Coyote Conversations

Crescent Media House
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Coyote Conversations is a podcast series produced by Crescent students and hosted by Crescent Alumni. Each episode is a conversation with members of the Crescent community. From 'Boys of Promise to Men of Character', we reflect on their journey starting in the halls of Crescent.   Our guests will share insightful stories of their time at school and the impact classmates and staff had on their lives. The journey continues where we explore the diverse paths taken, challenges and perspectives learned. There are valuable lessons learned about creativity, perseverance, leadership, and community service from their stories of personal growth - successes, and failures. Coyote conversations is hosted by Hessam Ghadaki Class of '99, General Counsel at https://timesgroup.ca Do you know a Crescent community member who has an interesting story or career to share? Are you interested in getting involved in the next season of Coyote Conversations. Let us know at alumni@crescentshool.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. MAY 6

    Episode 23: Brian Lang '87 and Chris van de Water '99

    In this athletics-focused episode, host Hassam Gadakki '99 sits down with fellow alumni Brian Lang '87 and Chris van de Water '99 for an inspiring discussion about running, triathlons, and the drive to push personal boundaries. Brian shares his athletic journey, from catching the triathlon bug on the west coast to completing 40 marathons by age 40 and tackling gruelling 250-kilometre ultramarathons like the Four Deserts Challenge. Chris discusses his transition from elite competitive swimming to racing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii, and his current multi-year streak of running sub-2:40 marathons. Beyond physical endurance, the trio explores the mental resilience and life management required to succeed in these grueling sports. Listeners will hear insightful discussions on: The importance of risk-taking, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and lowering your threshold for risk as you age.How to find your "why" and balance rigorous athletic training with family and career responsibilities.Practical time-management strategies, including auditing your 168-hour week to prioritize what matters most.A top 10 list of actionable training tips for athletes of all levels, ranging from setting goals and joining a community to the importance of consistency. Whether you are an aspiring marathoner, a seasoned triathlete, or just looking for motivation to tackle your next big life challenge, this episode is packed with incredible stories and practical advice. This episode was edited by Crescent student Michael Belmonte ‘27 and made possible by Carson McGregor, Communications & Technology Faculty and the Crescent Alumni Executive. Music by Matt Large Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  2. FEB 23

    Episode 22: Blake Rosenberg ’12

    Blake Rosenberg ’12 is the CEO and Founder of Maverick Sports Group. After leaving Crescent, Blake completed an HBA degree at Ivey and then went on to get his law degree from Tulane and Queens. Blake is a licensed attorney in both Canada and New York, giving him a solid background that bridges football operations and corporate law.  Blake began his football career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (CFL), later joining Tulane University’s player personnel and recruiting team. As a lawyer, he has been involved in over $1 billion in corporate deals before shifting into full-time athlete representation. Today, Blake leads contract negotiations and brand partnerships for Maverick clients, securing playing deals and endorsements with top-tier brands like DICK’S Sporting Goods, KFC, Uber Eats, Fashion Nova and more. This episode was hosted by Jason Steel ’99, edited by Crescent students and made possible by Carson McGregor, Communications & Technology Faculty. Music by Matt Large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 15m

  3. JAN 19

    Episode 21: Pat Mills P’99

    Retired Crescent faculty member, Pat Mills P’99 graduated from Trent University and UofT before starting at Crescent as a teacher in the Lower School in 1973. Pat later spent time as Head of Lower and Middle school, before finishing his time at Crescent as the Director of Alumni Relations. In 2004, Pat retired from Crescent. Pat sat down with his former student, alumnus and now Crescent Chief Advancement Officer, Jamie Lougheed ’87, P’18, to share stories from his time at Crescent as a teacher, Head, and parent.  This episode was produced by alumni and students for the Crescent community. Recorded and edited by Michele Belmonte ‘27 and made possible by Carson McGregor, Communications & Technology Faculty and Crescent Alumni. Music by Matt Large Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    46 min

  4. JAN 5

    Episode 20: Catching Up With Jeff Mitz

    You might be familiar with Catching Up With, a regular feature in Past & Present, Crescent’s alumni magazine. It’s where one of our grads sits down with a retired teacher to reminisce, reflect, and share stories. These chats are always full of great moments, even if we only have space for a short article in the magazine. On this episode, we’re sharing the unedited interview between Robbie Mitchnick, Class of ’09, and longtime Crescent staff member, Jeff Mitz, who was Head of Guidance from 2000 to 2012. The recording wasn’t done in a studio, so the audio’s a little raw, but we think that adds to its charm.  We hope you enjoy this special edition of Coyote Conversations. This episode is hosted by Robbie Mitchnick, Class of ’09. Coyote Conversations is made possible by Carson McGregor, Communication Technology Faculty and the Crescent Alumni Executive.  Music by Matt Large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Episode 19: Mike McDerment ’94

    Mike McDerment ’94 is an entrepreneur and the co-founder and board chair of FreshBooks, Briza and a new company in the works. Mike learned many valuable lessons of success, structure and hard work at Crescent. His time at Crescent led him to start multiple businesses, eventually leading him to create the software that is now FreshBooks.  FreshBooks is the #1 accounting software in the cloud, designed exclusively for freelancers and growing service-based business owners. Built-in 2003 after he accidentally saved over an invoice, Mike spent 3.5 years growing FreshBooks from his parents’ basement. Since then, over 30 million people have used FreshBooks to save time billing, and collect billions of dollars.  This episode is hosted by Jason Steel ’93, and recorded and edited by Andrew Loukas ’27. Coyote Conversations is made possible by Carson McGregor, Communication Technology Faculty and the Crescent Alumni Executive.  Music by Matt Large. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min

  6. 11/17/2025

    Episode 18: Bram Belzberg ’98

    Bram Belzberg ’98 is the Chairman and CEO of KEV Group, where he has led the company since 2009 in its mission to bring visibility and control to school finances across North America. Under his leadership, KEV has grown to support over 26,000 schools and manages more than $4 billion annually in student activity funds, helping districts eliminate financial blind spots and better serve their communities. Prior to joining KEV, Bram was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs & Co. He’s widely recognized as both a business and philanthropic leader and currently serves on the boards of several non-profit and educational organizations. A proud graduate of McGill University, Bram also holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. He brings a deep commitment to public education, financial transparency, and empowering the often-unsung heroes behind school operations. This episode is hosted by Jason Steel ’93, and recorded and edited by Andrew Loukas ’27. Coyote Conversations is made possible by Carson McGregor, Communication Technology Faculty and the Crescent Alumni Executive.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    47 min

  7. 06/16/2025

    Episode 17: Eric Khoury ’06

    Eric Khoury ’06, Toronto Raptors Assistant Coach, became the youngest head coach in Raptors 905 franchise history in July 2022.  On this episode of Coyote Conversations, Eric sits down with alumnus and current faculty member Griffin Bush ’06 to delve into the path that took Eric from being a Crescent grad to engineering at UofT to a position on the Raptors coaching staff.  They delve into Khoury’s experience in the Raptors front-end office, the coaching staff, what it was like working with Dwayne Casey, Nick Nurse and of course, being on the bus for the championship parade. A native of Toronto, Khoury joined the Raptors organization in 2012 as an intern in the basketball operations department, working with algorithms to detect basketball actions and plan defences. In 2015, he was promoted to Manager of Basketball Operations and Analytics, where he focused on college players and producing analytics reports for the coaching staff. Khoury joined the Raptors bench in 2017 as a member of former Head Coach Dwayne Casey’s staff while also serving as the Director of Analytics. As an assistant coach, he won an NBA Championship with the Raptors in 2019. He would be named lead assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Raptors 905 in 2019, helping lead the franchise to the best record in the league and leading the G League in offensive efficiency in 2020. Khoury then returned to the Raptors bench in 2021. A University of Toronto graduate, Khoury holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Aerospace Engineering and a Master of Applied Science in Experimental Fluid Dynamics. This episode is hosted by current faculty member and alumnus, Griffin Bush ’06, and recorded and edited by Kai McKee ’25. Coyote Conversations is made possible by Carson McGregor, Communication Technology Faculty and the Crescent Alumni Executive. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 24m

  8. 05/29/2025

    Episode 16: Ross Turvey and David Bruser ’95

    Ross Turvey, former Crescent faculty, sat down with alumnus David Bruser ’95 for a Catching Up With… interview for Past & Present summer 2025 edition. These chats are always full of great moments, even if we only have space for a short article in the magazine. So, we thought — why not let you hear the full conversation?  The recording wasn’t done in a studio, so the audio’s a little raw, but we think that adds to its charm. You’ll get to hear the real rhythm and warmth of their exchange as David interviews Mr Turvey, longtime Upper School English teacher, who taught at Crescent from 1990 to 2011. After Crescent, he lived in Zurich for 10 years and is now “loving life” in Montreal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
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About

Coyote Conversations is a podcast series produced by Crescent students and hosted by Crescent Alumni. Each episode is a conversation with members of the Crescent community. From 'Boys of Promise to Men of Character', we reflect on their journey starting in the halls of Crescent.   Our guests will share insightful stories of their time at school and the impact classmates and staff had on their lives. The journey continues where we explore the diverse paths taken, challenges and perspectives learned. There are valuable lessons learned about creativity, perseverance, leadership, and community service from their stories of personal growth - successes, and failures. Coyote conversations is hosted by Hessam Ghadaki Class of '99, General Counsel at https://timesgroup.ca Do you know a Crescent community member who has an interesting story or career to share? Are you interested in getting involved in the next season of Coyote Conversations. Let us know at alumni@crescentshool.org Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Crescent Media House
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Crescent Media House
  • Show Website
    Coyote Conversations