The Calgary Sessions with Jeff Humphreys

April Brown is the founder of Rootbar, but this conversation is about more than building a salon brand.We talk about the discipline that shaped her early, from competitive soccer to starting in the hair industry at a young age, and how that same drive carried into entrepreneurship. April opens up about burnout, divorce, COVID as a reset, and the time and space she needed to get clear on what she actually wanted. That clarity became the foundation for Rootbar.This episode gets into ambition, identity, leadership, mentorship, and the pressure a lot of driven people put on themselves as they grow. It is a conversation about knowing your why, building with intention, and learning that slowing down does not always mean falling behind. Sometimes it is the thing that helps you lead better and make better decisions.We also talk about company culture, developing people, franchising, motherhood, and what it takes to build something that feels aligned, sustainable, and worth the effort.Connect with April Brown: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

Jill Dewes spent years in the high-stakes world of advertising,eventually becoming a partner at Daughter Creative. But long before the big brand launches and the 80-hour work weeks, she was a student with a degree in Ancient Greek history—a move she admits was "really unemployable" at the time.In this episode, Jill shares the breaking point that brought her to Calgary. After a decade of burnout in New Zealand, a home invasion served as the final straw that led her and her husband to move to the prairies sight-unseen. Since arriving in 2010, she has become a fixture in the local creative scene.During her nine years at Daughter Creative, Jill was part of theleadership team during the agency's work on major projects like the "Blue Sky City" brand, the Calgary Zoo, and Glenbow.However, she recently realized she had moved too far away from the creative work she actually loved. She didn’t want to be the "millstone" slowing the agency down, so she chose a "conscious uncoupling" from her partnershipto start her own consultancy, Nice One.We talk about:The "Midnight Run": Why Jill’s family fled Canada for New Zealand overnight when she was seven.The Classics Advantage: How studying the "ferryman of the dead" actually helped her land her first job in advertising.Knowing When to Leave: The vulnerability of realizing you’re no longer in the right seat at your own company.The Business of One: Why she’s spending her 50s as a "fractional matchmaker" with a clear goal to retire by 55.Connect with Jill Dewes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedInConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

What makes a person walk away from a decade of stability in tribal politics to start over as a "starving student" at 40? In this episode of The Calgary Sessions, Adrian Stimson shares the grit it takes to move from a position of political influence into the uncertainty of an art studio.We dig into Adrian’s "Tickle, Slap, and Hug" approach—his unique way of using humor to bring people into some of the toughest conversations in our culture. From facing a gauntlet of racism in rural Alberta schools to being embedded with Canadian troops in Afghanistan, this conversation is about the search for a true vocation and the resilience required to find it.In this episode, we talk about:The Mid-Life Pivot: Why Adrian left a 10-year political career to become a student again.The "Tickle, Slap, and Hug": A real-world framework for navigating hard truths through art.Life in Afghanistan: What Adrian observed while embedded with the troops in Kandahar.Siksika Culture: The responsibility of protecting the language of pictographs and Blackfoot history.Leading AUArts: Taking one of Canada’s premier art institutions into its 100th year.Connect with Adrian Stimson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InstagramConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

What does it actually take to go "all in" on a vision? Tommy Wheeldon Jr., the Head Coach and GM of Cavalry FC, joins the show to share the story behind the "Burn the Boats" mentality that helped him build a professional soccer club in Calgary from a blank canvas. This isn’t your typical sports interview. Tommy dives into thehuman side of leadership, discussing how his "nomadic" childhood taught him to find comfort in uncomfortable situations and why he believes every high-performer needs to schedule time for "play" to stay sharp.We also explore the "Sunrise and Sunset" of a career—a powerful framework for navigating transitions and helping people find their purpose long after the game (or the job) is over. In this episode, we talk about:The "Burn the Boats" Strategy: Why total commitment requires severing your retreat lines. Gifting Yourself "Play": How hobbies like golf provide the mental clarity needed for high-stakes leadership. Career Transitions: Managing the "sunset" of a professional journey and finding a new identity. The Power of Mentorship: Lessons from the legendary Southern family and building a community at Spruce Meadows.Connect with Tommy Wheeldon Jr.:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

What does it actually take to sustain a family legacy withoutlosing your own identity? In this episode, Peter Izzo (President of CappuccinoKing) joins Jeff Humphreys to pull back the curtain on the reality of the immigrant work ethic and the transition of a multi-generational Calgary brand. Peter shares the unfiltered stories of his upbringing—from working the railroad night shift while trying to finish high school, to being 16 years old and driving himself to junior high because he was "out ofsync" with his peers. He also opens up about the difficult ultimatum from hisfather that forced him to choose between his own independence and taking the business out of the family basement to build what it is today. Inside the conversation:The "Old World" Tension: The struggle to modernize a business when the previous generation prefers torun it out of the home. The Railroad & The Classroom: Working overnight on the LRT lines while calling in your ownschool absences at age 18. Entrepreneur vs. Businessman: Why "seat of the ass" entrepreneurs are a different breed than those with a traditional business plan. Defining Success: Why Peter believes success is an internal belief, not a perception of being "the Golden Globe." Connect with Peter Izzo:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

In this episode of The Calgary Sessions, Jeff sits down with Vince Fowler, a performance coach who works with CEOs and entrepreneurs across North America. His work focuses on understanding human behaviour, the decisions leaders make under pressure, and the psychological patterns that shape leadership and impact.Vince shares the story behind his path, beginning with a difficult upbringing and the moment in Grade 6 when he decided he wanted to become a Canadian paratrooper. That early decision shaped his identity, discipline, and relationship with adversity. Years later, after navigating high-performance environments and personal challenges, he began exploring the deeper psychological work required to understand behaviour, resilience, and personal growth.The conversation explores the connection between military mindset and entrepreneurship, why understanding human behaviour matters for leadership, and how high-performing people often have to rebuild themselves after intense periods of achievement.Jeff and Vince also discuss discipline, identity, decision-making, and what it means to truly embrace the difficult parts of life in order to move forward.Connect with Vince Fowler:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedInConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

Michelle Morgan has spent nearly two decades working as an actor, including a long run on Heartland, and has more recently stepped into directing. In this conversation, we look at what it actually means to build a creative career over time.She talks about nearly choosing a different path early on, how her confidence has shifted between her 30s and 40s, and whyintuition has become central to how she makes decisions. We discuss moving from performer to director, managing energy on set, and the kind of inner work that allows creative careers to last.If you’re navigating your own creative path, this conversation offers an honest look at longevity, identity, and staying inthe work without forcing it.Connect with Michelle Morgan:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

Pete Estabrooks has been part of Calgary’s fitness culture for decades, but his story didn’t begin in a gym.As a teenager, he was arrested for armed robbery and spent time in jail. In this episode, Pete shares how boxing became structure, how running replaced destructive highs, and how discipline slowly rebuilt his identity over time.We talk about responsibility, aging, addiction, and what it actually takes to change direction. Now in his 60s, Pete is still racing, still competing, and still training.This is a conversation about consequences, daily choices, and what happens when someone commits to rebuilding their life one habit at a time.Connect with Pete Estabrooks:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InstagramConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

Drezus is a Plains Cree hip hop artist and storyteller whose work is rooted in identity, resilience and culture. We talked about what it was like growing up feeling different, carrying anger, and not really knowing where to put it.Hip hop became the place where he figured out how to speak. Not just through music, but through understanding who he was. He’s honest about masculinity, fear, ceremony and the work of healing. Nothing polished. Just the reality of shifting from reacting to life to taking responsibility for it.We also get into what it means to carry your roots publicly, how culture shapes confidence, and how success eventually turns into service. It’s less about music and more about what happens when you stop hiding who you are.Connect with Drezus:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

In this episode of The Calgary Sessions, I sit down with Rob McLeod, also known as Frisbee Rob.Rob didn’t find his path early. He didn’t discover frisbee until after high school, and long before it became his work, teaching and helping others were already part of who he was. We talk about what it’s like to grow into something over time, without a clear plan or early certainty.Rob also opens up about losing his mom at 18, and how that kind of loss doesn’t always show up as a dramatic turning point. Sometimes it quietly shapes how deeply someone commits to their work, and how they define success for themselves.We spend time on failure too. Not as a lesson, but as a reality. Rob shares what it means to attempt something again and again without immediate results, and how repetition, patience, and self-awareness matter more than talent or recognition.This conversation also touches on the gap between visibility and value. World records and attention don’t always translate into stability, and Rob reflects honestly on what it takes to build something that lasts. At its core, this episode is about starting later than expected, questioning your own motivations, and choosing to play the long game.Connect with ”Frisbee Rob” McLeod:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTubeConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

Templ Brewing co-founder Dane Thorogood shares the hard reset that changed how he shows up at work and at home.His path runs through high-performance sport, family business, and addiction, then into the day-to-day habits that keep him grounded.On the business side, we talk about learning sales through reps, building a scrappy system with people you trust, and growing in the non-alcoholic space without losing the basics.Connect with Dane Thorogood:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WebsiteConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Felipe Alberto Paredes-Canevari performs Peruvian musica criolla and works in civil litigation.This conversation is about standards. The kind that come from taking the work seriously, whether you are carrying someone’s legal problem or stepping on stage with a tradition that has real history behind it. Felipe talks about identity as something shaped by lineage and lived experience, not a story you invent on demand.We get into what clarity actually costs, why preparation is a form of respect, and why “balance” is not the word when two serious crafts are involved. It is a grounded look at craft, responsibility, and what it means to stay honest when the room is paying attention.Connect with our guest, Felipe Alberto:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

In this episode of The Calgary Sessions, I sit down with Mike Peace.Mike talks about growing up after immigrating as a kid, experiencing trauma early, and leaving school sooner than expected. He shares how restaurant work led him into tattoo shops, what it was like to learn the craft by watching rather than being taught, and how tattooing has changed over the years.We talk about opening and running a shop, the emotional weight that comes with client-facing work, and the kind of conversations that happen in a tattoo chair. Mike also speaks openly about alcohol addiction, choosing sobriety, and why cycling became a necessary replacement structure in his life. Movement, routine, and showing up consistently play a big role in how he manages his mental health.There’s also time spent on community within tattoo culture, working alongside his son, and what it looks like to build a steady life without chasing anything bigger than what’s in front of you.Connect with our guest, Mike Peace:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠InstagramConnect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Some businesses grow fast and disappear. Others last through exits, downturns, and restarts.In this episode, Shawn Freeman talks about why relationships are the real structure holding a business together. Not as a value statement, but as something tested through building companies, selling one, stepping away, and starting again.The conversation moves through how trust compounds quietly over time, why repeated friction is often a warning rather than a challenge, and how founders learn to make decisions without forcing outcomes. Shawn shares how confidence, energy, and alignment show up in very practical ways, even for leaders who think analytically.Rather than focusing on tactics or growth strategies, this episode sits with how people think once they’ve seen businesses succeed and fail up close. It’s a reflection on why people follow people, why impact outlasts metrics, and why the businesses that endure are usually built on relationships long before they are built on plans.Connect with our guest, Shawn Freeman:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Fear shows up quietly. It shapes how we make decisions, how we measure progress, and how long we stay in situations that no longer feel right.In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett, an organizational psychologist, researcher, and author, to talk about what happens when logic, effort, and planning stop being enough on their own.We explore why life can start to feel like a constant gap, where the horizon keeps moving and progress never quite feels satisfying. Why comparison, noise, and fear distort how we see ourselves and our work. And why intentionally looking back at what you’ve already built is often the missing piece for clarity and fulfillment.Dr. Laura also shares how trust, intention, and timing play a role in moving forward when certainty isn’t available. Not as blind optimism, but as a grounded way of taking the next step with purpose, support, and self-awareness. We talk about fear and risk, entrepreneurship and mindset, and the difference between pushing harder and aligning your energy with work that actually adds value.The conversation also moves into leadership and systems. Why toxic workplaces often persist through avoidance and silence. What compassionate leadership actually looks like in practice. And why honest, difficult conversations are essential for healthy teams and long-term trust.This is a thoughtful, practical conversation about navigating uncertainty, making grounded decisions without guarantees, and learning how to move forward when fear tries to keep you still.Connect with our guest, Dr. Laura:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠Connect with Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Life doesn’t usually offer clarity when you need it.In this episode, reflects on what it means to keep moving forward through uncertainty. From early responsibility and family instability to becoming a husband, father, and leader while still figuring things out, his story unfolds without clean timelines or clear answers.Michael is a Canadian speaker, author, and founder whose work has grown out of lived experience rather than strategy. This conversation explores presence without control, responsibility before readiness, and how meaning often shows up later than the moments that shape us. It’s a grounded look at continuing on, not because you’re certain, but because life keeps going.Connect with our guest, Michael Chiasson:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedInFollow Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Cassie Hawrysh has lived most of her life in high pressure environments. She grew up around adults, learned responsibility early, and carried that into sport where effort and expectations shaped almost everything she did. When she became one of the top skeleton athletes in the world, the drive that pushed her forwardalso became the thing she had to untangle.This episode looks at what happens when hard work does not lead to the outcome you imagined, and how a person rebuilds when they have to let go of the identity they carried for years. Cassie talks about the pull of ambition, the weight of almost moments, and the slow process of figuring out who she was outside of performance.It is a grounded conversation about pressure, transition, and the reality of starting again in your thirties.Cassie’s story is shaped by effort, honesty, and the long path toward a lifethat finally feels like her own.Connect with our guest, Cassie Hawrysh:⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedInFollow Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Some people grow up fast because life demands it. Teika did. She carried responsibility early and learned to pay attention young. That awareness shaped how she understood people, how she stayed steady in difficult moments, and howshe found confidence in structure and discipline long before tattooing entered her life.This episode gets into the experiences that shaped her thinking. The pressure of growing up early. The instinct to read a room because you have to. The discipline built through martial arts. The years spent apprenticing while raising a kid. And how tattooing eventually became the place where all of those traits made sense together.Tattooing is her craft, but the story runs wider. It connects with anyone who has had to grow up early, carry more than people realized, or build their identity through steady work and honest self-understanding.Connect with our guest, Teika Hudson:⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠WebsiteFollow Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios

Success rarely comes from a straight line. Nic Beique built Helcim into one of Canada’s most respected fintech companies, but the road that shaped him was full oftiming, luck, perseverance, and the kind of complicated lessons that make you who you are.In this episode, Nic talks openly about the parts of growth people don’t see. The doubt that shows up at every level. The moments where confidence fades. The long stretches where you question your path. And the unexpected breaks that only appear after you keep going longer than you thought you could.This conversation is for anyone trying to build something real.Founders, creators, young professionals, and people figuring out the next step in their careers. If you’re navigating uncertainty, wrestling with imposter thoughts, or trying to trust your path, Nic’s story gives you something to hold on to.Simple, honest insight from someone who has lived every turn of the journey.Connect with our guest, Nic Beique:⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Linkedin⁠Follow Jeff Humphreys⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠⁠Off Set Studios

What if you don't need a "5-year plan" to be successful?We're all pressured to find our one "passion" and follow a perfect, linear path. But what if that's not how the most interesting careers are built?Laura Naaykens is a former NCAA athlete who, after an injury, found herself in a complete identity crisis. She didn't have a grand plan; she just started... figuring it out. Her journey is a playbook for "accidental" success, showing how she pivoted from sports to "accidentally" founding a data science firm, not by following a passion, but by saying "yes" to problems she didn't know how to solve and then getting good at them.It’s a conversation about the power of self-awareness, why competence is more valuable than passion, and how to build a life on your own terms.Connect with our guest,Laura Naaykens:⁠Website⁠⁠Linkedin⁠InstagramFollow Jeff Humphreys⁠Website⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠Podcast Location & Production:⁠Off Set Studios