Podcasts about Consumer

We all know water is essential, but most of us don't stop to think about what's actually in the bottle. In this episode, we explore the subtle details that affect taste, hydration, and overall wellness, from mineral balance to carbonation levels, and why they matter more than you might think. It's not about perfection or overcomplicating your routine, it's about understanding what makes water truly work for your body.Whether you're curious about sparkling water, looking for healthier everyday choices, or just want a cleaner, better-tasting sip, this conversation gives you practical insights and fresh perspective. You'll walk away thinking differently about what's in your glass and how small changes can make a real impact on daily life.→ Check Out Loonen: http://www.loonen.com/kelly→ Leave Us A Voice Message! Topics Discussed:→ What is the best water for hydration?→ Why does water taste different in different places?→ How much carbonation should sparkling water have?→ Can sparkling water replace soda in your diet?→ How do I choose high-quality drinking water?Sponsored By: → Function | Own your health for $365 a year. That's a dollar a day. Learn more and join using my link. Visit https://www.functionhealth.com/bewellbykelly and use gift code BEWELL25 for a $25 credit toward your membership→ Timeline | Don't let another year go by feeling less than your best. Grab 30% off your first month of Mitopure Gummies at https://timeline.com/bewell30→ Fatty 15 | Fatty15 is on a mission to replenish your C15 levels and restore your long-term health. You can get an additional 15% off their 90-day subscription Starter Kit by going to https://fatty15.com/KELLY15 and using code KELLY15 at checkout.→ LMNT | Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase at https://drinklmnt.com/Kelly. Find your favorite LMNT flavor, or share with a friend.Timestamps: → 00:00:00 - Introduction→ 00:01:09 - Researching water → 00:05:01 - Water sourcing & glass bottles→ 00:07:35 - Dangers of plastic bottles→ 00:14:56 - United States water regulation → 00:20:56 - Water production → 00:24:15 - Toxic load → 00:32:18 - Water worries → 00:37:43 - Naming Loonen→ 00:39:21 - Loonen packaging → 00:41:20 - Brand strategy → 00:43:27 - Water tasting → 00:46:43 - Minerals your water needs → 00:48:27 - Sobriety → 00:52:01 - Alluminun can downfalls → 00:54:40 - Consumer research Further Links: → 346: How to Protect Your Family from Everyday Toxins | Lindsay DahlCheck Out Clara:→ IG: @sieg→ Check Out Loonen: http://www.loonen.com/kellyCheck Out Kelly:→ Instagram→

Silver and Gold – Still Going. Big week for earnings. Fed decision on Wednesday. Nat Gas price exploding higher. US Dollar drops hard over past few days. PLUS we are now on Spotify and Amazon Music/Podcasts! Click HERE for Show Notes and Links DHUnplugged is now streaming live - with listener chat. Click on link on the right sidebar. Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter Warm-Up - What we learned from Davos - President Miyagi - tariffs on, tariffs off - January: stocks are trying to finish with gains - Small-caps flying - S&P  500: All-time highs going into earnings Markets - Silver and Gold - Still Going - Big week for earnings - Fed decision on Wednesday - Nat Gas price exploding - US Dollar drops hard over past few days Can't Keep Track Anymore -Trump has announced he is raising tariffs on South Korean imports to 25% after accusing Seoul of "not living up" to a trade deal reached last year. - In a post on social media, Trump said he would increase levies on South Korea from 15% across a range of products including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and "all other Reciprocal TARIFFS". - South Korea is planning on voting on the "agreement" with the US in February - KOSPI hits all-time high after being down 1% on the news - S. Korea President re-affirms their commitments Davos - 2026 - What we learned - Not much - Same bifurcated view of the world - Trump backed off the Greenland threats - Framework of a "deal" / "plan" - So, no tariffs - (Going to get a boy who cried wolf ....) Gold and Silver - Off to the races - Silver was up again in a big way Monday. Fell back down to earth (up 5% from up 15% earlier in the day - Hovering around $110 - that is impressive - parabolic move - GOLD! - Proving itself as a USD hedge and safety trade (Bitcoin in the dust) - Gold above $5,000 per ounce - - Plenty of reports that central banks are buying up| - USD weakness Economy - Still Strong - The US economy expanded in the third quarter by slightly more than initially reported, supported by stronger exports and a smaller drag from inventories. - Inflation-adjusted gross domestic product increased at a revised 4.4% annualized rate, the fastest in two years, according to Bureau of Economic Analysis data. - Consumer spending advanced at a 3.5% annualized pace last quarter, reflecting the fastest pace of outlays for services in three years, while spending on goods also accelerated from the previous quarter. Amazon - Trimming.... 30,000 jobs is plan - First half of that was in October and now trhery are laying off the remainder - CEO Jassey says that it is not financial of AI issues ---- Again - why so important to state that and make that a focal point? - Layoffs amount to 10% of the corporate workforce - Company still has 1.5 million employees Comeback? - Spirit Airlines is in talks with investment firm Castlelake for a potential takeover of the discount airline, CNBC has learned. - Remember, all started when Jetblue deal was blocked - Frontier tried - Spirit tried a few times to get head above water - nothing worked Booz Cancelled - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent canceled department contracts with the consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton, whose employee leaked President Donald Trump's tax records to The New York Times. - The department noted that between 2018 and 2020, Booz Allen employee Charles Edward Littlejohn “stole and leaked the confidential tax returns and return information of hundreds of thousands of taxpayers.” - Booz Allen Hamilton's stock price dropped by more than 10% on the heels of the Treasury Department's announcement. - Why does Booz have tax records in the first place? - Stock down 50% since end of 2024 Private Credit - BlackRock TCP Capital shares lower by 13% after it disclosed Friday night that net asset value declined approximately 19.0%; other private credit stocks falling in sympathy - The Company's net asset value per share as of December 31, 2025 to be between approximately $7.05 and $7.09, an anticipated decline of approximately 19.0% during the quarter ended December 31, 2025, compared to a net asset value per share of $8.71 as of September 30, 2025. - This decline is primarily driven by issuer-specific developments during the quarter. - The Company's net investment income per share to be between approximately $0.24 and $0.26 for the three months ended December 31, 2025. - Decliners: TCPC -13.40% OWL -3.07% ARES -3.30% KKR -2.08% BAM -0.41% CG -0.33% Zoom Communications - Valuation of Anthropic stake - The news is driving shares higher as analysts suggest ZM's $51 mln stake could now be worth between $2-$4 bln based on Anthropic's rumored $350 bln valuation, effectively acting as a "hidden gem" on its balance sheet. - From a fundamental perspective, the company's performance has also significantly improved, evidenced by its Q3 beat-and-raise report in late November where revenue rose 4.4% yr/yr to $1.23 bln. - This stronger financial performance is being driven by robust growth in the Enterprise segment, the rapid adoption of AI Companion features, and the scaling of adjacent growth businesses like Zoom Contact Center and Workvivo. - Consequently, the combination of high-margin operational rigor -- highlighted by a 41.2% non-GAAP operating margin -- and the massive unrealized gains from its AI investments has shifted investor sentiment firmly back toward growth. UNH and Health Stocks - DOWN 20% today - The administration's proposal (via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS) for Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates to rise by only 0.09% in 2027. This was far below Wall Street expectations of 4-6% (or higher), following a more generous ~5% increase for 2026. - The near-flat rate aims to improve payment accuracy, curb overbilling practices, and protect taxpayers, according to CMS statements, but it sparked widespread concerns about squeezed insurer margins, potential benefit cuts for seniors, reduced plan offerings, or market exits. - UnitedHealth has significant exposure to Medicare Advantage (roughly 30% of national enrollment), making it particularly vulnerable. The proposal, announced late Monday (January 26), led to a broader sell-off in health insurers: - - Humana (HUM) plunged over 20-21%. - - CVS Health (CVS) and Elevance Health (ELV) each dropped around 13-14%. Tech Earnings Microsoft (MSFT) Reports: Wednesday, January 28 (After Market Close) - Wall Street Expectations:  Earnings per share (EPS): about $3.86 and Revenue: about $80 billion - Growth: high teens year over year revenue growth - Investors are focused on Azure and broader cloud growth, particularly how much of that growth is coming from AI related demand. Microsoft has built a reputation for consistent execution, which also means expectations are high. The critical issues will be cloud growth sustainability, margin stability, and how aggressively management plans to keep spending on AI infrastructure. Meta Platforms (META) Reports: Wednesday, January 28 (After Market Close) - Wall Street Expectations:  EPS: about $8.15–$8.20 and Revenue: about $58–$59 billion - Growth: roughly 20–21% year over year revenue growth - Advertising remains the core driver, with AI driven ad targeting continuing to improve returns for advertisers. While topline growth expectations remain strong, investors are closely watching expense growth. The biggest question is whether rising AI and infrastructure spending can be managed without eroding margins or spooking investors, as Meta works through the next phase of its AI strategy. Tesla (TSLA) Reports: Wednesday, January 28 (After Market Close) - Wall Street Expectations:  EPS (non GAAP): about $0.40–$0.45 and Revenue: about $24.5–$25 billion - Trend: earnings expected to be sharply lower than a year ago - Tesla enters earnings with the weakest expectations among the major tech names this week. Vehicle deliveries declined year over year, and automotive margins remain under pressure. While the energy and services segments continue to grow, they are not yet large enough to offset slowing EV demand. - Investors will be far more focused on forward guidance than on the quarter itself—particularly updates on Full Self Driving, robotaxis, and the broader AI roadmap. Apple (AAPL) Reports: Thursday, January 29 (After Market Close) Wall Street Expectations -  EPS: about $2.65–$2.67 and Revenue: about $138 billion Growth: approximately 11–12% year over year revenue growth - This is Apple's most important quarter of the year. Expectations call for record revenue driven by the iPhone 17 cycle and continued Services growth. The focus will be on margins, China demand, and forward guidance—particularly how higher costs (memory prices and tariffs) may impact profitability. Apple typically beats expectations, but the stock reaction will hinge on what management says about growth beyond this quarter. Company Ticker Report Date Est. EPS Key Focus Area Microsoft MSFT Wed, Jan 28 (AMC) $3.92 Azure AI revenue growth & CapEx spending Meta Platforms META Wed, Jan 28 (AMC) $8.17 Ad monetization of AI & 2026 CapEx guidance Tesla TSLA Wed, Jan 28 (AMC) $0.45 Full Self-Driving (FSD) & Robotaxi updates Apple AAPL Thu, Jan 29 (AMC) Varies iPhone 17 demand & Apple Intelligence rollout ServiceNow NOW Wed, Jan 28 (AMC) $0.88 Enterprise AI software adoption rates IBM IBM Wed, Jan 28 (AMC) $4.28 Hybrid cloud and watsonx performance *AMC = After Market Close; EPS = Earnings Per Share (Consensus Estimates) Boeing - The company's airplane deliveries last year were the highest since 2018, helping drive revenue. Boeing brought in $23.9 billion in the last three months of 2025, a 57% increase over the same period in 2024 and topping analysts' expectations. Cash flow of $400 million was roughly double what Wall Street was expecting. - Boeing brought in $23.9 billion in the last three months of 2025, a 57% increase over the same period in 2024. The airplane manufacturer delivered 600 airplanes last year, up from 348 a year earlier. Another MoonShot - U.S. natural gas prices surged over 17% on Monday morning, climbing above $6 for the first time since late 2022. - It comes as Winter Storm Fern leaves hundreds of thousands without power and forces mass flight cancellations. - The National Weather Service has forecast wind chills as low as -50 degrees Fahrenheit (-45.56 degrees Celsius) across the eastern two-thirds of the U.S. this week. -Up 68% YTD - Nat gas is used in a whole lot of things - electrical grid 43% is fueled by Nat Gas Government - Not Again! - Seems like Dems are threatening a shutdown again - A partial U.S. government shutdown is set to begin on Friday, January 30, 2026. - The Senate is expected to vote on a funding package to avert this shutdown, with delays from a winter storm pushing initial votes to at least January 27, 2026 - The issue is being exacerbated with the ICE / Minnesota issues This is precious - Ex-finance minister Noda currently co-heads largest opposition party - He says that Japan unlikely to get international consent for intervention - Yen, bond selloff requires Japan to be in crisis mode, he says - Government must vow to restore fiscal discipline to end yen fall, Noda says - Japan must create environment allowing for steady BOJ rate hikes, he says - THIS shows us all that the whole thing with these guys/gals is all political. - NEVER EVER if he was in the role would he say anything like this.       Love the Show? Then how about a Donation? ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE THE CLOSEST TO THE PIN CUP 2025 Winners will be getting great stuff like the new "OFFICIAL" DHUnplugged Shirt!     FED AND CRYPTO LIMERICKS   See this week's stock picks HERE Follow John C. Dvorak on Twitter Follow Andrew Horowitz on Twitter

In this episode of Excess Returns, we sit down with TG Macro founder Tony Greer to explore why markets are increasingly signaling a loss of faith in institutions and what that means for investors heading into 2026. Tony lays out a framework that connects inflation, central bank credibility, political risk, global regime change, and shifting consumer behavior into a coherent macro narrative. From gold and precious metals to miners, commodities, cyclicals, and the evolving role of AI, this conversation bridges big-picture macro themes with actionable market insights for both traders and long-term investors.Topics covered:• Why gold is rallying as trust in institutions erodes• Central banks, inflation, and the long-term consequences of monetary policy• The shift from a 60-40 portfolio to alternatives and real assets• Precious metals versus technology leadership in a changing market regime• Gold miners, industrial miners, and uranium as core themes• Consumer inflation, food prices, and purchasing power on Main Street• Big Food, Big Pharma, and the broader trust breakdown• Legal, political, and geopolitical risks shaping investor behavior• The end of globalization and the rise of domestic supply chains• Copper, energy, and natural resources in an economic recovery• AI, semiconductors, and signs of a leadership transition• Prediction markets and new tools for understanding market expectations• Financials, airlines, and overlooked cyclical opportunities• How to think about risk management when macro regimes changeTimestamps:00:00 Introduction and the collapse of trust in institutions02:00 Why gold is responding to credibility loss, not fear05:00 Central banks, inflation, and monetary excess08:20 Purchasing power and real-world inflation pressures11:00 Big Food, Big Pharma, and consumer awareness14:00 Healthcare, fraud, and institutional breakdown16:30 Legal system risk and political credibility18:30 Global factors, sanctions, and the shift away from globalization21:00 Precious metals, miners, and natural resource leadership25:00 The three mining themes driving performance29:00 Stocks and gold rising together in a new regime32:00 Gold market structure and long-term trend analysis36:00 Japan, global bond markets, and gold demand39:00 Investing versus trading precious metals43:00 Copper, supply chains, and tech partnerships47:00 AI leadership, capital rotation, and market risk51:00 Financials, airlines, and cyclical signals57:30 What would break the thesis and risk management signals

In this episode of Next in Media, I sit down with Kiri Masters, host of the Retail Media Breakfast Club podcast, to explore the biggest shifts happening in retail media advertising. We dive into the recent announcement about ads coming to ChatGPT and what that means for brands trying to meet consumers where they are. Kiri shares her perspective on whether AI-powered shopping will truly disrupt the retail media landscape - and why she's optimistic that LLM-based ads could actually be more relevant and less annoying than traditional formats. We also unpack the Walmart-Google partnership and discuss what it signals about the future of conversational commerce.Beyond the AI conversation, we tackle some of the industry's most pressing questions. Will we see consolidation in retail media networks this year? Can shoppable TV finally gain traction? And what happens when offsite retail media faces competition from platforms with their own transactional data? Kiri brings both historical context - including a fascinating story about Piggly Wiggly's self-service revolution - and forward-looking insights about how brands and retailers need to collaborate differently. Whether you're a marketer navigating this space or just curious about where AI and commerce intersect, this conversation offers a clear-eyed look at what's real, what's hype, and what's coming next._______________________________________________Key Highlights 

On this episode of HALO Talks, host Pete Moore sits down with Hunter Ziesing, founder of Longevity Health, to dive into the rapidly chaing volving world of preventive health and personal wellness data. Bringing decades of experience from Wall Street, athletic pursuits, and nonprofit work, Hunter shares his inspiration for moving into longevity and healthspan solutions after seeing friends and family struggle with preventable health issues. He discusses Longevity Health's mission: Democratizing access to clinical-grade health data and AI-driven recommendations. . . basically what elite practitioners charge six figures for, made accessible to the masses. Learn about how he aims to empower individuals to truly own their health data, integrate information from wearables and medical tests, and leverage AI for personalized action. This episode also explores the business of building scalable solutions, collaborating with fitness chains, and balancing the desire to revolutionize public health with mindful entrepreneurship.  On affordable (preventative!) health care for all, Zasing states, " My mission is to really give people the Peter Attia. You know. . .what he charges $150,000 for, for as little as 30 cents a day." Key themes discussed Leveraging personal health data for prevention and longevity AI integration in health management and recommendations Consumer ownership and use of health data Partnerships with fitness clubs and labs for testing Transition from nonprofit to for-profit health ventures Scaling health platforms through technology and collaborations Challenges and vision for democratizing preventive healthcare A Few Key Takeaways:  1.Data-Driven Personalized Health is the Future: Hunter is building a platform (Longevity Health) that brings together personal health data—from wearables, medical records, blood tests, and more—to help guide individuals in preventative health and wellness. His mission is to democratize access, offering "Peter Attia-level" insights at an affordable price. 2. Behavior Change is Achievable and Measurable: Through previous ventures like the national cycling series supporting Livestrong, and his work at Paceline, Hunter  demonstrated that motivating people with goals, teams, and rewards (even as simple as a dollar for hitting your heart rate target) can create real, lasting behavior change. 3. AI-Powered Recommendations Enhance Preventive Care: The company is beta testing an AI engine that analyzes your consolidated health data, gives personalized recommendations, and will eventually act almost like a virtual doctor. For now, a human clinician still reviews and oversees the AI's conclusions, ensuring safety and accuracy. 4. Consumer Ownership Over Health Data is Key: Both Ziesing and Pete discuss the importance of individuals owning their own health data. Regulatory shifts (even tech giants like Apple and Google are getting behind this) are beginning to empower consumers, rather than siloing data within companies. 5. Partnerships and Integrations Will Drive Scale: Rather than trying to own every piece of the ecosystem, Hunter emphasizes the strategy of partnering with gyms, health clubs, and existing testing providers. The vision is to make Longevity Health the connective "last mile" that ties together disparate data to deliver actionable insight—potentially white-labeling the tech or integrating with large fitness chains for scale. Resources:  Hunter Ziesing: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hunterziesing/ Longevity Health: https://www.longevityhealth.me/  Integrity Square: https://www.integritysq.com Prospect Wizard: https://www.theprospectwizard.com Promotion Vault: https://www.promotionvault.com HigherDose: https://www.higherdose.com

There's a lot going on in the world. Here are my thoughts on crisis management for social media management clients, as well as promoting your own business during times like these.0:00 - Why I'm making this video1:18 - Should you promote your business right now?7:05 - Performative activism11:53 - Potential consequences of speaking up15:32 - Offline activism17:53 - Potential financial risks19:40 - Consumer choice22:15 - Keep creating!

In this episode, Eric Malzone chats with Verdine Baker, who shares his inspiring journey from being a professional athlete

It has been said that we don't have “big data” in healthcare, but instead a large amount of “small data.”In this episode, Halle speaks with Kyle Armbrester, CEO of Datavant and former CEO of Signify Health (acquired for $8B), about why healthcare data still moves the way it did decades ago and what it will take to modernize it at scale. Kyle reflects on building and leading large health tech companies and explains how fixing data flow could reduce administrative waste, improve security, and make care easier for patients and providers alike.We cover:Why healthcare billing still happens after the fact and how that fuels administrative wasteHow missing data standards led to fax-based workflows and brittle systemsWhy healthcare data is such an attractive target for cyberattacksHow clinical data can be shared digitally without being owned or resoldLeadership lessons from scaling companies through IPOs and acquisitions—About our guest: Kyle Armbrester is Chief Executive Officer of Datavant, a healthcare data platform company with a mission to make the world's health data secure, accessible, and actionable. Datavant operates the largest and most diverse health data exchange in the U.S., connecting more than 70 percent of the 100 largest health systems, all U.S. payers, and 300 plus real world data partners.Previously, Kyle served as CEO of Signify Health, where he led more than 200 percent revenue growth, took the company public in 2021, and guided its acquisition by CVS Health in 2023 for approximately $8 billion. He later served on the CVS Health executive management team, overseeing healthcare delivery strategy and interoperability.Earlier in his career, Kyle was Chief Product Officer and Head of Corporate Development at athenahealth, where he helped scale revenue from $320 million to $1.2 billion and launched the company's partnership marketplace. Kyle has served on multiple healthcare boards and holds an MBA and AB from Harvard University.—Chapters:00:01:20 Introduction to Kyle Armbrester and his journey in healthcare00:03:58 The impact of Athena Health on healthcare innovation00:06:20 Datavant: Revolutionizing health data interoperability00:08:15 The role of Datavant in reducing administrative burden00:12:20 Understanding Datavant's value proposition across stakeholders00:14:00 Consumer products and data accessibility at Datavant00:18:25 The scale and impact of Datavant in healthcare00:19:35 Cybersecurity challenges in healthcare data management00:23:57 Bridging the gap in healthcare regulations00:26:13 Unlocking the value of untapped healthcare data00:29:25 Challenges of value-based care models00:33:23 The reality of being a CEO in healthcare00:37:00 Navigating IPOs vs. Acquisitions00:39:44 Innovating healthcare incentives for better outcomes—Pre-order Halle's new book, Massively Better Healthcare.—

The holiday shopping season is always the perfect petri dish for how consumer behavior is shifting, and the data from their journeys should be listened to. Daniel Reid, Principal Insights Analyst at Similarweb, joins the podcast armed with that hot off the holidays data that highlights the extended consumer shopping journey, and how earning confidence and trust early and often can get you in that shopping cart early, and make your promotions more impactful when your meaningful shopping seasons arrive.

In this episode, Bethanie Stein, PharmD, Segment President of Pharmacy at Humana, discusses how employers are approaching GLP-1 coverage and why partnerships with manufacturers like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk matter now. She shares how CenterWell Pharmacy is using transparency, clinical oversight, and adherence focused models to expand access while managing costs.

NBC's Steve Kornacki breaks down the facts you need to know for the upcoming NFL conference championship games. Plus, NBC News chief consumer investigative correspondent, Vicky Nguyen, gives tips to tidy up your digital clutter. And, Dateline correspondent, Andrea Canning stops by to share a preview of the upcoming episode highlighting a wife and mother accused of hatching a murder plot. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Carel van Wyk is the founder and CEO of MoneyBadger. MoneyBadger enables easy bitcoin payments at 650 thousand stores in South Africa. MoneyBadger on Nostr: https://primal.net/p/nprofile1qqsz85k206vm3vqdmlvcy9l4kyfqchlnf4hnctasxufa3ph0ck9decgpk49rf MoneyBadger on X: https://x.com/MoneyBadgerPayWesbite: https://www.moneybadger.co.za/EPISODE: 189BLOCK: 933542PRICE: 1112 sats per dollar(00:03:26) What is Money Badger? Mission and merchant focus(00:05:13) Paying anywhere in South Africa(00:05:27) 650,000 locations(00:07:04) Leveraging existing QR payment rails and the Pick n Pay breakthrough(00:10:01) How the flow works: bridging proprietary QR to Lightning(00:11:18) MoneyBadger app as translator vs. using any Lightning wallet(00:13:04) Fiat settlement, volatility handling, and business model(00:17:07) Why no Money Badger wallet? Integrations with Blink, Zeus, Aqua(00:20:20) A clever LNURL/Lightning Address pattern to decode merchant QRs(00:23:39) Pragmatic, a bit hacky, and works across wallets(00:28:04) Replicability beyond SA: Kenya's M‑Pesa, Ghana, Latin America(00:32:10) Creating demand: Bitcoin Ekasi as proof-of-use for Pick n Pay(00:35:15) Real usage: growth to ~5k tx/month and $200k volume(00:39:40) Who spends Bitcoin? From cash users to OGs and ideologues(00:42:34) Incentives and the challenge of moving the middle(00:43:42) Tax context in South Africa: capital gains thresholds(00:46:59) UX talk: tap-to-pay vs. QR, hardware realities and patience(00:49:12) Beyond POS: treasury, suppliers, and stablecoin pull(00:51:03) Bitcoin vs. stablecoins in SA usage; Luno/Binance integrations(00:55:07) Wild flexibility: paying with almost any token via partners(00:57:46) Urgency to prove Bitcoin as money before it's siloed(00:58:00) Hypothetical: Square/Cash App design vs. bridge approach(01:03:41) Consumer friction at checkout and signaling acceptance(01:07:38) Tipping, bridges to Venmo/Cash App, and cash realities(01:09:19) Call to action: spend Bitcoin to create demand(01:11:08) Wrap-up: plans to visit SA, links, and farewellmore info on the show: https://citadeldispatch.comlearn more about me: https://odell.xyz

Precious metals continued a stunning week-long rally into Friday's session. Consumer sentiment offered a bright spot for soft data as the FOMC readies to make its interest rate decision next week. Marley Kayden & Sam Vadas turn to their top takeaways after the final closing bell of the week. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

This episode introduces the idea of the Post-Hype Consumer, a demographic that has become disillusioned with brands that prioritize speed and hype over authenticity and trust. Gavon emphasizes that these consumers are not anti-consumption but are instead cautious buyers who seek brands that resonate with their values and beliefs. They are influenced more by community and shared experiences than by flashy marketing campaigns. This consumer necessitates a shift towards community-driven consumerism. He highlights how consumers are now self-regulating, protecting their identities from brands that fail to deliver on their promises. The episode explores the importance of building trust through consistent, meaningful engagement rather than relying on quick, attention-grabbing tactics.Follow Our Substack: https://righthype.substack.com/publish/home

In this episode, we meet Chris Hobson, President and CEO of Rare Beauty Brands.‍Rare Beauty scales challenger brands with expertise in innovation, marketing, and infrastructure across various channels. ‍In this episode, we discussed  retail, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer channels, and how to build and scale an omnichannel brand in the beauty industry.‍‍Topics coveredOmnichannel distribution strategyStarting in luxury retailersThe rise of Korean beautyUsing retail for profitable trialImpulse purchase price pointsImportance of social  media contentCollaborations with influencersTips for sell-through across channelsFocus on productRetail associates‍TakeawaysThe company has since expanded internationally, partnering with distributors in different countries to reach a global audience.The channel strategy has evolved over time, with a focus on expanding into new markets and reaching a wider customer base.The brand decided to initially focus on the assisted sale channel to gain credibility and educate consumers about their product category.Amazon is viewed as a place where consumers can learn about the brand and check ratings and reviews.DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) channel is used strategically to engage with consumers and gain insights.The different channels work together to reinforce each other and provide a seamless brand experience for customers.While retailers may share high-level consumer information with the brand, there is a limitation to the depth of data they can access.Building a successful business requires both online and offline presencePlease let us know your thoughts about the episode!‍Where to find Chris Hobson:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherhobson/ ​Website: https://rarebeautybrands.com/ ‍Where to find Kait Stephens:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kait-margraf-stephens/Website: www.brij.it ‍SUBSCRIBE TO THE OMNICHANNEL MARKETERwww.theomnichannelmarketer.com

Our Global Chief Economist Seth Carpenter joins our chief regional economists to discuss the outlook for interest rates in the U.S., Japan and Europe.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Seth Carpenter: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Seth Carpenter, Morgan Stanley's Global Chief Economist and Head of Macro Research. And today we're kicking off our quarterly economic roundtable for the year. We're going to try to think about everything that matters in economics around the world. And today we're going to focus a little bit more on central banking. And when we get to tomorrow, we'll focus on the nuts and bolts of the real side of the economy. I'm joined by our chief regional economists. Michael Gapen: Hi, Seth. I'm Mike Gapen, Chief U.S. Economist at Morgan Stanley. Chetan Ahya: I'm Chetan Ahya, Chief Asia economist. Jens Eisenschmidt: And I'm Jens Eisenschmidt, Chief Europe economist. Seth Carpenter: It's Thursday, January 22nd at 10 am in New York. Jens Eisenschmidt: And 4 pm in Frankfurt. Chetan Ahya: And 9 pm in Hong Kong. Seth Carpenter: So, Mike Gapen, let me start with you as we head into 2026, what are we thinking about? Are we going into a more stable expansion? Is this just a different phase with the same amount of volatility? What do you think is going to be happening in the U.S. as a baseline outlook? And then if we're going to be wrong, which direction would we be wrong? Michael Gapen: Yeah, Seth, we took the view that we would have more policy certainty. Recent weeks have maybe suggested we're incorrect on that front. But I still believe that when it comes to deregulation, immigration policy and fiscal policy, we have much more clarity there than we did a year ago. So, I think it's another year of modest growth, above trend growth. We're forecasting something around 2.4 percent for 2026. That's about where we finished 2025. I think what's key for markets and the outlook overall will be whether inflation comes down. Firms are still passing through tariffs to the consumer. We think that'll happen at least through the end of the first quarter. It's our view that after that, inflation pressures will start to diminish. If that's the case, then we think the Fed can execute one or two more rate cuts. But we have those coming [in] the second half of the year. So, it looks like growth is strong enough. The labor market has stabilized enough for the Fed to wait and see, to look around, see the effects of their prior rate cuts, and then push policy closer to neutral if inflation comes down. Seth Carpenter: And if we go back to last year to 2025, I will give you the credit first. Morgan Stanley did not shift its forecast for recession in the U.S. the way some of our main competitors did. On the other hand, and this is where I maybe tweak you just a little bit. We underestimated how much growth there would be in the United States. CapEx spending from AI firms was strong. Consumer spending, especially from the top half of the income distribution in the U.S. was strong. Growth overall for the year was over 2 percent, close to 2.5 percent. So, if that's what we just came off of, why isn't it the case that we'd see even stronger growth? Maybe even a re-acceleration of growth in 2026? Michael Gapen: Well, some of that, say, improvement vis-à-vis our forecast, the outperformance. Some of that I think comes mechanically from trade and inventory variability. So, . I'm not sure that that says a lot about an improving trend rate of growth. Where there was other outperformance was, as you noted, from the consumer. Now our models, and I don't mean to get too technical here, but our model suggests that consumption is overshooting its fundamentals. Which I think makes it harder for the economy to accelerate further. And then AI; it's harder for AI spending to say get incrementally stronger than where it is. So, we're getting a little extra boost from fiscal. We've got that coming through. And I just think what it is, is more of the same rather than further acceleration from here. Seth Carpenter: Do you think there's a chance that the Fed in fact does not cut rates like you have in your forecast? Michael Gapen: Yes, I do think... Where we could be wrong is we've made assumptions around the One Big Beautiful Bill and what it will contribute to the economy. But as you know, there's a lot of variability around those estimates. If the bill is more catalytic to animal spirits and business spending than we've assumed, you could get, say, a demand driven animal spirits upside to the economy, which may mean inflation doesn't decelerate all that much. But I do think that that's, say, the main upside risk that we're considering. Markets have been gradually taking out probabilities of Fed cuts as growth has come in stronger. So far, the inflation data has been positive in terms of signaling about disinflation, but I would say the jury's still out on how much that continues. Seth Carpenter: Chetan, When I think about Japan, we know that it's been the developed market central bank that's been going in the opposite direction. They've been hiking when other central banks have been cutting. We got some news recently that probably put some risk into our baseline outlook that we published in our year ahead view about both growth and inflation in Japan. And with it what the Bank of Japan is going to do in terms of its normalization. Can you just walk us through a little bit about our outlook for Japan? Because right now I think that the yen, Japanese rates, they're all part of the ongoing market narrative around the world. Chetan Ahya: Yeah, Seth. So, look, I mean, on a big picture basis, we are constructive on the Japan macro-outlook. We think normal GDP growth remains strong. We are expecting to see the transition for the consumers from them seeing, you know, supply side inflation. Keeping their real wage growth low to a dynamic where we transition to real wage growth accelerating. That supports real consumption growth, and we move away from that supply side driven inflation to demand side driven inflation. So broadly we are constructive, but I think in the backdrop, what we are seeing on currency depreciation is making things a bit more challenging for the BOJ. While we are expecting that demand side pressure to build up and drive inflation, in the trailing data, it is still pretty much currency depreciation and supply side factors like food inflation driving inflation. And so, BOJ has been hesitant. So, while we had the expectation that BOJ will hike in January of 2027, we do see the risk that they may have to take up rate hike earlier to manage the currency not getting out of hand and adding on to the inflation pressures. Seth Carpenter Would I be right in saying that up until now, the yen has swung pretty widely in both directions. But the weakening of the yen until now hasn't been really the key driver of the Bank of Japan's policy reaction. It's been growth picking up, inflation picking up, wanting to get out of negative interest rates first, wanting to get away from the zero lower bounds. Second, the weaker yen in some sense could have actually been seen as a positive up until now because Japan did go through 25 years of essentially stagnant nominal growth. Is this actually that much of a fundamental change in the Bank of Japan's thinking – needing to react to the weakness of the yen? Chetan Ahya: Broadly what you're saying is right, Seth, but there is also a threshold of where the currency can be. And beyond a point, it begins to hurt the households in form of imported inflation pressures. And remember that inflation has been somewhat high, even if it is driven by currency depreciation and supply side factors for some time. And so, BOJ has to be watchful of potential lift in inflation expectations for the households. And at the same time, they are also watching the underlying inflation impact of this currency depreciation – because what we have seen is that over period workers have been demanding for higher wages. And that is also influenced by what happens to headline inflation, which is driven by currency depreciation. So, I would say that, yes, it's been true up until now. But, when currency reaches these very high levels of range, you are going to see BOJ having to act. Seth Carpenter: Jens, let's shift then to Europe. The ECB had been on a cutting cycle. They came to the end of that. President Lagarde said that she thought the disinflationary process had ended. In your year ahead forecast and a bunch of your writing recently, you've said maybe not so fast. There could still be some more disinflationary, at least risk, in the pipeline for Europe. Can you talk a little bit about what's going on in terms of European inflation and what it could mean for the European Central Bank? Because clearly that's going to be first order important for markets.Jens Eisenschmidt: I think that is right. I think we have a crucial inflation print ahead of us that comes out on the 4th of February. So, early February we get some signal, whether our anticipated fall of headline inflation here below the ECB's target is actually materializing. We think the chances for this are pretty good. There's a mix why this is happening. One is energy. Energy disinflation and base effects. But the other thing is services inflation resets always at the beginning of the year. January and February are the crucial month here. We had significant services upward pressure on prices the last years. And so just from base effects, we think we will see less of that. Another picture or another element of that picture is that wage disinflation is proceeding nicely. We have notably a significant weakness in the export-oriented manufacturing sector in Germany, which is a key sector of setting wages for the country. The country is around 30 percent of the euro area GDP. And here we had seen significant wage gains over the last year. So, the disinflationary trend coming from lower wage gains from this country, that will be very important. And an important signal to watch. Again, that's something we don't know. I think soon we have to watch simply monthly prints here. But a significant print for the first quarter comes out in May, and all of that together makes us believe that the ECB will be in a position to see enough data or have seen enough data that confirms the thesis of inflation staying below target for some time to come. So that they can cut in June and September to a terminal rate of 1.5 percent. Seth Carpenter: That is, I would say, out of consensus relative where the market is. When you talk to investors, whether they're in Europe or around the world, what's the big pushback that you get from them when you are explaining your view on how the ECB is going to act? Jens Eisenschmidt: There are two essential pushbacks. So, one is on substance. So, 'No, actually wages will not come down, and the economy will actually start overheating soon because of the big fiscal stimulus.' That, in a nutshell is the pushback on substance. I would say here, as you would say before, not so fast. Because the fiscal stimulus is only in one country. It's 30 percent. But only 30 percent of the euro area.Plus, there is another pushback, which is on the reaction function of the ECB. Here we tend to agree. So far, we have heard from policy makers that they feel rather comfortable with the 2 percent rate level that they're at. But we think that discussion will change. The moment you are below target in an actual inflation print; the burden of proof is the opposite. Now you have to prove: Is the economy really on a track that inflation will get back up to target without further monetary stimulus? We believe that will be the key debate. And again, happy to, sort of, concede that there is for now not a lot of signaling out of the ECB that further rate cuts are coming. But we believe the first inflation print of the year will change that debate significantly. Seth Carpenter: Alright, so that makes a lot of sense. However, looking at the clock, we are probably out of time for today. So, for now, Michael, Chetan, Jens, thank you so much for joining today. And to the listener, thanks for listening. And be sure to tune in tomorrow for part two of our conversation. And I have to say, if you enjoy this show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share Thoughts on the Market with a friend or a colleague today.

In this episode of Talk Fantasy To Me, Kyle dives into the latest developments in the entertainment industry, focusing on Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. and the implications for Hollywood. The discussion covers the potential impact on consumer choice, the future of theatrical releases, and the role of AI in content creation. Kyle also explores Paramount's counter-offer and the broader industry dynamics at play.   Takeaways Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. could reshape Hollywood. Paramount's counter-offer adds complexity to the deal. AI's role in content creation is expanding. The future of theatrical releases is uncertain. Consumer choice may be impacted by media consolidation. The entertainment industry is at a crossroads. Regulatory scrutiny is expected for the Netflix deal. Paramount's all-cash offer is seen as superior by some. The merger could lead to significant industry changes. Hollywood's traditional model is being challenged.   Sound bites "Netflix's acquisition could reshape Hollywood." "Paramount's offer adds complexity." "AI is changing content creation." "The future of theaters is uncertain." "Consumer choice is at risk." "Hollywood is at a crossroads." "Regulatory scrutiny is expected." "Paramount's offer is seen as superior." "The merger could change the industry." "Hollywood's model is challenged."   Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to the Episode 00:03:00 Netflix's Acquisition of Warner Bros. 00:09:00 Paramount's Counter-Offer 00:15:00 AI's Role in Content Creation 00:21:00 Impact on Theatrical Releases 00:27:00 Consumer Choice and Media Consolidation 00:33:00 Regulatory Scrutiny and Industry Changes 00:39:00 Conclusion and Future Outlook    

Sam Levine, commissioner of the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) talks about his priorities in his new role, including the mayor's executive orders related to plans for "rental rip-off" hearings, banning junk fees and regulating delivery apps, which he says are depriving workers of tips.

After World War II, the U.S. government worked with industry to create a single-use, disposable consumer culture as a way to ensure ongoing market prosperity.  Who benefited? Consumer product companies like Coca-Cola, and the fossil fuel industry, whose petrochemicals are at the source. The result? Plastic pollution is now found in virtually every living organism – including humans – and is one of the worst threats to ocean ecosystems. Now, a global resistance movement is rising to abolish petrochemical plastics and to shift to a zero-waste, circular economy. Anna Cummins, Deputy Director and Co-Founder of the Five Gyres Institute. With more than 20 years experience in environmental non-profit work—including marine conservation, coastal watershed management, community relations, and bilingual and sustainability education—Anna is an expert in the field. Credits Executive Producer: Kenny Ausubel Written by: Monica Lopez and Kenny Ausubel Senior Producer and Station Relations: Stephanie Welch Host and Consulting Producer: Neil Harvey Producer: Teo Grossman Program Engineer and Music Supervisor: Emily Harris Production Assistance: Claire Reynolds This is an episode of the Bioneers: Revolution from the Heart of Nature series. Visit the ⁠radio and podcast homepage⁠ to learn more.

If you want to be a successful online business owner, there's a vital shift you need to make: you must move from consumer to creator. Most people start as consumers—scrolling, reacting, signing up for other people's offers—but building an online coaching business requires stepping into leadership, prioritizing creation over consumption, and being willing to go first. Today, Jill walks through the tangible behaviors that separate creators from consumers, including setting boundaries, focusing on big needle-moving work, creating before consuming, and working on the business instead of constantly working in it. It's both a mindset shift and a practical self-audit for anyone who wants to stop waiting, stop reacting, and start fully owning their role as a creator and business owner.   Get on the waitlist for FBA: https://jillfitfree.com/fba-waitlist/   Jill is a fitness professional and business coach who effectively made the transition from training clients in person and having no time to build anything else to training clients online and actually being more successful. Today, Jill helps other coaches to do the same.   Connect with me! Instagram: @jillfit | @fitbizu Facebook: @jillfit Website: jillfit.com

The CPG Guys are joined in this episode by John frost, Chief Customer Officer at Chobani, Find John Frost on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-frost-20963155/Find Chobani on Linkedin at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chobani/Find Chobani online at: https://www.chobani.com/Here's what we asked John:John, let's start with your journey. What path led you to Chobani, and how has your experience at Frito-Lay and PepsiCo shaped your perspective as Chief Customer Officer?The Chief Customer Officer role is all about building deep partnerships. How do you define retail customer centricity at Chobani, and how does it show up in your day-to-day?Chobani has grown from disrupting yogurt to becoming a modern  food and beverage company. How do you balance staying true to the brand's roots while  expanding into new categories?Innovation is at the heart of Chobani's DNA. How do you align with retail partners to ensure that innovation lands successfully with shoppers?Chobani has always led with purpose, from food made better to community impact. How does that purpose translate into customer partnership and retail collaboration?Consumer today demand more authenticity & transparency from brands. How is Chobani meeting those expectations in ways that build both brand equity and customer trust?Looking out to 2026, what excites you most about the future of food, beverage, and retail partnerships?For emerging leaders in CPG, what advice would you give on building trust, driving results, and being an effective customer-first leader?CPG Guys Website: http://CPGguys.comFMCG Guys Website: http://FMCGguys.comSheCOMMERCE Website: https://shecommercepodcast.com/Rhea Raj's Website: http://rhearaj.comLara Raj in Katseye: https://www.katseye.world/DISCLAIMER: The content in this podcast episode is provided for general informational purposes only. By listening to our episode, you understand that no information contained in this episode should be construed as advice from CPGGUYS, LLC or the individual author, hosts, or guests, nor is it intended to be a substitute for research on any subject matter. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by CPGGUYS, LLC. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. CPGGUYS LLC expressly disclaims any and all liability or responsibility for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential or other damages arising out of any individual's use of, reference to, or inability to use this podcast or the information we presented in this podcast.

This is Empires of the Future, conversations to encourage the Church in a time of change.  Don't Have it Your Way, Against Consumer Spirituality How should someone formulate his (or her) view of the world?  In an article by Brett McCracken for The Gospel Coalition, he documents the emergence of what he calls “metamodern” Christianity.  This is not “modern”, meaning dedicated to an abstract idea of truth and pointed toward “progress”.  It is also not “post-modern”, dedicated to feelings and dismissing notions of truth in favor of viewing the world as only consisting of power dynamics.  It's somewhere between the two.  In contrast, christians should be a people dedicated to God almighty, to loving Him first and others second and seeking to live lives of sacrifice and love after our Savior Christ who gave himself for us.  https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/challenge-opportunity-metamodern-christianity/ "The Empires of the future will be Empires of the Mind." - Winston Churchill 

Your customers aren't unmotivated—they're scared. Consumer psychology expert Matt Sucha explains why addressing fear outperforms aggressive selling every time. One bank's free insurance offer flopped until they tackled customer skepticism head-on. The result? A 167% conversion increase without changing the product. The secret lies in subconscious decision-making. When a water heater salesperson started presenting two options instead of one "perfect" choice, his conversion rate nearly doubled. Why? Choice reduces anxiety and creates empowerment. Sucha's breakthrough: communication changes three things—what people feel, think, and do. If you can't define all three outcomes before your pitch, you're guessing.

The a16z AI Apps team outlines how they are thinking about the AI application cycle and why they believe it represents the largest and fastest product shift in software to date. The conversation places AI in the context of prior platform waves, from PCs to cloud to mobile, and examines where adoption is already translating into real enterprise usage and revenue. They walk through three core investment themes: existing software categories becoming AI-native, new categories where software directly replaces labor, and applications built around proprietary data and closed-loop workflows. Using portfolio examples, the discussion shows how these models play out in practice and why defensibility, workflow ownership, and data moats matter more than novelty as AI applications scale. Resources:Follow  Alex Rampell on X: https://twitter.com/arampellFollow Jen Kha on X: https://twitter.com/jkhamehlFollow David Haber on X: https://twitter.com/dhaberFollow Anish Acharya on X: https://twitter.com/illscience Stay Updated:If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!Find a16z on X: https://twitter.com/a16zFind a16z on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/a16zListen to the a16z Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5bC65RDvs3oxnLyqqvkUYXListen to the a16z Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a16z-podcast/id842818711Not an offer or solicitation. None of the information herein should be taken as investment advice; Some of the companies mentioned are portfolio companies of a16z. Please see https://a16z.com/disclosures/ for more information.  A list of investments made by a16z is available at https://a16z.com/portfolio. Stay Updated:Find a16z on XFind a16z on LinkedInListen to the a16z Show on SpotifyListen to the a16z Show on Apple PodcastsFollow our host: https://twitter.com/eriktorenberg Please note that the content here is for informational purposes only; should NOT be taken as legal, business, tax, or investment advice or be used to evaluate any investment or security; and is not directed at any investors or potential investors in any a16z fund. a16z and its affiliates may maintain investments in the companies discussed. For more details please see a16z.com/disclosures. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode of Nichel Anderson Short Stories And Beyond, host Nichel Anderson takes listeners behind the scenes with her Director's Clip Notes, offering an exclusive look into the creative journey behind her acclaimed MOLIAE short stories. Nichel shares the inspiration, writing process, and emotional depth that shaped each episode, revealing how the characters and storylines connect to her book, “Mitsrayim: Memoir of A Past Life In Ancient Egypt.” As MOLIAE (Moments Of Love In Ancient Egypt) evolves into a theatrical production, Nichel discusses how these stories serve as the foundation for her vision to bring her book, of the world of ancient Egypt to life on film. She provides key insights into the themes, lessons, and character arcs that tie back to Season 1, Episode 1 "Before The Time of Princess Aamina", giving listeners a deeper understanding of the creative universe she continues to build. Explore the featured episodes: Episode #66: Rulen Responds to the Position of King Mahlon's Speech and an Orion Sets a New Path https://nichelandersonshortstoriesandbeyond.podbean.com/e/moliae-short-stories-rulen-responds-to-the-position-of-king-mahlon-s-speech-and-an-orion-sets-a-new-path/ Episode #65: King Mahlon Speaks of Disloyalty and an Orion Is Born https://nichelandersonshortstoriesandbeyond.podbean.com/e/moliae-finale-show-season-6-epi-65-king-mahlon-speaks-of-disloyalty-and-an-orion-is-born/ Episode #64: Hanee Sends a Letter to King Mahlon https://nichelandersonshortstoriesandbeyond.podbean.com/e/moliae-hanee-sends-a-letter-to-king-mahlon-episode-64-season-6-2022-2023/ Bonus Review: Any Day Can Be a Supreme Day (Season 1, Episode 24) https://nichelandersonshortstoriesandbeyond.podbean.com/e/moliae-clip-snippet-any-day-can-be-a-supreme-day-episode-24-season-1-2017-2018/ Nichel also shares exciting updates on the relaunch of her PMTR (Pyramid Mystery Temple Reunion) NFTs on February 23, 2026—a date honoring Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois' birthday. Support the M-Film Dream and explore the expanding MOLIAE universe: Shop MOLIAE merch and Nichel's first music album at MOLIAE.com/shop Discover the extended beauty line at MOLIAEBeauty.com Learn more about the NFT collection at MOLIAEWorld.com Mint your NFT at MINT.MOLIAEWORLD.COM Support the DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) movement and be part of the creative legacy of MOLIAE—where storytelling, music, and purpose unite. In this special episode of Nichel Anderson Short Stories And Beyond, host Nichel Anderson takes listeners behind the scenes with her Director's Clip Notes, offering an exclusive look into the creative journey behind her acclaimed MOLIAE short stories. Nichel shares the inspiration, writing process, and emotional depth that shaped each episode, revealing how the characters and storylines connect to her book, “Mitsrayim: Memoir of A Past Life In Ancient Egypt.”

Our second show of the year, and the tech news is coming in hot!Google is appealing its historic antitrust ruling. OpenAI is almost out of money AGAIN, so they're looking to ads in ChatGPT to bring in revenue! Starlink wants to sell off your data to train AI. Samsung will limit increases in RAM production to keep prices high. Meta lays off THOUSANDS of VR developers. WhisperPair is using Bluetooth earbuds to attack Android phones! Asus will be exiting the smartphone market. PLUS! A little community on Digg might be fun for you to check out. And we HAVE to talk about the weekend I just spent with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition! Let's get our tech week started off RIGHT! -- Show notes and links: https://somegadgetguy.com/b/4aB Support Talking Tech with SomeGadgetGuy by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/talking-tech-with-somegadgetgu Find out more at https://talking-tech-with-somegadgetgu.pinecast.co This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-c117ce for 40% off for 4 months, and support Talking Tech with SomeGadgetGuy.

An evaluation of the performance of major Apple product categories over the past year is reviewed by the panel of Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, Mark Fuccio and Jim Rea, drawing on market data to assess claims of category leadership across iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Mac. The panel examines the impact of Apple silicon on Mac sales, contrasts Ford's renewed support for CarPlay with GM's strategy, and recognize a validation of this and past discussions from a noted Apple commentator.  The Antigravity A1 is the world's first 8K 360 drone, it's genuinely a game-changer. You get full immersive flight with the goggles, insanely intuitive controls, and endless creative freedom in editing.If you're thinking about buying a drone, make it this one. Check out the link in our show notes and get a free landing pad with your order!https://www.antigravity.tech/drone/antigravity-a1/buy?utm_term=macvoices Take your personal data back with Incogni! Get 60% off an annual plan at https://incogni.com/chuck and use code chuck at checkout. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 – Year-end tech overview and context05:30 – Apple product performance and market share claims14:10 – Interpreting Counterpoint Research data22:40 – Apple silicon and Mac sales discussion31:15 – Ford's CarPlay commitment vs. GM's approach42:00 – Consumer expectations and real-world experiences52:30 – Tech, culture, and year-end reflections Links: Apple leads the industry in 5 key product segmentshttps://www.applemust.com/apple-leads-the-industry-in-5-key-product-segments/ Ford reaffirms its ongoing commitment to CarPlayhttps://9to5mac.com/2025/12/29/ford-reaffirms-its-ongoing-commitment-to-carplay Carmakers are taking Apple fans for an unbelievable ridehttps://www.macworld.com/article/3019151/ride-or-die-for-carplay.html Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky. Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud. Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon. Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud. Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession ‘firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC). Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Consumer trend trackers Jenny Zegler of Mintel and Michael Howard of Nichefire set the stage for the year ahead, sharing their takes on the trends that will have the greatest impact on product development and food innovation. Plus: This episode of Omnivore is brought to you by IFT Membership. It's where you belong. As a member, you'll enjoy a global community united by purpose and driven by science ready to make a lasting impact on the global food system. Visit ift.org/join.

An evaluation of the performance of major Apple product categories over the past year is reviewed by the panel of Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, Mark Fuccio and Jim Rea, drawing on market data to assess claims of category leadership across iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Mac. The panel examines the impact of Apple silicon on Mac sales, contrasts Ford's renewed support for CarPlay with GM's strategy, and recognize a validation of this and past discussions from a noted Apple commentator.  The Antigravity A1 is the world's first 8K 360 drone, it's genuinely a game-changer. You get full immersive flight with the goggles, insanely intuitive controls, and endless creative freedom in editing.If you're thinking about buying a drone, make it this one. Check out the link in our show notes and get a free landing pad with your order! https://www.antigravity.tech/drone/antigravity-a1/buy?utm_term=macvoices Take your personal data back with Incogni! Get 60% off an annual plan at https://incogni.com/chuck and use code chuck at checkout. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 – Year-end tech overview and context 05:30 – Apple product performance and market share claims 14:10 – Interpreting Counterpoint Research data 22:40 – Apple silicon and Mac sales discussion 31:15 – Ford's CarPlay commitment vs. GM's approach 42:00 – Consumer expectations and real-world experiences 52:30 – Tech, culture, and year-end reflections Links: Apple leads the industry in 5 key product segments https://www.applemust.com/apple-leads-the-industry-in-5-key-product-segments/ Ford reaffirms its ongoing commitment to CarPlay https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/29/ford-reaffirms-its-ongoing-commitment-to-carplay Carmakers are taking Apple fans for an unbelievable ride https://www.macworld.com/article/3019151/ride-or-die-for-carplay.html Guests: Web Bixby has been in the insurance business for 40 years and has been an Apple user for longer than that.You can catch up with him on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, but prefers Bluesky. Brian Flanigan-Arthurs is an educator with a passion for providing results-driven, innovative learning strategies for all students, but particularly those who are at-risk. He is also a tech enthusiast who has a particular affinity for Apple since he first used the Apple IIGS as a student. You can contact Brian on twitter as @brian8944. He also recently opened a Mastodon account at @brian8944@mastodon.cloud. Mark Fuccio is actively involved in high tech startup companies, both as a principle at piqsure.com, or as a marketing advisor through his consulting practice Tactics Sells High Tech, Inc. Mark was a proud investor in Microsoft from the mid-1990's selling in mid 2000, and hopes one day that MSFT will be again an attractive investment. You can contact Mark through Twitter, LinkedIn, or on Mastodon. Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet. David Ginsburg is the host of the weekly podcast In Touch With iOS where he discusses all things iOS, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and related technologies. He is an IT professional supporting Mac, iOS and Windows users. Visit his YouTube channel at https://youtube.com/daveg65 and find and follow him on Twitter @daveg65 and on Mastodon at @daveg65@mastodon.cloud. Dr. Marty Jencius has been an Associate Professor of Counseling at Kent State University since 2000. He has over 120 publications in books, chapters, journal articles, and others, along with 200 podcasts related to counseling, counselor education, and faculty life. His technology interest led him to develop the counseling profession 'firsts,' including listservs, a web-based peer-reviewed journal, The Journal of Technology in Counseling, teaching and conferencing in virtual worlds as the founder of Counselor Education in Second Life, and podcast founder/producer of CounselorAudioSource.net and ThePodTalk.net. Currently, he produces a podcast about counseling and life questions, the Circular Firing Squad, and digital video interviews with legacies capturing the history of the counseling field. This is also co-host of The Vision ProFiles podcast. Generally, Marty is chasing the newest tech trends, which explains his interest in A.I. for teaching, research, and productivity. Marty is an active presenter and past president of the NorthEast Ohio Apple Corp (NEOAC). Jim Rea built his own computer from scratch in 1975, started programming in 1977, and has been an independent Mac developer continuously since 1984. He is the founder of ProVUE Development, and the author of Panorama X, ProVUE's ultra fast RAM based database software for the macOS platform. He's been a speaker at MacTech, MacWorld Expo and other industry conferences. Follow Jim at provue.com and via @provuejim@techhub.social on Mastodon. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Direto da NRF 2026, a maior feira do varejo global, Maurício Andrade de Paula, diretor de bens de consumo e varejo na Capgemini, detalha as tendências do ano e explica por que 2026 é o ano em que saber usar Inteligência Artificial será diferencial competitivo para as empresas, e o que deve mudar, na prática, para o setor. Mas não se engane, tecnologia não basta. Confiança do consumidor, experiências relevantes e transparência das marcas serão cruciais para o sucesso. Confira a conversa.Links do episódioA página do LinkedIn de Maurício Andrade de PaulaO estudo "What Matters to Today's Consumer 2026", da CapgeminiO livro "Hospitalidade Irracional: o Extraordinário Poder de dar às Pessoas Mais do que Elas Esperam", de  Will Guidara, com tradução de Vanessa SchreinerO livro "Faces do Varejo", coletânea de artigos de especialistas brasileiros organizada por Alberto Oyama, Alexandre Luercio e Claudia BittencourtO livro "Small data: Como Poucas Pistas Indicam Grandes Tendências", de Martin Lindstrom, traduzido por Rodrigo Peixoto   A The Shift é uma plataforma de conteúdo que descomplica os contextos da inovação disruptiva e da economia digital.Visite o site www.theshift.info e assine a newsletter

With the American republic hanging in the balance, Ralph calls on Democrats to pressure Republicans in the House and Senate to impeach Trump before the midterms or suffer the consequences. Then, we welcome Dino Grandoni, co-author of a Washington Post report on the surprising ways various species of animals and plants help advance our own health and longevity.Dino Grandoni is a reporter who covers life sciences for the Washington Post. He was part of a reporting team that was a finalist for the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting for coverage of Hurricane Helene. He previously covered the Environmental Protection Agency and wrote a daily tipsheet on energy and environmental policy. He is co-author (with Hailey Haymond and Katty Huertas) of the feature “50 Species That Save Us.”The Democrats—while there are people like constitutional law expert Jamie Raskin (who has said a shadow hearing to publicly educate the American people on impeachment “is a good idea”) he's been muzzled by Hakeem Jeffries and Charlie Schumer, who basically don't want the Democrats to use the word impeachment. So who's using the word impeachment the most? Donald Trump—not only wants to impeach judges who decide against him, but he's talking about the Democrats impeaching him, and he uses the word all the time. So we have an upside-down situation here where the opposition party is not in the opposition on the most critical factor, which is that we have the most impeachable President in American history, getting worse by the day.Ralph NaderIf the founding fathers came back to life today, would any of them oppose the impeachment, conviction, and removal of office of Donald J. Trump, who talks about being a monarch? That's what they fought King George over. Of course, they would all support it.Ralph NaderWhat we have in these cards and in our stories at the Washington Post here are examples of the ways we know, the ways that scientists have uncovered how plants and animals help us. But we don't know what we don't know. There are likely numerous other ways that plants and animals are protecting human well-being that we don't know and we may very well never know if some of these species go extinct.Dino GrandoniI'm always eager to find these connections between human well-being and the well-being of nature and try to describe them in ways that are compelling to readers that get them to care about protecting nature. And also finding those instances (because I want to be objective here) of when human well-being and the well-being of nature might be in conflict, and that might involve some tough decisions that we as a society or policymakers have to make.Dino GrandoniNews 1/16/25* Our top two stories this week concern corporate wrongdoing. First, Business Insider reports that the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection has released a new report which estimates Uber Eats and DoorDash, by altering their tipping processes in the city – moving tipping prompts to less prominent locations after checkout so upfront delivery costs would appear lower – have deprived gig delivery workers of $550 million since December 2023. As this piece notes, that was the month that New York City's minimum pay law for delivery workers took effect. As a result, “The average tip for delivery workers on the apps dropped 75%...from $3.66 to $0.93, one week after the apps made the changes…The figure has since declined to $0.76 per delivery.” This report presages a new city law that “requires the apps to offer customers the option to tip before or during checkout. Both Uber and DoorDash have sued the City over the law, which is set to take effect on January 26.” Whether the administration will stick to their guns on this issue, in the face of corporate pressure, will be a major early test for Mayor Zohran Mamdani.* Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports UnitedHealth Group “deployed aggressive tactics to collect payment-boosting diagnoses for its Medicare Advantage members.” As the Journal explains, “In Medicare Advantage, the federal government pays insurers a lump sum to oversee medical benefits for seniors and disabled people. The government pays extra for patients with certain costly medical conditions, a process called risk adjustment.” A new report from the Senate Judiciary Committee found that UnitedHealth had “turned risk adjustment into a business,” thereby exploiting Medicare Advantage and systematically and fraudulently overbilling the federal government. Due to its structure, advocates like Ralph Nader have long warned that Medicare Advantage is ripe for waste fraud and abuse, in addition to being an inferior program for seniors compared to traditional Medicare. This report supports the accuracy of these warnings. Yet, Dr. Mehmet Oz Trump's appointee to head the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, is a longtime proselytizer for Medicare Advantage and this setback is unlikely to make him reverse course, no matter the cost to patients or taxpayers.* Yet, even as these instances of corporate criminal lawlessness pile up, the Trump administration is all but abolishing the police on the corporate crime beat. In a new report, Rick Claypool, corporate crime research director at Public Citizen, documents how the administration has “canceled or halted a total of 159 enforcement actions against 166 corporations.” This amounts to corporations avoiding payments totaling $3.1 billion in penalties for misconduct. This report further documents how these corporations have ingratiated themselves with Trump, via donations to his inauguration or ballroom project, or more typical revolving door or lobbying arrangements. As Claypool himself puts it, “The ‘law enforcement' claims the White House uses as a pretext for authoritarian anti-immigrant crackdowns, city occupations, and imperial resource seizures abroad lose all credibility when cast against the lawlessness Trump allows for the pursuit of corporate profits.”* In another instance of a Trump administration giveaway to corporations, the New York Times reports the Environmental Protection Agency will “Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution.” Under the new regulatory regime, the EPA will “estimate only the costs to businesses of complying with the rules.” The Times explains that different administrations have balanced these competing interests differently, always faced with the morbid dilemma of how much, in a dollar amount, to value human life; but “until now, no administration has counted it as zero.”* Moving to Congress, the big news from the Legislative Branch this week has to do with Bill and Hillary Clinton. NPR reports Congressman James Comer, Chair of the House Oversight Committee, issued subpoenas to the former president and former Secretary of State to testify in a committee hearing related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In a letter published earlier this week, the Clintons formally rejected the subpoenas, calling them “legally invalid.” The Clintons' refusal to appear tees up an opportunity for Congress to exercise its contempt power and force the couple to testify. Democrats on the Oversight Committee, who agreed to issue the subpoenas as part of a larger list, have noted that “most of the other people have not been forced to testify,” indicating that this is a political stunt rather than an earnest effort. That said, there is little doubt that, at least, former President Clinton knows more about the Epstein affair than he has stated publicly thus far and there is a good chance Congress will vote through a contempt resolution and force him to testify.* In the Senate, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy and other liberal Senators are “urging their Democratic colleagues to pivot to economic populism by ‘confronting' corporate power and billionaires, warning that just talking about affordability alone won't move swing voters who backed President Trump in 2024,” per the Hill. Senators Adam Schiff of California and Tina Smith of Minnesota also signed this memo. The Senators cited a recent poll that found Americans “increasingly cannot afford basic goods such as medical care and groceries,” but they also warned that “Bland policy proposals — without a narrative explaining who is getting screwed and who is doing the screwing – will not work.” Hopefully this forceful urging by fellow Senators will move the needle within the Democratic caucus in the upper house. Nothing else seems to have driven the point home.* One candidate who seems to understand this message is Graham Platner of Maine. Platner, who is endorsed by Bernie Sanders, has a controversial past that includes a career in the Marines and a stint working for the private military contractor Blackwater. However, he is running as a staunch economic populist and New Deal style progressive Democrat – and the message appears to be working. According to Zeteo, a poll conducted in mid-December found Platner up by 15 points in the primary over his opponent, current Governor Janet Mills. More concerning is the fact that this same poll shows both Platner and Mills in a dead heat with incumbent Republican Senator Susan Collins, indicating this could be a brutal, protracted and expensive campaign.* On the other end of the spectrum, Axios reported this week that former Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney, who once led the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and then served as President Biden's ambassador to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, has accepted a role as CEO and president of the Coalition for Prediction Markets. The coalition is essentially a trade association for betting websites; members include Kalshi, Crypto.com Robinhood and Coinbase, among others. The coalition will leverage Maloney's influence with Democrats, along with former Republican Congressman Patrick McHenry's influence across the aisle, to lobby for favorable regulation for their industry.* Turning to foreign affairs, prosecutors in South Korea have announced that they are seeking the death penalty for former President Yoon Suk-Yeol on “charges of masterminding an insurrection over his brief imposition of martial law in December 2024,” per Reuters. In a stunning courtroom revelation, a prosecutor said during closing arguments that “investigators confirmed the existence of a scheme allegedly directed by Yoon and his former defence minister, Kim Yong-hyun, dating back to October 2023 designed to keep Yoon in power.” The prosecutor added that “The defendant has not sincerely regretted the crime... or apologised properly to the people.” As this piece notes, South Korea has not carried out a death sentence in nearly three decades. Even still, it is remarkable to see how this case has unfolded compared to the reaction of the American judicial system to Donald Trump's attempted self-coup on January 6th, 2021.* Finally, turning to Latin America, many expected the fall of Nicolás Maduro to mean a redoubled energy crisis for the long-embargoed island nation of Cuba. Yet, the Financial Times reports that in fact, “Mexico overtook Venezuela to become Cuba's top oil supplier in 2025…helping the island weather a sharp drop in Venezuelan crude shipments.” CBS adds that “Despite President Trump's social media pronouncement…that ‘there will be no more oil or money going to Cuba — zero,' the current U.S. policy is to allow Mexico to continue to provide oil to the island, according to Energy Secretary Chris Wright.” For the time being, the administration seems open to maintaining this status quo – including maintaining cordial relations with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum – though this appears more strained than ever. Sheinbaum harshly criticized the kidnapping of Maduro, stating “unilateral action and invasion cannot be the basis for international relations in the 21st century,” while Republican Congressman Carlos Gimenez has threatened that there could be “serious consequences for trade between our countries” if Sheinbaum “continues to undermine US policy by sending oil to the murderous dictatorship in Cuba.”This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

Chris Whalen, chairman of Whalen Global Advisors and author of The Institutional Risk Analyst blog, joins The Julia La Roche Show for "The Wrap with Chris Whalen." In this episode of The Wrap, Whalen breaks down why GSE release is officially off the table after Trump ordered them to buy back their own debt—a move Whalen calls "politics" driven by midterm election fears. He shares his take on crypto as "a polite form of gambling," explains why he prefers gold over silver despite silver's recent run, and dives deep into the housing market's affordability crisis. Whalen reveals his biggest concern for 2026: the hidden risks in private equity and credit, calling them "rancid pools of illiquid, opaque assets" that could cause major bank losses. He also weighs in on the DOJ's subpoena of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, predicting Kevin Warsh will likely be the next Fed chair, and closes with his outlook on markets, the dollar, and bank stocks.Links:    The Institutional Risk Analyst: https://www.theinstitutionalriskanalyst.com/  Inflated book (2nd edition): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/inflated-r-christopher-whalen/1146303673Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/rcwhalen    Website: https://www.rcwhalen.com/   Timestamps:0:00 Welcome back to the Wrap with Chris Whalen0:30 GSE release officially off the table?2:32 The $200 billion announcement is politics 4:08 Political landscape and midterm elections 4:49 Crypto legislation falls apart 5:14 Crypto as speculation vs. gold & silver 6:40 Silver's short squeeze and volatility 8:30 Gold vs. silver as long-term trades 9:07 Copper and Dr. Copper as economic indicator 10:10 Housing policy and affordability crisis 12:10 Will the Fed allow home prices to fall? 14:30 Bank earnings season takeaways 16:50 Consumer delinquencies and economic warning signs 18:12 The hidden risk in private equity and credit 19:48 The "POOP" problem in private lending 21:42 Private credit as a ticking time bomb 22:58 Jerome Powell's DOJ subpoena 24:21 Kevin Warsh and the future of the Fed 27:05 Could the Fed resume MBS purchases? 28:56 Viewer question: NLY/Annaly REIT 30:52 Parting thoughts and 2026 outlook 31:46 Closing

Chris Markowski delves into the deceptive practices of Wall Street, particularly focusing on hedge funds and private equity firms. He highlights how hedge funds often report inflated returns by excluding failed funds from their calculations, likening it to a baseball player omitting their worst games to boost their batting average. Markowski also critiques the private equity model, which he argues exploits companies by loading them with debt and extracting value, often leading to their decline. He shares a poignant example of how private equity negatively impacted the once-popular Sprinkles Cupcake brand, illustrating the broader consequences of these financial practices on American businesses and consumers. Markowski further discusses the implications of recent mergers and acquisitions, using Saks Fifth Avenue's bankruptcy as a case study to demonstrate how Wall Street's financialization leads to disastrous outcomes for companies. He emphasizes the disconnect between Wall Street's profit motives and the realities faced by everyday investors, warning listeners about the potential pitfalls of trusting financial advisors who may prioritize their own interests over those of their clients. The episode serves as a wake-up call for listeners to be vigilant about the financial narratives pushed by major institutions and to seek transparency in their investments.

Economic Realities: Chinese Struggles and U.S. Consumer Strength. Guest: CHRIS RIEGEL, CEO of Stratacache. China's economy is struggling, evidenced by declining imports of raw materials and factory workers facing destitution. In contrast, the U.S. economy remains strong, with banner retail sales during the Christmas season. However, the "K-shaped" economy shows consumer fatigue in the quick-service restaurant sector.1965 SHANGHAI

 In today's episode of Next Level University, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros break down the mindset that determines whether progress compounds or quietly stalls. This episode centers on the difference between consumer thinking and investor thinking and how that distinction affects time, money, and long-term outcomes. The focus is discipline over impulse, standards over comfort, and decisions that pay off over years, not moments. If you care about consistency, leverage, and building a future that lasts, this conversation will sharpen how you evaluate everyday choices. Listen with honesty. The mindset you practice today becomes the life you live tomorrow._______________________Learn more about:Your first 30-minute “Business Breakthrough Session” call with Alan is FREE. This call is designed to help you identify bottlenecks and build a clear plan for your next level. - https://calendly.com/alanlazaros/30-minute-breakthrough-sessionReady to level up your podcast? Your first 30-minute “Podcast Breakthrough Session” call with Kevin is FREE. Real podcast growth, built through follow-through. - https://calendly.com/kevinpalmieri/free-30-minute-podcast-breakthrough-session-with-kevinJoin our private Facebook community, “Next Level Nation,” to grow alongside people who are committed to improvement. - https://www.facebook.com/groups/459320958216700_______________________NLU is not just a podcast; it's a gateway to a wealth of resources designed to help you achieve your goals and dreams. From our Next Level Dreamliner to our Group Coaching, we offer a variety of tools and communities to support your personal development journey.For more information, check out our website and socials using the links below.

Peter Boockvar, Chief Investment Officer at One Point BFG Wealth Partners and author of The Boock Report, sees "bells ringing" on the AI tech trade with Oracle, CoreWeave, and Nvidia showing tiredness, and warns the question is whether the baton can be passed to other sectors without the market falling apart. His three favorite groups for 2026 are energy (where $60 oil is "one of the cheapest assets in the world" and he sees $70+ minimum), agriculture (fertilizer stocks like Mosaic and Nutrient), and beaten-down consumer staples offering "bond-like dividend yields with equity-like upside." On Venezuela, he disagrees with the oil-for-midterms thesis - it's really about stiff-arming China, Russia, and Iran, and won't impact oil supply for 5-10 years anyway. He's been trimming silver after its vertical move toward $100 but still likes gold driven by central bank buying and dollar diversification. His biggest concern: if we lose the AI trade, its dominance is so large it could take everything down with it.This episode is brought to you by VanEck. Learn more about the VanEck Rare Earth and Strategic Metals ETF: http://vaneck.com/REMXJuliaLinks: Substack/The Boock Report: https://boockreport.com/Twitter/X: https://x.com/pboockvarTimestamps:00:00 Intro and welcome Peter Boockvar01:18 2025 retro: World markets did really well, fire lit under international markets03:15 Bells ringing on AI tech trade - Oracle, CoreWeave, Nvidia tiredness05:45 China competition in AI - models more applicable, monetizing faster06:30 Bifurcated economy: Manufacturing recession, lower-middle income spending weak07:45 Data center build out - question of when not if it slows08:30 Delta earnings: Premium cabin strong, main cabin no growth09:15 Europe bifurcated too: Germany/France struggling, Spain/Greece doing well11:36 Three favorite groups for 2026: Energy, ag, consumer staples12:15 Energy: Bearish sentiment extreme, contrarian setup, CFTC net longs at 15-year lows13:30 Venezuela: 5-10 years before notable production increase14:15 OPEC production lagging quotas - most running at full capacity15:00 US shale production slowing, rolling over even in Permian15:45 Peak oil demand pushed out - hybrids winning, EV demand delayed16:30 Ag: Fertilizer stocks - Mosaic, Nutrient - down and out value plays17:15 Consumer staples destroyed over 12 months - deep value now17:52 Names: Kimberly Clark, Nestle, Pepsi, ConAgra, Coke, Reynolds18:24 Oil at $60 is one of the cheapest assets in the world - sees $70 minimum19:15 Energy holdings: Exxon, BP, Shell, Canadian Natural Resources, Oxy, Noble, EQT23:44 Venezuela won't impact oil supply for 5-10 years - focused on near-term25:32 Inflation: Conflicting dynamics - services decelerating, goods inflation returning27:00 Next Fed chair will have inflation dilemma - sticky around 3%28:45 Services inflation could rebound in back half of 2026 as apartment supply absorbed29:01 Reaction to Powell subpoena30:09 Powell is done cutting - will be playing 18 holes in June31:28 Last Fed cut was not necessary - took neutral rate below 1%32:30 Need low and stable prices first, then labor market improves35:34 Gold north of $4,600 - levels don't surprise, maybe pace did36:27 Silver at $92 - trimming position, tree needs to take a breather37:30 Gold thesis: Central bank buying, dollar diversification has more legs38:49 2025 lesson: World woke up to opportunities outside mag seven40:22 What not to own: Mag seven, long duration bonds40:46 Japan matters for global rates - JGB yields rising, canary in coal mine42:00 Bullish emerging market local currency bonds - better finances, cheap currencies42:57 EM names: China, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Indonesia43:45 Biggest risk: Losing AI trade and gap up in long-term rates44:24 Optimism: Broadening out continues, international markets, commodity trade has legs45:03 Parting thoughts: Investors need to be flexible in their thinking

Ben Emons turns to the Fed and how it gauges consumer pressure. On the upside, the U.S. economy growing through higher-than-expected GDP signals resiliency in the states. On the downside for traders, it could mean a pause on interest rate cuts. Ben explains the path ahead he sees for the FOMC. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day. Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/ About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Send us a textJoin hosts Alex Sarlin and Ben Kornell as they kick off 2026 with a wide-ranging Week in EdTech conversation covering tech backlash, AI in education, market consolidation, consumer learning tools, and major voices shaping the future of teaching and learning.✨ Episode Highlights:[00:00:00] Growing tech backlash around screen time, phone bans, and distrust of edtech.[00:03:55] PowerSchool layoffs reflect private equity pressure and profitability focus.[00:06:30] Layoffs highlight the human cost for educators working in edtech.[00:09:04] Screen time skepticism reaches adult learning and professional assessments.[00:10:52] Big Tech ramps up AI competition as Meta, Amazon, and Apple reposition.[00:12:42] Consumer AI learning startups draw VC attention amid edtech valuation gaps.[00:13:58] Funding: Obo raises $16M Series A for AI-generated, multimodal courses.[00:17:16] UX, speed, and multimodality emerge as key edtech differentiators.[00:19:10] Speechify secures NYC schools deal, blending accessibility with consumer-grade UX.[00:21:08] Engagement-first consumer learning apps challenge traditional edtech models.Plus, special guests:[00:23:48] Eli Luberoff, Founder of Desmos Studio, on creative math tools and Desmos Professional.[00:50:28] Rebecca Winthrop, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Universal Education at The Brookings Institution, on how AI risks currently outweigh benefits for students without better guardrails.

It's that time of year when we polish off the crystal ball and try to guess exactly where the bourbon industry is headed in 2026. The panel dives into some high-stakes predictions on the rise of exclusive distillery clubs and the portential rise of the craft sector by leaning into Direct-to-Consumer sales. We also get into some scarier territory—think tariffs and the possibility of major distilleries actually pausing production—while others weighs in on the acquisition frenzy that's continuing to reshape the landscape. We also tackle the death of FOMO on limited releases, the push for even higher-proof offerings, and the wild possibility of NIL deals between universities and distilleries. Will your favorite college quarterback have a signature bottle pick soon? We're breaking it all down to see how economic and political factors will keep the bourbon scene shaking in the year ahead. Show Notes: Bourbon Pursuit explores 2026 predictions for the bourbon industry Insights on the future of distillery clubs and exclusive consumer offers Discussion on tariff impacts and potential production pauses The rising prominence of craft distilleries and direct sales strategies Evolution of FOMO among bourbon consumers Speculation on NIL partnerships within the bourbon sector Insights into how GLP-1 medications might affect drinking habits Reflections on past predictions and the industry's direction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The FTC has begun issuing warning letters to companies that may be violating the new Consumer Review Rule, signaling the agency's intent to enforce the sweeping prohibition on practices that mislead consumers about the ability to leave honest reviews (such as gag clauses, pay-for-delete offers, and review manipulation). These warnings underscore that enforcement is not hypothetical — companies should be actively auditing review, testimonial, and ratings practices across all platforms to ensure compliance before formal actions begin. Hosted by Simone Roach. Based on a blog post by Gonzalo E. Mon.

Discover the factors reshaping consumer behaviour as Michelle Dunstan and her team at Janus Henderson explore emerging trends in health, wellness, and technology, alongside the economic impact of GLP-1 inhibitors and ultra-processed foods. Learn how these dynamics influence market valuations and investment strategies.

We examine the economic data and policy developments setting the tone for the US commercial real estate market in early 2026. Discussing what recent labor reports, GDP estimates, and financing trends suggest about growth, risk, and capital markets conditions heading into the year. The conversation also turns to housing policy, including new local initiatives and national proposals, and how these policy signals could influence supply, affordability, and investment strategy across CRE sectors. Key Moments:00:58 Key statistics and market trends03:26 Economic data and labor market insights07:56 GDP and service sector analysis12:18 Housing market update15:13 Consumer data and AI impact19:03 Housing policy and national proposals27:34 Upcoming events and announcements Resources Mentioned:Debt Capital Market Survey - https://www.altusgroup.com/featured-insights/cre-debt-capital-markets-survey-registration/Altus Connect Conference - https://events.altusgroup.com/event/altus-connect-2026/summaryJob Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) - https://www.bls.gov/jlt/ADP National Employment Report - https://adpemploymentreport.com/BLS Employment Situation / December Jobs Report - https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.htmAtlanta Fed GDPNow Estimate - https://www.atlantafed.org/cqer/research/gdpnowS&P Global US Services PMI - https://www.pmi.spglobal.com/ISM Services PMI - https://www.ismworld.org/supply-management-news-and-reports/reports/ism-reports/Consumer Credit (G19) - https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/current/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index - https://data.sca.isr.umich.edu/Email us: altusresearch@altusgroup.comThanks for listening to the “CRE Exchange” podcast, powered by Altus Group. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review to help get the word out about the show. And be sure to subscribe so you never miss another insightful conversation.#CRE #CommercialRealEstate #Property

To celebrate our 100th episode, we've asked two veteranChicago broadcasters to take Checkbook's College of Consumer Knowledge quiz.Lisa Dent is the popular afternoon host at WGN Radio. Steve Bertrand, her longtime news anchor, came out of retirement to challenge her. Play along with our celebrity contestants to test your consumer IQ. The questions are difficult!You might also want to play the online version of Checkbook's College of Knowledge. Topics include auto, food, and your money.Not a Checkbook member? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up for a free 30-day trial to access all of our unbiased ratings⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Economic decisions aren't only driven by hard data. A compelling story can change economic behavior and outcomes. In today's episode, we explore real-world examples of “narrative economics” like how the Suez Canal ended up getting built. And we ask: why do narratives sometimes matter more than truth or data? Related episodes: This indicator hasn't flashed this red since the dot-com bubble Tariffs. Consumer sentiment. Cape Ratio. Pick The Indicator of The Year! The Beigie Awards: Manufacturing takes center stage For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.  Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

SHOW1-14-251671 Guests: Elizabeth Peek and John Batchelor. Batchelor and Peek discuss inflation holding firm at 2.7% in December. They evaluate falling gasoline prices and strong holiday retail performance as indicators of improving consumer sentiment. Peek also critiques a DOJ investigation into Jerome Powell, labeling it an "unforced error" that might inadvertently extend Powell's tenure. Guest: Elizabeth Peek. This segment addresses political dissent in Minnesota following a tragedy involving an ICE agent. Peek argues that liberal activists are nationalizing the incident to demonize law enforcement. She views this as partisan positioning for the midterms, intended as a weapon to be used against President Trump. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. Dempsey explains that the EU lacks a cohesive strategy for Irandespite a consensus on increasing sanctions. Regarding Ukraine, she highlights staggering divisions among European states as the U.S. withdraws military help. Dempsey notes a ceasefire remains unlikely because Russiacurrently has no interest in negotiations. Guests: Judy Dempsey and Thaddeus Matter. The discussion focuses on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's efforts to address immigration to counter the populist AfD party. Dempsey explores the nuances of refugee integration into the German workforce. Finally, she reports European "horror" at potential U.S. moves to annex Greenland, which could threaten the survival of NATO. Guest: Joseph Sternberg. China faces a "sluggish zombie economy" characterized by a burst property bubble and anemic consumption. Sternberg warns of "Japanification," where growth remains stagnant for decades. Beijingstruggles with price deflation, further burdening a heavily indebted economy. Meaningful recovery requires political reforms Xi Jinping resists.  Guest: Joseph Sternberg. President Trump is reportedly using an investigation into Fed Chairman Jerome Powell as a pretext to influence interest rate decisions. Sternberg notes that while central banks like the Bank of England strive for independence, they are increasingly politicized. Additionally, Western media outlets like the BBC initially faced criticism for slow coverage of Iranian massacre 7Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Intense protests in Iran, sparked by decades of mismanagement, have led to a violent crackdown by the regime. Schanzer highlights that these demonstrations are uniquely supported by President Trump's rhetoric. Reza Pahlavi has emerged as a potential figurehead for a transitional government or constitutional monarchy, as the population remains largely pro-Western.8 Guest: Jonathan Schanzer. Syria's new central government remains extremely fragile, with authority barely extending beyond Damascus as factions clash in Aleppo. Schanzer describes a "Sunni jihadist regime" facing retribution from sectarian minorities. Meanwhile, regional tensions escalate as Israel and Iran reportedly narrowly avoided direct conflict, prompting Russia to evacuate its embassy. Guest: Dr. Brenda Shaffer. Iran is a multi-ethnic state where Persians constitute less than 40% of the population. Shaffer explains that while current protests are Persian-led, the regime's survival often depends on the participation of ethnic minorities like Azerbaijanis, Kurds, and Baluch. These groups frequently engage in direct retribution against security forces. Guest: General Blaine Holt (retired). Holt discusses potential U.S. intervention to support Iranian protesters, emphasizing strikes on command nodes rather than ground troops. While the U.S. maintains air superiority, putting special operators on the ground carries high risk. The Iranian people face a critical window of days to succeed before facing stunning reprisals. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Iranian protesters face a brutal regime that may utilize a "Samson Option," firing all missiles at Israel if the government falls. Weichert notes that while the Israelis and CIA have covert assets on the ground, the protest movement lacks a cohesive leader. Proposals for restoring the Pahlavi dynasty are criticized as an impractical solution. Guest: Brandon Weichert. Turmoil in Iran threatens China's energy security, as Beijing receives roughly 70-80% of Iranian oil. Weichert suggests Russia and China are using the crisis to test anti-Starlink technologies. Furthermore, the regime might import foreign terrorists to suppress domestic dissent, while the U.S. provides behind-the-scenes support to the movement. Guest: Gregory Copley. Iran's collapse could dismantle the "International North-South Transport Corridor," a vital trade route for Russia and India. Copley argues that the Iranian public is increasingly secular, with the youth rejecting clerical authority. While the regime may fire remaining missiles in desperation, a post-clerical Irancould ignite Central Asian economic potential. Guest: Gregory Copley. Although the U.S. promises help, Copley warns that a ground invasion is physically difficult and historically unsuccessful. There are signs that Iranian police and some Revolutionary Guard units are refusing to fire on protesters. Ultimately, the Iranian people must take ownership of the revolution to ensure the legitimacy of any successor government. Guest: Gregory Copley. Following the arrest of Maduro, Venezuela is controlled by four competing "crime families." Copley notes the absence of a clear U.S. plan for citizens facing food and medical insecurity. The U.S.seeks to enforce an oil embargo against Cuba, which is currently suffering from infrastructure collapse and electric grid failures. Guest: Gregory Copley. Reza Pahlavi proposes a constitutional monarchy where the crown serves as a symbolic figurehead, similar to the British system. Copley highlights Pahlavi's unique name recognition and legitimacy as the former crown prince. However, air power alone cannot decisively change the situation on the ground, requiring covert support after the clerics collapse.

Inflation ended the year largely unchanged, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data, with lower gasoline prices helping to offset higher food and housing costs. Consumer prices were up 2.7 percent from a year earlier, while core inflation held at 2.6 percent. According to reporting from The New York Times, falling used car prices and cooling apartment rents continued to ease inflation pressures, even as grocery prices posted their fastest monthly increase since 2022 and airline fares jumped amid strong holiday travel. For real estate investors, the data highlights a shifting inflation landscape — moderating housing costs, mixed energy prices, and a Federal Reserve likely entering a wait-and-see phase as the new year begins.

In this episode of BRAVE COMMERCE, hosts Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with John Ferris, President, Consumer at Bausch + Lomb, to discuss how modern consumer behavior is rewriting the rules for legacy brands. John shares how his team is tackling a core challenge in eye health: consumers value vision deeply, but often don't take action until something is wrong, creating a massive opportunity for education-led growth.John also breaks down what it means to market in a world where discovery is increasingly shaped by social platforms and AI tools. He explains how Bausch + Lomb is partnering with eye care professionals who show up as credible “influencers,” and why improving the quality and structure of brand content matters more than ever as chatbots become a go-to source. The episode closes with a look at how the pharmacy channel is evolving, and how “hidden” in-store friction can quietly shift demand online in an instant.Key TakeawaysEducation is a growth lever when consumers delay action until a problem appearsCredibility still wins—but only if you make it easy to understand and easy to trustOptimize content for the new discovery layer (AI + social), not just traditional searchReduce friction everywhere, because shoppers will reroute the moment it gets inconvenient Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You walk the CES 2026 floor with Pete and Dave and quickly realize this episode is about practical gear that earns its place in your life. You hear about clever headphones, smarter thermostats, compact travel tech, and simple photo organization that fixes real annoyances without overthinking them. The crew cuts through the hype, calling out what feels thoughtful versus what just looks flashy, so you can spot the difference between tools that solve problems and gadgets that will gather dust. Then things get broader and more futuristic without losing focus. You explore consumer health tech that is finally becoming accessible, modular controllers that rethink how you interact with devices, and open-ear audio that fits real-world use. Robots take over yards and floors, smart calendars and water sensors aim to reduce daily friction, and networking gear shrinks without giving up power. It is a fast tour of ideas that are close enough to touch, if not already shipping, with one consistent reminder guiding the whole conversation: stay curious, stay selective, and Don't Get Caught chasing shiny things that do not actually improve your day. 00:00:00 Mac Geek Gab 1124 for Monday, January 12th, 2026 January 12th: National Curried Chicken Day MGG Monthly Giveaway – Enter to win a copy of Ecamm Live or Carbon Copy Cloner 7! The MGG Merch Store is Live! MGG's CES 2026 Sponsors: BusyCal (with code MACGEEK10)! Eero Ecamm for Zoom integration MacPaw CCC Backup Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026 00:03:41 TDM Twist Headphones 00:06:36 Eve Thermostat 00:08:08 FotoStax – $25 for a 10-pack 00:11:09 Targus Voyager EXP – $89.99 00:14:04 NOMATIC Travel Pack 00:15:52 Eloquens Email AI Autoresponder 00:21:25 Consumer-focused Blood Glucose Monitors Abbott Lingo, Stelo by Dexcom, Isaac from PreEvent, Y-Brush Halo, Actxa Core Smart Ring Sponsors 00:27:27 SPONSOR: Copilot Money. Your money, beautifully organized, now across every device. For a limited-time, get 26% off your first year when you sign up at https://try.copilot.money/macgeekgab. Get two months free with code ‘macgeekgab'. 00:28:49 SPONSOR: Shopify. In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at Shopify.com/MGG 00:30:25 SPONSOR: Gusto. Get three months free when you run your first payroll when you start at gusto.com/MGG MOAR Cool Stuff Found at CES 2026 00:31:33 Modue – Modular controllers for gamers, creators, and more 00:35:00 Shokz OpenFit Pro Earbuds 00:38:58 Robot Lawn Mowers Yarbo M-Series, Segway Navimow, Worx, Lymow 00:43:58 Robot Vacuums Eureka E10 Evo Plus – $299 Eureka Z50 $799 Roborock Saros Rover 00:51:13 Skylight Calendar 2 00:53:28 Droplet Smarthome Water Sensor from Hydrific 00:58:04 TP-Link Aireal Digital in-app assistant 01:00:31 TP-Link BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Portable Travel Router TL-WR3602BE 01:03:21 CubicScreen.com 01:06:22 MGG 1124 Outtro MGG Monthly Giveaway Bandwidth Provided by CacheFly MGG's CES 2026 Sponsors Pilot Pete's Aviation Podcast: So There I Was (for Aviation Enthusiasts) The Debut Film Podcast – Adam's new podcast! Dave's Business Brain (for Entrepreneurs) and Gig Gab (for Working Musicians) Podcasts MGG Merch is Available! Mac Geek Gab YouTube Page Mac Geek Gab Live Calendar This Week's MGG Premium Contributors MGG Apple Podcasts Reviews feedback@macgeekgab.com 224-888-GEEK Active MGG Sponsors and Coupon Codes List BackBeat Media Podcast Network The Mac Geek Gab iPhone app Follow us on Mastodon Mac Geek Gab on Mastodon Adam Christianson on Mastodon Dave Hamilton on Mastodon Pilot Pete on Mastodon Mona for Mastodon (for Mac, iPhone, iPad) Adam Christianson on X/Twitter

The steak on your plate might just be scraps glued together with "meat glue." In episode 849 of the Savage Perspective Podcast, host Robert Sikes sits down with Brett Peterson from Homestead Meat Company to expose the shocking truths of the meat processing industry. They discuss how foreign beef is falsely labeled "Product of USA," the myth of grass-fed beef, and how microplastics end up in your food. Brett shares how his family-owned business is providing a solution with complete farm-to-table traceability, offering high quality, locally raised beef without the misleading labels and industrial shortcuts. This conversation reveals what you're really eating and how to find meat you can trust.Want to build a strong, healthy body from the inside out? Learn the system to properly fuel your workouts and optimize your health in Robert's FREE Bodybuilding Masterclass. Sign up and start your transformation today. https://www.ketobodybuilding.com/registration-2Get Keto Brick: https://www.ketobrick.com/Subscribe to the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/42cjJssghqD01bdWBxRYEg?si=1XYKmPXmR4eKw2O9gGCEuQChapters:0:00 - Why the US Beef Herd is at a 50-Year Low 0:45 - How an Instagram DM Led to This Podcast 1:52 - Why I Bought a Meat Company to Feed My 7 Kids 3:25 - How to Buy Farm-Fresh Beef Without a Giant Freezer 5:58 - The Processing Plant That Changed Everything 6:33 - The Biggest Bottleneck for Small Cattle Ranchers7:36 - How a Small Processor Competes With the 6,000-Head-a-Day Giants 9:18 - State Inspected vs. USDA: What's the Difference for Consumers? 11:16 - Why Direct-to-Consumer is the Future of Quality Meat 12:24 - Why Are Beef Prices Skyrocketing? The Foreign Import Problem 15:21 - The "Grass-Fed" Lie: Is Your Beef Really What You Think It Is? 16:23 - Greenwashing: How Labels Deceive Health-Conscious Buyers 18:08 - Our Goal: Complete Farm-to-Table Traceability for Your Beef 19:39 - Grass-Fed vs. Grass-Finished: A Crucial Distinction 21:25 - Can You Choose Non-GMO Grain-Finished Beef? 23:05 - The Shocking Truth About What Factory Hogs Are Fed 25:14 - How Tech & Traceability Will Revolutionize the Beef Industry 28:03 - What Do USDA Beef Grades (Prime, Choice, Select) Actually Mean? 30:21 - Meat Glue: Is Your Steak Pieced Together From Scraps? 32:52 - How Microplastics Are Getting Into Your Store-Bought Meat 36:22 - The "Pink Slime" Scare: What Was It Really? 38:18 - What Preservatives Are In Your Sausage? 40:03 - Why Does Meat from Big Box Stores Make Me Sick? 42:00 - A Message From the Host, Robert Sikes 43:40 - The Celery Powder Trick: A Hidden Source of Nitrites 45:30 - How We Keep Our Ingredient Labels Clean & Honest 48:46 - Why You Shouldn't Skimp on Quality Food 50:50 - How Eating Clean Food Can Transform Your Health 52:32 - Why You Should Stop Eating Margarine Immediately 54:03 - The Truth About Canola (Rapeseed) Oil 55:24 - Why You Should Be Cooking With Tallow 59:09 - How Quality Food Leads to Effortless Weight Loss 1:01:23 - The Life-Changing Benefits of Building More Muscle 1:02:21 - How to Lock In Your Beef Price & Avoid Volatility 1:03:04 - The Nightmare of Shipping Frozen Meat 1:06:06 - Why Packaging Equipment Dictates Product Options 1:07:25 - The Humane Slaughter Process: An Inside Look 1:09:55 - Temple Grandin's Impact on Humane Animal Handling 1:11:39 - What is a HACCP Plan and Why Does It Matter for Food Safety? 1:18:00 - What a High-Quality Processing Plant Actually Looks Like 1:19:56 - Nose-to-Tail: How We Use the Entire Animal 1:22:25 - The Surprising Delicacy of Cow Tongue (Lengua) 1:23:24 - The Hunter's Code: Why You Should Respect the Animal 1:26:09 - Where to Find Homestead Meat Co. & Get a Discount

Today, I'm joined by Sunita Mohanty, co-founder & CEO of Vibrant Practice.   Fixing healthcare's foundational flaws, Vibrant Practice is building the AI-native electronic health record for preventative longevity practices — with tools built for personalized, data-driven care.   In this episode, we discuss building the operating system for modern medicine.   We also cover:   What human-in-the-loop healthcare looks like Why current EHRs fail forward-thinking clinicians Moving from insurance-based to consumer-centered models   Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast  Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe  Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider    Vibrant's Website: www.vibrantpractice.com  Contact Sunita: sunita@vibrantpractice.com    -   The Fitt Insider Podcast is brought to you by EGYM. Visit EGYM.com to learn more about its smart fitness ecosystem for fitness and health facilities.   Fitt Talent: https://talent.fitt.co/  Consulting: https://consulting.fitt.co/  Investments: https://capital.fitt.co/    Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:37) Sunita's background (02:23) Functional medicine journey (03:30) The inevitability of personalized medicine (04:00) Why providers need better tools (05:00) Current state of EHR (06:30) What makes Vibrant Practice different (08:15) AI-native EHR built for data-driven care (10:30) Integrations for the future (12:45) Serving functional medicine and longevity clinics (15:00) Consumer vs. insurance-based models (17:30) Visualizing patient data over time (19:45) Human-in-the-loop healthcare (22:00) Beta launch (24:15) The "Stripe Atlas" model for new practices (26:30) 2026 roadmap (27:45) Community and ecosystem building (29:00) Technology with intention (30:45) Where to learn more (31:21) Conclusion