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PODCAST

Retail Gets Real

National Retail Federation

Retail impacts everyone, everywhere, every day. Join the National Retail Federation for authentic, insightful conversations with the industry"s most interesting people. Hear retail executives, industry experts, entrepreneurs and influencers discuss trends, their career stories and the future of retail. Learn more at retailgetsreal.com.

business careers

All Episodes

30:15

412. How Brieane Olson is shaping the future of youth...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/04/07

Brieane Olson has spent nearly two decades helping reshape Pacsun. She joins Retail Gets Real to share what it takes to evolve a legacy retail brand without losing sight of the customer. With a retail career that began at age 15, her foundation in fashion still shapes how she leads today. The connection point between product and consumer remains an energizing part of her career journey, and influences how she leads people, sets strategy and guides the business through constant change.(00:00:00)

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26:49

411. Redefining JCPenney for today’s customer

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/03/24

Retail is evolving at an incredible pace, but at its core, it still comes down to people. Michelle Wlazlo, brand CEO of JCPenney, joins Retail Gets Real to share her grounded and optimistic perspective on where the industry is headed and why the fundamentals of serving customers remain as important as ever.(00:00:00) A retail career shaped by customers(00:06:44) Why physical stores aren’t going anywhere(00:09:02) Reintroducing JCPenney to a new generation of customers(00:15:52) The forces reshaping

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24:15

410. Inside the art of experiential retail at Hershey’s

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/03/17

Retail stores remain powerful spaces for storytelling, connection and cultural relevance. José Raul Padron, design lead for the Hershey Experience at The Hershey Company, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share how thoughtful retail design transforms everyday shopping into memorable experiences. From immersive brand homes to viral product moments, he says physical retail continues to evolve in a digital-first world.(00:00:00) From chocolate legacy to retail design leadership(00:06:04) Why

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30:05

409. Inside REI’s strategy for trust, community, and...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/03/10

Leadership in retail today requires balancing innovation, culture and purpose. Mary Beth Laughton, president and CEO of REI Co-op, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share lessons from a career spanning some of the most influential brands in retail and explain how she is guiding REI into its next chapter. She discusses her career journey, the role of mentorship and how the co-op is evolving its strategy while staying rooted in its mission and values.(00:00:00) From consulting to leading

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27:21

408. How Coach puts the consumer at the center of...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/03/03

At a time when retail is being reshaped by technology, generational shifts and changing expectations around authenticity, understanding the consumer has never been more critical. Jennifer Yue, senior vice president of strategy and consumer insights at Coach and Tapestry, joins this episode of Retail Gets Real to share how deep listening and human-centered insight are driving growth at one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands.(00:00:00) From investment banking to consumer insight

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34:12

407. Inside Sweetwater’s people-first approach to...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/02/24

As retail continues to evolve at the intersection of technology and human connection, Jason Johnson, CIO of Sweetwater Sound, offers a compelling perspective on what it means to lead with both innovation and heart. On this episode of “Retail Gets Real,” Johnson discusses how Sweetwater has grown into one of the most distinctive retailers in the industry by treating technology not as a back-office function, but as a core driver of growth — especially with its team of more than 700 commissioned sales

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22:09

406. The rise of smart retail merchandising

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/02/17

Technology is reshaping the in-store experience, and Jake Neiman is helping retailers bring digital innovation into the physical world. The co-founder and CEO of BIG Digital joins Retail Gets Real to discuss how immersive kiosks, smart merchandising solutions, AI-powered interfaces and next-generation ePaper displays are transforming how customers engage with brands inside stores.(00:00:00) Powering live events with interactive kiosks(00:04:38) Building BIG Digital during a global shutdown(00:07:04)

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32:53

405. The cultural forces shaping tomorrow’s consumer

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/02/10

Cassandra Napoli, head of marketing, events and culture forecasting at WGSN, returns to Retail Gets Real to explore what is changing in culture, technology and consumer behavior. Recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, she discusses the evolving nature of human connection and what retailers can do to future-proof their businesses in a world shaped by uncertainty, fragmented identities and competing demands for attention.(00:00:00) When disruption reshapes the future

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27:17

404. How Taco Bell uses digital innovation to...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/02/03

Known for its bold brand, devoted fans and culture of innovation, Taco Bell continues to push the boundaries of what modern retail can be, blending human connection with digital transformation to create memorable experiences for both consumers and team members. Dane Mathews, global chief digital and technology officer at Taco Bell joins guest host David French of NRF for this wide-ranging conversation on innovation, leadership, and the evolving role of technology in retail, recorded live at NRF

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28:17

403. Building a people-first culture in modern retail...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/01/27

Retail is an industry built on people, emotion and constant reinvention, and few leaders embody that reality more fully than Ulta Beauty President and CEO Kecia Steelman. In this episode of Retail Gets Real recorded live from NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, Steelman explores her remarkable career journey, leadership philosophy and how she’s guiding the nation’s largest specialty beauty retailer through one of the most transformative moments in retail history.(00:00:00) From the sales

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26:25

402. How agentic AI is redefining the future of retail

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/01/21

Live from NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show in New York City, Ali Furman, partner and U.S. consumer markets industry leader at PwC, and Barbara O’Beirne, head of global enterprise business development at Stripe, both join Retail Gets Real for a wide-ranging conversation on how AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to execution — and what that means for retailers right now.Near the Expo floor buzzing with robots, AI demos and next-generation technology, Furman and O’Beirne unpack why agentic AI

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20:58

401. How Old Navy is building opportunity at scale

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/01/14

Horacio “Haio” Barbeito, president and CEO of Old Navy, joins Retail Gets Real to reflect on a global career in retail, the responsibility of developing future talent and how leaders can navigate rapid change while keeping humanity at the center of the business.With nearly three decades of experience spanning Argentina, the United States, Chile, Puerto Rico and Canada, Barbeito’s leadership philosophy was shaped by working across cultures and markets. His journey — which included 26 years at Walmart

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28:33

400. How retail navigated uncertainty and...

Retail Gets Real ·

2026/01/09

As Retail Gets Real reaches its 400th episode, we’re joined by Matthew Shay, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, for a special conversation reflecting on the year that was, and what it reveals about the future of retail. The milestone episode offers a comprehensive look at the forces that shaped the industry in 2025, from global expansion and trade policy to consumer behavior and artificial intelligence.(00:00:00) Marking 400 episodes and setting the stage for retail’s

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16:34

399. Inside Retail’s Big Show: Innovation, AI and...

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/12/18

Retail’s Big Show has long been the industry’s can’t-miss gathering.In this episode of Retail Gets Real, we get an inside look at what’s ahead for NRF 2026, straight from the leaders who bring the event to life. We’re joined by Susan Newman, senior vice president of event strategy at the National Retail Federation; Jill Dvorak, senior vice president of content; and Scot Case, vice president of corporate social responsibility and sustainability and executive director of NRF’s Center for Retail

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19:41

398. What Gen Z wants: insights shaping the future of...

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/12/10

Gen Z is rapidly becoming one of the most influential consumer groups in the marketplace. In this episode of Retail Gets Real, we hear from two guests who sit at the heart of this evolving landscape: Carly Berns, assistant vice president at Berns Communications Group and co-founder of The Z Suite, and Olivia Meyer, a Gen Z retail strategist and Z Suite member. Together, they explore what defines today’s youngest adult shoppers, how they influence retail trends and what retailers must do to stay

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24:27

397. What’s driving holiday shopping in 2025

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/11/25

As the winter season approaches, families across the country are stepping into the holidays with renewed enthusiasm — and retailers are preparing for one of the most meaningful shopping periods of the year. In this episode of Retail Gets Real, NRF Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Katherine Cullen breaks down the latest holiday data, uncovers shopping trends and shares the heartfelt traditions that define how Americans celebrate this time of year.From spending forecasts and toy trends

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20:24

396. How iHerb is leading the trillion-dollar...

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/11/12

The wellness movement has gone global — and few companies embody that expansion better than iHerb. CEO Emun Zabihi explores how they’re transforming the way consumers access supplements and natural products worldwide. From humble beginnings in a Pasadena apartment to serving millions of customers in 180 countries, iHerb’s journey is a story of innovation, accessibility, and trust in an increasingly crowded marketplace.(00:00:00) The rise of the trillion-dollar wellness economy(00:08:57) Trends

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23:23

395. Adapting to the rise of AI shoppers

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/10/29

Artificial intelligence is reshaping every corner of the retail landscape, and a new wave of agentic AI shoppers is changing how brands must think about data, experience and customer connection. Debra Langley, partner at CAPTIS Ventures, and Greg Merrill, president at Futura Fragua unpack the rapid rise of AI shopping agents and what this evolution means for the future of retail.(00:00:00) A new era of retail innovation(00:05:02) The rise of AI shopping agents(00:10:08) Explaining AI shoppers to

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18:44

394. How consumers are redefining Halloween

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/10/22

Halloween isn’t just a holiday — it’s a full-fledged season of fun, community and record-breaking retail activity. Today we’re joined by Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, to unpack how consumers are celebrating Halloween this year and why this festive tradition continues to grow in cultural and economic significance.(00:00:00) Turning homes into haunted experiences(00:05:59) From one night to an entire season(00:08:59) What

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19:59

393. How Bealls is shaping the next era of value...

Retail Gets Real ·

2025/10/15

Matt Beall, Chairman and CEO of Bealls Inc., reflects on 110 years of family legacy, cultural evolution, and the future of off-price retail. As a fourth-generation leader, Matt offers a rare look inside the company’s long-standing commitment to both financial discipline and human-centered leadership — and how those values are shaping its future.(00:00:00) Early memories and family pressure(00:05:27) Seeing the store through the customer’s eyes(00:08:05) The power of the off-price model(00:14:25)

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415 results

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