In this episode of the Built for This Podcast: Stories of a Maverick, host Jenna Bayuk speaks with Ilan Cumberbirch, Founder & Owner of Yard Athletics. Ilan takes listeners through his journey from growing up in Vancouver to becoming a professional athlete and ultimately transitioning into entrepreneurship. He shares his experiences in the world of sports, the lessons he learned from his athletic career, and how they shaped his approach to building a successful business. Ilan also shares the challenges he faced while founding Yard Athletics and how he strives to create a training environment that is accessible to all, from elite athletes to everyday individuals. This episode highlights the importance of perseverance, adaptability, and building a culture of respect and growth within a business. Key Takeaways From Athlete to Entrepreneur: Ilan’s journey from hockey player to fitness entrepreneur, learning valuable lessons along the way. The Importance of Diverse Sports Experience: How playing multiple sports at a young age shaped Ilan’s approach to fitness and business. Building a Training Facility: The challenges and rewards of transitioning from renting space to owning and running your own facility. Creating a Strong Business Ethos: Ilan’s approach to building Yard Athletics with a focus on strength training, proper movement patterns, and inclusivity for all fitness levels. Adapting to Change and Overcoming Challenges: Insights into dealing with adversity and using setbacks as motivation for growth. The Power of Teamwork and Community: How teamwork in both sports and business contributes to the success of Yard Athletics. Entrepreneurial Lessons: The importance of persistence and learning from mistakes while navigating the entrepreneurial journey. Noteworthy Quotes “The longer you stay in it, the bigger the reward at the end.” – Ilan Cumberbirch “You’re not paying the coach for the session, you’re paying for the years of knowledge behind that moment.” – Ilan Cumberbirch “If you can’t skate, you can’t play hockey.” – Ilan Cumberbirch “The longer you can stay in the game, the bigger the reward at the end.” – Ilan Cumberbirch Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Trailer & Introduction to Ilan Cumberbirch and Yard Athletics [00:01:50] Growing Up in Vancouver and Getting Into Sports [00:06:38] Transitioning from Hockey to Entrepreneurship [00:10:15] The Challenges of Starting Yard Athletics [00:18:30] Finding the Right Space for Yard Athletics [00:22:15] The Role of Mental Toughness and Teamwork in Both Sports and Business [00:25:00] Creating a Strong Business Culture and Ethos [00:28:00] Building a Community: The Value of Inclusivity in Training [00:32:00] The Power of Feedback in Shaping Yard’s Programs [00:36:00] The Entrepreneurial Journey: Learning from Mistakes and Moving Forward [00:40:30] Looking Ahead: The Expansion of Yard Athletics [00:45:00] Ilan discusses their onboarding process for new trainers. [00:50:10] Ilan talks about opening a second location and expanding the business. [00:54:00] Ilan shares details on the upcoming Yard athletics event in June. [01:05:00] Toughest entrepreneurial moment when opening during the pandemic. [01:08:30] Ilan discusses the motivation to train and the role of his son. [01:12:30] Ilan shares his thoughts on building a real body versus chasing aesthetics [01:17:00] Jenna asks about squats and muscle growth. [01:22:00] Ilan shares his proudest entrepreneurial moment. [01:26:00] Ilan talks about the possibility of working with top athletes or teams. [01:28:43] what “built for this” means to Ilan [01:31:12] Ilan shares the details about the Yard Athletics giveaway. FOLLOW OUR GUEST ILAN CUMBERBIRCH ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilan-cumberbirch-58135966/ Website: https://yardathletics.ca/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilancumberbirch/?hl=en E-Book: https://yardathletics.myflodesk.com/lessons FOLLOW OUR HOST JENNA BAYUK ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabayuk/ Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_bayuk/ Email: info@kinshipkollective.com FOLLOW BUILT FOR THIS - STORIES OF MAVERICK! PODCAST ON: Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinshipconsulting/ X: https://x.com/JBayuk Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@builtforthispodcast? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinship.consult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinshipconsult…

In this gripping episode of Built for This Podcast: Stories of a Maverick, host Jenna Bayuk interviews Dean Stott MBE, Global Security Director, speaker, expedition leader, a former UK Special Forces operator and world-record-holding endurance athlete. Dean takes listeners through his remarkable journey, from growing up in a military family to becoming a high-level Special Forces operator and transitioning into the world of entrepreneurship. He shares his powerful story of perseverance, overcoming physical and mental challenges, and how he transformed his unique skill set into a thriving security business. Dean also discusses his experience with global evacuations, working in high-risk environments, and how his military training shaped his entrepreneurial mindset. This episode highlights the importance of resilience, adaptability, and continuously evolving through life’s challenges. Key Takeaways From Military to Entrepreneur: Dean’s journey from a Special Forces operator to a successful security consultant and entrepreneur. The Power of Resilience: How Dean’s military background taught him to keep going, no matter the obstacles. Mental and Physical Toughness: The importance of physical fitness and mental resilience in both military operations and entrepreneurship. Adapting to Change: How Dean successfully transitioned from the military to civilian life, finding new purposes and projects. Lessons in Leadership and Teamwork: Insights into how military teamwork and leadership translate into the business world. Unique Partnerships: Dean and his wife, Alana, demonstrate a powerful partnership in both business and life. Overcoming Adversity: Dean's recovery from a devastating injury and how it fueled his next chapter in life. Noteworthy Quotes “You can’t be experienced without experiences, good or bad.” – Dean Stott “Resilience is just getting up every day regardless of what's in front of you.” – Dean Stott “Anticipation is worse than participation.” – Dean Stott “Teamwork is not about who's in charge, it’s about the collective effort.” – Dean Stott “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” – Dean Stott Key Timestamps [00:00:00] Trailer & Introduction to Dean Stott & His Journey [00:02:07] Growing Up in a Military Family & Early Challenges [00:05:09] Transition from Childhood Struggles to Military Life [00:09:00] Joining the Military & The Early Years [00:13:24] Training, Special Forces, and Overcoming Obstacles [00:18:56] The Importance of Mental Toughness in Special Forces [00:23:14] From Military Service to Security Consultant [00:27:20] High-Stakes Evacuations & Operations in War Zones [00:34:00] Building a Security Business: Lessons Learned [00:39:10] Balancing Family Life and High-Risk Work [00:43:17] The World Record Bike Ride & The Road to Entrepreneurship [00:47:12] The Netflix Show: Behind the Scenes of Special Forces TV [00:51:10] Leading with Integrity in High-Risk Environments [00:55:30] Resilience, Leadership, and Entrepreneurial Wisdom [01:08:22] How to Reach Dean Stott & Connect with His Work FOLLOW OUR GUEST DEAN STOTT ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dean-stott-mbe-24725880/ Website: https://www.deanstott.com/ FOLLOW OUR HOST JENNA BAYUK ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabayuk/ Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_bayuk/ Email: info@kinshipkollective.com FOLLOW BUILT FOR THIS - STORIES OF MAVERICK! PODCAST ON: Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinshipconsulting/ X: https://x.com/JBayuk Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@builtforthispodcast? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinship.consult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinshipconsult…

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of Built for This Podcast: Stories of a Maverick , host Jenna Bayuk sits down with Alana Stott, author, advocate, entrepreneur, and founder of the Blue Rose Foundation. Alana shares her raw, courageous journey from a childhood marked by trauma, loss, and survival to becoming a relentless force in the fight against human trafficking and a pioneer in mental health advocacy. From overcoming childhood abuse, surviving sexual assault, and navigating a broken justice system, to building security businesses with her Special Forces husband and launching rescue missions across the globe, Alana’s story is one of purpose-driven grit. She also opens up about her personal healing journey through plant medicine and shares how she's transforming pain into policy including her mission to pass legislation that makes grooming illegal. This episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about justice, resilience, and disrupting systems that fail the vulnerable. Key Takeaways Trauma into Purpose: Alana’s assault survival fueled her mission to protect women and fight trafficking. Justice System Failures: She exposes how survivors are mistreated and why change is urgent. From Bank to Battlefield: Alana shares her journey from finance to global rescue missions. Behind Private Security: The dark truth about overpriced protection and how she does it differently. Healing with Plant Medicine: How psychedelics helped her overcome trauma and an eating disorder. The Blue Rose Foundation: Her nonprofit connects donors to real impact and drives global change. Outlawing Grooming: Alana’s pushing U.S. legislation to make grooming a federal crime. Noteworthy Quotes “The sexual assault wasn’t the worst part, it was the aftermath that broke me.” – Alana Stott “Our life isn’t to get rich. Our drive is to help people.” – Alana Stott “I just want it to stop happening in the first place. That’s why we need to make grooming illegal.” – Alana Stott “If you’re not living your purpose, you’re doing an injustice to the life you could have.” – Alana Stott Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Trailer & Introduction to Alana Stott & Her Mission [00:01:37] Childhood Trauma & Working from Age 11 [00:03:40] Surviving Sexual Assault & Going to Court [00:07:54] Why She Became an Advocate for Victims [00:10:06] First Nonprofit Role: No Training, All Heart [00:14:15] Meeting Her Husband & Building a Life Together [00:21:16] Helping Him Transition Out of Special Forces [00:32:20] Founding the Blue Rose Foundation [00:42:59] Plant Medicine & Healing Decades of Trauma [00:54:39] Future Vision: Police Training, New Laws & Awareness [00:55:58] What is “built for this” mean to Alana FOLLOW OUR GUEST ALANA STOTT ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alana-stott-mbe-194493aa/ Website: https://bluerose.foundation/ FOLLOW OUR HOST JENNA BAYUK ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabayuk/ Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_bayuk/ FOLLOW BUILT FOR THIS - STORIES OF MAVERICK! PODCAST ON: Website : https://kinshipkollective.com/ LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinshipconsulting/ X: https://x.com/JBayuk Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@builtforthispodcast? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinship.consult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinshipconsult…

In this inspiring episode of Built for This Podcast: Stories of a Maverick , host Jenna Bayuk sits down with Nancy Gale, a designer, entrepreneur, activist, philanthropist and founder of Jamah and Ambition to discuss resilience, reinvention and the drive behind building a successful brand. Nancy opens up about her journey, starting with her childhood and the early lessons she learned from her parents. She shares pivotal moments in her life, including the challenges she faced while caring for her mother during a long illness and the deep personal tragedy of her mother’s murder. Despite these hardships, Nancy has built a thriving luxury handbag brand, Jamah, and a nonprofit, Ambition, that empowers underserved youth. Through it all, Nancy emphasizes the importance of joy in hard work, the power of resilience, and the need to turn adversity into action. She also discusses her mission with Ambition, which focuses on providing youth access and exposure to opportunities that can change their lives, along with teaching them to embrace challenges and find solutions. Nancy’s story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of overcoming obstacles. Key Takeaways: Resilience Through Adversity: Nancy highlights how personal struggles shaped her entrepreneurial mindset. The Power of Hard Work: Nancy stresses the value of hard work for long-term success. Building a Luxury Brand: Nancy shares her journey from gifting products to founding Jamah, a luxury handbag brand. Ambition's Mission: Ambition offers mentorship and opportunities to underserved youth, focusing on leadership and resilience. Power Not Pity: Nancy’s nonprofit helps youth overcome challenges with a "Power Not Pity" approach. Noteworthy Quotes: "We get to decide how we take life on. Do you want your life to happen to you, or do you want it to happen to your life?" – Nancy Gale "If you love what you do, you will have what it takes to work really hard." – Nancy Gale "We all have these moments, and if we don’t share them and connect with others, what is the point?" – Jenna Bayuk "I’m not going to get over it. I’m going to get through it." – Nancy Gale Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Trailer & Episode and Guest Introduction [00:02:28] Nancy’s Early Life and Childhood Lessons [00:03:39] The Power of Hard Work and Resilience [00:07:48] Nancy’s Experience with Adversity and Finding Strength [00:10:28] Turning Personal Tragedy into Action [00:21:08] Launching Jamah: From Gifting to Luxury Handbags [00:22:40] Overcoming Doubts and Building a Luxury Brand [00:32:51] The Humble Flex and Empowering Others [00:40:06] Partnering with Boys and Girls Clubs to Scale Ambition [00:52:54] How to Get Involved with Ambition and Support the Cause FOLLOW OUR GUEST NANCY GALE JAMAH ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancygale/ Jamah Website : http://www.jamah.com/ Ambition Website: https://www.ambition.org/ FOLLOW OUR HOST JENNA BAYUK ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabayuk/ Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_bayuk/ Email: info@kinshipkollective.com FOLLOW BUILT FOR THIS - STORIES OF MAVERICK! PODCAST ON: Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinshipconsulting/ X: https://x.com/JBayuk YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kinshipkollective8069 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@builtforthispodcast? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinship.consult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinshipconsult…

In this episode of Built for This Podcast: Stories of a Maverick , host Jenna Bayuk sits down with Kyle E. Cox, Founder of ThoroMan Worldwide, Co-Founder of Thoroughly Crafted Goods (TCG), Advisory Board Member at Ambition, and Advisor at Luminary Education. Kyle shares his inspiring journey from serving in the US Navy to creating successful businesses that have made an impact in the worlds of fashion, sports, and entertainment. Kyle’s story is one of resilience and reinvention. He talks about overcoming challenges, finding his true purpose, and using his platform to give back to the community. From working with top brands like the LA Clippers and Universal Music, to his ongoing entrepreneurial ventures, Kyle’s path is a testament to the power of perseverance, grit, and purpose. In this episode, we unpack what it truly means to be " built for this ", with practical advice and motivational insights for anyone looking to make an impact in their own field. Key Takeaways The Power of Resilience – Kyle’s journey emphasizes the role of perseverance and mindset in overcoming obstacles. Embracing Reinvention – Kyle reinvents himself through each new venture, staying true to his purpose. Building Communities Through Business – Creating purpose-driven, supportive communities is key to success. Sacrifice and Purpose – Entrepreneurs make sacrifices, but staying focused on a greater purpose leads to long-term success. The Role of Mentorship – Learning from others and staying grounded has been vital to Kyle’s growth. Entrepreneurial Mindset – Bold decisions, risk-taking, and learning from setbacks are essential in entrepreneurship. Navigating Setbacks with Purpose – A long-term vision helps entrepreneurs stay the course during tough times. Noteworthy Quotes “Success isn’t about luck. It’s about perseverance. If you’re here, you’re built for this.” – Jenna Bayuk “Every experience in life, every skill set I’ve gained has led to what I’m doing today. It all has a purpose.” – Kyle E. Cox “Entrepreneurship is about reinvention, about finding your purpose and sticking with it, no matter the obstacles.” – Kyle E. Cox “It’s not about money, it’s about creating a community and making an impact.” – Kyle E. Cox “I’ve made mistakes, but it’s about tapping into my true purpose. That’s what has kept me going.” – Kyle E. Cox Key Timestamps: [00:00:00] Trailer & Episode and Guest Introduction [00:05:07] Parents’ Sacrifices & Entrepreneurial Spirit [00:06:52] Pressure to Succeed & Love for Sports [00:09:01] First Job at McDonald’s & Early Lessons [00:11:47] Economic Crash & Pivot to Stability - Navy Experiences [00:15:34] Mobile Apps & Founding TCG [00:18:12] Expansion Plans Beyond Footwear [00:20:17] COVID’s Impact & Direct-to-Consumer Shift [00:22:39] Vulnerability & Success Evolution [00:29:53] Entrepreneurial Perseverance and Balance [00:39:37] How 'Thorough Man' Became More Than Just a Hashtag [00:45:20] The Turning Point: Father Boyle & The Bigger Mission [00:49:00] Mentorship & The Birth of Thorough Man [00:58:56] Challenges Young Men Face Today [01:10:20] Personal Mental Health Struggles [01:19:05] Gender-Specific Mental Health Approaches [01:25:36] Overcoming Challenges & Key Lessons FOLLOW OUR GUEST KYLE E. COX ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleedmondscox/ Website TCG Footwear : https://tcgfootwear.com/ Website ThoroMan WorldWide: https://bethoro.org/ FOLLOW OUR HOST JENNA BAYUK ON: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennabayuk/ Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenna_bayuk/ Email: info@kinshipkollective.com FOLLOW BUILT FOR THIS - STORIES OF MAVERICK! PODCAST ON: Website: https://kinshipkollective.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kinshipconsulting/ X: https://x.com/JBayuk Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@builtforthispodcast? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kinship.consult Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kinshipconsult…

Built For This - Stories of a Maverick! is the podcast that dives deep into the defining moments of entrepreneurs—the ones where they could have quit but instead chose to push forward. Each episode uncovers the raw, emotional stories of grit, perseverance, and resilience that turned struggle into success. Through candid conversations with founders, visionaries, and game-changers, we explore the pivotal challenges that tested them, the lessons they learned, and the mindset shifts that propelled them to new heights. If you’ve ever faced setbacks and wondered if you have what it takes to keep going—this is the podcast that proves you do. Because those who make it aren’t just lucky. They’re built for this.…