Best Table Variation Podcasts (2025)

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Jane Hamilton's Back with The Phoebe Variations 35:01

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7d ago35:01

35:01

Jane Hamilton shares what she's been doing since publishing her last novel almost ten years ago and reveals what got in her way while writing The Phoebe Variations. Jane Hamilton is the author of seven critically acclaimed and bestselling novels, including The Book of Ruth and A Map of the World, both of which were Oprah's Book Club selections. Her…

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Operationalizing Influencers and Other Lessons from Kelsey Knight of Slumberkins - Episode 412 19:47

2h ago19:47

19:47

🎙️Interview with Kelsey Knight of Slumberkins DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Account Management. Today, we’re excited to be joined by Kelsey Knight, Chief Commercial Officer at Slumberkins, an emotional learning brand …

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Hannah McKinnon: Embracing Changes in the Writing Journey 20:44

2d ago20:44

20:44

Hannah McKinnon enjoyed success writing for young people. Then, pulled back when asked to write edgier novels, recalibrating and finding success in the adult market. Hannah is the author of several acclaimed novels, including The Lake Season, Mystic Summer, The Summer House, Sailing Lessons, The View from Here, Message in the Sand, The Darlings, Th…

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Courtney Psak on Launching Her Debut 15:25

7d ago15:25

15:25

Courtney Psak graduated with a degree in Communications and Journalism with a master’s degree in Publishing. She currently lives in Palm Beach, Florida with her husband and two sons. She is a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, the National Writers Association, International Thriller Writers and a board member for the Mystery Writers…

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Same Goal, Different Game: Framing the Value of Amazon, Instacart & Walmart with Ross Walker & Damiano Ciarrocchi - Episode 411 22:37

7d ago22:37

22:37

🎙️Interview with Ross Walker & Damiano Ciarrocchi of Acadia DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Account Management. Today, we’re joined by our resident masters of media, Ross Walker and Damiano Ciarrocchi, to dig into the o…

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Shirley Russak Wachtel: The Value of Storytelling and Preserving Holocaust Narratives 17:48

17d ago17:48

17:48

Shirley Russak Wachtel is the author of the short story collection Three For A Dollar, the book of poetry, In The Mellow Light, and several books for children. Her short stories and poems have appeared in various literary journals. A daughter of Holocaust survivors, Wachtel was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She holds a doctor of letters de…

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JT Ellison: Staying Flexible While Writing Thrillers 29:36

16d ago29:36

29:36

What does it take to become a successful multi-genre author? J.T. Ellison reveals how she's navigated the changing publishing market while maintaining an authentic writing voice and promotional image. JT is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 35+ novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD…

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Start With the Shopper - Lessons in Growth with Scott Lester of eos - Episode 410 20:22

14d ago20:22

20:22

Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Account Management. Today, we’re thrilled to be joined by Scott Lester, Senior Manager of Digital & E-commerce at eos: the brand behind the beloved Evolution of Smooth products, from body lotions and…

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How To Build a Future-Ready Organization with Lauren Livak Gilbert of Digital Shelf Institute - Episode 409 23:57

21d ago23:57

23:57

🎙️Interview With Lauren Livak Gilbert of Digital Shelf Institute DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Today, we’re excited to welcome back a returning guest: Lauren Livak Gilbert, Executive Director of the Digita…

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Amran Gowani's Adrenaline Packed Debut: Leverage 21:05

22d ago21:05

21:05

Amran Gowani is a former Wall Street analyst, a prolific content creator and over the last four years he's written and produced 200 humorous personal essays and satirical short-form pieces. When Amran’s not hanging out with imaginary people in imaginary places, he enjoys biking around the great city of Chicago, bouldering with his extraordinary wif…

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Ally Carter: Not As Easy As It Looks 26:43

22d ago26:43

26:43

Ally Carter's novels are infused with excitement and Mr. and Mrs. Smith level romantic intrigue. Crafting them is not as easy as some might assume. Ally peels back the curtain and shares unvarnished accountings of the heartache that comes with creating electric jaunts for her characters. Ally is the bestselling author of novels that have epitomized…

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The Retail Round-Up - Rufus Remembers, the Variation Collapse That Wasn’t, and the Shifting RMN Ad Tech Allegiances - Episode 408 26:19

1M ago26:19

26:19

🎙️News Review with Armin Alispahic and Ross Walker DESCRIPTION Welcome to another edition of The Retail Round Up: your monthly recap of the biggest headlines and developments in the retail world. This edition covers Amazon’s evolving AI shopping assistant, Rufus; key operational changes for sellers; tech stack shakeups among major retailers; and Ti…

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Hank Phillippi Ryan: Embracing the Inevitable Panic Along the Way 32:32

28d ago32:32

32:32

HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN is USA Today bestselling author of 16 psychological thrillers, winning the most prestigious awards in the genre: five Agathas, five Anthonys, and the coveted Mary Higgins Clark Award. She is also on-air investigative reporter for Boston’s WHDH-TV, with 37 EMMYs and dozens more journalism honors for her groundbreaking journalism …

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Joelle Babula's Debut: Infidelity Rules 13:48

1M ago13:48

13:48

Joelle Babula writes about things your mother warned you not to talk about at the dinner table, like infidelity, emotional chaos and cheese-induced bliss. A former award-winning journalist and columnist turned nurse practitioner, Joelle now lives on Baltimore’s inner harbor with her adoring husband and two absurd cats. A graduate of Johns Hopkins U…

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AI is Changing Your Shopper Journey With Chris Perry of Firstmovr - Episode 407 33:06

1M ago33:06

33:06

Today, we’re joined by a familiar voice and a musically inclined CPG thought leader: Chris Perry of firstmovr. He’s spent the last several months educating brands on how to prepare for a new age of product discovery and conversion paths with the dawn of AI-enabled search. We’re thrilled to have him back to share key insights and practical takeaways…

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David Wroblewski & Familiaris 22:06

1M ago22:06

22:06

David Wroblewski is the author, most recently, of the novel Familiaris, his follow up to the internationally bestselling The Story Of Edgar Sawtelle, an Oprah Book Club pick, Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, winner of the Colorado Book Award, Indie Choice Best Author Discovery award, and Midwest Bookseller Association's Choice…

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The "Digitally Influenced Shopper Report" and the Breakdown of Online vs. In-store With Mike Black From Profitero+ - Episode 406 30:06

1M ago30:06

30:06

Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Today, we’re excited to welcome Mike Black, Chief Growth Officer at Profitero+. We’ll be diving into their latest report, “The Digitally Influenced Shopper”, which reveals how shoppers ar…

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Juliette Fay: The Harvey Girls 23:55

2M ago23:55

23:55

Juliette Fay returns to the Writing Table; this time to discuss writing historical fiction and the work she's done to create The Harvey Girls. Fay is the bestselling author of eight novels. THE TUMBLING TURNER SISTERS was a USA Today bestseller and Costco Pennie’s Book Club Pick. THE SHORTEST WAY HOME was chosen as one of Library Journal’s Top 5 Be…

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Karin Slaughter: The Woman Behind Will Trent and her latest, We Are All Guilty Here 23:46

2M ago23:46

23:46

Bestselling author Karin Slaughter shares how she got her start, explores her writing process, and gives listeners a look at what's coming next. Karin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant New York Times bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated Cop Town and standalone novels Pretty Girls, The Good Daughter, and Pieces of Her.…

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OLV’s “Table Stakes” Moment With Ross Walker and Carel van Rooyen of Acadia - Episode 405 20:33

2M ago20:33

20:33

DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Today, we’re tackling what might be the least glamourously named ad product out there: OLV, short for “Online Video.” But don’t let the name fool you. Behind that bland acrony…

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S5 E11 - Diane Kulisek – Engineering Across Industries 1:00:04

2M ago1:00:04

1:00:04

I have a conversation with Diane Kulisek in this episode. Diane, a veteran in quality systems and regulatory affairs, shares her journey from Gillette to Rocketdyne to Johnson & Johnson, weaving in the principles of Deming and the realities of complex, high-stakes industries. We dive into W. Edwards Deming’s seminal perspectives on quality and how …

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Laura Wood: Let's Make A Scene 23:10

2M ago23:10

23:10

Laura Wood peels back the emotions behind her writing and provides a preview of her novel, Let's Make A Scene. Wood is a bestselling and acclaimed author of children’s and young adult novels. She is also the author of the adult novels Under Your Spell and Let’s Make a Scene. With a PhD in 19th-century literature, Laura lives in Warwickshire, Englan…

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Anna Barrington's Debut: The Spectacle 16:10

2M ago16:10

16:10

Anna Barrington has worked in galleries, museums, and auction houses in the art world for seven years. She received an MA from the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and a BA from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Originally from Atlanta, she grew up on Cape Cod and currently lives in the UK. THE SPECTACLE is her first novel. Learn more …

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The Retail Round-Up - Vendor Gets BTPs, Vine Gets Retail Ready-Er, and I Know How Much OLV You Watched Last Summer - Episode 404 28:15

2M ago28:15

28:15

🎙️News Review with Scott Ohsman, Armin Alispahic, and Ross Walker DESCRIPTION Welcome to another edition of The Retail Round Up: your monthly recap of the biggest headlines and developments in the retail world. Today, we’re joined by a very special returning guest: Scott Ohsman from the Always Off Brand podcast. We’re also bringing back our go-to e…

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Simon Tolkien on Writing Historical Novels 23:37

2M ago23:37

23:37

Simon Tolkien is the grandson of JRR Tolkien and a director of the Tolkien Estate. He is also series consultant for the Amazon series, The Rings of Power. He studied Modern History at Trinity College, Oxford and went on to become a London barrister specializing in criminal defense. He left the law to become a writer in 2001 and has published five n…

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Are You Still Using DSP Like It’s 2023? With Pat Petriello of Acadia - Episode 403 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

🎙️Interview With Pat Petriello of Acadia DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Today, we’re excited to welcome back Pat Petriello, our Director of Retail Marketplace Strategy, for a deep dive into Amazon DSP. We’l…

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Laura Resau: Acclaimed YA Author Debuting in A New Genre 20:38

2M ago20:38

20:38

What inspires an established writer to change genres? In this episode, Laura Resau discusses what it took to create her adult debut, The Alchemy of Flowers. Laura Resau is the author of eleven acclaimed books for young people. Her books have won five Colorado Book Awards and spots on “best-of” booklists from Oprah, the American Library Association,…

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Daniel Kalla's Trek from ER Doc to Bestselling Author 19:35

2M ago19:35

19:35

Daniel Kalla is an Emergency Room Physician and the bestselling author of fifteen novels, translated into eleven languages. His Shanghai Trilogy has been optioned for film, and his works explore themes ranging from superbugs and pandemics to psychedelics and DNA evidence. In addition to psychological thrillers and medical suspense, Daniel has writt…

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Writing Suspense with Lori Roy 18:32

2M ago18:32

18:32

Lori Roy is the author of six novels of suspense. Lori's debut, BENT ROAD, was awarded the Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best First Novel by an American Author. She went on to receive the 2016 Edgar Allen Poe Award for Best Novel, making Lori the first woman to receive an Edgar Award for both Best First Novel and Best Novel, and she is the third person…

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S5 E10 - Doug Finke – From Mainframes to Machine Learning 55:05

2M ago55:05

55:05

In this episode, I have a conversation with Doug Finke. A 16-time Microsoft MVP and long-time technologist, Doug’s experience ranges from mainframe assembly programming to pioneering AI integrations in software development. We reminisce about the early days of system programming and explore how those foundational skills have enabled technologists l…

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Rufus Is Here…Are Brands Doing Anything? With Russ Dieringer From Stratably - Episode 402 21:19

2M ago21:19

21:19

Today, we’re delighted to welcome back a longtime friend of the show, Russ Dieringer. He’s here to share key insights from Stratably’s latest research, diving into how brands are navigating content optimization for Rufus and the evolving landscape of AI-driven search. Tune in to find out more! KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode, Julie, Jordan, and Russ …

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Alden Jones: Edge of the World 23:21

3M ago23:21

23:21

Alden Jones explores tips for writing memoirs and discusses her work in fiction. She is the author of The Wanting Was a Wilderness, Unaccompanied Minors, and The Blind Masseuse. Her books have won awards including the New American Fiction Prize and the Lascaux Book Prize and been finalists for the PEN/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award for the Art of the…

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Prime Day 2025, Unpacked: 4 Days, 4 Experts - Episode 401 34:15

3M ago34:15

34:15

🎙️Prime Day Data Breakdown With the Acadia Team DESCRIPTION Welcome to The Ecommerce Braintrust podcast, brought to you by Julie Spear, Head of Retail Marketplace Services, and Jordan Ripley, Director of Retail Operations. Amazon has made it official: this year’s Prime Day was the biggest one yet. We’re recording this episode on the afternoon of Mo…

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Susan Wiggs' Passion Project: Wayward Girls 31:47

3M ago31:47

31:47

Bestselling author Susan Wiggs discusses her writing practices and shares the backstory surrounding her passion project, Wayward Girls. Susan Wiggs’s life is all about family, friends…and fiction. She lives at the water’s edge on an island in Puget Sound, and in good weather, she commutes to her writers’ group in a 21-foot motorboat. She’s been fea…

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Mule Variations 25th: Willie Nelson, Walt Whitman And Bob's Real Gone 1:01:54

3M ago1:01:54

1:01:54

This episode recorded back in November of 2024 was aging so gracefully we almost forgot to dust it off and take if down from the shelf. It was a little celebration of the 25th anniversary of the release of Mule Variations and has a special alternate "Spiritual" version of Get Behind The Mule. For all you hardcore Tom fans, this one stays squarely c…

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Introduction to Go Un-Pro 12:15

3M ago12:15

12:15

Follow along with me as I transform my life, improve my health, defeat my weight challenges, and live a longer, healthier life. All while still having a blast traveling through this crazy world! This podcast is the introduction to a 52-week gradual step-by-step transformation of my diet, exercise, sleep, and life-purpose to a more mindful, whole-fo…

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Megan Greenwell: Bad Company 23:02

3M ago23:02

23:02

Following over two hundred interviews, journalist Megan Greenwell's book, Bad Company, shines light onto the lives of those living and working downstream from private equity decision makers. Megan Greenwell is a journalist with extensive experience in all areas of print and digital media. She volunteers as the deputy director of the Princeton Summe…

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Jaclyn Goldis: The Safari 19:43

3M ago19:43

19:43

Jaclyn Goldish peels back the curtain on her process and lessons learned as she's published four novels. Jaclyn is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her posses…