Insight on Business

The Business News for 31 December PLUS the Top Interviews of 2019

Nope, we didn't take the day off nor did we go home early.  Crazy...right?  Here are the business news headlines for the final day of 2019 plus the top interviews of each month this past year. Enjoy!  

• You won't believe how many job openings there are;
• More Silicon Valley workers unionize;
• Tax cuts and the Middle-Class...it's a joke;
• Cable companies raising prices;
• Robo-Calls and you;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Self control people...self control.

Those stories plus...here are our Top Business Interviews of 2019.  We've conducted dozens of interesting conversations over the past year and looked at each month to see which resonated with you. Enjoy and thanks for being part of Insight on Business the News Hour.

Our top conversation from December is this with U.S. Senate Candidate for Iowa Mike Franken;

In November folks really connected with Improving Presentation Skills with Maureen Berger of Tero International.

Our big interview from October featured Stephanie Preusch about affordable housing in Des Moines;

September this piece with Natalie Veldhouse about Iowa a Low Wage State took top honors;

In August our Small Business Spotlight on A New Look Windows & Exteriors with Justin Williams took top honors;

July saw Four Questions for Andrew Yang as the big draw;

Our friend Carlos Alvarez shined in June with his Twelve Tips - Speak Your Way to Success;

The number one interview for May was Tom Hudson and Guns, Laws & Responsibility;

Brad Anderson and Iowa AARP - Flexing their Muscle took top honors for April;

In March we introduced you to Peter Stockdale from The Audible Farm Podcast a big winner;

This February interview about Black Businesses and Black Friday was a monster hit with Abena Imhotep;

We started 2019 off with this January conversation about Velocity Economics with Dr. Chris Draper.

Of course this is just a tiny fraction of the many, many interviews we conducted in 2019. What we found interesting is that not only are the topics wide and varied we also know that huge numbers were reached because our subjects employed successful social media techniques to drive traffic to their story. It's a lesson for everyone.

Thanks for being with us this past year. We look forward to another record 2020.

Michael, Chap, Aaron, Hunter & James - The Crew of Insight on Business the News Hour

The Business News & More 26 December 2019

Back from the holiday and the stock market continued its winning ways today. That is part of what we've got to share with you. In other business news:

• Consumers spent loads this holiday season;
• Yet another reason to part with some of your cash;
• Workers in half of U.S. states to get a raise;
• Shoppers tell Target to ditch the plastic;
• The Santa Session is happening on Wall Street;
• Got sloppy co-workers? A researcher says there are two reasons for that.

Those stories plus a two part interview with Admiral Mike Franken who is running to represent the Democrats in the November 2020 election and become the new junior U.S. Senator from Iowa. Here is that conversation, just click the player.

And, here is part two of my conversation with Mike Franken. Click the player to listen.

Thanks for coming by!

The Business News 18 December 2019

It's the Mid-Week Edition of the Business News Headlines, thanks for coming by. You want to reach us on Twitter you can do that @IOB_NewsHour. In the news today:

• Retailers are getting ready for Super Saturday;
• Amazon is updating their return policy;
• Oh, the pain of the "sloping toilet";
• Lots of job creation but...no people and why;
• Chances of being audited next year...are up;
• The Wall Street Report in a word: "Sluggish";
• Fast Food Workers get a gut punch.

Those stories plus a conversation with Brian Waller of the Technology Association of Iowa as we talk about that groups legislative priorities going into the 2020 legislative session. Technology is a big, very big, deal in Iowa and to listen to that conversation, just click our player:

Thanks for listening! 

Rural Realities & Opportunities with Deb Brown

We've all heard the stories about how Rural America is imploding. How difficult it is to establish a business there, people moving away and the economies that were so vital just 25 years ago are now in ruin. Hold on, there is a side to rural revitalization that you may not know. Meet Deb Brown who, along with Becky McCray, are from SaveYour.Town who offers real solutions to rural communities not by telling them what to do but listening to what they want. We talk about that and a recent survey that may also open your eyes to the opportunities in rural places. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long 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 at 2pm 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. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

Business Events with Laura Kinnard

Each Monday we get to hear from Laura Kinnard from Drake University, DMACC and her business events website, DMBizMixer.com about upcoming business events in the Greater Des Moines Metro. Places where you can go to see, learn and be seen. No matter if it's finance, advertising, marketing, social media or networking Laura has a list. If you would like your event talked about and shared just do #DMBizEvents in your social media post and she'll put it on the list. We also talk about The Runway at Southridge.  Here we go!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long 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 at 2pm 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. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

Presentation Tips from Tero International

Presentations...we've all been to them and many of us have given them. It could be a presentation to a small team or to a large audience. Love 'em or hate 'em they are the fabric of business. What if you could learn to give a presentation that people would not only remember but also be able to pass on information that would stick with the audience? Meet Maureen Berger one of the trainers from Tero International. Here we talk about the tips, anybody can use, to drive home your point. Simple, yet effective, ways to avoid "Death by Power Point". Here's Maureen.

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long 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 at 2pm 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. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

The Business News & More 13 November 2019

It's the MId-Week Edition of the Business News Headlines and we've got some great stories for you today. Just an FYI the Dow did jump up today by 92 points on the strength of the Fed Chairman and closed at 27,783 while the Nasdaq was down fractionally and the S&P 500 picked up 2 points.  

• Well, THAT was successful and Netflix suffers;
• Yes, there is a Costco scam going on;
• Google to offer...checking accounts;
• Nike says "buh-buh" to Amazon;
• How about "Instant Money" from your wages;
• Facebook and the iPhone glitch;
• Von Maur changes plans about Jordan Creek.

Those stories and you'll meet several of Cityview Magazine's Business Journal award winners from the recent "19 Businesses People Making a Difference in 2019". You can hear their stories by clicking on the player below. 

Thanks for listening!

The Business News & More 8 November 2019

It's got Wall Street as well as reporters asking the question, "What in the world is going on with U.S. trade policy?" It's the Friday Edition and here's what we've got for you.

• Tariffs and China - At this point nobody knows;
• How about those auto tariffs;
• Amazon is in trouble...again;
• The Dick's Sporting Goods and Guns story;
• Coke is having an AHA moment;
• Older workers ain't goin' anywhere.

Those stories and Jeff Pitts the Managing Editor for Cityview Magazine is with us to chat it up about Stuff to DO in the Des Moines Metro this weekend into next week. We've got music, sports, the arts...tons of stuff.

Thanks for listening!  

The Business News & More 6 November 2019

The markets were supposed to...go up today. That's not exactly what happened as as you can see by the close. Ouch  Why and what else are in the news today:

• What happened on Wall Street and why;
• The U.S. has a problem with...productivity;
• Why watching productivity matters;
• Bank of American raises their minimum wage;
• You, yes you, are spending way too much on your vehicle;
• A grocery store story;
• A big soccer deal is headed to Des Moines, Iowa.

Those stories plus the organization that is taking on the high cost of prescription drugs is serious and elected officials at the federal and state level need to pay attention because these folks...vote. Brad Anderson is our guest and we'll talk about that and  more.

Thanks for listening!

The Business News & More 5 November 2019

Yesterday was a record setting day on Wall Street. Today? Not so much...everybody must be out voting? It's the business news headlines for Tuesday the 5th of November. Lets's go:

• Wall Street slowed today in the face of China questions;
• American's buy lots of imported stuff;
• Speaking of buying check Costco;
• Buying, Selling and Returning with UPS;
• Samsung and their chip troubles;
• The Internet is becoming less...free.

Those stories plus a conversation with Tracey Pearson from Tero International. We're talking about the world of talking...or better put...the art of effective communication. Come by as Tracey offers up some solid communication tips and we'll also chat a bit about Detroit. We share that....too.

Thanks for coming by!