Top Podcasts for Procurement and Supply Chain

With our working days not exactly business as usual, it can be difficult to remain focused and motivated. But it’s vital for our own wellbeing that we do so. Whether your current situation finds you at a bit of a loss for things to do, or if you’re pushed to the limit, podcasts are a great way of keeping engaged with the world of procurement and supply chain - and they can be an entertaining distraction, too. 

Read on for a selection of the top podcasts for procurement and supply chain professionals. 

SupplyChainBrain

Hosted by Bob Bowman, Managing Editor of the popular news site, Supply Chain Brain, this highly informative podcast offers a variety of timely and useful news updates from across the supply chain sector. There’s also a lot of useful content relating to the retail sector and wider business world that will help professionals from a variety of backgrounds keep their finger on the pulse. 

Naturally, many of the recent broadcasts focus on the economic and societal impacts of coronavirus. If you need a diversion, Bowman offers interesting analyses on the adoption of AI technologies in supply chain around the globe. There’s also some interesting discussion around business ethics in the field, including a podcast on the topic of modern slavery. 

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Let’s Talk Supply Chain

Logistician turned supply chain marketer, Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, is the engaging host of Let’s Talk Supply Chain, a great choice for those seeking a more discussion-based podcast. Each episode, Sarah and an interesting array of industry experts discuss hot topics relating to supply chain. Recent episodes include lively discussions around sustainability with Scott and Greg from Supply Chain Now, data sharing and collaboration with Alloy and what the digital future for the sector might look like with Omnichain.

Sarah also presents a great series devoted to women in supply chain where industry figures such as Angie Reno, Director of Procurement, Government Services at Crowley, talk about their careers, challenges and the industry at large. 

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Negotiate Anything

As we know, effective supply chain management is all about great negotiation skills. This innovative and entertaining series is the top-ranked negotiation podcast, worldwide and has been downloaded over 1m times so you know you’re in good hands. You'll hear interviews from a wealth of successful professionals and thought leaders and discover useful insights into how they achieved success and tackled obstacles along the way. 

One of our favourite things about this series is the inclusion of mock negotiations, where our hosts and contributors demonstrate how different negotiation tactics can work, or not, in specific situations. The producers state their goal is “to increase the competence and confidence of our listeners to empower them to get what they want and deserve out of life, both personally and professionally.” We think they have achieved this, and much more. 

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Supply Chain Now

This is one of the most well-regarded and popular podcasts with over 5 million downloads since May 2017. Supply Chain Now is an informative and entertaining podcast series examining the critical issues of the day as well as the technologies, best practices and industry figures we need to know about. Each episode the hosts assemble an impressive selection of experts, business leaders, and practitioners to share their learnings and insight in the world of end-to-end supply chain management today. 

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Getting In the Loop 

This fortnightly podcast is a great choice for procurement and supply chain professionals with an interest in sustainability and the environment. Each episode looks at tactics and strategies that businesses and individuals can adopt to move towards a more circular society that recognises our planet’s limited resources. 

Our host, Katie Whalen interviews circular economy experts about what they’re currently doing and learning (including Anna Tari of the Circular Economy Club, Ken Webster of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and many more) to uncover what circular economy means in practice and what's being done to preserve our precious resources. If you’re keen to delve deeper, you can find notes and resources on the website. 

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CSCMPodcast: Supply Chain Conversation

CSCMPodcast: Supply Chain Conversation is the official podcast of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. Each episode features interviews with leading supply chain professionals and academics, unpacking and analysing the latest news and industry trends across all aspects of supply chain. Each discussion is led by Rick Blasgen, President and CEO of CSCMP. Recent topics include transforming the supply chain into a competitive weapon and an insightful dive into what supply chain professionals under 30 are looking for in terms of their career opportunities.

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We hope that these recommendations for procurement and supply chain podcasts have been a useful distraction for you in this challenging time. Don’t forget to share your favourites with us on our social media.