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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 Jul 31, 2025
Thursday Jul 31, 2025
You probably sell a lot of cool tech…mobile computers, POS systems, digital signage, printers, RFID, etc, and most of that stuff is designed to send and receive data and communicate with other systems, so it’s only as good as the networks it’s connected to. Is that connectivity something you are selling? Are you leaving it to specialized providers, mobile carriers, or your competitors? If you are selling connectivity solutions yourself, do you have the support you need to deliver reliable hardware and services? We answered those questions in a webinar last week with our team of BlueStar networking & connectivity experts for the US & Canada. We didn’t want you to miss out if you weren’t able to attend, so we’re presenting that discussion on this special episode.
Featuring: Jim HIlton -- Chris Dollinger -- John Haberer -- Kenton Janzen
Why work with BlueStar for this technology? What’s our approach and the experience of our team? Who are we partnering with, and how do we vet them? And finally, how can we make it easy to deliver tailored, ready-to-deploy solutions? Bonus...Dean & John have very little to say in this one, so you can focus on the experts!
Learn more about BlueStar Networking & Connectivity: https://www.bluestarinc.com/en-us/industries-and-technologies/networking-and-connectivity
After you listen, take the survey! https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/8398518/Networking-Experts-Webinar-Survey
#VARValue - Final takeaways from the discussion and why VARs should lean on BlueStar for these solutions.
On Our Radar
Dean - Amazon Prime Day GenAI traffic & Starbucks RTO
John - Chuck-E-Cheese for adults?
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
Thursday Jul 24, 2025
LG's Mike Stachura is bringing his incredible energy and enthusiasm for digital signage back to the pod (and in-studio!) with Disty Sales Director Matt Waidley. They are discussing current trends in signage, their favorite use cases, how AI is changing deployments and potential applications, and what's new with LG. Slip into some comfy shoes and enjoy!
Around the Nation: 2U Tour NYC...on a boat!
#VARValue - Explain the difference between ROI & ROO? How can VARs sell the “intangible” benefits of digital displays?
On Our Radar
Matt - self-driving cars
Mike - Crocs
Dean - Sweaty paint
John - LegoGPT
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
Thursday Jul 17, 2025
LG's Mike Stachura brings his incredible energy back to the pod next week, so we thought we'd revisit his last appearance, which covered a wide range of topics and was a lot of fun.
Originally released Aug 24th, 2023
* * *
An epic AI trilogy deserves an epic conclusion, so this week, we welcomed LG’s Mike Stachura & Aaron Addison into the studio for various topics and a lot of laughter. First, we discuss some predictions for generative AI’s impact on business. Next, we dig into the importance of addressing employee experience by featuring the story of Fordlandia. Finally, what does Constantinople have to do with cybersecurity? It’s the episode that knows how to be professional and charming at the same time.
#VARValue - How is LG addressing the topics we’ve discussed today, and how are you helping VARs tackle these timely solution needs with their customers?
Check out LG's All-in-One Thin Client
TEConnecting with us:
Mike - Aliens
Aaron - Electric toothbrushes
Dean - Acoustic hacking
John - Self-repossessing cars
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
Thursday Jul 10, 2025
We're sharing another batch of interesting reads, trends, lists, and studies to give you something to discuss while waiting for your next meeting to start, over lunch with a client, or with friends and family.
Topics:
- An all-AI agent company?
- 2024 restaurant trends
- The world's wealthiest and happiest cities
- Why Americans are working less
- What happens to your digital life when you die?
Around the Nation: Networking Experts Webinar - Register Now!
On Our Radar
Dean - World Humanoid Robot Sports Games
John - Ranking Spielberg's Movies
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
Thursday Jul 03, 2025
This week, we're seeking insights, advice, and experiences from one of our customers in the channel. Elie Katz, Founder & CEO of National Retail Solutions, tells us about building a POS business aimed at helping independent merchants compete against large chains and still have access to the latest and greatest technology. How can SMB VARs & ISVs stand out in a crowd? What does the channel bring to VARs? Are there recurring revenue "hacks"? And what does public service have to do with being a good salesperson?
Check out NRS' offerings: https://nrsplus.com/
Around the Nation: Follow BlueStar on LinkedIn
#VARValue - What advice do you have for resellers to stay relevant in the years to come? Are there industries/technologies/trends you’re watching closely?
On Our Radar
Elie - Expanding into restaurants
Dean - AI-generated ad
John - Indications of extraterrestrial life?
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
Thursday Jun 26, 2025
"It's put up or shut up time for AI!" proclaims John on this week's episode. He and Dean are ready to see real, tangible applications with AI. Thankfully, Elo's Luke Wilwerding brings the goods by helping us explore AI's actual potential and the tools and infrastructure VARs need to bring those solutions to their customers. How is AI already impacting your device sales? What are end-users saying they want? Will AI eliminate the touchscreen? What should VARs be doing in their business to prepare for future AI opportunities?
Around the Nation: Find BlueStar at RetailNow 2025!
#VARValue - Elo recently announced new I-Series 5 and Backpack 5 products built for an Elo.AI initiative. Tells us a bit about that initiative, what it means for your hardware, and how VARs can take advantage to develop their own AI solutions.
On Our Radar
Luke - How AI accelerates science
Dean - Walmart delivery drones
John - Cluely
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday Jun 19, 2025
Thursday Jun 19, 2025
Our latest BlueStar Nation survey tackles mobile device usage, challenges, and expectations for clinical healthcare workers. To help us break down the data, we turned to an expert, Zebra's Healthcare CNIO Industry Principal Kassaundra McKnight-Young, to not only explain the benefits of enterprise mobility in the industry but also share her perspective as an active clinician. Is there still an opportunity to move healthcare away from consumer devices? How can communication between care teams be improved? Who are the key decision-makers for healthcare tech? Why are so many clinicians leaving the industry entirely?
Around the Nation: Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
#VARValue - Did any other findings in this survey stand out to you? How is Zebra helping the reseller community tackle clinical mobility needs?
On Our Radar
Kassaundra - Clinical staff duress
Dean - The evolutionary benefits of itching
John - Is our galaxy going to collide with another?
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Sponsored by:
Zebra's HC25 & HC55 Rugged Healthcare Mobile Computers
Elo's Quick Ship Program
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
Thursday Jun 12, 2025
As more devices, solutions, and emerging tech like AI & machine vision demand rapid, near-instantaneous processing and response, relying solely on the cloud and centralized servers may not be enough. Scale Computing is helping VARs address the need for decentralization, and their CEO, Jeff Ready, joins the pod this week to provide context and a path forward. How does a Robert Frost poem explain contemporary attitudes toward edge computing? What's happening with VMWare? What misconceptions persist about edge vs. cloud? It's the episode that really encourages you to attend our poetry slam.
Around the Nation: The 2U Tour Rolls On!
#VARValue - How is Scale helping resellers and ISVs deliver stronger solutions on the edge?
On Our Radar
Jeff - AI-assisted app development
Dean - Tardigrade radiation shield
John - Blue Book exams return
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Elo 70-Series Instant Rebate (ends June 30th, 2025!)
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
Thursday Jun 05, 2025
The modern kitchen serves many masters: food safety standards, "I want it now and I want it here" consumers, and delivery companies enabling those consumers. How are those demands influencing restaurant technology in the kitchen and front-of-the-house? Star Micronics' Christophe Naasz joins to explain. How do label printers and modern scanning solutions drive efficiency? What are the advantages of cloud POS vs. on-prem? What did Christophe see at NRA that excited or interested him?
Around the Nation: Watch Star's QSR Labeling Webinar!
#VARValue - How is Star helping restaurants keep up with kitchen demands and the increase in cloud-based POS systems?
On Our Radar
Christophe - Meta's Ray Ban AI glasses
Dean - €1million doorstop
John - "Super-vision" contact lenses
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by:
Thursday May 29, 2025
Thursday May 29, 2025
The new Trump administration has been busy rolling back initiatives from previous administrations and rapidly overhauling government agencies. If you sell into the public sector, what do these rapid changes mean? We turn, as always, to our government guru, EVerged's Jeff Smith, to provide guidance. What is happening with EV charging rollouts and opportunities? How is the DOGE dismantling of agencies affecting tech investments? What does it mean for state and local businesses? What's Jeff's advice for handling uncertain times?
Around the Nation: Vote for the RSPA Vendor Awards of Excellence!
#VARValue - What did you learn from the first Trump administration that’s helping you navigate the new one? Or is it much different this time?
On Our Radar
Jeff - Autonomy & productivity
Dean - Manu jumping
John - Ghosted? Try the Closure chatbot
Keep in Touch!
Email – nation@bluestarinc.com
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue-star
Subscribe to the BlueStar Nation Newsletter - https://nation.bluestarinc.com/#subscribe
Sponsored by: Elo M51 Rugged Mobile Computer