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The Modern Retail Podcast

Digiday
Amazon
E-Commerce
Target
Tariffs
Walmart
Tiktok
Nike
Shein
Black Friday
Artificial Intelligence
Macy's
Consumer Behavior
Retail Industry
Starbucks
Peloton
Sustainability
Retail Sales
Pepsico
Covid-19
Retail

The Modern Retail Podcast is a podcast about all the ways the retail industry is changing and modernizing. Every Saturday, senior reporters Gabi Barkho and Melissa Daniels break down the latest retail headlines and interview executives about what it takes to keep up in today’s retail landscape, diving deep into growth strategies, brand autopsies, economic changes and more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes555Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusinessBusiness NewsNews

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Artwork for The Modern Retail Podcast

Latest Episodes

In an era where a brand's reputation is tethered to the relentless cycles of social media, silence is no longer a defensive strategy for brands and can even become a liability.

In this episode of the Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporter Gabi Barkh... more

This year, back-to-college spending is estimated to cross $100 billion for the first time, according to data from the National Retail Federation. About $14 billion of that, or about $194 per shopper, is in dorm and apartment furnishings.

It’s the se... more

For many founder-led brands, the transition from a scrappy, bootstrapped startup to a major retail player is the ultimate test of sustainable growth. For some, that means taking on more debt or venture capital; for others, it means bringing on privat... more

Once Upon a Farm is on a growth trajectory that is powered in large part by a new look in the baby aisle.

The brand, founded in 2015, offers organic, cold-pressed baby food and children's snacks. It went public in February after spending the past se... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Karen Booker
Head of merchandising for non-apparel at Urban Outfitters
Urban Outfitters
Episode: The big business of dorm decor
Andrea Faulkner Williams
Co-founder and President, Tubby Todd
Tubby Todd
Episode: The pros and cons of taking on private equity
Katie Marston
Chief Marketing Officer, Once Upon a Farm
Once Upon a Farm
Episode: How Once Upon a Farm is shaking up the baby aisle with coolers
Helena Bottemiller Evich
Founder and editor-in-chief of Food Fix
Food Fix
Episode: The cyclospora outbreak is creating a PR headache for food businesses
Patrick McGinnis
EVP, Chief Revenue Officer
Best Buy
Episode: Best Buy’s bet on Meta Ray Bans and shop-in-shops
Joel Contartese
VP of Global Growth
Bloom Nutrition
Episode: How Bloom Nutrition is expanding internationally
Kat Cole
CEO of AG1 (Green Supplement Powder AG1)
AG1
Episode: Inside AG1’s product expansion playbook (RERUN)
Katherine McKee
Fractional Head of Growth at Morphology Consulting
Morphology Consulting
Episode: Is Prime Day still worth it?
Alyssa Grigg
Senior Director of Marketing Communications for Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington
Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington
Episode: Why the World Cup is a make or break moment for retail this summer

Hosts

Gabi Barkho
Host and senior reporter on The Modern Retail Podcast
Melissa Daniels
Host of The Modern Retail Podcast; Senior Reporter; Special Projects Editor

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings
  • Great Interviews, More Retail News

    I’ve been a listener for 2+ years and while I enjoy the interviews with leaders of retail companies discussing varied aspects of the business, I do miss the “Retail Rundown” episodes where news in the retail industry (e.g. M&A, new initiatives, economic/trade policies) were discussed. I looked forward to learning what was happening across the retail industry each week.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Jmbjax
    United Statesa month ago
  • 💎💎💎

    I’m not a retailer, but as a PR coach for Ecom and retail brands, I am always looking for quality resources to recommend them! And it is so important to stay up to date with industry trends and case studies! And this podcast updates so frequently! Also quick and to the point so the episodes don’t draw out too long, much easier to stay engaged that way!

    @gloriachoupr

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    _doremi101
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful!

    As someone in retail, I naturally gravitate towards market updates. This podcasts delivers on relevance, a great selections of guests, and insightful information on consumer behavior. My only gripe is Gabi Barkho's melancholy delivery. The sighs while delivering the content, are a bit distracting. Love Cale, though.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SOUTE456
    United States2 years ago
  • Fun weekly shows + odd format

    I love both the interview, and the rundown at the end of the week. It’s a good way to do the dishes, but one thing does drive me crazy: in the rundown you can start counting the number of times that they say, “which we’ll talk about later” or “we will touch on in a bit” etc over and over. Also, the bizarre whoosh sound that they used to separate segments has made me jump a number of times.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Web dev
    United States2 years ago
  • Expected more

    It takes the hosts way too long to share useful information. Unfortunately, they are also too monotone to hold an audience.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    ddffxxcc233
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows quick, high-value industry updates with practical takeaways.
Some listeners feel pacing or delivery could be more engaging, but content remains solid.
Guests bring strong, real-world experience; consistently relevant for retail marketing.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The big business of dorm decor
Q: What role do college collaborations and localized merchandising play in growth?
Localization through region-specific college gear, campus activations, spirit shops, and partnerships with universities helps tailor offerings to local student communities and drive campus-specific campaigns.
The big business of dorm decor
Q: How does Urban Outfitters stay ahead of fast-changing trends and adapt to student feedback?
They leverage a mix of ambassador programs, intern feedback, customer reviews, trade shows, vendor partnerships, trend forecasting services, and social listening on platforms like Reddit and Pinterest to guide product development and assortment decisions.
The big business of dorm decor
Q: When do you feel like dorm decor started to become a bigger category?
The guest discusses the shift driven by Gen Z's value on self-expression, social media influence, and the broader lifestyle shift toward a one-stop shop approach in dorm and home categories.
How Once Upon a Farm is shaking up the baby aisle with coolers
Q: How does Once Upon a Farm communicate its mission and value to shoppers in the aisle and beyond?
By emphasizing real ingredients, transparency, age-appropriate SKUs, and a broader journey from first foods to larger kids snacks, while connecting in-store education to a robust DTC and content ecosystem that supports families.
How Once Upon a Farm is shaking up the baby aisle with coolers
Q: What were the biggest operational challenges and how did you address them as the program scaled?
Stores vary in electrical setups and service needs, so we adjusted merchandising, defined clear ownership of servicing, and collaborated on cost-sharing and portfolio optimization to meet each retailer's specific needs.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Modern Retail Podcast

What is The Modern Retail Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show covers how the retail industry is evolving, with weekly quick takes on headlines and in-depth conversations with executives and experts. Episodes frequently explore growth strategies, brand storytelling, and operational decisions across consumer brands, retailers, and adjacent markets. Notable strengths include practitioner-focused insights from founders, CMOs, and policy observers, plus practical takeaways on launches, retail partnerships, and investments. The format balances timely industry updates with deep dives into how companies navigate profitability, category dynamics, and customer experience in a fast-changing environment.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Modern Retail Podcast?

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How many listeners does The Modern Retail Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for four million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Modern Retail Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Modern Retail Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Modern Retail Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Modern Retail Podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to The Modern Retail Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Modern Retail Podcast:

1. The Business of Fashion Podcast
2. The Glossy Podcast
3. The Debrief
4. Operators
5. Shopify Masters

How many episodes of The Modern Retail Podcast are there?

The Modern Retail Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 555 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Modern Retail Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Modern Retail Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Modern Retail Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Modern Retail Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Modern Retail Podcast?

Recent guests on The Modern Retail Podcast include:

1. Karen Booker
2. Andrea Faulkner Williams
3. Katie Marston
4. Helena Bottemiller Evich
5. Patrick McGinnis
6. Joel Contartese
7. Kat Cole
8. Katherine McKee

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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