Made in the Mist

The common denominator in success is alignment on any team – entrepreneurial couples are no exception. When things are discombobulated or misaligned it makes movement very difficult affecting our ability to succeed. Why is self-awareness important in this? A great question and one we will be exploring with our returning guests Tim Weir and Randi Radul!  

Session 2!  Guests Tim Weir, and Randi Radul discuss knowing your why and what that looks like. What is it that we value about our relationship, family, dreams, time, recreation, etc. that makes this an important topic of consideration for entrepreneurs?  Listen now to hear more about identifying your core values through practical exercises.

Session: 1 with guest, Tim Weir, and Randi Radul, Share their personal experience and transformation stories. Our entrepreneurial choices create some challenges for us in our relationships, learn how to  proactively manage conflicts and engage strategies to keep you healthy / your relationships healthy, and your businesses on track.

Happy New Year, and Welcome back to Made in the Mist! In this installment, we sit down with the incredible Jessica Friesen, CEO of Gales Gas Bar and a true force to be reckoned with in the world of business.Jessica's credentials are nothing short of impressive – a Chartered Director, BScN, RN, and a published author, she stands as the first female and third-generation owner/operator of one of the last independently owned petroleum companies in Ontario. With expertise in business development, team building, negotiations, retail sales, and board governance, Jessica has carved her path to success in the oil and gas industry.Tune in as the hosts explore Jessica's journey, from her roots as a Registered Nurse in Niagara Falls to her trailblazing role as a leader in the oil and gas sector. As a proud recipient of the Rotarian Paul Harris Fellowship, a Quantum Shift Fellow, and Star Woman in Convenience, Jessica shares her insights into business development and the importance of supporting local.Join the conversation as Jessica delves into the challenges she's overcome both professionally and personally, offering a glimpse into her remarkable life. Discover her tips and tricks for success, and learn why she advocates for the significance of supporting small businesses across Niagara and shopping local.

Welcome to season 2 of Made of the Mist! In this episode, we sit down with Melanie Sodka, the brilliant Founder of Capacity Creator and a true connoisseur of human behavior. Melanie specializes in helping overwhelmed individuals who find themselves trapped in the whirlwind of over-commitment and distraction.As a seasoned podcaster and renowned international speaker, Melanie has a unique gift for unraveling the complexities of Capacity Management. Her expertise extends far beyond the microphone, as she has spent countless years captivating audiences in diverse settings such as classrooms, boardrooms, and conference halls. Melanie's dynamic journey even led her to grace the TEDx stage, where she shared her profound insights with the world.Join us as we delve into Melanie's world of custom talks and virtual series, meticulously designed to empower and serve her clients. Prepare to be inspired and enlightened by her perspective-shifting wisdom that has the power to transform the way you approach your own capacity and commitments.Tune in for an engaging conversation with Melanie Sodka, and discover the keys to managing your capacity, decluttering your life, and reclaiming your focus.To connect with Mel, find her at www.instagram.com/melaniesodkahttps://www.melaniesodka.com/

Social Media expert and Travel Vlogger, Brandon Mimms stopped by the Niagara Falls Innovation to share how business strategies are evolving and why business owners need to adapt. Brandon has grown and managed multiple social media accounts, coined as, "digital real estate," to enhance how brands communicate on digital platforms. By staying consistent and true to his visionary mindset, he's had the opportunity to work with leading brands from around the global, as an advocate for our beautiful city, Niagara Falls, ON. Brandon's Business Social Media:Mental HealthInstagram: www.instagram.com/MentalHealthTikTok: www.TikTok.com/@MentalHealthYouTube:    / @mentalhealth  Mondays (Sub-brand to @MentalHealth)Instagram: www.instagram.com/MondaysClothing line and Podcast coming soonBrandon's Contact information:Instagram: www.instagram.com/BrandonMimmsEmail: brandon.mimms@hotmail.com

Join hosts Emma and Dan in the season finale of Made in the Mist as they chat with April Mullen, co-founder of award-winning production company WANGO Films. Discover the journey behind films like "88," "Wander," and "Simulant," as well as other productions shot in Niagara Falls and the surrounding regions. April shares insights on industry evolution, competition, and the joy of bringing a feature film to her hometown. Don't miss the exclusive sneak peek into WANGO Films' exciting upcoming film and TV projects, and this inspiring conversation with April Mullen, an extraordinary trailblazer in the world of cinema.Connect with April:Official Instagram: @april_mullen website: www.aprilmullen.comemail: info@wangofilms.comTIMESTAMPS:00:00 - 01:50 Welcome to the MITM01:50 - 08:45 Introducing April Mullen & Entering the Film Industry08:45 - 10:20 Premiere of Stimulant in NF & Building Community10:20 - 14:49 Next Generation & Personal Film Passions14:49 - 18:02 Pushing Through Highs and Lows18:02 - 22:40 Evolving Industry & Competition22:40 - 25:20 Film Festivals & Awards26:40 - 29:45 What’s Next29:45 - 35:10 Secret Sauce to Success35:10 - 38:00 Stay in Touch & Filming in Niagara Falls38:00 - 39:50 Signing off

Entrepreneur-turned-influencer Vanessa De Prophetis came to our studio to discuss how she became a business owner at a young age, pivoting during lockdowns and the importance of believing in your dreams, even when those around you don’t!Time Stamps:00:00 - 03:42 Intro / Background03:43 - 05:59 Dealing with Competition06:00 - 08:30 Discovering Passion08:31 - 10:37 The Hustle10:38 - 17:10 From Employee to Business Owner17:11 - 21:02 Client Life Cycles /  Moving the Business21:03 - 29:09 Becoming an Influencer29:10 - 30:01 Being Niagara-based30:02 - 33:02 Tips & Tricks33:03 - 34:25 Outro

The incredibly talented owner of Niagara’s newest attraction: “Goldie’s Selfie Museum”, Brianna Goldie, joins our hosts to discuss her impressive accomplishments as an actress & stuntwoman, the need for great support as an entrepreneur and how a medical condition changed the trajectory of her life. Brianna opened in August 2022 as a selfie studio, and has recently introduced an on-site cafe and bar, fit for Barbie herself. Goldie's Museum recently hosted their grand opening, showcasing the 3000 square-foot venue was created by Brianna Goldie, and features over 25 photo-ops where you can interact with props and take some insta-worthy photos. You can enjoy installations like an oversized ball pit, life-sized angel wings, and giant lollipops, right here, in downtown Niagara Falls.Time Stamps:00:00 - 01:05 Intro01:06 - 04:54 “Who is Brianna?”04:55 - 17:59 Cheerleader, Photographer, Actress, Stuntwoman18:00 - 20:51 The Backup Plan / The Hustle20:52 - 22:10 Brianna’s Credits22:11 - 28:39 “Goldie’s Selfie Museum”28:40 - 30:14 Why Niagara Falls?30:15 -  39:25 Beautification and Diversifying39:26 -  42:01 ‘Loosening Up’ and Golfing in a Tutu42:03 - 43:49 What’s Next for Brianna?43:50 - 46:43 5 Tips for Entrepreneurs46:44 - 49:15 Wrapping Up, Links and Outro

Founder and President of Cheekbone Beauty, one of the top 100 influential entrepreneurs in North America, Jenn Harper, sits down with Emma and Dan to discuss her take on company culture, representation of indigenous people and how Google Analytics played a key role in starting her business.Jenn dreamed of crafting lip gloss for young Indigenous girls, but Beauty wasn’t an industry she knew much about—her work experience had mostly been in the food and hospitality industries. She mapped out what became her original business plan, and for the next two years, spent her evenings and weekends learning everything she could about entrepreneurship and working to build her business. Learn first-hand the tips and tricks to her success as Niagara-based entrepreneur!Time Stamps:00:00 - 01:09 Intro01:10 - 09:22 Introductions, Background & Company Overview09:23 - 13:48 Getting Ready to Build a Cosmetic Brand13:49 - 17:47 Staying Motivated17:48 - 18:50 First Products & Google's Influence18:51 - 22:06 Turning Down a Deal on Dragon's Den22:07 - 23:57 Investing in a Business vs. Investing in You23:58 - 29:42 Growing Through Innovation and Change29:43 - 32:15 Canadian Support32:16 - 35:07 Advantages to Growing in Niagara Falls35:08 - 39:32 The Next Big Steps & JCPenney Announcement39:33 - 42:58 5 Tips for Entrepreneurs42:59 - 44:47 Outro

Shortly after celebrating their 5th year in business, the owners of Ownera Media, Brandy Henderson and Rowe Prudente, stop by to discuss scaling in local and global markets, developing partnerships and why Niagara Falls is a great place to operate a business.

Motivational speaker and author of the book "Best Day Ever", Jessica Potts, discusses the importance of identifying the customer's "pain-points", dealing with fears of leaving behind a steady paycheck and the importance of anchoring yourself in your values.With expertise in human skills development including: leadership and communications; Jessica Potts helps people get on the same page and get things done - while having fun. Known for her energy, optimism and strong belief in pursuing the things you are most passionate about, Jessica’s life's work is summarized simply as “seeing you at your best”.Time stamps00:00 – 1:29 Intro1:30 – 3:04 Jessica’s Professional Background3:05 – 4:25 Jumping into entrepreneurship 4:26 – 5:50 How Jessica established trust early on 5:51 – 9:08 Finding your niche 9:09 – 10:49 Key components of “Best Day Ever” book10:50 - 12:52 Stable paycheque vs taking the leap12:53 – 14:10 Remarkable Women Entrepreneurs Summit14:11 – 20:18 Who is “Best Day Ever” for?20:18 – 23:03 Tip 1: Bring your ideas to market, Better Done than Perfect23:04 – 26:40 When to start saying “No”26:41 – 31:13 Having a Hobby vs Business31:14 – 33:04 Tip #4 Have Support & Human Connection33:05 – 33:33 Where to Find Jessica + Her Book33:34 – 33:45 Where to Find Spark and Made in the Mist33:46 – 35:19 Signing Off

In this episode, we are joined by Matt Anthony, Founder of Invittco, and Create Your Future Project. Matt fell into entrepreneurship without him even realizing it while making his mark on the Canadian music and entertainment industry.  From being one of the youngest Canadians to record in the famous Abbey Roads Studio, to starting a scholarship program for students pursuing mental health studies, Matt has always been an advocate for his community, Niagara Falls. He built Invittco around his passion for turning creative ideas into a source of income. Through his years of experience, he established a scope of technical skills and services, forming Invittco, a creative marketing agency. Today, Invittco manages an audience of over 12 million, and Matt is sharing his first-hand experience and real advice on how he scaled the business.  Check out what Matt's up to:Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mattanthonyy/ Invittco:https://www.invittco.com/CYF - Create Your Future Project:https://www.invittco.com/https://cyfproject.com/  Timestamps - Matt Anthony Guarasci02:00 – Background on Matt10:40 – Opinion on the Canadian Industry15:00 – What is Invittco18:40 – Social Media & What’s next20:00 – Crypto and NFT23:50 – Tough time in his journey27:55 –  CYF Project30:15 – Top 5 Tips and Tricks35:55 – Manifestation42:05 – What does Invittco offer to their clients44:30 – Closing statements 

In episode 2, we sat down with Paola Girotti, the founder & President of Sugarmoon: Body Sugaring & Skin Care Salon , a trail-blazer and visionary in today's beauty industry.Dive into a conversation revolved around nearly two decades of passion for a fresh, natural, and innovative approach to the market!Background on Sugarmoon:Founded in 2002, Sugarmoon brought a bring a fresh approach and natural solutions to the hair removal and beauty industry.  Sugarmoon’s product focus is formulation in a completely pure way, made from ethically and sustainably sourced ingredients, and herbal extracts, packed with vitamins and minerals that will hydrate, re-balance and revitalize your skin.Timestamps : 00:00 – intro02:10 – Life before Sugar Moon04:18 – Early stages of Sugar Moon08:35 – Being a successful woman in the Entrepreneur world15:00 – Resources that helped grow her business16:30 – How do you think your business journey would change if you had the help of an incubator like Spark when you were first starting23:00 – Challenges over the last two years26:00 – Failure, how do you deal with it.33:40 – Going E-Commerce 38:00 – Top 5 Tips 

Jim Diodati is a Canadian politician, currently serving as mayor of Niagara Falls, Ontario. He was first elected in the 2010 municipal election, but even before his politcial career, he was determined to earn a living as his own boss. In this inaugural episode we’ll talk to Mayor Diodati about his upbringing, his triumphs in Niagara Falls and learn first-hand how he was Made in the Mist.00:00 – intro02:05 – Jim’s early life09:45 – advice on being successful23:05 – Why Niagara / Niagara Falls29:35 – if you had access to our innovation hub or any business incubator when you were starting your journey, what would have been the biggest resource you would have taken advantage of.34:45 – top five tips and tricks to anyone wanting to enter the entrepreneurial lifestyle45:45 - Outro