Insight on Business

The Business News & Stuff to DO 24 September 2021

It's the final Friday of the month of September...like where did that go?  Hey, right after the news headlines we've got Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine with "Stuff to DO" in the Greater Des Moines Metro this weekend into next week...hey, it's Friday!  In the news:

• Shades of 2008 in...China;
• Costco says destroy this product;
• Remember Lay-a-Way. News from Walmart;
• Customers are back but not fast food workers;
• But it's not just food service...what FedEx said;
• But, Cabela's is Hiring; 
• China and Cryptocurrency it's a big deal;
• Credit card trouble over at AARP;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Let's do email etiquette 101 shall we?

Stuff to DO in the Greater Des Moines Metro with Jeff Pitts the managing editor of Cityview Magazine. He's in to help me riff about a whole host of things to going on in this, our Hyper-Local look at fun this weekend into next week.  Sup? Des Moines Street Style is a happening thing all over the Metro. The Okee Dokee Brothers with Sonia De Los Santos (Jeff is practicing his Spanish) are making music tonight. The Wine and Whisky Walk from Cityview is happening in the West Glen Shopping Area. The Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Show at the State Fairgrounds but...NO gun show! Octoberfest (in September) is happening. Last chance to see CABARET at the Des Moines Playhouse. Strap in and go to the Halfway to St. Pat's Day Bike Ride starting at Carl's Place. Illumifest is a big deal in West Des Moines. Knotfest happens on Saturday as well. The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival...is a go!  Applefest at Living History Farms (and we share some trivia). The Des Moines Symphony is tuning up. Family Movie Night is happening at the West Des Moines Valley Community Center...and we also talk about the Valley High School Football Stadium...yikes. So go out already and have some fun! 

Thanks for listening! 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

"Bet the Farm with Author/Farmer Beth Hoffman

While at the Okoboji Writers Retreat in September I met Beth Hoffman a woman with an interesting history. Think Queens, Long Island, Jersey, Berkley, California the University of California, San Francisco a stint reporting for NPR...and now a farmer on a beef ranch in Iowa. She's just published a book "Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America". We sat down to talk about her journey and her life now as the wife of a chef/butcher and 5th generation farmer John Hogeland near the tiny town of Lovilia (pop. 583). Here is her story. 

Thanks for listening! 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

Passionate About the Future - Desmund Adams of Focus & Find

Desmund Adams, the founder of Focus and Find, is passionate about changing the culture of Corporate America. You can hear it in his
voice. The goal, says Adams, is to get businesses to understand there is a better way toward more profit and it's been proven time after time.  Besides, as he says, he wants a better future for so many people, some not yet born. We think you'll like this. And, if you want a link to his book D&I Has Died here you go! 

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines & More 23 September 2021

Day two of the rebound on Wall Street but that's not the only big story from today and, make sure you stick around for an interesting conversation featuring author Beth Hoffman and her remarkable journey from the East and West Coasts...to a tiny town in Iowa.  But, first the news:

• Amazon, AI Cameras and Unhappy Drivers;
• Texas, Israel and Ben & Jerry's Ice Crème;
• More retail concerns for the holidays;
• Chips...we're talking chips again;
• No shortage of unemployed workers...new numbers;
• The Wall Street Report
• The "Snowbirds" are once again headed south.

For the interview you'll meet educator, reporter, farmer and now author Beth Hoffman and the story of her remarkable journey. And her new book "Bet the Farm: The Dollars and Sense of Growing Food in America".

We think you'll enjoy our conversation...I really did. 

Thanks for coming by!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines and More 22 September 2021

Back in the studio from a very informative and helpful event known as the Okoboji Writers Retreat. Two and a half days with writers, publishers, agents doing all kinds of work. Plus a screening of Storm Lake a movie about a small town newspaper and its amazing staff  and one, Art Cullen, who won a Pulitzer. What a great time and learned so much.

Here's what we've got for you today:

• What a difference a day makes;
• Kmart, Sears & J.C. Penny; an update;
• Google and back at the office;
• Changes in the restaurant industry;
• The new Federal Reserve report;
• The Debt Ceiling and the Child Tax Credit;
• The Wall Street Report;
• The fizz is out of the hard seltzer business.

Those stories plus a very passionate Desmund Adams the founder of Focus and Find a socially responsible recruitment firm. He says his mission is to change the direction of Corporate America and doing so by helping them find a way to drive profit while creating a better world for folks not yet born.  Strong stuff right here:

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

Journalist Ty Rushing on Business and More

I've known Ty Rushing virtually for some time and we recently had the opportunity to meet during the Okoboji Writers Retreat. Here we talk about the business of journalism, his travels, his work as a business reporter and now as the Editor of Iowa Starting Line...a new gig for this very talented young may. You can follow him on Twitter @RushTheWriter.

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News & More 21 September 2021

Back with you on day two of the Okoboji Writers Retreat where roughly 150 people from across the country have come together to learn how to better communicate or how to get their work published. After the news stick around for my conversation with journalist Ty Rushing.  Here's what we've got for you today:

• Almost Wall Street...all most;
• Commodities in for a rough session?
• Takata airbags back in the news;
• More companies say goodbye to the office;
• Danger looming in Washington;
• Crypto Currencies under investigation;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Talking "near beer" and the come back.

I've known Ty Rushing virtually for some time and we recently had the opportunity to meet during the Okoboji Writers Retreat. Here we talk about the business of journalism, his travels, his work as a business reporter and now as the Editor of Iowa Starting Line...a new gig for this very talented young may. You can follow him on Twitter @RushTheWriter.

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 20 September 2021

It's the business news headlines for Monday the 20th of September and coming to you from the Lakes of Okoboji in Northwestern Iowa.  We're here for the Okoboji Writers Retreat created by newsperson and writer Julie Gammack. It's been quite the day.  In the news:

• The "Global Economy" proof;
• What? States demand money back;
• Heard of Ghosting Coasting? You will today;
• GM and Chevy Bolt fixes;
• Tequila Bottles, Air Force One and Boeing;
• More supply chain troubles loom;
• The Wall Street Report;
• We're going way too...fast.

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines & More 17 September 2021

Glad to be back with you and a shout out to Chap Ramsey who took care of the show yesterday for me.  It's the end of the business week and this is what we've got for you today:

• The restaurant loses 30% of it's customers...daily;
• Restaurants are shutting down and why;
• Some Starbucks workers want a union;
• Should you tip for takeout?
• Vaccines, Mandates and United Airlines;
• New news about booster shots;
• He stole $30 million for...love;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Adult tantrums are a thing.

Heading into another weekend and Jeff Pitts the managing editor of Cityview Magazine is in to chat it up about a host of stuff going on tonight into next week.  We've got some heavy duty romance stuff with Michael Buble at The Well and also kicking off Friday and going through the weekend it's the World Food & Music Festival. The music looks to be fantastic with the Original Wailers, the Maytags, the Dick Danger Band and the list goes on and on. The whole schedule is here. Tonight is the 100th Anniversary of the Drake University Municipal Observatory. A new seal pup at the Blank Park Zoo. Cabaret at the Des Moines Playhouse. The Downtown Farmers Market is on Saturday. Rufus Wainwright and Jose Gonzalez is a thing at Hoyt Sherman on Tuesday the 21st. Valley Junction Farmers Market with Boomerang on Thursday.  And a bunch more cool stuff to do in the Des Moines Metro. 

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 16 September 2021

It is the Thursday Edition of the business news headlines. Our host, Michael Libbie, has the day off so you're getting Chap Ramsey and the written version of the headlines.  Here is what's been going on:

• August Retail Surprise - It was a complete surprise as data showed retail sales grew by .7% in August. Economists had projected retail sales would fall by .8%.  Meanwhile if auto sales are excluded sales jumped by 1.8%. It was a solid report.
• Wall Street - You would think that those kinds of numbers would boost Wall Street and while they did for a bit the markets ended the day mixed. Those numbers in just a bit.
• New Jobless Numbers - This is what may have muted the markets. New jobless numbers came in 20,000 higher than the week before. Ending September 11. 332,000 Americans filed new unemployment claims.
• Just Inhale - Despite opposition from health groups Phillip Morris (think cigarettes) announced that it had taken control of the U.K. inhaler company Vectura. Phillip Morris is hoping to see over half of it's revenue come from non-smoking products by 2025.
• Guaranteed Income Test - What was non-existent just just six years ago is now catching on in 20 U.S. cities test the idea of guaranteed income. Most of the programs are paid for by using donations. But they all have one thing in common: they give some of society’s poorest and most marginalized people cold-hard cash, and then let them spend it however they want. And, it's catching on with some 45% of Americans favoring some type of guaranteed income program. 
• Rents - Rents nationwide are rising at a fast pace, according to a new analysis from Realtor.com. The median rent for all sizes of rentals nationwide was $1,607 as of August, representing an increase of 11.5% from a year ago.
• Wall Street - Stocks ended the day mixed with the Dow falling by 63 points the close at 34,751. The S&P 500 was down by nearly 7 points closing at 4,473. The Nasdaq outperformed getting 20 points above the flat-line to end the trade at 15,181.
• Bye Bye - And, finally there is this: HBO abruptly lost 5 million subscribers this week, after its agreement with Amazon to sell digital subscriptions through its Prime service ended. Prime members have long been able to subscribe to HBO for $15 per month. HBO says they are willing to lose customers, in the short term, as they attempt to build their own relationship with consumers.

That's a wrap.  Thanks for reading!  Michael will be back in tomorrow.

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.