The Retaining Purpose Podcast

Retaining Purpose Podcast

A podcast about leadership, entrepreneurship and finding your purpose.

  1. APR 7

    She’s 21 & Leading a Team of 90 🤯 | EP20 - Aarushi Bhargava

    Today we sit down with Aarushi Bhargava - an emerging leader passionate about innovation, impact, and empowering others to pursue ambitious ideas.  Aarushi currently serves as Co-President of Project90, a humanitarian engineering team of over 90 students working to develop real-world solutions - ranging from adaptive equipment for children with disabilities to international water infrastructure projects.    Alongside her leadership work, Aarushi is a third-year student at the University of Calgary, where she is pursuing a degree in chemical engineering with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development. Through her work in engineering, mentorship, and innovation programs, she hopes to inspire others to step outside their comfort zones and realize the impact they are capable of creating.    In this conversation, Aarushi shares her perspective on empowering the next generation of leaders, challenging traditional ideas of leadership, and why young innovators shouldn’t wait for change - they should build it.      Connect With Aarushi: LinkedIn | Instagram  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    48 min

  2. MAR 24

    Harvard Prof Explains The Right Way to Fail 💡 | EP19 - Amy Edmondson

    Today we sit down with Amy C. Edmondson, one of the world’s leading voices on psychological safety, leadership, and organizational learning, and the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School.     Named the world’s number one management thinker by Thinkers50, Amy is the author of several influential books, including The Fearless Organization, and her latest, Right Kind of Wrong, which explores the science of failing well. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company, and her TED Talk, How to Turn a Group of Strangers into a Team, has been viewed by millions around the world.    In this conversation, Amy and Randy explore what psychological safety really means in practice, why fear can quietly undermine performance and innovation, and how leaders can create environments where people feel safe to speak up, take risks, and grow - even when things don’t go as planned.    Connect With Amy: Website | Instagram | LinkedIn  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    53 min

  3. MAR 10

    Leading a People-First Tech Company | EP18 - James Parsons

    James is the CEO of Partek, a leading Managed Services Provider based in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Over nearly two decades, James has grown Partek into one of the region’s most trusted IT and cybersecurity partners for small and mid-sized organizations.    James’s work spans technology strategy, service design, cybersecurity architecture, and the operational leadership of a fast-growing technical team. But at his core, he’s relationship-driven. He believes culture is a company’s true competitive edge - and that when leaders invest in their people, clients feel it, performance improves, and sustainable growth follows.    Throughout the conversation, James shares how trust, accountability, and clear values have shaped Partek’s success, and why strong leadership matters just as much as strong systems in today’s digital landscape. From building resilient teams to navigating the evolving cybersecurity space, this episode offers a grounded look at what it takes to lead a people-first technology business with purpose.    Connect With James: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    59 min

  4. FEB 24

    A 19-Year-Old on Canadian Politics 🇨🇦 | EP17 - Matt Goodey

    On today’s episode, we sit down with Matt Goodey, political science student at University of Lethbridge. Randy first met Matt while he was bartending, and what began as a casual conversation quickly turned into a deeper discussion about values, purpose, and personal responsibility.     Coming from a background in farm management, Matt shares how stepping outside of his comfort zone has shaped his worldview and his desire to continually become a better version of himself. Guided by the idea of “be better than you were yesterday,” he speaks candidly about optimism, accountability, and the importance of reflecting on our actions - even when we fall short.    At the heart of the conversation is Matt’s belief that human connection is one of the purest things we have left. He challenges listeners to look beyond words or actions alone, to consider intent, and to recognize our own biases when judging others. Despite his age, Matt brings a grounded perspective on integrity, equality, and service - sharing his ambition to leave the world better than he found it by starting small: in workplaces, social groups, and local communities.    This episode is an honest, refreshing reminder that purpose isn’t reserved for those with decades of experience - it’s shaped by curiosity, humility, and a willingness to live bigger than yourself.    Connect With Matt: Instagram  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    1h 8m

  5. FEB 10

    The Leadership Skill Schools Miss | EP16 - Curtis Hegge

    In this episode, we’re joined by Curtis Hegge, EdTech Lead at The International School of Macao, and a passionate advocate for service-based leadership in education and beyond.    With a career that has moved from shop teacher to physical education, design, and instructional technology, Curtis has built a reputation for helping students and teachers feel supported, capable, and confident to grow. Working in international schools across Asia, he focuses on creating environments rooted in trust, psychological safety, and meaningful relationships.   Curtis draws heavily on the lessons he has learned through sports - especially golf and rugby - to shape his leadership approach. Golf taught him patience, emotional control, and the importance of intentional practice, while rugby taught him teamwork, resilience, and the power of shared purpose. As the coach of a men’s rugby team in China, he led the team to win the All-China Cup twice in three years, reinforcing his belief that service, consistency, and connection drive meaningful performance. These experiences influence how he coaches teachers, supports students, and builds strong, purpose-driven teams.    This conversation explores what authentic leadership looks like in practice - how educators, coaches, and leaders can move away from control and toward trust, and why investing in people is the foundation of any purpose-driven team.    Connect With Curtis: LinkedIn  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    47 min

  6. JAN 27

    Why Smart People Fail with Great Technology | EP15 - John Hetherington

    In this episode, we’re joined by John Hetherington, a Technology Strategist, international speaker, and founder of We Deliver Your Vision. John works with mid-sized organizations to unlock AI-powered visibility, speed, and scale - helping leaders make critical decisions in hours, not weeks.    With more than 25 years of experience leading digital transformation across the UK, US, and Canada, John has partnered with hundreds of CEOs and CFOs to modernize systems, streamline operations, and turn fragmented data into strategic advantage.      Before founding his own firm, John spent over a decade at Deloitte and Ernst & Young, guiding large-scale enterprise transformation initiatives and helping organizations navigate complexity with confidence. Now based in Calgary, John advises teams around the world on building the structure, flow, and accountability required to scale sustainably.    This conversation explores what happens when systems stall or visibility breaks down, and how leaders can use technology to build the team, flow, and discipline that scales.   Connect With John: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    48 min

  7. JAN 13

    Breakdown Vs. Breakthrough: The Line No One Sees | EP14 - Trevor Moore

    Today we sit down with Trevor Moore, a neurodivergent entrepreneur, speaker, coach, husband, and dad who knows the cost of pretending to be okay.  Trevor spent years masking mental health struggles, pushing through chronic pain, and trying to “outwork” his inner critic – until he reached a breaking point that became a turning point. Now, he uses his story to help others move from survival mode to sustainable growth - delivering honest, relatable, and actionable strategies to leaders, athletes, and high-achieving humans across Canada. From boardrooms to ballrooms, classrooms to competitions, Trevor brings real-world tools, lived experience, and high-impact delivery that resonates.    Join us for a real and refreshing conversation about resilience, identity, and the courage it takes to stop pretending you’re okay - and start leading from a place of honesty and strength.    Connect With Trevor: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook  Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Follow Retaining Purpose: Spotify |  Apple | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok  Apply To Be On The Show: Guest Application Form

    59 min

  8. 2025-12-30

    What 20 Years of Experience Didn’t Teach Me | EP13 - Randy Valk (Brandy & Craig)

    To close out 2025, we thought we’d switch things up and put our host Randy Valk in the guest seat! Our friends Craig Elias and Brandy Old return to the studio as our guest hosts to reflect on the moments, missteps, and mindset shifts that shaped Randy’s journey from long-time employee to business owner and founder.  Randy shares the unexpected turning point that changed everything - losing his job and choosing to step into ownership of a 40+ year-old landscaping business when the “safe” path disappeared. He reflects on what it means to start “late,” why betting on yourself is rarely logical, and how a series of imperfect decisions rooted in courage, timing, and a willingness to learn ultimately led to success beyond what he could have planned for.    From growing green spaces to scaling water-focused technology, Randy explains how trust, values, and community impact guide every decision he makes. This candid conversation is a powerful reminder that meaningful growth requires discomfort, experience doesn’t guarantee clarity, and the questions we’re willing to ask ourselves can ultimately reshape the direction of Connect With Randy: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram  Connect With Craig: ⁠LinkedIn⁠  Connect With Brandy: ⁠LinkedIn⁠  Follow Retaining Purpose: ⁠Spotify⁠ |  ⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠ | ⁠Instagram⁠ | ⁠TikTok⁠  Apply To Be On The Show: ⁠Guest Application Form⁠

    50 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A podcast about leadership, entrepreneurship and finding your purpose.

Information

  • Creator
    Retaining Purpose Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Retaining Purpose Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Retaining Purpose Podcast