The Eloquent Entrepreneur: Conversations with Everyday Changemakers

In this month’s episode of The Eloquent Entrepreneur, Linda sits down with Mike Reilly—financial advisor, founder of Gaining Altitude Financial, and committed community builder. Mike shares how his early experiences with money shaped his approach today, why financial literacy matters more than ever, and how his Financial Flight Plan helps people find clarity and confidence at every stage of life.They also talk about their new Rotary project to bring an outdoor pool to Victoria’s West Shore—proof that meaningful change often starts with one small question and a willingness to act. Tune in for a grounded, practical conversation about money, community, and the everyday steps that move us forward.TAKEAWAYS-Every day change makers can make meaningful change one step at a time.-Financial literacy is crucial for personal and community growth.-80% of Canadians do not receive financial advice.-Financial planning should focus on life goals, not just investments.-Women often have a more realistic view of financial risks.-The financial industry needs more young professionals.-Wealth transfer requires careful planning to avoid tax inefficiencies.-Community involvement can enhance personal and professional life.-Action leads to motivation, not the other way around.-Successful entrepreneurs do what others are unwilling to do.CHAPTERS00:00 Empowering Everyday Change Makers01:20 What Mike Does Today04:30 Why Financial Conversations Matter06:58 The Path to Becoming a Financial Advisor11:20 Estate Planning and Probate Awareness15:06 Rebuilding Life Through Financial Clarity17:14 The Financial Flight Plan20:18 Long-Term Wins With Clients23:30 Community Work and Giving Back30:21 Action Before Motivation42:17 Starting the Outdoor Pool Project53:36 The Value of Visual Branding58:53 Looking Ahead and Personal LegacyVISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://www.eloquententrepreneur.com/FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eloquententrepreneurCREDITSGuest: Mike ReillyWebsite: https://www.mikereilly.ca/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-reilly-1b3bb78/Host: Linda MackieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative/SHOWInstagram https://www.instagram.com/theeloquententrepreneur/PRODUCTIONKeenliiWebsite: https://www.keenlii.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/Producer: Barry KeeganLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrykeegan/SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORTIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Your feedback helps bring more thoughtful conversations into the world.ABOUT THE ELOQUENT ENTREPRENEURThe Eloquent Entrepreneur is a podcast where I chat with my clients and changemakers alike—from across Canada and beyond—about the work they do, the stories that have shaped them, and the impact they’re making. All to inspire and motivate others to do the same.Because making a difference just starts with showing up, and these conversations remind us just how empowering that can be.Whether you're a founder, creative, coach or community builder, you'll hear honest, personal stories from everyday people who are making a lasting impact—on their own terms.

In the latest episode of Eloquent Entrepreneur, host Linda Mackie sits down with Jill Lawrence—website designer, mindfulness and meditation teacher, and co-founder of the Cowichan Women’s Business Network (CWBN). They dig into how entrepreneurship can be a vehicle for personal growth, why boundaries matter, and how daily mindfulness supports clearer decisions. Jill shares the story behind CWBN’s fast start, the role of co-regulation and intuition in client work, and her path from nervous networker to confident speaker (including a 400-person DisruptHR talk). You’ll also hear simple, practical advice on balancing creativity with strategy and taking tiny steps that actually move ideas forward.TAKEAWAYS-Entrepreneurship can double as inner work—clarity grows when you set and keep boundaries.-Daily mindfulness, even a short morning sit, steadies the day and sharpens choices.-Co-regulation with clients helps unlock better ideas and calmer collaboration.-Creativity and strategy aren’t opposites—thoughtful web design can be both art and structure.-CWBN shows what happens when women gather to learn, collaborate, and give back.-Inclusive community building takes intention—diversity and belonging must be designed in.-Public speaking confidence is built by practice—start small, then stretch.-Progress loves micro-commitments: pick one small action by a specific date and do it.VISIT OUR WEBSITEhttps://www.eloquententrepreneur.com/FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIAInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eloquententrepreneurCREDITSGuest: Jill LawrenceWebsite: https://www.jillianlawrence.com/CWBN: https://www.cwbn.ca/Host: Linda MackieLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative/PRODUCTIONKeenliiWebsite: https://www.keenlii.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keenliico/Producer: Barry KeeganLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrykeegan/SUBSCRIBE AND SUPPORTIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Your feedback helps bring more thoughtful conversations into the world.ABOUT THE ELOQUENT ENTREPRENEURThe Eloquent Entrepreneur is a podcast where I chat with my clients and changemakers alike—from across Canada and beyond—about the work they do, the stories that have shaped them, and the impact they’re making. All to inspire and motivate others to do the same.Because making a difference just starts with showing up, and these conversations remind us just how empowering that can be.Whether you're a founder, creative, coach, or community builder, you'll hear honest, personal stories from everyday people who are making a lasting impact—on their own terms.

In the latest episode of Eloquent Entrepreneur, host Linda Mackie interviews Diane Lloyd, a leadership coach focused on empowering women, particularly those in midlife. They discuss the importance of authentic leadership, the challenges women face during midlife transitions, and the power of vulnerability in personal and professional growth. Diane shares her journey into coaching and the significance of continuous learning as an entrepreneur. The conversation emphasizes the need for women to embrace their strengths and support one another in leadership roles.TAKEAWAYS-Diane Lloyd emphasizes the need for authentic, human-centered leadership.-Women over 40 possess immense potential and should be supported in leadership roles.-Midlife transitions can lead to a loss of confidence, which needs to be addressed.-Vulnerability is a strength that fosters connection and courage.-Continuous learning is essential for success as an entrepreneur.-Diane's journey into coaching was inspired by her own experiences and challenges.-The importance of self-care and health in maintaining mental clarity is crucial.-Diane aims to build a community of women supporting each other in leadership.VISIT  Website: eloquententrepreneur.com  Instagram: instagram.com/eloquententrepreneur  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative  CREDITS Guest: Diane LloydWebsite: http://www.dianelloyd.comHost: Linda Mackie  Website: https://www.lindamackie.ca/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative/Production: Keenlii – keenlii.com  Producer: Barry Keegan – linkedin.com/in/barrykeegan  SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT  If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Your feedback helps bring more thoughtful conversations into the world.ABOUT THE SHOW  The Eloquent Entrepreneur is a podcast where I chat with my clients and changemakers alike—from across Canada and beyond—about the work they do, the stories that have shaped them, and the impact they’re making. Because making a difference just starts with showing up—and these conversations remind us just how empowering that can be.

In this episode of The Eloquent Entrepreneur podcast, I sit down with Shelley Essery—founder of The Empowered Estate and author of The Executor’s Survival Guide. We talk about why executor planning is more than just paperwork, how she helps families preserve love and legacy, and the community she’s building to make these conversations easier.KEY TAKEAWAYS  - Why proactive planning matters for every family- How her binder and workshops help executors and loved ones- Real stories of transformation from her clients- How to start the conversation—even if your family is resistantVISIT  Website: eloquententrepreneur.com  Instagram: instagram.com/eloquententrepreneur  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative  CREDITS Guest: Shelley EsseryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_empowered_estate/Website: https://theempoweredestate.caHost: Linda Mackie  Website: https://www.lindamackie.ca/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative/Production: Keenlii – keenlii.com  Producer: Barry Keegan – linkedin.com/in/barrykeegan  SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT  If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Your feedback helps bring more thoughtful conversations into the world.ABOUT THE SHOW  The Eloquent Entrepreneur is a podcast where I chat with my clients and changemakers alike—from across Canada and beyond—about the work they do, the stories that have shaped them, and the impact they’re making. Because making a difference just starts with showing up—and these conversations remind us just how empowering that can be.

In this episode of The Eloquent Entrepreneur, I sit down with Julie Marrast, author and TEDx speaker, to explore the real story behind her work, purpose, and the impact she’s making.We talk about emotional healing, parenting with intention, the courage to feel, and how Julie built her path forward, guided by self-awareness, creativity, and deep personal growth. This episode is filled with honest stories, practical tools, and a quiet kind of hope.If you’re feeling overwhelmed, navigating family dynamics, or searching for a deeper connection with yourself, this one’s for you.Listen now and learn more about Julie’s work: parentingthroughfeeling.comKEY TAKEAWAYSEmotional release is a natural, powerful way to process stress and traumaParenting with connection starts by feeling your own emotions firstYou don’t need a perfect “village”—you can build support from the ground upSelf-doubt is part of the process, especially for creatives and caregiversHealing family patterns often starts with one person deciding to do things differentlyThe courage to feel is what unlocks clarity, creativity, and connectionVISIT  Website: eloquententrepreneur.com  Instagram: instagram.com/eloquententrepreneur  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative CREDITS Guest: Julie MarrastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/parentingthroughfeeling/Website: https://www.parentingthroughfeeling.com/Host: Linda Mackie  Website: www.lindamackie.caLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindamackiecreative/Production: Keenlii – keenlii.com  Producer: Barry Keegan – linkedin.com/in/barrykeegan  SUBSCRIBE & SUPPORT  If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe and leave a review on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. Your feedback helps bring more thoughtful conversations into the world.ABOUT THE SHOW  The Eloquent Entrepreneur is a podcast where I chat with my clients and changemakers alike—from across Canada and beyond—about the work they do, the stories that have shaped them, and the impact they’re making. Because making a difference just starts with showing up—and these conversations remind us just how empowering that can be.