• Generative AI in Retail: Challenges and Opportunities for Retail CEOs with Peter Cohan
    Oct 22 2024
    S4:E6 Unlocking Generative AI for the Retail C-Suite with Peter CohanIn this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the transformative potential of generative AI in retail, featuring insights from Peter Cohan, an associate professor, strategy consultant, startup investor, book author, columnist and AI expert. The discussion covers AI's evolution compared to the dot-com era, the influence of large tech companies, and the substantial growth opportunities AI presents for retailers. Key topics include the contrast between the relay vs. rugby approaches to AI transformation, the crucial role of CEOs in AI adoption, and the importance of a quality data foundation for AI inputs. The episode highlights strategic investment, customer-centric innovations, and practical examples of successful AI implementations, guiding C-suite listeners on how to embrace AI as a long-term investment for unlocking new revenue streams versus a short-term quick fix.About Peter Cohan:Peter is an Associate Professor of Management Practice at Babson College, he is the faculty lead for the core undergraduate strategy course and has created popular electives on Startup Cities and Scaling Strategy. His strategy consulting firm has completed over 150 projects to help companies identify, evaluate, and profit from growth opportunities created by changing technology. He has invested in seven startups, three of which were sold for over $2 billion and one of which, SoFi, went public in 2021 at an $18 billion valuation. He is the author of 17 books, most recently "Brain Rush: How to Invest and Compete in the Real World of Generative AI" and he is a senior contributor at Forbes and a contributor at Inc. RETHINK Retail named him a Top Retail Expert every year between 2021 and 2024 and chose him as a Top AI Leader for 2024 this year.Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.comSubscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube00:00 Show Intro02:49 Meet Our Guest: Peter Cohan04:21 Unlocking Generative AI for the Retail C-Suite05:40 Peter Cohan's Background and Journey10:25 Impact of Generative AI in Retail12:48 Challenges and Risks of AI in Customer Service16:34 Strategies for Embracing AI in Retail17:21 Relay Race vs. Rugby Approach in Product Development28:48 Best Practices for AI Implementation32:43 Driving Company Growth: The CEO's Role35:15 The Value Pyramid Framework39:36 AI's Role in Retail Innovation47:49 Challenges and Opportunities with AI Data53:19 Entrepreneurial Insights and Cognitive Hunger57:18 Concluding Thoughts and Future Directions58:56 Show CloseMeet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar is an NRF Top Retail Voices for 2025 and a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert from 2021 – 2024. Thinkers 360has named him a Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader, and a Top Digital Voice for 2024. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and is the director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, is the CEO of Luxlock, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2023 and 2024, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.
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    1 hr
  • Unlocking Retail Media 3.0: Measurement and Innovation
    Sep 11 2024

    S4:E5 Unlocking Retail Media: Measurement, Innovation, and Customer Engagement


    In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the evolving landscape of retail media with expert insights from Andrew Lipsman, analyst and founder of Media, Ads + Commerce, and James Bauer, CEO and founder of Venvee. They discuss the progression of retail media 1.0 with online ads to retail media 2.0 - in-store media, highlighting key metrics like closed-loop attribution and incrementality. The conversation moves into innovative technologies such as spatial AI, the importance of first-party data, and privacy concerns. They also emphasize the collaborative efforts needed to integrate these advancements effectively for full funnel customer conversion and attribution in retail media 3.0. This episode delivers a comprehensive overview of how retailers and brands can use modern technology to bring the same level of measurement currently enjoyed in the 15% of retail sales happening in ecommerce, to the larger 85% of sales happening in stores!


    About Andrew Lipsman:

    Andrew Lipsman is an independent analyst and consultant at Media, Ads + Commerce. His industry coverage specializes in retail media—which he is known for anointing as “digital advertising’s third big wave”—and other areas of the digital media, advertising, and commerce ecosystem. He has published more than a half dozen articles in the Journal of Advertising Research and is frequently quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Financial Times, and Advertising Age.


    About James Bauer:

    James Bauer is the Founder and CEO of Venvee, a retail media technology company that is closing the loop on in-store measurement and attribution. Venvee leverages AI-generated digital twins of physical stores, combined with computer vision running on existing cameras, to enable precise measurement of impressions, interactions, and conversions on a shopper-by-shopper basis. This innovative approach requires no changes to the store and provides comprehensive aggregate measurement for in-store video, audio, fixtures, and products.


    Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://retailrazor.substack.com

    Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube


    00:00 Show Intro

    02:50 Exploring Retail Media 3.0 & Measurement

    03:29 Evolution of Retail Media

    07:08 In-Store Attribution and Measurement

    14:44 Challenges and Opportunities in Retail Media

    32:37 Future of Retail Media and Final Thoughts

    44:43 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2021 – 2024, and a Thinkers 360 Top 10 Retail Thought Leader, Top 50 Management Thought Leader, and Top 100 Digital Transformation Thought Leader. He is an advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


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    46 mins
  • Beyond Omnichannel: Michael Zakkour on Immersive Commerce
    Aug 14 2024

    S4:E4 Retail Transformers: Michael Zakkour


    In this episode of The Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden are joined by special guest Michael Zakkour, founder of 5 New Digital and author of two Amazon #1 bestselling books, to discuss the transformative power of unified and immersive commerce in the retail industry. Michael, a thought leader and practitioner in digital commerce with 25 years of experience as a CEO, CMO, and Founder, shares his extensive expertise on retail strategies, AI, the evolution of e-commerce, and the impact of video as a foundational tool for immersive commerce. Together they explore key topics such as the shift from omnichannel to unified commerce, the impact of social commerce and livestreaming from Asia on global markets, and future opportunities with AI in retail. Michael also provides practical advice for retailers to enhance both digital and physical store experiences that resonate with today's digitally savvy consumers, while aiming for higher conversions, better customer engagement, and sustainable profitability.


    00:00 Show Intro

    04:36 Retail Transformer - Michael Zakkour

    06:42 The Evolution of Retail

    12:36 Challenges in E-commerce

    16:35 The Future of Immersive Commerce

    26:07 Video Commerce: The Next Frontier

    28:39 The Evolution of E-commerce

    30:04 The Importance of Immersive Commerce

    32:10 Case Study: Live Streaming Success

    38:47 The Role of AI in Retail

    48:04 Navigating the Future of Retail

    50:57 Future Trends

    58:05 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    Follow The Retail Razor Show on Social

    LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Facebook: https://bit.ly/TRRSface

    Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    BlueSky: https://bit.ly/TRRSbsky


    Host → Ricardo Belmar

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey


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    59 mins
  • Future of Retail Recruitment: An Interview with OSSY Founder Ron Thurston
    Jun 28 2024

    S4:E3 Revolutionizing Retail Hiring: A Conversation with Ron Thurston


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden welcome back Ron Thurston, founder of OSSY, and author of 'Retail Pride’, to discuss the company's innovative approach to transforming the retail hiring process. Focusing on the integration of AI and the human touch, Ron shares insights into how OSSY is addressing common retail recruitment challenges, such as speed to hire, candidate experience, and the importance of clear career paths. The discussion highlights the broader implications for the retail industry and the immense value of creating supportive and accountable hiring practices. This episode is a must-listen for anyone involved in retail and retail hiring.


    00:00 Show Intro

    02:35 Revolutionizing Retail Recruitment with Ron Thurston and OSSY

    04:07 Ron Thurston's Journey and OSSY's Mission

    08:58 Challenges and Innovations in Retail Hiring

    22:01 Best Practices for Retail Hiring and Career Development

    27:23 The Influence of People on Your Success

    28:02 Accidental Careers in Retail

    28:58 The Importance of Mentorship and Leadership

    30:41 Preparing for the Holiday Season

    37:02 The Role of AI in Retail Hiring

    42:21 Building a Retail Community

    46:38 How to Get Started with OSSY

    47:51 Show Close


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    Follow The Retail Razor Show on Social

    LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Facebook: https://bit.ly/TRRSface

    Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    BlueSky: https://bit.ly/TRRSbsky


    Host → Ricardo Belmar

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey

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    49 mins
  • The Future of Commerce is Unified Commerce, with Giri Agarwal of Incisiv
    May 28 2024

    S4:E2 The Evolution from Omnichannel to Unified Commerce with Giri Agarwal


    In this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden discuss the shift from omnichannel to unified commerce in the retail industry. Special guest Giri Agarwal, Chief Strategy Officer at Incisiv, joins to share insights on how unified commerce is transforming customer experiences and driving revenue growth. They explore the concept of unified commerce, the integration of AI, and the challenges retailers face in adopting this approach. Key highlights include the importance of customer identification, empowering frontline staff, and rethinking store experiences. Giri also addresses the financial implications, generational differences in consumer behaviors, and the need for a cultural shift towards unified commerce. Tune in for an in-depth discussion on why now is the critical moment for retailers to embrace this change.


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey


    00:00 Show Start

    00:20 Show Intro

    02:35 Unified Commerce with Giri Agarwal from Incisiv

    05:10 Defining Unified Commece

    09:24 Challenges and Strategies for Unified Commerce

    16:43 The Role of AI in Unified Commerce

    23:10 The State of Unified Commerce in 2024

    26:19 Generational Differences and Consumer Behavior

    31:10 Key Differentiators for Unified Commerce

    35:20 Financial Implications and Future Outlook

    38:46 Risks of NOT Embracing Unified Commerce

    44:51 Show Close


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    46 mins
  • Top 10 Predictions for Retail in 2024 with Ben Miller, ShopTalk
    Mar 19 2024
    S4:E1 – Top 10 Predictions for Retail in 2024 with Ben Miller, ShopTalkIn this episode of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden kick off season 4 by discussing their top 10 predictions for the retail industry in 2024. Amid personal anecdotes and a tribute to Ricardo's late father, the episode dives deep into the future of retail alongside guest Ben Miller, VP of Original Content and Strategy at Shoptalk & Groceryshop. Key predictions include the Temu-fication of retail, the evolution of Retail Media Networks (RMNs) and their impact on digitizing physical stores, the integration with streaming and social commerce platforms, and the re-emergence of heritage brands leveraging digital commerce. The conversation also touches on the increasing consumer expectations around sustainability versus the temptation of low-cost options like Temu, the potential of AI in enhancing customer experience and operational efficiency, and the death of the term 'Omnichannel' in favor of 'Unified Commerce' to better represent seamless retail experiences. The episode concludes with a look forward to the Shoptalk event and the importance of staying ahead in a rapidly evolving retail landscape.Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.The Retail Razor ShowFollow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpodsFollow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinstaFollow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreadsFollow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazorConnect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazorSubscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTubeSubscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShowRetail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPodHost → Ricardo Belmar,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmarConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmarCo-host → Casey Golden,Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCaseyConnect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey00:00 A Personal Tribute and the Power of Inspiration01:40 Show Intro03:14 2024 Predictions with Ben Miller04:23 Prediction #1: The Temu-fication of Retail09:18 The Evolution of Retail Media and Digitization of Physical Stores12:48 Retail Media Networks and the Future of Advertising15:48 Social Commerce: The Next Frontier in Retail Media Disruption19:03 Prediction #5: The Resurgence of Heritage Brands in the Digital Age28:10 Prediction #6: AI's Growing Influence in Retail and Its Tangible ROI31:09 The Evolution of Frontline Retail: AI-Augmented Engineered Influencers35:21 Prediction #8: The Potential of Apple's Vision Pro in Retail39:54 Consumer Expectations in 2024: Sustainability & Accountability vs. Temu-fication45:07 Prediction #10: The End of Omnichannel - Embracing Unified Commerce47:55 2024 Retail Predictions: A Year of Optimism and Challenges50:44 Closing Thoughts and Looking Ahead to ShopTalk51:48 Show Close
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    53 mins
  • Season 4 Trailer - Unlocking Retail with AI, Humans, and Media
    Feb 12 2024

    In Season Four of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden explore the theme of Unlocking Retail with the Integration of AI, Humans, and Media. This involves discussing how artificial intelligence, human interaction, and innovative retail media are transforming the industry. Topics will include optimizing inventory, pricing, merchandising for online and offline channels with AI, enhancing customer service, connecting brands with consumers through engaging content, creating strong communities and increasing loyalty. The show will also discuss human centered design and the crafting of memorable retail experiences. Moreover, two of its mini-series from last season, Blade to Greatness and Data Blades, will be transformed into their own podcasts. Ricardo and Casey remind everyone that this season has more surprises in store for listeners!


    And we can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments. Your support allow sus to hit the top of the charts for Indie Management and Indie Marketing podcasts!


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey


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    5 mins
  • S3E19 – The Razor’s Edge – Season 3 Recap and Predictions Check-In
    Feb 5 2024

    In the season three finale of the Retail Razor Show, hosts Ricardo Belmar and Casey Golden provide a detailed recap of their journey throughout the season, discussing their top ten predictions for 2023 and evaluating their accuracy – did they nail it or miss the mark? The hosts touch upon diverse topics including private label domination, the evolution of retail media networks, investment in returns management, and the growth of store automation, among others. They also highlight a few memorable moments and important insights from their guests throughout the season. The episode concludes with a lively discussion on their expectations for retail and technology in 2024, teasing the audience with a glimpse of what's to come in season four.


    WOW! As we march into a new year on the show, we’re honored and humbled to have hit the top of the charts on the Goodpodspodcast platform on multiple episodes!


    We can’t thank our Goodpods listeners enough! We love your support! Please continue giving us those 5-star ratings and send us your comments!


    Meet your hosts, helping you cut through the clutter in retail & retail tech:


    Ricardo Belmar, a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024, 2023, 2022 & 2021, RIS News Top Movers and Shakers in Retail for 2021, advisory council member at George Mason University’s Center for Retail Transformation, and director partner marketing for retail & consumer goods at Microsoft.


    Casey Golden, CEO of Luxlock, RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert for 2024 and 2023, and Retail Cloud Alliance advisory council member. Obsessed with the customer relationship between the brand and the consumer. After a career on the fashion and supply chain technology side of the business, now slaying franken-stacks and building retail tech!


    Includes music provided by imunobeats.com, featuring Overclocked, and E-Motive from the album Beat Hype, written by Hestron Mimms, published by Imuno.


    The Retail Razor Show

    Follow us on Goodpods: https://bit.ly/TRRSgoodpods

    Follow us on Instagram: https://bit.ly/TRRSinsta

    Follow us on Threads: https://bit.ly/TRRSthreads

    Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/TwRRazor

    Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/LI-RRazor

    Subscribe on YouTube: https://bit.ly/RRShowYouTube

    Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/RetailRazorShow

    Retail Razor Show Episode Page: https://bit.ly/RRShowPod


    Host → Ricardo Belmar,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twRBelmar

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LIRBelmar


    Co-host → Casey Golden,

    Follow on Twitter - https://bit.ly/twCasey

    Connect on LinkedIn - https://bit.ly/LICasey


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    38 mins