The New Warehouse Podcast

The New Warehouse Podcast comes to you live from the Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) conference in New Orleans, featuring a conversation with Glen Wegel, Vice President of Operations and IT at Kitchen Cabinet Distributors (KCD). Glen shares insights into KCD’s rapid growth, how the company balances technology with operations, and his perspective on the future of the warehousing workforce. He also reflects on the unique role WERC plays as a space for idea-sharing and collaboration in the logistics industry.Support the show

Automation has become a defining force in modern warehouses, yet flexibility remains just as critical. In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Jason Griswold, Application Engineer Manager at Daifuku Intralogistics America, to explore how companies can strike a balance between automation and adaptability. Jason discusses Daifuku’s expansive catalog, industry adoption trends, and an ambitious project with Peterbilt that demonstrates how flexible automation can scale to meet evolving needs.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Returns are a constant challenge for retailers, but Happy Returns is proving the technology that can transform the experience for both customers and merchants. In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Tim Fehr, Chief Operations Officer at Happy Returns. The company facilitates in-person returns of online purchases at more than 8,000 drop-off points across the U.S., enabling box-free, label-free returns with instant refunds. Tim shares how Happy Returns has scaled rapidly, integrating robotics and automation, and is pushing forward with AI and computer vision to build the warehouse of the future.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Kevin chats with Will Sparks, President of WERC and Director of Operations Planning and Analysis at Tractor Supply Company, live from the WERC 2025 Conference in New Orleans. With 20 years of involvement in WERC, Sparks has seen the organization grow into the leading authority on warehouse education and research. He shares how the conference offers practitioner-driven content, why the collaborative format sets it apart from other industry events, and how Tractor Supply is experimenting with AI across its entire enterprise. From tariffs to supply chain resilience, Sparks provides a candid look into both industry challenges and opportunities. His experience highlights how WERC continues to shape conversations inside the four walls of the warehouse while equipping leaders to face what’s next.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Akash Gupta, Co-Founder and CEO of GreyOrange, and Jim Barnes, CEO of enVista. The conversation centers on their new partnership, bringing together GreyOrange’s AI-powered orchestration platform, GreyMatter, and enVista’s decades of supply chain consulting and systems integration expertise. Together, the companies are introducing “enMotion,” a joint solution designed to orchestrate warehouse automation technologies, optimize fulfillment outcomes, and make robotics more accessible to warehouses of all sizes. The discussion highlights how orchestration, interoperability, and robotics-as-a-service (RaaS) are reshaping the industry while delivering measurable ROI for operators.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

In this episode of The New Warehouse Podcast, Kevin chats with Tom Schmitt, the new CEO of Radial, about the evolution of fulfillment, the challenges for mid-market brands, and the launch of Radial’s Fast Track program. With decades of leadership experience at FedEx, DB Schenker, and McKinsey, Schmitt brings a deep perspective on how fulfillment has become inseparable from customer experience. As he explains, “Fulfillment is the customer experience.”Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

At the 2025 Warehousing Education and Research Council (WERC) conference in New Orleans, Kevin sat down with two leaders shaping the warehouse automation conversation: Chris Lingamfelter, founder of Robot Advisors, and Tim Barrett, President of Barrett Distribution Centers. The discussion followed their standing-room-only session, “To Bot or Not,” which explored robotics adoption, ROI, and what the future warehouse workforce might look like. Together, they provided a candid look at how automation is reshaping 3PL operations and how companies can make smarter technology choices.Support the show

The latest episode of The New Warehouse Podcast features Mark Messina, Managing Director and CEO of Anscer Robotics. With decades of experience in robotics, including a formative role at Kiva Systems (now Amazon Robotics), Mark shares his journey, the origins of Anscer, and his perspective on the future of warehouse automation. Founded in India and now expanding across the Americas and APAC, Anscer stands out for its robust hardware and software design philosophy. Messina highlights how the company’s roots in both durable engineering and strong software integration position it uniquely in a crowded automation market. He also shares insights into the broader trajectory of robotics—AGVs, AMRs, and now hybrid systems—while drawing on lessons from the rise of Amazon and the challenges of traditional brick-and-mortar companies.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

Kevin chats with Ben Hopkins, founder of The Warehouse Underground, about his journey from Air Force officer to warehouse leader and now podcast and community builder. Ben’s story is one of transformation, from flying F-15E Strike Eagles to managing operations at Amazon, and later creating a platform dedicated to helping warehouse professionals learn, share, and grow together. The Warehouse Underground is more than just a podcast; it’s a town square for distribution and fulfillment professionals to connect, exchange insights, and find their voice in an industry that too often operates behind the scenes. In this conversation, Ben shares how his background shaped his career, why he launched The Warehouse Underground, and his perspective on industry challenges, labor retention, and the future of automation.Learn more about our sponsors here: Ocado Intelligent Automation, MPC & IFS Softeon Follow us on LinkedIn and YouTube.Support the show

This episode of The New Warehouse Podcast features Bubba Fatula, founder of The Fatula Group, a consulting firm specializing in threat preparedness. Drawing on his law enforcement and military background, Fatula shares how businesses can proactively prepare for active shooter situations. His goal isn’t to create fear; it’s to equip teams with real-world tools to respond confidently and effectively. The conversation took place at the Warehouse Education and Research Council (WERC) conference in New Orleans, where Fatula had just delivered a session on emergency planning.Support the show