Technology

Monster Energy’s UNLEASHED Podcast Welcomes FMX Innovators Axell Hodges and Jackson Strong on Special Live Episode from X Games Ventura 2024

Published

2 years ago

July 22, 2024

Monster Energy is proud to welcome 27-year-old Axell Hodges from Encinitas, California, alongside 32-year-old Jackson Strong from Lockhart, Australia, on Episode 409 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney.

VENTURA, Calif., July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Episode 409 of Sports and Pop Culture Podcast Recorded Live at Summer X Games in Southern California

“With a front flip, everything is kind of working against you. Like pushing uphill. I’ve been doing it for a long time, but it doesn’t seem to get much easier for me. It’s still super scary and super hard.” – Jackson Strong

Enjoy a personal conversation with two FMX heroes! Monster Energy is proud to welcome 27-year-old Axell Hodges from Encinitas, California, alongside 32-year-old Jackson Strong from Lockhart, Australia, on Episode 409 of the sports and pop culture podcast UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney.

Recorded live on the set of the world’s largest action sports competition, X Games Ventura 2024, the episode features in-depth commentary from the two multiple gold medalists.

The podcast episode was originally recorded live on Saturday, June 29, at a mobile studio at X Games Ventura 2024 and streamed on the Twitch platform. Today, the one-hour episode featuring the two Moto X icons is available to global audiences.

For the full conversation with Hodges and Strong, make sure to catch Episode 409 of UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Fueled by Monster Energy. Released today, the new podcast is streaming on all major platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, and YouTube.

UNLEASHED broadcasts live from X Games Ventura 2024 with two of the most prolific Moto X athletes on the circuit. Hailing from Australia, Jackson Strong owns the record for most X Games gold medals in a single Moto X discipline. His trick innovations, such as the world’s first dirt bike front flip, are the stuff of legend, and he expanded his historic legacy by winning a gold medal in Moto X Best Trick at X Games Ventura 2024. Joining him on the show, California’s Axell Hodges commands the largest social following in the Moto X freestyle world with his trilogy of ‘Slayground’ videos clocking over 14 million views. He returned to X Games after a severely broken femur and shared his resilient mindset on the eve of his return to competition with the podcast hosts – only on UNLEASHED!

Hear the full story in conversation with the three podcast hosts, Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath, professional snowboarder Danny Kass, and artist and model Brittney Palmer. Follow the link to tune in right here.

Raised with a passion for Moto X, Strong grew up in Australia racing dirt bikes from the early age of 5. He matured rapidly: At age 13, he joined the legendary Crusty Demons and emerged as a defining figure in FMX. With trick inventions such as the world’s first dirt-to-dirt front flip and double backflip, Strong has expanded the boundaries of what’s possible on a dirt bike. “With a front flip, everything is kind of working against you. Like pushing uphill. I’ve been doing it for a long time, but it doesn’t seem to get much easier for me. It’s still super scary and super hard,” said Strong. “You would think I’d have it worked out by now, but it’s still the hardest air out there.”

Dropping into X Games Ventura, Strong was ready to put it all on the line to beat a world record: As the most successful competitor in the Moto X Best Trick competition, Strong owned seven gold medals and was tied with Travis Pastrana and Ronnie Renner for most gold medals in one discipline. Asked about heading into Ventura 2024, Strong said on UNLEASHED: “I had good practice and feeling pretty good. But the thing in Best Trick is you can feel good in practice, but once it’s crunch time, it all comes down to that. It’s all in the last final seconds of the night to see if the whole work of an entire year will come crumbling down or if it works.” It worked for Strong this year, who clinched his eighth gold medal in Best Trick.

Definitely not a stranger to crunch time, Monster Energy’s Hodges requires no introduction. The California native single-handedly built the largest social media following in the sport with his series of three “Slayground’ videos showcasing his unique trick innovations on even more unique terrain. “My older brothers rode dirt bikes, and I wanted to be like them,” said Hodges. “I’ve always ridden my dirt bike in my backyard and never had a set plan. I just kept riding and… I like big jumps. Then social media came around and I just got lucky. I ride my dirt bike and film stuff, and it ended up working pretty good.”

In the competitive arena, Hodges is a top medal earner with a record of 12 X Games Medals (four gold, six silver, and two bronze). In 2022, he clinched one gold and two silver in a single X Games. But in 2023, his campaign was sidelined by a complicated leg injury that required surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation. Nevertheless, Hodges returned fully focused on competing at X Games Ventura. “It’s feeling good. I’m just stoked to be back on my dirt bike, riding. Just working on my leg and getting stronger every day!” said Hodges. “I feel good on the quarter pipe and have been trying some new things!”

After X Games Ventura 2024, Strong and Hodges now own a combined 28 medals – including 12 gold medals – that’s a heavy count.

How did the two guests end up scoring at X Games? Spoiler alert: Strong added another Moto X Best Trick gold to his line-up and now owns eight gold medals in the discipline, the single most gold of any Moto X athlete at X Games. Heavy! Asked what kind of trick it would take for the win in Ventura, Strong said: “At the end of the day, it’s a judged sport, and I wouldn’t want to be in the judges’ position tonight.”

Ready to get the full lowdown at X Games Ventura 2024 with these Moto X icons? Listen to the full conversation by visiting the landing page for Episode 409 of UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney featuring Axell Hodges and Jackson Strong.

Regular episodes of UNLEASHED are filmed on a special set inside Studio M at Monster Energy headquarters in Corona, California. The podcast is hosted by the dynamic duo of Australian action sports personality Luke “The Dingo” Trembath and professional snowboarder Danny Kass. Known for their deep roots in action sports culture, the two starred in the beloved cult TV show ‘The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo’ on Fuel TV for five action-packed seasons in the early 2010s. Both hosts have walked the walk as pro snowboarders and are joined by artist and model Brittney Palmer. Together, the three hosts possess the interview skills to find common ground with guests from any type of background – sports and pop culture. Always look out for new episodes dropping bi-weekly on Mondays.

Download photos for editorial use.

The UNLEASHED with The Dingo, Danny, and Brittney Podcast is here to celebrate the personalities behind the Monster Energy lifestyle. With each episode dedicated to a unique guest or topic, listeners learn about living on the edge and advancing the state of the art in the world of high-energy sports as well as music, games, and pop culture from individuals at the top of their game. More than a drink, Monster Energy is a way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans – and the podcast is an extension of this unique DNA.

For more on Monster Energy and the UNLEASHED Podcast, visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Also, fFollow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. [ollow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok __title__ ] for exclusive content and athlete features.

About Monster Energy
Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes, and musicians represent. More than a drink, it’s the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers, and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com.

Media Contact

Kimberly Paige Dresser, Indie Agency, Inc., (949) 300-5546, kim.dresser@indiepragency.com, https://www.indiepragency.com

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SOURCE Monster Energy

Technology

Walmart Has 23.6% of U.S. Grocery Sales – But Costco Owns the AI Answer – 5W Grocery Retail AI Visibility Index 2026

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2026

Walmart Owns 21% of U.S. Grocery — But Costco Owns the AI Answer

NEW YORK, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 5WPR, the premier AI communications firm in the United States, today released the U.S. Grocery Retail AI Visibility Index 2026 — the 11th installment in 5W’s AI Visibility Index research series, and the first to rank American grocery retailers by how frequently they are cited inside AI-generated answers.

The headline finding rewrites the category league table.

Walmart, with approximately 21 percent of U.S. grocery market share — the largest in the country — ranks fourth in AI citation share. The retailer cited most often when American shoppers ask ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, or Google AI Overviews where to buy their groceries is Costco. Trader Joe’s ranks second. Whole Foods ranks third. Aldi, H-E-B, and Wegmans are all punching far above what their physical footprint would predict.

“Market share is a lagging indicator. AI citation share is a leading indicator,” said Ronn Torossian, Founder and Chairman of 5W. “The grocers who close that gap in 2026 will define the category in 2030. Most grocery CMOs we talk to are running 2019 playbooks against 2026 consumer behavior.”

5W researchers ran more than 80 consumer-intent queries across 12 sub-categories — best overall grocery store, cheapest, highest-quality produce, best private label, best organic, best meal planning, best bulk, best delivery, best customer service, best regional, and others — across the four leading consumer AI platforms. Each retailer was scored on citation frequency, position within the answer, sentiment, and sub-category dominance.

The top 10: Costco, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods, Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, H-E-B, Publix, Wegmans, and Target.

Key structural findings:

Market share no longer predicts AI citation share. Walmart’s roughly 21 percent share translates to an estimated 8 to 10 percent AI citation share across premium query categories. The decoupling is the single largest such gap in American retail.Private label is the highest-leverage citation asset a grocer owns. Kirkland, Trader Joe’s, 365, Good & Gather, and Great Value are cited directly by name in AI answers at rates that exceed most national CPG brands.Regional loyalty translates directly into regional AI dominance. Regional chains outperform national chains in their home markets by 3x or more.Reddit and TikTok are under-priced citation surfaces. Perplexity pulls a majority of its answers from community sources. ChatGPT and Claude weight Reddit heavily.

The report also identifies six 2026 dynamics reshaping the category, including the new GLP-1 grocery basket, Aldi’s expansion as a citation-compounding program, and Walmart’s CEO transition from Doug McMillon to John Furner — effective February 1, 2026 — as a brand-narrative inflection point.

The full Index, including ranks 11 through 25 and sub-category breakdowns, is available as a free download at 5wpr.com/research.

About 5W

5W is the AI Communications Firm, building brand authority across the platforms where decisions now happen — ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, Gemini, and Google AI Overviews — alongside earned media, digital, and influencer channels. 5W combines public relations, digital marketing, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and proprietary AI visibility research, helping clients measure and grow their presence in AI-driven buyer research.

Founded more than 20 years ago, 5W has been recognized as a top U.S. PR agency by O’Dwyer’s, named Agency of the Year in the American Business Awards®, and honored as a Top Place to Work in Communications in 2026 by Ragan. 5W serves clients across B2C sectors including Beauty & Fashion, Consumer Brands, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Health & Wellness, Travel & Hospitality, Technology, and Nonprofit; B2B specialties including Corporate Communications and Reputation Management; as well as Public Affairs, Crisis Communications, and Digital Marketing, including Social Media, Influencer, Paid Media, GEO, and SEO. 5W was also named to the Digiday WorkLife Employer of the Year list.

For more information, visit www.5wpr.com.

Media Contact
Chris Bergin
cbergin@5wpr.com

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SOURCE 5W Public Relations

Technology

ICAT Logistics Appoints Youssef Annali as Chief Financial Officer

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2026

Transportation and logistics finance leader joins as ICAT accelerates its next phase of growth

DALLAS, May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ICAT Logistics announces the appointment of Youssef Annali as Chief Financial Officer. Annali brings more than two decades of senior finance leadership across global logistics and supply chain businesses, and joins as the company scales its platform, team, and operational capabilities globally.

Annali joins ICAT from OIA Global, a $1.4 billion revenue supply chain management leader, where he served as CFO for four years overseeing Finance, Corporate Development, Strategy, Legal, Compliance, and Real Estate. Prior to OIA, he spent eleven years at CEVA Logistics—one of the world’s largest freight and logistics providers—rising to CFO & EVP Finance for North America, where he held financial accountability for a business generating over $4.5 billion in annual revenue and more than 14,000 employees. Earlier in his career, he served in senior finance roles at Abbott, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Annali has a consistent track record of building finance functions that support strategic growth and has deep experience across financial planning, M&A, treasury, and corporate restructuring. He holds a Post-Master’s in Finance and Control from the University of Amsterdam and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Groningen.

“Youssef has led high-performing finance teams at the highest levels of global logistics. He brings the operational depth and strategic mindset our platform demands as we enter the next phase of growth,” said Brad Stogner, CEO of ICAT Logistics.

“ICAT has built something genuinely differentiated—a specialized platform operating in verticals where precision and domain expertise are non-negotiable. The foundation is strong, and the opportunity ahead is significant. I look forward to working with the team to accelerate that momentum,” said Youssef Annali, Chief Financial Officer of ICAT Logistics.

About ICAT

ICAT is the world’s leading specialized logistics company, delivering customized solutions and deep vertical expertise to industries where failure is not an option. With 65 offices and operating capabilities in 190 countries, ICAT serves customers across Live Events, Luxury, Technology, Defense & Aerospace, Life Sciences, and Financial Institutions—sectors defined by uncompromising performance standards. ICAT’s proprietary, AI-powered technology platform provides end-to-end visibility and predictive intelligence, enabling precise execution for the most demanding operations.

ICAT is backed by New Atlas Capital following its acquisition of the Company in 2024.

Contact Information

ICAT Logistics, Inc.
8840 Cypress Waters Blvd, Ste 325,
Coppell, TX, 75019
marketing@icatlogistics.com

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Technology

HelloNation Article Highlights Poughkeepsie’s Focus on Youth Investment, Neighborhood Parks and Sustainable Reuse

Published

1 hour ago

May 7, 2026

The article examines how redevelopment projects and youth programs are reshaping community life across Poughkeepsie.

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y., May 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — What does long term community growth look like when a city invests in both people and public spaces? HelloNation has published a HelloNation article that provides the answer through a detailed look at how Poughkeepsie is combining youth investment, neighborhood improvements and adaptive reuse projects to support residents and strengthen the city’s future.

The article explains that Poughkeepsie is undergoing a period of reinvention centered on infrastructure upgrades, youth programming and redevelopment along the city’s Northside. According to the article, local and county leaders are working to create spaces where residents can learn, gather and build stronger community connections. The article notes that these efforts are intended to improve quality of life while helping the city grow in a more sustainable and inclusive way.

A major focus of the article is the planned Youth Opportunity Union, also known as the YOU, a large multipurpose youth facility backed by Dutchess County. The HelloNation article describes the project as a 19,000 square foot center that will include childcare services, wellness support, tutoring areas, teaching kitchens and both indoor and outdoor recreation spaces. The article explains that the project reflects a larger regional effort to increase opportunities for children and teenagers in underserved communities.

The article also highlights additional youth centered investments connected to sports, education and recreation. According to the article, Dutchess County has awarded grants to local organizations serving young people between the ages of 6 and 17. The article further explains that Poughkeepsie’s City Parks program has introduced mini grants designed to support renovations and activities in neighborhood parks, including Pershing Avenue and Malcolm X parks.

Beyond youth programs, the article details how the city is working to improve transportation and neighborhood infrastructure. The HelloNation article explains that Poughkeepsie launched its first five year paving plan in 2025, beginning with major roadway improvements on Main Street and other corridors. The article states that these upgrades are intended to improve safety, durability and daily conditions for residents while supporting broader redevelopment goals throughout the city.

Another important part of the article focuses on adaptive reuse and environmental redevelopment on the Northside. The article describes how Scenic Hudson plans to transform the former Standard Gage Factory into the Northside Hub, a redevelopment project designed to serve as both a nonprofit headquarters and a community gathering space. According to the article, the project will feature solar powered operations, office space, public parkland and community facilities near the Walkway Over the Hudson and Dutchess Rail Trail.

The article also explains that Poughkeepsie’s selection as the Mid Hudson winner in New York’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative adds additional momentum to current redevelopment efforts. The HelloNation article notes that the funding will support new downtown projects that build on existing investments in youth programs, infrastructure and adaptive reuse. Together, these efforts are presented as part of a broader strategy to create long term stability and opportunity for local residents.

The article concludes that Poughkeepsie’s emerging identity is closely tied to projects that strengthen neighborhoods while supporting future generations. Poughkeepsie Puts Youth, Neighborhood Parks and Sustainable Reuse at the Center of Renewal features insights from HelloNation Staff Writer, community development coverage of Poughkeepsie, New York, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused digital publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers expert-driven, good-news content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities. HelloNation maintains partnerships with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the United States First Responders Association.

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SOURCE HelloNation