Advertise on podcast: Founder In Progress

In Episode 124, we sit down with Phil Robertson to explore the journey behind building Phil & Sebastian and nearly two decades spent pushing the boundaries of specialty coffee. Phil shares how his engineering mindset shaped his approach to quality, why he refuses to accept industry assumptions at face value, and what years of experimentation taught him about focus and long-term thinking. We also dive into customer empathy, developing great people, navigating the realities of retail, and the partnership principles that have allowed him and Sebastian to build together for decades. This episode is a deep look at what happens when curiosity, patience, and an obsession with getting better become the foundation of a business. LEARN MORE about Phill Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/philandseb/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-robertson-10a48920b/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/phil-&-sebastian-coffee-roasters/ Website - https://philsebastian.com/ FOLLOW US on social media: Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 123 of Founder in Progress, we sit down with Jayson Krause of Level 52 to explore what it really takes to become a better leader. Jayson breaks down why being great at your job doesn’t automatically make you a great leader, the danger of always having the answer, and how strong leaders create space for their teams to grow through challenge, feedback, and discomfort. We also dive into building stronger working relationships, having the conversations most teams avoid, and why leadership starts with self-awareness and personal responsibility. If you’re leading a team or stepping into management, this episode will challenge the way you think about leadership. LEARN MORE about Jayson Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jayson_krause/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-krause/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/level52inc/ Website - https://www.level52.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 122, we sit down with Chase Miller, founder of Impact Applications, a company helping Canadian businesses access the grant funding they need to grow. Chase shares how an unexpected opportunity in the grant space turned into a growing company and why solving a real market need mattered more than starting with the perfect business idea. We dive into the early grind of earning just $900 during the company’s first six months, leaving university only two courses away from graduating, and building a 50/50 partnership with someone whose strengths were completely different from his own. Chase also discusses hiring people with more experience than you, creating systems that allow a company to operate without its founders, dealing with imposter syndrome, and using an athlete’s mindset to remain disciplined through the uncertainty of entrepreneurship. LEARN MORE about Chase Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/chase_miller11/?hl=en - https://www.instagram.com/impact_applications/?hl=en LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasemiller011/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/impact-applications/ Website - https://impactapplications.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 121, we sit down with Amish Morjaria, founder of Forward Level, to explore the 15-year journey of building a company centred around people, culture, and authenticity. Amish shares how getting fired became the unexpected push he needed to bet on himself and start his own business. He explains why entrepreneurs should think in decades rather than years, how hiring the right people allows leaders to escape the day-to-day, and why trust and character matter more than performance alone. We also discuss the challenges of delegation, creating an environment where employees can be themselves, protecting your time through focus, buffer, and recharge days, and recognizing how a leader’s energy affects the entire team. After 15 years in business, Amish has learned that success is not simply about growth or building the biggest company possible. It is about having the freedom to choose how you spend your time, creating space for what matters, and building a business that supports a meaningful life. LEARN MORE about Amish Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/forwardlevel/ - https://www.instagram.com/amishmorjaria/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/amishmorjaria/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-level-inc-/home/ Website - https://www.forwardlevel.com/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 120, we sit down with Jordan, entrepreneur and creator behind the YouTube channel Nomadic Movement, to unpack how getting laid off led to buying a school bus, travelling through Central America, settling in Panama, and eventually building a completely different life. Jordan shares what it was really like building an audience from scratch, surviving the difficult early years, launching a coffee business, opening a café, and learning how to turn an online following into a real company. We also dive into risk, resilience, failure, trusting your intuition, and why you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start. LEARN MORE about Matt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thenomadicmovement/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSCRVmBT1YyuAlCA8c9FJRA Website - https://www.thenomadicmovement.com/ FOLLOW US on social media: Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 119, Matt Widmer, co-founder of Wild Life Distillery, shares how a handshake over whiskey became a successful Rocky Mountain craft spirits brand. Matt discusses building the company alongside a trusted business partner, dividing responsibilities as the business grew, and relying on trust and transparency to overcome difficult moments. He also explains why Wild Life prioritizes character and culture over the perfect résumé when building its team. The conversation explores the importance of leading with integrity, creating a brand that genuinely reflects the founders behind it, and making decisions that build long-term customer trust. Matt also shares why entrepreneurs can learn more from taking action, testing their ideas, and listening to customers than they can from spending months creating the perfect business plan. This episode offers an honest look at partnership, leadership, branding, company culture, and the commitment required to build a lasting business in a competitive industry. LEARN MORE about Matt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wldspirits/ - https://www.instagram.com/wldmatt/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/wldmatt/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wild-life-distillery/ Website - https://wildlifedistillery.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 118, we sit down with Cole Torode, founder of Forward Coffee, at his home and headquarters in Boquete, Panama. Cole shares how a job in a small coffee shop turned into nearly two decades in specialty coffee, international competitions, world championship coaching, and building multiple businesses. He breaks down why he paused Forward Coffee in Canada, took the risk of moving to Panama, and rebuilt the company with a sharper focus and a more efficient business model. We also explore the realities behind direct trade, coffee sourcing, margins, logistics, building trust with producers, and creating better access between farms and roasters. This conversation is about focus, calculated risk, relentless effort, and building a business that supports the life you actually want. LEARN MORE about Cole Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/fwdcoffee/ - https://www.instagram.com/torodeo/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cole-torode/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/forward-specialty-green-coffee-importers/ Website - https://forward.coffee/password FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 117, we sit down with Sabrina Souto to explore belief systems, healing, resilience, and the deeply human side of entrepreneurship. Sabrina shares her journey from overcoming extreme shyness and studying Chinese medicine to building a career helping patients understand the connection between the heart, mind, and body. She explains why stress may not be the real problem, how limiting beliefs can affect our physical health, and why moving forward often matters more than continually revisiting the past. She also opens up about her family’s experience with infertility, losing her mother to cancer, and how that journey inspired the creation of POM MD. Sabrina discusses bringing the company to Dragons’ Den, navigating difficult feedback, finding the right mentors, and building a business rooted in integrity and genuine human connection. This is a powerful conversation about healing, self-awareness, entrepreneurship, and what it truly means to live a successful life. LEARN MORE about Sabrina Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pomme.md - https://www.instagram.com/learnwithsabrinasouto/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-souto/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/pomme-md/ Website - https://www.pommemd.com/ FOLLOW US on social media: Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 116, we sit down with Louis-Julien Roy of Mountain Exposure to discuss his journey from ice climbing and mountain guiding to building and scaling a successful business in the outdoor industry. Louis-Julien shares lessons on bootstrapping, hiring the right people, building employee ownership, relationship-based selling, and playing the long game in business. We also discuss productivity, storytelling, leadership, AI, and why strong relationships remain one of the biggest competitive advantages in business. This episode is about patience, people, and building something that lasts. LEARN MORE about Louis-Julien Roy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mountainexposure LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-julien-roy-575b9538/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mountain-exposure/ Website - https://www.mountainx.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 115, Taylor Ekrebe shares her powerful journey from working at Wells Fargo in Philadelphia to becoming a business owner and entrepreneur in Edmonton, Alberta. Taylor opens up about the health scare that changed the way she viewed work, life, and purpose. After moving to Canada and struggling to find traditional employment, she created her own opportunity by building a business focused on supporting CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs. In this episode, Taylor talks about knowing your value, setting boundaries, value-based pricing, delegation, building systems, working with her husband, and why empathy is one of the most important skills in business. She also shares how Edmonton’s entrepreneurial community helped her grow, and why success, for her, is about making people’s lives easier and showing love through her work. This is a conversation about resilience, entrepreneurship, balance, and building a business that supports the life you actually want to live.\ LEARN MORE about Taylor Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/taylor_fromvirtualeasebysimone/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylorekrebe/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtualeasebysimoneinc/ Website - https://www.virtualeasebysimone.com/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In episode 113, we sit down with Matt Aubin, who has been running Keen Creative for over two decades, to talk about his journey as a creative entrepreneur, business owner, advisor, and community builder. Matt shares how his early days as a photographer shaped the way he sees business, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving. He also opens up about building culture, learning from failure, knowing when to close a business, and why entrepreneurs need strong communities around them. We also dive into Matt’s work with Climbing for Change, a nonprofit built around doing hard things, raising money for local charities, and showing people what they are capable of. From exit planning to leadership, imposter syndrome, and the lessons that come with entrepreneurship, this conversation is full of honest insight for anyone building something meaningful. LEARN MORE about Matt Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/keencreative/ - https://www.instagram.com/matt.aubin/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattaubin/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/keen-creative/ Website - https://keencreative.com/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

Episode 113 features Kristyn Carriere, founder of Seven Summit Snacks, a chocolate brand built for adventure, endurance, and everyday fuel. In this episode, Kristyn shares her journey from professional figure skating with Disney on Ice, to working in chocolate science at Cadbury, to launching her own CPG brand after a life-changing moment. She opens up about building Seven Summit Snacks from the ground up, navigating manufacturing challenges, growing a loyal community, and redefining chocolate as fuel for athletes, adventurers, and anyone chasing something bigger. We also dive into the realities of entrepreneurship, working with family, expanding into new markets, and why word-of-mouth and community are still some of the most powerful tools a brand can have. If you’re a founder, athlete, or someone building through uncertainty, this conversation is full of honest lessons on resilience, product-market fit, and staying committed to the vision. LEARN MORE about Kristyn Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/7summitssnacks/ - https://www.instagram.com/xtynspix/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyncarriere/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/seven-summits-snacks/ Website - https://sevensummitssnacks.com/?view=abconvert-index-r07shVnb&_abr=1 FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In Episode 112, we sit down with Charles Wong, a Harvard graduate and founder of CarePros, to unpack how a side hustle built around culturally competent home care grew into a purpose-led care organization serving vulnerable children, youth, adults, and families across Alberta. Charles shares the personal experience that sparked the business, the challenges of scaling in the care industry, and why culture, trust, and outcomes have to be built into care from day one. We also talk about Indigenous youth, trauma-informed support, building the right team, and what it really takes to grow a company without losing sight of the mission. This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and a powerful look at what happens when entrepreneurship is driven by purpose, people, and long-term impact. LEARN MORE about Charles Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/charles.wong89/ - https://www.instagram.com/careprosab/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-wong-icd-d-58ba4522/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/careprosab/ Website - https://carepros.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

In episode 111, we sit down with Garvin, a serial entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience building, buying, growing, and exiting businesses. Garvin shares the real side of entrepreneurship — starting with almost nothing, living lean in the early days, surviving “sky is falling” moments, losing a customer that represented 90% of revenue, and learning when it’s time to keep pushing versus when it’s time to walk away. We also dive into the lessons that only come from years in the game: choosing the right business partners, knowing your numbers, leading through pressure, preparing a business for sale, and redefining success after an exit. This conversation is packed with hard-earned wisdom for founders, business owners, and anyone trying to build something that last LEARN MORE about Garvin LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/garvin-weber-42874113/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/venger-group/ Website - https://vengergroup.com/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact

April Hickey, founder of Toast, joins us for Episode 110 to talk about burnout, leadership, and the pressure of building a company while trying to stay grounded. As seen on TEDx, April shares her idea of “the box” — the labels we place on ourselves and others that can quietly limit what we believe is possible. She explains how those boxes show up in leadership, entrepreneurship, mental health, and even the way we define success. In this conversation, April opens up about burning out in the first year of building Toast, what it felt like to lose excitement for the work she once loved, and why rest eventually became part of her strategy as a founder. She also talks about setting real boundaries, balancing purpose and profit, leading with psychological safety, building a team with trust, and creating a work environment where people can perform in the way that works best for them. This episode is an honest conversation about ambition, burnout, self-awareness, neurodiversity, and what it really takes to build a company without losing yourself in the process. LEARN MORE about April Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aprilhicke/ - https://www.instagram.com/try.toast/?hl=en LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/aprilhicke/ - https://www.linkedin.com/company/trytoast/ Website - https://www.trytoast.ca/ FOLLOW US on social media Instagram - https://instagram.com/2cmadeit/ Facebook - https://facebook.com/2CMadeIt LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/2cmadeit/ Vimeo - https://vimeo.com/2cmediainc Website - https://2cmedia.ca Want to raise a ruckus? Send us a message at https://www.2cmedia.ca/contact