Coffee with Craig and James Episode 160: The Finale

Speaker A: And there we go.

Speaker B: Let me let our loyal castings in on a little insider baseball.

Speaker A: Today's podcast. We're interviewing King Charles leads the English Channel.

Speaker B: Maybe one day we'll actually drink coffee on this podcast.

Speaker A: Uh, you are about to enter the ecosystem.

Speaker B: Carry on, James. Carry on. All right, it's time for the finale of Coffee with Craig and James. James, don't look too forlorn. It'll be okay. I am the editorial director of Channel Features, Craig Galbraith joining me, as always, it's the last time I get to say this. Our Senior News Editor, Mr. Anderson. Mr. James Anderson. James, at least in this format, my final request. How are you?

Speaker A: Oh, uh, man, Craig, it's this. It's the last month. Uh, a lot of the things you do are the last time you do those things in the context of this company. So, you know, hearing that news a lot, man, it's. It's a downer. What can I say, man? It's a downer.

Speaker B: That's a downer. It's a downer to be leaving this cast. Um, but I think that we can rival the series finale of Breaking Bad with the finale of Coffee with Craig and James. What do you think about that?

Speaker A: What kind of level of violence is that going to require?

Speaker B: That's a very good, Very good question. I haven't thought about that. Maybe I should have. Should have thought about that. So let's lay it out. Uh, we kind of mentioned a little bit in the last podcast, but I am leaving, uh, the business, uh, our parent company, Informant Tech Target, uh, as of next week. Um, so that is the main reason for the ending of this podcast of the Coffee with Craig and James connection. Our connection personally will never expire. However, of course, nobody.

Speaker A: That's right.

Speaker B: And then you will be staying on with the company. And while we don't have all of the details, uh, to share just yet, there will be a bit of a transition with the website and how the channel operates. But you're. You're still going to be here. So we've got this, uh, this continuity of Mr. James Anderson, uh, being with the company, and bigger and better things to come for you in that regard.

Speaker A: Well, thanks, Craig. I.

Speaker C: We don't.

Speaker A: I think I know the name of the next iteration of, uh, Channel Futures. Um, I don't. I don't want to spoil that yet. Don't think it's. It's mine to spoil yet or to put out there. Um, but, yeah, we're. We're coming up on, uh, not quite coming up on the transitory period. Um, but I'll, I'll let. I'll keep you all in the loop about that. But, um, I will be staying on to whatever. Whatever the next chapter is going to be and still, um, going to be covering channel. Um, that's confirmed. Um, so I, I'm excited to still be writing about channel. And, uh, it's just what they say about change, right? It's. It's change, man. It's change. Change is hard.

Speaker D: It's change.

Speaker B: Change is change always.

Speaker A: And I've never been good at change. Like, I, you know, there's stores that I stay away from because I need change to pay in currency, and I don't have change. You know, I use the debit cards and the credit cards. I'd rather use a check than use change. You know what I mean, Craig?

Speaker B: Wow. Yeah, I hadn't, I hadn't thought about that. And rightfully so.

Speaker A: Uh, yeah, that's fair. That's fair.

Speaker B: Uh, we should take a moment here, um, to let our Cassies know that we're gonna, we're gonna pontificate a little bit during this podcast. We don't have any official guests, uh, but we are going to get a chance to hear from, um, some of our favorite guests, some of our favorite loyal Cassies from over the years. They're going to weigh in a little bit on the, on the history of the podcast. So that's going to be fun. And, and this is probably the best time to pour out our hearts to those of you, you know who you are, our loyal Casties who have been with us since 2016 on the coffee podcast. Back then it was Coffee with Craig and Kevin. James, you jumped in, I believe, at the end of 2020 and have been the co host on this podcast now for five years. But thank you all for listening for watching as you have on video since, uh, 2021. It's been, uh, it's been quite a ride and, and we will, we will miss doing these podcasts and thinking of you as, as we are, are having fun.

Speaker A: We love the loyal Casties. And I feel like I was hearing more and more about the folks that, that regularly listen this year. And folks, a lot of folks would say like, oh, yeah, I listen to, uh, the Channel Futures podcast, or I listen to Craig Coffee with Craig and James. People in this industry don't always use the exact brand names. Um, but like, you know, we've had some kind of, uh, what's the word? Like, um, dark horse listeners. Like folks that have been around For a while. And, uh, you know, thanks for, for keeping this train going. Of course. Thanks, Craig, for keeping this train going. Because as you said, you've been here the whole time. I've been here for half of it.

Speaker B: Well, I hope that you have an opportunity down the road maybe before long to, to continue some sort of podcast going and that we can migrate some of the listeners and viewers here to the Coffee with James or whatever type of podcast might be, but be exciting to see you pick that up. But, uh, time will tell as you roll into whatever this new channel venture looks like here.

Speaker A: Well, you edited, you spent a lot of time editing this, Craig. I don't want to say you spent all your time, but, uh, you know, you got into this rhythm of putting it out every Thursday and it was a lot of work because we went to video and so you were, you were editing both ways.

Speaker E: Right.

Speaker A: I don't know exactly your process, but, uh, there was a lot that was going on there. So I applaud you.

Speaker B: Well, thank you for that. I. I've had a ton of. A ton of fun doing this, first with Kevin and then with you for the last several years. So. So I'm gonna miss it for sure. So, James, let's. Let's delve into a little bit of the history of the podcast. What do you say? Some things that maybe you didn't even remember or realize. And then later I'm going to hit you with it wouldn't be a podcast without, uh, trying to shame you. Then show your lack of knowledge with a little trivia.

Speaker A: Trivia content, a key ingredient. Shame is the key ingredient. But let's do it, man.

Speaker B: All right.

Speaker A: Let's do it, man.

Speaker B: All, uh, right, so the first Channel Futures podcast, and this is before was Coffee with Craig and Kevin or James or anyone, was me just hosting it. And we had two or three of these before we went into the Coffee podcast. The very first one was on March 17, 2016, and we spent most of the time promoting the Channel Partners Conference and Expo, which was a big thing, uh, that we did years ago and even not too long ago, we spent a lot of time promoting the events through this podcast on the guests on that show were Rick Reed, who was our, uh, sales leader at the time, Lorna Gary, who was our editor in chief, uh, with Channel Futures. In fact, Channel Futures didn't exist yet. It was Channel Partners at that time, and Bob Titch, who was the, uh, founder of Virgo, which was the publishing company based in Phoenix that eventually sold to Inform Us. So Those were the very first guests on an actual podcast before the coffee podcast.

Speaker A: Um, oh wow.

Speaker B: And we had Bob on because he was running this Microsoft Cloud migration lab at the Channel Partner show. And, and you should know James, this was sponsored by the Channel Partners vendor locator. This was a, a short lived, you may even remember this. It was a short lived, um, website I think it was that we were running. It turns out that I think it didn't really get off the ground because everyone realized that the TSDS had all of this information available to their partners already. So anyway, it was, you know, it was nine years ago. It was interesting. Nobody necessarily knew at the time, but it's a little quirk.

Speaker E: Wow.

Speaker A: I feel a little bad I didn't know that Bob Titch founded Virgo because I uh, I'm a, you know, I'm a green eyed newbie but I, I, I work with him for like some, some PR he was doing.

Speaker F: Yeah.

Speaker A: And uh, lovely man. Um, but I didn't, I think he was being humble about it. Didn't tell me that he, he founded the company that I, that I interned with.

Speaker B: Oh, interesting. Oh that's, that's very interesting.

Speaker G: Yeah.

Speaker B: So then the podcast rolled on James and it was, Tell us about it. Coffee with Craig and Kevin debuted.

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker G: Yeah.

Speaker A: May um, 26th, uh, 2016. I don't know that date. You, I, I don't know off the top of my head but uh, I, I know it now. Um, and the first couple episodes there were no guests. It was just really the magic of you, you and Kevin. Not everybody knows Kevin but uh, you know, high charisma and Absolutely. You've got, you've got quite the charisma uh yourself Craig, um, some sketches and um, again kind of very much around this Channel Partners event and uh, in this case previewing the fall show then known as Channel Partners Evolution. Know now Evolution.

Speaker B: We used to always to play clip that went Evolution. We uh, mentioned that show and Craig

Speaker A: that would eventually become what's now known as the MSP Summit after kind of going through many, many iterations. Um, I think some people call it Channel Partners East Cloud Partners and Channel Partners Evolution.

Speaker B: Channel Partners Fall. It was just known as Fall

Speaker E: Summit.

Speaker A: Um so went through a lot of um, a lot of iterations, a lot of names and, and, but yeah. And the first guest on the Channel Futures Coffee podcast, was it then called Channel Futures Coffee?

Speaker B: Yeah, it was. Well Coffee. Yeah. Ah, Coffee with Craig and Kevin. That's what, what it originally was named as. Kevin was trying to make it like scrambled eggs with Kevin and Craig and Kevin. I don't know. I don't think I got that joke.

Speaker A: I don't know.

Speaker B: No, it was channeled eggs. Channeled eggs, I think is what he wanted to call it. So we went with a more simple coffee. But you were saying our first guest

Speaker A: on that podcast, that was Vince Bradley, then wtg, soon to be of App Direct and ultimately now of Abundant Iot.

Speaker B: Yeah, Vince is still out there. We appreciate, uh, appreciating him being that first guest. When I, when I first looked back at that, um, when I was sort of preparing for this podcast, we didn't, we didn't make as much of a deal out of that as we should have. We didn't have a lot of ballyhoo around Vince joining the podcast. And I'm thinking it's because we probably didn't even assume that we were going to be doing this podcast very long. So to hype it up is our first guest was, uh, probably setting us up for failure. At least, uh, we thought so at the time.

Speaker A: Well, I mean, how could you have known it was going to be the first out of 160, Craig? How could you have known?

Speaker B: Wouldn't have known. Wouldn't have known. And most, uh, podcasts would have come out with a lot more than 160 and a nine year span, but we didn't do it every week. So.

Speaker A: That's okay though, Craig.

Speaker B: That's okay.

Speaker A: You don't always have to make podcasts. It's okay.

Speaker B: That's true. That's true. All right, um, we are, as mentioned, super grateful that some of the friends of the cast recorded some testimonials, uh, for us here for our last big show. And it seems appropriate that, that the first is, is from the aforementioned Kevin Morris, who used to do this, uh, this little podcast with me before James came on. Kevin was, uh, one of our premier sales guys with the company and still is just, uh, not with us anymore. But Kevin, uh, gave us some thoughts and, and let, let's hear from.

Speaker A: Let's do it.

Speaker H: Hey, what's up, Craig? Before we get rolling on this next edition, I do want to ask you one quick question. I see you want me to speak to the state of AI in the channel. Uh, I really think we should bring our resident millennial James in on this one because he's the expert and I'm trying not to look like a more on our 82nd episode here for the first time. I think this could be the one. Whoa, hold on a minute. What's up, Craig and James? You, uh, just caught me in the middle of one of my many channel flashbacks. It's a little embarrassing. I still get them over all these years, but just wanted to say wow, guys, congrats. Bravo on an amazing podcast run. James, thank you for stepping in and taking the podcast the next level that the listeners really needed. Uh, also for being so humble and kind in all the times we've worked together. You really are one of the greatest guys, not just in the channel, but that I've ever met. That and Craig, uh, same to you, man. You really, you know, coached me and carried me and I'm quite a heavy load through all our podcasts. And you were always kind, humble, and generous and giving me as much credit when you really, really deserve most of it. Uh, during our time together and to the channel as a whole, to all the people I spoke with on the podcast and worked with, I just want to say much love to all the channel partners, people, wherever you are now, when you were there from 2015 to 2020, some of you are still there. Much love to you all. Wishing everyone the best. Craig and James, way to go. Thank you for reminding everyone that the channel's fun every episode. You're the best.

Speaker B: Uh, Kevin's quite a guy. Still a good buddy of ours. Of course. I love how he. He referenced you as the resident millennial, because that's what we always used to call you. But now that you're not quite as youthful as you used to be, still looking pretty youthful.

Speaker A: Millennials kind of ceased to be the Gen Z's of their time, and I was able to fade into middle adulthood. Um, which. Which is. Which is, you know, mostly been good. Um, Kevin's one of the funnest people out there. Uh, one of the. A very lovely heart. Very lovely heart. Very funny. Um, and, uh, he was coming from the sales side and, uh, and knew this space very well, and, um, and I missed the guy, I think. Uh, you know, I just haven't seen him in person in a long time.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. It was appropriate. He did the little heart. I can never do that.

Speaker E: Right.

Speaker B: The heart sign at the end of his message, because we love this guy. And, and to, uh, say. For him. To say that I really coached him through the podcast, and that was very nice. But as we know, he's got a big personality, so he. He didn't need a. Need a lot of help from me, so he. He did a great job helping us get this podcast.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah. I mean, he's. He's a plus four charisma. As, as I've, as I've said other in other places.

Speaker B: Absolutely. All right, uh, we got another, another one here, James. So talk about this.

Speaker A: Yeah, so we um, tried to get more of the partners on the podcast. You know, I, I don't think, I don't think this fellow was ever on, on the podcast, which is, ah, a deep regret that I have.

Speaker B: Um, I don't think he was either. But it just goes to show the, the folks that were listening to this podcast and viewing it and, and how much we appreciate, appreciate uh, them tuning in. So it's great to have somebody who is, know just a core listener or reviewer.

Speaker A: And this is Michael Agri, uh, who runs uh, Florida based North Atlantic Consultants. Um, he's one of the, one of the, um, you know, a vocal uh, leader in the TA community and uh, someone who's always uh, committed to educating himself. Always, always uh, game for a thoughtful conversation and um, it's always uh, you know, one of my, one of my fave peeps in, in the space to talk to. Um, so, and, and just thanks for listening to us, Michael, and thanks for. Thanks for believing in us, man.

Speaker B: Absolutely bread and butter of our industry. And also uh, pretty much destroyed us in, in a fantasy football league last year if I recall.

Speaker A: He's a nice guy, but he is a stone cold assassin.

Speaker B: Yeah, we'll get him this year. That. We'll get him. Let's hear from Mike.

Speaker E: What I always loved about your podcast is that you always brought the brightest stars, the sharpest minds and the most successful people in the channel to the table. And listening into your podcast always made me feel like I had a front row seat into what was going on. And it made me really feel like a channel inside. And um, I just want you guys to know that I appreciate everything you've done. I wish you all the best of luck and uh, thank you for all the years of service. Cheers.

Speaker A: Thank. Thank you, Michael. It's an honor. It's an honor every time to get, to get to speak with you and um, thank you for the advocacy that you do, um, for your peers. We really appreciate it.

Speaker B: Absolutely. Agreed. And it makes me think when I, I hear someone like Michael talk. We really started this podcast almost as a, just kind of on a whim, as a lark for, for us to have fun. Kevin, uh, and me back in the day, and then you and me to follow. And we've been really goofy on this podcast a uh, number of times, but it's easy to Forget that people actually did listen to us or have listened to us to stay inform. It's not so much, uh, because of what you and I are doing, or at least because of what I'm doing. You, uh, always bring, uh, an incredible amount of knowledge to the podcast. But as Kevin used to say, um, our guests are the meat to our seal, Brad. So we, we thank our guests who have brought so much to the podcast and listeners, uh, like Michael, um, who have really given us perspective, I, I think, on our ability to actually bring some good information to the audience. Which, uh, again, at the beginning I just kind of thought, well, that's going to be fun. We're just going to do it and be, be silly and have guests. But, uh, you know, they've told us they've been informed, so that's pretty cool.

Speaker A: Yeah, it feels, feels really good. Feels really good.

Speaker B: All right, James, let's get into some, uh, some stats about the podcast. You're, you're a research type guy. You like doing the research. I got some numbers for you. Ready?

Speaker A: Yeah. Let's hear it. Let's hear it.

Speaker B: Okay. Most listens to a single podcast. All time was a podcast we did with Resources, a tech advisor company. This was back in 2022, which I think is really interesting because then they would go on, right? You can tell the story a little more. But they would go on to be acquired, Correct, by scansource, slash intellisys, become this, you know, agency that, uh, sort of created a bit of controversy there at the beginning when it happened. It was interesting though that we had them on good year, year and a half before all this happened. What do you think?

Speaker A: Well, it's fascinating because, you know that they were, uh, they're probably waiting to close that deal and they're like, oh man, we gotta really do some deep digging. Let's, let's pull up the podcast. They're, you know, listening to our like, you know, dumb fart jokes or whatever.

Speaker B: Like, like, it's like we're 20 minutes in and we haven't heard from this guest yet. All they've been talking about is sports or movies or something ridiculous. But that was, that was pretty interesting. And then we had, uh, you know, uh, our second and third. Most were pretty, pretty hot too.

Speaker A: And uh, yeah, number two, Bridgepoint Technologies. That was in 2023. Now, I don't know, Craig, if that was because I, I went through our archive. I know we did two with Bridgepoint that year. Was that the one that was in person at their event?

Speaker B: Oh, you asked Me that now I'm not sure. I don't recall which one, which one was which, but yeah, we've had them on two or three times. Um, but yeah, that was, that was a good one.

Speaker A: And, and you know what, there, there's some movers and shakers as well, Craig.

Speaker B: Absolutely, absolutely. And then number three, as long as we're doing top three.

Speaker A: Yeah, that is ScanSource CEO Mike Bauer. And that is a recent one.

Speaker B: Yeah, that was just. Yeah, yeah, just a couple months ago.

Speaker A: And we've been, ah, from a media perspective, we've been pretty spoiled by Mike in the last, in the last bit. Like Mike has done a lot of interviews. Um, and so we've, we've enjoyed that. We've enjoyed the Scan Source coverage, the Intellis coverage. It seemed to be um, a nice intersection where a lot of people like to read and listen to stuff about uh, that company and its different subsidiaries.

Speaker B: Yeah, he's been tremendously open with us. I know you get on a, pretty much a quarterly, uh, call, like a private call basically to go through their earnings and what's happening with Intellisys. So we have appreciated the relationship we've had and the openness that Scan Source and Intellisys have had, uh, with us. Certainly, uh, credit to you for establishing that relationship and keeping it going strong.

Speaker A: Oh no, I think that's, that's, that's Mike and their team, you know, Melissa and Adeline and Mary and Steve. And it's good, you know, been, been through, you know, thick and thin times, you know, um, but uh, all works, works out for the best.

Speaker B: Absolutely, absolutely. Okay, James, let's get into um, some of our favorite moments from the podcast. I think, I think this is going to be. Now, this is going to be an entertaining conversation and I apologize when I come on at the end of the podcast and I say, you know, you can check out the archive of Coffee with Craig and James. So you're really gonna have to do this on some of this because from a timing standpoint I don't really have time to put together like uh, one of those old 80s clip shows. You know, they'd have Al for Growing Pains or whatever and they'd. Right, you know, um, give all the actors a week off and pretend like the show is new. But then they just put a bunch of clips together. You weren't. Yeah. So you wouldn't know about this.

Speaker G: Right.

Speaker F: Um,

Speaker B: but uh, our loyal cast is on. I just have to, uh, enjoy hearing about, uh, some of our favorite moments and then go back and find them in the archives. And I'm sure that hundreds, if not thousands of you are going to, uh, going to go do that. So, uh, James, let me, let me kick it off. And I, I just want to do it because as we like segues in this, uh, business, uh, it reminded me when we mentioned Resourceive, that same podcast we had. That was one of the times. It was right before Christmas and New Year's, so we did a holiday edition and it sort of became a tradition to do something holidayish that was kind of silly, uh, on the podcast, uh, that included things like, uh, me making up new words to a visit from St. Nicholas, you know, the night before Christmas, uh, poem, reading those, uh, silly things and connecting to the channel. And one of the goofiest things we ever did probably, and this was pre James, I believe this goes back to the Kevin days, was we did a parody of A Christmas Carol and we called it a channel Carol. And I believe it was. It was Kevin being visited by all the ghosts of, of channel past, present and future. Um, so we, we had a, we had a lot of fun with that. And I, I want to apologize to you because some of this really silly, kind of goofy stuff, we could only do pre video because it was. There was no way for us to do this whole scripted out thing on video which would have had to have so many different cuts and so forth. So in a way you missed out on, uh, some of that overly crazy stuff. But then we were able to still be fun, I think once you joined and, you know, we just couldn't be quite as over the top.

Speaker A: Craig, you do not need to apologize to me, my friend. Uh, you know, the good things come and go and they have their seasons and uh, I was just in a different season as, as they say. Uh, I did listen to those. I listened to those. I enjoyed them very much. Your little movie nights and, and channel carols.

Speaker B: Oh, movie nights. That was another one. What do you remember about the movie nights? I think we did one. You and I did one of those movie night trailer podcasts.

Speaker A: We might have done one.

Speaker I: Yeah.

Speaker A: I mean, I know that you had done. You and Craig, you and Kevin did this. These different genre movie trailers. And a lot of fun, man. Fun stuff. Snappy, snappy stuff. Good, good writing, you know.

Speaker B: Well, thank you. I pulled out my movie voice into the movie voice, you know, sort of the voiceover guy in a movie trailer in a world where the channel comes together, that kind of thing. Yeah, we, we had fun of those. And I was glad that you, uh, got to participate in one.

Speaker F: How.

Speaker B: How about you? What other. What other memories you got?

Speaker A: Well, I was going through it. Um, let's see. I mean, there was one where Kevin had actually came back.

Speaker E: Um.

Speaker A: Oh, let me talk about serialization. Um, yeah, this is a Coffee with Crick and James. Episode 92. We had Rob, uh, Rick Rebus from Fusion Connect.

Speaker I: He.

Speaker A: He was interviewed by. By Ed Gately. Uh, and then we actually brought in Seth penland. This was 2021. This was before Seth, uh, made Bluewave.

Speaker B: Oh, wow.

Speaker A: But brought him on. And he was talking about the state of M A at the time. It's really, really fascinating because, you know, kind of, Kind of you're getting Seth's look and insights on M. A kind of before he goes and. And establishes his own play.

Speaker B: But then, remember, that was before Blue Wave. That's so. That is interesting. Episode 92, folks. Check it out.

Speaker A: It's a fun one. And then, uh. But, yeah, then Kevin kind of took over, like, hijacked the podcast at the end. And then we were. We were all together and. And, uh, it was. It was fun. We played some Channel Mad Libs. That was a thing I tried to kind of make stick. Yeah, I don't know if it really stuck, but, um, it was sometimes fun when we did it.

Speaker B: I. I love the channel Mad Libs. I. I remember those fondly.

Speaker J: You.

Speaker A: You.

Speaker B: You got me a few times. You had me come up with words, and then you'd say, no, come up with some. Something else. Because probably the word I came up with, it didn't make any sense within the context. But that was super creative of you to come up with actual original, Original, uh, content from Ad Libs.

Speaker A: Well, thank you, Craig. And it's. You know, eventually this whole Game Lab notion, you know, developed into, you know, chat GPT fueled, um, riffs and roasts that you came up with.

Speaker B: That was kind of the start of it. I think the Mad Libs was kind of the beginning of the Game Lab, um, which led to all the trivia contests where I try and embarrass you.

Speaker A: Oh, did you and Kevin not do the Game Lab? Was that kind of my.

Speaker B: It was. That was a major contribution of yours to the podcast. Absolutely. As something you'll be remembered for forever. Oh, um, my legacy, another one I've enjoyed, is this is one we started with, uh, Kevin, and then it kind of continued with you as our. Our regular discussion about Channel Buzzwords. You know, one of the original I went back and found was we were joking about as A service and how everything now is as a service. And we've started, um, frequently discussing paths, and we always said it that way.

Speaker A: Pass.

Speaker B: And that was podcast as a service. And I don't recall how it really fit in to anything. I think we're just saying that our podcasts were as a service to our loyal Cassies. But there was that. And we, we joked about words like mind share and. And ecosystem was one, which is funny because now it's. It's really permeated the channel. Um, channel space. Everyone would put the word space after everything when completely unnecessary to do. So you can just say what you're talking about, the channel. Um, but those were. Those were some of my. My fun memories of, uh, of, uh, buzzwords.

Speaker G: Do you.

Speaker B: Do you recall any of the other big buzzwords that we, uh, talked about that have annoyed you over the years?

Speaker A: Uh, mind share. Yeah, I mean, I. People really abuse the word ecosystem. Um, kind of make reference to that in the. In the beginning of the podcast. Oh, I mean, all the, all the channel hyphens. You know, Channel first. Channel driven. Oh, yeah, yeah. You know, it's just channel first.

Speaker B: I. I love that one. Like somebody to define that in a concrete way beyond we think of our channel first.

Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, it's, you know, people are going to do what they're going to do, right, Craig? But, uh, you know, I like to, like to, uh, hope that we brought a little bit of healthy cynicism, uh, to that space.

Speaker B: To that space. So appropriate. All right, um, James, we're going to come back to some more memories, uh, of our favorite moments here in just a bit. But I, uh, want to set up our next testimonial clip that we got. And I mentioned this guy earlier, Rick Reed, who was our sales lead for Channel Partners Events, uh, back in the day when we started this podcast. And, and he was actually on the very first, again, Not Coffee podcast, but when we decided we were going to start some sort of podcast, he was on the first one. So, uh, without further ado, Rick's, uh, great guy. Uh, of course, now he's with Avant Communications. A lot of people in our audience know him from there. Um, let's hear what, uh, what Rick had to say about Coffee, uh, with Greg and James.

Speaker A: Let's check out Rick.

Speaker J: Hey, everyone, Rick Reed here with Avant Communications. And I, I have to tell you, when I heard this was the last coffee with Craig and James, it just, um, you know, I had to say it's a sad day. Reason being from a personal perspective. I had the distinct honor of, um, being part of the Channel Partners brand and working very directly with Craig and James and also Kevin Morris, uh, from 2015 to 2017 before I went over to Yvonne. And I still clearly remember the day back in 2015 when Craig and Kevin Morris pitched me the idea of coffee with Craig and Kevin. And I said, you know what? That's a great idea. How much money are we going to make on that? And they said, you know, we're not, but people are going to love it. Trusted advisors, vendors, they're all going to love it. I said, okay, guys, it's approved, but let's do it for a couple of months and see how it goes. And I just have to say, you know, 10 years later and hundreds of episodes later, uh, it's just, it was, uh, it's informative, it's entertaining, and people just quite frankly expected it. Um, and Craig, I gotta tell you, right, um, you're just absolutely one of the best of the best. Just, um, a true professional. And as, uh, you know, I think about your next chapter, someone's gonna be extremely, extremely lucky to have you, um, to be part of their, their company. So, guys, uh, just overall awesome, awesome job and you will be missed. Thanks.

Speaker B: So James, Rick obviously has some real insight into the beginnings of the podcast. Kind of a. Kind of cool story. And I've. I've run into him, you know, obviously a number of times since he left, uh, our company. And, uh, he always brings. Brings that up and, uh, you know, it's just a testimony to what the, the beginnings of the podcast meant to him. And, and that's cool. Cool to hear.

Speaker A: Uh, he was. I. I saw Rick at the beginning of my.

Speaker G: What.

Speaker A: When, when was this? I think it might have been the summer that I interned with you all. So I was very new to it all. It actually, it might have just been my first day when I was there, actually.

Speaker B: Oh, wow. Ah.

Speaker A: Um, because I was like, I was in. This is back in the day when we had, um, cubicles and, um, let the reader understand, you know. But, um, you know, I was in. My cubicle was the only cubicle I ever had in my life.

Speaker F: Uh, wow.

Speaker A: But I was like, I was like going through the. We, um, had a, um, I made a lot of galleries at the time for our website and so going through like, the shared. What do you call it, Internet folder of like, past Channel Partners events. And I kid you not, like, I had a picture of Rick and some other people pulled up and then like, he stepped out right behind me and was like, like, you know, like, like he kind of, kind of surprised me. Um, and so that was like my first memory. Like, meeting Rick was like, ah, like, like, like moving. Moving the.

Speaker F: The.

Speaker A: The cursor.

Speaker B: The picture because it was awkward. Yeah, that's funny.

Speaker A: M a strange. Strange. Um, uh, coincidence. Synchronous.

Speaker B: That is funny. That's good. And, uh, Rick, thanks for those kind words about me, uh, and my future. I. I appreciate that, uh, very much. All right, James, uh, what else we got? What else we got here?

Speaker A: We've got, uh, we've got more.

Speaker G: No.

Speaker B: Okay, well, let's hear. Hear more. I think you've. You've got some more for us.

Speaker A: Yeah. So, I mean, these last two folks were on our podcast together. Um, and I think they're both. I think Sarah's been on it twice. I don't know if Chris has been on it once or twice. You'll know better than I do. Um, but, uh, Chris Jones and Sarah Seegers, both of gtt. Um, we got to know Sarah when she was at Lumen. We got to know Chris when he was at at&t. And um, back then, you know, two of the bigger vendors in, in the space that, that I specifically cover that, that. That you and Channel Futures cover. Um, and, um, so, you know, long time friends of the pod, friends of the site, sources, uh, that we've checked in with time and time again. So, uh, yeah. Was Chris on here twice or once? Craig?

Speaker B: I think Chris was only on the one time. Um, but we had interviewed both Chris and Sarah at our events, not, uh, for the podcast, but on video and various things over the years as well. So as you mentioned, uh, two people we've known a long time and, and, uh, very cool. They would do some testimonials for us. We appreciate it.

Speaker A: Absolutely. Absolutely. Check it out.

Speaker I: Craig. James, where do I start to express my profound appreciation for coffee with you both? Um, it's not just as someone that had the honor of doing it with you, but also as a listener throughout. It was not just informative, it was inspiring. Um, time after time, you brought clarity, humor, and you brought heart to the matters and the conversations that we need to hear in the channel. You challenged us to think bigger, smarter, and stay curious. As a listener, I didn't just tune in, I grew. And I know I speak on, um, behalf of many. You left a mark, and I am grateful to have been a part of it all. And I look forward to what's ahead with both of you, and I hope I can continue to be a part of that as well.

Speaker G: Hey, James and Craig, it's Chris Jones from gtt. I just wanted to drop a real quick message to say thank you for including Sarah Segers and I on, um, the podcast as we were talking about the new launch at gtt. I also wanted to thank both of you for the advocacy you've had for both me personally as well as the channel over the years. Um, without you guys, there's so much information that wouldn't have gotten out to the larger industry and there's so much of what I've been able to accomplish, or at least get credit for accomplishing, that wouldn't have happened without someone like you advocating for what we're doing and what we're doing across the channel. So I wish you luck in future endeavors. I know that we'll see each other and, uh, thank you again for everything you've done on behalf of the channel.

Speaker B: Uh, really cool, uh, there, James. We'd be, uh, remiss if we didn't mention that, you know, with Chris and Sarah joining forces over there at gtt, it's really like a channel powerhouse they've developed and it seems like they keep adding, adding more well known faces, uh, from the channel to their team and, and what they're doing over there, uh, has been, been pretty cool. And we thank them, uh, again, uh, for doing the testimonials. And Sarah called us inspiring. I, I thought that was, that's maybe the first time I've ever heard anyone say that about us.

Speaker A: We'll take it, Craig. We will take it. We'll take it.

Speaker B: And Chris of course, was our influencer of the year last year as well. So, uh, you know, you don't get much bigger than, than Chris and Sarah.

Speaker A: Yeah, they, they're uh, they're larger than life, folks. And um, it was, uh, it's nice to, nice to still be in their orbit.

Speaker B: 100. 100. All right. Um, speaking of orbits, I get a trivia contest that is out of this world. Oh, see what I did there?

Speaker A: Yeah. Okay, Craig. Like space related. Space. Space related. Your least favorite word.

Speaker B: So, uh, James, uh, for our loyal cast is they know that I typically like to throw you some trivia that is before you were born, uh, to make it really hard on you. However, in this case, we're going to do some trivia that is centered around this podcast. What else? I mean, of course. Right, so we'll see how much you remember. Some of this is going to go, uh, back to the old days and that some will Be, uh, from our, our days together. So, okay, let's, let's start things off and see what, what, uh, you can get here.

Speaker A: I love it.

Speaker B: All right. We went to video. We were doing these podcasts as audio until, uh, early 2021. In fact, uh, our first podcast of the year in 2021 was a video cast. And this was, this is a big deal for us, right? It's the first one.

Speaker A: 2021 was the first video cast.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: That's a long time ago.

Speaker B: Yeah, it has been a while now. Almost five years. So seeing how it wasn't that long, did you think it was more recent than that?

Speaker A: Yeah, I think for me, 2021 feels like a really long time ago.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker A: And I feel like it was maybe two years ago, but I'm not gonna, I mean, I, I agree with you. I totally agree with you.

Speaker B: Yeah. Is it, is it going to, um, be too far back for you to remember who our first guest on video was?

Speaker G: Wow.

Speaker B: Because that's your question.

Speaker A: It was a single guest.

Speaker B: Single guest. Yes. Wow.

Speaker J: Uh,

Speaker A: may I get a hint?

Speaker B: Um, yes, he is. You weren't there, but at a dinner, uh, at a Channel Partners event a year or so ago, he was referred to as the Godfather of the Chin.

Speaker A: Oh, well, uh, is this Craig Schlagman?

Speaker B: No, but that's a good guess because he was a lifetime achievement award winner.

Speaker A: Contested title.

Speaker B: I'll break it down for you. The guy is in the security space. Space.

Speaker A: Okay. The godfather of the channel. Oh, Frank Roush.

Speaker B: Yes. Very nice.

Speaker F: Big Frank.

Speaker B: Big Frank, as we like to call him.

Speaker A: That's, that's what I call him.

Speaker B: That's when he was at Cato Networks. Um, and he, you know, Big Frank's got a big personality, and it was really, really great to have him join us on the first, uh, video podcast. So I give you, I give you half a point for that.

Speaker A: Thank you. I, I know that I'm, I'm, I'm playing with your grace right now, so I, I, I respect it. I appreciate.

Speaker B: It was a while ago. It was a while ago. Okay, so before. Next question. Before 2021.

Speaker I: Yeah.

Speaker B: What did almost every episode include that they don't now? And why.

Speaker A: Okay, well, is there one specific thing? Because it's like, uh, I mean, there's no digi anymore. There's no unique musical introduction. You would play a particular, um, musical. A song.

Speaker B: That is what I was looking for. Yes. We would incorporate a lot of music and open, open with a song. And the reason why, because you love music.

Speaker A: Craig.

Speaker B: Well, yes, but the reason why we don't anymore.

Speaker A: Oh, because we're a video podcast now.

Speaker B: Well, yes, so there's. There's two reasons. One, it's, uh, more challenging for me to find a way to edit in music and have us comment on it. But more than anything is that the video hosting services crack down much more on. On copyright and so forth.

Speaker A: Nice.

Speaker B: So I didn't want to see our podcast get banned, uh, or censored or blocked on the various video.

Speaker A: So we track those economic legal trends, Craig. That's good history. I try, um, situate it within the socioeconomic context.

Speaker B: Yes, all the macroeconomics as well. Right. All right, so your first podcast, however, was shortly before we went to video exclusively, and, uh, we were still playing music. What song did I open up that, uh, podcast with?

Speaker A: It's just a hunch. It's just a hunch, but I think it was, uh, Youth of a Nation by Peter.

Speaker B: You got it. Absolutely. Because we joked about how that was your theme song and playing on the whole resident millennial and all that. The irony, of course, is that song from Pod came out probably when you were an infant. I'm gonna guess maybe mid to late 90s. I don't remember. It could have been as late as 2000. I don't remember. You were no more than a toddler or a tween at that time.

Speaker A: But, uh, well, that's what we call timeless song.

Speaker G: Correct.

Speaker A: That's one of my favorite songs of all time. I was very honored that you associated that with me.

Speaker B: I love to hear that. I love to hear that. All right, another follow up. Uh, still talking about your first podcast. What movie reference did you make in the first 30 seconds of that podcast?

Speaker A: Well, that I made.

Speaker B: That you made.

Speaker A: Was it a. Was it a Matrix reference?

Speaker B: No, we. We weren't quite into the Mr. Anderson, um, references yet.

Speaker A: Man, I don't know where my head would have been in 2021. Man, I was in a weird place. Um, probably.

Speaker F: I don't know.

Speaker A: I watched the Tree of Life that year, but can't imagine that that would be it. I guess I watched other movies that year also.

Speaker B: What was it, like, a hint?

Speaker A: Yeah. Yes, please.

Speaker B: You told me that you were not worthy to be on the podcast.

Speaker C: Oh.

Speaker A: Uh, so.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker J: Yeah.

Speaker A: So. So, um. Uh, that's. That's Garth and Wayne's World.

Speaker B: Wayne's World.

Speaker J: Very good.

Speaker B: Yeah, we also joked about how that was. Came out in 1992 again, uh, before you were gracing your. The planet with your presence. So that was. That was a good one. Uh, okay, how about another follow up? Who were our guests on that show?

Speaker A: Okay, so this one, I think, is solidified in my mind. I think this was MNJ Technologies.

Speaker B: You got one out of two.

Speaker A: Ben Nurnberg. Um, because I had, like, we had this connection around SD Wan and I. Oh, okay. Ah, was really, like, styling myself as this SD Land reporter.

Speaker B: That's right.

Speaker A: Ever really learned what that meant? Um, Golly, that was pretentious. Um, but, uh, the other person, mj, is it like Metel maybe?

Speaker B: No, think UCAS uk big name.

Speaker A: Eight by eight.

Speaker B: Nope.

Speaker A: Ring Central.

Speaker B: Ring Central, yeah. Ah, you got Zane, longtime channel leader at Ring Central. We had him on that podcast, man. Okay, a couple more for you, James. Um, most podcast interviews from an event other than Channel partners.

Speaker A: What? Event from an event other than channel

Speaker B: partners or any of our events. MSP Summit, Channel partners, Evolution, all that stuff. No, no, company events count.

Speaker A: Okay. I. I, uh, feel like this is probably a. Something that Edward Gately, um, corralled like his whole where in the world is Edward Gately Segment.

Speaker B: Um, good guess, but no. These are interviews that you and I did.

Speaker A: You and I did individually.

Speaker B: You just did one about a month ago.

Speaker A: Oh, oh, oh, like a person or a company?

Speaker B: Company.

Speaker A: Oh, oh, that. That's Telaris, right? That's got to be Telaris.

Speaker B: Absolutely. Teleris Partner Summit. Uh, it was pretty typical over the years for you attended more of them? I attended some, but we frequently got a podcast guest at the Telaris Partner Summit.

Speaker A: And. And the excuse I would make for the other folks that are like, why didn't you get a video of us? Was because I feel like the last two years Tolaris has been like, uh, has had a significant, uh, amount of, like, padding of time in between the next TSD event. So, like, usually when I'm about to go on the road to a, uh, show for a TSD show, it's like I'm about to travel for three weeks in a row. But to Laris, it's like, oh, like, that's the. The travel. I'm doing that. So.

Speaker B: Yeah. And ah, no offense to any of those companies anyway, because it's not like you weren't there covering their events extensively. Anyway, just may not have always been in the podcast format, but we did have some podcast interviews from some of those guys too, so.

Speaker A: Yeah, but, you know, they say the medium is the message, and I don't know what that means in this case.

Speaker B: Neither do I. Neither do I. But it's A good phrase. Uh, okay, I got one more.

Speaker A: Okay. Okay.

Speaker B: Who did I co host the podcast with in the interim podcast between Kevin and you? 1m. In between or just was Digi? Yes. Very good. Digi, our digital services robot mascot, as we call them, in fact. Oh, there it is. Hey, Digi. Um, in fact, um, we. We've kind of phased him out of this podcast for the most part over the last two or three years. But he was a big element of the podcast in the early days. We even named our Twitter handle was Digi Robot, um, back in the day. And in fact, it still is a1ron Twitter, aka X. Now it, uh, is.

Speaker A: Do we. Do we update that?

Speaker B: Yeah, it's always. Oh, I update the. The X speed. Yeah. Whenever we have a podcast.

Speaker A: Uh, man, you're a legend. Yeah, Digi had a nice recurring role there. Played, um, a. I think a lot of people would say, did you played an anti hero or heel 100?

Speaker B: Everyone rooted for him, but he was a villain, especially to Kevin.

Speaker A: Yeah, no, there weren't any redeeming qualities to Digi. He was a scoundrel.

Speaker B: Well, be careful. I mean, it's the last podcast, but he is right, right there. He's. He's watching you. You know, he's got his eyes on you, so be careful, dg.

Speaker A: I. I, uh, I'm. I'm Team Kevo all the way.

Speaker E: So.

Speaker B: One funny story about that is that, uh, the. The Digi thing caught on, um, with our awards team, so they created a Digi Awards. You remember this? I believe we handed them out for maybe two years before we changed the name to Partner Businesses, usually tech advisors, at our Channel Partners Conference and Expo, basically for excellence in selling solutions, etc. Etc.

Speaker F: Yeah.

Speaker B: And then we had to change the name because we apparently got, uh, contacted by Digi International, the company which plays plays in the channel. And understandably, uh, they. From a confusion and trademark issue and everything, they weren't keen, uh, on us naming some awards the Digi Awards. And, you know, I get that. Uh, so we did wind up changing them too, I believe the Excellence in Digital Services Awards, which just rolls off the tongue.

Speaker A: Yeah, that's a fascinating thing where I, you know, candidly, I probably thought that it went the other way around that Digi came from the awards. I'm so sorry for thinking that.

Speaker B: Oh, interesting. Yeah.

Speaker A: And I feel like the.

Speaker G: Would we.

Speaker A: Is it fair to say that the TA101 is like the offs.

Speaker E: The.

Speaker A: The project progeny of the Excellence and Digital Services Award? It kind of. I Mean, it's a little bit different,

Speaker B: but it's kind of in that same vein. Yeah, I mean, I, I don't know if you really thought about that when you were creating those awards. And the TA101, quite frankly, is a much more prestigious and better award, um, as it has evolved over the years, but mostly in name, not taking anything away from the companies who won Digis. But, uh, this thing has evolved and, and we've, we've come up with much, uh, more appropriate names for these awards since then.

Speaker A: Well, I, I really admired it and for a long time I wanted to make special awards that were basically the same thing, uh, as Digis. And so it was great. It was great.

Speaker B: That's good.

Speaker G: That's good.

Speaker B: So thus ends our trivia, uh, portion. James, you did, you did quite well and it was okay. Yeah, you did great. It was fun. Fun. Going down, uh, going down memory road with you a little bit there. So, uh, why don't we take a couple minutes here to get back into a few more, uh, favorite moments that you have had and that I've had from the podcast. Anything else come, uh, to mind? I, as you mentioned, as we were ramping up to do this, I probably have a few more since I've been doing the podcast twice as long as you. So no shame if, if you start to run out.

Speaker A: I, um, mean, I have. I mean I, my, my memory tends to be of like some of the guests that we had. Um, I really liked. Uh, what did I really like? What did I really, really, really like? I liked when I liked some of the, the satellite conversations we had, like when we had Ed Fox in from Metel. Then we did another satellite one with um, uh, that, that featured Chip. Chip Housington from, um, Housington from, uh, Avant. Somewhere off. Um, that was.

Speaker B: I remember, I remember thinking you were kind of crazy that we were going to be talking about low Earth orbit satellites for like the second time in six months. But as it turned out, your, your judgment is usually pretty good in those cases.

Speaker A: Oh, you're too kind, Craig. You're too kind. And then, um, I liked, I like the little, uh, when the scan source new co stuff was brewing, we did a little panel on that and uh,

Speaker J: with

Speaker A: Trisha Ward and Carrie Tangler, I think.

Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, that was a good podcast. Yeah, it was fun.

Speaker A: I liked when we were able to have our fellow informaniacs on the show, uh, like Devan Adams talking about the MSP501. Yeah. I want to say we had Jeanette Andre on board.

Speaker B: Yeah. She talked about MSP501 also. Yeah, she was, you know, on the, uh, sort of on the awards and the event side on that. Yeah, that was good.

Speaker A: Get Britney in here ever.

Speaker B: Yeah. Brittany Watts, who was our, and still is with the team, the events team as their marketing lead. We had her on one of the very first podcasts back in 2016 and I think it was talking about one of the events. I remember having her on the, on the podcast. But yeah, we've had some of the, some other team members over the years as well and those have been pretty memorable.

Speaker A: Yeah, it's good. Good folks, good crew. Good crew.

Speaker B: Absolutely. I got a few more, uh, myself that come to mind. I always like it when people come on, uh, the podcast and have fun. As, you know, before we start recording. Every time I, I make the joke, you know, we like to have fun. So don't hesitate to poke fun at James and mock him. Just don't say anything about me. And that usually, you know, gets people lightened up. But people have different personalities and some want to be kind of all business and others take, take their shots, I think back at some of them. Uh, we just had um, Christy Thomas from Vonage on here this summer and she made like a joke in the first 10 seconds about how she works for Vanaj because, uh, everybody tends to French that up, kind of like Target. So that was, that was amazing. I enjoyed that.

Speaker A: That was a really, really fun one. Good conversations with, with that. It's nice when you can really go deep with a channel, uh, executive and you don't feel like, you don't feel like you're getting canned responses and you feel like you're, you're talking it out like.

Speaker B: Absolutely. Yeah. It means a lot when it's more of a conversation than it is somebody sort of coming in with structured talking points. It makes it more fun. Another one was Robin Robbins, the channel, channel, uh, marketing expert who participated in one of our shows a few years back. And uh, I called right off the bat, I called her a guru, a channel marketing guru. And she was quite taken aback by that and made some joke about how she looked down and she wasn't wearing a robe or something to that effect would be a guru. So that was, that was pretty entertaining. We've had, ah, Jay McBain, who is our colleague of course, with Canalis, part of Amdia on a number of times. We had him, um, on before he was our colleague and we made some jokes with him and he joked about his Canadian heritage because I asked him. We we'd had a previous guest on who said, if you were from, like, eastern, you know, we associate every sentence a Canadian says for some reason, you know, a. Well, some. Somebody from eastern Canada who we had on the podcast previously said, oh, no, here in eastern Canada. It's. It was something else. It was. Or who or whatever. And Jay made some good comments about that, so that was pretty funny.

Speaker A: What side's he from?

Speaker B: Western, I think he's from Alberta. Oh, uh, okay, so he was Western Canada. Um, what else? Oh, I got to. Totally non, uh, channeling, but Chris Berman of ESPN fame was at a Planet One event. You know, of course, before bought them. This was a number of years ago, so I got to interview him and try. Try to focus it on. On business. That was. That was fun. Um, we had. We had two titles that I didn't go back and listen to them. We had podcasts called who Let the Dogs Out And Homage to Top Gun. I have no idea. These were pre. James, I have no idea what those podcasts.

Speaker A: I don't know those either. Can we go back to those Planet One events, though? I feel like. Yeah, I don't know.

Speaker H: I.

Speaker A: Where was the one May have been a WTG event where, um. Oh, I never remember the Dodgers guy. The.

Speaker B: The Garvey.

Speaker A: Steve Garvey was there.

Speaker B: Garvey. That was great.

Speaker A: And, uh, we.

Speaker B: That was a WTG event. And I just remember you at that event because we always joked about. You had a number of these catchphrases, right? Like, right on or good call. You have, like, these two word catchphrases. I don't hear those as much from you anymore. We had fun. And. And you're doing that to Steve Carvey, who of course is a baseball. I think he's in the hall of Fame, and then he just ran for governor of. Of California or senator. I can't remember. And you're throwing this stuff at him and we were talking about that hq, Ah, game show. You remember that?

Speaker A: Well, I think I embarrassed you both because I was. I just started offhandedly talking to Kevin about a nightmare that I'd had that he was in. And, like, I think it was embarrassing that I was like that I. That I said that around. Around Steve Garvey, you know, like, because, I mean, I have to confess, like, he doesn't mean anything to me. You know what I mean? Like, Steve, uh, Garvey, no offense, I just didn't grow up with you, man. Like, I'm on.

Speaker B: You didn't know. He was more you know, he was still playing ball when I was. I was growing up, so I knew Steve Guard, but that, but that was, that was a good time. And we've, we've talked about that ever since. But, uh, yeah, so I remember those. I had a couple other things noted here. Oh, I loved our conversation with, um, um, Xena Hassell and her daughter here a year or so ago. And then Zeno went on to retire. That was really fantastic. And she was kind of passing. Passing the business on to Jody. That was a great get that you got for interviews there.

Speaker A: I remember that one because, like, they were, uh, they were on a phone in landscape mode, and I think I was on a phone as well.

Speaker I: You.

Speaker A: I don't think you saw how that sausage was made. That was very touch and go there. Very touch and go.

Speaker B: Yeah. Barely kept that signal going. And I probably harassed you for it, not being in the proper format or

Speaker A: something like that, because I was all about that 16v9.

Speaker B: And then, uh, the last note I had was, uh, the old Channels Got talent segments that Kevin and I used to do. We did it, like, during one summer because he was all into America's Got Talent. And, uh, so we did those. And what struck me was don't take this wrong channel. What struck me was how untalented so many people in the channel are. I think the best thing we got, and granted, nobody really knew that we were coming with this, so it was a surprise that we sprung on them. But the hidden talent, like, the best hidden talent we got was I play guitar or something like that. Nobody else had anything that was, you know, crazy. And I just thought, uh, man, these guys are all out there selling and, and making big bucks, and they don't have time to waste on, um, piddly hobbies that could be on it on a talent show.

Speaker A: Well, I remember that we started doing like a would you rather. Or like a what would you do? Hypothetical question. And I remember the first time I asked it, it was to Adam Edwards, and it was like a really out of left field question. It was like, what would you do if, like, I don't know, it was pretty. It was a pretty intense question. And I remember being like, we kind of like ramped that one up to 60 pretty fast. You know, it like, involved guns or like, you know, warfare or something. It was pretty intense.

Speaker B: I kind. I don't remember the topic, but I do remember that. But of course, Adam, uh, the pro that he is, could answer just about any question. He ran with it pretty well, if I recall.

Speaker A: Yeah, took it. Took it gracefully. Took it gracefully and in stride.

Speaker B: All right, James, love going over the members with you. So many more, uh, to talk about, but, um, there's only an infinite amount of time on the Internet, and this is probably going to be our longest podcast ever anyway, with. Without any guess. So, um, we got a couple more testimonials I, uh, want to go through. Um, one of them is, uh, from our buddy Ronell Richards, who is a sensational, uh, sales and marketing expert in the channel. This guy is, I think you'd agree, he's got the. He's got the X factor, right? The it factor. He is about as cool as you get in the channel. People, uh, love talking, uh, with Ron Ellen, and it was super, uh, awesome for him to share some words about the podcast as well. So let's hear from Ronald.

Speaker D: Hey, it's Ronnell. And I just wanted to take a brief moment to thank both Craig and James for your commitment to our industry, your professionalism. I got to tell you guys, the first time that I was invited to be on your show, after having been in this, uh, this industry for years and years, it's like I finally made it. I got the opportunity to sit down, talk about our business with the best in the business. It's absolutely going to be missed. I'd be remiss if I did not mention how much Craig has meant to our business. And I know that Craig won't say these things, so I'm going to say it for him. Um, you know, Craig, I affectionately have been calling the voice of the channel for a very long time. And what I've loved about his commitment to our business is that he doesn't want any attention. He just is a hardcore journalist that wants to share our stories. But, uh, right now, Craig, you deserve your flowers. I just want you to know that I appreciate you, and I cannot wait to see what's next. Thanks, Craig. Thanks, James. Thank you, channel family.

Speaker A: Well, I certainly agree with Ron L. Craig, uh, you do deserve your flowers. Um, you know, I mentioned this before, like, you've been on this from the beginning, uh, you know, from the beginning of this podcast, the beginning of this episode, of this website, um, back to the Virgo days. Back to the, I don't know, phone plus days, I think. Um, you have, uh, you put in a lot of work, and, um, people speak of you with great reverence in this space. It's like your voice is imprinted on people like they know who you are. And it's, uh. And there's A great deal of respect that comes with that and uh, it's all very well, well deserved. And, and thank you to Ronell for um, those, those kind words were, um. It's uh, as much of a, Much of an honor for us to be in. Be in the same platform with you, uh, as. As what. What you had mentioned about being on here with us. So the pleasure is all ours. And I appreciate the um, uh, the desire you have to. And the drive to. To make this space better,

Speaker B: I would say more. But you put it, um, you put it just perfectly. Great guy, supporter of ours. Um, yes. And to say he finally made it after being on the show, it's very kind. Um, that's being humble though. As James and I both know, Ron L. Had made it, uh, far before we ever had in this space. So again, thanks to. Thanks to you Ron, Ellen, and for those kind words. Um, over the years, uh, we've had a few guests on James a number of times. We had mentioned Tearis as a company. You know, we've had Adam on, uh, probably three times. Talked to other, other folks at the company. Um, Janet Shines has been a big supporter of ours. She's been on the podcast I believe, three times. Uh, so thank you to her. Uh, I mentioned Jay McBain earlier. Uh, definitely at least three. Uh, someone maybe, um, you wouldn't suspect having been on the podcast three, uh, times. I believe it was three was a Max Silber of, ah, Metel. He's still over there. And I gotta say he was a, A great sport. You were talking about Adam Edwards and the whole crazy out of left field question. But Max was on, um, when we were doing this ridiculous segment called the Channel Whammy. Uh, this is back in the Craig and Kevin days. And we were asking just stupid questions. We would uh, have the wham. Kevin would say no whammy. No whammy from Press yous Luck. And I'd spin this wheel and then stop the wheel on a series of questions that were just ridiculous questions. And our guests were kind enough at the time to go along with these and answer them. So we asked Max, who is the better TV dad? Andy Taylor of Andy Griffith fame or Homer Simpson? Oh my gosh. And we all settled on Homer Simpson, but Max right away said Homer Simpson. So I think that was, that uh, was one of the fun times that I remembered. And the other one that we had on at least three times, who's always been good to us and a friend of the brand is, uh, is John Deler, who has Been at a number of companies, uh, as a channel leader in this space. There, I did it again. C space. And, uh, we like jd and he, uh, he shared some M words with us as well.

Speaker F: Craig and James, what is up? Uh, man, what a great run. It was so much fun on that podcast. I think I appeared as much as anybody and, uh, just broke some great stories and we had some great fun together. Laughed a lot. Craig, all the events. James, the mustache, before it was even popular. Phenomenal. You guys are amazing. I'm going to miss that podcast, but I won't miss you because I know we'll stay in touch. Best of luck and best of fortune and whatever is ahead of you. And, um, we just thank you for all your contributions.

Speaker B: Favorite part of that, James, was him bringing up the mustache. You know, he is. He has watched you evolve from just a young whipper snapper into the man you are today and your evolution of facial hair. And he remembers when the mustache just started as just this little, little thin thing, almost like the dude from, uh, Adam's family. Uh, and, oh, yeah, here it has, uh, evolved into what it is today.

Speaker A: Well, and, and he played no small part in that. And, uh, you know, it's been, uh, it's been a pleasure, um, having J.D. on and, and, uh, writing about him over the years and seeing him at events. I know you. You two have been on stage quite a few times, uh, in Vegas and, um, and, uh, really appreciate the kind words JD and kind of being. Being with us for all these years. It's been a good run with you.

Speaker B: Absolutely. Yeah. You mentioned those stage times, uh, at least twice, maybe. Wow. More than that. I was on, on stage with him at Channel Partners for probably a few years in a row. Whether he was winning an award or introducing him with the company that was. He was in to discuss, uh, the latest, what they were doing. So, yeah, again, John Delozer, thank you, uh, for your support of us over the years. Uh, one of our. One of our absolute biggest. All right, James, one more testimonial we are really pleased to get, and that is from Janet Shine. She's been on the podcast, uh, three times over the years. Of course, you know her as one of the most knowledgeable people in the channel, having been at Motorola, Verizon, uh, where you and I got to know her pretty well. Uh, now, of course, she is the CEO of her own, um, consultancy, JS Group, uh, just all around firecracker on the channel. Uh, super excited to have Janet here to give us, uh, some thoughts as well.

Speaker A: Yeah, Janet's well connected. And Janet's been, um, one of these folks that, uh, you know, is making things happen and shaping. Shaping the space in a big way. So let's see what she's got.

Speaker C: Hey, everybody. Janet shines from jsg. Can't believe it's the last podcast with Craig, but I have such great memories of being on it with him and James. And what I will tell you is before all the seriousness started and I answered all the questions about Channel Dreams Friends, we always got laughing so hard that it delayed our production. And that's because Craig and James, of course, are just great people. They know the channel, but more importantly, they know what makes us tick.

Speaker B: Best of luck, Craig and James. So true what she said about, you know, having the good times, having the fun before we start recording. And then it just kind of flows into the recording itself. I think you can see that energy come out whenever we have her on or anybody who's sorted into that, uh, flow of, of good times with Craig and James.

Speaker A: Yeah, Craig, in this space, you just, you get to know people and you spend time with them and, and, um, these podcasts, you know, you're recording something, but it's a chance to catch up. And, uh, we always do that with Janet and someone who, who, uh, who did really care. Did really care. Does really care about us.

Speaker B: Do you remember from the previous podcast what the big tomato said to the little tomato?

Speaker A: You're a little red.

Speaker B: Oh, uh, geez. Ketchup.

Speaker F: Oh,

Speaker B: I can't believe you forgot that.

Speaker A: Well, it's not. It's like tomato sauce, like. And sugar. It's not like you squeeze a tomato and ketchup comes out. I'm sorry.

Speaker B: Oh, I see. So you're getting technical on my terrible bad jokes. I got you.

Speaker A: It's my only defense, really.

Speaker B: I remember you, Anderson. I'll remember you. All right, James. Yeah, I think we've done about as much damage as we can. Any, uh, any final, final thoughts before we say so long to this, uh, podcast? And I start to get a little misty eyed here?

Speaker A: No, it just, you know, this is your baby, Craig. And maybe it was yours and Kevin's baby. Um, but, uh, you know, it's a

Speaker B: really weird thought, but you're.

Speaker A: You're the dad that. What's this? What's the. What's the phrase they say? The dad that. You're the dad that, uh. Oh, help me readers. Help me cast these dad that showed up. Uh, yeah, now, I don't know, the metaphor breaks down. Uh, all the way, all the way to uh, I wouldn't say adulthood, but uh, but, but uh, clear adolescent, uh, milestone. And um, and it's, it's been a good time, man. And I'm uh, you know, never thanked you enough for letting me join you in this endeavor and um, getting to be part of this duo, it was um, you know, it was really good for me in uh, in many ways. And um, and not, not just like that. It was fun to be on this platform with you, but that uh, you know, I got to have this, uh, this particular type of friendship with you that um, this podcast helped, helped enhance and um, you know, our whole life is a podcast, so that's not, that's not going away. Um, but uh, it's meant a lot having these half hour, 45 minute hour sessions with you where this is, this is often where we regroup from some of the, the stuff that we have to deal with in our, our day to day. And uh, so this is actually where we've gone to unwind and talk it out and, and uh, you know, we get into our performance mode and it's like, all right, yeah, how you doing?

Speaker E: What's up?

Speaker A: So, um, thanks. Thanks for being in my life, uh, in this particular way for the last 10 years, man. You're, you're my only boss. Um, I, I don't, you know, this is, this is, this is, this has been really special. Um, you know, obviously, whatever comes next, you know, open minded to it, but this is set, um, this is set a standard that, you know, it's hard to, it's hard to imagine that being, being uh, eclipsed. So, so thank you, Craig. You, you mean a lot to me. A lot to me.

Speaker G: Wow.

Speaker B: I gotta, I gotta follow that now.

Speaker A: You don't have to. You should, you shouldn't.

Speaker B: No, it's great. Um, uh, I appreciate that very much. Uh, 17 years here at the company, having done the podcast for 10, nine. 10. What do we say? Nine. Yeah, nine years. Um, it's truly been, uh, working with you, uh, over these years and particularly during this podcast has been the most, most fun that I've had at work by far. And that's saying a lot because I've enjoyed everyone I've worked with at this job and, and pretty much everything uh, that we've done in this capacity. But this podcast has been the most fun and to be able to have, watch you um, develop into. And I don't use hyperbole here, but I, I truly think that you were the, the finest editor slash Reporter that this, uh, channel space, uh, has going from the time that we brought you on as an intern when you were, what, 20 years old, probably, and then developing into the situation where you could freelance a forest. Because I was just like, we got to keep this, this whippersnapper, uh, around, uh, if we can, until we've got a position open for him. And then that flowed into you being hired and, uh, you know, if the rest is, is history. And it would have been. It would have been one of the biggest, uh, mistakes that I would have made if, if we hadn't, uh, been able to get you on full time and help you launch a career. Because this, uh, this channel, I guess. Well, I guess they wouldn't have known different than if you had never existed in the channel. But the fact that they, they did get a chance to meet you and work with you, and the incredible content that you have produced, both in this, uh, video form or audio of a podcast, and, and of course, all your articles and, and all of the relationships that you've built in the channel, uh, I'm, I'm just super excited about that and, and uh, glad that, uh, you and I could have worked together all this time and to know that we've, uh, developed a great friendship and that we will continue to have that, uh, no matter where the roads, uh, lead us in the future. So. To you. I am not worthy.

Speaker E: Oh, no.

Speaker A: Ah, you're so worthy.

Speaker B: It comes full circle, my friend. On the first podcast.

Speaker A: Oh, the poetry. There's one person who's been watching all these, all these episodes. Just wait for that payoff.

Speaker B: Uh, oh, man, nobody's been doing that. All right, um, I guess we'll go into our final outro. If you would like to check out the archive of Coffee with Craig and James, you can do it, do it just about anywhere you get your podcast, whether it be on, um, SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts, the audio podcast formats on vimeo.com where we have the video, or James, where they all come together. Yeah, audio and the video in the

Speaker A: flagship news site channelfutures.com.

Speaker B: you might have saved the best for last on that, uh, that screen. Thank you so much for joining us. And we will see you somewhere on down the road.

Speaker A: If you're going to. Oh, it disappeared. If you're, if you're going. Oh, if you're going down memory road, don't go there alone.

Speaker B: You're drinking coffee. Yeah, and I've got the old. I got the old Coffee with Craig.

Speaker A: Oh, my gosh, man.

Speaker B: Podcast and all that I should have ever.

Speaker A: And it's. It was about time, so.

Speaker B: Hold on.

Speaker F: Cheers.

Speaker B: Uh, buddy, cheer.

Speaker A: Oh, great.