Ideas And Stuff Calgary

On this week's Calgary podcast episode you will meet Lorena Prakash, owner of Duzu Dates. Duzu Dates are a delicious modern twist on dates and they will keep you coming back for more. There are such flavours as pistachio dates, ginger dates, chia dates and others all wrapped in Master Chocolat (Bernard & Sons) chocolate.  These amazing treats are created by an inspiring Calgarian, Lorena Prakash, brought the idea of these dates back to her hometown after a trip to Dubai.  In this chat, you will learn all about Lorena's idea and some of the challenges she had to overcome to bring this product to market. Learn more about Duzu Dates and Lorena Prakash https://www.duzudates.com/   

On this week's Calgary podcast episode you will meet Nicolas Beique, Founder and CEO of Helcim Inc. Helcim is a payment platform for small businesses all the way up to large international corporations. They have developed a great model where the customer pays fantastic rates and they have an integrated commerce platform. Plus they are a transparent business that stays true to their values and beliefs. Nicolas is an inspiring and very successful Calgary entrepreneur. In this chat, you will learn where his idea for Helcim came from and he explores some of the challenges he had to overcome in scaling his successful business. He chats about the startup scene in Calgary and provides some fantastic tips for entrepreneurs. Don't miss this great episode with Nicolas Beique of Helcim Inc.  https://www.helcim.com/ca/

On this week's Calgary podcast episode you will meet Jade Alberts. Jade is a Small Business Strategist who focuses on Business Development, Marketing, Social Media & Digital Strategy, Content Creation and Business Plans. His motto is "Telling It Like It Is" and you can contact him if you would like honest advice.  In this episode, you will learn about Jade's journey and how he continues to build his thriving business. You will hear about Jade's connection to sports in Calgary and how he uses athletics to connect with those in his database. You will also gain a ton of insight on how to build a business in Calgary.  Reach out to Jade Alberts: http://jadealbertsconsulting.com/    

On this week's Ideas and Stuff Calgary Podcast, you will meet Don Tse and I hope you are thirsty. Don is a beer writer and enthusiast. He began exploring craft beer long before we saw the explosion of the craft beer movement, so he has watched this trend unfold. One of the amazing things about Don is his dedication to documenting the beers he has tried over the years. Tune into this episode to hear the mind-blowing number of beers in his database. Don also enjoys scotch tasting and he is passionate about fitness. In this chat, Don shares his story of how he came to be a beer writer and he dives into the motivations behind his beer tasting and writing.  Learn more about The Don of Beer  http://www.beerstoyou.ca/

With the 9th Annual Enbridge® Ride to Conquer Cancer® wrapping up, this week you will meet Gillian Thomas, a rider with one of the most unique and inspiring ways of raising money for this amazing cause.  Gillian has participated in The Enbridge® Ride to Conquer Cancer® for a number of years and just wait until you hear the amount she has been able to cumulatively raise.  Often times we would love to participate in these important events, however, we are unsure of how we are going to be able to raise the funds or prepare for a 2-day road bike ride. Gillian Thomas has the answers for you.  Featured this week is the inspiring and interesting Calgarian, Gillian Thomas. http://www.conquercancer.ca/ gillianthomas@shaw.ca  

On this week's episode of Calgary's Ideas and Stuff Podcast, you are introduced to Megan Stanley. Megan runs one of Calgary's most successful pet training businesses with two locations and she even has programs for dog trainers looking to get accredited. If that isn't enough, Megan is the Chair of the Board for the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, a mentor for Junior Achievement and the Rotary Club Stay in School program, and is the founder and President of The Guinniss Foundation. In this chat, you will learn all about how she built her business and her plans for the future. Megan explains the need for regulation in the pet care industry, and she shares some lovely stories about her own experiences with her pets.  Megan is interesting, fun, and full of life. Don't miss this chat with Megan Stanley.  https://www.dogmatraining.com/

On this week's Calgary podcast, you will meet the successful entrepreneur, author, and speaker, Shawna Curry. Shawna's business is Your Lifestyle Strategy and she has helped countless people by employing a whole lifestyle strategy for their health including fitness, sleep, nutrition, self-help and overall lifestyle strategies. In this episode, Shawna shares her amazing story and her own path to health. She shares a number of inspiring stories that most can relate to, and she provides actionable strategies to help everyone.  Learn more about Shawna https://yourlifestylestrategy.com/

On this episode of the Ideas and Stuff Calgary podcast, you are introduced to Philip Setter. Philip is a Calgary based entrepreneur with amazing energy and a zest for life.  He is a managing partner at Business Critical. Business Critical is a unique team of advisors who are dedicated to maximizing your net worth. They do so by using a multi-discipline approach to financial strategy by combining forces with such fields as tax advisory, legal counsel, insurance products and more.  In this episode, you will learn how Philip found his way into his position. He explains some of the challenges he faced and how he propelled his business to success.  Enjoy this fun chat with Philip!  Have a quick look at Philip's Q and A: If you could tell everyone in Calgary one thing, what would it be? Success is not a solo sport.   What is your favourite Calgary restaurant?   Modern Steak by far - Stephen has created a wonderful steak house that I never get tired of.   Where can people find you in Calgary?     At Work Nicer or in

Meet Kim Kilback, Owner of Central Bark Doggy Daycare in Sunalta, Calgary. Central Bark Doggy Daycare is not your everyday dog daycare and Kim isn't your everyday owner. The funky space is located in Sunalta and can't be missed with the stunning dog mural on the exterior wall. At Central Bark Doggy Daycare, your dog has the option of attending the Bark Park, Zen Den, or Dog Lodge. There are a number of cool services including Canine Massage by a Certified Canine Massage Therapist, grooming, events, painting with your dog, and DOGA (yes, yoga with your dog!) Kim is an inspirational business owner. In this chat, she openly discusses her inspiring story in entrepreneurship and shares both the excitement and challenges.  Enjoy this chat with Kim Kilback!  https://www.centralbarkdogs.ca/

Meet Vu Nguyen, the man behind EvolutionVN and the inventor of the Evolution Fitness Machine. This sophisticated home fitness machine makes a fit lifestyle attainable for anyone. Vu understood that gyms aren't for everyone. Whether it's a lack of time, knowledge, or confidence, many people avoid these places. He saw a need for a more versatile, practical, and compact home fitness alternative to the gym and the current personal fitness equipment.  Vu has an inspiring story. In this episode, you will hear about where his interest in fitness comes from and why he left engineering to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. You will learn how he spends his time and he shows how dedicated he is to health and fitness.  Enjoy this episode with Vu Nguyen.  https://www.evolutionvn.com/

Meet Shane Wallace, the Cheif Engagement Officer at Culture Smith. Shane has endless knowledge when it comes to building a culture and forging engagement. Shane also coaches some of Calgary's top entrepreneurs and companies. In this episode, Shane breaks down the personality types and how one should look to engage with each type. He helps us understand what our own personality type might be and he dives deep into entrepreneurship. Enjoy this episode with Shane Wallace https://culturesmithinc.com/ 

Meet David Taylor, Business Executive Coach, Consultant, Author, Community Leader and professional engineer. David spends his time working with start-ups, small, and medium-sized businesses and non-profits. He works with business owners to narrow down a vision, implement strategies, improve cash flow, and increase the ROI in the business.  His very popular blog has endless tips and he consistently puts out amazing content for his audience.  In this chat, David explains the importance of vision and shows where some businesses may be coming up short.  He shares tactics on how to strategically improve your ROI and takes us through some of the most important parts to a business. Plus you will get an exciting look into David's life outside of Thinking Business.  https://www.thinkingbusinessblog.com/

Meet Zeina El-Sayed, Owner of Trusted Divorce Services in Calgary. Zeina is a sharp independent paralegal, offering divorce solutions and mediation. Given her model, she can offer these services at very competitive rates and she has years of laser focused experience with divorce.  This is a challenging time for most couples and there is no shortage of emotional turmoil, financial stress, and difficult conversations. Zeina is there for you throughout this process and she does so with care and professionalism.  In this chat, you will learn about the divorce process in Alberta. If there are challenges to overcome, Zeina also explains the mediation process and how the overcomes some of these challenging hurdles. You will also get a glimpse into Zeina's life and she explains how she keeps work separate from her home life, especially when she works in such emotionally charged situations.  Enjoy this chat with Zeina El-Sayed of Trusted Divorce Services in Calgary. 

Meet Lindsay Sewall and Sherise Miller, Therapists with Shift Psychological in Calgary. Shift Psychological has a brand new take on therapy sessions and they are using a fresh perspective on treatment. Helping everyone with their limiting beliefs and mindsets that hold us back, Shift is truly for everyone.  In this fun discussion, Lindsay and Sherise explain limiting beliefs and where these thoughts come from. They discuss perfectionism, comparing yourself to others, shame, and many more mindsets that are holding us back.  They provide real strategies for those that have hit a roadblock in life and they do so with modern day techniques.  Serving both Calgary and Edmonton, Shift Psychological is the future of therapy for everyone.  Don't miss this amazing chat with Lindsay Sewall and Sherise Miller   https://shiftpsych.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ShiftPsychological

Bonus Episode: Energy Disruptors Unite 2018 is happening May 15-16 2018 and includes amazing guests such as Sir Richard Branson, Susan Cain, Michael Liebreich, Steve Williams, Dave Mowat, Holly Ransom and so many more.  In this episode, we chat with co-founder, Graeme Edge and learn more about this unbelievable event. You will learn about the challenges one faces when organizing an event of this size and where this idea came from.  Graeme discusses some of his favourite new energy technologies and tackles some challenging questions around where the industry has been and where it is headed. This event is born out of exponential thinking and from a place of seeing the biggest energy challenges as the greatest opportunities. Graeme is a visionary, impactivist, and leader in Calgary. Enjoy this chat with Graeme Edge.  Get your tickets: https://www.energydisruptors.com/home

Meet Alex Jackson, an XR Industry Evangelist. No worries if the term "XR" isn't familiar to you because Alex explains this exciting technology in this fun episode. At Hone, Alex uses virtual reality and augmented reality to train primary care workers and first responders. He is using the world of VR/AR to "save lives by changing how people learn." Not only that, Alex is the president of the VR/AR Association, Calgary Chapter and he is a Paramedic - talk about a long and impressive resume!  In this chat, you will learn all about virtual reality and augmented reality and how Alex is levering this technology. You will learn where his idea came from and what he is doing to continue to build his business.  Enjoy this chat with Alex Jackson.  https://www.honevr.ca/

Meet Yann Blanchard, the Co-Founder and Executive Chef at Yann Haute Patisserie. Yann Haute Patisserie is well known in Calgary for the fantastic macarons, cakes, confectionary, and baking. Yann and his wife/Co-Founder Jeraldine have built one of Calgary's most popular spots in Mission, and they are expanding next door to offer ice cream and chocolate.  In this episode, Yann describes growing up in France and learning his trade from a young age. He explains what makes a great pastry chef and he emphasizes the importance of passion in business. He chats about the challenges of growing a business. Yann even gives us some tips that everyone can take to their kitchen. Enjoy this fun episode with Yann Blanchard! https://yannboutique.com/

Meet Dennis Plintz, from Dennis Plintz & Associates and Sotheby's International Realty. Dennis is a highly successful real estate agent in Calgary, an author, an entrepreneur, and speaker. Dennis is energetic, positive, and very creative.  In this chat, Dennis takes you into his life before real estate and some of the obstacles that he and his family had to overcome. He takes you under the hood of his sale business and reveals what is most important in his business building. Furthermore, he walks us through his approach to fear and growth.  For anyone interested in building a business where you need to connect with people, Dennis Plintz's approach is genuine and systemized.  Learn more about Dennis https://dennisplintz.com/

Meet Desiree Bombenon the president and CEO of SureCall Contact Center in Calgary. They are innovation and totally disrupters in the contact centre industry. Desiree has built this amazing business around her positive and fun culture. In this chat, you will learn all about how she has built this business and how she continues to grow.  Desiree is also on the Board of Directors at The Calgary Chamber of Commerce. She is also on the board for Children First Calgary.  Desiree is a true leader in Calgary business. Enjoy this chat with Desiree Bombenon.  https://surecallcc.com/ Thanks to Richard Gedeborg of Sound By Richard for editing this episode. Reach out to Richard: soundbyrichard@gmail.com www.soundbyrichard.com

Meet Gursh Bal and Kai Fahrion the two amazing entrepreneurs behind Virtuoso Energy. Virtuoso Energy's business is to stop the ever-increasing damage to our environment by enabling society to live and work sustainably. Virtuoso Energy does this by providing accurate information through turn-key Solar Energy, Electric Vehicle Charging & Energy Efficiency installations. In this chat Gursh and Kai discuss the story of where their idea came from. They dive into the importance behind this movement, and how they have been able to maintain such a strong business relationship. You will learn more about the technology how Gursh and Kai have been able to build their fantastic company. Learn more about Virtuoso Energy http://www.virtuosoenergy.com/