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The Focus Group

The Focus Group, Tim Bennett, John Nash

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Tim Bennett and John Nash—memorable class clowns in high school, now revolutionary LGBTQ marketing and advertising executives—invite you to share in a friendship that spans 40 plus years. Drawing on their combined corporate and entrepreneurial experience, the conversation ranges from the professional to the personal, and everything in between. Entertaining banter, unique voices, and smart content. We’re all business. Except when we’re not.
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Destination On The Left is a travel and tourism industry podcast hosted by Travel Alliance Partnership. Each episode explores successful collaborations, creative marketing ideas and best practices for both consumer and travel trade marketing programs. Interviews are a mix of Destination Marketers, Industry Leaders, Consultants and businesses in the industry.
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The Balls.ie podcast network brings you the best and funniest podcast content from the world of Irish sport and beyond. Featuring our twice weekly Three Man Weave podcast on GAA and our World in Union rugby show.
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All our GAA podcasts in one place. Make sure to subscribe and rate the podcast. You can get in touch with us at 'Ballsdotie' on any social media channels. Featuring our GAA Three Man Weave podcast.
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Saying she was kicked out of Hollywood and TV for being mean, Ellen DeGeneres has announced her retirement from all things entertainment. Her farewell is a Netflix special entitled “Ellen’s Last Stand…Up.” Then, the residents of the city of Barcelona are fed up with tourists and want them to leave. Aside from the crowds, the yearly swell has made t…
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Shop Talk looks at a new documentary that features gay comedians who showed the way even though they were not out. But first, Caught My Eye features a Disney World visitor that uses an old $8 day ticket to enter the park. Also, in more of a Public Service Announcement, penis cancer is on the rise. Harvey Ball, creator of the Smiley Face graphic, is…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Debra about making successful small talk and creating authentic connections. She shares examples of what to say to start a conversation, what the serious conversation killers are, and tactical ways to exit a conversation gracefully. If you’ve ever wondered how to set yourself up for success wh…
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The world finally knows what many gay men have for years—there is such a thing as “gay water.” Cheers. But first, Delta Airlines has resorted to only serving pasta meals inflight until it can figure out how so many got sick on a Detroit to Amsterdam flight recently from spoiled food. Also, you may soon hear your favorite deceased celebrity voice an…
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Shop Talk welcomes Mark Pipkin to discuss the $2 bill. Mark is retired from the Federal Reserve and answers questions about the $2 and other currency facts. But first, Caught My Eye looks at a recent study that says almost half of US EV owner’s will go back to gas powered autos for their next vehicle. Lack of charging infrastructure and battery ran…
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The famous Judy Garland song from “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “The Trolley Song,” has found new life 80 years later as an unlikely PRIDE anthem. But first, Tractor Supply Co. bowed to pressure from the right and will stop all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, (DEI), saying they “disappointed their consumers and have taken feedback to heart.” Co…
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Shop Talk looks at corporations that tout their inclusive LGBTQ efforts and perfect HRC score yet have given thousands of dollars to ant-LGBTQ politicians. But first, Caught My Eye reveals the struggle to save the SS United States and Trader Joes has another non-food product hit. William Lear, of Learjet, is our Business Birthday. Lear was granted …
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Mary Charleson, President of Five Minute Marketing and founder of Carry On Queen, about her formula for creating marketing plans that align with your target audience. We discuss how giving without expectation applies to Marketing and how Mary views volunteering with purpose as part of this phi…
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People on their deathbed share their single most-common regret: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” That’s according to Bronnie Ware, author of the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.” But first, Amazon works to eliminate the plastic pillow material for shipments and America has their…
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Shop Talk looks at three simple changes that IKEA enacted to help with employee retention. But first, Caught My Eye asks if you would cancel a family gathering based on a set of circumstances. Also, Heinz and KitKat hop on a viral trend with their KitKat’Chup candy bar. It’s not real, but it did the job on social media for garnering engagement. Shi…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Tiffany Gallagher, Vice President of Operations at Civitas about what Tourism Improvement Districts (TIDs) mean for the communities where they are established. She shares more about creative funding opportunities designed as a benefit-based vehicle for the travel industry forward. Tiffany also…
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Back in the 80’s a new employee with P&G listed his then girlfriend as a beneficiary on his retirement account. After only two years together, they both moved on, but he never updated his beneficiary for the account and as a result, she has been awarded over a million dollars. Then, Wells Fargo has terminated several employees for using devices to …
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Shop Talk visits with Jennifer Bobbi, aka Aunt Barbara, and David Beck, who jointly wrote and directed a new film to be released this month called Regarding Us. You can view the trailer and get tickets to a screening near you on their website, https://www.regardingus.com. But first, Caught My Eye highlights a Charleston, WV bakery called the Rock C…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I’m sharing my recent appearance on the Desuckify Work podcast with TJ Bennett. We discuss why people crave purpose-driven work, why it’s important to have a vision, and, more importantly, how to communicate that vision throughout the company. We also discuss building a strong team and how structure and o…
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Now that we are a few years out of the pandemic, consumers seem to be less generous with tipping. Then, a couple in Queens finds a safe with $100k in it while magnet fishing. Finally, Out Leadership has released their 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index. The index measures the impact of state government policies and prevalent attitudes on the …
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Shop Talk explores some recently uncovered tapes of Orson Welles being interviewed by author Peter Biskind. Welles goes off on his disdain for many of the Hollywood elite. But first, Caught My Eye alerts us to trash balloons being sent to South Korea by the North, which called them “sincere presents.” To date over 15 tons of trash, including used t…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, you’ll hear my conversation with Sharon Toerek about the importance of finding your niche and how growth happens once you commit to it. We also discuss how becoming a thought leader in your niche leads to new relationships and opportunities. While this interview centers around building a marketing agency,…
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A lifeguard at the popular gay leaning ‘Ginger Rogers Beach’ in Los Angeles is upset that the rainbow flag will be displayed and is pressing legal action. The Boy Scouts have changed their name to Scouting America, allowing boys and girls to join. (The Girl Scouts aren’t too happy about it.) Finally, a billionaire, Robert Hale Jr. spoke at a UMass …
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Shop Talk looks at a 39-year-old millionaire who says she will never give-up these 7 frugal ways of living. But first, Caught My Eye looks at a food model artist from Scotland and Australia’s wealthiest woman who hates her National Gallery portrait and wants it removed. John shares his journey with Topps Star Wars cards that could be worth thousand…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Geoff Thatcher about telling great stories and why they impact how people experience your brand. Geoff shares examples of his revolutionary experiential framework in action and gives his insights into staying focused, finding the right partners, forgiving allowable weaknesses, and remembering …
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An 18-wheeler loaded with 15 million Bees crashes on I-95 in Maine. Tim learned that millions of bees are transported this way from the southern US to the north to pollinate crops. Then, a Colorado woman in Grand Junction cut-off her boyfriend's unit and threw it in the trash—because he would not let her sleep. Finally, “gay marriage” hits the 20-y…
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Shop Talk uncovers some odd hiring manager tactics to see if you are right for the job. But first, Caught My Eye announces the end of the road for the Subaru Legacy sedan. Also, the NYC portal to Dublin is closed after an OnlyFans model exposes “her potatoes” to the Irish folk across the pond. Dustin Moskovitz, co-founder of Facebook, is our Busine…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Sonya Nash, Executive Director of Visit Shipshewana. She shares how she honors the local community through the work her DMO does and describes her role as creating an experience that visitors love and positively impacts the local community. Sonya also talks about a countywide collaboration she…
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Target has decided to still sell PRIDE merchandise in stores this June, but only to limited markets. Everything will be available online however as the brand tries to avoid last year’s issues. Then, the athletes in the Paris Olympic village will once again sleep on cardboard beds with plastic mattresses. The 18,000 beds will be recycled and unlike …
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Shop Talk offers three tips to help counter digital amnesia or The Google Effect. But first, Caught My Eye highlights an appearance on the Mike Douglas show with Little Richard and Liberace. Also, a Radio Flyer car heads to the auction block in Alaska, and John recommends we all check out an ABBA documentary he watched this past weekend. Tim recomm…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Emily about how her creative skills and early experience in theater led her to the hospitality industry. She walks us through a process for evaluating your brand and thinking about it from a people-first perspective and shares her approach to addressing challenges that cover planning for short…
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A woman in Midland, Michigan is found living in the rooftop sign of the Family Fare grocery store. She was asked to leave without incident. Then, an estranged gay son who had been shunned and disowned by his Jehovah’s Witness father writes his own version of his dad’s obit in Milford, CT. Finally, actor Gedde Watanabe says he did not find his role …
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Shop Talk directs us to the German owned grocer, Aldi, and their non-grocery aisle of “finds.” But first, Caught My Eye deals with luxury jeweler Cartier. The retailer’s Mexican website improperly listed $14K earrings for $14. A man bought 2 pairs and Cartier protested. The Mexican Government Dept. of Consumer Affairs sided with the customer and ma…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, Megan Grant and I talk about how her tours are designed to create a positive social impact. She highlights the trends that are helping her business grow and thrive, including mindful purchasing and lone female travelers. We also discussed the importance of community and how Megan’s tours build community. …
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A Canadian 1985 high school student, Ian Peterson, had his yearbook quote nixed and now it is seeing the light of day. Then, Gen Z is suffering from Resenteeism or as Tim and John call it: “everyone gets a trophy syndrome.” Finally, a Labrador cream colored litter had one pup that came out with green fur. This is apparently not that uncommon accord…
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Shop Talk reveals a recent study that says putting your pronouns on your resume can hinder your job search. But first, Caught My Eye lets you know that the Haiku Stairs in Oahu, Hawaii will be closing for good. People still sneak in to do the Stairway to Heaven hike, but the old US Navy installation is going away. Also, the Clean Ocean Action envir…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, Sean Hebert goes deep into the backstory of TourRadar, an organized adventure platform. He shares his perspective on the importance of trust, what adventure travelers are looking for in terms of new experiences, and how TourRadar facilitates amazing collaboration between travelers, tour operators, and tra…
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Tennis great, Martina Navratilova, is not supportive and will not attend the WTA Women’s Finals in Saudi Arabia this year. The LGBTQ rights activist finds it shocking that the WTA would legitimize a location where human rights overall are among the worst on the globe. But first, a Florida couple tried to tape together two losing lotto tickets to co…
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Shop Talk looks at the top 50 foods that Americans order for delivery. There are some surprises. But first, Caught My Eye looks at the sale of Kate’s Lazy Desert compound near Joshua Tree, California. Yes, that Kate Pierson of the B52s, is selling the airstream compound for a very fair price. Also, Crocs came out with Pringles Crocs that hold a tub…
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On this episode of Destination on the Left, I talk with Meredith Calloway, Chief Visionary Officer and Co-Founder of Gifted Travel Network (GTN). She shares more about the inspiration behind her community of luxury travel advisors and her nuggets of wisdom about how to develop and cultivate a brand message that will help you stand out from the crow…
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The iconic bus from the movie “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert” is found in a remote Aussie town, and a group is now working to raise over $1 million to restore the bus to its former glory. But first, Gays Against Grooming—GAG, as we call them—is spun up over a three-year-old tweet The North Face sent out offering support to Brave …
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Shop Talk looks at two gay digital nomads that sold their house in Seattle and hit the globe to find a foreign land where they can settle down for a while. They are writers and are chronicling their adventure. They both feel this was the best thing and the right thing for them to do. Tim and John ponder the idea with a modified approach. But first,…
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This week, I’m reflecting on our new brand and why we are so excited about the next chapter. I want to share the branding journey with you to highlight the lessons we learned along the way. I hope that our story will inspire you and give an introduction to our new company and the philosophy behind it. What You Will Learn in This Episode: Why we dec…
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Popular trans focused website, Emisil.com, has released a study on what states they believe are the gayest based on selected search terms. See if you agree. Then, the hook-up app, Grindr, is developing an “AI Boyfriend” to sext with you when no one else will. Finally, a baker in Kansas, Sis Monroe, believes she lost her $4,000 diamond in a batch of…
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Shop Talk looks at how the onslaught of anti-LGBTQ legislation is affecting the workplace and decisions about where people want to live. But first, Caught My Eye finds a Velveeta hair-dye from Kraft-Heinz that is no joke, and NASA wants to standardize moon time. Candy Samples, the voluptuous large breasted model and actress, is our Business Birthda…
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Caitlyn Jenner went off half-cocked in a full MAGA meltdown related to the Trans Day of Visibility, which for the past nine years has been on the 31st. Easter, a roving holiday, happened to also fall on the 31st, thus creating the false outrage. Martina Navratilova called her out for her hypocrisy. Also, Best Buy is the latest brand to come under f…
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Shop Talk looks at the freefall in religious affiliation in America. Anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment within some churches is part of the blame for the decline in church membership. But first, Caught My Eye asks whether a bench dedication plaque in Bristol, England is real. Also, a promised Wonka immersion exhibit in Scotland leads to tears and lawsuits. Mell…
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In order to keep the government “open” President Biden had to sign legislation that banned the Pride Flag from being flown above US Embassies this June. Once again, the LGBTQ community becomes the MAGAs favorite punching bag. Then, the kosher food brand Manischewitz goes through a major rebrand to attract latent and new consumers. John and Tim plan…
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Shop Talk looks at the concept of “temptation Bundling.” Combine a perceived dreaded task with something rewarding like exercise or music to avoid procrastination. But first, Caught My Eye acknowledges the father of Karaoke and salvaging a $17 billion shipwreck off the coast of Columbia. Henry Royce, the co-founder of Rolls Royce, is our Business B…
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A thirty-two-year veteran of the Travel & Tourism industry, Amir Eylon leads the entire team at Longwoods International, responsible for the development and execution of all facets of the organization, from program development to customer acquisition and retention. He joined Longwoods in 2015 from his previous role as Vice President, Partner Engage…
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A lesbian judge makes history as being the first appointed to the conservative 4th District that includes Maryland, the Carolinas, and the Virginias. Then, the Paris Olympic Games will be well stocked with 300,000 condoms—30 per athlete—this summer. Finally, chocolate prices are increasing by 50% due to climate change. If you can, wait until the Mo…
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Shop Talk shares advice from the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett, that can lead you to career success. But first, Caught My Eye reveals the rules of a nude cruise and asks you if you know your blood type. Matt Nuccio, toy designer, is our Business Birthday. Also, John gives Tim advice about returning pants to Costco. We’re all business. Except when…
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Greg Takehara has been the CEO of Tourism Cares since 2019. He previously served on its Board, acting as its Chairman before becoming CEO. Prior to Tourism Cares, Greg was the President of Trip Mate, Inc., a travel insurance administrator. He began his thirty-five year career in the travel and tourism industry at The Mark Travel Corporation, where …
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Oprah was honored at the 35th Annual GLAAD Awards in Los Angeles this past week and gets personal about AIDS. Also, a couple in England gets censored via Instagram for a family photo of the two dads with their newborn. Finally, the ubiquitous jockstrap is 150 years old this month! Apple Podcasts: apple.co/1WwDBrC Spotify: spoti.fi/2pC19B1 iHeart Ra…
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Shop Talk looks at the concept of food shopping using a 6-1 ratio. Six vegetables, five fruits, four protein sources, three starches, two sauces or spreads, and one item just for fun. But first, Caught My Eye reveals that Costco is now selling silver coins after a successful run with gold bars last year. Also, an ancient structure in the UK, Hadria…
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