Best Studio Xerxes Podcasts (2025)

1
3 Keys To Building A Category Function 29:20

Play Pause

9d ago29:20

29:20

Send us a text When charged with standing up a new category management function, it can be a daunting task for anyone. For Ben Hanson at California Dairies, he attacked the challenge with confident humility, falling back on sage advice from a mentor in his early career. Listen in to find out the keys that Ben employed to get his company on the road…

1
Category Managers Tell Horrible Stories 32:05

23d ago32:05

32:05

Send us a text Not all stories are “once upon a time” fairy tales. The great ones have the power to make individuals feel something, and act. Helen Hepworth believes many category managers are missing the mark with their storytelling, using 2,000-year-old structures with no real plan in mind. Changing your approach could significantly differentiate…

1
Consumers Are Shoppers First 38:13

1M ago38:13

38:13

Send us a text In a seemingly serious contradiction, Luke Cahill is a self proclaimed introvert who has spoken to thousands of complete strangers. Listen to Real Insight CEO & Chief Nerd as he explains why real conversations with shoppers still matter.By Studio Xerxes

1
Stop Learning, Start Dying 32:31

2M ago32:31

32:31

Send us a text Not all career paths are straight, and that is certainly the case with Emilia Tauss. Through every step of her fantastic journey, Emilia has looked for opportunities to learn and she has consistently found gold. Listen to this power-packed episode of ARCast but make sure to have your pen and paper ready!…

1
You're Still Superman 57:42

3M ago57:42

57:42

Send us a text Change happens, it's unavoidable. But decisions that can momentarily rock your world, shouldn't define you. Listen as Polly Rowland takes us down her career path, revealing how tough hurdles taught her lessons about business and life that she now shares with the world.By Studio Xerxes

1
From the Mean Streets of Chicago 52:05

3M ago52:05

52:05

Send us a text Industry vet Bill Gillispie jumps into the hot seat to share his adventures from working in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago to consulting some of the largest retailers in the world. In the midst of his journey, setbacks and health challenges test his spirit. Tune into another amazing episode of ARCAST to hear this riveti…

1
Treat It Like Your Own 50:04

4M ago50:04

50:04

Send us a text Eric Nardulli has a prescription for how to be successful as a category manager. And, he took a huge dose to get him where he is today. Join in this conversation as Eric shares how this very approach led him throughout his career.By Studio Xerxes

1
Down to the Napkins 43:58

4M ago43:58

43:58

Send us a text Alecia Reed has touched so many aspects of the industry as a space planner, it might make your head spin. From Lingerie to Tools to Pet to Food Service, she has seen and done it all. Learn more about the nuts and bolts of space, consulting and more in this fascinating episode of ARCast.…

1
What Do I Want To Do Now? 54:25

5M ago54:25

54:25

Send us a text What happens when you secure a dream job only to find out you don't like it? Audrey Henson tells us as she shares how one pivots to find a new path to satisfaction and success.By Studio Xerxes

1
I Want To Change The Game 48:05

5M ago48:05

48:05

Send us a text When you listen to Martha Vargas tell her story, you will soon discover when she isn't highly challenged, she quickly gets bored. In our latest episode of ARCast, learn how Martha's drive to make an impact lands her in fascinating roles at some of the biggest brands in the industry.By Studio Xerxes

1
I Love What I Do 41:14

6M ago41:14

41:14

Send us a text Follow a whirlwind of a professional and career as Kaye takes us from earning a college degree in 2 years to where she is today at InContext. And along the way, you'll see how "she can't stop, won't stop" innovating including with her current vision of changing the way we shop.By Studio Xerxes

1
Economic Update: Is There A Silver Lining? 39:12

6M ago39:12

39:12

Send us a text The current economic environment is on the minds of virtually everyone and we all have questions. So, why not ask an expert? We invited our friend Caleb Silver to provide his take on the general landscape, what might be coming and what it means to category managers and shopper insights.…

1
Raise Your Hand 48:52

7M ago48:52

48:52

Send us a text Laura-Lynn Freck has spent her entire career tackling new adventures, taking risks, creating her own roles, and ultimately making significant contributions to each organization she has touched. You can do the same if you are willing to raise your hand.By Studio Xerxes

1
Category Management On A Bike 45:11

7M ago45:11

45:11

Send us a text Lauren Bijur discovered the power of food in an attempt to heal herself from health ailments. 20 years later, she works with Bob Mariano to develop the hit grocer, Dom's Kitchen and Market. Listen in to a fascinating story about courage, creativity, and category management.By Studio Xerxes

1
I Like Chaos 47:16

8M ago47:16

47:16

Send us a text John Nathenson has been a literal zig-zag, so much so it even confused the Host! Buckle your seat belt and follow the winding path to destination Catalytics.By Studio Xerxes

1
Not Just Data On A Page - Stories 52:22

8M ago52:22

52:22

Send us a text Are you ready for a wild ride? Follow Julie Craig as she shares fascinating stories spanning music, apparel, food, health, electronics, and more. During a truly winding path, she found her calling and has never looked back.By Studio Xerxes

1
Putting All The Pieces Together 43:58

9M ago43:58

43:58

Send us a text From insights to sales to category management and beyond, Rachelle Moore has continuously sought opportunities to put her career puzzle together. Now she's encouraging you to do the same. Dive into our latest ARCast episode and listen as Rachelle walks us through the winding path of her career growth journey.…

1
I Was Made For This 45:56

9M ago45:56

45:56

Send us a text Upon arriving in the U.S., Shivani worked at a Starbucks in Hollywood. Her ultimate goal was to get back into brand management - category and insights weren't even on the radar. But, once she had a taste, she found her calling.By Studio Xerxes

1
A True Space Pioneer 50:58

10M ago50:58

50:58

Send us a text In the 80’s and early 90’s, if anyone mentioned working in space planning, you might be mistaken for working at NASA. But, with contributions from Flora Delaney and others, the discipline is not only grew throughout retail and CPG, it became essential. Tune in as Flora shares how she helped establish the field.…

1
ARCast Anniversary! 54:59

10M ago54:59

54:59

Send us a text On Nov 30, 2022, ARCast was born. Since then, it's been a wild and crazy ride. 52 fantastic career stories as we put the spotlight on colleagues doing compelling work "in the trenches". Thanks to all our listeners and we look forward to 26 more awesome interviews in 2025. Happy Holidays!…

1
The Price Is Right 40:42

11M ago40:42

40:42

Send us a text You may want to be the manager who handles all 4 P's and makes decisions across the entire scope of an individual category. Or possibly you are Slava Gendlin. Meet the man who chose to be laser focused on only one: Price.By Studio Xerxes

1
Billions of Butts 33:45

11M ago33:45

33:45

Send us a text If you have never heard of DUDE Wipes, you soon will - they are everywhere! Follow Susanna as she lands at the doorstep of a supernova, charged with building out their category management practice.By Studio Xerxes

1
A Winning Combination At Wells 51:54

12M ago51:54

51:54

Send us a text Renee Balliet is a passionate insights leader for over fifteen years, having worked on brands, innovation, product development, and retail. She has made her mark at Wells by building a team of Consumer, Sensory, and Shopper Insights from the ground up. Melanie Saffell spent her career in data and CPG in various roles including Channe…

1
Meet the Mindful Innovator 52:56

1y ago52:56

52:56

Send us a text Listen to the unlikely story of a former Deli Manager whose life turns upside when he meets a monk on the streets of New York. This chance connection (or maybe it was destined) guides Matt Mueller into discovering mindfulness can unlock the doors to unparalleled levels of innovation.By Studio Xerxes

1
Your BFF Behind The Scenes 54:17

1y ago54:17

54:17

Send us a text Why would becoming a "bestie" make a difference? Discover why Chris chose this route as a means to help organizations find their path forward in omnichannel retail.By Studio Xerxes

1
Insight Opens Doors 44:21

1y ago44:21

44:21

Send us a text No team can truly be effective until it understands who they serve. Follow Lawrence as he takes us on a journey to learn why it takes real empathy to deliver value for his customers.

1
No More Broad Strokes 41:56

1y ago41:56

41:56

Send us a text We have moved beyond the era of pulling one lever and solving all your problems. The business is more challenging and the shopper landscape is exponentially complex, so we need to think and act differently. Shiraz helps us uncover some current and future solutions to start our journey.…

1
Everything Ends on a Shelf 28:25

1y ago28:25

28:25

Send us a text Frank Castaneda has that classic story of moving from a grocery store clerk to director of category management. Learn how throughout the journey, he always remembered the basics while becoming a leading trusted advisor.By Studio Xerxes

1
Riding the White Claw Rocketship 30:04

1y ago30:04

30:04

Send us a text Life can be hard when you’re a David among Goliaths. Find out how Justin used critical insights to identify an emerging segment of an age-old category.

1
CFO Chronicles 27:55

1y ago27:55

27:55

Pinpointing Profit - Focus Areas for SMB Finance Pros – Guest Mike Skillingstad (Serial CFO and Founder of EBM Technologies)By Studio Xerxes

1
Small Steps, Big Impact 5:09

1+ y ago5:09

5:09

Essential Reporting for SMB Success – Guest is Dan Pesek (Fractional CFO for BlueOps Partners)By Studio Xerxes

1
Buyers Don't Care About Brands 41:40

1+ y ago41:40

41:40

Send us a text Early in his career, Simon Dunn worked on a myriad of interesting businesses from Liquor to Produce to Household Cleaners. He learned what drives success between category partners and now wants to share that knowledge with brands from around the world.

1
Beyond the Books 9:17

1+ y ago9:17

9:17

Recognizing Finance Needs and Starting Strong as a New CFO - Guest is Dan Pesek (Fractional CFO for BlueOps Partners)By Studio Xerxes

1
Ask The Question Beyond The Data 41:35

1+ y ago41:35

41:35

Send us a text With endless streams of data at our disposal, it is easy to spend your time justifying ways to use it. But Ella's career was cut from a different cloth, shaped by what she lacked. In this episode, discover how starting with a question can lead to a better solution.

1
In Transition? Be Encouraged 35:03

1+ y ago35:03

35:03

Send us a text From the likes of Pepsico, Dr. Pepper, Kantar and more, Lindsey Gladden has had a major impact across the globe through her expertise in shopper insights. Now we get insights from her about looking for her next role, the state of the market in downturn and why she remains positive.

1
Give Them The Respect They Deserve 45:26

1+ y ago45:26

45:26

Send us a text Zel Bianco has focused over 30 years on CPG, honing his software company to make the lives of category managers easier. Now he asks leaders to think differently and join him in this mission. Listen to another compelling episode as Zel tells them how.By Studio Xerxes

1
The Day My World Changed 48:31

1+ y ago48:31

48:31

Send us a text You just celebrated your 30th birthday when suddenly you find yourself leading the Center of Excellence at one of the largest CPG companies in the world. What do you do? Let Alex take you on a ride as he shares this unbelievable story along with other fascinating steps along his career arc.…

1
It's OK To Be Afraid 46:28

1+ y ago46:28

46:28

Send us a text Follow the story of Brandon Warshaw as he goes from The White House all the way to where he is now at Harmonya. Learn how Brandon used a "does it freak me out" metric to assess opportunities along his journey.By Studio Xerxes

1
Relationships Matter 40:30

1+ y ago40:30

40:30

Send us a text Nobody values people more than Brian Rutherford. He treasures a career that was "gifted" to him by mentors and looks to pass it along through interactions with customers, shoppers, and teammates. Understand why Brian truly believes relationships matter in this captivating episode of ARCast.…

1
The 1P Entrepreneur 1:02:21

1+ y ago1:02:21

1:02:21

Send us a text Seeing a planogram as a summer intern was all it took for Dan Desmarais to be captivated by category management. Over the next 30 years, learning about the data and how it could influence supply chain shaped his career from sales to entrepreneur. Tune into this fascinating episode of ARCast.…

1
From Cashier to Category Manager 34:57

1+ y ago34:57

34:57

Send us a text Initially unsure of her career aspirations, Nina Palazzolo placed herself on the front lines of retail. And fell in love. Learn how Nina navigated through her fascinating journey to where she is today at Kodiak Cakes.By Studio Xerxes

1
Category Management and the Art of Telling Stories 27:45

1+ y ago27:45

27:45

Send us a text There is so much value in this interview, we decided to run it again! Take a listen to ARCast's most popular episode. Get in the trenches as James talks to one of the best category managers around, Dan Thaler at Simply Good Foods. Learn about how Dan leverages a childhood passion as well as early experiences with data to master the a…

1
The Chairwoman 35:36

1+ y ago35:36

35:36

Send us a text Stacey Ring-Sanders has been an integral part of pivotal moments in our industry including the meteoric rise of Kashi, the recent transformation of Kellogg's, the turbulent days of COVID, and the expansion of the CMA. Take time to listen as she shares learnings about professional development, team building, and dealing with conflict.…

1
From Buyer to Business Maven 40:18

1+ y ago40:18

40:18

Send us a text Michelle Ojulah orchestrated a decorated career in the UK retail scene, making her mark with founder-led companies such as Cath Kidston, Boden, George and Monsoon. But, entrepreneurism was calling so she decided to make a change. Join us as Michelle shares how she navigated her journey to where she is today.…

1
Faith To Keep Trying 43:55

1+ y ago43:55

43:55

Send us a text After coming to the US from Nigeria at age 18, Modupe Ladeji has spent a career continuously growing, with a mindset to never give up and take calculated risks. From his start in gas stations to the largest retailer in the world and now at a startup, listen as Mo walks us through the steps in his journey.…

1
All Sides Of The Table 40:42

1+ y ago40:42

40:42

Send us a text It is rare to find a person who has sat on all sides of the desk until you meet Mark Samuels. As a manufacturer, retailer, solution provider and consultant, Mark helps us learn a tremendous amount about the industry in this fascinating ARCast episode.By Studio Xerxes

1
A Tribute To Her Parents 23:48

2y ago23:48

23:48

Send us a text Her parents immigrated to the U.S. to find opportunities for themselves and their future family. Learn how Yanira brings their dreams to reality in this heartwarming episode of a category management professional just starting her career.By Studio Xerxes

1
No Boundaries - Category Management in the EU 32:31

2y ago32:31

32:31

Send us a text Could you do category management in the European Union? Listen to Robert Skowron from Hasbro as he shares the category management landscape in locations such as Warsaw.By Studio Xerxes

1
A Man Of The People 31:06

2y ago31:06

31:06

Send us a text Have you ever experienced a terrible boss? This is a must listen especially for leaders (or potentials) on how to be truly effective.By Studio Xerxes