Small Business, Big Stories

In this episode of The Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, I got to sit down with the incomparable Yolanda Marshall. Yolanda is an award winning Canadian-Caribbean children's book author. She provides a look inside the start of her journey as a poet in undergrad to a published author touring schools and libraries from the GTA to New York City. It was a great pleasure to have this astounding woman on the podcast and to share our driving forces, those of which are our sons. So grab your headphones or turn the volume up in your car or at home for this, because, as usual, it's going to be a great one!

Get ready for another Small Business, Big Stories Podcast episode with the incredible @jesstakimotofitness, founder of @shinefitco. From her recording zoom workouts in front of her garage to her own downtown Toronto studio space, Jess has spent the better part of 4 years building the most amazing fitness community.  Use the code: SBBS and book your first FREE class at www.shinefit.co/book and check out the incredible energy that embodies Shine Fit yourself! 

In this episode, I had the amazing pleasure of having Vera Tzoulas back on the show. This time, we went for something a little different. She taught me how to become less intimidated by the kitchen while we both shared our fondest memories of food growing up in a Greek household. Vera continues to spread the same joy of cooking with her kids and clients. It is her purpose to help others as well as her appreciation for the way that food influences life that takes the forefront in leading her successful business ventures.    So plug in your headphones, turn up the volume in the car, or get comfy on the couch for this one, because as usual, this is going to be a great one! 

On this week's episode of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, we start 2024 off with Vera Tzoulas. She takes us through her journey of pivoting her successful Toronto restaurant business after the height of COVID. Vera not only diversified her business, but she created a new one in the process. So grab a snack, pen and paper and get comfortable because, trust me, this is going to be a great one!

Lana, founder of Women Who Freelance, shares her story as a freelancer. We discuss her big leap into the deep end in starting her own Canada wide freelancing community where women can connect, network and support each other in their entrepreneurial adventures. The growth of the community has been quite consistent for some time now, however, with opportunities and virtual connection increasing over the last few years, Lana has seen an even greater desire for the community she created.

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, I have the pleasure of sitting down with Fatima Lee Garsi, owner and coach at Sister Fit. We discuss her journey to becoming a successful business owner through addiction, her relationship with her faith and with fitness. She dives deep into her WHY of opening up her gym specifically for the LGTBQ+ BIPOC women and all that she offers to the community. Not only is Fatima's gym a place where I, as a trainer, feel welcome and at home, but it is also where our clients feel comfortable being themselves, sharing their stories, and their areas of expertise in the health and wellness industry. Fatima has built something where it is not just about fitness professionals providing the knowledge and care, but she created a space where the members contribute just as much, if not more to the space.     I couldn't be more appreciative for her vulnerability and openness in this episode. So, get comfy, grab a pen and paper and get ready to learn from this amazing Toronto female entrepreneur I get to call my friend and colleague.

In this episode of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast I have the amazing pleasure of sitting down with one of the biggest names in the kettlebell world, Sylvia Takada.   Discovering her love for kettlebells not only opened up a path for self discovery but also a community like no other. Sylvia speaks on the complexities and beauty of being a woman in fitness and how she uses her platform to support and educate other women on the truth of building a strong mind and body.   As a mom, business woman, kettlebell enthusiast and so much more, Sylvia is such an incredible spirit and someone whom I am so grateful shared her journey with us. So, plug in your headphones, turn up the volume in the car, or get comfy on the couch for this one, because as usual, this is going to be a great one.

On this week's episode of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, The Canvas release, I had the amazing pleasure of chatting with Cassandra, owner of Pura Vida Tattoos. She takes me through her incredible journey of becoming one of the top microblading artists in the GTA and the strides she took in becoming a tattoo artist. We share our passion for art and our tattoo 'lessons' that we will never regret lol. The love she has for her clients and her craft really comes through in our session, as well as the pride she has in being a part of a dominating force of female artists we have here in Toronto. So grab a snack, pen & paper & get comfortable because, trust me, this is going to be a great one!

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, The Energy episode, I sit down with Karina Milech, the founder of Karinaemfitness. Within just a few minutes, you will understand why I titled the episode what I did. Karina is the definition of positive and unapologetic energy. As a fitness instructor and personal trainer who works primarily with individuals with exceptionalities, she has spent most of her time really honing in on her verbal cuing. modifications and her overall perspective regarding the individualization of programming.    The way she shows up on social media is a true reflection of 'what you see is what you get.' Karina documents all of her personal and client focused fitness exploration and experimentation providing an inside look into her lifelong learner mentality. She elaborates on her business strategy and provides really great insight into focusing too much on social media metrics.    Stay until the very end, when we are joined by a very special guest! So grab a snack, a pen, a notebook and get comfy because, trust me, this is going to be a great one.

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, The Connection episode, I sit down with Rae from @bakerraexcafe to discuss the quick transition from baking in her kitchen to being featured on blogTO.    She shares her deep connection to her Filipino roots and how that passion is expressed in the ingredients she incorporates in her sweet treats and even down to her detailed packaging. The desire to bring the taste of back home to the Toronto Filipino community as well as others who may have never tried these flavours runs deep for Rae.    She goes into detail about filling orders for friends and family to being up until 4am filling over 50 orders after her blogTO feature with the help of her supportive family and boyfriend. Rae provides some insightful tips on having to shift your mindset and time management when your business starts to expand.     We end off the episode with a lightning round of rapid fire questions as per usual where I delve deeper into Rae's source of inspiration, upcoming collaborations and what she has learned about herself through her journey as a Toronto entrepreneur thus far.     So grab a snack, pen & paper & get comfortable because, trust me, this is going to be a great one!

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, The Vibrancy release, I had the amazing pleasure of chatting with Allison Jahr, hair stylist and owner of Textur Studio. We chat about the process and importance of creating a welcoming and authentic brand personality and overall vibe.    Allison describes how she started her journey as a hair stylist and what inspired her to take a totally different approach to the industry. Truly creating a 'best friend's living room' feel to her salon, Allison strived and continues to build her business as a place where she, her staff and Textur clients feel comfortable to express their creativity and experiment with their self expression.    We not only cover the feeling she had when starting her very own business, but also the logistics and cost friendly marketing that went into starting a brick and mortar. When starting a business, many of us want exclusively delve right into creative development, for example, logo and website design. Although these are essential aspects of the process, you need to also keep your mind focused on items like your niche, registering your business, and possibly looking into permits if you want to obtain a physical space. It's not super sexy and fun, but it will help to start you and your business off strong.    So grab a snack, pen & paper & get comfortable because, trust me, this is going to be a great one!

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast, The Business on Wheels release, I chat with the incredible Katie Skyvington. She is a certified Physiotherapist specializing in Orthopedics, Pelvic Floor Training and Pediatrics. We chat about her journey to this particular profession and what inspired her unique approach to it.    Going through the health care system can come with many challenges in terms of affordability, accessibility, comfortability & implicit biases regarding race & gender. Katie acknowledges her position of privilege and runs her business promoting advocacy & an environment where her clients feel heard.    No matter what kind of industry you decide to enter into with your side hustle or full time business, educating yourself to ensure that you and your product or service based brand  step forth with purpose is definitely indicative of your venture's longevity, impact & transcendence. When brands are conscientious, they not only create solid support, but it creates a community that stands for something bigger than them.    So grab a snack, pen & paper & get comfortable because, trust me, this is going to be a great one!

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast, The Demographic episode, I chat with an incredible creative who is bringing change to the education system. Tomika Long is the founder of Zee Zee's World. She has found a special way to connect parents, children and educators by dissecting current events in an engaging & interactive way through puzzles. Tomika takes me through the inspiration behind her company, where the idea of communicating through puzzles came from & what audience she caters to.   To have a demographic and specific niche is of the utmost importance because when you try to capture everyone with your product or service, you really reach no one. When you think of your potential side hustle, ask yourself: who is this serving? Get specific with who this individual is (name, what they do for a living, what they look like, etc).    Tomika has accomplished a lot in the short time she has been operating her business. Throughout the pandemic and the development of her business, she has caught the attention of the masses through interviews on Flow935, partnerships with various school boards and other big projects that she won't be able to share just yet.    So...grab your headphones, a snack, a notebook and a pen and get comfortable as you listen to the wisdom, passion and determination of this amazing, talented woman. Trust me...you're going to love this one!

On this week's release of The Small Business, Big Stories podcast, The Special Moments episode, I have the amazing privilege of chatting with another incredible entrepreneur who really took their life in their hands and ran with their passion for baking during the pandemic. Janelle from Jadore Cakes and more really delves into her passion and process for creating memorable moments for people on their special day. We discuss her 'ah-ha' moment when she knew it was time to make a shift in her career and do what ultimately brought her more meaning and purpose. Getting to know Janelle was like catching up with an old friend. Her warmth and personality could brighten your darkest of days.    As small business owners, we spend a lot of time making the customer's experience special, whether you have a product based or service based business. It's your name, brand and reputation and you want to make sure that customers are experiencing the best of what you have to offer. Being a recent recipient of one of Janelle's creations, she took my special moment, added her special touch, and made it that much more memorable.    So, grab a snack, plug in your headphones and get ready to hear Janelle's amazing story. Trust me when I say, this one is a great one!

On this week's episode of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast, I chat with an amazing woman who loves both her side hustle and her 9 to 5--my mom! I believe there is a misconception about being an entrepreneur. Some people believe that you are an entrepreneur because you hate your 9 to 5 and even the thought of your boss makes you cringe. That is not the case for all.    My mom and I discussed the development of her tutoring business during the peak of the pandemic, as well as her passion for her 9 to 5 as a Child and Youth Worker and her love for her Master's program. Her advice: no matter what stage in life you are in, do what brings you joy and what you are passionate about.    Her desire to better the education system has always inspired me and I can't wait for you guys to tune into this episode.    Grab a snack, plug your headphones in and enjoy. Trust me, this one is a great one!

On this week's episode of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast the Leading By Example & Learning As You Go release, I chat with the founder of 925 Wellbeing. Rocky takes me through his 9-5pm journey and how he left that life behind to pursue his wellness goals, which soon turned into his very own fitness brand.    My admiration for him grows deeper as he takes me through his one month hiatus from all social media. Being the main source of his brand marketing, stepping away was difficult, but he knew he had to put his health first in order to truly bring value and authenticity to his business and clients.    Owning a business, raising children and living through a pandemic is nothing short of a challenge and Rocky shares the reality of the sacrifices he has had to make along the way. It has all been worthwhile for him as everyday he sees and walks towards what he defines as the bigger picture for him, his family and his business.    So grab a snack, plug your headphones in & get ready to get real & feel inspired. Trust me, you're going to love this one!

On this week's release of the Small Business, Big Stories, The Pivot episode, I chat with Andrew and Josh from Resilience Fitness. We delve into their come up story, their friendship & how they have shifted their business during the pandemic. Honestly, their passion and determination for what they do jumps right off the screen! We discuss all of the incredible things they have done throughout the years to make their brand stand out and create a sense of community like no other. These two guys bring experience & a level of dedication that most new entrepreneurs like myself have yet to face, but could learn so much from.    Andrew and Josh made it their mission throughout this time to maintain and elevate their client relationships and experiences by cultivating a team that has brought tremendous spirit and resourcefulness to their brand's online presence. So, grab a snack, buckle up and be prepared to take some notes. Trust me when I say, you're going to love and find so much value in this one.

On this release of the Small Business, Big Stories Podcast-The Journey, Not the Destination release, I chat with professional photographer, Gina Ayanna, about her journey to entrepreneurship. We discuss all of her work and life experiences and how she accredits all of her skills as a photographer and entrepreneur to these various adventures. Gina shares are openness to continuing to delve into different business opportunities and not truly viewing any job or venture as a final destination.    Gina goes into detail about her upbringing and what inspired her to explore photography and entrepreneurship. If you are in place in your life where you're feeling the pressure of trying to figure out your path in life, this is the episode for you!    Trust me, you're going to love this one. Enjoy!

On this episode of the Small Business, Big Stories podcast, I chat with John (aka JR) Pineda about his passion for finances, investing and teaching others how to be more financially literate. He shares his long standing determination of attaining and growing passive income as well as his own powerlifting apparel brand, Prevail Lifestyle. John educates me on various types of investing and takes the conversation on an unexpected and invaluable turn regarding the importance of spending habits.    Ultimately, if you are wanting to start or invest more into your business but need to get a better handle on understanding how your everyday financial habits can affect this, this is the episode for you!    Trust me when I say, you're going to love this one! Enjoy!

On this episode of The Small Business, Big Stories Podcast, I chat with Lisa about her role as a Functional Nutritionist, her passion for guiding others on their health and wellness journey, the perceptions surrounding health many are led to believe as a result of social media & how she has developed a brand on social media true to herself and her brand.    Lisa takes me through the 3 factors you should consider before posting anything on social media, how she has expressed her creativity and knowledge to post content of value and purpose and one of the biggest decisions you have to make as a content consumer and creator when being present on any social media platforms.    Make sure to stick around for our lightning round of questions at the end of the episode where Lisa shares a bit more about herself and her work.