That Digital Take

What does it take to turn a childhood spent in a diamond shop into a thriving luxury jewelry brand? Jess Fried, founder of Toronto-based Dainty Diamond, joins That Digital Take to answer exactly that.
Jess grew up in her family's jewelry store, earned a Master's in Media and Journalism from Western University, built a career in media,  and then came full circle to found Dainty Diamond in 2020, right in the middle of a pandemic. Today, the brand is redefining luxury jewelry in Canada with custom gold pieces, permanent jewelry activations, and heirloom-quality designs built to be worn, not stored.
In this episode, we get into the rise of permanent jewelry, why dainty gold layering has taken over (looking at you, Sabrina Carpenter), the quiet luxury aesthetic, women buying their own fine jewelry, and what record gold prices actually mean for shoppers right now. We also tackle lab-grown vs. mined diamonds, the vintage jewelry resale boom, and why the best jewelry is the kind you never take off.
Plus, Jess gives her honest advice to anyone shopping for an engagement ring, and we close it out with a rapid-fire round you won't want to skip.

What happens when a viral country song gives you everything, and then you walk away from it?
Robyn Ottolini is the trucker's daughter from Uxbridge, Ontario who turned a TikTok moment into a platinum record, a Warner Nashville deal, and a spot opening for Shania Twain and Tim McGraw. Then she left her label, switched management, and quietly started over.
Out of that uncertain chapter came one scribbled notebook line — "I guess I'm growing down" — a home-recorded demo she posted with zero rollout strategy, and 20,000+ fan-made videos that followed.
In this episode, Robyn joins host Torri Webster to talk about the catch-22 of breakthrough success, what it actually felt like to go independent, and why the demo version of a song sometimes hits harder than the polished studio cut. The full studio version of "Growing Down (Into The Roots)" is out March 20th, and Robyn performs at the JUNO Kickoff Concert in Hamilton on March 26th.
We get into:• Why "F-150" was both the best and worst thing that ever happened to her• What "growing down" actually means — and why she thinks it's better than growing up• Posting a raw, unproduced demo and watching it explode• Leaving a major label and rediscovering her creative identity• Turning 30, writing confessional country, and building a career entirely on her own terms• Her relationship with TikTok, algorithms, and staying authentic in a changing industry
If you've ever felt like you were chasing a version of success that didn't quite fit — this one's for you.
🎵 "Growing Down (Into The Roots)" — out March 20🎤 JUNO Kickoff Concert, Hamilton — March 26🎧 Follow Robyn Ottolini: https://www.instagram.com/robynottolini/ 

What does it really take to build a brand people can't stop talking about, and can't stop buying from?
This week on That Digital Take, host Torri Webster sits down with Ashley Boyce, luxury brand strategist, former Unilever portfolio lead, co-founder of $12M DTC fragrance company Noteworthy, and now CEO of Zero Collective, for a masterclass in brand building at every stage of growth.
Ashley breaks down what nearly two decades inside the world's biggest CPG machine taught her that most founders never learn, why she walked away from billion-dollar budgets to bet on herself, and the real reason DTC isn't dead, it just grew up.
In this episode, we get into:
The mindset shift from corporate marketer to founder (and why your instincts can work against you)
How she scaled Noteworthy to $12M+ and what she'd do differently today
What "luxury" actually means in 2026 — and why the word is dangerously overused
Whether Instagram and TikTok can build real premium brands, or slowly kill them
The truth about influencers: are they elevating luxury or quietly diluting it?
How Zero Collective is carving out a niche in fashion without the designer price tag
The JFK Jr. / Carolyn Bessette Kennedy nostalgia wave — and how to manufacture desire in an algorithm-saturated world
What separates the brands that scale past $1M, $5M, $10M from the ones that stall
Plus, a rapid-fire round on DTC vs. retail, TikTok vs. email, AI in marketing, and the one brand actually doing luxury right in 2026.
Whether you're a founder, a marketer, or a brand-obsessed creative, this one is packed with the kind of strategic thinking that usually stays in the boardroom.
🎧 Listen now and subscribe so you never miss an episode of That Digital Take.
luxury branding, DTC marketing, brand strategy, founder story, fashion marketing, Unilever, fragrance brand, premium brands, digital marketing 2026, brand building, consumer goods, TikTok marketing, influencer marketing, CEO interview, Canadian entrepreneurs, Zero Collective, Noteworthy, Ashley Boyce

Brandi Leifso started Evio Beauty from a women's shelter at 21 with a bootlegged Photoshop. Now she's in 460 Shoppers Drug Mart locations and has a debut book. This is what Fearless Choices actually look like.
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What does it look like to build a globally recognized beauty brand from a women's shelter with nothing but a laptop and a borrowed idea? This week on That Digital Take, we sit down with Brandi Leifso, founder of Evio Beauty, impact entrepreneur, and author of the debut book Fearless Choices: How to Reclaim Your Power One Decision at a Time, for one of the most honest, grounded conversations we've ever had on this show.
Brandi's story isn't a highlight reel. At 21, she left an abusive relationship and found herself starting over with almost nothing. What came next wasn't a cinematic turning point — it was a series of small, quiet, often uncomfortable decisions that slowly built something extraordinary. Today, Evio Beauty is a Canadian-founded, impact-led skincare and beauty brand stocked in hundreds of Shoppers Drug Mart locations across Canada, with a mission rooted in giving back to women from day one.
In this episode, we go deep on the decisions nobody posts about — the vending machine fail, the early funding hustle, the Michelle Phan full-circle moment, and what it really took to land a major retail partnership at scale. Brandi also opens up about writing Fearless Choices, why she deliberately wrote a book that grounds you instead of hypes you up, and what she's still navigating in this chapter of her life.
If you're a founder, a creative, or someone who has ever felt stuck choosing between who you are and who you're becoming, this one is for you.
🕐 TIMESTAMPS
2:15 — What does courage actually look like in hindsight? The mindset shift from survival to building
7:32 — How Brandi funded Evio Beauty without telling anyone where she was living
11:07 — The Michelle Phan full-circle moment that changed everything
19:49 — The vending machine: a business decision that didn't work (and what it taught her)
24:23 — Why "grow at all costs" is a red flag, and how the founder era has shifted
26:38 — Is there still space to build in beauty in 2026? On the Girl Boss era and what replaced it
29:28 — "Always listen to the market" — staying agile enough not to sink
32:01 — Luck, preparation, and the Disney press trip moment
32:50 — Building a brand by women, for women — and the give-back from day one
37:00 — Setting boundaries around your founder story: keynoting Shoppers and reclaiming your narrative
44:42 — Mo money, mo problems: the hard parts nobody actually posts
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVER:
Building a mission-led beauty brand from zero resources
The difference between an impulsive decision and an intentional one
How to rebuild self-trust when it's been broken
Scaling into major Canadian retail (460+ Shoppers Drug Mart locations)
Balancing profit and purpose without compromising either
Differentiating in a crowded eye patch and skincare category
Why women feel pressure to make the perfect decision, and how to unlearn it
Founder mental health, boundaries, and what the glow-up really costs
Key lessons from Fearless Choices, the book
🔗 CONNECT WITH BRANDI LEIFSO 📖 Fearless Choices — available now 🌿 Evio Beauty: eviobeauty.com 📸 Instagram: @brandileifso | @eviobeauty
That Digital Take is a Canadian podcast at the intersection of business, digital culture, and the real conversations happening behind the brand. New episodes drop weekly.
#ThatDigitalTake #BrandiLeifso #EvioBeauty #FearlessChoices #CanadianFounder #WomenInBusiness #BeautyBrand #ShoppersDrugMart #ImpactEntrepreneur #FounderStory #PodcastCanada #SmallBusinessCanada #WomenEntrepreneurs #PersonalDevelopment #SelfHelp
 

What if the hair you've always wanted could change the way you show up in the world?
In this episode of That Digital Take, host sits down with Natalie With-Seidelin, founder of the award-winning Brush Beauty Bar Inc. in Burlington and creator of Brush'd The Label, a luxury hair extension line known for its revolutionary Invisi-Weft method and ethically sourced Slavic K-Tips.
This isn't just a conversation about hair. It's about identity, confidence, and the psychology behind transformation.
We get into:
Why hair is so deeply tied to women's confidence, power, and self-perception
The truth about hair extensions — and the biggest myths debunked
What the Invisi-Weft method actually is and why it's considered one of the healthiest extension techniques available
How to spot a bad install vs. a healthy one (and what red flags to watch for)
The real difference between luxury Slavic hair and drugstore extensions
What ethical hair sourcing actually looks like behind the scenes
How Natalie built a brand, trained educators, and scaled beyond the salon chair
Whether you're curious about extensions for the first time, struggling with hair confidence, or building a beauty business of your own, this episode is for you.
Keywords: hair extensions, Invisi-Weft extensions, luxury hair extensions, Slavic hair extensions, hair confidence, extension methods, hair loss solutions, fine hair extensions, K-tips, weft extensions vs tape-ins, beauty entrepreneur, salon owner, how to start a beauty brand, Brush Beauty Bar, hair health, extension maintenance, Burlington Ontario salon

What does it actually take to build a fitness brand from scratch... no gym, no studio, just Instagram Lives and pure energy? This week on That Digital Take, we sit down with Toronto fitness founder Liv McIlkenny, the force behind Liv Sweaty, to talk about the real business of wellness, building community in the digital age, and what no one tells you about turning your passion into a paycheck.
Liv went from a 7-minute lockdown arm series on Instagram Live to full Zoom classes, park workouts, sold-out challenges, and one of Canada's fastest-growing digital fitness communities. Before that? Three years as a top SoulCycle instructor mastering the art of high-energy, rhythm-based movement. Then she bet on herself, and built her own lane.
In this episode, we get into everything:
Fitness & Mindset - What the "fitness girl" label gets wrong, how to stay high-vibe when your numbers dip, protecting yourself from comparison culture, and what actually happens when motivation disappears.
Business of Wellness - How Liv turned sweat sessions into a real revenue model, why she chooses long-term brand partnerships (think Hoka, Red Bull) over one-off deals, how to price yourself as a wellness creator, and whether brands have ever tried to control her body narrative.
Manifestation & Alignment - What manifestation actually means in practical terms, vision boards vs. execution, and the thing she manifested that genuinely shocked her.
Community & Authenticity - How she bridges her private and "branded" life online, navigating breakups and real moments publicly, and what a community member once said that she'll never forget.
Rapid Fire - 5am workouts or late-night gym? Cold plunges? Would she date someone less disciplined than her? What era is she in right now?
If you're a fitness creator, wellness entrepreneur, aspiring founder, or someone building a personal brand online - this episode is your blueprint.
Subscribe, rate, and leave a review. New episodes every week on That Digital Take.
Follow That Digital Take: @thatdigitaltake
Keywords: fitness entrepreneur podcast, wellness creator business, how to build a fitness brand online, Liv Sweaty, SoulCycle instructor turned founder, digital fitness community, manifestation business, personal brand fitness, Canadian fitness podcast, wellness business model, brand partnerships fitness creator, That Digital Take podcast
 

Welcome back to That Digital Take
In Season 3, Episode 2, Torri Webster sits down with Jay McCauley, one of Canada’s most influential Gen Z leaders reshaping philanthropy, corporate strategy, and political engagement in the digital age.
Jay is a strategic communications advisor, philanthropic strategist, and changemaker who has:• Helped raise over $20 million for community causes• Served as the youngest board member in Canadian nonprofit history• Advised CEOs, political leaders, and major nonprofit boards• Built a reputation for bridging Gen Z culture with legacy institutions
This episode dives deep into Gen Z leadership, purpose-driven brands, social media’s role in activism, cancel culture vs. accountability culture, youth voter engagement, and what corporations STILL misunderstand about young consumers.
If you care about impact, influence, digital culture, or building a legacy career with purpose, this is a masterclass.
What We Cover:
00:00 – Meet Jay McCauley: Gen Z changemaker & philanthropic strategist03:33 – Walking into legacy boardrooms as the youngest person in the room04:51 – Networking honestly & building social capital10:23 – Consulting brands on Gen Z strategy: what actually works13:57 – Why brands get “youth marketing” wrong (and the Tate McRae debate 👀)17:33 – Accountability culture vs. cancel culture21:34 – Has social media permanently changed political strategy?25:51 – Why young people MUST vote (and what’s holding them back)33:37 – Social capitalism: Should influencers be doing more?38:03 – Raising $20 million — what that really means behind the scenes43:08 – Why Jay launched his podcast In Good Company
Key Themes:
Gen Z leadershipYouth civic engagementPurpose-driven marketingCorporate social responsibilityPhilanthropy in the digital agePolitical engagement & social mediaBuilding influence with authenticityThe future of nonprofit boardsYoung entrepreneurs scaling with impact
Jay sits at the intersection of culture, commerce, and community — and this conversation feels like stepping inside a modern-day boardroom meets digital strategy lab.
This episode is for:✔️ Founders✔️ Creators✔️ Marketers✔️ Young professionals✔️ Anyone navigating legacy spaces with new ideas
If you’ve ever wondered how to create real impact without waiting for permission — this one’s for you.
Subscribe to That Digital Take for weekly conversations at the intersection of business, influence, media, and culture.
And don’t forget to check out Jay’s podcast, In Good Company.
Leave a review if this episode resonates, it helps more listeners discover the show.
#GenZ #Philanthropy #YouthLeadership #PurposeDrivenBusiness #CorporateResponsibility #DigitalCulture #CivicEngagement #ThatDigitalTake

Welcome back to That Digital Take and welcome to 2026.
In this first episode of the year, I’m catching you up on where I’ve been, what this season of life looks like right now, and why the podcast is entering its next era.
January was supposed to be a mental reset… but somehow it turned into Miami slow living, early wedding planning, Vancouver film sets, Whistler influencer trips, and an Apple TV press day in LA brushing shoulders with the stars.
We’re talking:
✨ my “soft launch” into wedding era (engagement party is locked)✨ visiting Adam on set and why watching someone you love live their dream is everything✨ influencer trips in 2026… are they still this fabulous?✨ what’s changing on That Digital Take this year (more guests, more celebrity + culture, more creator economy conversations, more Toronto + Canada stories)
Plus, we’re ending with a few new-year favourites and obsessions, from Moroccanoil lip balms to CapCut desktop edits to the 5 Minute Journal keeping me grounded while traveling.
This is the start of something really special.
If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you.If you’re new, welcome to the next era of That Digital Take.
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend.
 

In this Year in Review episode of That Digital Take, host Torri Webster reflects on the lessons, mindset shifts, and defining moments that shaped her life and career in 2025. From navigating growth in the creator economy to redefining success, boundaries, ambition, and self-trust—this episode is about what to hold onto, what to release, and how to move forward with intention.
This isn’t a highlight reel. It’s an honest breakdown of what worked, what didn’t, and the truths Torri is carrying into 2026.
✨ In this episode, Torri covers:
The biggest lessons learned in 2025 (personally & professionally)
Quotes and mindset shifts that anchored her through change
What success really looked like behind the scenes
What she’s consciously letting go of—and why
What she’s protecting, nurturing, and doubling down on
Reflections on burnout, clarity, confidence, and creative alignment
How 2025 reshaped her goals, boundaries, and vision for the future
Whether you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or simply in a season of reflection, this episode is a reminder that growth often comes from honesty, stillness, and choosing yourself—again and again.
🎧 Listen now to reset your mindset, take stock of your year, and step into 2026 with clarity and purpose.
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Follow & connect with That Digital TakeNew episodes weekly featuring creators, founders, and honest conversations about ambition, identity, and building a life you’re proud of—online and offline.
#ThatDigitalTake #YearInReview #2025Reflection #CreatorEconomy #PersonalGrowth #LessonsLearned #EntrepreneurMindset #LettingGo #MindsetReset #Podcast

In this powerful episode of That Digital Take, Torri Webster sits down with beauty founder Haley Bogaert to unpack how makeup became more than just a career. It became a tool for healing, confidence, and rebuilding after profound personal loss.
Haley shares how developing a daily beauty routine during one of the hardest seasons of her life gave her structure, grounding, and a renewed sense of purpose. What began as a deeply personal ritual eventually evolved into a mission: helping others feel seen, strong, and confident through beauty.
We dive into:
How makeup routines can create emotional stability and self-trust
Turning personal resilience into a purpose-driven beauty brand
The power of one-on-one artistry and why brows became her signature
Expanding a beauty business with intention, from services to products
Building community, confidence, and connection through beauty
What it really takes to grow a modern beauty brand rooted in empathy
This episode is a must-listen for beauty lovers, founders, creatives, and anyone navigating reinvention, proving that sometimes the most impactful businesses are born from the most personal moments.
🎧 Listen now for an honest, inspiring conversation about beauty, resilience, and building something meaningful.