FRONTLINE FRIDAYS with Ron Thurston

FRONTLINE FRIDAYS Podcast
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Your store teams feel it: more pressure, more change, less time to get it right. FRONTLINE FRIDAYS helps you turn that pressure into impact. Built for senior retail + hospitality field leaders, each episode features candid conversations with execs and disruptors from the world’s most iconic brands — sharing honest lessons and clear tactics you can start using immediately. Hosted by Ron Thurston, retail leadership expert and two-time bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025). Season 2 starts September 26, 2025. New episodes every other Friday.

  1. AI for Frontline Teams is Changing How Stores Run

    JAN 2

    AI for Frontline Teams is Changing How Stores Run

    The real challenge in retail execution isn’t ambition or strategy, it’s the constant pressure on frontline leaders to decide what matters next while the business keeps moving. In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Fabrice Haiat, Co-founder and CEO of YOOBIC, to unpack how AI is beginning to change how stores actually run, not in theory, but in the real decisions made on the floor every day. Drawing on Fabrice’s upbringing in a retail family and years spent shadowing store managers, the conversation explores why so many retail initiatives break down at execution. Store leaders are overloaded with information, pulled into reports and inboxes, and forced to interpret strategy while managing live operations. Fabrice argues that frontline AI only delivers value when it removes that burden, replacing noise with clear, contextual priorities for each store. Ron and Fabrice dig into what personalization at scale really looks like for frontline teams, why AI delivers some of the fastest ROI in retail, and why 2026 will mark the shift from pilots to real adoption. They also explore the human impact of better execution, from reduced burnout and stronger retention to giving store leaders the confidence to lead in the moment, not after the fact. If you’ve ever seen strong strategy stall at the store level, or felt the weight of nonstop decisions without clear direction, this episode offers a practical way forward. AI for Frontline Teams Is Changing How Stores Run — Season 2, Episode 8 is available now. 🎧 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpO👤 Fabrice: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabricehaiat/👤 Ron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/💡 YOOBIC: https://yoobic.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    41 min
  2. What 600 Retail Leaders Need But Aren’t Getting

    12/19/2025

    What 600 Retail Leaders Need But Aren’t Getting

    The real gap in retail leadership isn’t talent — it’s the pressure to lead without the support to grow. In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Steve Worthy — founder of Worthy Retail, retail leadership strategist, and creator of a groundbreaking global study on retail leaders — to examine the truth behind leadership readiness today. Across hundreds of responses, one insight was impossible to ignore: leaders aren’t asking for more routines. They’re asking for depth, coaching, and the psychological safety to admit what they don’t know. Steve and Ron unpack the Retail Leader Paradox: leaders are expected to know everything, deliver at speed, and guide teams through constant change… while rarely being given the space, training, or support to do it confidently. They explore why so few leaders feel prepared, how misaligned development programs widen the gap, and what it really takes to build retainable, future-ready frontline leaders. They also dig into the next evolution of leadership development — from emotional intelligence and strategic thinking to AI-enabled decision-making — and why the future of retention depends on leaders who are seen, supported, and developing in real time. Why Leadership Readiness is Retail’s New Priority — Season 2, Episode 7 is available now. 🎧 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpO 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/ 👤 Steve: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveworthy/ 👤 Ron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/ 💡 YOOBIC: https://yoobic.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    39 min
  3. How to Improve Retention, One Store Visit at a Time

    12/05/2025

    How to Improve Retention, One Store Visit at a Time

    The strongest retention strategy in retail isn’t a program or a perk — it’s the leader who shows up. In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Billy Kissel, Head of Stores (East) at Office Depot, to explore why visibility, presence, and culture-building are the real drivers of keeping great people. After 35+ years leading teams at brands like Gap, J.Crew, West Elm, and Office Depot, Billy has seen one truth hold steady: people stay when leaders lead with intent. Billy shares how being present — in stores, on video, and in moments that matter — builds trust at scale. He and Ron dig into what great field leadership actually looks like, why recognition needs to be real and earned, and how closing the loop on feedback transforms culture from the inside out. They also unpack the true cost of short staffing, why compensation is only one piece of retention, and the urgency required to turn frontline insight into meaningful action. Why Retention Starts With Leaders Who Show Up — Season 2, Episode 6 is available now. 🎧 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpO📱 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/👤 Billy:https://www.linkedin.com/in/billykissel/👤 Ron:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/💡 YOOBIC:https://yoobic.com | https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    33 min
  4. Why the Last Marketing Mile Depends on Your Store Teams

    11/21/2025

    Why the Last Marketing Mile Depends on Your Store Teams

    The last marketing mile isn’t digital — it’s human.In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Ian Scott, retail consultant and founder of Ian Scott Retail, to talk about why the final moment of every customer journey depends on your store teams. After decades leading innovation tours and advising brands like LEGO, Coca-Cola, and L’Oréal, Ian shares why he calls store associates “the living, breathing embodiment of the brand.” He and Ron unpack what great service looks like across cultures, how AI should enhance retail — not replace it — and why common sense still drives the best in-store experiences. They also explore the power of pride on the front line, what “revenge shopping” revealed about human connection, and how the world’s best retailers invest in people, not just products. Why the Last Marketing Mile Depends on Your Store Teams — Season 2, Episode 5 is available now. 🎧 Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpO 📱 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/ 👤 Ian:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-scott-0534694/ 👤 Ron:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/ 💡 YOOBIC:https://yoobic.com |https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    40 min
  5. How to Run Safer Stores Without Slowing Teams Down

    11/07/2025

    How to Run Safer Stores Without Slowing Teams Down

    Safety isn’t a slowdown — it’s a performance strategy.In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Dean Correia, Founder of Correia Security Resources, to talk about what it really takes to run safer stores without slowing teams down. With over 30 years of experience leading security and operations for brands like Walmart, Starbucks, and Gap, Dean shares why “the safest place to work is the best place to work.” He and Ron unpack how safety drives engagement, reduces shrink, and builds trust from the sales floor up — and why leaders should treat safety as a culture, not a checklist. They also explore the rise of retail crime, how to make incident reporting simple, and the one daily habit that helps every team feel safer and perform stronger. How to Run Safer Stores Without Slowing Teams Down — Season 2, Episode 4 is available now. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpOInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/Dean: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deancorreia/Ron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/YOOBIC: https://yoobic.com |https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    37 min
  6. How to Stay Flexible When Everything is Changing

    10/24/2025

    How to Stay Flexible When Everything is Changing

    Leading through change isn’t about reacting — it’s about flexing. In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Detria Courtalis, VP of Retail at Pandora, to unpack what it really means to lead with adaptability, empathy, and self-awareness. They talk about the three types of people in change, why “feedback is a gift” is one of the strongest leadership philosophies, and how staying true to your values helps you navigate whatever the business throws your way. Detria also shares lessons from 14 years at Pandora — from redefining customers as fans to building career paths that turn retail jobs into lifelong careers. 🎧 Leading Through Change — Season 2, Episode 3 is available now.Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpOInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/Detria:https://www.linkedin.com/in/detria-courtalis-6590375/ |www.pandora.netRon:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/YOOBIC:https://yoobic.com |https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    37 min
  7. What Retail Leaders Miss About Developing Talent

    10/10/2025

    What Retail Leaders Miss About Developing Talent

    Developing talent isn’t a program — it’s a practice. In this episode of Frontline Fridays, host Ron Thurston sits down with Adam Lukoskie, Executive Director of the NRF Foundation, to talk about what leaders often miss when it comes to growing their teams. They dig into why people development so often gets deprioritized, the simple questions every manager should be asking, and why real growth starts with everyday conversations, not big programs or strategy decks. Adam also shares how the NRF Foundation is helping build the next generation of retail talent through initiatives you can sign up for today. Watch on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpOInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/Adam:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamlukoskie/ |https://nrffoundation.org/Ron:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronthurston/YOOBIC:https://yoobic.com |https://www.linkedin.com/company/yoobic/

    34 min
  8. How to Drive Accountability without Breaking Your Team

    09/26/2025

    How to Drive Accountability without Breaking Your Team

    Accountability isn’t a tough talk; it’s a system. In this kickoff to Season 2, host Ron Thurston sits down with leadership expert and bestselling author April Sabral to explore what accountability really looks like on the shop floor.  They discuss how to set clear expectations, check for understanding, and follow a nine-step framework that keeps progress visible without burning out. April also shares insights from her upcoming book Positive Accountability and a quick mindset reset exercise leaders can try right away. Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrohqoj-V_gskdgonZVHPSVNYO0K2mtpOInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/frontlinefridayspodcast/April: www.AprilSabral.com | www.askapril.ai | https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilsabral/Ron: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rthurston/YOOBIC: yoobic.com | https://uk.linkedin.com/company/yoobic

    39 min
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Ratings & Reviews

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4 Ratings

About

Your store teams feel it: more pressure, more change, less time to get it right. FRONTLINE FRIDAYS helps you turn that pressure into impact. Built for senior retail + hospitality field leaders, each episode features candid conversations with execs and disruptors from the world’s most iconic brands — sharing honest lessons and clear tactics you can start using immediately. Hosted by Ron Thurston, retail leadership expert and two-time bestselling author of RETAIL PRIDE (2020) and HUMAN PRIDE (2025). Season 2 starts September 26, 2025. New episodes every other Friday.

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