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

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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

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

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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

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• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

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Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic mission-driven ice cream brand, has hit a rocky patch. Co-founder Jerry Greenfield’s public exit after 47 years has raised big questions about what happens when a brand’s activist soul meets corporate strategy. Aaron, Melissa, and Qadira dig into how Unilever can protect Ben & Jerry’s social mission, rebuild trust with customers, and chart a bold path forward without its founding duo steering the ship.

From how to handle vocal founders on the outside to doubling down on values inside, this episode is a masterclass in managing founder-brand tension and preserving legacy in the corporate era.

🧠 What We Cover:

• The roots of Ben & Jerry’s mission-driven identity
• Why founder departures can shake a brand’s core
• How Unilever can re-anchor Ben & Jerry’s in its values
• Balancing global business strategy with social activism
• Governance, communications, and culture as tools for the fix
• Turning public tension into brand opportunity

🧰 Key Fixes Discussed:

• Double down on the mission: Recommit publicly to the values that made the brand unique.
• Operationalize the values: Embed activism into business strategy, not just storytelling.
• Create a new “guardian of the brand soul”: A face or team dedicated to carrying the mission forward.
• Leverage Unilever’s scale: Use Ben & Jerry’s as a flagship for cause-driven campaigns across all brands.
• Anticipate founder pushback: Build a strong comms plan to stay steady in public discourse.
• Codify the culture: Make the mission bigger than any one founder.

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.

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This week on We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, we’re diving deep into one of the most fascinating business stories in streaming: the Disney Plus crisis. From explosive subscriber growth to public backlash and strategic pivots, Disney’s streaming platform has seen both magic and mayhem.

Joining us is Michael Cerdá, the former VP of Product at Disney Plus, who helped take the platform from concept to over 100 million subscribers. Michael gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at how the service was built, why key decisions were made, and what Disney can do now to win back its audience.

We break down:

• The launch chaos that almost broke Disney Plus

• Why bundling Hulu and ESPN+ was a last-minute gamble

• The subscriber exodus and backlash over pricing

• How personalization and AI could reshape streaming

• And our fix for Disney Plus retention and acquisition strategies

Whether you’re a media strategist, streamer, or just love a good comeback story, thisone’s packed with insight.

✅ Key Takeaways:

• Bundling works—even when it’s messy—because it locks in lifetime value.

• Personalization is the next battlefield in streaming retention.

• Disney’s loyalty ecosystem is underleveraged but powerful.

• AI could usher in a new era of storytelling, putting the viewer at the center.

Guest Plug:

Michael Cerdá’s book Build Something is available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It dives

deeper into Disney Plus’s launch and other major product stories.

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

Links:

• Website – www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram – instagram.com/wefixeditpod

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/wefixeditpod

YouTube – / @wefixeditpod

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In this episode of We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, the panel dives into the surprising global phenomenon of Labubu—the bug-eyed, fang-toothed collectible from Pop Mart that has taken the toy and collectible world by storm.

Our guest, Manuel Torres Port, brings decades of experience from Mattel, Nickelodeon,NBC Universal, and more, to unpack what makes Labubu not just a collectible but a cultural force. The panel dissects how scarcity, community, surprise, and user-generated content fuel the brand’s viral success—and where the risks lie.

Together, Aaron, Melissa, Qadira, and Manuel explore:

• The psychology of scarcity and surprise

• The art of building community and identity around a product

• Lessons learned from Beanie Babies, Pokémon, and LEGO

• Corporate responsibility in marketing to kids

• How brands can create momentum without flooding the market

The episode culminates in a surprise – a live Labubu unboxing, giving everyone a firsthand experience of the dopamine hit that’s driving billions in sales. Whether you’re a marketer, brand strategist, or just fascinated by how fanbases are made, this episode breaks down the business strategies unboxed behind Labubu’s meteoric rise.

Expect insights on:

• How scarcity and surprise fuel billion-dollar collectible brands

• Why Pop Mart’s experiential retail model is changing the game

• What other businesses can learn from Labubu, LEGO, and Beanie Babies

• The fine line between hype, community, and corporate responsibility

• Strategies to keep momentum without bursting the bubble

Key Pull Quote

"Don’t just copy the blind box model, make the reveal your own, give fans a world to live in, and a stage for your product to show."– Manuel Torres Port

Links

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!

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In this special episode of We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, the team welcomes back financial expert Lukas Sundahl to put real numbers behind our hypothetical business fixes.

What’s the actual value of “fixing” a struggling company?

Lukas analyzes three big names—Southwest Airlines, Party City, and Jaguar—and shows how our proposed strategies could have meant millions in revenue, survival, and long-term brand strength.

Expect insights on:

Why Southwest’s baggage fees could still work without killing loyalty?

How Party City could have survived with community-driven retail?

What Jaguar missed in its EV pivot and how to reclaim brand trust?

This episode blends strategy + financial modeling, proving that fixing companies isn’t just theory—it’s measurable impact.

Listen, learn, and maybe rethink how YOU approach business pivots.

We dive deep into the real numbers behind our “fixes.” With returning guest Lukas Sundahl (CFO, financial strategist, LinkedIn thought leader), we analyze three case studies:

• Southwest Airlines: Would baggage fees really alienate customers? Or could they generate $350M–$450M while keeping loyalty intact?
• Party City: How localized inventory and community tie-ins might have saved them from bankruptcy—potentially adding $43M–$130M in value.
• Jaguar: The pitfalls of abandoning brand heritage in the EV race—and how aligning EVs with Jaguar’s legacy could mean $35M–$179M in gains.

Chapters

0:00 – Welcome to We Fixed It, You’re Welcome

1:20 – Meet our guest: Lukas Sundahl

2:40 – How we quantify “fixes”

4:20 – Case Study 1: Southwest Airlines

8:00 – Case Study 2: Party City

14:40 – Case Study 3: Jaguar

18:20 – The power of the pivot

23:00 – Why grounding fixes in real companies works

25:45 – Closing thoughts & where to find Lukas

Key Themes:

The financial impact of strategic pivots

Brand loyalty vs revenue growth

The “power of the pivot” in corporate turnarounds

Why storytelling + numbers matter in fixing companies

Key Pull Quote

“The numbers—whether worst or best case—prove the power of the pivot. Even small strategic shifts could have meant hundreds of millions in value.” – Lukas Sundahl

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

Links:

• Website - www.wefixeditpod.com

• Follow us on:

Instagram: @wefixeditpod

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

YouTube: @wefixeditpod

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Description

In this episode of We Fixed It, You’re Welcome, the team dives deep into the phenomenon of meme stocks like GameStop, AMC, Hertz, and Bed Bath & Beyond. What started as internet-fueled rebellions against Wall Street turned into massive financial chaos — with instant millionaires, bankrupt companies, and confused everyday investors.

Guest: Matt Anthes – Digital strategist, social impact advocate, founder of Advocators.ai, mentor with Techstars and Stanford’s AI for Good, and builder of HooliCon.com.

Together with our guest, the panel explores:

✅ How online communities (Reddit, YouTube, Twitter) fueled the frenzy

✅ Why meme stocks mirror influencer marketing & viral movements

✅ The risks for small investors caught in FOMO

✅ What companies like GameStop & AMC should do when their stock surges artificially

✅ Corporate responsibility, employee impact, and investor psychology

✅ How investors & companies can harness meme stock energy for good

From GameStop’s wild ride to AMC’s billion-dollar lifeline, this episode unpacks what happens when culture collides with capital.

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

Links:

• 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.

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