Warren Kornblum, CEO of Shadow Branding and former Global CMO of Toys “R” Us, says brands win lasting loyalty by earning a share of the heart: an emotional connection built on clear purpose, consistent delivery, and human empathy rather than one-off transactions. In this Expert Insight Interview, he shares lessons from reinvigorating the Toys “R” Us brand between 1999 and 2006, and from his new book, Notes from the Brand Stand.

This episode answers:

• Why do some brands stay loved for decades while trendy brands vanish in months?
• What is share of heart, and how does it go beyond share of mind and share of wallet?
• How did Toys “R” Us rebuild loyalty with its classic jingle, Jeffrey the Giraffe, and the Times Square store?
• How does the witness test reveal whether employees truly live a company’s purpose?
• How can small businesses win loyalty through listening and word of mouth?
• Where should AI stop and human empathy take over in customer service?

Visit https://shareofheart.com/ to learn more about Warren Kornblum’s Share of Heart approach and his book, Notes from the Brand Stand.

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Christopher C. Papin, attorney, CPA, and insurance producer at Papin CPA and Papin Law in Edmond, Oklahoma, joins John Golden to show how anchoring proposals to a client’s stated goals turns price objections into long-term value and ROI decisions. The episode also covers owner mindset, the accounting foundation behind good advice, and where AI helps or hurts professional judgment.

This episode answers:

• What does it mean to behave like a business owner instead of an employee of your own company?
• Why do clients who ask for proactive advice still balk at the price of it?
• How do you move a price conversation to long-term value and measurable ROI?
• Why is accounting the foundation every sound business decision revolves around?
• How can businesses uncover hidden value in existing client relationships?
• How will AI reshape professional services, and where do credentialed humans still win?

Ready to put a value-first strategy behind your business? Book a free consultation with Christopher C. Papin at https://www.papincpa.com/

Visit us on Apple Podcasts. You can also find SalesPOP! on all major podcast stations.

The Apple Store Retail Playbook with Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson, creator of the Apple Store and author of Shop Different: How Retail Revealed Apple’s Genius, says winning retail treats stores as experiences, not transactions — because “good things happen when people come to stores.” Twenty-five years after opening the first Apple Store, Johnson explains how empowered people, radical simplicity, and one globally consistent experience grew average store revenue from $10 million to $50 million. This episode traces the strategy from Steve Jobs’ weekly design sessions to the future of physical retail.

This episode answers:

• Why did Apple open its own retail stores in 2000?
• What makes great customer service impossible to automate?
• How did Steve Jobs shape the Apple Store’s design and simplicity?
• How did Apple scale one consistent store experience worldwide?
• What leadership lessons turn retail employees into decision-makers?
• Is physical retail dying — or thriving in the omnichannel era?

Ready to shop different? Visit ronjohnsonshopsdifferent.com to learn more about Ron Johnson and pre-order Shop Different, out September 22.

Visit us on Apple Podcast. You can also find SalesPOP! on all major podcast stations.

Uncommon Leadership with Keith Wyche

Keith Wyche, leadership consultant, Brink’s board member, and author of Uncommon Leadership, says leaders rebuild trust one promise at a time — by listening first, keeping their word consistently, and choosing people over power. In this episode, he draws on 30+ years at Walmart, IBM, Pitney Bowes, AT&T, and SuperValu to show how trust becomes a competitive advantage.

This episode answers:

• Why is trust in leadership declining across government, business, and media?
• How do leaders rebuild trust with employees and customers?
• What should a leader do in the first 60 days of a turnaround?
• How does honesty with clients turn a salesperson into a trusted consultant?
• Why is listening a leadership advantage, and which two questions unlock it?
• What does servant leadership actually mean in practice?

Visit https://keithwyche.com/ to learn more about Keith Wyche’s books, speaking, and leadership consulting.

Visit us on Apple Podcasts. You can also find SalesPOP! on all major podcast stations.

Edward M. Brady, CFA, a realtor at eXp Realty and author of Awaken Your Financial Star, argues that financial insecurity among high earners stems from lifestyle creep and inflation, not low income, and that anyone can build lasting wealth using four simple principles: Savings, Time, Assets, and Returns. Drawing on 25 years as an SEC examiner, Brady demystifies investing and shows why paying attention matters more than mastering math.

In this episode, Edward M. Brady covers:

• Why do high earners still feel financially stressed even on a good salary?
• What is the STAR framework, and how does it simplify wealth building?
• How can you start investing when you feel like you have no money?
• Is wanting to be wealthy a bad thing, or is money just a tool?
• How do you get a solid financial education without reading 300 books?
• What did the Madoff fraud teach Brady about custody and protecting your money?

Ready to declare your own financial independence? Explore Edward M. Brady’s work and book a consultation at https://edwardbrady.exprealty.com/.

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Fred Marshall, founder and CEO of Quantum Learning and author of Thrive: The Antidote to Future Shock, explains that thriving in the age of AI means moving from overwhelm to agency — directing your limited attention toward priorities that change your future, containing obligations, and cutting noise. In this Sales POP! episode, Marshall turns AI anxiety into a practical playbook.

Marshall and host John Golden dig into why organizations still under-use AI, how to avoid “AI slop,” and why the people most worried about AI — seasoned professionals with hard-won judgment — are often its best power users.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How do you move from AI overwhelm to agency?
• Where should you focus your attention when everything feels urgent?
• What’s the difference between priorities, obligations, and noise?
• How can AI accelerate your priorities rather than add busywork?
• Why does slowing down help you accomplish more?
• What is an investment mindset, and how does it compound?

Ready to future-proof your life and work? Explore Fred Marshall’s book and resources at https://thrivefutureyou.com/

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John Fees, Co-founder & Managing Partner of GradGuard, argues that AI won’t replace great salespeople — because AI is brilliant at answers but can’t ask the human question that leads to a sale. In this episode, Fees shares the “three A’s” framework his team uses to stay credible and effective in an AI-flooded market. He and host John Golden explore how AI is reshaping sales, work, and higher education — and which human skills become more valuable, not less.

In this episode, John Fees answers:

• Will AI replace salespeople, and what makes a seller irreplaceable?
• What are the “three A’s” of using AI — Ask, Authentic, and Authority?
• How do AI-prepared buyers change the way you sell?
• Is a college degree still worth the cost in 2026?
• What skills should students build to thrive alongside AI?
• How will AI reshape the future of work and the social contract?

Discover how GradGuard protects half a million students and families — and why Fees says you shouldn’t go to college without it — at https://gradguard.com/.

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Tayo Lusi, Founder of The One Percent University, teaches IT professionals how to scale their income to $500,000 a year in cloud engineering. In this episode, he reveals the single mindset shift that took him from a $55K help desk job — and $10-an-hour Uber Eats shifts — to a premium tech career built on solving real business problems. Tayo breaks down how to recognize an income ceiling, brand yourself so recruiters compete for you, and negotiate the salary your skills actually command. It’s a practical roadmap for any technical professional who wants to work smarter, not harder.

In this episode, Tayo answers:

• How do you go from a help desk job to a $500K cloud engineering career?
• How do you know if you’ve hit an artificial income ceiling?
• Why don’t certifications and degrees guarantee a high salary?
• How can IT professionals brand themselves so that recruiters reach out to them first?
• How do you negotiate a higher tech salary with confidence?
• Why is 95% of career success really about mindset?

Ready to raise your baseline? Learn more about Tayo Lusi and The One Percent University at https://apexedu.io/.

Note to team: Attach full transcript to episode page.

Visit us on Apple Podcast. You can also find SalesPOP! on all major podcast stations.