The Start Down

Episode 197: "Timing: The Art of Knowing When to Act"   In Episode 197 of The StartDown Podcast, host Mike Ficara dives into the crucial role that timing plays in business decisions. The episode explores how timing can make or break a decision, emphasizing the importance of context and deep understanding in determining the right course of action.   While timing is often seen as a critica...

"South Florida: The Biggest Small Town You'll Ever Experience with Greg Goldstein" In Episode 196 of The StartDown Podcast, host Mike Ficara and guest Greg Goldstein explore the unique community dynamics of networking and philanthropy.  The conversation delves into the importance of volunteering in South Florida, the intricacies of marketing and networking, and the joys and challeng...

"Unlocking Your True Potential with Linzy Elizabeth"   In Episode 195 of The StartDown Podcast, host Mike Ficara welcomes the incredible Linzy Elizabeth as their special guest. This engaging episode focuses on the theme of unlocking the barriers that hold us back from reaching our full potential. Linzy shares her unique insights and experiences, providing listeners with a thought-provoki...

As The StartDown Podcast approaches its 200th episode we are honored and humbled to have Marc and Steve Nudelberg as guests on episode 194. This episode serves as an opportunity to tap into the invaluable knowledge and experience these two game changers possess, empowering them to make positive changes in their own entrepreneurial journeys and the South Florida community.    Marc and Steve Nudelbe...

In this episode of The StartDown Podcast, host Mike Ficara delves into the fascinating topic of what it means to be a young entrepreneur versus a seasoned one. Drawing from his personal experience as a mid-range 40-ish entrepreneur, Mike explores the evolving perceptions of age in the entrepreneurial world.    Reflecting on his own journey and the changing landscape, he raises thought-provoking qu...

Welcome back to another inspiring episode of The StartDown Podcast! Today, we have a special guest with us, Matthew Turner, a British author and thought leader who has written an insightful book titled 'Beyond The Pale: A Fable about ESCAPING the HUSTLE and FINDING YOURSELF.   Matthew's book delves into the world of success, personal development, and finding true fulfillment. Drawing fro...

Welcome back to another exciting episode of The StartDown Podcast! In today's episode, we have a special guest with us, Sanyika M. Street, known for his expertise in being "all in." Sanyika is the founder of The All-In CEO, a platform dedicated to helping individuals unlock their full potential and achieve extraordinary success. Sanyika has a unique perspective on what it truly mean...

In this episode, we're thrilled to have Brandon Busteed, Chief Partnership Officer and Global Head of Learn-Work Innovation at Kaplan, as our guest. Brandon is a seasoned leader in higher education and workforce development, with a mission to help universities and employers adapt, grow, and thrive in a rapidly changing world. Before joining Kaplan, Brandon served as the Global Head of Public...

Controversial episode…I don’t put the cart back after food shopping! For some reason, this is the new hot topic people use on the Internet to highlight how they are great people. Don’t get me wrong, it is a nice thing to do. I don’t put the cart back for two reasons: 1. When I was a kid, many of my friends worked at Publix. Going outside to get the carts was a great break for them. I worked at Pub...

Reading can open so many doors for people and help them explore the world. That's why The StartDown Podcast is ecstatic to speak with Tyson Smith from Reading Horizons about this amazing skill. During the episode, we discuss all things reading - from tailoring it to a student's individual needs to developing a culture in the classroom of shared respect and curiosity. We'll also dig...

The host of The Start Down Podcast Mike Ficara is also the co-host of The HumidifGroup's podcast. As you know Mike loves cigars and great conversation, so we wanted to share this episode with you! The HumidifGroup's latest podcast is sure to be a must-hear for those interested in the cigar industry. Mike Ficara and Pierre Jebian, both experts in the cigar business, will be joining the sh...

Ever wonder how to land your dream job? It's easy to dream about the job you want. What can be difficult is figuring out how to make it a reality. That's why it's essential to reach out to experts in the field who can provide advice on how to stand out from other applicants and land your dream job. This week on The Start Down Podcast, we sit down with Matthew Miller, a great example...

Tune in to our latest episode of the StartDown Podcast with special guest Brennan M. Woodruff to get a glimpse into AI's fascinating past, present, and future! Don't miss out on this incredible journey through the world of AI! EP- 185 Brennan M. Woodruff talk AI past, present and future Follow us:   Guest Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brennanwoodruff/?hl=en Guest LinkedIn: https:/...

This week on The Start Down Podcast, we were joined by Simon Severino as our special guest. He was excited to discuss three of my favorite topics: marketing, sales, and implementation. With his extensive background in the field, Simon was able to provide unique insights that I had not considered before. His enthusiasm for the topics made it easy for us to dive into deeper exploration and strategiz...

To get ahead of the curve, consistency and collaboration will be key for businesses in 2023.  How are you planning to ensure success? As a team, we are focusing on consistency and teamwork within my businesses and have dedicated the start of the year to making this happen. The latest episode of The StartDown Podcast is now live, and it's all about the intersection of social media and entrepre...

This week on The Start Down Podcast we are joined by Omni Casey who shares why you should tell your story and start investing in real estate. Omni is a best-selling author, podcaster, and speaker who has dedicated his life to helping others invest in their passions. In this episode, Omni shares his own journey of self-discovery and how he turned his passion for real estate into a successful busine...

As a busy entrepreneur, have you given up on your fitness goals for 2022? Are you struggling with what the next step should be after losing weight and not seeing any progress in a frustrating atmosphere of fitness fads that just don’t work? Maybe it's time to go back to the basics and stop trying so hard to only have partial success while also risking injury or illness from overdoing it! If w...

The Start Down Podcast is all about celebrating Italian-American heritage and culture! This month, we're talking all things Italian-American, from the food to the music to the businesses. We've got a special episode coming up all about why Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month is so important and how it can affect your business.  Host: Mike Ficara  Support the show More episodes: h...

Luke Burrows was a guest on The StartDown Podcast exactly 100 episodes ago. At the time, he was just starting his own business and had big dreams for the future. Luke is back on the show to share what has changed since then. He has grown a lot as an entrepreneur and has learned a lot about running a business. He is now based in Europe and is doing very well with his company. He shares some of the...

Lauren Burlison had been a teacher for years, but she found herself called to move in a new direction. She wanted to find a way to help teachers and students learn in a more meaningful way. Lauren left the classroom to focus on her true passion: Canvas LMS. She quickly became known as the Canvas Queen, and her tips and tricks were invaluable to teachers all over the world. Thanks to Lauren's...

The StartDown Podcast is all about giving entrepreneurs the tools they need to start and grow their businesses. This week's episode is all about public relations, and Polly Brown is here to dispel some myths about the industry. "A lot of people think that PR is all about pay for play," Polly says. "But that's not true at all. In fact, good PR can help your business get in...

In this week's podcast, we discuss why it's important to have a proactive business model to anticipate challenges and get ahead of potential problems. Whether a recession is coming or not is debatable, but the real question is, are we prepared for it? If yes, what do you think is the best way to get through this recession? If not, what are you doing to help make it better? When a recessi...

Stop punishing your company!  When do you think your business will be running at its full potential?  When you start getting more and more clients or when your employees work at their full potential and their abilities at their peak?  It wouldn’t make sense to get more work if your people can’t fulfill it. As an entrepreneur, you know what’s working and what’s not. Take control and do what will mo...

Football season is moving towards opening day, but the excitement is here now!  One of the things my sons and I enjoy in our free time is going to sporting events. My son Anthony is so passionate he wanted to start a podcast together about it! Here is a small taste of The 3 Points Podcast.  @3pointspodcast3 EP 174 EP1 of the 3 points podcast  More episodes:    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mi...

Henry Ford once said, "The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing." As I sat down to reflect on this, I realized that just setting the goals, moving forward to achieve them, ultimately achieving them, and again setting out to bring in new goals isn’t the way we should be functioning.  If we don’t learn from our mistakes and wins, all our efforts are in vain. EP 173 Crea...