Prices are rising, fees are multiplying, and transparency is disappearing. In this episode, we break down how Ticketmaster, rideshares, airlines, and even grocery stores use surge pricing, hidden fees, and algorithmic pricing to squeeze more out of consumers.

Fractional CFO Elaine Bogart joins us to explain the financial mechanics behind these tactics and whether personalized pricing is fair game or a violation of trust. We explore equity, transparency, surveillance pricing, and what it would take for companies to fix their relationship with the public.

In This Episode:

• The rise of ambiguous and personalized pricing across industries

• Why Ticketmaster’s monopoly keeps driving fan frustration

• How data-driven pricing risks crossing into digital discrimination

• The difference between surge pricing and surveillance pricing

• Why transparency and trust are now business essentials

• Fixing it: what “fair pricing” could look like for companies and customers alike

Key Takeaways

• Transparency is currency. When customers understand the “why,” they tolerate change better.

• Algorithmic pricing can deepen inequality if unchecked for bias or demographic profiling.

• Profit isn’t the enemy — opacity is.

• Trust is an asset that brands can’t afford to lose in the name of short-term gain.

Guest

Elaine Bogart – Fractional CFO | Strategic Finance & Growth Advisor

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elainebogart/

Links

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For many, Victoria’s Secret represented the epitome of femininity, confidence, and glamour. But as our culture shifted toward authenticity and inclusivity, the brand has struggled to evolve. In this episode, we break down how the most iconic lingerie empire dulled its shine, what their attempted rebrand is missing, and what it would take to rebuild trust with today’s consumer.

We explore the business, the culture, the fashion, and the future.

Is it too late for Victoria’s Secret to reinvent itself? Or is there still power in the fantasy?

We break down:

● How Victoria's Secret rose to cultural dominance

● Why the brand struggled as beauty standards shifted

● The competition from Skims, Spanx, and next-gen lingerie brands

● The challenges of rebranding when the market has already moved on

● What it really means for a company to be inclusive beyond marketing

● Why transformation needs to happen internally, not just on the runway

We also explore the path forward, proposing ways for the brand to honor its heritage while embracing a broader definition of femininity and confidence.

This episode is part culture, part business strategy, part brand therapy.

Key Takeaways

● Consumers today are not just buying products. They want to see themselves reflected and respected.

● Performative inclusion will not work. Authenticity requires representation in leadership, design, and decision-making.

● The fantasy does not need to disappear. It just has to widen to include a broader spectrum of customers.

● Brands that survive cultural shifts are the ones that act proactively, not reactively.

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

Links

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Wikipedia is undergoing a full-on crisis. As AI search tools like ChatGPT and Google intercept its traffic, while also borrowing its resources, the platform is facing a slow-motion collapse. Donations are shrinking, editors are burning out, and global politics are threatening its open, volunteer-led structure.

In this episode, Aaron, Melissa, and Qadira take on a big question: can Wikipedia survive in the AI era and during a time where facts are subjective? We explore how the site can evolve without losing its soul, what happens when truth itself becomes political, and why dissenting viewpoints actually make Wikipedia stronger.

What We Cover:

• Why AI is draining Wikipedia’s traffic and donations

• The tension between openness, neutrality, and regulation

• How political and cultural pressures are reshaping Wikipedia globally

• Why its volunteer model is breaking — and how AI could help fix it

• The role of diversity and localization across 300+ language editions

• The future of knowledge in an AI-first world

Key Fixes Discussed:

• Partnership, not competition: Work with AI companies like OpenAI and Google to license verified content and ensure attribution.

• Empower editors: Use AI assistance to reduce burnout and flag misinformation, while celebrating human contributors as the “Wikipedia Influencers.”

• Global equity: Invest in non-English versions, local training, and community

partnerships to balance global representation.

• Governance & transparency: Build stronger frameworks to manage bias,

misinformation, and evolving editorial standards.

• Education & early adoption: Reintroduce Wikipedia into classrooms and

universities to rebuild generational trust.

• Stay the public library of the internet: Redefine relevance not by traffic, but by quality and cultural importance.

Links

Subscribe for more deep dives where we fix big business problems with fresh perspectives.

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@WeFixedItPod

If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with your friends!

Keep listening to find out how we fix companies and put them back better than we found them.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.