JephMaystruck.com | A Regina Marketing Consultancy

Episode #19 – Judging a Newspaper By Its Cover With Dan Nicholls

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:47:04 +0000

Episode #19 – Judging a Newspaper By Its Cover With Dan Nicholls

I met Dan Nichols when he was working at Squareflo a long time ago, we have a lot in common and think the same about a lot of things so we’ve been great friends ever since. Dan has since moved to the fine offices of Oh! Media (a division of Phoenix Group Advertising), a website design and development company in Regina, Saskatchewan. Dan does amazing things with websites, he’ll be an asset to any company that he works with. A programmers mindset with the humor of Jack Black crossed with Ashley Schaeffer around the office (yes, quite the hilarious combination). Dan is a great friend to have.

Besides “work” Dan’s a great guy to party with. He’s been known to blow an amp or two while singing Kareokee (because of the magical sound) and frequents music shows on the regular. Also, Dan does have one of the best Twitter bio’s around, check it out.

Follow Dan on Twitter – @dannicholls

We have some wonderful conversations, here’s one we recorded.

Running time: 20:20

Meet Dan Nicholls.

What do you think of all the print publications popping up all over Regina?
The nine print publications in circulation in Regina (Leave a comment if we left one out): Metro, Verb, Prairie Dog, City Slicker, QC, The Sunday Post, Fine Life Styles, Business Regina, LeaderPost
How do you filter out the good from the bad content?
Judging a book by it’s cover, or an article by it’s headline.
Will people who can write a catchy headline or convey a lot of mean in 140 characters increase in value to companies?
Will we see a change in creative departments of adding more creatives that can think in Tweets and headlines?
Why Twitter is replacing many uses of print publications as a news source.
What is the future of the younger generation? How will older generations keep up with the speed of society?
As a side note, I do not believe ALL people over the age of 50 have no specialized knowledge other than experience in their field, please don’t take my comments to heart, of course there are exceptions to the rule.
Do we believe the misconception of the always connected, always on world is making our children dumb?
I’m pretty sure my parents told me as a kid that TV would make me dumb, are we going through the same phase? Parents think the internet will make kids dumb because they don’t understand it?

Episode #18 – A Canadian Storyteller, Roger Currie

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 07 May 2012 18:22:53 +0000

Episode #18 – A Blogger For Hire – Roger Currie

I met Roger Currie on the set of Access Communications “Talk of The Town” program. Roger had talked to Jack Shaw (President of Crown Shred & Recycling) he just so happened to tell Roger about the new style of marketing Crown Shred has adopted by using Social Media (they were a client of mine last year). Roger then invited me to talk Social Media on his show and a beautiful friendship was born.

I had a lot of fun on the show so I begged them to have me on again. Since then I’ve done several more shows and even shot a pilot to a show I can’t tell you about. HA!

Roger could keep a conversation on with a def blind mute if he had to. Seriously though, this guy has skills, you’ll hear. I’ve learned a lot from Mr. Currie in the short time I’ve known him. I do believe he is one of Canada’s legendary story tellers.

Click here to visit Roger Currie’s Website.

Follow Roger on Twitter here.

Running time: 14:10

In this episode:

Where is Roger Currie from?
What is the Roger Currie story?
How he just started a blog
The original Social Media, a story about Rotary
Who the most awe inspiring interview Roger ever did
Who was the biggest jerk to interview

I think Roger’s awesome, he’ll go down in history as the guy who gave me my start television. All the best in Winnipeg Roger.

Guest Podcast – RadioLab: Choice

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 01:30:52 +0000

WNYC’s RadioLab Podcast – Choice

Every month I want to share a podcast on here that I learned a lot from, this week is probably the best produced podcast out there. You’re going to love RadioLab.

The first podcast I ever listened to was RadioLab. It’s the podcast that actually made me enjoy listening to podcasts.

This episode is about choice. The hosts, Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich talk to many different guests on the theme, “choice”. Every week they pick a different topic and discuss it was the top minds in the chosen field.

In this episode they talk to Malcolm Gladwell(author of Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers), Jonah Lehrer(author of How We Decide), Dr. Oliver Sacks(professor of neurology and psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center), Barry Schwartz(author of The Paradox of Choice), and Baba Shiv(Marketing Professor at Standford University). Not your regular talk radio program lineup. You learn the most amazing things listening to podcasts like these.

I hope you enjoy RadioLab as much as I do.

Running time: 58:51

It’s a bit long but you’ll love their style of story telling.

Episode 17 – The Living Sky Media Conglomerate

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:21:01 +0000

Episode 17 – The Living Sky Media Conglomerate

I’ve known Riley for a while now and have been working with him for at least three years. Riley has always struck me as a different kind of character. Wait, how do I put it….. Riley’s weird. He’s an extraordinary individual, I’ve always said he’s a brilliant artist. You won’t know exactly what I mean until you do a video with him and begin to understand why he so passionate about telling a story with film.

Riley’s been running his company, Living Sky Media since he finished University several years ago. He’s filmed at the Olympics in 2010, did a tour of Saskatchewan with Scott Schultz last summer and last fall put together a very moving documentary on the housing problem in Regina.

I look up to Riley as an entrepreneur and an artist. A very unique combination in the business community, and a reason that I believe Riley stands out. He’s not like other companies and he’s an all around fun guy. You can learn a lot from this young James Cameron.

The Living Sky Media Website

@LivingSkyMedia on Twitter

@AdamBurwell on Twitter

Running Time: 24:35

In this episode:

How did Living Sky Media start?
He has a film degree from the University of Regina
Why he wanted to do his own thing
Living Sky Media began in 2009
Where the idea of Living Sky Media came from
He was slow to get into HD
What is Living Sky Media doing these days?
Riley partnered with Adam Burwell
They just acquired a “Red cam”
What Living Sky Media actually does
What they’re working on currently
“Bridging The Gap” documentary
A couple of the fun projects he’s worked on. Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and touring Saskatchewan with Scott Schultz
I ask him about the Saskatchewan Government taking away the film tax credit
What advice he’d give to someone starting out in the industry
What will come after HD

Episode #16 – How Do You Teach “Business” in High School? Feat. Jordan McFarlen

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 03:34:19 +0000

Episode 16 – How do you Teach “Business” in High School Featuring Jordan McFarlen

I met Jordan McFarlen in High School, we won a city championship on the same volleyball team. We still play volleyball together on, arguably the best beach volleyball team in the city, the Volley Lama’s.

Jordan has always been very smart and just a really a fun guy to be around. Now all grown up, he’s one of the most progressive teachers in the Regina Public School system. He’s a great guy and an inspiring teacher, I think he’s going to do something amazing in this world.

You’ll enjoy what he has to say.

Jordan McFarlen (@mcfarljo) on Twitter

Mr. McFarlen (@mrmcfarlen) on Twitter

Jordan McFarlen’s “Blogfolio”

Running time: 20:03

In this episode:

What does Jordan McFarlen do
Where he went to school
Where he teaches now (Campbell)
What he’s “done” to his classroom, he tries to create a “creative and innovative” work space.
We talk about a couple businesses that his students have started.
Jordan has a different teaching style, he talks about how he looks at teaching and trying provide the best education he can.
What are some of the bright spots so far? In year two they increased the enrollment in their class by 100 students (Business classes are electives, students don’t have to take Jordan’s class).
Why his goal is to be the best Business class in Canada….eventually. First things first he’s striving to be the best business school in Saskatchewan. (They already won school of the year this past year).
What does the future of education hold in regards to the the adoption of technology and the internet?
How should teachers adapt to the use of online tools to help students learn better?
What “push-back” do you get from parents and others on what your students are publishing online?
Focusing on helping students create a positive “online footprint”.
What do you as Social Media’s role in education in the next five years?
A couple professors that made a difference in Jordan’s mind, Alec Couros (@courosa) and Dean Shareski (@shareski)
What’s the most valuable social tool you use?
What’s the coolest thing you’ve seen in your business classes?

Episode #15 – Everything You Wanted to Know About Why HR Sucks – Featuring Jillian Walker

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:05:17 +0000

Episode #15 – Everything You Wanted to Know About Why HR Sucks Featuring Jillian Walker

One day last year I began following this HR professional from (Calgary at the time) now Vancouver. She sounded smart, shared a lot of great content, and actually talked to other people! She had me at retweet, I was sold.

I end up in Vancouver just before the Grey Cup last year and thought I’d throw a Tweet out there to see if this mystically smart, yelling in her avatar, Vancouvian influencer, would go for supper with me. She did have to verify I wasn’t just a Tweetin’ creep through a mutual friend, Kendal Harazny, his referenced checked out though. (thanks Kendal)

I’m fascinated with Ms. Walker, she has already done so much, and she’s very smart to talk to. A strong work ethic and a wonderful personality make for a very accomplished Human Resource (HR) professional who’ll end up changing our world for the better.

Visit Jillian Walker’s website here

Running time: 46:29

In this episode:

Where Jillian came from and where she resides now.
How we first met (she wore “pleather” pants).
Where she first worked in a corporation and how it taught her a very important lesson.
How she became the “Gen Y HR girl”.
How she won a much more valuable prize than money in a video contest (the prize was 5 one hour meetings with 5 CEO’s of National and International companies).
A shout out to KPMG for the kind words from the CEO.
Why doing informational interviews is a good idea and why more people should take the initiative. Especially if you want to understand a company more thorough.
The story about why sometimes you just need to haul ass.
Why she doesn’t want to grow her business, seriously, she doesn’t.
What business owners, CEO’s and executives need to know about HR.
What the future of HR and it’s practices will look like.
Why the future of HR should not be left in the hands of HR minded people but instead, business minded people.
It’s time for a major change in the Human Resource industry.
If you are a candidate for a job you can assume some one Google’d you and looked up your Facebook profile.
Google and Social Media platforms are more of an opportunity than a liability if you’re a candidate for a job.
Why guys should be aware of the length of their pants when dressing up. A warning from Jillian.
What Jillian does in her spare time (if she actually does have spare time)
Where she writes online
Her Social Media Policy where you can learn where to connect to her. Follow her on Twitter here.
A lesson from the show The Real Housewives of Vancouver.
She gives some very smart advice at the end; “Just be yourself”. “You are the sum of the five people you hang around with the most”.
“If one person learns, you’ve done your job.”

Listen to the previous episodes…

Episode 14 – A Website Overnight With NorthWorks.ca

A Freakonomics Radio Podcast

Episode 12 – The Coda Clothing Story Starring Colter Wood

Episode #11 – Regina’s Great Bambino-Kip Simon From 22Fresh

Episode #10 – Why Earls Is The Best, an Interview With Jim Demeray

Episode #9 – Who Tweets For The @ReginaPolice?

Episode #8 – An Interview With a Professional Wordsmith, Linden Wilcock

Episode #7 – Poking on Facebook & How Squareflo Looks at Your Website Feat. Derek Wu – Part 2 of 2

Episode #6 – Who’s Derek Wu? – Part 1 of 2

Episode #5 – What Does The Vintage Tea Room & The Imax Have In Common?

Episode #4 – Ryan Holota On Why Your Marketing Strategy Needs To Be Risky

Episode #3 – Nothing’s Impossible, For The Regina Symphony Orchestra

Episode #2 – Why would a car dealership use social media?

Episode #1 – Your Corporate Twitter Account is Boring

Episode #14 – A Website Overnight With NorthWorks

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:36:49 +0000

Episode 14 – A Website Overnight With NorthWorks.ca

Live from Smitty’s in the Golden Mile, I talk to Brandon Wu about his company and how he got his start.

I’ve known Brandon for at least Seven years now, though we didn’t start our friendship off on a positive note. I remember in fourth year university I was talking to people about going to the next Business Students Society event and Brandon didn’t like it. We had somewhat of a heated debate, I called his brother up immediately and proclaim to Derek that his brother was a “bitch”. It wasn’t long after a few conversations with Brandon and Derek, and several BSS events later, I think he changed his mind and Derek and I both agreed that brandon wasn’t actually a bitch.

Brandon has always been a thinker. Always learning a new skill set or developing his next entrepreneurial idea, I think he’s really found a niche in building amazingly affordable websites.

Running time: 21:32

In this episode:

How he got started in website development (The beginning of NorthWorks)
The first website he was a part of; ThePoutine.com
How he builds websites
Why he uses WordPress
Why the websites Brandon creates are cost effective and a smart choice for small business owners
What does the future of website development hold?
What will websites look like in the future?
What Google likes in a website
Why NorthWork’s website’s are incredibly user friendly to update
How his remarkably fast turn-around on completing your website will be a competitive advantage over time
Why he doesn’t want to do large, high maintenance websites

Brandon’s company NorthWorks Web Design and Development

Follow Brandon on Twitter @Brandon_Wu

A Freakonomics Radio Podcast

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:03:16 +0000

How Is a Bad Radio Station Like Our Public-School System? (A Freakonomics Podcast Encore)

The Freakonomics Radio Podcast is one of my favorites by far (subscribe here on iTunes). The show’s about Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner exploring the “hidden side of everything”. Along the same lines of their two wildly popular books, Freakonomics and Superfreakonomics (I highly recommend reading both).

They always approach problems from a different angle, trying to change the way we look at the world. It’ll make you think differently. Smarter.

I put this podcast on here because I love the idea of “School of One”, the program talked about in the podcast. It’ll change our education system for the better. If the public school doesn’t adopt it soon enough we’re going to see more private schools established in the larger centres. I would rather help the public school system adopt smarter teaching methods, and raise the quality of our education across the board. However, like all major issue in our world, if you don’t drastically change an input for the better, you can’t expect an improvement in output for the better. To improve the education system, there needs to be an innovative solution, and School of One may be just that innovation.

The concept of School of One is remarkable, hence I want you to know about it and see what you think of it. If you’re at all interested in the future of the education system you’ll love this podcast.

Running time 30:53

See the Freakonomics post “How is a bad radio station like our public-school system?” podcast here.

Episode 12 – The Coda Clothing Story Starring Colter Wood

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 08:21:08 +0000

Episode 12 – The Coda Clothing Story Starring Colter Wood

This weeks episode is an interview with the man behind Coda Clothing & Shoes, Colter Wood. Coda is no stranger to my blog. I’ve written about Cause Marketing and how Coda brands itself in the community. I am also currently working with Coda on their online marketing.

Colter is a fascinating business man and a friend that sticks out in my mind. He’s opinionated and very smart on many topics. It’s very refreshing He’ll disagree with you to your face without making you feel bad about it. He thinks about business differently. He’s made some astute business decisions early on in his career that I don’t think most people would have in the same situation. He has a unique mind, doesn’t agree with the status quo, and has delivered on the vision of what he set out to create. It’s an inspiring story.

Running time:

In this episode: 24:38

“Cody, from Colter Clothing & Shoes” – J Brand if you get this, its “Coda Clothing & Shoes”
Where did the idea start?
How did you start Coda?
A great story on how they ended up in the building they’re in
How did you come up with the name Coda?
How did you market Coda in the beginning?
Some of the key people that helped to spread the word in the beginning
Seeking out the influencers and helping them to talk about you
Facebook helped a lot in the beginning, Coda now has over 5,000 people ‘Liking’ it’s page
Coda’s Sponsored Fashion shows
What Coda’s focusing on right now, just visit Sask Fashion Week’s Website
Follow Sask Fashion Week on Twitter (@SKFashionWeek)
Chelsea hates when Colter says “in saying that” #Fact
Coda also sponsors @PSFresh(DJ Drewski and Ageless), The Sound Society, and DJ Kid Shine
What’s the hardest part of starting a business?
Who’s helped you a lot along the way?
One of the best books to read on Entrepreneurship, The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber
Chelsea Oconnell is a major reason why Coda has been so successful. Colter says some awfully nice things about her, I’ve met her. She’s that good.
Follow Chelsea on Twitter (@GirlWasteLand)
How do you compete with the people buying on the Internet?
What advice would you give to someone starting a business?
“You have to make sure you’re working on your business, not just in your business.”
“In any business, it’s always about the people.”
Visit the Coda Clothing & Shoes website here
Visit the Coda Clothing & Shoes online store here
Follow Colter Wood on Twitter
Follow Coda Clothing on Twitter
See the Coda Clothing Facebook Page

Episode #11 – Regina’s Great Bambino-Kip Simon From 22Fresh

Jeph Maystruck — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:51:27 +0000

Episode 11 – Regina’s Great Bambino-Kip Simon of 22Fresh

I went to Kip’s high school, we were on the K-team together. He was a leader back then and has grown exponentially since. I’ve always looked up to Kip, he has a brilliant marketing mind, a great personality, and he’s really fun, humble guy to be around. He runs 22Fresh and is a partner in Captive Audience. He’s a busy guy.

Kip was probably the first person from Saskatchewan to have Facebook, and he was on Twitter before I was. 11,538 likes on Facebook (as of March 11, 2012) and 5,070 follower on Twitter. I know what you’re thinking, holy $%&@!

I continue to use what Kip has done with 22Fresh as examples in presentations as a case study. Having a ‘cool’ brand in general is extremely difficult to achieve, let alone having a ‘cool’ company on Facebook. But 22Fresh never ceases to amaze us, from a racy video of how their bats are made to a shirt that says “Moon Fruit” on it.

22Fresh is the coolest brand in Canada and you’re going to see it grow in popularity for a long time. Listen to the Podcast to find out why.

Running time: 31:52

In this episode:

Where and how did 22Fresh start?
Who else is involved with 22Fresh?
Where were the first 22Fresh pants made? (the answer will surprise you)
What were the difficult aspects in the beginning?
What is 22Fresh? “22Fresh is clothing that unapologetically wedges itself between sports and lifestyle.“
Where do you get your ideas for shirts from?
What the process to ensure you’re “on brand”?

Who are the most famous people who’ve been caught in 22Fresh? (Michael Morse, Brice Harper, Darian Durant, Cabbie Richards)
Every order on 22Fresh.com still comes through Kip’s phone. He see’s every purchase that’s made.
How many different countries how you sold to?
What do you do when sales are down?
How have you changed your usage of Facebook over time?
How do you treat Twitter differently over time?
Facebook contesting and how people won ‘wood’.
How do you balance running 22Fresh and being a partner on Captive Audience
How much I paid to get Kip on the Podcast
What advice would you give a young, budding entrepreneur?
Who sticks out it your mind as a mentor or a leader you look up to?
Will you ever create a “The Heckler” 22Fresh shirt?
How many home runs did you hit last season in senior mens baseball?
What the new 22Fresh app has to offer

22Fresh Website: www.22fresh.com

22Fresh on Twitter: http://twitter.com/22Fresh

22Fresh on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/22Fresh/