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“You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities.”
What happens when a seven-time founder who once built a company around landing on the moon steps into the arena as herself? In this episode, I talk with Mary McCorvey about moonshots, stand-up comedy, and living life on your own terms.
This episode is sponsored by my new book BRANDJITSU, helping you find, shape, and share your story with the world.
In This Episode
In this episode, Michael Dargie speaks with Mary McCorvey, a seven-time founder, Army veteran, broadcaster, author, and stand-up comic based in Philadelphia. Mary has built companies around products, services, and even competitions to land on the moon. Now she’s turning the spotlight on herself with her book Experience Over Expectation: Let Go of the Plan and Live on Your Terms .
Mary shares the story of Moonmark, her most ambitious project yet: a global competition where high school students designed lunar landers, with two teams producing designs that NASA engineers agreed could actually work on the moon. Although the pandemic halted the mission, the experience changed lives, and the Lander Company eventually did reach the moon in 2024 .
Her journey into entrepreneurship began after serving in the Army, where she went from digging trenches for cable to becoming a broadcaster thanks to a leader who recognized her potential. That chance moment shaped her lifelong commitment to leadership, integrity, and creating opportunities for others .
Mary also talks about embracing AI in her writing process, blending platforms like GPT, Perplexity, and Grok to analyze her memoir and craft her latest book. She opens up about her love of stand-up comedy, her unexpected passion for high-performance driving at tracks like Watkins Glen, and her belief that peace is possible if we’re willing to choose it .
From growing up in Sarasota with limited opportunities, to enlisting in the Army at 18, to building seven companies and reinventing herself again and again, Mary embodies what it means to live without default. Her advice to rebels in waiting is unforgettable: “You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities.
Quoteable Quotes
“You have a finite number of heartbeats. There are infinite possibilities.” — Mary McCorvey
“Every time I’ve built a company, it’s been about how to positively impact others.” — Mary McCorvey
“I was digging trenches, holding a shovel, when I said, ‘I’d like to be a broadcaster.’ And someone gave me that chance.” — Mary McCorvey
“Peace is possible. It’s complex, but possible.” — Mary McCorvey
“Experiences are the most important part of this whole thing.” — Michael Dargie
Episode Highlights
Seven-Time Founder | Building companies again and again with purpose.
Moonmark | A global competition to design landers for the moon.
Army to Broadcasting | How a shovel and a sergeant changed her life.
AI in Writing | Using multiple platforms to analyze her memoir.
Experience Over Expectation | Her new book about living on your terms.
Stand-Up Comedy | Why the stage is her favourite place in Philly.
High-Performance Driving | Racing at Watkins Glen and loving every second.
Peace is Possible | Lessons from time spent in war zones.
Dinner Guests | Why she’d choose comedian Leanne Morgan and Barack Obama.
Advice to Rebels | Finite heartbeats, infinite possibilities.
Links From Episode
Mary McCorvey Website (http://marymccorvey.com/)
Mary on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylmccorvey/)
Mary on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/McCorveyMary/)
Mary on Instagram (https://www.facebook.com/McCorveyMary/)
Get Your Copy of Michael's Book:
"BrandJitsu™: Move Your Brand From 'Meh' To Memorable"
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