Afleveringen
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An incredible story of a woman who takes the torch ignited by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit and uses it to light up entrepreneurial dreams and positive change across continents and industries, all with heart, humanity, and hustle. Bashak Ilhan is a founder, five-time entrepreneur, digital strategist, and brand architect who has achieved two multi-million-dollar exits and boasts a global career that spans London, the Middle East, Europe, and the U.S. Bashak doesn’t follow the rules; she rewrites the playbook.
This episode is more than a resume—it’s a revelation. It tells the story of an individual who embraces her identity, relies on her resilience, and continually reinvents herself and her enterprises to seek and realize opportunities.
A blueprint for lighting your path in an increasingly complex world.
To learn more about Bashak's offering, Road Branding, and how they help companies expand internationally and manage their B2C and B2B operations, Click Here
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In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, Cheryl Hickey, the beloved former co-host of Entertainment Tonight Canada, takes us beyond the glitz of red carpets and celebrity interviews to share her remarkable journey from a small town to the national spotlight. With warmth and honesty, Cheryl reflects on the moments that shaped her. She navigated challenges and a health scare, embraced personal transformations, and celebrated the joys and lessons of motherhood. She opens up about life after the spotlight, how she’s redefining success on her terms, and why she’s more excited than ever about what comes next.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Taylor Cavanaugh’s Journey from Demons to Desire
Some fall and stay broken. Others build a bridge and rise.
Taylor Cavanaugh was a gifted student and elite athlete—but he was also a restless spirit chasing chaos. His journey spirals through addiction, jail, bar fights, and breakdowns. Then, somehow, a way through. He claws his way into the Navy SEALs. Falls again. Reinvents himself through one of the most brutal gauntlets on earth: the French Foreign Legion.
In this powerful episode of Chatter That Matters, Taylor shares how he battled his demons, confronted his darkest truths, and rebuilt himself through pain, purpose, and discipline. He speaks candidly about finding meaning not in titles, but in habits. Not in pleasure, but in purpose.
Taylor’s story is a reminder that no matter how deep the water, you can build a bridge—and cross it.
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What if the moment that saves your life isn’t a miracle, or even counselling but a word, scribbled on a napkin? Steve Hershberger had lived a life built on his father’s expectations, chasing achievement like a moth to a flame, versus his artistic passions. But after two decades of following someone else’s blueprint, the façade cracked. His physical and mental health collapsed. He stood at a breaking point—until a friend’s intervention, and a single word on a napkin, cracked open a new path forward.
But life wasn’t done testing him. Just as Steve found his footing, life blindsided him again. A brutal cycling accident left him in the hands of a trauma team, hovering near death. In this episode of Chatter That Matters, we trace the route from accepting pain to chasing purpose, and how a man known for racing ahead finally learned to slow down and confront the truth. This is a story of grit, grace, and the quiet power of a single word.
If you’ve ever questioned your path, worth, or where you are, this show will inspire you to believe in yourself.
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What if saving a home could help save the planet and a family in need?
We tear down 600 beautiful homes every year… That seems incredibly wasteful. Not just from a materials perspective. From a human one.” — Glyn Lewis
On this episode of Chatter That Matters, I sit down with Glyn Lewis, a man who’s not just talking about sustainability—he’s building it, one rescued home at a time. As founder of Renewal Development, Glyn turns wrecking balls into hope machines. Instead of demolishing homes, he relocates them—beautiful, character-filled properties—into communities that need housing now. It’s a story of purpose and possibility. Of disruption, not destruction.
And joining us is Leah Robinson, VP of Home Equity Financing at RBC, with a sharp lens on how Canada’s largest bank is reimagining the idea of home—through multigenerational financing, innovative lending models, and support for sustainable living.
Glyn Lewis, a dreamer and doer who sees our world and ask, “What if we did it differently?”
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What if Canada could become a global food superpower—from farm to fork, from field to plate? In this live-recorded episode taped at Farm Credit Canada's Future of Food Conference, I sat down with two titens transforming Canada's agricultural landscape: Curt Vossen, the visionary CEO of Richardson International, and Kristjan Hebert, a farmer who manages his tens of thousands of acress of land with intelligence, passion, and pursuit.
Together, they tackle the future of food—from battling inefficiencies in our supply chains to seizing untapped global markets. They speak with brutal honesty about what’s holding Canada back: our mindset, our infrastructure, and our humility. Their solution? A call to action that blends bold vision with incremental, achievable steps.
In the final segment, Lisa Ashton of RBC Thought Leadership shares powerful insights into Canada’s strengths, risks, and unrealized potential in agriculture, backed by data, policy, and her personal story, which began on a farm.
My take: Canada does not need to be reliant on one trading partner, we have what it takes to create an economy powered by purposeful jobs and those who both dream and do. Let's all work together to make Canada a Food Superpower.
To find out more about Farm Credit Canada: https://www.fcc-fac.ca
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Have you ever stood in a place that felt like more than just a location? Where the air carried stories, the land echoed memory, and you walked away with more than a photo, or even a memory that will last a lifetime, you walked away different?
Two weeks ago on Chatter that Matters I interviewed Ben Cowan-Dewar who built Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs on Cape Breton Island. Two golf courses that have captured the attention of golfers all over the world and brought energy and vitallity to one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Last week, my guest was Zita Cobb, who was a force of human nature who created Fogo Island Inn, as a model for creating an economic renaissance, a true circular economy that can be replicated across Canada.
In today’s special three-minute episode of Chatter that Matters: Mini Matters, I’m breaking format to talk about tourism, and its power to transform Canada’s economy and identity.
Tourism isn’t just travel. It’s a passport to enlightenment. A conversation with nature, and with our nature. And Canada? Canada is a sleeping superpower.
Three coastlines. Ancient forests. Cities pulsing with culture. Indigenous wisdom, world-class cuisine, and experiences that can reset your soul.
Tourism can be the spark that rekindles our economy, from the land up. But only if we rethink it. Only if we stop seeing it as sightseeing and start building it as life-changing.
Take a few minutes. Lend me your ears—and maybe, your imagination. Let’s talk about what it means to bring the world to Canada.
Afterwards, I encourage you to listen to both of these shows if you are in the expeience, hospitality or tourism space, or love those who dream and do.
If you want to hear my interview with Ben Cowan-Dewar - Build it and they Will Come, click here: https://chatterthatmatters.libsyn.com/ben-cowan-dewar-build-it-and-the-world-will-come
If you want to hear Zita Cobb's amazing story - https://chatterthatmatters.libsyn.com/zita-cobb-the-miracle-of-fogo-island
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Zita Cobb’s story isn’t just worth hearing—it’s worth hugging. In this episode of Chatter That Matters, you’ll meet a woman who helped to transform Fogo Island, one of the most remote and rugged places in Canada, into a beacon that attracts the world. Zita's perspective on hospitality, community, and the miracles of reimagining a place will change how you view tourism, shifting from merely visiting to truly experiencing Mother Nature and Human Nature.
Zita speaks with wisdom carved from the rocks of a small fishing village in Newfoundland and Labrador, where everything her family knew was taken away, forcing them to leave. Many years later, Zita returns to collaborate with the community to create Fogo Island Inn and within it a vibrant circular economy.
I then close the show by sharing my thoughts on why the world needs more Canada and how Canada must build a stronger tourism sector.
Thank you to RBC for making Chatter That Matters, and our weekly show about positivity and possibility, possible.
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"Tourism advances our Cabot brand and provides people and communities with an incredible opportunity to escape inequality.” – Ben Cowan-Dewar.
Welcome to Chatter That Matters, where we share inspiring stories of human journeys, extraordinary dreams, and transformative ideas. The timing couldn't be more perfect for this episode—today marks the beginning of The Masters, one of the most celebrated sporting events of the year. It's also a pivotal moment as we explore ways to create a more self-reliant economy that attracts foreign investment, generates employment, and brings positivity and opportunity to our communities.
I sit down with Ben Cowan-Dewar, the visionary entrepreneur behind the acclaimed Cabot golf courses. Ben shares his remarkable journey, from childhood golf dreams to building internationally renowned golf destinations that uplift local economies and communities.
Listen as Ben discusses passion, perseverance, and purpose, revealing how tourism can drive transformative economic growth and impact communities. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or involved in tourism, hospitality, or local communities, this episode will illustrate why tourism and the experience economy must evolve beyond just being a place to visit and into a place to be.
Chris Ronald, the President of RBC in the Atlantic Region, joins the show to discuss what they are doing to help clients thrive and communities prosper, and why this region offers so much for those who visit, live and build their future.
To learn more about RBC Community Junior Golf: https://www.golfcanada.ca/rbc-community-junior-golf/
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I am breaking format to share my conversation with Ben Mulroney this morning on his national radio show on the Corus network. I offer six transformative ideas for Canada on how we can thrive in the next decade.
Forget the partisan debates and dive deep into bold ideas that transcend politics and policy.
Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:
1)Unlocking Canada's Tourism Potential: From a place to visit to the place to be.
2)Old and New": Powering the Future with Resources and Innovation: Can Canada responsibly harness its natural resources while simultaneously building a cutting-edge, intellectual economy? Here is how.
3)The Untapped Power of Canadian Content: Let's export it to the world. There is even an idea that CBC should be less dependent on the government in power to survive and thrive.
4)The Long Game on Health: AI as the Future of Care: Imagine a healthcare system revolutionized by AI!
5)Reimagining Education for a Competitive Future: Ideas not ideology. It's time to focus on the most essential skills: collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.
6)Rewarding the Dreamers and Doers: My idea for making Canada the Entrepreneurial Epicenter of the world.
This isn't just talk; it's chatter that matters. An aggressively optimistic roadmap for a brighter Canadian future, one where our destiny is a matter of choice, not chance.
Share your thoughts, and if you have time rate and review my podcast.
Tony
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“We’re not in the hospitality business. I create experiences. I create moments. I create memories.” – Marcel Bregstein
What does turning a dining room into a stage and service into soul-stirring theatre take? In this week’s 'Taped Live' - Chatter That Matters, I sit down, glass in hand and mic on—with Marcel Bregstein: sommelier, showman, and the heart behind The Toronto Hunt, one of Canada’s most extraordinary clubs. His story is a cinematic sweep—from privilege in Costa Rica, to hardship in Canada, to cruise ships, heartbreak, fine wine, and a calling. Marcel doesn’t just serve food or wine. He serves memory. Meaning. Magic. And along the way, he reminds us that what truly matters is how you make people feel.
Listen to this episode to discover how a busboy turned maître d’ became a knighted sommelier, how a bottle of ’47 Lafite taught more than taste, and how great service is never about the table—but the story you take home from it.
And as a bonus? Special appearances were made by three Canadian icons—wine entrepreneur extraordinaire Elayne Bassett, one of Canada’s most celebrated musicians, John Lennard, and celebrated chef Jamie Kennedy, who shared their reflections on what makes Marcel a character of immense character.
This is a great listen for anyone who loves a good rags-to-riches-to-emotional riches story and those who want to matter more by creating experiences that linger long after the lights go out.
Many years ago, Marcel was a newcomer to Canada. To learn more about RBC and how they support those who come here to chase the Canadian dream. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/new-to-canada/newcomers/
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“I just have an idea. I’m motivated. I figure out how to do it, and away I go.”
I usually avoid experts who offer lifestyle advice since so many podcasts already cover that territory. However, I was at a loss for words when I learned more about Gina Livy's unique journey.
Gina’s story isn’t about lost pounds but about purpose reclaimed. From a university experience that saw her gain 100 pounds and a new perspective to becoming a fierce entrepreneur who leads with instinct, Gina didn’t just overcome the odds—she rewrote them.
What makes this conversation matter is what Gina stands for. She’s built a massive community not through perfection, but presence. She shows up—through grief, doubt, and real life—and gives others the courage to do the same. If you’ve ever questioned your path, purpose, or whether you belong in the room, or the dent you want to make in the universe, Gina’s story reminds you that the answer isn’t out there. It’s already in you.
To learn about the Livy Method: https://www.ginalivy.com/
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What if the challenges life throws at you aren’t roadblocks but stepping stones to something greater?
Born almost blind, Jennie Coleman never saw the world like others until a miraculous surgery at 13 changed everything. But that was just the beginning. She built a trailblazing career at Bombardier, specializing in corporate strategy and travelling between Montreal, Zurich, Berlin, and Beijing. Then, life threw her another challenge: her daughter Laura, born with an ultra-rare genetic mutation, forever needed care. Jennie could have retreated, but instead, she redefined success.
Jennie left the corporate world, took a leap of faith, and bought a business she knew nothing about—Equifruit, a Fairtrade banana company. And with the same resilience that carried her through every chapter of her life, she turned it into a force for good, fighting for fair wages, sustainability, and ethical trade.
Jennie's journey—from corporate warrior to purpose-driven entrepreneur—earned her the title of RBC Momentum Award Winner. The Harvard Business School has published a case on her accomplishments, and Jennie has been named Canada's Most Admired CEO by Waterson Human Capital.
But her story isn’t just about business. It’s about family, and humanity, and someone who sees beyond profit to a higher purpose.
To learn more about Equifruit, https://equifruit.com/en/
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I encourage everyone to listen to this interview. Why? It's about your longevity. Yes, adding years to your life—and more importantly bringing life to your years.
It’s about taking control of your health instead of leaving it to chance. I know this firsthand. After undergoing extensive advanced medical testing, I feel empowered. I now understand the changes I must make to enhance my longevity while living my best life.
My guest is a visionary cardiologist and entrepreneur, Dr. Anmol Kapoor, founder of BioAro Inc., a Calgary-based firm transforming health care worldwide. Dr. Kapoor believes the key to fixing Canada’s fragile health care system is shifting from a Disease-Care System, where resources focus on detecting and treating illness, to a Preventative Care System that identifies potential diseases before they even start.
Through cutting-edge AI, genomics, and precision health care, BioAro is pioneering methods to detect mental and physical diseases before they manifest, align the right medications with your DNA, and put your health back in your hands.
BioAro’s technology is gaining global traction—but will Canada embrace it? If so, we could revolutionize health care, turning it into a system of choice, not chance, while saving taxpayers billions.
I’m also joined by Mike Scott from RBC Wealth, who will share how RBC is taking bold steps to help clients protect and grow their wealth and health.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone eager to understand the future of health care and the actions they can take today to ensure a healthier tomorrow. Stay tuned until the end, when Dr. Kapoor shares his thoughts on how you can add years to your life by becoming the CEO of your health.
Don’t miss it—your future self will thank you.
To find out more about BioAro: Precision Health: http://bioaro.com
To find out more about RBC Wealth Management: https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-ca/
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For my International Women’s Day episode, I chose Marion Thénault—a Canadian who flies like an eagle on the global stage.
After realizing that gymnastics wouldn’t take her to the Olympics, Marion felt lost. On a promise to her Mom, she went to RBC Training Ground, where her trampoline skills caught the attention of a scout. She was asked if she had ever tried those flips on skis. As it turned out, she had only been on skis a handful of times.
Marion leaped into Freestyle Aerial Skiing, and in short order became a World Cup champion and Olympic Medallist. Her biggest accomplishment is something only a handful of female athletes have done— executing three backflips with multiple twists while reaching heights of over 12 meters (40 feet) in the air.
A serious injury when trying that jump nearly ended her career, but Marion found the courage and determination to return. In a stunning comeback, she landed the same triple that had caused her crash, proving her resilience and grit.
Jacquie Ryan, the CEO of the Canadian Olympic Foundation and another Canadian woman of international stature, joins the show to talk about Marion's accomplishments and how RBC Training Ground is helping Canada’s next generation of Olympians soar like eagles.
To learn more about Marion, https://freestylecanada.ski/team/marion-thenault/
To learn more about RBC Training Ground, https://rbctrainingground.ca
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We all judge books by their covers—but what happens when the cover tells one story, and the pages inside reveal another? This week on Chatter That Matters, I sit down with Mike Power, a testament to resilience. Mike appeared to have it all together: a top strategist, a two-time Boston Marathon runner, and a sharp conversationalist with wicked humour. But beneath that polished exterior was a battle with addiction, a journey to rock bottom, and a burning desire for reinvention. Mike shares his deeply personal story of losing control to alcohol and drugs, facing a devastating cancer diagnosis, and rebuilding trust with those who had lost faith in him. This is a raw, honest conversation about struggle, survival, and transformation.
But Mike’s story isn’t just about overcoming darkness—but unlocking potential. Now, with his book Flow, he’s guiding others to find their path to possibility, using a mix of deep reflection, mindset shifts, and practical steps to turn dreams into reality. We dive into his philosophy on manifesting a life you truly want, the energy state that allows us to break free from limitations, and why so many of us are more powerful than we realize. Whether facing obstacles or simply looking to improve your circumstances, this episode will enlighten you and challenge you to rethink what’s possible. Don’t miss it!
To learn more about Mike Power, his book and the workshop. https://www.flow-manifest.com/mikepowerflow
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A split second is all it took to change Dr. Matthew Galati’s life forever. A promising second-year medical student with a passion for soccer, music, and a strong social network, Matthew had everything going for him—until a freak encounter with black ice led to a horrific car accident and a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Rushed to the hospital and placed on life support, he spent three days in a coma, emerging into a world where his ability to think, speak, and move had been shattered.]Doctors warned his family that recovery was unlikely and that returning to medical school appeared impossible.
Yet Matthew refused to accept this fate. What he learned about his brain can impact yours as you age.
Matthew's story is one of resilience and determination. He defied medical odds and rewired his brain through neuroplasticity. With support from an innovative research study, a structured rehabilitation plan, and a dedicated mindset, he restored his cognitive abilities, returned to medical school, and became a licensed physician.
As the founder of the Brain Changes Initiative, Dr. Matthew Galati works to transform the standard of care for TBI survivors and educate everyone about the brain’s capacity to heal itself.
Key Takeaway: Your brain is not fixed. Neuroplasticity allows for healing, growth, and transformation, even in adversity.
In addition, Tony Maiorino from RBC Wealth joins the show to share his personal story about his mother's dementia and what his organization is doing to connect the dots between wealth and health.
Visit BrainChanges.org to learn more about Matthew’s initiative and their upcoming Brain Changes Summit. https://www.brainchanges.org
Visit RBC Wealth to learn more about their investment in helping us age well: https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-ca/campaign/aging-well
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Many of us carry dark memories—moments so painful and profound that we tuck them away in the deepest corners of our minds. We convince ourselves they’re forgotten, but are they? What if you possessed the key to unlock them?
Would you shine a light to illuminate your past, hoping that by doing so, you might finally understand who you are, why your life unfolded the way it did, and what you can change? Or would you keep them hidden in the shadows?
This week, I’m pleased to welcome Melissa Osorio, author of Hidden Memories, to Chatter that Matters. Hidden Memories is a powerful story about overcoming one's past to conquer one's future.
As a young girl, Melissa lost her older brother to cancer. At 16, her father was murdered. She left Venezuela for the United States but never escaped her pain until she made a life-altering decision to confront her past and face the memories she had long suppressed and how she found light amid darkness.
Georgia Balinsky from RBC joins me to discuss the power of ideas—and how RBC’s latest campaign inspires people to bring their ideas to life.
To purchase Melissa's Book, Hidden Memories: https://www.amazon.ca/Hidden-Memories-Discover-Whats-Blocking-ebook/dp/B0CLK1B4PS
To watch RBC's Ideas Happen Here Campaign:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cxmd0w9Y1xY&feature=youtu.be -
Imagine stepping into a world where your very existence is questioned—where just being yourself is a battle. Now imagine finding the strength, the voice, and the courage to not only survive but to stand up, speak out, and inspire a generation.
This week on Chatter that Matters, my guest is George M. Johnson. We dive into the remarkable journey of an award-winning author, journalist, and activist who turned childhood trauma into a global conversation. All Boys Aren’t Blue isn’t just a book—it’s a lifeline, a revolution, and a powerful act of defiance against those who seek to erase stories like George’s.
As we walk in George's shoes we will learn:
What It’s Like to Feel Like an Outsider – From childhood bullying to violent attacks, George opens up about the pain of growing up Black and Queer in a world that wasn’t always kind.
The Strength of Family & Finding a Place to Belong – A grandmother’s wisdom, a younger brother’s unwavering love, and the importance of having people who simply sees you for who you are.
The Power of Writing to Heal & Inspire – How storytelling became George’s weapon against ignorance and a beacon of hope for others who feel unseen.
Fighting Book Bans & Changing the Narrative – Why All Boys Aren’t Blue is one of the most banned books in America—and why that only fuels George’s mission to ensure that queer Black voices are heard, celebrated, and never erased.
Strength in Numbers & The Future of the Fight – From books to film, podcasts to activism, George isn’t stopping. This isn’t just about personal triumph; it’s about creating a world where no child feels alone in their identity.
George M. Johnson is living proof that when you embrace who you are, the world takes notice.
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This is a special four-minute edition of Chatter That Matters. Canada's economy and sovereignty are under threat—not from weapons but from tariffs. This isn’t the moment for political grandstanding, showboating, posturing, or scoring points.
It's time for extraordinary.
RBC sponsors my podcast, and this weekend, I had the honour of reading a note from their President and CEO, David McKay, that was sent to all of their employees.
RBC didn't ask me to do this, and they are not compensating me.
I am reading his letter to you, hoping you will listen to his words, and intent.
This is the kind of leadership our country requires.
Positivity, possibility and making Canada's destiny a matter of choice, not chance.
Please listen to it and share it. David McKay's remarks and others of similar tone deserve a much broader audience, spanning our private and public sectors without geographic or partisan boundaries or biases.
Canada. It's time for extraordinary.
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