This Commerce Life

Latest Episodes:

Eye-Friendly Beauty: How an Optometrist is Revolutionizing Cosmetics with Dr. Nieka Sabeti Nov 04, 2025

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What if your makeup routine is secretly harming your eye health? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Nieka Sabeti, a practicing optometrist and founder of CHESHMA, a groundbreaking line of eye-friendly cosmetics. After countless patients broke down in her exam room—struggling with dry eye disease caused by cosmetics and feeling they had to choose between their appearance and their eye health—Dr. Neeka had a middle-of-the-night revelation that changed everything.

Discover why most cosmetics aren't as eye-safe as you'd think, how proper makeup removal can dramatically improve eye health, and what drove this optometrist to become an entrepreneur. Dr. Neeka shares her journey from chemistry undergrad to eye doctor to beauty brand founder, including why she drove labs crazy with her extensive testing requirements (way beyond Health Canada's standards).

We dive deep into the connection between cosmetics and dry eye disease, the importance of proper eye hygiene, and why education is at the core of changing both consumer behavior and industry standards. Plus, hear the co-hosts debate the challenges of building awareness for health-focused beauty products in a market where convenience often trumps wellness.

Whether you're a makeup lover, deal with dry eyes, or are curious about the intersection of healthcare and beauty innovation, this conversation will open your eyes (pun intended) to what you're really putting on your face.

Check out Cheshma Beauty here: https://cheshmabeauty.ca/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the show: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Knucklehead Interviews Oct 28, 2025

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The Knuckleheads talk to each other. Two retail veterans with a combined 50+ years of experience sit down for honest conversations about Canadian business, brands, and the challenges facing small and medium-sized companies.

We talk to each other about where we come from and how we got here. Kenny, it turns out, was always pretty linear. Phil, has nothing linear about his career at all.

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring our podcast. https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Crisis to Creation: How Lupus and Scleroderma Led to a Natural Skincare Brand Oct 21, 2025

Show notes

When Nana Daniels returned from a trip to Ghana in 2016, she experienced a severe lupus flare-up that left her skin severely burned. What happened next changed her life forever.

After seven hours in the emergency room with no real solution, Nana turned to her Ghanaian roots and created her own remedy using raw shea butter, vitamin E, and essential oils. The results were so remarkable that friends started asking for their own supply—and Honam Naturals was born.

In this inspiring episode, Nana shares:

Her 25-year journey living with lupus and scleroderma
How a medical crisis became an unexpected business opportunity
The cultural wisdom behind shea butter and African black soap
Selling out her first product batch in one hour and making $1,000
Winning a mentorship with Dragons' Den's Manjit Minhas
Landing products in Winners, Walmart (US and Canada), and Amazon—all while battling imposter syndrome
The challenges of scaling from kitchen countertop to big box retail
Why she chose aluminum containers and eco-friendly packaging
Her vision for getting into more natural health stores across Canada

From Ajax, Ontario, Nana has built a thriving skincare and haircare brand that honors traditional African ingredients while meeting modern clean beauty standards. Her story proves that sometimes the best solutions come from going back to basics—and that a little bit of courage can turn adversity into opportunity.

Products discussed: Body butters, African black soap, hair care for tight curls and chemically-treated hair, home fragrances, and men's grooming

Connect with Honam Naturals: http://honamnaturals.com/collections

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Auto Mechanic to Artisan Sausage Maker: D-Original Sausage Haus Story Oct 14, 2025

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From Auto Mechanic to Artisan Sausage Maker: D-Original Sausage Haus Story

Join us as we sit down with Clint from D-Original Sausage Haus in Steveston, BC, who shares his unconventional journey from automotive mechanic to box manufacturing to crafting premium German-style cured meats. Clint discusses the challenges of running a brick-and-mortar deli in a post-COVID world, the art of making authentic salamis and pepperoni with BC pork and natural casings, and the frustrations of navigating Canada's inter-provincial trade regulations. From consignment deals with craft breweries to building relationships with loyal customers, Clint reveals what it takes to grow a premium, artisanal meat business while staying true to traditional recipes and quality ingredients. Plus, we debate the merits of truffle pepperoni and why sometimes the best things in life come in irregular shapes.

Check out Clint's online store here: https://www.doriginalsausagehaus.com/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Cologne to Canada: What We Learned Walking 10 Football Fields at Anuga Oct 07, 2025

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From Cologne to Canada: What We Learned Walking 10 Football Fields at Anuga

Phil and Kenny take the podcast on the road to Anuga, one of the world's largest food trade shows in Cologne, Germany. Recording their raw observations while navigating German parking lots and autobahns, they share what surprised them most: Bulgaria's emerging food innovation, the surprising absence of crowds at the Chinese pavilion, and how geopolitical tensions are reshaping international food trade.

The episode features candid conversations with Matt and Kim Lebeau from Lebeau Excel and Luca Felicetti from the fifth-generation Italian pasta maker. They discuss practical strategies for attending massive trade shows, the protein trend's different evolution in Europe versus North America, and why Canadian brands should consider looking east instead of south. Topics range from edible utensils and shelf-stable kombucha to the 106% tariff on Italian pasta and why Americans are apologizing for being American.

Our first take on Anuga Cologne. Kenny and I talk about what's happening in Cologne, and we catch up with Matt and Kim LeBeau, Luca Felicetti.

Thank you to Luca and the team at Felicetti for making us feel welcome in your lovely booth. If you're still at the show, head to Hall 10.2, B080

If you're not, head to https://www.felicetti.it/en

You can find Luca here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luca-felicetti-b27b3a279/

Thanks to Matt and Kim for jumping in on the podcast - we love you guys. Check out Lebeau Excel here: https://lebeauexcel.com/

Thank you to Fieldagent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

Shauna Fidler, founder of Design Farm and producer of the Basin Food Summit Sep 30, 2025

Show notes

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Shauna Fidler, founder of Design Farm and producer of the Basin Food Summit, as she takes us deep into British Columbia's Kootenay region—a place where local food culture thrives and producers connect directly with buyers who care.

Shauna shares her journey from running a cookie shop in Calgary to pioneering gluten-free baking before it was mainstream, and eventually finding her home in the Kootenays where she now supports food producers through branding, packaging design, and the annual Basin Food Summit.

Event Details: Basin Food Summit, November 6-8, 2025, Nelson, BC | www.basinfood.ca

Warning: This episode may cause extreme hunger and an irresistible urge to book a trip to the Kootenays.

You can find Shauna here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shauna-fidler-25226b241/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Ice Cream Cart to National Brand - The Hazel's Ice Cream Story Sep 23, 2025

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From Ice Cream Cart to National Brand - The Hazel's Ice Cream Story

In this episode, hosts Kenny and Phil sit down with Sam Vermeulen, co-founder of Hazel's Ice Cream, to discuss the remarkable journey from a COVID-era ice cream cart idea to a growing national frozen novelty brand.

Sam shares how what started as a father-son dream of running an ice cream shop evolved into handcrafted premium ice cream bars. Born out of necessity during the pandemic, Hazel's pivoted from scooped ice cream to bars when traditional retail wasn't an option - a decision that accidentally filled a market gap in Victoria's frozen novelty scene.

Scaling CPG Brands with Roadmap CPG's Michelle Prychidny and Koreann Webster Sep 16, 2025

Show notes

Scaling CPG Brands with Roadmap CPG's Michelle Prychidny and Koreann Webster

In this episode of This Commerce Life, hosts Phil and Kenny welcome the dynamic duo behind Roadmap CPG - Michelle Prychidny and Koreann Webster. Together, these industry veterans share their combined decades of experience helping emerging CPG brands navigate the treacherous waters of retail scaling.

From their early days at Vega and their rocket ship journey with SmartSweets to launching their own consultancy, Michelle and Koreann break down the critical foundational pieces that make or break growing brands. They dive deep into the most common pitfalls they see repeatedly: cash flow nightmares, pricing disasters, and the fundamental disconnect between profit and loss versus actual cash in the bank.

check out Roadmap CPG here: https://www.roadmapcpg.com/

Find Koreann here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/koreann-webster-42b43160/

Find Michelle here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-mckay-prychidny-b6b0492/

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast. https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

aspiring surgeon to herbal wellness entrepreneur: Sanaz Bahrami Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

We sit down with Sanaz Bahrami, founder of Melts Infusions, who shares her remarkable journey from aspiring surgeon to herbal wellness entrepreneur. After nerve damage derailed her medical career dreams, Sanaz discovered the power of adaptogenic herbs during a challenging period in graduate school studying biomedical engineering.

What started as brewing "peace tea" in her apartment to manage anxiety and depression has evolved into a thriving business with over 500,000 TikTok followers and a loyal customer base. Sanaz opens up about her early struggles with mental health, the limitations she found with traditional pharmaceutical approaches, and how a lab mate's suggestion to try herbal remedies changed her life.

Check out Melts Infusions here: https://meltsinfusion.com/

Find Sanaz here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanaz-bahrami-7a067014a/

Sanaz's Tiktok page is here: https://www.tiktok.com/@meltsinfusions

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast: https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

From Stadium Cleaner to Craft Brewer - The Latina Beer Story Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

From Stadium Cleaner to Craft Brewer - The Latina Beer Story

Phil and Kenny sit down with Carlos Castro, the Venezuelan-Canadian founder of Latina Beer, for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, immigration, and following your passion.

Carlos shares his remarkable journey from cleaning Rogers Stadium as an entry-level job to building his own craft brewery in St. Catharines, Ontario. What started as a casual conversation with a coworker during a break led to an eight-year adventure in the beer industry - all beginning with a napkin, a homebrew recipe, and $1,500.

check out Latina beer at https://www.latina.beer/ and @latinabeer

Thank you to Field Agent Canada for sponsoring the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/

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