Podcasts about Kroger

Record Numbers Shatter Post-Pandemic Expectations Six years after the pandemic first disrupted American life, a troubling trend emerges across rural Virginia. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank now serves approximately 180,000 people every month—a staggering 39,000 more than the pandemic's peak. Les Sinclair, the organization's Communications and PR Manager, reveals this sobering reality during a recent conversation on The Valley Today with host Janet Michael. Initially, food bank officials believed the pandemic would represent the worst crisis they'd ever face. When government assistance programs temporarily lifted many families out of poverty, demand dropped slightly to around 141,000 monthly visits. However, this optimism proved short-lived. "We thought the numbers would never go up beyond the pandemic max," Les explains. "That just didn't pan out." Instead, inflation took hold with devastating consequences. While prices soared across every sector, wages failed to keep pace. Consequently, more working families find themselves unable to afford basic necessities, forcing them to seek food assistance for the first time in their lives. A Massive Rural Footprint The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank operates across an impressive territory that spans 25 counties and eight cities throughout Virginia. Stretching from Winchester and Frederick County in the north to beyond Lynchburg and Bedford County in the south, the organization covers approximately 12,000 square miles—roughly the size of Maryland or one-third of Virginia's total area. To manage this vast region effectively, the food bank maintains four strategic warehouse locations. Their headquarters sits in Verona, just outside Staunton, while additional distribution centers operate in Winchester, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. Notably, the Winchester facility alone serves Frederick, Clarke, Fauquier, Warren, Shenandoah, Page, and Rappahannock Counties, including the densely populated Loudoun County. Moreover, the organization represents a groundbreaking experiment in food banking. When founded in 1981, most food banks concentrated on urban areas where dense populations made distribution easier. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, however, pioneered rural food distribution—a critical distinction since nine out of ten food-insecure Americans live in rural communities rather than urban centers. The Partnership Model That Makes It Work The food bank functions as a sophisticated logistics operation, partnering with Feeding America nationally and hundreds of local food pantries regionally. Les compares their role to a Walmart warehouse, buying food by the truckload and storing massive quantities. Meanwhile, local pantries like Winchester CCAP serve as the "customer-facing" locations, directly distributing food to families in need. This partnership proves essential for reaching scattered rural populations. "We couldn't do what we do without them," Les emphasizes. "They couldn't do what they do without us." Furthermore, the organization sources food from diverse channels. Retail grocers contribute 36% of donations through partner pickup programs, where pantries collect excess inventory directly from stores like Food Lion, Kroger, and Giant. Additionally, the USDA provides government-purchased food from American farmers, while large manufacturers donate products with misprinted labels or excess inventory. Local and regional farmers also contribute fresh produce to the network. The Grocery Store Challenge Recently, however, the retail partnership faced unexpected pressure. During October and November, and again during winter snowstorms, consumers cleared grocery store shelves completely. When stores have no excess inventory, they have nothing left to donate. Compounding this challenge, grocery chains have become remarkably efficient at predicting demand. Using AI technology, they now anticipate that shoppers will buy strawberry Pop-Tarts before storms and adjust inventory accordingly. While this efficiency benefits retailers and consumers, it reduces the surplus available for food banks. Simultaneously, USDA food supplies have dropped 30% year-over-year, forcing the food bank to purchase more food directly. Although they cannot fully replace the high-quality proteins and vegetables the government typically provides, they continue prioritizing nutritious options for their partner pantries. Shattering Misconceptions About Food Pantry Users Perhaps the most persistent myth surrounding food insecurity involves who actually needs assistance. Many people assume food pantry visitors are simply lazy and should "get a job." The reality, however, tells a dramatically different story. Most people seeking food assistance are working. They're trying to improve their lives but living on financial margins so thin that a single unexpected expense creates crisis. In fact, more than a quarter of the food bank's guests visit only once per year—they simply need help getting over a temporary hump. Les shares the story of a convenience store worker who injured her wrist on the job. Unable to work while waiting for workers' compensation, she has zero income and cares for a paralyzed son. She's not lazy—she's injured, uninsured temporarily, and desperately trying to survive until she can return to work. Even when workers' compensation arrives, it typically covers only 70% of regular wages and takes considerable time to process. For families living paycheck to paycheck, missing even one payment creates cascading financial disasters. The Government Shutdown Ripple Effect Currently, partial government shutdowns compound these challenges. Federal workers, particularly TSA agents, continue reporting to work without paychecks. They still pay for childcare, gas, and other necessities, but many receive payment only monthly—making it extraordinarily difficult to stretch resources from one paycheck to the next. Contrary to popular belief, landlords cannot always wait patiently for delayed rent payments. Many landlords depend on rental income to pay their own mortgages. When a tenant misses a $2,000 rent payment, the landlord must still cover their mortgage. Moreover, the economic impact extends far beyond government employees. When federal workers stop dining out, restaurants lose business. Wait staff lose tips. Restaurant owners order less food from suppliers like Sysco. Truck drivers haul fewer loads. The entire economic system suffers. Sarah Cohen of Route 11 Chips experienced this firsthand. During COVID and government shutdowns, her sales to DC cafes plummeted because federal workers weren't coming to the office for lunch. These ripple effects reach deep into Virginia's economy, affecting businesses and workers far from the capital. The Impossible Choice: Heat or Eat Winter brings particularly cruel dilemmas for struggling families. Les recently spoke with William, a roofer injured on the job who lives in a mobile home with his dog, Cocoa. Unable to afford heating, William and Cocoa "just sort of curl up" together while he waits for surgeries that will allow him to return to work. Another woman caring for three disabled grandchildren faces $400 monthly electric bills. With both she and her husband experiencing serious health issues and the children's parents out of the picture, they constantly struggle with the impossible choice between heating their home and feeding their family. These aren't isolated cases. Across the food bank's service area, families regularly face this devastating decision. When $600 heating bills arrive after cold snaps, many choose to keep the lights on and visit food pantries to feed their families. Food as Medicine: A Holistic Approach The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank takes a progressive stance on nutrition, viewing food as medicine rather than mere sustenance. They prioritize fresh produce, which comprised 30% of their distribution last year, because they understand that proper nutrition helps people thrive. Nutritious food keeps medical bills down across entire communities. Children pay better attention in school when properly nourished. People can manage chronic illnesses and diseases through better nutrition. Conversely, when families can only afford high-calorie processed foods, they face increased health risks despite consuming adequate calories—debunking the myth that overweight individuals cannot be food insecure. Additionally, access to food reduces stress, which itself functions as a health intervention. When people live on the edge of a financial cliff, they cannot make good long-term decisions. They're too focused on simply not falling. However, when food security removes one major stressor, families can step back from that precipice and begin making better choices for their futures. Quality Food for Everyone Another common misconception suggests that food bank offerings are somehow subpar. In reality, the food distributed through this network maintains high-quality standards. While well-meaning donors sometimes contribute items like ramen noodles during food drives, the bulk of distributed food comes from retail grocers, USDA programs, and direct purchases of nutritious items. The food bank specifically prioritizes produce because people crave fresh fruits and vegetables. Although produce represents one of the most expensive food categories—often making it a luxury for families on tight budgets—the organization believes everyone deserves access to healthy, nutritious food regardless of their economic circumstances. How Communities Can Help Fortunately, community members have multiple ways to support this critical mission. Volunteering provides valuable assistance, and notably, many food bank guests themselves volunteer, giving back to the community that supported them during difficult times. Financial donations prove particularly effective. Just $1 helps provide more than three meals, meaning $10 supplies a month of meals for someone in need, while $100 provides 300 meals. The food bank's purchasing power and logistics expertise amplify every dollar donated. Beyond time and money, advocacy matters tremendously. Currently, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks—representing all seven food banks across the state—works to promote "food as medicine" initiatives with the state legislature. Community members can support these efforts through the food bank's website at BRAFB.org/actnow or BRAFB.org/getinvolved. Finally, social media engagement amplifies the message. Following the food bank's social media accounts, resharing posts, and commenting helps spread awareness that hunger relief remains an urgent community need. Finding Help When You Need It For individuals and families currently struggling with food insecurity, Les offers an important message: "You're not alone, and we are here with you. We are here to walk with you through this challenge in your life." The food bank's website features an easy-to-use food finder tool. Visitors to BRAFB.org can click "Find Food," enter their address, and immediately see all nearby pantries with contact information, open hours, and everything needed to access food quickly. Alternatively, Virginians can call 211 for phone-based assistance connecting them with local resources. A Community Responsibility As this conversation reveals, food insecurity affects far more people than most realize—one in nine people across the food bank's service area. These aren't strangers or statistics; they're neighbors, coworkers, and community members facing temporary crises that could happen to anyone. The Blue Ridge Area Food Bank stands ready to help, but they cannot do it alone. Through partnerships with local pantries, support from community donors and volunteers, and advocacy for systemic solutions, the organization continues fighting to ensure everyone has enough to eat. In Janet Michael's words, it's "a responsibility I do not take lightly"—and neither should any of us.

How are monopolistic corporations able to gain their economic dominance? They get politicians to give it to them.Consider the old robber barons. They weren't brilliant investors or managers, they were ruthless exploiters of government giveaways, and they routinely bribed lawmakers and other officials to permit their monopolistic thievery.Likewise, today's monopoly players have captured local, state, and national markets – not through honest competition, but by getting public officials to subsidize their expansion and to rig the rules against small competitors. Monopolizers buy this favoritism with the legalized bribes of dark-money campaign donations they lavish on compliant lawmakers.Investigative digger Stacy Mitchell recently documented how this corrupt political favoritism has allowed massive retail chains like Walmart, Kroger, and Dollar Store to crush thousands of local grocers. This has left millions of Americans living in “food deserts” – worker class, poor, and rural communities with no food store.What happened? As grocery chains spread from local to regional to national, they demanded that food manufacturers give them big discounts – a dramatic monopoly pricing advantage over independent rivals, so hometown grocers began hemorrhaging customers. This raw, anti-competitive, price discrimination was a flagrant violation of America's anti-monopoly law – but here came Big Money to protect the monopolists.In 1980, as Ronald Reagan was railing against “silly” consumer protection laws, supermarket lobbyists poured campaign cash into top officials of both parties. What they bought was bipartisan agreement to simply stop enforcing that “rusty” old antitrust law that had protected a competitive grocery economy for nearly 50 years.But good news! That useful, highly-effective law is still on the books, so let's build a long-term grassroots campaign to rejuvenate it and re-outlaw monopolization, redlining, and price gouging by food giants. For more information, go to ilsr.org.Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe

Retail's future winners aren't defined by hype. They are defined by where consumers actually go. In this Omni Talk Ask An Expert episode, hosts Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga sit down with Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer at Placer.ai, to break down the retailers, sectors, and strategies poised to shape 2026. Drawing from real-world foot traffic data and consumer behavior insights, Ethan shares which brands are gaining momentum, which are in turnaround mode, and how shifting expectations around health, value, and experience are redefining retail success. From fitness to grocery to coffee to digitally native retail, this conversation uncovers where physical retail is headed next. Key Topics Covered: • Why the fitness sector, including brands like EōS Fitness, is benefiting from long-term health and wellness shifts • How grocers like H-E-B are winning through localization and innovation • The competitive momentum behind specialty retailers like Michaels • The “bounce-back” potential of Starbucks and its third-place strategy revival • Where Home Depot and Target stand on the recovery spectrum • Grocery's evolving battleground: quality vs. value vs. unique differentiation • How retailers like Kroger are experimenting to stay competitive • The future of digitally native brands and physical retail after pullbacks from players like Allbirds • Why partnerships with retailers such as Nordstrom may reshape DTC expansion • The industry debate around “value” and why it may be retail's most misunderstood concept Whether you're building your 2026 retail strategy, evaluating growth sectors, or tracking competitive momentum, this conversation delivers data-backed insights to help you understand where consumers are spending their time and why. Connect with Ethan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ethan-chernofsky-16ab4519/ Visit Placer.ai: https://www.placer.ai #RetailTrends #RetailersToWatch #RetailAnalytics #FootTrafficData #RetailStrategy #FitnessIndustry #GroceryRetail #Starbucks #DTCBrands #ConsumerBehavior #OmniTalk #RetailInsights

shrinkflation Shrinkflation Is Robbing You Blind | Episode 590 Good morning. This is James from SurvivalPunk.com. It's 46 degrees. I'm cold. I don't like being cold. But that's not what we're talking about today. Today we're talking about something that affects every single one of us every single week. Shrinkflation. And how companies are quietly screwing you over while pretending nothing changed. Listen now. What Shrinkflation Actually Is Shrinkflation is simple. The bag looks the same.The box looks the same.The price looks the same. But you're getting less. Your “pound” bag of chips? Not a pound anymore.16 ounces becomes 14.5 ounces.Same packaging. Same shelf space. Same mental price anchor. They don't raise the price because people notice price increases. They shrink the product because most people never check the weight. That's the game. Why It Works on Your Brain Everyone has internal price anchors. You know what Coke “should” cost.You know what ground beef “should” cost.You know what eggs “should” cost. When the price jumps too far past that mental number, you hesitate. You buy less. You switch brands. So instead of raising prices aggressively, companies keep the sticker steady and shave ounces off the back end. That's less likely to trigger your brain. And it works. The Worst Offenders Right Now Chips.Soda.Single-serve snacks. The further you get from bulk, the worse the value gets. A 12-pack of Coke creeping toward $9.97? That's insane. Run the unit math. If it's buy 2 get 3 free at Kroger, do the math.Total cost divided by total units. If it comes out to $4 a case? That's closer to reality. Unit price is king. Always. Same with meat. Ground beef has exploded. But sometimes a 50/50 beef-pork blend at Walmart hits that sweet spot. Closer to ingredients = better value.Closer to convenience = you're getting wrecked. Ingredients Beat Snacks Every Time Plain oats? Still solid.Rice? Still dependable.Flour? Still cheap. Bulk ingredients have padding built in. They absorb inflation better. Single-serve cookies? Astronomical. Two cookies can cost almost as much as a full bag. And if you run the math on making them from scratch, the ROI is ridiculous. The closer you move toward bulk, the better your survival position gets. That's not theory. That's math. Group Buys Might Be the Secret Weapon This might be its own episode. But think about this. Shipping kills value. Whether it's supplements, bulk meat, or specialty items. Split that shipping with friends? Now the math changes. Split a primal cut of beef.Split bulk orders.Split shipping costs. Suddenly your unit price drops dramatically. We talk prepping all the time. But cost discipline is prep too. Final Thoughts Shrinkflation is real. They're not just raising prices. They're reducing value. Your defense is simple: Check weight.Check unit price.Buy bulk.Run the math.Split costs when you can. Stop shopping emotionally.Start shopping strategically. That's survival in 2026. This is James from SurvivalPunk.com. DIY to survive. Amazon Item OF The Day Food Scale, 11lb Digital Kitchen Scale with 6 Units LCD Display and Tare Function,Compact Design for Baking,Healthy Cooking,Meal Prep, 304 Stainless Steel Think this post was worth 20 cents? Consider joining The Survivalpunk Army and get access to exclusive content and discounts! Don't forget to join in on the road to 1k! Help James Survivalpunk Beat Couch Potato Mike to 1k subscribers on Youtube Want To help make sure there is a podcast Each and every week? Join us on Patreon Subscribe to the Survival Punk Survival Podcast. The most electrifying podcast on survival entertainment. Itunes Pandora RSS Spotify Like this post? Consider signing up for my email list here > Subscribe Join Our Exciting Facebook Group and get involved Survival Punk Punk's The post Shrinkflation Is Robbing You Blind | Episode 590 appeared first on Survivalpunk.

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/give-mister-ed-his-rightful-spot-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame?source_location=psf_petitions Bobbleheads: https://store.barstoolsports.com/products/mostly-sports-bobblehead-ii?variant=42353493114977 Mark Titus and Brandon Walker talking sports... mostly. Thanks to our sponsors: Venmo: Score more with the college-branded Venmo Debit Card and get up to 5% cash back with Venmo Stash. Sign up at https://venmo.com/collegecard The Venmo Mastercard® is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. Select schools available. Venmo Stash bundle terms and exclusions apply at venmo.me/stashterms. Max $100 cash back per month. Every Man Jack: Start your new routine. Find Every Man Jack at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger or wherever men's personal care products are sold. McDonald's: New Hot Honey sauce. Now at McDonald's for a limited time only. Tempo Meals: Go to https://tempomeals.com/mostly for 60% off your first box! Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlySportsTitusandWalker?sub_confirmation=1. Follow Mostly Sports on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MostlySports Follow Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/clubtrillion Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfw Follow Mostly Sports on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mostlysportsshow/ Follow Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktheshark34/ Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwalkersec/ Follow Mostly Sports on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlysportsshow?lang=en Follow Brandon on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandonfwalker?lang=en Follow Mark on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marktituspod?lang=en

Think of this show as a "real-life ad for friendship" between two celebrity Nashville dads who are just like you. The fellas are just hanging out, laughing, and navigating the bizarre realities of life—like why the Kroger meat department employees are always so put out when you actually ask them to do their jobs. This week, they discuss dealing with a "post-apocalyptic" ice storm that resets the day into "Tuesday 2.0" (hello, community laundry hubs!) and debate the merits of escaping prison in high-end Lulu running gear. We dive into life's most niche dilemmas: the shame of ordering decaf from a pompous barista, the awkward pedestrian "honor shuffle," and Dave's "most embarrassing story" involving a "Christian ring" and a police officer. From the parenting panic of a $200 lemonade stand to the necessity of stretching in public. Join us: http://substack.dadville.com Thanks to our sponsors! Cove - Check out Cove at ⁠⁠http://covesmart.com⁠⁠ and use code DAD for an additional 10% off your first order! Shopify - Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at ⁠⁠http://shopify.com/dadville Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/give-mister-ed-his-rightful-spot-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame?source_location=psf_petitions Bobbleheads: https://store.barstoolsports.com/products/mostly-sports-bobblehead-ii?variant=42353493114977 Mark Titus and Brandon Walker talking sports... mostly. Thanks to our sponsors: Every Man Jack: Start your new routine. Find Every Man Jack at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger or wherever men's personal care products are sold. Blue Diamond Growers: Start your new routine. Find Every Man Jack at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kroger or wherever men's personal care products are sold. NoBull: Visit https://nobullproject.com and use code SPORTS for 35% off your entire FIRST order Venmo: Score more with the college-branded Venmo Debit Card and get up to 5% cash back with Venmo Stash. Sign up at https://venmo.com/collegecard The Venmo Mastercard® is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. Select schools available. Venmo Stash bundle terms and exclusions apply at venmo.me/stashterms. Max $100 cash back per month. Pardon My Cheesesteak: Order Pardon My Cheesesteak right now and use code AWL for free delivery on pardonmycheesesteak.com. Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MostlySportsTitusandWalker?sub_confirmation=1. Follow Mostly Sports on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MostlySports Follow Mark on Twitter: https://twitter.com/clubtrillion Follow Brandon on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bfw Follow Mostly Sports on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mostlysportsshow/ Follow Mark on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marktheshark34/ Follow Brandon on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bwalkersec/ Follow Mostly Sports on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mostlysportsshow?lang=en Follow Brandon on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brandonfwalker?lang=en Follow Mark on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marktituspod?lang=en

The hosts take open a sweeping look at the week's most consequential retail developments before heading live to the Narvar Podcast Studio at the NRF Big Show for a deep dive into AI, agentic commerce, and the evolving post-purchase customer journey.The news segment explores Saks Global's decision to close nine full-line stores, underscoring ongoing consolidation in the luxury industry and challenges in multi-line retail. The hosts examine luxury's continued bifurcation, with Kering struggling while Hermès thrives, reinforcing that luxe positioning alone isn't enough — execution matters.In specialty retail, the “collapse of the unremarkable middle” continues as Toys “R” Us Canada, Francesca's, and Eddie Bauer face significant retrenchment if not extinction, while Tractor Supply and Aritzia aggressively expand. Kroger appoints its first external CEO, Greg Boren, signaling operational rigor ahead, while Costco once again posts remarkable sales growth  Meanwhile, Target begins meaningful leadership restructuring — a foundational step in what is likely a multi-year turnaround. On the radar: AI-powered retail crime prevention at Bunnings and the imminent opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a major infrastructure development for North American trade.The featured interview brings Henry Spear, SVP Digital North America, JD Sports, and David Morin, VP Customer Strategy for Narvar, to the mic for a timely discussion on agentic commerce and how leveraging product returns can create competitive differentiation. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling author of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast. He has been recognized by the NRF as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025 and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.

Fly, Scan, and Routine lead us to , bugzookas and salt shooters, velcro flies, the cash register boop, Barney the Kroger robot, bricks, breakfast sludge, and more.New episodes every Tuesday.Editing by: Julia WD HarrisonTheme by: Arne Parrott Logo by: Casey BordenSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

-We definitely got in the Fat Tuesday spirit today with this Cajun inspired dish! It was hardy, spicy and delicious! For being today's Crock Star, Kristin gets a $100 gift card from Kroger. That's more than enough for her next few Crockpot creations!Swamp Potatoes Ingredients*2 small bags baby gold potatoes,halved if large* 1lb sausage (smoked sausage, andouille, or whatever you like), sliced*1 medium onion, diced* 1 packet onion soup mix* 24-28 oz green beans - I prefer Allen's* 2 teaspoons onion powder* 2 teaspoons garlic powder* 1 heaping Tsp Better Than Bouillon* Cajun Seasoning, to taste* 1 32oz Box of Chicken Stock/Broth1) Wash potatoes and out in half if the the larger side.2. Layer the crockpot.Add potatoes, sausage, onion, green beans, and garlic to the slow cooker.3. Season it up.Sprinkle onion soup mix, onion powder, garlic powder.4. Add chicken broth.5. Cook.Cover and cook on LOW for 3-4 (or longe until potatoes are fork-tender.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I encountered Mr. Peanut in the deli section of Kroger's when I was four years old, and I'm still not over that. Also, Jeffrey Epstein could be working at a Dairy Queen in Iowa. And, I still refuse to buy a boneless couch. Enjoy.New episodes are released every Tuesday. If you want to interact with the show, we have a voice mailbox. Call 818-336-1146 and leave feedback, or just complain, and maybe I'll use it in a future broadcast.TEXT THE RAINWATER HOTLINE

Today on our show:Amazon is a Vertically Integrated UtilityShopify Fiscal Year 2025 Earnings: a Pony with One Great Trick, Could it Be More?Kroger Opens a New MarketplacePaypal Earnings and David Marcus- and finally, The Investor Minute, which contains 5 items this week from the world of venture capital, acquisitions, and IPOs.Today's episode is sponsored by Mirakl.https://www.watsonweekly.com/https://www.youtube.com/@WatsonWeeklyhttps://www.rmwcommerce.com/ecommerce-podcast-watsonweekly

​​Join our champion program: mark@themomentumcompany.comAttend a Thriving Leader event: https://thriving-leader-2026.lovable.app/Instagram: @the.momentum.companyLinkedIn: /momentum-companyIn this episode of The Intentional Agribusiness Leader, Mark sits down with Ed Howie, a highly sought-after retention and branding expert whose work has helped generate more than $350 million in incremental revenue for some of the most recognizable brands in the world.This is not a typical agribusiness conversation — and that's exactly why it matters right now.Ed brings decades of experience working with brands like Chick-fil-A, United Airlines, 7-Eleven, Kroger, and H-E-B, but the heart of this discussion isn't about big brands. It's about helping leaders understand how clarity, alignment, and intentional repetition create sales velocity, peace of mind, and long-term profitability.Ed defines intentionality as doing all you can with what you have today — not what you wish you had, not what you used to have. That mindset shift alone reframes leadership from chasing the next thing to optimizing what already exists.A major theme throughout the episode is incremental revenue. Instead of constantly pursuing new customers, Ed challenges leaders to look in their “kitchen cupboard.” What products, services, or solutions already exist that current customers aren't buying simply because they don't know about them, forgot about them, or were never intentionally guided toward them?The conversation dives deep into why leaders and teams get distracted by novelty. Internal teams get bored with messaging long before customers do, leading organizations to constantly change their story instead of reinforcing it. Great brands don't win by being clever — they win by being consistent.Ed also introduces one of the most practical leadership frameworks in the episode: the words you use and the behaviors you choose. Culture isn't a mission statement or a billboard. Culture is what your people say and do when it matters most. If leaders aren't clear about the exact words to use — and just as importantly, the words not to use — confusion sets in, customers hesitate, and momentum slows.Using powerful examples from Chick-fil-A, Ed explains how scripting language isn't about removing authenticity. It's about creating alignment, confidence, and a consistent experience that customers can trust. Confused customers don't buy. Clear customers do.Mark connects this directly to leadership inside organizations — from onboarding experiences to sales conversations to client retention. When teams lack clarity, they hesitate. When leaders provide clarity, alignment follows. And when clarity and alignment come together, velocity is the natural outcome.The episode closes with a powerful reminder that leadership isn't just about ROI — return on investment. It's about return on impact. When leaders reduce confusion, remove distraction, and focus on what truly matters, the byproduct isn't just growth. It's peace of mind. And peace of mind creates joy.This conversation is a masterclass in intentional leadership, retention, and sustainable growth — especially in seasons where margins are tight and distractions are high.Listen if you are:A leader trying to generate growth without burning out your teamStruggling with customer retention or stalled momentumConstantly changing your message but not seeing resultsLooking to drive incremental revenue without chasing strangersSomeone who believes leadership should produce both results and joy

The Hidden Dose, a special episode of Flavors and KnowledgePicture this: It's a chilly February afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island, and you're wheeling your cart down the bright aisles of your local grocery store. The meat section stretches out ahead—rows of chicken breasts, ground beef, pork chops, all wrapped neatly and labeled with promises of freshness.But as your hand hovers over that familiar package, a question nags at you: What's really in this? Beyond the visible cuts, there's an invisible legacy: antibiotics fed to these animals throughout their lives. You're not alone in wondering. Millions of us are asking the same thing: How does routine antibiotic use in livestock impact our health, the environment, and the terrifying rise of superbugs?Let's pull back the curtain on what's happening in farms, stores, and restaurants across the U.S.—and give you the facts to shop and eat smarter.It all begins on the farm. Most of America's meat, poultry, and dairy comes from large-scale industrial operations.For decades, antibiotics—many of the very same ones doctors prescribe to us—have been routine here. Not just to treat sick animals, but mixed into feed or water to prevent disease in those crowded conditions, and even to make animals grow faster. The downside? It supercharges antibiotic resistance. Bacteria evolve, survive drug treatment, and suddenly infections in people become much harder—or even impossible—to treat.The CDC estimates that at least 2.8 million Americans deal with antibiotic-resistant infections each year, leading to over 35,000 deaths. A huge chunk of that resistance links back to overuse in agriculture, which still accounts for roughly 70% of medically important antibiotics sold in the U.S.Things are shifting, but not always in the right direction. Recent numbers are concerning: In 2024, sales of these important antibiotics for livestock jumped 16%—the biggest yearly spike since tracking began in 2011. Total sales hit nearly 7.1 million kilograms. Swine accounted for 43%, cattle for 41%, turkeys for 11%, and chickens for only 4%. That's progress in poultry, but the overall rise points to disease outbreaks, bigger herds, and continued preventive use.Globally, experts project livestock antibiotic use could climb another 30% by 2040 if nothing changes. And this isn't just a farm problem—it's a human health crisis.Regulations have stepped in. Since 2017, the FDA has banned antibiotics used solely for growth promotion and requires vet oversight for medically important antibiotics. USDA testing ensures no antibiotic residues remain in the meat or milk you buy. But that doesn't stop routine use earlier in the animal's life, where resistance builds.Some states like California go further, limiting preventive use and making grocery chains report on suppliers. Nationally, though, usage intensity is still nearly double Europe's.Now, let's bring it home to the grocery store. Chains like Walmart, Costco, and Kroger carry both conventional and antibiotic-free options. Hunt for labels like "Raised Without Antibiotics" or "No Antibiotics Ever"—these mean no antibiotics were used (with rare exceptions, such as day-old chicks in some poultry cases). Some states, like California, go further, limiting preventive use and making grocery chains report on suppliers.USDA Organic takes it higher: It prohibits almost all antibiotics, requires third-party audits, ensures better welfare, and prohibits synthetic pesticides. Brands like Applegate, Coleman Natural, and Perdue make these easy to find. Demand is growing—antibiotic-free meat sales surged years ago, and organic sales continue to trend up. New 2026 certifications add trustworthy third-party audits to fight greenwashing.But watch out: Phrases like "No Growth-Promoting Antibiotics" can still allow preventive doses, so they don't fully tackle resistance.Read the Full Content Subscribe to the FK Newsletter Free SimVal Media, USA

Once Upon a Farm is officially public — and it could mark a turning point for better-for-you brands. In this episode, the hosts break down the baby food company's $198 million IPO, what its $724 million valuation signals for the CPG landscape, and why going public may be emerging as a viable alternative to traditional acquisition. Is this the start of a new era for mission-driven food brands looking to scale on their own terms? Plus, they dig into the growing battle over how "healthy" gets defined at retail. Kroger adopted FoodHealth's nutrient scoring system, which aims to guide shoppers with a balanced approach to nutrient density and ingredient quality. Meanwhile, the Non-GMO Project's stricter Non-UPF Verified certification draws a hard line against processed oils, gums, and natural flavors. Are these systems complementary, competitive, or just confusing? Show notes: 0:23: Fiber Bowl. AMA In MIA. OFRM's IPO. UPF, Maybe Or No? A Burst Of Mayo, Protein & Powder. –  The hosts kick things off with lighthearted Super Bowl banter and a recap of their game-day food spreads before previewing the upcoming Taste Radio Miami Meetup at Casa La Rubia on Feb. 18. The team highlights event features including live podcast interviews, networking, brand sampling, and a new "Ask Me Anything" table hosted by Atomos Strategic Marketing, encouraging founders and industry professionals to attend. The conversation then shifts to industry news, notably Once Upon a Farm's IPO, which raised $198 million and valued the baby and kids food brand at over $724 million. The hosts discuss the rarity of successful CPG IPOs, the tradeoffs between going public and selling to a strategic buyer, and what the move could signal for other better-for-you brands. From there, they explore evolving nutrition standards, comparing FoodHealth's nutrient scoring system with the stricter Non-UPF Verified certification from the Non-GMO Project, touching on hot-button topics like processed oils, natural flavors, and consumer education. The episode also features commentary on innovative products such as Graza's olive oil mayonnaise strategy, protein soda from Joyburst, protein-enhanced fruit spreads from BamJam, and the straightforward drink mix brand Fave. Brands in this episode: Royo Bread, Once Upon a Farm, Annie's, Vita Coco, Bai, Graza, Koia, Joyburst, BamJam, Drippy, Dappie, Fave, BTR Nation, Cadence, Spindrift, Duke's

This OmniTalk Retail Fast Five segment, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, explores Kroger's appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Foran as CEO. Chris Walton and Anne Mezzenga, alongside Shoptalk's Joe Laszlo, unpack what this leadership change signals for Kroger's competitive positioning, ecommerce ambitions, and long-term strategy against Walmart. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/mvfY4BAy_2c #Kroger #GregForan #GroceryIndustry #RetailLeadership #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk

Greg Foran is back where I suspect he belongs, and likes. The former Air New Zealand boss, if you have missed it, is off to Kroger, which is America's second biggest grocer behind Walmart. I have never met a New Zealander who has worked in America that belongs in America more. It was evident from the first time I met him that he was American. You can spot them in their shirts and ties. They are conservative and yet impeccably pressed. He looked like he had starched himself getting out of bed each morning. The last time he was in here, his farewell interview, we talked off air about where now. He didn't say specifically, but I knew it was America. The bit he never explained, probably because he either couldn't for commercial reasons, or couldn't because he hadn't quite worked it out for himself, was what the hell he was ever doing back in New Zealand. I asked him any number of times in a sort of non-direct way, what on earth was it about a small airline at the bottom of the world that would drag you out of Walmart to come and run it? Possibly given he wasn't running Walmart, it was a job in which he was running something so his CV would show a Kroger in years to come that he was ready to be boss. At Walmart he lived in Arkansas and flew in private jets. In New Zealand he kept having to explain why the Wellington to Taupo plane never took off. The Covid thing must have been the nightmare from hell and it wasn't his fault. But even without it and the myriad of problems he faced, including the inexplicable cluster around engines that no airline anywhere seems to have encountered the way Air New Zealand has, you always got the impression he was either here for a short time, or it had all been a patriotic mistake driven by a laudable desire to return to home base and make some sort of contribution. But I can tell you this, of all the Air New Zealand CEO's I have known - business legend Ralph Norris, marketing genius Rob Fyfe, Prime Minister Chris Luxon and Greg Foran - no one looked less at home and more bewildered than Greg. Some people loved him because he was often at the airport checking their backs in, so work ethic was never the issue. The issue was Air New Zealand wasn't American. I bet you he has never been happier, or more relieved. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nesta edição, analisamos as novas regras do PAT (Programa de Alimentação do Trabalhador) que já estão valendo: teto de 3,6% para taxas de administração e reembolso em 15 dias, injetando capital de giro vital para o setor. Discutimos também o papel dos apps de supermercado, usados por 75% dos consumidores para planejamento, e como a tecnologia não substitui o "olho no olho".Exploramos a tendência da loja física como palco de experiências, com chefs assinando cardápios e clubes infantis, e o sucesso dos mercados autônomos que crescem garantindo o "básico bem feito".Entre os destaques:

This week, in honor of Black History Month, the ladies review Percival Everett's powerful and provocative novel The Trees. They begin with the book's gripping premise: when detectives from the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation arrive in Money, Mississippi to investigate a series of brutal murders, they discover something unsettling at each crime scene, a second body resembling Emmett Till. Met with resistance from local law enforcement and racist townsfolk, the detectives begin to suspect these killings are acts of retribution. As eerily similar murders begin unfolding across the country, it becomes clear that the past refuses to stay buried and that something larger is underway.In this bold and biting page turner, Everett confronts the legacy of lynching, white supremacy, and racial violence in America with sharp satire and unflinching honesty. The hosts unpack the novel's layered storytelling, dark humor, historical weight, and cultural commentary, discussing how it challenges readers while refusing comfort. It is a thought provoking conversation about memory, justice, and what it means when history demands to be reckoned with. Cheeers!SPOILERS & Trigger Warning: This book discusses the use of racial slurs, racial violence, racial hatred, lynchings, and other forms of racist behavior. Depictions of violence in this novel are graphic. *Please be advised this episode is intended for adult audiences and contains adult language and content. We are expressing opinions on the show for entertainment purposes only. Dedication: To our patrons as always!! We love you!Moni: To Carter G Woodson the father of Black History Month, to all the victims of racial violence in America and around the world past and present, to my mother in law, get well soon & I love you!Kat: To the man who found and returned my wallet in Kroger, thank you. To the series Wonder Man.About the book:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewThe Trees was published by Graywolf Press in 2021. The Trees was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2022. Pages: Approximately 288–320/8 hours Author:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31723. Percival Everett is the author of 22 novels. He has been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and is a Guggenheim Fellow (2015).NPR Book Review:https://www.npr.org/2021/09/22/1039434714/percival-everett-the-trees-reviewMoni learned a new word: Nescience: lack of knowledge or ignorance (nesh-ence)Other topics on the show:Monkey Obama Meme/Trump https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-shares-racist-video-depicting-obamas-monkeys-rcna257756Surrage mix up: https://people.com/couple-sues-fertility-clinic-after-welcoming-baby-girl-not-biologically-related-to-them-11895783Epstein Files: No blacks allowed  https://www.ms.now/news/epstein-emailed-with-silicon-valley-elites-about-racist-eugenicist-ideas**Stranger than Fiction:

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Grocery Dealz and Mirakl.In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Uber launches Cart Assistant, an AI-powered personal shopper feature on Uber Eats that builds complete grocery baskets from text or image prompts, available now with Albertsons, Kroger, Wegmans, and dozens of other grocers.Amazon Pharmacy expands same-day prescription delivery to 4,500 cities and towns by end of 2026, adding nearly 2,000 new communities.Kraft Heinz halts its planned business split under new CEO Steve Cahillane, who says the company's challenges are "fixable" and announces a $600 million investment in marketing, R&D, and product improvement.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.Be careful out there!

Another day about data center madness. Crime plunges in major cities. Latvia says no to more migrants. Howard "Not So Lucky" Lutnick. Golden Birthdays and Kroger Whipped Icing.Today’s Popcorn Moment: Video released from Guthrie kidnapping.Today on the Marketplace: The Perfect Couch for your Man Cave. Westfield High School Walkout. Kroger responds regarding Whipped Icing Tara starts firestorm with her Kroger Whippie revelation.What's happening in El Paso? How Trump needs to sell the current economy. TV Theme Song: Facts of Life. Trans mass shooting in Canada. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golden Birthdays and Kroger Whipped Icing.Today’s Popcorn Moment: Video released from Guthrie kidnapping.Today on the Marketplace: The Perfect Couch for your Man Cave. Westfield High School Walkout. Kroger responds regarding Whipped IcingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, Quorso, and Veloq, Shoptalk's Joe Laszlo joined Chris and Anne to discuss: Kroger's appointment of former Walmart executive Greg Foran as new CEO (Source) Target cutting 500 jobs while investing in frontline store staffing (Source) Anthropic's Super Bowl ad campaign pledging Claude AI will remain ad-free (Source) Albertsons expanding cart tracking technology to measure retail media effectiveness (Source) Spotify partnering with Bookshop.org to sell physical books (Source) And Shop Talk's Joe Laszlo joined Chris and Anne to preview Shop Talk Spring 2026 - the 10th anniversary of the event - themed "Retail in the Age of AI" There's all that, plus solarium cappuccinos, the hyoid bone, first edition Dune books, and whether McNugget caviar is worth hitting reload for. Music by hooksounds.com #RetailNews #KrogerCEO #TargetStores #AnthropicAI #RetailMedia #SpotifyBooks #RetailPodcast #OmniTalk #ShopTalk #RetailTech

ICE agents in the crosshairs, a 'fake martyr' with an automatic weapon, and a nurse fired for a shocking plot to poison federal officers. Today on Saving America, we're pulling back the curtain on the chaos in Minneapolis and the 'ICE Derangement Syndrome' sweeping the nation. From the death penalty being stripped from the Brian Thompson case to the truth behind the Kroger and Saks closures—we're covering the stories the mainstream media won't touch. Stick around, because the fight for the soul of this country just got a lot more dangerous.Thanks for joining me for this episode! I'm a Houston- based attorney, run an HR Consulting company called Claremont Management Group, and am a tenured professor at the University of St. Thomas. I've also written several non-fiction political commentary books: Bad Deal for America (2022) explores the Vegas-style corruption running rampant in Washington DC, while The Decline of America: 100 Years of Leadership Failures (2018) analyzes – and grades – the leadership qualities of the past 100 years of U.S. presidents. You can find my books on Amazon, and me on social media (Twitter @DSchein1, LinkedIn @DavidSchein, and Facebook, Instagram, & YouTube @AuthorDavidSchein). I'd love to hear from you!As always, the opinions expressed in this podcast are mine and my guests' and not the opinions of my university, my company, or the businesses with which I am connected.

Chef Ethan, from Kroger, stopped by to celebrate Crockpot Tuesday with us and brought a delicious meal! Ethan served us French Onion Pot Roast with Gruyere Mashed Potatoes!Ingredients:2-3 pounds Beef Chuck Roast4 teaspoons kosher salt½ teaspoon ground black pepper1 tablespoon olive oil6 yellow onions, thinly sliced6 garlic cloves, finely chopped6 sprigs fresh Thyme, stemmed and roughly chopped (1-½ teaspoons if using dry herbs)3 cups beef stock2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauceFor gravy: 3 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons cold waterInstructions:1. Season the roast with half of the salt and pepper2. Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, add olive oil and chuck roast. Brown the roast for 4-5 minutes on both sides and add to a 6-quart crock pot.3. Add remaining ingredients through Worcestershire sauce to the crock pot.4. Select the LOW heat setting on the crock pot and cook 8-10 hours or until beef is tender5. Remove beef from pot and shred with a fork.6. Turn crock pot to high heat and mix in the corn starch slurry to thicken the sauce7. Return beef to pot and season with remaining salt and pepper.Gruyere Mashed potatoes:1 – 24oz container Kroger Homestyle Mashed potatoes (microwaveable)4 oz Murrays shredded Gruyere Cheese2 tablespoons salted butterFollow heating instructions on packaging and combine remaining ingredientsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelsey's Crockpot Creation was definitely a crowd pleaser here at the station! For being today's Crockstar, Kelsey gets a $100 Kroger gift card to keep that crock stocked!Kroger Frozen Meatballs.Brown gravy packet or au jus packet.12 stick butter.1/2 cup water or beef broth.As many Pepperchins as you want plus some juice.Put all ingredients in crockpot and cook on low 4 hours or high 2 hoursServe as an appetizer or over rice or potatoes as a dinner!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 295 of Irritable Dad Syndrome brings big changes and even bigger dad energy. The guys announce a retooling of Patreon with new tiers and bonus content on the way — then immediately get sidetracked into stories about coat-stealing spouses, snack obsessions, and grocery store friendships.This week includes: • Darren's accidental use of a word you're not supposed to say (Patreon clip) • Remembering comedy icon Catherine O'Hara and rewatching Schitt's Creek • Why kids fight wearing winter coats • A 26-year-old winter jacket saga • A rare Soundgarden vinyl discovery • A quest to convince Kroger to stock banana pudding cream pies • Movie arguments over Tarantino and cult classics • Dentist phone calls that go wildly off topicEveryday dad life, pop culture nostalgia, and stories that spiral into hilarious chaos — exactly what you expect from the basement.#DadLife #ComedyPodcast #ParentingHumor #GenXHumor #GroceryStoreStories #MovieNostalgia #Kroger #Soundgarden #PodcastLifeSupport the showThank you so much for listening to this episode! If you like what we do, please check out our other content! Follow our socials for announcements when we go LIVE and to become part of the show!All episode, videos, and more can be found on our website at: https://www.irritabledadsyndrome.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IrritableDadSyndromeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@irritabledadsyndromeTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@irritabledadsyndromeInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/irritabledadsyndrome/Threads: https://www.threads.net/@irritabledadsyndromeTwitter / X: https://x.com/DadIrritableTons of bonus and premium content (including archived, uncensored videos of episode recordings, unique merch, and more!) is all on our Patreon page! Join our Patrons today and support our show!Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/irritabledadsyndrome

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Grocery Dealz and Mirakl.In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Kroger appoints former Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran as its new chief executive.Albertsons deploys beacon technology on shopping carts to measure customer dwell time at in-store retail media displays.Instacart launches its first nationwide floral partnership with 1-800-Flowers.com, just in time for Valentine's Day.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.Be careful out there!

Ohne Aktien-Zugang ist's schwer? Starte jetzt bei unserem Partner Scalable Capital. Mit eigenem KI-Chatbot, der dir alle Fragen rund ums Investieren beantwortet. Alle weiteren Infos gibt's hier: scalable.capital/oaws. Nikkei steigt wegen neuer Premie. Kroger mit CEO. Kündigungen bei Kyndryl. Shortseller-Entschuldigung bei Applovin. Novo Nordisk verklagt Hims & Hers. Eli Lilly kauft Orna Therapeutics & Transocean kauft Valaris. InPost-Übernahme. STMicroelectronics mit Riesen-Auftrag. Monday.com stürzt ab. Die Frasers Group (WKN: A1J0S4) ist Großaktionär bei Hugo Boss (WKN: A1PHFF), ASOS (WKN: 91270) und boohoo (WKN: A1XFBJ). Wir schauen uns das eigene Business an. Trotz Milliarden-Abschreibungen für E-Autos investiert General Motors (WKN: A1C9CM) in eine neue Batterie-Technologie. Wir erklären was dahinter steckt. Diesen Podcast vom 10.02.2026, 3:00 Uhr stellt dir die Podstars GmbH (Noah Leidinger) zur Verfügung.

Plus: the operator of Eddie Bauer stores in North America files for bankruptcy. And Novo Nordisk sues Hims & Hers over copycat versions of its weight loss drugs. Alex Ossola hosts. Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. An artificial-intelligence tool assisted in the making of this episode by creating summaries that were based on Wall Street Journal reporting and reviewed and adapted by an editor. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hong Kong media tycoon and vocal Beijing critic Jimmy Lai has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, President Trump has reversed his position on the Nexstar-Tegna broadcast TV deal, Hims & Hers has pulled its weight loss pill claiming to compete with Wegovy's obesity pill, Block may lay off 10% of its workforce, and Kroger could be planning to hire a former Walmart executive as its next CEO.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Kate Voyten is a seasoned business leader with over 20 years of experience revitalizing small brands and stagnant businesses. She started her career at Procter & Gamble, working first in operations and eventually moving into brand management, where she ran businesses across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Her consumer-centric approach to innovation and commercial strategies, combined with her operational expertise, has helped transform businesses across consumer goods, automotive, and healthcare categories. Some of her favorite challenges include relaunching the iconic $500 million Herbal Essences brand and returning it to profitable growth, spearheading the digital transformation and omnichannel strategy for the Hertz loyalty program, and building the OneTouch diabetes business in retail and e-commerce. Today, Kate is the Chief Commercial Officer at Cadence OTC, where she is leading the effort to bring the next generation of oral contraceptives over the counter—expanding access to safe, affordable birth control for millions of women across the U.S. Kate is passionate about developing people and building partnerships that deliver meaningful business transformations. She earned both her BS and MS from Carnegie Mellon University. In This Conversation We Discuss:[00:00] Intro[01:24] Meeting customers' urgent health needs[08:03] Focusing on signals that show real intent[11:33] Callouts[11:42] Turning urgent needs into long-term loyalty[13:32] Navigating advertising in regulated industries[16:04] Investing upfront to avoid costly rework[19:02] Sponsor: Electric Eye[20:10] Leveraging AI to uncover customer insights[24:22] Providing clarity through educated communicationResources:Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on YoutubeAffordable emergency contraception, convenient access cadenceotc.com/Follow Kate Voyten LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/katherine-voytenSchedule an intro call with one of our experts electriceye.io/connectIf you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

S&P futures are pointing to a slightly higher open today. Asian markets rallied Monday, driven by a risk-on sentiment following Japan's general election outcomes and Friday's tech-driven bounce on the Nasdaq. The Nikkei surged +3.9%, with Takaichi trade sectors leading the charge. Hong Kong, Mainland China, and South Korea also posted strong gains. European markets are also firmer in early trading with industrial and tech sectors leading the gains. Companies Mentioned: Intel, Netflix, Kroger

Kroger has a new CEO, the Kent Companies established two operating divisions with new presidents, and Natural Grocers plans to open its first store in Wisconsin.

Miramos a FedEx, Eli Lilly o Kroger con Ignacio Vacchiano, responsable de distribución en España de Leverage Shares.

The former boss of Air New Zealand is jetting off to America. It's been reported Greg Foran will be named as the new chief executive of retail giant, Kroger. It operates supermarkets and multi-department stores throughout the US, and is regarded as one of the country's big four retailers. Greg Foran says he'll have his hands full but he's looking forward to it. "It's a business, does about $150 billion a year and just over 400,000 associates work there, there's about $3,000 stores, multiple brands - it's going to be complex." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Miracles can happen on Christmas Eve.Based on a post by auguy86, in 2 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at My First Time.Ken Dix flipped through the TV guide at a moderate pace; “500 channels, and nothing but Christmas specials on.”Finding nothing but disappointment at every turn. As it was Christmas Eve, every show was a mushy feel-good romp spouting lines about family and goodwill to others. None of that spoke to Ken in the slightest.“Ken?” a voice came from the kitchen.“What’s up, Mom?”“I’ve got my hands full with making everything for dinner tonight, but I’m going to run short on a couple of ingredients,” Helen Dix said, poking her head into the living room. “Can you run to the store real quick for me please?”“Sure thing,” Ken replied, seeing as he had nothing better to do.“Great, thank you. I made a list on the counter for you. The store should be open for another hour or two. The main things would be the eggs; I don’t have enough to finish my famous chess pie. If they have tea by the gallon, grab one sweet and one unsweet. The rest are great if you find them, but not essential.”“Got it,” Ken said as he took the list from the counter.Heading out to his car, Ken cranked up his Honda Civic and pulled out of the driveway. As he made his way into town, Ken reflected on his current situation. Though he loved his mom, being home for the holidays was always nerve-wracking for him. His hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia was crawling with former high school classmates of his, people he’d just as soon never see again. But up at MIT, he was actually among peers that he could relate to on an intellectual level. Not that he’d made that many friends up there. As a nineteen-year-old freshman, he was still stuck in the same boring math and science classes as everyone else. He couldn’t wait until he could start his health sciences training. Maybe then he could meet some decent people, perhaps of the female variety.Ken soon arrived in the parking lot of the local Kroger. It was soon obvious that the place was packed with last-minute shoppers, all trying to find that one final ingredient they were missing. Locking his car, Ken sauntered into the store, grabbing a shopping basket along the way. He found the shelves of the store well picked over, striking out on the nonessential items on his mom’s list. Making his way to the drinks aisle, he was pleased to see that the store was keeping the gallon jugs of tea well stocked for the holidays, and picked up a pair.Ken soon arrived in the refrigerated section of the store. Almost every shelf was empty, but he did manage to find one last carton of six eggs, just what his mom needed. Depositing the carton in his shopping basket, Ken made his way back to the front of the store, checking out in the express lane. He gripped the shopping bags tightly, being careful that the eggs weren’t harmed from the swinging of the bags. Arriving back in the parking lot, he was pleasantly surprised to see one of his former classmates, Jacqueline Brown. As he approached, she saw him coming.“Ken? Kenneth Dix?”She was extremely pretty, as was befitting one of the most popular girls in school, and kept her chestnut-brown hair cut just below her jawline. Her soft, warm facial features and bubbly personality belied the sharp intellect hiding underneath. She and Ken had been partners a few times in various subjects, and he had helped craft her entrance essay to the University of Washington. This earned her a full ride scholarship. In spite of her popularity, they had worked well together, and Ken even dared to call her a friend, at least in his own mind. They had never hung out on a social basis; her circle of friends would never have let her live that down. Still, times had changed. They were both out of high school, after all. What could it hurt to ask?“Jacqueline? Wow, I never thought I’d see you back here. Thought you escaped to cooler climates?”“Yeah, Seattle is nice, but nothing beats Christmas at home,” she replied, adjusting her UW sweatshirt. “You back for the same reason?”“Uh huh. Mom pretty much insisted. She won’t settle for anything less than a full family gathering on Christmas Eve. I’m just grabbing a few last things for her. But yeah, it’s great seeing you again. You, uh, you look good.”“Um; thanks,” she replied with hesitation.“I’m, uh, gonna be home for a couple of weeks. Would you want to, I don’t know, hang out sometime? Maybe grab a bite to eat? My treat.”“Well, Ken, that’s sweet of you to ask.” she said almost to herself. As she paused, her eyes suddenly lit up as if she had gotten an idea. “Alright! Here, let me give you my number.” She scribbled a series of digits down on a scrap piece of paper, writing her name next to them. “I’ll, um, talk to you later, I guess?”“Sounds great!”Ken couldn’t believe it; he had actually done it! He had asked out the prettiest girl he had ever known! Moreover, she had given him her number! Things were definitely looking up.“Dick!” a voice behind them yelled.Ken turned, immediately recognizing Jason Brown, Jacqueline’s fraternal twin brother, along with his two flunkies, Brian and Barrett Sullivan. Jason had been the star quarterback at his high school, and the Sullivan boys were his best offensive linemen. They often served as his muscle off the football field, as well. Ken was intimately familiar with these three, as they had made it their mission in high school to make his life a living hell. Being stuffed in lockers, having his wallet stolen, all were commonplace with them. The three approached, attempting to appear imposing, which they were from the perspective of the ever-scrawny Ken.“I’ve got nothing to say to you guys,” Ken muttered as they approached.“Well I’ve got something to say to you, Mr. Kenny Dick,” Jason growled.“Just shut up and leave me alone,” Ken replied, his blood boiling at the use of Jason’s longtime nickname for him.“No! You shut the fuck up and listen!” Jason said, grabbing Ken by the collar of his tee-shirt and flinging him against his car. In the process, Ken dropped his shopping bags, the jugs of tea landing directly on the egg carton.“Jason! Stop it!” Jacqueline protested.Undeterred, Jason threatened. “Listen fuck-wad, you stay the hell away from my sister!”“She’s an adult, dickhead! She can have anyone she wants as a friend!” Ken protested.“You don’t belong on the same Planet as her! You’re nothing’! A pathetic sack of guts your dumbass mother decided to give a name to! Know what? Just do us all a favor and drop dead!”Enraged at the insult to his mom, Ken swung a wild haymaker at his assailant, but Jason was more than ready, pinning Ken’s arm back against his car. Jason then delivered a crushing punch to Ken’s gut, dropping him down to his knees. Before leaving, Jason knelt down next to his gasping victim.“Next time, I won’t be so nice. Next time; I might just kill you myself. See ya around. Dick.” Turning to his sister, Jason said, “Come on, time to go home.”Jacqueline looked down at the pitiful form of Ken before muttering, “Sorry, Ken.”The trio of boys sauntered off across the parking lot, laughing and high-fiving at their antics. Jacqueline followed right behind them. Ken picked himself up and inspected his groceries, discovering the crushed eggs in his bag. Swearing and cursing, he grabbed the misshapen carton and went to throw it in a nearby trash can.“No chess pie tonight.”As Ken returned to his car and began his drive home, Jason and his flunkies watched on from his car, still pleased with their efforts.“You shouldn’t have done that,” Jacqueline said in a lecturing tone.Jason turned to face his sister. “I do what I gotta do, Jacqueline. That fuck-wad has no business getting friendly with you. He needs to learn his place.”“Be that as it may, I can take care of myself,” she replied firmly.“Take care of yourself? Wait; you didn’t?”“I did. Jason, someday you’ll learn that there are more subtle and effective ways to ward off undesirables. Trust me, Ken won’t bother me ever again.”Back at Home.Upon arriving back home, Ken couldn’t bring himself to tell his mom about the incident with the eggs. He instead told her that the store had run out altogether. She had spent many sleepless nights in the past worrying about the constant bullying her son was subjected to in school. Ken didn’t want to give her anything else to worry about. By this time, has uncles had started arriving, and the living room was soon filled with the sounds of football games. In Ken’s mind, these were no more thought provoking that the mindless Christmas specials he had found earlier. Ken went up to his room to take a hot shower, as well as get some alone time in the process. As he stripped down, he saw a bruise beginning to form on his stomach from Jason’s punch. He winced in pain as he touched the tender skin.Shit; that’s not going away for a while.Ken took some Tylenol for the pain before stepping into the shower. The hot water helped relax his body, and the steam gradually built up, clearing his mind a bit. He finished after a while and, after making sure his door was shut, flopped facedown onto his bed. After laying there for around an hour or so, his mom finally called him down to rejoin the family for dinner.Taking his seat at the table, Ken glanced around the room at his various family members. His mom had two older brothers, Lee and Stan. Though Lee was tall and still relatively youthful looking at forty-five, Stan was shorter and beginning to bald as he approached fifty. Still, both of them had one notable thing in common as far as Ken was concerned: they were both still jocks at heart. Ken had never known his father; it had always just been him and his mom. He could tell that his uncles tried to be male role models for him, but their efforts were usually ill-conceived attempts to “man him up.” Never once did they understand his introverted tendencies, and always tried to get him to be more of a people person. After a while, Ken stopped paying their advice any attention.It was striking to Ken how similar Lee and Stan’s families were. They had both married beautiful, blonde cheerleaders, and now both had sixteen-year-old daughters, both of whom were among the most popular girls in school. It all sickened Ken; they were just perpetuating the stereotype of pretty and popular being the be-all, end-all in life. As the family ate, Ken remained silent for the most part. The adults were engrossed in discussions about their jobs, and the two daughters were giggling and playing on their phones the entire time. None of this was relevant to Ken.“You know, I saw something interesting today,” Lee said as dessert was being brought out. “I was at Kroger filling up my car, and saw you in the main parking lot, Ken. Looked like you were, uh, having some words with a few guys out there.”Shit! He saw that?Not wanting to worry his mom, Ken replied, “It; it was nothing.”“Nothing, eh? Is that why that punk punched you in the gut?”With a worried look on her face, Helen asked, “Ken, sweetie, what is he talking about?” She walked around the table to Ken’s seat and lifted up his shirt, seeing the bruise on his abdomen. “Was it that Jason boy again?”“Mom, just let it go.”“No! Ken, you know I worry about you!”“You worry about Me? I think you need to worry more about your brother!” Ken shouted, his anger exploding at last. “Right, Uncle Lee? Come on, you see your own nephew being ganged up on in a parking lot, yet you do nothing to help him out?!”“A man’s gotta learn to fight his own battles,” Lee replied in a calm voice.“No. You want to know what a man does? A man sticks up for his Family! No. Matter. What! You stood there and watched your own nephew get beaten up. That says a hell of a lot more about you than it does me. And if that’s family; I don’t want any part of this one.”Without a word, Ken stood and left the dining room. He then grabbed his MIT hoodie and headed for the front door. As he was about to get into his car and drive off, he saw to his frustration that his uncles’ cars were parked in the driveway behind him, blocking him in. Cursing under his breath, he prepared to leave on foot.“Ken! Come back inside, please!” Helen called after him, running down the driveway.“No. I’ve got to go out; clear my head.”“Ken, it’s Christmas Eve. Please, come be with your family.”“Mom, aside from you, not a single person in that house feels like family to me,” Ken replied coldly. “I’ll; I’ll call you after while.”Ken walked off into the cold Georgia night, not knowing for sure where to go or what to do. Nobody else was out, as they were all at home with their families. Remembering the square in historic downtown Alpharetta, he decided to head in that direction. Maybe the quiet walk would do him some good.Arriving in the town square, Ken walked along the sidewalks for a bit, peering into the darkened windows of the various shops and restaurants. Everything looked so different to him with everyone gone for the day; it all seemed so peaceful. As he continued to walk, he soon saw City Hall in the distance. In front of the building was a large green space, which was teeming with a surprising amount of activity for it being Christmas Eve. Ken moved closer, now spying a large gathering of people sitting on picnic blankets, all bundled up in coats and hats. Ahead of them, a large screen projected the classic film, It’s a Wonderful Life.Though Ken was never into the Christmas cheer, as it were, he felt strangely drawn to watch a few minutes of the film from a distance. He soon began to regret that decision, as the movie had reached the point where George Baily had an arrest warrant out for him, lashing out at his family in anger. Watching him get drunk and punched in a bar fight, Ken began to feel sick with anger. Despite all his efforts to help better the world around him, the universe conspired against George Baily; just as it seemed to be conspiring against Ken. Unable to watch a moment more, he turned and walked into the nearby park.Again alone with his thoughts, Ken sat on a bench near the fountain in the center of the park. He contemplated many things, as he often did in solitude. He thought about his piss poor excuse for a family, intent on changing him into what they say he should be. If only they could love him as he is. He thought about Jason Brown, a perpetual asshole that managed to get all the beautiful women his heart desired. If only the universe would serve up his just desserts, rather than conspiring against Ken. Sighing in frustration, he stuffed his freezing hands into his jeans pockets.Jacqueline!Feeling the scrap of paper still in his pocket, Ken suddenly felt a glimmer of hope in an otherwise dreary day. He needed something, anything to lift his spirits, and hearing her kind, sweet voice might just do it. Hell, he didn’t even care anymore if she was interested in him in a romantic sense; he just needed someone to listen and understand him. Digging out his phone, he dialed the number. After a single ring, a message began to play, seeming to be read by a game show host.“Congratulations! You’ve reached Live 95.5 FM’s world-famous Loser Line! Live 95.5; featuring the best entertainment in Seattle! If you’ve reached this message, you have attempted to hit on a girl Way out of your league! That poor young lady wants nothing to do with you, but you just couldn’t help creeping on her! That’s where we come in! Now you know what a loser you really are! So leave the girl alone, loser! You’re doing everyone a favor! If you’d like to leave a message for the world-famous Loser Line, begin speaking at the tone!”Beep!Ken hung up the phone in quiet disbelief. How could he have been so wrong about Jacqueline? They had worked so well together in school, and he even considered her a friend! She always spoke so kindly to him, how could this have happened? Was she really as nasty and shallow as her dumbass brother? Was she really just that good of an actress? As he pondered all this, Ken’s rage finally exploded out of him.“That two-faced bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?! I trusted her! Hell, she would never have gotten a full scholarship without my help! All I ever did was Like her! And after all that, she doesn’t even have the decency to turn me down to my face?! What The Fucking Hell? At least her brother was honest about his disdain. She’s far worse! I can’t imagine how evil she’d be if a person actually offended her?”Slumping back down onto the park bench, every thought that entered Ken’s mind brought him lower. Jason was an ass, but then again, he didn’t know how to act any different. Uncle Lee was a moron, but then again, he had no malicious intent. But Jacqueline; she was the last straw. He had trusted her, opened up to her, and she repaid him by committing the single most cruel and senseless act Ken could ever imagine. Everything was crashing down around him. As he continued to sulk, Jason’s words entered into his mind once more.“I should just do everyone a favor and drop dead; is that what you want, Jacqueline? Seems like you agree with your brother, or you wouldn’t have given me that number.”Ken reached into his pocket, withdrawing a folding knife. It had been a high school graduation present to him from his grandfather, before he passed a few months later. A far cry from the typical Swiss Army knife, he unfolded the shiny, four-inch blade, which stood in beautiful contrast to the wooden handle. Inscribed in the wood were Ken’s initials. He had not used it for anything yet, never had any need to. As he stared at his reflection in the blade, Ken kept replaying Jason’s cruel words in his mind, to do the world a favor and drop dead.“Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.” Ken mumbled.Just as he took a firm grip on the handle, preparing to take the knife to his throat, an unfamiliar voice came from off to the side.“Hey!”Gabrielle’s Christmas night.Gabrielle Libertine relaxed in a lawn chair, savoring the crisp, cold air of Christmas Eve. This was her favorite time of the year, and being able to enjoy an outdoor showing of her favorite Christmas film, It’s a Wonderful Life, made it even better. It all fit in perfectly with her life philosophy: live for happiness. Not only her own, but as much as could be had for the world around her too.“You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and

Kroger continues to wait on naming its next CEO. Shell plc reports a dip in profits in the fourth quarter. And Amazon is still touting grocery after closing close to 200 brick and mortar locations.

Season 4, Episode 7: Father Fred Caldwell is spreading the love of God across Melissa, Texas. And he's doing it in a very unique way. If you visit Kroger ... or WalMart ... or HEB in this community, there is a great chance you'll run into this 91-year-old Catholic priest. He'll be wearing one of his unique spiritual t-shirts, and he'll simply be visiting with people. He has no agenda, but when they find out he's a priest, the conversation usually turns spiritual. But this is only part of Father Fred's ministry. He has also launched a podcast and a video series, which teaches people how to read the Bible.  #frontporchLinks:Soul Survivors Podcast: Listen Now Father Fred's Video Series: YouTubeCity of Melissa: WebsiteMusic: https://www.purple-planet.com

Welcome episode 76! If you're ever roaming around Gucci Dillons, you've probably seen the cake display case. Did you know the magician, or pastry chef behind the display case is an award winner? Tonight, we head to the Central and Rock Dillons to meet Ginny Faber. Last year, she beat out 2,500+ other Dillons and Kroger locations and was the fan favorite pastry chef with many of her cool creations.  Grab a chair, learn about Ginny's journey and catch Troy Trussell with Live Local, DJ Carbon and Wichita By E.B. have a friendly cupcake decorating contest. Annette Lawless and The Kansas Gastronomist are off this week but should be back in two weeks!  ❤️ Thanks to Trussell Media and The Podcast Room for producing every episode of the Dinner Table.

Leslie is joined by Josh Graves, who serves as both an International Brotherhood of Teamsters Warehouse Division Representative and Vice-President of Teamsters Local 104. As a second-generation Teamster from Atlas Warehouse, a third-party logistics company that services Kroger, Josh has been a Teamster for over 22 years and is currently based in Arizona. He has played a key role in securing some of the union's strongest contracts at Sysco, most notably the recent agreement at Local 690 in Washington, which provided Teamsters members with a wage increase of over 30 percent. In a wide-ranging conversation, Leslie and Josh dug into what has quietly become one of the most consequential labor stories in the country: the growing power of the Teamsters at Sysco, one of the nation's most profitable food service giants. The discussion began with a recent win in Spokane, where drivers represented by Teamsters Local 690 ratified a four-year contract delivering major gains, including significant wage increases, lower health care costs, stronger pensions, and more vacation time. Graves emphasized that those gains were driven by workers' willingness to authorize a strike, a show of unity that forced Sysco back to the table. That local victory, he explained, is part of a much larger strategy. Marshall and Graves pointed to the first-ever regional Sysco contract covering more than 1,000 Teamsters across Northern California and Nevada, where coordinated bargaining and a credible strike threat produced similarly strong results. The agreement not only boosted pay and benefits but also included important protections around safety and automation, setting standards that extend beyond a single facility or city. Graves noted that these wins are happening even in right-to-work states like Arizona, underscoring how union density and member engagement have reshaped negotiations nationwide. Over the past five years, Teamsters representation at Sysco has grown dramatically, strengthening the union's leverage and changing the tone of labor relations with the company. Looking ahead, the conversation turned to upcoming contract expirations in Montana and Chicago. Graves made clear that, after a string of major victories, Sysco Teamsters are prepared to take action to secure contracts that match the gains workers have already fought for elsewhere. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters.

Leslie is joined by Josh Graves, who serves as both an International Brotherhood of Teamsters Warehouse Division Representative and Vice-President of Teamsters Local 104. As a second-generation Teamster from Atlas Warehouse, a third-party logistics company that services Kroger, Josh has been a Teamster for over 22 years and is currently based in Arizona. He has played a key role in securing some of the union's strongest contracts at Sysco, most notably the recent agreement at Local 690 in Washington, which provided Teamsters members with a wage increase of over 30 percent. In a wide-ranging conversation, Leslie and Josh dug into what has quietly become one of the most consequential labor stories in the country: the growing power of the Teamsters at Sysco, one of the nation's most profitable food service giants. The discussion began with a recent win in Spokane, where drivers represented by Teamsters Local 690 ratified a four-year contract delivering major gains, including significant wage increases, lower health care costs, stronger pensions, and more vacation time. Graves emphasized that those gains were driven by workers' willingness to authorize a strike, a show of unity that forced Sysco back to the table. That local victory, he explained, is part of a much larger strategy. Marshall and Graves pointed to the first-ever regional Sysco contract covering more than 1,000 Teamsters across Northern California and Nevada, where coordinated bargaining and a credible strike threat produced similarly strong results. The agreement not only boosted pay and benefits but also included important protections around safety and automation, setting standards that extend beyond a single facility or city. Graves noted that these wins are happening even in right-to-work states like Arizona, underscoring how union density and member engagement have reshaped negotiations nationwide. Over the past five years, Teamsters representation at Sysco has grown dramatically, strengthening the union's leverage and changing the tone of labor relations with the company. Looking ahead, the conversation turned to upcoming contract expirations in Montana and Chicago. Graves made clear that, after a string of major victories, Sysco Teamsters are prepared to take action to secure contracts that match the gains workers have already fought for elsewhere. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow them on X and Instagram, where their handle is @Teamsters, and “like” them on Facebook at Facebook.com/Teamsters.

On this week's episode, Attorney and Master Chef Ed Ciarimboli takes over hosting duties on Tip the Scales with guests Sach Oliver and Phillip Miller. They discuss and deep dive into their strategies for their $140M verdict against Kroger. In this wrongful death case, a Kroger tractor trailer driver fatally struck a fireman who was assisting at the scene of a wreck. Get in touch with Ed at https://www.fellermanlaw.com Get in touch with Sach at https://www.oliverlawfirm.com Get in touch with Phillip at https://philliphmiller.com/ Host Ed Ciarimboli (@edciarimboli on Instagram) is an attorney and founding partner at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC. Attorney Ciarimboli concentrates his practice on trucking and auto collision and medical malpractice litigation. He has been selected for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list every year since 2008 Guest Sach Oliver (@oliverlawfirm on Instagram) has been recognized by the national organization American Association for Justice, as an excellent trial lawyer. He is one of only two board certified members of the ATAA in Arkansas. Sach's position or role is the advocate in court conducting the opening and closing statements, jury selection, direct and cross exams of witnesses. Guest Phillip Miller (Miller Law Offices on Facebook) is a nationally recognized attorney who specializes in representing people and families who have experienced serious, catastrophic injuries and death. He is certified as both a civil trial specialist and a pre-trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. ____ LawRank grows your law firm with SEO Our clients saw a 384% increase in first-time calls and a 603% growth in traffic in 12 months. Get your free competitor report at https://lawrank.com/report. Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app Rate us 5 stars iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tip-the-scales/id1633765129 Spotify https://spotify.link/BSfz0Qf5mDb Follow us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tipthescales.podcast/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tipthescalespod

Welcome to Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, sponsored by Grocery Dealz and Mirakl.In today's Retail Daily Minute, Omni Talk's Chris Walton discusses:Walmart crosses the $1 trillion market cap threshold.Kroger doubles down on large-format Marketplace stores, investing heavily in 99,000+ square foot locations across Indiana, Texas, and West Virginia.Peloton lays off 11% of its workforce as part of a $100 million cost-cutting.The Retail Daily Minute has been rocketing up the Feedspot charts, so stay informed with Omni Talk's Retail Daily Minute, your source for the latest and most important retail insights.Be careful out there!

On this week's episode, Attorney and Master Chef Ed Ciarimboli takes over hosting duties on Tip the Scales with guests Sach Oliver and Phillip Miller. They discuss and deep dive into their strategies for their $140M verdict against Kroger. In this wrongful death case, a Kroger tractor trailer driver fatally struck a fireman who was assisting at the scene of a wreck. Get in touch with Ed at https://www.fellermanlaw.com Get in touch with Sach at https://www.oliverlawfirm.com Get in touch with Phillip at https://philliphmiller.com/ Host Ed Ciarimboli (@edciarimboli on Instagram) is an attorney and founding partner at Fellerman & Ciarimboli Law PC. Attorney Ciarimboli concentrates his practice on trucking and auto collision and medical malpractice litigation. He has been selected for inclusion in the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® list every year since 2008 Guest Sach Oliver (@oliverlawfirm on Instagram) has been recognized by the national organization American Association for Justice, as an excellent trial lawyer. He is one of only two board certified members of the ATAA in Arkansas. Sach's position or role is the advocate in court conducting the opening and closing statements, jury selection, direct and cross exams of witnesses. Guest Phillip Miller (Miller Law Offices on Facebook) is a nationally recognized attorney who specializes in representing people and families who have experienced serious, catastrophic injuries and death. He is certified as both a civil trial specialist and a pre-trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. ____ LawRank grows your law firm with SEO Our clients saw a 384% increase in first-time calls and a 603% growth in traffic in 12 months. Get your free competitor report at https://lawrank.com/report. Subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app Rate us 5 stars iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tip-the-scales/id1633765129 Spotify https://spotify.link/BSfz0Qf5mDb Follow us Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tipthescales.podcast/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@tipthescalespod

Big Brother is in the cereal aisle. Kroger and Walmart are rolling out AI cameras that track your age, gender, and every move to target ads. Here is how to shop without being watched. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've been enjoying The Independent Advisors podcast for a while now and want to take the next step in your financial journey, I'd encourage you to head to our website, jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) . Matt offers a 15-minute initial call where you can discuss your financial goals and see if JWM is a good fit for your needs.Scheduling is easy—once you land at jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) just click “Schedule Initial Call” and select a time that works best for you!There's a quick survey to fill out that will help guide the conversation and ensure your time is used efficiently.If you're ready to learn more, visit jessupwealthmanagement.com (https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/) and book your call today!Take advantage of our partnership with LifeLock and get discounts using our link: https://lifelock.norton.com/offers?expid=LLONEYEAR&promocode= JSPW24&VENDORID= _JESSUPWM&om_ext_cid=ext_partner_ JSPW24_Productpage $)· Post-pandemic travel spending surge - travelers prioritizing experiences over luxury goods (22:12)· Younger travelers spending more on travel despite financial pressures (17:49)· Rising luxury travel costs, including €2,000/night hotels in Italy (23:42)· Increase in multi-generational travel across life stages· Long-term travel planning (5–10 years) integrated with financial planning (05:28)· Early planning saves money vs. last-minute bookings, especially around holidays (10:52)· Travel advisor value & compensation model (design fees + commissions) (25:21)· Relationship-based personalization improves trip quality and reduces stress (14:53)· Importance of travel insurance for high-cost trips and risk mitigation (18:54)· Managing geopolitical risk & booking flexibility in unstable regions (29:27)· Emerging and alternative destinations to avoid crowds and improve value (27:43) https://www.huffmantravel.com/team/andre-lauren-tony Hosts:Mark McEvily - Chief Investment Officer and Managing Partner Matthew Jessup – Chief Executive Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Managing PartnerAddress: 35 Park Ave. Dayton, OH 45419 Phone: 937-938-9105 https://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/ Social Media:Facebook: @JessupWealthManagement LinkedIn: @JessupWealthManagementTwitter: @jessupwealth Instagram: @jessupwealthhttps://www.jessupwealthmanagement.com/disclosures-page

This week on the Drive Thru, Jim talks about his problems with Kroger, not watching Raw, Roman Reigns getting another title run, Wrestlemania 12's Iron Man match, retro wrestling figures, managers, and much more! Plus Jim plays Guess The Program, and the Jim's Comics Corner looks at comic book prices then vs. now! Also, part two of Jim's look at the Dallas wrestling war! Thanks to our episode sponsors: RIDGE WALLET: Upgrade your wallet today! Get 10% Off @Ridge with code JCE at Ridge.com/JCE #Ridgepod FACTOR: Head to factormeals.com/JCE50OFF and use code JCE50OFF to get 50% off your first Factor box PLUS free breakfast for 1 year. SHOPIFY: Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial and start selling today at shopify.com/jce Send in your question for the Drive-Thru to: CornyDriveThru@gmail.com Follow Jim and Brian on Twitter: @TheJimCornette @GreatBrianLast Merch! https://arcadianvanguard.com/ Join Jim Cornette's College Of Wrestling Knowledge on Patreon to access the archives & more! https://www.patreon.com/Cornette Subscribe to the Official Jim Cornette channel on YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/c/OfficialJimCornette Visit Jim's official site at www.JimCornette.com for merch, live dates, commentaries and more! You can listen to Brian on the 6:05 Superpodcast at 605pod.com or wherever you find your favorite podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.