The Clopen Effect

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247

Latest episode

Jun 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

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.

May 14, 202624 min

The ABC's of Retail

We’re recapping The ABCs of Retail — highlighting your answers, stories, and retail experiences from A to Z. From clopens and call-offs to customers and chaos, our listeners understood the assignment… and proved retail workers deserve both therapy and overtime!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 7, 202630 min

Worms Make Me Squirm

From nationwide outbreaks to worms in soda machines, this episode explores how food safety failures happen at every level of the restaurant industry.We break down real cases involving contamination, pests, employee hygiene, and equipment failures affecting major fast-food chains.From the kitchen to the drive-thru, the biggest risks often come from the things customers never see.Because sometimes “clean enough” turns into a public health headline.Netflix show mentioned: Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your FoodAll 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.

April 26, 202650 min

Cruisin’ With Enthusiasm

Cass got her chicken cutlets squished! She is doing so good keeping her health in check!Also, in this episode, Meredith shares a detailed recap of her recent cruise vacation. She outlines the overall experience, including the onboard environment, daily routines, and general atmosphere.A significant portion of the discussion focuses on passenger behavior (YUCK!). Meredith describes multiple situations where common social etiquette was not followed, including saving pool chairs for extended periods, excessive food portions at buffets, and lack of awareness in shared spaces such as elevators and hallways. CUE THE CHERRY PITS IN GROCERY STORES!The episode also reviews standard cruise etiquette practices, comparing expected behavior with what was observed during the trip. Topics include hygiene practices, adherence to dress codes, respect for staff and other guests, and maintaining appropriate noise levels in cabins and public areas.Overall, the episode provides an overview of cruise culture, highlighting both typical expectations and real-world examples of guest behavior.Mentioned in this episode:Tammy Turpin, Luxury Travel Advisor | Technology SpecialistTravel Leaders Troy | The Travel Exchange📞 847-707-8631 | 248-251-3822🌐 www.travelexchangemi.com | ✉️ tammy@travelexchangemi.com📍 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Ste 100, Troy, MI 48084All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunity: 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.

April 17, 202634 min

What's a Frunchroom!?

AHHHH - In this episode of The Clopen Effect, we reviewed responses from our Facebook questions and discussed a range of perspectives and experiences shared by followers. We went through the answers, highlighted common themes, and added our own commentary throughout.The conversation then shifted to 1990s perfumes. We discussed popular scents from that era, how they were used, and their cultural impact at the time. This included references to well-known fragrances and how they were associated with specific memories or trends.All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunity: 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.

March 27, 20261 hr 7 min

On the Phone with Author Dana Goldstein

We first chatted with Dana back in 2022 when her book Spent came out, and now she’s known across the country for her incredible books. But get this… she’s back working in retail! She works at Indigo, Canada's largest bookstore, and yes, her books are sold there!We catch up with Dana and all the hard work she has put in being an author, and then she shares some great retail stories with us!Find Dana's work here: https://danagoldstein.ca/books/ and on Amazon!Spent: https://danagoldstein.ca/book/spent-my-accidental-career-in-retail/All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunity: 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.

March 20, 202651 min

Once You Go Salon Mackk, You Never Go Back

Melinda, Andie, Karin, and Kristin are here to talk about Salon Mackk in Crystal Lake, IL!We talk about good and bad reviews, being a super friendly salon, Refuge for Women, having great eyebrows, styles and trends right now, mullets are in, teenage boy perms that look like broccoli, how they find their talent, and so much more!All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunity: 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.

March 15, 202652 min

What's in Cass' Lunchbox?

Today’s episode starts with a new member joining the podcast: Cass’s glucose monitor. It’s helpful, it’s important and it has the impeccable timing of a smoke alarm detecting burnt toast at 2:07 a.m.Naturally, we did what any responsible hosts would do - we named it.Beepy McSleepyThe Snooze Snitch3AM ScreamyThe Pillow PoliceBecause apparently the only crime Cass committed was sleeping on her side, and this tiny electronic narc refuses to let that slide.Then we chat through snacks that won’t send blood sugar to the sky.The good news? The snacks that are great for Cass are actually great for everyone:Workday Snack MVPsNuts like almonds or pistachiosString cheese or cottage cheeseApples with peanut butterHummus with carrots, cucumbers, or bell peppersRoasted chickpeas or edamameBasically the rule is: protein, fiber, and real food - things that keep you full instead.So today we learned two important things:Cass’s glucose monitor is extremely dramatic.And the snacks that help keep her healthy are actually the same snacks that make everyone’s workday better.Also, we’re still accepting name submissions for the monitor because Beepy McSleepy currently has a suspicious lead!All The Clopen Links: https://linktr.ee/theclopeneffectSupport the show and advertising opportunity: 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.