Advertise on podcast: The Nordy Pod

We said we would do it, and so we did! For this episode we’re sharing something completely new for the Nordy Pod – A livestream Q&A hosted by CoCEOs Pete and Erik Nordstrom on Facebook through a group called “Nordstrom Friends”. The group was started 10 years ago by our guest, Duane Covey, and is composed exclusively of current and former Nordstrom employees – over 20,000 of them. Join Pete, Erik, and Duane as they field live questions, without a net, and address the groups most pressing concerns regarding the business. Nordstrom works best when it listens and responds to constructive feedback from people who care, and the Nordstrom Friends Facebook group cares a lot. Thanks for tuning in to episode 119. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Few brands have built a world as recognizable, enduring, and culturally powerful as Ralph Lauren. In this episode Pete sits down with Patrice Louvet, President and CEO of Ralph Lauren, to talk about the characteristics of this iconic brand which have fostered longevity, and maintained its relevance through each new generation of customers. Patrice shares his journey from Procter & Gamble to Ralph Lauren, the differences between the two, and why Ralph Lauren is ultimately more than just about selling products: it’s about selling emotion, imagination, and a point of view. They talk about the balance between dreaming big and executing with discipline, Ralph Lauren’s ongoing brand elevation strategy, connecting with younger consumers, and the opportunity to create richer brand experiences together with Nordstrom. It’s a conversation about one of fashion’s great success stories—and what it takes to keep a truly iconic brand moving forward. Thanks for tuning in to episode 119. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Want to know what it takes to be the #1 women’s-wear brand at Nordstrom?  Well, you’re in luck!  In this episode Pete sits down with Sheila Harrington, CEO of Free People – a massively successful tentpole subsidiary of the URBN roster – to discuss its humble origins and thoughtful evolution into one of the most influential brands in the market. As the very first buyer in store number one, Sheila describes the untethered entrepreneurial spirit that fueled Free People to think creatively from the beginning, and sculpt their point of view into the laser-focused lifestyle aesthetic that it is today.  Encouraged by a culture of incubation under the URBN umbrella, Free People has been afforded room to grow into more and more categories of their customers wardrobe – through labels like FP Movement, Intimately FP, and free-est – broadening the possibilities of what the brand can be.  More than an incredible wholesale partner, more than a successful standalone retailer with an impressive direct-to-consumer business, Free People is a global phenomenon with a lot more to show in the future. Thanks for tuning in to episode 118.  We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

One of the biggest challenges that any organization will face throughout its lifetime is conscious evolution. It is imperative to remain purposeful and intentional toward the adoption of new concepts into a system that may have worked yesterday, but – in the words of Bob Dylan, “The times, they are a-changin”. Sure, Nordstrom has won the right to be here for 125 years, but it’s not because we’ve run the same playbook over and over again. If we want to see this thing grow into the foreseeable future, we need to stay curious, and actively listen to fresh ideas from a new generation of eager and ambitious young minds, hungry to make a meaningful impact on our industry. One of the best ways that we’ve found to do so is by offering these young people – in particular, current college students and recent graduates – an exceptionally appealing work environment through our 10-week corporate internship program here in Seattle. Long-time Nordy Pod listeners will remember that we’ve featured the internship program before – but that was over a hundred episodes and almost four years ago. So in the spirit of staying current, we’ve brought in a fresh new crop of interns from this year's program – five of our thirty three summer interns of 2026 – to share their experience, and what they’ve learned as the summer comes to a close. In this episode you’ll hear from rising senior at Texas A&M University, Maci Nash, rising senior at the University of Texas in Austin, Lucia Soldi, rising senior at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Layla Stanfill, rising senior at the University of Washington in Seattle, Madhumitha Gandhi, and graduate of the University of Washington, and experienced Nordstrom shoe-seller, Tony Ha There’s no doubt that each of these talented individuals has a bright future ahead of them, and we’re extremely proud to have played even a small part in developing those stories. We can confidently say that they’ve each made a lasting impression on our business, and we’re extremely grateful for their unique perspectives and kind words about their time in the Nordstrom internship program. Thanks for tuning in to episode 117. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

The people that interact with customers day in and day out are truly the ones that make this business what it is. So, for this episode we’re handing the show over to a group of Nordstrom Personal Stylists that unapologetically embrace our “Owner-at-Heart” ethos. It should be said that the people you’re about to meet are some of our very best sellers in the entire company. These conversations were recorded at our annual Platinum Pacesetters Dinner – which is an evening of fun and appreciation for our top-performing 1% of sellers company-wide. We pulled a few of them aside to chat one-on-one with each other, and discuss the secrets to their success. It’s truly inspiring to hear the stories and motivations of these talented individuals who thrive on building meaningful and lasting relationships with customers all in their own way. First you’ll hear from Kathy Brown and Adam McAllister, both personal stylists at our Bellevue store right outside of Seattle. After that we’ll share a conversation between Jaycee Queen, from our Century City store in Los Angeles, and Amanda Schwartz from our store in Nashville. But before that, Pete sits down to have a quick chat with our Vice President of Selling Programs at Nordstrom, Jessica Cloutier – who you heard back in episode 63 – who’s going to share a little context around what it means for our stylists to be “Owners at Heart”. Thanks for tuning in to episode 116. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Creating a successful business from scratch is nearly impossible.  Even if you have a great idea for an exceptional product, bringing it to life requires indomitable confidence and unwavering commitment in the face of insurmountable odds.  And maybe a healthy dose of naivety. Our guest for this episode fits that bill.  A true embodiment of purpose and drive, Nate Checketts, co-founder and CEO of the performance lifestyle apparel brand Rhone, along with his brother, Ben Checketts, seems to have willed their business into being without a reasonable doubt of its survivability.  From an idea at a dinner table to one of the fastest growing premium activewear brands in the market, Rhone has planted its flag and proven its worth among the world's heaviest contenders and has no intention of slowing down.    With game-changing product built for similarly ambitious, health conscious customers, Rhone begs the question, “why settle for anything less?” If comfort is important to you, if looking fantastic is at all important to you, then Rhone should be important to you.   Thanks for tuning in to episode 115.  We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Adapt or die.  There is no other choice.  The laws of nature are as true for the retail industry as they are for any aspect of life, and the next existential crisis looms just around the corner.  Sound dramatic?  Well, it is.  The stakes are real and the bar of expectation is high. So how is it that a 4th generation of Nordstroms has, yet again, evolved their legacy brand into relevance for the modern age?  As e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer businesses continue to pull customers out of physical stores, competitors scramble for market share, completely altering the playing field, constantly changing the rules of the game.  Do people really care about how they get their products, just so long as they get it now?  Can anyone tell the difference when a robot picks their wardrobe?  How does one person’s unique human experience inform and influence the success or failure of a nation-wide company in 2026? Join us for this special edition of The Nordy Pod as Executive Producer, Sam Jones, steals the host seat, pitting Pete against the biggest brain-busters of our time.   It’s survival of the fittest, and the herd has thinned out! If you'd like to learn more about the work of Sam Jones, check out samjonespictures.com Thanks for tuning in to episode 114.  We hope you enjoy it!  Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Today, more than ever, the lines between sportswear and streetwear have blurred and blended. What starts on a field, or a court, or a track somehow ends up shaping fashion, music, and street style – and vice versa. And few brands are navigating that space better than Adidas. For the last several years Adidas has been exploding, and for us at Nordstrom and our business together, the momentum continues to build. The arena in which Adidas plays – as a melting pot of performance and lifestyle products, informing and inspiring one another – speaks directly to the cultural moment, and what our customers are looking for. Listen as we hear from the President of Adidas North America, John Miller, about the brand's rooted sports authority, and continued expansion in performance and the broader fashion landscape. After that we’ll learn the importance of listening to the customer in defining “what’s next” from Adidas’ Vice President of Lifestyle, Shaira Reyes. It’s a timely conversation about the evolution, authenticity, and remarkable growth of one of the most well-known and relevant brands in the world. Thanks for tuning in to episode 113. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Soccer is the world's game. It brings together billions of fans, transcends borders, and creates moments that live on for generations. And this year, in 2026, one of the biggest sporting events on the planet has come to Seattle. In this episode we’re exploring the business behind this culturally unifying game—from the incredible impact that it has on the communities that it touches, to the enormous undertaking for our city to be hosting the World Cup. Pete sits down with the Seattle Sounders and Seattle Reign Football Club’s Chief Revenue Officer, Courtney Carter, and Chief Marketing Officer, Ro Vega to discuss the evolution of professional soccer in Seattle, building passionate fan communities, and why the region has become one of the sport's greatest success stories in the US. After that we’re joined by Peter Tomozawa, CEO of Seattle's World Cup Organizing Committee to better understand the scale, complexity, and opportunity that this massive sporting event brings to the Pacific Northwest. Thanks for tuning in to episode 112. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Rated #1 for the past three years on Forbes annual list of companies with the “Best Customer Service” – a list formed by surveying 158,000 customers over a period of 12 months – The UPS Store has consistently proven an authentic and thoughtful commitment to the improvement of all things most valuable to their customers. And, as you know by listening to the Nordy Pod, improving Customer Service is the top priority for Nordstrom. So, in an attempt to further that pursuit, we felt strongly that Sarah Casalan, President of UPS Stores – a leader who has established and maintained a level of customer service that is considered to be "the best" across all industries – would have more than a few nuggets of wisdom to aid us in our journey. As presumed, insights were gained, and notes were taken. Sarah herself actually has an impressive background in retail, and coincidentally shares a handful of mutual acquaintances with Pete. But the gap between her past and her current role in the world of shipping, printing, and supply chain is not as vast as you might think. In her own words, “we get to serve a profoundly human population in any way”. In their conversation, Pete and Sarah talk about the incredible importance of simplifying your business, innovating from within, and meeting the customer on their terms. Selling clothes or delivering packages, the path to success looks the same: It’s all about making customers feel good. Thanks for tuning in to episode 111. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

What really is the role of a leader at Nordstrom? What are the inherent qualities of a good manager who promotes a healthy work environment, and ultimately builds a better business? Well, it’s not about having all the answers, and it’s not about bossing people around. You’ve heard us mention before on the podcast the concept of the inverted pyramid. We didn’t invent the idea, but it’s something that the third generation of Nordstroms adopted, and something that we swear by to this day. At Nordstrom, we believe that the most important people in our company are the ones that interact with customers every single day, and we expect our leaders to support them, remove obstacles in their way, and to empower and enable them to be accountable for great results. We encourage managers to lift people up, to bring their best authentic self to work every day, to sell more, to treat customers great, and to take advantage of the opportunities that are inherent in our business. For Part 6 of our 125th Anniversary series, we’re exploring the management philosophy that’s built our company, brick by brick – from Department Managers to Store Managers, Regional Managers to executive team members – mentors, and service gurus that share hard-earned lessons gleaned from years of experience in stock rooms, sales-floors, and beyond. None of it is too complicated, but it all culminates in a place where we can develop people to help make the business better – and that starts with valuing them, trusting them, enabling them, and allowing them to make an impact. Thanks for tuning in to episode 110. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

We never really tire of telling stories of satisfied Nordstrom customers. And if you’ve listened to the podcast for any amount of time, you’ll know this to be true. You’ve also likely heard either Pete, or any number of our incredible people profess, with unwavering certainty, that improving customer service is the key ingredient to our long-term success. Now, we don’t always get it right – and we hope that we’ve made that abundantly clear — but when we do, when we learn about someone in our company who’s completely laser-focused on customer satisfaction and exhibits the characteristics that bring that to life, you can bet we’re going to light that billboard up internally for all of our people to see. So, as we continue this year’s celebration of Nordstrom's 125th Anniversary, for Part 5 in our series, we’ve put together a highlight reel of service stories directly from our people, past and present, who’ve woven their own thread into the tapestry that is our service reputation. If anyone listening is curious about what makes for a satisfied customer, don’t reach for the handbook, because there isn’t one. At Nordstrom, we let the stories speak for themselves. Thanks for tuning in to episode 109. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

In this episode we’re pulling back the curtain on a part of our business that we haven’t spent much time talking about on the podcast—which is ironic, because it has everything to do with how we talk—and that’s Communications. Specifically, we’re talking about how we here at Nordstrom think about developing and refining a unified “voice”, so to speak, for the company, and the decisions around how and when that voice gets deployed to our various different audiences, internally and externally—which includes the people that work for us, our brand partners, and of course, our customers. To help us unpack this subject we’ll hear from two people who speak the Nordstrom language better than just about anyone. First, you’ll hear from Brooke White, who previously led our Corporate Communications for over 30 years and who played a huge part in shaping the necessary conversations in and around our company. After that I’ll sit down with Grace Stearns, our current Senior Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs, who has actually herself made a handful of cameos on the Nordy Pod. She’s been an incredible addition and asset to the team, and continues to be a trusted sounding board for Pete, Erik, and the rest of the corporate office. Together they’ll discuss the essential role our Communications team plays in telling the story of our brand, lessons learned through pivotal moments in our growth, and some of the challenges that arise for our PR professionals as they attempt to filter the many voices of Nordstrom down to one. Thanks for tuning in to episode 108. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

You grew up playing with them. You’ve shared them with your kids. And now, the brands we all know and love are flying off the shelves and into our hearts through every form of entertainment imaginable. Because Mattel isn’t just making toys anymore—It’s building worlds. Worlds shaped by brands like Barbie, Hot Wheels, Uno, Masters of the Universe, and so much more! Ynon Kreiz, CEO of Mattel, has led the charge in transforming this 80+ year-old, iconic company into a modern and culturally relevant behemoth, by reimagining the narrative and elevating the possibilities of play for all ages. In this episode Pete and Ynon discuss the persistent power of Mattel’s legacy brand portfolio, the role of world-class partnerships in building a bigger future, and the growing field of physical play potentially expanding the wanting toy aisles of Nordstrom. Thanks for tuning in to episode 107. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.

Air travel may seem like a far cry from the retail world, but as it turns out, Southwest Airlines and Nordstrom have a lot in common in the ways that matter most. For anyone interested in learning about the essential building blocks of a great customer experience, this conversation—between two CEOs who have built their entire businesses around customer service—crosses industry boundaries and brings humanity to the forefront. Pete and Bob discover remarkable similarities in their leadership styles and approach to measuring customer satisfaction, evolving to meet ever-changing customer expectations, and nurturing a healthy internal culture that empowers and cares for the people working at all levels of the organization. Bob describes the incredible attention to detail Southwest gives to each and every touchpoint of the customer journey—from the most tactical and transactional to the most human and personal—because to the customer, it all matters. Thanks for tuning in to episode 106. We hope you enjoy it! Did you know that YOU can be on The Nordy Pod? This show isn't just a one-way conversation. We want to hear about what Nordstrom looks like through your eyes. Share your Nordstrom experience, good or bad, by giving us a call and leaving a voicemail at: 206.594.0526, or send an email to [email protected] to be a part of the conversation! And, be sure to follow us on Instagram @thenordypod to stay up to date on new episodes, announcements and more.