Vilardi Digital Podcast

Justin Vilardi | Vilardi Digital

Most podcasts are interviews. This is a conversation. The Vilardi Digital Podcast brings together business owners, creators, marketers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and local legends for honest discussions about work, life, technology, creativity, and everything in between. Sometimes we're talking about real estate. Sometimes we're talking about building companies. Sometimes we're talking about the Tampa Bay music scene at 2 a.m. in 2004. If it's interesting, it's fair game. New episodes weekly produced by Vilardi Digital Studio.

  1. 1d ago

    Can Police Lie to You? Know Your Rights | Criminal Defense Attorney Christina LaMaida | Ep. 25

    Can police lie to you? Can they search your phone? Should you talk to them if you're innocent? And is saying "maybe I need a lawyer" actually enough? Justin sits down with criminal defense attorney Christina LaMaida, founder of LaMaida Law, P.A., for a conversation about what your rights actually look like when you're dealing with police, an arrest or a criminal accusation. Christina is a former Assistant Public Defender who has represented thousands of clients throughout Florida. She breaks down police questioning, searches, DUI arrests, public defenders, evidence, criminal trials and why trying to explain yourself can sometimes make a bad situation much worse. Then things get heavier. Justin and Christina debate the death penalty, whether the justice system can ever be certain enough to take someone's life, how evidence gets kept from juries and what happens when the quality of the attorneys themselves affects the outcome of a case. We also get into the side of criminal defense most people never see: mental health, clients in crisis, the emotional weight attorneys carry home and why Christina believes everyone deserves to have their story heard. This isn't Law & Order. It's what the system looks like from someone who's actually worked inside it. Learn more about Christina and LaMaida Law: https://yourstoryourvoice.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pinkheeleddefender/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaMaidaLaw This episode is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Anyone facing a legal matter should speak directly with a qualified attorney. The Vilardi Digital Podcast is filmed at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, Florida. Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    Can Police Lie to You? Know Your Rights | Criminal Defense Attorney Christina LaMaida | Ep. 25
  2. Sep 24

    One Match From the Olympics, Then Banned From Egypt | Vince Ruhumuliza | Ep. 24

    Former professional beach volleyball player Vince Ruhumuliza has had a strange path through the sport. After growing up in Michigan, Vince moved to Florida to pursue beach volleyball, eventually packed up his life and moved to Rwanda, started Volleyball for Rwanda, competed internationally, and came within one match of qualifying for the Rio Olympics. That final match happened in Cairo. Vince and his partner lost 16-14 in the deciding game against Egypt. What followed included an altercation, an angry crowd, a security escort back to his hotel and, according to Vince, a ban from returning to Egypt on that passport. But this episode starts long before Rwanda. Justin and Vince go back more than 20 years to a very different downtown St. Petersburg, when Vince was giving Segway tours, local bands were still packing small clubs, downtown was a little dirtier, and social media hadn't turned every bar into a photo opportunity. They talk about Vince's professional volleyball career, the culture surrounding beach volleyball, his years in Africa, his near-Olympic run, returning to Florida, coaching athletes and what he's now building with Beach Volleyball Culture Club in St. Petersburg. It's a conversation about sports, travel, entrepreneurship, old St. Pete, taking chances and what happens when you build your life around something you actually love. Follow Vince and Beach Volleyball Culture Club: Website: https://volleyballculture.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beachvolleyballculture/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beachvolleyballculture Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585181109879 Magic Mind https://www.magicmind.com/MAGICMODE20 Use code MAGICMODE20 for 20% off one-time purchases and 48% off subscriptions. Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    One Match From the Olympics, Then Banned From Egypt | Vince Ruhumuliza | Ep. 24
  3. Sep 16

    From Salad Daddy to Senior Editor | VFX, Movies & The Art of Editing | Brad Lulas| Ep. 23

    Brad Lulas has spent years making things look better after everyone else leaves the set. In this episode of the Vilardi Digital Podcast, Justin sits down with longtime friend and Senior Video Editor Brad Lulas to talk about video editing, VFX, After Effects, movies, storytelling and the tiny creative decisions that can completely change a finished piece. Brad and Justin go all the way back to working together at Carrabba’s before eventually reconnecting at Bluewater Media, where they worked together in commercial video production. Today, Brad works as a Senior Editor at Shoplifter Studios. They get into why two editors can take the exact same footage and create completely different stories, how professional editors find rhythm, when a close-up actually matters, green screen mistakes, motion tracking, rotoscoping and some of the movie effects that still blow them away. They also talk about The Prestige, Coco, 2001: A Space Odyssey, horror movies, bad editing trends, dating apps and what happens when one movie nerd finds another movie nerd. It is part editing conversation, part movie nerd session and part two old friends talking shit. Follow Brad: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brad_the_editor/ Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    From Salad Daddy to Senior Editor | VFX, Movies & The Art of Editing | Brad Lulas|  Ep. 23
  4. Aug 24

    Can Your Business Survive a Cyberattack? | Cybersecurity, AI & IT | Brad Savage | Ep. 21

    How vulnerable is your business to a cyberattack? Probably more than you think. In Episode 21 of the Vilardi Digital Podcast, Justin Vilardi sits down with Brad Savage of DigitalBrainz to talk about the cybersecurity threats facing small and midsize businesses, how AI is changing the game, and why sometimes the biggest vulnerability in a company isn't the technology. It's the person using it. Brad shares the story of a small business owner who lost $100,000 after hackers gained access to his email, quietly watched his conversations for months, learned who his vendors were, and waited for the perfect opportunity to send a fake invoice. They also get into phishing, ransomware, wire fraud, AI-powered scams, voice cloning, employee security training, managed IT, data protection, cloud technology, VoIP and the business technology owners often don't think about until something goes wrong. Justin also tells the painfully true story of the time fake IRS agents convinced him the cops were coming, got him to leave work, drive across Largo, and head into Target to pay $2,500 in gift cards. Spoiler: the IRS does not have an office inside Target. If you own or manage a business and your cybersecurity strategy is basically "hopefully nothing happens," this episode is worth your time. GUEST Brad Savage, DigitalBrainz https://digitalbrainz.com FOLLOW VILARDI DIGITAL https://vilardidigital.com Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @vilardidigital SPONSOR Magic Mind https://www.magicmind.com/MAGICMODE20 Use code MAGICMODE20 for 20% off one-time purchases and 48% off subscriptions. Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    Can Your Business Survive a Cyberattack? | Cybersecurity, AI & IT | Brad Savage | Ep. 21
  5. Aug 4

    Is Your Smart Home Actually Smart? | AI, Automation & the Future of Technology | John Savio | Ep. 22

    Is your smart home actually smart? Probably not as smart as it's about to be. In Episode 22 of the Vilardi Digital Podcast, Justin Vilardi sits down with John Savio, founder of Micover IT AV, to talk about smart homes, artificial intelligence, home automation, privacy, AI assistants, networking, home theaters, robots, and where consumer technology is headed next. John has been working with technology since long before AI became the thing everyone couldn't stop talking about. His career has taken him through public access television, Apple, early YouTube, ecommerce, IT, AV, and now sophisticated smart home systems throughout Tampa Bay. This isn't a conversation about asking Alexa to turn your kitchen lights on. It's about what happens when your entire home starts working as one intelligent system. John explains the difference between a collection of connected devices and a legitimately automated home, how platforms like Control4 and Josh AI work, why the network behind your house matters, and what homeowners should understand about privacy before putting microphones, cameras, sensors, and connected devices everywhere. Then we get into AI. AI agents. Voice assistants. Deepfakes. Robots. Jobs. Scams. Privacy. Computers that can see and understand the physical world. We talk about what happens when artificial intelligence stops being something you open on a computer and starts operating throughout your home and eventually the physical world around us. Some of it is incredible. Some of it is a little f*cking weird. And it's moving incredibly fast. QUESTIONS WE ANSWER: • What actually makes a home "smart"? • What's the difference between home automation and a bunch of smart devices? • What can a professionally designed smart home actually do? • How do Control4 and Josh AI work? • What's the difference between Josh AI, Siri and Alexa? • Are smart home devices always listening? • How private is a smart home? • Why does your home network matter? • What are AI agents? • What happens when AI can see, hear and interact with the physical world? • Will artificial intelligence replace jobs? • How convincing are AI deepfakes becoming? • Are humanoid robots actually getting close? • What could AI look like six months, one year, or two years from now? • Are we prepared for how quickly technology is changing? If you're interested in AI, smart homes, technology, privacy, or just trying to understand what the hell is coming next, this episode is for you. GUEST John Savio Micover IT AV Website: https://micoverit.com VILARDI DIGITAL Website: https://vilardidigital.com Instagram / Facebook: @vilardidigital YouTube: @VilardiDigitalPodcast If you know somebody whose "smart home" is six different apps, three remotes, Alexa yelling from the kitchen, and a light bulb that stopped connecting two years ago, send them this episode. And if you're thinking about starting your own podcast or building your brand, your story is already content. Let's build the show around it. Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    Is Your Smart Home Actually Smart? | AI, Automation & the Future of Technology | John Savio | Ep. 22
  6. Jul 13

    The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Is On Fire | Roofing Scams, Insurance Claims & Storm Damage | O.C. Melton | Ep. 20

    In this episode, Justin Vilardi sits down with O.C. Melton, co-owner of American Family Roofing, to talk about one of the biggest investments most people will ever make: their home. With experience as both an independent insurance adjuster and a licensed roofing contractor, O.C. offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how roofing claims, storm damage, insurance companies, and contractors actually work. Together they discuss roofing fraud, common homeowner mistakes, filing insurance claims after a storm, understanding your homeowners policy, why permits matter, how to choose a trustworthy contractor, and what every Florida homeowner should know before hurricane season. Whether you're replacing a roof, buying a home, or simply trying to protect your property, this episode is packed with practical advice that could save you thousands of dollars—and a lot of headaches. Topics include: • Roofing scams and contractor fraud • Storm damage and insurance claims • Understanding homeowners insurance • Roof inspections and maintenance • Why permits protect homeowners • Roofing materials and construction basics • Florida hurricanes and roof damage • Choosing the right roofing contractor • Family business and entrepreneurship • Building American Family Roofing Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    The Roof, The Roof, The Roof Is On Fire | Roofing Scams, Insurance Claims & Storm Damage | O.C. Melton | Ep. 20
  7. Jun 20

    AI Made Our Old Songs Better Than We Did | Tommy Jamin | Ep. 19

    Justin sits down with musician, producer, entrepreneur, and TrueFire VP of Content Tommy Jamin for a conversation that starts with Tampa Bay's local music scene and ends somewhere between artificial intelligence, creativity, entrepreneurship, and the future of human expression. Tommy and Justin first met more than 20 years ago while playing in different bands throughout the Tampa Bay area. Back then, success meant hanging flyers, promoting shows on MySpace, burning CDs, and hoping enough people showed up to justify the gas money. Today, a teenager with a laptop has access to tools more powerful than professional recording studios from that era. That shift becomes the foundation of a much bigger conversation. They discuss AI music tools like Suno, recreating old songs with artificial intelligence, whether technology is helping or hurting creativity, and why the real value of art may have less to do with the final product and more to do with the human experience behind it. They also explore Tommy's career with TrueFire, one of the world's largest online music education platforms, the changing music industry, entrepreneurship, side hustles, building products from scratch, and the story behind the Sack Sack. Whether you're a musician, creator, marketer, entrepreneur, business owner, or simply curious about where AI is taking us next, this episode offers a some thoughtful conversation about technology, creativity, and what still makes us human. Topics • AI-generated music and Suno • Music production and songwriting • The Tampa Bay music scene • MySpace, Napster, and the early internet • Creativity vs artificial intelligence • Entrepreneurship and side hustles • TrueFire and online music education • Building SAK Sack from scratch • The future of creative work • Why human experience still matters WATCH & LISTEN Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0LGmCu2H9qSQV7LV0VWnTk?si=bd426aba4f55470a Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vilardi-digital-podcast/id1826412595 GUEST LINKS TrueFire: https://truefire.com SAK Sack: https://saksack.com VILARDI DIGITAL Website: https://vilardidigital.com Book a Strategy Call: https://calendly.com/vilardidigital/marketing-call SPONSORS Hop WTR https://click-myl.ink/2p8m9zyh Use code HOPCAST for $10 OFF. Magic Mind https://www.magicmind.com/MAGICMODE20 Use code MAGICMODE20 for 20% off one-time purchases and 48% off subscriptions. What do you think about Ai Music?  Drop a comment below. And if you're thinking about starting a podcast, but need help, reach out.  Send us Fan Mail Support the show The Vilardi Digital Podcast is recorded and produced at Vilardi Digital Studios in Trinity, FL; where bold stories and big ideas come to life. New episodes drop weekly/monthly. Follow & Connect: Instagram: @vilardidigitalTikTok: @vilardidigitalYouTube: Vilardi DigitalWebsite: www.vilardidigital.com🎧 Want to be a guest or record your own show in our studio?  Book a session or apply to be on the pod here: vilardidigital.com/studio Vilardi Digital supports local businesses: Legendary Custom Merch — Fully custom apparel and merch that actually stands out. Vist their show room right here in Tarpon Springs or check them out online legendaryscreenprinting.com

    AI Made Our Old Songs Better Than We Did | Tommy Jamin | Ep. 19

About

Most podcasts are interviews. This is a conversation. The Vilardi Digital Podcast brings together business owners, creators, marketers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and local legends for honest discussions about work, life, technology, creativity, and everything in between. Sometimes we're talking about real estate. Sometimes we're talking about building companies. Sometimes we're talking about the Tampa Bay music scene at 2 a.m. in 2004. If it's interesting, it's fair game. New episodes weekly produced by Vilardi Digital Studio.