Podcasts about Consumer

Meta quietly ditches encryption for Instagram chats while TikTok also backpedals on privacy, shaking up assumptions about how much big tech really values your secrets. Meanwhile, Steve Gibson reveals why CISA's free government security scans are an absolute must for businesses—plus what he learned when GRC took the plunge. The Security Now "Caption That Photo" contest. A mega social media company says "no" to strong encryption. WhatsApp to give parents more control, Consumer bandwidth proxying is becoming a big deal. Meta buys the Moltbook duo. The EU gives up and settles upon the status quo. When a ransomware negotiation is not what it seems. CISA compels federal agencies to submit their logs. Is that a VPN in your pocket or something more malicious. Be careful what you download, thinking it's AI. A super-clever and super-simple A/V scanner bypass. Will AI write code for me? Another listener discovers the Joy of AI. Steve's CISA Internet scanning experience Show Notes - https://www.grc.com/sn/SN-1070-Notes.pdf Hosts: Steve Gibson and Leo Laporte Download or subscribe to Security Now at https://twit.tv/shows/security-now. You can submit a question to Security Now at the GRC Feedback Page. For 16kbps versions, transcripts, and notes (including fixes), visit Steve's site: grc.com, also the home of the best disk maintenance and recovery utility ever written Spinrite 6. Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts! Support what you love and get ad-free audio and video feeds, a members-only Discord, and exclusive content. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit Sponsors: joindeleteme.com/twit promo code TWIT material.security canary.tools/twit - use code: TWIT adaptivesecurity.com meter.com/securitynow

A prolonged oil disruption is pushing gas prices higher. Arunima Sinha from our U.S. and Global Economics team joins Head of U.S. Policy Strategy Ariana Salvatore to discuss what that means for consumer spending, inflation expectations and the U.S. midterm elections.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Arunima Sinha: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Arunima Sinha from Morgan Stanley's U.S. and Global Economics Teams.Ariana Salvatore: And I'm Ariana Salvatore, Head of U.S. Policy Strategy.Arunima Sinha: Today – what are the implications of the ongoing oil disruption for the U.S. consumer?It's Wednesday, March 18th at 10am in New York.Ariana, let's start with where we are in week three of this particular oil disruption and what you are thinking about in terms of what the paths to resolution could look like.Ariana Salvatore: Yeah. Great place to start. So, I would say before we get into what the resolution could look like, we need to think about how long could this conflict possibly last? And that's the most relevant question for investors as well. And there I would say there's very little conviction just because of the uncertainty associated with this conflict. But I'm keeping my eye on three different things.The first is a clearer prioritization of the objectives tied to the conflict. The Trump administration has laid out a number of different goals for this conflict, some of which are shorter in nature than others. The second thing I think we're looking at – that's really important – is traffic at the Strait of Hormuz. And there, the Trump administration has spoken about insurance, you know, naval escorts – all of these things that we think will take some time to really come to fruition. And at the time that we're recording this, it seems that we're still getting about low single digit number of tankers through the strait on a daily basis. So that's the second thing.The third point I would make is any type of escalation is really critical here. So, whether it's vertical – meaning different types of weapons used, different types of targets being hit. Or horizontal escalation, broadening out into different proxies and, and more so throughout the region. Those are really important indicators, and right now all of these things are pointing to a slightly longer-term conflict than I think most people expected at the start.Now, in terms of what that means for markets, for domestic gasoline prices, all these are really important questions that I'm sure we're going to get into. But what we should note is that the president has spoken about a number of policy offsets to mitigate those price increases, ranging from the Treasury actually loosening up some of the sanctions on Russia to sell some oil. You know, we've heard some talk of invoking the Jones Act waiver. That's a temporary fix.On net, we think that these policy offsets are not going to really be enough to mitigate that supply loss that we're getting. That's a 20 million barrel per day loss. Some of these efforts mainly will, kind of, target about 7 or 8 million barrels per day. You're still in a deficit of about 10 to 13 [million]. And that's really meaningful for markets, for consumption as you well know, and everything else in between.Arunima Sinha: That's really helpful perspective, Ariana. And it's also a useful segue to think about the note that we jointly put out a few days ago. And just thinking about what this means for the U.S. consumer. And there, I think there's the first point to start with is that the consumer is now going to be living through the third supply shock in about five years. So, after COVID, after tariffs, here comes the next. And I think this particular oil shock is going to be somewhat different from tariffs in the sense that this is going to hit consumers at the front end and directly. This is not something that is going to have to pass through business costs. And some of them could be absorbed by businesses and not fully passed on to the consumer. So, I think that's an important point.The second point here is that in terms of the share of spending of gasoline out of total spend, we are at pretty low numbers. We're somewhere in the 2 to 3 percent range. So, it could give a little bit of a cushion. So, the longer-term average can be somewhere about 4 percent. So, there could be some cushion. But we know that consumers have already been stretched by, sort of, several years of high prices.And so, the way that we thought about what some of the channels could be for how higher oil prices, which translate into higher gas prices, could matter for the consumer. I think there are, sort of, three to identify.The first one is that it is really just a hit to your real purchasing power because this is a type of good that is actually really hard to substitute away from. And you could look through some of it, at the start. So maybe in the first month you don't react very much. You pull down on some savings; you take out a little bit of short-term credit.But the longer it lasts, the bigger the consumption response is going to be. And the second channel then to identify is – you start to build up some precautionary savings motives because there's this uncertainty that's also lasting for some time. And what do you pull back on? You'll typically pull back on discretionary types of spending.And so, we sized out this impact to say that if oil prices were to be about 50 percent higher and they last for two to three quarters, it could hit real personal spending growth by about 40 [basis points] after 12 months. And most of that is really just coming from the impact on good spending, specifically through durable goods.So, there could be some meaningful impact to real consumer spending in the U.S., if this shock were to go on longer. And the last point I would just say is, you know, how do inflation expectations move? Because that's an important point for the Fed and it's an important point for just people who are thinking about their spending decisions over the next year or so.And one interesting thing I think came out in the University of Michigan survey that came out this Friday; and this was a preliminary survey. About half of it was conducted before the conflict started, and half of it was after the conflict started. And what we saw was that inflation expectations in the year ahead, so the 12-month-ahead expectations that had been trending down, paused.So, they are no longer trending down. And, in its release, the University of Michigan noted that for the responses that were collected after the conflict started, inflation expectations did tick up. And interestingly, the strains were the most for the bottom income cohort. So, they saw a bigger uptick in inflation expectations. They actually also saw a bigger uptick in their unemployment expectations over the next year.Ariana Salvatore: So, Arunima, if I can ask, we've been talking a lot about the K-shape economy this year, right? So, consumption really being led by the upper; let's call it the upper income cohort. When we think about this translation to consumption, like you said, more of the stresses on the lower income side, how do you square that with the economic impact that you guys are expecting?Arunima Sinha: The way that I would square it is the longer it lasts and the greater the, sort of, uncertainty in asset markets – that might actually begin to weigh on the upper income consumer as well. So that might make some of those wealth effects less supportive, than what we have seen, over most of 2025. Just given where consumption has been running in terms of its pace.So not only might we see a bigger strain on the lower-income cohorts as we see this shock lasting longer, we might actually see some pressures not through the direct spending channel on gas, but really just, you know, how it's impacting their balance sheets.Ariana Salvatore: And that's a really important point because it also, to me, resonates with the concept of affordability, which has been a really key political topic for the past few months, I would say.And the way we're thinking about this is, like I mentioned, there are limited policy offsets that can be used to mitigate the potential increase in domestic gasoline prices. And that matters a lot for the midterm elections. Typically voters don't really rank foreign policy as a top issue when it comes to their choice for candidates – in midterm elections and elections in general.But once you see that feed through to, you know, inflation, cost of living, job expectations, that's when it starts to really matter for people. And what we've been saying, it's not a perfect rule of thumb, but looking back at the past few elections. If gasoline prices here in the U.S. are something like $3 a gallon, that tends to be pretty good for the incumbent party. [$]4 [a gallon], let's say it's a little bit more politically challenging. And [$]5 [a gallon], you know, is when you kind of get into that even more challenging territory for the administration and for Republicans in Congress.So again, not a perfect benchmark, but something that we'll be keeping an eye on too as this conflict evolves.Arunima Sinha: Ok! So, we'll be keeping an eye on how that oil disruption plays out and matters for the U.S. consumer.Ariana Salvatore: Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share thoughts on the market with a friend or colleague today. Important note regarding economic sanctions. This report references jurisdictions which may be the subject of economic sanctions. Readers are solely responsible for ensuring that their investment activities are carried out in compliance with applicable laws.

Jay's YOUTUBE Channel HERE!! https://youtube.com/@schwedelson?si=xh3t_FkFtqCSMd1dA quick movie debate somehow turns into a really useful reality check on modern marketing, which feels exactly right for this series. Jay Schwedelson and Daniel Murray get honest about what is actually moving the needle right now, from YouTube frustrations to why one-off influencer buys usually fall flat. The best part is how practical it gets once they stop pretending every channel is a guaranteed win.ㅤFollow Daniel on LinkedIn and check out The Marketing Millennials podcast for sharp, no-fluff marketing insights. Subscribe to Ari Murray's newsletter at gotomillions.co for sharp, actionable marketing insights.ㅤBest Moments:(02:10) Jay shares that 300 YouTube videos brought views, but barely any meaningful conversions.(03:03) Daniel says one-off influencer deals are usually a weak bet if you want real impact.(04:45) Bigger creator partnerships work better when they are built like a strategy, not a single post.(05:00) March Madness references can give boring content a timely lift in opens, clicks, and engagement.(06:15) Daniel makes the case for building an AI brain with customer data, reviews, and brand voice now.(07:45) Jay says testimonial-only subject lines are quietly driving strong backend conversions.ㅤCheck out Jay's YOUTUBE Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@schwedelsonCheck out Jay's TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@schwedelsonCheck Out Jay's INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/jayschwedelson/ㅤPre-order Jay Schwedelson's new book, Stupider People Have Done It (out April 21, 2026). All net proceeds are donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research—let's kick cancer's butt: https://www.amazon.com/Stupider-People-Have-Done-Marketing/dp/1637635206

In this episode, originally aired on Big Technology Podcast, Olivia Moore discusses whether AI startups can compete with the big chatbots, why American sentiment toward AI is so negative, and what she learned from giving LLMs personality tests. She also breaks down where ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are diverging, why Open Claw signals a new wave of agentic products, and what makes memory the most underrated feature in consumer AI.   Resources: Follow Olivia Moore on X:  https://x.com/omooretweets Follow Alex Kantrowitz on X:  https://x.com/Kantrowitz List to Big Technology Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLADd6sStSis77HKfbf4KCY6SvthfxeUgn   Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind 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.

Welcome to the land podcast, a platform for people looking to educate themselves in the world of land ownership, land investing, staying up to date with current land trends in the Midwest, and hearing from industry experts and professionals.  On today's episode, we are back in the studio talking with Buck Land Funding.  We discuss: Recreational hunting land has evolved into a legitimate and growing asset class. Interest rates and the broader economy heavily influence land buyer demand. Many buyers upgrade farms every few years as stepping stones to larger tracts. Pre-approval dramatically improves a buyer's ability to secure competitive land deals. Consumer debt like truck payments can drastically reduce land buying power. Recreational land values have steadily risen alongside inflation long-term. CRP conversions can turn lower-quality farmland into strong wildlife habitat. COVID accelerated demand as people sought outdoor recreation and privacy. Many land purchases are emotional decisions tied to family memories. And so much more! Get Pre-Approved to Purchase a farm with Buck Land Funding: https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.whitetailmasteracademy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code '⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HOFER' to save 10% off at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theprairiefarm.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Massive potential tax savings: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASMLABS.Net⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Moultrie: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/moultrie_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Hawke Optics: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -OnX: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ -Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/PaintedArrow⁠

Today, I'm joined by Rachel Blank, founder & CEO of Allara Health.   Allara Health delivers in-network virtual care to women, specializing in underserved chronic conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism.   In this episode, we discuss closing the gender care gap.   We also cover:   Building the largest women's health dataset PCOS and endometriosis treatment blind spots Point solution fatigue and consolidation   Subscribe to the podcast → insider.fitt.co/podcast  Subscribe to our newsletter → insider.fitt.co/subscribe  Follow us on LinkedIn → linkedin.com/company/fittinsider    Website: www.allarahealth.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allarahealth/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@allarahealth    -   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 (01:13) Allara's mission (03:25) Inadequate visits for complex conditions (05:26) No FDA-approved PCOS medication (06:25) Innovation in access (07:30) Building research datasets (08:00) Care delivery (10:00) Filling care gaps in the traditional system (11:05) Symbiosis with fertility clinics (12:14) Consumer-first growth strategy (13:05) Combating misinformation (16:02) Branding and marketing (18:30) Point solution fatigue emerging (20:01) Patient-first vs. use case-first (21:25) Consolidation wave coming (22:25) Expansion roadmap (23:22) 50% US commercial coverage today (24:00) The path to profitability (25:00) AI enabling doctors (27:20) Building vs. buying AI solutions (28:20) 2026 priorities (29:50) Conclusion

Adobe is settling a lawsuit with the DOJ. The EU is looking to an alternative office suite. Amazon is removing 4k video streaming for the poors. Meta is doing another round of layoffs, while the company looks to buy MORE AI nonsense. Google sells off their fiber broadband business. Oppo and Vivo announce price increases. Apple launches the AirPods Max 2. Samsung is looking to make benchmarking easier for developers. Google Play Games is offering game trial downloads! Digg is dead. Again. And we can chat about the Steam Frame and Steam Machine news! Let's get our tech week started off RIGHT! -- Show Notes and Links: https://somegadgetguy.com/b/4bT 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.

“What's the end outcome? Focus on the results — not on how I'm doing it. I don't need to talk tough, I don't need to shout. There is an alternate way in solving for things.”Mansi Tripathy is Chairperson of Shell Group of Companies in India and Senior Vice President for Shell Lubricants Asia Pacific. She oversees a $2.5 billion P&L spanning 22 countries, and 9 manufacturing plants. Before Shell, Mansi spent 15 years at Procter & Gamble in roles including Global Director for Gillette and Asia-Pacific Head for Consumer and Market Knowledge. She led the post-acquisition transformation of Gillette's business model and held assignments across India, Singapore, Australia, Geneva, and the US. Mansi holds board positions at Hankook Shell (South Korea), JOSLOC (Saudi Arabia), and MRPL Aviation. Mansi's been recognized among Fortune's Most Powerful Women Asia (2025), Business World's Most Influential Leaders (2025), and received the Woman of the Decade Award from the Women Economic Forum. A trained classical dancer and marathoner with 59 half-marathons completed, Mansi holds degrees from NIT Kurukshetra, SPJIMR, and Kellogg. She lives in India with her husband and two children. You'll enjoy this candid conversation on conviction not as the absence of fear, but as something that overrides it. Whether you're navigating a career pivot, building your leadership style, or just trying to figure out how to balance ambition with boundaries, this one's for you.This conversation is hosted by P&G Alum Sudha Ranganathan, who's spent over 19 years in diverse Marketing leadership roles at companies like P&G, PayPal, and LinkedIn where she's honed her passion for customer-centric marketing and talent development.

NBC's Chief Consumer correspondent Vicky Nguyen has an inside look at driverless freight trucks that haul products from warehouses to stores, how they may result in savings for consumers. Also, Kristin Chenoweth stops by to discuss her role in the new comedy “Stumble” which follows a group of misfits training to compete in a national cheer competition. Plus, Erin Florio, global features director at “Condé Nast Traveler” breaks down the hottest travel trends this year.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Vicky Nguyen describes the art of haggling and which common expenses can be negotiated for maximum savings. Also, Emilie Ikeda is live in Milan to highlight Jack Wallace, a star hockey player who is making his mark on the ice and beyond. Plus, catching up with Alexandria Breckenridge to discuss her leading role in “Virgin River”, Netflix's longest-running series. And, Editor-in-Chief of Apartment Therapy, Charli Penn, highlights some of the best cleaning products if you're in need of a home refresh!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Build the mindset that creates wealth. In today's episode, hosts Kevin Palmieri and Alan Lazaros examine a powerful shift most people never make when it comes to money, identity, and long-term success. Many people focus on earning more, but far fewer examine the thinking patterns that shape how money is used, invested, or wasted.This conversation looks at the difference between short-term emotional decisions and strategic choices that build a stronger future. It also highlights why belief, identity, and personal responsibility influence financial outcomes far more than most people realize. If you want to understand why some people consistently build wealth while others repeat the same financial patterns, this episode challenges the mindset behind every decision involving money._______________________Learn more about:Where learning turns into action. Join “Next Level Book Club”  every Saturday:https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMkcuiupjIqE9QlkptiKDQykRtKyFB5JbhcJoin Next Level Live: Level up your life in 2026. Completely virtual, completely transformative (Saturday, April 11, 2026) - https://www.nextleveluniverse.com/next-level-live/_______________________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.

There's “no need to worry” about the situation in the Strait of Hormuz according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Why RBC Capital Markets is playing hide and seek with consumer staples stocks. And one professor's case for why the Trump Administration needs to tame, not topple, the Islamic Republic.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A number of student groups and grassroots organizations recently called for a day of “No work, no school, no shopping,” to protest immigration enforcement in Minnesota. This comes at a time when consumers are used to seeing reasons not to support certain brands or companies, and worker strikes are up around the country. This hour, we take a look at labor strikes and economic boycotts, when they work, and when they don’t. We discuss what power consumers have, and we explore the history of labor movements and talk about the present moment. GUEST: Americus Reed II: Professor of Marketing at The Wharton School Kim Kelly: Labor reporter for In These Times Magazine. She is the author of Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retail earnings season just wrapped, and the headlines are telling one story while the data tells another. Consumer sentiment is dismal. Tariffs are squeezing margins. Geopolitical uncertainty looms. Yet average retail revenues grew 7-9% in Q4, and consumers keep spending. How do you reconcile these contradictions? Simeon Siegel, Senior Managing Director at Guggenheim Securities and one of Wall Street's most data-driven retail analysts, cuts through the noise with a simple philosophy: "The first thing I look at is revenues. Because it's very easy to conflate growth rates with revenue sizes."In this episode of The Retail Pilot, Ken sits down with Siegel to dissect what's really happening in retail beyond the sentiment surveys and macro doom-scrolling. From Nike's "dying" $47 billion business to Gap's viral comeback, from the D2C myth to why NPS scores should be banned from boardrooms, Siegel brings his signature contrarian analysis backed by hard numbers. This isn't about feelings—it's about what consumers are actually doing with their wallets, which stocks are positioned to win, and why the retail industry's most cherished beliefs might be leading CEOs astray.In this episode you'll learn:Why consumer spending remains strong despite abysmal consumer sentiment—and what that divergence really meansThe revenue vs. narrative disconnect: How Nike can be "dying" with $47-49 billion in salesWhich retail subsectors are winning and losing in the K-shaped economy (hint: it's a market share story, not a demographic one)Simeon's top stock picks for 2026: Why he's bullish on Nike, TJX, Ross, Birkenstock, Planet Fitness, and CapriThe real impact of tariffs on Q4 earnings: What retailers passed through vs. what they absorbedWhy Gap Inc.'s comeback under Richard Dickson is working—and whether it's sustainable beyond the hypeThe one KPI Simeon wants banned from retail boardrooms: Net Promoter Score (NPS) and why it misleads executivesWhy "D2C is not all it's cracked up to be": The data-driven case for wholesale distributionHow the Iran conflict could impact consumer spending, gas prices, and petroleum-based athleisure costsThe department store survival blueprint: What Macy's, Nordstrom, and off-price retailers are getting rightWhy TJ Maxx's lack of e-commerce is actually an asset for moving premium brand inventory "invisibly"Don't forget to subscribe to The Retail Pilot podcast for more conversations with retail industry leaders and visionaries shaping the future of commerce.If you missed our last episode, where Terry Lundgren (former Macy's CEO) and Jan Rogers Kniffen dissect the Saks Global bankruptcy, predict the future of department stores, and reveal why some retailers will survive while others won't, be sure to tune in.Connect with Ken:-Follow Ken Pilot Ventures on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube.Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Over the last three decades, the U.S. wine industry was one of agriculture's biggest premiumization success stories.Demand grew steadily. Vineyards expanded. Wineries multiplied. Capital flowed in. Valuations rose.But today the industry is facing something very different.Consumer demographics are shifting, younger generations drink differently than boomers, new lifestyle trends are emerging, and excess supply is forcing the industry into a painful market correction.In this episode, Paul sits down with Rob McMillan — one of the most respected analysts of the U.S. wine industry and the author of Silicon Valley Bank's widely followed State of the Wine Industry Report.Rob has spent over three decades analyzing the economics, capital cycles, and structural forces shaping wine. His insights have become essential reading for winery owners, investors, and operators across the world.But this conversation goes far beyond wine.It explores what happens when a premium agricultural sector built on long production timelines collides with changing consumer demand.The lessons apply across agriculture — from specialty crops to premium food brands.MEET THE GUESTRob McMillanRob McMillan is Executive Vice President and founder of the Silicon Valley Bank Wine Division and one of the most influential analysts in the U.S. wine industry.For more than three decades, Rob has studied the financial health, demand patterns, and structural shifts shaping the wine business.He is the author of Silicon Valley Bank's annual State of the Wine Industry Report, described by the New York Times as “probably the most influential analysis of its kind.”Rob's insights are widely used by winery owners, investors, journalists, and industry leaders seeking to understand the evolving dynamics of premium wine markets.ABOUT THE PODCASTDiscover the world of agriculture with the Ag Culture Podcast.This podcast explores the global forces shaping agriculture — from emerging technologies and investment trends to shifting consumer behavior and industry innovation.Join Paul Windemuller as he shares conversations with leading thinkers, entrepreneurs, and operators across agriculture.

Could AI transform our economies to produce explosive growth? Most economists are sceptical at best. Anton Korinek of the University of Virginia, leader of the CEPR research policy network on AI, thinks the threshold is closer than those models suggest.In his latest work, Korinek, Tom Davidson, Basil Halperin, and Thomas Houlden, have built a growth model that captures what happens when AI starts automating AI research itself. Automation does two things simultaneously: it accelerates research, and it offsets the diminishing returns that have historically stopped self-improving processes from compounding. Three reinforcing feedback loops: software quality, hardware quality, and general technological progress, each amplify the others. Korinek's findings are more optimistic than even the AI labs' own roadmaps, which focus on software capability alone. The research behind this episode:Davidson, Tom, Basil Halperin, Thomas Houlden, and Anton Korinek. 2026. "When Does Automating AI Research Produce Explosive Growth? Feedback Loops in Innovation Networks." Working paper, January 2026.To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim, and Anton Korinek. 2026. "When Does Automating AI Research Produce Explosive Growth?" VoxTalks Economics (podcast). Assign this as extra listening. The citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About the guestsAnton Korinek is a professor of economics at the University of Virginia. He leads the CEPR Research Policy Network on AI, which is building a community of researchers to understand and anticipate the economic impact of artificial intelligence. He is a member of Anthropic's Economic Advisory Council and was named by Time magazine among the hundred most influential people in AI. His research spanning the economics of transformative AI, growth theory, and the implications of advanced automation for labor markets and inequality has made him one of the most widely cited economists working on these questions. He is also the founder of the Economics of Transformative AI initiative at the University of Virginia, which focuses on the long-run economic consequences of AI systems that approach or exceed human-level capabilities.Visit the CEPR Research Policy Network on AI.Research cited in this episodeDaron Acemoglu's estimate of AI's growth impact. Acemoglu calculated that AI would raise annual growth by approximately 0.07 percentage points, arriving at this figure by multiplying the share of jobs likely to be affected by AI, the fraction of tasks within those jobs that AI could perform, and the productivity gain per task. Korinek argues the estimate was a reasonable description of the AI that existed in 2024 but did not account for the trajectory of capabilities since, nor for the feedback loops between AI progress and further AI development that his own paper models.Recursive self-improvement. The idea that an AI system, once capable enough, could design improved versions of itself, triggering an accelerating cycle of capability gains. The concept was first articulated by John von Neumann in the 1950s and has since become central to debates about transformative AI. All major AI labs, Korinek notes, are working towards some version of this vision; the economic question is whether the resulting growth would be explosive or would be damped by diminishing returns.Semi-endogenous growth models. A class of economic growth models in which long-run growth depends on the scale of the research workforce and the returns to research effort. The canonical insight, associated most closely with Nicholas Bloom and co-authors, is that "ideas get harder to find"; maintaining a given rate of progress requires ever-increasing research investment. Korinek and co-authors use and extend this framework, showing that automation can counteract diminishing returns by replacing human labor with capital in the research process, creating a new feedback loop that was absent from earlier models.Kaldor's balanced growth facts. Nicholas Kaldor's observation, made in the mid-twentieth century, that the major macroeconomic aggregates, including the capital-output ratio, the labor share of income, and the rate of return to capital, remain roughly stable over long periods. Growth economists built their models, including the Solow and Ramsey models, to fit these regularities. Korinek notes that those models were appropriate precisely because they matched the historical data; the question his paper raises is whether the data of the next few decades will look different enough to require a different class of models.Moore's Law. The empirical regularity, observed in computing hardware since the 1960s, that the number of transistors on a chip approximately doubles every two years. Korinek uses chip progress as a calibration benchmark: maintaining that rate of doubling has historically required roughly an eight percent annual increase in the scientific workforce working on chips. This figure allows the model to be parameterised with a real-world measurement of how much additional research input is needed to sustain a given rate of technological progress.Consumer surplus from digital technologies. Korinek raises the problem that GDP statistics are designed to measure market transactions and therefore do not capture the value people derive from digital goods and services beyond what they pay for them. He references research from the Stanford Digital Economy Lab as an example of work attempting to quantify this surplus. The implication for the paper's argument is that explosive AI-driven growth could be underestimated even in the statistics used to monitor it.More VoxTalks Economics episodes"Our Workless Future", an earlier conversation with Anton Korinek from September 2022, in which he set out the case for taking AI's impact on labor markets seriously.Related reading on VoxEUFirms predict an AI productivity boom is coming, a survey of over 5,000 CFOs, CEOs, and executives shows that around 70% of firms actively use AI, particularly younger, more productive firms. They forecast AI will boost productivity by 1.4%, increase output by 0.8%, and cut employment by 0.7% over the next three years.How AI is affecting productivity and jobs in Europe, firm-level evidence on AI's effects in Europe. The authors find that AI adoption increases labour productivity levels by 4% on average in the EU, with no evidence of reduced employment in the short run.From AI investment to GDP growth: An ecosystem view, how the current AI wave is contributing to US GDP, both directly through investment and indirectly through ongoing service flows. 

Tokenized stocks have surpassed $1 billion in total value on-chain, marking a new milestone for the fast-growing real-world asset (RWA) sector. Much of that activity is concentrated among a small number of players: Ondo as the largest tokenized stock platform by value, while xStocks products account for another significant share of the market amongst user count and activity.~This episode is sponsored by Tangem~Tangem ➜ https://bit.ly/TangemPBNUse Code: "PBN" for Additional Discounts!GUEST: Mark Greenberg, Global Head of Consumer and VP at xStocksFollow xStocks on X ➜ https://x.com/xStocksFiTrade xStocks on Jupiter ➜ https://bit.ly/JUPonSolana00:00 intro00:08 Sponsor: Tangem00:46 CLARITY Odds01:16 Senate Passes Housing Bill01:51 Thune Says CLARITY Coming Soon02:25 Tokenized Stocks Explosion Coming02:51 xStocks x Nasdaq Partnership04:39 Traditional Investors Moving Onchain06:22 xStocks on DEX's Upgrade07:40 Netflix on xStocks vs Ondo08:51 Liqudity Problems slowing growth?09:59 Earn Yields on xStocks11:40 Developer Growth12:53 Non-US Stocks coming14:06 Robinhood vs xStocks18:17 LIGHTNING ROUND23:22 outro#Crypto #Solana #ethereum~CLARITY Igniting TRILLION$ into Solana!

Ted Rossman explains how rising gas prices and geopolitical tensions are weighing on consumer sentiment, squeezing lower‑income budgets despite a resilient job market. He warns that uncertainty around inflation, rates, and energy costs could cool travel demand and pressure companies like The Walt Disney Company (DIS) as the Fed tries to manage the slowdown without hurting consumers.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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

Erik Lundh gauges today's economic data, including GDP, and how the conflict in Iran could affect future prints. “It's hard to know” whether to reprice growth expectations yet, “all we really have in this environment are question marks.” He shares his outlook for energy costs and the potential economic fallout of sustained high prices. He's concerned about the U.S. consumer “to a certain extent” as debt and delinquencies rise.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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

Patrick Mueller expects markets to start pulling back even if we see gains next week, arguing that we're overdue. He's rebalancing his portfolio, looking at international equities and fixed income, along with around 20% cash to “pounce” on opportunities. He stresses that investors should pay attention to credit; he believes consumers are worse off than the mainstream story says. Consumer debt is “another bubble that we want to be watching out for” in addition to the “AI bubble.”======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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

How do you design customer experiences that work for everyone when friction isn't the same for everyone? Allyson Witherspoon, Chief Marketing Officer at Nissan, reveals how customer experience has become a core growth strategy—and why most brands are getting it wrong. In this episode, you'll learn how to remove friction for different consumer needs by designing around context and identity. Allyson shares how Nissan creates flexible entry points (like their Rogue hybrid lineup) that address different friction points within the same demographic—from range anxiety to charging concerns to environmental priorities. You'll discover: Why customer experience is now central to the CMO role and business growth How to design tight core experiences with flexible entry points based on consumer context The difference between proximity and research when building authentic customer experiences How internal friction in your organization creates friction for your customers Why consumers ask their ecosystems for answers—and how to show up there The role identity plays in shaping what "frictionless" means for different people Plus, hear from Victoria Lozano, CMO of Crayola, on building brand ecosystems that meet consumers where they are—through products, experiences, and content. Last week, we explored why general market strategies hurt brand growth with Myles Worthington. This week, discover how to serve mass market audiences by infusing identity into every touchpoint of the customer experience. Together, these episodes show the complete picture: marketing strategy that resonates + customer experience that converts = frictionless growth. Learn more about the Frictionless Growth Marketing Framework and take the 2-minute friction diagnostic at www.frictionlessgrowthlab.com/quiz. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 204. Why Most Growth Strategies Underperform -- And the 7C Growth Marketing Framework That Fixes Them | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/204-why-most-growth-strategies-underperform-and-the/id1604907821?i=1000751786391 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/6FMUMdRYqlYPgeYMj18ZlX?si=ce51361d637042d6 Episode 205. General Market Strategies Are Hurting Your Brand Growth. What Smart Brands Are Doing Instead (feat. Myles Worthington) | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/205-general-market-strategies-are-hurting-your-brand/id1604907821?i=1000753667740| Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/003AwA9cDBM1ZbbrKI4P5s?si=277765cc0e884ca0 Episode 198. The Growth Strategy Behind Crayola's Global Initiative Engaging 17 Million Kids | Brand Strategy & Customer Acquisition Case Study | Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/198-the-growth-strategy-behind-crayolas-global/id1604907821?i=1000745298692 | Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3troj0jlYzfBkZ115hERyO?si=0660ab8855ee4398

Freight markets are sending mixed signals right now.Spot rates are ticking up.Tender rejection pockets are appearing across the country.Port volumes are surging in some areas.But underneath those numbers, the broader economy is flashing warning signs.Credit card debt has reached a record $1.28 trillion.Unemployment among college graduates is rising.Consumer spending — especially in big-ticket sectors like home renovation — is slowing down.So what does that actually mean for trucking?In this solo episode of The Long Haul Podcast, we break down the latest SONAR data, port volume trends, and economic indicators to answer one critical question:Is the freight market actually recovering… or are we just seeing temporary noise?If you're an owner-operator or small fleet trying to make decisions in this market, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the headlines. Follow The Long Haul Podcast Other FreightWaves Shows Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the consumer financial services industry. From underwriting and fraud detection to customer engagement and collections, financial institutions are increasingly deploying advanced AI tools to automate processes, personalize services, and improve operational efficiency. We are releasing today, on our Consumer Finance Monitor Podcast show, a discussion of what may be the next major technological shift for the industry: Agentic AI in Consumer Financial Services — AI systems capable of acting autonomously, making decisions, and interacting directly with consumers. The discussion featured Professor Oren Bar-Gill of New York University School of Law, along with Ballard Spahr partners Joseph Schuster and Adam Maarec.  The discussion was hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, the founder and practice group leader for 25 years of the Consumer Financial Services Group and now Senior Counsel. The panel examined how agentic AI differs from earlier forms of automation, the benefits it offers financial institutions and consumers, and the significant legal and regulatory risks it may create. Below are the key takeaways from the discussion. What Is Agentic AI? Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can independently take actions on behalf of users or organizations. Unlike traditional automation, which performs predefined tasks, or generative AI, which primarily produces content, agentic AI systems can: ·                 Make autonomous decisions ·                 Interact directly with consumers ·                 Initiate actions such as transactions or communications ·                 Learn from prior interactions In financial services, these systems may soon conduct customer service interactions, initiate collections calls, execute payments, or manage purchasing tasks for consumers. While these capabilities promise major efficiencies, they also raise complex legal questions regarding accountability, fairness, and consumer protection. Understanding AI-Driven Consumer Harm Professor Bar-Gill framed the discussion by examining potential consumer harms associated with AI-powered decision-making. Drawing on his recent book with Cass Sunstein, Algorithmic Harm: Protecting People in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, he explained that the impact of AI depends largely on the type of market in which it operates.  The book is available on Amazon here. Sophisticated vs. Unsophisticated Markets Bar-Gill distinguishes between: ·                 Sophisticated markets, where consumers are generally able to make informed decisions ·                 Unsophisticated markets, where consumers are more likely to misunderstand complex products In sophisticated markets, AI-driven personalization, such as individualized pricing, can increase efficiency and expand access to products by offering lower prices to consumers with lower willingness to pay. In contrast, in markets involving complex financial products, such as credit cards, mortgages, or insurance, AI-powered personalization may harm consumers who misjudge product costs or benefits. For example, if a consumer mistakenly overestimates the value of a financial product, an AI system may set the price just below that mistaken valuation, leading the consumer to pay more than the product is actually worth. Algorithmic Price Discrimination One area of growing concern is AI-enabled price discrimination, where algorithms tailor prices to each consumer's willingness to pay. Examples cited during the discussion included: ·                 Airlines experimenting with AI-based pricing strategies ·                 Online retail platforms offering individualized prices for identical products ·                 Insurance companies using algorithms to optimize premiums While pricing based on individual risk, such as in insurance underwriting, is widely accepted, pricing based on willingness to pay raises significant consumer protection concerns. As these practices expand, they are likely to attract increased attention from regulators and lawmakers, particularly at the state level. AI Use Cases in Consumer Finance The panel also highlighted several areas where AI is already being deployed across the consumer financial services lifecycle. Marketing and Customer Acquisition Financial institutions are using AI to analyze large data sets and create highly personalized marketing campaigns. Large language models can generate customized messaging tailored to specific demographic groups or individual consumers. While this personalization improves targeting and engagement, it also creates compliance challenges related to: ·                 Misleading advertising ·                 Disclosure requirements ·                 Potential discriminatory targeting Underwriting and Credit Decisions AI-driven underwriting tools allow lenders to analyze alternative data, such as cash-flow information, to assess creditworthiness. These tools may expand access to credit for consumers who previously lacked traditional credit histories. However, they also raise fair lending concerns under laws such as the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and its implementing regulation, Regulation B. Because many AI models operate as "black boxes," institutions may struggle to explain how decisions are made, an issue that can complicate discrimination analyses and regulatory oversight. Fraud Detection AI is particularly powerful in fraud detection, where pattern recognition is essential. Advanced models can analyze transaction behavior in real time to identify suspicious activity while minimizing unnecessary transaction declines. These tools also allow financial institutions to communicate with customers instantly, confirming transactions or investigating suspicious activity through automated interactions. Servicing and Collections Agentic AI may soon conduct both inbound and outbound customer interactions, including: ·                 Customer service conversations ·                 Dispute resolution ·                 Collections calls In some cases, AI-driven voice systems can conduct conversations that are indistinguishable from human interactions. While this technology may improve efficiency and reduce costs, it raises legal concerns about consumer deception, harassment, and compliance with debt collection laws. Core Legal Risks Despite the novelty of the technology, many of the key legal risks arise from existing laws, not new AI-specific statutes. Liability for AI Actions As Joseph Schuster emphasized, AI is a tool, not a liability shield. Institutions remain responsible for the actions of AI systems just as they would for the actions of employees or third-party vendors. Traditional legal doctrines, including agency law, vicarious liability, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices, continue to apply. UDAP Risks AI systems interacting with consumers may create risks under federal and state UDAP laws if they: ·                 Provide inaccurate information ("hallucinations") ·                 Fail to deliver required disclosures ·                 Exhibit overconfidence in uncertain responses ·                 Engage in manipulative behavioral targeting. Fair Lending and Discrimination AI models can unintentionally produce discriminatory outcomes, even when protected characteristics are not used as inputs. As Professor Bar-Gill noted, future litigation may increasingly focus on disparate impact analysis, which examines whether outcomes disproportionately affect protected classes regardless of the model's internal logic. Governance and Risk Management Given these risks, institutions are increasingly adopting governance frameworks for AI deployment. Common practices include: ·                 AI governance committees with cross-functional participation ·                 Model inventories and risk-tiering systems ·                 Vendor due diligence for AI providers ·                 Data mapping and validation processes ·                 Continuous monitoring of AI outputs. Financial regulators are already asking supervised institutions detailed questions about how AI is being used. Institutions that implement structured governance processes are better positioned to respond to these inquiries. The Rise of Agentic Commerce One emerging application of agentic AI involves autonomous purchasing. For example, a consumer might instruct an AI assistant to plan and purchase supplies for a birthday party. The AI would then select vendors, place orders, and initiate payments using the consumer's stored payment credentials. But what happens if AI makes a mistake, such as ordering supplies for 1,000 guests instead of 10? Such scenarios raise difficult questions involving: ·                 consumer authorization ·                 merchant liability ·                 payment network rules ·                 dispute resolution These issues are only beginning to receive attention from regulators and industry participants. Key Takeaways for Financial Institutions The panel concluded with several recommendations for institutions exploring AI deployment. First, distinguish beneficial uses from harmful ones. AI can deliver significant consumer benefits, but firms must remain vigilant about potential misuse or unintended harm. Second, prioritize governance. Robust policies, oversight structures, and risk management processes are essential. Third, remember that existing laws still apply. AI systems must comply with the same consumer protection, fair lending, and disclosure requirements that govern traditional processes. Finally, institutions must recognize that failing to adopt AI also carries risks. As fraudsters increasingly deploy advanced technology, financial institutions may need AI tools simply to keep pace. As AI technology continues to evolve, the legal framework governing its use in financial services will also develop. For now, however, the most important lesson is that innovation must proceed hand-in-hand with careful legal and compliance oversight. Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

March 12, 2026- New York State Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley highlights common consumer complaints received by his department's division of consumer protection and identifies steps being taken to address bad actors.

Citigroup sees export supply constraints centered on the Strait of Hormuz as a catalyst for Dow Inc. (DOW), upgrading the stock to buy from neutral. Diane King Hall talks about the firm's recent note, along with Occidental Petroleum's (OXY) double upgrade from Wells Fargo. On the opposite end of the spectrum, she turns to downgrades across the consumer staples sectors from Wells Fargo that target Campbell's (CPB), General Mills (GIS), and Conagra Brands (CAG). ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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

LikeFolio's Landon Swan previews Ulta Beauty (ULTA) before earnings, noting that the stock and data are both up significantly on a year-over-year basis. The recent stock pullback means that there's “money on the sidelines” and expectations are lower, he argues. One of their strongest points is that they “cover all the bases” in the K-shaped economy, Landon adds, along with a 45 million-strong loyal customer base.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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 presents a comprehensive overview of the current dynamics within the furniture industry, elucidating the multifaceted challenges and opportunities that are shaping the landscape. Foremost among the salient points is the ongoing volatility in the global supply chain, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions that are impacting shipping routes and costs. The recent decline in containerized imports into the United States, while concerning at first glance, is contextualized as part of a broader trend rather than a reflection of diminished demand. Additionally, we delve into emerging product trends, highlighting the shift towards neo-traditional design and the increasing consumer preference for authenticity and customization in furniture choices. As we navigate these developments, it becomes evident that while the industry grapples with uncertainties, it concurrently adapts and evolves, indicating a resilient spirit amidst the complexities of modern commerce.Takeaways:The global supply chain is experiencing significant disruptions due to geopolitical tensions and shipping route changes, impacting furniture pricing and availability.Despite a decline in containerized imports, February still ranks as a strong month for furniture imports, reflecting ongoing demand amidst global uncertainties.Emerging trends in furniture design highlight an inclination towards neo traditional styles, characterized by vibrant colors and intricate patterns, diverging from minimalist aesthetics.Consumer preferences are shifting towards authenticity, with an increasing demand for organic shapes and tactile materials that resonate with modern sensibilities.

Tom Kemp is the Executive Director of CalPrivacy. Previously, he was a Silicon Valley tech entrepreneur and CEO. He volunteered on the California Privacy Rights Act campaign and has advised on major tech policy legislation nationwide, including the Delete Act (SB 362) and AI Transparency Act (SB 942). He is the author of Containing Big Tech. In this episode… California's privacy law evolves once again as its new regulations push companies to move from policy to proof. Privacy risk assessments, cybersecurity audits, and automated decision-making technology requirements introduce new obligations for businesses that process personal information at certain thresholds. Alongside recent CCPA enforcement actions, these new rules reinforce the importance of establishing governance, ensuring technical compliance, and demonstrating accountability. So, what do businesses need to do to stay ahead?  CCPA enforcement actions do not happen in a vacuum. Consumer complaints, website and data flow reviews, and media reports influence investigations that can trigger enforcement actions. Tom Kemp, Executive Director of CalPrivacy, knows this firsthand as he oversees these efforts, along with the rollout of the new CCPA rules. Companies are being evaluated based on real-world user experience. That's why they need to establish governance and strong operational processes that ensure compliance as regulations and consumer expectations evolve. Companies also need to walk a mile in a consumer's shoes and test their websites and mobile applications to ensure they are free of dark patterns and that access, deletion, and opt-out rights function without friction. And when it comes to AI use, companies need to keep in mind that existing CCPA obligations still apply whenever personal information is involved. In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Tom Kemp, Executive Director of CalPrivacy, about the new CCPA regulations, enforcement, and what's next for businesses. Tom explains why the California Privacy Protection Agency transitioned to the CalPrivacy name and how the agency focuses on raising privacy awareness and making it easier for consumers to operationalize their privacy rights. He outlines key timelines and thresholds tied to risk assessments, cybersecurity audits, and automated decision-making obligations and discusses how businesses can leverage existing processes to meet the new requirements. Tom also shares how California's collaboration with other state attorneys general and international regulators is shaping enforcement coordination and privacy oversight.

WIth consumers increasingly skeptical of advertising, what's the real difference between a brand that's being genuinely helpful and one that's just being creepy? Agility requires brands to not just react to consumer behavior, but to anticipate it with smarter technology. It's about shifting from broad assumptions to a nuanced understanding of intent, especially when economic uncertainty changes the rules of engagement. Today we are here at eTail Palm Springs, and we're going to talk about the evolution of performance marketing in an era of signal loss and consumer uncertainty. As traditional methods like third-party cookies fade away, marketers need new tools and strategies that are not just incrementally better, but fundamentally different in their approach to engaging customers and driving results. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome back to the show Jaysen Gillespie, Global Head of Analytics and Product Marketing at RTB House. About Jaysen Gillespie Jaysen Gillespie is a seasoned product and analytics leader with over 15 years in Adtech and data science. As VP of Global Product Commercialization and Analytics at RTB House, he's known for translating insights into simple narratives that marketers can actually use. Whether guiding global teams or speaking on stage, Jaysen has a knack for making performance results understandable and immediately relevant. His focus is always on what drives real business outcomes, not just what looks good on a dashboard. For him, data is only powerful when it leads to smarter decisions and measurable impact. Jaysen Gillespie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaysengillespie/ Resources RTB House: https://www.rtbhouse.com Take your personal data back with Incogni! Use code AGILE at the link below and get 60% off an annual plan: https://aglbrnd.co/r/c43e68ce5cfb321e The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://aglbrnd.co/r/2868abd8085a9703 Drive your customers to new horizons at the premier retail event of the year for Retail and Brand marketers. Learn more at CRMC 2026, June 1-3. https://aglbrnd.co/r/d15ec37a537c0d74 Enjoyed the show? Tell us more at and give us a rating so others can find the show at: https://aglbrnd.co/r/faaed112fc9887f3 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://aglbrnd.co/r/35ded3ccfb6716ba Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company

Do you know where your food comes from? Most of us buy and consume food every single day without understanding who grew it, how it was raised, or what the labels actually mean. What if the fear driving your grocery store decisions is based more on marketing than reality?On this episode of Salad With a Side of Fries, Jenn Trepeck welcomes fifth-generation dairy farmer and environmental scientist Tara Vander Dussen of Discover Ag Podcast and Discover Ag TV for a grounded, no-nonsense conversation about the food system, family farms, organic versus conventional choices, and how consumers can make smarter decisions without the overwhelm. From antibiotic use in dairy farming to the truth about grass-fed beef, water recycling on modern farms, and the impact of imports and tariffs on local agriculture, this episode reframes the conversation and replaces fear with facts.What You Will Learn in This Episode:✅ How the food system is divided between agriculture and big food, and why understanding that distinction helps you shop smarter and reduce unnecessary food fear✅ What the organic label actually means as a farming practice, and how conventional dairy farming maintains strict quality and safety standards that often go unrecognized✅ Why most cattle in the United States spend the majority of their lives on pasture, and what the real difference between grass-fed and grass-finished beef means for your plate✅ How sustainable farming practices like water recycling, on-site veterinarians, and cattle nutritionists reflect a level of animal care and environmental responsibility that rarely makes it into the public conversationThe Salad With a Side of Fries podcast, hosted by Jenn Trepeck, explores real-life wellness and weight-loss topics, debunking myths, misinformation, and flawed science surrounding nutrition and the food industry. Let's dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Breaking down the differences between agriculture and the food industry06:17 Understanding pesticides, glyphosate, and bio-engineered crops as tools in the farmer's toolbox09:13 Why food labels shifted from consumer information to marketing, and how to shop by personal values14:29 The truth about factory farms versus family farms and why 98 percent of dairies are family owned19:10 Conventional dairy quality: antibiotic protocols, testing standards, and why milk is one of the most tested products in the food supply chain25:45 How animal welfare and farm transparency have improved, and the water recycling system on a dairy farm is explained step by step29:29 Grass-fed versus grain-fed beef unpacked and why most cattle spend two-thirds of their lives on pasture36:42 How tariffs and global markets affect dairy farming prices and why grocery store milk prices can mislead38:57 The complicated relationship between consumer demand, imports, exports, and the modern food supplyKEY TAKEAWAYS:

Send a textFinancial scams targeting older adults continue to rise - with billions of dollars lost each year. In this timely Ageless Glamour Girls™ Podcast encore, host Marqueeta Curtis-Haynes revisits her important conversation with identity theft expert Eva Velasquez of the Identity Theft Resource Center about the most common scams impacting women 50+ and how to protect your finances, identity, and peace of mind.From fake shopping sites and delivery-text hoaxes to romance scams, tech-support traps, and emotional “emergency” calls, this episode shares real warning signs, prevention strategies, and trusted resources for support. Because awareness is power - and protecting ourselves is part of aging boldly and wisely.You'll learn what to do immediately if something feels “off,” simple steps to safeguard your identity, and where to get free, confidential help if you've been targeted. CHEERS to Healthy Aging and Joyful Living, Luvvies!*********************ABOUT OUR GUEST:  Eva Velasquez is the President & CEO of the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, which provides free support and guidance to identity crime victims and anyone seeking information on fraud, scams, or data breaches. With more than 30 years of experience in consumer protection, fraud prevention, and victim advocacy, Eva is one of the nation's most respected voices on identity crime. She has been featured on CBS Mornings, NBC Nightly News, The New York Times, Fortune, NPR, CNBC's American Greed, and numerous national outlets. Before joining the ITRC, Eva spent over two decades with the San Diego District Attorney's Office, where she led major initiatives supporting crime victims. She is the recipient of the U.S. Department of Justice National Crime Victim Service Award and the National Consumer League's Florence Kelley Leadership Award. Eva also serves on multiple advisory boards and regularly briefs federal agencies and policymakers on emerging scam trends and consumer risks.RESOURCES & LINKS  Free ITRC Support: www.idtheftcenter.orgMastercard “Anatomy of a Scam”: https://www.mastercard.com/us/en/news-and-trends/stories/2025/anatomy-of-a-scam-episode-one.html Support the showSupport Ageless Glamour Girls™: www.agelessglamourgirls.com www.linkedin.com/in/marqueetacurtishaynes https://www.shopltk.com/explore/AgelessGlamourGirls https://www.youtube.com/@agelessglamourgirls Instagram @agelessglamourgirls Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/agelessglamourgirls Private (AGG) FB Group: The Ageless Café: https://www.facebook.com/groups/theagelesscafe TikTok: @agelessglamourgirls Podcast Producers: Ageless Glamour Girls™ and Purple Tulip Media, LLC

"We can survive" with crude oil hovering around $80, but anything above that will hurt consumers, says Dale Smothers. If the commodity reaches $100 or higher, Dale expects pressures to pinch consumer staple stocks the most and will have much wider global implications. Additionally, "inflation has not been an issue up until this point," says Dale, meaning energy price spikes paired with tariff policy will create a big interest rate conundrum for the Fed. ======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe 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

In this episode, we explore how successful ERP implementations can help consumer companies enhance their operational efficiency, improve data accuracy, and support strategic decision making.

Anish Acharya speaks with Olivia Moore about the latest edition of the a16z Top 100 AI Apps report. They cover why ChatGPT is still 30 times bigger than Claude on web, how the three major platforms are specializing for different users, what global adoption data reveals about cultural attitudes toward AI, and why agents, memory, and voice are about to change everything.   Resources: Follow Anish Acharya on X: https://twitter.com/illscience Follow Olivia Moore on X: https://twitter.com/omooretweets Stay Updated:Find a16z on YouTube: YouTubeFind 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 episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack the economic forces reshaping the restaurant industry. From shrinking profit margins and the K-shaped economy to the rise of technology adoption and long-term demographic pressures, Dr. Moutray delivers a data-driven look at what operators are facing right now — and what they need to do to survive and grow in an increasingly divided consumer landscape.THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Mailwise DBA direct2youTransform Your Direct Mail StrategyInnovative Solutions For Modern Direct Mail Campaigns That Deliver Resultswww.d2upostcards.com#FastCasualNation #RestaurantIndustry #RestaurantEconomicsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support.Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

Consumer discretionary companies are at risk of downgrades and default if the war in the Middle East drags on, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. “We’ll definitely see a bunch of companies that have been holding on finally shake out,” Jody Lurie, a BI credit analyst focused on leisure, travel and lodging, tells Bloomberg News’ James Crombie in this special episode of the Credit Edge podcast. Car rental firms, theme parks and smaller casinos are exposed as rising gas prices crimp consumer spending. The oil rally is a windfall for energy companies, though gains at larger operators may accrue more to equity investors than bondholders. The debt of smaller independent producers may perform better, says Spencer Cutter, who covers the sector for BI.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Consumer sentiment was already trending negative before the war in Iran started, a war that so far has precipitated climbing oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The question is, how much more pessimistic can U.S. consumers get? Also in this episode: Commodities prices surge, we give a brief history lesson on the oil crises of the 1970s, and supermarkets compete for a slice of the Lone Star State's growing population.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Consumer sentiment was already trending negative before the war in Iran started, a war that so far has precipitated climbing oil prices and geopolitical uncertainty. The question is, how much more pessimistic can U.S. consumers get? Also in this episode: Commodities prices surge, we give a brief history lesson on the oil crises of the 1970s, and supermarkets compete for a slice of the Lone Star State's growing population.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

How Behavior-Driven Design Is Defining the Future of the Home KBIS Series 2026, findings and experiences from the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show, recorded live from the KBIS Podcast Studio presented by AJ Madison. This was the second year of this program and we built on last year's show with even more experts in the industry sharing experience, findings and industry-leading insights. KBIS Podcast Studio Resources: KBIS AJ Madison NKBA LUXE Interiors + Design SubZero, Wolf & Cove SKS | Signature Kitchen Suite Hearth & Home Technologies Kitchen365 Green Forrest Cabinetry Midea What happens when home innovation prioritizes real-world habits over flashy, unnecessary features? This conversation explores how a deep understanding of how people use their appliances every day leads to intentional solutions that fit every lifestyle.  Join Justin Reinke, Head of Product Marketing at Midea, and Ryan Shaffer, Sr. Technical Product Planning Engineer at Midea, to discuss how hundreds of hours of in-home observation drive breakthroughs in everything from acoustic comfort to specialized hygiene. By analyzing universal pain points—like the rise of sustainable drinkware and open-concept living—we examine the R&D required to make daily chores easier through practical, performance-driven design that works harder for the household. For decades, appliance innovation followed a predictable formula: more features, more technology, more complexity. Digital displays replaced analog controls. Connectivity introduced remote operation. Artificial intelligence promised optimization. But somewhere along the way, innovation lost sight of its most important objective—serving the human being. Today, that philosophy is changing. At KBIS 2026, one of the most important conversations wasn't about technology itself, but about behavior. Appliance manufacturers are increasingly recognizing that true innovation does not begin in engineering labs. It begins in homes—watching how people live. This shift represents a fundamental evolution in product development. Instead of asking what technology can do, manufacturers are asking what people actually need. Consider the refrigerator. It is opened dozens of times each day, often absentmindedly, during moments of distraction, urgency, or fatigue. Every movement—the height of a shelf, the accessibility of a drawer, the ease of filling a glass—shapes the user's experience. These micro-interactions define whether an appliance feels intuitive or frustrating. Similarly, dishwashers must now accommodate modern behavioral realities. Reusable bottles, travel tumblers, and complex accessories require flexibility that traditional rack designs never anticipated. Washing machines must operate quietly enough to coexist within open-plan homes, where appliance noise becomes part of the lived environment. These are not technological problems. They are human problems. The most forward-thinking manufacturers have embraced observation as their primary design tool. By studying real households, engineers and designers can identify friction points invisible in traditional research. The goal is not to add features, but to remove obstacles. This approach also challenges the industry's historical obsession with specifications. Feature lists do not guarantee usability. Connectivity does not guarantee convenience. Technology that requires explanation has already failed its most important test. The future appliance must be intuitive. It must integrate seamlessly into daily routines, supporting behavior rather than disrupting it. It must operate quietly, reliably, and predictably. It must reduce mental load, not increase it. Perhaps most importantly, it must respect the reality that appliances are not aspirational objects. They are functional infrastructure. They exist to support life, not define it. This shift toward behavior-driven design reflects a broader maturation of the appliance industry. Innovation is no longer measured by novelty, but by invisibility. The best appliances do their job so well that users never think about them at all. In the end, the future of appliances will not be defined by how advanced they are. It will be defined by how effortlessly they serve the people who depend on them every day. Behavior as the Foundation of Innovation Product development begins with observing real-world habits. Behavioral insights reveal needs consumers rarely articulate. Design solutions prioritize intuitive use over technical novelty. Practical Innovation vs Feature Saturation Most consumers use only a small percentage of available features. Simplification improves usability, adoption, and satisfaction. Innovation must solve real problems—not marketing problems. Appliances as Infrastructure for Daily Life Refrigerators open dozens of times daily, making ergonomic design critical. Dishwashers, washers, and refrigeration now integrate into behavioral routines. Appliances increasingly support lifestyle efficiency, not just task completion. Noise Reduction and Environmental Integration Open floor plans make acoustic performance essential. Quiet operation improves perceived quality and livability. Engineering focus has expanded beyond performance to experiential comfort. Replacement Market Realities and Design Flexibility Most appliance purchases are replacements, not full remodels. Products must integrate visually and functionally with mixed-brand kitchens. Flexible, accessible design supports long-term usability. Sustainability Through Longevity and Efficiency Sustainability now includes durability, waste reduction, and performance efficiency. Better storage and preservation reduce food waste. Long product lifecycles contribute to environmental responsibility.

Musk is in court trying to explain tweets that shook up company stock prices. LibreOffice scores a win against the EU. Oracle is slashing jobs as data center funding dries up. Nvidia slowing investments in OpenAI, and OpenAI hits the brakes on Adult Content. Google is absolutely ripping off websites and hurting their traffic. Vivo is showing off some hot new BIG camera sensors on the X300 Ultra. And we have to chat about these new MacBooks! Let's get our tech week started off RIGHT! -- Show Notes and Links: https://somegadgetguy.com/b/4bC 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.

The Hidden Lightness with Jimmy Hinton – 43% of Americans say they could not cover a $1,000 emergency expense without borrowing money or going into debt. Millions of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Savings rates remain low. Consumer spending continues to rise, but much of that spending is being fueled by credit rather than financial stability...

### HEADLINE: THE TAX CODE ORIGINS OF HIGH AMERICAN HEALTHCARE COSTS SUMMARY:Veronique de Rugy traces modern healthcare expenses to a 1920s tax error and advocates for health savings accounts to restore consumer control and transparency. GUEST: Veronique de Rugy NUMBER: 13 (13)NOVEMBER 1899

Let's pull back the curtain on the "AI gold rush" to reveal a staggering reality: last year alone, businesses lost $285 billion on failed AI initiatives. While social media is flooded with "get rich quick" app builders, the corporate world is facing a massive ROI crisis. Brought to you by - http://www.ojoy.ai The Trillion-Dollar Opportunity in 2026 We are currently standing at the precipice of an AI Apocalypse. But for those who know how to navigate it, this represents the single greatest economic opportunity in history. As traditional job markets face a "tsunami" of disruption, a new class of AI Producers is rising to claim the future. Key Highlights From This Episode: The Failure Rate: Why 95% of the $300 billion spent on AI last year failed to produce a return on investment. The 2025-2026 Layoff Wave: Analysis of the 1.17 million U.S. layoffs in 2025 and why companies like Amazon and Meta are pivotally shifting toward AI-integrated roles. The 0.05% Club: Why only 1 out of every 2,000 people actually knows how to build consistent, functional AI applications. The "Magic Trick" to Prompting: Why you should stop telling AI what to do and start asking it how to train itself. Trillion-Dollar Projections: Why the IDC and Pearson project up to $6.6 trillion in losses for the U.S. economy due to AI illiteracy. Critical Stats & Data Mentioned: Statistic Source/Context $285 Billion Total money lost on failed AI projects last year. 1.17 Million U.S. workers laid off in 2025 (Challenger Gray Report). 2.5x Profitability Increase in revenue for companies properly using AI (Accenture). $300 Million Meta's contract offers for top-tier AI talent. "AI is hitting the labor market like a tsunami, and most countries and most businesses are not prepared for it." — International Monetary Fund (IMF) The Producer vs. The Consumer By 2027, if you haven't mastered the ability to make AI work consistently, you risk becoming irrelevant in the white-collar workforce. This episode breaks down how to move from a Consumer—someone who just uses ChatGPT for recipes—to a Producer who can build automated workflows, research tools, and content engines. What's Next? Are you ready to join the 0.05%? Stop watching the "30-second app" tutorials and start learning how to think differently about human-AI collaboration.

The K-shaped consumer is redefining the outlook for the U.S. economy. While overall spending remains resilient, growth is increasingly concentrated among higher-income households, creating widening gaps across income levels. As policy shifts, AI adoption, and healthcare innovations reshape behavior, the consumer landscape is becoming more uneven.In this episode of The Bid, host Oscar Pulido is joined by Lisa Yang, Portfolio Manager and Co-Head of the Consumer Industry Group within BlackRock Fundamental Equities, to assess the state of the U.S. consumer heading into 2026. From wage growth and labor market dynamics to fiscal policy, tariffs, and immigration, Lisa explains how macro forces are influencing spending patterns — and why resilience is strongest at the high end. The conversation also explores structural shifts shaping stock market trends, including the rise of value-focused retailers, the impact of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs on food and apparel demand, and how AI-driven “agentic commerce” could transform retail media and brand discovery. As capital markets digest these changes, understanding the nuances of consumer behavior is critical for investors.Key insights from this episode:02:11 Introducing The "Two Speed Consumer"04:26 Yellow Flags Ahead - Why the U.S. Consumer Remains Resilient But increasingly K-shaped05:46 Policy Shocks 2026 - How fiscal policy and tariffs could widen income-driven spending gaps08:45 Why Value Retailers and Discounters are Outperforming12:01 GLP One Ripple Effects - How GLP-1 Drugs Are Reshaping Grocery, Apparel, and Beauty categories14:40 How AI Will Change Shopping Trends - What agentic commerce means for retailers, brands, and advertising models17:43 Other Trends Watchlist - Why Health and Wellness Remains A Durable Long-term Consumer Trend20:02 ConclusionsK-shaped economy, U.S. consumer spending, AI in retail, GLP-1 drugs, capital markets, stock market trends, consumer investing, megaforcesSources: “Advance Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services” February 2026, United States Census Bureau; US Bureau of Economic Analysis (PCE data); FRED 2026, Bureau of Labor Statistics; Wage Growth Data, January 2026, Federal Reserve of Atlanta; Tax refunds per Morgan Stanley, Piper Sandler estimates; “US food outlook 2026”, Bernstein; “GLP-1 Boom Accelerates Nationwide Shift in Size Curves, Putting $5 Billion in U.S. Apparel Retail Inventory at Risk, According to New Impact Analytics Study”, Global Newswire, September 2025This content is for informational purposes only and is not an offer or a solicitation. Reliance upon information in this material is at the sole discretion of the listener. Reference to any company or investment strategy mentioned is for illustrative purposes only and not investment advice. In the UK and non-European Economic Area countries, this is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. In the European Economic Area, this is authorized and regulated by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. For full disclosures, visit blackrock.com/corporate/compliance/bid-disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Anthropic's surge and OpenAI's latest updates highlight how the consumer AI race is becoming about far more than model benchmarks. This episode explores the questions that will actually shape the outcome—from vibes vs performance to agents, multimodality, monetization, switching costs, and ecosystem lock-in. In the headlines: OpenAI reportedly building a GitHub rival, Meta reorganizes its AI teams, Amazon explores ads in AI chatbots, and Stripe introduces token-based billing for AI apps.PLEASE CONTRIBUTE TO OUR FEB AI USAGE PULSE SURVEY: https://aidailybrief.ai/pulse-surveyWant to build with OpenClaw?LEARN MORE ABOUT CLAW CAMP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://campclaw.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Or for enterprises, check out: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://enterpriseclaw.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Brought to you by:KPMG – Agentic AI is powering a potential $3 trillion productivity shift, and KPMG's new paper, Agentic AI Untangled, gives leaders a clear framework to decide whether to build, buy, or borrow—download it at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.kpmg.us/Navigate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mercury - Modern banking for business and now personal accounts. Learn more at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://mercury.com/personal-banking⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rackspace Technology - Build, test and scale intelligent workloads faster with Rackspace AI Launchpad - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://rackspace.com/ailaunchpad⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Blitzy - Want to accelerate enterprise software development velocity by 5x? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://blitzy.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Optimizely Agents in Action - Join the virtual event (with me!) free March 4 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.optimizely.com/insights/agents-in-action/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AssemblyAI - The best way to build Voice AI apps - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.assemblyai.com/brief⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LandfallIP - AI to Navigate the Patent Process - https://landfallip.com/Robots & Pencils - Cloud-native AI solutions that power results ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://robotsandpencils.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Agent Readiness Audit from Superintelligent - Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://besuper.ai/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠to request your company's agent readiness score.The AI Daily Brief helps you understand the most important news and discussions in AI. Subscribe to the podcast version of The AI Daily Brief wherever you listen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pod.link/1680633614⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Our Newsletter is BACK: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://aidailybrief.beehiiv.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Interested in sponsoring the show? sponsors@aidailybrief.ai

The Minimalists talk about relapsing into consumerism, purchases that make you a bad minimalist, living small in a big world, and much more. Discussed in this episode: Do no-buy challenges create lasting change in our consumption habits—or are they just temporary detoxes before we relapse into old spending patterns? (2:06) What's the last thing you bought that made you feel like a "bad" minimalist? (22:16) Right Here, Right Now: Simplehaven Retreat and Uncluttered Faith (49:50) Listener Tip: Live small, and question everything you bring into your home. (53:13) Have a question for the show? Call 406-219-7839 or email a voice memo to podcast@themins.com. Listen to the full Maximal episode on Patreon: patreon.com/theminimalists Detailed show notes: minimalists.com/podcast

This is a free preview of a paid episode (38 min), exclusively available on our subscriber-only premium feed. Become a premium subscriber to tune into the full episode: ⁠https://cubicletoceo.co/podcast⁠ Questions about our premium podcast subscription? Send us a DM ⁠@cubicletoceo Dana Hork is a transformational brand leader, entrepreneur, and founder and CEO of Beers with Friends, an agile creative agency helping ambitious brands solve high stakes creative challenges in just five days. Dana partners with founders, CMOs and marketing leaders to unlock fast, high impact brand solutions through the agency's signature beer run sprint approach, delivering expert driven creativity without the bureaucracy of traditional agencies. And it's actually this exact beer run strategy that really caught our eye. Continuing our series on unique ways to market a service, product, or offer in 2026, Dana shares why her agency packages their services like a direct-to-consumer beer brand. This case study unlocks how this unexpected positioning keeps Beers With Friends memorable and their client pipeline full. Connect with Dana: www.bwfagency.com IG: @getbeerswithfriends https://www.linkedin.com/in/danahork/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/beerswithfriends https://youtube.com/@beerswithfriends If you enjoyed today's episode, please: Post a screenshot & key takeaway on your IG story and tag us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@cubicletoceo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ so we can repost you. ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠our premium feed⁠⁠ for case-study style interviews every Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unveiling Coinbase's "Everything Exchange" with Head of Consumer and Platform BD Mark Troianovski. In today's Markets Outlook, Coinbase Head of Consumer and Platform Business Development Mark Troianovski joins CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie to unveil the platform's massive expansion into 24/5 stock and ETF trading for US users. He breaks down the vision for an "everything exchange" that blends crypto, equities, and prediction markets. - Timecodes: 01:10 - Coinbase Launches Stock Trading to U.S. Customers02:40 - Coinbase's Partnership with Yahoo! Finance and Integration03:55 - Will AI Agents Trade Stocks and Crypto for You?05:14 - Competing with TradFi Exchanges and Coinbase's "Sweet Spot"07:21 - Is Coinbase the Next "Everything App" for Finance?s - This episode was hosted by Jennifer Sanasie.

Make The American Consumer Great Again __ by Ron Paul Liberty Report

Consumer surveys show us Americans think inflation will climb in the coming years. That belief could be one reason inflation actually does climb. See, when consumers think inflation will accelerate, it affects their spending decisions. And those choices aren't without consequence. Also in this episode: Anthropic loosens its safety pledge to compete with other AI firms, video game sales could break records in 2026, and outgoing Atlanta Fed president Raphael Bostic discusses leadership at the central bank.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.