Remarkable Retail Podcast
by Michael LeBlanc, Steve Dennis
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Est. Listeners
Based on iTunes & Spotify (publisher stats).
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
25,001 - 50,000 - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
75,001 - 150,000 - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
15,001 - 40,000
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
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Total Plays
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Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
Episode 300: Pete Nordstrom on Culture, Customer Obsession, and Playing the Long Game
May 5, 2026
Unknown duration
Shut Up and Play the Hits, Walmart's Big Store Bet, DTC Nuance, and CEO Turnover
Apr 28, 2026
Unknown duration
The Retail Rumble (Part 2) with Ken Pilot, Steve Dennis, Lauren Livak Gilbert & Sarah Engel
Apr 21, 2026
Unknown duration
Live from Shoptalk: Retail Rumble (Part 1) with Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, Kiri Masters & Anne Mezzenga
Apr 14, 2026
Unknown duration
Stitch Fix CEO Matt Baer, Nike's Identify Crisis, Grocery's Looming Collapse of the Middle, and Pets.Com: The Sequel
Apr 7, 2026
Unknown duration
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/5/26 |  Episode 300: Pete Nordstrom on Culture, Customer Obsession, and Playing the Long Game | In this milestone 300th episode, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc sit down with Pete Nordstrom for a wide-ranging conversation on 125 years of retail excellence, omnichannel leadership, and what it takes to stay relevant. Plus: inflation, energy prices, consumer confidence, and standout earnings from Amazon, Starbucks, and Wayfair | — | ||||||
| 4/28/26 |  Shut Up and Play the Hits, Walmart's Big Store Bet, DTC Nuance, and CEO Turnover | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack why too many retailers keep playing the hits long after the hits stop working — from Bed Bath & Beyond's coupon addiction to Nike's DTC miscalculation. Plus: conflicting retail sales data, Walmart's big store bet, leadership shakeups at Lululemon and Best Buy, and the coming fight over AI-powered surveillance pricing. | — | ||||||
| 4/21/26 |  The Retail Rumble (Part 2) with Ken Pilot, Steve Dennis, Lauren Livak Gilbert & Sarah Engel | Luxury earnings disappoint as LVMH, Kering, and Hermès report slowing growth — with Middle East sales down 30–50%. March retail sales surprise to the upside. Amazon surpasses Kroger as America's #2 grocer. Allbirds weirdly reinvents itself as an AI compute company. Starbucks doubles down on "couchification." Plus: live from ShopTalk Las Vegas, Retail Rumble Part 2 — department store survival debated, and is AI a job threat or opportunity. | — | ||||||
| 4/14/26 |  Live from Shoptalk: Retail Rumble (Part 1) with Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, Kiri Masters & Anne Mezzenga | Recorded live at Las Vegas, Part 1 of the inaugural Retail Rumble features Rumblers Neil Saunders, R.J. Hottovy, Rachel Tipograph, and Kiri Masters debating the future of eCommerce growth and retail media's impact on customer experience, plus Michael and Anne Mezzenga serve as referees. In the news segment we break down Levi's strong DTC performance, Saks Global's restructuring, Wayfair's brick-and-mortar push, softening mall traffic, early inflation signals, and Tecovas' masterclass in sponsorship and content-driven momentum. | — | ||||||
| 4/7/26 |  Stitch Fix CEO Matt Baer, Nike's Identify Crisis, Grocery's Looming Collapse of the Middle, and Pets.Com: The Sequel | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack a turbulent retail week—from Allbirds' collapse and Bed Bath & Beyond's unlikely comeback to Nike's struggles and intensifying grocery wars. Then they're joined live from Shoptalk by Matt Baer, CEO of Stitch Fix, who reveals how AI and human stylists combine to deliver true personalization and drive a remarkable turnaround. | — | ||||||
| 3/31/26 |  Is AI Retail's New Front Door? with Bret Taylor (OpenAI Board Chair & Sierra CEO) and Guest Co-Host Neil Saunders | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc are joined by guest co-host Neil Saunders, Managing Director , GlobalData, to unpack the passing of David Simon, Saks’ strategy shift, NRF’s “toppy” 2026 forecast, and the escalating delivery wars. Then, live from the ShopTalk 2026 stage, Steve chats with Bret Taylor, OpenAI Board Chair and Co-Founder & CEO of Sierra, as he explains how AI agents are transforming retail into a conversational, always-on customer experience. | — | ||||||
| 3/24/26 |  Lane Crawford's CEO Jennifer Woo on Building a Different Kind of Department Store; Plus Lululemon Struggles, Macy's Stalls, and Five Below Shines | This week on the podcast, Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc unpack the retail news shaping the week—from the inflationary effects of the Iran war, trouble in luxury retail, and NRF’s upbeat retail forecast, plus fresh earnings from Macy’s, Lululemon and Five Below. They’re then joined by Jennifer Woo, Chairman and CEO of Lane Crawford, one of Asia's leading retailers, for a fascinating conversation on reinventing the department store through human-centered service, curated merchandising, and a relationship-first luxury retail model. | — | ||||||
| 3/17/26 |  "Good Bookstores Selling Good Books" Our Interview with Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt | This week on the Remarkable Retail podcast, Michael LeBlanc and Steve Dennis break down the retail news shaping the global economy—from the Iran war’s impact on oil, freight and food prices to Kohl’s disappointing earnings, Dick’s Sporting Goods continued growth, and another wave of store closings at Saks Global. Then they welcome James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, who explains how empowering local booksellers, transforming store culture and investing in people helped fuel an unexpected bookstore renaissance. | — | ||||||
| 3/10/26 |  Iran War Shockwaves and Target’s Strategy Reset, with Guest Co-Host Kevin Ertell and Our Interview with EY's Malin Andrée & Jon Copestake | Retail volatility dominates this episode as guest co-host Kevin Ertell joins to discussion the retail impact of the Iran war and a mixed round of earnings from Target, Gap & Costco. Then live from the Narvar remote podcast studio at the NRF Big Show an interview with EY leaders Malin Andrée and Jon Copestake. They explore insights from EY’s Future Consumer Index, including luxury consumer trends, resale growth, AI-driven retail transformation and the evolving role of human-centered retail. | — | ||||||
| 3/3/26 |  What We Still Get Wrong About Modern Retail, Plus Get Ready to Rumble, Warby Wows, and Is Flat the New Up? | The hosts get ready to rumble at Shoptalk, while the latest retail earnings show strong results from TJX and Warby Parker, as Home Depot and Lowe's continue to tread water. Tariff turmoil is expanding, NVIDIA's growth is explosive, and Saks Global makes some progress through bankruptcy. In an extended segment Steve Dennis unpacks what leaders still get wrong about modern retail, connecting it to his 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail framework, and prescribing what retailers need to do accelerate progress/ | — | ||||||
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| 2/24/26 |  Dan Frommer on the New Consumer, Plus Tariff Shockwaves, Wayfair Wobbles, and Walmart's Digital Acceleration | Iconic tech journalist and founder of The New Consumer Dan Frommer joins the podcast to dissect key shopper trends, including GLP-1 spending surges, creator-driven commerce, and Gen Z’s AI skepticism. The hosts kick things off with news on Supreme Court tariff upheaval, Walmart earnings and Wayfair's continuing woes. Aritzia’s Fred Segal leap and QVC’s uncertain future are also highlighted. | — | ||||||
| 2/17/26 |  Driving Good Retail Returns with JD Sports' Henry Spear and Narvar's David Morin, Plus Saks Consolidates and Target Resets | Live from the Narvar Podcast Studio at the NRF Big Show, Henry Spear, SVP Digital North America, JD Sports, and David Morin, VP Customer Strategy, Narvar, unpack why post-purchase is now a competitive advantage. Plus: Saks Global store closures, luxury bifurcation, Costco’s continued dominance, Kroger’s new CEO, Target’s leadership reset, the folly of month-over-month retail reporting, and building U.S. and Canada bridges. | — | ||||||
| 2/10/26 |  Different Not Dead: Creating Irreplaceable Stores with Jack Stratten & Kevin Ervin Kelley, Plus Amazon Earnings, Walmart's Trillion $ Moment, and Luxury Bifurcation. | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc break down Walmart’s $1 trillion market cap milestone, Amazon’s AI-driven capital surge, luxury’s bifurcated earnings, and accelerating grocery e-commerce penetration. Then, live from NRF’s Narvar podcast studio, Jack Stratten (Director, Insider Trends) and Kevin Ervin Kelley (Principal & Co-Founder, Shook Kelley) explore why modern stores must prioritize community, clarity, and emotional connection over frictionless efficiency—arguing that retail’s future belongs to focused brands delivering meaningful, restorative experiences. | — | ||||||
| 2/3/26 |  Amazon's and Saks' Retail Reset, Plus Live from the Big Show: NRF Top Voices Billy May and David J. Katz | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open with a fast-paced news round on Amazon shutting its Fresh stores, big layoffs across retail, Saks Global’s bankruptcy fallout, weak luxury signals from LVMH, and Starbucks’ fragile comeback. They then welcome fellow NRF Top Voices Billy May, Brooklinen CEO and David J Katz, Randa Apparel's EVP and CMO, for a wide-ranging conversation on value, pricing strategy, consumer trust, AI, leadership, and disruption recorded live together in the Narvar podcasting studio at the NRF Big Show. The episode closes with remarkable stories on the expanding AI bubble and TikTok’s shifting and dubious commerce model. | — | ||||||
| 1/27/26 |  2026 Provocative Predictions for Retail's Future | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc open with the retail news of the week: the latest twist in the U.S. TikTok deal, fresh tariff/geopolitical volatility, Amazon noting tariff-driven price creep, and Gap’s new Chief Entertainment Officer role. Steve then delivers his 2026 retail predictions, from the “Great Concentration” and agentic AI to faster delivery, uneven luxury, resale momentum, wellness, and a bold Sephora–Kohl’s call. They close with Lululemon’s sheer-product debacle, congrats to prior guest on the podcast Walmart's Chris Nicholas, and bond-market jitters “around the corner.” | — | ||||||
| 1/20/26 |  AI Gets Pragmatic, Saks Hits the Wall, and Away CEO Jessica Schinazi Talks DTC Reinvention | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc deliver a sharp breakdown of the retail news that matters including AI’s move from experimentation to pragmatic execution, the unraveling of Saks Global, and the growing retail implications of GLP-1 drugs. They are then joined by Jessica Schinazi, CEO of Away, for an in-person conversation at the Narvar remote podcasting studio on the NRF Big Show trade show floor on evolving a DTC icon into an powerful omnichannel brand. | — | ||||||
| 1/13/26 |  “The Analysts”: Simeon Siegel and Sucharita Kodali’s 2026 Retail Playbook | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off 2026 by unpacking the latest retail headlines—from holiday sales and slowing job growth to looming bankruptcies and tariff decision uncertainty—before welcoming back guest Simeon Siegel of Guggenheim Partners and Sucharita Kodali of Forrester for another edition of The Analysts. The conversation cuts through macro noise to focus on execution, market share shifts, e-commerce maturity, AI realism, along with key perspectives on Saks looming bankruptcy and the state of turnarounds at Nike, Gap, and Target. | — | ||||||
| 1/6/26 |  We're Back with the No-BS Perspectives You Need: Get Ready for a Brand New Season of the Remarkable Retail Podcast | Get ready for an all new season of The Remarkable Retail podcast! With AI reshaping just about everything, when making sense of competing narratives has never been more challenging, and when so many brands face an existential choice between becoming remarkable or risking irrelevance, Steve Dennis & Michael LeBlanc are here to give you the no-BS perspectives you need to aim higher, move faster, and take the bold actions you must. | — | ||||||
| 12/19/25 |  From Department Stores to GLP-1s and Back Again: Annual Retail Predictions Reckoning (Part 2) | This bonus episode of The Remarkable Retail Podcast closes Season 11 with a discussion on Amazon’s grocery strategy and early impressions of the new Dallas Netflix House, before turning to a review of the second half of Steve Dennis’s 2025 retail predictions. The conversation assesses department store performance, Target’s leadership changes, store closures versus openings, muted dealmaking, and the real impact of GLP-1 drugs. | — | ||||||
| 12/16/25 |  From TikTok to Tariffs and Back Again: Annual Retail Predictions Reckoning (Part 1) | This episode breaks down the week’s key retail and economic developments—including interest rate uncertainty, mixed earnings results, tariff pressure, and leadership changes at Lululemon—before moving into Part 1 of a perennial favorite episode: Steve’s annual review of his retail predictions. The conversation connects current headlines to bigger retail forces, from the continued dominance of super-scale retailers to evolving technology, returns challenges, and shifting consumer behavior. | — | ||||||
| 12/9/25 |  The Stampede to Value, Macy's Turnaround Traction, and Moody's Chief Economist Mark Zandi on the K-Shaped Economy | Mark Zandi, Moody's Chief Economist joins us to decode the widening K-shaped economy, the surprising fingerprints of AI on youth unemployment, and the mounting risks of tariffs on prices and growth. We balance his macro insights with our take on early holiday results, the stampede to value and its implications, and the latest on Macy’s turnaround efforts. We wrap with our stories we found remarkable and key things on our radar screens including Netfix's foray into experiential retail. | — | ||||||
| 12/2/25 |  Jason Buechel, Whole Foods CEO/Worldwide Head, Amazon Grocery, Plus Kohl's CEO Shake-up, eCommerce's Rewiring, and Sears' Last Christmas | Jason Buechel, CEO, Whole Foods Market and Vice President of Amazon Worldwide Grocery Stores joins the pod to outline Amazon’s bold grocery ambitions. In the news segment, hosts Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc kick off this episode analyze early holiday results, the explosive rise of agentic AI, and a new CEO appointment at Kohl’s amid continued poor results. They also dig into the rewiring of e-commerce and Google's new Gemini release. | — | ||||||
| 11/25/25 |  Retail's Flight to Value, Target Stumbles, Plus Sephora NA's President & CEO Artemis Patrick (E) | Steve and Michael kick off the episode with a dynamic review of a blockbuster week in retail—Walmart’s continued dominance, Target’s seemingly endless struggles, the flight to value in apparel, and rate-locked consumers impacting home-improvement demand. They then revisit an encore interview with Artemis Patrick, President & CEO of Sephora North America, whose personal story, leadership approach, and insight into Sephora’s innovation, commitment to diversity, and new store investments provide great insight and inspiration. | — | ||||||
| 11/18/25 |  Retail Sales Defy Gravity, A Big Change at Walmart, and Daydream CEO Julie Bornstein on the Next Wave in AI Shopping | The hosts break down a big week in retail: the U.S. government shutdown finally ends, shoppers keep spending despite uncertainty and headwinds, AI-powered shopping conversion jumps 16%, and Doug McMillon shocks the industry with his Walmart exit. In the interview segment Julie Bornstein, Founder & CEO of Daydream, whose AI-driven fashion search platform partners with 10,000+ brands and has raised $50MM, discuses the agentic commerce opportunity. Julie shares her journey and why taste-based AI is retail’s next frontier. | — | ||||||
| 11/11/25 |  Wobbly Unicorns, Luxury Bifurcation, and Tecovas' CEO David Lafitte on Growing Through 'Radical Hospitality.' | Steve Dennis and Michael LeBlanc sit down with David Lafitte, President & CEO of Tecovas, to explore how the Austin-based western lifestyle brand is redefining retail through craftsmanship, authenticity, and what Lafitte calls radical hospitality. From the brand’s digital-native roots to its expansion into Soho and beyond, Lafitte shares lessons on scaling thoughtfully, empowering teams, and maintaining focus. The hosts also unpack major retail news—from wobbly unicorns to luxury bifurcation to Amazon’s automation powered future. | — | ||||||
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Chart Positions
9 placements across 9 markets.
Chart Positions
9 placements across 9 markets.