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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

63:05

Next Level Visitor Management w/Epson’s Michael Weitz

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/11/20

Visitor management is an oft-overlooked opportunity for resellers in industries they already serve, especially education, healthcare, government, and any enterprise where security, protecting sensitive information, or employee and guest safety are prioritized. This week, Epson's Michael Weitz joins to explain the challenges of outdated or traditional visitor management, where you should be looking for business, and why color-printing badges and passes elevate the process. It's the episode that's

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55:11

Turn Rookies to Revenue Faster w/Mike Monocello

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/11/13

BlueStar Academy is our new training program designed to help VARs, ISVs, and vendors give their new (or veteran) sales reps access to education on core technologies, industries, and skills to grow as a solution seller. This week, Mike Monocello, BlueStar Academy program leader and training specialist, explains what executives and managers want from these trainings, how he's building courses, and what attendees can expect. Pay attention...there may be a quiz later!Learn more about BlueStar

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35:56

The Case for Linerless Labels w/Epson’s Ian Livesay

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/11/06

Labeling in fast-paced QSRs is a critical, time-sensitive task that ensures orders for in-store patrons, delivery drivers, and pickups are properly sorted and accurate. That's where linerless printing can make operations more efficient. This week, Epson's Thermal Label Product Manager, Ian Livesay, joins the podcast to make the case for linerless over die-cut labels. What problems does it solve? Are there other industries that could use them? It's an aggressively sticky episode!Around the Nation:

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49:52

Are Supply Chain Execs Overconfident About Their...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/10/30

Manufacturers, distributors, T&L, and warehousing are always looking to become more efficient and productive, but are they embracing automation in the same areas we think they should? That was the subject of the latest BlueStar Nation end-user survey, sponsored by our friends at Honeywell. We asked their industry expert, Matt Sterner, to join the show to dissect the data. Why were business leaders so confident about their inventory and shipping practices? What did the data reveal about ongoing

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79:44

From the Archives: Do You Like Scary Podcasts?...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/10/23

It's spooky season, so we're revisiting last year's Halloween episode where we riff on all things tricks and treats!* * * Originally released October 31st, 2024 In honor of a Halloween release, we're talking about the spooky season with special guests Sam Hughes and...the Ghostface killer from Scream? (It's Sarah Schlueter!) What are some movies/TV shows that have scared us? Favorite Halloween costumes? What technology scares us? Best candy? It's the episode so packed that Dean could only say,

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58:13

From the Archives: The Human Element of Automation...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/10/16

We'll be back later this month with the results of a survey on warehouse and manufacturing automation, making this a great time to revisit this conversation about addressing human work and augmentation alongside technology.* * * Originally aired March 27, 2025 Supply chain jobs in warehouses, manufacturing, and delivery continue to face 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

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66:54

TEC Bytes 22 – The Final TECkoning?

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/10/09

It's time to dig into more fascinating topics, surveys, thought pieces, and lists to get you through your next awkward chat around the coffee maker, waiting for a virtual meeting to start, or to impress your friends and family.Have an idea for renaming the TEC Bytes episodes? Send your suggestion to nation@bluestarinc.com, and you could win $100! Topics: Helicopter parents No meeting weeks Most common jobs - 90s vs. now Ranking James Bond movies Concert ticketflation The best countries in the

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57:16

VARTECH 2025 Recap - AI, People, Connectivity, and a...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/10/02

VARTECH 2025 made the most of its location at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, offering two packed days of networking, new technologies to explore, insightful education, and fun-filled evenings. Our theme, "Join the Quest," encouraged attendees to come together in partnership and accept the challenge of finding bold new solutions to their customers' problems. From a memorable opening featuring keynote Zack Kass to bold discussions about why now is the time to make AI part of your business,

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70:15

Accelerating RFID Sales w/RedBeam’s Kevin Keith &...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/09/25

"I think customers have gone from RFID-curious to RFID-serious," says RedBeam VP of Sales Kevin Keith, reinforcing an ongoing trend of RFID growth and investment. He's joined this week by Solutions Architect Kyle Stanford to explain why the need is at an all-time high for resellers and integrators to build out their RFID business. What tips do they have for qualifying an RFID opportunity over traditional barcoding? How do we prove ROI? What industries and use cases are prime for adoption? What

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59:01

From the Archives: RFID Experts Panel w/Eric Malmed,...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/09/18

Next week, we'll be talking to our friends at Redbeam about Accelerating Your RFID Sales, so we thought we'd revisit last year's panel discussion on the trends pushing RFID forward, top use cases, and best practices. * * * Originally released June 20th, 2024 We recorded another live episode with a panel of RFID experts (Zebra’s Eric Malmed, DecisionPoint’s Steve Weiss, & RFID4U’s Archit Dua) and an eager audience. What trends and technology innovations are moving the RFID market? What

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65:04

From the Archives: What Does Your Digital Presence...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/09/11

We're busy planning and executing VARTECH 2025 this week, so enjoy a couple of classics from the archives, starting with this one, recorded at last year's show. No live episode this year, but follow BlueStar on LinkedIn to keep up with all of the fun, cool tech, and new ideas we're sharing there.* * * Originally released Sep 26, 2024 Once again, we took our show on the road to VARTECH in Orlando, Florida, to discuss websites, social media, and how they can impact your business. James Korte gives us

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60:30

Selling Driver Safety for Mobile Enterprises...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/09/04

Distracted driving has been exacerbated with the widespread use of mobile devices, which constantly beckon to be looked at, touched, and interacted with. For enterprises that deploy drivers to deliver products or services, or operate internal vehicles such as forklifts, these distractions can lead to costly lawsuits, liabilities, and an inability to obtain insurance. This week, we're joined by Ted Chen, CEO of LifeSaver Mobile, a company that helps enterprises customize employee access to their

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53:10

Selling Hardware Longevity w/Logic Controls' Paul...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/08/28

Planned obsolescence and routine replacement cycles are common in the consumer electronics industry. Those concepts also infiltrate enterprise hardware, undermining the notion that business equipment should be rugged, durable, and suitable for years of day-to-day use. If you're eager to swap out mobile computers, POS devices, printers, and other hardware when a new version is released, are you doing your customers (and your business) a disservice? That's the premise of this week's episode featuring

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01:03:55

From the Archives: How to Sell Connectivity Solutions...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/08/21

In two weeks, we'll be focusing on fleet & deliver driver safety and technology to minimize distractions. In preparation, we thought it would be helpful to revisit the importance of reliable, enterprise-ready connectivity to enable such solutions. Enjoy!* * * Originally published March 13, 2025 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

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01:07:32

Retail Modernization 2.0 w/Intel's Rob Risany & Elo's...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/08/14

A couple of years ago, Intel's Kristen Call joined the pod to discuss what retail modernization meant and how VARs should align their solutions for the future. Now, as the AI conversation grows louder, what has changed, and what did we get right back then? Returning guests Rob Risany & Luke Wilwerding talk expectations, skepticism, selling value, and the importance of channel partnerships to help you sell the next generation of retail tech.Around the Nation: Win business and earn more with

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01:28:42

Scrappy Marketing w/OrderCounter's Crystal Barrineau...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/08/07

We're getting scrappy this week to nerd out over marketing practices that don't require big budgets or large staffs. OrderCounter's Crystal Barrineau suggested this topic and volunteered her expertise as a scrappy marketer! Our own James Korte joins her for a valuable conversation about why marketing matters, real examples of simple-but-effective campaigns, and how to turn who you already are into a brand. It's the episode that's collecting Monopolists' Tears.Around the Nation: Check out the

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01:11:01

Meet the BlueStar Network & Connectivity Experts

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/07/31

You probably sell a lot of cool tech…mobile computers, POS systems, digital signage, printers, RFID, etc, and most of that stuff is designed to send and receive data and communicate with other systems, so it’s only as good as the networks it’s connected to. Is that connectivity something you are selling? Are you leaving it to specialized providers, mobile carriers, or your competitors? If you are selling connectivity solutions yourself, do you have the support you need to deliver reliable hardware

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01:10:45

A Modern VAR’s Guide to Selling Digital Signage...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/07/24

LG's Mike Stachura is bringing his incredible energy and enthusiasm for digital signage back to the pod (and in-studio!) with Disty Sales Director Matt Waidley. They are discussing current trends in signage, their favorite use cases, how AI is changing deployments and potential applications, and what's new with LG. Slip into some comfy shoes and enjoy!Around the Nation: 2U Tour NYC...on a boat! #VARValue - Explain the difference between ROI & ROO? How can VARs sell the “intangible” benefits

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01:22:37

From the Archives: Generative AI, Employee...

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/07/17

LG's Mike Stachura brings his incredible energy back to the pod next week, so we thought we'd revisit his last appearance, which covered a wide range of topics and was a lot of fun.Originally released Aug 24th, 2023 * * * An epic AI trilogy deserves an epic conclusion, so this week, we welcomed LG’s Mike Stachura & Aaron Addison into the studio for various topics and a lot of laughter. First, we discuss some predictions for generative AI’s impact on business. Next, we dig into the importance

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01:00:36

TEC Bytes 21 - We're Gonna Need a Bigger Podcast

BlueStar Nation ·

2025/07/10

We're sharing another batch of interesting reads, trends, lists, and studies to give you something to discuss while waiting for your next meeting to start, over lunch with a client, or with friends and family.Topics: An all-AI agent company? 2024 restaurant trends The world's wealthiest and happiest cities Why Americans are working less What happens to your digital life when you die? Around the Nation: Networking Experts Webinar - Register Now! On Our Radar Dean - World Humanoid Robot

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