The Clopen Effect

Many choose Retail as a fast-paced, people-driven career for the energy, flexibility, and growth opportunities (sort of). It’s not always easy, but it builds strong skills, opens doors, and can even lead to big money at the top. We’ve also got some hilarious retail-themed movie quotes and titles to share because if you’ve worked retail, you know it’s basically a comedy show!

🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace:

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Ever wonder how credit cards went from old-school charge plates (cha-ching!) to the tap-to-pay magic we use today? In this episode, we take a fun look at the history of credit cards, their quirks, and how they’ve been hilariously portrayed in cartoons. From the first Diners Club card to Marge Simpson maxing out her limit, we cover the good, the bad, and the overdrawn. No finance degree is required...

Let’s be honest: We’ve all been on some questionable virtual calls. From camera etiquette to knowing when (and when not) to unmute, we’re breaking down the dos and don’ts that make meetings smoother, more productive, and way less awkward. Whether you’re guilty of talking on mute, multitasking a little too hard, or enduring never-ending silences, this one’s for you!

Listen in, take notes (or don’t, we won’t k...

In this episode, we explore the history of cheese, including how it's been around for 7,000 years and how the largest cheese wheel ever made weighed 57,000 pounds! We also touched on fun cheese facts like the cheese cave in Missouri and the (gross) world of maggot cheese.

Plus, we celebrated 10 and 25-year wedding anniversaries!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Suppor...

Here's a quick recap of the history of chocolate. And correct, Meredith never knows how to pronounce anything. It's all good:

Ancient Origins

Chocolate’s history dates back over 3,000 years to Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico and Central America). The Olmecs (1500-400 BCE) were likely the first to cultivate cacao and use it for ceremonial drinks. Later, the Mayans and Aztecs adopted cacao, turning it into a bitter, s...

The five stages of grief... we mean, a retail work day. Also, pork shoulder butts, bad drivers and winter weather.

Building Resilience at Work - the certified course!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

All material, unless otherwise...

Let's talk third shift! We’re talking about the realities of overnight work with Hannah - she knows the ins and outs of the night shift grind. Download this episode for insights, a fun chat, and a quiz about living the late-night schedule!

#ThirdShift #NightShiftLife #AClopenEffect #podcast

Building Resilience in the workplace - new course from Meredith! Use code YOUR30DAYJOURNEY to save money!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/...

This week's episode is so fun! Here's a recap:

Funny Billboards – We've seen some of the wildest and cheesiest billboards, including lawyer ads and the infamous Brian Urlacher hair restoration billboards.

Hulk Hogan & Bret Michaels’ Bandana Hair Mystery – Why these guys love their headwear and how Bret Michaels keeps his rockstar look intact.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn – We had a mini rock nostalgia moment talking abo...

Cassandra's sister is here! "Win for Life" and what we dream of having forever, like free coffee, concert tickets, or no more bills. We also laugh about funny TikToks, with Meredith admitting she'll miss the jewelry reveal videos that brought her so much entertainment. Along the way, we poke fun at ourselves for aging into phrases like “reels” and “books on tape.” Jenn reads off great responses from our followers about what they’d ...

This is, without a doubt, the FUNNIEST episode we’ve ever recorded! Meredith got a Roomba for Christmas and finally settled on the perfect name: Obi-Wan Cleanobi. But that’s not all - download the episode to hear the hilarious list of other name options. From clever puns to pop culture gold to Star Wars-themed, this episode will have you laughing out loud!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Su...

Meredith quizzes Cassandra on streaming services' taglines, and we uncover a couple of modern trends that people may regret in the next decade.

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

All material, unless otherwise stated, written and p...

Surviving retail during the holidays can feel like navigating a battlefield of long lines, stressed-out customers, and the relentless demand for cheer. And a cheesy list of funny retail sayings to bring 'humor' to the holiday madness.

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_c...

"Captain Obvious" moments are when someone points out the glaringly obvious, hilariously unnecessary, or overly stated facts of a situation. They’re funny because they take something so basic and spell it out, making everyone stop and think, “Well, duh!” In this episode, we chat about painfully clear observations, including Meredith’s classic moment when she told a pricing team member just how busy the baking aisle was — because it...

The besties are here! We talk about the history of Santa and take a quiz.

The Origins

1. Santa's story starts with St. Nicholas, a 4th-century Christian bishop from Myra (modern-day Turkey). Known for his generosity to children and the poor, St. Nicholas inspired legends that were passed down through generations.

From St. Nicholas to Sinterklaas to Santa

1. The Dutch brought their version of St. Nicholas, Sinterkl...

Jen from Jenuine Coffee joined Meredith and Cassandra for this episode, adding her unique perspective to this funny discussion!

In this episode of Chewing the Fat, we take listeners on a journey into the origins of (mostly) food-related phrases, exploring their history, meanings, and cultural significance. The episode is filled with fascinating tidbits and plenty of laughs as the trio brews up lively discussions over a vir...

It's DEER week! One of our husbands hit a deer last week, and a couple of our friends have too! We talk deer statistics, top road kill, and driving stories.

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

All material, unless otherwise stated, ...

Get ready for some pie talk! Top selling pies, what we think about everyone’s choice in pies, and Cass has a fantastic conversation with a customer!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814

All material, unless otherwise stated, written ...

Why is it dark out already? We are already listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies on Hallmark. Also, from A&W to McDonald's, we explore the oldest franchises, clever branding, and secrets to staying relevant for generations.

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's cool: https://www.za...

It's meat reset time! Also - the most popular sandwiches and balancing fun and professionalism are important when choosing a costume for a work event. We talk about some costumes that might be considered inappropriate and some that might be perfect.

Happy Halloween!

All the Clopen links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect

Support us here to keep us recording: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/support

Buy merch here because it's coo...