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Going Deep with Aaron Watson

Aaron Watson is the CEO of Piper Creative. On this show, you'll hear thoughtful, focused conversations with entrepreneurs, executives, and innovators. Guests include Nathan Chan, Kevin Kelly, Bill Peduto, Morgan Housel, Noah Kagan, Tucker Max, and Barry Ritholtz. This is the biggest business podcast in Pittsburgh.
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Now displaying: 2019
Dec 30, 2019

2019 was a year of growth and learning. Thank you for being a part of it.

We're planning for even more in 2020.

 

📈

📈 

Dec 23, 2019

David Levine founded NuGo Nutrition Bars in 2000 after raising a small sum of capital from friends and family.

 

NuGo Nutrition uses real dark chocolate to make their protein bars and have been committed to making healthy, high-caliber bars from their inception.

 

The company has developed a variety of SKUs developed for Kosher, gluten-free, organic, vegan, and low sugar diets.

 

David and Aaron discuss the founding of the company, how NuGo has scaled its distribution, and the fake chocolate used by other companies.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

David Levine’s Challenges; 

  1. Learn the difference between real and fake dark chocolate. 
  2. When you’re with your family, put the phone away so you can reflect on your day together.

 

Connect with David Levine

Linkedin

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 407 with JD Ewing where we discuss wholesaling, trends in office furniture, and creating a company book club.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Dec 16, 2019

Brian Gaudio is the CEO of Module, a design & technology startup based in Pittsburgh. 

 

Module is developing a pay-as-you-go housing solution that enables homebuilders to provide an affordable and flexible entry point for homeownership. One of their distinctive features is a design that allows a buyer to turn a one-bedroom starter unit into a 3 bedroom house.

 

Brian has previously directed a documentary about the housing crisis in South America, worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and worked in the Blue Sky Department at Walt Disney Imagineering.

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Brian and Aaron discuss how home construction and financing are interwoven, why pre-fabricated houses are the future, and the capital-intensive nature of the business.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Brian Gaudio’s Challenge; Take one day during the holidays away from any work-related digital devices.

 

Connect with Brian Gaudio

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out all our past episodes with Pittsburgh’s business leaders and innovators.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Dec 9, 2019

J.D. Ewing is the President of COE Distributing, the largest furniture-only wholesale office furniture distributor in the United States. 

 

We traveled out to Uniontown, PA to record this interview at the company’s headquarters, which includes a 300,000 square foot warehouse.

 

The company also operated hubs in North Carolina and Texas, which allows it to serve the entire continental United States.

 

Over the last decade, COE has been growing rapidly. He bought the family business back after an acquirer ran into bankruptcy in 2008/09. Now, they are named an Inc. 5000 company and a Top 100 Fastest Growing Business by the Pittsburgh Business Times year-after-year.

 

In this episode, Aaron and J.D. discuss the start of the wholesaling business, when J.D. has been an opportunistic buyer, and trends in office furniture.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Optimize your life around work you enjoy.

 

Connect with J.D. Ewing

Linkedin

Instagram

Website

Office Source Furniture

 

Books

Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger 

Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding The Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty by Patrick Lencioni

The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip & Dan Heath

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 396 with Kristy Knichel where we discuss family business, 3rd party logistics, and customer service.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 25, 2019

Jessica Gibson is CEO and Co-Founder of Ariel Precision Medicine, an integrated genomics and digital health company. 

 

Ariel helps patients with complex chronic diseases by using genetics and health information to model the mechanisms and drivers of disease. This enables clinicians to establish an early diagnosis, long-term prognosis, and targeted management plan.

 

Ariel's PancreasDx® is the most comprehensive genetic test for pancreatic disease and is built off of Dr. David C. Whitcomb’s leading research.

 

Aaron and Jessica discuss the mission behind the company, how commercialization efforts have evolved, and the promise of precision medicine.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Jessica Gibson’s Challenge; Understand that you can be the change you want to see in the world.

 

Connect with Jessica Gibson

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 405 with Matt Kesinger where we discuss the development and inspiration behind a medical device that helps people suffering strokes.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 18, 2019

Matt Kesinger’s company, Forest Devices, is developing the medical device ALPHASTROKE to help first responders identify stroke and triage patients to the right hospital.

 

Strokes are the #1 cause of disability worldwide. Lives are changed by how quickly a stroke is diagnosed and treated.

 

Matt was EMT in Boston for two years and learned how hard it can be to diagnose a stroke with just a clinical exam. 

 

While attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Matt conducted and published research on the difficulties of pre-hospital providers diagnosing stroke. He was part of the team that conducted the largest US study on the identification of large vessel occlusive strokes in the pre-hospital environment. 

 

In this conversation, Matt & Aaron discuss how to diagnose a stroke, the testing process for medical devices, and the mission that inspires the team.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Matt Kesinger’s Challenge; Learn the signs of a stroke.

 

Connect with Matt Kesinger

Linkedin

Twitter

Forest Devices Website

matt.kesinger@forestdevices.com 

 

If you liked this interview, check out these past episodes

 

Former UPMC CIO Rasu Shrestha

Highmark VP of Innovation Sarah Ahmad

Chef Kevin Sousa



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 11, 2019

Lillian Rafson did not plan to start her business Pack Up + Go. But, on a trip to Latvia, she came across an idea that was too good to pass up. Booking surprise travel for vacationers.

 

She came back to the US, started the business, and hoped to get 50 clients that year. She got 500.

 

She followed the sharp trajectory upwards and remained bootstrapped the whole way. Now she runs a team, does millions in revenue, and is charting expansion plans.

 

In this conversation, Lillian and Aaron discuss the inspiration for the business, how she got initial traction, and the way she has built her team.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Lillian’s Challenge; Go visit a new neighborhood in your city or town.

 

Connect with Lillian Rafson

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website 



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Nov 4, 2019

We believe this is one of the best and most valuable podcasts we’ve had the privilege to share.

 

Michele McGough is the founder and CEO of solutions4networks, a professional services and integration company that provides network engineering and network security consulting as well as associated equipment/software to a select client portfolio.

 

She’s been in IT for more than 30 years and has learned a lot of lesssons along the way.

 

In this episode, you’ll hear her discuss retaining the talented people on her team, how & when to fire a client, and how she got started. 

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Michele’s Challenge; Perception is not reailty. Don’t make assumptions about others.

 

Connect with Michele

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 361 with Jason Wolfe another top-notch entrepreneur, operator, and team builder.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Oct 28, 2019

Michelle Walters founded Liberty Closet Systems in 1993. The family-owned and operated business serves up custom closet, cabinetry, and storage solutions in Westmoreland County & surrounding areas.

 

Over time, operations have been scaled to meet the demands of over one hundred builders in PA, WV, and Maryland. In 23 years LCS, Inc. has grown from a single designer/installer to a full staff of designers, fabricators, and installers specializing in custom closet design & storage systems.

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Michelle discuss starting the business, how to sell a great closet, and working with her family.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Michelle Walters’s Challenge; Be kind. Not just people that agree with you.

 

Connect with Michelle Walters

Instagram

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 396 with Kristy Knichel where we discuss 3rd party logistics, woman-owned business, and great customer service.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

Oct 21, 2019

James Haluszczak founded SteelBridge Consulting in 2008. The boutique consultancy exclusively focuses on serving as a strategic advisor to Private Equity and Venture Capital fund managers, investors, and administrators. 

 

He is also a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SteelBridge Laboratories, which he and his partners founded in 2016 as an investment firm focused on early-stage Fintech companies.

 

James has 20 years of experience in Financial Service operations, finance, and technology roles, and is a seasoned Fintech founder and investor. James has held management roles inside of four currently operating Fintech startup companies, and he and his team have invested in more than 10 Fintech companies since 2016. 

 

In this conversation, James and Aaron discuss scaling a consulting firm, finding deal flow for investing, and helping a young company grow.


Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

James Haluszczak’s Challenge; Use a fintech tool to donate to a cause, like cancer research.

 

Connect with James Haluszczak

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out all of our interviews with the world’s biggest financial leaders and writers.


Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram


Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify 

Oct 14, 2019

Austin Webb is leading a startup that aims to upend the food system. How? By using robotics and AI to build and operate highly efficient, commercial-scale urban vertical farms.

 

In late September 2019, his company Fifth Season (originally founded as RoBotany) came out of stealth mode by announcing a $35 million round of funding. With this capital, it plans to build its first commercial-scale indoor vertical farm to be located just outside Pittsburgh, in Braddock. 

 

The startup plans to expand into other similarly-sized cities throughout the US.

 

In this episode, Austin and Aaron discuss the seismic impact Austin believes vertical farming can have, how this model reduces labor costs & water usage, and the composition of the team pursuing this goal.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Austin’s Challenge; For an entire week, try to eat only fresh food for every meal.

 

Connect with Austin

Linkedin

Fifthseasonfresh.com



If you liked this interview, check out our other interviews with top Pittsburgh entrepreneurs Jason Wolfe and Cooper Munroe.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Oct 7, 2019

Hayden Cardiff is the co-founder and CEO of Idelic. Idelic is a B2B Saas startup that helps trucking companies track data on their fleet & drivers to improve safety.

 

Idelic recently announced a Series A financing round of $8M led by Origin Ventures with participation from TDF Ventures, Birchmere Ventures, Bain Capital Ventures, and SaaS Venture Capital. 

 

Hayden, with cofounders Nick Bartel & Andrew Russell, spun Idelic’s software out of Pitt Ohio, a logistics service firm providing less-than-truckload, truckload, supply chain solutions, and ground services in the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest United States. 

 

In this episode, Hayden and Aaron discuss spinning a company out of a larger business, fundraising millions of dollars, and bringing software to an old, conservative industry.

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Hayden Cardiff’s Challenge; Consider and respect the truck drivers you’re sharing the road with.

 

Connect with Hayden Cardif

Linkedin

Twitter

Idelic Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 396 with Kristy Knichel where we discuss building an $80M 3rd Party Logistics Provider using customer service, hustle, and humility.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Sep 30, 2019

Denise DeSimone has started & run 9 different companies. Some have been successes, some have been failures, some have fallen in between.

 

In 1998, Denise founded and grew one of her greatest successes, Unicorp where she developed the privately-held technology-based business from the ground floor to over $74 million in revenues.

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Denise discuss where to get good mentorship, how she has changed her service offerings, and the importance of company culture.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Denise Desimone’s Challenge; Be kind.

 

Connect with Denise Desimone

Linkedin

Website

ddesimone@c-leveled.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out two other episodes with prolific entrepreneurs Jason Wolfe and Dave Nelsen.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Sep 23, 2019

Nathan Martin is the founder and CEO of Deeplocal, a Pittsburgh-based marketing agency. The firm is comprised of creative engineers, hired by brands to build interactive experiences. 

 

Since spinning Deeplocal out of an art and technology lab at Carnegie Mellon University in 2006, Nathan has become a leader of innovation and invention in advertising, creating custom solutions that are often the world's firsts.

 

In the last decade, Nathan has grown Deeplocal’s portfolio to include advertising work for some of the world’s biggest and most celebrated brands — including Google, Netflix, and Nike.

 

Prior to founding Deeplocal, Nathan was an originating member of a hactivist art group and the frontman of Creation is Crucifixion, a grindcore band.

 

In this conversation, you’ll hear Aaron & Nathan discuss how to build a talented team, what it took for Deeplocal to get off the ground, and how he explains the company to others. 

 

Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Nathan Martin’s Challenge; Do not look at income and money as the driver of happiness. Evaluate your work on the basis of how you spend your time.

 

Connect with Nathan Martin

Linkedin

Twitter

Deeplocal Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 340 with Craig Markovitz where we discuss generating more than $300M in shareholder value.


Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Sep 16, 2019

Kristy Knichel is a second-generation logistics executive and the president of Knichel Logistics. Prior to leading the company, she led the operations team for 10 years. 

 

Kristy has driven a staggering amount of growth for the company. Since its inception, Knichel Logistics has grown from $2 million in revenue to $80 million under Kristy’s leadership.

 

Knichel Logistics is a woman-owned and operated, non asset based third-party logistics provider. In this interview you’ll find out what that means.

 

The company specializes in intermodal, less than truckload, full truckload, and specialty services and has a veteran staff that prioritizes customer service.

 

Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.

 

Kristy Knichel’s Challenge; Put yourself out there.

 

Connect with Kristy Knichel

Linkedin

Knichel Logistics Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out the rest of our interviews with the top business people in the city of Pittsburgh.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Sep 9, 2019

Çetin Meriçli is the co-founder and CEO of Locomation, a Pittsburgh startup building autonomous trucks. His company is taking a novel approach to the technical challenge by pairing trucks together, instead of building a single truck to stand alone.

 

Locomation has raised more than $5 million from 13 venture investors, including Pittsburgh VC firm Draper Triangle Ventures.

 

Çetin’s team, including 5 co-founders, have been working together for a decade and are aiming to realize the opportunity in the multi-trillion-dollar logistics industry.

 

Çetin and Aaron discuss how to sell into the 4 key groups that will determine Locomation’s success: investors, employees, customers, and regulators.

 

You’ll walk away from this episode with a much better understanding of the timeline and challenges associated with autonomous vehicle technology.

 

Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.

 

Çetin Meriçli’s Challenge; Find a way to give back.

 

Connect with Çetin Meriçli

Linkedin

Twitter

Locomation Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 306 with Bryan Salesky (Argo AI) where we discuss self-driving cars or episode 297 with Jorgen Pedersen where we discuss robotics and removing humans from harm’s way.

 

Underwritten by Piper Creative

A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings.

Vlogging

Podcasting

Linkedin Video

 

If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business.

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Sep 2, 2019

Ryan Kulp is both a marketer and a programmer. This unique skill set allows him to do things that most entrepreneurs only fantasize about.

 

Ryan constantly builds and ships new products and services on a monthly basis. This gives him the opportunity to experiment and test lots of ideas, seeing which ones stick.

 

He also uses this skill set to buy small technology companies & software products that most private equity firms are forced to overlook. In this uncharted terrain, Ryan uncovers value by applying his skillset to businesses that were previously run by someone lacking the skills or bandwidth to apply the best techniques.

 

Now, Ryan’s companies generate more than $5 million in annual revenue and he travels the globe with the freedom granted by cash flow + operating businesses with no geographic restraints.

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Ryan discuss how to think about entrepreneurship, rules to abide by in business, and the greater “Why” behind Ryan’s work.



Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.

 

Ryan Kulp’s Challenge; Work via negativa. Don’t watch Netflix.

 

Connect with Ryan Kulp

Twitter

Ryanckulp.com

Dishonest Marketing

 

Micro Acquisitions Course



3 Books Ryan Mentioned

Negotiation Genius by Deepak Malhotra & Max Bazerman

Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss

Getting to Yes by Roger Fisher & William Ury



If you liked this interview, check out: 

 

Episode 269 with Brent Beshore where we cover investing for the long term, boring businesses, and starting a career.

 

Episode 216 with Noah Kagan where we discuss Facebook, Mint, and how to be an effective entrepreneur.

 

Episode 383 with Zak Slayback where we discuss how to avoid copycat careers, why job descriptions usually suck, and How to Get Ahead when you’re early in your career.



Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay 

Aug 26, 2019

Meredith Meyer Grelli is the co-founder of Wigle Whiskey, the first Pittsburgh distillery since Prohibition. Wigle’s spirits are distributed throughout the country and the distillery has been the most awarded Craft Whiskey Distillery in the US for four straight years. 

 

Meredith and her team have followed up the success of Wigle with Threadbare Cider & Mead.

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Meredith discuss what it takes to build a strong team, why they develop so many different product lines, and the importance of engaging with the community.

 

Never miss one of our best episodes by subscribing to the newsletter.

 

Meredith’s Challenge; Write a thank you note to someone every morning.

 

Connect with Meredith

Linkedin

 

Connect with Wigle Whiskey

Facebook

Instagram

 

Connect with Threadbare Cider House

Facebook

Instagram

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 382 with Barry Young where we discuss distilling vodka and episode 232 with Christian Simmons where we discuss selling craft spirits.

 

Underwritten by Piper Creative

A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings.

Vlogging

Podcasting

Linkedin Video

 

If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business.

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Aug 19, 2019

The best way to prepare to run your own startup is to learn from one of the best. Ajay Kori got to work under Marc Lore and learn from an eCommerce master before launching his own company. 

 

Ajay founded UrbanStems in 2014 to fix a flower delivery industry that was institutionally broken. The company offers same-day, on-demand delivery in New York & DC, while offering nationwide next-day shipping. 

 

The company has raised millions of dollars from top VC firms including SWaN & Legend, The Motley Fool, Kevin Plank & Under Armour, and NextGenVentures. 

 

In this discussion, you’ll hear Aaron & Ajay discuss the challenges associated with scaling a team, the meta-entrepreneurial skill set that can apply anywhere, and what was broken about the flower business.

 

Ajay’s Challenge; Keep a journal where you write down what you’re grateful for every day.

 

Connect with Ajay

Instagram

Linkedin

UrbanStems Website

ajay@urbanstems.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 340 with Craig Markovitz where we discuss building $300M in shareholder value, commercializing technology out of universities, and finding a purpose behind your business.

 

ALLEN GANNETT KEYNOTE

https://youtu.be/8XKHw5MyHSE

 

Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

Instagram



Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay

Aug 12, 2019

How do you catalyze change within a large organization? Sarah Ahmad shares her insights from in the trenches.

 

Sarah is the senior VP of innovation and transformation strategy for Pittsburgh’s Highmark Health, a national health and wellness organization, and America’s second-largest integrated delivery and financing system. 

 

Sarah Ahmad leads Highmark Health’s effort to transform health care by developing innovative health solutions and value-based, high-quality health experiences for their customers and communities across the U.S.

 

Since joining Highmark Health in 2017, Sarah has evolved the Highmark Health VITAL Innovation Program into a revenue-generating test-and-learn platform that provides health solution companies, health plans and other stakeholders with robust evidence related to patient experience, care outcomes and cost impact. This means solutions can be covered and utilized faster—accelerating both their availability to patients and their adoption in the broader

healthcare marketplace.

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Connect with Sarah

Linkedin

Vital Innovation Website

 

If you liked this interview, check out more interviews with leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators in Pittsburgh.


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A digital agency that provides strategy, delivery, and analysis specializing in a few key service offerings.

Vlogging

Podcasting

Linkedin Video

 

If you aren’t creating or curating content regularly, your clients and customers might forget you’re open for business.

YouTube

Instagram


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Aug 5, 2019

David Passavant is the CEO of Numo, a subsidiary company of PNC Bank. Numo is tasked with funding innovative technologies that can meaningfully move PNC’s business forward.

 

In this conversation, Aaron interviews David about what life is life running a corporate-backed financial technology incubator in Pittsburgh and how David found his way into the role.

 

David has been the CEO of Numo for 2.5 years and has recently launched its first two products. Great episode for anyone interested in corporate innovation strategies and careers.

 

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David’s Challenge; Be an original thinker.

 

Connect with David

Linkedin

Numo.com

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 356 with Toni Murphy where we discuss negotiating a large enterprise as you build your career. You might also like this interview with Joe Lubin, the co-founder of Ethereum, on the future of cryptocurrency and financial technologies.


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Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

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Jul 29, 2019

Lily D is an ASMR YouTuber. What does that mean? Listen to the podcast to find out. 

 

ASMR helps with anxiety and insomnia. Lily started making ASMR videos in 2013 and has racked up over 65 million views of her videos.

 

In this conversation, Aaron and Lily discuss how she got started, the positive & negative messages she receives, and what the future holds for a brand built around an individual.

 

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Lily’s Challenge; Try deleting Instagram (or your most used social network) for a week.

 

Connect with Lily

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 386 with Jon Shanahan where we discuss men’s fashion, learning from working in a corporate environment, and how he’s built a YouTube following.

 

Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Jul 22, 2019

Dave Nelsen has been a successful CEO in multiple businesses. Two of his startups, CoManage and TalkShoe, raised more than $70 million in angel and venture funding.

 

He has since moved into a full-time speaking career, traveling to country to share his perspective on Social Media for Business and Technology for Executives.

 

In this conversation, Dave and Aaron discuss how Dave went from a large corporation to a startup, where Dave found the ideas for his companies, and how he launched his speaking career.

 

Valuable listen for any aspiring entrepreneur. 

 

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Dave’s Challenge; Do more listening.

 

Connect with Dave

Linkedin

Website

412-779-2788

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 362 with Jason Wolfe where we discuss multiple successful startups, investing, and leadership.


Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Jul 15, 2019

Matt Stroud is the co-founder & CEO of Postindustrial Media. His new media startup is aiming to change the tenor of journalism in the Midwest.

 

He’s come a long way since founding a bimonthly magazine, called Deek, out of his basement apartment while enrolled full-time at the University of Pittsburgh.

 

Matt has written short- and long-form journalism for Esquire, Harper’s, The Atlantic, Buzzfeed, Politico, The New York Times, and Reuters, and held staff writer positions with the Associated Press and Bloomberg Businessweek. 

 

In this conversation, Matt & Aaron discuss new media, recruiting team members, and Matt’s reporting on policing technologies.


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Matt’s Challenge; Ignore political campaign polls and pay attention to where government dollars are spent.

 

Connect with Matt

Linkedin

Twitter

Website

 

Matt’s Book

Thin Blue Lie: The Failure of High-Tech Policing by Matt Stroud

 

If you liked this interview, check out our interview with Todd Bishop about running a bootstrapped media business, our interview with Chance Humphrey about Instagram and photography, and our interview with Jon Shanahan about building a men’s fashion YouTube channel.

 

Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

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Jul 8, 2019

In the past, magazines like Vogue & GQ were exclusively at the epicenter of fashion and style. They alone could play kingmaker to the tastes, trends, and brands clothing of an entire culture.

 

Today, the influence has been disseminated to a broad swath of creators and media outlets with their own perspective. Jon Shanahan saw this opportunity coming and has staked a claim with his brand, The Kavalier.

 

He started a YouTube channel more than 4 years ago and now creates content full-time reviewing menswear.

 

In this conversation, you’ll learn how Jon got started, the intentional approach he takes to his style, and the patience & discipline required to break through.


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Jon’s Challenge; Throw out the clothes in your wardrobe that you’re not excited about. Tailor the clothes that don’t fit just right.

 

Connect with Jon

Instagram

Website

The Kavalier on Youtube

Jon’s 2nd channel

 

If you liked this interview, check out episode 318 with Brad Driscoll where we discuss building a following on Twitch, starting an SEO business, and the value of persistence.


Underwritten by Piper Creative

Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies. 

 

Our clients become better storytellers. 

 

How? Click here and Learn more.

 

We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.

 

Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.

 

Follow Piper as we grow

YouTube

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Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | PodBay 

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