Here’s (more than) a hint: it’s AI Engine Optimization. And right now, it could be even more important than SEO for B2B visibility.

In this episode, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the latest economic shifts, from the government shutdown’s ripple effects to the rise of AI-driven commerce, and how they’re transforming manufacturing, logistics, and customer engagement. Learn why context engineering and AI-enabled CRM platforms are redefining the way distributors compete and connect in 2025.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why tariffs and supply chain realignments are now “business as usual” for U.S. distributors
• How prediction markets like Polymarket are outperforming traditional economic forecasts
• What the Fed’s next moves could mean for interest rates, hiring, and inflation
• Why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is replacing traditional SEO for B2B visibility
• How LeadSmart’s AI-enabled Channel Cloud™ is transforming CRM into Customer Intelligence
  
  

Episode Highlights:

• 04:10 – The government shutdown and why markets barely reacted
• 13:45 – Fed predictions, Polymarket insights, and crowd-sourced forecasting
• 25:30 – Inflation, unemployment, and the rise of AI’s role in economic stability
• 36:48 – Tariffs, China trade tensions, and supply chain recalibration
• 49:05 – Fastenal’s organic growth strategy and the power of data-driven wallet share
• 59:58 – Schneider Electric + NVIDIA: powering AI data centers of the future
• 01:10:22 – From SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO): preparing content for AI search
• 01:22:45 – Why AI isn’t replacing people, but empowering those who know how to use it

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-powered CRM + Customer Intelligence platform
• Polymarket – decentralized prediction market forecasting economic probabilities
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) / Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – frameworks for AI discoverability
• Context Engineering – Gartner’s model for contextual AI and workflow design
• Agentic Workflows – AI-driven automation aligned with distributor processes

Closing Insight:

“AI won’t take your job. But someone using AI better than you will.” — Tom Burton

From government shutdowns to AI search adoption, this episode dives into the forces transforming distribution. Subscribe to Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution for weekly conversations on digital transformation, leadership, and customer intelligence in manufacturing and B2B commerce.

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Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

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What happens when a government shutdown, interest rate cuts, and AI-driven commerce collide with the future of wholesale distribution?

In this week’s Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton unpack the headlines that matter: the Fed’s next move, tariff resilience, and how AI-enabled platforms like LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are reframing CRM as a growth engine. You’ll also hear why AI Engine Optimization (AEO) is quickly replacing SEO, and what it means for distributors competing in an Amazon + OpenAI marketplace.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why CRM adoption fails, and how LeadSmart’s smart CRM reframes it as customer enablement
• How prediction markets like Polymarket may forecast economic shifts more accurately than government data
• Why tariffs, lithium mining, and government-backed investments signal long-term supply chain realignment
• How AI search and embedded transactions could challenge Amazon’s dominance
• Why AI ethics and workforce augmentation matter more than “replacement” narratives
  
  

Episode Highlights:

03:05 – Government shutdown politics and the missing jobs report

13:45 – Fed rate cuts, prediction markets, and Polymarket’s surprising odds

25:52 – Consumer confidence paradox: nervous workers, steady spending

37:20 – U.S. invests in lithium mines and Intel, national security or sovereign wealth strategy?

50:18 – Tariffs reshaping global supply chains and stalling multimillion-dollar projects

01:01:12 – OpenAI launches checkout: what it means for distributors vs. Amazon

01:12:05 – AI content optimization: moving from SEO to Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

01:19:10 – Why AI won’t take jobs, but people using AI will

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM + customer intelligence platform
• Polymarket – decentralized prediction markets for real-time sentiment
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) & Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) – future-proofing content strategy
• Agentic AI Workflows – automation with human-in-the-loop oversight
• Digital Twins & Lithium Investments – future of industrial resilience

Closing Insight:

“If you have siloed data, you have siloed AI. The winners unify data to future-proof supply chains.” – Kevin Brown

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.

What do tariffs, Fed rate cuts, and AI-driven search mean for the future of wholesale distribution?

In this milestone episode of Around the Horn in Wholesale Distribution, Kevin Brown and Tom Burton break down the latest updates on GDP growth, jobless claims, and U.S.–China tariffs, while exploring how AI Engine Optimization (AEO), digital payments, and LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ are rewriting the rules for distributors and manufacturers.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why the latest GDP and job data signal surprising economic resilience despite tariff pressures
• How LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ is reinventing CRM as an AI-enabled customer intelligence platform for distributors
• Why AI-powered search and AEO are replacing traditional SEO as the new driver of high-quality leads
• How digital currencies, stablecoins, and real-time payments will transform B2B transactions by 2026
• The hidden strategies manufacturers use to absorb tariffs and stabilize pricing in volatile global markets

Episode Highlights:

• 02:35 – Milestone reflections: 160 episodes and a growing global audience
• 10:22 – GDP third-round update: AI hardware and business equipment drive unexpected growth
• 23:18 – Jobless claims dip to a two-month low as the Fed debates further rate cuts
• 38:41 – Tariff probes into robotics, PPE, and industrial machinery—and why manufacturers may be absorbing costs
• 54:07 – AI vs. Google: ChatGPT captures 85% of AI-generated leads
• 01:05:12 – B2B buyers demand “free + fast” delivery as drone logistics reshape expectations
• 01:17:44 – Digital currency disruption: agentic AI, stablecoins, and the coming payments revolution

Tools, Frameworks, or Strategies Mentioned:

• LeadSmart Channel Cloud™ – AI-enabled CRM + customer intelligence platform
• AI Engine Optimization (AEO) – new strategies for ranking in AI-powered search
• Agentic AI Workflows – automated processes for smarter decision-making
• Digital Twin Modeling – replicating branches, warehouses, and store layouts for predictive planning
• Stablecoins & Real-Time Payments – faster, cheaper B2B transactions

Closing Insight:

“If you have siloed data, you have siloed AI. Winners unify data to future-proof supply chains.” – Kevin Brown

Leave a Review: Help us grow by sharing your thoughts on the show.

Learn more about the LeadSmart AI B2B Sales Platform: https://www.leadsmarttech.com/

Join the conversation each week on LinkedIn Live.

Want even more insight to the stories we discuss each week? Subscribe to the Around The Horn Newsletter.

You can also hear the podcast and other excellent content on our YouTube Channel.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.