204 Rise

She had all the confidence. It just wasn't self-worth.HAVS left her 9-to-5, got a psychology degree to make her parents happy, then quit that too because her soul was dying. In this episode of 204 Rise, she breaks down the difference between the unshakable belief that you can do anything and actually knowing you're worth something without proving it.We dig into the moment she decided to go all-in on music and wellness: sound baths, To Be Magnetic, releasing her debut. But the real story isn't about making it happen: it's about what happened when she finally had to sit with herself and realize that building an empire doesn't solve the internal problem. We talk through the difference between self-belief and self-worth, why she almost didn't release her music, and what a breakup taught her about deserving things that have nothing to do with achievement.HAVS is honest about the delusion required to chase something unconventional, the pressure to please parents, and the moment she realized that accomplishing everything on the list still felt empty. This is a conversation about chasing the wrong finish lines, learning to validate yourself, and what it actually costs to build something meaningful.If you've quit the safe path, struggled with perfectionism, or wondered why success never feels like enough: this one's for you.

Cierán O'Hara spent seven years grinding as a university basketball player while quietly building two businesses on the side, a door-to-door pool cleaning company and a health & wellness supplement brand called Amani, both started before he even graduated.

In this episode, Cierán breaks down how a random conversation got him a walk-on spot on the U of M basketball team with zero recruitment, how he built a six-figure pool business from cold door-knocking in Winnipeg, and how a curiosity about adaptogens turned into mixing supplements in his kitchen, which his own parents mistook for a drug operation. He gets into the real cost of building two businesses as a student, the launch day that made him cry, and why community-first marketing beat every paid ad he tried.

If you're a student thinking about starting a business, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just want to hear an honest story about building something from nothing, this one's for you.

Chapters:

00:00 The Student Athlete Who Built a Brand from His Kitchen

1:05 From University Basketball to Running 2 Businesses

4:01 Starting a Pool Business & Finding Every Pool in Winnipeg

10:28 His Shoe Exploded Mid-Game & Scaling to His First Hire

17:42 Nobody Told Him He Could Play University Basketball

21:33 Why He Stuck With Being a Redshirt

25:14 Trusting the Process When There's No Roadmap

28:29 Mixing Supplements in His Kitchen & the Health Canada Nightmare

32:59 How He Used Business School to Build His Startup for Free

37:11 My Dad Thought He Raised a Drug Dealer

39:08 Building a Community-First Marketing Strategy

45:34 The Biggest Hurdle to Getting a New Customer

49:00 He Asked His Business Partner to Join Him at a Rave

50:20 The Launch Day That Made Him Cry

52:26 Proving Himself to Immigrant Parents Without a Steady Paycheck

54:09 The Logistics Behind Shipping Nationwide

56:58 The Mistake He'd Avoid If He Started Over

59:52 Why Packaging Makes People Keep the Box

1:04:20 The 5-Year Vision for Amani

1:07:09 Building Proof to Himself & Documenting the Journey Online

1:10:27 Learning No One Actually Cares About You

1:12:18 His Final Advice for Anyone Chasing a Dream

To support us on our mission of telling Winnipeg stories to the world, it would mean the world to us if you Subscribe!

🔗 Connect with 204 Rise 🔗 ‣ https://linktr.ee/204Rise

📧 Any business inquires, please email... 📧 ‣ [email protected]

This week 204Rise is joined by Lee for an honest, thoughtful conversation about obsession, success, and the invisible costs of building an empire.We talk openly about what it feels like to go from $300 to a seven-figure business, why the obsession that builds you can also break you, and what happens when you realize success doesn't feel like you thought it would. From the mental breakdowns nobody talks about to the moment you stop and ask "is this even worth it?", this episode explores parts of entrepreneurship that rarely get said out loud.

We get into:

💰 How $300 became a million-dollar business

🔄 Why he couldn't turn it off—the obsession that became a prison

🧠 Depression, anxiety, and panic disorder behind the scenes 😴 Five days without showering, two days without sleep

💔 The gap between external achievement and internal emptiness

❌ Why success didn't feel like happiness

🎯 The turning point when he decided to want it all—on his own terms

🤝 Learning to turn it off and what that actually means

To support us on our mission of telling Winnipeg stories to the world, it would mean the world to us if you Subscribe!

🔗 Connect with 204 Rise 🔗 ‣ https://linktr.ee/204Rise📧 Any business inquires, please email... 📧 ‣ [email protected]

Thirty years in and Andrew still unloads kegs before game time.As the General Manager of the Winnipeg Goldeyes since 1994, Andrew breaks down what it actually takes to lead an organization when the cameras aren't on. He's honest about the unglamorous reality refreshing the radar, making impossible calls, and carrying the weight of a community's expectations.We unpack the difference between winning and meaning: why playoff baseball feels different, what it costs to stay committed for three decades, and why he still gets that feeling walking into an empty ballpark. He talks leadership from the trenches being the first one pulling the tarp, getting out of the way of great people, and how showing up changes everything about how a team responds to you.This is a conversation about purpose, longevity, and building something that matters beyond the scoreboard. If you're in leadership, pursuing something long-term, or wondering how to stay grounded when success becomes ordinary this one's for you.00:00 Inside the Life of a Baseball GM06:12 Planning Events & Creating Experiences11:12 Being a Leader & Making Tough Calls17:10 Memorable Moments & The Business of Baseball23:23 Community, Culture, and Growth30:19 Challenges, Reflection & Building a Great Team37:00 Advice for Future Generations & Final Thoughts🔗 Connect with 204 Rise 🔗 ‣ https://linktr.ee/204Rise📧 Any business inquires, please email... 📧 ‣ [email protected]

Fresh off Summer of Sound 2026, Danny Avila talks about 15 years on the road and why he didn't coast.

At 15, he left his family and moved to his grandparents' basement in Madrid with zero connections. Tiëesto predicted he'd be a superstar. But instead of chasing that prediction, he invented a new sound (Mainstage Techno) and stayed true to his gut.

In this conversation:

• Why he'd rather play for 100 people he loves than 10,000 he doesn't
• The false rumor that haunted his entire early career (his dad was broke, but people thought he owned the club)
• Why "you have to be really fucking patient"
• The moment he realized: "The ones that really make it aren't there for the lifestyle they're there because of the behind the scenes work"
• How he starts every show: grateful, even on the bad days
• Why social media broke his heart about the industry
• What trusting your gut actually means after 15 years

What he learned about staying hungry when you've already won.

What does a man do when he’s receiving death threats, being criticized online, and running one of the most public campaigns in the city?According to Umar Hayat, you relax, calm down, and make sure you have fun.In this episode, we sit down with Winnipeg mayoral candidate Umar Hayat to explore the mindset that has made him one of the city’s most recognizable personalities. We discuss fear, stress, social media, politics, friendship, betrayal, mental health, homelessness, family, and why he believes most people spend too much time worrying about things they can’t control.From receiving death threats during his campaign to spending time with some of Winnipeg’s most vulnerable residents, Umar shares the experiences that have shaped his outlook on life and his vision for the city.Whether you agree with his politics or not, one thing is clear: Umar sees the world differently.00:00 Facing Fear and Stress03:01 Authenticity and Social Media Presence06:36 Handling Threats and Pressure11:00 Developing a Stress-Free Mindset15:44 Relationships, Friends, and Staying Calm17:40 Trust, Betrayal, and Running Campaigns22:37 Challenges in Winnipeg's Politics and Construction27:01 Balancing Career, Campaign, and Personal Life33:20 Caring for the Vulnerable and City Improvement36:02 Advice for Living Happy and Stress-Free38:04 Giving Back and Finding Meaning39:02 Final Thoughts and Positive OutlookDisclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the guest are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or the podcast. This podcast is intended to encourage open conversation and the sharing of personal experiences and perspectives. Viewers are encouraged to do their own research and form their own opinions.🔗 Connect with 204 Rise 🔗 ‣ https://linktr.ee/204Rise📧 Any business inquires, please email... 📧 ‣ [email protected]#204Rise #UmarHayat #Winnipeg #WinnipegMayor #Podcast #MentalHealth #Leadership #Politics #Mindset #LifeLessons

What does it take to turn your life into a memoir?In this episode, we sit down with writer, poet, and memoirist Tay Aly Jade to explore the deeply personal process of transforming memories, trauma, and life experiences into stories that can help others feel less alone.From documenting moments on scraps of paper as a teenager to writing a memoir that revisits some of the most difficult chapters of her life, Tay shares the realities of storytelling, vulnerability, and what it means to tell the truth on the page.We discuss the art of memoir writing, the ethics of writing about real people, the challenge of revisiting painful memories, and the responsibility that comes with sharing your story with the world. Tay opens up about healing, resilience, finding meaning in adversity, and why she believes everyone has a story worth telling.This conversation is for writers, storytellers, creatives, and anyone who has ever wondered how to make sense of the experiences that shaped them.Topics discussed:• Writing a memoir• Poetry and storytelling• Turning trauma into meaning• The ethics of writing about real people• Vulnerability and creative expression• Healing through storytelling• The power of reflection• Why everyone has a story• Finding light after difficult experiences• The journey behind Brave ThingIf you've ever considered writing your own story, this episode might be the encouragement you need to start.

Cannabis isn’t just about “getting high.”

In this episode, we sat down with the founders of Low Cloud Mary Marov and Maxwell Druxwell to uncover the side of the cannabis industry most people never hear about.

From the science behind cannabinoids and full-spectrum products, to the stigma surrounding cannabis, entrepreneurship, product development, and building a company in one of Canada’s newest industries this conversation goes way deeper than expected.We talked about:

• The truth about THC vs CBD

• Why most people misunderstand cannabis

• The future of cannabinoids and wellness

• Building a cannabis company from the ground up

• The pressure of entrepreneurship and surviving uncertainty

• How they balance business, creativity, and relationships

• Why the industry is still just getting started

⚠️ Disclaimer: This episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The views expressed are based on personal experiences and conversations around the cannabis industry. This content is not medical advice, and viewers should consult healthcare professionals before making decisions related to cannabis or health treatments.

In this live episode of 204 Rise, creators, podcasters, influencers, comedians, and entrepreneurs come together for a real conversation about the future of content creation.Long form vs short form?Which one actually wins in 2026?From posting every single day, to building podcasts from cheap Amazon mics, to dealing with burnout, imposter syndrome, analytics, money, hate, consistency, and creativity, this episode breaks down what it REALLY takes to grow as a creator today.Featuring:- Josh Angelo - Emma Novak (Track Talk Pod)- Live audience creators and entrepreneursTopics include:• Long form vs short form content• How creators actually make money• The hardest part about consistency• Going viral vs building trust• Fear of being cringe online• Why most creators quit• Analytics, algorithms, and audience retention• Building a personal brand in 2026• Creative burnout and discipline• Turning content into a careerThis wasn’t just a podcast episode. It became a live debate where the audience had to decide which type of content wins.🎙️ Welcome to the first ever 204 Rise Live.🔗 Connect with 204 Rise 🔗 ‣ https://linktr.ee/204Rise📧 Any business inquires, please email... 📧 ‣ [email protected]

Tickets: https://3common.com/204riseWinnipeg’s networking events are about to change. In this episode, we talk about why we’re hosting our first-ever 204 Rise Live Podcast and what makes it different from a typical networking event. No awkward small talk, no standing around alone—just real conversations and real connections.We’re bringing together creators to answer one big question: what content actually works in 2026? We get into long-form vs. short-form content, why in-person connection matters more than ever, and how we’re designing an event where people actually meet, talk, and create together.We also share what to expect on the night, including our first guest, the structure of the event, and how you’ll have the chance to connect and make content with others in the room.If you’re a creator or just want to be around people building cool things, this is for you. Saturday, May 2nd at 6:00 PM at Saintuary Cafe. If you care about content, you should be there