The Working Lunch

This weekly podcast comes from Align Public Strategies, a full-service public affairs and creative firm that helps corporate brands, governments and nonprofits navigate the outside world and inform their internal decision-making. #WorkingLunch #Align

The Working Lunch is a business podcast hosted by Align Public Strategies, with 408 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Align Public Strategies hosts The Working Lunch, a business show with 408 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

• 

  The Working Lunch

  Episode 412 - Federal Judge Tosses Industry Lawsuit Against Oregon EPR Law Into The Dumpster

  Sep 17, 20261h 5m

  We are joined once again by Michael Washburn, Principal of Washburn Consulting who has worked with the National Restaurant Association and major national brands to help navigate the increasingly turbulent waters around Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). Michael will give us the latest updates regarding important pending litigation, the states to watch in 2027 and the long-term future of the issue. And data farms are crowding the headlines recently and creating unusual political blocs, particularly at the local level. Between traditional NIMBYism, the MAHA Moms and now data farms, is the industry ready for a new era of local activism and social engagement? We’ll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Working Lunch

  Episode 411 - FDA's Ultra-Processed Food Definition, Meta's $18B Settlement & Restaurant Industry Impact

  Sep 1, 20261h 4m

  We are joined once again by the industry’s premier food and nutrition expert Maggie Gentile, a partner at Food Directions, to manage our expectations going forward on what’s happening with a potential federal definition of ultraprocessed foods and what the industry might have in store. And this week Meta was forced to cough up almost $18 billion dollars to a group of attorney generals over accusations that its platform - namely Facebook - was contributing to online addiction among young people. Is this just the beginning of a broader conversation about marketing to kids? We’ll take a look. And Mayor Mamdani is at it again. This time reaching out to local business community luminaries to provide political cover for his progressive agenda. It may not matter at all on policy but sure looks good politically. We’ll take a look. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Working Lunch

  Episode 409 - Did Pricing Strategies During COVID Ultimately Change The Minimum Wage Debate?

  Aug 1, 202655 min

  We start off the podcast this week with an update on what's happening in Washington on the hemp beverage front and whether forces in Congress and the White House can agree on a framework for this emerging industry product line. And then we are joined once again by Michael Halen, Senior Restaurant Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence to talk about the state of the industry, the financial health of the larger players, and whether competition between industry business models is infusing new energy into intra-industry policy debates. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Working Lunch

  Episode 408 -  State Attacking Industry Leaders With Fair Share Healthcare Proposals

  Jul 23, 202652 min

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  The Working Lunch

  Episode 407 - The NRA Tells Congress To Be Smart When It Comes To Hemp Beverages

  Jun 27, 20261h 17m

  As we reported last week, the National Restaurant Association sent a letter to Congressional leaders asking them to delay by two years the forthcoming hemp product ban to provide the predictability operators need and to allow Congress the time to rethink its approach for a regulatory alternative that responsibly meets consumer demand. We are joined once again by Mike Whatley, the Vice President of State Affairs & Grassroots Advocacy at the National Restaurant Association to walk us through the issue and what the industry needs for our elected leaders. Additionally, Mike will stay with us and give us his take on the first half of 2026 and how the industry fared managing their issue portfolios across the fifty states. And we had another round of primary elections this week and the big winners were socialists - yes, you heard that correctly, socialists. Has NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani entered the arena as another political kingmaker? We’ll discuss. We'll talk about those issues and wrap it up with the legislative scorecard.

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on The Working Lunch. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.