Shows
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 25; Tea & Rich Shooting the Sh!tThis is our final cast of the year, with just Rich and I hanging out and shooting the sh!t on a bevy or topics like why he shaved his beard, ideas for our next few guests, the lack of competition in the commerce platform space, and things we continue to see and mentor for, that we wish we didn’t.For those that might not know us… the proper intro would be… In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey and Rich Lyons discuss personal transformations, the impact of masculinity on mental health, and the import...
2025-12-311h 10
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 24; Getting Real with Dave Barr of CQLWell well. If this isn't an epic episode of Tea with Rich, featuring Dave Barr of CQL... this is the literal OG's of Commerce Agencies episode on all things old, new, and all of a sudden being the old guys. In this engaging chat, Thomas Obrey, Rich Lyons, and Dave Barr start with an epic shooting the sh!t session, and then move into a real discussion on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, the challenges and insights of being a first-time CEO, and the impact of AI on the industry. We reflect on our experiences...
2025-11-261h 06Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 23; Getting Real with Michael Janiak of PatternIn this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey, Michael Janiak, and Rich Lyons discuss their experiences in the e-commerce and design industry, touching on collaboration, competition, and the evolution of design practices. They share insights on starting an agency, the impact of AI on design, and the importance of relationships in navigating challenges. The discussion highlights the changing landscape of e-commerce and the necessity of adapting to new technologies and concepts to address client needs.There is a ton of anecdotal story telling in here too - like the first time Mike and Tea met, in a nightclub, a true Digital...
2025-11-041h 40Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 22; Getting Real with Scott Stephens of Rate.comBack from our Summer break, Rich hand I invite a close personal friend, Scott Stephens, to the Podcast. While currently an executive at Rate.com, his career spans a stint at the first SPAM agency (90’s), and as the former COO of Playboy (2000’s), leading their first foray into digital transformation.In this conversation, we are completely unprofessional for most of the episode, with fits of seriousness as we talk about his role at Rate, and their goal of becoming a beacon for financial and health education. Before that however, we discuss his injuries from...
2025-10-091h 03
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 21; Getting Real with Marko Bon of DomaineIn this engaging conversation, Marko Bon shares his journey from the early days of e-commerce as a brand-side creative leader through to his transition to a leadership role in the agency world. He discusses the impact of fatherhood on his personal growth, the importance of information architecture in design, and the challenges of transitioning from brand side to agency life. The discussion also delves into the role of data in design, the evolution of his roles at Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Theory and all the spaces in-between, and the complexities of navigating being looked at as more than a...
2025-06-191h 16
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 20; Getting Real with Kim Georgeton, The Road to Becoming a CEO.In this week’s episode of Tea with Rich, we are joined by Kim Georgeton, the CEO of Cloudality, where she shares her extensive career journey from her early days at Amazon to her leadership role at Cloudality. A few fun facts here on Kim, I think…(a) Kim was Amazon employee number 270-something, ish. Shhhh. I’m writing from memory. The facts are within the cast.(b) Kim was brought in to Amazon to pilot their first 150 SKU’s of gifting ideas, or non-books as I like to s...
2025-05-301h 01Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 19; Getting Real with Ethan Zohn, Winner of Survivor AfricaOn this weeks episode of Tea with Rich we welcome Ethan Zohn to the Podcast. Ethan is the winner of Survivor Africa, founder of Grassroots Soccer, a 2-time Cancer survivor, and motivational speaker. We cover his personal and professional journey, including how we met, his role in public speaking, overcoming adversity, and key moments that forever changed his life. We of course share insights from Ethan's experience as a Survivor winner and repeat contestant, his work with Grassroots Soccer, the emotional aspects of public speaking, and the evolution of re...
2025-05-051h 36Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 18; Getting Real with Erik Huberman of Hawke MediaOn this weeks drop of Tea with Rich we welcome Erik Huberman of Hawke Media to the Podcast, where we cover everything from personal updates to politics, origin stories, and the future of agencies. Erik and the Hawke team continue to execute on an impressive acquisition strategy, so we delve into the importance of maintaining a positive company culture, his vision for the future of the agency - emphasizing growth and innovation, and looking for and grooming future leaders.On the personal side Erik touches on the influences from h...
2025-04-211h 15Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 17; Getting Real with Brian Walker. Talking Commerce..This weeks episode of Tea with Rich features Brian Walker, whom shares his extensive career in the commerce tech space, discussing current ventures, including his podcast 'Cocktails and Commerce'. Our dialog delves into the evolution of the commerce industry, the MACH Alliance, and the future trends in commerce and technology, including order orchestration (possibly) about to take center stage, and the continued rise of (actual) composable. We also chatted up the importance of a proper strategy and strong leadership in navigating the current wave of “what’s next in commerce”. Toward...
2025-04-031h 44Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 16; Getting Real with Emily Heintz of Sechey.In this weeks episode of Tea with Rich, we chat it up with Emily Heintz, founder of Sechey, a pioneer in the non-alcoholic movement.We discuss the evolution of the non-alcoholic beverage movement, our personal journeys with alcohol, and the importance of wellness.Moving on from there, we explore the challenges and successes of running a business in this emerging market, I learn some new words, and their significance, like adaptogens, and the impact on personal relationships with alcohol on health and socialization. This conversation highlights the importance of community, self-care, and the...
2025-03-211h 18Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 15; Erik Dodier on Life 90-days Into Retirement Part 2This weeks episode hits on part two of our dialog with Erik Dodier, where he continues to reflect on his first 90 days of retirement, and we get into some deep topics related to the intermingling of our personal and professional journeys. This weeks conversations touch upon topics like: The need for adaptability in business and personal lifeThe significance of focusing on what you love to build a fulfilling lifeReflecting on their journey of building a legacy through their workThe importance of recognizing patterns in business and life to make informed decisionsRich shares his experience of feeling overwhelmed d...
2025-02-2043 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 14; Erik Dodier on Life 90-days Into Retirement Part 1.On this episode Erik Dodier updates us on life 90-days into his retirement from PixelMEDIA/RafterOne, and we explore Erik's transition from a structured work life to a more flexible yet structured personal schedule, where he continues to focus on health, wellness, personal growth and what's next. The trio discusses hobbies, family time, and travel adventures, while also reflecting on the challenges and opportunities that come with retirement.
Erik emphasizes the importance of staying engaged and finding new ways to contribute to the community, including potential teaching opportunities and personal projects.
2025-02-0642 min
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 13; Getting Real with Harvey Bierman. From Retailer CDO to Agency CEO.In this episode we welcome Harvey to the pulpit, where we discuss the evolution of the e-commerce landscape, particularly focusing on some deep Demandware history and stories, and the emergence of (and move to support) Shopify in the Enterprise space.
With a combined 60+ years of eCommerce experience between the three of us, there's no shortage of stories.
We reflect on our experiences in the industry, the impact of the post-COVID slowdown on agencies, and the importance of customer-centricity and trust in leadership.
Harvey shares insights from his journey transitioning from brand-side roles to...
2025-01-091h 47Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 12; Getting Real with Dylan Runne. The Fenom on Hustle and Mentoring.In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome Dylan Runne to share his journey from starting a Business Analyst (ish) at Sapient and Accenture to founding Fenom Digital and eventually selling it to WPP.
He discusses the challenges and successes he faced in the commerce industry, his transition into venture capital with Bambu Ventures, and his current role as CEO of Billfold.
Dylan also opens up about his personal passions, including powerboat racing and cooking, and emphasizes the importance of health and wellness in maintaining a successful career.
2024-12-041h 19Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 11; Getting Real with Erik Dodier. Stepping Away After 30 Years..In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome Erik Dodier, my business partner of 3 decades, who is two days from his retirement after 30 years at the helm of PixelMEDIA (aka RafterOne).
This episode is a doozy, as I surprise Rich with our guest, and we get into a number of way way back stories about Erik and I as collaborators, business partners, and learning to trust and work with each other.
We start, ish, with a discussion on Erik's upcoming transition from an ultra-structured work-life to the unknowns o...
2024-11-131h 10Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 10; Getting real with Mallory Rosen. Great partnerships start at home.In this episode we welcome Mallory Rosen, a long-time friend we met through our Strategic Alliance and Partnership collaborations.
After a good deal of opening banter, our conversation explores themes of partnerships, self-advocacy, and the balance between work and family life.
Mallory discusses her experiences with chronic illness, the importance of mental health, and how her career in partnerships has shaped her perspective on business and relationships.
This episode emphasizes the value of good partnerships and the need for open communication in both personal and professional settings. We each provide a perspectives on...
2024-10-161h 27Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 9; Getting real with Rob Garf, Part 2. On Our Purpose, Drive, and Pivotal Professional Moments.In this episode we welcome back Rob Garf, and get into questions from Rob that we each send time pondering. Like, how we view our purpose in life, and how we stay motivated to succeed.
We start with the usual - shooting the shit, including Rich’s Iceland trip, Tea getting bored on sabbatical, and Rob discussing his dream to live on the Cape. I open up about having never visited the Cape, despite spending may entire life an hour away.
We then shift the more serious topic of our...
2024-09-061h 14Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 9; Getting real with Rob Garf, Part 1. The story of Rob and the Garfie.In this episode of Tea with Rich, we welcome guest Rob Garf, a retail and digital insights legend. This is part one of a two part dialog, and is 100% focus on Rob, his history in commerce, and his current role at Salesforce.
Rob is currently the VP & GM of Retail and Consumer Goods at Salesforce.
We begin with the usual shooting the shit, and then move into the more serious topics where Rob shares his background in retail and digital, starting from collaborating with his dad, his early digital d...
2024-08-2442 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 8; Getting real with Frank De Maria. Adaptation, Resets and Dealing with FailureIn this episode of Tea with Rich, we are joined by Frank De Maria, the Vice President of Digital Engineering and Platforms at Miller Knoll. Frank is a brand-side legend, and one of the most experienced, kind, and bright leaders in the technology and e-commerce field.
We of course being by - you know it - shooting the shit and catching up before Frank shares his story and background in the industry, where he started as a developer and eventually moved into a number of senior leadership roles. Frank touches on the importance of h...
2024-07-261h 39Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 7.5; Just us. Talking self-care, our worst fears and vacation updates.In this not-so-short Rich and I catch up on our recent activities, including my evolving golf game. Rich decides to inject a PSA slash commercial break on skincare, where we comically get into our routines, including beard and hair. Us talking about skincare is probably worth the listen, as I butcher a few words and make up some news ones.
We then get into a dialog around our recent trips, like Rich in Paris, Ireland and Malta, and my recent trip to Stagecoach and The Robb Report Culinary Masters event in Cali, where our...
2024-07-1146 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 7; Getting real with Adam Grohs; Commerce and Agency OG Dialogs.On this episode we talk with long-time friend Adam Grohs. A man with as much if not more experience in the eCommerce and Agency lead space than Rich and I. Adam is also the cofounder of agnoStack, which provides seamless, commerce-platform agnostic, customer support for orders across all channels.
Today. We get deep, quick, on a number of topics related to commerce and tech, and of course the the occasional question for Rich and I, and some drift topics that creep in - like how Rich manages his email - and Adam and I d...
2024-07-041h 32Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 6.5 - Just us. Shooting the shit. Work and Life.In this half-episode, Rich and I get real with each other, slow things down a bit, and just shoot the shit.
We cover topics like my evolving golf game (in the cold), some of our favorite wins as agency leads, and our favorite movies (we have zero in common). Rich talks about a recent speaking engagement on best practices for selling and the importance of knowing your customer. I reflect on the importance of celebrating milestones in business and we both share a 'favorite project' win.
We drift off into the challenges o...
2024-06-2734 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 6; Getting real with Vicky Aisenberg. Mom. Wife. Sales Leader.On this episode we talk with a long-time friend and collaboration partner Vicky Aisenberg. Rich and I met Vicky nearly 15 years ago (woh), as an new inside sales rep at Demandware.
This episode is about balance. At work, as a mom and wife, and as a mentor and sales leader. We also give Vicky a chance to ask Rich and I questions about what we look for when interviewing and hiring, and what we'd like to be doing next, if we could do anything.
There's a lot of shooting the shit, too, per usual.
2024-06-191h 20Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 5; Getting real with Kathryn Murphy. Products & PartnershipsOn this episode we talk with long-time friend Kathryn Murphy, whom we met and collaborated with while she ran Product (imo) for Demandware (aka SFCC).
We begin with the usual banter, discussing each of our "first time meeting" stories at the Partner Advisory Board gathering in LA during Shop.org 8 ish years ago, and Kathryn gives us a bit on her journey in the tech industry (she started coding at 18 folks).
The serious, ish, dialog starts as we move into a discussion on the challenges and importance of building strong partnerships between software vendors and...
2024-06-0654 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 4; Getting real with Bishoy Tadros. Breaking barriers.Unscripted and raw, this episodes covers topics that are very personal to Rich, Bishoy and I. We get deep on childhood and retirement/sabbatical fears, overcoming lifelong insecurities, and how celebrating small goals can get you further than you've ever dreamed.
A fellow podcaster, Bishoy is also a childhood cancer survivor, author (2x), father and husband, and a celebrated marathon runner.
We start, ish, with a discussion around who inspires him, how he keeps his cup full, and a personal triumph story.
Bishoy also probes Rich and I about our leadership styles, and...
2024-04-181h 14Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Sharing secrets. Tell me something no one knows about you.In this short Rich and I each share something that no one knows about us (well, actually, something MOST people don't know).
I share my longish affection with collecting change, Crown Royal bags and not following through on my promises to "go to the bank, while Rich talks at length about his undefeated Boxing career. We of course wax poetic on both topics, and veer off topic a time or two.
Peace. -t
2024-04-1012 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Love stuff. How's your couple maintenance game?There's nothing more important than the relationship we share with our partners and/or spouses. And all too often we sacrifice our couples game for personal and professional demands.
In this short Rich and I go into detail on how we maintain and nurture our relationships with our wives, and discuss date nights, getaways, drives and walks to nowhere, and the need to make an effort to maintain that magic.
And of course we hit a a few random topics, like, spooning, Jelly Roll, and getting back to "coupling" properly.
2024-04-0513 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 3. Week in review, the state of ecom and Q&AThis week we begin with the usual weekly updates, share some news related to ShopTalk, and a recent V Foundation event at Montage in Sonoma. You know. Colon stuff.
We then give our perspective on the current state of e-commerce and the confusion amongst platforms, ISV's, SI's and brand leaders. We touch on the importance of having courage to question decisions, focusing on the customer experience, not letting technology take away from business needs, and the importance for improved service after the sale from EVERYONE.
Getting back to questions from the field. We answer how we approach making recommendations for...
2024-04-0255 minTea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 2. Shoptalk. Friends. And more Q&A.With ShopTalk approaching we thought we’d drop Episode 2 on ya'll flying or driving in, and talk about our reasons for going this year.
We also continue the theme of simply shooting the shit, and get back to answer questions of each other, and those from our friends in the biz.
In this episode we cover…
Our plans, hopes and goals for ShopTalk
Shooting the sh!t - cooking with friends, beards, etc., etc.
What’s your most cherished talent?
What we miss most about about leading an Agenc...
2024-03-161h 00
Tea with Rich. Getting Real.Episode 1. Getting Real.Welcome to Episode 1, where we try for the 5th time to create our first podcast, and we're literally just shooting the breeze, getting through a few incidentals on our backgrounds, and answering questions from each other, and our LinkedIn friends.
We're getting real, and sharing stories from the trenches.
Today we answer questions around how we met, disasters from our past, our experiences going through M&A, and a bit of perspective on our leadership styles and experiences, and our perspective on the work-life balance riddle.
Rich Lyons is an ecommerce legend, and...
2024-03-151h 04
Mile 40 PodcastEp 69 - Conviction to Compassion: The Power of Second Chances Featuring Thomas ObreyEpisode Promotional Partner: Rhone Use Code: Mile40 in-store or online at www.rhone.com for 20% off your purchase. Offer valid for New Customers Only.
Once a wide-eyed dreamer with a rebellious streak, Thomas Obrey grew from his roots in a world where potential often went astray. Surrounded by clever but wayward youths, he saw firsthand how a blend of intelligence, ambition, and charisma could mislead promising individuals if not properly channeled. Yet, with his sharp mind and a heart full of ambition, Thomas also knew that a small shift in focus could transform lives—that stepping out of one's comfort zone could mea...
2024-02-291h 27
That Driving BeatThat Driving Beat - Episode 293This episode fell on Christmas Eve, so it's about 25% holiday songs from the likes of Carla Thomas, Otis Redding, James Brown, The Supremes and more. The rest is your usual favorite That Driving Beat radio dance party, good for all seasons! Originally broadcast December 24, 2023 Willie Mitchell / That Driving BeatCarla Thomas / Gee Whiz, It's ChristmasMajor Lance / RhythmBobby McClure / Peak of LoveThe Flirtations / Christmas Time is Here AgainThe Dynamics / I'm The ManFreddy Scott and the Seven Steps / T...
2023-12-251h 51That Driving BeatThat Driving Beat - Episode 289James and Uwe just got back to the studio from a Soul Road Trip. This time, they dug records all the way down to Nashville, TN and back, and Uwe brought his fresh finds to the studio to try them out. James will give his a wash, figure out what he's got, and play them at you on the next episode. Strap on your dancing shoes for another 2 packed hours of Soul, R&B, and Mod 1960s vinyl dancers! Originally broadcast November 19, 2023 Willie Mitchell / That Driving BeatThe Malibus / Ten Times a D...
2023-11-211h 54
La Calle Del Ritmo164_16 Canciones de amor y un poema desesperadoEn la semana de San Valentín, como no podría ser de otra forma teniamos que dedicar un espacio al amor. Los ritmos en los que nos enfocamos desde nuestra calle, tienen mucho que cantarle al amor, ya sea desde un punto de vista amable o maldiciendo al cariño traicionado. Nunca llueve a gusto de todos...
Mountain of love - bill black combo (Hi records -1966)
glory of love - don gardner and dee dee ford (K-1963
I love you more every day - Freddie king (Federal-1964)
baby love - jenny and the jewels (Hit-1964)
I love him and...
2022-02-191h 00
Elevated Transmissions Podcast05.16.20 | Hey There Mountain | Elevated Transmissions (Live)Another Happy hour IGTV Soul / R&B Shakedown. Got cut off mid mix but kept rockin'. Hope ya dig it.
If you want to support, hit that Venmo :)| @al_lover
Obrey Wilson - Hey There Mountain
The Invincibles - So Much Love
The Diplometts - Sit Yourself Down
Earl King - Mama & Papa
Benny Turner - Come Back Home
Betty Harris - I’m Evil Tonight
Wanda Jackson - Whirlpool
Donna Dee - Nobody’s Gonna Hurt You
Mike Patterson & The Fugitives - Jerky
Ronnie Love - Chills & Fever
Jerry McCain - Twist “62”
The Candy Johnson Show - Hound Dog (Feat. Ca...
2020-05-2300 min