Boiling Point Podcast

By Greg Hemmings and Dave VealeSociety & Culture Business

Boiling Point Podcast episodes

September 28, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 067 - Marcel LeBrun
A Vision for Social Entrepreneurship

Re-introducing Marcel LeBrun
Last episode was so nice, we got Marcel twice. Marcel LeBrun is back to discuss his feelings on company missions or visions and social entrepreneurship. The former CEO of Radian 6 has a passion for the topic of poverty, but not just poverty of material things. Marcel tells us how what he is currently working on is recharging his entrepreneurial batteries and makes many great points on how to get your company’s people invested in a vision for the better.

In this episode
We hear about some of Marcel’s current passions including a camp for children and his 12 Neighbors Campaign.
Marcel expands on his notion of how businesses were created to serve others.
We here how the mission or cause a company serves has become almost more important than the money it can make from Marcel’s point-of-view.
Marcel points out some attributes of great leaders.
He discusses how “doubling sales” is a great goal for a company, but not a mission.
Marcel also emphasizes how employees want to join a cause, not just a job and how any good company mission should connect a vision with action and execution.
Marcel tells us about the facets of poverty that he didn’t understand until recently and how it has blown his mind.
Greg is inspired by Marcel’s passion and the care he has taken with the community and notes how it is the entrepreneur’s responsibility to be careful with our success and strive for a positive impact on the community.
Dave notes that we don’t have to wait until we are in a “position to help”. Maybe it is time to act now even in little ways.
Greg is reminded of the late Wayne Dwyer saying that you don’t wait for the things you want in life to happen. Start living the life you want to live.

Links
- Part One of Marcel on Boiling Point

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31 min
September 23, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 066 - Marcel LeBrun
Growing as a CEO

Introducing Marcel Lebrun
Is a CEO born or made? Marcel LeBrun believes the former and he should know because he was given the opportunity to grow into the position. Marcel is a native New Brunswicker and a graduate of the University of New Brunswick’s computer engineering department. After school, Marcel took a job at New Brunswick’s telecom company, NBTel. What he didn’t know at the time was that NBTel would prove to be an incubator for a number of exemplary entrepreneurs.
NBTel had a philosophy that inspired innovation. Being a phone company that only owned about 3 per cent of the Canadian market, the company had a choice of working within an economy of scale or an economy of innovation. They took the innovation path in order to stay relevant. NBTel also had a culture whereby they took chances by promoting people that had all of the capability but perhaps not the experience. Marcel was one of these people without the experience, but had all the capability in the world to succeed. When Marcel was 28 years-old he was in the right meeting at the right time and he was given the opportunity to become CEO of Imagic TV, which made software for telecom companies. Marcel learned his position by doing it and eventually was given the opportunity to become CEO for Radian 6, one of Canada’s leading tech acquisitions.
Check out this week’s episode for lots of great nuggets of wisdom from a CEO that learned by doing.

In this episode
Marcel talks about the self-described entrepreneur, and when is it appropriate to consider yourself one.
He goes on to talk about how he became an entrepreneur accidentally.
Marcel tells us how his experience at Imagic TV allowed him to take an opportunity to help revolutionize the marketing world with Radian 6.
He tells us how NBTel provided a culture that acted like an incubator for future entrepreneurs.
There is a discussion of seasoned entrepreneurs vs. green horns and whether a great entrepreneur is born or made.
Marcel explains how a new entrepreneur should, “expect trouble”.
We talk about how a business is a social organism and that it’s main purpose is to benefit the community.
Marcel talk about the importance of making contentment a choice.
He tells us that the important question for every entrepreneur is to ask themselves, “Why am I doing this and for what purpose?”
Dave is inspired by Marcel’s notion of thinking beyond you as an entrepreneur.
Greg enjoys the concept of not defining the what, but the what for?

Links
- Boiling Point with David Alston

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33 min
September 14, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 065 - Wayne Jagoe
Facilitating Forward From Failure

Introducing Wayne Jagoe
Wayne Jagoe is an ideas man. In fact, in every email his signature signs off with yours in ideation. Unique ideas are a facet of every entrepreneur’s life and business, but so is self-awareness.
Wayne has experienced a lot in his entrepreneurial life. He grew up with the restaurant industry, had a cooking show on CBC, had the first online dining guide in 1997, and started an ad agency using business databases. However, when his ad agency failed, he was heartbroken. After much self-reflection, Wayne discovered that he was a much better at being creative and coming up with ideas than executing on them. This awareness of what he was good at and what he wasn’t was just what Wayne needed to shed the shackles of embarrassment from failure to come out the other side. Through his tough times, Wayne has been able to emerge stronger and now is the owner of Belton Labs where he develops ideas that he can sell to businesses for them to implement and he also conducts sessions and workshops on creative thinking and problem solving.
Check out this week’s episode of Boiling Point to learn how to emerge from troubling times, or to consider new strategies for solving some of your business’s current problems.

In this episode
Wayne gives us a brief history of his background.
He tells us about how his business failing really did a number on him.
Wayne tells us how he found his way out of his slump to come out even better.
Greg mentions how celebrating failure and learning from it isn’t that easy for entrepreneurs to swallow.
Wayne tells us about a process for brainstorming and about LEGO serious play.
We hear about Wayne’s “Unlocking the Genius Within” sessions and workshops.
Dave notes that a great idea is wonderful, but no so much when it cannot be implemented.
Greg notes that his creative juices seem to be at their peak when he is using his “kid brain” and lets himself play.
We hear about how jam sessions at Hemmings House have helped to release tension and let solutions percolate.
Dave mentions the same effect when he comes back from playing hockey.
Dave is inspired by Wayne’s ability to captivate a group of people while in conversation.
Greg points out that we need to remember what Bob Marley said, “Every little thing is going to be alright.”

Links
- Wayne's website
- Belton Labs
- Wayne's Facebook
- Wayne's Linked In
- Wayne's Twitter

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32 min
September 07, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 064 - Ross Laird
Screening you Screen Time

Introducing Ross Laird
Technology can be great for work and relaxation. However, sometimes our screens can become a form of addiction that takes us out from being present in the moment. This is exacerbated by the fact that now our screens are everywhere; they are at home, work, and even our wrists and pockets. This allows us the chance to slide into addictive personality traits, and even more so for the youngest amongst us.
Ross Laird is a writer, consultant, teacher, and creative artists that often consult on addiction. Like many others in the addiction field, Ross experienced the effects and loss from addiction amongst his family members. People in his circumstance will often take two paths; they either join their family members in their addictive traits or they try and heal the addiction. Ross took the second path.
This week’s episode will discuss some of the pitfalls of technology and what can be done to avoid our screens becoming enslaving.

In this episode
Greg explains how he met Ross during to a talk for around 40 technically engaged entrepreneurs.
Ross discusses the differences between healthy technology use and addictive use.
Ross explains how the addiction to technology and addictions in general is a strategy for emotional management.
We hear of strategies to curb adolescents’ technology use.
Ross explains how technology negatively affects our regulation development and what the devastating results can be.
Ross suggests finding real world equivalents to the exciting or risky behavior often experienced in the online gaming world.
Greg reflects on a time when kids played outdoors and how this has changed with the emergence of “pretend fear”.
Dave is encouraged by Ross’s stand on encouraging moderation.

Links
- Ross's Website
- Ross on Twitter
- Ross on Linked In
- Wallace McCain Institute

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31 min
August 31, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 063 - Chris Boudreau
Opportunity in Challenges

Introducing Chris Boudreau
Constraints and challenges in life can be looked at two ways; they can be seen as barriers and limitations or as opportunities and creative inspirations. One man that takes the latter approach is Chris Boudreau. Chris is a serial entrepreneur living in New Brunswick and also Dave’s peer coach. Chris cofounded Leveling the Curve Energy with his partner, Hélène Eusanio.

LTC has a mandate to fill a gap by connecting new technology for renewable and carbon reduction power generation. According to Chris, one of the main problems with making our power grid more renewable is challenges and constraints like money and available technology. His company takes on these challenges by developing new technologies that disrupt the status quo and make renewable energy happen in a meaningful way.

In this episode
Chris introduces us to his company and what it is trying to do to provide a healthier energy future.
Chris tells us how his company plans to use compressed air underwater to power turbines.
We also hear about his companies unique plans for tidal power generation that will allow for 24/7 generation.
He explains the problems with the current tidal power technology.
Chris also tells us about what the companies plans are to tackle the “peak time” energy generation problem.
There is a discussion on the competitive advantage to being based in a non-major center like New Brunswick versus the New Yorks and Torontos of the world.
Chris tells us that failure is an option, but fear is not.
Dave is inspired by Chris’s entrepreneurial quality of perseverance and patience as well.
Greg agrees with Chris that if you are not passionate about what you do, or at least believe in what you do, it’s time to get out.

Links
- Chris's email
- Chris's Linked In
- Chris's Twitter
- Chris's Facebook
- LTC Energy Website

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27 min
August 26, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 062 - Dr. Marc Pelletier
The “Heart” of Leadership

Introducing Dr. Marc Pelletier
Entrepreneurial skills are not exclusive to those who run their own businesses. In fact, a lot can be learned from the leadership of non-entrepreneurs. Dr. Marc Pelletier is a great example of this. Marc is a native New Brunswicker and an expert cardiac surgeon. Marc moved back to New Brunswick a few years ago to pursue a better work/life balance after stints in Halifax, Montreal, Stanford University, and Toronto. His new role is Head of Cardiac Surgery at the New Brunswick Heart Centre.
As a leader in the New Brunswick health care system, Marc position blurs the line between doctor, civil servant, and businessman in order to reach the best outcomes for both his patients and the government’s wallet. His ability to interchangeably switch his thinking from doctor to businessperson has allowed more and better surgeries to take place in the province. Taking the business approach he learned in the American health care system, Marc has been able to encourage the government to hire more nurses and doctors instead of shipping patients to other provinces at a cost of $3 million annually. This episode is a great one to listen to for anyone looking to use the entrepreneurial mindset at whatever task they are looking to take on.

In this episode
We are pleased to announce that CBC’s Dragon’s Den blog has named us one of the top eight entrepreneur podcasts. Thanks to Andrew Miller for bringing this to our attention.
We hear about Marc’s background as a cardiac surgeon.
We draw parallels between the entrepreneurial space and healthcare management.
Marc gives us an anecdote of how he was able to conduct more surgeries in New Brunswick in a cost neutral fashion, but allow for more healthcare workers in the province.
He also discusses the transition from practitioner to leader and what that meant to him personally.
Marc discusses the benefits of implementing facets of the privatized system to our public system without “throwing the baby out with the bath water.”
There is a discussion that more “business skills” need to be taught to those who may not be headed toward a stereotypical “business” job.
Marc also brings up the benefits and drawbacks of both the Canadian and American healthcare systems and what it means to an ambitious or entrepreneurial-minded doctor in Canada.
Greg notes that there are exciting opportunities when you have to be creative to hurdle limitations and constraints of a system.
Dave hopes there are more healthcare leaders like Marc who both care about their patients and are also mindful on dollars and cents.

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32 min
August 03, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 061 - Pete McMath
Finding Opportunity to be Extraordinary

Introducing Pete McMath
Sometimes business ideas come from revelations you have in your daily life. This is exactly what went down with this week’s Boiling Point guest, Pete McMath. Pete was working in guitar repair and sales in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In his day-to-day, he would commonly come across customers that had issues with their instruments and particularly were less than impressed with their instrument cases. For most musicians, their instrument is more valuable then the money it costs and damage received during transport can feel disastrous.
The instrument case business hasn’t changed a lot over the decades. While typical luggage has evolved to have things like wheels and carbon fiber protection, most instrument cases have stayed the same like grand mom’s old polyester suitcase. Pete knew something had to be done to protect people’s prized possessions and the result has been Timbre Cases. Pete now takes ideas from the auto and aerospace industry to provide tougher and lighter cases that keep its’ contents safe from wear and tear. Now he has orders coming from around the world and continues to build a business that strives to offer not just an instrument case, but also an extraordinary product.

In this episode
Greg tells us about his adventure hiking the Appalachian Mountains with Pete. (Greg didn’t go quite as far as Pete’s 4-month, 1200-mile trek).
Pete tells us how Timbre Cases began, and how the evolution has been organic from the start.
He reminds us that it is often not about the cost of a musical instrument, but its value.
He tells about his constant design process to keep things fresh.
Pete then tells us the tricks and tips he used to get his product out there.
He also comments on the vast amount of support he has received in New Brunswick and how (for him) being a bigger fish in a small pond works.
Pete also mentions how having other musical giants such as Sabian Cymbals in his backyard has helped his company’s evolution.
Pete explains why entrepreneurs need to eliminate assumptions, be extraordinary, and work harder then everyone else.
Greg is inspired by Pete’s ability to grab an opportunity when he saw a need in the market.
Dave notes that Pete is wise beyond his years and echoes his sentiments on being extraordinary.
Greg also points out that you need to check out all the neat stuff that is going on in your community and then invites our listeners to his hot tub party.

Links and References
- Timbre Cases Website
- Timbre Cases on Twitter
- Timbre Cases on Facebook
- Pete on Twitter
- Email Pete
- Timbre Cases' Kickstarter
- The Purple Cow by Seth Godin
- Dave Carroll's United Breaks Guitars
- Sabian Cymbals

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31 min
July 20, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 060 - Bob Willard
Increase Profit with Sustainability
Introducing Bob Willard
When it comes to making your business more sustainable, it really doesn’t matter what your motivation is. It would be nice to think that entrepreneurs are making decisions on sustainability for altruistic reasons, but in business, often the bottom line is what matters. Regardless of reasoning, the important thing for our planet is that the right decisions are being made and that those decisions can actually increase your profits substantially.
Bob Willard is a man leading the charge to get businesses on track with sustainability and showing them how these efforts will make them more money. Bob spent over three decades with IBM Canada before taking early retirement to begin his second career as a speaker and author. During the majority of his career at IBM, Bob was blissfully ignorant to the issues with sustainability until there was a proposal to open a water treatment plant near a nuclear generation station in his home community. In his attempts to change the plan for the water treatment plant, Bob realized how many big issues that were out there to tackle and he knew that it would require the expertise of business to make the biggest positive impact. Bob started and finished a part time master’s degree at the University of Toronto, and for his masters paper he took on a subject his professors didn’t think existed… a business case for sustainability.
Bob has since came out with his book, Sustainability Advantage and now speaks around 100 times a year. His suggestions can conservatively increase profits for almost any company around 50-80% within three to five years just by doing things that other companies have already done. By doing nothing, you could jeopardize your current profits by about 35%. Listen to this week’s episode to get your company on track and future fit.

In this episode
Bob tells us how he went from working at one of the worlds leading computer companies to a champion of sustainability.
He tells us why a company’s motivation to become sustainable shouldn’t matter.
Bob tells us about some big companies doing some big things in the field of sustainability, but wants them also to realize that they have a long way to go yet.
We hear about Bob’s new project, the Future Fit Benchmark.
Bob also fills us in on some of the best political parties, countries, and businesses to support for their sustainability efforts.
Greg mentions how “companies for good” seemed like it was almost fiction 15 years ago and how everything has changed from that perspective.
Dave mentions how people run companies, and generally people are not evil and have the right intentions.
Greg and Dave put out the call for guest suggestions from our audience.

Links
- Sustainability Advantage
- Bob on LinkedIn

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29 min
July 13, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 059 - Kate Wallace
The Business of Art
Introducing Kate Wallace
Artists and entrepreneurs have more in common than what would be perceived from the outside. Both have to be creative, industrious, and freethinkers. However, often times there is a separation from the arts community and the business community. There is often even separation within specific artists within a community. Kate Wallace is the type of person that likes to break down these walls and connect artists to artists, artists to the business community, and artists to society in general.
Kate is the executive director of Artslink NB, an organization that was founded to bridge connections for artists in New Brunswick. There is a lot that artists can learn from entrepreneurs and vice versa. Sometimes solutions to business problems need a creative angle and artists need the money from commissioned pieces from the business world.
One thing Artslink NB is doing to help artist become financially independent with their work is by offering a pilot program called the Catapult Arts Accelerator. Taking a hint from the tech world, the accelerator offers advice and business skills to artists that can help them reach new markets and further their practice. Artists don’t often use the word “customers” and, in fact, the thought of commercializing their work makes many artists feel like they are selling out. This is just not the case. All through history artists have been commissioned by the wealthy to make pieces in homage them, their families, or their businesses. However, when the business side of an artist’s operation is nailed down, the truth is creativity can flourish and the moniker of the “starving artist” need not apply.

In this episode
Kate tells us when, why and how Artslink NB got started and the important things they do to connect artists to others in the community.
Kate explains why arts are so important to greater society.
She explains the accelerator and what it means to the artists that take it.
She also dispels the theory that arts in New Brunswick (or anywhere else for that matter) can live up to the arts in any other major metropolitan area and that the biggest thing for an artist to have is confidence in their work.
Kate wants the general population to know that artists are professionals and should be treated as such.
She also wants the general population to not be intimidated by art and instead embrace it has an expression of their culture.
Dave brings up the book A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink and the importance of using right brain thinking.
Dave also appreciates that he had such a rich exposure to the arts at a young age.
Greg tells business people and artists to meet for coffee and see what they can learn from one another.

Links
- Artslink NB Homepage
- A Whole New Mind by Dan Pink
- Artslink on Facebook
- Artslink on Twitter
- Kate's Bio

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31 min
July 06, 2015Boiling Point - Episode 058 - Kyle Parsons
Your Path will Emerge

Introducing Kyle Parsons
Looking toward the future, the paths our life takes doesn’t necessarily seem to be interconnected. However, with the right attitude and openness to new experience we can often look backward and see how our completely unrelated experiences have been linked to a present outcome. Call it serendipity, fate, happenstance, or destiny, we often find that indirect roads from point A to point B seem to come about
This is just like the story of Kyle Parsons and his company Indosole. This San Franciscan had previously interned at New Balance shoe company, worked in surf shops managing the sandals section, and had spent time working at a recycling plant in the east coast. Somewhat unrelated right? However, Kyle’s disjointed experiences seemed to gel during a family surf trip to Bali back in 2004 when he was on the hunt for a fresh pair of sandals.
Coming upon a local market, Kyle saw a really cool pair that was made by local artisans. The unique thing about these sandals was that the bottoms were made from recycled motorcycle tires. They weren’t the most comfortable, but they were stylish and cool, and upon further research Kyle found out that tire waste was a huge problem in Indonesia. His past experiences and a chance meeting got the gears grinding in his mind and he returned to Bali in 2006 with the plan to start his own footwear company that would aid the environment, help out the people of Indonesia, and make him some money.
Kyle has since grown his B-Corp from receiving suitcase loads of footwear to container loads and has the goal to repurpose a million tires and keep them from adding to landfills. Check out this episode of Boiling Point to be inspired by the positive impacts you can make using your past experiences and the right attitude.

In this episode
Kyle tells us the story of Indosole and how he never saw himself previously as the head of footwear business.
He goes on to tell us about the growth of the company and how a suitcase of sandals being imported is has become container loads.
Kyle explains how tires are not the only thing he repurposes for his shoes and his commitment to the Indonesian community.
He explains how he got the financing to start the project while working as an on-the-road sales rep.
Kyle also tells us how he gets around needing the celebrity endorsement that many footwear companies rely on and how this idea helps to foster community.
He also tells us about an incredible opportunity to intern for Indosole in Bali. Surfs up!
Greg is inspired by Kyle’s journey and asks how many challenges are right on our doorstep that we could turn into mission based businesses if you let “the rubber hit the road” and have “lots of sole”.
Greg and Dave both note how seemingly unrelated events can turn into something so big.
Greg recalls how chance encounters ignited his passion and got him partially to where he is today.

Links
- The Indosole Website
- Indosole's Good Humans
- Music from Indosole Good Human Dustin Thomas
- Indosole Retail Locator
- Indosole on Facebook
- Indosole on Instagram
- Indosole on Twitter

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32 min

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Boiling Point Podcast

Boiling Point Podcast episodes