Celebrating Your Community Heroes Is Easy - Episode 494
Release Date: 05/26/2025
How C-Store Fried Chicken Inspired a Mississippi Restaurant - Episode 507
Convenience Matters
Over the past five years, Stafford Shurden has travelled across the South to celebrate great food for his "Gas Station Tailgate Review" program. His new book, "Meet and Three," is about his life experiences as a restaurant owner, farmer, and convenience store and gas station food connoisseur. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Stafford Shurden, creator of Gas Station Tailgate Review Shurden is a farmer, restaurant owner and former Justice Court Judge from Drew, Mississippi.
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Learnings From a Convenience Retail Study Tour - Episode 506
Convenience Matters
We're sharing insights from a recent road trip/market tour and the big takeaways on what’s new in convenience. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Frank Beard, Convenience Retailing Expert Frank is a Des Moines, Iowa-based marketer, speaker and writer who focuses on the convenience retailing industry. He serves as head of marketing at Rovertown, an app platform for convenience retailers.
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New Insights on Driving Behaviors and Perceptions - Episode 505
Convenience Matters
A new Transportation Energy Institute report reveals what consumers think about the vehicle technologies and fueling options they're looking for. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: John Eichberger, Executive Director, Transportation Energy Institute John has more than 20 years of experience in the fuels industry, including more than a decade leading the Transportation Energy Institute (formerly known as the Fuels Institute). Prior to that, he served for 15 years as vice president of government relations at NACS, with a focus on fuels- and energy-related issues.
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How To Build Confidence Starting Right Now - Episode 504
Convenience Matters
Confidence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build. And when you build it, opportunities often can follow in both your professional and personal life. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Juan Bendaña, author and keynote speaker Juan is an internationally recognized speaker (including at the 2024 NACS Show) who helps leaders navigate uncertainty and exponential change by developing the unwavering confidence to thrive in any environment.
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Food Safety Forward - Episode 503
Convenience Matters
As convenience stores continue to advance foodservice, events like the NACS Food Safety Forum are helping industry leaders address traceability, implement new technology and maintaining consumer trust. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Chrissy Blasinsky About our Guest: Evan Powell, Retail Food Protection Manager, Kwik Trip Inc. Evan Powell is the retail food protection manager at Kwik Trip. He is a graduate of Winona State University (Business Administration/Marketing) and Louisiana State University - Shreveport (MBA).
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Breaking News: FDA Approves—And Doesn’t Approve—Vape - Episode 502
Convenience Matters
On July 17, the FDA announced that Juul Labs products are authorized in the market. However, the vape market still has very little clarity, and that was the focus of a July 18 letter from NACS and other groups to President Trump asking for action. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Doug Kantor, NACS General Counsel Doug has served as legal counsel for NACS for more than 20 years, originally as a partner with the law firms Collier Shannon Scott PLLC and Steptoe & Johnson LLP. He has been NACS in-house counsel since 2021. Doug also served as special counsel and deputy...
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How Eating Patterns Differ for Commuters vs. Remote Workers - Episode 501
Convenience Matters
Hybrid/remote workers and regular commuters shop and eat differently, and there are opportunities to craft messages that appeal to each group's interests, according to the findings from a recent NACS consumer survey. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Adam Rosenblatt, Founding Partner, Bold Decision Adam is one of the nation’s leading political consultants sought after for his ability to help clients achieve victory through effective research-based strategies and messaging. He designs and executes cutting-edge quantitative, qualitative, and data analytics programs for campaigns as well...
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William Shatner Talks About Convenience--And a Lot More - Episode 500
Convenience Matters
To celebrate our 500th episode, we are sharing our most popular episode, a conversation with William Shatner. He has some opinions! Hosted by: Jeff Lenard and Henry Armour About our Guest: William Shatner, legendary actor and icon Captain Kirk, T.J. Hooker, Denny Crane, so many TV shows and movies and record albums, the oldest person to fly in space…need we go on?
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What To Look for With Gas Prices - Episode 499
Convenience Matters
A look at the key factors that could affect gas prices over the summer-drive season and the second half of the year—and how prices affect consumer behavior both at the pump and inside the store. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard Jeff oversees internal and external communications at NACS. He has conducted over 6,000 interviews with reporters, mostly about fuels-related issues.
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Big Ideas in Convenience Retail From Europe - Episode 498
Convenience Matters
Store tours and discussions during the 2025 NACS Convenience Summit Europe in Copenhagen revealed opportunities for retailers to consider, no matter where they do business. Hosted by: Jeff Lenard About our Guest: Mark Wohltmann, Director, NACS Global Mark is responsible for the strategic development of NACS Global, a worldwide network that supports convenience retailers and their businesses. He has more than 20 years of experience in research and consulting, with a focus on FMCG/CPG and retail. Mark began his career in the advertising industry, focusing on trade marketing and sales advertising...
info_outlineThe NACS Foundation’s annual 24/7 Day (July 24) makes it easy for retailers and suppliers to celebrate the first responders who protect our communities—and it's free. Hear some of the success stories from previous years and how your company can join the celebration.
Hosted by:
Jeff Lenard
About our Guest:
Kevin O’Connell, Executive Director, NACS Foundation
Kevin leads the NACS Foundation and collaborates with industry stakeholders to develop signature programs that align with NACS members’ philanthropic priorities, which overall focus on serving first responders, fighting hunger, supporting healthy kids and keeping communities clean.