Retail apocalypse be damned, retailers aren't going away anytime soon.

Over the last few months, Matthew Shay, the president and CEO of the National Retail Federation has pushed back hard on the notion that the industry is dying. In fact, during his seven years at the helm, he's worked to improve the image of the organization as well as the industry as a whole, focusing on driving the kind of innovation that will define the future of merchandising and shopping.

While he acknowledges not all brands will survive the challenges of the current rocky climate, there's a lot to be excited about, and the fundamentals of retail haven't changed, he told Retail Dive in an exclusive interview. "People still consume. There are still going to be brands. There is still going to be shopping that goes on, so it's not going to go away as if we're all going to stop consuming tomorrow," he said. "The notion that the retail industry is going to go away I think is just, you know, patently false. And anyone that suggests that is just misguided or misinformed."

We recently sat down with Shay to talk about the evolution of his organization and the industry when it comes to public policy, technology and changing consumer habits.

You can read up on our profile of the organization here, or tune in to the latest episode of Conversational Commerce to hear our full conversation. 

So, sit back, relax and listen. You can stream the episode below or subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher.