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The Net Promoter System Podcast – Customer Experience Insights from Loyalty Leaders
Episode 259: How do you prevent first-trip hassles such as a room not being ready at check-in, Wi-Fi outages, or service delays from discouraging first-time customers from returning? Today's guest, Rachel Bicking, EVP of Innovation at Kobie Marketing, says that after a slightly negative first trip, customers are 80% less likely to return. Kobie—a technology platform that builds and runs rewards and loyalty programs—is solving this. They use a "journey atlas" to read social signals, spot subtle first-trip frictions, and then trigger targeted offers or fixes. They model lift and rewards liability so that investment can follow behavior change. Journey maps freeze a tense customer moment. A live atlas shows where small failures block the next purchase and coordinates fixes across channels. Inside the business, spending becomes about precision. Simulators forecast lift, break-even, and profit impact by segment and moment, so finance are able to see trade-offs before money moves. The payoff? Practical programs that grow trips, expand categories, and raise lifetime value. Guest: Rachel Bicking, EVP of Innovation, Kobie Marketing Host: Rob Markey, Partner, Bain & Company Give Us Feedback. Help us improve the podcast here: https://bit.ly/CCPodcastFeedback Time-Stamped Topics: [00:03] First-trip friction that kills repeat purchases, with examples and fixes [00:10] Personalization that simplifies the customer experience [00:12] Emotional Loyalty Scoring, habit, status, and reciprocity [00:21] Coordinating recovery across store, app, and site for the same customer [00:23] Using precision to avoid incentivizing the wrong customer base [00:27] Designing redemptions to expand baskets, categories, and trip frequency [00:31] Accounting for redemption cost and liability without derailing good decisions [00:34] Using simulators to forecast lift and break-even before spending a dollar [00:36] The moment modeling convinces finance to reallocate the budget Time-Stamped Quotes: 00:05 — "What we're trying to do at scale is identify those moments that matter and those micro-moments that then lead to a negative or positive experience. Because we want to amplify the positives and we want to make sure that we intercept the negative ones." 00:07 — "I think there's been a broader inclination to say, 'Hey, if it's below a certain amount, people don't care.' And this is where personalization becomes really important. If I get delayed checking into my hotel room and I have to go to the next meeting and I don't have time to put my stuff down, ten minutes matters." 00:08 — "Data-wise, we're always trying to break down customers' interactions [and] rewards into a series of metadata, into a series of features, so that we can make them more explainable at scale." 00:13 — "If personalization is done well, the experience from a customer perspective should be very simple. It should be guided. It should be deliberate."
Shannon Howard is Senior Director of Customer & Content Marketing at Intellum. Intellum is AI transformation for enterprise learning. $25M in funding, 139 people.Here's what we cover:05:35 Shannon shares some Creative Customer Marketing Strategies08:41 Building the Foundation for Customer Marketing11:09 The Role of Data in Customer Marketing14:00 Surprise and Delight16:49 Empowering Customers Through Recognition19:57 Segmentation and Personalization in Marketing22:33 B2B vs B2C Marketing Dynamics26:28 Why Customer Marketing is often overlooked by CMOs30:00 Customer Marketing Strategies to put in your back pocket33:17 The Role of Customer Research & Shannon's take37:12 The Impact of AI on Customer Insights50:38 Shannon asks Anna her burning questionShannon on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shannonlagassehowardIntellum: www.intellum.comSubscribe to Building With Buyers on Apple or Spotify or wherever you like to listen, let me know what episodes you're into, and don't forget to leave a review if you're lovin' the show.Music by my talented daughter.Anna on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annafurmanovWebsite: furmanovmarketing.comNewsletter: One Insight
A CMO Confidential Interview with Michael Treff, the CEO of Code and Theory joins us for our 150th Show to share observations on the major forces impacting the B2B space. Michael details how "empowered buyers" are forcing sellers to increase focus on customer value creation and transforming marketing and sales from "leads to information" which is also shifting spending to capital expense. Key topics include: why the next AI frontier is customer experience; the need for companies to have both a long and short-term AI plans; why budgeting won't get any easier and; the gap between the CX problems and CX actions. Tune in to hear why you need to have an "AI plan for your humans" and learn if you need " a personalized relationship with your mustard."CMO Confidential #150: Michael Treff on B2B's Year-In-Review, What's Next, and How AI Will Actually Drive Growth**B2B is being rebuilt from the core. Michael explains why budgets are shifting from media to infrastructure, how the funnel is being rewritten by agentic search, and where AI must move from efficiency to growth. We also cover the KPIs that matter, budgeting realism for 2026, and three things every CMO should know by the end of next year. Sponsored by Typeface—the agentic AI marketing platform helping brands turn one idea into thousands of on-brand experiences. Learn more: typeface.ai/cmo. **Chapters**00:00 Intro + show setup01:00 Sponsor: Typeface — agentic AI marketing, enterprise-grade & integrated02:00 Guest intro: Michael Treff, CEO of Code and Theory03:00 B2B landscape: investment shifts, changing journeys, disintermediation07:00 From MQLs to value: sales enablement and end-to-end outcomes10:00 Mid-roll: Typeface ARC agents & content lifecycle11:00 Why suites win: implementation and value realization after the sale15:00 AI phases: Wave 1 (efficiency) → Wave 2 (growth) pressures on agencies17:00 CX as the bridge: measure outcomes, not vanity metrics22:00 Roadmaps, humans, and culture—planning beyond point tools26:00 Budget reality check: deliberation, polarization, and trade-offs29:00 Personalization vs. business impact—what to fund and measure33:00 By end of 2026: know your human plan, AI maturity, and new journeys35:00 2026 prediction: the ROI vice tightens—agencies must be consultative36:00 Closing advice: “Interrogate everything yourself.”38:00 Wrap + where to find past episodes39:00 Sponsor close: Typeface—see how ASICS & Microsoft scale personalization**About our sponsor, Typeface** @typefaceai is the first multimodal, agentic AI marketing platform that automates workflows from brief to launch, integrates with your MarTech stack, and delivers enterprise-grade security—named AI Company of the Year by Adweek and a TIME Best Invention. Learn more: typeface.ai/cmo. **Tags**B2B marketing, enterprise marketing, customer experience, AI marketing, agentic AI, marketing ROI, sales enablement, Code and Theory, Michael Treff, Mike Linton, CMO strategy, marketing budget, personalization, Martech, TypefaceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today's guest is Kyle Hathorn, Director of Customer Experience and Strategy at the First National Bank of Omaha. FNBO is a regional bank founded in 1857 that provides retail and commercial banking services across eight states. Kyle brings extensive experience in designing customer journeys and integrating technology to meet evolving expectations. Kyle joins Emerj Editorial Director Matthew DeMello to discuss how financial services leaders can leverage data and AI to create seamless, personalized, and human-centered customer experiences. He also shares practical strategies for measuring engagement, optimizing workflows, and scaling AI-driven personalization while maintaining trust and compliance. Want to share your AI adoption story with executive peers? Click emerj.com/e2 for more information and to be a potential future guest on Emerj's flagship 'AI in Business' podcast! Learn how brands work with Emerj and other Emerj Media options at emerj.com/ad1.
✅ WORKBOOK ACCESS: The Sales Success Journey: Grow Revenue Without Raising Prices https://bit.ly/3CYvQK9++++++++++If your to-do list feels endless and your personal brand depends on you being “on” all the time, you don't need more motivation. You need a personal brand productivity system that actually runs on its own.In this Behind the Brand session, we walk through the exact structure I use to turn chaos into clarity:1️⃣ How priorities are decided2️⃣ How time blocks protect focus3️⃣ How automation removes friction4️⃣ How personalization builds trust5️⃣ How reciprocity shifts the sales equation6️⃣ How systems replace self-employment with real leverageIt's one thing to talk about productivity. It's another to see it applied in real time.By the end of this video, you'll understand how solopreneurs can:✅ Reduce decision fatigue✅ Organize work with precision✅ Create focus without forcing discipline✅ Build systems that move even when they're offlineIf you're building a personal brand and trying to scale without burning out, this is the architecture that makes growth sustainable.++++++++++Chapters:00:00 Coming up01:19 Priorities and Planning01:47 The Eisenhower Matrix03:56 The Pomodoro Technique08:02 Rebuilding the Top of the Funnel11:35 Personalized Growth Journeys17:14 Thoughts on Entrepreneurship++++++++++Links mentioned:
In this episode of The Association Insights Podcast, host Colleen Gallagher sits down with Jamie Shibley, Co-Founder & CEO of The Expressory, to talk about how thoughtful appreciation can become a real strategy for retention, sponsorship loyalty, and long-term trust—not just a year-end “nice to have.” Drawing on her roots in her grandfather's relationship-driven flower shop and years in corporate and e-commerce, Jamie shares how associations can use simple, intentional touchpoints to make members, sponsors, and donors feel genuinely seen.
What happens when four global leaders in wellness, integrative health, and spa innovation come together to discuss the future of wellbeing? This week, The StarrCast is proud to bring you an amazing roundtable of experts, live from The Global Wellness Summit in Dubai: Dr. Kathryn Dundas is a leader in integrative health and clinical wellbeing, known for her evidence-based, assessment-driven approach to personalized care. Kirsty MacCormick is a global spa and wellness strategist recognized for building operational systems, signature experiences, and high-performing teams across luxury hospitality. Rod Derifield is a senior executive in wellness operations whose expertise spans business development, facility programming, and experience-led wellness models. Anke Brendt is a specialist in emotional wellness, coaching, and organizational transformation, focused on human-centered placemaking and staff wellbeing. Together, we unpack the systems, strategies, and mindset shifts shaping how clinics, resorts, and wellness brands deliver transformative results. From data-driven health optimization to the rise of emotional wellbeing programs, you'll hear diverse perspectives that reveal where the industry is truly heading, and what it takes to stay ahead. Whether you're designing wellness experiences, operating a destination spa, or navigating the intersection of healthcare and hospitality, this conversation offers clarity, direction, and grounded insight into the evolving landscape. What You'll Learn: Why emotional wellbeing and mental resilience programs are becoming essential pillars of modern wellness How clinics and wellness centers can use data, diagnostics, and assessment-driven programming to increase impact The rise of integrative health models that bridge lifestyle medicine, psychological support, and spa therapies Operational insights on staffing, training, and culture-building across multi-national wellness organizations The next wave of consumer expectations, from personalization to preventative health to holistic recovery Episode Highlights: 00:00 – What is driving the next wave of global wellness growth? 05:20 – Emotional wellbeing: Why it's no longer optional for wellness brands 12:10 – Integrative health: How clinics merge diagnostics, lifestyle medicine, and therapeutic care 18:45 – Operational excellence: Training, staffing, and culture in multi-location wellness organizations 27:30 – Creating psychological safety for guests and staff in high-touch wellness environments 35:40 – Personalization at scale: Where data, assessment, and programming intersect 42:10 – Predictions for 2025: Consumer shifts, market trends, and new wellness business models Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned: Assessment-led wellbeing program design Emotional wellbeing and psychological safety frameworks Pre-arrival diagnostic models for personalization Integrated clinical-spa hybrid operating structures Team culture and leadership development systems Closing Insight: "In wellness, people don't just need care, they need connection, clarity, and a system that supports who they want to become." Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning? Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses Other Links: Visit GWS: https://www.globalwellnesssummit.com/2025-global-wellness-summit-3/ Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness, Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j7L91zT_YzE Benni Lickfett is the Global VP Breakthrough Innovation, Digital & Ventures at spirits and beer leader Diageo (Guiness, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker…). In this conversation, recorded live at SMG and ADWEEK's Retail Media Summit UK, you'll hear about how rethinking consumer journeys, deploying AI-driven personalization, innovating beyond the bottle, bringing tech into heritage brands, and staying ahead in fast-changing spaces like travel retail, martech, and sustainability. Tune in to hear about: What "Breakthrough Innovation" means at Diageo and how Benni's team operates beyond the bottle. Benni's unconventional background and how his startup and consulting experience shaped his role today. How consumer behaviour and the traditional marketing funnel have evolved in recent years. Leveraging technology — martech, AI, data and personalization — to enhance the end-to-end consumer journey. How Diageo prioritizes innovation, balances build vs partner models, and stays ahead of emerging trends. More Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fmcgguys/ Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fmcgguys/ Audio Mixing by Modest Ferrer Voice Acting by Jason Martorell Parsekian Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the individual guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The FMCG Guys (Dwyer Partners SL) or its partners. The FMCG Guys make no representations or warranties about the accuracy, completeness, or suitability of any information discussed, and accept no responsibility for any decisions or outcomes based on this content. Listeners are encouraged to seek their own professional advice before acting on any of the topics covered.
As global finance strains under shifting power structures, author and fintech thinker Emmanuel Daniel, founder of TAB Global, argues that the real disruption isn't technological - it's personal. This episode explores finance as a geopolitical arena where identity, data, and sovereignty reshape who holds leverage. What happens when individuals, not institutions, become the organizing unit of the monetary system? And how does that rewire cross-border power, trust, and risk? A provocative look at the future architecture of money.--Timestamps:(00:00) - Introduction (00:15) - Emmanuel Daniel's Book and Key Insights(02:44) - The Ice Metaphor in Finance(03:22) - The Evolution of Finance and Personalization(10:11) - Impact of Financialization on the Economy(25:31) - Cryptocurrencies and the Future of Finance(30:59) - The Spectrum of Tokenization(31:31) - Information as the Ultimate Token(32:44) - The Digital Nature of Money(33:40) - The Durability of Bitcoin and Ethereum(38:06) - The Role of AI and Open Source in Tokenization(42:23) - The Future of National Debt and Financialization(48:37) - The Impact of Financialization on Global Economies(58:48) - The Role of the US in Financialization(01:00:56) - The Tension Between Personalization and Intermediaries(01:03:38) - Concluding Thoughts and Future Implications--Referenced in the Show:Emmanuel's Website: https://www.emmanueldaniel.com/biography/TAB Global - https://tab.global/The Great Transition - https://www.emmanueldaniel.com/the-great-transition/--Jacob Shapiro Site: jacobshapiro.comJacob Shapiro LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jacob-l-s-a9337416Jacob Twitter: x.com/JacobShapJacob Shapiro Substack: jashap.substack.com/subscribe --The Jacob Shapiro Show is produced and edited by Audiographies LLC. More information at audiographies.com --Jacob Shapiro is a speaker, consultant, author, and researcher covering global politics and affairs, economics, markets, technology, history, and culture. He speaks to audiences of all sizes around the world, helps global multinationals make strategic decisions about political risks and opportunities, and works directly with investors to grow and protect their assets in today's volatile global environment. His insights help audiences across industries like finance, agriculture, and energy make sense of the world.--
Steve and Michael open this week's episode with a deep dive into the retail news of the week, marked by sharp contrasts in performance across the retail landscape. Walmart continues to separate itself from the pack, delivering another standout quarter, as omni-channel rival Target delivers another challenging quarter. The news segment analyses strong results from the off-price sector as TJX and Ross Stores both post impressive sales gains. The turnaround at Gap Inc. shows encouraging signs under CEO Richard Dickson despite continued weakness at Athleta. In home improvement, both Home Depot and Lowe's see essentially flat comps as rate-locked consumers and affordability issues continue to weigh on spending. Furniture and home categories face rising tariff exposure, with Williams-Sonoma projecting its blended tariff rate jumping from 6% to 35%—a margin headwind that underscores industry-wide challenges. All told, the week's earnings reveal a retail landscape where the biggest players capture more share while many others struggle to keep pace.Steve and Michael revisit their encore interview with Artemis Patrick, President & CEO of Sephora North America—one of the most inspiring and resonant conversations in the show's archive. Artemis shares her extraordinary personal journey from immigrating from Iran and growing up in foster care to becoming one of the most influential leaders in global beauty.She details Sephora's global reach (34 markets, 3,000 stores), 700+ North American freestanding locations, a huge presence at Kohl's, and 40M+ Beauty Insider members, while unpacking the brand's unique power in incubating indie brands, championing diverse founders, and uniting physical and digital experiences long before Omni became a buzzword. Artemis also previews two transformational initiatives: a next-generation e-commerce platform enabling deeper personalization and a five-year renovation of every Sephora store—the largest capital project in the brand's history.After the interview the hosts each share their choice for buzziest story of the week before concluding with what's on their radar screens for the weeks ahead. SPECIAL OFFER for our listeners! SAVE 20% on registration for the all new Shoptalk Luxe event in Abu Dhabi January 27-29.For more info go to https://luxe.shoptalk.com/page/get-ticket and then register using our special code : RRLUXE20 About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.
In today's episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Daniel Spratt, MD, chair and professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a member of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr Spratt discussed key updates to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Guidelines for prostate cancer, including how advances in molecular imaging, evolving systemic therapy options, and the integration of next-generation androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) are reshaping treatment recommendations across localized, recurrent, and advanced disease settings.
In this episode, Jeff Sarris and Jill Harris discuss the complexities of dietary advice for kidney stone prevention. They explore the confusion caused by varying expert opinions on diets, the importance of finding a personalized approach, and the necessity of moderation in dietary choices. Jill emphasizes that successful weight loss and health improvements come from setting realistic goals and understanding individual health conditions rather than following restrictive diets.TakeawaysThe only reason we're here is to help you prevent kidney stones.Many diets have good data behind them, but they may not work for everyone.The kidney stone diet is a set of goals tailored to individual lifestyles.Plateaus in weight loss are normal and require adjustments in diet and exercise.Moderation is key; extreme diets can lead to health issues.Personalized dietary approaches are essential for long-term success.Many popular diets may not be practical for the average person.Chronic diseases can often be managed through dietary changes.It's important to find a sustainable diet that fits your medical conditions.Creating a lifestyle change is more effective than seeking quick fixes.00:00 Introduction to Kidney Stone Diets01:19 The Confusion of Diets and Expert Opinions04:15 The Importance of Personalization in Diets07:29 Moderation and Long-Term Success10:23 Understanding Kidney Stone Formation and Diet13:26 Creating Sustainable Lifestyle Changes15:29 Technical Difficulties and Transitioning Topics15:29 Exploring Kidney Stone Prevention Strategies——HAVE A QUESTION? _Leave us a voicemail at (773) 789-8764.KIDNEY STONE DIET® APPROVED PRODUCTSProtein Powders, Snacks, and moreWORK WITH JILL _Start HereKidney Stone Diet® All-Access PassKidney Stone Diet® CourseKidney Stone Diet® Meal PlansKidney Stone Diet® BooksPrivate Consultation with JillOne-on-One Deep Dive24-Hour Urine AnalysisSUPPORT THE SHOW _Join the PatreonRate Kidney Stone Diet on Apple Podcasts or Spotify——WHO IS JILL HARRIS? _Since 1998, Jill Harris has been the #1 kidney stone prevention nurse helping patients reduce their kidney stone risk. Drawing from her work with world-renowned University of Chicago nephrologist, Dr. Fred Coe, and the thousands of patients she's worked with directly, she created the Kidney Stone Diet®. With a simple, self-guided online video course, meal plans, ebooks, group coaching, and private consultations, Kidney Stone Diet® is Jill's effort to help as many patients as possible prevent kidney stones for good.
In this episode of Deciphered, Jeff Tijssen, partner and global head of Fintech, Bain & Company and Mike Cashman, partner, Bain & Company are joined by Mike Edmonds, VP of Agentic Commerce, Commercial Growth, PayPal and Pahal Patangia, Head of Payments Strategy, NVIDIA to discuss the future of AI in financial services.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction04:50 Personalization and friction reduction through agentic AI05:13 Supercharging workflows in financial services with AI06:19 Distinction between traditional, generative, and agentic AI09:24 Shift from reactive to predictive banking with AI13:46 Current adoption curve of agentic AI in finance15:01 Promising use cases of agentic AI in commerce17:27 Autonomous agents and redefining customer engagement21:45 Barriers to adopting AI at scale in organizations26:38 Building and maintaining trust in AI-driven decisionsPlease subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode, and leave us a review if you enjoy the show!You can find Jeff Tijssen hereYou can find Mike Cashman hereYou can find Mike Edmonds hereYou can find Pahal Patangia hereFor more insights from the Deciphered podcast, visit the page on Bain's website
”When it comes to supporting our school,
Srikrishna Swaminathan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Factors.AI, a platform that helps B2B marketers understand, attribute, and optimize their go-to-market performance through data-driven insights. With a career spanning product, sales, and strategy, Sri has built and scaled high-performing teams, including a $100 million business unit at InMobi, before turning his focus to marketing analytics and revenue intelligence.At Factors.AI, Sri has led the company's mission to simplify complex marketing data by unifying customer journeys, automating attribution, and surfacing actionable insights for marketers. He emphasizes the importance of connecting marketing activity to real business outcomes, advocating for transparency, precision, and measurable impact in every GTM motion.In this episode we cover:00:00 - Intro01:21 - Understanding the Buyer Journey05:27 - The Role of AI in Marketing Execution11:02 - Navigating Privacy and Personalization in Ads14:37 - Leveraging Intent Data for Targeting19:53 - The Emergence of GTM Engineering22:06 - Creating a Unified Data View for Decision Making25:31 - Personal Insights and Advice from Sri26:00 – Sri's Favorite Activity to Get Into a Flow State27:22 – Sri's Advice for His Younger Self29:12 – Biggest Challenges and Goals for Factors AI31:06 – Instrumental Resources for Sri's Success33:09 – What Does Success Mean for Sri Today35:26 – Get in Touch with SriGet in Touch with Sri:Sri's LinkedInSri's EmailMentions:Abraham EralyBen Horowitzfactors.aiInMobiHubSpotG2BomboraZapierWebflowSlackWhatsAppClickUpNotionBooks:The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers by Ben HorowitzTag Us & Follow:FacebookLinkedInInstagramMore About Akeel:Twitter
The Michael Yardney Podcast | Property Investment, Success & Money
Debt is a word that makes most people nervous. We think of it as a burden, something to avoid at all costs. But what if we've been looking at it the wrong way? Today I'm joined by Professor John Dinsmore, marketing expert and author of the fascinating new book The Marketing of Debt. John peels back the layers on how debt is presented, sold, and even "marketed" to us, from credit cards to mortgages to student loans. And more importantly, he helps us understand how to navigate debt without fear, confusion, or shame. Whether you're a property investor, a business owner, or just someone with a credit card in their wallet, this conversation will change the way you think about borrowing money. Takeaways · Debt is often marketed in ways that make it seem less risky. · Understanding debt can lead to better financial decisions. · There are different types of debt: good, bad, and necessary. · Financial literacy is crucial for navigating debt effectively. · Marketing plays a significant role in how debt is perceived. · Younger generations may underestimate the long-term impact of debt. · Reading the fine print is essential when taking on debt. · AI and digital marketing will evolve the way debt is sold. · Strategic borrowing can be beneficial for property investors. · Debt should be approached with caution and awareness. Chapters 02:12 - Why Debt Is Marketed Like Any Other Product 05:58 - Tricks That Make Borrowing Feel Easier Than It Is 09:38 - How Shame, Ignorance and Optimism Trap Us in Bad Debt 13:24 - Good Debt vs Bad Debt: Using Borrowing Strategically 18:40 - AI, Personalization and the Future of Debt Marketing Links and Resources: Answer this week's trivia question here- www.PropertyTrivia.com.au · Win a hard copy of The Rules of Property. Everyone wins a copy of a fully updated property report – What's ahead for property for 2026 and beyond. Get the team at Metropole to help build your personal Strategic Property Plan Click here and have a chat with us Michael Yardney – Subscribe to my Property Update newsletter here Professor John Dinsmore – Educator, Speaker, Consultant https://www.johndinsmore.com/ John Dinsmore's book : The Marketing Of Debt. https://www.amazon.com/Marketing-Debt-How-They-Get/dp/1836626010 Get a bundle of eBooks and Reports at www.PodcastBonus.com.au Also, please subscribe to my other podcast Demographics Decoded with Simon Kuestenmacher – just look for Demographics Decoded wherever you are listening to this podcast and subscribe so each week we can unveil the trends shaping your future.
Send us a textZack sits down with Pedro Uchôa, founder and CEO of TAP, the Brazilian fast casual bringing bold flavor and genuine hospitality to New York and Miami. They discuss TAP's Perfect Pitch win, the importance of culture-driven leadership, and how small personal touches create big loyalty.Zack and Pedro discuss: Authenticity that guests can feel Personalization at the counter and beyond Fast casual speed in a New York minute Feedback loops that level up managers Storytelling inside the four wallsThanks, Pedro!Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/uchoapedro/https://www.instagram.com/uchoa__pedro/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/eat-tap/https://www.instagram.com/eat_tap/?hl=enhttps://www.eattap.co/
This episode is a re-air of one of our most popular conversations from this year, featuring insights worth revisiting. Thank you for being part of the Data Stack community. Stay up to date with the latest episodes at datastackshow.com. This week on The Data Stack Show, John chats with Paul Blankley, Founder and CTO of Zenlytic, live from Denver! Paul and John discuss the rapid evolution of AI in business intelligence, highlighting how AI is transforming data analysis and decision-making. Paul also explores the potential of AI as an "employee" that can handle complex analytical tasks, from unstructured data processing to proactive monitoring. Key insights include the increasing capabilities of AI in symbolic tasks like coding, the importance of providing business context to AI models, and the future of BI tools that can flexibly interact with both structured and unstructured data. Paul emphasizes that the next generation of AI tools will move beyond traditional dashboards, offering more intelligent, context-aware insights that can help businesses make more informed decisions. It's an exciting conversation you won't want to miss.Highlights from this week's conversation include:Welcoming Paul Back and Industry Changes (1:03)AI Model Progress and Superhuman Domains (2:01)AI as an Employee: Context and Capabilities (4:04)Model Selection and User Experience (7:37)AI as a McKinsey Consultant: Decision-Making (10:18)Structured vs. Unstructured Data Platforms (12:55)MCP Servers and the Future of BI Interfaces (16:00)Value of UI and Multimodal BI Experiences (18:38)Pitfalls of DIY Data Pipelines and Governance (22:14)Text-to-SQL, Semantic Layers, and Trust (28:10)Democratizing Semantic Models and Personalization (33:22)Inefficiency in Analytics and Analyst Workflows (35:07)Reasoning and Intelligence in Monitoring (37:20)Roadmap: Proactive AI by 2026 (39:53)Limitations of BI Incumbents, Future Outlooks and Parting Thoughts (41:15)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it's needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we'll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Grab your copy of the 2025 Customer Experience Benchmarks Report: everafter.ai/benchmarkIn this episode of the Customer Success Pro podcast, host Anika Zubair speaks with Alana Stoltzfus, a leader in digital customer success at Okta. They discuss the evolution of customer success, the importance of digital growth, and how Okta's Success Hub enhances customer experience through personalized recommendations. Alana shares insights on the tools and systems that power their digital success plans, the challenges faced in data management, and the lessons learned from building a scalable customer success program. The conversation emphasizes the need for continuous improvement and the importance of delivering value to customers.Chapters00:00 Introduction 02:52 Alana Stoltzfuss: Journey into Digital Customer Success05:46 The Evolution of Digital Customer Success at Okta08:43 Understanding Digital Growth and Customer Segmentation11:50 The Success Hub: Enhancing Customer Experience15:04 Personalization and Business Goals in Customer Success17:59 The Role of Digital Customer Success in Business Growth27:58 Tailored Customer Experiences for Gold and Silver Clients30:06 Personalized Communication and Value Realization32:29 Differentiated Messaging for Admins and Executives34:38 The Importance of Personalization in Customer Success36:36 Tools and Systems Powering Digital Success42:41 Lessons Learned and Future Directions in Customer SuccessConnect with Anika Zubair:Website: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikazubair/RevUP Academy: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/revupConnect with Alana Stoltzfus:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanastoltzfus/Alana leads the Automation & Scaled Insights team at Okta, where she drives efforts to increase customer adoption, retention, and growth at scale as part of the Digital Success motion. Through the delivery of data and insights to customers and customer-facing teams, as well as AI-powered experiences, she has enabled Okta to serve all customers from SMBs (via self-service) to its largest enterprise customers, not just to scale but also to more effectively drive better customer outcomes through deeply personalized experiences. Prior to Okta, Alana worked in roles across customer success, voice of customer, and digital success, most recently at LinkedIn and Atlassian. She lives in the Bay Area with her husband and 2 sons.Grab our FREE resources here: https://thecustomersuccesspro.com/resources Want to be our next podcast guest? Apply here: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/podcast-guest Book Anika as a speaker at your next team event: https://www.thecustomersuccesspro.com/team-event
What does MLOps look like when you are deploying 22,000 models a month? Maddie Daianu, Head of Data and AI at Intuit Credit Karma, joins the Data Bros to pull back the curtain on one of the most high-volume data environments in FinTech. With a 100-person team serving 140 million members, standard data practices break down. Maddie shares how her team manages terabytes of daily data on Google Cloud and explains the massive strategic pivot they are undertaking right now: The move from "Information" to "Agency."
What happens when luxury hospitality, holistic wellness, and human transformation intersect? In this conversation with Magdy Abdelaty, we explore how modern wellness leaders are redefining the guest journey through emotional intelligence, culture-driven design, and deeply personalized experiences. This episode reveals why wellness is shifting from a service to a philosophy, and what the next generation of spa and wellness leadership must embrace to stay relevant, regenerative, and meaningful. What You'll Learn: Why wellness no longer belongs in a silo, and how to embed it across the entire guest experience. The emotional and cultural intelligence required to lead modern wellness teams effectively. How Rosewood Chancery approaches personalized care and what it teaches about the future of luxury wellness. The essential role of intuition, presence, and storytelling in driving guest transformation. Why the industry must evolve beyond trend-following to build truly human-centered, sustainable impact. Episode Highlights: 00:00 – What wellness leadership means today 06:28 – Magdy's philosophy of human-centered hospitality 14:55 – The power of emotional intelligence in guest relationships 22:40 – Why the future of luxury wellness is rooted in personalization 31:12 – How Rosewood Chancery builds its integrative wellness ethos 42:08 – Navigating team culture and developing emotionally attuned practitioners 53:10 – Why intuition and presence create the deepest guest impact 59:38 – Magdy's vision for the future of global wellness design Meet the Guest: Magdy Abdelaty is the Director of Wellness at Rosewood Chancery, London, where he leads a transformative approach to luxury wellness rooted in emotional intelligence, cultural sensitivity, and personalized care. His leadership blends holistic philosophy with operational excellence to create deeply meaningful guest experiences. Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned: Holistic, emotion-led wellness design Personalized guest journey mapping Integrative hospitality leadership Cultural and emotional intelligence in team development Transformational wellness programming Closing Insight: "Wellness is not what we do to people, it's what we create with them." This episode invites leaders, practitioners, and innovators to rethink how they build experiences that feel authentic, intuitive, and deeply human. Looking for expert advice in Spa Consulting, with live training and online learning? Spa Consulting: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-consulting Live Training: wynnebusiness.com/live-education Online Learning: wynnebusiness.com/spa-management-courses Other Links: Connect with Magdy Abdelaty: linkedin.com/in/magdy-abdelaty Follow Lisa on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisastarrwynnebusiness, Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/at/podcast/starrcast/id1565223226 Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/00tW92ruuwangYoLxR9WDd Watch the StarrCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wynnebusiness Join us on Facebook: facebook.com/wynnebusiness/?ref=bookmarks Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/wynnebusiness
Thanks to our Partners, Shop Boss and AppFueledThere's a lot you can ignore in marketing, but legal compliance isn't one of them. Especially when a quiet policy change in California nearly stripped shops of their ability to track marketing ROI overnight. This episode dives into the legalities of call recording, AI evaluations, tracking numbers, and the kind of red tape that can blindside your business if you're not paying attention. Brian Walker sat down with David Boyd from Inbound at AAPEX to talk through what's happening, what's coming, and how to protect your shop without sacrificing performance. If you've ever used call tracking, AI analysis, or just assumed “someone else is handling that,” you need to hear this.Listen in and make sure you're not one policy update away from a lawsuit.Show Notes with TimestampsIntroduction and Conference Setting (00:00:10) Brian introduces the guest, David Lloyd, and discusses the conference atmosphere at AAPEX.California BAR Regulation on Phone Numbers (00:02:01) Discussion of California's Bureau of Auto Repair rule on using only registered phone numbers in advertising.Implications and Confusion Around Enforcement (00:04:30) Exploring the impact of the regulation, confusion among advertisers, and lack of clear communication from BAR.Staying Informed and Advocacy (00:06:16) Importance of involvement in advocacy groups and staying updated on regulatory changes, especially state-by-state.AI and Legal Uncertainty in Call Evaluation (00:08:18) Rapid AI development, legal gray areas, and the use of AI to evaluate recorded calls.Call Recording Laws and Best Practices (00:09:19) Explanation of two-party consent laws, best practices for call recording, and new privacy concerns with AI evaluation.One-Party Consent States and Third-Party Evaluation (00:11:37) Uncertainty about notification requirements in one-party consent states when AI or third parties evaluate calls.Employee Notification and Documentation (00:15:46) Advising shop owners to inform employees about call recording and document consent in employee handbooks.AI, Data Privacy, and Business Risks (00:16:54) Concerns about AI handling personal data, privacy risks, and the need for responsible AI use in business.Personalization and AI Data Collection (00:19:47) How AI personalizes responses, collects user data, and the potential for identity exposure.Establishing an AI Use Policy (00:21:07) Recommendation for businesses to create and enforce an AI use policy signed by all employees.Vendor Relationships and Regulatory Awareness (00:22:43) Encouragement to maintain open communication with vendors and stay aware of legal and regulatory changes.Podcast Network App Promotion and Closing (00:23:44) Promotion of the Automotive Repair Podcast Network app and closing remarks.How To Get In TouchJoin The Auto Repair Marketing Mastermind Group on FacebookMeet The ProsFollow SMP on FacebookFollow SMP on InstagramGet The Ultimate Guide to Auto Repair Shop Marketing Book
How are AI-powered Interactions Transforming Daily Customer Experiences Shep interviews Tifenn Dano Kwan, Chief Marketing Officer at Amplitude. Tifenn talks about how AI and digital analytics are redefining customer experience through hyper-personalization and authentic interactions. This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more: What inflection points in technology have most impacted customer experience in the digital era? What is hyper-personalization? How has artificial intelligence transformed digital customer experiences? What future trends in AI could most impact customer service and experience? Should companies be transparent with customers about using AI-powered services? Top Takeaways: Artificial Intelligence has become one of the biggest game-changers for customer experience. It helps companies remove friction, enabling customers to get help faster and solve problems more easily. Embracing new tech in CX is about finding ways to make life easier for your customers. Moments like the rise of the web, and the growth of AI mark big turning points that companies must adapt to. Being open to change lets businesses create better experiences for customers and stay ahead of the competition. Customers want to be treated as individuals, not just a number. Personalization, especially when powered by AI, helps match customers with products, recommendations, or solutions that really fit them. AI can deliver hyper-personalized experiences that keep people engaged and coming back. But, businesses need to remember that personalization that feels authentic and respectful is what really wins customers over. Customers prefer when companies are transparent, especially about processes that impact their experiences. Modern customers can easily spot fake or insincere messages. Being authentic means communicating honestly and being open about how technology, like AI, is being used to serve them. Your AI is only as good as your data. If the information going into the system is wrong or messy, the results might mislead both the company and the customer! Good data leads to smart decisions and better customer outcomes. Whenever there's a major technological change, there's always concern about job losses. While AI can take over some tasks that used to require humans, it also creates new work opportunities. New jobs and skills will be in demand, especially in areas that support or expand what AI can do. The future of work is about adapting, learning, and growing alongside technology, not competing against it. Plus, Shep and Tifenn discuss use cases and opportunities for AI to improve the customer experience. Tune in! Quotes: "The goal of AI is to remove fiction and deliver delightful, seamless, and outcome-driven experiences for their customers." "Hyper-personalization is personalization at scale. The more in touch we are with our customers, the more likely we are to drive conversions." "AI is only as good as your data. If you have the wrong data, then you will have the wrong output. It is going to mislead you. More importantly, it will mislead your customers." "Embrace what's next. We are going to see significant evolution in the world of AI. Don't be afraid to experiment and test." About: Tifenn Dano Kwan is the Chief Marketing Officer at Amplitude. Before working at Amplitude, she was CMO at Collibra, Dropbox, SAP Ariba, and SAP Fieldglass. Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this insightful episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, hosts Sean V. Bradley and LA Williams delve into the art and science of crafting effective one-on-one sessions between managers and employees in the automotive industry. They discuss the critical role these meetings play in nurturing dealership success and building robust professional relationships. "People will forget what you did, they'll forget what you said, but they'll never forget how you made them feel." - LA Williams Tackling misconceptions and common mistakes, Bradley and Williams underline the transformative potential of well-strategized one-on-ones, emphasizing the responsibility of managers to provide the necessary resources and support to their teams! "In management, one of the number one things you can do is prepare." - LA Williams This episode serves as a guide for managers, offering a structured process to facilitate personal, professional, and team development! Using a variety of training models, Sean and LA advocate for a comprehensive approach to team building that transcends traditional methodologies. This episode is a rich resource packed with tips on achieving stellar performance through targeted motivation and strategic guidance! Key Takeaways: ✅ Understanding and implementing various types of training, skill path, professional, personal, and team building, are essential for a manager's toolkit. ✅ Effective one-on-one sessions require preparation, consistency, and an understanding of each team member's learning style and personal motivations. ✅ Managers must construct a "SWOT" analysis for each team member, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to maximize potential. ✅ Setting clear objectives through coordinated projections and forecasting can significantly improve individual and team performance in dealerships. ✅ Building strong, trust-based relationships within teams fosters a culture of interdependence, crucial for long-term success in the automotive industry. About Sean V. Bradley Sean V. Bradley is a renowned expert in the automotive sales industry, currently serving as the President of Dealer Synergy. With over 27 years of experience, Sean is also a certified CSP and a best-selling author of "Win the Game of Googleopoly." Known for his innovative strategies in lead management and CRM, Sean has been a key influence in transforming car dealerships across the nation, making him a sought-after consultant and trainer in automotive sales. About LA Williams LA Williams is the Vice President at Dealer Synergy and the co-creator of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Known as the "Blind Master" for his unique perspective and insights, LA has a history of excellence in leveraging technology and training methodologies to increase sales and efficiencies in car dealerships. Mastering One-on-Ones: The Ultimate Guide for Automotive Leaders Understanding the dynamics of effective leadership in the automotive industry can transform the way managers interact with their teams, improving productivity and nurturing employee satisfaction. This article delves into strategies managers can utilize to enhance one-on-one sessions with their subordinates. Here's how to develop managerial skills that inspire and empower. Key Takeaways Leadership is Service: Your role as a manager is not just to manage tasks but to support, inspire, and develop the team around you. Personalization and Preparation in One-on-Ones: Tailor your approach to each individual based on their unique strengths, learning styles, and motivational triggers. Continuous Feedback and Growth: Consistently evaluate and reconcile projections and actual performance to encourage ongoing development. Leadership as a Service to Your Team In today's fast-paced automotive landscape, the role of a leader transcends traditional boundaries of direction and oversight. It's about providing every conceivable resource for team success, from emotional to technical support. Sean V. Bradley insightfully points out that "a manager's job is literally defined in my opinion as…to provide all of the resources that my team is going to need." Transforming Managerial Role Managers often adopt an authoritarian style, dictating without understanding team dynamics. The transcript challenges this narrative, emphasizing the value of empathy and understanding in leadership. By adopting a servant-leadership mindset, managers can "coach, mentor, teach, inspire, lead, and train," fostering an environment where employees thrive. "You get to do this. You are a manager. You get the opportunity to coach, mentor, teach, inspire, lead, and train a human being," Bradley asserts. Impact on Team Culture Adopting such strategies transforms team cultures, enhancing how team members interact internally and with customers. A working environment characterized by high morale and effective communication will naturally yield better results. Moreover, it ensures higher retention rates, with employees feeling valued and understood—a crucial asset amidst the high turnover rates plaguing the industry. The Art of Personalization and Preparation in One-on-Ones Preparation marks the fine line between a productive one-on-one and a mundane meeting. It's not just about showing up with a checklist but about tailored engagement. Managers like Sean emphasize the importance of knowing your team members on a deeper level—what motivates and challenges them. Creating a Comprehensive Employee Profile A pivotal aspect of efficient one-on-ones is crafting personalized employee profiles. Sean advises, "Create a personalized profile. I want to know about my subordinates; I want to know your home situation, your hobbies, and what's important to you." Understanding personal motivations and struggles allows managers to customize their support and development strategies, enhancing engagement and improving performance. Tailoring Communication and Feedback Success lies in adaptation and personalization. For instance, adapting communication strategies based on individual team members' learning styles—whether they are kinesthetic or auditory learners—ensures that feedback and instruction resonate effectively. "Seek first to understand and then to be understood," Bradley suggests, highlighting the importance of communication tailored to personal needs. Continuous Feedback and Growth Through Iterative Projections Effective managers excel at steering their team towards continuous growth by understanding and evaluating performance iteratively. Sean notes that "there needs to be a tracking system. Your salespeople should be tracking…what type? Am I taking a walk-in up?" Such methodologies help in identifying trends and areas needing improvement. The Power of Projections and Reconciliation Forward-planning complemented by effective back-tracking is key to sustained progress. Managers need to emphasize clarity in projections and consistency in follow-through. "Help him establish his vision board…if your why is so important, what you have to do is not going to matter," Bradley explains, articulating the need for motivational alignment with practical goals. Bridging Gaps through Insightful Reconciliation Reconciliation between projected and actual outcomes ensures actionable feedback loops. This involves dissecting deviations, recognizing patterns, and recalibrating goals. A manager's ability to "reconcile with him…what their projected and forecast was basically with their actual results" empowers employees, encouraging accountability and learning. Realizing the Potential of Effective Management Equipped with insight and strategies, managers now have the tools to transform how they conduct one-on-ones. By adopting a leadership model focused on service, personalization, and continuous feedback, these interactions can meaningfully enhance team dynamics and productivity. Embrace these principles to inspire, nurture, and lead your automotive teams into a future defined by progress and innovation. This strategic alignment between leadership vision and practical execution fosters an environment where continual improvement is not simply encouraged, but truly becomes second nature, paving the way for sustained success and satisfaction across the board. Resources + Our Proud Sponsors: ➼ The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Mastermind Group in the Automotive Industry with over 29,000 members worldwide. Collaborate with automotive professionals, learn the best industry practices, and connect with top mentors, managers, and sales leaders. Join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today! ➼ Dealer Synergy: The automotive industry's #1 Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm. With over 20 years of proven success, Dealer Synergy has helped dealerships nationwide build high-performing Internet Departments and BDCs from the ground up. Our expertise includes phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, lead handling strategies, and management processes; all designed to maximize your people, processes, and technology! ➼ Bradley On Demand: The automotive industry's most powerful Interactive Training, Tracking, Testing, and Certification Platform. With LIVE virtual classes and access to a library of over 9,000 on-demand training modules, Bradley On Demand gives your dealership the tools to dominate every department: Sales, Internet, BDC, CRM, Phone, and Leadership. From sharpening individual skills to elevating entire teams, this platform ensures your people are trained, tested, and certified for maximum success. Equip your dealership to sell more cars, more often, and more profitably with Bradley On Demand!
Download our “Tell a Better Story, Win Better Clients” E-book at https://working-towards.com/Dr. John Heinlein, Chief Marketing Officer at Sonatus, a global leader in vehicle software powering the shift toward software defined vehicles (SDVs) and AI-driven automotive innovation.John brings a unique blend of deep engineering expertise — with degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford — and more than two decades of senior leadership across marketing, automotive technology, business development, and system architecture.We dig into:• How SDVs work and why vehicles are becoming more like data centers• The transition from 150+ hardware ECUs to flexible, upgradeable software platforms• How automakers harness vehicle data, intelligence, and AI to improve performance• The infrastructure needed to support next generation automotive experiences• The explosive role of AI in vehicle optimization, diagnostics, and personalization• Why the automotive industry is attracting top engineering talent again• Sonatus' rapidly growing footprint in more than 5 million production vehicles (soon to be 6 million)• The behind-the-scenes look at building a modern automotive software stackJohn also hosts The Garage by Sonatus, where he interviews top minds in vehicle software and mobility innovation.⸻Guest LinksWebsite: https://www.sonatus.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnheinlein/The Garage Podcast (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL02SS1Fp5GCjBUmXe4eTnEVdDLDViQXR2
In episode 143 of the SEOLeverage Podcast, Gert Mellak and Greg Merrilees discuss the evolving landscape of website design, particularly in the context of e-commerce. They explore the integration of AI in website development, the importance of understanding client needs, and the best practices for designing effective product pages. The discussion also highlights the significance of personalization and the need for continuous improvement in website design to enhance user experience and conversion rates. Key Takeaways: AI tools can help new businesses quickly establish an online presence. Established businesses should not replace their existing websites with AI-generated ones. Understanding client needs is crucial for effective website design. Product pages should provide comprehensive information to aid conversion. Learning from industry leaders can inform better design practices. Differentiation from competitors is essential for brand success. Personalization is becoming an expectation in online shopping experiences. Iterative design and testing can lead to significant improvements in conversion rates. Podcast Highlights 02:30 AI and Website Fundamentals Greg explains that while AI tools can help beginners create quick test sites, established businesses shouldn't rely on AI alone. Successful websites need strong brand positioning, trust-building design, and a deep understanding of user behavior. 09:30 E-Commerce Design Mistakes and Fixes Greg points out common e-commerce mistakes like thin product pages or missing proof elements. He emphasizes adding "Why Choose Us" sections, testimonials, use cases, sticky CTAs, and comparison charts to build trust, extend time on page, and increase conversions. 15:45 Why You're Not Amazon Greg reminds listeners: don't copy Amazon. Amazon works because of its brand power and customer trust. Smaller or challenger brands should focus on storytelling, differentiation, emotional connection, and visual hierarchy. 20:50 Personalization and AI Interaction Both Gert and Greg explore AI-driven personalization using tools like Delphi, an interactive chatbot that guides visitors toward the right offer. Greg highlights how small touches—like using a visitor's name in forms or emails—can dramatically boost engagement and conversion rates. 29:40 Redesign Strategy and Continuous Optimization Greg advises businesses to study competitors regularly, use AI analysis tools for insights, and avoid full redesigns that could alienate loyal users. Instead, he recommends small, data-backed updates for steady growth. Guest Website Info: Name: Greg Merrilees Role: Founder of Studio1 Design Website - https://studio1design.com/ Connect with Gert Mellak: Website: https://seoleverage.com/ Email: info@seoleverage.com
In this episode of Success Leaves Clues, host Robin Bailey and co-host Al McDonald sit down with Connor Bays, Head of Sales and Partnerships at Common Wealth Retirement, to explore how technology, inclusion, and purpose are reshaping financial wellness and the future of retirement. Connor shares his journey as a competitive runner turned mission-driven leader helping Canadians achieve lifelong financial security. Through his work at Common Wealth, he's redefining how small and mid-sized businesses can offer accessible, high-impact retirement plans that support employee wellbeing and retention. Together, they dive into the realities of financial stress, the misconceptions about cost and complexity in group retirement programs, and the profound shift from viewing retirement as an ending to embracing it as a new beginning. This conversation blends insight and empathy, showing how small changes in how we save, educate, and communicate about money can spark long-term transformation, for both employees and employers. You'll hear about: Mission-driven innovation: How Common Wealth is closing the retirement gap for Canadians. Financial accessibility: Why smaller businesses can and should offer group retirement benefits. Common misconceptions: Breaking down the myths around cost and complexity. Financial stress and wellbeing: How retirement planning contributes to mental and emotional health. Engaging younger generations: Why millennials and Gen Z care deeply about their financial future. Technology meets trust: Using digital tools to personalize financial planning at scale. Redefining retirement: From an end point to a new phase of meaning, purpose, and contribution. Employer wins: Why group retirement plans are a competitive advantage for engagement and culture. We talk about: 00:00 Introduction 03:00 From competitive running to leading at Common Wealth 04:00 How Common Wealth is closing Canada's retirement gap 06:00 The biggest barriers to offering group retirement plans 09:00 Financial literacy and breaking the taboo around money 10:00 Retirement planning as part of overall wellbeing 12:00 How younger generations are engaging with retirement savings 15:00 Making financial confidence accessible through technology 18:00 Balancing fees, service, and meaningful financial outcomes 20:00 Personalization in benefits: what employees truly want 22:00 The evolution of retirement: purpose, health, and longevity 25:00 The psychology of retirement and identity beyond work 27:00 Wins for employers heading into 2026: new and upgraded plans 30:00 Planting trees for future generations through better access and education Connect with Connor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/connorbays Website: https://www.commonwealthretirement.com/ Connect with Us LinkedIn: Robin Bailey and Al McDonald Website: Aria Benefits and Life & Legacy Advisory Group
Summary Struggling to stand out on Etsy? Discover how Nancy Badillo, a digital marketing expert with over 15 years of experience, turned her setbacks into a thriving Etsy business. In this episode, Nancy breaks down the exact market research and keyword strategies that help sellers find profitable niches, boost visibility, and increase their average order value. Learn how to create irresistible digital products, enhance user experience, and use personalization and bundles to drive more sales. If you want to master Etsy trends and grow your shop with proven techniques, this episode is your roadmap to success.
Two articles caught our attention. The first was in The Hollywood Reporter about a new movie theater concepts with private rooms and high end food in New York. The second was a story about the power of IMAX in the movie industry, per the Wall Street Journal. In this episode, Joe Pine, Aransas Savas, and Dave Norton discuss the evolving landscape of the movie theater experience, particularly in light of the pandemic's impact. They explore new concepts in Hollywood, such as premium movie theaters and IMAX, and how these innovations cater to changing consumer preferences. The conversation emphasizes the importance of customization, personalization, and the need for theaters to create engaging experiences that resonate with audiences. The hosts also provide valuable insights for experience strategists on how to adapt to these trends and enhance the overall consumer experience. Takeaways The pandemic significantly impacted the movie theater industry, leading to a decline in attendance. Premiumization is a key trend in the film industry, focusing on enhancing the overall experience. Customization and personalization are crucial for attracting audiences back to theaters. Consumers decide the 'when' or the situation, then watch the movie Theaters need to innovate and create engaging environments to compete with home viewing. Experience strategists should measure the money value of time (MVT) in their offerings. The integration of social components can enhance the movie-going experience. Chapters 01:23 Hollywood's New Movie Theater Concepts 02:38 The Impact of the Pandemic on Movie Theaters 04:47 Premiumization in the Film Industry 06:40 Customization and Personalization of Movie Experiences 08:57 Consumer Preferences Post-COVID 11:38 The Role of IMAX and Alternative Experiences 16:41 Innovations in the Theater Space 20:15 Key Takeaways for Experience Strategists Read More: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/inside-metro-private-cinema-tim-league-movie-theater-1236311204/ https://www.wsj.com/business/media/imax-movie-release-trend-6f4587a2?st=PKpj1G&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink Podcast Sponsors: Learn more about Stone Mantel https://www.stonemantel.co Sign up for the Experience Strategist Substack here: https://theexperiencestrategist.substack.com
What exactly is functional medicine — and how is it different from traditional primary care? Dr. Stephanie Wallman, Medical Director at The Lanby, explains how functional medicine bridges the gap between conventional care and a holistic understanding of your lifestyle, stress, relationships, and goals.Dr. Wallman shares why having a doctor trained in functional medicine can transform your health journey — from helping you manage stress and prepare for big life moments to optimizing your body for pregnancy or recovery.Timestamps:00:00 — Intro: Meet Dr. Stephanie Wallman00:08 — What Is Functional Medicine?00:46 — How Functional Medicine Differs from Traditional Primary Care01:15 — Why Lifestyle, Stress & Relationships Matter in Medicine01:45 — Real-Life Scenarios: Grief, Stress & Health Goals02:05 — The Value of Time & Personalization in Functional Medicine02:40 — Preparing for Major Life Events (Travel, Pregnancy, etc.)03:10 — Why You Should Choose a Functional Medicine Doctor03:30 — Outro: Subscribe & Follow The LanbyLISTEN NOW: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-well-better Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/get-well-betterYouTube: @TheLanby Or search “Get Well Better by The Lanby” on your favorite podcast platform!VISIT THE LANBY: Explore membership and learn more about The Lanby's functional medicine approach: https://www.thelanby.comFOLLOW THE LANBY ON SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelanby Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelanby LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/thelanbySTAY IN THE KNOW: Subscribe to The Lanby newsletter for health tips, podcast drops, and expert insights: https://www.thelanby.com/newsletter
Fundraising can feel like walking through mist—messages blur, instincts wobble, and urgency crowds out intention. In this energizing conversation, we welcome returning favorite Micah James (team lead and coach at Bloomerang—and a bride-to-be!) to name the haze and show practical ways through it. Micah calls today's moment “muddy and foggy” because donors face nonstop alerts, shifting giving channels, and rising skepticism about how funds are used. Organizations feel it too: higher costs, greater need, and inboxes stuffed with appeals that all sound the same.So what cuts through? First, stop centering money and recenter mission. As Micah says, “We don't want to give to budgets…we want to give to people, to mission, and to impact.” Translate dollars into outcomes. “There's nothing wrong with saying we're raising $3,000 because it will feed 300 families”—pair the cost with the change. Then make it personal. Tell one vivid story (Stacy, Jim, or Larry), not vague totals. Shift language so the donor becomes the hero; use “you” as often as “we.” That mental switch alone sharpens your message and steadies your strategy.Micah urges radical transparency to build trust. Be clear about what it takes to serve and honest when you're not top-of-mind in the community. Share the real work and the real budget picture without panic language. Invite support in many forms—gifts, volunteer hours, or simple acts of advocacy—and keep communicating the difference each supporter makes.A big unlock is specificity. Use your database tools to reference the donor's last gift and show what it accomplished. Celebrate recurring givers and ask for modest step-ups (from $10 to $15, from $47 to $60). Those small upgrades flatten chaotic cash-flow lines and reduce the pressure that pushes teams into constant alarm. Micah reminds us that the often-forgotten “middle” donors—already engaged, steady in capacity—can become the backbone of predictable revenue when you know them well and speak to what they care about.Bottom line: name the fog, then choose clarity. Tell one true story. Make the donor the protagonist. Map dollars to outcomes. Share the journey openly. When you do, the sun breaks through—and sustainable generosity follows. 00:00:00 Welcome and Micah's joyful news 00:03:06 Defining the fundraising fog today 00:07:14 Why budget-gap appeals miss the mark 00:10:04 Pairing dollars with outcomes that matter 00:11:49 Personalization and showing specific impact 00:13:50 Radical transparency to build trust 00:17:44 One story and donor-as-hero language 00:20:29 Using data and merge fields smartly 00:24:07 Middle donors and recurring upgrades 00:26:26 Escaping crisis mode with steady revenue Find us Live daily on YouTube!Find us Live daily on LinkedIn!Find us Live daily on X: @Nonprofit_ShowOur national co-hosts and amazing guests discuss management, money and missions of nonprofits! 12:30pm ET 11:30am CT 10:30am MT 9:30am PTSend us your ideas for Show Guests or Topics: HelpDesk@AmericanNonprofitAcademy.comVisit us on the web:The Nonprofit Show
How Handwritten Notes Build Customer Loyalty in a Digital Age Shep interviews Rick Elmore, founder of Simply Noted. He talks about how his company uses advanced handwriting robots and AI to create personalized handwritten notes at scale, to enhance customer relationships and stand out in today's digital world. This episode of Amazing Business Radio with Shep Hyken answers the following questions and more: How can companies send personalized handwritten notes to thousands of customers efficiently? How do handwritten notes compare to email and direct mail in terms of open rates? What is the impact of personalized handwritten notes on customer retention rates? How does sending handwritten notes help businesses stand out from digital competitors? How does sending personalized handwritten notes at scale improve employee engagement and morale? Top Takeaways: Getting a handwritten note (or one that looks handwritten) instantly makes the recipient feel special and appreciated. When customers receive an envelope with a handwritten address and a stamp, they are more likely top open it. When it includes a personalized message in the form of something tangible, tactile, and written with a pen, they are more likely to keep it. Personalization builds strong customer relationships. A way that businesses can do this at scale is to use technology like robots that can mimic human handwriting and powerful AI software to create thousands of truly personalized notes. Handwritten notes have much higher open rates than regular mail. Studies show that almost every handwritten note gets opened, while most promotional letters or emails get ignored or thrown away. When someone sees a real envelope with a stamp and handwriting, it feels personal. This makes handwritten notes a powerful tool for getting attention. Sending handwritten notes helps businesses reduce customer churn. It is not just about showing appreciation and acknowledging customers, but it can also make them want to stay and keep buying from you. Businesses have found that thank-you notes and anniversary cards help increase loyalty. Even just a simple "thank you" can have a significant impact and keep clients engaged for years. Authenticity matters with personal messages. In the age of social media, customers can easily take a picture of a personal handwritten note and share it online. Large language models and intelligent software allow you to generate different messages for thousands of customers, each tailored to their interests or previous experiences. This way, no two notes are exactly alike, even if the general message is the same. The best business opportunities may be in your existing customer base. Instead of constantly chasing new customers, take time to appreciate the ones you already have. Small, personalized gestures can deliver a significant return on investment by building long-term relationships and brand loyalty. Plus, Shep Hyken and Rick Elmore show how personalization works, sharing examples of successful brands like Chewy using handwritten notes to stand out and strengthen customer relationships. Tune in! Quote: "We're drowning in digital noise. What's old is new again. People crave authentic experiences and want to feel valued. A personalized handwritten note is what helps businesses win loyal customers and long-term relationships." About: Rick Elmore is a former NFL athlete, an award-winning entrepreneur, and the founder of Simply Noted, a leading U.S.-based handwritten direct mail company. He helps organizations build meaningful human connections with their customers at scale. Shep Hyken is a customer service and experience expert, New York Times bestselling author, award-winning keynote speaker, and host of Amazing Business Radio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How much of your benefits budget actually helps people live and work better?In this episode of the HRchat Podcast, host Bill Banham sits down with David Duckworth, Co-Founder and COO at Ben, to explore why so much global benefits spend gets wasted—and how a smarter, more human approach can turn perks into performance.David draws on his background in payments, financial services, and HR tech to reframe benefits as what they really are: complex, recurring payments that deserve the same precision and transparency as payroll. That mindset, he argues, is key to building cleaner, simpler, and more impactful experiences for employees everywhere.The conversation covers:The shift from work-life balance to work-life integration—and how policy design must evolveHow Ben encourages real-time off and embeds wellbeing into daily workflowsWhy boldness and resilience define great hires and high-performing teamsThe mechanics of fixing a fragmented benefits ecosystem with AI, automation, and open architectureHow to measure ROI in practical ways—through adoption, engagement, experience scores, and retention impactWe also preview Disrupt London 25.0, hosted at Ben on November 12, 2025, and discuss why bringing innovators together accelerates progress in employee experience and HR tech.If you're rethinking your benefits strategy or building the next generation of workplace experience, this conversation is your playbook.Support the showFeature Your Brand on the HRchat PodcastThe HRchat show has had 100,000s of downloads and is frequently listed as one of the most popular global podcasts for HR pros, Talent execs and leaders. It is ranked in the top ten in the world based on traffic, social media followers, domain authority & freshness. The podcast is also ranked as the Best Canadian HR Podcast by FeedSpot and one of the top 10% most popular shows by Listen Score. Want to share the story of how your business is helping to shape the world of work? We offer sponsored episodes, audio adverts, email campaigns, and a host of other options. Check out packages here. Follow us on LinkedIn Subscribe to our newsletter Check out our in-person events
What better way to kick off the holidays than learning from the master of Christmas cheer himself? In this special throwback episode, Santa Claus joins host Crystal Vilkaitis to share timeless tips for retailers on creating magical in-store experiences, boosting team morale, and surprising customers with moments of delight.From setting up a North Pole nook to hosting Elf Happy Hour and adding personalized touches that make customers feel special, this episode is packed with festive ideas to help retailers make the most of the season. [2:05] How retailers can manage the holiday rush and stay organized[3:12] Santa's tips on boosting staff morale and creating a cheerful work culture[5:12] How to create magical, Instagram-worthy in-store experiences[7:09] Unique ideas like scavenger hunts, flash sales, and AR experiences[10:25] Strategies to surprise and delight customers in unexpected ways[13:32] Personalization tips that make every shopper feel special[15:35] The future of retail and why connection will always matter mostJoin the Rooted in Retail Facebook Group to continue the conversation Join our newsletter for all the latest marketing news for retailers Show off your super fandom by getting your Rooted in Retail Merch!
In this week's episode of Home in Progress, host Dan Hansen is joined by designer Andy Yates to unpack the biggest ideas and innovations from this year's Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS 2025).Even though Andy didn't make it to Las Vegas in person, he's got a sharp eye on what's next in home design—from tech-integrated kitchens to sustainable materials, personalized design choices, and the return of natural warmth and texture in both kitchens and baths. Together, Dan and Andy explore how these trends are shaping the spaces where we cook, gather, and recharge—and why wellness, functionality, and longevity are at the heart of good design.Later in the show, Dan tackles a listener question: Is it too late to paint outside this fall? His answer might surprise you—along with some practical tips and product advice for getting the job done before winter hits.Episode Timeline00:00 – Welcome and Show Overview00:15 – KBIS 2025: The Year's Biggest Design Themes00:49 – Why Kitchens and Baths Matter Most04:34 – Smarter Homes: Where Tech Meets Design14:01 – Sustainability with Style23:43 – Bringing Smart Features to Everyday Life24:56 – Balancing Privacy and Convenience27:05 – The Rise of Personalization in Design30:23 – Investing in Quality and Longevity32:54 – Designing for Daily Joy and Wellness35:53 – The Power of Functional Spaces41:48 – Listener Question: Late Fall Painting Tips47:29 – Wrap-Up and Final Thoughts
- Brighteon Broadcast News Introduction and AI Revolution Interview (0:10) - Collapse of Human Doctors and Pharmaceutical Industry (1:51) - Trump's Announcement and AI Replacements (11:06) - Economic Collapse and AI Solutions (12:06) - Replacing Congress with AI Agents (34:46) - AI Capabilities and Public Perception (52:28) - The Future of AI and Human Knowledge (1:23:58) - Psychological Barriers and Humility in AI Interaction (1:25:23) - The Future of the Book Industry (1:28:17) - Customization and Personalization in AI (1:35:16) - Advancements in AI and Human Cognition (1:36:27) - Investing in Personal Growth and Skills (1:40:16) - Decentralization and Privacy in AI (1:48:27) - The Role of AI in Personal and Professional Development (1:57:17) - The Future of AI and Robotics (2:07:23) - The Global Race in AI and Technological Advancements (2:10:21) - The Impact of AI on Employment and Society (2:18:24) For more updates, visit: http://www.brighteon.com/channel/hrreport NaturalNews videos would not be possible without you, as always we remain passionately dedicated to our mission of educating people all over the world on the subject of natural healing remedies and personal liberty (food freedom, medical freedom, the freedom of speech, etc.). Together, we're helping create a better world, with more honest food labeling, reduced chemical contamination, the avoidance of toxic heavy metals and vastly increased scientific transparency. ▶️ Every dollar you spend at the Health Ranger Store goes toward helping us achieve important science and content goals for humanity: https://www.healthrangerstore.com/ ▶️ Sign Up For Our Newsletter: https://www.naturalnews.com/Readerregistration.html ▶️ Brighteon: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport ▶️ Join Our Social Network: https://brighteon.social/@HealthRanger ▶️ Check In Stock Products at: https://PrepWithMike.com
This episode, recorded live at the 10th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Annual Meeting, features John Talaga, EVP Healthcare at Flywire, Rob McDaniel, Senior Director of Revenue Cycle Management, and Keith Givelekian, Executive Director of Digital Business at Cleveland Clinic. The discussion explores how Cleveland Clinic and Flywire are partnering to modernize the patient financial experience through personalization, unified strategy, and innovation that prioritizes patient needs and caregiver efficiency.This episode is sponsored by Flywire.
In this conversation, James Schutrop from Scribe discusses the innovative approach of using robots to create handwritten letters, emphasizing the importance of personal touch in a world overwhelmed by digital communication. He explains how Scribe's technology integrates with CRM systems to automate the process of sending personalized thank-you letters, enhancing customer engagement. The discussion also covers the significance of authenticity in marketing, particularly through the removal of postmarks to maintain the illusion of a personal touch.TakeawaysScribe automates handwritten letters to enhance customer appreciation.People are overwhelmed by digital communication and crave personal interaction.Handwritten letters can significantly improve customer engagement.The technology uses real pens to create authentic-looking letters.Postmark removal is crucial for maintaining authenticity in marketing.Automation allows businesses to send personalized letters without manual effort.The handwritten letters are designed to look like they come from a friend or family member.Scribe's system integrates seamlessly with existing CRM platforms.The event highlights practical strategies for e-commerce businesses.Authenticity in marketing is essential to avoid customer skepticism.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Scribe and Handwritten Automation02:57 The Importance of Personal Touch in Marketing05:42 Postmark Removal and Authenticity in Handwritten Letters
In this episode of OnBase, host Chris Moody sits down with Jasmeet Sawhney to explore what it means to lead marketing in an AI-driven world. Jasmeet shares his unconventional journey from engineer to marketing executive, emphasizing how technical fluency and creativity are now inseparable in leadership roles.They dive deep into the evolving responsibilities of marketing leaders, how AI is reshaping strategy, execution, and team structures, and why the biggest risk is failing to evolve. From scaling personalization to rethinking attribution and ROI, Jasmeet offers a candid and forward-looking perspective on how leaders can guide their teams through this transformation.This episode is a must-listen for marketing, sales, and business leaders navigating the AI revolution and seeking actionable insights for long-term success.Key TakeawaysAI is no longer optional: AI is no longer a buzzword, it's a business necessity. Marketing leaders must integrate it across every function, from data analytics to customer engagement.Leadership must get technical: Future marketing leaders can't avoid data or tech. Understanding AI, automation, and analytics is critical for setting effective goals and strategies.Don't just hire AI experts, build internal fluency: Instead of creating isolated “AI teams,” leaders should train and empower existing staff to integrate AI into daily workflows.Personalization at scale is the new standard: AI enables hyper-personalization down to the stakeholder level, not just the account level. This is where real competitive advantage lies.Measure what matters: AI offers new opportunities to track touchpoints across the customer journey, finally making ROI and attribution measurable with greater accuracy.Change requires courage: Creativity, experimentation, and risk-taking are essential to unlocking AI's potential, leaders must champion innovation even when outcomes are uncertain.Quotes“This is the biggest opportunity of our generation. If we don't leverage AI, that's what's really at stake.”Tech RecommendationsClaude (Anthropic) – For content creation and ideation.Veo (Google LLM) – For AI-driven media and video content.Lovable – For AI-powered design support.Figma – For creating lightweight AI agents and workflows.Resource RecommendationsBook:Nexus: The History of Information Networks by Yuval Noah HarariPodcast:Marketing Against the Grain by HubSpotShout-OutsMohanbir Sawhney, Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management – mentor and thought leader in marketing innovation.Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder & CTO of HubSpot – admired for bridging strategy, culture, and technology.Gary Vaynerchuk, Chairman of VaynerX, CEO of VaynerMedia – inspiration for fearless creativity and constant evolution.About the GuestJasmeet is a marketer with deep roots in technology, data analytics, and AI. He is currently Global Head of Marketing at Axtria. Earlier, Jasmeet was CEO of YibLab, which was one of the fastest growing marketing technology and solutions providers, ranked Top 50 among the fastest growing companies in NJ. Jasmeet has 20+ years of experience building and scaling marketing operations for both small and large companies. He is an investor, advisor, and mentor to multiple firms, and has received several company and individual awards - Inc. 500, Deloitte 500, Crain's Fast 50, SmartCEO Future 50, Red Herring, NJBiz Business of the Year, Top CMO, and Forty Under 40, among others.Connect with Jasmeet.
Hyper-Personalization is taking over the online experience. How does this impact children now and further into the future? It's a question we must consider right now.
How do brands create customers who stay for years or even decades? In this episode, we break down the model behind lifelong loyalty, emotional connection, and trust-based customer experience - the kind that drives repeat revenue, referrals, and real brand love. Our guest is John Boccuzzi, Jr., CX leader, speaker, author of The Art of Seducing Your Customers, and President of ISG Research. With 30+ years studying how companies build trust and deliver memorable customer experiences, John shares the frameworks and stories that prove: CX is not a cost center — it's a growth engine. You'll learn:The #1 factor that determines whether customers returnWhy customer experience is more emotional than operationalThe “Ruth Story” - how one pair of glasses changed John's entire view on CXHow to scale empathy, trust, and personalization across big organizationsWhat brands get wrong when implementing AI in customer experienceThe future of CX and what will matter most in the next 12 months If you lead customer experience, marketing, service, brand, or product, this conversation will reshape how you think about delivering value.Watch Next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgNCaTYkXCE&t=1864s Key Moments:0:00 Meet John Boccuzzi, Jr.3:20 What Customer Experience Really Is5:20 The “Ruth Story”: Creating Emotional Loyalty10:10 Why Having a Point of View Builds Trust15:15 Training Teams to Deliver Great CX18:55 Scaling Emotional Customer Experiences23:30 How AI Fits Into Customer Experience29:55 The Power of First Impressions33:25 How Brands Stay Relevant Today37:15 Make the Customer Journey Simple42:55 The Future of Personalization49:15 Common Misconceptions About CX50:27 A Trend to Bet On (That Isn't AI) –Are your teams facing growing demands? Join CX leaders transforming their AI strategy with Agentforce. Start achieving your ambitious goals. Visit salesforce.com/agentforce Mission.org is a media studio producing content alongside world-class clients. Learn more at mission.org Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
It's spooky season, and Midjourney's acting possessed — new UI, style creator, and a personalization trick you weren't supposed to find.Drew and Rory break down why Midjourney's entire system is quietly evolving—from Style Creator and V6 personalization inside V7 to what V8 might unlock. They also unpack Figma's surprise grab of Weavy, Adobe Max's wild AI experiments, and Google's Pomelli quietly rewriting ad generation. This episode connects the dots: how personalization, node-based canvases, and real creative workflows are converging into one massive shift.Topics: Midjourney V8, Style Creator, personalization, V6 profiles, V7 update, Weavy Figma acquisition, Adobe Max AI, node workflows, Pomelli AI ads, Magnific Precision V2, creative OS, AI image generation, design evolution, Google Pomelli---⏱️ Midjourney Fast Hour00:00 – Halloween cold open, 80s kid-movie nostalgia (Stranger Things, Sandlot, Little Giants)04:18 – AI → physical: tees, stickers, and print-on-demand in minutes06:05 – Midjourney Office Hours: UI first, then V8; timing shifts to Jan-Feb range07:45 – New UI before V8; hopes and fears about “chatty” editors09:28 – Style Creator incoming; sharing styles like SRF codes; what creation might look like12:17 – Editing wishlist: Nano-style natural-language edits, object/text consistency14:01 – Character & product consistency: why keyframes still morph and how to fix it15:32 – Typography rant: fonts, spacing, and why AI text still isn't there yet20:21 – Live unlock: using V6 profile codes inside V7 (and what counts as an “image”)28:07 – Upscale behavior confirmed; where Magnific/Topaz still help33:31 – Magnific Precision V2: Sublime vs Photo; smart grain and practical settings37:13 – Weavy → Figma: why a 13-person team got acquired in 4 months40:00 – Aggregator era: Runway, Freepik, Adobe, node canvases, and UX moats44:23 – Adobe Max recap: node workflows, Surface/Trace/Light tools, image→3D, camera moves51:10 – Live lighting tweak (Light Touch) and perspective shifts; finishing vs. generation1:01:33 – AI → physical again: Womp and useful 3D prints (beyond desk toys)1:04:18 – Google Pomelli: drop a URL, get brand-on-voice ad concepts fast1:10:04 – T-shirt workflow: face/style refs → Printify in ~1 hour1:16:28 – Wrap: “weeks are short” in AI; Midjourney says V8 is their most exciting yet
In this episode of The Ross Simmonds Show, Ross was invited by Craig Hewitt of Rogue Startups Podcast to explore how AI is transforming B2B marketing, sales operations, and digital strategy. They cover the decline of traditional SEO, the rise of Reddit as a powerful discovery platform, the evolving importance of LinkedIn and YouTube, and practical advice on AI tools, personalization, and productivity. This is a must-listen for marketers, SaaS founders, and anyone looking to future-proof their growth strategies in an AI-driven world. Key Takeaways and Insights: 1. What's working now?” in B2B and SaaS marketing - Personal brand content from team members on social media. - Micro-influencers and content creators paid on performance for lead-generating videos. 2. Create “ridiculously valuable” and original content - insightful data or perspectives that AI can't replicate. - AI makes distribution and repurposing easier, but not idea generation or storytelling. - Personalization tools like Loom or LinkedIn voice messages still work well, but are hard to scale. 3. Content Repurposing & Platform Strategy - Repurposing content—doing it well beyond basic automation tools. - LinkedIn → best for B2B buyers and thought leadership. - Twitter/X → still relevant for technical audiences and startup visibility. - Instagram → underutilized channel with potential. - YouTube → huge upside for discoverability + long-form value, but tough to execute well. 4. SEO in Decline? - AI has definitely reduced Google traffic—marketers must embrace multi-channel discovery. - YouTube, Instagram, Reddit, and social as the new search engines. 5. Bonus Frameworks: - “Ross's Hierarchy of Needs”: Revenue > Traffic > Channels. - “Distribution Framework”: Audience Attention vs Competitive Saturation = Channel Opportunity. Underhyped vs Overhyped AI Trends - Underhyped: Reddit - Massive influence in buyer decisions. - Google indexing Reddit heavily due to user trust. - Overhyped: Quora - Once valuable, now polluted and ineffective. Resources & Tools:
With AI making it easier than ever to generate content, and consumers demanding more privacy than ever, is the promise of true 1:1 personalization now an impossible myth? Agility requires both adaptation to new AI-based tools and methods while also navigating the complex and shifting landscape of consumer trust and data privacy. It's about being responsive to both the opportunity and the responsibility. Today, we're going to talk about the central paradox facing marketers: the mandate for deep, AI-powered personalization is growing at the exact same time that access to the data that fuels it is becoming more restricted by privacy regulations and consumer skepticism. We'll explore how brands can bridge this gap, build trust, and turn privacy from a compliance hurdle into a competitive advantage. To help me discuss this topic, I'd like to welcome, Phyllis Fang, Head of Marketing at Transcend. About Phyllis Fang Phyllis Fang is Head of Marketing at Transcend, the leading privacy infrastructure company. Before joining Transcend, Phyllis held senior marketing roles at Uber, where she drove the company's safety products. Her work included launching features like the Door-to-Door Safety Standard, which went live in 70+ countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. Earlier in her career, Phyllis worked across digital and product marketing for e-commerce and consumer applications. Phyllis graduated from UC Berkeley and is based in San Francisco. Phyllis Fang on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pdfang/ Resources Transcend: https://transcend.io/ This show is brought to you by Transcend, the privacy infrastructure company that unleashes growth for the world's leading brands. Unlike legacy tools which create manual bottlenecks, Transcend embeds data and consumer preference governance directly into business systems–so teams can confidently and quickly activate data for AI, personalized experiences, customer engagement and growth at scale and with reduced risk. Learn more at www.transcend.io. Read Transcend's report: Hidden in Plain Sight: How Consent and Preference Data Are Driving Enterprise Growth: https://transcend.io/hidden-in-plain-sight-report Register now for Sitecore Symposium, November 3-5 in Orlando Florida. Use code SYM25-2Media10 to receive 10% off. Go here for more: https://symposium.sitecore.com/Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Palm Springs, Feb 23-26 in Palm Springs, CA. Go here for more details: https://etailwest.wbresearch.com/ Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstromDon't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.showCheck out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company
Summary Discover how Passive Income Angel hit a $10K month on Etsy by mastering trends, timing, and creative strategy. In this episode, Cody Berman dives into Angel's journey from early struggles to thriving in the print-on-demand world. She reveals how to spot seasonal product trends, time listings 8–12 weeks before holidays, and use micro niches to boost visibility and sales. Learn how AI tools, personalization, and bundling can set your shop apart — and why understanding keyword research and aesthetics across holidays can unlock year-round sales.
Retail leader and analyst Jeffrey McNulty breaks down a simple, usable framework for PowerSports dealers who want faster turns and better margins. We cover the traps of legacy thinking and insulated management, why a 40–45 hour target for leaders boosts performance, and how to apply the CAPED model: Customization, Adaptability, Personalization, Engagement, and Differentiation. We also dig into private-label services and guarantees, the SAG rule for authentic customer messaging, and the DAKA filter for faster decisions. If you're holding aged units, guessing on trade values, or struggling to stand out against same-brand competitors, this episode gives you a clear plan to fix it.Subscribe for more dealer-focused tactics and interviews that help you run smoother, sell smarter, and adapt faster.Follow Jeffrey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypmcnulty/Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/32L4getcOmBCYL3fRxDlyH?si=2c816556bab94519Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dealership-fixit-podcast/id1449367603YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8RWgq6pFKN8dHurvKa858ATikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dealershipfixitX (Twitter): https://x.com/DealershipFixitLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dealershipfixit/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dealership_fixit/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dealershipfixitSponsor: dealers.motohunt.com
"Show up to serve, not to sell." - Maury RogowIn this week's episode Carol Schultz and Maury Rogow delve into the significance of storytelling in sales and marketing. Maury shares his journey from the tech industry to Hollywood, emphasizing the importance of differentiation and relatability in business. They discuss the need for effective communication, understanding audience needs, and the role of emotional engagement in sales. Maury also provides unconventional strategies for generating sales, highlighting the power of personalization and the impact of AI in modern marketing. The discussion culminates with insights from Maury's book, 'Rise of the Entrepreneur', which focuses on leveraging storytelling as a superpower in business.TakeawaysBusinesses struggle to differentiate themselves in a crowded market.Storytelling is essential for effective branding and sales.Understanding your audience's needs is crucial for success.Effective communication involves asking the right questions.Sales should focus on serving the customer, not just selling.Personalization in marketing can significantly enhance engagement.Emotional connections drive customer loyalty and sales.Unconventional sales strategies can set you apart from competitors.AI is transforming the landscape of sales and marketing.Your unique story can be a powerful tool for business growth.Chapters00:00 The Power of Storytelling in Sales03:08 Maury's Journey: From Tech to Hollywood05:59 Building Rip Media Group: A New Chapter08:54 The Art of Relatable Storytelling11:59 Understanding the Why Behind Your Story15:00 Overcoming Founderitis in Marketing17:49 Simplifying Complex Ideas for Sales20:52 Unconventional Sales Strategies21:49 The Power of Relatable Storytelling25:32 Emotional Marketing Techniques25:59 Innovative Sales Approaches29:55 Personalization in Outreach34:53 The Rise of the EntrepreneurConnect With Host Carol SchultzFind more information about our host Carol Schultz and her company at Vertical Elevation, LinkedIn, and Instagram.Want to be our next guest expert? Email cat.gloria@verticalelevation.com with your information. And of course, click "follow" to stay up-to-date on new episodes and leave an honest review/rating letting us know what you thought!
Kathleen Peters brings a background with digital communications companies and tech startups to her role as Experian's chief innovation officer. On this episode, Kathleen shares a bit about Experian's Innovation Lab, outlining some of its projects and explaining how the recent democratization of generative AI tools has made even more innovative thinking possible, both for tech experts and for contributors who have other core competencies. Read the episode transcript here. Guest bio: As Experian's chief innovation officer, Kathleen Peters explores new ways to solve market challenges in identity, risk, and fraud detection. She and her team define business strategies and investment priorities while incubating new products, analyzing industry trends, and leveraging the latest technologies to bring ideas to life. Peters joined Experian in 2013 to lead business development and global product management for its newest fraud products. She later led its Fraud & Identity business in North America until being named chief innovation officer for decision analytics in 2020. Peters has twice been named a “Top 100 Influencer in Identity” by One World Identity (now Liminal), which annually recognizes influencers and leaders in the identity space. Peters is regularly quoted in prominent media outlets, including Forbes and Bloomberg, and she frequently shares her insights on innovation, AI, and fraud prevention at industry events. Me, Myself, and AI is a podcast produced by MIT Sloan Management Review and hosted by Sam Ransbotham. It is engineered by David Lishansky and produced by Allison Ryder. We encourage you to rate and review our show. Your comments may be used in Me, Myself, and AI materials.
Open Enrollment Reactivation: How Clinics Turn Past Patients into Six-Figure Months (with Jeremy Dupont) In this episode, Doc Danny Matta sits down with Jeremy Dupont (founder of Patch) to break down the most reliable campaign in cash PT: Open Enrollment. They cover simple and advanced playbooks for reactivating past patients, the offers that convert (and why), how to mobilize your team, and what realistic results look like for a growing clinic. Quick Ask Help us move toward our mission of adding $1B in cash-based services to physical therapy—share this episode with a clinician friend or post it on your Instagram stories and tag Danny. He'll reshare it! Episode Summary Low-hanging fruit: Reactivation beats cold lead gen. Past patients already know, like, and trust you—bring them back with a clear, time-bound offer. Timing that works: Run Open Enrollment mid-September to early November to avoid competing with Black Friday and holiday noise. Proven offers: Classic 12 for 10 pack (two “free” visits or a clear $-savings) and a higher-commitment 24 for 20 pack (often on a 3-pay plan) to grow LTV and stabilize MRR. Clinical cadence: Frame packages for twice-monthly visits (habit & outcomes), not “stretch it for a year.” Families often share bigger packs. FSA nudge: “Use it or lose it.” Encourage spending FSA dollars before year-end; HSA rolls, FSA often doesn't. Manual > fancy: Individual reach-outs (text, call, in-person) outperform gimmicks. Emails nurture; humans convert. Team power: Involve providers in personalized follow-ups. Incentives like a Christmas week off can crush goals. Results you can expect: A clinic with an owner + two staff PTs commonly sells 20–30 packages when they execute well. Lessons & Takeaways Offer clarity wins: Know exactly what you're selling and how you'll message savings and value. Context is king: Choose channels and scope based on capacity. Don't flood a full schedule. Nurture all year: A warm list responds; a cold list ignores asks. Give value before you ask. Plan the calendar: Open Enrollment → Black Friday → Holidays → New Year. Map campaigns, staffing, and hiring to demand. Mindset & Motivation It's an ecosystem: Reactivation is part of your hiring, space, continuity, and cashflow strategy—not a one-off promo. Follow-up is a skill: Segmented, human follow-up turns “maybe later” into revenue now. Give, give, ask: Consistent education builds reciprocity. Then earn the right to sell. What Works (Tactical) Simple path (solo or lean): Pick one clear offer (12 for 10), email your list, text/call past patients, and have providers invite current patients who are nearly out of visits. Advanced path (bigger teams): 5–6 email drip over 2–3 weeks, landing page specific to Open Enrollment (not your contact page), track opens/clicks and manually follow up with “warm” engagers. Personalization buckets: Current patients with 2–3 visits left, past patients who finished care recently, old leads who inquired but didn't buy—each gets tailored copy and a direct ask. Motivate the team: Group goals (e.g., hit X packages = Christmas week off). Time off > small cash bonuses. Avoid time wasters: Fancy video email “personalization” tools didn't move the needle. In-person and 1:1 messages did. Notable Quotes “Reactivation is the lowest hanging fruit—people who already trust you just need a clear reason to come back.” “If the last time you emailed your list was last Open Enrollment, don't expect fireworks.” “Less is more: pick the right window, keep the offer simple, and follow up like a pro.” Pro Tips for Owners Define the offer: Choose 12 for 10 or 24 for 20 (with 3-pay). Set the clinical cadence (2x/month). Own the landing page: Dedicated Open Enrollment page with a single CTA—don't dump traffic on a generic contact form. Mine your analytics: Build manual follow-up lists from people who opened multiple times or clicked the CTA. Right-size promotion: If you're at capacity, keep it tight (email + in-clinic). If you're feeding 6–7 PTs, amplify everywhere. Think families: Position bigger packs for active households who'll share visits across the year. Action Items Pick your Open Enrollment dates (target mid-Sept to early Nov) and one offer. Spin up a simple landing page with FAQs and a clear “Talk to Us” form. Segment lists: current (low visits left), past 3–6 mo, old leads. Draft 3 tailored scripts. Schedule a 5-email drip and build warm-engager follow-up tasks for your team. Set a team goal & reward (e.g., holiday week off) and daily scoreboard. Programs Mentioned PT Biz Part-Time to Full-Time 5-Day Challenge (Free): Get clear on your numbers, choose your path to full-time, and build a one-page plan. Resources & Links PT Biz Website Free 5-Day PT Biz Challenge Patch (Strategy Calls & Implementation) Follow Jeremy on Instagram: @_jeremydupont (marketing deep dives & Open Enrollment tips) About the Host: Doc Danny Matta—physical therapist, entrepreneur, and founder of PT Biz and Athlete's Potential. He's helped over 1,000 clinicians start, grow, and scale successful cash-based practices across the U.S.
AI is transforming medicine at a speed never seen before. In this episode, you'll discover how digital twins and artificial intelligence will revolutionize drug discovery, eliminate human trials, and personalize your biology for longevity and high performance. Host Dave Asprey breaks down how AI can now simulate virtual cells and tissues, running clinical experiments in minutes instead of years to create truly individualized medicine. Watch this episode on YouTube for the full video experience: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveAspreyBPR Dr. Derya Unutmaz is a world-renowned immunologist, systems biologist, and professor at The Jackson Laboratory. With more than 150 scientific papers, he's a leading expert in immune system research and one of the first scientists to pioneer the concept of digital twins for biology. His groundbreaking work uses AI to model how immunity, metabolism, and aging interact—creating new possibilities for personalized medicine, disease prevention, and lifespan extension. Host Dave Asprey and Dr. Unutmaz reveal how AGI will soon outperform doctors, accelerate functional medicine, and optimize human biology far beyond today's standards. You'll learn how the immune system drives inflammation and aging, how to re-engineer it for resilience, and why compounds like GLP-1 and metformin may add years to your life. You'll Learn: • How digital twins will end human drug testing • Why AGI could replace doctors and computer jobs within five years • How AI models immune function, metabolism, and aging • The role of mitochondria and inflammation in longevity • How GLP-1 drugs and metformin extend lifespan • What continuous biological monitoring means for health tracking • How AI is transforming functional medicine and personalized care • Why NAD and energy metabolism are key to human performance They explore how artificial intelligence, biohacking, and systems biology intersect to create a smarter approach to health and longevity. You'll also learn how understanding immune balance, metabolism, and mitochondrial function helps build resilience and extend your lifespan. This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, hacking human performance, and extending longevity through personalized medicine, functional biology, and cutting-edge AI innovation. This is essential listening for anyone serious about biohacking, hacking human performance, improving mobility, and extending longevity. You'll also learn how neuroplasticity, metabolism, and brain optimization all connect to the way you move. Dave Asprey is a four-time New York Times bestselling author, founder of Bulletproof Coffee, and the father of biohacking. With over 1,000 interviews and 1 million monthly listeners, The Human Upgrade brings you the knowledge to take control of your biology, extend your longevity, and optimize every system in your body and mind. Each episode delivers cutting-edge insights in health, performance, neuroscience, supplements, nutrition, biohacking, emotional intelligence, and conscious living. New episodes are released every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday (BONUS). Dave asks the questions no one else will and gives you real tools to become stronger, smarter, and more resilient. Keywords: AI medicine, Digital twins, Functional medicine, Biohacking, Longevity, Immune system, Inflammation, Personalized medicine, GLP-1 therapy, Metformin, NAD boosters, Mitochondrial function, Metabolism, AGI, Clinical trials, Human performance, Aging research, Systems biology, Immunology, Smarter Not Harder Thank you to our sponsors! BrainTap | Go to http://braintap.com/dave to get $100 off the BrainTap Power Bundle. MASA Chips | Go to https://www.masachips.com/DAVEASPREY and use code DAVEASPREY for 25% off your first order. Our Place | Head to https://fromourplace.com/ and use the code DAVE for 10% off your order. ARMRA | Go to https://tryarmra.com/ and use the code DAVE to get 15% off your first order Resources: • Keep up with Derya's work: https://x.com/derya_?lang=en • Business of Biohacking Summit | Register to attend October 20-23 in Austin, TX https://businessofbiohacking.com/ • Danger Coffee: https://dangercoffee.com/discount/dave15 • Dave Asprey's BEYOND Conference: https://beyondconference.com • Dave Asprey's New Book – Heavily Meditated: https://daveasprey.com/heavily-meditated • Upgrade Collective: https://www.ourupgradecollective.com • Upgrade Labs: https://upgradelabs.com • 40 Years of Zen: https://40yearsofzen.com Timestamps: 00:00 — Trailer 01:25 — Intro 02:26 — AI's Role in Extending Lifespan 02:56 — Regulatory Frameworks and Medical Adoption 05:19 — Problems with the Immune System 08:19 — Chronic Fatigue and Long COVID Research 10:32 — Modern Testing and Multi-Omic Analysis 14:07 — Personal Longevity Strategy and Supplements 15:17 — Understanding Exhausted Cells 23:43 — Personalization in Medicine and AI Analysis 31:35 — Longevity Escape Velocity 36:13 — AI Doctors and Prescriptions 39:55 — Data Quality Concerns in AI Training 43:19 — The Future of Wearable Technology 45:50 — Revolutionizing Education with AI 49:04 — The Future of Higher Education 52:03 — Future of Work and AI Agents See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.