#501 - One Missed S-Call-Zi

The Sword and Laser

#Storytelling #Books and Writing #Science #Fiction #Fantasy #Club #Books #Arts #Tom Merritt #Veronica Belmont #Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont #Novels #Read

28:52

Retailers are facing a rapidly evolving landscape where consumer expectations, AI advancements, and social media platforms like TikTok are redefining engagement. It feels like the holiday shopping season just ended, but when do retailers start planning for the next one, and some retailers already behind the curve for this season? Joining us today is Carey Cockrum, Director of Consulting at Cella by Randstad Digital, where she helps major brands and marketing teams optimize their strategies with data-driven insights, AI-powered content creation, and cutting-edge retail marketing trends. With the holidays just around the corner, she’s here to share what’s next for retail marketing, campaign optimization, and how brands can stay ahead in a hyper-competitive space. ABOUT CAREY COCKRUM Carey has been a part of the Creative Agency space for nearly 30 years. She has served as Designer, Creative Director, Creative Operations Lead and Agency Lead in both internal and external agencies (big and small). Carey has worked directly with C-suite stakeholders to understand organizational strategies that inform effective creative solutions. She is a bit of a data nerd and loves demonstrating results. Brands she’s supported include Fruit of the Loom, Wendy’s and Humana. In her free time, she enjoys going back to her creative roots through painting and drawing. She also spends her time improving upon the house she lives in today in Southern, MI - inside and out. RESOURCES Catch the future of e-commerce at eTail Boston, August 11-14, 2025. Register now: https://bit.ly/etailboston and use code PARTNER20 for 20% off for retailers and brands Don't Miss MAICON 2025, October 14-16 in Cleveland - the event bringing together the brights minds and leading voices in AI. Use Code AGILE150 for $150 off registration. Go here to register: https://bit.ly/agile150 Connect with Greg on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregkihlstrom Don't miss a thing: get the latest episodes, sign up for our newsletter and more: https://www.theagilebrand.show Check out The Agile Brand Guide website with articles, insights, and Martechipedia, the wiki for marketing technology: https://www.agilebrandguide.com The Agile Brand podcast is brought to you by TEKsystems. Learn more here: https://www.teksystems.com/versionnextnow The Agile Brand is produced by Missing Link—a Latina-owned strategy-driven, creatively fueled production co-op. From ideation to creation, they craft human connections through intelligent, engaging and informative content. https://www.missinglink.company…

about a year ago 42:06

MP3•Episode home

It's end-of-year book list time! And we have a list of our favorite end-of-year lists. Plus, our initial thoughts on Akata Witch!

372 episodes

The Sword and Laser

#501 - One Missed S-Call-Zi

The Sword and Laser

3,519 subscribers

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

It's end-of-year book list time! And we have a list of our favorite end-of-year lists. Plus, our initial thoughts on Akata Witch!

372 episodes

#Storytelling #Books and Writing #Science #Fiction #Fantasy #Club #Books #Arts #Tom Merritt #Veronica Belmont #Tom Merritt and Veronica Belmont #Novels #Read

All episodes

The Sword and Laser

1
#509 - New Achievement! 52:04

9 days ago52:04

52:04

We wrap up Dungeon Crawler Carl, including our horrible imitations of Jeff Hays. Plus, we announce the next pick for May and ponder data-driven determinations of the best SFF books of Tom’s life.

The Sword and Laser

1
#508 - Sexy, Sexy, Mind Palace 54:00

24 days ago54:00

54:00

We have Murderbot trailer! And we like it! Plus, the Hugo nominees are out and we wrap up our thoughts on The City and the City and begin our April dungeon crawl.

The Sword and Laser

1
#507 - Book Goblin 40:49

7 weeks ago40:49

40:49

Tom forgot to write the intro to the show this week, so you’re stuck with the Veronica Edition. March is still full of madness, which makes sense because it’s a full moon eclipse coming up and Venus is in retrograde. Or something! We check in on The City and The City by China Miéville, and we see and unsee your perspectives on the book thus far.…

The Sword and Laser

1
#506 - SECs Unit 58:30

10 weeks ago58:30

58:30

March Madness has begun, so get your votes in now. Plus do we like Alexander Skarsgard as Murderbot? And our final thoughts on Will of the Many and non-spoiler intro to The City and the City.

The Sword and Laser

1
#505 - The Roman Empire is My Roman Empire 50:35

11 weeks ago50:35

50:35

The nominations have begun for our March Tournament! Why do we care if eBooks and print books are the same? And our first thoughts on The Will of the Many.

The Sword and Laser

1
#504 - The Miéville Effect 58:58

13 weeks ago58:58

58:58

We have the best 25 books coming out in the next six months and the best 25 books of the last 25 years. Goodbye to the Science Fiction Book Club, our final thoughts on The Ministry of Time, and we kick off our read of The Will of the Many.

The Sword and Laser

1
#503 - Tapeworms and Time Travel 46:01

16 weeks ago46:01

46:01

Tom is safe. Stephen has had three New Years, and we all love Graham Gore. But the best part of the show is Veronica's parade of diseases.

The Sword and Laser

1
#502 - Rhubarb Abercrumble 48:12

17 weeks ago48:12

48:12

We kick off our January read, wrap up Akata Witch, and welcome in new public domain characters. There's a new Lord of the Rings movie this year. Yay! Plus, Veronica had a rhubarb cider, and Joe Abercrombie looks great for 50!

The Sword and Laser

1
#501 - One Missed S-Call-Zi 42:06

19 weeks ago42:06

42:06

It's end-of-year book list time! And we have a list of our favorite end-of-year lists. Plus, our initial thoughts on Akata Witch!

The Sword and Laser

1
#500 - 500 Gargle Blasters! 1:00:54

22 weeks ago1:00:54

1:00:54

We celebrate our 500th episode in the best way we know how—by asking ChatGPT to get our stats wrong. PLUS, announcing the book pick for December and sharing our final thoughts on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

The Sword and Laser

1
#499 - Hugs for Your Ears 39:49

25 weeks ago39:49

39:49

We decided to take a break from the usual format and recommend some BIPOC and LGBTQIA authors. Plus, we kick off The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in case you need some comic relief.

The Sword and Laser

1
#498 - Weird Things With Burritos 43:25

28 weeks ago43:25

43:25

We wrap up our thoughts on A Night in the Lonesome October by Roger Zelazny. Tom lays down some very obscure hints about the next pick. And why we’re glad Andy Weir got fired.

The Sword and Laser

1
#497 - Some Desperate Sniffles 56:21

30 weeks ago56:21

56:21

We learn a lot about nunchucks and old best SciFi lists, but we spend the majority of our time mulling over Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh. We also kick off a cozy October horrorish read.

The Sword and Laser

1
#496 - Leminal Space 34:07

32 weeks ago34:07

34:07

Sad news followed by recommendations from Parade Magazine! And The Booker Short List. Plus, do you hate it when a series isn't continuing the story directly? And we check in on our September read of Some Desperate Glory by Emily Tesh.

The Sword and Laser

1
#495 - All The News That's Fit to Squee 36:05

34 weeks ago36:05