Rooted Here Tue, 30 Jun 2026 14:32:20 -0400 https://www.buzzsprout.com/2624221 en-us © 2026 Rooted Here yes 5152373c-d812-56b7-a3e8-4bf577c5be7e bambooshootsmarketing@gmail.com The Bamboo Pod episodic false Rooted Here, a Bamboo Shoots podcast hosted by Dran Chetty, features deep, one-hour conversations with the leaders, creators, and visionaries shaping our province Saskatchewan. 

This series goes beyond surface-level success to share the raw "human story" of local changemakers—from their early beginnings and the hurdles they overcame, to their current passions and the lasting legacy they want to leave on the community. 


It is a dedicated space celebrating inspiring growth, resilience, and the people making a genuine difference right where they are. 

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) The Bamboo Pod bambooshootsmarketing@gmail.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/q1gnjpczmrtr2uw5bq8kxwg0osa1?.jpg Rooted Here https://www.buzzsprout.com/2624221 The Circle of Life Model in Business and Health The Circle of Life Model in Business and Health What happens when a family crisis inspires a completely new way to do business?

In Episode 06 of Rooted Here, we sit down with Leon Ferguson, the CEO of Stream Group. Leon went straight into the workforce after high school, but his entire perspective shifted during COVID-19 when his mom and sister were both diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Living at the hospital, he saw firsthand how overwhelmed families struggle to understand complicated medical care. He decided to use his business background to fix it.

This is a powerful conversation about building a business that directly takes care of regular people and underserved communities. 

Connect with Stream Group:
🌐 Website: https://streamgroup.ca/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

]]> What happens when a family crisis inspires a completely new way to do business?

In Episode 06 of Rooted Here, we sit down with Leon Ferguson, the CEO of Stream Group. Leon went straight into the workforce after high school, but his entire perspective shifted during COVID-19 when his mom and sister were both diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Living at the hospital, he saw firsthand how overwhelmed families struggle to understand complicated medical care. He decided to use his business background to fix it.

This is a powerful conversation about building a business that directly takes care of regular people and underserved communities. 

Connect with Stream Group:
🌐 Website: https://streamgroup.ca/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19403193 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0600 2244 1 6 full false Leading the High-Tech Shift in Community and Workforce Training with SIIT Leading the High-Tech Shift in Community and Workforce Training with SIIT Go behind the scenes at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) with Vickie Drover, VP of Academics, to see how the institution is leading a high-tech revolution to support local communities and build the future workforce.

In this episode of Rooted Here, Vickie shares an insider’s look at the strategy, reality, and vision behind SIIT's innovative ecosystem:

  • The Reality of Student Funding: Busting the myth of "free" education and looking at the financial hurdles SIIT students conquer through loans, jobs, and corporate-backed awards.
  • Virtual Reality Classrooms: De-risking career pathways by letting students "test-drive" advanced trades before they invest.
  • The Virtual Health Hub: Deploying remote robotics and healthcare training straight to rural and northern areas.
  • Aviation Training: Expanding programs so local people are fully equipped to maintain the critical aircraft their communities rely on.


This is a deep dive into how SIIT moves past simple corporate box-checking to build true, long-term community self-reliance from the academic ground up.

Learn more about SIIT's programs: https://siit.ca/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> Go behind the scenes at the Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) with Vickie Drover, VP of Academics, to see how the institution is leading a high-tech revolution to support local communities and build the future workforce.

In this episode of Rooted Here, Vickie shares an insider’s look at the strategy, reality, and vision behind SIIT's innovative ecosystem:

  • The Reality of Student Funding: Busting the myth of "free" education and looking at the financial hurdles SIIT students conquer through loans, jobs, and corporate-backed awards.
  • Virtual Reality Classrooms: De-risking career pathways by letting students "test-drive" advanced trades before they invest.
  • The Virtual Health Hub: Deploying remote robotics and healthcare training straight to rural and northern areas.
  • Aviation Training: Expanding programs so local people are fully equipped to maintain the critical aircraft their communities rely on.


This is a deep dive into how SIIT moves past simple corporate box-checking to build true, long-term community self-reliance from the academic ground up.

Learn more about SIIT's programs: https://siit.ca/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19402775 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0600 3247 1 5 full false What’s Changing for the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival This Year? What’s Changing for the Saskatchewan Jazz Festival This Year? In this episode, we sit down with SaskJazz Executive Director Shannon Josdal to discuss how a province-wide survey of 1,400 locals completely reshaped the vision for this year's festival.

🌐 Grab your tickets for this July here: https://www.saskjazz.com/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

]]> In this episode, we sit down with SaskJazz Executive Director Shannon Josdal to discuss how a province-wide survey of 1,400 locals completely reshaped the vision for this year's festival.

🌐 Grab your tickets for this July here: https://www.saskjazz.com/

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19402765 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0600 3619 1 4 full false Operating an Award-Winning Distillery in the Heart of the Prairies Operating an Award-Winning Distillery in the Heart of the Prairies Did you know that Saskatchewan’s extreme temperature swings actually make spirits taste better?

In Episode 03 of Rooted Here, we sit down with Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, the owner of Black Fox Farm & Distillery.

Barb shares the fascinating reality of operating a distillery in Saskatchewan, explaining how their barrels interact with the dramatic prairie weather fluctuations to naturally enrich the flavor of their world-class spirits.

From cultivating the province's incredible soil to putting the true spirit of the prairies into every single bottle, Barb dives deep into what it takes to build an internationally acclaimed brand right in our backyard.

Connect with Black Fox Farm & Distillery:
🌐 Website: https://www.blackfoxfarmanddistillery...

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> Did you know that Saskatchewan’s extreme temperature swings actually make spirits taste better?

In Episode 03 of Rooted Here, we sit down with Barb Stefanyshyn-Cote, the owner of Black Fox Farm & Distillery.

Barb shares the fascinating reality of operating a distillery in Saskatchewan, explaining how their barrels interact with the dramatic prairie weather fluctuations to naturally enrich the flavor of their world-class spirits.

From cultivating the province's incredible soil to putting the true spirit of the prairies into every single bottle, Barb dives deep into what it takes to build an internationally acclaimed brand right in our backyard.

Connect with Black Fox Farm & Distillery:
🌐 Website: https://www.blackfoxfarmanddistillery...

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19402664 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:00:00 -0600 2169 1 3 full false An Interview with Former Mayor Don Atchison An Interview with Former Mayor Don Atchison What does it truly take to lead a city for 13 years? 

In this episode of Rooted Here, we sit down with Don Atchison, the longest-serving mayor in Saskatoon’s history. From his early days selling newspapers door-to-door to managing his family’s iconic menswear store, Don shares how a lifetime in retail prepared him for the highest office in the city.

Don opens up about the "swagger" he wanted to bring to Saskatoon and the bold vision required to move a city from "drifting" to thriving. We dive deep into the stories behind the city's most significant landmarks—including the Circle Drive South Bridge and River Landing—and the leadership principles of honesty and accountability that guided his four terms in office.

Whether you are an aspiring leader, an entrepreneur, or a proud Saskatoon local, Don’s insights on civic unity and "historical" neighborhoods offer a masterclass in community building.

Don's book, "Building Bridges," is available now! 

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> What does it truly take to lead a city for 13 years? 

In this episode of Rooted Here, we sit down with Don Atchison, the longest-serving mayor in Saskatoon’s history. From his early days selling newspapers door-to-door to managing his family’s iconic menswear store, Don shares how a lifetime in retail prepared him for the highest office in the city.

Don opens up about the "swagger" he wanted to bring to Saskatoon and the bold vision required to move a city from "drifting" to thriving. We dive deep into the stories behind the city's most significant landmarks—including the Circle Drive South Bridge and River Landing—and the leadership principles of honesty and accountability that guided his four terms in office.

Whether you are an aspiring leader, an entrepreneur, or a proud Saskatoon local, Don’s insights on civic unity and "historical" neighborhoods offer a masterclass in community building.

Don's book, "Building Bridges," is available now! 

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19398582 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0600 2189 1 2 full false Why Kash Jassal Chose the Restaurant Business Why Kash Jassal Chose the Restaurant Business In this first episode of Rooted Here, we sit down with Kash Jassal to find out exactly why he chose the restaurant business. 

Kash has successfully scaled his OPA! of Greece footprint from a single store to four locations across Saskatoon, proving that a technical mindset and a community-first heart are a winning combination.

Kash pulls back the curtain on the "why" behind his career pivot. We discuss the transition from blueprints to business plans, and the reality of running multiple franchise sites.

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> In this first episode of Rooted Here, we sit down with Kash Jassal to find out exactly why he chose the restaurant business. 

Kash has successfully scaled his OPA! of Greece footprint from a single store to four locations across Saskatoon, proving that a technical mindset and a community-first heart are a winning combination.

Kash pulls back the curtain on the "why" behind his career pivot. We discuss the transition from blueprints to business plans, and the reality of running multiple franchise sites.

This episode is presented by The Bamboo Podcast Network.

🔔 Subscribe to The Bamboo Pod on YouTube
👉 Follow The Bamboo Pod on Instagram

]]> The Bamboo Pod Buzzsprout-19398492 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0600 3749 1 1 full false