Best The Arcast Podcasts (2025)

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From ARCast Guest to Media Maven 23:48

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4d ago23:48

23:48

Send us a text Soon after appearing on ARCast, Yanira Albarran acknowledge she was experiencing health issues but couldn't identify the cause. So she went social. 18 months later, she is a rising star after GLP-1s changed her life. Check in and learn about her origins in category management before she went viral. Then find her blossoming story on y…

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3 Keys To Building A Category Function 29:20

18d 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…

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Category Managers Tell Horrible Stories 32:05

1M 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…

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Consumers Are Shoppers First 38:13

2M 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

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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!…

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Second Chances: From Prison to Purpose with Jon Antonucci 1:19:11

3M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

What does true transformation look like after hitting rock bottom? Jon Antonucci's journey from prison cell to purpose-driven leadership offers a masterclass in redemption, resilience, and the power of servant leadership. Growing up homeschooled as the oldest of five children in a pastor's family, Jon developed entrepreneurial skills early—mowing l…

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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

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From the Mean Streets of Chicago 52:05

4M 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…

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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

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Down to the Napkins 43:58

5M 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.…

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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

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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

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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

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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.…

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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

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Category Management On A Bike 45:11

8M 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

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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

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Not Just Data On A Page - Stories 52:22

9M 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

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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.…

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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

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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.…

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ARCast Anniversary! 54:59

11M 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!…

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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

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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ARCAST!!!!! 4:28

11M ago4:28

4:28

Wishing you and your family a very special holiday season! We want to thank all of our listeners for their continued support and hope you are excited for the second season of The ARCast. We look forward to seeing you in 2025! Loved the episode? Send us a text message to show your love! If you would like to join us on The ARCast, either live, in the…

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Billions of Butts 33:45

12M 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

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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…

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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

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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

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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.

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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.…

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Rebuilding with Rock: Rock Nunez's Path to Breaking Chains Ep.117 1:04:25

1y ago1:04:25

1:04:25

Rebuilding with Rock: Rock Nunez's Path to Breaking Chains Ep.117 In this episode of ARCast, host Booda shares a deeply inspiring conversation with Rock Nunez, who transformed his life after battling addiction for over two decades. Rock talks about his early years, the devastating spinal injury that led to addiction, and the subsequent struggle wit…

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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

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Ep.116 Unmasking the Strength Within with Kasey Fierros 1:07:39

1y ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Ep.116 Unmasking the Strength Within with Kasey Fierros In this moving episode of The ARCast, Kasey Fierros shares her incredible journey from addiction and trauma to recovery and resilience. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, Kasey faced the absence of her father and the murder of her brother. She battled methamphetamine and fentanyl addictions but fo…

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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.

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Ep.115 Lost and Found - Michael Foxx's Remarkable Comeback (Pt.2) 55:25

1y ago55:25

55:25

Ep.115: Lost and Found - Michael Foxx's Remarkable Comeback (Pt.2) Welcome back to Pt.2! In this continuing episode, Michael Foxx candidly shares his gripping journey of addiction, battling meth and later Adderall, while maintaining a facade of normalcy. He delves into the demons and psychics that marked his darkest days, the struggles with faith, …

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Ep.114 Lost and Found - Michael Foxx's Remarkable Comeback (Pt.1) 1:23:02

1+ y ago1:23:02

1:23:02

Ep.114: Lost and Found - Michael Foxx's Remarkable Comeback (Pt.1) In this compelling episode of ARCast, host Booda sits down with long-time friend Michael Fox, who shares his transformative journey through addiction, anxiety, and depression. Michael opens up about his childhood experiences, moving from New York to Arizona, and his evolving relatio…

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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.

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Ep.113 Navigating Borderline Personality Disorder - Carrie Anne Walters' Journey 36:32

1+ y ago36:32

36:32

Join Booda in this episode of The ARCast as he connects with Carrie Anne Walters, who bravely shares her journey living with borderline personality disorder (BPD). From a challenging childhood filled with family struggles to her inspiring path of self-discovery and resilience, Carrie’s story is both raw and uplifting. This conversation dives deep i…

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Ep.112 Felicia Rangel - Surviving, Thriving, and Giving Back 1:11:55

1+ y ago1:11:55

1:11:55

In this episode, Booda and Martin introduce Felicia Rangel, who shares her powerful journey of overcoming addiction and legal struggles. Growing up in a turbulent environment, Felicia's life took a pivotal turn following a drug smuggling incident, leading to a spiritual awakening. Despite the looming prison time, she focused on personal transformat…

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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.

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Ep.111 From Rock Bottom to Recovery: Andrew Benson's Inspiring Story 1:05:43

1+ y ago1:05:43

1:05:43

In this heartfelt episode of The ARCast, host Booda speaks with Andrew Benson, an RSS and BHT, who shares his powerful testimony of strength, hope, and inspiration. Andrew opens up about his turbulent past, from struggling with addiction at a young age to his life-altering experiences that led him to recovery. Through candid reflections and emotion…

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Ep.110 A Life Transformed: Aimee Vasile's Story of Recovery 41:16

1+ y ago41:16

41:16

In this episode of the ARCast, Booda interviews Aimee Vasile, who shares her powerful story of overcoming addiction and finding recovery. With five years of sobriety, Aimee discusses her difficult upbringing, her initial encounters with addiction, and the life-changing events that led her toward recovery. From dealing with family trauma to almost l…

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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.

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Ep.109 Overcoming Addiction: Richard Baltazar's Journey 23:54

1+ y ago23:54

23:54

In this heartfelt episode, Booda and Mikayla welcome Richard Baltazar, a long-time listener and ARC alumni, to share his incredible journey of recovery. Richard opens up about his upbringing in Tucson, the challenges of growing up with a father who struggled with addiction, and his own battles with substance abuse. He recounts his path from a decad…

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Ep.108 Michael's Journey to Sobriety - A Story of Hope and Recovery 24:17

1+ y ago24:17

24:17

Full video podcast available on Youtube! https://youtu.be/TdIM5JUTSd0?si=hOe-yiLNql4j4b7V Michael Morlan celebrates 575 days sober and shares his journey of recovery. On this special episode of The ARCast, host Booda welcomes Michael, who celebrates 575 days of sobriety. Michael shares his compelling story of overcoming addiction, facing tremendous…

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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

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Ep.107 Jesseca KB 1:31:29

1+ y ago1:31:29

1:31:29

In this powerful episode, we have the honor of welcoming Jesseca KB, a remarkable individual who has overcome tremendous adversity to find her path to healing and empowerment. Jesseca shares her courageous journey, shedding light on the struggles she faced with abuse, addiction, and low self-esteem from an early age. We explore how she found solace…

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Ep.106 Rudy Pro 41:05

1+ y ago41:05

41:05

I haven't seen my friend Rudy Pro since high school. It's surprising how we could spend so much time with our friends in school, yet never know what struggles they might be facing behind closed doors. Recently, Rudy opened up to me about everything he has experienced in life, and how he managed to turn things around and achieve a happy, sober life.…

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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.…