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In this episode of Canada Now, I’m joined by Matias Marquez, founder and CEO of ethos — a modern loyalty and membership platform helping brands move beyond transactional points and discounts toward something far more powerful: community, participation, and real customer connection.

Built for Shopify merchants and modern e-commerce brands, ethos is part of a new wave of tools helping online retailers turn customers into engaged communities — not just repeat buyers.

Matias previously founded Buyatab, a global digital gift card company acquired in 2019, and he’s now deep into his second act — building tools that help brands create loyalty programs that feel more like belonging than marketing.

We talk about how loyalty is evolving into a true customer engagement operating system, why user-generated content and experience-led memberships are becoming core growth levers, and how the best brands are turning loyalty into more than retention — even into a channel for new customer acquisition.

We also zoom out to the Canadian founder landscape: what it feels like to build from Canada right now, the headwinds entrepreneurs are facing, and why sustainable, community-led growth may be one of Canada’s greatest strengths.

If you’re building a brand, running an e-commerce business, or thinking about the future of customer relationships — this one’s for you.

In this episode, we cover:

• Loyalty beyond points: building brands people belong to
• Community-led customer engagement and modern membership strategy
• UGC, authenticity, and why real content outperforms traditional ads
• Loyalty as acquisition — not just retention
• Access, experiences, and the future of brand community
• How Shopify brands are using loyalty and memberships to drive growth
• Founder lessons from a second-time entrepreneur
• Building and scaling from Canada with a global mindset

Episode feature article and show notes coming very soon (subscribe to https://canadanow.beehiiv.com for updates).

Find Matias and Ethos:
https://linkedin.com/in/matiaspmarquez
https://heyethos.com

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Send a text to Canada Now! 💬

We’re living through a moment of real uncertainty — geopolitically, economically, and technologically. The old playbooks are breaking down. The rules are shifting. And leaders are being asked to make high-stakes decisions without a clear map.

In this episode, I sit down with veteran executive and board leader Darlene Hyde to explore how governance, leadership, and decision-making must evolve in times of disruption.

Drawing on decades of experience across major institutions and sectors — including housing, finance, transit, telecommunications, and public interest governance — Darlene shares practical insight on how boards and executives can move beyond traditional oversight toward foresight and insight.

We discuss:

• Why today’s leaders must “read the world,” not just the room
• Governance in a period of geopolitical and economic rupture
• How boards should think about risk when uncertainty is the baseline
• Why silence and over-compliance can create hidden danger
• The growing importance of diverse and non-homogeneous boards
• Speaking up at the board table — especially for newer directors
• Technology and AI literacy as a shared responsibility — not a specialist silo
• Calculated risk vs. inaction risk
• Housing, infrastructure, and transit as long-term economic multipliers
• Where Darlene sees opportunity — and why she remains optimistic about the next generation of leaders

This is a timely, big-picture conversation about leadership under pressure — and how organizations can stay principled, pragmatic, and forward-looking when the environment is shifting fast.

Connect with Darlene Hyde on LinkedIn (link in show notes — will be posted soon).

If you value thoughtful, future-focused conversations about leadership and decision-making, follow and share the show.

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Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
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Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)

Send a text to Canada Now! 💬

Podcasting has changed — but it hasn’t lost its power.

In this episode of Canada Now, I’m joined by Brayden Dyczkowski, founder of Podfather Creative and the producer behind the studio where this show is recorded, for a behind-the-scenes conversation about the podcast medium itself.

We explore how businesses are actually using podcasts in 2026 — what’s working, what’s changed, and why podcasting continues to deliver real ROI when done with intention. From audio vs. video and discoverability on platforms like YouTube, to networking, thought leadership, and trust-building, this episode pulls back the curtain on what Brayden sees every day working with founders, CEOs, and teams across industries.

We also talk about the rise of professional podcast production, the tools lowering the barrier to entry, and why there’s still plenty of room for new voices — especially in the Canadian business landscape.

Whether you’re thinking about launching a podcast, refining an existing one, or simply curious about where this medium is headed, this episode offers a practical, grounded look at why podcasting still matters.

Episode deep dive & full show notes coming very soon. Subscribe to Canada Now (newsletter) for an update!

Love the show? Help it grow!
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Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
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Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)