Buzz Worthy

What happens when the person who used to work for you becomes the one you trust to build everything with?

In this episode, we meet Ryo (Uyen Phuong Wu) and Allison (Xuan Yen Nhi Le), a visionary duo who went from boss and employee to co-founders of COOCO. COOCO is an AI-powered platform that maximizes food in your fridge to reduce food waste, save money, and cook smarter at home. They are uncovering the proverbial "Elephant in the Kitchen" we are all talking about. Especially in this economy and era of sustainability. Ryo & Allison quietly helped scale some of Asia’s biggest startup unicorns to rallying over 200,000 people around their own idea pre-launch

We dive into what it really means to bet on someone’s potential, what it takes to grow from colleagues to co-founders, and the emotional rollercoaster of stepping out of the shadows of other people’s companies to finally create your own. If you’ve ever wondered when to make the leap or who to build with this episode is for you.

Connect with COOCO:

🌐 Website: cooco.app

📘 Facebook Group: COOCO Community

📘 Fanpage: COOCO Social

📸 Instagram: @cooco.app

🎵 TikTok: @cooco.social

▶️ YouTube: COOCO Social

🔗 LinkedIn: COOCO on LinkedIn

Have a guest you want to suggest? Tell us!

Website: https://buzzworthypod.ca/

Instagram: buzzworthy_pod

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=true

Sometimes, a setback is just the setup for your purpose.

We sit down with Monique Thompson, founder of Modeen Events, who turned an unexpected layoff into a life-changing leap into entrepreneurship. Born in Jamaica and raised in Hamilton, Monique’s path was always sprinkled with creativity and community. But it wasn’t until life gave her a pause that she finally answered the call to build something of her own. What started as a long-standing passion evolved into Modeen Events, a company known for its elegant, joyful, and highly personalized celebrations.

Monique shares the deep discipline, unshakable faith, and tenacity it took to step into her calling. From community roots to corporate galas, she’s proving that you can bring your own sparkle to every room and leave a lasting impression doing it.

Connect with Modeen Events:

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @modeen_events

What do you do when you see the same heartbreaking chaos unfold when families need to make decisions in the ER? If you’re Dr. Laura Shoots, you'd look to bring calm to the crisis and truly fulfilling a family members wishes.

In this episode, Dr. Laura shares her journey from emergency physician to entrepreneur, blending her deep medical expertise and care for patient wellbeing and wishes. As the founder of Take Care, she’s building a platform to help families organize everything from medical wishes to emergency contacts in one secure, easy-to-share place. We talk about the emotional side of planning for aging, illness, and end-of-life that typically lacks clarity in moments of crisis.

Laura also opens up about what it really takes to build a mission-driven business in healthcare: relentless drive, a smart support system, and sharp intuition.

Connect with Dr. Laura & Take Care:

🌐 Website: takecaretogether.ca

📸 Instagram: @takecaretogether.ca

🔗 LinkedIn: Dr. Laura Shoots

📘 Facebook: Take Care Together

How do you keep going when the going gets hard? For Meisha Watson, the answer is simple but profound: faith, purpose, and creative fire.

In this episode, Meisha opens up about the reality of building a meaningful life in media—from her early days on YTV’s The Zone to launching her own creative media company. She shares how prayer, community, and the desire to encourage others keep her grounded in the face of challenges. Whether she's behind the mic of My Single Story, leading kids with HEY MEISHA!, or helping others bring their vision to life, Meisha’s mission is clear: create with intention, lead with heart, and craft a life rooted in purpose and impact.

We reflect on what it really means to build a business that gives you the freedom to live fully and authentically—not for likes, but for legacy.

Follow Meisha to Explore More:

Website: meishawatson.com

Instagram: @iammeisha

TikTok: @stillmeisha

LinkedIn: Meisha Watson

🎁 Special Offer: Take your content to the next level with Meisha’s Newbie to Natural: Social Media Masterclass, a personalized course designed to help you maximize your message and make every post count. Available now at meishawatson.com.

We’re kicking off Season 3 with a bang and there’s no better voice to lead the charge than Kelly Ng, co-founder of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios. As a former accountant turned entrepreneur, Kelly embodies the fearless, problem-solving spirit that defines Hamilton’s creative community. From never having stepped into the music scene to now running Ontario’s largest rehearsal space, her journey is anything but conventional. Through pandemic pivots, private equity problem-solving, and a relentless drive to serve the 95% of artists often overlooked, Kelly’s story is the kind that stays with you.

This episode it's about listening deeply to her customers the way they listen to their music, building boldly, and choosing to serve with heart. Whether you’re an aspiring founder, a local creative, or someone chasing their own leap of faith, Kelly’s energy is infectious. She’s created a space that champions inclusion, access, and evolution which started with one simple truth: she kept saying yes. A must-listen to set the tone for a season grounded in Hamilton’s grit, fueled by creativity, and built on community.

Connect with Main Stage:

• 📸 Instagram: @mainstagerehearsal
• 🌐 Website: mainstagerehearsal.com
• 🏆 Featured in Music Cities Awards and recognized with local entrepreneur honor

Recorded in 2023, this episode features our youngest guest yet Ainara Alleyne, the 13-year-old force behind Ainara’s Bookshelf, now a full-fledged TV show. What began as an Instagram account celebrating diverse stories has grown into a national platform with Ainara as host, co-creator, and executive producer.

In this episode, Ainara shares how a love for reading turned into a mission to uplift underrepresented voices, inspire young readers, and make sure everyone sees themselves in a story.

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

Website: https://www.ainarasbookshelf.tv/

Recorded in 2023, this episode dives into the creative world of Bar Sazerac, a staple of Hamilton’s thriving cocktail scene. Co-founder Kyle Ferreira takes us behind the bar and behind the ideas exploring how storytelling, flavour, and design come together in every drink.

From sourcing vintage glassware to crafting cocktails that double as art, Kyle shares what it takes to build a brand that isn’t just a bar, but a whole mood. If you’ve ever wondered how a cocktail becomes a conversation piece, this episode serves it straight up.

Follow Bar Sazerac: 🌐 Website: barsazerac.ca

Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/therealbarsazers/

Episode Notes:

Recorded back in 2023, this unreleased episode captures a raw and rising voice in Canada’s plant-based food scene.

Kerry Sobers is a self-taught chef and fearless founder of Bring Me Some and Nonno’s Plant-Based Butcher shares his early journey turning comfort food classics into bold, unforgettable vegan eats. From viral vegan fried chicken to deli slices that fooled meat lovers, Kerry is redefining what plant-based can be.

Before the media features and viral fame, this episode is a time capsule of ambition, creativity, and a hunger to shake up the food industry.

Follow our Guest: 📸 Instagram: @nonnosbutcher 🌐 Website: nonnos.ca 📧 Email: [email protected] 📘 Facebook: Nonno’s Plant-Based Butcher

We’re back with unreleased episodes from Season 2 that still pack a punch. Recorded in 2022, this conversation may have a few time-stamped details, but the story? Timeless!

In this episode, Krista Halliday shares her bold transition from employee to entrepreneur, turning her marketing know-how into a powerhouse strategy firm. As the founder of Ray Management Group, Krista brings brands to life while driving sales and connection through bold vision, smart retail strategy, and constant innovation.

Whether you’re climbing the corporate ladder or planning your leap, this episode will remind you that the next version of your career might be the one you build yourself.

Ray Management Group - The brand behind the brands, a sales and marketing firm specializing in retail solutions and brand innovation. Strategy, vision, and mission of business growth.

Follow our guest:

Krista Halliday on LinkedIn

Instagram: @krista_halliday

UPDATE & CELEBRATION:

Since our recording Krista has gone on to become President of Giftcraft Ltd in September 2023. Check out more here: https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-wire-news-releases-pmn/giftcraft-ltd-announces-appointment-of-krista-halliday-as-president

DETAIL CORRECTION: Krista went from an employee to entrepreneur. This applies to the intro when transitioning from her employee status to contractor.

My Well Self is a personal health wellness concierge service that provides one on one virtual support from expert care navigators. We help triage health issues, route them to our vetted pool of wellness providers and keep them at their best well self.

Brenda Ahenkorah is the Founder/CEO of My Well Self. She is a two-time founder within the healthcare space and the previous Founder/CEO of a clinical trial patient referral firm. After working in the Research and Development space for over 17 years of her career, personal health issues drove the inspiration for My Well Self. Brenda's entrepreneurial strengths have been recognized with the Professional Excellence Award by the Ghanaian-Canadian Achievement Awards Committee in 2016 as well as Entrepreneur of the Year Selected Nominee for the Oakville Awards for Business Excellence in 2017.

Visit: https://mywellself.ca/

Follow My Well Self:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mywellself

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my.well.self/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mywellself

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/my.well.self.canada/

Follow us on social @hamiltonhive on Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram