Passion Chats

What really happens when you decide to write a book? In this special edition of Passion Chats, host Laura Best sits in the guest seat as Michelle Yu — co-founder and CEO of Josie, TEDx speaker, and one of Laura’s favourite past guests — interviews her about the journey of creating Born to Buzz: How to Spark Your Passions (Without Quitting It All) . Together, they dig into: The surprising things La...

What if bringing structure to chaos could be your unique passion and strength?  In this episode, Gelareh Chafin, chemical engineer and team leader at global organisation LyondellBasel, joins host Laura Best to explore how finding order in complexity can become a source of joy. Drawing from her journey from aspiring doctor to global turnaround specialist, Gelareh shares how she discovered her passi...

What if self-reliance could help you do more of what you love?  In this episode, Maha Abouelenein, author and self-reliance advocate, joins host Laura Best to explore how trusting yourself leads to both professional success and personal fulfillment. Drawing from her experience moving to Egypt and turning setbacks into opportunities, Maha shares practical wisdom on building confidence through small...

What if returning to work after parental leave could feel less like starting over and more like stepping forward? How can workplaces better support parents while nurturing their career passions? In this episode, Michelle Yu, co-founder and CEO of Josie and advocate for working parents and workplace inclusivity, joins Laura Best for a candid conversation about navigating the intersection of parenth...

Fear - it's something we all experience but rarely discuss openly. What if understanding our fears, rather than fighting them, could help us do more of what we love? In this powerful episode, Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton, executive coach and business leader, joins Laura Best for an honest conversation about fear. Author of the new book "The Myth of the Fearless Leader: Exposing a New Path B...

What does the word "purpose" mean to you? Is it something that gets you out of bed every morning? Or maybe it's a way that you move in the world. Or perhaps a belief, practice or idea that helps you with your path ahead.  Either way, "finding our purpose" is very  much like "finding our passions" - sounds good in theory, not so easy in practice!  Amanda Brinkman,...

With our busy lives, it’s sometimes hard to find the time, or the energy to act on the big issues that are facing our world. Climate Change has been described as a Global Emergency for years. The news stories of flooding, wildfires, and famine can either make us want to hide under the duvet or do anything we can to help. But, it can feel hard to know where to start, and also how we can care, how w...

Discovering and pursuing our passions can sometimes take work, and that can hold us back from starting what could be a life changing experience. After a long day, it can be hard to pick up the hobby we’ve been meaning to get to or work on our business idea.  In this episode, Val Stones shares her story with our host, Laura Best, and talks about how as a grandparent and semi-retired headteacher, sh...

Is your “comfort zone” holding you back from doing more of the things you love?  In this episode, Kristi Jacobson shares how, as a 42 year old finance leader and mother of two, she decided to – literally – take the plunge and rediscover her childhood love of waterskiing.  Now, Kristi didn’t just “dip her toe in”, she joined a water ski TEAM – yep, one of those acrobatic, pyramid skiing teams!  Hos...

Have you ever felt the burning passion of an idea, yet hesitated to bring it to life? Do the fears of judgment and uncertainty about where to take your dream hold you back?  In this episode, we unravel the emotional journey of Susie Cery, a former advertising powerhouse who dared to turn her adventurous dreams into reality. Join Passion Collective Founder Laura Best as she chats with Susie about t...

What do you do when life gets hard? When circumstances, outside of your control, kick you off your path, or hurt you or those you love? Do you rise or do you fall?  Join host, Laura Best, we explore the essence of “resilience” with Caitlin Saenz, Chief Operating Officer at Coverhound, whose passion is helping people and businesses protect themselves, so they can thrive.  In this episode, you’ll he...

Have you ever held back on sharing a passion that lights up your soul? Felt apprehensive about unveiling a side of yourself that doesn't neatly fit into your professional identity?  Join us in this episode as we explore the transformative journey of Kate McRoberts, a CEO, and a powerhouse in her own right. Discover how Kate, the (mostly) fearless leader of Fathom Consulting, embraced her love...

When was the last time you experienced a life-changing performance, one that moved you, in your soul? Jennifer Weir, Executive Director at TaikoArts Midwest and documentary producer, is on a mission to redefine history through the power of Taiko drumming.  In this latest Passion Chats episode, discover how she broke through traditional barriers to create a groundbreaking concert featuring the worl...

Are you looking for ways to face your fears, even the ones that others might think are crazy?! Join host Laura Best as she chats with stand-up comedian and Anishinaabe woman, Trish Cook, in this episode of Passion Chats. Trish shares her passion for using laughter as a medicine, and improving Native American representation in both comedy and media as a whole. She shares her beliefs surrounding the...

What does “feeling fierce” feel like to you? Don’t miss this episode of Passion Chats featuring Teresa Sande, veteran corporate HR/talent leader and imposter syndrome expert as she shares the moments when she has felt “fierce” in her work and life.  Listen as she and Passion Chats host, Laura Best, chat about how we can overcome the fear of taking ownership of our life (it’s not as scary as it sou...

Join host Laura Best as she chats with Lindsay Davis, an award-winning entrepreneur, coach and speaker. Lindsay, originally from South Africa, experienced a life-altering moment when she realized that trying to "have it all" was unsustainable. This prompted her to redefine success and help others find a balance between building businesses and everyday life.  Lindsay shares her personal j...

Join host Laura Best, founder of Passion Collective, as she chats with talent leader Astrid Benedetto.  Astrid's career journey is filled with resilience and self-discovery. You'll hear Astrid share how she transformed the pain of her layoff into an opportunity to rediscover her purpose, and how she used courage and empathy to create a new path forward in the world of Diversity, Equity a...

In this episode Laura Best chats with Jamie Taets, Chief Vision Officer and founder of Keystone Group International. Discover Jamie's unwavering passion for making an impact, her transformative word for 2023 and the lessons she learned while hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. Passion Collective is a global community of people who are pursuing their passions.  Discover more inspiration at www.passionco...

In this episode, Laura chats with Mecca Bos, the visionary journalist and chef, who recently founded the BIPOC Foodways Alliance. Hear Mecca share her story, including how her love of food and cooking began, her experience as a black female chef, and her mission to fight against white supremacy. Passion Collective is a global community of people who are pursuing their passions.  Discover more insp...

Laura Best chats with Jen Swanson, CEO and Principal Advisor at TuckPoint Advisory Group, an expert in digital transformation and passionate about getting people and companies unstuck. They discuss Jen's optimism, her perspective on creativity, her lesson from launching her business and her advice for those who want to "go big" in their lives. Passion Collective is a global communit...

On this episode, Laura Best chats with Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest, one of the largest arts and culture nonprofits in Pennsylvania. ArtsQuest provides access to exceptional artistic, cultural, and educational experiences, using arts and culture to boost economic development for urban communities to the tune of more than 136 million bucks annually. You'll hear Kassie share h...