Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

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Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Kevin Brown & Tom Burton

134 episodes

5 days ago

What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage. What You’ll Learn: Why AI liter...

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What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage. What You’ll Learn: Why AI liter...

Show more...

Episodes (20/134)

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

More Rate Cuts, More Robots, More AI: What Distributors Need To Know

What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage. What You’ll Learn: Why AI liter...

5 days ago

1 hour 30 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

The Leadership Edge: How Agentic Commerce Will Shape The Future of Wholesale Distribution Growth

What happens when two industry veterans break down the biggest stories shaping wholesale distribution, AI adoption, and the global economy, live and unfiltered? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton analyze everything from Fed rate cuts and tariffs to the rise of AI-driven commerce and the evolving role of leadership in an age of automation. Through their signature mix of insight and humor, they explore how distributors can stay resilient, data-smart, and human-centered amid rapid tech...

1 week ago

1 hour 28 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Brendan Breen of The ISA on AI, Adaptability, & The Future of Industrial Leadership

What does the future of leadership look like in the distribution industry? In this special episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Brendan Breen, President of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA), to explore how leadership transformation, AI adoption, and workforce evolution are redefining what it means to run a modern distribution business. From data-driven decision-making to generational shifts in workplace expectations, this episode unpacks the trends shaping the next decade...

2 weeks ago

1 hour 38 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

What Is AEO And Why Is It Redefining B2B Marketing?

Here’s (more than) a hint: it’s AI Engine Optimization. And right now, it could be even more important than SEO for B2B visibility. In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the latest economic shifts, from the government shutdown’s ripple effects to the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how they’re transforming manufacturing, logistics, and customer engagement. Learn why context engineering and AI-enabled CRM platforms are redefining the way distributors compete and connect in 2025. ...

3 weeks ago

1 hour 26 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

How Does the Government Shutdown Affect the Q4 Playbook for Distributor Growth?

What happens when a government shutdown, interest rate cuts, and AI-driven commerce collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the headlines that matter: the Fed’s next move, tariff resilience, and how AI-enabled platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are reframing CRM as a growth engine. You’ll also hear why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is quickly replacing SEO, and what it means for distribu...

1 month ago

1 hour 21 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Economic Signals for Distributors: GDP, Fed Cuts, and Tariffs

What do tariffs, Fed rate cuts, and AI-driven search mean for the future of wholesale distribution? In this milestone episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest updates on GDP growth, jobless claims, and U.S.–China tariffs, while exploring how AI Engine Optimization (AEO), digital payments, and LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are rewriting the rules for distributors and manufacturers. What You’ll Learn: Why the latest GDP and job data sign...

1 month ago

1 hour 24 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

So The Fed Cut Rates. Will That Help The Supply Chain Slowdown?

Is the Fed too late to cut rates—and what does it mean for distributors? In this episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week’s economic headlines and explore how interest rate cuts, tariffs, and global supply chain volatility are reshaping the manufacturing and wholesale distribution landscape. From AI-driven sales playbooks to the hidden risks in employment data, Kevin and Tom reveal the trends that matter most for distributors, manu...

1 month ago

1 hour 20 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Jobs Reports, Tariff Rulings, and the Future of Wholesale Distribution Growth

What happens when AI adoption, tariffs, and interest rate cuts collide with the future of wholesale distribution? In this lively episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton tackle the jobs report, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and why AI regulation needs a federal playbook, not 50 state ones. You’ll learn how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is cracking the code on CRM adoption, why decentralized data may surface economic truth faster than the Fed, and what e...

2 months ago

1 hour 32 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Why Over 90% of AI Pilots Fail, and What Wholesale Distribution Can Learn From It

What do college football, tariffs, and AI pilots gone wrong have in common? In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton connect cultural trends, economic contradictions, and digital transformation in wholesale distribution. From the E³ Model (Experience, Efficiency, Effectiveness) to LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ and the failure rate of corporate AI pilots, this episode explores why distributors must move from siloed data to customer intelligence platforms ...

2 months ago

1 hour 29 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

How To Future-Proof Wholesale Distribution: Fed Policy, Tariffs, and AI Transformation

What happens when AI-driven workflows, tariff pressures, and shifting B2B buyer expectations collide? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton explore the trends redefining distribution: from AI co-pilots for sales and customer intelligence platforms to Fed rate cuts, tariff extensions, and the rise of Millennial and Gen Z buyers. You’ll learn why reframing CRM as a Customer Enablement Tool is critical, and how distributors can prepare for agent...

2 months ago

1 hour 32 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

"How Can My Wholesale Distribution Strategy Keep Up With Tariff Changes?"

Is your CRM really driving revenue growth, or just storing notes no one reads? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton pull back the curtain on how AI-enabled customer intelligence platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are transforming sales enablement, workflow automation, and decision-making in distribution. You’ll hear fresh economic insights, a candid look at tariff strategy, and why agentic AI workflows could be the future of...

2 months ago

1 hour 29 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

The Jobs Report Missed: Here’s What That Means for Distributors

When the U.S. jobs report is off by tens of thousands, what does that mean for leaders in wholesale distribution? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest economic numbers—and why massive revisions to jobs data should concern every distributor, manufacturer, and revenue leader. Beyond the headlines, they explore how faulty metrics distort strategy, trigger bad decisions, and create pressure across supply chains and sales teams. But it’s not just about problems. The ho...

3 months ago

1 hour 27 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

How AI and Stablecoins Are Rewiring the Supply Chain Economy

Is your business ready for the AI economy, tariff turbulence, and the rapid rise of programmable payments? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, co-founders Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week's most pressing trends, from stablecoin legislation to humanoid robotics, from AI-fueled job disruption to smart supply chain control towers. Perfect for manufacturers, distributors, and B2B leaders navigating the evolving intersection of tech, trade, and trust, this episo...

3 months ago

1 hour 23 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Why B2B Buyers Want Sales Reps, Just Not All the Time

What happens when data-driven decision-making meets the chaos of tariffs, AI disruption, and a retiring workforce? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Mark Gilham of Enable to unpack the big shifts impacting manufacturers, distributors, and the global supply chain. From trade policy to pricing strategy, sales transformation to skilled labor shortages, this wide-ranging episode explores how wholesale leaders can future-proof their organizations using AI-enabled tools, sma...

3 months ago

1 hour 33 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

From Interest Rates to Cyber Risk: What Distribution Leaders Must Know

What do tariffs, AI adoption, and digital readiness have in common? They’re all reshaping the future of wholesale distribution. In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the forces shaping the industry from rising cybersecurity threats to the real reason distributors aren’t seeing results from generative AI tools. This episode blends actionable economic insights with digital transformation strategy and is a must-listen for Revenue Le...

4 months ago

1 hour 26 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

How Distributors Can Win in a Soft Landing Economy, with Taylor St. Germain

What if the economic slowdown didn’t spell disaster—but a window of opportunity? In this episode, Senior Economist Taylor St. Germain of ITR Economics joins the show to unpack what a “soft landing” really means for distributors—and how to strategically navigate uncertainty, inflation moderation, and shifting customer demand without panic or paralysis. If you're a distributor wondering how to protect margins, forecast accurately, or align your strategy to economic signals, this con...

4 months ago

1 hour 33 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

The New B2B Revolution: AI, Segmentation, and The Hidden Revenue Model

How will distributors thrive in the age of digital transformation, AI disruption, and customer experience redefinition? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Ian Heller sits down with John Gunderson and Kevin to unpack the seismic shifts reshaping B2B sales strategy, channel alignment, and customer segmentation. With insightful commentary and bold predictions, the team explores the future of CRM-ERP integration, why distributors must evolve beyond legacy thinking, and ...

4 months ago

1 hour 25 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Text-to-Order, GenAI Roles, and AI Scams: Inside the Future of B2B Distribution

How are global supply chains bouncing back amid recession fears, and what role does generative AI play in rewriting the future of B2B sales, marketing, and cybersecurity? In Episode 146 of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton of LeadSmart Technologies unpack the economic shifts, digital commerce trends, and AI-infused transformations shaping the future of manufacturing and distribution. From tariffs and freight to text-based orders and AI-powered s...

5 months ago

1 hour 30 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Tariffs, Humanoid Robots and AI in Distribution with guest Max Miester (Live from Germany!)

What happens when a fourth-generation industrial distributor embraces digital transformation? In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are joined by Max Meister of Ludwig Meister GmbH to explore what it really takes to modernize sales, systems, and mindsets in a legacy-driven industry. From CRM reimagination to cultural adoption strategies, this episode is a masterclass in building a future-ready distribution business without losing your human edge. What You’ll Learn&nbs...

5 months ago

1 hour 30 minutes

Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution Podcast

Why 90% of Distributors Say Their Business Model May Be Broken—and What Comes Next

Are U.S. tariffs helping or hurting your business model? In this episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unravel the legal, economic, and operational chaos triggered by shifting U.S. tariffs, AI adoption, and distribution tech disruptions. From trade court rulings to Mexico’s manufacturing boom, they explore what every distributor, manufacturer, and channel leader needs to know to navigate today’s volatility with foresight and resilience. W...

5 months ago

1 hour 29 minutes