Two friends and former agency executives getting real, and talking about life, leadership, and family with business leaders and eCommerce industry visionaries, delivering a rare and raw look at the realities of delivering with excellence. Whether in life, or the office.
This is our final cast of the year, with just Rich and I hanging out and shooting the sh!t on a bevy or topics like why he shaved his beard, ideas for our next few guests, the lack of competition in the commerce platform space, and things we continue to see and mentor for, that we wish we didn’t.
For those that might not know us… the proper intro would be… In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey and Rich Lyons discuss personal transformations, the impact of masculinity on mental health, and the importance of self-care and personal growth. They reflect on their experiences with Movember (psst… Rich shaved his beard. See it here), fitness, and the challenges of navigating the business landscape. The discussion also delves into leadership, fear, and the significance of taking action without waiting for the perfect moment.
Chapters
00:00 - Rich Shaved His Beard and Personal Reflections
08:19 - Men's Health and Masculinity Discussions
14:51 - Fitness Journey and Blood Work Insights
18:08 - Intermittent Fasting and Nutrition Choices
20:36 - Functional Health and Blood Testing
21:13 - Functional Patterns in Movement
32:05 - Commerce and Market Trends
38:43 - Agency and Brand Dynamics
43:11 - Reflections on post-COVID Commerce Stagnation
43:20 - The Role of Partners in Business
44:55 - Parenting and Family Dynamics
46:02 - Life Lessons from Children
48:06 - Setting Strategic Goals for 2026
52:49 - Facing Fears and Embracing Growth
56:42 - Leadership Insights for Aspiring Leaders
01:06 - Encouragement for Action and Self-Exploration
Peace. -t
...
26 Nov 2025
Episode 24; Getting Real with Dave Barr of CQL
Well well. If this isn't an epic episode of Tea with Rich, featuring Dave Barr of CQL... this is the literal OG's of Commerce Agencies episode on all things old, new, and all of a sudden being the old guys.
In this engaging chat, Thomas Obrey, Rich Lyons, and Dave Barr start with an epic shooting the sh!t session, and then move into a real discussion on the evolving landscape of e-commerce, the challenges and insights of being a first-time CEO, and the impact of AI on the industry.
We reflect on our experiences, the transition of CQL (a former DWRE partner) towards Shopify Enterprise, and the importance of adapting to new technologies while maintaining a focus on client relationships. The discussion also touches on some key personal reflections, from each of us, and a potential future for the e-commerce sector.
The ToC:
00:00 - Introduction and Casual Banter
04:46 - Transitioning to CEO: Insights and Challenges
09:28 - CQL's Evolution Toward a Focus on Shopify
14:29 - Navigating E-commerce Transformations
19:14 - The Future of E-commerce and Brand Strategies
23:44 - Post-COVID Business Mentality
26:30 - Navigating Enterprise Complexity
29:04 - Shifting to a Shopify-Focused Agency
30:35 - Leadership Transition and Challenges
32:42 - The Private Equity Influence on Business
37:14 - Power in Partnerships, Strategic Acquisitions and Your Network
40:40 - And All of a Sudden Your the Old Guy
42:25 - AI and it's Influence in Agency's, Shopping and within Brands
49:54 - Golfing, Personal Growth and Balancing Work and Leisure
54:36 - Navigating my Sabbatical and Future Aspirations
01:00 - Industry Insights: E-commerce and AI Trends
Peace. -t...
4 Nov 2025
Episode 23; Getting Real with Michael Janiak of Pattern
In this engaging conversation, Thomas Obrey, Michael Janiak, and Rich Lyons discuss their experiences in the e-commerce and design industry, touching on collaboration, competition, and the evolution of design practices. They share insights on starting an agency, the impact of AI on design, and the importance of relationships in navigating challenges. The discussion highlights the changing landscape of e-commerce and the necessity of adapting to new technologies and concepts to address client needs.There is a ton of anecdotal story telling in here too - like the first time Mike and Tea met, in a nightclub, a true Digital Jesus moment. We also talk about Third and Grove snapping up Elva. Co-oppetition (?). And this idea of Experience Orchestration. Rich also goes into detail about his decision to sell Lyons, the process, and what was going through his head the entire time, pre-during-and-post Exit.Of course we talk Metallica, the first project Michael (Pattern) and Tea (PixelMEDIA) collaborated on. And how that collaboration put Metallica ahead of the content, commerce and LLM game. There’s dozens of stories in, on and around the serious topics. Too. This is def worth a full listen. -tChapters00:00 - Introduction and Personal Background02:56 - Collaboration with Competition within the Design Industry05:10 - Mike Reflects on his First Decade in the Agency Space 11:10 - Navigating the Early Days of Entrepreneurship14:32 - Building a Design-Driven Culture16:00 - Challenges of Bootstrapping a Business22:43 - Survivor Mentality in Business25:33 - Experience Design Opportunities in an AI World29:52 - Generative AI and Its Limitations from a ExD Perspective32:13 - AI as a the Ultimate Research Assistant and Pitch Partner37:23 - Navigating Industry Changes Post-COVID45:30 - Thoughts Around Entering the Third-era of eCommerce as a System48:20 - The Evolution of Product Pages and Everything being a Landing Page50:18 - The Idea of Real-time Experience and Intent Orchestration56:13 - The Race to LLMs - Content, Commerce, and Embracing Composable57:53 - Moving Toward Composable and Winning with Metallica01:01 - Hot Topic - Third and Grove Joins Forces with Elva01:04 - Do Acquisitions Creating Gaps or Opportunities in the Market01:07 - Rich Explains his Journey Through Growing, Selling, and Exiting 01:13 - The Struggles Behind Success That No One Talks About01:26 - Reflections on Life After a Successful Exit01:32 - Reflections on Success and Legacy
Peace. -t
...
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
4,954
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.4 / 5
7 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
17
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
31
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Who hosts Tea with Rich. Getting Real.?
Rich host the show. Published by Thomas Obrey.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes weekly, based on its RSS feed.
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