Mental well-being is Don’s business and he really knows his stuff. Nick and Don question why there isn’t more focus on the emotional well being of workers in the workforce, how to design the workplace and workforce of the future, and what it means to strive for authentic happiness. Can software or technology be built to assist in this movement towards better well being, or is this a process thing? Or, is it just adoption and awareness? Want to take this episode with you? ...

As current events change the course of our country’s education, what will be left behind when the dust settles? How can we use the current situation as a springboard to incite changes that have been on the verge of existence for a long time? The value of cultural norms such as a college degree is changing by the day, alongside the way in which institutions deliver those norms. In Episode 5, Nick talks with Jessica Mitsch about how the education system in America needs to change, how technolog...

With the evolution of technology and the availability of information on Google, is using an attorney to help your business still important? Where does the balance exist between doing your own research to save money and paying a professional to save time? It turns out that, even in the midst of increased automation, sometimes the use of an attorney can be vital in any business plan. In episode 4, Nick talks with Jesse Jones, Founding Lawyer at Fourscore Business Law, about the evolution of the...

In the midst of a pandemic, the task that many of us are focusing on is how to “return to normal.” The goal for many is the go back to the way things used to be before COVID-19 drastically changed life as we know it. Why does that have to be the case? Why can’t we use this time to get to a better version of how the world used to be? With a virus turning the conventions of our society upside down, we need to look at what we should keep and what we should change. In episode 3, Nick talks with M...

As technology continues to change the way the economy works, how are politicians changing with it? What can we do to ensure that those who aren’t technologically inclined can keep up in an age of continued growth in automation and production through blockchain technology? In episode 2, Nick talks with Eric Porper, Co-Chair of the North Carolina Blockchain Initiative, about his work in helping politicians encourage technology as an industry, and helping them adjust to the fact that companies a...

What does it take to be an entrepreneur? To turn your passion into a business that you love to run? In modern-day America, it’s easy to think of entrepreneurship as something that’s untouchable – only accessible to those who have an excellent education or an incredible mind. We think of Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, or any other world-changing innovator. The result? We don’t try it ourselves. The reality is that, with hard work and the right amount of dedication, you can turn your interests in...

We have an opportunity to create an entirely new ecosystem for the entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship community that is responsible for driving innovation and change in business that puts diversity at the forefront of everything it does. The conversation in this episode will expand your thinking, articulate what is wrong, and provide proactive and positive solutions that will inspire us. I end the interview with a Nobel Prize prediction. In episode 7 of the Next Matters Most podcast...

Pierce Freelon is a musician, director, and Durham City Council Member. Pierce is the founder of Blackspace, an Afrofuturism digital maker space for teens in Durham. He is the writer, composer, and co-director of the PBS animated series, The History of White People in America. He is a co-founder of Beat Making Lab, a PBS web-series, which won Best Video Essay for its episode Heartbeats of Fiji at the 2015 Daytime Emmy Awards. His latest project is a children’s music album, titled D.a.D, which...

Why are community ecosystems important? What can they provide to a community? Today, Jim Roberts and Nick Jordan talk about what an ecosystem can provide to large and small communities. Jim has been involved in community ecosystem building for many years. With notable success throughout North Carolina and the United States. In episode 9 of the Next Matters Most podcast, Jim and Nick talk about why an ecosystem is important for all communities, how entrepreneurs can improve ecosystems, and whe...

In this episode of Next Matters Most, we speak with David Morris & Patrick Lineberry, attorneys at law, about Opportunity Zones, Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds, Qualified Opportunity Zone Businesses, and what this means for investors, small business owners, and communities. Will this be just a rush towards faster gentrification, or will it be a reviving and renaissance effect on currently depressed communities? A tool for the rich to get richer, or for more underrepresented businesses t...

We all know that entrepreneurship is tough; their many challenges, headaches, and stress points to overcome before starting a business. Keeping these points in mind, add the detail that the entrepreneur is in college, and the challenge of starting a business goes up exponentially. Despite these oppositions, Nina Barnett overcame them while being a female within a male-dominated space. In episode 11 of The Next Matters Most podcast, Nina, the owner and founder of Grooop, talks about how she ov...

Leadership can have many different forms, but how do you know which one is right for you or your business? In episode 12 of the Next Matters Most Podcast, Walter Pinson, President of Smashing Boxes, talks with Nick Jordan about how he learned how to lead himself and his various teams through personal and business obstacles. Walter has a fair share of leadership experience, from building his own companies to companies like Microsoft and Unboxed. The two also discuss how CIO advisors can help b...

In the first episode of season two of the Next Matters Most Podcast, we are talking with Ryan Kraudel, VP of technology at Valencell, an inventor and maker of wearable and hearable biometric sensor technology that can monitor and measure key vitals in the body such as blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and more. These readings and more can help us do a better job of preventing and managing such major health issues as Cardiovascular disease (CVD), Respiratory issues, and Hypertension whi...

Will Barfield, is a seasoned builder of sales teams and is currently the founder and principal of Barfield Revenue Consulting which helps companies of all sizes identify talent, build teams, and scale the revenue side of their companies. In this episode we discuss our local ecosystem and what we are best at as it relates to scaling sales organizations, key tips for founders adding sales to their startups, and how to grow your LinkedIn connections from a few thousand to over 14,000 in less tha...

Gavin Jocius is an experienced ecommerce operator building brands, recently CanvasonDemand into an 80M juggernaut which exited in 2019. Currently, Gavin is forging his own path into entrepreneurship through his search fund, Riverside Ventures. In this episode we will talk about ETA, entrepreneurship through acquisition, as well as trends in digital commerce, social media and the future of advertising. Highly experienced eCommerce professional with over nineteen years of experience in i...

Daniel Scagnelli is a driven, results-oriented, customer-focused technology professional with diverse industry experience, strong business acumen, and an unbridled passion for building strong partner relationships and customer loyalty. Daniel has been a leader/executive in the startup technology scene for the past several years with a professional focus on the post-sale customer life cycle. Hear how he got into startups, life in the startup scene in non-Silicon Valley markets, as well as why ...

Tom Snyder is a senior-level manager with substantial experience building and leading global teams, technology development, product design, and introduction. He and his team have a proven innovation skillset with over 25 US patents issued. Currently the Executive Director at RIoT, he has a highly developed skillset for budget and schedule management, staff development, and driving innovation. In episode 5 of the Next Matters Most Podcast, Tom and Nick talk about the impact data technolo...

Whitney Marston Pierce has two decades of creative/marketing consulting experience. Originally advised established companies in connecting with a younger generation. Since then, she has continued to connect brand and audience through multiple industries. As CMO for startups spanning finance to art, fashion to music, and tech to medical devices, she turns exciting ideas into viable, vibrant businesses. Known for her uncomplicated aesthetic and innate knowledge of the human condition, she creat...

Brandon King is a football star turned programmer and entrepreneur. While in the NFL, Brandon learned many lessons about staying focused, being one with your team, and understanding the opposite team. These teachings allowed him to go on to successfully launch his own startup based around music concert experiences. Although Brandon helped bring all the pieces together, he had a major lead ahead when he decided to teach himself programming and start developing his own app. Want to take ...

We’d like to give a warm welcome to Maria Kingery! Maria co-founded Southern Energy Management with her husband in 2001. Since then, she has helped pioneer the residential energy efficiency and solar industries in North Carolina and beyond. Being deeply committed to sustainable business practices, Maria believes businesses have the greatest power to drive positive change. After a couple of years of implementing the EOS system at SEM, Maria was so inspired by the amazing work her team was doin...