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Thought Leadership Episodes

The Future of Podcasting, Media, and Audience Attention with Paul Riismandel
347
June 2, 2026

The Future of Podcasting, Media, and Audience Attention with Paul Riismandel

In Episode 347 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Paul Riismandel, President of Signal Hill Insights and one of the leading voices in podcast audience research, to explore the future of podcasting, media, and audience attention. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in digital audio, podcasting, advertising, and audience measurement, Paul shares what creators, entrepreneurs, marketers, and business leaders need to understand about where the industry is hea...
Guest: Paul Riismandel
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Why Your LinkedIn Content Isn’t Getting You Clients with Charlotte Lloyd
338
May 2, 2026

Why Your LinkedIn Content Isn’t Getting You Clients with Charlotte Lloyd

In Episode 338 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Charlotte Lloyd to break down one of the biggest misconceptions in modern business development: that content alone will bring you clients. With over 20 years in B2B sales and millions in closed revenue, Charlotte shares how LinkedIn is often misunderstood as a content platform when in reality, it’s a conversation platform. She explains why most entrepreneurs struggle to convert attention into revenue, and how the re...
Guest: Charlotte Lloyd
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We Knew Before It Happened with Mike Schoenberger
333
April 14, 2026

We Knew Before It Happened with Mike Schoenberger

Some moments in life don’t make sense… but they stay with you forever. In Episode 333 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Mike Schoenberger, CEO of Sunco Communications, for a conversation that goes far beyond business strategy. Together, they explore two deeply personal experiences they’ve never fully been able to explain, moments where they both knew something had happened before they were ever told. What unfolds is a powerful discussion on human connection, intui...
Guest: Mike Schoenberger
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Why You Freeze Under Pressure and How to Take Control with Nausheen I. Chen
329
March 31, 2026

Why You Freeze Under Pressure and How to Take Control with Nausheen I. Chen

In Episode 329 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Nausheen I. Chen, 3x TEDx speaker and Fortune 500 communication coach, to unpack why so many capable leaders struggle when it’s time to speak. From the fight, flight, or freeze response to the pressure of being seen and judged, Nausheen explains what’s really happening in your brain when you feel nervous, lose your words, or freeze under pressure. This episode breaks down the psychology behind communication and why ...
Guest: Nausheen I Chen
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Make Fun Your Competitive Advantage with Joel Zeff
327
March 24, 2026

Make Fun Your Competitive Advantage with Joel Zeff

Episode 327 of The Business Development Podcast features Joel Zeff, a nationally recognized speaker, humorist, and work culture expert who has spent more than 25 years helping organizations build stronger teams and better leaders. In this conversation, Joel shares how losing his job became one of the most defining moments of his life when he walked out with a harmonica he did not even know how to play and used that moment to choose energy, humor, and resilience over defeat. That story becomes th...
Guest: Joel Zeff
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I Asked for Help Before I Lost Everything with Chris Yeung
326
March 21, 2026

I Asked for Help Before I Lost Everything with Chris Yeung

Episode 326 of The Business Development Podcast features Chris Yeung, one of Edmonton’s most recognized business leaders, as he shares the defining moments that reshaped his life, career, and perspective on success. From building momentum in business development and entrepreneurship to facing the very real possibility of losing everything, Chris opens up about the pressure, the setbacks, and the moment he was forced to confront his ego and ask for help. What followed was not a quick fix, but a c...
Guest: Chris Yeung
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Why You’re Mentally Strong But Physically Drained with Jodi Barrett
325
March 17, 2026

Why You’re Mentally Strong But Physically Drained with Jodi Barrett

Episode 325 is a powerful conversation with Jodi Barrett that explores the gap between mental strength and physical capacity. As high performers, many of us pride ourselves on pushing through challenges, staying disciplined, and showing up no matter what. But as Jodi shares through her own experience, there comes a point where the body starts to push back. What looks like strength on the outside can hide fatigue, disconnection, and a system that is no longer able to support the pace of life we a...
Guest: Jodi Barrett
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A Story of Survival, Healing, and Purpose with Kris Marks
324
March 14, 2026

A Story of Survival, Healing, and Purpose with Kris Marks

In Episode 324 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Kris Marks, CEO of VIV Mental Health, keynote speaker, and psychological health and safety advisor, for one of the most powerful conversations on the show to date. Kris shares his deeply personal journey from trauma, homelessness, and a suicide attempt to becoming a national voice for mental health leadership and psychological safety in workplaces and communities. His story is raw, honest, and deeply human, revealin...
Guest: Kristopher Marks
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Why Hiring Employees Might Be the Worst Way to Scale with Pia Silva
323
March 10, 2026

Why Hiring Employees Might Be the Worst Way to Scale with Pia Silva

In Episode 323 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy welcomes back entrepreneur, brand strategist, and bestselling author Pia Silva to dive into the philosophy behind her newest book, Scale Solo. Pia shares the story of how building a traditional agency with employees nearly pushed her business into debt and forced her to rethink everything about growth. Instead of chasing the conventional path of hiring more people and increasing overhead, Pia developed a radically different model ...
Guest: Pia Silva
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Build a Badass Brand That Commands Premium Prices with Pia Silva
322
March 7, 2026

Build a Badass Brand That Commands Premium Prices with Pia Silva

In Episode 322 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with entrepreneur, brand strategist, and bestselling author Pia Silva to explore what it really takes to build a brand that stands out and commands premium pricing. Pia shares her journey from hustling hourly design work with her husband to building a powerful branding business after facing a moment of crisis when their agency found itself $40,000 in debt with no cash left. That turning point forced them to rethink every...
Guest: Pia Silva
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Buy a Company and Build an Empire with Jamie Crozier
319
Feb. 24, 2026

Buy a Company and Build an Empire with Jamie Crozier

In Episode 319 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jamie Crozier, an entrepreneur who did something most people only dream about. He bought the company he once worked for. Jamie shares his journey from stocking shelves at a dollar store to building his career in industrial sales, eventually acquiring Thunder Bay Hydraulics and expanding through the acquisition of Custom Hydraulics and the founding of Atlas Elite Lifts. His story is a powerful reminder that ownership...
Guest: Jamie Crozier
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Reinventing Mining Through Electric Rail with Aaron Lambert
316
Feb. 14, 2026

Reinventing Mining Through Electric Rail with Aaron Lambert

Episode 316 of The Business Development Podcast features Aaron Lambert, mining technology innovator and founder of RIINO, a company developing a modular electric rail haulage system designed to transform how mines move rock, equipment, and eventually people. Aaron takes us deep into modern mining, explaining how underground operations have evolved, why development has become slower and more expensive over time, and how safety, logistics, and economics are constantly in tension. We then explor...
Guest: Aaron Lambert
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Canada’s Live Music Boom Is Ready to Explode With Erin Benjamin
315
Feb. 10, 2026

Canada’s Live Music Boom Is Ready to Explode With Erin Benjamin

Episode 315 dives into a conversation Canada needs to be having right now. Erin Benjamin, President and CEO of the Canadian Live Music Association, breaks down why live music is one of the most powerful and misunderstood economic engines in the country. This episode goes far beyond concerts and culture, unpacking how live music fuels jobs, tourism, talent attraction, and city growth, while contributing billions to Canada’s GDP. Despite its impact, the industry remains largely undervalued and und...
Guest: Erin Benjamin
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Only Book What You’re Willing to Own
313
Feb. 3, 2026

Only Book What You’re Willing to Own

In episode 313, Kelly shares a hard lesson from a time he tried to “help” a client by booking a series of account management meetings he was not going to attend. The introductions were easy because the trust and credibility were already built, and the prospects said yes because of Kelly’s relationship with them. But once the client missed one meeting, then another, Kelly realized the damage was landing on his name, not theirs. Instead of doing business development, he found himself apologizing, ...
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Is Status Quo an Option with Gordon Sheppard
312
Jan. 31, 2026

Is Status Quo an Option with Gordon Sheppard

Episode 312 of The Business Development Podcast features a practical and candid conversation with Gordon Sheppard, CEO of Executive Wins, about what really holds teams and organizations back from growth. Drawing on more than 25 years of executive coaching experience, Gordon shares what happens behind the scenes when businesses stall, leaders feel overwhelmed, and execution breaks down. Instead of chasing strategy or quick fixes, he explains why structure, accountability, and difficult conversati...
Guest: Gordon Sheppard
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You’re Already in a Trance and It’s Shaping Your Life with Wayne Lee
311
Jan. 27, 2026

You’re Already in a Trance and It’s Shaping Your Life with Wayne Lee

Episode 311 of The Business Development Podcast features a deep and thought-provoking conversation with Wayne Lee Diduck, a world-class hypnotist and peak performance expert who reframes hypnosis as something far more practical and present in daily life than most people realize. Wayne explains that hypnosis is not about mind control or stage theatrics, but about influence, belief, and the subconscious programs that quietly shape our behavior, decisions, and results. Drawing from his background a...
Guest: Wayne Lee Diduck
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Empathy Is Deeper Than We Can Imagine
307
Jan. 13, 2026

Empathy Is Deeper Than We Can Imagine

Episode 307 is a deeply personal reflection on empathy, responsibility, and how life fundamentally changes the way we experience the world. Kelly Kennedy explores how becoming a father rewired his nervous system and unlocked a depth of empathy he didn’t previously have access to, triggered by moments from The Wild Robot and One Life. This episode challenges the idea that empathy is simply a skill or mindset, revealing instead that some layers of empathy only emerge when attachment, responsibilit...
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Take Inspired Action
305
Jan. 6, 2026

Take Inspired Action

In Episode 305 of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy breaks down why most ideas never make it into the world — not because they are bad, but because people wait too long to act. Drawing from his own experience launching businesses, programs, communities, and podcasts in under three months, Kelly explains the concept of inspired action: acting while clarity, energy, and excitement are present instead of waiting for confidence, certainty, or fear to disappear. He challenges the belief...
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Turn Chaos Into Control With Colin Harms
301
Dec. 23, 2025

Turn Chaos Into Control With Colin Harms

Episode 301 kicks off the 300s with Colin Harms and opens with a milestone announcement, HyperVac Technologies and HyperFab are the official Title Sponsors of The Business Development Podcast for 2026. Kelly and Colin reflect on the relationship that started through the podcast, why community and consistency matter, and what it takes to keep raising the standard as an independent Canadian show that is competing on a global stage. From there, the conversation gets real about building through p...
Guest: Colin Harms
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The Journey to 300
300
Dec. 20, 2025

The Journey to 300

Milestone Episode 300 is a behind the scenes centennial conversation with Shelby Hobbs, recorded right in the messy middle of real life. Kelly and Shelby hit record in the narrow window before the kids get home, with a baby sleeping nearby, a toddler napping upstairs, and the daily marathon happening in real time, because that’s genuinely how the show and the household get built. From there, the episode becomes a reflection on what 300 episodes actually means: the gratitude, the growth, and t...
Guest: Shelby Hobbs
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The Legendary Manager Behind The Tragically Hip with Jake Gold
299
Dec. 16, 2025

The Legendary Manager Behind The Tragically Hip with Jake Gold

In this very special episode of The Business Development Podcast, Kelly Kennedy sits down with Jake Gold, one of the most influential architects of Canadian music and the longtime manager behind The Tragically Hip. Jake takes listeners behind the curtain on what a music manager actually does, not as a hype man, but as the CEO of a complex business where touring, deals, team decisions, merchandising, data, and long term career strategy all run through one leader. He shares the moment he first saw...
Guest: Jake Gold
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Turn Your Story Into a Brand People Trust with Jake Karls
298
Dec. 13, 2025

Turn Your Story Into a Brand People Trust with Jake Karls

Episode 298 features Jake Karls, co founder and chief rainmaker of Mid Day Squares, breaking down how a kitchen table idea turned into a multimillion dollar brand by winning attention the hard way, through relentless storytelling and real human connection. He explains why attention is one of the most valuable assets in business, why you cannot buy trust with generic marketing, and why your story is the one advantage competitors cannot copy, if you are willing to share the good and the ugly. T...
Guest: Jake Karls
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10 Rules to Make 2026 the Year Your Community Changes Everything
297
Dec. 9, 2025

10 Rules to Make 2026 the Year Your Community Changes Everything

In this solo episode, Kelly looks back at how business has shifted from the AI explosion of 2023, to the rise of personal branding in 2024, to the wave of raw, human authenticity in 2025, and makes a bold prediction for what comes next. 2026, he argues, will be the year of community, where leaders are no longer satisfied with surface level connections and instead seek real belonging in rooms where they can be honest, supported, and challenged. Drawing on his experience building The Catalyst Club...
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Unlocking Canada’s Francophone Goldmine with Colin Fagnan
296
Dec. 6, 2025

Unlocking Canada’s Francophone Goldmine with Colin Fagnan

Episode 296 is a first for The Business Development Podcast – we finally dive deep into Canada’s French-speaking community and what most business leaders are missing. Kelly sits down with bilingual consultant Colin Fagnan, founder of Nyloc Consulting (and now Executive Director of the Fort Saskatchewan & Lamont County Regional Chamber of Commerce), to unpack how growing up Francophone in Alberta shaped his worldview, why French is actually on the rise in Western Canada, and how bilingualism boos...
Guest: Colin Fagnan
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