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On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we brought on Fred Thompson, a huge Toronto Blue Jays fan to share stories from his travels, following the Blue Jays across the US and Canada. Having been to 99 baseball games at 13 different ballparks, Fred has some great pro tips and recommendations to share with you. Fred highlights his 12-day baseball trip down the west coast, how his family inspired his love for baseball, and the amazing story of how he met his wife. Plus, it wouldn’t be Tips Appreciated without food recommendations… Fred shares his top 3 ballparks and the best food and beer you can find there! What’s your favorite ballpark food? How many baseball games have you been to? Comment below! If you’re a fan of good food and candid conversations about business, travel, and of course, food… SUBSCRIBE to our channel: www.youtube.com/nomtrips Connect with Fred! Follow him on Twitter: www.twitter.com/yourbestfred Businesses + Resources Mentioned: Petco Park in San Diego: https://www.mlb.com/padres/ballpark Wrigley Field in Chicago: https://www.mlb.com/cubs/ballpark Yankee Stadium in NYC: https://www.mlb.com/yankees/ballpark Dodger Stadium in LA: https://www.mlb.com/dodgers/ballpark Oracle Park in San Francisco (Home of the crab sandwiches): https://www.mlb.com/giants/ballpark American Family Field in Milwaukee (Home of the hotdogs, sausages, and beer): https://www.mlb.com/brewers/ballpark Hit it Here Café in Seattle: https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/hit-it-here-cafe StubHub: www.stubhub.com Edmonton Riverhawks: www.riverhawksbaseball.com Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips Skip ahead: [00:00] Intro [00:18] About Fred Thompson + How he got into baseball [03:15] Why are you a fan of the Blue Jays? [04:11] The best parts of going to baseball games [04:52] How Fred met his wife [08:42] Fred’s favorite player [10:21] His baseball travel experiences and goals [11:39] Fred’s top 3 baseball parks [13:52] The 12-day Blue Jays mega trip [19:17] Pro tips for planning trips to baseball games [21:59] The best ballpark food in the US [23:38] Fred’s custom Edmonton jerseys + Edmonton’s new baseball team, the Riverhawks [26:25] Final two questions [27:59] Outro

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Leo, an accounting professional who is focused on using his data and analytical skills to help small businesses in the Los Angeles area.  We talk about his love for accounting, dogs, travel, food and then we rank his favorite boba.  Overall a fun and inspiring episode just talking about life.   Are you a window opener or a door knocker? Also, listen to the whole episode and let us know your excel problems! 0:00 - Intro 1:50 - Reddit is a magical place 4:00 - Tips for long distance relationships work! 5:10 - Focusing on career 7:54 - Best asian foods in San Diego; Convoy District 10:23 - Advice for you younger self; put yourself out there 11:11 - Window opener vs door knocker? 13:25 - Love for accounting 15:43 - How accounting can help small businesses 19:00 - Spreadsheet and data analytics love 23:00 - We even talk about GPUs! 24:00 - The entrepreneur side 26:45 - Love for travel and favourite national park 28:20 - Camping with Spam 29:53 - Talking about the Channel Islands National Park 32:47 - Tips for the Philippines 35:50 - KBBQ in Koreatown, LA 36:44 - Must have boba 40:40 - If you won the lottery… 43:00 - Closing Connect with Leo!  https://www.linkedin.com/in/leodelimajr Connect with us!  Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com  Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tipsappreciatedpod

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Jeremy, who is a wilderness kayak guide and an animal handler. He also runs Teeth Podcast, where he interviews animal attack survivors from the United States and around the world. Hear his stories including how animals outsmart us as HOOMANS. Check out his podcast on Instagram. Link below. NOTE: We filmed in April, expected to release in May, but the release date for this episode is June! Teeth Podcast launching soon! 0:00 - Intro 00:45 - Welcome Jeremy! 2:49 - Catching squirrels as a kid 3:19 - Being a kayak guide - Channel Islands National Park 4:17 - Favorite experience/bioluminescence 8:29 - Love for nature 9:20 - Catching, cleaning and prepping food 11:00 - Urchin or uni stories 15:23 - Tips to visit Channel Islands 18:00 - Overpopulation of urchins 20:14 - Rock scallops 21:40 - Dwarf fox and ravens 24:42 - Food scene in LA 28:56 - Teeth Podcast 31:23 - SHARKS + Humboldt squid 37:15 - Whales and kayakers 40:30 - Stingray sting survival 48:29 - Wrap up & closing YT Video - https://youtu.be/3Vg_qiWH1wk Connect with Jeremy Teeth Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/teethpodcast/ https://www.theteethpod.com/ Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tipsappreciatedpod

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Brian, who travelled with his father to Europe to ride their bikes through France and the Black Sea using the Eurovelo 6 route. We chat about their adventures including buying a bike from Craigslist, tips on planning a bike trip, and of course, the great stories from their adventure.  Brian also is an avid runner and loves TV and movie trivia.  Check out his podcast on Instagram. Link below.   Connect with Brian Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tvtriviapod  0:00 - Intro   1:17 - Welcome Brian and his love for podcasts   2:50 - Passion for bike tours and trips   3:43 - Eurovelo 6 from France to the Black Sea   4:30 - Buying a bike on Craigslist  5:30 - Shipping the bike to Europe   7:29 - Day 1 of Eurovelo 6    9:00 - Bike problems - cracks in the rim   11:52 - Another bike trip - Philly to St. Louis, Niagara Falls detour    13:45 - Favorite memory from Eurovelo 6    15:01 - People from Eurovelo 6   17:56 - Haricot Vert   18:40 - TV Trivia Podcast 20:13 - Favorite TV Show   22:13 - Tips for bike tours   25:00 - Bonding with dad   26:15 - Top items to pack   29:34 - Wrap up

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Nora, an avid traveller and foodie from Morocco. Born and raised in Germany, attending a French school gives us a multicultural view of her experiences. From attending university in Paris, and now living in Rabat. We chat about the food scene, must-eats, travel tips, and her love for Reese’s. Come experience Paris and Morocco through the eyes of Nora. Enjoy episode 2! 0:00 - Intro 1:24 - Welcome Nora 2:49 - Origins of her account @nonothefoodie 4:09 - Food scene in Rabat 6:02 - Proper Moroccan food 7:30 - Traveling to Morocco as a tourist 9:00 - Schooling and living in Paris 11:15 - Nora’s sweet tooth 13:04 - Her number one choice for pastry in Paris 15:35 - Culture in Paris as a traveller 16:50 - The Parisian lifestyle 18:00 - Chinese food in Paris 20:10 - Wish list for travel - Dubai 22:00 - Love for Reese’s 26:35 - Partnership with Jumia 30:14 - Wrap up Connect with Nora Nono the Foodie - https://www.instagram.com/nonothefoodie/ Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tipsappreciatedpod

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have David, a former Albertan who moved to Japan 5 years ago to teach English. He shares his journey on moving, teaching, and living in Japan. We chat about food, housing, working, and day-to-day life. He also helps dispel the mystiques of Japan, gives some great tips for visiting, and of course, our favorite, his perspective on 7-Eleven. There's so much good stuff in this episode. REAL PEOPLE. REAL STORIES. That's season 3. He also shares his journey in creating his coffee roasting company and what the coffee roasting community is like in Alaska. Then, he speaks on what it’s been like to do business online during the pandemic and the challenges he faces in expanding his physical locations for roasting. Connect with David Tokyo Fresh Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/tokyofreshpodcast/?hl=en Will he ever move back to Alberta? Listen or watch the full episode. WATCH this full episode on YouTube -  www.youtube.com/nomtrips

Welcome to season 3 of Tips Appreciated Podcast! As you probably noticed we took a little mental break to recharge and we’re sure glad we did. BUT WE’RE BACK. Tune in and make sure you subscribe as we chat with REAL GUESTS with REAL STORIES.  Season 3 line up:  What it’s like living and teaching in Japan? Studying in Paris and living in Morocco? Taking a bike trip through the Eurovelo 6? Being a kayak guide off the Channel Islands? Travel tips from a former pro scout for the San Jose Sharks? Why you shouldn’t fear accounting for your small business? Taking a baseball trip through the West Coast in 12 days?  Well, we got you covered. Thank you to our guests and we can’t wait to share their stories with you.  Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips  Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips

March 3, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we take a look at one of the most creative ways of smuggling drugs through food! In February of 2021, US Border Agents seized 44 pounds of cocaine frosted Corn Flakes. That’s right, the smugglers frosted your favorite cereal in cocaine. The estimated worth of the seize was almost $3 million. Congrats to K-9 Bico for sniffing this one out. ***** Connect with us!  Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com  Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips   Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips   Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips    Subscribe to YouTube: www.youtube.com/nomtrips

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we review what we learned from Season 2! All the great marketing, social media and content tips for small businesses! We share our top 3 favorite tips and apply what we’ve learned during the season. Thank you to all our wonderful guests for their time. Tune in and see you on season 3! Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips Subscribe to YouTube: www.youtube.com/nomtrips

February 24, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we take a look at McDonald’s Happy Meals featuring Pokémon TCG Cards!  For a limited time, McDonald’s is featuring Pokémon TCG Cards in their Happy Meals to help celebrate 25 years of Pokémon! Each pack will have 4 exclusive cards, with a total of 50 cards in the collection. Hear our thoughts!

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Makeda Waterman of Top Writing Services Inc., a branding and marketing agency focused on helping you attract more customers through storytelling and content creation. Makeda shares insights and tips on social media, how to get started, getting your voice and story out there and engaging with your customers.She also shares tips on being accessible to your customers and how to show authenticity before product and service. Join us today as we dive into some great marketing tips and advice! Connect with Makeda! Visit Makeda’s website: www.freelancewriteredmonton.com/ Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/yegmarketer/ Subscribe on YouTube Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/YegWriter Connect with her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YegWriter/ Follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freelancewriteredmonton/ Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips Subscribe to YouTube: www.youtube.com/nomtrips Skip ahead: [00:00] Intro [00:49] About Makeda and motivation to start her own business [01:26] Moving from Toronto to Edmonton [02:18] Failure is not an option [02:57] Why should you use social media as a small business owner? [3:43] Tips on growing your social media following and engagement [5:09] Tips on how to start to tell your story [6:02] Tips on having fun on social media; internet challenges on TikTok [7:33] Using TikTok for education content; Learning TikTok [9:05] Tips on understanding your audience [10:30] Testing different mediums and content; data and insight [13:13] What Makeda means by “Your content needs to be a daily gift to your audience” [14:40] Three big tips on getting your personality out there [16:25] About Top Writing Services Inc. and how to engage with Makeda [17:38] New YouTube channel! [19:24] Coffee date when the pandemic is over! [20:04] Outro

February 17, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we take a look at FromTo, a food delivery app developed in Vancouver, Canada.  FromTo is a food delivery service founded in 2020 by a group of restaurateurs and software engineers. Their focus is to keep more money in the pockets of restaurants through zero commissions and one flat fee of $6.50 for the driver plus your chosen tips amount. If you are in the Vancouver area, check them out. Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips

In this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Stacey Watts, a social media coach and content creation strategist who helps business owners master their content creation to connect and grow on social media. Stacey shares insights on why video works so well on social media, how to communicate and present yourself effectively and authentically, and how to leverage your social media presence for networking and marketing. She also shares tips on repurposing your story to broaden your reach, as well as disconnecting and detoxing from social media without losing your followers’ engagement. Stacey says social media is a tool in the marketing toolbox. It’s not the only way to do business. Are you using social media as a tool? Comment your favorite social media platform below! If you’re a fan of good food and candid conversations about business, travel, and of course, food… SUBSCRIBE to our channel: www.youtube.com/nomtrips Connect with Stacey! Visit Stacey’s website: www.staceyonsocial.com  Follow her on Instagram: www.instagram.com/staceyonsocial Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/staceyonsocial Connect with her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StaceyonSocial Sign up for her course, Social in Six: www.staceyonsocial.com/social-in-six-course Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips Skip ahead: [00:00] Intro [00:33] About Stacey + How she got into social media content creation [01:51] What is social media? + What businesses should be on social media? [05:00] Where to start with building a presence on social media: Networking [07:22] Tips on repurposing your story + The 4 R’s of social media [10:11] Perfection vs. Authenticity on social media + The pillars of Stacey’s strategy [13:31] Communication on social media: What to say and what not to say + Handling negative comments [21:17] The worst thing you can do on social media as a business [23:41] How to know who your ideal client is + What is the social media algorithm and how do you utilize it? [27:09] How to disconnect and detox from social media without losing your following [37:43] The reality of living in the age of social media [42:09] EMFs from electronic devices [42:59] Thinking holistically with a social media strategy [43:28] How to connect with Stacey [44:23] How to start real conversations over social media [46:42] Is “Done For You” content good for social media? [47:12] About Stacey’s Course: Social in Six: Master Your Content Creation [51:54] Who is the best person to sign up for your course? [52:45] Future plans for collaboration! [1:00:09] Outro

February 10, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we discuss Ikea Canada and their takeout service!   Swedish Meatballs to go? yes, please. As of November 2020, you can now get Ikea’s Restaurant food to go! Simply head to the cafeteria by the check out, look for the self serve kiosk and start your order.  Before you head out to your nearest Ikea, check to see participating locations.  Our menu favorite? The Swedish Family Meal.   Connect with us!  Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com  Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips   Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips   Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Earnest Rawlins, a Golden Bean Winner and Founder/Owner of E’s World Coffee located in Alaska. Earnest shares how he got into coffee roasting after learning how to repair espresso machines and gives great tips and advice for beginners on making a great cup of coffee, including equipment recommendations! He also shares his entrepreneurial journey in creating his coffee roasting company and what the coffee roasting community is like in Alaska. Then, he speaks on what it’s been like to do business online during the pandemic and the challenges he faces in expanding his physical locations for roasting. If you’re a fan of good food and candid conversations about travel, business, and of course, food… SUBSCRIBE to our channel: www.youtube.com/nomtrips Connect with Earnest! Visit the E’s World Coffee website: www.esworldcoffee.com Follow him on Instagram: www.instagram.com/esworldcoffee Connect with him on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Es-World-Coffee-519794771754745 Skip ahead: [00:00] Intro [01:17] About Earnest Rawlins + How he got into coffee roasting [05:03] Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs [05:31] Starting and growing E’s World Coffee [10:37] What it was like to find out he’s a Golden Bean Winner [11:29] Expanding into selling at farmer’s markets + Dealing with burnout [13:49] Winning Golden Bean again! [14:47] The best way to make a good coffee blend [15:35] Earnest’s current secret project [16:34] Did you know? There are 6 ways to roast coffee beans! [17:48] Our reactions to tasting E’s World Coffee [18:44] Suggested coffee making equipment for beginners [20:54] Tips for grinding coffee and pouring your kettle correctly [26:54] Are you on a mission to win first place in Golden Bean? + His challenges with expansion [31:32] The micro-roasting community in Alaska [39:05] How his online coffee business is doing during the pandemic [44:33] The story behind E’s World Coffee’s new merch [49:44] How E’s World does shipping [51:13] What to expect in the next episode with Earnest [52:00] Do you remember the first time you ever had coffee? [53:18] Outro

February 3,2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we discuss Super Bowl foods and snacks! Well, Tom Brady has done it again. This time leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl LV (55) against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. While you’re probably not in Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay to watch the game, you’ll at least be home enjoying some great food and snacks.  We share some of our favourites, but also let us know yours. The game starts at 6:30ET. ------------------------------------- 👍 Connect with us!  Visit our website: https://www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomtrips 🎶 You can also listen to this episode on: Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/tips-appreciated-a-podcast-by-nomtrips-inc/id1540664588 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1jJl9uoinIYLp5mjg5iqAP Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy8yZDU1NGIxNC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw==

On this episode of Tips Appreciated, we have Michelle and Amanda of @Eat.Shop.Love.AB on Instagram to talk about marketing tips and strategies for small businesses, how to best use social media as a marketing tactic, and how to tell your story authentically. They speak on the many benefits of using social media to grow awareness of your small business and how to maximize the impact of your marketing budget so that you get the most bang for your buck! Michelle and Amanda also share their thoughts on how social media influencers and micro influencers are being used as a marketing tactic, as well as the main challenges small businesses face in marketing and branding. Did you know? If every Calgary household spent $10 a month buying local, the Calgary economy would get a GDP boost of $52 million and that would generate an additional 823 jobs in the city! Like Michelle and Amanda say, don’t pressure yourself too much to buy local, it should be a feel-good act of contribution and support for your community. If you’re a fan of good food and candid conversations about travel, business, and of course, food… SUBSCRIBE to our channel: www.youtube.com/nomtrips Skip ahead: [00:00] Intro [01:24] About Michelle, Amanda, and why they started @Eat.Shop.Love.AB [03:28] About A2 Marketing [05:18] Why small businesses struggle with marketing [07:43] What does “local business” mean to you? + Misconceptions with franchises [10:38] How do you find local small businesses? [12:58] The importance of social media to businesses: Should social media be the primary marketing tactic for small businesses? [16:54] Tips for authentic storytelling and copywriting for small businesses [20:59] Candid thoughts on social media influencers + What makes a good influencer [22:59] Benefits of utilizing micro influencers [23:45] The personal impacts of supporting small businesses [25:30] How to make small changes towards shopping local + Calgary economy stat [30:53] Finding balance in supporting big and small businesses + The importance of tipping curbside and delivery drivers [33:36] How to reach out to Amanda and A2 Marketing [34:28] How to reach out to and work with @Eat.Shop.Love.AB [36:17] Changing your branding and voice [37:40] Explaining their first Instagram post [39:53] Outro Connect with Michelle and Amanda! Follow them on Instagram: www.instagram.com/eat.shop.love.ab Visit A2 Marketing’s website: www.a2mktg.com Follow A2 Marketing on Instagram: www.instagram.com/a2mktg Small Businesses Mentioned: Oodle Noodle: www.oodlenoodle.ca Famoso: www.famoso.ca Boston Pizza: www.bostonpizza.com Whistle & Flute: www.whistleandflute.com Skip the Dishes: www.skipthedishes.com H&W Produce: www.handwproduce.com Sea Change Brewing Co.: www.seachangebeer.com Situation Brewing: www.situationbeer.com Crum Coffee Bar: www.crumcoffeebar.com El Gringo Foods: www.elgringofoods.com Lulu Cookies: www.lulucookies.com Connect with us! Visit our website: www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/nomtrips Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/nomtrips Connect with us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/nomtrips

January 27, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we discuss Burger King’s new logo! It’s been 20 YEARS since Burger King redesigned their logo and we must say we are digging the new look. It has a nice retro look, a custom font with new packaging. Our favorite though? It has to be their uniforms.   Let us know what you think of Burger King’s new logo and branding. 👍 Connect with us!  Visit our website: https://www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomtrips

We attended (virtually) TechTable Summit 2020 on December 15, 2020, presented by Zagat. One of our favourite session was: Social Media: Reviving The Restaurant Industry Adapting to new strategies around social media, data, guest relations, and how restaurants can leverage digital platforms to grow their businesses. The panel included: Ellen Bennet - Founder of Hedley & Bennett @ellenmariebennett Nick Tran - Head of Global Marketing, Tiktok @atsignnick Lila King - Head of News and Publishing at Instagram @lilacina Rachel Karten - Social Media Consultant, formerly with Bon Appetit @milkkarten What a panel! Part of our mission on Tips Appreciated is to provide useful advice and tips on everything food-related. Today, we start with the restaurant industry, which we all know is taking a huge hit because of the pandemic of 2020. In today’s episode, we’ve summarized what we learned for you, our listeners, and viewers with the hopes that you can take some of these social media marketing tips and advice and immediately apply them to your business. Timeline 0:00 Intro 1:14 Tips Appreciated’s mission 2:01 What Restaurants can do first 3:44 So now what? 5:30 Posting perfect food pictures are fading away 6:11 Use video as the new content 7:45 Using Technology 9:45 Having Content 11:07 Community

January 20, 2021 – In this episode of Food in the news, we discuss David Chang, the founder of Momofuku, winning Who Wants to be a Millionaire and donating the $1 million dollar grand prize to a worthy foundation. We know the restaurant service industry has been hit hard by this pandemic. David Chang’s focus was to donate his winnings to the Southern Smoke Foundation, which is a crisis relief foundation for people in the food and beverage industry. What was the final question? “Although he and his wife never toughed a light switch for fear of being shocked, who was the first president to have electricity in the White House?” His final and correct answer: “Benjamin Harrison” Congrats to David and the Southern Smoke Foundation! ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––   👍 Connect with us! Visit our website: https://www.nomtrips.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nomtrips