Where There's Smoke

It's easy to see that the world has a lot of problems right now. But as the saying goes, slightly paraphrased, 'The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing'. And we don't feel that anyone who listens to this show is interested in doing nothing. So, in our first show of Season 4, we decided to tackle that little question: How do we change the world? Or at least...

Where There's Smoke is coming back in September for their Fourth Season! In this episode you will hear all the details - launch date, frequency, etc. But first, Brett and Nick seem to have slightly different views on how exactly to launch this new season. It is not a problem unique to them. Often we can find ourselves struggling in decisions and bouncing between what we want to do and what others...

This week, Nick asks himself AND the listeners a hypothetical question. If you have an answer or a thought that you'd like to share, visit www.wheretheressmoke.co  and leave a Speakpipe message.  To help get you in the mood, Nick presents the first two acts from his first podcast, One Degree of Separation. These segments are now three years old, they sound rough, but we hope the stories still comm...

Succeeding at something isn't just about having a good idea. That's part of it, but there's so much more. This week, we are talking about strategy - and breakfast - but mostly strategy. How do you take the idea you have in your brain and turn it into a successful endeavor in the real world? And when we say "business" we mean any kind of endeavor - a service business of some kind, a product, a rest...

Brett provides an update and shares some thoughts. Listen to past episodes of  Where There's Smoke at www.wheretheressmoke.co .   

Two holiday vignettes make up this week's episode:  First, Brett peels back the veneer of the joyful and festive holiday season, to acknowledge that sometimes … Christmas sucks. But, what if that's actually be a good thing? If you are feeling a bit blue this Christmas, or know someone who is, then this segment is for you. Then, Nick chimes in with a story about silence. Plus a special opening segm...

How much of who we are is influenced by where we are? And what do we do if we feel our environment is draining us, instead of charging us? A year and a half ago, Brett moved from San Francisco to the suburbs of Toronto, and lately he's wondering - well, actually he's worried - if his new environment may be having a negative effect on him. So he sets out to explore how each of us are affected by bo...

Mahatma Gandhi never said, "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.". But … that doesn't mean it's not an accurate statement. This week, we explore what we can do to make a difference through service. We hear from author and speaker Jon Gordon; education leader Jim Kielsmeier; former Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams; and minister and activist Dr. Martin Lu...

We don't know if you've heard yet, but it's Election Day in the United States of America. And that is causing many people just a bit of anxiety. So today, rather than release a new episode, we thought we could provide you with something calm, short, and packed with a smile or two to help you relax on a day that is often VERY long and stressful. This is a sort of Election Day "meditation", as only...

What does it mean to be certain? Which comes first: judgement or reason? What is the difference between our differences dividing us or empowering us? And what does any of this have to do with riding an elephant? This week Nick & Brett explore the concept of certainty, as it exist in everything from our political climate, to our businesses, to our communities. And through the research of neuroliogi...

The US Presidential Election is weeks away, and while Brett and Nick initially thought they wouldn't address it in the show, it eventually became clear there was no way around it. After all, the whole premise of Where There's Smoke is to take pop culture and current events, and wrap it up into a conversation about self-development. And the current US Election is dominating both pop culture and cur...

It's the Season 3 premiere and Brett and Nick are asking: "Is stress really THAT bad?" To help them unpack this question they are joined by health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University, Kelly McGonigal. Kelly's most recent book is The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good At It.   Brett and Nick ask: What if everything you know about stress is but a fraction...

So much of our life is going from Point A to Point B, and it is about execution, deliverables, and responsibilities. And there is an absolutely a place for that. However for our sanity, and our success, it is also important that we take breaks. And these breaks provide us with much more than just a rest - they are an opportunity to reboot and reset -  and they can dictate the quality of our work a...

Eventually, we're all forced to turn around and face the truth. In today's episode, Nick shares a truth with Brett that he is having a hard time accepting and together - with some very special help - they try to get a handle on it. Where There's Smoke is approaching the Big 5-0 (this is it's 49th full episode), and we are talking acceptance. Plus, a brand new WTSdigs! * * * WTS Digs Brett: Whitney...

Do a Google search for 'How Do I Find My Life Purpose' and you will find a slew of articles and videos claiming to help you discover your purpose in 7 minutes … 5 minutes ….3 minutes...and even "less than 5 seconds". But is there even a such thing or is purpose about something else altogether? Joining us is Drew Daywalt, author of the children's book blockbuster, The Day The Crayons Quit. Drew's j...

Our first ever 48 Hour Challenge! We took suggestions from our listeners and this week we were assigned trauma. We'll explore some of our own traumas, uncover what causes it, how we can cope with it, and even how we can thrive from it. And through it all, we are reminded that no matter our circumstances, one powerful element remains. Plus, a new WTSdigs. GUESTS Auberon Wolf Website: http://www.aub...

All time is indeed created equal. Where it becomes unequal is in how we choose to spend it. This week's episode started with 87 hours - 87 hours that Brett spent with his son, Radek. And those 3.5 days turned into an exploration of Quality Time: What is it, how do we create it, and why is it so critical to all of our relationships. Joining us in this exploration is Jim Shiels, creator of The Famil...

Criticism seems to be running rampant in our world these days. This week, we ask some important questions: Why do we seem more interested in tearing others down than building them up? What is the deal with this plague of criticism in our world? Why do we do it? And what does it cost us? Then we turn our sights to the alternatives to criticism. How can we alter our behaviour, inspire change, and bu...

It's Single-Tasking Day and we're taking the chance to talk about all things related to "focus". We thoroughly explore multitasking and single-tasking while trying to understand what these habits do for our efficiency and our health. Plus, we also get to the bottom of who started Single-Tasking Day in the first place! We also speak with cognitive neuroscientist, Dr. Sandra Bond Chapman. She talks...

This is the second episode in our examination of truth and lies. This week we're exploring the lies we tell ourselves. Why do we do that and how can we figure out when we're doing it? We talk to Dr. Cortney Warren, author of the book Lies We Tell Ourselves: The Psychology of Self-Deception . She talks with us about self-deception and how to combat it. * * * If want to support the show and help kee...

In honor of the return of Serial, this week we're looking at Truth - well, truth and lies. Sometimes we lie for good reasons and sometimes we lie for bad ones. Which is which and why does it matter? Also, Author Scott Berkun also talks to us about The Myths of Innovation. Note: This is part one of a two-part episode. Make sure to come back next week!   * * * If want to support the show and help ke...

Where There's Smoke is a year old and as Brett & Nick bounced around several themes for the anniversary show, everything kept pointing back to one idea: work. Yup. Work is both hard... and awesome. So this week they explore work. First, Nick shares Ira Glass' concept of The Gap - a precarious place to be for anybody looking to accomplish something new. Then, Brett explores the word 'Work' itself a...

Every week, we strive to use the stories around us - news, pop culture, sports - to help make a positive change within ourselves and our listeners. With so many people emotionally impacted by the recent death of David Bowie (including us), we wanted to try and understand what we can learn from his life. That ultimately led us into an exploration of authenticity. A word that in many ways has become...

New Year's Resolutions. Around 45% of Americans will set a resolution for 2016 and by the end of January 36% will break them. Ultimately, only 8% of people who make resolutions, achieve them. Why? Well, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association, people cite the number one reason for not following through as a "lack of willpower". And so in this episode, we set out to understa...

Just what IS Christmas Spirit? Is it real? If so, how do we get it? What the heck does CWB stand for? And what's the role of nostalgia in this whole holiday season? This week, it's A Where There's Smoke Christmas. Brett finds himself a little down in the dumps around Christmas, but Nick may have just the cure - a mysterious VHS tape he found that contains the impossible. Join Brett & Nick as they...