On this episode of In The Business Of Something, we dive into the world of video production with Colleen Nuc and Amy McBain, the dynamic duo that fuels Hoopla, scrappy production studio making waves here in Edmonton. We get right into how Colleen started Hoopla looking for more creative opportunity, and eventually brought on Amy. The two of them have carved out a niche in the industry thanks to their creativity, passion, and knack for storytelling.

From navigating early career challenges to landing big-deal city projects that went viral, Colleen and Amy share insights into their creative process, their recent ventures like self-produced International Women's Day projects, and their aspirations for tackling bigger, bolder productions in the future.

Whether you're in the industry or simply love some Hoopla, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to thrive in the world of video production.

On this episode of In the Business of Something, we're talking all things banking with co-host Danna Stephens, Associate Director of Marketing at ATB Financial and her colleagues Eldon Kymson and Jenn Manning, Associate Creative Directors at ATB.

Eldon and Jenn share their unconventional career journeys from science and musical theatre to advertising. They discuss their roles in shaping ATB's creative evolution, including how their unique backgrounds help them see creativity opportunity within the practical world of finance.

Highlighting their work on the recent "Powering Possibility" brand campaign, they emphasize the importance of meeting people where they're at and standing out in the banking industry through a humanized, optimistic vision of personal finance that resonates with a diverse group of Albertans. They also reflect on the benefits of working in-house, where they can infuse the brand’s promise into the company culture, making a tangible impact beyond the traditional limits of advertising.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, we talk with the Best in Show award winners from the 45th Annual ACE Awards. This work was recognized by the esteemed judging panel as a stand-out project, worthy of the global stage.

Justin Archer and Dennis Lenarduzzi, from Berlin Communications, join ACE President Carla McNeil, to take us behind the scenes of how Confetti Fridays came to life and eventually ended up winning the most prestigious award of the night.

Confetti Fridays was a free summer concert series hosted by Michael Phair, Alberta’s first openly gay city councillor, in the downtown park named after him. Launched in June for Pride Month, the series brought the community together weekly for live music, DJ sets and drag shows. Michael Phair Park is surrounded by a mural titled “Confetti,“ which floods all surrounding walls and sidewalks with a shower of rainbow dots. The look and feel of the lunchtime summer series creative was inspired by this mural along with cues pulled from the Memphis movement and 80’s pop art halftones – which is about the time that Michael Phair was making history here in Edmonton.

The creative applied the vibrant colours of the pride flag in circle motifs that mimic the confetti mural, creating a joyful and energetic “more is more” aesthetic that celebrates Edmonton’s diversity, the parade of colourful queens who performed at Confetti Fridays, and Michael Phair’s iconic personal style.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Breanne Kraus, Director of Communications & Marketing at Alberta Cancer Foundation. We sit down with Breanne to learn about the world of cause marketing through the lens of a non-profit organization leading cancer research and patient support in our province. It's a complex role full of variety that takes you from intimate stories of cancer patients, to breakthrough discoveries, funding announcements, and major gifts.

We learn about Breanne’s journey to finally discovering a career that fulfills her every day and how she ended up there after years of searching. From working in publishing to startups, entrepreneurship and finally volunteering for ACF which led to much more.

Breanne is living proof that every job has a lesson to teach you, and it's all building to something bigger and better that will come eventually if you stay patient, curious, and committed.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, we're joined by not one but TWO wonderful people, Jeff Caron and Sophie Maisonneuve from Sonder Creative. This dynamic duo leads a small but mighty design studio here in Edmonton that specializes in branding, web design, and development.

This episode is hosted by ACE Podcast Chair Josh Radostits and ACE Past President Pablo Herrra Cruz.

Josh and Pablo sit down with Jeff and Sophie, friends of ACE, to learn about the journey of starting Sonder Creative to step outside the typical 'lanes' of a traditional agency and embrace a more hands-on approach throughout the entire project process. We learn about the benefits of working in a smaller shop, managing a creative partnership, and the constant struggle between entrepreneurial spirit and process.

Jeff and Sophie share their journeys getting into the marketing world, including Jeff's fully-suited stint at a print shop in town, and what they were both missing when they ended up taking the leap to do their own thing.

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Chris Henderson, Partner and Chief Strategist at Y Station. This episode is hosted by ACE Vice President Adam Rozenhart and ACE Past President Pablo Herrra Cruz.

Adam and Pablo sit down with Chris to learn about how the world of market research intersects with our industry, including how proper engagement and consultation unlock critical insights that go above and beyond our typical assumptions. It's a job that takes you from the front lines of engagement on topics like affordable housing and houselessness, to combing through pages and pages of research, to finally consolidating it all down into a digestible report.

Chris also shares his journey from starting in public advocacy at the University of Alberta's Student Union, to leaping into the world of public relations and communications for Calder Bateman, and finally to going out on his own to start Y Station with ambitions to grow beyond Alberta.

Maybe you're curious about understanding issues deeper or maybe you still don't know what public engagement is - either way, Chris would like you to smash the play button and learn more about life in research and engagement!

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Teresa Sturgess, Marketing Instructor at NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology). We sit down with Teresa, and ACE President Karla McNeil, to learn about Teresa's journey from working for some of the top agencies and reputable brands in Canada to becoming a local advertising legend with her Promotional Campaign Planning course at NAIT.

Teresa talks about what inspired her to make the move from industry to teaching, how she stays connected with the industry to keep classes relevant, and how this next generation of students is approaching their career paths.

If you know Teresa, you're already hitting play - and if you don't, well you are in for a treat!

On this episode of In The Business of Something, our guest is Lynda Vang, Communications Specialist at Amii (Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute). We sit down with Lynda, and ACE Communications Chair Kian Javier, to learn all about the world of communications and storyelling at Western Canada's only AI Institute. And no, ChatGPT did not write this episode description - this is 100% human-certified content.

Lynda talks about the importance of storytelling in helping people along the journey of AI literacy to learn how the technology fits within their lives - including researchers, businesses, and everyday people like teachers and students. We also dive into how you can do globally impactful work from anywhere, which is evident in Lynda's work being published across the globe from outlets like New York Times and Wired.

Learn how Lynda's gone from an Education major, to working at Berlin Communications and Banff Centre, to ending up at one of the most coveted organizations in Edmonton.