Not So Average

About Not So Average

"Not So Average" celebrates relatable success stories from everyday people proving you don’t need to be a billionaire or celebrity to be extraordinary. Hosted by start-up junky and world traveler Alistair Shipley, each episode dives into the journeys of community shakers—people redefining what success looks like through their unique paths. Through candid conversations and real insights, Not So Average reveals lessons, struggles, and triumphs, reminding us all that success is never one-size-fits-all. Let’s get into it!

Publisher

Canadian Created Inc.

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Nov 2024

Latest episode

16 Mar 2026

Latest episodes

30 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Mar 2026

   #29 - Cheese and Community - Isaac Bignell

   In this episode of Not So Avg, Isaac Bignell, owner of Say Cheese Fromagerie in Calgary’s Crossroads Market, shares how a simple cheese counter turned into a full community experience. From wheel openings and curated dinners to his tabloid-style print project The Daily Rind, Isaac has built more than a shop. He has created a gathering place where food, storytelling, and connection come together. This conversation goes well beyond cheese. Isaac walks through the history of cheesemaking, tracing it back to Bedouin travel and early rennet discovery, while exploring the traditions and regions that continue to define the craft today. 🧀 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🌍 The global regions shaping great cheese today, from Quebec’s Eastern Townships to Italy, France, Switzerland, and Spain 🐑 A rare cheese called Rebel Historico, produced through nomadic valley herding and field production 🤝 Why building relationships with cheesemakers and experts matters more than chasing trends 🏡 How Say Cheese Fromagerie became a hub for community through events, storytelling, and shared meals 💡 Isaac’s perspective on leadership, mentorship, and what success actually looks like For Isaac, success is not measured by scale. It is measured by happiness, treating people well, and building something that gives back, including raising more than $5,000 for food insecurity through his work in the community. Show Notes: Say Cheese Fromagerie Website - https://saycheeseyyc.com/ (https://saycheeseyyc.com/) Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saycheeseyyc/ (https://www.instagram.com/saycheeseyyc/) 🎧 Listen now and discover how craft, curiosity, and community can turn something simple into something truly Not So Avg. #NotSoAvg #IsaacBignell #SayCheeseFromagerie #CheeseCulture #CalgaryFoodScene #CraftFood #CommunityDriven #FoodStories #SmallBusinessLeadership #CrossroadsMarket

2. 

   9 Mar 2026

   #28 - Losing What You Built - Nick Thompson

   In this episode of Not So Avg, Nick Thompson pulls back the curtain on the realities of entrepreneurship. The parts people rarely talk about. An entrepreneur, coach, and author, Nick shares the story behind building and scaling a Canadian branded merchandise company through mergers and acquisitions, growing it into a culture-driven organization recognized for developing its people. But the journey did not follow a straight line. After a U.S. merger and major structural changes to leadership and governance, the culture that once defined the company began to unravel. What followed were lawsuits, personal hardship, and ultimately Nick losing both his role and ownership in the company he helped build. 💡 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 📈 The strategy behind merging five companies and acquiring twenty more 🏗 Why building people, not just profits, was the foundation of their culture ⚠️ How leadership changes and aggressive cost-cutting can dismantle a company culture 🧠 Nick’s battle with depression and the role community played in his recovery 🤝 The difference between mentoring and coaching in leadership development 🎯 Why true success comes from the positive impact you have on others Nick’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about the wins. It is about resilience, humility, and the people who help you rebuild when everything falls apart. 🎧 Listen now and hear the unfiltered truth behind building, losing, and starting again. Show Notes: Die with Zero - Bill Perkins https://www.amazon.ca/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765 (https://www.amazon.ca/Die-Zero-Getting-Your-Money/dp/0358099765) Fractional remote staffing https://astrateams.com/ nickthompsonbooks.com (http://nickthompsonbooks.com/) Nick Thompson’s LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrateams/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/astrateams/) #NotSoAvg #NickThompson #Entrepreneurship #Leadership #StartupLessons #Resilience #BusinessCulture #Mentorship #ExecutiveCoaching #CalgaryEntrepreneurs

3. 

   30 Nov 2025

   #27 - Jabs, Grit, Growth - Kealan Bailey

   In this episode of Not So Avg, Kealen Bailey takes us through a career path that’s anything but traditional. Starting as an interior designer and competitive equestrian, evolving into a Muay Thai fighter, and now leading the charge at Rumble Boxing as VP of Training & Development, while also growing PRML as a managing partner. This episode dives into how Kealen has become a culture architect. Building powerful, people-first environments that blend discipline, fun, and purpose. 🏋️♀️ What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 🔄 How reinvention shaped her personal and professional journey 🥊 The foundations of Rumble Boxing’s dynamic team culture🌍 Scaling with intention and keeping community at the core ⚡ What it means to lead through connection, energy, and example 💬 Her honest take on persistence, pressure, and personal growth Whether you're building a team, a brand, or yourself, Kealen's story reminds us that Not So Avg success is rooted in authenticity, adaptability, and showing up with heart. 🎧 Tune in and find out what happens when intensity meets intention. Show Notes: Kealen Bailey Instagram - kealanb Rumble Boxing Instagram - rumbleboxing https://rumbleboxing.com/ (https://rumbleboxing.com/)PRML Instagram - prml_social https://www.prmlsocial.com/ (https://www.prmlsocial.com/)

Who has been a guest on Not So Average

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Bernard Callebaut
• Nicolas Beique
• Ray DePaul
• Haley Daniels
• Michael Sydoryk

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

73,408,536

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 59 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

81

Social presence

0

YouTube

93

Engagement

0

Contact Not So Average

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.