Best Kaytis Podcasts (2026)

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Dr. Laura: Fear, Risk, and Trusting the Next Step Without Guarantees 1:20:04

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5d ago1:20:04

1:20:04

Fear shows up quietly. It shapes how we make decisions, how we measure progress, and how long we stay in situations that no longer feel right. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett, an organizational psychologist, researcher, and author, to talk about what happens when logic, effort, and planning stop being enough on their own. …

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Michael Chiasson: Carrying On Without Knowing What Comes Next 1:30:48

26d ago1:30:48

1:30:48

Life doesn’t usually offer clarity when you need it. In this episode, reflects on what it means to keep moving forward through uncertainty. From early responsibility and family instability to becoming a husband, father, and leader while still figuring things out, his story unfolds without clean timelines or clear answers. Michael is a Canadian spea…

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Can Fandom Make Us Better Tourists? by Kayti Burt 17:02

1M ago17:02

17:02

Our final article of 2025 is here! Kayti Burt—who first wrote for us last spring, in a fantastic piece on the precarity of being a fandom journalist (https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/the-fan-journalist-tightrope)—returns to Fansplaining to tackle the subject of fandom tourism, and how fans can approach journeys with respect rather than entitle…

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Cassie Hawrysh: Rebuilding After Real Disappointments 1:44:51

1M ago1:44:51

1:44:51

Cassie Hawrysh has lived most of her life in high pressure environments. She grew up around adults, learned responsibility early, and carried that into sport where effort and expectations shaped almost everything she did. When she became one of the top skeleton athletes in the world, the drive that pushed her forwardalso became the thing she had to…

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Teika Hudson: Choosing a Life Built on Purpose and Creative Discipline 1:21:58

1M ago1:21:58

1:21:58

Some people grow up fast because life demands it. Teika did. She carried responsibility early and learned to pay attention young. That awareness shaped how she understood people, how she stayed steady in difficult moments, and howshe found confidence in structure and discipline long before tattooing entered her life. This episode gets into the expe…

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Nic Beique: Success, Serendipity, and the Road That Shapes You 1:23:16

2M ago1:23:16

1:23:16

Success rarely comes from a straight line. Nic Beique built Helcim into one of Canada’s most respected fintech companies, but the road that shaped him was full oftiming, luck, perseverance, and the kind of complicated lessons that make you who you are. In this episode, Nic talks openly about the parts of growth people don’t see. The doubt that show…

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Alternate Universes by Newt Albiston 13:52

2M ago13:52

13:52

Our November piece is here! Newt Albiston's essay is one part guide to fandom text-based roleplaying, one part meditation on working through gender exploration via roleplay. Plus: be sure to click through and see the gorgeous art we commissioned from illustrator Anna Lark. "Alternate Universes" Through text-based roleplaying, I've lived so many oth…

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Laura Naaykens: From Identity Crisis to "Accidental" Founder 1:11:53

2M ago1:11:53

1:11:53

What if you don't need a "5-year plan" to be successful? We're all pressured to find our one "passion" and follow a perfect, linear path. But what if that's not how the most interesting careers are built? Laura Naaykens is a former NCAA athlete who, after an injury, found herself in a complete identity crisis. She didn't have a grand plan; she just…

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Moment 14: A Practical Guide to Manifestation 10:36

2M ago10:36

10:36

Manifestation isn't just "thinking positive." It can be a practical, daily tool, as simple as a specific morning routine—from a cold plunge to how you write in a journal—that you use to run your life and business. These insights come from Brent Boucher, a Calgary entrepreneur whose story is a perfect example of what I call "grey thinking". He built…

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Brent Boucher: Finding Your Strength in Uncomfortable Places 1:05:27

2M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

How do you build a life when your childhood is defined by instability? Brent Boucher is a Calgary entrepreneur who built a successful motorcycle shop and finance company from scratch. But his journey started in a place of deep trauma, navigating family mental health crises and leaving school in Grade 11 just to pay the bills. In this conversation, …

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Reclaiming the Mary Sue by Meghan Fitzmartin 10:29

3M ago10:29

10:29

Our October piece is part essay/part excerpt: Meghan Fitzmartin, who's written for DC Comics, Supernatural, and many other fan-favorite properties, has published an indie comic, Mary Sue, about—you guessed it!—a fanfiction writer. While the essay is a standalone text you should be able to listen to just fine here, we highly recommend heading over t…

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Moment 13: How to Rebuild Your Life After a Setback | Dr. Matt Brown 12:41

3M ago12:41

12:41

Dr. Matt Brown had his entire life planned: pro football, then medical school. He details the "helmet to helmet" hit that ended his career and the "messy" mental health transition that followed. He discusses the stigma that kept him from seeking help and the pivotal moment he sat on the field and asked, "Who am I without football?"—and heard "deafe…

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Matt Brown: Why True Competitiveness Is a "Personality Trait, Not a Learned Skill" 1:24:01

3M ago1:24:01

1:24:01

What happens when the one thing that defines you is gone? Dr. Matt Brown had his entire life planned: play pro football, then become a surgeon. But a single helmet-to-helmet hit ended his career, broke his neck, and shattered his identity. In the darkness that followed, he felt "gutted like a fish" and asked himself a question that would change his…

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Hailey Seidel: The Accidental Entrepreneur Who Built a 20-Year Career From a Single Problem 1:29:33

3M ago1:29:33

1:29:33

What does it take to lose the business you built from scratch and then come back to create an even bigger success? This week, we sit down with Hailey Seidel, the founder of Calgary’s luxury pet hotel, The Petropolitan, for a masterclass in resilience, branding, and grit. For 20 years, Hailey has been a force in the pet care industry, but her path w…

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K-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional by Aja Romano 20:49

4M ago20:49

20:49

September's piece is by longtime fandom journalist Aja Romano, on the explosion of Kpop Demon Hunters, and its intersections—or lackthereof—with real K-pop artists and fans. "K-Pop's Demons, Real and Fictional" by Aja Romano. KPop Demon Hunters has seen massive mainstream success in the U.S. What does that mean for real K-pop artists and their fans…

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Kayti Simonson: The Power of Authenticity and How Energy Shapes Your Reality 1:15:24

4M ago1:15:24

1:15:24

What if the key to unlocking your highest potential wasn't about pushing harder, but about becoming more authentic? My guest this week, Kayti Simonson, shares her profound journey from a high-achieving lawyer and athlete running on adrenaline to a resilient competitor guided by energy and intuition. Kayti is a Calgary-based lawyer and three-time HY…

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The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between by Tessa Gratton 28:36

5M ago28:36

28:36

Our August piece is by novelist (and Fansplaining SDCC 2025 panelist!) Tessa Gratton, about navigating the intersections of the fan and pro writing worlds, and how their queerness shapes their framings of these worlds. "The Fan, the Pro, and the Spaces In Between" by Tessa Gratton. Writing for Star Wars challenges me to interrogate fandom power dyn…

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Cari Din: How Life's "Interruptions" Define Who You Become 1:34:13

5M ago1:34:13

1:34:13

I've always been fascinated by the moments that change everything. Not the big goals we set, but the unexpected turns that truly define us. My guest this week, Cari Din, calls these powerful moments "interruptions". Cari is an Olympic silver medalist in artistic swimming and an award-winning Kinesiology professor. She was incredibly open about her …

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Christine Goudie: Flipping the Script on Entrepreneurial Fear 1:35:42

5M ago1:35:42

1:35:42

What if the biggest risks lead to the most meaningful rewards? My guest this week, Christine Goudie, is the definition of that question. As the Co-founder and CEO of Granville Biomedical, she has forged a unique path driven by a desire to use her design skills for good, starting with a one-way ticket out of Newfoundland with just $250 in her pocket…

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The Fandom Advantage: How Fan Creativity Fuels Pro Entertainment Careers 53:33

6M ago53:33

53:33

Fansplaining returned to San Diego Comic-Con this year (our tenth anniversary!) with a fantastic panel of fandom folks who work in pro entertainment careers. There's an audio recording here on our feed, and over at the website: https://www.fansplaining.com/articles/sdcc-2025-the-fandom-advantage You can watch video version as well as read a full tr…

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How Curiosity Shapes Creative Work with Shelley Youngblut 1:58:03

6M ago1:58:03

1:58:03

What does it mean to shape ideas for a living? In this episode, Shelley reflects on what it takes to shape meaningful ideas, how to trust your gut in creative decisions, and what it feels like to stay curious over time. Her stories reveal how culture takes shape through consistent and thoughtful choices. A few themes that run through the episode: •…

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Jamie Parker: The Business Started in a Garage. The Real Work Was Personal. 1:42:43

6M ago1:42:43

1:42:43

Jamie Parker didn’t plan to become an entrepreneur. He worked a lot of jobs, spent time on wildfire crews, and started roasting coffee in a garage before anything looked like a business. That business became Canadian Heritage Roasting Company. This episode isn’t about overnight success. It’s about figuring things out by doing the work, staying comm…

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Marco Carducci: Thriving in the Game Without Being Defined By It 1:11:17

6M ago1:11:17

1:11:17

Marco Carducci is still in the game, competing at a high level, leading on and off the field, and figuring it out as he goes. In this episode, Marco reflects on what it took to make it in pro soccer, what nearly pulled him away from it, and how he's found a healthier way to thrive without losing himself in the process. He opens up about growing up …

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How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom by Jay Castello 11:09

7M ago11:09

11:09

Our latest piece is about making fanworks—and fandom friendships—last through the decades! "How Friendships Onscreen and Off Fueled Half a Century of Fandom" by Jay Castello. For the admins of the Starsky & Hutch Fiction Archive, preserving fanworks and fannish community go hand in hand. Read the full piece: https://fansplaining.com/articles/how-fr…

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Trent McClellan: When You Trust Yourself Before the Results Show Up 1:20:14

7M ago1:20:14

1:20:14

Trent McClellan didn’t step on stage until he was 30. No plan, no roadmap. Just a feeling he couldn’t ignore. We talked about what it took to go from a full-time day job to late-night open mics, touring small towns across Alberta, and eventually landing on 22 Minutes. Trent shared the less visible side of his career. The mental discipline. The self…

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Crystal Phillips: From Elite Athlete to Health Innovation Leader 1:14:39

7M ago1:14:39

1:14:39

Crystal was chasing the Olympics when she was diagnosed with MS. What came next was unexpected, but the way she handled it shaped everything that followed. In this episode, we talked about competing at a high level, what it’s like to face a sudden diagnosis, and why Crystal started rethinking the healthcare system from the inside. We also got into …

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I Came to Ruin You: The Collecting Practices of K-Pop Fandoms by Rea McNamara & Bo Shin 23:39

8M ago23:39

23:39

This month's Fansplaining piece is a bit of a departure from our usual fandom reporting and critical analysis: for the first time, we're very excited to share a virtual art exhibit of sorts, from Toronto-based curators and BTS fans Rea McNamara and Bo Shin. I came to ruin you: The Collecting Practices of K-pop Fandoms was on display at York Univers…

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Dr. Karen MacNeill: The MINDSET SHIFT That Transforms PRESSURE Into PERFORMANCE 1:23:46

8M ago1:23:46

1:23:46

Dr. Karen MacNeill and I talk about what it really takes to perform under pressure. Whether you’re an athlete, leader, or just someone trying to keep it together in tough moments. She shares honest stories about setbacks, the mindset shift from fear to freedom, and how mental fitness makes the difference when it counts. We talk about resilience, fi…

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Ross Pambrun: The Firefighter Who Found Belonging in Music and Culture 1:38:53

8M ago1:38:53

1:38:53

Ross has done a lot in his life: firefighter, nurse, musician, speaker, and now the host of a TV show. What really stood out was how all those parts of his story came together. We talked about service, identity, and the tension between being who you are and who you're expected to be. Ross shared what it’s like to discover his Métis roots later in l…

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Nicole Robertson: Telling Stories With Cultural and Community Purpose 1:45:25

8M ago1:45:25

1:45:25

I sat down with Nicole Robertson, a journalist and founder of Muskwa Productions, to talk about where her voice comes from and how she’s used it to tell hard stories for nearly 30 years. With Cree and Scottish roots, she spoke about growing up between cultures and the early experiences that shaped her sense of identity. We talked about the loss of …

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Emma Harding: Unlocking Your True Voice Starts With Healing Your Past 1:11:55

9M ago1:11:55

1:11:55

In this episode, I sit down with Emma Harding, a voice coach and artist development expert who grew up backstage in the British rock scene and later built a creative life in Calgary. We get into what it really means to unlock your true voice, how healing your past can change your performance, and why community matters more than chasing perfection. …

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The RPF Question by Sacha Judd 28:22

9M ago28:22

28:22

In our newest piece, Sacha Judd goes deep on RPF, tracing it back decades and tackling its thorny intersections with other kinds of fan practices. "The RPF Question" by Sacha Judd. Amid blurry boundaries between fic, celebrity fandom, and conspiracy theories, how real person fiction evolved from forbidden to mainstream and back again. Read the full…