Send us Fan Mail

The world came to North America for soccer—and left talking about free refills, ranch dressing, poutine, barbecue, and a whiskey-drinking raccoon. This week on the Mike and Blaine show, we unpack the funniest and most unexpectedly wholesome stories of international fans discovering life in the United States, Mexico, and Canada during the 2026 World Cup.

But this isn't just a recap of tournament tourism; it’s a deep dive into core business strategy, tactical marketing, and customer experience (CX). Why do visitors see pure magic in the everyday things locals completely take for granted? More importantly, how can your business leverage its own “ordinary” features to build an unforgettable, viral brand?

Mike and Blaine break down how culture serves as the ultimate marketing strategy. In business, your standard operations, unique regional quirks, or basic hospitality touches might actually be your greatest competitive advantage. We share actionable insights on how to avoid becoming a generic, sanitized corporation and instead double down on the unique differentiators that make your brand memorable. 

Whether it’s the psychological impact of a “free refill” or the comfort of hyper-local hospitality, successful companies win by embracing who they are. If you want to learn how to turn your daily routine into a powerful customer acquisition tool, grab a cold beer and join the conversation!

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZAs79X_0Iz4

We want to hear from you! [email protected]

Love the show and want to support us? Visit mikeandblaine.com to buy us a beer!

Listen to all our episodes at mikeandblaine.com

Learn about:
Cash Flow Mike who trains CPAs to provide effective advisory to their clients at cashflowmike.com

Dryrun Cash Flow Forecasting for the office of the CFO where they get Finance teams out of spreadsheets at dryrun.com

Thanks to our Beer Sponsors: 
Karen Hairston from 3S Smart Consulting 
CPA Larry Weinstein, the Cash Flow Cowboy from Houston Texas 
Neighbor Pat 
Devin 
Trey Milton

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZAs79X_0Iz4

#WorldCup2026 #BusinessBeerAndBS #NorthAmericanCulture #CustomerExperience #Hospitality #BusinessPodcast #FIFA #BusinessStrategy #MarketingStrategy #BrandStrategy #Entrepreneurship #CustomerRetention #McDonalds #HiddenValleyRanch #FIFAWorldCup #SmallBusinessTips

Support the show

Catch more episodes, see our sponsors and get in touch at https://mikeandblaine.com/

Most Recent Episodes

July 16, 2026 Mature Content

Nobody Told Me: The Brutal Truth About the Costs of Success

Send us Fan MailNobody told us that success creates a whole new set of problems. Nobody told us that owning a home means becoming a part-time plumber, electrician, and landscaper. And nobody...

Listen · 59:21

July 10, 2026 Mature Content

The Skills AI Can't Fake: Why Emotional Intelligence Beats Automation

Send us Fan MailArtificial intelligence can write emails, build presentations, create images, and even help write code—but it still can't shake a hand, earn trust, or make someone genuinely...

Listen · 1:02:46

July 3, 2026

It Looks Easy Until You Try It: Inside the Illusion of Mastery

Send us Fan MailEver watched someone do something online and thought, “That doesn't look that hard?” This week on the Mike & Blaine Podcast, we dive into the Competence Illusion—the...

Listen · 54:55

Load More Episodes

Blaine Bertsch Podcaster

Blaine is a co-host on Business, Beer & BS with Mike & Blaine. He's also Co-Founder and CEO at Dryrun, a business cash flow forecasting and modeling software company, and author of "Chronic Cash Flow". Blaine's co-host, Mike Milan, also known as "Cash Flow Mike", is a serial entrepreneur, author and finance coach for business owners and CPAs.