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New episodes every other Friday
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ABOUT THE SHOW

Your store teams feel it: more pressure, more change, less time to get it right. FRONTLINE FRIDAYS helps you turn that pressure into impact.

Built for senior retail + hospitality field leaders, each episode features candid conversations with execs from iconic brands, sharing tactics you can use today.

HOSTED BY RON THURSTON
Ron is a global retail leadership expert and two-time bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025).

SEASON 2 STARTS SEP 26
New episodes every other Friday. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

NEW EPISODE

Calm Under Pressure: The Leadership Skill Retail Needs Most
With Lesley Hawkins
Lesley Hawkins | Partner | Marsley Canada | ex Adidas VP
FRIDAY APR 24
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UPCOMING GUESTS

May 08
David Dawson | VP, Retail and Digital Technology | Pilot Company

Previous Episodes

Calm Under Pressure: The Leadership Skill Retail Needs Most Image
With Lesley Hawkins Lesley Hawkins | Partner | Marsley Canada | ex Adidas VP
Listen
Leadership Isn’t a Role. It’s a Weekly Discipline. Image
With Shalonda Dean Founder | Leadership Disrupted | ex Prada, Balenciaga
Listen
The Four Pillars of High-Performing Retail Stores Image
With Monika Espinoza Founder | Better Way Operations | Former Louis Vuitton
Listen
How to Build a Culture People Don’t Want to Leave Image
With Paul Griffin Founder & CEO | Griffin Strategic Partners
Listen
30-Day Blueprint for Running Great Stores Image
With Rachel Williamson CEO | Running Great Stores LLC
Listen
The 3 Questions That Define Great Retail Leadership Image
With Corinne Suarez VP and Head of Retail | Marine Layer
Listen
The Six Cs of Execution: A Playbook for Field Leaders Image
With Kevin Ertell CEO | Mistere Advisory
Listen
How to Inspire Employee Adoption Without Forcing It Image
With Missy Pool Executive Leader/Retail Consultant | Silver Linings
Listen
AI for Frontline Teams is Changing How Stores Run Image
With Fabrice Haiat Co-Founder & CEO | YOOBIC
Listen
What 600 Retail Leaders Need But Aren’t Getting Image
With Steve Worthy Founder & CEO | Worthy Retail
Listen
How to Improve Retention, One Store Visit at a Time Image
With Billy Kissel Head of Stores, East | Office Depot
Listen
Why the Last Marketing Mile Depends on Your Store Teams Image
With Ian Scott Founder | Ian Scott Retail Consulting
Listen
How to Run Safer Stores Without Slowing Teams Down Image
With Dean Correia Founder | Correia Security Resources
Listen
How to Stay Flexible When Everything is Changing Image
With Detria Courtalis Vice President, Sales US | Pandora
Listen
What Retail Leaders Miss About Developing Talent Image
With Adam Lukoskie Executive Director, NRF Foundation | Senior Vice President, NRF
Listen
How to Drive Accountability Without Breaking Your Team Image
With April Sabral CEO April Sabral Leadership, Founder Ask April AI, best-selling Author, Leadership Expert
Listen
Crafting Purpose-Driven Retail Teams Image
With Chris Freeman SVP Store Ops, Custom Framing & Artistree Manufacturing, Michaels
Listen
Making Curiosity Your Competitive Edge Image
With Karrie Helm Senior Director of Stores, EVEREVE
Listen
The Role of Retail in Elevating Luxury Hospitality Image
With Nailah Nash Director of Retail, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
Listen
The Radical Shift In Restaurant Training Image
With Ashley Helkenn Senior Director of Training, Bonchon
Listen
Is Mindfulness Retail’s Missing Piece? Image
With Fil D'Urbano Chief Leadership and Mindfulness Officer, Ardene.
Listen
Balancing Creativity and Operations in Retail Design Image
With Brandon Lee Creative Director & Owner, Brandon Lee Designs
Listen
Building Ride or Die Customer Relationships Image
With Lance Orso General Manager, Dallas Harley-Davidson
Listen
Honest Coaching Advice Nobody’s Giving You Image
With Kate Sargent Founder & Principle, KJS Career Coaching & Consulting
Listen
Small Changes That Make a Big Difference Image
With Jo Cox & Jennifer Steichen Regional Manager of Retail & VP of Retail, Blu Dot
Listen
Store Visits that Catapult Retail Careers Image
With Yolanda Vega Director of Stores (Southeast & Central US), Zadig&Voltaire
Listen
Addressing Bias in Retail Decision-Making Image
With Michelle Emery Former VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Macy's
Listen
Hiring For Potential, Not Credential Image
With Sherrica Hill Director, Solutions Design & Delivery, Jobs for the Future (JFF)
Listen
Running Your Perfect Pilot Project Image
With Michael Saldaña Senior Retail Operations Manager, UNTUCKit
Listen
Finding Career Growth When You Feel Stuck Image
With Brian Librach Author of "The Retail Leader’s Roadmap"
Listen
Becoming the Mentor They Need to Succeed Image
With Laura Ravo Retail Guru, Executive Coach, Author
Listen
Inspiring the Next Wave of Retail Talent Image
With Kelly Anderson Retail Director, Akris
Listen
Embracing Vulnerability in Modern Management Image
With Payton McFaden Director of Global Sales Operations, Peloton
Listen
Asset Protection’s Key Role in Modern Retail Leadership Image
With Khristopher Hamlin VP of Asset Protection, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
Listen
Developing Your Authentic Leadership Style Image
With Matthew Goodfriend Sr. Manager of Learning & Development, GameStop
Listen
Visual Merchandisers as the New Keepers of Company Culture Image
With Adimika Jaia Owens Brand Experience Executive (Floor & Decor, Forever 21, Bloomingdale’s)
Listen
Building True Community Among Your Retail Teams Image
With Paula Angelucci District Director, Adore Me
Listen
Fostering Proud Frontline Career Paths in Retail & Hospitality Image
With Samantha Rubino Director Training & Communications, Pollo Tropical
Listen

MEET YOUR HOST

Ron Thurston

Ron Thurston is one of the most respected voices in modern retail leadership.

He’s a two-time #1 bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025), keynote speaker, and passionate advocate for frontline teams.

Over his 30-year career, Ron has led teams at brands including Apple, Gap, West Elm, Tory Burch, Bonobos, and Saint Laurent.

He created the RETAIL IN AMERICA tour and podcast — a 30-state Airstream journey celebrating frontline excellence — and advises innovative retail tech platforms like YOOBIC and Ometria.

His mission is simple: to help leaders thrive in the future of frontline work, and amplify the voices of those making it happen.

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YOOBIC

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY

YOOBIC turns store teams into growth engines. Our AI-powered mobile-first platform helps 350+ of the world’s top retailers drive revenue and improve margins by transforming every location into an operational powerhouse.

By uniting task execution, communication, and frontline training in one seamless app, YOOBIC gives HQ full visibility and control while empowering frontline employees to move faster, execute flawlessly, and deliver on the brand promise. 

Check out what YOOBIC can do to help you boost store performance, protect profit, and outpace the competition. And why not follow us on LinkedIn to join our global community of retail leaders.