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  • Lessons From What To Make Of A Life by Jim Collins

    Lessons From What To Make Of A Life by Jim Collins
    2026/08/27
    If you’ve listened to the podcast lately, you’ve probably heard us mention What to Make of a Life by Jim Collins.We’ve talked about this book A LOT. Or, more accurately, Greg has talked about this book a lot. So we figured it was finally time to dedicate an episode to it.In this conversation, we unpack three of the biggest ideas from the book: cliffs, fog, and encodings.We start with cliffs. The moments in life that change the direction you were heading. A career change, a loss, retirement, a move, or something completely unexpected. Some cliffs we see coming and others we don’t, but they create a before and after in our lives.Then comes fog. That uncertain period after a cliff when the life you knew has changed, but you haven’t quite figured out what comes next. We talk about why fog is a natural part of change and why some periods of it last much longer than others.But the idea we spend the most time on is encodings.Collins describes encodings as the unique combination of natural gifts, capabilities, and attributes we’re each born with. When the way we’re living allows us to use those encodings, we’re “in frame.” We feel energized, engaged, and more like ourselves. When we spend too much of our lives outside of them, we can start to languish.We also get into:why being good at something doesn’t necessarily mean you’re encoded for itwhy your encodings can only really be discovered through action and trying new thingswhat it means to be “in frame” versus “out of frame”how the frame around our lives changes, even when our encodings don’tthe idea of “flipping the arrow of money”and how understanding what energizes you can help you build a life with more of itThis isn’t about quitting your job, blowing up your life, or turning everything you love into a career. It’s about understanding yourself a little better and asking whether the life you’re building gives you enough opportunities to use the things that are already inside you.There’s a reason this book keeps finding its way into our conversations.We hope you enjoy this one.EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCESWhat to Make of a Life by Jim CollinsJim Collins — Official WebsiteDesigning Your Life by Bill Burnett & Dave Evans“There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing” by Adam GrantWe’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    34 分
  • Luke Anderson on Mountain Biking, Choice and Building an Accessible World

    Luke Anderson on Mountain Biking, Choice and Building an Accessible World
    2026/08/13

    Long before he was the co-founder of StopGap, Luke Anderson was the guy at Boyd Sports blasting Nirvana from the back of the shop, the cool older employee at the store owned by Greg’s dad, and someone who inspired a young Greg to get on a mountain bike in the first place.

    This episode is as much a reunion as it is an interview.


    In 2011, that choice helped lead to the creation of StopGap, an organization that builds brightly coloured ramps and raises awareness about the importance of accessibility. What started with 13 business owners in Toronto’s Junction neighbourhood has since grown into a movement reaching communities all over Canada.


    This is a conversation about resilience, choice, accessibility, and what can happen when we take the hardest parts of our story and use them to make things better for someone else.


    In this episode, we talk about:

    • Growing up in Stouffville and working at Boyd Sports

    • Studying civil engineering and falling in love with the West Coast

    • The 2002 mountain biking crash that led to Luke’s spinal cord injury

    • Grief, loss, and learning to navigate a very different way of life

    • Hitting literal barriers as a wheelchair user in downtown Toronto

    • Co-founding StopGap with Michael Hopkins in 2011

    • Why accessible design benefits everyone

    • Choosing action over frustration

    • Meeting Rampman, StopGap’s colourful mascot

    • How to get involved with StopGap’s mission


    We laughed, we got emotional, and we walked away with a whole new appreciation for how much of our world still isn’t built with everyone in mind, and how much can happen when one person decides to do something about it.


    EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCES

    StopGap Website

    StopGap on Instagram

    StopGap on Facebook

    StopGap (and Rampman!) on Youtube

    Donate to StopGap

    Luke Anderson on LinkedIn


    We’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us:

    Vienna Waits Website

    Subscribe to Vienna Five Newsletter

    UNBLOCK Yourself™ Program

    Corporate Programming

    Waypoint Retreat

    Vienna Waits on Instagram

    Greg’s LinkedIn

    Whitney’s LinkedIn


    On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.


    You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.

    We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    59 分
  • Nancy Corcoran: Building Whispering Springs and Turning Pain Into Purpose

    Nancy Corcoran: Building Whispering Springs and Turning Pain Into Purpose
    2026/07/30
    Nancy Corcoran has never been afraid to chase an adventure.Years ago, she and her husband John sold their dream home, bought a sailboat, and spent the next twelve years splitting their time between the Bahamas and a 200-acre property in rural Ontario. That property would eventually become Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat, one of Canada's most unique glamping destinations and the place where we now host our annual Waypoint Retreat.But this conversation is about much more than building a beautiful business.Nancy shares the heartbreaking story of her granddaughter, Ayla, who suffered a severe brain injury at birth, forever changing the course of their family's life. Rather than allowing tragedy to define them, Nancy and their family have dedicated themselves to creating hope for other families through Camp Moonlight, the We Love Joy Foundation, and Ask Ayla—the world's first AI companion built from the lived experience of raising a child with cerebral palsy.It's a conversation about adventure, entrepreneurship, grief, resilience, advocacy, and the incredible things that can happen when you choose to turn pain into purpose.In this episode, we discuss:Why Nancy and John sold everything to buy a sailboat and chase adventureThe story behind building Whispering Springs Wilderness RetreatCreating spaces that help people disconnect, reconnect, and slow downWhy entrepreneurs often need to trust intuition more than certaintyThe life-changing birth of Nancy's granddaughter, AylaWhat it's really like for families navigating a birth injury and cerebral palsy diagnosisHow Camp Moonlight is creating community for families raising children with disabilitiesThe We Love Joy Foundation and its mission to spread kindness, empathy, and inclusionThe creation of Ask Ayla, the world's first AI companion built from lived experienceHow AI can transform caregiving and support families around the worldWhy Nancy believes our greatest pain can become our greatest purposeThe importance of creating a more compassionate and inclusive world for children with disabilitiesEnjoy this conversation with Nancy Corcoran. EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCESWhispering Springs Glamping ResortWe Love Joy FoundationAsk Ayla Camp MoonlightBook: I’m Who I’m Meant To BeWaypoint RetreatWe’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.During the conversation, Nancy referenced a statistic that may sound like "1 in 4 births." The correct statistic is 1 in 400 births.
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    50 分
  • Brie Pointer on Joy, Grief & Living in Colour

    Brie Pointer on Joy, Grief & Living in Colour
    2026/07/16
    Brie Pointer is one of those people who lights up every room she walks into.She's an independent designer, illustrator, farmer, and community builder living in the Waterloo Region. She's also one of the most authentically joyful people we've ever met.At first glance, this conversation starts with colour. Why Brie wears it. Why it matters. And why embracing who you truly are can give other people permission to do the same.But as the conversation unfolds, we discover that her colourful spirit wasn't something that came easily.After losing both of her parents less than two years apart, Brie found herself navigating unimaginable grief while raising two young daughters, running a business, farming, and trying to rediscover herself. She shares, with incredible honesty, how she slowly found her way back to joy, why community became more important than ever, and what she's learned about living intentionally when life doesn't go according to plan.Brie has a contagious energy that's impossible not to be drawn to, but what makes her truly remarkable is her ability to hold both joy and grief at the same time. This is a conversation about authenticity, resilience, finding your people, and discovering that sometimes the brightest colours come after the darkest seasons.In this episode, we talk about:Why colour became such an important part of Brie's lifeFinding authenticity in business and personal brandingWhy confidence comes from embracing who you already areThe role community plays in navigating life's hardest seasonsLosing both of her parents in less than two yearsHow grief changed her perspective on relationships and lifeLearning to choose joy again, one small step at a timeWhy vulnerability creates deeper human connectionThe importance of reflection and spending time with yourselfWhat to do when you feel stuck or disconnected from who you areWe laughed, we cried, and we left reminded that life isn't about avoiding the hard seasons. It's about finding the courage to keep showing up, keep loving people well, and maybe even adding a little more colour along the way.This episode is lovingly dedicated to Brie's parents, Brian and Marion (Gail) Pointer, whose love, kindness, and legacy continue to shine through Brie every single day.EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCESBrie Pointer WebsiteBrie Pointer on InstagramWayward Farm WebsiteWayward Farm on InstagramBuy Wayward Roaster CoffeeWayward Roaster on InstagramThe Three WellnessDen 1880We’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    53 分
  • Identity, Recovery & the Long Game with Kyle Ferrigan

    Identity, Recovery & the Long Game with Kyle Ferrigan
    2026/07/02

    Kyle Ferrigan spends his days helping everyone from professional athletes in the NHL, NFL, CFL, and MLS to weekend warriors and active families recover from injury and get back to doing what they love.


    But this conversation goes far beyond physiotherapy.


    We talk about setbacks, identity, resilience, and what happens when life forces you to slow down. Kyle shares the story of failing his national physiotherapy exam shortly after graduation, a setback that felt devastating at the time but ultimately helped shape the career he has today.

    We also explore what he's learned from working with elite athletes, why recovery is often more mental than physical, and the surprising parallels between injury rehabilitation, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.


    Whether you're recovering from an injury, rebuilding after a setback, growing a business, or simply trying to make progress toward a meaningful goal, the lessons are remarkably similar: trust the process, focus on the next step, and play the long game.


    In This Episode We Talk About:

    • The setback that unexpectedly shaped Kyle's career

    • How studying psychology influences the way he approaches rehabilitation

    • Why recovery is often more mental than physical

    • Identity and what happens when something important gets taken away

    • Helping athletes navigate long recoveries and major injuries

    • What elite athletes can teach us about resilience and performance

    • Why the best performers focus on the process, not the outcome

    • The similarities between injury recovery, entrepreneurship, and personal growth

    • Setting short-term goals during long-term challenges

    • Knowing when to push harder and when to pull back

    • Building confidence one small win at a time

    • Why taking a step back can sometimes be the fastest way forward

    • What it means to play the long game in sport, business, and life


    There are a lot of parallels between recovery, business, and life, and Kyle does an incredible job connecting those dots. This episode is packed with goodness. We hope you enjoy the conversation.


    EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCES

    FP Sports Rehab

    Kyle Ferrigan on Instagram


    We’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us:

    Vienna Waits Website

    Subscribe to Vienna Five Newsletter

    UNBLOCK Yourself™ Program

    Corporate Programming

    Waypoint Retreat

    Vienna Waits on Instagram

    Greg’s LinkedIn

    Whitney’s LinkedIn


    On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.

    

    You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.

    We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    48 分
  • Building Big Dreams with Drew & Sarah

    Building Big Dreams with Drew & Sarah
    2026/06/18
    What happens when two ambitious entrepreneurs fall in love, start a family, and build separate businesses at the same time?In this episode, we sit down with Drew and Sarah (Matton) Butterworth to talk about entrepreneurship, marriage, parenthood, intentional living, and pursuing work you love.Drew is the founder of goodvibes juice co., Ontario's fastest-growing cold-pressed juice brands. After leaving a successful corporate sales career, he followed a passion for health and wellness and spent the last decade building a business from the ground up. Along the way, goodvibes juice co. appeared on Dragon's Den and has grown into a nationally recognized brand.Sarah is the founder of 10 Talent Management, one of Canada's leading talent agencies representing performers in film, television, commercials, and theatre. Before becoming an agent, Sarah spent years as a professional dancer and performer, including performing with Drayton Entertainment and working throughout the musical theatre industry.Together, they are raising two young boys while navigating the challenges and rewards of building separate businesses under the same roof.We talk about why neither of them took the traditional path, what it's really like being an entrepreneurial couple, how they balance ambition with family, and the advice they'd give anyone who feels stuck in a career that no longer feels aligned.In This Episode We Talk About:How Sarah and Drew first met (and why Sarah had to track Drew down afterwards)Leaving the security of a corporate career to start a businessBuilding goodvibes juice co. from a single storefront into a growing brandSarah's journey from professional dancer to talent agentWhy passion matters more than chasing a paycheckThe reality of entrepreneurship behind the scenesRaising young children while building businessesThe advantages and challenges of being an entrepreneurial coupleWhy failure is often the fastest path to growthAdvice for anyone feeling stuck in their career or lifeFrom entrepreneurship and marriage to young kids and big dreams, this conversation feels less like an interview and more like sitting down with friends who are figuring it out alongside you. We hope you enjoy it.EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCESConnect with Drewgoodvibes juice co. Websitegoodvibes juice co. Instagramgoodvibes juice co. pitch on Dragon’s DenConnect with Sarah10 Talent Management Website10 Talent Management InstagramWe’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    49 分
  • Dr. Rebecca Sutherns: You’re Probably Not Stuck

    Dr. Rebecca Sutherns: You’re Probably Not Stuck
    2026/06/04
    We chatted with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns: speaker, strategist, facilitator, executive coach, bestselling author, and one of the wisest voices we’ve heard on the topic of navigating change.For more than 25 years, Rebecca has helped leaders and organizations move through uncertainty, transitions, and reinvention. But this conversation goes far beyond business strategy.We talk about parenting, adaptability, identity, ambition, friendships, entrepreneurship, grandparenting, and intentionally designing your life as the seasons change.Rebecca shares why she believes most people are not actually “stuck” (even when it feels like they are), why adaptability is a learnable skill, and how living an interesting life can fundamentally change the way we navigate uncertainty.In this episode, we talk about:• Why people confuse “slow” with “stuck”• The messy reality of life’s in-between seasons• Adaptability as a learnable skill• The 15 elements that make people more adaptable• Why hope is the strongest predictor of adaptability• “Optimize for interesting” and living a more expansive life• The emotional complexity of empty nesting• Values, behaviours, and how we actually make decisions• The tension between meaningful work and family life• Friendship, entrepreneurship, and evolving identity• Why transitions are rarely linear• Building a life by design• How environment shapes energy and creativity• The hidden cost of constant busyness• What Rebecca is currently reimagining in her own lifeOh and we also officially fell in love with the term “Minga and Coach” as grandparent names and may steal them for ourselves one day. :)We hope you enjoy this conversation with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns.EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCESRebecca Sutherns WebsiteRebecca’s Podcast PageRebecca’s BooksRebecca’s “Possibility Packs” Card DecksLearn More About Adaptability Quotient (AQ)Follow Rebecca on LinkedInFollow Rebecca on InstagramWe’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    54 分
  • Ahmed Moneka: From Baghdad to Bobcaygeon

    Ahmed Moneka: From Baghdad to Bobcaygeon
    2026/05/15
    In this unforgettable conversation, we sit down with Ahmed Moneka: Iraqi Canadian actor, musician, playwright, activist, and co writer of the beautiful new musical It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken — an original story set to the timeless music of The Tragically Hip.Ahmed shares his incredible story of growing up in Baghdad and starring as a gay man in a film that was highly controversial in Iraq, which ultimately led to him being exiled from his home country.He takes us through what it was like arriving in Toronto with one suitcase, not speaking English, rebuilding his life from scratch, discovering community, busking on the streets of Toronto, falling in love, and eventually helping create one of the most moving Canadian musicals we’ve ever experienced.This episode is about so much more than theatre or music.It’s about belonging.Identity.Human connection.Art.Resilience.Immigration.Love.Canada.It’s also officially the longest episode we’ve ever released… and we won’t apologize for it. We couldn’t bring ourselves to cut a single minute.If this conversation moves you, please go see It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken. You won’t regret it! In this episode, we talk about:• Ahmed’s childhood growing up in Baghdad, Iraq• The Afro Iraqi and Sufi roots that shaped his music and identity• The controversial film that changed his life forever• Being exiled from Iraq after advocating for LGBTQ rights• Arriving in Canada with one suitcase and no English• Working in coffee shops while rebuilding his life• Discovering community in Toronto (and Kensington Market!)• Busking on the streets of Toronto and forming his band, Moskitto Bar• Falling in love with his wife• The creation of the show: It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken• Why The Tragically Hip matter so deeply to Canadians• The connection between Bobcaygeon, belonging, and identity• Art as activism and storytelling as healing• Why community and human connection matter more than everIf you enjoyed this episode, it would mean the world to us if you followed the podcast, left a rating or review, and shared this episode with someone who needs to hear it.EPISODE LINKS & REFERENCES• Ahmed Moneka’s Website• Follow Ahmed on Instagram• The Musical: It’s a Good Life If You Don’t Weaken• Listen to Ahmed’s music on SpotifyWe’d love to connect with you. Here’s where to find us: Vienna Waits WebsiteSubscribe to Vienna Five NewsletterUNBLOCK Yourself™ ProgramCorporate ProgrammingWaypoint RetreatVienna Waits on InstagramGreg’s LinkedIn Whitney’s LinkedIn On this podcast, we explore what it means to get UNBLOCKED.You’ll hear stories about finding clarity, navigating career pivots, and choosing to live with intention. Sometimes that’s through conversations with guests who made bold moves and changed direction. Other times it’s just the two of us unpacking the books, ideas, and lessons shaping our own journey.We’re not experts looking down from a stage. We’re in it too. Building, questioning, adjusting, and trying to create lives that feel more aligned, more alive, and more intentional.
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    1 時間 29 分