The Clopen Effect

Don shares his background in the pet treat industry and how he helped a company bring its products to market. Along the way, he connected with others in the holistic pet space and decided to take the leap. One product that especially caught his attention was freeze-dried food. Cass shares how one of her puppies was struggling with severe allergies and how many of those issues improved through heal...

In this episode, we sat down with Alex, owner of Hometown Hug, the heart behind those unforgettable welcome baskets for new homeowners in McHenry County. 💛 They’re best known for their HomeTown Hug baskets — thoughtfully curated gifts that personally introduce over 700 new homeowners each year to the incredible local businesses and nonprofits that make this community thrive. We talked about what...

Alyssa joined us from The Fiber Fellowship , an organization that supports several local charities, including Animal Outreach and oncology centers in the area. They also create fidget squares for emergency responders - very impressive. And Kishwaukee Brewing Company is here! Listen in to this week’s episode as Cara and Heather chat about all the fun events happening at the brewery this year. Plus,...

Jen is back, and the coffee vibes are strong! We dive into another lively chat about all things coffee, play a hilarious game of coffee brand phrases, and Jen treats us to a sneak peek at four of her newer rockstar flavors . Her coffee comes in 12oz bags (and 12oz bags). It’s caffeinated fun you won’t want to miss. BONUS: Go to our Facebook page for a chance to win a basket from Jenuine Coffee All...

Welcome to the Clopen Book Club! Let's talk about books and reading a book before seeing the movie! All of Lexie's info is here and on Facebook: "Luna and Koi" All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect Support the show and advertising opportunity: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814 💩...

We do so much more than work retail! Let's talk about it. Hobbies and extracurricular activities. All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect Support the show and advertising opportunity: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814 💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://l...

Judy and Holly are here from Home of the Sparrow! Here is their mission and some insights from their website: "Home of the Sparrow’s mission is to provide Hope, Opportunity and Support that empowers women and children as they journey from homelessness to self-sufficiency. Home of the Sparrow opened its doors as a registered 501(c)3 non-profit homeless shelter in 1987. Today, Home of the Sparrow no...

Laura, owner of Wild Hunny Boutique, is here this week! We chat about her boutique and surprise her with the game: 'Finish the Christmas lyric'. It's a great listen! Wild Hunny Boutique  is a  woman-owned local shop  specializing in  affordable, stylish, and giftable items  — perfect for holiday shopping, everyday wear, and supporting local makers. 📍 Located at  1213...

This week, Meredith and Cassandra chat about the winter inventions that helped us survive the cold - from the classic hand muff to heaters, ice scrapers, remote starts, and shovels. It’s a quick, fun look at how these cold-weather creations came to be. omehow bed bugs made their way into the conversation, too. We give a shout-out to one of our #1 fans, Shannon, and Meredith love Lauren Conrad clot...

Let's talk about the dangers of cooking on Thanksgiving! And a few other stories... All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect Support the show and advertising opportunity: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814 💩  Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee...

What a fantastic interview with Chris from @belliesfoodtruck 🐷 Owner Chris, along with his wife, his daughter, his business partner, his dad, and his brother, serves up pork belly bites, Cuban sandwiches, and Meredith’s favorite grilled cheese! We talk about Chris’s past jobs and how Bellies came to be. And of course, there is a short quiz at the end where we realize that Chris is surprisingly go...

In this week’s episode of  The Clopen Effect , we chat about  40 wild food additives - what they are, how to actually pronounce them, and the sneaky places they like to hide. Spoiler: your snacks might contain  wood chips , your bread might include  duck feathers , and yes… there’s a beaver gland situation. We  attempt  to deliver accurate info, but let’s be honest: w...

Mature audiences only, please!  🎃 Meredith and Cassandra dive into 20 of the rarest medical conditions people can suffer from — it’s a tough one, but perfect for Spooky Season! We also chat about Meredith’s “diet,” the manager with an attitude, the chores we  let  our husbands handle, and—drumroll please—we’re celebrating being listened to in all 50 states! Huge thank you to Nina f...

Cassandra, Bestie, and Meredith chat about one of the eeriest topics yet - the worst ways to die in retail. For mature audiences only, please! It’s spooky season, and while this episode sounds dark, it’s handled with care, respect, and just enough Halloween edge to give you chills (without crossing the line). From freezers to forklifts, compactors to parking lots, we explore the strange, tragic, a...

Here's the rundown of this week's show: Home Invasions / Residential Burglaries Thieves go for  small, high-value, easy-to-carry  stuff. Top items: Cash Laptops, tablets, phones Jewelry and watches Prescription meds Firearms They want things they can grab fast and resell easily. Average loss? A few  thousand dollars per break-in. Store Robberies / Retail Theft The “greatest hits” li...

Hey friends! Before we share this week's episode, a quick note: Every week, The Clopen Effect is full of jokes, absurd retail stories, and general chaos. You know, our usual nonsense. Today, since it’s spooky season, we’re taking a small detour. We’re covering two very serious events: the disappearances of Adam Walsh from a Sears in 1981 and Ann Gotlib from Bashford Manor Mall in 1983. Not all the...

We had a great time with the Rockstar of Retail - our friend Tim! We were listening to the Cubbies win, so the recording fades in and out a bit, but oh well (they won!). In this episode, we chat about Tim’s bands and run through the top scary movie quotes. Stick around until the end to hear a song titled  Deviant ! All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month keeps us reco...

We kick things off with a hilarious story from our co-worker who carried  100 balloons for 1.5 miles  from the store to an office party (yes, people stared). Then it’s all about GERMS  — the gross, sneaky, everyday kind that hide where you least expect them. Fun, funny, and a little bit ewww - this episode has it all! All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month...

From hot dogs at Coney Island to lamingtons in Australia, competitive eating contests are one of the strangest - and most fascinating - traditions around the world. Today, we’re talking about the  wild history , the  training secrets , and even the  dangers  of this stomach-stretching sport. All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month keeps us recording and...

Wowee, we do love to laugh at ourselves! This episode is no different! We talk about road trips and rest stops, snacks and car ride games. Thanks for being here! We are really having a great time with all of you! All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: htt...

This week, we talk about classic wives' tales, we read some great ones from our listeners, and get a little depressed about zoos. Oops. Anyway - enjoy this week's episode! All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_s...

Food festivals are so fun! We love them and talk about the most popular, iconic, largest, quirkiest, weirdest, and longest-running. We talk about our local ribfest and the Bristol Renaissance Faire (Kenosha, WI). All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect $2/month keeps us recording and bringing you all the laughs! https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support Buy Our Cool Merch: htt...

ROY G. BIV Colors don’t just  look  good in a store, they actually  do  something to our bodies. When our eyes see a color, the signal travels to our brain, and that can change how we feel, even how fast our heart beats. Red  makes your heart beat faster. That’s why stores use it for clearance tags and sales—it screams  buy me now! Yellow  is like sunshine. It ma...

In this episode, we chat  the world of bread and the math behind it (sort of), with our special guest,  Jason ! Jason 'drives' us through his  bread delivery route , explaining how the numbers, store stops, and fresh bread logistics all come together. Meredith tries her best to follow along, but admits… she  still doesn’t really understand how it works . (Bread routes are ...

Guests: Mama Brianna & Baby Daisy  🌼 This week, we welcome the sweetest guests, Mama Brianna and her 9-month-old daughter, Daisy! We explore the  origin of the name Daisy , its meaning (“day’s eye”), and why it's the perfect fit for such a bright little soul. We also give a shoutout to  Dented Gate Flower Garden  in  Woodstock, IL, a local gem filled with natural char...