We Fixed It, You're Welcome

OpenAI and Anthropic are locked in a high stakes rivalry, and the fallout is hurting public trust in AI overall. In this episode, the "We Fixed It, You're Welcome" panel (Aaron Wolpoff, Melissa Eaton, and Chino) sits down with veteran tech PR strategist Perry Headrick to unpack whether the ChatGPT vs Claude rivalry is a branding win or a trust disaster. With over 20 years of experience representin...

Spotify recently rolled out "personal podcasts," letting anyone generate a custom AI show with no creator involved. So what actually counts as a podcast anymore? Aaron, Melissa, and Chino bring in podcasting veteran and Hall of Famer Rob Walch, who has been a mainstay of the podcast industry since 2005, to unpack where AI fits in, where it doesn't, and why human-made shows probably aren't going an...

Happy Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day just turned 11 years old, and what started as a single day invented to fill a sales lull has become somewhat of an actual holiday. How do we celebrate? We buy stuff!  In this episode, our panel digs into celebrations engineered by brands and commerce (Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Starbucks Red Cup Day) to question whether these types of moments build rea...

Brand collaborations are everywhere right now. But for every Swatch x AP with overwhelming demand, there are examples like Nike x Tiffany that leave everyone wondering why those brands aligned. In this episode, Aaron, Melissa, and Chino break down the biggest brand collabs in recent history, figure out what separates the legendary ones from the cautionary tales, and build a framework to predict wh...

What happens when luxury brands sell more than products, but the promise of ethics, craftsmanship, and sustainability? In this episode, our panel explores the growing tension between luxury fashion's premium pricing and the increasing scrutiny surrounding supply chain transparency, labor practices, and sustainability claims. Using LVMH and several of its iconic brands as a case study, the conversa...

What separates a food fad that burns out from one that becomes a lasting brand? This episode dives into the psychology and business strategy behind viral food trends, with Pop-Up Bagels as a current example, to answer the question every food founder and investor is asking: how do you turn a moment into a movement? Featured Guest Talia Solomon — Founder, The Brand Economist Talia is a fractional CM...

With billions of dollars traded weekly across non-traditional and traditional investors, prediction markets have quickly become one of the hottest crazes in finance. In this episode, we grab time with Andrew Lebbos of Benzinga (SVP of Licensing) to explore the current state of prediction market platforms like Kalshi and speculate about their long-term potential for good. This provocative conversat...

7-Eleven has been working on a big comeback for a while. Their first big attempt at reinvention might surprise you: egg salad sandwiches. While quite popular in Japan, 7-Eleven’s big gamble on egg salad sandwiches throughout United States stores is head scratching. In this episode, our panel wonders what led to this decision, discusses the larger business challenges at play, and proposes our own f...

What happens when a major airline simply runs out of money? In this episode, USA Today’s consumer travel reporter Zach Wichter joins the conversation to break down the shocking collapse of Spirit Airlines and its impact on passengers, employees, competitors, and the future of budget air travel. After years of financial instability, failed merger attempts, mounting debt, and rising fuel costs, Spir...

Can a financially devastated footwear brand reinvent itself overnight as an AI infrastructure company? In this episode, noted investment strategist Todd M. Schoenberger joins the discussion to unpack one of the boldest corporate pivots in recent memory: Allbirds’ decision to reposition itself as an AI business after losing nearly all of its market value. Is this the beginning of a revolutionary tu...

Napster once reshaped the music industry by making free digital downloads mainstream. Now it’s attempting another reinvention, this time as an AI-powered music platform. But can a brand once synonymous with piracy successfully re-enter the industry it disrupted? In this episode, our panel sits down with podcast host and music industry partner development expert Seth Schachner (ex Sony Music, Jive...

LEGO built one of the most iconic brands in history by standing for children, creativity, and open-ended play. But in recent years, a major shift has taken hold. The company is increasingly chasing adult fans with premium, expensive, highly detailed sets, licensed IP, and collector-focused experiences. In this episode, the panel is joined by toy industry veteran Leo Battersby to examine whether LE...

Southwest Airlines is financially strong. Record revenues. Stock price near multi-year highs. Yet longtime customers are walking away angry. In this episode, we unpack the growing tension between Wall Street performance and customer loyalty at Southwest Airlines. Host Aaron Wolpoff sits down with brand strategist Rene Huey-Lipton, founder of The Dame Collective and former strategy lead on Southwes...

Are too many people being promoted into leadership roles? As a result, are companies becoming too top heavy? If we’ve created a system that values managers over executers, is this a recipe for disaster? In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Hetrick, Principal Economist at Lightcast and one of the most influential labor economists in the country. Together, we unpack one of the most important questio...

Space exploration used to be reserved for governments and elite astronauts only. Today, commercial launches, private space stations, and civilian missions are raising questions about opening up space travel and making access more widely available. In this episode, global space policy executive Christopher Hearsey joins the conversation to explore the future of commercial spaceflight, the role of p...

Target is dropping prices on more than 3,000 items to win back shoppers. But can price cuts alone win back customer trust and brand loyalty? In this episode, our panel analyzes Target’s plan to address declining foot traffic, shrinking sales, and boycotts. We explore whether these price discounts are a short term marketing tactic or part of a deeper brand reset, and whether we think they will work...

In this episode, our panel explores a troubling trend in today’s job market: companies that exist to exploit job seekers. The reality of today’s job market? Ongoing layoffs and exponentially more candidates than open jobs. As a result, many people are opening their wallets to paid recruiters, coaches, career accelerators, and “job connector platforms” that promise hidden opportunities for a steep...

Southwest Airlines is financially strong. Record revenues. Stock price near multi-year highs. Yet longtime customers are walking away angry. In this episode, we unpack the growing tension between Wall Street performance and customer loyalty at Southwest Airlines. Host Aaron Wolpoff sits down with brand strategist Rene Huey-Lipton, founder of The Dame Collective and former strategy lead on Southwes...

For generations, a bite of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup meant one thing: Milk chocolate. Real peanut butter. That unmistakable taste. Now, many loyal fans say something is different. In this episode, we sit down with Brad Reese, grandson of H. B. Reese and self-appointed “Protector of Reese’s Brand Integrity,” to unpack a controversy that has caught the world’s attention. Brad and others are upset...

Tipping used to be simple: good service meant leaving something extra. These days, tips seem like mandatory surcharges, and customers are fed up. In this episode, Aaron and Melissa unpack the growing cultural frustration around “tipflation” and why it’s becoming an increasing pressure point for all involved. We debate who really bears the cost in today’s hospitality economy and look at this from a...

Research suggests that 30–50% of today’s work tasks could technically be automated. And yet most of us feel busier than ever. So what’s going on? In this episode, we sit down with author, AI strategist, and business coach Steve Ferman to unpack the “automation irony”: the more tools and systems we add, the less time we seem to get back. Instead of blaming the technology, we dig into the real block...

This year, companies spent $8–10 million for a single 30-second Super Bowl commercial, before production, celebrity fees, and amplification even begin. It’s one of the biggest marketing bets any company can make, and one of the few remaining moments of true mass, real-time cultural attention. In this episode, the panel tackles the real question behind the hype: Do Super Bowl commercials actually w...

Pinterest was once the quiet corner of the internet. A place for inspiration, planning, and imagination. No shouting. No doom-scrolling. No constant pressure to buy. That version of Pinterest is now under threat. In this episode, we unpack The Pinterest Paradox. Can a platform built on slow inspiration successfully pivot to fast commerce without breaking user trust? Pinterest is laying off staff,...

LEGO built one of the most iconic brands in history by standing for children, creativity, and open-ended play. But in recent years, a major shift has taken hold. The company is increasingly chasing adult fans with premium, expensive, highly detailed sets, licensed IP, and collector-focused experiences. In this episode, the panel is joined by toy industry veteran Leo Battersby to examine whether LE...

Season 3 kicks off with a timely and culture-shifting question: Is Dry January actually good for business, or is it a self-inflicted economic slowdown? Every January, millions of people across the U.S. and the world voluntarily press pause on alcohol. What started as a small UK health initiative has become a global behavioral shift, with nearly 1 in 5 adults now participating and overall alcohol c...