Lena Park built Hi By Lena—a clean skincare brand—around the legacy of her father, a chemical engineer and product formulator from South Korea. Starting during COVID with too many products, she learned the hard way that focus beats variety.In this episode, Lena shares why your skin needs both hydration AND moisture, why preservatives are slowly damaging your skin barrier, and how she built a six-figure business as a one-woman operation in Cochrane, Alberta.From getting fired at a sushi restaurant as a 19-year-old immigrant to becoming an expert in skincare chemistry, Lena's story is about sacrifice, precision, and saying no to things that don't align with your mission.

**Listen for:** Product obsession, business pivoting, femmepreneur community, immigrant entrepreneurship, skincare science, and authentic marketing in 2026.

#Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #Skincare #FemaleFounder #PodcastLife #BusinessTips #CanadianBusiness #CleanBeauty

SPECIAL EPISODE 🎙️In this powerful interview, we sit down with Ben Pirija of Rockies Tavern & Grill to discuss the BIGGEST fundraiser in the restaurant's history—happening this Saturday, January 17th.What started as an annual tradition of raising $2K-3K for the Redwood Meadows Fire Department has evolved into something MASSIVE.Why? Because in December, a devastating fire destroyed the fire station's secondary building—taking with it pumpers, vehicles, tools, equipment, and years of community infrastructure.Ben's response? Bring in the YYC Jazz Orchestra (11-piece band), coordinate with Johnny Summers, and make sure EVERY penny of profit goes directly to rebuilding these volunteer heroes' capacity.This episode covers:🔥 The tragedy that sparked action🎵 How to build strategic partnerships for fundraisers💰 The power of giving back (and why Ben donates his profits)👥 Community value exchange: How local businesses thrive when they invest in their community🎯 5+ years of consistent community support through COVID, closures, and challenges🏆 The real business lesson: Beloved status isn't bought—it's EARNED through consistent actionLearn what authentic community leadership looks like when a business owner decides to put community first.Perfect for: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, podcasters, community leaders, and anyone interested in building a REAL legacy.Featuring: Gregg Hinton & Ben Pirija📍 Bragg Creek, Alberta🎤 Bragg N' Bout Business PodcastNew episodes every week. Subscribe for raw conversations with local Alberta business leaders.

#BraggCreek #SmallBusiness #Fundraiser #Community #Entrepreneurship #Alberta #Podcast #LocalBusiness #GivingBack #BusinessInterview

Kelly Keddle shares how she built Luxe Occasions—a balloon business generating $125-$500 per display—from zero to fully booked in one year. Learn balloon business pricing strategies, managing helium shortage costs, and building word-of-mouth marketing in Bragg Creek, Alberta.Topics: custom balloon displays, event decoration entrepreneurship, small business growth, service business challenges, Spider-Man displays, wedding decorations, and why face-to-face relationship building beats email marketing.Perfect for: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, event planners, and service business founders interested in real Alberta business growth stories

In this episode, Jeremy discusses:- Why he left job security to start his own HVAC company in 2019- How to decide whether to repair or replace your furnace- The real costs of modern high-efficiency heating systems- Why annual maintenance is your best investment- How small HVAC businesses compete with big corporations- Common heating and air conditioning questions answered- The importance of Google reviews for local service providers

With 20 years of experience as a journeyman refrigeration and air conditioning mechanic, Jeremy offers practical advice that helps Calgary homeowners make better decisions about their heating and cooling systems. He shares his honest insights into the HVAC industry, including why modern furnaces are more complex, what maintenance actually prevents costly breakdowns, and how to find trustworthy HVAC service.This episode is perfect for anyone considering entrepreneurship in the trades, homeowners facing heating/cooling decisions, or people supporting local small businesses in their community.A great listen if you're interested in: small business stories, HVAC industry insights, practical home maintenance tips, or entrepreneurial journeys in the skilled trades.Hosted by Gregg Hinton | Bragg N' Bout Business Podcast#BraggNBoutBusiness#SmallBusinessOwner#HVACExpert

In this episode, Gregg Hinton interviews AJ Kolankowski, of A to J Digital, a Calgary-based agency helping small businesses build trust through Google reviews and digital marketing.AJ shares his journey from growing cannabis Instagram pages to building a reputation management company focused on integrity and trust. You'll learn why 95% of consumers trust Google reviews as much as referrals from friends and family, and the exact follow-up system A to J Digital uses to help clients like Floating Table Wellness triple their reviews in just two weeks.Key Takeaways:• The 2 biggest problems preventing businesses from getting reviews• Why asking 3+ times increases review rates to 90%• How to handle negative reviews to build more trust• The future of SEO and generative AI search• AJ's incredible family story from Auschwitz to entrepreneurshipDM "Bragg N' Bout Business" to @atojdigital on Instagram for free Google review resources.Connect: www.atoj.ca | @atojdigital#businesspodcast #entrepreneur #smallbusiness #digitalmarketing #googlereviews #localseo #calgarysmallbusiness #albertabusiness #entrepreneurpodcast #marketingtips #reputationmanagement #businessgrowth #podcastlife #braggcreek

What happens when a failed job interview becomes the best thing that ever happened to you? Lien Cani, founder of Belcan Brew Kombucha, shares her journey from hobbyist to business owner in just three months.

This episode is essential listening for anyone considering starting their own business. Lien opens up about the practical challenges of small-batch production, maintaining organic integrity, navigating temperature disasters, and learning to stand up for her values as a young entrepreneur.creators.spotify+1​

Key Takeaways:

• How to identify when your hobby could become a viable business

• The importance of honest feedback (even from skeptical family members)

• Managing production challenges in food-based businesses

• Building authentic customer relationships from day one

• Why organic sourcing matters even when it's harder

• Standing firm on your values in the face of pushback

Whether you're brewing kombucha in your kitchen or dreaming about turning any passion into a business, Lien's story offers practical wisdom and inspiration.

Guest: Lien Cani, Founder of Belcan Brew Kombucha
Location: Bragg Creek, Alberta, Canada

Follow Belcan Brew on Instagram and Facebook: @belcanbrew

#entrepreneurship #smallbusiness #kombucha #startup #organicbusiness #braggcreek #alberta #businesspodcast #foodbusiness #youngentrepreneur

Jennifer Wright shares 35 years of physiotherapy wisdom, from working with Olympic athletes to integrating Eastern and Western medicine in her Bragg Creek practice.

Discover the truth about healing, the importance of holistic health, and the legacy of legendary healer Dr. Stephen Ong. Whether you're an athlete, entrepreneur, or seeking wellness insights, this episode delivers practical wisdom for better health and business success.

Contact Jennifer: [email protected]

Topics: Physiotherapy, Sports Medicine, Holistic Healing, Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Red Light Therapy, Healthcare Business, Small Business, Alberta, Bragg Creek

Most companies are hiring based on gut feeling—and it's showing. In this episode, Al Bassiri from Hammehr Talent Consultants breaks down the science of smart recruiting. Discover why one bad hire costs 2.5x their salary, how structured interviews improve both hiring quality AND candidate experience, and why your job postings might be broken. Plus: the wildest interview story you've ever heard (spoiler: lip-syncing candidates are a real thing). Whether you're hiring or job hunting, this episode will change how you think about recruitment.

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro

2:45 - What is Hammehr Talent Consultants?

5:30 - The #1 Hiring Mistake (Gut Feeling Decisions)

12:00 - Evidence-Based Recruiting Process Explained

18:45 - Why Your Job Postings Are Broken

22:15 - AI in Recruiting: Help or Hack?

27:30 - The Craziest Interview Story Ever

33:00 - Career Tips for Job Hunters

38:45 - Three Questions Game

42:00 - Personal Questions & Wrap-up

Bragg N' Bout Business is your go-to podcast for interviews with Calgary's most innovative small business owners and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Gregg Hinton, each episode dives deep into the stories, strategies, and secrets behind successful local businesses. From live social selling to recruitment innovation, we're bringing you the real conversations that matter. Subscribe now and discover what it takes to build and grow a thriving business.

www.hammehr.com

This episode will make you feel all warm and crusty inside.No, I mean warm on the inside, and crusty on the outside. God damn it. You know what I mean. Welcome to another episode of Bragg N’ Bout Business! Brought you by the fine people down at Cowboy Trail Brewery – Cheers to the West! This week we get busy in the kitchen with Lynn Freeman of Lynn’s Sourdough Bakery Co. All of your burning questions on sour dough bread baking will be answered, such as “Is old sourdough starter actual better? What is the oldest known sourdough starter? And why does it taste so gd good?” and many more. Lynn is such a pleasure to be around, which makes the bread even better.

Enjoy!

Hey everyone. This episode is brought to you by Cowboy TrailBrewery – Cheers to the West! This week on Bragg N’ Bout Business we sit down with Karen Boudewyn of Core Financial Solutions. Karen shares with us some excellent tips for small business owners. Key person insurance, Buy-Sell Agreements? What the what? Yes, we cover some topics that are often missed by business owners and family run businesses too. Karen is a very down-to-earth person who is easy to talk to and who wants to help and protect families and small businesses. So listen up!

Enjoy!