Podcasts about margins

Luxury branding strategy for premium positioning is not about surface-level aesthetics. It is about authority, perception, and strategic dominance within a clearly defined niche. For Kathryn Porritt, Founder and CEO of Iconic Empire, luxury branding strategy represents a decisive move away from commoditization and toward category leadership. Many businesses unintentionally anchor themselves in the middle of the market. They compete on incremental value, attempt to appeal to broad audiences, and rely on volume to sustain margins. Over time, this approach compresses pricing power and weakens differentiation. The brand becomes one of many options rather than the only logical choice. Luxury branding strategy challenges that model entirely. After building and selling her own multi-million-dollar company, Kathryn Porritt made a deliberate pivot. Instead of recreating a high-volume enterprise, she chose to work exclusively with accomplished experts and founders ready to reposition at the top of their markets. Her focus became helping extraordinary individuals claim iconic status by refining how they are perceived, priced, and positioned. Ford Saeks has long emphasized that positioning drives profitability. Growth without authority is fragile. When companies focus solely on marketing tactics without clarifying their premium positioning, they remain vulnerable to competition based on price. Luxury branding strategy addresses this vulnerability by elevating perception before pursuing scale. A core principle Kathryn applies is hyper-niching. While conventional wisdom encourages businesses to widen their audience, luxury branding strategy narrows it. The goal is to identify the deepest, most defensible niche where the brand can confidently claim leadership. When that clarity is established, the conversation shifts. Prospects no longer compare features. They evaluate authority. Authority transforms pricing dynamics. Premium positioning allows a business to move from justification to invitation. Rather than explaining why fees are higher, the brand communicates why it is the standard. Another defining characteristic of luxury branding strategy is the concept of descending scale. Traditional models often begin broad and attempt to climb upward into premium offerings. Kathryn advocates the opposite. Establish dominance at the highest tier first. Build brand equity through selective, high-value engagements. Once the brand is firmly anchored at the top, expansion becomes a strategic choice rather than a necessity. This approach mirrors the structure of global luxury houses that begin with exclusive offerings before extending into broader product lines. Prestige precedes scale. Luxury branding strategy also requires commercial clarity. Many experts possess deep mastery but struggle to translate that expertise into premium positioning. They undervalue their own authority because their messaging is diluted by mainstream marketing language. Kathryn's work centers on aligning how the brand communicates with the true level of capability it delivers. Ford Saeks often speaks about perception gaps. A business may generate exceptional outcomes, yet if the market perceives it as average, growth stalls. Luxury branding strategy closes that gap by ensuring that authority is visible, specific, and unmistakable. The economic environment further reinforces the importance of premium positioning. When markets tighten, companies in the middle feel the pressure first. Discounting becomes tempting. However, lowering price rarely strengthens brand equity. Instead, it signals vulnerability. Luxury branding strategy offers an alternative path. Rather than competing lower, compete higher. Premium positioning attracts a different caliber of client. Decision-making becomes more strategic. Engagements are deeper. Margins improve. Alignment increases. The experience shifts from transactional to transformational. Technology, including AI, supports execution but does not replace strategy. Automation can accelerate research, communication, and delivery. However, positioning requires discernment and vision. Tools assist. Leadership defines direction. Luxury branding strategy ultimately demands courage. It requires rejecting the comfort of broad appeal. It requires narrowing focus and standing firmly in a clearly articulated niche. It requires confidence in mastery. For leaders willing to move from commoditized to category leader, luxury branding strategy provides a disciplined framework. It is not about exclusivity for appearance. It is about clarity, authority, and sustainable premium positioning. Fordify LIVE streams every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. Central across all social media platforms, featuring real-time conversations with business leaders and growth-minded experts. New episodes of The Business Growth Show podcast drop every Thursday. Watch the full episode on YouTube. About Kathryn Porritt Kathryn Porritt is the Founder and CEO of Iconic Empire, a global luxury branding agency dedicated to helping extraordinary individuals claim iconic status in their industries. After building and selling her own multi-million-dollar business, Kathryn made a decisive shift to work exclusively with high-level experts, founders, and thought leaders ready to reposition themselves at the top of their market. Known for her bold perspective on luxury branding strategy, hyper-niching, and premium commercialization, Kathryn helps clients refine their positioning, elevate their authority, and command premium pricing without competing on volume or discounts. Her work spans industries including professional services, consulting, design, real estate, finance, and beyond. Through Iconic Empire, Kathryn has built a reputation for transforming accomplished professionals into category leaders by aligning mastery with strategic market positioning. Learn more at IconicEmpire.com About Ford Saeks Ford Saeks is a Business Growth Accelerator who has generated more than a billion dollars in sales worldwide for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 organizations. As President and CEO of Prime Concepts Group, Inc., Ford helps businesses attract loyal customers, expand brand awareness, and ignite innovation through strategic marketing, operational excellence, and leadership development. A tenacious entrepreneur, Ford has founded more than ten companies, authored five books, earned three U.S. patents, and received numerous industry awards. He is widely recognized for his expertise in AI prompt engineering and for training organizations to leverage artificial intelligence to improve operations, marketing, sales, and customer experience. Ford recently showcased this expertise at the Unleash AI for Business Summit, where he demonstrated how ChatGPT is transforming business performance. Through Fordify LIVE and The Business Growth Show, Ford equips leaders with practical strategies that accelerate growth, strengthen positioning, and drive measurable results. Learn more at ProfitRichResults.com and watch his TV show at Fordify.tv.

In this episode, the hosts analyze a three-location skincare franchise in Alexandria, VA generating $6.4M in revenue—but debate whether razor-thin margins and franchisor red flags make this a falling knife.Business Listing – https://www.bizbuysell.com/business-opportunity/3-open-and-operating-skin-care-franchises-in-dmv-with-6-4m-in-revenue/2472429/Welcome to Acquisitions Anonymous – the #1 podcast for small business M&A. Every week, we break down businesses for sale and talk about buying, operating, and growing them.Looking to build a professional website in minutes? Try Wix: https://wix.pxf.io/c/6898629/3115214/25616?trafcat=templateHubSpot is the backbone for how businesses scale without chaos. Try them out here: https://go.try-hubspot.com/OeG9Vr

Ranjan Roy from Margins is back for our weekly discussion of the latest tech news. We cover: 1) Backlash against AI & specifically Sam Altman's comments about AI as a utility 2) Is this because people are worried about AI taking their jobs? 3) NBC poll shows AI is one of the least popular things in the U.S. 4) YouGov poll shows broadly negative feelings toward AI 5) Pew finds datacenters are very unpopular 6) Consequences of AI's unpopularity 7) Nvidia GTC preview: A rallying cry for AI 8) Could Jensen Huang be the guy that turns this around? 9) Amazon's AI code is messing things up 10) McKinsey's AI tool hacked 11) Meta can't get its act together with Avocado delayed 12) Should Meta's AI use Google's Gemini tech --- Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here's 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Links:Andrew's Twitter: @AndrewAskinsAndrew's website: https://www.andrewaskins.com/MetaMonster: https://metamonster.ai/Slackletter: https://slackletter.com/Sean's Twitter: @seanqsunMiscreants: http://miscreants.com/Margins: http://margins.so/Sean's website: https://seanqsun.com/For more information about the podcast, check out https://www.smalleffortspod.com/.Transcript:00:00.85AndrewDude, your notifications are non-fucking-stop.00:04.50SeanYeah, they are. I know. It's terrible.00:08.08AndrewBefore you muted it, it was just like, what's... Your Slack noise is like a click clack. It's like a... Okay.00:13.94SeanYeah, the knock, the Slack knock.00:15.92Andrewdid it did00:16.09SeanYeah.00:16.75Andrewokay I don't ever have noises turned on for anything. It drives me crazy.00:22.67SeanYeah, I mean, don't know. You used to it, I guess. What are you going to and You know what notifications does drive crazy?00:27.94AndrewSicko.00:32.16SeanMessages. Yeah,00:34.98AndrewMessages, like iMessage or like Facebook Messenger or...00:36.68Seanyeah, yeah. No, sorry.00:40.30AndrewiMessage.00:40.84SeaniMessage. Yeah, iMessage.00:41.87AndrewYeah, yeah.00:42.99SeanNoises drive me insane. Slag is okay.00:46.20AndrewIt's kind of like a little like bubble burst, right? It's like a bubbly thing, sounding thing.00:52.18SeanOh, mine is a ding.00:54.12AndrewNo, maybe maybe the bubble is something else.00:54.20SeanMine is like a shark.00:56.16AndrewI don't know.00:56.88SeanThe bubble is like when you send a message.00:56.97Andrewsome Somebody. Oh, maybe. Yeah.01:00.56SeanYeah. Yeah.01:01.36AndrewYeah. Dude, did you get any sleep last night? We were chatting at like 1.30 a.m.01:09.48AndrewSecret pod.01:13.37SeanYeah. I still have like three hours. It's not that bad.01:17.44AndrewMan, that's so much sleep. what You must be wide awake fucking alert.01:21.96Seanyeah Well, I was going to ask you if you had any sleep last night, but you know.01:33.12AndrewI actually didn't fall asleep until like 3, 4 a.m., something like that.01:33.70SeanYeah,01:38.72AndrewI have a new favorite Dropout show. can't you You know Dropout, right? We've talked about Dropout.tv, best streaming service the internet.01:44.46Seanyeah, yeah. Yeah, college humor.01:49.32Andrewon the internet01:52.82SeanOh,01:52.96Andrewuh they have a it's not a new show i've but i i was finally catching up uh what is it called the parlor room where it's like a they played board comedians played board games and you watch so it's like right up my fucking alley i'm cursing a lot today sorry02:05.75Seancool.02:07.93SeanNice. It's okay. It's because don't have any sleep. I get it.02:13.93SeanUnlike me, who slept a lot.02:18.89Andrewuh have you ever heard of blood on the clock tower02:21.94SeanNo, no, no,02:22.83AndrewIt's like a deception game, kind of like mafia kind of vibes, but more complicated and there's, it looks really fun. The thing that makes it, I think, complicated is like the players, the roles that players get can change every time.02:37.96AndrewAnd you, there are multiple players who can have roles where they think they're one thing, but they're actually something else. They're getting, false information.02:44.69Seanno.02:46.28AndrewSo you can be the marionette, which is like you're controlled by like the big bad. You can be a drunk. You can also like get poisoned or something. And then there's like so there's all this stuff where you're like trying to piece things together, but you have to also consider the fact that you might have incorrect information.03:08.46Andrewlike the stuff you think you know about yourself might be wrong. It's chaotic as hell.03:12.93Seanthat's pretty cool that's pretty yeah that's pretty cool interesting okay that's it every time i hear deception game and i hear like mafia i kind of roll my eyes and internally just because i can't like there's there's just so many you know there's just so many of this like but but i think i think that's a nice that's like a03:14.95AndrewSuper fun. Yeah.03:25.54AndrewSure.03:29.61AndrewI know.03:35.68Seanan Actually, interesting spin on it.03:35.71Andrewyeah Some of them are a lot better than others.03:37.95SeanYeah.03:37.98Andrewlike kuup is pretty fun. Secret Hitler is pretty fun. Generally I don't love deception games though because I like i hate lying, I'm a terrible liar.03:47.70AndrewBut my strategy is usually just to be as chao like as chaotic and suspicious as hell even when I'm not the the like person so that that way if I do get the like big bad, everyone's just like Andrew's just being Andrew, he's just an idiot.03:55.67SeanI see.04:02.77Andrewlike Ignore him.04:03.10SeanNice. Nice.04:05.49Andrewi have to like access access because i know i'm going to access when i'm uh actually in trouble04:13.25Seanit's like It's like the opposite of like just always pretending you're bad at lying. So everyone thinks always telling the truth.04:22.08Andrewit's kind of the same thing it's kind of the same thing right yeah04:22.31SeanAnyway. you have you yeah okay anyway do you have do have a favorite game?04:29.48AndrewUh, yes, but it's like kind of niche. I think my favorite board game is Everdell.04:33.68SeanOK.04:36.62SeanI've heard of that.04:36.95Andrewit it's It's an engine builder where you're living in like kind of like a Redwall-esque world where you've got you're playing as little forest creatures and you're building your little forest like forest kingdom machine thing.04:51.88AndrewAnd and and it's fun because it's like you can't be that cutthroat with the other players. You're kind of playing your own game and there's a little bit of like sabotage and stuff.04:58.23SeanMm.05:01.71Andrewbut For someone who's very competitive, and it you know my friends tend to get pissed off at me when we play like really cutthroat games, like Settlers or you know something.05:11.80SeanGotcha.05:13.03AndrewAnd so it's nice because it keeps keeps everybody happier. Also a big fan of, oh, what's the haunted house on the hill? Betrayal at the house on the hill.05:25.57AndrewSo much fun. Campy, kitschy, good vibes.05:31.24SeanNice. The PvE one doesn't sound fun at all. Just saying. As as also as Everdell.05:37.77AndrewThe which one?05:40.20Seanlike you You just completely sold me again...

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On today's episode of Higher Exchanges, Jesse Redmond and Morgan Paxhia sit down with Boris Jordan, Chairman and CEO of Curaleaf, the largest cannabis company in the world.We discuss what may be the most important policy and capital markets moment the industry has seen in years. Boris shares Curaleaf's perspective on federal rescheduling, what it could change for operators, when it may become final, and whether additional catalysts like SAFER banking, uplisting, or even descheduling could follow.We also explore Curaleaf's evolving strategy around hemp-derived THC. After entering the category in 2018, exiting in 2023, reentering in 2024, and now stepping away again, Boris explains what changed in the regulatory landscape and what conditions could bring Curaleaf back to hemp in the future.The conversation then turns to capital markets and consolidation across the cannabis industry. Following Curaleaf's recent $500M refinancing, we discuss the improving tone in financing markets, whether deal activity is returning, and where industry consolidation may emerge.Finally, we dive into Curaleaf's fundamentals, including the balance between U.S. and international growth, sustaining margins through years of price compression, and what investors may be missing when evaluating the largest operator in cannabis.A thoughtful discussion on policy catalysts, industry structure, and the next phase of growth for cannabis.Higher Exchanges is powered by Flowhub.Topics Discussed• Federal cannabis rescheduling and policy outlook• SAFER banking, uplisting, and future catalysts• The future of hemp-derived THC• Cannabis capital markets and financing conditions• Industry consolidation and M&A• Curaleaf's international growth strategy• Margins and price compression in U.S. cannabis• Curaleaf's “Built for Growth” strategy

Restaurant profits are under pressure, and many operators are unknowingly making mistakes that destroy their restaurant margins. In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, Roger Beaudoin breaks down the five biggest profit-killing mistakes he sees in restaurants today, from poor menu engineering and rising food costs to labor inefficiencies and weak operational systems. Drawing on decades of operating highly profitable restaurants, Roger shares practical strategies you can use immediately to stop margin leaks and run a stronger, more profitable operation. If you're serious about improving profitability, this episode reveals simple changes that can dramatically protect and grow your restaurant margins. In this episode you'll learn: • The five most common mistakes destroying restaurant margins • Why menu engineering directly impacts profitability • How labor inefficiencies quietly erode profits • The systems profitable restaurants rely on • Simple operational changes that improve margins fast Free Resource for Restaurant Owners Want to quickly identify hidden profit leaks in your menu? Join Roger's Free 5-Day Menu Margin Makeover Challenge and learn how to engineer your menu for stronger restaurant margins and profitability. https://restaurantrockstars.com/the-5-day-menu-margin-makeover-challenge/ Thank you to our sponsors Smithfield Culinary Smithfield Culinary serves up perfect proteins for every dish and every daypart—from Smithfield's new ready-to-eat Select Bacon and new ground chorizo to the broadest portfolio of pork. When you partner with Smithfield, you serve what you love and your guests will love what you serve. https://smithfieldculinary.com/smithfield Restaurant Rockstars Coaching Increase your profit, create a dream team staff, and execute trackable marketing strategies that work. If you're facing restaurant challenges and want to uplevel your operation, Roger can help dial in your systems, maximize opportunities, and give you back your peace of mind. https://restaurantrockstars.com/consulting/ TouchBistro TouchBistro is an all-in-one cloud-based POS and restaurant management system designed exclusively for restaurants. It connects front-of-house, back-of-house, and guest engagement into one powerful platform. Operators in the U.S. and Canada can get started for less with limited-time savings on upfront costs. Terms and conditions apply. https://www.touchbistro.com/restaurantrockstars Ajinomoto Foods Ajinomoto Foods delivers fast, easy-to-prep frozen Asian products that look homemade and taste incredible. With more than 100 years of Asian culinary expertise, Ajinomoto helps restaurants save time, reduce labor, and protect profits without compromising quality. https://ajinomotofoodservice.com

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. Each episode is also available to buy individually for $5 (Buy it through a web browser and not the Patreon app. You'll get charged extra if you purchase through the app.) You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more! My guest this week is New York-via-Atlanta rapper, producer, fashion designer, archivist, curator, and one part of PTP, See the Lieutenant. We spoke about Coonskin, Curious George, Chicken Little, and the power of animation, some favorite music videos, moving from Atlanta to New York, academia vs. grassroots organizing, her multimodal cultural production Operation (L), and the creative process behind her latest mixtape WhatsReallyGood. Come fuck with us. WhatsReallyGood. is available exclusively on Bandcamp. Buy it there to support the artist. Follow See The Lieutenant on Instagram (@seethelieutenant) and Twitter (@SeeTheLT), and follow Operation (L) on Instagram and Substack for more updates.  Reel Notes stands in solidarity with American immigrants against ICE and the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. Protest, fight back, and fuck the system.  My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped in to all things Dylan Green.  Follow Hearing Things at hearingthings.co or @hearingthingsco on all social platforms.   

Wayne and Rob continue their conversation about markups vs. margins. Follow Bona US Professional online: Website: https://www1.bona.com/en-us/professional/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BonaProfessional Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonauspro/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonapro.us/

Should everyone be treated equally?Many see populism with its focus on immigration and nationalism as not only politically dangerous but morally wrong. This reflects the universalist morality of the main Western moral frameworks. But critics argue moral universalism generates a case for favouring strangers over the interests of those close to us and that it is profoundly mistaken. In contrast, Chinese Confucian morality accepts partiality towards our nearest. Recent studies have shown that we do in practice favour those close to us, and moreover that we think we are morally right to do so.Alain de Botton is the best-selling philosopher and founder of The School of Life, an organisation dedicated to developing emotional intelligence through philosophy, psychotherapy, and culture. Seyla Benhabib is one of the most influential political philosophers of her generation and is the author of At the Margins of the Modern State. Tommy Curry is the Personal Chair of Africana Philosophy and Black Male Studies at the University of Edinburgh, renowned for his critical scholarship on the intersection of race, gender, and power. Alex O'Connor hosts.Don't hesitate to email us at podcast@iai.tv with your thoughts or questions on the episode!To witness such debates live buy tickets for our upcoming festival: https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/And visit our website for many more articles, videos, and podcasts like this one: https://iai.tv/You can find everything we referenced here: https://linktr.ee/philosophyforourtimesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack the economic forces reshaping the restaurant industry. From shrinking profit margins and the K-shaped economy to the rise of technology adoption and long-term demographic pressures, Dr. Moutray delivers a data-driven look at what operators are facing right now — and what they need to do to survive and grow in an increasingly divided consumer landscape.THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: Mailwise DBA direct2youTransform Your Direct Mail StrategyInnovative Solutions For Modern Direct Mail Campaigns That Deliver Resultswww.d2upostcards.com#FastCasualNation #RestaurantIndustry #RestaurantEconomicsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support.Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory

In this 11‑minute episode of The Edge of Risk Podcast by IRMI, American Farm Bureau Federation economist Faith Parum breaks down the pressures shaping the 2026 farm economy—from soaring input costs to shifting global trade policies. Listen as Dr. Parum explores how tariff and nontariff barriers are reshaping market access, what declining US soybean demand from China means for row‑crop profitability, and where producers face the greatest financial exposure.

Welcome to the Strength Connection!Alberto Uncini Manganelli is a former VP of Adidas and author of the book The Formula of Formulas, where he interviewed 22 world champions, asking 11 questions about the keys to success at the highest level.In this insightful interview, Alberto Uncini Manganelli shares his journey from sports to business, revealing the mindset and habits that define champions. Discover how top athletes think about winning, resilience, and continuous improvement, and learn practical strategies to elevate your performance.Check out more from Alberto at:InstagramChapters00:00 Introduction to Alberto Uncini Manganelli02:58 The Journey from Sports to Business05:54 Decoding the Champion's Mindset08:51 The Importance of Wanting to Win12:03 The Role of Long-Term Goals14:58 Insights from Top Athletes17:45 The Skill of Resilience and Resetting20:42 The Margins of Success23:16 Raising Standards Through Incremental Gains28:53 The Power of Rituals and Mindset in Performance34:21 Individualization in Training Methods40:12 Expectations vs. Standards in Achieving Success

March 08, 2026

Description Stop experimenting with AI and start driving ROI. Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX:https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this keynote from the Ultimate Partners Winter Retreat, Nina Harding breaks down the massive shift happening in the AI landscape as customers move away from experimental pilots and demand concrete ROI and business outcomes. She emphasizes that the era of selling products and time-and-materials approaches is over, replaced by outcome-based, verticalized selling where vendors and partners share accountability. Through real-world examples in healthcare and retail, Harding outlines how partners can leverage Copilot Studio, Agent 365, and Microsoft’s incentive programs to build specific superpowers, differentiate themselves, and ultimately lead the AI mission alongside Microsoft. Key Takeaways Customers are no longer interested in AI experimentation and now expect immediate, concrete return on investment. Selling products is dead; the modern approach requires a consultative, signal-based strategy focused entirely on business outcomes. The traditional time-and-materials billing model is disappearing as clients demand shared accountability for project success. Rapid proliferation of AI agents has made security and governance top priorities for enterprise customers. Success in the Microsoft ecosystem now requires partners to highly verticalize their value propositions by industry. Defining and clearly articulating your unique “superpower” or niche is essential to stand out to the Microsoft field sales organization. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJJ4Zcf4tZc&t=1920s If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags Nina Harding, Microsoft AI, artificial intelligence ROI, AI agents, Agent 365, Copilot Studio, outcome-based selling, verticalization, healthcare AI, retail AI, Cognizant, Davos 2026, AI governance, AI security, technology transformation, Ultimate Partner Live, enterprise AI adoption, digital transformation, system integrators, AI pilots Transcript [00:00:00] Nina Harding: More importantly, we want to serve more and more people faster, and AI is coming in and having a very practical approach in healthcare alone. [00:00:14] Vince Menzione: We just finished Ultimate Partners Winter Retreat here in beautiful Boca to a sold out [00:00:19] Vince Menzione: crowd. Come join me now for a compelling discussion on the impacts of the tectonic shifts we’re all seeing. [00:00:27] Vince Menzione: I feel incredibly fortunate, uh, to have this, this, this friend Nina who came into the studio here for the first time, actually earlier, well last year, geez, earlier this year. [00:00:38] Vince Menzione: It was last year, right after my accident I think. And, uh, we gotta spend some time together. And she was so good to, uh, make her time available and her team’s time available to come down here to be with us today. Ne I’m so thrilled to have you. I am going to turn over the stage to you. Uh, you’ve got some incredible learnings. [00:00:57] Vince Menzione: I know you’ve been on the AI tour with Microsoft. Yeah. And you’ve got some great learnings you’re gonna share about what’s happening. Absolutely. So it’s so great to have you. [00:01:05] Vince Menzione: It’s nice to see you. [00:01:06] Nina Harding: Nice to see you. [00:01:07] Nina Harding: Thank you. Well, thanks everyone. It’s great to see so many familiar faces and then some new faces as well. [00:01:15] Nina Harding: Um, because we’re in a little bit more of an intimate environment, I thought I would approach this a little bit differently. Give you some better insights into what we’re actually hearing at Microsoft with our customers, some of the things that are actually moving the needle that we’re seeing some of our partners do. [00:01:34] Nina Harding: So really to share some of the best practices out there, and hopefully you’ll leave with some more insight or tips and tricks, um, is really what I would love to do because our job. Collectively is really this transformation and to take a advantage of it out there in the market right now. [00:01:57] Nina Harding: Let’s see [00:01:57] Nina Harding: here. [00:01:59] Nina Harding: I can move slides. Well, this one isn’t moving. Any slides? [00:02:07] Nina Harding: No. Okay, great. So, um, some of you might. Uh, know that I’m a Floridian now, right? So I just live right up, up the way in Palm Beach. Um, so not too far, but I still wouldn’t miss this opportunity to be with all of you. Um, there is an energy that I think that we’re all feeling right now, and, uh, it’s, it’s palpable. [00:02:32] Nina Harding: We’re finding right now that our customers are really going from this landscape of experimenting with ai. Really to looking at the outcomes and having expectations around the momentum that they’re seeing. Right. That’s a big shift, right? We, and things are going pretty quickly, so I look at things almost quarterly now on what is that core message and what are, what is the difference in the tone from our customers of what they’re expecting? [00:03:06] Nina Harding: What we’re gonna talk a little bit about today is how all of you, our partners, are such a critical part of that journey. Actually, sometimes the most important part. You’re on the front lines with the customers. You’re the ones having those conversations. You’re the ones that are in there arm to arm with their teams, listening to what they’re experiencing, their challenges that they’re facing, and they’re really wanting now to go from this world of, Hey, we have lots of different pilots. [00:03:41] Nina Harding: Right? A lot of us know that right into, oh my gosh, it’s not about pilots anymore. They really want that ROI story. They want those outcomes and it’s looking very different for all of us. The way that we sell, the way that we go into our engagements, the way that we even price things, the way that we, meaning Microsoft partner and customer are locking arms is fundamentally very different. [00:04:15] Nina Harding: We have to go in collectively. We have to also be responsible for the outcomes and deliver on those. ROI is that headline that we’re all after. Right. It is the most important part of the puzzle right now because there isn’t a single boardroom that isn’t talking about AI and you guys are all experiencing it. [00:04:39] Nina Harding: It’s easier than ever to go in and have the conversation. The hardest part is how do we quickly get to an ROI study, so you or ROI case so that we can continue to build on that. And when you’re looking at this every. Customer is providing signals out there to help you grow that penetration into the account. [00:05:04] Nina Harding: And I’m gonna share some of the signals that I think that are really meaningful. But that’s the most important thing is we’re no longer, and I know you guys all know this, we’re no longer selling product at all anymore. We’re selling those outcomes. And I can tell you at Microsoft, we’re spending a tremendous amount of time retraining all of our sales reps. [00:05:25] Nina Harding: Really to be focused on how do you listen and do that consultative signal based sale. How do you actually go in and start selling, not selling, but I mean it is selling, but listening to the journey that they want to go through. What are the challenges that they’re facing and what’s the transformation that we’re able to kind of go and be a part of together with our partners? [00:05:54] Nina Harding: Notice it’s not about product. Product is just the tools in your tool chest to create those outcomes. So that’s gonna be really important as we go through this journey. [00:06:09] Nina Harding: Uh, so I saw the, the title of the session, uh, mentioned Davos and Davos was an interesting time. Uh, Microsoft has a very, actually, a very big presence at Davos and, uh, we had over 300 customer meetings there, uh, where we were meeting with some of the top companies around the globe. And it was very much affirmed that. [00:06:34] Nina Harding: Uh, the, the concept of AI we’re past, like curiosity stage, right? We’re way past that and we’re even past that. The art of the possible discussion, right? Uh, what the, the customers are almost at the point is, is come in and tell me, tell me what to do. Show me how to do it. It’s a very different position than, Hey, we’re presenting you with all these different possibilities. [00:07:08] Nina Harding: They’re They’re tired. They’re tired of all the possibilities. They wanna get to the brass tacks of how are you gonna change my customer service department? How are you gonna make it easier for my hr? How am I going to derive growth? What are some of the other things that you guys are experiencing out there? [00:07:23] Nina Harding: Like what are some of those other ROI drivers that people are asking, where am I gonna find the money? What for? For doing the project or out of the project? Other people? I Okay. To do the project. Okay. Resourcing. Okay. So what we’re seeing here is that, uh, the conversation is very much now focused on, okay, I need sec, I need security. [00:07:50] Nina Harding: That has been louder than ever before. So, Vince, the one thing I would say about that slide where you had those five different pillars, I’d put security on the bottom. Understanding your data, your data platform on the bottom, those are consistent across all those pillars. And then you can kind of hit at them. [00:08:10] Nina Harding: But, uh, there’s a lot of energy, there’s a lot of excitement, but it’s rooted in what are you materially going to do to change my business, and is your skin in the game to help me do it and I’ll pay you for that outcome? The concept of this time and materials approach gone. Gone. Even at Microsoft, we’re adjusting to the fact that the customers aren’t like, oh. [00:08:35] Nina Harding: Just hand it over to a system integrator and they’ll deliver on it. They’re like, oh no, we want you accountable too. You’re accountable for the outcomes as well, which is, oh gosh, okay. How do we do that in a partnery model that makes sense where we’re not tripping over each other, but we’re going in stronger together. [00:08:54] Nina Harding: We have one message together and we’re really focused on driving that. They’re also really concerned around the governance of all these agents, right? I see a lot of heads shaking on this. I mean, there’s a lot of proliferation right now. There’s a lot of excitement. I mean, I don’t know in your companies, but people are building agents faster and quicker, uh, than ever before, and some of them are really, really cool and they’re making huge point savings of times. [00:09:22] Nina Harding: Everything from. You know, some of you guys have probably heard me talk about everything from, uh, working on performance reviews to what are all of the incentives that we have for partners and making that easy to understand to, uh, to helping me understand patterns in our financials and what partners are really performing and growing. [00:09:45] Nina Harding: All of these agents are just popping up everywhere, but that creates a real governance issue and a real security issue for a lot of companies as well. So you take all of this and you hear this momentum and I think, uh, that together we’re really well poised. I think Microsoft is in a unique position together with you. [00:10:07] Nina Harding: On this frame, we have Agent 365, which helps you manage all these different agents, right? So that’s an exciting. How many of you’re familiar with agents? 365. Great. And I promise I’m not a product person. I’m not gonna do a lot of pitches, so don’t worry about that, um, at all. But, uh, we also have copilot studio and foundry, and so we have this whole, uh, set of capability, but that capability only comes to life if we’re able to connect with the customer, build the outcome, and making sure that the CEOs see all of us as their partners on that strategy and journey. [00:10:47] Nina Harding: So what does that look like? So I talked a little bit about signals, and signals, is that ability to listen to the, to the customers, what’s really, really me, uh, meaningful and frontier firms are doing this on a consistent basis all the time. Listening to the specific needs use cases, et cetera. So we at Microsoft have been trying to not only share all these different use cases that we have exposure to, but in addition. [00:11:17] Nina Harding: We turned on functionality, and I’ll talk about that in a little bit so that we can also share amongst each other as a community and understand those use cases. Uh, what’s really important is that, um, we’re moving from this world of all these like little one-off projects to a strategy and a platform that everyone wants to move to, but it’s all also getting powered by agents. [00:11:42] Nina Harding: That’s, that’s where we are today. So. [00:11:49] Nina Harding: Having a little trouble. I’m not gonna go through this too. Everyone’s familiar with this in, in here, the Frontier overview. If you’re not, let me know. Um, but basically one of the things that we find is really helpful is, is just sharing where we have seen proof behind having the conversation around the AI journey. [00:12:12] Nina Harding: Around the, the customer journey as you’re going out there. Um, there are really four different areas that we’ve talked about, and I’m not going to drain this ’cause there’s lots and you can, you can, uh, go onto the internet. You can see me talking about all these different areas. I don’t wanna spend too much time here, but these are four of the different. [00:12:33] Nina Harding: I would say categories where when you’re looking at different ways that you can make a material difference with the, the, the customer that we find the most momentum. So around enriching employee experiences, changing the way we, uh, engage with customers. Uh, changing processes as well. And then, uh, the outcomes, like really transforming the way we go about business. [00:12:59] Nina Harding: And we wanna do something about bringing it in to the flow of the work, everyday work. How many of you are finding that you’re actually using agents in your day-to-day workflow? Isn’t that cool? And then as you continue to use it, it becomes easier and easier and easier. And. I know from my team, I’m starting to look at what is the e everyday usage versus the monthly usage, right? [00:13:26] Nina Harding: It’s the every day. It’s become almost, uh, your second hand. And what’s important, uh, on this is that we’re giving, uh, listening to all these signals giving, um, the consistency, um, of the, the engagement with. With the clients, we’re able to all share the same stories and be able to scale at a much faster pace. [00:13:54] Nina Harding: So what does that look like? Here we go. Um, one of the things that we talk about at Microsoft, and the reason why I have this up here is that we’ve moved the conversation away from product into these customer outcomes, which really becomes about. Industry discussion. You have to speak their voice. You have to understand their business problems. [00:14:21] Nina Harding: You have to listen for what is materially different. So I’m actually sharing this, which you don’t normally see in a lot of presentations out to Microsoft about the structure of the organization, the takeaway. This is a sales organization in enterprise. The takeaway that I want you to have from that is look at the verticalization. [00:14:43] Nina Harding: We’ve done. It’s no longer by territory. The ball has moved, the conversation has moved entirely. So what does that say to all of you as well? Your value proposition as you’re working with our field has to be verticalized. The way you engage has to be verticalized. What you say, um, what the, the outcomes that you think differentiates yourself. [00:15:12] Nina Harding: Verticalized. So there isn’t the approach of like doing this like mask gorilla campaign across, for example, the Americas. And I’m just using this as an example on, um, the small and medium business side as well. Um, the, they’re a little bit more territory based still, but um, at least at the enterprise, everything has to be about customer value. [00:15:38] Nina Harding: Customer value. So, um, what this also suggests to me is the way we’re working and where we’ve seen a lot of success is when all of you are starting to tailor your messages and differentiate yourselves by customer success stories. Use cases where you’ve had premise, uh, penetration as a software partner, but you have to tie it back to the industry again. [00:16:05] Nina Harding: It’s just different. And so if I’m very transparent that that’s become, has gone from a nice to have to critical as the field is looking at, who are those go-to partners? It’s the go-to partners that speak retail. It’s the go-to partners that speak oil and gas and I don’t know, I, I, I see some nodding of heads. [00:16:27] Nina Harding: Some people know this, some people don’t. But I can see the shift tremendously over the last six months. So, um, hopefully that’s helpful in, in, in kind of sharing just how we’re walking the walk and talking the talk. So as I go back to industry, um, I thought what would be helpful is to take a few examples so you have a chance to see. [00:16:52] Nina Harding: In life, what are, what are we actually seeing at Microsoft? And if you guys are seeing something else, I would love to hear that too. But these, this is an example in healthcare and when we’re looking at, uh, a particular industry, we’re looking at what are some of the pain points? What are the top trends? [00:17:11] Nina Harding: What are some of the challenges folks are, are facing? And then what are the use cases that are really making traction here? This is a different way of taking that frontier vision and doing that click down by industry. And so what we’re also doing is we’re looking at who are partners that can help us in healthcare that can help answer some of these key challenges. [00:17:35] Nina Harding: Who are the ones that have the ability to have those material conversations in that trust? In healthcare, for example, there’s a ton of pressure. I mean. We all are consumers of healthcare. Hopefully we, all of us, have been lucky enough to have healthcare, um, in the, in this, uh, forum, but there’s a lot of clinician burnout, rising costs, right? [00:18:01] Nina Harding: The, the expense for, uh, medicines and so forth. But more importantly, we want to serve more and more people faster, and AI is coming in and having a very practical approach. Healthcare alone. So many of you, I talk about, um, the fact that at one point I was paralyzed, right? So I was paralyzed from T two down and, um, I go in every six months for an MRI, uh, to check, to check if everything’s still functioning. [00:18:32] Nina Harding: And the nervous system is going well. My doctor has had to manually look at that. Now he’s using AI to look at. History and the progression since 2008. That’s game changing. And on top of that, he is looking at me and having a conversation and looking in my eyes and observing me instead and using Dragon to have it feel epic to really think about how that’s changed my personal experience with the healthcare system and changed how a physician can show up. [00:19:09] Nina Harding: So there are many, many, um, many use cases around like patient access and, uh, innovation that we’re trying to do, surgeries, uh, being able to do clinical, clinical trials, but AI is everywhere and that’s what’s really important is that we’re figuring out for all of you what your software solution. Services offering, or even if you’re selling that, you have that value, value proposition down at that level. [00:19:43] Nina Harding: So let’s take a look at retail, for example. We have a short little video. Are we gonna be able to run that video? This is where we’re seeing a lot of shrinking. Margins, people wanting more, uh, intimacy with their customer. Here we go. [00:21:09] Nina Harding: Are we good? Well, that was a quite, uh, quite a nice, uh, uh, digital response to the end of the video. But what you’re seeing is people are using it in all different facets as we go into an example. I always love to do, use examples of partners that are hitting the mark ’cause we can all learn from ’em and myself included. [00:21:30] Nina Harding: We’re partners that are really successful. I chose to use Cognizant. Cognizant was actually our partner Si of the year, um, at the Americas level. And one of the things, and I won’t drain it on, um, the right hand side of this, uh, the slide, but they really are helping the customer’s move in a framework approach by industry, uh, to an AI landscape. [00:21:58] Nina Harding: Uh, they, they have secured an end-to-end solution and they’re focused on real business outcomes, and they have been growing at over 30% year over year. Huge. That’s great. Right? That’s what we all want for our businesses. And so what you’re seeing here is. They have a narrative around the frontier firms and they pull that through when they’re engaged in the clients and with our field. [00:22:27] Nina Harding: And then they’re using the incentives that we have. And don’t worry, I have a slide on some of the incentives we have, um, to actually make sure that they’re using those effectively in the pre-sales motion, but most importantly on the adoption and the change management after they’ve actually, uh, built out the solutions. [00:22:45] Nina Harding: And that’s really, really, really key here. So here’s an example of, um, of Cognizant at Coldwater Creek and Soft Surroundings. They had two different platforms and they brought it all together and then they brought Dynamics in as well. And what they have actually been able to do is improve a lot of the inventory management, the visualization, um, of all the inventory around. [00:23:14] Nina Harding: Around all of their stores and their warehouses, and they’ve been able to streamline the fulfillment and improved, uh, reduced back orders. What you’re seeing is those are all concrete examples of the outcomes that they were trying to drive for at the beginning, and those were all. Key pain points. And so they go in, cognizant will go in and understand with what are the material things that you are, that’s keeping you up at night, that is creating that drainage, uh, in your accounts or if you could transform, what does that look like? [00:23:52] Nina Harding: And so there, they spend the whole conversation together with Microsoft focused on doing that. And then we do the outcome based proposal. Very different, right? It creates for a much stronger vendor relationship, and the customer feels like they really have in the essence of the word partners, helping them to be successful. [00:24:15] Nina Harding: Right. [00:24:20] Nina Harding: Here we go. So I promised you some of the incentives, and I know you might just take a, a quick peek at some of these. These are, these are, um, some of the incentives that. Microsoft has put forward to help our partners on this journey. Uh, this is a slide that we’ve created from the America’s perspective to try and simplify it. [00:24:42] Nina Harding: Now there’s a lot behind it, right? But to try and help simplify, um, where are the incentives available? And I think this is one of the first times you’re actually saying what’s available for the sis. Versus for the software partners. And then we’re gonna hear more today about what’s also available for the channel partners as well. [00:25:03] Nina Harding: Um, it’s really thinking about what is your behavior as a partner? How are you showing up? How are, uh, you making a contribution to that customer? And then how can Microsoft best support you in that journey? So there’s all sorts of, uh, all sorts of incentives here, and it’s really, uh, designed to be flexible to what you need. [00:25:24] Nina Harding: But for the, I, I think it’s very focused on the value proposition as well that you bring to the table. So, um, I encourage you to take a look at this, make sure that you have this in your diary or your flipping of, of how are we maximizing, um, deals. And we can certainly go through a lot more of this. And we have webinars and so forth that will take you through all of that. [00:25:52] Nina Harding: Alright, so. I’ve talked a lot about this outcome-based selling, and that’s, it’s literally how Microsoft is starting to move forward on how do we go about engaging with the customers and with our partners. You’re gonna see, because our customers are asking more Microsoft involved and for us to go jointly into the opportunities. [00:26:16] Nina Harding: Not that we necessarily, we’re not building out a larger consulting force or anything like that, but. We want to make sure that the customer ask that Microsoft is engaged in working with our partners, is honored, um, and that we’re, we’re part of that, and that we’re also sharing our, our experiences and learning from all of you at the same time on who has the best, uh, approach, Beth best, best methodologies and best practices to light up our customers together. [00:26:51] Nina Harding: But the ROI doesn’t really show up just in dollars alone. We all know this, right? Um, it could be in, uh. Satisfaction it could be in care. So as you’re starting to look at this new evolution of how we’re really landing the value proposition of ai, we have to think outside of the box that it’s not just monetary and it’s not, I think you said savings or securing funds and so forth, but it’s really of how do I leapfrog into the modern world? [00:27:22] Nina Harding: How do I change that entire experience and think outside of the box? And, uh, make sure that the conversation is not just about how do we optimize certain practices, but how do we have this more executive level strategy conversation on the future of how we’re gonna engage with our clients, uh, their clients in a much more, um, I think transformative and personal [00:27:51] Nina Harding: way as we go forward. [00:27:54] Nina Harding: So we know that if the outcomes are the, what we’re looking to go drive, the next question is really how do we go do that? And that is gonna be through the agents on here. You’ll see just from from out in the market, what we see will light up the market. We think that, or I can’t even say we, IIDC says 81% of leaders are expecting agents. [00:28:24] Nina Harding: Full utilization in the next 12 to 18 months. And to be honest, I think this quote is probably even two months old. So we’re already, we’re probably down to like, you know, eight, eight to 12 months. And what I’m seeing that proliferation happening, it’s crazy. So understanding that value proposition, um, whether you’re from a software company or a services company or even some of our resellers, what’s that niche? [00:28:52] Nina Harding: What’s that industry or sub-industry? What is that? Horizontal. I go after customer service within, uh, the manufacturing vertical. Right. And then are you building out agents or do you have capability? And that’s what we’re doing internally at Microsoft as well, is to help make that really visible to the field so that you’re differentiated. [00:29:15] Nina Harding: Differentiation is gonna be really key right now because there’s so many people that say, oh, I do migration services, or I can help with data, or I can do security. But it’s the specificity around the industry and what you are truly known for within that space. So one of the things that we look to do is, is looking at all of the different areas where we see agents popping up. [00:29:44] Nina Harding: And this is a helpful slide. Sometimes I think, um, it starts to highlight, um, where we’re seeing some traction in financial services. Or in healthcare manufacturing. And then when I talk about the horizontals or the personas, you start to see some of the um, really repeatable, high return on investment type of things. [00:30:08] Nina Harding: Is this resonating with some of you guys? Yeah. I’m seeing a hit, a lot of head nods. This, if you’re on the services side, right? We’re in an intimate setting. This is where I encourage you to try and build an agent, right? Package that agent, put it on marketplace, make that available, and then make that known to our field sales organization. [00:30:27] Nina Harding: ’cause they are looking for quick wins along those lines. [00:30:31] Nina Harding: So on that, um, [00:30:36] Nina Harding: uh, one of the things that we’re along the journey for is the skilling. This is moving at such a fast pace, right? Um, so you’re looking at. Um, anthropic is really a big topic right now, right? Gemini, you’re looking at cloud, you’re, um, or Claude. [00:30:55] Nina Harding: Um, you’re looking at all of these different, uh, scenarios and one of the things at Microsoft is we really wanna be open to all of these different technologies because our customers are open. So we want to be part of taking you on that journey. And one of the things that we invest in white. [00:31:12] Nina Harding: Significantly is all of the training. Um, and I wanna encourage you guys to take advantage of it. Training is not a one-time thing. It is, it is a constant muscle that you must exercise. So as I come to my conclusion, I have a couple three key things, right? One is really understanding what your superpower is, right? [00:31:33] Nina Harding: The partners that I’m finding are really aligned well with the field are really winning. Those stories are the ones that have. Know and can articulate their superpowers. What am I known for? What are the use cases I can either build to or have agents against? And where have I done this consistently? And packaged really, really concretely, right? [00:31:55] Nina Harding: Um, this, this proliferate of like, I can do everything. Unfortunately, you get lost a little bit in the noise, right? So clear positioning, proof point’s, so critical right now, and reinforcing that credibility with the clients that have adopted. The second thing is that you’ve heard a little bit about this hopefully. [00:32:16] Nina Harding: How many of you have heard of the part partner success story? Okay, this is really, really key. We launched about maybe a month ago, and we already have over a hundred, uh, stories from partners, and the field is loving it. What it is is it brands the stories with your brand if you submit them. So what? Talk about credibility, um, with the field and with our marketers to have your name and that recognition picked up. [00:32:45] Nina Harding: It’s really, really fantastic. So I encourage you to do that. For those of you taking quick snaps, I did put a code on here, so if you wanna go straight to it, uh, you can take it. Um, and go explore with it. What’s nice about it is it’s AI based, so it will help you write these stories very, very quickly. [00:33:04] Nina Harding: There’s no reason why your sales reps can’t be writing these stories, and then yes, [00:33:11] Nina Harding: uh, yeah, you can do no meaning like from enterprise. No. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. You can do it on any, on any, there is a different level of fidelity of if you have the customer’s permission. Right. Um, to pu to publish it or not. And that’s some functionality we’re working on. If there’s enough traction of, of this is to help you guys. [00:33:32] Nina Harding: Secure that with Microsoft. Yeah. Um, but yeah, it can be any customer there. But I encourage you to take a look at that. And I know I’m two minutes over here, so I’m just gonna leave you with this. Um, at the end of the day, as I, as I wrap up here, I just wanna make sure that what, where we’re going and we’re going together, that it’s simple and actionable between us and it’s easy for our field to understand. [00:34:00] Nina Harding: Where you play the value proposition you play so that we’re going into deals even more effectively together. Right? So you heard industry, sub-industry, persona level or horizontal. Put that in if, um. Figuring out what your superpower is, making sure that you’re trained, that there’s evidence around the success, and capturing that in ways, uh, that are critical to not only your business, but giving us the visibility of that success. [00:34:31] Nina Harding: Like scream from the rack rafters. Use these tools to make sure that we know just how transformational you’ve been in some of the customers and where you’re uniquely winning. So, so important. So keep investing in the skilling. You can see my kind of like five power plays, right? And the last one always being that superpowers. [00:34:56] Nina Harding: So with that, um, if we do all of these things consistently, you won’t just be keeping up with ai. I think we will all be leading on that AI mission. So thank you very much. I appreciate it. [00:35:14] Vince Menzione: Don’t forget, ultimate Partner Live is coming soon, May 11th through the 13th in beautiful Bellevue, Washington. I hope to see you there.

Ranjan Roy from Margins is back for our weekly discussion of the latest tech news. We cover: 1) OpenAI hits $25 billion ARR, Anthropic hits $19 billion ARR 2) Are ARR numbers trustworthy? 3) OpenAI's insane revenue expectations 4) Did Apple actually play this perfectly? 5) We need a Tim Cook with claw hands Apple ad 6) AI lab IPOs are brewing, what will the S-1s look like? 7) Anthropic's still talking with the Pentagon 8) Dario's internal memo 9) Wait, was this actually marketing for Anthropic? 10) Or was it a real worry about AI-enabled surveillance? 11) McDonald's CEO's unwitting viral moment --- Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here's 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Robertson, CEO of MediaZest, to discuss the company's accelerating momentum after a strong period of revenue growth and its swing to profitability.Geoff talks us through the business model, its focus on recurring revenues, and what sets MediaZest apart in the digital signage and in-store media market. We explore the key contract wins driving a third increase in revenues, the outlook for new business, and how the company plans to sustain profitability and expand margins into 2026 and beyond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fees, fees, fees. The Trade Desk is facing market pressure in all directions: from rival DSPs offering lower fee structures, SSPs and agencies clashing over its OpenPath product and bearish investors disappointed with growth. Guest Sarah Caputo, founder of consultancy Fraction Method, tells us why The Trade Desk should reduce its margin and make its fees more transparent.

This week Jason, Joe, Liam, Marty and Scott gather to talk the Tommy Gemmell statue unveiling, Ibrox, Pittodrie, and Ibrox again. Peppered in the chat is talk of the Collective, Green Brigade, and of course, random nonsense. Hail Hail!!

f you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. Each episode is also available to buy individually for $5 (Buy it through a web browser and not the Patreon app. You'll get charged extra if you purchase through the app.) You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more! My guest this week is Bronx-based DJ, writer, photographer, educator, radio host, and founder of HangTime Magazine and Hangtime Radio Flwrshrk. We spoke about Send Help, Finding Nemo, growing up around entertainers, melding together all her practices, the mark of a good DJ, running HangTime, and more stories and anecdotes than I could keep track of. Come fuck with us. Visit the HangTime Magazine and tune into HangTime Radio every Friday morning from 9-11AM on Newtown Radio. Listen to my episode of HangTime Radio here. Follow Flwrshrk on Instagram and TikTok: @flwrshrk Reel Notes stands in solidarity with American immigrants against ICE and the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. Protest, fight back, and fuck the system.  My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped in to all things Dylan Green.  Follow Hearing Things at hearingthings.co or @hearingthingsco on all social platforms.   

Wayne and Rob discuss the difference between markups and margins and how it effects your bottom line. Follow Bona US Professional online: Website: https://www1.bona.com/en-us/professional/ Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/BonaProfessional Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonauspro/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonapro.us/

Likefolio's Landon Swan examines sentiment data around Kroger (KR). He looks at their past earnings and their “methodical” efforts to improve margins. However, this is pressuring their revenue, and Landon says they're lagging behind competition for consumer demand. He thinks investors will focus on e-commerce. Landon compares Kroger (KR) to Dollar General (DG).======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Options involve risks and are not suitable for all investors. Before trading, read the Options Disclosure Document. http://bit.ly/2v9tH6DSubscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-network/id1460719185Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-Network/dp/B07KRD76C7Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/191928615bd8d47686f94682aefaa007/watchWatch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplus-exploreWatch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-network/Follow us on X – https://twitter.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/schwab-network/About Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Interview with Keith Boyle, CEO, New Found GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/new-found-gold-tsxvnfg-permitted-infrastructure-accelerates-path-to-gold-production-9383Recording date: 2nd of March 2026New Found Gold is executing a calculated transformation from exploration company to near-term producer under CEO Keith Boyle, who joined the company one year ago with a clear mandate: convert five years of exploration work into cash flow generation.The cornerstone of this strategy was the acquisition of Maritime Resources, which delivered two critical assets—the producing Hammerdown mine and the permitted Pine Cove Mill. Hammerdown achieved first pour in November 2025 and is ramping to steady-state production, generating immediate cash flow at current gold prices. Meanwhile, the Pine Cove Mill, which restarted in March 2025, will be expanded from 700 to 1,400 tons per day capacity to process material from both Hammerdown and the flagship Queensway project.This acquisition-driven approach solves a fundamental challenge: accelerating Queensway production by 2-3 years. Building an on-site mill would require in-pit tailings deposition, significantly extending permitting timelines and forcing continuous dilutive financing. Instead, New Found Gold plans to ship Queensway material 270 kilometers along the Trans-Canada Highway to Pine Cove by the end of 2027.The economics prove compelling. Queensway's Phase 1 targets 700 tons per day at grades of 9-10 grams per ton gold, with all-in sustaining costs of $1,300 per ounce. Combined trucking and processing costs approximately one gram per ton, leaving substantial margins at current gold prices above $5,000 per ounce. The company projects over $250 million in free cash flow during the first four years, which will fund construction of an on-site mill for Phase 2 expansion.Recent grade control drilling on 5x5 meter centers addresses previous concerns about "nuggety" mineralization, revealing instead consistent gold distribution as fine flakes throughout high-grade shoots. This systematic de-risking, combined with visible gold at surface in the Iceberg zone, positions Queensway for low-capital-intensity production start-up while the company continues district-scale exploration with 100,000 meters of drilling planned for 2026.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/new-found-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

Today, we are dropping another episode in our "chats" series, but expanding the audience set to include more folks. This episode is Founder Chats - hearing from those scaling the companies themselves.In this episode, we are talking with Max Denevich, Co-founder and CRO of LoyaltyPlant. Max is going to share with us to road he travelled, entering into this industry, his go to market strategies, scaling across geographic region - and much, much more.QuestionsBefore we talk about products and scale, tell us a bit about your path to this point. What experiences shaped the way you think about business and leadership before LoyaltyPlant?At what point did you realise you wanted to work with complex, traditional industries rather than consumer apps or “easy” tech?Why foodtech, and specifically Quick Service Restaurants? What made you believe this industry had deep structural problems worth solving with technology?What made you decide to join LoyaltyPlant, and what potential did you see that others might have missed?You're often referred to as a co-founder today. How did the transition happen from an executive role to shaping the company's future at that level?LoyaltyPlant was close to running out of investment at one point. What were the first decisions that fundamentally changed the company's trajectory?What were the key milestones that turned LoyaltyPlant from a struggling company into a global enterprise business, from the first major client to scaling across 30 countries?You've worked across the US, UK, MENA, Europe, and CIS. What did you learn about scaling the same product across very different markets, and what absolutely doesn't translate?You built new go-to-market strategies that now generate over 90% of new sales. What did you change compared to a classic SaaS sales playbook, and why did it work in enterprise QSR?Margins are shrinking, aggregators dominate, and costs are rising. What's actually happening on the ground right now in QSR and foodtech, and how should companies adapt?Tell us about a decision you got wrong. What did it cost the business, and what did it teach you as a leader?What advice would you give founders building B2B products for traditional industries today, especially around scale, partnerships, and staying relevant?SponsorsUnblockedBraingrid.TECH DomainsMezmoLinkshttps://loyaltyplant.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/denevich/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/codestory/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, we sit down with Daniel Taylor, National Sales Manager at AgriFinancial (AgFi), and Ethan Turley, Underwriter, to talk about agriculture through the eyes of credit underwriters. Margins are tight. Interest rates are elevated. Commodity prices have softened. Input costs remain stubbornly high. So what are lenders actually seeing? We break down:

Stop Racing Someone Else's Race and Start Winning Yours! That's the message Great Practice, Great Life has today. Steve Riley welcomes back Jake Thompson, the Chief Encouragement Officer at Compete Every Day and an Atticus community favorite, to deliver a wake-up call every ambitious attorney and firm owner needs to hear. Drawing fresh inspiration from his two newest books, The Line, a compelling story about touching the line and claiming that extra inch of excellence, and Beat Yesterday, the research-driven guide to outrunning your own yesterday, Jake reveals why the relentless pursuit of being "the best" is quietly sabotaging your fulfillment, your energy, and your firm's long-term growth. Together they expose the hidden traps that derail high-achievers: toxic comparison that breeds complacency or despair, an ego that turns feedback into a personal attack, and the exhausting chase for external trophies (bigger revenue numbers, flashier verdicts, "top firm" status) that never deliver lasting satisfaction. Jake shares clear, immediately usable frameworks to break free: Clarify the real game you actually want to win (your unique vision of a great practice and great life, not someone else's scoreboard). Redefine competition as beating yesterday's version of yourself. Harness small daily margins that create massive separation. Transform uncomfortable feedback (from clients, team members, or lost opportunities) into pure momentum instead of defensiveness. Steve shares a key insight on law firm profitability: lawyers who commit to consistent physical discipline and energy management often double their income within a year—not through magic, but through sharper focus, bolder confidence, the discipline to reject bad cases, and the ability to project the reliability and longevity that high-value clients instinctively trust. If you're ready to silence the comparison noise, stop borrowing other people's goals like ill-fitting clothes, and start building a practice that funds and fiercely protects the life you truly want, this conversation hands you both the mindset revolution and the practical tools to make it happen. -------- In this episode, you will hear: The difference between being the best and becoming your best Clarifying the game you actually want to win in your practice and life How unhealthy comparison fuels ego, complacency, and burnout Using comparison as a learning tool instead of a threat Touching the line and the power of small daily disciplines Why physical health and personal discipline impact financial performance Turning uncomfortable feedback into growth instead of defensiveness -------- Subscribe & Review Never miss an episode. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube. ⭐Like what you hear? A quick review helps more people find the show.⭐ -------- If there's a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at steve.riley@atticusadvantage.com. -------- Supporting Resources: Jake Thompson https://www.jakeathompson.com/ Book: Beat Yesterday: The Playbook for playing life up to your full potential by Jake Thompson https://www.amazon.com/Beat-Yesterday-Playbook-playing-potential/dp/1636988938/ Book: The Line: A Story of Excellence in the Margins by Jake Thompson https://www.amazon.com/Line-Story-Excellence-Margins/dp/196812716X/ The Summit https://atticussummit.com/ Episode 34: Your Teammates Determine Your Trajectory with Jake Thompson https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast/your-teammates-determine-your-trajectory-with-jake-thompson/ Episode 79: Creating a Legacy of Resilient and Inspirational Leadership with Jake Thompson https://atticusadvantage.com/podcast/creating-a-legacy-of-resilient-and-inspirational-leadership-with-jake-thompson/ Build My Great Team https://atticusadvantage.com/staffing/ Newsletter https://atticusadvantage.com/newsletter-signup/ -------- Curious about optimising your life as an attorney? Contact Atticus to see whether our law firm coaching can help you strengthen attorney success, refine your law firm business strategy, and build a practice that actually supports your life. This podcast for lawyers is part of our broader legal podcast library, offering practical insights on how to grow a law firm through stronger law firm leadership, law firm pricing and management, smarter marketing, intentional hiring, efficient operations, healthy law firm culture, and sustainable profitability, all while addressing law firm burnout and the realities of modern practice. You can also sign up for our newsletter to get practical insights on how to grow a law firm: from law firm leadership and management to marketing, hiring, operations, culture, and profitability, so you can build a Great Practice and a Great Life.

Arsenal find a way again.In this episode, we break down a tense 2–1 win over Chelsea decided by three crucial set pieces — two Arsenal corners and one unfortunate own goal. It wasn't a flowing, dominant performance, but it was decisive when it mattered.We begin with Arteta's Non-Negotiables and the pre-match context: late fitness doubts, midfield reshuffles, and what Odegaard's absence meant structurally. From there, we analyse the game's rhythm — an unexpectedly open, end-to-end contest that lacked control in key phases.The first half saw Arsenal strike from a beautifully worked corner routine before conceding from one of their own defensive lapses. We discuss the Zubimendi performance debate, the midfield spacing issues, and the growing theme of game-state management.In the second half, another corner proved decisive. We assess Timber's impact, Martinelli's directness off the bench, and whether Arsenal's attacking structure is functioning without its usual creative axis. Raya's key late saves and Arsenal's increasingly nervy final ten minutes come under the microscope — is this resilience or risk?There's a wider conversation about late-game control, possession surrender, and whether this side is defaulting too quickly into defensive protection mode.Part Two includes:– The Who Am I? Game– A full Whip Around the Grounds– A bumper VAR review featuring controversy from Bournemouth, Burnley, Leeds and beyond– Title race implications– Relegation theatre– And a look ahead to Brighton, with selection dilemmas and midfield questions front and centreThree points secured. Pressure maintained. Questions still lingering.The run-in tightens — and Arsenal stay in it.Chapters:(00:00) - Arteta's Non-Negotiables Intro(00:53) - Chelsea Win Context & Team News Reaction(01:13) - Line-Up Breakdown & Ødegaard Absence(03:32) - Stats of the Game, Early Rhythm & Open Midfield Debate(05:25) - Sánchez & Chelsea's Back Line(09:56) - 1–0 | Saliba Scores from Saka Corner(12:47) - 1–1 | Rice Penalty Debate & Equaliser(15:50) - Zubimendi Performance Discussion(22:31) - Second-Half Patterns & Martinelli Impact(23:35) - 2–1 | Timber Heads Home from a Corner(25:35) - Neto Red Card & Game Control Issues(29:40) - Rice Injury & “Only Ever Scoring from Set Pieces”(31:06) - 7 Passes vs 53: Late-Game Surrender, Disallowed Goal & Mighty Raya(35:16) - Did Chelsea Deserve a Penalty? João Pedro & Diving Debate(37:16) - Living in the Margins(40:50) - Arteta on Dominance: “Death by 100,000 Passes”(46:08) - Full-Time Whistle Reaction & Bookies Shorten(47:18) - PT.2 Who Am I? (Game)(49:03) - Whip Around the Grounds (MW28)(56:53) - VARse: MW28 Bumper Controversy Review(01:11:48) - PL MW28 Reaction: UCL Qualification, Relegation Picture & Manager Interviews(01:19:27) - Brighton Preview: Team News & Title Pressure(01:27:31) - Who Am I? Reveal & Closing

Nebraska women's basketball may need a big run in the Big Ten Tournament to keep its postseason hopes alive. Ravi Lulla and Enrique Alvarez-Clary dive into a full preview for the Huskers' Big Ten Tournament path on the latest Nebraska Shootaround podcast. Nebraska basketball coverage is presented by Union Bank & Trust. Hurrdat Sports Live is presented by NextGen Male Medical. Request an appointment: https://nextgenmalemedicalclinic.com/request-an-appointment/Tune into Hurrdat Sports Live from 7-10 am each weekday. Get the latest Nebraska Huskers news and analysis from Hail Varsity by Hurrdat Sports. We take a fun, fresh approach to updating you on the Huskers. Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HailVarsity Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HailVarsity Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hailvarsity Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hailvarsity Follow Hurrdat Sports on social: Twitter: http://twitter.com/hurrdatsports Instagram: http://instagram.com/hurrdatsports Tiktok: http://tiktok.com/hurrdatsports Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HurrdatSports Hurrdat Sports is a digital production platform dedicated to the new wave of sports media. From podcasting to video interviews along with live events and entertainment, we're here to change how you consume sports. Find us online at Hurrdatsports.com #GBR #Huskers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FREE Event Recording and the GLP-1 Level 1 Cert Free: email me at scott@theprofitlifestyle.comAsher Med demo video and Scott's Profit Lifestyle link to receive $1,000 off plus a free month:

What if the root of most chronic symptoms isn't “one diagnosis”… but cellular stress?In Part 1, Susan sits down with Dr. Bill Rawls, MD to explore what happens when we live outside the margins set by our genes, and how modern life (processed foods, toxins, blue light, chronic stress, poor sleep, sedentary days) shifts cells into a constant survival state. Dr. Rawls breaks down his Five Elements of Wellness and why supporting the cell is the most practical place to start.IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:Why inflammation and chronic symptoms often trace back to cellular stressWhat it means to live “outside the margins” of our genetic programmingThe 5 Elements of Wellness: food, environment, recovery, movement, and microbesWhy sleep + downtime matter for cellular repair (autophagy)How simple daily movement helps circulation, lymph flow, and inflammationThe power of nose breathing to shift the nervous system and exercise stressStay tuned for Part 2, where we go deeper into microbes + herbs.Learn more about our guest Dr. Bill Rawls, MD:Vital Plan Co-Founder and Medical DirectorFor over 30 years, Dr. Bill Rawls has dedicated his life to medicine. When a health crisis with chronic Lyme disease abruptly changed his quality of life, he came face to face with the limitations of modern medicine and began to explore the vast possibilities of alternative treatments. Restoring his health through holistic and herbal therapies inspired him to share his revelations on the importance of cellular wellness for defending against microbes and other root causes of illness. Today, he works to bring life and vitality to others as he helps them establish their own paths to wellness through modern herbology.Through his bestselling books, Unlocking Lyme and The Cellular Wellness Solution, Dr. Rawls demonstrates why crucial herbal phytochemicals are key to protecting cellular health and strengthening the body's defense against illness. Dr. Rawls is also the founder of Vital Plan, a holistic health company, where he developed the signature RESTORE180 program, an advanced herbal protocol that has helped thousands to reclaim vibrant health. Dr. Rawls is a #1 bestselling author and seasoned speaker and interviewee. With a compassionate approach and an incredible depth of knowledge, Dr. Rawls has a distinct ability to make scientific concepts accessible and enriching for everyone.RESOURCES:Website: https://rawlsmd.com/resources/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rawlsmd/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rawlsmd/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RawlsMD%20LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-rawls-md/https://healthyawakening.co/2026/03/02/episode113/Connect with Susan: https://healthyawakening.co/Visit the website: healthyawakening.co/podcastFind listening links here: https://healthyawakening.co/linksP.S. Want reminders about episodes? Sign up for our newsletter, you can find the link on our podcast page! https://healthyawakening.co/podcast

Send a textShould your team be selling merchandise on Amazon?In this episode, Jeremy breaks down the real strategic implications of adding Amazon as a sales channel — from margin math and SEO strategy to customer data ownership and cannibalization risk. If you're responsible for revenue, merchandise, or digital marketing, this is your practical roadmap before you jump in.Key Topics CoveredWhy Amazon is more search engine than storefront — and why that mattersThe real math behind Amazon's 15% referral feeFBA vs. FBM: Fulfillment by Amazon vs. Merchant fulfillmentThe hidden cost of losing first-party customer dataWhy you should never push your fans from Shopify to AmazonHow Amazon SEO works (and why semantic SEO matters)Why city/state-forward merchandise should launch before team-branded itemsHow to prevent Shopify cannibalizationPricing strategy: Why you may want to charge more on AmazonUsing Amazon strictly as an acquisition channelConnecting Shopify to Amazon with Marketplace ConnectModeling margin before listing a single productChapters00:00 Introduction to Selling Merchandise on Amazon 01:59 Why Amazon Is a Powerful Sales Channel 03:48 Revenue Potential During Peak Seasons 05:42 Fulfillment Options: FBA vs FBM 07:08 Understanding Amazon Fees and Margins 08:32 Customer Data Ownership and Marketing Challenges 10:54 The Importance of SEO and Search Demand 13:14 Keyword Strategies and Search Terms 14:58 Starting with City and State Apparel 18:23 Semantic SEO and Listing Optimization 20:12 Connecting Shopify and Amazon 21:32 Getting Started and Learning the Platform 22:29 Pricing, Margins, and Protecting Your Brand 23:25 Strategies to Increase Sales and Customer Lifetime Value 24:46 Balancing Amazon and Shopify for Growth 26:10 Next Steps and Deeper ConversationsCore Strategic Takeaways1. Amazon is an acquisition engine — not a loyalty platform. You will gain reach. You will gain visibility. But Amazon owns the customer relationship — not you.2. Start broad before going branded. City-forward, state-pride, and general baseball apparel can build search velocity and reviews before you launch deeper team SKUs.3. SEO is the real game. Amazon rankings are driven by relevance + performance + conversion velocity. Without visibility, there are no sales.4. Model your numbers before you move inventory. Understand your true profit after fees. Align pricing carefully. Consider charging slightly more on Amazon to protect margin.Resources MentionedShopify Marketplace ConnectMarketplace Connect TipsFulfillment by Merchant Overview & Referral FeesAmazon Seller CentralAmazon Seller UniversitySemantic SEO research toolsJungle ScoutHelium 10Sports Marketing Machine on LinkedInSports Marketing Machine on InstagramBook a call with Jeremy from Sports Marketing Machine

Ranjan Roy from Margins is back for our weekly discussion of the latest tech news. We cover: 1) The origins of Anthropic's stare-down with the Pentagon 2) Claude's use in the operation to capture Venezuela president Nicolas Maduro 3) Was Claude really being used for autonomous warfare or mass surveillance, and did the military seek it out? 4) Maybe this is just a culture clash 5) Anthropic's marketing win 6) Should AI be used for autonomous warfare? 7) OpenAI raises $110 billion 8) Is that money real? 9) Block to cut nearly half its staff 10) Can AI be helpful in managing large companies? 11) Another science fiction story leads to a market panic. --- Enjoying Big Technology Podcast? Please rate us five stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ in your podcast app of choice. Want a discount for Big Technology on Substack + Discord? Here's 25% off for the first year: https://www.bigtechnology.com/subscribe?coupon=0843016b Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Fanbase Feature, The Fanbase Weekly co-host Bryant Dillon is joined by special guests David Accampo (writer – Fanbase Press' The Margins, Lost Angels, Spectral: A Showcase of Fear), Travis Rivas (founder - Super-Abled Comics, writer - Accidental Aliens, The Unstoppable Cherub), and Nathan Cayanan (writer - Suspicious Activity, 2022 member of the Milestone Initiative) to participate in a thorough discussion regarding Marvel Comics' Civil War (2006) in light of the comic book mini-series' 20th anniversary, with topics including why audiences love to see superheroes turn against one another, the 10th anniversary of the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Captain America: Civil War, what superhero "civil wars" reflect about America - both past and present, and more. (Beware: SPOILERS for Civil War and Captain America: Civil War abound in this panel discussion!)

We found a cheat code for learning Spanish using Claude and Anki (without studying grammar). Plus, the Cult Brand marketing framework that turns customers into superfans.In this episode, Andrew reveals why he is moving to Mexico City and going all in on his startup. Sean breaks down how he scaled his agency to 18 employees and the specific Positioning Strategy he uses to charge premium prices.Links:Andrew's Twitter: @AndrewAskinsAndrew's website: https://www.andrewaskins.com/MetaMonster: https://metamonster.ai/Slackletter: https://slackletter.com/Sean's Twitter: @seanqsunMiscreants: http://miscreants.com/Margins: http://margins.so/Sean's website: https://seanqsun.com/For more information about the podcast, check out https://www.smalleffortspod.com/Transcript:00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,200I've had several situations where I just like make stupid mistakes. I feel very envious of the00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:10,800ability to like, spend all your time and energy on like one thing, we kind of made a mistake that I00:00:10,800 --> 00:00:15,200think I've seen a lot of people make. Ever felt like you're stuck making the same mistakes or on00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:20,480the verge of something big but held back? Today we explore founder struggles, mistakes, burnout, and00:00:20,480 --> 00:00:25,239focusing on real growth. We'll discuss creating content for people, not algorithms, and staying00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:29,640grounded in what matters. I'm Andrew Askins, founder of meta monster, and I'm Sean's son00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:34,000founder of miscreants. Let's dive into the journey. Like I think a lot of founders like, identify that800:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,559by accident and build a product around that. I don't give it. AI thinks I'm stupid. AI already900:00:38,560 --> 00:00:43,199knows I'm stupid. You are selling a methodology where your solution is the only product that1000:00:43,200 --> 00:00:47,240actually fits said methodology. Learning a language is a lot of work. Demand is a fluid1100:00:47,240 --> 00:00:52,600substance. My biggest thing is like social anxiety of picking up and making mistakes. Every small1200:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,400move is how we can.1300:00:59,970 --> 00:01:06,489How's your Spanish going? Pretend I was in Spanish. Um.1400:01:07,050 --> 00:01:13,769Not something smart. So menos lento is is muy, uh. Muy Modesto.1500:01:13,809 --> 00:01:20,729Muy, muy Modesto. Um, I, uh, I have been texting a lot in Spanish lately, so, like, my1600:01:20,730 --> 00:01:27,449reading and writing has been getting a lot better. Faster than my speaking and listening. Um,1700:01:27,449 --> 00:01:33,009I still, I was just hanging out with a bunch of friends last night. Um, and to be fair, uh, four of1800:01:33,010 --> 00:01:39,650my friends, um, were were ganging up on one of their boyfriends. And so it was,1900:01:39,809 --> 00:01:46,689uh, there was a lot of very rapid Spanish, um, and a lot of, like, g. Longo slang flying around, so,2000:01:46,730 --> 00:01:51,089like, not the easiest to understand, but I was just, like, I was just sitting back laughing, like, I2100:01:51,089 --> 00:01:55,929don't understand any of this. Although, interestingly enough, understood everything at the2200:01:55,929 --> 00:02:02,830same time. You know, like the universal language. It was pretty obvious what was happening. Nice.2300:02:03,550 --> 00:02:10,470Also, I heard you have a new, uh, nickname in Mexico City. Yeah, we don't need to go into that.2400:02:10,470 --> 00:02:17,270That's fine. I feel like. Yeah. Okay. All right. Fine. Am I? My friends, Rosa and Wyatt. Uh,2500:02:17,270 --> 00:02:23,710Rosa's from here. Um. Uh, and, uh, she's dating my my good friend Wyatt. Um,2600:02:23,750 --> 00:02:30,629and one night, I may have had a little too much fun, and, uh, they had to take care of me a bit,2700:02:30,630 --> 00:02:37,630and I got got dubbed El Polito clause. Um, which means, uh, the little colored chick.2800:02:37,830 --> 00:02:44,589Um, the the backstory is in Mexico City. Like, I don't know, 10 or 20 years2900:02:44,589 --> 00:02:49,550ago. Uh, there used to be markets everywhere where you could get these little baby chicks that had3000:02:49,550 --> 00:02:55,710been dyed like neon colors. And the dye was very bad for the chicks. And so, um, you would, like, buy3100:02:55,710 --> 00:03:01,319them for your kid, and they would inevitably die within two weeks. Um, and so they were like, just3200:03:01,320 --> 00:03:08,240very hard to keep alive. And so, Polito declares, is a, uh, is a joke you3300:03:08,240 --> 00:03:14,720make about someone when they can't take care of themselves, when they when they need, need help. You3400:03:14,720 --> 00:03:20,319know, I don't think you told me. Did I not give you the context? No, that was way more morbid than I3500:03:20,320 --> 00:03:27,320thought. I thought it was just like. Like it meant, like ugly duckling or like. I mean, it kind of does.3600:03:27,320 --> 00:03:33,640It has a morbid start, but it basically just means, like, are you dumb little thing you need, like,3700:03:34,440 --> 00:03:40,839we got you. It's okay. Um,3800:03:41,600 --> 00:03:48,159sorry. I'm just. I'm trying to imagine I got it all in neon, baby chick. Oh.3900:03:49,240 --> 00:03:56,179Um. Oh, that's. Did you find them? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, they're kind of like peeps, you know? they're4000:03:56,179 --> 00:04:02,979like poop colored. Yeah, but, like living beings. Yeah. So very, very. Oh, wow. Okay. They4100:04:02,979 --> 00:04:09,899got. All right. Next topic. Um. One thing I've been doing, though, that's been fun. Um,4200:04:10,099 --> 00:04:15,499so to try to work on my Spanish, I there's this app that all the, like, language learning nerds use4300:04:15,500 --> 00:04:22,499called Anki. Um, it's a spaced repetition flashcard app. So basically you practice words and then like4400:04:22,499 --> 00:04:26,858when you get them right, it's depending on how easy or hard it was. It'll like space out how4500:04:26,859 --> 00:04:30,859often it shows it to you. So like as you learn words you see them less often. The new words4600:04:30,859 --> 00:04:36,699you're struggling with. You see them more often. Um, and so I've been wanting to use Anki for a really4700:04:36,700 --> 00:04:41,379long time. Um, but like, their interface is atrocious. It's a great app. It's all open source,4800:04:41,379 --> 00:04:46,339but it's like the most painful thing to enter stuff. And they have this, like, incredible4900:04:46,339 --> 00:04:53,299community of, um, of like people who publish free decks of words. But every deck I found, I5000:04:53,299 --> 00:04:59,309was just like, I like this isn't what I want to learn. Like, this isn't helpful. Um, and so I've been5100:04:59,310 --> 00:05:04,789wanting to create my own deck for a long time, and I was like, kind of like, maybe I'll just vibe code5200:05:04,790 --> 00:05:08,789something....

Welcome to the Farmer Rapid Fire on RealAg Radio brought to you by Corteva Crop Protection! On today’s show, host Lyndsey Smith is joined by: Kevin Buchner of Brownsville, Ont.; Chris Allam of Edmonton, Alta.; Robert Brunel of Ste. Rose, Man.; Nick Dubuc of Southwest Que.; Corteva Agronomist Linda Hinz, based out of Sask, Thoughts... Read More

If your payroll keeps climbing but reimbursement isn't, something has to change. In this episode, Brian sits down with Wendy Lucas from Highbridge to break down how a remote PT front desk powered by a virtual team can stabilize staffing, improve patient experience, and protect your margins — without sacrificing the human touch. They discuss the real pain points practice owners face: turnover, call-outs, inconsistent collections, Medicare concerns, and rising administrative costs. More importantly, they explain how a live, tech-enabled front desk model can reduce overhead, increase consistency, and help you build a leaner, more profitable practice. If you're serious about lowering payroll, improving operational stability, and modernizing your PT front office, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.  

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. Each episode is also available to buy individually for $5 (Buy it through a web browser and not the Patreon app. You'll get charged extra if you purchase through the app.) You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more! My guest this week is Singaporean rapper-producer Mary Sue. We spoke about Bugonia,  No Other Choice, the Singaporean movie theater experience, the work of Stephen Chow, Kanye West, and Earl Sweatshirt, how his time in the army led to him making music in earnest, honoring his heritage and putting his own spin on hip-hop, and the creative process behind several of his project, particularly Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword and the bloomcycle-produced EP Unintended Self Expressions From Selling Reflections On The Internet. Come fuck with us. Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Unintended Self Expressions From Selling Reflections On The Internet is available exclusively on Bandcamp. Head to Sue's Bandcamp page to cop both. Follow Mary Sue on Instagram (@sweetmarysue) and Twitter (@marysueraps).  Reel Notes stands in solidarity with American immigrants against ICE and the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. Protest, fight back, and fuck the system.  My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped in to all things Dylan Green.  Follow Hearing Things at hearingthings.co or @hearingthingsco on all social platforms.   

This week we meet a farmer using a combination of crop techniques to promote better soil health, reduce costs and improve margins. Some of the ideas are time proven methods such as cover crops, but the way this operation seeds those covers and integrates them with livestock provide opportunities to thrive.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What if the restaurants you admire most were never meant to be copied?Alex Pfaffenbach came up inside some of the most celebrated dining rooms in the world—Eleven Madison Park, The NoMad, Quality Branded—where ambition was massive and the standards were unforgiving. He saw what happens when lightning strikes. He also learned that lightning isn't a business model.In this conversation, we break down the difference between managing a restaurant and owning one, why being busy doesn't mean being profitable, and how timing, capital, and emotional resilience shape long-term success. Alex shares how he blended world-class hospitality with commercial discipline to build Marquette and Argyle without chasing anomalies.If you're building something that has to last, and not just impress, this episode will recalibrate how you think about growth.To learn more about Marquette and Argyle and follow Alex's journey as an independent operator, visit marketterestaurant.com._________________________________________________________Today's episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.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.com

The Copa Libertadores qualifying rounds reach a decisive moment this week. On this episode of the SoccerMetrics Copa Libertadores Show, Howard Hamilton previews all eight second-leg matches in the tournament's second preliminary round, where every tie remains on the edge after tightly contested first legs.From Sporting Cristal and 2 de Mayo's dramatic draw to controversy surrounding Argentinos Juniors and Barcelona, the margins are thin and the tension is rising across South America. Injury concerns, suspensions, altitude challenges, and squad rotation decisions could all determine who moves one step closer to the group stage.Plus, a look at key players to watch, tactical storylines across each bracket track, and what's at stake as clubs fight to keep their Libertadores dreams alive.

MY NEWSLETTER - https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeJoin me, Nik (https://x.com/CoFoundersNik), as I interview Tarek Arafat (https://x.com/@tarekarafat_), the co-founder of Table One! In this episode, we dive into the incredible story of how Tarek and his co-founder, Frank, built a membership platform that's generating over $200,000 in annual recurring revenue (ARR) with nearly 99% margins and zero paid ads.We explore how Table One is solving the epidemic of restaurant reservation scalping in New York City and empowering diners to access high-demand spots. Tarek shares how a personal problem led to a wildly successful, bootstrapped business, including the challenges of initially shutting down due to SMS message costs and the unexpected boost from being featured in The New Yorker.We also discuss their unconventional approach to community funding and Tarek's valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.Questions This Episode Answers:• What major pain point does Table One solve for diners in New York City's high-demand restaurant scene?• How did Table One achieve 99% margins and $200K ARR with no paid ads and just two founders?• What pivotal moment, including an unexpected feature in The New Yorker, accelerated Table One's organic growth?• How did Tarek Arafat overcome challenges, like the initial shutdown of Table One's service, to achieve product-market fit?• What unconventional method did Table One use to raise over $600,000 in investment interest directly from its community?Enjoy the conversation!__________________________Love it or hate it, I'd love your feedback.Please fill out this brief survey with your opinion or email me at nik@cofounders.com with your thoughts.__________________________MY NEWSLETTER: https://nikolas-newsletter-241a64.beehiiv.com/subscribeSpotify: https://tinyurl.com/5avyu98yApple: https://tinyurl.com/bdxbr284YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/nikonomicsYT__________________________This week we covered:00:00 Introduction to Table One: A New Dining Experience03:05 The Problem with Current Reservation Systems05:54 Building a Solution: How Table One Works09:08 The Business Model and Pricing Strategy12:00 The Journey of Building Table One14:51 From Idea to Execution: The Founder's Story18:10 Navigating Challenges and Growth21:05 The Future of Table One and Dining Reservations29:09 Balancing Work and Startup Life30:34 The Crazy Growth Journey32:58 Navigating Press and Publicity34:56 The Importance of Distribution38:50 Managing Rapid Growth43:13 Lessons from the Journey46:00 Building Community and Investment51:16 Innovating Through Events55:59 Strategic Fundraising and Valuation

Lucas Swisher co-leads the growth fund at Coatue where he has partnered with iconic companies like OpenAI, Harvey, Deel, Canva, Openevidence, Anthropic, and others. Prior to Coatue, he was on the investment team at Kleiner Perkins, where he focused on growth stage software businesses.  AGENDA: 04:23 Why Public SaaS Is Getting Crushed in the AI Wave 06:01 How to Find Value in the Deluge of Public SaaS 10:34 Durability of Revenue in AI 17:42 Market Size vs. Founder Quality: What Wins? 19:04 Why Price is the Last Thing to Matter 24:58 Mega-Funds Math: Can $5B+ Funds Still Generate Venture Returns? 28:04 What Returns Are 'Enough'? Why 3x Isn't Exciting at Growth 30:34 When Double-Downs Go Wrong: Overestimating TAM and Multi-Product Expansion 33:03 Margin Matters… But at Scale: AI Gross Margins, Cost Curves & Efficiency 36:42 Why it has never been harder to be a seed investor 39:25 Is 'Kingmaking' a Myth: When Capital Helps (and When It Hurts) 44:12 Is Canva Really a Platform Company? Multi S-Curves and Leaning into AI Early 46:05 Lessons from Mary Meeker: Modeling, Storytelling with Data, and Not Missing the Forest 48:27 Lessons from Mamoon Hamid: Spotting Inflection Points with Minimal Data (Figma Story) 49:54 LP 'Pick One' Games: Mamoon Hamid, Mary Meeker, Insight Partners 51:41 OpenAI vs Anthropic: Who Wins? 56:52 Most Memorable Founder Meeting: Harvey and Founder-Market Fit 59:00 Career Decisions & Misses: Leaving Insight, Missing Anduril, and Looking Ahead  

Hey Voices from the Bench community! Jessica Love here, sending a shoutout from Utah! If you're passionate about creating natural, beautiful smiles—but want to simplify your workflow without sacrificing aesthetics—this is for you. I'm honored to be part of Ivoclar's development team introducing a powerful new stain and glaze system featuring Structure Paste, IPS e.max Ceram Art. Create stunning depth and lifelike color in as little as one firing. Let's continue to innovate, simplify, and create meaningful change—one smile at a time. Elvis actually made it down to the exhibition halls this year — and hyperDENT from FOLLOW-ME! Technology was everywhere. Booth after booth, people were talking milling strategies, templates, and workflows. It felt like a full-on CAM takeover. Their Milling Roadmap scavenger hunt had attendees bouncing between Axsys, Imagine, D.O.F., and Roland collecting stamps like responsible adults… Responsible adults chasing a bright orange folding electric hyperDENT scooter. That's what we love about the FOLLOW-ME! team — world-class CAM engineers talking microns and validation protocols one minute, then ripping around Lab Day the next. Serious about precision. Not too serious about themselves. Big shoutout for bringing the brains — and the electric horsepower. Come see and talk to Elvis and Barb at all these amazing shows in 2026* Dental Lab Association of Texas Meeting in Dallas Apr 9-11 https://members.dlat.org/ exocad Insights in Mallorca, Spain Apr 30 - May 1 https://exocad.com/insights-2026 This week we finally get Jay Collins to stop dodging Elvis long enough to sit down and share one of the wildest journeys in dental lab history. From a family split between union steamfitters and dental technicians in Philadelphia to surviving “The Great Brotherly Lab War,” Jay's story is packed with grit, loyalty, and a whole lot of Irish Catholic chaos. What started with an uncle drafted into dental technology during Vietnam eventually turned into a multi-generation lab legacy—and Jay swearing he'd never get into teeth… only to build a powerhouse anyway. After the 2008 crash wiped out his construction business, Jay bet everything on selling outsourced restorations door-to-door, sleeping in his car, showering at the gym, and cold-calling hundreds of offices a week. What followed was the development of his unapologetically bold, psychologically savvy sales approach—what he calls being “aggressively calm.” From pushing doctors to “no,” to matching their energy toe-to-toe, to walking into offices as “the lab” and walking out with cases in hand, Jay breaks down the mindset shift most lab owners desperately need: sales isn't optional, and it definitely isn't accidental. Now leading multiple lab locations under the brilliantly simple name thedentallab.net, Jay shares hard truths about growth, mergers, firing abusive clients, and why cutting your sales department in tough times is the worst move you can make. If you've ever struggled with prospecting, scaling, or standing your ground with doctors, this episode is packed with practical strategies, hilarious role-playing, and a reminder that confidence—backed by accountability—wins every time. At Canadian Dental Labs, Icortica has become a cornerstone of how we operate—giving us at-a-glance visibility into performance, helping us focus our efforts, spot opportunities early, and solve problems before they grow. It takes the guesswork out of decision-making and shows us what to do next. Plus, the Icortica team is incredibly responsive and feels like a true partner in our success. If you're serious about growing your business and understanding your customers better, Icortica can get you there. Learn more at icortica.com/voices — Icortica, helping dental labs grow. Join us at exocad Insights 2026, happening April 30–May 1, 2026, on the stunning island of Mallorca, Spain. This two-day event features powerhouse keynotes, hands-on workshops, live software demos, and top-tier industry showcases—all in one unforgettable setting. Barb and Elvis will be on site bringing you exclusive interviews, plus don't miss the Women in Dentistry Lunch, celebrating career growth, wellbeing, and the real stories shaping our profession. And of course, cap it all off with the legendary exoGlam Night under the stars. Tickets are limited. Visit exocad.com/insights-2026 and use code VFTBPalma15 for 15% off.Special Guest: Jay Collins.

Would you like access to our advanced agency training for FREE? https://www.agencymastery360.com/training AI didn't wipe out SEO; it just exposed who was phoning it in. While some agencies are panicking about AI "stealing their jobs" or racing to the bottom on price, the smart ones are quietly using it to get sharper, more profitable, and more strategic. Today's featured guest has been in the SEO trenches for 15+ years and runs an agency producing millions of words of content every month. He'll break down his perspective on what's actually happening right now, why generic AI content is worthless, how agencies should really be pricing in an AI world, and why this shift is an opportunity to move up-market instead of becoming a commodity. If you run an agency and don't want to be replaced by a robot (or undercut by one), this conversation is for you. David Arato is the founder of Lexicon Legal Content, producing millions of words of SEO content every month for law firms and law-firm marketing agencies across North America. He's been in the SEO game for 15+ years and lived through the AI disruption firsthand. AI is only killing agencies that refuse to adapt The real problem isn't AI Does the SEO vs AEO matter? Subscribe Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio Sponsors and Resources This episode is brought to you by Wix Studio: If you're leveling up your team and your client experience, your site builder should keep up too. That's why successful agencies use Wix Studio — built to adapt the way your agency does: AI-powered site mapping, responsive design, flexible workflows, and scalable CMS tools so you spend less on plugins and more on growth. Ready to design faster and smarter? Go to wix.com/studio to get started. AI Didn't Kill SEO; It Killed Bad Agencies That Refused to Adapt Probably every agency owner has wondered, "If AI can write content in 30 seconds… why would clients pay us?" over the past couple of years. David had that exact thought in December 2022 when ChatGPT dropped. He literally told his wife he might need to go back to practicing law. Fast forward to now and AI has been nothing but good for business. And that's the part most agency owners are missing. The Real Problem Isn't AI, It's Commoditization According to David, AI removed the barrier to entry for creating generic content. And once everyone can do something, it has no value. That's why blog posts written "for SEO" are dying. Not because content doesn't work, but because copy-paste AI garbage doesn't. Google doesn't care how content is created. They care whether it's helpful, credible, and demonstrates real experience. Especially in "your money, your life" industries like legal, finance, and healthcare. In other words, if your agency's value prop was "we write blog posts," AI exposed how fragile that model was. Why Smart Agencies Are Actually Winning With AI Here's what changed for David's agency, and what should change for yours: Before AI: Writers spent hours on first drafts Margins were capped by human time Strategy was an afterthought After AI: AI handles the grunt work Humans focus on strategy, voice, expertise, and data Content is faster, cheaper to produce, and better That shift matters. Because clients aren't paying for words. They're paying for outcomes. "SEO vs AI Search" Is the Wrong Debate A lot of agencies are stuck arguing: SEO vs AEO SEO vs GEO SEO vs whatever acronym Twitter invents next week Here's the reality: Search is becoming hybrid. This means that, yes, AI overviews now dominate the top of Google. But organic results still matter. Paid is still there. It's all blending together. Which means agencies need to stop selling "SEO deliverables" and start selling search visibility strategy. Same skill set. Bigger mindset. The Pricing Wake-Up Call If you own an agency, you know that clients are asking for more content at lower costs. That's not a threat. It's a forcing function. The agencies that survive will: Increase volume without killing margins Productize strategy Stop selling fulfillment as their core offer The ones that won't? They'll stay stuck in fulfillment, stressed about margins, and quietly resentful of AI. The Real Differentiator Going Forward Everyone has access to the same AI tools. So could clients get the same results by themselves? Not likely What they don't have: Your data. Your experience. Your insights from years in the trenches That's the leverage. And it's why authenticity, real expertise, and human connection are becoming premium assets, whether in content, video, or sales. AI can't shake a hand, AI can't read the room, AI can't replace leadership. That's your unique value proposition. Do You Want to Transform Your Agency from a Liability to an Asset? Looking to dig deeper into your agency's potential? Check out our Agency Blueprint. Designed for agency owners like you, our Agency Blueprint helps you uncover growth opportunities, tackle obstacles, and craft a customized blueprint for your agency's success.

Joe's Premium Subscription: www.standardgrain.comGrain Markets and Other Stuff Links —Apple PodcastsSpotifyTikTokYouTubeFutures and options trading involves risk of loss and is not suitable for everyone.Welcome back

Melissa Ferguson is back for her second appearance—and she's very pregnant, wildly funny, and living proof that dreams don't arrive on your schedule. In this conversation with host Ginny Yurich, Melissa pulls back the curtain on the book world: why publishing wants you to “stay in your lane,” how rejection and slow progress can still lead to a long-tail payoff, what writers really need to watch for in agents and contracts, and why the pressure to market everywhere can crush the very work you're trying to create. Along the way, she shares the surreal joy of watching her beloved rom-com Meet Me in the Margins move toward the screen (with her credited as Executive Producer) and what it's like to juggle farm life, homeschooling, deadlines, and a baby on the way—while still choosing relationships, rest, and meaning over the endless chase for more. *Get your copy of Meet Me in the Margins here *Get your copy of Without a Clue here *Check out Melissa and all she has to offer here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arunima Sinha, from the U.S. and Global Economics team, discusses how an upcoming Supreme Court decision could reshape consumer prices, retail margins and the inflation outlook in 2026.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----Arunima Sinha: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Arunima Sinha from Morgan Stanley's U.S. and Global Economics Teams.Today: How a single Supreme Court ruling could change the tariff math for U.S. consumers.It's Friday, February 13th at 10am in New York.The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether the U.S. president has legal authority to impose sweeping tariffs under IEEPA. That decision could come as soon as next Friday. IEEPA, or the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, is the legal backbone for a significant share of today's consumer goods tariffs. If the Supreme Court limits how it can be used, tariffs on many everyday items could fall quickly – affecting prices on the shelf, margins for retailers, and the broader inflation outlook.As of now, effective tariff rates on consumer goods are running about 15 percent, and that's based on late 2025 November data. And that's quite a bit higher than the roughly 10 percent average, which we're seeing as tariffs on all goods. In a post IEEPA scenario, we think that the effective tariff rate on consumer goods could fall to the mid-11 percent range.It's not zero, but it is meaningfully lower.An important caveat is that this is not going to be eliminating all tariffs. Other trade tools – like Section 232s, which are the national security tariffs, Section 301s, the tariffs that are related to unfair trade practices – would remain in place. Autos and metals, for example, are largely outside the IEEPA discussion.The main pressure point we think is consumer goods. IEEPA has been used for two major sets of tariffs. The fentanyl-related tariffs on Mexico, Canada, and China, and the so-called reciprocal tariffs applied broadly across trading partners. And these often stack on top of the existing tariffs, such as the MFN, the Most Favored Nation rates, and the section 301 duties on China that were already existing before 2025.The exposure is really concentrated in certain categories of consumer goods. So, for example, in apparel and footwear, about 60 percent of the applied tariffs are IEEPA related. For furniture and home improvement, it's over 70 percent. For toys, games, and sporting equipment, it's more than 90 percent. So, if the IEEPA authority is curtailed, the category level effects would be meaningful.There are caveats, of course. The court's decision may not be all or nothing. And policymakers could turn to alternative authorities. One example is Section 122, which allows across the board tariffs for up to 15 percent for 150 days. So, tariffs could just reappear under different tools. But in the near term, fully replacing IEEPA-based tariffs on consumer goods may not be straightforward, especially given ongoing affordability concerns.So, how does that matter for the real economy? There are two key channels, prices and margins. On prices we estimate that about 60 percent of the tariff costs are typically passed on to the consumers over two to three quarters, but it's not instant. Margins though could respond faster. If companies get cost relief before they adjust prices downwards, that creates a temporary margin tailwind. That could influence hiring, investment and earnings across retail and consumer supply chains.Over time, lower tariffs could also reinforce that broader return to core goods disinflation starting in the second quarter of this year. And because tariff driven inflation has weighed more heavily on the middle- and lower-income households, any eventual price relief could disproportionately benefit those groups.At the end of the day, this isn't just a legal story. It is a timing story. If IEEPA authority is curtailed, the arithmetic shifts pretty quickly. Margins move first, prices follow later, and the path back to goods disinflation could accelerate. That's why this is one ruling worth watching before the gavel drops.Thanks for listening. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share thoughts on the market with a friend or colleague today.

This week on a pre-Mardi Gras episode “Jesuitical,” Ashley and guest host Sebastian speak with Dr. Ansel Augustine. Ansel is the assistant director for African American affairs for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the author of Praying with Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins. They discuss the harrowing and sacred culture of the Black Masking Indians of Mardi Gras. 0:00 Mardi Gras! 4:00 New York City has a new bishop 10:17 Archbishop Fulton Sheen to be beatified 11:44 Catholic leaders respond to racist post 13:50 Villanova and Notre Dame bball in Rome! 15:14 History of Black masking culture 21:24 African Americans made Catholicism their own 24:02 Mardi Gras as sacred ritual 27:00 Tribal competition 29:10 Black and Indian cultural encounter 31:30 Hurricane Katrina is an open wound 34:04 The art of feasting 37:32 Diversity ministry is a challenge 45:24 Lenten resources and practices for 2026! Links for further reading:  CRS Rice Bowl Website Development and Peace – Caritas Canada Solidarity Calendar 2026  101 Things To Give Up For Lent On Mardi Gras, Catholics should celebrate the faith and resilience of the New Orleans Black Masking Indians You can follow us on X and on Instagram @jesuiticalshow.   You can find us on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/jesuitical.  Please consider supporting Jesuitical by becoming a digital subscriber to America magazine at americamagazine.org/subscribe Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices