We Fixed It, You're Welcome

In this episode of "We Fixed It. You're Welcome," the hosts explore cultural and product differences between the United States and Canada. They discuss unique Canadian offerings like specialty sauces at Subway, higher quality fast food, and distinctive snack flavors.

The conversation delves into consumer preferences, brand loyalty, and government regulations affecting product quality and availability. The hosts examine why some American brands struggle to expand into Canada and vice versa, highlighting the importance of understanding local markets.

They also touch on the impact of government monopolies on alcohol sales in Ontario and the potential for cross-border product exchanges. The episode concludes with recommendations for Americans to explore Canadian products and for businesses to consider expansion strategies carefully.

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Are too many people being promoted into leadership roles? As a result, are companies becoming too top heavy? If we’ve created a system that values managers over executers, is this a recipe for disaster?

In this episode, we’re joined by Ron Hetrick, Principal Economist at Lightcast and one of the most influential labor economists in the country. Together, we unpack one of the most important questions facing today’s labor market: whether modern organizations are overloaded with managers and what that means for productivity, hiring, layoffs, and career paths.

Drawing on decades of labor market research and macro workforce data, Ron explains why middle managers are often the first cut during layoffs, how that decision can negatively impact companies, and why a contributor-based evaluation might be a better approach.

This dynamic conversation digs into provocative questions we’re all asking, challenges assumptions, and poses some very real solutions about improving our collective thinking about the labor force.

If organizations want stability, they must create career ladders where experts can grow financially without being pushed into management roles if it creates misalignment.

As Ron explains during the episode:

The farther your role is from creating revenue or protecting margin, the harder it becomes to justify during restructuring.

About the Guest: Ron Hetrick

Ron Hetrick is a leading labor economist and Principal Economist at Lightcast. He previously worked at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and advises Fortune 100 companies, policymakers, and workforce strategists.
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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.

For generations, a bite of a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup meant one thing:

Milk chocolate. Real peanut butter. That unmistakable taste. Now, many loyal fans say something is different.

In this episode, we sit down with Brad Reese, grandson of H. B. Reese and self-appointed “Protector of Reese’s Brand Integrity,” to unpack a controversy that has caught the world’s attention.

Brad and others are upset about the current quality of Reese’s products under Hershey’s control, pointing to a shift in taste and either proven or alleged ingredient swaps. 

Emotions are high - people love Reese’s. They want real answers.

This isn’t just about candy.

It’s about trust, heritage, and a beloved company at a cultural tension point with its best customers.

What Sparked the Controversy?

Brad published an open letter to Hershey’s on LinkedIn calling out what he and many consumers observed:

While The Hershey Company has publicly stated that core ingredients have not changed, consumers began comparing labels and conducting side-by-side taste tests online.

The consumer pushback and Hershey’s response quickly went viral, drawing attention from major media outlets and even commentary from MrBeast while promoting his own line of Feastibles.

A Powerful Quote from Brad

“They’re stooping for pennies and passing up dollars.”

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Brad Reese

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradreesecom/

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

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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.

What a season it's been! In the Season 3 finale, Aaron, Melissa, and Chino reflect on the biggest lessons, favorite guests, and most memorable fixes from an incredible run of problem-solving. We dig into three popular topics to see what's changed over time, and to add new observations and suggestions that are exclusive to this episode.

Melissa revisits Hired or Hustled?, where the team originally exposed unethical recruiters and job search scams. Since then, AI-powered deepfakes, fake candidates, and sophisticated employment fraud have transformed hiring into an even bigger trust problem. The conversation explores why verification has become more important than instinct and what both companies and job seekers must do to stay protected.

Aaron brings back one of the internet's most unforgettable branding moments: McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski's awkward burger video. Was it simply a bad day, or a missed opportunity to turn self-awareness into brilliant marketing? The panel explores how modern CEOs should approach public visibility and why embracing mistakes can sometimes strengthen a brand.

Chino follows up on the viral Japanese 7-Eleven egg salad sandwich experiment after experiencing it firsthand in Canada. While the product generated enormous online buzz, the rollout highlighted a deeper lesson: successful products can't simply be copied into new markets without adapting to local consumer behavior. The team discusses why experience matters more than imitation and how 7-Eleven still has the opportunity to evolve in a creative way.

The episode also features a brand-new listener submission about reinventing the Home Depot shopping experience through smarter technology, AI-assisted associates, and better customer service. The discussion highlights the show's recurring theme that the best solutions often combine technology with human expertise rather than replacing it.

Finally, Aaron, Melissa, and Chino close out Season 3 by thanking listeners, reflecting on what they've learned from each other and their guests, and teasing what's coming in Season 4, including conversations about sports, space, the future, and many more problems waiting to be fixed.

Connect With the Show

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.

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic® and Wegovy® are transforming far more than weight loss. They're changing how people eat, shop, spend money, dine out, and interact with brands, creating ripple effects across retail, restaurants, healthcare, apparel, and the broader economy.

In this episode of We Fixed It, You're Welcome, Aaron Wolpoff and Chino Nnadi sit down with Lisa W. Miller, ex PepsiCo VP Consumer Strategy & Insights and founder of Lisa W. Miller & Associates, to discuss groundbreaking findings from her latest proprietary research on the rapidly evolving GLP-1 economy. With insights from more than 30 industry studies and a survey of 6,500 U.S. consumers, Lisa reveals what businesses need to know as consumer behavior changes in real time.

From the surprising rise of male GLP-1 users to the future of retail, employee benefits, and restaurant innovation, this conversation explores why companies that adapt early will likely have a competitive advantage while those that ignore these shifts risk being left behind.

What You'll Learn

• How GLP-1 medications are reshaping consumer spending habits

• Why restaurants, retailers, and grocery brands are being forced to adapt

• The surprising growth of male GLP-1 adoption and why most brands are missing it

• Why simply labeling products "GLP-1 Friendly" isn't enough

• How apparel companies and wedding retailers are responding to rapid weight loss

• The impact of GLP-1s on HR, employee benefits, and workplace policies

• The opportunities and risks businesses should prepare for over the next several years

• Why understanding consumer behavior matters more than following headlines.

About Our Guest

Lisa W. Miller is a Consumer Insights & Innovation Strategist with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations turn consumer insights into business growth. She previously served as Vice President of Insights at PepsiCo and Vice President of Innovation at Brinker International. Today, through Lisa W. Miller & Associates, she helps leadership teams translate research into actionable business strategies.

Connect with Lisa:

• LinkedIn: Lisa W. Miller

• Website: Lisa W. Miller & Associates

Connect With the Show

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 beconstrued 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.

OpenAI and Anthropic are locked in a high stakes rivalry, and the fallout is hurting public trust in AI overall. In this episode, the "We Fixed It, You're Welcome" panel (Aaron Wolpoff, Melissa Eaton, and Chino) sits down with veteran tech PR strategist Perry Headrick to unpack whether the ChatGPT vs Claude rivalry is a branding win or a trust disaster. With over 20 years of experience representing brands like AOL, Bing, Yelp, and Logitech, Perry brings sharp, no nonsense insight into why both AI giants are missing the mark with everyday users, and what they need to do to fix it.

Guest Bio

Perry Headrick is the founder of Crackle PR, a B2B tech focused communications agency working with startups through publicly traded companies. He also co-hosts the Under Embargo podcast alongside Becca Chambers, CMO at Scale Ventures. Perry brings decades of experience in media strategy, reputation management, and crisis control.

Key Topics Discussed

Connect with Perry Headrick

Connect With the Show

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• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

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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.

Spotify recently rolled out "personal podcasts," letting anyone generate a custom AI show with no creator involved. So what actually counts as a podcast anymore? Aaron, Melissa, and Chino bring in podcasting veteran and Hall of Famer Rob Walch, who has been a mainstay of the podcast industry since 2005, to unpack where AI fits in, where it doesn't, and why human-made shows probably aren't going anywhere.

Rob breaks down the real history of podcasting's biggest growth moments, reacts to the rise of AI in podcasting, and explains why trust, once lost, is brutally hard to win back. Our panel also tackles celebrity podcasts, the trouble with unlabeled AI content, and what actually counts as a podcast these days in a rapidly changing landscape.

Connect With the Show

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.

Guest Links

Rob Walch's personal podcast: podcast411.com

Co-hosts In and Around Podcasting with Elsie Escobar (new episodes every other week)

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/podcast411/

Happy Prime Day! Amazon Prime Day just turned 11 years old, and what started as a single day invented to fill a sales lull has become somewhat of an actual holiday. How do we celebrate? We buy stuff! 

In this episode, our panel digs into celebrations engineered by brands and commerce (Cyber Monday, Small Business Saturday, Starbucks Red Cup Day) to question whether these types of moments build real community or just psychologically condition consumers to spend on cue.

Joining the conversation is Pearl Servat, a fractional CMO who helped scale Verizon's Visible brand from zero to over a million customers and led the brand's Visible Acts of Kindness campaign, a movement that grew organically out of a single email. Pearl brings the brand-side perspective on building trust, avoiding the "race to the bottom," and the difference between a manufactured sales event and an authentic cultural moment.

Our panel breaks down why Prime Day works (consistency, trust, FOMO, basket-size psychology), where it may be falling short (personalization, social impact, fulfillment promises), and we pitch our own potential improvements, including hyper-personalized deals and a charity-driven "freeze the deals" concept that is up for grabs.
Connect with Pearl Servat

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

Connect With the Show

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.

Brand collaborations are everywhere right now. But for every Swatch x AP with overwhelming demand, there are examples like Nike x Tiffany that leave everyone wondering why those brands aligned. In this episode, Aaron, Melissa, and Chino break down the biggest brand collabs in recent history, figure out what separates the legendary ones from the cautionary tales, and build a framework to predict which ones will actually work.

What We Cover

Why brands are obsessed with collabs and why consumers are starting to get tired of them

The Swatch x Audemars Piguet launch that caused mall shutdowns and $25,000 resale prices

What makes a collab feel culturally necessary versus just a marketing stunt

Nike x Air Jordan — how the original celebrity collab still dominates decades later

Nike x Tiffany — two iconic brands, one massive execution failure

Adidas x Yeezy — $2 billion made, a very public breakup, and why Adidas is still profiting

Pepsi x Kendall Jenner — what happens when a brand collab completely misreads the room

Supreme x Louis Vuitton — the collab that redefined streetwear and luxury forever

McDonald's Happy Meal collabs — why they keep getting it right over and over

HM and Target designer drops — when doing collabs too often kills the excitement

The secondary resale market — is it a bug or a feature of a great collab?

Aaron's risk framework for predicting whether a brand collab will succeed or fail

The Collab Risk Framework (Our Fix)

Formalize the unofficial — if customers are already doing it themselves, own it. Lowest risk, built to last. (Taco Bell x Doritos)

Combine shared capabilities — two brands each bring a unique strength the other doesn't have. When done right, something magnetic happens. (Swatch x AP, Supreme x LV)

Shared audience + shared sensibility — the Venn diagram has to be big enough. If it's too small, the market will tell you the hard way. (Nike x Tiffany failed this test)

Curation and scarcity — making something too available kills the desire. The limited nature has to be real and protected.

Brands and Collabs Mentioned

Swatch x Audemars Piguet (AP)

Nike x Air Jordan

Nike x Tiffany

Adidas x Yeezy (Kanye West)

Pepsi x Kendall Jenner

Supreme x Louis Vuitton

McDonald's x Cactus Plant Flea Market

McDonald's x Korean Demon Hunters

McDonald's x Pokemon, Beanie Babies, Minions

HM x Balmain

Target x Kate Spade, Diane von Furstenberg, Karl Lagerfeld, Mossimo

Coca-Cola x Oreo

Pepsi x Peeps

Nike x Toy Story 5

J.Crew x Costco

Key Takeaways

Scarcity is the most powerful tool in a brand collab. If everyone can get it, nobody wants it.

The Venn diagram of your two audiences has to be big. A small overlap means a small result.

Execution matters as much as the idea. A great concept with poor delivery (Nike x Tiffany) will still fail.

Doing collabs too frequently kills the excitement. The magic is in the rarity.

Celebrity collabs carry more risk than brand-to-brand collabs. Brands are predictable. People are not.

The secondary resale market is now a built-in part of any major collab launch. Brands need a plan for it.

Connect With the Show

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.

What happens when luxury brands sell more than products, but the promise of ethics, craftsmanship, and sustainability?

In this episode, our panel explores the growing tension between luxury fashion's premium pricing and the increasing scrutiny surrounding supply chain transparency, labor practices, and sustainability claims. Using LVMH and several of its iconic brands as a case study, the conversation examines whether today's luxury consumers are buying status, quality, or a set of values.

Joining the discussion is Kirsten K. Harris (Nordstrom, Nike, Amazon), sustainability strategist and founder of eavolu®, who shares insights from more than two decades in the fashion industry. Together, we unpack the realities of ESG compliance, traceability, greenwashing concerns, counterfeit markets, resale opportunities, and the future of ethical luxury.

The episode highlights why transparency, authenticity, and accountability are becoming essential business strategies for brands that want to maintain consumer trust in an increasingly skeptical marketplace.

Connect with Kirsten K. Harris

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

eavolu®: https://eavolu.com

Final Thought

Luxury brands have long sold aspiration and exclusivity. The next generation of luxury may be defined not by what brands say, but by what they can prove. As consumers demand greater transparency, the future of fashion will belong to companies that can align premium products with authentic business practices.

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.