What do Palm Springs hot tubs, a six-month influencer experiment, and a stack of business books have in common? In this month’s State of Play episode, I sit down with long-time friend and community member Bill D’Alessandro to unpack the latest in founder life, marketing trends, and entrepreneurial insights.

Listen in as we reflect on the return of eComm Camp in 2026, share lessons from recent vacations with kids, and debate the state of influencer marketing. We also cover wealth management strategies, social content experiments, and what’s currently on our reading lists.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/4ghpbtz

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners? Learn more here.

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

In this milestone episode, we’re taking you behind the scenes of one of our internal projects: building a brand-new AI bot for the ECF community. Two years ago, we dipped our toes into the AI space with our first attempt… and let’s just say it didn’t quite pan out. But a lot has changed since then. Now that AI is not only more powerful but more accessible, we’ve decided to try again—with clearer goals, a sharper focus, and a commitment to enhancing the member experience rather than replacing the human connection ECF is built on.

Listen in as we talk about what’s changed in the AI space, how we’re thinking about ethics and privacy, and what this new tool is designed to do. (Spoiler: it’s not just another chatbot.) We’re also sharing real use cases where we’ve already integrated AI into the ECF platform, as well as a few thoughts on where AI is not useful and what it all means for future business strategy.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/46bC4Rm

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners? Learn more here.

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.

What do a minimalist fanny pack, the Chicago Cubs, and a powerful moment of self-awareness have in common? In this solo episode, I’m sharing a deeply personal reflection on the end of my gap year, a trip to Chicago with my dad, and what I’m looking forward to as I dive back into work and host the upcoming ECF Live in Bozeman, Montana.

Listen in as I preview the ECF Live agenda and speaker lineup, share highlights from my 2,000-mile road trip, and kick off a new season of Forge What Matters with a vulnerable parenting check-in. From testing out the ultra-minimalist Stash Packable Sling to walking the halls of America’s largest homeless mission, this one’s part travel story, part life update, and part honest reflection on what really matters.

You can find show notes and more information by clicking here: https://bit.ly/47tHd9I

Interested in our Private Community for 7-Figure Store Owners? Learn more here.

Want to hear about new episodes and eCommerce news round-ups? Subscribe via email.