Ryan McNeill turned a love and passion for sports and sharing athlete stories from side hustle to full time job. As the founder of the Athletes Unfiltered Podcast and now new podcast Unfiltered Conversations, Ryan and James take a trip down memory lane as Ryan shares his journey from receiving Toronto Raptors media credentials, to being a teacher with a pretty cool side hustle, to making the jump to full time sports reporter/ story teller. Ryan has found a niche in “micro-pods” format to bring his stories to the world, and we did the interview just as he had celebrated his first full year as a full time entrepreneur… 15 years in the making. For aspiring entrepreneurs Ryan gives some great advice on how effort, a good accountant, and a commitment to your craft can help any passion become a sustainable and rewarding business. From partially tearing his ACL while covering an NBA tryout, to literally having to start over due to a house fire, Ryan’s story and perspective on faith, effort, and chasing your passion can be so rewarding, for anyone who sticks with it.

La Toya Bedeau… or MsToya as she is known to her students and in the dance industry, is a Dancer, Choreographer, Instructor, and Co-Director (with her talented husband Ron) of In Tha Groove Productions. In Tha Groove is a company created out of their passion and experience in the entertainment industry that caters to all areas of entertainment. MsToya can also be found teaching dance classes and workshops… oh and she is also currently the Head Coach of the Toronto Argonauts Dance Team. To say it was fun catching up with MsToya is an understatement. For aspiring entrepreneurs MsToya gives some great advice in following your passion, as well as utilizing skills and contacts you pick up along the way to help navigate a business venture. Having performed on stage in over 20 countries with some of the biggest names in the music industry this self proclaimed “plant-mom” continues to live her dream of sharing dance with the world!