On Another Track

What happens when you hit rock bottom and decide to build the ladder out yourself?

This week On Another Track, I speak with Michelle Frechette, founder of The Connected Kitchen here in Edmonton. She’s on a mission to create generational change, through food.

From running a Latin-inspired food truck to building a social enterprise in downtown Edmonton’s French Quarter, Michelle’s story is one of grit, purpose, and redefining what it...

This week, I finally got the chance to sit down with one of the true legends of British pop — Peter Noone, the unmistakable voice of Herman’s Hermits.

From singing “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” to dominating the American charts in the British Invasion era, Peter shares a stunning backstage view of the 1960s — the pubs, the record shops, the lunchtime Cavern Club sets, and the camaraderie with bands like The Kinks, Th...

What if digital marketing isn’t about selling at all - but about solving a puzzle?

This week on On Another Track, I’m joined by Elizabeth “Ellie” Fleming, founder of Designed Life, who believes marketing is a never‑ending puzzle - one where trust is the first piece you must put in place.

Ellie knows we’re all trying to buy back more time. But she’s clear: if ...

What if the recipe for mental wellness starts with a loaf of bread?

Meet Stephanie Markakas-Plouffe, founder of Entrepreneur Connection Edmonton, mental health coach, and former owner of a baking business serving 18 retail stores.

After years of navigating burnout, chaos, and emotional trauma in the food industry, Stephanie stepped back, stepped into her kitchen — and found her next chapter.

Now she teaches entrepreneurs how ...

When Pretty Girls Poured Tea… and Boys Wanted to Be Builders

That was the world Ladybird Books helped paint, but were they quietly reflecting Britain’s postwar values… or subtly reinforcing them?

We get Helen Day, the UK’s leading Ladybird book historian to unpack it all. From nostalgic collector to curator, Helen’s encyclopedic knowledge has kept the stories and artwork of Ladybird Books alive for generations.

Through exhibi...

What happens when a man decides to fight depression with play?

You get Robert Manolson, founder of Powerful Play Experiences, and one of Canada’s most inspiring advocates for mental wellness in the workplace. His sessions spark joy, ease the spirit, and reconnect teams with their inner child — the one we often leave behind.

After years of battling anxiety and depression, Robert discovered that play wasn’t just child’s work — it...

What happens when a man from the oil industry decides to build a playground?

You get Mike McDermott, founder of PlayEnvy, and one of the most passionate community builders in Canada. His first playground project earned him heartfelt thanks from every child at the school — and sparked a mission to design spaces that inspire play for years to come.

He’s proof t...

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Will Blackburn was selling software in Poland. Within 24 hours, refugees were arriving in his town — and his life was changed forever.

Trading his sales kit for his old Army Reserve gear, Will began sourcing medical supplies and driving convoys into the Donbas. Now, in his book The War Next Door: My Journeys into Ukraine, he shares what it’s like to risk your ...

Think you’ve heard it all? Mike Francis will make you think again.

From a brutal childhood marked by abuse and survival, to becoming a husband, father, and respected tattoo artist, Mike’s story is raw, unfiltered, and unforgettable. Today, through his work at MFT Tattoos, he uncovers the myths, humour, and deep truths behind body modification — and why people still line up for the pain.

This week, we meet Andrea Welsh — healthcare technical writer, strategist, and data literacy advocate. Andrea believes in “Data, not Drama!” — because you can’t fix what you don’t know, and you can’t grow what you don’t measure.

With a background spanning 20 years in nursing, a degree in forensic psychology and working at the coal face of healthcare documentation, Andrea has helped clinics, hospitals, and tech companies build syste...

This week, we welcome back Kevin Paylow of Deliberate Consulting, joining us for the second time since episode #18, four years ago.

Kevin calls himself ‘the classic American Mutt,’ but his real talent is storytelling that sticks.

He says, “You don’t win in the presentation — you win in the conversation.” Kevin talks about how to strip away pointless slides and overloaded facts, and instead ...

Three years ago, Sophie Ash was just discovering who she really was — a new sister, a new story, and a whole new path. With no house, no prospects, and a job that barely paid the bills, she rebuilt everything from scratch.

Now she’s back — and this time, she’s not just surviving, she’s thriving.

In this episode, you’ll hear why Sophie refuses to waste time, how she sorts the wheat from the ...

I first discovered Dominic on the Virgin Podcast series way back in 2015. It was the only podcast I had on my favourites list for years!

Dominic is the world’s only financial writer and comedian. He's a regular contributor to MoneyWeek and the Financial Times and has authored umpteen books on Taxation, Bitcoin and the State.

Hi passions include, beer, playing football, dabbling with helium and losing weight! What more could you exp...

Producer, musician, luthier and composer Galeazzo Frudua is credited as being one of the main specialists in The Beatles vocals.

As a trained Luthier from the Stradivarius School in Cremona, Italy, he revolutionised the making of one electric guitar that covered all the bases. It sold in its hundreds to some of the biggest rock stars in the world!

We do an analysis of The Beatle’s track - All My Loving. Hear how John Lennon was one...

How do you develop a smart app that can control 95% of the smart products that are currently on the market? The team at Smart Concepts think they’ve done it by keeping things simple, safe and easy to use.

Listen as Christof and Christian, take us on the journey of trying to find seed money and how they got investors interested in their smart app in our post COVID environment!

If they’ve got it right, they could have the biggest sel...

Michael is an enigma. Bespectacled in his beret and jaunty attire he hides a complex personality! He’s been a DJ, television/radio producer and appeared on stage with the best of them. He’s determined to continue to perform in to his twilight years. And nobody going to stop him!

Listen as he takes us on a journey from war torn Romania to Canada via the UK. It could have been so different if his Jewish Architect father had been inte...

Have you ever heard the expression choose something light rather than something heavy? Russell says the bad stuff has served him the best over the years and he’s learnt to listen to the wind.

In just over 8 years he’s become a painter extraordinaire, painting some of the most famous people in the world. However, he never forgets where he came from and is currently pursuing his 52 week painting challenge for his Bracelets4Buildings ...

At 25 Sophie discovered a sister she didn’t know about. Even more shocking, her Dad was not her Dad! With a low paid job, no prospects, no money and no house, Sophie is the epitome of entrepreneurship.

In less than 4 years she’s transformed her life and now helps medical students find more freedom, flexibility and financial independence with her company, Prospology. Oh, and to top it all, she’s thrilled to have a new sister called ...

We need a revolution in the kitchen. Why? As spaces get smaller we need smarter designs that can take advantage of the flexible environment we live and work in.

Nicole and Beat are hooking up with global investors to allow their “Wunderwerk Kitchen” to become the next digital product. Hear how a German car designer and the “red carpet lady” have teamed up to revolutionise the space we live in!

Welcome to the 67th episode of my podc...