Elsplend Realities

What if the chapter we never planned could become the one that reveals a deeper purpose?

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Janet Gesme shares a powerful journey through loss, recovery, faith, and unexpected transformation after a devastating accident interrupted her professional music career. Through translation, music, and her connection to Martin Schleske’s work, Janet discovered that healing isn't always about returning to what was—it can also mean becoming open to what comes next.

A deeply moving conversation about faith, resilience, purpose, patience, and recognizing beauty in the unexpected turns of life.

What happens when the children who have shaped your life for decades finally leave home—and you're left asking, “Who are we now?”

In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Rick and Clancy Denton share their honest, humorous, and deeply human journey through the empty nest season. From rediscovering their relationship to navigating grief, freedom, identity, and new possibilities, they reveal how major life transitions can become opportunities to reconnect and choose each other all over again.

A conversation about love, marriage, identity, change, and intentionally embracing the next chapter of life.

What if imagining the future is really a way of understanding ourselves? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, author Liam Begley explores the deeper ideas behind his science fiction novel Broken Interstellar, where space exploration becomes a backdrop for questions about community, individuality, power, belonging, and collective responsibility.

Drawing from his experiences in Vancouver's film industry and his journey as a self-published author, Liam shares how storytelling can challenge the way we think about society and the systems we create. This conversation reminds us that the worlds we imagine aren't just about where humanity could go—they can reveal where we are today and what kind of future we're willing to build.

What truly makes someone a leader? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dr. Sharalyn Payne explores the deeper dimensions of leadership beyond titles, authority, and performance. Drawing from her experience advising organizations and developing leaders through complex moments of change, she reveals why credibility, character, self-awareness, and human connection are at the heart of meaningful leadership.

This conversation challenges us to look beyond what leaders accomplish and examine who they are becoming in the process. Because lasting influence isn't built through position alone—it's built through trust, consistency, integrity, and the courage to grow from within.

What happens when the person who spent years shaping other people's stories finally decides to tell one of his own? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, award-winning novelist and communications strategist John David takes us behind the creative journey that led to his debut mystery novel, The Bystander.

We explore creativity, reinvention, human nature, storytelling, and the courage to pursue a dream that may have been waiting for years. John's journey reminds us that our past experiences don't have to define our final chapter—and sometimes, the story we're most ready to tell is the one we've been carrying within us all along.

What happens when success on the outside no longer feels like fulfillment on the inside? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Dr. Jonathan Locust Jr. shares his powerful journey through burnout, health challenges, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of purpose, healing, and authentic leadership.

Drawing from his experience in research, higher education, organizational development, and personal transformation, Jonathan explores the importance of self-awareness, discernment, genuine community, and separating who we are from what we achieve. This conversation is a thoughtful reminder that sometimes life's interruptions aren't setbacks—they're invitations to slow down, grow deeper, and rise into a more whole and intentional version of ourselves.

What if the problem in today's workplaces isn't a lack of effort, but a lack of clarity? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, leadership strategist and retired Canadian Brigadier-General Julian Chapman explores what it truly means to lead people effectively in a world where constant activity is often mistaken for progress.

Drawing from decades of military and corporate leadership experience, Julian shares insights on managerial leadership, accountability, trust, authenticity, and the importance of thinking before acting. This conversation is a powerful reminder that great leadership isn't about being the busiest person in the room—it's about creating the clarity and environment that allows others to do their best work.

Sometimes, a life-changing moment doesn't come from having the perfect answer—it comes from someone choosing to listen, ask a deeper question, or simply stay. In this episode of Elsplend Realities, author, filmmaker, and storyteller Paul Skidmore explores the power of friendship, storytelling, and genuine human connection.

We talk about loneliness, hope, emotional vulnerability, and the role stories can play in helping us have conversations that might otherwise never happen. Paul's work offers a simple but powerful reminder: sometimes, the greatest difference we can make in someone's life is to slow down, notice, listen, and be present.

What if the next great business idea isn't something completely new—but a problem you've simply learned to overlook? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, entrepreneur Paul Shrater shares lessons from building and co-owning businesses across e-commerce, fulfillment, consumer products, food distribution, and the evolving world of creator commerce.

We explore the mindset behind entrepreneurship, the importance of solving real problems, adapting to change, recognizing the right opportunities, and building businesses that can grow beyond the person who started them. Paul's journey offers a powerful reminder that lasting success isn't just about having the right idea—it's about staying curious, creating value, and being willing to evolve.

What happens when personal trauma becomes the catalyst for meaningful innovation? In this episode of Elsplend Realities, Tiffany Sharp shares her powerful journey from technology leadership and personal hardship to creating compassionate, trauma-informed solutions through Diamond AI and MAE. Together, we explore resilience, human-centered AI, healing, leadership, and the importance of designing systems that meet people with empathy rather than complexity.

This is a conversation about turning pain into purpose—and imagining a future where technology doesn't make us less human, but helps us care for one another better.