What if Canada could become a global food superpower—from farm to fork, from field to plate? In this live-recorded episode taped at Farm Credit Canada's Future of Food Conference, I sat down with two titens transforming Canada's agricultural landscape: Curt Vossen, the visionary CEO of Richardson International, and Kristjan Hebert, a farmer who manages his tens of thousands of acress of land with intelligence, passion, and pursuit.

Together, they tackle the future of food—from battling inefficiencies in our supply chains to seizing untapped global markets. They speak with brutal honesty about what’s holding Canada back: our mindset, our infrastructure, and our humility. Their solution? A call to action that blends bold vision with incremental, achievable steps.

In the final segment, Lisa Ashton of RBC Thought Leadership shares powerful insights into Canada’s strengths, risks, and unrealized potential in agriculture, backed by data, policy, and her personal story, which began on a farm.

Canada does not need to be reliant on any partner, we have what it takes to create an economy powered by purposeful jobs and those both dream and do.

To find out more about Farm Credit Canada: https://www.fcc-fac.ca

Have you ever stood in a place that felt like more than just a location? Where the air carried stories, the land echoed memory, and you walked away with more than a photo, or even a memory that will last a lifetime, you walked away different?

Two weeks ago on Chatter that Matters I interviewed Ben Cowan-Dewar who built Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs on Cape Breton Island. Two golf courses that have captured the attention of golfers all over the world and brought energy and vitallity to one of the most beautiful places in the world.

Last week, my guest was Zita Cobb, who was a force of human nature who created Fogo Island Inn, as a model for creating an economic renaissance, a true circular economy that can be replicated across Canada.

In today’s special three-minute episode of Chatter that Matters: Mini Matters, I’m breaking format to talk about tourism, and its power to transform Canada’s economy and identity.

Tourism isn’t just travel. It’s a passport to enlightenment. A conversation with nature, and with our nature. And Canada? Canada is a sleeping superpower.

Three coastlines. Ancient forests. Cities pulsing with culture. Indigenous wisdom, world-class cuisine, and experiences that can reset your soul.

Tourism can be the spark that rekindles our economy—from the land up. But only if we rethink it. Only if we stop seeing it as sightseeing and start building it as life-changing.

Take a few minutes. Lend me your ears—and maybe, your imagination. Let’s talk about what it means to bring the world to Canada.

Afterwards, I encourage you to listen to both of these shows if you are in the expeience, hospitality or tourism space, or love those who dream and do.

If you want to hear my interview with Ben Cowan-Dewar - Build it and they Will Come click here: https://chatterthatmatters.libsyn.com/ben-cowan-dewar-build-it-and-the-world-will-come

If you want to hear Zita Cobb's amazing story - https://chatterthatmatters.libsyn.com/zita-cobb-the-miracle-of-fogo-island

Zita Cobb’s story isn’t just worth hearing—it’s worth hugging. In this episode of Chatter That Matters, you’ll meet a woman who helped to transform Fogo Island, one of the most remote and rugged places in Canada, into a beacon that attracts the world. Zita's perspective on hospitality, community, and the miracles of reimagining a place will change how you view tourism, shifting from merely visiting to truly experiencing Mother Nature and Human Nature.

Zita speaks with wisdom carved from the rocks of a small fishing village in Newfoundland and Labrador, where everything her family knew was taken away, forcing them to leave. Many years later, Zita returns to collaborate with the community to create Fogo Island Inn and within it a vibrant circular economy.

I then close the show by sharing my thoughts on why the world needs more Canada and how Canada must build a stronger tourism sector.

Thank you to RBC for making Chatter That Matters, and our weekly show about positivity and possibility, possible.

"Tourism advances our Cabot brand and provides people and communities with an incredible opportunity to escape inequality.” – Ben Cowan-Dewar.

Welcome to Chatter That Matters, where we share inspiring stories of human journeys, extraordinary dreams, and transformative ideas. The timing couldn't be more perfect for this episode—today marks the beginning of The Masters, one of the most celebrated sporting events of the year. It's also a pivotal moment as we explore ways to create a more self-reliant economy that attracts foreign investment, generates employment, and brings positivity and opportunity to our communities.

I sit down with Ben Cowan-Dewar, the visionary entrepreneur behind the acclaimed Cabot golf courses. Ben shares his remarkable journey, from childhood golf dreams to building internationally renowned golf destinations that uplift local economies and communities.

Listen as Ben discusses passion, perseverance, and purpose, revealing how tourism can drive transformative economic growth and impact communities. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or involved in tourism, hospitality, or local communities, this episode will illustrate why tourism and the experience economy must evolve beyond just being a place to visit and into a place to be.

Chris Ronald, the President of RBC in the Atlantic Region, joins the show to discuss what they are doing to help clients thrive and communities prosper, and why this region offers so much for those who visit, live and build their future.

To learn more about RBC Community Junior Golf: https://www.golfcanada.ca/rbc-community-junior-golf/

I am breaking format to share my conversation with Ben Mulroney this morning on his national radio show on the Corus network. I offer six transformative ideas for Canada on how we can thrive in the next decade.

Forget the partisan debates and dive deep into bold ideas that transcend politics and policy.

Here's a sneak peek at what you'll hear:

1)Unlocking Canada's Tourism Potential: From a place to visit to the place to be.

2)Old and New": Powering the Future with Resources and Innovation: Can Canada responsibly harness its natural resources while simultaneously building a cutting-edge, intellectual economy? Here is how.

3)The Untapped Power of Canadian Content: Let's export it to the world. There is even an idea that CBC should be less dependent on the government in power to survive and thrive.

4)The Long Game on Health: AI as the Future of Care: Imagine a healthcare system revolutionized by AI!

5)Reimagining Education for a Competitive Future: Ideas not ideology. It's time to focus on the most essential skills: collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking.

6)Rewarding the Dreamers and Doers: My idea for making Canada the Entrepreneurial Epicenter of the world.

This isn't just talk; it's chatter that matters. An aggressively optimistic roadmap for a brighter Canadian future, one where our destiny is a matter of choice, not chance.

Share your thoughts, and if you have time rate and review my podcast.

Tony

What does turning a dining room into a stage and service into soul-stirring theatre take? In this week’s 'Taped Live' - Chatter That Matters, I sit down, glass in hand and mic on—with Marcel Bregstein: sommelier, showman, and the heart behind The Toronto Hunt, one of Canada’s most extraordinary clubs. His story is a cinematic sweep—from privilege in Costa Rica, to hardship in Canada, to cruise ships, heartbreak, fine wine, and a calling. Marcel doesn’t just serve food or wine. He serves memory. Meaning. Magic. And along the way, he reminds us that what truly matters is how you make people feel.

Listen to this episode to discover how a busboy turned maître d’ became a knighted sommelier, how a bottle of ’47 Lafite taught more than taste, and how great service is never about the table—but the story you take home from it.

And as a bonus? Special appearances were made by three Canadian icons—wine entrepreneur extraordinaire Elayne Bassett, one of Canada’s most celebrated musicians, John Lennard, and celebrated chef Jamie Kennedy, who shared their reflections on what makes Marcel a character of immense character.

This is a great listen for anyone who loves a good rags-to-riches-to-emotional riches story and those who want to matter more by creating experiences that linger long after the lights go out.

Many years ago, Marcel was a newcomer to Canada. To learn more about RBC and how they support those who come here to chase the Canadian dream. https://www.rbcroyalbank.com/en-ca/new-to-canada/newcomers/

“I just have an idea. I’m motivated. I figure out how to do it, and away I go.”

I usually avoid experts who offer lifestyle advice since there are so many podcasts that cover that territory already. However, I was at a loss for words when I learned more about Gina Livy's unique journey.

Gina’s story isn’t about pounds lost—it’s about purpose reclaimed. From a university experience that saw her gain 100 pounds and a new perspective to becoming a fierce entrepreneur who leads with instinct, Gina didn’t just overcome the odds—she rewrote them.

What makes this conversation matter is what Gina stands for. She’s built a massive community not through perfection, but presence. She shows up—through grief, doubt, and real life—and gives others the courage to do the same. If you’ve ever questioned your path, purpose, or whether you belong in the room, or the dent you want to make in the universe, Gina’s story reminds you that the answer isn’t out there. It’s already in you.

What if the challenges life throws at you aren’t roadblocks but stepping stones to something greater?

Born almost blind, Jennie Coleman never saw the world like others until a miraculous surgery at 13 changed everything. But that was just the beginning. She built a trailblazing career at Bombardier, specializing in corporate strategy and travelling between Montreal, Zurich, Berlin, and Beijing. Then, life threw her another challenge: her daughter Laura, born with an ultra-rare genetic mutation, forever needed care. Jennie could have retreated, but instead, she redefined success.

Jennie left the corporate world, took a leap of faith, and bought a business she knew nothing about—Equifruit, a Fairtrade banana company. And with the same resilience that carried her through every chapter of her life, she turned it into a force for good, fighting for fair wages, sustainability, and ethical trade.

Jennie's journey—from corporate warrior to purpose-driven entrepreneur—earned her the title of RBC Momentum Award Winner. The Harvard Business School has published a case on her accomplishments, and Jennie has been named Canada's Most Admired CEO by Waterson Human Capital.

But her story isn’t just about business. It’s about family, and humanity, and someone who sees beyond profit to a higher purpose.

To learn more about Equifruit, https://equifruit.com/en/