Brought to you by Better Beans Branding (betterbeansbranding.com), What Thad Thinks (NOT Neel) is exactly what it sounds like.
Best friends and business partners Thad Joiner and Neel Sengupta talk through politics, business, culture, and whatever else comes up, with no topic off limits. Thad brings loud, audacious, and unapologetic opinions. Neel’s role? Mostly to be picked on, with the occasional calculated interjection.
Episodes kick off with free-flowing conversation, land on real business advice, and wrap with a final solo thought from Thad once Neel exits. Because at the end of the day, this show is about what Thad thinks. Not Neel.
From Goobers at the movie theater to a tough conversation about trans athletes in the WNBA, Thad and Neel warm up before diving into the real fights: mail-in ballots versus in-person voting, and whether government-backed student loans are wrecking a generation. Thad dusts off his old list of what separates winners from losers, then closes things out with a very Thad ranking of hobbies, covering everything from arts and crafts and board games to hunting, golf, and boating.
7 Aug 2026
Hoops, Hiring, and Handouts
From Spalding's origin and the return of football season to debates over Mamdani's grocery stores and Fauci's congressional testimony, Thad and Neel cover plenty of ground before turning to one of the biggest challenges facing business leaders: staffing. Thad shares nine practical strategies for keeping great employees, strengthening company culture, and building a team that people actually want to be part of. To close things out, Neel and Piper stick around for "What Thad Thinks," putting Thad on the spot with the questions they actually want answered.
23 Jul 2026
Goals, Governance, and Gratitude
After a month-long hiatus, Thad and Neel are back behind the mic. From World Cup excitement and the Sunshine Protection Act to voter ID laws and immigration, the duo tackles some of today's biggest headlines before turning to leadership. They close the episode with practical strategies for rewarding employees, fostering personal growth, and making confident decisions.
25 Jun 2026
Tournaments, Training, and Tough Choices
As the World Cup captures attention across the country, Thad and Neel turn their focus to a different kind of competition: solving problems. From stubborn business challenges and employee accountability to the value of practice and role-playing, they discuss why the quickest solution is often better than the cheapest one and what separates high-performing organizations from everyone else.
12 Jun 2026
Ballots, Betting, and Blunders
Not every business mistake becomes a disaster. Between discussions on election integrity, sports gambling, and the future of SpaceX, Thad and Neel explain how great companies can respond when they've disappointed a customer and why accountability beats excuses every time.
2 Jun 2026
Economics, Engagement, and De-Escalation
From foreign aid and political participation to customer retention and summer activities, Thad and Neel discuss the importance of listening, building trust, and creating lasting relationships, both in business and in life.
14 May 2026
Reliability, Responsiveness, and Reputation
From Bobby Cox and the Braves to Spirit Airlines and customer loyalty, Thad and Neel mix candid commentary with practical business advice on building lasting relationships.
22 Apr 2026
Masters, Mentorship, and Moments of Truth
Taking cues from the Masters, Thad digs into the art of lifelong customer relationships, covering the moments of truth that make or break loyalty, why great service goes unrewarded, and the mentorship lessons worth passing on.
26 Mar 2026
Showdown, Standards, and Strength
As they close out their three-part series on leading from strength, Thad and Neel blend travel chaos, current events, and unfiltered debate with practical insight on confrontation, recognition, and leadership, ending with Thad’s rapid-fire "this or that" takes.
19 Mar 2026
Classic, Conflict, and Confrontation
From United States military operations to the excitement of the World Baseball Classic, Thad and Neel mix candid commentary with real talk on leadership, confrontation, and building strong relationships, ending with Thad's take on tipping culture (again).
27 Feb 2026
Patriotism, People Skills, and Pro Hockey
From actionable leadership advice to candid commentary on patriotism and immigration, this episode covers both relationship-building in business and Thad’s personal convictions, with a final take on tipping culture.
12 Feb 2026
What Neel Thinks: Super Bowl Special
In Neel's speaking-est episode to date, Thad and Neel break down Super Bowl advertising and celebrity endorsements, complete with a halftime performance from Thad himself.
30 Jan 2026
Deals, Discipline, and Devotion
Thad and Neel move from global headlines and sports talk to negotiation, loyalty, and leadership, with special guest Jennifer Williams weighing in on building trust and long-term commitment.
20 Jan 2026
Football, Fraud, and Fresh Starts
After a two-year hiatus, Thad and Neel dive into everything from hot-button headlines to the cardinal rules of customer service, with a special appearance from industry expert Andy Sherrard.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
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