Guest - Clicks and bricks Podcast

Episode #256: Ashley Jones

Ashley Jones & Love Not Lost: Healing Grief Through Love and Connection Ashley Jones, founder of Love Not Lost, is on a mission to change the way we heal from grief. After experiencing the devastating loss of her daughter, Skylar, Ashley turned her pain into purpose by creating a non-profit that helps families and communities process loss with compassion, love, and meaningful connection. Her story is one of resilience, empathy, and entrepreneurship that’s transforming lives across the country. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Turning Pain into Purpose: Ashley founded Love Not Lost after her daughter’s terminal diagnosis and passing, creating a platform to help others navigate the difficult path of grief. Practical Support Tools: From free portrait sessions to the HowCanILoveYouBetter.com tool, her organization provides resources that make it easier for communities to show up for grieving families. Healing Through Presence: Ashley emphasizes that true healing comes from allowing ourselves to feel, stay present, and connect with our bodies instead of “checking out.” The Science of Grief and Trauma: Years of research into trauma and the brain-body connection helped Ashley design effective resources for grief support and education. Creating Cycles of Healing: Love Not Lost is on a mission to transform cycles of pain into cycles of healing by teaching people to love themselves and others through life’s hardest moments. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taZPsVBOiPo Memorable Quote: “To heal, we have to grieve. To grieve, we have to feel. And to feel, we have to be present.” – Ashley Jones Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Ashley Linkedin Globe Globe

Episode #255: Jasveen Kaur

Jasveen Kaur, Clime DAO — Tokenizing Everyday Climate Action Jasveen Kaur is the founder of Clime DAO, a Web3-powered platform designed to turn everyday sustainability steps into verifiable, tradable rewards. With 15+ years in software and product management across giants like Bosch and Fidelity, she’s channeling deep tech experience into a practical path for households, employees, and communities to reduce carbon footprints and get rewarded for it. Clime DAO’s thesis is simple and bold: make climate action easy (Web2 UX), verify it transparently (blockchain + AI/ML), and incentivize it meaningfully (tokens + marketplace). Jasveen’s team positions the product as a “carbon bank as a service”—so organizations can launch pilot programs fast, no crypto wallet required on day one. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Start Web2, graduate to Web3: Onboarding is frictionless—users complete actions first; wallets and on-chain elements come later when value is clear. Work tokens, not pay-to-play: Tokens are earned via real climate actions, then used for DAO participation and carbon-credit monetization. Action Journeys people can actually do: Launching with Energy and Mobility categories (e.g., LED lighting upgrades, eco-driving, hybrid/EV adoption) with clear dollar savings and token rewards. Trust through verification: Clime DAO uses proof-of-stake plus AI/ML to validate emissions reductions and create a transparent provenance trail for every token. Built for scale and efficiency: Runs on Polygon for low fees and a carbon-efficient chain; offered to organizations (employees, customers, residents) as SaaS with flexible, pilot-friendly pricing. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyvlZvZ96yA Memorable Quote: “We don’t want technology to be a barrier… we want it to be an enabler.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Jasveen Globe

Episode #254: Leo Falkenstein

Leo Falkenstein, Consume Media — Building ROI-Driven Video That Scales Leo Falkenstein is the co-founder of Consume Media, an Atlanta-based video marketing agency creating everything from 15-second animated ads to large-budget TV commercials. He matters to founders and marketers because he treats video as a growth accelerant—helping companies attract, convert, onboard, and retain customers with the right content at the right stage. Starting in college filming concerts, Leo and his partner Michael evolved into corporate video to build a sustainable, scalable business. Today, their team delivers end-to-end production—strategy, scripting, casting, shooting, editing, motion graphics, and platform-specific versions—so clients see measurable impact, not just pretty pixels. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Lay the foundation first. Fix your site and core assets before dropping six figures on a TV spot—start at the bottom of the funnel with high-conversion content. Educate customers, not just staff. How-to and onboarding videos reduce returns, support tickets, and time-to-value—whether it’s software walkthroughs or product fitting. Scale with full service. Consume Media handles treatment-to-delivery, including storyboards, casting, 25–30 person shoots when needed, and polished post-production. Optimize for every platform. Deliver in 16:9 (YouTube/TV), 1:1 (feeds), and 9:16 (stories) so the same idea performs wherever your audience watches. Be strategic with social. Unless you already have a big following, prioritize paid social over costly daily organic production to get clear, trackable results. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrg2wd_Kn_c Memorable Quote: “Video is the accelerant.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Leo Globe

Episode #253: David Owasi

David Owasi, Aco Business Academy — Automating Personalized Outreach at Scale David Owasi is the founder of Aco Business Academy and a relentless problem-solver at the intersection of AI and sales. An immigrant entrepreneur who launched his first company in Winnipeg at 19, David now helps high-ticket coaches, consultants, and agencies generate more leads and booked calls using smart automation across LinkedIn, Reddit, and cold email. He matters because he shows how small teams can 10x results without adding headcount—by pairing clear offers with precision personalization. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: LinkedIn, leveled up: Using Sales Navigator to target ideal prospects, David records a one-hour session to train AI on a client’s voice. The system then inserts hyper-personalized name greetings into outreach videos—boosting attention and response versus plain text. Cold email that actually lands: AI creates “Loom-style” website walk-through videos at scale (think personalized name + prospect’s site on screen). Warm up a dedicated domain for 45–60 days to improve deliverability before ramping volume. Reddit as intent goldmine: Identify subreddits and keywords where prospects already ask for help, then lead with value (free guide or quick call). Capture email, trigger follow-ups, and—if desired—auto-generate personalized videos within a day. Numbers that move: Personalized videos are driving ~25–30% click rates and materially higher replies; David cites roughly +50% lift versus non-personalized variants when executed well. Leverage mindset: Inspired by Naval Ravikant’s “code and media” leverage, David shows how to scale outputs (leads, calls) without scaling inputs—using AI and content to work while you sleep. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zshcX34FxZg Memorable Quote: “It’s all about how you leverage these amazing technologies to generate more results doing less work.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with David Linkedin Calendar-alt

Episode #252: Beth Azore

Beth Azore, Madel Media Inc. — Building Manitoba Stories from the Ground Up Winnipeg-based producer/director Beth Azore is the creative force behind Madel Media Inc., a boutique entertainment house investing in Manitoba talent since 2015. With roots in theatre, Film Studies at NYU, and an apprenticeship with filmmaker Michael Moore, Beth has carved a path from local documentaries to developing scripted film and TV that spotlight prairie stories and creators. Why she matters: Beth is helping transform Winnipeg’s film landscape—leveraging generous tax incentives and a tight-knit community while pushing for more locally led, creatively owned projects. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFIIYU8zbA4 Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Start where the doors are open. Beth launched Madel Media by pitching and producing half-hour, Manitoba-focused docs for MTS TV—earning trust through consistent delivery in a name-centric industry. Service boom ≠ creative ownership. U.S. shows increasingly film in Winnipeg, which trains crews and builds infrastructure—but Beth’s mission is to see more Manitoba composers, directors, and key creatives at the helm of original content. Next chapter: development. She’s pivoting to scripted series and features, including optioning works from Winnipeg mystery novelist Alison Preston for screen adaptation. Craft forged by experience. Beth’s background spans NYU, an apprenticeship with Michael Moore, and early projects like Groove on a Stanley Knife, Looking for Godot, and Free—a throughline of learning by doing. Entrepreneurial mindset. Say yes, keep shipping, and build sustainably. Community and family support (plus a strong partner) make the long game possible in a high-stress industry. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFIIYU8zbA4 Memorable Quote: “If I am gonna use that energy, I’d rather it be spent on something that’s meaningful to me.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Beth Linkedin Globe

Episode #250: Bryan Gerber Part 2

Jared Shapiro, The TAG Experience — Media Insider Turned PR Powerhouse Jared Shapiro is the founder of The TAG Experience, a Miami-based public relations, branding, and communications agency. A former magazine editor-in-chief and screenwriter, Jared brings a creator’s eye to crisis communications, influencer strategy, and message discipline—helping founders and brands get seen, heard, and remembered. Why he matters: in a world where a single tweet can set the tone for your company, Jared shows entrepreneurs how to prepare, pick the right spokesperson (not always the CEO), and turn moments into momentum. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Preparation is everything. Whether it’s a podcast, Zoom, TV hit, or photo—nothing should go unprepared; every touchpoint shapes perception. Choose your face wisely. The most effective spokesperson isn’t always the founder; sometimes a different team member’s story is the hook the market wants. Creativity + hustle wins. Not everyone will craft the perfect headline—but you can still ship great work through execution, speed, and consistency. Great hooks change the game. From “Just Do It” to “$5 Footlong,” concise taglines can redefine brands—and earned media can gift you a line worth running with. Play the whole field. PR today spans social, influencers, crisis, content, thought leadership, events, and more—your strategy must be multi-vertical and fast. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGfIeYg-Qeo Memorable Quote: “Nothing should go unprepared these days.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Bryan Linkedin Globe

Episode #249: Bryan Gerber

Episode #248: Jared Shapiro Part 2

Jared Shapiro of The TAG Experience: Turning Headlines into Growth Jared Shapiro is the founder of The TAG Experience, a Miami-based PR, branding, and communications agency built by media veterans. In this episode, Jared and Ken dig into modern messaging, crisis communications, and why preparation—not pure charisma—wins in the spotlight. With Miami’s explosive growth and “plenty of shenanigans,” Jared’s team helps brands shape narratives, avoid unforced errors, and seize momentum across PR, social, and influencer channels. A former magazine editor-in-chief and author, Jared brings newsroom rigor to brand storytelling: find the hook, craft the headline, and deliver it cleanly across the right platforms. This conversation is packed with practical insights for founders, solopreneurs, and scaling teams who need their message to land—especially when the stakes (or the audience) are big. Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Preparation beats improvisation. Whether it’s a podcast, Zoom, TV hit, or photo op, go in with a plan—nothing should be left to chance. Pick the right face for the brand. The CEO doesn’t have to be the only spokesperson; elevate credible team voices when they’re a better fit for the story. Speed + reach = risk. In today’s fast cycles, even “innocent” remarks can be misconstrued—tighten messaging and timing to prevent crises. Creativity is a muscle. Headlines and hooks matter; surround early-career talent with mentors, reps, and high standards to accelerate their judgment. Play the full field. From LinkedIn to TikTok, influencer placements to thought leadership, growth comes from orchestrating multiple channels—not a one-trick strategy. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOSiiAqe7FM Memorable Quote: “Nothing should go unprepared these days.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Jared Linkedin Globe

Episode #247: Jared Shapiro

Jared Shapiro, The TAG Experience — Media Insider Turned PR Powerhouse Jared Shapiro is the founder of The TAG Experience, a Miami-based public relations, branding, and communications agency. A former magazine editor-in-chief and screenwriter, Jared brings a creator’s eye to crisis communications, influencer strategy, and message discipline—helping founders and brands get seen, heard, and remembered. Why he matters: in a world where a single tweet can set the tone for your company, Jared shows entrepreneurs how to prepare, pick the right spokesperson (not always the CEO), and turn moments into momentum. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uveO_kbhus Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Preparation is everything. Whether it’s a podcast, Zoom, TV hit, or photo—nothing should go unprepared; every touchpoint shapes perception. Choose your face wisely. The most effective spokesperson isn’t always the founder; sometimes a different team member’s story is the hook the market wants. Creativity + hustle wins. Not everyone will craft the perfect headline—but you can still ship great work through execution, speed, and consistency. Great hooks change the game. From “Just Do It” to “$5 Footlong,” concise taglines can redefine brands—and earned media can gift you a line worth running with. Play the whole field. PR today spans social, influencers, crisis, content, thought leadership, events, and more—your strategy must be multi-vertical and fast. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uveO_kbhus Memorable Quote: “Nothing should go unprepared these days.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Jared Linkedin Globe

Episode #245: Annette Gallagher Part 2

Annette Gallagher, Red Tornado Communications: From Layoff to Solopreneur Momentum Annette Gallagher is the high-energy founder behind Red Tornado Communications, a writer and strategist who turned a 2020 layoff into a thriving solo practice. In this episode, she breaks down how a journalist’s deadline discipline, a deep professional network, and smart subcontracting let her deliver “full-team” results without building a payroll. If you’re debating the leap from paycheck to client work, Annette’s story is a playbook. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uV9zZf86g4 Top 5 Takeaways from the Episode: Email Marketing Isn’t Dead: Annette emphasizes that while many dismiss email, it remains one of the most powerful tools when done right, especially in B2B. Nuance Matters: A single line in an email can mean the difference between no responses and a 10% success rate. Precision and testing are everything. B2B vs. B2C Marketing: B2C can thrive on discounts and coupons, but B2B requires building trust, speaking to multiple decision-makers, and proving long-term value. Content Marketing Has Deep Roots: From the Guinness Book of World Records to the Michelin Guide, smart content marketing has been driving business for more than a century. The Power of Freelancing: Annette shares her journey of leaving restrictive office environments to thrive as a freelancer, highlighting the freedom, flexibility, and creativity it unlocked. Watch the full episode now on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uV9zZf86g4 Memorable Quote: “If email marketing didn’t work, my inbox wouldn’t be overflowing right now.” Want to be a Guest on our Show? Apply Now Connect with Annette Linkedin Globe