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BlueStar Nation is the podcast that tackles the hot topics, trends, and emerging technologies impacting the specialty IT reseller channel, software companies, MSPs, and hardware manufacturers. Hosted by John Martin & Dean Reverman. Tell us what YOU want to hear about: nation@bluestarinc.com
Episodes
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
We’re wrapping up the year (and this podcast iteration?) with another deep dive into Star Wars news, recent projects, and our thoughts on the franchise. We’re talking “Bad Batch” season 3, “Tales of the Empire,” and the now-canceled “The Acolyte.” What’s next for Star Wars? Will we get a new movie in 2026? What do hardcore fans really want? Is Star Wars still fun?
We're rebranding as the BlueStar Nation Podcast in 2025!! Let us know what you want to see and hear on the show.
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Elo M100 & the Elo Pay 22"
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
Thursday Dec 12, 2024
"This is the year of arrival." That's how EXO co-founder Rey Essex responds to the question, "Was this the year of RFID?" Rey joins Zebra's Eric Malmed to help us find new retail RFID opportunities. What industries is item-level RFID applicable for? How does EXO's RFID checkout solution work, and why has it taken off in sports stadiums and large events?
#VARValue - Learn about the Zebra/EXO partnership and the joint kiosk solution on display at NRF ’25 in January.
Check out (pun intended) EXO's solutions
TEConnecting with us:
Eric - The Kennedy Space Center & NASA using RFID
Rey - Google Notebook LLM
Dean - Where do Americans get their news
John - Crayola trademarks the smell of their crayons
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Thursday Dec 05, 2024
Video produces 1200% more engagement than text/images only. That makes the medium a valuable tool to extend the reach and interest in your business. This week, videographer and owner of Faust Film, Max Faust, joined us in advocating for video as a "24/7 sales rep." How does video supplement other content strategies? What does a typical video shoot look like, and what misconceptions do businesses have when creating or engaging video services? How can you still utilize video on a budget or novice skills? It's the episode that's got a perfect face for radio.
Watch "When Chaos Calls," the film about BlueStar's warehouse automation Max shot
Want to utilize Max's talents? https://faustfilm.media/
BlueStar can help, too: Demand Lab Marketing Services
Articles/stats referenced
#VARValue - What recommendations do you have for resellers wanting to start a video strategy from scratch? Are there best practices or some baseline equipment they should employ if they want to do it in-house?
TEConnecting with us:
Max - Topaz Labs AI video editing
Dean - A sink-cleaning robot
John - Watch Memory: The Origins of Alien, currently streaming on Peacock
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Elo IDS 04/54 Series
Thursday Nov 28, 2024
Thursday Nov 28, 2024
*We're back with a new episode next week, but if you're looking for something fun to do with family/friends over the Thanksgiving holiday, here's a replay of our 200th episode and some Gen X vs. Millennial/Gen Z trivia!*
Wow! 200 episodes! We’ve been doing this for a while, and to mark this milestone, we're taking a break from our usual educational discussions to have some fun with another installment of Tech Trivia. It's Dean versus the younger generations, Sarah Schlueter and Sarah Stenger, in a battle of tech knowledge. Plus, as a special bonus, John & Dean finally do more than make a passing reference to the unofficial TEConnect Podcast film, “Minority Report.”
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
Thursday Nov 21, 2024
*We're off until December, so enjoy a replay of our episode on traceability in the food supply chain*
*Originally released March 28, 2024*
Traceability is more important than ever in the food supply chain, as it allows quick and efficient tracking and halting of potential contaminants and foodborne illnesses. This week, food supply chain expert Jim Hilton joins us (in the studio!) to explain the opportunities for VARs. Why are we seeing more recalls? How does the direct-to-consumer market affect the supply chain? What is the FSMA 204 Final Rule, and how will technology help suppliers comply quickly? It’s the episode that wants to know exactly where this salad came from.
#VARValue—What conversations should VARs who work with food manufacturers/suppliers have right now to prepare for these changes?
TEConnecting with us:
Jim - Temperature control/sensors & truck connectivity
Dean - AI helps create new antibiotics
John - The EU's AI Act
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
Thursday Nov 14, 2024
What topics are John & Dean riffing on this week?
- Why some people don't have children
- A hybrid work A/B test
- FAA approves air taxis
- Younger generations are not answering the phone
- US state name meanings
- Worst workplace jargon
- The best TV episodes of all time
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Why do plants wiggle
John - Watch "Homicide: Life on the Street" on Peacock
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
Thursday Nov 07, 2024
We're breaking down the data from another one of our #BlueStarNation end-user surveys, this time speaking to 125 retail leaders about point-of-sale. What are the top considerations when buying? What is the preferred OS? What are the biggest challenges? What is on their wishlist for their next solution?
Register for Elo's Payments & POS Panel Discussion
#VARValue - What should a retail VAR do with this info?
TEConnecting with us:
Dean - Meta AI data center "scuppered" by bees
John - How many unused gift cards do Americans have?
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
In honor of a Halloween release, we're talking about the spooky season with special guests Sam Hughes and...the Ghostface killer from Scream? (It's Sarah Schlueter!) What are some movies/TV shows that have scared us? Favorite Halloween costumes? What technology scares us? Best candy? It's the episode so packed that Dean could only say, "Oh."
TEConnecting with us:
Sarah - The story behind Spirit Halloween
Sam - Digital literacy in an age of misinformation
Dean - Stem-cell therapy for diabetes
John - Evil on Paramount Plus
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
Thursday Oct 24, 2024
"The robots are here," says Juan Higueros, Co-Founder & COO of Bear Robotics. He joins us this week to discuss the robot market, where opportunities are taking off, and how VARs can play a huge role. What are service robots doing in the hospitality industry? What use case surprised Juan? What does a typical deployment look like? How does Juan address skepticism?
#VARValue - How is Bear partnering with VARs to find opportunities and bring robots to market?
TEConnecting with us:
Juan - Tesla's Optimus robot
Dean - Amazon & Google investing in nuclear
John - Why Congress is trying to keep AM radios in cars
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Oct 17, 2024
Thursday Oct 17, 2024
Shipping labels aren't going anywhere, but why are they so dull? Epson's Tessa Kohl returns to emphasize the opportunity to do more with a process all shippers utilize. How can labels level up with color, additional images and messages, and personalized content? How does such labeling benefit the shipper, and how is Epson helping your customers make the most of wasted box space? It's the episode that references far too many old cartoons.
#VARValue - Tell us about Label Boost, Epson’s software for creating these dynamic, versatile labels.
TEConnecting with us:
Tessa - Microsoft Recall & AI skepticism
Dean - Plastic-eating fungus
John - Mysterious sounds from the Mariana Trench
Keep in Touch!
Email - TEConnect@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Submit your topic ideas - https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/about-the-company/bluestar-teconnect-podcast
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Epson Label Boost Software