Past Shows
AI Continues to Disrupt the Workplace
05.20.26 | Shop Talk this week looks at the continued disruption and efficiencies that some companies—big and small—are experiencing with Artificial Intelligence. Caught My Eye looks at a lottery winner who never told his family and still wants people to believe he is “just getting by.” Also, Tim has a McDonalds Filet-O-Fish lunch with listener Robb. Dietrich Mateschitz, co-founder of energy drink Red Bull, is our Business Birthday. And listener Jill from Texas shares one of her favorite local TV ads.
TFG Unbuttoned: In Memoriam of the Creative Class
05.19.26 | Tim and John cover the recent obituaries of three influential figures. Doris Fisher of The Gap, Wendy’s ad creator Joe Sedelmeier, and cranky film critic Rex Reed, highlighting their legacies and contributions to their fields.
Social Security Is Not Going Broke, Benefits Could Change
05.13.26 | Shop Talk this week looks at Social Security retirement benefits and whether we will be able to collect what we were promised. It’s a bit more complicated, but Congress needs to fix it. Caught My Eye looks at a found bag filled with Hot Wheels cars, and a hotelier swallowed by a crocodile. Frank Hornby, the UK inventor of Dinky Toys and Meccano, is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: Nutella in Space
05.12.26 | Tim and John cover a story where people find tech, in this case apps like Grindr, are ruining the dating scene. Also, a woman in Utah was given only a few weeks to move a 50-year-old garage or lose power. Finally, the Artemis astronauts explain the nuance of food in space.
Corporations Flex Muscle by Chopping Some “Pandemic-era” Benefits
05.06.26 | Shop Talk this week looks at corporations that are cutting back on some employee benefits as the labor market changes. Caught My Eye covers a program in Provincetown, MA that is trying to attract younger tourists. Good luck as the cost of staying in resort areas popular with the LGBTQ traveler is out of reach for many. Also, a viral TikTok trend targeting the Church of Scientology proves disruptive and dangerous. Russell Stover, the co-founder of Eskimo Pies and Russell Stover Chocolates, is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: NFL and The Trevor Project
05.05.26 | Tim and John cover a legal case won by the Southern Utah Drag Stars in St. George. Also, a former Chick-fil-A employee is arrested in a mac-and-cheese refund scheme. Finally, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank, has quietly donated $1million through his foundation to The Trevor Project. When so many are cutting back on supporting LGBTQ+ causes this is welcome news.
Eleven Items That Never Sell at Yard Sales
04-29-26 | Tag sales—more commonly known as yard sales—are a popular way to declutter and make some cash. However, if you’re planning a tag sale, you’ll learn in Shop Talk what might not sell. Caught My Eye lets you know that condoms may increase in price at least 30% due to the unintended supply chain disruption caused by the Iran War. Also, a serial “LEGO returner” is finally caught after substituting dry pasta for LEGO bricks. Marc Randolph, the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: Dildos on ICE and Pasta Chat
04.28.26 | TFG Unbuttoned is the 20-minute companion podcast from The Focus Group. This week Tim and John cover an ICE protest called “Operation Dildo Blitz” in the cities of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Portland. Also, Prego Pasta Sauce is launching “Connection Keeper” in collaboration with StoryCorps. The idea is to bring conversation back to the dinner table. Finally, convenience store chain 7-11 has announced a massive retail brand overhaul to modernize their stores with the goal of increasing sales.
SantaCon IS a Con
04.22.26 | In Shop Talk this week, Tim and John look at the recent interview where Warren Buffett announced he has stopped speaking with Bill Gates due to his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. Caught My Eye covers a story about NYC’s SantaCon being investigated for fraud. Also, the history of PEZ is also uncovered. Burt Meyer, the inventor of Lite-Brite and Rock’em Sock’em Robots, is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: Caitlyn Jenner Gets What She Voted For
04.21.29 | Tim and John have declared Caitlyn Jenner and her passport woes as one of the stories of the year thus far. This is what you voted for Ms. Jenner, deal with it. But first, a study out of Sweden finds that lobsters feel pain which may have implications in how we consume them. And Philz Coffee has backtracked on their decision to eliminate the Pride Flag and other LGBTQ imagery at their stores. The new owner failed to read the room or the community.
