Koyoti Small Business Podcast

Koyoti

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Marketing
Updated Weekly

While Koyoti Inc. is a marketing and design studio here in Toronto, we’re going to try to go beyond our own comfort zone and talk about all elements that pertain to Small Businesses. From social media marketing to book keeping; and from sales to mental health.

2d ago

Conquering Brand Beasts - Lessons of The Customer-Led Innovation from LEGO

Summary LEGO is far more than a toy company. Its success comes from staying true to a simple product while continuously finding new ways to engage its community. Thomas and Jonathan explore how LEGO built a multi-generational brand, recovered from near-bankruptcy by refocusing on its core purpose, and created powerful customer engagement initiatives like LEGO Ideas. The discussion also highlights how businesses of any size can strengthen their brands by listening to customers, fostering community, and creating opportunities for people to participate rather than simply consume. Takeaways Great brands remain focused on their core purpose, even as markets evolve.LEGO's brick system has remained compatible across generations, creating lasting customer loyalty.Creativity and imagination are central to LEGO's brand identity and customer experience.Community engagement can become a powerful source of product innovation.LEGO Ideas allows fans to contribute concepts and potentially earn royalties from successful products.Businesses grow stronger when they create spaces for customers to connect and participate.Listening to customers is important, but feedback should be filtered through a clear brand strategy.Content creation has become a critical part of modern brand building.Customer advocacy is often more valuable than traditional advertising.Small businesses can build community through events, challenges, and shared experiences.Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
4d ago

Resource Library - Leadership, Aloha, and the Art of Better Decisions

Summary In this thoughtful conversation, Louie Larimer shares lessons from a lifetime spent as a lawyer, CEO, consultant, educator, and author. He reflects on the difficult decision to leave a successful legal career in pursuit of more meaningful work aligned with his values and spirit. Louie explores leadership, wisdom, entrepreneurship, adaptability, and the Hawaiian concept of Aloha as a framework for making better decisions. The discussion offers practical guidance for small business owners seeking balance, humility, and long-term success. TakeawaysMajor life and business decisions often emerge from years of reflection, not sudden inspiration.Success becomes more meaningful when work aligns with your values and personal calling.Great leaders manage the collision of ideas while preserving respect and dignity.Humility is one of the most important traits for entrepreneurs and business owners.Understanding why you are in business is foundational to long-term success.A clear vision helps guide decisions and maintain focus during uncertainty.Strong business strategy requires intentional planning rather than constant reaction.Corporate culture shapes how people feel about their work and their contribution.Businesses must continually adapt to changing markets, technology, and customer expectations.Wisdom comes from thoughtful discernment and applying knowledge for the betterment of yourself and others.Want to learn more? Contact Louie here: Website Email YouTube Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Aug 24

Small Business Spotlight: The Weird Canadian, AI Optimism, and Building the Future

Summary In this Small Business Spotlight episode, Thomas Wu sits down with Cody Johnston, better known as The Weird Canadian. Cody shares his journey from feeling like an outsider growing up in Ontario to building a life centred around entrepreneurship, technology, creativity, and community. The conversation explores finding your tribe, leaving a secure career to pursue a more meaningful path, the opportunities and challenges of AI, and why small business owners may be uniquely positioned to shape the future. Takeaways Being different can become a competitive advantage when you embrace your authentic self.Career stability does not always equal fulfilment or happiness.Small business owners often discover their purpose through serving others and solving problems.AI is creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn, build, and compete.Curiosity and the ability to ask good questions are becoming valuable business skills.Technology should be treated as a tool to support human decision-making, not replace it.Building a successful business often starts with identifying overlooked opportunities.Transparency and authenticity help build trust with customers and communities.Healthy competition leads to better products, services, and innovation.There has never been a better time for entrepreneurs to take action and create something new.Want to learn more? Contact Cody here: Website Email The Weird Canadian Podcast Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Aug 17

Resource Library - Law, Tax & Finance: The Trio Every Business Owner Needs

Summary Thomas sits down with attorney and financial advisor Matt Meredith to explore the legal blind spots small business owners face. Matt shares his unconventional path—from pre‑med to advertising to Wall Street trading to wealth management and finally law—and explains how those experiences shaped his holistic, “consigliere‑style” approach to advising entrepreneurs. The conversation covers LLC misconceptions, asset protection, tax strategy, succession planning, and why siloed professionals (lawyers, CPAs, advisors) often fail their clients when they don’t communicate. Matt outlines what small business owners should do from day one, how to scale their structure as they grow, and why asking for help early prevents catastrophic mistakes later. Takeaways Many small business owners wait too long to involve a lawyer; protection matters most when the business starts succeeding.Matt’s career path taught him that finance, tax, and law are inseparable for proper business planning.The biggest industry flaw: lawyers, CPAs, and advisors rarely talk to each other, leaving the client to relay complex information.LLCs are misunderstood—forming one isn’t enough; you must treat it like a real company with structure, agreements, and formalities.Commingling funds (e.g., vacations on the company dime) is a major liability and can pierce corporate protection.Asset protection often requires separating operations from inventory, equipment, and IP into different entities.A good advisor should understand taxes, estate planning, and business structure—not just investments.Succession planning is essential; without wills, trusts, and powers of attorney, a business can collapse if the owner becomes incapacitated.Small business owners should meet key advisors twice a year to ensure alignment and updated structures.Start small, keep things formal, and don’t be afraid to ask for help—neglecting structure is how thriving businesses get destroyed.Want to learn more? Contact Matt here: Email Website Phone LinkedIn Instagram YouTube Facebook Guest Bio: Matt Meredith, Esq., CFP®, is the founder of Meridian Legal Advisors, a next-generation law firm focused on estate planning, tax strategy, and asset protection. As both an attorney and a Certified Financial Planner™ practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, he integrates legal, tax, and investment expertise to create strategies that work in practice, not just on paper. Before founding Meridian, Matt led his own practice, guiding clients through estate planning, probate, tax, and trust administration. He previously held leadership roles at J.P. Morgan Securities and Capital One Investing, and today continues to advise clients on integrated-financial strategies through his affiliation with LPL Financial. Through Meridian, Matt delivers a one-stop solution by uniting legal, tax, and financial disciplines under one roof. He helps families, entrepreneurs, and professionals protect their assets, minimize taxes, and preserve wealth for future generations. Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Aug 10

Resource Library - Building the Version of Yourself Your Business Needs

Summary Amy Lenius of Next Level University shares her journey from registered massage therapist to coach, speaker, and personal development mentor. Drawing from her experience overcoming chronic illness and building a career centred on growth and service, Amy explores the difference between self-belief and self-worth, the role of consistency in achieving goals, and how small, intentional actions can create meaningful change in both business and life. Takeaways Self-belief is built through action, not through thinking alone.Self-worth often determines whether you can sustain the success you achieve.Motivation comes and goes, but consistency creates lasting results.Success should be defined by your own values, not by society's expectations.Small, sustainable habits outperform dramatic short-term changes.Identity plays a major role in the goals we set and the actions we take.Great coaches help uncover blind spots and accelerate personal growth.Comparing yourself to others is only useful when it inspires action.Intentionality can transform ordinary daily routines into meaningful self-care.Business success becomes more fulfilling when it aligns with health, relationships, and personal values.Want to learn more? Contact Amy here: Email Website Phone Instagram Facebook Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Jul 27

Conquering Brand Beasts - Why Great Products Create Their Own Marketing

Summary What can a rugged pickup truck teach small business owners about branding? In this episode of Conquering Brand Beasts, Thomas and Jonathan explore the legendary reputation of the Toyota Hilux and its North American cousin, the Tacoma. Rather than focusing on advertising campaigns, they look at how an exceptional product created its own marketing through real-world stories. From surviving impossible abuse on Top Gear to helping people escape wildfires, the Hilux became a symbol of durability because customers proved it was. The conversation highlights a key branding lesson: great brands aren't built solely through marketing. They're built by understanding how customers actually use your product and embracing the stories that emerge. Takeaways Great brands start with great products, not great advertising.Pay attention to how customers actually use your product, not just how you intended it to be used.Real customer experiences often become more powerful than any marketing campaign.Quality and reliability create long-term brand reputation and loyalty.Look for unexpected use cases that reveal new opportunities and audiences.Showcase customer success stories instead of constantly talking about your own achievements.Community stories help customers feel seen, appreciated, and connected to your brand.Invest time and resources into improving the product before increasing marketing efforts.Ask how your product makes your customers' lives better and lean into that message.Strong brands are built alongside their communities, not in isolation from them. Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Jul 20

Resource Library - Why Your Best Employee Might Be a Terrible Manager

Summary In this insightful interview, Ron Reich shares his journey from HR to leadership coaching, emphasizing the importance of culture, emotional intelligence, and effective communication in leadership development. Discover practical strategies for fostering organizational culture, managing change, and enhancing leadership skills at all levels. Takeaways Leadership can be learned.Ask more, tell less.Great leaders create future leaders.Promotion and leadership are not the same thing.Clear expectations prevent conflict.Culture happens with or without you.Train leaders before training teams.Change needs a compelling reason.Emotional intelligence matters.Delegation is a sign of trust.Want to learn more? Contact Ron here: Email Linkedin Instagram Phone Would love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!
Jul 13

Yips, Pips, and Yaps - Friendly Isn't the Same as Familiar

Summary Thomas shares a personal story from his early days in a family business that highlights the importance of understanding influence, culture, and communication in small business settings. This episode offers valuable lessons on how small moments can impact relationships and workplace culture. Key Topics Influence and perception in small businessThe importance of workplace culture and signalsLessons from a personal warehouse storyThe impact of jokes and comments on relationshipsHow small moments shape team dynamicsThe difference between friendliness and closenessThe importance of reading the room and contextHandling mistakes and apologies in the workplaceWould love to hear from you! Drop us a line! Please help the humanitarian efforts regarding the current conflict in Ukraine. Please help by donating, or by spreading the word.For more information, please click here Building a small business community for small business. Sharing experiences, information, stories, and tips to help grow the community. New Episodes every Monday! For more information about Koyoti, please visit: www.koyoti.com Have questions or comments about what we're doing? Email us here!

While Koyoti Inc. is a marketing and design studio here in Toronto, we’re going to try to go beyond our own comfort zone and talk about all elements that pertain to Small Businesses. From social media marketing to book keeping; and from sales to mental health.

Creator

Koyoti
Years Active

2021 - 2026
Episodes

151
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 Koyoti Small Business Podcast
Show Website

Koyoti Small Business Podcast