Nearly Verified

28/12/2020

Navigating the University experience during a global pandemic is not easy.

When Sofy Carayannopoulos meets her first-year cohort in the introductory Business course at Laurier, she aims to give them the toolkit to succeed during their time at the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfrid Laurier University

Not only succeed in her course, and in other business courses to come but as a professional past the walls of University.

In this episode of Nearly Verified we dive into:

💭Sofy’s path to getting her degrees
💭What motivates and drives her as a professor
💭How she aims to develop first-year students

Thank you again Sofy for coming to chat. There are so many great insights here and it was just an overall upbeat conversation!

Check out the links below 💭🎙

16/10/2020

Economics was never my best nor my favourite subject in school 🤷‍♂️

With that being said, in my first year at Laurier, I had the pleasure of being taught by Ken Jackson for both my micro and macro-economics courses.

Amongst all the craziness that is entering University and getting adjusted to the lifestyle, my friends and I knew we were in good hands sitting in his class.

Ken is a Laurier legend who always leads with empathy. In Ep 11 of Nearly Verified I get to chat with Ken about how he gained the skills to teach to a group of over 1000 students at a time, in a very effective way.

Ken is a knowledgeable, funny and caring guy and Laurier is very lucky to have him apart of the faculty!

06/10/2020

Having an online presence today is more important than ever, whether it's for your business or personal brand 📹📷

As Marcel Morgenstern explains here, people don't want to see that shiny ad. They want to see another human being on the other side of the screen.

This means sharing content that:

☑️ Shows behind the scenes

☑️ Is authentic to your business/brand

☑️ Promotes local deals

Simply showing up and being present online can go a long way!

How are you or your business trying to connect with your audience more?

06/10/2020

How has COVID impacted the food & wine industry? 🍷🍴

Marcel Morgenstern, the Director of Sales at Pondview Estate Winery, took the time to chat with me about how his businesses have reacted within this industry.

We also chat:
💭What drove him to entrepreneurship
💭Ability to pivot quickly in small-medium sized business
💭Urgency towards building an online presence
💭Building a community on social media to support local business

It was very cool to get a high-level understanding of what’s going on within the tourism industry of Niagara.

Marcel and his team are adapting and changing with the times, and are even welcoming more locals to their business because of this restriction in travel.

Thank you Marcel for coming on Nearly Verified to chat!

15/09/2020

Always keep learning 🚨

This is my motto for not only the podcast, but for everything I’ve been doing this summer.

Ive tried to tell myself to come at things with a learners mindset, an open mind and an understanding that I will make mistakes.

You’ll have a lot more success because you’re allowing yourself to fail and learn.

How do you push yourself to keep learning?

10/09/2020

I want to be an entrepreneur one day 🤚

In what industry? No clue.

When? Not too sure.

How? TBD.

Hosting Nearly Verified has allowed me to take a deep dive into the minds of entrepreneurs from different walks of life, different upbringings and different industries.

I’ve learned about the entrepreneurial process and mindset that goes into successful businesses.

The knowledge and relationships I’ve built are priceless and having the convos is fun to begin with!

What does it mean to you to be an entrepreneur? ⬇️⬇️

10/09/2020

Ever heard of the 7 Episode curse?
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I read somewhere that when starting a podcast, one of the hardest things is getting past that 7 episode mark. Many shows lose steam and fizzle out around then.
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I thought it would be fitting to take Episode 7 and reflect on my first 6 conversations, as well as some key takeaways from starting a podcast.
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I also take the time to shoutout my man Quentin Allums who was my first guest and a huge inspiration along the way.
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I've got a few more episodes recorded, but I can't wait to keep learning and keep having these conversations!
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Thank you for following along 💭🎙

10/09/2020

How much do you depend on others for validation?

I definitely have at times found myself in that cycle of thinking I need to have the assurance of those around me before diving into a project or hobby.

Shay Rowbottom does a fantastic job of depicting her story, where she explains that her belief in herself has always been a driving force for her success.

A key takeaway is that you need validation and belief in yourself before you seek it out from:
💭Parents
💭Friends
💭Colleagues
💭Relatives

From Episode 6 of Nearly Verified

10/09/2020

A quote from Shay in episode 6 of Nearly Verified 🎙💭

Shay touches on learning to see the potential in yourself rather than rely on others for that validation.

01/09/2020

Surrounding yourself with people who build you up rather than tear you down can be a difficult task.

Relationships that have been around your life for years and maybe decades could be seriously damaging your overall health.

Shay Rowbottom and I talk about how removing negative relationships from your life, though it can be very tough, is extremely rewarding in the long term.

Check out this clip below 🎙💭

01/09/2020

If you would have told me 3 months ago that I would be interviewing the Queen of Linkedin, Shay Rowbottom I definitely wouldn’t have believed you.

In episode 6 of Nearly Verified we talk content creation, leaping into new experiences, and breaking down societies shame culture.

Shay is such a genuine human being and I want to thank her so much for the time she took to come and speak with me as well as the positive energy she brought to the table. It is so cool to have gotten the chance to learn more about her life!

I hope you enjoy it 💭🎙

25/08/2020

What do you do when you’re angry?

What do you do when you’re lonely?

What do you do when you’re confused?

In episode 5, Mark Metry talks about how in order to get over bad coping mechanisms, you’ve got to acknowledge that you have them in the first place.

Mark Metry to:

1️⃣ Become aware you have coping mechanisms that are negative in your life

2️⃣ Identify specifically what those are

3️⃣ Research that action and possible healthy replacements for it

4️⃣ Implement a healthy alternative into your life

This is no easy task, but the process of acknowledging where you can better your habits will make you a happier and more productive person in the long run!

21/08/2020

A huge shoutout to the sponsors for episodes 5 and 6 of Nearly Verified!

Blue Springs Irrigation and Lighting. They have got any of your irrigation, and landscape lighting needs covered out of Muskoka and Niagara!

This sponsor comes from a family friend, that was looking to support the pod, we really appreciate the love💭🎙

Link to their site: https://lnkd.in/e_ePbmH

18/08/2020

Super excited to share my conversation with Mark Metry on Episode 5 this week on Nearly Verified 💭🎙

I had just finished reading his book, Screw Being Shy, which is a guide on how to learn to manage social anxiety and be yourself.

Mark uses credible research, personal experiences, and just a splash of comedy to help you take a look at some day-to-day habits you can change.

In the episode we dive into:
☑ Taking a look at your habits
☑Building healthy routines
☑Meditation isn't supposed to be easy (Head on the clouds mentality)
☑Much more!!

Mark is such a genuine guy and I am really glad to have gotten the chance to sit down and chat.

Huge shoutout to Sam Lister and Quentin who were my first two guests on the pod and got me in touch with Mark. These two have helped me want to break out of my comfort zone, and continue to dream big when it comes to guests for this podcast! 🙏

Links down below to the episode, and thank you for following along ⬇😊

13/08/2020

We’ve all sat through 2-day classroom onboarding sessions at a new job... not very fun or effective 🤷🏻‍♂️

Carol and her team at Axonify make learning something that employees want to do, and therefore perform much better and more consistently!

Axonify gives you daily training for 3-5 mins everyday on info you need refreshing on! It does this by filling your knowledge gaps as well as making it fun with games + leaderboards.

Axonify has customers such as Walmart, Longos, and Rogers to name a few!

Here’s a clip from Ep. 4 💭🎙

11/08/2020

I am very excited to have had chatted with Carol Leaman, the CEO and Co-founder of Axonify last week!

Carol has an undergraduate degree and masters from the University of Waterloo, is a decorated entrepreneur in the tech space with a successful track record of past CEO roles, as well as she sits on the boards of a variety of Canadian high-tech firms.

To put it simply, Carol Leaman is a badass entrepreneur, CEO and thought leader in the space!

We talk about:

➡️The Axonify platform

➡️Importance of supporting frontline

➡️Fostering a healthy culture

➡️Navigating stress in your early career

Check out this episode of Nearly Verified in the comments below!

05/08/2020

Sports cards have seen a crazy surge in popularity and price in the last few years.

Right now, cards are going for record-high prices, with a rare Lebron rookie card selling for $1.8 million last month...

$1.8 Million 😅

Link to that story: https://lnkd.in/eTeYcHY

Though it is an extremely volatile market, it is cool that a collectable could be an investment one day if you keep it in good condition.

Here is a quote Buster Scher dropped on Episode 3 of Nearly Verified about the cards market.

05/08/2020

Sports cards have seen a crazy surge in popularity and price in the last few years.

Right now, cards are going for record-high prices, with a rare Lebron rookie card selling for $1.8 million last month...

$1.8 Million 😅

Link to that story: https://lnkd.in/eTeYcHY

Though it is an extremely volatile market, it is cool that a collectable could be an investment one day if you keep it in good condition.

Here is a quote Buster Scher dropped on Episode 3 of Nearly Verified about the cards market.

31/07/2020

Buster Scher has accomplished a hell of a lot at 19 years-old!
At 14 years-old he started blogging about Fantasy basketball 🏀

At 15 he started learning how to edit video and photos 📹

At 16 he started broadcasting for radio and local TV 📺

At 17 a lot of his stuff started going viral with his brand Hoops Nation and he hopped from FB to Instagram and other platforms 📈

At 18 he started working with some of his favourite companies, like the NBA 👨‍💼

And at 19, he has reached millions of followers across social media platforms with Hoops Nation and hosts the Buster Show with guests ranging from legendary past and present NBA players to collectors and Hollywood directors.

In Episode 3 of Nearly Verified, we talk everything from chasing your passions to the rise of sports cards as a legitimate investment opportunity.

Check below for links to the episode!

30/07/2020

I love this quote from Sam Lister.

It can be hard to move on from failure, which usually causes us to dwell and dig ourselves deeper into that hole.

But.. if you can get yourself to move on, and especially with momentum, you'll be back on your feet and continuing on your path.

What are some ways you deal with mistakes in your life?

28/07/2020

Let's talk about failure...

In Episode 2 of Nearly Verified, I had the pleasure of chatting with Sam Lister on all things entrepreneurship. The topic of failure came up and we both had a lot to say.

Failure is something that I've experienced a lot throughout University. I've experienced failure in my relationships, academics, extra-curricular.. pretty much every aspect of my life.

Long story short, I mess up a lot 🤷🏻‍♂️

If you're not breaking things, falling on your face, and royalty screwing up then you're not learning.

Turn failure ➡️ learning moments and after that, move on!!

28/07/2020

EPISODE 2 IS LIVE 🎙💭

This was such a great conversation about starting from square 1 on any project, creating a routine in your life, and so much more!

Shoutout to Sam Lister for coming onto chat!

Link is my bio!!

27/07/2020

26/07/2020

I want to give a huge shoutout to The Advertising Project! When I first started looking at how to brand my podcast, I was faced with a ton of freelance design options ranging in price.

Luckily, Sophia Rutherford reached out and reminded me that we at Laurier have TAP, an incredible student lead organization at our fingertips. TAP acts as both a student club gearing students towards learning more about the world of graphic design, branding, and marketing as well as a pro bono agency for small businesses.

Jeremy Cheng and Jared Roy took my project on and helped me create my logo after just a couple of meetings. They took my vision and brought it to life with a logo that I love, and a logo that helps represent the brand I am going for with the pod 🎙

I cannot thank these two guys and the awesome team at TAP enough for helping me with this! If you have any questions about their work please go check them out!

25/07/2020

Some food for thought pulled from Episode 1 of Nearly Verified Podcast🎙💭

In the words of Quentin Allums, you need to find your intersections.

I think this can relate to anyone, from older professionals well into their career to a student coming into high school that wants to start making stuff.

Take some activities you like or some hobbies. Find the intersections of those activities and dig into where you fit in.

A couple of my interests would be:
➡️ Entrepreneurship, branding
➡️ Creating (Written, video, interviews)

✅ Create a podcast having experts in those fields come on and chat. I get the chance to learn a TON from these people and then create content to promote it.

Let’s see how it goes, I have already learned so much in just a few conversations. Can’t wait to get recording some more next week!

23/07/2020

Episode 2 of Nearly Verified Podcast is LIVE! 🎙💭

I cannot thank Sam Lister enough for coming on to chat with me about all things entrepreneurship.

We chatted about:
✔Dream podcast guests
✔Building your ego around being a learner
✔Breaking down your walls and being authentic
✔Failure and falling forward
✔ SO much more!

Sam's energy, passion and positivity are contagious. If you don't already know about him please go check him out because he is doing some incredible things in the videography/branding scene!

18/07/2020

"Embarrassment is the cost of entry. If you aren't willing to look like a foolish beginner, you'll never become a graceful master." Ed Latimore

This quote has been sitting around in my head since I first heard it, and it also comes up in Episode 1 🎙

18/07/2020

Episode 1 with Quentin Allums is now up!

Q and I get the chance to chat about patience throughout his entrepreneurial journey, as well as the importance of being apart of and building community online.

A huge shoutout to you Q, I really appreciate you coming on to chat 🙌

18/07/2020

The intro episode is live on Spotify now!

You can listen to it here:
https://lnkd.in/eJJpA55

Listen to Nearly Verified on Spotify. Welcome to the Nearly Verified Podcast! The idea behind the name is that I feel like a lot of people, myself absolutely included, can get carried away with the idea of success. For some it could be making a ton of money, reaching a specific job title, or even ge...

18/07/2020

Welcome to the Nearly Verified Podcast hosted by Matthew Puglisi!

The idea behind the name is that I feel like many people, myself absolutely included, can get carried away with the idea of success. For some, it could be making a ton of money, reaching a specific job title, or even getting verified on social media. The idea behind Nearly Verified is to learn about and most importantly enjoy every piece of the puzzle leading to that success!