Tea with Rich. Getting Real.

This is our final cast of the year, with just Rich and I hanging out and shooting the sh!t on a bevy or topics like why he shaved his beard, ideas for our next few guests, the lack of competition in the commerce platform space, and things we continue to see and mentor for, that we wish we didn’t.

For those that might not know us… the proper intro would be… In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey and Rich Lyons discuss personal transformations, the impact of masculinity on mental health, and the importance of self-care and personal growth. They reflect on their experiences with Movember (psst… Rich shaved his beard. See it here), fitness, and the challenges of navigating the business landscape. The discussion also delves into leadership, fear, and the significance of taking action without waiting for the perfect moment.

Chapters

00:00 - Rich Shaved His Beard and Personal Reflections 

08:19 - Men's Health and Masculinity Discussions

14:51 - Fitness Journey and Blood Work Insights

18:08 - Intermittent Fasting and Nutrition Choices

20:36 - Functional Health and Blood Testing

21:13 - Functional Patterns in Movement

32:05 - Commerce and Market Trends

38:43 - Agency and Brand Dynamics

43:11 - Reflections on post-COVID Commerce Stagnation 

43:20 - The Role of Partners in Business

44:55 - Parenting and Family Dynamics

46:02 - Life Lessons from Children

48:06 - Setting Strategic Goals for 2026

52:49 - Facing Fears and Embracing Growth

56:42 - Leadership Insights for Aspiring Leaders

01:06 - Encouragement for Action and Self-Exploration

Peace. -t

...

Well well. If this isn't an epic episode of Tea with Rich, featuring Dave Barr of CQL... this is the literal OG's of Commerce Agencies episode on all things old, new, and all of a sudden being the old guys.

In this engaging chat, Thomas Obrey, Rich Lyons, and Dave Barr start with an epic shooting the sh!t session, and then move into a real discussion on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, the challenges and insights of being a first-time CEO, and the impact of AI on the industry.

We reflect on our experiences, the transition of CQL (a former DWRE partner) towards Shopify Enterprise, and the importance of adapting to new technologies while maintaining a focus on client relationships. The discussion also touches on some key personal reflections, from each of us, and a potential future for the e-commerce sector.

The ToC:

00:00 - Introduction and Casual Banter

04:46 - Transitioning to CEO: Insights and Challenges

09:28 - CQL's Evolution Toward a Focus on Shopify

14:29 - Navigating E-commerce Transformations

19:14 - The Future of E-commerce and Brand Strategies

23:44 - Post-COVID Business Mentality

26:30 - Navigating Enterprise Complexity

29:04 - Shifting to a Shopify-Focused Agency

30:35 - Leadership Transition and Challenges

32:42 - The Private Equity Influence on Business

37:14 - Power in Partnerships, Strategic Acquisitions and Your Network

40:40 - And All of a Sudden Your the Old Guy

42:25 - AI and it's Influence in Agency's, Shopping and within Brands

49:54 - Golfing, Personal Growth and Balancing Work and Leisure

54:36 - Navigating my Sabbatical and Future Aspirations

01:00 - Industry Insights: E-commerce and AI Trends

Peace. -t...

In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey, Michael Janiak, and Rich Lyons discuss their experiences in the e-commerce and design industry, touching on collaboration, competition, and the evolution of design practices. They share insights on starting an agency, the impact of AI on design, and the importance of relationships in navigating challenges. The discussion highlights the changing landscape of e-commerce and the necessity of adapting to new technologies and concepts to address client needs.There is a ton of anecdotal story telling in here too - like the first time Mike and Tea met, in a nightclub, a true Digital Jesus moment. We also talk about Third and Grove snapping up Elva. Co-oppetition (?). And this idea of Experience Orchestration. Rich also goes into detail about his decision to sell Lyons, the process, and what was going through his head the entire time, pre-during-and-post Exit.Of course we talk Metallica, the first project Michael (Pattern) and Tea (PixelMEDIA) collaborated on. And how that collaboration put Metallica ahead of the content, commerce and LLM game. There’s dozens of stories in, on and around the serious topics. Too. This is def worth a full listen. -tChapters00:00 - Introduction and Personal Background02:56 - Collaboration with Competition within the Design Industry05:10 - Mike Reflects on his First Decade in the Agency Space 11:10 - Navigating the Early Days of Entrepreneurship14:32 - Building a Design-Driven Culture16:00 - Challenges of Bootstrapping a Business22:43 - Survivor Mentality in Business25:33 - Experience Design Opportunities in an AI World29:52 - Generative AI and Its Limitations from a ExD Perspective32:13 - AI as a the Ultimate Research Assistant and Pitch Partner37:23 - Navigating Industry Changes Post-COVID45:30 - Thoughts Around Entering the Third-era of eCommerce as a System48:20 - The Evolution of Product Pages and Everything being a Landing Page50:18 - The Idea of Real-time Experience and Intent Orchestration56:13 - The Race to LLMs - Content, Commerce, and Embracing Composable57:53 - Moving Toward Composable and Winning with Metallica01:01 - Hot Topic - Third and Grove Joins Forces with Elva01:04 - Do Acquisitions Creating Gaps or Opportunities in the Market01:07 - Rich Explains his Journey Through Growing, Selling, and Exiting 01:13 - The Struggles Behind Success That No One Talks About01:26 - Reflections on Life After a Successful Exit01:32 - Reflections on Success and Legacy

Peace. -t

...

Back from our Summer break, Rich hand I invite a close personal friend, Scott Stephens, to the Podcast. While currently an executive at Rate.com, his career spans a stint at the first SPAM agency (90’s), and as the former COO of Playboy (2000’s), leading their first foray into digital transformation.

In this conversation, we are completely unprofessional for most of the episode, with fits of seriousness as we talk about his role at Rate, and their goal of becoming a beacon for financial and health education. Before that however, we discuss his injuries from Pickleball, including knowing himself out and putting his head through a wall to win a point.

We also go deep into micro-dosing, our culinary adventures, sharing humorous anecdotes about a potential cooking challenge built around Penne Alla Vodka. They also explore the intersection of food and romance, recounting how cooking has played a significant role in their relationships. The discussion takes a turn towards the professional realm as they reflect on Scott's extensive career at Playboy and the impact of the digital revolution on the brand. The episode is filled with laughter, camaraderie, a shared passion for food, and a good deal of ribbing.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates

02:13 Celebrating Rich's Book Launch

05:16 Pickleball injuries

06:58 The Infamous Tattoo Story 

10:16 Micro-dosing and Mental Health

13:04 Transitioning to Fintech at Rate.com

16:00 Financial Literacy and Youth Education

21:41 Understanding Financial Literacy and Cash Flow

24:12 The Mortgage Market and Its Complexities

25:52 Real Estate vs. Stock Market: A Long-Term Perspective

29:41 The Emotional Value of Home Ownership

31:10 Generational Wealth and Family Assets

32:26 Creating Memories vs. Financial Investments

35:26 Culinary Adventures and Personal Connections

42:50 Tattoo Memories and Culinary Adventures

45:13 Cooking Techniques and Personal Recipes

47:45 Food and Romance: A Culinary Love Story

51:27 The Playboy Experience: Insights and Anecdotes

55:44 The Evolution of Online Content and Business Strategies

Peace. -t

...

In this engaging conversation, Marko Bon shares his journey from the early days of e-commerce as a brand-side creative leader through to his transition to a leadership role in the agency world.
He discusses the impact of fatherhood on his personal growth, the importance of information architecture in design, and the challenges of transitioning from brand side to agency life.  The discussion also delves into the role of data in design, the evolution of his roles at Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Theory and all the spaces in-between, and the complexities of navigating being looked at as more than a designer. 

We then move into the founding of Tomorrow, a Shopify Agency, now known as Domaine, taking Private Equity, merging with their number one competitor, and the challenges that come with leadership in a diverse and rapidly growing practice.   

Chapters

00:00 - Fatherhood Reflections: The Joys and Challenges

05:07 - Home Renovation: Crafting a Mid-Century Masterpiece

07:42 - Diving into Information Architecture: A Designer's Path

10:22 - The Role of Data in Design: A Turning Point

13:15 - Brand Side vs. Agency Side: Navigating the Landscape

18:50 - The Evolution of Retail: Challenges and Opportunities

25:01 - The Shift from Design to Leadership

27:35 - Finding Creative Outlets Beyond Design

28:59 - The Art of Storytelling in Presentations

31:10 - The Importance of Team Dynamics

34:11 - The Birth of the Tomorrow Agency

36:18 - From Product Concept to Agency Model

39:38 - Building a Successful Agency

41:36 - Leveraging Brand Experience in Agency Work

44:41 - Navigating the Private Equity Landscape

57:34 - Navigating Strategic Partnerships

01:00 - The Evolution of Leadership

01:03 - Cultivating Company Culture in a Remote World

01:04 - Transitioning from Expert to Manager

01:11 - Generational Perspectives in Leadership

Peace. -t

...

In this week’s episode of Tea with Rich, we are joined by Kim Georgeton, the CEO of Cloudality, where she shares her extensive career journey from her early days at Amazon to her leadership role at Cloudality. 

A few fun facts here on Kim, I think…

(a) Kim was Amazon employee number 270-something, ish. Shhhh. I’m writing from memory. The facts are within the cast.

(b) Kim was brought in to Amazon to pilot their first 150 SKU’s of gifting ideas, or non-books as I like to say. You know, to see if people would buy something other than reading materials. I think we all know how that turned out.

(c) Faced with a possible layoff of 30+ people that reported into her, in a prior leadership role, she successfully negotiated a role for herself AND THE ENTIRE TEAM, at a new company, despite having other offers that would of benefited her more personally.

As a new CEO, I’ve had a front row seat to her exceptional thought process and leadership style. She’s definitely one to watch. Her style is both direct and collaborative, backed by an Advisory Group that is a who’s who of professional services success.

Chapters

00:00 - Personal Reflections on Family and Mother’s Day

03:21 - Early Days of E-commerce and Amazon's Growth

04:51 - Transitioning to Trade Global and Digital Marketing

07:57 - Leadership Dynamics and Business Evolution

11:17 - Career Transitions and Team Loyalty

16:21 - Leadership and Team Protection

19:31 - Navigating CEO Challenges

28:51 - Mentorship and Personal Inspiration

32:56 - Who Inspires You

34:53 - Leadership Lessons and Realizations

39:26 - The Emotional Burden of Leadership

48:51 - Navigating Capital and Growth Strategies

58:59 - Starting an Advisory Board Early in the Process

Peace. -t

...

On this weeks episode of Tea with Rich we welcome Ethan Zohn to the Podcast. Ethan is the winner of Survivor Africa, founder of Grassroots Soccer, a 2-time Cancer survivor, and motivational speaker. 

We cover his personal and professional journey, including how we met, his role in public speaking, overcoming adversity, and key moments that forever changed his life. 

We of course share insights from Ethan's experience as a Survivor winner and repeat contestant, his work with Grassroots Soccer, the emotional aspects of public speaking, and the evolution of reality TV. 

The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling and connection in both personal and professional contexts. Ethan discusses his journey leading up to and getting on Survivor, the importance of using fame for good, and the challenges faced during and after the show. 

We of course get personal, and share stories related to our travel adventures, the challenges of managing relationships and expectations, overcoming adversity and the lessons learned from difficult experiences. 

We end with a few questions from Ethan around how Rich and I handle the idea of competition and building long-lasting alliances. 

Chapters

00:00 - Introductions

03:00 - Friendship and Networking in the Industry

06:02 - Survivor Experience and Public Speaking

09:02 - Overcoming Adversity and Sharing Stories

11:58 - Emotional Aspects of Public Speaking

15:10 - The Evolution of Survivor

17:55 -  From Professional Soccer to Survivor Contestant

25:07 - The Tryout Process for Survivor

29:14 - Grassroots Soccer and Making a Difference

35:08 - Health Challenges and Survivor's Impact

39:14 - Future Reality Shows and Personal Reflections

48:56 - Life Milestones, Family Connections and Safari Goals

54:55 - Surprise Vacations and Planning

56:49 - Food Obsessions and Weight Management

01:01 - Overcoming Adversity and Life Lessons

01:04 - Charity Events and Personal Connections

01:13 - Competitive Spirit and Game Dynamics

01:14 - The Impact of Cancer Research

01:17 - Leadership Retreats and Team Building

01:20 - Business and Survivor: Relationships Matter

01:29 - Business and Survivor: Creating Alliances

Peace. -t

...

On this weeks drop of Tea with Rich we welcome Erik Huberman of Hawke Media to the Podcast, where we cover everything from personal updates to politics, origin stories, and the future of agencies. 

Erik and the Hawke team continue to execute on an impressive acquisition strategy, so we delve into the importance of maintaining a positive company culture, his vision for the future of the agency - emphasizing growth and innovation, and looking for and grooming future leaders.

On the personal side Erik touches on the influences from his family that shaped his personal and professional growth, emphasizing the significance of mentorship and the lessons learned along the way, and his own journey of entrepreneurship prior to Hawke.

Chapters:

00:00 - Introductions, the Fallout from the LA Fires, and Catching Up

03:13 - Health and Wellness Journey

06:04 - Leadership and Business Growth

09:01 - Navigating Political and Economic Challenges

11:53 - Acquisition Strategy and Integration

15:09 - Vision for the Future

27:48 - Navigating Business Decisions and Market Changes

31:44 - Balancing Family Life and Entrepreneurship

37:10 - Raising Kids with Intentionality

40:43 - Lessons from Parenting and Personal Growth

48:01 - Influences from Family and Personal Development

55:04 - Mentorship and Professional Growth

56:53 - Building Relationships and Early Success

58:46 - Starting Over: Lessons from the Past

01:00 - Navigating the AI Landscape

01:02 - The Future of Agencies and Innovation

01:05 - Intent and Excellence in Business

01:10 - The Next Generation of Entrepreneurs

01:13 - Reflections on Selling a Business

You can find Erik on all the usual channels folks - LinkedIn, IG, the family of Hawke companies. He's one to watch.

Peace. -t

… 

This weeks episode of Tea with Rich features Brian Walker, whom shares his extensive career in the commerce tech space, discussing current ventures, including his podcast 'Cocktails and Commerce'. 

Our dialog delves into the evolution of the commerce industry, the MACH Alliance, and the future trends in commerce and technology, including order orchestration (possibly) about to take center stage, and the continued rise of (actual) composable. We also chatted up the importance of a proper strategy and strong leadership in navigating the current wave of “what’s next in commerce”. 

Toward the back-half of this episode we discuss the importance of integrating customer experience, the role of AI, and the challenges of building effective partnerships. We or course, also, get into a dialogue that touches on personal experiences, including balancing career and family life, and providing a holistic view of the commerce industry, maybe, today.

Chapters, ish...

00:00 - Introduction and Shooting the Sh!t

06:29 - Brian's Career Journey and Current Venture

16:30 - Reflections on the Commerce Industry

27:56 - Insights from Brian's Experiences

37:58 - The Impact of COVID on Digital Investments

45:28 - The Rise of Shopify and Market Dynamics

49:34 - Future Trends in Commerce Technology

59:26 - Debating Composability and Headless Commerce

01:01 - The Shiny New Toy Syndrome

01:04 - Navigating Composability in Commerce

01:07 - The Evolution of Commerce Technology

01:13 - The Integrated Commerce Experience

01:15 - Balancing Career, Fatherhood and Emotional Growth

01:25 - Lessons from our Grandparents

01:28 - Advice for Tech Leaders on Partnerships

01:40 - Building Successful Partnerships

Peace. -t

...

In this weeks episode of Tea with Rich, we chat it up with Emily Heintz, founder of Sechey, a pioneer in the non-alcoholic movement.

We discuss the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, our personal journeys with alcohol, and the importance of wellness.

Moving on from there, we explore the challenges and successes of running a business in this emerging market, I learn some new words, and their significance, like adaptogens, and the impact on personal relationships with alcohol on health and socialization.

This conversation highlights the importance of community, self-care, and the lessons learned in entrepreneurship.

Chapters

00:00 - Introductions

02:05 - Secheys Growth and the Non-Alcoholic Movement

04:26 - Understanding Functional Beverages

06:41 - Rich's Relationship with Alcohol in his 20's

09:54 - The Last Time Rich Drank

16:28 - Teas Relationship with Alcohol

24:07 - Looking for that Drinking Feel Without Drinking

26:56 - Emily's Journey and the Birth of Sechey

28:57 - The Impact of COVID on Alcohol Consumption

31:56 - Challenges in the Non-Alcoholic Beverage Market

35:10 - The Future of Non-Alcoholic Beverages

40:24 - The Evolution of Retail and E-Commerce

41:30 - Emily Talks on How all Roads Lead to This Moment

45:53 - Wellness and Health Trends in Beverage Choices

49:54 - The Importance of Sleep and Its Connection to Alcohol

55:50 - Navigating the Entrepreneurial Journey

01:00 - Emotional Rollercoaster of Business

01:03 - Emily Asks "What got you through the early days of grinding?"

01:15 - Reflections on Growth and Future Aspirations

Peace. -t

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