The Second Act Podcast

Debra Kasowski had a family, a career and all the other markers of a great life. She had no real urge to look outside of what she knew, until she decided to start sharing her gift...the gift of herself. Now, as an author, podcaster, coach, wife and mother, she spends her time sharing her message with people, helping them make the most of their gifts. An incredible discussion about knowing there is a little more out there and figuring out how to go for it!

Heidi Davis knew she was going to help people. As a recreational therapist, she had the skills to help the people who came to her, but as she realized she had more to offer, she took it to the people around her and she found a whole world that opened up to her.  It’s an incredible chat with someone who is just getting started!

Check her out here

Seth Anderson made some big changes. And he couldn’t stop! After moving from rural Alberta to work in a corporate setting, he continued to follow his calling, leading and mentoring people. Eventually, he shut down the corporate life altogether and dove headfirst into artist development. After hooking up with Blue Willow Entertainment, he’s been able to chase that dream down and it’s been an incredible experience thus far. He joins us again to take us down that road!

Frank King is a 10 time TedX Talk veteran who wrote for Jay Leno and works the cruise ship circuit up to 12 weeks a year, but as he will tell us, suicide is always on the menu. Frank talks about realizing that he lives with chronic suicidal ideation, to go along with his wicked sense of humour, and how he managed to turn a curse and a blessing into a career!  You won’t be disappointed in your choice to join us!

Check him out here

Gideon Foster did what he was supposed to do. He got a job, went to work and pushed on into his mid-40’s. After a spiritual awakening, however, he decided that he needed to pursue his passion for music full time. Now, 10 years in, he has a lot of perspective on what goes into these choices. It's a great chat that has a lot of interesting pieces to it.  It won’t disappoint, please,  join us!

Heather Shtuka is a force of nature.  When her son went missing from a ski town in British Columbia in 2018, the idea that she would stop before getting closure never crossed her mind.  6 years later, her mission hasn’t changed.  She has morphed inti an author, advocate and still, mother looking for answers.  It’s not always easy, but her passion and drive is so inspiring, you have to listen to the whole thing. Please, take the time to join us!

Dr. Natali Mei has lived an incredible life to this point. Incredible success, finding out what didn’t work and managing to earn a doctorate, all while living all over the world! Eastern Europe, the US and now based in Rome Italy, Natali talks about putting the effort in when she knew she wasn’t on the right path.  She now helps people manage the same addiction demons that ravaged her life and she is here to tell us how she keeps her train moving forward! Join us!

Eric Alper is a music biz lifer. You name them, he’s worked with them. He’s seen the industry go from cassettes and CD’s to fully online. He’s watched people rise and he’s watched them fall, and in his own words “No one knows anything!”  His look at the only industry he’s ever known is raw and unfiltered, but that’s the way you like it!  It’s an incredible chat with a guest we can only hope to bring! Join us!

Check him out here

Trev Leota has seen it all and done it all in the world of rugby. Championships and success has followed him everywhere he went, but just like everyone else, Father Time eventually caught up to him.  He needed to figure out what he was going to do, he knew he had more to provide the world.  He has found that purpose helping others who aren’t as fortunate as him, and he is just getting started on his Second Act!  Join us!

Check him out here

You know Rob Wells’ work, it’s everywhere. Writing and producing for stars such as Ariana Grande, Nick Lachey, Justin Bieber and Nice Horse, his influence is ubiquitous in the Canadian and world music scene.  But a career in music isn’t a plug and play proposition. We chat with Rob about what goes into the perseverance and determination required to stay on course. Join us!

Jeffrey Eisen has a pretty normal first act. Take over the company business, have success, build it up, take on challenges and overcome them with a lot of determination and a little bit of luck.  Eventually, his body told him it was time for a change and he has found the fulfilment that the life of entrepreneurship was not providing. Join us!

This week we chat with engineer-turned-photographer Mauricio Flores and the conversation couldn’t have been more timely! Growing up in war-torn El Salvador, he knew he wanted to be an engineer, but it wasn’t until he got to Canada that he truly found his passion for creating tools to help others reach their goals. It’s the not the usual “technical-turned-artist” story, but he articulates his passion and reasons so well, you will absolutely understand his point of view! Join us!

This week we have a really interesting guest, someone who has been on the radar for a long time, but she was destined to be episode #123!  Kehly MacDuff has an incredible story of perseverance through a tough upbringing, childhood sexual trauma, becoming a scholarship athlete in Canada and the US and bringing it all back together to be health and wellness coach running her own practice.  No shortage of inspiration with her, and she is honest and direct about all that goes into her incredible journey.  Join us!

Check her out here

Aaron McGeough has already conquered the hospitality industry, with the ongoing success of his bar in Victoria BC, Hecklers.  A comedy club, Aaron realised that he was able to gather data and use it to help the comics that came through to widen their reach and after a little bit of convincing, he was able to make the dream of a second opportunity a reality.  Starting Good Little Robot with a comic pal and his sister, Aaron has started to chase a second dream and he is here to chat about what goes into a swing to make it lucky a second time.  Join us!

Morgan Bosch thought she had it all figured out…until a summer of labour showed her she was just at the beginning!  Instead of going to university to be a teacher, she hit the bricks as a crane operator and has never looked back…only up!!  A great chat with someone who loves what they do, join us to visit with Morgan and what goes into a crane operators life!

Check her out at

Paul Langlois knew that he wasn’t done yet.  But when The Tragically Hip’s career was rocked by Gord Downie’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent passing, it really seemed like it was over.  Bearing down on the prospect of his musical output being curtailed was all he needed to gather up some pals and start playing again, and he was shocked about what came about.  An album of new songs, inspired by his experiences and influenced by his past, Guess What? came out to an uproar.  He certainly wasn't done yet. Check this chat out, I guarantee that if you are a Hip or Paul fan, this is what you need to hear.

Amanda Keeles had success by any measure…except her own.  She knew that all the money in the world couldn’t put the fire inside of her out, so she finally embraced it and doubled down on herself.  Many difficult decisions and countless hours later, it’s all coming together. A new album, a band and a tour, everything she thought she wanted is coming to fruition, and she tells us all about it.  

Richard Kaufman is an incredible storyteller with an equally incredible story. Almost kicked out of the military a second time by 23, he watched 9/11 happen in real time and dedicated himself to service. He has since gone on to write a book, create a podcast that serves as his vocation, as well as creating clothing lines and many other side bar activities that allow him to create the life he wants to live. His enthusiasm is palpable and he truly wants everyone to follow in his footsteps. Join us and take the first one!

Sabrena Morgan has quite a story. Using meth at 13, a full blown addict in her 20's, a mother, realtor, divorcee, clean for chunks of time before ending up with a 9 year federal rap and having to make some real tough choices. Now, out on home confinement, she is telling her story and helping others is her goal. We're here to help!

D Jay McGrath can tell you all about expectations. Moving away at 15 to play hockey, getting drafted to the WHL and coming home to a hero's welcome when anxiety and depression had completely derailed his career. He didn't have anywhere to turn, so he shut himself off to the world, retreating into drugs and alcohol to quiet his inner-monologue. Just over a year ago, he decided to make a change and he is spreading his word all over the youth sports landscape. Being great at one thing doesn't mean you have all the answers, and D Jay is here to talk about that.

Check him out here.

Peter Young met the woman of his dreams. She was smart, athletic, pretty and, most importantly, a woman of faith. Peter just knew that he was going to marry her and live happily ever after. He had no idea that her and her family were under the control of a man who had an incredible grasp on them and wasn't about to let go. A harrowing tale of love, loss and bewilderment, Peter joins us to talk about what he had to endure to extricate himself and his children from a world so bizarre, you have to hear it to believe it. Join us!

This one is a little bit different. Riley Amos is a little bit different.  Engaging, brilliant and a man of the world, Riley has taken roughnecking all over the world and made a story you have to hear to believe.  Running an energy company, drilling contractor, managing projects all over the world, and he still has time for shows like ours.  This one won’t be for everyone, but the people who know…will love it.

Rob Schremp is a name lots of hockey fans will recognize, even if they don’t place him.  He was a highly touted first round pick of the Edmonton Oilers who, after working his way through the league, has found an incredible purpose spreading the game around the world.  Currently in Hong Kong developing the Chinese program for the world stage, Rob comes on and is honest and gracious about his journey, what he learned and what he hopes to pass along. Join us!

Sonny Von Cleveland’s story is almost too much to believe.  Convicted of a felony at age 7? Check!  5 years in solitary confinement? Check! His brother moving in with the mother of his son and taking over every responsibility in that situation whil ehe was in jail?  Check!   An incredible tale of spinning out before catching traction and what he had to do to end up on the road he is on now! Join us!

Stand up comedy isn't easy. It's a long slog though places most of us have never heard of and the best you can hope for is enough to go to the next club tomorrow. Kevin Banner has lived that life and managed to succeed and thrive due to his resilience and determination. A chat with a comic who just released his second special, this is a fun chat and hopefully you get a look at what goes into the work of making people laugh!

You know who Gene Principe is. Yeah you do. He's the guy with the puns and the costumes that has been hosting Edmonton Oiler games on Rogers Sportsnet for 20+ years. He is a regular guy, with a killer job and he joins us to give us a behind the scenes look at what the changes in sports journalism have shown him over the years. Honest and gracious, Gene is exactly like you think he is. Join us!

Check him out here.

Mike Toffan made a career in forestry and once he understood what about that choice he was passionate about, he put something unbelievable in motion. His Project Forest initiative is an incredible undertaking that aims to re-forest areas that don't receive the attention they deserve. He uses industry leading people, techniques and technology to reintroduce "forever forests" all over Western Canada. A passionate advocate, you can hear it in his voice; this what he loves to do. Join us for great look into that life!

Check him out here.

Kevin McNee is making his second appearance on the pod, and much has changed! Having laid out his plans in his previous appearance, Kevin joins us to talk about what putting those plans in motion looks like in real life.  Honest and gracious, Kevin has a great story and his outlook is compelling! Join us!

Check him out here.

You know Dick Frost, but you might not know he has a podcast! He asked me to participate in an early episode while he was working the bugs out and we’ve dropped it here! He does a free flowing conversation style and the hour and a bit flew by!  

Mint Cleaning Products is the brainchild of 2 ladies on Vancouver Island who knew there had to be a better way to clean.  They started a cleaning company after having their families and after a couple of scary close calls with adverse health effects, they set out to find a safer way to clean.  Little did they know, their personalities would be able to shine so bright as they learned to market and see their wares, creating a runaway success story! 

Most people would think that hitting the big time as the bassist with the Strumbellas would be enough to keep Darryl James busy, but most people would be mistaken! Darryl talks about wanting to flex his own creative muscle and take some leaps of faith on his own.  He is an incredible musician who didn’t start playing professionally until he was 30, but it’s never too late to live your dream!  Join us for a discussion about exactly what he’s up to now that he has some time on his own!

Guy Felicella is a father, a husband, a son, a recovering addict and a harm reduction advocate based out of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia.  Guy’s mission is to help as many people as he can get out of the churn of addiction and start on a productive path in their life. His story is one of numerous false starts and redemption, culminating in using his voice to shine a light on something a lot of people think they understand.  Take an hour to listen and see what you can learn.

Desiree Dorion has an incredible story to tell, and the gifts to tell it! As a young girl growing up in Manitoba she knew she wanted to entertain and perform.  Long bus rides for weekend recording sessions led to a passion for making music that eventually took over! As a lawyer and mother, she knew she still needed to scratch that itch, so in 2020 when the rest of the world was forced to change, Desiree chose to! Check out her story!

Jennie Ketcham has a very unique story to this point in her life.  Today, she is a mother, a wife, a psychotherapist and an addiction survivor.  In previous iterations of her life, she has been addicted to drugs, sex and also performed in the pornography industry for 9+ years.  You can look her up, it’s all there to see, but that brings Jennie a special outlook on her path to this point.  She is not ashamed of anything, and the frankness and awareness she treats her story is an example we could all be so fortunate to enjoy.  This is an incredible chat with a woman who has done so much more than her years on this earth belie.  Please join us on a really raw chat about what goes into a life!

Charles Scott is an executive mentor, adventure writer and, as we learn, a father who wanted to leave a legacy for his kids.  So, he quit his job in the C-Suite at Intel and started on an adventure that has taken him and his kids around Iceland, across the USA and from one end of Japan to the other.  He shares the drivers behind those choices, what kept him going and what he has learned on the road that wasn’t going to happen in the boardroom.  It’s a fun conversation with an engaging leader who only wants to help others feel as complete as he does!  Check it out!

Andrea Horvath knew that the coveted CPA job with the big corporation wasn’t going to be it for her.  She knew that her life wasn’t going to be distilled down to the limits they have to impose on you in a setting like that.  But, it wasn’t until they sanctioned her to not come back tomorrow (or ever!) that she spread her wings and looked for what was next.  Hiring a coach and setting out to help others full time resulted in her finding fulfilment and purpose and she is passionate about getting other people on the same path.  Join us for a discussion about figuring out what you’re here for and chasing it down! 

The Crash Test Dummies are an iconic Canadian rock band whose initial climb to the top of the heap in the ‘90’s resulted in many hits and even more sold out performances.  Like any group of individuals, eventually they wanted other things and went their separate ways…until now!  Always a live draw, they have regrouped to start to create new music and baritone-voiced leader Brad Roberts joins us on this, our 100th episode, to chat about the results!  Releasing “Sacred Alphabet” in March, showed a new side of their creative process, illustrating a style of writing known as Couterpoint.  It’s new, exciting and Brad joins us to talk about it!

Shelley Hoffos has an incredible story of knowing that there was more for her than what she was getting out of life.  She had many challenges, divorce, COVID, businesses not working out and a near-death experience, but she persevered and kept fighting until she managed to find her sweet spot! Now, she owns a thriving business and is making waves in the wellness industry, all while helping others understand what they need to do to have the same success!  Join us for a great chat about getting out what you put in…eventually!

Derek Hill is the co-founder of Calgary-based men’s support group Menzleague.  If that name sounds familiar, it’s because it should be! Derek and his co-founder Fabian Warner (Episode #49) have built Menzleague into a premier men’s group in a city that lacked those types of resources.  But, never one to rest on his laurels, Derek has added a bunch of services and offerings to the Menzleague fold and he joins us today to chat about the process!  

Check Derek out here!

Jeromy Farkas has had a unique ride to this point.  One of the youngest city councillors in Calgary history, a great run to the mayor's office that came up a bit short and moving on to serve the community in a whole new way.  He hiked 4,280km on the Pacific Crest Trail, tackled 25 peaks in 25 days this winter and has a trip across Canada in the works, and he still found time to sit with us and chat! Check it out!

Check Jeromy out here!

Every once in a while you meet someone who you just know is worth sitting down and chatting with. Martin Belanger was that guy for me.  Meeting him through work, but knowing that his story was far more that just work, we chatted about him appearing on the show and we finally made it happen!  Check out a story in the energy industry that you may not have heard before…I hadn’t!

Check Marty  out here!

Everyone is guilty of singing along when no one is watching, but getting up in front of the group and belting it out is where the true release lies! Drew Gregory spent years singing along to all the records in his parent’s collection before finally getting out and doing it for himself and Lord has he done it now! Singles, albums, tours, marathon writing sessions all over North America, Drew is all in on music, farming and raising a family! Join us for a chat about what goes into making all 3 of those thing co-exist. Check it out!

Rakhi Pancholi is a mother, a wife, a daughter and a sitting NDP MLA in the hallowed Edmonton-Whitemud riding.  She is a politician by profession but she doesn’t identify with the politics that people want to use to define her.  An interesting story about seeing the world on her way to being a lawyer leads her to wanting to make a difference, wanting to help people see that she is more than an orange seat in a complex ecosystem.  Join us while we chat and you learn a little bit about someone you may have thought you know all about!

Photo credit: The Alberta NDP