Awaken The Awesome

Every time I hit 'Publish' and an episode gets released into The Universe, I often take pause - and realize that it's still there. I'm talking about that wonderful sense of excitement, gratitude, and respect that has always characterized every one of these amazing interviews. It's a humbling thing to realize that, behind the achievements, the celebrity, the notoriety, the expertise, if one is willing to humble yourself and listen, you have the opportunity to get to know an incredible human being. Today's guest is no different. I had been a big fan of my next guest for a really long time as I greatly admired this warrior's journey. As a back-to-back CrossFit Games World Cup Champion(2012, 2013) Michael Cazayoux is no stranger to the importance of one's mindset when overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles. As a Coach, being well-accustomed to the unique process of self-examination, he specializes in helping clients “get out...

I was pretty much convinced that this conversation was going to be about Fitness, Nutrition, Breath Work and healthy habits. Seeing as how my next guest's expertise revolves around these topics, you'd be forgiven for assuming that it'd be an easy fit for a conversation. However, as these things do, 5mn into it...those assumptions took a Swan Dive out the window. This is why I'm always honest when I tell people I never really know where these conversations are gonna go even when I hit Record. And today's exchange can serve as yet another example as to why that's actually a good thing. As High Performance, Breath & Strength Coach, Cam MacDougall and I had never actually met or exchanged before this call. But as soon as we got into it, I was introduced to a guy with a troubled past, a colourful journey, some pretty liberating truths as well as a sense of purpose I had never experienced before. Filled with an honest, vulnerable account of hi...

One thing about success that we can all surely agree on is that despite the fact that you can go at it alone, it sure helps if you can rely on someone with the knowledge and experience to guide you and make your journey a bit smoother along the way. As my next guest will tell you, this is especially relevant in the realm of professional sports where so many of our youths too often find themselves blindsided by the allure of fame and glory without factoring in some other aspects that come into play such as character and accountability. Coach Raymond Ndjonok Tonye has a comprehensive and unique personal as well as professional background. From being an elite Canadian student-athlete who earned a full athletic scholarship to attend the University of Northern Colorado and play NCAA Division I Football, he knows firsthand how the power of sports can influence a person's life when approached with the right plan, structure and mindset. A captivating public speaker, stu...

One of the recurring themes that has come out of this time off that the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on us is that a lot of people have used this newfound free time to explore facets of their creative impulses that they otherwise wouldn't have. It's no secret that the those in the Creative Arts have been severely affected by current events. However, as my next guest has demonstrated, one cannot restrain the creative urge, pandemic be damned. Isaac Alvarez is a commercial photographer, director, and artist based in Los Angeles, California. His immense love of photographing people has lead him to work with some of the top public relations firms in Beverly Hills. Well known for his dramatic portraits that resonate emotions, his images offers viewers a powerful insight into the lives of his subjects. While his images are often on the edge of any situation, photographing the situation is not nearly as interesting as photographing the edges of human emotions. Isa...

© Richard Lecoin (IG : @richardlecoin_photography) - All Rights Reserved How far can your journey take you when you make no apologies for what you want, own up to who you are and lean into to your own sense of purpose? Turns out today's guest just might be able to shed some light on the topic. Jonathan Perry - aka J.Perry - is all about that and then some. With a love for music birthed from a very young age, growing up in his native Port-au-Prince, Haiti, J's passion and exploration of various musical styles were just of a series of incredible stepping stones towards some pretty awesome heights. With the help and support of his family as well as a host of various collaborators, from talented producers to a skillful management team, J rapidly made his mark onto the music scene not just in Haiti but abroad. Indeed, when your song, namely " Dekole ", gets chosen as the theme song for your country's National Carnival while subsequently ending up a...

"Grind while they sleep" "Don't stay in bed unless you can make money in bed" "Sleep when you're dead" How many of these memes, quotes or photos have you seen lately glorifying the almighty "Hustle"? I sure have. I've even shared a couple myself. You guys know I never set aside the importance of having to put in the work and sacrifice to achieve your intended success. Today's conversation however, gave me pause as it left me full of respect, humility and hope. Thing is, my next guest, Ian Farrar , had experienced the ups and downs of an incredible career in a way that very few people can truly understand. As a sales professional, entrepreneur and founder of Far North Ltd and Carpeway Ltd , Ian has over 20 years in global business development roles.  With a strong, global network of influential contacts to call on, Ian has founded, scaled and exited companies in his native North East.  Ian also has impressive e...

I believe there's a huge difference between collaborating with your significant other as spouses as opposed to running a business together. Some things just do not mix. Those are my own personal reservations and I'm sure I'm not the only one in that regard. But, there are those who subscribe to the other school of thought: with the emphasis that building and running a business with your spouse can be a welcome opportunity for creativity, team-building, resourcefulness and yes, even strengthened intimacy. I never shy away from the opportunity to admit what I don't know and to learn a thing or two. Which is what got me pretty excited when I linked up and invited my next guests, Liz & Philippe, to be on the program.  As the founders and owners of the amazingly inspiring and aptly-named Dueling Cups Coffee & Tea , this husband & wife dynamic duo were a gem to sit down and talk to. Indeed, getting the perspective from two people who took a dre...