In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with David Zilber — chef, fermentation expert, author, and Top Chef Canada judge — to explore how food reflects who we are, where we come from, and where we’re headed. From his groundbreaking work leading the Fermentation Lab at Noma (once named the world’s best restaurant) to his current work in biotechnology, Zilber has become one of the most influential voices redefining how we think about food, science, and sustainability.

He shares how microbes can teach us about collaboration, control, and surrender, and why the most meaningful meals often have nothing to do with perfection — but everything to do with connection.

Key highlights and takeaways:

• On food as reflection: Zilber sees food as “the most essential human endeavor,” one that mirrors culture, climate, and our collective values.

• Fermentation as metaphor: “You can guide it, but you can’t control it.” Fermentation teaches humility, patience, and the beauty of surrender.
• Collaboration lessons: Nature isn’t binary — even microbes blur the lines between good and bad, symbiosis and conflict.
• Creativity on Top Chef Canada: True creativity is intuitive and contextual — “you know it when you see it.” Zilber values ingenuity over perfection.
• The joy of maladaptive cooking: Making food that takes more energy than it provides (like handmade pasta) is what connects humans — it’s the “social glue” of culture.
• Redefining progress in food: Advocates for decentralized, community-driven systems where power and food sovereignty are shared.
• Transformation in motion: Now a father and homeowner, Zilber embraces evolution — “falling forward” and learning as a lifelong student of life and microbes.

Filmmaker Maggie Kang has captured the world’s imagination with Kpop Demon Hunters, the animated blockbuster that’s topped Netflix’s most-watched list and redefined what global audiences expect from K-pop storytelling. Blending the spectacle of superhero cinema with the infectious energy of Korean pop culture, Kang’s film has inspired entirely new audiences and generations to a story that is universal in its themes.

In this episode of Mission Critical, Maggie opens up about her journey from growing up without many Korean friends to becoming one of the most powerful voices shaping Asian representation in Hollywood. She shares what it means to break generational cycles, embrace cultural inheritance, and build worlds where young women can own their power — flaws and all.

Together, Lance and Maggie talk about the universality of K-pop, how the film’s soundtrack became a cultural phenomenon, and what the future of Korean storytelling looks like in a world where “niche” no longer applies.

Key Takeaways

• How Kpop Demon Hunters broke barriers in representation and global storytelling.
• The creative risks behind blending K-pop and the superhero genre.
• Maggie’s reflections on intergenerational identity, cultural inheritance, and belonging.
• Why authenticity (not translation) is the future of cultural storytelling.
• The lessons she’s taking forward into her next projects.

Highlights

• The story behind Kpop Demon Hunters and who it was really made for.
• Why the characters’ flaws were essential to their power.
• The influence of her father’s filmmaking legacy.
• The future of Asian and diaspora narratives in mainstream media.

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From scaling a billion-dollar tech company to trekking through the Amazon rainforest with Dr. Jane Goodall, Dax Dasilva has learned that growth only happens when you step outside your comfort zone. In this episode of Mission Critical, the Lightspeed CEO and Age of Union founder opens up about leadership, purpose, and risk—sharing lessons from both the boardroom and the jungle. We talk about how small businesses shape culture, why he believes entrepreneurship and activism are connected, and how his new book Echoes from Eden challenges us to reimagine what impact really means.

Key Takeaways:

• Why leaving your comfort zone is essential to personal and professional growth.
• How Lightspeed empowers small businesses and strengthens community ecosystems.
• The connection between entrepreneurship, activism, and environmental leadership.
• What Dax learned from two years on the ground with Age of Union conservation projects.
• How the lessons from the wild can make you a better leader, creator, and changemaker.
• Insights from his new book, Echoes from Eden, on finding purpose through action.

Get Dax's new book, Echoes from Eden: A Daring Voyage to Protect Earth's Last Wild Places - https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/echoes-from-eden-a-daring-voyage-to-protect-earths-last-wild-places/9781628605693.html

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Hosted in partnership with Holt Renfrew, host Lance Chung sits down for a follow-up interview with Yung Wu—co-founder of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect and former CEO of MaRS Discover District. In their discussion, the two catch up for a live recording of the Mission Critical podcast to chat about leadership style, artificial intelligence, advice on how to navigate a volatile business landscape, and harnessing opportunity in the innovation economy.

In recent years, Toronto has made bold moves that signal its evolution into a true global sports capital — from the launch of the PWHL and AFC Toronto, to the announcement of a WNBA expansion team and the NHL’s renewed focus on international competition through the Four Nations Face-Off. And in the next two years, that momentum will reach a new peak as the city prepares to host World Cup matches in 2026 — arguably the most significant international sporting event in our city and Canada’s history.

Recorded live at the 2025 GLORY Sports Summit (powered by GE Appliances) in Toronto, this conversation brings together leaders building Toronto’s sports future from every angle: major league expansion, global partnerships, grassroots development, and equity-driven advocacy. Teresa Resch (Toronto Tempo), Kyle McMann (NHL), Saroya Tinker (PWHL), and Diana Matheson (Northern Super League) joined moderator Alyson Walker (Wasserman) on stage to explore what it means to turn a city into a global sports hub — not just by hosting the world, but by ensuring that storytelling, access, investment, and community are at the heart of its growth.

This is about how Toronto can create a legacy that lasts well beyond the final whistle.

From grassroots leagues to the global pitch, Canadian soccer has come a long way—but the journey is far from over. As Toronto prepares to become a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the spotlight is not only on the players but on the systems, the people, and the communities that have shaped the game here at home.

Recorded live at the 2025 GLORY Sports Summit (powered by GE Appliances) in Toronto, this episode of The GLORY Sports Podcast features soccer legend Dwayne De Rosario, FIFA World Cup 2026 executive director Sharon Bollenbach, and First Touch Football CEO Marcus Hanson.

Moderated by The Gist's Ellen Hyslop, this discussion explores the evolution of soccer in Canada, the unique challenges and opportunities facing the sport, and what it will take to ensure that the momentum doesn’t end when the final whistle blows.

The big question? How do we turn this moment into a legacy that lasts?

Diana Matheson is one of the most decorated athletes in Canadian soccer history — an Olympian, a World Cup veteran, and the player responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sport: that 92nd-minute goal at London 2012 that secured Canada’s first medal in a traditional team sport in over 70 years.

But what might be even more historic is what she’s doing now. As the co-founder of Project 8 and the visionary behind the newly announced Northern Super League, Diana is quite literally building the future of women’s professional soccer in Canada from the ground up.

Alongside her is Anastasia Bucsis — an Olympian in long track speed skating and one of the most respected voices in Canadian sports media today. You’ve seen her on CBC Sports, heard her on Player’s Own Voice, and felt her impact far beyond the broadcast booth.

But her influence goes deeper than sport. In the lead-up to the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Anastasia came out publicly in opposition to Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws — becoming the only out athlete from North America to compete at those Games. It was a bold, deeply personal act of protest that continues to ripple across sport and society to this day.

Together, they’ve carved out a life that is both deeply public and intentional, advocating for inclusion, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in Canadian sport, and supporting one another every step of the way.

Recorded live at the 2025 GLORY Sports Summit (powered by GE Appliances) in Toronto.

Recorded live at the 2025 GLORY Sports Summit (powered by GE Appliances) in Toronto, this specia episode features Jesse Marsch, Head Coach of the Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team.

In less than a year, Toronto will serve as one of the key host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, welcoming fans and teams from around the globe. Sure, this opportunity is about roaring stadiums and matchdays. But it’s also about building a lasting legacy of excellence, representation, and pride in Canadian soccer.

On this episode, Marsch shares how Canada Soccer is preparing for this pivotal moment — from building a competitive national team to activating major partnerships that connect with communities coast to coast. Joined by CBC Sports host Andi Petrillo and Bob Park (GE Appliances), the panel explores building a winning culture, connecting with fans across the country, and creating a lasting legacy for Canadian soccer.

What happens when you blend Indigenous values, entrepreneurial grit, and a mission to do business differently? You get Cheekbone Beauty, one of Canada’s most purpose-driven beauty brands—and the brainchild of Jenn Harper.

In this live episode of Mission Critical recorded in Toronto at Waterworks Food Hall, Lance sits down with Jenn to unpack her incredible journey—from overcoming addiction and selling fish (quite literally) to discovering her purpose in a dream and pioneering what she calls Indigenous Beauty, a category rooted in authentic sustainability.

Jenn gets candid about the highs and lows of building a brand from scratch, how close she came to shutting down, and why community—especially her customers—has always been the foundation of her success.

This episode is presented by Mastercard Canada as part of a special series spotlighting small business owners who are shaping the future of Canadian entrepreneurship.

Listen now to hear how Jenn is rewriting the narrative—and what she wants the world to know about Indigenous excellence, sustainability, and the future of beauty.

• 💄 Origin Story with Purpose: Cheekbone Beauty was born from a dream—and Jenn’s mission to give back to her Indigenous community and rewrite the narrative around Indigenous success.
• 📚 Scholarship Fund Impact: With the support of partners like Mastercard, Cheekbone Beauty launched a scholarship fund that has awarded 30+ scholarships to Indigenous youth since 2021.
• 🌱 Indigenous Beauty as a Category: Jenn is working to define Indigenous Beauty as a global category—anchored in authentic sustainability, community values, and cultural leadership.
• 🔥 Billion-Dollar Vision: She’s unapologetically building a brand with the goal of reaching a $1B valuation—and doing it with only six full-time staff and a lot of heart.
• 🤝 The Power of Community: Jenn credits her survival in business to loyal customers and movements like Buy Canadian, proving that small business success is community-driven.
• 💬 Leadership Through Love and Humility: Drawing from her Anishinaabe culture, Jenn built Cheekbone’s core values on love, humility, and integrity—redefining what business leadership can look like.
• 🎤 Being Vulnerable Online: Jenn opens up about sharing her story publicly, navigating social media as a founder, and why transparency helps build stronger customer relationships.

What does it take to thrive as both a designer and an entrepreneur? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Lesley Hampton—Indigenous artist, acclaimed fashion designer, and founder of her namesake brand—for a conversation about creativity, community, and self-preservation.

From dressing icons like Lizzo, Lily Gladstone, and Sandra Oh, to challenging colonial norms in fashion, Lesley has carved out a space that’s inclusive and deeply intentional. But behind the red carpet moments is a commitment to mental health and setting boundaries. As Lesley puts it, “My business isn’t thriving unless I’m thriving.”

Presented by Mastercard Canada, this episode is part of a series celebrating Canadian small business owners and the stories behind the brands. We talk about the power of mentorship, what it means to lead with your values, and why asking for help (even through a DM) can change the trajectory of your career.

Listen now to learn how Lesley built her brand from scratch, why fashion can be a form of activism, and how she’s creating space for the next generation of Indigenous talent.