Get Caught Up on the January and February Episodes of Unboxing Logistics
by Jaidyn Farar
As always, the new year has brought new logistics challenges and opportunities. During January and February, the Unboxing Logistics podcast featured guest experts who weighed in about trends they expect to see in 2025.
Will their predictions come true? You’ll have to listen and decide for yourself!
Supply Chain Trends in 2025 w/ Chris Caplice
The podcast started strong with Chris Caplice giving us a glimpse of what 2025 might hold in store. Chris’s predictions aren’t wild guesses—they’re backed by deep expertise. Holding two roles (executive director at MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics and chief scientist at DAT Freight and Analytics), Chris spends every day immersed in the world of logistics.
Chris and Lori discuss:
- The truckload market (and a possible inflationary period)
- How global crises will affect supply chains
- How tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China will impact U.S. businesses
2025 Supply Chain Sustainability Trends w/ Tom Raftery
As droughts, floods, fires, and storms have become more frequent and devastating, consumers are increasingly concerned about climate change. As they look for ways to reduce their carbon footprints, they expect the businesses they buy from to do the same.
How will organizations incorporate sustainability into their operations in 2025? Tom Raftery, sustainability and technology evangelist, shares his thoughts.
Tom and Lori discuss:
- The rising popularity of electric vehicles
- How AI will play a role in emissions reporting and reduction
- Why sustainable organizations will win over stakeholders
The Secret to Seamless Returns w/ Amena Ali
Customers value the privilege of returning products, but they often don’t appreciate the process, which tends to be time-consuming and frustrating.
Returns are troublesome for merchants too, bringing up tricky questions: How should we handle return shipping? What’s the fastest way to get returned products back on shelves? How can we maintain high customer satisfaction?
In this episode, Amena Ali, CEO of Optoro, shares best practices for handling returns.
Amena and Lori discuss:
- Tips for creating a better returns experience for customers
- Why speed to stock is a critical metric
- Alternatives to disposing of returned products
Unboxing the Trends January 2025 w/ Lori Boyer and Tim Ranagan
This short episode is the perfect way to catch up on your shipping and logistics news!
Make sure to keep an eye out for February’s episode, where Lori and Tim will continue the discussion. And stay tuned for future “Unboxing the Trends” episodes—you can expect to see a new one every month.
Tim and Lori discuss:
- The January port strikes
- California wildfires and the importance of contingency planning
- How tariffs could impact costs for businesses and consumers
Costs, Carriers, and China: Parcel Shipping in 2025 w/ Nate Skiver
Although parcel shipping is complex and costly, it often doesn’t get the attention it deserves from logistics managers. Nate Skiver, founder of LPF Spend Management, thinks that needs to change.
In this episode, he describes the parcel landscape in 2025 and offers helpful advice for saving money and making the most of carrier partnerships.
Nate and Lori discuss:
- How major carriers have changed their pricing structures
- Tips for choosing carriers that meet your cost and reliability requirements
- When to start negotiating to get the best shipping rates
EasyPost Insider: Introducing Luma, the Ultimate AI Advisor w/ Joe Dieter
In EasyPost Insider episodes, members of the EasyPost team introduce new solutions, walking through what they do, how they work, and what types of businesses can benefit from them. Joe Dieter gives us an in-depth look at Luma, an AI tool that makes shipping optimization a breeze.
Joe and Lori discuss:
- What Luma does—and why it’s so useful
- Luma’s three main features and tiers
- Who should use Luma and how to get started
What’s ahead …
Two months down, 10 to go! The Unboxing Logistics podcast has great things in store for the rest of the year. Make sure to follow along so you don’t miss out on new episodes.
Find new episodes here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Unboxing Logistics is available on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Pandora, and Audible.