Chatter that Matters

“We found David Chilton’s phone number on the back of The Wealthy Barber, picked up the phone, and just called. He answered. That one call changed everything.”

They had cushy jobs and no culinary credentials—just a shared dream between two sisters to write a cookbook that combined truly healthy recipes with laugh-out-loud humour. It was bold. It was different. And it was rejected by publishers. Seven tim...

You’re lying on the ground, your body completely paralyzed. You can hear voices around you, footsteps moving closer, then away. You’re fully aw...

What if everything you worked for—your savings, your home, even your identity—could be stolen without a weapon or a warning?

In this chilling yet empowering episode of Chatter That Matters, recorded live at the Toronto Hunt, I moderate a critical conversation on the growing threat of cybercrime—and how we can fight back.

Joining me are three remarkable minds from the frontlines of this invi...

“Being dry is just changing your drink. Being sober is changing everything.” — Jordan Kawchuk.

Jordan Kawchuk is a brilliant storyteller, a former media professional, and a father—but for over 30 years, he was also an alcoholic. In this raw and revealing episode, Jordan opens up about a lifetime battle that has taken him through several treatment centers, estranged him from the people he loves most, and nearly consume...

What does it take to reinvent yourself—again and again—while remaining grounded in gratitude and generosity? In this inspiring episode recorded in front of a live audience, I sit down with the one and only Canadian icon and my dear friend, Arlene Dickinson, the beloved “matriarch of Dragon’s Den."

We explore the extraordinary journey that shaped her into one of the country’s most respected business leaders and advocates. From overc...

I try not to play favourites, but this week’s guest may be the most extraordinary human I’ve ever interviewed. Diane Dupuy is the founder of Famous PEOPLE Players, a Black Light theatre company where the performers are individuals with physical and developmental disabilities. On stage, they become invisible, allowing life-sized puppets to dance, dazzle, and delight the audience. Offstage, they find purpose, dignity, a...

What happens when a lifelong dream clashes with a tough new reality? This episode follows the compelling journey of Dapo Bankole, who left everything behind in Nigeria to create a brighter future for his family in Canada.

But what awaited him wasn’t a red carpet—it wa...

From Hollywood Hits to Finding Happy: Peter Samuelson’s Mission to Lift Others

Peter Samuelson could have stayed in Hollywood, producing box-office hits like Revenge of the Nerds and The Return of the Pink Panther. Instead, he utilized his storytelling and leadership skills to rewrite the script of his life, founding seven nonprofits that empower society’s most overlooked individuals, including those in ...

In this deeply personal and moving episode, I sit down with Alok Ahuja, co-founder and CEO of Trexity, for a conversation that goes far beyond business. When Alok’s father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Alok left a high-flying role at Shopify to become his full-time caregiver. That decision, rooted in love, sparked a journey of clarity, purpose, and the founding of a company built to serve Main Street, not Bay ...

In this episode of Chatter That Matters, as the RBC Canadian Open is minutes away from teeing off, I sit down with PGA Tour winner and Canadian golf icon Corey Conners. From his roots in Listowel, Ontario, to competing on the world stage, Corey’s journey is a testament to discipline, humility, and perseverance. 

Corey discusses his childhood passion for hockey and golf, the connection between math and mi...

An incredible story of a woman who takes the torch ignited by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit and uses it to light up entrepreneurial dreams and positive change across continents and industries, all with heart, humanity, and hustle. Bashak Ilhan is a founder, five-time entrepreneur, digital strategist, and brand architect who has achieved two multi-million-dollar exits and boasts a global career that spans London, the Middle Ea...

In this inspiring and deeply personal episode, Cheryl Hickey, the beloved former co-host of Entertainment Tonight Canada, takes us beyond the glitz of red carpets and celebrity interviews to share her remarkable journey from a small town to the national spotlight. With warmth and honesty, Cheryl reflects on the moments that shaped her.  She navigated challenges and a health scare, embraced personal transformations, an...

Bridge Over Troubled Waters: Taylor Cavanaugh’s Journey from Demons to Desire

Some fall and stay broken. Others build a bridge and rise.

Taylor Cavanaugh was a gifted student and elite athlete—but he was also a restless spirit chasing chaos. His journey spirals through addiction, jail, bar fights, and breakdowns. Then, somehow, a way through. He claws his way into the Navy SEALs. Falls agai...

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