The Focus Group

Jeff Bezos of Amazon says that failure is an important part of growth and companies should not beat themselves up about it. We agree. An “out of this world” rancher in Pittsburgh, and an astronomical demand for eggs Caught our Eye this week. Amelia Jenks Bloomer is our Business Birthday. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/2n0Z7H1 Tunei...

Discover this one joyful activity, over all others, that transcends age, race, economic status, and gender. Then, China defines marriage with no surprises, and Americans are overwhelming thrift stores with donations. If I read another article about how we’ll all work from home after “The Event,” I might throw up. The office is far from dead, and I think you might agree that working from home can be super challenging and sometimes ...

KFC and Hershey both made news this week with LGBTQ friendly actions in support of diverse workplaces. But first, The Inn at Little Washington has set up mannequins to enforce social distancing, and bike sales are surging in the US. Bob Switzer, the co-inventor and founder of fluorescent paint is our Business Birthday. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iH...

When it comes to electric cars, it is all about battery range, charging, and recycling. Tesla promises this month to address all of these issues, and more, as they reveal a battery that creates electric car pricing parity with that of gasoline powered vehicles. An unemployed massage therapist takes a job at an Amazon warehouse and while the hours are longer and the work harder, he now has health insurance. Finally, don't expect...

A new web site lets you recreate the sounds of the office—in case you were missing it. Twitter announces that working from home will be permanent if you want, and a look at how LGBTQ seniors are navigating the whole shelter in place directive. Luciano Benetton is our Business Birthday and put “Hollywood” and “Dead to Me” on your Netflix list. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spot...

Fiddleheads, a restaurant in Michigan City, Indiana is delivering curbside take-out to customers using drag queens. It has been well received and puts a smile on everyone's face. But first, a postcard is delivered 33 years late and Turkey is forbidding children from drawing rainbows because it is an LBGTQ plot for acceptance. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/2n0Z7H1 Tunein: bit.ly...

Will the business handshake go the way of the dinosaur? While shaking hands is not acceptable right now, the conventional wisdom is it will survive and be back…someday. Soloflex and other home gym equipment is seeing a resurgence, and listener Rob shows his baby Yoda dolls. Microsoft wants you to not hit the space bar twice at the end of a sentence, and Dan Gerber of Gerber Baby Food is our Business Birthday. We're all busines...

Rats in major metro areas are dealing with food shortages based on our new normal, which has forced them to extreme behaviors. A Muslim Cleric in Turkey, with the support of Pres. Erdogan, has popularized an anti-LGBTQ slur of "Go to Holland." Finally, Facebook doubles down on the insanity of what is right and wrong content on its platform. A lesbian wedding announcement was banned because Facebook classified it as a "s...

Companies are questioning their decisions to move away from a traditional office format to the open floor plan. With concern now about social distancing many companies will have to figure out how to configure these open spaces with many shared touch points. Caught My Eye explores poppers, Star Wars Lego heads, and what Tim and John are reading. Karl Drais, a prolific inventor, is our Business Birthday. We're all business. Exce...

Walmart has seen a sales jump for shirts and blouses as people want to give the appearance of being put together on video conferences. While many are in pajama bottoms, shorts, or sweats they are all business on top. Working at home has made people more productive than expected, but fear of burn-out is a real thing as you cannot get away from work while in lockdown. Finally, the Queer as Folk USA cast reunites to help raise money f...

Earth Day is 50 this year. Get out and appreciate Mother Earth. Caught My Eye looks at a must-see movie, A Circus of Books, and the comeback of the Hawaiian shirt. Shop Talk looks at the removal of the Native American icon on the Land O' Lakes butter packaging. Our Business Birthday celebrates Bettie Mae Page, America's Pin-up Queen. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spoti...

Tim and John had a high school history teacher that always said to remember that "the more things change, the more they stay the same." Our stories today certainly fit that advice. From xenophobia in China to LGBTQ discrimination based on religious beliefs. Is this 1980? Finally, a feel-good story that hopefully catches on across the USA. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/2n0Z7...

National and local companies have quickly pivoted their advertising messages to one of hope and assurance that we are all in this together and we will all be better for it. This is unprecedented territory for all of us and while we know things will be different, we cannot predict what that will really mean. Caught My Eye takes a look at plastic-eating enzymes and bait-and-switch sleazy consumer tactics at Instacart. Conrad Hubert, ...

A recent study shows that America's youth is fully engrained in the Apple iPhone culture. The study shows that 88% said their next phone will be an Apple iPhone. Then, many celebrities fail in their attempt to show empathy during this pandemic with rose petal baths and yacht isolation. Finally, Heath Ledger refused to partake in a gay joke at the Academy Awards related to his groundbreaking role in Brokeback Mountain. Ledger sa...

John surprises Tim this week with a birthday greeting from Larry Thomas, aka The Soup Nazi, of Seinfeld fame. Caught My Eye looks at the Finnish practice of drinking in your underpants and 1970's processed food is having a resurgence. Robert L Johnson, founder of BET, and America's first African American Billionaire is our Business Birthday. Finally, Shop Talk lets us know that it's OK to not be productive during the ep...

The FDA has relaxed the blood ban for gay and bi men, but more still needs to change according to civil rights groups. Then, Malaysia reminds women to not nag their husbands, wear make-up, and dress-up during the virus lockdown. A heartwarming story out of England reminds us of what's important. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Radio: bit.ly/2n0Z7H1 Tunein: bit.ly/1SE3NMb Stitcher: bit.ly/1N97Z...

Shop Talk takes a look at brands that have pivoted their messages, products, and services in light of our new reality. Rachel Maddow is our Business Birthday. There is a push to lift the ban on gay and bisexual men being able to donate blood, and cities are reminding residents that your toilet is not a garbage can. We're all business. Except when we're not. Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart...

To combat loneliness and have an extra heartbeat in the room, NYC residents are fostering a record number of pets from shelters in the city. But first, a public school requires bible sermons before sports play and Liberty University in VA defies common sense and reopens to students and faculty because of Pres. Trump will handle things like "a CEO, not a politician." Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B...

The Focus Group soldiers on to bring you new content each week. Tell the other shut-ins, spread the word—not the virus! Sex toy sales explode during global home containment due to the coronavirus and NASA whacks a Mars probe to get it to work. Domino's Pizza Founder, Tom Monaghan, is our Business Birthday. A one-of-a-kind ventriloquist museum is our Shop Talk and on our list of museums to visit. We're all business. Except ...