The Calgary Sessions

After more than two decades in the corporate food industry, Jason Zaran started his first business at 40, opening The Main Dish in Bridgeland with years of experience and plenty still to figure out.

Years later, business losses, his parents' declining health and strain in his marriage arrived together, leaving him close to bankruptcy and needing a job while his wife, Pam, and a small team kept the remaining business going.

In this chat, we talk about the early regrets that shaped his approach to work, the decisions and people that helped him rebuild, and knowing when to keep going or change the plan.

Connect with Jason Zaran:

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jason-zaran-85494118

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jzaran/

Website: ⁠⁠https://fitkitchen.ca/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Monica Arora is the founder of Digital Monk Marketing in Calgary. Growing up, her parents encouraged her to ask questions and think for herself. Feeling comfortable being different took longer.

We talk about finding people she connected with, taking her interest in understanding people into marketing, and building her business. We also get into trusting your gut and what a decision can give you even when it doesn't go the way you hoped.

Monica likes the gray. Having to choose between this or that can mean missing what else is possible. That comes through when we talk about work-life balance and how hard she can be on herself. She kept the agency smaller when her kids were young so she could be there for them. As they've grown, she's had more room for the business. What worked then isn't necessarily what works now.

Connect with Monica Arora:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marorabir⁠

Website: ⁠https://digitalmonkmarketing.com/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Ryan HK is a Calgary photographer and director who spent more than 20 years freelancing before moving into an in-house role while continuing to take on selected creative work.

His path started well before photography became a career. Ryan left university to pursue snowboarding, returned home when his dad became sick and eventually built a life behind the camera. After going through cancer treatment, he sold his house, lived in a truck camper and later moved onto a sailboat.

The freedom he created eventually became isolating, and his mental health reached a point where something had to change. Ryan returned to Calgary and began rebuilding again through friendship, therapy, relationships and community.

Connect with Ryan HK:

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/RyanHK_

Website: https://www.ryanhk.com

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Yalda Kazemi is the founder of Yalda Kazemi Consulting Inc., a policy, ethics and compliance consultant, workplace mental-health educator and author of Unapologetic Truths.

Born in Iran, raised partly in Italy and arriving in Calgary at nine, Yalda’s early life was shaped by displacement, family responsibility and the belief that hard work could carry her through anything. That mindset helped her build an education and career she loved.

Then postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis became something she could not outwork. Yalda speaks about resisting treatment, hospitalization, cultural stigma, returning to work and the long road back to herself. Her recovery led to writing and advocacy, but also to a different understanding of strength: knowing when survival requires accepting help.

Connect with Yalda Kazemi:

LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/yaldakazemi⁠

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.yaldakazemi.com/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Rob Kerr spent years on Sportsnet 960 The Fan and calling NHL games, yet found himself wondering whether he should be further ahead. His broadcasting career began with volunteer television work in Fort McMurray while he was working in forestry.

We talk about the pull to keep climbing, losing a dream job, burnout, and recognizing what he valued in work he once wanted to move beyond. His community work today, including Coach Santa, continues a commitment to giving back that began long before broadcasting.

Connect with Rob Kerr:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rob-kerr-05753034

Website: ⁠https://robkerr.ca/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Hayden Mayeur is a Team Canada long-track speed skater, two-time World Championship medalist and founder of Hayloft Cafe.

He moved from Toronto to Calgary at 17 to pursue speed skating, switched from short track to long track and eventually competed for Canada internationally. His path included supporting himself through part-time work, recovering from burnout and learning that his strongest performances did not always fit what the sport’s systems expected to see.

During COVID, Hayden started a mobile coffee business so he could control his working hours while training. What was meant to be a small side hustle grew into a private event company and eventually began creating flexible work opportunities for other Team Canada athletes.

This conversation gets into sport, work, risk and what happens when something you built for yourself starts affecting more people than you expected.

Connect with Hayden Mayeur:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hayden_mayeur⁠⁠

Website: https://www.hayloftcafeyyc.c⁠a

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Tammy Arseneau is the founder of Cortical Consulting & Coaching and a former Suncor executive whose career has moved through leadership, organizational effectiveness, change and now entrepreneurship.

Tammy grew up learning to figure things out early. She lost both parents young, worked to support herself, built a career with Irving Oil, lived and worked in New Zealand, raised three boys and eventually moved to Calgary, where she spent more than a decade at Suncor. For years, moving forward was simply what she did.

When her time at Suncor ended, she finally had the space to slow down and ask a different question: what did she actually want to do next? We talk about identity outside of a job title, starting a business after a long corporate career, the difference between experience and certainty, and why her growing interest in neuroscience and human performance is changing how she thinks about leadership.

Connect with Tammy Arseneau:

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tammy-arseneau-mba⁠

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://corticalconsultingcoaching.com/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Tina Mathas has spent much of her career in technology, leadership, innovation and coaching. Today, she works fractionally with businesses and founders while also making more room for writing, music and creative work.

She grew up in South Africa with Greek immigrant parents who taught her about hard work, service and entrepreneurship, but also gave her a clear idea of what a practical career should look like. That led Tina through university, tech, major transformation projects, IBM, ATB, consulting and several attempts to build something of her own. Along the way came motherhood, divorce, repeated burnout, concussions and several points where she questioned whether the life she was succeeding in was actually the life she wanted.

We talk about inherited expectations, why Tina kept returning to corporate life, creativity in the age of AI, faith, fear, failure, asking for help and the values that now shape her decisions. At 51, she is still figuring out what comes next, but she is doing it with a much clearer sense of what she wants to make room for.

Connect with Tina Mathas :

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tina-mathas

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.tinamathas.com/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Deeter Schurig is the President + CEO of cSPACE Projects in Calgary, but that was never the career he was working toward. He started in theatre, spent years as a stage designer, and eventually went back to school to study architecture.

We talk about getting into the acting program he wanted and deciding not to pursue it, building a creative career that was finally gaining momentum, and then realizing he was being pulled somewhere else. That path eventually brought him back to Calgary, where a research project around the former King Edward School became much more than an academic exercise.

Deeter also gets into the people who helped him see things differently, the times he changed direction and the times he needed to stay, becoming a parent, his thinking around stewardship, and how those seemingly separate parts of his life eventually came together in the work he does now.

Connect with Deeter Schurig :

LinkedIn: ⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/deeter-schurig-51209139⁠

Website: ⁠https://cspacemardaloop.com/

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

Reed Shimozawa is a Calgary guitarist, songwriter and founding member of Zuckerbaby who now performs with Wide Mouth Mason and other Canadian artists.

Reed grew up in Lethbridge in a Japanese Canadian family shaped by internment, farm work and the expectation that he would pursue a more traditional career. Music took him in another direction, from six-night-a-week bar bands to Calgary’s original music scene, a major-label record deal, MuchMusic and national touring. When the industry changed and Zuckerbaby’s momentum disappeared, Reed had to figure out who he was without the version of success he had spent years chasing.

We talk about the rise and end of Zuckerbaby, the Calgary music scene of the 1990s, becoming a father, spending more than 20 years working in a guitar store, being laid off during COVID and finding his way back into music as a freelancer. Now 61, Reed reflects on ambition, identity, past mistakes and why the time he has left feels less like a countdown and more like an opportunity.

Connect with Reed Shimozawa:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reed_guitar

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/reed.shimozawa/⁠

Connect with Jeff Humphreys:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Podcast Location & Production:

Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca