Chatter that Matters

This is a true-life Ted Lasso story, taped in front of a live audience at the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers Conference. I love every word of what Jay DeMerit has to say about life, sports, ego, and leadership.

Jay's journey extends beyond athletic supremacy to becoming a role model for youth, an entrepreneur, and a sought-after keynote speaker. Jay DeMerit shares his journey from being overlooked in the MLS Draft to making his way to England and then playing his way to Premier League stardom. 

Jay also earned a place on America's World Cup Team, playing every minute in the South African World Cup and becoming the Vancouver Whitecaps' Captain.

Jay emphasized the significance of perseverance and self-actualization. Discover how DeMerit's unique approach to leadership and focus on holistic development helped shape his career and inspire future generations. Gain insights into the pressures of youth sports and the importance of dreaming big while taking small steps.

I close the show talking to Sam Effah, one of the fastest Canadian Sprinters ever, and who today is one of the stewards of RBC's Training Ground, on what it takes to dream and do.

To learn  about Jay DeMerit's entrepreneurial venture: RiseXShine https://www.risexshine.com

To book Jay as a speaker:  https://speakerscanada.com

To learn more about RBC Training Ground: https://www.rbctrainingground.ca

Frank Palmer is a character of immense character. Frank is a true icon, creative genius, thought leader, visionary and entrepreneur.  Frank is being featured as part of The Legends Journey, Lessons in Leadership series. A collaboration between Chatter that Matters and the American Marketing Association's Toronto Chapter. In this series, we interview inductees from Canada's Marketing Hall of Legends. To date, I have chatted with Arlene Dickinson, Joe Mimran, Angus Reid, Miles Nadal, Jeanne Beker and, coming soon, Malcolm Gladwell.

In this episode, Frank Palmer shares invaluable insights from his 50-year career. From practical jokes to profound business and brand strategies, Frank's stories encapsulate the essence of a life rich with creativity, daring and extraordinary entrepreneurial prowess.

Frank talks about personal integrity in business, the art of maintaining top talent, and the evolution of advertising in the face of emerging technologies like AI. Wherever you are in your career, this episode is a treasure trove of wisdom and frankness on surviving and thriving in our fast-paced world.

00:00 - Introduction to Frank Palmer 05:20 - Lessons from business and maintaining integrity 15:45 - Strategies for retaining top talent 25:30 - The role of humour: Pranks and workplace culture 35:10 - Overcoming industry challenges and client relationships 45:50 - The impact of COVID-19 on the advertising world 55:15 - Frank Palmer's views on AI in creativity 1:05:00 - Reflections on mentorship and the future of advertising 1:15:00 - Closing thoughts and Frank's offer to chat again

Sometimes, the most gripping tales are not those of fiction. They're not from a bookshelf or a TV screen. They're real-life stories that unfold around us. Stories that remind us of the power of the human spirit. Today on Chatter That Matters, we share the indomitable spirit of Stacey Curtis, who survived a plane crash, cancer that roared through her body and where she was given only a few years to live. 

I wish I could bottle Stacey's outlook on life and her positivity.  Here are two quotes from the show.

The first was about the plane crash and what it was like to be one of the survivors, alongside her partner Marissa and her dog Emma.

 "In that moment, everything changed, yet we found the strength we never knew we had,"

The second quote after discussing losing her brother and dealing with horrific cancer.

"Despite everything, I've found reasons to laugh and live fully every single day," 

To add important context to why some refuse to surrender, I invited Amy Deacon, the founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, to return to the show.  I also ask her about those who have near death experiences, change their approach, even appreciation for life.

Did you ever dream of building something with your best friend?  Discover the inspiring story of April Brown and Sarah Sklash, who quit their jobs and purchased a roadside motel in Prince Edward County.  

With hard work, dedication, and little experience, they transformed the dingy motel into a beautiful space reflecting life's sunshine and simple pleasures. Their entrepreneurial adventures caught the attention of Netflix, which produced Motel Makeover, a show about their next motel venture in Sauble Beach.

Today, The June Motel boasts three locations, including their latest project, the June in Beaver Valley, a cosy 8 room outpost, nestled in nature. This story is about following your heart and taking risks, believing in yourself and your vision, and on your terms. Join us as we learn how "The June" came to be, the inspiration behind its iconic pink doors, and why chasing dreams matters.  

I am thrilled to introduce a new sponsor for Chatter that Matters. Mark Rolnick, EVP, Head of GreenShield Administration, then joins the show to talk about why small businesses matter and why they have launched GreenShield for Small Business to help small business owners promote employee well-being. A flexible benefit solution makes it easier to attract top talent so that small business owners spend more time doing what they do best - building a healthy business.

To book a stay at the June Motel. https://thejunemotel.com

To find out more about GreenShield for Small Business. Greenshield.ca/chatterthatmatters

Today, I welcome Jeanne Beker, a global icon and an inductee into the Marketing Hall of Legends. Jeanne is also a dear friend and a trailblazer who has found success as a world-renowned fashion journalist, entrepreneur, author, keynote speaker, and, above all, a wonderful mom.

At age 72, Jeanne continues to fashion her destiny with passion, creativity and talent. In this candid 'chat to me about anything' session, Jeanne shares many beautiful stories, life lessons we can all benefit from, and how, instead of burying the news she had breast cancer, she used her platform to raise awareness and to help raise much-needed funds to tackle the disease.

Here is to the one and only Jeanne Beker.

To pre-order Jeanne's new book, Heart on My Sleeve. https://www.jeannebeker.com

The Leader's Journey: Lessons in Leadership is a collaboration between Chatter that Matters and the American Marketing Association Toronto Chapter. I interviewed legends who had been inducted into the Marketing Hall of Legends. A big shout out to Miles Nadal for making all this possible.

To find out more about the Marketing Hall of Legends, https://ama-toronto.com/awards/legends-journey/

This will define our country in the future: dreamers and doers who are taking on our most significant problems and then exporting their ideas and technology around the world. For my Earths Day Show, I chatted with Phil De Luna.  At age 32, he is among the most brilliant people I have ever interviewed. Phil has a great personality, radiates passion, and has a powerful connection to the human race. Phil makes me feel optimistic about science's role in battling climate change.   I know you will enjoy his story, which also reflects the tapestry of Canada. A family of newcomers who came to Canada to improve their circumstances and a son who honours their sacrifice by making a positive dent in one of humanity's biggest problems. Phil offers his five-step plan for saving our planet. He also discusses the carbon tax and offers ideas for better serving our planet and the Canadian economy. I also included an interview with John Stackhouse, SVP of RBC. John is a nationally bestselling author and one of Canada's leading voices on innovation and economic disruption. He talks about the RBC Climate Action Institute.

To learn more about Phil De Luna's company, Deep Sky: https://www.deepskyclimate.com

To learn more about the RBC Climate Action Institute:  https://www.rbc.com/climate-action-institute/index.html

'I’m not making records; I’m making history. Today, my man Tony and I made history with this interview." Maestro Fresh Wes.

Maestro Fresh We is credited as the "Godfather of Canadian Hip Hop, " his debut album, Symphony in Effect, was a certified platinum album. In 2023, Maestro Fresh Wes became the first hip-hop artist inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. His song Let Your Backbone Slide" is the first rap song inducted into the Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

What did Drake have to say about Maestro Fresh Wes and his influence on him and Canadian music?  What advice did Chuck D of Public Enemy offer?  You'll have to listen to find out.

‘Fresh’ is part of Wes Williams' stage name, and Fresh is how I would describe his perspective and attitude. This story has so many beats. You will take away so much from how Wes approaches life and career. I consider this essential listening for young people as they must diversify and stay relevant throughout their careers.

Stay tuned to the show's end when Mark Beckles, the Vice President of Social Impact and Innovation, returns to Chatter that Matters to discuss First Up by RBC X Music and RBC Future Launch. This is a testament to the role organizations can play in helping Canadian youth find and pursue their path in life.

To connect with Maestro Fresh Wes: http://maestrofreshwes.net

First Up with RBCX Music: https://www.rbc.com/dms/enterprise/music/first-up.html

RBC Future Launch: https://www.rbc.com/en/future-launch/

On my watch, we went from slides to video, from film to digital, a handful of channels to thousands, tens of millions of websites, analog to wireless, and a stolen milk carton container for our albums to three million songs in my pocket.The most critical change was that humans went from being captive consumers of content to nomadic, with an appetite to create, validate, and yield power.

And tomorrow, on my watch - AI. I am working with three different programs and am mesmerized by how they can expand my creative capacity.

These three lessons guided me through so much change, and each time made me a better marketer, successful at winning business, gave me the confidence to take risks as an entrepreneur, and, I hope, a better leader and person.

These lessons are universal and easy to learn and apply. They will allow you to harness AI to your advantage versus being crushed in the coming wake.

If you have six minutes, you can hear them here.

If you like them, share them with others. They will make us a better human race by focusing on what matters most to the people who matter most to you.

Pura Vida

"I moved 17 times in my first 18 years, faced abuse and adversity, but it fueled my drive to prove others wrong and achieve success against all odds."

Shane Howard is an extraordinary storyteller who shares his inspirational and transformative journey, overcoming a tumultuous upbringing to becoming a mentor and global connector. Shane is a testament to the resilience and drive that can emerge from the "School of Hard Knocks." 

Shane's insights offer hope and inspiration to those grappling with their place in this world, or choosing not to toe societies perceived perfect line.

To find out more about RBC’s Future Launch:  https://www.rbc.com/en/future-launch/

Healing is Believing. I have been sharing inspiring human journeys for four years, but none like Tracy L Clark. For most of her life, Tracy has dealt with trauma. Debilitating illnesses, several near-death experiences, being kidnapped at gunpoint, an abusive relationship and then being a single mom caring for her children when illness once again threatened her life. Listen to the first few minutes of the episode; it is riveting. Tracy reads from her book, God, Where Are You, It's Me. After hearing what she has to say about the life she had to endure, you will understand the title. What flows from there is a stream of positivity and possibility that will light up your day, even your path in life.  Like a phoenix rising from its ashes, Tracy transformed her life, fighting against medical diagnoses and insurance companies refusing treatment. Tracy chose not to heal but to survive and thrive. This choice shaped Tracy's character today—resilient, strong, and fiercely determined. From her trauma came transformation, transcendence, and, with every heartbeat, an opportunity for her to reclaim her health and her rebirth as an entrepreneur and now a healer.

Tracy has been featured on ABC, FOX, NBC, and CBS. Her work is so profound and efficacious that the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) crowned her the Top Energy Healer of the Year in 2024.

Shelagh McGrogan, the Director of Content for RBC, first offers her thoughts on Tracy's journey and then answers my question about the difference between branding a person, versus a product or service.

To connect with Tracy: https://www.tracylclark.com/

I occasionally break the format and post a Chatter That Matters podcast on a Monday about something important to all of us. The goal is to challenge the status quo with innovative ideas to improve our lives and livelihoods.  In today's episode, I want to discuss the growing unaffordability crisis and the problems that manifest when individuals and many others do not have enough. They cannot afford necessities—food, shelter, and transportation. If this continues, it will undermine much of what we know and value in society.  Our elected officials must prioritize affordability, but there are vastly opposing views on how to do so.  In this four-minute podcast, I'll share my thoughts on the issue, ask you four essential questions to consider, and then offer my recommendation.  If you agree, could you share so that our whispers can become a roar?

Are you ready to work smarter and shorter? Newcomers Grace Tallon and Joe O'Connor, co-founders of Work Time Reduction, join Tony Chapman to discuss the transformative idea of a four-day workweek and their beliefs about why it is good for individuals, families, corporations, and society.

We also learn more about Joe and Grace's back story, which takes us back to Ireland and how each became an advocate for positive change.

Tony closes the show by sharing his thoughts on why and how Immigration matters.

To connect with Joe and Grace at Work Time Reduction: https://worktimereduction.com

To learn more about the New Comer Advantage:

 https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/dms/enterprise/newcomers/offers.html

Women 4 Work Time Reduction supports women in navigating the journey to shorter work weeks and championing reduced work time without compromising their professional and personal goals. Join our free information webinar on March 27th to learn about our mission and how you can get involved.

I am hosting a series titled The Legends Journey, featuring interviews with individuals inducted into Canada's Marketing Hall of Legends. In this episode, I chat with Miles Nadal. I have known Miles for over twenty years, and he has always dared to dream and do so with extraordinary entrepreneurial capability, charisma, and conviction. 

Miles's journey began with a camera at summer camp, and from there, he built several extraordinary businesses with no signs of slowing down.

What I admire most about Miles extends beyond his entrepreneurial prowess to his curiosity and kindness.

Miles Nada's journey is an incredible 'rags to riches' story marked by many words of inspiration and wisdom.

To connect with The American Marketing Association - Toronto Chapter: https://ama-toronto.com

My International Women's Day Special begins with honouring my Mother before introducing my guest, Alana Stott. I ask Alana to read the opening pages from her gripping memoir, She Who Dares. Her book begins when she answers the phone. Her husband, Dean Stott, a former Special Operations soldier, is on the other line, somewhere in the Middle East, in the middle of a civil war.  

"The gunfire was getting louder and louder. I heard the phone drop to the ground as loud bangs pierced my ears. The sound penetrated my ears so much that I had to pull it away to stop my eardrums from exploding. These bangs were coming directly beside the phone. Is he being fired upon, or is Dean the one firing?

Another loud bang came as I sat on the kitchen floor, this time much closer to me. The kitchen door flew open, and my 3-year-old said, " Mommy, I'm hungry."

One moment in the life of an extraordinary woman who makes it count. Alana overcame a tragic childhood to become an acclaimed entrepreneur, speaker, fundraiser, philanthropist, and author. King Charles awarded Alana an MBE, a Member of the Most Excellent Order, for her work preventing human trafficking and slavery.

I close my International Women's Day show with an interview I did last year with Andrea C Barrack. I admire her journey and all she is doing to create a better world. A standing ovation to every woman on this planet and to my Mom in Heaven.

Pura Vida

To reach Alana Stott: https://alanastott.com/

To learn more about RBC's purpose framework: https://www.rbc.com/newsroom/article/?title=rbc-mobilizes-to-help-address-three-of-societys-biggest-challenges

Many guests have joined me to openly talk about their battles with their mental health, but not quite like my guest this week, Nancy Xia.

Nancy brings us to the raw realities of her journey – from battling childhood anxiety to grappling with clinical depression, culminating, at age eighteen, in her leap from her eighth-floor balcony as her father watched helpless and in shock. Miraculously, Nancy survives but breaks her spine and loses the use of her legs.

The power comes from her descriptions of how she feels, experiences the world, what she thinks of herself, and her friends and family. I now understand how dark the world can get and why suicide becomes the light at the end of the tunnel.

Nancy defied fate and in doing so a new path was lit.  She listened to her healthcare experts, and found herself on a transformative healing path.  Twenty years after her suicide attempt Nancy is happy, describes her life as joyful, her religion is her compass and all have led her to what she believes is her true purpose.

To help those who suffer, and those who suffer along side them.

This emotional and heartwarming episode is a testament to the journey from darkness to light and a heartfelt tribute to our unsung healthcare heroes.

And then stay for Amy Deacon, the CEO of Toronto Wellness. I am sure there are people in your life who struggle with their mental wellbeing, Amy gives her reasons why, and why our younger generation is most at risk.

The first time B K Sethi came into my life was in 2023. B K wrote to me and said he loved listening to me on the radio and my podcasts. He then asked if we could have coffee. I had no idea I was meeting with one of our country's great entrepreneurs.  I took this picture, and you can see and feel it in his face and smile; B K is a beautiful soul.

B K joins me this week to share his inspiring story. From the streets of 1940s India, where, at age four, he sold lemons to help his family survive, to the ever-growing metropolis of Toronto, this is the sweeping story of B K Sethi's rise to success as Canada's international foods magnate.

The stories B K shares are priceless, the people he rubs shoulders with are the who's who of the grocery industry, and the lessons he imparts are worthy. Discuss them at the family table, with teachers in high schools, and in the many corridors of academia and business.

Immigration is in the news, so I closed the show with Amit Brahme,  Head, Newcomer & Cultural Client segment at RBC, to provide context. We talk about the crucial role immigrants like B K play in helping us create a new economy and build a better country if we give them a newcomer advantage.

To buy B K's book, Meet BK in the Ethnic Aisle: https://www.amazon.com/Meet-BK-Ethnic-Food-Aisle/dp/1738978214

To learn more about RBC's Newcomer Advantage program.

EN: http://www.rbc.com/newcomeradvantage

FR: http://www.rbc.com/privilegeplus

Woman in Philanthropy. It's Nonprofit Appreciation Week, and I wanted to honour WoodGreen Community Services. WoodGreen ensures that the UNMET needs of thousands of Canadians are MET every year.

In this special edition of Chatter That Matters, taped live at the Toronto Hun Club, I chatted with three remarkable women who are Philanthropy Trailblazers. I learned that Charity focuses on eliminating suffering. In contrast, Philanthropy focuses on eliminating the problem. I also learned that the world of Philanthropy is changing. There's more emphasis on causes like gender equality and sustainable development than before. A more diverse, representative range of voices is influencing decision-making. Women are among the key drivers.

Shraddha Kothari Walker talks about why Philanthropy isn't just about giving back. It's about connecting and building a community that uplifts everyone – a cycle of kindness that must be passed on to the next generation.

Beth Wilson, FCPA, FCA, ICD.D shatters the glass ceilings in Philanthropy by recognizing women's strength in driving impactful and bold change in our communities.

Leah den Bok shares authentic stories of those who experience homelessness to dismantle the stereotypes and ignite a collective responsibility to act.

It is also a fantastic show to share and discuss with our younger generation.

Every second Monday, I break the format by bringing out Chatters - a snackable podcast that is under five minutes in length. I share my insight on the status quo and ideas to bring about positive and substantive change. 

In this episode, I share a story at the grocery store that led me to my insight - smartphones and technology are making us less financially literate. I have no empirical evidence, but many people are losing their ability to do even simple math.

With a math deficiency, how can someone make critical financial decisions? How can you decipher if that 'too good to be true' offer is a good deal or one that manifests into long-term pain? How can you be an informed voter and understand the implications of what is being promised.

Let me know what you think of these Chatters and other topics we should explore to improve the status quo.

  FYI: If you are interested, here are four links to sites offering free value-added content on improving your financial well-being.

RBC My Money Matters -700 hundred articles, easy to navigate, and will take you from debt relief to investing and every step in between:  https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/

RBC Mydoh - I love this app, my brother-in-law swears by it.  It is a fantastic way for parents to teach their kids and teens about money, including how work for their allowance. https://www.mydoh.ca

McGill Personal Finance Essentials is a free, online personal finance course offered in English and French, four times per year. Taught by professors from McGill University’s Desautels Faculty of Management, the course is open to everyone!

https://www.mcgill.ca/desautels/programs/mcgill-personal-finance-essentials

And someone I have a ton of respect for is Kim Moody.  He has a newsletter that I read every week.   https://kimgcmoody.com/kim-g-c-moodys-musings-1-1-1-newsletter-for-august-23-2023/

Dr. Jean Marmoreo shares excerpts from her book The Last Doctor. Lessons in Living from the Front Lines of Medical Assistance in Dying 

Dr. Jean Marmoreo believes the best care a health professional can provide is to honour a patient's life and to end it on the patient's terms. For 45 years Dr. Jean Marmoreo was a family physician practising in downtown Toronto, and in 2016 became one of Canada’s first practitioners of MAiD, to provide Medical Assistance in Dying. 

Dr. Marmoreo shares powerful patient stories and her journey into caregiving and end-of-life decision-making. 

Leanne Kaufman, the President and CEO of RBC Royal Trust, returns to the show, and we have an important discussion on end-of-life financial matters.

Today's episode of Chatter That Matters is a live taping, which I have always loved because we can feed off the audience's energy. My guest is Cam Inglis, the founder of Marble Slab Creamery Canada. Cam is an inspiring entrepreneur who shares his journey from dreaming of playing in the NHL to real estate before choosing the path of an entrepreneur.

During the show, we'll cover the daily challenges of running a franchise business and the reality that everything you know turns upside down when a pandemic closes your doors or one of Canada's biggest restaurant chains overnight becomes a significant competitor. We also learn why communication and transparency matter, especially during tough times. 

To provide more context, we'll have two additional guests. The first is Amarjot Bhatthal, an incredible entrepreneur who owns five Marble Slab franchises with her mother. I look forward to sharing their whole story on the show one day. Our second guest is Graeme Green, Director of Franchise Markets at RBC, who will discuss the attributes of an exceptional franchisor and a great franchisee.

A great episode and a treasure trove of valuable insights and lessons await.

In my second 'snackable chatter' I look at how we can rewire Elections from Negative to Positive," I delve into the tumultuous landscape of modern elections, which often feel like a relentless hailstorm of negativity, eroding the fabric of our society and trust in democracy. 

In three minutes, I present a refreshingly simple yet actionable concept aimed at rewiring elections to prioritize positivity and shift the focus towards substantive policy discussions.

Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing.  It means the world to me.

I was so profoundly moved by Adam Robarts and his book 'Nineteen' that I had to have him on Chatter that Matters. Anyone who has had to deal with the loss of someone you love will also be moved and have their heart lifted as Adam shares his deeply personal and poignant love, loss, and spiritual journey.

Adam is a world-renowned architect, and his wife is an equally accomplished interior designer. They lived and raised their four children in China.

In December 2018, during a family vacation in Canada, Adam was asked what he would choose to be if he were not an architect. He replied without hesitation, “A hospice nurse.” Five years earlier, he had a profound experience accompanying his father through the final weeks of life before he died of cancer in Uganda. Adam could not have imagined then that nine months later, he would begin to accompany his nineteen-year-old son, Haydn, through a battle with a rare brain cancer.

 Haydn graduated from this physical world in May 2020, at age 19, one week before his twentieth birthday. Adam’s first book, Nineteen, shares the beautiful and poignant lessons learned on his family’s journey with Haydn.

This interview radiates universal lessons, insights from religion and science, and important perspectives.  Haydn was a remarkable young man whose dignified response to his suffering provided essential wisdom and hopeful possibilities for anyone dealing with matters of life and death.

Leanne Kaufman, CEO of RBC Royal Trust, returns to the show to provide meaningful context.

To purchase Adam's Book: https://www.amazon.com/Nineteen-Insights-Learned-19-year-old-Cancer/dp/168245200X

To learn more about Royal Trust - https://www.rbcwealthmanagement.com/en-ca/royal-trust

''You have dreams and goals, even a direction, but you must be active for the universe and magic to happen. It must find you, but it won't if you hide in the corner. You must be out there for your desired reality to unfold.' Jesse Jones

I love taping Chatter that Matters in front of an audience. In this episode, we are live at Sheridan College and its stunning Hazel McCallion Campus, with students, faculty members, alums, and industry professionals in attendance and DJ Andre dropping the beats.

My guest is Jesse Jones. Jesse is a change maker, creator, communicator, media personality and connector of worlds, brands and humanity. Jesse and I explore how individuals can overcome personal challenges and today's realities to chase their dreams and change their world, and even ours, for the better.

Jesse is electric and offers several actionable ideas to foster positive transformations in your personal and professional life. Jones highlights the importance of choice, passion, and pursuit. He stresses the need for introspection, increased self-analysis, and self-care in our fast-paced world. Attending to our needs is the essential recharge for our mental health, creativity, and innovation. 

We take questions from the audience, and I invite two more guests to contribute to this inspirational conversation. Dr. Cherie Werhun is Sheridan's Associate Vice Provost of Human Development and strategic lead for Sheridan's S-Sense Initiative. Dr. Werhun emphasizes the need for educators to focus on the whole student, fostering a holistic approach to student development that focuses on the human capacities of agility, resilience, and adaptability.

Jodi Wright, Senior Director, Youth & Young Adult Client Strategy, RBC, joins the show to discuss the role organizations must play to help youth pursue their passions.

I am thrilled with the ideas presented in this show.  They are inspiring and actionable. If you can, please share with every young adult and anyone feeling overpowered by their circumstances.

Apple:  https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/chatter-that-matters/id1478779098

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/39VeEJaL133GKpbkD07JoJ?si=d9a91723a4f14998

To find out more about

Jesse Jones. https://iamjessejones.com

Sheridan's S-Sense Initiative.

 https://www.sheridancollege.ca/admissions/why-sheridan/s-sense

RBC - My Money Matters. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/

RBC - Student Hub. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/student-solution/index.html

Patrick Asare went from abject poverty in a small village in Ghana to achieving international acclaim. In an inspiring interview, Patrick shared his remarkable story. He was born to illiterate parents, his father was a subsistence farmer, and his mother was a homemaker. Patrick was one of fourteen children living in a small mud house. Most children in his village didn't have the opportunity to continue their education beyond primary school, which perpetuated the cycle of poverty in the region.

However, Patrick had a gifted mind and with the support of his village, he earned a scholarship to a private school, although he never felt like he belonged there. Despite this, his academic achievements continued. He had the opportunity to study in the Soviet Union and the United States.

Patrick’s relentless determination to never give up showcases the transformative power of an unstoppable spirit. It emphasizes the importance of self-belief and internal acceptance in overcoming external challenges. His story is a must-listen for anyone struggling with adversity or feeling overwhelmed by impossibility.

Jodi Wright from RBC joined Chatter that Matters to discuss their work in helping youth pursue their dreams.

 Ten quotes that mattered:

 1. "I started my journey from here, scaling all the way to achieve my dreams." - 06:32

 2. "I was determined to make something out of nothing and reach my goals." - 12:45

 3. "I refused to let circumstances define me, and I fought against all odds." - 18:10

 4. "I never gave up, even when I felt out of place and faced countless obstacles." - 23:15

 5. "I chose to use every setback as a stepping stone towards my success." - 31:50

 6. "I believed in myself when no one else did, and that made all the difference." - 38:20

 7. "I stayed resilient in the face of doubt and criticism, and that's how I prevailed." - 44:05

 8. "I turned every 'no' into a 'not yet' and kept pushing forward." - 50:30

 9. "I never allowed the limitations of others to limit my potential." - 56:40

 10. "I embraced every challenge as an opportunity to prove my strength and determination." - 1:03:15

 To learn more about Patrick Asare, please visit https://patrickasareauthor.com.

 To learn more about My Money Matters: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/

On occasion I change the format of Chatter that Matters, to offer you my observations on the status quo.  There is no finger-pointing; there are only ideas to improve upon it.

In this episode I look at the state of Democracy, and offer you my thoughts on what matters most to you, and the many generations to follow.

Risa August is an Ironman Triathlete and an extraordinary cyclist known and highly respected for her love of pushing her physical limits. Risa is no stranger to intense challenges, having completed 500-mile bike tours and conquered mountains in the US and Nepal.

Then, Risa’s life comes to a crashing halt. Her body is collapsing, and for good reason. She is diagnosed with a rare pituitary disease, a brain tumour that has been left unchecked for a decade.

After undergoing life-threatening brain surgery and trying to live inside a body that can barely function, Risa chooses a different path. She reaches into her bucket list, and against all her doctors' advice; she trains and embarks on a 41-day, 3,000 km bike tour from Canada to Mexico along the Pacific Coast Highway.

While the old Risa could have effortlessly conquered such a ride, the new Risa found herself entangled in a body that felt unfamiliar and accompanied by an unwelcome companion, her brain tumour she named Bubba. Pedalling through rain, physical pain, and the haunting echoes of her memories, Risa confronts a challenge unlike any other.

Risa questions whether the woman she once was and knew would ever resurface or if this is the person she was destined to become.

An extraordinary story of recovery, resilience, renovation and reinvention to begin your New Year.

To reach Risa August:  https://www.risaaugust.com

I wanted to create an entertaining and enlightening show for my New Year's Special.  My guest is Todd Norian, a renowned yoga teacher, author, musician, and the founder of Ashaya Yoga. Todd is known for his teaching emphasis on the alignment of body, mind, and heart. Todd is the author of "Tantra Yoga: Journey to Unbreakable Wholeness, A Memoir." Additionally, he is a musician and has released albums, including "Bija." 

Todd is a masterful storyteller who shares his life journey. His passion was music until he found a profound sense of peace and self-acceptance through Yoga. This led him to live in a Yoga Ashram in Pennsylvania, then Stockbridge, MA, for 13 years.”

Twice in his life, the Gurus he was committed to chose to surrender their values for personal gain. Through facing the pain of those betrayals, Todd found a more profound inner wisdom – to transform betrayal from an impasse into a Rite of Passage. Ultimately, this is what motivated him to create Ashaya Yoga.

At 50:00, I conclude the show with my New Year's Message.

Thanks for being part of Chatter that Matters in 2023, and here's to 2024.

Some of Todd’s lessons that he offers:

The Power of Destiny: "You know, fate is what's given to us, but destiny is what you do with that."

— Todd Norian [00:19:27 → 00:19:31]

The Balance of Yoga: "Everything in life is for your awakening. And from that mentality, everything in life has a certain meaning that we give to it and that we are perfectly imperfect just as we are, which is this embrace of ourselves, you know, with acceptance."

— Todd Norian [00:25:01 → 00:25:18]

Shadow Hugging: "I call it shadow hugging. It's when you put someone else on a pedestal who embodies all the positive qualities you need to recognize in yourself. Still, due to my feeling of lack or shame or unworthiness, I project that onto other People who are used to."

— Todd Norian [00:35:53 → 00:36:11]

The Essence of Tantra: "The bottom line is I want myself, and I believe everyone wants this as well, is to come to a deep recognition of who we are, that we're here on this planet to rediscover, to remember, to have A revelation of why we're here, of what is this? What is this body? What is this mind? You know, who am I? I am the essence of a question."

— Todd Norian [00:40:00 → 00:40:31]

To learn more about Todd, to buy his books or music: https://www.ashayayoga.com

I wanted to tackle loneliness for my holiday special this year as not all of us are surrounded by family and friends. The World Health Organization has declared loneliness a global health threat — as bad for your health as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.  Loneliness is the most significant preventable risk factor for depression, addiction, and suicidality. It increases the chance of early death by 30%, more significant than the risk of obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive drinking.

Loneliness also increases the risk of heart disease, dementia, and diabetes.

My guest this week is Pete Bombaci. Pete aims to make the world happier and healthier by eradicating loneliness. Our show was taped in front of a live audience of Managers from the City of Barrie, the Town of Innisfil and the County of Simcoe.

Pete talked about the GenWell Project, Canada's Human Connection Movement. Pete shares why social connection is the most significant contributor to happiness, empathy, compassion, and resilience, yet our world is more disconnected than ever.

Pete offers simple ideas to make connections more intentional.

Amy Deacon, the Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, joins me to explain why our multi-screening and multi-tasking youth are so lonely and what we need to do to encourage face-to-face connections.

Moments that Matter.

00:00 Tony Chapman’s opening – a growing sense of impossibility

02:43 Introduce Pete Bombaci

04:37 Family life – a sister disabled, and the need to make time for others

05:48 Pete’s Dad dies and how that impacted his life.

08:49 Working at a bar offered two key insights.

11:32 The great blackout changed Pete forever.

14:40 Major career shift to not-for-profit raised $42M in 3 years.

17:42 Gen World Project: Canada's movement for human connection.

20:43 Research emphasizes the benefits of human connection.

23:25 Shift from reactive to proactive employee support.

26:32 Encouraging team and organization activities for growth.

31:08 Encouraging more in-person interactions for youth.

32:56 What can we do for our kids, our elderly parents, ourselves

35:35 Irony – Pete feels alone trying to create the GenWell Project

36:37 Global health expert outlines the dangers of Loneliness

37:32 Tony shares a story about a lone hiker

40:30 What Leaders can do - Authenticity and consistency are key

42:28 Loneliness and AI

44:20 Navigating post-pandemic challenges requires careful consideration.

45:32 My three takeaways          

47:20 Amy Deacon, Founder of Toronto Wellness Counselling, joins the show

48:00 Amy explains why loneliness is so prevalent in the younger generation

49:14 What parents can do to help their children

50:26 Why parents are also part of the problem

I had a profound and heart-wrenching conversation with renowned infectious disease specialist Steffanie Strathdee. Steffanie is Canadian-born and named by Time Magazine as one of the 50 most influential people in healthcare.  She has written a book titled The Perfect Predator.  A Scientists race to save her Husband from a Deadly Superbug.

Steffanie's story unfolds like a gripping thriller. On holiday in Egypt, with her husband Tom, a deadly Superbug hijacks his body and it has Superpowers. It steals genes from other bacteria and the environment to resist antibiotics. 

This Superbug isn't an anamoloy. 5 million people will die from these types of infections in 2024. By 2050, that number is predicted to be 10 million. Why? The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in medicine and animal husbandry.

Tom is airlifted to Germany, where the doctors aren't only perplexed, they are terrified as in the past this Superbog has shut down entire hospitals. They can do nothing, so Tom is Medevaced to the US.  Fighting for his life, his organs shutting down, Tom is running out of time. Steffanie is desperate.  She sees a psyche, hears about a century-old forgotten cure developed by a French Canadian but must enlist a dream team to try to save his life.

What they uncover might save millions of lives, including yours and mine.

To buy Steffanie and Tom's Book: The Perfect Predator. A Scientist's Race to Save Her Husband from a Deadly Superbug. https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Predator-Scientists-Husband-Superbug/dp/0316418080

Time Code:

00:00 I introduce Stephanie Strathdee, An influential Scientist in infectious diseases.

04:48 Super Bugs are a Global Issue - 5 million deaths

05:57 Why aren't antibiotics working the way they used to?  07:54 Global agencies urge action and lack accountability measures.

10:41 The Perfect Vacation turns on a dime - A Super Bug invades Tom's body 12:40 Epidemiologist in Germany shocked by a deadly antibiotic-resistant bacterium. 15:38 Germans send Tom to the United States; nothing they can do 18:02 Tom is dying; a squeeze from his hand changes everything

24:57 Phage could be the cure but against all odds 29:48 Phage preparation to remove toxic bacteria so treatment doesn't kill Tom 30:52 Steffanie must make a life-and-death decision 34:07 Tom treasures life and moments together; phage therapy is a last attempt.

36:18  Phage saved Tom; can it save you and me?

37:48 Was this a miracle? 39:51 Tony's Three Takeaways 41:51 Tony's holiday message to you

43:50 Tony's Holiday Message 

Join me to hear untold stories of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the birth of Canada. Acclaimed Author Stephen Bown shares excerpts from his new book Dominion, vividly describing the price paid to build the CPR and unite Canada. In this monumental saga, we learn about the ambitions, sacrifices, and the crimes against humanity that came with Canada’s most extraordinary infrastructure project. 

Stephen paints a vivid picture of an era of greed, corruption, destruction, discriminatory labour practices and hubris that almost bankrupted a nation and wiped out the Indigenous Population. Was it worth it? You be the judge.

I ended the show by sharing my thoughts on what Canada needs to do to write its next chapter.

Key Moments

00:00 My opening

03:39 Stephen Bown – Rails and Tales

09:28 Fear of American control led to the need for a Canadian railway

13:10 Allan was influential, wealthy, politically connected, and manipulative.

14:24 Railway through Canadian Shield and financing scandal.

18:43 John A McDonald loses election, Mackenzie and more corruption.

23:34 Railways had devastating effects on Indigenous people.

24:56 Buffalo provided essential resources; extinction led to famine.

28:03 Chinese workers faced exploitation

35:23 Widespread corruption in both public and private sectors.

39:08 Riel's rebellion secured funding for the railway.

41:17 My takeaways

44:21 Tony – What Canada needs to do to write its next chapter

To buy Stephen Brown's book Dominion.

Indigo: 

https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/dominion-the-railway-and-the-rise-of-canada/9780385698726.html 

Amazon: 

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0385698720?tag=prhca-20 

What does it take to be exceptional? Why haven't we closed the gap if diversity has proven to create a more robust and resilient culture and greater profitability? Does that mean others must stand down if you stand for diversity and inclusion?  How can you create or contribute to a culture of excellence if the people you count on work remotely?  How can an individual make a difference in a world with many headwinds?  What does having privilege mean, and why should it be surrendered for the benefit of others?  Where do I find trust and a sense of belonging?  I am a parent of young children. What education or career do they pursue when AI is stripping away the value and contribution of humans?

I have so many questions about the future of work.  I started looking for answers, and a name that came up several times was Dr. Georgette Zinaty. I am glad she agreed to join me on Chatter that Matters.  I didn’t hold back; she answered my questions with clarity and passion. 

Dr. Georgette Zinaty is a leadership and diversity expert, the author of the book ‘Why Not You’ and the founder of Women Helping Empower Women (WHEW!), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women leaders and promoting diversity.  She is also a TED speaker and Forbes contributor. 

This week, she started a new role as Chief of Staff at Myant, a disruptive company driving innovation in advanced material science, integrated systems, and advanced manufacturing to empower a future where humans, animals and the planet coexist harmoniously.

Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President and lead champion of Corporate Citizenship and ESG at RBC joins the show and we discuss the role that organizations can and must play to ensure everyone, regardless of ethnicity or gender has a seat at the table.  We also talk about some of the challenges facing society and what can be done through our collective efforts.

I hope you enjoy both these conversation as much as the learning I garnered from them.

To buy Georgette Zinaty's book Why Not You: 

www.whewwomen.com  100% of the proceeds go to support her non-profit Women Helping Empower Women

If you don't have time for the entire episode here are my favourite spots.

I don't have what it takes to lead – 01:00

Dr. Georgette Zinaty Intro 02:35

Dr. Georgette Zinaty Challenges Tony Chapman. 03:04

Tony asks Georgette – did I give my Niece the right advice?  06:38

Remote Working and Culture:  07:21

We learn about Georgette’s childhood. 10:11

Those kinds of skills don’t expire:  16:51

Importance of Mentorship 19:21

AI and the Importance of Community. 21:43

Does diversity mean your son has to stand down?  25:28

A big idea for all youth – Personal Advisory Board 28:15

What should I do with my privilege? 30:22

We talk about her book:  What about you? 32:35

Will AI replace you? 37:59

Gender Gap is widening, why?  47:47

Tony’s Three Takeaways 49:21

Andrea Barrack joins the show. 51:36.

Trust is falling in institutions. 53:00

What is our North Star   53:56

Hollowing out the middle class 55:00

What must be done to close the gap?  55:33

Government alone isn’t the solution. 57:00

"We, as a society, do not talk about childhood abuse, and worse, many children between the ages of 5 to 18 go through some abuse."

— Deenah Patel [00:33:41 → 00:33:52]

Note: We don't share any details of the abuse; what Deenah shares is her path back.

Deenah Patel has twice joined me on Chatter that Matters to offer advice to help small business owners. When the microphone was turned off, Deenah opened up about her story of being sexually abused as a child, decades of deeply buried trauma and how it surfaced later in her life as severe physical and mental health issues.

I asked Deenah if she wanted to share her story and journey to reclaiming her life and identity, and she said yes in the hope it would help others. Deenah tells anyone seeking her advice, “You are worth finding the way to be better.”

Deenah offers many powerful lessons in life for anyone struggling with their identity and self-worth. 

1)Everyone is going through something.

2)Permit yourself to care for yourself; don't bury it.

3)Express yourself because you are worth it, and you deserve to be the best 

4)Learn how to believe in yourself and believe in your beliefs.

5)You are in control of your future. 

Thank you, Deenah, for sharing; I will be the first of many who listen to your story to give you a virtual standing ovation.

Speaking of ovations, at the end of my show, Amy Deacon, the founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, joins the show to provide context on overcoming trauma. Amy never disappoints, and her advice is content for all and content that matters.

10 Moments That Matter

1. [00:16] - Introduction and overview of Deenah Patel's story and the topics discussed in the episode.

2. [03:42] - Deenah shares her belief that society does not talk enough about abuse, particularly childhood abuse.

3. [08:52] - Deenah discusses the therapeutic aspect of verbalizing and speaking about her experience.

4. [15:31] - Deenah talks about her fear of regression if she comes in contact with her abuser again but emphasizes her strength and growth since then.

5. [22:09] - Deenah shares her experience confronting her abuser through therapy and letter therapy, setting boundaries and asking to be left alone.

6. [28:17] - Deenah discusses the challenges of coming forward as an adult about childhood abuse, including shame, self-doubt, and fear of judgment.

7. [33:42] - Deenah talks about the need for society to be more punitive towards and address grotesque behavior from adults.

8. [39:05] - Deenah shares her personal journey of helping others overcome traumatic circumstances and the importance of not judging oneself.

9. [42:39] - Deenah discusses her adult-onset childhood sexual abuse, resulting in PTSD and a mental illness.

10. [49:13] - Deenah highlights the challenges of finding the right mental health care and emphasizes the importance of seeking help and finding a practitioner who understands one's needs.

We have a surprise twist in this week’s Chatter That Matters. Mark Ferrier steps in as guest host and interviews Tony Chapman on his journey.  Mark is a natural; the banter between them is like listening to two close friends, and you will uncover many parallels between their lives and I am guessing yours.

Tony shares a childhood where their family had to deal with emotional uncertainty and dire financial insecurities resulting from his father's failing mental health.

Tony promised himself that he would never put his family in a similar situation and that motivation propelled him into an entrepreneurial journey that has extended over decades.

Tony opens up about his successes and failures, the lessons he learned along the way, and how an unchecked ego cost people their jobs. Tony also expresses his gratitude for everyone who has helped him along the way with a special shout-out to RBC for investing in Chatter that Matters and sharing stories of positivity and possibility.

Tony closes the show talking about why Chatter that Matters, is his labour of love, and his passion for Canada and what must be done to reclaim our dream.

 Time Code:

02:02 Why family matters

03:09 Tony's journey, achievements, and lessons summarized.

06:37 Father's spending nearly bankrupts us, sparks change.

10:08 Grade 7 party, $20 payment, discovering radio.

14:35 Radio-inspired purpose: consumer insights, connecting, dreams.

16:48 Tony’s first agency - Communique

19:35 Help others is the best reward of all.

24:31 Letting people go is the worst failure of all.

28:36 More change and transformation

30:50 Innovative ideas presented, uncertainty about the future.

34:02 Mentor, moderate, lead, market, sell for attention.

36:57 Overcoming circumstances, changing lives, powerful lessons.

40:29 Tony talks about the Canadian Dream

42:20 Tony talks about Education

45:41 Mark shares the three takeaways

Unveiling a Heartfelt Journey: Love, Family, and Resilience in Military Life. This week, we honour Remembrance Day by shedding light on the selfless commitment and sacrifice of military spouses. My guest is Vicki Cody, author of here memoir “Army Wife: A Story of Love and Family in the Heart of the Army,” Vicki shares her experience as an army wife as well as a leader to many in her community.

Our story begins in the summer of 1969 when Vicki crosses paths with West Point cadet Dick Cody. What initially began as a schoolgirl crush blossomed into a profound love story, spanning almost fifty years of marriage. Vicki's steadfast support accompanies Dick throughout his remarkable career, from lieutenant to four-star general and Vice Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army. Her memoir “Army Wife” not only delves into the commitment between spouses but also paints a vivid picture of unwavering dedication to the military way of life. While raising their two sons, Vicki learns to navigate the daily challenges intertwined with the Army's unique demands, including emotional roller coasters, extended separations and frequent relocations. Over more than three decades in an Army family, Vicki embraces her distinct circumstances and discovers joy, self-fulfillment, and pride while steadfastly preserving her identity as a woman, a leader, a successful author and a mentor to many others.

This poignant tale of love, honour and commitment is a unique and fitting tribute to Remembrance Day and the often-untold story of all who support those who serve.

At the 34:21 mark I end the show with my thoughts about November 11 and why this day matters.

Visit Vicki Cody's site to learn more and to buy her books:  https://vickicody.com

00:01:01 Admiring thought leaders, overcoming challenges, and a powerful love story. 00:03:25 Appreciating in-depth look at military life. 00:06:47 Dick Cody loved flying helicopters; no turning back. 00:10:50 Opposites attract strict military life versus college parties. 00:17:56 Time to settle down, he was ready. 00:22:28 Resentment over the military's indifferent and precise actions. 00:25:01 Inspirational figure brings an emotional connection to military families. 00:26:44 Army spouse not interested in advocacy role. 00:31:42 Trust, leadership, individuality, and embracing circumstances. 00:34:21 Tony talks about November 11 and why it matters.

Hello everyone,

With so much negativity flooding our feeds and, with it a growing sense of impossibility manifesting into a mental health crisis, I encourage you to listen to this episode to uncover ways in which you can help. This isn't a show about committing suicide; it is about preventing it from happening. 

Some sobering facts: for every death by suicide, there are 20 attempts.  And with every attempt, on average, 135 people are impacted including family, friends, peers, neighbours etc.  

Please share. 

Tony

                                                   Steve Phillip. From Pain to Purpose

I was on LinkedIn one morning and came across a post by Steve Phillip. It was titled: 'I could have done more.' As a father, it moved me to tears. Steve talked about a phone call on December 4, 2019, that changed his life forever. He found out that his son Jordan, whom he had exchanged texts with the day before, had taken his own life. 

Jordan had a fantastic network of friends, was loved and admired by many, and was caring and fun, but he also struggled with his mental health. Jordan had been diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression in 2015. As Steve says, a lot was happening beneath the surface we didn’t see.

Faced with the choice of either sitting on a sofa with a bottle or creating something to prevent other families from having to experience the trauma of losing a loved one to suicide, Steve chose the latter.  He committed himself to doing whatever he could to have an impact in terms of reducing suicides so other families didn’t have to experience the same pain and grief.

Leaning into the skills Steve had developed in his corporate career – public speaking, leadership, change management – Steve established The Jordan Legacy to provide hope, even a path for people who are feeling suicidal. Their mission is to engage others to move towards a zero-suicide community, which he defines as one in which everyone is willing and able to do all they can to stop preventable suicides.

To find out more about the Jordan Legacy,  https://thejordanlegacy.com

To find out more about what RBC is doing to support mental well being with our youth: https://www.rbc.com/en/future-launch/browse-by-topic/mental-well-being/

Today's episode marks my 200th episode of Chatter that Matters.  My guest is the marvellous Myra Sable, who, in her eighties, continues to build her gourmet food company, Sable and Rosenfeld, while being a warrior for a better world. And stick around as I introduce her Grandson Julien Sable Alvarado later in the show. Julien is taking over the business.

Mark Twain once said that age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. Many over sixty would agree, but what about people younger? Do many view older people like they view products in the grocery store marked past due?

One of my goals this year is to counter ageism by sharing stories like this. Myra has been an entrepreneur for over fifty years; work is still her passion and pleasure. We go back to her early days, the many industry tycoons she had to win over, and the shelves she sought worldwide for her delicious condiments and products to today. There are several life lessons in how to dream, do and build. We also experience a different side of Myra - the matriarch of her family, a fearless feminist, and an advocate for a better Canada.

We then shift to a love story between Grandmother and Grandson when Julien joins the show. Hearing them talk to each other is magical, and you will walk away with remarkable insights into building powerful relationships across generations.

 Grab some Scottie tissues, as you might cry for joy.

Thank you, Myra and Julien, for making my 200th episode memorable.

I then bring on Prashant Patel from RBC's Wealth Management Group. I wanted to know what is involved in a family business when the goal is to pass the torch versus sell.

To learn more about Sable and Rosenfeld. https://sableandrosenfeld.com

To learn more about RBC's My Money Matters: https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/

In front of a live audience at the Convenience Industry Council of Canada's National Summit, I sat down with Jean-François Archambault. JF is a beautiful human being devoting his life to fighting food insecurity.  It is also a powerful love story between Mother and Son and how her ten-year unsuccessful battle with cancer took JF to a crossroads, offering two very different paths. The first was to take away his sadness and darkness by ending his life; the second was to do something with it.

Thankfully for millions of Canadians, JF chose to dream big and do bigger.  Too many Canadians live paycheck-to-paycheck and rely on food banks, social assistance and the generousity of friends and family to survive.  JF dreamed of feeding people versus landfills with the massive amount of food wasted in the hospitality sector.

JF's story is inspiring and remarkable. He leaves his successful career in hospitality to form La Tablée des Chefs, a non-profit organization whose mission can be summed up in two ways. Feed today to fight against food insecurity and educate youth for tomorrow to develop their food autonomy.

What La Tablée des Chefs has done should be studied around the world. In twenty years, they have distributed more than 15 million cooked meals and contributed to the culinary education of more than 50,000 youth by developing their food autonomy through various educational programs.

And what JF teaches all of us is following your heart, understanding the fragility of our time, and dreaming and doing is what inspires change.

I close the show by offering my three takeaways, why being involved in our community matters, and then talking about a hub called My Money Matters that offers financial advice to help navigate the realities of today.

Have Scottie Tissues close at hand and be prepared to cheer for a human who almost said no to his life and is now impacting millions of others.

To find out more about La Tablée des Chefs, click here:  https://www.tableedeschefs.org/en/

My Money Matters.  https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/my-money-matters/

Convenience Industry Council of Canada - https://convenienceindustry.ca/

I titled this episode of "Chatter That Matters" "Forever Young" and recorded it live at the Toronto Hunt Club. The idyllic setting alone adds a unique backdrop to a conversation that erupts with laughter and spontaneous applause. The man at the center of it is the master storyteller, the iconic Canadian editorial cartoonist and painter Andy Donato.

Andy Donato is not just an artist; he's a force of immense character, and his character is woven into the very fabric of who he is, from his distinctive appearance, with an unbridled shock of hair and a mischievous smile, to how he characterizes pivotal moments in time, to a handshake made with intent and integrity.

Andy shares hilarious stories of his journey, from his early days as a layout artist at Eaton to his pivotal role as Art Director and then as a world-renowned and decorated editorial cartoonist. Over the years, many Canadian Prime Ministers consider being a target of his incisive cartoons as a badge of honour.

Beyond the realm of editorial cartoons, Andy's "Bent Realism" painting style has been featured in one-man exhibitions worldwide. And to this day, Andy in his eighties continues to create a weekly cartoon, paint, and golf, a testament to my title, Forever Young.

Deenah Patel returns to Chatter to Matters to talk about how small business owners can remain Forever Strong.

The story begins when Mark Ferrier's father robs a bank, is arrested, and, in his sxites is put in Millhaven Maximum Security Prison to serve a five-year term. For decades, Mark buries this reality and wraps himself in a veneer, masking his insecurities and imposter syndrome with a persona of confidence and swagger.

Mark gets married, raises two beautiful daughters, and is wildly successful as an entrepreneur. His path led him to the Young President's Organization and to Harvard where he earned his Executive MBA at Harvard University. In a moment of sharing with his classmates, Mark reveals the truth about his dad, and instead of encountering shame or judgment, he discovers the magic of humanity.

Mark realizes that wrapped inside his stigma was a gift to understand acceptance and the distinction between mistakes and failure.  

Mark shares many more lessons from his life, unpacks some powerful thoughts on what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur, and what he is doing with his latest endeavour &Capital. 

We also discuss what Canada needs to do to compete and stay relevant.

From Mark, you will hear many powerful insights on life and livelihood and overcoming circumstances to free yourself from the past to own your present and pursue your future.

I then invite Deenah Patel, Senior Director of Merchant Experience & Loyalty, to share her insights on successful entrepreneurs' attributes. She talks about how RBC works hard to support owners with intellectual, emotional, and financial Capital.

Time Codes

00:02:30 Mark shares his childhood - white picket fences might have framed the neighbourhood, but what was inside was something very different.

00:04:44 Dad: successful car dealer, struggled emotionally/mentally.

00:08:34 World changes for Mark at age 25, when he learns from his Mom, that his Father has robbed a bank, and is in jail.   00:13:27 After fighting the charges for years, at age 68, Dad goes into a Maximum Security Prison. prison 00:16:23 Dad finds purpose and joy with his grandchildren but is diagnosed with a brain tumour 00:22:02 Mark - understanding who you are as a son requires understanding your father's story.

00:22:46 Sharing experience, fostering connection and confidence. 00:27:43 @Capital-Mark's latest entrepreneurial business 00:32:02 Attributes for future entrepreneurs: humility, non-traditional structure. 00:34:12 Believe, support, lead, rewrite. The economy needs alignment. 00:37:21 Tony's Takeaways 00:39:23  Mark: "You need a soul to succeed in life." 00:42:35  Deenah. Various ways to help entrepreneurs start businesses.

Step back in time to 1984. It's a pivotal year in the history of Canadian television — it's the year Much Music was born. In this episode of Chatter that Matters, we look at its fascinating journey and Canadian content that competed with the best in the world.

Much Music was one of the first Canadian specialty channels; this ground-breaking concept emerged from the vision of two trailblazing individuals, Moses Znaimer and John Martin. Against all odds, with limited resources but boundless creativity, they created a cultural phenomenon that captured Canadians' hearts and took on the mighty MTV.

I recorded the show at 299 Queen Street West, where it all came together, and sat down with two of Much Music's iconic VJs, Erica Ehm and Rick Campanelli. Erica takes listeners on a nostalgic journey as she recounts the early days, what it was like to interview legendary figures such as Kurt Cobain, and how what she learned there enabled her to become a successful entrepreneur. Meanwhile, Rick shares his remarkable journey of securing his dream job through a contest and turning that win into his phenomenal broadcasting career.

Together, Erica and Rick transport us back to an era when Canadian content reigned supreme, and Much Music was at the forefront of this cultural revolution. Discover the untold stories, challenges, and sheer passion fuelled this channel's meteoric rise. A moment in time that will stand the test of time.

Alan Depencier, the CMO of RBC, joins the show and puts on a master class on what it takes to create content that engages your audience in an era of infinite choice and discerning tastes.

It is a beautiful story, a proud moment for Canadian creativity, and some outstanding takeaways.

Time Codes:

00:01.      Tony's opening

00:02:16  Erica and Rick recall their time at Much Music. 00:06:33  Moses Znaimer reinvented media, inspired entrepreneurship, encouraged creativity. 00:08:33 Leaders in the corporate world should embody the flexibility, creativity, and fluidity exhibited by Moses, challenging the traditional thinking of "my way or the highway" embraced by old white men. Erica suggests that Tony should run more businesses or coach individuals, as he has demonstrated the ability to inspire and empower others in the past, much like Moses. 00:12:15 Erica Ehm and Rick Campanelli discuss their favorite interviews and an upcoming interactive tour based on the Documentary 299 Queen Street West. 00:18:25 Rick dreams of being like Erica and Steve, but it seems impossible. Enjoyed watching the interviews and VJ's behavior. 00:21:33 Rick - I wanted to win the contest tied to the movie "The Temp" in 1993. 00:24:10 Rick sits at Erica's desk.  Never again.  00:28:15 The lesson: Find your own path in life, don't follow others. 00:32:03 Erica on her role with 299 Queen Street West. It was an nteresting experience meeting new and old people for a documentary. Initially skeptical, but became a consulting producer. The finished product exceeded expectations. 00:35:05  Rick flies to Austin to be there for the premier. . 00:37:30 Rick's humility and talent were exceptional, inspiring a lesson for everyone. In a world focused on validation and self-promotion, we should embrace humility. Canadians can produce world-class content, even with limited resources. 00:42:44 Alan Depencier joins the show.  Music is returning after COVID, with live events sponsored by RBCX featuring renowned artists and supporting lesser-known ones. RBCX offers profile, support, and guidance for artists' careers. 00:44:03 Grateful for Alan's presence, future endeavours mentioned.

As a father of two wonderful girls, I have always asked - Why aren't more women in power? Only 10 percent of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies are women, and only 27 of the 193 countries in the world are led by women. I believe that if more women were in power, there would be less conquest and a dramatic shift in spending from the military to what matters - healthcare, humanity, education, fiscal responsibility and the health of our planet. My guest this week is Claire Shipman, a world-renowned Emmy, DuPont and Peabody Award Winning Journalist and co-author of several New York Times bestsellers Katty Kay. Their latest is titled The Power Code. More Joy. Less Ego. Maximum Impact for Women (and Everyone). Claire shares behind-the-scenes stories from her illustrious career, and then we dive deep into her new book and her ground-breaking insights on gender equality and power in the modern world.   You will learn that that power, as it stands today, is inherently flawed. It's not about breaking glass ceilings or climbing corporate ladders; it's about redefining, remaking, and modernizing the very essence of power.    In doing so, we depart from the traditional understanding of power, defined by the men who wield it as a hierarchical force and infers control over and competition with other people, to a new code where power becomes a tool to focus and collaborate and to improve the current conditions of our world dramatically.   Erica Nielsen, the EVP of Personal Banking and Investments at RBCjoins the show. We discuss Claire’s work, and then Erica shares some personal stories of finding her voice and what RBC is doing to close the gender gap and create a more inclusive culture.

00:00:00   Tony shares why this episode on power and gender disparity matters.

00:05:54    Claire talks about her early life.

00:07:07    Struggle with people pleasing, finding own voice.

00:12:21 Women's work and leadership, confidence gap and risk-taking.

00:17:04     Confidence code flows, power code complicated.

00:18:35     Massive shift underway; need more women in power.

00:21:47     Surface power men, women's power behind the scenes.

00:26:43   Valuing essential work, resistance to change.

00:28:30   Men must value time and share responsibilities.

00:34:06   Redefining work for broader values, gender equality.

00:36:32  Writing books is humbling and stressful.

00:40:16 Tony's three takeaways. 

00:43:12  Erica: Societal norms impact behavior in organizations.

00:46:10 Erica: Unconscious bias in coaching and mentoring explained.

Arthur Smith shares excerpts from his book Reach - Hard Lessons and Earned Truths from a Lifetime in Television. Arthur talks about what it was like to work with Gordon Ramsay on Hell's Kitchen (excellent) and to try and convince Donald Trump to be part of a show. (not so excellent). Arthur also talks about his surprise hit American Ninja Warriors and many other behind-the-scenes stories, including Simon Cowell. 

Arthur Smith grew up as a shy kid surrounded by a wonderful family who believed in and supported his dreams. Arthur learned how to reach at a young age and has never stopped climbing—Arthur became a producer at 22, heading up CBC Sports at 28, battling US networks in Olympic showdowns, and then moving to the United States to work with Dick Clark and Fox Studios.

Arthur continues to reach. He went from producer to entrepreneur when he founded A. Smith & Co. He has produced over 200 television shows for over 50 countries. 

Today, with his Reach Foundation, Arthur Smith is as passionate about inspiring the youth to reach as he is entertaining the public. Tune in to applaud an incredible career while learning powerful lessons on how to reach for all you want.

To purchase Arthur Smith's book Reach: https://www.amazon.com/Reach-Lessons-Learned-Lifetime-Television/dp/B0B5RWKWZ5

I loved talking with Deepa Mehta. I could have listened to her for hours, and I wish she could be my friend for life. Deepa is a citizen of the world, an Oscar-nominated filmmaker whose work is celebrated internationally and has played at every major film festival. Deepa has worked with George Lucas, yet often has turned down Hollywood to create emotionally resonating, award-winning cinema that matters to her and you and me.  Born in India and an immigrant to Canada, Deepa is a visionary storyteller, and her fearless journey has taken audiences to places they could never have imagined. She challenges conventions, breaks barriers and sparks conversations with a rare authenticity that lingers long after the credits roll. Her work at times has been so provocative that her life has been threatened, and her film sets destroyed by those who fear the truth.  Deepa shares her journey and talks about her latest documentary, I Am Sirat. This groundbreaking work was shot entirely on smartphones. This film tells the story of Sirat Taneja, a transgender woman who must act as her mother's son when at home in New Delhi but can be the woman she is with her friends and work. It is the story of duality and belonging – two themes that weave through Deepa's films and lead us to question our place on this earth. Do we belong? I Am Sirat is premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and is one of the eleven films competing for the Best Film Award at the London Film Festival. 

I then invite Lexi Marton, Director of Brand Marketing at RBC, to share what RBC is doing during their 15th year as a major sponsor of TIFF and what RBC is doing to help emerging filmmakers create and find the audience their content deserves.

What if your health and even life was a matter of choice, not chance?

Yuri Elkaim dreamed of a pro soccer career until his health deteriorated. Chronic fatigue and hair loss, followed by a seven-year search for answers, forced Yuri to make his health a matter of choice, not chance.

As a teenager, Yuri Elkaim fixated his gaze and even touched on a professional soccer career due to his tireless work ethic and athletic ability. But health's betrayal shifted his focus. Chronic fatigue, pain and sudden and total hair loss in high school made his dream a nightmare. Yuri searched for answers only to find a medical community willing to guess and prescribe. 

Yuri decided to make his health a matter of choice, not chance. In this episode of Chatter that Matters, Yuri unfurls his odyssey to reclaim his vitality while igniting a vocation to help others improve their health and grow their businesses.

Today, Yuri is a New York Times bestselling author, a guest on television shows like Doctor Oz, and an entrepreneur who has built two seven-figure businesses including Healthpreneur.  A professed optimist, Yuri continues to invest in himself, rallying others to follow suit.

This is a master class and Yuri's energy is contagious. You will learn many important lessons on how to make your health and destiny, your life and your livelihood, a matter of choice, not chance.   

Andrejka Massicotte, Senior Director of RBC Group Insurance, returns to the show. I asked her what they are doing to innovate, including personalizing their offering, encouraging their clients to invest in prevention, and helping those with chronic illnesses live their lives to their fullest.

To reach Yuri:

Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/healthpreneur/ 

Website:     https://healthpreneurgroup.com/ All of Yuri's books can be purchased from Amazon. 

This week on Chatter that Matters, Sheri Segal Glick talks about her memoir: 'The Skinny: My Messy, hopeful fight for full recovery from anorexia."

Sheri's journey unfolds with unflinching honesty as she unmasks the hidden truth of eating disorders. Sheri takes us to the depths of her addiction, what she did to game the system, her lonely and even life-threatening hospital stays, her obsessive workouts, and most importantly, how she battled for decades but eventually found her way to defeat her disease.   Sheri explores the dangers of chasing false beauty stereotypes when appearances define identities and the corrosive impact of casual body remarks that Sheri feels manifest into 'death by a thousand cuts.' What I found a great lesson learned is that positive and negative comments can have the same damaging impact.   The interview isn't dark; if anything, it is surprisingly uplifting due to Sheri's sense of humour and her desire to eradicate the shame surrounding eating disorders and create a future where youth embrace their bodies with unwavering confidence.   Amy Deacon, the CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, joins the show to offer her perspective and strategies for battling eating disorders.

To purchase Sheri's book 'The Skinny'.  https://www.amazon.ca/Skinny-messy-hopeful-recovery-anorexia/dp/1738670244

  A 120-foot fall free-climbing almost cost Dov his life but freed him to pursue his calling.

The search for meaning has been an obsession of Dov Baron from his earliest days. He was born in Northern England in abject poverty, surrounded by crime, violence, and addiction, and knew there must be more to life than suffering and abuse. Dov left his destructive environment to travel and study with some of the world's leading thinkers. He then parlayed his learning into founding and building companies on three continents.

Adrenaline seeking was Dov’s addiction. While free climbing a mountain in British Columbia in 1990, he fell from the rock face at approximately 120 feet high and broke dozens of bones, including every bone in his face. Ten reconstructive surgeries followed, including two instances when he was brought back from the dead. This experience and when he ventured into the dragon's lair, his metaphor for his darkest days and how facing his demons changed his life.

Today, Dov Baron is a best-selling author, the founder and CEO of Dov Baron International. He is a preeminent expert in helping leaders create life-and-work meaning. His models and strategies of the Emotional Source Code and the Anatomy of Meaning are used by leaders in business and government worldwide. 

 Dov Baron has been named a Top 30 Global Leadership Guru five times and an Inc. Magazine Top Leadership Speaker twice. 

On Chatter that Matters, Dov shares his thoughts on fighting your demons, finding your purpose and meaning, binding yourself to curiosity, and cultivating culture and community.

I asked Dov what three would do if he ran our country—without missing a heartbeat, Dov shared his ideas on Education, Homelessness and Community.

 Powerful life lessons await!

 To connect with Dov:  http://DovBaron.com

The Many Lives of Mama Love. A memoir of lying, stealing, writing and healing.

This story will become a blockbuster movie or a must-watch Netflix series.  My guest today is NY Times Best Selling author Lara Love Hardin, and her book The Many Lives of Mamma Love is her story.  From the worst beginnings, and then addiction, and then theft and jail, is someone who ends up breaking bread with Oprah, meditating with the Dalai Lama, writing Desmond Tutu's book, and becoming a successful CEO.

Picture a million-dollar home in a quiet cul-de-sac, the last place you'd expect to find a gripping tale of deception, addiction, and redemption. Yet, within these walls, Lara Love Hardin concealed a shadowy secret, funding her drug addiction through an intricate web of stolen credit cards from unsuspecting neighbours.

Lara's harrowing descent into addiction led her to a place no one could have predicted – behind bars and estranged from her children—where she became inmate S32179. Inside the concrete confines of the jail, a peculiar power structure emerges, a curious blend of adolescent sleepover dynamics and the raw brutality depicted in Lord of the Flies.

Upon her release, Lara's journey of reinvention takes an unexpected turn as she fights bureaucracy to reclaim her children while embarking on a remarkable journey that brings her face-to-face and pen to paper with some of the most influential people on the planet. Yet, the shadow of her past persists, a constant reminder that redemption is a battle against shame.

Amy Deacon, the founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, returns to Chatter that Matters to discuss the difficult road back for addicts.

To buy Lara Love Hardin's book - The Many Lives of Mama Love:  https://www.amazon.com/Many-Lives-Mama-Love-Stealing/dp/B0BWSD2CG4

To connect with Amy Deacon:  https://www.torontowellnesscounselling.com/

Biologist Dr. Manrique Prada and thought leader John Stackhouse joined me this week in an episode I titled two conversations with Mother Nature. Dr. Manrique Prada, a Ph.D. in biological science, stands as one of South America's most esteemed environmentalists. In his new book Voices of Mother Earth, Manrique shares his experiences living among the Xavante people—an indigenous tribe who lives off the land and in harmony with Mother Nature. Manrique imparts their wisdom of attentively listening to the forest, making decisions guided by dreams, and being part of the ecosystem versus trying to control it. The Xavante considers most humans as termites who destroy everything in their path.

Dr. Prada's teachings hold valuable life lessons for preserving our planet. He sees little promise for celebrities and politicians who talk without the walk and so much hope if we create this conversation with nature from the ground up.

John Stackhouse, formerly the Editor in Chief of Canada's national newspaper, the Globe and Mail, is now a Senior VP at RBC inside the office of the President. As the leader of RBC's Climate Action Institute, John's conversation is clear; we must move beyond rhetoric to action. He points to the power of business and markets to drive change, an extraordinary green revolution happening in the United States and why Canadians can and must keep pace with speed and scale.

Two powerful and thought-provoking conversations on what we can do individually and collectively for our planet.

To buy Manrique Prada's book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CDJZDKB3

To find out more about the RBC Climate Action Institute: https://www.rbc.com/climate-action-institute/

To listen to John Stackhouse's Disruptors Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/disruptors/id1332711400

Peter Weissman. A journey marked by trauma, resilience, advocacy and two brothers.  Two weeks ago, I shared the story of Eric Weissman who battled addiction to become an advocate for people experiencing homelessness. Today we celebrate his brother's inspiring journey.

Peter Weissman's life turned upside down at four when his Mom left home to pursue her dream of becoming an artist, something she succeeded at. Peter's description of what he saw when his Mom died is so powerful.

Peter's Russian immigrant dad went from a successful business to poverty and thought corporal punishment was how to keep his family in line. Peter quickly learned resilience, something he would need throughout his life.

Peter worked his way through high school and university. His heart was set on photography, but security pointed him to accounting. After graduating, Peter achieved financial security until life took two more turns and tore away his stability. At 30, and two years of marriage, a potentially paralyzing spinal cord injury and ensuing surgery masked the onset of MS at the same time. His MS went undiagnosed for six years (and two children), costing him an early treatment that may have reduced the impact of MS on his life. 

Everything leading up to this gave Peter the anger and drive to refuse to be a victim. 

Peter chose possibility over impossibility. Peter is a loving husband and father, an Advanced Open Water Certified Scuba Diver, a brilliant nature photographer, a wheelchair athlete and one of Canada's most respected tax accountants.  He credits his family and our healthcare system to allow him to chase all of these dreams.

Peter's advocacy for accessibility and improved tax systems for people with disabilities mirrors Eric's advocacy for people without housing. It proves that from trauma can come triumph and that these tales of two brothers make our world a better place.

Would you remain optimistic if the cards of life are rarely dealt in your favour?

This week's inspiring guest is Lindsay Ireland, who spent idyllic childhood summers in Vermont, riding horses, playing detective with her cousin, and living with her famous aunt and uncle, Jill Ireland and Charles Bronson, the action star of his day.

Lindsay's world changed at age eleven when she noticed blood in her stool. At first, hiding it from her parents, things got worse, and she found herself confined to a sterile hospital room, feeling invisible, with severe ulcerative colitis. Lindsay had to undergo life-saving ostomy surgery. She had five more surgeries, including a final operation in her late 20s that made the ostomy permanent. Then, in her early 30's, she was diagnosed with a second autoimmune disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and then years later, with Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.

Some people appear baffled when Lindsay Ireland says she is lucky. What I learned is that she has never seen herself as a victim. 

In this candid interview, Lindsay shares her transformation from a girl grappling with autoimmune diseases to a resilient young woman. Lindsay courageously confronts the challenge of loving a body that has repeatedly let her down. Despite the invisible nature of her illnesses, Lindsay perseveres, fighting to make herself seen and understood as a mother and wife. 

Take advantage of this heartfelt episode as Lindsay's story unfolds, reminding us of the power of resilience and the importance of having people who love you being part of your quest.

Amy Deacon, the founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, once again joins the show to offer her brilliant insights into how we overcome circumstances to chase dreams and change our world and others for the better.

To read Lindsay's blog or to buy her book: Why Me? click here: https://www.lindsayireland.com

And another demonstration of how special Lindsay Ireland is - all proceeds from her book are going to the MS Society of Canada and Ostomy Canada. 

Let me introduce my guest and his powerful story about transformation and triumph.

Eric Weissman was a child living in a home marked by turbulence, trauma and aggression. Eric developed an insatiable appetite for consuming and selling drugs until addiction consumed him. He spent six years living nomadically and even on the street. Few break this cycle.

He didn't just break it; Eric Weissman, PH.D.he is working to end this cycle. He is one of our country's advocates for change. An Associate Professor at the University of New Brunswick, the Research Lead for the Post Secondary Research Network, and a Board Member at the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies.  Eric is an advocate offering practical ideas for providing urgent needs to low-barrier housing. 

And at the end of the interview let me introduce you to an idea.

I have no empirical evidence, but I am seeing many more homeless people, reading about the growing number of Canadians living paycheck to paycheck and the growing opioid crisis. And I feel anxious about random crimes by desperate people, happening in once-safe neighbourhoods.

This upward trend can't continue. I would begin by tackling homelessness.

At the end of the episode, I share an idea my wife and I had to tackle this problem. I might be biased, but it also might be a big idea.  It isn't a hand-out; it involves a hand-up. Here is the problem, it is discriminatory. We want to identify the top 5% of people who live on the street with the most capability and desire to get off the street. We don't care about gender, ethnicity, religion, disability or sexuality; we care about finding the individuals who aren't addicted and willing to work hard and, in return, get access to shelter, food and, most importantly, opportunity.  

Why the top 5%?

We want early success, ambassadors and role models. The best counsellors in the world are people who have lived with the problems their patients are facing. Let the best of the best go back to the streets and recruit the next group of people.  Anyone with the same work ethic and desire, addicted or not, we will invite them next.   Give it a listen, let me know what you think.

Kevin Newman: Learning how and where his son sought the truth was harder than finding the truth. Alex Newman:  Finding answers in chat rooms versus the family room (felt safer). Until he came out to his family.

This is one of my favourite interviews of all time. It brought back memories of my relationship with my father, which I describe in the opening. As I introduce my two guests, you will instantly know the voice of Kevin Newman, one of North America's most acclaimed journalists, but instead of anchoring the news, he opens up about a period in his life when he learned that his son was gay.

What makes this so special is that Kevin and his son Alex each talk about their journey of discovery and transformation that led to their ground-breaking memoir, "All Out A Father and Son Confront the Hard Truths That Made Them Better Men."

Alex candidly reveals his path to self-realization, recounting the struggle of finding understanding within the anonymous confines of online chat rooms rather than within the familiar walls of his own home. His courageous account of coming out to his family resonates deeply, highlighting the challenges of finding one's identity within society's biased norms.

Meanwhile, Kevin, an esteemed Emmy and Gemini award-winning journalist shares a parallel narrative of his own. As he embarks on a new chapter in his career at Good Morning America, he grapples with a U.S. broadcast culture intent on reshaping his identity.

Alex and Kevin write a book for themselves and others. Each writes their part in solitude. The moment of truth is when father and son exchange their completed manuscripts and read each other's interpretations of who they are and why each and they matter.

I think every parent and child will feel their words and celebrate their love and admiration for each other.

Kevin Purkiss, VP of Fraud Management, joins the show to talk about his experiences with his son coming out, why diversity and inclusion matter, and how fraud artists target the LGBTQ+ community.

 To buy Kevin and Alex's book: All Out:  

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/all-out-a-father-and/9780345813886-item.html?ikwid=all+out+kevin+and+alex+newman&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=97eecb9ad27862bd4351f292661ed41a

In 1967 Canada was the world’s ninth largest economy; today, it is seventeenth. Regarding income per person, we’ve fallen from third to fifteenth. What kind of Canada are we leaving our children? How do we avoid falling further behind?    Join us for a special Canada Day podcast recorded at the prestigious Toronto Hunt Club. I interviewed three authors who wrote "Everybody's Business: How to Ensure Canadian Prosperity Through the Twenty-First Century."  

You will hear from the charismatic Dany Assaf, co-chair of the competition and foreign investment group at Torys LLP, the brilliant Walid Hejazi, a renowned professor of international business at the prestigious Rotman School of Management and visionary Joe Manget, Chair and CEO of the esteemed EHN Canada.

Nicole Bourque-Bouchier's journey from humble beginnings to RBC's 2022 Women of Influence - CEO Excellence Award Winner. Hailing from a lineage of trappers, Nicole Bourque-Bouchier claims her indigenous and entrepreneurial roots to be a role model to her family and community while building Bouchier into one of the largest indigenous-owned companies with revenues of $150 million, 1000 employees and 400 heavy equipment vehicles.

Nicole intimately shares her family's transformative journey from the trapline to Fort McMurray—her parent's quest for a better, more stable life. She delves into the tragic loss of her younger sister to suicide, an event that indelibly shaped Nicole's trajectory, altering her thoughts, career path, and personal growth.

Nicole offers so much in this podcast, including her dad’s lesson that everyone matters, how to go after your dreams, and why she stopped trying to fit in a man's world and instead focused on the vision, values and principles that matter most to her.  

Being a father was the most magical thing in Garry Junkuhn's life. He could never have imagined that he would lose contact with his two sons for over three years when his girlfriend moved in with him. His pain was akin to four wild horses tearing him apart. Garry's life unravelled further when he learned from a school email that his older son had changed his last name to his mother's surname.

However, amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope emerged. A mentor stepped into Garry's life, urging him to discover the hidden gift within his adversity. And just when he needed it most, a chance encounter with a spiritual leader breathed new life into his shattered spirit, reigniting Garry's trust in himself. It was an arduous multi-year journey,but Garry's unwavering determination led him to reconnect with his sons and embark on a mission to help other fathers find their way back to their children.

Prepare yourself for a riveting narrative that not only unveils Garry's raw and deeply personal story but also imparts invaluable lessons on how to transform a life and forge meaningful connections with the ones who matter most. It is a testament to the human spirit's resilience and the power of unconditional love. Moreover, Garry's profound experience catalyzed the birth of 100K Fathers, an organization dedicated to equipping 100,000 fathers with the guidance and tools they need to reunite with their children.

To learn more about the incredible work of 100KFathers, visit their website at https://www.100k-fathers.com/.

Can pressure be your superpower?  Can it be the wind at your back instead of a suffocating weight on your shoulders? My guest today is Dane Jensen, the CEO of Third Factor, an acclaimed speaker, an instructor at Queen’s University and the University of North Carolina, a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and author of The Power of Pressure.  

Dane has an incredible way with words, and he talks about what he learned about pressure from discussions with Olympic athletes, Navy Seals, overworked managers, and busy parents. Dane shares the physiological responses to pressure, how it’s an essential input into high performance, and how you can use this emotionally charged state to your advantage by knowing the patterns. 

Learn about Dane’s pressure equation - importance, uncertainty, and volume and how it can add up to your advantage the next time you are under pressure to land a job, deliver a presentation, parent your child through a challenging situation or have to win a skin with a three-foot putt. 

Lisa Melo, VP of Learning and Performance at RBC, then joins the show to talk about why skills are the new currency, why training must be put within arm’s reach of desire, and how gamification, AR and VR are creating new growth opportunities.

To learn more about Dane Jensen and to buy his book: https://www.thirdfactor.com/team/dane-jensen/

Imagine this. Your name is Steph Catudal. You are a young teenager, and you adore your Dad. He can do one-arm pushups and entertain a crowd, and when you have a terrible asthma attack, he calms you down. One day you hear the first of many horrible coughs and soon learn he is dying of lung cancer. His death tears at your soul, and you become rebellious and angry; try to escape with substances and replace your father with a relationship with an older man. Years later, you meet the love of your life, Tommy Rivs Puzey, an Ultramarathoner with a beautiful heart. You find happiness, marry, and have three children. Life couldn't get better, yet one night, lying in bed, you hear that cancer cough again, this time from your husband's lungs. This episode of Chatter That Matters is powerful. It's a beautiful story that shows how the power of love, the will of an Ultramarathoner, and how healthcare at its best can heal.

I invite Carol Lebert, Director of Support Services, Life and Health Claims, at RBC Life Insurance Company. Carol brings such context by drawing on her experience as a nurse, and she talks about the power of healing through positivity. We also discuss the mental health trauma many in the healthcare sector incur. 

To purchase Steph Catudal's book Everything all at Once - https://www.amazon.com/Everything-All-at-Once-Memoir/dp/0063253135/ref=sr_1_2?crid=SAX1JYKCANT8&keywords=everything+all+at+once+%2B+catudal&qid=1685563386&s=books&sprefix=everything+all+at+once+catadul%2Cstripbooks%2C8796&sr=1-2

I first heard Shabana Basij-Rasikh share her moving story on 60 Minutes, and I knew I had to have her on Chatter that Matters. You will soon hear why National Geographic named her their Explorer of the Year. Shabana calls herself an ordinary Afghan woman, but I see her as a hero of immense courage and fortitude and one of the many brave women defying the tyrannical rule of the Taliban.

What we take for granted, Shabana and others risked their lives for. At age 6, defying the Taliban's desire to commoditize women, Shabana disguised herself as a boy to attend secret schools with her sister. They faced constant threats, the risk of acid being thrown at them. Their teachers could be beheaded.

After the fall of the Taliban in 2001, Shabana seized the chance to freely study in her home country and then the US. While studying overseas, Shabana co-founded SOLA, an all-girls boarding school in Afghanistan.

In 2021, as the Americans withdrew, violence escalated, and the Taliban quickly seized power. Shabana had hours not weeks to move her school. She burned records and led a dangerous evacuation of 256 girls, families, and faculty to Rwanda, the only country that would accept them. 

Shabana’s story exemplifies the transformative power of education and the resilience of the human spirit.

Shabana’s story will move you, and if you have children in school, the content is not only safe but worth it for you to listen to it together.

Amanda J. Devison, Manager at RBC's Commercial Banking Advisors, joins the show to share her journey of being raised by a single mother with a biracial background and how her context and passion led her to organize the BPW Canada delegation to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women Conference.

SOLA - School of Leadership Afghanistan - https://www.sola-afghanistan.org

 Wendy Murphy lost the use of her legs in a car accident. What she found was her life’s calling.

Prepare to be inspired by the remarkable story of Wendy Murphy, who transformed personal tragedy into triumph and used positivity for the benefit of society. Powerful lessons for all await.

Wendy takes us on a heartfelt journey through her life, which began as someone who approached life three steps at a time. In 1984, at seventeen, her life changed instantly due to a tragic car accident. Wendy lost her best friend, and she became an incomplete paraplegic.

Wendy had to overcome survivor guilt and deal with the realities of life in a wheelchair, the lack of accessibility and the stigma of being physically challenged.

Determined to make a difference for her community and to demonstrate possibilities, Wendy chose a career in front of the camera. She became a successful model, journalist, and actor.

Wendy wrote a powerful memoir—Wendy Murphy’s Law. Whatever can Go Wrong Can Be Made Right.

Joel Dembe, Senior Manager, Corporate Communications, RBC, Paralympian and Motivational Speaker, returns to Chatter that Matters. I asked Joel about his extraordinary athletic career and why his desire to be seen competing was vital as it changed the narrative from disability to ability.   

To buy Wendy Murphy’s book:  https://www.amazon.com/Wendy-Murphys-Law-Whatever-Wrong/dp/1771803460

In honour of Mother's Day, I'd like to share the inspiring story of Dr. Suzanne Vickberg. Despite divorcing her husband twelve years ago, she still lives with him, their children, and his new wife - not as a 'Jerry Springer' spectacle, but as a testament to the idea that divorce doesn't have to be devastating and that family comes first.

For Dr. Vickberg, her divorce wasn't a failure but an opportunity to find a new way forward. She refused to limit herself to the binary choice of staying or leaving and instead moved into the guest room, which ultimately allowed her family to remain intact.

This is a story of a mother's love and sacrifice for her family and how it can lead to unexpected and beautiful outcomes.

To further explore the theme that with change comes choice, I spoke with Simika Kabir, Director of Commercial Financial Services Strategy for Women in Business, Black Entrepreneurs, and Business Owner Planning. She shared valuable insights on reclaiming your dreams and finding a new path after sudden upheavals. Simika's advice is empowering and uplifting and serves as a reminder that it's never too late to start anew.

To purchase Divorce by Design. https://www.amazon.com/Divorce-Design-Staying-Leaving-Options/dp/B0BN4SYNJT

This an extraordinary success story with so much added value if you are involved with Brands, Marketing, Media, an Entrepreneur, and even a Parent or Consumer. 

Joe Gagliese, the co-founder and CEO of a digital and social innovation agency, Viral Nation, is one of the most impressive entrepreneurs I have ever talked with. Joe is innovative, insightful, informative, and inspiring. In seven years, his agency has become a global disruptor in the marketing world. Viral Nation has raised $250 million from three of the most astute tech investors in the world, John Ruffolo from Maverix Private Equity and Todd Boehly and Jeff Wilbur from Elridge Principal.

The timing for this episode couldn’t be better, given the events surrounding Bud Light and its influencer campaign with Dylan Mulvaney and the widespread backlash from anti-transgender voices.

Joe Gagliese discusses how influencer marketing influences how we think, feel, and buy while also talking about his seven-year rocket ride. At 24, when Joe started Viral Nation, he was laughed out of boardrooms for his approach. Today Viral Nation works directly with the world’s biggest brands. Joe talks about Marketing by Numbers and how their proprietary and patented technology allows Viral Nation to shatter the status quo by combining the power of personality, backed with precise data that measures success while mitigating risk.

Joe Gagliese, a Canadian entrepreneur on a global mission to shift marketing from ‘mass to my.’

Don Ludlow, Vice President of Small Business, Business Financial Services Strategy at RBC, joins the show to talk about the importance of innovative entrepreneurs like Joe Gagliese to power our economy in the future. Don talks about why it takes several partners to support this vital sector today and why leading by example matters most.

                                                'My Mom was at home when I left.'

I have two asks. The first is that you stay with this interview as it unfolds. There are so many layers, and out of the ashes rises a remarkable human spirit.

My second is that as you listen, imagine you are my guest, Shelly Edwards Jorgensen. You are the child driving up to your family home after a high school basketball practice, and you see it being consumed by fire.

And at that moment, you know that your mom is dead, inside the home, and not by fire but by the hands of your father. 

This is a human journey no one would ask for or want. Shelly Edwards had a horrific childhood, compounded by her mother being murdered by her father. Shelly's testimony puts her Dad away for seventeen years. He dies there before his sentence is complete.

Shelly finds a way to overcome her childhood trauma, the murder of her mom, and the emotional rollercoaster of testifying against her father. She shares how she finds peace and, within it, her calling.   

In doing so, she even forgives her Father.  

Would you?

A story of tragedy to triumph and pain to perseverance, with powerful insights on how to move forward.

To buy Shelly Edwards Jorgensen's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Beautiful-Ashes-Murder-Betrayal-Womans/dp/B09K4RSQZ1

My chat with Siila Watt-Cloutier so moved me, and she made me think differently. For example, she believes that the trauma we are going through as a Planet and Human Species are the same, and so is the path to healing. 

If she were sitting down with me today, I would ask:

 If everything on this Planet is interconnected, does that mean we all feel the loss when a species goes extinct, or a fire consumes a forest?

You will also have many questions as Silla Watt-Cloutier will open your mind to our planet's realities and told through her gift as an observer, storyteller, and someone who can bring together to bring about change. Siila is one of the world's leading thinkers and doers in preserving our planet and humanity, with a particular focus on protecting the way of life of the Inuit.

(I have listed a partial list of her acknowledgements and awards and acknowledgements below.)

If you are like me, you will mark so many points of the journey she shares as remarkable. Silla's Indigenous values and lessons are worth considering for how we all live and respect Mother Nature. One that stuck with me is to stop thinking about problems and instead feel them. To act, you must be emotionally vested. 

So this is Sillia Watt-Cloutier's remarkable story. 

Don't just listen to her words....feel them. 

And then share them because we are all in this together.

Lindsay Patrick, Head of Strategic Initiatives & ESG at RBC Capital Markets, joins the show. Lindsay is passionate about her and her organization's role in preserving our planet and its inhabitants.

A link to her book and a partial list of her acknowledgements

To purchase Siila Watt-Cloutier's book - The Right to Be Cold: One Woman's Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet - https://www.amazon.com/Right-Be-Cold-Protect-Climate/dp/1517904978

 Awards

Looking for a better life, Timea Nagy is lured by an international sex trafficking ring.

Timea Nagy was 20 years old and hoping to escape a childhood of trauma and abuse. She answered a newspaper ad in Budapest, Hungary, calling for young women to work as babysitters and housekeepers in Canada. On the flight over, her dreams were big, and her hopes soared. But from the moment she landed in Canada, her story went from bad to worse. The ad was a front for international human sex traffickers.

The abductors took her passport, and with no command of the English or French language, Timea was a prisoner forced to be a stripper and prostitute. Timea first shared her story through the Salvation Army campaign The Truth Isn’t Sexy.

In this episode, she talks about how she escaped and moved back to Hungary, only to be raped by the authorities and targeted by the Mafia. Timea returned to Canada and has since worked tirelessly to help human trafficking survivors, and she consults with the RCMP and other police organizations to fight sex trafficking.

Caroline Tutakiewicz, one of Canada’s top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada, and Senior Director, Fraud & Security Risk Oversight at RBC, joins the show. We talk about her work with the Survivor Inclusive Initiative to support and help people like Timea Nagy who are backed into a horrific corner with no way out.

An inspirational story of tragedy to transformation, from seeing yourself as a victim to finding a way to love yourself. From surrendering to trauma to controlling one's destiny and finding a silver lining and higher purpose inside the darkest of clouds.

To purchase Timea Nagy's Out of the Shadows:  https://www.amazon.ca/Biographies-Memoirs-Timea-Nagy-Books/s?rh=n%3A934986%2Cp_27%3ATimea+Nagy

This episode with one of today’s most influential thinkers will leave you thinking more. 

Professor Steven Pinker is the Johnstone Family Professor in the Department of Psychology at Harvard University. He is also an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, a Humanist of the Year, a recipient of nine honorary doctorates, one of Foreign Policy’s “World’s Top 100 Public Intellectuals” and Time’s “100 Most Influential People in the World Today.” 

Professor Pinker talks about his research and the concepts he reveals in his best-selling books, which are surprising, enlightening, and inspiring. For instance, Pinker’s Better Angels of Our Nature reveals that violence is, in fact, in decline, and we are living in the most peaceful moment in our species’ existence. In Rationality, Pinker examines how humans can, on the one hand, develop COVID-19 vaccines in less than a year yet produce volumes of fake news daily. In The Blank Slate, he examines the origins of human nature and challenges the arguments of nature versus nurture.

I also share Steven Pinker's concerns that opinion has been criminalized, and I appreciate his solutions to help curb negativity and single-minded perspectives. Pinker offers his views on what children should be taught so they can grow into critical thinkers. And this lover of science and facts, with an apparent gift for words, reveals how scientific curiosity and understanding can ultimately inspire and empower us all.  

Some fantastic takeaways from the brilliant Steven Pinker.

Alan Depencier, the Chief Marketing Officer of RBC, joins the show to share ideas on how brands can counter the negative side of social media.  To do so, they must understand their purpose, foster a culture that embraces it, and look at positive or negative feedback as an opportunity to improve.

To learn more about Steven Pinker:  https://stevenpinker.com

This story has all the markings of Rocky, the story of a struggling, small-time boxer and debt collector, Rocky Balboa, who gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to fight the world's heavyweight champion and when he wins, finds himself, and becomes the symbol of hope and inspiration. In this case, instead of boxing gloves, it was drumsticks.

As a child, James Laughlin didn't fit in. He grew up in Northern Ireland with parents of opposing religions and a world he dreamed of escaping each time a plane passed over his head. James was often in trouble for speaking out at school. One day his Head Master offered him a choice—another week of detentions or drumsticks and the school band. With visions of Ringo Star pounding in his head, he soon learned his destiny was to be the pipe major of a bagpipe band, kilt and all.

The drumsticks were his turning point, and James went from wayward youth to becoming a world champion drummer and then a coach who took underdog Piper Bands in Canada and New Zealand to the top of the world.

Yet within his success and persona of positivity was James' reliance on alcohol to mask his lack of self-esteem and identity, and later, the pain of his wife suffering a miscarriage.

An Anthony Robbins seminar was the next turning point that allowed James to recalibrate his life and find a new path to help others while healing himself. James created High-Performance Leadership and today coaches high-performing leaders and athletes.  

If you love a good underdog story, you won't be able to resist James Laughlin's journey, and if you are after powerful lessons in life on how to get to where you need, want and deserve to go, you will find it here.

My three takeaways:

Measure what Matters. participation medals are not enough.

Tall Poppy Syndrome - ignore it and keep growing.

Passion is who you are, and purpose is what you give to the world around you.

Mark Beckles, Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation at RBC, returns to the show. I am a big fan of Mark's passion and approach to life. In this episode, I ask Mark how to prevent so many of our youth from dropping out. Mark talks about the importance of having a purpose and an identity, finding a mentor, and connecting to people through their passions.

Chatter that Matters - inspiring stories of people who overcome circumstances to chase their dreams and change their world, even ours, for the better.  

To learn more about James Laughlin: https://www.jjlaughlin.com/site/about

To learn about RBC and Future Launch: https://www.rbc.com/dms/enterprise/futurelaunch/

A sold-out event at the Toronto Hunt Club, ending with a loud and sustained standing ovation for my guest Steve Paikin, the anchor of the flagship current affairs program, The Agenda. I was so happy with this interview that I brought it to Chatter that Matters.

 Steve Paikin is a recipient of the Order of Canada, an author, a documentary producer, and one of Canada’s most admired journalists.  We cover so much ground and with so much laughter.  We learn about Steve’s upbringing, the values he learned from his parents and mentors, and what led him to journalism.  

 I found Steve fearless but surprisingly modest and humble for someone who has accomplished so much. Steve shares several behind-the-scenes stories, including his interview with Mikhail Gorbachev, the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union. That alone is worth your time. And wait to hear what guest ripped his microphone off and walked off the set while the cameras were still running.

 Steve and I discuss the State of Media and whether Democracy can survive the divide-to-conquer mentality seeping into politics and the media.  Steve's answer. It must.  Steve talks about the intersection between journalism and democracy and what matters most.

 We then discuss Steve's new book John Turner, an intimate biography of Canada's 17th Prime Minister, and Steve's award-winning documentary - Return to the Warsaw Ghetto.

 Tanis Feasby, the Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications at RBC, joins the show.  I asked Tanis the same question I asked Steve Paikin - what must we do to preserve the truth and democracy?  Tanis shares her thoughts and talks about the role Leaders of organizations must play to contribute to a narrative of possibility and positivity.

 Put this show on your agenda.

 To buy Steve's book on John Turner: https://www.amazon.com/John-Turner-Intimate-Biography-Minister/dp/1989555837

To learn more about Steve's documentary - Return to the Warsaw Ghetto  https://www.worldcat.org/title/return-to-the-warsaw-ghetto/oclc/80599269

In the blink of an eye, the unthinkable can happen, an event in your life that cause you to ask - why me? Jane Enright survives three life-altering and tragic events in the span of a year, including a severe and sudden brain injury that left her almost speechless. This is Jane's story of how she used acceptance to acknowledge her fate and gratitude to reclaim her love of life. These moving stories are powerful lessons on managing grief, stress, loss, stagnation, indecision, and recovery.

Today, Jane Enright is the author of two books, including her bestseller - Butter Side Up-How I Survived My Most Terrible year and Created my Super Awesome Life.

Brain Awareness Week is March 13-19, 2023.  Every three minutes in Canada, someone suffers a brain injury. Add to that our aging population coming to terms with degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer's, Dementia, and ALS.  Wayne Bossert, Deputy Chairman of RBC Wealth and a Director of the Brain Canada Foundation, talks about how Canadian researchers are leading the way to improve brain health.

To learn more about Jane and to buy her books: https://www.janeenrightauthor.com.

To learn more about the Brain Canada Foundation: https://braincanada.ca.

I couldn't be happier with how my International Women's Day Episode turned out, as I want it to be remarkable. My Mother was my rock, my two daughters are my inspiration, my three sisters are my remaining family, and my wife rocks. I am breaking my Friday format and bringing it out today, as this is every women's day of honour and celebration.

I begin with a personal story that I share not for pity or applause for how far I have come but for context why I chose my guest and why she matters to the tens of millions of North Americans dealing with food insecurity.

Lori Nikkel came from circumstances far more challenging than mine. As a child, Lori was psychologically, physically and sexually abused. Lori left home at age 15 without a high school diploma. In her mid-twenties, with three children in tow, she was abandoned by her partner and woke up to the reality that he had left their apartment rent $10,000 in arrears.

So how did Lori become our country's most admired CEO, top 25 Women of Influence, and Order of Ontario recipient, and sitting on our Food Policy Advisory Council?

Lori found someone to believe in her, and then she believed in herself. Lori found that within her lay exceptional leadership qualities. Today Lori Nikkel is the CEO of Second Harvest, the largest food rescue organization in the country.  

Lori is amazing, and what she offers you is inspiration, lessons and, most importantly, food for thought.

Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and ESG, joins the show to talk about how her mission - 'to work with others to create, amplify, and execute ideas that help organizations build a better world' - led her to RBC. After you listen to Andrea, you will know why I want to do an entire episode on her journey.

To find out more about Second Harvest:  https://www.secondharvest.ca

To connect with Andrea Barrack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-c-barrack-29b95413/?originalSubdomain=ca

After conquering his addictions, Tim Stewart changes his world and others for the better.

Tim Stewart's substance abuse began at an early age. Growing up on his family's farm, which included a bar and a hotel of dubious repute, Tim abided by the family code that put work ahead of everything, including play and education. Tim's influencers were adults who introduced him to tobacco, alcohol, pot, and prostitution. Over time, the drugs and alcohol consumed his life, and Tim enlisted in the Air Force to escape. The discipline he learned on the farm and in the military, combined with his gift for the gab, enabled him to be a functional addict until harder and harder drugs took over his life. Tim went into rehab eleven times to break his substance abuse, only to fail himself and his family.   At age 40, Tim's world collapsed. Homeless, with two pairs of pants, two shirts, and eight dollars in his pocket, Tim Stewart found himself on a bus to St Louis. The trip changed his life and his calling. Instead of depending on drugs, he found and chose a path where those in need could count on him. Today, his speaking handle is "TalkMan Talk." As a life coach, Tim Stewart shares what it meant to live on the street and the 12 principles that saved his life. In doing so, he hopes to make a profound difference in the lives of others. 

Mark Beckles, Vice President, Social Impact and Innovation at RBC, returns to the show. As always, with grace and heart, Mark talks about their Future Launch platform and other RBC initiatives to help Canadian youth find a purposeful path in life.

To connect with Tim Stewart: https://www.talkmantalk.com

To learn more about RBC Future Launch:  https://www.rbc.com/dms/enterprise/futurelaunch/

After growing up amidst the worst of humanity, Dr. Emmanuel Taban models the best of humanity.

My guest today is Emmanuel Taban. He was born in Sudan, one of the most impoverished countries in the world. He had little and lost it all before overcoming his circumstances and changing his world and ours for the better. Listen generously as his accent differs from yours, but his message is universal, powerful and inspiring.

Emmanuel Taban was among five children raised by a single mother in an environment of abject poverty and a country at civil war. A gifted student denied an education, captured, and tortured at age 14, escapes and makes his way, often on foot. His perilous odyssey took him through Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, arriving in South Africa just short of his 18th birthday. He had no passport or money.

Drawing strength from a nurse's comment when he was seven years old that he would one day become a famous doctor, Emmanuel Taban finished high school. Then he spent twelve years earning three medical degrees, including specializing as a pulmonologist. Dr. Taban has become one of Africa's most influential doctors and is renowned for challenging Western norms with his ground-breaking treatment for COVID-19. He is also very involved in improving his birth country's literacy level. 

Dr. Emmanuel Taban, who wrote the book The Boy Who Never Gave Up, was awarded Africa's person of the year in 2021.

An epic and moving tale that will lift your spirits.

Amy Deacon, the Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, returns to Chatter that Matters to talk mind over matter and the importance of having people who believe in you. 

To purchase Dr. Taban's book:  https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Never-Gave-Up-ebook/dp/B08YM4CKRP

Chatter that Matters is a show that counters the storm of negativity and a growing sense of impossibility. I share inspiring stories of people who overcome their circumstances to chase their dreams and, for some, to change our world. 

My guest is Dr. Talia Varley, whom I first met at the Economic Club of Canada Conference I was hosting. I was blown away by her insights and intelligence for a good reason. Dr. Varley has a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, an MD from McMaster University, and is now the Physician Lead of Advisory Services at Cleveland Clinic Canada.

My original intent with this episode was to tackle the health of corporate cultures. I wanted to understand why so many are dissatisfied at work and looking for a new path. As the interview unfolded, I realized Dr. Varley offers all of us, not just the culture leads of organizations, how to find our way to possibility and positivity.

Dr. Varley talks about how our confirmation bias often locks us in a manner where our perceptions become our reality. She talks about how we must tune out the negative to create a healthier you at home, in the community, and where we study and work. Dr. Varley also shares her thoughts on the type of leadership we need across society to inspire significant and lasting change.

To offer context, I end the show chatting with Alan Richardson, SVP of Talent Strategy and Solutions at RBC, to share his thoughts on how organizations can create purposeful and productive cultures. 

We all deserve more positivity and possibility in life. Pura Vida.

Jean Muenchrath should have trusted her gut when it told her something terrible would happen during her and her boyfriend Ken’s winter trek to cross-country ski on very rugged terrain, cross the 220-mile John Muir trail from Yosemite Valley to o the summit of Mount Whitney, which is the highest point in the contiguous United States at 14,505 ft (4,421 m) above sea level. To do so requires climbing and navigating 14 mountain passes.

On their final day, a week ahead of schedule, Jean and Ken are caught on the summit in a freak lightning storm that would take no prisoners. They had to scramble to get off the mountain. Scrambling is never good when facing darkness, the fury of Mother Nature, and your fastest route from being electrocuted is climbing the sheer face of the mountain.

Ken and Jean separate so Ken can push forward as a scout to mark the trail. Jean, alone, falls, suffering broken bones in her spine and pelvis. Her buttock is badly bruised, and before long, gangrene will set in.

That night, Jean makes a spiritual vow to herself that becomes the title of her book. She says: " If I live until morning, I will live my greatest dreams."

A true story of adventure, tragedy and transformation.

Amy Deacon, CEO and Founder of Toronto Wellness Counselling, joins me to unpack how the human mind can unleash superpowers at times of great distress.

To buy Jean Muenchrath's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Live-Until-Morning-Adventure-Transformation/dp/069295581X

I interviewed Ted Nolan at a conference I hosted for the Coffee Association of Canada. I could see how moved the audience was by his life story, as was I. Thankfully our conversation was recorded so I can share this incredible story with you. Ted Nolan was the third youngest of twelve children in a house without plumbing or electricity on the Garden River First Nation in northern Ontario. Ted's first pair of hand-me-down skates were so big he had to stuff his rain boots inside to wear them. The more the school system tried to strip away his indigenous identity, the harder the family fought to preserve it. This is the inspiring and enchanting story of someone who made it to the NHL in the most unconventional way. It was Ted's passion, skill, grit, and ability to deal with rejection. Ted had to battle racism with fans, opponents and even fellow teammates and coaches. The episode touches on his career as both a hockey player and a coach who knew how to win by caring for his players. It also showcases Ted's dedication to his community. His foundation has provided over 300 scholarships. Ted and his two sons, Brandon and Jordan, who also played in the NHL—created the 3Nolans, to create hockey skills development camps for First Nation youth in First Nation communities across Canada. Ted is a great storyteller, and he unpacks some great lessons on how to realize your dream, even with very little, and prioritizing what you value versus what others value. Alan Richardson, SVP of Talent Strategy and Solutions at RBC, and someone who returns to talk about Future Launch, a $500 million commitment to help Canadian youth find and pursue their path in life. Alan has so much to say about attracting, developing and retaining talent; I hope to have him anchor an entire future episode.

Fennella Bruce was the 2022 Businesswoman of the Year and one of the 100 Most Accomplished Black Canadian women in 2020. 

In this episode of Chatter That Matters, Fennella shares her incredible climb to the highest ranks of television as a writer, editor, and producer. With humour and grace, Fennella takes us deep inside the world of news and morning television glamorized in the Apple TV hit "The Morning Show." 

An immigrant who, at university and early in her career, often found herself as a minority of one. One of the few women and women of colour. Instead of trying to fit into the status quo, Fennella chose to stand out.

Fennella graduates with stellar marks but stalled without a network.  She shares how she went from a standing start to overdrive when she fell in love with television and, from there, has never looked back. Respected by her peers and sought after by all the major networks, Fennella talks about a decision many of us dream about but few do. In 2018, Fennella left the trappings and insecurity of a job in media to start FKB Media solutions, focusing on Public Relations, Media Training, Livestream Production, Television Production and much more. 

Once again, Fennella becomes "the one and only." The one to watch, the one to make waves, the one to earn the respect of a new business community and the only one to get her clients the attention they need and deserve.

In this episode, cheer a woman who succeeds on her terms while offering powerful lessons in overcoming imposter syndrome, creating opportunity, managing stressful situations and how to stand out and stand for what matters most to you and everyone around you.  And if you are starting your career, or work in the news and mass or social media world, listen with a pen and paper!

Alan Richardson, the Senior Vice President of Talent Strategy and Solutions, closes the show with some powerful thoughts on the power of a diverse culture. 

To connect with Fennella Bruce: https://www.fkbmedia.com

In this special edition of Chatter that Matters, taped in front of a live audience, I chat with David Chilton, author of The Wealthy Barber and The Wealthy Barber Returns.

You will soon hear why David Chilton is a beautiful human being with a fantastic sense of humour and a gift as a storyteller. Learn how he became one of Canada’s best-selling authors, a sought-after speaker, venture capitalist, mentor and one of the most popular Dragons. David takes you into the Den and shares some behind-the-scenes stories.

You will also learn that David didn’t have overnight success. The Wealthy Barber took over two years to write and a year to become a runaway best-seller. David initially considered the Wealthy Bartender the title, based on his love of the television show Cheers. David offered his sister ten percent of the profits to edit the book, as he had no money – it was the worst deal he ever made as sales topped 2 million copies.

The timing and content within this show couldn’t be better given the state of our economy, inflation that is eating into our purchasing powers, and a looming recession. David talks about why your money matters and shares ideas on how you can grow your wealth.

Two that stood out for me are the difference between own and a loan and the importance of having a will, keeping it updated, and never having a friend or family member be your executor. 

Why? You will have to listen to find out.

Please share, rate and subscribe.  

To purchase the Wealthy Barber - https://www.amazon.com/Wealthy-Barber-Successful-Financial-Planning/dp/0773762167

A riveting story of defying all odds, three miracles, and the power of love.

Danielle Kaplan is my guest, and we tell her story in three parts.

We begin by talking about her roots, a South African growing up in a life of privilege but living with the guilt of apartheid, and why she and her husband came to Canada.  

The second part is when Danielle Kaplan's thrill-seeking husband, Steve Kaplan, crashes his motorcycle on a solo trip that has taken him from Toronto to a deserted road in the Yukon. Steve is thrown off his bike, breaks his spine, and damages his heart. Hungry Grizzly Bears are nearby. No one knows where he is, and he has zero chance of survival. What happens next is spellbinding and genuinely miraculous.

The third part is about how Steve survives the crash, but at the Vancouver General Hospital, his organs begin to shut down. Danielle credits the team there, EMCO, a miracle healthcare invention that took over his heart and lungs until he could get stronger and the healthcare workers who made it all happen.  She also reminds us how fortunate we are to have universal health care.

And my three takeaways from Danielle Kaplan's sharing excerpts from her book I Married A Thrill-Seeker is how much anxiety thrill seekers create and leave in their wake for their family and friends to almost drown in when they chase their dreams. The second is how important it is to have love, a caregiver and an advocate on your side when you fight back from death's door. And finally, how remarkable Danielle Kaplan is.  

To provide further context, I invite Amy Deacon, Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, back to Chatter that Matters to talk about how opposites attract, and why some people are addicted to risking all that matters for the chase of a thrill.

To purchase I Married A Thrill Seeker:  https://www.amazon.ca/Married-Thrill-Seeker-cautious-husbands-risk-taking/dp/1738670201.

Best-selling author and acclaimed thinker Kim Scott provides the framework for giving and receiving exceptional feedback and having more meaningful conversations.

What was the worst feedback that you ever received? I remember working part-time at a drugstore when I was in my teens, and my boss told me I was useless. I had an English Teacher who told me repeatedly that I would never amount to anything. I would like to know if these attacks were why I was horrible at giving feedback. For most of my career, I sugar-coated or even avoided it for fear of hurting someone’s feelings. I am closing the year with a Chatter that Matters show that will carry you for years to come. My guest is Kim Scott, and what Kim offers will positively and profoundly change how you provide and accept feedback as a parent, mentor, coach, leader, and peer. Some fantastic lessons for life and livelihood. How did this show come about? Feedback from my daughter, Mikahla Chapman, who also co-hosts this show with me. My youngest daughter Mikahla has a Master of Science in Occupational Psychology from London Metropolitan University. In November, she sent me this text - “Dad, I just read this article on radical candor, and the concept reminds me of you.”  This text and our subsequent conversation inspired us to reach out to Kim Scott, the author of the best-selling book Radical Candor author. Kim Scott draws upon her experiences working in Silicon Valley for clients, including Apple and Google, and Kim shares many entertaining stories to illustrate her points on how we can all get better at giving and receiving feedback.

Alan Depencier, the CMO of RBC, returns to the show to talk about how RBC applies the principles of radical candour to create a culture where everyone has a voice. Alan offers some great points for anyone who has the honour of leading a team.

To purchase Kim's book.

https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/radical-candor-fully-revised-updated/9781250235374-item.html?ikwid=radical+candour&ikwsec=Home&ikwidx=0#algoliaQueryId=bc022c5aa46a1871d1916ffa7331cc50

I saved this episode for the holidays, as it is an excellent time for reflection. If you do listen and feel the way I do about Dany's message, please share it with others. The best way to lift and unite Canada is through our collective spirits. First and foremost, we are not East or West, left or right, gay or straight, Liberal or Conservative. We are Canadian. Together we can make this the greatest country on Earth for generations to come. So what is this episode all about? Imagine, for a moment, that this scenario happened to you. You are Muslim, a proud Canadian, and part of a family that has lived in and contributed to its community and country for generations. Like many other kids, you dream of playing hockey in the NHL. 9/11 happened, and overnight a sign appeared on your neighbour's lawn. OSAMA BIN LADEN LIVES CLOSER THAN YOU THINK. The sign points to your house. That moment puts my guest, Dany Assaf, on a lifetime quest to unite Canadians and remind us of who we are and why and what truly matters. Today, Dany is respected globally as one of the world's top competition lawyers, with Torys LLP, a former adjunct professor at Western University and an author. Dany has just released a remarkable book titled: Say Please and Thank You & Stand in Line: One man's story of what makes Canada special and how to keep it that way. This is Dany's inspiring and moving story and message, which will warm your hearts over the holidays.

I invite Alan Depencier, CMO of RBC, who I have come to know over the past two years. Alan joins the show to talk about the episode, and I ask him about the role organizations like RBC can play in supporting all Canadians and their dreams during these challenging times. Alan speaks from the heart versus marketing speak.

What does it take to win on the court? Preparation, Perseverance and Perspiration.

What does it take to win off the court? Curiosity, Compassion, Charisma, and Connections.

In 1988, Milos, Mila Pospisil, and their two sons unlawfully drove from Czechoslovakia to Austria to escape the Communist regime. The family worked long hours at low wages to save money to move to Canada. Here, Vasek Pospisil was born.

If you enjoyed the movie King Richard, where Richard Williams is determined to see his two daughters, Venus and Serena, make history, this story has many parallels. Vasek started his tennis career at age three as a ball boy as his father coached his older brothers in tennis, but he was winning international tournaments by age six.  

Vasek's rise to the top tennis ranks would take years, with many setbacks, but always with the support of his parents. Vasek learns how to compete against the likes of Federer and Djokovic. Even career-threatening injuries Vasek sees as opportunities to grow individually and to support other tennis players. In 2020 Vasek teamed up with Novak Djokovic to form a grassroots movement that would protect player interests. That movement would become the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA). 

One of the great takeaways for the listener is Vasek's approach to life. First and foremost a tennis champion, but Vasek is also an astute investor and entrepreneur with a circle of friends that includes people like Richard Branson.

And what did Team Canada accomplish in 2022 that no other country has ever done? After winning the ATP Cup to start the year, Canada closed it with its first-ever Davis Cup title.

Game, Serve and Match.

Ken Wong on Teaching our Children Well. Ken Wong is one of Canada’s most acclaimed educators. To better appreciate his impact on academia, I posted a tribute on LinkedIn when I heard he was retiring. Overnight, it garnered over 50,000 impressions and an outpouring of love from all over the world.

This is Ken’s incredible and inspiring story, and, as you would expect, it's packed with many life lessons for building your career and brand, combined with what we must do as a society to teach our children well. Shannon Cole returns to the show to explain marketing and why it matters. I ask her how organizations can leverage their marketing dollars to better the communities they do business in.

The 'GOAT' is how fans and broadcasters describe the greatest athlete of all time.  It's also the fuel that has fired debate since sports began. I can certainly make a case for my guest this week, Canadian soccer phenom Christine Sinclair being in that exclusive club.  No male or female on the planet has scored more international goals, and she is the second footballer of either sex to score at five World Cup editions. Her legacy is a testament to her athleticism and perseverance: five FIFA Women's World Cups, Four Olympic Tournaments with three medals and one Gold, three championships with professional teams, and twice the National Collegiate Division Championship in the United States. In January 2022, Sinclair was awarded the Best FIFA Special Award as the world's all-time leading scorer.

Christine has just released a fantastic memoir called Playing the Long Game. Christine reflects on her rousing successes, the role her family played, why she wants to level the playing field for women athletes and why Canada and Canadians need to support professional women's soccer in Canada.

I also invite two people who have played with Christine to share their thoughts on why 'Sinc' is the greatest and why she matters beyond the field.  Karina LeBlanc, who backstopped Canada's national team, is now the General Manager of Portland Thorns FC, where Christine plays, and Shannon Cole, the VP of Marketing at RBC, played with and against Christine in college.

As you would expect from someone who has accomplished so much and for so long, Christine offers many powerful life lessons on perseverance leading to possibility.

Have you noticed the bright yellow and magenta book in bookstores titled Swagger - Unleash everything you are and become everything you want? Grab one before they are gone. The author Leslie Ehm is the undisputed Queen of Swagger who has discovered the secret to tapping into your authentic self and turning it into a superpower at work and in life. And no, this is not the old Swagger—that show-off, in-your-face, arrogant kind. This brand-new Swagger is unshakable, unstoppable, and utterly irresistible, and Leslie Ehm will show you how to unlock and unleash it. 

Leslie also shares her life story; the only way to describe it is energetic, eclectic, and electrifying. Leslie offers powerful lessons from each step of her journey, including chasing her dreams of being a New Wave Punk Singer in her teens to England to becoming a songwriter, script reviewer, creative director, world-renowned corporate trainer, and best-selling author.

Carmela Trombetta joins the show, and she is someone with a swagger. Carmela is recognized as one of Canada’s most powerful women by the Women’s Executive Network in recognition of her community involvement in Hamilton.  

To buy Swagger: Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want: 

Indigo:    https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/swagger-unleash-everything-you-are/9781989603970-item.html

Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1774582767?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_9PNDAEXRKQZAKZXAJAD7

To connect with Leslie:

Mitch Joel is a renaissance man with much to say about the relentless digital disruption and how it impacts you. His opinions have been shaped by a nomadic career that began when computers were rudimentary and the internet was the domain of a handful of universities. Add Mitch's insatiable appetite for reading, observing, writing, music, creativity, design and speaking — combined with being a serial entrepreneur — and you have someone who not only decodes the future but helps you map yours. Mitch shares his life story and the lessons he learned along the way.  His first book was the best-seller Six Pixels of Separation, followed by his most recent book CTRL ALT Delete. His latest venture, ThinkersOne, provides personalized and bite-sized insights from some of the most sought-after thinkers in the world, democratizing thought leadership for individuals and businesses of all sizes. Sharing his insights on technology, the pandemic, decoding the future, customer experience and more, Mitch Joel reveals his thoughts on what it will take to realize your future.

A Canadian woman who flew for her country in combat brings her leadership skills to the private sector to champion the underserved.    Why are no women at the altar if God made us equal? This was the question teenager Natalie Marchesan wrote to her Bishop. His response was you are equal but different, and that answer didn't sit well with Natalie. In fact, it began her lifelong quest to level the playing field, to create equal opportunity for all. 

Why are no women serving at the altar if God made us equal?  This was the question teenager Natalie Marchesan wrote to her Bishop. His response was you are equal but different, and that answer didn't sit well with Natalie. It began her lifelong quest to level the playing field to create opportunity. In 1987, as her friends were heading off to University, Natalie applied to the Royal Military College (RMC). Natalie later became one of the first female members of the Canadian Air Force to see combat, spending eight years as a navigator of a C130 Hercules aircraft, flying search and rescue operations and supporting Canadians in combat zones. 

As the only woman in her squadron, Natalie alludes to "stories that would make your toes curl" as minorities like her had to navigate an often-toxic and unwelcoming environment.  She refused to quit as her mission was to right the wrong.

After almost a decade, Natalie left the Air Force, got her MBA and relying on the skills she learned in the military, she went into the private sector, first as a consultant and then working in positions where she could push for equality. Today Natalie is the head of global procurement at RBC, with 145 people on her staff.

What started on a shoestring became Reebok, the biggest shoe brand in the world.

This is the inspiring and against-all-odds story about how Joe Foster and his brother Jeff, with borrowed equipment in a falling-down factory in Northern England that also served as a home, created Reebok.  In their day, it surpassed both Adidas and Nike in sales.

So many life lessons- family, business, marketing, and sales- are woven into a fantastic story of achievement.

Para-athlete, Meghan Hines, the President of Power Hockey Canada, joins the show to discuss why sports matter and what it means to compete internationally for your country.

Do the right thing. These four words have been the compass for Jim Estill since his first business at age fourteen. Today he is one of our country's most successful and admired entrepreneurs. Learn about Jim's secrets to success, the daily habits that power his intellectual, emotional and financial wealth and how he has applied all of the above to help refugees create a new home built on purpose and pursuit.

Some fantastic insights into how to do more with less and to lead by example.

A knock at the door knocks Chanda over. A fantastic story of resilience we can all learn from.  A successful entrepreneur who had it all.  A profitable business, a respected person in her small-town community, and she found the love of her life.  All was perfect until the knock on her door, followed by guns to her head, and the arrest and conviction of her boyfriend, Jeff Kompon, for being part of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cocaine cartel shattered everything.

Chanda says in her book Forever: A love story. A raid. An arrest. Heartache. A Small Town Scandal. And a Journey of Self-Discovery.  ' I never considered myself a victim; I was a survivor of a broken heart.' 

Amy Deacon, the Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, provides context on what happens when idyllic shatters at the crack of dawn.

Cybercrime.  It's not a matter of if but when.  How do you become cyber-aware and resilient?  HGTV television superstars Sarah and Bryan Baeumler, with Adam Evans, Vice President of Cyber Operations at RBC, chat about cybercrime, estimated to be $10 trillion by 2025, bigger than all other crime combined.

Why the Baeumlers?

Sarah and Bryan Baeumler are celebrities and parents of four children; they have aging parents, have their own identities, and are successful small business owners. Like you and me, they are targets.

Why Adam Evans?

Adam Evans is the Vice-President of Cyber-Operations, Chief Information Security Officer of RBC, and a thought leader in this offers his thoughts and what RBC is doing to provide support through RBC.com/cyber.

A fantastic episode with actionable tips to create cybercrime resiliency.  Please share. 

An entrepreneur on a mission to benefit you.  Anthony Lacavera is an entrepreneur who parlays a $25,000 small business loan from RBC into a billion-dollar enterprise, including Wind Mobile.  Learn why purpose matters more than profit and why risk and reward are the oxygen that breathes life into ideas, entrepreneurial dreams and careers.

What you will takeaway:

Powerful insights for entrepreneurs and all who have that ambition. 

How to create a magnetic brand that attracts and sparks conversation.

Blocked in a career - ideas on how to follow your dreams.

Is our healthcare a matter of life or death? We all know that our health matters most, and our health care is in a crisis. Lineups have become multi-year waits, millions do not have access to family doctors, we have a massive talent shortage, and many who work in the system are burning out or leaving it altogether.

My guest is a positive change-maker who offers us a path forward if we listen and act as patients and voters. Dr. Alika Lafontaine is a recognized expert on health systems and health policy, an award-winning physician and the first Indigenous doctor to become the president of the Canadian Medical Association and listed in Medical Post's 50 Most Powerful Doctors.

Attention is the oxygen of human endeavour, and Israel Diaz will show you how to get the attention you deserve.  Israel shares his amazing life story, and how today, as a  renaissance man he works with solutionists who harness the alchemy of being, business, and brand.

Some fantastic lessons for parents, leaders, coaches, mentors and collaborators.

Georgia Balinksy, a brilliant strategist, returns to Chatter that Matters to offer her perspective on time, and we discuss Israel's belief that there are no business needs, just human needs.

If you thought a mattress shipped in a box was cool, how about a one-bedroom house packed in a box, with nine-and-a-half-foot ceilings, complete with a fridge, stove, washer and dryer?  

Paolo Tiramani is an inventor and a billionaire.  Paolo has many patents and was one of the first to add wheels to suitcases and create a moveable workbench. In this episode, we talk about why innovation matters and his bold new venture Boxabl, which he believes will change the lives of billions of people worldwide for the better.

You will find many fantastic lessons for entrepreneurs, innovators and inventors, small business owners,  families who work together, and those willing to shatter the status quo.

Carey Nieuwhof left his law career to become the founding pastor of Connexus Church, one of the most influential churches in North America. Carey shares his reasons why, how he almost burned out pursuing his passion, and why community matters more than ever in these turbulent times. 

Today, Carey Nieowhof is an author, much sought-after conference speaker, podcaster, and thought leader.

This episode contains some great takeaways and inspiration for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life and career.

David Kincaid is a branding and entrepreneurial guru, founder of Level5 Strategy, and the former Chief Marketing Officer at Corus Entertainment and Labatt. David shares his incredible story that includes drumming his way through University while offering you insights, ideas and strategies on what it takes to build brands, including your own, that stand the test of time.

And what does Pamela Anderson have to do with all this? You will have to listen to find out. 

Leadership Secrets with Steve Tappin. Your leadership skills matter as much as your work ethic. Learn how to be a better leader and get more out of life with Steve Tappin, a global thought leader on awareness, mindfulness, and human behaviour.

Steve Tappin is the co-founder and CEO of Beyond Unity and co-author of The Awareness Code and The Secrets of CEOs. Steve hosted the BBC World television series CEO Guru and is a LinkedIn global influencer.

Steve works with influencers, political and business leaders, and entrepreneurs, and his goal is to help create an incredible world through transforming leadership.  What Steve offers in this episode of Chatter that Matters will change how you lead your life and career.

The path to a new life starts with a new calling. Dr. Gordon Postill shares his unique story of faith and overcoming personal challenges in order to help others on their journey. Listen and learn how one man's faith inspired a fantastic career change.

We all face forks in the road, and choosing one over the other isn't always obvious or easy. What can compound this difficulty is if your current path is littered with alcohol and drugs that once gave you a false sense of courage but are now consuming your shot at life.

As a young man, Gordon Postill stepped on a train to attend Queen's University. After a three-year debauched romp of sensual delights, he flunks out to find himself on another train, heading to the nickel mines in Northern Ontario, where he hopes to hide beneath the earth's surface, but his substance abuse picked up steam. 

Gordon becomes increasingly dispirited, feeling irreversibly mired in existential despair, ignominy and jobs ranging from nickel miner to security guard. Gordon reaches a point where he questions if life is worth living. 

And then, Gordon has a calling that changes all and puts him on a path to earning a Masters and Doctorate in Ministry. Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill takes the pain and experiences of his earlier life on a new course where he helps thousands of people living in hospices.

Many decades later, Gordon has a new calling: to help his loved wife Robin, whose mind surrendered to Alzheimer's. 

Rev. Dr. Postill wrote a book about this time titled Called! A Longshot's Story. An honest and, at times, raw interview that proves that destiny, or at the very least a new path in life, can happen if you match purpose with intent.

Amy Deacon, Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, returns to Chatter that Matters to talk about why so many wonderful caregivers helping people with their addiction have found themselves on this path because, at one time, they were addicts. 

To learn more about Rev. Dr. Gordon Postill and to purchase his book: https://www.gordonpostill.com

To learn more about Amy Deacon and Toronto Wellness Counselling: https://www.torontowellnesscounselling.com/about-amy

To connect with me:  https://www.chatterthatmatters.ca