Going Deep with Aaron Watson

Anthony Pompliano is a co-founder & Partner at Morgan Creek Digital. He leads investments in early-stage startups and cryptocurrency.   He was formerly a product manager at Facebook.   He writes a daily letter analyzing crypto news for institutional investors and a prolific podcast with other top thinkers in finance and crypto.   In this conversation, Pomp and Aaron discuss the Bitcoin halving, economic stimulus, and kindness.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Anthony’s Challenge; Remember to be kind to one another.   Connect with Anthony Pompliano Linkedin Twitter The Pomp Podcast   If you liked this interview, check out our collection of past interviews covering blockchain technology and cryptocurrency. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

Kyshira Moffett is a digital brand strategist, entrepreneur, and author. She’s built a business as a coach helping other businesses and entrepreneurs market themselves effectively.   Kyshira also launched Life of a Bombshell Cosmetics in 2017, offering premium makeup products at an affordable price to businesswomen.    Her experiences in marketing a wide variety of businesses, running a conference (Hustle HER Way Summit), and earning an MBA have given her a wealth of knowledge to call upon.    In this conversation, Aaron and Kyshira discuss live streaming, coaching and launching a cosmetics brand.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Kyshira Moffett’s Challenge; 1. Go live. 2. Find a new book to read.   Connect with Kyshira Moffett Linkedin Twitter Instagram   ThePowerCollective.co   Google Digital Coaches   Kyshira’s Book Recommendations Stiletto Network by Pamela Ryckman  Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi   The Brand Within by Daymond John    If you liked this interview, check out episode 216 with Noah Kagan where we discuss being at Facebook early, building an internet business, and marketing effectively. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on

Tom Lauwers is on a mission to get robots into classrooms. As the founder and chief roboticist at BirdBrain Technologies, he designs educational tools that show students the basics of coding, engineering, and collaboration.   Tom received a Ph.D in robotics in 2010 from Carnegie Mellon, where he initially designed the Finch robot and Hummingbird robotics kit.    The Finch is a small robot designed to inspire students learning computer science by providing a tangible representation of their code.    The Hummingbird is a kit that allows students to create and program robots built from electronic components and craft materials.      In this conversation, Tom and Aaron discuss the design of the learning robot, how to make technology more accessible, and why Tom chose to bootstrap the business. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Tom Lauwers’s Challenge; Reflect on “What could be your superpower for good?”   Connect with Tom Lauwers Linkedin Twitter Instagram Facebook BirdbrainTechnologies.com tom@birdbraintechnologies.com   If you liked this interview, check out these interviews with robotics entrepreneurs Jorgen Pedersen of RE2 Robotics and Jake Loosararian of Gecko Robotics. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on

The Going Deep podcast returned to Fayette county for a second interview with one of the area’s top entrepreneurs. J.D. Ewing, President of COE Distributing, regained control of his company just after the Great Recession.   J.D. had to secure financing from the bank so he could buy inventory. When they asked for a business plan, J.D. estimated the firm would reach $10 million in revenue in 3 years.    COE Distributing ended up blowing past that number to more than $24 million. They did $9 million in the first year.   How?   In this podcast, J.D. explains how he systematically removed the constraints to business growth, how he hires team members, and the important lessons of leadership that anyone can use.   They’ve ridden this process to being named an INC 5000 fastest-growing company for 6 consecutive years.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Focus on getting engaged with your employees, colleagues, and teammates outside of your normal patterns. Connect with J.D. Ewing Linkedin Instagram Website Office Source Furniture   Books Becoming Your Best: The 12 Principles of Highly Successful Leaders by Steve Shallenberger  The Power of Moments: Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact by Chip & Dan Heath Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It...and Why the Rest Don't by Verne Harnish If you liked this interview, make sure you heard our first conversation with J.D (episode 407). Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Hear

Marco Marandiz is a Co-founder and Head of Marketing for Elliot, a global commerce startup based in NYC.   Prior to Elliot, Marco spent time as a strategist for high-potential DTC brands and led digital product teams at HomeAway and CapitalOne. Through building and shipping products that served hundreds of millions of users, Marco learned about what makes products work in the digital realm.   In this podcast, you’ll hear Aaron and Marco discuss how commerce on the internet is getting easier, how Twitter threads helped Marco advance his career, and why brands need to have a distinct voice.   Marco is speaking at Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart in 2020.   Marco Marandiz’s Challenge; Focus on one channel. Communicate your opinion clearly on one topics and be consistent.   Connect with Marco Marandiz Linkedin Twitter elliot.store   If you liked this interview, check out episode 394 with Ryan Kulp where we discuss How to buy small companies, speaking your mind, and managing risk. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast | Spotify

What’s a doctor to do when they become disenchanted with the healthcare system? Dr. Timothy Wong decided the answer was to start his own micro-practice.   In his office in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Dr. Wong sees ~20 patients per day and only charges $35 for a visit.    This allow people without health insurance to get the care they desperately need. Dr. Wong believes that healthcare needs to be simple, needs to be about the patient & the doctor, and needs to be accessible.   His business model allows that to happen.   In this conversation, Dr. Wong and Aaron discuss how he got the idea for iHealth Clinic, how care gets delivered at his practice, and the way this model can spread & inspire change. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Dr. Timothy Wong’s Challenge; Let other healthcare providers know about direct-access primary care.   Connect with Dr. Timothy Wong Facebook iHealht Clinic website directaccessprimary.com   If you liked this interview, check out episode 399 with Hayden Cardiff where we discuss spinning a software company out of another firm, raising a $9 million Series A, and hiring in a high-growth startup. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast |

Jack Welsh is the co-owner of LumberjAxes and Sliders Curling. He has successfully transitioned from a union job and bartending gig into running a business that delivers genuinely unique experiences.   He and his co-founders first came across axe throwing in Philadelphia and decided to bring the concept to Pittsburgh. It’s been a winner and has grown to multiple locations.   To keep the momentum going, he has now opened Sliders Curling in the adjacent lot to offer competitive, bar-style curling to their customers.   In this conversation, you’ll hear Jack and Aaron discuss the origins of the company, how Jack transitioned out of his day job, and the capital required to get the company off the ground. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Jack Welsh’s Challenge; Go out of town to find some new entertainment options.   Connect with Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Instagram Facebook Axethrowingpgh.com   Connect with Sliders Curling Instagram Facebook Slidersbarandgames.com   If you liked this interview, check out episode 184 with Ed Bailey & Day Bracey where we discuss comedy, drinking partners podcast, and creative partnership. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on iTunes |

Bill Sarris has been in the candy business for more than 40 years. Upon graduating from college, Bill joined his father’s business and has overseen significant growth while building a Sarris Candies into a regional leader in chocolates.   Sarris Candies was started by his father Frank in the family’s basement. Behind Bill’s efforts, the company grew to include more than 350 employees and $16 million in annual sales.   Today, the Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour fill an area the size of a football field with over 100 yards of chocolate, penny candy, ice cream, and plush toys.   In this conversation, Bill and Aaron discuss flying to Europe to buy equipment in the 70s, Sarris’ five channels of revenue, and the strategic acquisition of Gardeners Candies.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Bill Sarris’s Challenge; If you find something you like, go after it.   Connect with Bill Sarris Linkedin Twitter Instagram Facebook Sarris Candies Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 306 with Bryan Salesky where we discuss Argo Ai, self-driving cars, and what he learned from the DARPA challenge. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast

Glen Meakem is the founder & CEO of a permanent cloud photo storage and sharing company called Forever. He previously took his first technology startup, FreeMarkets, public in late-1999.   FreeMarkets grew up during the height of the Dotcom Bubble and reached a peak valuation of over $10 billion. While the spectacular highs of the bubble could not last, underneath the market Glen was tripling revenues each year and operating.   After selling FreeMarkets to Ariba in 2004, Glen started angel and venture investing. Some of his most successful investments include Kiva Systems (sold to Amazon), HotPads (sold to Zillow), and Niche.com.   After wrapping up a successful venture career, Glen returned to being an entrepreneurial operator. Forever was built because Glen was frustrated by the short-term business models and incentives offered from other cloud storage providers.   In this podcast interview, you’ll hear Glen and Aaron discuss timeless leadership principles, how to recognize a business opportunity, and stories from the tech bubble. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Glen Meakem’s Challenge; Don’t sit on the sidelines. Get in the game and take action. Walk through the door. Be ethical. Be kind.   Connect with Glen Meakem Linkedin Forever.com   If you liked this interview, check out episode 303 with Luke Skurman where we discuss founding Niche, recruiting engineering talent, and why follow-through is so important. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube TikTok Instagram Subscribe on

Dr. Gordon Vanscoy is the founding Chairman and CEO of PANTHERx Rare, the nation’s leading rare disease and orphan drug-focused pharmacy.   PANTHERx Rare assists patients in navigating the complex process of getting orphan & precision medicines. They also help innovative biotechnology entrepreneurs get their medicines approved by insurers and healthcare providers.   Prior to PANTHERx, Dr. Vanscoy developed 7 health care companies while concurrently serving  in various leadership roles at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Today, he serves as Pitt’s Associate Dean for Business Innovation and Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics.   In this conversation, you’ll hear Dr. Vanscoy and Aaron discuss the growth of precision medicine, why he came out of semi-retirement, and the staggering rate of growth.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Gordon Vanscoy’s Challenge; Do more research on the treatment of Rare Diseases.   Connect with Gordon Vanscoy Linkedin Twitter Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 340 with Craig Markovitz where we discuss university technology transfer, creating $300m in shareholder value, and building a loyal team. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work with Fortune 500s, medium-sized companies, and entrepreneurs.   Sign up for one of Piper’s weekly newsletters. We curate links to Expand your Mind, Fill your Heart, and Grow your Tribe.   Follow Piper as we grow YouTube Instagram Subscribe on iTunes | Stitcher |