True North Success Podcast

How can entrepreneurs and high-net-worth Canadians legally minimize taxes and create long-term financial success? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with tax lawyer Brian Kearl to discuss strategic tax planning, wealth preservation, and the importance of building strong financial habits.
Brian shares how family influences led him from accounting to a successful career in tax law, and why he has spent more than two decades helping clients navigate complex tax issues. He explains how thoughtful planning can save individuals and businesses significant amounts of money while supporting future growth.
 
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What happens when a life-changing injury sparks a passion that lasts for decades? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with physiotherapist and clinic owner Kelly Barrie, who shares how a serious ACL injury at age 18 led her to a rewarding career helping others recover from pain and regain their quality of life.
With over 30 years of experience, Kelly has dedicated her career to helping people overcome spinal pain, chronic pain, and movement challenges. She also shares the journey of building and leading Avenue Physio, one of downtown Calgary's longest-standing physiotherapy clinics, and the lessons she learned while navigating difficult times during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
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What does it really take to help employees feel valued while also driving business success? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with HR executive Diana Powell to explore how organizations can create people-first workplaces through data-driven total rewards strategies.
Diana shares her unique journey from accounting and IT into human resources and explains why she believes people are at the heart of every successful organization. She introduces the concept of "total rewards" and explains how compensation, benefits, career development, financial well-being, and employee engagement all work together to create a positive employee experience.
 
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What does it really mean to live longer—and live better? In this episode, Dr. Emmanuel Gye shares how focusing on health span instead of simply lifespan can help people stay active, independent, and vibrant for many years.
Dr. Emmanuel Gye is a family and lifestyle physician and founder of the Alberta Lifestyle Clinic. With more than 20 years of medical experience, he helps individuals improve their health through evidence-based lifestyle medicine and preventative care.
During the conversation, Dr. Gye explains how lifestyle medicine addresses the root causes of chronic disease instead of only managing symptoms. He discusses the six pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, movement, restorative sleep, stress management, social connection, and reducing harmful toxins. He also shares insights from the world's Blue Zones, communities where people consistently enjoy long and healthy lives.
Listeners will also hear Dr. Gye's personal story of overcoming burnout as a family physician and how embracing lifestyle medicine transformed both his health and his career. He explains why our modern environment often works against healthy living and offers practical ways people can take back control of their well-being.
 
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How do you lead at a high level, support your community, raise a family, and still make time for your own health and wellness? In this episode, Gary Mah sits down with Jen Panteluk to discuss leadership, mindset, boundaries, and the importance of consistency in both business and life.
Jen shares her journey from studying business to becoming CEO of the Alberta Association of Physiotherapy. Along the way, she discovered a passion for serving others through the nonprofit and healthcare sectors and credits mentors, continuous learning, and strong relationships for helping shape her leadership journey. Her experiences and insights reflect many of the best practices for engaging show notes, including clear takeaways, guest information, and calls to action.
 
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What does an environmental engineer really do, and why should homeowners and businesses pay attention to radon? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Michael Halliwell, a seasoned environmental engineer with more than 26 years of experience. Michael shares fascinating stories from the field, explains hidden environmental risks, and offers practical lessons about building a successful career and planning for the future.
Michael discusses how environmental engineers help assess and clean contaminated sites, protect public health, and manage environmental risks. He also explains why radon gas is an important issue for Canadians and why long-term testing is recommended.
 
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What happens when an experienced physician leaves everything behind and starts over in a new country? In this episode, Dr. Velimir Milenkovic shares his remarkable journey from Serbia to Canada, revealing how years of persistence, learning, and adapting to a completely different healthcare culture shaped his career and outlook on patient care.
Dr. Milenkovic discusses the challenges international medical graduates face, the importance of ethics and patient autonomy in Canadian medicine, and how he built a career that has now included more than 6,000 surgical cases. He also shares his dream of becoming a fully licensed surgeon and his desire to bring Canadian medical practices and knowledge back to his home country.
 
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How are robots transforming pharmacies, and why will human care always remain essential? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah and Amy Kim sit down with pharmacy automation expert Deepak Khera to explore how technology is improving efficiency, reducing errors, and helping healthcare professionals provide better patient care.
Deepak brings nearly two decades of experience in pharmacy practice, including work in community, long-term care, virtual pharmacy, and pharmacy automation. He also teaches and mentors future pharmacy professionals while helping organizations improve operational efficiency.
 
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Divorce, estate disputes, and family conflict are some of the most stressful experiences people face. In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah and Amy Kim sit down with family lawyer Marty Birky to discuss what many people discover too late when navigating separation, divorce, and estate challenges.
Drawing from his background as a college basketball coach and his upbringing on a Montana farm, Marty shares how empathy, practical advice, and staying calm under pressure help him guide clients through difficult transitions. He explains why people often need to feel heard before they are ready to receive legal advice and why taking a practical approach can save families unnecessary emotional and financial costs.
Marty also discusses common mistakes people make during divorce and estate disputes, including relying on general information instead of obtaining advice from specialists. He highlights the importance of understanding legal deadlines and explains how missing critical timelines can permanently affect someone's rights.
Throughout the conversation, Marty shares valuable lessons about resilience, integrity, and helping people make informed decisions during some of the hardest times of their lives.
 
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What happens when a surgeon follows curiosity beyond the operating room? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Amy Kim sits down with orthopedic surgeon, entrepreneur, and health tech leader Dr. Rick Hu to explore how curiosity, innovation, and lifelong learning shaped his journey from medicine into healthcare technology and entrepreneurship. The show notes follow podcast best-practice structure with a hook, expanded summary, guest information, and calls to action.
Dr. Hu shares how his early exposure to medical technology investing sparked a passion that eventually led him into startup development, wearable health technology, and mentoring founders within Alberta’s growing innovation ecosystem.
 
------------------------------------ Be a Guest Are you a successful business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at https://truenorthsuccessshow.com/guest and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you...