In this episode of The Maverick Makers Podcast, Michelle sits down with powerhouse media executive Kit Redmond, the Founding Partner and Executive Chair of RTR Media Inc. With a career spanning decades in Canadian content creation, Kit has made an indelible mark on the world of factual and lifestyle television, producing internationally beloved series such as Home Town and Home Town Takeover. Kit opens up about her journey from journalist to executive producer to entrepreneur, and how staying gr...
Jun 13, 2025•44 min
What does success really mean when you’re a Maverick? In this bold solo episode, Michelle Daides unpacks the real, raw, and often hilarious truth about what it takes to be successful as a Maverick—on your own terms. From battling fear and ditching perfectionism to building a dream team and defining your legacy, Michelle drops practical wisdom (and a few mic drops) on how to thrive in life, business, and creativity. Whether you're chasing passion over paychecks or just need a reminder that YOU ar...
Jun 06, 2025•21 min
If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Is this really all there is?” — this episode is for you.This week on the Maverick Makers Podcast, I’m joined by Kena Paranjape — founder of All You Are, creator of the Supernova membership, and host of the Be All You Are podcast. After two decades in retail (including VP at Seth Rogen’s Houseplant), Kena did something bold: she walked away from the known to build a life led by intuition, purpose, and truth. Now, she helps women 35+ reclaim their story, their powe...
May 30, 2025•45 min
In this powerful solo episode, Michelle Daides gets real, raw, and reflective as she celebrates a major mileston. Fresh from an unforgettable trip to Spain with family and friends, Michelle shares 50 lessons she’s learned as a Maverick—in life, business, motherhood, and the messy magic in between. From taking big risks (sometimes without a net) to the importance of asking for what you want, embracing intuition, and leading with gratitude, Michelle opens her heart and her playbook to inspire fell...
May 23, 2025•37 min
Meet Tina Singh—Occupational Therapist, Digital Creator, mom of 3… and the powerhouse behind Bold Helmets. When Tina couldn’t find a helmet that fit her Sikh kids’ top knots, she didn’t just settle—she built one. In 2023, she launched the first safety-certified multi-sport helmet designed for Sikh children, and since then, Bold Helmets has been breaking barriers in inclusivity, one head at a time. You may have seen her on Dragon’s Den, or read about her in the Top 25 Women of Influence (2024) an...
May 16, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 57
On this week's episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast - we dig into Duwayne Robinson’s story—and it’s all heart. Born to Jamaican immigrants. Raised on resilience. Duwayne’s journey hasn’t followed a straight line—but it’s been built on hard work, hustle, and human connectione very step of the way including, Labor jobs, Night shifts, Hot kitchens, Corporate leadership, A 12K-strong YouTube community and Creative ventures that never stopped calling. He didn’t wait for permission to grow—he just k...
May 09, 2025•41 min
What happens when you walk away from a “safe” corporate job with no backup plan… just a gut feeling and a KitchenAid mixer? In this heartwarming and inspiring episode, host Michelle Daides sits down with Suzy Gazzellone—a former banker turned baker whose leap of faith led to a wildly successful cake business, a beautiful family, a debut cookbook (Secrets From a Baker), and over 20 TV appearances (yes, she pitched herself!). Suzy shares her deeply personal story—from facing fertility struggles an...
May 02, 2025•37 min
In this deliciously inspiring episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides chats with Chantal Bekhor, the founder of VG Gourmet—a brand that’s changing the way we think about plant-based eating. Before launching VG Gourmet in 2015, Chantal was an elementary school teacher with a love for cooking and a deep belief in the power of a plant-based lifestyle. Frustrated by the lack of wholesome, ready-made vegan options, she took matters into her own hands (literally!)—crafting burger recipes in h...
Apr 24, 2025•23 min
Get ready for another juicy episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast - Host Michelle Daides speaks with Jennifer Hanna, founder of Ignite People Solutions—and a true powerhouse when it comes to developing leaders who actually make an impact. Jennifer isn’t about fluffy leadership jargon. She’s about evidence-based, measurable growth. With a background in the Learning Sciences and behavior change, she knows exactly how adults learn—and what it takes to move leadership from theory to real-life trans...
Apr 10, 2025•26 min
In this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Jake Karls, the bold and brilliant Co-founder & Chief Rainmaker of Mid-Day Squares—the better-for-you chocolate brand that’s flipping the traditional food industry on its head. Jake is not your typical business leader. He’s raw, real, and radically honest about what it takes to build a brand that actually breaks through. From launching a snack empire out of a kitchen to becoming a Forbes 30 Under 30 and EY Entrepreneur o...
Apr 04, 2025•36 min•Season 1Ep. 52
In this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Janelle, a Toronto-based real estate expert whose journey from television production to property transactions gives her a unique edge. With a background in HGTV renovation shows, Janelle blends her knowledge of construction, design, and market trends to make buying, selling, and investing as stress-free as possible. But Janelle’s story goes beyond real estate. Diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age, she underwent chemot...
Mar 28, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Welcome to another inspiring episode of Maverick Makers: Off The Cuff! In this episode, we bring back two former guests and dive deep into the power of self-love, trusting your intuition, and embracing joy with our incredible experts—Personal Transformation Coach Karla Smith and Peak Performance Coach Leanne Monaghan. What You'll Learn in This Episode: -The foundations of self-love and why it’s essential for personal growth -Practical tips to cultivate self-love and break through self-doubt -The...
Mar 21, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 50
In this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Megan Silk, co-founder of Gingerbug, a brand revolutionizing soda with gut-healthy, certified organic ingredients. Alongside her husband, Bren Silk, Megan turned a passion for fermentation on their off-grid farm into a thriving consumer brand, now available coast to coast in Canada. Megan shares her unexpected journey into the world of consumer packaged goods, her experience pitching on CBC’s Dragon’s Den, and the challenges...
Mar 07, 2025•31 min•Season 1Ep. 48
In this unscripted and unfiltered episode of Maverick Makers: Off The Cuff, host Michelle Daides welcomes back Matt Cundill, Owner and Operator of the Soundoff Media Network. From the long game of podcasting to entrepreneurship, travel, and a deep love for soccer, no topic is off-limits. Matt shares his insights on what it takes to sustain and grow a successful podcast, the latest industry trends, and how creators can stay ahead of the curve. But the conversation doesn’t stop there—Michelle and ...
Feb 28, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Growing up in Belfast, Northern Ireland, surrounded by the warmth of home-cooked meals and the influence of his mother and grandmothers, chef Paul Watter's love for food began at an early age. His journey into the culinary world started at 17, peeling potatoes in a hotel kitchen, but his ambition quickly led him to pursue formal training and experience in some of the most prestigious kitchens across the world. From working in local restaurants to landing a career-changing opportunity at The Savo...
Feb 14, 2025•35 min•Season 1Ep. 46
What makes a space not just beautiful, but truly transformative? This week on Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Sarah Paul, Director of Interior Design at Hariri Pontarini Architects, to uncover the art of designing spaces that stand the test of time. From luxury residences to world-class cultural institutions, Sarah’s vision is shaping the future of interior architecture with a bold, wellness-focused approach. In This Episode: -How Sarah blends international influences and be...
Feb 06, 2025•29 min•Season 1Ep. 46
In this inspiring episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast, host Michelle Daides sits down with Marlina Ramchandran, a powerhouse in the world of startup growth and corporate partnerships. As Special Projects Manager at YSpace York University, Marlina plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, spearheading impactful initiatives, and driving national expansion for women-focused programs. With over 20 years of experience across startup consulting, hospitality, education, and media, Marlina has ma...
Jan 31, 2025•37 min•Season 1Ep. 45
In this episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast, Michelle Daides sits down with Julia Suppa, an award-winning multi-platform media professional, producer, and consultant with over two decades of experience in the media industry. As the founder and president of Suppa Media, Julia specializes in helping businesses elevate their content creation through strategic storytelling, media marketing, video production, photography, social media management, and event production. We explore: -Julia’s journey ...
Jan 24, 2025•30 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Maverick Makers Off The Cuff, an unscripted, unfiltered extension of the Maverick Makers Podcast. Host Michelle Daides reunites with two fascinating former guests, Julie Thurgood-Bennett and Will Greenblatt, for a spontaneous and lively roundtable discussion. In this new format, nothing is rehearsed, and the conversation flows freely. With curiosity as the compass, Michelle and her guests delve into a wide range of topics, including: Personal and professional ...
Jan 17, 2025•53 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Chef Joe Gatto, celebrated host of the hit TV show From Scratch on Pluto TV, joins Michelle to share his inspiring journey from filmmaker to chef. Joe began his career in filmmaking, but a desire to start a family led him to leave the fast-paced life of Los Angeles and pursue his passion for cooking. Inspired by his culinary idol, Emeril Lagasse, Joe made the leap into the world of scratch-made cooking and never looked back. Today, Joe is a private chef to A-list clients, including Boston Celtic...
Dec 13, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 42
On this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Sandra Bekhor, a dynamic Practice Management Coach with a fascinating career journey that spans architecture, toy design, and professional coaching. Sandra’s unique path has informed her ability to guide professionals in unlocking their potential through a blend of strategic tools, authentic storytelling, and mindset coaching. Sandra’s experience helps her connect deeply with clients from diverse industries, empowering them ...
Dec 06, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 41
This week Michelle Daides sits down with Vanessa Marshall, a proud Edmontonian, Métis woman, and the visionary founder of Jack59. Vanessa’s journey from crafting haircare products in her kitchen to leading a globally recognized Indigenous-owned, women-led brand is a testament to her ingenuity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Vanessa shares the story behind Jack59’s mission to provide salon-quality, eco-friendly, plastic-free haircare products. Learn how her roots in Nort...
Nov 28, 2024•37 min•Season 1Ep. 40
In this empowering episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides welcomes Karla Smith, a Personal Transformational Coach, Self-Love Expert, and the creator of The Monday Mantra Collective and Morning Mantra card deck. Karla is on a mission to help highly supportive women—who often put themselves last—embrace self-care, balance, and lasting joy. Karla shares her transformative approach to self-love, revealing how prioritizing oneself can lead to profound changes in every area of life. Known fo...
Nov 21, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 39
In this insightful episode of Maverick Makers, Michelle Daides sits down with Sholeh Alemi Fabbri, an award-winning producer and founder of Good Measure Productions. With over 20 years of experience and three Canadian Screen Award nominations, Sholeh has made an impressive mark in content production, particularly with projects that merge storytelling and social impact. Most recently, Sholeh produced Meteor, a short animated documentary directed by Atefeh Khademolreza, which premiered at TIFF 202...
Nov 14, 2024•34 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Host Michelle Daides welcomes Clare Kumar, a performance strategist, inclusivity advocate, to the Maverick Makers Podcast. Proudly neuroatypical, Clare has dedicated her career to helping organizations unlock human potential by fostering accessible and inclusive work environments. As the Canadian Regional Director for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, Clare is a champion for neurodiversity and non-visible challenges, advocating for environments that empower everyone to contribute their ...
Nov 08, 2024•43 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Ready for another episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast? Michelle Daides chats with Jolene Brewster, the dynamic entrepreneur behind Jolene’s Tea House in Banff, Alberta. Once crowned Rodeo Queen and Calgary Stampede Queen in 2000, Jolene has seamlessly blended her Wild West roots with her passion for quality tea. Her tea house on historic Bear Street offers over 60 varieties of organic, hand-blended teas, each crafted to capture the essence of the Canadian Rockies. Jolene shares the story of h...
Oct 31, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 36
In this powerful episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides is joined by Mary Zamil, a dedicated registered psychotherapist and founder of Mind Multitudes. Mary brings a deeply personal and empathetic approach to mental health, having navigated her own journey with anxiety. Rather than letting it control her life, she embarked on a profound exploration of mind-body practices—embracing mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and breathwork—to cultivate resilience and well-being. Through her practice...
Oct 25, 2024•23 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Bring on the Fire....on this episode, Michelle Daides welcomes culinary maverick Chef Matt Basile, who has spent his career redefining what it means to innovate in the food industry. From founding Toronto’s iconic food truck brand Fidel Gastro’s to launching the hit gastropub Lisa Marie, Matt is no stranger to shaking up the culinary scene. Now, as co-founder of Alchemy Grills, he’s bringing that same disruptive energy to the world of barbecue and live-fire cooking. Matt shares his journey of tr...
Oct 17, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 34
In this episode of Maverick Makers, Michelle Daides welcomes Alanna McGinn, sleep expert and founder of Good Night Sleep Site, to explore the vital role sleep plays in our lives. As the creator of the Messy Middle Sleep Solution, Alanna has made it her mission to help people overcome their sleep struggles, whether they’re individuals, families, or even large corporations. With her vast expertise, Alanna shares practical advice on how to get quality rest, improve stress management, and wake up fe...
Oct 10, 2024•33 min•Season 1Ep. 33
In this episode of Maverick Makers, Michelle Daides sits down with renowned entertainment photographer George Pimentel, whose career spans over 30 years. From TIFF and Cannes to the Oscars, Golden Globes, and the Met Gala, George has documented some of the most iconic moments in celebrity culture. His journey began in 1993 when he snapped his first celebrity photo of Robert De Niro at the Toronto Film Festival, using his trusty Hasselblad camera. With a unique style and passion for capturing sta...
Oct 03, 2024•55 min•Season 1Ep. 32
