Bragg N' Bout Business Podcast

Kiara Ellis was operating heavy equipment in an Australian mine when she saw an Instagram post, dropped her number, and booked a flight to Canada the next day. Now she co-runs Kodiak Transport, a Calgary-based hotshot and industrial freight company serving the construction industry and manufacturers across Alberta and Western Canada. She joins Gregg Hinton to talk about the leap that brought her h...

Brigitte Legault and her husband Dylan run Kananaskis Campground Services, managing nearly 20 campgrounds, two stores, a gas station, and 45 day-use areas across the Elbow Valley, Sheep River Valley, and Highwood. In this episode, she tells Gregg Hinton what it's like to operate a high-intensity seasonal business where Alberta Parks is the only customer and demand is never the problem. We get...

"You’re going to help way more people as a mechanic than you will as a cop." 🚑🚔 That’s the advice that changed everything for Kevin Den Hoed. In this episode, Kevin joins Gregg Hinton to discuss his 30-year journey from a "joking dream" at an A&W to running a thriving family-run shop in Bragg Creek. Kevin breaks down the transition from teaching at SAIT to full-time entre...

Stop playing small. Sarah Elmeligi isn’t just the MLA for Banff-Kananaskis; she’s a PhD biologist who spent 20 years looking into the eyes of 600lb grizzlies before she ever looked at a ballot box. In this episode of Bragg N' Bout Business , we’re going deep on the "Human Dimension" of leadership. We talk about the "dirt" that makes our region the best in the province and w...

What does "luxury" actually mean in 2026?. In this episode of Bragg N' Bout Business , we sit down with Elise Lalonde of the Rare Group (Real Broker) to talk about the shift toward "untamed luxury" in the Alberta foothills. Elise shares her unique journey from farm life and international flight attending to high-end couture design and, eventually, real estate. We dig into w...

Stop trying to be Home Depot. In this episode, I sit down with Leslie from Whisky and Woodsmoke Mercantile to talk about how she turned a "wild welcome" in Bragg Creek into a world-class destination for BBQ fanatics and outdoor enthusiasts. We’re diving deep into the 2nd Annual Hot Wings Challenge (yes, the legit Hot Ones sauces) and why Leslie chooses to stock the "notorious"...

Stop scrolling and listen. We’re talking about the one thing 100% of us are going to face, but nobody wants to discuss. Julie Handrahan is a Death Doula and the founder of Transition Well, and she’s here to change the narrative. In this episode of Bragg N' Bout Business, we’re stripping away the fear and the "taboo" of end-of-life support. Julie brings a lighthearted, incredibly huma...

What happens when a holistic nutritionist decides to fix her son's bedtime routine? She accidentally builds a thriving business. In this episode of Bragg N' Bout Business , host Gregg Hinton sits down with Lucy McMurray , founder of Ritual Wellness Collective , to discuss how she turned a personal need into a best-selling line of adaptogenic lattes. From navigating the "administrative...

Is the traditional therapy model broken? In this episode of Bragg N' Bout Business , we sit down with Kelly Bischke, founder of Rivan Psychology, who is flipping the script on mental health by taking clients out of the office and into the wild. Kelly shares her powerful transition from a career in law enforcement and the "golden handcuffs" of a government pension to launching her own...

Singer-songwriter and author Dani Moon grew up in Bragg Creek, Alberta — raised by a stepfather who toured with Ian Tyson. She lived in Paris, survived the Congo, had triplets, lost her mother in 2013, the same year she experienced the Bragg Creek flood, and put music on hold for over a decade. Now at 48, she's back. Three new divorce songs are dropping, she's performing weekly at Rockies...

Ian Tell, Chief Revenue Officer at Bison and Bird, reveals how agentic AI is slashing 8-hour business tasks down to 15 minutes and delivering 5X productivity gains for small and mid-size companies across Canada. This is NOT another ChatGPT conversation. Ian breaks down Bison and Bird's proprietary Calculate, Capture, Craft methodology and STAR framework that maps customized AI agents directly...

Greg Wood's career path is anything but conventional. From touring as a guitarist in metal core band Dead Reckoning, to commissioning oil and gas facilities, to becoming a partner at Raymond James, Greg's journey is a masterclass in reinvention and persistence. In this episode, Greg shares how the 2015 oil crash led him to Google "how to start a hedge fund," which sparked a decad...

Lena Park built Hi By Lena—a clean skincare brand—around the legacy of her father, a chemical engineer and product formulator from South Korea. Starting during COVID with too many products, she learned the hard way that focus beats variety. In this episode, Lena shares why your skin needs both hydration AND moisture, why preservatives are slowly damaging your skin barrier, and how she built a six-...

SPECIAL EPISODE 🎙️In this powerful interview, we sit down with Ben Pirija of Rockies Tavern & Grill to discuss the BIGGEST fundraiser in the restaurant's history—happening this Saturday, January 17th. What started as an annual tradition of raising $2K-3K for the Redwood Meadows Fire Department has evolved into something MASSIVE.Why? Because in December, a devastating fire destroyed the fir...

Kelly Keddle shares how she built Luxe Occasions—a balloon business generating $125-$500 per display—from zero to fully booked in one year. Learn balloon business pricing strategies, managing helium shortage costs, and building word-of-mouth marketing in Bragg Creek, Alberta. Topics: custom balloon displays, event decoration entrepreneurship, small business growth, service business challenges, Spi...

In this episode, Jeremy discusses:- Why he left job security to start his own HVAC company in 2019- How to decide whether to repair or replace your furnace- The real costs of modern high-efficiency heating systems- Why annual maintenance is your best investment- How small HVAC businesses compete with big corporations- Common heating and air conditioning questions answered- The importance of Google...

In this episode, Gregg Hinton interviews AJ Kolankowski, of A to J Digital, a Calgary-based agency helping small businesses build trust through Google reviews and digital marketing. AJ shares his journey from growing cannabis Instagram pages to building a reputation management company focused on integrity and trust. You'll learn why 95% of consumers trust Google reviews as much as referrals fr...

What happens when a failed job interview becomes the best thing that ever happened to you? Lien Cani, founder of Belcan Brew Kombucha, shares her journey from hobbyist to business owner in just three months. This episode is essential listening for anyone considering starting their own business. Lien opens up about the practical challenges of small-batch production, maintaining organic integrity, n...

Jennifer Wright shares 35 years of physiotherapy wisdom, from working with Olympic athletes to integrating Eastern and Western medicine in her Bragg Creek practice. Discover the truth about healing, the importance of holistic health, and the legacy of legendary healer Dr. Stephen Ong. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or seeking wellness insights, this episode delivers practical wisdom...

Most companies are hiring based on gut feeling—and it's showing. In this episode, Al Bassiri from Hammehr Talent Consultants breaks down the science of smart recruiting. Discover why one bad hire costs 2.5x their salary, how structured interviews improve both hiring quality AND candidate experience, and why your job postings might be broken. Plus: the wildest interview story you've ever he...

This episode will make you feel all warm and crusty inside. No, I mean warm on the inside, and crusty on the outside. God damn it. You know what I mean. Welcome to another episode of Bragg N’ Bout Business! Brought you by the fine people down at Cowboy Trail Brewery – Cheers to the West! This week we get busy in the kitchen with Lynn Freeman of Lynn’s Sourdough Bakery Co. All of your burning quest...

Hey everyone. This episode is brought to you by Cowboy TrailBrewery – Cheers to the West! This week on Bragg N’ Bout Business we sit down with Karen Boudewyn of Core Financial Solutions. Karen shares with us some excellent tips for small business owners. Key person insurance, Buy-Sell Agreements? What the what? Yes, we cover some topics that are often missed by business owners and family run busin...

Hello Listener! Welcome to another episode of Bragg N’ BoutBusiness! Brought to you by Cowboy Trail Brewery! Cheers to the West! This week is Small Business Week! And we sit down with the most interesting woman in Bragg Creek, Shannon Blakely of Restart Ranch and Ripresa Wine. Shannon’s unique Wine store focuses on clean wines from Europe that do not have the added ingredients most North American...

ATTENTION BRAGG CREEKERS!!! THIS IS A SPECIAL EDITION OF Bragg N’ Bout Business! 2025 Election Episode. Featuring one of Bragg Creek’s own – Mark Kamachi – Candidate for RVC Division #1 Councilor. Brought to you by – Cowboy Trail Brewery Cheers to the West. And hey before we get to Mark, the good people down at Cowboy Trail are launching a brand-new beer to their lineup– the Lock and Load Pilsner...

Welcome to Bragg N’ Bout Business! The podcast sharing the stories of small businesses and entrepreneurs in and around Bragg Creek, Alberta. Proudly brought to you by Cowboy Trail Brewery – Cheers to the West! This week, we do a little F’n around to find out with AuntieSchool! Jessie Fiddler-Kiss joins us in the Bnbb studio to introduce us to Auntie School and what its all about. She has some pret...