Disruptors – Details, episodes & analysis

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Disruptors

RBC Thought Leadership, John Stackhouse

Business

Technology

Frequency: 1 episode/13d. Total Eps: 235

Disruptors, now in its 10th season, has become your front-row seat to Canada’s innovation story—200+ episodes exploring the people, ideas, and technologies reshaping Canada’s future. Each episode, hosted by John Stackhouse, SVP, Office of the CEO at Royal Bank of Canada—and former Editor-in-Chief of The Globe and Mail—cuts through the hype and focuses on what you need to know. This season, we’re leaning into urgency: the global economy is shifting, geopolitics are noisy, and Canada needs to respond. You’ll hear from founders, investors, scientists, operators, and policy leaders at the forefront. Listen for a clearer understanding of the tech and innovation shaping Canada and the world—and practical insights to help you make sense of what’s coming next.

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🇨🇦 Canada - entrepreneurship
22/08/2026
#98
🇨🇦 Canada - entrepreneurship
21/08/2026
#62
🇨🇦 Canada - entrepreneurship
20/08/2026
#48
🇨🇦 Canada - entrepreneurship
19/08/2026
#44

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https://pcm.adswizz.com
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https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6958029/JAR-Audio-Listener-Survey-July-2022
33 shares
https://thoughtleadership.rbc.com/
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RSS feed quality

Good

Score global : 83%

Publication history

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REBOOT: Hydrogen Horizons: Powering a Green Path Forward

Season 7 · Episode 24

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 • Duration 28:45

The green hydrogen race is on, and billions are at stake. Countries big and small view hydrogen as an opportunity to convert wind, solar, gas and nuclear into molecules that they can sustainably ship around the world. The hydrogen promise extends beyond reducing our carbon footprint and developing cleaner sources of energy; it’s also about reimagining a new industrial model for our economy, opening avenues for economic growth and job creation. Canada is a country filled with vast renewable resources, but first we must navigate the complexities of the technology, economics and politics associated with a shift to clean energy adoption. Is green hydrogen the next great Canadian energy export and will it be the tech innovation of the decade? We’re joined by Gene Gebolys, CEO at World Energy and Marco Alvera, CEO at Tree Energy Solutions (TES) — two global energy pioneers betting on Canada’s green hydrogen potential, from the windswept Atlantic coast to the Mauricie region of Quebec. We also hear from the CEO at the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Ivette Vera-Perez. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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REBOOT: Mechanical Minds: Exploring the World of AI Robots

Season 7 · Episode 23

Tuesday, August 6, 2024 • Duration 30:45

The global race to apply AI to robotics in a way that can make society better is on — offering unprecedented efficiency, precision and enhancing productivity to relieve humans from mundane tasks. Though there are concerns regarding ethical dilemmas and potential job displacement — fueling fears about the societal impact of these advancements. Striking a balance between the benefits and addressing these apprehensions will be key to unlocking a harmonious integration into our daily lives. On this episode of Disruptors, John Stackhouse visits Sanctuary AI — a Canadian company recognized on TIME’s Best Inventions of 2023 — to explore the cutting-edge future of humanoid robotics and is joined by visionary, Suzanne Gildert, the company’s Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Building Blocks: Solving the Supply Shortage with Prefabricated Homes

Season 7 · Episode 14

Tuesday, April 9, 2024 • Duration 29:32

Housing affordability has become a crisis in Canada, and we must prioritize innovative designs, building techniques, and technology to boost productivity and close the supply-demand gap. Prefabricated homebuilding promises faster, more cost-effective alternatives to traditional construction methods — and if scaled correctly, a solution to address home prices and rent relief. We’re joined by three prefab experts using technology to rethink construction; Craig Mitchell, Principle at BlackBox Offsite Solutions; Michele Tung, CEO at homeD Modular; and Mark Stephenson, CEO at Qube Building Systems. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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The Last-Mile Ecosystem: One-on-One with the CEO of DoorDash

Season 2 · Episode 34

Tuesday, March 16, 2021 • Duration 36:30

To learn more about DoorDash, its philosophy, and its origin story, you can visit the company’s website. For details on its revenue during the pandemic, read this recent Bloomberg article. John mentioned two previous pieces of RBC research during the podcast, including; “Small Business, Big Pivot” and “Humans wanted: How Canadian Youth Can Thrive in the Age of Disruption”. RBC has also released an updated version of its report on how the pandemic has disrupted the economy, called “And Now the Reset: 9 ways COVID has changed consumers, and business, for the decade ahead.”

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Diversity In/Action: Improving Inclusivity in the Tech Sector

Season 2 · Episode 33

Tuesday, February 16, 2021 • Duration 36:51

It’s something that has the power to enable both empathy and exclusion; to provide us with new perspectives while simultaneously silencing other voices that deserve to be heard: technology.

And while the tech platforms we interact with every day demonstrated their value in the lead-up to and during last year’s BLM protests, the companies and culture that created them have long-standing issues with diversity and inclusion.

In this Black History Month episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, John Stackhouse is pleased to welcome as co-host Michael Carter, the Global Head of Technology Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets in New York, for a compelling and complex conversation about the fight for equity in the tech sector. They’ll be joined by another voice that’s sure to be familiar to longtime listeners; Dax Dasilva, the CEO of Montreal-based Lightspeed Inc, who will share his perspective as a member of, and crusader for, both the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities.

The challenges are numerous: securing more investment funding for Black entrepreneurs, breaking down geographical barriers to diversity, and maintaining focus on the fight for racial justice in the face of other crises, like the pandemic. As you’ll hear from Tamar Huggins-Grant, the Founder and Executive Director of Tech Spark Canada, it’s not going to be a comfortable journey, but that’s OK, because she believes there has to be some level of discomfort if we really want things to change.

Notes:

For details on Lightspeed’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, click HERE. Dax Dasilva wrote an editorial in last summer’s Globe and Mail about the role of CEOs in fostering diversity, and he was also John’s guest on a previous episode of Disruptors: ”Diversity x Inclusion x Innovation”. John also discussed the lack of Black representation in the tech sector in February of last year, in the episode . Details on Tech Spark Canada’s mission to increase inclusivity in the technology sector are at . To learn more about Michael Carter’s background and work promoting innovation, inclusion, and diversity, click . You can use the following links to read up on RBC’s , and efforts to promote .

The Business of Benevolence: How Technology is Changing Charitable Giving in Canada

Season 2 · Episode 32

Tuesday, January 26, 2021 • Duration 35:48

It’s something that’s always been a part of the Canadian identity, but has taken on a new urgency over the past twelve months: our tendency to support charities, non-profits, and community organizations. In 2018, Canada’s charitable sector was the second largest on the planet, and we also had one of the highest rates of volunteerism in the world, trailing only the United States, New Zealand, and Norway. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC Podcast, host John Stackhouse is joined by Kelly Schmitt, the incoming CEO of Benevity, in her first major interview since being announced as the next head of the Calgary-based company that’s trying to “infuse a culture of goodness into the world”. Together, John and Kelly dig into the challenges charities have been facing — both before and during the pandemic — and how the digital pivots many groups had to pull off almost overnight could signal a fundamental change to the way organizations raise funds in the future.

This podcast also features appearances from Todd Minerson, Country Director, Canada, at Movember, Eric Windeler, the Founder and Executive Director of Jack.org, and Luc Hartwick, the Rocketman Team Lead at RBC Ventures. Together, they challenge some of the conventional wisdom about the way charities do their important work, and provide invaluable insight into how nonprofits must evolve their operations and their thinking to thrive in the years ahead.

Notes:

You can click the following links to learn more about Benevity and its journey to ‘unicorn’ status. For details on the charities featured in this episode and the work they’re doing in our communities, visit Movember.com and Jack.org. For more on how RBC Ventures partners with entrepreneurs and industry leaders to create products and services that go beyond banking, visit . In this podcast, John also refers to a previous Disruptors episode about gaming and esports, featuring a segment on the , which you can find .

2021, Year of the Gamer: How Video Game Culture is Conquering Canada and the World

Season 2 · Episode 31

Tuesday, January 12, 2021 • Duration 37:22

Did anyone in your household wake up to find a new video game, virtual reality headset, or console under the tree over the holidays? Do your kids spend hours on end online, watching their favourite gamers on Twitch, Tik-Tok, or YouTube? Is your business struggling to connect with young people, those elusive members of Gen-Z who don’t watch TV, listen to radio, or read newspapers? If your answer to any of those questions is ‘yes’, this podcast is definitely for you.

On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, it’s ‘game on’, as host John Stackhouse dives into what are likely unfamiliar waters for most people over a certain age; the world of gaming, influencers, and esports. It’s projected to become a $300 billion dollar business over the next decade, and as John hears from his main guest, Adrian Montgomery, the CEO of Toronto’s Enthusiast Gaming, a staggering percentage of young people now consider it a key component of their very identities. Add it all up, and you’ll learn why gaming has become a critical conduit for reaching and engaging with that increasingly influential demographic in 2021, as Canada struggles to recover from the pandemic.

John and Adrian will also hear from other organizations on the front lines of this disruption: Josh Marcus, the co-founder of Rumble Gaming and MKM Esports; Kevin Truong, the Head of Esports & Gaming at the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation; and Tawanda Masawi, the CEO & co-founder of GameSeta eSports. Over the course of the conversation, they touch on a surprisingly broad range of topics, including the U.S. Presidential Race, how esports could supplant traditional sports, and even Sidney Crosby’s golden goal for Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics.

Notes:

You can click the following links to learn more about the companies and organizations mentioned in this episode: Enthusiast Gaming, Rumble Gaming, GameSeta Esports, and the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation’s . The latest numbers on video game spending in Canada can be found . For further reading, we recommend , from RBC Direct Investing, and , a previous Disruptors piece from December of 2017.

Pandemics, Pivots, and Predictions: Looking Back on 2020 and Ahead to 2021

Season 2 · Episode 30

Tuesday, December 15, 2020 • Duration 37:48

Extraordinary. Unprecedented. Devastating. There’s no shortage of words that have been used to describe everything Canadians have endured over the past 12 months. COVID-19 has fundamentally disrupted our daily lives to such a degree that -- even though a vaccine is now being rolled out -- the ripple effects will be felt for years to come. But what will this “new normal” look like for businesses? Which changes will stick around, and which ones will disappear along with the pandemic? And how will the needs of consumers continue to evolve as we turn another page on our calendars?

On this special, year-end episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse welcomes back a voice that’s sure to be familiar to regular listeners; Theresa Do from RBC’s Thought Leadership Team. Together, they talk to a series of business leaders from across the country who’ve had to pivot their operations in dramatic and unexpected ways over the past year. They also delve into RBC’s world-class research to find out what these changes could signal about what’s coming our way in 2021.

This episode also features appearances from Soslan Tsoutsiev, the President of Transformer Table; Brandon Grossutti, the founder of FromTo; Andrew Feenstra, the owner of Cyclesmith; Alisha Esmail, the founder of Road Coffee Company; and Lisa Helps, the Mayor of Victoria, British Columbia. But listen until the very end and it’s Antoni Cimolino, the Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival of Canada, who will leave you feeling inspired and maybe even moved, with a poignant anecdote about the resilience of live theatre in times of pandemic.

Notes:

The following organizations are featured on this podcast: The Stratford Festival of Canada, Transformer Table, Road Coffee Company, FromTo, and Cyclesmith. You can learn more about the ’s pandemic recovery plan . Click the following links to read the full RBC reports on ‘’ and ‘. You can find more world-class research on RBC’s page. These previous episodes of Disruptors were also mentioned in this podcast: “,” “,” and “”.

Impersonal Information: Data and Privacy Protection in 2020 and Beyond

Season 2 · Episode 29

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 • Duration 35:37

What do digital privacy and COVID-19 have in common with climate change, Kompromat, counter-espionage hackers, and the new Netflix movie “The Social Dilemma”? They’re just a few of the many topics that come up in a timely and compelling conversation with Canada’s so-called “Hacker King”, on the latest episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast.

On the heels of new federal privacy legislation, host John Stackhouse sits down with Ron Deibert, founder of the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, and author of Reset: Reclaiming the Internet for Civil Society. They discuss how, in an era of record-breaking data generation and high profile digital security breaches, Canadian businesses can learn to access the potential of data and manage the risks by taking a wide-angled, interdisciplinary approach.

Featuring a guest appearance from Kevin Chan, Facebook Canada’s Head of Public Policy, this episode is essential listening for anyone concerned about the lack of strong protocols governing the collection of our online data. The concern is well-founded. But be sure to listen through to the end, because as you’ll hear from Ron, there are still reasons for optimism.

Notes:

You can learn more about the Citizen Lab’s work at the University of Toronto HERE, or on Ron Deibert’s personal website. The latest numbers about the impact of cybersecurity incidents on businesses can be found on Statistics Canada’s website or in the Canadian Centre for Cybersecurity’s National Cyber Threat Assessment 2020. Kevin Chan recently co-wrote an editorial about social media regulation that was published in the , and you can hear him on a previous episode of Disruptors about the . John also refers to a previous episode about the from November 24th when he mentioned Canadian IP leaving the country.

The Intangibles Economy: How to Make Canada an IP Powerhouse

Season 2 · Episode 28

Tuesday, November 24, 2020 • Duration 32:26

It’s a term that’s been front and centre this fall, as the federal government considers ways to shepherd Canada out of the economic downturn caused by COVID: intellectual property. But what exactly is IP -- and how could it be central to the recovery?

On this episode of Disruptors, an RBC podcast, host John Stackhouse sits down for a no-holds-barred conversation with one of Canada’s most outspoken tech and innovation advocates: Jim Balsillie, a businessman, philanthropist, former co-CEO of Research in Motion, and Chair of Council of Canadian Innovators. Balsillie believes there’s simply too much at stake to continue the Canada’s current approach to innovation, which he says has allowed foreign companies to cannibalize our businesses, pulling the benefits of IP research and development out of the country. Balsillie believes we’re at a pivotal moment, in which our economic prosperity, digital sovereignty, even our national security, could be impacted for years to come.

Over the course of the conversation, Jim and John will also hear from CCI’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, Dana O’Born, and from a Canadian business leader who has successfully leveraged IP to grow his company. Jason Tham, the CEO of Nulogy will touch on the lessons he learned and discuss what needs to be done differently if Canada is indeed to become an IP powerhouse.

Notes:

Click the following links to learn more about the Canadian Council of Innovators, its recent open letter to the Prime Minister about nation building, and its plan for economic recovery. To read the Government of Canada’s National IP Strategy, click HERE. Jim Balsillie’s call for a national data strategy made headlines in the Financial Post and back in 2018.For more information about the businesses mentioned in this episode, visit and . If you enjoyed this conversation, you may also want to listen to these previous Disruptors episodes: , and .

Disruptors – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

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Disruptors – Details, episodes & analysis

Podcast details

Recent rankings

Apple Podcasts

Shared links between episodes and podcasts

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Latest published episodes

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