This Global Trade Adventure

The World Trade Center Kentucky provides insights and services related to global trade for Kentucky companies. Episodes will focus on international business, trade issues, supply chain management and other topics. These brief discussions will involve guests from various companies already doing business on a global scale. They'll share observation, perspectives and advice to help other professionals navigate this global trade adventure.

This Global Trade Adventure is a business podcast hosted by Jim Ray, with 41 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Jim Ray hosts This Global Trade Adventure, a business show with 41 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.

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  Episode #37

  David Lopez on Global Trade, Entrepreneurship & Kentucky's Future

  Aug 13, 202631 min

  Episode 39: David Lopez, Founder of Valor Insights, joins Dr. Omar Ayyash, President and CEO of the World Trade Center Kentucky, and host Jim Ray for a wide-ranging discussion about international trade, entrepreneurship, and Kentucky's growing global economy. David shares how growing up between San Diego and Tijuana shaped his international perspective and explains why he chose Louisville as the home for his family and business. The conversation highlights the importance of welcoming international talent, supporting immigrant entrepreneurs, and building meaningful partnerships throughout Latin America. Omar and David also discuss workforce development, supply chain innovation, global trade missions, and the expanding role of the Hispanic business community in Kentucky's economic future. Together, they emphasize that Kentucky is uniquely positioned to strengthen international relationships while fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. The episode concludes with an invitation to attend World Trade Day and become part of Kentucky's growing global business community. Key Themes: Meet David Lopez Louisville's Thriving Hispanic Community | Derby Pitch Building a Personal Network for Success Latin America's Interest in Doing Business in Kentucky Embracing the Changing Workforce Demographics Conclusion & Upcoming WTCKY Events We hope you enjoyed the conversation. You can find more information on our website at wtcky.org . Be sure to register for the upcoming events. Until next time, from all of us at the World Trade Center Kentucky, and our This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, if it involves global business at the World Trade Center Kentucky, we grow trade. Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS: · 08/25-26/26 – World Trade Day 2026 Global Business Summit · 09/29/26 – 10/01/26 – International Trade Certification · 12/05/26 – 12/11/26 – Dubai Trade Mission 2026 · 04/04/27 – 04/07/26 – Vietnam Trade Mission 2027 The next episode of our podcast will launch on 09/14/26 . Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast . We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.

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  Episode #38

  Why Vietnam Is Emerging as a Major Opportunity for Kentucky Businesses

  Jul 14, 202637 min

  Episode 38: In this episode of the Global Trade Adventure podcast, Omar Ayyash, Lee Lingo, and Jim Ray discuss the growing importance of Vietnam as a strategic trade partner for Kentucky businesses. Lee shares insights from multiple trips to Vietnam. He highlights the country's rapid economic growth, expanding manufacturing base, and increasing opportunities. Particularly promising sectors include agriculture, bourbon, technology, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing. They explore how World Trade Center Kentucky trade missions help businesses accelerate relationship-building and gain direct access to key decision-makers in international markets. The group also emphasizes the value of face-to-face interactions, trusted networks, and cultural understanding when developing global business opportunities. Listeners will learn about the upcoming World Trade Center Global Business Summit in Vietnam and the opportunities it will create for Kentucky companies seeking international growth. The discussion reinforces Kentucky's strength as a global manufacturing and logistics hub while showcasing the role international trade plays in the state's economic success. Consider this an invitation for businesses to explore new markets and to leverage the World Trade Center's network of over 330 Centers. Thank you for listening to today's episode. We hope you enjoyed the conversation. You can find more information on our website at wtcky.org . Be sure to register for the upcoming events. Until next time, from all of us at the World Trade Center Kentucky, and our This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, if it involves global business at the World Trade Center Kentucky, we grow trade. Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS: · 08/25-26/26 – World Trade Day 2026 Global Business Summit · 09/29/26 – 10/01/26 – International Trade Certification · 12/05/26 – 12/11/26 – Dubai Trade Mission 2026 · 04/04/27 – 04/07/26 – Vietnam Trade Mission 2027 The next episode of our podcast will launch on 08/10/26 . Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast . We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.

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  Episode #37

  From Canada to Kentucky: The Story Behind a New Manufacturing Expansion

  Jun 8, 202619 min

  Episode 37: In this episode of the This Global Trade Adventure podcast, we interview Vikram and Samir Kalia of E. Hofmann Plastics about their company's decision to invest in a new manufacturing facility in Madisonville, Kentucky. The brothers share the history of their family-owned business, which has grown from an Ontario-based custom plastics operation into a leading producer of rigid plastic packaging serving multiple industries, in various countries. The conversation explores how relationship-building, industry connections, and strategic market expansion ultimately led them to Kentucky, including the state's business climate, available infrastructure, workforce opportunities, and proximity to key customers throughout the United States. Gain insight into the company's expansion strategy, including its operations in Canada, Europe, and now the United States. The discussion showcases how international investment and strong business relationships can create economic opportunities for both companies and communities. Key Themes: · The E. Hofmann Plastics Story: From Austria to North America · Why Madisonville, Kentucky Won the Expansion Project · Building a Family Business Across Generations · Manufacturing Growth, Infrastructure, and Economic Opportunity · The Future of E. Hofmann Plastics and US Expansion So, from all of us here at the World Trade Center Kentucky's This Global Trade Adventure podcast. Thanks for listening. We'll be back in a couple of weeks. To Learn More about E. Hofmann Plastics: Website: www.hofmannplastics.com Thank you for listening to today's episode. We hope you enjoyed the conversation. You can find more information on our website at wtcky.org . Be sure to register for the upcoming events. Until next time, from all of us at the World Trade Center Kentucky, and our This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, if it involves global business at the World Trade Center Kentucky, we grow trade. Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS: · 08/25-26/26 – World Trade Day 2026 Global Business Summit · 09/29/26 – 10/01/26 – International Trade Certification · 10/12/26 - 10/21/26 – Discover Beautiful Ireland with WTCKY · 12/05/26 – 12/11/26 – Dubai Trade Mission 2026 The next episode of our podcast will launch on 07/13/26 . Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast . We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.

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  Episode #36

  From Startup Pivot to Global Growth: The EQL Games Story

  May 13, 202635 min

  Episode 36: In this episode, Brad Cummings, Founder and CEO of EQL Games, shares how his company successfully pivoted from a disrupted sports-based concept during the pandemic into a fast-growing global digital lottery services provider. Leveraging existing technology, relationships, and industry knowledge, Brad repositioned EQL Games to deliver digital content to lottery operators across multiple international markets. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability, humility, and listening to market signals when navigating uncertainty. Brad also highlights how building authentic relationships, not just selling products, has been critical to expanding into regions like the UAE and beyond. His approach focuses on trust, long-term partnerships, and consistent presence in global markets. Today, EQL Games operates across several countries, demonstrating how a well-executed pivot can unlock international growth opportunities. His journey underscores the power of resilience and strategic thinking in building a scalable digital services business. To Learn More about EQL Games: Website: www.eqlgames.com Thank you for listening to today's episode. We hope you enjoyed the conversation. You can find more information on our website at wtcky.org . Be sure to register for the upcoming events. Until next time, from all of us at the World Trade Center Kentucky, and our This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, if it involves global business at the World Trade Center Kentucky, we grow trade. Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS: · 08/25-26/26 – World Trade Day 2026 Global Business Summit · 09/29/26 – 10/01/26 – International Trade Certification · 10/12/26 - 10/21/26 – Discover Beautiful Ireland with WTCKY · 12/05/26 – 12/11/26 – Dubai Trade Mission 2026 The next episode of our podcast will launch on 06/09/26 . Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast . We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.

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  Episode #35

  Inside US–Canada Trade: Québec's Role in Strengthening Kentucky Partnerships

  Apr 12, 202630 min

  Episode 35: In this episode of the World Trade Center Kentucky's podcast, Jim Ray sits down with Québec Delegate General David Brulotte to discuss the evolving trade relationship between Canada and the United States, with a focus on Kentucky's role. David explains Québec's long-standing presence in the U.S. and its mission to strengthen economic, cultural, and governmental ties across regions. The conversation highlights the deep interdependence between Kentucky and Canada, particularly in sectors like aluminum, automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing. They also address the current uncertainty caused by tariffs and how it is impacting businesses on both sides of the border. Despite these challenges, both leaders emphasize the importance of maintaining strong, face-to-face relationships and open communication. David shares insights into Québec's strategic priorities, including defense investment and critical minerals development. The discussion underscores the value of subnational diplomacy and the role states and provinces play in sustaining long-term partnerships. Ultimately, the episode reinforces optimism that collaboration and shared interests will guide both regions forward. Friends, I hope you found that conversation interesting. There's a lot swirling, and depending on all the news that you're taking in, depending on what you're hearing from different people, it is hard to understand what actually happens. And once again, that's the value of sitting down between the two parties and just having good conversations. I think it adds clarity to the situation, and it adds, in this case kind of a feeling of hope that, yep, we're going to move past this. We're eventually going to shake hands on this and move forward quickly. Because I think when you look at the world right now, things are a little hectic, a little crazy. It'll be nice to know we've got good friends at our sides and that together we're much stronger than we were apart. So once again, thank you very much for listening, and if your business is getting ready to explore doing commerce on a global scale, just remember the World Trade Center, Kentucky connects businesses globally. To Learn More: Website: https://www.Québec.ca/en/gouvernement/ministere/relations-internationales/representations-etranger/delegation-generale-Québec-new-york Thank you for listening to today's episode. We hope you enjoyed the conversation. You can find more information on our website at wtcky.org . Be sure to register for the upcoming events. Until next time, from all of us at the World Trade Center, Kentucky, and our This Global Trade Adventure podcast, remember, if it involves global business at the World Trade Center Kentucky, we grow trade. Upcoming WTCKY EVENTS: · 04/14/26 – 04/16/26 – International Trade Certification · 04/22/26 – Protecting Corporate Assets in the Global Marketplace · 08/25-26/26 – World Trade Day 2026 Global Business Summit · 10/12/26 - 10/21/26 – Discover Beautiful Ireland with WTCKY The next episode of our podcast will launch on 05/12/26 . Thank you for listening. Be sure to follow This Global Trade Adventure on your favorite podcast platform, or at www.WTCKY.com/podcast . We hope you enjoyed this episode. Our schedule is to publish a new episode on the 2nd Monday of each month. Please consider sharing this with your colleagues. Until next time, thank you for listening and welcome to This Global Trade Adventure.

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