Maverick Makers

Chef Joe Gatto, celebrated host of the hit TV show  From Scratch  on Pluto TV, joins Michelle to share his inspiring journey from filmmaker to chef. Joe began his career in filmmaking, but a desire to start a family led him to leave the fast-paced life of Los Angeles and pursue his passion for cooking. Inspired by his culinary idol, Emeril Lagasse, Joe made the leap into the world of scratch-made...

On this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with Sandra Bekhor, a dynamic Practice Management Coach with a fascinating career journey that spans architecture, toy design, and professional coaching. Sandra’s unique path has informed her ability to guide professionals in unlocking their potential through a blend of strategic tools, authentic storytelling, and mindset coaching....

This week Michelle Daides sits down with  Vanessa Marshall , a proud Edmontonian, Métis woman, and the visionary founder of  Jack59 . Vanessa’s journey from crafting haircare products in her kitchen to leading a globally recognized Indigenous-owned, women-led brand is a testament to her ingenuity, resilience, and unwavering commitment to sustainability. Vanessa shares the story behind Jack59’s mis...

In this empowering episode of  Maverick Makers , host Michelle Daides welcomes  Karla Smith , a Personal Transformational Coach, Self-Love Expert, and the creator of  The Monday Mantra Collective  and  Morning Mantra  card deck. Karla is on a mission to help highly supportive women—who often put themselves last—embrace self-care, balance, and lasting joy. Karla shares her transformative approach t...

In this insightful episode of  Maverick Makers , Michelle Daides sits down with  Sholeh Alemi Fabbri , an award-winning producer and founder of  Good Measure Productions . With over 20 years of experience and three Canadian Screen Award nominations, Sholeh has made an impressive mark in content production, particularly with projects that merge storytelling and social impact. Most recently, Sholeh...

Host Michelle Daides welcomes Clare Kumar, a performance strategist, inclusivity advocate, to the Maverick Makers Podcast. Proudly neuroatypical, Clare has dedicated her career to helping organizations unlock human potential by fostering accessible and inclusive work environments. As the Canadian Regional Director for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower program, Clare is a champion for neurodiversit...

Ready for another episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast? Michelle Daides chats with  Jolene Brewster , the dynamic entrepreneur behind  Jolene’s Tea House  in Banff, Alberta. Once crowned Rodeo Queen and Calgary Stampede Queen in 2000, Jolene has seamlessly blended her Wild West roots with her passion for quality tea. Her tea house on historic Bear Street offers over 60 varieties of organic, hand...

In this powerful episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides is joined by Mary Zamil, a dedicated registered psychotherapist and founder of Mind Multitudes. Mary brings a deeply personal and empathetic approach to mental health, having navigated her own journey with anxiety. Rather than letting it control her life, she embarked on a profound exploration of mind-body practices—embracing mindfu...

Bring on the Fire....on this episode, Michelle Daides welcomes culinary maverick  Chef Matt Basile , who has spent his career redefining what it means to innovate in the food industry. From founding Toronto’s iconic food truck brand  Fidel Gastro’s  to launching the hit gastropub  Lisa Marie , Matt is no stranger to shaking up the culinary scene. Now, as co-founder of  Alchemy Grills , he’s bringi...

In this episode of  Maverick Makers , Michelle Daides welcomes  Alanna McGinn , sleep expert and founder of  Good Night Sleep Site , to explore the vital role sleep plays in our lives. As the creator of the  Messy Middle Sleep Solution , Alanna has made it her mission to help people overcome their sleep struggles, whether they’re individuals, families, or even large corporations. With her vast exp...

In this episode of  Maverick Makers , Michelle Daides sits down with renowned entertainment photographer  George Pimentel , whose career spans over 30 years. From  TIFF  and  Cannes  to the  Oscars ,  Golden Globes , and the  Met Gala , George has documented some of the most iconic moments in celebrity culture. His journey began in 1993 when he snapped his first celebrity photo of  Robert De Niro...

In this special milestone episode of  Maverick Makers , host Michelle Daides takes a look back at the past 30 episodes to highlight some of the most powerful insights and moments of inspiration from her incredible guests. Throughout the show, Michelle pulls out the gems and wisdom shared by some of the world’s most successful Mavericks, including marketing legend  Tony Chapman , media personality...

In this compelling episode of  Maverick Makers , Michelle Daides welcomes the extraordinary Elvira V. Hopper, a woman who turned her life around in her late 40s to embrace her true calling. Elvira shares her powerful 'Crap Magnet to Miracle Magnet' story, detailing how a blessed mental breakdown led her to leave behind an award-winning six-figure career in Big Pharma—what she calls the 'Golden Han...

In this episode of Maverick Makers, host Michelle Daides sits down with one of Canada's most legendary artist managers, Jake Gold. With an illustrious career that spans decades, Jake shares insights from his journey in the music industry, from founding The Management Trust in 1981 to playing a pivotal role in shaping iconic Canadian bands like The Tragically Hip and The Pursuit of Happiness. Known...

This episode features a joyful and juicy conversation with Maverick Julie Cole. She is a recovered lawyer, mom of six, and co-founder of Mabel’s Labels Inc. She is an award-winning entrepreneur, best-selling author, and a sought-after speaker and emcee. Julie is no stranger to the media, having appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, HLN’s Raising America, Breakfast Television, The Marilyn Denis Show, a...

On this week's episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast, host Michelle Daides presents a special Maverick Makers Soliloquy. In this solo episode, Michelle unveils her own Maverick journey and the influences that have shaped her path. As a seasoned creative professional, Michelle is passionate about telling compelling stories and combining strategy to create impactful content. Michelle’s journey is n...

On this episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Benjamin Rempel, a celebrated Canadian writer and essayist known for his dark and gritty tone. Widely published, Benjamin’s work has appeared in The Toronto Star, Our Canada, Blank Spaces, Streetlight, and Fifteen Stories High Anthology, among others. His fiction has been nominated for several honors, including being shortlisted for the 2023 Georgian Bay...

On this episode, Host Michelle Daides speaks with Alana Hurov, the CEO & Founder of Niagara 5000 Powered by McLaren Toronto. Our paths have crossed in the entertainment industry, but I have not had the pleasure of connecting in person until now, and she is lovely. Alana has had such an interesting career as a successful television producer, radio producer/reporter, and print journalist. For mo...

Join host Michelle Daides as she speaks with Salima Valji, an internationally sought-after speaker and thought leader on advancing women and people of color in leadership. As the CEO & Founder of Unleash Forward, Salima is dedicated to propelling underrepresented groups to senior leadership roles through executive coaching, training, consulting, and keynotes. Salima's career and entrepreneuria...

Ready for another episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast? Host Michelle Daides speaks with Leanne Monaghan, a high-performance coach dedicated to body and mind fitness. Leanne specializes in helping women transform their lives, whether through her personalized coaching or her boutique-style fitness club. As a serial entrepreneur, Leanne is 60 years young and is blossoming into her second spring. T...

✨ Join us for an inspiring episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast featuring the amazing Natalie, the powerhouse founder of TotallyDazzled.com! 🌟 From humble beginnings to a 7-figure empire, Natalie has crafted a remarkable journey, all while balancing her main job as a mom. 👩‍👧‍👦 🌟 Natalie turned her side hustle into a thriving business and is an expert at working with influencers to sell ph...

On this episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast, Michelle Daides dives into Amy Rempel's Maverick story. Amy's journey in the health food and beauty industries began at the age of 2, when she became a 'food biz kid' involved in her father's entrepreneurial ventures. Surrounded by the latest trends and often serving as a taste-tester (even for the less-than-tasty products!), Amy has grown alongside...

🎙️🚀 Join us for an inspiring episode of the Maverick Makers Podcast as we dive into the incredible journey of Matt Cundill, the mastermind behind the Sound Off Podcast Network! 🌟 After 25 years as a radio on-air personality, music director, and program director, Matt faced a life-changing moment in 2014 when he was let go. Instead of seeing it as an end, he saw an opportunity for a new beginning...

🌟 Meet Lisa Campbell: Founder & CEO of Mr. Frank’s Kitchen 🌟 Lisa started Mr. Frank's Kitchen to honor her dad’s legacy. He ran the Copper Rail Lounge, a beloved restaurant in Niagara Falls, for many years. With over 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Lisa is a seasoned Founder with a rich history in consumer goods and food service. Not only is Lisa a skilled chef, but she al...

We're thrilled that Pattie Lovett-Reid joins us on the Maverick Makers Podcast! 🎙️ Pattie is a highly respected Canadian financial expert, known for her ability to simplify complex financial concepts into practical advice. Starting her career as a bank teller, she rose through the ranks to become Senior Vice-President at TD Waterhouse Canada Inc. In this episode, we discuss: -Pattie's journey from...