Podcasts about Costco

Fender declared war on guitar makers. Lululemon declared war on Costco. Ugg declared war on Quince. Welcome to the era of the dupe product wars. This episode was produced by Peter Balonon-Rosen, edited by Jolie Myers and Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Gabriel Dunatov, engineered by David Tatasciore and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram. Photo by Francois LOCHON/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. Transcript at ⁠vox.com/today-explained-podcast.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We talk about the downfall of Phil Mickelson, Dave being in on a construction project, World Cup action, Dave wonders what the move is here, and is Costco selling The Nutbuster? Support us on Patreon and receive weekly episodes for as low $5 per month: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/circlingbackpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Watch all of our full episodes on YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.youtube.com/washedmedia⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Shop Washed Merch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.washedmedia.shop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ • (00:00) Fun & Easy Banter • (16:00) What's up with Phil? • (30:10) Dave is now a part of a construction project • (38:35) World Cup! • (53:00) What's the move here? • (1:04:10) The Nutbuster Support This Episode's Sponsors: - Bonobos: For 25% off your order, head to ⁠https://bonobos.com/steam⁠ and use code STEAM. - Storyblocks: ⁠https://storyblocks.com/steam⁠ for 15% OFF annual plans - Lucy: Go to ⁠⁠https://lucy.co/steam⁠⁠ and use promo code (STEAM) to get 20% off your first order. - Shopify: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at ⁠https://shopify.com/circling Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is investing ethical? Can you build wealth, pursue financial independence, and still invest according to your values? Scott and Mindy tackle one of the biggest questions in personal finance, exploring ethical investing, ESG investing, capitalism, index funds, and the moral trade-offs that come with building long-term wealth. They discuss whether investing in companies like Tesla, Costco, or tobacco companies can ever be ethical and how to think critically about aligning your portfolio with your beliefs. The conversation also examines whether pursuing financial independence is itself an ethical goal. This episode offers a thoughtful framework for making investment decisions that reflect your principles. To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you're starting. Let's get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Patrick, Mr. Kirkland himself, has made the trip to the east coast to meet up with Chia and Rob, which can only mean one thing: Rob's breaking in his brand new Costco membership under the tutelage of the master himself. Listen in as we wander the liminal space of the Costco parking lot, marvel at the sights and sounds of the Costco produce fridge, and pay our respects to the humble chicken bake.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the second hour of Stokely and Evans with Mark Schlereth, they discuss how much they and the Avs will miss Val Nichushkin after the trade. Mike rants about Costco shoppers. Stink explains why he thinks the Broncos could’ve won the Super Bowl if the Broncos had a healthy Bo Nix. How much pressure are Sean Payton and Bo Nix under going forward? Is it Super Bowl or Bust for the Broncos now? What’s Trending? The Avs’ strategy is clear, a good loss for Team USA, and a wildcard run for the Rockies?  

Jacques Spitzer is a 4x Emmy® award-winning creative agency founder who was named to AdWeek's Agency Vanguard as one of the top 20 leaders shaping the future of advertising. His agency, Raindrop, has generated billions in campaign sales for powerhouse brands like Dr. Squatch, Native and Grüns and insurgent brands like Good Culture, Hello Panda, Magic Spoon and more. Raindrop's creative force has been showcased by their work on three Super Bowl campaigns and their recent execution of the largest brand launch in Procter & Gamble history for Spruce. As a champion for the next generation of disruptive companies, Jacques serves as a strategic advisor to high-growth CPG brands that Raindrop Ventures has uniquely helped launch and invested in, including Grüns, Laundry Sauce, ForAll, VitaWild, Maeva and Magic Mind. With a trophy case boasting over 50 advertising awards, Jacques' work is consistently recognized for its rare blend of viral creativity and massive ROI. His insights have been featured in Forbes, AdAge, and Entrepreneur Magazine.  He was recently named one of the “most influential people in San Diego” by the San Diego Business Journal and one of “California's most visionary CEOs” by the Los Angeles Times, who noted: “Raindrop's creative success and results have put San Diego on the map for creative work across the country.” In addition to his work in advertising, Spitzer helped produce the full-length documentary Wampler's Ascent, which won over 38 international film festival awards. In This Conversation We Discuss:  [00:00] Intro [02:43] Scaling Ecommerce through storytelling  [04:41] Maximizing current growth channels first  [08:14] Managing multiple priorities as a founder [10:11] Shifting from product to customer worth [15:26] Callouts [15:36] Overcoming a leader's limiting beliefs  [24:03] Taking balanced risks to protect equity  [25:17] Combining math with strategic stories Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Marketing that people love raindrop.agency/    Follow Jacques Spitzer linkedin.com/in/jspitzer5/    If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

INTRO (00:24): Kathleen opens the show drinking a Bluegill Light Lager from 4 By 4 Brewing Company in Springfield, MO. She reviews her week golfing at Bass Pro Shop founder Johnny Morris's Big Cedar Lodge with friends.   TOUR NEWS: See Kathleen live on her “Day Drinking Tour.”   TASTING MENU (1:20): Kathleen samples limited edition World Cup themed Ritz Crackers, limited edition Miller Lite Beer Cheese Burger Pringles, and Australian Tim Tam cookies.    QUEEN NEWS (43:26): Kathleen shares that Taylor Swift was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame and supported fiancé Travis Kelce at Tight End University, and Dolly Parton is releasing a line of “A Cup of Ambition” coffee at her Buc-ee's like “Dolly's Tennessean Travel Stop.”   HOLLYWOOD HAPPENINGS (15:04): HollyBobby provides the latest news in Hollywood.   UPDATES (48:26): Kathleen shares updates on Jelly Roll filing for divorce from Bunnie XO, Nancy Guthrie's 2nd ransom note confirmed her death, and a man with no legs makes history by climbing Everest using only his arms.   HOLY SHIT THEY FOUND IT (1:09:50): Kathleen reads about the resurgence of the Cozumel Dwarf Fox.   WHAT ARE WE WATCHING (24:16): Kathleen recommends watching “Maternal Instinct” on Netflix, “I Will Find You” on and “Outrageous” on BritBox.    SPORTS NEWS (53:20): Kathleen reports on Scottish fans donating nearly $30K to charities for welcoming them in for World Cup games, Europeans are buying up Ranch dressing to take home from World Cup trips, and Kraft is rolling out a TSA compliant Ranch dressing.   FRONT PAGE PUB NEWS (1:18:22): Kathleen shares articles on Johnny Morris's donations of fishing rods and reels to schoolchildren, Costco shoppers are hoarding Australian Tim Tam cookies, Pope Leo will hold an iconic mass at Spain's Sagrada Familia, Commodore is bringing back the flip phone, a Magritte painting has been damaged by a child with a pine cone, and police allege that an Air Canada pilot flew for years without a proper captain's license.    SPANISH PHRASE OF THE WEEK (1:26:33): The Spanish phrase to learn this week is “a qué distancia está el aeropuerto?” or “how far is it to the airport” in English.    SAINT OF THE WEEK (1:33:13): Kathleen reads about Macarius the Younger of Alexandria, the patron saint of pastry makers.    FEEL GOOD STORY (1:29:26): Kathleen shares a story of a British hospital that created an outdoor ICU for patients. 

Jeff and Jordan are back from their trips and catching up on everything—from an accidental Costco line-cutting incident and a surprisingly passionate chip debate to Disney ride mishaps, Father's Day memories, and the question nobody saw coming: why don't bald guys just tattoo hair on their heads? A fun, chaotic, and laugh-filled episode you won't want to miss.We would love your feedback... If you enjoyed this episode, tell us why! Leave us a review and make sure you subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.Executive Producers are Riley Peleuses + Ian McNeny for YEA Media GroupIf you are interested in advertising on this podcast or having Jeff and Jordan as guests on your Podcast, Radio Show, or TV Show, reach out to podcast@yeamediagroup.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

CostCo just dropped their Kirkland Signature wedges! Nelly Korda finally got her Women's US Open Victory. More Gear stuff dropped these past weeks so stay tuned for TaylorMade, Maxfli and Kirkland's offerings. 00:00 Welcome Back 02:05 Nelly Korda WITB 05:41 Tour Roundup 08:45 New Maxfli Ball 16:47 Kirkland Wedges 24:39 Mizuno's M13 Recall 33:03 TM Performance Stripe Ball

John Prinz shares his story of replacing 1,100 mg/day OxyContin with medical cannabis, positioning him as an early "patient zero" in opioid-to-cannabis transition. A 1992 workplace injury at Simpson Paper in Anderson, CA led to five spinal surgeries, hardware implantation, and a spinal cord injury diagnosis, setting the foundation for extreme opioid dependency. At peak dosage around 2004–2005, John was prescribed over 1,100 mg of OxyContin daily alongside 13 other medications — far exceeding the typical 20–40 mg average — before the opioid epidemic was officially recognized. Dr. Lester Grinspoon's book "Marijuana, the Forbidden Medicine" was the turning point, leading John to recognize opioids as legal heroin and motivating his decision to pursue cannabis as a replacement. Transition off opioids took approximately 18 months of withdrawal, during which John developed his cannabis olive oil formula "Fusatima" — progressing from smoking to edibles to concentrated olive oil infusions. Fusatima is made with 3 liters of Costco olive oil and 1 lb of high-quality cannabis, slow-cooked at 180°F; one tablespoon yields ~300 mg combined THCA/THC, with a full dose of 4 tablespoons twice daily reaching ~2,400 mg. Lower heat during preparation preserves more THCA (non-psychoactive), while higher heat converts it to THC — allowing dosage customization depending on whether patients want psychoactive effects. THCA capsules made from raw, unheated cannabis are recommended for patients who want pain relief without the high, broadening the formula's accessibility. Post-surgery use at UCSF in June 2025 demonstrated Fusatima's clinical viability — John used no opioids after his sixth back surgery, self-administering the formula four days post-op with his surgeon's awareness. John's pain doctor Dr. Michael H. Moskowitz documented cannabis use in monthly medical records from 2005 to 2021, and those papers have since been used to educate other patients and gain acceptance from Medicare and Social Security. Advocacy efforts included writing Senator Dianne Feinstein starting in 2009, which John credits as contributing to OxyContin's removal from the market by 2011–2015, and writing Senator Obama in 2007 requesting rescheduling. Fentanyl's rise on the streets is directly linked to forced opioid withdrawal — patients lost prescriptions without a sanctioned alternative, and cannabis remains underutilized due to stigma even among marijuana advocates. Trump's executive order rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III is seen as a pivotal moment, though pharmaceutical companies including Jazz Pharmaceutical (105 patents), Pfizer (25), and Bristol-Myers Squibb (36) are positioned to commercialize it. Getting Fusatima into pharmacies — regardless of who manufactures it, including potentially a Sackler-backed company — is the stated goal, as insurance reimbursement only becomes possible once it reaches the pharmacy system. Core takeaway: growing your own cannabis is the most reliable path to access and affordability — patients who don't grow will struggle to maintain supply, and self-sufficiency is framed as the foundation of medical freedom. Visit our website: CannabisHealthRadio.comDiscover products and get expert advice from Swan ApothecaryFollow us on Facebook.Follow us on Instagram.Find us on Rumble.Keep your privacy! Buy NixT420 Odor Remover Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week’s Pirate Street Journal episode covered three topics that, on the surface, seem unrelated: the SpaceX IPO and its acquisition of AI coding startup Cursor, the rise of plug-in solar panels for everyday consumers, and KFC’s ambitious brand overhaul. But at the end, each story carries a deeper lesson about how categories are born, how they grow, and what separates winners from everyone else. The Pirate Street Journal is a business show with a simple but provocative premise: the Wall Street Journal does not know how business really works. Not because its journalists are incompetent, but because mainstream business media obsesses over companies, products, and technologies while almost completely ignoring market categories. Hosted by Christopher Lochhead alongside Eddie and Bri, the show takes three major business stories each week and examines them through the category design lens. The result is a sharper, more useful read on what is actually happening in the economy and why it matters. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go.   SpaceX Did Not Just Buy a Startup, It Bought a Category SpaceX went public last Friday, and by Tuesday it had become one of the five most valuable companies in America, surpassing Amazon with a market cap of roughly $2.5 trillion. Days later, SpaceX agreed to acquire Cursor, an AI coding startup founded by four MIT students in 2022, for $60 billion in stock. Cursor had been valued at around $29 billion just months earlier, so SpaceX effectively paid double almost overnight. Most coverage focused on the eye-popping price tag and the fact that Cursor has roughly 20 employees. But Christopher argues that framing misses the point entirely. SpaceX did not make a consolidation play, where a company in a mature market acquires a competitor to cut costs and grab market share. This was an acceleration play. What SpaceX purchased was the category king position in a brand new and rapidly growing software category: AI tools for building software with AI. Cursor’s founder called it a new type of software, and he meant it. SpaceX, which already owns the bottom of the AI infrastructure stack through its Colossus supercomputer and orbital data center ambitions, just bought its way into the top of that stack through applications.   Plug-In Solar Is Not a Green Hobby, It Is a New Category Forming in Real Time Over a million households in Germany have installed plug-in solar panels that hang from a balcony and connect directly to a wall outlet in under an hour. Each unit is capped at around 800 watts and costs roughly $500. In states like California and Hawaii, where electricity runs 30 to 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, the panels pay for themselves in three years or less. Nine US states have already legalized the technology, with more than 20 others working on similar legislation. Eddie points out that traditional rooftop solar remained a luxury product because of permitting costs and installation complexity. Stripping those barriers away creates a fundamentally different category: distributed, consumer-owned power sold at Costco prices. The real power here is the network effect. One household with solar panels feeding back into the grid is a novelty. One million households doing it is a functioning power plant. Ten million changes the entire economics of the American grid, reduces peak demand costs, and buys the country time while large-scale nuclear and orbital solar infrastructure are developed. As Christopher notes, when a category is designed to produce radical abundance and includes a network effect, the compounding impact becomes truly transformational.   KFC Is Trying a New Look, But the Real Problem Is the Category Model Underneath KFC operates more than 3,600 locations in the United States, which is actually more than Chick-fil-A. And yet Chick-fil-A generates roughly $7.5 million per store each year while KFC pulls in under $2 million, despite being closed every Sunday. KFC’s response is a sweeping rebrand: new sauces, a boba and shakes drink line, immersive restaurant screens, a new logo, and a redesigned loyalty program. Eddie explains that the three things that actually drive success in quick service restaurants are beverages, speed of service, and the drive-through. Some of KFC’s moves make sense on the beverage side, since margins on drinks are far higher than on food. But expanding the menu risks slowing down service, which undermines the entire premise of the category. The deeper issue is structural. KFC is owned by Yum Brands, which for years co-located KFC with Taco Bell, confusing both the consumer and the category. Chick-fil-A, by contrast, is private, has an extraordinarily selective operator model, and charges just $10,000 for a franchise because it is looking for missionaries rather than mercenaries. That ownership clarity and cultural alignment is what produces four times the revenue per store, and no amount of boba or new signage is likely to close that gap without addressing what is happening underneath the brand. To hear more from The Pirate Street Journal, download and listen to this episode. You can also read more Pirate Street Journal entries in the Category Pirates newsletter.   We hope you enjoyed this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different™! Christopher loves hearing from his listeners. Feel free to email him, connect on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and subscribe on Apple Podcast / Spotify!

Most jam brands are built on sugar. Good Good built a business by taking it out. In this episode, Good Good founder and CEO Gardar Stefansson discusses how the Icelandic brand evolved from a struggling stevia startup into a rapidly growing platform of no-added-sugar spreads now sold in approximately 10,000 U.S. stores and 30 countries worldwide.  He shares lessons from scaling across major retailers, navigating pricing and promotions, developing products consumers love, and building a premium brand in an increasingly competitive category. Gardar also explains why packaging is a company's most powerful marketing asset and why getting consumers to try your product remains the key to driving repeat purchases and long-term growth. Show notes: 0:20: Gardar Stefansson, Co-Founder & CEO, Good Good – Gardar discusses the origins of Good Good, which launched in 2016 as a stevia sweetener company before pivoting to a no-added-sugar jam recipe that ultimately became the foundation of the business. He explains how "No Added Sugar" evolved into the brand's core message and describes Good Good's growth strategy as it expanded across retail channels including Whole Foods, Costco, Walmart, and Amazon. Gardar emphasizes the importance of leveraging syndicated retail data, in-store merchandising, promotions, and digital marketing to build awareness and drive trial. He argues that packaging and messaging are a brand's most effective marketing tools, noting that shelf presence is its most valuable real estate. He also discusses Good Good's disciplined approach to innovation, explaining how the company balances consumer demand, retailer expectations, and product quality when developing new products, including peanut butter and chocolate spreads. Throughout the conversation, Gardar highlights a relentless focus on getting consumers to try the product – through sampling, events, and grassroots marketing initiatives – as a key driver of the brand's success. Brands in this episode: Good Good

New here? Start with our Start Here playlist — five episodes that will change how you think about motherhood. You know you should declutter. You feel better when you do it. And yet the stuff just keeps piling up — on the counters, in the closets, in that one chair. If you've been carrying guilt about the state of your home, this episode is your permission slip. JoAnn sits down with Emily McDermott, decluttering coach and host of the Moms Overcoming Overwhelm podcast, to dig into why letting go feels so hard — and why it has almost nothing to do with laziness. From the guilt of getting rid of gifts to the psychology of why Target and Costco are basically designed to fill your home with things you'll never use, this conversation is equal parts validating and genuinely useful. In this episode: Why we have so much more stuff than previous generations — and why it just keeps coming The real reason decluttering gets put off again and again (hint: it's not that you don't care) How to handle the guilt of getting rid of a gift — especially when the gift-giver asks where it went Why keeping a gift out of guilt doesn't actually honor the relationship The photo trick that lets you release a gift without the weight of it What Costco and Target are actually selling you (it's not the stuff) The "aspirational self" trap — and why buying for who you wish you were is filling up your home What to do if you're catching the pattern after the fact, not in the moment Why holding onto something you feel guilty about buying is costing you more than you think The one thing to remember when you need permission to let something go Whether it's the Costco tent you bought because you thought maybe you'd camp, or the gift from your mom that's been sitting in a closet for three years — this episode will help you release the weight of it. You don't have to keep things out of guilt. And you don't have to earn the right to a home that actually feels good to be in. Find Emily and the Moms Overcoming Overwhelm podcast wherever you listen to podcasts. If you're listening on Spotify, hit the Follow button right now — it's the best way to make sure you never miss an episode and it helps me reach more moms like you. Remember: the best mom is a happy mom. Take care of you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why does free food have so much power over us? In this eye opening episode, I explore the hidden psychology behind free food and why something as simple as the words "it's free" can completely change the way we think, feel, and act around food. From office treats and Costco samples to holiday parties and hotel breakfast buffets, Rita reveals the surprising mental forces that can make free food feel impossible to resist. Together, we'll unpack the powerful influence of scarcity, social pressure, fear of missing out, and old beliefs about wasting food. I also share why free food often feels more valuable than it really is and how these unconscious patterns can quietly pull us away from the choices that best serve us. Whether you're navigating summer gatherings, workplace treats, family celebrations, or simply want more freedom around food, this episode will help you recognize the "free food spell," reconnect with your inner coach, and remember that the food may be free, but the choice is always yours. Come on in!   Join Rita's FREE Weight Release Hypnosis Masterclass   In This Episode, You'll Also Learn… Why free food can feel more valuable than food you pay for The psychological triggers that make free food so hard to resist A simple three step technique for making more intentional food choices   Links Mentioned in the Episode: Join my FREE Masterclass:  "How to Stop the "Start Over Tomorrow" Weight Struggle Cycle and Begin Releasing Weight for Good." Sign up for the FREE HYPNOSIS DOWNLOAD :  Shift Out of Sugar Cravings My book,  From Fat to Thin Thinking: Unlock Your Mind for Permanent Weight Loss (Includes a 30-day hypnosis process.) What would you love to hear about on the podcast?  Click here and let me know Subscribe to the email list so that you never miss an episode! Get more thin thinking tools and strategies

In this episode of The Catholic Money Show, Jonathan and Amanda Teixeira talk about what to do when something comes up mid-month and it was definitely not in the budget.Maybe it is a great Costco deal, a last-minute opportunity, or something you suddenly really want. The purchase itself may not be the problem. The real question is what happens in the gap between wanting it and buying it.Jonathan and Amanda walk through how to handle impulse purchases with more temperance, communication and they explain why a budget should not be so rigid that it leaves no room for real life, but also should not be so flexible that every category gets erased and rewritten until the plan no longer means anything.

Andy Mollica, founder of Anducci's, joins Phil Chang and Kenny Vannucci for an unfiltered look at one of Vancouver's most legendary Italian food stories. Andy shares how he opened his first pasta bar at 19 years old, built Anducci's into a 27-year East Van institution, and accidentally pioneered Costco's Home Meal Replacement (HMR) category by selling lasagnas out of his car trunk to Costco's original Burnaby location. The conversation also breaks down trends from the BC Grocery & Specialty Food Showcase, including why small and independent food brands deserve better floor placement at trade shows, how Buy BC initiatives are changing the playing field for indie vendors, and what it really takes for a founder to scale a food business in the Canadian grocery industry.   https://www.anduccis.com/  

If you've felt squeezed every time you shop for groceries, there may finally be some good news. Kroger is cutting prices on thousands of items as competition heats up with Walmart, Costco, Aldi and Lidl. Clark explains why grocery stores are fighting harder than ever for your business, why private label products are becoming the best value in the store, and how inflation continues to affect everyday staples like tomatoes. Then, Clark looks at a new way to cut one of your biggest monthly bills. AT&T has launched a new "Build-a-Plan" option starting at just $15 per month. Clark explains who this plan works for, how much data most people actually need, and why so many consumers are paying for unlimited plans they rarely use. If you've been hesitant to leave one of the major wireless carriers but want to spend less every month, this new offering could be exactly the kind of competition that helps put money back in your pocket. Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the June 22, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark. Save More On Groceries: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Save More On Your Phone Plan: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: Grocery Prices Are Forcing a Major Change How to Save Money on Groceries: 22 Clever Ways Citi Stops Issuing Oft-Recommended Cash Back Credit Card Best Credit Cards for Groceries in 2026 Cash Back Credit Card Calculator Understanding Home Equity Agreements AT&T's New “Build-A-Plan” Starts at $15/Month With Data The Best Phone Plan For You – Compare Phone Plans Best Cell Phone Plans & Deals (2026): Find the Cheapest Option for Your Needs Clark.com resources: Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com  /  Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the real secret to a lasting writing career isn't talent or luck, but learning to thrive in the mess? Why are in-person events worthwhile even if the maths doesn't add up? How do you protect your creativity when the machines never sleep and the community is at one another's throats? With Mark Leslie Lefebvre In the intro, Has AI Already Killed Non-Fiction [Tim Ferriss]; 9 ways that AI would disrupt authors and the publishing industry over the next decade; Pivoting towards The Transformation Economy; and Who do you serve? This podcast is sponsored by Kobo Writing Life, which helps authors self-publish and reach readers in global markets through the Kobo eco-system. You can also subscribe to the Kobo Writing Life podcast for interviews with successful indie authors. This show is also supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. You can listen above or on your favorite podcast app or read the notes and links below. Here are the highlights and the full transcript is below. Show Notes Why print and in-person events are making a comeback for indie authors The case for (and against) licensing your voice clone through ElevenLabs Why we keep selling books in person when the numbers rarely add up Measuring success by creative satisfaction rather than money Being honest about author earnings and the fear of being truly seen Managing stress, divisiveness, and the noise around AI You can find Mark at MarkLeslie.ca. Transcript of the interview with Mark Leslie Lefebvre Jo: Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author of horror and paranormal fiction, as well as non-fiction travel and books for authors. He's also an editor, professional speaker, and the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital. His latest book is Stark Realities: Stacked Up Lessons Every Writer Needs to Know About the Business of Writing and Publishing. Welcome back to the show, Mark. Mark: Oh, hey, Jo. It's always an awesome time chatting with you. Jo: You've been on the show lots of times over the years, but the last time was in September 2024, when we talked about selling books in person. So give us a bit of an update. What does your writing and publishing business look like at the moment? How do you manage it alongside the day job and everything else you do? Mark: Oh my God. Well, sleep is—no rest for the wicked, maybe. I'll sleep when I'm dead. It's so funny, it was just this last weekend in Waterloo. I was at Waterloo Book Fest, and somebody came up to my table—another author from one of the other tables—and said, “I heard you on the The Creative Penn Podcast. And then when you mentioned something about Waterloo, I said, ‘He can't be from Waterloo.' And then when you mentioned the skeleton, I said, ‘I know where he lives.'” Jo: That's scary. Mark: So I love the fact that there are so many of your listeners all over the world, and that's usually how people know me. No matter what else I've done, it's like, “Oh, you've been on Joanna Penn's podcast.” I'll say, “Yes, I have.” You know what's really funny? The last time I was on the podcast, we were talking about A Book in Hand, which I was supposed to release that year. Jo: Yes. Mark: I just added another 5,000 words to it this morning. Jo: Wait, it's still not published? Mark: No, and it's so funny. I actually have the first 60,000 words of it with an editor right now, and I told her I'd get her the rest of it, which I thought would be another 20,000 words, by the end of June. But I think it's going to hit 100,000. Here's the weird thing that happened with this. This is trying to accumulate my life of book selling, as well as doubling down on doing in-person events in the last several years. I thought I was going to have the book done in 2024. I ran into some issues where I didn't back it up properly. It was an old version, and I accidentally overwrote the only version I had. Jo: So, for everyone listening, Mark—how many decades have you been an author and a publisher? How come you're still missing deadlines and still not backing up your work properly? Mark: Yes, this is a lesson: no matter how long you've been doing something, you can still make boneheaded errors. So if you, dear listener, have made mistakes, just know that this old guy who's been doing this since the mid-'80s still makes mistakes like that. Don't beat yourself up. I probably did something worse. Anyway, that book I thought was going to be maybe 40, 45,000 words, it's going to be bigger than Wide for the Win—close to 100,000 words. Here's a really important lesson I learned in that, Jo. I thought the book would be something. It became something else. Through my own experiences of doing more in-person events, book signings, and library event. Also in talking to awesome folks like Johnny B. Truant, Katie Cross, Todd Fahnestock, and so many other authors I know, and seeing what Ben Wolf is up to, and a whole bunch of different people who are doing in-person events. In creating case studies for how they interact specifically with a bookstore or library, or how they do in-person selling—I really think the book wasn't ready then. It's like the recipe wasn't ready. I still needed to play with some things. I do sincerely have faith, since I got it into the editorial process, that this will be the year the book actually gets released. Jo: As you said, there are some really good lessons there around sometimes the book not being quite ready. I'd bought an early version from the StoryBundle, which is how I got this book as well, actually. Mark: Yes. Jo: That's another tip for people—storybundle.com. You can go and find some great bundles there. I was also thinking, as you were talking, that maybe one of the reasons this book about in-person events has got so big is because that's a real trend in the community. It feels like indies, we've moved… Back in the day, I said, “I'm not doing print. No way.” This was the early days of digital, because print was really hard back then. So I was like, “Oh, and we've got all the advantages doing digital, so I'm just going to focus on that.” It feels like the pendulum has swung, perhaps even more with the ease of mass production of digital with AI. The focus on print and in person is getting stronger and stronger. Do you think that's happening? Mark: Oh, yes, 100%. I did print in 2004. It was really hard back then, so that's gotten easier. I think there are a few reasons. One of the reasons is, yes, digital made it so much easier for indie authors to get out there and break into the community. But the reality is that print books still outsell e-books in general—overall—despite the fact that indie authors can make six and seven figures a year from selling e-books alone on a single platform. So print has never really gone away. It was just never something indie authors attended to. They were in a different business than traditional publishers were in. And second, obviously I've got these gorgeous books that you've created on Kickstarter, because I like the beautiful books. I've never stopped buying print books. I actually buy more print books. I read more because of audiobooks and e-books, but I buy more print books, especially when I can get a nice signed copy. Then the other reason comes back, again, to your advice—something I've been following for the longest time, and you've long been saying. I do repeat this, and I try my best to offer attribution to you every time I use it: to double down on your humanity, particularly in this age of digital generation and the ability for even non-writers to leverage tools to create content. I think it's so much more important for me, as a creative who will never be able to catch up with the machines, to exploit my humanity. I mean, we both have digital voices of ourselves, right? There's a digital Mark Leslie Lefebvre voice that people can use, and I'm making money off it because people are able to license it through ElevenLabs. But when I'm there in person, so far the holograms aren't good enough to fool people. I think I'm not just selling a book to somebody; I want to create an experience where, “Oh, I'm talking to the author, and we're signing a book together, and we're taking a selfie together.” For me, there's that tactile experience that's really enriching. And it may not be something that lines my pockets as easily, because the investment is more significant. For every $10 I make, it costs me six or seven dollars, as opposed to an e-book, where the cost is amortised in the most beautiful way over millions of copies. Jo: There are a few things there. First of all, let's talk about that ElevenLabs voice licensing, because, as you say, I also have a voice clone. Bones of the Deep, the latest book, that's my voice clone. I haven't gone with the licensing, partly because you don't have control over what someone can do with it. So, for example, someone could create Nazi content, or content that I might not agree with, in my voice. So how have you got over that? Because part of me really does want to license my voice, and the other part doesn't. Mark: This is a great question, Jo, and I'm glad you asked it. It's the same reason I don't worry about people stealing my books—adding DRM onto my e-books and things like that. I may as well make some money off it, because let's be honest: you and I, our voices are out there. Thousands of hours of our voices, right? In your podcast, my podcast, in various interviews we've done over the years. The technology exists for someone to make a copy of my voice themselves anyway. The tools exist. They can do it easily, so why not do it myself and at least make money? I'm actually getting money deposited into my account. Not a lot—maybe $30, $18, something like that every week. Again, I've taken a lot of my non-fiction books that I haven't had the time to record myself, as I like to do, and I can at least load those to ElevenLabs and make my voice the default voice. But wouldn't it be great to be able to listen to my book in your voice? It would sound so much better. Because you can do that. When you listen to a book on that platform, you can choose my voice if you'd rather hear it in my voice, or you can choose Burt Reynolds' voice, or some other folks who've licensed theirs. Again, for me, the whole concept of wide publishing has always been important. It's another small revenue stream that's adding to my numerous revenue streams. So I guess that's how I've justified just licensing the voice. If someone's going to do something with my voice that I can't control, they can do it regardless of whether or not I put it out there myself. Jo: I agree with you. That could happen, and neither of us is famous enough that it's likely to happen anyway. I do quite like the idea of people using our voices, say, for other books for authors, because that would make sense—that's where we fit in the niche. I will rethink that, because I think it's interesting. I wanted to come back to print books. You said sometimes there are easier ways to line your pockets, and I think that's funny. So, getting into the book, this leapt out at me quite near the beginning: Why do we keep doing this when the maths almost never adds up? Mark: Oh, I have a perfect example of that from an event I did a couple of weekends ago in Burlington, Ontario. I think it was a $60 table fee. It was a new event. I believe I made $90 or $95 in sales. So even after the costs of printing and all that stuff, I really didn't make money. I made my table back, which is always a good thing. There were a few encounters I had with people who were really excited to find my Canadian Werewolf series of books, and just so thrilled to get started. Among the four of them, they bought one copy, but they were going to pass it amongst each other. You know what? Okay, they bought a single copy, and I was like, “Well, the e-book is permanently free online. You don't even have to buy a copy”—which is anti-selling. I just want them to read the book and enjoy it. But if they read it and pass it along and start talking about it, they could become readers for a long time. It's an eight-book series, with the ninth book coming out later this year. There was another encounter I had that day. A woman and her teenage daughter came in, and they were looking at my traditionally published books that I buy at a reduced price from a local bookstore and resell. They were looking at these true ghost story books I had, and they were pointing: “Do you have that one?” “Yes, I have this one, I have that one.” And the mother's like, “Well, she collects all your books, and she wants to make sure she has them.” We had this conversation, and she was so excited to meet me in person and to get a signed copy of the book. That experience was such a vanity moment for me as an author. We're lonely. I'm a big loser. Nobody's buying my books. We're always down on ourselves. So that investment of time and energy, in order to get that little pat on the back or that feeling of, “Wow, I really connected with someone who likes my stuff”—those moments are really precious. They're difficult to explain if you only look at the world in a financial way. I guess I'm fortunate enough that I do have enough income from numerous streams, including the consulting I do part-time, that it's okay if not every bookish endeavour leads to more money in my pocket at the end of the day. I can still have these authentic connections with people, which I think is one of the reasons I'm a storyteller. Yes, it's the stories I have to tell, but it's also putting the story into somebody else's hands and eyes and heart and mind. Jo: You're very giving like that. You have that sense about you, whereas I'm just a curmudgeon in the corner. Mark: That is not true. Jo: It is, generally. I don't do events like you do for readers. Mark: But that's because it takes a lot out of you. Jo: Yes, but that doesn't matter. Why do I write? I write for me. Mark: Ah, very good. Jo: At the end of the day—just being entirely selfish about this—when people say, “Oh, if you won the lottery, what would you do?” I'm like, “Well, I'd do pretty much what I'm doing now.” Mark: Yes, I'd just do the same. Of course, I'd write more books. Jo: I'd write more books. So this is where I'm trying to get to for people as well: measuring success in a different way. You were talking about measuring success by how that girl loved your books, and how you feel when someone says they love your books. With Bones of the Deep, this thriller I've just done, I feel like I had the benefit of that book before anyone even read it. As soon as it was finished, I made a nice proof copy from BookVault, and I held it in my hand and said, “I made this. I'm proud of the story, I wrote the story, and it's outside my head now.” I feel like I'm creatively satisfied in that moment. Then, of course, the Kickstarter was great, and I love that the books are going out around the world, but— I think the happiest I felt was that moment of finishing—that creative satisfaction of holding the book in my hand. You know what I mean? Mark: 100%, Jo. I cannot agree with you enough. I love so many aspects of writing. Yes, the connection with people is amazing. But I often say this when I'm doing my one-on-one consulting with authors: focus on the projects that mean the most to you, those passion projects. The process of writing, and the painful rewriting and editing and all the things you go through—when you finish that book, like you said, you hold it in your hands and it is a thing of beauty. It's a huge achievement. You've won. Whether or not you sell a single copy, you've won by doing it. Everything else is gravy: the sales, the money in your pocket or not, the reviews, positive or not, the people who say, “Oh my God, Bones of the Deep, thank you for writing this book. I'm so glad you introduced this into the world and into my life.” Anything beyond the creation itself, which is a pure joy—I love it so much. It's just why I get up at 5:30 every morning and write for hours before the rest of my day begins. I try to get stuff done before the rest of the world wakes up. I want to get the writing done first, when I have the most energy to give myself to the page. Then the rest of the day is kind of gravy for me too. Jo: You talk there about giving yourself to the page, but in Stark Realities— You talk about the fear of truly being seen. What do you mean by that, and how do you manage that feeling? Mark: For anyone who has written anything—fiction, non-fiction, memoir in particular, since it's a bit more closely tied to reality—it's exposing yourself to the world. I'll never forget an interview I did with Canadian science fiction author Julie E. Czerneda, who, before being a fiction writer, was writing biology textbooks, but her real passion was science fiction and fiction. When her first novel came out, she said, “It's like standing naked on the front lawn.” When you release a book, even a novel, people look at it and they're going to judge you and rate you. I remember early on, Jo—we knew each other through Twitter, I think, where we initially met, and then interacted with and finally met in person at London Book Fair. I think you and I have a very similar reaction. When people know us as positive and upbeat and out there helping authors in the community, and then they read our fiction, they go, “Well, Jo, you burned a nun alive on page one.” Or, “Mark, what kind of… they're drinking from the skulls of dead people? What the heck is going on with you two?” We are exposing parts of ourselves in our fiction and non-fiction. That's a fear I embrace, but also never get over, if that makes any sense. I write scary stories because I'm a big chicken. So maybe the entire process is just cheap therapy for me. Or not cheap, because it's an expensive pastime, isn't it? Jo: It certainly can be, but I agree. I struggle with fear of judgment still. I think it's also because we do this in public, which comes back to the financial side of things. We do a lot of this in public, and then people judge us on our author businesses too. You could look at Bones of the Deep, which was just on Kickstarter, and compare my Kickstarter to another author's Kickstarter for a fiction book, and judge one or the other person based on numbers. I feel like this is because you and I have done so much in public—for me, almost 20 years, and for you, like 40 years or whatever. Maybe 30 years. You look that old. Mark: Listen there, dearie. Get off my lawn. Jo: Yes, get off my lawn—with those skeletons you have on your lawn. Mark: Yes. They're no longer in my closet. Jo: They're not in your closet. I wonder if that also plays a part of it—the pros and cons of doing this business in public. Mark: Yes, that is a part of it. One thing I try to be very clear about, because there's so much FOMO and so much out there about people thinking that everyone else is making a million dollars from their books and “I'm the only loser who's not”—I try to be clear that I have never made more than a mid-five figures as an author from my author earnings, ever. I haven't yet hit six figures. One of the reasons I try to be transparent in sharing that is I don't want people to think that everyone else is a six- and seven-figure success story, and they're the only one who's only made $100 last year on their books. The reality is, 90 to 99% of the people who are writing and publishing are not going to earn a significant amount of money. I realise I'm also very, very lucky that I've earned this much, and it's taken a long time. I just shared this in a Substack post I posted yesterday: it was 10 years of rejections before I got $5 for my first short story that was published in '92. It wasn't until 2001 that I finally made pro rate, six cents US a word, for a short story that, ironically, Julie Czerneda bought from me back in the day. For me, I've been lucky that it's always been a long, slow slog. It's been a marathon, and I've never instantly sprinted across any dramatic finish line. I've had some really phenomenal moments—doing a book signing in a Costco, walking into Walmart and seeing my books there. Even last night at the Burlington Public Library, going, “Wow, they have eight of my books here—four of my self-published books and four of my traditionally published books, in two different sections.” I was like, “That's kind of cool.” So I've had these amazing moments as a writer, but I've never had the blockbuster—the Brandon Sanderson, or even the Dungeon Crawler Carl, Matt Dinniman, kind of moments. I still think I've had a very fortunate and lucky journey. Even if I wasn't making the money I'm making, I'd still be writing, and I'm sure you would be too. Jo: Oh, yes, for sure. I actually think the thing most of us would probably let go is the marketing. If we won the lottery, we'd carry on with all the creative stuff, the writing, the community stuff, and we'd just literally do no marketing at all. Mark: Well, yes, of course. Or potentially say, “Oh, here, ad agency, here's some money. You just run it, whatever. Let me know if it works or not. I don't care.” Jo: That's a much better idea. Mark: At least I've got the extra disposable income, so I may as well, because I'm helping the world when my books are out there. I know my books will help people. I really honestly think that as storytellers—whether it's fiction or non-fiction, we're still storytellers—what we do in writing and podcasting and all the things we do, the re-sharing on social media, is really helping connect people. I think that is one of the most profound things we can do as writers. And I mean that the writing, in and of itself, is a reward. Jo: Like you said, we met on Twitter when Twitter was what it was back in the day. I do very, very little social media now. But you just mentioned your Substack, and you also have your podcast, Stark Reflections. So how are you balancing what you put on each? I only do this podcast now. I don't even blog. I write books, obviously, and then I do the podcast. So what are you doing differently on Substack to the podcast, and what part do they play in income and marketing? Mark: Great question. I realise most people have never heard of me, or read or listened to the things I put out into the world. And I've been a longtime fan of “reduce, reuse, recycle my IP.” My podcast is not as long-running as yours, but I'm in my ninth year, and I've not missed a single Friday in the full eight years, or eight and a half by now, that I've been doing this. Every week I reflect on what I learned from an interview, or I'll reflect on something you've posted and say, “This episode is not an interview, but Jo said this last week, and I'm going to talk about it.” The podcast itself takes a lot of work. I still do all of it myself, and I know I probably shouldn't, but I like doing it, so it's one of those tasks I enjoy. I also have reflections that aren't going to come out vocally but might come out in writing. Sometimes in the morning I'm not in the mood to write the novel or the non-fiction book I'm writing, but I'm writing some tangent. I just let the creative monster go. I find that re-sharing… I might have reflected on something for a couple of minutes at the end of an interview, but I really want to expand upon it, so I write the Substack article. I try to reuse some of that content. Someone's going to enjoy seeing it on a short video clip I share on YouTube, or whatever the platform is. Someone else is going to listen to it on a podcast, wherever they listen to podcasts, and someone else is going to want to read it. It could be the same information, just shared in a slightly different way, to potentially get it out to other people. So for me, it's part of that wide publishing mentality. I'm trying not to completely duplicate the work, although I am duplicating some of it. I'll give you an example. Hey, Canadian listeners—if you have not registered for Public Lending Right in Canada, please put something in your calendar for February 2027, because the deadline's over. It was May 1st of 2026. Put it in your calendar for next year. I even had somebody at this writers' event I was at this last weekend say, “You mentioned something in a presentation you did for the Canadian Authors Association about Public Lending Right, and thank you, because now I get thousands of dollars a year from this.” So just look up Public Lending Right. I've been saying stuff about Public Lending Right for at least 10 years now. Every time I get my beautiful multi-four-figure cheque from them in February every year, I post on social media and remind authors to check it out. I know it exists in the UK, and it exists in 36 countries in the world—just not the US. Jo: Not the US. Mark: They don't have a programme like this, probably because the big publishers—and probably one of the authors' associations—think that libraries are cannibalising book sales, which is not true. It's been proven time and time again, and that lobbying has prevented it from happening. Whereas here in Canada, the Canada Council for the Arts and the Writers' Union of Canada worked hard to make this happen. Anyway, I talk about something like Public Lending Right and I feel like I must have said this so much that people are sick of it, but every single time I mention it, someone goes, “Oh my God, thanks for saying that. I never heard it.” That's a good reminder, especially for folks like you and me. We know the basics. We know what an ISBN is. We know KDP Select means you can't put the e-book on any other retailer, or even sell it on your own website. We know all these things, but it's hard for us to remember that there are folks coming to this for the very first time who've never heard it, even though we feel like, “Oh my God, I've said this till I'm blue in the face.” I think I got that from retail. When I worked in retail, I recognised that somebody's going to come in and ask for “that blue book that Reese Witherspoon was talking about,” or Oprah was talking about, or whatever. And you do your darn best to help them figure it out rather than mock them. I try to take the same approach when people ask me those questions, because I'm trying to remember what it was like when I honestly did not know the answer, and having someone take the time to help me. I've been very, very lucky that I've had a lot of people take the time to help me. I'll never forget—God rest her soul—Nancy Kilpatrick, a horror writer here from Canada who passed away a few years ago. She gave me a blurb for my very first book in 2004 because she'd acquired one of my short stories for an anthology she'd edited. I was trying to call my short story collection an anthology, and she very kindly took me aside and said, “It's not an anthology if it's a single author. An anthology is a…” Jo: I didn't know that until, like, last year. I got that wrong as well. There are lots of words like that. I want to circle back, because you didn't really answer earlier about the time management. You just mentioned YouTube, on top of Substack and all the things you do. You also have a day job at Draft2Digital—it's part-time, right? You also do part-time at the university, teaching publishing, right? You do all kinds of things. How do you manage your time with all of that? Mark: Well, I mismanage my time more than I manage it, Jo. That's the God's honest truth. Fortunately, most of the things I have that aren't scheduled—like, scheduled to do this lecture at this time, or scheduled to have this meeting at this particular time with Draft2Digital—most of my work is very flexible. I do not work a regular 9:00 to 5:00, Monday to Friday. Well, I never did. I always worked way more. But I have a very flexible schedule. Every single day is a work day, and every single day is a play day for me. So I'm very, very lucky. I do schedule in the very important things, particularly where somebody else is reliant upon me—meetings and connections and stuff like that. Then I make the time first thing in the morning to get the writing done. Everything else is not as important, and it's part of… I guess it's part of playing. You know, like the social media sharing. I don't look at social media as marketing. I just look at it as another way to connect with people, with other creatives, and with readers potentially, all six people who read my stuff. I probably could do a better job of managing my time. I've tried several times over the years to adapt processes to make it better, but I consistently default back to what I do, and so far I guess I've been getting away with it. So I was like, “Do I want to waste more time trying to come up with a process, or do I just want to roll with it?” Because so far I haven't killed myself doing it, and I've been enjoying the journey. So, if it ain't broke… Jo: I think that's the point, if it doesn't feel like it's broken. Having known you for a long time now, and we work together—obviously we co-wrote The Relaxed Author—you do work very, very differently to me. You definitely are a little bit more chaotic. I'm chaotic in some ways too. Mark: Oh, you're very generous. “A little bit chaotic.” Thanks. That was generous, Jo. Jo: You're chaotic in your work practices and scheduling and all that, which I couldn't cope with very well. Even though I feel like a part of my brain is very chaotic—the creative side, I guess, can be quite chaotic—I think I'm actually quite controlling and very scheduled in my work practices. As you say, for someone else on the outside, it might feel to me like you have too many balls in the air. But if you don't feel that, then that's the way of working that works for you. So this is another important thing, isn't it? You can't adapt to what other people say your life should look like. It's what feels good to you. Mark: Oh, for sure. One thing I know about my procrastination tendency is that panic and fear motivate me. So, a deadline—”I have to get this into a publisher by this date, I have to get this manuscript to an editor by that date”—I'm motivated by fear. And I'm afraid of everything, so I guess I'm always motivated. Jo: But I also know that when you hear the word “deadline”—and I know a lot of people who do this—the deadline means you get it in on the deadline, or the day before the deadline. To me, a deadline means I have it ready a month earlier. Mark: I love that. I've done that a few times and shocked myself. I actually had a pre-order up—with the audiobook, the print, and the e-book—a month in advance, and I didn't know what to do with myself. I was like, “Well, what am I going to do now in the next month?” Jo: Work on the next thing. Mark: But I'm so used to working on it up to the last second that I was kind of like, “What do I do?” That actually caught me by surprise, and I honestly felt weird. I was like, “I've never felt this before.” I'm really lucky. I know you have a very supportive and amazing partner, and so do I. My partner, scarily enough, is maybe a bigger procrastinator than me, so she never gives me a hard time. She supports me, and I do the same thing with her own work. I'm up all night with her at the last minute so we can get something turned in. So, fortunately, we really understand one another, and we don't give each other a hard time. We just go, “Well, got away with it again. I guess I'm not going to change my ways.” Jo: We made it. And again, that's the point. You and I could stand up in front of people, both hold up the last book we wrote, and say, “We made this,” and our processes are completely different. Our brains are completely different. We come from different countries. There are lots of things that are different, and yet we both made a book. So hopefully that encourages people. You don't have to do anything that we're telling you, or anyone else tells you. But if you want to be an author, at some point you have to produce a book. Mark: Exactly. As Brian in the classic Monty Python film gets them to say: “Yes, we are all different.” Embrace that difference. I think that's such a powerful reminder that there is no one process for getting anything done. Jo: Given that we co-wrote The Relaxed Author back in 2021—and we did that because we had another show, and we were talking, and we said, “Oh, everyone's stressed and the anxiety levels are really high, and we think there's a better path”—we co-wrote that book, which I think is still a very good book. Definitely people should get it. Interestingly, I think the stress and anxiety might actually be higher now than it was. So what do you think the main stresses are in the community now? You also see a lot with Draft2Digital, I guess, as well. Mark: Oh, for sure. Honestly, Jo, I'm so glad we wrote that book, because I actually pick it up every once in a while to remind myself of the things we tried to help others with. Again, it's therapy for me as well, so I'm so glad we did it. I think we're 10, if not 100, times more stressed. The world events and things going on, the divisiveness—not just in the world in general, in politics and everything else, but the divisiveness in the author community. The witch-hunting that happens, people trying to tear down other authors either because they're successful, or because, “Oh my God, you dared use a new technology.” All of these things are happening, and everyone's at one another's throats. I need to pick that book up and reread it. I'm a lot more stressed than I was. I'm just getting over shingles, which is… Jo: Oh. Which is actually related to stress as well, isn't it? Mark: It is, yes. I was in LA for Writers of the Future—I'm a judge for that science fiction and fantasy conference. I went right from LA, like a week in LA, which was a phenomenal experience getting to mentor the winners. And I mean, come on, it's a free trip to Hollywood, hanging out with Kevin Anderson, having beers and stuff like that. Then I came back to the Toronto Indie Author Conference, run by Tao Wong, here in Toronto. I went right from the airport—didn't even go home—straight to the hotel, because I kicked into another conference. We did a display on how to set up an in-person booth, so I ended up having to hand-bomb boxes, blocks down the street from where I was parked. My chest was really sore when I got home on the Monday, and I thought it was because I hadn't used these muscles, because I'm not in the best shape. Then I took my shirt off and went, “Oh, there's a rash there.” Liz goes, “You have shingles.” Because the pain in my chest, which I thought was the muscle, was actually underneath. I'm one of those lucky people that it's taken the full five weeks, and I'm still in pain even afterwards. So, again, public notice: if you're an older person like me, and there's a vaccine available for shingles, you may want to consider it. Jo: Yep, get it. Mark: Oh my God, it hurts. But, yes, the stress, I think, is higher—even though I didn't know I was feeling it. It was happy stress, right? I was stressed out because I'm there in Hollywood, helping people and doing some good things, and then I'm doing the same thing, interacting with some amazing authors at the Toronto Indie Author Conference. I didn't feel anxious stress. I was happy stress. Is that a thing? Jo: I think possibly… your physical body masks stress, physical stress, because you enjoy all of that stuff. Whereas someone like me, I'll feel it quicker and withdraw. Although I say that, back probably a decade ago, Jonathan would say to me, “You're going too fast, and you're going to hit the wall. And when you hit the wall, it's not going to be fun.” And I did hit the wall. Then, probably in 2021—I mean, that was when I just started going into menopause, and obviously we had the pandemic, and I wrote Pilgrimage, and I was doing all those walks, which I think really helped me. I learned a lot about maybe stopping that before it happened. Becca Syme obviously talks a lot about this too. But I find it interesting with you, because I think you're so positively happy with these events you do that it might mask your physical symptoms in a different way. That's really hard to watch out for. I'll give a tip to you and everyone else listening: schedule the calendar, and look at your calendar and go, “I can't go back-to-back-to-back. I have to put in some rest days.” Mark: Well, thank you. You know, Jo, you and Becca Syme are two of my best unpaid therapists. I appreciate that. Jo: You just don't listen, Mark. Mark: Or sometimes I do. Jo: Just coming back to the community, and the divisiveness there is primarily over AI at the moment, I think that's one of the biggest things. And the arbitrary lines as to what you're allowed to use it for and what you're not allowed to use it for, which is just kind of crazy. Obviously, you know I've opted out of that whole discussion now. How do you think we can move through this [divisiveness over AI], move on? We remember when it was trad versus indie, and then it was wide versus KU. So this will pass—it's just hard, when you're in it, to know when it might pass. Mark: Yes. I think the more generic advice—for whatever may come, whatever has come—is: why are you doing this? Why are you a writer? Heads down, focus on what gives you pleasure, and do that, because everything else is noise. All the marketing tactics and strategies, and all the people yelling at one another. Write your books. Do the things that motivate you. Do the things that give you that intrinsic reward. It's hard to ignore. I get it, it is hard to ignore. I have difficulty ignoring the haters and the yelling and the screaming that happens, but I do my best. Like this morning, when I was in the throes of my manuscript and I looked up and went, “Oh my God, I've got to shower. I'm going to be talking to Jo soon, I should comb my hair”—which I have none of. Because I was so in my book that everything else melted away. That, for me as a storyteller, as a writer, is one of the most beautiful places to be. Jo: I think you're absolutely right. I have a little thing that pops up in my calendar sometimes which says, “If you're feeling all of these things, just go create something.” The moment you refocus on creation—whatever that means to you—things change. It changes the energy. That, or go for a walk. That's my other tip. Mark: Outside. And I have to say, Jo, Pilgrimage is still one of the most profound and powerful books you've written, and you've written a lot of amazing ones. Jo: Oh, you're very sweet. Mark: That one really resonates, not just for me, but with Liz. Because one of the things we often do when we get stressed is go for a walk, ideally in nature. The vitamin N. I think there's something really profound in that, and it really helps me a lot. And again, sometimes going for a walk listening to your podcast, or an audiobook, or sometimes just attending to the environment. A tip I picked up years ago from Brooklyn author Denis Hamill was: go for a walk with your character. Listen to what they see. What do they comment on? How do they approach this environment that you've seen a million times? How do they see it? What do they notice that you don't notice? That's such an incredible experience of creativity—when you're not writing, but writing. That really helps me a lot. Jo: Oh, nice one. Okay, so your latest book is Stark Realities, but you have so many more. Where can people find you and your books and your podcast online? Mark: Jo, you can find everything you want to know about me—and stuff you don't want to know about me—over at MarkLeslie.ca. It links to all the other places from there. Jo: Brilliant. Thanks again for your time, Mark. That was great. Mark: Thanks so much, Jo. Bye-bye. The post Creative Satisfaction, In Person Print Book Sales, And Author Mindset With Mark Leslie Lefebvre first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Patrick opens with a frank discussion on how technology and social media reshape relationships, delaying family life and changing old traditions like school dances, as he wonders aloud about the pressures weighing on today’s youth. Callers bring up everything from biblical analogies and the emotional pull of spiritual experiences to Pope John Paul II’s quiet influence on the fall of the Soviet Union, who would Jesus vote for, and even the morality of shopping at Costco. Audio: Guy explains why the birthrate is declining – it’s social media and technology – 2min - https://x.com/alphafox/status/2050221203755843709?s=20 (00:20) Patrick goes back to Chuck, from the end of the previous hour, to talk about Mark 2:18-22 (08:37) David – If you are attending a protestant funeral, you should pray for his soul because no one else will. (12:52) James (email) - Did your Mormon professor happen to mention where his bodily feeling was? (20:09) Debbie (email) - It makes sense to me that no one should be photographed or videoed without permission. Manners have not kept pace with technology. (21:36) Carl - What did JPII do to help break the Soviet Union? What was his role? (27:11) Richard - Who would Jesus vote for? I asked a priest and he never gives a straight answer? (35:44) Angel - When does opposite sex attraction become sinful? (40:07) Eddie - Professor Madrid, when can I expect my diploma from RR? (45:29) Tiffany - I heard Costco is involved with IVF, so I canceled my membership, but I'm realizing we need those discounts as a family. What do we do? (47:37) (Originally Aired on 05/08/2026)

Retail sales are rising, but retail stocks are struggling. What gives? Join Barron's Live for a deep dive into the consumer economy and retailing business, and a discussion of retail stocks. Senior Managing Editor Lauren R. Rublin speaks with Dana Telsey, an award-winning retail analyst and founder of Telsey Advisory Group, and Senior Writer Teresa Rivas, who covers Walmart, Costco, Tapestry, and other retail industry leaders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Welcome to the Firearms Insider Gun & Gear Review Podcast episode 630. This episode is brought to you by Walker Defense, XS Sights, Hi-Point Firearms, and CMC Triggers. In this show, Rusty has some mag reviews, we discuss the new Hawke HD 1-8, a new bi-pod, F'd Rost Martins, and the new Montana   As you may know, we showcase guns, gear, and anything else you might be interested in. We do our best to evaluate products from an unbiased and honest perspective.   I'm Chad Wallace, host of the most dedicated firearms podcast around With me tonight are: Tony, Rob, Rusty   Sponsor #1: CMC Triggers    CMC triggers is the creator of the original, drop in cartridge style AR trigger. CMC has been in  aerospace manufacturing for over 30 years. This gives you peace of mind knowing that every trigger is of the utmost quality. Their patented design ensures a crisp, short, trigger pull across their whole line of triggers. With triggers for AR's, AK's, pistols, and bolt guns, CMC can make your firearms trigger great. Proudly made in Texas with strong morals and values, giving you confidence that you are buying one of the best triggers out there. Choose Confidence, choose quality, choose CMC    Our CMC Product of the week is - AR15/10 - Flat single stage purple    Use Code “GGR26” for 10% off at CMCTriggers.com   What we did in Firearms:   Announcements: Kat's Rack Defense fund and giveaway https://www.firearmsinsider.tv/giveaway  https://www.givesendgo.com/Katsrackdefensefund  https://www.facebook.com/share/1DoL2dpmoK/    Bandwidth sponsor Patriot Patch Co.  And their Patch of the Month Club! Check out the Pew.Report T-shirts are available through our FRN site, or click the “Merch” tab on Firearmsinsider.tv   AFFILIATES / DISCOUNTS: Walker Defense Research - enter “INSIDER15” for 15% off XS Sights - “GGR20” for 20% off Primary Arms VZ Grips  Brownells Gun Guys Garage discount code - “FRN15OFF” Atibal Optics - enter “FIREARMSINSIDER20” for 20% off 5.11 Tactical PowerTac Lights - enter “GGR” for a real good discount Modern Spartan Systems - “GGR15” for 15% off Global Ordnance Infinite Defense (Infinity Targets) - “PEW15” for 15% off Guns.com Magpul Palmetto State Armory Unique ARs - “GunGearReview” for 10% off CobraTec Knives - “GGR10” for 10% off Nutrient Survival - “GGR10” for 10% off Gideon Optics - “GGR” or “INSIDER” for 10% off Lone Wolf Arms US Optics - “INSIDER15” for 15% off Camorado - “FIREARMSINSIDER” for 5% off Optics Planet Midway USA Strike Industries North Forest Arms - “GGR” for 10% off Kini SafeAlert - “GGR” for 20% off FoxTrot Mike - “GGR” for 10% off XTech Tactical - “GGR10” for 10% off Die Free Co ZeroTech Optics - “GGR” for 20% off BattleHawk Armory Goliath Defense - “GGR” for 10% off holsters Classic Firearms  True Shot Ammo  Next Level Armament NightStick Hi-Point - “GGR” FOR $20 off a Hi-Point firearm at ShootAmmo.com CMC Triggers - “GGR26” for 10% off   ROB - Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual co-hosts and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Firearms Radio Network and/or their employers. This is NOT legal advice, nor should it be considered as such. Viewer discretion is advised.   Main Topic is sponsored by: Hi-Point     Hi-Point firearms has been crafting American made firearms for over 30 years. If you are looking for your first firearm, or just want something fun for the range, Hi-Point has you covered with models including handguns, pistol caliber carbines, and AR15's. They even have a new suppressor line. Hi-Point firearms can be found at extremely affordable prices, making them available for anyone that wants to protect themselves and/or their families. Every Hi-Point also comes with a lifetime warranty and most of their products are 50 state legal. Hi-Point Firearms, made by the American working man for the American working man.   Our Hi-Point Product of the week is - 1095 EDGE   Visit hi-pointfirearms.com and check out their line of products Use code “GGR” FOR $20 off a Hi-Point firearm at ShootAmmo.com   Main Topic: Product Review or Updates on previous reviews Rusty - ETS Omega Magazines   Product Spotlight and Discussion:    Hawke Vantage HD 30 1-8x24 5.56 BDC reticle MSRP - $469.00                                                                                Spartan Javelin Lite TL MSRP - $170.00   Sponsor #3: XS Sights   For over 25 years, XS Sights has helped you get on target faster. Offering tritium sights in all different types and styles, low light is no longer an obstacle. Most options come with a brightly colored photoluminescent ring around the tritium. That colored ring makes them work great in the daylight also. XS Sights has sight styles for everyone: Big Dot's, Ghost Rings, Standard Notch and Post, Minimalist, Suppressor Height, all offering tritium options. Available for a plethora of firearms types, from shotguns to handguns, XS sights has you covered for all your low light sighting needs.   Our XS Sights Product of the week is - Plus 5 mag extension for Smith & Wesson M&P   Use Code “GGR20” for 20% off of almost everything at xssights.com   Rost Martin RM1F MSRP - $469.00   Montana Knife Company - The Montana MSRP - $390.00   Sponsor #4: Walker Defense Research   Walker Defense provides shooters with the finest, most innovative, quality, tactical accessories and firearm components around. From their NILE grip panels to their NERO muzzle brakes, no details are ever left behind. Only top quality materials are used in the manufacturing process. Together, all of this gives you some of the best firearm performance around. Everything they have to offer is proudly made in the USA. Walker Defense, where American ingenuity meets bleeding edge technology.   Our Walker Defense Product of the week is - NILE OD Green grip panels   Use code “INSIDER15” FOR 15% OFF everything at walkerdr.com   Listener Feedback None   2nd is for Everyone Diversity Shoot Events simonsaystrain on instagram 2nd is for Everyone Facebook 2A4E Web Page   Wrap up: Send questions, comments, or feedback to - gungearreview@gmail.com Remember to Subscribe and Leave us an iTunes Review Be sure to visit the Firearms Insider at www.firearmsinsider.tv Check us out on Facebook, X, and InstaGram @firearmsinsider  Subscribe to our Rumble channel  Please check out all our great sponsors Thank you for listening to the “LARGEST”, Costco sized podcast on the network We are out  

We share our family's emotional vet visit with Champ and our heartfelt plan to spoil our sweet senior pup in his final days. Then we have a blast watching European World Cup fans discover Buc-ee's, Costco, and fries in a Frosty for the very first time. Plus, after a week of hospital life with Jodi's mom, she shares the beautiful breathing trick a respiratory therapist taught her and reflects on going back to say thank you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting at a Costco gas station when I watched a woman pull into the wrong pump and stretch the hose around the back of her van.My immediate thought?"How entitled."A friend I was talking to on the phone saw it differently.He said maybe she was having a rough day. Maybe she had just finished school drop-off. Maybe she was running errands, forgot about gas, and wasn't even driving her own vehicle.Then he said something that stuck with me:"She probably needs a hug."That simple sentence changed how I saw the moment.In this episode, I talk about the stories we invent about people we've never met, why we default to judgment, and what we miss when we do. From a Costco parking lot to graduation ceremonies to conversations with teacher friends in Las Vegas, this episode is about perspective, grace, and the things people carry that we can't see.Thanks for spending a few minutes with me.Brandon

Kevin Calhoun spent years doing HR and DEI work from inside some of the biggest corporations in the world. He watched those programs get built. Then he watched them get dismantled — and found himself displaced in the process. In this conversation, recorded in honor of Juneteenth, Kevin introduces the concept of James Crow: Jim Crow's more dangerous, more invisible cousin. The one with a hiring algorithm instead of a shotgun. Notable Timestamps (verify against final audio before publishing) 03:03 — Kevin reads from his article "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" — the line that stopped Allison cold 04:37 — How corporate culture shifted from servant leadership to "we're going in a different direction" 07:40 — The grief nobody talks about: losing your corporate identity in a 30-minute meeting 09:05 — The stats: DEI fell 98% in Fortune 100 communications; Black unemployment now twice white unemployment 11:47 — Performative DEI vs. real DEI — how to tell the difference 13:49 — Costco held the line against 19 attorney generals. Why some companies stay and others fold. 15:15 — What Kevin learned about not seeking validation from your organization 17:15 — The pendulum: why organizations that hold their values win long-term 20:38 — Jim Crow vs. James Crow — Kevin defines the difference 28:15 — Code switching, agency, and choosing when to show up fully as yourself 33:24 — How to find your way forward when the system has failed you 36:56 — "No company loves you." What Kevin knows that he wishes more people understood 38:58 — If you know the rules of the game before you start playing, you can't be mad if you don't win Rather watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/ixqV4X5EqJ8 Resources & Links Mentioned Kevin's article: "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" - available on Substack and Medium Kevin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-calhoun-0808882/ Kevin's email: jkevin.calhoun@gmail.com Book a free podcast clarity call with Allison: allisonhare.com/freecall Be sure to rate, review, and follow this podcast on your player and also, connect with me IRL for more goodness and life-changing stuff.Schedule a FREE podcast clarity call with me - Your future audience is out there. Talk to them!Sign up for the free weekly emailAllisonHare.comFollow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube.DOWNLOAD the free podcast equipment guide- No guesswork, no google rabbit holes, start recording todayReb3l Dance Fitness - Try it at home! Free month with this link.Feedback and Contact:: allison@allisonhare.com

As the USDA works to promote American cotton, hear from a California cotton leader about their challenges, the benefits of cotton fabrics, and the quality of California cotton. Farm officials continue to remind residents who may have purchased grapevines or citrus trees from Costco stores earlier this year that they could contain a feared pest, and what to do about it.  USDA is aggressively battling the New World Screwworm along the southern border of Texas and New Mexico.    A Farm Bureau leadership program working to enhance skills of promising leaders.  Finally, the USDA details to new trade agreements.

Send us Fan MailWelcome to Episode 257!  The Boys are back from their brief hiatus!  And just in time too cuz it's Pride Season, y'all! Kicking off this year's festivities (yeah, yeah -- two weeks late, we know it) is a check-in on the state of Pride in the good old US of A. It may not be what you think.In this week's Mid-Section, your GBFFs are discussing where LGBTQIA+ issues including Pride parades, Corporate Pride, and in States from coast to coast.  What are the driving factors?  What can we do about it besides shrugging our shoulders?  That's what's up in the Middie this week.During this week's Tea Party, Mark is fired up about September.  It's concerts, concerts, concerts... all mid-month.  How is this happening?  And Casey is spilling all the tea on secret Situation Room Meetings of trash and also, Aliens on earth?  And they ain't talking about immigration!Trash Talk topics this week include a tricky buffet lover gets denied; privileged, off the grid island living when it all falls apart; and creating herself a new gig at her local CostCo.Oh yes, you best believe The Boys have get you set up with some good recommendations as well.It's a Pride, Kids, and lets find the Pride amongst the messed diapers surrounding us so we deserve to laugh and be informed.  So pour yourself a colorful port vintage today, put on a festive outfit, and pull up a seat to the table with your GBFFs.  It's time to paint!!Let The Boys of Painted Trash know your thoughts on this week's topics and episode! What street festivals do you attend? Do you like street fests? What is your favorite festival??Have a topic idea or story you recommend for Trash Talk, be sure to send it in to our email or through the "contact us" on our website.Follow us on:Instagram: instragram.com/paintedtrashpodTwitter: twitter.com/paintedtrashpodFacebook: facebookcom/paintedtrashpodcastDon't forget to click Subscribe and/or Follow and  leave us a review!email: paintedtrashpodcast@gmail.comweb: www.paintedtrashpodcast.com

America, Eff Yeah! People from all over the world are here for the World Cup 2026, and it turns out that they freaking LOVE America and think we're blessed as a nation. Let's react to a compilation of some of Geeky's favorite TikToks. Foreigners are amazed by school buses, the amount of space we have here, mailboxes and especially... Buc-ees and Costco?! Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629 MORE CLOWNFISH TV - Official Merch Store: http://ClownfishMinus.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/ClownfishTV X - https://x.com/ClownfishTVcom Clownfish TV subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClownfishTVOfficial/ Disclaimer: This series is produced by Clownfish Studios and WebReef Media, and is part of ClownfishTV.com. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of our guests, affiliates, sponsors, or advertisers. ClownfishTV.com is an unofficial news source and has no connection to any company that we may cover. This channel and website and the content made available through this site are for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. These so-called “fair uses” are permitted even if the use of the work would otherwise be infringing. #WorldCup #TikTok #Viral #Podcast #Commentary #News #Reaction #Gaming #Comedy #Entertainment #Hollywood #PopCulture #Tech #Anime #FYP 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, we dive deep into the latest shifting tides of the electric vehicle market, starting with Tesla's political push in New Jersey to safeguard its upcoming Robotaxi fleet against restrictive new legislation. We also examine the regulatory scene down at Giga Texas, where brand-new EPA filings have finally peeled back the curtain on the highly anticipated Cybercab's official battery size, weight, power, and range specs. Meanwhile, Rivian continues its grueling march toward profitability, navigating another tough round of corporate layoffs just a week after their major R2 launch event. On the legacy automotive front, Hyundai is officially breathing down Chevrolet's neck as it closes in on the coveted number-two spot for EV sales in the United States. Plus, we look at unexpected sightings of Costco-branded Tesla Semis right here in Arizona and unpack a surprising report detailing Apple's sneaky new development that could finally bring CarPlay to Tesla vehicles. Support the Show https://www.supportkilowatt.com/ Other Podcasts: Beyond the Post YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@beyondthepostfm) Beyond the Post Podcast (https://www.beyondthepost.fm/) Shuffle Playlist (https://shows.acast.com/shuffle-playlist) 918Digital Website (https://www.918digital.com/) News Links: Teslarati: Tesla urges New Jersey owners to oppose new bill that could block Robotaxi CleanTechnica: Rivian Pursues Financial Sustainability with Layoffs Electrek: Rivian lays off hundreds, under 2% of staff, a week after R2 launch Electrek: Hyundai is closing in on Chevy as the #2 EV brand in the US Not a Tesla App: Costco-Branded Tesla Semis Spotted in Arizona Teslarati: Apple is developing the missing link for Tesla to get CarPlay: report Ars Technica Cars: Mobileye is entering the US robotaxi market with standalone service InsideEVs: Telo's Tiny Electric Truck Moves Closer To Reality With An Important New Partner Not a Tesla App: Tesla Reveals Cybercab Specs in New EPA Filings Not a Tesla App: Over 100 Tesla Cybercabs Spotted Staging at Giga Texas InsideEVs: Full Tesla Cybercab Specs: EPA Documents Confirm Battery Size, Weight, Power, And Preliminary Range *Show Art Created By ChatGPT Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kelly and the gang discuss the Tony Awards, Squatters, graduation, and The Knicks. Then they are joined by Internet sensations Reshma Gopaldas, her mother and her Auntie. What started as an attempt to record a heartfelt mother's day video went viral with the “Aunties” expressing their honest, unfiltered feelings on motherhood. The trio share their blunt opinions on dating, arranged marriages, and the wildest places they've been recognized. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

C&R laugh about fancy World Cup lingo! "You think you're better than me?" They talk getting your Knicks Championship gear at Costco. The difference between "bandwagon" & "front-runner" is discovered. The guys address a rumor about LeBron joining Wemby! Aliens take over the show. Plus, an exciting 'LAST ONE STANDING' goes to overtime!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

C&R laugh about fancy World Cup lingo! "You think you're better than me?" They talk getting your Knicks Championship gear at Costco. The difference between "bandwagon" & "front-runner" is discovered. Plus, the guys get set for a topic about a LeBron joining Wemby theory! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

────────────────────────────────────────[00:43:07:15]SPLC Intel Director Funneled Donor Money to Her Neo-Nazi Lover for Years$140K flowed into accounts with a National Alliance leader; SPLC revived the dying group.────────────────────────────────────────[00:27:25:25]White House Ballroom Hits $600M in March 2025 Paperwork — Triple Public Quotes293M private, 155M Secret Service, 149M military; separate $1B sought for security.────────────────────────────────────────[00:44:04:07]Nonprofit Wins SCOTUS Case Striking Trump's Tariffs — Then Loses All Its DonorsLiberty Justice Center spent $3.5M on the case; firms like Costco wouldn't help, fearing retaliation.────────────────────────────────────────[00:56:50:19]Leaked 14-Point MOU Reportedly Drafted by US, Not IranAl Arabiya published it pre-signing; Knight cites the same trick used on Panama's MOU.────────────────────────────────────────[01:06:15:24]Trump Claims Authority to Hand Iran $300B: "I Have the Right to If I Want"No congressional authorization cited; figure traced to a disputed pre-revolution debt.────────────────────────────────────────[01:09:01:15]Israel Rejects Being Bound by Ceasefire, Vows to Keep Pushing Regime ChangeSmotrich calls the MOU bad for Israel; Lebanon strikes continue despite it.────────────────────────────────────────[01:18:05:08]Cotton Bill Subordinates US Intel-Sharing to Israel, Timed to Liberty AnniversaryPresident must disclose withheld intel to Senate; introduced on USS Liberty's 59th anniversary.────────────────────────────────────────[01:29:13:24]Trump's Iran Embargo Pulls 20% of World Oil Supply, Dwarfing 1973's Crisis1973 cut only 15% of US supply yet caused a decade of fallout; this one is global from day one.────────────────────────────────────────[01:32:50:15]National Debt Nears $40 Trillion — Interest Approaches Pentagon Budget SizeSalente: Trump can't risk rate hikes since debt service rivals defense spending.────────────────────────────────────────[01:35:38:03]Central Banks Repatriate Gold From US/UK, Accumulating at Dollar's ExpenseMost plan to raise gold holdings, hold steady on euros/yuan, pull away from dollar reserves. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-david-knight-show--2653468/support.

────────────────────────────────────────[00:43:07:15]SPLC Intel Director Funneled Donor Money to Her Neo-Nazi Lover for Years$140K flowed into accounts with a National Alliance leader; SPLC revived the dying group.────────────────────────────────────────[00:27:25:25]White House Ballroom Hits $600M in March 2025 Paperwork — Triple Public Quotes293M private, 155M Secret Service, 149M military; separate $1B sought for security.────────────────────────────────────────[00:44:04:07]Nonprofit Wins SCOTUS Case Striking Trump's Tariffs — Then Loses All Its DonorsLiberty Justice Center spent $3.5M on the case; firms like Costco wouldn't help, fearing retaliation.────────────────────────────────────────[00:56:50:19]Leaked 14-Point MOU Reportedly Drafted by US, Not IranAl Arabiya published it pre-signing; Knight cites the same trick used on Panama's MOU.────────────────────────────────────────[01:06:15:24]Trump Claims Authority to Hand Iran $300B: "I Have the Right to If I Want"No congressional authorization cited; figure traced to a disputed pre-revolution debt.────────────────────────────────────────[01:09:01:15]Israel Rejects Being Bound by Ceasefire, Vows to Keep Pushing Regime ChangeSmotrich calls the MOU bad for Israel; Lebanon strikes continue despite it.────────────────────────────────────────[01:18:05:08]Cotton Bill Subordinates US Intel-Sharing to Israel, Timed to Liberty AnniversaryPresident must disclose withheld intel to Senate; introduced on USS Liberty's 59th anniversary.────────────────────────────────────────[01:29:13:24]Trump's Iran Embargo Pulls 20% of World Oil Supply, Dwarfing 1973's Crisis1973 cut only 15% of US supply yet caused a decade of fallout; this one is global from day one.────────────────────────────────────────[01:32:50:15]National Debt Nears $40 Trillion — Interest Approaches Pentagon Budget SizeSalente: Trump can't risk rate hikes since debt service rivals defense spending.────────────────────────────────────────[01:35:38:03]Central Banks Repatriate Gold From US/UK, Accumulating at Dollar's ExpenseMost plan to raise gold holdings, hold steady on euros/yuan, pull away from dollar reserves. ──────────────────────────────────────── Money should have intrinsic value AND transactional privacy: Go to https://davidknight.gold/ for great deals on physical gold/silver For 10% off Gerald Celente's prescient Trends Journal, go to https://trendsjournal.com/ and enter the code “KNIGHT” For high quality made in America products go to HomeSteadProducts.shop and use promo code “Knight” for 10% off your purchases Find out more about the show and where you can watch it at TheDavidKnightShow.com If you would like to support the show and our family please consider subscribing monthly here: SubscribeStar https://www.subscribestar.com/the-david-knight-show Or you can send a donation throughMail: David Knight POB 994 Kodak, TN 37764Zelle: @DavidKnightShow@protonmail.comCash App at: $davidknightshowBTC to: bc1qkuec29hkuye4xse9unh7nptvu3y9qmv24vanh7Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-real-david-knight-show--5282736/support.

American Joe Reagan bought a 24,000€ house in a hilltop town in Abruzzo with 750 people, moved his wife and four kids from Ireland, enrolled them directly into the Italian school system, and has not looked back. Three years in, they love their life in Abruzzo and are Joe is working to help other families move to their town for a better quality of life in Italy.  Dream of Italy Podcast Host Kathy McCabe sits down with Joe to talk about his new initiative to bring families to Celenza sul Trigno, Abruzzo, a town that has lost nearly half of its population in the last 35 years. He talks about the school system, where his kids got dedicated Italian lessons pulled from class for the first year and were fluent by the end of it, and where his eight-year-old daughter now sounds out English words with Italian vowels because that is simply how her brain learned to read. He gets into healthcare, where the pediatrician takes appointments by WhatsApp and the new family doctor was messaging his wife back within minutes of being contacted. He also gives an honest account of what small town tradeoffs look like, the nearest Costco equivalent is thirty minutes away and the bureaucracy moves at its own pace, and why he thinks the mindset shift matters in moving to rural Italy more than any practical obstacle. The conversation ends with Joe describing a Sunday spent picking wildflowers with the other fathers from the First Communion class to make decorations for the street procession. Neighbors knock on the door with fresh cherries. His son who used to be dragged to school in Ireland now has his grembiule on and his lunch bag packed before anyone else is awake. Show notes: http://www.dreamofitaly.com/20

In this episode of Case Studies, Casey sits down with Heather and Don Van Boerum — a Utah couple whose ordinary trip to Costco became a moment that divided their lives into before and after — for an honest conversation about trauma, faith, marriage, and what it means to find joy on the other side of the unthinkable.Heather opens up about losing both legs below the knee in a parking lot accident just days before Christmas, navigating 14-plus hours of surgery, and the quiet spiritual premonition she'd had only a week before it happened. Don, a trauma surgeon who has spent his career walking into the worst moments of strangers' lives, reflects on what it was like to jump into the back of an ambulance and realize it was his wife — and the dark night he spent wandering back to the Costco parking lot wondering if they'd made the wrong call.The conversation explores the thin line between survival and loss, the choice to compete instead of collapse, the son who wrote a forgiveness card to the driver before his mom had even thought to be angry, and the kind of joy that can only be found on the other side of deep suffering. Heather and Don talk about what presence actually means, how tragedy clarified their marriage, and why four and a half years later, neither of them would trade what this experience has given them.This episode is a powerful listen for anyone navigating hardship, anyone who's ever questioned whether faith holds up under real pressure, and anyone who needs a reminder that the richest lives are rarely the ones that went according to plan.00:00 — Introduction & How They Met11:00 — Life Before the Accident11:54 — Just a Normal Day16:18 — The Moment of Impact22:32 — Don Hears It Happen25:06 — "We Have Her Limbs"33:30 — The Surgery That Lasted Until Christmas Eve36:22 — "This Is My Wife, Let's Get Going"47:42 — Choosing to Win49:44 — The Christmas Eve Surgery57:54 — "Will You Make Up My Difference?"01:03:10 — The Card01:13:00 — Beauty From Ashes01:18:23 — What We Know Now01:26:38 — Happy vs. Joy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna is about to report Raven to HR. This would be because he is wearing flip flops. He keeps his man toes out in close proximity to Anna.  Can you be bought with your pennies? They're slowing down... but, you can turn them in and get back double your money! Quite a steal!   Oh how times have changed! What did your parents do back in the day that would get them absolutely cancelled these days?  Chic fila is no longer the #1 fast food restaurant... who takes the cake? JERSEY MIKES! Anna, Raven, Producer Sophia, Producer Justin give their single favorite fast food product  Those pesky card subscriptions. Are you going to renew it... or cancel? That gym membership you haven't used in 8 months or your Costco one you haven't visited since the first time you went. Well, Raven has two of them. Double trouble. Group projects. The bane of the existence of a highschooler with summer around the corner. There are ALWAYS 4 people in the group. Anna describes each... which one are you?  Scotland is here for a good time! The world cup welcome them back after MANY years and as they are proud, they are drinking our bars dry. No beer they like here, yet its ALL gone, even on the planes!  Thea and George's five-year-old was invited to a classmate's house birthday party. On the evite, it says, “No siblings, drop off only” and George is uncomfortable with that. Thea says he's overreacting. What do you think? Ashley has a chance to win $2,800! All he has to do is answer more pop culture questions than Raven in Can't Beat Raven!  

Alex is back. The Knicks are World Champions! The World Cup is here, and so are many people from all over the world discovering American delicacies like BBQ, Costco, and complimentary chips and salsa. Zorhan was at the finals and the World Cup, and had time to drop the hottest RFP for NYC Groceries, with all of New York's best studios chomping at the bit for the job. Coke launches collectible World Cup cans. Coors launches a super tallboy (not filled with beer, yet). Stadiums debrand at FIFA's request. JKR rebrands KFC. Tom Brady launches Good Nut. This and more right from the epicenter of it all, NYC!

This week Danna and Kristin chat about sleep-away camp. Danna's kids have never attended, while Kristin's four kids have spent years heading off to camp each summer. They discuss why camp becomes such an important part of growing up and the memories that last a lifetime. Kristin is also learning how to live on the road, including navigating hotel laundry rooms. This sparks a discussion about public laundry etiquette and whether it's ever acceptable to move someone else's clothes. Dinner with Farm Bureau friends where somehow the conversation turned to Bill's side dishes. Bill has opinions when it comes to food, especially side dishes, he needs options and let's just say the topic generated plenty of laughs. The conversation then shifts to Napa. While most people visit wine country for wine tasting, Bill and Kristin apparently go for Costco. And finally, Kristin shares a motel experience that felt like it belonged in a television crime drama. You know the kind of motel where you expect the police to be knocking on doors looking for suspects? That was the vibe and it made for a memorable stop on the trip. Tune in for camp stories, road-trip adventures, side-dish debates, Costco runs, and plenty of laughs along the way.

The following was recorded LIVE at the Neighborhood Theatre in Charlotte NC on December 7th 2025, and features genius musicians Eric Gersen (keys) and Ross Montsinger (Drums)! Prepare to throw away everything you think you know about Costco, as we delve into secrets we dare not ever write in this episode description. Wanna see us on tour? Get tickets at OffBookLive.com! Wanna support the show and get access to ad free episodes and our video archive? Check out OffBookClubhouse.com! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Zach sits down with Anna, a faculty member at the Relational Life Institute and one of his mentors, and her husband John, a self-described practitioner of life rather than therapy. Together, the three of them get into something that rarely happens on relationship podcasts: a real, textured, honest look at what it means to actually live relational principles inside a marriage, not just teach them.The episode turns on a fascinating contrast. Anna has been steeped in Relational Life Therapy for years, knows the language and the tools inside and out, and still finds herself slipping into covert control. John has no clinical training, no internet footprint, and no interest in marketing the work, but walks into every conversation with an intuitive grasp of what healthy relating requires. Zach presses both of them on this. What does doing the work actually mean when one partner has the vocabulary and the other just seems to live it? The answers are more interesting than either of them might have predicted.The centerpiece story is a moment from a joint retreat in Costa Rica, where Anna had to manage a minor household crisis back home without telling John what was happening. She kept things managed, kept things calm, and kept him in the dark, and then eventually had to reckon with the fact that her "helpfulness" had crossed over into exactly the pattern she spends her professional life helping couples dismantle. When she finally told him, his response was one of the most reparative moments she had experienced in their relationship. That single story opens into a much bigger conversation about the difference between protecting your partner and controlling the room, about what it costs to never let yourself be surprised by someone else's goodness.What sticks is this: the goal is not to never get off balance. It is to catch it sooner. Anna says it plainly and Zach echoes it with his now-running story about screaming at strangers in the Costco gas line. Nobody has figured this out. Nobody is immune. But some people are getting better at noticing, and this episode is 45 minutes of what that actually looks and sounds like in a real marriage.Key TakeawaysIntimacy requires level ground. You cannot have real closeness from a one-up or one-down position, whether that means superiority, caretaking, or control.Covert control often starts as kindness. What begins as "protecting" your partner can quietly become a way of managing your own anxiety about their reaction.Predicting a bad response can cost you a good one. When Anna stopped waiting for John to disappoint her and told him what was going on, she got one of the most reparative moments in their relationship.The work is not a destination you arrive at. It is the repeated, unglamorous act of noticing when you have drifted, and coming back.Doing the work is not the same as talking about the work. John's ability to intuit the relational principles without the clinical vocabulary challenges the assumption that people who read the books and say the right things are necessarily further along.How you show up solicits how your partner shows up. Bringing your grounded, adult self to an interaction invites the same from the person across from you. It is not a guarantee, but it raises the odds significantly."On a good day" is not the benchmark. The real growth shows up in what you do when it is a bad day and the old patterns are calling your name loudest.Repair is available more often than we let ourselves believe. The barrier is usually not the other person. It is the story we are already telling about how they are going to respond.Guest InfoAnna is a therapist, teacher, and faculty member at the Relational Life Institute. She is a practitioner and trainer in Relational Life Therapy, an approach developed by Terry Real. She references her use of RLT both in her clinical practice and in her own marriage. She is also Zach's mentor, a relationship he acknowledges directly during the episode.John is Anna's husband. He is not a clinician. He came to the relational principles through personal experience, yoga, mindfulness practice, and what he describes as a forced epiphany roughly a decade before this recording. His perspective as the non-therapist partner in a therapist-led framework is one of the central tensions the episode is built around.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For 12 years, Jason Wright has been obsessed with one question: Can a protein snack compete with the biggest brands in the chip aisle on taste alone? In this episode, Jason, the founder and CEO of Wilde Snacks, explains how a failed meat-bar business led to a breakthrough innovation, why he spent years building proprietary manufacturing technology, and how Wilde's new Protein Crackers fit into a broader vision for a protein-powered snack platform.  Jason also discusses the value of patient investors, the strategic role of Costco and product sampling in driving trial, and why he believes the future of better-for-you snacks depends on eliminating the compromise between nutrition and indulgence. Show notes: 0:20: Jason Wright, Founder & CEO, Wilde Snacks – Jason reflects on his first appearance on Taste Radio before discussing the years-long effort to develop Wilde's proprietary manufacturing technology and the opening of the company's first production facility in 2021, a move he credits with transforming the brand and fueling sustained growth. He also talks about the launch of Wilde Protein Crackers, the strategic advantages of owning manufacturing, and how patents, specialized equipment, and operational expertise have helped create a formidable competitive moat. Along the way, Jason highlights the role of Costco, Whole Foods, and product sampling in driving consumer trial, while outlining Wilde's ambitions to expand into new protein-based snack formats, including tortilla chips and other innovations. He also emphasizes the importance of patient investors, particularly lead backer Alan Karp, whose long-term support enabled Wilde to pursue an unconventional vision and build the business on its own timeline. Brands in this episode: Wilde Snacks, Epic, Kind, I Can't Believe It's Not Butter, Fritos, Pringles, Quest

Episode 304 reunites The Analysts — Remarkable Retail's celebrated panel of Forrester's Sucharita Kodali, Guggenheim's Simeon Siegel, and GlobalData's Neil Saunders — to take stock of retail coming out of earnings season. Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open on the paradox of 2026: results are largely strong, sentiment is dismal. Simeon argues the link between the two is "tenuous at best" — people talk one way and spend another. Neil has the data: roughly 60% of shoppers who expect the economy to worsen still spent more than a year ago, propped up by spring tax refunds that won't repeat. Then the K-shaped economy. Higher-income households drive most of the real volume growth; middle-income shoppers prop up value growth mainly because prices are higher. Sucharita revisits "peak ambiguity" and the "vibe session," noting record sales barely outrun stubborn inflation. The panel unpacks the standouts — Ross's 17% comp, Victoria's Secret up 15% — and debates GLP-1's role in surging apparel and beauty: wardrobe replacement, new confidence, trading up to statement pieces. On turnarounds, Simeon lands the episode's sharpest thesis: brands "ubiquitize" and peak around $3–4 billion in the US. Lululemon got too big, over-distributed, and over-earning — so the bad sales have to "walk out the door" before the brand can re-elevate, the same lens that frames Nike's long reset. He and Sucharita draw the Gap parallel ahead of Simeon's on-stage interview with Mickey Drexler, noting Old Navy now dwarfs Gap itself. Neil makes the case for Macy's under Tony Spring — basics fixed first, satisfaction and visitation improving — while Steve stays skeptical of the pace. Next, the DTC reckoning. Simeon reframes his old "DTC is not all it's cracked up to be" call as "anti-anti-wholesale": outside high-margin luxury, nearly every brand needs a healthy wholesale business — and stores remain the best channel because "the customer is your employee." Sucharita pushes back on the AI narrative, reminding everyone it's far more than generative hype, as the panel digs into why scaled players — Amazon, Walmart, Costco, off-price — keep compounding through retail media, marketplaces, and flywheel economics. It closes on the wealth effect, trillion-dollar market caps, and whether a market correction could rattle high-end spending — then rapid-fire hot takes: brands to watch (Cozey, Ross Stores, Goyard) and what's on each analyst's radar, from inflation and surging oil prices to a quiet "middle of the doughnut" news lull and an election year's hunt for stability. Join us at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York June 23rd and 24th with this exclusive discount code for 10% off general admission tickets and FREE retail tickets: Your code is "REMARKABLE" . See you in the Big Apple! About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

The boys are back and this time Jesse returns from his trip to Sumer Games Fest. He's got a few games to talk to Crendor about, but really today we're all about Miley Cyrus! Okay not really, but Crendor has been sleeping on Costco wine and that's basically the same thing. And of course no episode would be complete without an insane story of a bear committing insurance fraud. All this and more on a brand new Cox n' Crendor! Get up to 50% off your first order, plus free shipping at http://MeUndies.com/crendor promo code crendor. Come see us live! https://lh-st.com/shows/08-22-2026-chilluminati-cox-n-crendor-live/

Ken and Lima react to viral TikToks of Europeans losing their minds over Costco and Walmart during their World Cup trips to North America. Lima can't wrap his head around tourists skipping sightseeing to visit a big box store, while Ken argues that the American superstore experience is just as mythical to Europeans as the Colosseum is to us. The guys eventually spiral into debating what there even is to do in Dallas and why a Buc-ee's stop might be the greatest road trip experience Lima has never had.

They debate whether Donovan Mitchell should take a significant pay cut to improve the Cavaliers' roster flexibility, similar to Jalen Brunson's recent move with the Knicks. The conversation also covers the viral fascination Europeans have with American superstores like Costco and Walmart, alongside the U.S. Men's National Team's success on the soccer pitch. 01:34 - Mitchell Pay Cut Debate 07:33 - Cavs Championship Ceiling 14:11 - USMNT World Cup Success 17:06 - Foreigners Visit American Costco 21:40 - US Abundance vs Europe 27:54 - Texas Travel and Buc-ee's 31:42 - Soccer Growth in America 36:33 - Mike Brown NBA Title

In this episode of Growth Think Tank, Gene Hammett sits down with Arad Levertov, CEO and Co-Founder of Sunbit, an Inc. 5000 company ranked No. 1,374 in 2025, to discuss how leaders can stay true to their mission while scaling a fast-growing organization. Arad shares how Sunbit was founded with a mission to reduce financial waste and friction by providing personalized financial solutions that benefit both consumers and merchants. He reflects on the frustrating credit card application experience that inspired the company's creation and explains how Sunbit has expanded across industries, including auto repair, dental care, and eyewear, while facilitating millions of customer financing transactions. The conversation also explores how mission-driven leadership is reinforced through communication, company values, and performance evaluations, as well as the important lessons learned from hiring too quickly during rapid growth. This episode offers valuable insights for leaders seeking to scale their companies without losing sight of their purpose. Episode Highlights & Time Stamps 1:22 Staying True While Scaling 4:15 Sunbit's Customer Promise 5:10 The Costco Moment 8:12 Who Sunbit Serves 11:45 Growth Pressure And Fees 14:35 Spreading The Mission 16:32 Living The Core Values 18:06 Leading By Customer Feel 20:10 Hiring Mistakes And Focus Key Takeaways ✅ Why mission-driven companies outperform when growth creates pressure. ✅ The personal Costco experience that inspired Sunbit's founding. ✅ How eliminating financial waste became Sunbit's core mission. ✅ Why Sunbit refuses to charge late fees or origination fees. ✅ The importance of consistent communication as companies scale. ✅ How company values are reinforced through hiring, performance reviews, and daily decisions. ✅ Why "Serve Others Before Self" is Sunbit's foundational value. ✅ How leaders can avoid becoming disconnected from customers as organizations grow. ✅ Lessons learned from hiring too quickly during periods of rapid expansion. ✅ Why maintaining focus requires saying "no" more often than saying "yes." This episode is a must-listen for CEOs and executives looking to lead innovation with purpose, scale responsibly with AI, and build cultures where people feel empowered to think boldly and grow. Connect With Today's Guest Arad Levertov is the CEO and Co-Founder of Sunbit, a financial technology company focused on eliminating financial waste and helping consumers spend and save with confidence through personalized financial solutions. Under his leadership, Sunbit has expanded to more than 40,000 merchant locations and served millions of customers across the United States. How to Connect with Arad Levertov: LinkedIn: Arad Levertov (LinkedIn) https://www.linkedin.com/in/arad-levertov-37815b4 Company Website: Sunbit https://sunbit.com/ – to learn more about his work and platform Get In Touch with Arad: https://sunbit.com/contact-us/ Resources & Next Steps Ready to take your leadership energy to the next level? Explore free training and resources at https://training.coreelevation.com/ to help you identify energy leaks, strengthen your leadership presence, and elevate your team's performance.

The Gary & Shannon Show (06/15) Hour 1 – Gary and Shannon kick off the show with Shannon's Love Island editing complaints before learning of a tragic development behind the scenes in Fiji.Then, Gary admits he got unexpectedly patriotic during the UFC Birthday Bash, complete with the National Anthem, Blue Angels, and what he describes as a four-hour "freedom boner."They unpack lingering questions surrounding President Trump's Iran deal as markets react positively despite few details being publicly known.Plus, why Trader Joe's suddenly feels like a dating app, World Cup fans discover the wonder of America through Buc-ee's and Costco rotisserie chickens, and a new dating trend says maybe it's time to let your inner goblin show.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Preview for Later Today: Jim McTague reports on a "gas bonus" in Lancaster County, where fuel prices have plunged below Costco levels. However, despite having extra money, consumers remain hesitant to shop, creating a local economic mystery.1900 #KEYSTONE STATE

Notas Macabrosas - Mujer se roba calculadora, se convierte en Lady Calculadora - Mujer descubierta con dos armas de fuego en peluche - Detuvieron al ganador de un concurso del youtuber MrBeast con 260 kilos de marihuana - Piden apoyo para enviar a Italia a repartidor de Boing veracruzano que ganó premio de poesía - Un borracho se robó un taxi - El Pechocho, el delfín leyenda de Topolobampo… y el ecosistema que podría estar en peligro - Vuelo hacia España regresa a aeropuerto de Nueva York por dispositivo Bluetooth llamado 'bomba' - Diego Shoobridge, el karateka del Senado: su performance marcial le valió más de 10 mil votos - Supuesto avistamiento de OVNI en Brasil - Arrestan a mujer por regalar alcohol en Costco - ¡Macabro rito satánico en Chihuahua! Asesinan a su amigo para despertarlo convertido en ‘vampiro' - Tirador suelto en Puebla - Hombre atacado por un caimán tras saltar a un pantano para huir de la policía - Expulsan a un exorcista por vincular ovnis con el demonio Chismundial - Chisme en torno al Mundial, sin hablar de fútbol. - La selección Japonesa se va de México - Aplanadora daña rampa en Terminal 2 del AICM - Los altos precios de las bebidas en Monterrey También puedes escucharnos en Youtube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music o tu app de podcasts favorita. Apóyanos en Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leyendaspodcast​ Apóyanos en YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/leyendaslegendarias/join Síguenos: https://instagram.com/leyendaspodcast​ https://twitter.com/leyendaspodcast​ https://facebook.com/leyendaspodcast​ #Podcast​ #LeyendasLegendarias​ #HistoriasDelMasAca

If they remove the froyo it'll make my life a living hellFor a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month's subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code BEACHTOOSANDY Visit Progressive.com and see if you can enjoy a little extra cash back. Head to Talkiatry.com/BEACH to complete the short assessment and get matched with an in‐network psychiatrist in just a few minutes. Go to zenni.com/podcast and use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase when they head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BEACHTOOSANDY at checkout.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.