The Modern Retail Podcast
1) MM. LaFleur's Sarah LaFleur: To grow, you have to diversify away from Facebook
As DTC brands grow up, they begin to look a lot like traditional brands. The challenge then, is differentiation. The solution: better data management. MM. LaFleur, the “bento box” pioneer of women’s w...Show More
2) Cautious optimism at NRF around AI and shopper sentiment in 2026
This week, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels are joined by senior reporter Julia Waldow to dive into takeaways from the National Retail Federation's 2026 conference; it's the retail industr...Show More
3) What is in and out for wellness in 2026
Kicking off the new year, the Modern Retail Podcast is delving into all things wellness. This week, senior reporter Gabi Barkho is joined by Rachel Hirsch, founder and managing partner of Wellness Gr...Show More
4) The Modern Retail Podcast's 2026 predictions
On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, the editorial team dives into what’s to come in 2026. Senior reporters Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels are joined by executive editor Anna Hensel for a roundt...Show More
5) A look back at 2025, from tariffs to Target to Labubus
On this week's Modern Retail Podcast, hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels are joined by reporter Mitchell Parton to discuss the themes and trends that dominated retail in 2025. The year certainl...Show More
6) PepsiCo thins portfolio and bets on better-for-you products
This week's episode of the Modern Retail Podcast kicks off with a discussion between co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels about PepsiCo's announcement that it will be trimming its portfolio an...Show More
7) How startups get on the shelves of Whole Foods
On this week’s Modern Retail Podcast, senior reporters Melissa Daniels and Gabriela Barkho kick things off with a look at the record-setting use of buy now, pay later payments over Black Friday weeken...Show More
8) The trends that will dominate Black Friday and Cyber Monday, from AI search to experiential pop-ups
Cyber Week is here and the Modern Retail Podcast is breaking down the biggest shopping and trends to watch during this all-important shopping period. This week, Modern Retail senior reporter Gabriela...Show More
9) How Gen Z builds brands, with CharCharms' Charlotte Trecartin
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Melissa Daniels dive into all the brand moments Barkho saw on a recent trip to BravoCon in Las Vegas. The event had a record number...Show More
10) How ButcherBox uses a loyalty program to drive more meat sales
This week on the Modern Retail Podcast, co-hosts Gabriela Barkho and Julia Waldow kicked things off by discussing Amazon’s plan for a new Whole Foods store concept. The new layout, currently being tes...Show More