"Is This Really a Thing?" Podcast Archives - College of Business

Paul Jarley: It’s Space Week at UCF and I’m like a kid in a candy store. So many questions. For one, everyone’s talking about going to Mars, but why? What problem are we solving? What does Mars offer that other planets or the moons don’t? And if the answer is survival or curiosity, does that […] The post Is a Martian Economy Really a Thing? appeared first on Miller Co...

We’ve all sat through bad slide decks—but what about the ones that change history? In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley is joined by Jim Balaschak, Dr. Mike Pape, and Derek Saltzman to explore whether the so-called “billion-dollar PowerPoint” is myth or reality. From Airbnb and Tesla’s iconic pitch decks […] The post Is the $1 Billion Powerpoint Really a Thing? appear...

Quarterly earnings reports have been a fixture of American business for more than 50 years … but are their days numbered? Earlier this month, President Donald Trump reignited debate by suggesting companies should only report twice a year, a move he says would cut costs and free executives to focus on the long term. But […] The post Is The Quarterly Report Really a Thing? appeared first...

From Lassie to Grumpy Cat to Ruby the golden doodle, pets have long captured our hearts—but today, they’re also capturing serious market share. In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley dives into the booming world of pet influencers with UCF Marketing expert Dr. Carolyn Massiah and Amber Downs, creator of […] The post Are Pet Influencers Really a Thing? appeared first on...

Is layaway making a comeback—or has it simply been rebranded as “buy now, pay later”? In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley sits down with Jim Adamczyk, Chief Strategy Officer at FAIRWINDS, to unpack the surprising history (and psychology) of delayed payments. From Christmas shopping in the 1970s to today’s […] The post Is Layaway Really a Thing … Again? appeared...

Are the Excel Championships just another bit of content for ESPN? Could it keep the Pac 12 alive? More importantly, is it an eSport and can we gamble on it? Listen in!   Featured Guests Andrew Grigolyunovich – Founder and CEO of the Financial Modeling World Cup David Clayton Brown, Ph. D. – Associate Professor of Finance at […] The post Are the Excel Championships Really an...

Reality TV, strikes and cyborgs, OH MY! Hollywood may be heading toward AI-generated content, and we all may already be living in a cyborg state … so was this episode AI-generated? This is part two of a two-part episode. Be sure to go back and listen to Part 1: Will the Hollywood Strike be an […] The post Part 2: Will AI Depopulate Hollywood? appeared first on Miller College of Business .

More reality TV? AI-generated “South Park” episodes? Is this where Hollywood is heading thanks to the latest writer and actor strike? We find out from UCF experts how, and why, the strike will be resolved and how AI will play into plans moving forward. This is part one of a two-part episode.     Featured […] The post Part 1: Will the Hollywood Strike be an Extended Thing? appeared...

Did the pandemic spark a flurry of innovation or was everyone too busy bingeing Tiger King and Outerbanks and Zooming to endless happy hours to launch new businesses and products? Dean Paul Jarley turns to UCF’s entrepreneurial in-house experts along with an alum whose company helps startups grow and scale to find out the answer. […] The post Was Innovation in the Pandemic Really a Thi...

Inflation hasn’t been much of an issue since Jimmy Carter was in office. But—like Mom Jeans and mullets—it’s totally back. This time, though, it feels different. We’re paying more than ever at the pump and in the grocery stores, so what’s to blame? Is it government spending? Supply chain shortages? The war in Ukraine? We’ve […] The post Is Inflation Really Our Friend? appeared first on Mille...

This past summer marked a significant change for college athletes as the NCAA voted to allow them the opportunity to benefit from their name, image and likeness. While it’s certainly a significant change in the NCAA’s approach and rulemaking, what will it mean for most student athletes, especially those outside the big conferences and revenue-generating […] The post Is Name, Imag...

Find yourself asking “Where’s the beef?” when you order a burger these days? You could be a victim of “Shrinkflation.” Rising demand post-pandemic and disrupted supply chains are impacting many of the goods and foods we consume. Will we be getting less of a product for the same price as companies try to protect their […] The post Is Shrinkflation Really a Thing?...

If you’re wondering what an NFT, aka Non-Fungible Token, is, well, you’re not alone. CryptoPunks and CyberCats are selling for six and seven figures and even Christie’s is getting in on the digital art action. So we’ve got questions…what are these digital items, why are people investing a fortune in them (and should you?), and […] The post Are NFTs Really a Thin...

GameStop and AMC made national headlines for unexpected reasons as retail investors from social media website Reddit began feverishly scooping up shares in each company. While the resulting drama caused wild swings in stock prices and scrutiny against some online trading platforms, the long term impacts remain to be seen. Did “Redditors” usher in a […] The post Are Meme Stocks Re...

After one of the deepest recessions in history, the U.S. economy still has roughly 10 million fewer jobs than before the COVID-19 pandemic began. While some say the economy is improving faster than expected and has seen significant growth in recent months, it could be some time before the U.S. returns to pre-pandemic highs. What […] The post Will the Economy Fully Recover in 2021? appeared f...

It’s hard to imagine a virtual Tupperware party. Sales presentations are trickier with the move to increased online communication. Gone (for now) are the days of making small talk with prospective clients in the hallway and capturing their undivided attention face-to-face. Now that life has gone virtual, is it really possible for sales professionals to […] The post Is Virtual Selling R...

As employees continue to work from home, leases are running out and corporate office space is in jeopardy. Managers around the world have to decide if it’s more efficient to keep their offices open, downsize, or go entirely remote. Seven months into this pandemic, the question remains… is working from home really going to stick? […] The post Is Working From Home Really a Thing? a...

As cardboard cutouts occupy the stands at stadiums across the country, sports leagues and teams are dealing with a massive blow to their bottom line. If fans are stuck watching the game from home, it begs the question… how long can sports really be financially viable? Can exclusive, virtual experiences fill the budgetary void left […] The post Sports Without Fans: Can They Really Stay...

Two researchers at UCF are developing a cough drop that can reduce the spread of COVID-19 by making saliva heavier and stickier – it makes sneeze and cough particles fall rather than float. But is there really a market for such a product? Paul Jarley talks with researchers Michael Kinzel and Kareem Ahmed to find […] The post Can a COVID Cough Drop Really End the Pandemic? appeared firs...

As the name explains, The Invitational is the Barry S. Miller College of Business’ invite-only career fair, designed to connect top business students with employers and college partners seeking to fill internships within their organization. In this episode, Paul Jarley speaks with employers and recruiters to learn the best tactics to help you find your […] The post Is The Invitational...

A media darling of sorts, UCF economist Sean Snaith’s presentations across Central Florida tend to be an 80/20 mix of economic forecasting and comedy sketches. But the Director of the UCF Institute for Economic Forecasting means business – his forecasts have been named one of the nation’s most accurate. This episode takes a “behind-the-scenes” look […] The post...

In the midst of the longest economic recovery in American history, the big question is when the next recession will hit. With unemployment reaching record lows, job growth skyrocketing and consumer confidence at an all-time high, some economists see no end in sight for the expansion that began in 2009. On the other hand, manufacturing […] The post Is a 2020 Recession Really a Thing? appeared...

A lot of people don’t really like change. But can they be coached or managed through the change process to understand and truly appreciate its benefits in the workplace? Guest host Thad Seymour, Interim President of UCF, introduces a panel of staff members from Addition Financial to discuss their recent re-brand initiative and what they […] The post Is Change Management Really a Thing?...

With new technology comes new ways to shop online and find a good deal, but retailers also have new tools at their disposal to charge customers higher prices. “Retail guru” Anand Krishnamoorthy discusses how retailers exploit consumers’ lack of knowledge to charge higher prices and how shoppers can beat retailers at their own game this […] The post Are Good Deals Really a T...

Presidential candidates on both sides of the aisle point to a host of different factors for the state of the U.S. economy. With an economic recession on the way, renowned economist Glenn Hubbard joins UCF Business faculty John Solow, Sami Alpanda and Paul Jarley to discuss the hot topic of income inequality and when we […] The post Billionaires, Border Walls and Self-Driving Trucks: Are They...