Bright Lights: Consumer Trends in Conversation with element54

Jake Karls - Building Mid-Day Squares with Energy, Emotion, and Authenticity

Join Bernie Malinoff as he sits down with Jake Karls, the founder and emotional heartbeat behind Mid-Day Squares. In this conversation, Jake dives deep into what it means to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and energy in both business and life. From pranking friends to building a CPG brand that resonates with millions, Jake shares the lessons he’s learned about emotional transparency, managing burnout, and the power of connecting with people through storytelling. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a leader, or someone looking for inspiration to bring more of your true self into your work, this episode is packed with insights on building community, fueling creativity, and staying unapologetically real.

Pino Di Ioia - From Summer Job to CEO: Making Happy Happier

BeaverTails CEO Pino Di Ioia joins host Bernie Malinoff to unpack a 38-year journey from summer job to franchisee to owner of an iconic Canadian brand. Pino shares formative lessons from his immigrant parents, the golf-course side hustle that revealed his entrepreneurial streak at 11, and how family, community, and service shaped his leadership. We get candid on setbacks (including a literal “lemonade” mishap), the art of flavor drops and innovation without losing your roots, and why supporting youth mental health through Jack.org aligns with BeaverTails’ purpose to “make happy happier.” The conversation closes with legacy, passion, and the emotions great hospitality creates.

Season 3, Episode 2- The Future of Insights and Conferences with Jasmine Sachdeva

With the upcoming global insights and analytics ESOMAR Congress in Toronto this September, we ask three questions to industry leaders, including what excites them most about the future of insights. In this episode, we speak with Jasmine Sachdeva, who leads the consumer, shopper, and analytics Centre of Excellence for Arterra Canada. Arterra owns and distributes 100+ wine brands in Canada, including Jackson-Triggs, Inniskillin, and Sandbanks.

Season 3, Episode 1 - The Future of Insights and Conferences with Kristin Luck

With the upcoming global insights and analytics ESOMAR Congress in Toronto this September, we ask three questions to industry leaders, including what excites them most about the future of insights. Our first guest is Kristin Luck, President of ESOMAR, and founder of the consultancy, ScaleHouse, where she serves as an advisor and growth strategist to firms in the marketing services and technology space.

Season 2, Episode 4 - Sustainable Futures: An interview with Equifruit, the Canadian market leader of Fairtrade bananas

Learn about sustainability from two special guests from Equifruit: Jennie Coleman, Owner and President and Kim Chackal, Director of Sales and Marketing. Get insights into the supply chain of the fruit that is in over 90% of weekly Canadian grocery baskets, what each individual can do to help support sustainable practices, and why companies should be bold about what they're doing in this space.