Is This Really a Thing?

Business can be faddish. Paul Jarley, dean of the UCF College of Business, is on a mission to separate fads from fundamental change that will impact students. Join us as we chat with experts, enthusiasts and interesting people to talk business and pose the question… Is This Really a Thing?

Is This Really a Thing? is a business podcast hosted by UCF College of Business, with 20 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

UCF College of Business hosts Is This Really a Thing?, a business show with 20 episodes published.

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  Is This Really a Thing?

  Is a Martian Economy Really a Thing?

  Nov 6, 202534 minS0

  <p>Paul Jarley: It's Space Week at UCF and I'm like a kid in a candy store. So many questions. For one, everyone's talking about going to Mars, but why? What problem are we solving? What does Mars offer that other planets or the moons don't? And if the answer is survival or curiosity, does that really require an economy, people trading air, power and data in some kind of cosmic barter system? Or is Mars just a science project? Let's be real. Most moms or dads did their kids science projects. Nobody ever monetized anything from any of them.<...

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  Is This Really a Thing?

  Is the $1 Billion PowerPoint Really a Thing?

  Oct 27, 202521 minS0

  <p>Paul Jarley: We've all sat through terrible slide decks, but every so often a PowerPoint does more than communicate. It creates value. Think of the pitch deck that launched Airbnb, the presentation that convinced investors to fund Tesla or the strategy decks that shape billion dollar mergers. So is the billion dollar PowerPoint really a thing? Can confuse slides actually change the course of business history, or is it just a fancy way of describing really good storytelling?</p><p><br /></p><p>This show is all about separating hype from fundamental change. I'm Paul Jarley, Dean of the...

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  Is This Really a Thing?

  Are Pet Influencers Really a Thing?

  Oct 13, 202523 minS0

  <p>From Lassie to Grumpy Cat to Ruby the golden doodle, pets have long captured our hearts—but today, they’re also capturing serious market share. In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley dives into the booming world of pet influencers with UCF Marketing expert Dr. Carolyn Massiah and Amber Downs, creator of @orlandoodle. Together, they explore why pets are such powerful connectors, how authenticity and branding drive this unique space, and whether pet influencing is just internet fluff or a lasting force shaping consumer behavior.</p><p><br /></p><h4>Featured Guests</h4>Carolyn Mass...

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  Is This Really a Thing?

  Is the Quarterly Report Really a Thing?

  Sep 29, 202518 minS0

  <p>Quarterly earnings reports have been a fixture of American business for more than 50 years ... but are their days numbered? Earlier this month, President Donald Trump reignited debate by suggesting companies should only report twice a year, a move he says would cut costs and free executives to focus on the long term. But would fewer reports build stronger businesses, or erode trust in the markets? In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley sits down with UCF College of Business Hall of Fame members Paul Gregg and Jim Balaschak, along with accounting faculty member EB...

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  Is This Really a Thing?

  Is Layaway Really a Thing ... Again?

  Sep 15, 202519 minS0

  <p>Is layaway making a comeback—or has it simply been rebranded as “buy now, pay later”? In this episode of Is This Really a Thing?, Dean Paul Jarley sits down with Jim Adamczyk, Chief Strategy Officer at FAIRWINDS, to unpack the surprising history (and psychology) of delayed payments. From Christmas shopping in the 1970s to today’s Klarna and Affirm apps, they explore why consumers keep returning to installment plans, what it means for financial health, and whether AI could reshape how we manage spending and debt.</p><p><br /></p><h4>Featured Guests</h4>Jim Adamczyk - Chief Strategy...

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