In 2001, after having been dropped from their label, Jimmy Eat World released their 4th album, Bleed American. Because they were financing the recording themselves, they decided to keep things simple. “The Middle” reflects how the band was feeling – “left out or looked down on” – but it was also a song about encouragement. As the song says, sometimes “it just takes some time” to find that place where “everything will be alright.” The song was a breakthrough, topping the Modern Rock charts and hi...
Jul 11, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 39
The Ohio band, The McCoys, scored this #1 hit in 1965. While the narrator of the song loves Sloopy, it seems the rest of the world feels very differently – “everybody tries to put my Sloopy down.” The song is a signature at The Ohio State University football games and it also played prominently during games of the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Browns, and Cleveland Cavaliers. In 1985, it was designated the state’s official rock song by the Ohio General Assembly. So Sloopy has incredibly dedicat...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 38
John Sebastian is probably best known for his time with the ‘60s band, The Lovin’s Spoonful. But in 1976, he scored a #1 hit with Welcome Back, the theme song to Welcome Back, Kotter. A sitcom about a wise-cracking teacher who has returned to his high school alma-mater to teach a remedial class of students, Welcome Back, Kotter featured a group of students who are viewed by most as misfits. But they are also their own close-knit little community. As John Travolta’s Vinnie Barbarino puts in the p...
Jun 20, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 37
Bruce Campbell’s return as Ash in the 1992 cult classic, Army of Darkness, illustrated how the specific words we use are critical to success. After his accidental transportation to 1300 A.D., Ash must retrieve the Necronomicon, the Book of the Dead, before he can return home. But to close the portal opened by the book, he must first recite the 3-word phrase, “Klaatu Barada Nikto.” It turns out that using a single wrong word has serious consequences. You probably won’t have to battle an army of t...
May 30, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 36
20 years ago, American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, blanketed the airwaves with Since U Been Gone. The song explores the aftermath of a now-ended relationship. While break-up songs often express longing, regret, and sadness, Since U Been Gone is a realization of how much better things are now. It also expresses the feeling of finally recognizing red flags that have been in plain sight for a while. These feelings are not exclusive to romantic relationships. People get emotionally connected to sof...
May 23, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 35
NSYNC’s 2000 hit, Bye Bye Bye, has been streamed over a billion times on Spotify. The late 90’s and early 2000’s saw a resurgence of the “Boy Band” – a term applied to vocal groups consisting of young men whose performances were marketed primarily to girls and young women. Boy Bands were often “created” rather than forming organically. The 60’s band The Monkees, is perhaps the first example. The template for success had already been established by New Kids on the Block in the early 90s. Backstre...
May 16, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 34
Let’s hit rewind this week and take a quick listen to some moments from some of my favorite episodes from thefirst quarter of the year. This episode features great moments from John Walter, Ian Storm, Chris Gillen, Neal Woodson, Afshan Kinder, Mike Kendall, and Beth Karawan. Chapters John Walter – 1:01 Ian Storm – 7:33 Neal Woodson – 10:14 Afshan Kinder – 13:18 Mike Kendall – 15:28 Beth Karawan – 18:12
May 09, 2025•21 min•Season 4Ep. 33
A long time ago, in a podcast season far, far away, it is a dark time for the inhabitants on planet earth. A novel virus has caused a global pandemic. A year in, many are adjusting to a “new normal” that includes working from home when possible. The social isolation has resulted in an explosion of media including niche podcasts. Relentlessly pursued by one of these aspiring Rebel podcasters, the renowned CX expert, Brian Dunphy, has acquiesced an invitation to appear as a guest. Little does Brai...
May 02, 2025•48 min•Season 4Ep. 32
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll start a podcast and quickly gain the kinds of fans depicted in this scene from Only Murders in the Building. Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin’s characters not only share an interest in true crime podcasts, but they also start their own podcast while investigating a murder in their apartment building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t start a podcast. Podcasts are a medium for connection and community engagement, says P...
Apr 25, 2025•55 min•Season 4Ep. 31
It’s only fitting that this 1977 #1 Country Hit is sung by Johnny Paycheck. The David Allen Coe written song inspired a 1981 film of the same name. The narrator of the song has realized that he should leave his job, but he hasn’t quite worked up the nerve to quit. Many people have found themselves in similar situations, clinging onto their job security despite knowing they’re in the wrong role or company. Job Security is a thing of the past, says Sarah Betts – at least in the way it’s typically ...
Apr 18, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Love him or hate him, Drake’s 2013 hit, Started from the Bottom, is unforgettable. It resonates, not only because of its musical simplicity, but also because it celebrates the rise from scrappy beginnings to success. It’s the epitome of “The American Dream.” Most of us will not realize the kind of success that Drake has, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start from the bottom and reach heights we didn’t expect. A consistent theme I hear from leaders in Customer Support and Customer Service is exact...
Apr 11, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Ridley Scott’s 2007 film, American Gangster, told the story of Harlem drug lord, Frank Lucas. Frank, played by Denzel Washington, confronts Nicky Barnes about the quality of the product he’s distributing in this scene. Nicky isn’t exactly receptive to this feedback. His focus is on short-term profits while Frank takes a longer-term view of the business and customer perception of the brand. Quality, be it the quality of a product, or the quality of service are huge components of brand reputation....
Apr 04, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 28
During the first season of The Bear, Sydney talks to Marcus about his vision for making donuts for the restaurant, The Original Beef. Sydney, too, has visions for how to improve the restaurant, among them having online takeout orders to increase revenue. Both find themselves distracted from the nuts and bolts of running a restaurant by their desires to make dramatic improvements. Beth Karawan knows a little something both about the nuts and bolts of restaurants and the challenge of making donuts...
Mar 28, 2025•50 min•Season 4Ep. 27
There are cult classics and then there are cult classics that simply become classics. First airing In 1993, Chris Carter’s The X-Files falls into the latter category. With a mix of sci-fi and paranormal phenomena, The X-Files pioneered the true-believer vs. skeptic formula while exploring the unknown. Although evidence of aliens may still be elusive, there are many other unknowns we’re all exploring as AI creeps into our everyday lives. I asked Chris Carter to help explore the impacts on employe...
Mar 21, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 26
Not every song is a hit. This Elvis cut titled, “There’s a Story in Your Voice,” was not. No, not that Elvis. Elvis Costello is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame despite modest commercial success. His range, both in performing and writing, spans rock, jazz, R&B, country, Tin Pan Alley, and even classical music. This duet with Lucinda Williams, off the 2004 album, The Delivery Man, explores truths only revealed when we really listen to and/or share experiences with another person. Th...
Mar 14, 2025•53 min•Season 4Ep. 25
Despite barely touching the top 40 charts in the US, I’m willing to bet you’ve heard this debut single of the British duo, the Ting Tings. Over the past decade and a half, it’s been used in TV episodes, fashion shows, movies, viral TikTok videos, and commercials. It evokes the feeling of invisibility when your name is forgotten or mispronounced. While Afshan Kinder and I set out to have a conversation about the next generation of skills required for successfully leading in contact centers, we al...
Mar 07, 2025•44 min•Season 4Ep. 24
Being memorable as a business doesn’t mean you need an Oscar-winning song associated with you. But it certainly doesn’t hurt. It’s hard not to think of Dick Van Dyke as a chimney sweep when you hear him singing along with Julie Andrews in the 1964 musical, Mary Poppins. Van Dyke sets an awfully high bar for a memorable home services experience but my guest today, Vance Morris, says that not only can home services businesses create “rave-worthy” experiences, but that in doing so, they drive loyal...
Feb 28, 2025•56 min•Season 4Ep. 23
The 1942 film, Casablanca, is one of the most loved films in history. Humphrey Bogart’s character, Rick is a cynical American expat and club owner, while Claude Rains is the corrupt Captain Louis Renault. Cooperation is not what either had in mind in this scene, but when the police arrive after Rick shoots Major Strasser dead, Louis decides to be of service to Rick by telling the arriving policemen to “round up the usual suspects.” What was so important to Rick that he would resort to murdering ...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr•Season 4Ep. 22
While Detroit claimed “Hitsville, USA” at Motown Records, Memphis claimed “Soulsville, USA” at Stax Records. Stax was a scrappy startup that set up shop in an old movie theater and blended emerging R&B styles into the “Memphis Sound” of soul music. And the story of Stax Records can’t be told without Otis Redding. “Security” was the last of four successful singles off his first album, Pain in My Heart. It’s a tight, upbeat departure from the more famous ballads he’s known for like “These Arms...
Feb 14, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 21
Have you ever misheard something in a song or maybe a movie only to later learn what was actually being said? While Pooh and Eeyore aren’t typically hard of hearing, they certainly mistook Owl’s intent in this scene from the 2011 animated film, Winnie the Pooh. Today, you can watch this film with captions and in doing so, it’s very obvious that Owl says “issue” rather than “achoo” because you can read it in the captions. Captions are an example of one way to make media more accessible. Digital a...
Feb 07, 2025•41 min•Season 4Ep. 20
Mad Men was a study in identities – of characters and of brands. Don Draper, played by John Hamm, is a master of fabrications and storytelling. He understands what motivates Americans of the time even if he doesn’t understand himself. The show explores the brand strategy behind some of the most iconic brands and in this scene, he even discusses a still prevalent strategy of driving sales – the coupon. But Rachel Menkin, played by Maggie Siff, wants more for her brand. She wants the kind of emoti...
Jan 31, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 19
Kanye West’s 2007 hit, Stronger, paraphrased Friedrich Nietzsche’s maxim, “What does not kill me makes me stronger.” The idea is that the trials, tribulations, and challenges we face in life help us grow. It’s a rallying cry used by many in the face of difficult circumstances. A closer reading within context, however, opens the door to different interpretations. Regardless of how you interpret Nietzsche, most business leaders would tell you that creating stronger employees isn’t just about chall...
Jan 24, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 4Ep. 18
When Centauri whisks away Alex Rogan to defend the frontier against Xur and the Ko-Dan Armada in 1984’s The Last Starfighter, he leaves behind his assistant, Beta, to act as a doppelgänger proxy for Alex while he’s away. Beta is a simuloid designed to take the form of a person and act as a stand in for that person. Proxies like Beta are the stuff of science fiction. But artificial intelligence advances have led to proxies of another kind – the kind that do mundane tasks for us like cancel subscr...
Jan 17, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 17
In 1962, The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Elvis Presley topped multiple charts with Return to Sender, a song about a heartbroken man whose mail to the object of his love is always returned unopened. Over 60 years later, the concept of a handwritten apology sent via mail probably seems foreign when we have access to Snapchat, Whatsapp, and Messenger, among many other communication options. But January is the beginning of tax season in the US. W2s delivered by mail are still fairly common for small busi...
Jan 10, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 16
Let’s hit rewind this week and take a quick listen to some moments from some of my favorite episodes from the past year. It’s awfully hard to pick favorites from over 50 guests I hosted in 2024. Each episode was wonderful in its own way. This episode features great moments from Kent Morita, Stacy Sherman, Sarah Hatter, Luke Jamieson, Sarah Caminiti, Lindsay Haun, Matt Beran, Amas Tenumah, Jarad Haggard, Tony Won, and Justin Robbins.
Jan 03, 2025•1 hr 16 min•Season 4Ep. 15
In 2011, Game of Thrones took the world by storm. Ned Stark, played by Sean Bean, is the head of House Stark, the ruling family of the North. In this scene, we first hear the phrase, “Winter is coming,” the motto of House of Stark. The phrase was used so often that it’s taken on a life of its own, even spawning many popular memes. Simply put, it’s a warning to be prepared for harsh and unpredictable times ahead. If you’ve ever been to Minnesota in the dead of winter, you understand exactly how h...
Dec 27, 2024•48 min•Season 4Ep. 14
The 1984 video for Magic by the Cars featured a wild cast of characters who rush to surround a backyard pool. Why? Lead singer Ric Ocasek walks on water while singing about how the feeling of being close with someone can be like magic. The entire crowd is fixated on Ocasek throughout the video, even after he leaves the water and walks around the pool’s perimeter. It’s the kind of attention that any brand would love to have. But if you’ve ever been to a tradeshow, you know that most brands barely...
Dec 20, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 13
In 1981, Billy Idol left his previous band, Generation X, and went solo. His first single was Dancing with Myself, a remix of a UK flop single he’d recorded with Generation X. But by changing the mix to accentuate the vocals and percussion, the new version was perfect for the newly launched MTV. He became one of the first rockstars popularized on the new channel. Dancing with Myself explored a lack of human connection. As Idol told Rolling Stone, “The song really is about people being in a disen...
Dec 13, 2024•56 min•Season 4Ep. 12
Perhaps the most challenging part of being a founder of a company is dealing with growth. Anne Hathaway’s character, Jules, in the 2015 film, The Intern, grapples with the consequences of her company’s growth and the struggle to let go of certain aspects of the business. Finding the right fit for any job is a challenge – one we’ve recently explored on this show. But finding the right fit for leadership roles in a small, but growing company presents even more challenges. While Corey Harlock may n...
Dec 06, 2024•57 min•Season 4Ep. 11
Perhaps no person loved Thanksgiving more than John Madden. After serving 10 seasons as the head coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Madden began the part of his career that led him to be the most recognizable name in football. As the color commentator for NFL broadcasts for the next 30 years, Madden’s love of Thanksgiving popularized the “Turducken,” a deboned chicken stuffed into a deboned duck, stuffed into a deboned turkey. Following his death, the NFL now honors Madden every Thanksgiving. T...
Nov 29, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 10
