Not So Average

#29 - Cheese and Community - Isaac Bignell

In this episode of Not So Avg, Isaac Bignell, owner of Say Cheese Fromagerie in Calgary’s Crossroads Market, shares how a simple cheese counter turned into a full community experience. From wheel openings and curated dinners to his tabloid-style print project The Daily Rind, Isaac has built more than a shop. He has created a gathering place where food, storytelling, and connection come together. This conversation goes well beyond cheese. Isaac walks through the history of cheesemaking, tracing it back to Bedouin travel and early rennet discovery, while exploring the traditions and regions that continue to define the craft today. 🧀 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🌍 The global regions shaping great cheese today, from Quebec’s Eastern Townships to Italy, France, Switzerland, and Spain 🐑 A rare cheese called Rebel Historico, produced through nomadic valley herding and field production 🤝 Why building relationships with cheesemakers and experts matters more than chasing trends 🏡 How Say Cheese Fromagerie became a hub for community through events, storytelling, and shared meals 💡 Isaac’s perspective on leadership, mentorship, and what success actually looks like For Isaac, success is not measured by scale. It is measured by happiness, treating people well, and building something that gives back, including raising more than $5,000 for food insecurity through his work in the community. Show Notes: Say Cheese Fromagerie Website - https://saycheeseyyc.com/ [https://saycheeseyyc.com/] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saycheeseyyc/ [https://www.instagram.com/saycheeseyyc/] 🎧 Listen now and discover how craft, curiosity, and community can turn something simple into something truly Not So Avg. #NotSoAvg #IsaacBignell #SayCheeseFromagerie #CheeseCulture #CalgaryFoodScene #CraftFood #CommunityDriven #FoodStories #SmallBusinessLeadership #CrossroadsMarket

#28 - Losing What You Built - Nick Thompson

In this episode of Not So Avg, Nick Thompson pulls back the curtain on the realities of entrepreneurship. The parts people rarely talk about. An entrepreneur, coach, and author, Nick shares the story behind building and scaling a Canadian branded merchandise company through mergers and acquisitions, growing it into a culture-driven organization recognized for developing its people. But the journey did not follow a straight line. After a U.S. merger and major structural changes to leadership and governance, the culture that once defined the company began to unravel. What followed were lawsuits, personal hardship, and ultimately Nick losing both his role and ownership in the company he helped build. 💡 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 📈 The strategy behind merging five companies and acquiring twenty more 🏗 Why building people, not just profits, was the foundation of their culture ⚠️ How leadership changes and aggressive cost-cutting can dismantle a company culture 🧠 Nick’s battle with depression and the role community played in his recovery 🤝 The difference between mentoring and coaching in leadership development 🎯 Why true success comes from the positive impact you have on others Nick’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about the wins. It is about resilience, humility, and the people who help you rebuild when everything falls apart. 🎧 Listen now and hear the unfiltered truth behind building, losing, and starting again. Show Notes: 1. Die with Zero - Bill Perkins 1. https://www.amazon.ca/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765 [https://www.amazon.ca/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765] 2. Fractional remote staffing 1. https://astrateams.com/ 3. nickthompsonbooks.com [http://nickthompsonbooks.com/] 4. Nick Thompson’s LinkedIn 1. https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrateams/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrateams/] #NotSoAvg #NickThompson #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #StartupLessons #Resilience #BusinessCulture #Mentorship #ExecutiveCoaching #CalgaryEntrepreneurs

#27 - Jabs, Grit, Growth - Kealan Bailey

In this episode of Not So Avg, Kealen Bailey takes us through a career path that’s anything but traditional. Starting as an interior designer and competitive equestrian, evolving into a Muay Thai fighter, and now leading the charge at Rumble Boxing as VP of Training & Development, while also growing PRML as a managing partner. This episode dives into how Kealen has become a culture architect. Building powerful, people-first environments that blend discipline, fun, and purpose. 🏋️‍♀️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔄 How reinvention shaped her personal and professional journey 🥊 The foundations of Rumble Boxing’s dynamic team culture🌍 Scaling with intention and keeping community at the core ⚡ What it means to lead through connection, energy, and example 💬 Her honest take on persistence, pressure, and personal growth Whether you're building a team, a brand, or yourself, Kealen's story reminds us that Not So Avg success is rooted in authenticity, adaptability, and showing up with heart. 🎧 Tune in and find out what happens when intensity meets intention. Show Notes: Kealen Bailey Instagram - kealanb Rumble Boxing Instagram - rumbleboxing https://rumbleboxing.com/ [https://rumbleboxing.com/]PRML Instagram - prml_social https://www.prmlsocial.com/ [https://www.prmlsocial.com/]

#26 - Roots and Risks - Danijel Slisko

In this episode of Not So Avg, Danijel Slisko opens up about what it really looks like to build, fail, and build again. Sharing the highs, lows, and hard-won lessons from founding six companies across multiple industries. Raised in an entrepreneurial household, Danijel reflects on how his father’s influence shaped his mindset early on, from financial literacy to calculated risk-taking. But this episode goes beyond business. It’s a conversation about resilience, relationships, and following what feels natural. 💬 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 💡 The early ventures that sparked Danijel’s entrepreneurial path 📉 Knowing when to let go in business 💬 Why resilience is the real currency of entrepreneurship 🏡 The role family, friendships, and community play in staying grounded 👨‍👧 The values he’s now passing on Danijel’s journey reminds us that success isn’t a single destination, it’s the compounding result of experience, support, and staying in the game when things get hard. Show Notes: Where to find Danijel: * Personal Site - https://danijelslisko.com/ [https://danijelslisko.com/] * LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/danijel-sli%C5%A1ko-1639a61b/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/danijel-sli%C5%A1ko-1639a61b/] Referenced in this Episode: The REAL Secret to Success video  https://youtu.be/M7dUIXEzPfg [https://youtu.be/M7dUIXEzPfg] Strategies for Life Success – John Spence’s Workbook https://johnspence.mybigcommerce.com/strategies-for-life-success-workbook-pdf/ [https://johnspence.mybigcommerce.com/strategies-for-life-success-workbook-pdf/] 🎧 Listen now and get inspired by the long view of what it means to build a Not So Avg life.

#25 - The Burnout Badge

In this solo episode of Not So Avg, we get real about something too many of us face but rarely talk about—burnout. Recognized by the World Health Organization as an occupational phenomenon, burnout is no longer just a buzzword. It’s a reality for healthcare workers, tech professionals, creatives, and especially young people navigating high-pressure careers. Drawing from my own experience in the tech world and beyond, we open up about what burnout looked and felt like —and how it nearly broke everything that was built. More importantly, we shares the six strategies that helped me pull back, reset, and rebuild: 🛑 Set boundaries that protect your energy 😴 Make rest non-negotiable 💪 Return to the basics of physical and mental health 📦 Reframe how you think about productivity 🤝 Strengthen your social circles 🎯 Reconnect with your why This is not a glorified story of hustle—it’s a real conversation about the cost of ignoring your limits, and how to start doing things differently. 🎧 Listen now if you’ve been running on empty and need a new way forward.