The Calgary Sessions with Jeff Humphreys

Jeff Humphreys
  • 4.9 (46)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Calgary Sessions: A podcast about the awesome people who make Calgary what it is. I'm Jeff Humphreys, and I'm here to share stories of locals who inspire us, from the big wins to the tough times.. Join me for real talks that get to the heart of our city. This show is all about connecting with the different voices in our community. Whether you've lived here forever or just got here, The Calgary Sessions is all about the amazing journey stories of people adding to our city's vibe.

  1. 4D AGO

    Karly Jacobsen: From Nursing to Building a Beverage Company

    Karly Jacobsen went from working hospital shifts to helping build a beverage company with her brother. After a hiking accident pulled her out of nursing, she stepped into the early days of Rviita, a Calgary-based better-for-you energy drink company, and started helping build the business from the ground up. We get into family business, retail, customer connection, storytelling, and what it actually takes to keep building when there is no clear roadmap. Connect with Karly Jacobsen: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠⁠

    1h 12m

  2. APR 29

    Rob Sawchuk: Grief, Music, and Finding What Fits

    Rob Sawchuk returns to The Calgary Sessions as the first repeat guest on the show, and this conversation carries a lot more than the episode 200 milestone. Jeff and Rob talk about what changed over the past six years, from building for other people and working out of the basement to opening Turkey & Pistols, stepping further into music, and trying to build a life that actually fits. It’s a conversation about grief, caregiving, creative risk, community, and what happens when the thing that used to sit on the side starts becoming the path that makes the most sense. Connect with Rob Sawchuk: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠⁠

    1h 29m

  3. APR 22

    Lana Rogers: Building a Business Without the Usual Playbook

    Lana Rogers is the founder of Gentle Lion Communications, but this conversation is about a lot more than marketing. We talk about burnout, self-awareness, hospitality, accidental entrepreneurship, and what it looks like to build a business without following the usual blueprint. Lana shares how years of working in restaurants shaped the way she reads people, creates experiences, and leads a team. She also talks openly about hitting a wall, learning her own burnout signs, and doing the work to understand herself better. There’s also a thread running through this episode around confidence, sobriety, karaoke, and community. It sounds random at first, but it actually says a lot about how people change, what aliveness feels like, and how new versions of ourselves show up. Connect with Lana Rogers: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠⁠

    1h 21m

  4. APR 15

    April Brown on Burnout, Clarity, and Building Rootbar

    April Brown is the founder of Rootbar, but this conversation is about more than building a salon brand. We talk about the discipline that shaped her early, from competitive soccer to starting in the hair industry at a young age, and how that same drive carried into entrepreneurship. April opens up about burnout, divorce, COVID as a reset, and the time and space she needed to get clear on what she actually wanted. That clarity became the foundation for Rootbar. This episode gets into ambition, identity, leadership, mentorship, and the pressure a lot of driven people put on themselves as they grow. It is a conversation about knowing your why, building with intention, and learning that slowing down does not always mean falling behind. Sometimes it is the thing that helps you lead better and make better decisions. We also talk about company culture, developing people, franchising, motherhood, and what it takes to build something that feels aligned, sustainable, and worth the effort. Connect with April Brown: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

    1h 9m

  5. APR 8

    Jill Dewes: Turning an Unemployable Degree Into a Creative Career

    Jill Dewes spent years in the high-stakes world of advertising,eventually becoming a partner at Daughter Creative. But long before the big brand launches and the 80-hour work weeks, she was a student with a degree in Ancient Greek history—a move she admits was "really unemployable" at the time. In this episode, Jill shares the breaking point that brought her to Calgary. After a decade of burnout in New Zealand, a home invasion served as the final straw that led her and her husband to move to the prairies sight-unseen. Since arriving in 2010, she has become a fixture in the local creative scene. During her nine years at Daughter Creative, Jill was part of theleadership team during the agency's work on major projects like the "Blue Sky City" brand, the Calgary Zoo, and Glenbow.However, she recently realized she had moved too far away from the creative work she actually loved. She didn’t want to be the "millstone" slowing the agency down, so she chose a "conscious uncoupling" from her partnershipto start her own consultancy, Nice One. We talk about: The "Midnight Run": Why Jill’s family fled Canada for New Zealand overnight when she was seven.The Classics Advantage: How studying the "ferryman of the dead" actually helped her land her first job in advertising.Knowing When to Leave: The vulnerability of realizing you’re no longer in the right seat at your own company.The Business of One: Why she’s spending her 50s as a "fractional matchmaker" with a clear goal to retire by 55. Connect with Jill Dewes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

    1h 25m

  6. APR 1

    Adrian Stimson: From Tribal Councilor to the Art Studio

    What makes a person walk away from a decade of stability in tribal politics to start over as a "starving student" at 40? In this episode of The Calgary Sessions, Adrian Stimson shares the grit it takes to move from a position of political influence into the uncertainty of an art studio. We dig into Adrian’s "Tickle, Slap, and Hug" approach—his unique way of using humor to bring people into some of the toughest conversations in our culture. From facing a gauntlet of racism in rural Alberta schools to being embedded with Canadian troops in Afghanistan, this conversation is about the search for a true vocation and the resilience required to find it. In this episode, we talk about: The Mid-Life Pivot: Why Adrian left a 10-year political career to become a student again. The "Tickle, Slap, and Hug": A real-world framework for navigating hard truths through art. Life in Afghanistan: What Adrian observed while embedded with the troops in Kandahar. Siksika Culture: The responsibility of protecting the language of pictographs and Blackfoot history. Leading AUArts: Taking one of Canada’s premier art institutions into its 100th year. Connect with Adrian Stimson: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

    1h 36m

  7. MAR 25

    Burn the Boats: Total Commitment with Tommy Wheeldon Jr.

    What does it actually take to go "all in" on a vision? Tommy Wheeldon Jr., the Head Coach and GM of Cavalry FC, joins the show to share the story behind the "Burn the Boats" mentality that helped him build a professional soccer club in Calgary from a blank canvas. This isn’t your typical sports interview. Tommy dives into thehuman side of leadership, discussing how his "nomadic" childhood taught him to find comfort in uncomfortable situations and why he believes every high-performer needs to schedule time for "play" to stay sharp. We also explore the "Sunrise and Sunset" of a career—a powerful framework for navigating transitions and helping people find their purpose long after the game (or the job) is over. In this episode, we talk about: The "Burn the Boats" Strategy: Why total commitment requires severing your retreat lines. Gifting Yourself "Play": How hobbies like golf provide the mental clarity needed for high-stakes leadership. Career Transitions: Managing the "sunset" of a professional journey and finding a new identity. The Power of Mentorship: Lessons from the legendary Southern family and building a community at Spruce Meadows. Connect with Tommy Wheeldon Jr.: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠ Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

    1h 30m

  8. MAR 18

    "Never Be the Smartest Man in the Room" | Peter Izzo

    What does it actually take to sustain a family legacy withoutlosing your own identity? In this episode, Peter Izzo (President of CappuccinoKing) joins Jeff Humphreys to pull back the curtain on the reality of the immigrant work ethic and the transition of a multi-generational Calgary brand. Peter shares the unfiltered stories of his upbringing—from working the railroad night shift while trying to finish high school, to being 16 years old and driving himself to junior high because he was "out ofsync" with his peers. He also opens up about the difficult ultimatum from hisfather that forced him to choose between his own independence and taking the business out of the family basement to build what it is today. Inside the conversation: The "Old World" Tension: The struggle to modernize a business when the previous generation prefers torun it out of the home. The Railroad & The Classroom: Working overnight on the LRT lines while calling in your ownschool absences at age 18. Entrepreneur vs. Businessman: Why "seat of the ass" entrepreneurs are a different breed than those with a traditional business plan. Defining Success: Why Peter believes success is an internal belief, not a perception of being "the Golden Globe." Connect with Peter Izzo: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠ Connect with Jeff Humphreys ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Off Set Studios⁠

    1h 41m
See All (216)

4.9
out of 5
46 Ratings

About

The Calgary Sessions: A podcast about the awesome people who make Calgary what it is. I'm Jeff Humphreys, and I'm here to share stories of locals who inspire us, from the big wins to the tough times.. Join me for real talks that get to the heart of our city. This show is all about connecting with the different voices in our community. Whether you've lived here forever or just got here, The Calgary Sessions is all about the amazing journey stories of people adding to our city's vibe.

Information

You Might Also Like