In this episode of Venture unscripted., Josh Barker, Founder and CEO of City Innovations, talks with Mike Gatny, the Chief Operating Officer at Connamara. The episode revolves around Mike’s journey not only in software development but how he helped Connamara shift from service-oriented goals into product-oriented success. ➡️ For more information ab…

In the latest Venture unscripted., City Innovation’s Josh Barker sat down with the co-CEOs of Atomic Object, Mike Marsiglia and Shawn Crowley, to dissect some of their extensive insights into the world of custom software development. Check out the podcast to learn about Mike and Shawn’s experiences navigating the complexities of software innovation…

Adaptability and the ability to embrace change are essential qualities for success. In this episode of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker sat down with business leader Ron Neary, to dive into his invaluable insight on how to generate success through adaptability. Ron has been in the business world for nearly 30 years, and has held leader…

For many of us, pets are more than just animals who live in our homes — they’re family. And when it comes to taking care of family, you have to do it the right way. In this edition of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker sits down with the co-founders of Vetr, a mobile veterinary care service that was developed at the height of the COVID-1…

What if you could get the cheat code to successful entrepreneurship? Would you play to win? Or would you enjoy the journey and explore the side quests? In this edition of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker sits down with world-renowned gamification expert, developer, and author Yu-kai Chou for insights on how to gamify entrepreneurship, …

No two journeys of innovation and entrepreneurship will look the same. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a creative thinker, or simply someone eager to learn from those who have walked unconventional paths, understanding how your collective experience can inform your journey might completely change your trajectory. This is exactly what happe…

If you’re looking for instant success, the world of startups might not be for you. When you have an idea that you want to make into a reality, it will take time and a healthy dose of persistence. In this edition of Venture unscripted., City Innovations CEO, Josh Barker, sat down with Todd Kuslikis, a health and fitness entrepreneur with plenty of a…

Entrepreneurship can be a difficult, but often rewarding roller coaster ride. One moment, you could be flying high and the next, you might be at the very bottom of a dip. And depending on the coaster design, you might go full circle. So, are you up for the ride? In this edition of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker sits down with Matt Gi…

Entrepreneurship is an extraordinary journey. The ups, downs, and everything in between often determines where your ventures go and how well they succeed. In this edition of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker sits down with longtime entrepreneur and filmmaker John Pottenger to talk about what a 20-year career in entrepreneurship entails …

Every team, venture, and startup has a story to tell. In this special edition of Venture unscripted., podcast host Josh Barker looks inward at City Innovations’ team to pick the brain of Thad Senti, Chief Digital Officer at the company. Thad has a unique entrepreneurial history and brings a special kind of experience and perspective to the table th…

According to 2022 data from Statista, there are over 70 million freelancers in the United States. In 2028, that number is predicted to jump up to a whopping 90 million. But where do all these people work? Of course, some work from home. But wouldn’t that get distracting? And for those who don’t have a home office, where do they work? Surely, not al…

Many people believe "If you build it, they will come.” But that’s almost never the case when it comes to building a venture. So, what does the journey from startup to first customer look like, and how do you become successful in the process? In this edition of Venture unscripted., City Innovations CEO, Josh Barker, sat down with Dr. Mac Adkins, Fou…

Facing complex challenges can put a serious strain on a team. Far too often, a series of seemingly endless meetings leave people frustrated and with little to show for their efforts. But what if there was a proven method for tackling problems that everyone on your team can adopt? A way that leaders, teams, and entrepreneurs could collaborate to dri…

What does innovation look like? How does innovation inspire change and growth? In this episode of Venture unscripted., City Innovations CEO Josh Barker sat down with Jennifer Garbos, the Design Engineering Manager at Hallmark. Josh and Jennifer dig into the intersection of work and entrepreneurship, while providing insight into how Hallmark continu…

There are over 42,000 pieces of space debris orbiting the earth. Unable to perform their original function, this debris poses a risk of colliding with other working objects in orbit and setting off other untrackable cascading collisions. How does one solve this issue? Can anything be done? In this episode of Ventures unscripted., Josh Barker, CEO o…

Having to awkwardly ask a stranger to take a photo of you while on vacation is never on someone’s bucket list. What’s worse is taking a selfie and missing the beautiful monument behind you. Or even more dreadful — a member of your group isn’t in the photo because they have to take the photo. Luckily, you no longer have to go through the pain of mis…

If you’ve been following college sports, you’ll remember that the NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved the “Name, Image, and Likeness” (NIL) policy in June of 2021. This allows student-athletes to make money for their name, image, and likeness. From signing endorsement deals, to selling products, to running clinics — they are now able to gen…

Originally recorded in April 2020. Nature and business have become more intertwined than ever. Not only does it provide a source of inspiration, but it is also a resource that is in need of protection as population size and consumption grows. In this episode of Venture unscripted., Josh Barker, CEO of City Innovations, sat down with Nicole Miller, …

This podcast was originally recorded in June 2019. With multiple moving pieces, people, and processes, creating innovation at the corporate level can be challenging. In this episode of Venture unscripted., Josh Barker, CEO of City Innovations, sat down with Matteo Dariol, the Lead Innovation Strategist at Bosch Rexroth to chat about how Bosch has b…

This podcast was originally recorded in August 2019. Brand perception is one of the most instrumental keys to consumer success. We’ve all been there — scrolling endlessly until something catches our attention and draws us in. Sometimes, we buy particular products based on appearance — it’s not always the quality that influences our buying decisions…

In the past hundred years, the population of the contiguous United States has shifted from living in mostly rural areas to urban and suburban areas. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, urban areas make up only 3% of the entire land area of the country but are home to more than 80% of the population. Whereas 97% of the country’s landmass is rural b…

We're back just in time for the holiday! (close enough) In this episode, Mindy and Josh discuss a catfishing tale with a surprise twist, Easter trivia, and Selena. Mindy also discusses some intense ways Ancient Romans used to execute people. On that note, Happy Easter!

Across the globe, we all need access to great healthcare. The need is especially urgent in the midst of poverty-stricken communities. But how does a social entrepreneur help solve this? Where does one start? These are the questions that Dr. Stephen Letchford and Wesley Brown grappled with over the past few decades. And these are the issues that ins…

We switch it up this week as Mindy & Josh talk all about basketball! In Questioning Florida, Mindy talks about a man who had questionable priorities. Then, she talks about some strange stories from NBA players who spent time overseas. Josh wraps up the episode by discussing the mother of basketball, Senda Berenson Abbott, who fought serious back pa…

We dive into a topic we've probably indirectly covered 50 times by now: shameless dudes! We begin with a discussion about Mindy's new job and a recent trip to Philadelphia. Then, Josh talks about a Florida man who didn't trust the quality of his drugs. Quiz Corner also makes a return as we see what Mindy knows about national pride vs. shame. Mindy …

This week, we look into the world of dating! In Questioning Florida, Josh talks about a guy with an absolutely ridiculous way to protest the mask mandate. Mindy then quizzes him on the courtship rituals of cultures in the past. We wrap up the episode with some #WorstFirstDate stories from Twitter!

We’re all familiar with it — the almost always uncomfortable, awkward conversation when a family member or friend asks to borrow money. Will they be mad if you say no? Do you trust them to pay you back? Why did they have to ask you in the first place? Well, that’s exactly where Brian Bristol found himself in early 2020 when a family member asked to…

We re-visit a topic way back from the early days of the podcast with this episode about terrible men! We begin by talking about the Texas freeze and Josh's bout with COVID. We then discuss a Florida man who had quite an overreaction to a minor situation. Mindy then tells the story of King Leopold II before we wrap up the episode discussing strange …

We welcome special guests Andrew and Michelle back to the show to discuss the frightening world of nightmares! We jump into some of our own experiences with them before Mindy talks about mythical monsters with some...strange attributes. Then, Josh dives into Reddit to find some of the creepiest nightmares people have had.…

Mindy and Josh stumble upon some accidental inventions this week! They discuss birthing-related discoveries, one-wheeled vehicles, and how little they know about illicit drugs. They also talk about a Florida man who came up with a clever(?) way to hide his stash. Then, Josh quizzes Mindy about some failed inventions of the past!…

This week, we look into the world of paranoia! Mindy talks about King Mithridates, who became strangely obsessed with poison after suspecting he'd become a victim of it early in life. Then, Josh reads some stories from Reddit so we can give our un-expert opinions on their level of paranoia. We also discuss a kick-happy Florida woman who couldn't be…

Welcome back! Mindy and Josh return after a long hiatus to talk about heroes with disabilities! In this episode, we discuss our eventful break, peanut butter and jelly whiskey, and a Florida man with an unfortunate name. Mindy also teaches us about the inspiration behind A Beautiful Mind before Josh discusses some of the most disability-friendly co…

We're celebrating 100 episodes today! Mindy and Josh welcome frequent guests Andrew and Michelle to the show to discuss how it began and has grown over the years. Josh also talks about a Florida man who hired an airplane banner that could've been worded a LOT better. Mindy also shares her ranking of something near and dear to her heart. Plus, we li…

This week, we dive into disastrous weddings! After trying a Japanese snack with a questionable ingredient, we bring back "Germany vs. Florida." Mindy then quizzes Josh on some problematic relationships before he wraps up the episode with the ultimate bridezilla. Plus, a special appearance by Mindy's sister!…

This week, Mindy and Josh talk about the strangely dark phenomenon known as anti-Barney humor that has led to multiple lawsuits. Before that, they discuss the dogs getting into trouble when left alone and a Florida man who may have set a record for the most crimes committed in an 18-hour period. Enjoy!…

This week, we welcome Mindy's brother-in-law Geo to the show to talk all about near-death experiences! We start by discussing Mindy's latest tattoo before trying a Japanese candy that had an unexpected flavor. In Questioning Florida, Josh talks about a man, a live gator, and the roof of a bar. Don't ask. Geo then discusses a couple of close persona…

This week, we have Andrew and Michelle on the show to discuss all kinds of animal attacks, both personal and historical. Before that, Mindy and Josh discuss their recent trip to Maryland that included a fireworks disaster. Then, Josh sets a new bar for the weirdest Florida Man headline ever. Then, Michelle talks about a close encounter with a loose…

This week, we get into some strange things people believe in. Before that, we talk about the new podcast equipment and an upcoming trip. Josh then talks about a woman who decided that Circle K was clothing optional in Questioning Florida. Mindy then discusses the extermination of cats in Europe and The Order of the Pug, which was apparently a real …

We're back with an episode all about stories with a twist! First, we discuss another unfortunately lost episode that led to a big upgrade in equipment that should lead to more frequent and better quality episodes! Then, Josh talks about a Florida man who pulled a gun on a Starbucks barista for the most trivial of reasons with a twist ending of its …

This week, we're getting into the summer vibe! In Questioning Florida, we talk about how a dad bringing pizza to his daughter somehow ended in an arrest. Mindy then tries her luck in a summer edition of Spot The Fake. We wrap up the episode with a discussion about the chaos that was the Woodstock Festival!…

Mindy and Josh re-visit a popular past episode based on revenge stories! First, they talk about baby news from family and friends, including a previous guest on the show. Josh then talks about a man that was given a stern warning by police but decided to ignore it anyway in Questioning Florida. Mindy then quizzes Josh on the life of Princess Olga o…

This week, we're talking about interesting inventions! Josh starts the episode by telling a hilarious story of former producer Andrew sleepwalking into an awkward situation. Then, they talk about a Florida woman who delivered Easter eggs with questionable material inside them. Mindy then dives into the life of Ignaz Semmelweis, who was crucial in h…

In this very delayed episode (sorry), Josh and Mindy shift from badass women to badass men! They start by discussing Bob Odenkirk's "Nobody" and the finale of "The Promised Neverland". Then, they do a sparkling water taste test before jumping into a Questioning Florida/Spot the Real mash-up segment! Mindy then tells the story of Marquis de Lafayett…

This week, we talk about an NCAA basketball inequality fail before jumping into an NSFW story of a man that got way too personal with a pickle in Questioning Florida. Then, we shift our attention to a badass woman named Juana Inés de la Cruz, a Mexican philosopher and writer who propelled a movement against misogyny and sexism. Josh then shares a r…

This week is all about toxic people! In Questioning Florida, Josh talks about a man who couldn't do anything right in a robbery attempt. Mindy then tells the story of Isabella of France, whose husband had his eyes on other guys throughout their relationship. We wrap up the episode by talking about the actor Thomas Middleditch and his controversial …

This week, we talk impossible-to-schedule vaccines, Mindy's new fascination with trick shots, and Trump's golden statue. We also play a round of Germany or Florida with Mindy before she talks all about the legendary (and cocky) samurai Miyamoto Musashi!

This week, we re-visit the topic of the pilot episode by discussing unusual crimes! First, Mindy and Josh tell stories of how people annoyed them this week in Quarantine Corner. Then, Josh tells a tale of one of the most despicable guys ever featured on Questioning Florida. Mindy then talks about Michael Malloy, a man that apparently couldn't be ki…

We're finally back from a break to discuss love stories! We begin the episode by catching up with Josh's annoying hacker problem before they question a Florida man who decided to rob a pharmacy at the worst possible time. Then, Mindy examines how she and Josh mix when it comes to primary and secondary personalities. She wraps up the episode by disc…

We have personal ties to this week's topic, as Josh opens the show talking about how he had two separate credit cards compromised by someone in Russia in a span of two days. In Questioning Florida, Josh talks about Podium Guy from the Capitol attack, who conveniently documented his crime in detail to make things easier on the FBI. Mindy then talks …

This week, we tackle a topic we've yet to address much in the past: politics. Before we get into that, we discuss a Florida man that went to extreme measures to escape police after stealing steak. Mindy then talks about American politician Daniel Sickles, who was involved in numerous scandals that included a public murder. Josh then spends some tim…