Podcasts about leblanc

Liberty Dispatch ~ October 10, 2025In this episode of Liberty Dispatch, hosts Andrew DeBartolo and Matthew Hallick dive into the unjust penalty given to Chris Barber and Tamara Lich for an admittedly peaceful protest, Trumps continued domination of the egomaniacal Marx Clowney, and the Fed's SHOCKING power grab over the internet! It's time to wake up, friends!For full access to all our content, including the extended interviews, become a paid subscriber at: ldcanada.substack.com; Opening & Intro (00:00-01:00)Welcome & Introduction (01:00-04:47) Story 1 - Tamara Lich and Chris Barber Receive Sentence (05:23-31:40):“Freedom Convoy organizers sentenced to 18-month house arrest for role in protests” | LifeSiteNews: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/breaking-freedom-convoy-organizers-sentenced-to-18-month-house-arrest-for-role-in-protests;“Lich and Barber both receive conditional sentences, strict restrictions following Freedom Convoy trial” | Western Standard: https://www.westernstandard.news/news/breaking-lich-and-barber-both-receive-conditional-sentences-strict-restrictions-following-freedom-convoy-trial/68061;“No prison for Tamara Lich” | Juno News: https://www.junonews.com/p/breaking-no-prison-for-tamara-lich?r=4x2bli;Segment 2 - Carney is Officially Elbows Down (33:17-57:32):"Trump, Carney hold tense talks amid US-Canada trade rift" | Fox News via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/embed/5RwfRne1N1c;“White House talks successful, positive, substantive — but no relief on steel just yet, says LeBlanc” | CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/livestory/white-house-talks-successful-positive-substantive-but-no-relief-on-steel-just-yet-says-leblanc-9.6929790Segment 3 - Canadian Cyber-Tyranny (59:36-01:13:20):“Bill C-8” | Parliament of Canada (LegisInfo): https://www.parl.ca/legisinfo/en/bill/45-1/c-8;“Bill C-8 First Reading” | Parliament of Canada – DocumentViewer: https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/45-1/bill/C-8/first-reading;“Canadian bill would strip internet access from specified persons” | National Post: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/canadian-bill-would-strip-internet-access-from-specified-persons;“JCCF Canada post” | X: https://x.com/JCCFCanada/status/1976010001560010973; Conclusion: It’s WAY Past Time for Courageous Conservatism (01:13:20-01:29:36)Outro (01:29:36-01:30:05) SHOW SPONSORS:Bitcoin Mentor: https://bitcoinmentor.io/aff/liberty Invest with Rocklinc: info@rocklinc.com or call them at 905-631-546; Diversify Your Money with Bull Bitcoin: https://mission.bullbitcoin.com/dispatch; BarterPay: https://barterpay.ca/; Barter It: https://www.barterit.ca/; Get freedom from Censorious CRMS by signing up for SalesNexus: https://www.salesnexus.com/; SUBSCRIBE TO OUR SHOWS/CHANNELS:LIBERTY DISPATCH PODCAST: https://libertydispatch.podbean.com;https://rumble.com/LDshow; CONTACT US: libertydispatch@pm.me STAY UP-TO-DATE ON ALL THINGS LD:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liberty_dispatch/; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LibertyDispatchCanada; X: @LDCanada - https://x.com/_LDCanada; Rumble: https://rumble.com/LDshow; YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@libertydispatch Please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, RATE, & REVIEW, and SHARE it with others!

When Tony first came to Enfold with his wife, Chantel, he was searching for something that years of therapy and effort couldn't unlock: greater empathy. Despite his love for her, he often felt frozen in moments of her pain — unable to connect, unsure why. That first intensive opened the door. He began to feel her emotions and be with her through them, rather than analyze them, marking a profound shift in how he related to love, vulnerability, and safety.A year later, Tony returned on his own — no longer to save his marriage, but to understand himself. What unfolded was an intimate encounter with his deepest wound: abandonment. Through 5-MeO-DMT and a dedication to the integration work, Tony reconnected with the parts of himself that had never known safety or intimacy. In a moment of clarity, he realized that what he longed to give to others was what his own inner child had always needed — to simply be held.This second journey deepened Tony's relationship with himself — expanding his capacity for compassion, acceptance, and presence across his business, family, and spiritual path.In This EpisodeHow early emotional absence shaped Tony's struggle with empathyThe power of returning to the medicine with a new intentionUncovering abandonment as a lifelong survival patternHow integration practices like breathwork and IFS are the backbone of healingReconciling spiritual growth with an entrepreneurial driveLearning to face mortality with openness rather than fearWhy healing is less about breakthroughs and more about devotion to practice

The episode begins with a deep dive into the latest retail and economic headlines that are shaping the landscape. Steve and Michael dissect the U.S. government shutdown, its ripple effects on employment, and how cost-cutting in Washington could further weaken an already fragile job market. They then examine new tariffs on furniture, cabinets, and agricultural exports, highlighting how the policies are squeezing retailers and farmers alike—particularly soybean producers, who have been hit hard by China's retaliation.The hosts also analyze the latest on TikTok's uncertain U.S. future, as political maneuvering opens the door to a controversial joint venture involving major tech and media figures. In retail performance, Costco's continued dominance and Nike's early turnaround efforts take center stage, as both giants adapt to shifting consumer sentiment and inflationary pressure. The segment concludes with a discussion of AI's growing impact on the workplace, holiday hiring trends, and how discretionary spending and de minimis trade rules could redefine retail economics on both sides of the border.Then, in a wide-ranging interview, David Kahan, President & CEO Birkenstock Americas delivers a masterclass in brand stewardship and retail strategy. He traces Birkenstock's roots from a humble German cobbler to a global fashion phenomenon—revealing how the brand's success rests on “never deviating from its DNA.” Every product begins with the footbed, he says, making comfort, health, and purpose inseparable from style.Kahan credits Birkenstock's ongoing cultural resonance—from the Barbie movie to red carpet collaborations—to disciplined brand management and “engineered distribution.” He explains how each Birkenstock store is a unique community experience, blending tactile engagement with hyper-local curation. The conversation also touches on leadership philosophy, emphasizing humility, trust, and an unwavering focus on brand equity over short-term sales.     About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Welcome back to EUVC Live powered by Woven Capital at The Drop, where we bring you the candid conversations with the investors shaping Europe's venture ecosystem.In this episode, Nicole LeBlanc, Partner at Woven Capital, joins us on stage in Malmö to share why Toyota's $800M global fund is doubling down on Europe. From talent pools and global mindsets to climate tech leadership, Nicole explains why Europe is the testbed for scaling climate, mobility, and automation solutions worldwide.

Saints du jour 2025-10-03 Saint Denys l'Aréopagite, Saints Ewald le noir et le blanc, Saint Cyprien by Radio Maria France

In this insightful episode of The Remarkable Retail podcast recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, Sarah Henry, Vice President, Head of Content, Influencer & Commerce at Walmart, discusses with Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc how one of the world's largest retailers is at the forefront of digital innovation. Sarah shares her journey from classical pianist to marketing executive, charting her unique path into eCommerce and social media leadership.The discussion dives deep into how Walmart is meeting the evolving expectations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Sarah explains how the boundaries between brand discovery, engagement, and purchase are transforming, particularly for younger demographics who now discover products on social platforms more than in physical aisles or via traditional search engines. She shares insights into Walmart's strategic shift, including the rollout of the "Who Knew?" campaign, which highlights surprising products and services available through Walmart, ranging from exclusive Pokémon cards to stylish fashion from brands like Free Assembly.A central focus of the conversation is "Walmart Creator", the brand's in-house platform launched to streamline influencer engagement and power social commerce. Sarah explains how this platform connects tens of thousands of creators directly with Walmart's ecosystem, enabling shoppable content that seamlessly bridges inspiration and transaction.The conversation also touches on the increasing role of artificial intelligence in commerce. Sarah emphasizes the balance between technology and human creativity, asserting that Walmart's approach is "tech-led and people-powered." She discusses how AI is being used to support creators, personalize experiences, and enhance the customer journey, while remaining cautious about authenticity and scale.Sarah offers a look at attribution and measurement, acknowledging progress while recognizing room for improvement. She also shares her excitement for the future of social commerce and the continued growth of the creator economy as a legitimate career path. Throughout the episode, she underscores the importance of adaptability and real-time testing in a retail landscape that is changing by the day. About UsJennifer MarloHead of Content, CommerceNextJennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration. Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, top retail influencer, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.

On this episode of Together We Win, your hosts, President Steve Clark and VP Kerry Miller, sit down with Chef Eric Leblanc, MRA 2025 Chef of the Year and Culinary Director of Burtons Grill & Bar and Red Heat Tavern. From his early days in the kitchen to leading major restaurant operations, Eric's career is a masterclass in what a passion for the culinary world can achieve. He shares some of his favorite experiences along the way and gives us a behind-the-scenes look at exciting upcoming projects, including the opening of Burtons Grill & Bar's 24th location. You won't want to miss it!

Hier le Service de Police de la Ville de Gatineau a dévoilé avoir arrêté le meurtrier présumé de Valérie Leblanc. On en parle avec un journaliste qui a fait un podcast sur ce dossier. Entrevue avec Julien Morissette, co-animateur du podcast Synthèses. Regardez aussi cette discussion en vidéo via https://www.qub.ca/videos ou en vous abonnant à QUB télé : https://www.tvaplus.ca/qub ou sur la chaîne YouTube QUB https://www.youtube.com/@qub_radioPour de l'information concernant l'utilisation de vos données personnelles - https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener/fr

Première période de questions à l’Assemblée nationale. Caucus du PLC. Journée de grève à la STM. Séance d’information technique sur le projet d’expansion du port. Le suspect dans l’affaire Valérie Leblanc va comparaître aujourd’hui. Interdiction des feux à ciel ouvert. Nouveautés musicales. Tour de table entre Isabelle Perron, Alexandre Dubé et Mario Dumont. Regardez aussi cette discussion en vidéo via https://www.qub.ca/videos ou en vous abonnant à QUB télé : https://www.tvaplus.ca/qub ou sur la chaîne YouTube QUB https://www.youtube.com/@qub_radioPour de l'information concernant l'utilisation de vos données personnelles - https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener/fr

Grève à la STM. Valérie Leblanc: son présumé meurtrier doit comparaître aujourd’hui. Féminicide à Saint-Jérôme: un multirécidiviste en matière de violence comparaît. Des élèves visionnent « Les pays d’en haut ». Des nouvelles sur l’état de France Castel. Tour de table entre Isabelle Perron, Alexandre Dubé et Mario Dumont. Regardez aussi cette discussion en vidéo via https://www.qub.ca/videos ou en vous abonnant à QUB télé : https://www.tvaplus.ca/qub ou sur la chaîne YouTube QUB https://www.youtube.com/@qub_radioPour de l'information concernant l'utilisation de vos données personnelles - https://omnystudio.com/policies/listener/fr

À l'occasion de sa revue de presse, mercredi, Paul Arcand aborde les affaires non résolues qui ont connu un dénouement en septembre au Québec. Le Service de police de la Ville de Gatineau a notamment annoncé mardi avoir procédé à l'arrestation d'un suspect en lien avec le meurtre de Valérie Leblanc, survenu il y a 14 ans à Gatineau. La jeune femme de 18 ans avait été retrouvée sans vie dans un boisé derrière le Cégep de l'Outaouais. «Depuis ce temps-là, les proches, la famille, se demandaient qui a fait ça. Un homme a finalement été arrêté, Stéphane Rivard, 51 ans, qui fait face à une accusation de meurtre avec préméditation. [...] Comment on a fait pour le trouver? La police se contente de nous dire que de nouvelles informations et de nouvelles techniques d'enquête ont permis d'arrêter le suspect en question.» Deux autres «cold cases», soit celui de Catherine Daviau, tuée en 2008 à Montréal, et de Louis Valentine, assassiné en 2000, ont également été résolus. Autres sujets abordés: Les évènements violents se multiplient au Québec; En prison depuis 33 ans, Daniel Jolivet a possiblement été victime d'une erreur judiciaire; Les immigrants, les syndicats et les médecins: les cibles dans la mire du premier ministre François Legault; Aux États-Unis, Donald Trump aimerait que les soldats américains s'entraînent dans les rues des grandes villes pour contrer la menace intérieure. Voir https://www.cogecomedia.com/vie-privee pour notre politique de vie privée

This special 5th anniversary episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast marks a milestone: five years of insights, disruption, and conversations with the world's most innovative retail thinkers. We reflect on the pod's origin story during the early COVID lockdowns, tracing its evolution from Steve's book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption into an industry-leading show featuring CEOs, founders, and thought leaders shaping global commerce. They share highlights from an impressive guest roster, including Scott Galloway (whose episode remains the most downloaded in the show's history), Artemis Patrick of Sephora, Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply, Chris Nicholas of Sam's Club, Joe Kudla of Vuori, and Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker. Each clip showcases the powerful themes of customer centricity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of remarkability.The centerpiece of the episode is a deep and engaging conversation with Seth Godin, returning for his sixth visit. Seth—bestselling author of classics including Purple Cow—first inspired the very language of “remarkability” in Steve's book and the podcast itself. Here, Seth reflects on why being remarkable matters more than ever in an era where “average is dead.” He warns leaders that chasing efficiency or “suck less” strategies won't suffice; brands must create conditions where customers want to talk about them. He draws a sharp distinction between simply being “better” through incremental improvements and being truly remarkable in ways that spark conversation, loyalty, and cultural resonance.Seth also delves into the impact of AI as the biggest societal shift since electricity. Rather than reducing costs by outsourcing tasks, he urges retailers to harness AI to enable new projects and creative possibilities. He illustrates this with his latest Kickstarter project—AI-driven card decks designed to spark learning, decision-making, and storytelling. For Seth, experimentation and accessible tools are the gateway to innovation, and he emphasizes that risk-taking in the AI era costs little but delivers exponential learning.Together, Michael, Steve, and Seth explore enduring themes: knowing who it's for and what it's for, the value of continuous improvement, and why shunning non-believers is essential to staying authentic.  About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Michael Zabaneh, Vice President, Sustainability at the Retail Council of Canada, for an in-depth discussion on the future of sustainability in Canadian retail. With over 15 years of experience spanning global recycling ventures, luxury brands, and corporate advocacy, Michael shares a front-row perspective on how environmental priorities are reshaping the retail industry.Michael begins by unpacking the complexities of extended producer responsibility (EPR)—the regulatory framework shifting waste management costs from municipalities to producers and retailers. He explains how retailers are responsible not only for their private labels but also as first importers, making EPR compliance one of the most pressing and costly issues for Canadian retailers today. With more than 110 EPR programs across the country and compliance costs approaching $3 billion, this is a boardroom-level challenge with major implications for consumers and businesses alike.The conversation also dives into how retailers are embedding sustainability into their core strategies. From cutting energy costs with smart temperature controls and LED lighting to integrating renewable energy and recycling programs, sustainability initiatives increasingly deliver both environmental and financial benefits. Michael emphasizes that for mid-sized and independent retailers, sustainability is no longer optional—procurement, supply chain decisions, and operational efficiencies must all reflect responsible practices.Looking ahead, Michael previews the Retail Council of Canada's Retail Sustainability Conference 2025, now expanded to a two-day format on October 29–30 in Toronto. With workshops on zero-emission vehicles and harmonizing EPR regulations across provinces, the event is designed to deliver solutions-oriented dialogue. Attendees will also hear from Sheri Flies, SVP Global Sustainability & Compliance at Costco, and Jim Andrew, EVP & Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo, alongside panels featuring McDonald's, Walmart, Loblaw, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble.Michael highlights how this event has quickly become one of RCC's flagship conferences, convening retailers, supply chain leaders, regulators, and governments to push forward practical solutions amidst economic uncertainty, climate commitments, and global plastic challenges.  The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of Motivate to Move, we welcome Denis LeBlanc, a runner with an extraordinary story. Denis is legally blind, with only about 5% of his vision, yet he is determined to take on his very first full marathon this year at Moncton's Legs for Literacy event. Denis shares the unique challenges of training and racing with limited vision, and how running with guides helps him safely navigate obstacles on the course. His story is one of perseverance, courage, and refusing to let barriers stand in the way of big goals. Join us as Denis talks about his journey, his determination, and the drive that keeps him moving forward toward 42.2 km. And of course, we wrap things up with a round of The Irrelevant Game — always a fun way to get to know our guests just a little bit better!Motivate to Move email:motivatetomove.podcast@gmail.comMotivate to Move Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=motivate%20to%20moveAs always, please give the gift of life and donate blood today.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/motivate-to-move--4528736/support.

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast presented by Caddle, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois bring their trademark mix of food industry news analysis and an in-depth conversation with a leading Canadian food entrepreneur.The episode opens with a wide-ranging look at the Canadian retail and restaurant landscape. Sylvain shares highlights from his keynote in Brampton, Ontario, where the city is building momentum as a potential logistics hub for food and agriculture. Michael and Sylvain discuss strong retail sales numbers, resilience in consumer spending, and a new Restaurants Canada report. The report highlights shifting meal occasions, with Canadians dining out less often but increasingly turning to delivery services like UberEats and DoorDash. They also unpack the surprising rise of solo dining, with nearly 30% growth in single reservations year over year, and how restaurants can adapt to this trend through design and menu innovation. The hosts then tackle Farm Credit Canada's call for greater export diversification, weighing the challenges of competing in heavily subsidized global markets. Finally, they examine the U.S. government's controversial decision to cut data collection on food insecurity, with Sylvain stressing the long-term risks of limiting access to robust research data.The second half of the episode welcomes Kirk Homenick, President of Naturally Homegrown Foods, the Surrey, B.C.–based company behind Hardbite Chips and PopTastic popcorn. Kirk shares the story of his company's growth from humble beginnings in Maple Ridge to its current 42,000-square-foot facility. He explains how Hardbite has stood out in the competitive snack aisle by emphasizing transparency, Canadian-grown ingredients, and lifestyle-driven branding. Kirk highlights the role of avocado oil in fueling 82% annual growth since 2018, how PopTastic quickly became an award-winning hit, and why innovation in seasonal flavours and packaging keeps the brand fresh and relevant.Kirk also offers a candid look at challenges, from volatile ingredient costs to managing manufacturing complexity, and how his team leans on operational excellence and creativity to stay ahead. Looking forward, he outlines plans for geographic expansion into Eastern Canada and the U.S., while teasing the development of entirely new snack brands focused on functionality and evolving consumer demand.With both big-picture analysis and insider insights from one of Canada's most dynamic snack entrepreneurs, this episode delivers food for thought on the future of retail, restaurants, and the growing snack market. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On today's show we welcome a legendary artist, producer and label owner who has had a pivotal role in the development of UK bass music. Adrian Sherwood is the man behind the 'On-U Sound', a label that helped popularise Reggae, Dub and Industrial music in both the UK and world wide. 'On-U Sound' brought us the likes of Dub Syndicate, African Headcharge, Gary Clail and many more as well as giving a platform to some of the greats of reggae including Mad Professor. His production and remix work has put a dubbed out spin on the likes of Sonic Boom, Halsey, Lee 'Scratch' Pery and Horace Andy. As an artist he formed groundbreaking Industrial act 'Tackhead' with Keith LeBlanc and produced Bristol punk legend Mark Stewart during his creative peak. His new album 'The collapse of everything' celebrates his relationship with LeBlanc & Stewart through bass heavy dubbed out excursions into leftfield music. It's our pleasure to welcome Adrian Sherwood to the pod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

durée : 00:05:32 - L'invité de la rédaction de "ici Lorraine" - La pénurie d'eau, c'est l'une de vos craintes principales dans les années à venir avec le dérèglement climatique. Alors comment gère-t-on cette ressource dans notre région ? comment l'économiser ? Pour en parler, nos recevons ce mercredi le directeur général adjoint à l'agence de l'eau Rhin-Meuse. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

This week's episode marks the second edition  of "The Analysts" once again bringing together the sharpest minds in global retail. This time we welcome Sucharita Kodali, Vice President & Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, and Neil Saunders, Managing Director at GlobalData Retail for a lively, insight rich discussion about the future of retail.The episode kicks off with U.S. retail sales results from the NRF/CNBC Retail Monitor and the US Census Bureau, which showed surprisingly strong growth despite inflation, tariffs, and shaky consumer sentiment. Neil and Sucharita explain why inflation-adjusted numbers tell a more modest story, while digging into the growing disconnect between historically low consumer confidence and healthy sales. They highlight how wealth concentration and media filter bubbles distort the economic picture, making retail performance appear stronger or weaker depending on perspective."The Analysts" then turn to the state of mega-brand retail turnarounds. Neil delivers a tough assessment of Kohl's—calling it the “turnaround that never happened”—while offering cautious optimism on Macy's and Gap, which are showing small but real signs of progress. Sucharita points to structural weaknesses in department stores but also notes resilience in Walmart, Costco, and dollar stores. Together, they weigh how tariffs, operational missteps, and consumer shifts complicate recovery.Next up: AI in retail. Sucharita underscores that artificial intelligence isn't new—retailers have relied on it for years in pricing, supply chain, and labor planning. The novelty lies in generative AI and so-called “agentic AI,” which she characterizes as incremental rather than revolutionary thus far. The panel agrees that while these tools can deliver efficiency, they're unlikely to transform the top or bottom line soon—though Amazon's deep AI and automation investments continue to give it a strategic edge.Looking ahead, holiday forecasts are mixed. Deloitte predicts growth under 3.5%, while eMarketer forecasts just 1.2%. Neil and Sucharita expect more resilience driven by consumers' determination to celebrate. The panel also highlights Amazon's bold logistics move to fulfill orders for Walmart and Shein, underscoring its unmatched infrastructure advantage.The discussion closes with Steve, Michael, Neil and Sucharita each offering what's on their radar screen, including Saks Global's financial turbulence, macroeconomic signals like inflation and jobs data, and AI's potential labor impacts.  About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc sits down in person with Sebastian Picardo, President & CEO of Holt Renfrew, to explore the evolution of luxury retail in Canada and the global forces shaping the industry.Sebastian begins by sharing his personal journey from Buenos Aires to London, where he launched his luxury career at Alexander McQueen, followed by senior roles with Net-a-Porter, Burberry, and leading a Hong Kong department store group. In 2020, he joined Holt Renfrew at the height of the pandemic, taking on the challenge of steering Canada's most iconic luxury retailer through one of the most disruptive times in modern retail history.He offers a rich perspective on what makes Holt Renfrew remarkable—its deep Canadian heritage dating back to 1837, its ability to evolve with consumer tastes, and its strong relationships with global brands, employees, and customers. Sebastian discusses how Holt Renfrew balances being both a branded house and a house of brands, creating a unique identity in a highly competitive market.The conversation delves into the diversity of Canadian consumers, from the European-influenced Montreal shopper to Vancouver's strong Asian luxury demand, and how these cultural differences shape merchandising and strategy. Sebastian highlights the challenges of Canada's vast geography, the pressures of competing with U.S. retailers, and the importance of personalization and CRM in strengthening customer relationships.AI also takes center stage as Sebastian explains how technology is reshaping discovery, service, and operations. From empowering associates with smarter tools to anticipating customer needs, he shares how Holt Renfrew is integrating AI into its strategy while staying focused on human connection at the store level.Finally, Sebastian reflects on leadership—what it means to empower teams, why humility and enabling others is central to his philosophy, and why leadership is always more about others than yourself. As he prepares to move back to Europe, Sebastian leaves listeners with inspiring lessons on adaptability, vision, and building a retail brand that can thrive for nearly two centuries. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois deliver their trademark mix of hard-hitting food industry analysis and an insightful conversation with a top Canadian food leader.The episode kicks off with a wide-ranging news segment. Michael and Sylvain debate Canada's “Big Five” fast-tracked federal projects and why agri-food continues to be sidelined in national infrastructure planning. They highlight the missed opportunities for boosting food supply chain efficiency, from beef processing facilities to critical ports like Vancouver, which remain among the world's least efficient. The hosts also unpack new EV tariffs targeting Chinese electric vehicles, dissect how they intersect with trade relations, and explore why Canada's ag sector is often the first target of Chinese retaliation. The discussion moves to TikTok's ongoing influence in food marketing, recalling Ocean Spray's viral cranberry moment and the elusive quest for the next billion-view food trend. Rounding out the news, they tackle inflation, food counter-tariffs, and how media narratives are obscuring the real cost impact on Canadian consumers—everything from coffee and tea prices soaring by 20% to rising costs in meat, sugar, and spices.The conversation then shifts to a feature interview with James Maitland, CEO of Les Aliments Dainty Foods Inc.—Canada's only rice mill, located in Windsor, Ontario. James shares his career journey from General Mills and Maple Leaf Foods to leading Dainty, a company with a proud 140-year legacy. He reveals breaking news about the company's upcoming U.S. expansion, with a $50–$75 million investment in a new facility focused on retort pouch technology and ready-to-eat innovation. James explains how Dainty sources authentic rice from global origins, mills it in Canada, and continues to grow as a trusted brand on Canadian shelves. The discussion highlights innovation, from the launch of the new Timewise brand—featuring convenient pasta and rice dishes—to sustainability initiatives like regeneratively grown rice and packaging breakthroughs.With unique insights on tariffs, supply chain challenges, and the balance between legacy and growth, James Maitland provides a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to lead a Canadian food brand into the future. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode of Conversations with CommerceNext, host Michael LeBlanc sits down with Jenna Flateman Posner, Founder & CEO of Chief Digital Agency, for a candid and insightful conversation on the changing dynamics of retail technology and digital transformation.Jenna shares her remarkable career journey, starting on the technology side, building go-to-market partnerships in loyalty, payments, and localization before making the leap into retail operations as VP of Digital and then Chief Digital Officer at Snipes. She reflects on scaling Snipes' digital business from $7 million to $100 million, navigating the pandemic, civil unrest, and the accelerated shift to digital commerce.From there, Jenna moved to Solo Brands, where she drove digital strategy across a portfolio of outdoor lifestyle companies and activated memorable campaigns, including the award-winning “smokeless” collaboration with Snoop Dogg. These experiences ultimately inspired her to found Chief Digital Agency, a consultancy designed to bridge the persistent gap between technology vendors and retail operators.Jenna describes her role as a translator and conduit between retailers and technology providers—helping vendors refine products, craft go-to-market strategies, and close deals, while assisting retailers with tech selection, vendor management, and implementation oversight. By bringing transparency and empathy to both sides, she helps organizations avoid costly missteps and unlock true partnership value.The conversation dives deep into some of retail's most pressing challenges: why cultural and organizational silos slow down tech adoption, the need for retailers to embrace faster decision-making, and the importance of vendors building trust instead of chasing cold-call volume. Jenna also shares her vision for the future of digital commerce, where AI acts as a unifying operating system and data pipelines—not websites—become the core infrastructure for brand success.With practical advice for vendors, retailers, and technologists alike, this episode offers a roadmap for building stronger relationships, embracing risk, and preparing for a future shaped by AI-driven agents and new consumer expectations.Tune in to hear why Jenna believes digital leaders must become “data people” first—and how Chief Digital Agency is shaping the future of retail partnerships. About UsJennifer MarloHead of Content, CommerceNextJennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration. Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Philip Michael Leblanc, an instructor in communication and media studies at Louisiana Tech University, discusses the challenges and rewards of teaching visual communication, including photography, videography, and graphic design. He emphasizes the importance of balancing family, relaxation, and preparation during the school year. Leblanc shares his background in graphic design and his approach to teaching, which involves simplifying concepts for students with varying levels of experience, and he also addresses the impact of AI on creativity, advocating for maintaining a unique design voice. Leblanc highlights the value of travel and real-world experiences in fostering creativity and staying inspired. Website: https://1894.latech.edu/beyond/ Email: 1894@latech.edu

This week the Remarkable Retail podcast delivers a dynamic mix of breaking retail news and an in-depth interview with a top retail innovators, Lauren Steinberg, Loblaw Executive Vice President and Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw, Canada's biggest retailer.Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off a wide-ranging news segment, analyzing how tariffs, inflation, and global economic uncertainty are reshaping retail. They explore the upcoming Federal Reserve decision, the rise in food and apparel costs, energy pressures tied to AI-driven data centers, and how these forces are squeezing consumers' discretionary spending. The hosts also discuss RH's Paris flagship opening as a bold case study in reinvention, contrasting the brand formerly known as Restoration Hardware's bold ambition with the incremental strategies that have failed legacy brands. Finally, they highlight Sam's Club's new digital-first presentation layer—showing how even complex retailers can aim higher, move faster, and deliver remarkable customer experiences.Guest Lauren Steinberg--who recently assumed the expanded role of Chief Digital Officer at Loblaw after a decade leading digital, loyalty, and retail media--offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Loblaw is serving nearly every Canadian through its grocery, pharmacy, financial services, and apparel businesses, anchored by iconic brands like President's Choice, and Joe Fresh.Laurnen explains how Loblaw's digital strategy is centered on convenience, affordability, and relevance, with AI playing a critical role in personalization, supply chain efficiency, and the evolution toward agentic AI. Lauren also details the company's fast-growing retail media network, designed to connect brands with customers in ways that are accountable, measurable, and integrated across both digital and physical retail. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Lenny played with some of the most legendary figures of rock music, but his heart for writing songs about Jesus changed the course of his career forever.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, Michael LeBlanc sits down with Mark Ryski, Founder & CEO of HeadCount and three-time retail author, to explore why store traffic remains one of the most underutilized and misunderstood metrics in modern retail. With over two decades of experience pioneering traffic and conversion analytics, Mark shares insights from his new book, Store Traffic is a Gift, and explains why retailers must treat every store visit as a precious opportunity.Mark begins by recounting his early career in Edmonton, where a stint managing a single computer store opened his eyes to the importance of measuring traffic. What started as an entrepreneurial challenge became a lifelong mission—helping retailers of all sizes, from independents to global chains, understand the relationship between visits, transactions, and conversions. He reveals how his first book, When Retail Customers Count, broke new ground, and how subsequent works, including Conversion: The Last Great Retail Metric, gave leaders practical playbooks to rethink operations.The conversation dives into the myths that persist in retail, such as the assumption that transactions equal store visits. Mark explains why this false equivalency blinds retailers to missed opportunities, misguides staffing schedules, and undermines marketing effectiveness. He argues that traffic counting is as essential as point-of-sale systems, electricity, or internet access. With a SaaS-based platform, HeadCount provides “analytics as a service,” helping retailers turn data into actionable insights, whether they operate one store or thousands.Looking back at the pandemic, Mark reflects on how the sudden collapse of traffic underscored its value and forced retailers to redefine what store visits mean in an age of curbside pickup, BOPIS, and returns partnerships. He stresses that not all traffic is equal—intentionality matters—and that success comes from converting purposeful visits, not just chasing volume.Michael and Mark also tackle the role of AI in retail. While acknowledging AI's potential, Mark warns that technology cannot fix flawed operating models. Instead, AI must be grounded in reliable first-party data, with store traffic as the denominator for every in-store initiative.Finally, Mark shares practical advice for retailers: stop using sales transactions as a proxy for store visits, start aligning staff schedules to actual traffic patterns, and never squander the chance to serve a customer once they cross the threshold. With consumer habits shifting faster than ever, his message is clear—store traffic is a gift, and every visit counts. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlancs analyze the week's most impactful retail developments: a U.S. appeals-court ruling that may require massive Trump era tariff refunds  new India duties; fast-moving shifts in de minimis thresholds; and mounting pressure on global supply chains, small businesses, and retailers alike. They analyze how these disruptions will disrupt importers like Tapestry and Lululemon, and shift the retail earnings divide—even as consumer confidence wavers and labor issues—like ICE raids—further muddy the waters.In the featured interview with two visionary luxury executives: Amit Kaswani, Chief Omnichannel Officer at Chalhoub Group, and Stacie Henderson Capece Minutolo, Chief Marketing Officer Americas at Tod's Group. Amit outlines Chalhoub's omnichannel-first game plan, including end-to-end logistics and loyalty ecosystems that reach millions—backed by AI-powered personalization, predictive analytics, and conversational commerce tools. He emphasizes how customer experience, augmented by technology, is a differentiator, not a replacement for human interaction.Stacie shares Tod's strategy in the Americas, targeting high net worth clients and next-gen shoppers through experiential storytelling, cultural relevance, and digital scale. She references campaigns like "Italian Diaries," where in-person luxury activations generate exponential online impressions. She also discusses Tod's AI governance framework—a cross-functional task force merging marketing, e-commerce, finance, and customer service to ensure innovation is purposeful and aligned.As both guest leaders gear up to speak at Shoptalk Luxe, which runs 27–29 January 2026 at the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental in Abu Dhabi, luxe.shoptalk.com+1, they tease the frameworks, case studies, and strategies they'll be presenting on global luxury, loyalty, and AI innovation.The episode closes with Michael and Steve spotlighting standout moments: GLP-1 weight-loss drug innovations, Google's Nano Banana image-generation tool, and the looming U.S. interest rate decision, crippling shutdown threats, and Simons' opening in Toronto's Eaton Centre, replacing Nordstrom. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

This episode we talk about the League of Legend's story "Everywhere & Everyone". | All CoR Links | www.podcastcor.com | Music By Slayur | www.linktr.ee/slayur | Story By | Laurie Goulding 00:00 Intro 05:30 Part 1 09:30 Part 2 15:30 Part 3 18:30 General Discussion

In this dynamic episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Fawad Baig, Retail Industry Lead, Accenture Canada, to unpack Accenture's latest global consumer report: Me, My Brand, and AI. With insights drawn from over 18,000 respondents worldwide, including Canadians, this research sheds light on how uncertainty and generative AI are reshaping consumer trust, loyalty, and shopping behavior.Fawad explains that more than 57% of Canadian consumers report unusually high levels of uncertainty in their daily lives—double the levels recorded in late 2024. In response, many are turning to generative AI tools not only for shopping recommendations but also for personal advice, creating a powerful new form of trust and reliance. In fact, 46% of Canadians have already made purchases influenced by AI, and 72% would welcome an AI-powered personal shopper.The conversation dives deep into what this means for retailers. While brand loyalty in Canada remains strong, a striking 35% of consumers say they would switch brands based on AI-driven recommendations—a level of volatility that opens both risks and opportunities. For retailers willing to adapt, the shift from personalization to proactive engagement offers a competitive edge.Michael and Fawad also discuss the rise of AI agents, tools that autonomously seek out products on behalf of consumers, potentially bypassing loyalty programs and traditional marketing tactics. Fawad emphasizes that retailers need to prepare for this new reality by rethinking product data, metadata strategies, and how they present contextual value across digital platforms.Beyond consumer-facing strategies, the discussion touches on the vital importance of ethical AI, data governance, and building trust through transparency. Fawad stresses that once trust is lost, it is nearly impossible to regain—a warning for brands rushing headlong into AI adoption without the proper safeguards.The episode closes with actionable advice for retailers:Start investing in AI to deliver curated, personalized, and measurable consumer experiences.Start preparing for the reality of AI agents shaping consumer choice.Stop underestimating the power of existing loyalty programs, which remain a crucial bridge to long-term engagement. Read the reporthttps://www.accenture.com/content/dam/accenture/final/accenture-com/document-3/Accenture-Me-My-Brand-and-AI.pdf#zoom=40 The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Season Six, Episode Two of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, blends sharp industry commentary with a fascinating guest interview. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois kick off with a rapid-fire news roundup before diving deep into the global lobster story with award-winning journalist and author Greg Mercer.The news segment sets the tone with big changes in consumer packaged goods. Kraft Heinz's decision to split operations sparks debate on the future of “bigger is better” corporate strategies, recalling the infamous ketchup wars and highlighting how local plants may be impacted. The hosts also explore the collapse of Yves, a once-beloved Canadian plant-based food brand, and the broader struggles facing Beyond Meat and other players in the competitive, margin-tight meat alternatives market. Meal kits return to the spotlight with fresh survey data showing usage doubling since pre-pandemic levels, despite consumer pushback over price and packaging waste. Other highlights include Canadian trade friction over canola biofuel, positive signals in Canada–India relations, and Doug Ford's controversial Crown Royal protest following Diageo's U.S. plant shift. Wrapping up, the hosts acknowledge leadership transitions at McDonald's Canada and the Retail Council of Canada.The second half welcomes Greg Mercer, investigative reporter for The Globe and Mail and author of The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink. Mercer shares his journey into journalism, the painstaking work of investigative reporting, and the inspirations behind his first book. He explains how lobster evolved from a “cockroach of the sea” to a global luxury product, and why the industry now sits at a dangerous crossroads. From the collapse of Rhode Island's lobster fishery to escalating tensions between Indigenous and commercial fisheries in Nova Scotia, Mercer paints a vivid picture of an industry both lucrative and fragile. He examines the outsized role of China as a market driver, the looming threat of climate change, and the urgent need for ecological—not just economic—policy decisions to prevent history from repeating the cod fishery collapse of the 1990s. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In Episode 82 of The Power Element Podcast, Producer Paul sits down with Journeyman Lineman/Lineman Blogger Aaron Leblanc "bobsdecline"This episode was recorded live at the 2025 Milwaukee Tool Pipeline Event. Paul and Aaron recap the Pipeline, discuss some of the latest videos on his channel, and explore social media trends. Thank you, Aaron LeblancThis podcast is powered by Sturgeon Electric and MYR Group.Check out and support our promotional partners: Milwaukee Tool, Klein Tools, and High Voltage Industries.Ad music provided by: Daniel Sanchez @d.s.s._beats  @DSSbeats  Follow us on Instagram @ CaliforniaLineWorksMay we all continue to guide and support those in need. Please continue the conversation about mental health and well-being within your community. Be your Brother's Keeper. Visit www.lineco.org for assistance through LineCo. Suicide, crisis, and lifeline Dial 988.#podcast #leadership #construction

In the debut episode of Season Four of the Conversations with CommerceNext podcast, our guest is  Ken Pilot—retail executive, tech investor, and host of The Retail Pilot: Leaders & Legends podcast.Ken's legendary career spans decades and includes pivotal roles such as President of Gap Global, Factory Stores at Ralph Lauren, and leadership positions at J.Crew, American Eagle, and ABC Carpet & Home. He takes us behind the scenes of launching Gap Outlet, transforming a single underperforming store into over 100 high-margin locations in just 36 months, ultimately making it the most profitable division at Gap. The conversation then shifts to current macro challenges, particularly tariffs and global sourcing. Ken unpacks the "tariff math" few are talking about, warning that even modest increases could wipe out 10 points of margin, especially for smaller brands without pricing power or manufacturing flexibility. He anticipates a hit to Southeast Asia, outlines strategic moves by companies like Gap to diversify sourcing, and speculates on the economic implications for North American retail.Next, Ken delves into the retail tech landscape, providing a forward-looking perspective on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the emergence of natural language search, and how retailers must adapt both on-site and externally to remain visible and competitive. He highlights the companies he's advising and investing in, including "Curated For You" (an AI-driven occasion-based merchandising platform) and "Raspberry AI" (tools that help designers iterate visuals from sketches to campaign-ready assets). He also discusses the creative tension AI can introduce and how forward-thinking teams are adapting.Finally, we examine the potential of Retail Media Networks (RMNs) as an underutilized profit stream, particularly in a high-cost, low-margin environment. Ken balances caution with optimism, emphasizing the need for retailers to experiment, remain agile, and stay laser-focused on the customer and core product offering. About UsJennifer MarloHead of Content, CommerceNextJennifer Marlo drives industry-leading programming at CommerceNext, drawing on experience from Ascendant Network and iMedia Connection, where she spearheaded content strategies to inspire retail, brand and agency marketing leaders. Guided by the belief that “a rising tide lifts all boats,” Jennifer uses in-person and digital platforms to educate and foster industry collaboration. Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax. Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok. Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

The Remarkable Retail Podcast kicks off Season 11 with a powerful episode featuring a first-ever guest co-host: Ethan Chernofsky, Chief Marketing Officer of Placer.ai. The episode opens with a lively discussion of tariffs and trade turbulence, a recurring theme reshaping global retail strategies. Ethan shares data-driven insights from Placer.ai on how consumer behavior is shifting under economic uncertainty, while Steve highlights how pricing power and category positioning determine which retailers can weather cost pressures. Together, they unpack what's next as outsized tariffs hit key markets like India, Brazil, and Switzerland.The conversation then pivots to retailer performance, starting with Target's leadership shake-up. Steve critiques the choice of an insider CEO while Ethan provides Placer.ai traffic data showing continuing traffic declines. The group debates Target's future—whether its famed “Tar-zhay” positioning can be revived by refocusing on differentiation. From there, they contrast Target's struggles with Walmart's momentum, exploring how digital sales, retail media, and membership growth continue to power the world's largest retailer's outsized performance..Speaking of Amazon, the trio examines the company's great expanded same-day grocery delivery, setting up a fresh battleground with Walmart. They also analyze the broader bifurcation of retail, where premium players and discounters gain share while middle-market brands face mounting challenges.Moving on the episode digs into the most talked about stories making headlines. Topics include the Cracker Barrel rebrand backlash, American Eagle's bold Sydney Sweeney campaign, and the AI battle for talent, which borders on the ridiculous..Finally, the team peers around the corner, curious about whether iconic brands in transition such as Gap, Kohl's, Macy's, Nordstrom, and Bloomingdale's can regain any traction in the fae of growing headwinds. They also discuss shifting enclosed mall dynamics of malls. Ethan underscores that while A-class malls thrive with innovative tenants, some moribund B-class centers are finding new life by reinventing themselves. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Mike Esneault talks and plays music with Louisiana Music Hall of Fame performer and song writer Chris LeBlanc. They discuss Chris' formative years growing up in a musical family in South Louisiana as well as being influenced by the blues and many other genres of music that he heard and played in his hometown of Baton Rouge. In addition, they play three of Chris' original songs.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes back retail strategist, educator, and thought leader David Ian Gray, Principal of DIG360 Consulting Ltd. and retail faculty at Capilano University's School of Business. Together, they explore the latest Angus Reid survey on Canadian shopping habits and the rapidly evolving pre-owned and circular retail economy.David begins by setting the stage with his dual role: guiding Canadian retailers through strategic challenges while also developing retail-focused academic programming in Vancouver. He shares his perspective on how the local retail scene is rebuilding post-pandemic, with indie retail and dining seeing a revival even as downtown Vancouver struggles with the loss of anchor stores like Nordstrom and Hudson's Bay.The heart of the conversation is David's latest consumer research, developed in partnership with Angus Reid. The study reveals that 77% of Canadian adults purchased pre-owned items in the past year, proving that second-hand shopping has gone fully mainstream. Canadians aren't just bargain hunting—they're motivated by sustainability, affordability, and the thrill of finding something unique.The conversation highlights surprising generational behaviors, such as Gen Z's enthusiasm for vinyl records and printed books, a countertrend to the assumption that digital-first generations avoid physical media. David suggests this reflects a desire for independence from digital platforms and a deeper need for tangible, cultural experiences.Michael and David also unpack the dominance of Facebook Marketplace, where 76% of respondents reported making a purchase in the past year, underscoring the hybrid online/offline nature of second-hand shopping. They contrast this with other channels—Kijiji, eBay, luxury resale platforms like Poshmark, charity thrift stores, and even brand-led resale initiatives from Canada Goose, IKEA, and Patagonia.For Canadian retailers, the research carries critical lessons. Second-hand is no longer a niche category but a major competitor for consumer dollars. David warns that traditional retailers may underestimate how much revenue is “leaking” into resale markets. While profitability challenges remain—logistics, inventory management, and product quality—brands that strategically embrace resale can enhance consumer loyalty, sustainability credentials, and differentiation.The episode closes with a rapid-fire round covering the future of AI in retail, Hudson's Bay's uncertain real estate footprint, Vancouver's Retail West conference, and the biggest Canadian retail story to watch in 2025: tariff uncertainty. David emphasizes that until trade clarity is achieved, Canadian retailers will remain cautious in decision-making. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

With the pace of disruption continuing to accelerate, with more and more power being concentrated in the hands of only a few mega-retailers, with consumer needs and wants being constantly reshaped, and with the global impact of tariffs still far from certain, how do you make sense of what to do and, most importantly, gain the confidence to aim higher, move faster and act more boldly.That's where the industry leading, award-winning Remarkable Retail Podcast comes in.I'm Steve Dennis, strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and bestselling author. I invite you to join me and fellow retail insider Michael LeBlanc each week as we separate the signal from the noise and give you the tools and ideas to make the bold leap to remarkable.The Remarkable Retail podcast is the only retail show hosted by two of the NRF's 2025 Top Retail Voices. And in this, our eleventh season, we'll continue our award-winning formula: [pause] no BS perspectives crafted from our decades of experience on the front lines, hot takes on the week's biggest retail news, conversations with the most remarkable retail leaders, and, new this season, occasional guest co-hosts who will help us open the aperture on an industry in flux.So be sure to follow us wherever you enjoy your podcasts or on the newly expanded Remarkable Retail YouTube channel.The all new season of the Remarkable Retail podcast launches Tuesday, September 2nd. We hope you'll join us.  About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Season Six of The Food Professor Podcast, presented by Caddle, kicks off with hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois diving into a whirlwind of summer news, trade turbulence, and big-picture food industry shifts. This debut episode sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic and thought-provoking season.Michael and Sylvain begin with personal updates from a busy summer, including travels to Quebec City, Sylvain's new role as Visiting Scholar at McGill University, and Michael's experiences covering retail in New York. They also announce that full video episodes of The Food Professor are now available on YouTube, expanding the show's reach as podcasting and video continue to converge.The discussion quickly pivots to critical economic and policy issues. The hosts unpack Ottawa's decision to end retaliatory countervailing tariffs on U.S. food imports—a move Sylvain argues was long overdue, as tariffs only raised costs for Canadian consumers while doing little to protect domestic industries. With food inflation running hot, Sylvain predicts prices will ease by early fall, pointing to statements from Loblaw CEO Per Bank as validation.From there, the pair explore the elimination of the U.S. “de minimis” exemption, a decision with far-reaching consequences for Canadian small businesses and independent food producers shipping across the border. Michael emphasizes how indie retailers relying on U.S. customers will be hit hardest, while Sylvain warns that Ottawa must address Canada's own $150 threshold to avoid worsening inequities.The conversation expands globally with a deep dive into China's escalating tariffs on Canadian canola, pork, and lobster—measures Sylvain interprets as retaliation for Canada's 100% tariff on Chinese EVs. He makes the case for a more nuanced approach: segment tariffs between luxury and affordable EVs, allowing consumers greater choice while protecting farmers from geopolitical fallout.Other highlights include an analysis of the pickle aisle—yes, really—where the Bick's withdrawal from Canada illustrates the tangled realities of cross-border food supply chains. The hosts also discuss Dr Pepper Keurig's acquisition of JDE Peet's, situating it within a larger trend of consumer packaged goods giants restructuring in response to inflation, climate change, GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, and a rewiring of global trade flows.The episode wraps on a lighter note, celebrating the Canadian arrival of Bobby Flay's Burger concept and teasing next week's guest, Globe and Mail journalist Greg Mercer, author of The Lobster Trap.With sharp analysis, lively banter, and a keen eye on the forces reshaping food and retail, Michael and Sylvain set the stage for a season that will track how consumers, farmers, and retailers navigate inflation, trade disputes, shifting supply chains, and new food trends. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

For our final episode recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth show, we welcome two visionary leaders from Tapestry, the global house of brands that includes Coach and Kate Spade: Pooja Chandiramani, VP Global Media Strategy & Planning, Marketing Analytics, Operations and Transformation, and Avinash Kaushik, Brand Strategy & Marketing Transformation.Pooja and Avinash unpack Tapestry's ongoing transformation, which embeds analytics as a core pillar of brand growth. For Coach in particular, analytics isn't just incremental—it's a complete transformation journey. By using data to generate insights that directly drive business impact, Tapestry ensures marketing investments are accountable, measurable, and tied to outcomes.Avinash, a globally recognized thought leader and author, explains how Tapestry embraces intent-centric marketing to connect authentically with consumers. Moving beyond the outdated “accessible luxury” positioning, the company has shifted toward "expressive luxury"—a modern framework that reflects values-driven, authentic consumer engagement, particularly resonant with younger audiences.The conversation dives into the cultural foundations necessary for analytics to thrive. Avinash emphasizes that “culture is more important than data,” crediting Tapestry's CEO Joanne Crevoiserat and senior leadership for creating an environment where data can challenge assumptions and guide decisions. This culture enables bold experiments, including measuring the incrementality of brand marketing—one of the toughest questions in retail.Pooja highlights how creative pre-testing has become a critical unlock. By partnering with Human Made Machine, Tapestry tests campaigns with real audiences before investing media spend. This approach ensures that creative—responsible for up to 70% of marketing impact—delivers measurable results in driving brand awareness and incremental sales. It's a cultural shift, moving from subjective opinions about creative to decisions grounded in data.The episode also explores the role of AI and machine learning in accelerating agility, simplifying decision-making frameworks, and enabling global scalability. Both leaders stress that outcomes-based planning—rather than activity-based planning—keeps Tapestry aligned with its ambitious growth goals. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc's office says he had a 'constructive' and 'lengthy' meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday, with one Canadian source telling CBC that the meeting was supposed to last an hour but stretched to 90 minutes. Nathan Cooper, Alberta's representative in Washington, assesses what that means for the prospects of a deal. Plus, after a meeting between Canadian and German leaders ended with a declaration of closer defence ties on Monday, German Ambassador to Canada Matthias Lüttenberg discusses the path forward for deepening integration.

What if a restaurant wasn't a business—but a way to rebuild a broken city?That's how Robért LeBlanc saw it after Hurricane Katrina. He didn't just open a venue—he created a space to reconnect a fractured community. In this episode, we go deep on how Robért has used hospitality to heal, unite, and inspire. From the ethos behind his post-Katrina nightclub to the values driving his now 350-person company, Robért shares how storytelling, humility, and a culture of ownership have become his ultimate competitive edge. We talk about failure, course correction, and what it really takes to build a team that gives a damn.This isn't just about restaurants. It's about using our work to serve something bigger and why that's never been more urgent.To learn more about his work, visit leblancandsmith.com.____________________________________________________________Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you'll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.comFull Comp is brought to you by Yelp for Restaurants: In July 2020, a few hundred employees formed Yelp for Restaurants. Our goal is to build tools that help restaurateurs do more with limited time.We have a lot more content coming your way! Be sure to check out our other content:Yelp for Restaurants PodcastsRestaurant expert videos & webinars

On this encore episode Michael LeBlanc welcomes Carson Arthur, media personality and independent retailer, and the founder of Carson's Garden & Market in Prince Edward County. Carson's career journey is anything but traditional—moving from launching brands at Procter & Gamble, to building a television career as a design and gardening expert, and now into the world of retail entrepreneurship.Carson shares the inspiration behind launching his own store, Carson's Garden & Market, a destination nestled among wineries and breweries in Prince Edward County. Designed to showcase the gardening products and tools he loves most, the store reflects his philosophy of bringing joy to outdoor spaces while educating customers on the beauty and practicality of kitchen gardens and edible ornamentals.He offers a behind-the-scenes look at how he sources unique products from around the world, including gardening innovations from the UK, Japan, and Europe, while balancing a commitment to local Canadian suppliers. Carson also candidly discusses the challenges and opportunities of retailing through the pandemic. While many businesses struggled, Prince Edward County became a tourism hotspot, doubling his sales during peak years before settling into a post-pandemic reality where customer expectations and buying cycles continue to evolve.Carson reflects on the lessons learned as a small business owner—how to stay true to a business model, the importance of building a loyal customer base, and the realities of managing growth in uncertain times. He also offers pointed advice for governments and financial institutions about the critical role of small businesses in Canada's economy, urging more support during the early years when entrepreneurs are most at risk.For aspiring retailers, Carson shares his “two starts and one stop”:-Start by investing in your customer base.-Start by becoming an active member of your community.-Stop wearing rose-coloured glasses—always plan for downturns as much as growth.Looking ahead, Carson is doubling down on the kitchen garden trend, helping Canadians rethink their backyards as spaces for food security and beauty. His focus on educating consumers about growing edible ornamentals positions his business at the intersection of sustainability, lifestyle, and retail innovation. The Voice of Retail podcast is presented by Hale, a performance marketing partner trusted by brands like ASICS, Saje, and Orangetheory to scale with focus and impact. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

On this episode of Adversity Kings, host Tristan Dlabik sits down with Dayton LeBlanc, an unstoppable salesman out of Utah who started grinding at just 15 years old and became a millionaire by 19. They dive into Dayton's incredible rise, the mindset and discipline it takes to build real success at a young age, and the powerful goals and vision he's chasing next. From the lessons of starting early to the advantages of building a sales career while you're young, this conversation is packed with motivation and proof that age is never a limit when it comes to greatness.

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail Podcast, our guest is with Lauren Price, Senior Vice President, E-Commerce & Digital Marketing for COS North America discussing her impressive career trajectory and work positioning the H&M-owned brand for growth in a competitive, fast-moving fashion retail landscape.Lauren's career began in the early days of luxury e-commerce at Createthe Group, building first-generation online stores for high-end brands . Her path included consulting with Demandware and L2 (Scott Galloway's firm), leading to her first in-house brand role at J.Crew before joining COS—a globally recognized fashion brand known for exceptional quality, timeless style, and meticulous craftsmanship.At COS, Lauren oversees North American marketing and digital commerce, a key growth market. She explains how COS benefits from the resources of a global parent company while operating with the agility of a smaller regional business. This unique position allows for strategic experimentation while maintaining the brand's commitment to premium quality.A highlight from the conversation is COS's viral marketing moment: a $45 T-shirt compared on TikTok to a $15 Uniqlo tee, with the influencer praising COS's superior quality and construction. This sparked organic buzz and significant new customer acquisition, prompting Lauren's team to launch a targeted influencer gifting campaign. The lesson: seize authentic, organic momentum quickly and amplify it with campaigns that focus on authenticity, craftsmanship, and product education—especially to win over savvy Gen Z shoppers.Lauren also tackles the emerging challenge of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), advising brands to prepare product catalogs for AI-driven search while maintaining current SEO performance. She predicts AI search adoption will accelerate faster than previous digital shifts, urging retailers to run both short-term and long-term optimization in parallel.As the discussion turns to holiday planning, Lauren offers several pieces of practical, results-focused advice. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Saying Yes Before You Feel Ready: Maddi LeBlanc on Trust, Timing, and Chasing the M2O DreamWhat happens when your dream opportunity shows up before you're “ready”?When Canadian SUP champion Maddi LeBlanc got the chance to race Moloka'i 2 O'ahu, her dream event just two weeks before the start, she said yes.In this episode, Maddi and I talk about what it means to trust your gut, embrace imperfect timing, and let sport ground you during life's transitions. From journaling practices to mental training, this convo is for anyone navigating the space between readiness and risk.In this episode:How Maddi ended up at M2O with two weeks noticeHow Maddi stayed grounded and adaptable in the face of uncertaintyWhy sport became her anchor through personal changeHer mindset tools, including journaling and visualizationLetting go of perfect timing and trusting your inner “yes”This is a vulnerable, inspiring episode about trusting your gut, answering the call, and letting sport be more than performance.

Chaps, The Rabbit and Browny chat about The legendary efforts of Jye Gray, Tallis Duncan and Jai Arrow

In this episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis welcome XRC Ventures' Managing Director Pano Anthos, for a deep dive into the future of retail innovation, investment strategies, and overcoming the systemic challenges that keep great technology from scaling.Pano shares his journey from serial entrepreneur to leading a venture fund focused on pre-seed and seed-stage investments at the intersection of retail, consumer behavior, and technology. With over 150 investments since 2015, XRC Ventures targets transformative sectors including retail media networks, the consumerization of healthcare, commerce enablement, and new distribution channels. Pano highlights examples of groundbreaking innovations—from AI-driven financial automation to diagnostics that detect autism in under two hours—that are redefining operational efficiency and customer impact.A major focus of the conversation is retail's organizational dysfunction, where siloed leadership and competing P&Ls create “warring tribes” that hinder adoption of transformative solutions. Pano argues that true progress requires structural change—appointing an operational leader with end-to-end responsibility for traffic and sales across all channels. The discussion also explores the promise of retail media, particularly in-store applications with untapped margin potential, and spatial intelligence, which can bring the precision of e-commerce analytics into physical stores. Pano shares candid insights on startup strategy, stressing that early-stage companies must demonstrate material ROI—significant EBITDA or revenue growth—to make it into a retailer's short list of investment priorities. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

You know what my favorite thing about Shurima is? I don't know. But it's not Azir. And thankfully, we didn't have to talk about him much in this episode! Truly, even the Wiki wasn't interested in that guy. Shurima is the largest region in Runeterra, so naturally, we rambled on for 90 minutes. It has a ton of history and champions not only from Shurima, but many who have connections there. Including the Black Rose. So maybe we'll get some new lore soon? -------- WE HAVE MERCH!bit.ly/loreheadmerch Twitter! twitter.com/loreheads Discord! https://t.co/o21E0W4C8z?amp=1 Twitch! twitch.tv/loreheads Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/leagueofloreheads Song Title | Dragon Trainer TristanaArtist | League of LegendsCourtesy of Riot Games https://na.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/news/community/riot-music-creator-safe-guidelines/Image by Yuri_B from Pixabay - book with sparkles

In this special encore episode we revisit an insightful conversation with Janet Hayes, CEO of Crate and Barrel Holdings as she shares her career journey and the brand's $5B growth ambitions. From their visionary Flatiron NYC flagship to enhanced digital design services and significant tech investments, the iconic 60 year old home retailer furnishings retailer is modernizing for a more remarkable future.”Janet shares leadership lessons from a remarkable career with brands like Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Nike, and Gap and, now, in her current role driving growth as the CEO of Crate & Barrel, CB2, and Hudson Grace. We delve into her perspectives on the role of technology, the changing nature of work, and more. We also get a glimpse into the drive forces behind their latest flagship store in New York's Flatiron District.  About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

This episode we talk about the League of Legend's story "Thorns of the Black Rose". | All CoR Links | www.podcastcor.com | Music By Slayur | www.linktr.ee/slayur | Story By | Laurie Goulding 00:00 Intro 03:30 Part 1 08:30 Part 2 11:30 Part 3 16:30 General Discussion

In this special summer edition of the Remarkable Retail podcast, hosts Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return to the mic for a jam-packed Month-in-Review episode. With interviews from the CommerceNext Growth Show rolling out all summer long, the duo takes a break from the regular cadence to reflect on the key developments dominating retail headlines.Kicking things off, Michael and Steve catch up on their summer travels, from retail safaris to personal DIY projects, before diving into on-the-ground observations from recent store visits. They note intensified promotional activity, flagging department store performance, and struggling retailers like Kohl's—whose housekeeping and inventory issues speak volumes about the deeper structural challenges facing legacy banners.A major theme is the ripple effect of evolving tariff policies. Steve breaks down the shifting landscape of trade "deals"—or lack thereof—impacting everything from apparel to automobiles, including the end of the de minimis clause that could reshape the business model of players like Shein and Temu. While retailers have largely absorbed tariff costs for now, Q4 pricing and profitability are big question marks, particularly for cash-strapped players.The conversation turns to macroeconomic conditions and a surprisingly resilient U.S. consumer. However, Steve warns against viewing “the consumer” as a monolith, emphasizing growing bifurcation between income brackets. The luxury market underscores this divide—Hermès continues to thrive, while Gucci and more aspirational brands struggle, and Saks Global faces mounting losses and vendor tensions.The episode also unpacks Amazon's latest earnings, with standout 23% growth in ad sales, despite investor jitters around AWS and an uncertain outlook.Other hot takes include AI's expanding role in customer interaction, the controversy around American Eagle's “gene/jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney, and the headline-grabbing soap opera surrounding Hudson's Bay's failed resurrection attempt in Canada.Looking ahead, Michael and Steve preview August retail earnings, the fall retail conference season, and the ongoing evolution of AI-enabled search.  About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this insightful summer bonus episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, we welcome Stuart Hogue, Lands' End, Senior Vice President, US Consumer, for a fast-paced conversation recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City. Stuart brings a wealth of brand experience—spanning time at Nike and a passion for brand strategy shaped by none other than fellow podcast guest Scott Galloway—and shares how Lands; End is evolving while staying grounded in its heritage.Founded in 1963 as a sailing outfitter, Lands' End has evolved over the decades from a catalogue stalwart to a digitally savvy harmonized retailer. Stuart walks us through how the company continues to build on its legacy of quality, durability, and classic American style, while embracing modern retail strategies—from digital marketplaces and fashion drops to AI-driven customer discovery.Stuart details Land's Ends; successful expansion into platforms like Nordstrom.com and Amazon, where clever use of data helped make their Bedford quarter-zip sweater a top seller. He emphasizes the importance of aligning product selection with platform-specific customer mindsets, demonstrating a sharp and disciplined approach to marketplace strategy.We also delve into how Lands' End achieved surprising viral success through personalized tote bag pop-ups in Soho, which not only drove younger customer engagement but also created powerful emotional brand moments that were amplified organically through TikTok. The brand's strategic move toward monthly product drops has helped introduce newness while preserving customer loyalty around legacy franchises, such as Tugless swimsuits, no-iron chinos, and its legendary Squall jackets.Stuart shares thoughtful insight into omnichannel retail, calling it less about technology and more about being present at key customer moments across touchpoints. He highlights the growing influence of AI agents. He emphasizes the need for brands to prepare for a new era of product discovery, where brand authority and relevance across marketplaces become increasingly crucial for staying top of mind. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.