Shows
The Unlikely InnovatorsNadia Mykytczuk returns to the Unlikely InnovatorsThe Unlikely Innovators are back! For the third season, Mike and Steve kicked things with Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, their first repeat guest. Nadia talked about her early love of science, being a role model to young women in STEM, her new Industrial Research Chair in Biomining in partnership with Cambrian, and her plans for the future Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology.
2023-09-2631 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsJamie Dewar on making memories on the waterThe Unlikely Innovators commemorates its 100th episode on a boat! For this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Legend Boats co-CEO Jamie Dewar on a pontoon boat in their showroom in Whitefish. Jamie talked about how the company has evolved over the years and how innovation undergirds everything that Legend does. As people start heading out onto lakes to make memories on the water, the podcast is going on summer vacation and will be back in September 2023. Thanks for listening!
2023-07-0540 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMark Masotti on changing concrete with bio-grapheneOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mark Masotti, President & CEO of AlterBiota. Mark covered his journey from civil construction to chemical engineering to establishing a bio-graphene company. He talked about the benefits of using bio graphene in concrete mixtures from increasing building strength to helping to combat climate change.
2023-06-2734 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsBrit Ho on going from hospitality to techOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Brit Ho, a Project Manager at Hootsuite. Brit talked about her journey from hospitality to tech, her work at Hootsuite, what AI means for the tech industry, and her passion for boxing.
2023-06-2040 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsChloé Arsenault on wearing tiaras and hard hatsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Chloé Arsenault, a recent graduate of College Boreal's civil and mining engineering technician program. Chloe talked about what drew her to skilled trades and how she uses her pageantry platforms "Tiaras and Trades" to inspire girls and women to consider a career in the skilled trades.
2023-06-1337 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDawn Larsen on digital mining solutionsOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dawn Larsen, Digital Solutions Manager for Epiroc Canada. Dawn shared her journey from software to business, as well as her transition to the mining sector. She also talked about digital transformation in the sector and the solutions Epiroc has brought to market to improve productivity, utilization, and safety.
2023-06-0632 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTrent Mell on building a battery materials hubOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Trent Mell, founder and CEO of Electra Battery Materials Corporation. Trent talked about Electra’s mission to create the only fully integrated, localized, and environmentally sustainable battery materials park in North America and what that would mean for Canada’s position as a leader in the global critical minerals sector. Trent also talked about his journey from law to mining and even gave the guys a history lesson about Cobalt, Ontario.
2023-05-3030 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsJeremy Hansen on leading humanity back to the MoonOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed their second astronaut to the show, Colonel Jeremy Hansen. He talked about his unlikely journey becoming a fighter pilot and his even unlikelier journey becoming an astronaut. Colonel Hansen also explained the qualities he looks for in an astronaut and what his forthcoming Artemis II mission to the Moon means for humanity. And, since it's almost summer blockbuster season, Colonel Hansen reflected on last year's smash hit, Top Gun: Maverick, and how it stacks up for him as a fighter pilot. 2023-05-2327 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsLee Elias on making a career of hockeyOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Lee Elias, founder and CEO of Hockey Wraparound and Game Seven Group. Lee talked about his playing days, coaching, and discovering a need in the road hockey market that led to the invention of Hockey Wraparound. Lee also talked about his other venture, Game Seven Group, which helps individuals and teams unlock the Game 7 mentality for business and sports.
2023-05-1650 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsLaura O’Blenis on building innovation ecosystemsOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Laura O’Blenis, President and CEO of Stiletto. Laura talked about her journey from business to helping to build innovation ecosystems through her work at Stiletto. She also talked about research parks and the value they provide to communities, the state of the startup landscape in Canada, and the country's commercialization track record.
2023-05-0933 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTrang Tran-Valade on her unlikely journey in miningOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Trang Tran-Valade, Regional Sector Lead of Mining, Minerals, and Metals, Canada for Stantec. Trang talked about her unlikely journey into mining, her experience with mining technologies, her continued efforts to make mining more diverse, and what you can expect at this year's CIM Convention in Montreal.
2023-05-0236 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsPaul Lefebvre on Sudbury's bright futureOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Paul Lefebvre, Mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury. From his office at Tom Davies Square, Mayor Lefebvre talked about his journey into politics, what makes Sudbury an ideal place for innovation, how the community can take advantage of the critical minerals opportunity, and his upcoming state of the city address. Mayor Lefebvre also talked about what he does in his spare time and who he will be cheering for in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
2023-04-2531 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsBrian Kingston on the future of Canada’s EV supply chainOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Brian Kingston, President and CEO of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association. Brian talked about his journey before he joined the CVMA, the Inflation Reduction Act and its implications for Canada, and consumer adoption incentives and the need for more EV charging infrastructure. Brian also talked about the changing skills profile needed to work in the EV supply chain sector. 2023-04-1835 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsShouyi Ma on changing life trajectoriesOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Shouyi Ma, President and CEO of Hanson Canada, in front of a live audience at Cambrian College. Shouyi talked about his journey immigrating from China to Canada, his career path from telecommunications to becoming a CEO in higher education, and his advice for students. Shouyi also talked about learning to play hockey during the pandemic and his passion for guitar.2023-04-1141 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDan Breznitz on innovation lessons from around the worldOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dan Breznitz, Co-Director of the Innovation Policy Lab and Munk Chair of Innovation Studies at the University of Toronto for a chat at Cambrian. Dan talked about why Canada should look beyond the Silicon Valley approach, what the Canada Innovation Corporation means for businesses looking to develop new technologies in our country, and some of the lessons from his latest book, Innovation in Real Places. Dan also shared some of his impressions of Sudbury in a recent visit to the community.
2023-04-0459 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDaryl Adams on going from the front lines to the front officeOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Daryl Adams, President of RufDiamond. Daryl talked about how his military service prepared him for a second career in business. He also talked about RufDiamond’s vehicle platform, the Fat Truck, and how its bringing safe and versatile transportation solutions to many sectors in the north. Be sure to stick around until the end to hear Daryl talk about the annual Nijmegen Marches in the Netherlands.2023-03-2844 min
The Unlikely InnovatorsBrent Neilly on power tool innovationOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Brent Neilly, Director of Product Marketing for Milwaukee Tool Canada. Brent talked about his unlikely journey to working at Milwaukee, some of the company’s early innovations, and how Milwaukee has learned from product launches that missed the mark. Brent also talked about one of Milwaukee’s most famous and loyal customers.2023-03-2138 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKevin Oulds on making wills accessibleOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kevin Oulds, co-founder and Head of Research & Innovation at Willful. Kevin talked about the impetus behind Willful, pitching on Dragon’s Den, the state of digital legal innovation in Canada, and what’s next for Willful.2023-03-1451 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMike Campigotto on blending art and science in miningOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mike Campigotto, President of SafeSight Exploration. Mike reflected on his journey from studying computer science at the University of Waterloo to how he was lured into the mining industry later in his career. Mike also talked about the challenges of designing tech for an environment as harsh as mining and how SafeSight’s development is not all that dissimilar from the film The Martian. If you’re at PDAC this week, you can find SafeSight at booth 7504N.2023-03-0744 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsShane Prodan on the business of distillingOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve are broadcasting from Crosscut Distillery, where they interviewed Shane Prodan, owner of Crosscut. Shane talked about his career stops before founding Crosscut, the business of distilling, and the innovation that goes into making spirits. Shane also weighed in on the trend of overtopping Caesar's with food.2023-02-2839 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsJodi Cooley on science undergroundOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve are coming to you from two kilometres underground at the world-famous SNOLAB research facility. For their first in-person recording, the guys welcomed Dr. Jodi Cooley, Executive Director of the centre. They talked about Dr. Cooley’s academic and research career that led her to SNOLAB, some of the groundbreaking research projects underway, and how she is settling in to life in Sudbury.2023-02-2131 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsJenn Harper on the importance of representationOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Jenn Harper, founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty. Jenn talked about what inspired her to start Cheekbone Beauty, its mission and vision, the ins and outs of the cosmetics industry, the importance of representation for Indigenous girls and women, and the company’s charitable goals.2023-02-1437 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsFrank Stronach on going from machinist to magnateOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Frank Stronach, founder and honourary chairman of Magna International, and now chairman of Stronach International. Mr. Stronach shared his story from his early beginnings to building a company that now spans five continents and 28 countries. He also talked about how is management philosophy, fair enterprise, led to incredible business results at Magna. Mike and Steve were particularly delighted by the discussion they had with Mr. Stronach about the future of post-secondary education and applied learning in Canada.2023-02-0729 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAdam Maxwell on future-proofing our favourite foodsOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Adam Maxwell, CEO of Voyage Foods. Adam talked about his journey from falling in love with food at an early age to studying food science and eventually co-founding Voyage Foods. At Voyage Foods, Adam leads a talented team of food scientists and CPG experts looking to revolutionize the food industry and secure the future of our favourite foods. He talked about some of the current products at Voyage Foods, such as the peanut-free spread, and where they hope to go in the future. 2023-01-3133 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCem Kansu on democratizing language learning with DuolingoOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cem Kansu, Vice President of Product at Duolingo. Cem talked about his career path, growing Duolingo’s monetization strategy, the human impacts the app has had, and what’s next for Duolingo.2023-01-2441 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsJamie Oakenfold on supporting women through fitnessOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Jamie Oakenfold, owner of Oakenfold Strength & Athletics. Jamie talked about her fitness journey, starting her own business which focuses on pre and postnatal fitness, what it meant to win a Northern Ontario Business Award as Entrepreneur of the Year, and how she hopes to grow her business to help more women, particularly Indigenous women, across the north. Since Jamie resides in Thunder Bay, the guys also took some time to wax poetic about the community.2023-01-1738 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsGuy Kawasaki on evangelism and Remarkable PeopleOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist of Canva and the creator of Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People podcast. Guy talked about tech evangelism and working at Canva, feeding your interests outside of your day job, email etiquette, and even his love of hockey.2023-01-101h 02The Unlikely InnovatorsThe Unlikely Innovators Holiday RewindOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve reflect on the past year and share some of their favourite holiday treats before rebroadcasting their interview with Colonel Chris Hadfield, the most popular episode of 2022. The Unlikely Innovators will be back with fresh content on January 10, 2023. Happy New Year!2022-12-271h 11The Unlikely InnovatorsMark Sherry on connecting shoppers with local retailersOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mark Sherry, CEO of One Red Maple. Mark talked about his career as an entrepreneur, operating businesses in a variety of sectors from food services to mining technology and now e-commerce. Mark told the guys about his latest venture, One Red Maple, the retail Robin Hood app that helps consumers find and purchase virtually any product from locally-owned stores nearby. They also chatted about their favourite holiday tunes to get into the Christmas spirit.2022-12-2030 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsSheri Tingey on her passion for packraftsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Sheri Tingey, founder and lead designer for Alpacka Raft. Sheri talked about how she got her start in the outdoor industry by making custom ski clothing. After changing the fashion of ski wear, Sheri went from the slopes to the water, making garments for rafting and then eventually designing and building her own boats. And, with ski season around the corner, Sheri also shared her favourite après-ski beverage. 2022-12-131h 00The Unlikely InnovatorsPeter Cowan on leading Ontario's IP strategyOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Peter Cowan, CEO of Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON). Peter talked about his unlikely journey from mechanical engineering to intellectual property, the state of commercialization and IP development in Ontario, and how IPON will work with the province’s post-secondary institutions to help commercialize IP.2022-12-0644 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsRaed Kadri on how Ontario is driving the future of mobilityOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Raed Kadri, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Business Development and Head of the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN). Raed talked about growing up in an automotive family, the automotive and mobility sector in Ontario, and the work being done by OVIN and the government of Ontario to cement the province’s leadership in the future of the sector globally. He also provided some insights on the future of the auto sector in Ontario and how the mining supply chain and critical minerals sector will be key to the rapid electrification of mobi...2022-11-2932 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKate Withers Hess on the future of decentralized computingOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kate Withers Hess, Co-founder and Director of Partnerships at Functionland. Kate talked about her journey from studying plant physiology to working with technology companies and founding her own tech start-up. She also gave the guys an introduction to decentralized computing and storage and even taught them some Web3 terms. 2022-11-221h 05The Unlikely InnovatorsAshley Kirwan on building a successful geoscience companyOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Ashley Kirwan, President and CEO of Orix Geoscience. Ashley talked about her journey into geology, co-founding a company, her approach to selecting clients, and how Orix continues to place a premium on developing a positive workplace culture.2022-11-1545 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsGordon McCauley on building a bioinnovation sector from sea to seaOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Gordon McCauley, President and CEO of adMare BioInnovations. Gordon talked about his journey from studying political science to working in life science, the current state of the biotech and bioinnovation in Canada, and if our country has what it takes to be a global leader in life sciences.2022-11-0839 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsBrittlestar on the keys to creating viral contentOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Stewart Reynolds, but you might know him better as Brittlestar. Stewart talked about his early career, his meteoric rise on social media, the keys to making a viral video, and his creative process for creating online content. Stewart, who is also known as the Internet’s favourite dad, even shared some parenting advice.2022-11-0146 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsEmily Zarka on a career as a monster expertOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Emily Zarka, ASU’s official “monster expert” and host of "Monstrum" on PBS’s Storied channel on YouTube. Emily talked about the underlying importance of monster tales, some of her favourite monsters, and what Halloween costume she is most afraid.2022-10-2540 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTom Pederson on selling the best off-ice hockey puckOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tom Pederson, former NHL player and owner of Green Biscuit. Tom talked about his NHL career, life after hockey, and founding and scaling a business. Tom also talked about the time Wayne Gretzky wanted to kill him.2022-10-1846 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCate Murray on the power of stem cells and regenerative medicineOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cate Murray, President and CEO of Stem Cell Network. Cate talked about her career path, the state of regenerative medicine research in Canada, and how she uses her science communication background to combat misinformation about stem cell and regenerative medicine.2022-10-1134 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMedha Parlikar on the potential of blockchainOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Medha Parlikar, co-founder and CTO of CasperLabs. After talking about her journey from studying biology to creating and delivering software products, Medha explained blockchain and NFTs to the guys. Medha also talked about the applicability of blockchain to other sectors such as natural resources, her martial arts background, and what the future holds for blockchain.2022-10-0438 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDave Salmoni on creating a career with animalsOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dave Salmoni, famed animal trainer, entertainer, and television producer. Dave talked about his journey from studying zoology to being in front of the camera, surviving animal attacks, navigating the late night TV circuit, and pursuing your passion.2022-09-2757 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsManjit Minhas on becoming a beer baroness and DragonOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Manjit Minhas, co-founder and co-owner of the Minhas Brewery, Distillery, and Winery. Manjit talked about how she got into the brewing and distilling world from engineering, her journey onto CBC's Dragon's Den, and the key to a successful pitch. 2022-09-2040 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsChristyn Cianfarani on Canada’s defence and security industriesOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Christyn Cianfarani, President and CEO of the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries (CADSI). Christyn talked about her career path, how CADSI and its annual event, CANSEC, has evolved under her watch, and how she continues to blaze a trail for women in the sector.2022-09-1352 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAshley Larose on the past, present, and future of Science NorthThe second season of The Unlikely Innovators starts now! On this episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Ashley Larose, CEO of Science North, Northern Ontario's original science centre. Ashley talked about visiting Science North as a kid, how she got her start in the organization as a "Bluecoat," and what the future holds for the popular science centre. After reminiscing about some of their favourite exhibits, Ashley, a skilled mixologist and pizza connoisseur, shared some tips with the guys on how to make a mean cocktail and the perfect slice. 2022-09-0640 min
The Unlikely InnovatorsEmily Calandrelli on the wonder of scienceOn this week’s episode, hosts Mike and Steve welcomed Emily Calandrelli, host and co-executive producer of the hit Netflix show Emily’s Wonder Lab. Emily spoke about the importance of science communication, transitioning to TV work, Emily’s Wonder Lab, working with Bill Nye, and her forthcoming science experiment book. Emily also talked about the prospect of space mining and the work she is currently doing to help change how TSA treats the parents of young kids when travelling.2022-06-2847 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsEric Blondeel on evaluating and insuring surgical proceduresOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Eric Blondeel, co-founder and CEO of Samos Insurance, a new digital insurance product, backed by Berkley Insurance, that offers protection for accidental death during planned surgical procedures. Eric talked about how the company came to be, transitioning from the lab to the boardroom, and the state of the insurtech startup landscape in Canada.2022-06-2144 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsGurdeep Pandher on spreading joy through Bhangra dancingOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Gurdeep Pandher, who is known for spreading joy with his Bhangra dance videos from the Yukon. Gurdeep talked about growing up in a Punjab farming village, the origins of Bhangra dancing, how he sees his videos as more of a social service than entertainment, and how he overcomes technological challenges to connect with the world from his off-grid cabin in the Yukon wilderness.2022-06-1432 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMonique Golden on how XPRIZE is rapidly reskilling the workforceOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Monique Golden, Technical Lead for XPRIZE’s Rapid Reskilling Prize, a 30-month competition that aims to rapidly train 25,000 American workers to learn new skills via novel training solutions to obtain living wage jobs in growing industries. Monique talked about the ambitious goals of that competition and how XPRIZE uses large-scale global incentive competitions to crowdsource solutions to the world’s grand challenges. Monique also talked about her PhD research which focused on Black women and perfectionism and her ongoing efforts to close the gender gap in STEM.2022-06-0750 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDanielle Brewin Graham on investing in women entrepreneurs across CanadaOn this week’s episode, which officially marks the one-year anniversary of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve welcomed Danielle Brewin Graham, co-founder of The Firehood and Managing Partner of Phoenix Fire, an angel fund focused on investing in women entrepreneurs. Danielle talked about her journey from studying history to working in venture capital, creating the Fierce Founders program - the first women-focused accelerator in Canada, and how she aims to invest in women entrepreneurs from across Canada.2022-05-3141 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKyle Haapala on working for a Boston-based startup from SudburyOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kyle Haapala, Lead Product Designer at Boston-based startup Spoiler Alert, which works to reduce waste by helping food and CPG companies sell excess and short-dated inventory. Kyle talked about graphic design, remote work, his role at Spoiler Alert, and founding Charged, a Sudbury-based not for profit that brings in expert speakers to connect technology with the design community.2022-05-2438 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsFlavio Volpe on seizing the EV opportunity for CanadaOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA), Canada’s national association representing OEM producers of parts, equipment, tools, technology and services for the worldwide automotive industry. Flavio talked about his career path from working in government to now leading the APMA. Flavio also talked about the opportunities for Ontario and Canada to lead in EV manufacturing and the supply chain, as well as the APMA's ambitious Project Arrow initiative; Canada's first zero emissions concept vehicle.2022-05-1759 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDale Dye on changing the way Hollywood does warOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Captain Dale Dye. Following a distinguished military career, which included 31 combat operations in Vietnam, Captain Dye founded Warriors Inc. with the goal of helping Hollywood make war movies more realistic and improve screen portrayals of military men and women. Over the past three decades, Captain Dye has worked on more than 50 movies and TV shows, including Platoon, Saving Private Ryan, and Band of Brothers. During their conversation, Captain Dye talked about his time in the Marine Corps, his quest to bring his experience to the silver screen, and why Band of...2022-05-1053 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDoris Hiam-Galvez on mining around the world and CIM 2022On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Doris Hiam-Galvez, Senior Advisor at Hatch. Doris talked about her career running Hatch Peru and Hatch Europe and how she created new and innovative opportunities around the world. As Chair of the CIM Convention 2022, happening this week in Vancouver, Doris also talked about this year’s conference and some of the things that delegates can expect to take in and learn.2022-05-0328 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCurtis VanWalleghem on how Hydrostor is enabling the energy transitionOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Cutis VanWalleghem, co-founder and CEO of Hydrostor, a long-duration energy storage solution provider. Curtis talked about Hydrostor’s innovative technology and how the company is enabling the energy transition.2022-04-2634 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsRoseann O'Reilly Runte on how the CFI enables Canadian innovationOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Roseann O’Reilly Runte, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Roseann talked about her journey from French literature to the innovation ecosystem, the role that CFI plays in supporting R&D across the country, and how proud she is of the countless women across Canada who enable innovation.2022-04-1950 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDom Kwong on making the future of motorcycling a realityOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Dom Kwong, co-founder and COO of Damon Motors, an electric motorcycle startup. Dom talked about his journey from radio engineer and tech consultant to bike enthusiast and motorcycle entrepreneur. He also talked about all of the cutting-edge technology and intuitive design that goes into a Damon motorcycle; making it the safest high-performance motorcycle on the market.2022-04-1250 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMinister Jill Dunlop on the importance of Ontario's collegesOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were pleased to be joined by Ontario’s Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop. Minister Dunlop talked about her own education, the importance of experiential learning, and the role that the province’s college play in closing the skills gap and meeting the innovation needs of industry partners.2022-04-0534 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsSteven Salz on the future of gaming and bettingOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Steven Salz, co-founder and CEO of Rivalry Corp, an internationally-regulated sports betting and media company. Steven talked about his passion for gaming, how Rivalry is disrupting the world of internet gaming and sports betting, and where he sees the company going in the next few years.2022-03-2946 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTim Borgares on combining real-world robotics and eSportsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tim Borgares, co-founder and CTO of 54e Dev Studios. Tim talked about the company's origins in ag tech and how it led to the development of OneShot Golf, a skill-based mobile game that allows users to control real-world golfing robots for a true-to-life eSports experience. He also talked about the essential qualities that he looks for in new game designers and what's next for 54e Dev Studios.2022-03-2234 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCity Bonfires on how the pandemic sparked their businessOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Chris McCasland and Mike Opalski, the co-founders of City Bonfires, a portable, mini bonfire that is handmade in the United States. Chris and Mike talked about how the pandemic sparked their business, some of the things they’ve learned about bringing a product to market, and what’s next for the company.2022-03-1534 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsSheri Tomchick on the importance of having a Plan AOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Sheri Tomchick, founder and president of Plan A, powered by StaffStat. Sheri talked about what led to the founding of Plan A in 2011, how she has adapted her business during the pandemic, and some of the opportunities she sees for StaffStat in other sectors. 2022-03-0833 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsChris Hadfield on his career as an astronaut and beyondOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were joined by former astronaut Colonel Chris Hadfield. Colonel Hadfield talked about his distinguished career, which included flying three space missions, building two space stations, and conducting two spacewalks. Colonel Hadfield also talked about his ongoing efforts to make space more accessible to millions and his latest book, The Apollo Murders.2022-03-0153 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAmber Mac on staying on top of tech trendsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Amber Mac, President of AmberMac Media Inc. Amber went from attending a two-room country schoolhouse and sharing a party telephone line with neighboring houses on rural Prince Edward Island to becoming an internationally recognized innovation and technology leader. She talked about starting her career during the dot-com boom in San Francisco and how that experience shaped her approach to future ventures. Amber also talked about some of the podcasts she has hosted, such as This is Mining, some of the exciting technology trends happening in Canada, and how rural settings spur...2022-02-2239 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsPeter Mansbridge on his unlikely journey from baggage handler to Canada’s anchorOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by none other than Peter Mansbridge. Peter talked about his unlikely journey from Churchill airport baggage handler to chief correspondent for the CBC, his new book, Off the Record, and some of the highlights from his illustrious career.2022-02-1547 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTim McRoberts on going from the kitchen to the classroomOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Tim McRoberts, Director of Canada's Smartest Kitchen at Holland College. Tim talked about his career as a chef, going from the kitchen to the classroom and earning his PhD, and some of the innovative food science work happening at CSK.2022-02-0853 min
The Unlikely InnovatorsMeagan Simpson on covering Canada's tech startup ecosystemOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Meagan Simpson, Associate Editor at BetaKit, where she covers all things in the Canadian tech startup space. Meagan talked about her role at BetaKit, some of the trends she is seeing in the Canadian tech ecosystem, and how the country's vibrant tech pockets should resist the "Silicon Valley North" moniker. 2022-02-0139 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsTerry O'Reilly on how mistakes can lead to successOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Terry O'Reilly, host of CBC's incredibly popular radio show, Under the Influence. Terry talked about his career as an award-winning advertiser and some of the notable campaigns he worked on. He also shared some advice on how to protect your pitch in the board room and his latest book, My Best Mistake. 2022-01-2556 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsEmma Jarratt on reporting on Canada’s vibrant EV sectorOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Emma Jarratt, Managing Editor of Electric Autonomy Canada, an independent news platform reporting on Canada's transition to electric vehicles, autonomous transportation, and new mobility services. Emma talked about her role at Electric Autonomy and some of the trends she is seeing in the shift to electric and autonomous vehicles. Emma also talked about her career as journalist, including living abroad in Norway and her time at CTV's W5.2022-01-1846 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsSamantha Kuula on communicating the science behind SNOLABOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Samantha Kuula, Chief Business Officer at SNOLAB. Located 2km underground in Vale's Creighton Mine, SNOLAB is the deepest clean lab in the world. Samantha explained dark matter to the guys and then talked about some of the groundbreaking experiments happening at SNOLAB, the importance of science communication, and some of the lesser known facts about the incredibly innovative facility. 2022-01-1141 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsVineet Johnson on helping stroke patients regain their independenceOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Vineet Johnson, founder and CEO of IRegained, an innovative medical device company that accelerates rehabilitation for stroke patients. Vineet talked about the story of how IRegained came to be, how the MyHand system changes lives, and how the product has evolved over the years. Vineet also talked about the uniqueness of the innovation ecosystems in Northern Ontario and shared his passion for world travel and international street food.2022-01-0451 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsGabrielle Roy on authenticity and pursuing your passion (rebroadcast)For this week's episode, Mike and Steve are rebroadcasting their chat with Gabrielle Roy, founder and owner of Stitch & Stone, which originally aired in July 2021. It was the most popular episode this past year, so if you haven’t listened to it yet there’s no better time to catch up than this week. Gabrielle talked about how she realized her dreams of owning her own retail store, how she adapted her business model during the pandemic, and what advice she would give to aspiring young entrepreneurs. Happy holidays! The guys will be back next week with a new guest.2021-12-2832 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCallen McGibbon on putting the education back in Phys Ed.On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Callen McGibbon, co-founder of REPerformance, a digital physical education startup. Callen talked about how REPerformance differentiates itself by focusing on education, his experience in the prestigious Canadian Technology Accelerator (CTA) in Silicon Valley, and even offered some advice on how to achieve your New Year's resolutions.2021-12-2141 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKevin Dagenais on turning data into decisionsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Kevin Dagenais, CEO of Cascadia Scientific. Cascadia has propelled itself from a fuel measurement tech start-up to an AI firm serving the mining sector. Mike and Steve talked to Kevin about that journey and what's next for the company.2021-12-1432 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAnthony Prenol on navigating the IP worldOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve spoke with Anthony Prenol, a lawyer, patent agent, and trademark agent with the firm CPST Intellectual Property in Toronto. Anthony talked about different kinds of intellectual property (IP), best practices for companies, and common pitfalls to avoid when commercializing IP.2021-12-0751 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMichael Leckie on bridging the gap between urban life and the wildOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Michael Leckie, founder of Leckie Studio Architecture + Design. Michael is an architect and entrepreneur working to evolve the traditional boundaries of architectural practice as a catalyst for cultural change. Michael talked about how spending time in nature informed his approach to architectural design and also discussed some of his other ventures such as The Backcountry Hut Company and Arcana, both of which aim to bridge the gap between urban life and the wild. 2021-11-3046 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsScott Everett on how modern tech can solve our most complex problemsOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Scott Everett, co-founder and CEO of Eigen Innovations, a machine vision company focused on providing deep AI solutions for process and quality control. Scott talked about how his passion for engineering started on the farm, his time at the Creative Destruction Lab at the University of Toronto, how Eigen uses AI to solve manufacturing challenges, and the innovation ecosystem in New Brunswick. 2021-11-2344 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAsh Agarwal on solving mining's "Alexa problem"On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome Ash Argawal, CEO of Symboticware Inc. Ash chatted about how his early days working in the mining sector influenced his intuitive approach to solving complex problems. Ash also provided some great insights around strategies for adopting transformative technologies such as AI and machine learning in the mining sector.2021-11-1656 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsSaleema Vellani on how Innovation Starts with IOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Saleema Vellani, founder and CEO of Ripple Impact and author of Innovation Starts with I. During their conversation, Saleema talked about founding her company, the launch of her new book, what the term "hybridpreneurship" means, and the advice she would have for aspiring entrepreneurs. 2021-11-0941 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsEllie Ardakani on crossing the hidden bridgeOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Ellie Ardakani, co-founder and CEO of Meta Innovations Technologies. Ellie talked about her journey to Canada from Iran, her transition from academia to industry, and launching her first tech startup. 2021-11-0232 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsFrank Bach on how design brought him from Azilda to LAOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Frank Bach, a Lead Product Designer at Headspace, one of the world’s leading mindfulness and meditation apps. Frank spoke about his Northern Ontario roots, his early success starting up his own creative agency in Sudbury, and his journey out to Los Angeles, where he now works for Headspace.2021-10-261h 06The Unlikely InnovatorsVictoria Coleman on how Verv helps consumers take control of their own healthOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Victoria Coleman, Vice President of Business Development at Verv Technologies, a Sudbury-based med-tech startup. The guys chatted with Victoria about her career path from a clinician to an executive, the growing importance of telemedicine, and how Verv's disruptive technology, a home biochemistry lab, will change healthcare by empowering consumers from the comfort of their own home.2021-10-1940 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsAlicia Woods on why Covergalls are much more than workwearOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Alicia Woods, founder and CEO of Covergalls Workwear. Alicia talked about her journey in the mining industry and how her experience as a woman led her to establish Covergalls - a coverall designed for women working in heavy industry. Alicia also talked about scaling her business, the importance of proper fitting workwear for women and how it can help address workplace diversity and inclusion. She also shared her vision for making Covergalls much more than a workwear company. 2021-10-1242 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsBrian Lee on going from the mining sector to the tech sectorOn this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome Brian Lee, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) & Product Strategy at Normative, a Toronto-based innovation services firm. The guys covered a lot of ground from Brian’s early days working as a process engineer at Vale to starting and scaling teaBOT, an on-demand tea robot start-up. They also chatted about Brian’s early brushes with entrepreneurship, watching his parents build, run, and exit Grandmother’s Bake Shoppe, whose butter tarts can be found in stores everywhere. Brian offers some excellent insights on building and commercializing products by going back to the basics of clien...2021-10-0540 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsDenise Amyot shares her passion for Canadian collegesOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Denise Amyot, the president and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, the voice of Canada's colleges, institutes, CÉGEPs, and polytechnics, and an international leader in education for employment in over 25 countries. Denise talked about common threads that stitch together colleges across Canada, the important role that applied research plays in helping students and companies, and she also shares some highlights from CICan's most recent applied research survey. 2021-09-2846 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKarim Omri on scaling an engineering firmOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve are joined by Karim Omri, president and principal engineer of Komri Engineering. They talked about Karim's path to engineering, scaling his business, what forensic engineering entails, and what the advent of electric vehicles means for engineers and the public.2021-09-2138 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMike and Steve reflect on the podcast journey so farOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve reflect on the podcast journey so far and highlight some of the things they have learned. They also answer a question from Charles Nyabeze on whether there is a survey out there to assess local business requirements for engaging in college applied research. Mike and Steve tackle that question and look ahead to the future of the podcast. Tune into next week's episode, where they will be once again joined by a guest. 2021-09-1429 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsNadia Mykytczuk on biomining, applied research, and science communicationOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, interim President and CEO of MIRARCO, a not-for-profit research arm of Laurentian University. During their conversation, they discussed Nadia's research in biomining, how she has adjusted to her new role as an executive, how applied research organizations such as MIRARCO and the Centre for Smart Mining can help mining companies innovate, and the lessons that the mining, oil and gas industries can take from Sudbury. They also talked about how, in the face of opposition and resistance to COVID-19 vaccination, science communication is more important now than e...2021-09-0750 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsKati McCartney's non-linear path to launching a green tech startupOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Kati McCartney, founding President of FROSKR Corporation, an environmental consulting and technology firm. As part of their conversation, Kati talked about her non-linear career path, establishing an environmental startup in the mining industry, how mining plays a critical role in our new energy economy in the face of climate change, and her time on Cambrian's Board of Governors. Kati also leaves the guys with a few golf tips. 2021-08-3151 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsShelby Yee on building a successful tech startup in the mining sectorOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Shelby Yee, founder and CEO of RockMass Technologies, a Toronto-based tech startup that offers a transformational data collection tool for the mining sector. The guys chatted with Shelby about her journey as a founder, some of the uniqueness involved in selling high-tech products to mines, the burgeoning investment ecosystem for mine-focused technology firms, and some tidbits about her time working in logistics for the 2015 Pan Am Games.2021-08-2442 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsRob Roy on going from the skatepark to the boardroomOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Rob Roy, Partner and Director of Business at Studio 123, who dropped in to talk about his entrepreneurial roots, creative philosophies, and how his passion for skateboarding shaped his career path. 2021-08-1758 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCharles Nyabeze really digs miningCharles Nyabeze is the guy to know in mining. As the Vice-President of Business Development and Commercialization at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), there are few trends in the sector that Charles doesn’t know about. On this week's episode, Mike and Steve talk to Charles about some transformational technologies facing the mining sector, the role academia can play in mining innovation and technology adoption, as well as CEMI’s exciting new initiative, the Mining Innovation Commercialization Accelerator (MICA) Network. Charles also talks about how important mining is to everyday life and shares some interesting facts abou...2021-08-1041 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsStella Holloway on choosing mining as a careerOn this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcome Stella Holloway, Vice-President of Northern Ontario Operations at MacLean Engineering to the podcast. Stella has had an exciting and fulfilling career in the mining industry and she recommends it to anyone. The guys chat with Stella about the battery electric vehicle trend in underground mining, what makes the industry an attractive option for young people, and her efforts to encourage women and girls to consider mining as a career. They also talk about karaoke, Wayne Gretzky, and Justin Trudeau, but you'll have to tune in to find out how the Great...2021-08-0351 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsLinda Franklin makes the case for Ontario's collegesFor some, Ontario's colleges are still viewed as unlikely destinations for innovation. On this week's episode, Mike and Steve had the privilege to speak with Linda Franklin, President & CEO of Colleges Ontario, the advocacy association for Ontario’s 24 Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Since joining Colleges Ontario in 2007, Linda has witnessed some incredible transformations to the province's college system, particularly in the realm of applied research. During their conversation, she recounts some of these changes and talks about the important work that she and Colleges Ontario are doing to dispel some of the misconceptions about a college education. Af...2021-07-2745 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsGabrielle Roy on authenticity and pursuing your passionEntrepreneurs are an integral part of any vibrant innovation ecosystem. This week, Mike and Steve had the privilege to chat with one of Sudbury’s brightest business owners, Gabrielle Roy, founder and owner of Stitch & Stone, a modern fashion boutique with a subtle touch of bohemian charm. In 2015, after a series of successful pop-up shops, Gabrielle opened Stitch & Stone, which quickly became one of the most popular stores in Sudbury and is now becoming a household name in Canada. The guys talked to Gabrielle about how she realized her dreams of owning her own retail store, how she adapted her...2021-07-2030 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsMarc Fortin on why Canadian colleges are engines of innovationApplied research being conducted at Canadian colleges has grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade, allowing institutions to better serve local companies and help them turn their ideas into reality. A major reason Canadian colleges have reached this capacity is chiefly because of the funding provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada’s (NSERC) College and Community Innovation program (CCI), which fuels applied R&D projects between colleges and industry partners. On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcome NSERC’s Vice President of Research Partnerships, Dr. Marc Fortin, to talk about the ev...2021-07-1343 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsLiam McGill on Sudbury’s rise as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurshipIn this week’s episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve are finally joined by a guest! The guys welcome Liam McGill, Manager of Investment & Business Development with the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development Department to talk about his role in overseeing the city’s investment attraction and business expansion efforts and how Sudbury has evolved to become a vibrant city that boasts a thriving innovation economy. Liam’s enthusiasm and pride for Sudbury will make anyone want to live here.2021-07-0647 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsOh, the humanities: Finding a place in STEM as a humanities gradAs humanities graduates, Mike and Steve didn't initially envision themselves in the world of STEM. But after working in the world of applied research, they have come to realize the important role that humanities grads can play in innovation and R&D. In this week's episode, the guys touch on how the skills they developed in the humanities have shaped their careers and why they think it is important to have humanities graduates on your team. 2021-06-2930 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsShow me the money: Navigating the funding worldIn the third episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve talk about how colleges can help industry partners navigate the funding world to make their R&D projects a reality. While exploring funding opportunities can sometimes be a daunting process for SMEs, the guys also talk about how, even for the colleges and the funders, it can be a hair-raising experience.
If you have a question for the show or want to connect with Cambrian R&D or the Centre for Smart Mining, please drop us a line.2021-06-1530 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsWhat is a TAC?In this episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve discuss NSERC's Technology Access Centre (TAC) program, a federally-funded initiative that establishes specialized research hubs affiliated with Colleges and CÉGEP’s across Canada. The guys chat about the value of TACs broadly and dig into the founding of Cambrian’s first TAC, the Centre for Smart Mining. Mike also shares some insights from the tense TAC site evaluation process that Cambrian had to go through in order to get the Centre for Smart Mining off the ground.
If you want to see The Office parody video that...2021-06-0835 minThe Unlikely InnovatorsCollege Applied Research 101In the first episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve talk about how Canadian colleges are still often seen by some as unlikely destinations for innovation. Drawing from their experiences working in the college applied research world, they explain how this couldn't be further from the truth.
If you have a question for the show or want to connect with Cambrian R&D or the Centre for Smart Mining, please drop us a line.2021-06-0130 min