Episodes

Elite sport is often framed as an individualistic endeavor — a personal quest for excellence determined by an athlete’s skills, discipline and ambition. While these elements are crucial, long-term success is often shaped by an athlete’s community – by the teammates, coaches and culture that support and encourage a competitor throughout their careers. In this episode, Trudy Callaghan sits down with gold-medal Olympian, public speaker and Red Seal cook Mark Tewksbury, who shares his thoughts on c...

Building a business takes years of hard work, but what happens when it’s time to step away? On this episode, Noel Xavier talks with Kayla Thompson, partner at Duncan Craig LLP, about succession planning for business owners and entrepreneurs as part of ECF’s 2026 Wills Week. Tune in as they explore how to prepare for an unexpected departure, retirement, and how to protect the people who depend on your business and how to ensure the future of what you’ve built. From family considerations to busin...

For 25 years, the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards (BBMA) have helped Métis Albertans pursue post-secondary education and build new possibilities for themselves, their families and their communities. But what happens when that investment continues from one generation to the next? In this episode, Andrew Paul speaks with Theresa Majeran, who has worked with the BBMAs for more than two decades and has supported hundreds of students as they begin their post-secondary journeys. Theresa shares what ...

Some hidden gems make it into thrift stores and eventually into homes. But what about the hidden gems in our communities who are still waiting to be recognized in the workplace? Approximately 30% of Canadians over the age of 15 live with a disability, yet many remain outside the workforce. For people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, barriers to employment can mean their talents and interests go unrecognized, limiting opportunities to build independence. That’s where Goodwill ...

What if many of the challenges communities face today could be addressed by investing in where it all begins? Research in Alberta has found fewer than 46% of children enter kindergarten ready for school in all five areas of development. Meaning many children begin school already facing barriers in cognitive, language, social-emotional, physical, and motor skills, that educators consider essential for success. But this is about more than the health of children, it offers a glimpse into the futur...

What can Alberta’s migratory bird population teach us about our environment? Alberta’s declining bird populations are an important indicator of growing pressures on the natural systems that sustain all life. At the heart of understanding those changes is Beaverhill Bird Observatory (BBO), one of Canada’s longest-running migration monitoring stations, where every observation contributes to the long-term data that drives conservation action. In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, Andrew Pa...

Could one of the greatest risks to your lung health be the one you can’t see, smell, or taste? Even more surprising, it might be hiding inside your homes. Canadians spend nearly 90% of their time indoors, where hidden risks such as radon, a naturally occurring gas that is colourless, odourless, and tasteless, can build up inside homes and buildings. Along with poor ventilation, mould, and everyday air pollutants, these risks can affect long term lung health. The good news? There are practical ...

How do you turn a successful business into a generous one? Bill Knight started out selling vacuum cleaners door to door, knowing, in his own words, nothing about business. Decades later, he and his family run Mosaic Home Services, a home-services company that now spans the country, with giving built into the way it operates. In this episode, Trudy Callaghan from Odvod Media sits down with Bill and his son and business partner, Steven, to talk about Mosaic’s monthly Charity Day, the funds they’...

What does it take to build a career in a field that wasn’t built with you in mind? Women Building Futures has been helping women enter the trades and transportation since 1998 — not just with job training, but with the wraparound supports that make it possible to actually get there: childcare plans, housing support, fitness training, and a food pantry. Since the beginning, more than 3,000 women have come through their programs. Their work is supported in part by the JudyLynn Archer Fund, an endo...

What does it mean to truly live independently? For AiLA — the Autism Independent Living Association — independence isn’t just about having a place to live. It’s about having the skills, confidence, and support to navigate daily life on your own terms. In this episode, we hear about AiLA’s new cooking program: a series of hands-on workshops teaching autistic adults to prepare nutritious meals, manage a grocery budget, and build real kitchen confidence. The program runs out of The Kitchen at the ...

What happens to the artists who fall through the gap between school and a professional career? In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, we catch up with alumni of Pro Coro Canada‘s Emerging Artist Program — a free, professional-level training program for singers, conductors, and composers that’s been quietly building something in Edmonton for over a decade. This episode features Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of ...

What does it really take to protect the land beneath our feet — and the wildlife that depends on it — as our city continues to grow? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore how volunteers are shaping a more sustainable future right here in Edmonton, in recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Ramy Abdel-Keriem and co-host Scott Lundell from ECVO are joined by Sheila Campbell from Edmonton and Area Land Trust and Dale Gino ...

What happens when the odds of survival depend on something as simple — and as complex — as who’s in the system? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore the story of Ezra Marfo — and how one family’s search for a stem cell match has grown into a national movement to increase diversity in donor registries. Jacob Marfo, Ezra’s father and founder of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, shares the journey of navigating his son’s leukemia diagnosis, the urgent search for a donor, and th...

How do we protect the waters that sustain our communities — and what does it take to turn a personal passion into a lifelong career? In this episode of The Well Ended Podcast, we head to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River for a conversation with Kirsten Letendre, a proud Métis scientist whose journey from Lac Ste. Anne to a career in lake management has been shaped by culture, community, and support. Kirsten shares how her connection to land and water began early in life, and how receiv...

What does it mean to carry a refugee story across generations, and how do we keep those memories alive? In this special Lunar New Year episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, guest hosts Jessica Truong and Linda Hoang, co-founders of Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau (“We Are Together”), lead a heartfelt conversation about identity, belonging, and the Vietnamese Canadian experience in Edmonton. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon in 2025, this episode reflects on the journeys of Vietnamese boat p...

What does meaningful support look like when hoarding disorder is approached as a mental health issue, not a personal failure? Hoarding disorder affects thousands of people in Edmonton, yet it is often misunderstood and deeply stigmatized. Rooted in anxiety, trauma, and strong emotional attachment, the disorder can impact health, safety, relationships, and overall wellbeing when left unsupported. In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, Tom Ndekezi from Odvod Media speaks with Terri Bailey,...

What happens when survivors of intimate partner violence can access coordinated, trauma-informed support at the moment they need it most? The Integrated Domestic Violence Response Team (IDVRT) is a pilot initiative in Edmonton designed to close critical gaps in how high-risk domestic violence cases are supported. By bringing frontline partners together into a single, integrated response, the IDVRT helps survivors navigate the justice system, access mental health supports, and connect with commu...

What can happen when people are invited to share their stories and listen deeply to one another? Building Bridges Through Storytelling brings people together through guided workshops rooted in ceremony and shared learning. Led by Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society in partnership with Boyle Street Community Services and Islamic Family Social Services Association, the program is supported by a Community Grant from ECF and creates space for connection, reflection, and understanding. In this e...

What happens when the audience steps into the story? Theatre is often something we watch from a seat. But for Edmonton playwright Louise Casemore, it can also be something we experience from the inside. Her immersive theatre project, Other Duties as Required, explores the modern workplace and the job interview process through audience participation. Instead of observing from a distance, audiences enter an imagined office setting and experience the hiring process as it unfolds. The project is ...

How is one organization making alpine sports accessible to everyone? Many Edmontonians survive the long winter months by bundling up and enjoying snow sports. But activities that many people take for granted are harder to access for people with disabilities. Enter Canadian Adaptive Snowsports (CADS). Now in its 50th year, the organization connects children, youth, and adults with disabilities to specialized equipment and support so they can enjoy the slopes. Thanks to a grant from ECF, CADS Ed...

How can a student group create lasting impact in their community? Members of Delta Upsilon at the University of Alberta are taking a new approach to fraternity life by centering service, transparency, and community involvement. Their chapter has launched the Building Better Futures Fund, an endowment through Edmonton Community Foundation that will support Edmonton’s Food Bank for years to come. In this episode, Samuel Stratton and Tyler Chiponski share how they got involved with Delta Upsilon,...

How can collaboration turn a crisis into opportunity? When ABC Head Start Society suddenly lost most of its classroom spaces, hundreds of children and families faced the risk of losing vital early learning supports. That’s when Terra Centre, an organization that helps young parents complete school and build stability, stepped forward — offering newly renovated space so programs could continue. With support from ECF, this partnership became a powerful example of how Edmonton’s nonprofits come to...

How do you find hope after loss? When Carisa and Neville Britton lost their daughter Jessica, their world was forever changed. Through their grief, they found strength in each other — and a way to honour Jessica’s life by giving back to their community. With support from Edmonton Community Foundation, the Brittons established the Jessica Carisa Britton Fund — an endowment that will provide comfort, support, and opportunity for families and children for generations to come. In this episode, Lisa ...

In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, we sit down with Meena Deccan of Deccan Law, an Edmonton-based estate and succession planning lawyer, to explore what it means to protect the business you’ve built — and the people who depend on it. Meena shares how thoughtful planning can help entrepreneurs prepare for the future, ensure a smooth leadership transition, and support both loved ones and team members through life’s changes. Because a good estate plan doesn’t just protect your assets — i...