Jeff SwystunA Crazy Rift: Barbra Streisand and Winnipeg Find Each Other StrangeLet’s hop in a time a machine to 1961, the year Barbra Streisand performed in Winnipeg that marked her first appearance outside of the…Aug 15Aug 15
Jeff SwystunWho Invented the TV Dinner?When something proves successful it has many parents which explains the competing claims to inventing the TV dinner. One has been repeated…Jul 29Jul 29
Jeff SwystunThe Soviet Union Embraced Branding and AdvertisingOne of the most impactful first lines in fiction is found in George Orwell’s 1984, “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were…Jul 221Jul 221
Jeff SwystunThe Podcast King: Bill Simmons has a Voice and ReachPodcasting is an easily accessible technology and medium. Podcasts kits are sold on Amazon and content is relatively easy to place on…Jun 17Jun 17
Jeff SwystunTwice Maligned, Once VindicatedWhat a life! Major Sir Brian Edward Urquhart’s real-life accomplishments are impressive yet, a fictionalized version cements his story. In…Mar 14Mar 14
Jeff SwystunThe World’s Largest Garage SaleThe pandemic created a round of consumption resulting in an unprecedented accumulation of goods. Households stocked up on the familiar and…Jan 17Jan 17
Jeff SwystunPrestige Television and the Return of TV DinnersWhen uncertainty hit every household during the pandemic, there was a rush to transform living spaces. Attics, garages, dining rooms and…Dec 28, 2023Dec 28, 2023
Jeff SwystunStouffer’s Was Once Supremely ElegantThe Cottage Creamery Co. is a compelling name for a specialty ice cream store in the Hamptons or a coffee shop in Seattle. It’s actually…Dec 28, 2023Dec 28, 2023
Jeff SwystunConsider these books…It was a decent year for books and reading. Not books released in 2023 specifically, but solid reads that surprise or are worth repeating…Dec 25, 2023Dec 25, 2023
Jeff SwystunA Deep Dive on the Carhartt BrandThis is a fun one. I’ve done deep dives on many brands but there is some interesting magic in Carhartt. This billion-dollar, family-owned…Dec 10, 2023Dec 10, 2023