The Second Act Podcast

Rakhi Pancholi is a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sitting NDP MLA in the hallowed Edmonton-Whitemud riding.  She is a politician by profession but she doesn’t identify with the politics that people want to use to define her.  An interesting story about seeing the world on her way to being a lawyer leads her to wanting to make a difference, wanting to help people see that she is more t...

Emma Stoned is not for everyone, but the folks she is for, get it! An oilfield medic by training, she decided to try her hand at OnlyFans and when she saw the results, she knew she was on to something big!  Emma talks about what goes into a life of creation and how the rest of the world sees her “side” gig.  Obviously she is very aware of how she is viewed and she wouldn’t change a thing...

Alecia Bexson is a lady whose comfort with death has lead her to a calling that most people probably don’t even know exist.  A death doula is probably something you haven’t thought much about, but after listening to her talk about what goes into the profession, I bet you have questions.  It’s an interesting, raw look at death and how people can cope more successfully with its inevitable...

Maggie Perkins just wanted to teach. She knew she was good at it, she loved the lifestyle and the feeling of contribution was unmatched. Until…she started teaching.  A look at the education system from the inside showed her that there had to be more to life than this and she took the first step towards it by quitting and taking a role at….COSTCO?  It’s not as crazy as it seems and when s...

Robert Scott was like any young man with too much time on his hands. He partied and drank and generally had a good time.  Until he found a digital camera and the open road. He started photographing the world around him and it became more than a hobby. Now, after discovering the stories behind so many abandoned houses in Southern Alberta, he has embarked upon a storytelling journey called The...

Jordan Jackson is a fellow from rural Indiana who knew there had to be a more fulfilling, better way. He just knew it was in him and his wife to live a better life.  They took matters into their own hands and moved out to the country to start homesteading and however contrary it may sound, he started Tik Tok’ing his life to help others understand it.  Jordan joins us today to chat about...

Chace Barber was just a college student trying to earn his way to his degree when he and his partner stumbled across an idea that could revolutionise the trucking industry…or not. It depends on how hard they wanted to chase it!  Well, they’ve gone all in on an electric semi and they have a waiting list of like-minded folks.  Join us for the story of a couple of unlikely pioneers in a wor...

Gord Nichol was a regular guy who worked at a number of jobs before deciding to move somewhere less hectic, take a step back and pursue what he loves: cultivating the best cannabis he can.  The story is exactly what you think it is, he did it undercover and not at all when society wasn’t on board with what he wanted to do and when it became legal, he went all in.  This is his story, in h...

Tara Slone is a Canadian singer, songwriter, broadcaster and mother who keeps pushing for more unique and interesting opportunities.  She went from Joydrop to Rock Star INXS to a gig with Ron McLean at Hometown Hockey, all while keeping her eye on a number of other opportunities to stretch her creative wings.  Honest and gracious about what goes into that like, she joined us to discuss h...

Mark Heise is the owner of Rebellion Brewing based in Regina Saskatchewan, but he didn’t always have such a cool job! He dropped out of college and worked in accounting, ending up advising provincial government employees and ministers, but before long, he knew that wasn’t the path for him.  After a couple of years of garage brewing, he and some buddies decided to go at it full time and 9 year...

Clint Malarchuk had a successful NHL career before his scary accident that resulted in a severed jugular.  After that, things got progressively more dangerous until a failed suicide attempt allowed him to understand that his life was here to help and the profile he created was a vehicle to help others on the same path.  Honest and insightful, Clint sits down with us to talk about his jou...

This pod was unreal from the word "GO"! If you don't know who Sean Kearns is, he's a Johnny Knoxville/Shaun White/Bam Margera/Tony Hawk-type character who has helmed some of the world's most successful snowboarding ventures, each time sticking with it long enough to see the success that he always knew was there.  He has done a lot of work on himself, other and the world around him and he has...

You think you know Santa Claus? Rudolph? The story behind the Elf on the Shelf?  Well, we got them all for you here and they aren't what you think!!  This Christmas, we were able to sit down with Santa Claus himself for a no-holds-barred chat with the big man himself and I promise you, there is more to all of this than you think.  Santa couldn't have been more honest about his life...

Shaun Newman is a good ol’ boy from Lloydminster who took his podcast success to heart and decided to double down on it and go after it full time! An honest and frank discussion about what went into it and how he managed to be ready for the choice when it presented itself, Shaun couldn’t have been more gracious with his time and information.  This is a real fun one, and we hope you like it as...

Scott Oake certainly needs no introduction to the sports fans of the audience, but if you don’t know all the rest of his journey, you are missing so much.  From losing his son to addiction to building a recovery center in his honour, Scott has been on a trip that is so much more than 15 Olympics, Hockey Night in Canada or any of the other numerous high profile jobs he’s had.  Check out t...

This is exactly the type of story this podcast set out to tell.  Emily Clarke is a teacher at my kid’s school.  We have worked with her for the past 8 years and when it came out in 2019 that she was getting an opportunity to officiate in the CFL, everyone in town was talking about it!  After COVID cancelled a whole season, Emily came back with a plan and it resulted in 19 more games...

Earl Pereira is a Saskatoon-born musician who has seen it all in the Canadian music scene.  From being ⅓ of Wide Mouth Mason and all that went into that rocket ride to breaking away to form the Steadies and carry on in a different vein, Earl has never compromised his vision for commercial success…the commercial success came anyway! We chat about touring with ZZ Top, giving Charlie Watt new mu...

Tyler Smith is a Humboldt bus crash survivor who has taken the trauma he lives with and puts it in terms that anyone can appreciate.  Whether it’s through his podcast, his speaking or his clothing line, Tyler wants people to know vulnerability is okay and suffering isn’t inevitable.  He shares his story about coming back to play and knowing that wasn’t his path any longer, going into the...

Kyle Craik reached out to see if we were interested in chatting about being on the pod. Our rule is never say no and stories like this are why!  If he hadn't said anything, I may not have connected with him and brought you this story of perseverance and staying true to your dreams, no matter what!  Kyle talks about starting out right out of high school, moving into an entrepreneurial end...

Angelique MacLeod’s story to this point is one of trials, tribulations and triumphs.  She has overcome abuse, addiction and numerous setbacks to become a published author, a model and a successful marketing executive.  Through it all, she is the mother to 2 teenagers who keep her grounded and ready for the next adventure! This one is a little more philosophical than some of the others, b...

Kelly Hrudey is a Canadian institution in the game of hockey.  There really aren’t too many people who are more synonymous with the game than he is.  From a long playing career to a quarter century turn on Hockey Night In Canada, there isn’t a memory in the game that he isn’t attached to.  But, hockey doesn’t define him and it certainly isn’t all he thinks about.  From wanting...

Velours is an alternative pop artist based out of Saskatoon SK who, as you’ll hear, always knew a life of performing was in the cards for her.  She tells us about performing through her younger years, before deciding on music and hooking up with Canadian heavyweight producer Ryan Stewart and things really getting interesting! Join us for a fun chat with a lady who is about to explode, and we...

Bethany Hallam has a story that has to be heard to be believed! A high school injury that left her with an opiod addiction had her in and out of jail, testing the limits of her parents patience, wherewithal and the legal system! She got out, got clean and decided to make a difference and she shares her journey with us!  Honest and forthright about the ups and the downs, Bethany tells us what...

Joze is a musician from Montreal who didn’t start getting serious about music until his mid-20’s.  And that didn’t mean he missed out on the hard stuff!  In the aftermath of releasing his debut EP, he is out sharing his story, being honest and forthright about the up’s and the down’s!  His easy listening, adult contemporary-styled material is infectious, self-deprecaating and well t...

Cassie Hawrysh is an ex-collegiate athlete, former Olympic hopeful-turned-alternate and current journalist and TV host.  She has doggedly pursued her dreams throughout her life and she was so gracious to sit down with us and chat a little bit about what keeps her moving forward, especially when times are tough.  No stranger to hard choices and circumstances out of her control, Cassie tal...