Power of Why with Naomi Haile

Kevin Bourne highlights why embracing the awkward, transitional moments is key to building a lasting legacy. For Kevin, the in-between —the messy, unpolished phases—matters just as much as the milestones. “I’m not here for the moment. I’m thinking about being here in 20 or 30 years. Who’s even going to remember the awkward phase?” he asks, drawing a powerful parallel between personal growth and ca...

Kevin Bourne challenges the popular “move in silence” mindset. Instead, he reveals how inviting people into your process and pivot can spark connection, education, and opportunity. At his core, Kevin identifies as a storyteller—a thread that runs through every chapter of his life. From crafting speeches on Parliament Hill to documenting Ottawa hip hop culture through articles, documentaries, and a...

“You can’t attract new opportunities if people don’t see the new version of you,” Kevin shares. By building in public and sharing his process, he’s rewriting his narrative—training his audience to see him as he evolves. In this insightful conversation, Kevin Bourne and Naomi Haile explore the art of messaging during transitions. Kevin reflects on embracing the “messy middle” of redefining his care...

Learn from Kevin Bourne, a storyteller and media visionary building an empire that stands the test of time. Discover how to embrace pivots, build for longevity, and create more opportunities by building in public. “I've learned to analyze life and see the good in the bad moments. I’m willing to be inconvenienced temporarily if it means achieving something better in the long term. I’ve noticed that...

“Really good art is amazing to witness. It changes people, it changes culture. When you make a great film, a great song, a great painting, or a great poem, the world changes. But when it’s mediocre, it’s just forgettable, like mediocre pizza.” In this clip from The Power of Why, acting coach and studio owner Terry Knickerbocker and POW host Naomi Haile explore the power of consistent training in r...

In this clip from The Power of Why, Terry Knickerbocker, and POW host Naomi Haile unpack the internal barriers that often prevent people from embracing reinvention and unlocking their creative potential. Terry identifies fear as the primary obstacle to change and that it requires courage to take risks and embrace what you don’t know (yet). He talks about neuroplasticity and pushing beyond your com...

In this clip from The Power of Why, Terry Knickerbocker and POW host Naomi Haile discuss the importance of reconnecting with your fearless nature. Do you remember who you were when you were two years old? The creativity and freedom of childhood? Using examples like Robin Williams and Matthew McConaughey, Terry highlights how trusting your impulses and being willing to color outside the lines can l...

“Really good art is amazing to witness. It changes people, it changes culture. When you make a great film, a great song, a great painting, or a great poem, the world changes. But when it’s mediocre, it’s just forgettable, like mediocre pizza.” ​​Meet Terry Knickerbocker , the renowned acting coach and founder of the Terry Knickerbocker Studio in Brooklyn . Terry discusses the transformative power...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry and I dive into her journey of building a communications business from the ground up. Starting out, Nickie hustled hard—taking on free gigs and creating websites for local cafés and galleries, just to get her work in front of people. She talks about the ups and downs, like moving to London with big dreams only to realize it wasn’t the right place a...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry dives into her process of pitching and producing a project for CBC’s Creator Network. After returning from Turkey with fresh ideas, Nickie explains her approach to crafting a compelling pitch: building relationships with producers, understanding their needs, and tailoring her ideas to match. She breaks down her six-month process, including creating...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry shares with me her two biggest investments in growing her creative and writing skills. For her communications business, Nickie emphasizes the value of hiring support so she can step back from daily tasks and make space for creative work. She also credits journalism with teaching her to push past ‘white page syndrome’ by tackling tight deadlines—eve...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Nickie Shobeiry and I discuss the power of creating ‘door stopper’ moments—projects that open doors and create opportunities. Nickie shares how producing a short film allowed her to connect with agents, public figures, and the Iranian community in a whole new way, leading to speaking gigs on Farsi-language radio, roles at major Iranian festivals, and more. She des...

“A door stopper is like shoving your leg in the door before it can close on you. It's creating an asset and opportunity to capture people's attention and open a door or two.” In this episode, Nickie Shobeiry and I dive into the art of creating opportunities by boldly putting yourself out there. Imagine using a short film not just as a creative piece but as a powerful door stopper—a way to crack op...

Todd Corley's childhood joy revolved around his family and community. Growing up in a close-knit family in Queen’s New York, surrounded by love and the values of giving back, Todd learned early that the strength of the community was far greater than individual success. These values have shaped his career and life's work. From being the first Chief Diversity Officer at Abercrombie & Fit...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Thomas Cumberbatch (guest) and Naomi Haile (POW host) discuss how asking questions and UNDERSTANDING led to unearthing Thomas' real business. When someone hired him to create, shoot a campaign, or shoot a brand film, he always said, "I needed ingredients to develop a concept!!" So, he would ask his clients questions. And he would often hear: "Th...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Thomas Cumberbatch (guest) and Naomi Haile (POW host) discuss how creating real bonds with people starts with how we connect to ourselves. When we can get to the soul of who we are, this translates to how we show up in any conversation, interaction, or situation, enabling us to build real bonds. Connect with Thomas LinkedIn: ⁠⁠ Thomas Cumberbatch⁠⁠ Godzspeed Commu...

“What I believe should define every human being is their SOUL." We’re looking at a beautiful set: a light curtain backdrop with a microphone peering through– the one you may have noticed on the esteemed NPR Tiny desk music sessions– two comfy cream chairs, a white plush carpet, and three cameras ready for their mark. Meet Thomas Cumberbatch. The brilliant CEO of GodzSpeed Communications and t...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss possibilities that exist for our work, monetize our skills, and maximize our time using AI in our work. Anne-Marie acknowledges that it may be scary thinking about the gravity of technology and the changes coming, but emphasizes how critical seeking information and knowledge are for preparing yourself for...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how what it can look like to build a business that aligns with your lifestyle, values, and priorities? Anne-Marie talks about what retirement means to her and how she plans to work backwards to get there. Connect with Anne-Marie LinkedIn: Anne-Marie Mulumba Website: Wabala Studios Instagram: Wabala Studio...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Anne-Marie Mulumba (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how Anne-Marie created a business that leveraged her unique-ness as someone who is East African, has a design background, has worked in research and service design, and is really interested in culture. Anne-Marie asked how she can create a business that benefits others using the different perspectives tha...

⁠Anne-Marie Mulumba⁠ created a business that leveraged her uniqueness as an East African with a design background, experience in research and service design, and passion for cultures.  She is consistently asking: How can we design technology that brings value to people’s lives and makes them better? Will this thing we’re building save people time or money so they can focus on more important matter...

In this clip of Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile, discuss the epidemic of depression, anxiety and loneliness. Research conducted by OnePoll on behalf of BetterHelp show that 1 in 4 Americans say they don't have somebody to confide in. Stephanie talks about the impacts of individualism being a core part of Western culture and the opportunity lies in asking: Can I us...

In this clip of Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss the journey of The New Happy. Initially, it was a newsletter with just 17 subscribers, which grew into a thriving community of over 1 million humans worldwide. Stephanie talks about the importance of consistently showing up, even when it’s messy and imperfect. Remember to subscribe to The Power of Why for mor...

In this clip of The Power of Why, Stephanie Harrison (guest) and POW host Naomi Haile discuss how we can tap back into our creativity. Stephanie squashes the myth that you must walk this journey alone and can't ask for help. Stephanie talks about how she embraced the messiness of the process as an antidote to brittle perfectionism.  Remember to subscribe to The Power of Why for more in-depth conve...

"We've been told that achieving our own success will make us happy. But happiness comes from helping other people to live happier lives." ⁠Stephanie⁠'s childhood joy revolved around self-expression —corralling her siblings and neighbors to put on musicals, performing with a voice-altering karaoke machine, reading, and making things.  It's what shaped a lot of her early years. For many years, she "...