Claim OwnershipBuzz Worthy
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© Shalicia Harris 2025
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Buzz Worthy is a podcast about bold entrepreneurs and everyday people redefining what’s possible, right here in our own backyards. Each episode reveals the raw, rare & untold stories behind the businesses and personal breakthroughs that impact the people they serve. We pull back the curtain on confidence, resilience, grit, failure, reinvention, and the wild courage it takes to build something from nothing. These aren’t just business stories, they’re human stories, rooted in ambition, community, and the belief that greatness can come from anywhere.
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.What happens when the itch to build returns, but this time, it’s not about success, it’s about self-discovery?In this episode, Anita Grant shares how the end of one business led her back to herself—and how that personal rediscovery sparked the creation of Hello Hair, a social impact company blending textured hair education with identity and confidence-building tools for children, families, and educators.From navigating the lessons of a “failed” startup to stepping into her purpose as a mother and founder, Anita opens up about redefining success, representation, and what it really means to build something rooted in meaning rather than metrics.We talk about the beauty of second chances, the power of visibility, and how self-discovery can be the greatest entrepreneurial tool of all.🌐 Learn more: hellohairbook.com 📲 Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
Is the big hairy problem in your job ripe for a revamp? That’s the moment Ariella Racco, a passionate middle school teacher, faced before founding CoLab Education, a platform designed to connect and empower educators through collaboration, mentorship, and shared innovation. In this episode, she opens up about confronting the fear of leaving the classroom, the loneliness many teachers face, and how her mission to serve at scale became stronger than her comfort zone.From winning Lion’s Lair to transforming isolation into community, Ariella shares the powerful story of how building CoLab helped her rediscover purpose—and how creating space for teachers to thrive is ultimately about shaping the next generation of adults.🌐 Learn more: colab.education 📲 Follow on LinkedInhttps://www.instagram.com/colab.ed/
What creative idea did you have as a kid that could actually be a business today?.For Matt McNeil, it all started with a hockey sock on his head and a dream to create something that mattered. Dragons Den had Matt glued to the TV watching people pitch their ideas. Little did he know he would be one of those people. not on Dragons Den, but some who brings ideas to life! Years later, that moment became Toques From The Heart, a company turning upcycled hockey socks into purpose-driven winter wear. For every toque sold, another is donated to a Canadian in need.In this episode, Matt shares how his mom supported his creativity as boy and helped him start a business with very little upfront costs, how giving back became the company’s true north, and why his goal to donate 35,000 toques reflects more than just a number. It represents the 35,000 Canadians who experience homelessness each night.We talk about building a business rooted in compassion, finding resourcefulness in unlikely places, and how every small act of kindness can grow into a movement.🧢 Learn more: toquesfromtheheart.ca 📲 Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | TikTok
What could you build with just some straws, cardboard, a dish sponge, and pipe cleaners that could possibly change the world?At just 19, Lianna Genovese heard a story that changed her life; a woman with Cerebral Palsy who could no longer paint. Fueled by empathy and ingenuity, Lianna built her first prototype from nothing more than straws, cardboard, pipe cleaners, and a sponge. That scrappy idea became Guided Hands®, a life-changing device now empowering people in over 25 countries to paint, write, and express themselves again.Today, as the Founder and CEO of ImaginAble Solutions, Lianna shares how staying curious, resilient, and bold led her to raise over $1 million+ in non-dilutive funding, earn global recognition from Forbes 30 Under 30 and the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards, and even land a signature from Shaquille O'Neal American basketball player aka Shaq along the way.In this episode, we talk about what happens when purpose meets persistence, how empathy can spark innovation, and why the best ideas often start from the heart.🌐 Learn more: imaginablesolutions.com 📲 Follow on Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube
What if the key to success wasn’t having the perfect plan, but simply staying in motion?In this episode, we sit down with Keith Brink, Founder of Jasara Technology, the company behind powerful e-commerce tools like AZLabels and PrepBusiness, platforms now used by tens of thousands of sellers and logistics partners worldwide. Keith shares how curiosity, iteration, and motion led him from being an Amazon seller building automation tools for himself to running a software company managing over 130 million items shipped into Amazon FBA.We dive into how Keith turned a series of small experiments into scalable businesses, why analysis can often be the enemy of action, and how momentum, not perfection, is the real secret to entrepreneurial growth.If you’ve ever found yourself stuck on what to do next, this episode is your reminder that the best opportunities often appear after you start moving.Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/jasaratech/Website: https://jasaratech.com
Would you say yes to a career you never considered, just because you're curious?That’s exactly what Amin Ahmadi did. A lifelong tinkerer whose curiosity started at age 10 with a fascination for engines, Amin has carried that same spirit into his work as Co-Founder and CTO of AP Renewables, a Hamilton-grown company making clean energy more efficient and accessible using data and a bit of hometown ingenuity.In this episode, we talk about what happens when curiosity meets courage to go from climbing wind turbines to managing global teams. Amin opens up about the lessons learned in leadership, how “clarity over convenience” guides his decision-making, and why building a company often means rebuilding yourself in the process.If you’ve ever faced a layoff, felt stuck in a role that didn’t exist yet, or wondered how to turn your curiosity into your career — this episode will remind you that sometimes, the best opportunities are the ones you create.🌐 Learn more at aprenewables.com or connect on LinkedIn.
What happens when “yes” becomes your strategy for opening doors?For Ryan Patrick Moran, every opportunity—from co-founding a coworking community to designing watches inspired by Hamilton’s history—started with a simple yes. A yes to uncertainty. A yes to community. And a yes to building something that didn’t exist yet.As a founding member of the Hamilton Hive, co-founder of CoMotion, and the creative force behind Locke & King, Ryan has spent his career bridging business and culture. He has been helping shape Hamilton’s entrepreneurial ecosystem while balancing the responsibility of taking over his family’s industrial business, Central Rail Supply. But his story isn’t just about success, it’s about being present enough to turn problems into purpose and finding freedom in the spaces where certainty doesn’t exist.In this episode, Ryan reflects on what it means to build community, manage legacy, and keep saying yes, even when the path isn’t clear. If you’ve ever wondered how to find opportunity in ambiguity or make impact in your own backyard, this conversation will make you rethink how growth really happens.
What if the dream you had as a kid came true, but in a bigger way you never expected?For Eric Spearin, the journey from Hamilton boy with a football dream to the owner of a professional baseball team is anything but ordinary. A serial entrepreneur across software, sports, and gaming, Eric has built and scaled companies by following one simple compass: curiosity. From founding Logistadvise and Transervice Integrated Solutions (TIS), named one of the fastest-growing companies in America to launching Spear Interactive and transforming the Hamilton Cardinals brand, Eric’s story is one of bold pivots, relentless learning, and betting on himself.But behind the success is something more an instinct to give back. As a mentor at the McMaster Forge Incubator, Eric shares the kind of lessons you won’t find in textbooks: how to spot opportunity, how to make your next move when passion calls, and how to stay grounded when growth takes off.In this episode, Eric opens up about how interest has guided his journey, the mindset behind taking calculated risks, and the real meaning of building a business that reflects who you are. It’s a story about coming full circle and proving that the dream is still alive, even if it changes shape.https://tiscareers.com/our-tms; https://spearinteractive.com; https://www.hamiltoncardinals.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/transervice-integrated-solutions/https://x.com/spearinteractivhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4OAG8OgH9NKMorT9C5BG-Ahttps://www.instagram.com/spearinteractive; https://www.instagram.com/hamiltoncardinals
What happens when the path you thought you were on suddenly disappears? Do you quit, start over, or create something new entirely?For Precious Aigbe, authenticity has always been the compass. From helping class mates, to community friends pass standardized language test to turning setbacks into stepping stones, his story is one of staying true to what you love. Even when life doesn’t go as planned.As the founder of Lancity, Precious is building more than a platform—he’s building a language city. Through AI-powered tools and community-driven coaching, Lancity is helping immigrants and global learners prepare for the exams that open doors to new lives. But behind the product lies a deeper story: one about resilience, faith, and the belief that confidence can be built one step at a time.In this episode, Precious reflects on how he leverages his own “brag sheet,” when doubt steps in but the calling to more forward is still very strong. Connect with Lancity:🌐 Website: lancity.co📸 Instagram: @lancityhq🔗 LinkedIn: Lancity📘 Facebook: Lancity🐦 X: @lancityhq🎥 YouTube: @Lancityhq🎵 TikTok: LancityhqSuggest a guest by going to BuzzWorthyPod.ca 2026 Season will begin recording soon!
What if 'success' doesn’t make you happy? What if you can have the career, the home, the family; and still feel like something is missing?That’s exactly where Nikki Milligan, a corporate executive, and Linda, the CEO of her household, found themselves. Both successful in their own worlds, both doing “everything right,” and yet both realizing that happiness wasn’t guaranteed. Their curiosity about the science of happiness brought them together, and from that partnership, Mingle & Marvel was born to be a Happiness Centre designed to help people stop waiting and start living with intention, purpose, and community.But their journey wasn’t easy. When they launched their first event, no one showed up. What could have been the end became the beginning of something bigger. Instead of giving up, Nikki and Linda doubled down on their purpose: to help others practice happiness as a daily habit, supported by evidence-based tools and meaningful connections.In this episode, they share how purpose drives true happiness, why failure became one of their greatest teachers, and what it really means to build happiness through community. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why don’t I feel happy even when everything looks good on paper?", this conversation is for you.Instagram: @mingleandmarvel Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/nikki-milligan-80564a7www.linkedin.com/in/linda-grubic-mahs-acc-75b6483bFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Mingle-Marvel-61561901777131/X: Website: mingleandmarvel.com
The most powerful inventions don’t just solve problems, they give people pieces of their lives back.For Sydney Robinson, the spark was a capstone project in mechanical engineering to design an ankle foot orthosis for a young girl that allowed her to play on the beach with her friends. That moment planted the seed for a career dedicated to transforming mobility for amputees.From a master’s in biomedical engineering to the elite Medical Innovation Fellowship, Sydney’s journey has been rooted in curiosity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to problem-solving. Today, as co-founder of Vessl, she’s leading a team pioneering Kinn, an automatically adjusting prosthetic socket system designed to bring comfort, confidence, and freedom of movement to amputees.In this episode, Sydney shares the moments that shaped her mission, the importance of remembering why you start, and how reinvention isn’t just a design philosophy, it’s a way of leading and living. Whether you’re an innovator, a healthcare professional, or someone navigating your own challenging path, her story will leave you inspired to keep moving forward.Connect with Sydney & Vessl:🔗 LinkedIn: Sydney Robinson🔗 LinkedIn: Vessl Prosthetics📘 Facebook: Vessl Prosthetics📸 Instagram: @vesslprostheticsWebsite: https://www.vesslpro.com/
For Primie Cegnar, entrepreneurship isn’t just about building a business, it’s about rebuilding yourself. As an immigrant from the Philippines, Primie came to Canada expecting opportunity, but quickly learned the struggle of navigating barriers to employment. Instead of giving up, she leaned into the entrepreneurial spirit passed down through her parents and grandparents, daring to carve out her own path.Her latest venture, Aeon Stellar Commerce, is home to StellaEats, an AI-powered nutrition-first food marketplace designed for people with food allergies, chronic illness, and cultural dietary needs. More than a business, it’s a system of care built on community, purpose, and a belief that everyone deserves access to food that supports their healing.In this episode, Primie shares how she turned personal struggle into vision, why community is at the center of everything she builds, and what it really means to grieve old versions of yourself while creating something entirely new. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep going after a big pause, to stop or go, this story will remind you that sometimes resilience is the greatest innovation of all.Connect with StellaEats & Aeon Stellar Commerce:🌐 Website: stellaeats.co📸 Instagram: @stellaeatsofficial🔗 LinkedIn: StellaEats📘 Facebook: StellaEats🔗 LinkTree: stellaeatsofficial
For Kamran Ahmad, it started in childhood, working in his dad’s computer shop and creating his own co-op placement when opportunities didn’t exist. Those experiences taught him resilience, problem-solving, and the power of curiosity.What began as the simple act of dehumidifying his basement eventually grew into Hydrosphair: a pioneering company using atmospheric water generation technology to turn air into fresh, clean drinking water. Today, Hydrosphair is helping off-grid homes, tiny houses, farmers, disaster relief teams, and industries around the world access water in sustainable ways by proving innovation can flow from the most unexpected places.In this episode, Kamran shares the lessons he’s learned as a founder, how listening to customers drives continuous innovation, and why clean water isn’t just a commodity, it’s a human right. His story is one of curiosity turned into purpose, and purpose turned into a company with the potential to change lives globally.Connect with Hydrosphair:🌐 Website: hydrosphair.com🔗 LinkedIn: Hydrosphair📸 Instagram: @hydrosphair
Before MERIT Brewing, before reshaping Hamilton’s downtown, Tej Sandhu was chasing a different dream: music. His first curiosity led him into the world of producing, where he discovered the thrill of creating culture and community through sound. That spark eventually grew into a career defined not by one industry, but by a guiding principle: to build spaces that bring people together.From his grandfather’s furniture store in Nanaimo that inspired MERIT’s name, to his own ventures in music, real estate, and hospitality, Tej has never let traditional markers like age, education, or experience hold him back. Instead, he followed his instincts and carved out a path that worked for him. Today, MERIT Brewing is a brewery, kitchen, and bottle shop that reflects the heart, art, and soul of Hamilton. A place where history, innovation, and community come together.In this episode, Tej shares his entrepreneurial journey, the family roots that continue to guide him, and why keeping his north star in sight has been the key to building not just businesses, but culture, community and impact!Connect with MERIT Brewing: 🌐 Website: meritbrewing.ca 📸 Instagram: @meritbrewing 🔗 LinkedIn: MERIT Brewing
What do you do when you’re tired of living in and out of doctor’s offices, frustrated with quick fixes, and ready to take your health into your own hands? For Natasha Smith, the answer was to create a different path—not just for herself, but for anyone ready to live past their diagnosis and bloom into their full potential.As the Founder and Nutritionist of How to Bloom Inc., Natasha crafts gourmet, symptom-specific cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and teas. Each ingredient backed by science and formulated to target specific health concerns. In this conversation, she shares her personal journey from navigating her own health struggles to becoming runner-up in the Forbes Entrepreneur of Impact 2025 competition, and why she believes faith and persistence are an entrepreneur’s greatest assets.We dive into the shortcomings of the traditional medical system’s “bandage” approach and how Natasha is building a personalized, science-driven model that gets to the root of health challenges. From creating beverages that address specific symptoms to empowering clients with tools for lasting wellness, Natasha is proving that when you address the whole person—not just the problem—you can change the entire health journey.Connect with How to Bloom Inc.: 🌐 Website: howtobloom.ca 🔗 LinkedIn: How to Bloom Inc. 📸 Instagram: @ThisIsHowToBloom 📘 Facebook: This Is How to Bloom
For years, Kim Murphy said yes to everything and everyone until burnout, exhaustion, and a deep sense of invisibility made it impossible to keep going. That turning point became the start of a new chapter, one rooted in healing, boundaries, and the radical act of putting herself first.Now an Empowerment Coach and Trauma Release Practitioner, Kim helps women 50+ reclaim their worth, heal from emotional burnout, and rediscover the joy they thought they’d lost. Through It’s A Wonderful Life Coaching, she offers transformative programs and self-care tools that prove it’s never too late to start over or start saying “Yes” to yourself.In this episode, we talk about the courage it takes to embrace the journey (even when it’s not a straight path), the role resilience plays in entrepreneurship, and why surrounding yourself with the right mentors and communities can change everything. If you’ve ever felt stuck, exhausted, or invisible, Kim’s story is the reminder that you can rewrite your next chapter, starting now.Promotional Offer: Free Masterclass launching May 22.I have a 7-day Self-love course @$97 if they use the coupon HIVE as checkout, they get it for $47Connect with Kim & It’s A Wonderful Life Coaching:🔗 LinkedIn: Kim Murphy📸 Instagram: @its_a_wonderful_life_coaching📘 Facebook: It’s A Wonderful Life Coaching
What happens when the person who used to work for you becomes the one you trust to build everything with?In this episode, we meet Ryo (Uyen Phuong Wu) and Allison (Xuan Yen Nhi Le), a visionary duo who went from boss and employee to co-founders of COOCO. COOCO is an AI-powered platform that maximizes food in your fridge to reduce food waste, save money, and cook smarter at home. They are uncovering the proverbial "Elephant in the Kitchen" we are all talking about. Especially in this economy and era of sustainability. Ryo & Allison quietly helped scale some of Asia’s biggest startup unicorns to rallying over 200,000 people around their own idea pre-launchWe dive into what it really means to bet on someone’s potential, what it takes to grow from colleagues to co-founders, and the emotional rollercoaster of stepping out of the shadows of other people’s companies to finally create your own. If you’ve ever wondered when to make the leap or who to build with this episode is for you.Connect with COOCO:🌐 Website: cooco.app📘 Facebook Group: COOCO Community📘 Fanpage: COOCO Social📸 Instagram: @cooco.app🎵 TikTok: @cooco.social▶️ YouTube: COOCO Social🔗 LinkedIn: COOCO on LinkedInHave a guest you want to suggest? Tell us! Website: https://buzzworthypod.ca/Instagram: buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=true
Sometimes, a setback is just the setup for your purpose.We sit down with Monique Thompson, founder of Modeen Events, who turned an unexpected layoff into a life-changing leap into entrepreneurship. Born in Jamaica and raised in Hamilton, Monique’s path was always sprinkled with creativity and community. But it wasn’t until life gave her a pause that she finally answered the call to build something of her own. What started as a long-standing passion evolved into Modeen Events, a company known for its elegant, joyful, and highly personalized celebrations.Monique shares the deep discipline, unshakable faith, and tenacity it took to step into her calling. From community roots to corporate galas, she’s proving that you can bring your own sparkle to every room and leave a lasting impression doing it.Connect with Modeen Events: 📧 Email: modeen_events@outlook.com 📸 Instagram: @modeen_events
What do you do when you see the same heartbreaking chaos unfold when families need to make decisions in the ER? If you’re Dr. Laura Shoots, you'd look to bring calm to the crisis and truly fulfilling a family members wishes.In this episode, Dr. Laura shares her journey from emergency physician to entrepreneur, blending her deep medical expertise and care for patient wellbeing and wishes. As the founder of Take Care, she’s building a platform to help families organize everything from medical wishes to emergency contacts in one secure, easy-to-share place. We talk about the emotional side of planning for aging, illness, and end-of-life that typically lacks clarity in moments of crisis.Laura also opens up about what it really takes to build a mission-driven business in healthcare: relentless drive, a smart support system, and sharp intuition. Connect with Dr. Laura & Take Care: 🌐 Website: takecaretogether.ca 📸 Instagram: @takecaretogether.ca 🔗 LinkedIn: Dr. Laura Shoots 📘 Facebook: Take Care Together
How do you keep going when the going gets hard? For Meisha Watson, the answer is simple but profound: faith, purpose, and creative fire.In this episode, Meisha opens up about the reality of building a meaningful life in media—from her early days on YTV’s The Zone to launching her own creative media company. She shares how prayer, community, and the desire to encourage others keep her grounded in the face of challenges. Whether she's behind the mic of My Single Story, leading kids with HEY MEISHA!, or helping others bring their vision to life, Meisha’s mission is clear: create with intention, lead with heart, and craft a life rooted in purpose and impact.We reflect on what it really means to build a business that gives you the freedom to live fully and authentically—not for likes, but for legacy.Follow Meisha to Explore More: Website: meishawatson.com Instagram: @iammeisha TikTok: @stillmeisha LinkedIn: Meisha Watson🎁 Special Offer: Take your content to the next level with Meisha’s Newbie to Natural: Social Media Masterclass, a personalized course designed to help you maximize your message and make every post count. Available now at meishawatson.com.
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