Future Commerce is the culture magazine for Commerce. Hosts Phillip Jackson and Brian Lange help brand and digital marketing leaders see around the next corner by exploring the intersection of Culture and Commerce. Trusted by the world's most recognizable brands to deliver the most insightful, entertaining, and informative weekly podcasts, Future Commerce is the leading new media brand for eCommerce merchants and retail operators. Each week, we explore the cultural implications of what it me ...
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Welcome to the PlayAbly Podcast, where we explore the latest trends in e-commerce, personalized marketing, and data-driven strategies that engage customers and make online shopping fun again. Tune in as we dive into how gamification such as quizzes, games, and interactive experiences are reshaping the way brands connect with their audiences, drive conversions, and stand out in a competitive marketplace. Get your first month of PlayAbly Shoppable Games free by mentioning this podcast during y ...
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Ecology and The Death of Culture™
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1:33:14When does a word become so ubiquitous it loses all meaning? Brian's sudden aversion to "culture" sparks a meandering exploration into the semiotics of commerce, just as Poppy's influencer vending machine saga becomes an unlikely metaphor for marketing's existential crisis. PLUS, we revisit a key moment from NRF 2025. The Great ‘Culture Cancel’ of 2…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 22: How Tariffs Are Reshaping E-Commerce: Strategies for Staying Competitive
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Tariffs are back in the spotlight, and e-commerce brands are feeling the impact. In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we break down what tariffs really mean, who pays the price, and how they’re shaking up global trade. Join our host and PlayAbly CEO, John, as we explore how brands can navigate rising costs, diversify supply chains, and leverage…
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Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISION…
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The Surveillance Generation
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1:09:20Phillip and Brian look into tomorrow’s creator economy, shaped by the role of AI-driven agents in commerce and attention as currency. While rising generations invisibly develop instincts for algorithmic curation, Mr. Beast’s Feastables collect dust in your local Walgreens. PLUS: We bring you along to our NRF panel discussion alongside our friends f…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 21: Gamifying Growth – How Playfield Created a Viral DTC Brand with Engagement & Community
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In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with Ivana, founder of Playfield, the pet accessories brand behind the viral Bailey Kit. We dive into her journey from Google to launching a DTC brand, the challenges of bootstrapping, and how she’s building a community-driven brand with playful, engaging experiences. We also discuss the Playfiel…
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Head of Content James Mulvey joins the show to discuss Motion’s latest creative trends report, which analyzed over $100M+ in ad spend across platforms to extract top creative insights. Listen now to catch the highlights and learn how breakthrough ads are getting faster, funnier, and uglier. Read Motion’s 2025 Creative Trends Report at Motionapp.com…
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Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISION…
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This week, we’re live-reacting to battles across culture. It’s DeepSeek vs. OpenAI, Millennials vs. Gen X, and Starbucks vs. Sharpies (Sharpies won). PLUS: The Flappy Bird effect drives an aftermarket of devices with TikTok access, yuppie culture booms, and Waymo strikes again. The Other Side of Headless Commerce Key takeaways: DeepSeek’s Disruptio…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 20: Designing Play: Why Every Brand Needs a Game Designer (and What Makes a Game Great!)
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What does a game designer really do, and why does it matter for your brand? In this episode, we sit down with Seema, our Head of UX and Game Design, to uncover the psychology behind great game design and its impact on customer engagement. From building shoppable games that drive conversions to creating immersive ecommerce gamification strategies an…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 19: NRF 2025 Recap: How Playably Stood Out and What’s Next for Retail
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In this episode, we dive into the excitement of the NRF conference, where over 6,200 global brands gathered in New York City to explore the future of retail. Join us as the Playably team reflects on their experience, including: Insights from showcasing shoppable games and engaging with industry leaders. Behind-the-scenes moments, from assembling ou…
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“There is nothing but micro trends these days. Sometimes, things bubble up, and they capture the imagination of pop culture…but then they last for a really short time. In that environment, how do you really set yourself up to influence culture?” In this week’s episode, Ana Andjelic graces our show with breakthrough advice from her latest book, Hitm…
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After Dark: Dandruff, "Digital Blackface," and Rewatching Back to the Future 2
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1:17:45This FREE PREVIEW of the After Dark is brought to you by Future Commerce Plus! Join today and receive access to ad-free and bonus content from Future Commerce. futurecommerce.com/plus We're covering the first 100 Days of the New Commerce Department: what trade and tariff policies are up Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's sleeve? PLUS: We dig into …
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Bounce rates have been a persistent pain point for websites, but why do so many visitors leave before engaging? In this episode of the Playably Podcast, our CEO John Cheng dives deep into the psychology behind bounce rates and what makes websites "sticky." We explore: 🎯 Why bounce rates remain high despite advancements in eCommerce. 🧠 The psycholog…
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In this landmark discussion from NRF 2025, we lay out our theory of commerce's next evolutionary leap: the necessary fusion of human and artificial intelligence in digital spaces. As today's retailers hastily construct separate domains for silicon and carbon-based shoppers, we explore why this well-intentioned bifurcation may be precisely the wrong…
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The Future of Timelessness
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1:05:59This week, we’re unpacking Adobe’s holiday shopping report, the AI bot takeover, and the dead internet theory. As 2025 kicks off with powerful demand for both in-person experiences and AI-driven, frictionless online shopping, we’re peering into the future of the tension. PLUS: Phillip the Time Capsule Guy takes us back in time, and 5,000 years into…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 17: From Monopoly to McDonald’s: What Board Games Teach Us About Customer Engagement
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What do Monopoly, UNO, and McDonald's Monopoly all have in common? They’ve mastered the art of engagement by tapping into human behavior, nostalgia, and fun. In this episode, we’re joined by Seema, PlayAbly’s Head of UX and Design, to explore the timeless principles behind the games we grew up loving. From competitive moments (hello, UNO reverse ca…
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Ever felt personally victimized by a discount spinner? You know, those flashy wheels of disappointment promising 50% off but always landing on a measly 10%? Seema, our UX and game design guru, is here to spill the tea on why spinners are the awkward middle child of eCommerce gimmicks. In this episode, we unpack: 🎡 Why spinners are the digital equiv…
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Predictions 2025: The Rise of Gen X & Americana
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2:26:41In our biggest episode of the year, we explore seismic shifts coming in 2025: from the return of Gen X leadership to a new wave of American counterculture. We revisit our eerily accurate 2024 predictions while laying out bold forecasts for retail consolidation, AI evolution, and the changing media landscape. Plus, we dive deep into why Google might…
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Year-End Roundup: Best of 2024
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1:23:46This year was a great one for the Future Commerce podcast. We vision-casted with fellow futurists at exclusive events across the nation, launched podcast specials like Spooky Commerce and FC Radio Theater, and were joined on the podcast by many of our industry muses, including Kickstarter’s Yancey Strickler and Walmart’s Justin Breton. We’ve rounde…
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Introducing a Future Commerce Radio Theater production: A Day in the Life of Nana Alexa, an original story by Erin DaCruz. Performed for radio by Joseph Discher and Leonor Woodworth. Voice production by Whole Story Studio. A Day in the Life of Nana Alexa can be found in the Muses journal, available for purchase at shop.futurecommerce.com. Timecodes…
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Introducing a Future Commerce Radio Theater production: The Wrong Part, an original story by Brian Lange. Performed for radio by Joseph Discher. Voice production by Whole Story Studio. The Wrong Part can be found in the Muses journal, available for purchase at shop.futurecommerce.com. Stay tuned for our upcoming radio theater readings: A Day in the…
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Introducing a Future Commerce Radio Theater production: Dissociating at Costco, an original story by Brian Lange. Performed for radio by Joseph Discher. Voice production by Whole Story Studio. Dissociating at Costco can be found in the Archetypes journal, available for purchase at shop.futurecommerce.com. Stay tuned for our upcoming radio theater r…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 15: Gamification, Taylor Swift, and the Eras of E-Commerce: How to Build a Brand Fans Love
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What do Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and ecommerce gamification have in common? Turns out, everything. In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we dive into how Taylor Swift has mastered gamification to build unmatched fan loyalty, from surprise songs to Easter eggs and fan-driven experiences. We explore: 🎤 The gamified strategies behind the Eras Tour’…
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In this episode of the Playably Podcast, we sit down with CEO and founder John Cheng to deconstruct how gamification has become a cornerstone for global success stories like Temu. From interactive spinners and loyalty programs to personalized engagement strategies, we explore how brands are using gamification to hook customers, drive loyalty, and g…
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Yancey Strickler on Metalabel, Digital Scarcity, and the Coming Creative Revolution Kickstarter co-founder Yancey Strickler unveils his vision of a radical economic future where artists become society's power brokers. Through Metalabel, he's building the infrastructure for collective commerce and creative ownership that could transform how we value…
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Join us at the final events of the year! All of our events can be found at futurecommerce.com/events December 9: Future Commerce LIVE at The Moore RSVP: Apply to attend here December 11: Commerce Conversations At Sea 2.0 RSVP: Apply to attend hereFuture Commerce
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 13: Crafting the Perfect Interactive Experience with PlayAbly’s Head of UX
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In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, we’re joined by Seema, PlayAbly’s Head of UX and Game Design. Seema works directly with customers to help them shape the games and interactive experiences that boost engagement. Today, she shares insights into balancing client ideas with best UX practices, designing games that work for different customer per…
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Retail and customer experience expert Kate Fannin brings brands down to earth for a living, driven by her consulting mantra, “People buy things; they pay for experiences.” Drawing from her career journey across iconic brands like Gap, Nordstrom, and Estée Lauder, Kate offers insightful strategies for curating meaningful customer connections that ma…
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We are joined by the brilliant Jacob Matson, Developer Advocate at Mother Duck, to discuss the new frontier of data application, the evolution of computing, and Brian’s taste in wine. Get nerdy with us and learn about the unlimited potential for customized consumer experiences powered by advanced databases and more tech forecasts – brought to you b…
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Jack Kavanagh of Shopanova joins us to share his unique perspective on cutting through the noise of marketing fads and focusing on strategies that truly drive growth. From balancing trends with long term strategies to harnessing the power of tools like Triple Whale’s Sonar for precise ad targeting, we dive deep into the realities of scaling eCommer…
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We sit down with Brandon Kuipers, Co-founder and CMO of Zox, to discuss how a family arts-and-crafts project evolved into a globally recognized e-commerce brand. Hear how Zox grew from a family project to an international success by leveraging data-driven marketing, and how emerging tools like Triple Whale's Sonar have unlocked global markets. From…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 12: How AI and Personalization are Transforming E-commerce: Insights from Playably CEO John Cheng
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In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, I’m joined by Playably CEO and founder John Chaeg to dive into the transformative power of AI and personalization in the e-commerce industry. John shares insights from his extensive experience building companies focused on personalization, discusses how AI is being used to enhance the customer journey, and e…
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[STEP BY STEP] The Secret to Smarter Meta Ad Spend: Guess Less With A Winning Mega Data Platform
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You want an optimized performance marketing stack, we have the expert insight. In season 14 of Step-By-Step, we’ve partnered with Triple Whale and Meta to help you maximize RoAS with higher-quality data. In this episode, you’ll learn why first-party data is critical in a privacy-conscious eCommerce ecosystem, how domain-specific AI can revolutioniz…
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“Email’s stability in a changing digital world makes it one of the few reliable channels left for brands, even after ten years.” Seasoned eCommerce and email marketing expert Greg Zakowicz joins Brian and Phillip to unpack the holiday inbox squeeze. The Tried and True, Yet Hackable, Email Campaign Key takeaways: [00:01:41] “Email’s stability in a c…
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In the latest episode of the Playably Podcast, Kajal and Gabi dive into a key Black Friday Cyber Monday strategy: maximizing engagement with playable ads. With BFCM season fast approaching, brands are vying for shoppers’ attention in a shorter-than-usual holiday window. Gabi explains why ecommerce gamification is critical for driving meaningful con…
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In this second episode of our Black Friday series, CEO and Founder John Cheng breaks down how advent calendars can drive customer engagement and boost holiday sales. Discover the psychology behind these calendars and why they’re an effective tool for capturing customer attention in a high-competition season. John shares examples of how brands can l…
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Black Friday Episode 1 of a 3 Part Series In this episode, Angelo and Kajal dive into practical ways brands can harness gamification to boost holiday sales and engagement. From advent calendars to streaks, learn how interactive experiences and themed content keep customers returning. Discover how ecommerce gamification can help your brand stand out…
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In this episode, we're unlocking the secrets behind landing pages—those crucial first impressions that can make or break your conversions. We'll dive into everything from design and messaging to optimization tips, transforming your landing page into a true conversion powerhouse. For eCommerce brands, we'll also discuss how ecommerce gamification, s…
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Phoebe Yu loves jumping down rabbit holes with the audience of her curiosity-driven channel on YouTube that focuses on research, human psychology, and culture, specifically within the tech sector. But if something interesting finds its way into the comment section, she’ll deep dive into that too. Listen now to Phoebe Yu’s conversation with Phillip …
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Get ad-free episodes and bonus content, including the full recording of this podcast, by joining Future Commerce+ at futurecommerce.com/plus Save 20% on Future Commerce print journals and merch Private GPT access with Alani™ from BundleIQ Exclusive invites to physical events, dinners, and priority invites to industry events (SXSW, Art Basel, VISION…
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In PlayAbly Podcast 7: ShopTalk Fall 2024 Recap, we chat with Seema and Angelo from PlayAbly, fresh from their ShopTalk Fall experience. They share key highlights, including engaging conversations about gamification, exciting trends, and unique insights from their meetings with top brands. Seema discusses the growing demand for gamified shopping ex…
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Spooky Commerce finishes with an epic finale as we explore the mysterious history of Seattle's iconic Pike Place Market. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah share tales of ghost sightings, haunted (coffee) grounds, and the rich lore behind one of the oldest continuously operating markets in the U.S. PLUS: Phillip and Brian debrief a tragedy involving AI-to-h…
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This week we unpack multisensory commerce, the economical ebb and flow of re-commerce, and reflect on Phillip’s keynote at the Motion Creative Strategy Summit. PLUS: Spooky Commerce is back. Phillip, Brian, and Sarah journey to a haunted 1980’s Bay Area Toys R Us. The Duality of Recommerce Key takeaways: Tactile interactions produce profound experi…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 6: Boosting Paid Media with SEO: How Strategic Blogging Can Transform Your eCommerce ROI
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In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, we sit down with Gabi, the main point of contact for our major accounts, to explore how aligning your blog content with paid media strategies can significantly impact your eCommerce performance. Discover why relying solely on ad spend can limit your growth and how a strategic SEO approach using blog posts ca…
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PlayAbly Episode 5: Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Shopify Migrations: Insights from PlayAbly’s CEO
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In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, CEO John Cheng joins us to dive into the complexities of website migration, particularly for ecommerce brands transitioning to Shopify. Drawing on his background from Unity and years of experience in the gaming industry, John shares insights into the most common pitfalls ecommerce businesses face when migrat…
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From dead-and-undead-again crypto cycles to eBay’s paranormal side, we explore the range of the paranormal in this week’s installment of Spooky Commerce. Listen now! Crypt-O-Currency, Panic Buying and Paranormal Ducks Key takeaways: eCommerce giants like Pinduoduo (Temu’s parent company) are contributing to deflation in China by flooding the market…
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PlayAbly Podcast Episode 4: Creating Games That Fit the Brand and Why Discount Spinners are Never the Answer
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In this episode, we sit down with Seema Rao, Head of UX and Game Development at PlayAbly, to explore the art and strategy behind creating engaging games for brands. Seema, with over 20 years of experience in game development, shares her insights on why it’s essential to align games with a brand’s identity and target audience, and why generic soluti…
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In this episode of the PlayAbly Podcast, we dive into the ever-evolving world of digital advertising with our special guest, Ray, a seasoned ad tech expert with nearly a decade of experience at top companies like Google and TikTok. We explore the complexities of optimizing ad campaigns across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and u…
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The Battle for Originality
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1:07:33Is the world of copyright infringement getting weirder? We catch up on the latest (and tastiest) brand battles. PLUS: October-exclusive segment, Spooky Commerce, where we take a look at an interesting urban legend that will make you say, “Holy matrimony!” Seattle Suits and Lawsuits More from Shoptoberfest: Brian, Mike Wattier and Jeremy Noonan dive…
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In this episode of the PlayAbly podcast, we explore how Barry’s Bootcamp integrates gamification into fitness to create a highly engaging workout experience. Angelo, a Barry’s veteran with over 1,900 classes under his belt, shares insights into how the brand’s challenges, loyalty programs, and community-building tactics keep members coming back for…
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