Solo Spotlight with Ryan MacDougall

Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office with David Graham

On this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan is joined by David Graham, founder and Chief Exploration Officer of EDGE3, Master Certified Coach, Royal Roads faculty member, TEDx speaker, and program director at Ivey Business School for Executive Education. David shares his journey from acting and cruise directing to marketing and executive coaching. The conversation explores burnout, career change, the difference between coaching and advice, and why time in nature can help people find clarity. David also discusses his TEDx talk, Why Your Best Ideas Don’t Happen in the Office, and explains why leaders often do not need more information — they need more space. Follow Solo Spotlight for more conversations with people sharing the stories, lessons, and turning points that shaped who they are. If this episode gave you something to think about, leave a rating, share it with someone who could use more clarity, and check out the full video version on Spare Bedroom Studios.

Illiam on Fake Streams, Confidence & the Craft of Hip-Hop

On this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Edmonton hip-hop artist Illiam for a conversation about confidence, craft, live performance, fake streams, collaboration, and the reality of building as an independent artist. Illiam opens up about his journey from performing as Hades to becoming a more authentic version of himself, the years he spent writing hundreds of songs before feeling confident in his music, and the process behind sharpening his pen through rhyme drills and thousands of pages of rhymes. The conversation also explores backing tracks in live rap shows, soundcheck struggles, touring with Junk, the Edmonton hip-hop community, fake playlist promotion, and the pressure artists face to look successful online before the foundation is actually built. This episode is a grounded look at the work behind the music, the person behind the artist, and what it takes to build something real in independent hip-hop. Follow Solo Spotlight for more conversations with artists, creators, entrepreneurs, and everyday people with stories worth hearing. New episodes continue to spotlight the people building something real from the ground up.

Summit Fever, Burnout & The Adventure Mindset: Ben Popplestone

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan sits down with Ben Popplestone, a keynote speaker, strategist, and adventure mentor who brings together two worlds that may seem completely different at first: high-growth corporate leadership and high-risk adventure. Ben has spent over two decades working inside fast-moving technology and e-commerce companies, helping organizations grow, adapt, and navigate change. At the same time, he has built a life around adventure — climbing mountains, trail running, spearfishing, sailing, and exploring environments where pressure, uncertainty, and risk are not just theories. They are real. If you are a leader, entrepreneur, creator, athlete, or someone trying to grow without burning out, this conversation is worth your time. Check out Ben Popplestone: LinkedIn: Ben Popplestone Adventure Mentors: adventurementors.com [http://adventurementors.com] Email/contact: letsgo@adventurementors.com [letsgo@adventurementors.com] Subscribe for more long-form conversations with creators, entrepreneurs, athletes, leaders, and people with stories worth hearing. #SoloSpotlight #SpareBedroomStudios #BenPopplestone #AdventureMindset #Leadership #Burnout #PersonalGrowth #Podcast #Entrepreneurship #RiskTaking #LeadershipDevelopment

Nick VonDub Returns: The Moon YEG, Comedy Chaos & Building a Scene

Nick VonDub returns to Solo Spotlight for Episode 93 — and this one goes deep. Since his last appearance, a lot has changed. The Moon YEG was forced into a major move after the building it operated in was sold, putting one of Edmonton’s most unique comedy spaces at risk. In this episode, Nick breaks down what happened behind the scenes, how the community rallied together, and what it took to keep The Moon alive without missing a beat. Nick is a comic, podcast host, showrunner, and a key part of The Moon YEG comedy community. This episode is part comedy conversation, part behind-the-scenes breakdown, and part love letter to the people keeping local creative spaces alive. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe to Spare Bedroom Studios. Follow Nick VonDub and The Moon YEG to keep up with upcoming comedy shows, podcasts, and live events.

From the Court to Culture Building: Greg Clink’s Leadership Journey

In this episode of Solo Spotlight, Ryan MacDougall sits down with Greg Clink, a longtime college basketball coach, former head coach of Chico State men’s basketball, and current speaker focused on leadership, communication, and building culture. Greg shares his journey from growing up in California and falling in love with competition, to playing college basketball, coaching for over 30 years, and eventually leading Chico State into one of the strongest Division II programs in the country. Throughout the conversation, Greg breaks down what it really means to build culture, recruit character, develop players, and lead people beyond the X’s and O’s of the game. Ryan and Greg discuss the difference between talented teams and successful teams, how coaches evaluate players beyond skill, why leadership requires humility, and how lessons from athletics translate into business, public speaking, family, and everyday life. This episode is for coaches, athletes, team leaders, business owners, and anyone interested in leadership, culture, accountability, communication, and personal development. If you enjoyed this conversation, make sure to like, comment, and subscribe for more long-form interviews on Solo Spotlight. #SoloSpotlight #GregClink #Leadership #Coaching #Basketball #ChicoState #TeamCulture #PlayerDevelopment #SportsLeadership #SpareBedroomStudios #PodcastInterview #CultureBuilding #LeadershipLessons #CollegeBasketball