Pros & Conversations: Recent Episodes
Peter G. Reynolds
Pros and Conversations explores what it takes to be successful, whether you’re from the world of business, science or the arts. But more than a series of inspiring conversations, guests share real-world tips and insights, providing listeners with the tools they need to achieve their entrepreneurial goals. Host Peter Reynolds and co-host Damon Adachi, pull back the curtain to discover the story behind the success, the person behind the professional. The answers are often surprising and always entertaining.
In this episode of Pros and Conversations, hosts Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi explore what it takes to turn a passion project into a full-time business.
They’re joined by Steve Ackroyd, a seasoned CPA with over 20 years of experience helping entrepreneurs transition from side hustles to sustainable success. Steve shares key insights on cash flow management, tax planning, and knowing when to incorporate—essential steps for any new business owner.
Together, they discuss the value of financial discipline, trusted advisors, and planning for growth—whether hiring staff or preparing for expansion. Throughout the episode, Peter and Damon emphasize that while you may be in business for yourself, you don’t have to do it by yourself.
A must-listen for anyone ready to turn their passion into a sustainable enterprise.
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In this episode of Pros and Conversations, hosts Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi explore how businesses can be powerful allies in helping women rebuild their lives after incarceration.
They’re joined by Kelly Potvin, Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto, and Tina Eldridge, Executive Director of Rittenhouse, who share candid insights into the trauma women face in the criminal justice system, the barriers to reintegration, and the critical role of employment in creating lasting change.
Part of our Community Impact Series, this episode looks at how businesses can make a real difference in their communities—by breaking down barriers, creating inclusive spaces, and stepping up to support local needs. It’s not just about doing good; it’s also good for business. When companies give back and care about the communities around them, everyone wins.
Want to learn more or get involved? Visit efrytoronto.org to support the Elizabeth Fry Society of Toronto, or learn about transitional housing and support services at rittenhouseanv.com
Pros & Conversations is produced by For the Record Productions www.ftrp.ca
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In this episode of Pros and Conversations, host Peter Reynolds and co-host Damon Adachi dive into the pressing issue of food insecurity affecting communities across Ontario and beyond. They explore the vital roles that entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large retailers can play in ensuring that no one in their community goes hungry.
Joining them are two insightful guests: Stephanie Ashton-Smith, Vice President of Development and Partnerships for Feed Ontario, and Aaron Wade, Manager of Public Relations and Community Investment at Farm Boy. Together, they discuss the mission of Feed Ontario, the importance of food banks, and the systemic changes needed to combat food insecurity.
This episode is part of our Community Impact Series, where we look at how businesses can make a real difference in their communities—by breaking down barriers, creating inclusive spaces, and stepping up to support local needs. It’s not just about doing good; it’s also good for business. When companies give back and care about the communities around them, everyone wins.
Interested in learning more about the fight against food insecurity? Visit www.feedontario.ca to find out how you can get involved.
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In this episode of Pros & Conversations, hosts Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi explore the transformative impact of career coaching for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Our guest, Zerina Dervini, a career and life coach, shares her journey from the corporate world to launching her own coaching practice. Zerina discusses how coaching helps entrepreneurs align their personal goals with business objectives, overcome self-doubt, and build a thriving, purpose-driven business.
This episode is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to grow both personally and professionally. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a small business owner, or someone focused on personal development, Zerina’s expertise offers a fresh perspective on how coaching can unlock your full potential.
To learn more about career coaching, visit: https://www.zerinalifecoach.com
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
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In Part 2 of Mastering LinkedIn – Strategies for Entrepreneurs, hosts Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi continue their conversation with LinkedIn expert Stacy Maynard, diving even deeper into the platform’s potential for business growth and lead generation.
This episode builds on key insights from Part 1, exploring advanced strategies for optimizing your profile, leveraging content formats like video and carousels, and making the most of LinkedIn Premium.
Stacy also shares expert tips on daily engagement routines, strategic networking, and the role of company pages in establishing credibility. Whether you're an entrepreneur, marketer, or job seeker, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you harness the full power of LinkedIn.
Learn more at: www.themastermind.city
Interested in starting a podcast? Check us out at: www.ftrp.ca/podcast-production
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In Part 1 of Mastering LinkedIn - Strategies for Entrepreneurs, Pros and Conversations hosts Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi explore the evolving landscape of LinkedIn and its potential as a powerful tool for business growth and lead generation.
Our guest, Stacy Maynard, Co-Founder of The Mastermind City , brings her extensive experience in LinkedIn training to the table, offering invaluable insights into how the platform has shifted from a simple networking site to a robust business development tool.
This episode is packed with actionable advice for anyone looking to leverage LinkedIn for business growth. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a marketer, or a job seeker, Stacy's insights provide a comprehensive guide to making the most out of LinkedIn.
Learn more at: www.themastermind.city
Interested in starting a podcast? Check us out at: www.ftrp.ca/podcast-production
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In this episode of Pros and Conversations, host Peter Reynolds and co-host Damon Adachi dive into the fascinating world of science-based entrepreneurship with the co-founders of Winter Light Labs, Maria Yancheva and Jordan Ponn.
Discover how their innovative technology analyzes speech to detect and track cognitive health issues like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, and its potential to transform the lives of millions of people around the world.
Learn about specific challenges facing science-based start-up, including how marketing plays a critical role in humanizing technology andbuilding trust with investors and the public.
Learn more at: https://winterlightlabs.com/
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fortherecordproductions/
Host Peter G. Reynolds and Damon Adachi celebrate the success of Season 2 of Pros & Conversation and give a sneak peek into what's in store for Season 3!
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In Part 2 of a special, 2-part episode, hosts Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi continue demystifying Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with travel blogger and SEO specialist Nina Clapperton www.SheKnowsSEO.co
How can businesses use keywords to optimize their website effectively? Guest Nina Clapperton highlights the importance of having a blog associated with your profession to generate more keywords that Google can recognize and to showcase your qualifications and expertise.
Nina then walks listeners step-by-step through her process of monetizing her blog with affiliate marketing, identifying keywords and the power of Question-Based Keywords, which targets the questions asked of Google by consumers - a particularly effective strategy in the growing world of home devices that rely on voice search (Google Home, Amazon Echo, etc).
If you missed Part 1, you can find it here!
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/13940883
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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In Part 1 of a special, 2-part episode, hosts Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi explore the world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) with travel blogger and SEO specialist Nina Clapperton, discussing the importance of SEO in building a strong online presence and attracting customers.
Nina shares her journey of turning her travel blog into a successful business, highlighting the strategies she used to achieve a $30,000 a month in income. Part 1 emphasizes the need to consider the consumer and user experience when creating online content and provides valuable insights into effective SEO strategies.
Nina Clapperton
https://sheknowsseo.co/
https://ninaoutandabout.ca/
Support the show
Thank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
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We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
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In Part Two of "How to Bring Structure to a Creative Business," Peter Reynolds welcomes back Jo-anne Kupiak, a designer and owner of Design Excellence, and Damon Adachi, a marketing expert from Sevenfold Marketing. The guests discuss the challenges of creating structure in a creative business, which is often subjective and influenced by feelings and opinions. They stress the importance of having structure to ensure the longevity of the business. The episode provides valuable insights into how creative businesses can establish a strong foundation while maintaining their creative integrity.
If you missed Part One, Listen Here: https://prosandconversations.buzzsprout.com/1985155/11651506-episode-14-adding-structure-to-a-creative-business
The First Customer
Want to start or grow your business? Learn how founders got their first customer.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the showThank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
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Looking for a succession strategy that doesn't include backstabbing and betrayal? Join hosts Peter Reynolds, Damon Adachi and a panel of experts, as they share insights, tips, and real-life examples to help you create a roadmap for your own succession plan.
They'll explore the challenges faced by solopreneurs, first, second, and third-generation business owners, and offer practical advice for ensuring your business is successful now and in the future. No stabbing required.
School of Podcasting - Plan, Launch, and Grow Your Podcast
You want to start a podcast, but you’re not sure where to start. Now you do.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Support the showThank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
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Host Peter G. Reynolds and Damon Adachi celebrate the success of Season 1 of Pros & Conversation and give a sneak peek into what's in store for Season 2, including in-depth discussions with experts on AI, small business investing, mentoring, digital marketing, succession planning and much, much more.
Support the showThank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
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With over 100,000 picture books sold, Laurie Wright knows a thing or two about being a children's author. Join hosts Peter G. Reynolds and Damon Adachi as they discuss the challenges of self-publishing, marketing, and sales and how writing was only the first step in Laurie's story of success.
Support the showThank you for listening! You can support and help us create great content for entrepreneurs and small business owners by clicking here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1985155/support
Subscribe on your favourite podcast app and don’t miss an episode!
We’re also on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@prosandconversations?sub_confirmation=1
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fortherecordproductions/
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Marketing is an important part of any business. It’s critical to building awareness of your brand. But deciding how much to spend on marketing can be a real challenge. Host Peter Reynolds and marketing consultant Damon Adachi unpack this complex topic.
From accounting to marketing, working "on" our businesses is often less fun than working "in" our businesses. But if we let things slide, we soon won't have businesses at all. Interior designer Jo-Anne Kupiec provides tips and tricks for adding structure to your business without stifling creativity.
Video can be an incredibly effective tool in marketing, but only if used correctly. Join video producer Kevin Luis and hosts Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi as they discuss how to create a successful video for your business and strategies for making your video production business successful.
Being successful in the arts takes more than just talent, it takes real business savvy. Join Peter Reynolds & Damon Adach as they speak with actors Geri Hall and Gary Pearson, stars of the hit theatrical sketch comedy MIDDLE RAGED, about the overlooked business skills needed to make it as a performer, and the performance skills that can help every entrepreneur.
Counsellor & Trauma Specialist Shannon Moyer talks with hosts Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi about the mental health challenges facing entrepreneurs today and the strategies to help overcome them.
For some, retirement is about relaxing on a beach, for others, it's an opportunity to reinvent themselves and explore new business ventures. News anchor and award-winning communications executive Steve Kee talks about his life after retirement, starting a new business, and the rewards of working because you want to, rather than because you have to.
Global entrepreneur Claudia Harvey talks about the difficult decision to leave the corporate world to pursue her dream and how an appearance on CBC’s Dragon’s Den changed her life.
Should you build or buy that perfect home office? With so many entrepreneurs now working from home, the question of whether to move or renovate has become more important than ever. Join Host Peter G. Reynolds and Damon Adachi as they debate both options with Realtor Grant Gilmore & Interior Designer Jo-Anne Kupiec.
Political strategist, commentator and author Tasha Kheiriddin discusses the best approach to creating and managing an effective personal brand, and how to avoid any pitfalls along the way.
Host Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi speak with Jennifer Kendall, CFO of Discovernet and Owner of Acuity Path about the unique challenges facing women Entrepreneurs and how to “create a business you love, while living a life you love”.
Peter Reynolds & Damon Adachi speak with Financial Planner Tim Keeler and Skyline Executive Sandra Kennedy about sales and the value of building strong customer relationships.
Host Peter G. Reynolds and Damon Adachi speak with Kinia Romanowska, CEO and Founder of Pros & Babes and the MoMBA, about the challenges faced by mothers with demanding careers and how they can turn the “motherhood penalty” into their greatest strength.
When starting a small business, technology is more than just deciding what laptops you’re going to buy. Technology impacts every aspect of your business, for productivity and accounting software, to marketing, automation and cyber-security. Host Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi speak with Shawn Huelin, CEO of Discovernet, one of the 50 best managed IT companies in Canada, about this complex topic and offer some insights of where business owners should focus their attention and budget.
Marketing & Branding are critical to the success of any business, but how do they differ? Is one more important than the other? Host Peter Reynolds and marketing consultant Damon Adachi discuss the principals of marketing and what small business owners should consider when developing their marketing and brand strategy.
Welcome to Pros & Conversations, the podcast explores what it takes to be successful, whether you’re from the world of business, science of the arts. In this short intro episode, host Peter Reynolds and Damon Adachi talk about why they started the podcast and what listeners can expect from future episodes.