The Clopen Effect

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253

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Aug 2026

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About the show

Welcome to The Clopen Effect, a Funny Retail Podcast! Join us every week as we share our lives working in retail. Our lineup features fantastic guests, including local business owners, seasoned retail professionals, and the occasional surprise musician and artist. We're Basically Famous®! “By far the most relatable, humbling, and funniest podcast I’ve ever listened to! It keeps me busy at work, laughing, shaking my head in agreement, and remembering my own wild work stories. And it’s not always just about those crazy shifts—these hilarious women bring so much more. Give them a listen; you won’t be wasting your time!”

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 13, 202645 min

Did You Work at McDonald's?

What do Jeff Bezos, Rachel McAdams, Pink, James Franco, and other famous names have in common?Before they became household names, they were just people clocking in and going to work. Some worked in fast food, restaurants, and customer service.Some might forget that the person working the register today might be an entrepreneur tomorrow. The person taking your order might become a movie star. The person stocking shelves, serving customers, or flipping burgers might one day be standing on a stage in front of thousands of people.Those first jobs teach us things that don't always show up on a résumé: how to deal with difficult customers, how to show up when you're tired, how to work with people, how to solve problems, how to handle pressure, and how to keep going when the shift feels like it's never going to end.And somehow we start talking about musicals! LOLIf you're a member, use the private RSS feed link you received when you signed up for the $2/month membership. Simply paste it into your favorite podcast app (or use the one-click app links in your welcome email) to access all of your members-only episodes.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect$2/month membership and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportOur Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28E9USH21CBC1?ref_=wl_shareBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273Meredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalskiAll material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

August 6, 202625 min

Driving Lessons with Cassandra and Meredith

Oh, customers... we love you, we hate you, and sometimes you make us question everything. It takes all kinds, but lately it's getting a little ridiculous. Come listen to us complain about retail life! LOLIf you're a member, use the private RSS feed link you received when you signed up for the $2/month membership. Simply paste it into your favorite podcast app (or use the one-click app links in your welcome email) to access all of your members-only episodes.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect$2/month membership and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportOur Amazon wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/28E9USH21CBC1?ref_=wl_shareBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273Meredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalskiAll material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

July 25, 202639 min

This One, That One

Cassandra and Meredith talk about the different ways we pronounce words like Aunt, Neither, and Caramel, and share some random stories along the way. Thanks for listening!If you're a member, use the private RSS feed link you received when you signed up for the $2/month membership. Simply paste it into your favorite podcast app (or use the one-click app links in your welcome email) to access all of your members-only episodes.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect$2/month membership and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273Meredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalskiAll material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

July 18, 202633 min

We Brake For Bad Service

Episode 248 is out now!Members also get Episode 247 - the unedited version of this week's episode!Wowee - Meredith had quite the experience at a local dealership! Plus, we take on a round of your one-less-band names, and some of these names have us completely confused. LOLIf you're a member, use the private RSS feed link you received when you signed up for the $2/month membership. Simply paste it into your favorite podcast app (or use the one-click app links in your welcome email) to access all of your members-only episodes.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffect$2/month membership and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273Meredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalskiAll material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

July 9, 202637 min

No No Bran Squares

Meredith surprised Cass by switching the topic from pizza to cereal, leading to a discussion about how breakfast cereal evolved from ancient cereal grains that have sustained civilizations for more than 10,000 years into the boxed cereals we know today. They explored the invention of modern breakfast cereal in the 1800s, including James Caleb Jackson's Granula and the Kellogg brothers' accidental creation of corn flakes, which helped launch the ready-to-eat cereal industry. And Cass shares why one of the Kellogg brothers believed cereal would stop you from... eh hem, private sessions.The conversation also covered how cereals are made, 'fortified' with vitamins and minerals, and marketed, as well as why favorites like Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Honey Nut Cheerios remain popular, while sugary cereals such as Froot Loops and Cookie Crisp are often criticized for their nutritional value. By the end of the episode, Cass and Meredith showed that a simple bowl of cereal represents thousands of years of agriculture, innovation, nutrition science, and consumer choice.We also shared our followers' favorite pizzas and what happens when you remove one letter from a band name,All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273Meredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalskiAll material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

June 30, 202635 min

Adventures Around Town

Happy birthday to Cass!This week we're talking about how Cassandra somehow remembered how to flirt thanks to a TikTok trend, while Meredith is desperately trying to memorize her lines for the upcoming Murder Mystery. We also share our thoughts on Yummy Bowl and Discount Tire. Come hang out with us for random stories and a little bit of everything in between!All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoopMeredith's books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/meredithpoczkalski🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

June 16, 202640 min

Outrageously Crazy Ways to Slay

Many words that sound negative, intimidating, or even insulting have evolved to take on positive meanings when used in everyday conversation. Terms like awesome, savage, badass, and wicked are often used to praise someone's talent, confidence, creativity, or achievements rather than criticize them. AND we read through your comments!All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

June 4, 202628 min

How Many?

Meredith surprises Cass with a 'How Many?' quiz! Can you guess how many bananas fit in a shopping cart? Or how many rotisserie chickens would it take to weigh the same as a forklift? Random, we know!Also, the difference between a chipmunk and a ground squirrel. A simple rule of thumb:If it’s tiny with bold face stripes, it’s probably a chipmunk.If it looks more like a small prairie dog or chunky squirrel, it’s likely a ground squirrel.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

May 31, 202639 min

Cluckin' Clopen

From Chick-fil-A to Popeyes, America’s fried chicken wars became a billion-dollar battle over seasoning, sauces, sandwiches, and regional loyalty - with consumers treating their favorite chicken chain like a sports team.Warning labels took over products because of real injuries, chemical accidents, child safety concerns, massive lawsuits, and laws like California’s Prop 65, turning “better safe than sued” into standard corporate policy.The Clopen Effect takeaway: America perfected two things at the same time - making food dangerously addictive and making packaging legally terrified of human decision-making.Let's talk about it!All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.

May 21, 202628 min

Zippers, Caps, and Gowns

June 14th - Live event at Kishwaukee Brewing!All - let's learn to zipper merge in traffic, caps and gowns go wrong during graduation, and all the other stories that come to mind when we are together.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunities: https://the-clopen-effect.captivate.fm/supportBuy Our Cool Merch: https://www.zazzle.com/the_clopen_effect_t_shirt-256038010043042814💩 Check Out Our Other Podcast – Anxiety Makes Me Poop: https://linktr.ee/anxietymakesmepoop🟢 30 Days to Building Resilience in the Workplace: https://www.udemy.com/course/buildingresilienceatwork_in30days/?referralCode=BD92C36502C5E19AA273All material, unless otherwise stated, is written and performed by The Clopen Effect.