Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Can AI, robotics, and self‑driving technology change the distribution landscape faster than the economy can adapt? In this episode, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore the intersection of economic volatility, AI innovation, and leadership adaptation. From robots vs. self‑driving cars to tariff strategy and monetary policy, they unpack the signals distributors should watch and the human‑centri...

What does it take to navigate tariffs, rate cuts, and AI disruption all at once? Hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the week’s headlines that matter most to manufacturers and distributors, from the U.S. government shutdown and Fed policy to the emerging reality of AI‑driven decision‑making and agentic commerce. Discover why contextual intelligence is now a core leadership skill and how da...

What happens when tariffs, rate cuts, and AI forecasting collide in the world of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic, technological, and policy shifts affecting distributors and manufacturers. From the longest U.S. government shutdown in history to the Supreme Court’s pending tariff ruling , they unpack what these changes mean for marg...

What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leader...

What happens when two industry veterans break down the biggest stories shaping wholesale distribution, AI adoption, and the global economy, live and unfiltered? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton analyze everything from Fed rate cuts and tariffs to the rise of AI-driven commerce and the evolving role of leadership in an age of automation. Through their signature mix of insight and humor,...

What does the future of leadership look like in the distribution industry? In this special episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Brendan Breen, President of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA), to explore how leadership transformation, AI adoption, and workforce evolution are redefining what it means to run a modern distribution business. From data-driven decision-making to generat...

Here’s (more than) a hint: it’s AI Engine Optimization. And right now, it could be even more important than SEO for B2B visibility. In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the latest economic shifts, from the government shutdown’s ripple effects to the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how they’re transforming manufacturing, logistics, and customer engagement. Learn why context engineerin...

What happens when a government shutdown, interest rate cuts, and AI-driven commerce collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the headlines that matter: the Fed’s next move, tariff resilience, and how AI-enabled platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are reframing CRM as a growth engine. You’ll a...

What do tariffs, Fed rate cuts, and AI-driven search mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this milestone episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest updates on GDP growth, jobless claims, and U.S.–China tariffs, while exploring how AI Engine Optimization (AEO), digital payments, and LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are rewriting the...

Is the Fed too late to cut rates—and what does it mean for distributors? In this episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution , hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week’s economic headlines and explore how interest rate cuts, tariffs, and global supply chain volatility are reshaping the manufacturing and wholesale distribution landscape. From AI-driven sales playbooks to the hidden...

What happens when AI adoption, tariffs, and interest rate cuts collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this lively episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton tackle the jobs report, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and why AI regulation needs a federal playbook, not 50 state ones . You’ll learn how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is cracking the code...

What do college football, tariffs, and AI pilots gone wrong have in common? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton connect cultural trends, economic contradictions, and digital transformation in wholesale distribution. From the E³ Model (Experience, Efficiency, Effectiveness) to LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ and the failure rate of corporate AI pilots, thi...

What happens when AI-driven workflows, tariff pressures, and shifting B2B buyer expectations collide? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore the trends redefining distribution: from AI co-pilots for sales and customer intelligence platforms to Fed rate cuts, tariff extensions, and the rise of Millennial and Gen Z buyers . You’ll learn why...

Is your CRM really driving revenue growth, or just storing notes no one reads? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton pull back the curtain on how AI-enabled customer intelligence platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are transforming sales enablement, workflow automation, and decision-making in distribution.  You’ll hear fresh economic in...

When the U.S. jobs report is off by tens of thousands, what does that mean for leaders in wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic numbers—and why massive revisions to jobs data should concern every distributor, manufacturer, and revenue leader. Beyond the headlines, they explore how faulty metrics distort strategy, trigger bad decisions, a...

Is your business ready for the AI economy, tariff turbulence, and the rapid rise of programmable payments? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , co-founders Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week's most pressing trends, from stablecoin legislation to humanoid robotics, from AI-fueled job disruption to smart supply chain control towers. Perfect for manufacturers, d...

What happens when data-driven decision-making meets the chaos of tariffs, AI disruption, and a retiring workforce? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Mark Gilham of Enable to unpack the big shifts impacting manufacturers, distributors, and the global supply chain. From trade policy to pricing strategy, sales transformation to skilled labor shortages, this wide-ranging episod...

What do tariffs, AI adoption, and digital readiness have in common? They’re all reshaping the future of wholesale distribution. In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the forces shaping the industry from rising cybersecurity threats to the real reason distributors aren’t seeing results from generative AI tools. This episode blends act...

What if the economic slowdown didn’t spell disaster—but a window of opportunity?  In this episode, Senior Economist Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics joins the show to unpack what a “soft landing” really means for distributors—and how to strategically navigate uncertainty, inflation moderation, and shifting customer demand without panic or paralysis.  If you're a distributor wondering how t...

How will distributors thrive in the age of digital transformation, AI disruption, and customer experience redefinition? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Ian Heller sits down with John Gunderson and Kevin to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping B2B sales strategy, channel alignment, and customer segmentation. With insightful commentary and bold predictions, the team exp...

How are global supply chains bouncing back amid recession fears, and what role does generative AI play in rewriting the future of B2B sales, marketing, and cybersecurity?  In Episode 146 of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton of LeadSmart Technologies unpack the economic shifts, digital commerce trends, and AI-infused transformations shaping the future of m...

What happens when a fourth-generation industrial distributor embraces digital transformation?  In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Max Meister of Ludwig Meister GmbH to explore what it really takes to modernize sales, systems, and mindsets in a legacy-driven industry.  From CRM reimagination to cultural adoption strategies, this episode is a masterclass in building a future-r...

Are U.S. tariffs helping or hurting your business model?  In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution , Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unravel the legal, economic, and operational chaos triggered by shifting U.S. tariffs, AI adoption, and distribution tech disruptions. From trade court rulings to Mexico’s manufacturing boom, they explore what every distributor, manufacturer, and chann...

What happens when wholesale distribution meets a shifting global economy, AI-driven technology, and a full-court press on organic growth? In this extended episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, co-hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by industry leader Paul Kennedy, President & CEO of DSG and Chair of NAED. Together, they dive into the economic, geopolitical, and operatio...

In this dynamic episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dive deep into the critical shifts happening in the global economy, supply chain volatility, AI’s role in distribution, and how forward-thinking companies are thriving amid uncertainty.  With Kevin just back from Denver following the SHIFT event hosted by Modern Distribution Management and the Na...