Mission Critical with Lance Chung
by GLORY Podcast Network
Behind every great company, every groundbreaking idea, and every game-changing innovation, there’s a leader on a mission. Welcome to Mission Critical with Lance Chung—the show where we break down the blueprints, the bold moves, and the battle-tested playbooks of today’s most impactful leaders. From CEOs and founders to artists, designers, and athletes, we’re talking to the visionaries who build, innovate, and lead.
Episodes
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Dylan Kwacz (Founder, Ballooms): Balloons, Big Brands, and the Business of Standing Out
This episode of Mission Critical is presented in partnership with Mastercard and explores what it really takes to turn a small-business dream into something real. What does it take to turn an unconventional idea into a successful business? On this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with...
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Trisha Pitura (Co-founder, MINI TIPI): The Power of Culture, Storytelling and Indigenous Entrepreneurship
This episode of Mission Critical is presented in partnership with Mastercard and explores what it really takes to turn a small-business dream into something real. What does it take to build a successful Canadian small business while staying true to your values? On this special episode of Mission...
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Samantha Ong (Founder, Joeydolls): Why She Built the Dolls She Never Saw Growing Up
This episode of Mission Critical is presented in partnership with Mastercard and explores what it really takes to turn a small-business dream into something real. What does it take to build a Canadian small business when you're self-funded, wearing every hat, and navigating a world of tariffs,...
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Alessia Cara (Recording Artist): How to Build a Successful Career Without Losing Your Sense of Self
What happens when the goalposts for success keep moving, and you decide to stop chasing them? In this episode of Mission Critical, Grammy Award-winning Canadian recording artist Alessia Cara reflects on a decade in the music industry and the lessons she's learned about building a career on her…
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Adam Minster (Managing Partner, Food Dudes): How to Reinvent Your Business When Customers Change
If your customers are changing, your business has to change too. In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Adam Minster, managing partner of Food Dudes and co-founder behind Toronto restaurants RASA and SARA, to unpack what happens when an entire market shifts (and how smart...
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Jayme Jenkins (Co-founder, Everist): How This Canadian Beauty Brand Turned Product Innovation Into a Competitive Advantage
What does it take to create an entirely new product category—and convince customers to change habits they've had for decades? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Jayme Jenkins, co-founder of Everist, the Canadian beauty brand behind the world's first shampoo, conditioner…
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Greg MacDonald (Founder, Bathorium): What Oprah, Shopify, and COVID Taught Me About Scaling a Brand
What does it actually take to build a modern consumer brand in today’s economy? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Bathorium founder Greg MacDonald to unpack the real mechanics behind scaling a premium wellness business — from handmade bath bombs in a Toronto condo to...
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Mandy Wolfe (Co-founder, Mandy's Salads): How I Turned Salad Into a Lifestyle Empire
What does it take to turn a simple product into a category-defining brand people obsess over? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Mandy Wolfe, co-founder of Mandy's Salads, to break down how she and her sister transformed a tiny salad counter hidden inside a Montreal…
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Thom Tullo (Founder, Face Pilates): How to Win in the $5T Wellness Economy
The wellness industry is exploding. But with that growth comes saturation, noise, and a hard truth: most brands won’t last. In this episode of Mission Critical, Thom Tullo—founder of Face Pilates and Aman Spa—breaks down how he built a performance-driven wellness brand in one of the most...
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Benedict Lim (Co-founder, The Lunch Lady): Lessons From a Anthony Bourdain-Certified Restaurant Brand
What happens after Anthony Bourdain puts you on the map? In this episode of Mission Critical, Benedict Lim, co-founder and culinary director of The Lunch Lady, breaks down how a single moment of global attention became the foundation for a real, scalable business. Originally a humble street food...
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Liam Gill (Housing Advocate): The Citizen Developer Playbook for Fixing Toronto’s Housing Crisis
In this episode, Lance sits down with startup founder, investor, and housing advocate Liam Gill to unpack a provocative idea: What if Toronto’s housing crisis could be solved by everyday citizens? Drawing from his background in startups, venture capital law, and policy advocacy, Gill makes the…
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Jannine Rane (CEO, Zing Pantry Shortcuts): A Case for the Modern Pantry
What if the future of the Canadian pantry isn’t about what we eat but, rather, how we understand each other? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Jannine Rane, co-founder and CEO of Zing Pantry Shortcuts, a fast-growing Canadian brand rethinking how we cook, eat, and connect...
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Rachel Zimmer (CEO, Simple Ventures): Why is Canada Is Producing Fewer Entrepreneurs?
Canada has world-class talent, capital, and infrastructure—so why are we producing fewer entrepreneurs than we did 20 years ago? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Rachel Zimmer, co-founder and CEO of Simple Ventures, to unpack the paradox at the heart of Canada’s…
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Meghan Chayka (CEO, Stathletes): How Sports Analytics Is Changing Hockey, AI, and Fan Culture
On this episode of Mission Critical, Lance Chung speaks with Meghan Chayka, co-founder of Stathletes, about the rise of sports analytics, the future of AI in hockey, and what it means to build a category-defining company in a rapidly changing industry. Chayka explains how Stathletes grew from a...
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Colin Lynch (Co-founder, Black Opportunity Fund): Inside the Mission to Fund Black Entrepreneurs
For decades, conversations about inequality have focused on income. But according to Colin Lynch, co-founder of the Black Opportunity Fund, the deeper issue is wealth (and who has access to capital.) In this episode of Mission Critical, we explore the economic infrastructure required to close...
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Brandi Leifso (CEO, Evio Beauty): From Trauma to Triumph, the Making of a Beauty Founder
At 21 years old, Brandi Leifso was living in a women’s shelter in Vancouver with $15 and a laptop. Today, she is the founder and CEO of Evio Beauty and the author of Fearless Choices. In this episode of Mission Critical, Brandi shares the unfiltered story behind building Evio Beauty from a…
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Deanna Wong (Executive Director, Reel Asian): Protecting the Future of Asian Cinema
Toronto is known as a city of film festivals. But for nearly 30 years, the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival has done more than screen films. It has built a cultural home. In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Deanna Wong, Executive Director of Reel Asian, to...
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Worth Knowing: Hetta
Worth Knowing is your shortcut to the Canadian small businesses shaping culture and changing how we live. In this episode, we spotlight Hetta, the Vancouver-based furniture brand founded by the team behind Sundays. Grounded in tradition and designed for modern living, Hetta creates timeless…
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Nouhaila Chelkhaoui (CEO, Scale Without Borders): The Future of Work Is Immigrant-Led
At a time when immigration is dominating headlines across Canada and the United States, the real story often gets lost: immigrants aren’t a threat to the economy; they are a critical component of it. In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Nouhaila Chelkhaoui, Founder and CEO of...
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Worth Knowing: Alter
Worth Knowing is your shortcut to the Canadian small businesses shaping culture and changing how we live. In this episode, we spotlight Alter, the Toronto-based sauna and ice bath studio at the center of the growing contrast therapy movement. Built on the belief that intentional discomfort builds...
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April Hicke (CEO, Toast): How We’ve Helped Women Secure $25M in Salaries
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with April Hicke, CEO and co-founder of Toast, the platform transforming how companies hire, retain, and empower women in tech and beyond. April shares her journey from a corporate career to launching a social enterprise that has helped women...
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Jay Klein (CEO, The PUR Company): How Removing One Ingredient Disrupted a $20 Billion Industry
What if the most powerful way to disrupt an industry isn’t by adding more, but by removing what doesn’t belong? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Jay Klein, founder and CEO of The PUR Company, to unpack how a single, “unsexy” decision (that is, eliminating aspartame from...
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Amanda Baron & Aimee Schalles (Co-founders, Jointly): Everything You Should Know About Prenups
Prenups aren’t just for the wealthy or planning for divorce—they’re tools for everyday couples to communicate, protect, and plan for the future. In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Amanda Baron and Aimee Schalles, the lawyers and founders behind Jointly, a digital platform...
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Best of Mission Critical: SSENSE's Rami Atallah on How to Influence Culture
Rami Atallah is the CEO and co-founder of SSENSE, a technology platform that focuses on nurturing emerging talent while simultaneously championing today’s most powerful and established luxury brands. What started as part of his computer engineering graduate thesis, Rami founded SSENSE alongside…
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Best of Mission Critical: Why Young People Aren't Voting with Apathy is Boring's Samantha Reusch
Youth voter turnout has historically lagged behind older demographics, and trust in political institutions is at an all-time low. In an era of misinformation, democratic backsliding, and global instability, is democracy failing young people—or have young people lost faith in democracy? To help...
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Best of Mission Critical: Naturium's Susan Yara on Building a $355M Beauty Brand
What happens when influence isn’t just about followers—but about power, ownership, and rewriting the rules of an entire industry? In this re-released episode of Mission Critical, Lance chats with Susan Yara—content creator turned beauty entrepreneur, and the co-founder of Naturium, one of the...
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Best of Mission Critical: KPop Demon Hunters' Maggie Kang on Representation, Flawed Heroes, and Owning Your Power
Filmmaker Maggie Kang has captured the world’s imagination with Kpop Demon Hunters, the animated blockbuster that has topped Netflix’s most-watched list and redefined what global audiences expect from K-pop storytelling. Blending the spectacle of superhero cinema with the infectious energy of...
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Charles Khabouth (Founder, Ink Entertainment Group): Why Hospitality Is Really About People, Not Places
In this special live episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Charles Khabouth, founder and CEO of INK Entertainment Group, for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on entrepreneurship, leadership, and building brands that endure. From immigrating to Canada at 15 to becoming one of the…
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Kim Chi (Drag Queen, Entrepreneur): Drag, Identity, and the Future of Beauty
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Kim Chi (the drag superstar and beauty entrepreneur behind KimChi Chic Beauty) for a candid conversation on creativity, cultural identity, and building one of the most inclusive beauty brands today. From the rise of drag as a global…
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Laura McGee (CEO, Diversio): Here's Why DEI Programs Are Here to Stay (Re-Release)
DEI has become one of the most polarizing conversations in the corporate world, especially in the 2025 Trump era. Is it a critical business strategy, or just corporate virtue signaling? On this episode of Mission Critical with Lance Chung, Lance sits down with Laura McGee, CEO of Diversio, to cut...
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Richard Schmidt (CEO, Ryde:): The Future of Functional Wellness
In this episode of Mission Critical (presented by Ryde:), CEO Richard Schmidt joins Lance to explore what modern wellbeing really looks like. Richard shares how his background leading major CPG brands shaped his approach to building Ryde, a fast-growing company focused on functional shots…
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Brenda Ha (Co-founder, AFC Toronto): The Soccer Mom Who Became a Sports Team Owner
What does it really take to become an owner in professional sports? For Brenda Ha, the answer is surprisingly simple: conviction, community, and the courage to raise your hand. In this inspiring episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with AFC Toronto co-owner and investor Brenda Ha to…
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Teresa Resch (President, Toronto Tempo): Building Canada's WNBA Legacy
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Teresa Resch (President of the Toronto Tempo) on set of her GLORY 2025 Women of the Year cover shoot. Teresa walks us through her journey—from shaping the franchise’s identity to designing a brand that captures the heartbeat of Canada's...
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Andre De Grasse (Olympian): Longevity, Legacy, and the Pursuit of Greatness
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Andre De Grasse (Canada’s most decorated Olympian) to explore what it really takes to sustain greatness, both on and off the track. From his journey of resilience and reinvention to building a legacy that goes far beyond medals, De Grasse...
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Jennifer Meyer (Founder, Jennifer Meyer Jewelry): Celebrity, Influence, and Building a Jewelry Brand with Staying Power
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Jennifer Meyer, the Los Angeles–based jewelry designer whose eponymous brand has redefined celebrity-driven luxury for nearly two decades. Long before influencer marketing became an industry, Meyer understood the power of emotional...
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David Zilber (Food Scientist): What Fermentation Can Teach Us About Collaboration, Control, and Creativity
In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with David Zilber — chef, fermentation expert, author, and Top Chef Canada judge — to explore how food reflects who we are, where we come from, and where we’re headed. From his groundbreaking work leading the Fermentation Lab at Noma (once…
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Maggie Kang (Filmmaker, Kpop Demon Hunters): On Representation, Flawed Heroes, and Owning Your Power
Filmmaker Maggie Kang has captured the world’s imagination with Kpop Demon Hunters, the animated blockbuster that’s topped Netflix’s most-watched list and redefined what global audiences expect from K-pop storytelling. Blending the spectacle of superhero cinema with the infectious energy of…
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Dax Dasilva (CEO, Lightspeed): What the Amazon Taught Me About Leadership
From scaling a billion-dollar tech company to trekking through the Amazon rainforest with Dr. Jane Goodall, Dax Dasilva has learned that growth only happens when you step outside your comfort zone. In this episode of Mission Critical, the Lightspeed CEO and Age of Union founder opens up about...
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Yung Wu (Co-founder, CILAR): Seizing Opportunity in a Time of Turbulence
Hosted in partnership with Holt Renfrew, host Lance Chung sits down for a follow-up interview with Yung Wu—co-founder of the Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect and former CEO of MaRS Discover District. In their discussion, the two catch up for a live recording of the Mission…
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How to Build a Global Sports Nation
In recent years, Toronto has made bold moves that signal its evolution into a true global sports capital — from the launch of the PWHL and AFC Toronto, to the announcement of a WNBA expansion team and the NHL’s renewed focus on international competition through the Four Nations Face-Off. And in…
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Is Canada Ready to Host the 2026 World Cup?
From grassroots leagues to the global pitch, Canadian soccer has come a long way—but the journey is far from over. As Toronto prepares to become a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the spotlight is not only on the players but on the systems, the people, and the communities that have shaped…
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Diana Matheson & Anastasia Bucsis: Canada's Power Couple Redefining Women's Soccer
Diana Matheson is one of the most decorated athletes in Canadian soccer history — an Olympian, a World Cup veteran, and the player responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Canadian sport: that 92nd-minute goal at London 2012 that secured Canada’s first medal in a traditional team sport…
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Jesse Marsch (Head Coach, Canadian Men's National Soccer Team): Shaping Canada's World Cup Legacy
Recorded live at the 2025 GLORY Sports Summit (powered by GE Appliances) in Toronto, this specia episode features Jesse Marsch, Head Coach of the Canadian Men’s National Soccer Team. In less than a year, Toronto will serve as one of the key host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, welcoming fans...
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Jenn Harper (Founder, Cheekbone Beauty): "Why CAN'T We Build a Billion-Dollar [Beauty] Brand?"
What happens when you blend Indigenous values, entrepreneurial grit, and a mission to do business differently? You get Cheekbone Beauty, one of Canada’s most purpose-driven beauty brands—and the brainchild of Jenn Harper. In this live episode of Mission Critical recorded in Toronto at Waterworks...
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Lesley Hampton (Fashion Designer): Building an Indigenous Fashion Brand with Purpose
What does it take to thrive as both a designer and an entrepreneur? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Lesley Hampton—Indigenous artist, acclaimed fashion designer, and founder of her namesake brand—for a conversation about creativity, community, and self-preservation. From...
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Andrea Grand (Co-founder, Barbet): Leading a Purpose-Driven Beverage Brand With Impact
This episode is presented in partnership with Mastercard Canada. Listen now and join the Mastercard Small Business Community—a network built to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and connect. Sign up at mastercard.ca/smallbusiness. What if a beverage could change how we gather, how we connect, and…
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Rachel Wong (Co-founder, Monday Girl): Rewriting the Networking Playbook for Women
This episode is presented in partnership with Mastercard Canada. Listen now and join the Mastercard Small Business Community—a network built to help entrepreneurs learn, grow, and connect. Sign up at mastercard.ca/smallbusiness. What if networking wasn’t transactional, intimidating, or...
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Shayla Stonechild (Founder, The Matriarch Movement): What Can Digital Spaces Learn from Indigenous Teachings?
What does it mean to reclaim space in a world that was never built with you in mind? And how do you transform platforms designed for performance into spaces for healing, community, and cultural resurgence? In this episode of Mission Critical, Lance sits down with Shayla Stonechild, a powerful…
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Latoya Nugent (Head of Engagement, Rainbow Railroad): Fighting for the Future of Queer Refugees
Pride is more than a celebration—it’s a call to action. And in a world where LGBTQ+ lives are still under threat, that call has never been more urgent. In this powerful episode, Lance sits down with Latoya Nugent, Head of Engagement at Rainbow Railroad, an international organization helping…
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Jonathan Van Ness (Queer Eye): Queer Joy as Resistance
Happy Pride Month, everyone. Pride is many things—celebration, visibility, love—but it’s also resistance. It began as a protest, led by queer and trans people who demanded to be seen, safe, and free. And while we celebrate today, that original spirit feels more urgent than ever. Across the world,...
About this show
Behind every great company, every groundbreaking idea, and every game-changing innovation, there’s a leader on a mission. Welcome to Mission Critical with Lance Chung—the show where we break down the blueprints, the bold moves, and the battle-tested playbooks of today’s most impactful leaders. From CEOs and founders to artists, designers, and athletes, we’re talking to the visionaries who build, innovate, and lead.
Hosted by
GLORY Podcast Network
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