Heroes in our Midst

When you hear the word “meditation” what is your first thought? I bet it isn’t that it can help you reach higher levels of success… or lead your company to greater execution with more compassion… or that it can help you WIN in every sense of the word. Well, performance coach Ashley Wray believes that it can, and she’s seen it work in using the foundations of mindfulness to help people reach their full potential. She works with companies, executives, world class athletes and teams, coaches and leaders of all kinds. Her work has been proven to positively impact culture and brand – inside and out – and if you want to find out how? Listen to this episode of “Heroes in our Midst”! Ashley shares with us all HOW she does what she does and what she has witnessed from her experience working with some of the world’s elite to become even better at what they do and stay WELL while doing it.  Enjoy the listen and thanks.

“You’re not filling anyone’s shoes – bring your own.”   Michael Bartlett, brought his own shoes to Canada Basketball as CEO back in 2021 and what he has done for basketball in Canada in just 3 short years is nothing short of impressive. 3 of our teams competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics for the first time ever. And while none medalled, which was a huge disappointment to Michael, it cannot be denied that under his leadership, some serious progress was made. So, now, with some time having passed, even he can see the progress and he will continue to work toward the winning, but not in the way we used to know it, in EVERY way. Yes, on the podium but also in being well while achieving amazing results.  If you want to know how he does it… what drives him… and his approach not only to his work but to his work-life balance too… listen to this podcast.

"I believe for us as parents, coaches, teachers and workplace leaders we have a responsibility to role model what it looks like, sounds like and feels like to be a great human being. And that we can actually allow and give hope to the next generation to say, hey, I want to show up and be kind and curious and competitive and achieve and fulfill my personal mission and goals." - Judy Riege.   If you are a leader of any kind – THIS is the conversation you want to hear. Judy is a leader amongst leaders. Her core principle is that leadership is a mindset, not a position and she fleshes that out for us in this episode of "Heroes in our Midst".  I am better for having had this conversation and can hardly wait to share it with you. Take a listen and check out judyriege.com when you have a chance. 

“I knew that every single day I had to earn my way there and do everything possible to become the best version of myself every single day to get to where I am now.” From the 2nd Grade, Kristen Campbell had a dream to play in goal for the Canadian Women’s hockey team at the Olympic Games. She has realized the dream of going to the Olympics as part of Team Canada and even more including now being the starting goal tender for Toronto in the Professional Women’s Hockey League, but she has more to do. What a time this has been for her and for all of women’s hockey and what a chance for us to chat with her and find out what it looks like from the inside. This is a first for us in that we recorded this podcast LIVE in front an audience of 40 young goaltenders attending her KC Elite Goaltending Camp in Winnipeg on July 8th… listen and be inspired by an incredible story that is still being written.

“My life has just become my new norm – it’s just going to take a lot more effort.” Lisa Franks was born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. An athletic kid with dreams of playing basketball in the Olympic Games. Never did she think that it would be in a wheelchair. But incredibly, after becoming paralyzed from the neck down at the age of 14… Lisa DID make it - to not 1, not 2 but THREE Paralympic Games!! The first 2 as a wheelchair track athlete and the last as part of Team Canada’s Wheelchair Basketball team. She is a world record holder in multiple distances and a Paralympic gold medallist 6 times over and the list goes on. Never mind that she now lives in a camper van, surfs, mountain bikes and has a passion for making the world, including the outdoors, accessible for all. But for as many mountaintops as Lisa has reached, she also lived in some pretty deep, dark valleys and she joins us today as a “hero in our midst” because she was willing to share it all with us. We couldn’t be more grateful for that. Listen and be inspired.

“I don’t think any of us are in the business of removing challenge. I think we’re in the business of increasing challenge to the most we can tolerate as a human being. But then, if that human being is being asked to tolerate all of this challenge – how can we build up the human being, how can we give them the resources they need, the space they need, the rest they need, the understanding of the “why” behind what they’re doing, and the decision-making power.” – Katrina Monton   In this episode, Katrina Monton is our very special guest. Katrina played Water Polo at the National team level for many years. She was already a carded athlete at the age of 15! She’s an NCAA Division 1 silver medallist, played in 4 or 5 World championships and 2 Pan Am Games. These days, she is passionate about taking all that she has learned along the way and pouring it into her research and her work as an Organizational Psychologist. What a great conversation we had. So, listen and learn how important culture, team dynamics, psychological safety, well-being and belonging are in high performance environments. Enjoy.

“I know what it’s like to not have food in the fridge”   One of the things that Asun Ducharme carries with him from his childhood. It wasn’t an easy one but somehow, somewhere, he finds positives in all of it and he is finding his way to greatness. The passion and the drive in this young man will blow you away.   Prepare to be inspired when you listen to Asun and his story. He is a linebacker, was the captain of his high school football team and at only 17 years old, what he’s already seen and learned in his short life is more than most of us can imagine. He plays linebacker and he is one of the most passionate individuals I have ever met. He is set on greatness and he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get there. Listen to Asun’s story and don’t forget his name… someday you’ll be wanting to say “you knew him when”.

When you open Ray Zahab’s website you will find these three words. CHALLENGE. DISTANCE. DISCOVERY. Exactly what he takes on, on a very regular basis. He takes on new challenges that usually include running long distances and discovering not only the cultures and geography of the places he goes but also, what it takes to truly conquer the challenge in any given location for any distance, in any amount of time. And we’re talking 17,000 km’s PLUS in some of the world’s hottest and driest deserts to some of the coldest places on earth. How does he accomplish this? He never underestimates his ability to complete the task. Anything’s possible is an understatement for Ray and he thinks anyone can do anything as long as they put their minds to it and truly find a passion for it. Listen as Ray shares his “why”, his story and his outlook on life … in the NOW.

“My life changed when I stopped defining success by a certain limited framework.”   That’s what Juno award winning singer/songwriter Steve Bell said, when he decided, along with his manager/producer/sound design partner Dave Zeglinski, that they would leave Nashville and come back home to Manitoba to do locally what they did best… make music on their own terms and share it with others. And it’s worked for them… big time.  Steve has shared his music with over half a million people in 15 countries worldwide. He’s played over 30 sold out Symphony concerts across Canada and into the U.S. He’s been awarded 3 JUNOS with another 3 nominations, he’s won 4 Western Canadian Music awards, numerous Gospel Music Awards and Prairie Music awards too. He was the recipient of the 2012 Queen Elizabeth 2nd’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, was appointed to the Order of Manitoba in 2021 and the Order of Canada in 2022. All of this has led to Steve being one of the best-known Christian musicians in Canada and if you haven’t heard his music, you will want to once you hear his story and our conversation with him. You see, his story is NOT what you think… and to say he’s made an impact on the world around him is an understatement…so listen and find out who Steve Bell and what truly makes him a “Hero in our Midst”.

If you were ever wanting to hear the story of someone who has worked for absolutely everything she’s ever gotten in life, then, you’ve found the right story. Our guest today is Claire Hanna. Most recently, you may have seen Claire on the sidelines of the 2023 Grey Cup championship game as part of the TSN broadcast. Or, you may know her name from the volleyball world, in which, she is a 3-time National champion with the UBC Thunderbirds, she went on to play pro AND was a member of the Senior National women’s volleyball team for 4 years too. She is a 2-time Canada West libero of the year and even nabbed the CIS Libero of the Year title in 2010. Claire’s dreams didn’t stop when volleyball ended though. Her dream of becoming a TV broadcaster for TSN was also on her list… and much like she pursued her volleyball dreams, she went after the TV dream too. The best part is she feels the best stories in her life are yet to come… but stop for a bit and listen to this one. But be careful, you may be inspired to put in a whole lot of work after you do. Enjoy!