Podcasts about Halifax

I'm Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and host of the industry leading Remarkable Retail podcast, along with fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc.Discover why C-suite executives from Amazon, Walmart, Ikea, Tractor Supply, Vuori and dozens more - choose to share their growth stories on the only retail podcast hosted by two of the NRF's top voices for 2025 and 2026.With AI reshaping just about everything, when making sense of competing narratives has never been more challenging, and when so many brands face an existential choice between becoming remarkable or risking irrelevance, Michael and I are here to give you the no-BS perspectives you need to aim higher, move faster, and take the bold actions you must.Our new season debuts January 13th, 2026,  so be sure to follow the Remarkable Retail podcast on all the major platforms and on YouTube. SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

It's a new year & its quiz time for Angela in Halifax and Jenny in Cornwall!

What happens when you don't choose music, but music chooses you? In this electrifying episode, the magnetic Nigerian artist Oluzy traces his journey from freestyling on street benches in Lagos to sharing stages with Afrobeats giants like Ruger and Joeboy in Canada.Oluzy pulls back the curtain on his unique creative process, revealing how a chance airport encounter inspired his viral hit “Bamidele Logba Logba” and why he believes the universe, not him, curates the loyal team that surrounds him. He gets real about the pressure to constantly outdo himself, the hustle mentality forged in a Lagos neighbourhood where “nobody did a nine-to-five,” and why he sees his upcoming project as a genre-defying “movement” never before heard in Afrobeats.Oluzy is a Halifax-based afrobeat artist blending Nigerian roots with global vibes. Producing hits like 'Love Me' & 'Bamidele Logba Logba', he's breaking bounds with infectious rhythmsCheck him out @oluzy_

Natalie Chiasson is a journalist and visual artist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She moved to the East Coast from western Canada in 2019, and has established strong roots here in Mi'kma'ki.She is passionate about storytelling through writing, photography, videography, and illustration, and strives to document stories that amplify underrepresented voices that bring attention to environmental, cultural, and social issues that help people better understand the world around them.Find out more @nataliechiassonmedia

Bob Halpern began attending session at Sokoji with Shunryu Suzuki in 1965 while living in LA where he helped Taizan Maezumi get his zendo going. He and I were best friends and troublemakers at Tassajara and sometimes in the city. We went over all that thoroughly in a podcast years ago. In this podcast he tells about becoming a Chogyam Trungpa student in 1971 and being his first personal attendant. He brings us up to the present time where he finally calmed down and for twenty years has been running morning and early evening  meditation for the Shambhala group in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where Trungpa moved his center to in 1986.

HALIFAX, HITLER, AND THE SOVIET FEAR Colleague Charles Spicer. By late 1937, the Anglo-German Fellowship was under surveillance by both MI5 and the NKVD, as Stalin feared the organization might successfully broker an alliance between Britain and Germany against the Soviet Union. In November, Foreign Minister Lord Halifax visited the Berghof, where the cultural disconnect was so profound that he initially mistook Hitler for a footman. Although Halifax was appalled by Hitler's brutality—specifically his suggestion to shoot Gandhi to solve problems in India—he was momentarily fooled into believing Hitler did not want war. This meeting highlighted the dangerous gap between the civilized assumptions of British diplomacy and the predatory reality of the Nazi regime. NUMBER 8 1945-46 NUREMBERG

"This is our first of two year opening shows. We will cover new Public Domain availability, anniversaries for this new year and some predictions for 2026."

It's the end of 2025, so that must mean it's time for our year-end wrap-up, where we share where we are planning to go in 2026! Spoiler alert: we BOTH have trips booked. Thanks for a great year :)Support the Travel Mug Podcast by buying us a coffee! You'll make our day & you'll get access to fun stuff like bloopers and extra content.We have Merch! Shop the Travel Mug Podcast Store Check out our fav items here: Our Favourite Travel ProductsGRAB OUR MASTER PACKING LIST HERE*****************************************We are travel enthusiasts who do not claim to be professionals! Instead, we are two Halifax, NS natives with travel blogs who somehow found one another on the internet, and now, we have a podcast!!Join us every week as we talk about our favourite destinations, travel tips, travel fails, and all things travel!We have a big passion for travelling and talking about travel, so we hope you will listen and join the conversation.You can find us here:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramJenn's Travel Blog Jenn's YouTube channelDisclaimer: All episodes are based on our opinions and experiences. Always do your research and make travel plans based on your budget and comfort levels.Support the show

On the phone-in: We're joined by New Brunswick comedian, James Mullinger and Halifax-based author, Jane Doucet to reflect on the last year and hear what they are looking forward to in 2026. And off the top, a conversation about the impacts of consumer fireworks.

(Photo: CTV Atlantic)

Join host Corey for an insightful conversation with digital accessibility experts Garth Holmes, co-founder of Be Responsive Media, and Kirsten Dodd, CEO of Haynova, as they tackle one of the most overlooked yet essential aspects of inclusion: making the digital world accessible to everyone.Drawing from decades of experience in web development, design, and inclusive technology, Garth and Kirsten move beyond compliance checklists to explore the human impact of digital barriers—and how to remove them.Key topics include:Why third-party tools and platforms are often the biggest roadblocks to accessibility and how to advocate for changeThe power of auditing with people who have disabilities and how it transformed the ACE Project websiteHow inaccessible apps during COVID-19 put people at risk and why digital access is a matter of food security, health, and dignityDebunking the myth that accessibility limits creativity and how it actually strengthens your brand and user experiencePractical, low-cost ways to start: from browser extensions like WAVE to listening to your site with a screen readerWhy empathy, not just compliance, drives lasting change, and how to build it into your team's processWhere to find grants and resources in Nova Scotia to support your accessibility journeyWhether you're a developer, designer, marketer, or business leader, this episode is packed with real stories, actionable strategies, and a clear message: digital accessibility isn't a nice-to-have, it's a must-have for reaching and respecting your entire community.Ready to make your digital space truly inclusive? Listen now.

This episode originally was published on November 22, 2022. The Empress of Ireland was a luxurious and beautiful steamship of the early 20th century, carrying passengers across the North Atlantic between Quebec City and Liverpool. She and her sister ship, the Empress of Britain, were an important cog during the peak of Canadian immigration. In the early morning hours of 29 May, 1914, the Empress of Ireland collided with the Norwegian ship Storstad in dense fog on the St. Lawrence River. Over 1000 people on the Empress of Ireland perished, and more passengers died than on the Titanic just two years prior. Because of the massive loss of life, she has been called "Canada's Titanic." Dan Conlin, Curator of the Canadian Immigration Museum at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia joins me as my guest. Written, edited, and produced by Rich Napolitano. All episodes can be found at ⁠https://www.shipwrecksandseadogs.com⁠. Original theme music by ⁠Sean Sigfried⁠. Listen Ad-Free, get exclusive bonus episodes, and free Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs merchandise by subscribing at patreon.com/shipwreckspod. Three tiers available! Listen ad-free on Apple Podcasts! Just find Shipwrecks and Sea Dogs in Apple Podcasts, and click the banner to subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Photo: CTV News)

Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Caleb Latreille has spent most of his adult life wandering across both the planet and creative disciplines. As a youth, he was a prolific writer, writing and directing for the theatre and becoming deeply involved in the North American zine scene of the late 1990s and early aughts. After a move to Halifax, Nova Scotia, his work with paper shifted towards music: creating posters, fliers, and cassette booklets as a DJ/organizer and selling handmade mixtapes at local craft and record fairs; and to mail art, keeping ties with friends made through zines or while travelling across North America as a record collector, a hitchhiking banjo player, and an occasional roadie and tour manager. A growing focus on DJing led to moves to Melbourne, Montreal, and Negril, and to music production and audio engineering. Eventually, buying a camera to document life at a volunteer-run recording studio in Halifax, he fell in love with photography and has since concentrated his efforts on portraiture. Owing to his past, youth culture and nostalgia are prominent themes in his work. He is currently in the process of immigrating to Lusaka, Zambia.Check his work out @caleblatreille

Blackout Podcast Episode 349: Double A - DJ / Founder, Modus Music GroupDouble A first made his mark as a pioneering drum and bass DJ in Montreal's underground scene in the early 1990s. Over the next decade, he toured extensively across North America and around the globe—from Cape Town to Tokyo, Los Angeles to Toronto. Alongside longtime DJ partner Twist, he co-founded Dune and Nude Recordings, two influential Montreal-based labels that helped shape the city's electronic music landscape.With a string of releases and remixes to his name, Double A shifted gears in the early 2000s, stepping away from drum and bass to embrace open-format DJing. On Canada's East Coast, he became known for producing some of the region's longest-running monthly events, earning a reputation for his genre-spanning sets and dynamic crowd connection.After several years in the U.S., Double A is now based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he continues to push musical boundaries with his digital sets while also staying rooted in his love of vinyl. He's deep into collecting 45s and runs his own 7" imprint, Mountain 45s. His productions have landed on respected labels like Private Stock Records, Heat Rock, Fridays Funky 45s, and Eastside Edits.Known for his eclectic and high-energy sets, Double A seamlessly blends genres whether playing digitally or all-vinyl. He's not chasing rare collectibles or trying to impress crate-diggers—just delivering pure dance floor fire. All fun. All the time. Check him out @modusmusicgroup

A Maine man is charged with murdering his mother. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Halifax yesterday following one of the heaviest Russian assaults on Kyiv in weeks. Bostonians celebrating Kwanzaa with an annual brunch in the South End. Stay in "The Loop" with WBZ NewsRadio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting prime minister Mark Caney in Halifax ahead of trip to Mar-a-Lago. Thailand and Cambodia agree to 72-hour ceasefire in deadly cross-border dispute. Nigerian officials say there could be more strikes against Islamist militants in the country's north. African regional bodies reject recognition of Somaliland by Israel. The navy is considering an all-Canadian built ice-capable amphibious ship to defend the Arctic. Last surviving Dionne quintuplet, Annette Dionne, has died. How many daily steps do we need to be healthy?

We've all been in the right place at the right time.   For me, one of those times was to be hosting and producing MuchWest in Vancouver when Sarah McLachlan moved from Halifax to Vancouver to begin what would become an amazing career. Sarah ended up on the West Coast because in Halifax,  her home,  she had opened for a band from Nettwerk Records in Kitsilano. They wanted to sign her immediately, but Sarah's parents insisted she finish her schooling. It felt like she came to Vancouver with songs already written and ready to go. It wasn't long before  Sarah released her debut album Touch. That's when I first met and interviewed her.   The gift she gave the world was songs cutting deep into memory and self-awareness. Since 1989, the gift she's given me was to tell part of the story through our interviews.   That's one of the reasons why I asked Sarah to come to Thailand and Cambodia with me in 1991 to tell the story of World Vision's battle with the aids epidemic.   Sarah is on record as saying the journey changed her life. It helped her understand the power of giving back. It also leads directly to her involvement with the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. Some of our interviews showed up in the Lilith Fair Documentary. It's been 11 years since Sarah recorded and released new music. Her new album is called Better Broken. We'll talk about a lot of things.  Better Broken,  Motherhood, today's music world and her place in it, the legacy of Lilith, the Fumbling Towards Ecstasy 30th anniversary  Tour and Canada – O Canada.

If you think you've never heard Jerry Granelli play drums — you likely have. Think of a comic strip holiday special and an iconic soundtrack: A Charlie Brown Christmas. Jerry was 22 years old when he became a member of the Vince Guaraldi Trio, the jazz band behind the popular 1965 album. His long career was legendary, accompanying many of the greats like Mose Alison, Sly Stone and The Grateful Dead. Producer Mary Lynk was lucky to meet with Jerry on the eve of his 80th birthday for a wide-ranging conversation. The gifted composer and jazz giant died in Halifax in 2021. *This episode originally aired on December 21, 2020.

Welcome to New England Legends From the Vault – FtV Episode 147 –   Jeff Belanger and Ray Auger stroll Boston Common to see this year's Christmas tree. The tree is an annual gift from the people of Halifax, Nova Scotia – a gift that traces its roots back to a horrible tragedy that took place December 6, 1917, when a French ship carrying munitions exploded, instantly killing hundreds of people, and injuring thousands more. Out of this dark day came a bright light of hope when neighbors reached out to help neighbors. This episode first aired December 24, 2020 Listen ad-free plus get early access and bonus episodes at: https://www.patreon.com/NewEnglandLegends

The Canadian Taxpayer Federation has put Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the top of its annual Naughty List, as Canada's worst "grifting politicians." Boston received a "majestic white spruce" Christmas tree, an annual gift from Nova Scotia recognizing the essential aid provided to Halifax after the devastating explosion a century ago. Canadian charitable giving has hit a 20-year low, according to a Fraser Institute report. This alarming decline raises concerns about charities' ability to support communities. Tune into the Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Geoff Knight! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the amazing annual Christmas season tradition that binds Halifax to the city of Boston—whose generous citizens came to the aid of the Canadian maritime city of Halifax, capital of the Atlantic province of Nova Scotia, when it suffered a catastrophic event that nearly destroyed it when two ships collided in the harbor starting off a chain of events that would create the largest explosion before the atomic bomb in 1917. Ee275. Check out the YouTube version of this episode at https://youtu.be/Y4JYo-vS9TU which has accompanying visuals including maps, charts, timelines, photos, illustrations, and diagrams. The BackTracker History Show available at https://amzn.to/48zINnM Halifax Explosion of 1917 books at https://amzn.to/3NMcKJ9 ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel at : https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio Credit: The BackTracker History Show with Alice Hill (Season 3 Episode 45 titled The Halifax Explosion & Season 5 Episode 1 titled New Year’s Day Special, BSR FM103.4)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this week's episode we were joined by Kevin and Mike of Great Danes! If you remember the band Halifax from the early 2000s you will definitely be excited for this conversation as the both of them used to be in the band! We had such a great time chatting with the two of them about Halifax, their new band, music they have released, new music to come, a deep conversation about mustard and so much more. That being said we had a blast talking about the past, present and the future. So without further ado we hope you enjoy the conversation as much as we did!

What if you could enjoy your favourite things in a different location? Meggan shares how to make travel an extension of your everyday life by incorporating your hobbies and making trips more personal.Support the Travel Mug Podcast by buying us a coffee! You'll make our day & you'll get access to fun stuff like bloopers and extra content.We have Merch! Shop the Travel Mug Podcast Store Check out our fav items here: Our Favourite Travel ProductsGRAB OUR MASTER PACKING LIST HERE*****************************************We are travel enthusiasts who do not claim to be professionals! Instead, we are two Halifax, NS natives with travel blogs who somehow found one another on the internet, and now, we have a podcast!!Join us every week as we talk about our favourite destinations, travel tips, travel fails, and all things travel!We have a big passion for travelling and talking about travel, so we hope you will listen and join the conversation.You can find us here:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramJenn's Travel Blog Jenn's YouTube channelDisclaimer: All episodes are based on our opinions and experiences. Always do your research and make travel plans based on your budget and comfort levels.Support the show

A fellow scientist remembers his friend Nuno Loureiro -- the beloved MIT professor authorities believe was killed this week by the same man suspected of killing two students at Brown University.Air Canada reaches a settlement with passengers after a crash-landing in a Halifax snowstorm more than 10 years ago -- an event that left our guest with an understandably visceral fear of flying.As part of a ceasefire deal with Israel, the Lebanese army must disarm the militant group Hezbollah by the end of this year. A former MP in Lebanon weighs on whether that's possible -- and what it could mean if it isn't. The Canadian couple who were struggling to secure a travel visa for their adopted Ugandan daughter have finally made it home for the holidays.In tonight's holiday reading, a child's Christmas wish for new ice skates is badly misinterpreted -- to the extreme dismay of that child, and then his mother. This year's World Pie-Eating Championship has a sur-pies winner -- but the contest's pie master laments the much faster competitors of days gone pie.As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that's off the tarts.

In this special bonus episode closing out Season 11 of The Remarkable Retail Podcast and the year 2025, hosts Steve Dennis & Michael LeBlanc complete the second half of their annual predictions review—one of the most popular and anticipated episodes of the year. The episode opens with brief but timely discussion on two high-profile retail-adjacent experiences. First us Dennis shares insights from Amazon's first-ever grocery analyst day in Seattle, offering a clearer picture of the company's “one grocery” vision and it's already substantial online presence, now being accelerated as they invest in same day deliver of perishable items.The conversation then turns to Netflix House, following Dennis's visit to the newly opened Dallas location, the second of three that are planned. Positioned in a former department store anchor, Netflix House blends immersive experiences, branded merchandise, gaming, and a restaurant. While customer traffic was encouraging, Dennis offered a frank critique of execution, citing confusing layouts, weak wayfinding, and inconsistent merchandising. The takeaway is cautiously optimistic: the concept has potential, but it is not yet operating at the level that would warrant significant expansion.The core of the episode is Part 2 of Dennis' annual predictions reckoning. Dennis revisits his forecast that department stores would continue “running to stand still,” awarding himself an A-minus as most banners remain stuck in negative or flat comps with limited progress on profitability. His prediction of significant change at Target earns a B-plus, correctly anticipating leadership transitions and the end of the Ulta partnership, though anticipated store closures did not materialize.Dennis also scores highly on his prediction that store closures would once again exceed store openings in the U.S., driven by bankruptcies and retrenchment across drugstores, mid-market apparel, and specialty retail. Predictions around Amazon's physical grocery strategy are largely validated, while expectations for a surge in retail dealmaking and IPO activity fall short, earning a candid C-minus.The episode closes with a nuanced reassessment of the so-called “Ozempic recession.” While the term itself overstated the impact, Dennis and LeBlanc agree that GLP-1 drugs are reshaping consumption patterns—particularly in food, alcohol, and apparel—with long-term implications retailers can no longer ignore.  SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this timely episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc is joined by Aamir Lakhani, Global Director of Threat Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence at Fortinet, for a deep and sobering conversation on the evolving cyber threat landscape facing retailers as they close out 2025 and prepare for 2026.Lakhani leads adversarial AI research within FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet's global R&D arm, where his team studies how cybercriminals—ranging from lone actors to state-sponsored groups—exploit technology, human behaviour, and increasingly, artificial intelligence. With Fortinet protecting over half of the world's firewall traffic, Lakhani brings unparalleled visibility into global cybercrime trends.A central theme of the discussion is the explosion of credential-based attacks, where hackers no longer “break in” but simply log in using stolen usernames and passwords. Lakhani explains how years of data breaches have enabled automated attacks across thousands of retail, banking, and corporate systems, often at massive scale. Two-factor authentication, passkeys, and password-less systems are no longer optional—they are table stakes.The conversation then turns to AI-driven fraud, which Lakhani describes as one of the most urgent threats retailers face today. From deepfake voice scams impersonating CEOs to hyper-personalized phishing attacks fueled by social media data, AI has dramatically lowered the cost and increased the sophistication of fraud. On a scale of concern, Lakhani rates AI fraud “off the charts.”LeBlanc and Lakhani also explore deceptive domains, poisoned AI shopping results, and the risks associated with buy-now-pay-later programs, which fraudsters increasingly exploit through urgency-based scams. Importantly, Lakhani emphasizes that cybersecurity is now a shared responsibility across platforms, retailers, and consumers—especially as many small and mid-sized retailers rely heavily on platforms like Shopify.Looking ahead to 2026, Lakhani offers clear guidance for retail leaders: invest in education, embrace AI-powered security tools, and do not shy away from automation. Cybersecurity, he argues, is no longer just an IT issue—it is a brand trust issue, a revenue protection issue, and a core leadership responsibility. Cyberthreats Targeting the 2025 Holiday Season: What CISOs Need to Know and the report Cyber Threat Landscape Overview for the 2025 Holiday Season. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Some creative partnerships do more than grow over time; they help shape an entire artistic landscape. In this episode of The Movers and Shapers Podcast, we meet Sara Coffin and Susanne Chui, co-artistic directors of Mocean Dance, whose long shared history and collaborative vision have transformed contemporary dance in Nova Scotia. Sara begins by tracing her path from early choreography to training across Canada and the United States, and how returning home eventually led her into a leadership role with Mocean Dance. Susanne shares her parallel journey, from a childhood in community dance to professional training in Toronto and the decision to return to Halifax, where she built an independent career before joining the company. Together, they reflect on the evolution of Mocean Dance from a dancer-centered company to a community-focused hub for creation, training, and sector-wide collaboration. They discuss how their friendship, complementary strengths, and improvisational ethos shape their working relationship, and they offer a look at the ambitious interdisciplinary and land-based projects that will define their next chapter. Listen in for a thoughtful conversation about collaboration, place-based artistry, and what it takes to sustain a thriving dance ecosystem outside major centers. Key Points From This Episode: Sara's early pull toward dance and her first experiences in choreographing. Training across Canada and finding her voice through somatics and collaboration. Forming the SiNS (Sometimes in Nova Scotia) collective: building an early artistic community. Returning to Halifax and stepping into leadership at Mocean Dance. Completing her MFA at Smith College in the United States to deepen her artistic practice. Susanne's community-based dance beginnings and discovery of professional training. Moving to Toronto for conservatory study and early company work. Returning home to build an independent career supported by grants and local networks. Joining Mocean Dance and forming a co-artistic partnership with Sara. Learning the administrative demands of running a company. Shifting Mocean from dancer-centered work to community-focused programming. Expanding professional development offerings, labs, and training programs. Building interdisciplinary partnerships across art, ecology, architecture, and design. Developing land-based and relational works with Indigenous collaborators. Reflections on sustaining a long-term creative partnership rooted in trust and improvisation. Looking ahead to large regional initiatives and reimagined touring models. For more on Sara and Susanne and Show Notes & Links: The Moving Architects Follow the podcast on Instagram & Facebook Donate to The Moving Architects today and support this podcast! Support The Moving Architects

"This is our second Christmas show of 2025. We are giving more trivia and history for many of your favorite songs. It is quite a list."

"NOTE. This show is being posted a week early due to our Holiday travel. Enjoy two shows this week. This is our traditional end-of-year show were we give one last tip of the hat to the musicians who passed in 2025. "

The final episode of The Food Professor Podcast for 2025 delivers a timely, wide-ranging examination of Canada's food system, blending macroeconomic analysis with a compelling, real-world industry case study. Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois open the episode by reviewing their Top 10 Food Stories of 2025, a list that reflects a year defined less by short-term volatility and more by deep, structural challenges.Among the key themes is the growing consensus that food inflation in Canada is structural rather than cyclical, driven by long-standing issues such as interprovincial trade barriers, fragmented labour policy, logistics inefficiencies, regulatory complexity, and limited scale in food processing. The hosts revisit major developments including tariffs and counter-tariffs, the Grocery Code of Conduct, meat counter economics, the Ozempic and GLP-1 drug effect on food consumption, and the controversy surrounding cloned meat approvals. Together, these stories underscore why Canada's food system struggles to absorb shocks compared to larger, more flexible global peers.The second half of the episode features an in-depth interview with Ryan Koeslag, Executive Vice President & CEO of Mushrooms Canada, joined by Janet Krayden, Workforce Specialist at Mushrooms Canada. Together, they provide a rare inside look at one of Canada's most technologically advanced yet frequently misunderstood agricultural sectors. Listeners learn that Canadian mushrooms are grown 365 days a year, supply nearly 100% of domestic grocery demand, and export approximately 40% of production to the United States—all while operating with largely organic practices and world-class automation.A central focus of the discussion is labour. Koeslag and Krayden explain that mushroom farming is non-seasonal, capital-intensive, and highly technical, yet still dependent on skilled human labour for harvesting. Recent changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, combined with the cancellation of the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, have created significant unintended consequences for growers, threatening productivity, workforce stability, and long-term investment.The conversation also explores sustainability and innovation, highlighting Canada's leadership in mushroom automation, organic growing methods, and environmental stewardship. Krayden emphasizes that farmers are strong advocates for worker well-being and housing—an aspect often overlooked in public debate.The episode closes with forward-looking commentary on 2026, including front-of-package labelling, AI-driven pricing ethics, and the ongoing challenge of scaling Canada's “unscalable middle” in food processing—making this episode both a reflective year-end review and a practical roadmap for the year ahead.Mushrooms Canada Jobs webpage https://mushrooms.ca/mushroom-jobs/Mushrooms CanadaRecipes https://mushrooms.ca/recipes/Nutrition Page:   https://mushrooms.ca/nutritional-benefits/Quality farm worker housing Highline campus in Leamington: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CNj4H8dGz/MORE high quality mushroom farm worker housing offered in Ontario for our farm workers https://youtu.be/ocrXL9DX7ys?si=Okdfpk2kx9lVHOoo The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Sauce lays out his weekly mall walking plan, Hawk wants to move to Halifax and rap beefs

Sauce lays out his weekly mall walking plan, Hawk wants to move to Halifax and rap beefsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PLEASE ALWAYS READ THIS INFO BOX WHEN YOU VISIT TMVP BLOG. ***Especially please do not send any gift to this ministry unless you have read & understood the instructions below.*** DO NOT INTERACT WITH ANYONE ASKING FOR DONATIONS. Thank you. WEBSITE: WWW.THE-MASTERS-VOICE.COM PLEASE READ CAREFULLY: If you'd like to support this work, it is appreciated. Kindly use PayPal or email me for other options at mastersvoice@mail.com, and *please* give me some time to respond. If using PayPal PLEASE DO NOT send any gift with "Purchase Protection". I have an ordinary PayPal account, not a seller marketplace, so please do not damage my account by using "purchase protection" on your donation (as if I were making a sale to you). If you are not sure (especially if you sent in the past), please check the format of your gift on the PayPal receipt before sending. It is a freewill offering, I am not selling goods or services. Please use *only* the "Friends & Family" sending option. If you're outside the USA please DO NOT use PayPal, contact me instead at the email listed here & allow me a good window to respond. Thank you, God bless. PayPal ------- mastersvoice@mail.com.

Looking for festive things to do in Toronto? Jenn recently visited and shares all the holiday-related things she did (and the things she missed).Support the Travel Mug Podcast by buying us a coffee! You'll make our day & you'll get access to fun stuff like bloopers and extra content.We have Merch! Shop the Travel Mug Podcast Store Check out our fav items here: Our Favourite Travel ProductsGRAB OUR MASTER PACKING LIST HERE*****************************************We are travel enthusiasts who do not claim to be professionals! Instead, we are two Halifax, NS natives with travel blogs who somehow found one another on the internet, and now, we have a podcast!!Join us every week as we talk about our favourite destinations, travel tips, travel fails, and all things travel!We have a big passion for travelling and talking about travel, so we hope you will listen and join the conversation.You can find us here:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramJenn's Travel Blog Jenn's YouTube channelDisclaimer: All episodes are based on our opinions and experiences. Always do your research and make travel plans based on your budget and comfort levels.Support the show

One of the most anticipated episodes of The Remarkable Retail Podcast returns as Steve Dennis reviews and grades his annual retail predictions, offering a candid assessment of how the industry actually performed as 2025 unfolded. Known for balancing optimism with accountability, Dennis evaluates where macro forces, technology shifts, and retailer execution aligned—or diverged—from expectations.The episode opens with its regular news of the week segment, highlighting economic crosscurrents shaping retail performance. Despite multiple interest-rate cuts, housing-linked categories such as home improvement remain under pressure, with Home Depot forecasting modest growth at best. Tariffs emerge as a recurring headwind, squeezing margins for retailers like AutoZone and casting a long shadow over sourcing, pricing, and inventory strategies heading into 2026.Then its on to Part 1 of the predictions reckoning portion.A central theme is the continued rise of retail's “super-scalers.” Walmart, Amazon, Costco, and a small cohort of dominant players once again captured a disproportionate share of industry growth, reinforcing the idea that scale, price leadership, and operational excellence matter more than ever in a value-constrained consumer environment. Dennis argues that this concentration is not cyclical, but structural, driven by convenience, pricing power, and omnichannel capability. SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On WeatherBrains this week are meteorologist Jim Abraham with Environment Canada and meteorologist Ken MacDonald.  Jim actually started the Canadian Hurricane Center in Halifax, and has been working in meteorology for over four decades.  Ken MacDonald has been in the weather field for over 48 years.  He launched his career in 1975, and has been an instructor, a forecaster, and a researcher in areas all over Canada.  It's great to see you both and thank you for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Origin of "Boomer Sooner" (07:15) NWS vs Canadian forecast offices (12:00) Canadian forecast offices and their relationship with the Canadian military (18:00) Monitoring/Observational networks across Environment Canada (21:00) Importance of cloud typing in Mexican and Canadian forecast offices vs NWS (27:00) US and Canadian weather radio equivalents (33:30) Environment and Climate Change Canada (56:00) June 2021 British Columbia Heat Dome (01:02:00) 2022 Hurricane Fiona (01:07:00) "Fire Weather:  A True Story from a Hotter World" by John Vaillant (01:17:00) Canadian weather warning Color Coded System (01:18:00) POD/FAR in Canada (01:22:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:30:00) E-Mail Segment (01:33:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1039:   Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Jim Abraham - 11 jaw-dropping videos from the Fort McMurray wildfire James Aydelott - Out Jen Narramore - Anniversary of the 2021 Historic December 15tyh Derecho Rick Smith - All Things Radar: Severe Weather/From the Girls Who Chase special workshop series Troy Kimmel - Foghorn Kim Klockow-McClain - Western launches Canadian Severe Storms Laboratory John Gordon - Snow tarp video on X Bill Murray - Out James Spann - December 16th, 2000 Tuscaloosa Tornado coverage on YouTube The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

In this episode of the Heart podcast, Digital Media Editor, Professor James Rudd, is joined by Dr John Sapp from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. They discuss his review paper all about ventricular tachycardia in terms of drug and device therapies, plus advances in VT ablation. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a positive review wherever you get your podcasts. It helps us reach more people—thanks! Link to published paper: https://heart.bmj.com/content/early/2025/10/07/heartjnl-2024-325370  

A tragic accident at Christmastime in 1917 gives way to a story of a heroic response, a lasting friendship, and a unique Christmas tradition. Read Walter's letter to Harold, described in this story.Music in this Episode"Carrier's Lullaby" — Blue Dot Sessions, via Free Music Archive"Quiet Serenity" — Lite Saturation, via Free Music Archive"Stay the Course" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech"Oh Christmas Tree" — Don Maue, shared directly by the artist"Relax Romantic Jazz Calm Soothing Home" — Denis Pavlov, via PixabayOrder your copy today! Of Christmases Long, Long AgoConnect with Me Links to all the things https://christmaspastpodcast.com/links Email: christmaspastpodcast@gmail.com BooksOf Christmases Long, Long Ago: Surprising Traditions from Christmas Past (2025, Lyons Press and Recorded Books) It's Christmas as you've never seen it before, and it makes a great gift for all the Christmas lovers in your life. Christmas Past: The Fascinating Stories Behind Our Favorite Holiday's Traditions (2022, Lyons Press and Recorded Books)

A lot has happened in Halifax's real estate market in 2025.. The number of homes for sale almost doubled, days on market for listings increased, you're seeing more and more price reductions from listing sitting on the market, and homebuyers are realizing that they hvae negotiating power in the current real estate market.And yet, Halifax home prices remain at all time highs!So what does it all mean for 2026?Well in 2026 we have a signficant number of mortgages up for renewal. These homes were typically purchased in 2021, and at that time these mortgages were locked into 5 year fixed rate mortgages at 1.5 to 2% interest rates. When the renewal comes up in 2026, all of these mortgages will be in and around the 4% interest rate mark.How will that affect homeowners monthly income? Will it cause a strain and make them have to sell their home to downsize? Halifax could see a number of homes come to market that need to be sold to help the homeowners stay above water.Also happening in 2026, Halifax will have the most completed apartment units since the 1970s, that's right. You're going to be getting a significant number of new apartments that need to be leased.So with this happening, will the rush of new supply and options for homeowners, downsizers, and renters cool the demand on the Halifax real estate market? Will this make home prices soften? And what about the current trends we're seeing in Halifax real estate with days on market up, inventory (number of homes for sale) up, and homebuyers understanding that they have leverage to negotiate.Matt Legatto is back on the Halifax Real Estate Podcast to help me break it down!Jason Paul902-220-7357jason@infinityrealestategroup.ca @jasonpaulhalifaxrealtorMatt Legatto902-240-3304matthew.legatto@indimortgages.ca

We're joined by Brian Fergusson for a wild, nostalgic, and downright hilarious dive into our childhood in Shediac. From labor board battles and Bell service nightmares to lobster debates, lost fast-food icons, Kiss solo albums, cemetery donuts, and the infamous Halifax breakdown — this one covers everything.We even unpack what REALLY happened the first time we met, how our friendship with Richard shaped our lives, and why Maritimers fly all the way to Winnipeg just to eat at Red Lobster.#Podcast #Maritimes #Shediac #Nostalgia #ComedyPodcast #CanadianPodcastLinktree: https://linktr.ee/seangeekpodcastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/meetthegeeksWe are a part of the Boneless Podcast Network: https://boneless-catalogue-player.lovable.app/Merch: Tee Public: https://www.teepublic.com/seangeekpodcastRed Bubble: https://www.redbubble.com/people/seangeekpodcast/shop@seangeekpodcast on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Jane Austen's 250th birthday is Dec 16, and fans have been celebrating the literary icon all year long. Why does Austen hold such sway, centuries later? CBC's Christina Harnett checked out the ardor, and the amazing outfits, surrounding Austen at a bunch of bookish events in Halifax this year, and brings us this story - Our Jane.

In this edition of 32 Thoughts, Kyle Bukauskas and Elliotte Friedman open with the remarkable starts from Brandon Bussi, nine wins in his first ten games, and Canadiens rookie Jacob Fowler holding his own between the pipes (4:22). The guys touch on key injuries to Roope Hintz and Logan Cooley (11:33) before diving into Nashville's offensive surge (15:03) and the Rangers' letdown in a 3–0 loss to Chicago (17:40 ). They discuss JT Miller's slipping Olympic stock (18:49), the disappointing state of the St. Louis Blues (20:17), and Ryan Strome's search for stability in Anaheim as the Kings keep tabs (31:10). Elliotte breaks down the latest Olympic developments, including player-driven decisions, Ron Hainsey's focus on safety, and frustration over the lack of a hockey hospitality area in Milan (25:36). The fellas also revisit the growing hand-pass controversy in video review and why the first-challenge penalty feels too harsh for certain plays (32:23). The Final Thought features Elliotte's recent trip to Washington for a sit-down with Tom Wilson (42:23).Kyle and Elliotte answer your emails and voicemails in the Thoughtline (50:02).Today we highlight Beauts, an indie rock back out of Halifax, and their song Cave. Check out their music here.Listen to all the 32 Thoughts music here.Email the podcast at 32thoughts@sportsnet.ca or call the Thought Line at 1-833-311-3232 and leave us a voicemail.This podcast was produced and mixed by Dominic Sramaty and hosted by Elliotte Friedman & Kyle Bukauskas.The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the position of Rogers Sports & Media or any affiliates

"This is the first show of our annual Christmas double header. We did a show years back that looked at the history and trivia of classic Christmas Carols. For these shows we chose a whole bunch of songs we did not cover in that previous show. Get ready for a lot of information about your favorite songs of the season."

For Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc's final episode recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth show, they welcome two visionary leaders from Tapestry, the global house of brands that includes Coach and Kate Spade: Pooja Chandiramani, VP Global Media Strategy & Planning, Marketing Analytics, Operations and Transformation, and Avinash Kaushik, Brand Strategy & Marketing Transformation.Pooja and Avinash unpack Tapestry's ongoing transformation, which embeds analytics as a core pillar of brand growth. For Coach in particular, analytics isn't just incremental—it's a complete transformation journey. By using data to generate insights that directly drive business impact, Tapestry ensures marketing investments are accountable, measurable, and tied to outcomes.Avinash, a globally recognized thought leader and author, explains how Tapestry embraces intent-centric marketing to connect authentically with consumers. Moving beyond the outdated “accessible luxury” positioning, the company has shifted toward "expressive luxury"—a modern framework that reflects values-driven, authentic consumer engagement, particularly resonant with younger audiences.The conversation dives into the cultural foundations necessary for analytics to thrive. Avinash emphasizes that “culture is more important than data,” crediting Tapestry's CEO Joanne Crevoiserat and senior leadership for creating an environment where data can challenge assumptions and guide decisions. This culture enables bold experiments, including measuring the incrementality of brand marketing—one of the toughest questions in retail.Pooja highlights how creative pre-testing has become a critical unlock. By partnering with Human Made Machine, Tapestry tests campaigns with real audiences before investing media spend. This approach ensures that creative—responsible for up to 70% of marketing impact—delivers measurable results in driving brand awareness and incremental sales. It's a cultural shift, moving from subjective opinions about creative to decisions grounded in data.The episode also explores the role of AI and machine learning in accelerating agility, simplifying decision-making frameworks, and enabling global scalability. Both leaders stress that outcomes-based planning—rather than activity-based planning—keeps Tapestry aligned with its ambitious growth goals.  About UsJennifer MarloHead of Content, CommerceNextJennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration. Steve 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, top retail influencer, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

This week's episode opens with the news of the sudden death of Russia's ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora, who died at 70 on Saturday following decades of diplomatic service on the Korean Peninsula. NK News founder Chad O'Carroll then discusses his recent appearance at a high-profile press conference with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, where his question about long-detained South Korean citizens in North Korea unexpectedly became a national story.  Finally, O'Carroll reflects on his trip to the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada. He describes conversations with Western officials, Ukrainians, and journalists, expressing frustration at what he sees as a persistent lack of understanding or urgency around North Korea's role in supplying Russia during the war in Ukraine.  About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insights from our very own journalists.

We welcome Moody's Mark Zandi, Moody's Chief Economist and one of the most influential and trusted macroeconomic voices shaping markets, policy, and business strategy worldwide. Zandi begins by explaining how today's consumer landscape is defined by a widening K-shaped economy—an income and wealth split decades in the making and now intensified by rising asset values and post-pandemic dynamics. Households at the top of the income spectrum are spending freely, while middle-class consumers remain pressured and those at the bottom struggle to keep up, borrowing to sustain purchases.Zandi also connects the affordability crisis to structural issues like housing supply, wage pressures, labor shortages, and the unpredictable impact of tariffs—which are simultaneously slowing job creation, lifting inflation, and clouding retailers' pricing strategies. He warns that delayed tariff pass-through may soon accelerate and that upcoming legal decisions could radically alter retail margins.Perhaps most striking is Zandi's analysis of AI's fingerprints on the labor market. He highlights rapidly rising unemployment among younger workers and the risk that productivity gains arrive faster than hiring can adjust—potentially tipping the economy toward recession just as retail faces profit pressure, concentration of growth among a handful of giants, and shifts in category performance.Before joined by Zandi, Steve and Michael dig into the retail headlines: strong BFCM e-commerce results , Buy Now Pay Later surging again, and evidence that AI-driven traffic is now materially influencing online demand. They examine the evolving performance of dollar stores, with Five Below delivering standout comps, the ongoing stampede to value, and whether the end of de minimis rules may reshape the bargain landscape.They then break down Macy's mixed but improving traction, tariff lawsuits led by Costco, and the broader retail question of whether top-line growth is increasingly profitless prosperity—a theme reinforced by margins squeezed across beauty, off-price, and specialty retail formats.In a quick recap of the most remarkable stories of the week Steve is stunned that Meta still invests heavily in the metaverse—even while shrinking budgets Michael questions whether defunct brands like Bed Bath & Beyond can meaningfully return in the Canadian retail market dominated by TJX, HomeSense, and IKEA.Expect the annual game of holiday discount chicken to intensify as promotions escalate, plus intriguing experiments like Netflix House in former department-store spaces—potentially hinting at new opportunities for mall real estate. SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 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 authro 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 the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Halifax at the Berghof and Soviet Paranoia: Colleague Charles Spicer explains that by late 1937, the Anglo-German Fellowship was infiltrated by spies including Soviet mole Kim Philby, fueling Stalin's fear of an Anglo-German alliance; the narrative focuses on Lord Halifax's visit to the Berghof, where he famously mistook Hitler for a footman, and despite witnessing Hitler's brutal rants about India, Halifax returned to London believing Hitler did not desire war, a misjudgment Spicer attributes to Hitler's ability to fool the "religious" Halifax, underscoring the dangerous disconnect between British diplomatic expectations and Hitler's aggressive reality. 1933

Sally Wainwright, the award-winning writer and director of the UK series "Happy Valley" and "Last Tango in Halifax," has a new show called "Riot Women," about a group of middle aged women in the north of England who form a rock band for a charity talent show. What starts out as a lark turns into something more meaningful. Wainwright discusses the show, which was recently greenlit for a second season. Riot Women premieres on BritBox January 14th.