In this episode, Megan Rafuse shares pivotal life and leadership moments that shaped where she is today in both business and life. With courage and a "why not" mindset, she discusses the stages, reasons and seasons she experienced and continues to navigate as a CEO bridging and building the intersection of tech and mental health, as well as a mother, a proud ADHDer, and a woman. With a strong sense of community to thrive, she authentically discusses the importance of having alignment to self, sh...
Jun 23, 2025•56 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In this episode, Chantal Carter shares how her love for fashion turned into a journey towards representation to love who you are in your skin regardless of its tone. With a mission to love the self, own your story, and to empower black women with their breast health, Ms. Carter walks us through her entrepreneurship journey, inclusive of the unexpected inflection points, the need to remain curious, the importance of managing her energies, and to stay grounded in faith. Ms. Carter states 'slow is ...
Apr 11, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 2
In this episode, Dr. Samra Zafar stores her story of courage, fear, and facing choices in the context of domestic violence, gender-based oppression, and pursuing education and a new life for herself and her two daughters. She discusses how choice is your superpower, and taking courageous steps leads to bold results. Samra breaks down her three pillars of courage, and talks about the importance of solitude to listen to your own voice. Her main message is the courage you seek is within you already...
Feb 07, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In this episode, Jay Rosales shares his passions for blogging, fantasy sports, telling jokes and statistics. He details how, over time, he was able to combine his passions for sports, especially basketball, within the city he loves. Whether he is writing, podcasting or in the media, Jay's goal is to create an emotional connection with the listener. As such, Jay shares what worked for him within his communications and marketing career; that is, to make it memorable and to build relationships with...
Dec 18, 2024•50 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this episode, Rahim Thawer (he/him) discusses the lulls and lows of leadership, and his relationship to misery. He discusses his approach, and that of his mentors, to 'confront the lack' and to challenge the notion of 'always be doing' sense of achievement. He shares his journey with writing and his aims to create new reference points while confronting shifting dynamics as a social worker with lived and marginalized experiences. His goals with producing scholarship are to bring a queer and ra...
Nov 01, 2024•38 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this episode, Suzanne Zandbergen share her passion for social media platforms as a medium to spread positivity into community and with local businesses. She discusses how new connections and perspectives can be found with audiences using social media marketing by focusing on a Founder's story or that of the many faces of the business. To Suzanne, there is no need to be perfect to share your authentic self and to make a human connection. At its basic level, human nature is about communicating ...
May 07, 2024•34 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this episode, Dr. Hsien Seow discusses the power of collective action and social change to drive ripple effects in the palliative care system. He shares his experiences with palliative care from an early age, defines what it is, why and how he remains committed to the field today. Dr. Seow speaks about the role of hope during the palliative process, as well as power and knowledge dynamics intertwined within healthcare system drivers which, unfortunately, is often experienced as the lack of co...
Dec 13, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, Co-Founders Anika Chabra & Jennifer Siripong Mandel discuss their company Root & Seed and its mission to end the loss of tradition. As a social enterprise advancing intergenerational and culturally sensitive work, both Jennifer and Anika share what digging deep means to them and how the richness of their histories and its stories, along with those of the families they engage with, led them to where they are now both personally and professionally. While honouring the past...
May 30, 2023•56 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this episode, Sana Askari unveils the many struggles she was faced with as an Afghan women, which makes Afghan women beautifully resilient. She speaks to her journey and the risks she took and continues to take to resist the societal and gender norms to not give up and disappear. Sana discusses how education is the key to not lose a generation to darkness and how important it is to continue to amplify the voices of Afghan women so the world does not forget them. It is worth it to Sana to stan...
Mar 31, 2023•57 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In this episode, Andrew Leroy Rudder takes a deep dive into what and who motivates him to practice catastrophic impairment law along with the approaches he takes to help his clients, inclusive of recognizing that the persons behind the case are worth the fight. Rudder earns the trust of his clients, often Indigenous and living on reserves, through intimacy, openness and challenging the notions he holds. Andrew discusses how important, yet intimating, it was to start his own firm that enabled him...
Feb 08, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In this episode, Lisa Evans brings to the forefront the reason she is an entrepreneur drives her ability to pivot and make decisions when faced with challenges. With a focus on the early years, she aligns her values with her actions while making the business work for her family life. Lisa shares her ups and downs over the past couple of years while holding the mindset that you cannot stay in a panic state. Constantly problem solving, taking calculated risks, and being scrappy to do what you got ...
Nov 22, 2022•42 min•Season 1Ep. 16
In this episode, Dr. Nicole Crimi discusses how her art is an expression of the unapologetic self, a symbol of courage, and a representation of a complex story. Through both art and science, Nicole illustrates how she moved out of her typical character to move past perceived creative limits and out of her comfort zones to develop works such as "Two elephants" donated to Stop Poaching Now as well as Patty and the Pandemic . Through the synergies of her artistic and medical experiences, Nicole sha...
Nov 09, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 15
In this episode, Dr. Shira Brown shares her perspectives on health leadership as a source and function of renewal when making a difference in someone's life. She talks about the value of team, the role of leadership to serve said team, her special work family, and she is reminded of the human condition through the power of why and an inquiry towards how you are living. Dr. Brown discusses the pandemic's impact on health teams along with the key findings from the EMBA project she conducted pinpoi...
Sep 28, 2022•37 min•Season 1Ep. 14
In this episode, a panel of Black women from diverse backgrounds and members of the Backpack Project discuss their experiences growing up in the Caribbean and Canada, the differences in the education systems from their lived experiences, and the impacts on equity deserving groups, specifically those in the black community. Melissa Enmore , who was introduced in episode 5, and I co-host the episode alongside panelists Alicia Sullivan and Michele Mitchell . Themes and topics that emerged from the ...
Sep 01, 2022•58 min•Season 1Ep. 13
In this episode, Debbie Stanley brings awareness to life today asking "If today was my last day, would I be okay with that?". Debbie discusses how to be compassionate, understanding and respectful to executors, grieving families and beneficiaries through a difficult time and a long process. Debbie details what estates are and what considerations are important when exploring your responsibilities. Debbie shares a page in her story leaving the audience with warmth and a readiness to celebrate toda...
Jun 20, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this episode, Kristin Gross takes us on her journey of exploration with "on the job" learning in a complex health system. She discusses the significance of being your own experience, developing a business that becomes a "must have" for its target audience, and being ready to pivot when founding a start-up company. Kristin's strengths of grit, endurance, a love for learning, and a network of relationships has helped her to be apart of numerous incubators and accelerators while continuously str...
Jun 14, 2022•50 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, Dave and Charmaine Draper discuss growing up in a hockey family and living a life in professional hockey on and off the ice. Dave and Charmaine share how they navigated through a professional hockey career, found their way and gave it their best. Dave discusses what talent was to him, how he went about scouting and coaching players, and what his approach was to meeting the needs of his team. Dave and Charmaine give voice to their talented family members in the industry, includin...
Jun 14, 2022•35 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In this episode, Charles Agyemang speaks to the importance of black youth having exposure at critical times in their development to career stories and seeing themselves in a career before it becomes a past thought. By breaking the cycle of "what is cool", through the power in representation and having access to accurate and relevant information, more avenues that youth can tap into become visible. Charles speaks to the floating targets black youth face and the community being formed and paying i...
May 04, 2022•36 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this episode, Elaine Uskoski shares her experience as a parent and caregiver of an adult aged son with a video game addiction. She talks about how important it was to take care of herself, lead with empathy and understanding, and take a holistic skills building approach to mental health recovery. Elaine discusses the journey of admission and how fulfilling it is step into what now feels like a social obligation to reconnect parents and their children in a purposeful way. Elaine Uskoski is an ...
Apr 25, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this episode, Kru Yai Jenypher Lanthier discusses her love for Muay Thai and achieving your goals in a male dominated industry. She shares how she benefited from allies, the need to work hard before spotting talent and changing lives in the art of both beauty and brutality. Kru Jen sees "how you lead", purpose, empathy and the essence of being a women as vital to leadership. To Kru Jen, Muay Thai teaches a culture of respect, embodiment of Buddhism, consistent and daily growth, and knowing th...
Apr 18, 2022•51 min•Season 1Ep. 7
In this episode, Augusta Ray speaks to the importance of loving yourself with confidence and living the life you want to live doing what you love to do. She reminds you that you worked hard to be where you are and she talks about some of the good people she meet on the way. Augusta shares her journey with eating disorders (ED) and now as a ED recovery advocate. Gus is authentically herself on and off stage knowing who she is and recognizing her worth, and she share this message to other young wo...
Mar 29, 2022•34 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this episode, Melissa Enmore speaks to the importance of education and educators as catalysts supporting children to get closer to living their big dreams. She describes the importance of learning and growing in world that is forever evolving and the need for the education system to reform and better equip bright minds to be adaptable and think differently. Melissa talks about the expectation to achieve in the Caribbean and the structural and systemic issues affecting learning and health. She...
Mar 09, 2022•45 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In this episode, Vanessa shares what it is like to leave parts of you behind and have other parts of you be reborn when immigrating to a new country. She discusses the experience of obtaining citizenship as "It's not just a paper. It is a life.". Vanessa unpacks her views on the give and take relationship of what it means to be Canadian, and how these changes need to start from within. Vanessa Chouinard is the founder and CEO of Gentium Immigration Corp where she helps individuals realize their ...
Feb 11, 2022•53 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this episode Bernard Abarquez discusses the impact of Project 42 within and beyond the Toronto community. He speaks to his presence as a runner, what goal setting was to him and its connection to his artistry. To Bernard "..every step gets you to that goal.." and "..if you do not reach the goal it does not take away from every step you took". Bernard Abarquez is an athlete committed to a state and condition of being “fit” both physically and mentally. He has a background in digital media and ...
Jan 29, 2022•32 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In this episode Donna Thomson shares her experience with caregiving and how her journey has shaped her views on leadership. She speaks to the power of imagination, bravery and asking for what you need when leading a life as a caregiver. She references the need to have both power and love for self, for change and for the emergence of leadership. Donna Thomson is a caregiver, author and advocate. Her experience was shaped by caring for her son who has cerebral palsy and for her mother who died at ...
Jan 29, 2022•28 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Your teaser of Today's Leaders for Tomorrow's Future. A short taste of what this podcast will do for you. That is, redefine the narrative of what it means to be a leader in society and see yourself as the leader you want and choose to be knowing that parts of you already are one.
Jan 29, 2022•1 min•Season 1Ep. 1
