Better the Pond---PondCast

In this episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, Warren Barry sits down with Bob Lund, Corporate Health & Safety Manager at Main Road Group, for a candid and grounded conversation about youth in trades, safety leadership, and building meaningful career pathways. Bob shares his unexpected journey from mills, electrical work, and Alberta oil fields into safety management, highlighting how curios...

From farm roots to the C-suite, Valerie Paris, COO of Durvet Corporation, has built her career on hard work, humility, and heart.  In this episode, Valerie shares her incredible journey—from growing up on a Missouri farm to leading a national animal health cooperative. We talk about leadership, self-advocacy, and how empowering others can ripple far beyond the workplace.  Valerie also opens up abo...

Today, I’m diving into a topic that’s very close to my heart — the future of our workforce and the incredible opportunities waiting for young people in the trades.  I had the pleasure of sitting down with Dave Speerbrecker of Thyssen Mining, and this conversation really hit home. We explored the real challenges of attracting youth into the trades — what’s getting in the way — and how we can ignite...

What do underground mines and geese in formation have in common?  Both demand trust, clarity, and the courage to let others lead.  In this powerful episode of the  Better the Pond Pondcast , I had the privilege of sitting down in person with Safety Dave, otherwise known as Dave Speerbrecker—a 36-year mining veteran and General Manager of Support Services at Tyson Mining.  We dug deep into:  Dave’s...

What do a surfboard, a postal route, and a tire shop have in common? They’re all part of the journey toward purpose, passion, and authenticity.  In this episode, I caught up with Burt Dew from Chapel Hill Tire—and we covered  a lot  of ground. From Burt’s raw and honest story of post-divorce transition and co-parenting, to Bert’s rise from the shop floor to store manager, we explored what it reall...

From the Court to the Corner Office | Better the Pond Pondcast with Jason Belles  This week’s Pondcast is about momentum, milestones, and modern leadership.  Jason Belles stepped into full ownership of Store Assure—a self-storage company with 2 million sq. ft. under management—while preparing for a thoughtful CEO transition. But what really struck me wasn’t just the business strategy. It was the h...

What happens when you blend vision, vulnerability, and a deep-rooted family legacy? You get Ed Gibbs of Gibson Pools and Landscape Creations—a man who doesn’t just build beautiful backyards, but thriving cultures.  I had the privilege of sitting down with Ed at his stunning cottage on Lake Joseph in the Muskokas to talk about more than just pools. We dove into the heart of leadership, the soul of...

What if our biggest problems today are rooted in how far we’ve drifted from what we were designed for?  In this episode of the  Better the Pond Pondcast , I sat down with Patrick—a McGill University lecturer and expert in ethnobotany and evolutionary health—to explore some of the most raw, real, and relevant issues of our time:  • Navigating personal transitions and the growth that comes with them...

Better the Pond Pondcast – Special Edition from Mechanicsburg, PA  When you find yourself in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania—and have a chance to visit Josh Wood at WestShore Home—you do what any curious Canadian would do… You hit record.  Inside the WestShore studio, Josh and I sat down for a second round on the Better the Pond Pondcast. And there’s a reason we brought the mics back out: this convers...

 New Episode Drop: Better the Pond Pondcast – Sanborn Head Special Edition  What do you get when you combine engineering, intentional leadership, and a deep commitment to culture and community?  You get Luke Norton and Dori Ross from Sanborn Head & Associates—two remarkable leaders who joined me on the Pondcast to share their journey of building a company that truly flies in formation .  From...

It started in Muskoka.  A room full of leaders.  And then— that moment .  I saw it.  A shift. A spark. A lightbulb.  Rob Horst had an  aha  moment so powerful, it lit up the entire room.  That’s when I knew—I needed to have him on the Better the Pond Pondcast.  Rob is the National Sales Manager of Energy & Sustainability at Graybar Canada, a company with an extraordinary culture and coast-to-c...

On the latest episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, I had an insightful conversation with Tyler Snitynsky, Sales Manager at The Sutherland Group in Kelowna, BC. We dove deep into the essentials of teamwork, leadership, and communication, and how trust, alignment, and a shared vision are crucial for success.     Tyler shared how stepping outside of your comfort zone and embracing feedback can fu...

They say,  “You can’t see the label when you’re inside the bottle.”  Well, that’s where Laural Carr from Impagination Inc. comes in! Not only does she help businesses craft a label that stands out, but she also ensures that it lands in front of the right clients, and more of them.  In this episode of Better the Pond Pondcast, I had the pleasure of diving into Laural’s journey—her entrepreneurial r...

Know that you are everything that you need to be, but not all that you can  be.      I had a great conversation with Justin George from Kadus Group in Ottawa Ontario Canada. This conversation unwrapped a story around how playing the long game, which he learned from his father, and the emotional, and all in authenticity from his mother has really shaped who Justin is, and how he incorporates that i...

They say you have to be willing to be hurt so that the person beside you doesn’t have to, and if you make people better, they’ll make you better. This philosophy resonates deeply with my guest today.      I had an incredible conversation with Jason Vokey from Foundations Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Jason's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Starting his career at the ground level, sweep...

Episode #103 of the Better the Pond Pondcast!      "No child should be responsible for the circumstances of their birth."  These profound words set the tone for this unforgettable episode with Ken McLeod, the founder and former president and CEO of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. Ken is a visionary leader who is not just changing lives but reshaping the economic future of New Brunswick—one musi...

  "Give people what they need, not what I want, and then let them trust their instincts.” These powerful words come from none other than Chad Parenteau, a partner at WW Smith Insurance in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. Chad shares his deep insights into leadership, teamwork, and how creating a culture of trust and collaboration empowers teams to soar together—just like geese flying in the V formatio...

Welcome to another episode of the Better the Pond Pondcast, where we highlight incredible people and organizations that are making a real difference in their communities and industries. In today’s episode, I’m joined by Lucas Griffin, founder and president of Secure-Rite Mobile Storage in Kelowna, British Columbia. Lucas and his team have built a business that goes beyond storage solutions—they’ve...

We have an exceptional guest with us, Jason Vining, the President and CEO of Salem Metal in Middleton, Massachusetts.   Believe it or not, Salem Metal helps save lives. As a world-class custom metal fabrication company, Salem Metal produces parts for defibrillation and blood analysis machines, among many other diverse applications. Their impact extends far beyond their industry, reaching into the...

#100 A Special Edition Pondcast    In our milestone 100th episode, we're diving deep into the themes of purpose, impact, and meaning with the incredible Ketan, author of the transformative new book, "Soar." 🌟    Join Warren and Ketan as they explore the importance of authenticity and alignment in life's journey. They also discuss the nuances of spirituality, the creative process behind Ketan’s bo...

Sherry is the CEO of CannDelta Inc. and has always been passionate about science and discovering the intricacies of life. She's taken that passion and channeled it into the cannabis industry, where she's making a significant impact. Through my conversation with Sherry, I had the opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes world of cannabis, the importance of regulations, and how they...

Virginia's wise words to entrepreneur's and the rest of the world "use your power for good". Virginia is the CEO of OSP Microcheck, who do really cool things with microbes, and literally better the pond. Virginia uses science to support people, to make the world a better place, and has an incredible gift to make science fun. From her humble beginnings in Fort Assiniboine, Alberta...

Rob Clark. Rob is CEO, Owner, Founder, Entrepreneur, and a work in progress, and the leader of RC Design, a full service digital design company in NewMarket Ontario.  I loved having this conversation with Rob, and got to see how he has weaved kindness and caring, and seeing things through to the end, and doing a great job at  as lessons from his parents into how he provides the same for his client...

Lexi is the Client Engagement Manager for DVBE Connect in Folsom California. This conversation with Lexi was incredible to find out how from having the courage to leave the nest on her own, allowed her purpose to find her.  Lexi is all about authenticity, purpose, drive, and love, and wraps it all up into a brilliant and sparkly package to better the pond for disabled veterans.  Lexi, thank you, y...

Tara Proskiw.  Owner and CEO of Towne & Countree Cabinets in Edmonton Alberta.  Hopping on the energy bus with Tara, I discovered that Tara stands behind the statement of “Let every moment  in your kitchen be joyous”. What I received from my conversation with Tara, was so much deeper than that.  I believe that it was more about let every moment in your life be joyous, and how can I help?   Fro...