Is there anything more glamorous than Hollywood in the 1920s? The furs, the diamonds, the Duesenbergs, and – of course – the red carpet. But the history of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is more business than it is art or science. From an attempt to block censorship nationwide to the complications presented by the rise of labor unions, there was much more going on behind the silver screen than on it. In this week’s episode of This Week in Business History, host Kelly Barner shares the business side of the Academy in the context of the very complicated, very innovative, very roaring 20s.
More Podcast Episodes
security
Podcast
March 27, 2024
Guarding the Gateways: Navigating Cybersecurity in Manufacturing
Cybersecurity is a global issue impacting almost every industry. Staggeringly, it’s estimated that cybercrime cost the world $8 trillion in 2023 – a figure exceeding the annual GDP of every country barring the USA and China. In this episode of Supply Chain Now, sponsored by Microsoft, hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson sit down with Allison Giddens, Co-President of Win-Tech, Inc., an aerospace manufacturer, to discuss the critical intersection between cybersecurity and manufacturing. Conversations begin with a focus on risk prioritization, with Giddens explaining the manufacturers need to start with the computers in their front office before worrying about the threats facing their connected equipment. “We’re telling manufacturers, hey, you need to know how to run a marathon and they don’t even know how to walk a 5K,” she states. Discussions then turn to the importance of multi-factor authentication, the need to balance investments in both people and technology, the criticality of understanding cyber even when outsourcing, the pros and cons of cloud migration, and much more.
engineering
Podcast
September 8, 2025
From Brownfield to Breakthrough: Evolving Your Operations with Retrofits
In this episode of Supply Chain Now, hosts Scott W. Luton and Deborah Dull welcome Will Mansard and Ahmed Arif of Bastian Solutions for a practical, field-tested conversation on retrofitting brownfield warehouses and the real cost of doing nothing. They frame retrofits as logistical projects first, unpack why so much existing space goes underutilized, and share how to minimize disruption while upgrading live operations. They discuss the playbook that works in the real world: start with discovery and reverse engineering when documentation is thin, build a phased mechanical plan, sequence electrical with quick-connect, preassembled components, and treat controls and software as the heart of the system using emulation and thorough testing. With rules one and two both being “get orders out the door,” they stress contingency planning, speaking the customer’s language, and orchestrating equipment, controls, and software to avoid faults and bottlenecks. This episode is hosted by Scott Luton and Deborah Dull, and produced by Trisha Cordes, Joshua Miranda, and Amanda Luton. Additional Links & Resources Check out all the great resources and information mentioned during the show: Learn more about Bastian Solutions Strategy Guide: Consulting Strategies for Warehouse Distribution Operations Learn more about the Hercules Sealing Products…