Chatter that Matters

This episode was taped in front of a live audience at Canavision, which is a fantastic conference made possible through the vision and creativity of Randy Rowe. My guest is Michele Romanow, one of Canada's most fearless entrepreneurs, a Dragon, a disruptor, and a mentor who built seven businesses before the age of 35 and changes the way founders access capital.

From launching a sustainable coffee shop at Queen's University, to cold-calling chefs and starting a caviar company, to co-founding Clearco and providing over $5 billion in funding to 10,000 companies, her story is proof that entrepreneurship is less about waiting for the perfect idea and more about diving in, scrapping, iterating, and moving faster than the giants around you. Michele is all in.

In this conversation, Michele opens up about resilience, speed, and scrappiness, the difference between ego and conviction, and why storytelling is the real currency of entrepreneurship. She also speaks candidly about becoming a mother and how that shifts her perspective on the world we're building for the next generation.

Alan Depencier joins the show to discuss small business and why it matters to you, to me and to RBC.

If you've ever wondered what it truly means to go "all in" on your ideas, your business, and your life, this conversation will light your way.

I love the famous Walt Disney quote, Dream it and Do it. It is also the battle cry for Entrepreneurs and Artists as they seek sponsors, support and a paying audience. But what if an idea came to you in an actual dream, and that dream manifested into a destiny that touched your entire universe?

In the rawest days of her sobriety, Jenn Harper had a dream of three Indigenous girls wearing lip gloss. Her subconscious became her living quest, one that allowed her to reclaim her indigenous roots, conquer her addictions, carry her through the heartbreak of losing her brother, and fulfill her dream by create Cheekbone Beauty. This business brings beauty to our world in so many wonderful colours-shades of survival, purpose, resilience, and purpose.

To look at the creativity of Cheekbone Beauty and this extraordinary entrepreneur: https://www.cheekbonebeauty.com

To learn more about Jenn Harper, 2020 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Awards Ones To Watch Award Winner:

https://www.womenofinfluence.ca/2020/09/22/meet-jenn-harper-founder-and-ceo-of-cheekbone-beauty-cosmetics-inc-and-2020-rbc-canadian-women-entrepreneur-awards-ones-to-watch-award-winner/

To learn about RBC's Truth and Reconciliation Office: https://www.rbc.com/newsroom/news/article.html?article=125905

Last week, my guest was Oscar Arias, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Costa Rica, who brought peace to Central America. This week, I continue to prove that Chatter That Matters has no boundaries, only journeys of those who overcome, who chase, who change their world and ours for the better.

My guest is Rima Berns-McGowan, a woman who has devoted her life to making the world a better place. She has walked many paths—scholar, author, community builder, politician and then made one of the most unexpected and courageous pivots imaginable: leaving politics to become a Medium connecting those who live here with those who have departed.

What ties it all together is her conviction in tikkun olam, a jewish concept meaning reapir of the world. Whether through evidence-based research, community activism, or channelling messages of love and healing from those who've passed, Rima's life is devoted to building inclusion, belonging, and hope.

In this conversation, we explore:

How her family's escape from apartheid South Africa shaped her identity and lifelong quest for justice.

The lessons she's learned from academia, politics, and the people she's served.

Why she believes our ancestors never leave us, and how as a Medium she can help bring messages from the other side that brings healing and forgiveness.

What her journey teaches us about choosing good over cynicism, compassion over division, and possibility over despair.

Suspend disbelief. Open your heart and listen to the many wonderful messages from Rima Berns-McGown, the Medium.

Presented by RBC, because they believe in stories of human possibility.

To learn more about Rima: IG - @rimabernsm or rimabythesea.com

I had the pleasure of hosting one of the most extraordinary guests I've ever had on Chatter That Matters during the 80th sessions of the United Nations Assembly happening in New York.

My guest is someone who has made a powerful and positive impact on our universe: Dr. Oscar Arias, a Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and two-time President of Costa Rica. Oscar takes us back to a time when Central America was on fire, civil wars raged, and the United States and the Soviet Union armed opposing sides.

The region was drowning in ideology, bloodshed, and fear.

Then came Oscar Arias, the newly elected President of Costa Rica, a nation that had disbanded their military decades before.

While others escalated the violence, Arias chose defiance.

He stared down Ronald Reagan, had U.S.-backed rebels expelled from Costa Rican soil, rejected global pressure, and authored the Arias Peace Plan. This bold diplomatic initiative helped bring five nations to the table and bring an end to years of war.

Oscar Arias didn't just defy world leaders; he defied the odds and changed the course of history.

In 1987, Arias was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. But he didn't stop there.

Through the Arias Foundation for Peace & Human Progress, he helped spark the UN Arms Trade Treaty—the first legally binding agreement to regulate the global weapons trade.

And now, in his 80s, Oscar Arias is on another peace mission.

To build a Global Peace Museum in Costa Rica. A place to remind the world that peace isn't idealistic, it's possible, if given a chance.

(And for history buffs, you will be mesmerized by the stories of how Oscar Arias encountered and, over time, built extraordinary relationships with Reagan, Bush, Thatcher, Gorbachev, Castro, Mulroney, the Pope and many more.)

My guest this week is Sheryl Ramstead a woman whose story defies the odds and redefines what it means to be resilient. At 29, on her first solo flight, a fiery plane crash left her body burned and her survival chances below one percent. But from that inferno emerged not just a survivor, but a force of reinvention who became a federal prosecutor, judge, corrections commissioner, marathon runner, mountain climber, and in her sixties, a nurse.

In this episode, Sheryl shares how faith, family, purpose, and a relentless spirit carried her through unimaginable pain and propelled her into a life of service and impact.

Her memoir, Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting, is a testament to what's possible when we choose to live with intention and courage.

If you're facing adversity, rebuilding after loss, or questioning whether you have what it takes to begin again, this episode is for you. Sheryl's journey reminds us that healing isn't linear, that fear never truly disappears, and that the most powerful act of resilience is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. This isn't just a story of survival; it's a blueprint for transformation and inspiration.

To buy her book: https://www.amazon.com/Living-Life-Full-Throttle-Surviving/dp/1960876805

I encourage you to listen to this week's Chatter That Matters, featuring my guest, Dan Monaghan. Dan is a trailblazer, and his energy is infectious; his storytelling is excellent, and his approach to life, as well as his zest for it, is something we can all learn from.

Dan shares his journey from humble beginnings in Canada to building international ventures, including the innovative digital agency network WSI World. We discuss Dan's creative approach to franchising, the transformative impact of AI, and the importance of curiosity and lifelong learning in managing rapid change.He is also a popular speaker around the world.

Dan offers many words of wisdom for individuals, businesses, and Canada, drawing on his own experiences as someone who radiates positivity and optimism.

I give you my personal guarantee that you will not be disappointed. Please share this with anyone who could use a boost of positivity and practical advice in their life.

And my special thanks to RBC for supporting small business owners and Chatter That Matters. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/business/index.html

Jason Demers played over 700 games in the NHL, represented Canada at the Olympics, and was the "glue in the locker room" for five franchises. Teammates knew him as the guy who brought humour, energy, and heart. But inside, Jason was battling something invisible—crippling anxiety that made every night feel like fighting for his life.

Jason opens up about the duality of his career: the confident defenceman fans saw on the ice, and the young man masking stress and fear with substances and a smile in the dressing room. He discusses injuries, pressure, and the emotional toll of professional sports, but also resilience, rediscovery, and what it means to find peace.

Today, Jason is helping young adults address their mental health challenges with tools such as breathwork, journaling, and emotional vulnerability. His mission is simple: if he can help even one kid feel less alone, then every struggle he went through was worth it.

A powerful show and one that will resonate with anyone struggling with the realities of their life.

They broke barriers, challenged the status quo, and redefined what authentic leadership can be. Three women. One stage. A masterclass in leading with heart, purpose, and courage.

Recorded live at the sold-out Work The Room Leadership Summit 2025, I sat down with three trailblazing women leaders who inspire change: Linda Kuga Pikulin, President of ROOM and Women of Influence; Alycia Calvert, Chair and CEO of EY Canada; and Karen Mueller, CEO of SterileCare.

Linda shares how embracing vulnerability transformed her into a more authentic leader.

Alycia explains why saying "yes" before you feel ready can accelerate career growth, and why mentorship matters.

Karen reveals how a single tragic moment in nursing inspired her to drive healthcare innovation and policy change, and why listening remains the most powerful tool for overcoming the status quo.

From mentorship to healthcare transformation, from bold decision-making to vulnerability in leadership—these extraordinary stories offer leadership lessons that will inspire you to lead with impact.

Room is an organization dedicated to advancing gender equity in senior leadership. To find out more: https://www.roomwomen.com

They broke barriers, challenged the status quo, and redefined what authentic leadership can be. Three women. One stage. A masterclass in leading with heart, purpose, and courage.

Recorded live at the sold-out Work The Room Leadership Summit 2025, I sat down with three trailblazing women leaders who inspire change: Linda Kuga Pikulin, President of ROOM and Women of Influence; Alycia Calvert, Chair and CEO of EY Canada; and Karen Mueller, CEO of SterileCare.

Linda shares how embracing vulnerability transformed her into a more authentic leader, and how a bold business decision reshaped an entire market.

Alycia explains why saying “yes” before you feel ready can accelerate career growth, and how diverse mentors and sponsors fueled her rise to the top.

Karen reveals how a single tragic moment in nursing inspired her to drive healthcare innovation and policy change, and why listening remains the most powerful tool for overcoming the status quo.

From mentorship to healthcare transformation, from bold decision-making to vulnerability in leadership—these extraordinary stories offer leadership lessons that will inspire you to lead with impact.

Room is an organization dedicated to advancing gender equity in senior leadership. To find out more: https://www.roomwomen.com.

"We found David Chilton's phone number on the back of The Wealthy Barber, picked up the phone, and just called. He answered. That one call changed everything."

They had cushy jobs and no culinary credentials—just a shared dream between two sisters to write a cookbook that combined truly healthy recipes with laugh-out-loud humour. It was bold. It was different. And it was rejected by publishers. Seven times.

But Greta and Janet Podleski didn't give up. They poured themselves into the work—testing every recipe, writing every pun, designing every page. And then they took one last shot. On the back of The Wealthy Barber, they found David Chilton's phone number. They called. He answered. His Mom loved the recipes, so he went all in.

Together, they formed their own publishing company and launched Looneyspoons, a cookbook that would go on to become a national sensation. It wasn't just a one-hit wonder. They followed it up with Crazy Plates and Eat, Shrink & Be Merry, creating a Canadian cookbook empire defined by heart, humour, and health. Millions of copies sold. A Food Network show. A movement.

The sisters went their way, but Greta wasn't done. What came next was a stunning solo debut, Yum & Yummer—a runaway bestseller, and now, a triumphant follow-up: Every Salad Ever. Sold exclusively at Indigo, it has topped the charts since its debut, proving Greta's recipes—and her voice—resonate as strongly as ever.

You will be hooked from the first few seconds as Greta shares the full journey: the hustle, the heartbreak, the humour, and the healing. It's a masterclass in perseverance, creativity, and chasing and realizing a dream—even when the world says no.

And my biggest takeaway - Sometimes the difference between a dream that fades and one that flies is one phone call—and someone who believes in you.

To buy Greta's book: https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/every-salad-ever-from-grains-to-greens-and-pasta-to-beans-plus-every-salad-in-betweens-indigo-exclusive/9781775047018.html