07.02.24 | The famous Judy Garland song from “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “The Trolley Song,” has found new life 80 years later as an unlikely PRIDE anthem. But first, Tractor Supply Co. bowed to pressure from the right and will stop all diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, (DEI), saying they “disappointed their consumers and have taken feedback to heart.” Corporate America continues to go back into the closet and it is their own doing for not hiring experts in the LGBTQ+ space to craft programs and messaging. Finally, a Tennessee bakery sends care packages to people having gender affirming surgery.

06.26.24 | Shop Talk looks at corporations that tout their inclusive LGBTQ efforts and perfect HRC score yet have given thousands of dollars to ant-LGBTQ politicians. But first, Caught My Eye reveals the struggle to save the SS United States and Trader Joes has another non-food product hit. William Lear, of Learjet, is our Business Birthday. Lear was granted over 140 patents during his career related to radio, audio, and creating the 8-track tape!

06.25.24 | People on their deathbed share their single most-common regret: “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” That’s according to Bronnie Ware, author of the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.” But first, Amazon works to eliminate the plastic pillow material for shipments and America has their first openly gay Track and Field Olympic qualifying athlete in Nico Young.

06.19.24 | Shop Talk looks at three simple changes that IKEA enacted to help with employee retention. But first, Caught My Eye asks if you would cancel a family gathering based on a set of circumstances. Also, Heinz and KitKat hop on a viral trend with their KitKat’Chup candy bar. It’s not real, but it did the job on social media for garnering engagement. Shirley Cha Cha Muldowney, the first lady of auto drag racing, is our Business Birthday.

06.18.24 | Back in the 80’s a new employee with P&G listed his then girlfriend as a beneficiary on his retirement account. After only two years together, they both moved on, but he never updated his beneficiary for the account and as a result, she has been awarded over a million dollars. Then, Wells Fargo has terminated several employees for using devices to make it look like they are on their computers when they are not. Finally, a crazy “Christian” neighbor wants the family next door to change the name of their cat Lucifer.

06.12.24 | Shop Talk visits with Jennifer Bobbi, aka Aunt Barbara, and David Beck, who jointly wrote and directed a new film to be released this month called Regarding Us. But first, Caught My Eye highlights a Charleston, WV bakery called the Rock City Cake Company. They’re selling cookies decorated with “real life hate/homophobic” comments they received after sharing support for the LGBTQ+ community. Also, onigiri, a rice ball staple in Japan is trending as the snack is now being prepared by young women who use their sweaty armpits to shape the balls. Blake Ross, co-developer of Mozilla Firefox, is our Business Birthday.

06.11.24 | Now that we are a few years out of the pandemic, consumers seem to be less generous with tipping. Then, a couple in Queens finds a safe with $100k in it while magnet fishing. Finally, Out Leadership has released their 2024 State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index. The index measures the impact of state government policies and prevalent attitudes on the LGBTQ+ community. How does your state rank?

06.05.24 | Shop Talk explores some recently uncovered tapes of Orson Welles being interviewed by author Peter Biskind. Welles goes off on his disdain for many of the Hollywood elite. But first, Caught My Eye alerts us to trash balloons being sent to South Korea by the North, which called them “sincere presents.” To date over 15 tons of trash, including used toilet paper have landed in the South. Netflix just released a study that shows how many hours people have watched of their top media properties. The show “One Piece” wins with the number of hours equaling 62,000 years. David T. Abercrombie, founder of Abercrombie & Fitch, is our Business Birthday.

06.04.24 | A California lifeguard at the popular gay leaning ‘Ginger Rogers Beach’ in LA is upset that the rainbow flag will be displayed and is pressing legal action. The Boy Scouts have changed their name to Scouting America, allowing boys and girls to join. (The Girl Scouts aren’t too happy about it.) Finally, a billionaire, Robert Hale Jr. spoke at a UMass commencement and gifted each graduate $1,000 cash on the spot with one caveat. They had to give $500 of it away to a person of need or worthy charity.