Chatter that Matters

Many guests have joined me to openly talk about their battles with their mental health, but not quite like my guest this week, Nancy Xia. Nancy brings us to the raw realities of her journey – from battling childhood anxiety to grappling with clinical depression, culminating, at age eighteen, in her leap from her eighth-floor balcony as her father watched helpless and in shock. Miraculously, Nancy...

The first time B K Sethi came into my life was in 2023. B K wrote to me and said he loved listening to me on the radio and my podcasts. He then asked if we could have coffee. I had no idea I was meeting with one of our country's great entrepreneurs.  I took this picture, and you can see and feel it in his face and smile; B K is a beautiful soul. B K joins me this week to share his inspiring story....

Woman in Philanthropy. It's Nonprofit Appreciation Week, and I wanted to honour  WoodGreen Community Services. WoodGreen ensures that the UNMET needs of thousands of Canadians are MET every year.   In this special edition of  Chatter That Matters , taped live at the Toronto Hun Club, I chatted with three remarkable women who are Philanthropy Trailblazers. I learned that Charity focuses on eliminat...

Every second Monday, I break the format by bringing out Chatters - a snackable podcast that is under five minutes in length. I share my insight on the status quo and ideas to bring about positive and substantive change.  In this episode, I share a story at the grocery store that led me to my insight - smartphones and technology are making us less financially literate. I have no empirical evidence,...

Dr. Jean Marmoreo shares excerpts from her book The Last Doctor. Lessons in Living from the Front Lines of Medical Assistance in Dying  Dr. Jean Marmoreo believes the best care a health professional can provide is to honour a patient's life and to end it on the patient's terms. For 45 years Dr. Jean Marmoreo was a family physician practising in downtown Toronto, and in 2016 became one of Canada's...

Today's episode of Chatter That Matters is a live taping, which I have always loved because we can feed off the audience's energy. My guest is Cam Inglis, the founder of Marble Slab Creamery Canada. Cam is an inspiring entrepreneur who shares his journey from dreaming of playing in the NHL to real estate before choosing the path of an entrepreneur. During the show, we'll cover the daily challenges...

In my second 'snackable chatter' I look at how we can rewire Elections from Negative to Positive," I delve into the tumultuous landscape of modern elections, which often feel like a relentless hailstorm of negativity, eroding the fabric of our society and trust in democracy.  In three minutes, I present a refreshingly simple yet actionable concept aimed at rewiring elections to prioritize positivi...

I was so profoundly moved by Adam Robarts and his book 'Nineteen' that I had to have him on Chatter that Matters. Anyone who has had to deal with the loss of someone you love will also be moved and have their heart lifted as Adam shares his deeply personal and poignant love, loss, and spiritual journey. Adam is a world-renowned architect, and his wife is an equally accomplished interior designer....

' 'You have dreams and goals, even a direction, but you must be active for the universe and magic to happen. It must find you, but it won't if you hide in the corner. You must be out there for your desired reality to unfold.' Jesse Jones I love taping Chatter that Matters in front of an audience. In this episode, we are live at Sheridan College and its stunning Hazel McCallion Campus, with student...

  Patrick Asare went from abject poverty in a small village in Ghana to achieving international acclaim. In an inspiring interview, Patrick shared his remarkable story. He was born to illiterate parents, his father was a subsistence farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. Patrick was one of fourteen children living in a small mud house. Most children in his village didn't have the opportunity to c...

On occasion I change the format of Chatter that Matters, to offer you my observations on the status quo.  There is no finger-pointing; there are only ideas to improve upon it. In this episode I look at the state of Democracy, and offer you my thoughts on what matters most to you, and the many generations to follow.              

Risa August is an Ironman Triathlete and an extraordinary cyclist known and highly respected for her love of pushing her physical limits. Risa is no stranger to intense challenges, having completed 500-mile bike tours and conquered mountains in the US and Nepal. Then, Risa's life comes to a crashing halt. Her body is collapsing, and for good reason. She is diagnosed with a rare pituitary disease,...

I wanted to create an entertaining and enlightening show for my New Year's Special.  My guest is Todd Norian, a renowned yoga teacher, author, musician, and the founder of Ashaya Yoga. Todd is known for his teaching emphasis on the alignment of body, mind, and heart. Todd is the author of "Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, A Memoir." Additionally, he is a musician and has released alb...

I wanted to tackle loneliness for my holiday special this year as not all of us are surrounded by family and friends. The World Health Organization has declared loneliness a global health threat — as bad for your health as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.  Loneliness is the most significant preventable risk factor for depression, addiction, and suicidality. It increases the chance of early death...

I had a profound and heart-wrenching conversation with renowned infectious disease specialist Steffanie Strathdee. Steffanie is Canadian-born and named by Time Magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in healthcare.  She has written a book titled The Perfect Predator.  A Scientists race to save her Husband from a Deadly Superbug. Steffanie's story unfolds like a gripping thriller. On holi...

Join me to hear untold stories of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the birth of Canada. Acclaimed Author Stephen Bown shares excerpts from his new book Dominion, vividly describing the price paid to build the CPR and unite Canada. In this monumental saga, we learn about the ambitions, sacrifices, and the crimes against humanity that came with Canada's most extraordinary infrastructure project.   ...

What does it take to be exceptional? Why haven't we closed the gap if diversity has proven to create a more robust and resilient culture and greater profitability? Does that mean others must stand down if you stand for diversity and inclusion?   How can you create or contribute to a culture of excellence if the people you count on work remotely?   How can an individual make a difference in a world...

"We, as a society, do not talk about childhood abuse, and worse, many children between the ages of 5 to 18 go through some abuse." — Deenah Patel [00:33:41 → 00:33:52]   Note: We don't share any details of the abuse; what Deenah shares is her path back. Deenah Patel has twice joined me on Chatter that Matters to offer advice to help small business owners. When the microphone was turned off, Deenah...

We have a surprise twist in this week's Chatter That Matters. Mark Ferrier steps in as guest host and interviews Tony Chapman on his journey.   Mark is a natural; the banter between them is like listening to two close friends, and you will uncover many parallels between their lives and I am guessing yours. Tony shares a childhood where their family had to deal with emotional uncertainty and dire f...

Unveiling a Heartfelt Journey: Love, Family, and Resilience in Military Life. This week, we honour Remembrance Day by shedding light on the selfless commitment and sacrifice of military spouses. My guest is Vicki Cody, author of here memoir "Army Wife: A Story of Love and Family in the Heart of the Army," Vicki shares her experience as an army wife as well as a leader to many in her community. Our...

Hello everyone, With so much negativity flooding our feeds and, with it a growing sense of impossibility manifesting into a mental health crisis, I encourage you to listen to this episode to uncover ways in which you can help. This isn't a show about committing suicide; it is about preventing it from happening.  Some sobering facts: for every death by suicide, there are 20 attempts.  And with ever...

Today's episode marks my 200th episode of Chatter that Matters.  My guest is the marvellous Myra Sable, who, in her eighties, continues to build her gourmet food company, Sable and Rosenfeld, while being a warrior for a better world. And stick around as I introduce her Grandson Julien Sable Alvarado later in the show. Julien is taking over the business. Mark Twain once said that age is an issue of...

  In front of a live audience at the Convenience Industry Council of Canada's National Summit, I sat down with Jean-Franc ̧ ois Archambault. JF is a beautiful human being devoting his life to fighting food insecurity.  It is also a powerful love story between Mother and Son and how her ten-year unsuccessful battle with cancer took JF to a crossroads, offering two very different paths. The first wa...

I titled this episode of "Chatter That Matters" "Forever Young" and recorded it live at the Toronto Hunt Club. The idyllic setting alone adds a unique backdrop to a conversation that erupts with laughter and spontaneous applause. The man at the center of it is the master storyteller, the iconic Canadian editorial cartoonist and painter Andy Donato. Andy Donato is not just an artist; he's a force o...

The story begins when Mark Ferrier's father robs a bank, is arrested, and, in his sxites is put in Millhaven Maximum Security Prison to serve a five-year term. For decades, Mark buries this reality and wraps himself in a veneer, masking his insecurities and imposter syndrome with a persona of confidence and swagger. Mark gets married, raises two beautiful daughters, and is wildly successful as an...