In this episode of Not So Avg, Kealen Bailey takes us through a career path that’s anything but traditional. Starting as an interior designer and competitive equestrian, evolving into a Muay Thai fighter, and now leading the charge at Rumble Boxing as VP of Training & Development, while also growing PRML as a managing partner.

This episode dives into how Kealen has become a culture architect. Building powerful, people-first environments that blend discipline, fun, and purpose.

🏋️‍♀️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

🔄 How reinvention shaped her personal and professional journey

🥊 The foundations of Rumble Boxing’s dynamic team culture🌍 Scaling with intention and keeping community at the core

⚡ What it means to lead through connection, energy, and example

💬 Her honest take on persistence, pressure, and personal growth

Whether you're building a team, a brand, or yourself, Kealen's story reminds us that Not So Avg success is rooted in authenticity, adaptability, and showing up with heart.

🎧 Tune in and find out what happens when intensity meets intention.

Show Notes:

Kealen Bailey Instagram - kealanb

Rumble Boxing Instagram - rumbleboxing

https://rumbleboxing.com/PRML Instagram - prml_social

https://www.prmlsocial.com/

In this episode of Not So Avg, Danijel Slisko opens up about what it really looks like to build, fail, and build again. Sharing the highs, lows, and hard-won lessons from founding six companies across multiple industries.

Raised in an entrepreneurial household, Danijel reflects on how his father’s influence shaped his mindset early on, from financial literacy to calculated risk-taking. But this episode goes beyond business. It’s a conversation about resilience, relationships, and following what feels natural.

💬 What You’ll Hear in This Episode:

💡 The early ventures that sparked Danijel’s entrepreneurial path

📉 Knowing when to let go in business

💬 Why resilience is the real currency of entrepreneurship

🏡 The role family, friendships, and community play in staying grounded

👨‍👧 The values he’s now passing on

Danijel’s journey reminds us that success isn’t a single destination, it’s the compounding result of experience, support, and staying in the game when things get hard.

Show Notes:

Where to find Danijel:

• Personal Site - https://danijelslisko.com/

• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danijel-sli%C5%A1ko-1639a61b/

Referenced in this Episode:

The REAL Secret to Success video https://youtu.be/M7dUIXEzPfg

Strategies for Life Success – John Spence’s Workbook https://johnspence.mybigcommerce.com/strategies-for-life-success-workbook-pdf/

🎧 Listen now and get inspired by the long view of what it means to build a Not So Avg life.

In this solo episode of Not So Avg, we get real about something too many of us face but rarely talk about—burnout. Recognized by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon, burnout is no longer just a buzzword. It’s a reality for healthcare workers, tech professionals, creatives, and especially young people navigating high-pressure careers.

Drawing from my own experience in the tech world and beyond, we open up about what burnout looked and felt like —and how it nearly broke everything that was built. More importantly, we shares the six strategies that helped me pull back, reset, and rebuild:

🛑 Set boundaries that protect your energy

😴 Make rest non-negotiable

💪 Return to the basics of physical and mental health

📦 Reframe how you think about productivity

🤝 Strengthen your social circles

🎯 Reconnect with your why

This is not a glorified story of hustle—it’s a real conversation about the cost of ignoring your limits, and how to start doing things differently.

🎧 Listen now if you’ve been running on empty and need a new way forward.

From varsity basketball courts to building brands across North America, Cameo Hanlon has never been afraid to go full tilt into her next chapter. In this episode of Not So Avg, she shares how the same mindset that fueled her in sport - resilience, discipline, and a healthy dose of stubbornness became the foundation for her life in entrepreneurship.

She takes us behind the scenes of Best Marketing Co., her creative agency built from scratch, and the creation of Bender Extender, a hangover supplement brand with personality. But this conversation is about more than business. It’s about the real work of choosing your own path, navigating the tension between ambition and lifestyle, and figuring it out one decision at a time.

What you’ll hear isn’t a polished highlight reel, it’s an honest reflection on:

🧠 The mindset shift from athlete to entrepreneur

🥴 What no one tells you about launching a supplement brand

🌵 Starting over in Arizona and finding rhythm across borders

📉 What to do when the plan changes

💬 The gap between what people see online and what’s really going on

If you’ve ever chased big goals, hit walls, or questioned if you’re doing it right, this one’s for you.

🎧 Tune in now and hear what it really takes to build bold when no one hands you the playbook.

In this episode of Not So Avg, Jordana Armstrong unpacks what it really means to drive social innovation—and why it’s critical for solving global challenges like climate change, inequality, and migration.

With experience spanning from Innovate Calgary to advisory roles in Maryland and D.C., Jordana brings a sharp, purpose-driven perspective on how community-led, integrated solutions can fuel real, lasting change.

💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:🌍 Why social innovation is the key to sustainable impact🏗️ How startup ecosystems and universities can better support changemakers🤝 The importance of diverse voices in economic development🔑 Jordana’s approach to leadership, mentorship, and defining success📈 The realities of navigating innovation across sectors and system.

This conversation is packed with insight for anyone building with purpose, leading with intention, or trying to create impact beyond the bottom line.

🎧 Listen now and explore what it means to innovate with heart and vision

In this episode of Not So Avg, master chocolatier Bernard Callebaut shares the highs, lows, and lessons from a lifetime in the chocolate industry. With family roots in chocolate dating back to 1911 in Belgium, Bernard built a thriving business in Calgary, only to lose it and rebuild not once, but twice.

Through hardship and reinvention, Bernard’s story is a powerful example of resilience, craftsmanship, and passion.

🍫 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🌱 What makes high-quality chocolate. From cocoa bean to final product.

🤝 The importance of ethical sourcing, organic ingredients, and fair-trade practices.

🔥 How to bounce back from major business losses and start again. 🏗 The role of community, values, and reinvention in long-term success.

💡 Why curiosity and continuous learning fuel lasting creativity.

Now at the helm of Master Chocolat, Bernard is still pushing boundaries with handcrafted, small-batch chocolate rooted in quality and care. His journey proves that even after setbacks, it’s possible to rebuild something meaningful. Maybe even sweeter than before.

🎧 Listen now and discover what it takes to stay Not So Avg in business and life.

Where to find Bernard Callebaut:

https://www.masterchocolat.com/

In this episode of Not So Avg, Nicholas Beique, founder of Helcim, shares the journey behind one of Calgary’s standout FinTech companies. Built with the mission to level the playing field for small businesses, Helcim is redefining what it means to compete with giants by giving business owners access to powerful, transparent payments technology.

From coding websites as a teen to leading a company that’s reshaping commerce, Nicholas opens up about the real challenges and lessons that come with building something meaningful.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🚀 The early days of Helcim and how it grew from idea to impact

🌎 Why Nicholas believes Canada can be a global tech leader by 2050

🏗 How to scale a company while protecting its culture and core values

💰 Thoughts on venture capital, sustainable growth, and staying mission-aligned

⚖️ The balance between ambition, leadership, and personal life

This is a conversation for builders, dreamers, and anyone bold enough to believe that small businesses deserve big opportunities.

🎧 Listen now and get inspired by the vision behind Helcim.

Books Referenced:

No Rules - Reed Hastings

Powerful - Patty McCord

The Innovator's Dilemma - Clayton M. Christensen

The Four Burners Theory:

https://jamesclear.com/four-burners-theory

The Innovator’s Dilemma:

https://duartem.medium.com/summary-of-the-innovators-dilemma-b2118bca8354

In this milestone episode of Not So Avg, we reflect on the biggest lessons from the first 20 episodes of the show. What started as a way to highlight the uncommon paths to success has turned into a powerful archive of real stories from everyday people doing extraordinary things.

From Olympians and CEOs to pilots, mentors, and creatives, this episode unpacks the most impactful themes that have emerged so far:

🔥 Redefining success on your own terms

💡 The power of passion and reinvention

🤝 Why community, reflection, and purpose matter

⚖️ Finding intentional balance and leading through service

This episode shares insights from past guests like Ray DePaul, Haley Daniels, Michael Sydoryk, and Mandy Balak, all of whom embody what it means to live a Not So Avg life.

This episode is both a look back and a launchpad for what’s ahead. More bold stories, more unconventional journeys, and more reminders that success is never one-size-fits-all.

🎧 Tune in and hear what these 20 voices have taught us so far.