Writing Through The Darkness with Corey Croft
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Let the ego shrivel up and die on the vine.” In this episode, Michael Dargie sits down with Vancouver-based independent author and publisher Corey Croft for a candid conversation about writing, depression, ego, and the strange compulsion to finish terrible books. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Corey shares how his path to becoming a novelist began not with ambition, but with anxiety. During a difficult stretch marked by depression, he realized he always had “time” to write — he just wasn’t using it. A...
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Mr. Incredible's Business Case for Boldness with Robert Schmidt
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Awesome hides on the other side of fear.” In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Robert Schmidt—brand strategist, educator, and senior skydiving instructor based in Calgary, Alberta. Robert runs a national brand strategy firm called Box, where he helps organizations figure out who they are, what they stand for, and how to connect with the people that matter most. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Robert’s superpower? Helping brands be something for someone—not everything to everyone. He shares the...
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The Biker's Voice Goes Global with India Hayes
The RebelRebel Podcast
In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with India Hayes, founder of Bikers Hangout—a grassroots global movement for motorcycle riders. Broadcasting from Warrington, England, India shares how her idea to connect riders around the world began in a hospital while recovering from pneumonia. Frustrated by the lack of an international biker network, she started a Facebook group. That seed grew into Bikers Hangout, a multimedia platform complete with its own radio station, live shows, club directory, and growing global partnerships. India opens up about riding through personal health struggles,...
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From Academia to Identity with David Mendes
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Sometimes just doing more is not the solution.” In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with David Mendes, a bilingual podcaster, medical writer, and creator of Papa PhD. Originally from Portugal, raised in Belgium, and now based in Montreal, David shares his journey through academia, translation, and eventually podcasting as a form of rebellion and reinvention. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. After completing his PhD in biology, David faced the all-too-familiar crossroads many graduate students encounter: a lack of...
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Prompt Like a Pro with Tris Hussey
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Curiosity is what keeps me moving forward.” What happens when a former scientist becomes Canada’s first pro blogger, publishes four books, and now builds custom AI marketing tools for fun? In this episode, I talk with Tris Hussey about curiosity, content, and building a life around technology that empowers people. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Tris Hussey, a lifelong technologist, educator, author, and self-described curiosity-driven geek. Based in...
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Neurodivergent by Design with Rebecca Prejean
The RebelRebel Podcast
In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Rebecca Prejean, an artist, instructional designer, and fierce advocate for neurodivergent people in corporate learning. Based just outside Austin, Texas, Rebecca brings her lived experience as a mother of an autistic child into her work—designing training that’s inclusive, accessible, and actually usable by everyone, especially folks with ADHD, autism, and dyslexia. She shares the deeply personal story of her son’s diagnosis, how doctors told her he would never walk or talk, and how that experience shaped everything that came after. From early...
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Life Lessons from the Arctic with Heather Thorkelson
The RebelRebel Podcast
“You don’t need to know how—just know that it lights you up.” What happens when a creative rebel says yes to a fluke invite to Antarctica? In this episode, I talk with Heather Thorkelson about wild pivots, polar travel, and building a business with impact. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Heather Thorkelson—entrepreneur, polar expedition guide, and founder of PolarTracks Expeditions. From growing up as a third-culture kid to building a pair of polar travel...
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Keep the Cocktail, Fix The Brand With Shawn Soole
The RebelRebel Podcast
“I help people stop working in their business and start working on their business.” In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with hospitality veteran and industry provocateur Shawn Soole. With a career spanning nearly three decades, Shawn has seen—and done—it all. From washing dishes at 13 in Australia to building bar programs, authoring books, consulting internationally, and running a podcast, his journey is nothing short of relentless. And that’s exactly how he likes it. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. Their...
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Life as an Independent Vet with Dr. Beth
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Create the things you wish existed.” What happens when a little girl obsessed with animals grows up, faces down fear, and builds a vet clinic on a dream? In this episode, Beth Barrett shares her story of grit, independence, and what it really means to live in alignment with your values. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with veterinarian and entrepreneur Beth Barrett about her decades-long career, her passion for animals, and the power of doing hard things. From...
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Gen X Women Who Kick Ass with Oonagh Duncan
The RebelRebel Podcast
“Weight loss isn’t controversial in science, only on social media.” What happens when a former smoker and self-described non-athlete turns into one of Canada’s most refreshing voices in fitness and habit formation? In this episode, I talk with Oonagh Duncan about Gen X women, body neutrality, the power of pleasure, and her dream of fronting an 80s hair band at brunch. This episode is sponsored by my new book , helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world. In This Episode In this episode, Michael Dargie talks with Oonagh Duncan—fitness coach, author of Healthy as...
info_outline“Your brain is not fixed. It’s as trainable as your body.”
In this episode, Michael Dargie welcomes George Haymaker, a neuroscience educator and brain performance coach, who helps people understand and train their brains for lasting change.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
George’s path to neuroscience wasn’t straightforward—he began in food and beverage, running restaurants and eventually becoming a serial entrepreneur. But at the age of 52, addiction nearly ended his life. Fifty pain pills and two bottles of vodka a day left him in rehab, questioning if change was even possible .
That turning point became the start of a new chapter. George dove into psychology, spirituality, and ultimately neuroscience, where he discovered how deeply malleable the brain truly is. He now works to share that knowledge, making brain science accessible so people can rewire unhelpful patterns, shape mental activity, and reclaim their lives .
George explains that brain change doesn’t happen through hacks or shortcuts—it takes repetition, emotional salience, and meaningful practice. He shares insights on prediction, survival instincts, and why the brain resists change, even when our current patterns are destructive. He also talks about how diet, daily structure, and simple practices can radically transform brain health .
The conversation spans cooking, the lessons dogs can teach us, and George’s newest venture, Brain Club—a “gym membership for your brain” where people can learn, connect, and train their mental fitness in a community setting .
For rebels in waiting—those standing on the edge of change—George offers both empathy and a challenge: ask yourself if you’d be proud of the life you’ve lived if it ended tomorrow. If not, maybe that’s enough to begin your own transformation today.
Quoteable Quotes
“The brain doesn’t change with hacks. It changes through repetition, reward, and meaning.” — George Haymaker
“Money is oxygen.” — Michael Dargie
“Your brain is not fixed. It’s as trainable as your body.” — George Haymaker
“Even if life feels destructive, your brain resists change because it knows the past.” — George Haymaker
“Would you be proud of the life you’ve lived if it ended tomorrow?” — George Haymaker
Episode Highlights
From Hotels to Entrepreneurship | George’s early career in food and beverage.
Hitting Bottom | Addiction, rehab, and the start of change.
Discovering Neuroscience | How studying the brain became a calling.
Why Change Is Hard | The brain’s resistance and survival instincts.
Hacks Don’t Work | Why repetition and meaning drive transformation.
Eating for the Brain | How George rebuilt his diet around whole foods.
Finding Joy | Structure, gym time, and life with two puppies.
Introducing Brain Club | A community approach to brain training.
Mentorship and Empathy | Why lived experience matters in coaching.
Lessons from Dogs | Forgiveness, presence, and unconditional love.
Advice for Rebels in Waiting | Facing resistance and choosing change.
LINKS FROM EPISODE
George Haymaker Website (http://georgehaymaker.com/)
George on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgehaymaker/)
George on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574817093251)
George on Instagram (https://www.youtube.com/@georgehaymakerneuroeducator)
Get Your Copy of Michael's Book:
"BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable"
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