Dillon Stecyk is the COO of APRÈS Beverage Festivals, an entrepreneur, and a consciousness coach who bridges two worlds: large-scale festivals and deep synchronistic transformation. As the operational force behind some of Western Canada’s most iconic events - Dillon has spent over a decade creating spaces where people connect through music, food, beverage & celebration. Behind the scenes, his personal journey has been devoted to understanding alignment, synchronicity, and what it means to...

Chris Schoengut has spent nearly 20 years shaping some of Western Canada’s biggest live experiences—from grassroots events to major festivals like the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival, where he served as Director of Brand & Partnerships. Now, after two decades in the industry, Chris is stepping into a new chapter—one driven by balance, purpose, and fatherhood. A long-time community supporter and proud dad, he’s rethinking what creativity and impact look like in this next season of life. In ...

Tom Bamford has spent his life pushing limits—both as an athlete and as a creator of unforgettable race experiences. A lifetime competitor, Tom has taken on everything from the Ironman World Championships to XTERRA off-road events and the Belgian Waffle Ride. He started his career directing major triathlon events before moving into the tech world, working with startups, IBM, PeopleSoft, and Deloitte. In 2004 he founded TESSALink, growing it into a global software company over 20 years. In 201...

Hien Pham is a Calgary-based content creator who has built a loyal and engaged community by inviting people into her world with authenticity, humour, and a creative eye. Her content spans home projects, thrifted treasures, travel adventures, sports moments, lifestyle inspiration, and the beautifully chaotic in-between - capturing the kind of everyday stories that feel both relatable and refreshing. Hien began creating five years ago purely for fun, never imagining that her spontaneous posts w...

Peter Bishop never meant to become a creative leader, tech strategist, and beverage entrepreneur—but that’s exactly what happened. In this episode, we dive into Peter’s unconventional journey from bartender and illustrator to partner at ZGM and the mind behind Stickler. We unpack the lessons learned from trial by fire, why starting new businesses fuels his creativity, the challenge of selling something you’ve built, and what it really takes to stay inspired when self-doubt kicks in. Oh - and ...

Born and raised in Germany’s legendary Black Forest, Scott Sunderwald has lived a life deeply connected to the wild. From the German Forestry Service to wilderness education in BC and Saskatchewan, Scott’s passion for bushcraft, survival, and storytelling has shaped a career devoted to the outdoors. For the past 17 years, he’s called Alberta’s rugged Northern Rockies home, working with Alberta Parks and living the lessons he teaches. He’s also the author of “Radically Wild – True ...

Colin Patterson’s journey began on the ice — ten seasons in the NHL, eight of them with the Calgary Flames, where he helped lift the Stanley Cup in 1989. But his legacy didn’t end when the skates came off. Today, as a Director with the Calgary Flames Alumni, Colin channels the same drive and teamwork that fueled his playing days into making a difference across Alberta. From leading the SuperHEROS program — creating space in hockey for kids with cognitive and physical challenges — to championi...

Born and raised in British Columbia, Robert McKay has spent a lifetime surrounded by the province’s natural beauty and creative spirit. With deep family roots in Vancouver—his mother a Kitsilano High alumna and his grandmother an artist and early mentor—Robert grew up immersed in art, language, and culture. Those formative experiences, from visits to VanDusen Gardens to exploring the Museum of Anthropology, shaped his appreciation for aesthetics, storytelling, and the artistry of everyday lif...

Calgary-born Taras Foremsky went from chasing pucks to chasing perfection in the meat business. After an impressive hockey career that took him across North America and Europe — from the AJHL to Italy, Germany, and England — Taras traded his skates for a knife, buying out his father’s partners to build what’s now Prairie West Specialty Meats. A proud husband to Heather and “girl dad” to Alexis and Berkley, Taras blends the discipline of a pro athlete with the creativity of an entreprene...

Gordon Fontaine is the founder and heartbeat behind Soffritto Calgary — a purpose-driven culinary business fueled by heart, hustle, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. A proud Calgarian with deep roots in hospitality, Gordon’s path has taken him from the lively chaos of Earls and Melrose Café to helping grow The Cash Store from 19 to 500 locations. In 2010, he returned to his true passion — food and connection — launching Soffritto. Known for his sharp wit, big heart, and obsession ...

From law school to soft pretzels, Maria Chau’s journey is anything but ordinary. As co-founder of Zwick’s Pretzels, she’s spent the last eight years coaxing an unexpected pretzel phenomenon into a thriving, if unpredictable, business. In this episode, Maria shares how an existential crisis, a taco bar, and a willingness to follow curiosity led her down an entirely new path. She talks about scaling chaos into structure, learning resilience through fire, and finding joy in the dance betwe...

From the fairways of Alabama to the foothills of Cochrane, Dane Thorogood has built a life around golf, family, and community. A former collegiate golfer turned golf course operator, Dane’s latest venture — Templ — is rewriting the playbook for non-alcoholic beverages in Canada. As President of Templ, the Totem Charitable Foundation, and Totem Group, Dane blends business with purpose, pairing his entrepreneurial spirit with a deep love for family and giving back. In this episode, Dane op...

Rambod Rezaie is a Canadian aviator and multidisciplinary professional whose life embodies precision, creativity, and purpose. Often described as a “man of Renaissance,” Rambod has seamlessly blended a career rooted in science, art, and aviation. A graduate of the University of British Columbia in Biological Sciences and Harvard University’s Fundamentals of Medicine program, he began his professional journey in medical sciences before discovering his true calling — flight. His disciplined app...

With over 35 years in TV news and communications, Bob’s seen it all - from breaking stories to building lasting relationships across the city and beyond. A lifelong Calgarian with a global mindset, Bob thrives on human connection and the magic that happens when people share their stories. Now, he’s turning the page with the launch of Newsbob Media - his next chapter in helping others shine in the spotlight. Focused on affordable and effective media relations, Bob brings heart, hustle, and dec...

Meet Rob Swiderski – Entrepreneur, Mushroom Innovator, and Family Man Rob’s entrepreneurial path began with CRAFT Beer Market and has since evolved into purpose-driven ventures like NuCelium (formerly Mushröm) - a company that reflects his growing passion for health, healing, and holistic wellness. But behind the business journey is a deeply personal story—one shaped by love, faith, and resilience. Rob speaks openly about the strength it takes to balance ambition with vulnerability, and how h...

Chelsea’s journey into brewing started with a science degree and a homebrew kit. After nearly a decade working in environmental labs, she shifted gears – winning national awards as a homebrewer before launching her own brewery. Today, as head brewer at Polyrhythm Brewing, Chelsea blends scientific precision with artistic flair to craft award-winning beers and create a taproom that feels like home. Her favourite sound? Laughter coming from the tables she helped build. In this episode, Chelsea ...

Bill brings over 30 years of experience in the beverage industry to his role at Foothills Creamery. From working on iconic campaigns like “I AM CANADIAN” to helping re-energize a legacy Alberta brand, he’s always been driven by people, purpose, and a good story. Since joining Foothills in 2021, Bill has tackled big challenges – culture shifts, supply issues, product revamps—but with the right team and a community-first mindset, the results have been sweet. In this episode, Bill talks about th...

As co-founder of BioWare, Greg helped create some of the most iconic story-driven games of our time, including Baldur’s Gate, Mass Effect, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. A trained medical doctor, he balanced family medicine with game development before fully committing to the studio—eventually leading it through its acquisition by Electronic Arts and serving as VP and GM of BioWare Austin. After stepping away in 2012 to pursue a more balanced life, Greg turned his attention to cr...

Jeff’s creative journey began behind the bar, where he started collecting bottle caps simply because he couldn’t bring himself to throw them away. Eighteen years later, those caps have become the foundation of a thriving art career—transforming waste into bold, eye-catching mosaics. With over half a million caps repurposed, Jeff’s work now spans three continents, with clients including the Chicago Bulls, Labatt, the Blue Jays, and Joe Rogan. Before launching JAM full-time, Jeff built a ...

Since 1994, Max has called the Columbia Valley home – a place that mirrors his passion for the outdoors, people, and possibility. His career has been anything but conventional: from building homes and launching early internet companies to founding flight schools and competing four times in the gruelling Red Bull X-Alps adventure race. Today, Max wears many hats—realtor with Re/Max Invermere, paddling guide with Columbia River Paddle, and chief instructor at flyingMax.com, where he shares his ...