High Agency Podcast

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Joanna Chiu, award-winning journalist, author of China Unbound, and co-founder and managing partner of Nüora Global Advisors, to explore how geopolitics shows up in everyday life, especially for diaspora communities living between worlds. Chiu reflects on her path from growing up in suburban Canada to reporting on the ground in Hong Kong and Beijing, driven by a deep sense of connection to a place she was taught to leave behind. We unpack the limits of “neutrality” in media, the persistent flattening of complex regions like China into simplified narratives, and why diverse lived experience is often dismissed rather than valued. Chiu shares how disinformation flows in multiple directions, how Western institutions routinely misread global power dynamics, and why nuance is often the first casualty in both journalism and policy. This conversation also examines the quiet realities of foreign interference, the uneven attention given to different communities, and the emotional weight carried by those whose identities are entangled in geopolitical conflict. Chiu offers a candid look at the structural decline of international reporting, the risks faced by journalists covering sensitive issues, and her transition into building a consultancy designed to bring deeper, more applied understanding to global affairs. This is a conversation about identity, power, and perception. About what gets lost when complexity is stripped away, and what it takes to rebuild a more honest, informed view of the world. FeaturingJoanna ChiuManaging PartnerNüora Global Advisorshttps://www.nuoraglobal.com/ Joanna Chiu is an award-winning journalist, author, internationally recognized expert on China, and Managing Partner at Nüora Global Advisors. She's reported for The Economist, AFP, The Guardian, and South China Morning Post, while providing broadcast analysis for BBC World, NPR, and Al Jazeera. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket DigitalSoftware engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses.—High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://instagram.com/highagencypod⁠LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/high-agency-pod/⁠X: ⁠https://x.com/highagencypod⁠TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod⁠— Presented by Skyrocket Digital⁠https://skyrockdigital.com/⁠ ⁠⁠Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Gabrielle Martin, Artistic Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and a leader reshaping how we gather, experience, and make meaning through art. From performing over 1,400 shows as a circus artist to leading one of Canada’s most boundary-pushing festivals, Gabrielle’s work sits at the intersection of creative risk, cultural exchange, and embodied practice. She believes live performance remains one of the last true ritual spaces for connection in a fragmented world. In this conversation, Gabrielle explores the tension between will and agency, the role of art in times of crisis, and what it means to lead with instinct while programming for the “culturally fearless.” A conversation about risk, responsibility, and the power of art to expand how we see the world, and each other. FeaturingGabrielle MartinArtistic DirectorPuSh International Performing Arts Festival Gabrielle Martin is an executive arts and culture leader with over 20 years of experience guiding organizations through transformation. As Artistic Director of the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, she co-leads this $2M organization, shaping its artistic, strategic, and financial direction. In 2025, she received the Canada Council's John Hobday Award in Arts Management, recognizing her exceptional leadership trajectory. With advanced French proficiency and deep cross-sector expertise, Gabrielle is dedicated to creating purposeful experiences that foster connection, belonging, and imagination—believing live performance remains one of society's vital ritual spaces for renewal.  Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highagencypod/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-pod/?viewAsMember=trueX: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod — Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Dominic Wong, Managing Director of Invoke, to explore what it really means to design at the intersection of craft, commerce, and emerging technology. Dominic reflects on Invoke’s evolution from its early association with Hootsuite to its renewed focus on building zero-to-one digital products for founders, startups, and innovation teams. We unpack the tension between design as decoration and design as strategy, why great designers must act as translators between business, engineering, and user needs, and how “good design” isn’t about polish, it’s about delivering meaningful value. The conversation dives into perennial industry debates: Should designers code? How much should data shape decisions? How do you avoid designing by committee? Dominic shares his perspective on mentorship in a hybrid world, the shift from hard skills to discernment and systems thinking, and why the future belongs to designers who can think, not just execute. FeaturingDominic WongManaging DirectorInvoke Dominic Wong is the Managing Director at Invoke, a digital consultancy, bringing over 20 years of experience as a multi-disciplinary product designer. He has collaborated with global brands, startups, and founders to create compelling digital product experiences from discovery through launch. His expertise spans interaction design, UX/UI, and complete product lifecycle management. Known for connecting teams, simplifying processes, and leading design sprints, Dominic excels at honing product visions and validating solutions with real users. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses.—High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: / highagencypodLinkedIn: / high-agency-podX:https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: / highagencypod—Presented by Skyrocket DigitalSkyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Dr. Gagan Wig, cognitive neuroscientist and program head at The University of Texas and director of the Wig Neuroimaging Lab, to explore how the brain reorganizes itself over time, and what that means for memory, aging, and cognitive health. Dr. Wig unpacks the reconstructive nature of memory, the network-based architecture of the brain, and why aging isn’t simply decline but a complex rebalancing of strengths and vulnerabilities. We discuss groundbreaking research showing how socioeconomic conditions and environment can shape brain health decades before symptoms appear, challenging assumptions about genetic destiny. This is a conversation about plasticity, resilience, and the science of understanding change, in the brain, in society, and in ourselves. FeaturingDr. Gagan WigProgram HeadThe University of TexasGagan is the director of the Wig Neuroimaging Lab. He is an associate professor in the Center for Vital Longevity and School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences at The University of Texas at Dallas, and in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Prior to moving to Texas, Gagan completed his Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience at Dartmouth College followed by post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard University and Washington University School of Medicine. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket DigitalSoftware engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses.—High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: / highagencypodLinkedIn: / high-agency-podX:https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: / highagencypod—Presented by Skyrocket DigitalSkyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with actor, producer, and vertical microdrama consultant Alicia Read to explore the rapidly changing world of storytelling and the personal journey that led her to its cutting edge. From growing up immersed in the arts to navigating careers in entertainment and luxury brand consulting, Alicia reflects on the experiences that shaped her resilience, ambition, and passion for narrative as a force for transformation. She opens up about childhood adversity, identity, and a life-altering near-death experience that reshaped her understanding of love, purpose, and limitlessness. Together, we dive into the explosive rise of vertical microdramas — a multi-billion-dollar global phenomenon rewriting how stories are created and consumed. Alicia shares insider insight into this intimate, data-driven format, its emotional pull on audiences, and what it means for the future of entertainment.This is a conversation about reinvention, agency, entrepreneurship, and why storytelling remains one of humanity’s most powerful tools for connection and change. Featuring Alicia ReadActor and ProducerType Eh Media Alicia Love Read is an actor, producer, and vertical microdrama consultant whose screen work has reached over 200 million viewers across platforms including ReelShort, GoodShort, and DramaWave. With more than two decades of experience scaling luxury and beauty brands in strategy and growth roles, she now serves as executive partner at Type Eh Media and co-founder of the Vertical Film & Short Series Alliance (VFSSA). Praised by Harper's Bazaar for her ability to elevate special brands without sacrificing their identity, Alicia bridges artistry, technology, and strategic storytelling to create emotional resonance. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses.  — High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/highagencypodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-podX: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod — Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode, we sit down with Moninder Singh, a Canadian-born Sikh activist who has spent his life operating at the intersection of leadership, risk, and conscience. From growing up in a small town in British Columbia shaped by both community and racism, to becoming a global voice for Sikh human rights, Moninder reflects on the experiences that forged his sense of justice and moral clarity. As the director of Sikh Federation Canada, he shares what it means to balance an executive career with unapologetic activism, even in the face of credible assassination threats from a foreign government. This is a grounded conversation about courage, identity, and choosing principle when silence is safer, exploring diaspora politics, transnational repression, and why ethical leadership demands action, regardless of the cost. Featuring Moninder SinghDirectorSikh Federation Canada Moninder Singh is a seasoned health and safety leader. He holds a Master of Arts in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph's Lang School of Business and Economics and an Associate's Degree in Occupational Health & Safety from BCIT. Specializing in workplace safety, conflict resolution, and disability management, he champions organizational culture as the cornerstone of effective wellness strategies. A lifelong Sikh activist, Moninder serves as Director of Sikh Federation Canada, advocating for Sikh rights, justice, and self-determination.  Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses.  — High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/highagencypodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-podX: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod — Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Amanda Burrows, Executive Director of First United Church Community Ministry Society and a leader working at the intersection of culture, care, and civic power. From her early work in arts and philanthropy to leading one of Vancouver’s oldest frontline institutions, Amanda offers a rare perspective on what happens when fundraising galas meet overdose response, and when culture is treated not as a luxury, but as infrastructure. We explore dignity as a non-negotiable, the difference between placemaking and placekeeping, and what it means to design systems that give communities real power—not just a seat at the table. A wide-ranging conversation on leadership, accountability, and why the future of cities depends on how we care for the people most impacted by our decisions. FeaturingAmanda BurrowsExecutive DirectorFirst United Amanda Burrows, MA CFRE, is the Executive Director of First United in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, bringing over 15 years of non-profit experience to her role. With credentials from Harvard Kennedy School, the University of Toronto, and the University of Victoria, she specializes in capacity building and creating equitable communities. Amanda co-created DTES Response during the COVID-19 pandemic and serves on the Vancouver Opera Board of Directors and the Ken Lyotier Fund Advisory Committee. Her career includes leadership positions at NYU Langone Medical Center and Asia Society, reflecting her dedication to dignity, belonging, and justice. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highagencypodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-pod/X: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod—Presented by Skyrocket DigitalSkyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Prabh Heer, COO of Mobio Brands, an operator who’s helped scale service businesses in some of the most unforgiving, low-margin environments. From his evolution as an individual contributor to a builder of systems, teams, and communities, Prabh shares how operational discipline, humility, and relentless curiosity became his competitive edge. A candid conversation on ego death, franchise thinking, and why real leadership isn’t about control, but about designing environments where people, and businesses, can compound. FeaturingPrabh HeerChief Operating Officer Mobio Brands Prabh directs day-to-day operations across Mobio's brand companies, ensuring consistent standards, operational efficiency, and superior customer experiences. His expertise in business coaching and leadership development has been instrumental in optimizing operations and supporting franchise growth. Prabh's strategic vision continues to enhance value across the organization while driving sustainable business success. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket DigitalSoftware engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram:/ highagencypod  LinkedIn:   / high-agency-pod  X: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok:  / highagencypod  —Presented by Skyrocket DigitalSkyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Frank Palmer, the legendary Canadian ad man who reshaped the country’s creative landscape. From his humble beginnings in Vancouver to building Palmer Jarvis into Canada’s most creatively acclaimed agency, Frank’s 50-year career is a masterclass in vision, grit, and unapologetic originality. As the architect behind the merger that formed DDB Canada, he transformed a local shop into a national creative powerhouse known for the country’s most talked-about and award-winning campaigns. FeaturingFrank PalmerFormer CEODDB Canada  Frank Palmer is a legendary Canadian advertising pioneer with over 50 years of experience in the industry. He built Palmer Jarvis, Canada's most creatively acclaimed marketing communications agency. As the architect behind the merger with DDB Worldwide, Frank established DDB Canada, creating a powerhouse network renowned for producing the country's most talked-about and award-winning campaigns. A visionary leader who transformed Canadian advertising, Frank continues to shape the industry through innovative brand strategies and his unwavering commitment to creative excellence. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highagencypodLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-pod/X: https://x.com/highagencypodTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod—Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.

In this episode of High Agency, we sit down with Ngaio Davis, founder of KORU Cremation, whose Māori heritage and unconventional path from carpenter to funeral director are reshaping modern deathcare. Ngaio brings compassion, cultural wisdom, and environmental intention to an industry long dominated by sterile convention. We explore natural deathcare, green burial, and the transformative power of facing mortality with clarity, community, and courage. FeaturingNgaio DavisFounderKORU Cremations  Ngaio Davis is the founder and principal owner of KORU Cremation, a pioneering deathcare practice transforming end-of-life services. Drawing from her Māori heritage and unconventional background as a red seal carpenter, Ngaio has brought authenticity and innovation to the deathcare industry. After years in corporate funeral services, Ngaio established KORU to foster meaningful conversations around death and dying. Her practice combines traditional wisdom with modern approaches, offering compassionate, personalized ceremonies that honour life's final transition. She champions courageous dialogue about mortality while creating space for healing and connection. Hosted byMo DhaliwalCEOSkyrocket Digital Software engineer turned marketer, Mo is an entrepreneur, cultural curator and technologist. In his role as founder and CEO of Skyrocket Digital, he helps clients with business, brand and technology to launch new ideas and grow their businesses. —High Agency: Conversations that Drive Growth and Transformation⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/highagencypod LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/high-agency-pod/ X: https://x.com/highagencypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@highagencypod—Presented by Skyrocket Digital Skyrocket is the digital agency for ambitious leaders. Our capabilities empower business and marketing leaders with the confidence to launch new initiatives, grow their brands, and undergo the transformation necessary to achieve breakthrough results.