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The days of automatically upgrading your phone or computer every time it slows down are officially over. Clark breaks down why inflation and rising component costs mean tech prices are going "up, up, and away." Tech giants like Apple are raising device prices to protect their profit margins. While Clark has advised against sinking money into old electronics, the math has changed. Clark shares his rule of thumb for deciding when to repair versus replace, why TVs remain the one truly disposable tech item, and how to avoid the "free phone trap" being pushed by the big three wireless carriers. Also, Clark dives into the massive shakeup happening in the insurance industry. State Farm is facing major backlash from its own agents after dropping a hammer on their compensation models—a desperate move to compete in a market where they are losing ground. Hear which company has taken the lead by embracing a hybrid model, and what to expect buying online vs. with an agent.Plus, Christa shares your #AskClark questions and Clark gives his take. All this and more on the July 22, 2026, episode of The Clark Howard Show. Submit your questions: Ask Clark. Electronics: Repair Or Replace?: Segment 1 Ask Clark: Segment 2 Buying Insurance: Segment 3 Ask Clark: Segment 4 Mentioned on the show: The ‘right to repair' movement has a point, but consumers should read the warranty fine print first — The Conversation Why You Should Avoid These Free Offers From Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile 5 Vacation Scams To Avoid This Travel Season - Clark Howard How to Shop for Lower Car Insurance - Clark Howard Best and Worst Homeowners Insurance Companies - Clark Howard Homeowners Insurance Archives - Clark Howard State Farm's AI Plan for Sales Agents Sparks Uproar. ‘A Real Slap in the Face.' Is Accident Forgiveness Worth It? - Clark Howard Clark.com resources: Episode transcripts Community.Clark.com / Ask Clark Clark.com daily money newsletter Consumer Action Center Free Helpline: 636-492-5275 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What realistic minimalism actually is has almost nothing to do with stark white rooms and empty shelves. I own two TVs, a full board game collection, and a waffle maker that does exactly one thing, and I've practiced this lifestyle for the better part of a decade.This episode is the wide view of the whole philosophy, the realistic version built for a family of five with a toddler and a dog. If you've ever thought minimalism sounded nice but figured it was for people without kids, hobbies, or a real budget, this one was made for you.I adopted a practical minimalist lifestyle during one of the hardest seasons of my life, and it has given me more time, energy, and mental capacity than anything else I've tried. Kind of crazy how much your space can change things.✨Read the full guide, where every concept links to a deeper dive: https://www.miadanielle.com/blog/what-minimalism-actually-is-and-isn-tGrab a spot in my free masterclass, Break the Clutter Cycle!SEE MORE▷ Instagram▷ FREE: Declutter Your First Room Blueprint ▷ FREE: Clutter Roadmap QUIZ▷ The Mind Your Home Podcast on Apple
Abbey and Georgie are off this week but will return on Friday the 24th of July after a much needed rest. In this episode we look back at some of our favourite moments from the past few months to keep you going. Surfing icon Layne Beachley tells us how over a decade of campaigning led to finally achieving equal pay for women. The Wiggles Simon and John joined us earlier in the year, to talk resilience as an Eels fan, fatherhood and their love of sport. Luke Bateman, former NRL star and current BookTok hearthrob shared how it was growing up in Queensland as a lover of books. And Niav Owens, friend of the pod and host of SBS' World Cup coverage, told Abbey how she dealt with 1:30am wake up calls and hosting with Harry Kewell. We'll be back soon with regular programming. Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
My guest today, Michelle Gessner, joined the podcast back in December of 2024, where we discussed her $21 million verdict against Wells Fargo. Today she's back with the story of a recent verdict success in North Carolina, which suddenly hit an unexpected twist. The case was planned out to make use of high tech video equipment and software, as you would find in a standard, modern equipped court room. But then, it was moved to courtroom that had no technology; in fact, only a single outlet with extension cords. No microphones, no TVs, no projectors. Just old-school visual tools: easels, display boards, pen and notepads, and the projection of your own voice. So how does one pivot, and still incorporate the planned visuals and presentation? AI to the rescue! What was already a useful tool was now needed to address the extra challenge of creating courtroom visuals in a no-technology courtroom. Michelle and I explore how she started by using focus groups to find out weaknesses, then identified what needed to be visual, how to be visual under these unique circumstances, and ultimately AI's creative suggestions. And the focus groups were the key, providing critical demonstratives to bring to life the evidence very early in the case. If you want more trial prep strategies just like this, but in more depth and delivered straight to your inbox, grab my email newsletter that I send out each month: https://www.larricklawfirm.com/newsletter In this episode, we cover: How navigating a no-technology courtroom requires creative thinking. AI is a major asset in effective trial preparation, especially during sudden pivots. Using checklists can streamline witness examination. Objection-proof visuals are key to effective presentations. Remember to check out Episodes 128 & 129, featuring Michelle Gessner and her $21 million dollar verdict against Wells Fargo: Part 1 [Ep 128] Part 2 [Ep 129] You can also watch today's episode on my YouTube Channel: AI for Winning Courtroom Visuals: Case Study with Michelle Gessner [Ep 170] Learn more about my guest Michelle Gessner: https://www.mgessnerlaw.com/ michelle@mgessnerlaw.com Michelle Gessner is one of the few lawyers, if not the only lawyer, in North Carolina who has both Big Law and Big Company defense experience, as well as 10 years of employee-side employment litigation experience, which she has been nearly exclusively handling since 2015. Michelle possesses a deep understanding of the many challenges employees face dealing with wage theft and other illegal employment practices. Prior to its formation, Michelle gained extensive experience in all legal issues facing the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries by serving as the Chief Litigation and Employment Law Counsel for publicly traded companies such as Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO), Darden Restaurants, Inc. (DRI), Big Lots Stores, Inc. (BIG) and TriNet (TNET). Michelle also served as the SVP, General Counsel, and Chief Administrative Officer for Ovation Brands, a privately held $1 billion restaurant company. Follow and Review: We'd love for you to follow us if you haven't yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We'd love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast. Have a trial or mediation coming up and want to test with a focus group? Book a free consultation call with Elizabeth to learn more: www.calendly.com/elizabethlarrick Don't miss out on the Trial Lawyer Prep Newsletter that is delivered right to your email with extra tips and 'how to' information. Join the newsletter here: www.larricklawfirm.com/newsletter
The second half of our streaming guide moves from services to the boxes, sticks, smart TVs, antennas, and oddball gadgets that actually get video onto your screen.Roku remains one of the most affordable and widely supported streaming hardware options, with both boxes and sticks available. It began as the original Netflix streamer, but today its biggest advantages are interface preference, ecosystem familiarity, and broad app support.Fire TV sticks and boxes make the most sense for people already deep in Amazon's ecosystem, especially if they use Prime Video and add-on channels heavily. The Fire TV Cube also gets praise as an easy “hotel-like” setup for guests, with strong voice-control features.Apple TV is the easiest recommendation for people already using iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Its ecosystem integration makes passwords, purchases, authentication, and playback smoother, and older Apple TVs can remain useful for years.Chromecast is gone as a hardware brand, replaced by the Google TV Streamer. It is a good fit for people invested in Google, YouTube, YouTube TV, and Android, though Google's TV hardware strategy has been less consistent than Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV.The NVIDIA Shield TV remains the power-user option for gamers, tinkerers, VPN users, and people who want more control over their streaming box. It has not been substantially updated since 2019, but it still works well, even if it is starting to show its age.Game consoles can still stream video, but Sony and Microsoft have mostly moved away from treating them as primary TV boxes. The crew also gives a farewell nod to retired or fading hardware like TiVo and Microsoft's old TV ambitions.The Xumo Stream Box from Comcast and Charter may be worth considering for internet subscribers who can get it free or discounted. It can replace some traditional cable-box use cases while still offering access to streaming apps.Many viewers simply use the apps built into their smart TVs, and that can work fine as long as performance holds up. Samsung's Tizen, LG's webOS, Roku TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Vizio's SmartCast, and TiVo OS all get a rundown, with the main advice being to consider long-term speed, app support, and whether you may eventually want a separate streaming box.For over-the-air broadcast TV, devices like HDHomeRun and Tablo can turn an antenna into a networked live-TV and DVR system. Amos explains his HDHomeRun Quattro setup feeding Plex for local DVR recordings like Saturday Night Live, NASCAR, major sports, and local news during severe weather.Amos also points out that Alaska's over-the-air TV can sometimes be delayed or degraded because local signals are rebroadcast by satellite. That means streaming apps can occasionally be ahead of the antenna feed, proving once again that every “simple” TV setup has an exception hiding somewhere.The crew closes by talking about how they actually choose what to watch now that almost everything is available somewhere. Brian compares modern TV to a book-club experience, Tom breaks down different household viewing use cases, and Amos describes his viewing as deliberate, focused, and ad-free whenever possible.Website: https://cordkillers.comEmail: cordkillers@gmail.comLive Tuesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern / 2:30 PM Pacific: https://twitch.tv/nightattack https://youtube.com/modernrogue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Making Of Evelina Smiles - SIXDelays, Profit Sharing, and the Week Before Everything ChangesIn this episode Ashley sits down with Dr. Rich Constantine for a look at what the final stretch before a soft opening actually feels like. Setbacks, systems, 300 patients on a priority list, and the first peek at how Rich thinks about rewarding his team.What You'll Hear in This Episode:The Weeks Leading Up to Opening Supplies delayed by the Fourth of July holiday. Design Ergonomics trainer flew in but not everything was ready. Certificate of occupancy and zoning permit still pending over a landscaping detail. How Rich is keeping his head right when things do not go as planned. His mantra this week: pressure is a privilege.Where the Building Stands Software integrated. Imaging bridged with practice management. Phones hooked up. Wi-Fi working. TVs up. Chandeliers hung. Interior signage still coming. Half the waiting room furniture arrived. Scanner still in transit. Soft open pushed back.Training and Systems CareStack boot camps underway. Admin team working through UCR fees, third party financing conversations, patient portals, and building out Q and A for the AI phone system. Say this not that verbiage in place for both front desk and clinical team. Written playbooks and binders being built from scratch before the first patient walks in.300 Patients on the Priority List Rich casually drops one of the biggest wins of the episode. How the landing page, social media, QR code signage, and periodic email updates built a pipeline of 300 prospective patients before the doors even open. What he is doing first when the phones go live and why he is keeping ad spend light to start so he can see what is actually working.Merch, Giveaways, and Branded Everything The T-shirt rabbit hole. Why Rich wants to do premium branded gear or nothing at all. Printful, Real Thread, BYLT, and Cuts all come up. Ashley makes the case for buying great shirts and just getting them embroidered locally.Profit Sharing vs Bonus Culture Rich opens up about how he thinks about rewarding his team. Why he calls it profit sharing and not a bonus. Clear KPIs, collective rewards, and why nobody gets money that is not there. The difference between rewarding people blindly and building a team that understands the numbers. And why you do not own a business if you have to be there for it to run.Connect with Ashley: Instagram: @ashleyjovesddsConnect with Rich: Instagram @dr.c_smiles or richconstantinedds@gmail.comThank You to Our PartnersNet32: The dental marketplace that helps practice owners stop overpaying for supplies. Compare and save at net32.com/themakingof.Studio 8E8 — Dentistry's story-driven growth agency for startups. s8e8.com/vslKasper Opportunity Finder: Fill those empty chairs and reclaim lost revenue with one click. Get it free at meetkasper.com/register.Support the showFind Out MoreThank you for listening to The Making Of podcast. If you enjoyed it, please share with anyone you think will gain value from the show by clicking on one of the sharing tabs above.SUBSCRIBE to our NEWSLETTER HEREAlso, please consider leaving an honest review on iTunes. It helps other listeners find the show, and I would be forever grateful.Questions or comments? Feel free to contact us at - themakingofadental@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram or Facebook and improve your dental practice every day!Have you subscribed? Don't miss a single episode!
The second half of our streaming guide moves from services to the boxes, sticks, smart TVs, antennas, and oddball gadgets that actually get video onto your screen.Roku remains one of the most affordable and widely supported streaming hardware options, with both boxes and sticks available. It began as the original Netflix streamer, but today its biggest advantages are interface preference, ecosystem familiarity, and broad app support.Fire TV sticks and boxes make the most sense for people already deep in Amazon's ecosystem, especially if they use Prime Video and add-on channels heavily. The Fire TV Cube also gets praise as an easy “hotel-like” setup for guests, with strong voice-control features.Apple TV is the easiest recommendation for people already using iPhones, Macs, and iPads. Its ecosystem integration makes passwords, purchases, authentication, and playback smoother, and older Apple TVs can remain useful for years.Chromecast is gone as a hardware brand, replaced by the Google TV Streamer. It is a good fit for people invested in Google, YouTube, YouTube TV, and Android, though Google's TV hardware strategy has been less consistent than Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV.The NVIDIA Shield TV remains the power-user option for gamers, tinkerers, VPN users, and people who want more control over their streaming box. It has not been substantially updated since 2019, but it still works well, even if it is starting to show its age.Game consoles can still stream video, but Sony and Microsoft have mostly moved away from treating them as primary TV boxes. The crew also gives a farewell nod to retired or fading hardware like TiVo and Microsoft's old TV ambitions.The Xumo Stream Box from Comcast and Charter may be worth considering for internet subscribers who can get it free or discounted. It can replace some traditional cable-box use cases while still offering access to streaming apps.Many viewers simply use the apps built into their smart TVs, and that can work fine as long as performance holds up. Samsung's Tizen, LG's webOS, Roku TV, Fire TV, Google TV, Vizio's SmartCast, and TiVo OS all get a rundown, with the main advice being to consider long-term speed, app support, and whether you may eventually want a separate streaming box.For over-the-air broadcast TV, devices like HDHomeRun and Tablo can turn an antenna into a networked live-TV and DVR system. Amos explains his HDHomeRun Quattro setup feeding Plex for local DVR recordings like Saturday Night Live, NASCAR, major sports, and local news during severe weather.Amos also points out that Alaska's over-the-air TV can sometimes be delayed or degraded because local signals are rebroadcast by satellite. That means streaming apps can occasionally be ahead of the antenna feed, proving once again that every “simple” TV setup has an exception hiding somewhere.The crew closes by talking about how they actually choose what to watch now that almost everything is available somewhere. Brian compares modern TV to a book-club experience, Tom breaks down different household viewing use cases, and Amos describes his viewing as deliberate, focused, and ad-free whenever possible.Website: https://cordkillers.comEmail: cordkillers@gmail.comLive Tuesdays at 5:30 PM Eastern / 2:30 PM Pacific: https://twitch.tv/nightattack https://youtube.com/modernrogue Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Layne Beachley has a list of achievements as long as the beach at Manly. She was inducted into the Sport Australia hall of fame in 2011, and elevated to legend in 2023. She won seven world surfing championships, including a record six in a row. She was a game changer in so many ways that her legacy goes well beyond the silverware. From fighting for pay equity in surfing to learning how to detach self-worth from achievements, Layne drops so many life lessons that Abbey immediately starts planning a wall of Post-it notes. We discuss: Why women’s surfing was a “misogynistic shit show” for much of her career and how it changed The battle to achieve equal prize money and how it was done The difference between dream team members and dream thieves The one breathing technique that can change your day for the better How to find purpose after retiring from the very top What really happens when a giant wave wipes you out Why Kelly Slater still blows Layne’s mind The surprisingly small amount of prize money Layne earned across 19 years on tour, and why it's not unusual Harvey Norman love sport. Supporting Australian athletes at all levels, from grassroots to the world stage for over thirty years. SHOP Furniture, Bedding, TVs, Fridges, Vacuums, Laptops, Mobiles and more instore or online! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stuck being the family tech hero? Let GUIDEYOU take a shift, with simple visual guides that walk your relatives through fixing Wi‑Fi, TVs, and apps while you finally enjoy some off‑duty time. The post YOUR FAMILY’S GUIDE TO TECH! appeared first on sound*bytes.
Brent Lavin, principal at Ironwood Medtech Partners, shares how he helps early-stage medtech companies build commercial strategies from concept through commercialization and exit. Brent reflects on his path from electrical engineer to launch expert, including lessons learned after seeing how overbuilt product features can complicate V&V and FDA review, and why founders must make early decisions with the end in mind. He discusses common startup pitfalls, the importance of pairing technical innovation with a strong commercial plan, and practical leadership insights on hiring “the right seat,” delegation, and setting clear standards while allowing teams flexibility in execution. Guest links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-lavin/ Charity supported: Save the Children Interested in being a guest on the show or have feedback to share? Email us at theleadingdifference@velentium.com. PRODUCTION CREDITS Host & Editor: Lindsey Dinneen Producer: Velentium Medical EPISODE TRANSCRIPT Episode 084 - Brent Lavin [00:00:00] Lindsey Dinneen: Hi, I'm Lindsey and I'm talking with MedTech industry leaders on how they change lives for a better world. [00:00:09] Diane Bouis: The inventions and technologies are fascinating and so are the people who work with them. [00:00:15] Frank Jaskulke: There was a period of time where I realized, fundamentally, my job was to go hang out with really smart people that are saving lives and then do work that would help them save more lives. [00:00:28] Diane Bouis: I got into the business to save lives and it is incredibly motivating to work with people who are in that same business, saving or improving lives. [00:00:38] Duane Mancini: What better industry than where I get to wake up every day and just save people's lives. [00:00:42] Lindsey Dinneen: These are extraordinary people doing extraordinary work, and this is The Leading Difference. Hello, and welcome back to another episode of The Leading Difference podcast. I'm your host, Lindsey, and today I'm delighted to welcome as my guest Brent Lavin. Brent is currently principal at Ironwood Medtech Partners, where they help build the commercial logic into medtech startup innovation from concept through commercialization and exit. As an engineer turned launch expert, Brent has helped commercialize 20+ 510K PMA products and led the buy side of four M&A transactions, so he knows what buyers value beyond the science. With a diverse background from GE Healthcare to C.R. Bard to BD to now leading Ironwood Medtech Partners, he thrives on helping early-stage companies navigate the complex healthcare landscape and build successful companies. All right. Brent, welcome to the show. So glad to have you here today. [00:01:39] Brent Lavin: Yeah, great to be here. Thanks so much for the invite. I appreciate it. [00:01:42] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. Well, I'd love if you would start by just sharing a little bit about yourself, your background, and what led you to medtech? [00:01:50] Brent Lavin: Yeah. So, I'm Brent Lavin. I live here in Phoenix, Arizona. I've recently founded Ironwood Medtech Partners, which is my company helping early-stage medtech. But I spent nearly 20 years in strategic medtech, and so I originally came to the industry through the engineering function. I was an electrical engineer in product development and innovation. And after three or four years of that, decided I wanna move over into what was, what is traditionally product management. And so, through my MBA program and then starting with GE Healthcare, I've spent the last 20 years at this intersection of R&D innovation, strategy, business development, and marketing. And so, really great run. Have been on the buy side of several M&A transactions, and I try to bring all of that experience to the early stage so that, you know, companies as they start out, can be building for the future. And so, it's been a great journey in medtech, and I've loved it so far. [00:02:46] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Okay, so, so many things to ask about, but I'll, I'll start here. So, all right, so you're sa- you know, as you, you mentioned building towards the future and especially with these young startups that might not have a lot of experience in that particular kind of environment, or they're leading their company for the first time. What are some of the things that you see that maybe are pitfalls to avoid? Just, just like maybe some of the things that you've seen startups struggle with a little bit, and how can we help them mitigate those risks? [00:03:17] Brent Lavin: Yeah, there is a lot there, but let me just start by saying there is no linear path, and it is a very circular, ongoing process as you work through those early stages. And we call it the fuzzy front end for a very good reason. And sometimes you need to go down paths to realize that's not the right path, and you need to be comfortable with that. But at the end of the day, one of my goals is to help early-stage companies build with the end in mind because whether you acknowledge it or not, you're making decisions today that are ultimately gonna affect how you commercialize in the future. And so at least being able to make those decisions with your eyes wide open and understanding the trade-offs that are going on. And so for somebody that's been at the very end of that process, I, I can help inform, you know, those early stages so that you make priority decisions and trade-offs, you know, with full-scale information. [00:04:17] Lindsey Dinneen: Okay. Yeah. Well, I, I love the fact that you highlighted it's not a linear path, and there are a lot of things that go into, of course, the success of a startup. I'm wondering, in, in your role now, what are some of the areas which you see successful startups really thrive in as they're working with, with somebody like you to help make them successful from the start? [00:04:42] Brent Lavin: Yeah. Thanks for that question. I love working with early-stage founders that are passionate about their technology but especially those that realize where they may need to supplement their technical background with more of a commercial mindset. And so the, the people that work, that I work best with, are open to inputs and consideration of other options as they go through that process because you know, the, the famous saying, "What got you here is not what's going to get you there." And so while technical innovation is, is key that may not lead to an acquisition if you can't tie it to a strong commercial plan. [00:05:22] Lindsey Dinneen: Mm, mm-hmm. Yeah, so actually this is an area that I'm very curious about even in your own journey is, so you started off with that technical background as an electrical engineer, and I'd love to hear a little bit more about that as well. But maybe if you don't mind sharing a little bit about the transition or the learning process of going from that as a really good base to also being able to understand the full life cycle and how to make something succeed. [00:05:47] Brent Lavin: Yeah. Well, let me kind of go back to those engineering days and talk a little bit about how I made that pivot from engineering into product management. And to be honest, I didn't know exactly what I was doing at the time, but a-as an engineer, I was working with a product development team where we were creating a project. I was at a s- a contract design manufacturing company, and we were working with an outside company that owned a patent for a laboratory blood culturing instrument. And so we were their engineering partner, and what I saw firsthand was unfortunately, this customer at the time did not have full insight into the workflow and how the device was used in practice. And so as an engineering team, we frankly overbuilt many options into the product in order to try to s-satisfy everybody. And that seemed attractive at the time, but ultimately when we got to V&V, verification validation, and the FDA review process, it was a real struggle to get this on market. Now we ultimately did, but the epiphany for me was, I am really good at understanding engineering trade-offs and working with engineering teams to go through the process of evaluating different options. But I also really like working with customers and understanding what moves the needle and what's the difference between a nice to have and a need to have. And so, it was that kind of experience firsthand that led me to say, "I wanna operate at this intersection and really operate in both sides of that equation." And so ultimately I decided I needed to get an MBA in order to do that. So I left a, a good paying engineering job right after I got married and we moved to Madison and I got my MBA and then, you know, that ultimately led to GE Healthcare and, and then, you know, continued career in medtech. So thanks for asking that question. [00:07:43] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Well, okay, so your leadership journey, of course, has, has evolved over time as, as often happens, and, and you've gone from leadership positions within other organizations to, of course, now leading your own. And I'd love if you'd just share a little bit about that journey of, of growth and discovery, maybe some, you know, lessons learned along the way. [00:08:06] Brent Lavin: Yeah. So, let's talk a little bit about kind of my formal leadership in the, you know, corporate structure and organization. I would say, we were chatting beforehand that, you know, I really moved through slowly at the beginning of my leadership from one person to three people to five people. And as an ambitious person, I always felt like that was too slow. And so, but I think it was those foundational aspects of working very closely one-on-one with people, hiring, deciding who to hire, selection, onboarding having crucial conversations about performance management and how to put people in the right seat to be successful, all occurred when my leadership span was frankly smaller than probably I was hoping it would be. But at the proper time, my leadership expanded very quickly from five to seven and ultimately 22 people within about an 18-month period. And if I had not had those slow steps along the way, I don't think I would've been ready for that and I, I would've struggled. And so, even though my ambition was high, the pace was just right in order to be successful in that. Now, to your second part of the question of, you know, how do you then transition to this, this new role? That has been a learning experience, and I'm not sure I have it mastered but it is all about influence. And so, you know, leadership, even in a formal organization, while you can be connected on the org chart, ultimately boils down to influence. And so my goal is to influence early-stage companies to understand the trade-offs that they're making and hopefully help them chart the best path forward for the goal that they have, you know, individually. Every company is built differently, and so I try to channel what their goals are into my recommendations. [00:10:02] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. So you mentioned something that is brought up often, but I think it's a concept that would be worth diving into, and that's the concept of the right seat, and I would love if you would share a little bit more about your philosophy behind that and how, as a leader too, if you know that there's perhaps somebody who's a great fit for your organization but isn't in the right seat, how do you help make that happen? [00:10:29] Brent Lavin: Yeah. So this is back to the seminal Jim Collins book. You know, get the right people on the, on the bus and then get them in the right seat, correct? And so I always tried to select the person first and then find the opportunity. And there are times where you need to pivot people. So let me tell a, a quick anecdote about, you know, a situation where we had somebody on my team, and this person had progressed through different product management roles, but this person also had a project management background and was really passionate about project management and brought those skill sets to product management. But they are different, and that... Her passion was in project management, and so I knew of some upcoming and different opportunities in the organization that would be very project management focused and that, that position was not even on the org chart at the time. But as I had discussions and, and understood that that was becoming a reality, then I turned and, and offered that to the, to the person and ultimately they, they took that new opportunity. And so, it's really understanding really their long-term goals as well as, you know, their strengths, their natural strengths. Not just where they're operating, but what their natural strengths are, and then sometimes even creating an opportunity for them. [00:11:51] Lindsey Dinneen: Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah, and so, okay, so, so you've had kind of, a really cool opportunity to get a really good look into some of these startup companies who, you know, their founders might not be in a place where they're able to necessarily hire a whole bunch of people right away. How can you come in and support them when they're, say, like really young, maybe pre-seed, trying to figure out what the next right step is and, and able to sort of help lead them also in that transition of, you know, perhaps single founder to also a leader of a company? [00:12:32] Brent Lavin: Yeah. That's a great question, and I'm early in that journey, right? And so, maybe not some specific examples around that, but certainly again, you know, leadership is influence. And you know, I try to understand as a leader of people in a, an organization what everybody's goals are, personal and professional goals are, and then match, you know, again, what I can do to, to their, to their interests. And so when you talk about, you know, early stage CEOs, sometimes it's just a matter of listening as an unbiased outside observer who has no money in the company. And so, it can just be providing perspective from years of experience and asking insightful questions, you know, even before there's a relationship, a business relationship, between, you know, my company and theirs. And the goal is to help everybody be successful. Like, I'm a passionate medtech leader that wants, you know, th- these innovations to reach market. And so, people have lifted me up along the way, and if, if I can do that just in, in conversations and mentorship, certainly willing to do that and have done that. But as, you know, a CEO transitions then into seed and Series A, just providing, you know, again, leadership perspective from, you know, my corporate experience can be helpful. Because ultimately people are not gonna do things exactly the same way that you've done them as an individual contributor, and you have to become comfortable with allowing people, giving people the, the guardrails, and then allowing them to operate in their own style to achieve the results that you've laid out for them. [00:14:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Hmm. So yeah, and th-that's been something that's been talked about quite a bit is that art of delegating, and how do you give your people the right guardrails without making it so narrow that it feels like you're kind of micromanaging, but you ha- you have to maintain culture and brand, you know, like tone in the way that you speak. So, what are some strategies or tips that you might have for, for a leader who is in the position, needs to delegate? This is maybe a first time. It's a little bit hard to let go of the baby, as it were. So, so how do you help them navigate that? [00:14:55] Brent Lavin: Ye- yeah, I, I would go back to my own experience where, you know, I probably didn't do this the best the very first time that I had people on my team and was delegating. And I would say that most high achievers struggle with delegation for the first time because people are going to do things in a different way than you did. And I tried to teach my way, but as I grew and expanded and got, you know, mentorship and, and learned through that process, I started to go f- you know, higher o- on the ladder to, you know, values and culture and expectations, to your, to your point before. So, as a leader you have to be consistent and just unending in your communication of expectations, values, and standards, and then hold people to those. And so I, I say this often. I live in South Chandler, Arizona, and Scottsdale is maybe 40 minutes away. You know, a new leader would say you know, "You gotta go up the 101, you need to take Exit this and that to get to the coffee shop." Where as I grew more comfortable and confident, I would say, "We're gonna meet at this coffee shop in Chandler." And if they wanted to take surface streets and hit all the stoplights, so be it. And so you gotta become comfortable with that. But at the same time, our standard is "We're gonna meet at this coffee shop at 11 o'clock sharp, and I expect you to be there." [00:16:26] Lindsey Dinneen: That's a great analogy. I love the way you put that. Thanks for sharing it. Yeah, that's-- and that's a really interesting way of thinking about it, is there's, there's many avenues to getting something done correctly and to meet those expectations that you set forth, but there can also be room for creativity on how that's done, how that's accomplished. [00:16:46] Brent Lavin: Yeah. You know, one of the team values that, that I had with my most recent team was around this idea of, of play to win. And you know, over time, I actually adjusted that with some feedback and some further, you know, kinda study on leadership toward striving for excellence. And so I think the play to win was a little bit narrow in that you can't always control everything around you. And winning is an outcome that may be dependent on some other factors that, that you can't influence. And so that was a little bit narrow and, and too outcome-focused. But strive- striving for excellence was something that we could talk about daily, and you may not win, but as long as you strive for excellence in whatever we're asking you to do, like that's the standard. And so, that became a lot more robust, I would say, in the conversations that we had around setting and ensuring expectations. [00:17:45] Lindsey Dinneen: Yes, I love that. Excellence over perfection, especially for those of us who are what I would fondly refer to as a recovering perfectionist. So. [00:17:53] Brent Lavin: Mm-hmm [00:17:54] Lindsey Dinneen: I love that. [00:17:56] Brent Lavin: Yeah, it's a present tense recovering, right? Because we're never fully recovered. But... [00:18:01] Lindsey Dinneen: That's right. That's right. Absolutely. No, I love that. So just out of pure curiosity, when you were, say, I don't know, seven, eight years old, could you have possibly imagined becoming an engineer and/or doing what you do now, which is so much even more robust? [00:18:18] Brent Lavin: Oh my gosh, Lindsey, I love this question, because I couldn't, you know? I didn't. I grew up in small town USA and you know, I, I was really focused on it, you know, being the best at any single sport I could play. I, I was just a ball kid and, and but I loved entrepreneurship. And it's funny you say this because I think in high school, you know, they have those like, "What are you gonna do when you grow up?" I wanted to own a sports bar. And yeah, so like I wanted to help serve good food and, and just have a lot of TVs around and and be an entertainment spot. But I just kind of had that entrepreneurial, you know, itch. And so I, I pretty well knew I was gonna be an engineer just because I was good at technical things, and I loved it. Like, it wasn't work to me. But I didn't even understand what medtech was. And I was 22 years old in my first engineering job. I was six months into the job, and I ended up in the ER on the weekend, and excruciating abdominal pain. And they ran a CT scan, and they found the problem, they relieved the symptoms, they sent me home, and they said, "You need to see the surgeon on Monday morning." Not really understanding what was going on, but I distinctly remember being in that surgeon's office the next week and seeing the axial image of the CT scan on the light box, like the physical light box back then. And I was fascinated. I was fascinated that they chopped my body like a loaf of bread, and within about 30 seconds they could identify the issue. And you know, the surgeon said, "Y- you have this recurrent diaphragmatic hernia, and you're gonna be in surgery in two days." And so I was not scared. I was more fascinated than anything, and that is what crystallized, you know, my need to get into, to medtech. I didn't even know it existed, but I said, "I wanna go do that." And if you fast-forward about five years, there I was working for GE Healthcare, you know, the maker of those CT scanners. And so, I think medtech is really hard. It is not the most glamorous industry. So we all need that why, and for me, again, that Monday morning in the surgeon's office is my why. [00:20:31] Lindsey Dinneen: Hmm. I love that. Yeah, and I love that that's your why, and sort of a follow-up question to that then is, are there any moments that stand out to you along your journey being in medtech that particularly reinforced to you, since making that decision, say, that you are in the right place at the right time? [00:20:52] Brent Lavin: Yeah, and, and I don't mind talking about this. I'll tell this other story. About 12 or 13 years ago, I ended up learning that I had an autoimmune condition, and if you fast-forward, I, I was on some pharmaceuticals, and I've recovered, and I'm all back to normal, but I still live with that. But you go to today, and there are neuromodulation solutions that are addressing autoimmune conditions. And so we're now giving patients a choice between a device-based intervention and a pharmaceutical intervention or a pharmaceutical treatment. And I did not love those pharmaceuticals. They, they had certain side effects and I didn't wanna be on them the rest of my life. Now, I've weaned off of most of them, but patients today are getting an option for a device-based intervention, and so that's what medtech is about. And so when I hear stories of like th- like this, I'm like, "I'm exactly in the right place." And so, there's so much opportunity for us to innovate and impact pa- impact patient lives whether that's ourselves, you know, our family members, or people we may never meet. [00:22:03] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. Yeah, thank you for sharing that story. That's-- it's incredible to see. I think one of the best parts about being in the industry is getting to feel hope on a daily basis, yeah? 'Cause there's always something new coming out. These, like you said, medtech is really hard. There are a lot of really tough days, sometimes very not glamorous, and you just... if you have that why, that helps pull you through those days. But I really love what you touched on there of how those innovations that are coming through, that is reason for hope and just optimism again, especially in a, in a world that needs that really badly. [00:22:45] Brent Lavin: Yeah, I think it's easy to be cynical about healthcare. But I guess I choose hope. And yes, we have some structural things that we need to work through. Yes, we have a reimbursement climate or regulatory structure. But to me, that's just a great puzzle, and the, the innovations that do have an impact, not only on healthcare patients, but also economics, are the ones that are gonna win. And so I don't mind that it's a high bar, you know? And so, that just means that we need to all be a little bit better, 1% better, and continue to make a difference. [00:23:20] Lindsey Dinneen: Yeah. No, that's, that's so great. I really love that. Okay, so pivoting the conversation a little bit just for fun. Imagine that you were to be offered a million dollars to teach a master class on anything you want. It can be within your industry, but it doesn't have to be. What would you choose to teach? [00:23:41] Brent Lavin: Yeah. I love that you asked this question, and I could go a lot of different directions. I, I think I'm gonna say, you know, I would love to teach the process of structured customer insights. And so I'm thinking back to the whiteboard of an early stage and then throughout the con- the, the journey of a company. But I think there's a big gap between asking questions to learn and asking the best questions that can ultimately influence your business decision. And so it's not only what you're asking, it's how you're asking it, why you're asking it, and then doing the proper follow-up during the conversation in order to learn the true insight. And so I love baking and I love barbecue, maybe back to my, you know, sports bar dreams. But I think there's a big difference between following the recipe of a baking, you know, process, and doing barbecue, which is very process-oriented and no two things are the same. And so I think we need to approach customer insights a little bit more like barbecue, where you definitely have a goal and a process, but you're willing to adjust and make the changes as you learn in order to affect, you know, the business decisions. [00:25:06] Lindsey Dinneen: Hmm. Yeah. Okay. I really like that. I also like the illustration of the barbecue analogy. That's, that's fun. So okay, so I do have to ask a follow-up question then. So how did this skill set come about for you? Is this something that you, you learned, say, during observations? Or how did you develop this, this masterclass, shall we say? [00:25:28] Brent Lavin: Yeah. I, I think it's, some of it's through my own kind of learning in having conducted just hundreds of physician interviews. And I think, again, early in my career, I used to go through a questionnaire step by step and, and I'd get to the end and I'd have a report, but I may not have the insight. And I think as, again, as I became more comfortable with that process, I would, I would take U-turns or I would take the fork in the road, depending on where the physician was going, and continue to learn maybe not something that was on my roadmap, but something I still needed to learn. And then as I became in- came into leadership, I, I think I just saw it again with early product managers that wanted to follow a recipe and wanted to check a box toward customer insights rather than, again, truly getting in the customer's shoes. I think one of the most fun things of my job in upstream and innovation marketing is when I can interview enough physicians about a particular narrow procedure or product concept, if I can interview enough of them, s- typically between 20 and 30, depending on how complex, and I can start to think like them. And that's the ultimate of a product manager, is to think like the physician. Again, it all depends on how complex the procedure is and whatnot, and we should always be striving to learn. But when you can achieve this secondary kinda personality that mirrors what you've heard from all of these conversations, there's nothing better. [00:27:10] Lindsey Dinneen: Really cool. Okay, excellent. Thank you All right. And then how do you wish to be remembered after you leave this world? [00:27:19] Brent Lavin: Wow. I haven't thought about this in a while. I think, how do I wanna be remembered? Obviously, you know, for my family by, like, leaving, you know, a good family legacy, and also just, I showed up. I just put my shoulder down, did the best I could, certainly wasn't perfect. But I tried to just do the best with what God gave me, and it happens to be in the medtech world right now. And I think I'm uniquely gifted for where I'm at. But I still wanna make more impact over, you know, the next couple of decades. [00:27:55] Lindsey Dinneen: Mm, mm-hmm. Yeah, absolutely. Okay, and then final question. What is one thing that makes you smile every time you see or think about it? [00:28:06] Brent Lavin: Yeah, I, I guess I gotta just go back to my family right now. I got four teenagers, you know, and we're just in an awesome period of life, and I was traveling last week, and just being able to come home, you know, see my wife, see the kids, can't help but smile. So, you know, my two boys are twins, are graduating high school, and those days are, are kinda short, so I'm just trying to soak up every minute of that right now. [00:28:30] Lindsey Dinneen: That's wonderful. I love that. Well, this has been a really great conversation, Brent. Thank you so much for joining me today. We are so honored to be making a donation on your behalf as a thank you for your time today to Save the Children, which works to end the cycle of poverty by ensuring communities have the resources to provide children with a healthy, educational, and safe environment. So thank you so much for choosing that charity to support, and also thank you for continuing to work to change lives for a better world. I'm grateful for you and for your impact on the industry. [00:29:07] Brent Lavin: Well, thanks for this conversation. I've really enjoyed it, and I, I can't wait to continue to stay in touch. [00:29:11] Lindsey Dinneen: Absolutely. Thank you so much. [00:29:14] Dan Purvis: The Leading Difference is brought to you by Velentium Medical. Velentium Medical is a full service CDMO, serving medtech clients worldwide to securely design, manufacture, and test class two and class three medical devices. Velentium Medical's four units include research and development-- pairing electronic and mechanical design, embedded firmware, mobile app development, and cloud systems with the human factor studies and systems engineering necessary to streamline medical device regulatory approval; contract manufacturing-- building medical products at the prototype, clinical, and commercial levels in the US, as well as in low cost regions in 1345 certified and FDA registered Class VII clean rooms; cybersecurity-- generating the 12 cybersecurity design artifacts required for FDA submission; and automated test systems, assuring that every device produced is exactly the same as the device that was approved. Visit VelentiumMedical.com to explore how we can work together to change lives for a better world.
➢ Check out our website www.colossusfitness.comIn this episode we go over 7 different ways to naturally increase your energy levels. There's no worse feeling than always feeling sluggish, tired, or just not in the right head space.These strategies and tips should help you feel energized.Having low energy is the absolute worst and there's no worse feeling.Listed points:1- Aim to do more of what inspires you“You often feel tired, not because you've done too much, but because you've done too little of what sparks a light in you.”2- Spend 15-60 minutes getting inspired each dayAudio booksPodcastsBooksMotivational videos3- Eat a balanced dietA lot of people don't realize, but a poor diet can substantially decrease energy levels.Ex- heavy fast food meal will weigh you down.Lighter, healthy meal will give you energy and leave you feeling greatProtein helps to stabilize blood sugar levels and provides a longer-lasting energy source. Include sources like lean meats, beans, nuts, and tofu.4- Get rid of the energy draining habitsExamples:Waking up and scrollingLaying in bed after the alarm goes offAlcoholSaying yes to everything and overcommitting5- Get Adequate Sleep/Manage StressAim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night.Stick to a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day.10 hours before bed: No more caffeine. 3 hours before bed: No more food or alcohol. 2 hours before bed: No more work. 1 hour before bed: No more screen time (shut off all phones, TVs and computers). 0: The number of times you hit snooze in the morning.6- Morning sunlightWakes up your brain, Improves sleep at night, Boosts daytime energy7- Get more movementThanks for listening! We genuinely appreciate every single one of you listening.➢Follow us on instagram @colossusfit➢Apply to get your Polished Physique: https://colossusfitness.com/
Prof Cathy Johnson, a leading expert on public service media who has advised Ofcom and contributed to numerous parliamentary select committees and government investigations, discusses the implications of the ITV–Sky deal for ITV, Channel 4, ITN and Sky News, and what it means for the shrinking group of purely British public service broadcasters. We unpack the government's green paper, “Watch This Space: A New Strategic Direction for UK Media,” and what it suggests – and fails to decide – about the long‑term future of public service broadcasting, including the BBC's charter and funding.We also explore why concepts like prominence, discoverability and amplification now sit at the heart of media policy: who gets seen first on smart TVs, streaming platforms and social media; what counts as a “trustworthy” news provider; and whether voluntary deals with tech platforms can ever be enough. We look at Ofcom's role, the Online Safety Act's definition of news publishers, the pressure on Channel 4 and local news, and how citizens can still influence media policy.To support our journalism and receive a weekly blog sign up now for £1.99 per monthwww.patreon.com/BeebWatch/membership @beebwatch.bsky.social@BeebRogerInstagram: rogerboltonsbeebwatchLinkedIn: Roger Bolton's Beeb Watchemail: roger@rogerboltonsbeebwatch.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"Do you know how to use a sword?" "Yes. The pointy end goes into the other man." While that exchange from the Old Zorro to the Young Zorro in a movie sounds funny, it's part of David Baker's everyday life. The bladesmith is in the middle of shooting his newest show, "Baker's Blades," for distribution on YouTube. He's getting from here to there for each episode thanks to his motorcycle, and we dig into all of it. The news touches on BMW, TVS, Ducati and each of Japan's Big Four motorcycle manufacturers. Chasing the Horizon is brought to you by Wunderlich America and the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. Get all the links for our guest and the news on the show notes page on chasingthehorizon.us.
The world is teaching us to depend more on our devices than the Divine. Cell phones, computers, TVs and tablets can turn into a god when we are consumed by them day in and day out. Join us this week and we begin a new Series: Digital Divide. We are reminded from Romans 12:2 - Do not be confirmed to this world. We are to be fully present with people and God. Additional Scripture References: 2 Corinthians 3:18, Acts 2:42-47
The team is assembled at GMHBA Stadium, where it is chucking it down. Nobody is ever thrilled about the trip down the highway, except Jay Z who reveals the one time he got to the ground in a helicopter. Isaac is totally confused by the world's hottest new TVs show, but there has been one benefit for him. Then Geelong's Tom Atkins joins the team from the boundary with Nat Yoannidis. The Chief's Agenda looks at Hawthorn attempting to land Ben King - but which of their forwards might be lost in the shuffle? Plus there's speculation around Zach Merrett, and if Dean Solomon's current record as interim coach is costing him the full-time gig. Isaac looks far and wide for his Penthouse and Outhouse nominees, K-Mac's Royal Commission is on sudden retirements, and the team whips through some very quick Unpopular Opinions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Aaron Alva is a Harvard Berkman Klein Center fellow and the Founder of Alva Strategy Center, advising organizations and enforcers on privacy, security, and AI governance. Previously, Aaron was a lead tech advisor at the FTC, where he was instrumental in driving the agency's approach to privacy and security enforcement. In this episode… Privacy risks often hide in how companies collect, use, and share personal information. Smart TVs, health-related websites, and location data have all drawn regulatory scrutiny when data is used in ways consumers did not reasonably expect. A decade of FTC privacy enforcement shows companies what regulators consider unfair or deceptive. So, what can companies learn from these cases to strengthen their privacy practices? Reducing privacy risk starts when companies understand the data they collect, where it goes, why it's being used, and whether that use is necessary in the first place. Companies should pay close attention to handling sensitive data with care, including health information, location data, children's and teens' data, and driver behavior data. Embedding stronger privacy practices often comes down to establishing clear purpose limitations, thoughtful data minimization measures, limited retention, and privacy-enhancing defaults. It also requires a regular and thorough review of AdTech tools, like pixels and tags. Getting these practices right can help companies reduce regulatory risk. Yet when companies fall short, the FTC and state privacy regulators can impose remedies that reach beyond fines, requiring companies to delete data, stop certain data uses, change platform default settings, or build a stronger privacy program. In this episode of She Said Privacy/He Said Security, Jodi and Justin Daniels talk with Aaron Alva, Founder of Alva Strategy Center, about what companies can learn from a decade of FTC privacy enforcement. Aaron explains the role technologists play in helping enforcement agencies work through technically complex privacy issues during investigations. He delves into lessons from major enforcement actions involving smart TVs and social media platforms and shares insights on the FTC's privacy remedies. Aaron also explains how companies can strengthen their privacy practices by setting clear limits on data use, treating sensitive data with care, and aligning privacy controls with consumer expectations.
Android Summer continues as we prepare for the Fourth of July here in the U.S. and Jason Howell, Huyen Tue Dao and Ron Richards are pondering their T-Mobile bill and impossibly thin phones with huge batteries while trying to stay coolNote: Time codes subject to change depending on dynamic ad insertion by the distributor00:05:14 - NEWSHot off the heels of last week's news of T-Mobile being the best carrier in the U.S., the news breaks that T-Mobile is forcing millions of customers on legacy plans to current, more expensive plans. Not cool.Android phones alerted millions of people ahead of the earthquake in Venezuela - exactly how did it all work?Massive upgrade to 50W wireless charging may be in Qi2's future for Googe Pixel phonesPATRON PICK: How can the Tecno Camon Slim be 6.39mm thick and have a 5,600mAh Battery??00:39:21 - HARDWARENothing officially revealed the Nothing 4(b) design and it's pretty good!Samsung unveils the Samsung Galaxy A27 5G and they really want you to think it's awesomeCould the Samsung Rollable be coming sooner than we think?The Clicks Communicator is real and it's fantastic! A First Look video shows off the device.00:57:41 - APPS 'n SOFTWARE 'n STUFFAndroid 17 making foldables fun for gaming is no joke!Hey! Google made an app for Finance!And Google is giving you more controls over backups!But Google is taking away a loophole for FitBit users to avoid Google HealthYou can now watch Instagram Reels on TVs with Google Cast.01:09:42 - COMMUNITY FEEDBACKBecky B. from New Jersey has a use for an old Razr plus tales of selling Meta Ray BansJordan "Sassquatch" from Montana has a throwback use for an old phoneAndrew LeRoy reports from flyover country about why T-Mobile isn't so hot and why AT&T is still king Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Lily Wecker, CEO of Aethos, shares how her teams break hotel brand standards to deliver a feeling rather than a checklist. You'll hear why one property has no TVs in the rooms, why she tells front desk teams to observe guests instead of predicting what they want, and how a GM in Sardinia turned beach rocks into welcome-card holders.This conversation is hosted by our innovation correspondent Matthias Huettebraeuker.Also see:Human-to-Human: Rethinking Luxury Hospitality - Lily Wecker, AethosBuilding and operating Aethos Hotels: Europe's next great hotel brandLimestone Capital's value investment strategyStaying Consistently Creative and Relevant in Food & Beverage - Marc Lores Panades, Aethos Hotels A few more resources:If you're new to Hospitality Daily, start here. You can send me a message here with questions, comments, or guest suggestionsIf you want to get my summary and actionable insights from each episode delivered to your inbox each day, subscribe here for free.Follow Hospitality Daily and join the conversation on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram.If you want to advertise on Hospitality Daily, here are the ways we can work together.If you found this episode interesting or helpful, send it to someone on your team so you can turn the ideas into action and benefit your business and the people you serve!Music for this show is produced by Clay Bassford of Bespoke Sound: Music Identity Design for Hospitality Brands
Patrick brings the smartphone struggle front and center, questioning why tech and social media seem to influence children more than their own families. Parents call in with raw confessions, regrets, and inventive solutions, from holding out on smartphones to battling the sneaky ways kids get around controls, while stories of bikes, banana seats, and even Maseratis bring humor and a touch of nostalgia to the mix. Rules, boundaries, and values collide with modern tech, leaving listeners weighing connection, safety, and family sanity in a world where a phone can change everything. Audio: Once kids get smart phones, family life turns into a fight over screen time . . . - https://x.com/drantbradley/status/2012876836502405511 (00:23) Audio: just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean your kids should do it too - https://x.com/modernxdad/status/2015262851414544684 (02:21) Todd - Smart phone: I challenge you to switch to a flip phone and have kids watch Gun Smoke (09:14) Liz - We are a family of smart phone holdouts, and we gave our kids flip phones and my kids don't care. (10:25) Melissa - A counselor told me that I should get my kid a phone so she could feel more part of other kids' social circles. That was the beginning of the end. (19:36) Jorge - From where I come from, we didn't have TVs. I think I can enjoy the benefit of learning without it. I compare the TVs of yesterday to the phone today. (23:29) Jessica - Smart phones: Somethings that helped me prolong the eventuality of kids getting a phone was a straight A report card. (29:09) Gloria - Smart phone: I set parameters for my kids. My children wanted them at a young age. I did a lot of research before getting them phones. We used a lot of the parental controls available. I think it is working out. (34:14) Marie - I have a teenager and a preteen. I totally agree with Patrick. My 10-year-old hacked my iPad and removed restrictions. (40:27) Andrew - I am a parent of 6 kids. I struggle with how smart phones can lead to the sin of envy. (44:31) John - My college age son argues that killing in video games is moral and I argue it is not. Can you help me? (49:02) (Originally aired 1/29/26)
First up is Sandy Bird from Sonrai discussing how to protect our cloud infrastructure! This segment is sponsored by Sonrai Security. Visit https://securityweekly.com/sonrai to learn more about them! Next up in the security news: Help, I am Fortibleeding Cisco SD-WAN needs help The secret life of probe requests Help, I am Squidbleeding XSS to RCE and why CVSS isn't the full picture TVs spy on you Foundational security practices Cybersecurity costs money Happy "Its too late to update your KEK key" day You don't have security flaws if no one can report them Rickrolling FIFA Domain takeovers End of life, out of luck The key to Encryption... Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/psw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/psw-932
First up is Sandy Bird from Sonrai discussing how to protect our cloud infrastructure! This segment is sponsored by Sonrai Security. Visit https://securityweekly.com/sonrai to learn more about them! Next up in the security news: Help, I am Fortibleeding Cisco SD-WAN needs help The secret life of probe requests Help, I am Squidbleeding XSS to RCE and why CVSS isn't the full picture TVs spy on you Foundational security practices Cybersecurity costs money Happy "Its too late to update your KEK key" day You don't have security flaws if no one can report them Rickrolling FIFA Domain takeovers End of life, out of luck The key to Encryption... Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/psw-932
First up is Sandy Bird from Sonrai discussing how to protect our cloud infrastructure! This segment is sponsored by Sonrai Security. Visit https://securityweekly.com/sonrai to learn more about them! Next up in the security news: Help, I am Fortibleeding Cisco SD-WAN needs help The secret life of probe requests Help, I am Squidbleeding XSS to RCE and why CVSS isn't the full picture TVs spy on you Foundational security practices Cybersecurity costs money Happy "Its too late to update your KEK key" day You don't have security flaws if no one can report them Rickrolling FIFA Domain takeovers End of life, out of luck The key to Encryption... Visit https://www.securityweekly.com/psw for all the latest episodes! Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/psw-932
First up is Sandy Bird from Sonrai discussing how to protect our cloud infrastructure! This segment is sponsored by Sonrai Security. Visit https://securityweekly.com/sonrai to learn more about them! Next up in the security news: Help, I am Fortibleeding Cisco SD-WAN needs help The secret life of probe requests Help, I am Squidbleeding XSS to RCE and why CVSS isn't the full picture TVs spy on you Foundational security practices Cybersecurity costs money Happy "Its too late to update your KEK key" day You don't have security flaws if no one can report them Rickrolling FIFA Domain takeovers End of life, out of luck The key to Encryption... Show Notes: https://securityweekly.com/psw-932
This week we discuss post-CEO job opportunities for Tim Cook, new TVs and our beta experiences or lack thereof.John Gruber discusses Apple's impending price increases.The touch screen MacBook is 100% confirmed to the max, totally.Our thanks to Factor for sponsoring this episode. Eat smarter with tasty, chef-prepped meals that are dietitian-approved and delivered right to your door. Ready in just two minutes and with more than 65 weekly meals, you can pick what's right for you. Head to factormeals.com/rebound50off and use code rebound50off to get 50% off your first box.If you want to help out the show and get some great bonus content, consider becoming a Rebound Prime member! Just go to prime.reboundcast.com to check it out!Were you aware that you could buy things from us?! That's right! Shirts, iPhone cases, mugs, hats and one other type of thing are all available from our Rebound Store!
Several tech stories kick off this session, including RAID software compatibility warnings, Bending Spoons' IPO, foreign influence campaigns around data centers, and Fox's reported Roku purchase. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden focus heavily on streaming control, smart TV data collection, Apple TV's future, Spotify's removal of fake drug-related podcasts, and the rapid growth of AI majors in higher education. MacVoices is supported by NordLayer. Secure your network & stay compliant with one toggle-ready platform. Get an exclusive offer: up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code: MACVOICES10 at NordLayer.com/macvoices. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Opening topics preview00:30 Show notes and topic setup00:50 RAID software compatibility warning01:39 Bending Spoons IPO and Vimeo concerns02:45 OpenAI, fake accounts, and data center influence campaigns03:33 Fox buying Roku for $22 billion04:14 Roku's role as both platform and device ecosystem05:34 Why Fox may want Roku's reach and data08:13 Why smart TVs already raise data questions08:27 Preference for external streaming boxes09:34 Concern over a future without dedicated streaming devices10:15 Smart TV apps versus Apple TV experience10:50 Will Apple update the Apple TV hardware?11:34 Enterprise, education, and signage uses for Apple TV12:15 Why Apple TV still matters in managed environments14:43 Spotify removes 57,000 fake podcast episodes15:19 Fake podcasts as funnels for illicit storefronts16:15 Growth of AI majors and minors in U.S. colleges16:38 University AI programs and funding pressures17:37 Education's resistance to AI versus new AI degrees18:38 AI programs as revenue streams20:39 The challenge of building a four-year AI curriculum21:52 AI and library science possibilities23:48 Librarians and evolving search tools24:41 Higher education concerns about AI-written assignments25:29 Proposed bans and AI detection tools26:08 Why banning AI may not be realistic26:39 False positives, false negatives, and student paranoia27:22 AI as an academic arms race27:35 Panel wrap-up and final thoughts27:55 Eric Bolden contact information28:58 Jeff Gamet contact information30:18 Web Bixby contact information31:33 Marty Jencius contact information33:07 Jim Rea contact information34:11 David Ginsburg contact information34:49 Live show information and closing35:34 Closing credits and support information Links: Snap's slimmed down AR Specs go on sale later this year for $2,195https://www.engadget.com/2195207/snap-ar-specs-launch-price/If you rely on RAID array software on Mac, it's time to check with your supplierhttps://appleinsider.com/articles/26/06/11/if-you-rely-on-raid-array-software-on-mac-its-time-to-check-with-your-supplierBypass Siri AI Waitlist on macOS 27 Golden Gate Beta: Here's Howhttps://www.macrumors.com/how-to/bypass-siri-ai-waitlist-macos-27-beta/ Bending Spoons IPO: Mysterious owner of Vimeo, AOL, and Eventbrite files for stock market debuthttps://www.fastcompany.com/91555784/bending-spoons-ipo-sec-s1-filing-mysterious-vimeo-aol-eventbrite-owner-files-for-stock-market-debutOpenAI says fake accounts from China tried to turn Americans against data centers – Engadgethttps://www.engadget.com/2191966/openai-china-influence-campaigns-against-data-centers-reportFox is buying Roku for $22 billion – Engadgethttps://www.engadget.com/2194058/fox-is-buying-roku-for-22-billion/Spotify removed 57,000 fake podcast episodes selling illegal drugs after congressional pressurehttps://thenextweb.com/news/spotify-removed-57000-fake-podcast-episodes-drug-spamThe researcher Microsoft threatened just dropped a seventh Windows zero-day hours after Patch Tuesdayhttps://thenextweb.com/news/chaotic-eclipse-rogueplanet-windows-defender-zero-daReport: US colleges now offer 74+ AI majors and 89+ minors, and at least a dozen schools are set to add AI majors this year; only five had AI majors in 2021https://www.techmeme.com/260609/p3#a260609p3 Guests: Get detailed bios and contact information about for the panel on the MacVoices Live! Panel page on our web site:https://macvoices.com/macvoiceslive/macvoices-live-panel/ Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
Several tech stories kick off this session, including RAID software compatibility warnings, Bending Spoons' IPO, foreign influence campaigns around data centers, and Fox's reported Roku purchase. Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Jim Rea, Marty Jencius, Web Bixby, Jeff Gamet, and Eric Bolden focus heavily on streaming control, smart TV data collection, Apple TV's future, Spotify's removal of fake drug-related podcasts, and the rapid growth of AI majors in higher education. http://traffic.libsyn.com/maclevelten/MV26190.mp3 MacVoices is supported by NordLayer. Secure your network & stay compliant with one toggle-ready platform. Get an exclusive offer: up to 22% off NordLayer yearly plans plus 10% on top with the coupon code: MACVOICES10 at NordLayer.com/macvoices. Try it risk-free—14-day money-back guarantee. Show Notes: Chapters: 00:00 Opening topics preview 00:30 Show notes and topic setup 00:50 RAID software compatibility warning 01:39 Bending Spoons IPO and Vimeo concerns 02:45 OpenAI, fake accounts, and data center influence campaigns 03:33 Fox buying Roku for $22 billion 04:14 Roku's role as both platform and device ecosystem 05:34 Why Fox may want Roku's reach and data 08:13 Why smart TVs already raise data questions 08:27 Preference for external streaming boxes 09:34 Concern over a future without dedicated streaming devices 10:15 Smart TV apps versus Apple TV experience 10:50 Will Apple update the Apple TV hardware? 11:34 Enterprise, education, and signage uses for Apple TV 12:15 Why Apple TV still matters in managed environments 14:43 Spotify removes 57,000 fake podcast episodes 15:19 Fake podcasts as funnels for illicit storefronts 16:15 Growth of AI majors and minors in U.S. colleges 16:38 University AI programs and funding pressures 17:37 Education's resistance to AI versus new AI degrees 18:38 AI programs as revenue streams 20:39 The challenge of building a four-year AI curriculum 21:52 AI and library science possibilities 23:48 Librarians and evolving search tools 24:41 Higher education concerns about AI-written assignments 25:29 Proposed bans and AI detection tools 26:08 Why banning AI may not be realistic 26:39 False positives, false negatives, and student paranoia 27:22 AI as an academic arms race 27:35 Panel wrap-up and final thoughts 27:55 Eric Bolden contact information 28:58 Jeff Gamet contact information 30:18 Web Bixby contact information 31:33 Marty Jencius contact information 33:07 Jim Rea contact information 34:11 David Ginsburg contact information 34:49 Live show information and closing 35:34 Closing credits and support information Links: Snap's slimmed down AR Specs go on sale later this year for $2,195 https://www.engadget.com/2195207/snap-ar-specs-launch-price/ If you rely on RAID array software on Mac, it's time to check with your supplier https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/06/11/if-you-rely-on-raid-array-software-on-mac-its-time-to-check-with-your-supplier Bypass Siri AI Waitlist on macOS 27 Golden Gate Beta: Here's How https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/bypass-siri-ai-waitlist-macos-27-beta/ Bending Spoons IPO: Mysterious owner of Vimeo, AOL, and Eventbrite files for stock market debut https://www.fastcompany.com/91555784/bending-spoons-ipo-sec-s1-filing-mysterious-vimeo-aol-eventbrite-owner-files-for-stock-market-debut OpenAI says fake accounts from China tried to turn Americans against data centers – Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2191966/openai-china-influence-campaigns-against-data-centers-report Fox is buying Roku for $22 billion – Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2194058/fox-is-buying-roku-for-22-billion/ Spotify removed 57,000 fake podcast episodes selling illegal drugs after congressional pressure https://thenextweb.com/news/spotify-removed-57000-fake-podcast-episodes-drug-spam The researcher Microsoft threatened just dropped a seventh Windows zero-day hours after Patch Tuesday https://thenextweb.com/news/chaotic-eclipse-rogueplanet-windows-defender-zero-da Report: US colleges now offer 74+ AI majors and 89+ minors, and at least a dozen schools are set to add AI majors this year; only five had AI majors in 2021 https://www.techmeme.com/260609/p3#a260609p3 Guests: Get detailed bios and contact information about for the panel on the MacVoices Live! Panel page on our web site: https://macvoices.com/macvoiceslive/macvoices-live-panel/ Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe: Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss
First-time homebuyers may get short windows of relief, but our co-head of Securitized Products Research James Egan and Senior Economist and Strategist in Morgan Stanley's Private Wealth Management Sarah Wolfe say the bigger story is a housing market resetting around a higher bar to entry.Read more insights from Morgan Stanley.----- Transcript -----James Egan: Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I'm Jim Egan, Morgan Stanley's U.S. Housing Strategist and Co-Head of Securitized Products Strategy.Sarah Wolfe: And I'm Sarah Wolfe, Senior Economist and Strategist within Morgan Stanley Wealth Management.James Egan: And today, why first-time homebuyers are facing a tougher path to ownership.It's Tuesday, June 23rd at 10am in New York.Buying a first-time home has always been a big step, but for a growing number of first-time buyers today, the goal can really seem insurmountable.Mortgage rates might be down from where they were in the second half of 2023, but they're significantly higher than they were for the several years before that. Monthly payments have roughly doubled for a median-priced home. And my colleague Jay Bacow and I have talked several times on this podcast about how many homeowners feel like they're locked into those lower rates.And they're staying put because they just don't want to give up a two or three-handle mortgage rate for something that has a six in front of it. But Sarah, as we know, this is bigger than just first-time buyers. Now, they often start the housing transaction chain, and when they can't buy, current owners may not be able to sell and trade up.That slows turnover across the market, and it also reduces activity tied to housing – from mortgages and renovations to moving and furniture. And it can keep would-be buyers renting for longer, which adds pressure to rental demand.So, how do you see this situation? Is this just another affordability squeeze, or has the housing market reset to a higher barrier to entry?Sarah Wolfe: I do think that we're on the upper bound of affordability pressures. This is about as bad as it's going to get. But as we discussed in our recent publication of The Economy Explained, unfortunately, we do think that the housing market is resetting at a structurally higher barrier to entry. There's a lot of reasons for that.The first is higher interest rates. Yes, mortgage rates are sitting around 6.5 percent, and they should come down from here, but maybe not better than 5.5 percent, right, in an optimistic scenario. The second is demographic pressures. Remember, we have this tremendous aging population of baby boomers. All of their children are now entering their prime home-buying years, so there's a lot of demand for ownership.The third and fourth ones are land regulation and permitting, which is at the state and local level, really hard to change. And the last one is climate risk. It's just raising insurance pricing and making it much more difficult to buy a home.So overall, we see a world where, yes, mortgage rates come down a bit, improve affordability marginally, but we think neutral and other interest rates at the longer end of the curve are going to be higher than the post-financial crisis period. And what we're going to see is that those forces are going to widen the divide between who can own a home and who cannot. And who gains from that wealth accumulation and who does not.James Egan: Right. So now, you mentioned where mortgage rates are today, above that 6 percent rate. Rates did briefly – in February, we got below 6 percent before they bounced back up here. Why did that short-lived relief matter so much?Sarah Wolfe: I think that short-lived relief showed us that moves in the mortgage rate make a difference, but things are so unaffordable that it didn't make that much of a difference.So, the dip below 6 percent was very exciting. It happened this past February. It was the first time that mortgage rates fell below 6 percent since 2022, and we saw a few things happen. First, it lowered the monthly payment for first-time homebuyers from about two point two thousand dollars a month to one point nine thousand.So makes a bit of a difference. And it lowered the share of income that goes towards monthly mortgage payments from about 26 percent of income to 22 percent, from peak to trough. So, that is a notable improvement. But what we saw in the new home sales data and the existing home sales data, that it did not drive people back into the housing market.I want to turn it back to you though, Jim, because you've actually done a lot of interesting work on this. And how this change in mortgage rates has changed the monthly cost that people have to pay for a median-priced home. Can you tell us a little bit more?James Egan: Sure. So, we talk about the lock-in effect a lot, and it's kind of easy to point to: Well, there are a lot of people with mortgage rates that are around 3 percent or 3.5 percent, and the prevailing rate's at 6 percent, and that's a lot higher, so they're locked in.But when we look at the actual numbers in terms of what we're asking a homeowner to do – to list their home for sale and move to another home today, pay off that existing mortgage, take out a new one. When you take into account how much higher home prices are today…You bought a home in 2016, for instance, right? Let's assume you refinanced in 2020 or 2021 if you still live there, right? Most homeowners did. So, you've actually taken your monthly payment, and it is lower today than it was when you bought your home in 2016. If we assume that your income has risen alongside just median household income over that time period, your monthly payment as a share of your income today is probably sub 8 percent.If you bought over the past three years, your monthly payment is a share of your income. You mentioned some numbers earlier. It's low to mid 20 percent. From a dollar amount perspective, if you were to pay off that 2016 mortgage, as an example, and take out one today, your payment is probably [$]13[00] or $1400 higher. It's like a 200 percent increase. That's very difficult economically for a lot of households, and that's the kind of physical manifestation of that lock-in effect.Now, Sarah, given this significant change in housing math, what does that mean for who is actually able to buy in this market?Sarah Wolfe: It's making who's able to buy into the market a lot more selective. So, what we're seeing is that first-time home buyers today are actually not meaningfully older. They're still about 36 years old, but they are a much more selective group financially. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York put out a great analysis on this recently, and they basically found that the first-time home buyer profile today is taking out a mortgage that's nearly $350,000, compared to $240,000 in 2019 and $200,000, a decade ago. So, significant increase in mortgage balances.At the same time, credit standards have tightened significantly, so that average credit score to get a mortgage has risen quite a bit over the last 5 to 10 years. And what this is doing is it's shifting who can buy and also where they can buy. So, we're seeing higher-quality home buyers moving to lower-income zip codes. So, buying cheaper homes in lower-income metro areas, and so it's wealthier buyers in lower-income areas.And that's the really big shift that we're seeing. It's a demand resorting story. And what we're also seeing, and we hear this a lot when we talk to our financial advisors and their clients, is that family is increasingly helping their other family members put that down payment down; in particular, parents helping their children buy that first home.So, we're seeing that first-time buyers may be feeling this pressure, right, when it comes to rates. How much of this affordability issue, though, is being driven by the locked-in effect specifically?James Egan: So, look, it's clearly playing a role. We just talked about some of the math behind that. But then when you look at what that means on a nationwide basis when it comes to inventory, when it comes to so many other aspects of this, that homeowner who's unwilling to give up that lower mortgage rate, that lower payment, right, their homes are off the market.Existing inventories for sale, they've picked up from historic lows in 2023, but they're still very, very low on a long-run basis. The fewer homes there are for sale, the more upward pressure or the absence of downward pressure that's going to put on home prices, right?We saw affordability plummet in 2022 and 2023 when rates backed up. We saw existing home sales really, really come down as a result. But home prices remained at record highs. They continued to set new record highs. For home prices to actually come down, right, you need people who are willing to sell at lower home prices.Sarah, you just mentioned that lending standards themselves remain tight.Sarah Wolfe: Mm-hmm.James Egan: Those forced sales, those tend to be distressed transactions. We don't see that distress in the market providing the inventory and the motivated inventory to lead to softer home prices. So, it's really that lack of inventory which we think is in large part driven by the lock-in effect that's kept home prices. And as a result, that piece of the affordability equation kind of stuck at these higher levels.Sarah Wolfe: I mean, it's really this vicious cycle, the locked-in effect making it difficult for entry-level buyers to get into the market – and then fewer existing homeowners sell or trade up or relocate. So, on and on it goes.Are there broader implications of this freeze?James Egan: Right. So, we just talked about what that means from an inventory perspective. And then if you think about affordability remaining challenged, lending standards themselves remaining tight, inventory remaining as low as it is, you could argue that we're at one of the more difficult times that we've seen for renters to exit rentership and step into homeownership.Now, there's a lot of different things that drive rent growth, and the fact that you have a stuck renter is just one of them. The other side of that equation can be the supply of rental units, right? So that's just a piece of the equation.But those are some of the externalities that we think about when it comes to how the tightness of the housing market – what the lock-in effect and what affordability is doing there. But outside of the housing market, Sarah, the wider economy, like how do these housing costs play a role there?Sarah Wolfe: Massive effect. Some of the work that we've done shows that housing affordability is the number one driver pushing down fertility rates in America. The number one driver. Above childcare costs, above finding a partner, finding a good job. It's housing affordability. So, you could see how that could pretty significantly ripple through the broader economy.But there's other components, right? So, as we discussed earlier, it's driving migration from unaffordable areas to more affordable regions. That has significant implications. And then putting my consumer economist hat on, as we discussed earlier in the podcast, when people buy a home, they tie themselves to that home. They spend money on couches, on beds, on TVs, right? Durable goods. And if we're going to have more people as renters for longer, that's going to expand the services economy at the expense of the goods economy.All right. Let's take a step back and think about where this is all going. It hasn't been a very optimistic conversation. Jim, what is the outlook for affordability in your view? Do we get anywhere back to the post-financial crisis period or even the pre-financial crisis period?James Egan: When it comes to the outlook for mortgage rates, the outlook for affordability, the outlook for the U.S. housing market – look, we just, throughout Morgan Stanley Research and Strategy, published our 2026 major outlook. From now through the end of 2027, we don't have conventional mortgage rates getting below 6 percent.We do have affordability improving on the margins. We have income growth exceeding home price appreciation that makes it a little bit better, but that doesn't get us back to the post-GFC affordability era, which was very, very affordable. Looking back over the past several decades, it gets us closer to where we were pre-GFC, not all the way back there.But when we think about how that ripples through the housing market and how we think about that evolving from here, look, we do think that the state of mortgage credit availability means there will be a lack of distress. We think that while affordability itself may be challenged and inventories may be low, there is some level of housing activity that has to occur regardless of where mortgage rates are or affordability is.We think we found that level. We think there's support for home sales at these current levels, and that combination of support for home sales, lack of inventory, means that home prices, very little room for them to grow from here. But we think they're going to be pretty supported.So, from a housing market perspective, at a ten-thousand-foot view, we're calling it 1-2 percent growth in sales, in home prices, well-supported. But the affordability outlook that we've outlined throughout this podcast – challenged to see a lot of acceleration.Now, when we pull it back to the first-time home buyer, based on our conversation, it seems that the key question is becoming less about when to buy, more about who can still afford to enter the market.But Sarah, it's really been great talking with you about the housing market today.Sarah Wolfe: It was great speaking with you, Jim.James Egan: And thanks for listening. If you enjoy Thoughts on the Market, please leave us a review wherever you listen and share the podcast with a friend or colleague today. ***Sarah Wolfe is a member of Morgan Stanley's Wealth Management Division and is not a member of Morgan Stanley's Research Department. Unless otherwise indicated, her views are her own and may differ from the views of the Morgan Stanley Research Department and from the views of others within Morgan Stanley.
Live from Cannes Lions, This is the Daily Brief from the LinkedIn Lounge. In this episode of The Daily Brief from the Linkedin Lounge, we dive into a massive piece of news that dropped yesterday: Instagram is launching a horizontal video hub on TVs. With YouTube already dominant in the living room, what does Meta's latest move mean for creators, audiences, and ad dollars? We debate whether Instagram can truly compete with YouTube's massive library, or if its cultural cachet gives it a unique edge. Plus, we take a look into the future of work and how the creative landscape is shifting. We discuss why creative work can't be done by committee, the rise of the "agentic layer" in AI workflow tools, and the surprising reason recent college graduates are pushing back against AI. Watch the full episode on Linkedin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Hills - Season 3, Episode 22This week on Millennial TeaV, we're recapping The Hills episode “When Spencer Finds Out…” and the secret is finally out Stephanie has been hanging out with Lauren behind Spencer's back. Spencer is not happy, Heidi is stuck playing referee, and Stephanie finds herself choosing between family loyalty and doing what feels right. We're diving into the sibling drama, Lauren and Stephanie's unlikely friendship, and all the moments that had us yelling at our TVs. Join us as we spill the tea on one of the most uncomfortable family feuds in Hills history!Instagram: @millennialteavFacebook: Millennial TeaV podcastTiktok: @millennialteavpodcastE-mail: millennialteav@gmail.com
Today in the business of podcasting:Triton Digital's Mattia Verzella explains why publishers should stop comparing ad revenue by CPM alone, arguing that programmatic, direct, and backfill demand each play a different strategic role in a healthy audio marketplace.Amazon is launching a Creator Hub on Fire TV this summer, bringing videos and podcasts from over 120 creators, including MrBeast and Dude Perfect, into one discoverable place on connected TVs.Magellan AI's first Podcast Measurement Benchmark Report finds podcast ads drive clicks, leads, and sales, with video podcasts and host-read ads outperforming other formats on response and conversion.YouGov's U.S. Podcast Advertising Report 2026 shows podcast ads are the most-skipped yet least-annoying format, with 60% of listeners taking action after an ad despite low trust scores.Kirby Grines breaks down the new content model that is cheaper, faster, and less Hollywood, with video podcasts and interface control reshaping how streaming platforms compete.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
Could a company best known for TVs, appliances, and consumer electronics become a launchpad for entirely new businesses? In this episode of the Innovation Storytellers Show, I sat down with Sokwoo Rhee, Corporate Executive Vice President for Innovation at LG Electronics and Head of LG NOVA, to discuss why some of the world's largest organizations are rethinking how innovation happens and what it takes to build the next generation of companies from within a corporate environment. Sokwoo shares his journey from entrepreneur and government innovator to leading LG NOVA, LG's Silicon Valley-based innovation center focused on creating entirely new ventures in areas such as healthcare, AI, energy, and digital services. We explore why innovation requires a different mindset from traditional business operations and why corporate leaders must be willing to invest in opportunities where the outcome is uncertain but the long-term potential could reshape an organization's future. Our conversation also examines the challenge of balancing quarterly business realities with long-term innovation goals. Sokwoo explains why successful innovation portfolios resemble venture capital strategies, where multiple experiments are necessary because breakthrough ideas rarely arrive with guaranteed outcomes. He offers a candid perspective on risk, leadership, failure, and the importance of creating space inside large organizations for ideas that may eventually define the next decade of growth. We also discuss LG NOVA's approach to building new companies, including its work in mental health technology, where AI is being used to help therapists spend more time supporting patients and less time on administrative tasks. Along the way, Sokwoo reflects on the role of storytelling in innovation, why evidence matters as much as vision, and how innovators can help organizations imagine futures that do not yet exist. If you've ever wondered how corporate innovation can move beyond pilots and PowerPoint presentations to create entirely new businesses, this conversation offers a fascinating look inside one of the world's most ambitious innovation initiatives. What role should large corporations play in building the companies of tomorrow, and how much risk are they willing to take to get there?
Today in the business of podcasting:Triton Digital's Mattia Verzella explains why publishers should stop comparing ad revenue by CPM alone, arguing that programmatic, direct, and backfill demand each play a different strategic role in a healthy audio marketplace.Amazon is launching a Creator Hub on Fire TV this summer, bringing videos and podcasts from over 120 creators, including MrBeast and Dude Perfect, into one discoverable place on connected TVs.Magellan AI's first Podcast Measurement Benchmark Report finds podcast ads drive clicks, leads, and sales, with video podcasts and host-read ads outperforming other formats on response and conversion.YouGov's U.S. Podcast Advertising Report 2026 shows podcast ads are the most-skipped yet least-annoying format, with 60% of listeners taking action after an ad despite low trust scores.Kirby Grines breaks down the new content model that is cheaper, faster, and less Hollywood, with video podcasts and interface control reshaping how streaming platforms compete.To find links to these, and every article covered in today's episode, click here. You can also subscribe to The Download's newsletter to receive the full issue straight to your email inbox every day.
The RV industry is chasing the wrong generation. While manufacturers court 30-somethings with outdoor TVs and influencer campaigns, the buyers who are actually writing checks right now look nothing like the people in the ads.Last week I sat around a campfire in Hocking Hills, Ohio with 88 members of our RVCommunity. I asked how many had bought a new RV in the past year. Eleven hands went up. A 12th would have, but he was out on a six-mile hike. He was turning 70.That tells you everything the sales charts do not.In this episode we dig into who is really driving the RV market right now, what experienced RVers actually want that manufacturers keep missing, the quiet but alarming shift happening in our national parks, and a dramatic rescue on the Appalachian Trail that is a reminder of exactly why preparation matters out there.Read the companion blog post on RVing in the second half of life at RVLifestyle.com - link below.Here is the complete episode, start to finish.THE RV PODCAST - MONDAY NEWS EDITION Episode Air Date: Monday, June 23, 2026 - 6:00 AM Approx. Running Time: 25 Minutes Host: Mike WendlandTHE LAST GENERATION THAT KNOWS HOW TO TRAVEL ...and why the RV industry keeps ignoring themOPENLast week I was sitting around a campfire in Hocking Hills, Ohio, with about 50 members of our RVCommunity.com.I asked a simple question: how many of you have bought a brand new RV in the last year?Eleven hands went up. A 12th would have, but he was out on a six-mile sunset hike - and he was turning 70 that summer.This was happening while the RV industry is posting some of the worst wholesale shipment numbers in over a decade.Which raises a question the people running this industry ought to be asking themselves: who exactly are they building RVs for?Because I can tell you who is actually buying them. And they look nothing like the people in the ads.OPENINGGood morning and welcome to the RV Podcast Monday News Edition. I'm Mike Wendland.Eighteen Emmy Awards. Thirty-plus years covering everything from wars to the White House to consumer affairs. And for the past 15 years, living the RV lifestyle myself with my wife Jennifer in every type of rig you can imagine, coast to coast, all 48 contiguous states.Today's show is a little different. Instead of leading with a breaking story, I want to start with something I witnessed firsthand that I believe tells you more about the real state of the RV market than any press release you will read this year.And if you want to go deeper after you listen, I have been writing about this topic at RVLifestyle.com for the past several weeks. We have been exploring what it means to RV in the second half of life - the freedom, the community, the mindset, and yes, the ways the industry keeps getting it wrong. There is a link in the show notes. I think you will recognize yourself in it.Here is what is happening on the road. And here is what the industry is getting wrong. Let's get into it.LEAD STORY: THE LAST GENERATION THAT KNOWS HOW TO TRAVELThe RV industry is having a rough year. A really rough year. And the numbers tell the story fast, so let me give them to you and move on, because the real story is not the numbers. The real story is who is still out there buying and camping while those numbers grind downward.Wholesale shipments are down more than 13 percent through the first four months of 2026. Retail sales off 14 to 15 percent from last year. The industry's own forecast, just revised downward again this month, now projects this as one of the worst years for new RV sales in over a decade.So who is still buying?Here is what I can tell you from 15 years in this world and from what I saw last week in Hocking Hills. The people who are still writing checks for new RVs, right now, in the worst market in a decade, are the people the industry seems most determined to pretend do not exist.Baby Boomers. Older Gen Xers. People who grew up reading paper maps. Making reservations by phone. Talking to strangers when they got lost. Fixing things with their hands. Navigating real uncertainty with nothing but experience and nerve.According to industry research, Americans 50 and older remain the primary customer segment for RVs. Many are retirees fulfilling long-held travel dreams, and that population is still growing as the tail end of the baby boom ages into retirement. These are people with home equity, disposable income, and something even more valuable: the time and the confidence to actually use what they buy.And yet when you look at the ads. When you watch the Go RVing campaigns. When you walk the floor of any major RV show and look at the marketing materials stacked at the booths. You see toned and trendy 30-year-olds doing yoga on the roof of a Class B. You see influencers with ring lights and perfect hair. What you do not see is the 68-year-old retired engineer who just dropped $95,000 on a new fifth wheel and is headed to Alaska.That is a real blind spot. And I think it is costing the industry real money.Here is what I saw at our Hocking Hills rally. Eighty-eight people, ranging from their 50s into their 80s. Riding bikes and e-bikes and scooters. Hiking up and down some of the most spectacular terrain in the Midwest. One of our members, a retired RV technician, got under a fellow member's trailer and repacked the wheel bearings on the spot. Another couple spent an afternoon giving scooter lessons to anyone who wanted to learn.Nobody was stuck. Nobody was panicking. When something broke, someone fixed it. When someone needed help, someone helped them. These are people who grew up problem-solving before there was an app for it. And they brought every one of those skills out here.I asked how many had bought a new RV in the past year. Eleven hands went up. Twelve if you count the man who was out on a six-mile hike at 70 years old.This is happening while the industry chases 33-year-olds with solar panels and TikTok aesthetics.I am not saying younger buyers are not important. They are the future and we need them. But the marketing case being made inside RV boardrooms right now, that the 50-plus buyer is yesterday's news, is demonstrably wrong. And in a market this soft, you cannot afford to ignore your most reliable customer.I wrote about this at length over at RVLifestyle.com. It is part of an ongoing series we have been running on RVing in the second half of life. The link is in the show notes. If today's lead story speaks to you, that post will too.STORY 2: WHO IS ACTUALLY DRIVING THE MARKETThe demographic picture of who owns and buys RVs is more complicated than the ads suggest, and it is worth understanding.The median age of RV owners has come down in recent years. Younger buyers were absolutely part of the pandemic surge. Millennials and Gen Z now represent roughly 22 percent of RV owners - the same share as Baby Boomers - which tells you something about how quickly the demographics shifted during COVID.But here is what the industry sometimes misses in that data. Younger buyers came in during a period of historically low interest rates, flush pandemic savings, and work-from-home flexibility. Those conditions no longer exist. The buyers who are proving most resilient in this market are the ones who are not dependent on 7 percent financing to make the purchase work.Industry analyst Earl Hunter Jr., founder of The Unity Folks, put it bluntly in a recent trade publication outlook piece. He said the biggest trend in the RV industry right now is, simply, lack of growth. And that the industry has not figured out why emerging demographics and nontraditional consumers have little to no interest in the RV lifestyle.That is a real problem worth solving. But while the industry works on reaching new audiences, there is a generation of experienced, well-capitalized, deeply motivated buyers out on the road right now who built this market and are still carrying it. They deserve a little more respect than a supporting role in someone else's marketing story.STORY 3: WHAT EXPERIENCED RVers ACTUALLY WANT - AND WHAT MANUFACTURERS KEEP MISSINGI want to tell you one more thing from Hocking Hills, because I think it reveals something important about the disconnect between what the industry is building and what experienced RVers actually need.During our campfire conversation, I asked people what features they most use in their current rigs. What do they love. What they would change.Nobody mentioned outdoor TVs. Not one person. This is notable because outdoor entertainment has been one of the most aggressively marketed RV features of the last several years. Manufacturers have been loading up rigs with outdoor TVs, outdoor kitchens, outdoor speakers. The assumption is that RVers want to recreate the suburban living room experience outside.Our members were out hiking six miles. They were packed into a campfire circle talking to each other. They were fixing each other's trailers. The last thing they wanted was a television.What did they talk about wanting? Better towing stability. Improved service networks. Simpler systems that do not require a software update to turn on the hot water. Quality that lasts. And dealers who actually know the products they are selling.These are people with decades of RV miles behind them. They know exactly what they need and exactly what they do not. When you have that kind of experience, you stop being impressed by features and start being impressed by reliability.The industry could learn a lot by listening more carefully to the people who have been doing this the longest....
The Harmony Universal Remote was supposed to be the only controller you needed for all the devices in your life. So what happened? David Pierce is joined by The Verge's Nilay Patel and John Higgins, as well as Nest co-founder (and current Harmony user) Matt Rogers, to follow the Harmony's timeline from its origins as the "Easy Zapper," through Logitech's acquisition, all the way to its slow death at the hands of smart TVs. And their vastly inferior remotes. If you like the show, follow the Version History audio podcast feed to get every new episode. Version History is also on video! Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe to The Verge for unlimited access to theverge.com, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, and our ad-free podcast feed. We love hearing from you! Email your questions and thoughts to vergecast@theverge.com or call us at 866-VERGE11. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
On today's show we take a look at the new Apple CarPlay Ultra. And with the high cost of streaming these days, we give you our pick for the one streaming service that you should keep. We also read your emails and look at the week's news. News: Fox Is Buying Roku in $22 Billion Deal Gemini can now adjust your picture settings on Google TV Blink Just Launched Its First Doorbell With 2K Video — And It's Only $50 AWOL Vision Expands Home Entertainment Portfolio Apple's New CarPlay Ultra A listener sent us a link to: I tried Apple CarPlay Ultra and now everything else feels outdated. The author felt that CarPlay Ultra just made every other in-car system feel clunky – and after testing it in an Aston Martin DBX, I don't want to drive without it. So why is he so excited about this update? Main Takeaways from the Article: CarPlay Ultra is a full dashboard takeover: Unlike standard CarPlay (which only handles the central screen), this next-gen version extends seamlessly across all screens — including the instrument cluster, driver display, and center infotainment. It creates one unified, cohesive Apple-style interface for the entire driving experience. New design and customization with brand personality preserved: Tested in an Aston Martin DBX, it delivers crisp fonts, smooth performance, glanceable widgets (music, navigation, tire pressure, etc.), and deep customization. Aston Martin added brand-specific touches (e.g., custom dials with the wings logo, green colorway, and vehicle bird's-eye view) while keeping Apple's polish. Complete vehicle controls inside one UI: You can adjust climate, suspension, driver assists, drive modes, fuel/range info, radio, and more without switching to the car's native system. A clever "punch through" feature seamlessly jumps to the manufacturer's menus for unsupported controls (like ambient lighting) and returns instantly. Highly intuitive and responsive: Steering wheel controls let you swipe between views hands-free. Everything feels fast with zero lag, making it feel like a natural extension of the car rather than a bolted-on phone interface. Safety net if phone disconnects: Core driving info (speedo, critical gauges) runs locally and stays active. Navigation/media/apps resume seamlessly upon reconnection. Availability and future rollout: Currently live on high-end Aston Martins (with over-the-air or dealer updates for compatible models like DBX/DB12). More brands (Porsche, Mercedes, Polestar, and eventually affordable ones) are coming soon. Overall verdict: The reviewer says it makes every other in-car system (including their own Android Auto) feel clunky and outdated. It's not just visual — it fundamentally improves the driving experience, and they "never want to drive without it again." Netflix: The Best Single Streaming Service to Keep in 2026 With so many streamers out there costing us hundreds a year it has become expensive to watch TV. We asked ourselves, "If we had to pick only one streamer which one would it be?" And that streamer is - Netflix Why Netflix Wins for Most People Biggest variety and library — Massive catalog of originals (hit shows like Stranger Things, Bridgerton, Wednesday, etc.), licensed movies/TV, international content, documentaries, and new releases. It has something for almost every taste and mood. Excellent discovery tools — Strong recommendation algorithm that gets better the more you watch, making it easy to find what you'll like without wasting time. Reliable and polished — Simple, fast interface that works great on any device (smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming sticks, etc.). Consistent quality and frequent new content. Other strong contenders fall short in our "one service only" scenario: Disney+ — Fantastic for families, Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar — but narrower overall appeal. Prime Video — Great value if you already shop on Amazon (and it comes with Prime perks), but the core streaming library feels less essential alone. HBO Max — Strong prestige dramas and movies, but smaller overall selection. Apple TV+ — Highest production quality per show, but much smaller library. Bottom line: Netflix gives you the broadest entertainment bang for your buck and the least chance of getting bored quickly. It's the safest "one and done" choice for a general audience in 2026.
Dean Takahashi is the dean of tech writers and a 25-year veteran correspondent covering consumer electronics, gaming, and emerging technology for GamesBeat. He's covered every major tech transition—from mobile's rise to VR's boom-and-bust cycles to the current AI explosion—with a skeptical eye and a talent for finding the human story beneath the hype. This is his fifth appearance on the AI XR Podcast.For CES 2026, Dean walked the floors across the Convention Center, the Venetian Expo Center (Eureka Park), Pepcom, and Showstoppers, emerging with a clear reading: China has decisively shifted from periphery to center stage in consumer electronics manufacturing, American incumbents are pulling back and rethinking their booth strategy, and the economics of CES itself are in transition. Robotics companies are moving from prototype to commercial faster than expected—but they still can't answer basic questions about pricing and labor displacement.News: Sony cuts its booth to demo an electric car instead of TVs. Samsung skips the show floor entirely for the first time. Nvidia takes over the Fontainebleau to showcase its role in robotics enablement. Lenovo dominates the Sphere with a Gwen Stefani concert. Chinese robotics companies proliferate with laundry folders, latte makers, and toilet-cleaning units. Roomba files for bankruptcy; Chinese competitors take over the robotic vacuum market.Key Moments:[00:01:23] Dean receives his virtual green jacket as a five-time returning guest and Charlie thanks him for his insights[00:03:00] China takeover at CES: TCL dominates Central Hall, ROED owns the XR booth, robotics companies fill the floor[00:06:00] Nvidia's Fontainebleau takeover and the "chest-pumping" show of force; why scale messaging still matters[00:14:18] The robotics explosion explained: Nvidia's digital twins, Cosmos world models, and synthetic testing accelerate time-to-market[00:19:00] The pricing problem: robotics companies won't answer how much their products cost; the minimum wage rental model doesn't translate globallyWhen American companies built the show, CES reflected American manufacturing dominance. Now that China manufactures most consumer electronics, CES reflects that shift—and the implications ripple through labor, supply chains, and where the next epicenter of innovation will be. Dean, Charlie, and Ted grapple with what CES 2026 signals about global manufacturing advantage and why the geography of tech matters more than we think.This episode is brought to you by Zappar, creators of Mattercraft—the leading visual development environment for building immersive 3D web experiences for mobile headsets and desktop. Mattercraft combines the power of a game engine with the flexibility of the web, and now features an AI assistant that helps you design, code, and debug in real time, right in your browser. Build smarter at mattercraft.io.Listen to the full post-CES debrief and subscribe for weekly conversations at the intersection of AI, XR, and consumer technology. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate staff writer Nitish Pawha to discuss his piece “Your TV Is Not Safe.” Apps like Instagram, Substack, and Spotify are making the leap from smart phones to smart TVs, as TVs attempt to compete against scrolling, and the nature of entertainment is changing. But giving over our TVs to these companies even further changes our relationships with technology, and even more, how we spend time with each other. This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay, with help from A.C. Valdez. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate staff writer Nitish Pawha to discuss his piece “Your TV Is Not Safe.” Apps like Instagram, Substack, and Spotify are making the leap from smart phones to smart TVs, as TVs attempt to compete against scrolling, and the nature of entertainment is changing. But giving over our TVs to these companies even further changes our relationships with technology, and even more, how we spend time with each other. This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay, with help from A.C. Valdez. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On today's episode, host Kate Lindsay is joined by Slate staff writer Nitish Pawha to discuss his piece “Your TV Is Not Safe.” Apps like Instagram, Substack, and Spotify are making the leap from smart phones to smart TVs, as TVs attempt to compete against scrolling, and the nature of entertainment is changing. But giving over our TVs to these companies even further changes our relationships with technology, and even more, how we spend time with each other. This podcast is produced by Vic Whitley-Berry, Daisy Rosario, and Kate Lindsay, with help from A.C. Valdez.Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Hey friends — we're hitting pause for a few weeks, and we wanted to pop in before we go.LAH is deep in the final countdown to her first solo art exhibit, Auroras in Sad Prose — an immersive show that weaves together her nature-inspired artwork, poetry, and a curated playlist of music that has carried her through healing and heartbreak. It's beautiful, it's personal, and it's all hers. We could not be prouder.Behk is heading out on a well-earned vacation.We have a new multi-part episode ready and waiting — but we're not going to drop Part One and make you sit with a cliffhanger all summer. That's not who we are. So we're holding it until we're back and can give it to you properly.In the meantime, we chatted about what's been getting us through lately: The Midnight Bookshop, Dolly Parton's rock album (yes, really — and yes, it's incredible), Maternal Instinct on Netflix, and a few other things that have us thinking, feeling, and occasionally screaming at our TVs.We'll be back in a month or so with new episodes, some stories we've been sitting on, and maybe — maybe — a toxic coworker arc.
Real Estate Investor Dad Podcast ( Investing / Investment in Canada )
Landlords across Canada are having a harder time filling vacancies. There are fewer tenants moving, more rental units available, and more competition between landlords than many investors have seen in years. So what should you do when your rental property is sitting empty? Should you lower the rent? Or should you offer an incentive to get the right tenant in the door? In this episode, Wayne and Gabby break down what landlords need to understand about today's rental market and why automatically lowering rent may not always be the best first move. Wayne explains that rental markets are cyclical. Just like real estate prices, interest rates, immigration, construction, and tenant demand, vacancy pressure moves in cycles. Some investors have only experienced rising rents and strong tenant demand, which makes today's softer rental market feel scary. But this is part of the business. The key is knowing how to respond. Wayne and Gabby discuss how landlords can think more like business owners and marketers when listing rental properties. A rental listing is not just an ad. It is your first chance to get the attention of your ideal tenant. If your property looks the same as every other rental in a crowded market, tenants will compare mainly on price. But if you understand your tenant profile and offer the right incentive, you may be able to stand out without racing to the bottom on rent. They also discuss different incentive ideas, including gift cards, free utilities, free internet, waived pet fees, reduced security deposits, free lawn care, gaming consoles, TVs, moving credits, and first month's rent free. Wayne explains why the incentive must match the tenant profile. A young student, a family with children, a pet owner, and a tenant relying on transit may all respond to different offers. They also compare the math behind lowering rent versus offering a one-time incentive. A $50 monthly rent reduction costs $600 over a year, while a one-time $500 gift card may create a bigger marketing impact while costing the landlord less overall. Gabby also explains why affordability, timing, security deposits, moving costs, pets, and upfront cash are major pain points for tenants in today's market. This episode is a practical conversation for landlords who are trying to fill vacancies without panicking, slashing rent unnecessarily, or weakening their rental business long term. The bigger lesson is that the best way to avoid this problem is to buy the right properties from day one. Wayne and Gabby explain why they focus on properties with strong cash flow, strong tenant demand, and features renters actually want, so they are not forced to compete only on price when the market softens. What You'll Learn in This Episode Why landlords are struggling to fill vacancies right now Why many Canadian rental markets have more supply and less tenant demand Why today's rental market feels scary for newer investors Why rental markets move in cycles Why lowering rent should not always be the first move Why rental listings need to be treated like marketing Why tenants compare similar rentals mostly by price How incentives can make your rental listing stand out Why the right incentive depends on your tenant profile Why student tenants, families, and pet owners may respond to different offers Why cash, gift cards, and upfront savings can be powerful incentives Why a $500 gift card may be more effective than reducing rent by $50 per month Why landlords need to understand the math before discounting rent Why free internet, utilities, lawn care, or moving credits may work in certain situations Why waived pet fees or fewer pet restrictions can attract more tenants Why reduced security deposits can create demand but also add risk Why first month's rent free can work but must be structured carefully Why incentives should solve a tenant's actual pain point Why buying properties with strong tenant demand protects investors long term Why the best rental properties are the ones tenants actually want Upcoming Events Edmonton Garden Suites 101 July 24, 2026 Edmonton, Alberta www.reimasters.ca REI Masters Edmonton Real Estate Investing Bus Tour August 22, 2026 www.reimasters.ca/edmontonbustour About Your Hosts Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and real estate investing coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through the REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth through rental properties, BRRRRs, joint ventures, seller financing, rent-to-own, garden suites, and other real estate investing strategies. The Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show releases new episodes every weekday morning featuring real stories, market analysis, coaching conversations, investor questions, landlord advice, market updates, and practical real estate investing education. Resources & Contact Learn about the REI Masters Mentorship Program: www.reimasters.ca Bookkeeping and tax help for real estate investors: www.finngo.com/rei Get Wayne's book: The 5% Rule™ – A Real Estate Cash Flow Test for Canadian Investors https://a.co/d/jdZaBXM Submit a question: info@reimorningshow.com Thanks to Our Sponsors Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor calvinrealty.ca Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – Investor-Focused Accounting Firm www.finngo.com/rei Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group – Investor-Focused Mortgage Brokers www.kbmortgages.ca keaton@kbmortgages.ca
Three red cards, five goals across two matches, and a goose wearing a Mexico shirt. Ladies and gents, we've got our World Cup back.Marcus, Pete & Vish discuss the opening games of the tournament, preceded by a bizarre collaboration between Andrea Bocelli and K-Pop Demon Hunters singer Ejae. Plus, Vish is baffled by the very concept of an axolotl, Marcus still gets his TVs from Comet, and "big swinging” Dick Advocaat gets his boys onboard a cranky school bus.Get your Ramble World Cup watch party tickets hereFind us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: show@footballramble.com.Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble.***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.No cliches. No ex-pros like Peter Crouch or The Rest is Football. Just the funniest football conversation out there. Your guardian for the season, daily not weekly. Stick to the Ramble, totally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Chris and Hector break down a shocking discovery involving smart TVs being used as residential proxy nodes, a major Meta AI support failure that enabled widespread Instagram account takeovers, and new AI systems uncovering decades-old software vulnerabilities. They also discuss AI security guardrails, consumer privacy, and the growing risks of convenience-driven technology. Join our Patreon for weekly bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/c/hackerandthefed Send HATF your questions at questions@hackerandthefed.com
Retired Navy SEAL, former Recon Marine, and host of Fox Nation's The Unsung of Arlington, Mike Sarraille recounts his time serving in the military. He also explains the critical race for AI dominance, explaining how the Chinese Communist Party is covertly funding anti-data center movements to slow America down. Mike dissects why data centers are a major national security asset and warns that China is outpacing us in energy infrastructure. Bring on the Stupid: A man squatted in a family's crawl space for months, hanging string lights and multiple TVs for his leisure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
It's time for our June catch-up episode, and as usual, we're covering a little bit of everything.This week we share updates on life lately, including taking the kids to the dentist, the ongoing process of helping Evie say goodbye to her pacifier, and how Greydon is settling into his new big boy room. Whitney also gives us the latest on their house renovations, and we have a very relatable (and highly unqualified) conversation about all things cortisol and the many ways moms are apparently supposed to be managing it.Of course, we couldn't end the episode without diving into Part 1 of the Summer House reunion. We break down our biggest takeaways, thoughts on the cast dynamics, and all the moments that had us yelling at our TVs.In this episode, we cover: Taking young kids to the dentist Our thoughts on the internet's obsession with cortisol The latest on Evie's pacifier weaning journey Greydon's new big boy room House renovation updates Our recap of Summer House Reunion Part 1 The random motherhood moments keeping us entertained latelyWhether you're folding laundry, sitting in school pickup, or hiding in your pantry for five minutes of peace, we're glad you're here.Keep up with the Moms and join the conversation on our socials:
This week on Sibling Rivalry, Bob reveals his dream wedding cake and they confirm whether Bianca Del Rio really speaks Spanish. They also break down the phrase “top to bottom,” ask if Drag Race should retire winning Snatch Game characters, and wonder if sex with a robot would be weird. They discuss whether washing machines and TVs qualify as robots, what jobs are safe from AI, and if they'll still be alive in the year The Jetsons takes place. Plus, adult circumcision, being “half cut,” naming songs from different artists and whether Bob is secretly a great wig stylist. Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/RIVALRY — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #ad Head to WaldenU.edu and take that first step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
This week on Sibling Rivalry, Bob reveals his dream wedding cake and they confirm whether Bianca Del Rio really speaks Spanish. They also break down the phrase "top to bottom," ask if Drag Race should retire winning Snatch Game characters, and wonder if sex with a robot would be weird. They discuss whether washing machines and TVs qualify as robots, what jobs are safe from AI, and if they'll still be alive in the year The Jetsons takes place. Plus, adult circumcision, being "half cut," naming songs from different artists and whether Bob is secretly a great wig stylist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices