In this episode of the BARQAR Bites podcast, we sit down with Maddie Collins, the Community and Outreach Director at Big Big Table, a unique community café in Buffalo, NY. Operating on a “pay-what-you-can” model, Big Big Table is redefining what it means to serve the community by providing healthy, nutritious meals to anyone who walks through their doors, regardless of their financial situation.

Join us as Maddie shares the inspiring mission of Big Big Table, the challenges and triumphs of running a community café, and the powerful impact of building a space rooted in dignity, kindness, and community connection. Discover how Big Big Table reaches those in need, collaborates with local businesses, and empowers everyone to contribute to a stronger, more inclusive community.

In this episode of the Barker Bites podcast, host Brad Smith breaks down key lessons from Liz Wiseman’s groundbreaking book, Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter.

Discover the essential practices that set great leaders apart, how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to being an Accidental Diminisher, and actionable steps to create a culture where your team feels empowered, engaged, and innovative. Whether you're leading a small team or a large organization, these insights will help you amplify the intelligence and potential of those around you. Tune in and start transforming your leadership style today!

In the final episode of this series on Impossible to Ignore, Brad Smith explores how to structure content so that it grabs attention and sticks in the audience’s memory. Based on Dr. Carmen Simon’s research, this episode focuses on the importance of clarity, storytelling, and contrast in making content unforgettable. Brad dives into actionable strategies to help marketers create narratives that resonate long after they’ve been consumed. If you’re ready to transform your content from forgettable to impossible to ignore, this episode will give you the tools to get there.

In this episode of Barker Bites, Brad Smith continues the journey into Dr. Carmen Simon’s Impossible to Ignore by breaking down the power of triggers—those environmental cues that activate memories and drive action. Learn how to create strong associations between your content and everyday triggers that your audience encounters. Whether it’s a visual, an emotion, or a situation, triggers play a key role in helping your message resurface at the perfect moment. If you’re looking to increase the effectiveness of your content, this episode is a must-listen for understanding how to leverage triggers for maximum impact.

In this episode of BARQAR Bites, host Brad Smith is joined by Heather Greenway and Liza Florczak to discuss the revolutionary AI tool, Google NotebookLM. Together, they explore how AI is reshaping the marketing landscape, driving efficiency, increasing content quality, and helping marketers tell better stories. From creating tailored content to leveraging AI for research and persona development, this episode is packed with insights for anyone looking to optimize their marketing strategy with AI. Tune in to learn how your business can benefit from these cutting-edge tools!

In this episode of BARQAR Bites, host Brad Smith kicks off a multi-part series on Dr. Carmen Simon’s groundbreaking book, Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions. Brad explores the core concept that lies at the heart of the book: how memory drives decision-making.

Learn why most content is forgotten and discover how to create messages that capture attention, stick in people’s minds, and ultimately influence their choices. If you’ve ever struggled to make your content truly memorable, this episode will give you the science-backed strategies to ensure your message resonates and leads to action.

Stories are the ultimate tool for making your message stick. In the final episode of our Contagious review, we explore the power of storytelling. Jonah Berger shows us why stories are more than just entertainment – they carry ideas and make them contagious. Learn how to craft narratives that resonate and spread with your audience.

People love sharing useful information. In Part 5 of our Contagious series, we explore the concept of practical value. Learn how offering tips, tricks, and helpful advice can make your content more shareable. Discover how providing real value to your audience turns them into advocates for your brand.

In Part 4, we examine why visibility is key to creating contagious content. Jonah Berger explains how to harness the power of public actions to encourage imitation. Learn how designing for "public" behaviors and crafting campaigns with high visibility can make your product or message go viral.

Emotions drive what we share with others. In this episode of Contagious, we unpack how high-arousal emotions like awe, excitement, and even anger can make content more viral. Find out why emotional content spreads faster and how you can craft messaging that stirs up feelings to increase your reach.