Chatter that Matters – Details, episodes & analysis

As the world eagerly anticipates the premiere of the new documentary on The Tragically Hip: No Dress Rehearsal at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), I am thrilled to bring you an exclusive interview with Jake Gold, one of the world's music mavens, Canadian Idol Judge, and the legendary manager who played a pivotal role in shaping The Hip's iconic career. Jake Gold managed The Tragically Hip during their rise to fame, offering unparalleled insights into the band's journey, their chemistry, the genius of Gord Downie, and the music that moved the world.

Jake shares stories from the heart—what it was like to see the raw, untamed talent of Gord Downie and the band for the first time, how they crafted their unique sound, and the challenges they faced along the way. As we delve into their legacy and the deeply emotional moments surrounding Gord Downie's passing, Jake provides a behind-the-scenes look at how the band’s music continues to resonate across generations.

Jake shares what he and others are doing to preserve their legacy, including this upcoming documentary.

Mark Thomas from RBC joins me to discuss their plans with TIFF. Spoiler alert: They include RBC House, RBC Red Carpet Gallery,  Elton John: Never Too Late and Antonio Bocelli's documentary 'Because I Believe, and so much more.

 

The Tiff Premier is Thursday Sept 5, 2024

You can also watch it on Amazon Prime: September 20, 2024

 

 

 

In this heartfelt episode,  I interview Jan Stewart, a mental health advocate, and author of Hold on Tight: A Parent's Journey Raising Children with Mental Illness. Jan shares her deeply personal journey of raising two neurodivergent children, Andrew and Ainsley, and the challenges her family has faced. From early signs of their children’s struggles to navigating a complex healthcare system, Jan's story is one of resilience, love, and relentless advocacy.    Despite the immense challenges, Jan finds strength in her family, community, and mission to help others facing similar situations. This episode is a powerful testament to the strength of parents who dedicate their lives to supporting their children through adversity.  

To buy Jan Stewart's book: https://www.amazon.ca/Hold-Tight-Parents-Journey-Children/dp/1988025974

You will soon hear why I found Derek Blais an exceptional guest. He has the spirit of youth but with the presence and insights of an elder. Derek's journey embodies the spirit of Chatter that Matters by sharing how he overcame circumstances to chase his dreams but change his world and ours for the better.

Derek speaks candidly about his struggles and triumphs, including the pivotal moment of embracing his Indigenous identity and the profound impact of a life-threatening and then-changing motorcycle accident. 

I begin the interview by sharing Derek's mantra - "Be yourself. Everyone else is taken," setting the tone for exploring authenticity, truth and reconciliation. Derek's mother is a victim of the sixties scoop, where Indigenous babies and children were taken from their parents and communities and placed in primarily white and middle-class homes. Derek's Father is Canadian, and Derek draws upon the tales of his two peoples to help shape who he is, why he matters and how through storytelling he can bring about positive change.

Derek's international award-winning and groundbreaking project, Missing Matoaka, challenges the romanticized Disney portrayal of Pocahontas by telling the true story, a tale of tragedy and heartbreak, while also calling for justice in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Today, at LifeLong Crush a boutique advertising agency, Derek is a creative leader who works with his team to tackle many societal and brand issues.

It is a fantastic tale of two peoples, with many lessons to be discovered and learned, all wrapped within his brilliant creative mind.

 

To learn more about LIFELONG CRUSH - https://www.lifelongcrush.com

 

What started on a shoestring became Reebok, the biggest shoe brand in the world.

This is the inspiring and against-all-odds story about how Joe Foster and his brother Jeff, with borrowed equipment in a falling-down factory in Northern England that also served as a home, created Reebok.  In their day, it surpassed both Adidas and Nike in sales.

So many life lessons- family, business, marketing, and sales- are woven into a fantastic story of achievement.

Para-athlete, Meghan Hines, the President of Power Hockey Canada, joins the show to discuss why sports matter and what it means to compete internationally for your country.

Do the right thing. These four words have been the compass for Jim Estill since his first business at age fourteen. Today he is one of our country's most successful and admired entrepreneurs. Learn about Jim's secrets to success, the daily habits that power his intellectual, emotional and financial wealth and how he has applied all of the above to help refugees create a new home built on purpose and pursuit.

Some fantastic insights into how to do more with less and to lead by example.

 

A knock at the door knocks Chanda over. A fantastic story of resilience we can all learn from.  A successful entrepreneur who had it all.  A profitable business, a respected person in her small-town community, and she found the love of her life.  All was perfect until the knock on her door, followed by guns to her head, and the arrest and conviction of her boyfriend, Jeff Kompon, for being part of Mexico's powerful Sinaloa cocaine cartel shattered everything.

Chanda says in her book Forever: A love story. A raid. An arrest. Heartache. A Small Town Scandal. And a Journey of Self-Discovery.  ' I never considered myself a victim; I was a survivor of a broken heart.' 

Amy Deacon, the Founder and CEO of Toronto Wellness Counselling, provides context on what happens when idyllic shatters at the crack of dawn.

Cybercrime.  It's not a matter of if but when.  How do you become cyber-aware and resilient?  HGTV television superstars Sarah and Bryan Baeumler, with Adam Evans, Vice President of Cyber Operations at RBC, chat about cybercrime, estimated to be $10 trillion by 2025, bigger than all other crime combined.

Why the Baeumlers?

Sarah and Bryan Baeumler are celebrities and parents of four children; they have aging parents, have their own identities, and are successful small business owners. Like you and me, they are targets.

Why Adam Evans?

Adam Evans is the Vice-President of Cyber-Operations, Chief Information Security Officer of RBC, and a thought leader in this offers his thoughts and what RBC is doing to provide support through RBC.com/cyber.

A fantastic episode with actionable tips to create cybercrime resiliency.  Please share. 

An entrepreneur on a mission to benefit you.  Anthony Lacavera is an entrepreneur who parlays a $25,000 small business loan from RBC into a billion-dollar enterprise, including Wind Mobile.  Learn why purpose matters more than profit and why risk and reward are the oxygen that breathes life into ideas, entrepreneurial dreams and careers.

What you will takeaway:

Powerful insights for entrepreneurs and all who have that ambition. 

How to create a magnetic brand that attracts and sparks conversation.

Blocked in a career - ideas on how to follow your dreams.

 

Is our healthcare a matter of life or death? We all know that our health matters most, and our health care is in a crisis. Lineups have become multi-year waits, millions do not have access to family doctors, we have a massive talent shortage, and many who work in the system are burning out or leaving it altogether.

My guest is a positive change-maker who offers us a path forward if we listen and act as patients and voters. Dr. Alika Lafontaine is a recognized expert on health systems and health policy, an award-winning physician and the first Indigenous doctor to become the president of the Canadian Medical Association and listed in Medical Post's 50 Most Powerful Doctors.

Dr. Lafontaine shares why the health care sector must lean on each other, tap into the deep knowledge that we have of the problems, and why we must reshape our system by putting the patient first.   A powerful and positive look at our health care going forward.  Enjoy!  Tony

 

Attention is the oxygen of human endeavour, and Israel Diaz will show you how to get the attention you deserve.  Israel shares his amazing life story, and how today, as a  renaissance man he works with solutionists who harness the alchemy of being, business, and brand.

Some fantastic lessons for parents, leaders, coaches, mentors and collaborators.

Georgia Balinksy, a brilliant strategist, returns to Chatter that Matters to offer her perspective on time, and we discuss Israel's belief that there are no business needs, just human needs.