What do rate cuts, tariffs, and the rise of agentic AI mean for the future of wholesale distribution?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton dissect the week’s biggest economic shifts, from the Federal Reserve’s policy moves to AI’s rapid integration across manufacturing, logistics, and B2B commerce. Learn how forward-thinking distributors are preparing for 2026, where automation meets leadership and contextual intelligence defines competitive advantage.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI literacy and contextual intelligence are essential leadership skills in 2025
• How tariffs, prediction markets, and Fed rate cuts are shaping industrial investment
• The emerging impact of agentic commerce on B2B buying behavior
• The business risks of ungoverned generative AI in enterprise settings
• How distributors can balance data automation with human trust in decision-making

Episode Highlights:

• 04:18 – How the U.S. government shutdown is influencing the Fed’s economic playbook
• 18:32 – What the latest rate cuts reveal about manufacturing, inflation, and capital investment
• 33:27 – Tariffs, Supreme Court delays, and the uncertain trade horizon for distributors
• 51:08 – The “AI slop” problem: when generative tools create risk instead of efficiency
• 01:04:22 – Amazon and PayPal move toward agentic commerce, what B2B can learn
• 01:14:10 – The rise of humanoid robotics and physical AI in supply chain operations
• 01:26:55 – Why courage and clarity will define the next generation of distribution leaders

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are the co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, an AI-enabled CRM and customer intelligence platform for distributors and manufacturers. With decades of combined experience in digital transformation, leadership strategy, and industrial data systems, they help B2B leaders thrive in the age of AI-driven distribution.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence for distribution
• Agentic Commerce – The next evolution of AI-driven transactional systems
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI with business intent
• Industrial Supply Association (ISA) – Leadership development and AI fluency initiatives
• Section 232 & 301 Tariff Mechanisms – Understanding how U.S. trade rules impact sourcing

Closing Insight or CTA:

“AI doesn’t replace relationships, it reinforces them by removing friction.” — Kevin Brown

As AI redefines how businesses operate, leadership must evolve alongside it.

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What happens when two industry veterans break down the biggest stories shaping wholesale distribution, AI adoption, and the global economy, live and unfiltered?

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton analyze everything from Fed rate cuts and tariffs to the rise of AI-driven commerce and the evolving role of leadership in an age of automation. Through their signature mix of insight and humor, they explore how distributors can stay resilient, data-smart, and human-centered amid rapid technological and economic change.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why AI-driven transformation is redefining productivity and workforce trust
• How agentic commerce and AI-powered purchasing are disrupting e-commerce models
• The real-world effects of rate cuts, tariffs, and government shutdowns on the wholesale channel
• Why contextual intelligence and digital ecosystems are the new growth drivers
• How leaders can leverage AI and emotional intelligence to future-proof their organizations
  
  

Episode Highlights:

• 04:08 – A look at market sentiment in wholesale distribution heading into 2025
• 16:42 – What the Fed’s latest rate cut means for lending, mortgages, and growth capital
• 31:55 – The ripple effects of the ongoing government shutdown on supply chains
• 46:30 – Trump’s proposed tariff reset and its implications for import-dependent industries
• 59:18 – How AI adoption is reshaping manufacturing and reducing burnout in operations
• 01:10:05 – Agentic commerce and how PayPal is leading the charge in AI-driven transactions
• 01:20:44 – Why distributors must rethink e-commerce or risk losing 25% of their market share

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are the co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, creators of LeadSmart Channel Cloud™, an AI-powered CRM and customer intelligence platform built for distributors and manufacturers. Together, they bring over 40 years of experience in digital transformation, AI strategy, and industrial growth, translating complex trends into actionable insights for industry leaders.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM and Customer Intelligence platform
• Agentic Commerce – AI-driven transactional automation and conversational e-commerce
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI and workflow intent
• Human + Machine Collaboration Model – Integrating empathy and analytics for smarter teams
• ISA Leadership Academy – Developing adaptive, future-ready leaders across the supply chain

Closing Insight:

“AI isn’t going to take your job; it’s someone using AI that will.” — Kevin Brown

From economic volatility to AI-enabled innovation, this episode challenges distribution leaders to rethink strategy, leverage intelligence, and lead through disruption.

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Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

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What does the future of leadership look like in the distribution industry?

In this special episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton sit down with Brendan Breen, President of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA), to explore how leadership transformation, AI adoption, and workforce evolution are redefining what it means to run a modern distribution business. From data-driven decision-making to generational shifts in workplace expectations, this episode unpacks the trends shaping the next decade of industrial growth.

What You’ll Learn:

• How AI-driven transformation is changing the leadership playbook for distributors and manufacturers
• Why emotional intelligence and adaptability are now core leadership competencies
• How ISA is building a bridge between legacy leaders and next-gen talent
• The role of digital ecosystems in shaping connected supply chains and value-based selling
• What human-first leadership means in the era of automation and analytics

Episode Highlights:

• 04:35 – Brendan Breen on redefining leadership for a digital-first industrial economy
• 16:20 – AI and workforce transformation: adapting without alienating talent
• 29:02 – ISA’s evolving mission: from association to innovation accelerator
• 43:18 – How next-gen leaders are reshaping the future of manufacturing and distribution
• 57:40 – Data transparency, ethics, and the rise of context-aware leadership
• 01:10:26 – Building scalable ecosystems that merge AI and human expertise
• 01:23:12 – How to lead with empathy and foresight in the age of automation
• 01:33:58 – Closing reflections: why the future belongs to adaptive leaders

Meet the Guest:

Brendan Breen is the President of the Industrial Supply Association (ISA), where he leads initiatives to modernize the industrial supply channel through education, digital transformation, and community collaboration. His work helps bridge the gap between experienced leaders and emerging talent in distribution and manufacturing.

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence platform
• ISA Leadership Academy – Building resilient, future-ready leadership teams
• Context Engineering – Framework for aligning AI systems with business intent
• Human + Machine Collaboration Model – A people-centered approach to automation

Closing Insight:

“AI won’t replace leaders, but it will expose the ones who refuse to adapt.” — Brendan Breen

From digital transformation to leadership evolution, this episode is a must-listen for distribution executives, manufacturers, and future leaders navigating the intersection of technology, talent, and transformation.

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Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

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Here’s (more than) a hint: it’s AI Engine Optimization. And right now, it could be even more important than SEO for B2B visibility.

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the latest economic shifts, from the government shutdown’s ripple effects to the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how they’re transforming manufacturing, logistics, and customer engagement. Learn why context engineering and AI-enabled CRM platforms are redefining the way distributors compete and connect in 2025.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why tariffs and supply chain realignments are now “business as usual” for U.S. distributors
• How prediction markets like Polymarket are outperforming traditional economic forecasts
• What the Fed’s next moves could mean for interest rates, hiring, and inflation
• Why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is replacing traditional SEO for B2B visibility
• How LeadSmart’s AI-enabled Channel Cloud™ is transforming CRM into Customer Intelligence
  
  

Episode Highlights:

• 04:10 – The government shutdown and why markets barely reacted
• 13:45 – Fed predictions, Polymarket insights, and crowd-sourced forecasting
• 25:30 – Inflation, unemployment, and the rise of AI’s role in economic stability
• 36:48 – Tariffs, China trade tensions, and supply chain recalibration
• 49:05 – Fastenal’s organic growth strategy and the power of data-driven wallet share
• 59:58 – Schneider Electric + NVIDIA: powering AI data centers of the future
• 01:10:22 – From SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): preparing content for AI search
• 01:22:45 – Why AI isn’t replacing people, but empowering those who know how to use it

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence platform
• Polymarket – decentralized prediction market forecasting economic probabilities
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – frameworks for AI discoverability
• Context Engineering – Gartner’s model for contextual AI and workflow design
• Agentic Workflows – AI-driven automation aligned with distributor processes

Closing Insight:

“AI won’t take your job. But someone using AI better than you will.” — Tom Burton

From government shutdowns to AI search adoption, this episode dives into the forces transforming distribution. Subscribe to Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution for weekly conversations on digital transformation, leadership, and customer intelligence in manufacturing and B2B commerce.

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Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

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You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

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What happens when a government shutdown, interest rate cuts, and AI-driven commerce collide with the future of wholesale distribution?

In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the headlines that matter: the Fed’s next move, tariff resilience, and how AI-enabled platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are reframing CRM as a growth engine. You’ll also hear why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is quickly replacing SEO, and what it means for distributors competing in an Amazon + OpenAI marketplace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why CRM adoption fails, and how LeadSmart’s smart CRM reframes it as customer enablement
• How prediction markets like Polymarket may forecast economic shifts more accurately than government data
• Why tariffs, lithium mining, and government-backed investments signal long-term supply chain realignment
• How AI search and embedded transactions could challenge Amazon’s dominance
• Why AI ethics and workforce augmentation matter more than “replacement” narratives
  
  

Episode Highlights:

03:05 – Government shutdown politics and the missing jobs report

13:45 – Fed rate cuts, prediction markets, and Polymarket’s surprising odds

25:52 – Consumer confidence paradox: nervous workers, steady spending

37:20 – U.S. invests in lithium mines and Intel, national security or sovereign wealth strategy?

50:18 – Tariffs reshaping global supply chains and stalling multimillion-dollar projects

01:01:12 – OpenAI launches checkout: what it means for distributors vs. Amazon

01:12:05 – AI content optimization: moving from SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

01:19:10 – Why AI won’t take jobs, but people using AI will

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM + customer intelligence platform
• Polymarket – decentralized prediction markets for real-time sentiment
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – future-proofing content strategy
• Agentic AI Workflows – automation with human-in-the-loop oversight
• Digital Twins & Lithium Investments – future of industrial resilience

Closing Insight:

“If you have siloed data, you have siloed AI. The winners unify data to future-proof supply chains.” – Kevin Brown

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

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You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

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What do tariffs, Fed rate cuts, and AI-driven search mean for the future of wholesale distribution?

In this milestone episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest updates on GDP growth, jobless claims, and U.S.–China tariffs, while exploring how AI Engine Optimization (AEO), digital payments, and LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are rewriting the rules for distributors and manufacturers.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the latest GDP and job data signal surprising economic resilience despite tariff pressures
• How LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is reinventing CRM as an AI-enabled customer intelligence platform for distributors
• Why AI-powered search and AEO are replacing traditional SEO as the new driver of high-quality leads
• How digital currencies, stablecoins, and real-time payments will transform B2B transactions by 2026
• The hidden strategies manufacturers use to absorb tariffs and stabilize pricing in volatile global markets

Episode Highlights:

• 02:35 – Milestone reflections: 160 episodes and a growing global audience
• 10:22 – GDP third-round update: AI hardware and business equipment drive unexpected growth
• 23:18 – Jobless claims dip to a two-month low as the Fed debates further rate cuts
• 38:41 – Tariff probes into robotics, PPE, and industrial machinery—and why manufacturers may be absorbing costs
• 54:07 – AI vs. Google: ChatGPT captures 85% of AI-generated leads
• 01:05:12 – B2B buyers demand “free + fast” delivery as drone logistics reshape expectations
• 01:17:44 – Digital currency disruption: agentic AI, stablecoins, and the coming payments revolution

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM + customer intelligence platform
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) – new strategies for ranking in AI-powered search
• Agentic AI Workflows – automated processes for smarter decision-making
• Digital Twin Modeling – replicating branches, warehouses, and store layouts for predictive planning
• Stablecoins & Real-Time Payments – faster, cheaper B2B transactions

Closing Insight:

“If you have siloed data, you have siloed AI. Winners unify data to future-proof supply chains.” – Kevin Brown

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

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You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

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Is the Fed too late to cut rates—and what does it mean for distributors?

In this episode of Around The Horn in Wholesale Distribution, hosts Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the week’s economic headlines and explore how interest rate cuts, tariffs, and global supply chain volatility are reshaping the manufacturing and wholesale distribution landscape. From AI-driven sales playbooks to the hidden risks in employment data, Kevin and Tom reveal the trends that matter most for distributors, manufacturers, and independent sales agencies navigating digital transformation.

What You’ll Learn:

• Economic Risk Signals – Why the Fed’s quarter-point rate cut may not be enough to counter labor market headwinds or supply chain slowdowns.
• AI Adoption in Distribution – How smart CRM platforms and industry-specific AI agents are transforming sales enablement and customer intelligence.
• Tariff Strategy & USMCA – How Canada and Mexico are positioning ahead of 2025 trade renegotiations and what that means for North American distributors.
• Future of B2B Buying – Why millennial buyers are shifting to app-based e-commerce and conversational AI instead of traditional catalogs.
• Sales Playbooks that Work – How AI-powered, buyer-centric playbooks outperform static sales scripts in today’s digitally mature market.

Episode Highlights:

• 03:22 – Fed rate cuts and why lagging indicators may lead to late action
• 11:48 – Labor market trends and the rise of “bandwagon layoffs”
• 21:35 – Tariff uncertainty and how distributors are rewriting supplier contracts
• 34:57 – Global Supply Chain Volatility Index: what a negative reading signals for Q4
• 48:29 – How Reddit, Wikipedia, and Amazon shape AI model training data
• 58:12 – AI-driven e-commerce: the shift from website traffic to mobile buying apps
• 01:09:46 – Building dynamic, AI-powered sales playbooks that meet the modern buyer
• 01:21:30 – Why top talent quits when career growth stalls—and how leaders can respond

Meet the Hosts:

Kevin Brown and Tom Burton are lifelong friends, seasoned entrepreneurs, and co-founders of LeadSmart Technologies, the AI-enabled CRM and customer intelligence platform built exclusively for wholesale distribution and manufacturing.

Tools, Frameworks & Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart AI-Enabled Customer Intelligence Platform – A smart CRM built for distributors and manufacturers.
• Global Supply Chain Volatility Index (GEP/S&P) – A new indicator tracking global supply chain stress.
• AI Sales Playbook Model – Dynamic, signal-based playbooks for B2B sales teams.

Closing Insight:

“Today’s layoffs aren’t always about a weak eco

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

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You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

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What happens when AI adoption, tariffs, and interest rate cuts collide with the future of wholesale distribution?

In this lively episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton tackle the jobs report, the Supreme Court’s tariff ruling, and why AI regulation needs a federal playbook, not 50 state ones. You’ll learn how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is cracking the code on CRM adoption, why decentralized data may surface economic truth faster than the Fed, and what ethical AI frameworks mean for hiring and sales.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why CRM adoption fails, and how LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is reframing it as a Customer Enablement Tool
• How decentralized markets like Polymarket highlight flaws in outdated economic data models
• Why the Supreme Court tariff decision could trigger refunds, reboot negotiations, or reinforce continuity
• How state-by-state AI laws risk creating chaos, and why federal AI policy is the only scalable solution
• Why businesses need AI ethics and HR policies before innovation turns into liability

Episode Highlights:

• 04:05 – Moonwalking office chairs, beach fog, and 157 weeks of distribution insights
• 12:20 – Why CRM adoption stalls, and how to build a system for willing adoption
• 23:42 – Jobs report shock: only 22,000 new jobs and what it signals for the Fed
• 35:18 – Polymarket vs. the Fed: can decentralized prediction markets beat outdated models?
• 47:02 – Tariff ruling chaos: Emergency Powers Act, refunds, and six statutory alternatives
• 59:15 – Why state-level AI laws could stifle innovation and confuse distributors
• 01:12:40 – AI in hiring: keyword-stuffed resumes, ethics policies, and the new HR reality
• 01:25:33 – Closing reflections: community, leadership, and why balanced trade matters

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM + customer intelligence platform
• AI Co-Pilot for Sales – embedding intelligence into daily sales activity
• Polymarket – decentralized prediction market surfacing sentiment
• E³ Model – Experience, Efficiency, Effectiveness as leadership priorities
• AI Ethics Policies – workplace guidelines for safe, compliant AI adoption

Closing Insight:

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

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