We've all faced hard time in our lives. Times when we just wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out. But the tough times in our lives are the moments that build our true character. They show how resilient we truly are and how much we are capable of enduring. Paralympian, motivational speaker and author, Kevin Rempel, has definitely endured his fair share of hard times. From overcoming a life-changing accident that left him unable to walk at 23, to struggling with addiction, depression and personal tragedy. Kevin is a true example of what it looks like to get back up when life knocks you down. We talk about what got him through all those hard times; how he's stayed so resilient, when most of us probably would have given up; how he deals with his own depression bouts; his support systems; making the Paralympic sledge hockey team and his new entrepreneurial journey. We don't scratch the surface in this interview - and he doesn't sugar coat the hard times. This episode is focused on grit, perseverance and pure determination. If you want to hear what it truly takes to come out stronger after enduring some of the worst experiences, then you won't want to miss this episode!

What were you doing at 20? Probably loving life, going to school somewhere and possibly thinking about what you might do after graduation. For my next guest, some of this was definitely true. But she also faced another issue -  she was dealing with her own internal struggle; an eating disorder and she felt like she was all alone. But life can be funny sometimes. You can be put in a situation where you feel like there's no way out, and then you meet another soul who's going through something similar and offers a helping hand. That's exactly what happened when Kyle MacNevin and Kayley Reed met while volunteering at an event in support of mental health. Their friendship expanded into a business relationships after they created a clothing line called Wear Your Label to help end the stigma around mental health and three years later, a ton of hard work and dedication, the company is thriving with multiple partnerships, international press coverage and a slew of loyal supporters. We discuss all the ups and downs of falling into entrepreneurship, how she deals with her own mental health issues, the different organizations they are working with and why a clothing line seemed like a great way to get their messages out to the masses. And so much more. And most importantly, if you are dealing with a mental health issue, just know that you are not alone. Do not suffer in silence- be sure to reach out to someone if you need some help.

Ever dreamt of becoming a YouTube star or having a video you create go viral? Well, my next guest is just the person you want to have in your corner if you're looking to create valuable content - whether it be for your personal brand or business- she's got you covered. What's funny, is Sunny never had dreams of becoming a YouTube specialist. It kind of just happened organically. She will be the first to admit that her ideal job growing up was to be a TV journalist like Mary Hart or Oprah. But after a brief stint in the industry, she quickly realized that having other's tell her what to do and say, just wasn't her style. Guys, let me tell you, this interview is just like having your own social media guru at your finger tips. We discuss everything from how to start your own YouTube channel, why it's Sunny's go-to platform for her business, why you don't need expensive equipment to get started and how to use all the key social sites in the right way. We're talking about Instagram Snapchat, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. Why each one is important and how to find your audience. Her story isn't straight forward. Sunny didn't have everything handed to her on a silver platter. But she worked really hard to get to this point in her life, went through a lot of ups and downs and she shares all of them with me in our interview. Get ready to learn the pro tips on video marketing and branding, and how you too, can easily build your online presence without a lot of experience.

Have you ever met someone and after talking to them for the first time, you quickly realize they know everyone. Well, that's what is known as a 'connector' in this day and age. It's someone who is curious, ambitious, personable and a go-getter. They have this way about them that draws people to them. They genuinely want to get to know others and seek out the best for people. According to author, Malcolm Gladwell, "Connectors are the people in a community who know large numbers of people and who are in the habit of making introductions. A connector is essentially the social equivalent of a computer network hub. They usually know people across an array of social, cultural, professional, and economic circles, and make a habit of introducing people who work or live in different circles. They are people who "link us up with the world...people with a special gift for bringing the world together" Gladwell characterizes these people as having networks of over 100 people. In this episode, Dan and I discuss his illustrious career thus far, his remarkable ability to take ideas and put them into action, how his curiosity led him to start TedXToronto and the process of switching from entrepreneurialism to full-time employee. There's amazing nuggets of truth, authenticity, and self-reflection in this episode - you won't want to miss it!

Figuring out your life's 'purpose' or 'mission' is not as easy as one might think. Many people spend their whole lives searching. But what if we just aren't asking ourselves the right questions? What if the answers to our burning questions, actual lie in analyzing our past. Sharon Stokes is a former Television Producer turned Life Fulfillment Coach, who's made it her personal mission to help clients figure out their purpose by providing them with guidance, actionable advice and analysis of their own pasts. It's a hard task, but a necessary process if you want to get to the heart of why your life is the way it is. Before getting into this line of work, Sharon liked what she was doing, but she had lost the drive. She knew there was something bigger for her to do, but she didn't know what that looked like. Until one chance invitation to a seminar hosted by International Relationship Coach, Matthew Hussey, changed her life direction- forever. From that moment on, things were so clear that she really wondered what had taken her so long to make the shift. Because of her own transformations, she's created The Life Map Coaching Program in order to help other's connect the dots. You'll love this episode if you want clarity, understanding of your limiting beliefs and how to move forward in life.

If there's one take away that you get from this episode, let it be the lesson that you are never too old to start something new. Often times we allow age to be our biggest barrier in life. Always wondering "what if" and never actually trying. At some point, we probably even told ourselves that we missed the boat. To be honest, some of the greatest inventions of our time weren't even thought of until the later years. Consider that the next time you doubt your own abilities! For Chantal, getting to her death bed and wondering "what if" was never an option. Her story is one of perseverance, determination, and an unyielding belief in her "why" for starting her company, Love and Nudes. She recognized a hole in the underwear market, in which women of colour were being underserved. The colour 'nude' was not your typical beige on women of colour. After years of observation, research and discussions with other women, Chantal decided to take a leap of faith and create a beautiful line of melanin toned intimates that represent diverse skin. Love & Nudes empowers women of colour to cherish the skin they're in, whatever their skin tone. They are currently in crowdfunding mode to raise enough money for their very first production run. If you feel so inclined, please consider donating to this amazing new company and let's help celebrate all women and their natural beauty.

There's probably something you've been thinking about doing for a long time now; but you've possibly felt stalled or unsure of your next move. Maybe it's because of your own self-doubt, or maybe it's that nasty word known as fear that's holding you back. Whatever it is, if you want help gaining more self-love and confidence to move forward and the ability to go after your YES in life, then you won't want to miss this episode with entrepreneur and ladyboss, Reese Evans. Just over a year ago, she was also feeling stuck. She knew she wanted to do more with her life than just fold clothes at her retail job or keep slugging away at a potential stylist career. Once she sat down to really ask herself what she was good at and what she loved to do, the idea to start her company hit her like a ton of bricks. But the start wasn't as smooth at you may think. We discuss business planning; the power of delegating; the reason why you should start before you're ready and how you too, can make up your ideal job. Hint - you have all the answers you need within you. We dive deep into social media building, branding, collaboration and finding a support system to help you get where you want to go. It's jam packed with so much helpful information to ignite your life. If you like what you hear, be sure to sign up at Yes Supply Co. and follow along on Instagram|Twitter|Pinterest|Facebook! And don't forget to join the DTN Insiders Crew

Imagine quitting your career, selling your house and changing cities at the age of 29, just to move home (to a small town) in order to start a company with your father? Well, that's exactly what Steve Beauchesne did and he doesn't regret it one bit. By taking a leap of faith and "starting over" with his dad by his side, they were able to build one of the most successful craft brewery's in Canada. And to make the story even better, the duo decided to create one of the first all-sustainable brewery's. A decision that proved to be very rewarding. This is such a fun episode, as Steve shares how they got it off the ground- even with a lot of debt from his father's original business; what it was like finding a Brew Master when they couldn't afford to pay them a salary; how they built up a loyal following and why they are focused on making a global impact in lead up to their ten year anniversary. We also talk about how to make beer, where their recipes comes from, and so much more. Check out Beau's latest initiative- a Kickstarter Campaign to help fund a female run and operated brewery in Rwanda. If you love beer, business and creating impact, then you'll absolutely love this episode. 

May you live a life you love! 

Welcome to the crew! I'm excited to introduce myself and explain why I decided to launch Drown the Noise. This podcast is designed to offer inspiration, guidance and the motivation you need to get out there and live your best life. It's about being true to you and what you want for yourself. It's about not following the norm- ignoring what other's want you to be and listening to your intuition. Ask yourself- what do you want? I want you to leave a legacy that you're proud of. Don't let excuses hold you back from going after your dreams. It may not be easy; but it will be worth it. Trust me. This podcast is full of amazing stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. They're inspiring, funny, relatable individuals, who share advice and actionable steps on how to navigate the road less traveled. They open up about their personal triumphs and failures, as well as how they were able to drown the noise in their lives and create a lasting legacy. My hope is that their stories will give you the courage to live a life you love. It's time to Drown the Noise.