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What separates a food fad that burns out from one that becomes a lasting brand? This episode dives into the psychology and business strategy behind viral food trends, with Pop-Up Bagels as a current example, to answer the question every food founder and investor is asking: how do you turn a moment into a movement?

Featured Guest

Talia Solomon — Founder, The Brand Economist

Talia is a fractional CMO and brand advisor with a background in marketing and behavioral science. She has impacted companies across food, media, and consumer tech including Pizza Hut, Papa John's, Maggiano's, Del Taco, Ruby Tuesday, Weight Watchers, Bravo TV, Showtime, and Ring Doorbell. Her cross-industry experience gives her a unique lens on habit formation and consumer psychology.

The Problem

Food trends explode fast, and fizzle just as quickly. Category saturation, cultural shifts, and the gap between first-time curiosity and repeat habit have ended many promising brands. The real question isn't how to generate buzz. It's how to make people come back.

Connect with Talia

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taliasacks

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

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

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

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

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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.

With billions of dollars traded weekly across non-traditional and traditional investors, prediction markets have quickly become one of the hottest crazes in finance. In this episode, we grab time with Andrew Lebbos of Benzinga (SVP of Licensing) to explore the current state of prediction market platforms like Kalshi and speculate about their long-term potential for good.

This provocative conversation examines why prediction markets have gained mainstream attention, how they differ from traditional investing and sports betting, and whether crowdsourced forecasting can produce more accurate outcomes than other established methods. The discussion also tackles hot-button topics such as regulation, threats of insider information, concerns over gambling addiction, and the importance of customer retention.

From the psychology of gambling to the speculative future of financial markets, this episode explores both the promise and possible risks of turning real-world events into tradable assets.

Connect with Andrew

LinkedIn: Andrew Lebbos on LinkedIn

Benzinga: Benzinga APIs & Data Solutions

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• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

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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.

7-Eleven has been working on a big comeback for a while. Their first big attempt at reinvention might surprise you: egg salad sandwiches. While quite popular in Japan, 7-Eleven’s big gamble on egg salad sandwiches throughout United States stores is head scratching. In this episode, our panel wonders what led to this decision, discusses the larger business challenges at play, and proposes our own fixes for what 7-Eleven should do next.

Along the way, we unpack convenience store culture, customer behavior, retail psychology, operational execution, and take a hard look at how brands can misfire when they try to import global trends without adapting them locally.

The team also debates:

Key Takeaways

If you enjoyed the episode, leave a review and share it with another Fixaholic. And next time you walk into a 7-Eleven, ask yourself: are you there out of habit, convenience, or because the brand actually gave you a reason to come back?

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

Disclaimer

What happens when a major airline simply runs out of money?

In this episode, USA Today’s consumer travel reporter Zach Wichter joins the conversation to break down the shocking collapse of Spirit Airlines and its impact on passengers, employees, competitors, and the future of budget air travel.

After years of financial instability, failed merger attempts, mounting debt, and rising fuel costs, Spirit Airlines officially ceased operations on May 2, 2026, leaving travelers stranded and thousands of employees without jobs. But while the shutdown felt sudden to customers, the warning signs had been visible for years.

Together, we unpack how the airline industry handles collapse, why ultra low cost carriers are becoming harder to sustain, and whether Spirit’s downfall signals a much bigger shift in the economics of air travel.

In This Episode, We Cover

Why Spirit Airlines officially shut down operations

How fuel prices accelerated the company’s collapse

The real reason ultra low cost airlines struggle long term

What happened to stranded passengers and canceled flights

Why airline shutdowns often happen abruptly

The WARN Act and employee notification responsibilities

How airline creditors influence shutdown decisions

Why Spirit’s collapse could lead to higher airfare industry-wide

The hidden role Spirit played in keeping ticket prices low

The rise of premium travel after the pandemic

How other airlines are responding to Spirit’s disappearance

What happens to loyalty points and travel rewards after an airline dies

Key Insight from the Episode

Spirit Airlines may be gone, but its impact on pricing across the airline industry was enormous.

As discussed during the episode:

Whether or not you flew Spirit, you benefited from Spirit Airlines because they helped drive down prices in every market they touched.

Without that pressure, travelers may soon face significantly higher airfare across the board.

About the Guest: Zach Wichter

Zach Wichter is a consumer travel reporter at USA Today, where he covers aviation, travel trends, airlines, and passenger experience through his column Cruising Altitude.

Previously, Zach reported for:

The New York Times

The Points Guy

He was also part of the reporting team recognized with a Loeb Award for coverage of the Boeing 737 MAX crisis.

Connect with Zach on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/zlwichter/

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.

Can a financially devastated footwear brand reinvent itself overnight as an AI infrastructure company?

In this episode, noted investment strategist Todd M. Schoenberger joins the discussion to unpack one of the boldest corporate pivots in recent memory: Allbirds’ decision to reposition itself as an AI business after losing nearly all of its market value.

Is this the beginning of a revolutionary turnaround or a last-minute headline grab designed to buy time?

Together, our panel explores whether brand loyalty is enough to survive a category shift this extreme, what investors are really reacting to when companies announce “AI pivots,” and whether Allbirds might still have viable paths forward to pursue its original footwear business instead of such a drastic departure.

Are we entering an era where struggling companies can simply add “AI” to their story and reset investor expectations?

As discussed in the episode:

The company didn’t pivot to AI. They pivoted to a headline.

That distinction may define whether Allbirds’ reboot becomes a turnaround story or a cautionary case study.

Across industries, companies are racing to reposition themselves around artificial intelligence.

But investors, employees, and customers are increasingly asking:

What counts as a real pivot?

What signals credibility?

And what separates strategy from survival tactics?

Allbirds provides a rare real-time example of what happens when brand identity, capital constraints, and market hype collide.

Todd M. Schoenberger is CEO of CrossCheck Media and Chief Investment Officer at CrossCheck Management. He is a veteran financial commentator whose analysis has appeared on:

CNBC

Fox News

CNN

Todd specializes in interpreting market signals, investor behavior, and strategic corporate positioning during periods of economic transition.

Connect with Todd on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-m-schoenberger

Some standout insights from this episode:

✔ AI announcements can trigger short-term stock spikes without long-term strategy✔ GPU infrastructure businesses require massive capital investment to compete✔ Brand trust weakens when companies abandon their founding mission abruptly✔ Direct-to-consumer footwear strategy may have been a stronger recovery path✔ Meme-stock momentum helped amplify Allbirds’ temporary rally✔ Sustainable brand positioning could have supported a more credible pivot✔ Timing, culture shifts, and retail expansion decisions accelerated decline

The Allbirds story raises a broader question for founders and executives:

When reinvention becomes necessary, should companies evolve within their strengths or leap into entirely new categories?

Sometimes survival depends less on moving fast and more on moving credibly.

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.

Key Question Driving the EpisodeWhy This Conversation Matters Right NowAbout the Guest: Todd M. SchoenbergerDiscussion HighlightsA Bigger Strategic Lesson

Napster once reshaped the music industry by making free digital downloads mainstream. Now it’s attempting another reinvention, this time as an AI-powered music platform. But can a brand once synonymous with piracy successfully re-enter the industry it disrupted?

In this episode, our panel sits down with podcast host and music industry partner development expert Seth Schachner (ex Sony Music, Jive Records, Microsoft) to unpack Napster’s history, its current AI ambitions, and whether the company still has a meaningful role to play in today’s creator-driven music ecosystem.

Together, we explore what Napster got right the first time, what’s different now, and what it would take for the platform to succeed in an era dominated by streaming, TikTok discovery, and AI music tools.

What You’ll Learn in This EpisodeHow Napster changed music consumption foreverWhy the music industry revenue dropped dramatically after early file-sharing platforms emerged How platforms like Apple iTunes and Spotify built on Napster’s behavioral blueprint The real difference between early piracy-era innovation and today’s AI music ecosystem Why AI music tools face skepticism from artists and labels. Whether Napster’s brand still has strategic value. The strongest opportunity Napster has today: creator collaboration platforms

Why independent artist infrastructure may matter more than streaming competition. How TikTok-era discovery is reshaping music success cyclesWhat Napster would need to do to “fix” its comeback strategyIf Napster Wants to Win Again…

The panel suggests Napster should:Lean into collaborative music creation tools support independent artists instead of competing with major streaming platforms build discovery infrastructure for emerging creatorsavoid overextending into too many AI product categoriesfocus on repeat creator engagement instead of passive listening

About the GuestSeth Schachner is a veteran entertainment strategist and founder of Strat Americas. His career includes leadership roles at Sony Music and partnerships with companies like Microsoft and Live Nation Entertainment. He also hosts the podcast Breaking Down the Biz, where he explores the business behind entertainment and media.

Seth’s Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0S8P5a0rH76RD1DB3BKloD?si=7044f5767af94587

Connect with Seth:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethschachner/

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/wefixeditpodLinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpodYouTube – 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.

LEGO built one of the most iconic brands in history by standing for children, creativity, and open-ended play. But in recent years, a major shift has taken hold. The company is increasingly chasing adult fans with premium, expensive, highly detailed sets, licensed IP, and collector-focused experiences.

In this episode, the panel is joined by toy industry veteran Leo Battersby to examine whether LEGO’s pivot toward adults is a smart growth strategy or a dangerous drift away from the very thing that made the brand legendary.

The conversation explores the deep tension between imagination vs instruction, open-ended creativity vs rigid build-by-numbers kits, and long-term cultural pipeline vs short-term revenue growth. With declining birth rates, rising screen time, and changing childhood behavior, LEGO is navigating a radically different world than the one it helped shape.

The group debates whether LEGO is slowly turning from a system of play into a premium model-building brand and what that means for future generations of builders.

Key Topics & Takeaways

Why adult collectors now make up ~25–30% of the toy market

How LEGO’s “Adults Welcome” strategy and 18+ sets changed the brand

The shift from imaginative play to instruction-following construction

Why modern LEGO sets leave less room for creative reinterpretation

The impact of screens, media, and IP on how kids play today

Declining birth rates and what that means for toy company pipelines

The difference between “paint by numbers” and a blank canvas

Why nostalgia is powerful but not a long-term growth strategy

How LEGO risks losing the next generation of builders

The hidden danger of optimizing only for adult money

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.

Southwest Airlines is financially strong. Record revenues. Stock price near multi-year highs.

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.

In This Episode, We Cover

● Why organizations naturally accumulate management layers over time

● The hidden risk of promoting top performers into leadership roles

● How layoffs disproportionately affect middle managers

● The mismatch between workforce expectations and available leadership roles

● Why companies reward management more than execution

● The growing importance of Individual Contributor career paths

● How interest rates and capital costs influence layoffs

● The long term consequences of overhiring during economic spikes

● Why forecasting failures create workforce instability

● How companies can rethink compensation structures to retain expertise

● The role AI may play in reshaping management structures

● Why trades and technical careers are becoming more attractive again

Key Insight from Ron Hetrick

One of the biggest workforce challenges today is not simply too many managers. It is a system that rewards leadership titles more than execution excellence.

If organizations want stability, they must create career ladders where experts can grow inancially 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.

He is also the author of:

● Demographic Drought

● Who’s Going to Do the Work

● The Rising Storm (contributor)

● Fault Lines (co-author)

Ron is widely recognized for translating workforce data into practical strategic insight for organizations navigating talent shortages and economic change.

Connect with Ron on LinkedIn:

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

Discussion Highlights

Some standout takeaways from this episode:

✔ Promotions are often used as retention tools rather than structural necessities

✔ Middle management roles expand fastest during economic growth cycles

✔ Overhiring during temporary demand spikes leads directly to layoffs later

✔ Organizations rarely forecast workforce demand accurately

✔ Execution roles are often undervalued compared to leadership titles

✔ Skilled experts need compensation parity with managers

✔ Career ladders must evolve beyond title based advancement

Our Panel

● Aaron Wolpoff – Host and Marketing panelist

● Melissa Eaton – Operations and C/X panelist

● Chino Nnadi – People, Talent and Culture panelist

● Ron Hetrick (Guest) - Labor economist and Principal Economist at Lightcast.

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 onstrued 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.

Space exploration used to be reserved for governments and elite astronauts only. Today, commercial launches, private space stations, and civilian missions are raising questions about opening up space travel and making access more widely available.

In this episode, global space policy executive Christopher Hearsey joins the conversation to explore the future of commercial spaceflight, the role of private companies, and whether humanity is entering a new era where space truly becomes accessible to everyone.

From billionaire tourism headlines to satellite infrastructure that powers everyday life on Earth, this discussion separates myth from reality and explains what space tourism and space commercialization actually means for society.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

About Christopher Hearsey

Christopher Hearsey is a global space executive and founder of OSA Consulting, specializing in commercial space policy and regulatory strategy.

He previously worked at the U.S. State Department and helped support implementation of the National Space Policy. He also co-founded the Space Court Foundation, which promotes global education around space law and governance.

Learn more:

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

Our Panel

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.