Best Ottawa Business Journal Podcasts (2024)

1
How startups can leverage SR&ED to boost cash flow and accelerate growth | Episode 267 20:59

3d ago20:59

20:59

Are you a tech startup that is starving for cash? Or are you an established company that is doing innovative research? How would you like to receive tens of thousands of dollars or hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual recurring incentives from the federal government?In this episode of Techopia Live podcast, OBJ publisher Michael Curran interv…

1
Live! with Common Good Candidate Chris Crothers for County Commissioner in District 4 (Zeeland) 33:45

7d ago33:45

33:45

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Chris Crothers. Chris is running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 4 (Zeeland) as a Democrat. In this final segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll learn how Chris started as a home brewer then started his own brewery, why h…

1
Live! Nick Brock and Doug Pagitt talk about their shared experience along the US-Mexico Border 1:04:18

7d ago1:04:18

1:04:18

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt the executive director of Vote Common Good. Nick and Doug both went to the US-Mexico border in Arizona and Mexico and talk about their shared experience. During this segment from our live event in Holland you'll learn about Nick and Do…

1
Live! Sarah Leach discusses her recent firing, Ottawa Impact, and the crisis of local journalism 52:22

7d ago52:22

52:22

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Leach. Sarah is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist and previously the regional editor for Gannett Media leading The Holland Sentinel and 14 other Michigan papers. During this second segment from our live podcast event in Holland you'll le…

1
Meet Common Good Candidate Marcia Mansaray running for State Representative (85th District) 1:05:44

15d ago1:05:44

1:05:44

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Marcia Mansaray, the Democratic candidate running for State Representative in Michigan’s 85th District. Marcia was the Deputy Health Officer for Ottawa County’s Department of Public Health and emerged as a courageous voice for the community when s…

1
Techopia Live: RVezy on the road to growth | Episode 266 32:52

21d ago32:52

32:52

It’s precisely the time of year when work is winding down and even busy executives are shifting priorities to accommodate summer vacation.The question is, what’s the best way to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of work?Ottawa-based RVezy has an answer to that question: escape to the great outdoors. The online marketplace for recreational vehic…

1
Inside TrueContext’s $150M acquisition | Episode 265 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

More than 20 years after its founding, TrueContext Corp. has been acquired by U.S. private equity firm Battery Ventures in an all-cash deal valued at approximately $150 million.The change in ownership is a big milestone for its founder, Alvaro Pombo, a native of Colombia and former CIO of Newbridge Networks.Pombo founded TrueContext, formerly known…

1
Educating Voters about Michigan's Election Process, with the Kent County Clerk's Office 55:55

1M ago55:55

55:55

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus-Lyons and Chief Deputy Clerk Robert Macomber. The two, both Republicans, have been educating voters about Michigan's new election laws and helping them overcome obstacles to election misinformation. In this episode…

1
Meet Josh Brugger of Grand Haven (District 10) running to return Ottawa County to "boring, reliable and predictable" governance 1:21:01

1M ago1:21:01

1:21:01

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Josh Brugger “the man running to fill Roger Bergman's shoes in Ottawa County. Brugger is running as a Republican for the District 10 seat on the Ottawa County Board of Commissioners after several controversial decisions were made by Ottawa Impact.…

1
Meet Sarah Matwiejczyk running for Ottawa County Prosecutor 52:55

1M ago52:55

52:55

Send us a Text Message. Hey Everybody! Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Sarah Matwiejczyk. Sarah is Ottawa County’s Chief Assistant Prosecutor and is running for Ottawa County Prosecutor as a Republican. In this episode you'll learn how to pronounce Sarah's last name (Ma-toy-sic!), her opinion on what's happened with the Ottawa …

1
Meet Common Good Candidate Phil Kuyers of Grand Haven Twp. (District 9) running to defeat Ottawa Impact 56:42

1M ago56:42

56:42

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with Phil Kuyers the former Ottawa County Commissioner who was first elected to the commission in 2000 and served as board chair for three years. Phil, a Republican, is running again for the District 9 seat (Grand Haven Twp.), which he represented for more than …

1
Techopia Live: Giatec cracking into concrete industry | Episode 264 32:22

2M ago32:22

32:22

What if you could disrupt one of the world’s oldest industries with IoT and artificial intelligence and significantly reduce its carbon footprint? Wouldn’t that be a game changer?That is precisely what Ottawa’s Giatec Scientific is doing.Now 14 years into its mission, Giatec has commercialized academic research into a complete suite of solutions fo…

1
How to Defend Democracy from its Christian Enemies, with Christian Ethicist David Gushee 1:06:12

2M ago1:06:12

1:06:12

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick had the privilege of being in conversation with David Gushee the author of a new book called Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies. The Rev. Prof. Dr. David Gushee is Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University and is one of America's leading Christian ethicists. …

1
Meet Common Good Candidate, Becky Patrick, of District 8 (Allendale Twp.) running to defeat Ottawa Impact 54:38

2M ago54:38

54:38

Send us a Text Message. Hey, West Michigan! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Becky Patrick of Allendale Twp. Becky is running to defeat Ottawa Commissioner / Vice-Chairperson and co-founder of Ottawa Impact, Sylvia Rhodea, in District 8 during the August 6th primary. In this episode you'll learn why Becky was one one o…

1
Techopia-EY Insights magazine launch 2024 | Episode 263 6:41

2M ago6:41

6:41

A who’s who from the Ottawa-Gatineau technology community came together on May 8 to celebrate the second annual Techopia-EY Insights magazine. More than 200 guests gathered at Queen St. Fare to get their hands on the first copies of the magazine. Themed “A new lens on Ottawa’s tech ecosystem,” the magazine included features that examined the state …

1
Satan enters the chat (again) after giving the invocation at the OCBOC meeting 1:01:33

2M ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Send us a Text Message. Hey, West Michigan! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with lifelong resident of Ottawa County Reverend Luis Cypher, a minister of Satan and co-head of the Satanic Temple of West Michigan. Reverend Cypher gave the invocation at the April 23rd Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting. In this episod…

1
Meet Jordan Jorritsma the Republican Commissioner candidate in District 2 (Holland) 1:03:25

2M ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Send us a Text Message. Hey, West Michigan! Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Jordan Jorritsma the Republican candidate running for Ottawa County Commissioner in District 2 (Holland). Jordan is running to defeat Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in the August primary election if she wins her May 7th Recall Election. In …

1
Best Offices Ottawa: How to set your office up for success 33:59

3M ago33:59

33:59

Join us for an engaging webinar on the transformative impact of acoustic pods in today's workplace environment.Acoustic pods have emerged as an innovative solution by providing focus-friendly spaces, flexibility for varied work types and environments that adapt to the needs of users. In this session, we will tap into the evolving needs of modern wo…

1
Is the U.S./Mexico border as dangerous and chaotic as its made out to be? 50:19

3M ago50:19

50:19

Send us a Text Message. Hey, West Michigan! Shawn and I had the privilege of being in conversation with Doug Pagitt, Executive Director of Vote Common Good. In 2021 Doug traveled 3,000 miles along the U.S./Mexico border with his bicycle and experienced first-hand that the border was not as dangerous nor chaotic as its made out to be. Wanting people…

1
Your Opinion - Ebel should participate in voter forum so constituents have all the facts 4:17

3M ago4:17

4:17

Send us a Text Message. "On May 7, voters in District 2 will have the opportunity to vote in the special recall election for their county commissioner. I am running against Ottawa Impact-affiliated commissioner Lucy Ebel. Recently, Commissioner Ebel distributed literature within the district containing several false claims and misrepresentations." …

1
Meet Common Good Candidate Mark Northrup of District 5 running to defeat Ottawa Impact 1:01:07

3M ago1:01:07

1:01:07

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville. Mark is running to defeat Commissioner Board Chair and leader of Ottawa Impact Joe Moss in District 5 during the August 6th primary. And if you know anything about Ottawa County politics the primary election is …

1
Techopia Live: Tepid job market doesn’t dampen spirits at Technata | Episode 262 7:13

3M ago7:13

7:13

If you’re looking to work for a local technology company, be warned, the job market has shifted. Only a few years ago, HR departments were clamouring for fresh recruits. That’s not necessarily the case today, when many tech firms are laying off staff and cutting costs.In this uncertain job market, the Kanata North Business Association organized its…

1
LIVE! with Common Good Candidate Chris Kleinjans of Holland 47:58

3M ago47:58

47:58

Send us a Text Message. Check out this clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. Chris Kleinjans is a Democrat running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel during a special Recall Election occurring on Tuesday, May 7. Chris is also a Common Good Candidate. - Learn more about our Common Good Candidate platform Support the Show. Follow …

1
Techopia Live: Angel investors respond to tight financing market | Episode 261 22:29

3M ago22:29

22:29

With valuations down and a tight venture capital market, tech venture founders are looking for ways to stretch their working capital.In some cases, that means cutting expenses and laying off employees. In other instances, it means going back to early-stage investors for more money.The Capital Angel Network is answering this call in this challenging…

1
Techopia Live: Alfred Jay recollects the big pivot 34:29

3M ago34:29

34:29

There is a misperception in the technology industry that startups can emerge from nowhere and achieve overnight success. While that can happen, it’s definitely the exception. It’s more common for success to emerge after a long period that is defined by setbacks and challenges.Alfred Jay’s entrepreneurial journey began back in 1998, the early days o…

1
"Your Opinion" with Mayor Mark Northrup of Hudsonville 22:42

3M ago22:42

22:42

Send us a Text Message. Check out this 20-minute clip we pulled from our LIVE! event in Holland. Mayor Mark Northrup discusses why Joe Moss' leadership with Ottawa Impact has led to a train wreck in Ottawa County. Support the Show. Follow us on Facebook at Vote Common Good - primaryBy Vote Common Good: West Michigan

1
Common Good Conversations LIVE! 1:42:35

4M ago1:42:35

1:42:35

Send us a Text Message. Hey Everybody! Get ready for an episode packed with laughs and learning... Nick and Shawn had a great time with a live audience where they laughed about their father in-law wanting to try nasal irrigation, debating the correct way to pronounce the grocery store name "Meijer", and Nick testing for a red belt in karate. Kia! N…

1
Upcoming Event: Join Common Good Conversations LIVE in 1 week! 15:04

4M ago15:04

15:04

Send us a Text Message. *This is a shortened promo from our previous promo episode -- A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick and Shawn started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wa…

1
Special Episode: The Soul of Politics, co-sponsored by VCG-WM 1:35:35

4M ago1:35:35

1:35:35

Send us a Text Message. *A live event recorded at Port 393 in Holland on March 10. -- How can we move from a politics of fear to a politics of faith? A discussion with local panelists Dr. Fred Johnson, Professor of Political Science, Hope College Sarah Leach, Editor of the Holland Sentinel Christy Berghoef, Communication Consultant Rev. Dr. Jared C…

1
Techopia Live: Growth by design at Convergence 26:46

4M ago26:46

26:46

Techopia Live is heading out to the Ottawa Valley. Based in Arnprior, Convergence Design Services dates back to the 1990s, but more recently the company has quietly doubled its revenues, ranking sixth on the Fastest Growing Companies in Eastern Ontario.Convergence is keeping pace in the ever-changing world of technology with projects in electric ve…

1
Upcoming Event: The Soul of Politics, Sunday March 10, with Rev. Bryan Berghoef 1:14:10

5M ago1:14:10

1:14:10

Send us a Text Message. Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with the Rev. Bryan Berghoef pastor at Holland UCC to discuss an upcoming event called The Soul of Politics happening March 10 at Port 393 in Holland at 3pm. The event will feature a panel discussion with Dr. Fred Johnson from Hope College, Sarah Leach from the Hollan…

1
Upcoming Event: Join Common Good Conversations LIVE! March 24 in Holland 21:04

5M ago21:04

21:04

Send us a Text Message. A few years ago brothers-in-law Nick and Shawn started doing the unthinkable at family gatherings – talking about politics and faith at the dinner table. While at times tense and cautious those conversations were filled with curiosity, nuance, grace, and humor. Wanting to lean into that experience they decided to start a pod…

1
Techopia Live: Miron focused on paying it forward 29:20

5M ago29:20

29:20

The road to entrepreneurship was a winding one for Adam Miron.While he was a biology student at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Adam got involved in politics with the Liberal Party.It was the early 2000s and Stephane Dion was the Liberal leader. He asked Miron to come to Ottawa to work for the party.For the better part of …

1
Your Opinion - "The Common Good" 16:50

5M ago16:50

16:50

Send us a Text Message. Written and read by Lynn Smith of Holland. "It’s not bad luck that we’re living through the greatest threat to American democracy since the Civil War. Rather, it’s a privilege to live during a time when our actions have immense consequences and we have a unique opportunity to display American common good … not only in our co…

1
Techopia Live: TechTuesday tackles the new normal at work 7:38

5M ago7:38

7:38

Since the beginning of the pandemic, many local technology companies have struggled with how to deal with hybrid and remote work, often referred to as the “new normal” in today’s workplace. There are so many conflicting opinions on how to maintain productivity and engagement in this shifting work environment.In this episode of Techopia Live, corres…

1
The national and local realties of immigration 1:10:50

5M ago1:10:50

1:10:50

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with David Lee and Bill Trenary from Lighthouse Immigration Advocates in Holland. Lighthouse provides direct immigration legal services to thousands of immigrants and refugees and advocates on behalf of immigrants and refugees on the local, state, and …

1
Third time's a charm for funding the Patmos Library 1:00:32

6M ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Tricia Kryda and Carrie Irwin of Jamestown Township. Tricia and Carrie are passionate advocates for the Patmos Library and helped to pass a funding millage for it after being twice defunded. In this episode you'll learn about some all-time favorit…

1
A priest's religious discrimination lawsuit and the creation of a Christian coalition in Ottawa County 1:08:57

6M ago1:08:57

1:08:57

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Rev. Jared Cramer a priest in the Episcopal Church currently serving as Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Grand Haven, MI. Jared also sits on the Steering Committee of the Ottawa Coalition of Unifying Christians (OCUC), a coalition of congr…

1
Techopia Live: How one local internet provider has weathered the storm 29:45

6M ago29:45

29:45

When you think of internet service provider options for Ottawa, you’ll inevitably think of the big national companies that dominate this space, notably Bell and Rogers. What many people fail to realize is that local providers still exist.Way back in the 1990s, in the early days of the Internet, these local providers were essential. Most early adopt…

1
Why did a Satanist "enter the chat" about Ottawa Impact? 1:00:45

6M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Bender Bones an ordained minister from the Satanic Temple of West Michigan. Bender gained attention last year for his public comments at an Ottawa County Board of Commissioners meeting to address Ottawa Impact's Resolution to become a so-called Co…

1
Your Opinion: "Ottawa County Fiasco Almost Beyond Disbelief" 7:59

6M ago7:59

7:59

Send us a Text Message. Dale Wyngarden, a resident of Holland, shares his opinion on why the fiasco between the Ottawa County Commission and Administration is almost beyond belief. Support the Show. Follow us on Facebook at Vote Common Good - primaryBy Vote Common Good: West Michigan

1
Do you live in the Zeeland area and want to get politically involved? 53:38

6M ago53:38

53:38

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Chris Tanner from the Zeeland Area Action Committee. ZAAC! is a group of non-partisan citizens educating and informing the Zeeland Area about local politics and Ottawa Impact. In this episode you'll learn about being a Star Wars nerd, the positive…

1
Techopia Live: The genesis of Mary Yazdani 25:54

6M ago25:54

25:54

Finding a winning idea in the technology sector is really hard. Identifying a concept, understanding market fit, doing the research, and securing clients is a daunting task for Canadian entrepreneurs, let alone new immigrants to the country.Mary Yazdani’s technology career dates back 20 years to her native Iran, where she earned a master’s degree i…

1
What Employers Need To Know About Accessibility Standards In 2024 46:17

6M ago46:17

46:17

Experience has taught rehabilitation counselor and Performance Plus Rehabilitative Care founder Linda Simpson that employers love hiring people with disabilities.Especially when they have trustworthy guidance on the best way to do it.That said, keeping up with standards and regulations isn't easy, especially for small employers operating on a shoes…

1
Meet Christian Kleinjans the candidate running to replace Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel 1:00:02

6M ago1:00:02

1:00:02

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Christian Kleinjans the Democrat running against Ottawa Impact Commissioner Lucy Ebel in Ottawa County's District 2. This recall election will take place on Tuesday, May 7. In this episode you'll learn what a recall election is, why Christian is r…

1
Techopia Live: Growcer ready to flourish in 2024 25:30

6M ago25:30

25:30

If you believe that innovation only happens inside semiconductor chips and software, think again.Two social entrepreneurs from Ottawa are determined to improve food security, especially for Indigenous communities in Canada’s North, through innovation in agriculture.Back in 2015, Corey Ellis and Alida Burke co-founded The Growcer and created a food …

1
Do you live in Grand Haven, Ferrysburg or Spring Lake Township and want to get politically involved? 52:14

7M ago52:14

52:14

Send us a Text Message. Hey, Everybody! Nick and Shawn had the privilege of being in conversation with Karen Obits and Cindy Spielmaker from the Ottawa North Tri-Cities Action Committee. ONTRAC is a nonpartisan, grassroots political action committee dedicated to promoting responsible governance, ethical conduct, fiscal responsibility, transparency,…

1
Techopia Live: What AI means for Ottawa’s tech sector 37:37

7M ago37:37

37:37

The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence in 2023 was the innovation story of the year. It dominated news headlines as well as boardroom discussions. How will AI disrupt existing industries? How can it be used to increase efficiency? What are the broader implications of AI?In this bonus episode of Techopia Live, Michael Curran of Ottawa Bu…

1
Legal trends in the tech sector 13:23

7M ago13:23

13:23

OBJ publisher Michael Curran speaks with Perley-Robertson Hill & McDougall partner Dirk Bouwer about legal trends that are relevant to executives in the technology sector.By Ottawa Business Journal

1
Techopia Live: Inside Wesley Cover with Ben Morris 36:21

7M ago36:21

36:21

Wesley Clover International occupies a unique role in Ottawa’s technology ecosystem. It’s more than a company. It’s a foundation upon which dozens of technology startups have launched and scaled.Wesley Clover was founded by Sir Terry Matthews, the city’s greatest tech icon. After 51 years leading the local tech scene, Matthews is still hands-on wit…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ottawa Business Journal Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide