Sarah Kinlin returns to This Commerce Life two and a half years after her first appearance, and the transformation is remarkable. What started as a tentative step toward professional speaking has evolved into a thriving business as a mindset and leadership coach, author, and professional hockey coach.

In this heartfelt conversation, Sarah shares her journey from leaving Johnson & Johnson to building a multi-faceted career centered on helping others go from tired and overwhelmed to rested and focused. She discusses writing her book "Grit, Grace & Goals" – a tribute to her late fathhttps://sarahkinlin.com/pages/grit-grace-mindset-coachinger's leadership lessons from raising nine kids while working at a nuclear station – and how her own childhood shaped her approach to coaching young athletes and business leaders alike.

Sarah opens up about the grief recovery work that led to her book, the unexpected success of her book tour, coaching U15 girls' hockey, and the challenges of entrepreneurship. From meditation practices to managing hockey teams to running leadership workshops, this episode captures the reality of building a purpose-driven business while staying true to your values.

Whether you're considering a career transition, navigating the loneliness of entrepreneurship, or looking for inspiration on how to turn life lessons into impact, Sarah's story offers practical wisdom wrapped in authenticity.

This is Sarah's original podcast episode (episode 314) https://this-commerce-life-fb5a846c.simplecast.com/episodes/we-meet-a-fan-become-fans-sarah-kinlin-will-be-a-world-reknowned-speaker-coach-and-educator-were-proud-to-be-her-first-podcast

Check out Sarah's website here: https://sarahkinlin.com/pages/grit-grace-mindset-coaching

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Shannon and Sarah, Naturopathic Doctors from Guelph, Ontario, are reimagining homeopathy for modern retail. In this episode, they share how they're solving the complexity problem in the homeopathy category by offering curated kits instead of overwhelming individual SKUs. 

They discuss their journey from festivals to CHFA, their strategic approach to pricing, navigating Health Canada regulations, and why their next move might be Europe or Asia before conquering traditional Canadian pharmacy chains. Plus, hear about the unique advantages of being sisters in business—and the challenges of selling a category that struggles with mainstream press but has devoted believers.

Check out Hawthorn Homeopathics here: https://hawthornhomeopathics.com/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the podcast. https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Join Phil and Kenny as they hit the road with Simran Kaur, Sales Manager for Western Canada at Chiba Organics, for an unfiltered conversation about navigating the Canadian CPG and retail landscape.

From her start handling national accounts for McDonald's and Starbucks at Zomato in Delhi to building relationships with independent grocers across Western Canada, Simran shares hard-earned wisdom about what it really takes to succeed in this business. Recorded on a marathon road trip, this episode dives into the realities of selling into retail: managing out-of-stocks honestly, building authentic store relationships, understanding that it's never about you—it's about helping stores serve their customers better, and why owning your mistakes is non-negotiable.

Whether you're breaking into the industry, managing accounts, or just trying to understand how products make it onto shelves, this conversation delivers practical insights and real talk about the challenges and rewards of life in Canadian retail and CPG.

You can find Simran here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaur-mansimran/

In case you're interested in working with Jiva Organics: https://www.jivaorganics.ca/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

What if your makeup routine is secretly harming your eye health? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nieka Sabeti, a practicing optometrist and founder of CHESHMA, a groundbreaking line of eye-friendly cosmetics. After countless patients broke down in her exam room—struggling with dry eye disease caused by cosmetics and feeling they had to choose between their appearance and their eye health—Dr. Neeka had a middle-of-the-night revelation that changed everything.

Discover why most cosmetics aren't as eye-safe as you'd think, how proper makeup removal can dramatically improve eye health, and what drove this optometrist to become an entrepreneur. Dr. Neeka shares her journey from chemistry undergrad to eye doctor to beauty brand founder, including why she drove labs crazy with her extensive testing requirements (way beyond Health Canada's standards).

We dive deep into the connection between cosmetics and dry eye disease, the importance of proper eye hygiene, and why education is at the core of changing both consumer behavior and industry standards. Plus, hear the co-hosts debate the challenges of building awareness for health-focused beauty products in a market where convenience often trumps wellness.

Whether you're a makeup lover, deal with dry eyes, or are curious about the intersection of healthcare and beauty innovation, this conversation will open your eyes (pun intended) to what you're really putting on your face.

Check out Cheshma Beauty here: https://cheshmabeauty.ca/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the show: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

The Knuckleheads talk to each other. Two retail veterans with a combined 50+ years of experience sit down for honest conversations about Canadian business, brands, and the challenges facing small and medium-sized companies. 

We talk to each other about where we come from and how we got here. Kenny, it turns out, was always pretty linear. Phil, has nothing linear about his career at all. 

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring our podcast. https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

When Nana Daniels returned from a trip to Ghana in 2016, she experienced a severe lupus flare-up that left her skin severely burned. What happened next changed her life forever.

After seven hours in the emergency room with no real solution, Nana turned to her Ghanaian roots and created her own remedy using raw shea butter, vitamin E, and essential oils. The results were so remarkable that friends started asking for their own supply—and Honam Naturals was born.

In this inspiring episode, Nana shares:

• Her 25-year journey living with lupus and scleroderma
• How a medical crisis became an unexpected business opportunity
• The cultural wisdom behind shea butter and African black soap
• Selling out her first product batch in one hour and making $1,000
• Winning a mentorship with Dragons' Den's Manjit Minhas
• Landing products in Winners, Walmart (US and Canada), and Amazon—all while battling imposter syndrome
• The challenges of scaling from kitchen countertop to big box retail
• Why she chose aluminum containers and eco-friendly packaging
• Her vision for getting into more natural health stores across Canada

From Ajax, Ontario, Nana has built a thriving skincare and haircare brand that honors traditional African ingredients while meeting modern clean beauty standards. Her story proves that sometimes the best solutions come from going back to basics—and that a little bit of courage can turn adversity into opportunity.

Products discussed: Body butters, African black soap, hair care for tight curls and chemically-treated hair, home fragrances, and men's grooming

Connect with Honam Naturals: http://honamnaturals.com/collections

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Auto Mechanic to Artisan Sausage Maker: D-Original Sausage Haus Story

Join us as we sit down with Clint from D-Original Sausage Haus in Steveston, BC, who shares his unconventional journey from automotive mechanic to box manufacturing to crafting premium German-style cured meats. Clint discusses the challenges of running a brick-and-mortar deli in a post-COVID world, the art of making authentic salamis and pepperoni with BC pork and natural casings, and the frustrations of navigating Canada's inter-provincial trade regulations. From consignment deals with craft breweries to building relationships with loyal customers, Clint reveals what it takes to grow a premium, artisanal meat business while staying true to traditional recipes and quality ingredients. Plus, we debate the merits of truffle pepperoni and why sometimes the best things in life come in irregular shapes.

Check out Clint's online store here: https://www.doriginalsausagehaus.com/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Cologne to Canada: What We Learned Walking 10 Football Fields at Anuga

Phil and Kenny take the podcast on the road to Anuga, one of the world's largest food trade shows in Cologne, Germany. Recording their raw observations while navigating German parking lots and autobahns, they share what surprised them most: Bulgaria's emerging food innovation, the surprising absence of crowds at the Chinese pavilion, and how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international food trade.

The episode features candid conversations with Matt and Kim Lebeau from Lebeau Excel and Luca Felicetti from the fifth-generation Italian pasta maker. They discuss practical strategies for attending massive trade shows, the protein trend's different evolution in Europe versus North America, and why Canadian brands should consider looking east instead of south. Topics range from edible utensils and shelf-stable kombucha to the 106% tariff on Italian pasta and why Americans are apologizing for being American.

Our first take on Anuga Cologne. Kenny and I talk about what's happening in Cologne, and we catch up with Matt and Kim LeBeau, Luca Felicetti.

Thank you to Luca and the team at Felicetti for making us feel welcome in your lovely booth. If you're still at the show, head to Hall 10.2, B080

If you're not, head to https://www.felicetti.it/en

You can find Luca here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-felicetti-b27b3a279/

Thanks to Matt and Kim for jumping in on the podcast - we love you guys. Check out Lebeau Excel here: https://lebeauexcel.com/

Thank you to Fieldagent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Shauna Fidler, founder of Design Farm and producer of the Basin Food Summit, as she takes us deep into British Columbia's Kootenay region—a place where local food culture thrives and producers connect directly with buyers who care.

Shauna shares her journey from running a cookie shop in Calgary to pioneering gluten-free baking before it was mainstream, and eventually finding her home in the Kootenays where she now supports food producers through branding, packaging design, and the annual Basin Food Summit.

Event Details: Basin Food Summit, November 6-8, 2025, Nelson, BC | www.basinfood.ca

Warning: This episode may cause extreme hunger and an irresistible urge to book a trip to the Kootenays.

You can find Shauna here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-fidler-25226b241/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Ice Cream Cart to National Brand - The Hazel's Ice Cream Story

In this episode, hosts Kenny and Phil sit down with Sam Vermeulen, co-founder of Hazel's Ice Cream, to discuss the remarkable journey from a COVID-era ice cream cart idea to a growing national frozen novelty brand.

Sam shares how what started as a father-son dream of running an ice cream shop evolved into handcrafted premium ice cream bars. Born out of necessity during the pandemic, Hazel's pivoted from scooped ice cream to bars when traditional retail wasn't an option - a decision that accidentally filled a market gap in Victoria's frozen novelty scene.