Podcast appearances and mentions of John Abrams

Today, I had the pleasure of co-hosting a special livestream on Substack with Jen Risley, the editor of the Main Street Journal. We're calling it “Jen and Devin Live,” and we hope it marks the beginning of a recurring series to strengthen the ties in our shared community of impact crowdfunding enthusiasts.Jen and I both publish on Substack and share a mission to promote community capital. While we could be viewed as competitors, we see ourselves more as complementary partners. That's why we came together—to cross-promote, build bridges, and amplify the voices in this growing movement.What's New at the Main Street JournalJen highlighted a recent MSJ Extra feature: an in-depth interview with John Abrams, author of the forthcoming book From Founder to Future. John transitioned his company—South Mountain Company, a design, building, and solar firm on Martha's Vineyard—into a worker cooperative. Now retired, he's focused on helping other founders do the same. Jen shared that the response to this piece was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that interest in worker ownership models is growing fast.Updates from Superpowers for GoodOn my end, I shared some exciting updates about Superpowers for Good. Our recent SuperCrowdLA event, which was livestreamed to e360tv and Substack, drove tremendous traffic. But what's been even more rewarding is the success of our new initiative, Super Crowd Voices (read it here, submit your contribution for consideration here). This channel invites new writers to share their perspectives, and it's working better than we imagined. In fact, one of the first posts—by Dorian Dickinson of Funding Hope—became our most-read post ever. His powerful argument for giving investment crowdfunding “a seat at the table” clearly struck a chord.It was particularly rewarding to learn from Jen that our feature on Dorian inspired Main Street Journal to expand their platform listings in their weekly offering summaries. They had initially focused on just a few platforms—but now, they include more, making their coverage even stronger. That kind of cross-pollination is exactly what this collaboration is all about.Shared Admiration for Kathleen MinogueWe also talked about our mutual admiration for Kathleen Minogue and her “Crowdfund Better” methodology. Jen and I both hold her in high regard. Michael Shuman's interview with Kathleen in MSJ Extra—which I was able to read as a paying subscriber—was one of the best practical pieces I've seen. She explains how a rewards-based campaign can serve as a stepping stone to a successful investment crowdfunding raise. Kathleen's approach is a masterclass in how to crowdfund strategically, and Jen shared how Kathleen supported a local crowdfunding initiative in her home region of New Hampshire. It's amazing to see this kind of thought leadership making a real-world impact.Reflections on SuperCrowdLA and a Preview of SuperCrowd25Jen kindly mentioned how much she appreciated the summary I wrote following SuperCrowdLA. She quoted a line I often use: “Capital is not just about dollars. It's about power, purpose, and possibility.” That meant a lot. I shared that we're working on a full book based on the conference's transcripts and insights—something far deeper than a quick summary. We hope to release it by the end of June.I also highlighted some standout speakers from the event:* Doug Willmore, CEO of World Tree, which has raised $17M (including $12M from the crowd) to fund a carbon-sequestering tree farm model.* Sarah Hardwick, former CMO of Aptera, who helped the company raise $140M through Reg CF and Reg A offerings. Her speech was both riveting and deeply insightful.Looking ahead, SuperCrowd25 is coming up on August 21–22, and we're streaming it live again on E360tv. I'm thrilled by how many people discover crowdfunding for the first time through these events. I invited Jen—and Michael Schuman as well—to join us as speakers. Their voices are essential to this community.Closing: Stronger TogetherI closed by encouraging our community to subscribe to Main Street Journal—especially since some of their best content, like the Kathleen Minogue piece, is behind a paywall. It's worth every penny. Jen added that their Monday events roundup is always free, giving folks a way to sample the value before committing. You can subscribe at mainstreetjournal.substack.com or visit their website at mainstreetjournal.org.Jen returned the love, reminding her community to subscribe to Superpowers for Good and promising to keep highlighting our latest work.We both agree: if you're serious about crowdfunding for impact, you need both publications. This partnership is just getting started, and we can't wait to see where it takes us next.Max-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Matthew Mead, Hempitecture | Michael Pratt, Qnetic | Sharon Samjitsingh, Health Care Originals | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on June 17, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, June 18, 2025, at 12:00 PM Eastern. Jason Fishman, Co-Founder and CEO of Digital Niche Agency (DNA), will lead a session on "Crowdfund Like a Pro: Insider Marketing Secrets from Jason Fishman." He'll reveal proven strategies and marketing insights drawn from years of experience helping successful crowdfunding campaigns. Whether you're a founder planning a raise or a supporter of innovative startups, you'll gain actionable tips to boost visibility, drive engagement, and hit your funding goals. Don't miss it!* Superpowers for Good Live Pitch – June 25, 2025, at 8:00 PM Eastern - Apply by June 6, 2025, to pitch your active Regulation Crowdfunding campaign live on Superpowers for Good—the e360tv show where impact meets capital. Selected founders will gain national exposure, connect with investors, and compete for prizes. To qualify, you must be raising via a FINRA-registered portal or broker-dealer and align with NC3's Community Capital Principles. Founders from underrepresented communities are especially encouraged to apply. Don't miss this chance to fuel your mission and grow your impact!* SuperCrowd25, August 21st and 22nd: This two-day virtual event is an annual tradition, but with big upgrades for 2025! We'll be streaming live across the web and on TV via e360tv. VIP's get access to our better-than-in-person networking! Get your VIP access for just $25. Soon, we'll open a process for nominating speakers. Check back!Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events.* African Diaspora Investment Symposium 2025 (ADIS25), Wednesday–Friday, May 28–30, 2025, at George Washington University, Washington, D.C., USA.* Devin Thorpe is featured in a free virtual masterclass series hosted by Irina Portnova titled Break Free, Elevate Your Money Mindset & Call In Overflow, focused on transforming your relationship with money through personal stories and practical insights. June 8-21, 2025.* Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.Call for community action:* Please show your support for a tax credit for investments made via Regulation Crowdfunding, benefitting both the investors and the small businesses that receive the investments. Learn more here.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 9,000+ changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs who are members of the SuperCrowd, click here.Manage the volume of emails you receive from us by clicking here. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

What does it take to build a business that truly lasts? In this episode of Bridging the Gap, Todd Weyandt sits down with visionary business leader John Abrams to explore legacy in construction leadership and how employee ownership is helping reshape the future of the industry. From founding one of the nation's earliest worker cooperatives to mentoring a new generation of leaders, John shares hard-earned wisdom on how to leave a purposeful and enduring mark in construction. They also discuss his latest book, From Founder to Future, which offers a roadmap for building businesses centered on values, longevity, and democratic decision-making. If you're thinking about your own leadership legacy in construction, this episode offers practical insights on culture, hiring, ownership, and succession. About Our Guest John Abrams is Co-Founder of South Mountain Company and Abrams + Angell. John is a visionary business leader, author, and pioneer in employee ownership. John co-founded South Mountain Company, an architectural building and solar firm that became one of the first worker cooperatives in the U.S. setting a gold standard for purpose driven business in construction. He now mentors others on creating lasting impact through democratic ownership. His latest book, From Founder to Future, is a roadmap for building companies with an enduring integrity.   Todd Takes Culture doesn't just happen—it's built on purpose. If you want a strong, healthy company culture, it takes daily, intentional effort. It means aligning your values with your decisions and walking the walk, not just talking the talk. Culture should be something you actively shape, not something you inherit or hope works itself out. Hiring isn't a race—it's a responsibility. The best teams come from hiring slowly and with purpose. When you prioritize values, character, and long-term fit over speed or resume flash, you end up with people who strengthen—not strain—the culture you're trying to build. Trust grows when everyone gets a seat at the table. Some of the best solutions come from opening up tough questions to the whole team. When people are invited to help solve problems and shape decisions, trust deepens and ownership expands—because everyone feels like their voice actually matters.

#134 - Want to get into school assemblies? This interview with John Abrams is packed with amazing information about marketing, constructing your show, and living the life of a school assembly performer. You'll learn a LOT in this episode!This week's Trick Talk features Rubik's Wall!Get John's school assembly book HEREGet Rubik's Wall HEREGet Sven Cards  HERE (Listen to Trick talk - it makes sense)By the way…whenever you're ready, here are 4 ways I can help you grow your magic business to book more shows at higher fees:1. Grab my FREE report for professional working magicians.It's called “The 2-Word Secret to Eliminate Your Competition & Become Your Area's Busiest Magician.” This report reveals a strategy that almost NO magicians are using (and the ones who are don't use it correctly). Get your free copy HERE.2. Get my website video training for under $10.In this 2-hour video training, I'll reveal exactly what your website needs if you want to succeed as a professional entertainer in the 21st century. Get all the details HERE.3. Get a complete business-building plan handed to you on a silver platter.Not sure how to move your magic business forward? I'll analyze your complete magic business (website, market, competition, and more) and give you a complete game plan for getting your performing business to the next level. Find out how HERE.4. Work with me privately.Need help in multiple areas? I can help you with your website, direct mail, email, or other marketing strategies. I also offer consulting services for crafting magic routines or even entire shows. Want to find out more? Shoot me an email at cris@theprofessionalmagicianclubpro.com.

Tim Hill of Risinger build--Austin homebuilder for over 40 years--teamed up with Matt some 10+ years ago. Tim details his company's approach to architects, customers, and trades, including featuring building science in ALL aspects of their building company. The conversation aptly starts with the job site trailer carrying a Goodman mobile dehumidification unit parked just outside the build studio to the way in which Risinger build embraces remodeling in no small part because it provides such valuable feedback on how their homes perform over time.Pete's Resource(s):1. Building Science 101 with Matt Risinger & Steve Baczek - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QthBdsyxAN82. John Abrams' The Company We Keep - https://www.southmountain.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/SoMoCo_Feature_hr.pdf3. Job Site Dehumidifiers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ladLLd_z1wo

Monday, August 7th24 hours Mystque Lounge, Jackson Square9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration10:00 a.m. - Noon General Session for PURPLE, Showroom10:00 a.m. - 11:10 a.m. Focus Session Sleightly Absurd, Charlie Frye in French Quarter Building a Mystery, John Bannon in Bienville G Six-Figure Family Shows by Ken Scott Joe Romano, and John Abrams in St. Charles11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Magic Shop, Mardi Gras 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Focus Sessions for WHITE, see above2:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. General Session for WHITE, Showroom 2:15 p.m. - 3:15 pm. Focus Sessions for PURPLE, see above 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Focus Sessions for PURPLE, see aboveLive Tonight!6;00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30 p.m. The Close-Up Experience, Bienville H 7:00, 10:15 p.m. Live Onstage!, Showroom7:00, 8:45, 10:30 p.m. In Concert: Ben Seidman, French Quarter View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize View fullsize Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Stitcher by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here..If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here

John Abrams is a former KWI student who is now a successful welder in the industry today. He started welding later in life and took a non conventional route to starting in his career in this interview he shares tips and tricks that have helped him throughout his career. Learn More: https://weld.kwi.us/podcast Visit KWI's YouTube channel and access a ton of free content about forging a successful welding career: https://kwi.us/youtube TEXT OR CALL US: (606) 291-2787 FREE Welding Checklists to Kickstart Your Career: https://weld.kwi.us/checklists STAY CONNECTED:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kentuckyweldinginstitute TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kentuckyweldinginstitute Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KentuckyWeldingInstitute

#039 - Are you using one of your most potent weapons in your magic show marketing arsenal? I'm talking about testimonials - the comments clients give you after you have 'wowed' them with your amazing magic. Most magicians don't do nearly enough with this potent weapon. In this episode, my good friend Jen Abrams stops by for a fascinating talk about testimonials! John and I discuss ways to use testimonials effectively, what NOT to do, and much more. This was less of an interview and more of a discussion between two pros. Happily, John and I agreed on just about everything. This episode WILL help you earn more money and book more shows with your magic!Also, in this week's Trick talk, I review Sean Bogunia's incredible Dream System!Links:Sean Bogunia's Website: https://www.ultimatemagicproductions.net/Special FREE Offer: "Use This 2-Word Secret to Eliminate Your Competition and Become Your Area's Highest Paid Magician"Details HERE: https://theprofessionalmagicianclubpro.com/free-pdf-offer/Questions? Comments? Email me:crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net

Our guest is Dr. John Abrams, Co-founder of Dropping Dimes, a non-profit that was instrumental in a recent $24M settlement the NBA made with former ABA players. We discuss the impact for those players as well as other efforts Dropping Dimes has made over the years to help meet the needs for many players who have struggled with rent, medical bills and other needs.

Once the pandemic hit, John pivoted by teaching magic to kids all around the world virtually.  Kids learn about confidence, self-respect and creativity.  John strives to create better kids and better people.  He shares the following nuggets of life wisdom: - figure out your goal and mission - remember and think of the skills you have - figure out how to reach your goals - just do it https://schoolofastonishment.com https://www.facebook.com/SchoolofAstonishment      tags:  John, Abrams, School, of, Astonishment, magic, academy, enrichment, program, after, school, summer, camps, story, stories, that, empower, empowering, empowerment, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, encourage, encouraging, encouragement, hope, light, podcast, Sean, https://storiesthatempower.com 

#014 - Magicians are known for using live animals in their shows - from rabbits to doves, animals can help enhance an act. But how do you add animals to your show? How do you care for them? And what can go wrong?My guests this week is John Abrams former host of the amazing Variety Artist podcast. I've known John for years and was thrilled when he agreed to be on the show. John shares his insights to working with live animals, some horror stories, and more. If you've never worked with animals before but are considering it, this episode is a must-listen!Also, this week in Trick Talk, I review Jay Mattioli's This is Heavy, Jay's brilliant take on the classic Light/Heavy Chest!LINKS:This is Heavy: https://www.jaymattioli.com/this-is-heavyJohn's School of Astonishment:  https://schoolofastonishment.com/ FREE Marketing Stuff:  https://theprofessionalmagicianclubpro.com/free-pdf-offer/Questions? Email me at crisjohnsoninfo@verizon.net

In this episode, host John Abrams meets with Clay Nicholas, Founder and CEO of Vibronyx - a supply chain analytics and services company. Although complete end-to-end visibility is not yet present in supply chain, John and Clay discuss how analytics can be utilized to drastically improve an organization's data processes, and why developing technology is improving logistics and resilience across a variety of industries.

In this all-new episode, John Abrams continues his conversation with Erik Severinghaus, EVP of Strategy and Business Development at Conexiom. John and Erik share their thoughts on the limitations of AI-based tech, which currently functions best when implemented for specific situations with clearly-defined targets. However, they also discuss the need for companies to re-evaluate their processes to determine how automation can best work for them and their own individual goals.

In this episode, Tara talks to John (Juan) Abrams, Estate Manager of S'Estaca, an iconic finca in Mallorca, that was built by the Archduke, Louis Salvador of Austria in 1878. The son of American Artists, Mary Tatum and Ross Abrams, who were a part of the early Deia art scene, John considers himself a full Mallorcan. He talks about his close relationships with the Mallorcans growing up in Deia, and how through them, he learned the valuable skills of taking care of the land, and other traditions that were passed down for generations.

John Abrams meets Erik Severinghaus - EVP of Strategy and Business Development at Conexiom - in this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain. John and Erik discuss how long it will take for the supply chain to become digitized, why preparing for disruptions is becoming increasingly important, and how AI will be needed to replace the resilience that has been continually "leaned out" of companies in favor of optimizing costs.

In Rethinking Supply Chain's first episode for 2022, host John Abrams meets with supply chain veteran Ragvinder Rekhi, CEO of Nazar Systems - a SaaS Platform specializing in food traceability systems. Ragvinder shares what motivated him to start Nazar, and the pair discuss the state of supply chain digitization in 2022 as well as why it is necessary to connect data between companies and stakeholders.

In today's episode we will talk with John Abrams, founder of South Mountain Company in Martha's Vineyard. John talks about the transition of his business to its next leader– Deirdre Bohan– and the challenges they faced in the process. With over 2 million or more baby boomers at the helm of businesses today, there is a much needed demand for resources on transitioning a business so the legacy continues. With the Great Resignation in place and businesses, like construction, are experiencing a shrinking workforce…how can you gain and retain good employees? During this episode, John and Deirdre talk about how they created a model that works. If you are looking for creative and aligned ways to transition a business this episode is for you.   What You'll Learn in This Episode: The business model that gives employees more “skin in the game” How to keep your core values intact during a transition Empowering others through delegation Why engagement and transparency with employees is critical for longevity The keys to creating loyalty in your team What to look for in new hires to create future leaders The components needed for an easeful business transition Bio: John Abrams COO & Co-Owner In 1975 John and his family inadvertently landed on the Vineyard. Their arrival marked the end to a wandering back-to-the-land hippie odyssey and the beginning of South Mountain. For nearly a half-century he has devoted himself to creating, nurturing, and growing SMCo and a variety of public initiatives, mostly related to affordable housing. These days, he concentrates on building capacity for the 2022 transition, after which he looks forward to a life of writing, activism, grandparenting, skiing with family, and travel with Kim. John is a co-founder of Building Energy Bottom Lines, a peer group network of 60+ Northeast U.S. businesses in the architecture and construction industry. His writings include his book COMPANIES WE KEEP: Employee Ownership and the Business of Community and Place, which was published in 2008.   Deirdre Bohan COO & Co-Owner Deirdre spent childhood summers in Vineyard Haven. After graduating from Brown University, with a degree in Computer Science, she returned to the island to work a variety of jobs (and briefly bum around the Caribbean) before settling at South Mountain. Since joining our team in 1995, she has inhabited a variety of roles, including but not limited to: bookkeeper, founder of our interiors department, chair of our management committee, COO and designated CEO-in-training. Like so many of us, she feels enormously grateful to have spent her entire career in a place that allows her to do her best work, contribute in meaningful ways and share days with friends. As designated future CEO, she will focus on paying these gifts forward. Deirdre lives with her husband, young son and Australian Shepherd puppy in a restored Oak Bluffs bungalow.   Resources: Website: southmountain.com Careers: https://www.southmountain.com/who-we-are/careers/ Instagram: southmountaincompany Houzz: South Mountain Company Pinterest: South Mountain Company Blog: https://www.southmountain.com/blog/

Dr. John Abrams, Chairman and CSO of the Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC), shares some fascinating information about his background in the cannabis industry, current research projects, a terrific discussion on the cross-section of cannabinoids and virology, and more.

In this episode, host John Abrams continues to discuss the significance of collaboration in supply chain with Steve Shebuski, VP of Digital Strategy at Blue Horseshoe. John and Steve examine the importance of digital transformation in companies along with "automating the normal" - allowing humans to better manage exceptions and respond to disruptions. Connecting shared data ecosystems also offers more information accessibility and improved networks between brands, partners, and consumers.

Connect with John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abramsjohn/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/georges-khalife/support

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO and host John Abrams meets with Steve Shebuski, VP of Digital Strategy at Blue Horseshoe - a cloud enterprise and supply chain solutions firm. John and Steve discuss the implications of cloud-based technologies and connectivity networks, which allow for greater collaboration between partners and vendors - along with increased access to information and visibility in digital supply chains.

In this episode, host John Abrams continues his discussion with guest Dr. Nick Vyas, Executive Director of the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management. John and Nick examine why digitization is needed to keep up with the rapid pace of transformation occurring in the supply chain ecosystem, and they consider how AI and other technological innovation will be utilized to improve end-to-end efficiency throughout the global supply chain.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO and host John Abrams talks with Dr. Nick Vyas, Executive Director of the USC Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management. John and Nick discuss the significance of education in supply chain as well as the importance for brands and policy makers to build competent supply chains, especially during the post-COVID era.

In this episode, host John Abrams continues his conversation with Sunny Han, Founder & CEO of Fulcrum. John and Sunny share their thoughts on "legacy tech" still being used in the industry today, why companies are looking for disruption in this space, and how innovative supply chain technology will be developed in favor of system connectivity and real-time data accessibility similar to that of the internet.

In this episode, Bryan Fields (Twitter: @bryanfields24) and Kellan Finney (Twitter: @Kellan_Finney) sit down with Dr. John Abrams, The Chairman, and CSO at The Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC), to discuss: What and who is The CESC? What is the endocannabinoid system?  Receptors in the human body  Research that's currently underway to illuminate how to properly use cannabinoid products  Introduction to The Dosing Project  Understanding how cannabis interacts with the human body  Future studies that The CESC will dive intoAbout The CESC: The CESC is an experienced committee of scientists who hold the passionate belief that the pursuit of knowledge involves the collaboration of diverse communities.Website: thecesc.orgTwitter: @TheCESCorgFacebook: @TheCESCorgLinkedIn: The Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC)

In this episode, Bryan Fields (Twitter: @bryanfields24) and Kellan Finney (Twitter: @Kellan_Finney) sit down with Dr. John Abrams, The Chairman, and CSO at The Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC), to discuss: What and who is The CESC? What is the endocannabinoid system?  Receptors in the human body  Research that's currently underway to illuminate how to properly use cannabinoid products  Introduction to The Dosing Project  Understanding how cannabis interacts with the human body  Future studies that The CESC will dive intoAbout The CESC: The CESC is an experienced committee of scientists who hold the passionate belief that the pursuit of knowledge involves the collaboration of diverse communities.Website: thecesc.orgTwitter: @TheCESCorgFacebook: @TheCESCorgLinkedIn: The Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC)

In this all-new episode, host John Abrams converses with Sunny Han - Founder & CEO of Fulcrum, a SaaS platform that allows manufacturers to improve efficiency through workflow optimization and automated data collection. John and Sunny discuss the issues with "legacy solutions" in supply chain that many brands continue to use today, and consider how the industry may continue to evolve with the implementation of smarter and more intuitive technology.

In this episode, host John Abrams examines the three distinct waves of supply chain innovation with Venzee Sr. Director of Integrations Chad Kaczmarek. John and Chad assess the intricacies of product data and consider how the first two waves led to the development of the modern "Endless Aisle" in today's digital supply chain.

The discussion regarding risk in supply chain continues with John Abrams of Venzee and Phil Renaud, Executive Director of the Risk Institute at The Ohio State University. John and Phil further examine the Risk Institute's SCRAM framework and how organizations can utilize it to accurately assess their potential vulnerabilities to better prepare for future risks.

In the latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams invites Phil Renaud, Executive Director of the Risk Institute at Ohio State University, back on to discuss resiliency in supply chain. They examine the long-term impacts of COVID-19, consider how businesses should respond to cyber attacks, and discuss the Risk Institute's newly-developed framework for assessing supply chain resilience.

John Abrams continues his conversation with Rob Dunkel, Founder and CEO of 3PM Solutions, in this latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain. John and Rob discuss the growing significance of the infinite "digital aisle" for retailers, and how companies are utilizing AI and machine learning to gain further insights on how to optimize their ecommerce.

In episode 63 of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams invites Rob Dunkel, Founder and CEO of 3PM Solutions, to share his experience with product listings and how his company analyzes this digital content across a variety of retailers. John also explains how modern innovations in supply chain will allow for the utilization of limitless product data, and why this will transform ecommerce for retailers and consumers.

Host Rob Yagid suggests that John's worker-owned cooperative, which equally values people, the planet, and the bottom line, is a model for what architecture and construction firms could and should be.

In this episode, John Abrams discusses the future of 3D-printing with Sean Copeland, Founder of BOEX. John and Sean consider how the digital attributes of a product will allow for an increasing amount of goods to be created by on-site printers in coming years. They examine the potential impacts of this on shipping and retail, as well as how businesses may need to prepare for this fundamental change in supply chain.

In the latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams continues his discussion with Dr. John Sviokla, Harvard Business School expert and recently-appointed board member of Venzee Technologies. They examine the value that was created when physical container shipping was first implemented, and consider the benefits to the digital supply chain with better expression of additional product attributes for consumers.

In this latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams considers if we are ready for the transformative effects of network-based supply chains with Dr. John Sviokla, former PwC CMO and recognized Harvard Business School expert in digital applications. They discuss what the information value chain is and how network supply chains can allow for instantaneous interactivity between manufacturers, retailers, and consumers.

The discussion around going public continues with host John Abrams of Venzee and George Khalife, VP of Midwest U.S. capital formation at the Toronto Stock Exchange. John and George examine the engagement of similar early-stage tech companies with the Venture Exchange, as well as the continuation of investment opportunities with companies involved in the digital supply chain space.

The conversation around content syndication continues in this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain with John Abrams and Venzee COO Peter Montross. They discuss the current difficulty in communicating digitally with retailers, as well as recent innovations aimed at streamlining the transmission of product content.

In this episode, John Abrams discusses the evolution of the digital supply chain with Venzee COO Peter Montross. They examine how manufacturers submit product information to retailers, how product standards have changed, and why more robust product information will be needed in the future.

In this episode, John Abrams continues his conversation with Marco Sylvestre, Venzee’s Co-Founder and VP Product Development. They discuss Venzee's recent 2.11 platform update and its focus on simplification, as well as the significance of automation in supply chain to better engage consumers and prevent disruptions.

Iroquois member John Abrams has turned his passion for classic cars into a niche that has driven his independent insurance agency. Two-time winner of Hagerty’s Top Gear Agent award, Abrams loves what he does every day and the clients who share his passion. If John’s customers learn to trust him with their toys, he knows they will trust him with their other insurance as well.

In Episode 185, I had the opportunity to have a talk with John Abrams a Bully Prevention School Entertainment Speaker for 25 years and a professional magician. We talked about his school assembly for elementary school about bully prevention and character. How he pivoted after the COVID-19 hit and continued his passion. He created “28 great Ideas to Bullyproof your School” and reviewed which ideas are working. He stated that we use magic to express how we feel. You can download his free stuff at https://schoolofastonishment.com/ and follow his podcast. Timestamps 6:15 – Brief Background about John 10:00 – Effects of COVID and how John pivoted 14:00 – Doing magic over the Radio 20:00 – Magic as an Empathetic Arts 24:20 – Life ahead COVID 27:00 – Magic as a byproduct of respect Apple: http://bit.ly/2YVYELN Spotify: http://spoti.fi/3q5CRwQ https://seleducators.com/

John Abrams is a performer and entertainer. Today we are talking about Magic, his School of Astonishment, the impact of the Pandemic on his magic business, and he shares with us some ways to  make Video Engaging. Love this episode!!! Had so much fun! Wait till you hear John amaze me with an AWESOME bit of magic! This is episode 347 of Teaching Learning Leading K12, an audio podcast. Today, I am talking with John Abrams...according to John… It's always been my goal to help principals, teachers and staff build healthy students at the Elementary School level. My name is John Abrams.  I have (had) some of the Top School Assemblies in the country (The Bully Game and Random Acts of Character) performing around 400 shows a year.  – See www.AmazingSchoolAssemblies.com On March 12, 2020 -  I started receiving emails cancelling shows.  It continued for the next few days.  All shows were cancelled.  Because of COVID, I lost around $100,000 this year alone. In April, I started teaching social skills to kids through magic and doing socially distanced shows.  Not nearly as lucrative. I was sad and depressed for a couple of months.  Could barely get out of bed.  In July, my Mom was nice enough to offer her house.  I moved. On October 15th, I had an epiphany.  This is it: "Performing live, I can only affect students in the Southern California Area (or a little tour here or there).  But On-Line I can affect students all over the country!  All over the world (in English speaking countries)" But none of my assemblies fit this new COVID world.  All were built on content (certainly transferable) and student participation (Not transferable).  I spent the last 25 years figuring out how students could be involved ON STAGE.  And now, none of that would work. I re-branded and immediately started working on a brand-new STEM/STEAM program.  But not a stage version, a slick On-Line version.  Content first.  Entertainment next.  I enlisted some of the top minds around the country to help create it. Now, with new assemblies on the horizon, and teaching kids social skills through magic, I'm ready to help schools around the world! – See www.SchoolofAstonishment.com Teachers and Principals can pivot too.  Yes, COVID changed everything about how we teach.  But we're smart.  We can innovate and make sure our students flourish! Talking with John was a blast!!! He was amazing! I still can't believe the magic trick he did for me!!!! WOW! Lots to learn. Have fun! Thanks for listening! By the way, it would be awesome if you stopped by Apple or another podcast platform and left me a review and a star rating. Please? Pretty please!  Don't forget to share & subscribe! Enjoy! Connect & Learn More: https://amazingschoolassemblies.com/ https://schoolofastonishment.com/ The Variety Artist podcast https://www.facebook.com/SchoolofAstonishment/ https://www.instagram.com/thevarietyartist/ info@schoolofastonishment.com https://schoolofastonishment.com/5-ways-your-school-can-take-advantage-of-covid/ Length - 59:52

The discussion around sustainability in supply chain continues in this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain podcast with host John Abrams of Venzee and Diana Chen. John and Diana turn the tables on supply chain and evaluate the impact of consumer behavior on sustainability goals.It’s easy to vilify corporations for their inattention to eco-friendly or green initiatives. As consumers, we often use commitment to sustainability as a key factor in making buying decisions. However, these large organizations exist for one primary purpose: to deliver goods to us, the consumers.These corporations can optimize sustainability in their efforts to get product to us, but when it’s time to return a product, consumers have very little control over the shipping process beyond dropping a box off at a shipping point.Listen now to learn more about how manufacturers can help consumers out by providing better, more accurate product information from the beginning, and hear Diana’s take on what happens when what’s on the website doesn’t quite match what’s in the box.Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

Sustainability, going green, managing our carbon footprint--all of these concepts are highly influential not only in how consumers make buying decisions, but how they live their daily lives. In the latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain podcast, host John Abrams of Venzee and Diana Chen discuss some of the unexpected ways companies reckon with sustainability in their supply chains.After a brief discussion about vaccine distribution, John and Diana explore all the factors that can contribute to sustainability efforts in supply chain--emissions, raw materials, fuel costs, distribution of product, and more. Consumers tend to focus on ethically sourced raw materials and fair trade standards when making determinations about sustainability, but there are other factors in play.John shares a unique example about how climate change is impacting the way companies warehouse goods and forcing them to consider alternative energy sources to heat and cool warehouses. He also reminds us that while supply chains are generally optimized for goods from manufacturer to consumer, the process of returning purchased goods is wildly inefficient in comparison.Listen now to hear John’s perspective on why a big part of sustainability is simply giving consumers enough information to make the right purchase the first time.Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

There is no doubt that blockchain is here to stay. In this latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen continue the conversation about blockchain in supply chain. The discussion began back in Episode 23 featuring guest Sean Copeland, founder of Boex.In this episode, Diana notes that there are some out there who believe blockchain is overrated and won’t live up to the hype when it comes to deploying this technology in supply chain.John disagrees with this notion for several reasons. First, as of today, blockchain has a very narrow use case in supply chain. Blockchain has an abundance of potential, but we’re still very early in the process of developing tools to leverage it effectively.Why is it important to not underestimate the power of blockchain? Many technologies that have foundational elements to them are difficult to imagine at scale. John remembers how back in 1990, HTML was in its early stages of testing and development. At that time, it was difficult for many to see how this type of technology could be applicable in a range of circumstances.Given that we still have websites today, clearly the hype was not misplaced. The same can potentially be expected of blockchain. It’s still new, and still difficult to imagine how it could potentially impact all types of companies, jobs, and processes.Listen to this new episode to hear more about how groundbreaking technologies can transform over the years into something we all know and use every day, and for John’s predictions for how blockchain might begin to take hold in supply chain strategy.Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

In this latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, host John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen look forward by looking back. They revisit podcast Episode 23 (featuring guest Sean Copeland, founder of Boex) and discuss how blockchain technologies can benefit the supply chain.John takes a few minutes to review the nature of online transactions historically - for many years, nearly everything could be audited and traced. Every device on the internet has an identifier. You can even track web traffic in your own home with the right software.In terms of supply chain, John discusses how virtually all of global trade today is based on the possession of physical things. Companies are responsible for items they possess, such as when those items are on company-owned trucks or stored in a company’s warehouse.Blockchain technology has the potential to change the way supply chain and logistics practitioners use this type of data by providing visibility to the movement of a product beyond physical barriers.Listen now to learn more about how blockchain can be a disruptive force in supply chain, and why it’s so different from the physical supply chain as we know it today.Don’t forget to subscribe to the show on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

In this new episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen take a look back at some key takeaways from Episode 35 featuring guest Phil Renaud, Executive Director of the Risk Institute at The Ohio State University.As Phil shared in that episode, nobody really builds a “just in case” or secondary supply chain. It seems reasonable if not obvious that organizations should have a backup supply chain, but how does that look in reality?John agrees. He and Diana discuss the myriad of reasons why a “just in case” supply chain never really works. When existing relationships with vendors or service providers suddenly become unavailable, it’s nearly impossible to simply pick another vendor and keep things moving.This hasn’t stopped supply chain and logistics teams from dreaming up secondary supply chains for the benefit of executives who want them, but unless those paths are routinely exercised and active, they will fall short in the event of a major disruption (much like we’ve seen with COVID-19).Listen to this new episode to learn new strategies for building flexibility and resiliency into the supply chain. Some are easy enough for you to implement today, such as using multiple vendors for similar tasks.

How probable is the improbable? How unforeseen is the unforeseen?In the midst of a global pandemic, it’s easy to assume we never saw this coming. In fact, many of us didn’t… but those of us in supply chain did. In the latest episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen discuss how different organizations plan for the unexpected.The problem isn’t a lack of planning. Rather, John believes, the problem is that plans don’t necessarily incorporate the level of resiliency and flexibility required to cope with even the most fundamental challenges.For example, many organizations made the massive switch to work-from-home relatively smoothly. Others were suddenly faced with what to do about desktop computers that couldn’t be moved, missing contact information for key employees, and even access to documents or files that were only available on company networks.Listen to this episode to learn the difference between planning for the unlikely vs. the absurd, how John’s experience at the Chicago Herald changed his expectations for “disaster planning,” and why companies should address flexibility in their internal operations first.

If you ask the experts, they’d say the holy grail of supply chain is visibility into the inner workings of the supply chain at all stages. Imagine, hypothetically, if a box could make it from manufacturer to consumer with just one barcode.Unfortunately, we’re not quite there yet. In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, John Abrams, CEO of Venzee and Diana Chen continue unpacking the challenges associated with digitizing the supply chain.John identifies common ways entities at varying stages of the supply chain work to optimize their own processes. For example, a simple barcoding system might transform the operations of a singular warehouse, but if that data doesn’t factor in what happens to that product before it arrives and after it leaves, we’re missing huge opportunities to create more efficient logistics systems and better experiences for the end consumer.There is no quick fix, but John assures us we’re in the exciting early stages of what will be a rapid transformation. Listen now to hear John’s recommendations on how companies can take small steps toward digitization and work toward better business outcomes.

It’s been nearly a year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. What have we learned about supply chain so far?In this episode, John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen take a minute to reflect on what the global pandemic has taught us about supply chain management in unprecedented circumstances. John discusses how even backup plans for worst-case scenarios may have accounted for weeks-long disruptions, but year-long? Unimaginable.John and Diana also continue their conversation on digital vs. physical supply chains. John addresses the deep fragmentation that exists within the supply chain as a result of individual entities optimizing their own footprint without full visibility into the end-to-end process.Listen now to hear how end-to-end digitization in the supply chain can help reduce losses from unexpected downtime and what the future of a digital supply chain might look like.

In nearly any industry vertical, digital transformation is inevitable. Previous episodes of Rethinking Supply Chain have featured guests who share one common recommendation: new technologies can’t just make one person’s job easier. To be successful, those technologies must support better processes that align with the business’s strategic goals.In this episode, John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen continue their discussion of how organizations can derive the most value from implementing digital solutions to age-old supply chain problems.John identifies the need for a massive paradigm shift in the way supply chain leaders and doers think about common challenges. For example, companies shouldn’t just take losses from product recalls for granted. There are technological solutions that can help mitigate those costs and improve the customer experience.Listen now to find out why digitization isn’t really about moving the stuff (or taking it back!). It’s about how streamlining other functions like marketing and communications can better support supply chain disruptions.

Connect with John Abrams at: 833-YAY-KIDS or 833-929-5437 www.SchoolofAstonishment.com Access "the free stuff" mentioned on the episode at: https://schoolofastonishment.com/freestuff/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/david-schmittou/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/david-schmittou/support

Supply chain challenges and innovations have never been more relevant to our daily lives. In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen discuss the supply chain from a different angle--history.Consider this piece of trivia: Why is Chicago such an important logistics hub?John provides the answer--railroads. As a rail hub, Chicago didn’t only provide an important home to early catalog retail giants like Sears. It also spurred the growth of adjacent industries like photography studios and printing presses.Listen to this episode to take a closer look at why some industries tend to cluster in certain geographic areas and how those clusters can affect how organizations attract and retain talent.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen continue their conversation about what can be changed when it comes to improving the supply chain. Rather than just thinking about what could change, John and Diana give business leaders some practical, applicable advice.Diana recalls the example of a large company still using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets manually to communicate product data to distributors and retailers. John explains the inefficiencies associated with such a system and then dives deeper into how the entire selling process goes on. Once a seller receives their barcode, any product on sale should be able to be digitized, but we still don’t see it going on. Finally, John goes through what the ideal process could be today. Manufacturers should still meet face to face with their customers, but the next step in the process should be digitized. Once quantities and prices are determined, the paper processes should take the back seat to technology. Information should be held in master data management systems so product information is organized efficiently.

 In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, guest Greg White of Supply Chain Now and Kubera Venture Capital returns to discuss the changing nature of supply chain technologies with John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen.Greg begins by addressing the misconception that most aspects of the supply chain are already digitized and identifies key areas where even small-scale disruptions in manual efforts (such as labor strikes or work-from-home orders) can impact processes far down the road.Greg and John identify a common mistake organizations make in their digitization efforts--they digitize in silos. They implement various software platforms at different stages of the supply chain, and often these platforms don’t integrate. There is no visibility between stages of transport.Why is this important? Greg believes that the supply chain isn’t just about moving product. It’s a vehicle for communication. It’s how companies build brand equity, satisfy consumer demand, and deliver a positive customer experience whether it’s buying, repairing, or returning. Without digital integration and transparency between each step, companies can miss out on delivering even more value for the consumer.[Follow on Social] Listeners can connect with Greg on LinkedIn.What to do next:Discover more resources including podcasts and webinars by visiting SupplyChainNow.com or follow SCN on social to keep updated on new episodes and content: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInLearn more about Kubera Venture Capital, Greg’s VC firm, by visiting Kubera.vcLearn more about Venzee, John Abram’s organization, by visiting Venzee.comTurn yourself into a thought leader with Content AlliesSubscribe to this podcast:Don’t forget to subscribe to Rethinking Supply Chain on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

Is there really a technological silver bullet that can help you solve all of your supply chain problems? In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, guest Greg White joins hosts John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, and Diana Chen to discuss the past, present, and future of supply chain tech. Greg is Principal and Host for Supply Chain Now podcast, as well as a Venture Partner for Kubera Venture Capital.As a result of the global pandemic, supply chain challenges and innovations are making headlines around the world. Greg explores this new phenomenon by first reflecting on his early career investing in supply chain technologies and how his perspective has evolved over the years. As an investor, he built his early career looking for the “next big thing,” only to realize that few new technologies will have that level of impact. Why?Greg advises that the strategic goals of the business are key to choosing the right technologies. Supply chain is far more than moving something from Point A to Point B. It’s a critical facet of brand identity, customer experience, and organizational values such as sustainability and fair trade. Can organizations accomplish all this with just one platform? Listen now to find out.[Follow on Social] Listeners can connect with Greg on LinkedIn.What to do next:Discover more resources including podcasts and webinars by visiting SupplyChainNow.com or follow SCN on social to keep updated on new episodes and content: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedInLearn more about Kubera Venture Capital, Greg’s VC firm, by visiting Kubera.vcLearn more about Venzee, John Abram’s organization, by visiting Venzee.comTurn yourself into a thought leader with Content AlliesSubscribe to this podcast:Don’t forget to subscribe to Rethinking Supply Chain on iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. See you in the next episode.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, catches up with Diana Chen to get into some topics that were mentioned in previous guest episodes. They begin the conversation by looking back at swarm robotics and dark factories.John explains the basics of physical supply chain logistics, beginning in the warehouse. He describes cross-docks and how pallets get broken down for distribution. Traditionally, pickers scan deliveries in the cross-docks and then take them to the truck that will continue the supply chain. With swarm robotics and dark factories, the entire process can be automated, allowing for continuous turnover at lower energy levels and less cost to human capital.John and Diana then shift the conversation by reviewing some previous episodes. John noticed that some younger guests from previous episodes were surprised at how low-tech most of today’s supply chain models still are. He shares some anecdotal evidence of the simple models that are still being used despite the technology available today.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen delve more deeply into the future of supply chain management. In a previous episode, John expressed his frustration with how the supply chain is still operating as it has for the past five decades, and this episode counters that bleakness with a more positive outlook on where he thinks things are heading.John introduces a group called the Futurists that leans into supply chain management and consults companies to help them integrate the Internet of Things (IoT) into their operations. The Futurists are explaining how IoT allows automation across all links in the supply chain, improving efficiency. People studying the future of supply chain management are focusing their research on demand patterns, QR codes, dark factories, radio frequency identification (RFID), swarm robotics, and real time transportation visibility. John gets into some of the details of dark factories -- factories that are machine-based that don’t need lighting. He explains how factories operating with automation can better operate at their ideal capacity based on demand patterns.John ends on a high note with an optimistic feeling of hope that working culture in the United States will embrace the new trends in supply chain logistics. While the U.S. labor culture is somewhat behind other countries when it comes to supply chain automation, there are people who are working to change attitudes and increase efficiency at home. 

In this episode of the Rethinking Supply Chain podcast, Venzee CEO, John Abrams reconnects with Phil Renaud, Executive Director of The Risk Institute at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, to continue their conversation about supply chain resilience.John starts the episode by bringing up three points that stood out to him while participating in a global conference that Phil’s organization hosted. First, resilience matters, second we’re generally lacking when it comes to planning for low-probability events, and third, nobody builds ‘just-in-case’ supply chains.In most cases, companies outsource portions of the supply chain, and generally, it is to a single service provider. In this conversation, John asks Phil about how to develop the ‘just-in-case’ contingency plans to stay ahead of the game.Phil shares his experience working in retail to provide some ways in which supply chain stakeholders can plan for one-off disruptions. He describes some of the difficult conversations that executives may need to have when it comes to discussing the fragility of supply chain networks. Although the cost has gone down, companies tend to rely on a single distributor, and that model may need to change as unique disruptions continue to occur.Contact Phil and The Ohio State University Risk Institute at http://fisher.osu.edu/risk.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, welcomes Phil Renaud, Executive Director of The Risk Institute at the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business, to discuss supply chain resilience.John opens the discussion by referencing a conference that Phil organized and John attended that was focused on the topic of risk. Planned before the pandemic’s effects on the supply chain, the only real change to the conference speakers’ content was to introduce Covid-19 as a geopolitical risk.They then shift the conversation to the future of how they will handle risk management. Phil suggests that low-probability risk will remain a factor when it comes to global distribution planning. He also discusses how organizations should structure themselves to remain resilient in the face of adversity, rather than planning for low-probability risks.John and Phil wrap up their conversation by talking about how to prepare both business and political leaders to face continued risk. Phil’s experience at DHL taught him that embracing risk and putting it on the table at the highest organizational levels can be positive. Engaging top leadership in conversation surrounding risk will lead to ongoing resilience.Contact Phil and The Ohio State University Risk Institute at http://fisher.osu.edu/risk.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, hosts Scott Luton, Founder & CEO at Supply Chain Now, to follow up on their previous discussion regarding supply chain resilience.In their last discussion, Scott talked about supply chain fragility, which led John to muse over the importance of flexibility and resilience in supply chain. Flexibility is the key to remaining salient in the face of crisis. However, given today’s environment, flexibility isn’t enough. It needs to be fast, intelligent flexibility. The good news is that digitization is already making this a reality for many organizations. John and Scott then get into the details of end-to-end supply chain visibility. Today, there is no way to provide product data directly to the consumer, and the only way to make that possible is to make the entire supply chain digital. Scott gives some insight into the intersection of artificial intelligence and supply chain visibility and how technologies like sensors and blockchain are improving visibility.The pandemic has proven to be an opportunity for supply chain management industry players to ask why there were failures. While they don’t necessarily need to plan for the next pandemic, we need to plan to make the supply chain itself more resilient. John and Scott remain optimistic that the supply chain will improve due to the lessons learned from a global difficult situation.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, hosts Scott Luton, Founder & CEO at Supply Chain Now. John got connected with Scott after listening to one of his podcast episodes that dove into the physical and automated aspects of supply chain.Scott got into discovering supply chain management when he completed his service with the United States Air Force. He loved the team mentality integral to end to end manufacturing, which led him to a full career in logistics operations. The pair discuss how every executive is a supply chain manager in this day and age. Keeping track of the last touch when it comes to getting goods to consumers is key. People remain a huge component of the logistics equation, but now they have a different role. If people are willing to adapt and embrace technology, they can be key players in the supply chain.Scott explains how we are all part of the supply chain. People are gaining a deeper understanding of logistics, greatly due to the increase in e-commerce and the exposure of weak spots from a global crisis.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen welcome back Johan Boström, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer at inRiver PIM. They delve into branding and how future generations of consumers will affect change in retailers’ marketing strategies.Johan hails from Sweden, a content management hub, and now operates out of Chicago, a North American logistics hub, both physically and digitally. While inRiver’s offices established themselves in Chicago due to the availability of a transportation facility, the choice was a pleasant surprise for Johan as he discovered the concentration of supply chain talent in the city and in the larger region. Johan explains how inRiver developed its digital localization strategy to meet the needs of both Nordic countries’ companies and European companies overall given their need to engage with external markets due to a lack of internal population and demand. Finally, John and Johan talk about how people who work on digital content for products can excite others in the supply chain industry and how to rethink manufacturing across the entire process. Get in touch with Johan by sending an e-mail to hello@inriver.com, or simply visit his company’s website, www.inriver.com.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen host Johan Boström, Co-founder & Chief Product Officer at inRiver PIM. The conversation kicks off with a discussion of supply chain resilience in the face of external stressors. COVID-19 has highlighted the weaknesses in the supply chain, providing an opportunity to improve.Johan began his journey in digital product information working with Nordic giants Nokia and Erikkson by creating a PIM (product information management) company before the acronym was even industry standard. Although PIMs are gaining traction as manufacturers become aware of the savings associated with data communication, John is still surprised at the small market share that companies like his are taking on.So why haven’t supply chain networks adopted more technology? Pain points remain, and investment is increasing. The pandemic has highlighted what industry veterans have always known. John and Johan get into the details of how tech-based network solutions can improve supply chain efficiency and drive revenue faster for suppliers.Get in touch with Johan by sending an e-mail to hello@inriver.com, or simply visit his company’s website, www.inriver.com.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen host Sarah Kirmis, formerly a member of the Venzee operations team and now working at AWS, and Matt Blattman, Marketing Intern at Venzee. John begins the panel discussion by inquiring into Sarah’s experience so far at Amazon. As an employee of Amazon Web Services, Sarah works as a professional services consultant to help enterprise customers develop cloud computing solutions. As a partner of AWS, Venzee is able to infinitely scale massive amounts of data through the use of cloud computing.They then shift to how much innovation is required for manufacturing giants. While large companies can afford to drag their feet when it comes to innovation in the short term, that model won’t be sustainable in the long run. Data needs to be at the core of every business to remain competitive.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen host Sarah Kirmis, formerly a member of the Venzee operations team and now working at AWS, and Matt Blattman, Venzee’s marketing intern. Sarah and Matt are both Gen Z digital natives, and John asks for their thoughts on the shift from paper-based global supply chain to the new digital space.Despite the technology we have available today, supply chain networks are still dependent on rigid, expensive, and slow paper processes. For younger generations, it can be a frustrating shock to enter supply chain management and see how outdated operations actually are. The group contemplates what is holding supply chain innovation back. Acknowledging that change in a large organization is challenging by nature, Sarah and Matt delve into the difficulties of change management, especially when it comes to corporate manufacturing. Organizing multiple teams to adopt new technical procedures is difficult, and as new generations enter the labor market and influence decision making, there is some conflict when it comes to convincing incumbents that technology is worth the initial investment.

In this episode, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, hosts Niki Founder, Hermann Fink, to continue their discussion on the future of supply chain management. The pair met when Hermann was working on graduate level supply chain management research prior to the pandemic, and now his studies are even more timely than they already were. The Covid-19 pandemic has brought supply chain vulnerabilities to the forefront of ongoing discussions, so John asks Hermann why more research isn’t going on surrounding the supply chain. Despite a shift from 5,000 years of traditional linear supply chain management, we don’t see a lot of discussion about the changes going on. John asks Hermann about how the digital core can be an impetus to use artificial intelligence (AI) to rebalance the supply chain when faced with unforeseen disruptions. They talk about how AI is shifting the way the digital core influences supply chain operations. Through the use of AI, supply and demand can be adjusted in real time without human intervention, thus moving away from the EDI system in place today and toward a more sophisticated system that can anticipate changes in the market and adjust supply chains.If you’d like to learn more about Niki, you can visit their website, and if you’d like to contact Hermann, the best way is via his LinkedIn page.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, chats with Niki Founder, Hermann Fink, about his experience with supply chain management. Hermann’s graduate research looks into how linear supply chain has shifted to a network model. His interest in non-linear supply chain began with a passion for technology and the disruption of traditional models. Understanding the implications of supply chain disruption can be complex, so John and Hermann explore how businesses and organizations can systematically adapt to the new systems. There is no linear way of approaching the change because everything is happening so rapidly and chaotically. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the supply chain has become exponentially stressed, leaving companies with an urgent need to digitize as soon as possible.To conclude, Hermann suggests thinking about changes from a different perspective. Technology isn’t necessarily an addition to how things work; rather, there needs to be a shift that places technology at the core of operations to add value to the supply chain overall.To learn more about what Hermann is working on, you can visit the Niki company website, or connect with him on LinkedIn. He’d love to hear from you.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, chats with Diana Chen about the future of supply chain management. John begins by differentiating between the traditional way supply chain operated and the newer, digital platform on which some supply chains operate today. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on supply chain logistics, many world leaders still don’t embrace digital transformation.For some companies today, their supply chain is still running on technology that is over 50 years old. Data is managed by people with clipboards, and with the technology available today, efficiency could be greatly improved if transportation and logistics took advantage of automation.John talks about his experience speaking with logistics leadership who are behind the times and then contrasts that with futuristic ideas. He talks about how the Internet of Things (IoT) is going to revolutionize supply chain logistics overall, and how there are groups that are promoting this vision. Artificial intelligence, IoT, and complete automation should be the future of supply chain management. John ends on a hopeful note, with an anecdote from his experience at the Chicago Tribune. He had early access to the Internet and spread the word within the company despite naysayers who weren’t ready to change their habits. He remains optimistic about the complete transformation of the supply chain within the next few decades.What to do next:Learn more about Venzee on our website.Turn yourself into a thought leader with Content Allies

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, is back with Boex Founder, Sean Copeland, to delve deeper into the future of supply chain innovation and trade data security. Currently, John still sometimes has to use a fax machine to get data to a manufacturer because they are so far behind. But the future of supply chain management is going to change drastically -- and soon.COVID-19 has highlighted the deep inefficiencies that exist in supply chain management today, and in Sean’s experience at Boex, since the beginning of the pandemic they’ve had an influx of requests for data protection services connected with digitizing their supply chain logistics.Even as recently as five years ago, trade contracts were done physically on paper, but today, companies want to streamline the legal process and ensure security. Using blockchain technology, Boex helps all stakeholders along supply chain networks encrypt their sensitive data, driving down to the single word or letter level. Boex helps create digital trust through blockchain which can be audited, is timestamped, and has geolocation embedded. All of the data surrounding a transaction can be conveyed instantaneously and securely online.So why aren’t more companies embracing blockchain technology? Sean talks about fear, not only from company CFOs, but also from the transportation industry and legal communities who feed off of paper trails generated in ports and transport hubs. However, as Sean points out, the pandemic has disrupted the dynamics of the entire system, and with the technology that his company provides becoming more readily available, investors are going to start noticing and get on board. John and Sean talk about how in just 10-15 years, 3D printers are going to completely revolutionize the entire supply chain system, making hubs like sea ports obsolete. Now is the time to invest in online supply chain security to stay ahead of the curve when these predictions become reality.To learn more about Boex, go to https://boex.biz/ or reach out to Sean directly at sean.a.copeland@boex.biz.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Diana chats with Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Boex Founder, Sean Copeland, about the inner workings of the internet and how it has affected supply chain and trade data over the past few decades.Since the 1980s and 1990s, the possibilities of using the internet to manage supply chains and maintain security have increased exponentially, but companies and regulatory bodies are slow to take advantage of these opportunities. As two advocates for innovative supply chain technology, John and Sean begin their conversation by discussing some of the history of how Sean got into the industry by chance, and since then has become an active participant in internet governance. A member of the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers, Sean helps to oversee how the internet operates behind the scenes. His company uses blockchain technology to encrypt trade contracts and information for compliance purposes.They get into why more companies and organizations aren’t embracing connecting via the internet and how security fears are really holding the entire system back. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everything, and companies are scrambling to use the internet to speed supply chain connections.Boex provides a solution by encrypting what were traditionally paper documents using blockchain technology, thereby facilitating sharing sensitive information online. They enable companies to create levels of trust that businesses can gain with their trade partners -- something that we need today more than ever.To learn more about Boex, go to https://boex.biz/ or reach out to Sean directly at sean.a.copeland@boex.biz.

In this episode of the Rethinking Supply Chain podcast, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and guest, Kerry Young, VP of Enterworks, follow up on their recent conversation surrounding changes in product content management. The pair get into Deming principles, as well as the details of how Kerry’s work is improving the content management experience.Beginning with a look at Deming’s principles for supply chain management, John notes how they were developed before computers and supply chain networks, and how Deming may have envisioned supply chain efficiencies in today’s world. The pair agree that the lines across supply chain stakeholders have become more fluid, and Kerry explains how Enterworks is working to provide the relevant information to various points along the network.Through the use of automation, Enterworks helps manufacturers send relevant information across all channels, tweaking said information depending on its recipient. Getting the correct data to the relevant user today has become so complex that unless the process is automated, mistakes are bound to be made, causing revenue loss across the entire supply chain network. Automation and information relevance are critical to maintaining a competitive advantage.Finally, John and Kerry talk about how they can quantify manufacturers’ and distributors’ pain during the pandemic, and how Enterworks is helping them to assuage that pain. The size of a company doesn’t necessarily affect how many SKUs they need to manage, but regardless of the number of products, the amount of data to manage is impractical at a human level. Learn more about Enterworks at www.enterworks.com, and to contact Kerry directly, send him an email at kerry.young@enterworks.com.

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Diana Chen are talking about standards in Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). John begins by explaining how organizations such as Global Standards 1, known as GS1, set the guidelines for product information communication across the world. Given the varied systems of measurement in different countries, GS1, together with other bodies like the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provide common measurements for the effective communication of product data. However, while standardization is necessary for communication, John argues that so far, it hasn’t been able to cope with the flexibility that distributors and consumers require today. John then talks about informal standards. A large retailer may want to report a certain product aspect and may note that their suppliers aren’t reporting the data through the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN). This can result in retailers requiring suppliers to manipulate their data sets with false information, thus destabilizing the entire GDSN dataset system. This practice is more and more frequent as consumers demand more information that suppliers and retailers may not have anticipated. So how can standardization organizations keep up with consumers’ growing needs for information? Digitalization of data will be key as standardization evolves and develops. What to do next: Learn more at www.venzee.com

In this episode, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and EVP of Commercial Operations, Peter Montross, take another look at the Global Data Synchronization Network, otherwise known as GDSN. Having touched on the subject in Episode 04, John invites Peter to take the discussion even further. Beginning with an overview of GDSN, John asks whether the system is still useful, or whether a new system should be implemented. Peter explains that a new system is absolutely needed in order to provide all selling channels with the information that they need to make their sales. GDSN is a limited dataset that is insufficient for all retailers, so while it has had its use, consumer and market needs have outgrown the entire system. Retailers are constantly updating their content requirements, and they are falling outside of the GDSN’s outdated scope. Retailers are trying to address consumer needs, and suppliers are trying to help them. The global standards that GDSN follow are lacking when it comes to consumer desires, thus hindering the potential for sales.Venzee is able to address the dynamic nature of supplier and retailer needs in order to reach consumers and improve the bottom line. When products have new features or attributes, suppliers and retailers want to let consumers know. The GDSN no longer has the capacity to communicate all of the new product features available. Manufacturers have gone their own way to communicate with retailers, and Venzee is working to facilitate that shift. You can find Peter on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to check out Venzee at the link below!Venzee: venzee.com

Welcome to our third annual EO/ESOP Podcast Summer School series. We've selected some of our favorite episodes over the past year to bring you all summer long. We're going to spend the summer catching our breath and recharging our batteries. We're also going to be wearing masks and practicing social distancing. In this episode, we looked at an exemplar of how to present the benefits of EO. Four passionate advocates for EO testified in February 2020, before a US House Small Business Committee hearing on the "Challenges and Benefits of Employee-owned Small Businesses." We shared some of the testimony from the advocates, including Daniel Goldstein, President and CEO of employee-owned Folience; R. L. Condra, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Programs, National Cooperative Bank; John Abrams, CEO and Co-owner of worker-owned cooperative South Mountain Company; and Mark Gillming, Senior Vice President, Messer Construction Company, an employee owned company headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, as well as comments from the committee chair and several members. The video of the testimony quoted in today's podcast is available on our website page for this episode: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/esop-summer-school-12-benefits-of-eo-the-us-house-small-business-committee

On this episode, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, and Sr. Director of Integrations, Chad Kaczmarek, walk us through the history of content distribution, how it has changed, and where we go from here. We’ll look at why traditional means of content distribution are no longer relevant and learn from Chad’s experience in the distribution space.We start by looking at Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) as a system, which Chad describes as the ‘crawling’ stage of content distribution. He then goes on to tell us about how distribution has evolved over time. While EDI provides some information, consumers may want to know more, especially in certain industries, like the medical industry. The conversation then shifts to the walking, running, and even flying stages of product content distribution. Manufacturers have had their hands forced somewhat by governments in some sectors, increasing investment in technology solutions. Not only are governments requiring increased transparency throughout the supply chain, but retailers are putting pressure on manufacturers and suppliers as well. Each major retailer requires very specific product content information, and handling these requirements manually is nearly impossible. John and Chad end this episode by looking at how artificial intelligence could be the means through which product content distribution starts to fly. You can find Chad on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to check out Venzee at the link below!Venzee: venzee.com

In this episode of Rethinking Supply Chain, Venzee CEO, John Abrams, discusses the complexities of product content distribution with Chad Kaczmarek, Venzee’s Sr. Director of Integrations. John and Chad explore why there are so many challenges for manufacturers to communicate product information effectively to the relevant stakeholders throughout the supply chain. Many manufacturers today have to go through many hoops, due to antiquated systems together with an overwhelming variability in the solutions manufacturers can choose to implement as they try to shift to a new system. Chad explains what product content is and how important it is to both the supply chain and the consumer. He gives some anecdotal examples of his experience as a consumer and, at the professional level, of the consequences of miscommunication and lack of data distribution. When a consumer receives a product that doesn’t match the data they used on the marketplace to evaluate their purchase, the manufacturer’s brand is hurt, sales are reduced, and supply chain costs rise. Finally, John and Chad give some advice to companies that may be struggling with product content distribution. Content distribution needs to be considered a program and not a project, so manufacturers’ mindsets need to shift, and content distribution managers will become more and more important as supply chains become digitally integrated. You can find Chad on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to check out Venzee at the link below!Venzee: venzee.com

Thanks to the internet, our world is now more connected than ever before. However, it seems like supply chains are one of the anomalies that are not as connected as we’d like them to be. Why is that? Why haven’t major retail suppliers and distributors embraced the power of the Internet of Things and adopted more advanced technology?In this episode, John Abrams looks at some of the ways in which supply chains aren’t as connected as we might think and how supply chain stressors have been brought to the foreground by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the long-term, COVID may have been just the shock that industry needed to wake up to the new possibilities available to improve streamlined supply chains.This episode wraps with some of John’s top tips for businesses that are struggling with supply chain stressors to move forward. Implementing Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions can help businesses keep up with the growing challenges associated with an ever-more integrated and demanding market. Supply chain automation needs to be on the agenda over the next few years in order to show shareholders and investors that senior supply chain leadership is ready to handle upcoming crises.Link to Forbes article: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/04/09/how-to-fortify-your-supply-chain-in-an-era-of-escalating-disruption/#3b280de74517

In this episode of the Rethinking Supply Chain podcast, we talk about the differences between linear supply chains and network supply chains and how they are relevant to consumers in today’s world.John Abrams, CEO of Venzee, dives into what these supply chains typically look like in the real world, and he gives some examples of companies that have switched from a linear supply chain to network model and much more.Having invested in research projects surrounding the future of supply chain with the integration of the internet and now artificial intelligence, John has learned that despite the array of opportunities companies have to take advantage of technology, most companies still aren’t doing it. A few giants such as Amazon have been able to leverage network models to cut out the middleman when it comes to distribution, but they have largely monopolized the market, making it difficult for smaller players to do the same thing. At the end of the day, John explains, linear supply chains will go by the wayside, so now is the time to take advantage of the available technology and incorporate networks into your supply chain model.

Welcome to the first episode of the Rethinking Supply Chain podcast, brought to you by Venzee. On this show, we dive into all aspects of the supply chain, discussing the history, how it is changing, and what makes for a resilient supply chain in today’s world. In this episode, we will be introducing you to your host, John Abrams, his company, Venzee, and we'll be giving you a little preview into what you can expect from listening to this podcast.Venzee is a technology company that handles the last mile of product distribution by directly connecting suppliers with retailers. Traditionally the process involves a lot of people with clipboards and excel spreadsheets, but Venzee uses artificial intelligence to automate product specification communication, making it meaningful for the end consumer.With over twenty years of experience in supply chain management, John is excited to share his expertise and discuss supply chain innovation with other leaders. During the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain management has become a topic of much discussion, John is going to look at the various ways in which supply chain logistics can improve rapidly to manage product distribution in the best possible way.

Episode Notes Dr. Talleyrand takes us on a journey from the past to the future of cannabis medicine. He was in California recommending cannabis to patients since physicians were legally able to do so. He is also conducting some very progressive research into brain imaging and dosage to learn strain specific benefits. Amazing work from a wonderful man.Check out Dr. Talleyrand's newest webinar Patient Access with Future Cannabis Project: https://www.facebook.com/events/880758625763757/ For more information on Dr. Talleyrand's projects: Medical cannabis recommendations in California: https://www.medicann.comClinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium: https://www.thecesc.orgHolistic Wellness Services: https://www.motionhealth.org Find Dr. Talleyrand on Social Media Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrTalleyrandFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/jean.talleyrand.3 https://www.facebook.com/medicann/ https://www.facebook.com/thecescorg/LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jean-talleyrand-9265796 Time Stamps 04:07 Time in Zimbabwe and why Dr. Talleyrand became a physician08:45 What led his to alternative healing10:39 His start in medical cannabis and the start of the movement in California21:55 Cannabis and Irritable Bowl Syndrome22:51 Endocannabinoid system and homeostasis23:46 How does the ECS work?25:09 Measuring an endocannabinoid tone?25:34 Clinical Endocannabinoid System Consortium (CESC) creation and the need for research26:39 CLARIFICATION The single government source of cannabis for research is grown at the University of Mississippi, not Tennessee as Dr. Talleyrand stated28:24 What are antibodies?30:48 Partnering with Dr. John Abrams for the CESC32:44 The need for formulation development and plant variations batch to batch33:53 The Dosing Project37:13 Different cannabinoids and their treatment use38:39 Cannabis being promising for cancer40:39 What to think about hemp and CBD46:25 CBG48:21 Dr. Talleyrand’s manual for physicians50:49 Where is cannabis medicine going?53:34 Dr. Talleyrand’s 1 change he’d like to seeThis Edge of Cannabis Medicine Podcast is Copyright EM2P2, Inc., 2020. All rights reserved. Podcast use and availability is governed by terms and disclaimers available at https://edgeofcannabismedicine.com/termsFind out more at http://edgeofcannabismedicine.com

How to present the benefits of EO? The same way four passionate advocates for EO testified in February 2020, before a US House Small Business Committee hearing on the "Challenges and Benefits of Employee-owned Small Businesses." Today we share some of the testimony from the advocates, including Daniel Goldstein, President and CEO of employee-owned Folience (www.folience.com); R. L. Condra, Vice President of Advocacy and Government Programs, National Cooperative Bank (www.ncb.coop); John Abrams, CEO and Co-owner of worker-owned cooperative South Mountain Company (www.southmountain.com); and Mark Gillming, Senior Vice President, Messer Construction Company (www.messer.com), an employee owned company headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, as well as comments from the committee chair and several members. The audio clips in this episode were quoted from the US House Committee on Small Business hearing held at 11:30 A.M. on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building, and are used per 17 U.S.C. § 107: Fair Use. The full original of the source we quoted can be viewed on the House Small Business Committee channel in the public domain, link provided on our website: https://www.theesoppodcast.com/post/104-benefits-of-eo-the-us-house-small-business-committee

In this 56th episode of From the Woods Kentucky, co-hosts Renee Williams and Laura Lhotka interview Clint Patterson, John Hite III, John Abrams, and Chad Niman for an overview of the horse logging. Episode 56 - Horse Logging

On the first episode of Inside Today's Country, I chat with John Abrams about the new song "Good Old Days", the band's busses, and a very biblical festival they play at.  Find them on line at www.theabramsmusic.com

Follow God's lead and He will provide! What an amazing story told by John himself.

In the latest Uncover The Music episode, we chatted with Canadian country artist John Abrams of the Abrams!We chatted about their upcoming gig at #bootsandhearts, growing up as a fourth generation musician, and the remarkable musical history of their tour bus. Look for the full #podcast on ITunes, Spotify and barrieuncovered.ca. Uncover The Music is the only podcast devoted to Barrie's music scene; featuring interviews with local artists, bands, producers and talented folks coming to perform and creating the sounds of the city's scene. This episode is exactly 20:17. A Barrie Uncovered podcast production. #barrieuncovered #barriepodcast #barriemusicscene

When John was 8 years old, his parents divorced. He also discovered that his brothers and he did not share the same father. These life changes made him want attention. John wanted to be the 'star of the show'. He witnessed that people made a living doing their art. John reinvented himself multiple times. Today, he does what he loves, which is performing for a live audience. John shares these powerful nuggets of life wisdom: - take inventory of your life on a regular basis - ask yourself "am I truly happy?" - if not, make a change - don't wait for the 'big event' - exercise what John calls "LIFE": 1) figure out what you Love, 2) Be in service (to others), 3) Focus and 4) Engage Professional entertainer John Abrams has been making his living in the performing arts since 1998. From actor to acting coach to professional magician to host of his very own podcast "The Variety Artist", John has follow his lifelong passion to inspire other performing artists to follow their dream. https://www.thevarietyartist.com/  https://amazingschoolassemblies.com/ tags:  John, Abrams, Variety, Artist, professional, entertainer, performing, arts, actor, acting, coach, magician, magic, podcast, school, assembly, assemblies, storiesthatempower.com, stories that empower, empowering stories, empowerment stories, stories of empowerment, stories of empowering others, self empowerment stories, stories empower, inspire, inspiring, inspiration, uplift, uplifting, upliftment, hope, light, Sean

John Abrams is the co-founder and CEO of South Mountain Company, an employee owned enterprise committed to triple bottom line business practice. In 1987, South Mountain re-structured as a worker cooperative, and today 21 of its 33 employees are full owners. In 2005 Business Ethics Magazine awarded South Mountain its National Award for Workplace Democracy. John Abrams delivered “The Company We Keep” in January 2008. If you would like a physical copy of this lecture or others like it, visit centerforneweconomics.org/order-pamphlets to purchase pamphlets of published works and transcripts. The Schumacher Center's applied work seeks to implement the principles described by these speakers within the context of the Berkshire hills of Massachusetts. Our work, both educational and applied, is supported by listeners like you. You can strengthen our mission by making a donation at centerforneweconomics.org/donate, or call us at (413) 528-1737 to make an appointment to visit our research library and office at 140 Jug End Road, Great Barrington, Massachusetts.

The letter A leads us to talk about AND, Robert Ashley, John Abrams and Allison Cameron in this first episode of our experimental music alphabet! Array to Zed is a monthly podcast exploring experimental music by way of the alphabet. Hosts Martin Arnold, Artistic Director of ArrayMusic, and Georgia Carley chat about the ideas, procedures, composers and music that make up that nebulous beautiful thing we call “Experimental Music.” Music Credits: Robert Ashley, The Bar from Perfect Lives (1991); John Abrams, Old Good Buchla (2014) and Aenied Music (1988); Allison Cameron, In Memoriam Robert Ashley (2015) and Strumgators (2010); Martin Arnold, Tam Lin (2010). John Abram’s electronic music is available from bandcamp at johnabram.bandcamp.com/releases Much of Robert Ashley’s music, including everything played on the episode, is available from Lovely Music at www.lovely.com Allison Cameron’s music is available at allisoncameron.com  Martin Arnold’s Tam Lin is released by Autumn Records, available at www.autumnrecords.net To know more about ArrayMusic’s other activities or to join our mailing list, see ArrayMusic.com.

For the show notes (guest bio, summary, resources, etc), go to: www.lifteconomy.com/podcast

Thanks for tuning in to this episode of In The Country! Be sure to download past and present episodes of the show for free at iTunes. The Abrams - brothers John and James - have a self-titled EP released on May 20th available at iTunes.  It features the catchy, feel good first single Fine. Check out the cool video for the song at YouTube. John Abrams tells me about the brothers' experience on the Opry back in 2005. Great story. But up first on the podcast, Robin Leblanc joins me to chat about the constanty growing popularity of craft breweries. She is one of the authors of The Ontario Craft Beer Guide. She's also a columinst for Metroland North Media and Torontoist. Check her out online atwww.thethirstywench.com.

James and John Abrams were the youngest Canadians to perform on the stage at the Grand Ole Opry. Now in their twenties the two brothers treat us to their latest hit tunes that blend bluegrass and pop. Tastes great. Plus Mark says throw the book at everyone who touches their phone in the car.

In this interview, John Abrams brings us into his business performing assembly shows at elementary schools. He doesn't hold anything back and even gives us some example scripts designed to make his shows more effective in their intended objectives! John Abrams is a magician, actor, Emcee, husband and dad, who has found his passion, and probably also his calling in performing school assembly shows for elementary schools. Since 1998, John has performed school assembly shows, starting with his flagship show, Animal Magic, featuring all live exotic pets. He would perform that show an average of 250 times per year. Since then, he’s created countless other shows that bring inspiration and help teachers tackle topics like bullying, drugs, and the importance of good character. He currently performs over 500 shows each year at elementary schools and libraries all over Southern California. John is also an expert in marketing and has taught his methods of getting shows to other performers over the internet, through lectures, and various information products.     Sponsors: Click Convert Profit — This episode is brought to you by Josh London's Click Convert Profit and his book Flying Solo, the Smart Solopreneur’s Guide to Making Money Online. Click here to get $10 off and for my listeners only, the free ebook "4 Ways to Find Your Most Profitable Keywords”.     Success Quote: If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. — Henry Ford     Assembly Shows • Tells how he came up with topics to create shows around.  • Finding out what the teachers need, finding a pain point and building a show around that.   • Tells how he researches topics.   • You can look up school curriculums online at the Department of Education Website.  • Go online and see what other assembly shows are doing.  • Talks about his website and the elements he uses: benefit-driven headline, benefit-driven content, and market-specific testimonials. It's basically a sales letter website.  • Pricing on assembly shows: what he charges ($900 for two assemblies) and what someone breaking in should charge ($700 for two assemblies). Mentions other possible pricing structures. • How he uses Yelp to get testimonials. • Differences between assembly shows and library shows. They want different results!     Failure Moment Hear about a physically intense sales letter that he sent out to schools that he'll never send out again!     Favorite Success A very successful library showcase he did while wearing a space suit and booked 60 shows from it!     Biggest Professional Challenge Letting the cooperate market go. He discovered that he didn't want to travel and perform on weekends and nights. It was tough for him to walk away from the market and potential money.     Awesome Sample Scripts! Note: These scripts are tailored to John's performance style and character. Please use these as guidelines to write your own pitches for your shows.  Pitch for the jumbo dollar bills you give away: "Kids, if you enjoyed yourselves and had a great time, not only are there five magic tricks on the back of this dollar bill, but there's a handsome and good-looking guy on the front here, as well as my phone number and website in case you want to invite me to your party." At the end of an assembly show after summarizing the teaching: "If you enjoyed the show, here's what you've gotta do. I know you're going to be excited and talking in your loud voices, but I want you to go back to class and talk in your quiet voices for your teachers, because, if you talk in your quiet voices, maybe, they'll invite me back . If you think that's a good idea, everybody shout yay!" Pitching books at libraries during his animal show: "Who liked the dove? Who liked the snake? Who liked the chinchilla? Who liked the tarantula? If you liked any of these animals, right over there are all kinds of books on snakes, and doves, and chinchillas, and spiders. Do you see that shelf over there? Let's make sure that shelf becomes completely empty before you go home!" Pitching magic books at libraries: "Do you want to know how I did all this magic? In this library there are books that teach you magic tricks. All you have to do is check them out for free with your library card, open them up and practice them with your mom and dad, and one day you can do a magic show just like I did! Doesn't that sound cool?"     Other Topics Covered • The importance of marketing. • Anything you give away needs to be of value, but you also need to pitch it so they know what to do with it! • Talks about his menagerie of animals and how he handles, cares for, and travels with them. • Laminate the flyers you give out. If you do that, nobody will ever throw them away! • Shaping your career around what you want your lifestyle to be.     Parting Advice You already have enough to shows and sell them. Just do it!     Recommended books and resources: Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!     Resource: Podcasts! Specifically School of Greatness and the TED Radio Hour     Classic Success Books: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale Success Principles by Jack Canfield GOALS by Brian Tracy     Newer Books: The Actor's Handbook by Constantin Stanislavski The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy Chasing Cool by Noah Kerner     CALL TO ACTION: Get John to Write a Book on Assembly Shows! If enough people email John and request him to write a book on assembly shows, he'll do it! Email him now! john@amazingschoolassemblies.com     Where can we find The John Abrams? Amazing School Assemblies California Bully Assemblies California Character Assemblies Animals and Magic Twitter @johnabrams1