In this episode, we sit down with Audra McCreesh, Founder and Lead Consultant of HR & IDEA Hub and the force behind DisruptHR Halifax, the high-energy event series reshaping how Atlantic Canada talks about people, purpose, and workplace culture. Audra is a strategist, connector, and change-maker who works at the intersection of human resources, business development, and inclusion. From designing tailored workforce and HR programs, to supporting emerging tech SMEs tied to Canada’s defence ...

In this episode, we are joined by Rebecca Coleman, Founder of Oak Bay HR Inc., a Halifax based HR consulting firm supporting growing, purpose driven organizations across Canada. Rebecca brings more than 15 years of experience in talent acquisition, HR advisory, and organizational culture, with a focus on helping mission aligned companies build strong, inclusive teams. Rebecca shares her perspective on purpose driven recruitment, leadership hiring, and people strategy, particularly within clea...

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Gillard, founder of BizEBee Marketing and Support Services, to talk about building a business rooted in creativity, connection, and balance. With a BBA in Marketing and Management from Mount Saint Vincent University, Jennifer brings a strong foundation in event management, content marketing, and communications to everything she does. Jennifer shares how completing her yoga teacher training in 2016 became a turning point in her career. Through that ex...

In this episode, we sit down with Wren Bruce, a registered geoscientist who built her career from the ground up – literally. From battling blackflies as a field tech in the subarctic to leading mineral exploration programs across Canada and internationally, Wren shares the real story behind her journey in geoscience. She talks about launching Bruce GEOinsights, her mission to make science more accessible, and why community-centered communication is essential in an era of climate action ...

In this episode, we sit down with Karen Wonders – tech leader, executive coach, and Founder & President of LALUZ Consulting – for an inspiring conversation about ambition, identity, and the power of clarity. Karen shares her journey of immigrating to Canada as a young child, navigating the challenges of building a new life, and discovering early on what it meant to lead with resilience and curiosity. She walks us through her formative years at the University of Toronto, where the intensit...

In this episode, we sit down with Keonté Beals – award-winning musician, author, and storyteller whose journey from North Preston to stages and classrooms across Canada has made him one of the most inspiring voices for youth today. Keonté shares how a childhood filled with music, community, and creativity shaped the storyteller he would become. From his early days singing and spinning imaginative tales, to his rise as a musician, and ultimately to discovering his calling as a children’s autho...

This week, I sit down with Andrea Parker – Human Potential Expert, former police detective, and the force behind the movement redefining what high performance really looks like. After more than a decade in law enforcement, Andrea reached a crossroads that pushed her to rethink everything she knew about leadership, purpose, and personal fulfillment. That shift led her away from the police force and into the world of transformational coaching, where she now helps people rediscover their spark a...

In this episode, we sit down with Ryan Richard, brand photographer, videographer, and founder of Rival Digital, to explore how powerful visual storytelling can transform the trajectory of a small business. With over 20 years of experience behind the camera, Ryan has helped countless entrepreneurs craft visuals that don’t just look good — they work. From building trust and driving conversions to standing out in oversaturated markets, Ryan shares insights on how media and branding interse...

In this episode, we sit down with Dawn McKelvie Cyr, MA, RCT-C — a counsellor, educator, and writer with more than 35 years of experience guiding people through growth, healing, and transformation. With a master’s degree in counselling psychology, two decades of coaching, and 14 years as a therapist, Dawn brings a grounded, compassionate lens to the complexities of self-awareness, boundaries, and personal agency. Dawn is the founder of Independence Counselling and the creative force behind th...

This week, we’re joined by Pascale Joëlle – a trans-inclusive strategist, community-builder, and the heart behind Hello Gender. With deep Acadian roots and the warmth of Atlantic Canada woven through their work, Pascale helps organizations move beyond performative inclusion to create cultures where belonging is lived every day. Fluent in both English and French, Pascale designs bilingual allyship workshops and community-rooted programs that bring people together across differences – always wi...

What starts with a leash and a love for dogs can sometimes turn into a thriving business. In this episode, we talk with Jenn Marotta, founder of East Coast Dog, about her journey from dog walking in Toronto to running one of the Halifax’s most trusted independent pet shops. Jenn shares how her deep care for animals and commitment to Fear Free practices inspired her to create a space where dogs — and their people — feel safe, supported, and part of a community. Along the way, she opens up abou...

In this episode, we sit down with Ari Goldstein, a researcher whose work bridges academia, advocacy, and community action. Ari is a Research Assistant with the 2SLGBTQIA+ Emancipatory Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (REKH) at the University of Alberta, where they explore the sociolegal history of 2SLGBTQIA+ people in Canada and the lived experiences of queer entrepreneurs across the Atlantic provinces. With an academic foundation in sociology and criminology and a Master of Planning from the U...

In this episode, we sit down with Mica B. Daurie (she/her) — a trailblazing advocate, consultant, and thought leader whose career has reshaped the landscape of equity and inclusion across Nova Scotia and beyond. As the first openly transgender woman to work at Halifax City Hall and the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, Mica has turned lived experience into transformative leadership. From her beginnings in Mi'kma'ki to founding her own consulting firm, Mica’s journey is one of courage, pers...

Dr. Megan Ross is a lawyer, academic, and human rights advocate whose career spans international policy work, groundbreaking legal research, and now, the reinvention of estate planning in Nova Scotia. After being called to the bar in 2010, Megan practiced at a major Calgary firm before earning a Master of Laws from NYU and contributing to UNICEF’s policy department. She later completed her doctorate in law at the University of Toronto, teaching queer and feminist legal theory at both Emory Un...

Orphaned at a young age and shaped by displacement, danger, and resilience, Adeb Arianson has turned survival into advocacy. From Afghanistan to Canada, Adeb’s journey has spanned NGOs, government councils, and international organizations, always centering the fight for human rights, LGBTQ+ rights, youth empowerment, and gender-based violence prevention. Now a sociology student at Dalhousie University, Adeb combines academic study with lived experience, bridging survivor wisdom, program facil...

In this episode, we sit down with Seon Yuzyk, PhD (ABD), a political science doctoral candidate at the University of Alberta whose life journey is as compelling as his research. Born and raised in Guyana between two sugarcane plantations, Seon reflects on his early childhood experiences and how the legacies of resource extraction shaped his worldview. We explore his years working in Alberta’s oil sands—nearly seven years in supply chain and warehousing—and the profound mental, social, and env...

In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Munro (she/her), award-winning event specialist and founder of Loop In Events, to explore the power of inclusivity in the events industry. Michelle believes every gathering should reflect the diversity and uniqueness of the people attending, and she’s built her work around creating spaces where everyone truly feels welcome. As a Rainbow Registered business through Canada’s 2SLGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce, Michelle brings both expertise and heart to th...

This week, we’re joined by Kaia Maeve Tingley, a visionary who’s redefining the relationship between technology and real life. With over 25 years in IT and two decades as a massage and shiatsu therapist and martial arts instructor, Kaia brings a rare perspective—one that bridges the digital and the embodied. As the founder of the Web Makers Circle, Kaia helps small business owners and founders build websites rooted in trust, authenticity, and human connection—without the hype, hustle, or cook...

This week, we sit down with Terri M. Roberts — educator, speaker, researcher, and founder of The Pink Dumbbell Problem. With over 20 years of experience in education and leadership, Terri brings a powerful voice to the intersections of fitness, feminism, and philosophy. As the creator of The Pink Dumbbell Problem YouTube channel, based on her groundbreaking master’s thesis, Terri is the first researcher to connect feminist theory and agnotology—the study of ignorance—with fitness instruction ...

In this episode, we sit down with Mackenzie Costron (she/her) — an autistic therapist, Certified Music Therapist, and Registered Counselling Therapist based in K’jipuktuk/Halifax, NS. Mackenzie shares her journey of weaving music therapy, counselling, and heart-centered facilitation into a business that reflects her values and supports both her clients and community. We dive into the transformative power of music therapy, from helping adults with high-masking autism explore identity and senso...