Brackets, betting, and b-ball, baby: it's finally March, which means that the madness surrounding the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is about to commence! On top of generating massive revenue for all parties directly involved, the annual event has spawned a highly lucrative culture of fan competition, which is what host Sean Egan and IBISWorld analyst Anthony Gambardella investigate on this week's episode. Strap in as we dive into fantasy leagues, gambling, and why picking a perfect bracket might be literally impossible!

For a more in-depth discussion on the expansion of legal sports betting, check out Episode 22 of the podcast, in which we discuss how big this market could potentially become. Otherwise, tell us your bracket strats and let us know what topics you'd like us to cover by emailing us at [email protected]!

Hey all - just a quick blurb today about how we're changing our publish day to Fridays. Our next episode will be up in two days, so we'll see you then!

As always, reach out at [email protected] if you have economic questions you'd like us to answer or ideas for an upcoming episode.

The dairy market is fracturing. For a space where the greatest variety used to be whole, skim, or 2%, the advent of alternative milks (such as nut, soy, and oat options) is having a substantial impact. While this has the potential to be catastrophic for small dairy producers, other milk-related industries may be able to capitalize on this new demand. IBISWorld editor Vicky Wolak and analyst Jack Curran discuss!

Upstream/Downstream is another one of our new experimental segments, focusing on the complicated relationships that define supply chains. Let us know what you think and send questions/topic suggestions to us at [email protected]!

Additional research by John Madigan

Though it's been long dominated by flowers, candy, and jewelry, the Valentine's Day market is shifting. IBISWorld analyst Tanvi Kumar and editor Kieran Newton investigate how and why this is happening, as well as identify some industries that stand to substantially benefit as a result.

Ripple Effect is a new segment we're trying, focusing on the unexpected economic forces and consequences surrounding everyday events. Let us know what you think (and send questions you'd like us to delve into) over at [email protected]!

A decade ago, "fast casual" began to be recognized as the new disruptive trend in quick service food, drawing a line in the sand between the established giant brands and the new upstarts. Now, however, that's all starting to change. 

IBISWorld editor Sean Egan and analyst Rachel Hyland use Taco Bell's odd 2019 "resolutions" to take a deeper dive into the fast food space, discussing major brands' new personalities, what they've learned from the fast casual space, and where the industry goes from here.

(Minor correction: Sean mentions at the end of the episode that we'll be back in two weeks; we'll actually be back on February 13th to maintain our standard production schedule. See you then!)

Happy New Year! For our first episode of 2019, we're showcasing our most recent webinar, which was recorded in mid-December, hosted by podcast standby Kieran Newton and led by senior IBISWorld analysts Rob Miles and Viraj D'Costa. The trio investigated the US economy's current macro-level trends, the still-significant impact of the 07-09 recession, and what the next economic downturn may look like. 

We had a different recording setup for this episode - apologies for the differing audio quality. We'll be back with a proper episode of the IBISWorld podcast on January 23rd - see you then!

Not all disruptions are successful. In our final episode of 2018, IBISWorld editor Sean Egan and analyst Maks Soshkin return to the delivery and logistics sector, this time focusing on trucking with the help of analyst Dan Cook. The trio investigate the problems facing the trucking industry, why Uber has had trouble breaking in, and the potentially drastic changes on the horizon.

There is a Toys 'R' Us-shaped hole in 2018's holiday toy market, for the first time in decades. To investigate where people are getting toys and how retailers are picking up the slack, IBISWorld editor Vicky Wolak talks with analysts Claire O'Connor and Chris Lombardo. The team discusses what killed the stalwart industry giant and the tactics smaller retailers are using to battle against the ever-growing threat of e-commerce and big-box retailers.

With more legalization victories in the recent US midterm elections and Canada's new nationwide legalization, the business of marijuana in North America is off to the races. In this episode, IBISWorld editor Sean Egan and  industry analysts Kelsey Oliver and Ediz Ozelkan discuss the state of the international cannabis industry, how Canada is poised for growth, and the powerhouse potential of Mexico. As its neighbors work to enact widespread legalization, will the United States and its cannabis producers be left in the dust?

There's a huge discrepancy between who we think plays video games and the actual demographics, and at a certain point, that's bad for business. In the final episode of our Game Changers limited series, IBISWorld analyst Jon Hadad and editor Kieran Newton break down the passionate, often-insular gaming community and its already-massive and still-growing importance for industry operators and investors.

This concludes the Game Changers series! If you missed parts 1-3, catch up now with episodes 26, 28, and 30 of the IBISWorld podcast. Thanks for tuning in!