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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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,...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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...
info_outline
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“We’re only limited by what we can imagine.”
In this episode, Michael Dargie chats with Rachael Leventhal Garnett, an AI consultant, trainer, and all-around creative force based in Fort Worth, Texas. Her story weaves together resilience, reinvention, and curiosity—qualities that shine through every chapter of her life.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
Rachael opens up about her entrepreneurial journey, from running a successful estate sales business to being sidelined by Lyme disease, only to reinvent herself multiple times through upholstery, nonprofit work, and eventually finding her place in the AI space. What started with experimenting in MidJourney in 2022 quickly grew into a full-blown career helping nonprofits, municipalities, and foundations harness AI for real-world impact .
Her projects range from developing AI-driven literacy data tools for unhoused populations, to building educational systems for dementia care organizations, to creating Spanish-language resources that empower caregivers . She also shares her role in shaping curriculum for city-wide AI training programs—no small feat considering she’s writing and delivering more than 21 hours of material .
The conversation isn’t all business, though. Rachael shares stories about her love of cats (including a daring kitten rescue that left a hole in her living room wall), her travel dreams, her favourite guilty-pleasure snacks, and her belief that “everything just turns out OK.” She also speaks candidly about what excites her most in AI, how she advises “rebels in waiting” to start small and shut out the hype, and why ancient history and cosmic energy continue to inspire her outlook on life .
It’s a lively, layered conversation that touches on technology, creativity, compassion, and the quirky joys that make us human.
Quoteable Quotes
“We’re only limited by what we can imagine.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
“Everything just turns out OK. We’re all just people doing our best.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
“I’ve really got into vibe coding lately… it’s such a great way to build tech these days.” — Michael Dargie
“Close out the hype. Pick one platform and start simple.” — Rachael Leventhal Garnett
Episode Highlights
Snapshot of Rachael’s Work | AI consulting, nonprofit projects, and government contracts
DFW Women’s Club | Board member and Elevate 2025 conference workshop
From Estate Sales to AI | Lyme disease forced a career pivot
First Foray into AI | Discovering MidJourney and AI art
Using AI in Nonprofits | ChatGPT for grants, newsletters, and events
Meeting Her Mentor | Inspired by Jeff Hunter’s talk in Las Vegas
What She Wishes the World Knew | “Everything turns out OK—we’re all just people doing our best”
Travel Bucket List | From Morocco to Göbekli Tepe
Snacks of Choice | Pretzels, cheese sticks, and popcorn
AI for Social Good | Literacy studies for the unhoused in Fort Worth
Dementia Care Education | Building learning systems with AI
Advice for Beginners | Ignore the hype, start small with one tool
Cat Rescue Story | Accidentally sealed in her attic, saved with a camera and some DIY demolition
LINKS FROM EPISODE
Website (https://www.eaaservice.com/)
Rachael on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-garnett-eaas/)
Rachael on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/leventhalgarnett?)
Get Your Copy of Michael's Book:
"BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable"
Indigo | Barnes & Noble | BrandJitsu.com