Defining Moments with Dustin

What does it take to build a winning team, lead with integrity, and create a sporting legacy that lasts for generations? In this episode of Defining Moments , host Dustin Heise sits down with Tricia Smith, President of the Canadian Olympic Committee, four-time Olympian, Olympic silver medalist, and one of Canada's most influential sport leaders. From growing up in a family where sport, resour...

What does it take to chase a dream, compete on the world stage, and build a successful career beyond professional sports? In this episode of Defining Moments, host Dustin Heise sits down with Ben LeSage, Canadian National Rugby Team player, three-time Major League Rugby champion with the New England Free Jacks, and experienced startup operator. Ben shares his journey from studying engineering at t...

What does it take to lead a sport, build a lasting community, and turn personal setbacks into defining moments? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Nolan Thiessen, CEO of Curling Canada, to explore the leadership lessons that shaped his journey from competitive athlete to sports executive. Nolan shares how falling short of his baseball dream taught him to take ownersh...

What makes sport so powerful at bringing people together? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Larry Peters, Chief Revenue Officer at World of Dance, to explore the business, culture, and community behind sports and entertainment. Larry shares what he has learned from more than 15 years working across major sports, live entertainment, brand partnerships, technology, an...

What if sport could do more than build fitness and competition, and actually help solve loneliness? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Jess Jess Nicol, Co-Founder & CEO of Nicol, to explore how racquet sports can create stronger, healthier, and more connected communities.   Jess shares how Nicol grew from a junior squash program into a growing network of multi-ra...

What happens when failure becomes one of your greatest advantages? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Daniel Oladejo to explore the experiences that shaped him as an athlete, leader, and business professional. Daniel shares how being cut from teams, sitting on the sidelines for years, and facing pressure at the CFL Combine helped build the resilience and discipline t...

What happens when the lessons learned at the highest level of sport become lessons for leadership? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Olympic gold medalist Susanne Wereley to explore the defining experiences that shaped her journey from the rowing boat to the boardroom. Susanne shares the moment Canada's women's eight realized they were capable of something...

Are we raising better athletes, or are we taking the joy out of sports? In this episode of Defining Moments , host Dustin Heise sits down with Skip Gilbert, Executive Vice President at Capelli Sport and former CEO of US Youth Soccer and USA Triathlon, to explore what it really takes to build successful athletes, strong leaders, and lasting sports organizations. With decades of experience across yo...

What if the true impact of sport goes far beyond medals and podiums? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Matthew Bongiorno, Manager of Government Relations and Public Affairs at the Canadian Olympic Committee, to explore how sport can unite communities, strengthen national identity, and create lasting change. Matthew shares how the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games s...

What does it take to rebuild a culture, put athletes first, and lead an Olympic organization toward its biggest stage? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Adam Andrasko, CEO of USA Artistic Swimming , to explore the leadership lessons behind the organization’s transformation. Adam shares why culture can take years to build but only a day to destroy, and how consistent...

What does it take to turn the power of sport into lasting impact? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Sara Toussaint, Co-CEO of TMJ and a longtime sports business executive whose career has taken her across Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, brand partnerships, athlete representation, and professional team ownership. Sara shares how growing up on Chicago’s So...

What if access to great coaching didn’t depend on where you lived or how much money your family could afford? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Victor Bergonzoli, CEO of SportsEdTV, Emmy Award winner, and co-founder of the International Sports Technology Association. Victor shares the defining moments that took him from a successful corporate career to entrepreneurs...

What does it take to build a world-class sports organization from the ground up? On this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Danny Da Costa, CEO of the Osten & Victor Alberta Tennis Centre , to explore the leadership decisions behind the growth of one of Canada’s premier year-round tennis facilities. Danny brings three decades of experience leading sport organizations and...

What does it take to compete at the highest level while helping shape the future of your sport? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Madison Richardson, professional climber, Canadian National Climbing Team athlete, and Chair of Climbing Escalade Canada’s Athletes Commission. Madison shares the journey that took her from a young climber to competing on the world stage,...

On this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Rob Ohno , President and CEO of the ANNIKA Foundation, to explore how sport can shape character, leadership, and lives far beyond competition. Drawing from decades of experience across the PGA Tour and global sport, Rob shares why the greatest lessons in athletics have little to do with winning. From coaching his own children to lea...

College sports is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history, and Nicholas Lord is helping lead the way. As Co-Founder and CEO of NOCAP Sports, Nick is building the commercial infrastructure that helps universities, brands, alumni, and athletes unlock new revenue opportunities in the NIL era. In this episode of Defining Moments , he joins Dustin Heise to discuss why the future of...

What does it take to build billions of views in sport? In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Aaron Eisman, Founder and CEO of Eisman Digital and one of the leading voices in sports social media. Aaron shares his journey from journalism graduate to helping power social media growth for some of the biggest brands in sport, including the NFL, Bleacher Report, Turner Sports...

What does it take to build athletes who succeed not just in sport, but in life? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Austin Pillado, Associate Head Swim Coach at the University of Pittsburgh and one of the rising leaders in collegiate swimming. Austin shares the defining moment that confirmed coaching was his calling, the importance of building trust before performance,...

What if student-athletes had access to the truth before committing to a college program? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Keirsten Sires, Founder and CEO of 2aDays, to discuss how transparency, trust, and athlete-first leadership are reshaping the college sports landscape. Drawing from her own recruiting experience, Keirsten shares the defining moment that inspired...

In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Garrett Ball, Chief Operating Officer at Golf Canada, to explore the leadership lessons that emerge when sport, business, and purpose intersect. A five-time national lacrosse champion turned executive leader, Garrett shares the defining phone call that shifted his career trajectory and how his competitive drive evolved from the play...

What does it take to lead change in a rapidly evolving sports landscape? In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Phil Andrews, CEO of USA Fencing, to explore leadership, innovation, and the realities of transforming sports organizations in an era of constant change. Phil shares lessons from leading major organizational turnarounds, balancing commercial growth with athlete...

In this episode of Defining Moments, Dustin Heise sits down with Suzanne Paulins, Chief Executive Officer of Swimming Canada, to explore the leadership lessons she's learned from grassroots sport, parent volunteering, and guiding one of Canada's most successful Olympic organizations. Suzanne shares why feedback-rich cultures create stronger teams, how a clear sense of purpose helps leade...

In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Lyle Adams, Founder and CEO of Spry, a leading collegiate athletics management platform helping athletic departments streamline operations and better support coaches, administrators, and student-athletes. A former professional soccer player turned sports technology entrepreneur, Lyle shares how lessons from elite sport shaped his ap...

In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Matthew Jolles, President & CEO of Gotham Sports & Entertainment Holdings, to explore how sport can become more than competition. Matthew shares how his time with ESPN and X Games shaped his belief in sport as a platform for culture, inclusion, and opportunity. He also unpacks his mission to make youth sports more transforma...

In this episode of Defining Moments , Dustin Heise sits down with Brett M. Johnson, CEO of Benevolent Capital and one of the most influential voices in the business of sport today. Brett shares the journey behind building Rhode Island FC, helping lead the resurgence of Ipswich Town FC, and why he believes sport is one of the most powerful tools for community connection and long-term economic impac...