“The Pulse” out of Saratoga and “Just Off Glen” in Glens Falls are two new podcasts about the business climate in the Warren and Saratoga county region.
Alexander/WorkSmart (2021)
“Just Off Glen” is produced by Christy Alexander, owner of WorkSmart, the shared office and meeting space on Warren Street, just off Glen Street, in downtown Glens Falls.
In its first weekly episode, Alexander talked to Jim Siplon, the newly-appointed permanent president of the Warren County Economic Development Corporation. The topics ranged from his work at FIJI water and JUST Water, along with a discussion of housing stock in the north country and hot dogs from New Way Lunch.
In an interview earlier today, Alexander said the podcast “absolutely fits” in the business model of her company.
“Part of the greater vision of WorkSmart is to support economic growth in the region," she said. She has been consistent in this during past interviews. Her company does not exist solely to bring her money but to create a community that lifts many companies. It's intended to elevate and promote remote workers and keep expertise and skills together under one roof, she said, adding that the area will have more jobs and retained talent.
"WorkSmart is an investment in this community," she said.
She said she had tried a similar video discussion, but it did not get the reach she hoped for. She said the podcast is intended to reach areas such as New York City and its New Jersey suburbs to help people understand the Glens Falls area and the region.
Black Mountain Visuals is a partner in the production. “Just Off Glen” is available on podcast apps, and on the homesite, here.
Pulse of Saratoga (2021)
Gloria Griskowitz.
Joe Fairley, who works from Saratoga helping national brands with their environmental human resource needs, and Chris Jones, an audio producer and voice-over actor, are running a bi-weekly video podcast, “The Pulse," which featured Saratoga Springs in its debut episode.
It replaces the classic business panel discussion popular before the pandemic.
“That’s kind of gone out the window in the short term,” Fairley said in a recent interview. He said he always liked popping into chamber or Albany Business Journal-led discussions, but the pandemic has stopped those at least briefly. He said the pair will continue to produce it as long as it’s fun and the people want to see it.
Their first episode is up and features both Gloria Griskowitz of Putnam Market on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs along with Patrick Pipino of Ben and Jerry’s in Saratoga Springs. The discussion surrounded how badly the pandemic has disrupted the food industry.
“Our biggest competitor became ourselves,” Pipino said. As people stayed home and bought Ben and Jerry's ice cream from the grocery store, his store had to fight for inventory from the factory in Vermont, he said. For her part, Griskowitz said that Putnam Market’s menu options may have shifted for a while. She said they will focus on the most popular items and avoid those that require the single-use specialty ingredient.
As the podcast continues, they will visit other locations, and become "The Pulse..." of that locale, Fairley said.
To see “The Pulse of Saratoga,” click here.
Full disclosure, FoothillsBusinessDaily.com has a subscription to WorkSpace and is often working from the location on Warren Street.
Originally, we wrote "The Pulse" was "The Pulse of Saratoga," but the show will be The Pulse of each location that the episode highlights. We apologize for the confusion.