Activate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Episode Summary In this emotional and deeply personal episode of the Activate & Illuminate podcast, host Melanie Wakelin sits down with Alberta advocate Carrie Sakamoto to discuss her life-changing health journey following her 2021 COVID-19 vaccinations. Carrie shares how her symptoms escalated rapidly after her second dose, leading to severe neurological complications, facial paralysis, chronic pain, vertigo, and a permanent condition called synkinesis. What began as trust in authority and public health messaging turned into years of medical advocacy, navigating Canada’s Vaccine Injury...
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In this deeply raw and powerful episode, Sachia Tasz shares the story behind her movement “Just Stay For Another Day”, born from the tragic loss of her partner to suicide. What began as a vulnerable TikTok post during one of the darkest periods of her life has grown into a global community offering connection, hope, and honesty around mental health and grief. Sachia opens up about navigating layered trauma, isolation during COVID, and the reality of healing, while emphasizing the importance of small daily choices, community, and accessible mental health support. Key Takeaways • Healing...
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Small Town, Big Data: The Hidden Cost of AI Infrastructure in Canada Episode Summary In this eye-opening episode, host Melanie Wakelin sits down with Bek McIntosh to unpack the rapidly emerging reality of hyperscale data centers in small Canadian communities. What begins as a local issue in Olds, Alberta quickly expands into a much larger conversation about AI infrastructure, environmental impact, human health, and the future of society. Bek shares her firsthand experience navigating a proposed multi-billion dollar data center and gas plant development just meters from her home, breaking down...
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Join us in this fascinating episode as Brent Knudsen, a visionary leader with a background in quantum physics, sacred geometry, and financial technology, shares his journey into frequency healing and its remarkable applications for humans, animals, and the planet. Discover how innovative geometric forms and magnetic resonance are transforming bee health, food safety, and holistic well-being After building one of Canada’s largest payment processing systems, Brent shifted into researching how frequency-based environments affect cellular health. That journey led to the creation of 4RBs, a...
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Episode Summary In this deeply thought-provoking episode, Melanie Wakelin sits down with Caroline Coleman, one of the original mothers featured in The Telepathy Tapes. Caroline shares her journey raising her non-verbal autistic son, Kyle, and the intuitive realization that their connection would extend beyond traditional communication. What unfolds is a powerful exploration of telepathy, intuition, and the unseen ways humans connect. From discovering Kyle’s extraordinary musical abilities to developing a deep, non-verbal communication system rooted in presence and awareness, this...
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Episode Summary In this powerful and perspective-shifting episode, we sit down with Laura Hirsch, author and advocate, to explore her son Trevor’s extraordinary journey with autism. Diagnosed before age three and minimally speaking into adulthood, Trevor’s world changed through Spelling 2 Communicate—unlocking his ability to express thoughts, emotions, and insights that had been hidden for decades. What followed goes far beyond communication. From music and memory to telepathic connection and consciousness, Laura shares how Trevor’s abilities have challenged everything she thought she...
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Episode Summary In this episode, we sit down with Alan Brough, co-owner of ReVitalife Wellness and Executive Director of the Canada Health Alliance, to explore the current state of healthcare, personal responsibility, and the deeper systems shaping our well-being. From his early life in Africa to his work in Canada’s health space, Alan shares a powerful perspective on empathy, the breakdown of modern healthcare, and why so many people are feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, and hopeless. This conversation dives into the importance of questioning narratives, exploring alternative approaches to...
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Summary: In this episode, Melanie Wakelin interviews her uncle, Ted Murray, who shares the incredible story of a two-and-a-half-year adventure that began as a post-university trip and turned into an unforgettable journey across Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and ultimately a daring sail across the Pacific Ocean. Ted reflects on traveling without a rigid plan, learning celestial navigation with no prior experience, surviving storms and dangerous close calls, and discovering both self-reliance and spiritual clarity along the way. More than just a story about adventure, this...
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In this episode, Melanie Wakelin sits down with Steve Jamieson, CEO of Pitch (PXCH), to explore how online communication is evolving and why traditional webinar technology has barely changed in decades. Steve shares how his company is transforming the webinar experience from a passive screen-share into a fully interactive environment where users can engage with websites live, sign contracts, purchase products, book meetings, and even hear presentations translated in real time into their preferred language. He also dives into the role of AI, including AI twins and talking avatars, and explains...
info_outlineActivate & Illuminate with Melanie Wakelin
Episode Summary In this episode, Melanie Wakelin speaks with Kathy Macdonald, a former Calgary Police Service officer with 25 years of experience in fraud prevention and cybersecurity education. Kathy explains how cybercrime has evolved from traditional scams into sophisticated online manipulation using social engineering, AI technology, and identity theft. She shares practical advice for protecting children, seniors, and businesses from online scams, sextortion, data breaches, and digital exploitation. The conversation also explores how cybercrime connects to larger issues like human...
info_outlineIn this episode, Melanie Wakelin sits down with Steve Jamieson, CEO of Pitch (PXCH), to explore how online communication is evolving and why traditional webinar technology has barely changed in decades.
Steve shares how his company is transforming the webinar experience from a passive screen-share into a fully interactive environment where users can engage with websites live, sign contracts, purchase products, book meetings, and even hear presentations translated in real time into their preferred language. He also dives into the role of AI, including AI twins and talking avatars, and explains how these tools can help entrepreneurs scale without losing the human element.
Beyond the tech, this conversation goes deeper into entrepreneurship, innovation, fear, mindset, relationships, and what it really takes to adapt in a rapidly changing world.
Episode Summary
What if webinars were no longer just boring presentations with a chat box and a hope-filled call to action?
Steve Jamieson believes the future of online business is interactive, immersive, and human-centered. As the CEO of Pitch, he is building a platform designed to modernize the webinar experience by allowing audiences to actually interact with live content in real time.
In this conversation, Steve explains why webinar technology has remained stuck for nearly 30 years, how Pitch changes that, and why interactivity is the missing link for business owners, educators, speakers, charities, and creators. He also shares his thoughts on AI, entrepreneurship, communication, and the importance of staying open to opportunity as technology continues to shift at breakneck speed.
This episode is a fascinating look at where digital connection is headed and why the next era of online business may be far more personal than we expected.
Chapters
00:00 Intro to Steve Jamieson and Pitch
01:07 Why webinar technology has stayed the same for 30 years
03:00 What makes Pitch different from Zoom and traditional webinar platforms
04:19 Interactive recordings, live translation, and AI twins
05:19 Solving problems people did not even realize existed
06:36 Real-world applications for interactive webinars
08:45 How Pitch improves customer experience and conversions
11:29 Steve’s background in acting, talent representation, and entrepreneurship
13:18 What makes a successful entrepreneur today
16:18 Why Pitch works as an add-on to almost any business
17:48 Are entrepreneurs born or made?
22:08 Steve’s personal mission and how he tries to show up in the world
24:01 AI, technology, and the responsibility that comes with innovation
28:43 Steve’s vision for the future of Pitch and communication
31:17 How entrepreneurs need to adapt in a fast-moving world
34:29 Steve’s favorite Pitch features
35:58 Mass audiences vs. micro communities
39:03 Mindset shifts, fear, and getting out of your comfort zone
45:02 Steve on time, ambition, and what personally scares him
45:29 Mistakes he made while building the company
47:48 Steve’s invitation to connect and help others
48:51 How Pitch could apply to the podcast world
51:25 Closing thoughts on authenticity, innovation, and impact
Key Takeaways
1. Webinar technology has been overdue for reinvention
Steve points out that the basic webinar model has barely evolved since the mid-1990s. Most platforms still rely on passive viewing, limited interaction, and delayed follow-up rather than real-time action.
2. Interactivity changes everything
Pitch allows users to engage with live websites during webinars, making it possible to sign contracts, shop, book appointments, donate, enroll, and take action immediately rather than waiting until later.
3. Better communication creates better business
Whether you are selling, teaching, onboarding, fundraising, or presenting, Steve believes communication tools should bring people closer to the moment of action and make that experience feel easier and more human.
4. AI should enhance people, not replace them
Steve sees AI as a powerful tool when used to scale communication, create better experiences, and support human connection rather than eliminate it.
5. Entrepreneurs need adaptability more than certainty
In a world where technology changes fast, the winners will be the ones willing to learn, experiment, and stay open rather than cling to what feels familiar.
6. Relationships still matter most
Throughout the episode, Steve emphasizes that success is not just about having the best idea. It is about working with the right people, building trust, and creating real value for others.
7. Fear is often a sign of growth
From public speaking to new technology, Steve frames fear as proof that you are stepping outside your comfort zone and into something that could expand your life or business.
Guest Bio
Steve Jamieson is the CEO of Pitch (PXCH), an interactive webinar platform designed to transform how people connect, communicate, and do business online. With a background spanning acting, talent representation, consulting, and entrepreneurship, Steve brings a creative and people-first perspective to business innovation. His work focuses on improving digital communication through real-time interactivity, language accessibility, and AI-powered tools that help businesses scale without losing the human touch.
Guest Links
Pitch / PXCH: https://mypxch.com/activate
Episode References:
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@activateandilluminatewithmel
Website: https://activateandilluminate.com/
Contact Us: pr@melaniewakelin.com
Melanie’s Businesses:
LifeVantage Representative: http://protandimcanada.lifevantage.com/