What happens when the company you helped grow suddenly shuts down? For Mia Mazel, it sparked the launch of a brand new one, Talento.

Recorded live at TMSA Elevate in Austin, this conversation with Mia explores her journey from grad student to logistics leader, how she navigated the closure of Sworkz, and how Talento is redefining nearshore staffing with a tech-first mindset. She shares how adversity turned into opportunity, why supply chain pricing teams are ripe for transformation, and how blending AI with human expertise creates smarter operations, not job replacements.

Key takeaways:

• Mia launched Talento just 72 hours after her former company shut down, retaining customers and building new processes on the fly.
• Talento provides talent management solutions and AI-powered tools for supply chain companies with a focus on operational simplicity.
• Nearshore teams can do far more than customer service, especially in pricing, sales, and data.
• Mia aims to act as a partner, not just a service provider, offering guidance even when clients aren’t sure where to start.
• Building brand trust means creating a business that can thrive without being dependent on one person.

LINKS:

• Mia's LinkedIn
• Talento Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

What if the final frontier isn’t as far away as it seems? In this episode, Kelli Kedis Ogborn, VP of Space Commerce and Entrepreneurship at the Space Foundation, breaks down how space is no longer just about astronauts and satellites. It’s an economic engine already driving trillions in opportunity. From reusable rockets to orbital infrastructure and venture capital gaps, this conversation explores what it takes to do business beyond Earth.

Key takeaways:

• The global space economy is currently valued at $570B and expected to hit $772B by 2027
• 78% of the space economy is driven by commercial activity, not just government spending
• Satellites are enabling new markets in insurance, agriculture, and logistics through advanced data
• Infrastructure in space needs coordination and standards like refueling stations and docking protocols
• Venture capital alone won’t fund the future, so sovereign wealth and patient capital are key to scale

LINKS:

• Kelli's LinkedIn
• Space Foundation Website
• Kelli's Podcast/Webcast about Space Economy

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program.

CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you're a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now

Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services here.

What does it take to build trust in freight?

In this episode, recorded live at TMSA Elevate in Austin, Texas, SPI Logistics' CRO Senior Vice President, Mike Mikulik, joins Blythe to share the freight fundamentals that never go out of style, like proving your worth, asking better questions, and why breaking bread still beats fancy tech.

Whether you're a new broker or a seasoned freight agent, this conversation is full of tried and true insights that can level up your relationship game.

Key takeaways:

• Always start small and prove yourself before trying to win the biggest lanes.
• Brokers should understand their customer's supply chain to provide real value.
• Empathy and relationship-building still outperform tech during critical moments.
• Asking for referrals directly (and consistently) can unlock huge growth.
• Freight agents need ongoing education to stay relevant in uncertain markets.

LINKS:

• Mike's LinkedIn
• The Ultimate Guide for Experienced Freight Agents
• SPI's Secrets to Building a Successful Freight Agent Career
• Become an SPI Freight Agent
• SPI Logistics' Website

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program.

CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you're a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now

Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services here.

What happens when freight’s brightest minds in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship unpack the biggest shifts in logistics?

Recorded live at TMSA Elevate 2025, this episode features Charlie Saffro (CS Recruiting), RJ Finnegan (SPI Logistics), and Anthony Pagnotto (Mohawk Global) as they share the biggest takeaways from the conference, including how freight companies are using AI, rethinking branding, and marketing their back office in new ways.

5 Things We Learned at TMSA Elevate:

1. Internal alignment between sales and marketing creates faster wins in slower markets.
2. Your back office can be a selling point when shippers care about transparency.
3. AI is embedded in daily workflows, but results still depend on human authenticity.
4. Long-term relationship building beats speed when it comes to freight sales.
5. Community-focused conferences like TMSA promote collaboration, even among competitors.

LINKS:

• TMSA's Website
• Charlie's LinkedIn
• RJ's LinkedIn
• Anthony's LinkedIn

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

What does the future of logistics really look like? In this episode, host Blythe Milligan shares details on her recent behind-the-scenes tour of DHL’s Export Facility and Innovation Center in Chicago.

From sorting 10,000 packages an hour with only a dozen employees to integrating robotics and generative AI, the tour demonstrates how tech and transparency are reshaping the supply chain.

This episode truly highlights how one of the world’s largest logistics companies is using automation to drive efficiency and scale.

Key takeaways:

• DHL’s export facility in Chicago can process up to 10,000 packages per hour with just 12 employees on the floor.
• Robotics like Robust AI and Boston Dynamics' Spot are already being tested in real-world warehouse environments.
• The company is rolling out a global generative AI hub with over 75,000 users across 140 countries.
• AI tools now handle customs processing at massive scale, including 35 million customs entries.
• New delivery methods like e-bikes from Rytle aim to tackle the challenges of last-mile logistics in dense urban areas.

LINKS:

• DHL's Website
• DHL's Logistics Trend Radar

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interview series powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the leap and found a home with SPI freight agent program.

CargoRex – Your Logistics Hub. Explore, discover, and evolve with the all-in-one platform connecting you to the top logistics tools, services, and industry voices. Whether you're a leader, researcher, or creator, CargoRex helps you stay ahead. Explore Now

Digital Dispatch maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers. Check out our website services here.

Is EDI broken or just misunderstood? In this reunion episode of Freight Friends, Blythe Brumleve welcomes Grace Sharkey back to the mic to talk about her new role at Orderful, the state of freight media, and why so many companies are still struggling with EDI integrations.

From customer horror stories to a Christmas Eve miracle involving Walmart, Grace shares why she’s betting big on solving one of freight’s most persistent pain points.

Key takeaways:

• Media experience is a hidden weapon for logistics companies trying to build trust and relevance
• Grace’s new role at Orderful focuses on making EDI less painful, faster to implement, and API-friendly
• Many brokers delay switching tech out of fear of cost when in reality, it’s the bad setup that’s costing them
• Freight tech storytelling needs to focus more on the people using it, not just the software
• Orderful is solving a known problem with actual working tech (that’s already saved Christmas at least once)

LINKS:

• Grace's Linktree
• Nick Stachel's LinkedIn
• Orderful's Website
• The Supply Chain Is the Product
• The Logistics of SHEIN: From Imports to Influencers

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.

Your brand isn’t just your logo or your tagline. It’s your supply chain.

In this solo episode, Blythe breaks down her recent BBC appearance and expands on a bold new thesis: your supply chain isn’t just a backend function.

It’s the product. From viral TikToks to luxury handbag knockoffs, this episode explores why today’s buyers are more concerned than ever with the “how” behind their favorite stuff. And why that curiosity is your best marketing tool.

Key takeaways:

• Transparency isn’t just ethical. It’s profitable.
• Gen Z and Millennials are fueling resale and sustainability trends.
• The rise of TikTok creators is exposing global supply chain truths.
• Brands that share sourcing stories earn long-term loyalty.

LINKS:

• Appearance on BBC's What in the World
• Tanner Leatherstein on TikTok
• Sheep Inc.
• Good on You
• Trashie

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE

Feedback? Ideas for a future episode? Shoot us a text here to let us know.

-----------------------------------------

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!

Are you experienced in freight sales or already an independent freight agent? Listen to our Freight Agent Trenches interviews powered by SPI Logistics to hear from the company's agents on how they took the entrepreneurial leap.

Shipium is the ML-powered shipping platform built by the executives that created Amazon's supply chain technology. They help 3PL & retail leaders like Stord, Ryder, and Saks Off 5th to reduce shipping costs by an average of 12% while improving on-time delivery.

CargoRex is the logistics industry’s go-to search platform—connecting you with the right tools, services, events, and creators to explore, discover, and evolve.

Digital Dispatch manages and maximizes your #1 sales tool with a website that establishes trust and builds rock-solid relationships with your leads and customers.