Insight on Business

The Black Phoenix Group - Real Estate with Zac Bales-Henry

Meet entrepreneur and realtor Zac Bales-Henry who launched his career just ahead of the real estate crash in 2007 and then founded The Black Phoenix Group in the midst of the pandemic. Talk about timing. Here we visit about his business, his theory that small is much more manageable and nimble than large offices and we'll talk about some very interesting history of some historic California style homes (one of which he lives in) located in Windsor Heights, Iowa.  

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 14 September 2022

Midweek and welcome back! You know, the last thing the economy needs is a rail strike…but looks like it’s what we get. The markets closed up…slightly and there was some good inflation news….about wholesale prices.  It’s the business news headlines for Wednesday the 14^th of September, thanks, everybody for being with us. Also, remember that you can hook up with us all day on Twitter @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram.  Here's what we've got for you today: 

• The looming rail strike and what that means;
• Amtrack already cuts service;
• The markets closed up as did oil;
• Good inflation news from wholesale prices;
• Job postings and wage transparency is a deal;
• Germany sold its stake in Lufthansa;
• California goes after Amazon;
• The Wall Street Report;
• More layoffs coming to Silicon Valley.

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 9 July 2021

A quick reminder that you can follow us all day and night on Twitter @IOB_NewsHour. Today, the end of the work-week for many we've got a bunch of news and we'll kick things off with a boost to the middle class:

• President Biden announces sweeping reforms;
• Wells Fargo shuts down personal lines of credit;
• The My Pillow Guy gets a court decision;
• GM is recalling more trucks and why;
• Just in: Biden fires the head of the Social Security Administration;
• The Wall Street Report;
• So many jobs so few workers and why.

Plus, because it is Friday, we've got Jeff Pitts in to chat it up about Stuff to Do in the Des Moines Metro from the files at Cityview Magazine. He's in to chat it up about "Stuff to DO" in the Greater Des Moines Metro.  And, even if you don't live here you might enjoy the conversation. Always...light.  At least we think so.  Today we're talking about the architecture walk,  sports, music, opera in Indianola (who knew...right?), music at Adventureland, Rendezvous on Riverview, the Des Moines Playhouse, Zoo Brew, Farmer's markets and so much more. Have some fun already!

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 May 2021

Welcome back!  It's the Thursday Edition of the Business News Headlines, grateful that you've come by.  Today in the world of business:

• The Vaccine and the Lottery...ask Ohio;
• Looks like the F-150 Lightening is a hit;
• Weekly new jobless claims hit today;
• The global corporate tax rate in the news;
• Oatly had quite the day...think oatmilk;
• Tech stocks rebounded and why;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Homebuilders hit a wall, times two.

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 14 May 2021

The end of another business week and Wall Street had a day...but not enough to make it a positive week. Also, because it's Friday we've got Jeff Pitts in to go hyper-local on you and chat it up about Stuff to DO in the Greater Des Moines Metro.  But first, the news:

• The CDC and masks;
• A union rips the CDC and fears for their workers;
• Disney stock continues to fall but not Netflix;
• In a surprise DoorDash does well;
• GM and more EV news;
• The oldest car company in the U.S. is...
• The Wall Street Report;
• The troubling retail sales numbers.

It's Friday the day we visit with Jeff Pitts the Managing Editor of Cityview Magazine and chat it up about "Stuff to DO" in the Greater Des Moines Metro. You'll even get to hear some of our technical difficulty. (Makes it real...right?) On tap today:

• Iowa Wild Hockey
• The Des Moines Renaissance Faire;
• Architecture Walk in DSM;
• Downtown Farmers Market;
• The Other Des Moines Renaissance event;
• (Lots of jousting it would seem.)
• Barnstormers travel to Sioux Falls;
• The Des Moines Menace are in action here;
• The Iowa Cubs are back on Tuesday;
• Trivia Night at Smash Park
• Max Wellman and the Big Band is back;
• Skateboarding is BIG with the Dew Tour.

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.

Transforming a Shopping Mall with Liz Holland

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".

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 7 April 2021

Mid-Week and thanks for being here. Today was one of those odd days on Wall Street and we'll share details plus for the interview a massive transformation of a shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa caught our attention.  But first, the news:

• Stop working and go for a walk...no, really;
• Amazon does not want to talk about this;
• The My Pillow guy is getting hit again;
• He said "tax breaks have got to go". Stunning;
• T-Mobile has a new promotion and it's big;
• Janet Yellen and more tax news;
• The Wall Street Report;
• It seems Ketchup just can't...catch up.

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".

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 9 December 2020

It was one of those days on Wall Street that started with concerns about the pandemic and ended with concerns about the next round of stimulus. Here's what we've got for you today:

• Gambling on Wall Street;
• Tech stocks took a beating...think Facebook;
• Happy Meals about to become less...happy;
• Losing our appetite for eating out;
• California and Washington State and brake pads;
• Backyard tiny offices are a thing;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Elon want to keep more of his billions it would seem.

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 sine local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, 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.

Sequel Architecture - Small Business Spotlight

We love telling the stories of entrepreneurs and when they launch a new business in the middle of a pandemic...it really becomes special. Meet Steve Wilke-Shapiro who recently launched Sequel Architecture a full service design firm doing business across Iowa. Listen to the thoughtful way Steve approaches each project, some tips on hiring an architect, the story of a 173 year-old building and more.  Meet Steve...in our Small Business Spotlight: 

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, 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 and More 12 October 2020

Thanks for clicking through again to start off our business week Here are the news headlines we've got ready for you today:

• Tech ruled the day;
• Amazon Prime Day & some tips;
• Oil prices slumped and why;
• Sure, we've got toilet paper but other stuff in in short supply;
• Theaters lose out on yet another feature film;
• The Wall Street Report;
• A new retail store...that sells only pandemic stuff.

Those stories PLUS a conversation with Steve Wilke-Shapiro who, in the midst of COVID19, decided it was a good time for him to launch his new business. It's a great story about his relationship with people, buildings and architecture. Sequel Architecture is in our Small Business Spotlight.

Thanks for listening!