Up Top Podcast - Inspiring interviews with successful people who have overcome obstacles and found the courage to pursue their passions in life.
Episode Notes ABOUT: Mandy Balak has received many accolades throughout her career including, Entrepreneur of the Year, Alberta's Top Young Innovator, Start Up of the Year and Female Entrepreneur of the Year to name a few. But perhaps what makes her the proudest is that many of the people she's worked with have said that she has changed their life, whether is by encouraging them to take the leap and build the business of their dreams or learning more about themselves in the area of personal growth and development. I'm not going to say too much more because that's what the episode is for. Enjoy! This is Mandy Balak, Founder and CEO of the Ace Collective. EPISODE LINKS: Show Notes The Ace Collective Website Upcoming ACE Collective Events The Ace Collective Business Programs for Entrepreneurs The Ace Talks Podcast Mandy Balak's Instagram Gemma Stone Emotional Freedom Technique Tapping Routine. Natural Formulas Subscribe to Up Top Podcast TODAY and if you like this episode please consider leaving a rating and/or review. It's quick and easy, I promise! Just click here, scroll to the bottom and voila. You can also visit our website for freebies and to learn more about us.
Episode Notes ABOUT: Tyler Turner is a World Cup Para Snowboard Gold Medalist and on his way to making history as the first ever double amputee to pilot a wingsuit. If you're not sure what it means to pilot a wingsuit, it's basically strapping on a pair of wings and flying like a bird. So yeah, no big deal - said no one EVER! In this episode Tyler Turner talks about loosing his legs and how he found his way back to a fulfilling, adventurous, adrenaline fueled, life. EPISODE LINKS: Show Notes Tyler Turner's Website Tyler Turner's Instagram Canadian Sport Parachuting Association Tyler Turner wins gold at Para World Cup for snowboarding Documentary on Tyler Turner called, “60 Seconds” Project Uprising Trevor Cooey's Instagram Subscribe to Up Top Podcast TODAY and if you like this episode please consider leaving a rating and/or review. It's quick and easy, I promise! Just click here, scroll to the bottom and voila. You can also visit our website for freebies and to learn more about us.
Episode Notes ABOUT: Tara Kurylo is an Interior Designer. She works with multi-million-dollar clients and every day people wanting to transform their homes into sanctuaries, where family bonds deepen, and memories are made for years to come. EPISODE LINKS: Shownotes Website: Tara Kurylo Tara Kurylo’s Instagram Ryan Kurylo, Professional Sculpture (Tara’s Husband referenced in the episode) Casa Bella Living (The home builder Tara works with referenced in the interview) Subscribe to Up Top Podcast TODAY and if you like this episode please consider leaving a rating or review. It's quick and easy, I promise! Just click here, scroll to the bottom and voila. You can also visit our website for freebies and to learn more about us.
Michael Schauch is a mountaineer, entrepreneur and story teller who lives to explore remote places around the world and share the depth and beauty of human connection he discovers along the way. In this interview we talk about his early success as an entrepreneur at the age of 15 and the rock climbing adventure to Nepal that changed his life forever. Mike Schauch's Website: https://www.michaelschauch.com/ Show Notes: https://cutt.ly/XkV4i18
In this episode Terri teaches us about codependency, boundaries, perfectionism and love. Terri Cole is a licensed psychotherapist and global leading expert in empowerment, meditation, relationships, and wellbeing. For two decades, Terri has worked with some of the world’s most well-known personalities from international pop stars to Fortune 500 CEOs. She empowers over 100,000 people weekly through her platform, her signature courses Real Love Revolution and Boundary Bootcamp, online community + popular podcast, The Terri Cole Show. Terri's Website: https://www.terricole.com/ Show Notes: https://cutt.ly/2jTdqhH
When Nic Witzke went cycling for the first time with his dad in Italy, something just clicked. Cycling provided him with a mental and physical challenge he thrived on. He specialized in hill climbing, a form of cycling that requires massive endurance and mental strength - skills he would unknowingly need later in life, when he received a diagnosis that shook him to his core. In my interview with Nic. he answers a fundamental question, how do you live when there’s nothing left to lose but everything is on the line?
Selina Gray is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Financial Empowerment Coach. She’s been crunching numbers and bookkeeping since the age of 12. By the time she was 22, she was managing a multi-million dollar accounts for publicly traded companies and 30 employees across the globe. On paper, she was living the dream, jet setting throughout the world, dressing in Gucci from head to toe and living a life of luxury. But in her late 20’s her health spiraled out of control. She was forced to make radical changes and reshape her relationship with money. Now she helps thousands of people achieve financial freedom by being wealthy from the inside out.
Kelly King MacDonald was one semester away from graduating with a degree in education but suddenly it didn’t feel right. She had fallen in love with something else and couldn’t get it out of her mind. Her love for yoga began in the basement of a church that smelt like moth balls. It was there where she realized she could make an incredible impact on people by improving the quality of their life through movement. Although it wasn’t easy, she rerouted her path and followed her intuition. This intuition led her on a trip to Africa and to the creation of her dream company – Sowing Seeds Yoga. This is a story about finding purpose, helping others and trusting the process.
Wow. I can’t believe it’s been one year since we started the Up Top Podcast. Time flies when you’re having fun! In this episode Chad turns the tables on me and hosts the episode. We talk about special moments throughout the year, the WHY behind the podcast, what it’s been like to work together (teaser alert: it’s not always easy), tips for starting a podcast and we even have a SPECIAL guest who joins us. Live music will be included in this episode and the best part is, I have no part in it. We laugh, I cry and we celebrate! So yeah…nothing has really changed. Thank you to EVERYONE who has supported us and cheered us on throughout this wild ride. Words cannot describe how much it has meant to us.
Jen Bricker-Bauer has been featured on ESPN, 20/20, Good Morning America and many other major networks across the world. Her story is a miraculous one - she was born without legs due to a rare birth defect, abandoned in the hospital and not even given a name. She could have grown up feeling hopeless and defeated but instead she was adopted and went on to become a world record holder, champion gymnast and New York Times Bestselling Author. Her story has a lesson for everyone and there are so many twists and turns you’ll get goose bumps that will last for days!
Mark had a successful career in sales but after suffering a series of major heartbreaks, he got curious. He quit his job and dedicated years to researching the science and psychology of what makes a great relationship work. What he discovered was life changing. Mark is a Human Connection Specialist, popular podcast host, coach and TED Talk motivational speaker. This could be one of the deepest episodes yet, so buckle up as we explore the depths of love (for self and others).
Ray Zahab was a pack a day smoker who dreaded gym class growing up. BUT now he's an ultra runner who's been named one of Canada's Top Explorers. He's run over 17,000 kms across the world's deserts and some of the coldest places on the planet. His trek across the Sahara desert was captured in the documentary, Running the Sahara, produced by Matt Damon and directed by Academy Award winner James Moll. Ray is a world record holder, humanitarian and a best-selling author. In this interview he talks about what triggered this drastic life change and the greatest lessons he's learned from putting his body and mind to the ultimate test. Listen NOW.
Erin Skye Kelly tours throughout North America with some of the most successful and respected professionals in the self-help industry - people like Tony Robbins and Rachel Hollis to name a few. For the last 10 years she has transformed thousands of lives in the area of finance, health and relationships. In this episode Erin shares how she went from being a small town girl to one of the BEST in her field. We also explore how our values impact our ability to live a class one life and so much more. You're gonna want a notebook for this value-packed episode. The knowledge she shares is pure GOLD.
Connie Jakab has spent over 20 years working in the field of resiliency. She is an author, speaker, coach, theater producer and hip hop dancer! When Connie’s son was six years old he was diagnosed with a broad range of mental health issues. Connie and her husband felt helpless, until a councilor gave them advice that changed the way they viewed mental health forever. In this interview Connie shares her personal story and provides expert advice on resiliency in the face of COVID-19. We also delve into relationships and how to keep them healthy and happy during quarantine.
Branden Collinsworth is changing lives through holistic fitness and the art of positive human psychology. In 2002 Branden was broke, homeless and a high school drop out. Now, he's a Nike Master Trainer (an honor bestowed to ONLY a few people in the ENTIRE world), an ivy league scholar and an international elite performance coach for some of the world's most impactful people in sports, music and business. But what he's most proud of is his work as a humanitarian and living a life rooted in in joy, abundance, adventure and connection. He's endorsed by other brand giants like lululemon, Red Bull, SUMMIT and Dr. Oz. This is his powerful story...
Mandy Stobo is a passionate artist and actress. Unfortunately she experienced severe trauma in her youth. At a young age she became a struggling single mother with (in her own words) no employable skills other than her ability to create art. With her young son, Jack in tow, she set out to build a career and a life they could be proud of. At the age of 29, Mandy was named top 40 under 40 for one of her famous art projects called Bad Portraits - a project that garnered the attention of several of Saturday Night Live’s most celebrated cast members and other Hollywood elite. Her story is one of struggle, perseverance and triumph.
As a little girl Sara Leishman dreamed of working for a music festival but couldn't imagine how someone could make a living doing it. Fast forward a "few years" and now she's running one of the most successful festivals in the city. From hanging out with Hollywood celebrities and tech moguls backstage to pounding the pavement preparing for a 50+person festival - this is Sara's story.
He dedicated his life to music but when he developed a tremor in one of his hands, his goal of becoming a professional drummer was crushed. After feeling lost, he decided to take a course in filmmaking. This led him down a path he could have never imagined. He has helped transform lives through music and now he's hanging with Grammy and Juno Award winners. Very few people know the inspiring story of Chad S. G. (Editor and Creative Partner of the Up Top Podcast).
Jacqueline Cameron was a living a good life. She had just retired and had an adventurous life with her loving husband,10 kids and now 38 grandchildren. But her life changed drastically when her husband Jack was diagnosed with a rare muscle disease that left him wheelchair- bound with a future that was uncertain. After coming to grips with their new reality, Jacqueline was on a mission to retain his dignity as much as possible. You see Jack had great style and Jacqueline knew that if he could look good, he would feel good. Just like the rest of us. But after months of trying to find decent clothing (stylish, comfortable and easy on, easy off) she noticed a huge gap in the disabled clothing market and she decided to do something about it. At the age of 75 she became an entrepreneur. She developed a clothing line called Super-Fly for those with mobility issues (ALS, MS, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and more). Today she is changing lives one zipper at a time. This is her moving story.
Chris McCloy’s voice has been plastered all over your media. He is one of the voices behind Netflix, Grammarly, the French Open, Budweiser, Five Hour Energy Drink and he has agents in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Chicago and Toronto. But chances are you don’t know a thing about him or the fascinating multi-billion dollar industry he works for. After 20 years in radio, Chris was tired of the creative box that was built around him. He craved freedom and knew that he was capable of more. In this episode Chris and I dig deep into what holds us back in life and why releasing it can change the trajectory of our lives. Fun fact, Chris was also my neighbor.
Life can be messy and heartbreaking BUT it can also be beautiful. What happens to us and how we respond to it, shapes who we become. Everyone has a story, this is mine. In it I talk about the impact of loss, rediscovering my spark, skinny dipping and the importance of living a meaningful life.
Adam Tico Hernandez grew up in a small suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Like many people who grow up in a small towns, he envisioned himself settling down early, starting a family and working a 9-5. But one day he decided to throw normalcy to the wind and chase his dream of moving to Nashville to become a touring musician. And guess what? It paid off. Today Adam tours with country music sensation Lauren Alaina. You may know her from being runner-up on American Idol or from being on Dancing with the Stars. Her latest album Road Less Travelled landed them on the Best of List for Billboard, Rolling Stone and Amazon. Adam never thought he'd be where he is today. But with hard work, determination and perseverance, he's living out his wildest dreams. This is a story about a dream come true, the journey to achieve it and everything along the way.
Davis McCarty was the worst kid in his art class, but by the time he reached college his skill was impossible to ignore. His dreams of becoming a full-time artist were put on hold when he graduated at the height of the financial crisis in the United States. Soon he found himself working in a cheese factory to make ends meet. So how does someone go from working in a cheese factory to having his art exhibited in iconic buildings, museums and festivals around the world? Find out. This artist’s remarkable story is one you’ll never forget.
Stephanie Hoogveld began painting on a ping pong table in her parent's garage. She fell in love with art in her 20's but decided to pursue a stable career as a high school math teacher instead. When she lost her mother unexpectedly, she realized life can be short and she didn't want to waste another second. To date she has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars painting for positive change and she has no plans on slowing down.