Podcasts about thinkers

A Casa de Sabedoria, epicentro do saber no Império Abássida, nos ensina que a civilização é o mosaico de um tapete tecido por vozes diversas, desafiando a noção de que o progresso seja um privilégio ocidental-europeu, e nos convida a recriar seu espírito de tradução, escutar e colaborar em um mundo fragmentado, onde o futuro depende de nossa capacidade de unir línguas, lógicas e sonhos, como fizeram os sábios de Bagdá há mais de mil anos. Venha conosco numa jornada incrível pela história! Patronato do SciCast: 1. Patreon SciCast 2. Apoia.se/Scicast 3. Nos ajude via Pix também, chave: contato@scicast.com.br ou acesse o QRcode: Sua pequena contribuição ajuda o Portal Deviante a continuar divulgando Ciência! Contatos: contato@scicast.com.br https://twitter.com/scicastpodcast https://www.facebook.com/scicastpodcast https://instagram.com/scicastpodcast Fale conosco! E não esqueça de deixar o seu comentário na postagem desse episódio! Expediente: Produção Geral: Tarik Fernandes e André Trapani Equipe de Gravação: Citação ABNT: Imagem de capa: Freepik Para apoiar o Pirulla, use o Pix abaixo: pirula1408@gmail.com Em nome de Marcos Siqueira (primo do Pirulla) [caption id="attachment_65160" align="aligncenter" width="300"] QR code PIX[/caption] Site: https://www.pirulla.com.br/ Expotea: https://expotea.com.br/https://www.instagram.com/expoteabrasil/ Referências e Indicações Sugestões de literatura: Gutas, Dimitri. Greek Thought, Arabic Culture: The Graeco-Arabic Translation Movement in Baghdad and Early Abbasid Society. Routledge, 1998. Al-Khalili, Jim. The House of Wisdom: How Arabic Science Saved Ancient Knowledge and Gave Us the Renaissance. Penguin Books, 2011. Kennedy, Hugh. When Baghdad Ruled the Muslim World: The Rise and Fall of Islam's Greatest Dynasty. Da Capo Press, 2005. Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, “Abbasids,” Brill, 2012. Kennedy, Hugh. The Prophet and the Age of the Caliphates. Routledge, 2016. O’Leary, De Lacy. How Greek Science Passed to the Arabs. Routledge, 1949. Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Science and Civilization in Islam. Harvard University Press, 1968. Fahd, Toufic. “Botany and Agriculture.” In Encyclopedia of the History of Arabic Science, edited by Roshdi Rashed. Routledge, 1996. Morgan, Michael Hamilton. Lost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers, and Artists. National Geographic, 2007. Said, Edward W. Orientalism. Penguin Books, 1978 (para crítica ao eurocentrismo). Saliba, George. Islamic Science and the Making of the European Renaissance. MIT Press, 2007. Sugestões de filmes: Documentário: "Science and Islam" (BBC, 2009 mas disponível em plataformas como YouTube (com legendas em inglês) apresentada pelo físico Jim Al-Khalili cujo trabalho serviu de fonte, ver acima) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_1RSVo3dLg&ab_channel=BanijayScience O Físico (2013) tem na Amazon Prime, filme segue um jovem cristão europeu que viaja ao mundo islâmico no século XI para estudar medicina com Ibn Sina (Avicena) em Isfahan (Irã). Sugestões de vídeos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxJ2OC7iXo0 1001 Inventions and the Library of Secrets Sugestões de links: Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Abbasid Caliphate,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/abbasid-caliphate. Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Bayt al-Ḥekma,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bayt-al-hekma. Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Mathematics in Islam,” “Astronomy,” e “Cartography,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org. Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Dinawari,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/dinawari. Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Baghdad,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/baghdad. Encyclopaedia Iranica, “Bayt al-Ḥekma,” disponível em: https://iranicaonline.org/articles/bayt-al-hekma. Sugestões de games: Assassin´s Creed: Mirage Prince of Persia Age of Empires 2 Crusader Kings 2/3 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We delve into the need to fill the literary and intellectual gap in Moroccan scholarship, the impacts of notable contemporary Moroccan philosophers and thinkers, and how their ideas engage with local, regional, and global issues like modernity, democracy, and human rights. Dr Mohammed Hashas is an assistant professor at the University of Rome and discusses his new book on contemporary Moroccan thought, which focuses on philosophy, theology, society, and culture. He shares his academic journey and personal experiences that led to the creation of this comprehensive work. 0:00 Introduction 2:26 A Book That Fills a Scholarly Need3:11 The Book as a Critical Intellectual Gratitude4:12 Mohammed First University in Oujda6:08 From Cultural Studies to Political Theory7:09 A Focus on the Middle East and North Africa9:15 Defining Moroccan Thought12:21 Geography & Time of Contemporary Moroccan Thought16:06 The Beginning of the Movement19:02 Thinking From the Edge24:30 Examples of Thinkers and Their Concerns28:04 Influential Thinkers: Al-Jabri and the Critique of Arab Reason30:11 Influential Thinkers: Abdallah Laroui, the Liberal Marxist Historian32:19 Is There an Arab World?33:32 Influential Thinkers: Taha Abdurrahman and Islamic Moral Philosophy37:14 Influential Thinkers: Fatima Mernissi and Islamic Feminism38:17 Influential Thinkers: Abdelkebir Khatibi and Pluralization39:31 Influential Thinkers: Mohammed Aziz Lahbabi and Personalism42:15 Influential Thinkers: Abdessalam Yassine and Non-Violent Change45:17 Influential Thinkers: AbdelFattah Kilito and Bilingualism47:11 Dream Dinner With Moroccan Thinkers48:35 Recommended Reading and Scholars52:20 Contributions of the Rabat School Mohammed Hashas [“ḥaṣḥāṣ” حصحاص] is a scholar of Islam, contemporary Islamic and Moroccan thought, and Islam in Europe. He holds a PhD from Luiss University of Rome, where he teaches, and is the author of "The Idea of European Islam" (Routledge, 2019) and "Intercultural Geopoetics" (Cambridge Scholars, 2017). He has edited or co-edited four volumes, including "Pluralism in Islamic Contexts" (Springer, 2021) and "Islamic Ethics and the Trusteeship Paradigm" (Brill, 2020). Currently a Research Fellow affiliated with Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) in Berlin, he has previously held fellowships in Oxford, Copenhagen, Berlin, Tilburg, Palermo, and Virginia. His work focuses on contemporary Arab-Islamic philosophy and theology, European Islam, and Moroccan thought, and he has edited the first comprehensive volume on Contemporary Moroccan Thought. Connect with Mohammed Hashah

What if you paused every week to evaluate your life—not in terms of achievements, but in terms of relationships, discipleship, and faithfulness? For Gary Crittenden, that's been a Sunday tradition for decades. Inspired by Stephen R. Covey's “First Things First,” Gary developed a habit to help him keep his priorities straight and on this week's episodes he shares the ways this practice has helped him in his efforts to become a better disciple of Jesus Christ, a better husband, father, and son. 1:46- A Weekly Reflection 7:58- Keeping an Appointment With Yourself 11:31- Thinkers and Doers 13:33- Using Professional Skills to Serve the Lord 21:27- Keep Walking 25:23- “There Is Nobody Better” 30:02- Why Prioritize Physical Health? 34:48- Honoring Aging Parents 38:21- Networking Vs. Real Relationships 43:09- The Courage to Say No 46:53- What Do We Want Most? 49:33- What Does It Mean To Be All In the Gospel of Jesus Christ? “As much as we can do, we do and we try to make ourselves as good as we can but even after all of that, it is only by the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ that we actually can receive true perfection in this life…” Links- Utah Business article by Tad Walch- https://www.utahbusiness.com/profiles/2024/12/13/gary-crittenden-wall-street-problem-solver/ President Jeffrey R. Holland “Good Things To Come”- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I The Many Lessons of Multiple Sclerosis by Catherine Crittenden- https://ldswomenproject.com/interview/the-many-lessons-of-multiple-sclerosis/

https://lenvzee.substack.com/p/an-evening-with-nadia Is the TLC conservative?   Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg Midwestuary Conference August 22-24 in Chicago https://www.midwestuary.com/ https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/ My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/ Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/cAjXpprB Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/ If you want to schedule a one-on-one conversation check here. https://calendly.com/paulvanderklay/one2one There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333  If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/  All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos.  https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640 https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

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

As an Israeli, and as a Jew, how are you feeling at this moment in Israeli history?We asked this question to 40 Israeli Thinkers over the last year. For the first time, come behind the scenes to Sruli Fruchter's favorite answers and the secret behind the question.Here are our top 5 answers from:5. Natan Sharansky4. Netta Barrak Corren3. Yossi Klein Halevi2. Rachelle Fraenkel1. Khitam Abu Bader18Forty launched its new website! This is your address for today's biggest Jewish questions. Please enjoy rummaging through our trove of podcasts, essays, videos, and more. Happy searching!

Retail success isn't just about having a fantastic product—it's about understanding the business of selling. On this special encore episode of The Voice of Retail, I welcome Liza Amlani, renowned retail strategist and co-author of The Whole Sale: Profitable Wholesale Strategies for Brands. Liza shares insider insights from her 20+ years in buying, merchandising, and retail consulting, helping brands navigate the complexities of wholesale expansion.In a rapidly changing marketplace, many direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands struggle to break into wholesale partnerships, unsure how to negotiate terms, optimize product placement, or manage markdown strategies. Liza outlines the critical retail fundamentals that brands must master to thrive in major retail environments like Walmart, Target, and specialty stores.During this insightful conversation, Michael and Liza discuss:The most common mistakes brands make when entering wholesale and how to avoid them.Why strong retail partnerships are the key to long-term success.How to negotiate product placement, pricing strategies, and markdown terms with major retailers.The role of merchandising strategy in maintaining shelf space and increasing sales.The wholesale vs. direct-to-consumer debate—why it's not just about margins, but about growth and exposure.With firsthand experience as a buyer for iconic brands like Ralph Lauren, Holt Renfrew, and Club Monaco, Liza brings a wealth of knowledge on what it takes to get "retail ready." She explains how emerging brands can scale strategically, leverage retail insights, and position themselves for long-term profitability.If you're a brand looking to expand into wholesale—or a retailer aiming to strengthen vendor relationships—this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you succeed in today's competitive retail landscape.

In this flavourful episode of The Food Professor Podcast, host Michael LeBlanc welcomes Shruti Priya Agarwal and Akshay Kalekar, the co-founders of Whipdd, a rising Canadian food startup transforming the humble butter into a flavour-packed experience. Born from a spark in a home kitchen in India, their story is one of culinary creativity, entrepreneurial hustle, and cross-continental ambition.Shruti, a trained chef with over a decade of experience in the pastry world, first started crafting flavoured garlic butter for friends and family. The rave reviews led to the idea for a scalable product. Upon moving to Canada during the pandemic, she reconnected with Akshay, a fellow business school alum and serial entrepreneur with a background in hospitality and fresh food delivery. Together, they brought Whipdd to life.What started as a kitchen experiment has become a full-fledged brand now carried nationally in Whole Foods Market locations across Canada, thanks to distribution support from Tree of Life and national brokerage by Sinn Solutions. Their product line features five standout flavours: Herb & Garlic, Smoked Chilli, Strawberry, Honey Cinnamon, and Real Strawberry — all crafted with high-quality Canadian dairy and clean, simple ingredients.Michael samples each on mic (yes, it's mouthwatering!) while Shruti and Akshay discuss the importance of natural ingredients, consumer feedback, and flavour innovation. They reveal how they're rapidly scaling up, with upcoming product extensions including a 250g herb & garlic butter brick and single-serve portion cups for airlines and hotels.Their vision goes beyond groceries. The duo is actively exploring foodservice partnerships, airline catering, and big-box retail listings with the likes of Costco, Farm Boy, and Sobeys. And with global interest bubbling up, the Whipdd team is positioning itself for an international takeoff. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

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

In this episode of Shifting Schools, Jeff Utecht interviews Dr. Annalies Corbin, author of 'Hacking School: Five Strategies to Link Learning to Life.' They discuss the origins of the PAST Foundation, the importance of STEM identity, and the five key strategies for educational reform. Annalies emphasizes the need for cultural relevance, student agency, and problem-based learning in education. They also explore the challenges educators face in implementing these changes, the impact of standardized testing, and the concept of wicked problems in education. The conversation highlights the importance of community involvement and the future of education in preparing students for their roles as engaged citizens. Dr. Annalies Corbin is the Chief Goddess, Founder & CEO the PAST Foundation. In 2000, Dr. Corbin founded the PAST Foundation, an organization she envisioned could lead the way to connecting scientific research with classrooms, schools and communities. From 2000-2006, Annalies concurrently led the PAST Foundation and taught at East Carolina University's Program in Maritime Studies. In 2005, when PAST opened its headquarters in Columbus, Annalies turned all efforts to building the PAST Foundation, assembling a team that could grow the reach and mission of linking learning to life.  From a single school partnership in 2006, Annalies has grown PAST's supporters across the nation, building a reputation for both transforming teaching and learning by understanding tomorrow's education needs. In 2015, Annalies' commitment to transforming schools led to the development of PAST Innovation Lab. Connecting directly with teachers through online professional development courses, MAEd program and on- site workshops, PAST Innovation Lab impacts more classrooms and expands learning opportunities for teachers and students everywhere. In 25 years, PAST has impacted more than 3,000,000 students, over 25,000 teachers across 42 states, hosting nearly 20,000 visitors and building hundreds of partnerships. Chapters 00:00 The Genesis of Hacking School 02:54 Understanding STEM Identity 05:47 The Five Key Strategies for Education 08:28 Challenges in Implementing Change 11:24 The Impact of Standardized Testing 14:09 Wicked Problems in Education 18:55 Understanding Wicked Problems 21:21 The Role of Educators in Navigating Complexity 23:39 Shifting Mindsets in Education 27:25 Building Community Support for Change 31:18 Preparing Future Citizens and Thinkers 34:22 The Importance of Educator Authenticity Learn more about our sponsors and opportunities to connect with Jeff and Tricia this academic year: https://pod.shiftingschools.com/  

Diverse Voices Book Review host Hopeton Hay interviewed Madeleine Thien, author of the novel THE BOOK OF RECORDS. The novel tells a time-bending, seven-year philosophical journey of a young girl named Lina, who is taught by her father and neighbors about the lives of three historical figures. They live in a surreal enclave, where Lina and her father have sought refuge after escaping a disaster in China. In the interview, we talked about how she weaves together the stories of three historical figures: Du Fu, an 8th-century Chinese poet; Baruch Spinoza, a 17th-century Dutch Jewish philosopher; and Hannah Arendt, a mid-20th-century German-American Jewish philosopher and political theorist. Lina learns about their theories and ideas and the grief, love, and tragedy they have experienced. Madeleine Thien is the author of four books, including Do Not Say We Have Nothing, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Her work has appeared in The New Yorker, Granta, The New York Review of Books, and elsewhere.  Diverse Voices Book Review Social Media: Facebook - @diversevoicesbookreview Instagram - @diverse_voices_book_review X - @diversebookshay Email: hbh@diversevoicesbookreview.com 

Ready to put your brain to the ultimate test? We've got 21 sly puzzles lined up that'll seriously challenge even the sharpest minds. These aren't your basic riddles — they'll make you think, rethink, and maybe even laugh at yourself a little. If you love cracking tricky questions and showing off your brainpower, this is totally your vibe. Grab a notebook (you might need it!) and see how many you can solve without peeking at the answers. Hit play and let's see if you're really as brainy as you think! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Join us as we chat with The Thinkers all the way from the Philippines. It was a lot of fun learning a bit about the music scene in Manila. We also talked about how much Filipinos love karaoke and got a fun response to our bonus question that we had never considered. Give it a listen and enjoy!Find the music and artists referenced this week here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4eSxbbsaNo2osgdHljBl9i?si=7b72ba868fb44fdeFind The Thinkers here: @thethinkersoundWatch the Music Video Discussed here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdT8ixdxPX4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0HSD_i2DvA&list=RDK0HSD_i2DvA&start_radio=1https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c18441Eh_WE&list=RDc18441Eh_WE&start_radio=1Please send concert/event stories and questions to girlsattherockshowpod@gmail.comPlease follow us on IG, Facebook, and TikTok @girlsattherockshowpod*Note: We plan to read concert/event stories and questions on the podcast so if you would like to remain anonymous, please let us know. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this Encore episode of The Voice of Retail, host Michael LeBlanc speaks with retail strategist, professor, and author Carl Boutet about his journey in academia and his latest book, Blind Spot: Navigating the Unforeseen Effects of Technology on Commerce.Carl discusses his evolving role in retail education, including his work at McGill University and teaching in Asia. He shares how his exposure to different global markets, particularly in Vietnam, has shaped his perspectives on retail innovation and emerging technologies.A key topic of discussion is Carl's take on NRF Big Show 2025, where AI and data-driven solutions dominated conversations. He reflects on the challenge of differentiation in a market saturated with AI-driven tools and emphasizes the need for retailers to focus on strategy, not just technology.The conversation also delves into the intersection of AI, AR, and emerging technologies. Carl suggests that while innovations like Apple Vision Pro and AR-driven retail experiences are gaining traction, businesses must strike a balance between digital adoption and human interaction.Michael and Carl also touch on ethical concerns surrounding AI, digital governance, and unintended consequences of rapid technological change. Carl argues that while the digital world is expanding, businesses must remain adaptable, curious, and prepared for industry disruptions.Finally, Carl introduces his book Blind Spot, which explores overlooked technological shifts in commerce. He encourages retailers to broaden their perspectives, seek inspiration beyond their immediate industry, and engage with the next generation of leaders.Listeners can purchase Blind Spot exclusively through Carl's website, StudioRX.world. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Joe Folley is a philosopher, writer, and host of the Unsolicited Advice YouTube channel. Philosophy has a way of finding us in one form or another, sometimes in a book, sometimes in a moment of crisis. Thinkers like Nietzsche and Camus have helped shape how we see life, death, and everything in between. But can these ideas truly help us live better, or are we just dressing up our confusion in big words? Expect to learn why so many people are attracted to the idea of existential philosophy and why its so seductive and alluring, why we have an obsession with the idea of authenticity, the ideas and works of Nietzsche and his philosophy, if existentialism aligns with religion or if it is anti-God in nature, what the great philosophers like Camus believe about romance, if there is such a thing as too much reflection, and much more… Sponsors: See me on tour in America: ⁠https://chriswilliamson.live⁠ See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom Get up to $50 off the RP Hypertrophy App at https://rpstrength.com/modernwisdom Get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.com/modernwisdom Extra Stuff: Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom Episodes You Might Enjoy: #577 - David Goggins - This Is How To Master Your Life: https://tinyurl.com/43hv6y59 #712 - Dr Jordan Peterson - How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs: https://tinyurl.com/2rtz7avf #700 - Dr Andrew Huberman - The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain: https://tinyurl.com/3ccn5vkp - Get In Touch: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact - Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deliciously inspiring episode of The Food Professor Podcast, co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois sit down live in person in Toronto at the SIAL Food Innovation show with Tamara Al Dip and Yazeed Yasin, the dynamic husband-and-wife duo behind NanaShake, a frozen treat brand making waves with their vegan-friendly, upcycled banana-based pops.Fresh off their win at the SIAL Canada pitch competition, Tamara and Yazeed share their entrepreneurial journey, rooted in a desire to find a healthy, asthma-friendly dessert for their son. What started as a scoop shop in Toronto has since evolved into a thriving CPG brand available in over 1,200 stores across Canada, including Metro and Sobeys. Their product? A naturally sweet "smoothie on a stick" that's dairy-free, low in added sugars, and made with their cashew milk. As they proudly proclaim, NanaShake is "shaking up the ice cream category"—literally.Throughout the episode, listeners will hear the heartwarming origin story of the brand, the family's immigration to Canada, and how their kids have played an active role in the business, including their daughter landing a major retail listing at just 12 years old. The couple's passion, purpose, and persistence shine through, particularly in their discussion of using upcycled bananas to align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals for responsible consumption and production. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

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

How do you live a fulfilling life? It's not riches, it's impact and legacy.  In this episode, you will learn how you can quantify mentoring, volunteering, and philanthropy so you can better understand how much impact you make every day, how to build and leave a rewarding legacy, and how to create a highly generative life. We all want to have impact, whether it is at work, at home, or in our communities. And while we are striving to make an impact, we might not even realize the impact we're already making! There is a way to find out about our impact and just how deep our footprint is by understanding mentorship, legacy, and generativity. We'll also unpack the emotional science behind mentorship—and how to give, find, and recognize it when it's real. If you've ever craved guidance but didn't know how to ask… or if you've been called a mentor without knowing what that really meant… this conversation will name what's been missing.***ABOUT OUR GUEST:Dr. Deborah Heiser is an applied developmental psychologist, Founder of My Legacy Tree, and author of The Mentorship Edge. She is a TEDx speaker, member of Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, expert contributor to Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor.***IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!***LINKS:www.gotowerscope.comhttps://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/https://deborahheiser.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd/ https://www.youtube.com/@DebbieHeiser https://substack.com/@deborahheiserphdTune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc

Today, we are joined by Peter Bregman.Peter helps successful people become exceptional leaders and stellar human beings. He blends his deep expertise in business, leadership and people, to deliver quantifiable results such as Turnarounds, Revenue/Stock Growth, Executive Team Development, and Personal Development. Peter is recognized as the #1 executive coach in the world by Leading Global Coaches. He coaches C-Level executives in many of the world's premier organizations, including Allianz, Twilio, Electronic Arts, CBS, Mars, Pearson, Citi, Charity Navigator, United Media, FEI, and many others.Peter is ranked as a Top 30 thought leader by Thinkers 50 Radar and selected as one of the Top 8 thought leaders in leadership. He is ranked by Global Guru's as one of the top 30 best Coaches in the world and one of the top 30 best leadership speakers/trainers in the world. He is the award-winning, best selling author and contributor of 18 books, including most recently, You CAN Change Other People: The Four Steps to Help Your Colleagues, Employees—Even Family—Up Their Game. He also wrote Leading with Emotional Courage: How to Have Hard Conversations, Create Accountability, and Inspire Action on Your Most Important Work. His book, 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done, was a Wall Street Journal bestseller, winner of the Gold medal from the Axiom Business Book awards, named the best business book of the year by NPR, and selected by Publisher's Weekly and the New York Post as a top ten business book. He is also the author of Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Replace Counter-Productive Habits with Ones That Really Work, a New York Post “Top Pick for Your Career” in 2015, and Point B: A Short Guide to Leading a Big Change.In this powerful conversation, we explore what emotional courage really means and why it's the secret sauce of effective leadership. Peter reveals how most of our leadership challenges stem not from lack of knowledge, skills, time, or opportunity, but from our unwillingness to feel the emotions that certain actions might trigger. Key topics include:Why emotional courage is the willingness to feel The four essential traits of powerful leadershipHow self-compassion serves as the foundation for authentic confidence The importance of owning your shadow side rather than projecting it onto othersLearning to practice irrelevancy without losing influence or impactThe metaphor of "holding the baby" when you feel powerless in challenging situationsHow to bring devotion to your workThe critical difference between expressing emotions and containing themWhether you're avoiding difficult conversations, struggling with vulnerability in leadership, or looking to deepen your emotional intelligence, Peter's insights provide a roadmap for building the emotional courage that transforms both leaders and organizations.Peter Bregman's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Leading-Emotional-Courage-Conversations-Accountability/dp/1119505690 Bregman Partners Website: https://bregmanpartners.com/ -Website and live online programs: http://ims-online.com Blog: https://blog.ims-online.com/ Podcast: https://ims-online.com/podcasts/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesgood/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesgood99 Chapters:(00:00) Introduction(01:25) Tool: Defining Emotional Courage as Willingness to Feel(05:40) Technique: Building Emotional Courage Through Daily Practice(09:05) Tip: The Four Essential Leadership Traits Framework(12:30) Tool: Self-Compassion as Foundation for Confidence(15:10) Technique: Owning Your Shadow Side Instead of Projecting(23:05) Tip: Practicing Irrelevancy Without Losing Influence(27:30) Tool: The "Holding the Baby" Metaphor for Connection(32:05) Technique: Bringing Raw Engagement and Devotion to Work(37:30) Tip: Containing vs Expressing Emotions for Strategic Choice(39:28) Conclusion

Most people spend their lives trying to eliminate struggle. Marine Corps veteran Akshay Nanavati spent four years and $1.1 million preparing to drag a 420-pound sled across Antarctica alone - on what experts call "the world's first attempt at an impossible expedition."His greatest breakthrough didn't happen on the ice. It happened when doctors told him he had PTSD and he responded: "I reject that label." Instead of accepting victim status, he created Fearvana. a philosophy that transforms fear into fuel and suffering into strength.In this conversation, Simon builds a live visual model that captures Akshay's entire transformation methodology: the spiral framework that shows how humans evolve from basic fear/desire programming to the ultimate sacred edge of void and creation.Ready to systematically extract and codify your own breakthrough thinking? Join Simon's Masterclass on The Models Method: https://thesimonbowen.com/masterclassEpisode Breakdown00:00 Introduction and Akshay's journey from Marine to polar explorer 04:32 The moment he rejected his PTSD diagnosis and created Fearvana 08:47 What Marines learn about performing under pressure that business leaders don't 14:23 Building the sacred edge framework and the spiral model of human development 22:15 The three levels of transformation: fear/desire, suffering/joy, void/creation 28:41 Why choosing your suffering gives you power over your experience 35:18 The Antarctica expedition: four years of preparation for the impossible 42:05 Dragging a 420-pound sled and why getting there was harder than being there 47:29 The inner war philosophy and the path to peace through worthy struggle 53:47 The mantras that carry you through when you want to quit 56:12 Why stillness might be humanity's greatest fear and confronting the void 58:15 Final thoughts on finding your spiral and living with dualitiesAbout Akshay NanavatiAkshay Nanavati is a Marine veteran who has overcome PTSD, depression and addiction that pushed him to the brink of suicide. He's since built a global business, run ultramarathons, spent 17 days in darkness, survived 100 days alone in the polar regions, and dragged a 420-pound sled for 500 miles, alone in Antarctica for 60 days, on what experts call “the boldest Antarctic expedition in modern times.”Combining lived experience with neuroscience, psychology and spirituality, he wrote the book “Fearvana,” which was endorsed by the Dalai Lama. Akshay is an international speaker who helps leaders and teams break through limits, explore new edges and perform at their peak.Connect with Akshay Nanavati:Website: https://fearvana.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fearvana/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearvana/About Simon BowenSimon has spent over two decades working with influential leaders across complex industries. His focus is on elevating thinking in organizations, recognizing that success is directly proportional to the quality of thinking and ideas within a business. Simon leads the renaissance of thinking through his work with global leaders and organizations.Connect with SimonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simonbowen-mm/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialsimonbowen/ Website: https://thesimonbowen.com/Get Simon Bowen's Personal Newsletter for Leaders, Thinkers, and...

Aiden answers your questions about conceptualization and making the adult brain better at Chess. Send your questions to @AidenAtDontMove on Twitter, or aiden@dontmoveuntilyousee.it Read the series about mantras and taming your intuition here: https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/your-enthusiastic-friend To learn more about Don't Move Until You See It and get the free 5-day Conceptualizing Chess Series, head over to https://dontmoveuntilyousee.it/conceptualization

Jason Blair is a transformative force in arts education, with over 20 years dedicated to unlocking the creative potential of young minds. The post Episode #175: Growing Creative Thinkers and Agents of Change with Jason Blair first appeared on Rethinking Learning.

S5:E5 Leading with Values: How Naturepedic Builds a Better Brand, with Arin SchultzWhat does it take to lead growth at the forefront of a movement for safer, healthier sleep? In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, we sit down with Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic, a pioneering brand in certified organic mattresses and bedding. With over eleven years in the organic sleep industry, Arin shares how he's helped Naturepedic expand its market share, launch innovative products, and build a trusted brand committed to health, sustainability, and safety. We talk about the evolution of the organic mattress category, how purpose-driven growth strategies translate to retail success, and the balancing act of leading multiple departments—sales, marketing, retail, R&D, and more. Whether you're in retail, health-conscious consumer products, or looking to build a values-based, mission-led brand, this episode delivers sharp insights from one of the industry's most committed and capable leaders!Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeAbout our GuestArin Schultz is Chief Growth Officer at Naturepedic, the leading organic mattress brand. As the lead on all Naturepedic marketing efforts, Arin develops and implements strategies that support the company's business growth, customer retention, product innovation, consumer education initiatives and sustainability goals. Working for the certified organic, non-toxic mattress pioneer opened Arin's eyes to the dangers of harmful chemicals and their pervasive presence in households across the globe. This knowledge has added a deeper purpose to his relentless push to help transform the brand's vision into reality. A father of four and an empathetic listener, Arin's success at Naturepedic is centered on his authentic understanding of the Naturepedic customer and his genuine desire to help families make the safest, healthiest sleep choices.00:00 Preview 01:45 Show Intro 07:21 Arin Schultz, Chief Growth Officer, Naturepedic - The Mission 08:43 The Founding Story of Naturepedic 12:09 Challenges and Growth in the Mattress Industry 17:13 Retail Expansion and Customer Engagement 19:30 Product Innovation and Sustainability 23:10 Industry Environmental Impact and Continuous Product Improvement 35:20 Customer Experience and Meeting Their Needs 38:21 Replacing Your Mattress & Customer Service Excellence 43:20 Sourcing and Tariffs Impact 49:53 Embracing AI in Marketing and Operations 56:28 Advice for Growing a Values-Based Brand 59:23 Final Thoughts 01:00:38 Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University's Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I'm thrilled to welcome back Chris Jones, Founder and CEO of Cannabis Xpress, for his third appearance on the show. Chris offers an insider's view of the fast-changing cannabis retail landscape in Canada. Since we last spoke, Cannabis Xpress has grown to 21 stores—14 in Ontario and 7 in New Brunswick—becoming the largest private cannabis retailer in New Brunswick.Chris shares how his focus on underserved communities and cost-efficient, compact store formats has created a sustainable and profitable business model in a sector plagued by high overhead, oversupply, and stiff competition. He explains why small-town locations, limited SKU count, and fast, expert service are at the heart of his winning value proposition.We explore the broader industry landscape, including how Ontario's cannabis market has peaked and is now in a correction phase, with closures and lease renewals looming. Chris offers a frank take on regulatory blind spots that allowed a flood of stores—sometimes side by side—without proper planning. He also speaks to the remaining dominance of the illicit market, and how changes to edible dosage limits, store hours, and licensing could help bring more consumers into the legal fold.Chris doesn't shy away from highlighting the pros and cons of the Canadian system compared to U.S. states like California and New York, where regulatory complexity and taxation have stifled growth. Yet, he remains optimistic about the future of cannabis retail—both in Canada and abroad.Looking ahead, Chris reveals plans to pursue more licenses in Atlantic Canada, potentially introduce private label products, and eventually sell the business. Despite a challenging retail environment, Cannabis Xpress is not just surviving—it's thriving, with over $10 million in revenue and 70 employees across Canada. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this sizzling episode of The Food Professor Podcast, recorded live at the SIAL Canada food innovation show in Toronto, co-hosts Michael and Sylvain welcome Pierre-Olivier Drouin, Co-Founder of Firebarns, the fast-growing Quebec-based condiment company that brings flavour-first hot sauces to shelves across North America.Pierre-Olivier shares his unexpected journey from banking at RBC to launching Firebarns after a revelatory encounter with spicy wings during a hockey game in Florida. Inspired by that moment, he partnered with longtime friend Frank to build what they dreamed would be the next Tabasco—made in Canada. Their goal? A bold brand that flips the script by delivering taste before heat.Launched in 2015, Firebarns quickly became Quebec's first dedicated hot sauce brand. Since then, it has expanded into a diverse product line that includes BBQ sauces, ketchup, mustards, and Sriracha—all made with Canadian ingredients and designed for broader family appeal. Their innovative packaging—30% recycled squeezable plastic bottles—has helped the brand stand out in crowded condiment aisles and reflects their commitment to sustainability.Pierre-Olivier discusses how Firebarns has scaled, with distribution now in over 1,100 U.S. stores and more expansion underway, including Texas-based H-E-B. He opens up about navigating international trade headwinds, such as tariffs, and how careful financial planning and food costing helped buffer against unexpected 25% duties. His insight offers valuable lessons for other CPG entrepreneurs seeking to expand across borders.The episode also dives into Firebarns' savvy use of influencer marketing and content creation to build a passionate community of fans, especially among younger consumers aged 25–45. Drouin emphasizes the power of authenticity—whether through engaging product demos or the story of Barney, the company's late bulldog mascot and original “CEO,” now succeeded by Barney Jr. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

What if your biggest business breakthroughs aren't just about strategy or hard skills but about building real, meaningful connections? In this thought-provoking episode, Noah Askin, a professor and leadership expert at UC Irvine, explores the powerful intersection of culture, vulnerability, and connection in the business world. Through a detailed discussion of his research, he uncovers how business leaders can intentionally craft an environment that nurtures authentic relationships. Noah explains how to balance results with meaningful cultural practices and why understanding yourself is the key to building thriving networks and communities.  Whether you're a CEO, manager, or entrepreneur, Noah's insights are sure to inspire new strategies for achieving both personal fulfillment and business success. Here are highlights: -Building Trust Through Vulnerability: Noah explains how being vulnerable is a cornerstone of trust-building, both personally and professionally. -The Importance of Self-Awareness for Leaders: Discover why great leadership begins with understanding your own biases, values, and assumptions. -The Role of Connection in Business: Learn how intentional connection not only improves workplace culture but drives better results across teams. -Creating a Thriving Company Culture: Noah shares practical tips for CEOs and leaders on cultivating a culture that aligns with both organizational goals and personal values. -The 8 Archetypes of Connection: Get introduced to different ways people connect and how understanding your own archetype can enhance your leadership style. About the guest: Noah Askin is an Associate Professor of Organization and Management at UC-Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business, where he also serves as Faculty Director of their Leadership Development Institute. An award-winning teacher and researcher, Noah is an expert in organizational dynamics, leadership, and culture, focusing on the informal networks of communication and connection that drive organizational life.  Noah's work has garnered him recognition on the Thinkers 50 Radar list and has been covered by various publications, including the BBC, The Economist, Rolling Stone, NPR, Vox, and Forbes. He lives with his family in Southern California. His book, Orchestrating Connection: How to Build a Purposeful Community in a Tribal World has been co-authored with David Homan. Connect with Noah: Website: https://noahaskin.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noahaskin/  Connect with Allison: Feedspot has named Disruptive CEO Nation as one of the Top 25 CEO Podcasts on the web, and it is ranked the number 6 CEO podcast to listen to in 2025! https://podcasts.feedspot.com/ceo_podcasts/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonsummerschicago/  Website: https://www.disruptiveceonation.com/   #CEO #leadership #startup #founder #business #businesspodcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special summer episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, we welcome Jeannie Yoo, CEO of Draper James, for a wide-ranging conversation on the brand's growth trajectory, the power of celebrity in retail, and the rise of human-centric retail experiences.Jeannie brings two decades of fashion retail experience to the table, from her early days at Michael Kors and Coach to leading the luxury house Adam Lippes. Now nine months into her role at Draper James, Yoo is steering the Southern-rooted lifestyle brand—founded by Reese Witherspoon—through its next stage of growth, marked by its 10th anniversary "decade tour" and a sharpened focus on customer connection.Yoo discusses how Draper James defies the "digitally native" label, thriving through retail stores, with licensing and pop-ups that foster personal, local, and sensory experiences. While the brand's celebrity origin story is foundational, Yoo emphasizes how its growth is now powered by inclusive pricing, joyful storytelling, and a culture of Southern hospitality. Reese Witherspoon remains involved, but the brand is scaling under Yoo's operational leadership and with the backing of Consortium Brand Partners.Central to the conversation is Yoo's take on "human-centric retailing"—a strategy rooted in community engagement, elevated in-store experiences, and product innovation informed by customer passions for gardening, books, and food. She describes how Draper James curates joy through both product and experience, emphasizing quality over quantity in an era of fashion abundance. Technology, particularly AI, plays a role, but not the leading one. The focus, she notes, is on enabling smarter, more efficient work—not replacing human intuition or creativity.Looking ahead, Yoo sees North American expansion—especially retail and licensing—as the brand's most significant opportunity before tackling global markets. She also reflects on her leadership style, which has been forged in both large organizations and niche luxury brands, allowing her to scale thoughtfully without losing the emotional resonance that makes Draper James special. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Send us a text(N.B.:  This episode is cross-posted at our partner site, Adam Smith Works. There are lots of resources and background material there, if you want to delve deeper)The Scottish Enlightenment emerged as a remarkable intellectual movement that shaped modern economics, philosophy, and social science, with Adam Smith at its center developing a dual theory of human nature through his two masterworks.• Scottish Presbyterian education fostered literacy and critical inquiry despite doctrinal rigidity• The 1707 Act of Union created unique conditions where Scots pursued intellectual achievement rather than political power• Scottish universities thrived through student-funded education while Oxford professors "gave up even the pretense of teaching"• Thinkers like David Hume, Francis Hutchison, and Thomas Reid established key intellectual foundations• Smith's concept of sympathy involves synchronizing sentiments with others, not just feeling pity• Justice protects "person, property and promise" as the foundation of social order• Beneficence is "the ornament" of society while justice is essential to its existence• Smith was strongly anti-slavery, describing enslaved Africans as "nations of heroes" superior to their captors• The Theory of Moral Sentiments and Wealth of Nations form a unified system, not contradictory works• Commercial society requires both moral foundations and economic understanding to function properlyFor the complete series on Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations and additional resources, you can also visit Liberty Fund's Adam Smith Works website.If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at taitc.email@gmail.com ! You can follow Mike Munger on Twitter at @mungowitz

In this special live episode of The Voice of Retail, recorded at RCC STORE 2025, I sit down with two retail thought leaders: Simone Lumsden, Senior Vice-President, Triangle Customer Loyalty and Triangle Retail Media, Canadian Tire Corporation, and Sandra Duff, Founder and Principal at Another Story Consulting. Together, we explore what it takes to deliver loyalty, excitement, and differentiation in an increasingly parity-driven retail environment.Simone shares how Canadian Tire is evolving its Triangle Rewards program beyond the traditional notion of loyalty. From its iconic paper money origins to a modern digital currency used across banners, Triangle is now designed to be simple, flexible, and personal. Simone explains how Canadian Tire is using customer data to deliver meaningful value through personalized offers and experiences, while acknowledging there's still work to be done to make those offers more relevant and engaging.Sandra contributes powerful insights drawn from her years of customer research, highlighting the crucial distinction between "jobs" and "joys" in retail. She stresses that while table stakes, such as price and convenience, must be met, fun and inspiration are what truly differentiate. Together, we discuss how in-store experiences must move beyond transactions to create environments that delight and connect with customers on an emotional level.The conversation shifts to retail media, where Simone emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between monetization and the customer experience. She describes how Canadian Tire is introducing in-store and digital retail media in non-intrusive, contextually relevant ways, avoiding the cluttered, disruptive examples seen elsewhere. Sandra reinforces that strong customer insights should never live in silos, but should empower every team—from marketing to store associates—to deliver differentiated value.We also delve into innovation and experimentation—from new flagship formats at Sport Chek and Mark's, to coalition partnerships, and the rise of agentic AI in shaping the future of shopping journeys. Simone encourages retailers to stay curious and test new approaches without fear of past failures, while Sandra calls for more real-time feedback loops and smaller-scale pilot programs to learn what resonates most. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

En este episodio de Thinkers Podcast, hablamos con Sabah, cantante de raíces marroquíes, sobre lo que significa perseguir un sueño cuando la cultura, la familia y la presión social te empujan a callar.¿Qué pasa cuando el arte choca con las expectativas familiares? ¿Y cuando ser mujer te pone el doble de obstáculos?Sabah nos habla sin filtros de culpa, libertad, fe y del precio emocional de dedicarse a la música siendo mujer en una familia tradicional.Un diálogo íntimo, valiente y lleno de verdad.

In this live episode from the SIAL Canada show floor in Toronto, we welcome a very special guest: Laura Brehaut, Food Reporter at the National Post. With a thoughtful blend of experience in anthropology, media production, culinary training, and a deep journalistic instinct, Laura offers a compelling perspective on Canada's evolving food landscape and how stories around food intersect with culture, politics, health, and economics.Co-hosts Michael LeBlanc and Dr. Sylvain Charlebois flip the script by interviewing Laura, who is usually the one asking the questions. Laura shares how her journey began in anthropology and linguistics before transitioning into media, where her love for storytelling led her to online radio and digital journalism, long before podcasts were mainstream.As a seasoned journalist, Laura offers a behind-the-scenes look at the tradecraft of reporting in today's rapidly changing media landscape. Despite the pressures of multi-platform content, Laura remains grounded in the written word, driven by a sense of purpose and a commitment to serving her readers. Her curiosity and dedication to integrity shape her reporting, which spans a wide range of topics, from Canadian whiskey to protein trends and food sustainability.The conversation dives into key themes for 2025, including the continued momentum of the "Buy Canadian" movement, the impact of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic on food choices, and a renewed focus on fibre and functional ingredients. Laura also weighs in on the rise of alternative proteins and blended meat products, highlighting recent research showing their increasing consumer acceptance, especially among omnivores.She speaks candidly about the role of AI in journalism, the importance of authentic storytelling, and why she would never buy an AI-generated cookbook. Her advice for aspiring reporters? Stay curious, stay humble, and never assume you know how an interview will go. The Food Professor #podcast is presented by Caddle. About UsDr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Professor in food distribution and policy in the Faculties of Management and Agriculture at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie, he was affiliated with the University of Guelph's Arrell Food Institute, which he co-founded. Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. Google Scholar ranks him as one of the world's most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability.He has authored five books on global food systems, his most recent one published in 2017 by Wiley-Blackwell entitled “Food Safety, Risk Intelligence and Benchmarking”. He has also published over 500 peer-reviewed journal articles in several academic publications. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, including The Lancet, The Economist, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, BBC, NBC, ABC, Fox News, Foreign Affairs, the Globe & Mail, the National Post and the Toronto Star.Dr. Charlebois sits on a few company boards, and supports many organizations as a special advisor, including some publicly traded companies. Charlebois is also a member of the Scientific Council of the Business Scientific Institute, based in Luxemburg. Dr. Charlebois is a member of the Global Food Traceability Centre's Advisory Board based in Washington DC, and a member of the National Scientific Committee of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in Ottawa. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this insightful episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast recorded live at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York, Sarah Henry, Vice President, Head of Content, Influencer & Commerce at Walmart, discusses how one of the world's largest retailers is at the forefront of digital innovation. Sarah shares her journey from classical pianist to marketing executive, charting her unique path into eCommerce and social media leadership.The discussion dives deep into how Walmart is meeting the evolving expectations of Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers. Sarah explains how the boundaries between brand discovery, engagement, and purchase are transforming, particularly for younger demographics who now discover products on social platforms more than in physical aisles or via traditional search engines. She shares insights into Walmart's strategic shift, including the rollout of the "Who Knew?" campaign, which highlights surprising products and services available through Walmart, ranging from exclusive Pokémon cards to stylish fashion from brands like Free Assembly.A central focus of the conversation is "Walmart Creator", the brand's in-house platform launched to streamline influencer engagement and power social commerce. Sarah explains how this platform connects tens of thousands of creators directly with Walmart's ecosystem, enabling shoppable content that seamlessly bridges inspiration and transaction.The conversation also touches on the increasing role of artificial intelligence in commerce. Sarah emphasizes the balance between technology and human creativity, asserting that Walmart's approach is "tech-led and people-powered." She discusses how AI is being used to support creators, personalize experiences, and enhance the customer journey, while remaining cautious about authenticity and scale.Sarah offers a look at attribution and measurement, acknowledging progress while recognizing room for improvement. She also shares her excitement for the future of social commerce and the continued growth of the creator economy as a legitimate career path. Throughout the episode, she underscores the importance of adaptability and real-time testing in a retail landscape that is changing by the day. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Creativity through the lens of CEO and Founder of The Mentor Project"Creativity is taking something and repackaging it building on something we already have."Dr. Deborah Heiser is the CEO/Founder of The Mentor Project, author of The Mentorship Edge, and an Applied Developmental Psychologist. She has been featured at TEDx, Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches, Thinkers 50 Radar List, Psychology Today and is also an Adjunct Professor in the Psychology Department at SUNY Old Westbury.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-heiser-phd/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebbieHeiserwww.deborahheiser.comwww.mentorproject.orgThinkers50Radar List 2022100 CoachesBook a time to meet!TEDx: Rethinking Aging: Mentoring the New Generationhttps://youtu.be/uSubiZf8JQoSend us a text

In this episode of The Voice of Retail, I'm joined by James B. Smith, Founder and CEO of Rare Placement, for a wide-ranging conversation on modern leadership, executive search, and the future of talent in the retail industry.James brings an exceptional career journey to the mic, beginning in advertising with agencies like Grey and Ogilvy, moving into marketing leadership at Citibank, in leadership roles at Esquire and then Conde Nast Traveller—where he helped it become the top-performing title, even outpacing Vogue. His passion for growth and transformation led him to become a CEO, owner-operator, and eventually launch Rare Placement, a boutique executive search firm focused on personalized, human-centric talent solutions.In our conversation, James emphasizes the power of storytelling—not just for brands, but for leaders. He reveals that every candidate he's placed has gone on to become a client, a testament to his laser focus on culture fit, agility, and soft skills over just resumes. We dive into how executive hiring has changed, why modern CEOs need courage, humility, and the ability to say “I don't know,” and how COVID permanently reshaped leadership styles and expectations around flexibility and culture.James shares practical advice for current and aspiring retail leaders—from building a strong, concise personal narrative to investing in ongoing networking, not just when you're in transition. He stresses that succession planning should be an ongoing, layered strategy, and reminds executives that “people buy leaders, not logos.”We also explore the increasing importance of board roles—both fiduciary and advisory—and how executives can position themselves for these opportunities by knowing what they uniquely bring to the table.Whether you're a retail executive planning your next move, a CEO rethinking your leadership team, or a rising leader wondering how to stand out, this episode is packed with actionable insights. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this episode, Megan and Frank continue their discussion of the Illuminati. Here, the focus is on the afterlife of the Bavarian Order. How did conspiracy theories involving the Illuminati arise? Why is so much pop culture full of Illuminati imagery? And are there any good reasons to believe in such conspiracy theories? Thinkers discussed include: Dostoyevsky, Kierkegaard, and Maarten Boudry.-----------------------Hosts' Websites:Megan J Fritts (google.com)Frank J. Cabrera (google.com)Email: philosophyonthefringes@gmail.com-----------------------Bibliography:Michael Taylor- Illuminati in the US - American History Hit | AcastThe Secret School of Wisdom: The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati (Primary source documents)CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: IlluminatiKierkegaard - The Crowd is UntruthThe Grand Inquisitor, by Feodor DostoevskyBarruel - Memoirs Illustrating The History Of JacobinismFrom Thomas Jefferson to Bishop James Madison, 31 January 1800Did an Illuminati Conspiracy Theory Help Elect Thomas Jefferson? - POLITICONesta Webster - World revolution; the plot against civilizationZionism versus Bolshevism - ChurchillBoudry, Maarten - Why We Should Be Suspicious of Conspiracy Theories. A Novel Demarcation Problem [Reddit] why do the large shadow organizations leave clues that could lead to their downfall?Megan Fritts & Frank Cabrera, Fake News and Epistemic Vice: Combating a Uniquely Noxious MarketAre Republicans and Conservatives More Likely to Believe Conspiracy Theories? - PMCThe psychological and political correlates of conspiracy theory beliefsIs Conspiracy Theorising Irrational? - Neil LevyPredictors of belief in conspiracy theoryConspiracy theory and cognitive style: a worldview-----------------------Cover Artwork by Logan Fritts-------------------------Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/neon-signsLicense code: ZILRIT8XNZAA6LYZ

In this episode, Megan and Frank investigate the Bavarian Order of the Illuminati, a secret society founded in 1776 by the Enlightenment philosopher Adam Weishaupt. This conversation covers who the Illuminati were, what they believed, and how they attempted to bring about a "new world order." Thinkers discussed include: Adam Weishaupt, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Marx, Mencius, and Alasdair MacIntyre.-----------------------Hosts' Websites:Megan J Fritts (google.com)Frank J. Cabrera (google.com)Email: philosophyonthefringes@gmail.com-----------------------Bibliography:The Secret School of Wisdom: The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati (Primary source documents)CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: IlluminatiIlluminaten - Dictionary of Gnosis & Western EsotericismPerfectibilists | Independent Publishers GroupKant. What is EnlightenmentHegel - Philosophy of RightAfter Virtue - A Study in Moral Theory - Alasdair MacIntyreHow Mengzi came up with something better than the Golden Rule | Aeon Ideas-----------------------Cover Artwork by Logan Fritts-------------------------Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/simon-folwar/neon-signsLicense code: CUCILUBPXFZKKTOP

While we await our next episode, we invite you catch up with 18 Questions, 40 Israeli Thinkers.Micah Goodman doesn't think Palestinian-Israeli peace will happen within his lifetime. But he's still a hopeful person.Named by the Jerusalem Post as one of the 50 most influential Jews, Micah is a public intellectual, writer, and author whose voice is central to the moral, political, and religious debates raging within Israel.He is the author of several best-selling books — including The Wondering Jew, Catch 67, The Dream of the Kuzari, and The Last Words of Moses — and co-host of the popular Israeli podcast Mifleget Hamachshavot.Now, he joins us to answer 18 questions on criticizing Israel, resettling Gaza, and Jewish democracy.This interview was recorded on July 6.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/18forty-podcast--4344730/support.

In the first of our 8-part summer series produced in partnership with CommerceNext, our guest is  Ken Pilot—retail executive, tech investor, and host of The Retail Pilot: Leaders & Legends podcast.Ken's legendary career spans decades and includes pivotal roles such as President of Gap Global, Factory Stores at Ralph Lauren, and leadership positions at J.Crew, American Eagle, and ABC Carpet & Home. He takes us behind the scenes of launching Gap Outlet, transforming a single underperforming store into over 100 high-margin locations in just 36 months, ultimately making it the most profitable division at Gap. The conversation then shifts to current macro challenges, particularly tariffs and global sourcing. Ken unpacks the "tariff math" few are talking about, warning that even modest increases could wipe out 10 points of margin, especially for smaller brands without pricing power or manufacturing flexibility. He anticipates a hit to Southeast Asia, outlines strategic moves by companies like Gap to diversify sourcing, and speculates on the economic implications for North American retail.Next, Ken delves into the retail tech landscape, providing a forward-looking perspective on Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), the emergence of natural language search, and how retailers must adapt both on-site and externally to remain visible and competitive. He highlights the companies he's advising and investing in, including "Curated For You" (an AI-driven occasion-based merchandising platform) and "Raspberry AI" (tools that help designers iterate visuals from sketches to campaign-ready assets). He also discusses the creative tension AI can introduce and how forward-thinking teams are adapting.Finally, we examine the potential of Retail Media Networks (RMNs) as an underutilized profit stream, particularly in a high-cost, low-margin environment. Ken balances caution with optimism, emphasizing the need for retailers to experiment, remain agile, and stay laser-focused on the customer and core product offering. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

In this special encore episode of The Voice of Retail, recorded live at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, host Michael LeBlanc is joined by longtime Remarkable Retail #podcast collaborator and retail thought leader Steve Dennis to celebrate the launch of Steve's latest book, Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption.Best known for his bestselling book Remarkable Retail, Steve steps outside the retail-specific lens to explore a broader question: Why do leaders and companies fail to transform—even when they know they must? Drawing on personal experiences at iconic retailers like Sears and Neiman Marcus, Steve shares how legacy mindsets, fear of risk, and "timid transformations" can doom even the most well-intentioned strategies. He recalls a pivotal moment at Sears when, after 18 months of strategic planning and board approval, a colleague remarked that the new plan was “not a strategy to win—just a strategy to suck less.”From there, the conversation dives into the key themes of Leaders Leap, including Steve's concept of “leadership mind leaps”—seven fundamental shifts that leaders must make to truly drive meaningful transformation. These include “Crush Your Ego,” “Open the Aperture,” “Edit to Amplify,” “Start with Wow,” “Think Radically,” “Embrace the Risk of Inaction,” and “Accelerate with Urgency.” Each leap challenges conventional leadership norms and encourages leaders to rethink their roles in the face of fast-paced disruption.Steve and Michael discuss why merely optimizing the business model isn't enough in an age defined by exponential change, and how legacy brands can learn from disruptors like Uber, Airbnb, and Netflix—companies that pivoted boldly and often. Using examples from RH (formerly Restoration Hardware) and Vuori, the episode highlights how focus, differentiation, and bold thinking can enable even established players to reinvent themselves.This episode is a masterclass in leadership transformation for retailers and executives across sectors. Whether you're a C-suite veteran, a team leader, or an entrepreneur navigating disruption, this conversation offers both strategic frameworks and personal insight that can help you leap forward, not fall behind. Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fifth year in a row, the National Retail Federation has designated Michael as on their Top Retail Voices for 2025, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

S5:E4 Empowering Women in Retail Tech: A New Era of LeadershipIn Season Five, Episode Four of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden engage in a captivating conversation with Shannon Flanagan, a seasoned retail leader and founder of Retail Women in Tech (RWIT). Shannon shares her journey from folding jeans at 18 to leading billion-dollar business transformations and emphasizes the importance of embracing change and innovation in retail. The episode underscores the critical role of diversity and inclusion in driving the industry forward, touching on the challenges and opportunities for women in tech and retail. Shannon discusses her vision for RWIT, a community aimed at fostering connections, mentorship, and leadership among women and allies in the retail tech space. With insights on change management, the impact of AI in retail, and the power of allyship, this episode offers valuable perspectives for retail professionals and tech enthusiasts alike.Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeAbout our GuestShannon Flanagan, founder of Retail Women in Tech, https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-e-flanagan/ - Retail Women in Tech, https://retailwomenintech.orgShannon Flanagan caught the retail bug at 18 and never looked back. A retail strategist, AI enthusiast, and career change practitioner, she brings a 360-degree perspective on retail transformation—from product creation to customer experience—shaped by her work with hyper-growth startups to Fortune 500 retailers, consulting firms and tech companies. As a strategic partner and top industry voice, she collaborates with RETHINK Retail, RetailWire and the RetailAICouncil to drive conversations that shape the future of the industry.As the founder of Retail Women in Tech, Shannon has built a global community dedicated to creating life-changing connections for women and allies who share a passion for retail and technology. As social as retail is, there are surprisingly very few communities representing every facet of the industry. Shannon is on a mission to change that—stay tuned for more to come!00:00 Preview 00:51 Show Intro 05:26 Welcome Shannon Flanagan 06:14 Shannon's Retail Journey Begins 08:47 Insights on Change Management 10:21 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives 15:03 Challenges in Hiring for Innovation 24:00 The Birth of Retail Women in Tech (RWIT) 34:42 Addressing the Leadership Gap 38:39 The Challenge of Asking for Help 40:36 The Harsh Reality for Female Founders 45:08 The Importance of Allies 49:01 Building a Supportive Community 59:32 The Future of Retail Women in Tech 01:06:22 Final Thoughts and Call to Action 01:08:53 Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 & a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2025. Thinkers 360 has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, & Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, plus a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University's Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2023 - 2025, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Heston Mimms, published by Imuno.

In this Season 10 finale of The Remarkable Retail Podcast, Steve interviews Vuori CEO & Founder Joe Kudla live on-stage during the closing keynote of the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York. Steve and Michael also are on-stage for a session gleaning the top retail trends of the year so far and set the stage for what's most important to focus on the balance of the year.Instead of covering the week's headlines, Michael and Steve zoom out to examine the trends that have defined the year thus far. Tariff turbulence remains the dominant storyline, with the July 9th extension deadline looming and limited trade progress made—raising uncertainty about supply chains, pricing, and margins. Retailers are already grappling with rising costs and making difficult decisions about whether to absorb the impact through vendor, consumer, or margin adjustments.They spotlight a troubling acceleration in store closures, forecasting 2025 as a record year for retail contraction, particularly in drugstore and department store categories. Meanwhile, growth continues to concentrate, with Amazon, Walmart, and Costco accounting for over half of all incremental retail gains. Smaller out-performers, such as Vuori and Abercrombie, stand out, but the middle is collapsing through a combination of unremarkable business designs and lackluster execution.The hosts also analyze the contrasting fortunes of Walmart's soaring apparel success versus Target's continued slump and reflect on emerging disruption from agentic AI—potentially reshaping how consumers search, shop, and connect with brands. With luxury contraction predicted for the first time in 15 years and labor dynamics in flux, retailers face a complex and volatile landscape.Then, it's over to an on-stage interview with Vuori CEO & Founder Joe Kudla, who joins Steve live for the closing keynote at the CommerceNext Growth Show in New York City for a candid and inspirational conversation about scaling a lifestyle brand with purpose. Joe shares how Vuori—rooted in the beachside town of Encinitas, California—pivoted from a near-collapse to a $5.5 billion valuation last year, thanks to an obsessive focus on product quality, fabric innovation, and deep community connection.Kudla walks listeners through Vuori's growth strategy: starting with DTC success, expanding to wholesale, and now operating over 80 physical stores—each serving as a local brand hub. He discusses how in-person retail drives stronger omni-channel customers and why authenticity in influencer partnerships is more important than ever in a crowded media landscape.As Vuori expands globally with new stores in London, Shanghai, and Seoul, Joe remains grounded in his role as the brand's chief product evangelist and men's fit model. His leadership lesson? Stay vulnerable, stay curious, and always lead with great products. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Discover how aligning marketing, sales, and delivery through the IC Triad enables professional services firms to commercialize their expertise and drive market momentum. The post Growth That Scales: Aligning Thinkers, Sellers, and Doers to Create Market Momentum appeared first on Rattle and Pedal.

Send us a textGlen Scrivener interviews Graham Tomlin about his book 'Blaise Pascal:The Man Who Made the Modern World'. They discuss how René Descartes introduced a radical method of doubt which has had a huge impact on how we see the world and the split between fact and value. But Blaise Pascal, living at the same time as Descartes, had a different approach.Book your place at Responding to the Rebirth: http://rebirthconference.netCheck out the 321 course and The 321 Podcast at: 321course.comSubscribe to the Speak Life YouTube channel for videos which see all of life with Jesus at the centre:youtube.com/SpeakLifeMediaSubscribe to the Reformed Mythologist YouTube channel to explore how the stories we love point to the greatest story of all:youtube.com/@ReformedMythologistDiscord is an online platform where you can interact with the Speak Life team and other Speak Life supporters. There's bonus content, creative/theological discussion and lots of fun. Join our Discord here:speaklife.org.uk/discordSpeak Life is a UK based charity that resources the church to reach the world.Learn more about us here:speaklife.org.ukSupport the show

In the latest episode of Remarkable Retail, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis return with a their hot takes on the week's top retail headlines.The duo begins with a macroeconomic update, including political gridlock in the U.S. over the "Big Beautiful Bill," the Fed's inflation outlook, and uncertainty surrounding consumer spending. They then break down TikTok's extended 90-day reprieve, speculate on Amazon's motivation behind extending Prime Day to four days, and assess the e-commerce giant's recent shift in tone regarding AI impacts on future hiring needs The hosts also spotlight Walmart's surprising 23% growth in online apparel sales, consider the luxury sector's first contraction in 15 years, and dig into a new Profitero study that reveals digital channels now influence 64% of retail transactions—emphasizing the needs to break down silos and implement a harmonized shopping experience.Then it's over to this week's featured guest: Mark Irvin, Best Buy's Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer. With more than 12 years at the retailer and a deep background in logistics, Irvin pulls back the curtain on what it takes to operate one of the world's largest and most complex retail supply chains. From visibility and speed to adaptability, Irvin outlines the three pillars of Best Buy's evolving logistics strategy. He explains how they leverage AI-driven sourcing to reduce delivery errors, digital twins to simulate future supply networks, and a growing control tower to dynamically reroute inventory in response to global disruptions—like the Panama Canal's low water levels or shifting geopolitical challenges.He also details Best Buy's commitment to sustainability, including partnerships for electrified freight and aggressive reverse logistics programs to refurbish or responsibly dispose of aging tech. The conversation wraps with a preview of his upcoming keynote at NRF's Big Show Europe in Paris, September 16-18., where he'll explore the future of retail supply chains and what it takes to deliver exceptional customer experiences by 2030. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

They're back to chat and with a new book! Dr Yael Rothman and Dr. Katia Fredrikson are once again here with us to discuss our neurodivergent kids, finding the appropriate therapies and care for them, and how to talk to our kids about autism. What is autism? How do I explain such complex concepts to my child? Where do I even start? Ultimately, we want to think long-term for our kids' overall success, give them the tools to understand the world around them, and, most importantly, empower themselves.  Instagram- @neuropsychmoms Different Thinkers: Autism- our favorite book to talk to your kids about autism Different Thinkers: ADHD Contact us at hello@momstalkautism.com

Two weeks ago, Israel struck Iran's nuclear facilities, military sites, and leaders. Iran launched a barrage of missiles into Israel. Now, the war has only intensified.Today's episode features eight Israeli thinkers discussing the Iranian threat from weeks and months ago. We hear from:Efraim InbarLahav HarkovYossi Klein HaleviGadi TaubUri ZakiEinat WilfHaviv Rettig-GurMoshe KoppelWho got it right? Who got it wrong? And who do you think is onto something?

In the latest episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast, co-hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc return with Part Two of “The Analysts," which featues three of the retail industry's most respected thought leaders—Sucharita Kodali (VP & Principal Analyst, Forrester Research), Neil Saunders (Managing Director, GlobalData Retail), and Simeon Siegel (Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets).But first, Michael and Steve unpack a news cycle packed with volatility. They begin by exploring the ripple effects of renewed Middle East conflict and its impact on oil prices, inflation, and economic sentiment. From there, the duo tackle the Trump administration's intensifying immigration enforcement and its chilling effect on the U.S. labor force—particularly in agriculture, hospitality, and retail. Shoppers are anxious, workers are disappearing, and companies are bracing for cost spikes.The episode then zooms into earnings season, with fresh data from RH (Restoration Hardware), Inditex (Zara), and Victoria's Secret. RH defies expectations with revenue gains despite a sluggish home goods sector, while Zara and Victoria's Secret warn of tariff-related turbulence ahead. Steve and Michael also sound the alarm on a string of cyberattacks, including the Victoria's Secret hack and a Whole Foods supplier breach, painting a stark picture of retail's digital vulnerabilities.Then it's time for “The Analysts” segment. Sucharita Kodali explains the hype—and the misunderstanding—around Agentic AI, warning retailers of its disintermediating potential if shopping bots take hold. The panel weigh in on the future of department stores, urging traditional retailers to rethink their value proposition, especially as beauty shifts to standalone players like Sephora, Blue Mercury, and Ulta.From TikTok's uncertain future to retail media network fatigue, the lightning round keeps the insights flowing with wit and depth. The panel also lifts up up-and-coming remarkable brands like Vuori, Alo Yoga, and Eleventy as ones to watch. Here is a 10% off code for the CommerceNext Growth Show exclusive to Remarkable Retail listeners: REMARKABLE. About UsSteve Dennis is a strategic advisor and keynote speaker focused on growth and innovation, who has also been named one of the world's top retail influencers. He is the bestselling authro of two books: Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption and Remarkable Retail: How To Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption. Steve regularly shares his insights in his role as a Forbes senior retail contributor and on social media.Michael LeBlanc is the president and founder of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc, a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and now, media entrepreneur. He has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions and participated worldwide in thought leadership panels, most recently on the main stage in Toronto at Retail Council of Canada's Retail Marketing conference with leaders from Walmart & Google. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience with Levi's, Black & Decker, Hudson's Bay, CanWest Media, Pandora Jewellery, The Shopping Channel and Retail Council of Canada to his advisory, speaking and media practice.Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including the award-winning No.1 independent retail industry podcast in America, Remarkable Retail with his partner, Dallas-based best-selling author Steve Dennis; Canada's top retail industry podcast The Voice of Retail and Canada's top food industry and one of the top Canadian-produced management independent podcasts in the country, The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois from Dalhousie University in Halifax.Rethink Retail has recognized Michael as one of the top global retail experts for the fourth year in a row, Thinkers 360 has named him on of the Top 50 global thought leaders in retail, RTIH has named him a top 100 global though leader in retail technology and Coresight Research has named Michael a Retail AI Influencer. If you are a BBQ fan, you can tune into Michael's cooking show, Last Request BBQ, on YouTube, Instagram, X and yes, TikTok.Michael is available for keynote presentations helping retailers, brands and retail industry insiders explaining the current state and future of the retail industry in North America and around the world.

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – A casualty of the global shutdown for two years from 2020 to 2022 was critical thinking, a necessary skill to protect both individuals and society from propaganda and loss of essential freedoms. Children today often do not receive critical thinking skills training in most schools...

Informed Dissent with Dr. Jeff Barke and Dr. Mark McDonald – A casualty of the global shutdown for two years from 2020 to 2022 was critical thinking, a necessary skill to protect both individuals and society from propaganda and loss of essential freedoms. Children today often do not receive critical thinking skills training in most schools...