Tea with Rich. Getting Real.

Episode 25; Tea & Rich Shooting the Sh!t

This is our final cast of the year, with just Rich and I hanging out and shooting the sh!t on a bevy or topics like why he shaved his beard, ideas for our next few guests, the lack of competition in the commerce platform space, and things we continue to see and mentor for, that we wish we didn’t. For those that might not know us… the proper intro would be… In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey and Rich Lyons discuss personal transformations, the impact of masculinity on mental health, and the importance of self-care and personal growth. They reflect on their experiences with Movember (psst… Rich shaved his beard. See it here), fitness, and the challenges of navigating the business landscape. The discussion also delves into leadership, fear, and the significance of taking action without waiting for the perfect moment. Chapters 00:00 - Rich Shaved His Beard and Personal Reflections  08:19 - Men's Health and Masculinity Discussions 14:51 - Fitness Journey and Blood Work Insights 18:08 - Intermittent Fasting and Nutrition Choices 20:36 - Functional Health and Blood Testing 21:13 - Functional Patterns in Movement 32:05 - Commerce and Market Trends 38:43 - Agency and Brand Dynamics 43:11 - Reflections on post-COVID Commerce Stagnation  43:20 - The Role of Partners in Business 44:55 - Parenting and Family Dynamics 46:02 - Life Lessons from Children 48:06 - Setting Strategic Goals for 2026 52:49 - Facing Fears and Embracing Growth 56:42 - Leadership Insights for Aspiring Leaders 01:06 - Encouragement for Action and Self-Exploration Peace. -t ...

Episode 24; Getting Real with Dave Barr of CQL

Well well. If this isn't an epic episode of Tea with Rich, featuring Dave Barr of CQL... this is the literal OG's of Commerce Agencies episode on all things old, new, and all of a sudden being the old guys. In this engaging chat, Thomas Obrey, Rich Lyons, and Dave Barr start with an epic shooting the sh!t session, and then move into a real discussion on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, the challenges and insights of being a first-time CEO, and the impact of AI on the industry. We reflect on our experiences, the transition of CQL (a former DWRE partner) towards Shopify Enterprise, and the importance of adapting to new technologies while maintaining a focus on client relationships. The discussion also touches on some key personal reflections, from each of us, and a potential future for the e-commerce sector. The ToC: 00:00 - Introduction and Casual Banter 04:46 - Transitioning to CEO: Insights and Challenges 09:28 - CQL's Evolution Toward a Focus on Shopify 14:29 - Navigating E-commerce Transformations 19:14 - The Future of E-commerce and Brand Strategies 23:44 - Post-COVID Business Mentality 26:30 - Navigating Enterprise Complexity 29:04 - Shifting to a Shopify-Focused Agency 30:35 - Leadership Transition and Challenges 32:42 - The Private Equity Influence on Business 37:14 - Power in Partnerships, Strategic Acquisitions and Your Network 40:40 - And All of a Sudden Your the Old Guy 42:25 - AI and it's Influence in Agency's, Shopping and within Brands 49:54 - Golfing, Personal Growth and Balancing Work and Leisure 54:36 - Navigating my Sabbatical and Future Aspirations 01:00 - Industry Insights: E-commerce and AI Trends Peace. -t...

Episode 23; Getting Real with Michael Janiak of Pattern

In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey, Michael Janiak, and Rich Lyons discuss their experiences in the e-commerce and design industry, touching on collaboration, competition, and the evolution of design practices. They share insights on starting an agency, the impact of AI on design, and the importance of relationships in navigating challenges. The discussion highlights the changing landscape of e-commerce and the necessity of adapting to new technologies and concepts to address client needs.There is a ton of anecdotal story telling in here too - like the first time Mike and Tea met, in a nightclub, a true Digital Jesus moment. We also talk about Third and Grove snapping up Elva. Co-oppetition (?). And this idea of Experience Orchestration. Rich also goes into detail about his decision to sell Lyons, the process, and what was going through his head the entire time, pre-during-and-post Exit.Of course we talk Metallica, the first project Michael (Pattern) and Tea (PixelMEDIA) collaborated on. And how that collaboration put Metallica ahead of the content, commerce and LLM game. There’s dozens of stories in, on and around the serious topics. Too. This is def worth a full listen. -tChapters00:00 - Introduction and Personal Background02:56 - Collaboration with Competition within the Design Industry05:10 - Mike Reflects on his First Decade in the Agency Space 11:10 - Navigating the Early Days of Entrepreneurship14:32 - Building a Design-Driven Culture16:00 - Challenges of Bootstrapping a Business22:43 - Survivor Mentality in Business25:33 - Experience Design Opportunities in an AI World29:52 - Generative AI and Its Limitations from a ExD Perspective32:13 - AI as a the Ultimate Research Assistant and Pitch Partner37:23 - Navigating Industry Changes Post-COVID45:30 - Thoughts Around Entering the Third-era of eCommerce as a System48:20 - The Evolution of Product Pages and Everything being a Landing Page50:18 - The Idea of Real-time Experience and Intent Orchestration56:13 - The Race to LLMs - Content, Commerce, and Embracing Composable57:53 - Moving Toward Composable and Winning with Metallica01:01 - Hot Topic - Third and Grove Joins Forces with Elva01:04 - Do Acquisitions Creating Gaps or Opportunities in the Market01:07 - Rich Explains his Journey Through Growing, Selling, and Exiting 01:13 - The Struggles Behind Success That No One Talks About01:26 - Reflections on Life After a Successful Exit01:32 - Reflections on Success and Legacy Peace. -t ...

Episode 22; Getting Real with Scott Stephens of Rate.com

Back from our Summer break, Rich hand I invite a close personal friend, Scott Stephens, to the Podcast. While currently an executive at Rate.com [http://Rate.com], his career spans a stint at the first SPAM agency (90’s), and as the former COO of Playboy (2000’s), leading their first foray into digital transformation. In this conversation, we are completely unprofessional for most of the episode, with fits of seriousness as we talk about his role at Rate, and their goal of becoming a beacon for financial and health education. Before that however, we discuss his injuries from Pickleball, including knowing himself out and putting his head through a wall to win a point. We also go deep into micro-dosing, our culinary adventures, sharing humorous anecdotes about a potential cooking challenge built around Penne Alla Vodka. They also explore the intersection of food and romance, recounting how cooking has played a significant role in their relationships. The discussion takes a turn towards the professional realm as they reflect on Scott's extensive career at Playboy and the impact of the digital revolution on the brand. The episode is filled with laughter, camaraderie, a shared passion for food, and a good deal of ribbing. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 02:13 Celebrating Rich's Book Launch 05:16 Pickleball injuries 06:58 The Infamous Tattoo Story  10:16 Micro-dosing and Mental Health 13:04 Transitioning to Fintech at Rate.com 16:00 Financial Literacy and Youth Education 21:41 Understanding Financial Literacy and Cash Flow 24:12 The Mortgage Market and Its Complexities 25:52 Real Estate vs. Stock Market: A Long-Term Perspective 29:41 The Emotional Value of Home Ownership 31:10 Generational Wealth and Family Assets 32:26 Creating Memories vs. Financial Investments 35:26 Culinary Adventures and Personal Connections 42:50 Tattoo Memories and Culinary Adventures 45:13 Cooking Techniques and Personal Recipes 47:45 Food and Romance: A Culinary Love Story 51:27 The Playboy Experience: Insights and Anecdotes 55:44 The Evolution of Online Content and Business Strategies Peace. -t ...

Episode 21; Getting Real with Marko Bon of Domaine

In this engaging conversation, Marko Bon shares his journey from the early days of e-commerce as a brand-side creative leader through to his transition to a leadership role in the agency world. He discusses the impact of fatherhood on his personal growth, the importance of information architecture in design, and the challenges of transitioning from brand side to agency life.  The discussion also delves into the role of data in design, the evolution of his roles at Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Theory and all the spaces in-between, and the complexities of navigating being looked at as more than a designer.  We then move into the founding of Tomorrow, a Shopify Agency, now known as Domaine, taking Private Equity, merging with their number one competitor, and the challenges that come with leadership in a diverse and rapidly growing practice.    Chapters 00:00 - Fatherhood Reflections: The Joys and Challenges 05:07 - Home Renovation: Crafting a Mid-Century Masterpiece 07:42 - Diving into Information Architecture: A Designer's Path 10:22 - The Role of Data in Design: A Turning Point 13:15 - Brand Side vs. Agency Side: Navigating the Landscape 18:50 - The Evolution of Retail: Challenges and Opportunities 25:01 - The Shift from Design to Leadership 27:35 - Finding Creative Outlets Beyond Design 28:59 - The Art of Storytelling in Presentations 31:10 - The Importance of Team Dynamics 34:11 - The Birth of the Tomorrow Agency 36:18 - From Product Concept to Agency Model 39:38 - Building a Successful Agency 41:36 - Leveraging Brand Experience in Agency Work 44:41 - Navigating the Private Equity Landscape 57:34 - Navigating Strategic Partnerships 01:00 - The Evolution of Leadership 01:03 - Cultivating Company Culture in a Remote World 01:04 - Transitioning from Expert to Manager 01:11 - Generational Perspectives in Leadership Peace. -t ...