In this episode, we sit down with Brian Mattocks, Chief Operations Officer at Podcast Chef, founder, and strategic powerhouse, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful podcast from the ground up.

Brian shares insights from his diverse career spanning operations, marketing, and business strategy, and explains how those skills translate directly into creating podcasts that not only sound great but actually grow. From developing a clear concept and understanding your audience, to building scalable systems and measuring success, Brian breaks down the process in a way that is both practical and actionable.

We also dive into the mindset behind successful creators, including how to think like a strategist, avoid common pitfalls, and turn a podcast into a powerful platform for influence and impact.

Whether you are just starting out or looking to level up your show, this episode is packed with expert advice on creating a podcast that stands out and sustains itself over time.

You can learn more about Brian here!

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In this episode, we sit down with Teresa Myra, founder and owner of Career Catalyst Atlantic, a Nova Scotia-based organization created during the pandemic to help young people, and anyone seeking a fresh start, navigate their career paths with confidence.

With over 30 years of experience across post-secondary education, nonprofits, and government, Teresa brings a wealth of insight into what it takes to build meaningful, sustainable careers. Through her work, she provides personalized one-on-one coaching focused on job search strategies, interview preparation, skills identification, and building a strong social media presence.

Beyond her entrepreneurial work, Teresa serves as the Employer Relations Manager with Dalhousie University’s Work Integrated Learning and Cooperative Education Program, and is the Atlantic Representative on the CEWIL National Board, where she advocates for stronger connections between students and industry.

Passionate about empowering youth and fostering opportunity, Teresa has dedicated her career to helping others find direction and purpose. We also dive into her journey launching Career Catalyst Atlantic, her perspective on today’s evolving job market, and practical advice for anyone looking to take the next step in their career.

Whether you’re just starting out or considering a career pivot, this conversation is full of actionable insights, encouragement, and real-world wisdom.

You can learn more about Theresa here!

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This episode features a conversation with Dora Dorman, a relationship-driven professional whose career has been built on connection, community, and helping others succeed.

Dora currently works as a Radio Marketing Consultant, where she partners with businesses to craft advertising strategies that build brand awareness, strengthen customer engagement, and deliver real results. Her approach is grounded in decades of experience across real estate, financial and retail sales, marketing, account management, event and project management, underwriting, and human resources. That diverse background gives her a unique ability to understand both the strategic and human sides of business growth.

Originally from Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley, Dora now lives in Halifax with her husband Russ, a retired Navy veteran. While her professional work focuses on helping businesses thrive, her passion for community impact is just as strong. Dora is a dedicated volunteer and serves as a Deacon, with a deep commitment to service, family, and connection.

Over the years she has supported numerous organizations through board service and volunteer leadership, including VON and Big Brothers Big Sisters. Today, she continues to lead and organize initiatives that bring people together for meaningful causes, from fundraising campaigns to community supply drives.

One of her most notable initiatives is Riders United: Breaking the Silence, a motorcycle awareness ride that honours lives lost to domestic violence while supporting organizations that help those in need.

In this episode, Dora shares stories from her career, her philosophy on relationship-driven business, and how community involvement can create powerful ripple effects.

Upcoming Community Events:

• Halifax Motorcycle Show – May 30, 12–4 PM, benefitting Make-A-Wish

• Riders United: Breaking the Silence Ride – July 10, benefitting Shelter Movers

• School Supply Drive – Mid July to Early August, live event date TDB, Benefitting schools across HRM

• Food Drive – September to October 8, benefitting Souls Harbour Mission

• Coats for Kids Drive – Mid October to November, live event date TBD, benefitting Adsum House

• Toy Drive – Mid November to December 4, live event date TBD, benefitting Adsum House

You can learn more about Dora and her upcoming events here!

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In this episode, we sit down with Ann Perry, a professional numerologist, Reiki Master/Teacher, #1 international best-selling author, and Certified Soul Coach who has been working in the healing arts for more than two decades. Ann shares how discovering Reiki in 2001 opened the door to a lifelong journey of helping others reconnect with their purpose, and how numerology soon became a powerful tool for gaining deep insight into her clients’ lives.

We talk about the surprising ways numbers can reveal personality traits, life paths, and soul signatures, and how Ann has built a thriving practice guiding people toward greater clarity and alignment. As the founder of the Clarity Seekers Community, Ann also explains how she supports people who are searching for meaning, direction, and a deeper connection to themselves.

From Reiki to numerology, intuitive guidance to practical insights, this conversation explores how self-discovery can transform the way we see our lives. Ann also shares what inspires her outside of work, from life on the East Coast of Nova Scotia to time spent in Jamaica, and her love for her dog Beau and the animals that wander into her yard.

If you’ve ever been curious about numerology, energy healing, or finding your true purpose, this episode offers a fascinating look into the tools that can help bring clarity to your path.

You can find out more about Ann here!

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In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Mac, founder of Nicholas Mac. Mobile Optician, to talk about the leap from licensed optician to entrepreneur, and the mindset that told him his business would be embraced by the community. Originally from Moncton, New Brunswick and a graduate of Oulton College, Nicholas shares how launching a mobile eyecare service in Halifax in October 2024 allowed him to meet people where they are, literally, while solving real accessibility challenges for busy professionals and those with mobility barriers.

Our conversation explores the power of networking, building trust from day one, and how youthful optimism paired with technical expertise can open doors faster than you might expect. Nicholas also reflects on the mentors and philosophies that shaped his approach, including guidance from Helen Whitaker of the International Opticians Association and inspiration from Barbara Stegemann’s book The 7 Virtues.

This episode is a candid look at betting on yourself, creating a service people didn’t know they needed, and building a business rooted in integrity, relationships, and community impact. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a healthcare professional, or someone curious about unconventional career paths, Nicholas’s story offers both practical insights and a refreshing dose of motivation.

You can find out more about Nicholas here!

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Amanda Johnson is an operations strategist and systems builder who helps overwhelmed entrepreneurs create calmer, more sustainable ways of working. After decades of trying to succeed in high-pressure environments that left her burned out, Amanda’s move to Uruguay, and a later autism diagnosis, reframed her entire career. She realized she hadn’t been failing; she had been navigating systems never designed for how she thinks and works.

With a 30-plus-year career spanning medical IT and complex system implementation, Amanda has a gift for bringing structure to chaos, clarity to complexity, and stability to the people behind essential work. Today, she partners with solopreneurs and small business owners who are exceptional at what they do but exhausted by the operational side of running a business.

Amanda designs practical, low-friction systems tailored to how her clients think, helping them move from scattered and overwhelmed to focused and energized. Her clients often describe an immediate sense of relief, as if their business can finally breathe again.

Through her work, Amanda is on a mission to prove that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being, and that the right systems can give people their spark back while building businesses that truly support the human behind the work.

You can learn more about Amanda here!

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In this powerful episode, we sit down with Jennifer Vey, Founder and CEO of Temporary Experts SE, to explore how personal adversity can spark transformative change. Jennifer shares her journey navigating life with a disability and the frustrating reality of being highly capable yet shut out of traditional employment models. Instead of accepting those barriers, she set out to redesign the system itself.

What emerged is Temporary Experts, a social enterprise connecting skilled professionals seeking flexible, project-based work with organizations that need experienced talent without the constraints of conventional hiring. Our conversation dives into the hidden workforce of educated, capable people sidelined by health challenges, care responsibilities, and capacity shifts, and why rethinking work isn’t just compassionate, it’s smart business.

We talk about the future of work, the myth that profit and empathy can’t coexist, and how organizations that lead with flexibility will gain a lasting competitive edge. Jennifer’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and a bold vision for an economy where inclusion drives value.

If you care about entrepreneurship, accessibility, leadership, or building a more humane workplace, this episode will change how you think about talent, productivity, and what it truly means to participate in the workforce.

You can learn more about Jen and Temporary Experts here!

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In this episode, we’re joined by Ayooluwa Akande, better known as Ayo (Joy), a Financial Services Coordinator with the Government of Nova Scotia and the founder of ABC of Money.

Born and raised in Nigeria, Ayo moved to Canada in 2019 to pursue a Master’s in Finance at Saint Mary’s University. What began as a deeply personal journey toward financial wholeness in 2022 evolved into a clear mission: helping people understand money in a way that feels simple, human, and empowering.

Through her LinkedIn content, workshops, and speaking engagements, Ayo breaks down financial concepts so people can make confident, values-aligned decisions. She has shared her story as a panelist with the Saint Mary’s University Women in Business Society and has collaborated with the Black Business Initiative Society through the Barrier Breakers Youth Program.

Ayo is also the host of The Freedom Podcast, where she explores balance in a world of extremes. Her work is grounded in her core values, SERVE: Simplicity, Excellence, Real, Value, and Exchange. This conversation is an honest and refreshing look at money, mindset, and what financial freedom can really mean.

You can find out more about Ayooluwa here!

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