The Mike Method

Whether you’re speaking to a thousand people from a stage or one person across a table, how you communicate shapes what people remember.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike sits down with Stefano Cossalter, a seven-time public speaking champion, keynote speaker, trainer, master hypnotist, NLP master practitioner, and certified coach. Stefano has won more speaking competitions than anyone in the 90-plus-year history of Toastmasters in BC, but becoming a confident speaker was anything but automatic for him.

Stefano shares how he went from freezing in conversations and avoiding networking to building a career around public speaking and helping others become more effective communicators.

Mike and Stefano explore why public speaking is ultimately a leadership skill, how storytelling helps create connection and influence, and why humour is something people can learn and practise. Stefano also breaks down his simple four-part framework for telling a compelling story and explains why preparation gives speakers more freedom to be present when it matters.

They also discuss how to personalize a presentation for an audience, why useful feedback can make such a difference, and how preparation can help speakers respond when things don’t go according to plan.

In this episode:

• Why public speaking matters far beyond the stage
• Stefano’s journey from avoiding public speaking to becoming a seven-time speaking champion
• How communication skills can be developed through practice
• A four-part framework for telling more compelling stories
• How vulnerability can help create connection
• Why humour often comes from disrupting expectations
• Practical ways to bring levity into a presentation
• How to ask for feedback that helps you improve
• Why connecting with an audience can begin before you take the stage
• The difference between personalizing and completely rebuilding a presentation
• Why strong communicators prepare instead of relying on their ability to wing it
• How preparation helps you adapt when things don’t go according to plan

Whether you regularly speak from a stage, lead meetings, present ideas, or simply want to communicate more effectively, this conversation offers practical ways to become a more prepared, connected, and memorable communicator.

Episode Resources:

Connect with Stefano: LinkedIn / Website

Stefano TEDx talk

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What deserves your best energy today?

Antonio Zivanovic has built his life around that question. An entrepreneur, tech founder, and one of Canada’s leading insurance advisors, Antonio has spent years developing practical systems that help him manage multiple businesses, family life, health, and the commitments that matter most to him.

In this conversation, Mike and Antonio explore why managing energy can matter more than trying to fit more into the day. They discuss the hidden cost of saying yes, the microhabits that compound over time, and why high performance often depends on the systems and support we create around ourselves.

Antonio shares how he has built household and business systems to protect time and energy, from food preparation and family support to routines that reduce the number of decisions competing for his attention. Mike also shares how he tracks his end-of-day energy and plans recovery between demanding conversations so that work does not receive all of his capacity.

They also discuss deliberate practice, the role of recovery, and why the habits that support performance are usually built one at a time.

A practical conversation about being more intentional with your energy, your commitments, and what receives your best attention.

Episode Resources:

Connect with Antonio

elektrafi

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AI is changing more than how work gets done. It's changing how businesses create value.

In this episode, Mike is joined by Mike McIsaac, Chartered Professional Accountant, entrepreneur, and trusted advisor with more than 25 years of experience helping businesses navigate valuation, acquisitions, corporate structure, taxation, and growth.

Together they explore how AI is influencing business valuation, why expertise has become even more valuable in an AI-enabled workplace, and how leaders can use these tools to help their teams learn faster and focus on higher-value work.

They also discuss practical AI tools they're using every day, the importance of active listening in a world of automation, and the leadership lessons they wish they'd learned earlier, from surrounding yourself with the right people to investing in continuous learning.

• Why AI is beginning to influence business valuations
• How productivity and efficiency create long-term value
• Why expertise still matters in an AI-enabled world
• Helping teams ask better questions and learn more quickly
• The balance between automation and active listening
• AI tools that are changing daily workflows
• Leadership lessons on learning, relationships, and growth

Episode Resources:

• Connect with Mike McIsaac
• The Road Less Stupid by Keith Cunningham
• Who Not How by Dan Sullivan & Dr. Benjamin Hardy

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What makes someone an authority in their field? According to Henry DeVries, it isn't simply expertise. It's the ability to share that expertise in a way people remember.

In this episode, Mike sits down with Henry DeVries, CEO of Indie Books International, bestselling author, ghostwriter, publisher, and storytelling expert who has helped hundreds of business leaders transform their knowledge into books that build credibility, influence, and business growth.

Together they explore why every successful book begins with the reader rather than the author, how powerful stories create lasting impact, why leaders shape culture through the stories they tell, and what separates books people finish from books they forget.

Whether you're thinking about writing a book, growing your business, or becoming a more effective communicator, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply immediately.

In this episode:

• Why authority begins with serving a specific audience
• The biggest mistake first-time authors make
• How storytelling strengthens leadership and culture
• The eight story frameworks that make ideas memorable
• Why stories often outlast facts and data
• How a book can create new opportunities for your business

Episode Resources:

Connect with Henry DeVries

Indie Books International

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Leadership leaves an impact long after a conversation ends.

This week, Mike is joined by Lynae Schemenauer, an Executive Leader, wellness strategist, and founder of Healthy Living with Lynae. With 27 years of leadership experience in law enforcement and extensive expertise in clinical nutrition, mindset, and holistic wellness, she brings a unique perspective on what it takes to sustain high performance in demanding environments.

Drawing from a career that has included major crimes, homicide, professional standards, and leadership roles across policing, Lynae explains why the people leading us often have a greater influence on our wellbeing than the work itself. Together, Mike and Lynae discuss why treating everyone the same isn't always effective leadership, how leaders influence team culture through their own habits, and why organizations that invest in wellbeing create stronger performance over time.

Whether you lead a team, own a business, or want to build healthier ways of working, this conversation offers practical ideas you can apply immediately.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why leadership can have a lasting impact on wellbeing

• How healthy leaders influence healthy teams

• The connection between wellness and organizational performance

• Why consistency matters more than one-off wellness initiatives

• Practical ways leaders can support healthier workplaces

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Every day we share information online without thinking twice. Photos, locations, event registrations, fitness apps, school schedules, and social media posts can all reveal more than we intend.

This week, Mike is joined by security risk consultant Paige Hunter to explore how publicly available information can create unexpected vulnerabilities for individuals, families, and organizations. Drawing from her work in threat assessment, executive protection, critical infrastructure, and reputational risk, Paige explains how bad actors gather information, how organizations assess potential threats, and the practical steps anyone can take to better protect their privacy.

Whether you're leading an organization, raising a family, or simply thinking more intentionally about your digital footprint, this conversation offers practical ideas you can put into practice right away.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why "privacy first" is a practical mindset for everyday life
• How publicly available information can create security risks
• The surprising digital habits that reveal more than people realize
• Simple ways to strengthen your online privacy
• How organizations assess and mitigate security threats
• Why executives, business owners, and parents all benefit from thinking differently about privacy
• Practical steps to reduce your digital footprint without disconnecting from technology

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who would find it valuable.

Episode Resources:

Connect with Paige Hunter on Instagram

ViRTUS: Website / Instagram / LinkedIn

Sign up for our Newsletter: Sign Up

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Success can open doors, but it doesn't always answer the deeper questions about who we are or how we want to live.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Jeff Brown, Transformation Coach, founder of Reconstructing Your Life, and Co-founder of Expanding You Inc, alongside returning guest Lynn Sumida, Co-founder of Miruspoint Facilitators Inc. and Expanding You Inc.

Together they explore how early conditioning influences identity, why many men are taught to prioritize achievement over emotional awareness, and how personal growth becomes more meaningful when knowledge is paired with practice.

Jeff shares the experiences that reshaped his own life, including divorce, loss, grief, and rebuilding after the death of his son. Lynn explains why so many of us become disconnected from our authentic selves through early conditioning, and why developing emotional intelligence is less about having the right answers and more about learning new ways to respond.

Mike also reflects on his own evolving definition of success, moving from achievement and external milestones toward living with greater intention across every role in life.

In this conversation:

• Why external success doesn't always lead to fulfillment
• How childhood conditioning continues to influence adulthood
• The connection between self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Why many men struggle to ask for support
• Responding instead of reacting during difficult conversations
• Building healthier relationships through reflection and practice
• What people often value most near the end of life
• Redefining success through character, presence, and connection

Connect with Jeff Brown

• Reconstructing Your Life: https://reconstructingyourlife.com
• Free Masterclass: The Man Behind the Performance (July 12, 9:00 AM PST): https://reconstructingyourlife.com/masterclass/
• Workshop: The Way Through (July 19): https://reconstructingyourlife.com/the-way-through/

Connect with Lynn Sumida

• Expanding You: https://expandingyou.com

Resources Mentioned

• The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
• Insight by Tasha Eurich
• The Work by Byron Katie

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Just because you can build something overnight doesn't mean anyone actually wants it.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Vidya Dinamani, Rebel Leader at Product Rebels, product strategist, author, and former product executive with more than 18 years of experience leading innovation, customer experience, and product strategy.

As AI makes it easier than ever to create new products, Vidya explains why the fundamentals of successful product development haven't changed. The strongest products still begin with understanding the customer, validating the problem, and making disciplined decisions before building.

Together, Mike and Vidya explore why some product launches succeed while others miss the mark, what leaders can learn from examples like Kickstarter, Ferrari, Tesla, and wearable technology, and how organizations can avoid building features simply because they can.

Vidya also shares the practical framework she uses to help teams align around customer needs, make better product decisions, and create products people continue to choose long after launch.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why customer understanding should come before product development
• How AI can strengthen product strategy without replacing customer insight
• The difference between demographics and psychographics
• A practical framework for making stronger product decisions
• Why disciplined execution often matters more than building quickly

Episode Resources:

Connect with Vidya

Product Rebels

Kickstarter

Groundwork: Get Better at Making Better Products by Vidya Dinamani

Ai Strategy that starts with People with Kian Gohar

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Mergers are often discussed in terms of strategy, systems, and financial outcomes. What receives less attention is the human experience behind organizational change.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike Desjardins is joined by Lisa Smith, Vice President of People Development and Change Management at Coast Capital Savings Federal Credit Union. Lisa has spent more than two decades helping organizations navigate leadership development, culture transformation, and large-scale change initiatives. Most recently, she has played a key role in bringing together Coast Capital, Prospera Credit Union, and Sunshine Coast Financial to form Canada's largest purpose-driven federal credit union.

Together, Mike and Lisa explore what it takes to successfully guide people through major organizational change. They discuss why culture must be intentionally developed, how leaders can prepare themselves before supporting others through uncertainty, and why communication, trust, and emotional awareness are often the difference between change that succeeds and change that struggles.

Lisa also shares lessons from previous mergers, the value of employee ambassador programs, how organizations can build readiness before change arrives, and why the Hero's Journey offers a surprisingly useful framework for understanding transformation.

Whether you're leading a merger, managing a growing team, or helping people navigate uncertainty, this conversation offers practical insights for building resilience, engagement, and trust during times of change.

• What is driving consolidation across the Canadian credit union system
• Lessons learned from multiple large-scale mergers
• Why culture should be co-created rather than imposed
• The role of emotional awareness in successful change initiatives
• How leaders can lead themselves before leading others
• Employee ambassador programs and peer-to-peer communication
• Building organizational readiness before major change occurs
• Creating learning cultures that support adaptation and growth
• The Hero's Journey as a framework for understanding change
• What successful transformation may look like one year after merger day

Episode Resources:

Lisa Smith: LinkedIn

Prospera Credit Union

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Businesses are better together. It is a simple idea that has shaped chambers of commerce for more than 400 years, and according to Jen Riley, it may be more important than ever.

In this episode of The Mike Method, Mike welcomes Jen Riley, President and CEO of the BC Chamber of Commerce, for a conversation about leadership, storytelling, policy, and the role businesses play in shaping stronger communities.

Drawing on more than two decades of experience in communications and brand leadership, including senior roles at EA Sports and Bosa Properties, Jen shares how curiosity and the ability to synthesize complex information have become essential leadership skills. Together, Mike and Jen explore the evolving role of chambers of commerce, why collective voices matter in advocacy efforts, and how local business communities contribute to economic resilience across British Columbia.

The conversation also explores workforce challenges, affordability, trade, major projects, energy systems, Indigenous partnerships, and why many of today's most important conversations require moving beyond simple either-or perspectives.

Rather than reducing complex issues into competing sides, Jen encourages listeners to approach them with curiosity, deeper understanding, and a willingness to engage with multiple perspectives.

Key topics include:

• The history and evolving role of chambers of commerce
• Why businesses are stronger when they work together
• Leadership through curiosity and continuous learning
• The importance of storytelling in shaping policy conversations
• Workforce challenges facing communities across British Columbia
• Trade, affordability, and major economic opportunities
• Energy systems and why nuance matters in public discussions
• Indigenous partnerships and reconciliation in business communities
• Why holding complexity is an important leadership capability

Whether you're a business owner, community leader, or simply curious about how policy and business intersect, this conversation offers valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping British Columbia's future.

Episode Resources:

Jen Riley: LinkedIn

BC Chamber of Commerce

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