What if the final frontier isn’t as far away as it seems? In this episode, Kelli Kedis Ogborn, VP of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship at the Space Foundation, breaks down how space is no longer just about astronauts and satellites. It’s an economic engine already driving trillions in opportunity. From reusable rockets to orbital infrastructure and venture capital gaps, this conversation explores what it takes to do business beyond Earth. Key takeaways: The global space economy is currently va...
Jun 26, 2025•1 hr 18 min
What does it take to build trust in freight? In this episode, recorded live at TMSA Elevate in Austin, Texas, SPI Logistics' CRO Senior Vice President, Mike Mikulik, joins Blythe to share the freight fundamentals that never go out of style, like proving your worth, asking better questions, and why breaking bread still beats fancy tech. Whether you're a new broker or a seasoned freight agent, this conversation is full of tried and true insights that can level up your relationship game. Key takeaw...
Jun 24, 2025•37 min
What happens when freight’s brightest minds in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship unpack the biggest shifts in logistics? Recorded live at TMSA Elevate 2025, this episode features Charlie Saffro (CS Recruiting), RJ Finnegan (SPI Logistics), and Anthony Pagnotto (Mohawk Global) as they share the biggest takeaways from the conference, including how freight companies are using AI, rethinking branding, and marketing their back office in new ways. 5 Things We Learned at TMSA Elevate: Internal ali...
Jun 19, 2025•59 min
What does the future of logistics really look like? In this episode, host Blythe Milligan shares details on her recent behind-the-scenes tour of DHL’s Export Facility and Innovation Center in Chicago. From sorting 10,000 packages an hour with only a dozen employees to integrating robotics and generative AI, the tour demonstrates how tech and transparency are reshaping the supply chain. This episode truly highlights how one of the world’s largest logistics companies is using automation to drive e...
Jun 17, 2025•1 hr 33 min
Is EDI broken or just misunderstood? In this reunion episode of Freight Friends, Blythe Brumleve welcomes Grace Sharkey back to the mic to talk about her new role at Orderful, the state of freight media, and why so many companies are still struggling with EDI integrations. From customer horror stories to a Christmas Eve miracle involving Walmart, Grace shares why she’s betting big on solving one of freight’s most persistent pain points. Key takeaways: Media experience is a hidden weapon for logi...
Jun 10, 2025•1 hr 16 min
Your brand isn’t just your logo or your tagline. It’s your supply chain. In this solo episode, Blythe breaks down her recent BBC appearance and expands on a bold new thesis: your supply chain isn’t just a backend function. It’s the product. From viral TikToks to luxury handbag knockoffs, this episode explores why today’s buyers are more concerned than ever with the “how” behind their favorite stuff. And why that curiosity is your best marketing tool. Key takeaways: Transparency isn’t just ethica...
May 27, 2025•34 min
We’ve all heard the hype about AI, but what’s actually happening behind the scenes? In this episode, Blythe breaks down two major studies that reveal how marketers are really using AI tools, where they’re struggling, and what’s coming next. If you're trying to figure out what to adopt (and what to ignore), this episode offers a blueprint for smart AI integration without the slop. Key takeaways: Only 17% of marketing teams have fully integrated AI into their workflows. 65% of marketers say resear...
May 20, 2025•1 hr 10 min
Most freight tech stacks are a tangled mess of tools that don’t talk to each other. Ezequiel Peralta, VP of Technology at SPI Logistics, is working to fix that. This episode strips away the hype and digs into what it really takes to build functional, secure, and scalable freight systems. Peralta shares how SPI is moving beyond the TMS-first mindset by introducing a flexible integration layer, leveraging AI to reduce email chaos, and automating back-office tasks without sidelining the people who ...
May 13, 2025•1 hr 4 min
Barges move over 70 percent of U.S. grain and can carry the equivalent of 4,000 truckloads with a single tugboat. Yet this massive freight channel has remained invisible to most supply chains due to outdated systems and zero visibility. In this episode, OpenTug CEO Jason Aristides shares how his team is digitizing barge and tug operations with GPS tracking, AI-powered automation, and a modern marketplace experience. By unlocking real-time visibility and booking capabilities, OpenTug is helping s...
May 06, 2025•38 min
The freight market doesn’t work the way most people think it does, and Chris Caplice is here to explain why. As the Chief Scientist at DAT Freight & Analytics and Executive Director of MIT’s FreightLab, Chris has spent years studying the breakdowns in routing guides, the myth of economies of scale, and why AI isn’t a magic bullet for bad freight strategy. In this episode, we’re diving deep into how shippers, brokers, and carriers can use benchmarking and dynamic tools to build more resilient...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Business owner, podcast host, and SPI Logistics freight agent Dave Gulas is back on the show to talk about how he uses podcasting to create content for his customers and leads. By using education, he’s able to stay top of mind and earn future opportunities by delivering value long before the sale. From sharing entrepreneurial stories to building lead pipelines, Dave breaks down why consistency is the secret weapon most folks overlook. Key Takeaways: Podcasting isn’t just for downloads, it’s a lo...
Apr 29, 2025•52 min
Tariff news changes by the hour, and freight pros can’t afford to fall behind. In this solo episode, Blythe shares how she used AI tools to get smart on global trade policy fast and prep for a talk on tariffs with real confidence. From building a research system to generating a podcast from her notes, Blythe walks through the AI workflows that helped her synthesize thousands of data points, spot trends, and understand what global trade shifts actually mean for the industry. Key takeaways: Tariff...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr
From de minimis drama to geopolitical trade shakeups, tariffs are doing more than raising prices, they're forcing a full rewrite of how e-commerce logistics gets done. Harshida Acharya, Chief Strategy Officer at Fulfillment IQ and host of the eCOM Logistics Podcast, joins the show to explain what these policy changes really mean for brands. If you’re still relying on one warehouse, one fulfillment model, or one country, consider this your wake-up call. Key Takeaways: Tariff shifts and de minimis...
Apr 22, 2025•52 min
AI is being hyped as the magic bullet for supply chains—but what happens when your infrastructure isn’t ready to support it? In this episode, Blythe Brumleve chats with David Bell, CEO of Cloneops.ai , about the cold, hard realities of deploying AI in logistics. From unreliable data pipelines to the complexity of nearshoring, David breaks down what’s broken, what’s fixable, and what’s still wildly misunderstood. Whether you're trying to optimize costs or just figure out how to prep your backend ...
Apr 15, 2025•50 min
Many people in logistics shy away from giving their opinions online. But Jennifer Morris founded her company Ship Happens to do the exact opposite–by giving opinions online that help other SMBs from shipping headaches. Jenn joins the show to talk about her more than 20 years in logistics, how brokerage sales strategies are different for women, and which logistics company would make for a great reality show. LINKS: Jenn's LinkedIn Jenn on the PODcast Asset Based WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE Feedba...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 20 min
When AI enters the supply chain, your biggest threat might not be a hacker—it might be a rogue Excel sheet buried deep in your processes. In this panel from Manifest, Blythe moderates an insightful discussion with data security leaders on what it really takes to secure supply chains in an AI-powered world. From hallucinating large language models to ecosystem-wide vulnerabilities, this episode is packed with honest perspectives you won’t hear on a sales deck. Panelists included: Mike Polich, Hea...
Apr 01, 2025•35 min
Why does it feel like U.S. ports are stuck in the past while the rest of the world is fully automated? This episode with Lauren Beagen—lawyer, founder of The Maritime Professor®, and host of By Land and By Sea—dives into why maritime regulations matter, what tech labor negotiations are really about, and how tariffs are a lot more about vibes than rules. From dock safety to global competitiveness, we explore the big-picture forces shaping the future of port operations and maritime shipping. Key t...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 4 min
If you've ever asked “Where’s my container?”—this episode is for you. Rene Alvarenga, Senior Director of Product Management at Kaleris, breaks down why visibility is still one of supply chain's biggest unsolved problems. Backed by data from a new report with maritime research firm Thetius, this conversation unpacks the massive disconnect between what terminals think they’re delivering and what shippers actually experience. Key takeaways: • 87% of terminals think they offer great visibility—but o...
Mar 25, 2025•22 min
Cargo thieves aren’t just stealing freight—they’re outpacing traditional security methods with fraudulent carriers, fake BOLs, and even high-speed heists. Cargo theft has surged 50% year-over-year, leaving shippers and brokers scrambling for protection. But while criminals are getting smarter, so is technology. On this episode of Everything is Logistics, Jonathan Ryan, CPTO of Overhaul, reveals how AI and machine learning are helping companies prevent theft before it happens. Key Takeaways: Carg...
Mar 20, 2025•32 min
Warehouse robotics is evolving fast, yet 90% of warehouses still don’t use automation. Why? Despite the rise of AI, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and drone-based inventory tracking, most operations remain stuck in outdated, manual processes. The real challenge isn’t just cost—it’s about knowledge gaps, change management, and finding the right tech fit. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve sits down with Kevin Lawton, host of The New Warehouse Podcast, to break down...
Mar 18, 2025•30 min
Freight brokers waste hours on missed calls and rate negotiations. What if AI could handle those conversations instantly? Roger Boza, Chief Technology Advisor at CloneOps, explains how AI-powered voice agents are transforming brokerage operations. From real-time rate negotiations to eliminating phone call bottlenecks, Boza breaks down how AI streamlines freight without replacing human brokers. Key Topics Covered: • Agentic AI vs. Automation – What’s the difference? • AI-powered phone conversatio...
Mar 13, 2025•28 min
Freight fraud is escalating at an alarming rate. Cargo theft, double brokering, and identity fraud have increased by 500% year over year, leaving brokers and carriers struggling to stay ahead. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe Brumleve sits down with Reid Clements of Highway to discuss how identity verification technology is preventing fraud before it happens. Key Topics: The biggest fraud threats in freight today How criminals are buying fake MC numbers for as little as $...
Mar 11, 2025•23 min
The logistics industry is changing fast, and women are leading the charge. In this episode of Everything is Logistics, host Blythe moderates a dynamic panel from Manifest 2025 featuring: ✅ Grace Sharkey (FreightWaves) - Media expert covering supply chain trends ✅ Oana Jinga (Dexory) - Bringing AI & robotics into warehousing ✅ Nathalie Lallet (Uber Freight) - Driving tech partnerships in logistics ✅ Rachel Levy (Brooklinen) - Supply chain executive with decades of experience Topics include: �...
Mar 06, 2025•37 min
Ever wondered how global logistics companies keep track of millions of postal codes, city divisions, and ports worldwide? In this episode of Everything is Logistics, we sit down with Simon Vandemoortele, CEO of GeoPostCodes, to discuss how structured, AI-powered location data is revolutionizing freight, sustainability tracking, and supply chain efficiency. 🔹 How GeoPostCodes maintains the most comprehensive location data set in the world 🔹 Why U.S. companies struggle with international postal ...
Mar 04, 2025•20 min
The squad is back from Manifest and we’ve got some takeaways to share from all of our conversations from the podcast booth to the expo floor. Also in the show, Blythe talks about the week after launching CargoRex and the lessons we’re already learning along with platform improvements we’re shipping. LINKS: CargoRex Robotics, Data, and Optimization with Dexory’s Oana Jinga The Relationship Between Venture Capital and Logistics with Auto Tech Ventures TAKEAWAYS: Autotech Ventures: Unusual Faces in...
Feb 21, 2025•56 min
Tired of searching for logistics solutions across scattered platforms? In this episode of Everything is Logistics , Blythe announces CargoRex, a groundbreaking new logistics hub that combines deep industry insights, privacy-first analytics, and a collaborative platform for professionals and creators. She discusses the challenges of navigating the fragmented industry landscape and how CargoRex aims to simplify the process. Whether you're in freight, tech, or just love seeing big ideas take shape,...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 7 min
Angelo Fruci grew up as a cousin to fellow logistics podcaster Chris Jolly. But it would take years later for the two to team up to start their own freight agency with none other than our favorite, SPI Logistics. Learn about that journey from engineer to freight agency owner while also picking up some sales and marketing tips along the way. LINKS: Angelo's LinkedIn SPI's Freight Agent Guide SPI’s Secrets to Building a Successful Freight Agent Career WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE Feedback? Ideas fo...
Jan 16, 2025•54 min
Kevin Rutherford is host of the popular show and movement, Let’s Truck, and he’s back on the pod to talk about how to make trucking great again in 2025. In this episode, we’re covering the importance of a healthy body and mind that leads to a more successful trucking career. And you’ll need that healthy body and mind to be able to handle the stress of broker transparency, truck parking, and other industry drama. Kevin helps us solve it all and it’s the perfect episode to kick off the New Year. L...
Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 41 min
In this episode, we focus on South American logistics, sharing crazy stories from the "Road of Death" where truck drivers dodge landslides, cross rivers on rickety pontoon boats, and take showers in mountain waterfalls just to deliver their cargo. Blythe and Grace Sharkey unpack China's ambitious power play in South America, revealing how their new mega-port in Peru and planned infrastructure projects could reshape global trade routes and potentially sideline the Panama Canal. They also bring at...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Join us for a special compilation episode featuring the best of our 2024 NASA and space logistics coverage. We dive into three exciting topics: how NASA handles deep space supply chains, the science behind growing food in space, and an exciting conversation with Inversion Space about building orbital warehouses. From autonomous docking to space-grown lettuce to delivering cargo anywhere on Earth within an hour, these stories highlight how the final frontier is becoming the next revolution in log...
Jan 07, 2025•2 hr 5 min
