Crystal Phillips returns to Collisions YYC in a new role that perfectly aligns with her lifelong mission: harnessing resources to create impact. As the newly appointed Senior Director at the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund (OCIF), Crystal offers an insider’s look at how Calgary is strategically investing in its own future—across sectors like life sciences, agtech, aerospace, creative industries, and more. Crystal unpacks her journey from elite athlete to venture capitalist to economic development leader, exploring how OCIF is helping turn Calgary into one of the most dynamic innovation ecosystems in North America. If you're curious about how funding decisions are made, what it means to create a sector “hub,” or how emotional intelligence and imposter syndrome play out in high-impact leadership, this is a must-listen conversation.

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In this episode, mayoral candidate Jeff Davison returns for a candid conversation on the complex, often frustrating state of Calgary’s municipal landscape. Since his last appearance in August, the city has continued to face seismic shifts—from inflation and economic uncertainty to growing tensions around public safety, affordability, and civic trust. Jeff offers a behind-the-scenes look at the challenges council faces today and shares his renewed vision for a Calgary that is safer, more collaborative, and economically vibrant. This episode is a deep dive into the real mechanics of city governance: how policy is made, how bureaucracy can either serve or stall progress, and what it will take to rebuild public confidence. Whether you're a voter, business leader, or civic-minded citizen, Jeff’s reflections offer clarity on what’s broken—and how he believes it can be fixed.

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In a thought-provoking shift from his usual entrepreneur interviews, Tyler Chisholm reconnects with acclaimed Calgary author and journalist Marcello Di Cintio to explore a hidden, yet essential pillar of the Canadian economy: migrant labour. As editor of Tyler’s own book on curiosity, Marcello returns to Collisions YYC not just as a friend of the show, but as a storyteller amplifying overlooked voices. His latest work, Precarious: The Lives of Migrant Workers, cuts through the policy fog surrounding Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program to reveal the human stories at its core. For business owners struggling to find and retain labour, this episode is a sobering reminder that the very people filling those gaps are often treated as disposable. It’s a conversation about economics, ethics, and the courage of those who hold up entire industries from the shadows.

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In this episode, Christa Hill, CEO of Tacit Edge and co-founder of AI North, joins Tyler to unpack how AI can (and should) empower teams without replacing them. Drawing from her work across startups, post-secondaries, and enterprise training, Christa explores the urgent need for Canada to step up its AI literacy while challenging outdated assumptions about leadership, risk, and who gets to innovate. From "greenhouse thinking" to leveraging LLMs to build capacity, her approach is rooted in empathy, clarity, and practical impact. This episode offers a refreshing take on how to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world.

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In this episode of Collisions YYC, Tyler Chisholm sits down with James McInnes, founder of Prompty, a Calgary startup tackling the broken state of networking. A single forgotten business card sparked the idea for Prompty—a platform designed to help people remember not just names, but the stories, places, and moments behind their connections.

James explores why traditional tools like LinkedIn fall short, and how friction-free tech can make networking more inclusive for everyone, from introverts to seasoned veterans. He also shares insights on memory science, the psychology of trust, and why authentic connection is more valuable than ever in today’s transactional business landscape. Listeners will walk away rethinking their approach to networking, with practical ideas for building stronger, more human relationships in every setting.

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In this episode, returning guest Justin Caskey, now CEO of OpenCycle Technologies, joins Tyler Chisholm to unpack one of Alberta’s most compelling innovation pivots. Once known as Patching Associates, the company has rebranded, retooled, and reimagined itself—emerging as a platform-first, AI-powered solution for managing complex environmental emissions like dust, light, noise, and more. This episode is more than a rebrand story. It’s about challenging legacy thinking, building trust in data-driven ecosystems, and shifting from scarcity to abundance in how we view expertise. From stakeholder webs to global scalability, Justin shares how OpenCycle is turning real-world complexity into opportunity.

If you're building in Alberta’s innovation ecosystem—or wrestling with what real digital transformation looks like—this one’s for you.

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In this episode, John Hetherington returns to Collisions YYC nearly four years after his first appearance, this time with a sharp focus on one of the biggest pain points in mid-sized companies: helping finance teams close the books faster, smarter, and with less chaos.

With a consulting practice now dedicated to CFOs and controllers, John helps financial teams in companies with 100–500 employees and $50–100M in revenue navigate complexity with systems thinking and AI-powered automation. But this isn’t just about technology. It’s about trust, clarity, and engagement. From his “Absorb, Assemble, Align” framework to the pitfalls of skipping team buy-in, John explores how real transformation only happens when the people behind the numbers are brought along for the journey. If you lead or work in finance, this one’s for you.

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In this episode, hear from Rosa Twyman, a Calgary-based regulatory lawyer who isn’t afraid to get into the weeds—because that’s where real change happens. If you’ve ever wondered why energy projects stall, why renewables hit resistance, or what’s actually driving Alberta’s power market volatility, Rosa connects the dots. With over 20 years in the regulatory trenches, she brings a rare combination of legal insight, market literacy, and deep respect for what’s at stake as Canada tries to decarbonize without destabilizing. This is a must-listen for anyone navigating the energy transition. Founders building in clean tech, investors chasing ESG returns, or policy leaders trying to future-proof the grid. Rosa reminds us: ideology won’t power the future. Good design will.

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In this episode, go inside the accelerating world of AI, innovation, and digital transformation with Chris Foster. Returning to Collisions YYC, Chris shares what it’s like to move from being a Chief Innovation Officer in Calgary’s traditional energy sector to leading transformative projects across industries—everything from nuclear to health insurance and railroads. Chris unpacks what’s truly driving transformation in today’s businesses: not just technology, but people, process, and a relentless curiosity. From practical use cases like AI-powered clinical notes in healthcare to the critical importance of change management and “meeting people where they’re at,” this episode is packed with actionable insights for leaders, executives, and ambitious teams who want to thrive in the face of rapid disruption.

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In this episode, Tyler sits down with Jeff Davison, Calgary’s former city councillor and 2025 mayoral candidate, for a candid conversation about leadership, legacy, and the city’s next chapter. Jeff reflects on what he learned during his time at city hall, why he’s stepping back into the political arena, and how Calgary’s identity as a “city of builders” is at the heart of his platform. This isn’t campaign messaging. It’s a grounded, thoughtful take on what Calgary needs next and why it matters to think long-term. From housing policy to innovation ecosystems, Jeff makes the case for leadership that isn’t reactive but visionary, and rooted in the everyday lives of Calgarians.

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In this episode, explore the story of a founder reimagining what tech can do when it puts people first. Jenna didn’t set out to launch a software company. But after years of working hands-on in early childhood education and navigating her own mental health journey, she found herself creating Fledge: a platform designed not just to teach, but to connect. Built for educators, caregivers, and the kids they support, Fledge is rooted in research, driven by experience, and powered by something rare in tech: deep human empathy. This conversation traces Jenna’s path from pre-med dropout to multi-venture entrepreneur, and explores what it means to build something slowly, intentionally, and with a clear sense of purpose.

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In this episode, discover what it takes to build and scale in a legacy industry. Colleen Pound, Co-Founder of Proxure, recently spent time in San Francisco with a group of Canadian women founders, gaining perspective on investor expectations, founder mindset, and how Alberta’s ecosystem compares. If you’ve ever wrestled with how to innovate in a traditional sector—or just wondered what a Bay Area reality check might offer—this episode brings practical insight and a founder’s unfiltered view.

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In this episode, Tyler sits down with Canadian crypto pioneer Dave “Bitcoin” Bradley to explore what’s gone wrong, and what’s still worth protecting, in the world of digital currency. As the co-founder of Bitnational and a longtime advocate for Bitcoin’s original purpose, Dave has watched the industry drift from its roots of decentralization and self-custody to something more speculative, complex, and centralized.

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In this episode, Tyler is joined by Bill Allston, CEO, and Haney Cheema, Director of Projects, from ASCENT Consulting, an engineering firm that has quietly built a 31-year legacy in Calgary’s oil and gas sector. With long-term clients like Whitecap and Advantage, Bill shares how ASCENT has earned trust by aligning its culture to client needs and delivering consistently in high-stakes environments. Haney unpacks how ASCENT is now applying that same engineering rigour to help startups working in hydrogen, CO₂, lithium, and carbon capture overcome what he calls the “trust deficit” in Alberta’s energy landscape. Acting as a translator between innovators and operators, ASCENT is helping bridge the gap between great ideas and commercial deployment—without taking equity or choosing sides. This episode is a behind-the-scenes look at how a legacy oil and gas firm is stepping into the energy transition by amplifying its strengths in a changing world.

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In this episode, Lasha Glennie, Business Development Manager at Economic Development Winnipeg, offers an on-the-ground perspective of Winnipeg’s growing tech and creative economy. With a portfolio that spans technology, finance, and the arts, Lasha is at the forefront of championing the city’s business ecosystem. She joins Tyler to set the record straight about Winnipeg’s reputation and highlight why it’s become an attractive and underestimated hub for startups and scale-ups alike. From game studios capitalizing on world-class tax credits to SaaS founders benefiting from low burn rates and a highly collaborative tech scene, Lasha outlines the structural advantages (and persistent challenges) of building companies in Manitoba. She also shares insights into how Winnipeg is working to grow its venture landscape, increase interprovincial collaboration, and better support female founders and non-technical entrepreneurs.

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In this episode, Kindra Howard, Partner at Tricon Solutions, shares her journey from project manager to business owner, highlighting the challenges, resilience, and growth that came with buying into a company during a global crisis. Kindra reflects on how COVID-19 forced Tricon to pivot quickly, losing 60% of revenue in a single week before rebounding with 130% growth the following year. She speaks candidly about navigating a succession plan, scaling the company’s operations, and leading with empathy and purpose. Kindra also opens up about the unique dynamics of running a fully woman-owned consultancy in a traditionally male-dominated space

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In this episode, Jeff Parry, longtime entertainment producer and founder of Jeff Parry Promotions, shares his decades-long perspective on the business of live events and the future of Alberta’s creative economy. With a career that spans music, comedy, Broadway, and immersive art installations, Jeff offers a candid take on what it takes to build a thriving arts and entertainment industry. He walks through his early days as a concert promoter, the economics behind touring productions, and how the Van Gogh immersive experience became a pandemic-era success story across more than 70 markets. Jeff also unpacks the stark contrast between how Alberta treats its creative entrepreneurs versus other regions like Quebec and the UK. For a province looking to diversify its economy, Jeff’s message is clear: supporting the arts means investing in creators—not just infrastructure.

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In this episode, Cherie Bowker, Dean of the School for Advanced Digital Technology at SAIT, talks about the future of education and why it’s no longer optional for institutions to evolve. From immersive cyber ranges to AI-enhanced classrooms, Cherie is helping redesign how people learn, train, and stay relevant in a world where change is the only constant. With more than two decades in post-secondary, she’s seen firsthand how slow institutions can be to adapt. But she’s not waiting around. Cherie shares how she’s building new pathways for learners of all backgrounds, rethinking credentials, and responding to what Alberta’s industries actually need—right now.

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