Better the Pond---PondCast

From farmer to successful owner in the marketing and advertising industry. Kim McConnell started with humble beginnings on the family farm in Hamiota, Manitoba Canada. He left the farm to go to university where he got a degree in agriculture, then saw an opportunity to help people in the agriculture community through media and advertising.  Kim's incredibly strong belief in community is admir...

From humble beginnings in Wakefield, England, Chris's grandmother showed him the value of a strong work ethic, food as medicine, and caring for our planet. Chris went to university to become a doctor, but at the last minute decided that this was not his path. The food industry is what lit him up, and is now leading the way in the meatless protein based food industry. Force for good is the mantra o...

Stand by the net and I will get you the puck.  As a kid playing hockey in Russell Manitoba, his job was to set up other players for success.  Interesting enough, it is the same thing that he is doing today.  Theo is helping keep peoples flames lit by instilling confidence, understanding and compassion.  Theo's tumultuous past has provided him the gift of adversity, courage and...

Never waste a moment is Hugh's mantra.  A fisherman's son on the Newfoundland Coast turned plastic recycler to save the planet. Hugh's humble beginnings and a strong sense of community has weaved throughout his life and has driven his belief in people, passion and purpose.  Hugh grew up wanting more, being more, and is not only doing that for the people in his company, but for the world....

Cold beer and collabortition.  Got your attention yet? Byron is all about Collaboration, leadership, and community.  An avid reader and learner, Byron graduated with honours from the University of Life. Byron is all about building relations, building buildings, and innovating new ways of doing business. His high school guidance counsellor told that he would be lucky if he would make it t...

Let me hold the ladder.... Nicole figured out that true leadership wasn't about climbing on top of others heads to get to the top, it was about holding the ladder so that others could succeed.  Three words capture the essence of todays guest, community, belonging, and contribution.  I can help with that is the never ending quote that continuously comes out of Nicole's mouth. Growing up i...

The days listening to his transistor radio as a child led Kevin on his journey to be a place of certainty for others, and helping them find their north star.  The No Schedule Man is here!! An off the cuff remark lit a fire in Kevin that could not be put out. As Kevin wisely states, you can't find your treasure by following someone else's map.   Kevin helps small and medium size businesse...

Growing up in an atheist home, at the age of 7 years old, Ruth-Anne would sneak out of the house and go to Sunday School.  She has always felt a guiding hand leading her along life's journey. She has always felt the need to create inclusion, do more, be better, and leave people better than she found them.  Living my best life everyday is Ruth-Anne's motto.  She continues to better t...

Tim has this uncanny ability to see around corners.  Always innovative and looking for different ways of doing things helped create his company Local and Fresh. Born and raised in Filmore Saskatchewan, Tim got a taste of entrepreneurship and what it meant to follow your passion.  Tim is all about helping young people develop their entrepreneurial skills and confidence, and helping people...

"Our happiness best grows when transplanted in the soil of other peoples lives!"   Dave speaks on whole-hearted leadership and his business philosophy of "Prosperity for Purpose" .  "Meant to be Spent" is his  philosophy of life and leadership.  The list of what Dave has done to #betterthepond is extensive and truly inspiring.  He is the epitome of what this Pondcast...

Hang on for this adventure with Cindy Radu.  Just try it!!!!   How will you ever know if you don't try???   Here is someone to listen to who has done it all.  World traveller, mountain climber, accountant, lawyer, author, speaker, and I could go on, and on, and on..... Cindy has felt the highs of being on top of the mountains, and has experienced the lows of well belo...

Tell me that I can't!!! These are only words of motivation for Jo.  Born and raised in Weyburn, Saskatchewan, and the youngest of 5, Jo always found her way of getting things done!  Wickedly smart and full of creativity, Jo found her way into the fashion world, and now owns and operates Cedar & Vine clothing.  Jo believes in the slow fashion model to reduce landfill waste of clo...

Taking out the boulders in the stream that are getting in the way of being your best self is Erin's passion, Being bullied as a little girl, and going through unexplained debilitating pain and depression guided her to have her breakthrough moment. This is what drove Erin to help so many others get through their mental blocks, and in turn, better the pond!!  Thank you Erin, for your compassion...

Calgary born and raised, this guy is the real deal!  Mike is just an all around great guy, and would give you the shirt off his back before you even asked.  Mike's very simple golden rules, work hard, be honest, do good for others.  Graham auctions is always supporting local community programs such as the Girl Guides, local sports teams, and they regularly donate clothes for those i...

A self proclaimed misfit, Joop see's the strengths in people versus their weakness or dysfunction. From across the pond in North Holland, he has not only helped in his own backyard, but also in South Africa and the Philippines. Nope understands that it costs nothing to be kind, and to have gratitude to what we already have. Nope is always creating ripples in the pond, which have gone well beyond t...

How do you define success was the pivotal question that changed Amy's life.  Born in Argentina, then moving to Brazil, and then landing in Arizona, Amy always felt like the odd duck for being a woman wanted to lead and have a professional career.  Now, the president of Kolbe Corp., and author, speaker and trainer, Amy discovered that doing things her way and the freedom to be herself bec...

Just be wild!!  Candyce lives her life as it is a gift.  Full of adventure, curiosity and drive, she started tarted working at the age of 13, and never stopped.  She now runs 3 organizations, and is a woman to be reckoned with.  Going through a major trauma and having an acquired brain injury, Candyce has used this as fuel to do well for others.  Candyce exemplifies what w...

An inspiring episode about how someone can take a negative and turn it into a positive.  From being adopted at the age of 2 and not meeting his father until he was 34, to his ADHD being both a blessing and a curse, Ken leads a very successful business and the only indigenous led company in his field.  Ken created the Don't Scrap- Give Back Program, the True North Strong Foundation, and h...

"Laughter is an instant vacation" The inspiring and wise words of Tim Beach confirms why everyday is a celebration at Charlesglen Toyota.  From the heart of the prairies and the land of living skies of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Tim learned the value of hard work and dedication to doing what needs to get done.   With a love affair for automobiles, Tim has spent his entire career in the...

Sometimes what you think is your biggest weakness becomes your greatest strength. Jamie's sensitivity guided him to be an incredible teacher, author, speaker, and facilitator.  Jamie believes in being of value to others, and he lives this belief in his work of helping leaders through grapho-therapy, and his Saturday Night Leaders program.  His book "Live From Your Class- Everything I lea...

Heather Murphy, the surrogate mother of peoples dreams. Growing up in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, she learned the richness of family, community, creativity, and play.  Heather travelled the world,  became the first female in Canada to be on the Forbe's Coaches Council, and started her own business Authentically, and she never stops.  Heather contribution to #betterthepond is helpin...

Good Better Best. Never let it rest. Til your good gets better, and your better gets best!  Words of wisdom from Brady's mom that she has learned to live by.  Brady has embraced her "odd duckness" and turned it into her confidence, understanding, and leadership abilities. Brady has an incredibly big heart and helps people live happier and healthier lives and therefore creates the ripple...

Creating the worlds most dangerous shirts is nothing to be taken lightly.  Jeff's military background mixed with his business education, and layering in his incredible sense of style is what makes him the successful entrepreneur that he is today.  His mantra of thank about it, be about it is how he lives his life.  He provided masks to his local school not only to keep kids and teac...

I thought that when the motivation guru's told me that failure is one of the greatest gifts, I thought that they were full of sh%$#.  Now I get it.  From ball boy with the Saskatchewan Roughrider Football Club, to falling into the restaurant business, Tim has a fantastic story of how some of those defining moments in life can change everything, and we can't explain why. Thank you for all...

Hitting a golfball 350 yards, 2 feet, 2 inches is the least that Lisa is capable of doing.  An elementary school teacher, turned golf teacher, to keynote speaker.  You can watch Lisa wake surfing in a housecoat, goalie gear, and Toronto Raptor gear catching the attention of TSN and Pepsi.  Lisa's energy is contagious, and it rolls out in every aspect of her life.  Listen to how...