Actualize

This episode is with Ania Wysocka. She is the founder of Rootd , an award-winning anxiety and panic attack app that has been downloaded more than 3 million times. Ania started Rootd after she experienced a panic attack and did not find sufficient support. Rootd app is a culmination of everything Ania has learned about overcoming and coping with anxiety and panic attacks.  Ania talks about her work...

Join our chat with Mary-Lyn Kieffer, Director of Made of Millions and the Senior Manager for Togetherall. She shares her struggle with OCD and how she learned to cope with it, plus the power of community.  Trigger warning : In this episode, we will be discussing thoughts of suicide, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know is struggling with these feelings, please se...

In this episode with Rob and Danica Nelson, a dynamic entrepreneur, marketer, financial educator, and international nomad, Dani shares the raw and unfiltered story of her burnout in what she once thought was her dream job. Following a necessary stress leave, she found herself in a mass layoff when she returned. Despite these setbacks, Dani unfolds a story of resilience and reinvention, transitioni...

In this episode of Actualize, Rob catches up with Margaret, the founder of Nuts for Cheese. They discuss Margaret's journey from starting at a farmer's market to becoming a manufacturer of dairy-free and organic cashew-based products. Margaret shares about her flagship line of cashew-based cheese wedges, cream cheese spreads, and the recently launched Nuts for Butter. Tune in for an insigh...

On this episode of Actualize, host Rob interviews Tessa McLoughlin, the creator of Club Kwench, a culture club and co-working space in Victoria, B.C. Tessa shares her perspective on the importance of creating a sense of belonging and good culture in co-working spaces. She explains why she chose to start Kwench in Victoria and the challenging journey as a freshly divorced single mom of two, to laun...

In this episode of Actualize featuring Tina Luu , co-founder of Fable , we talked about the multifaceted life of being a tech leader, mother, partner, daughter, and sister. Tina's remarkable work ethic, independence, and vulnerability shine through as she kindly discusses her recent encounter with stage five of burnout, a profound state of physical and mental overwhelm. Tina's resilience a...

Join us for an insightful episode featuring Braden Handley, co-founder of Inkbox, the innovative temporary tattoo company. Braden shares the story behind Inkbox's success, from its inception in 2015 to its acquisition in 2022, taking it from $10,000 to $80 Million.  In our conversation, we explore Braden's entrepreneurial drive, the challenges of hiring and firing friends, and the signific...

In this episode, we feature Jill Van Gyn, CEO of Fatso Peanut Butter. Beyond her business success, Jill shares her deeply personal journey, including her battle with addiction, pregnancy loss, and infertility. We delve into the concept of feeling deserving, shedding light on her struggles and vulnerabilities. This open and candid conversation aims to inspire those dealing with substance abuse, inf...

This episode is with Annie MacIntosh. Annie is a content creator, marketer, and master of counseling student living in Vancouver BC. In the episode we start off by discussing Annie’s role as a content creator and influencer and her love for nature, before diving deeper into her experience living with depression, how she takes care of her mental health, and more about her desire to help others as s...

In this episode, we had a conversation with Jason Silver, an entrepreneur, father of two, and early influencer in Airbnb's growth. After the profound loss of his sister in 2019, Jason embarked on a transformative journey, immersing himself in productivity, mindfulness, neuroscience, and behavioral psychology.  Through this exploration, he devised strategies to harmonize personal well-being wit...

Meet Christopher Brown, a former US Marine who found a new career path as a licensed therapist. Chris opens up about his entry into the Marine Corps, the traumatic experiences he endured, and the challenges he faced reintegrating into society after his deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan.  He shares his personal counseling journey, shedding light on how it not only helped him overcome PTSD but also...

This episode features Kelly Hrudey. From the world of professional hockey, Kelly comes a 15-year NHL career, wrapping up in 1998. Post-retirement, he transitioned into broadcasting and now shines as an analyst for Hockey Night in Canada on Sportsnet and a commentator for the Calgary Flames. In this chat, Kelly shares his personal battles with mental health while he was playing and even now. He als...

This episode is with Alicia Mccarvel. Alicia hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is an absolute force of a person, content creator, and entrepreneur. She is dedicated to making the lives of others better by encouraging them to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies. As of now, Alicia has over 1 million Instagram followers and 6 million TikTok followers. During our conversation, Alicia o...

Today, we explore the intricacies of identity, mental health, and the transformative power of personal narratives with our guest Bryce Seto. For individuals seeking understanding, especially those navigating the intersections of cultural backgrounds and emotional well-being. We also discuss how the support of a loving partner and the joy of fatherhood can transform the emotional landscape, challen...

When we meet an entrepreneur, we often wonder: How did they fund their startup? How do they foster its growth? And, how do they manage it all? In this episode, we sit down with Mallory Greene to delve into the challenges of fundraising as a woman, varying leadership styles, and the mental health aspects of entrepreneurship. If you're keen to uncover both the triumphs and trials faced by entrep...

Taylor Loren is a creator and social media educator who shares about the intersection of marketing and mental health. She is passionate about helping small businesses and creators grow their audiences without burning out, which she does through her courses and Instagram account.

Dive deep with Alessia Scauzillo (aka Alessia Sculpt @alessiasculpt ) as she uncovers the hidden facets of shifting from a full-time corporate role to the influencer field. Alessia candidly speaks on the pivotal role her mother's passing played in reshaping her life, teaching her to follow her heart and illuminating both her life and others.

Daniel is the Founder and CEO of Koho, a Canadian fintech company founded in 2015. Koho recently passed 1 million customers, and the company employs over 350 people. Daniel is a very thoughtful leader, who combines emotional intelligence, high intellect, and the ability to zoom in and out when need. He’s extremely humble, and values humility and warmth in the workplace. In this episode we talk abo...

Brianne is a renowned athlete and three-time Olympian, having represented the Canadian Women's Hockey Team on the world stage. Her accomplishments include two Olympic Gold medals and a silver, and she holds the distinguished title of being named the MVP of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Tournament, where she tied the record for the most goals scored in an Olympic tournament. In addition to her illus...

On paper, Andy Johns has had a remarkable career in Silicon Valley. He worked at nine companies worth over 1 billion each. He was an early employee of Facebook, Twitter, and Quora, and was President of Wealth Front. When Andy was a few years into his tech career, he discovered deep psychological pain stemming from childhood trauma. After years in therapy, while still being a top performer in the t...

Alex Auerbach is a performance psychologist, currently working with the Toronto Raptors NBA team. Prior to this role, Alex has been a college football coach and also worked with the Kansas City Chief’s NFL team. He held the role of Director of Clinical and Sports Psychology at the University of Arizona. Alex applies the principles and practices of elite sport to everyday health and high performanc...

Yvette Yong is an Olympian, a 15-time Team Canada TaeKwonDo athlete, and a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Yvette is a true champion in every sense of the word, having won three world TaeKwonDo championships and multiple international medals, including a world-ranked number one position in the female 46-kilogram category, which was a first for any Canadian athlete. In this episode, we chat wi...

Today's guest is the talented and dynamic Jillian Harris, who is known for her creative flair and inspiring designs. Jillian is a mother, partner, and an entrepreneur who wears many hats. She's the founder of Jillian Harris Design and the Jilly Academy, and the co-founder of the Jilly Box. In this episode, we dive into Jillian's life and talk about what drives her, how she balances her...

Our guest is Mark McLeod, a seasoned expert in the tech startup world. Mark has an impressive track record having served as CFO for companies such as Shopify and FreshBooks. With over two decades of experience in the venture-backed startup industry, Mark now spends his time coaching and advising CEOs. In this episode, Mark shares his journey of how he transitioned from being a CFO to an executive...

Sarah Stockdale is founder of Grow Class ( growclass.co ), a collection of practical marketing courses taught by experts. Sarah also writes a non-marketing related newsletter titled “We Need to Talk About This” ( wntta.co ).In this episode, we discuss what it’s like to be a woman in the tech industry, touching on topics such as privilege, confidence, micro aggressions, imposter syndrome, and build...