Podcast Roundup: Roots & Rivers in Conversation

Over the past few months, members of the Roots & Rivers team have had the

opportunity to step behind the mic and into conversation on some thought-provoking podcasts. These episodes offered space to reflect on how we work, how we lead, and how we're working to build a values-aligned organization in a world that doesn't always make that easy.

A New Wave of Entrepreneurship with Venture for Canada

On Venture for Canada's A New Wave of Entrepreneurship Podcast, Annelies Tjebbes and Hayley Rutherford speak candidly with Scott Stirrett about a topic often left out of entrepreneurship circles: taking extended leaves from your business.

Annelies shares her journey of taking an eight-month parental leave where she completely unplugged from the business. She walks listeners through the intentional preparation that made this possible, including practical hacks for setting and maintaining boundaries. Hayley offers her perspective as the interim leader during Annelies’ leave, sharing what it meant to take on a new level of responsibility and leadership while also navigating the changing relational dynamics within the team.

Together, they illustrate how a founder’s absence can actually catalyze growth by decentralizing knowledge, evolving internal systems, and helping the organization mature beyond a founder-centric model.

For entrepreneurs considering a leave for family, health, or even just rest, this episode is practical resource on how to prepare, trust your team, and allow space for unexpected transformation.

Listen if you’re thinking about taking a break and want your organization to thrive while you do.

The Magic Hour Podcast with Unicorn Marketing

In her episode of the Magic Hour Podcast, Annelies speaks with Hope Mikal about building systems that honour people over productivity and making intuitive, values-led decisions in a world that often pushes us to do the opposite.

This conversation is a exploration of heart-centred leadership, where Annelies shares how her background in engineering intersects with her commitment to social purpose work. The episode touches on how panic attacks became a turning point in her leadership journey, leading her to rebuild systems that honour her body, her team, and the cycles of real life.

From the power of saying “no” with clarity, to the journey of de-centering herself as a founder, Annelies and Hope explore:

• Reframing leadership through ecosystems instead of hierarchies

• Using intuition as a legitimate leadership tool

• Creating internal rhythms that support well-being over burnout

• Why empathy is a strategic, not soft, skill
  

Tune in for Annelies' take on how to lead with both heart and structure.

After Hours Podcast with Unicorn Marketing

In a more wide-ranging conversation, Annelies joined Hope Mikal on the After Hours Podcast a show dedicated to creativity, entrepreneurship, and everything in between.

This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it really means to build a values-driven business. Annelies shares personal reflections, business insights, and the real stories that don't often make it into strategy documents or public speaking engagements.

From navigating complexity to finding moments of magic, this conversation highlights the joy and challenge of building something that reflects your values from the inside out.

Perfect for a thoughtful listen during your next walk.

Why These Conversations Matter

At Roots & Rivers, we’re constantly learning and evolving. These podcast episodes gave us the opportunity to speak openly about some of the behind-the-scenes work we’re doing to build systems that reflect our values.

Our work is always in progress. This podcast roundup is one way we share our learnings, challenge assumptions, and stay accountable to the communities we’re part of. If you’re on your own path of building, leading, or reimagining what’s possible, these episodes are for you. Thanks for listening!