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The Focus Group

The Focus Group, Tim Bennett, John Nash

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Tim Bennett and John Nash—memorable class clowns in high school, now revolutionary LGBTQ marketing and advertising executives—invite you to share in a friendship that spans 40 plus years. Drawing on their combined corporate and entrepreneurial experience, the conversation ranges from the professional to the personal, and everything in between. Entertaining banter, unique voices, and smart content. We’re all business. Except when we’re not.
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Chocolatier Lindt, admits that its claim as being a premium chocolate were all bogus. Then, book banning in Tennessee finds Dr. Suess under fire for the book “Wacky Wednesday.” Also, credit card debt for retirees takes an alarming turn with more people relying on high interest credit cards to live day to day. Finally, John gets recognized at the gy…
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Shop Talk looks at a LinkedIn post from DEI expert and consultant Dr. Lauren Tucker. She is leaving the fight for justice behind, and we find her rationale has correlation with the fight for LGBTQ acceptance too. Caught My Eye looks at a cache of not seen segments from The Thunderbirds 1960’s TV series. Also, the Boy Scouts are selling off property…
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Some of our favorite brands— Hormel, Levi’s, Hasbro, and Starbucks—are paring down offerings to be more efficient and save money. By offering less options of a product it helps keep prices down for consumers. Then, the North Korean troops deployed to Russia and Ukraine have for the first time in their lives unfettered access to the world wide web. …
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Shop Talk this week features B2B Marketing and Sales expert Kevin Downey. Kevin shares insights about the power and skill of crafting and sending cold emails. But first, Tim and John discuss the election of Donald Trump and the “Era of Uncertainty” we are about to embark on. Donald Hings, the inventor of the Walkie Talkie is our Business Birthday. …
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A Maverik Convenience store is voted the best restroom in America for 2024 according to a Cintas survey. Cleanliness, visual appeal, and design were part of the criteria. But first, a regional Japanese High Court has ruled that the government’s policy against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Finally, a long-time church choir director is fired…
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Shop Talk this week features Dr. Robb Mapou. Robb is a long-time listener and had something to say about the topic of ADHD that we covered a few weeks back. Caught My Eye looks at a Brit that is trying to retrieve a Bitcoin hard drive, worth millions, from a landfill. Also, 1990’s Fitness Guru Susan Powter, wants to make a comeback after losing her…
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Sex, drugs, and flip flops finally catch-up to former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries. He and two others are charged with sex trafficking of young men while they ran the cool clothing brand. Then, an Australian woman is trapped in a crevice for 7 hours upside down, while trying to retrieve her phone. Did she ever get her phone after the rescue? Final…
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Shop Talk this week features Tupperware Maven, Aunt Barbara. She joins us to clear up any rumors about the demise of Tupperware post-bankruptcy. Good news is you can still buy products from Aunt Barbara! And Tupperware lives! Caught My Eye looks at an article that predicts less chocolate this year for Halloween due to a cocoa shortage out of West A…
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More than 800 LGB service members who were discharged under DADT—“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”—will now receive honorable discharges, the Department of Defense announced last week. (Trans individuals were not included as they were banned until recently from military service.) Then, Outfest, the long running Los Angeles LGBTQ film festival, is in financia…
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Shop Talk this week comes from Inc. Magazine. An article, based on a survey of almost 1,000 companies, finds that Gen Z is having some issues breaking into the workforce or staying on the job once hired. Caught My Eye reports on a hacked foul talking Ecovac. Also, a woman in Washington State gets overwhelmed by a gang of raccoons. Marion Donovan, t…
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The Human Rights Campaign is spending $2million in key states to get out the vote for Harris-Walz. Then, a study out of Finland finds that having a rough night’s sleep can affect you for up to a week. Finally, Delta Airlines has sent out a two-page memo to current and future flight attendants that underwear must be worn but not seen. Apple Podcasts…
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Shop Talk this week comes from Inc. Magazine. 80% of CEOs surveyed predict remote work will be dead in three years. Caught My Eye looks at two LA documentarians that are trying to contact the Pasadena Piss Bandit. Also, clean-up could soon begin on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch—after $7.5 billion is raised for the five-year effort. BrianLamb, the…
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A Pennsylvania school district thought it was a good idea to install viewing windows from the hallway into the trans/non-binary bathroom. The reason was supposedly to crack down on drug use, but many saw it as another anti-LGBTQ+ trope. Then, Wallet Hub released their list of the Happiest States in America. Listen to see who made the top ten. Final…
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Shop Talk reveals Fortune Magazine’s list of the world’s most influential LGBTQ+ business leaders. Caught My Eye looks at an original copy of the US Constitution that was found in a file folder in North Carolina. Also, airlines are imposing a zero-tolerance policy with heavy fines for disruptive passengers. Marcus Urann, the Father of Ocean Spray a…
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A lesbian firefighter and paramedic may be awarded over $1 million for the constant bullying she endured while employed at the Kansas City, Missouri Fire Dept. Ageism and her female gender also played a part in the harassment. Then, it appears that the former first lady Melania Trump, won’t speak anywhere during campaign season without getting paid…
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Shop Talk covers the recent response from the HRC to recent anti-DEI pushback. Listener Bill from California sends us a sheet of $2 dollar bills. Caught My Eye looks at golf ball pollution, and the iconic voice of James Earl Jones being recreated using AI. Melville Bissell, inventor of the carpet sweeper, is our Business Birthday. Remember, Septemb…
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President Joe Biden has made history twice in the last month by being the first President to sit for an interview with an LGBTQ publication and appointing more Federal Judges than any other administration in US history. Thank you, Joe! Then, while the introduction of touch screen kiosks was supposed to take jobs away, the exact opposite has happene…
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Shop Talk looks at the possibility that widespread shoplifting over the last few years at places like Target may have been overstated. Also, The Campbells Soup Company proposes a name change. Caught My Eye looks at a full-sized LEGO model of a McLarenP1 supercar that is drivable. Also, a mom dies in Wales while trying to win a marshmallow eating co…
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After 30 years and millions of dollars raised to fight HIV/AIDS, the AIDS Lifecycle 2025 will be the last year of the 500 mile plus ride. While the mission is still important the financials are becoming a challenge. But first, an anti-LGBTQ Christian Pastor, Jeffrey Smith, is arrested for groping a man in public at a North Carolina Walmart. Then, c…
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Shop Talk looks at the habit of DOOM—didn’t organize, only move—piles. Keeping them around may be a sign of depression or ADHD. Caught My Eye looks at the death of a Russian spy whale in Norway named Hvaldimir. Also, an aggrieved couple is spending over $400K to try to get reinstated in Disney’s “exclusive” Club33. Steve Ells, founder and CEO of Ch…
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Florida’s continued crusade to ban any books that can be construed to have adult content has included most of the body of work from famed author Stephen King. King commented that anytime elders do not want you to read something you need to find it—and read it! Then, new data from the recent census shows same sex male and female couples do not favor…
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Shop Talk looks at a Williams Institute study that concludes that LGBTQ people who come out at work face job discrimination as compared to those who stayed in the closet. Caught My Eye covers Quentin Tarantino’s pronouncement that he will not watch Toy Story 4. Also, a young man's ice cream stand is closed in Norwood, Mass., and a Wells Fargo emplo…
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Lowe’s Home Improvement and Ford Motor Company are the latest targets in the far-right anti-DEI crusade. In some ways, it’s been a godsend for brands that were not serious about DEI and are using the threat of boycott as an excuse to move away from diversity initiatives. Social media influencer Art Bezrukavenko creates a gay AI thirst trap, and a c…
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Shop Talk looks at a revived GAP brand thanks to pop star Troye Sivan and new leadership under Richard Dickson. Dickson was credited with modernizing Barbie at Mattel and is updating GAP, Banana Republic, Old Navy, and Athleta. Caught My Eye looks at Mister Softee and an odd product called Trumpy Trout. F. William Free, controversial ad executive i…
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Liquor brand Jack Daniels drops all DEI initiatives based on the threat of a boycott from far-right activist Robby Starbuck, who has been successful with getting Tractor Supply, John Deere, and Harley Davidson to back off DEI programs as reported here in the last few months. Then, VisitFlorida has removed the LGBTQ travel section from their website…
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Shop Talk looks at a recent GLAAD Accelerating Acceptance study that shows LGBTQ acceptance has taken a recent decline. The study believes the proliferation of anti-LGBTQ legislation in local jurisdictions if part of the reason for the decline. But first, Caught My Eye looks at Time Magazines Kids of Year and a pay to attend wedding. Joe Gebbia, co…
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A woman eats a dozen donuts delivered by mistake to her door. Her neighbors asked if she had seen the delivery, so to make amends, she gave them a gift card for dinner. Then an out queer woman found out she was banned for life from flying American Airlines—they claimed she had public sex with a man on a previous flight. The woman took to social med…
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Shop Talk looks at all 50 states for you to decide your top and least favorite. But first, Caught My Eye looks at the French vaulter’s viral pole and a new Gen Z chewing gum trend to define your jawline. Also, an update on the Aldi brownies and other cooking chat. Audrey Geisel, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises, is our Business Birthday. …
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Two contestants that billed themselves as business partners and set designers for plays on the 90’s game show, Supermarket Sweep, just celebrated 41 years together. A fan of the show was watching old reruns and tracked down the business partners and the story has gone viral. Then, the Harris/Walz Campaign is selling a camo style cap much to the cha…
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Shop Talk looks at 17 things that were normal for many of us but would be considered bizarre now. But first, Caught My Eye looks at rawdogging and how explicit language has evolved. Also, what is the armrest etiquette on a plane? GLAAD leadership has come under fire for lavish spending according to the New York Times and Tim and John are not surpri…
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If you are already seeing Halloween merch in retail stores you are not alone. Retailers like Costco and Michaels are pushing the season and already have Halloween items on the shelves for purchase. Not a trend we like. But first, some countries award their Olympic medal winning athletes with hefty cash and gifts. And a new Gallup Poll says nearly 1…
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Shop Talk looks at the eventual deorbiting of the International Space Station by 2030. But first, Caught My Eye looks at a funeral home mix-up and a five-dollar bet that yields over $2 million at The Venetian in Las Vegas. Henry Willson, creator of the beefcake craze of the 50’s and a well-known gay talent agent, is our Business Birthday. We’re all…
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Our favorite Christian victim, Kim Davis, is using her anti-LGBTQ marriage case to try and overturn marriage equality. Davis has the help of the far-right Liberty Counsel and hopes to get a hearing with the Supreme Court. Then, a United Airlines frequent flyer, Tom Stuker who logs about 1 million miles a year is about to hit the 25 million mark in …
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Shop Talk looks at the demise of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs (DEI), at John Deere and Microsoft. But first, Caught My Eye features Stuck at Prom, a scholarship contest for students who created Prom outfits out of Duct Tape from Duck Brand tape. Also, a Subway worker in Wisconsin refuses service to four Republican Convention attendees …
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Instacart looked at the most popular “unique” ice cream flavors that people were ordering by state. While vanilla is still the most popular flavor in the USA, flavors like green tea, orange sherbet, and moose tracks are most popular when it comes to ordering through Instacart. But first, the social hook-up app Grindr, calls the Republican Conventio…
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Shop Talk looks at an article from the HuffPost about a traditional loving family, except their dad was gay. But first, Caught My Eye features a bust on a LEGO reseller in Oregon and the rules of ownership for the Tesla Cybertruck. Nils Bohlin, inventor of the 3-point safety belt, is our Business Birthday. We’re all business. Except when we’re not.…
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Saying she was kicked out of Hollywood and TV for being mean, Ellen DeGeneres has announced her retirement from all things entertainment. Her farewell is a Netflix special entitled “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up.” Then, the residents of the city of Barcelona are fed up with tourists and want them to leave. Aside from the crowds, the yearly swell has made t…
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Shop Talk looks at a new documentary that features gay comedians who showed the way even though they were not out. But first, Caught My Eye features a Disney World visitor that uses an old $8 day ticket to enter the park. Also, in more of a Public Service Announcement, penis cancer is on the rise. Harvey Ball, creator of the Smiley Face graphic, is…
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The world finally knows what many gay men have for years—there is such a thing as “gay water.” Cheers. But first, Delta Airlines has resorted to only serving pasta meals inflight until it can figure out how so many got sick on a Detroit to Amsterdam flight recently from spoiled food. Also, you may soon hear your favorite deceased celebrity voice an…
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Shop Talk welcomes Mark Pipkin to discuss the $2 bill. Mark is retired from the Federal Reserve and answers questions about the $2 and other currency facts. But first, Caught My Eye looks at a recent study that says almost half of US EV owner’s will go back to gas powered autos for their next vehicle. Lack of charging infrastructure and battery ran…
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The famous Judy Garland song from “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “The Trolley Song,” has found new life 80 years later as an unlikely PRIDE anthem. But first, Tractor Supply Co. bowed to pressure from the right and will stop all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, (DEI), saying they “disappointed their consumers and have taken feedback to heart.” Co…
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Shop Talk looks at corporations that tout their inclusive LGBTQ efforts and perfect HRC score yet have given thousands of dollars to ant-LGBTQ politicians. But first, Caught My Eye reveals the struggle to save the SS United States and Trader Joes has another non-food product hit. William Lear, of Learjet, is our Business Birthday. Lear was granted …
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People on their deathbed share their single most-common regret: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” That’s according to Bronnie Ware, author of the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.” But first, Amazon works to eliminate the plastic pillow material for shipments and America has their…
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Shop Talk looks at three simple changes that IKEA enacted to help with employee retention. But first, Caught My Eye asks if you would cancel a family gathering based on a set of circumstances. Also, Heinz and KitKat hop on a viral trend with their KitKat’Chup candy bar. It’s not real, but it did the job on social media for garnering engagement. Shi…
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Back in the 80’s a new employee with P&G listed his then girlfriend as a beneficiary on his retirement account. After only two years together, they both moved on, but he never updated his beneficiary for the account and as a result, she has been awarded over a million dollars. Then, Wells Fargo has terminated several employees for using devices to …
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Shop Talk visits with Jennifer Bobbi, aka Aunt Barbara, and David Beck, who jointly wrote and directed a new film to be released this month called Regarding Us. You can view the trailer and get tickets to a screening near you on their website, https://www.regardingus.com. But first, Caught My Eye highlights a Charleston, WV bakery called the Rock C…
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Now that we are a few years out of the pandemic, consumers seem to be less generous with tipping. Then, a couple in Queens finds a safe with $100k in it while magnet fishing. Finally, Out Leadership has released their 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index. The index measures the impact of state government policies and prevalent attitudes on the …
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Shop Talk explores some recently uncovered tapes of Orson Welles being interviewed by author Peter Biskind. Welles goes off on his disdain for many of the Hollywood elite. But first, Caught My Eye alerts us to trash balloons being sent to South Korea by the North, which called them “sincere presents.” To date over 15 tons of trash, including used t…
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A lifeguard at the popular gay leaning ‘Ginger Rogers Beach’ in Los Angeles is upset that the rainbow flag will be displayed and is pressing legal action. The Boy Scouts have changed their name to Scouting America, allowing boys and girls to join. (The Girl Scouts aren’t too happy about it.) Finally, a billionaire, Robert Hale Jr. spoke at a UMass …
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Shop Talk looks at a 39-year-old millionaire who says she will never give-up these 7 frugal ways of living. But first, Caught My Eye looks at a food model artist from Scotland and Australia’s wealthiest woman who hates her National Gallery portrait and wants it removed. John shares his journey with Topps Star Wars cards that could be worth thousand…
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