Kickstart Connections

Hosted by BNV Media

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Dec 2025

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About the show

Welcome to the Kickstart Connections Podcast, hosted by Lucinda Underwood. This podcast is your go to for conversations around entrepreneurship and the unique stories behind businesses across Canada. Each episode features entrepreneur interviews recorded here in our beautiful studio in Halifax, or recorded live from our pop-up podcasts at conferences and events nationwide. We are a team of business owners ourselves, specializing in sales, marketing and media, and we use our platforms and expertise to showcase the people and stories behind a variety of creative business concepts. If you are a entrepreneur who would like to share your story, or an event organizer wanting to elevate your next event we want to hear from you! Please check out our website: www.kickstartconnections.com and connect with us. You can also follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. Kickstart Connections – Your Business, Your Story.

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40 recent

December 11, 2025Episode 745 min

Motivation Won't Save You: Discipline, Purpose & Parenting While Running a Business

After a long hiatus, Marc and Lucinda are back – and a LOT has changed. In this episode, the hosts reunite in the studio to share some huge life and business updates: They've both been quietly navigating pregnancy (well Lucinda and Marc's fiancé!) They're both expecting baby boys (Marc's baby boy was born a week after this was recorded!) And they're both figuring out what entrepreneurship + parenthood + work–life balance actually looks like in real time. They talk honestly about: - Unexpected pregnancies (including being told kids "weren't in the cards") - Terrifying first trimesters, extreme exhaustion, and baby brain - The pressure entrepreneurs feel around maternity leave and "getting a real job" - Why flexibility is the new currency for parents - Big wins for BNV Media and Lucinda's Leadership Foundations program 🎧 If you're an entrepreneur, parent, or leader trying to juggle it all, this one's for you. Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 02:15 - Marc's and Lucy's big news 03:08 - Rough pregnancy, 6–8 weeks barely leaving bed, trying to schedule the episode, and being forced to learn prioritization. 05:00 - Sleep deprivation, partners stepping up, and the reality of pregnancy exhaustion vs the "just get your rest now" comments. 07:18 - The fear spiral: "Do I need to go get a "real" job?" 09:09 - Why flexibility matters more than salary for new parents, working from home, optimism vs reality, and choosing to believe it will all work out. 13:33 - Studio babies, bringing kids to work, the flexibility of being your own boss 14:49 - Baby brain stories 16:38 - Exhaustion and first trimester challenges 20:26 - Perspective: not letting money, stress and "adulting" ruin "the most magical experience of your life." 21:22 - Marc's BNV update 30:28 - Lucinda's year: incorporating, niching into automotive, and rolling out sales training for the second largest dealer group in Canada. 47:32 - Marc on fatherhood, perspective, and purpose 49:35 - Motivation vs discipline

November 11, 2025Episode 656 min

From Fredericton to the Academy Museum: Jon Mann's Stephen King Short Popsy Earns Hollywood Honour

Kickstart Connections is back, and host Marc Boudreau welcomes Jon Mann (the first ever guest of BNV Media's first podcast Brand New View!) — filmmaker, storyteller, and creator of the award-winning short film Popsy, based on a Stephen King story. Popsy is being honoured next week at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures where the Academy will be honouring 5 Stephen King shorts that were created through the Dollar Baby program. Marc and Jon dig into the creative process behind horror filmmaking, why fear connects audiences universally, and how Mann's Atlantic roots helped shape his voice. Jon also teases his latest project, Sweetie — a new horror feature exploring the next chapter of his storytelling evolution. Jon Mann is a Canadian writer-director and producer whose work spans narrative, documentary, and television. His 2018 Stephen King adaptation Popsy was selected as one of only six films to screen at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures' celebration of the 47-year history of the Dollar Baby program, where he was the sole Canadian filmmaker featured. Mann's projects have premiered at festivals worldwide, earned dozens of awards, and include credits across film, music videos, and series development for Canadian broadcasters. Show notes: 0:00 – The return of Kickstart Connections 2:00 – Revisiting Popsy seven years later 6:00 – The legend of Stephen King's Dollar Baby Program 10:00 – From Fredericton to New York Film Academy 18:00 – Getting emails from @theoscars 27:00 – Why horror still matters 40:00 – What's next: Sweetie and the future of Canadian horror 44:00 – Jon's best advice for filmmakers and entrepreneurs

April 4, 2025Episode 557 min

Women Driving Change: Reimagining Automotive Careers

What happens when three women in automotive come together to talk candidly about careers, leadership, and breaking down industry barriers? You get a bold, honest, and inspiring conversation - and that's exactly what this episode delivers. In this special Women's Month episode of Kickstart Connections, Lucinda is joined by Jessi Kessel and Farah Mohammed of Beepzz - a bold new HR platform designed to connect top talent with employers in the automotive industry. We dive into what's changed in the industry over the past five years, especially post-pandemic, and explore the evolving role of women in automotive careers. From breaking down the myths we grew up hearing, to discussing what women really want in executive roles and sharing advice for anyone considering a career in auto, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and honest conversation. We also explore what the industry needs to do to attract and retain more women, and how platforms like Beepzz are helping to reshape the future of automotive hiring. Whether you're in the industry or just love hearing women challenge the status quo, this is one you won't want to miss. Connect with Beepzz: Website: www.beepzz.ca Jessi: jessik@beepzz.ca Farah: farahm@beepzz.ca Instagram & Facebook: @beepzzcanada Connect with Lucinda: Website: www.kickstartconsulting.ca lucinda@kickstartconsulting.ca

March 3, 2025Episode 444 min

To Scale or Not to Scale: Growing Your Business | The Psychology of Marketing: What Does it All Mean?

On today's episode of Kickstart Connections, hosts Marc and Lucinda are chatting about whether or not you should scale your business and what that looks like depending on the route you choose. They also talk about the psychology behind marketing and go through a few examples of how brands leverage psychology to connect with customers. They finish off with a special segment of Marketing in the News with exciting news from Kickstart Consulting and BNV Media. Tune in now! Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 2:10 - Should you scale your business? 25:25 - Are you there God? It's Me, Marketing: The Psychology of Marketing 35:45 - Marketing in the News Psychology of Marketing: https://wisernotify.com/blog/psychological-marketing-examples/#:~:text=Marketing%20campaigns%20create%20a%20sense,this%20psychological%20trigger%2C%20encouraging%20purchases. FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca

February 14, 2025Episode 341 min

Top 8 Networking Tips | Marc's Favourite Guerilla Marketing Campaigns | Marketing in the News

January 29, 2025Episode 252 min

S3E2: 8 Mindsets You NEED As An Entrepreneur | Marc's Favourite Super Bowl Commercials | Marketing In The News

This episode is brought to you by BNV Media and Kickstart Consulting. To learn more about what we do and how we can help, visit our websites below: BNV Media: www.bnvmedia.ca Kickstart Consulting: www.kickstartconsulting.ca On today's episode, Lucinda and Marc are discussing what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and break down the 8 mindsets you'll need to achieve. They also introduce their new segment – Are you there God? It's Me, Marketing – or something like that.. and on today's segment, Marc breaks down his top 5 favourite Super Bowl commercials of all time. The two finish off with segment number two – Marketing in the news – with some interesting news on marketing budgets moving forward, the numbers behind trend jacking, as well as a notable omission from this year's Super Bowl ad line up. Tune in now! Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 5:25 - 8 mindsets you NEED to have to be a successful entrepreneur 30:30 - Are You There God? It's Me, Marketing: Marc's Top 5 Super Bowl commercials of all time 41:30 - Marketing in the news Super Bowl Ads Links: Number 5: Coca Cola and Mean Joe Green - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xffOCZYX6F8 Number 4: Reebok's Office Linebacker - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kg5cdZ-Fnpc Number 3: It's a Tide Ad - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpaLHwwYxE8 Number 2: Budweiser's Whassup? - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJmqCKtJnxM Number 1: Volkswagen Darth Vader - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n6hf3adNqk FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca

January 15, 2025Episode 11 hr 8 min

S3E1: 2025 Kickoff | Top 5 Marketing Trends | Should Your Business Start a Podcast?

On today's episode, co-hosts Lucinda and Marc are welcoming in 2025 with lots of energy and excitement for the year! They look back on 2024 with lessons learned as well as what they expect to see in 2025 and they also break down 5 marketing trends they think will be big in 2025 and finish off the podcast with the top 5 businesses/industries that should be starting a podcast! The podcast will look a bit different moving forward with Marc and Lucinda hosting bi-weekly episodes on marketing, business ownership, entrepreneurship, and current trends in their industries. We'll still be having on guests so if you're a business owner or entrepreneur that wants to come on the podcast and share your story, please reach out to us at marc@bnvmedia.ca. Tune in now! Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 4:40 - Looking back on 2024 19:15 - Levelling up your events and conferences 23:45 - Full service podcasts for businesses 31:20 - 5 marketing strategies that will do well in 2025 46:55 - 5 businesses and industries that can benefit from a podcast in 2025 FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS ON: INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA ON: INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca

October 24, 2024Episode 1130 min

S2E11 | Superyacht; Super Couple with Adam and Amanda Langley

On today's episode of Kickstart Connections, host Lucinda is joined by Adam and Amanda Langley. The two established A. Langley Developments Inc., a waterfront development and marketing agency in 2021 and Superyacht East Coast, a yacht support and destination marketing agency in 2022. The three discuss how Adam and Amanda moved from traditional jobs to the world of entrepreneurship, how they leveraged their knowledge of the industries they worked in, and what the future holds for their two businesses. Tune in now! Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction to Adam and Amanda Langley 00:35 - What is A. Langley Development and Superyacht East Coast 12:25 - Transitioning from traditional jobs to entrepreneurship 22:30 - What lies ahead for Adam and Amanda Find Adam and Amanda on: Website: superyachteastcoast.com Website: alangleydevelopments.com Instagram:/www.instagram.com/superyachteastcoast/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/superyachteastcoast LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/superyacht-east-coast/ Yachting Canada (podcast): https://audioboom.com/playlists/4635510-yachting-canada FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast ON TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@kickstartconnections?lang=en ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca

August 7, 2024Episode 1039 min

S2E10 | Celebrating African Creativity and Vibrancy in Fashion and Beyond with Robert Mbu Batuo

On today's episode we are joined by the amazing talent, Robert Mbu Batuo, CEO and co-founder of Batuo Inc. Marc and Robert discuss his journey in the fashion industry, including what inspired him to create Batuo Inc. as well as the qualities that make a great leader, the importance of creating safe spaces and healthy cultures within an organization, and of course they preview the upcoming Halifax Fashion Week where Robert will be showing off a new collection on August 15th at the Queen's Marque in downtown Halifax. Tune in now! Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 5:50 - Robert's pursuit in the fashion industry and the creation of his company Batuo 12:30 - Batuo's fashion inspirations 17:20 - Creating a safe space within Batuo 24:05 - How does BATUO celebrate diversity and foster an inclusive environment? 29:25 - Halifax Fashion Week preview with Batuo 34:50 - What does the future hold for Batuo? FIND ROBERT ON: WEBSITE: https://batuo.ca/ INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/batuoinc/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@batuoinc YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCden7wk7C2YNcsovPN6Ko9A FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast ON TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@kickstartconnections?lang=en ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca

July 17, 2024Episode 928 min

S2E9 | The Mindset Project with Jason Davis | Ralli Marketing

On this week's episode, we have a returning guest! Jason Davis of Ralli Marketing is back to chat with Lucy about all things entrepreneurship, in particular, the Mindset Project. The Mindset Project is an initiative designed to uncover what is holding entrepreneurs back in Nova Scotia. One of their studies in 2017 found that 72% of entrepreneurs in Nova Scotia are not getting what they want from their business, a number that ranks dead last among all Canadian provinces. If you're an entrepreneur, click this link (https://www.themindsetproject.ca/) and take the Mindset Project survey to help the initiative get to the bottom of this problem and find solutions. Show notes: 00:00 - Introduction 00:35 - What is the Mindset Project? 5:30 - Why aren't entrepreneurs feeling supported in Nova Scotia? 12:55 - Current outlook of the Mindset Project 17:00 - Why are entrepreneurs feeling discouraged? 20:05 - How can local entrepreneurs get involved with the Mindset Project? CHECK OUT THE MINDSET PROJECT: https://www.themindsetproject.ca/ FOLLOW JASON DAVIS: ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/jason-davis-80154033/?originalSubdomain=ca ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/itsjasondavis/ FOLLOW KICKSTART CONNECTIONS: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kickstartconnectionspodcast ON TIKTOK: www.tiktok.com/@kickstartconnections?lang=en ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/kickstart-connections/ FOLLOW BNV MEDIA: ON INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/bnv.media ON LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/company/bnv-media/?originalSubdomain=ca