Calgary Business Podcast

This family-owned business has done an amazing job at recreating what can only be described as a typical Middle East retail shop. Jacob and his parents truly understand the products they are selling for Calgary and international customers. To learn more, visit their Instagram pages: @sonofthepharaoh @realegyptianpapyrus The link to their website: https://sonofthepharaoh.com/

Bryce Currie, one of the co-founders of The Dandelion Cafe, took me through the origin story of the cafe and yoga studio — located just off the beaten Inglewood path and close to Scotsman’s Hill in the Ramsay district of Calgary. Instagram: @thedandelioncafe_ Website: https://the-dandelion-cafe.myshopify.com/

Briana started her journey in 2017 as a blog writer in order to share the message with others. Briana takes pride in impacting her family, friends and relatives but simple ideas like “a plastic free month” or “don’t take your plastic to work” days (okay, I made that last one up!) will easily spread to others. To learn more about the programs and initiatives of Briana Loughlin and her team at Plast...

Work Nicer provides a real community for startups and small businesses to share common resources and work in a thriving hub of activity that really defines the term “coworking”. Instagram: @worknicer Twitter: @worknicer Website: https://www.worknicer.com/

Set in the heart of Inglewood, Kyle Chow has built two cozy businesses: Plant and Recess. Words can hardly describe the care and attention Kyle and his team have taken to ensure the experience of their customers takes precedence. Instagram: @plantshopyyc Twitter: @plantshopyyc Website: www.plantshop.ca

Conrad and his wife, Louisa, have taken the trendy kombucha tea drink to the next level in Calgary. From his Chartered Accountant roots, Conrad has branched out into the world of entrepreneurship with his True Büch beverage drink. To learn more, visit the True Büch Kombucha website: http://truebuch.com Twitter: @true_buch Instagram: @true_buch Finally, check out Conrad’s LinkedIn profile: linkedin...

Kyla took me through her life as a political science student that did not want to go to law school and search land titles on micro fiche. Kyla has spent a number of years in the health and fitness industry working with amateur and pro athletes. This work recently lead to Kyla working on mental health issues. To learn more, visit her website: www.fitnessevolution.ca Twitter: @fitnessevolyyc Finally...

Steve and Zoe understand what it means to combine their efforts in events management with drama, performing arts, tech, nostalgia, and creativity, to name a few. That probably explains how they can transcend their work at RocketHouse into an fundraising event, Spin for Life, for the Canadian Cancer Society. To learn more, visit the Rocket House website: https://rockethouse.ca/ and the Spin for Lif...

Jacques and Daniel have masterfully converted the retail showroom of this former furniture seller located just off Edmonton Trail and Memorial Drive. To learn more about this unique business: Find them on Instagram: @bridgelanddistillery Website link: https://bridgelanddistillery.com/

Within seconds of walking into the market, anyone will understand the user experience (or UX) will be terrific. Lina’s Italian Market is a thriving Mediterranean experience that Matthew and his team have curated with a combination of staff, fresh ingredients and reliable suppliers. You can find out more about Lina’s Italian Market on their website: https://linasmarket.com/ You can follow their pos...

The origin story is brilliant. Sister and brother co-founders. Oil and gas professional that pivoted into the world of entrepreneurship. Doodle Dogs focuses on pet foods and accessories but also is becoming an educator on the benefits of nutrition and pet health. To find Doodle Dogs on Instagram: @doodledogsyyc To find out more about the two Doodle Dogs locations in Calgary, visit their Website at...

Surprises are usually meant for birthday parties and anniversaries. Four20 markets themselves as a premium cannabis retailer and that was not obvious from their Instagram feed! Amber did a terrific job of introducing me to the cannabis focus of Four20 and their unique approaches to marketing their Calgary retail stores before opening a branch in each community.  §§§ Click on the links below t...

Finding your “dharma” (not “darma”) is really the only way to describe the yoga studio that was founded by Natalie St. Hilaire in the Altadore community (edge of Mardaloop) in Southwest Calgary. To find Yoga Nova Studio on Instagram: @yoganovastudio and Natalie: @natsthilaire Website link: https://yoganovastudios.com/

From University of Calgary Adjunct Professor to Councillor for the City of Calgary (Ward 3), Jyoti Gondek shares how her prior experiences have helped her to understand the day to day activities of running and managing the municipal affairs of a local government.  Find her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jyoti-gondek-491270132/  City of Calgary Website link: https://www.calgary....

What an experience visiting the O.T. Brewing facility in the Blackfoot industrial park in southeast Calgary! Carrie and Mike Korithoski have mixed nostalgia with beer drinking alongside the micro-brewery distillation process in the back warehouse. There is boundless creativity around the premises that only enhances the experience of enjoying a brew. Find them on Instagram: @otbrewing_co Website li...

Driving to the Phil & Sebastian coffee shop located in the basement of the old Simmons Building reminded me of how long I have been away from Calgary. The cafe (or barista) has real charm and character. I truly appreciated learning the origin stories behind an #iconic #Calgary brand that literally did not exist when I last resided in Calgary. Thanks Phil!  To find the Phil & Sebastian...

Aubrey shared the origin story of how her Masters thesis pivoted from focusing on the spine to focusing on the knee. Aubrey and the Ammolite BioModels team have constructed a synthetic model of the knee to help not only sports medicine and physiotherapy specialists but also medical professionals as they train in the “competencies” related to the knee. LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Terry has always brought an incredible level of energy and dynamics to his approach to professional services. I learned that first-hand during my tenure with EY Calgary; 25 years later has not changed a thing.  A pleasure to obtain Terry’s view on the CPA profession and the increasing importance of tech in his work and that of the clients of RSM Canada.  §§§ Terry Booth LinkedIn Profile:...

Dino brings a generation of experience in the restaurant and gelato business in Canada. Dino relocated to Calgary from Vancouver to initially sell gelato to restaurants and hotels to starting his own cafe to create more awareness for the general public. Instagram link: @amatogelato Website link: https://www.amatogelatocalgary.com/

Annie is a 20 year veteran in the pet care industry and in 2009 decided to start her own facility. Annie and her team make an effort support to local Calgary suppliers and be an eco-friendly business owner. Instagram link: @muttleycrueyyc Website link: https://www.muttleycrue.ca/

Hafiz went from trying to find a tennis partner on the empty tennis courts connected to his apartment building to executing a plan to create a fully functioning app to bring link-minded sports enthusiasts off their phone and onto the court. Link to website: https://www.playcityapp.com/ Link to Instagram: @playcityapp LinkedIn Profile of Hafiz: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hafiz-mitha/

What an appropriate name for a marketing and branding company. Caleb and his team understand how to approach the market, irrespective of a companies product or service. Some real old school ideas mixed with new school way of approaching marketing in the new digital economy. Link to website: http://www.hldigital.ca/ Link to Instagram: @hookandladderdigital Caleb’s LinkedIn Profile: https://bit.ly/3...

What happens when you take a former Canadian Olympic volleyball player and appoint him to manage a private fitness center? You end up with a community of members that enjoy a variety of social and fitness activities to make the Calgary Fitness Club a real part of the lives of members and their families. Thanks Kevin for sharing this hidden gem on the base of Nose Hill in northwest Calgary! Link to...

Chemistry, shipping, sulphur, heavy oil and technology all play a part in this innovative company, International Ultrasonic Technologies (or IUT), located in the Foothills industrial park of southeast Calgary. In a combination of technical, oil & gas and business terminology, Kerri enthusiastically introduces IUT to the Calgary Business podcast listeners. To learn more, click on the IUT website li...

This hidden gem of a company is poised to disrupt the way we view waste and the everyday biomass all around us. Link to website: http://www.licella.com LinkedIn profile of Perry Toms: http://linkedin.com/in/perry-toms-4567666