The Unlikely Innovators

Mike and Steve sit down with Max Massimiliano, the pizza legend behind Don’s Pizza, for a loaded episode of Unlikely Innovators.The crew talks all things pizza, the upcoming HSN Pizza Eating Contest, local politics, community, and the burning question of the year: can Mike dethrone an NHL player and take the top spot in this year’s contest?Pull up a chair, grab a slice, and enjoy the conversation.

This week, we’re inside the ovens, stories, and serious hustle behind one of Sudbury’s go-to Italian bakeries.Paolo Massimiliano joins The Unlikely Innovators to talk tradition, taste, community, and the kind of craft that keeps people lined up and coming back. From old-school Italian baking to building a shop with real soul, Paolo breaks down what makes his bakery more than just a place to grab bread.It’s food, family, culture, and Sudbury pride — fresh out of the oven.

Mike and Steve welcome back almost-show-regular Gabe Roy from Stitch and Stone for a dive into fashion hot takes, Sudbury style, and a very questionable Sudbury Top 5.Clothes. Chaos. Class. Gabe Roy.Like, comment, and subscribe for more Unlikely Innovators.

This week on The Unlikely Innovators Podcast, Steve and Mike sit down with Sudbury curling superstar and Olympic bronze medalist Tracy Fleury. From growing up in Northern Ontario to competing on the biggest stage in sports, Tracy shares what it’s really like chasing Olympic dreams while carrying the pride of a hockey-and-curling obsessed country on your shoulders.

This week on The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve are joined by Sudbury’s own Mauro Nero — a well-known local character and the show’s special correspondent.Mauro brings his unique perspective, local stories, and signature personality to the conversation as the guys dive into life in Sudbury, community characters, and the unexpected paths that make someone an unlikely innovator. Expect laughs, insights, and a few classic Mauro moments along the way.Whether you know Mauro from around town or you’re meeting him for the first time, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

From unforgettable stories to hard-earned wisdom, Joe delivers the energy, perspective, and authenticity that have made him a legend. This episode dives into the moments that shaped him, the mindset behind longevity, and why passion still matters.

Mike and Steve sit down with Cameron Lizotte, the creative force behind the iconic Great Canadian Jersey. Cameron shares the story behind the design, the inspiration that brought it to life, and what it takes to turn a bold idea into a national symbol.From creative process to unexpected challenges, it’s a conversation about innovation, identity, and betting big on a vision.Plus… Steve gets sandbagged again. Some things never change.

Mike and Steve welcome Marie Litalien, President and CEO of the Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, to The Unlikely Innovators for a candid conversation about leadership, advocacy, and driving economic growth in the region.

On the season finale of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve sat down with Andrea Benoit, aka NOVA, to talk about her journey into professional wrestling. Andrea talked about balancing her career as a police officer with her aspirations in the ring. She talked about some of her wrestling influences, how she decided on the name NOVA, and some of the finer points of the industry. Andrea did put the guys in a headlock, but released them in time to launch this episode.

On this week's episode, the guys sat down with Marla Tremblay, Executive Director of MineConnect. Marla chatted about her career in economic development, her transition to working with the mining industry, and the future of MineConnect. Anyone who knows Marla knows that she knows how to put a good event, so she also shared some of the keys to hosting a successful networking event.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Kerry Lamarche, Executive Director of Kivi Park. Kerry talked about her journey to taking on this exciting role, how Kivi Park has evolved over the years, and some of its future plans. Kerry also shared her passion for Hyrox competitions.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve chopped it up with Dario Zulich, CEO of Sudbury Wolves Sports & Entertainment. Dario talked about sports ownership, how SWSE commissioned the world's largest goal light, making Sudbury a sports destination, and his white shirt philosophy.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Kim Brouzes, CEO of Kinmetrix. Kim talked about her journey from athletic therapist to entrepreneur, how her new venture, Kinmetrix, aims to prevent concussions in sport, and why Brad Pitt's character, Sonny Hayes, in the F1 movie should've been using the Kinmetrix Arc.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Gabrielle Roy, founder and CEO of Stitch & Stone, back to the show. Gabrielle talked about how she is balanced brick and mortar and growing the brand's online presence, Stitch & Stone's 10-year anniversary, and how she's always able to pull off a stylish hat with her looks.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed the honourable Paul Lefebvre, mayor of the City of Greater Sudbury, to their studio at Eastlink. Paul talked about the importance of non-partisanship to get things done, the generational opportunity of critical minerals, balancing thinking long-term while working within the reality of four-year terms, and how he's making Sudbury more of a business-friendly community.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Cody Ruberto, founder and CEO of Uride. Cody talked about why he decided to start Uride, its importance to small communities across Canada, and his plans for expansion around the world. They also shared some stories about their love for Thunder Bay, Cody's hometown.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve sat down with bestselling author Waubgeshig Rice. Waubgeshig talked about pursuing his passion for storytelling, writing in the post-apocalyptic genre, staying true to his vision, and some of his next book projects. As a diehard Leafs fan, Waub also gave some predictions for the team a couple of months before the season began.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Daryl Adams, President of RufDiamond, back to the show. Daryl talked about transitioning from a career in the armed forces and policing to business, the Fat Truck platform, his leadership style, and what's in his "everyday carry."

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Kelly Scott, GM of Barrydowne Paint. Kelly talked about how the paint industry is more innovative than you think and how she is revolutionizing how retailers sell paint through her new venture, Paint Pass. And, of course, Kelly also shared some painting tips.

On this week's episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Mauro Nero, owner of Mr. Nero Contracting & Restoration. Mauro talked about his journey into owning his family business, building on his father's legacy, and hidden treasures found at job sites. Mauro also shared a couple of his sports predictions for the year.

The Unlikely Innovators is back for its fifth season. To kick things off, Mike and Steve sat down with the legendary Peter Dal Bianco in their Eastlink TV Community studio. Peter talked about his humble beginnings, growing his businesses, and how he took on goliaths in the industry.

On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve with Lauren Tedesco, COO of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association (APMA) live at the fourth annual BEV In-Depth: Mines to Mobility conference in Sudbury. Lauren talked about her roots as a "car girl," her journey into the automotive sector, the importance of the APMA's Project Arrow, and her role on the Board of Governors for Sheridan College.

On the latest episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Matt McMullen, founder and COO of Realbotix, and Andrew Kiguel, the company's Executive Chairman and CEO, along with their AI-enabled humanoid robot, Aria, live at the Ontario Centre for Innovation's DiscoveryX conference.

On the latest episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Edwin Reilly, co-founder and Managing Partner of Freelandt Caldwell Reilly, LLP, in front a live audience at Cambrian College's Hanson Venture Lab. Edwin talked about taking the leap to going into business for himself, how FCR maintained its culture and core values as it grew, and how it has continued to find ways to innovate. Finally, Edwin also shared some creative tailoring tips from FCR's early days.

On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve welcomed Andy Fenos, President of iDESIGN 365. Andy talked about how his company helps empower STEM students and educators with robotics and 3D printing. Andy also talked about the exciting world of VEX Robotics and how those competitions put students on the path towards rewarding careers in STEM such as automation and robotics.

On the latest episode, hosts Mike and Steve sat down with Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of the Canada Foundation for Innovation. Sylvain talked about his journey from academia to government labs to founding a company and now with his work at a foundation. Sylvain also talked about how CFI enables industry to access state-of-the-art equipment, and gave us a crash course in photonics and semiconductors in Canada. Finally, he gave us some important advice on why you must never put your daughter on a horse.

On the latest episode of The Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve welcomed Dr. Robert Luke, CEO of eCampus Ontario. Robert talked about his efforts in helping to recognize the importance of college applied research and his thought leadership in that space. Robert also discussed eCampus Ontario and the role it plays in ensuring all Ontarians have a better future through digital higher education. Lastly, Robert talked about how he finds perspective in the wilderness.

Christmas is coming early! We have a bonus episode of The Unlikely Innovators featuring Rob Fraser, fround and CEO of Outway and Custom Lab. Rob talked to Mike and Steve about going from being a five-time member of the Canadian National Cycling Team to starting a sock company in college. He talked about how he has innovated the sock experience, scaled his business, and some of the things he has learned along the way on his entrepreneurial journey.

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Ken Doyle, Executive Director of Tech-Access Canada, in front of a live audience at this year’s TAC Innovate Forum in Montreal. Ken talked about how the Tech-Access Canada network originated and evolved, the importance of TACs to their communities, some of the things we would like change about the NSERC TAC program, and where he sees the network going. Ken also shared some fun insights about what he wanted to be when he grew up and his quest for the perfect pair of Dad shoes.

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Randi Ray, founder of Miikana Consulting and Noojimo Health, Canada’s first Indigenous virtual mental health clinic. Randi talked about her how passion to improve overall minobiimadziwin (the good life) for First Nations people, the ongoing project of reconciliation in Canada, how we can be more meaningful allies to Indigenous peoples, and how she stays scheduled instead of busy.

The Unlikely Innovators are back for a new season! To kick things off, Mike and Steve welcomed Pari Johnston, President and CEO of College and Institutes Canada. Pari talked about her first year at helm of CICan, some highlights from her tours of campuses across the country, the importance of college applied research, and the outlook for the Canadian college system. She also shared a little about her love of camping and the Canadian wilderness.

For the final episode of the season, Mike and Steve chatted with Jon Montgomery, Olympic gold medalist and host of The Amazing Race Canada. Jon talked about how he get into skeleton racing, the feeling of winning Olympic gold on home soil, his journey to becoming a TV host, and his latest tech venture.

On this special episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve celebrate International Day of Women in Mining by chatting with some of the inspiring women at the Integrated Remote Operating Centre (IROC) at Vale Base Metals. They each talked about how they got into mining, why they stay, and offered advice to women considering a career in the industry.

On this bonus episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve chatted with Andrew Murray, founder and CEO of Aslan Renewables. Andrew talked about going from a background in neuroscience to leading a renewable energy startup, the science behind revitalizing Canada’s historic hydro sites with new technology, and what Aslan has in common with King Charles.

On this bonus episode, Mike and Steve caught up with Dallas West, creator of Blitz Sports, an app that makes scorekeeping easier at the rink. Dallas talked about the process of developing an idea into a product and what the response has been so far. He also shared how the app is applicable to other sports like soccer and basketball and what the future holds for Blitz Sports. 

On the latest Unlikely Innovators, hosts Mike and Steve sat down with Humza Teherany, Chief Technology and Digital Officer at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, live from the show floor at OCI’s DiscoveryX. Humza talked about getting called up to the big leagues and joining MLSE, how he tries to deploy a common technology and digital strategy across four major sports, how MLSE’s Sport Performance Lab combines science and technology, and how digital technology is changing the fan experience.

On the latest episode Mike and Steve sat down with Suzanne Balima from Vale Base Metals. Suzanne talked about her journey from studying biomedical mechanical engineering to working in mining, how innovation is applied to various sectors, and what companies need to build a culture of innovation. Suzanne also highlighted Vale Base Metals’ Pyrrhotite Resource Recovery Challenge, which is still taking submissions until May 31, and offered some advice to students who might be contemplating a career in mining. Finally, Suzanne also chatted about her love of travel and why she jumped out of a perfectly good airplane. This episode was originally recorded live as part of Cambrian College's annual Research & Innovation Week.

On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Steve and Mike sat down with Haley Blinn, a BEV Applications Engineer at Sandvik. Haley talked about her journey from studying astrophysics to working in mining, the future of electric vehicle technologies, the prospect of space mining, and some of her favourite video games.

On the latest Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve spoke with Claudia Krywiak, President and CEO of Ontario Centre of Innovation (OCI). Claudia talked about her journey from academia to business and how she’s now at the forefront of one of the world’s preeminent innovation ecosystems. Claudia also talked about the exciting return of OCI’s Discovery X, Ontario's premier tech and innovation conference, at the Enercare Centre in Toronto from April 17-18. Register now so you don’t miss out!

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Gus Minor, COO of Sofvie Inc. Gus talked about his entrepreneurial journey, transitioning from IT to mining, and how Sofvie is changing health and safety in industry. Gus also talked about the importance of conferences like PDAC, sponsoring Canadian racecar driver Zach Vanier, and how sugar pie brings people together.

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Bruno Lalonde, President & CEO of NSS Canada. Bruno talked about his journey in mining and becoming a leader in the sector’s bourgeoning tech ecosystem. Bruno also talked about the importance of community and culture and how he applies that to NSS.

On this month’s episode of the Unlikely Innovators, Mike and Steve sat down with Mario Grossi, President of Technica Mining. Mario talked about discovering his passion for mining, how he has managed the growth of Technica over the past quarter century, the importance of building Indigenous partnerships, and his hope for the City of Greater Sudbury.

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Alessandro Costantini, co-founder and Artistic Director of YES Theatre, on location at the Refettorio. Alessandro talked about what drew him to the performing arts and how he has made it his career. He also touched on the difference between film and stage acting. The guys also learned about the inspiration behind the Refettorio and how it is putting Sudbury on the map for outdoor theatre productions. Finally, since it’s the holiday season, Alessandro shared some of his favourite Christmas performances.

In the spirit of giving this holiday season, the Unlikely Innovators is giving you bonus episode this month! For this one, Mike and Steve chatted with Stephanie Curcio, CEO & co-founder of NLPatent. Stephanie talked about her journey from being a lawyer to a tech startup CEO, how her company NLPatent is disrupting the IP sector, and the state of IP in Canada. You can find Stephanie at the Legal Tech Fund Summit this week, where NLPatent is featured in the Startup Showcase.

On this month’s episode, Mike and Steve sat down with Jennifer Taback, Partner & Thought Leader at Design de Plume. Jennifer talked about her unlikely journey into graphic design, starting her own business, how she brings her unique perspective as an Indigenous woman into design, and the role that visual storytelling can play in truth and reconciliation in Canada.

On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were on location at TESC to chat with Julie Zulich, the company’s President & CEO. Julie talked about her entrepreneurial journey from opening up a coffee shop franchise to joining and leading  her family’s construction business. She also explained the importance of planning for growth and expansion, while also being strategic in selecting what projects TESC takes on. Julie also talked about the importance of making skilled trades more inclusive and diverse through initiatives like LeadHER Trades and Cambrian College’s Jill of All Trades, where she will be part of a Women in Trades panel on Wednesday. 

The Unlikely Innovators are back! For the third season, Mike and Steve kicked things with Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk, their first repeat guest. Nadia talked about her early love of science, being a role model to young women in STEM, her new Industrial Research Chair in Biomining in partnership with Cambrian, and her plans for the future Centre for Mine Waste Biotechnology.

The Unlikely Innovators commemorates its 100th episode on a boat! For this week’s episode, Mike and Steve chatted with Legend Boats co-CEO Jamie Dewar on a pontoon boat in their showroom in Whitefish. Jamie talked about how the company has evolved over the years and how innovation undergirds everything that Legend does. As people start heading out onto lakes to make memories on the water, the podcast is going on summer vacation and will be back in September 2023. Thanks for listening!

On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve welcomed Mark Masotti, President & CEO of AlterBiota. Mark covered his journey from civil construction to chemical engineering to establishing a bio-graphene company. He talked about the benefits of using bio graphene in concrete mixtures from increasing building strength to helping to combat climate change.  

On this week’s episode, Mike and Steve were joined by Brit Ho, a Project Manager at Hootsuite. Brit talked about her journey from hospitality to tech, her work at Hootsuite, what AI means for the tech industry, and her passion for boxing.