The Keeping It Positive Podcast

This week’s guest is another amazing individual, Matty Spina! I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to meet him during our university days, and even more grateful that we’ve stayed such good buddies ever since. Matt’s career path is a fascinating one, and I’m incredibly proud of how far he’s come. Soccer has played a huge role in his journey, from working with local clubs and helping grow the sport at the grassroots level here in Sudbury, to moving up through Ontario Soccer, Canada Soccer, Toronto FC, and to the FIFA World Cup.He’s always on the grind, always doing great things, and he truly deserves every bit of success coming his way. Matt is one of the most lovable, caring, and hard-working people you’ll ever meet. His resume is impressive, but what’s even more impressive is the person behind it. He always makes time for others, shows up for people, and has a heart of gold. Whenever he’s back in town, he goes out of his way to visit, that’s just who he is.

It was such a special opportunity to record Episode 48 with the incredible Véro! This conversation was filled with so many meaningful topics. We talked about growing up in Sudbury, how she got her start with Tutor Doctor, helping grow the family business, entrepreneurship, community involvement, finding a healthy work-life balance, building strong relationships, working with others, and different leadership styles.One of the things I admire most about Véro is the energy she brings wherever she goes. Every time you see her, she’s smiling, happy, and making the people around her feel welcome. She works incredibly hard, not only as a mom, but as a businesswoman and community leader. Everything she does is rooted in kindness, authenticity, and a desire to make a positive difference!

 I can’t thank Justin enough for taking the time to join me and share a little bit of his story. From starting in the restaurant industry as a cook to becoming a co-owner of one of the most successful restaurants in Sudbury/Northern Ontario, The kouzzina, and now preparing to open The mazi Sudbury in the coming weeks, his journey is truly inspiring.
In this episode, we talk about a little bit of everything, leadership, building a great team, creating a positive workplace culture, community involvement, the importance of relationships, fatherhood, and so much more.

I know it’s been a few weeks since the last episode, and I sincerely apologize for the wait. But I can honestly say this episode was worth every minute.Some conversations stay with you long after they end, and this was one of them. For nearly an hour and forty minutes, I had goosebumps. Brandon Edwards is someone who truly understands what leadership, purpose, and impact are all about. His perspective on life, coaching, relationships, and personal growth is incredibly powerful. The way he carries himself, with humility, character, gratitude, and authenticity, is truly remarkable.Brandon is the Head Coach of the Laurentian University Men’s Basketball team, but this conversation goes far beyond basketball. We dive into his journey from growing up in Gatineau, Quebec, to coaching championship teams, working at the university and several different levels, and ultimately leading the Voyageurs program. More importantly, we talk about the philosophy that guides him, the lessons he’s learned along the way, and the positive influence he strives to have on every person he encounters.This episode is filled with wisdom, perspective, and meaningful life lessons. We discuss leadership, resilience, mentorship, building culture, overcoming adversity, and what it truly means to invest in others. Brandon’s passion for helping people become the best version of themselves shines through in every answer.If you’re a coach, athlete, leader, parent, student, or simply someone looking for inspiration, I genuinely believe there is something in this conversation for you. 

This Episode was so much fun to record. I can’t thank Elissa enough for taking the time to do this. Having a friend like her is truly special, and seeing everything she accomplishes on a day to day basis is incredibly inspiring.In this episode, we talk about her journey so far as a firefighter, her university hockey career, her passion for running, and how that passion recently led her to running the Boston Marathon just a few weeks ago. No matter what she sets her mind to, she always gives it her absolute best and continues to push past limitations while inspiring so many people along the way. 

This episode will be dropping this week, and it was truly such an honour and privilege to spend some time with the one and only Ryan Hutton. We are incredibly lucky to have someone like Ryan serving our community as a police officer. His passion for helping others, his leadership, and the way he carries himself make such a positive impact on so many people around him.In this episode, we dive into his policing career, his advocacy for mental health, the lessons he has learned throughout his journey, and his ambassador roles with organizations such as Wounded Warriors. We also talk about the importance of building genuine relationships, treating everyone with kindness and respect, and how to stay grounded and positive while working in high pressure environments.Ryan has such a calm demeanor and a heart of gold. He is someone who leads with compassion, humility, and understanding. What stood out most during this conversation was how relatable he is and how deeply committed he is to serving others before himself. His perspective on life, leadership, mental health, and community is incredibly inspiring, and I know so many people are going to take something meaningful away from this conversation.I cannot thank Ryan enough for taking the time to be part of the podcast and for everything he continues to do for our community. This was a powerful conversation filled with honesty, positivity, perspective, and important reminders about the impact we can all have on the people around us.

Allison did absolutely amazing in this episode. Anyone who knows her knows she truly has a heart of gold. We had such a great conversation about her journey in music, chasing her dreams, going after what you want, connecting with people, and the power of having the right attitude. Her passion and authenticity shine through in everything she does. When you’re around her, you simply cannot help but laugh, smile, and feel good. She brings such a positive energy wherever she goes. She is the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression, like a good rash that never goes away, in the best possible way. 

This week’s guest, Guy Villeneuve, is another truly amazing human being. He is a wealth advisor and the owner of Villeneuve Financial Consulting.In this episode, we talk about a little bit of everything, growing up in Sudbury, his journey into the financial services world, his philosophy in business, and his experiences along the way. We also dive into some of the most rewarding parts of his career so far, the importance of giving back to the community, words of wisdom for the younger generation, fatherhood, influences, values, and what has shaped him into the person he is today.We also discuss the importance of taking risks and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Guy has a special energy about him, and it’s contagious in the best way.

This week’s guest is another truly amazing individual, Rick Mackenzie, Managing Partner in Group Benefits at Gold Leaf Financial Group. Rick and I have been good friends for a long time, and he is someone I look up to tremendously. He is one of the hardest-working people I know, someone who gives so much of his time and energy to our community, and above all, he is simply a remarkable human being with a heart for helping others.In this episode, we talk about a little bit of everything, from the early days of his career to his involvement with the Rotary Club and the important role that service plays in making a positive difference. We also dive into the value of building strong relationships, staying grounded in your values, and the experiences and lessons that have helped shape him into the person and leader he is today. There is so much wisdom in this conversation, and I truly believe anyone who listens will come away feeling inspired and motivated to be the best version of themselves.

To know this guy is to absolutely love him. Wherever he goes, his attitude, personality, and demeanor are contagious in the best way possible. He is the definition of an uplifting person.Will is, hands down, one of the best people you’ll ever meet. His smile, kindness, and generosity truly make the world a better place. People gravitate toward him because of the genuine way he carries himself. He has so much love to give, and it shows in everything he does, especially in his role as a CTV morning anchor in the Ottawa region. We first met when he moved to Sudbury and worked at the CTV office for many years. Our community quickly embraced him as one of our own because of his easygoing personality, positivity, and kindness. No matter where he is, he leaves a positive impact.In this episode, we cover a bit of everything, his early life growing up in Ottawa and how things have come full circle, his career in Sudbury and Kitchener, the experiences that shaped him along the way, and ultimately returning home to his dream job hosting morning television in Ottawa. This is someone who truly deserves all the success in the world. He’s the definition of success in regards to doing what you love every single day. He shows up with a smile, an attitude of gratitude, and a genuine love for life.I can’t wait for you to listen to this incredible episode. It was such an honour to reconnect with him. He’s the kind of person after you are finished talking with him, you feel so much better, like your heart is just a little more full.