The Huddle with John Furner

Who’s excited for the holidays? We are!   The latest episode of The Huddle unwraps the items that will be making this holiday season extra special for everyone — spoiler: there’s an even cooler version of the Easy Bake Oven.🍦👀  Join Walmart U.S. Chief Merchandising Officer Latrice Watkins and John Furner to see how, with all these amazing deals, we might just be Santa’s new favorite helpers.

What do retail and football have in common? More than you’d think.  In this episode of The Huddle, John Furner sits down with NFL star Saquon Barkley to explore the shared fundamentals of great leadership: discipline, teamwork and the drive to keep improving.  Hear how lessons from the locker room can apply to the sales floor, and why showing up with heart makes all the difference.  Listen now and get inspired to lead with purpose — on any field. 

What do a 350-acre vision, a statue of Ol’ Roy and a career spent building what’s next all have in common? John Furner sat down with Cindi Marsiglio, SVP of Corporate Real Estate, for a conversation about what it took to bring the new Home Office to life and what it represents for the future of Walmart. Cindi also reflected on her 18-year Walmart journey, including her work to carry forward Sam Walton’s passion for sourcing products and services that are made, grown or assembled in the communities we serve. That path often led her into brand-new roles — like the one she holds today, helping turn a bold vision for our next chapter into a 350-acre workplace that many associates are already starting to call home. From a replica of Mr. Sam’s famous Ford F-150 to a sculptural tribute to his beloved dog, Ol’ Roy, the new Walmart Home Office is rich with stories from our past and built for the future we’re creating together. And with more than 2.4 million square feet of office space constructed from mass timber — much of it sourced right here in Arkansas — it also reflects our ongoing commitment to American-made materials and responsible growth. With Associates Week just around the corner, we can’t wait to welcome associates from across the globe to see it for themselves.

Today, shopping from the comfort of home is second nature. Fresh groceries delivered straight to your doorstep? Just another Tuesday.But ten years ago it was just a big idea to build trust by saving customers time. At initial test locations like our Ammon, Idaho Supercenter, Store Manager Jason Neville was setting a goal of fulfilling 30 orders a day. Today, Jason’s team fulfills upwards of 6,500 orders a week and brings in more than $25 million a year in delivery and pickup sales! And that’s just one of 170 Walmart stores to hit that $25 million milestone last year!Join Jason and me as we look back on the early days of Walmart’s delivery journey and talk about some of the people who helped turn a bold vision into a game-changing service powering our growth. All while helping create flexible roles and full-time careers.This episode is a reminder that when you think big and lead with passion, teamwork and trust, lives change — for the better. 

Join us in this episode of The Huddle as John chats with Walmart driver Julio Reyes – one of 49 drivers who delivered aid to those affected by Hurricane Helene – to reflect on the efforts and impact of Walmart’s Private Fleet.

This episode of The Huddle is a must-listen for anyone curious about the world of AI, regardless of your background. Whether you're a tech enthusiast eager to know about AI's latest developments or a novice looking to understand AI's impact, this episode has something for everyone. 

Happy New Year! I hope your 2025 is off to a great start.  For many in retail, an annual New Year’s tradition is attending the National Retail Federation’s “Big Show” in New York City. NRF is a great organization that advocates for the entire retail industry and works to highlight its massive economic impact and all the opportunities it brings. They call their January conference the “Big Show” because it brings 40,000 attendees together from over 100 countries, to learn about the cutting-edge innovation and technology. There’s nothing like the Big Show, and I’m so excited to join this weekend!   My first Huddle guest of the year is NRF’s President, Matt Shay. He joins me to talk about the history of the organization, the role it plays today, and what attendees will see at this year’s show. I’ve had the honor of chairing the NRF’s Board of Directors for the past three years, and I’ve learned so much working with some of Walmart’s partners (and competitors!) to make a difference on the issues we all care about. A strong, vibrant retail industry is good for ALL retailers, and we need to continue telling the stories of lives we’ve changed. I hope you enjoy this episode, and once again, Happy New Year! 

Five years, 89 episodes, and countless memories—The Huddle has been an incredible journey. When we started I wasn’t sure what to expect, I just knew it was important for associates to hear directly from leadership. Along the way, it became clear there were so many amazing stories to share—like our associates making a difference, leaders driving change, entrepreneurs building something extraordinary, community members creating real impact, and more.In this special episode, I sit down with Marissa Kargas, who helped bring The Huddle to life in its early days, to reflect on how it all began and what it’s grown into. We revisit some of the most impactful moments and inspiring episodes – highlighting powerful personal journeys, leadership lessons and even a few funny behind-the-scenes bloopers! The very best part of my job is meeting great people all over the country, and it’s been an honor and a privilege sharing these conversations with you. Join us as we celebrate five years of The Huddle and look ahead to what’s next!

For 20 years, Walmart has partnered with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation on the Acres for America program, helping protect over 2 million acres of critical land across the U.S. When the program started, the idea was to protect 1 acre of land for every 1 acre Walmart built on. Today it’s evolved to about 20-1! Acres for America has preserved ecosystems, bolstered biodiversity, safeguarded clean water, and created recreational spaces for the benefit of both people and wildlife. And we recently shared the exciting news that we've renewed the program for 10 more years, with a $34.5 million pledge. In this episode of the Huddle, Chris West from NFWF and Jen Barnhouse from The Nature Conservancy joined me at the Kings River Preserve, a beautiful 5,000 acre preserve in Northwest Arkansas. We talked about the widespread impact of the Acres for America program, and how conservation isn’t just about protecting beautiful places—it’s also about sustaining natural resources for future generations. You'll also hear how anyone can support this work, either through small actions like rounding up a purchase or by finding ways to connect with local conservation initiatives. Whether you’re passionate about the environment, want to leave a legacy for future generations, or simply enjoy outdoor recreation, this episode is for you!

Monday is Veterans Day, one of the most special days of the year. At Walmart we’re so grateful to those who serve or have served in the military, and we support them however we can. A big way is through employment. We’re proud to have hired 400,000 veterans since 2013. Another way is through the products we sell.  This week I recorded a Huddle episode with Mark Doyle, whose company – Rags of Honor Brands – makes military-themed shirts we sell in stores and online. We talked about his story of starting Rags of Honor to provide jobs and support to veterans, and how working with Walmart has helped his company do even more. We're proud to partner with Rags of Honor as they serve those who have served all of us – and I know you’ll be inspired by Mark's mission-driven mindset and willingness to take action.  Please join me in thanking all the brave men and women who have worn the uniform and allowed us to live freely in this country. Let’s all honor them today and every day.