The Passion Project

Colin Ferguson is the President & CEO of Travel Manitoba. Colin joins Eric to celebrate their provincial backyard, and being interviewed by two generations of MacLise's. Colin speaks to Churchill's role as an international driver for tourism in Manitoba, and Eric asks Colin for his top five destinations in the province. Eric says influencer marketing has made him want to plan a weekend in Morden / Winkler, and Colin explains why Travel Manitoba needs to be innovative with their marketing and storytelling to compete for tourism dollars. Plus, Colin shares the impact of Covid on the tourism industry, its recovery progress in 2022, where the sport of Bandi has taken him, and his self-published children's books.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Scott Angus is not just one thing; he's the founder of HP Change, an inspirator (real word?) at WPG Cycle, and host of an upcoming TV Show where he records himself trying new things. Scott joins Eric as the second generation of Angus's and MacLise's to broadcast together. Scott explains the genesis for his TV Show, and the two challenge the notion that your career path is set in stone from a young age. Then, Scott and Eric riff on how to start and take the first step in a new pursuit, and Scott shares ideas for the next evolution of HP Change. Finally, Eric welcomes three of Scott's Met Innovation Centre for Entrepreneurship (MICE) high school students to share their big ideas.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Chris Frayer is the Artistic Director for Winnipeg Folk Festival, taking place July 7-10, 2022 at Birds Hill Provincial Park. Chris joins Eric for the Season 3 premiere to discuss the vibrant local music scene, and being happy for artists when they buy a house. Chris shares his favourite artists and stories from booking 15+ festivals, including Kacey Musgraves, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and more. Then, Chris explains how he curated this year's lineup, the responsibility to cater to many different musical tastes, and his favourite festivals (besides Folk Fest!) from around the world.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Kevin Donnelly is the Sr. Vice President of Venues & Entertainment at True North Sports + Entertainment. Kevin returns for the season 2 finale to explain how Venues & Entertainment got hit immediately and with the full-force of the pandemic. Eric loves the energy with the Eric Church tour booked for October, and the two chat about the 2022 events calendar, LiveNation's stock price trading at all-time highs, and New York not recognizing the AstraZeneca vaccination. Then, Eric and Kevin complement the JETS LEGENDS series revisiting iconic concerts, including the 10-year anniversary of U2 360 in Winnipeg, The Tragically Hip, and more.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Donovan Gray is an urgent care physician, and author of "Dude, Where's My Stethoscope? and other stories from the ER". Donovan joins Eric to explain why amid the hectic schedule and hours of an ER doctor he wanted to write a book about his experiences. The two chat about medical anomalies and common reasons patients present at the ER, and Donovan says he doesn't mind being called on by friends with their medical questions. Then, Eric asks Donovan what the Covid chapter of his book would be, and if the ER is anything like NBC's hit drama.Donovan's book on Amazon.ca - Dude, Where's My Stethoscope?Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Nicole Pellaers was the co-founder of Folk + Fire, a gourmet s'mores experience. Nicole joins the podcast to talk about business school conferences, and Eric shares why he looked up to Nicole and wanted to follow in her footsteps. Nicole explains how Folk + Fire started, how to make marshmallows, and why it was right for her to close the business after two years of operations rather than going all in. Then, Nicole confuses combat sports for larping, and Eric not-so-secretly hopes Folk + Fire returns, and the vision of a s'mores restaurant / cafe sees the light of day.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Jaime Manness is a creator, owner, and author at Hike Manitoba - a community and resource dedicated to hiking in Manitoba. Jaime joins Eric to enlighten him on the Leave No Trace outdoor principles, and ensuring good poop etiquette. Jaime shares why she started Hike Manitoba, and how her love for hiking has evolved into print publishing, Instagram, and e-commerce. Then, Eric asks Jaime about wildlife encounters, her favourite hikes in Manitoba and more.Check out Jaime's website: https://hikemanitoba.coFollow Hike Manitoba on Instagram: @hikemanitobaFollow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Lily Medynska and Josh Goossen are creators and curators of Winnipeg Eats (@wpgeats) - featuring food + destinations in Winnipeg and beyond. Lily and Josh join Eric to spill the tea on the best burgers and mini egg desserts. Lily explains how her love for food and lattes has evolved into one of the most successful and beloved local accounts, and Josh shares the flattery and embarrassment of being recognized in real-life. Then, Eric asks Lily and Josh how they met, and the two speak on their approach to content creating, brand collaborations, and broadening from their food niche.Follow Winnipeg Eats on Instagram: @wpgeatsCheckout Josh / Winnipeg Eats' videos on YouTube: Josh With CameraFollow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Glen and Cam MacAngus are MacAngus Team Real Estate; celebrating 36 successful years in real estate. Glen and Cam join Eric to bond over being the only MacAngus's and MacLise's in the city. The three break down Winnipeg's red-hot housing market, the initial rumblings, and what continues to cause things to surge. Then, Eric asks about considerations for first-time home buyers, and Glen and Cam stress the importance of patience and value purchasing.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Manitoban filmmaker Alec Chambers continues chatting with Eric to share their favourite movies from 2020 and beyond including Tenet, Sound of Metal, Step Brothers, About Time and more. Then, the two get primed for the 93rd Academy Awards, discuss their worst Oscars defeats, and analyze the Oscars vs. Grammys.

Alec Chambers is a Manitoba-born filmmaker. His debut feature film, "Whispers in the Wheat" is anticipated to release this year. Alec joins Eric to chat about his Harry Styles fandom, and concerts in Brandon. Alec shares how emotional dramas struck a chord with him, and why his brother's reaction to his film project was like a drug for him. Then, Alec explains how he got his first feature film made, the outlook on distribution, cutting the trailer, and more.Add "Whispers in the Wheat" to your IMDb watchlist here.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this podcast don't forget to subscribe/follow on your platform of choice, and leave a rating and review. Thanks for listening!

Ivan Decker is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor; he is a feature performer on the Netflix series "Comedians of the World". Ivan joins Eric to chat about the algorithm, SNL, and podcasts replacing late-night as the premier publicity platform. Eric asks Ivan what advice he has for comedians to transcend the local scene, and Ivan recalls how opening for John Mulaney helped him land Conan and Netflix opportunities. Then, the two reminisce about memories at the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, and Ivan explains what moving to L.A. has done for his career.Watch Ivan on Conan: https://youtu.be/-xg0DajE4TAFollow the podcast on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this episode please rate, review and tell a friend!

Paul Edmonds is the play-by-play radio voice of the Winnipeg Jets. Paul joins Eric to explain how being singularly focussed through his career has allowed him to keep sports as a labour of love. Paul shares tales from 19 years as the voice of the Winnipeg Goldeyes, the 2012 Championship and minor league baseball's charm. Paul reflects on getting the Jets PxP job, and Eric is torn between sorrow for TSN 1290 going off the air, and satisfaction for CJOB 68 getting the flagship hockey rights back. Then, Eric asks Paul about calling games during the pandemic, the all-Canadian North Division, and more.Follow the podcast on Instagram for the latest news on guests and bonus video clips from each episode: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

Kevin Chief is Principal of Chief Partnerships Manitoba Inc., and co-founder of the Winnipeg Aboriginal Sport Achievement Centre (WASAC); he brings a commitment to community and leadership development through his dedication to education, training, and employment. Eric compliments Kevin on his ability to work a room, and Kevin discusses his philosophy with politics, and how to reach people who need social services and resources the most. The two chat about the importance of civic engagement, and having conversations with people with different opinions and values. Then, Kevin explains how he's finding his way beyond politics, and capturing what he loved and building it into his life.

#17 Bailey Bram is an Olympic Women's Ice Hockey silver medalist, and 5-time IIHF Women's World Championship medalist. Bailey joins Eric and guest co-host Cheryl Zealand to recall how a reach out for Cranked sponsorship sparked a budding friendship. Bailey shares how her hockey career had more ups and downs than her medals would suggest, and the three discuss the merit of the shootout as a tiebreaker for Olympic gold. Then, Bailey provides an honest look at the professional women's hockey landscape, and explains how she re-established structure and purpose after retiring from hockey.Subscribe/Follow on your platform of choice  to have each episode first when it goes live. If you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts.Follow the The Passion Project on Instagram -> @thepassionprojpod

Ashley James is an art director in the film and television industry; her projects include The Boys, The Coroner, and TallBoyz. Ashley joins Eric to reminisce about both getting their start in film with A Dog's Purpose, and why Ashley's film career has far surpassed Eric's. The two discuss only being exposed to traditional jobs growing up, and Ashley shares how she was able to take the road less traveled and apply her skills and experience in other streams. Then, Eric asks Ashley about the Starbucks cup spotted in Game of Thrones, and Ashley describes some very memorable props and assignments from set. Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpod

Steve Ramos is a personal trainer and founder of FitPak - daily workouts, mobility, meditations, and more. Steve joins Eric to share an exercise to set intentions for workouts, podcast recordings, and really anything. The two chat about how their motivations for working out have evolved, and Steve explains his path to unlocking fitness as a major driver of purpose in life. Eric asks Steve if he is still able to protect working out as something for his wellbeing, and Steve reveals his go-to burner circuit and what he prioritizes with 30 minutes in the gym.Train with Steve: https://dailyfitpak.com/Guest Instagram: @teamfitpakPodcast Instagram: @thepassionprojpod

Kevin Selch is the founder of Little Brown Jug Brewing Company. Kevin joins Eric and guest co-host Dan Mortimer to discuss Dan's belief that the Little Brown Jug 1919 is Winnipeg's superior craft beer. Eric and Dan are both interested in Kevin's background as an economist, and Kevin explains why the Canadian brewing industry is the most productive in the entire economy. Eric asks Kevin how competitive the craft beer space is in Winnipeg, and Kevin shares why just making it work and the challenges of operating continue to motivate him. Finally, the three wrap up with listener questions including on sour beers, interprovincial expansion, and where the name "Little Brown Jug" comes from.

John Rush is a vegan professional athlete, Grey Cup Champion, and chef/blogger at Rescue Dog Kitchen; 50% of proceeds from recipes, ads and merchandise go to dog rescues. John joins Eric to chat about football being his sole focus for so long, and only recently benefiting from multiple senses of purpose. The two reflect on the Bombers' Grey Cup Championship, the parade, and why the CFL was one of few professional leagues to not create some resemblance of a season this year. John explains why he decided to go vegan, and Eric asks if his teammates razz him for being vegan, and/or his blog. Finally, John shares resources for how he found his two dogs, Bone and Bailey, and why we should consider adopting, not shopping.Guest Instagram: @johnrush5 | @rescuedogkitchenPodcast Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Manitou's finest Paul Thorleifson + Brooks Keen are co-owners of Towns Apparel Co. | Community inspired apparel to show off where you're from. Paul and Brooks join Eric for a few craft beers to chat about why they started Towns, and why the pandemic was the right time to set-up shop. Eric asks the duo which town has really bought into what they're doing, and Paul and Brooks explain why they celebrated Manitoba150 better than anyone. Plus, Paul turns the table on Eric for a candid conversation on podcasting, solo projects, and more.Promo code "passion10" gets you 10% off your Towns Apparel order during November 2020 -> https://townsapparelco.comGuest Instagram: @townsapparelcoPodcast Instagram: @thepassionprojpodIf you enjoyed this episode, consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts :)

Phil Roadley is the owner of Bikes & Beyond, and a serial endurance racer; most recently his team True North finished World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji, a 10-episode event series now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.  Phil joins Eric to chat about Eco-Challenge's most challenging stages, and how you train for a race like this. Phil shares his most memorable marathons from around the world, and Eric asks Phil if it was harder finishing World's Toughest Race or starting his own small business. Finally, the two discuss Strava and the social mediatization of endurance exercise.Bikes & Beyond Website: https://www.bikesandbeyond.caEco-Challenge Website: https://ecochallenge.comWorld's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji - Official Trailer: https://youtu.be/IEoRSXMv4yQ

Chelsea Rose is the owner of Spreads by Rosie; beautifully crafted charcuterie boards. Chelsea and Eric chat about both being too self-critical with their passion projects, and why it doesn't seem to get easier. Chelsea explains how being enamoured with her mom's hosting and entertaining ability has influenced her business, and Eric is amazed at the marketing costs to create boards for her initial Instagram posts. Then, Eric asks Chelsea how the pandemic affects sharables and Chelsea shares her ambition to take Spreads full-time.

Brian Dobie is the head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisons football team; he is the winningest head coach in Bison football history. Brian joins Eric to discuss his first October in 46 years without football games to coach, and U Sports overturning the athlete age cap decision amid the cancelled 2020 season.  Brian shares his drive to compete, and perseverance in earning his dream job at the U of M.  Then, the two chat about learning from victory and defeat, and Brian regales Eric with stories from the Bisons' 2007 National Championship, David Onyemata's NFL Draft, and much more.

Jenna Rae and Ashley Nicole are twin sisters and co-owners of Jenna Rae Cakes (JRC). Jenna and Ashley join Eric to discuss how JRC has been managing amid the pandemic, and if more at-home banana bread and sourdough is affecting business. Eric asks Ashley how JRC rode the early waves of Instagram to grow their brand outside of Winnipeg, and Jenna explains why she quit her dentistry track to get serious with cake design. Then, Jenna and Ashley share the joys of getting their cookbook published; Jenna Rae Cakes and Sweet Treats: Over 100 Recipes for the Modern Baker is available everywhere on October 6th.

Ace Burpee is host of The Ace Burpee Show on 103.1 Virgin Radio, and an avid philanthropist. Ace joins Eric to discuss finding purpose with Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, and how he manages his time between side hustles and community involvement. The two chat on Ace's start in radio, and how he balances career opportunities in other markets against strengthening his roots in Winnipeg. Plus, Ace asks Eric who he wants on the podcast that he can't get (and Ace will help him)!

Lynne Skromeda is the Executive Director of the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Lynne joins Eric for the Season 2 premiere to discuss how Folk Fest navigated the pandemic, pivoting to Folk Fest At Home, and looking ahead to 2021. Lynne shares why her role with the festival is so much more than a job for her, and Eric asks Lynne about the Kacey Musgraves "moneyball" deal, her background in the film industry, and more.Follow The Passion Project on Instagram: @thepassionprojpodArtwork: Derek KitchingMusic: Roman ClarkePhotography: Diana Joyce

Julia Grubert is an Instagram influencer @brightblondeblog and social media consultant @bright.consulting. Julia joins Eric for the Season 1 finale of The Passion Project to discuss why social media has struck such a chord with her. The two chat on managing multiple social accounts, and what led Julia to branch out from the blog to start her own social media consulting arm. Eric expresses fatigue with the extent of commercialization and promotion on Instagram, and Julia shares how monetizing her passion for social media has affected her enjoyment of the medium. Plus, Julia provides a consult for Eric's work on the @thepassionprojpod Instagram account.

Tom and Mike Schneider are co-owners of Tommy's Pizzeria. Tom and Mike join Eric to share how Tommy's is adapting amid the pandemic, and if the business model works with 1/2 full restaurants. Tom explains to Eric how franchising two Papa John's locations helped give him the experience to succeed on his own, and Eric asks the two about their transition from Trans Canada Brewing Co. / Timmy Tom's to opening their own standalone location.New theme is courtesy of Manitoban musician Roman Clarke.

Chloe Benjamin is the author of The Immortalists, a New York Times bestseller. Chloe joins Eric and Annie (Human Kind Book Club) to chat on bringing research into her works, the tipping point of her second book's success, and answer Human Kind Book Club's burning questions after reading The Immortalists.Chloe's nonfiction piece on The Sewanee Review: https://thesewaneereview.com/articles/corona-correspondences-22

Lukas Neville is an Assistant Professor of Organizational Behaviour at the Asper School of Business interested in trust, forgiveness, and conflict resolution. Lukas transports Eric back to the classroom for the latest research on how leaders can psychologically support their teams during uncertain times. Eric asks Lukas the importance of forgiveness in organizational behaviour research. Plus, the two reflect on month three in quarantine, and their time collaborating on student council conferences.

Sam Davidson a.k.a. Sammy Peppers is a Winnipeg wrestling athlete. Sam joins Eric to explain why he decided to join the Winnipeg wrestling scene, and training for his first event. Eric asks Sam if we should classify wrestling as sport, theatrics, or both, and Eric credits wrestling with creating immersive storylines around events. Then, the two chat about Last Week Tonight's feature on WWE, and the encouraging trend of more proactive care in sports.

Annie Chipman is the founder of Human Kind Book Club, a community dedicated to creating empathy and understanding through shared stories of humanity and kindness. Annie joins Eric to chat about why she decided to start a community reading forum, as opposed to a more traditional book club with friends (20:53). Eric asks Annie if it's important to find an "angle" with a blog or content-related pursuit, and the two chat about their April (virtual) book club collaboration (39:47).This month Human Kind Book Club is reading The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, and you can learn more about our April virtual book club here: https://www.humankindbookclub.com/blog/april-book-club-were-going-digital

Stuart Murray is the President & CEO of The City of Human Rights Education (The COHRE), and Co-Chair of Manitoba150. Stuart joins Eric virtually to chat on his diverse career stretching entertainment, business, politics, not-for-profit and more (03:48). Eric asks Stuart the common threads he's brought to these diverse roles, and Stu speaks on his current passion projects: The COHRE, and Manitoba150 celebrations (39:38).

Shannon Birchard is a professional curling athlete. Shannon joins Eric to chat about curlers requiring supplement careers, and balancing her curling pursuit with work. Eric asks Shannon about winning the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and what it's like to have one's dreams come true. The two explore what free time looks like to each of them, and finally, Shannon talks the World Women's Curling Championship taking place March 14th - 22nd in Prince George.

Julian Rowan is a Winnipeg comedian. Julian and Eric chat about overlapping skillsets between sales and comedy, and the differences in his Twitter vs. stand-up jokes. Julian explains how one of his favourite jokes has evolved from repetition, and the two chat on how they approach sensitive topics in comedy.

Cheryl Zealand is the owner and CEO of Cranked Energy | fresh refrigerated energy bars. Cheryl and Eric chat about the first iterations of Cranked bars, selling one million units, balancing motherhood with starting a business, natural vs. adaptive states, and firing herself from every job at Cranked she doesn't like to do.

Roman Clarke is a Manitoban artist and producer. Roman joins Eric to chat about his recent Canadian tour, and using music to deal with emotions from a young age (4:03). The two discuss Spotify's algorithm, and The Middle Coast finding their way onto a curated playlist with 1,000,000+ followers (19:30). Eric asks Roman about pursuing his solo career, and Eric is amazed at musicians that can easily slot-in to different bands (38:06). Finally, Roman talks what's next for 2020 (56:28).You can see Roman Clarke live - Thursday, January 30th @ The Good Will.

Josh Olfert is the founder of Haven Wealth Management. Josh joins Eric to chat about the earliest signs of his passion for investing, and turning down volleyball scholarships to get serious with financial planning (02:47). Josh talks about the importance of sincerity in wealth management, and the difference between wealth, money, and status (32:55). Then, Josh forces Eric to get introspective with why he started the podcast, and the two break into a discussion about what invigorates us, and finding deep engagement (47:06).

Amie Seier is the founder of The Community Gym in downtown Winnipeg - four classes under one roof: Cycle, Crush, Camp, and Calm. Amie joins Eric to chat about her time in the corporate world (1:44), and dealing with burnout (17:09). Amie shares what led her to start The Community (35:02), and how the brand allows them to be agile (45:30). The two discuss the difference in business models between traditional gyms and fitness studios, and Eric wonders how fitness facilities earn customer loyalty among so much competition (53:46). Plus, Amie shares a simple philosophy: how your dollar can be your vote (1:04:03).Artwork: Derek KitchingMusic: "Waiting" by Roman Clarke

Catherine Metrycki is the founder of Callia Flowers. Catherine and Eric chat about Catherine's experience on Dragons' Den, and the process to get on the show (5:19). Catherine explains why she started Callia, their recent growth, and how they're disrupting the floral industry (18:48).

Mitch Etkin is the owner of Match Auto Market and co-owner of EZ Transit Services. Mitch and Eric chat about Mitch's earliest entrepreneurial ventures, and when Mitch decided to get serious with the car business (9:17). The two reminisce about Eric's brief stint at Match, and Eric is amazed by the percentage of Match's car sales driven by Kijiji (16:48). Mitch talks about starting EZ Transit, and how living at home has allowed him to invest in his businesses (29:38).

Family Dinner is a sketch comedy group from Winnipeg, Canada. Spencer, Jaydin, Riley, and Mike chat with Eric about prospecting a television pilot, and how "political correctness" culture is actually good for comedy (5:39). The troupe contrasts Dave Chappelle and Bill Burr's new stand-up specials with the next generation of comedians like Bo Burnham and John Mulaney (15:34). Plus, Eric asks Jaydin and Mike how they started dating (25:33).You can see Family Dinner perform Thursday, October 31st at Wee Johnny's. DM @familydinnercomedy on Instagram for tickets.

Kevin Donnelly is the Sr. Vice President of Venues & Entertainment at True North Sports + Entertainment. Kevin and Eric discuss how touring finances are tipping the scale to larger markets, and how Manitoba's unique scalping laws are holding Winnipeg back. The two chat about Faouzia, 21 Pilots, Ed Sheeran, and the importance of relationship-builiding in attracting top talent. Eric ponders diversifying pro sports in Winnipeg with basketball or lacrosse, and Kevin shares the latest with his passion projects, "The Burt Backyard" and cycling escapades to the south of France.

Cassidy Coutts (Brains and Bronzed) is a fashion marketer by day and life & style blogger by night. Cassidy and Eric chat about the transition from university to career, their dream jobs, and Eric regrets he doesn't get to see many of his university friends as much (2:52).  Cassidy talks about starting her blog, #sponsored posts, her favourite collaborations, and how she sees Instagram evolving in the future (28:00).Artwork: Derek KitchingMusic: "Waiting" by Roman Clarke

Eric introduces The Passion Project.