Dating Apps are Broken! | Pascal Zirn on Building Crushy Social and Redefining Social Connection

He Opened Vancouver's First Escape Room, Then Took It To Dragon’s Den

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron is joined by entrepreneur, marketing instructor, and escape room founder Chris Ricard for an in-depth conversation on creativity, resilience, and learning through real-world hustle. Chris traces his entrepreneurial journey from early sales experiences such as working the paper routes, telemarketing, and door-to-door selling, to building and scaling SmartyPantz Escape Rooms, downtown Vancouver’s first escape room business. The discussion unpacks how marketing fundamentals such as identifying the ideal customer and testing for a minimum viable product are put into practice. Chris also shares behind-the-scenes insights into SmartyPantz’s guerrilla marketing, and earned media such as his memorable appearance on Dragon’s Den. The episode also discusses the challenges of scaling across provinces, managing risk, surviving during the early COVID pandemic, and knowing when to exit a venture. The episode concludes with a student Q&A featuring MCT producer Neehaa Kannamreddy. She asks questions around buyer behaviour, entering business partnerships with friends, building operational safety nets, and cross-province expansion. About Chris Ricard Chris has always had the entrepreneurial bug which has led him to start, operate and sell a number of businesses. He is currently teaching marketing at Douglas College and providing marketing services through Sharp End Marketing. His most recent venture was an escape room business called SmartyPantz. They had locations in Gastown, Edmonton and Calgary. They were the first of this type of business to open in Vancouver. Since 2018, he’s been teaching Marketing at Douglas College and says that he “thoroughly enjosy sharing wisdom with the next generation and learning a few things from them too”. Connect with Chris Ricard LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ricard-4b36497/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ricard-4b36497/] Email: chris@sharpendmarketing.com [chris@sharpendmarketing.com] Website: www.sharpendmarketing.com [http://www.sharpendmarketing.com] Connect with Marketing Corner Talks Website: marketingcornertalks.com [http://marketingcornertalks.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1SMydeR2hyVPvZaGf7plMu [https://open.spotify.com/show/1SMydeR2hyVPvZaGf7plMu] Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingCornerTalks [https://www.youtube.com/@MarketingCornerTalks] Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn: @marketingcornertalks Interested in being a guest? Email: info@marketingcornertalks.com [info@marketingcornertalks.com]

Holistic Marketing: The Mindset Shift Every Founder Needs with Lili Molavi

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron sits down with Lili Molavi, CEO of Molavi Consulting Group and RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards nominee, to explore how human-centered strategy and personal well-being shape sustainable business success. Lili shares her journey as an entrepreneur and consultant, discussing how her background in business development, wellness, and leadership coaching shaped her approach to helping founders build resilient companies. She walks us through her core frameworks, including mindset alignment, and designing businesses that supports the people who run them. This conversation offers insights into purpose-driven entrepreneurship and applied leadership. Whether you’re a student marketer, an emerging founder, or simply curious about people-first business strategy, this episode offers a grounded look at what it actually takes to build a company that lasts. About Lili Molavi Lili Molavi is a Vancouver-based entrepreneur, business consultant, and coach with over 25 years of experience empowering entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporations, and nonprofits to achieve sustainable growth and impact. A Woman of Influence Nominee for the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards, Lili is the Founder of Molavi Consulting Corp., where she specializes in strategic planning, business structuring, funding acquisition, and integrated marketing and HR development strategies — including wellness program design for corporate clients. Her consulting experience spans global industries, having collaborated with Fortune Global 500 companies such as Shell, Renault, Sanofi Aventis, Marriott Hotel, and Fortinet, as well as organizations in the health, tech, and nonprofit sectors. Lili has guided numerous clients in securing government grants and loans, building digital platforms, and creating workforce training initiatives that foster organizational success. Beyond her consulting work, Lili is the author of Effortless Beauty and a dedicated mentor to writers and entrepreneurs. A certified Zumba instructor, holistic nutritionist, and life coach, she integrates wellness, creativity, and leadership in everything she does — from corporate wellness programs to community fundraising events for the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation, Cancer Society, and Kidney/Lung Transplant Society. Connect with Lili Molavi LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilimolaviconsulting/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilimolaviconsulting/] Email: info@lilimolavi.com [info@lilimolavi.com] Website: https://lilimolavi.com/ [https://lilimolavi.com/] Instagram: @molavi_consulting Connect with Marketing Corner Talks Website: marketingcornertalks.com [http://marketingcornertalks.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe [https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe] Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn: @marketingcornertalks Interested in being a guest? Email: info@marketingcornertalks.com [info@marketingcornertalks.com]

Teaching Marketing by Bridging Academia and Industry with Dr. Gabriela Birnfeld Kurtz

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, host Dave Keighron launches the show’s new format of blending real-world marketing conversations with student voices and applied learning insights. Joining him is Dr. Gabriela Birnfeld Kurtz, Assistant Professor at the University of the Fraser Valley, whose career bridges academia, digital marketing, and entrepreneurship. Together, they discuss Gabriela’s path from Brazil’s marketing industry to Canadian classrooms. From her early days in digital marketing in Brazil to her current work in data visualization and entrepreneurship, and as a professor, Gabriela shares how research, storytelling, and practical experience shape her teaching philosophy. Together, they explore how educators can prepare students for an AI-driven marketing landscape while keeping creativity, ethics, and human insight at the forefront. Later in the episode, student guest and Marketing Corner Talks producer Neehaa Kannamreddy joins to ask Gabriela questions ranging from building professional networks as an international student and navigating industry connections in a new country, to maintaining one’s individuality while adapting to professional environments. About Dr. Gabriela Kurtz Gabriela Birnfeld Kurtz is an Assistant Professor in the School of Communication at the University of the Fraser Valley, where she teaches and researches at the intersection of marketing, social media, and digital culture. With over a decade of experience in digital marketing across Brazil and Canada, she specializes in B2B strategy, entrepreneurship, brand storytelling, and digital engagement. Her work bridges academic theory and industry practice, helping students connect creativity, analytics, and strategy in today’s digital marketplace. Before joining UFV, Gabriela taught marketing and communication at Douglas College, Langara College, University Canada West, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. She is also a researcher with the DaVInt (Data Visualization and Interaction) Lab at PUCRS, where she studies how interactivity and data visualization shape consumer behaviour and digital experiences. Gabriela holds a Ph.D. in Communication and Information from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, where her award-winning dissertation examined gender and power in video game narratives. Recognized with the QS Reimagine Education Award, she champions experiential learning, storytelling, and inclusive communication. Connect with Dr. Kurtz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielakurtz/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielakurtz/] Email: gabika266@gmail.com [gabika266@gmail.com] Connect with Marketing Corner Talks Website: http://marketingcornertalks.com [http://marketingcornertalks.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe [https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe] Instagram: @marketingcornertalks Interested in being a guest? Email us at: info@marketingcornertalks.com [info@marketingcornertalks.com]

From Lockdown to Launch: How "We Make Games" Built a Hit with "Teddies vs. Monsters"

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks: Business Edition, host Dave Keighron sits down with Javier Lavalle, co-founder of We Make Games, the indie board game publisher behind the breakout hit Teddies vs. Monsters. What began as a pandemic idea amongst roommates has evolved into a fast-growing creative business, selling out its first release in just six months. Javier shares how a background in psychology shaped his player-centered design approach, how his team pivoted from failed digital ads to successful grassroots marketing, and why storytelling and community connection drive their brand. From playtesting struggles to B2B partnerships and global expansion plans, this episode reveals the realities—and surprises—of bringing imagination to the tabletop. About Javier Javier Lavalle is the Co-Founder and Creative at We Make Games, a design studio dedicated to producing highly engaging, strategic card and board games. He serves as an equal partner in the mechanical design of all games, ensuring that every title, including the flagship Teddies vs Monsters, achieves a perfect blend of unique theme and unforgettable playability. Complementing this creative input is Javier’s role as the commercial leader. With over eight years of professional experience in Business Development, Sales, and Marketing, he drives the studio's execution from prototype to storefront. His core focus is on ensuring commercial viability: he designs and manages the full go-to-market strategy, oversees all complex logistics, and builds strong, lasting relationships with key external partners, distributors, and retailers. Javier is focused on scaling We Make Games by translating creative vision into measurable success, ultimately securing long-term growth in the tabletop industry. Connect with Javier and We Make Games. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierlavalle-l/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierlavalle-l/] Website: https://teddiesvsmonsters.com/ [https://teddiesvsmonsters.com/] Instagram: @xavierlavalle, @teddies.vs.monsters Email: gaming@wemakegames.ca [gaming@wemakegames.ca] Connect with Marketing Corner Talks Website: http://marketingcornertalks.com [http://marketingcornertalks.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe [https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe] Instagram: @marketingcornertalks Interested in being a guest? Email us at: info@marketingcornertalks.com [info@marketingcornertalks.com]

Dating Apps are Broken! | Pascal Zirn on Building Crushy Social and Redefining Social Connection

In this episode of Marketing Corner Talks, we sit down with Pascal Zirn, founder of Crushy Social, Inc., to explore what it takes to disrupt the dating app industry. Crushy dares to say no to endless swiping, predatory paywalls, and black-box algorithms, instead, offering a human-first approach to connection. Pascal shares the personal story that inspired Crushy, why he believes current platforms like Tinder and Bumble are broken, and how Crushy is creating a more human-centered, authentic approach to online connection. We dive into the challenges of launching a new social platform, the importance of grassroots marketing, and the bold vision behind building something that resists algorithm-driven engagement. Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, or curious about how digital communities are evolving, this conversation will give you fresh insights into innovation, branding, and staying true to your mission. Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction 01:31 – Inspiration & Conceptualization of Crushy 08:32 – How Crushy Differs from Tinder & Bumble 10:20 – Go-to-Market Challenges & Early Users 15:50 – Pascal’s Vision for Crushy’s Future 17:50 – Lessons Learned: Understanding User Habits 21:11 – Staying Grounded as a Founder 22:58 – Advice for First-Time Tech Founders 24:55 – Connecting with Crushy & Pascal 26:08 – Closing Case Study Connect with Pascal and Crushy Social Inc. Website: https://www.crushy.social [https://www.crushy.social] Instagram: @crushy.social [http://crushy.social] TikTok: @crushy.social [http://crushy.social] Email: hi@crushy.social [hi@crushy.social] Connect with Marketing Corner Talks Website: http://marketingcornertalks.com [http://marketingcornertalks.com] Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917 [https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/marketing-corner-talks/id1729155917] Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe [https://open.spotify.com/show/3brRP5j4Flru1lxjHe6BuN?si=31e0a7bc080c45fe] Instagram: @marketingcornertalks Interested in being a guest? Email us at: info@marketingcornertalks.com [info@marketingcornertalks.com]