The Peggy Smedley Show on YouTube
Peggy Smedley sits down on location with Dr. Thorston Wuest, Director of the USE Center for Industry Solutions and Professor of Industrial Engineering at the University of South Carolina, for a wide-ranging conversation on what the future of work really looks like — not in theory, but in practice.
From building USC's brand-new industrial engineering program from the ground up, to partnering with Scout Motors, Mercedes, and BMW, Thornton shares how he's preparing the next generation of engineers to solve real-world manufacturing challenges from day one.
In this episode:
Why USC launched an industrial engineering program now — and how it's already growing 40%+ per year
The Center for Industry Solutions: bridging students with industry through hands-on consulting teams
Why AI in manufacturing is harder than it looks (hint: bad data is the real problem)
How to reduce employee onboarding time and retention challenges through university-industry partnerships
The student story that changed how Thorston thinks about teaching
What South Carolina's manufacturing boom means for the future of U.S. industry
Whether you're a student, engineer, educator, or industry leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about innovation, workforce development, and the real future of smart manufacturing.
April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month — but Peggy Smedley says this should be a 365-day conversation. In this episode, Peggy dives into the alarming statistics: 3,208 lives lost and over 315,000 injuries in 2024 alone. She breaks down why distracted driving persists despite advances in technology, what states like Delaware, Kentucky, and Florida are doing to fight back, and why real change requires more than laws and gadgets — it requires a shift in human behavior.
🚗 Topics covered:
The latest distracted driving fatality & injury numbers
How AI, driver monitoring systems, and connected vehicle technology are helping
State-by-state awareness campaigns and enforcement efforts
Why technology alone isn't enough — and what personal responsibility looks like
A simple 10-second habit that could save your life
In this episode of The Peggy Smedley Show, host Peggy Smedley sits down with Dave Mulcher, CEO of Twisthink, for the first installment of a three-part monthly series diving deep into the challenges and opportunities facing original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) today.
As customer expectations skyrocket — driven by the "iPhone effect" and Amazon Prime culture — OEMs are under pressure to rethink their entire approach to product development, technology ownership, and partnerships. Dave unpacks how OEMs can navigate the critical balance between building internally, leveraging partners, and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving AI and IoT landscape.
In this episode, you'll learn:
How shifting consumer expectations are reshaping the B2B OEM space
Why the build vs. buy vs. partner decision is now a strategic imperative
How AI and IoT data can unlock new value — but only with the right foundation
The dangers of over-outsourcing and how to bring key capabilities back in-house
Practical first steps OEMs can take to elevate capabilities without massive investment
Why "contextual data" is the hidden competitive advantage most OEMs already have
🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss parts 2 and 3 of this series!
How Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie brand grew sales 40% with CTV ads
The DTC beauty category is crowded. To break through, Jennifer Aniston’s brand LolaVie, worked with Roku Ads Manager to easily set up, test, and optimize CTV ad creatives. The campaign helped drive a big lift in sales and customer growth, helping LolaVie break through in the crowded beauty category.
Want to be a guest on The Peggy Smedley Show? Check out the exciting topics planned for the coming months and send your show ideas to [email protected]