Buzz Worthy

What’s a micro experiment that didn’t work, but ended up teaching you something critical?For Jordan Russell, that mindset started early, selling hats out of his school locker at just 11 years old to fund what he wanted, instead of waiting for permission.Today, he’s the founder of Price Driven, a platform helping people buy new cars without the stress of negotiation by revealing the real numbers behind every deal.In this episode, Jordan breaks down how small “micro experiments” shaped his journey, why most buyers overpay without realizing it, and how transparency is changing the way we think about big purchases.Because sometimes the smartest way forward… is to test everything and trust what works.Follow them:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/price-driven/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pricedriven/Website: https://pricedriven.caFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/pricedrivenYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@Price-DrivenJoin the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about?Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy#podcast #entrepreneurship #regenerativemedicine #mcmasteruniversity

What do you do when the risk of getting a job feels just as high as starting a business?For Gharsa Amin, the answer was simple: bet on herself.After struggling to find stable employment despite deep technical and regulatory expertise, Gharsa turned a personal challenge—sending money across borders to family—into a bigger question about how global payments really work.Today she’s the founder of Kavodax, a fintech platform helping Canadian businesses move money across borders faster, cheaper, and with far more transparency.In this episode, we talk about rejection, resilience, and the hidden costs businesses face every day when operating globally. It’s a story about entrepreneurship born not from opportunity—but necessity.Because sometimes the only person willing to bet on your idea… is you.Follow them:Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/company/kavodax/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kavodax_/Website: https://kavodax.com/Twitter: https://x.com/KavodaxJoin the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about?Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy#podcast #entrepreneurship #regenerativemedicine #mcmasteruniversity

What’s something you’ve done that goes against everything people expect, simply because you refused to betray yourself?Before social media became the marketing powerhouse it is today, Suzanne Zandbergen saw its potential. From launching one of the earliest photo-sharing initiatives at the Hamilton Spectator to founding The Generator, she has spent years helping businesses build real communities online.But the journey wasn’t always what she expected.In this episode, Suzanne reflects on hustle culture, redefining success on her own terms, and why authenticity still wins in an ever-changing world of social media and AI. She also shares insights on how businesses can show up online in ways that actually connect with people.Because sometimes the biggest growth comes from choosing to stay true to yourself.Follow them:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegeneratorca; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegeneratorca; Website: https://thegenerator.ca/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thegeneratorca; Join the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about?Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy#podcast #entrepreneurship #regenerativemedicine #mcmasteruniversity

What if the future of medicine isn’t found in a pill bottle but printed, layer by layer?This week, we sit down with the founders of Tessella Biosciences, a Southern Ontario–based biotech company building advanced ready-to-use bioinks for 3D cell culture, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.CEO Jose, a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at McMaster University, never set out to be an entrepreneur. Raised in a family of scientists in Mexico, his path was always rooted in research. But sometimes innovation pushes you beyond the lab and into the arena of building something the world needs.Alongside him is Eduardo, Head of R&D, who journeyed from Cuba to Mexico to Canada in pursuit of science. With deep expertise in nanomaterials and bioanalytical devices, he’s helping lead the development of proprietary biomaterial inks that are already outperforming existing commercial products in the market.Together, they’re not just publishing papers, they’re commercializing possibility.In this episode, they bring tangible proof to the studio: 3D-printed hydrogel noses, arteries, and mesh structures designed to support tissue regeneration. We talk about what it means to move from academic discovery to startup execution, the pressure and responsibility of creating materials that may one day live inside the human body, and the courage it takes to step into entrepreneurship for the first time.This conversation goes beyond science. It’s about legacy, immigration, first-time founders, and what happens when two scientists decide not to wait for the future of medicine but to build it.Because sometimes the next frontier of healing starts with a question:What if we could help the body regenerate itself?Follow them: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tessella-biosciences-inc/Instagram: @tessellabiosciencesWebsite: www.tessellabio.comJoin the Buzz: Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about? Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/ Stay up to date with what we're doing: Instagram: @buzzworthy_pod Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=true Watch our TV SHOW! Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month! Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy #podcast #entrepreneurship #regenerativemedicine #mcmasteruniversity

What's do you wish you wish you never stopped doing as a child?Resident and touring DJ for Juno Award winning artist Haviah Mighty, Myliek Mckenzie found himself living his 13yr old DJ dreams by simply shooting his shot at every moment. His stories show us how dedication to you craft, consistency, and keeping an eye open for opportunities builds a ladder to success. Gaining a love of music from his grandmother, practicing in church and not being afraid to tell everyone about his dreams, Myliek found himself growing as a DJ with every opportunity across industries from professional sport teams game day, club scenes, private events and tours!Myliek McKenzie is a DJ in the Hamilton scene playing in many different places throughout the city! You can hear his sounds at every tiger cat game at the Coors original patio, Also the game day curator for Hamilton Forge FC soccer team! He supports Canadian artists as their tour DJ and has great pride in being on stage to perform at festivals and nightlife!DJ Beenie Sounds and Services provides DJ and audio services to many different private events and local businesses. We take great pride on providing clients with musical memories that will last a lifetime! Follow DJ Beenie Sound and Services on Instagram:Instagram: @prod.beenieMix Cloud: @Beeniebop https://www.mixcloud.com/beeniebop/This episode is a part of a 4 Part Series memorializing black entrepreneurs leaving their mark and impact on the world today and in the future for Black History Month. This is made in collaboration with Blk Owned Hamilton and sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce & Invest in Hamilton.Join the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about? Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy

What's the biggest commitment you've made because you love someone?Coming off of the heels of Valentines Day where love looks like flowers and chocolate. Real love is taking a leap of faith into entrepreneurship just so your family can have jobs and find a purpose for everyday life.Lyns Corporation is made up of 3 companies built by 2 sisters over 27 years for their parents as immigrants in a new environment. But this conversation is between 2 generations, reflecting on the past, the current transition and the optimism of the next generation of business owners. Randy, now taking over after 27yrs has came to hard realizations and learning he confessed to with Vinnette having an incredibly proud moment knowing she made the right decision.This family affair is beyond just the owners. But companies built on trust, sacrifice, and community with active villagers. The ones you call upon, the customers that help you unload your delivery trucks, and the unwavering care of employees over the years.Follow Lyns Corporation Businesses on Instagram:@CaribbeanCanadianRestaurant @MissLynsWings @LynsLinsteadMarketThis episode is a part of a 4 Part Series memorializing black entrepreneurs leaving their mark and impact on the world today and in the future for Black History Month. This is made in collaboration with Blk Owned Hamilton and sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce & Invest in Hamilton.Join the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about? Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy

12 years from now, what would you be surprised about with a risk you are taking today?Max Francis, our guest today took a risk so big, his friends and family staged an intervention for him. Mac tells us his stories of building from the ground up, being mistaken as a drug dealer and even married women's boyfriend. This was all part of just building his company. Max was willing to fail big by putting one strep in front of the other to build his company True Hamilton. Inclusion not exclusion is how max describes himself and it shines through with his company True Hamiltonian. Against all warnings and interventions, this engineer quit his full time secure job to sell t-shirts.Tune into this episode for big laughs, almost devasting moments and life lessons learned from unusual places by simply saying yes to everything for a season. This conversation was an adventure and heart warming, just like the city we build in, Hamilton. Follow True Hamiltonian:Instagram: @truehamiltonianHamiltonianTwitter: @truehamiltonianWebsite: truehamiltonian.caThis episode is a part of a 4 Part Series memorializing black entrepreneurs leaving their mark and impact on the world today and in the future for Black History Month. This is made in collaboration with Blk Owned Hamilton and sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce & Invest in Hamilton.Join the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about? Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy

What's the one decision you made that you will never go back on?Faisal Bello made a decision that guided every decision he made from pre-teen to now. That decision eventually lead to Bello Foods. A food manufacturing company based in Hamilton, Ontario, specializing in high-quality herbs, spices, and specialty food products. Its aromatic herbs are responsibly sourced from West Africa and processed with a strong focus on quality, safety, and consistency, serving retailers, foodservice partners, and consumers across the globe.Through his journey the decision never waived, but the strategy did. Some may call it stubborn, but through it all, he dove deep into entrepreneurship, remaining grounded, and always looking to give back. Faisal is rich in many things, but most rich in stories, that keep him grounded and determined to build a legacy that now lives beyond his awe inspiring grandmother, through him and onto future generationsThis conversation takes up into the different areas of business including, Hibiscus (Sorrel) AI and the Human experience, comfort blanks, the telecom industry, and where it all began, Kano Nigeria.Follow Bello Foods:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HL97s8nVJ/?mibextid=wwXIfrInstagram: @bello_foodsWebsite: www.bellofoods.caThis episode is a part of a 4 Part Series memorializing black entrepreneurs leaving their mark and impact on the world today and in the future for Black History Month. This is made in collaboration with Blk Owned Hamilton and sponsored by Hamilton Chamber of Commerce & Invest in Hamilton.Join the Buzz:Know an entrepreneur we should be making a buzz about? Visit us on our website and suggest a guest https://buzzworthypod.ca/Stay up to date with what we're doing:Instagram: @buzzworthy_podLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/buzz-worthy-podcast/?viewAsMember=trueWatch our TV SHOW!Its the show and tell of innovation and products created locally! New episodes drop every month!Watch Live: https://cable14.com/buzzworthy

.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