Podcasts about rfid

Can you take the mark of the beast by accident? Get it through an RFID chip? A vaccine? A barcode to buy and sell? It's a question that's kept believers concerned, especially with new technologies appearing. But most answers on the Internet start in the wrong place. Michael Rowntree starts in the Bible with Ezekiel and Deuteronomy.ABOUT THIS EPISODEMichael walks through Revelation 13:16–18, then follows it back to its Old Testament roots. His case: the mark of the beast was never a physical mark, but a spiritual insignia, a counterfeit of God's own seal. What it actually signifies is allegiance.Join Michael to understand:- Why Ezekiel 9 and Deuteronomy 6 hold the real key to interpreting Revelation 13:16–18- How the seal of God in Revelation 7:3 and 14:4 and the mark of the beast counterfeit each other- Why the mark speaks of allegiance, ownership, and protection, and why none of those happen to you by accident- A closer look at gematria, the practice of calculating 666 to pin down a specific antichrist, and why Michael thinks it falls short- What Michael believes it actually means to prepare for the mark of the beast today0:00 – Introduction1:11 – Revelation 13 Mark Text3:34 – Seal Context Revelation 6-77:55 – Ezekiel 9 Background10:00 – Deuteronomy 6 Background11:57 – Counterfeits in Revelation 1313:40 – Daniel 7 & the Four Beasts15:27 – Tests of Allegiance18:46 – Technology and the Mark20:20 – Decoding 66623:48 – The World Made Right25:21 – Hope in Revelation

Where did an item go, what happened to it along the way, and is it still in the condition a customer expects? In this episode, Reid Jackson chats with Amir Khoshniyati, Vice President at Wiliot. Amir explains how Wiliot describes physical AI for everyday assets: battery-free tags can give products and containers a digital identity, while Bluetooth Low Energy connections capture signals such as location, motion, temperature, humidity, and light exposure. That information can help teams see what happens between facilities where traditional tracking can lose sight of an item. The discussion also covers how physical AI can work alongside RFID, barcodes, QR codes, existing readers, ERP systems, and warehouse management systems rather than forcing companies to replace prior technology investments. Amir shares five core use cases—departure, receipt, condition, location and cycle count, plus visibility into reusable transport containers, and explains why food, grocery, CPG, automotive, logistics, healthcare, and 3PL operations are strong candidates for this approach. Looking ahead, Amir sees lower tag costs, broader deployments, and assets that may one day communicate with one another. For supply chain teams, the bigger idea is simple: better item-level data can support earlier decisions when products are delayed, misplaced, exposed to the wrong conditions, or headed to the wrong destination.   In this episode, you'll learn: How physical AI can track an item's location and condition across the supply chain Why lower tag costs could expand item-level visibility across more industries How condition history can add context that inventory data alone may miss   Things to listen for: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (03:23) Wiliot's physical AI platform for everyday assets (05:00) From IoT and ambient IoT to physical AI (09:01) Filling supply chain data blind spots (10:17) Brownout spots between facilities and in transit (12:26) Five core use cases for item and container visibility (14:48) Where Wiliot sees adoption across industries (18:05) How physical AI can coexist with RFID, barcodes and QR codes (22:10) Interoperability, standards and building on existing investments (25:01) What supply chains could look like over the next five years (29:52) Condition-aware perishables and product safety questions (31:54) Amir's favorite technology (32:41) What Amir wants to learn next   Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.orgGS1 US on LinkedIn Connect with the guest: Amir Khoshniyati on LinkedInVisit Wiliot at https://www.wiliot.com/ 

In this episode of Crazy Wisdom, Stewart Alsop sits down with Charlie D. Becker, a second-generation bookseller whose family runs Houston's largest used and rare bookstore, to unpack the viral tweet that had people convinced AI companies were secretly buying up used books to train their models. Charlie walks through what he actually found in his own warehouse orders, why the more likely explanation is old-fashioned reseller arbitrage and FBA "bookjacking" rather than AI training data, and how that story connects to the real, well-documented case of Anthropic scanning and destroying physical books for legal reasons. From there the conversation moves into the difference between rare and valuable books, the discoverability problem in the used book market, historical parallels like palimpsests and lost texts, his own AI tool for used bookstores, and broader questions about wealthy patronage funding independent research and passion projects. For more, check out Charlie's personal site at charliedbecker.com and his Substack at charliebecker.substack.com.Timestamps00:00 Stewart introduces Charlie D. Becker, a second generation bookseller building an AI tool for used bookstores and discusses Anthropic's controversial book acquisition practices05:00 Charlie explains how Anthropic legally destroyed physical books by slicing spines to scan them, avoiding copyright violations while building training datasets for AI models10:00 Charlie describes receiving bizarre bulk book orders through non-Amazon platforms, initially suspecting AI companies but discovering evidence of sophisticated book arbitrage operations instead15:00 Discussion of the banal explanation for mysterious orders: algorithmic resellers buying cheap books from obscure platforms to flip on Amazon through FBA warehouses20:00 Stewart and Charlie explore historical parallels between the printing press era and today's digital transition, discussing the loss of archival records and palimpsests25:00 Charlie emphasizes the discoverability problem for rare obscure books and how profit-driven algorithms prevent people from finding books unless they know exactly what to search for30:00 Detailed explanation of Charlie's AI cataloging tool that creates bibliographic profiles from photos of pre-1970 books lacking ISBNs, addressing the hard problem of metadata creation35:00 Discussion of the technical challenges solved: archival-safe removable stickers, RFID systems, and creating canonical records that become definitive sources for rare books40:00 Charlie describes building copy-level databases beyond edition-level records, creating VIN numbers for books, and designing knowledge graphs linking works to editions and translations45:00 Vision for navigable work-edition hierarchies allowing researchers to explore translation genealogies and linguistic families, solving problems Amazon has no incentive to address50:00 Stewart raises the possibility of returning to gentleman's science and aristocratic private libraries in an age of AI abundance and accessible three-d printing technology55:00 Charlie reflects on supporting idiosyncratic passion projects regardless of profit, his fellowship from Jim O'Shaughnessy, and navigating economic inequality while promoting eccentric research pursuitsKey Insights1. Charlie D. Becker is a second generation bookseller whose family runs Houston's largest used and rare bookstore, and he is currently building an AI tool specifically designed for used bookstores. He became widely known after a tweet he wrote about AI companies potentially purchasing books went viral with approximately one and a half million impressions, though he emphasizes the importance of being careful about distinguishing between what he has directly observed, what is on public record, and what is his intuition or speculation about these events.2. The controversy around Anthropic and book destruction centers on how AI companies acquire training data from physical books. Court documents revealed that Anthropic acquired physical books in mass quantities to scan them, and they were industrially slicing the spines off to make scanning faster and easier. The legal justification for this practice was that because they destroyed the original physical book after scanning it, they were not violating copyright law since no duplicate copy existed alongside the original. A judge ruled this was technically legal, even though it appeared problematic to many observers, because the destruction of the original meant they were not running afoul of copyright provisions about making copies for distribution.3. Becker received unusual bulk orders for obscure books through a non-Amazon platform in late April, which led him to investigate whether AI companies were responsible for these purchases. However, after analyzing the pattern of purchases and where the books were being shipped, he concluded that a more mundane explanation was likely at work: sophisticated book arbitrage operations. These operations identify books selling cheaply on one platform that could be listed for higher prices on Amazon through Fulfillment by Amazon warehouses, and books that do not sell eventually get recycled or liquidated anyway, meaning rare books are being destroyed through normal commercial operations regardless of whether AI companies are involved.4. The main technical challenge Becker is solving with his AI tool relates to books printed before 1970, which lack ISBNs or International Standard Book Numbers. Modern book cataloging systems are built around ISBNs, which makes it extremely difficult and time-consuming to catalog older books for online sale since there is no automated way to populate bibliographic data for pre-1970 books. His tool uses computer vision and AI to analyze photographs of book covers, title pages, and copyright pages to automatically generate rich bibliographic metadata, and he has partnered with a PhD AI computer vision specialist to develop this technology over the past year.5. A surprising discovery during the development of this cataloging tool was that the existing data for many older books is extremely poor, inconsistent, or completely absent from major databases. For approximately a quarter of the books they process, the only existing records might be an incomplete eBay listing from years ago or a sparse entry in WorldCat, the interlibrary database. This means that rather than simply aggregating existing data, they are actually creating canonical records for many books that will become the authoritative source that others reference, essentially building new infrastructure for book metadata rather than just accessing what already exists.6. Becker advocates strongly for the preservation of obscure and seemingly unimportant books because while they may not have obvious value today, future researchers, tinkerers, or engineers might need them to solve problems we have not yet encountered. He compares this to historical palimpsests where important ancient texts were accidentally preserved when medieval scribes wrote over them, noting that the internet functions more like a palimpsest than an archive since we constantly overwrite and lose information rather than truly preserving it. The current system for deciding which books get preserved or destroyed is essentially random and driven purely by short-term profit motives rather than any thoughtful consideration of potential future value or historical significance.7. The long-term vision for the project extends beyond simple cataloging to creating a comprehensive knowledge graph that distinguishes between works, editions, and individual copies of books in ways that current commercial platforms do not adequately address. Unlike Goodreads which treats all editions of a book as a single work, or platforms like eBay that only show individual edition listings, Becker envisions a system where users can navigate between different organizational levels and explore the genealogy of works across translations, editions, and languages. The project also aims to create copy-level records similar to what libraries maintain, which would track provenance and availability of specific individual copies rather than just edition-level information, something no commercial platform currently does at scale.

Nick Black joins us from AusGrid to talk about curbside chargers and how it shifts the cost from taxpayers to homeowners, but it's all for the best. Marek owns a Mini Countryman - got a great deal, has a wall charger to take away stress, but hopes all public chargers will use RFID! And Rowan bought a Farizon Van after chatting with us recently. We'd love to hear from you, text us 0477 657 657

Episode 4203 │ August 12, 2026 A license plate is just a number. In database language it's a join key — the field that unlocks every system built to watch you since 9/11. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS Scott Kesterson issues corrections on last episode's Portland bomb case and data-sharing details before delivering the second half of the surveillance architecture series — establishing that the license plate itself is a join key, the database field that lets separate government and private systems merge into one unified profile, and that a Leonardo U.S. patent for signal-tracking technology, mounted on the same poles as license plate cameras, is quietly fusing plate data with phone, fitness tracker, and RFID signatures to identify vehicles even when plates are removed or obscured. The episode maps the full fusion layer beneath that single join key: a $1 billion DHS contract with Palantir covering CBP, ICE, and CISA, a pending $6.7 million ICE contract for LexisNexis access to 82 billion records with a stated purpose of stopping crime and fraud before it materializes, an FBI Babel X contract scanning 20,000 social media keyword searches monthly, and a private nonprofit called AAMVA that controls a national driver's license pointer database immune to public records requests — with real ID compliance quietly requiring states to feed it. Scott closes on the actionable core of the series: 39 ALPR contracts already terminated in five months through citizen audits, a new free downloadable DMV audit template asking the two questions that matter most — does your photo travel across state lines, and can the data field expand without telling your state — and the charge that this is spiritual warfare fought not with cut wires but with documented information, presented calmly, county commission by county commission. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is a join key — and why does understanding the license plate as a database field rather than just an identifier reveal how separate surveillance systems, from Leonardo's signal-tracking patent to Palantir's DHS contract to the FBI's Babel X social media scanner, are quietly merging into one unified profile of every American? What is the AAMVA and the SPEXS pointer database — and why does the fact that it is a private nonprofit immune to public records requests, controlling what data fields travel across state lines under Real ID compliance, mean that a national ID database effectively exists without ever being legislated? What does ICE's own procurement language — identifying fraud "before crime and fraud can materialize" — reveal about the pre-crime architecture being built into these systems, and what specific two questions should every citizen ask in a DMV data audit to expose it at the local level? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Spatial Terra Intelligence Methodology (STIM v5) — the analytical framework built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. BardsFM's archive includes hundreds of episodes on prayer, scripture, and walking the Way of Christ — available free in the full episode catalog. DOWNLOADS Citizen's Guide - Community Organizing Against Data Centers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Automatic License Plate Readers: click here Citizen's Guide - Auditing Your State's Driver License Data: click here AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

In "The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs", Joe Lynch speaks with Chairman and CEO of Arrive AI, Dan O'Toole, about why smart endpoint infrastructure is the missing link to scaling autonomous logistics. About Dan O'Toole Dan O'Toole, CEO of Arrive AI, can speak to why endpoint coordination networks and logistics software are becoming the unresolved infrastructure problem—and the most durable value driver—in commercial autonomous logistics. Drawing on clinical-grade deployment data that reveals what the market actually needs to scale, he offers actionable lessons on how these operational insights translate seamlessly from healthcare to the broader commercial logistics ecosystem. About Arrive AI Arrive AI (Nasdaq: ARAI) stands apart by addressing the critical gap in autonomous logistics: the endpoint. Its Arrive Points smart hubs and Arrive OS software form a hardware-agnostic, AI-orchestrated network that connects drones, ground robots, and human couriers through verified, chain-of-custody handoffs. Backed by a decade of development, 10 U.S. patents, and international filings in 20-plus countries, this architecture isn't a feature add-on—it is the essential operating layer that makes autonomous delivery commercially viable. While competitors rush to deploy vehicles, Arrive AI has already proven its infrastructure in high-stakes, live hospital environments—securing a second contract on the strength of its initial deployment—positioning the company as a defensible, revenue-ready infrastructure asset as public markets increasingly reward durable AI networks. Key Takeaways: The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs In "The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs", Joe Lynch speaks with Chairman and CEO of Arrive AI, Dan O'Toole, about why smart endpoint infrastructure is the missing link to scaling autonomous logistics. Solving the "Last 50 Feet" Problem: While multimillion-dollar autonomous drones and ground rovers can navigate miles via GPS and LiDAR, deliveries often fail at the final drop-off point. Arrive AI bridges this gap with Arrive Point™ smart hubs, providing a secure physical landing pad and drop-chute for autonomous vehicles. Creating an Unbroken Chain of Custody: To combat the 1.7 million packages stolen daily in the U.S. and secure high-value goods like pharmaceuticals, Arrive Points utilize biometrics, RFID, and time-of-flight sensors. The unit stays locked until accessed by an authorized recipient, maintaining a verified digital record from dispatch to retrieval. Hardware-Agnostic Infrastructure for Universal Access: Rather than fragmenting the market with proprietary drop zones for different brands, Arrive AI acts as a carrier-agnostic portal. Its open operating layer (Arrive OS) allows drones, ground robots, and human couriers from any fleet to execute seamless handoffs at a single managed endpoint. Unlocking Asynchronous Delivery: Traditional delivery requires both courier and recipient to synchronize schedules, leading to costly re-delivery delays. Arrive AI's smart hubs decouple drop-off times from human availability, allowing 24/7 unattended deliveries and pick-ups without risk of weather damage, theft, or product degradation. A Defensible "Napkin to Nasdaq" IP Wall: Founded in 2014 and listed on the Nasdaq (ARAI) in 2025, Arrive AI established a critical first-mover advantage by filing foundational patents before major tech giants. The company now holds 10 U.S. patents and international filings across 20+ countries, creating a robust intellectual property moat. Proven Performance in High-Stakes Environments: Beyond residential ecommerce, Arrive AI's infrastructure has been validated in live hospital settings—where delivery failures carry strict regulatory consequences rather than just operational inconvenience. This clinical-grade reliability directly enabled the company to secure follow-on enterprise contracts. Climate Control for Sensitive Payloads: Outfitted with Climate Assist™ technology, Arrive Points can actively heat or cool up to 20 degrees within minutes to preserve perishable groceries and temperature-sensitive medical supplies, while integrated top-door heaters keep snow and ice from freezing the automated doors. Learn More About The Infrastructure Autonomous Delivery Needs Dan O'Toole | Linkedin Arrive AI | Linkedin Arrive AI OpenAI's IPO filing and the broader public-market rush into AI PepsiCo is running 35 driverless trucks commercially. Amazon just deployed a next-generation warehouse robot as part of a $12 billion investment push The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google, Apple, Castbox, Spotify, Stitcher, PlayerFM, Tunein, Podbean, Owltail, Libsyn, Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube

As the legal cannabis sector eagerly awaits federal reclassification judgments, industry players are aggressively pivoting toward untapped markets and hesitant, first-time consumers. In California, dispensaries are tearing down old retail friction points by introducing state-approved self-checkout kiosks equipped with multi-product RFID scanners, mimicking the familiarity and efficiency of traditional supermarket shopping. Simultaneously, New York is expanding access points into everyday public life by enacting legislation that allows small cannabis businesses to sell directly at local farmers' markets. By combining friction-free retail automation with accessible, community-based storefronts, the industry is reshaping its sales funnel to court a brand-new demographic—consumers who have never stepped foot inside a dispensary, but are now ready to engage on their own terms.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join host Mindy McCulley and guest Dr. Monica Mundy from the University of Kentucky Extension as they share practical, research-based tips for protecting your money and personal information while traveling. This episode covers smart travel planning, safe payment practices, how to notify banks, carrying multiple payment methods and keeping them separate, and what to do if a card is declined. Tips discussed for safeguarding personal data on the go include: avoiding unsecured public Wi‑Fi, using VPNs, choosing RFID-blocking wallets, and securing phones and bags to prevent theft. Listeners will learn to save customer-service numbers, keep copies of important documents, cover PIN entries, monitor accounts regularly, and report lost or stolen cards immediately. Whether you are taking a weekend getaway or an international trip, this concise episode delivers clear, actionable steps to reduce financial stress, avoid scams, and enjoy travel with confidence.

https://youtu.be/KUPg9BuYSaM David B. Jones, CEO and Partner of Mercer Assessments, is helping organizations attract the right A-Players by making labor markets more efficient through defensible human capital insights. By combining psychometric science, workforce analytics, and AI-enabled technology, David helps employers identify, develop, and retain the right talent while empowering people to discover careers where they can thrive and make meaningful contributions.  In this conversation, David introduces The R.E.A.P.E.R. Framework—Review the Situation, Explore Alternatives, Agree a Course of Action, Execute the Plan, and Refine the Approach. He explains why organizations should begin every challenge with a thorough situation review, how collaborative decision-making creates alignment before execution, and why continuous refinement drives long-term organizational success. David also discusses how AI is reshaping talent management, why organizations need real-time workforce insights instead of static reports, and how Mercer Assessments leverages technology while preserving the integrity and defensibility of human capital assessments. — Attract the Right A-Players with David B. Jones  Good day. Steve Preda here with the Management Blueprint Podcast. Today, my guest is David Jones, the CEO and partner of Mercer Assessments, focused on providing defensible human capital insights and foresight in the fields of talent acquisition, leadership development, and organizational productivity. David, welcome to the show.  Thank you, Steve. Great to be here.  Well, I’m excited to have you here, especially because you are the first guest—maybe not completely from the Middle East because we had a couple of guests from Israel—but definitely from Dubai, where you are. Maybe that is also impacting the answer that you’re going to give to my question. So here is my first question. What’s your personal ‘Why’, and how are you manifesting it in your business, Mercer Assessments?  Yeah. Well, I mean, I think obviously a lot of skills around resilience and being able to think about how you maintain your own personal well-being, but also the well-being of the workforce, is something which has come to the fore in the last couple of weeks, for sure, living in Dubai. But I think very much of my North Star—by educational background, I’m a labor market economist. Although I’ve worked in HR and talent management for pretty much all of my career, I think I’m always thinking about how to make markets more efficient.  I think the labor market, in some ways, and what it takes to become efficient, is very similar to a fish market, a stock market, or any other market that you can think of. What you need to be able to make the best decisions is really good data, really good up-to-date information, both on the supply side and on the demand side.Share on X I think a lot of what we do at Mercer Assessments, and a lot of what we do in talent management more generally, is really about trying to do that. Trying to help individuals understand what their strengths are.  Trying to match them to specific careers that will be more fulfilling for them in the long term and also help them be more productive for their employers. As well as helping employers understand what the important skills are for today and tomorrow, and how they can predict how people will perform in certain environments. So really trying to bring the supply side and demand side together. I think, notoriously, labor markets have very bad information.  Typically, most people get their career guidance from their parents or their grandparents, which can be great for aspiration but doesn’t always necessarily keep them up-to-date in terms of what’s happening in today’s workplace. So I think this is really my anchor, if you like, where a lot of what we do in our innovation, our technology, or our engagements with clients typically comes back to this point. Fundamentally, how do we make labor markets more efficient and more functional for all of the stakeholders?  Yeah, that’s fascinating. So would you say that if you are doing this well, then more people will feel fulfilled in the roles that they work in?  I mean, I think that’s definitely the aspiration, right? That’s definitely what you would hope to do. I think, as individuals, I’m sure we can all think of those really, really great days where you think that you nailed it at work, and you think that this is something where you can make a really specific contribution. It just feels good, and all those people around you have the benefit of that. It becomes something which is infectious for those around you.  I think it’s important for the economy on a macro level, right? I think if we are able to provide opportunities, provide career paths, and help people understand what their unique strengths are, then this is something which helps to promote productivity and positivity more generally, right? At the individual, team, family, and societal level, it affects all sorts of dimensions.  So maybe this is kind of a side question, but I’m really wondering, is this AI revolution, as we’re going through it, influencing your work, and is it changing the requirements of employers?  Yeah. I think we’re in a very interesting time. I mean, I’m not a futurologist. I’m not a prophet. I’m not somebody who makes these sorts of big predictions about the future. But I think the case for AI, to some extent, is still unproven in terms of what it’s actually delivered to date. I mean, I think there’s obviously a lot of investment. There’s a big impact on the environment. But I don’t think we’ve had something really groundbreaking discovered by AI at this point that’s new.  It seems to be quite backward-looking in many ways, based on ingesting data from all the novels that you have on your shelf and that I have on my shelf. Maybe they’re going to ingest this podcast in the future. I don’t know. It doesn’t seem that there’s been a unique breakthrough that humanity has not been able to, or would not be able to, achieve by itself. And yet, I think the promise and the anticipation of what AI can do is quite compelling, right?  I think the way that it is impacting the labor market especially… Ironically, it’s impacting probably software developers the most today. It’s interesting that a lot of people in white-collar fields, professionals maybe, are also feeling like it’s changing the way they’re working. So there’s a big debate, I think, about whether it’s going to be an augmentation or whether it’s going to be a replacement of some sorts of tasks. I think one thing you can say with certainty is that the concept of a job is definitely going to change. If you look at the roots of the word—the etymological roots of the word “job” in the English language—it literally means “a task” rather than a role as such. Yeah. So I think we’re going to get this greater atomization of people’s roles. What used to be bundled together as one job is now going to be much more atomized into specific skills, specific tasks.  The opportunity there is that we all get to do more of the things that we find more fulfilling and less of the repetitive, dangerous, or dull types of things that we have to do in our jobs sometimes.Share on X But I think it has some second-order impacts in terms of how people develop their careers and the competence and confidence that people, particularly when they’re junior in their jobs, need time to build—the ability to operate at a higher level. So I think we’re all going to have to be leaders in lots of ways, even leaders in our own work.  Yeah, I agree with you. That’s fascinating. So, David, let’s talk about the framework. What would be a framework? Think of something that allows you to be more effective in your job—something maybe that you personally discovered or that you and your colleagues developed. Something that helps you be more effective in creating those labor market matches, finding the right candidates, and assessing them. Something that you can describe in three, four, or five steps, or maybe three or four ways of looking at things. Anything that comes to mind?  So there are a few things. I did miss a few things because I think—I don’t know if you’ve heard the news. We’re recording this, and I think the British prime minister has just resigned today. This is, I think, our seventh prime minister in 10 years. I’m sure each one of those prime ministers had their own framework in terms of what they wanted from their political leadership and how they were going to operate in government.  So I think we’re definitely operating in a much more VUCA world, right? This mnemonic is about being volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. I think, to some extent, that means that having a framework has to be something that is constantly being amended, reviewed, and updated in many ways. A lot of what we do in assessment—we have very clear statistical frameworks where we look at particular behaviors or particular characteristics, and we try to make sure we measure them. But I thought maybe that was too detailed and too comprehensive.  So one of the things we do when engaging with our clients is that we have a sort of consulting approach. It’s like a cycle. We start by reviewing the situation, so it’s like a situation appraisal, if you like. We use this internally as well in Mercer Assessments. So we try to understand what’s happening, what’s going well, and what we’re concerned about—just trying to get any data or information that we can.  Then it's important, particularly with a team or with a client, to explore what the priorities are, what's important, and what is causing them the most thought or requiring the most energy to address.Share on X So reviewing, exploring, and then agreeing on a course of action. Making sure that there’s consensus or, if you’re in an organization, making sure you’ve got the budget and the endorsement from headquarters or senior management. Then I think you can go into a planning stage. Making sure you’ve got a focus on execution and that you know what has to happen and when.  Then I think you can go into the ability to have that as a cycle and review or evaluate the plan itself. Is it on track? Is it on time? Is it on budget? Is it achieving its objectives? You can continue on this sort of reflexive cycle. So if you were to do that, it becomes quite sinister. The mnemonic becomes R.E.A.P.E.R., like the Grim Reaper or like “reap what you sow,” because you review, explore, agree, plan, execute, and then review again.Share on X So it can become, hopefully, a virtuous cycle, but it can also become an ongoing process.  I love it. So Yeah. So if you refine, maybe the last one is refined, and then you avoid repeat— Yes. Yeah.  Yeah. Oh, great.  That’s good. Yeah, I like it. Yeah, love it. So basically, what you’re looking for is helping your customers with an initial problem and then helping them generally improve their organization by continuing to refine and add to it, making it better over time.  Yes, correct. Yeah.  So it turns into a recurring engagement.  Yes, that’s the hope. Well, yeah. I mean, hopefully, if you have that relationship with the client and also with your team, you have this ability to recognize what you’ve achieved together, but you can also plan what you want to do differently next time.  So you’re the CEO of Mercer Assessments, which is the Dubai operation. Is this just a geographic branch of the Mercer Group, or is it a separate business that operates in multiple geographies?  Yeah. So actually, it’s a new venture for Mercer globally. My background is that I was one of the founders of a company called The Talent Enterprise, which was acquired by Mercer just over two years ago. It had also made an acquisition of another company before that called Mettl. So we were more of a talent assessment type of company.  We would do talent acquisition, talent development, leadership development, things like high-potential identification, succession planning, and these types of applications. Employee engagement as well, things like employee well-being assessments and stuff like this. The psychometric assessment field. So if you or your listeners are good at Greek, you would know that “psychometric” means “measurement of the mind.”  Yeah, right. So this is really what we’re trying to do. We’re accredited by the British Psychological Society to say that the tools we have, use, or develop have validity, reliability, and are statistically stable within the sorts of bounds that you would expect when measuring human beings.  It can never be perfect, but it’s considered to be predictive. Mettl was more focused on skills assessment. That was one of their big areas of focus, along with educational assessment. So coming together as Mercer Assessments, we’re now part of this big global organization. Although we’re based in the Middle East, we’re now working in Asia, Europe, North America—we’re just starting to do more work in North America—and Australasia. So this is the sort of big, hairy, audacious plan that we have.  That must be pretty intense if you’re working around the clock, essentially working around the globe. Then Mercer is… It can be.  Yeah, it can be. Even working in the Middle East, you have different working weeks. Some of our clients work on Sundays. But we have a good team. We have a big team. We have great technology. So we have scalable ways of doing it.  So what drives growth in this business?  I think it is changing. If you were to ask me that question even two years ago, I would say it’s to do with the change, the transformation, or the aspiration of the client, of the organization. If they’ve got a new operation, or they’re expanding, or they need to develop new skills, or they need to make sure their productivity and positivity are enabling them to keep up with their competitors, then these things would often trigger the sorts of interventions that we help our clients with.  That’s still true to a large extent, but what's changing a lot is what you were talking about earlier—to do with AI and expectations from technology. So I think what we're doing a lot more of now is real-time decision support.Share on X It used to be that our deliverables would look like a PDF report. They would say, “Okay, this is Steve. We’ve assessed Steve. These are Steve’s strengths. These are his areas for development. This is the sort of team or the certain type of colleague that he would thrive working with.  These are the people or the situations that he might struggle with.” That type of static report. Then either we or the client—sometimes if you’re looking at large numbers of people—you’d have to do a lot of spreadsheet work or a lot of PowerPoint work and say, “Okay, now we need to match that with your strategic objectives.” So I think what’s happening now is we’re focusing a lot more on the data.  Our technology is providing much more of a dashboard report, so Steve can access his results straight away because that’s actually when Steve is most interested in them and they’re most relevant—not two weeks later when you schedule a coach or someone to give him feedback. You’re interested as soon as you finish the last question. You want to know, “Okay, what does this say about me?” We can add lots of AI layers to that to help you implement it or understand it. Then for the organization, we now provide much more of a dynamic dashboard-type report.  So if, I don’t know, the CFO leaves this afternoon and the CEO calls the CHRO and says, “Okay, who are the internal candidates for this role?” You can come up with an answer. It doesn’t have to be something where you say, “Let me check my filing cabinet,” or, “Let me put a PowerPoint together for you and get back to you later this week or next week.” You can actually do that type of matching within the platform that we have. We have our own platform called Lighthouse, and it really helps you match individuals or teams to certain tasks or to certain ventures or aspirations that the organization might have.Share on X  Yeah. So instead of providing individual reports for individuals, you now operate this platform for your clients, and then they can look up the people involved in changes. So how is it different to scale the business with this type of approach? What makes it more complex?  Yeah. So on the one hand, it can help us a lot as our own organization because we can be much more pervasive 24 hours a day across the different time zones that we operate in. If you’re our client, you don’t always have to rely on having a meeting or a call with us in person. You can go and find that answer yourself. It’s quite an intuitive process and platform. You can access it and get value from your own data. I think that’s the key thing that I’m trying to emphasize that’s changed.  Clients are now impatient with SaaS platforms in particular when they’re not able to access their own data directly. So there’s a little bit of disintermediation going on in the enterprise software business as a whole. That’s the key trend that I’m trying to highlight here. But it also helps us to be more scalable. Just to take a step back to the previous discussion about AI, I think when it comes to using AI in your business, the key strategic choice is what you’re not going to use AI for.  For us, we made the choice actually three or four years ago that we’re not going to use AI in the assessments themselves. Not today. Maybe in five years’ time or ten years’ time we might change our mind, and we’re constantly reviewing that. But we need these defensible assessments. We need to be able to say, “This is fair and objective, and we’re coming with an external point of view that is transparent and defensible in every sense of that word.”  Yeah. You don’t want to hallucinate assessments for clients or even run the risk of that happening, right?  Yeah, absolutely. And there are some companies that have done that, right? I mean, there are lots of cases you can find where companies have said, “Hey, we just need a five-minute video, and I can tell you everything you need to know about this person, and you can make decisions about their career and all sorts of stuff,” right? I’m not saying we won’t get there in the future, but I just don’t think that’s good enough at the moment.  And I think with a lot of things that you do with chatbots now, if you’re judicious about it, you might be able to say, “Well, actually, that’s interesting, but it’s not good enough,” right? It’s not a finished product. It’s not something that I can execute on. What we can do is add a lot of value around the assessment. So we can do things like AI-based development planning, right?  When someone wants to see their results—and people normally want to see their results almost immediately after they’ve finished their assessments—you can start to say, in the flow of work, in the client’s environment, whatever their learning partners or learning architecture may be, “Okay, here’s a development plan for you,” customized and curated within that environment for your strengths, how to emphasize them, and also for any development areas or new learnings that you want to address.  We can also do things like AI-based proctoring, right? We can give the client a risk report on an application and say, you know, how genuine is this? What other software does Steve have open on his laptop? Is there a shadow in the room? Where are his eyes going? Is he looking at someone else? Is he getting help from someone else? Is this really Steve? All these sorts of things, right? We can do that. We can also develop customized case studies for the organization around its specific tasks and challenges that the organization has.  So you can come up with very specific, job-related assessments. AI can add a lot of value to all of these things. It can provide greater scale and a greater ability to sustain our growth. But with the core of what we do today, we’re saying, “Look, you need to be able to trust us.” And we want to be able to show you the answer. If you have a question about any of our assessments, we can check. There’s an audit trail, and we can show you the answer. It’s not just, “The computer came up with this idea. We don’t know.” But that’s intellectual property, and you know that it works, and you’re sticking with it. You don’t allow AI to bastardize it, basically, yeah, which makes sort of sense. So, David, what is one thing that you’re actively trying to figure out in your business right now? That’s a great question. I mean, there’s lots of things. I think a lot of them come around, you know, what is this threshold between what we do as humans and what we use AI or other technology to help us do? And I think that threshold is constantly being reviewed. A lot of it is to do with how do you make growth sustainable. We have had massive growth in the last five or six years, and that’s a great thing.  But I think it means you have to make sure the foundations of your organization are strong so that you can move from one to another. I mentioned earlier that we’re just starting to focus on North America as one of our new markets, and I was very keen that we didn’t do that until this point or even next year because we’re not the organizational equivalent of The Beatles, right? Like, we can’t just expect to turn up in a big, sophisticated, very strong, highly cultured market and be able to expect that we’re going to do things like we’ve done them everywhere else, or that we don’t need to think about how we communicate with those prospects and those clients.  So that’s a really big step for us. And how we manage data, I think, is probably the key thing. Fundamentally, if I was to come back to answer your question, I think it’s how we manage data because I think clients are becoming much more sophisticated, much more impatient with people who curate their data. They say, “Look, you know, we know we’re generating lots of data inside the organization,” right? Which is typically what we do, right? It’s people data.  Normally in most work environments, you can tell when somebody opens their laptop, or you can tell when they walk in the office door, or you can tell sometimes even what they’re doing inside the working space, right? Their ID has got an RFID in it or something like that. So there’s lots of data that’s constantly being generated inside the organization, and clients want to get value from that data. And having a sort of third-party proxy come in and say, “Hey, we can do your payroll for you,” or “We can send a questionnaire to people once a year, and that can let you know whether they understand health and safety or they’re engaged in their workplace,” it’s not really satisfactory anymore, right?  The clients are saying, “Okay. I want to be able to get value from my data, and I want to be able to see that. I want the analytics. I want to ask questions that are not able to be prescribed at the beginning.” “And I want to be able to do these queries in real time.”  So essentially, would that require you to get integrated with your clients to some degree so that you can process the data in real time as it emerges? It’s really interesting because I think what I’m hearing from my clients is they’re actually frustrated with that. In the sort of classic SaaS world, which we’ve had in organizations now for 20, 30, maybe even 40 years, you integrate the big internal ERP systems or CRM systems, and you integrate them, and then you have to sort of work within their framework, right? And you might see a report that’s already pre-programmed, but you don’t necessarily see the data, right? If you wanted to say, “Okay, what’s the trend today over the 24-hour clock?” or “How is it changing in June compared to May?” or “How does it relate to the temperature?” or whatever, right?  You can come up with all these questions that you might not be able to predict and then plan and have a sort of pull-down standard report. So to do that, you need access to the data. And I think clients are saying, “This is our data.” This data belongs to us. We want to be able to see that directly, and we want to be able to use that as a decision-support tool, and not necessarily just have a report.”  Yeah. So they’d rather own the data and apply your tools to their data without you necessarily having access to the data or something like that?  Yeah. It’s also a source of differentiation for them, right? Because they know that if… I’m not going to mention these companies. I’m sure you and all your viewers know the big brands. It’s interesting what’s happening with their share prices recently, right? They’re all maybe suffering a little bit from a decline in their share prices, on average. It’s basically a standardized way of doing things, right?  There’s pretty much the same way that any corporation in any part of the world is going to do it because that’s the way you get efficiency through that software. But if an organization says, “Actually, we’ve got an insight into something that we think is unique and differentiated, and we want to make decisions in a slightly different way, or make them faster,” that’s a point of competitive advantage.  Does that mean they wouldn’t want you to apply their idea to other customers because it’s their unique property? They’d just want your tools to help them process their data. They don’t want to share it with you.  Yeah. There are clients like that. We do deal with very sensitive industries, and sometimes government departments, where we have to be able to certify that type of approach. I think that’s likely to become more common in the future as people become more sensitive and more aware of the value, the opportunity, and the threat of what can happen with their data.  Yeah. I mean, some people say that information is now ubiquitous. It’s the questions that are really important because that’s how you communicate with AI. Maybe the question itself can be proprietary know-how—knowing how to ask the right kind of question. They don’t want…  No. I mean… Yeah, I agree. Completely. Yeah. You’re absolutely right. Again, to go back to assessments, we’ve recently released a whole bunch of assessments that measure skills in AI as a domain. We’ve got all sorts of technical and non-technical AI assessments. Obviously, one of the skills that we look at is prompt engineering. If you’ve used some of the generative AI platforms, you’ll always get an answer.  They’re pre-programmed to give you an answer, and most of them are also pretty polite. They fluff up your ego a little bit and say, “Hey, great question.” “That was really interesting.” Then they’ll give you an answer. You need to be aware of that. You need to probe and make sure you’ve not just got an answer—you’ve got the answer. Or at least the best answer that makes sense for you. Then you’ve quality-checked it.  You’ve taken it from one platform, put it into another platform, and then into a third platform. Whatever you’ve done, you need to have that awareness and those specific skills to get the most value out of it. It’s very dangerous, and I think we can all see it. I’m sure your inbox is like my inbox. You get emails from people and think, “Okay, well, that’s not an email from a person.” It’s a bulleted email. It’s not personal. It’s not directed at you. Sometimes it’s hard to understand what it even means.  Yeah. You’re right. So David, who is the ideal customer for you that can most benefit from your solution?  That’s a good question. Personally and professionally, I like clients who challenge us. I like clients who ask questions that make us think in a different way, so we can hopefully give them value and really answer those questions. I think that’s important for us to develop. Clients who are looking for new insights or different foresights that help them in their business—those are the kinds of clients we’re looking for. Definitely the ones who are pushing the envelope and helping take us forward in terms of quality.  So if those types of people are listening to this show and would like to learn more about what you do and how you might be able to help them, where should they go? Where can they find out more?  Yeah, absolutely. You can find me on LinkedIn. I’m David B. Jones on LinkedIn. There are a lot of David Joneses. I think David Jones is the most common name for a British man—even more common than John Smith—so there are a lot of us around. But you’ll be able to find me as David B. Jones. You can also find Mercer Assessments. You can find out more about us through those channels. I’ll be happy to answer any questions or provide more information.  Is there a website people should check out? Do you have a separate website for Mercer Assessments?  We do. Mercer Assessments is part of the mercer.com website. That’s where you’ll find more information. There are also a number of books we’ve published on particular subjects to do with assessment, talent, and leadership development more generally. Those are all available on Amazon as well.  Okay. So if you’re out there and you’re looking to have a more sophisticated view of your people and their aspirations and how they fit the type of work that you want them to do, and you’d like to understand more deeply, then check out Mercer Assessments, David B. Jones. Actually, it’s easy to just put in “David Jones Mercer,” and David will pop up that way.  Check out the books that David and his colleagues have published. And if you enjoyed this conversation, then make sure you follow us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts. And David, thanks for coming to the show and sharing your experience and insights. I mean, it seems to me that you have a much more nuanced approach than most talent assessment or performance assessment organizations, and you have a lot more tools at your disposal. It’s a combination of technology and professional expertise. So that’s fascinating. Thanks for coming on the show. And if you enjoyed this conversation, make sure you follow us because we come out every week with exciting entrepreneurs like David. I will. I will. Thank you, Steve. Important Links: Davidi's LinkedIn David's  website

In this episode of Bicycle Retail Radio, we sit down with Michael Potter, Partnerships Director at Bikeflights, fresh off the NBDA Retailer Summit Central in Bentonville, to discuss the latest shipping trends shaping the bike industry, including common e-bike shipping misconceptions, and insight into shipping trends with events and bike travel.Michael also unveils Bikeflights' new RFID tracking label program, a game-changer for shops dealing with transit delays or lost packages, and shares how retailers can start leveraging shipping as a competitive advantage.Support the show

Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD Episode Summary Frédéric Guitton, who leads sales and marketing at iTargetGolf after a career across banking, startups, financial services, and investment firms, explains how driving ranges are turning dead space into an interactive, gamified experience. He walks through the company's product line, including the iTarget Night Saber target that connects to Toptracer, Inrange, and Trackman through an API, the in-bay lights that fire when a player hits their target, and the new Cash Cup Golf hole-in-one contest played with RFID balls. Guitton lays out the three levers a driving range has for revenue, why post-COVID golf growth came from entertainment rather than traditional rounds, and how instant feedback keeps a player buying one more bucket. Listeners come away with a working model of physical gamification and a reminder that designing around real human behavior beats asking people to behave better. About the Host Rob Alvarez is Head of Engagement Strategy, Europe at The Octalysis Group (TOG), a leading gamification and behavioral design consultancy. A globally recognized gamification strategist and TEDx speaker, he founded and hosts Professor Game, the #1 gamification podcast, and has interviewed hundreds of global experts. He designs evidence-based engagement systems that drive motivation, loyalty, and results, and teaches LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and gamification at top institutions including IE Business School, EFMD, and EBS University across Europe, the Americas, and Asia. Key Takeaways A driving range has only three levers for revenue, according to Frédéric Guitton: sell more balls, sell more food and beverage, or sell the balls for more money. Every engagement decision at iTargetGolf traces back to one of those three. iTargetGolf's first targets were powder-coated metal and looked great, but ball picker staff bumped them and metal does not give, so it bent or broke permanently. The replacement is cut from utility sewer pipe and survives 400 to 500 pounds driving over it. Post-COVID golf growth came from entertainment, not from more rounds on traditional courses. Guitton describes the driving range starting to replace the bowling alley as the family night out, which brings in an audience that never came to practice. The iTarget Night Saber target connects through an API to Toptracer, Inrange, and Trackman ball tracking, so a landed ball triggers an animation within seconds. That instant feedback is Core Drive 2 (Development and Accomplishment) delivered in the physical world. Choosing low voltage over high voltage took permitting out of the install path. A California range that signed in mid-June started its install roughly four weeks later, which turned an infrastructure decision into a sales advantage. Guitton frames the B2B2C tension plainly: the range's success drives iTargetGolf's success, so the company treats itself as a consequence of its customers' results rather than a driver of them. Topics Covered 0:00 — Opening and introduction 2:17 — Inside a week at iTargetGolf 3:25 — Favorite fail: metal targets that bend 6:34 — Sewer pipes and the strike point redesign 9:01 — The four products iTargetGolf builds 11:31 — How a general contractor started the company 14:58 — Golf as entertainment after COVID 15:57 — Three ways a driving range makes money 17:46 — Making it fun and creating new golfers 19:35 — Best practices: listen and stay locked in 22:45 — Football intelligence and instant feedback 27:47 — Outliers, favorite games, and goodbyes Get the free Core Drives in the Wild guide, behavioral design applied to real products: professorgame.com/WildCD About Frédéric Guitton Frédéric Guitton leads the sales and marketing strategy at iTargetGolf, where he is helping redefine the driving range experience through interactive down-range technology. He relocated from France to Central Florida in 1996 and built a career in banking before expanding into startups, financial services, and investment firms, developing experience across business strategy, operations, sales, marketing, and executive leadership. At iTargetGolf he works on a product line that combines interactive illuminated targets, skill-based cash prize games, and integrated ball-tracking technology to increase player engagement and open new revenue for golf facilities. His current focus is building scalable systems, strengthening customer relationships, expanding strategic partnerships, and positioning the company in the evolution of golf entertainment technology. Find the Guest Online Website: itargetgolf.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/fguitton Instagram: @itarget_golf TikTok: @itarget_golf Facebook: iTargetGolf on Facebook Mentioned in This Episode Some links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Recommended book: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Proposed guest: Scott Armstrong, involved with TGL, the indoor golf competition on ESPN Ball tracking platforms iTargetGolf integrates with: Toptracer, Inrange, Trackman Topgolf, referenced as the far end of the golf entertainment spectrum iTargetGolf products discussed: iTarget Night Saber, iTarget Strike Point, in-bay lights, and Cash Cup Golf Favorite game to watch: volleyball. Favorite sport to play: cycling. Free Resources and Get in Touch Core Drives in the Wild: Professor Game Free Guide Get Daily Value on Your Email Let's chat about your gamification project YouTube LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Start Your Community on Skool for Free Ask a question

You think your two-factor authentication and credit monitoring make you safe online. Bad news - you're probably already compromised, you just don't know it yet.While you're worrying about AI becoming Skynet, real humans are using AI tools to drain your bank account $10 at a time.Anthropic just reported the first fully AI-orchestrated cyberattack (and patted themselves on the back for stopping it). Major security companies like F5 and Experian have been hacked. Even LifeLock—yes, the identity theft protection company—got breached. The EU is the only entity actually trying to protect you with GDPR, while your own government leaks your data like a sieve.This episode won't make you invincible, but it will make you paranoid in the right ways. We're breaking down the real threats, the tools actually being used against you, and why that "suspicious" Amazon charge from three states away probably isn't a GPS glitch.Get identity theft insurance (because you WILL get hacked), enable every alert on every account, audit your statements forensically, and accept that privacy is dead but protection isn't. Plus: why cryptocurrency is a hacker's wet dream and what to do when the FBI tells you your $3,000 isn't worth their time.(Note: This episode was originally published December 5th 2025)Topics covered:Why Anthropic's "we stopped the hack" announcement is actually terrifying PR spinThe $10 Amazon gift card scam that bled $4,000 over 18 months (and why fraud detection missed it)How hackers used in-flight WiFi to clone a credit card mid-flightWhy moving to the cloud made your data LESS secure, not moreThe sophisticated Zelle rental scam that costs thousands (and why cops won't help)What GDPR actually does right (and why the US government doesn't care about your privacy)Why "free" services mean YOU are the product being soldThe insurance policies worth paying for (because denial won't protect you)How to spot RFID skimming in your own neighborhoodWhy your partner needs access to your financial alerts (yes, really)----MORE FROM BROBOTS:Get the Newsletter!Connect with us on Threads, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and TiktokSubscribe to BROBOTS on YoutubeJoin our community in the BROBOTS Facebook group

In this episode, Jon and Adam take a deep dive into one of golf's most feared problems: the shanks. They explain what is actually happening at impact, why many common swing fixes can make the problem worse, and how golfers can use face spray, strike-location practice, and simple constraints to regain control. Adam also breaks down how setup, hand position, body movement, and equipment can influence heel and toe contact—but emphasizes that learning to intentionally move strike around the clubface is often the most effective long-term solution. They also discuss the anxiety these misses can create and why removing emotion, avoiding endless mechanical rabbit holes, and focusing on basic problem-solving can help golfers find their way out. Thank you to our show sponsors Lagoon Sleep, Warby Parker, and Ridge Lagoon Sleep helps you find the right pillow for your sleep position and body type with a quick two-minute quiz, giving you a more personalized setup for better rest and recovery. Their adjustable pillows are trusted by elite athletes and can help with neck support, cooling, and waking up without aches or pains. Sweet Spot listeners can get 15% off by going to ⁠lagoonsleep.com/sweetspot⁠ and using promo code SWEETSPOT. • Warby Parker Sport combines the look of everyday sunglasses with performance features designed for golf, running, tennis, hiking, and other active pursuits. The frames are lightweight and flexible, with no-slip nose pads, an expanded field of vision, and polarized lenses that reduce glare while blocking 100% of UVA and UVB rays. They're available in prescription and non-prescription options, so you can get clearer, more comfortable vision without sacrificing style. Buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/sweetspot. • Ridge gives you a slim, modern alternative to the bulky traditional wallet, with room for up to 12 cards plus cash. Each wallet is made from premium materials like aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber, and includes RFID-blocking technology for added peace of mind. With more than 50 colors and styles, over 100,000 five-star reviews, and a lifetime warranty, it's built to be the last wallet you need. Get 10% off at Ridge.com/sweetspot with code SWEETSPOT at checkout Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

July 13, 2026#WhatILearnedTodayDownload The Daily MoJo APP for Android HEREDownload TDM App For IOS: HERE"Death & Tech | The Daily MoJo Ep:071326"Join "The Daily Mojo" for a thought-provoking discussion covering current events, from RFID technology and political updates to nostalgic pop culture. This episode delves into the evolution of filmmaking, the importance of public oversight, and intriguing advancements in science and technology. Tune in for "Common Sense Lives Here" with Brad Staggs and Ron Phillips.Phil Bell's Morning Update - About Charlie Kirk & Candace Owens...:  HEREOur affiliate partners:EMP Shield - Figuring out the odds of a devastating EMP attack on the United States is impossible, but as with any disaster, the chances are NOT ZERO, and could happen any day. This decade has proven that the weird and unexpected is right around the corner. Be prepared - protect your home, vehicle, even your generator - with EMP Shield. You'll save money and protect what's important at the same time!ProtectMyMoJo.com Be prepared! Not scared. Need some Ivermection? Some Hydroxychloroquine? Don't have a doctor who fancies your crazy ideas? We have good news - Dr. Stella Immanuel has teamed up with The Daily MoJo to keep you healthy and happy all year long! Not only can she provide you with those necessary prophylactics, but StellasMoJo.com has plenty of other things to keep you and your body in tip-top shape. Use Promo Code: DailyMoJo to save $$Take care of your body - it's the only one you'll get and it's your temple! We've partnered with Sugar Creek Goods to help you care for yourself in an all-natural way. And in this case, "all natural" doesn't mean it doesn't work! Save 15% on your order with promo code "DailyMojo" at SmellMyMoJo.comCBD is almost everywhere you look these days, so the answer isn't so much where can you get it, it's more about - where can you get the CBD products that actually work!? Certainly, NOT at the gas station! Patriots Relief says it all in the name, and you can save an incredible 40% with the promo code "DailyMojo" at GetMoJoCBD.com!Romika Designs is an awesome American small business that specializes in creating laser-engraved gifts and awards for you, your family, and your employees. Want something special for someone special? Find exactly what you want at MoJoLaserPros.com  Find great deals on American-made products at MoJoMyPillow.com. Mike Lindell – a true patriot in our eyes – puts his money where his mouth (and products) is/are. Find tremendous deals at MoJoMyPillow.com – Promo Code: MoJo50  Life gets messy – sometimes really messy. Be ready for the next mess with survival food and tools from My Patriot Supply. A 25 year shelf life and fantastic variety are just the beginning of the long list of reasons to get your emergency rations at PrepareWithMoJo50.comStay ConnectedWATCH The Daily Mojo LIVE 7-9a CT: www.TheDailyMojo.com Rumble: HEREOr just LISTEN:The Daily MoJo ChannelBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-daily-mojo-with-brad-staggs--3085897/support.WATCH: TheDailyMoJO.comLISTEN: TDM RadioRUMBLE: HEREDownload the APP HERE.StellasMojo.comCODE: dailymojo - Save 5%GetMojoCBD.comCODE: dailymojo - Save 40%!

Flipboard EDU PodcastSolving the Cell Phone Ban with Callie Zauner from Luxor Workspaces Host: Coach Jeffery Guest: Callie ZaunerEpisode SummaryThis week, Coach Jeffery sits down with Callie Zauner from Luxor Workspaces to discuss the growing trend of cell phone bans in K-12 education, how schools are navigating new device policies, and furniture solutions designed to support distraction-free learning.Key TopicsCell Phone Bans in Schools Exploring the reasons behind increased cell phone restrictions, how schools differ in policy, and the impact on classroom routines (00:01:25).Teacher Voices in Policy Why it is essential for teachers to have input on how phone storage solutions are implemented (00:03:12), along with stories of student creativity in bypassing policies.Product Solutions for Schools Insights into Luxor's range of products, including RFID-blocking phone pouches and lockable phone cabinets, designed to balance security, student responsibility, and practicality (00:04:48, 00:07:38).Policy Implementation Challenges How different school sizes and cultures affect the way cell phone bans and storage solutions are adopted (00:02:20, 00:10:06).Purchasing Trends and Grade Levels Why younger grades may favor cabinets, while high schoolers lean toward personal pouches, and factors influencing purchasing decisions (00:10:25).Supporting Collaboration The resurgence of traditional classroom tools like whiteboards and mobile stations to encourage collaborative, low-tech learning environments (00:12:01).Fairness and Equity Addressing the complexities of ensuring device policies consider students with medical, accessibility, or family communication needs (00:13:38).The Future of Classrooms Predictions for how classrooms will find a balance between technology integration and responsible use over the next five years (00:16:18).Notable Quotes“The teachers are the ones really dealing with a lot of it firsthand. They're the ones that are going to spot children who are trying to maybe skirt the policy.” Callie Zauner (00:03:12)“We have tried to develop that solution where the onus for the device is still on the student, it is still on their person. They're still responsible.” Callie Zauner (00:05:56)“The clear door on cabinets is very important because the anxiety of not being able to see your device is something the students talked a lot about.” Callie Zauner (00:08:49)“Policies sound great, but then there are other layers to it. It's like an onion.” Coach Jeffery (00:15:37)Resources and LinksLuxor Workspaces: https://www.luxorfurn.com Featured company providing device management furniture solutions for K-12 schools.ISTE Conference: https://www.iste.org Referenced in the discussion about educational trends.Connect and SubscribeSubscribe to the Flipboard EDU Podcast wherever you listen. Join the Flipboard Fam for more conversations on educational leadership, classroom challenges, and practical solutions.EVERY STORY IS A PLUS. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit flipboardedu.substack.com

Trong bối cảnh phát triển du lịch bền vững ngày càng trở thành ưu tiên của nhiều quốc gia, Tổ chức Quốc tế Pháp ngữ - Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) - đang triển khai tại Việt Nam dự án “Điểm đến Sinh thái Tài năng” - Destination Eco-Talent - với mục tiêu kết hợp đào tạo nghề, tạo việc làm cho thanh niên và phụ nữ tại các địa phương, đồng thời thúc đẩy các mô hình du lịch cộng đồng gắn với bảo tồn văn hóa và bảo vệ môi trường. Trả lời phỏng vấn đài RFI Tiếng Việt, bà Adjara Diouf, điều phối viên của chương trình Thúc đẩy Du lịch Bền vững của OIF chia sẻ về những chia sẻ về những mô hình đang được thử nghiệm tại Việt Nam, các thách thức trên thực địa cũng như tiềm năng của du lịch bền vững trong không gian Pháp ngữ. Adjara DIOUF : Tổ chức Quốc tế Pháp ngữ đã khởi động dự án Điểm đến Sinh thái Tài năng vào năm 2024 tại bốn quốc gia : Cabo Verde, Cam Bốt, Comores và Việt Nam. Mục tiêu tổng thể của dự án là góp phần vào khả năng hồi phục và trao quyền cho người dân, đặc biệt là cho giới trẻ và phụ nữ, để giải quyết các thách thức về môi trường, khí hậu, kinh tế và xã hội. Dự án này, được gọi là Điểm đến Sinh thái Tài năng (Eco-Talent), nhằm mục đích tạo ra việc làm và cơ hội thu nhập cho thanh niên, phụ nữ và cộng đồng dân cư sống ở nông thôn và các vùng ven đô thị. Chương trình tập trung vào khả năng tìm việc làm và phát triển nghề nghiệp của người lao động thông qua các sáng kiến ​​giáo dục và đào tạo, hướng tới các nghề trong ngành du lịch bền vững, đồng thời hỗ trợ phát triển và quảng bá các sản phẩm du lịch bền vững. Chương trình cũng nhấn mạnh đến sự phối hợp và kết nối các nỗ lực trong phát triển du lịch bền vững. Tại sao lại là Việt Nam ? Đơn giản là vì, trước hết, chúng tôi có văn phòng đại diện khu vực của Tổ chức Quốc tế Pháp ngữ (OIF) tại Việt Nam. Vì vậy, việc bắt đầu với quốc gia này là hoàn toàn hợp lý, đặc biệt là vì trụ sở cơ quan của tôi và nhóm điều phối đều được đặt tại Việt Nam. Hơn nữa, Việt Nam là một đất nước tuyệt vời với nhiều tiềm năng trong lĩnh vực du lịch bền vững và du lịch nói chung. RFI : Trong giai đoạn thực hiện, OIF đã phát triển các sáng kiến ​​và mô hình đổi mới nào để thúc đẩy du lịch bền vững ? Adjara DIOUF : Có thể coi dự án Điểm đến Du lịch Sinh thái này là một sáng kiến ​​đổi mới. Thứ nhất, dự án này của OIF triển khai một mô hình đổi mới kết hợp du lịch bền vững và đào tạo. Dự án được triển khai với sự hợp tác của một số trường đại học của Việt Nam, như Đại học Hà Nội, hay Đại học Sư phạm TP. Hồ Chí Minh … Mô hình này đề xuất các chương trình đào tạo chuyên ngành, tích hợp với hoạt động thực tiễn. Như vậy sinh viên có thể áp dụng lý thuyết vào thực tiễn, qua đó có sự hỗ trợ trực tiếp và cụ thể cho các cộng đồng dân cư. Dự án này cũng tích hợp các chương trình đào tạo nghề trong lĩnh vực du lịch, nhằm thúc đẩy hội nhập nghề nghiệp cho những thanh niên có hoàn cảnh khó khăn, ví dụ như ở các tỉnh. Đào tạo và giáo dục về du lịch bền vững là rất cần thiết. Bởi vì đào tạo nghề trong lĩnh vực du lịch bền vững có thể nâng cao nhận thức của giới trẻ về tầm quan trọng của việc bảo vệ môi trường và trên hết, giúp họ tìm được con đường hướng tới việc làm và hội nhập. Thứ hai, dự án này hỗ trợ phát triển các tuyến du lịch trải nghiệm thực tế. Ví dụ các sáng kiến ​​du lịch cộng đồng với nghề làm nón lá ở Tri Lễ hoặc nghề đan lát ở Bao La, Huế. Những sáng kiến ​​này hoàn toàn do cộng đồng ở địa phương quản lý. Khi loại bỏ các bên trung gian, người dân biến những kỹ năng của họ thành những trải nghiệm tạo ra thu nhập thực sự. Việc các địa phương nắm được chuỗi giá trị như vậy sẽ tạo ra 3 tác động : về kinh tế, thông qua việc tạo ra việc làm ; về xã hội, thông qua việc trao quyền cho phụ nữ và thanh niên; và về môi trường và văn hóa, thông qua việc bảo tồn di sản. Chính bằng cách này, Tổ chức Quốc tế Pháp ngữ (OIF) mang lại thêm giá trị thực sự, thông qua việc điều phối các đối tác sử dụng tiếng Pháp tham gia vào các sáng kiến ​​này. Hơn nữa, việc sử dụng tiếng Pháp thông qua giao tiếp và thậm chí cả việc học những điều cơ bản về ngôn ngữ cũng mang lại cho các cộng đồng ở địa phương thêm một lợi thế cạnh tranh. Nói cách khác, đây là một mô hình độc nhất, trong đó du lịch bền vững vừa trở thành một công cụ hội nhập kinh tế, vừa trở thành một phương tiện quảng bá cho khối Pháp ngữ tại Việt Nam. Và cuối cùng, để củng cố 2 hướng chủ đạo nói trên, tức là đào tạo và hỗ trợ phát triển các tuyến du lịch, OIF dự kiến ​mở một trung tâm Điểm đến Du lịch Sinh thái tại Việt Nam trong năm 2026. Trung tâm này sẽ được thiết kế như một trung tâm đa năng thực thụ, với nhiều bên tham gia để thúc đẩy du lịch bền vững. RFI : Bà có thông điệp gì gửi đến những thanh niên muốn tham gia vào lĩnh vực du lịch bền vững ? Adjara DIOUF : Đây là một câu hỏi thú vị. Trước hết, ai cũng biết rằng du lịch bền vững có tác động mạnh mẽ đến sự phát triển kinh tế và xã hội, bởi vì tạo ra nhiều việc làm trực tiếp và gián tiếp cho thanh niên, đặc biệt là ở các vùng nông thôn và vùng sâu vùng xa. Do nhiều thanh niên và các bên liên quan ở địa phương chưa được thông tin đầy đủ về những cơ hội mà du lịch bền vững mang lại, nên điều cần thiết là phải nâng cao nhận thức và thông tin cho họ về tiềm năng của lĩnh vực này, khuyến khích họ hướng tới lĩnh vực việc làm đầy triển vọng này. Du lịch bền vững có thể thúc đẩy việc làm mới, tạo ra những nghề nghiệp mới và bồi dưỡng tài năng mới cho giới trẻ. Tôi cũng có một số thông điệp khác. Như chúng ta đã biết, khu vực châu Á có sự đa dạng văn hóa rất lớn, với nhiều nền văn hóa, truyền thống và ngôn ngữ khác nhau, và tôi nghĩ rằng việc hiểu rõ những đặc điểm riêng này là rất quan trọng để tạo ra các sáng kiến ​​du lịch bền vững và tôn trọng cộng đồng địa phương. Du lịch bền vững cũng làm nổi bật văn hóa địa phương, khuyến khích giới trẻ trở thành đại sứ cho di sản của chính địa phương mình. Đây cũng là một nguồn cơ hội cho giới trẻ, ví dụ như những người muốn khởi nghiệp, phát triển các giải pháp sáng tạo trong lĩnh vực du lịch, bằng cách sử dụng công nghệ mới, để nâng cao trải nghiệm du lịch - họ rất giỏi trong lĩnh vực này - phát triển các sản phẩm du lịch mới, đồng thời bảo vệ môi trường. Và tôi muốn nói thêm rằng tiếng Pháp cũng là một công cụ mạnh mẽ để hội nhập xã hội trong khu vực này. Thành thạo tiếng Pháp làm tăng khả năng tìm việc làm và mức thu nhập cho giới trẻ làm việc trong ngành du lịch. RFI : Tổ chức Quốc tế Pháp ngữ (OIF) có kết nối Việt Nam với các nước Pháp ngữ khác để chia sẻ kinh nghiệm không, và theo ý kiến ​​của bà, những kinh nghiệm quốc tế nào có thể được áp dụng hiệu quả tại Việt Nam? Adjara DIOUF : Vâng, đây chính là hoạt động tiếp theo mà chúng tôi sẽ thực hiện. Hiện tại, chúng tôi đang trong giai đoạn thí điểm, và bước tiếp theo là kết nối các quốc gia hưởng lợi từ giai đoạn thí điểm để họ có thể trao đổi và chia sẻ kinh nghiệm tốt nhất. Mặt khác, Việt Nam rất mạnh về du lịch cộng đồng và có thể truyền cảm hứng cho các quốc gia nói tiếng Pháp khác. Cũng có những kinh nghiệm từ các nơi khác có thể được áp dụng tại Việt Nam. Ví dụ, kinh nghiệm quản lý các công viên quốc gia của Canada là rất đáng khích lệ. Việc áp dụng hạn ngạch khách tham quan, hệ thống đặt chỗ, các quy định nghiêm ngặt và giáo dục môi trường giúp bảo tồn hệ sinh thái. Ví dụ, kiểu sáng kiến ​​này có thể được áp dụng tại các địa điểm rất nổi tiếng vào những thời điểm nhất định trong năm, khi lượng khách du lịch rất đông, để hạn chế tác động của du lịch đại chúng. Một sáng kiến ​​khác cũng cho phép giải quyết đáng kể vấn đề rác thải, đặc biệt là rác từ sản phẩm nhựa dùng một lần, vẫn còn rất phổ biến ở nhiều địa điểm du lịch. Nhìn vào các ví dụ từ các quốc gia khác như Pháp, Maroc và Rwanda, tôi nghĩ rằng có thể giải quyết đồng thời các vấn đề này để dần dần giảm thiểu việc sử dụng nhựa thông qua các chính sách công và cũng khuyến khích các nhà quản lý địa điểm áp dụng các tiêu chuẩn môi trường thông qua các chứng nhận như Nhãn hiệu Điểm đến xuất sắc. Dự án TRILAF và làng nghề nón lá Tri Lễ  Trong số các dự án được OIF hỗ trợ, ví dụ có dự án Tri Lễ - nghề thủ công và tình đoàn kết Pháp ngữ vì một tương lai bền vững - gọi tắt là TRILAF, một sáng khiến do Khoa Ngôn ngữ và Văn hóa Pháp, trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ, Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội, triển khai, hướng tới việc kết nối bảo tồn nghề thủ công truyền thống với phát triển du lịch cộng đồng bền vững. Tri Lễ là một làng nằm ở huyện Thanh Oai cũ, hiện nay thuộc xã Dân Hòa, cách trung tâm thành phố Hà Nội khoảng 30 km. Trả lời phỏng vấn đài RFI Tiếng Việt, tiến sĩ Đàm Minh Thủy, trưởng khoa Ngôn ngữ và Văn hóa Pháp, trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ, Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội, cho biết : « Điểm đặc biệt của dự án là có sự tham gia của nhiều bên, cụ thể là có sự tham gia của chính quyền địa phương, của người dân, của doanh nghiệp du lịch và sinh viên, cùng giảng viên của trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ - Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội, qua đó hình thành một hệ sinh thái hợp tác gắn kết giữa giáo dục, văn hóa và phát triển kinh tế. Và chúng tôi cũng đặc biệt vui mừng khi định hướng của dự án thì hoàn toàn phù hợp với quy hoạch tổng thể của thủ đô Hà Nội « Tầm nhìn 100 năm », trong đó nhấn mạnh việc bảo tồn làng nghề gắn với phát triển du lịch nông thôn như là một trụ cột quan trọng để gìn giữ bản sắc văn hóa và thúc đẩy kinh tế địa phương. Và chúng tôi tin tưởng rằng là với sự đồng hành của chính quyền, của cộng đồng và các đối tác, Tri Lễ sẽ từng bước trở thành một mô hình tiêu biểu về phát triển làng nghề gắn với du lịch bền vững và góp phần lan tỏa giá trị của văn hóa Việt Nam trong nước và quốc tế. Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội giữ vai trò trung tâm trong dự án. Nhà trường là đơn vị khởi xướng ý tưởng này, xây dựng này và phát triển dự án cùng với các đối tác địa phương và cộng đồng pháp ngữ. Và đồng thời, chúng tôi cũng đảm nhiệm vai trò là điều phối chung và triển khai các hoạt động của dự án, thông qua khoa Pháp, trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ Đại Quốc gia Hà Nội huy động các giảng viên, sinh viên cùng với các đối tác học thuật và các doanh nghiệp nhằm đồng hành cùng với làng Tri Lễ trong việc bảo tồn di sản văn hóa và phát triển du lịch cộng đồng bền vững. Trong dự án, chúng tôi tổ chức rất nhiều hoạt động ở tập huấn về du lịch bền vững, du lịch cộng đồng, sản xuất xanh và kinh tế tuần hoàn, hay trang trí nón lá, kỹ năng đón tiếp khách du lịch và ngoại ngữ. Thông qua đó, chúng tôi mong muốn góp phần quảng bá làng nghề, với các hoạt động trung gian, văn hóa và sản xuất nội dung số, xây dựng tour du lịch và hợp tác quốc tế. RFI : Vậy sinh viên có vai trò gì trong sự án ? TS. Đàm Minh Thủy : Về vai trò của sinh viên và giảng viên trong dự án, có thể nói sinh viên Pháp ngữ, cụ thể là sinh viên tiếng Pháp của khoa chúng tôi thì giữ vai trò trung tâm trong dự án Trilaf. Các em không chỉ là người được hưởng lợi từ dự án, mà còn là những tác nhân tích cực và đồng kiến tạo các hoạt động trong dự án. Cụ thể TRILAF tạo nên một môi trường học tập rất là thực tiễn, bổ ích, nơi mà sinh viên có thể vận dụng các kiến thức tiếng Pháp kiến thức về truyền thông du lịch và đóng vai trò là trung gian văn hóa và ứng dụng tất cả những kiến thức, cũng như là kỹ năng của các em, vào tình huống thực tế. Ví dụ sinh viên du lịch thì được tham gia khảo sát thực địa nghiên cứu về các tiềm năng du lịch của làng này và của nghề làm nón lá truyền thống, hoặc là các em cũng tham gia những cái cuộc thi về sáng tạo video để quảng bá cho làng nghề và trực tiếp gặp gỡ, học hỏi và trao đổi, trò chuyện cùng với người dân địa phương để có thể hiểu hơn về làng, cũng như về nghề làm nón lá. Sinh viên truyền thông thì xây dựng những kế hoạch hay những sản phẩm truyền thông để quảng bá dự án thông qua việc sản xuất nội dung số, hay là quản lý trang mạng xã hội và có hoạt động tôn vinh văn hóa. Bên cạnh hai đối tượng, hai nhóm sinh viên này, chúng tôi cũng huy động các sinh viên ở trong khoa để tham gia tích cực vào việc tổ chức các buổi tập huấn cho người dân. Một số em có thể trực tiếp hỗ trợ các hoạt động sáng tạo, như trang trí nón lá, và thông qua tất cả những hoạt động này thì sinh viên có thể phát triển kỹ năng về nghề nghiệp, kỹ năng về tổ chức, năng lực giao tiếp liên văn hóa, cũng như tinh thần trách nhiệm xã hội và sự thấu hiểu thực tế của địa phương và góp phần vào những hoạt động về cộng đồng. Chúng tôi nghĩ rằng là đây là những chìa khóa, là những hành trang quan trọng để sinh viên có thể dễ dàng tìm được những công việc phù hợp trong tương lai. Đối với giảng viên thì dự án cũng tạo điều kiện để phát triển các phương pháp giảng dạy liên ngành, gắn thực tiễn xã hội và cộng đồng. TRILAF góp phần tăng cường mối liên hệ giữa đào tạo nghiên cứu và phục vụ cộng đồng. Đây chính là 3 hướng mà chúng tôi muốn kết hợp với nhau ở trong bối cảnh đào tạo đại học hiện nay. Đồng thời, dự án cũng mở ra nhiều cơ hội hợp tác quốc tế, hợp tác giữa nhà trường và doanh nghiệp mở ra những hướng nghiên cứu ứng dụng trong các lĩnh vực du lịch bền vững, giáo dục liên văn hóa và Pháp ngữ học. RFI : Dự án TRILAF có thể mang lại lợi ích gì cho làng nghề nón lá Tri Lễ ? TS. Đàm Minh Thủy : Trên thực tế chúng tôi cũng đã triển khai rất nhiều hoạt động và những hoạt động này cũng mang lại những lợi ích cho người dân Tri Lễ. Trước hết là dự án TRILAF có những tác động tích cực về mặt kinh tế, xã hội và văn hóa cho người dân Tri Lễ, thông qua việc tôn vinh nghề làm nón lá truyền thống. Chúng ta đều biết nón lá truyền thống là một di sản văn hóa quan trọng của Việt Nam. Và nón lá truyền thống thì được sản xuất tại rất nhiều các làng nghề hay là các vùng miền khác nhau của Việt Nam, và ở mỗi một vùng miền hay làng nghề thì có những cái đặc trưng riêng. Tuy nhiên, hiện nay, với sự phát triển của cuộc sống hiện đại, chúng ta cũng không thể phủ nhận rằng là nón lá ngày càng bị mai một. Ví dụ như là ở làng Tri Lễ còn rất nhiều hộ gia đình làm nghề làm nón lá. Tuy nhiên, khi chúng tôi đến làm việc và khảo sát thì thấy rằng đa số là phụ nữ, cũng có cả nam giới nhưng là những người đã nhiều tuổi, từ khoảng 50-60 tuổi trở lên, thậm chí có những người 80 tuổi vẫn làm. Còn thanh niên và những người trong độ tuổi lao động thì họ đi làm những nghề khác. Thế nên, chúng tôi nghĩ rằng có nguy cơ về sự mai một của nghề truyền thống thủ công. Chính vì vậy, chúng tôi cũng cố gắng xây dựng các hoạt động về truyền thông, hay quảng bá về du lịch thông qua những hoạt động về đào tạo, để các sản phẩm của làng ngày càng được khách du lịch trong và ngoài nước biết nhiều hơn. Dự án cũng góp phần cải thiện đời sống của người dân Tri Lễ, thông qua phát triển du lịch cộng đồng với các hoạt động như là đón tiếp khách tham quan, hay là trình diễn nghề thủ công truyền thống, hoặc là tổ chức những trải nghiệm văn hóa và tham quan làng nghề. Những hoạt động này sẽ giúp đa dạng hóa kinh tế địa phương và mở ra nhiều cơ hội về nghề nghiệp mới. Đặc biệt là dự án TRILAF quan tâm nhiều và đối tượng hưởng lợi chủ yếu là phụ nữ và thanh niên, những lực lượng giữ vai trò quan trọng cho các hoạt động thủ công và du lịch của làng. Chúng tôi tổ chức các khóa tập huấn về du lịch bền vững, về truyền thông, về kỹ năng đón tiếp khách du lịch, hay những sáng tạo thủ công trang trí nón lá, để giúp người dân nâng cao những kỹ năng của mình, để phát huy nghề truyền thống và tăng cường khả năng tự chủ kinh tế. Chúng tôi tin tưởng rằng về lâu dài thì dự án cũng sẽ khuyến thích được nhiều người trẻ quay trở lại với quê hương để tham gia và phát triển địa phương, gìn giữ các tri thức truyền thống. Cuối cùng thì TRILAF hướng tới việc xây dựng Tri Lễ thành một mô hình du lịch bền vững và đoàn kết, dựa trên 3 nền tảng chính : bảo tồn di sản văn hóa phi vật thể, nâng cao năng lực cộng đồng địa phương và phát triển các hoạt động du lịch thân thiện với môi trường. RFI : Dự án TRILAF có kết nối được với các doanh nghiệp du lịch để phát triển du lịch cho làng nghề nón lá Tri Lễ ? TS. Đàm Minh Thủy : Như tôi đã nói thì trong dự án này có sự phối hợp chặt chẽ giữa các bên, đó là chính quyền địa phương, trường Đại học ngoại ngữ Đại Quốc gia Hà Nội và các doanh nghiệp du lịch. Đối với các doanh nghiệp du lịch thì chúng tôi cũng đã có rất nhiều buổi trao đổi thảo luận. Một số đại diện của các công ty du lịch cũng cùng với chúng tôi đến làm việc với địa phương, trước hết là tập huấn cho người dân về du lịch cộng đồng, du lịch bền vững và những đặc điểm của khách du lịch Pháp hay là khách sử dụng Pháp ngữ. Đồng thời, các đơn vị lữ hành cũng hỗ trợ dự án, xây dựng những tour du lịch và tư vấn cho địa phương, cũng như cho dự án những phương án thiết kế tour, hay là những điều kiện về cơ sở vật chất và cơ cấu tổ chức để có thể đón khách du lịch. Chúng tôi hi vọng từ giờ đến cuối cuối năm các công ty du lịch cũng sẽ gửi được những đoàn khách du lịch đầu tiên để đến làng nghề Tri Lễ. Qua trao đổi với giám đốc của công ty Horizon Travel, một công ty cũng tương đối lớn về du lịch và đặc biệt là có một số lượng khách Pháp rất lớn, chúng tôi cũng được biết công ty đã tổ chức rất nhiều đoàn tour đến làng Chuông, một làng nón lá cũng đã rất phát triển. Thậm chí là mỗi năm riêng công ty này có thể tổ trước khoảng 500 tour du lịch đến làng Chuông. Sau khi khảo sát ở làng Tri Lễ thì công ty Horizon Travel cũng đánh giá rất cao tiềm năng của làng Tri Lễ, cũng như của xã Dân Hòa, bởi vì những đặc điểm nghề làm nón lá thủ công truyền thống ở Tri Lễ rất là phong phú và hiện nay việc sản xuất nón lá vẫn hiện hữu trong từng gia đình. Ngôi làng cũng rất  đẹp, với những đường bờ đê hay những ngôi nhà cổ, và những người dân, thậm chí đến 80-90 tuổi, vẫn ngồi đan nón lá. Đó là những tiềm năng rất tốt. Và ngay bên cạnh làng Tri Lễ thì là làng Ước Lễ nổi tiếng với nghề làm giò chả, với những cổng làng rất đẹp và có truyền thống, hay là những địa danh khác của xã Dân Hòa. Chúng tôi đánh giá tiềm năng về du lịch rất là phát triển và cũng có thể thu hút được nhiều khách du lịch trong thời gian tới. Bản thân công ty Horizon Travel cũng đã cam kết với chúng tôi rằng sẽ đưa làng Tri Lễ vào chương trình tour của mình. Ngoài công ty này, chúng tôi cũng đã trao đổi với một số doanh nghiệp du lịch khác và họ đều rất ủng hộ, sẵn sàng tham quan khảo sát và xây dựng những tuyến tour ở làng Tri Lễ.

It's The Ranch It Up Radio Show! Join Jeff Tigger Erhardt, Rebecca Wanner AKA BEC and their crew as they hear details on EID Tags, rules and regs.  Plus fall feeder cattle prices, market reports, the latest cattle industry news and lots more of the cow stuff on this all-new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show.  Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcasting app or on the Ranch It Up Radio Show YouTube Channel. Why Electronic Identification (EID) Tags Are Becoming Essential For Modern Cattle Operations Electronic Identification (EID) tags are quickly becoming one of the most valuable tools available to today's beef producers. Whether you operate a commercial cow-calf herd, stocker operation, feedlot, or seedstock program, RFID technology helps improve cattle recordkeeping, herd health management, traceability, and overall profitability. As cattle producers continue adopting precision livestock management, EID tags provide faster, more accurate data collection while eliminating many of the errors associated with handwritten records. What Are Electronic Identification (EID) Tags Electronic Identification (EID) tags, also known as RFID cattle tags, contain a unique 15-digit identification number assigned to each individual animal. Think of it as a permanent identification number that stays with the animal for life. Unlike traditional visual ear tags, RFID tags communicate electronically with compatible readers. Because the technology is passive, no batteries are required. When scanned, the RFID chip instantly transmits the animal's identification number to a handheld reader, panel reader, scale head, or herd management software. This technology allows producers to quickly record: Individual animal identification Vaccination history Deworming records Breeding dates Pregnancy status Weaning weights Performance data Treatment history Marketing information Understanding USDA 840 Tags vs. Manufacturer RFID Tags Many producers recognize official USDA EID tags by their 840 prefix. The first three digits identify the country of origin. 840 = United States Official Identification Official 840 tags require a Premises Identification Number (PIN) for purchase. These tags are commonly used for interstate movement and animal disease traceability. Many cattle operations also use manufacturer-coded RFID tags that function exactly the same but do not require a PIN. For example, ALLFLEX manufacturer-coded tags begin with the prefix 982. Both provide reliable electronic identification for herd management. Choosing The Right RFID Equipment Selecting the proper RFID system starts with choosing tags, readers, and applicators designed to work together. ALLFLEX, a leader in livestock identification technology for more than three decades, offers: Official USDA 840 RFID tags Manufacturer-coded RFID tags Matched visual and electronic tag sets Tissue Sampling Units (TSU) Handheld RFID readers Panel readers Mobile connectivity through the ALLFLEX CONNECT app Proper tag placement and using the correct applicator are essential for maximizing tag retention and long-term performance. Click HERE for Allflex Tagging Products Click HERE to order products Click HERE for latest USDA Tagging Rules and Requirements Feeder Cattle Sale Dates & Deadlines July 13 - 15: Western Video Market Silver Legacy Sale July 17: Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale Video Deadline July 20: Northern Livestock Video Market Summer Time Classic July 23: Western Video Market Little America Consignment Deadline July 27 - 31: Superior Livestock Auction Video Royale Sale July 31: Superior Livestock Auction Big Horn Classic Catalog Deadline Featured Experts in the Cattle Industry David McElhaney - ALLFLEX ID Infrastructure Specialist, Merck Animal Health https://www.cattletags.com/ Follow On Facebook: @AllflexNA Shaye Wanner – Host of Casual Cattle Conversation https://www.casualcattleconversations.com/ Follow on Facebook: @cattleconvos Contact Us with Questions or Concerns Have questions or feedback? Feel free to reach out via: Call/Text: 707-RANCH20 or 707-726-2420 Email: RanchItUpShow@gmail.com Follow us: Facebook/Instagram: @RanchItUpShow YouTube: Subscribe to Ranch It Up Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/RanchItUp Catch all episodes of the Ranch It Up Podcast available on all major podcasting platforms. Discover the Heart of Rural America with Tigger & BEC Ranching, farming, and the Western lifestyle are at the heart of everything we do. Tigger & BEC bring you exclusive insights from the world of working ranches, cattle farming, and sustainable beef production. Learn more about Jeff 'Tigger' Erhardt & Rebecca Wanner (BEC) and their mission to promote the Western way of life at Tigger and BEC. https://tiggerandbec.com/ Industry References, Partners and Resources For additional information on industry trends, products, and services, check out these trusted resources: American Gelbvieh Association: https://gelbvieh.org/ EquineMarket.Com: https://www.equinemarket.com/ Imogene Ingredients: https://www.imogeneingredients.com/ Jorgensen Land & Cattle: https://jorgensenfarms.com/#/?ranchchannel=view LivestockMarket.Com: https://www.livestockmarket.com/ RanchChannel.Com: https://ranchchannel.com/ RFD-TV: https://www.rfdtv.com/ Rural Radio Network: https://www.ruralradio147.com/ Sire Buyer: https://www.sirebuyer.com/ Westway Feed Products: https://westwayfeed.com/ Wrangler: https://www.wrangler.com/

AwesomeChat welcomes Frédéric Guitton of iTargetGolf to talk about the future of interactive golf technology and how driving ranges are becoming more social, competitive, and game-like. Frédéric explains how iTargetGolf uses interactive targets, animated lights, in-bay feedback, and integrations with systems like Toptracer, TrackMan, and Inrange to make golf practice feel more like a real-life video game. We also discuss Cash Cup Golf, a new hole-in-one skills game using RFID-enabled balls and video validation to create prize-based golf challenges. This episode explores gamified sports, golf entertainment, customer engagement, worldwide virtual competitions, and the business of building technology for outdoor venues. Learn more about iTargetGolf at www.ITargetGolf.com

AwesomeChat welcomes Frédéric Guitton of iTargetGolf to talk about the future of interactive golf technology and how driving ranges are becoming more social, competitive, and game-like. Frédéric explains how iTargetGolf uses interactive targets, animated lights, in-bay feedback, and integrations with systems like Toptracer, TrackMan, and Inrange to make golf practice feel more like a real-life video game. We also discuss Cash Cup Golf, a new hole-in-one skills game using RFID-enabled balls and video validation to create prize-based golf challenges. This episode explores gamified sports, golf entertainment, customer engagement, worldwide virtual competitions, and the business of building technology for outdoor venues. Learn more about iTargetGolf at www.ITargetGolf.com

As online ad formats face high saturation and falling conversion response rates, brand leaders face the challenge of finding clean, reliable consumer connection spaces.At the same time, traditional agency models are shifting toward decentralized specialist networks built for speed. Dylan Conroy sits down with Michael Fullman and Paul Elsberg from ACRONYM to break down how to transition physical events into data-backed conversion platforms using advanced spatial tech layers.Key Themes Covered:Carrying core enterprise positioning smoothly across down-funnel consumer properties.Countering direct-response ad noise by building custom, physical brand environments.Implementing an tracking framework via RFID and geofencing to measure Return on Experience.Presenting product innovations to retail executives to capture premium shelf space.Operating within independent agency cooperatives like the Residence network to scale creative output.Michael Fullman is the Chief Creative Officer and Paul Elsberg is the Group Business Director of ACRONYM, where they engineer advanced spatial media strategies and large-scale event architectures for premier corporate portfolios.Connect with the ACRONYM Team on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-elsberg-23306584/Explore ACRONYM's Creative Systems: https://acronym.la/ Optimize your enterprise marketing ROI with Strike Social: https://strikesocial.com/guaranteed-paid-social-media-ads-outcomes/

在国内餐饮普遍承压的这两年，以寿司郎为代表的平价寿司反而越开越多——这还是在核废水事件的阴影之下。考虑到回转寿司在中国已经发展30年，这种突然的爆发就更值得玩味了。哪些因素促成了这个品类的爆发？为什么寿司郎在其中一枝独秀？它的成功是否可以归因为一两条金科玉律？当同行开始逐项抄作业，它还能领先多久？本期节目，我们基于《第一财经》杂志记者崔硕的报道，来拆解郎的诱惑。| 主播 |肖文杰、约小亚| 时间轴 |02:05 与其说是消费降级，不如说是品类升级04:50 核废水事件反而给平价寿司带来机会07:42 福建红甘鱼到佛山鳗鱼12:29 寿司了真正的核心是持续标准化的能力17:09 一枚 RFID 芯片，把食材损耗率从10%降到4%19:22 “寿司恐怖主义”22:46 一线员工眼中的寿司郎：管理最严格、最抠细节，也最不讲人情24:26 寿司郎对食材报废很大方28:11 回转寿司不会轻易过时，但寿司郎的领先未必能够一劳永逸31:08 寿司郎与购物中心互相“抬咖”| 延伸资料 |第一财经YiMagazine - 排队吃寿司，成了新时髦Kokoro Cares - "The History of Kaiten-zushi (Conveyor Belt Sushi)"晚点 - 像上工一样吃饭、像考试一样洗手，寿司郎的效率秘密丨晚点周末Harvard D^3 - "Sushiro: Always Bring the Best Sushi for You, Because They Know You"SoraNews24 - "Will Virtual Plate Procession Become the New Normal?"搜狐 - “回转寿司进化史：千亿级品类如何持续创新”网易 - “回转寿司迅速普及的幕后推手：每小时可捏1200贯的寿司机器人”知財図鑑 - 「くら寿司、迷惑行為の監視に新 AIカメラシステムを業界初導入」| 后期制作 |潘鑫| 声音设计 |刘三菜| 收听方式 |你可以通过小宇宙、苹果播客、Spotify、喜马拉雅、网易云音乐、QQ音乐、荔枝、豆瓣等平台收听节目。| 认识我们 |微信公众号：第一财经YiMagazine联系我们：thatisbiz@yicai.com

Welcome to this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast. At Supply Chain Point 2026, Kevin spoke with Jon Bell, of UPS's Advanced Technology Group, and Darryl Forbes, Vice President of Operational Technology at UPS. UPS delivers millions of packages every day, making visibility, reliability, and customer experience critical to success. In this conversation, Bell and Forbes discuss how UPS is leveraging RFID technology to move beyond traditional package tracking and create what they describe as a smarter, more connected network. The discussion explores how RFID is improving visibility, reducing misloads, creating new customer touchpoints, and laying the foundation for predictive supply chain operations powered by real-time data.Learn more about Big Joe's AP44 here. Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Discover how RFID is helping health systems become more agile, efficient, and future-ready. In this episode, we explore key insights, lessons learned, and emerging trends from early adopters who participated in an ASHP Foundation project. The information presented during the podcast reflects solely the opinions of the presenter. The information and materials are not, and are not intended as, a comprehensive source of drug information on this topic. The contents of the podcast have not been reviewed by ASHP, and should neither be interpreted as the official policies of ASHP, nor an endorsement of any product(s), nor should they be considered as a substitute for the professional judgment of the pharmacist or physician.

RAIN RFID takes center stage in this week's podcast!My guest is Matt Branda, Vice President at Impinj! Matt and I explore the vital role of RAIN RFID in the modern digital landscape. We break down what this technology actually is and the importance of Impinj's contributions to the RAIN RFID ecosystem. We also chat about how RAIN RFID is shaping autonomous, data-driven operations and how it can serve as the physical intelligence layer that fuels the next generation of AI and IoT systems.

The Intelligent Store: Revolutionizing Fashion with RFID Real-time item visibility is the ultimate cornerstone of modern customer service. Drew Ehlers from Zebra and Matt Redwood of Diebold Nixdorf sit down with Top Retail Expert Marshall Kay to unpack the massive scale of RFID adoption. Inside the Episode: - Eliminating Audits: Moving to 99 percent stock accuracy to end painful annual manual counts. - Empowering Staff: Changing associates from task drivers into active customer experience providers. - Securing Returns: Using unique serial numbers to stop cross-store return fraud on high-rate items. - Fixed Infrastructure: The industry shift from handheld section scanning to always-on overhead systems. Stop counting inventory manually. Start running an intelligent network. Listen the Full Episode.

Carter's has achieved a milestone that many retailers considered out of reach. In only three months, Carter's implemented RFID technology in 700 stores, boosting inventory accuracy at the item level while simplifying operations for store associates and improving the customer experience. In this episode, hosts Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl sit down with Gina Maddaloni of Carter's , and Anna Marie Blackburn, formerly of Carter's, to discuss the company's RFID journey. They explore how the initiative gained support across the organization, the role RFID now plays in daily operations, and the business value it continues to deliver. This episode is a replay of our conversation with Gina and Anna, brought back for anyone exploring RFID, inventory visibility, and large-scale retail technology rollouts. In this episode, you'll learn: How Carter's achieved one of the fastest RFID deployments in retail Why RFID is no longer "too complex" or "too expensive" What's next as Carter's expands RFID use into its supply chain operations Jump into the conversation: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (01:29) Anna Marie and Gina's backgrounds (03:52) What RFID technology means for retail (06:47) The process of rolling out RFID across Carter's stores (13:21) RFID's impact on Carter's operational efficiency (17:49) RFID as a recruiting tool for store teams (18:54) Asset protection benefits and peace of mind (19:34) Expanding RFID into DC operations (23:49) What's next, Carter's move toward serialization (25:15) Advice for companies starting their RFID journey (22:16) Busting RFID myths: cost, complexity, and adoption (28:43) Favorite tech beyond RFID (31:36) What Gina and Anna Marie want to learn next Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.org GS1 US on LinkedIn Connect with the guests: Gina Maddaloni on LinkedIn Anna Marie Blackburn on LinkedIn Check out Carter's

By Doug Green “We want to do for assets what CRM did for customer records.” In this episode of the Technology Reseller News podcast, Doug Green speaks with Tim Harris, CEO of SoloTruth, about the company's new asset relationship management platform for enterprises and the opportunity it creates for asset-intensive organizations, MSPs and channel partners. Harris says SoloTruth bridges the gap between the physical assets a company owns and the financial system of record, typically the ERP system. The goal is to make sure that what a company actually owns is accurately reflected in its books. SoloTruth calls this asset relationship management, or ARM. Just as CRM evolved from a system for tracking contacts into a broader platform for managing customer relationships and the sales cycle, SoloTruth aims to provide a 360-degree view of enterprise assets. The podcast explores a common problem in asset-heavy businesses: asset drift. A company may purchase a forklift, server, laptop, piece of telecom equipment or other capital asset, but over time that asset may be moved, misplaced, retired or replaced without the financial system being updated. Harris says this creates “ghost assets,” which no longer exist but remain on the books, and “zombie assets,” which exist in the field but are not reflected in the ERP. For companies with large fixed-asset bases, the financial implications can be significant. Harris notes that for many manufacturing, logistics, healthcare, telecom and banking organizations, fixed assets can represent one of the largest categories on the balance sheet. Yet many companies only get an accurate view of those assets during periodic audits. SoloTruth combines IoT-derived location data, including RFID and GPS technology, with human inspection data captured through a mobile app. That combination gives companies better visibility into both where an asset is located and what condition it is in. Harris says those two factors are critical to useful life, depreciation schedules, valuation, maintenance planning and proof of existence. The company recently won an award for its approach, which combines IoT-based location tracking with human condition capture. Harris says that combination can help organizations keep their books in order continuously, rather than waiting for an annual audit or emergency review tied to financing, collateral, or M&A activity. Harris says SoloTruth typically looks at payback period as the key customer metric. For companies with $100 million in fixed assets, he says the platform can generate roughly $1.5 million to $4 million per year in cost savings, with a payback period often below six months. The podcast also looks at the channel opportunity. Harris says MSPs and channel partners already have relationships with customers and are often involved in placing assets into enterprise environments. SoloTruth can give partners a way to extend that relationship by helping customers track, inspect and manage assets after deployment. For enterprises, the message is clear: better asset intelligence can reduce unnecessary capital spending, improve maintenance planning, support financing and M&A activity, and help ensure that the financial system reflects the real operating environment. Learn more at solotruth.com  

For its second year, the festival is expanding to a full two-day format and moving to the vibrant Historic Old Fourth Ward Skatepark. Founder Hasnain Lakhani explains how this new BeltLine location changes the game, providing seamless pedestrian access, neighborhood walkability, and an energetic outdoor backdrop for foodies across Georgia and the Southeast. If you are new to halal dining, it represents a standard of preparation rooted in cleanliness, care, integrity, and respect for dietary values—making it incredibly inclusive for curious food lovers of all backgrounds. Beyond the food trucks, your admission unlocks a full cultural block party. The weekend features a live DJ keeping the energy high, a dedicated kids' play area, and The Artisan Market showcasing local small businesses, handmade goods, custom clothing, local art, handcrafted jewelry, and signature fragrances. Every ticket holder receives a custom Festival Passport to collect global cuisine stamps, a customized paper hand fan to beat the July heat, and a scannable RFID wristband linked directly to a complimentary digital photo gallery of your weekend memories. Get Tickets Here: https://cenvi.events/ticketing... About Event: Get ready for the ultimate summer food experience! Following a massive, highly successful debut, the Atlanta Summer Halal Food Festival is officially returning—and it is bigger, bolder, and more delicious than before. Hosted by the Atlanta Muslim Festival Collective (AMFC), this year's highly anticipated multicultural event has expanded to a full two-day weekend festival and moved to an iconic new home: the vibrant Historic Old Fourth Ward Skatepark along the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail. Whether you are a dedicated foodie, a family looking for the perfect weekend outing, or someone eager to explore diverse cultures, this inclusive celebration welcomes everyone to discover the best halal flavors from across the Southeast. This isn't just a food festival—it's an immersive summer celebration in the heart of Metro Atlanta. Attendees can embark on a global culinary journey featuring everything from authentic cultural dishes and street foods to mouthwatering desserts, specialty beverages, and innovative halal fusion concepts. Just like kosher or plant-based dining, halal food is something everyone can enjoy! Beyond the incredible menu, you can shop a curated artisan marketplace showcasing talented local businesses, handmade goods, unique clothing, art, custom jewelry, and premium fragrances. The energetic outdoor atmosphere will also feature a live DJ, stunning cultural showcases, gorgeous photo opportunities, and a dedicated youth zone packed with family-friendly games. Plus, every ticket holder receives a special Festival Passport to collect stamps representing the diverse countries and cultures featured throughout the venue, along with custom paper hand fans, complimentary water stations, and an RFID wristband linked to a free digital photo gallery to capture your memories. The festival takes place on Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 12 from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM both days at the Historic Old Fourth Ward Skatepark (Eastside Trail BeltLine). The new location offers easy accessibility with ample nearby parking and walkable connectivity to surrounding neighborhoods. A variety of ticket options are available to fit your weekend plans: Single-Day General Admission for Saturday or Sunday is $15, while the 2-Day Weekend General Admission Pass offers the best value at $25. Families can take advantage of the Single-Day Family Pack for $50 or the 2-Day Family Pack for $85. Best of all, children ages 7 and under receive FREE entry! Note that final ticket prices will include all taxes and fees. You can secure your tickets here, visit the official festival website here, and follow @atlsummerhalalfoodfest on Instagram for exclusive vendor reveals and live updates. Founded by Atlanta restaurateur and entrepreneur Hasnain Lakhani, the AMFC—the team behind the beloved Atlanta Ramadan Food Festival and Atlanta Halal Fall Festival—is dedicated to creating large-scale cultural experiences that spotlight local entrepreneurs, small businesses, and first-time vendors. This year's celebration is proudly supported by incredible community and humanitarian partners, including HUM TV, Cravova, Zakat Foundation of America, and Islamic Relief USA, ensuring that the spirit of unity, charity, and giving back remains at the core of the festival experience. Grab your family, invite your friends, and join us on the BeltLine for the biggest multicultural food event of the summer! Web: https://www.atlantamuslimfesti... - Ready to ignite the spark that levels up your entire life? Meet Ash Brown—the American powerhouse, motivational architect, and ultimate hype-woman dedicated to your personal and professional evolution. Ash is far more than a voice in the personal development space; she is a trusted ally who delivers a masterclass in real-talk wisdom and infectious energy. Whether you are navigating a crossroads or ready to scale your grandest ambitions, Ash fuels your journey with a high-octane blend of heart and hustle.

The episode explores why golfers should not expect to feel fully comfortable on the course, especially under pressure, and how accepting nerves, bad swings, or lingering fears can help keep a round together. There is also a debate about whether golfers should tee the ball up on par threes, which is tied to a larger conversation about margin for error, reducing big mistakes, and testing what works best for your own game. Finally, the episode covers how on-course personality affects performance, and why finding the right balance between focus on the ball and staying relaxed between shots can be a major unlock for both scoring and enjoyment. Thanks to our show sponsors Lagoon Sleep, For Wellness, Strike Wedge, Rhoback, Ridge, and LMNT Lagoon Sleep helps you find the right pillow for your sleep position and body type with a quick two-minute quiz, giving you a more personalized setup for better rest and recovery. Their adjustable pillows are trusted by elite athletes and can help with neck support, cooling, and waking up without aches or pains. Sweet Spot listeners can get 15% off by going to lagoonsleep.com/sweetspot and using promo code SWEETSPOT. • Golfers who care about their game should care about taking care of their bodies too. The Good Stuff from For Wellness is a small scoop that can be added to coffee, smoothies, or protein shakes, with ingredients like collagen for joint support, L-theanine for focus, MCTs for energy, cinnamon for antioxidants, and Himalayan salt for minerals and electrolytes. For Wellness conducted an IRB-approved study showing up to an 85% reduction in joint stiffness in 60 days, and the brand has over 12,000 five-star reviews. Sweet Spot listeners can get the best price on a 90-day subscription and welcome kit at ⁠⁠⁠⁠forwellness.com/sweetspot⁠⁠⁠⁠ with promo code SWEETSPOT for an extra 10% off. • Most golfers don't need more swing thoughts — they need better feedback on impact. That's what I like about Strike Wedge: it's a simple, portable training aid that helps you work on the three things that matter most for better ball striking — low point control, path, and strike location. You can use towels, bottles, and other DIY setups for some of this, but Strike Wedge puts it all into one tool that fits in your golf bag and makes your practice more organized. If you're trying to improve your contact without overcomplicating your swing, this is a smart training aid to check out. Go to ⁠⁠http://strikewedge.com/sweetspot⁠⁠ to get 15% off • Rhoback makes some of the best golf apparel we've worn. Their polos are incredibly comfortable with moisture-wicking fabric, plenty of stretch, and a crisp collar that works on and off the course. They're got a couple of new releases for spring - the Highlands Hoodie—lightweight with great mobility for golf—and the Brookline Vest, a perfect layering piece for cooler tee times. Get 20% off your first order ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rhoback.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ using promo code SWEET. • As the weather gets warmer, staying properly hydrated on the golf course becomes even more important. LMNT's new Lemonade Iced Tea flavor combines electrolytes, magnesium, and potassium with no sugar or questionable sports drink ingredients, plus caffeine from black tea extract for a steadier energy boost. Because the caffeine comes from tea, it's naturally paired with L-theanine and polyphenols, which can feel smoother than the spike-and-crash effect of many energy drinks. For golfers looking for hydration and a little back-nine energy, this is a great option to try. With any purchase you're going to get a free sample pack. To claim your special offer visit ⁠⁠drinklmnt.com/sweetspot • The Ridge Wallet is a slim, modern alternative to bulky leather wallets, designed to fit comfortably in your front pocket while still holding up to 12 cards and cash. Made with premium materials like aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber, Ridge wallets include RFID-blocking technology, a lifetime warranty, and over 50 colors and styles to choose from — making them a great Father's Day gift. For a limited time, get up to 40% off during Ridge's Father's Day Sale at Ridge.com/sweetspot, and after you purchase, let them know we sent you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

### What's Covered: - **Major Jeep Recall Alert**: Over 1 million Wranglers & Gladiators (2021–2025/2026) at risk of spontaneous fire due to wiring/power steering issues. What Jeep says, what to do, where to park, and VIN check advice. - **Jeep Theft Prevention**: Relay attacks on key fobs, scanners in your driveway, RFID pouches, and why the Taser Mini might be the ultimate solution (including its new PIN code security and light show feature). - **Duck Shaming Segment**: Stock Jeeps covered in dashboard ducks? Josh has strong words — no self-ducking allowed! - **Auxiliary Switches Roundtable**: How many switches do you really need? Guests discuss rock lights, lockers, compressors, wiring tips, and keeping it practical. - **Topless & Doorless Debate**: Pros, cons, weather challenges in Texas vs. other areas, armor lining, bikini tops, half doors, and real-world experiences. - **Nikki G Dad Jokes**, random banter, and more Jeep life wisdom. Plus Josh shares a personal update on his mom and why he's got time back in the studio. **Timestamps** 00:00:00 Show Opening and Host Greeting 00:00:33 Back in Studio B, Personal Updates 00:01:21 Jeep Fire Risks and Spontaneous Combustion 00:02:30 Jeep Warning: Parking Safety to Prevent Fires 00:03:09 Recall: Wiring Fault in Wrangler/Gladiator 00:03:42 VIN Recall Research and Visual Inspection 00:04:49 Potential Sparks and Fires from Wiring Faults 00:05:33 Low Fire Probability but Growing Cases 00:05:54 Reported Jeep Fires and Recall Scope 00:06:43 Past Jeep Fire Case and Investigation 00:07:14 Personal Recall Experience and Holiday Plans 00:07:56 Checking Recalls on NHTSA; Family Concerns 00:09:03 Recalls Impact on Resale Value 00:11:49 Recalls Affecting Vehicle Value and Repairs 00:13:47 Trailer Hitch Fix and Lighthearted Commentary 00:15:14 Pinto Recall Jokes and Historical References 00:16:48 Jeep Recall Not Largest Yet Significant 00:17:07 Voluntary Recall Initiated by Jeep 00:17:50 Jeep Inspection Plans for Recall Issue 00:18:45 Past Fire Experiences and Possible Causes 00:19:59 Jeep Heat Generation and Fire Risks 00:22:07 Inline‑Six Engine Praise and Hurricane Power 00:24:08 Transition to New Segment 00:26:04 XJ Talk and Key Chip Technology 00:32:03 Key Chip Embedded Technology and Remote Start 00:32:36 Dealership Key Costs and Black‑Box Telemetry 00:33:27 2024‑25 Jeep Telemetry Black Box Details 00:34:13 Clarifying Recall Details and NHTSA Role 00:36:02 Insurance Telematics and Privacy Concerns 00:37:35 Unknown Device Query and Safety Reminder 00:38:35 Taser Mini Security Features for Jeeps 00:40:17 Gladiator Light Show Accident and Taser Mini 00:43:01 Criticism of Dashboard Duck Decorations 00:44:44 New Tires and Sticker Campaign 00:50:16 Auxiliary Switches and Their Uses 00:53:12 Lockers, Switch Panels, and Installation 00:55:08 Air Compressor Placement and Switch Location 00:56:21 Switch Complexity and Labeling Concerns 00:56:59 Cost‑Effective Light and Switch Installations 00:58:00 Light and Switch Labeling Practices 00:58:18 Rock Light Configurations and Diodes 00:59:05 Auxiliary Button Controlling Multiple Lights 00:59:38 Rock Light Setups and Additional Devices 01:00:26 FAD Integration and Switch Usage 01:01:14 Project Assembly and Next Steps 01:01:52 Multi‑Light Auxiliary Button Design 01:02:41 Risks of Untrained Drivers on Modified Jeeps 01:04:32 Glenn's Segment and Future Topics 01:11:47 Jeep Night Events and Community Outreach 01:14:54 Topless vs Doorless Jeep Debate 01:15:54 Dash Ponchos and Interior Protection 01:16:43 Carpet and Armor Light Options 01:17:29 Carpet Heat Insulation Discussion 01:17:55 Hardtop Comfort and Noise Reduction 01:19:19 Hardtop Heat Impact and Ventilation 01:19:34 Hardtop Effects on Handling and Ride 01:21:10 Hardtop Impact on Driving Comfort 01:21:45 Heat Discomfort and Using Jeep Tops 01:22:44 Two‑Week Trip Gear Planning 01:23:50 Glenn's Questions and Closing Remarks 01:28:31 Personal Updates and Studio Return 01:32:53 Appreciation and Future Show Plans 01:36:57 Call to Action: Subscribe and Follow 01:38:02 Closing Remarks and Gratitude 01:40:30 Recording History, Archives, and Milestones 01:43:48 Call to Action: Subscribe and Follow #jeeptalkshow #JeepWrangler #JeepGladiator #JeepRecall #JeepLife #OffRoad #WranglerRecall #DuckShaming #TaserMini #JeepCommunity #JoshAndTony Visit our website: https://jeeptalkshow.com/ Watch/Listen on Spotify https://jeeptalkshow.com/spotify Join our Discord Server: https://jeeptalkshow.com/discord Subscribe to our newsletter: https://jeeptalkshow.com/newsletter Help Support the show via Patreon: https://jeeptalkshow.com/patreon

In this episode, James sits down with Brent White and Tim Roberts, senior principal security consultants and covert entry specialists at Dark Wolf Solutions. They trace a remarkable journey together from teenage hijinks exploring phone phreaking, bump keys and IRC channels in the early 90s to running full-spectrum physical red team operations against some of the most secure government facilities in the world. Along the way they share the lessons and common mistakes for anyone entering the field, drawn from years of hard-won experience, alongside some unforgettable stories. That includes a creative attempt to infiltrate a facility using a stray cat, the covert card-cloning clipboard they use to lift staff RFID badges in plain sight, and the unique challenge of explaining "weaponized cat" in a report destined for high-ranking officials. They also open up about their quieter work, volunteering to help law enforcement disrupt human trafficking rings and online predators, something they have been doing since they were teenagers.

Our guest today, Bill Hardgrave, has had a remarkable career. After graduating with his PhD from Oklahoma State in Information Systems, he moved to the University of Arkansas where he developed a passion for Radio Frequency Identification, perhaps better known as RFID. After spending 17 years with this intense research focus, Bill's career shifted into academic leadership as he was tapped to become Dean of what is now known as the Raymond J. Harbert College of Business at the Auburn University.  This was an abrupt shift for Bill as he had little of the traditional academic leadership background that we often think precedes these key administrative appointments. During his 7 and half year tenure, Bill was quite successful, and in January of 2018 Auburn tapped him to become Provost, a role he filled admirably during those stressful COVID years. As of April 2026, Bill will have completed four years as President of the University of Memphis.  Over the years, Bill has developed a distinct leadership philosophy, and shares several insights with us today, among them: - his journey from an Arkansas lab to the Dean's desk- the importance of relationships to successful leadership- messaging to a shifting population- the importance of team building and how to form effective teams- maintaining vs buildingLearn more about Bill Hardgrave.Comments/criticism/suggestions/feedback? We'd love to hear it. Drop us a note.Thanks for listening.-Produced by Joel Davis at Analog Digital Arts--DEANS COUNSEL: A podcast for deans and academic leadership.James Ellis | Moderator | Dean of the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (2007-2019)David Ikenberry | Moderator | Dean of the Leeds School of Business at the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011-2016)Ken Kring | Moderator | Co-Managing Director, Global Education Practice and Senior Client Partner at Korn FerryDeansCounsel.com

In this episode, Peter sits down with Bartek from BikeID to unpack how bicycles can be given a persistent digital identity that follows them through manufacturing, retail, ownership, servicing and resale. The conversation covers why the bike industry still lacks a common identification standard, how BikeID uses NFC and RFID tags as the physical interface, and why blockchain helps remove the need for a central authority to validate the record.They also dig into the commercial reality behind bringing this on-chain. Bartek explains how BikeID is thinking about scale, why not every event should land directly on Cardano mainnet, and how batching through partner-chain style infrastructure could make the model practical. It is a strong discussion of real-world asset identity, Digital Product Passports, circular economy use cases, and the type of adoption story Cardano was built for.Key Takeaways:- BikeID is building a common digital identity layer for bicycles, similar in spirit to a VIN for cars but designed for the bike industry.- The physical interface comes from BikeID's NFC and RFID tags, which are built to survive production conditions and make scanning easy across the supply chain.- Blockchain gives the system an independent proof layer, reducing reliance on a single private company acting as the source of truth.- The model is not only about theft protection or ownership checks. It also supports manufacturing, warehousing, servicing, warranties and resale history.- Digital Product Passport regulation in Europe could create a strong tailwind for systems that can track physical products across their lifecycle.- BikeID expects high event volume, so the team is thinking carefully about batching, middleware and partner-chain style infrastructure rather than putting every event directly on Cardano mainnet.- Bartek estimates registrations could be packaged in batches of around 100 bicycles per mainnet transaction, with around 1,000 events grouped for event anchoring.- The broader vision goes beyond bikes into other industries where product identity, traceability and circular economy incentives matter.Links & References:- BikeID - Global Bicycle Identification System | NFC & RFID: https://link.learncardano.io/X0a6no- x.com: https://link.learncardano.io/OPo9ZPWebsite: https://link.learncardano.io/bQ68RcX/Twitter: https://link.learncardano.io/3a1QtvDisclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only. Nothing constitutes financial advice.DISCLAIMER: This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not financial, investment, or legal advice. I am not affiliated with, nor compensated by, the project discussed—no tokens, payments, or incentives received. I do not hold a stake in the project, including private or future allocations. All views are my own, based on public information. Always do your own research and consult a licensed advisor before investing. Crypto investments carry high risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. I am not responsible for any decisions you make based on this content.

We'd love to have your feedback and ideas for future episodes of Retail Unwrapped. Just text us!As organized crime gets bolder and more sophisticated, so do the tools that retailers can deploy to stop criminals in their tracks.  ORC has become a $112 billion annual loss for retailers with mass theft feeding fencing operations across a retail enterprise. Every retailer needs to be concerned about what these gangs are up to, how they're infiltrating their organizations and impacting not just their profitability, but also the safety of their customers and their employees. It has gotten so flagrant that 90 percent of frontline workers say they've had situations in the store that make them feel unsafe. Join Shelley and Gary Sankri, Retail Lead at Esri, as they discuss risk assessment and reveal the strategies and forensics tools retailers can use to reverse this ORC tide. They explain how data sharing, facial recognition, parking lot surveillance, escape routes, license plate readers, timing analysis, heat maps, RFID scanning tools and high-tech security cameras that are loaded with heat and sonic sensors that are valuable ammunition in arsenals to fight retail crime. Listen and learn how to be highly-alert and proactive to help prevent ORC. Special Guest:Gary Sankary, Retail Industry Lead, EsriFor more strategic insights and compelling content, visit TheRobinReport.com, where you can read, watch, and listen to content from Robin Lewis and other retail industry experts, and be sure to follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast still has a podcast. Get new episodes the moment they're live by subscribing to the email newsletter:WhoJohn Kelly, CEO of Taos Ski Valley, New MexicoRecorded onNovember 13, 2025About Taos Ski ValleyClick here for a mountain stats overviewOwned by: Louis Bacon (since December 2013)Located in: Taos Ski Valley, New MexicoYear founded: 1955Pass affiliations:* Ikon Pass – 7 days, no blackouts* Ikon Base Pass – 5 days, holiday blackouts* Ikon Session Pass – 1-4 days, holiday blackouts* Mountain Collective – 2 days, no blackouts* Ski New Mexico True Pass – 2 days, holiday blackoutsBase elevation: 9,350 feetSummit elevation: 12,450 feet lift-served, 12,481 hike-toVertical drop: 3,100 feet lift-served, 3,131 hike-to.Skiable acres: 1,294 (some hike-to)Average annual snowfall: 300 inches claimed on website; calculated 36-year average using data sourced from Taos' 2010 master development plan, Ski New Mexico tallies, and media reports is 233 inches. The 10-year average falls to 166 inches. Here's the year-by-year breakdown:Trail count: 110 (24% beginner, 25% intermediate, 51% expert)Lift count: 13 (1 pulse gondola, 2 high-speed quads, 2 fixed-grip quads, 4 triples, 1 double, 3 carpets)Why I interviewed himLet's start with a superficially troubling number: Taos' long, steady decline in average annual skier visits:That doesn't look so good, especially when laid alongside the long-term increase in national skier visits:Taos not only declined in the context of national skier visits, but also among its peers. In winter 1983-84, Taos drew more skiers (241,000) than Telluride (132,460), Big Sky (136,000), Jackson Hole (177,000), Whitefish (I'm lacking an estimate for that winter, but the ski area then known as “Big Mountain” logged 209,000 skiers in 1980-81 and 170,581 in 1985-86). Taos (dark blue line below), continued to out-duel this group through about the mid-90s before falling off a cliff:So what happened? 1995 Taos, a freeride mecca before freeride was cool, should have been perfectly suited to flourish in a cultural moment when skiers began demanding more interesting terrain than the groomed superhighways that had become the industry's default setting. Sure, Taos was remote and a bit harder to access than, say, Keystone or Park City, but so were Jackson and Whitefish and Big Sky and Telluride. A partial explanation: Taos stopped modernizing. After replacing the Lift 2 double with a fixed-grip quad in 1994, Taos didn't install another new chairlift for 19 years. The first detachable didn't arrive until 2018. The resort banned snowboards until 2008. Meanwhile, Big Sky laced a tram to the summit of Lone Peak in 1995 and started pushing detachable quads up the mountain; the first high-speed quads arrived at Telluride in 1986 and Whitefish in 1989.It's not a perfect narrative – while Jackson Hole rolled out its short Sublette detach in the mid-90s, the mountain didn't install an upper-mountain high-speed chairlift until Casper in 2012. Skier visits went up and up and up all that time, probably due in large part to aggressive improvements at the Jackson Hole airport.Maybe, though, it's as simple as this: banger snow years descended upon Taos – and New Mexico in general – from the late ‘80s through mid-‘90s. It's little surprise that attendance ups-and-downs largely mirror snowfall patterns:But, as the corresponding trendlines show, Taos' skier visits have not declined at the same rate as the mountain's average annual snowfall. And while Jackson's long-term average snowfall has remained relatively constant, attendance has crept steadily upward. Attendance spiked at both mountains when the 2018-19 season brought both plentiful snow and the introduction of the Ikon Pass:Unfortunately, Taos stopped reporting skier visits after the Covid-shortened 2019-20 season, so we have less concrete insight into whether the mountain's recent investments in a reconfigured beginner area and a second detachable on the backside have insulated it from two historically poor snow years. This is why it's nice to have basic visitation data, and why I'm pushing the ski industry to again publicize annual attendance for ski areas occupying public lands (since going live with a chart of 2,406 years of skier visit data for 97 ski areas with 10 or more years of attendance available, I'm up to 2,822 years across 108 ski areas, and I have a total of 3,802 years of data across 184 active U.S. ski areas for which I could find at least one year of attendance).We do know this: Taos doesn't want to return to the world of 300,000-plus skier visits. Somewhere between 250,000 and 275,000 is the “right number for the experience we want Taos to have,” Kelly tells us on the pod. Meaning: fewer skiers spread via a modern lift network is a better business than 364,000 skiers funneling onto double chairs. This flips the busiest-equals-best narrative that made skier-visit counts a 20th-century bragging point. I've heard the same logic articulated by the leaders of Killington, Waterville Valley, and other ski areas that have created a better business even with fewer skiers on their mountains. Jackson Hole, too, halted its relentless upward surge – that 2020-21 dip was deliberate, as the mountain exited Ikon Base and implemented a reservation system.This approach makes sense to me. With U.S. skier visits surging (until this year) and an Ikon or Epic pass in every pocket, no one wants to brag about being busy anymore. Space is the new volume. Social media can still transform one bad liftline into an eternal meme, but at least most skiers on the ground will have a better day most of the time than they probably would have 30 years ago.What doesn't make sense to me is why, in a less-is-more era, ski area operators have suddenly decided that skier visits should be guarded like Fort Knox. If fewer skiers is a good thing and a stated goal, why hide the numbers? The resorts ought to just say “Hey we've deliberately reduced our annual skier count from 300,000 to 250,000 [or whatever] to create a better mountain for you.” Instead, this secrecy around volume just looks cagey - if national skier visit numbers are up, then why should skiers just believe ski areas when they say “trust us, it's better now,” and offer no data to support it? Perception is reality, and today's skiing zeitgeist, as channeled by social media, tells us that American skiers perceive busier mountains today than they did a decade ago.But I'm getting off track. Since Louis Bacon bought Taos in 2013, he's funded an almost-complete renovation of what had become America's most decrepit destination ski resort. I don't think any mountain operating on U.S. Forest Service lands has more completely remade itself in the past decade (rapidly changing Big Sky, Deer Valley, and Powder Mountain operate on private property). Glimmering new but reset to 1970s volume, Taos is beautifully positioned to tap a skiing public that's burned-out on Colorado and Utah crowds but accustomed to modern lifts and snowmaking.What we talked aboutTaos as a family ski mountain; last winter's Chair 7 upgrade and custom terminals; owner Louis Bacon's mission to “improve everything without changing a thing”; why Taos changed from Skytrac to parent company Leitner-Poma for its newer lifts; Taos' great base-area reorganization; the story behind the Free Tacos run; a green run from the top of every lift other than the fierce Kachina triple; Taos' massive evolution since 2015; whether the mountain is committed to long-term independence; the founding Blake family's legacy and presence at Taos today; executing rapid development on Forest Service land; [VIDEO BONUS: Cat photobombing]; running Taos with the context of having worked at also-independent Telluride; becoming a skier growing up in Nashville, Tennessee; Telluride's evolution from semi-affordable to gigantic housing puzzle; employee housing at Taos; the logic behind the proposed base-to-base gondola and navigating local opposition; thoughts on the evolution of lifts 2 and 8; preserving parts of the hike-to ski experience; Taos' evolution after the Kachina Peak lift; lift 7A; the Minnesotas glades from the masterplan; avalanche mitigation; old-school boot-packing; parking lot evolutions; an ideal annual skier visit number and why that number is below historic highs; and getting to Taos.What I got wrong* When we discuss the wood-paneled terminals on Taos' new Lift 7, I ask if they're thematically related to the “wood RFID gates.” This is a reference to an earlier conversation that I cut, about Taos finally installing RFID for the 2025-26 ski season (the gates carry a wood theme). * I said that the trees skier's left of the Pioneer chair were not a named run, but they in fact are, and “Free Tacos” has a pretty awesome story behind it.* I accidentally asked Kelly to, “lay out the housing landscape for Telluride” but meant to say “Taos.” I didn't catch this in real time, but Kelly – who spent several years at Telluride before moving to Taos in 2015 – caught it and course-corrected.Questions I wished I'd askedTaos' 2010 USFS masterplan proposed a 7,045-foot-long, 2,363-vertical-foot detach quad that would have run parallel to Lift 1 to the top of Lift 2:We did, however, discuss the proposed 545-vertical-foot, 991-foot-long Ridge Lift off of Lift 8, and why Taos nixed that machine from its latest MDP:Why you should (or shouldn't) ski TaosTaos, like Jackson Hole or Snowbird or Palisades Tahoe, has a toughguy reputation. The place ripples with hike-to chutes and glades. To calm visitors shocked by the vertical bump run rocketing skyward beneath Chair 1, Taos to erected this base-area sign decades ago:The sign refers to the infamous Al's Run, which typically ripples with moguls, but was closed on my last visit, in March 2025 (Lift 1 was open):Taos certainly has plenty of nasty. The terrain ripping off the Kachina Peak triple is among the steepest inbounds terrain I'm aware of in America. But what shocked me about the place was how approachable it was for my then-8-year-old son, a solid but very intermediate skier. Every chair other than Kachina offers a top-to-bottom green – and some mostly mellow blues – making Taos one of the better family mountains in America.A lot of the solid-black terrain sits above the lifts, and requires a short, easy hike. If you've ever humped up Catherine's at Alta or Spanky's Ladder on Blackcomb, the ascent off of Lift 2 over to Highline Ridge or West Basin Ridge isn't much longer, and it flattens out considerably after the short incline. Unlike East Wall at A-Basin or Highlands Bowl at Aspen Highlands, this is hike-up terrain that's approachable for people who (like me), live at sea level and only like going up the mountain on machines. The runs are steep, and solo missions are discouraged, but the easy-in and proximity to lifts means a strong skier could reasonably expect to tuck a half-dozen hike-up laps into an afternoon. Here I am huffing and puffing right off Chair 2:Dang those trees are steep even right off the jump. Crunch crunch crunch:Go up a bit higher, and things get Lord of The Rings pretty fast:Taos' only real buyer-beware statistic is its insane base elevation of 9,350 feet, which makes everything, especially sleep, a bit more challenging. That altitude is actually a bit lower than the bases at Copper (9,712) or Breck (9,600). I start to have trouble functioning around 8,000 feet, which is the Vail (8,120), Snowmass (8,110), Snowbird (7,760), and Mammoth (7,953) range. So maybe see how you do at one of those burners before leveling up above 9,000 feet. Or at least arrive knowing that Taos will try punching you in the face. Hydrate and lay off the beer bongs for a day or two. You'll be fine.Podcast NotesOn Stadeli liftsWe've got 16 of these guys left across 10 U.S. ski areas, including Lift 7A at Taos:On the character of old chairliftsI wrote last year that U.S. ski lifts' overall design aesthetic has deteriorated with the decline in number of manufacturers and a tacit emphasis on technology over beauty.And I love old Riblets and Halls and Yans, but sentimentalism that locks skiing in a time capsule ultimately stalls long-term growth and invites disaster-by-disintegration. Rather than fight to live in a museum, I've adopted a quest mentality to ride as many of these dinosaurs as I can before they go extinct:On Taos' base-area fliparoundOn Taos' current masterplanHere's the conceptual overview of Taos' 2021 U.S. Forest Service master development plan:The major unrealized part of this is the base-to-base gondola - here's the most recent plan for that lift:On “class A avalanche mountains” with more than 200 slidepathsKelly mentioned that Taos' more than 200 slidepaths earn it the designation of a Class A avalanche mountain. I of course went looking for a list of U.S. ski areas so classified, and of course did not find one. In a rare exercise in self-restraint, however, I also did not create one. A quick Google search suggests that that such a list would include Alta, Kirkwood, and Stevens Pass alongside Taos. I would also assume that Alpine Meadows, Palisades, Mammoth, Snowbird, Big Sky, Silverton, and Crested Butte are among the most avy prone. That is not a complete list or an attempt at one so please don't write that I “forgot about” some particularly avalanche-prone mountain that I'm not trying very hard to remember.On The Storm's first Taos podcastThe Storm explores the world of lift-served skiing year-round. Join us. Get full access to The Storm Skiing Journal and Podcast at www.stormskiing.com/subscribe

In this 5 Insightful Minutes episode, Spencer Hewett, CEO and Founder of Radar, joins Omni Talk to discuss the company's recent funding milestone, rapid retail expansion, and how real-time inventory intelligence is transforming store operations. Spencer shares how Radar has grown from 500 to 1,500 stores in just one year, helping retailers achieve greater inventory accuracy, reduce shrink, improve fulfillment rates, and empower store associates with real-time product visibility. The conversation also explores what differentiates Radar's technology, why real-time data is becoming the foundation of the connected store, and where RFID adoption is headed next across retail. Key Topics Covered: • How Radar expanded from 500 to 1,500 stores nationwide • Retailers reporting an 8% lift in sales and a 60% reduction in shrink • Improving online order fulfillment from 70% to 98% • Why 99%+ inventory detection accuracy changes store operations • The importance of real-time location data and low-latency insights • How connected store data can improve staffing and labor allocation • Why Radar builds both its hardware and software in-house • The future of RFID in retail and why consumer electronics could be next

What if fashion could do more than make a statement? What if it could restore dignity, reduce waste, create jobs, and directly impact communities in need? In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Manny Jackson, founder and Sustainable Fashion Architect of Thread Haus — a Los Angeles-based circular fashion ecosystem transforming textile waste into functional, tech-enabled apparel while building workforce opportunities for underserved communities. Manny isn't just creating clothing. He's building an entirely new system for how fashion can serve people and the planet. After experiencing housing insecurity himself and later working with homeless veterans, Manny launched Thread Haus to prove that sustainability isn't just about materials — it's about human dignity, accessibility, and community impact. One of his most powerful innovations, the StreetSleeper jacket — a wearable jacket that converts into a sleeping bag for unsheltered communities — earned global recognition, including a nomination for the World Green Product Award. But Thread Haus goes even deeper. The company is integrating AI, RFID technology, NFC chips, and Digital Product Passports into its developing Smart Lifecycle System, helping redefine what transparency and circular production can look like in modern fashion. In this episode, we discuss: Why sustainability must go beyond marketing buzzwords Turning lived experience into mission-driven innovation How circular fashion can reduce waste and create opportunity The future of tech-enabled apparel and smart lifecycle tracking Building a brand without traditional resources or investors Why community storytelling matters in entrepreneurship Designing products that prioritize dignity and real-world function The hidden realities of building a purpose-driven business We also talk about Thread Haus' partnerships with organizations like LA City Sanitation, Homeboy Threads, and Sole Folks, and how the company is helping create workforce pathways through hands-on upcycling workshops for youth and adults. Manny's work has been featured globally through presentations at COP28, Sustainable Fashion Week US, TEDx South Central, and the Olympic Sustainable Gala — but his mission remains deeply personal and community-focused. If you care about sustainability, entrepreneurship, innovation, or building businesses that truly matter, this episode will leave you inspired.

Data might be abundant, but turning it into actionable insights is far more complex than it seems. In this episode, Reid Jackson and Liz Sertl chat with Russ Hawkins, President and CEO of Agilence Inc., about how retailers, restaurants, and hotels are using operational analytics to improve revenue, control costs, and maintain compliance. Russ discusses how organizations can leverage real-time data to drive smarter decisions in areas like loss prevention, inventory oversight, and sales growth, all while enhancing the customer experience. He also explores the complexities of ensuring that store managers and frontline teams are aligned with broader company goals, emphasizing that success comes from balancing people, processes, and technology. This is more than just a tech upgrade. It's a continuous operational effort that relies on collaboration across leadership, operations, and analytics to deliver tangible results and lasting business impact. In this episode, you'll learn: How companies use data to increase revenue, manage expenses, and maintain compliance The importance of aligning internal teams and frontline staff with corporate objectives  How emerging technologies like AI and RFID are shaping analytics and operational efficiency  Things to listen for: (00:00) Introducing Next Level Supply Chain (01:38) Russ's background: from telecom to three CEO roles (06:34) The three things every retailer is really trying to solve with data (09:10) What internal compliance actually means (09:51) Make money, save money, be compliant (16:33) Using data to know who's upselling and who's leaving money on the table (19:37) The treasure trove already in your transaction logs (25:51) Getting the right product in the right place (30:18) Operations is a people problem (34:37) Where analytics investments go wrong (38:15) AI is exciting and terrifying in equal measure (40:59) What Russ wants to learn next Connect with GS1 US: Our website - www.gs1us.orgGS1 US on LinkedIn Register for GS1 Connect 2026, happening June 9 to 11 in Las Vegas, and get 10% off with the promo code GS1USPOD10 at connect.gs1us.org. Connect with the guest:Russ Hawkins on LinkedInVisit Agilence Inc. at https://www.agilenceinc.com/

There is a new cease-fire and new concessions, but how does it as up against Trump's original goals. We will do a breakdown of the original justification for the strikes, operational objectives and what this newest cease-fire agreement means.SPONSOR: Lear CapitalGold and silver are at all-time highs as central banks, sovereign funds, and major institutions like Morgan Stanley shift capital out of the dollar and into precious metals. Lear Capital helps everyday Americans get into physical gold and silver with experienced reps, transparent pricing, and IRA-eligible options. With a qualified purchase, you can receive up to $20,000 in bonus gold or silver.Call Lear Capital at 800-707-4575 or visit https://www.Nick4Lear.com-----SPONSOR: Alliance Defending FreedomSome of America's largest corporations, including American Express and Home Depot, are using their employee healthcare plans to pay for irreversible gender-transition drugs and surgeries for kids. Alliance Defending Freedom's petition puts direct pressure on corporate leaders and gives concerned Americans a real way to push back. Adding your name helps spark the kind of accountability that influences boardrooms across the country.Sign the petition at https://www.JoinADF.com/Nick-----SPONSOR: Ridge WalletRidge makes a slim, modern wallet built from premium materials like aluminum, titanium, and carbon fiber, with a lifetime warranty and RFID protection. It holds up to 12 cards plus cash without the bulk of a traditional leather wallet, and comes in over 50 colors and finishes. The Anniversary Sale is on now with up to 40% off the entire site.Get up to 40% off at https://www.Ridge.com/FREITAS-----GET YOUR MERCH HERE: https://shop.nickjfreitas.com/BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IC: https://NickJFreitas.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickjfreitas/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NickFreitasVATwitter: https://twitter.com/NickJFreitasYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NickjfreitasTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nickjfreitas3.000:00:00 – Breaking down Trump's strategic military objectives in Iran00:01:29 – Exposing the IRGC and the Ayatollah's enforcers00:02:31 – How American strikes crippled Iran's missile capability00:03:58 – Annihilating the Iranian Navy in the Persian Gulf00:06:20 – Preventing the Ayatollah from getting nuclear weapons00:07:50 – Cutting off terror funding for Hamas and Hezbollah00:10:46 – Defending the Strait of Hormuz and gas prices00:12:34 – Using China to break Iran's economic backbone00:14:02 – Trump's high stakes negotiation strategy against Iran00:18:26 – Exposing why Democrats want Trump to fail00:21:09 – Analyzing the 60 day Iran ceasefire agreement00:23:03 – Why Trump's deal beats Obama's failed policy00:26:38 – Debunking the leftist media narrative on Iran00:31:05 – Iran President resigns amid total IRGC takeover00:40:39 – Will the Democrats sabotage Trump's Iran victory?00:41:43 – Why America First foreign policy delivers results00:45:30 – Final thoughts and preordering The Man Book

This Omni Talk Retail Fast Five segment explores Radar reaching unicorn status and why RFID-powered inventory intelligence may finally be having its breakthrough moment in retail. Chris Walton and Laura Kennedy discuss why inventory visibility remains one of retail's biggest unsolved operational challenges, why RFID adoption has historically moved slowly, and how physical AI may reshape store operations over the next decade. They also debate what separates practical retail AI solutions from flashy technology demos that struggle to scale in the real world. ⏩ Tune in for the full episode here: https://youtu.be/uLBaYFWsxUk #Radar #RFID #RetailAI #RetailTechnology #InventoryManagement #PhysicalAI #RetailInnovation #SupplyChain #RetailStrategy #OmniTalk

In this week's Omni Talk Retail Fast Five sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Quorso and Veloq, Chris Walton and special guest Laura Kennedy, retail strategist formerly of CB Insights and Kantar, discussed: • Starbucks shutting down its AI-powered inventory counting tool after widespread accuracy issues and what the failure reveals about the challenges of deploying AI inside real-world retail operations: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/starbucks-ai-inventory-system-discontinued_n_6a10640ce4b0bb04cec6162a • Radar reaching unicorn status after raising $170 million and why RFID-powered inventory intelligence may finally be crossing the retail adoption chasm: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/19/radar-reaches-unicorn-status-in-series-b-funding-round.html • Google unveiling the biggest transformation to Search in over 25 years with AI-powered search experiences, autonomous background agents, and major implications for the future of commerce discovery: https://www.theverge.com/tech/932970/google-search-ai-update-io-2026 • Klarna launching a shopping app directly inside ChatGPT and whether payments, trust, and consumer behavior will determine who ultimately wins the AI commerce race: https://www.pymnts.com/artificial-intelligence-2/2026/klarna-launches-chatgpt-shopping-app-with-live-prices/ • Ross Stores posting a staggering 17% comparable sales increase and why off-price retail, and potentially resale, may become one of the defining retail winners of this economic era: https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/ross-stores-lifts-outlook-as-sales-jump-6ba6f3a5 There's all that, plus Indy 500 energy, terrifying Jurassic Park revelations, Star Wars debates, underrated Midwest road trips, Spielberg nostalgia, and producer Ella officially crowning “unicorn status” the greatest business term of all time. Music by hooksounds.com

In this episode, Lori Lotterman, RPh MPH, Subject Matter Expert in Pharmacy & Healthcare Management, discusses the rapid evolution of pharmacy technology, from paper processes to AI-powered systems and RFID tracking. She also shares insights on mentorship, adaptability, and how automation and compliance tools are transforming healthcare operations and pharmacy practice.

It's EV News Briefly for Monday 18 May 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyVOLKSWAGEN PUTS GTI ON AN EVVolkswagen has unveiled the ID. Polo GTI, the first-ever electric vehicle to carry the iconic GTI badge — a near-50-year-first — sitting above the standard ID. Polo with a 223hp front-mounted motor, 0–62mph in 6.8 seconds, and a 263-mile WLTP range from its 52 kWh battery. It goes on sale in Germany from autumn 2026, priced from €39,000, competing with the Alpine A290 and Peugeot E-208 GTi, but will not be sold in North America.BMW AND SOLARWATT PUSH V2H PLANSBMW and SOLARWATT are expanding their partnership to bring Vehicle-to-Home bidirectional charging to BMW's Neue Klasse line-up, starting with the iX3 and i3, following Germany's first commercial Vehicle-to-Grid launch in March 2026. The integrated system will use SOLARWATT's energy management platform, the BMW Wallbox Professional, and both brands' apps to coordinate solar, home storage, dynamic tariffs, and EV charging — launching first across Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.GM CUTS BOLT COSTS WITH BATCH BUILDSGM is achieving its sub-$30,000 target for the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV in part by assembling cars in batches of 30 identical units at its Fairfax plant in Kansas City, rather than building mixed trims in sequence, reducing errors and line stoppages. The approach, part of GM's "Winning with Simplicity" strategy, also includes keeping clone spare bodies on standby, cutting floor space needs, reducing paint booth colour changes, and locking suppliers to a fixed seven-day delivery schedule.UK INSURERS SHUN MANY CHINESE CARSCarwow research found that half of all insurance quote requests for Chinese vehicles were declined outright by UK insurers, with AXA refusing to quote on all four tested models and Hastings Direct covering only one. Beyond availability, Chinese models averaged £901 per year to insure versus £646 for petrol equivalents — a £255 gap — with insurers citing limited repair data, underdeveloped parts supply chains, and a lack of long-term claims history as key reasons.BMW TIES IONNA DISCOUNT TO US CHARGINGBMW has launched a preferred pricing programme with IONNA, giving BMW and MINI EV drivers a 20% discount on public charging sessions across the network's 1,000-plus US bays, running through 30 September 2026. The discount applies automatically via Plug & Charge or the My BMW App, with no subscription or RFID card required, as part of BMW's broader strategy to build out home, workplace, and public charging infrastructure.EPA DELAYS TIER 4 BY TWO YEARSThe EPA has proposed pushing Biden-era Tier 4 light- and medium-duty vehicle emissions standards back two years, from model year 2027 to 2029, framing the move as a "freedom of choice" measure that the agency says will save automakers and consumers over $1.7 billion. The rollback goes much further than a delay, however — the EPA has also repealed the 2009 Endangerment Finding and all vehicle greenhouse gas regulations, dismantling the legal framework for future federal EV mandates.KIA DEBUTS PV5 SIDE-ENTRY WAV IN EUROPEKia unveiled the PV5 WAV Side Entry at the Motability Scheme Live exhibition in Birmingham on 15 May 2026, claiming a segment first with its side-entry wheelchair access that allows kerb-side boarding — an advantage in dense urban areas where rear access is often blocked. Built for taxi operators, shuttle services, and fleet providers, the van features a reinforced floor, integrated wheelchair anchorage, floor lighting for boarding visibility, and a two-step manual ramp suited to varied road conditions.COULTHARD DRIVES FORMULA E GEN4 AT MONACODavid Coulthard drove Formula E's upcoming GEN4 car on the streets of Monte Carlo, describing the experience as unlike anything in his career — a significant claim from a two-time Monaco Grand Prix winner. The GEN4, set to debut in the 2026/27 season, tops 205mph, weighs under 1,000kg, produces over 800bhp, hits 0–100kph in 1.8 seconds, and delivers a 71% power increase over GEN3 Evo in Attack Mode, with all-wheel drive and a redesigned ergonomic cockpit; it will make its first public show appearance at Goodwood Festival of Speed from 9–12 July.RECYCLING LIFTS OLD BATTERIES INTO BETTER CATHODESResearchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Argonne National Laboratory have developed a recycling process that upcycles spent lithium iron phosphate and lithium manganese oxide cells into higher-performance lithium manganese iron phosphate cathode material, recovering more than 95% of key elements — rivalling or exceeding most commercial operations. Crucially, the process runs at normal temperature and pressure, requires no energy-intensive equipment, fits existing recycling infrastructure, and produces cathode material with higher energy density than the source materials it came from.

In the engineering world, we rely on sensors to acquire data from real-world processes and machines. Deciding how to use that data is very important. The right decisions impact process efficiency, system reliability, and even worker safety.   Join Control.com's David Peterson as he chats with Kate Sokolnicki of Rockwell Automation in this episode of the Moore's Lobby podcast. Sokolnicki explains the evolution of industrial sensing and the shift toward data-driven manufacturing.  They discuss many key technological advancements, including: -IO-Link as a standard: Simple sensors are transitioning into "smart" devices that provide dual-channel feedback—process data and health analytics—without typical price premiums. -Commoditized vision AI: High-end vision systems are being replaced by affordable cameras capable of quality checks and AI-driven processing at the edge or in the cloud. -Smart safety protocols: Learn how operators can now pinpoint specific faults in a daisy-chained system (e.g., identifying exactly which door is ajar), significantly reducing troubleshooting time. Sokolnicki notes that while AI is powerful, it requires robust metadata (machine, shift, and location context) to be actionable. She highlights how condition monitoring—such as tracking "heartbeats," sensor margins, or cable tension—allows plants to move from reactive repairs to proactive maintenance. She concludes by encouraging young engineers to prioritize back-of-the-napkin math and the common-sense test. Instead of relying solely on theoretical calculations, she advocates for interrogating results to ensure they align with physical reality. Rockwell Automation is committed to enabling the next generation of smart manufacturing. Under their Allen-Bradley brand, Rockwell has a broad portfolio of high-performance sensors and switches. This includes proximity and photoelectric sensors, limit switches, safety switches, and RFID and operator safety devices.  Meet Kate Sokolnicki Kate Sokolnicki is the Global Business Director for Rockwell Automation's Sensing & Safety business unit and serves as the site lead for Rockwell's Chelmsford, MA location. She oversees product portfolio strategy and is responsible for global sales growth.  Kate joined Rockwell in 2015 as a product specialist and was promoted to portfolio manager supporting Sensing, Safety, and Connectivity. Most recently, she was a business manager responsible for in-cabinet infrastructure products, including single-pair Ethernet/IP.  Prior to joining Rockwell, Kate worked in the biomedical industry as an applications engineer. Kate holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and lives in Chelmsford, MA. 

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE GS1 CONFERENCE IN LAS VEGAS, JUNE 9-11. Register by clicking the link!Get out your glasses, packaging nerds!

Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! If you enjoy our podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Grazie Mille! In this episode, Tommaso and Kimberly state that they are back in the US preparing for the sale of their house yet will return to bel'Italia mid-June. They also share some travel tips for your next trip to Italy. Key Points: The prep involved to move from America to Italy: Kimberly explains why they potentially sound tired on this episode recording due to all they have done in the two weeks they have been in the US. She also compliments Tommaso on the consistent sound quality of their recent episodes considering they have recorded them without the normal equipment they had in their podcast studio in Rhode Island. Entry Exit System Update: Kimberly and Tommaso share the last-minute notice they got from their airline for their departure from Venice to the USA. This included leaving one day earlier than expected, booking a hotel in Venice and changing their train tickets. This let to their suggestion to always purchase train tickets than can be modified, cancelled or upgraded. More Travel Tips: Regarding any kind of medical emergency in Italy, big or small, they recommend purchasing travel insurance. However, if you do not have insurance coverage, they list various options of how to get treatment and important phone numbers to keep with you throughout your trip. Kimberly and Tommaso also stress the importance of how to not fall prey to pick pocketers. Pickpocketing is a profession in some countries, but you can follow the right steps to prevent it from happening to you. Tommaso also explains the more recent tactic of credit card skimmers and RFID scanners. He shares what you can do to prevent your banking information from being stolen. Episode 214 update: Kimberly and Tommaso admit that they will not be able to record the future episode #214 due to the timing and logistics of their move from America. So that one will be later than scheduled, but they WILL produce the next episode which will be #213.

Shrinking margins, labor shortages, and the complexity of omni-channel fulfillment are putting unprecedented pressure on grocery and convenience retailers. On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, recorded live at EuroShop, Renee Hartmann, Top Retail Expert, sits down with Zsuzsa Hordai of SPAR International and Aidan Mittra of OrderGrid to unpack these operational pressures, and what they demand from retailers next. KEY TAKEAWAYS - Margins and workforce are the defining pressures: Declining profits and difficulty retaining staff at every level of the organization remain the industry's most urgent challenges. - Technology should amplify people, not replace them: The best implementations automate low-value tasks so associates can focus on customer engagement and high-value work. - Real-time data drives better decisions: Moving beyond lagging back-office systems gives retailers the visibility to act on out-of-stocks, expiring inventory, and margin risks before they escalate. - Out-of-stocks damage more than revenue: In an omni-channel world, stockouts erode customer trust and long-term loyalty. - Practical automation is already here: Computer vision, RFID, and human-in-the-loop systems are being deployed today to improve shelf availability and operational efficiency. This episode explores how a real-time data foundation can reduce friction for shoppers and staff alike, and position the physical store as a driver of lasting growth.

It's EV News Briefly for Tuesday 05 May 2026, everything you need to know in less than 5 minutes if you haven't got time for the full show.Patreon supporters fund this show, get the episodes ad free, as soon as they're ready and are part of the EV News Daily Community. You can be like them by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/EVNewsDailyNORWAY BEV SHARE HITS 99% IN APRILNorway set a new monthly record in April 2026, with battery electric vehicles taking 98.6% of new passenger car registrations, up from the previous record of 98.4% in March. Of 11,103 new cars registered, 10,952 were fully electric, with diesel managing just 87 units and petrol a mere 31 units — making combustion-engine sales little more than a rounding error.TESLA CUTS MODEL 3 PRICES IN CANADATesla has slashed prices across its Canadian Model 3 line-up, introducing a new entry Premium RWD trim starting at C$39,490 — about 31% cheaper than the equivalent US price — after shifting production from its Fremont plant to its Shanghai factory to take advantage of Canada's new 6.1% Chinese-EV import tariff. The line-up now has just two trims after removing the Long Range mid-range, though Shanghai-built cars do not qualify for Canada's federal EVAP rebate of up to C$5,000.FACTORIAL BETS SOLID-STATE CAN BREAK CHINA'S LEADFactorial Energy, a Massachusetts-based startup backed by Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai/Kia, argues that solid-state batteries — which charge from 15% to 90% in 18 minutes and offer 20–50% more range than lithium-ion — are the West's best chance to leapfrog Chinese rivals rather than imitate them. The company plans to go public on Nasdaq in mid-2026 via a SPAC merger, and a Mercedes-Benz EQS prototype fitted with its cells drove 1,205 km non-stop in August 2025.IONIQ 5 SALES HOLD UP AFTER US TAX CREDIT LOSSHyundai's IONIQ 5 held fifth place among US EV sellers in 2025 despite losing the federal EV tax credit, while rivals like the Ford Mustang Mach-E saw sales collapse 60% year-on-year in Q1 2026. Domestic production at Hyundai Metaplant America in Savannah, Georgia was credited as a key factor in shielding the IONIQ 5 from the impact of Trump administration trade policy changes.VOLKSWAGEN RAISES RIVIAN STAKE TO 15.9%Volkswagen has lifted its stake in Rivian to 15.9% after completing a further $1 billion investment tranche, triggered by the RV Tech joint venture clearing its winter testing milestones, bringing its total investment to $3 billion of a committed $5.8 billion. Volkswagen gains access to Rivian's software stack and zonal architecture, while Rivian retains full ownership of its motors, batteries, chassis, and autonomy framework.VW TESTS 'GAMECHANGER' AT WOLFSBURGVolkswagen has launched a pilot production process codenamed Gamechanger at its Wolfsburg headquarters, aimed at cutting costs and enabling profitable EV manufacturing in Germany through techniques expected to include megacasting and parallel modular assembly streams. The plant is expected to eventually produce an electric Golf and an SUV counterpart on the next-generation SSP platform, potentially under the names ID. Golf and ID. Roc.TESLA LAUNCHES BASECHARGER FOR SEMI DEPOTSTesla has unveiled the Basecharger, a depot-focused DC fast charger for the Tesla Semi that tops out at 125 kW and can charge a truck from low to 60% in around four hours, using a 6-metre cable to accommodate yard layouts. The unit starts at $20,000, supports the open MCS (Megawatt Charging System) standard, and up to three units can share a single breaker — potentially serving future MCS-compatible trucks from Daimler, Volvo, and Scania.MFG EV POWER ADDS PLUG&CHARGEMotor Fuel Group has integrated its MFG EV Power network of around 2,000 rapid and ultra-rapid UK charging points with Hubject's Plug&Charge infrastructure, going live on 1 May 2026 after over a year of technical development. Compatible EVs can now begin charging automatically the moment they plug in, eliminating the need for RFID cards or apps.ALLEGO APP ADDS EUROPE-WIDE CHARGING ROAMINGAllego has transformed its app into a pan-European roaming platform, giving drivers access to roughly one million charging points from competing networks under a single account with no additional roaming fees. The app also includes a Smart Route Planner to help EV drivers plan charging stops across longer cross-border journeys.NEW AI VOICE ASSISTANTS FOR RIVIAN, POLESTAR AND VOLVO EVSRivian's AI voice assistant — first unveiled at its December 2025 Autonomy & AI Day — is now expected to reach customers in the coming weeks after slipping roughly four months behind its original early-2026 target, and will roll out to both R1 and R2 vehicles. Separately, Google has begun rolling out Gemini to Polestar and Volvo cars running Android Automotive OS, enabling conversational AI with multi-turn dialogue, trip planning, and a continuous hands-free mode called Gemini Live — with Volvo saying models dating back to 2020 are eligible for the upgrade.

In this continuation of the Queen Series, Jeff Ott and Becky Masterman welcome Dr. Juliana Rangel of Texas A&M University for an in-depth discussion on honey bee queen biology, mating behavior, and the often-overlooked role of drones in colony success. Juliana shares her journey into honey bee research, beginning with stingless bees in Brazil and leading to her current work on queen reproductive biology. The conversation explores the complexity of queen mating, from orientation flights to drone congregation areas, and the many variables that influence successful mating—especially weather, timing, and environmental conditions. A key takeaway is how much remains unknown. Despite decades of research, fundamental questions—such as where queens consistently mate and how mating locations are determined—are still being revisited with new technologies like RFID tracking. The discussion highlights the importance of drone quality and diversity, emphasizing that drones contribute half the genetics of a colony. Poor drone health or limited mating opportunities can directly impact queen longevity and colony productivity. Juliana also explains how pesticide exposure and contaminated wax can disrupt normal mating patterns, sometimes leading to excessive mating or reduced sperm viability. Queen development is another critical factor. Queens raised from older larvae may appear functional but result in significantly reduced colony performance. Proper grafting practices remain essential, especially for small-scale queen producers. The episode closes with practical advice for beekeepers: observe queen retinue behavior, maintain good records, and reconsider the value of drones within colonies. Juliana also shares updates on her current research in Colombia and a new international project investigating queen mating dynamics and environmental stressors. This conversation reinforces a central theme: queen quality is multifactorial, and improving it requires attention to genetics, nutrition, environment, and management practices. For additional information where honey bees mate, listen to our conversation with Dr. Gard Otis in episode 378. Websites from the episode and others we recommend: Texas A&M Honey Bee Lab: https://honeybeelab.tamu.edu Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org The National Honey Board: https://honey.com Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com   Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC     ______________ Betterbee is the presenting sponsor of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!  As a beekeeper, you want products that benefit you and your bees. When you choose Premier Bee Products, you choose hive components that are healthier for bees and more productive for you. Because we believe that in beekeeping, details make all the difference. Premier Bee Products: Better for bees. Better for beekeepers. Use promo code PODCAST for 10% off your next online order. APIS Tactical is a beekeeping brand focused on innovation. We create a wide range of gear for beekeepers of all types—whether you're managing a few hives or working bees every day. We combine science and artistry to create purposeful, hardworking gear. We're here to help you care for your bees with confidence, so you can focus on what matters most—your hive. Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about their line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com HiveIQ is revolutionizing the way beekeepers manage their colonies with innovative, insulated hive systems designed for maximum colony health and efficiency. Their hives maintain stable temperatures year-round, reduce stress on the bees, and are built to last using durable, lightweight materials. Whether you're managing two hives or two hundred, HiveIQ's smart design helps your bees thrive while saving you time and effort. Learn more at HiveIQ.com. We'd like to thank Vita Bee Health for supporting the podcast. Vita provides proven tools for controlling Varroa—from Apistan and Apiguard to the new VarroxSan extended-release oxalic acid strips—helping beekeepers keep stronger, healthier colonies. Thanks for Northern Bee Books for their support. Northern Bee Books is the publisher of bee books available worldwide from their website or from Amazon and bookstores everywhere. They are also the publishers of The Beekeepers Quarterly and Natural Bee Husbandry. _______________ We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments in the show notes of this episode or: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com Thank you for listening!  Podcast music: Be Strong by Young Presidents; Epilogue by Musicalman; Faraday by BeGun; Walking in Paris by Studio Le Bus; A Fresh New Start by Pete Morse; Wedding Day by Boomer; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; Red Jack Blues by Daniel Hart; Bolero de la Fontero  by Rimsky Music; Perfect Sky by Graceful Movement; I'm Not Running Away This Time by Max Brodie; Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC ** As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases Copyright © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

On the latest RETHINK Retail Podcast, host Toby Pickard of the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) sits down with Aidan Mittra, Co-founder of OrderGrid. They explore how real-time inventory technology is transforming store efficiency, supply chain management, and the future of grocery retail. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Location and expiry awareness is now essential: Retailers need to know exactly where items are and whether they are sellable, not just whether they exist in the system. - A real-time data layer connects the dots: Bridging ERP and POS systems gives retailers full visibility across the front of house and back room. - Better data means better orchestration: Precise item location reduces picker search time, improves staff deployment, and enables automated replenishment. - Hybrid fulfillment is redefining store design: OrderGrid's patented approach blends traditional retail with a micro-fulfillment dark store component, dramatically reducing picking times. - Emerging technologies are raising the bar: RFID, 2D barcodes, and computer vision are set to transform expiry traceability and strengthen sustainability across the supply chain. - The hyper-connected store is within reach: AI-empowered physical retail spaces are creating better experiences for staff and shoppers through improved availability and operational transparency. This episode explores how a clean, real-time data foundation positions retailers to compete in an increasingly connected grocery landscape.