The Retaining Purpose Podcast

Today we sit down with Josh Kerpan, CEO of Kaizen Solutions and Kerpan Farms.  Raised in Kenaston, Saskatchewan, Josh built his farming business from the ground up. What began as a grain farming operation eventually expanded into cattle ranching, consulting, and coaching, all driven by his passion for agriculture, entrepreneurship, and the western way of life.    Alongside growing his own business...

Today we sit down with Wesley Paterson, internationally recognized management consultant, keynote speaker, author, and President of Paterson Consulting Inc.    Known for his practical, results-driven approach, Wes works with organizations ranging from family-owned businesses to Fortune 500 companies and all levels of government - helping leaders improve performance, strengthen communication, and b...

Today we sit down with Natasha Vandenhurk, CEO and co-founder of Three Farmers Foods, an award-winning Canadian snack brand rooted in sustainability, community, and connecting people to where their food comes from.    After studying Economics at the University of Saskatchewan, Natasha partnered with three local farmers to bring wholesome, farm-grown food to market - helping grow Three Farmers Food...

Today we sit down with Mary Printz, a leadership coach, former school principal, and educational consultant with over 35 years of experience in education and leadership. She works with leaders, executives, and high-performing professionals navigating complexity, pressure, and high expectations.    Her work focuses on adaptive development, helping individuals expand how they think, relate, and lead...

Today we sit down with Louise Ede, founder of Brave Everyday CIC, a social enterprise and podcast platform dedicated to sharing real stories of resilience, courage, and personal growth.    Through Brave Everyday, Louise creates space for people to openly share their lived experiences - from overcoming adversity and trauma to rebuilding their lives and finding purpose. Her work is rooted in the bel...

Today we sit down with Reagan Weeks, Superintendent of Prairie Rose School Division and a dedicated leader in public education.    Dr. Weeks is a firm believer in the power of community, leveraging both private-public and public-public partnerships to create place-based learning experiences that directly engage students' aspirations. Under her leadership, the division has seen the expansion of...

Today we sit down with Aarushi Bhargava - an emerging leader passionate about innovation, impact, and empowering others to pursue ambitious ideas.  Aarushi currently serves as Co-President of Project90, a humanitarian engineering team of over 90 students working to develop real-world solutions - ranging from adaptive equipment for children with disabilities to international water infrastructure pr...

Today we sit down with Amy C. Edmondson, one of the world’s leading voices on psychological safety, leadership, and organizational learning, and the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School.     Named the world’s number one management thinker by Thinkers50, Amy is the author of several influential books, including  The Fearless Organization , and her latest,  Righ...

James is the CEO of Partek, a leading Managed Services Provider based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Over nearly two decades, James has grown Partek into one of the region’s most trusted IT and cybersecurity partners for small and mid-sized organizations.    James’s work spans technology strategy, service design, cybersecurity architecture, and the operational leadership of a fast-growing technical tea...

 On today’s episode, we sit down with Matt Goodey, political science student at University of Lethbridge. Randy first met Matt while he was bartending, and what began as a casual conversation quickly turned into a deeper discussion about values, purpose, and personal responsibility.     Coming from a background in farm management, Matt shares how stepping outside of his comfort zone has shaped his...

 In this episode, we’re joined by Curtis Hegge, EdTech Lead at The International School of Macao, and a passionate advocate for service-based leadership in education and beyond.    With a career that has moved from shop teacher to physical education, design, and instructional technology, Curtis has built a reputation for helping students and teachers feel supported, capable, and confident to grow....

In this episode, we’re joined by John Hetherington, a Technology Strategist, international speaker, and founder of We Deliver Your Vision. John works with mid-sized organizations to unlock AI-powered visibility, speed, and scale - helping leaders make critical decisions in hours, not weeks.    With more than 25 years of experience leading digital transformation across the UK, US, and Canada, John...

Today we sit down with Trevor Moore, a neurodivergent entrepreneur, speaker, coach, husband, and dad who knows the cost of pretending to be okay.    Trevor spent years masking mental health struggles, pushing through chronic pain, and trying to “outwork” his inner critic – until he reached a breaking point that became a turning point. Now, he uses his story to help others move from survival mode t...

To close out 2025, we thought we’d switch things up and put our host Randy Valk in the guest seat! Our friends Craig Elias and Brandy Old return to the studio as our guest hosts to reflect on the moments, missteps, and mindset shifts that shaped Randy’s journey from long-time employee to business owner and founder.  Randy shares the unexpected turning point that changed everything - losing his job...

Today we’re joined by Claire Gray, Leadership & Team Facilitator and all-around leadership expert.     Claire is passionate about building high-performing teams and developing leaders who can thrive in the face of complexity and change. She is also the author of Thriving Leaders: Learn the Skills to Lead Confidently and host of the Thriving Leaders podcast—featuring conversations with world-re...

Today we’re joined by Amber Smith, Workforce Advisor with Community Futures Entre-Corp and a passionate personal training coach at Crew Training. She thrives on helping others unlock their potential whether that means supporting businesses or inspiring individuals to push beyond their limits in the gym.     Amber believes growth happens when people are challenged and supported, and she brings that...

Today we’re joined by Lewis Baarda, Field Tested Research Manager at Farming Smarter, a southern Alberta agricultural research hub helping crop producers make informed decisions around inputs, technology, and management practices.    Lewis leads the Field Tested research program, focusing on on-farm trials, irrigation, and specialty crops. With a Master’s degree in geography from the University of...

Today we’re joined by Jeremy Lang, a purpose-driven Canadian entrepreneur and visionary founder with over 25 years of experience in both entrepreneurship and the corporate world.    As the founder of Open Mind Developments and Pela , and co-founder of Lomi , Jeremy pioneered the compostable phone case and smart waste appliance categories. His companies have sold millions of products worldwide, pre...

Meet Judy Riege - a leadership mentor who has spent over 25 years helping leaders at every level reach their highest potential.    Judy’s passion lies in mentoring the next generation, integrating insights from neuroscience, psychology, and leadership theory to design memorable, impactful learning experiences. With a focus on emotional intelligence and shared leadership, she helps individuals and...

Today we’re joined by Brandy Old and Craig Elias, a dynamic duo passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs take their first steps, and growing startup communities around the world.    Over the past nine years, Brandy and Craig have supported hundreds of first-time, early-stage, underrepresented, rural, and student entrepreneurs in navigating the challenges of launching a business. They’ve wor...

Today we’re joined by Wendy Murphy, CEO and Partner of The Timber Tech Group of Companies – Timber Tech Truss, Brydon Stairs, and Timber Tech Building Solutions. With nearly three decades in Alberta’s construction industry, Wendy has led transformational growth through new divisions, strategic acquisitions, and a people-first approach to leadership. In this episode, Wendy shares her journey from l...

Today on the podcast we’re joined by Ann Mitchell, City Manager at the City of Medicine Hat. With over 30 years of experience in local government, Ann brings a deep understanding of what it takes to lead municipal organizations with both strategic vision and operational excellence. Throughout her career, she has embraced the challenge of balancing internal leadership with external accountability,...

Today we’re joined by Jennifer Massig, CEO of Engineering – a civil engineering firm in Calgary dedicated to creating innovative stormwater management solutions for communities across Western Canada and beyond.     After years in traditional firms, Jennifer launched Magna with a vision to do things differently: blending technical expertise with a strong sense of culture, collaboration, and communi...

Today we’re joined by Bryan Bates, Principal and Founder of Cogitact - an automation consultancy helping Canadian small businesses automate and streamline their technology to improve their workflows. With over 25 years of experience in operations, technology, and consulting, Bryan brings a rare blend of business strategy and technical insight. At Cogitact, he partners with professional service fir...

Today we’re joined by Ken Vowels, District Sales Manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, North America's largest supplier in the green industry.  Through his role at SiteOne, he has had the opportunity to connect with a wide range of professionals and industry experts, gaining valuable insights and collaborating on various projects.  A Certified Irrigation Professional and lifelong student of wat...