Episodes
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On this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, I’m joined by Clayton Peters, producer, writer, and long-time manager of his brother, global comedy icon Russell Peters. For almost 20 years, Clayton has been at the helm of Russell’s remarkable career, managing one of the longest and most successful runs in comedy, with Russell selling out venues worldwide since 2005.
Clayton’s journey into management is rooted in a promise made to his father on his deathbed when he told Clayton to take care of and always look out for his younger brother. After years of working in corporate jobs where he felt like a “square peg in a round hole,” Clayton transitioned into the comedy and entertainment space around the age of 40. From early work in international business and managing other acts alongside his brother like Joe Koy, to focusing fully on Russell’s career, Clayton’s path to manage one of comedy’s stars has been anything but a “straight line”.
In this episode, Clayton shares thrilling stories about their successes and challenges—especially navigating the pandemic, while not spending time in person together—and the time they defied critics by filling the Air Canada Centre (now Scotiabank Arena) despite being told they’d fail. Clayton’s insights are inspiring, and his advice to “not take it personally” is a lesson anyone can apply to life and career, and one he has learned in Entertainment.
We also discuss his thoughts on what would happen if Russell ever wanted to go with another manager and the life lessons Clayton now passes on to his own son. Recorded in-person in August 2024, this conversation is full of insights, honesty, and candid moments.
Plus, don’t miss seeing Russell’s upcoming Canadian and World Tour, Relax It’s Not That Serious, which hits Toronto this December 2024. For tour information, head to https://www.russellpeters.com/
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On Episode 46 of the It’s Not A Straight Line podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Hugh Lawson, a business development expert, Vanier Cup football champion, and leadership advisor. As the Principal at Lawson Leadership Advisory, Hugh is a purpose-driven, people-centric leader who embodies the principles of Ikigai—finding the intersection of what the world needs, what you love, what you're good at, and what you can get paid to do.
During our conversation, Hugh shares his journey towards living a life of purpose, emphasizing the importance of making a positive impact while also earning a living. We delve into his experience as a University football player at Laurier, where he won the Vanier Cup, and how his successes have always been achieved through teamwork. We also explore his involvement in socially impactful companies like the grocery buying platform, Tre’dish, and how African proverbs have shaped his leadership philosophy.
With over 25 years of experience in business development, enterprise sales, and leadership, Hugh’s insights on resilience, relationship-building, and teamwork are invaluable. Join us as we discuss his pursuit of Ikigai, the wisdom he’s gained from his career, and his commitment to creating positive change in the world.
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Join us for an inspiring episode as I sit down with Matty and Alex Hill, better known as the Hill Brothers. Matty, Founder and Commissioner of Niagara Youth Flag Football (NYFF), is celebrated as one of Canada's top flag football coaches, having led teams to two World Championships. Meanwhile, Alex, a Sales Representative at RE/MAX Escarpment Realty and renowned for his dynamic career in real estate, shares his journey from High School and University Quarterback to Night Club Promoting before finding his stride and career in Real Estate.
Matty's passion for sports and community led him to establish NYFF, now boasting 1200 players per season and fostering championship-winning teams. Learn how Matty's personal challenges, including a shoulder injury, fueled his dedication to youth sports and community building.
Alex, recognized as one of RE/MAX Canada's Top 30 under 30, offers insights into his real estate career, including navigating challenges like rising interest rates and debt management. Discover how Alex's diverse experiences in promoting, investing, and running an Airbnb business have enriched his professional journey and client relationships.
From coaching triumphs to entrepreneurial pursuits, Matty and Alex embody resilience and leadership in their respective fields. Tune in to uncover their secrets to success and their vision for the future of youth sports and real estate in Niagara, Hamilton and beyond.
Follow Matty and NYFF's journey on Instagram @niagarayouthflagfootball and Alex's real estate and personal ventures @AlexHill14. For a glimpse into Alex's Airbnb cottage, visit @kawartha_lakescape.
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We're thrilled to welcome Wayne Hannah, the mastermind behind "Mindful'Ish" on YouTube and "@goodmorningassholes" on TikTok. Wayne is a humorist, content creator, firefighter, and veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. After serving 20 years as an artillery soldier, Wayne's journey took him from counteracting Somali pirates to injecting humour into the "dry morning announcements" on a Naval Vessel during one of the longest at-sea deployments since World War II.
Wayne's passion for bringing laughter to others has earned him a massive online community of over 230,000 followers on TikTok. As a dedicated mental health advocate, Wayne's iconic "Good Morning Assholes" greeting is a reminder that we often treat ourselves more harshly than anyone else. He created this content during the pandemic, realizing the importance of self-compassion as he was his own biggest critic and he was saying hi to himself, referring to himself as an asshole.
Wayne Hannah, CD, holds the Canadian Forces' Decoration, awarded to members of the Canadian Armed Forces who have completed twelve years of service under specific conditions. While Wayne values his military experiences and the leaders he encountered, he also candidly discusses the deep-rooted belief of not being good enough that led to ongoing mental health struggles.
Join us as we dive into Wayne's incredible and diverse journey, exploring the challenges and rewards that have shaped his life. Don't miss this inspiring conversation filled with humour, resilience, and valuable insights.
Tune in now to It's Not A Straight Line!
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@Wayne.Hannah
Instagram - @goodmorningassholes
TikTok - @goodmorningassholes
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Discover the inspiring journey of Monique Giroux, a former corporate banker turned soulful guide. Once the powerhouse behind sponsorship at a major Canadian bank, Monique's path took a surprising turn after nearly two decades in the corporate world. Now, as the founder of Flourish with Monique, she's dedicated to helping others find peace and purpose in life.
Join Monique as she shares her transformational story, from her prestigious role at CIBC to her recent adventures in Thailand, where she became a certified yoga teacher and learn how she embraced the practice of silent meditation in Ontario and the Netherlands. Through her experiences, including profound moments during Vipassana Meditations, Monique discovered a deeper calling to share her insights and wisdom with those struggling with anxiety and mental health challenges.
Explore Monique's journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth, including the profound impact of Vipassana meditation and the loving-kindness teachings of her mentor, Dhamma Sukha.
Delve into her newly released book, "Lost Intentionally," offering a roadmap for navigating life's twists and turns with intention and grace. The book was officially released on June 11th, and is available on Amazon - Lost Intentionally: The Inner and Outer Journey of a Spiritual Nomad https://a.co/d/3d2RwaG
You can learn more on Dhamma Sukha’s website - https://www.dhammasukha.org/ and the Plum Village Monastery https://plumvillage.org/about/plum-village
Monique’s website is https://flourishwithmonique.com
Instagram - @flourishwithmonique
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniquefgiroux/
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On this episode, I sat down with Chris Reynolds - the Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Investment Planning Counsel (IPC). When Chris co-founded IPC in 1996, he set out on a mission to help entrepreneurial financial advisors build better businesses. Since then, he has remained committed to this mission, which continues to be the focus at IPC, which was acquired by Canada Life in 2023.
Chris has spent over 25 years in the Finance and Investment industry, and he believes at the heart of any great business is a remarkable client experience. Chris is a life-long learner who is always learning from the best of the best, from within his industry, as well as outside/new perspectives.
Chris Reynolds is the Host of the "Turning The Page" Podcast, a big fan of live music and rock n' roll, and his former radio show on a popular Toronto radio station was syndicated across ten other stations. When asked what gets him "out of bed in the morning", he stated "it is the people that get me most excited!"
You'll hear why Chris is a huge advocate for entrepreneurship and why to him, there is no safer way to go.
Enjoy the episode!
Turning The Page Podcast - Spotify Link
Investment Planning Counsel - Website
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Join me for an insightful and energizing conversation with Olympic Figure Skating champion and On-Air Broadcast Commentator, Kaetlyn Osmond.
In this episode, Kaetlyn shares the highs and lows of her incredible journey, from winning a silver in the Figure Skating Team Competition at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi to winning bronze in the Women’s Singles event and gold in the team competition at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang. Soon after her successful 2018 year, she retired in May of 2019 at the age of 25, which is something unique to high-performing athletes. You'll hear how Kaetlyn is exploring what’s next, taking Media Studies at the University of Alberta, coaching Figure Skating and working as a Broadcast Commentator with Skate Canada (Patinage Canada).
Born in Marystown, Newfoundland, she made history as the first Canadian to win the Women’s Singles Figure Skating Competition in 45 years.
Kaetlyn's story is one of determination, talent, and being intentional about her expectations and focusing on her performance, while blocking out the “noise”. This episode is a must-listen for all fans of sports, figure skating, media and career transitions.
Kaetlyn's Instagram @kaetkiss
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On this episode, I had a captivating conversation with Igor Lukač, an inspiring entrepreneur who navigated life's challenges with resilience and determination. Igor shares his journey from fleeing the former Yugoslavia with his family during the tumultuous Yugoslav Wars to building a successful career in Canada.
After earning degrees in Engineering and Business from the prestigious Ivey Business School at Western University, Igor embarked on a path of entrepreneurship. From selling printers door-to-door in Niagara, Ontario, to owning a Marble Slab Creamery and founding Kingswood Engineers, Igor's entrepreneurial spirit has always burned bright.
What sets Igor apart is his unwavering composure and his embrace of failure as a stepping stone to success. His story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of a positive mindset.
If you're in Burlington, Oakville, or Hamilton and need structural engineering expertise for your renovation project, visit https://www.kingswoodengineers.com/ and follow Kingswood Engineers on Instagram @kingswoodengineers for more insights and updates.
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I sat down with Eduek Brooks, a Financial Educator & Coach and the Founder of Two Sides of a Dime. As an immigrant to Canada from Nigeria, Eduek completed her Master's degree in Chemical Engineering and has a certificate in Business Technology from the University of Waterloo.
From working in Engineering to Lifestyle Creep and finding herself in $47,000 of debt, Eduek takes us behind the scenes as to how she made a goal to pay off her debt in 3 years. As reported in the Toronto Star and other media outlets, Eduek paid off her debt in an incredible 20 months and she built a social media following as she showed others how she "hacked" savings and debt payments. From there, Eduek started educating and coaching people on how to pay down debt, money-saving tips, investing and more. Now it's her full-time business! Listen in as she explains why she never considered leaving an engineering career as a sunk cost, what being from Nigeria instilled in her, and her thoughts on budgeting.
You can follow Eduek on Instagram @twosidesofadime
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This episode is an exploration of grief and resilience with Dina Bell-Laroche, a Partner at Sport Law and the Founder of Grief Unleashed. Dina shares her journey through grief, triggered by the untimely passing of her younger sister Tracy (when Dina was 31 years of age).
You'll hear how Dina initially navigated her sister's death by trying to be stoic, brave and courageous, but found hope, meaning and a way forward through a deeper understanding of grief and death (and her studies in Thanatology). Dina helps unpack the non-linear nature of grieving, and her insights offer a refreshing perspective on living a meaningful and rewarding life.
As the driving force behind Grief Unleashed, Dina guides individuals in re-imagining their relationship with loss. Dina shares valuable advice and thoughts on coping with loss, especially during the challenging holiday season, drawing upon her experiences and expertise.
Beyond her work in grief support, Dina dives into her extensive career in high-performance sports. With a remarkable background as a media attache and press chief at numerous national and international events, including five Olympic Games, Dina brings a unique perspective on what it takes to perform at the highest levels.
A published author of "Grief Unleashed" and a parent of three, Dina's multifaceted life unfolds in this episode.
Proceeds from Dina's book sales contribute to bringing a Wind Phone to Ottawa through the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation. To learn more about the Wind Phone Project and contribute, visit this link.
Connect with Dina on Instagram (@grief.unleashed) and explore the transformative work of Grief Unleashed on their website.
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In this episode, Kevin Craig shares his remarkable journey across continents, careers, and personal transformations. Kevin's life has been anything but a straight line. From growing up in the UK and Muscat to establishing a call centre in Delhi, India to venturing into a scuba diving business, to building a thriving coaching business in Bahrain, and much more in between.
Kevin is a Master Certified Coach and a Professionally Certified Kinesiopractic. His engaging personality, combined with his cheekiness and unwavering courage, enables him to challenge his clients with tough love and guide them toward their highest potential. He is an Executive Coach to esteemed clients ranging from Government Entities and Royal Family Members to Senior Business Leaders throughout the Gulf in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).
In a candid moment, Kevin reveals two major challenges he faced, including being caught up in a fraudulent investment scheme, where a shadow trading scam left him in immense debt. He recalls calling on a group of people in his network each morning by 9 am for nine months to get him through this incredibly challenging time. He also recounts a near-death experience resulting from being in a car accident, which propelled him onto a profound spiritual path. These personal trials have shaped his purpose, driving him to focus on his two purposes.
His external purpose is to raise the consciousness of leadership and his internal purpose is to hand his soul back in its best possible condition.
Kevin's company has received multiple consecutive awards for "Best Executive Coaching Company - Middle East," while he himself was recently honoured as one of the "Best 100 Global Coaching Leaders" by CHRO Asia.
Tune in to this thought-provoking episode as Kevin Craig shares his extraordinary life experiences, profound wisdom, and invaluable lessons on conscious leadership.
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On this episode of "It's Not A Straight Line," we are joined by Lauren Ammon, a former athlete turned mental performance coach. Lauren's journey in sports began at the young age of five when she was "thrown" into the pool with her older sisters and swam her first race. She went on to achieve remarkable successes, including winning a U.S. High School Championship, a top three finish in the Mid-American Conference, and swimming at the Division 1 NCAA Level while also serving as the Captain of the Swim Team at Eastern Michigan from 2003-2004.
As Lauren touched the wall for the final time in her last race in the NCAA, she realized that her 17-year athletic career had come to an abrupt end. She went on to complete a Master's degree at the University of Cincinnati and worked for over a decade in Human Resources, but she felt that something was missing. In 2019, Lauren received her professional coaching certification and founded her own practice called Performance Reimagined.
In this episode, Lauren shares with us how her coaching focus changed after a pivotal moment during the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021). She recalls watching as Simone Biles pulled out of competition, noticing the expression on Katie Ledecky's face during her gold medal win, and listening to Michael Phelps, the world's greatest swimmer of all time, speak about mental health and the need for athletes to have someone to listen to them. It was at that moment that Lauren knew she was being called to help athletes master the mental part of the game and perform at the highest level in all aspects of life's competition.
Join us as Lauren Ammon shares her inspiring story and insights on mental performance coaching for athletes of all ages and levels.
Learn more about Lauren Ammon and her coaching practice, Performance Reimagined, at https://www.performancereimagined.com/
Follow Lauren on Instagram: @mrslaurenammon and @performance_reimagined_
Lauren's LinkedIn profile
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What stood out about Eric's story - aside from his tenures at entertainment powerhouses like Cirque du Soleil and Just For Laughs - was the lessons he learned from the record label (Grenadine Records) that he started in University and ran for six years. If he could go back in time, he said he wouldn't have been so strict with what the record label had to be. They were "after" two sounds, and it restricted their progress. In the early days, Sam Roberts Band's manager came to them, and even though they loved the songs that would eventually be on Sam Roberts' first EP, they decided to pass on it. It didn't fit what they were trying to create. How often do we try to make things fit with who we think we should be? And who we think we should be is many times influenced by others and not ourselves.
Another key part of the conversation was Eric leaving Quebec to move to Vancouver for family reasons. He knew three people in Vancouver, was leaving a dream job and didn't know how his skillset would fit into Vancouver. He was even told that Vancouver is a "production town", not a content sales and distribution "town", and there are no jobs for you here. But Eric persevered and has gone on to launch "And Now Global", the Global VID Podcast and helps his hometown BIA program and facilitate the White Rock 5 Corners Buskers & Comedy Festival.
Eric is the founder of Greater Vancouver's international TV/Digital distribution & development consulting company "And Now Global" and brings over 15 years of content sales experience with major brands Just For Laughs and Cirque du Soleil, where his primary focus has been on Foreign TV & VOD sales (over 4000 TV hours licensed in over 100 countries).
Eric's LinkedIn profile
AndNowGlobal.com
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What amazed me about Andrew Case's story was how his entrepreneurial journey unfolded. After two years in Sales at Xerox, Andrew and his colleague from Xerox took the sales skills and training they learned and launched a sales consulting company.
They focused on going to small and medium-sized businesses and would offer sales training based on their Xerox sales training. Andrew and his partner would ask for a reasonable rate of pay (less than many of their competitors) and a percentage of the sales lift. When they would visit their clients six months later, they would find out that some of the businesses did not experience the increase in revenue that they initially expected.
They realized to be successful, they needed a way to assess the people on the sales team to make sure the right people were in the right roles. Even with excellent sales training, some people were not meant to be in those types of roles. This led Andrew to meet Dr. Herb Greenberg, learning about the Caliper profile and a long and successful career in talent assessment.
Andrew Case is the Country Manager of Talogy Canada, previously Caliper. The business has a Caliper Profile, which delivers critical insights to leaders and managers to put the right people in the right place at the right time. It is about assessing employees, leaders, athletes and personalities to find out how their strengths will fit into a new role, venture, spot on a professional sports team, etc.
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Kevin Rempel made a major shift at the end of 2022. He sold his beloved business, the Sledge Hockey Experience, shifted his speaking business, started to build new training programs, and moved from Canada to the Dominican Republic.
What strikes me about Kevin is his mindset and his ability to say "yes" to things that will improve his life. When speaking with his sister about how good he felt on vacation in the Dominican Republic, he said - I wish I could live here all the time. Her response was - well, why don't you? And that's when Kevin thought - well, what's stopping me?!
Our discussion ranges from Kevin "letting go" of the Sledge Hockey Experience, the challenges of moving to a new country, and his mindset as he faced setbacks.
Kevin is a 2014 Paralympic Bronze Medalist, a speaker, an expert on mental health, and an entrepreneur.Kevin Rempel on LinkedIn
KevinRempel.com -
Andrea Shaw is the owner and founder of TTG Canada, one of Canada's leading sponsorship and marketing agencies. She started TTG (formerly TwentyTen Group) around her kitchen table after working as the Senior Vice-President Sponsorship, Sales, and Marketing at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics and Paralympic Games.
What strikes me about Andrea is her passion for partnerships, sports marketing and her ability to stay true to her heart's desire.
Andrea was diagnosed with colon cancer shortly after launching her second business, and she had to decide whether to wind down the operations or keep going. She chose to push forward, and since day 1 of her career, Andrea has decided to challenge herself and face adversity head-on.
Our discussion ranges from her early career to the Olympic Games, a tragedy in the early days of the Games, uniting a Country, and bringing her learnings from the Olympics to the Canadian sponsorship industry.Andrea Shaw LinkedIn Profile
TTGCanada.com -
Chris Coulter co-led a successful business that went bankrupt after 18 years, he tragically lost his 14-year-old daughter to mental health, and he is the Executive Director of "How Are You Feeling?" and Owner of the Finish Line Group.
Chris' life mission is to scale "How Are You Feeling?" to get it into as many schools as possible. He knows the importance of kids being able to understand their mental health, and his organization uses TV shows and movies that kids will relate to for educational purposes.
Sumerlee Office Solutions reached $35 million in revenue before the financial crisis of 2008/2009, which was the catalyst that forced him and his partner to declare bankruptcy. From $2 million in revenue to $35 million, to winding down its operations.
Closer to the end of the episode, I asked Chris an important question and he kindly answered. How do we approach someone who has just lost a close friend, daughter, son, father, mother or sibling to mental health?
Chris Coulter on LinkedIn
HowAreYouFeeling.org -
After close to ten years working at marketing agencies, John Sime decided he wanted something new. Him and one of Canada's leading ad agencies "broke up" only a month before the global pandemic, he was in for a lengthy job search during a time that challenged all of us.
John wanted to break into another industry and he stayed true to that desire, ignoring the external "noise." Many people asked him - why don't you just go back to being an Account Director at an agency. You're good at it they said.
John admitted that at one point, you start thinking you might be wrong thinking you can break into a new industry. It's kind of like you saying the "sky is green" and everyone saying "no John, it's blue."
He is now at Shopify Capital, a division of Shopify - one of Canada's most valuable businesses.
We discuss why three years later, John wanted a mulligan on the podcast. Why he felt "guarded" when answering my questions the first time around? He commented - "what scares me the most is talking about myself... the last two years have been pretty humbling and turbulent.John on LinkedIn
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This is my inaugural "solo" episode. After 29 episodes, I reflect on the learnings, advice and thoughts that have been generously and vulnerably shared with you and me.
Have patience and trust the processDevelop grit, persistence and focusBe authentic to self
From guest to guest, there have been consistent themes:Almost each of the 29 episodes is referenced in this insight-packed 30 minutes.
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Have you ever jumped in “ice-cold” water…
“I am a big believer in jumping in the cold water and letting it warm up around you… but I won’t lie, there were sleepless nights" - Jason on jumping into entrepreneurship from the corporate world.
Jason is a President, Leadership Coach and Professional Speaker that works with companies on their talent strategy. He believes in strategy to results through people.
With all the “apparent” talent management and hiring issues out there, this is a must-listen as Jason’s business, Predictive Success Corporation has a two-question survey that can help you better understand who you are and make more insight-driven hiring decisions.
I was a bit skeptical at first as I’ve done many of these surveys, and it was ONLY two questions, but it “nailed me” and was accurate.
Jason has three boys, uses meditation to ground himself and makes decisive, quick decisions (he admits sometimes that has been positive and sometimes not so much).
Jason on LinkedIn - Show more
