Interesting, intriguing and exciting people engage in an unscripted exchange of ideas, stories and perspectives. It is not an interview. It is a powerful conversation.
Mike Downie is a multi-award-winning documentary filmmaker and the co-founder of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. A celebrated and inspirational storyteller, Downie takes his audiences on a ride that explores how our stories define us, remind us of our past, and shape our future, both as individuals and as a nation.
Joy McCarthy is a Holistic Nutritionist and founder of JoyousHealth.com, an award-winning website focused on healthy living. She is a bestselling author of Joyous Health, The Joyous Cookbook and Joyous Detox, a World Gourmand Cookbook Award recipient. She is also the co-host of the Joyous Health Podcast. She runs a business program called The Joyous Health Business Program, has a line of organic herbal teas and natural beauty products as well as a line of children’s natural supplements in partnership with Genuine Health. A trusted nutrition expert, Joy has been featured in hundreds of publications both online such as Well and Good, CNN and CBC and in print; and is a regular health expert on television including Cityline and CTV’s Your Morning. Joy lives in Toronto with her husband Walker and their daughter Vienna. You can find her @joyoushealth on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest and on Facebook.
Award-winning host Ziya Tong has been sharing her passion for science, nature and technology for almost two decades. Best known as the co-host of Daily Planet, Discovery Canada’s flagship science program, she brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm to the stage. Ziya speaks on leadership, how to shift perspective, and the role of science and technology in society in her riveting and eye-opening talks. She is also the author of The Reality Bubble, a book published in 2019 that is already a bestseller.
Candy is a recovered lawyer turned feminist comic. She is an actor, writer, columnist, international speaker, activist, comedian and multiple award-winning TV and radio personality, and has executive produced three films on Mi'kmaw culture. She is also the creator and star of her own national, multiple award-winning TV series, The Candy Show!
Ritu Bhasin, LL.B. MBA, is the Founder and President of Bhasin Consulting Inc. Recognized globally for her diversity and leadership expertise, Ritu has received a number of awards and distinctions for her work. She has extensive experience in delivering programming, speaking, consulting and coaching across a range of talent management areas with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion and leadership development.
Jesse is a futurist, researcher, artist, and public speaker based in Lanark County, Ontario, Canada. He owns and operates Metaviews Media Management Ltd., which focuses on research and consulting around new media business models, automation, artificial intelligence, and the strategic use of social media. He is also a co-founder of the Academy of the Impossible a peer to peer lifelong learning and intelligence network.
Stephen Shapiro cultivates innovation by showing leaders and their teams how to approach, tackle and solve their business challenges. Applying the knowledge he has accrued over decades in the industry, Stephen is able to see what others can’t: opportunities to improve innovation models and the cultures that support them. http://stephenshapiro.com/ Twitter: @stephenshapiro
Terry O’Reilly is the familiar voice behind the hit CBC radio shows O’Reilly on Advertising, The Age of Persuasion, and his current program, Under the Influence, where he explores the business, the craft, and the promise of promotion. In his intriguing talks, O’Reilly explores how our culture is shaped by marketing, as well as providing his expertise on branding, campaigns, spin, and more.
O'Reilly began his career in radio, and then went on to become an award-winning copywriter for a number of Toronto advertising agencies. He created campaigns for many of the top brands in the country, including Labatt, Molson, Bell, and The Hudson's Bay Company. In 1990, Terry co-founded Pirate Radio & Television with a staff of 50, with eight recording studios in Toronto and New York City.
O'Reilly has received Lifetime Achievement Awards by the Advertising & Design Club of Canada, The Television Bureau of Canada, and the American Marketing Association. He has also been granted an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from McMaster University in 2012, an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Arts Degree from Humber College in 2014, and an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law Degree from St. Mary's University in Halifax in 2015.
He has co-written the bestselling book, The Age of Persuasion: How Marketing Ate Our Culture, and his second book, tentatively titled Lessons From Under The Influence will be published in the spring of 2017.
Jessica Holmes, a favourite on CBC TV’s Royal Canadian Air Farce, has brought the house down opening for giants such as Ellen DeGeneres, Russell Peters, Jerry Seinfeld, and Oprah Winfrey. Her hilarious and validating take on life’s challenges have audiences in stitches, and her unique knack for skewering celebrities (including Nikki Minaj, Liza Minelli and Celine Dion) launched her to the top of Canadian comedy. Her grace, bilingualism, and ability to react on the fly make her a natural choice as an entertainer or emcee, and she has garnered rave reviews for her wellness and motivational presentations.
As a performer, Jessica’s productions have garnered her a “Platinum Award” at The Worldfest International Film Festival; nominations for Gemini Awards; and the prestigious Tim Sims Scholarship. She is also known for her work in films, including Welcome to Mooseport, Citizen Duane, and Moonpoint. She continues perform comedy across the country, with a recent appearance on CBC’s Winnipeg Comedy Festival television special.
Jessica also devotes much time to helping others live well. In her wellness keynotes, she mixes humour with her message about the importance of de-stressing and laughing at life’s shortcomings, and speaks with intelligence and insight on her own experiences of dealing with post-partum depression, finding work-life balance, and re-igniting passion. She recently received certification as a wellness coach from San Diego’s Life Purpose Institute. Her autobiographical book, I Love Your Laugh, was published in 2010, and she’s currently working on a follow-up book about mental health.
I loved this powerful conversation I recently had with Mubin Shaikh, where he fully opens up about once wanting to join the Jihadi Movement and what lead him to pivot toward a completely different direction. During our conversation I was awoken to the ways in which a person can be swayed by the ideas of a group especially when that person is experiencing their own inner struggles. Today, Mubin works with law enforcement agencies all around the world to help uncover terrorist plots and is most well known for his efforts in the famous “Toronto 18” case which lead to the conviction of eleven aspiring violent extremists. Get ready to take a ride during this exciting conversation.
