Season 3 kicks off with a timely and culture-shifting question: Is Dry January actually good for business, or is it a self-inflicted economic slowdown?

Every January, millions of people across the U.S. and the world voluntarily press pause on alcohol. What started as a small UK health initiative has become a global behavioral shift, with nearly 1 in 5 adults now participating and overall alcohol consumption at its lowest level in nearly 90 years.

But this is not just a personal wellness trend. It’s a market disruption.

In this episode, our panel explores how Dry January impacts bars, restaurants, beverage brands, corporate culture, and consumer behavior. We break down whether this movement is just a temporary reset that snaps back in February or a signal of a much deeper shift toward mindful consumption, wellness, and long-term habit change.

From inventory planning and staffing challenges to the rise of non-alcoholic beverages, sober-curious culture, and experience-driven hospitality, the conversation reframes Dry January as not just a month, but a strategic testing ground for the future of food, beverage, and social culture.

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Why alcohol consumption is at a 90-year low and what that signals
• Is Dry January a meaningful reset or just behavioral whiplash?
• The business impact of 20% of customers disappearing for a month
• How Gen Z and wellness culture are reshaping social drinking norms
• Why “mindful consumption” is becoming mainstream
• The rise of non-alcoholic, zero-proof, and better-for-you beverages
• How bars and restaurants should rethink menus, experiences, and inventory
• Using January as an R&D lab instead of a dead month
• Corporate culture, team bonding, and moving beyond “happy hour culture”
• The danger of over-indexing on one month instead of building evergreen options

Strategic Business Ideas Explored

• Treating Dry January as a season, not a stunt
• Designing non-alcoholic experiences that feel premium, not like an afterthought
• Using January to test new menus, pairings, formats, and partnerships
• Diversifying revenue beyond alcohol without alienating core customers
• Reframing internal culture toward wellness, inclusion, and balance
• Building experiences around activities, not just drinking
• Avoiding the January 1st / January 30th consumer behavior whiplash

Who This Episode Is For

• Consumer brand marketers and strategists
• Operators dealing with seasonality and demand swings
• HR and culture leaders rethinking workplace social norms
• Food & beverage brand leaders
• Bar, restaurant, and hospitality owners
• Anyone interested in how wellness trends reshape entire industries

The Big Question This Episode Answers

Is Dry January something businesses should fight, ignore, or design for?

Final Take

Dry January is not the problem.

Ignoring the long-term shift in consumer behavior is.

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

Disclaimer

A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode of We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, the team welcomes back financial expert Lukas Sundahl to put real numbers behind our hypothetical business fixes.

What’s the actual value of “fixing” a struggling company?

Lukas analyzes three big names—Southwest Airlines, Party City, and Jaguar—and shows how our proposed strategies could have meant millions in revenue, survival, and long-term brand strength.

Expect insights on:

Why Southwest’s baggage fees could still work without killing loyalty?

How Party City could have survived with community-driven retail?

What Jaguar missed in its EV pivot and how to reclaim brand trust?

This episode blends strategy + financial modeling, proving that fixing companies isn’t just theory—it’s measurable impact.

Listen, learn, and maybe rethink how YOU approach business pivots.

We dive deep into the real numbers behind our “fixes.” With returning guest Lukas Sundahl (CFO, financial strategist, LinkedIn thought leader), we analyze three case studies:

• Southwest Airlines: Would baggage fees really alienate customers? Or could they generate $350M–$450M while keeping loyalty intact?
• Party City: How localized inventory and community tie-ins might have saved them from bankruptcy—potentially adding $43M–$130M in value.
• Jaguar: The pitfalls of abandoning brand heritage in the EV race—and how aligning EVs with Jaguar’s legacy could mean $35M–$179M in gains.

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome to We Fixed It, You’re Welcome

1:20 – Meet our guest: Lukas Sundahl

2:40 – How we quantify “fixes”

4:20 – Case Study 1: Southwest Airlines

8:00 – Case Study 2: Party City

14:40 – Case Study 3: Jaguar

18:20 – The power of the pivot

23:00 – Why grounding fixes in real companies works

25:45 – Closing thoughts & where to find Lukas

Key Themes:

The financial impact of strategic pivots

Brand loyalty vs revenue growth

The “power of the pivot” in corporate turnarounds

Why storytelling + numbers matter in fixing companies

Key Pull Quote

“The numbers—whether worst or best case—prove the power of the pivot. Even small strategic shifts could have meant hundreds of millions in value.” – Lukas Sundahl

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

Links:

• Website - www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram: @wefixeditpod

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube: @wefixeditpod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends! Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaguar’s EV rebrand was meant to redefine the luxury car brand — but instead, it sparked massive backlash, confused loyal customers, and even led to their CEO stepping down. In this episode, we break down exactly what went wrong with Jaguar’s electric vehicle strategy, why their marketing campaign failed, and how they can fix their brand without losing their iconic heritage.

Discover the key lessons every business can learn from Jaguar’s rebranding mistake, the reality of competing in the EV market, and the blueprint to reconnect with loyal buyers while attracting a new generation.

📌 Topics Covered:

Jaguar EV rebrand failure explained

Why the marketing campaign missed the mark

The danger of abandoning brand heritage

How to merge tradition with EV innovation

Strategies to win back luxury car buyers

If you’re interested in brand strategy, luxury cars, electric vehicles, or marketing case studies, this breakdown is a must-watch.

https://wefixeditpod.com/

A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of "We Fixed It, You're Welcome" the hosts tackle American Eagle's controversial ad campaign featuring Sydney Sweeney. Marketing expert Lola Bakare joins to dissect the brand's misstep, exploring the importance of inclusive marketing and authentic consumer engagement. The discussion delves into the risks of shock marketing, the power of Gen Z consumers, and the need for diverse voices in decision-making processes. The panel offers strategic advice for American Eagle to regain trust, emphasizing accountability, employee engagement, and aligning actions with stated values. This episode challenges conventional marketing approaches and provides insights on navigating brand crises in the age of cancel culture.

https://wefixeditpod.com/

A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, our panelists discuss crowd-sourced fixes that were submitted to our show, an end-of-season tradition. We talk about various companies that are top of mind for our episode contributors, focusing on loyalty programs and customer experiences. We explore the implications of changes in loyalty programs like Carnival's, emphasizing the importance of communication and customer engagement. The conversation also touches on innovative ideas for Amazon's delivery services and Uber's potential loyalty tiers, highlighting the need for personalization and enhanced customer experiences. The episode wraps up with reflections on the season and gratitude towards listeners.

Takeaways

The holiday season is a time for reflection and engagement with listeners.

Crowd-sourced fixes provide valuable insights into customer expectations.

Effective communication is crucial when changing loyalty programs.

Phased approaches can ease customer transitions during program changes.

Personalization in loyalty programs can enhance customer satisfaction.

Delaying shipping for registries can address space and timing issues for customers.

Innovative delivery solutions can improve customer convenience.

Uber's loyalty program could benefit from tiered rewards and personalization.

Partnerships with local businesses can enhance service offerings.

The importance of accountability and corporate responsibility in customer relations.

Chapters

00:00 Holiday Traditions and Listener Engagement

00:59 Crowd-Sourced Fix: Carnival Rewards Program

14:10 Crowd-Sourced Fix: Amazon Baby Registries

23:09 Exploring Loyalty Programs and Customer Expectations

23:35 Rethinking Postal Services: Innovative Partnerships

31:12 Amazon's Delivery Ambitions: A New Era for Logistics

35:20 Uber Loyalty Programs: Enhancing Customer Experience

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

Disclaimer

A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A beloved American brand finds itself in boiling hot water after a senior executive at Campbell’s is secretly recorded making racist remarks, mocking customers, disparaging the company’s products, and boasting about substance use at work. The recording goes public, the executive is fired, and Campbell’s stock hits a 52-week low. But the real question is not whether the executive deserved to go, it’s what this incident reveals about leadership, culture, and accountability inside the organization.

In this episode, our panel is joined by brand growth advisor Javier Farfan (NFL, New Balance, PepsiCo, McDonald's, Anheuser Busch) to unpack what happens when private behavior becomes public, how quickly trust can erode, and why firing one executive is rarely enough to fix a systemic problem. The discussion explores the internal cultural damage, the external brand risk, and the opportunity Campbell’s now has to reset its values, reconnect with consumers, and rebuild trust from the inside out.

Rather than debating whether the scandal will blow over, the conversation focuses on what meaningful recovery actually looks like and what brands must do when values, leadership behavior, and public perception collide.

Key Topics & Takeaways

• Why this incident may be more than a single “bad apple”
• How lower-level employees can change the balance of power inside companies
• The internal ripple effects of executive misconduct on morale and quality
• Psychological safety, retaliation, and why employees stop speaking up
• Culture as a system, not a slogan on the wall
• The difference between cosmetic fixes and structural change
• Why silence and minimal PR responses no longer work
• How consumer trust, nostalgia, and brand legacy can be rebuilt
• Turning a crisis into a catalyst for reinvention

Strategic Fixes Explored

• Isolating the incident without denying systemic responsibility
• Holding executives to higher character and integrity standards
• Making leadership behavior measurable, not theoretical
• Reinforcing internal accountability and psychological safety
• Re-centering the brand around community, care, and accessibility
• Leveraging nostalgia and emotional connection without being performative
• Using crisis moments as opportunities for product and brand evolution

Who This Episode Is For

• Brand, marketing, and communications leaders
• Executives and people managers
• HR and culture leaders
• Crisis management and PR professionals
• Anyone interested in how power, culture, and trust intersect inside large organizations

Disclaimer

A quick disclaimer. We are going into this somewhat cold and nothing we say should be construed as legal advice, financial advice or anything that would get us in trouble. These are our views and opinions. We're here to ask the kinds of questions everyone's thinking. Have an engaging conversation and maybe come to some conclusions that we feel are worth exploring. By the end, if we fixed it, you're welcome. All trademarks, IP and brand elements discussed are property of their respective owners.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Some movies and products flop so badly they become infamous. Others become instant classics. But then there are the ones in the middle. The ones with hype that launch and then disappear without a trace. No cultural impact. No lasting impression. Just a collective… “meh.”

This episode examines that dangerous middle ground we’re calling a culture shrug and why, for companies and creators, it can be worse than outright failure.

Aaron, Melissa, and Qadira explore why projects that check every box still vanish instantly, how companies misread cultural signals, and what it really takes to make something with staying power in an era where trends can shift on a dime.

What we cover

• What a “culture shrug” is and why it can be more painful than a flop

 • Why effort, budget, and talent don’t guarantee cultural relevance

 • How movies, brands, and products fail when they aim for everyone

 • What happens when creativity gets diluted by committees

 • Why companies often misunderstand what audiences actually want

 • The timing problem between culture speed and corporate speed

 • How nostalgia, remakes, and algorithms fail to ignite connection

 • The danger of creative teams being shielded from real cultural insight

 • Why safety ideas can be instantly forgettable

 • Why younger audiences don’t react the way companies assume

 • The power of niche enthusiasm and true believers

 • How internal culture determines whether bold ideas survive

THE FIX: How to Avoid the Culture Shrug

1. Start with “So what?”

 If you cannot answer it clearly, the idea is not ready.

2. Treat data as input, not instruction

 Algorithms reveal behavior, not soul, and never the “why now.”

3. Test, but don’t sand down the edges

 Over testing destroys personality and guts.

4. Put a trusted tastemaker in charge of final decisions

 Not a tyrant, not a committee — a clear, culturally aware leader.

5. Build emotional stickiness

 If people don’t feel it, they won’t remember it.

6. Re-evaluate cultural resonance throughout long development cycles

 Eighteen months is a lifetime in cultural terms.

7. Find and nurture your early believer community

 They amplify when the project finally launches.

8. Leave room for weirdness

 The unexpected idea might be the one culture remembers.

9. Conduct a pre mortem

 Write the “if this flopped, here’s why” memo before you build.

10. Add delight

 Great creative work has soul, not just structure.

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wendy’s was once the fresh, honest, slightly rebellious burger chain. Today it’s stuck between fast food giants on one side and premium burger rivals on the other. Prices match McDonald’s, but the brand isn’t perceived as a value leader. Quality is decent, but not elevated enough to compete with Five Guys or Shake Shack.

So what is Wendy’s now?

We sit down with Paul Tuscano, former Chief Digital Officer at KFC US, the man behind their massive digital reinvention. He shares insights from decades in QSR, hospitality, and customer experience to break down why Wendy’s is struggling and how to fix it.

What we cover

• Why Wendy’s lost its lane

• Whether Project Fresh will work

• The strengths and weaknesses of the Wendy’s menu

• How loyalty, kiosks, personalization, and AI can change QSR

• Why Wendy’s social media works, but the stores don’t reflect it

• Why legacy brands need clarity and simplicity

• How to make Dave Thomas relevant to Gen Z

• Why culture and franchise alignment matter more than new tech

• How Chick fil A wins with consistency, not complexity

• A step by step strategy to rebuild Wendy’s

This episode is a must watch for anyone interested in branding, food, marketing, digital transformation, or turning around legacy companies.

Guest: Paul Tuscano Former Chief Digital Officer, KFC US LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paultuscano/

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This episode explores one of the biggest questions of our time: are robots replacing humans or helping us reach our full potential?

We sit with Dr. Aadeel Akhtar, the visionary CEO of Psyonic, whose bionic hand technology is restoring touch for amputees and powering next generation robotics at NASA, Amazon, Google, Mercedes, Meta, and more.

Topics include

• Are robots a threat or an opportunity

• Why most robot replacement headlines are exaggerated

• How bionic hands are restoring real human lives

• The business responsibility behind automation

• How companies can prepare their workforce

• Why kids accept humanoid robots faster than adults

• How robotics and AI create new careers

• Why the future is humans plus robots, not humans versus robots

This is a human centered, optimistic, grounded, and deeply personal discussion that reframes the future of work.

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives. 

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com 

• Follow us on: 

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod 

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod 

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod 

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends! 

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Prices are rising, fees are multiplying, and transparency is disappearing. In this episode, we break down how Ticketmaster, rideshares, airlines, and even grocery stores use surge pricing, hidden fees, and algorithmic pricing to squeeze more out of consumers.

Fractional CFO Elaine Bogart joins us to explain the financial mechanics behind these tactics and whether personalized pricing is fair game or a violation of trust. We explore equity, transparency, surveillance pricing, and what it would take for companies to fix their relationship with the public.

In This Episode:

• The rise of ambiguous and personalized pricing across industries

• Why Ticketmaster’s monopoly keeps driving fan frustration

• How data-driven pricing risks crossing into digital discrimination

• The difference between surge pricing and surveillance pricing

• Why transparency and trust are now business essentials

• Fixing it: what “fair pricing” could look like for companies and customers alike

Key Takeaways

• Transparency is currency. When customers understand the “why,” they tolerate change better.

• Algorithmic pricing can deepen inequality if unchecked for bias or demographic profiling.

• Profit isn’t the enemy — opacity is.

• Trust is an asset that brands can’t afford to lose in the name of short-term gain.

Guest

Elaine Bogart – Fractional CFO | Strategic Finance & Growth Advisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainebogart/

Links

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.