Welcome to our monthly list of recommended podcast episodes that we think people in marketing should listen to.
The economy
Why consumer confidence is surging (27 mins)
Marketplace, March 23
The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment survey shot up more than 8% in March to the highest level in a year (it’s still about 7% below pre-pandemic levels). Given that consumer spending makes up about 70% of the economy, it’s key to the economic recovery from COVID-19. On today’s show: American consumerism is back. Plus, movie theaters are reopening without their biggest moneymaker, the consequences of maintaining vaccine borders and how the pandemic changed our perception of privacy.
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Where Jobs Are Booming (18 mins)
The Journal, March 4
Even with high unemployment, certain industries are having a hard time finding enough workers. WSJ’s Sarah Chaney Cambon explains why some companies are increasing wages and benefits as a result. We also talk to Aaron Jagdfeld, the CEO of a generator company, about the lengths he’s taken to recruit workers.
Interviews
A Talk with Dara Treseder, SVP, Head of Global Marketing and Communications, Peloton (36 mins)
Skimm’d from the Couch, March 24
Meet: Dara Treseder. She’s the head of global marketing for Peloton — a brand that’s made at-home fitness viral during the pandemic. Case in point: Its membership has more than doubled in the last year. But this isn’t Dara’s first ride. She’s also got GE, Apple, and Goldman Sachs on her resume. So basically she’s at the top of the leaderboard.
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What Toys R Us CMO Learned In His Wins & Losses | Coffee & Commerce Episode #25 (33 mins)
The GaryVee Audio Experience, March 14
On episode #25 of Coffee & Commerce, co-hosted by myself and Zubin Mowlavi, and today we are joined by Warren Kornblum, the former CMO of Toys R Us. We discuss Warren’s successes and failures during his time at Toys R Us and give important advice on how to keep your ear to the ground.
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Amy Klobuchar vs. Silicon Valley (42 mins)
Sway, March 30
The senator presents her case for regulating big tech and why it’s time to “make antitrust cool again.”
Big Names
Alabama shakes up Amazon (29 mins)
Today, Explained, March 9
Darryl Richardson, a worker at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama, explains why he helped initiate a unionization effort that now has President Biden’s support. Recode’s Jason Del Rey explains how the Bessemer vote could be a game changer for American labor.
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WeWork Looks to Go Public, Again (19 mins)
The Journal, March 3
WeWork’s biggest shareholder, Softbank, has been dogged by its obligations to the coworking company’s co-founder, Adam Neumann. WSJ’s Maureen Farrell tells the story of how, after a year, the company severed ties with Neumann and why going public may now be on the horizon.
The Lives Around Us
Can Bill Gates Vaccinate the World? (31 mins)
The Daily, March 2
A look at the role he has played in public health and his latest mission: procuring Covid-19 vaccines for countries in the developing world.
Guest: Megan Twohey, an investigative reporter for The New York Times; and Nicholas Kulish, an enterprise correspondent covering philanthropy, wealth and nonprofits for The Times.
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An Asian-American Business Owner on a Challenging Year (20 mins)
The Journal, March 27
As he prepared to reopen his chain of Chinese restaurants in New York City last year, Jason Wang worried about two different dangers facing his employees: coronavirus and racist attacks. Plus, WSJ’s Akane Otani spends an evening with a volunteer safety patrol in a majority Asian-American neighborhood.
Trending
WTF is an NFT? (24 mins)
Today, Explained, March 23
This month, a tweet sold for $2.9 million. That followed a JPEG that went for $69 million. The Verge’s Liz Lopatto explains how internet ephemera turned to gold.