Come along as we explore some of the world's most fundamental problems, and how a New Wave of innovative companies are dead set on solving them. New Wave weaves storytelling with fascinating science that is accessible to everyone, giving you insights into your health, the struggles of others, and the pioneering entrepreneurs behind it all.
You might be surprised to find out which tucked-away place is shaping the future of Life Sciences. Find out on New Wave.
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Walk down the supplement aisle and you're faced with rows of promises, but who is proving them? This episode follows Nature's Way Canada's quiet rebellion: swapping hype for evidence, marketing for education, and fishy burps for something people actually want to take.
Guest bios & credentials:
- Tsege Gebreyohannes - Director of Brand & Digital, Nature's Way Canada.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Dec 2025
The Key and the Lock
One in two of us will face cancer. This episode follows a Nova Scotian scientist who discovered ALDH1A3 and risked everything to try to turn it into a therapy.
Episode breakdown & timestamps:
00:00 — Cold statistic and the stakes: why every cancer discovery matters. We open with the brutal reality: despite promising lab results, only ~10% of discoveries become human therapies.
02:00 — The enemy explained. Dr. Paola Marcato breaks down what cancer and metastasis really are and why targeting spread is critical.
06:00 — The scientist’s path. Paola’s pivot from bacterial research to oncology, mentorship at Dalhousie, and the moment the lab “whispered” a secret.
12:00 — The discovery: ALDH1A3 — a supercharger enzyme linked to aggressive, treatment‑resistant tumours and why it matters for precision medicine.
14:30 — The choice: translate to a drug or stay in the lab. The moral, financial and scientific risks of starting Theranib in Nova Scotia.
Guest bio & credentials:
Dr. Paola Marcato — cancer biologist at Dalhousie University and co‑founder of Theranib. Her work identified ALDH1A3 as a driver of aggressive, metastatic cancer phenotypes and sparked a translational effort to develop targeted therapies.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
26 Nov 2025
Koi & Cannabis
What if the next medical cannabis breakthrough wasn't in a lab but in a basement with 3,000 koi? In this episode we trace how Aqualitas created an aquaponic ecosystem that caught the eye of a global cannabis distributer and helped them transform their business.
Episode breakdown & timestamps:
00:00 — Opening: The unlikely origins of big medical innovation (intro to the central mystery and stakes).
02:20 — From hockey rinks to hedge funds to cannabis: Josh Roberts' journey and why Wellford pursued Aqualitas (founder & investor perspective).
06:30 — Meet the scientist: Danielle Maitland explains aquaponics vs hydroponics and the living ecosystem that fuels plants.
10:15 — Inside Aqualitas: the basement system, 3,000 koi, recirculating aquaculture, and the water chemistry that changes product quality.
13:30 — Business & science meet: why aquaponics creates a defensible moat, R&D hurdles, and the global response.
16:30 — Takeaways, implications for sustainable cultivation, and what's next for Nova Scotia's life sciences scene.
Guest bios & credentials:
- Danielle Maitland — Director of Science & Cultivation Technology, Aqualitas. Background: chemical engineering, MSc in sustainable aquaculture, PhD candidate in agricultural sciences; expert in aquaponics and plant–microbe interactions.
- Josh Roberts — Chief Business Officer, Wellford Group. Former hedge fund trader and co-founder of Cannaray/Wellford
What you'll learn:
- How aquaponics works and why it can outperform hydroponics for cannabis: closed-loop water, nutrient cycling, and beneficial microbes.
- The sustainability gains: 90–95% water recirculation, reduced synthetic fertilizers, and lower energy/resource footprint.
- Commercial and regulatory implications: why unique cultivation methods create supply-chain advantages and differentiation for medical cannabis.
- Lessons for founders and investors: the power of deep R&D, place-based innovation (Nova Scotia), and vertical integration strategies.
Resources & links mentioned:
- Aqualitas: https://aqualitas.ca
- Wellford Group / Cannaray: https://wellford.com
- Life Sciences Nova Scotia: https://lifesciencesnovascotia.ca
- Snack Labs: https://wearesnack.io
- Intro reading on aquaponics vs hydroponics: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on New Wave
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Jeff Leadbetter
Eric Hoffman
Alexei
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YouTube views
4,181,001
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Podcast Authority Score: 50 / 100
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62
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YouTube
93
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