Actualize

In this episode, we had a conversation with Jason Silver, an entrepreneur, father of two, and early influencer in Airbnb's growth. After the profound loss of his sister in 2019, Jason embarked on a transformative journey, immersing himself in productivity, mindfulness, neuroscience, and behavioral psychology. 

Through this exploration, he devised strategies to harmonize personal well-being with professional impact. Jason is currently penning "Quietly Crushing It," and in our chat, he unveils insights on ambition, the juxtaposition of working hard versus smart, and parenting, and offers practical tools for those grappling with burnout or seeking deeper career fulfillment. 

Dive into this enriching discussion with Jason, and discover how to bring balance and purpose to your work life.

This episode features Kelly Hrudey. From the world of professional hockey, Kelly comes a 15-year NHL career, wrapping up in 1998. Post-retirement, he transitioned into broadcasting and now shines as an analyst for Hockey Night in Canada on Sportsnet and a commentator for the Calgary Flames.

In this chat, Kelly shares his personal battles with mental health while he was playing and even now. He also touches on how his daughter Kaitlin also has to fight every day against intrusive thoughts and how they support her as a family. We discuss the feelings of anxiety, panic, and self-boycott thinking. During the conversation, we’ll talk about the importance of seeking professional help as early as possible and the evolving needed mental health narrative in hockey. With his openness and vulnerability, Kelly is an inspiration for those seeking to shatter mental health stigmas. Dive into this enlightening conversation with Kelly Hrudey!

This episode is with Alicia Mccarvel. Alicia hails from Halifax, Nova Scotia, and is an absolute force of a person, content creator, and entrepreneur. She is dedicated to making the lives of others better by encouraging them to be comfortable and confident in their own bodies. As of now, Alicia has over 1 million Instagram followers and 6 million TikTok followers.

During our conversation, Alicia opens up about the grief she holds for not living fully for 8 years when she was ashamed of her body. She talks about what it means to be and feel worthy as a whole person. I ask Alicia about the compassion fatigue that comes with inspiring others by being vulnerable and open about her relationship with her body. Alicia talks a lot about setting boundaries, and taking care of her mental health as an influencers, and someone who faces a lot of judgment through her platform.

Today, we explore the intricacies of identity, mental health, and the transformative power of personal narratives with our guest Bryce Seto.

For individuals seeking understanding, especially those navigating the intersections of cultural backgrounds and emotional well-being. We also discuss how the support of a loving partner and the joy of fatherhood can transform the emotional landscape, challenging societal norms of masculinity and strength. 

Together, we embrace vulnerability, cultivate self-awareness, and find balance in our life's journey.

When we meet an entrepreneur, we often wonder: How did they fund their startup? How do they foster its growth? And, how do they manage it all? In this episode, we sit down with Mallory Greene to delve into the challenges of fundraising as a woman, varying leadership styles, and the mental health aspects of entrepreneurship. If you're keen to uncover both the triumphs and trials faced by entrepreneurs, this episode is packed with insights and tools. Dive in to understand why the entrepreneurial journey is one of grit and resilience. Stay with us to discover the nuances of securing funding as a woman, supporting female-led businesses, and gleaning tips on effective business management.

Taylor Loren is a creator and social media educator who shares about the intersection of marketing and mental health. She is passionate about helping small businesses and creators grow their audiences without burning out, which she does through her courses and Instagram account.

Daniel is the Founder and CEO of Koho, a Canadian fintech company founded in 2015. Koho recently passed 1 million customers, and the company employs over 350 people. Daniel is a very thoughtful leader, who combines emotional intelligence, high intellect, and the ability to zoom in and out when need. He’s extremely humble, and values humility and warmth in the workplace.In this episode we talk about creating a psychologically safe culture, how Koho employs coaches for their entire team to utilize, and how Daniel thinks about hiring. We also discuss Daniel’s personal experience with therapy and coaching, his desire to be useful in society, and his views on parenting and the importance he places on being a dad.

Brianne is a renowned athlete and three-time Olympian, having represented the Canadian Women's Hockey Team on the world stage. Her accomplishments include two Olympic Gold medals and a silver, and she holds the distinguished title of being named the MVP of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Tournament, where she tied the record for the most goals scored in an Olympic tournament. In addition to her illustrious sporting career, Brianne has recently embraced another profound role in her life: motherhood. Balancing the demands of being an elite athlete with the joys and challenges of raising a child, Brianne exemplifies the true meaning of resilience and determination.

On paper, Andy Johns has had a remarkable career in Silicon Valley. He worked at nine companies worth over 1 billion each. He was an early employee of Facebook, Twitter, and Quora, and was President of Wealth Front. When Andy was a few years into his tech career, he discovered deep psychological pain stemming from childhood trauma. After years in therapy, while still being a top performer in the tech world, Andy now dedicates his life to healing and growth. Andy has a new venture and passion, Clues.life, which is all about empowering others with the tools (clues) to the life they want.

Alex Auerbach is a performance psychologist, currently working with the Toronto Raptors NBA team. Prior to this role, Alex has been a college football coach and also worked with the Kansas City Chief’s NFL team. He held the role of Director of Clinical and Sports Psychology at the University of Arizona. Alex applies the principles and practices of elite sport to everyday health and high performance.In this episode we discuss mental health in a sports setting, the difference between a coach and a therapist, and how to achieve sustainable high performance and maintain motivation over time.

Yvette Yong is an Olympian, a 15-time Team Canada TaeKwonDo athlete, and a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. Yvette is a true champion in every sense of the word, having won three world TaeKwonDo championships and multiple international medals, including a world-ranked number one position in the female 46-kilogram category, which was a first for any Canadian athlete. In this episode, we chat with Yvette about her journey to the top, the challenges she’s faced along the way, and how she stays motivated to achieve her goals. We explore the influence of her mother on her success, managing intensity in everyday life, how she thinks about confidence, and giving back to the next generation.

Today's guest is the talented and dynamic Jillian Harris, who is known for her creative flair and inspiring designs. Jillian is a mother, partner, and an entrepreneur who wears many hats. She's the founder of Jillian Harris Design and the Jilly Academy, and the co-founder of the Jilly Box. In this episode, we dive into Jillian's life and talk about what drives her, how she balances her various roles, and the challenges she's faced in building her successful businesses. We also discuss her passions for philanthropy, fashion, and family. Join us as Jillian shares her insights on creativity, entrepreneurship, and the power of positivity. We hope you enjoy this episode with Jillian Harris.

Our guest is Mark McLeod, a seasoned expert in the tech startup world. Mark has an impressive track record having served as CFO for companies such as Shopify and FreshBooks. With over two decades of experience in the venture-backed startup industry, Mark now spends his time coaching and advising CEOs. In this episode, Mark shares his journey of how he transitioned from being a CFO to an executive coach. He highlights how he found his true passion in coaching and advising CEOs, which he feels was the most fulfilling aspect of his previous roles. Mark's mission is to help CEOs of venture or private equity-funded technology companies grow faster than their businesses, a concept he elaborates on during the conversation.

Actualize co-hosts Rob Pintwala and Kim Foster Yardley introduce themselves and discuss their intentions for the podcast.