disposable Software Adoption in EnterprisesNotebookLM as Fifth Core AI PlatformAI Native Ads Maintain Premium PricingMulti-Agent Societies: Enterprise Default ArchitectureMicrosoft Copilot Usability Reset ForecastBig Four Consulting AI-Driven RestructuringVibe Coding Rebranded as Agentic OrchestrationProfessional Services Launch AI Flanker BrandsSlop Debt Crisis and LLM Data IntegrityFrontier Labs: Humans Rarely Write CodePortable Context Engines Replace Prompt LibrariesGDP-Val Benchmark Scores Surpass 80%2026 AI Roadmap: Unlearning and RebuildingTimestamps:00:00 "AI Insights and Actionable Steps"07:40 OpenAI's Lead and Growing Race11:50 "Disposable Software and AI Duct Tape"17:26 "NotebookLM: Game-Changing AI Tool"22:47 Advertising Evolution and Faster ROI29:11 Domino's Strategy & Copilot Reset35:22 "Consulting vs. AI Efficiency"42:54 AI Transparency Demands Rising48:29 "AI Slop Debt in Training Data"51:34 "AI Coding Revolution Predicted"54:57 "Portable Context Engine in AI"01:00:51 "Unlearn and Rebuild with AI"Keywords: 2026 AI predictions, AI shortcut, AI trends, AI roadmap, OpenAI, consumer hardware, disposable software, NotebookLM, core AI platform, AI native ads, premium intent pricing, multi-agent societies, enterprise AI architecture, Microsoft Copilot, CopilSend Everyday AI and Jordan a text message. (We can't reply back unless you leave contact info) Start Here ▶️Not sure where to start when it comes to AI? Start with our Start Here Series. You can listen to the first drop -- Episode 691 -- or get free access to our Inner Cricle community and access all episodes there: StartHereSeries.com 

In this episode of the Crazy Wisdom Podcast, host Stewart Alsop sits down with Lars van der Zande, founder and CEO/technical architect of Inkwell Finance, for what Lars describes as his first-ever podcast appearance. The conversation covers a wide range of blockchain infrastructure topics, including Lars's work with Sui and Solana blockchains, the innovative capabilities of Ika's programmatic wallets and blockchain of signatures, and how Inkwell Finance is building revenue-based financing solutions for on-chain entities—from AI agents to protocols. They explore the evolving landscape of crypto regulation, the merging of traditional finance with blockchain technology, the future of decentralized legal systems, and how the user experience barrier is being lowered through technologies that eliminate constant transaction signing. Lars also discusses Inkwell's embedded financing approach and their pre-seed fundraising round.Links mentioned:- Inkwell's website: inkwell.finance- Inkwell on Twitter: @__inkwell- Lars on Twitter: @LMVDZandeTimestamps00:00 Introduction to Inkwell Finance and Technical Architecture02:06 Understanding Sui and Solana: Blockchain Dynamics05:55 The Role of Ika in Inkwell Finance11:51 Leviathan: Revenue Generation and Financing in Crypto17:38 The Future of AI Agents and Programmatic Wallets23:23 Smart Contracts: Legal Implications and Future Directions25:06 The Future of Inqvil Finance25:42 Decentralization and Its Evolution27:32 The Merging of Traditional and Crypto Systems29:33 Global Financial Dynamics and Market Reactions31:48 The Collapse of Traditional Financial Systems32:46 Jurisdictional Shifts in the Crypto World33:59 Legal Systems and Blockchain Integration35:57 On-Chain Credit and Financial Opportunities39:29 The Role of AI in Finance41:30 Learning from Peer-to-Peer Lending History43:14 Disruption in Insurance and Risk Management44:54 On-Chain vs Off-Chain Data46:54 The Evolution of the Internet and Blockchain49:12 Future Subscription Models in BlockchainKey Insights1. Ika's Revolutionary Blockchain Signature Technology: Lars discovered Ika, a blockchain of signatures built on Sui that enables any blockchain transaction to be signed without revealing the underlying message. Using patented 2PC MPC technology, Ika splits key shares across validators and encrypts them in transit, performing complex cryptographic operations that allow smart contracts on Sui to generate signatures for transactions on any other blockchain. This eliminates the need to build separate smart contracts on each blockchain, fundamentally changing how cross-chain interactions work and opening possibilities for truly interoperable decentralized applications.2. Programmatic Wallets vs Traditional Wallets: Traditional wallets like MetaMask require manual user approval for every transaction through a front-end interface, but Ika's D-wallet introduces programmatic wallets with policy-based controls embedded in smart contracts. These wallets can execute transactions based on predetermined conditions checked against on-chain data like Oracle prices, without requiring individual user signatures. For example, a Bitcoin D-wallet can hold native Bitcoin without wrapping or bridging to a custodian, and smart contract policies determine when and how that Bitcoin can be transferred, creating unprecedented security and automation possibilities for decentralized finance.3. Inkwell's Revenue-Based Financing Model: Inkwell Finance is building Leviathan, a revenue-based financing platform for on-chain entities including protocols, AI agents, and individual traders with verifiable track records. Borrowers receive capital based on their on-chain performance metrics like sharp ratio and drawdown, with loan repayment automatically deducted from their revenue stream. The profit split structure allocates approximately 60% to borrowers, 30% to lenders, and 10% split between Inkwell and integrating platforms. This creates a sustainable lending model where flight risk is minimized through D-wallet policy controls that restrict how borrowed capital can be used.4. Wallet-as-a-Protocol and the Future of User Experience: The crypto industry is moving toward embedded wallet solutions that eliminate the friction of traditional wallet management, with Wallet-as-a-Protocol representing the next evolution beyond services like Privy and Dynamic. Unlike current embedded wallets that lock users into specific applications, Wallet-as-a-Protocol enables single sign-on across multiple applications while users maintain control of their keys. Combined with app-sponsored gas fees, this approach allows non-crypto-native users to interact with blockchain applications without knowing they're using crypto, removing the biggest barrier to mainstream adoption and creating web2-like user experiences on web3 infrastructure.5. AI Agents as Financial Entities: AI agents are emerging as revenue-generating entities with on-chain transaction histories that create verifiable track records for creditworthiness assessment. Inkwell Finance is specifically targeting this market, recognizing that AI agents will need wallets and capital to operate effectively. The programmatic nature of D-wallets pairs perfectly with AI agents, as policy controls can restrict agent behavior to specific smart contract interactions, preventing unauthorized fund transfers while allowing automated trading or revenue generation. This creates a new category of borrower that operates 24/7 with completely transparent performance metrics, fundamentally different from traditional loan recipients.6. Cross-Chain Liquidity Without Asset Transfer: Ika's technology enables users to take loans against revenue generated on one blockchain and deploy that capital on entirely different blockchains without moving their original liquidity positions. For instance, someone earning yield on Sui's Fusol protocol could borrow against that revenue stream and deploy capital on Solana opportunities, effectively creating multiple on-chain businesses that generate their own credit scores and revenue to service debt. This ability to read state across different blockchains from within smart contracts opens possibilities for multi-chain strategies that don't require withdrawing capital from productive positions, maximizing capital efficiency across the entire crypto ecosystem.7. The Convergence of Traditional Finance and Crypto Infrastructure: The regulatory landscape is rapidly evolving with initiatives like the Genius Act and Clarity Act creating frameworks where traditional financial systems merge with crypto infrastructure through mechanisms like stablecoins backed by US treasuries. Companies are increasingly establishing entities in the United States to access capital networks and Delaware's established legal framework while issuing tokens through jurisdictions like Switzerland. This hybrid approach, combined with emerging concepts like Gabriel Shapiro's "cybernetic agreements" that make smart contract parameters legally enforceable in traditional courts, suggests the future isn't pure decentralization but rather a sophisticated integration of on-chain and off-chain legal and financial systems.

Send a textWhy do companies go to such great lengths to avoid the word "Sales"? In this episode, Scott and Mike pull back the curtain on the "emotional baggage" attached to the sales profession. From the stigma of the "snake oil salesman" to the internal friction that revenue generation causes within a company, we explore why sales has become a dirty word—and why it shouldn't be.We break down the Sales Spectrum, helping you identify where you fall between being a "facilitator" and a "persuader," and why the best reps are actually "artists" who match products to real human needs. Whether you're an "opener," a "closer," or a "Business Development Specialist," this episode is your therapy session to help you embrace your role as a revenue generator.Support the showScott SchlofmanMike Williams - Cell 801-635-7773 #sales #podcast #customerfirst #relationships #success #pipeline #funnel #sales success #selling #salescoach

Interview recorded - 12th of February, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming back Clive Thompson. Clive has experience in the wealth management industry & has a unique insight into central banks.During our conversation we spoke about the current economic outlook, bond market issues, precious metals boom, DOGE, physical precious metals and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction2:14 - Current economic outlook5:13 - Bond market issues7:40 - Precious metals boom16:35 - DOGE18:45 - Weak US employment24:03 - Employment disconnect26:12 - Universal income27:47 - Major precious metals top?34:10 - Precious metals ranging35:45 - Physical precious metals40:40 - One message to takeaway?Clive has 47 years of experience in finance & wealth management. This encompasses structuring and advice relating to quoted investments, Private Equity investments, family businesses, tax, residency, real estate, inheritance, Wills, legal, lending, Trusts, Companies and Foundations and all kinds of personal and private advice. He has been actively involved for decades in the arena of Trust structures. This often involved negotiating and discussing the contracts relating to the sale of family companies.Clive's latest position before retirement was as Managing Director in the Anglophone Private Clients Department of Union Bancaire Privée, UBP SA, based in Geneva. He was responsible for wealth management services provided to a small number of wealthy English and French speaking families.Clive continues to remain very active in the world of wealth, with a strong focus on Private Equity, and direct Equity Investing via the global stock markets. His passion is the financial analysis of Balance Sheets, P&Ls, Cash Flow and business projections. Clive loves examining business opportunities, like Private Equity, and digging into the fundamentals of quoted companies to achieve a market beating performance.Clive Thompson - YouTube - @clivethompson-jc9my LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/clive-thompson-661997251/Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9aye4wQ8OkWTFinance - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

LEGO travels through time this week — heading to the future with the Maersk Container Ship, rolling back to the early days of motoring with the Ford Model T, and stepping into classic art with a Monet masterpiece. We also celebrate the arrival of spring with some fun new duck-themed builds. All that and more on this week's episode of Bricking LEGO News!FOLLOW my YouTube channel: Back 2 BrickSet Review: 76324 Spider-man vs. Oscorp   Rebrickable Review:Monastery of Spinjitzu moc update by alexwashere13 Maersk Duel Fuel container vesselDuck family GWPBricklink Designer Program Series 10Claude Monet Water LilliesSea otter timeFord Model TSpider-man rumorBe the next LEGO designerZelda rumorsBrickjournal creatorPokemon designer meet-and-greetremote controll tumblerTED & LEGOChinese Celebration Dragonball Z!Thank you, Patrons! - Bellefonte Bricks Studio, Jimmy Tucker, David, Paul Snellen, Lee Jackson, Pop's Block Shop, Steve Miles, David Support the showSee some of the designs I've built - REBRICKABLE.COMHead over to Back2brick.com for links to the latest LEGO set discounts!Support the podcast through our affiliate links AND join the Back 2 Brick Patreon!Have a question? Want to be a guest? Send me a message!backtobrick@gmail.comBack 2 Brick Podcast is not an affiliate nor endorsed by the LEGO Group.LEGO, the LEGO logo, the Minifigure, and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO Group of Companies. ©2025 The LEGO Group.

Host: Cindy Allen Show: Simply Trade – Cindy's Version Published: February 13, 2026 Length: ~15 minutes Presented by: Global Training Center State of Grace: Tariffs, First Sale Under Fire, and a Glimmer of Stability In this episode of Cindy's Version, Cindy Allen, CEO of TradeForce Multiplier, walks through another busy week in global trade and ties it to Taylor Swift's “State of Grace”—focusing on the idea that, despite the shock of recent policy shifts, this is still a “worthwhile fight” for trade professionals. From new trade deals to challenges against tariff policy and first sale threats, Cindy explains what's changing and where there are signs of hope.​ What You'll Learn in This Episode New trade deals and tariff shifts A U.S.–Taiwan deal capping total tariffs at 15% (either limiting MFN above 15% or applying 15% where MFN is lower). Details emerging on agreements with Guatemala, El Salvador, Argentina, and an India deal rolling back some reciprocal tariffs tied to India's Russian oil purchases.​ Where to find official text and specifics: USTR's website.​ Border infrastructure and electronic bonds The administration's threat to block the opening of the long‑planned Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit and Ontario over funding/ownership disputes, and why Canada and Michigan intend to proceed regardless. How this new public crossing will compete with the privately owned Ambassador Bridge for billions in daily cross‑border trade.​ CBP's move to mandate electronic surety bond filing for all bonds, formalizing what many brokers, importers, and sureties already do—and why Cindy strongly supports it.​ Section 232 guidance softens (slightly) New CBP guidance on 232 tariffs for steel, aluminum, and copper, dialing back earlier aggressive interpretations. Trade groups have received written clarification allowing certain labor/overhead costs to be prorated into steel/aluminum values instead of fully loaded, even as petitioners continue to argue that none of those costs should be included. Why importers should review the latest guidance carefully, track affected entries, and monitor the ongoing Court of International Trade challenge.​ USMCA and IEPA signals from Capitol Hill Senate Finance Committee signaling support for extending USMCA, seeking stability before any renegotiation, while the administration is rumored to prefer separate bilateral deals with Canada and Mexico.​ The House vote to end IEPA duties on Canada for certain non‑USMCA goods—a positive step toward predictability, though the bill still must clear the Senate and avoid a presidential veto.​ First sale under threat Introduction of a bill to eliminate first sale, driven by some of the same groups that pushed to curtail de minimis and oppose duty‑reducing mechanisms generally. Why this is significant: many large importers rely on first sale, provide extensive upstream data to CBP, and enable deeper supply‑chain visibility and risk management. Trade associations have already begun weighing in to defend first sale; Cindy flags this as a fight to watch closely.​ EU deal conditions and a big auto bill The EU moving its U.S. tariff deal through lawmakers but adding elements like sunset deadlines and “security triggers” that go beyond earlier negotiating language.​ Ford announcing an expected 900 million dollar 232‑related tariff hit after previously anticipated automotive offsets were disallowed for several months—raising questions about how other automakers will fare and whether Ford might push back through protests or litigation.​ Global trade up, U.S. trade down Conference insights from Manifest: global trade volumes are rising overall, but trade into the U.S. is declining, as exporters pivot to other markets they perceive as less costly and less complex. This trend aligns with a surge in trade deals worldwide that do not include the U.S.​ Why “State of Grace”? Cindy connects the week's developments to Taylor Swift's “State of Grace,” highlighting the line: “I never saw you coming and I'll never be the same. This is a state of grace, this is a worthwhile fight.” She uses this to frame: How studies now confirm what many suspected—U.S. consumers have already paid roughly 1,000 dollars more due to tariffs, with an additional 1,300 dollars expected in the coming year. How tariffs are hitting companies and rural communities: constrained exports for U.S. agriculture, rising small‑farm bankruptcies, and knock‑on impacts to local economies. Research showing that about 90% of tariff costs are passed from suppliers to U.S. importers, then to consumers, and even to manufacturers who never import directly but rely on tariff‑burdened inputs.​ Despite this, she sees reasons for cautious optimism: Companies challenging IEPA and 232 in court. Large players like Ford publicly quantifying tariff impacts. Congress beginning to reassert its constitutional role over tariffs and question security‑based justifications used as broad economic tools. Early, coordinated pushback against eliminating first sale—stronger than what was seen around de minimis.​ For Cindy, these developments suggest the industry may be entering a state of grace—a moment where data, legal challenges, and coordinated advocacy start to rebalance the conversation and make the fight for smarter trade policy worth it.​ Credits Host: Cindy Allen Producer: Annik Sobing Presented by: Global Training Center Sponsor: PAX AI ​ Listen & Subscribe Simply Trade main page: https://simplytrade.podbean.com​ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/simply-trade/id1640329690​ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/09m199JO6fuNumbcrHTkGq​ Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8de7d7fa-38e0-41b2-bad3-b8a3c5dc4cda/simply-trade​ Connect with Simply Trade Podcast page: https://www.globaltrainingcenter.com/simply-trade-podcast​ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/simply-trade-podcast​ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SimplyTradePod​ Join the Trade Geeks Community Trade Geeks (by Global Training Center): https://globaltrainingcenter.com/trade-geeks/

Bob Perkins has done things most people only read about — fighter pilot instructor, political fundraiser, the ad agency behind Apple's 1984 Super Bowl commercial, CMO at Calvin Klein, executive at Playboy, head of marketing at Pizza Hut, and turnaround CEO. He's sat on boards, built ventures inside the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and now spends his time thinking and writing about how AI is fundamentally reshaping competition.We got into all of it. From the real story behind the most famous Super Bowl ad ever made (and the worst one, made by the same people the very next year) to why marketing as a discipline is being consumed by AI, to a fighter pilot decision-making framework that most companies are too slow to execute. We also talked about what actually drives organizational change, why group dynamics override expertise, and what Bob would tell his 40-year-old self if he could go back.This one went deep. If you run a business or lead a team, there's a lot here.What you'll learn in this episode:Why marketing is becoming unrecognizable — and what's replacing itThe real story behind Apple's 1984 ad and how it almost never airedThe Boyd Loop (OODA) — how fighter pilots make decisions at 500 mph and why it matters for your businessWhy competitive advantage is shifting from planning to execution speedHow AI changes the feedback loop — and why that's the real unlock for sales teamsWhat stops organizations from acting on decisions they've already madeWhy the power of the group is the most underrated force in business — and how it quietly kills changeBob's advice to his 40-year-old self (and the one skill he wishes he'd developed more)Books referenced in this episode:Sapiens by Yuval Noah HarariThe Geek Way by Andrew McAfeeThe Innovator's Dilemma by Clayton ChristensenOn the Edge: The Art of Risking Everything by Nate SilverThe Infinite Game by Simon Sinek//Welcome to The Ray J. Green Show, your destination for tips on sales, strategy, and self-mastery from an operator, not a guru.About Ray:→ Former Managing Director of National Small & Midsize Business at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he doubled revenue per sale in fundraising, led the first increase in SMB membership, co-built a national Mid-Market sales channel, and more.→ Former CEO operator for several investor groups where he led turnarounds of recently acquired small businesses.→ Current founder of MSP Sales Partners, where we...

We're doubling down on our YouTube content, so if you want to watch this video instead of listening to it, you can watch it on our channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@SuccessionBioAbout SuccessionSuccession helps founders and sales teams close more deals with biotech and pharma. We partner with our clients to run modern lead generation campaigns, up-skill their team through personalized sales training, and build AI workflows using cutting-edge tools and technology.Ready to take your go-to-market to the next level?

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T.J. Rodgers has built — and rebuilt — billion-dollar companies across semiconductors, energy, storage, and manufacturing.In this 2.5-hour Episode 900 deep dive, he walks through the operating principles behind that track record — in detail.This isn't a surface-level conversation. It's a masterclass in how durable companies are actually constructed.We unpack:

What does it take to successfully acquire and lead a 50-person, employee-owned sign company that defied the odds for 20 years? Aaron sits down with Wade Halma from Valley City Sign, a mechanical engineer who entered the signage world via finance. They dive into the counterintuitive pitfalls of buying "too perfect" equipment, why building an in-house engineering team is a game-changer, and how to implement true lean manufacturing beyond the buzzwords.

Packy McCormick is one of the most thoughtful writers in tech and investing. In this episode of Infinite Loops, we talk about why writing is still the most powerful way to think clearly, how optimism becomes rational when you spend time with people actually building things, and what happens when the internet punishes you for being early and wrong.   Important Links: Packy McCormick on Optimism: https://www.notboring.co/p/optimism The Internet Contrarian: https://www.osam.com/pdfs/research/The%20Internet%20Contrarian.pdf Elliot Herschberg on GitLab Founder and Cancer: https://www.notboring.co/p/the-builder-cancer-problem Ben Thompson's Aggregation Theory: https://stratechery.com/aggregation-theory/  

Mac Stockdale - CEO of Quanta joins the podcast to talk about Algo Trading, his firm's new methodology aimed at adding more value to the hedging strategies of E&P, Mineral, and NonOp companies.**Disclaimer: This podcast is meant for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. A big thanks to our 4 Minerals & Royalties Podcast Sponsors:--Tokenized Energy: If you are interested in allocating capital to oil & gas minerals, royalties, and nonop assets in order to earn digital mailbox money, then visit www.tokenizedenergy.com or download the Tokenized Energy app for your Apple or Android phone.--Tracts: If you are interested in learning more about Tracts title related services and software, then please call 281-892-2096 or visit https://tracts.co/ to learn more.--Riverbend Energy Group: If you are interested in discussing the sale of your Minerals and/or NonOp interests w/ Riverbend, then please visit www.riverbendenergygroup.com for more information--Farmers National Company: For more information onFarmer's land management services, please visit www.fncenergy.com or email energy@farmersnational.com

In this episode of Run the Numbers, CJ Gustafson talks with Rivian CFO Claire McDonough about financing one of the most capital-intensive businesses in the world. They cover long-term investment decisions, capacity planning, cash management as production scales, lessons from Rivian's nearly $14B IPO, the risks of over- and under-building, and why federal EV tax credits matter more than most people think.—SPONSORS:Tabs is an AI-native revenue platform that unifies billing, collections, and revenue recognition for companies running usage-based or complex contracts. By bringing together ERP, CRM, and real product usage data into a single system of record, Tabs eliminates manual reconciliations and speeds up close and cash collection. Companies like Cortex, Statsig, and Cursor trust Tabs to scale revenue efficiently. Learn more at https://www.tabs.com/runAbacum is a modern FP&A platform built by former CFOs to replace slow, consultant-heavy planning tools. With self-service integrations and AI-powered workflows for forecasting, variance analysis, and scenario modeling, Abacum helps finance teams scale without becoming software admins. Trusted by teams at Strava, Replit, and JG Wentworth—learn more at https://www.abacum.aiBrex is an intelligent finance platform that combines corporate cards, built-in expense management, and AI agents to eliminate manual finance work. By automating expense reviews and reconciliations, Brex gives CFOs more time for the high-impact work that drives growth. Join 35,000+ companies like Anthropic, Coinbase, and DoorDash at https://www.brex.com/metricsMetronome is real-time billing built for modern software companies. Metronome turns raw usage events into accurate invoices, gives customers bills they actually understand, and keeps finance, product, and engineering perfectly in sync. That's why category-defining companies like OpenAI and Anthropic trust Metronome to power usage-based pricing and enterprise contracts at scale. Focus on your product — not your billing. Learn more and get started at https://www.metronome.comRightRev is an automated revenue recognition platform built for modern pricing models like usage-based pricing, bundles, and mid-cycle upgrades. RightRev lets companies scale monetization without slowing down close or compliance. For RevRec that keeps growth moving, visit https://www.rightrev.comRillet is an AI-native ERP built for modern finance teams that want to close faster without fighting legacy systems. Designed to support complex revenue recognition, multi-entity operations, and real-time reporting, Rillet helps teams achieve a true zero-day close—with some customers closing in hours, not days. If you're scaling on an ERP that wasn't built in the 90s, book a demo at https://www.rillet.com/cj—LINKS: Claire on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-rauh-mcdonough-5291b946/Rivian: https://rivian.com/CJ on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cj-gustafson-13140948/Mostly metrics: https://www.mostlymetrics.com—RELATED EPISODES:Why Revenue Recognition Is the Next AI Battleground | Dan Miller of RightRevhttps://youtu.be/TxhTtwmOass—TIMESTAMPS:00:00:00 Craziest Expense Story at Rivian00:01:22 Intro to Claire McDonough00:03:09 Capital Intensity and Vertical Integration at Rivian00:06:44 Raising $14B: How Rivian Planned Its IPO Capital00:10:22 Capacity Planning and Scaling R2 Production00:12:13 Sponsors — Tabs, Abacum, Brex00:15:34 Sweating Existing Capacity vs Overbuilding00:18:22 Winning EV Adoption from ICE Buyers00:22:27 How Federal EV Tax Credits Shape EV Pricing00:26:03 Sponsors — Metronome, RightRev, Rillet00:29:27 R2 as a Driver of Long-Term Profitability00:33:14 Supply Chain as the Critical Path to Launch00:36:53 Product Roadmap as the Anchor for Capital and Headcount00:39:40 Peloton and Flipkart Lessons from Banking00:43:42 Biggest Career Mistake00:44:50 Advice to Younger Self00:47:19 Rivian's Finance Software Stack

How is AI changing the way we store data? This week Technology Now dives into the topic of data storage in the world of AI. We explore intelligent storage, how data sovereignty is influencing how we store our data, and consider where the world of storage could be going in the future. Jim O'Dorisio, Senior Vice President and General Manager HPE Storage, tells us more.This is Technology Now, a weekly show from Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Every week, hosts Michael Bird and Sam Jarrell look at a story that's been making headlines, take a look at the technology behind it, and explain why it matters to organizations.About Jim:https://www.linkedin.com/in/odorisiojim/Sources:https://www.statista.com/statistics/871513/worldwide-data-created/#statisticContainerhttps://www.studionetworksolutions.com/how-much-data-is-used-and-stored-in-the-world/#:~:text=expanding%20digital%20universe.-,Global%20Data%20Usage,over%20180%20zettabytes%20by%202025.1 billion terrabytes in 1 zettabyte. If a smartphone has 1Tb storage, then you need 180 billion smartphones to make 180Zb of storage. 180 billion > 100 billionhttps://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/memory-storage/https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/308https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/6129/https://www.computerhistory.org/revolution/memory-storage/8/308/963

How to Scale Faster with B2B Brand Strategy Here's a common scenario in B2B marketing: you launch campaigns, hit the deadlines, and fill the pipeline, but the results feel disconnected from your long-term goals. Internal messaging discussions resurface, campaigns feel shallow and reactive, and when you ask people what your brand stands for, you get 50 different answers. This inconsistent approach creates friction and impedes scalable growth. So what can B2B marketers do when their tactical execution is outpacing their brand strategy, and how to do you realign for lasting impact? That's why we're talking to JoAnne Gritter (COO, ddm marketing + communications), who shares her expertise and actionable insights on how to scale faster with B2B brand strategy. During our conversation, JoAnne underscored why a foundational strategy is crucial for building credibility and trust in competitive markets. She also discussed the role of AI in marketing, commenting that while it can support with idea generation and research, it shouldn't replace direct communication with customers and employees. JoAnne shared some common pitfalls such as messaging misalignment and inconsistent branding, which can lead to distrust and reduced credibility, She explained the importance of having a cohesive brand strategy that aligns values, messaging, and customer experiences across all company touchpoints through proactive brand management. https://youtu.be/_Alwkinhw-g Topics discussed in episode: [02:36] The “Soul vs. Body” framework: Why marketing is just the body in action, while brand strategy is the soul that provides direction and values.  [06:51] Red flags that your marketing has outpaced your strategy: When content feels fragmented and sales teams are telling completely different stories.  [08:52] Defining true brand strategy: Moving beyond logos and colors to include deep research, stakeholder analysis, and internal alignment.  [14:41] The critical differences between a brand refresh (auditing existing assets), a complete revamp (starting from scratch), and branding during a merger.  [24:10] Actionable steps you can take to realign your brand: – Audit your customer journey – Define messaging pillars – Ensure HR and onboarding match the brand promise  [29:37] Why “data-only” marketing fails: The importance of human emotion and psychology that performance data often misses.  Companies and links mentioned: JoAnne Gritter on LinkedIn  ddm marketing + communications  Transcript JoAnne Gritter, Christian Klepp JoAnne Gritter  00:00 AI can be used as a tool. It should not replace thinking and actually talking to your customers and your employees and your sales team. So you can use AI as a crutch to to like, ask it for ideas, idea generation. You can use it for deep research on your on your audience, and stuff like that. But nothing replaces the gold standard of talking to people. I see this in messaging misalignment or content misalignment. If content feels like it’s been written by four different people or completely different companies, that’s a red flag. Christian Klepp  00:37 This is a common scenario for B2B Marketers. You launch campaigns, hit the deadlines and fill the pipeline. It all looks great on paper, but something is still off internal messaging discussions resurface. Campaigns feel shallow and reactive, and when you ask people what the brand stands for, you get 50 different answers. So what can B2B Marketers do when their marketing is outpacing their brand strategy? Welcome to this episode of the B2B Marketers in the Mission podcast, and I’m your host, Christian Klepp, today, I’ll be talking to JoAnne Gritter, who will be answering this question. She’s a member of the leadership team at DDM Marketing Communications that provides integrated marketing solutions to drive business success. Tune in to find out more about what this B2B Marketers Mission is and here we go. JoAnne Gritter, welcome to the show. JoAnne Gritter  01:25 Hi Christian. Happy to be here. Christian Klepp  01:27 We you know, we had such a wonderful, like, pre-interview conversation. I almost feel like we’re neighbors or something, and something to that extent. But I’m, I’m really, like, happy to have you on the show, and I’m really looking forward to this conversation, because this topic is, I’m a little bit biased because I am in the branding space, so it’s a bit near and dear to my heart, but it’s also something that’s extremely important, because you’ll agree. I mean, you, I know you’ll agree because you wrote an article about it. JoAnne Gritter  01:54 Yeah Christian Klepp  01:55 It’s something that marketing teams tend to overlook. And good, goodness gracious me, I’m gonna, like, stop keeping people in suspense. We’ll just jump right in all right. JoAnne Gritter  02:04 Okay Christian Klepp  02:04 So JoAnne, you’re on a mission to provide integrated marketing solutions that drive B2B business success. So for this conversation, let’s focus on this topic, how brand strategy helps B2B organizations to realign for long term growth. So I’m going to kick off this conversation with the following question. In our previous conversation, our previous discussion, you talked about how marketing without a brand is a strategy without a soul. Could you please explain what you meant by that? JoAnne Gritter  02:36 So I just made the comparison kind of to the whole human, as in, like the brand is your soul, meaning like your values, what drives you, why you’re here, what differentiates you, what makes you different than the person standing next to you, whereas, like marketing is your body in action, or action in general, where you hopefully, if you if you’re a trustworthy person, what is, what are your values internally are matching your actions externally? And that is often where we see a divergent in companies, because they don’t think about those as like two sides of the same coin. It is really important that you make sure that you know the direction that you’re going as a company and what you stand for and who you’re there to support or serve, and what markets you’re there to do, and like your whole company, everybody that’s part of interfacing with customers understands that and is and is speaking the same language. Christian Klepp  03:37 Yeah, no, absolutely. And I suppose the the follow up question to that is like, where do you see a lot of, like, marketing teams go wrong. Because, like, you know, more often than not, a lot of teams are like, Okay, we’ve we’ve implemented the campaigns check. We’re generating results and driving pipeline or filling the pipeline, rather check. So where does it all go wrong? JoAnne Gritter  04:00 If you are not paying attention to your branding, you can have a lot of activity without a lot of traction. So or you can have a lot of different messages going out that seem not cohesive or fragmented. And so you can or more examples you can have, like your sales folks going out and telling different stories about about what your company stands for and what you do and how you’re different, that creates a lot of waste, because then you’re continuously trying to get more activity and more campaigns going more sales people out there, because you’re not getting the quality leads that you need, because nobody really knows what you stand for. Everybody says it a little bit differently, and that goes for customer service too. Branding. People think about branding as a marketing problem, or a marketing, you know, teams problem. But if, let’s say part of your brand is your brand identity or values is to put the customer. First, if you don’t really solidify that from your sales team and your customer support team, then there would be a mismatch there, right then you’re just putting out into the world that customers first, but that doesn’t match up with what the customer is experiencing. Christian Klepp  05:16 Yeah, there’s certainly some kind of misalignment there, and you touched on it, like, briefly. It’s interesting to me, like, even in my own experience, one of the telltale signs of that is when you ask people within the organization, well, what makes you different? And you get 50 different answers, and some of them are similar, and some of them are completely, like, different. And it’s like, okay, yep, okay, I see where this is going, or to your to your other point, when sales teams are having those discovery calls, and you listen back to some of those recordings, which I hope you marketing people out there are doing, and you listen to the way that the sales deal with objections, and maybe the procurement team or people like, you know, on the prospect side, they’re probably not phrasing it exactly the way I’m going to say it right now, but like, but they probably are asking something to the effect of, okay, what makes you different from vendor B, C and D, right? What is different about your solution? Like, why are you charging this guy? Why are your rates like, this high. JoAnne Gritter  05:16 Right. Absolutely. And if they have different answers, or if you go and you listen in on four different sales calls and they’re all a little bit different, then that tells you have a branding issue that people don’t fully understand your brand and how you’re different and who you support and serve. Christian Klepp  05:16 Yep, absolutely, absolutely. So you’ve touched on it a little bit, but like, tell us about some more of these. I’m going to call them red flags, right? That signal when marketing has outrun brand strategy. JoAnne Gritter  05:16 Sure, I see this in messaging misalignment or content misalignment. If content feels like it’s been written by four different people or completely different companies, that’s a red flag. If, like we mentioned, your sales team talks about your company completely differently, it’s okay that they put their own little spin on it, as long as you’re still hitting like the purpose of your company, why you’re here, how you serve whatever your target audience or audiences are what your values are. If that’s not coming through in in those different places, then you may have a brand issue, or your training issue, or your brand is not being carried out through the company. So when you have a solid brand, it should be, should be repeated in in like your onboarding process, in HR kind of things, in performance conversations, in obviously, your sales and marketing and your customer service, so that everybody is aligned to that brand, and so that there’s a common message, common theme, because repeatability is is super important. Consistency is super important in marketing. I’m sure a lot of people have heard that it takes multiple multi multiple times of hearing the same message for it to actually resonate, and if they’re hearing multiple different messages, it’s causes confusion and a lack of trust in whatever the company is offering. Christian Klepp  05:16 Yeah, that’s absolutely right. JoAnne, I’ve got a I just thought of another fall off question, and you’ll indulge me here. Um, you know it, I know it. But let’s, let’s clear the air here for a second. Because I’ve been hearing this like, and I’m sure you have as well, in the B2B world, it’s just been thrown around, like, very loosely. Let’s clear the air here. Like, what do you mean by brand strategy, because I’ve heard people, especially at senior level, say, like, Yeah, we don’t need branding. We’ve got a logo and we’ve got a website. We’re good, so maybe just clear the air on that one, please. JoAnne Gritter  05:16 Well, brand strategy is, let’s see, like, I think of strategy in like, four or three different tiers. Like, we have your business strategy, it’s how you win in the marketplace. Then you have your brand strategy, which is positions you in the market and in the minds of your consumers or your customers. And then your marketing strategy is how you take that and communicate it out and you deliver that message in multiple different channels. So if you have marketing running without, without laddering up to that business strategy and and brand strategy, then it’s just, it’s just running and putting stuff out there. So it’s just activity without, without purpose and strategy. So like a brand strategy is so much more than just a lot of people think about it as their logo, their identity suite, whatever, but there should be research that goes into it. They should be stakeholder analysis. They should talk to your customers and kind of understand what they value about about your company compared to another company. So then, using. Their language in some of your brand messaging is super helpful. So if you have like, customers that say, you know, like, I just love working with, you know, Company X, Y and Z, because the people are great. They’re super responsive. They they get me what I need, etc. Like, using some of that as part of your brand is going to be really important. So like, a strategy may may include, like, the focus, the brand, promise your your core values can be part of that. The naming can be part of that. Obviously, the the design part that a lot of folks actually think about and listen or think about and recall would be, like the visual identity that also needs to be consistent, from your logo to your fonts to your colors, and then like, multiple touch points on that, like, again, like repeating that consistency from like the stationary, the collateral, the assets, all that stuff, but then also making sure that the messaging and the voice carries throughout your company, past past your your marketing team, past your sales team. Christian Klepp  05:16 Yeah, that’s absolutely right. I mean, I like to tell people that all of these things that you mentioned, especially the visual aspect, the the sexy part of it, right, like the the visual identity, the logo, the web design and all that. It’s the end result. It’s one of the outcomes of right branding, right? JoAnne Gritter  05:16 That doesn’t come out of a vacuum, right? You don’t show a designer that’s like, I’m super excited about the color red, so we’re gonna do it’s what do our customers, current customers, feel about us, and what do we want our prospective customers to feel about us? And then there’s a lot of strategy behind that. Christian Klepp  05:16 That’s right, that’s right. I’m gonna move on to the topic of key pitfalls to avoid. So what are some of these key pitfalls that B2B Marketing Teams should avoid, and what should they do instead? JoAnne Gritter  05:16 So pitfalls that I see is companies teams that get really excited about certain trends. I’m just going to pick on Tiktok. There’s time and a place for Tiktok, but like, for B2B, they’re like, oh, man, everybody’s on Tiktok, or this latest, you know, social media platform, channel, we really got to get on there. It’s or we got to use AI in some specific way without, like, thinking about the strategy behind that and just like going forward, because you know that that’s the hottest trend right now. So always make sure it ladders up to where your customers are and what you want them to think about you. If you’re a B2B company, it’s likely that your customers are more on LinkedIn than they are on Tiktok. That’s just an example. I can’t say that across the board, but like picking picking things that are always centered on on your customer and your brand are super important. So that’s a pitfall, and then what to do about it? Also treating the brand as a one time exercise, like set it and forget it, kind of thing. A lot of people are just like, Okay, we did the brand. We got a great logo, we got stationery, we even got PowerPoints that are branded and then never think about it again, except for, like, just the, you know, the colors and the logo on all of your media assets, right? So, but the brand is so much more than that. The brand is so much about, like, how you want them to feel, what the differentiators are, what makes you different, what you deliver and like, how you talk about it, how you position yourself. So like, every bit, every asset that goes out the door, should be aligned to that there should be almost a hierarchy. Christian Klepp  05:16 Yeah, no, exactly, exactly. And I’m gonna throw another follow up question at you, only because I know you can handle you can handle it. You probably hear this a lot, and you hear this a lot, most likely also from marketing teams that perhaps don’t have as much experience in the branding space as you do, and they say things like, JoAnne, you know, we’re looking at our company, and we feel that, you know, the overall look and feel and the direction, it’s not really in line with what we aspire to be. So we’re looking for a revamp. And then, and then, as the conversation progresses, they say, Oh, actually, we want maybe, maybe just a refresh, right? And then you hear another prospect say, Well, you know, we just merged the two companies. So like, what do we do there? So maybe just, just to, again, clear the air, so people don’t throw around these terms so recklessly, what actually is the difference between a brand refresh, a brand revamp, and branding as a result of a merger, Speaker 1  06:02 like a brand like from scratch, is going to take a lot of different kind of research efforts than like a brand refresh. Like, if you’re doing a brand refresh, then you’re looking at assets that already exist, you know, and and you’re looking at reasons why they might change or are no longer working. So you’re doing more. Of an audit kind of thing, like, what’s different now than it was 20 years ago when we created this brand, and where are we going? Their new leadership? Are they focused on different parts of this like even even DDM, the marketing agency that I work with or that I work for. We, every once in a while, look at our brand, and not just the visuals, but like the things that make us unique. And we say, hey, those are still unique, but we’re talking about them slightly differently now. So we need to take a look at that and change the messaging a little bit. We’re heading in a slightly different direction lately with our creative so let’s, let’s make sure that we’re still in line, so that everything, everything matches. And if they see us on Instagram versus if they see us on LinkedIn or on our website, that it still looks like ABM, you know, and then a merger is slightly different, because you’re putting together two brands, and a lot of times they’re creating a new brand from that, or they might keep one of the brands and then just bring another like, you know, Company X is now a, you know, Company Y brand. And there might be, like a sub. There’s all kinds of different ways hierarchies of brands in that kind of scenario. But more recent one that we did, they created a new brand, which was a combination of the two names, and they completely they went through the whole exercise with the new leadership team. So it’s more similar to like starting from scratch, but also taking bits and pieces that they want to keep from both brands and what’s working. So you kind of look at what clients from both brands like about those brands, and make sure that you keep those and you preserve those, and make sure that it’s it’s heading in the direction that the company wants to go a lot of discovery and research and questions, Christian Klepp  06:16 Absolutely, absolutely. And I love that you keep bringing that up, though, because that is, again, one of these components that people tend to overlook, that this comes with a lot of research. It’s not, as you said, it’s not okay. Here’s the brief. Graphic designers or design team have at it. JoAnne Gritter  17:07 Right? Christian Klepp  17:07 Come up with something, something else, great, right? Yeah, my favorite briefs are always the ones that said we want something modern, clean, yet traditional and exciting. It’s like, JoAnne Gritter  17:17 Oh yes, creative. Make it creative, splashy mean to you? Christian Klepp  17:25 Yeah, yeah, open to interpretation, I suppose. Why do you believe that inconsistent messaging and internal misalignment cost organizations credibility and dollars? And you did touch on it earlier on the conversation. JoAnne Gritter  17:41 It’s a misalignment of what you say versus what you do. If you have on your website that you are there to serve X population and that you are like your mission and purpose in in this world is to support that population in in achieving whatever goal, whatever needs that that population needs, but then that customer or population that comes and interacts with your brand does not get that from the people or get that from their experience with your product. Then then that’s a misalignment, and that creates, you know, instant distrust, like you are not following through on, on what your brand promise was, or if you have multiple people saying they’re promising different things and they don’t get that, that’s a lack of trust. Christian Klepp  18:27 I’m kind of slightly grinning here, although I know that anyone who’s been in this situation probably will not see any humor in it, but like, I’m just thinking about anyone that’s experienced a flight delay, JoAnne Gritter  18:37 right, Christian Klepp  18:39 or been trapped at the airport, and whichever airline it is you’re flying with, and you have to deal with ground staff that are either unprofessional and rude or you just have zero transparency. And I’m sure, like, I’ve certainly gone through it like I’ve experienced a 10, 12 hour flight delay, right where I was at the airport until like, one or two in the morning, and then they finally come and say, well, the plane’s not coming. JoAnne Gritter  19:04 Yeah, that really rocks the brand reputation. I also see that in health care a lot, which, God bless everybody in health care, it’s hard, but like, if all those services are disjointed and the scheduling gives you a different feeling than the doctor gives and trying to do things online, it doesn’t match what your experience is in person. People don’t want to go to that provider anymore. You know, they’re like, this is confusing. I just want help. Just want to get what you’re promising. Christian Klepp  19:35 It’s a very for lack of a description of fragmented ecosystem. JoAnne Gritter  19:39 Yeah, absolutely. And that’s a bigger issue than we can solve here, but Christian Klepp  19:43 Yeah, no amount of branding is going to fix that. JoAnne Gritter  19:47 You got to follow through on it. Christian Klepp  19:49 That’s absolutely right. That’s absolutely right. Talk to us about how aligning, and you’ve touched on it briefly, how aligning soul and action will help to build. Trust, loyalty and resilience and please provide examples where relevant. JoAnne Gritter  20:04 Let me think of an example. We work with a very large medical device manufacturer, and we’ve worked with them for 15, probably close to 20 years now. And so 15 years ago, they were very product centric. They also grow by acquisition. So they have, like several different companies that came in under this master global brand. And even though they have the same logo, they still had their own kind of visual identity. They all talked about their stuff differently. And as a result of that, in those different teams, the customers were getting wildly different experiences from this company, even though they were all under the same master company. So they rebranded. We helped them rebrand seven years ago, maybe, and this is a global organization where they brought all their business units under the same brand. They have a very strict, robust brand now. And I’m not saying that everybody needs 100 page brand guidelines. They don’t, but, like they they went all in on branding, and they make all their new employees do their brand training. It’s worked in through their onboarding. It’s worked in through their like, performance conversations, and they have just really exploded and created this, this amazing reputation as a leader. Christian Klepp  21:25 I’m sorry you’re talking about, you’re talking about real branding, then JoAnne Gritter  21:27 Real branding. Yes, they are now a leader in their industry. I mean, they were big before, but they have just really exploded in the last seven years since rebranding, and it’s been really helpful for them, because now they still grow by acquisition, but they bring in a new company, and they know what the process is to get them on board, not just from a visual identity, like rebranding all the collateral, like the sales enablement and stuff like that, but bringing the internal teams up to speed about like, what what we stand for, what we hire, like, what kind of values we Look for, so that every customer gets the same experience Christian Klepp  22:04 from your experience. How did that exercise of helping them to re brand and take all of this because, you know, there’s that situation of taking all the business units and putting them under one roof, so to speak. How did that exercise help to improve them as an organization. JoAnne Gritter  22:22 It’s been a long time, like in multiple phases. So it improves their organization. It creates a lot of clarity for them. So they’re not like redoing each other’s work, and they’re not all creating the same or they’re they’re not all creating from scratch anymore. They have a they have a similar starting point on, like, the different messaging pillars that they need to hit, even for just their products, you know. So this goes into product messaging and product launch. So like, if they are medical device, they are they want to sell, you know, knee replacements or or stuff along those lines, they know that they need to hit on a couple core values, and they need to make sure that they are targeting the same audience, and that they need to make sure that they that what they’re saying out there aligns with the master brand. Of course, there’s they still need to do the differentiators on the product level, but they also have the full brand that that supports it. So it’s just a higher level like reputation. I like to, I like to compare like branding to your reputation. So that goes along with every product that they bring in. Christian Klepp  23:32 Yeah, no, absolutely, absolutely. Okay, we get to the part in the conversation. We’re talking about actionable tips. And you’ve, you’ve actually given us quite a bit already, but if we were to summarize it, okay, JoAnne, like, if there was somebody out if there was somebody out there that was listening to this conversation, and they were listening to what you were saying, and they were like, oh my goodness, this is exactly what we’re going through right now, right? I mean, besides contacting you, right, what are like three to five things that you would recommend they do right now to realign for long term growth using brand strategy, JoAnne Gritter  24:10 I would take a look at what brand strategy you already have, if you have one otherwise kind of creating at least the bones of that. Like, what are our values? What are we focused on? What is our purpose here and mission? And then, like, what are messaging pillars or groups that align with those values? And then once you have those making sure that you have a succinct narrative or story, or even, like an elevator pitch, that everybody is aligned on. Having that is kind of a simple, hopefully a simple thing for you to figure out and align on, and then auditing the customer journey for those promises and values. So like, if you have a customer journey, they’re going from, you know, awareness of you. Or a problem to consideration between you and your company, and, you know, multiple other companies, and then you’re they’re making a decision, then they’re purchasing, then they’re hopefully your customer experience, and your delivery teams are delivering on those promises, and then you’re creating loyalty. So that’s the customer journey. So of these phases are, they are the customers still experiencing the brand that you want them to experience. So that’s like a little audit that you can do. And then from there, also making sure that all of your content that’s out there, from your like your brochures, your website, your sales enablement kind of stuff, making sure that that’s still aligned to the brand and the message that that you want it to and then making sure that, of course, throughout the company, in your like, HR documentation, you’re, I’ve said onboarding a million times, but like, making sure that everybody that’s coming into your organization understands who you are and who you who you serve, and why? Christian Klepp  26:01 Absolutely, absolutely. And that’s a really good list. And I have to ask you this question, because you know, at the time of the recording, we’re at the end of 2025, and you did bring up AI, so I’m going to bring it up again. How, how has in your experience, from what you’re seeing out there, how has AI impacted brand strategy and all the work that comes along with that. JoAnne Gritter  26:24 Well, that’s a loaded question, right? So as far as brand strategy, I kind of see it. AI can be used as a tool. It should not replace thinking and actually talking to your customers and your employees and your sales team. So you can use AI as a crutch to to, like, ask it for ideas, idea generation. You can use it for deep research on your on your audience, and stuff like that. But nothing replaces the gold standard of talking to people. So like, the the best resources from that research perspective are your customers, or your prospective customers and your sales team, if you can’t get to those customers, will often hear those like, you know, positive and negatives about your products and services. So getting to those and aligning on stakeholders, AI can be used as you know, you can use it to help think of ideas for like, let me think if you were thinking of like values, like core values, like in and messaging pillars, you can say, hey, you know, I really want it to be something along these lines. We’re circling around on like, exactly right the what the right way to phrase this is. And it can give you 50 different ideas, and you can cross out 45 of them and then land on like the top five that you communicate with your team. Don’t ever take it for rate for like per vatum, sorry, exactly as chat GPT gives you, Christian Klepp  27:55 at face value. JoAnne Gritter  27:57 Thank you. I see that that is a lot harder for early career individuals because they don’t have that discernment yet. So they, they will, they will use it as a crutch, and then, like, oftentimes not have that same kind of editing expertise to see what actually works and what doesn’t. So like pairing AI as a tool with with human intelligence and empathy, for sure, Christian Klepp  28:23 Absolutely, absolutely. I mean, at least in from my observation, and this is where I think AI really falls flat, especially when you’re coming up with the verbal expression component of brand strategy. AI doesn’t really have any soul or character, like everything, it turns out, is very, for lack of a better description, lifeless, so, and that’s where the human element, or to your point, the human intervention, can then come into play, because then you can inject that story, you can inject that human emotion, which also is a very crucial component in B2B, right? As much as people like to say, oh, B2B is all factual, right? And I would, I would disagree with that, JoAnne Gritter  29:06 yeah, it’s, it’s quality over quantity. Now, you know people, people can spot, can spot the AI generated content, and there can be a whole bunch of it, and that can help you in a variety of ways. But if it’s not actually, if it doesn’t sound human speaking or human human sounding, then, then people reject it and they don’t trust it as much. Christian Klepp  29:28 Okay, get up on your soapbox a status quo that you passionately disagree with, and why? JoAnne Gritter  29:37 I passionately disagree with data only marketing. So the big push for data driven marketing, I am, I am on board with that at face value, but it still doesn’t tell the whole story, because you can still look at data from, let’s say you did like a. Um, a focus group about about what customers want from a like a beverage or something. I’m thinking of Coca Cola, and they and they say that they they want it to be healthy. They want it to be low sugar. They want it to taste amazing. They want it to make them, you know, feel great, and stuff like that that does not you’re gonna try to create like this Frankenstein kind of soda instead, instead of recognizing that, like, there’s more psychology to this. Like a Coca Cola has, like, a whole traditional, like branding kind of way that, or traditional and emotional way that they make people feel, and that doesn’t show up in the data, necessarily. That doesn’t show up in the performance data. You know that that is a totally different kind of research too. Christian Klepp  30:51 Yeah, yeah, JoAnne Gritter  30:55 You know, that’s performance, marketing and branding. Christian Klepp  30:58 I totally agree. I totally agree that, as much as there is a big camp out there that says the future is data driven now when it comes to B2B Marketing, and I’m like, Yeah, JoAnne Gritter  31:11 humans are tricky. Christian Klepp  31:13 We’re not robots. Absolutely, absolutely, okay, here comes the bonus question. So Rumor has it that you like to draw. JoAnne Gritter  31:23  I do. Christian Klepp  31:24 Yes, and from one enthusiastic sketcher to another, I thought, I thought deep and hard about this question. Tell us about one of the most well exciting, yes, but more importantly, one of the most challenging works that you’ve created to date. So what was the theme and subject? What made it so challenging to draw, and what did you learn from that experience when you when you completed it? JoAnne Gritter  31:50 I really like to find, like, kind of micro moments I have. I have three children at home, and I like to take pictures, or, like, capture, like small moments of, like one of them snuggling the cat, or like holding hands or doing something unexpected. And in, like, not a macro view, but in a micro view of like, the different connections that people have. And then, usually, I’ll take a picture, and then I will sketch those out after they go to sleep and stuff like that. And that’s just kind of my own personal way to, I don’t know it’s it’s therapeutic. It’s a way to see, see the beauty in the world, you know, and to slow down in the moment. Christian Klepp  32:37 100%. I like to call it Balsam for the soul. JoAnne Gritter  32:40 Yeah, Christian Klepp  32:40 all right, I don’t know about you, but like, I like to sketch in the in this very room where we’re doing the recording, and I usually play classical music. So like, show pen, so something like, with with piano. Like, no opera, because that can get a bit too dramatic. JoAnne Gritter  32:59 I like classical too, when, when I’m focused at classical music, and I also like binaural beats, or it’s more like meditation kind of music. So kind of zone, zone into the moment, instead of all the crazy thoughts that go through your head and all the things you have to do. Christian Klepp  33:17 Very nice, very nice. One of the things I learned about drawing is pretty much like certain aspects of our professional work, you know, like marketing and branding. It starts with a line, and then you just keep adding the layers, right? And it’s almost the same like when you’re implementing a campaign, you know, some especially nowadays, right? You try to start small first, and do a lot of testing to see if it works. And you scale from there. And I like to, I like to think of drawings that way too. You start, you start not by adding the details. You start like, you know, with a lighter pencil. And there’s a certain, there’s a certain way of holding the pencil tool, right, so you have lesser control. And just, it’s just a bit free flowing. And for me personally, it took me a long time to start drawing like that, because I’m like, No, then I don’t have control of the process. But that’s kind of the point, right? Let go of the perfectionism, right? JoAnne Gritter  34:18 You outline it first, and then you start filling in. You know that the shadows and the light marks, and then you slowly bring in the detail. I mean, that you’re totally right, that that is like a marketing or branding strategy. You got to outline it first before you go fully in on any specific detail. Otherwise, you’re you may be way off target. Christian Klepp  34:38 That’s it. That’s it. I mean, JoAnne like I think we just found our next podcast interview topic. But thank you so much for coming on and for sharing your expertise and experience with the listeners. So please a quick introduction to yourself and how people out they can get in touch with you. JoAnne Gritter  34:57 JoAnne Gritter, I’m at DDM Marketing and Communications headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. And I am COO, Vice President of our company. You can get a hold of me at joanneg@teamddm.com or you can just check us out at Teamddm.com Christian Klepp  35:18 Fantastic, fantastic. And we will be sure to like drop all those links in the show notes. So once again, JoAnne, thanks so much for your time. Take care, stay safe and talk to you soon. JoAnne Gritter  35:27 Thanks, Christian. Bye. Christian Klepp  35:29 Bye, for now you.

Get ready to dive into the wild world of home improvement this Saturday because we're talking about the revolutionary TrimJoist system that's about to make your new construction or remodel project way less of a headache. Seriously, why are we still using old-school methods when we can have something that doesn't require a degree in chaos management? Join Eric G. and John Dudley as they chat with Skyler Thomas from Trim Joist, and trust me, you'll want to stick around for the laughter and the DIY disasters we'll probably inspire. In the second hour, we're bringing back Wendy Glaister to dish out some fun late-winter DIY projects that'll have you questioning your life choices as you tackle that to-do list. So grab your tools and maybe a snack (or a stress ball—we won't judge), and let's make home improvement a little less ridiculous and a lot more entertaining!Takeaways:This weekend's show is packed with hilarity and home improvement wisdom, so buckle up!Join us as we dive into the absurdity of construction with experts who know their stuff.Ever wondered how to make your remodel easier? Tune in for the groundbreaking Trim Joist system discussion.We're spilling the tea on DIY projects that might just change your life (or at least your home).Wait until you hear about the wild and questionable water heater setups we're discussing!It's not just home tips; it's a comedy show about home improvement gone wrong, so don't miss it!Companies mentioned in this episode:TrimJoistWendy Glaister InteriorsMentioned in this episode:Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see every part of the project for Blacktail Ranch Exciting collaboration alert! This playlist documents our joint project renovating Cam Anderson's new farm property on Blacktail Ranch—the home base for his adventures beyond the workshop. Cam (the woodworking wizard behind Blacktail Studio, with millions of fans loving his epoxy tables, live-edge builds, and creative furniture tutorials) is stepping into brand-new territory: his first-ever full home renovation and remodel. From the charming (but dated) farmhouse with its "lead paint chic" vibes to tackling structural updates, layout changes, and modern upgrades, we're transforming this 17-acre property into a functional, beautiful living space. I'm Eric G from Around the House, bringing my remodeling, construction, and design expertise to guide the process—planning layouts, solving real-world renovation challenges, handling the practical home improvement side, and making sure the build is smart, efficient, and homeowner-friendly. Expect step-by-step progress, honest discussions on budgets/timelines/hiccups, tool tips, design decisions, and the fun dynamic of blending Cam's woodworking flair with pro remodeling know-how. Whether you're a Blacktail Studio fan curious about Cam's new chapter, a DIYer tackling your own home reno, or just love watching big transformations, this series is for you! https://www.youtube.com/@aroundthehouseEricG/playlistsBlacktail Ranch Around the House 2026 YouTube! Make sure and Subscribe to our YouTube page! Around the...

Guest: Larry Cheng is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Volition CapitalWebsite: https://www.volitioncapital.com/. AUM: Volition Capital has $1.8 Billion AUM on their 5th FundLarry's BioLarry Cheng is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Volition Capital, a growth equity firm focused on supporting founders building capital-efficient technology businesses. With over 25 years of investing experience, Larry has led investments in dozens of companies across Internet, e-commerce, software, and consumer sectors. Most notably, Larry was the first investor in Chewy, which became the most valuable e-commerce acquisition in history. He currently serves on public company boards such as GameStop and Grove Collaborative as well as several private company boards such as US Mobile, Rounds, Levanta and several others. Earlier in his career, he led investments at Fidelity Ventures and began in venture capital at Bessemer Venture Partners.Larry's entrepreneurial journey began early when he became Apple's youngest certified technician at age 13. While at Harvard, he launched a $400,000 laundry business and later became President of Harvard Student Agencies, a $4 million student-run company serving the greater Harvard community. He graduated with a B.A. in Psychology and played football for the Crimson. Larry is a frequent guest lecturer at institutions including Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan, and USC Marshall School of Business.

This is what happens when you order ice cream at a bar. How were big companies were forced to carry water for the communists? Companies are finally throwing off the shackles of DEI because you stepped it up and started punishing companies that push that ideology. What happens when a political commentator becomes a turncoat? Follow The Jesse Kelly Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJesseKellyShowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ten years ago this week, in the teeth of a downturn, David picked five stocks under the banner “5 Stocks to Feed the Bear.” This week, he and longtime Fool Rick Munarriz revisit that full basket—not after a month, a quarter, or a year, but after a much better, truer timeframe for the Rule Breaker Investor: 10 years. To the very day.Which stocks did David get really right? Which ones really wrong? And why? As always, in this third installment of our new episodic series, it's not about cherry-picking highlights—it's about accountability and perspective. It's about what a 10-year scorecard teaches that the financial media's shorter windows simply can't.And the results of this sampler—along with the full program of all 30 5-stock samplers—once again prove the eye-popping success and durable wins that come to Rule Breaker investors. Sign up for The Motley Fool's Breakfast News here: ⁠⁠www.fool.com/breakfastnews⁠⁠ Order David's Rule Breaker Investing book here: ⁠⁠https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1804091219/⁠⁠Companies mentioned: CRI, ELLI, IPGP, MELI, PLNTHost: David GardnerGuest: Rick MunarrizProducer: Bart Shannon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello! I am so excited to share the new name of my podcast with you, and the direction I see the show and this community going. I believe women are craving a forum where they can be seen, supported and to grow within themselves. I hope to offer more of that with the podcast, newsletter, and via in person gatherings. I hope you like the new name and where we're headed! Be sure to share the podcast with a friend and to subscribe to the newsletter and show. And let me know your thoughts! I appreciate you!   RESOURCES + BOOKS MENTIONED: ·       Join Michele's Newsletter + Get a List of 52-Selfcare Tips ·       Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@herstarringrole ·       Follow + Listen, + Review: APPLE PODCASTS ·       Follow + Listen, + Review: SPOTIFY PODCASTS   Sources of the stats I quoted: ·       1. ~5.6–5.8% of CEOs in the Fortune Global 500 are women Women remain underrepresented at senior levels — only 29% of C‑suite roles are held by women. And we wonder why women compete with each other. There are far too few seats at the table. This needs to change. ·       2. Women earn 83 cents for every dollar men earn. How is this possible in 2026? We know from the research that companies that have women in leadership generate more revenue. "Companies with more women on boards or in senior management generate stronger returns and financial outcomes compared with less‑diverse peers." ·       3. We take on more household and caretaking responsibilities even when women earn the same or more than their male partners. And this doesn't even include the mental load we carry.   If you enjoyed today's show, please share it with a friend. Also, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast player! *The Good Life with Michele Lamoureux podcast and content provided by Michele Lamoureux is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does NOT constitute medical, mental health, professional, personal, or any kind of advice or serve as a substitute for such advice. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. Always consult a qualified healthcare or trusted provider for any decisions regarding your health and wellbeing. This episode may contain affiliate links.  

Companies operating food delivery robots will not be allowed to expand across parts of Wicker Park and Logan Square following overwhelmingly negative feedback from neighbors, the local alderman said Monday.Almost 500 1st Ward residents replied to an online survey distributed by Ald. La Spata's office, with more than 83 percent said they “strongly disagreed” that the robots should be allowed to operate across the ward, according to numbers provided by La Spata.Host - Iridian FierroGuest - Josh Robertson -- Read His Petition HERERead More Here Want to donate to our non-profit newsroom? CLICK HEREWho we areBlock Club Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, relevant and nonpartisan coverage of Chicago's diverse neighborhoods. We believe all neighborhoods deserve to be covered in a meaningful way.We amplify positive stories, cover development and local school council meetings and serve as watchdogs in neighborhoods often ostracized by traditional news media.Ground-level coverageOur neighborhood-based reporters don't parachute in once to cover a story. They are in the neighborhoods they cover every day building relationships over time with neighbors. We believe this ground-level approach not only builds community but leads to a more accurate portrayal of a neighborhood.Stories that matter to you — every daySince our launch seven years ago, we've published more than 30,000 stories from the neighborhoods, covered hundreds of community meetings and send daily and neighborhood newsletters to more than 150,000 Chicagoans. We've built this loyalty by proving to folks we are not only covering their neighborhoods, we are a part of them. Some of us have internalized the national media's narrative of a broken Chicago. We aim to change that by celebrating our neighborhoods and chronicling the resilience of the people who fight every day to make Chicago a better place for all.

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview with Dan Goldsmith, co-founder and chairman of Tendo and co-founder of Proofpoint Capital. Dan shares stories from his Philadelphia roots, the early formation of his grit, and the mindset that has guided his career — from running a mobile DJ business in high school to building and scaling multiple technology companies. He offers a thoughtful perspective on perseverance, explaining how deep obsession with a problem can fuel success, while also highlighting the risks of letting conviction turn into blind spots.Dan delves into Tendo's mission to modernize healthcare by putting patients at the center, improving access, affordability, and quality recognition for providers. He provides a candid take on the economic realities of healthcare, the evolving influence of AI, and why meaningful industry change may be driven more by employers than regulators. Dan also discusses his newest venture, Proofpoint Capital — an operator-led fund built to help early-stage companies scale through pattern recognition and decades of hands-on operating experience.Discover how grit, focus, and pattern recognition shaped Dan Goldsmith's journey in this episode of The First Customer!Guest Info:Tendohttp://tendo.comProofpoint Capitalhttps://www.proofpointcapital.com/Dan Goldsmith's LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/danielgoldsmith/Connect with Jay on LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/The First Customer Youtube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcastThe First Customer podcast websitehttps://www.firstcustomerpodcast.comFollow The First Customer on LinkedInhttp://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

Big Tech spending on equipment and AI appears to be close to $400 billion over the four quarters alone. Are there losers outside the free-spending tech titans? Jason Hall and Travis Hoium join Tim Beyers to talk through the numbers and name two that may be at risk. Jason Hall, Travis Hoium, and Tim Beyers discuss: - Fallout from quarterly reports from Kyndryl (KD) and monday..com (MNDY) and what may be next for both. - Why the capex spending won't slow anytime soon. - Whether the debt-fueled growth at CoreWeave (CRWV) and Oracle (ORCL) is sustainable over the long term. Don't wait! Be sure to get to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of David's Gardner's new book — Rule Breaker Investing: How to Pick the Best Stocks of the Future and Build Lasting Wealth. It's on shelves now; get it before it's gone! Companies discussed: KD, MNDY, GOOG, AMZN, CRWV, ORCL Host: Tim Beyers Guests: Jason Hall, Travis Hoium Producer: Anand Chokkavelu Engineer: Dan Boyd Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement. We're committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices