The Gift of Happy with Mark Kondrat

Meet Samantha Stilwell - a cultural anthropologist and HR professional with a passion for fostering strong company cultures and communities. Samantha's journey into anthropology began with a childhood fascination in global cultures, flipping through the pages of her parents' old National Geographic magazines. This early passion led her to a career that blends her love for understanding p...

Meet Jessica Culo - Entrepreneur, Owner, and President of Express Employment Professionals and Specialized Recruiting Group.  After graduating from the University of Alberta, Jessica launched Express Employment Professionals, a recruitment firm specializing in temporary and permanent placement of administrative, commercial, and skilled trades candidates. In 2011, she founded Specialized Recruiting...

Meet Matt Christopherson - lifelong athlete and Co-Founder of Opscotch, a modern health company. Opscotch is redefining the health industry by providing access to cutting-edge tools, premium products, and unparalleled support to help individuals achieve their best health. With a vibrant community and a commitment to innovation, Opscotch sets a new standard for health and wellness. Matt brings a we...

Meet Allan Maki - a retired sports writer with an illustrious career spanning over four decades. A four-time National Newspaper Award finalist, Allan was named Sportswriter of the Year by Sports Media Canada in 2001. Allan joined the Globe and Mail in 1997 with an extensive sports background, covering everything from the Stanley Cup finals and the Grey Cup to the Summer and Winter Olympics. He’s r...

Meet Carrie Robinson - recent triathlete, musician, and Copywriter & AI Specialist at ZGM Modern Marketing Partners. Carrie’s journey into triathlons began with a 60k bike ride at Gran Fondo, an experience that ignited her passion for race training. Embracing the physical and mental benefits of this challenge, she decided to dive into the world of triathlons and challenge her belief that this...

Meet  Linh Huynh - a professional motivational speaker, curiosity-igniter, award-winning writer, educator, and extreme non-athlete.  Linh’s remarkable journey began when her family fled Vietnam as Boat People refugees, shaping her resilient mindset. She has completed extraordinary feats, including the Antarctic Ice Marathon, North Pole Marathon, and the 4Deserts, a series of four ultra-marathons t...

Meet Pete - founder and CEO of GenWell, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to fostering Canada’s Human Connection Movement since 2016. With a commitment to social connection and health, Pete leads GenWell’s mission to educate, empower, and inspire Canadians to recognize the direct link between social connection and improved well-being. Under Pete’s leadership, GenWell has activated innov...

Meet Lochlin - radio broadcaster, podcaster, yogi and UFO spotter. With over 30 years in the broadcast industry, most recently working as a morning show host of #TheLOCKERROOM in Edmonton, Lochlin now cohosts his own show, Grease Fire.  After breaking his tailbone playing hockey, Lochlin tried yoga to help his recovery. Challenging himself to practice yoga every day for a year, he discovered the i...

Meet Catherine - founder of SoYoung, a sustainable lifestyle goods company based in Toronto. Over 25 years ago, Catherine overcame a drug addiction that marked the beginning of her ongoing healing journey. In her sobriety, Catherine found inspiration in a product she wanted to create and launched her business, SoYoung Inc. By focusing solely on the next step and ignoring the voice in her head that...

Meet Ion and Anna Blum – the dynamic duo behind The Blumz, a luxury piercing and fine jewelry studio in downtown Toronto. For the past 17 years, these two entrepreneurs have launched various ventures, including Black Line Studio, the 350 Fahrenheit restaurant, and several furniture stores. When Ion noticed a gap in the luxury jewelry and piercing market, he partnered with Anna to create The Blumz,...

Meet Mike Brcic - serial entrepreneur, global adventurer and founder of Wayfinders.  Mike's mission is to help entrepreneurs live more connected and meaningful lives by facilitating one-of-a-kind experiences in spectacular, remote locations across the planet. From the Himalayas of Bhutan to the Patagonian wilderness, each Wayfinders journey is focused on building connection, community, self-e...

Meet Orion - a cold water ice-surfer based in Montreal, Canada. Best known as an "ice-surfer," he braves the extreme cold of Quebec rivers, surfing in conditions as cold as -40 Celcius! With over 100K followers on TikTok, he invites his followers into his frozen world. Orion surfs any chance he gets, whether it be tropical oceans, windy lakes, or icy rivers. In all his adventures, Orion...

Meet Vincent Proulx - a mental wellness advocate on a mission to inspire others to choose happiness and prioritize their mental health. After a 20-year career in the Canadian Army and Navy, Vincent moved to Calgary to begin working in law enforcement. However, his focus on keeping busy was masking the unresolved trauma and mental health challenges that had built up over the years, which eventually...

Meet Luke - amateur Ultra Runner and founder of Accurate Network Services, a leading technology company with offices in Edmonton and Calgary. Over 16 years, Luke has grown his tech business from a one-man show to a 50-person team through word of mouth alone - no marketing needed. From working in the business as a technician to working on the business as a leader, Luke believes that before you can...

Meet Simone Saunders - a seasoned Registered Social Worker, therapist, content creator, and speaker dedicated to fostering mental health awareness and destigmatizing mental health issues within BIPOC communities.  As the founder and director of The Cognitive Corner in Calgary, Simone has established a culturally responsive and trauma-informed group psychological practice. Through this innovative v...

Meet Laval - a Calgary dad, husband, airline captain, and record-breaking global adventurer. Laval is best known for being the only Canadian to have summited Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen, holds the record for the fastest-ever crossing of the Atlantic Ocean in a solo rowboat from mainland Canada to mainland Europe, is the only person to have climbed and skied Iraq’s highest mountain, h...

Meet Lorraine Widmer-Carson - author, educator and founder of Grassroots Gratitude. Lorraine is also a Master Journal Writer - meaning she has written for more than 10,000 hours over the past 30 years! As a mother of four, small-business partner, community change-maker, and nature lover, her commitment to the practice of daily journal writing has kept her passionate and curious. Now she’s on a mis...

Meet Sam Hale - Co-Founder & CEO of Nurish'd, a care platform that collaborates with insurance providers and employers to enhance individuals' nutrition. Nurish'd offers users access to registered dietitians through telehealth, microbiome testing, and personalized healthy meals through an AI-based model, making it the go-to platform for tailored nutrition care. Sam is passionate...

Meet Eoin Finn - a globally renowned yogi, surfer, author, and founder of Blissology Yoga. Lauded by Yoga Journal as the “Thoreau of Yoga” and by Oprah as “one to watch,” Eoin’s mission centers on the simple idea of sharing happiness and connecting yogis more deeply to the spirituality of nature. One of his signature courses, The Blissology Project, focuses on how to make positive thinking, health...

Meet Jeff Archibald - retired entrepreneur and cofounder of Paper Leaf , a leading web & mobile app firm located in Edmonton, Alberta.  After being acquired by ZGM, Jeff decided to take a step back from his digital agency and discover his identity outside of being an entrepreneur. In 2023, Jeff moved to a small ski town in British Columbia, and spends his time mountain biking, trail running, a...

Meet Bob Sumner, Director Of Media Relations & Business Development at PARKER PR. With over three decades of experience in news media, including roles at Global and CTV Calgary, Bob's expertise in storytelling is unparalleled.  In today’s episode, we have the privilege of hearing Bob's journey firsthand, from his time on the news circuit to emphasizing the importance of maintaining a...

Meet Don Saviak, President and owner of All Beef Catering, Smokehouse, and ABC Outpost in Calgary. From living the life of a musician to becoming an entrepreneur and proud father of two, Don has led a life full of creativity and community.  After surviving the pandemic as a catering business, Don realized he needed to take a step back to prioritize his own mental, physical, and emotional health. I...

Meet Jaclyn Panylyk - DJ, Entrepreneur, endurance runner, and devoted animal advocate. In today’s episode, we discuss the mental and physical aspects of running (especially in 80km races), how to pivot when things don’t go as planned, and how finding balance is the ultimate key to success. Jaclyn embodies the spirit of chasing your passions and embracing challenges head-on, while also advocating f...

Meet Chris Wiersma - a Harvard-trained executive coach, single father, multiple Ironman, marathon runner, and about to be an ultra-marathoner.  His research and practice are based on subconscious goals and how these goals we don’t know we have to explain all of the differences between what we say we want, what we’re capable of, and the results we get (or don’t get). Join us as we unravel the myste...

Meet Andrea McKay - the visionary behind b, Halfmoon, a unique fusion of two Canadian yoga brands that embody the essence of community, nature, and innovation. Andrea's journey is an inspiring tale of passion that spans from her pursuit of an MBA in Australia to the establishment of B Yoga in 2014 and the merger with Halfmoon in 2023. Her journey is a continued commitment to providing the yog...