In this special episode Stephanie sits down with her long time client and member of the Vox roster, Tareq Hadhad who arrived in Canada in December 2015. Tareq started working with Vox in early 2017 and it’s been a pretty wild ride bringing Tareq to stages all around the world, meeting leaders of countries and thousands of people. In this interview you’ll hear about the importance of getting the message right at his keynotes, the new opportunities you don’t see coming in business and the rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship. Tareq says “Entrepreneurship is like jumping off a cliff and building a plane on the way down.” Both Stephanie and Tareq run businesses and have grown together over the last eight years as they build his speaking career that has brought him all across Canada and to many countries like Japan, Mexico, the United States and various destinations in Europe. Their life changing partnership has opened doors neither of them ever imagined and are excited for the many new opportunities to come.

It’s Tia Upshaw’s season!! Let’s talk about a go get ‘em, no nonsense, women in business champion, community cheerleader who is oozing in her black power. Tia is a force. The newest addition to the VOX roster, Steph and Tia sit down, meeting in real life for the first time. They talk about Tia’s life and career and how she has discovered it’s her season to blossom. You’ll hear about the value of mentors, a love of fashion and design, life goals, the highs and lows of entrepreneurship and the drive that led her to be an award winning success story. Her work has not only driven economic growth in her community but has also set a new standard for inclusive leadership and social impact. As the founder and CEO of Blk Women in Excellence, Tia has built a powerful platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering Black women entrepreneurs.

@itistiaupshaw

@blkwomeninexcellence

Intro and Outro Song: “Freetime: by Caledonia

Produced by Mike Ryan: @michael_s_ryan

#goodpeoplebooked

#voxtalk

Stephanie sits down to chat with one of her best friends she’s known and worked with for nearly 20 years. They reminisce of their time working with Zac’s band, Caledonia, producing the documentary Paddle to the Ocean, his speaking career as a member of the VOX roster and his newest serious leisure love of stand up comedy. Zac openly talks about living with PTSD and the stigma that still surrounds mental illness. They laugh about days on tour (pre cell phones), his relationship with religion, their early days in the music industry, growing cannabis, the importance of practicing your craft, dark humour and how his new serious leisure activity is helping him and others laugh while healing from grief and trauma. Two friends, two mics, sitting at a kitchen table where they have laughed and hung out at many times.

#zaccrouse

Intro and Outro Song: “Freetime: by Caledonia

Produced by Mike Ryan: @michael_s_ryan

#goodpeoplebooked

#voxtalk