The Calgary Sessions is a podcast about the people who make Calgary interesting. Hosted by Jeff Humphreys, each episode is an honest conversation with artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, and community builders about where they came from, what they have learned, what they are building, and what life has taught them along the way. It is a way to get to know the city through the people who live here.
Kelsey Hahn: Building a Business You Actually Want to Be Part Of
Kelsey Hahn is the co-founder and CEO of Monark, a Calgary company that works with leaders and organizations. She played university hockey, studied organizational behaviour and has spent much of her career trying to understand what helps people do well at work.
She’s honest about how hard it’s been to build her own company. Hearing no from investors felt personal, and there were times she wanted to quit. As a mother of two, she also talks about feeling judged for being ambitious and how she handles work and family responsibilities.
Hockey is a big part of the chat too. Kelsey talks about being called bossy growing up, the confidence she got from playing and why she now coaches her daughter’s team. She wants the girls to enjoy coming to the rink, and coaching has given her a reason to leave work before everything is done.
Things are going better with the business now, and she’s enjoying it more. She also admits it’s hard to say that without thinking she should be doing more.
Connect with Kelsey Hahn:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kelseyhahn12 (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/kelseyhahn12)
Website: https://www.leadwithmonark.com/ (https://www.leadwithmonark.com/)
Connect with Jeff Humphreys:
Website: https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca (https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys (https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc)
Podcast Location & Production:
Off Set Studios: https://www.offsetstudios.ca (https://www.offsetstudios.ca)
21 Oct 2026
Jason Zaran: Starting at 40, Nearly Going Broke and Building Again
After more than two decades in the corporate food industry, Jason Zaran started his first business at 40, opening The Main Dish in Bridgeland with years of experience and plenty still to figure out.
Years later, business losses, his parents' declining health and strain in his marriage arrived together, leaving him close to bankruptcy and needing a job while his wife, Pam, and a small team kept the remaining business going.
In this chat, we talk about the early regrets that shaped his approach to work, the decisions and people that helped him rebuild, and knowing when to keep going or change the plan.
Connect with Jason Zaran:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jason-zaran-85494118 (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jason-zaran-85494118)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jzaran/ (https://www.instagram.com/jzaran/)
Website: https://fitkitchen.ca/ (https://fitkitchen.ca/)
Connect with Jeff Humphreys:
Website: https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca (https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys (https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc)
Podcast Location & Production:
Off Set Studios: https://www.offsetstudios.ca (https://www.offsetstudios.ca)
14 Oct 2026
Monica Arora: What You Miss When You Think in Black and White
Monica Arora is the founder of Digital Monk Marketing in Calgary. Growing up, her parents encouraged her to ask questions and think for herself. Feeling comfortable being different took longer.
We talk about finding people she connected with, taking her interest in understanding people into marketing, and building her business. We also get into trusting your gut and what a decision can give you even when it doesn't go the way you hoped.
Monica likes the gray. Having to choose between this or that can mean missing what else is possible. That comes through when we talk about work-life balance and how hard she can be on herself. She kept the agency smaller when her kids were young so she could be there for them. As they've grown, she's had more room for the business. What worked then isn't necessarily what works now.
Connect with Monica Arora:
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marorabir (https://ca.linkedin.com/in/marorabir)
Website: https://digitalmonkmarketing.com/ (https://digitalmonkmarketing.com/)
Connect with Jeff Humphreys:
Website: https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca (https://www.jeffhumphreys.ca)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys (https://www.instagram.com/jeffhumphreys)
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_ (https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffhumphreys_)
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc (https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffhumphreysyyc)
Podcast Location & Production:
Off Set Studios: https://www.offsetstudios.ca (https://www.offsetstudios.ca)
Who has been a guest on The Calgary Sessions with Jeff Humphreys
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Marco Carducci
Trent McClellan
Crystal Phillips
Dr Karen MacNeill
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
245,200
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Spotify
4.8 / 5
34 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 74 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
95
Social presence
0
YouTube
82
Engagement
51
Contact The Calgary Sessions with Jeff Humphreys
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
