OverArch Podcast

Neel Deshpande knew early that computers were going to be a big part of his life, but he didn’t know just how far that path would take him.

In this episode of OverArch, Neel shares how his career in technology evolved from a childhood fascination with computers into a career that took him from India to New Zealand, Australia, and eventually Canada.

We talk about discovering your path early, landing a first job that unexpectedly shaped an entire career, moving countries for opportunity, and how his definition of success has changed over time.

If you’ve ever wondered how careers actually take shape, not just on paper, but through real decisions and real life, this is a great conversation.

In this episode:

• Discovering a passion for computers at a young age

• Studying engineering and moving abroad

• Landing a first job in telecom

• Building a career across multiple countries

• Working in network systems and technology architecture

• How success changes over time

#OverArchPodcast #CareerJourney #TechCareers #Podcast #CareerGrowth #Success #Engineering #Technology #LifeDecisions

What happens when someone tells you you’re not good at math - and you decide to prove them wrong?

In this episode of the OverArch Podcast, Atlee sits down with Oliver Kerr, a civil engineering student about to graduate and start the next chapter of his life studying transportation systems in Scotland.

Oliver shares the early moments that shaped his path - from his first job working at a marina at 14 years old to the pivotal moment in Grade 10 when a teacher suggested he might not belong in advanced math.

With encouragement from his parents, Oliver pushed forward and ultimately built a career path in engineering. Today he’s working on real-world transportation projects, highway interchanges, and studying how cities move people efficiently.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The power of early jobs and learning how the real world works

• Why a single comment from a teacher almost changed his path

• What an engineering school is really like

• Designing real transportation systems and highway projects

• Why he’s moving to Scotland to study global transit systems

• The importance of mentors, parents, and belief in your potential

This episode is about turning doubt into direction and how small moments early in life can shape an entire career.

Dr. Ciera Fox’s career path was anything but conventional.

Before becoming a naturopathic doctor, she worked more than 25 different jobs, struggled with direction, and was later diagnosed with ADHD. Everything changed when she became a mother and decided to pursue university while raising her daughter.

In this episode of the OverArch Podcast, Ciera shares the turning points that shaped her life — from discovering her passion for health science, to commuting across the border for medical school, to building a clinic and launching a podcast focused on women’s health.

This is a story about persistence, self-discovery, and finding purpose when the path isn’t obvious.

Topics include:

• ADHD and career direction

• Becoming a parent while in university

• Pursuing naturopathic medicine

• Building a practice during COVID

• Entrepreneurship in healthcare

• Launching the Her Body and Mind podcast

Dr. Oly Eichstadt practiced dentistry for 42 years, but his story started long before the dental chair.

From delivering newspapers in a thunderstorm at 11 years old…

To chopping firewood for five cents a log…

To becoming a classical pianist just so he could go skiing…

This episode is about discipline, delayed gratification, mentorship, pressure, excellence, and what it really takes to build a meaningful life and career.

We talk about:

• The moment he realized he could control his destiny

• The ruthless reality of dental school

• Why excellence requires sacrifice

• The pressure of owning a practice

• The emotional weight of retirement

• And why putting people first always wins

Welcome to OverArch.

Nick Baer has spent 23 years in real estate, but his story is about much more than buying and selling homes.

From teaching English in Argentina to building a successful career in London, Nick eventually made the difficult decision to leave everything behind and move to Canada with his young family.

In this episode, we explore:

– Taking risks without a clear plan

– Starting over in a new country

– The pressure of career expectations

– Balancing ambition with family life

– Why authenticity matters in business

– How real estate becomes relational, not transactional

This is a conversation about trusting your gut, embracing change, and building community wherever you land.

OverArch is a podcast about the pivotal moments, decisions, and transitions that shape who we become.

Colten Russell’s career didn’t follow a straight line.

He started as a teenage machinist apprentice, nearly joined Tesla, considered law school, and ultimately became a Director of Engineering, leading a growing manufacturing team.

In this episode of OverArch, we explore:

• Starting in the trades and completing an apprenticeship

• Engineering school and the power of co-op programs

• Making it to the final two candidates at Tesla

• Handling rejection during finals week

• Transitioning from engineer to leadership

• Building and managing high-performing teams

• Advice for young engineers and students

This is a conversation about resilience, career pivots, manufacturing leadership, and why trying different paths early in your career can shape your long-term success.

If you’re interested in engineering careers, leadership development, professional growth, or career transitions - this episode is for you.

OverArch is a podcast about career journeys, pivotal decisions, and the lessons we’d give our younger selves.

Welcome to OverArch - a podcast about the stories, choices, and turning points that shape who we become. Honest conversations with interesting people about career, life, creativity, and the path behind the path.

Musician and producer Stephen Hummel joins the OverArch Podcast to reflect on a 20+ year creative journey.

From early influences and improvisation to building soundscapes as Subtractive Lad, Stephen shares how music became both a personal language and a way to connect deeply with others. We explore creativity, artistic longevity, the role of technology, and why the act of making art still matters, especially in an age of AI.

A calm, reflective conversation for artists, creatives, and anyone curious about the process behind meaningful work.

In this episode of OverArch, I sit down with investigative journalist Paul Henderson to explore the career journey that led him from small-town reporting to building his own independent media platform.

Paul shares how curiosity and instinct shaped his path, why he approaches crime and court reporting differently than mainstream outlets, and what it takes to build trust in today’s media landscape.

We discuss the evolution of local newspapers, navigating industry cuts, mapping serious crime to better understand patterns, and the decision to go independent in a rapidly changing world.

This conversation goes beyond journalism. It’s about recognizing patterns in your own life, following your interests, and having the courage to pivot when the industry shifts.

If you’re interested in storytelling, media, independent work, or turning instinct into career direction... this episode is for you.

In this episode of OverArch, I sit down with Ryan Baker for an honest conversation about career pivots, long-term thinking, and choosing what really matters. Ryan shares his journey from coaching opportunities abroad to returning home, starting Little Kickers, and building a business centred on community, kids, and family.

We talk about the moments where he could’ve gone one way - but chose another - and how those decisions quietly shaped everything that followed. This isn’t about overnight success or hustle culture.

It’s about momentum, values, and learning to trust your instincts when the path isn’t obvious. In this episode, we explore:

• Early career choices and coaching ambitions

• Turning opportunity into ownership

• Building a business with purpose

• Balancing ambition, family, and long-term fulfilment

• The quiet moments that define a career

If you’re navigating a career crossroads, thinking about starting something of your own, or reflecting on the choices that shaped your path, this conversation will resonate.

🎧 Subscribe for more long-form conversations about work, identity, and the moments that move us forward.