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PODCAST

BlueStar Nation

BlueStar Nation

BlueStar Nation is the podcast that tackles the hot topics, trends, and emerging technologies impacting the specialty IT reseller channel, software companies, MSPs, and hardware manufacturers. Hosted by John Martin & Dean Reverman. Tell us what YOU want to hear about: nation@bluestarinc.com

technology marketing

All Episodes

52:47

Advice from a POS Reseller w/NRS’ Elie Katz

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/07/03

This week, we're seeking insights, advice, and experiences from one of our customers in the channel. Elie Katz, Founder & CEO of National Retail Solutions, tells us about building a POS business aimed at helping independent merchants compete against large chains and still have access to the latest and greatest technology. How can SMB VARs & ISVs stand out in a crowd? What does the channel bring to VARs? Are there recurring revenue "hacks"? And what does public service have to do with being a

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57:00

Building Your AI Solutions Foundation w/Elo’s Luke...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/06/26

"It's put up or shut up time for AI!" proclaims John on this week's episode. He and Dean are ready to see real, tangible applications with AI. Thankfully, Elo's Luke Wilwerding brings the goods by helping us explore AI's actual potential and the tools and infrastructure VARs need to bring those solutions to their customers. How is AI already impacting your device sales? What are end-users saying they want? Will AI eliminate the touchscreen? What should VARs be doing in their business to prepare for

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01:02:59

Clinical Mobility Survey w/Zebra’s Kassaundra...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/06/19

Our latest BlueStar Nation survey tackles mobile device usage, challenges, and expectations for clinical healthcare workers. To help us break down the data, we turned to an expert, Zebra's Healthcare CNIO Industry Principal Kassaundra McKnight-Young, to not only explain the benefits of enterprise mobility in the industry but also share her perspective as an active clinician. Is there still an opportunity to move healthcare away from consumer devices? How can communication between care teams be

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52:39

The New Era of Edge w/Scale Computing’s Jeff Ready

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/06/12

As more devices, solutions, and emerging tech like AI & machine vision demand rapid, near-instantaneous processing and response, relying solely on the cloud and centralized servers may not be enough. Scale Computing is helping VARs address the need for decentralization, and their CEO, Jeff Ready, joins the pod this week to provide context and a path forward. How does a Robert Frost poem explain contemporary attitudes toward edge computing? What's happening with VMWare? What misconceptions

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58:26

How are Kitchens Evolving to Meet New Demands? w/Star...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/06/05

The modern kitchen serves many masters: food safety standards, "I want it now and I want it here" consumers, and delivery companies enabling those consumers. How are those demands influencing restaurant technology in the kitchen and front-of-the-house? Star Micronics' Christophe Naasz joins to explain. How do label printers and modern scanning solutions drive efficiency? What are the advantages of cloud POS vs. on-prem? What did Christophe see at NRA that excited or interested him?Around the

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49:02

How Should Government VARs Navigate Trump 2.0? with...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/05/29

The new Trump administration has been busy rolling back initiatives from previous administrations and rapidly overhauling government agencies. If you sell into the public sector, what do these rapid changes mean? We turn, as always, to our government guru, EVerged's Jeff Smith, to provide guidance. What is happening with EV charging rollouts and opportunities? How is the DOGE dismantling of agencies affecting tech investments? What does it mean for state and local businesses? What's Jeff's advice

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01:01:29

Back Catalog - EV Charging & Sustainable Energy...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/05/22

A run of new episodes starts next week with Jeff Smith returning to discuss government tech sales under the new Trump administration and the state of EV charging opportunities. To prepare, let's revisit Jeff's last appearance!* * * *Originally released May 9, 2024* The electric & hybrid vehicle market continues to grow, spurred by government investment and consumer interest. This week, Jeff Smith, CEO of EVerged, explains why he is all-in on the market and its potential. What trends and

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50:25

Are Digital Displays Frustrating Educators & Their IT?

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/05/15

"This is your roadmap," says Dean about our latest BlueStar Nation end-user survey results. We surveyed 125 education teachers, administrators, and IT leaders about their experiences using and deploying digital displays in the classroom. What frustrates them? Why aren't they using more interactive displays? Who is responsible for maintenance and support? What do they want out of their next upgrade? Your final grade depends on this episode!Thanks to Samsung for sponsoring the survey! Around the

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01:00:08

Back Catalog - The Intersection of AI & Digital...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/05/08

We'll be back next week, breaking down a survey from Educators, but until then, let's revisit this conversation exploring how touchscreen displays complement AI solutions.*Originally released August 8th, 2024* ----------------------------------- We’re talking more about AI with Elo’s Kristin Roubie, this time regarding digital displays and industries deploying the technologies together. How are Kristin & Elo approaching AI at the moment? What are some practical applications she’s seen or

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01:06:50

Tech Nostalgia w/Sarah Schlueter

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/05/01

Technology is rapidly advancing, and new inventions and innovations make our lives easier, but do you ever miss something simpler? That's the subject of this week's episode. Is it nostalgia, or do we get stubborn as we age? Sarah Schlueter, an old soul herself, joins us (with props!). When did we feel like we were on the cutting edge of tech adoption? What tech are we nostalgic for, and what do we wish we could go back to?Around the Nation: Watch Unboxed on YouTube On Our Radar Sarah - Tech

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01:05:28

BlueStar Nation Replay: Generative AI's Past,...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/04/24

As AI continues to be a hot topic, we're looking to spotlight practical, tangible use cases on the pod this year, both within your business and solutions for your customers. Look for new episodes soon that address this topic, but in the meantime, if you missed it, check out this conversation we had with Honeywell's Michael Groskopf.*Originally released Oct. 10, 2024* It's been nearly two years since LLMs like ChatGPT exploded into the public consciousness, but how are businesses leveraging the

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01:07:11

TEC Bytes 20 – Take Us Out to the Ballgame

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/04/17

Sure, we're no longer the TEConnect Podcast, but TEC Bytes--our occasional round-up of interesting articles, lists, rankings, research, tech topics, and more--lives on! Here's what we're discussing:The Most Innovative Countries in 2024 Best inventions of 2024 Top low-stress/high-paying jobs COVID pandemic 5 years later Most technologically advanced stadiums Best sports moments On Our Radar Dean - Workdays are ending earlier John - Music makes us move, even when we don't like it Keep in

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50:45

Retailers Speak! -- Support, mPOS, Payments & More

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/04/10

Finding new opportunities in retail isn't easy. There is a lot of market saturation, a lot of competition, and a lot of technology options. But, it’s also a lucrative industry when you win business, so we want to give you an edge by equipping you with end-user data—actual insights from retailers about their tech in use, wishlist items, and support preferences. Then, we analyze those insights, compile the most relevant data, and give you some suggestions for interpreting it. Thanks to our friends at

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54:40

Has Pop Culture Ruined the Facial Recognition Market?...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/04/03

Facial recognition has become common for personal mobile devices, relying on our unique biological features for security and access control. However, the technology is still somewhat controversial in the broader business world. Terry Schulenburg with CyberLink, makers of FaceMe, will help us understand the technology, how the controversy is mainly manufactured by film/TV, and the opportunity for solution providers. What industries are embracing it? What is the liability for those who sell

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58:13

The Human Element of Automation w/Newcastle's Kevin...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/03/27

Supply chain jobs in warehouses, manufacturing, and delivery are still facing a challenging labor market. At the same time, costs remain high, and consumer demands create more pressure to make, distribute, and deliver products quickly. That’s where automation technology has come in to help, but it’s not a total replacement for people, which makes it essential to understand the human element as well. Today, Newcastle’s Kevin Ledversis & Honeywell’s Kelley Wood are sharing their thoughts on the

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51:38

Restaurant Automation & AI w/Truffle Systems’ Sean...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/03/20

Like many industries, automation & AI are finding a place in restaurants, adding to accelerated trends during the pandemic. This week's guest, Sean McCaughan of Truffle Systems, finds it easier than ever to make the case for innovation, but what solutions actually make a difference? How does "reading bus pans" make the case for AI and analytics to reduce costs and minimize food waste? How is Truffle solving the "last three feet problem" in places like hospital cafeterias? It's the episode with

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01:03:55

How to Sell Network & Connectivity Solutions...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/03/13

Mobile computing, IoT, AI, RFID, robotics, mPOS…the future of enterprise technology is exciting, to be sure. Still, it’s only as good as the networks connecting these devices and transmitting all that data for analysis and action. Networking and connectivity solutions may not currently be part of your portfolio, but if you desire to be THE trusted provider for your customers, they should be. Today, we’re talking to iONLINE’s Dave Farquharson & industry vet (now a BlueStar colleague) Jim Hilton

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01:00:11

Can Retailers Overcome the Consumer Power Shift?...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/03/06

Not long ago, retailers held most of the power in how consumers found, purchased, and knew about products and services. The internet age, social media, and always-on-hand mobile devices shifted that dynamic in favor of the consumer. Will technology restore the balance of power or allow SMB retailers to compete against the big box & e-commerce giants? Honeywell's Tony Boncore returns to the show to explain. What did he see at NRF? How do AI and mobility tools empower associates to create better

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45:14

Same Great Taste, New Packaging

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/02/27

The podcast returns with a new name but is committed to the same great topics, guests, and education! This week, we begin with a brief explainer for the name change before reviewing the content topics that had the most attention in 2024. Dean gives us his thoughts on #NRF2025, and we discuss what's been "On Our Radar" since our last recording.Check out ISVs on Tap! On Our Radar Dean - How often should you wash your towels John - Apple settles Siri lawsuit and video games for mental

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02:01

BlueStar Nation Podcast Trailer

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/02/20

The TEConnect Podcast is now BlueStar Nation! It has the same great content, the same hosts, and new packaging! Each week, John Martin & Dean Reverman explore the hottest trends, emerging technologies, new opportunities, and sales & marketing tips for the specialty IT reseller channel. Hear from experts in AI, RFID, robotics, barcoding, point-of-sale, AIDC, edge computing, automation, digital signage, and so much more.You can watch on YouTube (@BlueStarInc), subscribe anywhere you get

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183 results

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