Have you ever moved through your day surrounded by people… and realized how little you actually know about the stories they’re carrying?

The person at the checkout.
A colleague in a meeting.
Someone you pass on the sidewalk.

Each one is living a story shaped by experiences, relationships, loss, hope, and questions you may never fully see.

In this episode, I reflect on what happens when we slow down enough to remember that everyone has a story and how that awareness quietly changes how we listen, connect, and show up with one another. Through moments from podcast conversations, personal experiences, and reflections on learning in relationship, this episode explores what becomes possible when we move through the world with a little more presence and curiosity.

Listen in as we talk about:

1:00 Remembering that everyone has a story

4:01 Practicing curiosity in everyday conversations

4:58 Seeing the human behind the work

8:09 Learning in relationship with one another

12:31 Noticing whose stories we’re used to hearing

14:02 Making space to listen

15:35 The invitation beneath the stories we share

Connect with Tiana:

Every person we encounter is shaped by experiences we often know nothing about. Remembering this doesn’t require knowing someone’s whole story. It’s more about carrying a gentle awareness that there is always more beneath the surface than what we see in passing. When we move through the world with this in mind, it softens quick judgments and invites more care into everyday interactions. It changes how we interpret behaviour, how we hold moments of tension, and how we notice the humanity in people we might otherwise overlook.

Curiosity doesn’t have to look like asking big questions or having profound conversations. Often, it shows up quietly in the way we stay present, allow pauses, and follow the threads of someone’s story when it takes an unexpected turn. When curiosity leads, conversations become less about steering toward an outcome and more about making room for what wants to be shared. Over time, this kind of presence builds trust and opens space for people to show up more fully as themselves.

Behind every role, title, or area of expertise is a person shaped by lived experience. When we make space for that story, learning becomes more than information-sharing. It becomes relational. We start to notice how someone’s work is connected to what they care about, what they’ve lived through, and what they’re still figuring out. The conversation shifts from “what do you do?” to “who are you becoming?” and that shift changes how learning lands.

So much of what shapes us happens in relationship with others. Learning deepens when it’s grounded in connection, conversation, and shared experience rather than delivered in isolation. When people feel seen and heard, they’re more willing to reflect, to try, and to stay with the messy middle of growth. Learning in relationship creates conditions for honesty, for uncertainty, and for real change over time.

The stories we’re exposed to shape how we understand people, places, and events. And often, the versions we receive are partial. Some voices are amplified. Others are missing. Holding this awareness gently doesn’t mean doubting everything we hear. It means staying open to the possibility that there is more to the story than the version we’ve been given. This kind of openness expands perspective and makes room for learning that includes more people and more lived realities.

Listening isn’t just about hearing words. It’s about creating space for someone else’s experience to land without rushing to fix, advise, or relate it back to ourselves. Small shifts – pausing before responding, asking one curious follow-up question, staying with what feels unfinished – can quietly change the quality of connection. These moments don’t need to be dramatic to matter. Over time, they shape how safe people feel being real with us.

“Let stories make the world feel a little smaller, and our connections to each other feel a little more possible.”

Different lives, different paths, and still familiar human threads. Beneath every story is an invitation to see the person, stay curious, and let our sense of “we” grow a little wider. When we listen with care, we begin to notice what we might have otherwise missed – the courage behind decisions, the grief beneath defensiveness, the hope woven into uncertainty. Stories don’t just inform us. They quietly reshape how we move through the world with one another.

What does it really take to build a successful brand without retail experience, paid ads, or chasing trends?

In this episode of People Teaching People, I sit down with Jenna Hill, founder and CEO of Frock Box, to break down the real mechanics behind growing a community-led business from a basement startup into a multi-million dollar brand.

Jenna shares how Frock Box began as a solution to a personal pain point during early motherhood, and how listening closely to women has shaped every stage of the business, from the styling model to customer experience to team culture. We talk about building without outside funding, why Jenna avoided ads and hype-driven growth, and how education, trust, and connection became the company’s true growth engine.

This conversation is a grounded look at what actually works when you build slowly, intentionally, and in alignment with real life. No shortcuts, no theatrics, just honest lessons from the inside.

If you’re building a business, nurturing an idea, or questioning whether you need to follow the “standard” playbook to succeed, this episode offers clarity, reassurance, and practical insight.

Listen in as we talk about:

01:00 Jenna’s story

03:50 Going from idea to Frock Box

06:58 Creative roots to retail

11:24 Choosing a word of the year

17:21 Learning through the messy middle

23:26 Listening to the nudges

26:42 Behind the scenes of Frock Box

30:50 Education at the heart of Frock Box

35:14 Being a mentor

39:05 Learning by watching mom

41:00 Looking ahead at Frock Box

42:32 The teacher who challenged her

44:50 Being proud of the people 

46:48 Always being curious to learn 

47:55 Dream conversations

49:14 The power of connection 

Connect with Jenna:

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Jenna traces the start of Frock Box back to early motherhood and the long days spent roaming malls with babies in tow. She remembers a small but real frustration: loving comfy leggings but never finding tops that felt good to wear with them. What began as a personal need for something thoughtful on a changing body slowly became a bigger idea about how clothing shapes how you show up in the world. She noticed how the right outfit could shift your mood, your posture, and even your sense of possibility. She also saw a gap in Canada for something that felt personal and accessible, without the hassle of cross-border shopping. Out of everyday conversations with friends and a desire to help women feel more seen, a business began to take shape. It was rooted in the belief that small, thoughtful experiences can change how a day feels.

Jenna shares that Frock Box did not come from retail experience at all. It came from a love of building things, creating, and bringing people together. Her background in graphic design and photography shaped how she thinks about business. Those creative roots taught her that community comes first, that people want to feel like they belong, and that connection is often what turns an idea into something real. She brings that same lens into Frock Box, grounding the brand in belonging rather than trends. Alongside that heart for community is her bias toward action. She is willing to try ideas quickly, knowing that some will work and some will not. For her, momentum comes from starting before everything feels perfect. Even with hindsight about branding or naming, she holds an easy honesty about building with what you know at the time. The courage to begin is often what carries things forward.

Jenna reflects on how one word can become a steady guide for the year. It becomes a simple anchor for how you move, decide, and show up. Her word, rooted, helps her hold two things at once. It keeps her grounded in her instincts and values while also giving her permission to flow, experiment, and try new things. She notices how different seasons of life call for different kinds of energy. Her past word, bloom, captured growth and expansion. Rooted, on the other hand, is about staying steady below the surface, even when things stretch and shift above ground. For her, this practice is not about chasing perfection. It is about choosing something that keeps her connected to who she is while she explores what is next. It becomes a small habit that brings clarity back to everyday decisions.

Jenna says that building Frock Box has been a daily lesson in trusting herself, embracing the creative chaos of how her mind works, and leading in a way that actually fits who she is. Along the way, she has become deeply aware of how emotional this work can be, especially in how women speak to themselves and what they believe they are allowed to wear. She notices how old messages and quiet self-criticism show up in the mirror. Her hope is to offer small moments of lightness and confidence through the styling experience. She also speaks honestly about the harder lessons, including missteps, financial risks, and choices that do not land the way you hoped. Her story holds both truths at once. Not every decision works out, and there is always more happening behind the scenes than what we see on social media.

“How fun it is to sit and dream about what could be.”

Jenna shares that she has learned to recognize her nudges by paying attention to how her body responds, especially as she has gotten older. For her, the signal is clear when an idea keeps her awake at night because she feels excited and can’t stop thinking about it. She mentions that this pull usually shows up around business, and while she knows not everyone is wired the same way, she gently challenges people to consider what it might feel like years from now to have never answered that call. When she looks honestly at the risks of trying something and strips away the fear of being judged, what’s left often feels far more manageable than it first appeared. She speaks about the joy of dreaming about what could be, paired with a willingness to do the work to make it real, and her hope that her daughters will one day find work that feels meaningful, even if not every part of it is enjoyable.

Jenna explains how Frock Box has evolved from a simple idea of delivering an outfit to someone’s door into a more flexible, thoughtful experience shaped by listening closely to what women actually need. She realized early on that bodies are not one-size-fits-all, that stylists cannot see what is already in someone’s closet, and that choice matters, so the model shifted to a five-piece favourites box that women can try at home and keep only what works for them. The process is designed to fit real life, with personal stylists using profiles and visual cues to make thoughtful selections, and with easy returns that remove pressure from the experience. Over time, small changes, like previewing a box by text before it ships, have helped build more trust and better results. At the heart of it all is her commitment to making personal styling more accessible for busy Canadian women, including those in rural communities, and to building real connection through listening, adapting, and growing alongside the people she serves.

Jenna shares that teaching and learning are woven into everything Frock Box does, and that the business has become less about selling clothes and more about helping women feel confident through thoughtful styling support. She explains how education now sits at the centre of their work, from colour analysis sessions that help people understand what actually works for them, to in-boutique styling sessions where small, practical shifts can change how someone feels in an outfit. These experiences are not about chasing trends, but about learning what fits your body, your life, and your sense of self. As Frock Box continues to grow, she sees this education piece expanding even further, shaped by listening closely to what their community is asking for and building services that help women walk into their closets feeling capable, confident, and ready for their day.

Jenna shares that when she mentors new entrepreneurs, she starts by helping them lay all the risks on the table and get honest about what they are actually comfortable with, rather than feeling pressured to go “all in” right away. She challenges the idea that you have to quit your job or take big leaps before you even know if an idea is viable, and instead encourages people to build in ways that fit their real lives, responsibilities, and risk tolerance. She also emphasizes the importance of knowing who your business is for, starting from a real pain point you understand, and finding what will genuinely set you apart from others in the space. Alongside clarity about customers and differentiation, she reminds people to cut through the noise of conflicting advice and to find a friend, mentor, or community to think out loud with, because ideas often need to be spoken before they can take shape.

Jenna shares that what she hopes her daughters learn goes beyond the idea that you can do anything you set your mind to. She wants them to look deeper and notice what truly lights them up. She knows how much of life is spent at work and how heavy it can feel to stay in something that does not feel meaningful. She describes her own best days at Frock Box as simple moments of connection, like sitting outside a fitting room, watching women try on clothes, and helping them make small shifts in how they see themselves. She hopes her girls one day find work that feels both challenging and rewarding, and she carries deep gratitude for the community and team that have grown alongside her.

Jenna shares that what is inspiring her right now is the next step of building out the education side of Frock Box, especially the launch of new body shape analysis sessions. She sees this as a natural extension of the styling work they already do and as another way to help women understand what actually works for them. While she knows colours and body shapes are not life-changing on their own, she believes deeply in the quiet power of that moment when you put on an outfit and instantly feel better in your body. That small confidence boost can shape how you move through the rest of your day. For her, the goal is to reach more women with that feeling, so getting dressed feels easier, lighter, and something to look forward to.

Jenna reflects on a business mentor as the teacher who had one of the biggest influences on her journey, even though that relationship felt uncomfortable at first. She admits she initially felt intimidated and unsure if her mentor even believed in her business, but over time she realized that this challenge came from deep care and a strong belief in what she was capable of building. Instead of giving easy answers, her mentor pushed her to do the work herself, helping her see her blind spots and make stronger, more grounded decisions. That experience reshaped how Jenna leads her own team and how she thinks about growth, including learning to lean into data and numbers even when it felt uncomfortable. Those lessons stayed with her because they were earned, not handed to her.

Jenna shares that while she is proud of how many Canadian women Frock Box has styled over the years, what matters most to her is the people who have been part of building it. She never set out to create a workplace designed for moms, but that is what naturally emerged, with flexible hours that make room for school drop-offs and pick-ups. She feels proud of the many women who have come through Frock Box, knowing it has been a meaningful stepping stone in different seasons of their lives. Each person has brought their own strengths and perspectives, and each has shaped her growth as a leader in return. What began as a business has become a place of shared learning, support, and possibility.

Jenna shares that her approach to learning is simple and self-directed. When something sparks her interest, she looks it up, watches videos, and starts exploring. She is curious about learning more coding and is paying close attention to how AI might fit into her business, while still holding onto the importance of the human element. She is also interested in the psychology behind what shows up in the fitting room, noticing how emotional these moments can be for women and wanting to understand that experience more deeply. Her curiosity does not land in just one place. She is energized by learning in many directions at once and finds joy in staying open to what might be worth exploring next.

For Jenna, it is hard to choose just one person she would love to learn from, because her curiosity stretches in so many directions. She is drawn to people who carry wisdom, energy, and honesty, naming Oprah for her depth and perspective. She also mentions Joanna Griffiths, the founder of Knix, as someone she finds inspiring for how she has built a brand with heart. Jenna is equally drawn to Sara Blakely for her realness, passion, and entrepreneurial spirit. What draws her in is not just success, but how these women show up in the world and share what they have learned along the way. Her list of dream conversations reflects how open she is to learning from many voices and how much she believes in putting curiosity out into the world to see where it might lead.

“My greatest teachers have been ones who have really taken the time to get to know me and to see me for who I really am.”

Jenna shares that the teachers who have shaped her most are the ones who took time to truly see her and connect with who she is, and that this kind of presence has mattered just as much in her life as it has for her kids. She believes every interaction holds the potential for connection, even the small, ordinary ones, and that you never know when a simple conversation might shift your day. She talks about how easy it is to overlook the doors that quietly open in front of us, and how much possibility sits on the other side when we pause long enough to notice them. For her, growth often begins with one small step, one idea spoken out loud, or one moment of courage that allows something new to take shape.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.

Have you ever finished a class, a meeting, a workshop, or even a podcast episode and thought, “Okay… but what was the point?”

Not because it was poorly done.
Not because it lacked care or intention.
But because there was so much information – so many ideas, examples, and details – that the thing you were meant to carry with you never quite surfaced.

I’ve had that experience many times. And I’ve also been on the other side of it – sharing thoughtfully, preparing carefully, and still realizing afterward that the message didn’t quite land. This episode is about the big idea – the one thing we hope someone carries with them long after all the details fade.

Listen in as we talk about:

Connect with Tiana:

When communication lacks clarity, people leave unsure of what they were meant to understand, remember, or do next. It’s easy to get pulled into sharing more context, more examples, more supporting information often with the best intentions. But without a clear anchor, learning becomes diffuse and effort doesn’t translate into impact. Focus isn’t about doing less; it’s about making meaning visible.

“The big idea is the anchor. It’s the throughline.”

The big idea is the core message beneath everything else. It’s the central question being explored or the one insight someone could still name after the details fade. It gives purpose to examples, stories, and strategies. Rather than asking people to remember everything, the big idea helps them know what to hold onto. Details don’t disappear. They simply fall into place.

Even well-designed learning experiences can fall flat when the big idea isn’t clear. Content can be thoughtful, engaging, and full of value, yet still leave people struggling to explain what it was actually about. This often happens when everything feels important and nothing is prioritized. In those moments, clarity doesn’t fail because of a lack of effort. It fails because the point was never named.

When the big idea is unclear, attention scatters and next steps feel uncertain. When it is clear, learning sticks. Conversations gain direction. Decisions feel easier. Clarity doesn’t erase complexity or nuance; it helps people navigate it. It tells them where to focus and what matters most within the messiness of learning and work.

The need for a clear big idea extends far beyond formal learning environments. It matters in meetings, strategy sessions, emails, social content, presentations, and everyday conversations. Any time information is being shared or guidance is being offered, a learning experience is taking shape. The underlying question remains consistent: what should someone walk away with?

Clarity strengthens when the big idea is named early, even when it feels obvious. It deepens when the big idea is used as a filter helping determine what supports understanding and what distracts from it. Returning to the big idea throughout a process doesn’t diminish it; it reinforces meaning and connection. Focus is often created not by adding more, but by choosing with intention.

Difficulty naming the big idea is often a sign that more clarity is needed and not more content. Asking reflective questions can surface what truly matters: what’s the one thing someone should remember, what question is being answered, what shift is being invited. When those answers feel fuzzy, it’s an opportunity to refine the message rather than expand it.

Having a single guiding idea, like a word for the year, can shape decisions, attention, and energy over time. A clear lens helps determine what aligns and what doesn’t. It creates consistency without rigidity and focus without pressure. When choices are anchored in something intentional, saying yes and saying no both become easier.

For people who naturally notice details, patterns, and connections, a missing big idea can feel overwhelming rather than supportive. Without a clear place for information to land, learning can feel exhausting – like holding everything at once with nowhere to rest. Naming the big idea doesn’t remove detail; it gives it structure and purpose.

Whether you are designing learning, leading teams, creating content, or communicating with intention, the question remains the same: what’s the big idea? What is meant to be carried forward? When that big idea is clear, everything else finds its place. Focus doesn’t come from doing less. It comes from being deliberate about what truly matters.

What does it really take to build a purpose-driven business that reflects your values and grows alongside your life? 

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I sit down with Julie Cole, Co-Founder and Senior Director of Public Relations of Mabel’s Labels, to explore the deeply human story behind one of Canada’s most loved parenting brands. Julie shares how a simple product gap, combined with her son’s autism diagnosis, became the catalyst for leaving law and stepping into entrepreneurship. Together, we talk about the realities of building a company while raising six children, how values shape leadership and culture, and the long-game mindset required to grow without sacrificing what matters most.

This conversation is a reminder that the way we build matters just as much as what we build.

Listen in as we talk about:

01:00 Julie’s story

03:54 The origin of Mabel’s Labels

06:45 Being better together

09:10 The skills that come with you

11:00 Learning as you grow

12:30 The unromantic reality of entrepreneurship

15:51 Building culture with care

20:59 Values as a compass 

24:39 Shaping a business idea

28:18 Writing her book

33:00 Giving back with intention

36:55 Learning and growing together with peers

38:43 Looking back with pride

39:38 Learning never stops

42:24 Keeping your brain moving

Connect with Julie:

Connect with Tiana:

Julie reflects on a journey that didn’t begin with an entrepreneurial plan, but with paying attention to what life was asking of her. While working as a lawyer and raising young children, she noticed a simple but frustrating gap for parents trying to keep track of their kids’ belongings. At the same time, her eldest child received an autism diagnosis, which shifted everything and made it clear that being deeply present, flexible, and fiercely supportive mattered more than staying on a traditional career path. The idea for Mabel’s Labels grew at the intersection of these moments – a practical solution shaped by real family needs and built alongside her sister and close friends during an intense season of raising small humans and juggling full-time work. What carried it forward in those early years was community, word of mouth, and a willingness to try, even when the path felt uncertain and demanding. Sometimes the most meaningful work emerges when we respond to a season of change with courage and care, and allow a small idea to grow alongside our lives.

Julie shares that building a business with co-founders brings both complexity and comfort. With four people at the table, there were different personalities and opinions to navigate, but also complementary skill sets, shared workload, and a sense that the risk felt more manageable when it was divided. Bootstrapping together made starting feel possible, and in the pre-social-media days, having partners meant the journey wasn’t a lonely one. They became built-in support for each other through babies, sick kids, and real life, grounded in care not just for the business but for one another’s families. At the same time, Julie is clear that collaboration only works when there’s alignment – around vision, expectations, and how the work is shared – knowing that effort will ebb and flow as life does. When people are clear on where they’re headed and willing to carry the load together, the work feels not just lighter, but more human.

Julie reflects on how her legal background, while it once felt far removed from entrepreneurship, became an unexpected asset in building the business. She reminds listeners that none of our past experiences are wasted. We bring every skill set with us, even when our path changes. Within their founding team, each “past life” showed up in practical ways, from finance and design to teaching and law, creating a well-rounded foundation in the early days. For Julie, that meant reviewing agreements, navigating complex conversations, and drawing on problem-solving and negotiation skills that extended well beyond the courtroom. The work may have looked different on the surface, but the thinking behind it was deeply transferable. When you stop questioning why you learned what you learned and start trusting that it shaped how you think, you begin to see how every chapter contributes to what you’re building now.

Julie describes how growth has a way of revealing both blind spots and hidden strengths, often at the same time. In the earliest days, everyone did everything, working out of a basement and focusing on getting the product out the door. Then the business grew, employees were hired, and suddenly there were entirely new questions about HR, systems, and responsibilities they hadn’t needed to think about before. Each stage brought a fresh round of learning, whether that meant taking a course, bringing in outside support, or figuring out how to navigate technology and e-commerce without anyone being a natural expert. Along the way, gaps became clearer, but so did capabilities they didn’t know they had. Growth doesn’t come from having it all figured out at the start, but from staying curious, adaptable, and willing to learn your way into what comes next.

Julie speaks candidly about what it really looked like to build a growing business while raising six young children. The days were long, the nights even longer, and sleep was often sacrificed in favour of packing orders, answering emails, and keeping things moving once the kids were in bed. She pushes back on the glossy version of entrepreneurship, reminding us that behind the talk of freedom and flexibility were basement work sessions at 2 a.m., constant exhaustion, and hard trade-offs. Flexibility made it possible to be present for school trips and family moments, but it didn’t make the work disappear. It simply shifted it to late nights and early mornings. Julie also emphasizes the importance of being honest about capacity, expectations, financial trade-offs, and appetite for risk before diving in. Entrepreneurship can be deeply rewarding, but it demands grit, realism, and a clear-eyed understanding of what you’re choosing to give and to get in return.

Julie reflects on how growing a team gave her and her co-founders the rare opportunity to intentionally shape the culture they wanted to work in. Having built the company during a season of diapers, playdates, and very full lives, they prioritized values like trust, productivity, and flexibility over rigid hours and appearances. Instead of measuring commitment by who was in the office from nine to five, they focused on goals, outcomes, and whether the work was getting done in a way that supported real life. This approach created a family-friendly environment, strong morale, and remarkable retention, with many team members choosing to stay or even return after leaving. Julie also shares how true growth required learning to let go, delegate, and trust others to do things differently, even when it was uncomfortable. When leaders leave their ego at the door, focus on results, and build systems that work for people and the business, teams don’t just function – they thrive.

Julie shares how core values at Mabel’s Labels aren’t just words on a wall, but living guideposts that shape culture, decisions, and relationships. From hiring and onboarding to partnerships and community involvement, their values help clarify what aligns and what doesn’t, especially when choices feel complicated or tempting. She explains how turning down a collaboration with a larger brand, despite the opportunity it presented, ultimately protected trust, integrity, and the relationship they had worked hard to build with their community. Values also show up in the hills Julie is willing to stand on publicly, including inclusion and human rights, even when it means losing customers along the way. What she’s learned is that values don’t shrink a business. They attract the right people, deepen loyalty, and create a sense of shared purpose that feels bigger than profit. When decisions are rooted in what truly matters, alignment follows, and so does the kind of work you can feel good about at the end of the day.

Julie frames a business idea as something that often starts with noticing a small but persistent frustration in everyday life – something that could work better, look better, or feel easier. She encourages paying attention to those moments and then getting curious, asking questions, and doing the groundwork to see what already exists and where there might be room to do it differently. That means talking to people, using your networks, learning from others who’ve gone before you, and tapping into local entrepreneurship supports that can help with everything from research to prototyping. Along the way, Julie normalizes hearing plenty of no’s and not worrying about looking foolish for asking honest questions. When you’re willing to stay curious, do your research, and keep reaching out anyway, a business idea becomes something you can actually build – one conversation at a time.

Julie shares that writing her book grew from a long-held desire to make the journey of building a business and raising a family feel a little easier for someone else. Writing had always been part of her life, from early blogging days to short-form storytelling, but the pause created by COVID finally gave her the space to do it. With travel and events on hold, she treated the book like a side project, writing stories as they came rather than forcing a linear process, and trusting that the pieces would come together later with the help of an editor. She talks honestly about the challenge of staying accountable, the value of simple systems like writing groups, and the importance of getting words down without worrying if they’re perfect. By tackling the hardest tasks first and refusing to let unfinished work linger in her head, she found a rhythm that made progress possible. When an idea keeps hovering, giving it a place to land can clear space for everything else you’re trying to build.

Julie shares how mentoring, community involvement, and advocacy are guided by clear boundaries and a deep sense of purpose. She’s thoughtful about when and how she gives her time, choosing opportunities where she can show up fully rather than saying yes to everything. Giving back, for her, means opening doors for other women, sharing what she’s learned, and staying connected to what’s changing by learning from the people she supports. Whether it’s mentoring entrepreneurs, judging awards, or contributing to causes aligned with her values, she finds that the time and energy she offers often return as inspiration and renewed perspective. As life shifts, so does the way she gives – moving between time, talent, and resources as capacity allows. When generosity is rooted in alignment rather than obligation, it becomes sustaining for everyone involved.

Julie reflects on how learning has shown up in different ways throughout her life, from teachers in her childhood whose lessons stayed with her, to books that shaped her thinking, and now, most meaningfully, through her peers. At this stage of her journey, she finds her deepest learning happens within a trusted group of women who gather regularly and intentionally, despite full lives and busy schedules. This isn’t a space for surface-level encouragement, but one grounded in honesty, constructive feedback, and real support – stepping in for one another, sharing opportunities, and offering guidance without competition. That sense of mutual care and shared growth has become her most valuable learning environment, reminding us that sometimes the teachers we need most are the people walking alongside us, willing to learn and lift together.

Julie reflects that pride shows up in many layers, beginning with her children and especially her eldest, whose autism diagnosis was the catalyst for starting the business and who has since grown into a thriving, capable adult. That personal journey remains deeply meaningful, but alongside it sits a quieter, equally powerful sense of pride in what the business has made possible. Beyond awards, recognition, and becoming a well-loved brand, she speaks about the responsibility and gratitude that come with employing people and supporting their lives, families, and futures. Knowing that the work they do creates stability, opportunity, and a genuinely good place to show up each day matters deeply to her. In the end, success is measured not just by growth or accolades, but by the people who are cared for along the way.

Julie shares that staying curious and current is less about chasing big new skills and more about keeping pace with how things are changing. She talks about learning through trends, platforms like LinkedIn, and especially through her team, whose perspectives on marketing, paid ads, analytics, and content strategy keep her thinking fresh and forward-looking. Even when technology doesn’t come naturally, she leans into learning how content connects, engages, and sometimes simply entertains. Along the way, there’s humour in realizing that some of her best teachers are her own kids, who are quick to offer feedback, troubleshooting, and reminders of how fast the digital world moves. Growth, she shows, often comes from staying open, asking for help, and being willing to learn from the people right beside you.

“Learning is non-negotiable. If you rest, you rust.”

Julie talks about learning as something woven into everyday life, not confined to classrooms or certain seasons. For her, staying curious and mentally active is essential to how we show up in business, in relationships, and in our own sense of vitality. She compares learning to physical movement, something that keeps us flexible, strong, and engaged over time, and emphasizes how conversation, social connection, and exposure to different perspectives all play a role. Whether it’s keeping up with new ideas, challenging the brain through something complex, or simply staying open to learning from the people around us, she sees it as an ongoing practice rather than a destination. When learning remains part of how we live and connect, it keeps our thinking alive and our worlds expanding.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.

Have you ever noticed how the hardest part of learning is often the middle – the part no one really talks about?

Not the shiny beginning full of ideas, and not the clear ending where everything makes sense, but the in-between space where things are still taking shape.

Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to that part – in my work, in conversations, and in the quiet moments where I’m trying something new myself. And the more I notice it, the more I realize how much learning actually lives there. In the drafts. In the experiments. In the moments of uncertainty before clarity arrives.

Somewhere in that noticing, the messy middle started to look different. Less like a problem to solve and more like a natural part of how we learn – a place where curiosity stretches us, where ideas shift and evolve, and where we begin to see what’s possible.

In this episode, we’ll explore what the messy middle really is, why it shows up in every meaningful learning experience, and how design thinking, brave spaces, and even a good old-fashioned sandbox can help us navigate it with more confidence and heart.

Because maybe the messy middle, like so many parts of life, is where real learning takes shape long before we recognize it.

Listen in as we talk about:

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“The messy middle is where the learning actually happens.”

The messy middle is the part of learning we rarely talk about, even though most of our growth actually happens there. It’s the space between clarity and confusion, where ideas get tested, reshaped, and sometimes set aside. Kids move through this space naturally. They experiment, adjust, and keep going without worrying about how it looks. Adults still have this ability, but we often forget that uncertainty is part of how we learn. When we start noticing the messy middle rather than resisting it, it becomes easier to see it as a necessary part of moving forward.

At Mount Royal University’s recent Talent Reimagined event, one moment on the Open Recognition panel really caught my attention. Neil Hunter, Chief Learning Officer at Deloitte said something that stayed with me: “The best learning happens playing in the sandbox.” It’s a simple image, but a meaningful one. A sandbox is never perfectly smooth. You build something, change it, add to it, or start again. People join in, ideas shift, and the whole thing evolves. Many adults stop giving themselves permission to work this way, even though experimenting is often what leads to real insight. The sandbox is a reminder that learning doesn’t require a perfect plan. It requires room to explore, adjust, and try again.

Design thinking fits naturally with the messy middle because it’s built on iteration rather than certainty. It starts with empathy, moves into brainstorming, and encourages small tests that reveal what works and what doesn’t. No one expects the first version to be the final one. Each attempt becomes information for the next step. We use this process all the time without naming it – whether we’re troubleshooting a challenge at work or deciding what to make for dinner with whatever ingredients we have on hand. When we embrace learning as an evolving process instead of a straight line, the middle feels a lot less intimidating.

Learning deepens when people feel supported enough to take risks. Safe learning spaces aren’t about removing the challenge; they make it possible to stay with the challenge long enough to learn from it. When people trust that their questions are welcome and mistakes won’t be used against them, they’re far more willing to explore and stretch. Whether it’s a classroom, a team environment, or a community space, the tone we set shapes what people feel able to do. When belonging is present, courage follows, and the messy middle becomes something we can move through rather than avoid.

The messy middle shows up in our own work too. When something doesn’t go the way we hoped, it’s easy to assume it’s a sign to stop. But often, it’s simply information: a nudge toward a new approach, a fresh message, or a different rhythm. When we step back and look again, the middle can bring clarity we didn’t have at the beginning. It helps us see what needs to shift so we can continue moving in a way that feels more aligned with the work we want to do.

On a recent trip to Mexico, I ended up in the middle of the ocean’s break zone – right where the waves build their force before crashing. It was messy, loud, disorienting, and I couldn’t stay on my feet for long. But as soon as I moved a little farther out, the waves shifted from pushing me over to lifting me up. Learning often mirrors this. The hardest moments aren’t setbacks; they’re signals that we’re in the part of the process where growth is taking shape. The momentum we’re looking for usually begins right there.

Reflection helps us make sense of the messy middle while we’re in it. Noticing where things feel challenging, choosing one small step or experiment to try next, and shifting the story we’re telling ourselves about the experience can soften the uncertainty. These small practices don’t erase the middle, but they give us steadiness as we move through it. Over time, we begin to see the learning that’s unfolding, even when it’s not yet visible from the outside.

What changes when learning begins from a place of belonging and connection?

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, I sit down with Anita Chowdhury – an educator, researcher, and community leader whose work invites a more relational and compassionate approach to teaching and learning. Anita brings together social justice, arts integration, land-based learning, and engaged pedagogy in ways that honour sustainability, relationality, and care.

Our conversation explores how early experiences and relationships shape the way we learn, how community can become a powerful teacher, and why compassion and belonging matter so deeply in the spaces where learning happens. Anita reflects on hope, land, identity, and the small everyday moments that remind us what it means to support one another as humans and learners. It also invites us to notice the learning already happening all around us.

Listen in as we talk about:

01:00 Anita’s story

03:02 Roots in land and learning

08:08 Community learning in practice

13:15 Education as liberation

16:12 Land-based learning

18:08 Compassion at the heart of learning

23:54 Empowerment through Mamas for Mamas

27:26 Strength through support

31:23 Hope in everyday moments

33:25 A teacher’s lasting impact

36:29 Proud moments in learning

37:37 Curiosity for what’s next 

39:36 Learning everywhere around us

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Anita shares that her story begins in British Columbia, where the eco-conscious culture and time spent in her family’s community garden became her first understanding of healing, connection, and caring for the land. These threads now run through her work in land-based learning and community food initiatives. As her life unfolded, she followed her curiosity and opportunities across the country, teaching art history at Mount Royal, training as an elementary educator in Toronto, and navigating the beautiful complexity of raising children while pursuing meaningful work. Through moves to Ottawa, Toronto, and back again, she discovered that each place offered something different, but Calgary kept calling her home with its strong sense of community and compassion. Her journey reflects how our earliest experiences often plant the seeds for the work we’re meant to do. And – that sometimes the place that feels like home is the one that helps us grow the most.

Anita describes juggling many roles that unfolded during an unusual moment in history including completing her education degree entirely online during the pandemic. Craving connection and hands-on teaching, she joined an experiential land-based learning program that brought her to a 30-acre regenerative farm supporting refugee children and youth. What began as a volunteer opportunity quickly became a defining experience, blending community, soil, learning, and care in ways that shaped her path forward. This work eventually led her into her master’s research and opened the door to a leadership role with Mamas for Mamas, where she now supports hundreds of families while raising her own. Through all these roles, she’s learned that meaningful work often grows from saying yes to the places and people who need us most. This allows those experiences to reshape what we imagine for ourselves.

“Education is a path to freedom.” 

Anita shares how her master’s research is deeply influenced by educators like bell hooks and Paulo Freire, whose work introduced her to engaged pedagogy and the idea of education as liberation. With a background in the fine arts, she sees creativity and land-based learning as powerful tools for helping children expand their perspectives and understand complex social issues in ways that feel empowering rather than intimidating. She hopes young people learn that they can make a difference in their world, even through small steps, and that learning can be a space for freedom, expression, and critical consciousness. At its heart, her work reminds us that education becomes transformative when it helps people imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities.

Anita shares that reconnecting with the land can begin in simple, accessible ways. She talks about how even small acts such as stepping outside for a moment, tending a struggling houseplant, or feeling the grass under our feet can help us rebuild a relationship with the natural world. These everyday practices create space for grounding and reflection, especially during times that feel overwhelming. She also highlights the guidance offered through Indigenous pedagogy, reminding us that Indigenous communities have been teaching land stewardship for generations. Whether through tiny daily choices or community-based efforts, nurturing this connection helps us feel more rooted, present, and supported by the world around us.

Anita reflects on how education shifts when we view it through a lens of compassion, maternal care, and nurturing. These are qualities that have shaped families and communities for generations. She shares that empathy isn’t just a soft skill but a transformative force across every subject and setting, especially as children and youth navigate mental health struggles, identity, and belonging. Meaningful learning lives at the intersection of science, art, and heart, and the way people feel in a learning space often matters more than the content itself. Anita connects this to the deep importance of belonging. Community, whether for new moms, newcomers, or children, creates support, identity, and trust. When people feel seen and understood, they are more open to learning, growing, and stepping into who they are becoming. At its core, this reminds us that education is most powerful when it helps people feel connected to themselves, to others, and to the communities that hold them.

Anita shares how her work with Mamas for Mamas has shown her just how deeply education, community, and social supports intertwine in helping families move through and beyond periods of poverty. She explains that many people simply don’t know what resources exist or how to access them, especially when institutional barriers feel overwhelming. By offering gentle, informed resource navigation, the organization helps families understand their options, build confidence, and gradually feel empowered to seek support on their own. Whether it’s connecting a new parent with breastfeeding clinics or guiding someone toward community programs, the right information at the right moment can shift someone’s whole trajectory. At its heart, this work shows how meaningful it is when people don’t have to figure things out alone and how community can open doors that once felt out of reach.

Anita shares that becoming a parent sparked a powerful shift in how she sees herself and what she’s capable of. Motherhood pushed her to adapt, grow, and realize she could do hard things even while navigating frontline work, graduate studies, and raising three young children. She talks about how deeply she values her “village,” the people and workplaces that honour her roles as a parent, educator, researcher, and caregiver, and how rare it is to have spaces where bringing a baby to work or prioritizing well-being is truly supported. She also acknowledges that many people don’t have those networks, which is why organizations like Mamas for Mamas are so essential in creating community for families who might otherwise feel isolated. Her experience reminds us that we’re often more capable than we think. But – having people and systems around us that genuinely support our whole selves is what makes it possible to keep showing up with care and energy.

Anita shares that what keeps her hopeful, even in a world that can feel heavy, is witnessing small, everyday acts of joy. Whether it’s a moment of connection at Mamas for Mamas Calgary or time spent with families on the land, these glimpses of goodness remind her why the work matters. She believes hope is essential in education and community care, guiding us to keep moving forward and helping learners see themselves as part of a brighter future. From young activists to creative thinkers to children with big ideas, she sees so much possibility in the next generation. These moments fuel her commitment to research, advocacy, and supporting families, reminding her that even in challenging times, hope grows wherever people choose to care for one another.

Anita shares the story of the teacher who shaped her most deeply: her high school art teacher, Paul Zavos. She remembers him as someone who taught with extraordinary compassion, creativity, and care. These qualities made a far greater impact than any technical skill or polished lesson. His belief in his students and his gentle, nurturing approach opened a pathway for Anita into art education, arts integration, and creative learning. She’s watched many of his former students go on to pursue diverse careers, all carrying threads of the encouragement he offered in his classroom. Anita still keeps in touch with him today, a testament to how meaningful those connections can be long after graduation. It’s a beautiful reminder that one caring teacher can change the direction of a life and that reaching out to tell them often means more than we realize.

When Anita reflects on what she’s most proud of, it isn’t the impressive 88-page lesson plan she created early in her teaching journey. It’s watching her own children discover joy in learning. She talks about the quiet magic of seeing them enter new experiences with a little hesitation and then come alive as they make friends, explore ideas, and find fun in the process. For her, learning was always a safe and welcoming space, and seeing her children start to feel that same sense of belonging means more than any accomplishment on paper. It’s a reminder that the most meaningful wins often show up in small, everyday moments when someone we love begins to grow into themselves through curiosity, connection, and play.

Anita shares that something she’s looking forward to learning is powerlifting. After returning to her yoga practice and completing her 80th class, she’s been building strength through yoga, Pilates, barre, and training. Seeing friends lift with confidence has sparked a desire to try it herself one day. When she thinks about who she’d love to learn from, she’s drawn to powerful educators and storytellers like bell hooks and Maya Angelou. These are women whose voices have shaped how so many people understand education, justice, and possibility. Her reflections offer a gentle reminder that learning doesn’t end with a degree or a job title. There is always something new to explore, and inspiration often comes from the people who show us what’s possible.

Anita reflects on how much possibility exists in our everyday lives when it comes to learning. She talks about the wealth of accessible knowledge available online and how platforms like YouTube and Instagram have helped her try new things like picking up embroidery through a simple tutorial. For her, it’s a reminder that learning doesn’t have to be formal or structured to be meaningful. If there’s something you’ve been curious about, there’s likely a place to begin right where you are, and it’s worth giving yourself permission to try.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.

What sparks someone to create something meaningful and what happens when they follow that spark even before they feel fully ready?

For me, this question has been circling for years. As a mom of three teenagers and someone who has spent much of her life in teaching and learning, I’m continually struck by how much wisdom, courage, and clarity young people carry especially when they’re given the space to explore, try, stumble, and keep going. Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut, two Calgary sisters who began their journey with business and podcasting in the midst of their childhood and teen years discovered something powerful about happiness, connection, and sharing your voice.

Their story weaves together the science, art, and heart of learning – what happens when curiosity meets action and when two teenagers decide to simply begin. In this conversation, recorded live at PodSummit YYC 2025, we explore where their journey started, what they’ve learned from interviewing world-class guests, the challenges and joys of creating as sisters, and what it means to build something with purpose.

I invite you to consider your own spark: What first nudged you toward creating or sharing your voice and how has it shaped the heart of what you do now?

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When Mercedes and Anastasia began Small Bits of Happiness, they were navigating something we were all moving through together – the uncertainty, loneliness, and disrupted rhythms of the pandemic. Like many young people, they were juggling school from home, friendship changes, and the swirl of big feelings that come with growing up. What helped them most wasn’t a dramatic shift but a quiet practice: paying attention to the small, steady moments that still felt good. These included walks outside, shared meals, and funny movies with their family. Those simple touchpoints reminded them that even in a challenging season, there were still moments worth noticing. Their business grew from this idea – that small bits of happiness can make a real difference, especially when life feels uncertain.

Their podcast, Hack Your Happiness, started the way many meaningful things do – with curiosity and a willingness to try. Mercedes and Anastasia didn’t wait to feel fully prepared or confident. They began with what they had: a desire to connect, questions they cared about, and an openness to learning out loud. In those early recordings, they were still finding their rhythm, but each episode taught them something new about their voice, their approach, and the kind of conversations they wanted to have. Their start is a reminder that readiness often comes after we begin, not before.

Talking with authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators has given the sisters a front-row seat to the stories behind success. What stands out most isn’t the accomplishments, but the common threads that appear again and again: resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to keep learning. Whether it’s a magazine editor, a bestselling author, or an Oscar-winning designer, so many guests return to the same core ideas about growth and fulfillment. Hearing these themes echoed by people from such different worlds has shown Mercedes and Anastasia that meaningful lives are often built through everyday choices, not perfect paths.

Working together as co-founders has brought Mercedes and Anastasia even closer. They’ve learned each other’s strengths, found ways to navigate stress, and built a shared language around communication. They’re honest that disagreements happen, especially during busy school seasons or deadlines, but they’ve learned to pause and name what’s really going on rather than reacting to it. Just as importantly, they make space to simply be sisters – dinners without phones, shared movie nights, time spent together that has nothing to do with the business. Their partnership highlights how meaningful work can strengthen relationships when care and connection stay at the centre.

Behind every episode is a mix of preparation, creativity, and intention. Mercedes finds joy in the editing process – shaping a conversation, creating an inviting introduction, and hearing the interview again with fresh ears. Anastasia lights up when she talks about researching guests and crafting questions that feel thoughtful and relevant. Together, they approach each episode as an opportunity to create something that feels genuine and useful. Their process underscores a simple truth: podcasting is part science, part art, and part heart and all three matter.

When it comes to inviting guests, their approach is refreshingly simple. They look for people whose work they admire and genuinely want to learn from. Then they reach out. They do this with honesty about who they are, why the conversation matters, and the impact they hope it will have. One piece of advice they now carry with them came from NASCAR driver Julia Landauer: “Don’t tell yourself no”. Instead of assuming someone won’t respond or won’t have time, they send the email and let the person decide for themselves. That mindset shift has opened doors to conversations they once couldn’t imagine having.

“You don’t have to have the same expectation of success as everyone else. It can be different and you can aspire to do different things.” ~ Anastasia Korngut

At the heart of Hack Your Happiness is a desire to offer something practical and encouraging. Mercedes and Anastasia want listeners, be it teens, parents, educators, and anyone navigating life’s questions, to walk away with ideas they can try, reflect on, or build into their routines. Over time, they’ve also learned that happiness and success aren’t one-size-fits-all. Hearing so many varied stories has shown them that changing your mind, trying new things, and shifting direction are not signs of uncertainty. They’re signs of growth. They hope their podcast helps people feel less pressure to follow a straight line and more freedom to explore what feels right.

Certain moments from their conversations linger long after the episode ends. They often return to ideas that helped them rethink their own expectations such as how confidence grows, how opportunities unfold, and how success can look different from person to person. Some lessons have shaped the way they approach decisions; others have simply offered comfort on tough days. What stands out most is how often guests share advice they wish they could give their teenage selves, especially around giving yourself permission to grow at your own pace. These reminders have become steady touch points for the sisters as they navigate school, business, and life.

While much of their work happens behind a screen or a microphone, some of the most meaningful moments come from hearing how their episodes have helped others. Parents have shared how an interview sparked an important conversation at home. Teens have shared that an idea made them feel understood. Community members have come up to them at events just to say thank you. These moments remind Mercedes and Anastasia that the work they’re doing is reaching real people in real ways. And – sometimes one message, at the right moment, makes all the difference.

Looking back on their early recordings, Mercedes and Anastasia are proud of how far they’ve come. They’ve learned to give themselves grace, to improve one step at a time, and to trust conversations enough to let them unfold naturally. They now follow their curiosity more freely, explore ideas beyond their prepared questions, and allow the unexpected to shape the episode. Their reflections offer a reassuring truth. Growth is gradual and every creative journey is built through practice, patience, and staying open.

Whether they’re designing new products, preparing to launch their Connection Journal in Indigo stores, or planning future podcast episodes, Mercedes and Anastasia speak about the road ahead with genuine excitement. They’re committed to continuing to learn, to keep refining their craft, and to stay connected to the heart of why they began. Their plans aren’t driven by pressure but by passion. They have a desire to create things that feel meaningful, helpful, and human. That’s exactly what makes watching their journey so inspiring.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and team by going to www.voltproductions.co. 

How can knowledge mobilization transform research into action?

In this episode of The People Teaching People Podcast, we explore the insightful world of knowledge mobilization with Dr. Dawn Henwood.

Dawn is a former English professor who understands both the arcane delights of research and the challenges of translating complex concepts into language and visuals that resonate with lay readers. Through her company Clarity Connect, she helps researchers develop the communication skills they need to influence partners, policy makers, and funders so their ideas can drive change. Dawn offers practical, business-oriented training that helps bridge the gap between theory and practice. She also produces knowledge translation products, such as impact stories, impact reports, white papers, video scripts, and training materials.

Listen in as we talk about:

01:00 Meet Dr. Dawn Henwood

02:55 Mobilizing knowledge, mobilizing people

05:30 From teaching to translating impact

12:18 From classroom to Clarity Connect

17:45 Misunderstandings about knowledge mobilization

20:48 Getting unstuck and starting small

22:58 Making space for creativity

27:37 Using AI with intention

33:12 Connecting people through knowledge mobilization

36:10 The teachers who shape us

38:47 A turning point in clarity

41:00 Learning from courage

43:03 The fun in learning

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Dawn describes knowledge mobilization as the process of moving research beyond academic circles and into communities where it can lead to meaningful, measurable change. While many terms have been used to describe this, like knowledge translation, research dissemination, and knowledge brokering, she explains that knowledge mobilization best captures the complexity of the process. It’s not just about translating findings into simpler language or sharing them widely. It’s about connecting people across systems and disciplines so that research can actually be used and applied. As Dawn puts it, we’re not really mobilizing knowledge. We’re mobilizing people. When those people connect and act on what’s been learned, research truly comes to life.

Dawn shares how her approach to knowledge mobilization is deeply shaped by learning theory and her background as an educator. She challenges the old “deficit” or “banking” model of education which is the idea that people are empty vessels waiting to be filled with information. Instead, she believes that real impact comes from engaging and enabling people to learn, get excited about new knowledge, and apply it meaningfully.

Dawn’s career path reflects her move from traditional teaching to helping others apply and share knowledge in practical, impactful ways. She moved from teaching literature and writing into adult education, corporate training and learning design. She discovered that the more complex the information, the more value she could bring through clear communication and thoughtful design. Now, through her company, Clarity Connect, she helps researchers share their work in ways that people can truly understand and use. What she’s learned along the way is that it’s not deep subject expertise that drives meaningful knowledge sharing. It’s curiosity, communication, and the ability to connect across worlds.

Dawn highlights some common misconceptions about knowledge mobilization, starting with the idea that it’s a brand new field. While the formal scholarship around it has grown over the past few decades, the concepts have been evolving since the 1970s. People often get overwhelmed by the dozens of theories, models, and frameworks now available, assuming the process has to be rigid or overly complicated. Dawn emphasizes that knowledge mobilization actually draws on skills from multiple disciplines such as organizational change, psychology, rhetoric (the art of persuasion), and learning design. Real-world impact often begins with simple, human-centered actions, like picking up the phone and connecting with the right stakeholders. Even complex ideas can take hold when the focus is on people and relationships first.

When people feel unsure about how to begin making their work connect in meaningful ways, Dawn suggests starting with a mix of learning and connection. For those who like a structured path, there are beginner courses, certificate programs and micro-credentials that introduce the fundamentals of knowledge mobilization and the skills behind it. But getting started doesn’t have to mean enrolling in a program. Dawn also encourages a more hands-on approach: think about who could benefit from your work, learn about them, and begin to build relationships. That could mean attending a conference, engaging on social media, or reaching out to a local community group. Big impact often starts small with genuine curiosity about who your work is for and how it might serve them.

When it comes to knowledge mobilization, Dawn reminds us that creativity and structure go hand in hand. Many people come from academic settings where communication tends to follow familiar patterns such as papers, presentations, posters and teaching. However, impactful sharing often calls for thinking outside the box and beyond those boundaries. To do that, you need time and mental space, which means being intentional about your work habits. Dawn encourages people to be “ruthless” with how they manage their time. This includes clearing inboxes, streamlining projects, and reducing unnecessary stress so there’s room for reflection and creative thinking. When that inevitable creative block hits, she says to recognize it as part of the process rather than a problem. Take a walk, talk ideas through with others, or jot them down when they come to you. Making space for creativity isn’t just about scheduling it in. It’s about creating the conditions where ideas have room to grow.

When it comes to knowledge mobilization, Dawn sees artificial intelligence as both promising and precarious. She’s found it can be a great tool for getting unstuck especially for those who struggle to generate ideas or need help moving from a blank page to a first draft. AI can also play a role in creating plain language summaries or early-stage materials that help research reach more people. But Dawn urges caution. What AI produces can often sound polished yet feel hollow, missing the nuance, emotion, and human connection that make communication meaningful. It can also misread audiences or even introduce mistakes when trying to “fix” writing. For Dawn, AI works best as a creative companion, not a replacement for the thought, care, and skill that come from human experience. The real impact still comes from the person behind the keyboard who is bringing context, heart, and intention to the work.

For Dawn, knowledge mobilization isn’t just about communicating information clearly. It’s about creating connections that help ideas take root and grow. When she rebranded her company from Clarity Studio to Clarity Connect, she did so to emphasize the human-to-human element that lies at the heart of this work. Clarity is important, she says, but it’s not enough on its own. Knowledge has to resonate to create real change. Increasingly, models and frameworks in this field are recognizing the importance of facilitation – bringing people together, not just sharing ideas with them. In her current work, Dawn sees this in action as researchers, community partners, and funders come together to turn a grassroots initiative into something lasting. When knowledge moves between people, it becomes more than information. It becomes a bridge for collaboration, understanding, and meaningful impact.

When asked about a favorite teacher, Dawn immediately thought of Mr. Robbins, her Grade 5 teacher. Unlike most teachers of the time, he brought creativity and fun into every day. He turned lessons into games and sparked a love of learning through what we now might call experiential education. His approach made a lasting impression for Dawn, even decades later. Though she hasn’t been able to track him down, she still carries that sense of play and creativity into her own work, helping others share what they know in ways that connect and inspire.

Looking back on her journey, Dawn shared that one of her proudest moments was winning an academic award for an article she wrote as a graduate student. The recognition was deeply meaningful but it also revealed something important about her path. During an interview soon after, students questioned why her article was written so clearly and engagingly, as though accessibility needed a hidden intellectual motive. That moment stayed with her. Dawn realized she simply wanted people to understand and connect with her ideas, not decode them. While the award marked a high point in her academic career, it also hinted that her future might lie beyond traditional academia – somewhere she could bring clarity, creativity, and connection together in a more open, human way.

When asked who she’d most love to learn from, Dawn chose Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Stowe’s writing played a powerful role in shaping public opinion against slavery, but what fascinates Dawn even more is the complexity behind the woman herself. She was a writer, mother, and minister’s wife who faced personal struggles and societal limits yet still managed to influence the world. Dawn wonders what gave Stowe the courage to take on such a monumental task, especially as an outsider to the experiences she wrote about.

As Dawn reflects on her work in teaching and knowledge mobilization, she shares how discovering Choice Theory, a psychological model developed by psychiatrist William Glasser, reshaped how she thinks about learning. One of the core drives in the theory is fun which is something Dawn was surprised to learn she scored high on. At first, she didn’t see herself as a “fun” person, but reading further helped her see how her deep love of learning connects to joy. Learning, she realized, is fun at its core. It’s an intrinsically rewarding process that keeps us curious and engaged. Even when tackling serious issues like climate change or healthcare, Dawn believes it’s vital to spark that sense of fun and connection. This is because people are more open to learning when it feels meaningful and enjoyable. When we approach learning with curiosity and lightness, we invite others to do the same and that’s where true engagement begins.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.

Have you ever noticed how much learning happens in the places that aren’t classrooms? Not the kind with whiteboards or lesson plans but the kind that unfolds in everyday spaces, like the rink.

Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time there – coffee in hand, tucked into the cold stands, watching games and chatting with other parents. Somewhere between the sound of skates on ice and sticks shooting the pucks, I started to see it differently. The rink isn’t just a place for hockey. It’s a place full of teachers and learners – coaches, players, parents – all figuring things out together.

In this episode, we’ll explore what it means to see the rink as a kind of classroom – one filled with lessons about effort, confidence, teamwork, and care. We’ll look at the difference between formal and informal learning, and how some of the most meaningful lessons happen outside of traditional spaces.

Because maybe the rink, like so many parts of life, is where real learning shows up when we least expect it.

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Formal learning is the structured kind we usually think of – classrooms, courses, and certifications. But informal learning happens in all the spaces in between. It’s the learning that sneaks up on us through experience, reflection, and the people we share moments with. At the rink, you can see it everywhere: players learning resilience after a fall, parents practicing patience, coaches figuring out how to motivate and connect. And really, it’s not just about hockey. It’s the same kind of learning that unfolds on the basketball court, in the dance studio, or around the kitchen table. Some of the most lasting lessons don’t come from a syllabus. They come from life itself.

Coaches do so much more than teach skills like skating or passing. They set the tone for how young players learn to handle mistakes, celebrate small wins, and work together. Some of the most memorable coaches are the ones who focus not just on the scoreboard, but on connection and care. Like the coach who began the season saying his goal was for players to still love hockey as adults, or the one who wrote each player a personal note recognizing their growth and spirit. Those moments remind us that the best coaching isn’t just about performance. It’s about helping others feel seen, supported, and inspired to keep showing up.

Not every learning experience at the rink goes smoothly, and that’s worth acknowledging. In informal settings like community hockey, there’s no set curriculum. As in any learning experience, formal or informal, things can go wonderfully right or unintentionally wrong. There are moments when feedback misses the mark or when a comment, however small, lands harder than intended. These experiences remind us that every word and action teaches something, whether it’s about skill, confidence, or belonging. In the end, the most meaningful learning happens when awareness meets intention. How something is taught matters just as much as what’s being taught.

Parents may not run drills or blow whistles, but they play a big role in the learning that happens around the rink. Kids pick up on everything including the cheers, the tone of a reaction, the conversations in the car on the way home. What parents choose to focus on shapes how kids experience the game and themselves within it. When the focus shifts from scores to effort, joy, and curiosity, it sends a powerful message that hockey and learning are about more than performance. They’re about growth, connection, and the way we show up for one another, on and off the ice.

“We don’t need to wait for a classroom to grow. Learning happens everywhere.”

Formal learning gives us the structure including the theories, frameworks, and foundations that help us understand what works. Informal learning is where those ideas come to life. It’s where we practice, make mistakes, and discover how things really unfold in the real world – a player helping a teammate up, a band finding its rhythm again, a dancer adapting mid-performance. These are all moments of informal learning in motion. When we start noticing these experiences, something shifts. We begin to see that learning isn’t confined to classrooms or courses. Learning is happening everywhere – in the way we show up, connect, and grow together every day.

Learning isn’t one-directional. It flows between everyone involved. Coaches, parents, and peers all teach and learn from each other, often in unexpected ways. Watching a child handle a tough loss, persist through challenges, or find joy in small victories can teach as much as any guidance offered. When learning is reciprocal, it encourages deeper attention, more thoughtful listening, and creates space for growth for everyone, no matter the setting.

Every environment holds opportunities for learning, whether it’s on the hockey rink or elsewhere in life. Informal learning spaces are all around us, shaped by the people we interact with and the ways we show up. Coaches, parents, and players all influence each other through guidance, reflection, encouragement, and example. Paying attention to these moments helps foster connection, curiosity, and growth. Staying open to learning in every challenge and every small step reveals that even the hardest lessons carry insights about who we are and who we’re becoming.

Are you ready for a healthier relationship with technology?

In this episode of the People Teaching People Podcast, I’m joined by Tara Stewart, the innovative founder and CEO of NOBLE Technology, a Canadian based tech company. Through her work, Tara is mindfully reimagining the role of technology to prioritize human connection and well-being.

As a mother of three, Tara faced the same dilemma so many parents do: when, how, and whether to give her kids smartphones. With societal pressures, the need for connectivity, and no healthy alternatives in sight, she decided to build a better option on her own!

Her entrepreneurial determination led to the birth of NOBLE Technology and its first product, BE.connect, Canada’s first child-safe, senior-friendly smartphone. Now taking pre-orders, BE.connect is designed to empower families without the pitfalls of addiction, surveillance, or manipulation. Earlier this year, Tara was selected among the Top 30 startups in the prestigious PITCH competition at Web Summit Vancouver, Canada’s largest tech conference.

Tara is a sought-after digital wellness lifestyle promoter, educator, and advocate for responsible innovation. She serves as Chair of the NOBLE Alliance for Digital Wellness and Tech for Good, a Canadian advocacy group influencing tech policy, education, and design standards. She is also the Tech Health and Wellness Expert for Digital Wellness Magazine.

Tara’s vision reaches beyond tech products. She’s leading a movement to show that technology can align with the values that truly matter – wellness, trust, and meaningful connection in an increasingly digital world.

Listen in as we talk about:

01:00 Meet Tara Stewart

04:17 From concern to creation

06:24 Simpler times, real connection

09:08 Building tech with integrity

12:36 Mindful tech at home

16:00 Rethinking tech in schools

22:39 Building digital awareness

30:10 A human-centered tech future

32:46 Introducing BE.connect – designed for digital wellbeing

38:59 Lasting lesson from great teachers

41:41 Proudly following a purposeful path

43:35 Learning from Klondike Joe

46:20 Exploring creative outlets

47:27 The importance of human connection

Connect with Tara:

Connect with Tiana:

What started as a simple search for a safer smartphone option for her kids turned into something much bigger for Tara. As a parent frustrated by the lack of healthy tech choices, she took matters into her own hands – literally gathering old phones and heading to a local engineering firm to ask, “How can we make this better?” What began as a personal project quickly grew as friends echoed the same need, revealing a huge opportunity to create something meaningful. Along the way, Tara discovered an unexpected passion for the world of technology and advocacy, diving deep into conversations about digital rights and how tech shapes our lives. Her journey reminds us that sometimes, the spark for innovation comes from simply trying to solve a problem close to home and having the curiosity and courage to follow where it leads.

Tara remembers her first phone while living in Germany – a basic model built just for calls and the occasional text, long before devices became constant companions. It was simple, functional, and never felt like something that controlled her time or attention. Reflecting on that experience, she sees how far we’ve drifted from being in charge of our technology. Her passion now is about preserving choice. She wants to ensure people can decide how much tech they invite into their lives, rather than being pulled into systems designed for constant engagement. Her story is a reminder that we can choose simplicity and connection over distraction, and redefine what healthy technology looks like for us and our families.

“We want connection. We don’t want addiction.”

Tara describes today’s technology landscape as the wild west. It is advancing faster than governments can regulate and is often driven by profit, speed, and data collection rather than people’s wellbeing. She’s seen the harm this can cause, especially for young people growing up in a world shaped by social media. Through NOBLE Technology, she’s choosing a different path: creating tech built on an ethical foundation where privacy, choice, and human connection come first. Instead of waiting for regulation to catch up, Tara sees a real opportunity to lead change from the ground up – to design tools that connect rather than control, protect rather than exploit. We all deserve technology that supports our lives, not technology that shapes them for us.

Tara believes that meaningful change in how families use technology starts with simple, honest conversations. When parents talk openly about their own habits, set boundaries like no phones at night, or even try a family digital detox day, it helps kids reflect on how their devices make them feel. She emphasizes that awareness is the first step. Kids need to recognize the impact of their tech use before they can choose to make changes themselves. Tara also encourages parents to find a community of like-minded families who share similar values and boundaries, making it easier to stay consistent and supported. Her message is a reassuring one: when families lead with mindfulness, communication, and shared commitment, technology becomes a tool for connection and not a barrier to it.

Tara highlights that while technology has incredible potential as a learning tool, schools need to be deliberate and strategic in how they use it. Kids are already immersed in screens, and the classroom can offer a controlled environment to balance that. She points to European models where smartphones are limited, and technology is taught intentionally, helping students develop critical thinking about how tech works, including algorithms and AI. With information and misinformation coming at students faster than ever, learning to evaluate sources, verify facts, and think critically is essential. Tara also notes that social skills and basic life skills are being affected, prompting some schools to reintroduce structured guidance and etiquette to help students navigate real-world interactions confidently. Education today must go beyond content delivery. It should equip students to think critically, communicate effectively, and make thoughtful choices in a rapidly evolving, information-rich world.

Tara emphasizes that addressing digital wellness and ethical technology use requires collective effort and strong communities, such as the NOBLE Alliance for Digital Wellness and Tech for Good. Canada is behind in creating frameworks that protect human rights and digital privacy, while other countries have thriving networks focused on “tech for good” and mental health collaboration. She highlights that many people are digitally vulnerable, from children to seniors, and should have the right to choose how they interact with technology. Schools can play a critical role by teaching students their digital rights, helping them advocate for how they learn best, and fostering awareness of safe and mindful tech use. By starting these conversations early, young people can become catalysts for change, educating both peers and adults, and helping everyone make more intentional choices in a tech-driven world. Education and collaboration are essential to ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.

Tara envisions a future where technology truly serves people rather than controlling them, offering devices that are secure, intuitive, and protective of privacy without requiring constant additions or subscriptions. She emphasizes the importance of built-in safeguards like VPNs, data security, and management tools, especially as AI advances and personal information becomes increasingly vulnerable. By embedding ethical restrictions and user protections from the start, technology can empower creativity and innovation while respecting human dignity. A healthier, more human-centered relationship with technology is not just possible. It starts with designing systems that prioritize our security, autonomy, and well-being.

Tara shared the story behind BE.connect, the first device from Noble Technology and a new kind of smartphone designed with wellness and simplicity at its heart. It looks like a regular phone but is intentionally stripped down, no app store, games, or camera, just the essentials like calls, texts, maps, and reminders. The idea is to give kids (and even adults) a way to stay connected without all the distractions, pressures, and risks that come with most devices. It’s a tool that supports focus, safety, and balance – whether that’s in the classroom, at home, or as a second “weekend” phone for adults who want to unplug. BE.connect is currently available for pre-order, with the goal of launching without outside investors so the company can stay true to its “tech for good” mission. Technology should serve our real lives and not pull us away from them.

When Tara thinks back on her learning journey, two teachers immediately come to mind – each shaping her in a different way. Her Grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Fisher created a classroom filled with warmth, creativity, and care. It was the kind of environment that makes learning feel joyful and safe. Years later, her Grade 9 science teacher, Mr. Goodyear, stood out for his unorthodox yet effective teaching style built on repetition and consistency. His daily tests and layered review helped students build both knowledge and confidence, to the point that everyone excelled – even if it raised eyebrows among administrators because everyone had such good grades! The experience not only changed how Tara learned in school but influenced how she studied and approached learning for the rest of her life. It’s a reminder that the teachers who connect with us, whether through kindness or creativity, often leave lessons that last far beyond the classroom.

When Tara reflects on her journey, what stands out most isn’t a single milestone. It’s her resilience and belief in a vision that many might find daunting. Building a company that stands up to tech giants like Google and Apple isn’t an easy path, but her curiosity, drive to learn, and unwavering commitment to creating something meaningful keep her going. She’s proud of staying true to her purpose, confident that what she’s building will make a genuine difference in how people, especially families, use technology. When your work aligns with your values and you truly believe in its impact, persistence becomes a powerful form of courage.

When asked who she’d most like to learn from, Tara chose Klondike Joe – a larger-than-life Canadian adventurer, storyteller, and charmer. He lived boldly, leaping from one incredible chapter to the next: sailing the seas, jumping on sharks to save his friends, revolutionizing gold mining in the Klondike, leading a hockey team by dogsled (and many other modes of transportation!) to the Stanley Cup, and later becoming a hero and rumored royal companion overseas. What draws Tara to him most is his spirit of adventure and his gift for storytelling.

Tara, a lifelong learner with an insatiable curiosity, is now drawn to exploring physical, hands-on forms of learning. She’s intrigued by creative pursuits like painting or cross-stitch – activities that engage both mind and body and offer a break from the constant presence of screens. It’s a reminder that growth doesn’t just come from intellectual challenges or digital innovation. Sometimes, the most enriching learning happens when we let ourselves slow down, get our hands busy, and explore new, tactile ways of creating.

Tara emphasizes that the most powerful learning often happens through human connection, collaboration, and community. In a world where we can get caught up in our own heads or overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty, taking the time to engage with others, help one another, and build supportive networks is invaluable. She shares an example from her children’s schooling in Germany, where independence was encouraged, and the community played an active role in ensuring safety and connection, creating confident, aware, and engaged kids. Learning isn’t just about information. It’s about relationships, shared experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging that can guide both children and adults in navigating the world.

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Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and their team by going to www.voltproductions.co.