The People Teaching People Podcast

What inspires two teenagers to create a business dedicated to spreading joy and building connections in a world that often feels overwhelming? 17 year old Mercedes and 14 year old Anastasia are sisters and co-founders of the company, Small Bits of Happiness. Their mission is to help individuals of all ages find more happiness in daily life as well as build happy habits and connections. As two teen...

Have you ever stopped to question the way we think about education? The way we define success? The way learning should look and feel? For a long time, I didn’t. I followed the path, checked the boxes, and did what I was supposed to do. But over the years, as a student, teacher, and now a parent, I’ve come to realize that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. And the way we measure success? That might...

Have you ever found yourself wondering what’s happening to your body, feeling disconnected, or struggling with unexplainable changes as you enter your 40s or beyond? These are common experiences for many facing perimenopause, a phase that often catches individuals off guard due to lack of information and societal dialogue. In this episode of the People Teaching People podcast, I’m joined by...

Have you ever noticed that when people don’t see the relevance of what they’re learning, they tune out—whether it’s students in a classroom or employees in a training session? If learners don’t understand the “ but why” something matters, they won’t care. And if they don’t care, they won’t learn. In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , we’re diving into how relevance and purpose ca...

Are you curious about how understanding your brain can transform learning, teaching, and everyday life? In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I sit down with Samantha Woods, the founder of Kaizen Education Services and a self-proclaimed “brain nerd,” who has spent over 20 years exploring neuroscience and its practical applications. Together, we discuss how executive f...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , we’re diving into microlearning – an innovative way to teach and share knowledge in small, digestible chunks. Whether you’re a teacher, corporate trainer, coach, or content creator, microlearning offers a way to engage your audience, improve knowledge retention, and make learning accessible for today’s fast-paced world. We’ll explore wh...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Paisley Churchill. Paisley is one of my incredible clients – and when I say ‘incredible,’ I truly mean it. We started working together this fall to create an online, self-directed course. From the start, Paisley impressed me with her deep knowledge, diverse and rich life experiences, and her warm, engaging personality. She’s no...

Is it time to redefine what success looks like for you? Many of us reach a point where we feel the need to reassess our paths and find true alignment in our lives. In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcas t, I am joined by Fede Vargas. Fede is a leader in podcasting, leveraging over 15 years of experience in sales and distribution within the media and entertainment industry. He is the...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Tchadas Leo.  Tchadas is an Indigenous TV Journalist, Podcaster, TV host, Actor, Producer and Documentarian based on Vancouver Island. His Indigenous lineage belongs with the Homalco First Nation and the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians. He also has Peruvian & Argentinian ancestry. Tchadas has been with the CHEK Media group,...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Emily Lee. Emily is a registered Occupational Therapist, and Board Certified Behaviour Analyst. She is passionate about working with autistic children and their families and continues to dive deeply into her own ongoing learning about interventions that can support her clients. Since graduating from a Bachelor’s degree in...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Miss Anne Goresht, former host of the children’s television show Romper Room and author of “ I Am a Big Brother with a Superpower” . Miss Anne shares her journey from hosting Romper Room , a pioneering educational children’s show, to becoming an author and a passionate advocate for children’s reading and learn...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Monika Scott and Robyn Mair, co-founders of Mint Cleaning Products .  I first learned about Mint Cleaning Products when I was at a local coffee shop and community hub – called Social Grounds – in the community of Oakridge in Calgary, Alberta. Social Grounds also sells snacks and ice cream, hosts art classes and fitn...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I am joined by Jamie McInnis and Teresa Bent to discuss their roles and the exciting innovation and work happening in the Applied Research and Innovation Services (ARIS) Hub at SAIT, the Southern Institute of Technology, in Calgary, Alberta.  Jamie McInnis, the Director of the ARIS Hub at SAIT, has 20 years experience managing and leading res...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I sit down with Yasmin Khan, founder and principal consultant of Yasmin Khan Consulting Services . Yasmin discusses her journey from a career civil servant in various levels of government to becoming an entrepreneur. She shares insights about her passion for libraries and knowledge management, the influence of COVID-19 on her career decisions...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast , I sit down with Jeff Humphreys, owner and founder of Shortline Creative and host of The Calgary Sessions podcast. Jeff and I met in person for the first time at The GRAND theatre in downtown Calgary in early 2024. Jeff’s company was doing some interviewing and filming for promotional material for PodSummit YYC, an upcoming podcast conference...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I’m joined by Jelena Bajic, the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Environment, Technology, and Continuing Education at NorQuest College in Edmonton, Alberta. Jelena shares her journey from Yugoslavia to South Africa, the UK, Saudi Arabia, and ultimately Canada, highlighting her passion for high employee engagement, motivation, and professional...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I’m joined by Mariya Stokes, a talented and community-focused country music artist from Stavely, Alberta. Mariya shares her journey from growing up in a musical family to becoming Country Music Alberta’s two-time Horizon Female Artist of the Year. She discusses her songwriting process, the importance of community support, and the mentors...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, Jolie Viguers, a seasoned CPA and financial coach, joins me to discuss a range of topics including money, finances, financial coaching, community, curiosity, and values.  Jolie shares her journey from becoming an accountant to founding Well Bean Coaching, her own financial coaching business, emphasizing the importance of understanding one&#821...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, Dr. Andrew Dutcher, a renowned child and adolescent psychiatrist, keynote speaker, and author of ‘ Big-Hearted Parenting (Even When It Seems Impossible)’,  discusses his journey from speed skating to becoming a medical professional dedicated to preventing Indigenous children’s entry into the child welfare system in Canada.  A...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we are joined by Noreen Music, an extraordinary speaker, the author of The Unexpected Entrepreneur , and the owner and driving force behind Organize My Space Calgary.  Noreen’s passion is helping people find lasting freedom in their homes and businesses through her transformational organizing services and productivity strategies. Her mis...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we are joined by Meg Wilcox.  Meg loves a great story. Her earliest audio memories are from when she was only 4 or 5 years old, listening to CBC Radio in her dad’s art studio. While he painted big sweeping landscapes, she would divide her page into frames to make her own comic strip-like stories — one frame just wasn’t enough...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we are joined by Tim Truax, a geologist and CEO of PodSummit, a Canadian company focusing on podcast events.  Tim discusses the inception of PodSummit and its aim to bring together the Canadian podcast community for collaboration and learning. The podcast touches on the importance of curiosity, continuous learning, and balancing various life r...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we are joined by Lusiana Lukman and Wanda Bussiere, co-directors of the Classical Music Conservatory (CMC) in Toronto. They share their individual journeys in music and education, and how these paths led them to create a nurturing and supportive music community. Lusiana, originally from Jakarta and a third-generation teacher, delves into her e...

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, Juliane Gallant shares her journey from starting as a pianist to her current role as a conductor. She talks about the significance of music and the role of a conductor in an orchestra, explaining how music can unite people and provoke powerful connections.  She highlights her work in education and her enthusiasm for community outreach programs...

In this special episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we celebrate a significant milestone—four years of podcasting—by welcoming two extraordinary guests, my parents, Susan and Brian Plesuk. Initially hesitant, with my mom doubting what insight she could possibly contribute and my dad concerned about memorizing lines, they eventually agreed to be on my podcast! I am grateful to my mom and...