The Calgary Sessions

Hosted by Jeff Humphreys

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241

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Oct 2026

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About the show

The Calgary Sessions is a podcast about the people who make Calgary interesting. Hosted by Jeff Humphreys, each episode is an honest conversation with artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and community builders about where they came from, what they have learned, what they are building, and what life has taught them along the way. It is a way to get to know the city through the people who live here.

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November 4, 2026Episode 2271 hr 39 min

Stephanie Kochorek: The Life You Wanted Doesn’t Always Feel Like You

Stephanie Kochorek is the founder and CEO of Daughter, a Calgary creative agency. Her path began with books, art and making things, long before she knew that could become a career. Advertising school in San Francisco gave her a place where she felt good at the work and connected with the people around her. She landed a copywriting job before graduating, but seeing her own campaign on Sunset Boulevard made her question what she was putting into the world. She returned to Calgary, later became a mother and continued freelancing before starting Daughter. We talk about the difference between wanting a role and feeling like yourself once you’re in it. That includes motherhood, building a business and learning how to lead. Stephanie shares the pressure of comparing her path with friends, why she’s always needed to create, and what it means to have friends who are doing good work while still questioning themselves too. Connect with Stephanie Kochorek: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-kochorek-272217263⁠ Website: https://www.daughtercreative.com Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

October 28, 2026Episode 2261 hr 33 min

Kelsey Hahn: Building a Business You Actually Want to Be Part Of

Kelsey Hahn is the co-founder and CEO of Monark, a Calgary company that works with leaders and organizations. She played university hockey, studied organizational behaviour and has spent much of her career trying to understand what helps people do well at work. She’s honest about how hard it’s been to build her own company. Hearing no from investors felt personal, and there were times she wanted to quit. As a mother of two, she also talks about feeling judged for being ambitious and how she handles work and family responsibilities. Hockey is a big part of the chat too. Kelsey talks about being called bossy growing up, the confidence she got from playing and why she now coaches her daughter’s team. She wants the girls to enjoy coming to the rink, and coaching has given her a reason to leave work before everything is done. Things are going better with the business now, and she’s enjoying it more. She also admits it’s hard to say that without thinking she should be doing more. Connect with Kelsey Hahn: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kelseyhahn12 Website: https://www.leadwithmonark.com/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

October 21, 2026Episode 2251 hr 52 min

Jason Zaran: Starting at 40, Nearly Going Broke and Building Again

After more than two decades in the corporate food industry, Jason Zaran started his first business at 40, opening The Main Dish in Bridgeland with years of experience and plenty still to figure out. Years later, business losses, his parents' declining health and strain in his marriage arrived together, leaving him close to bankruptcy and needing a job while his wife, Pam, and a small team kept the remaining business going. In this chat, we talk about the early regrets that shaped his approach to work, the decisions and people that helped him rebuild, and knowing when to keep going or change the plan. Connect with Jason Zaran: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jason-zaran-85494118 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jzaran/ Website: ⁠⁠https://fitkitchen.ca/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

October 14, 2026Episode 2241 hr 20 min

Monica Arora: What You Miss When You Think in Black and White

Monica Arora is the founder of Digital Monk Marketing in Calgary. Growing up, her parents encouraged her to ask questions and think for herself. Feeling comfortable being different took longer. We talk about finding people she connected with, taking her interest in understanding people into marketing, and building her business. We also get into trusting your gut and what a decision can give you even when it doesn't go the way you hoped. Monica likes the gray. Having to choose between this or that can mean missing what else is possible. That comes through when we talk about work-life balance and how hard she can be on herself. She kept the agency smaller when her kids were young so she could be there for them. As they've grown, she's had more room for the business. What worked then isn't necessarily what works now. Connect with Monica Arora: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marorabir⁠ Website: ⁠https://digitalmonkmarketing.com/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

October 7, 2026Episode 2231 hr 59 min

Ryan HK: The Many Lives Behind a 20-Year Photography Career

Ryan HK is a Calgary photographer and director who spent more than 20 years freelancing before moving into an in-house role while continuing to take on selected creative work. His path started well before photography became a career. Ryan left university to pursue snowboarding, returned home when his dad became sick and eventually built a life behind the camera. After going through cancer treatment, he sold his house, lived in a truck camper and later moved onto a sailboat. The freedom he created eventually became isolating, and his mental health reached a point where something had to change. Ryan returned to Calgary and began rebuilding again through friendship, therapy, relationships and community. Connect with Ryan HK: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/RyanHK_ Website: https://www.ryanhk.com Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

September 30, 2026Episode 2221 hr 51 min

Yalda Kazemi: Postpartum Psychosis Changed the Life She Was Building

Yalda Kazemi is the founder of Yalda Kazemi Consulting Inc., a policy, ethics and compliance consultant, workplace mental-health educator and author of Unapologetic Truths. Born in Iran, raised partly in Italy and arriving in Calgary at nine, Yalda’s early life was shaped by displacement, family responsibility and the belief that hard work could carry her through anything. That mindset helped her build an education and career she loved. Then postpartum depression, anxiety and psychosis became something she could not outwork. Yalda speaks about resisting treatment, hospitalization, cultural stigma, returning to work and the long road back to herself. Her recovery led to writing and advocacy, but also to a different understanding of strength: knowing when survival requires accepting help. Connect with Yalda Kazemi: LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/yaldakazemi⁠ Website: ⁠⁠https://www.yaldakazemi.com/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

September 23, 2026Episode 2211 hr 35 min

Rob Kerr: Building a Career You Love and Still Chasing More

Rob Kerr spent years on Sportsnet 960 The Fan and calling NHL games, yet found himself wondering whether he should be further ahead. His broadcasting career began with volunteer television work in Fort McMurray while he was working in forestry. We talk about the pull to keep climbing, losing a dream job, burnout, and recognizing what he valued in work he once wanted to move beyond. His community work today, including Coach Santa, continues a commitment to giving back that began long before broadcasting. Connect with Rob Kerr: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/rob-kerr-05753034 Website: ⁠https://robkerr.ca/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

September 16, 2026Episode 2201 hr 23 min

Hayden Mayeur: Building a Business While Competing for Team Canada

Hayden Mayeur is a Team Canada long-track speed skater, two-time World Championship medalist and founder of Hayloft Cafe. He moved from Toronto to Calgary at 17 to pursue speed skating, switched from short track to long track and eventually competed for Canada internationally. His path included supporting himself through part-time work, recovering from burnout and learning that his strongest performances did not always fit what the sport’s systems expected to see. During COVID, Hayden started a mobile coffee business so he could control his working hours while training. What was meant to be a small side hustle grew into a private event company and eventually began creating flexible work opportunities for other Team Canada athletes. This conversation gets into sport, work, risk and what happens when something you built for yourself starts affecting more people than you expected. Connect with Hayden Mayeur: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/hayden_mayeur⁠⁠ Website: https://www.hayloftcafeyyc.c⁠a Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

September 9, 2026Episode 2191 hr 15 min

Tammy Arseneau: Starting Over Without Starting From Scratch

Tammy Arseneau is the founder of Cortical Consulting & Coaching and a former Suncor executive whose career has moved through leadership, organizational effectiveness, change and now entrepreneurship. Tammy grew up learning to figure things out early. She lost both parents young, worked to support herself, built a career with Irving Oil, lived and worked in New Zealand, raised three boys and eventually moved to Calgary, where she spent more than a decade at Suncor. For years, moving forward was simply what she did. When her time at Suncor ended, she finally had the space to slow down and ask a different question: what did she actually want to do next? We talk about identity outside of a job title, starting a business after a long corporate career, the difference between experience and certainty, and why her growing interest in neuroscience and human performance is changing how she thinks about leadership. Connect with Tammy Arseneau: LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tammy-arseneau-mba⁠ Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://corticalconsultingcoaching.com/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca

September 2, 2026Episode 2181 hr 35 min

Tina Mathas: Building the Life You Were Supposed to Want

Tina Mathas has spent much of her career in technology, leadership, innovation and coaching. Today, she works fractionally with businesses and founders while also making more room for writing, music and creative work. She grew up in South Africa with Greek immigrant parents who taught her about hard work, service and entrepreneurship, but also gave her a clear idea of what a practical career should look like. That led Tina through university, tech, major transformation projects, IBM, ATB, consulting and several attempts to build something of her own. Along the way came motherhood, divorce, repeated burnout, concussions and several points where she questioned whether the life she was succeeding in was actually the life she wanted. We talk about inherited expectations, why Tina kept returning to corporate life, creativity in the age of AI, faith, fear, failure, asking for help and the values that now shape her decisions. At 51, she is still figuring out what comes next, but she is doing it with a much clearer sense of what she wants to make room for. Connect with Tina Mathas : LinkedIn: ⁠⁠https://ca.linkedin.com/in/tina-mathas Website: ⁠⁠https://www.tinamathas.com/ Connect with Jeff Humphreys: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Podcast Location & Production: Off Set Studios: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.offsetstudios.ca