🎙️ I Love Kelowna

All of us are really missing the human connection these days! What can we do to maintain our sense of connection?  Podcasts are a fantastic way to connect with people when we can't see them in person. The I Love Kelowna Podcast is an interview-style talk show about the fabulous and fascinating people that make up our great city and the Okanagan. In-depth, intimate conversations with entrepren...

All of us are missing the human connection because of mandatory social distancing. The I Love Kelowna Podcast is an interview-style talk show about the fabulous and fascinating people that make up our great city and the Okanagan. Interviews with entrepreneurs, executives, thought leaders, creatives, and anyone who has an interesting story to tell about how they're contributing to our wonderfu...

Taylor Horsting was born in Vernon. He attended UBC Okanagan where he graduated from the Management program. Kelowna has been his home since 2008. We talk about Taylor's amazing travel adventures; November Project Kelowna ; the real estate mortgage business; Volunteering in the Okanagan; Youth Get it Community Council, Codeanagan, and much more!  If you enjoyed this episode, an iTunes review...

Tara Godwin (Tara Alex) has always pursued detail-oriented endeavours.  Her 12-year business as a custom costume and clothing designer in Winnipeg taught her to rely on her critical eye to produce the best possible results.  She is very detail oriented and her work ethic does not allow for an unfinished job.  Since 2003 Tara has renovated multiple properties. She did all aspects of renovations inc...

Rochelle McFarlane loves a good challenge and acting in counterintuitive ways. Her passion is empowering and teaching others to live life with less stress and more love by using the tools and tricks from the world of specialized kinesiology. With her business ESP Parent , she teaches moms effective ways to release physical stress so that they can show up for their children.  Rochelle and I discuss...

Dr. Alana Berg, ND is originally from Alberta. She discovered at a very young age her desire to help people. This led her to a path of pre-medical training at the University of Alberta, and ultimately to the profession of Naturopathic Medicine, graduating from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in 2005.    She began a full-time practice in 2006 in Kelowna BC, and embarked on developing...

Kevin Bond is a jack of all trades and a master of many. This man is very driven to make the world a better place and he is championing that cause in his beautiful home of Kelowna BC. He believes in everyone.  These ideals of a world driven by empathy started during his early childhood with the help of his grandma. He has literally faced death on numerous occasions. He died for a few minutes on an...

Travis Martell with Martell Elite Fitness is an Edmonton, Alberta native by birth. He moved to Kelowna, British Columbia at a young age where he played hockey for the local teams from the moment he could skate. Growing up, he always heard the same thing from his coaches "you need to improve your foot speed and strength." Looking back, he realized he needed to start his off-ice training a...

David Scarlatescu  is an amazing young man! Born in Romania in 1998, he was a straight A student who dropped out of school after Grade 8. At the age of 16 he got a job at Nature's Fare Markets , so that he could help his mom with living expenses.  At the age of 17, he was accepted into the Canadian School of Natural Nutrition as the youngest adult student in Canada. This was unheard of at the...

Shannon Mackenzie is one of Canada's Top Influencers for MONAT Canada Official which is an anti-aging hair care company. She has grown a team across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Shannon is a lover of life, loves her community and family, and enjoys sharing the love wherever she goes. She is also an avid public speaker.  We discuss Shannon's decision to move to Kelown...

Dr. Gary Powell has been practicing dentistry for 22 years. Gary opened Carrington Dental Centre in West Kelowna along with his wife, Sharmaine Powell, a dental hygienist in 1998. They graduated from the University of Manitoba and soon after, chose West Kelowna to start a business and raise a family.  They have loved being part of this growing community and are thankful to call this beautiful plac...

Sarah Shakespeare has always lived her life with a “Glass is Full” attitude. She believes that we are lucky to have a glass! As a Personal Trainer and Coach for nearly 25 years she loves to help people enrich their life through creating a healthy lifestyle. Sarah has gone through her life with a positive attitude and wishes to teach others to do the same. She has been in the health and fitness ind...

This is one of our rare interviews with a Kelowna resident who was born and raised here. Kara and I loved hearing so many stories of what life was like for a young girl growing up in the Okanagan in a rural setting! Jennifer Turton-Molgat , President of The View Winery , believes in seizing opportunities when they present themselves.  And so, in 2006 when the opportunity to start an estate winery...

Amanda Zaal was just 24 years old when doctors told her she was about to die of a rare brain tumour. With no signs of hope, a physical and emotional battle began within her. Amidst the darkness, an inner spark fought hard to find happiness and health again.  Using her nursing knowledge and a new perspective on the gift of each day, Amanda developed a planning system (now called "The Enthusias...

Jamie Wood is the founder of Sanga Living . She is a stress management consultant to fortune 500 companies, has worked alongside behavioural neuroscientists, and conducts studies on innovative brain mapping technology.  Jamie's successful corporate programs for stress management optimize brain function and seamlessly integrate neuroscience and stress management tactics, while tying it all to...

Vannessa Fowler is a Registered Nurse and the Owner and Founder of Nightingale Patient Care Advocacy Corp. (NPCA). She also works as an Emergency Department RN part time.  Vannessa founded NPCA in 2014 after spending many years watching families and patients struggle. She knew she could help! After experiencing her own difficulties with available resources in our community, she really learned to t...

I'm the host and executive producer of the I Love Kelowna Podcast . This episode is Karen Humes ' interview with me, which took place on August 28, 2018. Here are just some of the topics we covered:  – Becoming a father for the first time and how it completely changed my life in unexpected ways; – What I've learned about overcoming adversity and trying to be a good dad to my two dau...

Kasia Rachfall (pronounced Kasha Rashfall) is a Holistic Alternative Therapist, Akashic Records Healer and founder of Thriving After 40. She helps women in their 40s and beyond to ditch any signs of a Midlife Funk. Using Specialized Kinesiology, Neuro-linguistics and energy healing, Kasia helps women release the stresses and imprints of their past from their physical body and energy field so they...

Anna Jacyszyn is an award winning jazz singer who has travelled extensively throughout England, Europe, Asia, and parts of the Emirates  - touring with various musicians performing jazz music. Having settled back to her home town of Kelowna she founded Jazz Café Kelowna, which promotes Live Jazz Music of the highest quality and pairing the talent with an attractive venue.   Anna has recently opene...

From a very young age, Meredith Hansen watched her mother deal with a severe precancerous skin condition caused by multiple sunburns and too many hours in the sun.  This condition affected her quality of life, and she began instilling in Meredith the importance of taking care of your skin and using preventive measures to avoid going through what she was experiencing. Similarly, during her teenage...

Renee Merrifield Wasylyk is running to represent Canada’s Conservatives in the riding of Kelowna Lake Country in the 2019 Federal election. She is a dedicated public leader who has effectively lead with results in her community, province and nation for the last 20 years. Renée currently serves as the CEO of Troika Management Corp. , a Kelowna-based Real Estate and Land Development company. Troika...

Make sure you listen right to the end of this episode, where Brittney Gray shows off her fabulous vocal skills in three short radio commercials.  Brittney was born and raised in the Okanagan and proud to call it her home! Kelowna has been growing over the many years from a rural agricultural town to a diverse bustling city. She completed her business degree (BBA) at Okanagan College, and now appli...

On this episode you'll get to hear Kara Rogers and I try some great Okanagan wines! I love audio because it forces you to be concise and descriptive with your words, and I'm sure you'll agree that Tanja Martell and Annika Betts do a great job here. :D  Tanja and Annika are two Ontario girls who met in the Okanagan while working together at Sandhill Wines . After 5 years of friendshi...

Chris Stratis came to the point where he questioned everything he believed about fitness, and decided to put his focus towards having a body that works for the long term. To Chris, fitness isn’t about the abs and biceps. Yes we want to look good, and yes, training should create a positive outcome. But why wreck your longevity for gains? The goal in training is to improve heart strength, mobility,...

Lindsay Kusy is passionate about inspiring woman to simply Love Life! She firmly believes that when you feel good, you do good! This truth is a value that Lindsay leads with every day, because when you feel your best, you do your best! In 2008 Lindsay became a Certified Esthetician and Nail Technician. She started her business ( Diva Den Day Spa ) in 2010 with the desire to create a Fun, Vibrant &...