In this special fifth-anniversary edition of the Remarkable Retail Podcast, we welcome back Seth Godin. Seth unpacks the essence of remarkability in today’s crowded marketplace, the danger of confusing “better” with “remarkable,” and how AI unlocks new creative frontiers. Alongside fresh insights, we revisit unforgettable moments with past guests including Scott Galloway, Artemis Patrick (Sephora), Hal Lawton (Tractor Supply), Chris Nicholas (Sam’s Club), Joe Kudla (Vuori), and Neil Blumenthal (Warby Parker).
This special 5th anniversary episode of the Remarkable Retail podcast marks a milestone: five years of insights, disruption, and conversations with the world’s most innovative retail thinkers. We reflect on the pod’s origin story during the early COVID lockdowns, tracing its evolution from Steve’s book Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption into an industry-leading show featuring CEOs, founders, and thought leaders shaping global commerce. They share highlights from an impressive guest roster, including Scott Galloway (whose episode remains the most downloaded in the show’s history), Artemis Patrick of Sephora, Hal Lawton of Tractor Supply, Chris Nicholas of Sam’s Club, Joe Kudla of Vuori, and Neil Blumenthal of Warby Parker. Each clip showcases the powerful themes of customer centricity, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of remarkability.
The centerpiece of the episode is a deep and engaging conversation with Seth Godin, returning for his sixth visit. Seth—bestselling author of classics including Purple Cow—first inspired the very language of “remarkability” in Steve’s book and the podcast itself. Here, Seth reflects on why being remarkable matters more than ever in an era where “average is dead.” He warns leaders that chasing efficiency or “suck less” strategies won’t suffice; brands must create conditions where customers want to talk about them. He draws a sharp distinction between simply being “better” through incremental improvements and being truly remarkable in ways that spark conversation, loyalty, and cultural resonance.
Seth also delves into the impact of AI as the biggest societal shift since electricity. Rather than reducing costs by outsourcing tasks, he urges retailers to harness AI to enable new projects and creative possibilities. He illustrates this with his latest Kickstarter project—AI-driven card decks designed to spark learning, decision-making, and storytelling. For Seth, experimentation and accessible tools are the gateway to innovation, and he emphasizes that risk-taking in the AI era costs little but delivers exponential learning.
Together, Michael, Steve, and Seth explore enduring themes: knowing who it’s for and what it’s for, the value of continuous improvement, and why shunning non-believers is essential to staying authentic.