That Digital Take with Torri Webster

Brandi Leifso started Evio Beauty from a women's shelter at 21 with a bootlegged Photoshop. Now she's in 460 Shoppers Drug Mart locations and has a debut book. This is what Fearless Choices actually look like.

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What does it look like to build a globally recognized beauty brand from a women's shelter with nothing but a laptop and a borrowed idea? This week on That Digital Take, we sit down with Brandi Leifso, founder of Evio Beauty, impact entrepreneur, and author of the debut book Fearless Choices: How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time, for one of the most honest, grounded conversations we've ever had on this show.

Brandi's story isn't a highlight reel. At 21, she left an abusive relationship and found herself starting over with almost nothing. What came next wasn't a cinematic turning point — it was a series of small, quiet, often uncomfortable decisions that slowly built something extraordinary. Today, Evio Beauty is a Canadian-founded, impact-led skincare and beauty brand stocked in hundreds of Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada, with a mission rooted in giving back to women from day one.

In this episode, we go deep on the decisions nobody posts about — the vending machine fail, the early funding hustle, the Michelle Phan full-circle moment, and what it really took to land a major retail partnership at scale. Brandi also opens up about writing Fearless Choices, why she deliberately wrote a book that grounds you instead of hypes you up, and what she's still navigating in this chapter of her life.

If you're a founder, a creative, or someone who has ever felt stuck choosing between who you are and who you're becoming, this one is for you.

🕐 TIMESTAMPS

• 2:15 — What does courage actually look like in hindsight? The mindset shift from survival to building
• 7:32 — How Brandi funded Evio Beauty without telling anyone where she was living
• 11:07 — The Michelle Phan full-circle moment that changed everything
• 19:49 — The vending machine: a business decision that didn't work (and what it taught her)
• 24:23 — Why "grow at all costs" is a red flag, and how the founder era has shifted
• 26:38 — Is there still space to build in beauty in 2026? On the Girl Boss era and what replaced it
• 29:28 — "Always listen to the market" — staying agile enough not to sink
• 32:01 — Luck, preparation, and the Disney press trip moment
• 32:50 — Building a brand by women, for women — and the give-back from day one
• 37:00 — Setting boundaries around your founder story: keynoting Shoppers and reclaiming your narrative
• 44:42 — Mo money, mo problems: the hard parts nobody actually posts

IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:

• Building a mission-led beauty brand from zero resources
• The difference between an impulsive decision and an intentional one
• How to rebuild self-trust when it's been broken
• Scaling into major Canadian retail (460+ Shoppers Drug Mart locations)
• Balancing profit and purpose without compromising either
• Differentiating in a crowded eye patch and skincare category
• Why women feel pressure to make the perfect decision, and how to unlearn it
• Founder mental health, boundaries, and what the glow-up really costs
• Key lessons from Fearless Choices, the book

🔗 CONNECT WITH BRANDI LEIFSO 📖 Fearless Choices — available now 🌿 Evio Beauty: eviobeauty.com 📸 Instagram: @brandileifso | @eviobeauty

That Digital Take is a Canadian podcast at the intersection of business, digital culture, and the real conversations happening behind the brand. New episodes drop weekly.

#ThatDigitalTake #BrandiLeifso #EvioBeauty #FearlessChoices #CanadianFounder #WomenInBusiness #BeautyBrand #ShoppersDrugMart #ImpactEntrepreneur #FounderStory #PodcastCanada #SmallBusinessCanada #WomenEntrepreneurs #PersonalDevelopment #SelfHelp

What if the hair you've always wanted could change the way you show up in the world?

In this episode of That Digital Take, host sits down with Natalie With-Seidelin, founder of the award-winning Brush Beauty Bar Inc. in Burlington and creator of Brush'd The Label, a luxury hair extension line known for its revolutionary Invisi-Weft method and ethically sourced Slavic K-Tips.

This isn't just a conversation about hair. It's about identity, confidence, and the psychology behind transformation.

We get into:

• Why hair is so deeply tied to women's confidence, power, and self-perception
• The truth about hair extensions — and the biggest myths debunked
• What the Invisi-Weft method actually is and why it's considered one of the healthiest extension techniques available
• How to spot a bad install vs. a healthy one (and what red flags to watch for)
• The real difference between luxury Slavic hair and drugstore extensions
• What ethical hair sourcing actually looks like behind the scenes
• How Natalie built a brand, trained educators, and scaled beyond the salon chair

Whether you're curious about extensions for the first time, struggling with hair confidence, or building a beauty business of your own, this episode is for you.

Keywords: hair extensions, Invisi-Weft extensions, luxury hair extensions, Slavic hair extensions, hair confidence, extension methods, hair loss solutions, fine hair extensions, K-tips, weft extensions vs tape-ins, beauty entrepreneur, salon owner, how to start a beauty brand, Brush Beauty Bar, hair health, extension maintenance, Burlington Ontario salon

What does it actually take to build a fitness brand from scratch... no gym, no studio, just Instagram Lives and pure energy? This week on That Digital Take, we sit down with Toronto fitness founder Liv McIlkenny, the force behind Liv Sweaty, to talk about the real business of wellness, building community in the digital age, and what no one tells you about turning your passion into a paycheck.

Liv went from a 7-minute lockdown arm series on Instagram Live to full Zoom classes, park workouts, sold-out challenges, and one of Canada's fastest-growing digital fitness communities. Before that? Three years as a top SoulCycle instructor mastering the art of high-energy, rhythm-based movement. Then she bet on herself, and built her own lane.

In this episode, we get into everything:

Fitness & Mindset - What the "fitness girl" label gets wrong, how to stay high-vibe when your numbers dip, protecting yourself from comparison culture, and what actually happens when motivation disappears.

Business of Wellness - How Liv turned sweat sessions into a real revenue model, why she chooses long-term brand partnerships (think Hoka, Red Bull) over one-off deals, how to price yourself as a wellness creator, and whether brands have ever tried to control her body narrative.

Manifestation & Alignment - What manifestation actually means in practical terms, vision boards vs. execution, and the thing she manifested that genuinely shocked her.

Community & Authenticity - How she bridges her private and "branded" life online, navigating breakups and real moments publicly, and what a community member once said that she'll never forget.

Rapid Fire - 5am workouts or late-night gym? Cold plunges? Would she date someone less disciplined than her? What era is she in right now?

If you're a fitness creator, wellness entrepreneur, aspiring founder, or someone building a personal brand online - this episode is your blueprint.

Subscribe, rate, and leave a review. New episodes every week on That Digital Take.

Follow That Digital Take: @thatdigitaltake

Keywords: fitness entrepreneur podcast, wellness creator business, how to build a fitness brand online, Liv Sweaty, SoulCycle instructor turned founder, digital fitness community, manifestation business, personal brand fitness, Canadian fitness podcast, wellness business model, brand partnerships fitness creator, That Digital Take podcast

Welcome back to That Digital Take

In Season 3, Episode 2, Torri Webster sits down with Jay McCauley, one of Canada’s most influential Gen Z leaders reshaping philanthropy, corporate strategy, and political engagement in the digital age.

Jay is a strategic communications advisor, philanthropic strategist, and changemaker who has:
• Helped raise over $20 million for community causes
• Served as the youngest board member in Canadian nonprofit history
• Advised CEOs, political leaders, and major nonprofit boards
• Built a reputation for bridging Gen Z culture with legacy institutions

This episode dives deep into Gen Z leadership, purpose-driven brands, social media’s role in activism, cancel culture vs. accountability culture, youth voter engagement, and what corporations STILL misunderstand about young consumers.

If you care about impact, influence, digital culture, or building a legacy career with purpose, this is a masterclass.

00:00 – Meet Jay McCauley: Gen Z changemaker & philanthropic strategist
03:33 – Walking into legacy boardrooms as the youngest person in the room
04:51 – Networking honestly & building social capital
10:23 – Consulting brands on Gen Z strategy: what actually works
13:57 – Why brands get “youth marketing” wrong (and the Tate McRae debate 👀)
17:33 – Accountability culture vs. cancel culture
21:34 – Has social media permanently changed political strategy?
25:51 – Why young people MUST vote (and what’s holding them back)
33:37 – Social capitalism: Should influencers be doing more?
38:03 – Raising $20 million — what that really means behind the scenes
43:08 – Why Jay launched his podcast In Good Company

Gen Z leadership
Youth civic engagement
Purpose-driven marketing
Corporate social responsibility
Philanthropy in the digital age
Political engagement & social media
Building influence with authenticity
The future of nonprofit boards
Young entrepreneurs scaling with impact

Jay sits at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community — and this conversation feels like stepping inside a modern-day boardroom meets digital strategy lab.

This episode is for:
✔️ Founders
✔️ Creators
✔️ Marketers
✔️ Young professionals
✔️ Anyone navigating legacy spaces with new ideas

If you’ve ever wondered how to create real impact without waiting for permission — this one’s for you.

Subscribe to That Digital Take for weekly conversations at the intersection of business, influence, media, and culture.

And don’t forget to check out Jay’s podcast, In Good Company.

Leave a review if this episode resonates, it helps more listeners discover the show.

#GenZ #Philanthropy #YouthLeadership #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CorporateResponsibility #DigitalCulture #CivicEngagement #ThatDigitalTake

Welcome back to That Digital Take and welcome to 2026.

In this first episode of the year, I’m catching you up on where I’ve been, what this season of life looks like right now, and why the podcast is entering its next era.

January was supposed to be a mental reset… but somehow it turned into Miami slow living, early wedding planning, Vancouver film sets, Whistler influencer trips, and an Apple TV press day in LA brushing shoulders with the stars.

We’re talking:

✨ my “soft launch” into wedding era (engagement party is locked)
✨ visiting Adam on set and why watching someone you love live their dream is everything
✨ influencer trips in 2026… are they still this fabulous?
✨ what’s changing on That Digital Take this year (more guests, more celebrity + culture, more creator economy conversations, more Toronto + Canada stories)

Plus, we’re ending with a few new-year favourites and obsessions, from Moroccanoil lip balms to CapCut desktop edits to the 5 Minute Journal keeping me grounded while traveling.

This is the start of something really special.

If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you.
If you’re new, welcome to the next era of That Digital Take.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend.

In this Year in Review episode of That Digital Take, host Torri Webster reflects on the lessons, mindset shifts, and defining moments that shaped her life and career in 2025. From navigating growth in the creator economy to redefining success, boundaries, ambition, and self-trust—this episode is about what to hold onto, what to release, and how to move forward with intention.

This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s an honest breakdown of what worked, what didn’t, and the truths Torri is carrying into 2026.

✨ In this episode, Torri covers:

• The biggest lessons learned in 2025 (personally & professionally)

• Quotes and mindset shifts that anchored her through change

• What success really looked like behind the scenes

• What she’s consciously letting go of—and why

• What she’s protecting, nurturing, and doubling down on

• Reflections on burnout, clarity, confidence, and creative alignment

• How 2025 reshaped her goals, boundaries, and vision for the future

Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or simply in a season of reflection, this episode is a reminder that growth often comes from honesty, stillness, and choosing yourself—again and again.

🎧 Listen now to reset your mindset, take stock of your year, and step into 2026 with clarity and purpose.

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Follow & connect with That Digital Take
New episodes weekly featuring creators, founders, and honest conversations about ambition, identity, and building a life you’re proud of—online and offline.

#ThatDigitalTake #YearInReview #2025Reflection #CreatorEconomy #PersonalGrowth #LessonsLearned #EntrepreneurMindset #LettingGo #MindsetReset #Podcast

In this powerful episode of That Digital Take, Torri Webster sits down with beauty founder Haley Bogaert to unpack how makeup became more than just a career. It became a tool for healing, confidence, and rebuilding after profound personal loss.

Haley shares how developing a daily beauty routine during one of the hardest seasons of her life gave her structure, grounding, and a renewed sense of purpose. What began as a deeply personal ritual eventually evolved into a mission: helping others feel seen, strong, and confident through beauty.

We dive into:

• How makeup routines can create emotional stability and self-trust

• Turning personal resilience into a purpose-driven beauty brand

• The power of one-on-one artistry and why brows became her signature

• Expanding a beauty business with intention, from services to products

• Building community, confidence, and connection through beauty

• What it really takes to grow a modern beauty brand rooted in empathy

This episode is a must-listen for beauty lovers, founders, creatives, and anyone navigating reinvention, proving that sometimes the most impactful businesses are born from the most personal moments.

🎧 Listen now for an honest, inspiring conversation about beauty, resilience, and building something meaningful.

From mixing DIY skincare in a kitchen to building one of Canada’s fastest-growing women-led beauty brands, this episode of THAT DIGITAL TAKE goes deep with Connie & Laura, co-founders of Three Ships Beauty.

In this candid, founder-to-founder conversation, we unpack how Three Ships Beauty disrupted the clean beauty and natural skincare space with transparency, science-backed formulas, and truly accessible price points. Connie and Laura share the real story behind bootstrapping the brand, raising ~$3.5M CAD in institutional funding, and navigating hyper-growth in a crowded beauty market.

We also explore the human side of entrepreneurship, including how Laura’s brain tumour diagnosis reshaped their definition of risk, leadership, and success, and how their friendship and co-foundership evolved through life’s hardest moments.

If you’re a beauty founder, entrepreneur, content creator, or consumer trying to make sense of clean beauty claims, this episode is packed with insight you won’t hear anywhere else.

✨ In this episode, we cover:
• How Three Ships Beauty grew from a kitchen startup to national recognition
• The biggest myths around clean beauty & natural skincare
• Bootstrapping vs. raising capital — mindset shifts founders don’t talk about
• Balancing affordability, ingredient integrity & transparency
• How to simplify your skincare routine (without falling for marketing noise)
• The role of content in educating, not just selling
• How Gen Z is reshaping the beauty industry
• Leadership lessons for women-led brands
• Redefining success beyond revenue and recognition

Whether you’re building a brand, navigating entrepreneurship, or just trying to shop smarter in the beauty aisle, this conversation will change how you think about skincare, business, and modern leadership.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe to THAT DIGITAL TAKE for weekly conversations at the intersection of beauty, business, and pop culture.

✨ I’M ENGAGED! The FULL Behind-the-Scenes of Our Proposal, My Ring, and All the Sparkly Details ✨

This week’s episode is extra special, I’m finally sharing the entire behind-the-scenes story of my engagement. From how Adam planned the proposal, to my reaction, to the meaning behind my dream engagement ring, I’m taking you through every emotional, magical, sparkly moment.

If you love engagement stories, proposal planning, diamond details, ring shopping tips, or wedding content, this one is for you. 🤍💍

In this episode, I’m opening up about:
💍 How Adam planned the surprise proposal
✨ The hidden details I had no idea were happening behind the scenes
🔎 How we chose my engagement ring 
📸 The full proposal moment... what you DIDN’T see online
🤍 Why this chapter feels so meaningful for us
👰‍♀️ Our early wedding planning thoughts + what’s next

Whether you're newly engaged, manifesting your moment, or just here for the romance and sparkle, I hope this feels like a warm, cozy, personal catch-up between friends.

If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and leave a comment — tell me your engagement story, your dream ring, or your favourite part of the episode!

How social media rewired our idea of modern romance!

This week on That Digital Take, Torri opens up about 10 years of love in the era of soft launches, hard launches, aesthetic romance, and algorithm-approved relationships. We’re diving deep into how social media has completely reshaped modern love, and what a decade-long partnership really looks like when your career lives online.

From the pressure to curate picture-perfect moments to the rise of relationship comparison culture, this episode breaks down the realities behind the aesthetics—and the unexpected ways content culture can strengthen (or strain) your connection.

• The Aesthetic of Love: Why “aesthetic romance” isn’t the same as actual romance, and the reality behind those cinematic-looking moments we all double-tap.
• The Performance Trap: How performing your relationship for the internet can kill intimacy—and why some people post their partners while others stay private.
• Relationship Comparison Culture: Engagement by 28, baby by 30, house by 32… why social media makes everyone feel behind, even when they’re not.
• When the Algorithm Becomes the Third Partner: Digital jealousy, parasocial threats, and how your likes/saves/watch history quietly shape your relationship dynamics.
• Money & Love in 2025: The “aesthetic tax,” luxury date-night pressure, curated gifting, and the truth about who pays for the lifestyle we see online.
• What Social Media Actually Gets Right: Representation, therapy talk, diverse love stories, and permission to build a relationship model that works for you.
• Surviving 10 Years While Building a Public Career: Boundaries, private rituals, respecting each other’s “brand,” and choosing steady over cinematic.

Plus, Torri answers YOUR messages, including:

1. “My partner doesn’t post me — is that a red flag?”

2. “Do aesthetic dates matter, or is that social pressure?”

3. “How do you keep the romance alive after the honeymoon phase?”

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by relationship timelines, aesthetic pressure, or the myth of the perfect couple online, this is your episode.