Up to So Good: The Purpose of Business

Toast isn’t your average tech recruitment firm. Founded in 2022 by April Hicke and Marissa McNeelands, this Canadian powerhouse is on a mission to shatter the glass ceiling in tech. They’re not just about filling seats; they’re about transforming workplaces. With a blind hiring process and an AI-driven job matching tool, they ensure that talent speaks louder than bias. Their membership portal offe...

Imagine a world where all stakeholders. not just shareholders, are valued and prioritized. Welcome to the B Corp movement. Our next guest has empowered over 150 companies through Decade Impact to achieve B Corp certifications. This work reflects her commitment to transforming capitalism into a force for good and driving social, environmental, and economic justice for a more equitable future. B Cor...

We sit down with Gordon Holley , co-founder and advisor of Humanity Financial Management Inc., to discuss the firm's pioneering journey as Canada's first accounting firm to become a Benefit Company. Gordon shares insights into their mission to enhance the financial capacity and credibility of charities, non-profits, First Nations, and Indigenous organizations. We delve into Humanity Financial's co...

In this episode, we sit down with Keith Ippel, co-founder of Spring , to explore how business, innovation, and investment can be powerful tools for positive change. Keith shares why the future belongs to companies that are built not just to generate profit, but to solve real-world problems. From impact investing and entrepreneurship to rethinking what success in business really looks like, this co...

In this episode, we sit down with Karly Nygaard-Petersen, Senior Manager of Corporate Purpose at BCAA and a key leader behind Evo Car Share. Karly operates at the fascinating intersection of corporate strategy and academic research, exploring how a legacy organization can evolve into a purpose-led engine for social good. While many view car sharing as a purely logistical solution, Karly is redefin...

EP02: In this episode, we welcome Holly Xing, the visionary founder of B Corp and 1% for the Planet, Eightbillion. Holly is not only a biochemist and nutritionist but also a passionate entrepreneur driven by a desire to create positive change. Following her commitment to physical and emotional health and sustainability, Holly has developed a unique, nutrient-rich, low-caffeine functional beverage...

EP01: Our world runs on plastic, possibly one of the most versatile materials man has ever created. Unfortunately, it is wreaking havoc on our environment and our health. In this episode, we sit down with Ranah Chavoshi, a marine biologist with expertise in aquatic toxicology and seaweed agriculture. Ranah shares her journey, from experimenting in her kitchen to launching a groundbreaking biotechn...

Thanks so much for listening to Up To So Good , the podcast that explores the purpose of business. Our host, Leena, is currently leading a creative shoot overseas, so we will be hitting pause on new episodes until mid-April. In the meantime, we’ll be sharing our fan-favorite episodes on our regular schedule, so if you’ve missed any of these conversations from earlier seasons, this is your chance t...

In this episode, we sit down with Shahzrad (Shaz) Tayebi of Mama Milk Innovations, a company on a mission to transform breastfeeding technology by designing products that work with biology,not against it. Shaz discusses how biomimicry is reshaping everything from soothers to breast pumps, why traditional lactation tools have long needed disruption, and how thoughtful innovation can support both th...

In this episode, we chat with Madeleine Shaw, a serial social entrepreneur, author, and changemaker whose work spans sustainable menstrual products, upcycled fashion, and community driven initiatives. Madeleine first made her mark in the early 1990s by founding everyware designs, a sustainable design studio, and later co‑founding Lunapads (now Aisle), one of the world’s earliest B Corporations to...

Threading Change is on a mission to take the fashion industry from “fast and furious” to “slow and sustainable.” This youth-led powerhouse is all about stitching together a world where your clothes don’t cost the Earth (literally). They champion circular economies, climate justice, and feminism while calling out the fashion faux pas of the fast fashion industry. By empowering brands, policymakers,...

An existential crisis prompted Murray Rodgers, an Alberta oilman, to seek answers at a spiritual retreat in Costa Rica. There, he discovered the transformative power of Ayahuasca, a plant medicine that helped him heal old wounds and grow as a leader. Inspired by this journey, Rodgers wrote The Psychedelic CEO , where he explores how psychedelics like Ayahuasca can unlock individuals’ full potentia...

We're taking a little recording break for December, but don’t worry, we’ll be back January 30th, 2026. In the meantime, catch up on our most popular episodes dropping on our regular schedule. Thank you again for tuning in! We talk to visionaries and game-changers who are doing things differently; using their businesses to do more good in the world. Join us as we dive into the stories and strategie...

In this episode, we dive into the impactful work of Hanae Bezad, a social entrepreneur and conscious leader advancing purpose-driven change at multiple levels. Hanae discusses her role with Boann Social Impact, where she helps drive investments that support inclusive economic growth, climate solutions, social enterprise and underserved communities across Canada. She also shares her mission with Be...

In this episode we sit down with Zena Harris, Founder and President of Green Spark Group, a sustainability consultancy dedicated to helping the entertainment, production and corporate worlds reshape how they operate. From film and television to live events, they design strategies, train teams and support productions to cut waste, lower emissions, and spark real behaviour change. Zena shares how th...

In this episode we’re joined by Jayde Zhou, Executive Vice President at Vancouver based BlueForce Energy. Transportation accounts for nearly a quarter of Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions and gas-powered vehicles aren’t helping. BlueForce Energy is changing the game by converting trucks and commercial vehicles into electric powerhouses, offering innovative energy solutions that reduce emissions an...

Untours doesn’t just lead in travel experiences, it leads in purpose. In fact, UnTours holds the distinction of being the world’s first Certified B Corporation, certified back in 2007. This unique travel company offers a deeper, more authentic way to explore travel destinations. Instead of rushing from city to city on a packed itinerary, UnTours invites travellers to slow down, unpack once, and li...

We're taking a little recording break for August and September, but don’t worry, we’ll be back with Season Three in October 2025. We're signing off with SPF 50 and planet-positive energy, so soak up every last drop of summer. Thank you again for tuning in! We talk to visionaries and game-changers who are doing things differently; using their businesses to do more good in the world. Join us as we d...

The digital advertising world moves fast, but at what cost? Every impression, click, and video view comes with an invisible carbon footprint. In this episode, we’re joined by Avril Tomlin‑Hood, CEO of BOA, a groundbreaking media-buying agency that’s challenging the status quo and proving that scaling a brand doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. BOA is pioneering a new model of sustainable...

What if a film studio could be more than just lights, cameras, and actiona nd become a force for real environmental change? In this episode, we sit down with Beverley Dondale, founder and CEO of Alpha Select Production Services, who’s on a mission to reshape the future of film from the ground up. Beverley shares how she’s building the first zero-waste, net-zero film studio on Vancouver Island in c...

In this episode, we sit down with acclaimed screenwriter and director Carl Bessai of Raven West Films to explore his raw, human approach to storytelling. Known for embracing imperfection and championing underrepresented voices, Carl shares how real life, with all its messiness, complexity, and beauty, inspires his work. Carl’s commitment to honest moments and inclusive narratives proves that the m...

In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Chase, Co-Chair of the Executive Board for B Beauty, a Certified B Corp Beauty Coalition with a global alliance of over 90 certified B Corp beauty brands who are rewriting the rules of the industry. From tackling waste and overconsumption. to improving ingredient transparency and ethical sourcing, these companies aren’t just selling products, they’re buildi...

In this episode, we sit down with Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight Canada , the country’s leading cleantech acceleration platform. Jeanette shares how Foresight is driving the transition to a net-zero economy by supporting startups, scaling ventures, and connecting the dots between industry, government, and investors. We discuss Canada’s role on the global cleantech stage, and why collaboration...

In this episode, we sit down with Roya Aghighi, Co-founder and CEO of Lite-1, a Vancouver-based biotech startup transforming the colour industry. We explore how traditional fabric dyes are harmful to both people and the planet, and how her team is harnessing microorganisms that naturally produce pigments to grow safe, sustainable colours for textiles. Roya also shares the challenges and breakthrou...

We speak with Anita Spiller, VP of ESG for Tru Earth, and dive into the story behind this Canadian company shaking up the household product industry with its innovative, eco-friendly laundry strips. We explore how Tru Earth is tackling plastic waste, redefining sustainability in everyday routines, and building a movement of conscious consumers. From the spark of an idea to a global impact, hear ho...