Welcome to Bold Moves! In today’s episode, Angela sits down with Cydney Mar, a remarkable founder and product development strategist whose career spans over 45 years turning ideas into multi-million dollar brands. From an early start as a competitive figure skater for Canada, Cydney Mar faced a dramatic accident that ended her athletic career, only to reinvent herself as a designer whose collections have been sold on live television worldwide, generating over $300 million in global sales.

Now 67 and still innovating, Cydney Mar runs a 100% Indigenous-owned consulting practice, helping founders take their products from sketch to shelf. Twice, she has rebuilt her life from scratch, and she’s here to share candid insights about reinvention, resilience, and the real stories behind product development—from live TV mishaps to launching her own health product line after a major health scare. Get ready for a conversation about discipline, curiosity, and why your best chapter is yet to come!

(00:00) Growing up and skating career

(04:36) Early morning skating routine

(09:36) Discovering a passion for sewing

(10:50) Starting a skating costume business

(15:28) Lessons from Skating Challenges

(19:15) Starting at the new factory

(21:54) Live TV sales strategy

(24:54) Live translation experiences

(30:11) Recovering and starting vitamin business

(32:21) Choosing to Work from Home

(37:14) Embracing Change and Reinvention

(40:12) Organizing client project ideas

(44:05) Initial financial discussion with founders

(47:34) Morning routine and workmen visit

(50:02) Helping others launch ideas

(51:28) Ending the show

Connect with Sydney:

Websites:

• www.cydneymar.com
• www.cydneymarwellness.com

Social media links:

Cydney Mar 

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cydney.mar 
• X https://x.com/CydneyMar 
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/cydney-mar-89741/ 

Cydney Mar Consulting 

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cydneymarstrategist 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/cydneymarstrategist/ 
• Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@therealcydneymar 
• Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@cydneymarfashion2883 

Cydney Mar Wellness 

• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/cydneymarwellness/ 
• IG https://www.instagram.com/cydneymarwellness/ 
• Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@therealcydneymar 

• Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@cydneymarwellness

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Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

Curious if a Private Member Association is the right structure for your business? Download the free checklist 

Ready to build a brand that can’t be cancelled? Join the Sacred Rebellion PMA

In this episode, we dive deep into a game-changing conversation on the future of wealth and what it really means to build sustainable abundance as a woman.

Our guest, Isha Vela, somatic psychologist, financial strategist, matriarchal wealth activist, and founder of the Wealth Ecology Institute shares a radically different vision for the economics of tomorrow.

Tired of the old patriarchal script of endless accumulation, Isha Vela teaches women to “move money like a matriarch,” stewarding resources for land, lineage, and legacy instead of simply chasing more.

We’ll unpack the mindset and somatic shifts required to move from scarcity and hyper-independence to community, circulation, and trust. Isha lets us in on her personal journey, the lessons of burnout and healing, and why the upcoming great wealth transfer could be a portal for paradigm change.

Get ready for practical insights, collective business models, and a call to shed the scarcity story so we can all create a future where wealth is about more than what sits in your bank account—it’s about what you build and give back together.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Rethinking Money and Resources

(07:01) Journey to Becoming a Financial Strategist

(10:51) Discussing scarcity and community thinking

(12:34) Navigating communal living challenges

(16:12) Intuitive self-reflection and connection

(20:54) The great wealth transfer discussion

(21:49) The Great Wealth Transfer

(26:53) Trusting in financial uncertainty

(30:19) Collaborative business partnership dynamics

(33:37) Network marketing and relationships

(36:24) Integrity in network marketing

(39:18) Discussing matriarchy as an option

(43:47) Considering relational accountability

(47:22) Embracing Big Dreams

(48:28) Embracing Ambition and Self-Permission

(52:08) Basics of shifting mindsets

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

Curious if a Private Member Association is the right structure for your business? Download the free checklist 

Ready to build a brand that can’t be cancelled? Join the Sacred Rebellion PMA

___________

Connect with Isha:

Website

www.ishavela.com

www.wealthecologyinstitute.com (Coming soon)

Social Media:

Instagram: @wakingup_wealthy

YouTube: wealthecologyinstitute

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/isha-vela-ph-d-matriarchal-wealth-activist-and-strategist

Free Gift:

Isha's mini-course, FLOW, that teaches people how to move money like a matriarch: https://links.eschub.com/widget/form/TvsJJKnkNzW8C3R7VGUH

On this episode of Bold Moves, I sat down with Graham Skidmore, a former corporate executive who walked away from the traditional path to find real fulfillment. We talked about hitting rock bottom at the height of outward success, the journey through burnout, and discovering true health by integrating Western and Eastern practices. Graham Skidmore shared powerful insights on tuning into your authentic self, building human-centric businesses, and using AI to enhance—not replace—our innate potential.

Together, we dive into topics like the integration of Western and Eastern healing modalities, the power of reframing adversity as opportunity, and the cycle of personal growth.

Graham reveals how his experiences inspired him to create Harmony Health Institute and SaaS Solutions—two organizations focused on empowering individuals and building a human-centric ecosystem, with AI as a tool for good.

If you’re ready to explore what it means to restore your genuine self and reclaim your potential in a world that often feels rigged, this episode will challenge and inspire you to take bold moves of your own.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Graham's journey to personal growth

(03:31) Reevaluating life and career choices

(08:18) Contemplating a mushroom journey

(09:53) Personal growth and self-discovery

(14:18) Earth as a learning experience

(19:31) Understanding and Embracing Intuitive Gifts

(21:49) Listening to your body's wisdom

(25:52) Operating from a place of love

(27:57) Integrating Tech and Spirituality

(30:52) Personalizing AI for Individual Needs

(35:02) Finding personal freedom in work

(39:48) Debating AI vs. human future

(43:23) Balancing openness and safety

(44:39) Creating supportive environments for growth

(49:14) Encouraging words and gratitude

(50:29) Self-care and personal well-being

Connect with Graham

• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@understandingthescienceofyou?si=6p7y8ailISDVfg4w
• LinedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/graham-skidmore

Websites:

• harmonyhealthinstitute.com
• sathtechnology.com

• Free Coaching Session:  https://calendly.com/graham-skidmore/60min

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

This episode is all about unlocking unstoppable momentum in your business, featuring acclaimed strategist, performance coach, and bestselling author Chip Higgins. Drawing on his 35 years in banking and his unique physics-inspired approach, Chip Higgins teaches entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders how to harness momentum for sustainable growth – not just by working harder, but by working smarter.

💡 Top 3 Takeaways:
1️⃣ How applying Newton’s laws can simplify and supercharge your business momentum
2️⃣ Why clarity, discipline, and repeatable systems are essential for entrepreneurs determined to beat the odds
3️⃣ The critical role of energy and culture in creating sustainable growth—beyond mere numbers

Connect with Chip:

• Website: www.bizzics.com
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/chip-higgins-072a754
• Personal website: www.chiphiggins.com
• Get your 7 day free trial subscription to Bizzics On Demand agent that offers a "contextualized experience" of the book. No card required: https://www.bizzics.com/bizzics-on-demand/
• Free Business Momentum assessment: https://chiphiggins.com/assessment/
• Book: The Bizzics Way: Powering Your Small Business to Maximum Momentum

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

Welcome to the Bold Moves podcast! In this episode, host Angela Merzib sits down with Mike Skripnik, an executive leadership expert, men's mental health advocate, and bestselling author of nine books. Mike Skripnik opens up about his journey from a successful wealth management career to helping leaders and entrepreneurs navigate vulnerability and personal challenges—especially men in positions of influence.

After the pandemic upended his business, Mike Skripnik experienced a personal crisis that forced him to confront long-buried trauma and reevaluate the connection between self-worth, vulnerability, and leadership. Drawing on his lived experience and deep research, Mike Skripnik now focuses on supporting men in overcoming limitations, developing emotional awareness, and building healthier communities—both at work and at home.

Join us for a candid, thought-provoking conversation about the power of facing your past to truly fuel your future, and why emotional health is the real superpower for leaders today.

If you’re ready to do the hard but rewarding work of growth, check out Mike Skripnek’s book Unlimited Worth, and let’s keep the conversation going! Get it on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0BF34MGYL

Interested in personal transformation? Check out Mike Skripnek’s new retreat launching this fall (details coming soon!).

Connect with Mike:

Website: www.unlimitedworth.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/growgetgive/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unlimited_worth/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeskrypnek/

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

In today’s hyper-connected business world, finding and working with the right talent isn’t just about local recruitment—it’s about leveraging a global workforce in a way that sustains quality, speed, and company culture. On a recent episode of the Bold Moves podcast, host Angela Merzib engaged Brian Sampson, founder of Plug Technologies, in a wide-ranging conversation about harnessing the power of nearshoring with Latin American talent. Here, we dive deep into the wisdom Brian has to share, dispel common misconceptions, and draw out practical strategies for entrepreneurs considering this bold move.

We get into:

• Why aligning time zones can be a game-changer for team communication and business momentum
• The overlooked entrepreneurial edge Latin American talent brings—resilience, problem-solving, and loyalty
• The importance of the founder in early sales and building company culture from Day 1

Connect with Brian

• plugg.tech 
• nearshorecafepodcast.com 
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/briansamson/

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib
  

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

Dr. Brett Hill opens up about starting his clinic from scratch (literally, a 200-square-foot room with zero patients!), balancing entrepreneurship, family life with four kids under four, and his journey to creating an accessible online posture program that’s transforming lives far beyond his Calgary clinic.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why “just exercising” isn’t enough to offset long hours of sitting

• Genius micro-habits you can layer into your day—even if you’re glued to your desk

• The powerful connection between posture, confidence, and even cognitive clarity

• Simple DIY tests to check your posture, and easy exercises to kickstart real change

Dr. Brett Hill generously shares the top three exercises from his program so you can start improving your posture in just 5–10 minutes a day. No gym or fancy equipment required—just commitment to small, daily changes.

Why Posture Matters for Entrepreneurs:
Better posture isn’t just about looking good (though that’s a bonus!); it can boost your energy, reduce pain, enhance your day-to-day confidence, and even improve how you handle stress and decision-making.

Start Your Transformation:
Get the free exercise videos at: yourpostureprogram.com/videos, and start taking control of how you look, feel, and function—without overwhelming your schedule.

Connect with Dr. Brett Hill:

Website www.xperiencelife.ca

Facebook 

https://www.facebook.com/XperienceLifeChiropractic/

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/xperiencelifechiro/

__________

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://beboldbranding.com/clicks-to-clients

In this episode I sit down with marketing strategist and founder of Stellar Com Strategies, Vanessa. With over a decade of experience, Vanessa specializes in helping entrepreneurs move away from the exhausting hustle of chasing clients and toward creating authentic brands that naturally attract the right people. The conversation was filled with hands-on strategies, relatable stories, and actionable advice for business owners feeling overwhelmed by today’s ever-shifting marketing landscape.

We dive into the power of personal branding and Vanessa’s Client Harvesting Method, uncovering insights on how to shift from constant hustling to a steady, aligned flow of clients.

💡 Top 3 Takeaways:
1️⃣ Why “focusing on less” in marketing brings better results for entrepreneurs
2️⃣ How to leverage your unique story for attracting the right-fit clients
3️⃣ Practical steps for creating a brand and marketing funnel that feels authentic—and actually works

Connect with Vanessa:

Website: stellarcomstrategies.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Iamvanessasophie/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamvanessasophie/

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@iamvanessasophie

Substack: https://substack.com/@vanessasophie

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-sophie/

Get a free, highly customized mini marketing audit: https://forms.gle/9aBd6nFusWRQMQY96

_______

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://sendfox.com/lp/m7nk2v

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Gutierrez, founder of Mind Shift Mark and a powerhouse in the real estate photography scene. Based in Chicago, Mark has photographed over 12,000 homes, built three successful revenue streams, and is renowned as both an industry leader and mentor for creative entrepreneurs.

This episode is packed with stories from Mark’s unconventional journey, from a draftsman who struggled in school, to roller rink owner, and eventually to top-tier real estate photographer. You’ll hear about the bold decisions that shaped his career, the importance of tracking data, and how balancing creativity with smart business thinking helped Mark avoid burnout and create lasting partnerships.

If you’re a creative entrepreneur, new or seasoned, you’ll get practical insights on finding your unique value, building a brand that stands out, and why embracing both your art and business savvy is key to long-term growth.

Here are my favorite takeaways for creative entrepreneurs drawn from our conversation:

• Track Your Data Religiously: Mark credits much of his success to tracking every job, client, and outcome. When you let data guide your decisions, you learn which clients and services to focus on, and which ones to let go.

• Balance Your Art with Business Savvy: The happiest & most successful creatives know how to deliver a product they’re proud of and foster genuine client relationships. Leaning too far into "being an artist" or running things too corporate can hurt your growth and client retention.

• Create Strategic Separation: Mark's memorable personal brand (think vests and professionalism!) and unique approach helped set him apart in a crowded market. Find what differentiates you—not just in price, but in value and experience—and lean into it.

Connect with Mark

Website: Mindshiftmark.com

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://sendfox.com/lp/m7nk2v

In this episode we’re joined by Matthew Rawle, writer, strategist, and marketer who’s done chasing growth for growth’s sake. 

Matthew helps consultants build real relationships through newsletters and podcasts, and he’s making a bold case for slowing down to win bigger. In this episode, we talk about why relying on social media and search algorithms is a risky game, how short-term metrics quietly sabotage long-term success, and what happens when you choose depth over scale.

In this episode, we dive into slowing down to build real relationships in marketing, uncovering insights on standing out in a noisy, AI-saturated world and reimagining how solopreneurs and founders connect with their audience.

💡 Top 3 Takeaways:
1️⃣ Why simplicity and candor are powerful forces in connecting with clients (and how to overcome the curse of knowledge!)
2️⃣ Strategies for building trust and long-term business success in a landscape overwhelmed by algorithms
3️⃣ The practical steps to owning your audience—through newsletters, podcasts, and genuine two-way communication

With so much pressure to “play the algorithm,” taking the slower road—by building trust and being truly useful—might just be your boldest move yet.

Connect with Matthew:

Website: www.matthewrawle.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-rawle/

Connect with Angela:

• Instagram: @beboldbranding
• Website: beboldbranding.com
• LinkedIn: Angela Merzib

Download Angela's Free Guide: "Turn Clicks Into Clients" https://sendfox.com/lp/m7nk2v