Mike Assad, a top-performing real estate professional with Royal LePage Team Realty, joined the podcast for a fun and informative conversation about influence & persuasion. Mike brings an experienced perspective to the table, having spent three years in the world of car sales before transitioning into real estate over two years ago. He shares captivating stories from the field, including how he outsold industry veterans early on in his career, and explains the approach he takes to achieve business success and excellent long term relationships. This episode provides a deep dive into the psychological principles that lead people to be influenced and persuaded: Authority, Likability, Social Proof, Consistency, Reciprocity, and Scarcity. Tune in to hear how Mike and Ollie have used these principles to gain influence and to avoid falling prey to manipulative tactics. Whether you are a seasoned sales professional, a first-time homebuyer, or simply someone looking to navigate daily life with more confidence, this episode provides the tools you need to succeed.

Recorded on January 3, 2026

Connect with Mike:
https://teamrealty.royallepage.ca/agents/1809749/Mike+Assad
https://www.instagram.com/mikeassad_realestate/

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up        
(0:58) - Mastering Influence: A Toolkit for Real Life        
(4:30) - Mike's Journey: Car Sales & Real Estate        
(23:01) - Ollie's Mistake at Mr. Lube: How He Got "Rinsed"        
(27:45) - The Six Pillars of Persuasion Explained        
(30:02) - Authority: Why We Trust the "Expert"        
(41:58) - Build Rapport: Why Likability Sells        
(47:04) - Scarcity: How to Create Urgency in the Market        
(51:42) - Tactics for Dealing with High Pressure Sales        
(56:41) - Being Reciprocal: The Art of the Give and Take        
(1:03:12) - Mike & Ollie's Best Persuasion Stories        
(1:17:27) - How to Use Social Proof: People Follow the Crowd        
(1:26:11) - Unexpected Lessons in Reciprocity        
(1:28:32) - Consistency: "Yes" Today Leads to a Sale Tomorrow        
(1:33:45) - Expert Tips for Your First Home Purchase

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

What happens when mental illness and the justice system collide with a family's future? Marge Jestin and Farhat Rehman of MOMS Ottawa pull back the curtain on the hidden reality of navigating Canadian prisons. From the overcrowding of remand to the stark contrast between a minimum-security path and a life sentence in maximum security, they share their sons' challenging journeys through a system that often "warehouses" people instead of healing them. This conversation highlights the power of a network of 160+ women replacing stigma with radical acceptance. It explores the remand crisis and the systemic conditions that degrade mental health, and why the system often prioritizes punitive isolation over therapeutic care.

This is a story of resilience for anyone who has felt the weight of stigma. It is a testament to the power of mothers who refuse to give up on their children, moving mountains - one teaspoon at a time.

If you are a woman navigating the criminal justice system with a loved one, connect with MOMS at: https://www.momsottawa.com/

Recorded on December 11, 2025

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up        
(0:58) - MOMS Ottawa: Turning Isolation into Advocacy        
(8:30) - Farhat's Son: Hockey, Learning, and Mental Struggles        
(16:27) - Marge's Son: Sports, Outdoors, and Childhood Grief        
(19:18) - Prison is the "New Asylum" for Mental Illness?        
(23:44) - Guilty Until Proven Innocent? The Reality of Remand        
(26:44) - The Tragedy Behind Farhat’s Son’s Life Sentence        
(31:34) - Solitary Confinement & Schizoaffective Disorder        
(39:47) - Does the System Actually Rehabilitate?        
(42:12) - Marge’s Son's Arrest, Bail, and Prison Sentence        
(45:51) - Boredom, Bullying & Bars: Life in Remand        
(56:59) - Minimum Security: Working & Pro-Social Living        
(1:06:38) - Maximum Security: Security Over Therapy        
(1:14:45) - 25 Years in a Cell: Remorse, Hope, and Survival        
(1:18:43) - Prison Visitation: Scanners, Glass, and Heartbreak        
(1:28:01) - The "Life Sentence" Mothers Serve on the Outside        
(1:31:34) - Coming Home: What Ex-Offenders Need to Succeed        
(1:43:31) - Restorative Justice: A New Framework for Victims        
(1:50:13) - Overcoming Stigma with Radical Acceptance        

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Join Ollie and designer and Studio Hot founder Nicole Cukier, for an honest conversation about the messy & exhilarating process of creating. Together, they share personal stories of hitting walls, pushing past resistance, and finding momentum while building businesses and producing podcasts. This episode dives deep into the psychology of creativity - why openness, sensitivity, and even discomfort can fuel your best work, and how resistance, self-doubt, and critics try to hold you back. Along the way, they explore ideas like Nietzsche’s Will to Power, the importance of childlike wonder and beginner’s mind, and the ongoing tension between art and commerce. Packed with practical strategies and encouraging insights, this conversation will help you overcome creative blocks, embrace vulnerability, and balance artistic passion with real-world demands - so you can bring your ideas to life.

Studio Hot: https://www.studiohotdesign.com/

Recorded on June 11, 2025

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up       
(1:03) - Introduction       
(2:14) - From Designer to Entrepreneur: Nicole’s Story       
(8:55) - The Link Between Environment and Creative Ideas       
(11:31) - Overcoming Internal and External Creative Blocks       
(18:39) - The Truth About Creativity: Who Really Has It?       
(23:32) - How to Tap Into Your Inner Drive To Create       
(27:35) - How to Avoid Procrastination       
(33:54) - Nicole’s Design Business: Studio Hot       
(37:10) - The Creative Instinct and Nietzsche's Will To Power       
(44:24) - Reclaiming Your Childlike Curiosity and Beginner Mentality       
(50:21) - Why What You Consume Shapes What You Create       
(54:28) - How Sensitivity Can Be a Creative Superpower       
(1:00:58) - The Will to Power & Creative Journeys: Socrates + David Goggins       
(1:09:49) - How to Push Through Resistance and Keep Going       
(1:18:19) - How to Create Boldly Without Seeking Approval       
(1:27:17) - When Creativity Meets Business: Finding Balance       
(1:31:35) - How to Keep a Child’s Creativity Alive       
(1:37:40) - Momentum Starts When You Begin - Start Now       
(1:44:42) - Stop Overthinking, Start Making       
(1:55:19) - Embrace Discomfort and Follow Your Heart             

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- The Creative Act: A Way of Being: https://amzn.to/4725hzK
- The Artist's Way: https://amzn.to/4nZMeMo
- The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles: https://amzn.to/4gLwjPn 

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Ollie sits down with Pierre Boulliane for a thought-provoking exploration of the human psyche. Together, they unpack some of life’s deepest questions: What is consciousness, and what truly has it? How does the ego form and why does it so often control us? What role does the hidden “shadow” play in shaping our behavior? This conversation goes far beyond theory - it touches on the practical ways we can expand consciousness to improve wellbeing, confront and integrate our shadow, and learn to detach from the destructive side of the ego. Whether you’re curious about mindfulness, the roots of self-identity, or how to find peace, this episode is a deep dive into the inner forces that shape our lives.

Recorded on May 19, 2025

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up       
(0:54) - Introduction       
(4:37) - The Mystery of Consciousness: What Really Has It?       
(11:26) - Why Consciousness May Hold the Key to Ethics       
(13:41) - How Expanding Awareness Improves Your Life       
(18:54) - Ego Explained: The Self You Think You Are       
(23:44) - The Birth of Ego: How It Develops in Childhood       
(26:39) - The Role Ego Plays in Daily Survival       
(29:34) - Detach From the Destructive Forces of the Ego       
(44:38) - Why Ego Always Wants More - How to Stop It       
(57:55) - The Shadow Explained: The Dark Side of the Mind       
(1:05:38) - Reintegrating the Parts of Yourself You Hide Away       
(1:10:01) - Stop Overthinking and Start Accepting Yourself       
(1:18:20) - How Solitude Helps You Discover the Real You       
(1:28:51) - Exploring the Hidden Shadows Within Religion       
(1:33:04) - Shadow Work 101: Exploring Your Hidden Self       
(1:43:13) - Exploring Good, Evil, and the Voice Within       
(1:49:48) - The Dance Between Ego and Shadow       
(1:54:58) - Mindfulness as the Path to Inner Calm       
           
BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose: https://amzn.to/3IGmntM
- Other Minds: The Octopus, the Sea, and the Deep Origins of Consciousness: https://amzn.to/472D1wY
- The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment: https://amzn.to/46LahaE
- Meeting the Shadow: The Hidden Power of the Dark Side of Human Nature: https://amzn.to/4pKpYHS
- Owning Your Own Shadow: Understanding the Dark Side of the Psyche: https://amzn.to/3KpZ1ZW
- The Laws of Human Nature: https://amzn.to/3ImZewt
- Projections: A Story of Human Emotions: https://amzn.to/42iD9Wr
- The Culture of Narcissism: American Life in An Age of Diminishing Expectations : https://amzn.to/4gN2nCl
- Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion: https://amzn.to/4nvY

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Join Ollie and Zach Louis-Seize, founder of Crowned Heart Visuals, as they dive into the essentials of building a successful business. From setting a strong foundation to standing out in a crowded market, they discuss actionable tips on efficiency, growth, and differentiation. Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, this episode is packed with valuable insights to help you thrive!

Recorded on August 4, 2024

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Introduction
(1:38) - Crowned Heart Visuals - Summary
(6:35) - A Solid Foundation for Your Business
(21:24) - Make Your Business Effective & Efficient
(29:37) - Defining the Roles Within Your business
(41:47) - Skills Every Business Owner Needs
(50:07) - Envisioning a Business Plan & Structure 
(59:10) - Staying Focused and Managing Time
(1:07:36) - Use Social Media to Boost Your Business
(1:19:31) - Differentiate Your Business. Zero to One
(1:23:30) - Connect Your Story with Your Audience
(1:29:23) - Making Your Business a Monopoly
(1:34:35) - Provide Unique Value for Your Customers
(1:42:37) - Business Competition VS Collaboration         

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future: https://amzn.to/3W78lVH
- The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It: https://amzn.to/420vFYE
- The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less: https://amzn.to/3WupbOv
- Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen: https://amzn.to/3W5OLZS

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Join Ollie and Zach Louis-Seize as they explore the future of Artificial Intelligence and its far-reaching impacts on society. From job markets and education to psychology and security, this episode offers valuable insights into how AI is reshaping our world and what it means for the future.

Recorded on June 25, 2023

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Coming Up
(1:01) - Introduction
(3:00) - Is AI Smarter Than You?
(18:35) - Does AI have Goals, Values, and Ethics?
(29:26) - How AI Could Escape our Control
(37:32) - AI VS Humans: Who Wins?
(1:06:48) - How AI Could Take Your Job
(1:24:26) - AI's Effect on the Economy & Energy System
(1:36:59) - How AI Could Kill You
(1:48:36) - How AI Could Effect Meaning & Purpose
(1:53:00) - The Urgent AI Safety Concerns
(1:56:00) - People will Fall in Love with AI
(1:58:50) - Is AI a Conscious Life Form?
(2:07:00) - How AI Could Improve Your Life
(2:18:00) - AI is Intelligent, but is it Wise?
(2:23:27) - AI will Bring us into a Simulation
(2:33:15) - How AI will DISRUPT Education & Jobs
(2:51:39) - AI Security, Hacking & Manipulation
(2:57:35) - Digital Life VS Real Life
(3:11:02) - An Optimistic Outlook on AI

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: https://amzn.to/4fJUjjM

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Ollie sits down with Jennifer Horrocks and Kailey Lewis to discuss the power of self-regulation. Jennifer, a Registered Early Childhood Educator and Self-Regulation Facilitator, shares tips on improving self-control, managing stress, and understanding human development stages to enhance emotional well-being.

Recorded on May 20, 2023

TIME STAMPS
(0:00) - Introduction
(1:12) - Why Start Practicing "Self Regulation"
(8:42) - Stress Test - The Marshmallow Challenge
(12:54) - Misbehaviour vs Stress Behaviour
(18:03) - Domains of Stress: Types of Stress
(25:19) - How to Recover From Stress
(28:01) - The Shocking Impacts of Stress
(45:25) - Misbehaviour vs Stress Behaviour - 2
(49:02) - How to Effectively Communicate with Kids
(56:51) - How to Recover From Stress - 2
(57:57) - This is Ruining Your Life: Work/Rest Balance
(1:02:08) - The Mysterious Parent/ Child Connection
(1:04:25) - The Struggle of Being a Teenager
(1:13:07) - Attachment Styles Explained

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life: https://amzn.to/420iGGs

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Ollie chats with Nellie Vieira, CEO of True to the Core and expert negotiations coach, about the skills needed to negotiate successfully. They cover how to get what you want, navigating personality clashes, avoiding manipulation, and more—perfect for anyone looking to improve their negotiating skills.

Recorded on: January 26, 2023

NELLIE VIERA
- https://truetothecore.com/

BOOKS USED TO CREATE THE EPISODE
- Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It: https://amzn.to/3W5qEKT

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Join Ollie, Zach Louis-Seize, and Justin Bourgeois for an in-depth conversation on health and wellness. They discuss how to maintain balance in mental, physical, and spiritual health, offering actionable tips for a holistic approach to living well.

Recorded on August 28, 2022

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod

Ollie sits down with Zach Louis-Seize to dive into the world of social media—the good, the bad, and what the future holds. They discuss the evolving landscape, its impact on society, and how we can navigate the digital age effectively.

Recorded on July 24, 2022

PODCAST LINKS
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ollielewispodcast
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ollielewispodcast
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ollielewispodcast145
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7FYT6QkhkVlVBbzPc3B6XI
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ollielewispodcast/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ollie-lewis-864064315/
- X: https://x.com/OllieLewisPod