The Chain Podcast

Join Abe Eshkenazi as he welcomes Scott Luton, founder and CEO of Supply Chain Now, for a dynamic conversation on the future of supply chain management. Fresh from the annual conference in Columbus, they give a sneak peek into the top trends shaping 2026, including the rise of artificial intelligence, workforce transformation, and the growing impact of climate and circularity. Scott shares insights on the human-machine dynamic, the evolving skills gap and why investing in people is key to overcoming today’s challenges. Whether you’re an early-career professional or a seasoned leader, this episode offers actionable advice and inspiration for navigating the fast-changing supply chain landscape. Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.  For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

In this episode of The Chain, we sit down with Ronald Kleijwegt, CEO of Vinturas, to explore the future of supply chain visibility, traceability and collaboration. Ronald shares insights on how blockchain and AI are transforming global supply chains, the importance of connecting every tier of suppliers, and how technology can help organizations respond to disruptions — from tariffs to cyber threats. Discover how leading companies are leveraging data to design agile, resilient supply chains and why cross-functional collaboration is essential for success in today’s volatile environment. Get the latest tips for improving your supply chain visibility by downloading our whitepaper.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.  For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

In this episode of The Chain Podcast, we dive into the future of returns and the creation of a more sustainable and socially conscious supply chain. Our host, Abe Eshkenazi, is joined by Disney Petit, the CEO and founder of LiquiDonate. Disney shares her extensive experience working with tech companies to implement social impact programs and discusses how LiquiDonate is revolutionizing the returns process. Discover how LiquiDonate leverages existing business models and evolving technologies to reduce landfill waste and enable circularity by connecting retailers' excess unsold and returned inventory to nonprofits. Disney explains the shocking reality that about 80% of returned products end up in landfills and how LiquiDonate's innovative software helps reroute these items to nonprofits, upcyclers, or recyclers. We also explore the environmental impact of returns, the inefficiencies in reverse logistics and the role of e-commerce in complicating the returns process.    Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.  For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast

Join host Abe Eshkenazi and Dr. Zal Phiroz, professor of supply chain management at Harvard University. Dr. Phiroz shares his unique journey from computer science to supply chain. We explore the evolving role of the Chief Supply Chain Officer, the balance between technology and critical thinking and the preparedness of the next generation of supply chain leaders. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a student entering the field, this episode provides an important look at how academia is shaping the supply chain industry.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.  For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference. Get $200 off by using code PODCAST200

The global supply chain is walking a tariff tightrope, and the impact is reaching far and wide. Join us as we unravel the complexities of current trade negotiations and their direct effects on everything from consumer prices to long-term business strategies. David Stephen Jacoby, a leading supply chain expert, cuts through the noise, revealing how tariffs are reshaping industrial manufacturing, sparking inflationary cycles and forcing companies to rethink their very approach to sourcing and supplier relationships.  Listen to the podcast, then find out more from Jacoby's book, Trump, Trade, and the End of Globalization. Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org.  Check out our Tariff Tracker and start navigating tariffs with confidence. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference. Get $200 off by using code PODCAST200

ASCM CEO Abe Eskenazi sits down with Heather Lane, VP of Supply Chain Strategy and Systems at Ulta Beauty. Learn how Ulta Beauty navigated a massive supply chain transformation, accelerated by the pandemic's e-commerce boom. Heather shares insights into their innovative three-tier distribution model, featuring regional distribution centers, fast fulfillment centers and their groundbreaking market fulfillment centers. You'll also learn about the cutting-edge autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) making their operations safer and more efficient, and how their S/4HANA ERP implementation built the foundation for this agile, omnichannel approach. Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.  

Retail reality check: Are we solving problems or creating new ones?  Dropit President and COO, Stuart Ford, reveals the shocking truth about the retail supply chain industry.  Over half of retailers are in some form of distress  Roughly 20% of fashion is never worn  About 40% return rates  Landfills so large that they are visible from space  Listen to how we can transform these challenges into opportunities and enhance sustainability.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.

How do you orchestrate logistics aid in a disaster zone? Well, it's a bit like juggling "greasy cats" Host and ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi sits down with Kathy Fulton, Executive Director of the American Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), to discuss the vital role of logistics and supply chain management in disaster relief. Kathy shares her experiences and insights on how ALAN collaborates with nonprofit organizations and private industry to ensure that essential resources like food, water, shelter, and medical care reach disaster survivors efficiently and effectively. Learn how you can help ALAN and the network of non-profits by visiting alanaid.org. Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.  

Mitigating the increase of global food waste is a constant challenge for supply chains and consumers alike. That’s why we invited Professor Linda Dunn to share her strategies and excitement about cutting-edge supply chain technology that can help with perishable goods’ inventory and distribution. If you want to prepare yourself and your company to face the challenges ahead, download ASCM's Top 10 Supply Chain Trends of 2025.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.

Consumers play a significant role in shaping our global supply chains. Whenever you make a purchase, you cast a vote and signal to companies what needs to be manufactured, restocked, shipped, and sold. Imagine if consumers had increased visibility into supply chains and knew exactly where all their products were made and sourced. Would that change their buying habits? In this episode, Abe Eshkenzai, CEO of ASCM, is joined by Professor Merieke Stevens to discuss why it's essential that consumers, producers, and policymakers work together to improve global supply chain operations.  Did you know visibility and traceability is the #6 need-to-know supply chain trend of 2025? Leading supply chain organizations are leveraging advanced technologies to enhance visibility and traceability across their operations. If you want to prepare yourself and your company to face the challenges ahead, download ASCM's Top 10 Supply Chain Trends of 2025.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.

Our conversation continues on the subject of tariffs. Global trade evolves as the current U.S. administration launches then postpones tariffs on U.S. trading partners, China, Mexico and Canada.   ASCM CEO Abe Eshkenazi is joined again by supply chain expert Alastair Charatan and Douglas Kent, ASCM's executive vice president of corporate and strategic alliances. Listen as they discuss what's new in the global trade landscape and how supply chain organizations can navigate the ebbs and flows of tariffs.    Did you know global trade is the #2 need-to-know supply chain trend of 2025? Global trade dynamics and geopolitical policies continue to evolve, posing significant supply chain challenges. If you want to prepare yourself and your company to face the challenges ahead, download ASCM's Top 10 Supply Chain Trends of 2025.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast, visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.    

Kicking off 2025, we are talking tariffs. Join ASCM CEO, Abe Eshkenazi, and special guest, Alastair Charatan, as they give their tariff predictions.  We examine the proposed tariffs and their potential effects on supply chains and consumers. Our discussion sheds light on the broader implications for global trade and the economy.  Did you know global trade is the #2 need-to-know supply chain trend of 2025? Global trade dynamics and geopolitical policies continue to evolve, posing significant supply chain challenges. If you want to prepare yourself and your company to face the challenges ahead, download ASCM's Top 10 Supply Chain Trends of 2025.    Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.

Ready to unbox the world of packaging? Abe Eshkenazi and Professor Doug Thomas dive into the intricate world of packaging and delivery. Discover the fascinating process behind assembling, storing and shipping your orders. Tune in now to learn more about the secrets of your package and the power of visibility and traceability.       Did you know visibility and traceability is the #6 need-to-know supply chain trend of 2025? Leading supply chain organizations are leveraging advanced technologies to enhance visibility and traceability across their operations. If you want to prepare yourself and your company to face the challenges ahead, download ASCM's Top 10 Supply Chain Trends of 2025.  Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast visit ascm.org/podcast Register for CHAINge now and join supply chain leaders from around the globe at ASCM's transformative supply chain conference.

The supply chain touches everything, even the clothes on your back! Join us as we explore the complex world of retail supply chains in this episode of ASCM's The Chain podcast. Dive into the conversation with our guest, Frankie Mossman, CCO of Dropit. She reveals the challenges retailers face on a day-to-day basis to bring you the latest goods and threads for your wardrobe.  “From the shirt on your back to the shoes on your feet, the modern apparel industry hinges on an effective supply chain. In this episode,  Abe and I take a clear-eyed look at the increasingly complex apparel supply chain and ask a critical question: how can we in the apparel and retail industry move toward a brighter, more sustainable future? “ - Frankie Mossman.

Welcome (back) to part two of our series on supply chain futurecasting. We continue our conversation with our guest, Brian David Johnson. This time, we discuss: What are the future stressors for the supply chain? How will the next generation of professionals shape supply chains? How can organizations implement futurecasting in their businesses today?   Want more supply chain knowledge? Visit ASCM.org. For more details on The Chain Podcast visit ascm.org/podcast #TheChainPodcast #supplychainpodcast #podcast #supplychain #supplychainmangement #ASCM #APICS #AssociationforSupplyChainManagement #futurecasting #threatcasting #futurist

“You know when you’re watching sci-fi movies, and the heroes enter a grocery store and see empty shelves, you know the zombies are coming.” -Brian David Johnson What does sci-fi have to do with the supply chain? Well, supply chains' inner workings were non-existent for the average consumer. But, as soon as there’s a toilet paper shortage, suddenly this invisible link comes into full view. There is always going to be disruptions.  Supply chains and the people who run them, find their resilience in their preparation for the future. Our guest, Brian David Johnson, shares his expertise as a Futurist and Threatcaster for leading tech organizations and how that translates to supply chains and consumers. Part one of this two-part episode will explore: What is futurecasting, threatcasting, and scenario planning? How does futurecasting function in supply chain? How have disruptions changed the mindsets of consumers and businesses?

Sustainability, supply chains, and Antarctica?   Listen to episode two of The Chain Podcast, recorded live from ASCM Connect: North America Conference 2024. Abe Eshkenazi invited eco-tourism expert and executive producer, Richard Crawford, to share how one of the world's coldest, driest, most remote places is helping lead the charge in creating sustainable supply chains.  To get the full picture of how to operate supply chains in Antarctica, visit our YouTube page and watch the episode on demand. Ready to elevate your supply chain and achieve sustainability goals? Download the ASCM Enterprise Standards for Sustainability today and gain a competitive edge in the global market.

How do you tell a story about global supply chains? It's easier said than done. For The Chain's inaugural episode, host and ASCM's CEO, Abe Eshkenazi, is joined by the creative minds at WAG Entertainment to discuss how they created the soon to be released documentary, The Chain. The documentary is a six part series that breaks down how some of the most critical industries create the products and services we use every day.  Hear how working on the docuseries opened the documentarian's eyes to the hidden world of supply chains. Learn how they made the docuseries, the stories it presents and the communities influenced by our global supply chains — and why we must all understand the intricacies of this system to create a better world.  

Abe Eshkenazi and Bob Trebilcock launched The reBound in the spring of 2020 with a simple goal: In the thick of the pandemic, let’s highlight the best of what’s happening in an industry grappling with labor challenges, parts shortages and unpredictable shutdowns.   After four years and nearly 70 guests, now was the time to look back at those guests and events that left a lasting impression on us as ASCM charts a new course for the podcast. Be sure to listen wherever you get your podcasts. And thanks for your support.

On this episode of The reBound, Stephanie Cannon joins Abe Eshkenazi, CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management, and Bob Trebilcock, consulting editor of Supply Chain Management Review, to discuss a new approach to mid-mile deliveries in the e-commerce supply chain. Cannon is the senior vice president of operations excellence and collaborative innovation at Pitney Bowes, where her team is working with the startup community to bring in high levels of automatic sortation and robotics to its distribution centers and now autonomous trucks to deliver parcels from its distribution centers to USPS depots in several states. Cannon explains why one of the world’s leaders in global shipping and mailing decided to adopt autonomous trucks; how it worked with a solution provider to design a system for autonomous deliveries; and how it piloted and is now rolling out the fleet of trucks in multiple locations.