I have known Quinzee co-founder Faizal Karmali from the days when we were both in Scouts together making and sleeping in quinzees on frozen lakes during camping trips. Today, we are both actively pursuing our passions in the entrepreneurial space.
Not too long ago I had the opportunity to sit down and interview Faizal about his business. Here is a short clip from our conversation:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZGGBHk95D4&w=560&h=315]
A friend of mine was bemoaning the state of sports radio in Toronto when I suggested that he look at podcasts as his source of sports talk “radio”. He’s a hockey and baseball fan. I can’t help with hockey because I’m only a fan every 4 years (hello Olympics!). So here are my favourite baseball podcasts:
And there are only two worth your time. And they are both brought to you by the same folks who brought to you the best damn sports mobile app of all time: The Score.
Otherwise known as DJF, this podcast and blog provides everything a Toronto Blue Jays fan could ask for. The writers of the blog also provide everything you don’t want to hear such as why the Jays suck this year. Answer: Too many crap players. Writers Andrew Stoeten, Dustin Parkes, Drew Fairservice, and Scott Lewis provide amazing analysis that most writers and sportscasters ignore because of timelines, word count or just plain ignorance about the sport of baseball.
The DJF podcast is just as delightful. However, be careful. The content is NSFW so wear a headset if you listen to it at work or at home around kids. One thing you will notice is two things: Firstly, the crew are not shills for the team or ownership. Which means they tell it like it is. Secondly, they always provide insightful analysis no matter the colour of their language. So it’s both entertaining and educational.
My favourite part of this baseball blog is the My Approach series by Drew Fairservice. If this is all the baseball you read then you will be 1000 times smarter than anyone else you listen to in Toronto sports radio – never mind your baseball drinking buddies. Drew has interviewed a dozen or so of the top baseball stars of today asking them about their approach to the game. He sometimes interjects the interview with thoughtful analysis backed up by stats and videos. You will be hard pressed to find better baseball writing anywhere else.
The Getting Blanked podcast is the best baseball podcast around. These guys know their baseball and can talk about it just as well as they can write about it. Expect analysis of breakout players, Mike Trout, the most underrated players, Mike Trout, thoughts on stats and moneyball and even everyone’s favourite player, Mike Trout. Oh, expect to hear the boys trashing Toronto’s baseball beat writers and radio hosts for being lazy…and stuff. If you want to be a well rounded and knowledgeable baseball fan, then the podcast and the blog are a must. And the bumper music they play is outstanding too!
How Binge-Viewing Could Rock Netflix Stock.
It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Laurie’s. And not because she’s a lover (of coffee, like me!). Or a leader in her industry. I am a fan because, like most people I feature here, she shares her time. She takes time away from her family and work to share her wisdom and insights with others. She doesn’t do it because she sees something in it for herself. She does it because, for her, its the right thing to do.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7l-SfiAzh0&w=560&h=315]
So I have a secret to tell: I’ve been working on a side project with a few crazy friends this past summer. Correction: a few of my friends have been working on a project for quite some time. I’m just fortunate to have been involved recently more as a mentor and guide than anything else.
The good news is, things are getting close to completion. Which means launch date is creeping close.
What’s getting ready to launch? Well, I’ll let their PR machine take the lead on that. However, here’s the problem the team is looking to solve:
What’s wrong with this picture? It’s my son playing on the iPad. By himself. Learning…maybe. I hope.
So, keep your eye’s peeled here and on my Twitter feed. Things are about to get real.
Last week, Facebook Canada released data on how people and brands are using its platform and interacting with one another. When we think of people using Facebook we tend to think that people are connecting to their friends and family. And most brands tend to use Facebook to market/sell their wares.
However, there are those people who use Facebook for motives that are not as simple. And the same goes for brands. How people use Facebook (and social media in general) is a topic for another blog post in the not too distant future.
Personally, I “follow” brands to learn. I want to learn how they talk to their audience. I want to learn how they market to potential customers. I want to learn what they say during times of crisis as well as when things are looking great.
Two brands I follow are The YMCA and Flight Centre. And for very different reasons. Flight Centre has a strong team here in Toronto led by the very capable Gregg Tilston. YMCA does an amazing job on social media. Their content is very engaging. And, of course, they are accomplishing two very different things.
Today, their posts found themselves together, one on top of the other.
And these two message could not be any more different. YMCA highlighted the fact that many people in Ontario face: how to make ends meet. Flight Centre posted an aspirational message.
Two very different, yet effective, uses of social media.
It has been a pleasure getting to know Robleh over the past couple of years. Most recently, I have had the opportunity to sit at the feet of this humble giant to learn how he has launched 3 consecutive successful mobile products.
Who is Robleh Jama? He is the founder & CEO of Tiny Hearts which is an award-winning software studio focused on creating beautiful, playful and useful apps.
What has he built?
I had the opportunity to capture an interview with Robleh on camera. It’s a very insightful conversation. I hope you enjoy watching and listening:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnXbbTrF_o8&w=560&h=315]
You all know (or should know!) how HUGE of a Neil Young fanboy I am. Here is a piece from GigaOM on Young’s Pono music player.
BlackBerry’s board has put together a special committee to look at a potential sale of the company, joint ventures, strategic partnerships and other options.
I won’t pretend to speak for Saul but I’ve considered him a good friend and mentor since before rocks were soft. Or 2009.
I was first introduced to Saul via a blog post by another good friend, Sameer Vasta. Sameer wrote a post about job titles in 2008 which referred to Saul’s title, Head of Magic. I was intrigued. Who has the audacity to insist on a title (especially with his employer at the time: FreshBooks) like that? Saul!
When he began working at Zoocasa, I was in the same industry. So I took it upon myself to grab a drink/lunch with him whenever I could. And guess what? Saul gave me his time. He didn’t ask for anything in return except to introduce him to cute women and never c@#k block him.
For those that don’t know Saul check him out. He is a word of mouth marketing genius who transcends technology and trends to focus on results.
For his friendship, time and wisdom, Saul is my #FollowFriday for this week.
