Dave Stonehouse: Leadership & Persuasive Communication

Emily Rodger  0:00  
Hi, I'm Emily Rodger, host of the Boiling Point podcast. My co-host, Dave Veale, and I will bring you thoughtful discussions with leaders who are positively impacting our world. This is the Boiling Point, where leadership and inspiration meet. 

Dave Veale  0:15  
A long ways, so I I'm glad that this is a beautiful thing. Okay, so, so, David, come on, and he'll seem like, you know, kind of, you know, just a very humble guy, which he is, he's a wonderful guy, he's become a very good friend of mine. I'm saying we've known each other for 20 years and we first met, he was the business editor of The Telegraph journal. I think I got that, right. So we have the business section. And I was pitching doing a column called Leadership Unleashed and, and I will go and interview leaders around the province because I was I kind of felt like the same and this is when everyone read print, right? And this is like one of the oldest independent papers in the country, I think, at the time Dave can tell us. And, and yeah, so I got this like, front page call I could put in anyway, so I had to pitch it to him. And he was, he wasn't an easy sell. Like it was like, Well see about that and anyways, more on that later. But that's when we first met and then we became good friends and we we continue to work together for a number of years with to the with at the Telegraph Journal and then we work together now he's got this amazing company called the Stonehouse Agency.

Emily Rodger  1:30  
He does and I mean, gosh, like talk about someone who it's like, every time I talk to him, he is involved in something new and doing something different. And then like, where do you find the time of day to do everything that you do? And I think that like, when I when I think of like having Dave on the podcast today, it's like, I want to know those little tiny details of how you do it, and, and how he is so brilliant at it and I actually had feedback from a mutual friend and someone who does a lot of work from him the other day, and they pointed out and this was like, unprompted, but they pointed out that Dave is someone who no matter how much he has on his plate, every time you are in his presence, you feel like you are the only person that matters, and that he has his like 100%, undivided attention on you. And yeah, so I was like, I need to relate that back to Dave because it's those feedbacks that I think that like they're so beautiful to hear and it is so true and for me, it's like yeah, of course like that is Dave Stonehouse. That is how I feel every single time. I am speaking to him. So yeah, that was a really, really lovely thing to hear. 

Dave Veale  2:53  
Yeah, well, I'm sure and he's sitting backstage listening to us right now, probably feeling really embarrassed that we are keeping frames on him. 

Emily Rodger  3:02  
We can also just do the entire podcast just talking about him and never actually bringing him in.

Dave Veale  3:07  
I'll share one other quick story with you before we before we bring them in. And that was that he and our good friend Bruce McLeod, who passed away last year, sadly. And we've talked about quite a bit on this podcast, we have a standing Friday morning meeting and they would always go the same way. It was just, it was like comical and my wife Mary Ellen will say what this is even a business meeting you guys are so busy laughing and talking about you know, and Bruce are always be late to the meeting and picking up the phone away. It was just it real professional in both of those men, but also like to have fun and have awesome sense of humor, as well. 

Emily Rodger  3:46  
Yeah. Okay, that actually surprises me that Bruce would have been late for those meetings.

Dave Veale  3:57  
I feel like I've thrown Bruce under the bus, but yeah.  

Emily Rodger  4:00  
I want to hear it. I want to hear it. 

Dave Veale  4:02  
Alright, well, the last date was as Dave You can tell the story is so, so funny. And it was every Friday morning and all there'll be some anyways, I mean, I'm the last one to talk about technology challenges, because all the challenges I've had there'll be something wrong with his phone and he's struggling to get on the call and but Dave kept us going straight forward and you know, mapping out the path, because otherwise we'd just be having this really fun conversation of all these things you want to do but you know, nothing would happen. So you need the you need the person who's going to actually hold you accountable. Have fun with you, you know, have a good conversation, but actually get some some work done so so he was the man he was definitely the man there.

Emily Rodger  4:42  
That that surprises me so much about Bruce because and many of the listeners have heard us speak about Bruce and they know Bruce and especially when Bruce was my coach, and we would do zoom calls and every time I logged on and it's you know, on like a few minutes early for everything. And I would log on to have a call and Bruce would just be sitting there and it looked like he was sitting there for 15 minutes, just like so present so prepared to the point that I would think like, Am I, am I late?

Dave Veale  5:14  
And that's how you would show up for clients. 

Emily Rodger  5:16  
Absolutely. 

Dave Veale  5:18  
No. Would you your business partner, you're not always the same, right? So I like to think I'm pretty on time for the client, my clients if not ahead of time. And then there's other things that you know, you're just you're trying to squeeze a whole bunch of things in and you show up last minute, so, but ya know, certainly, he was famous. And maybe it was just the Friday morning slot that was challenged.

Emily Rodger  5:41  
Yeah, absolutely. Well, okay, so let's bring in Dave Stonehouse and what a treat to have Dave, the like communications and media expert, that he is. Dave Stonehouse, welcome to the Boiling Point.

Dave Stonehouse  6:01  
Thanks, Emily. Thanks, Dave. I was just busy blushing backstage last five minutes or so? Exaggerated, where it's you're saying there.

Dave Veale  6:12  
No, nothing exaggerated. Nothing exaggerated. Yeah, we you know, you were hearing and as you've heard many times talk about our first meeting. And you were playing the stuffy old newspaper guy. You were like, just kind of the grizzled bad who said, wow, all right. I'll give you a chance kid. But I don't know. I don't know if it'll work you know. And that's how I remember you and I thought, geez, I gotta really impress this guy. I got. I got and then and then Emily, the column ran for a decade, I believe eh Dave?

Dave Stonehouse  6:47  
Yes. Yeah. Very impressive and I knew you were going to tell that story too Dave. It comes up at key moments in our in our work together. 

Dave Veale  6:57  
It does yeah.

Emily Rodger  6:59  
Yeah and so we have to differentiate between the last names here because we've got both days and so Dave Stonehouse, what is your recollection of that initial Dave Veale pitching his telegraph journal idea to you?

Dave Stonehouse  7:14  
It was really interesting, because I do vividly remember that day as well and I don't, I don't remember an awful lot of many things, but I do you remember that meeting and I remember it because I had this impression of Dave, which is so contrary to how I know him now. This guy, he had moved from the West Coast and he was dressed to the nines. And I was thinking, okay, here's the slickster from the West Coast, trying to tell me how to run my newspaper. And, you know, he's got this idea that he thinks is gonna work, but I'm not so sure. And, but we gave it a try it it was hugely successful. And I had the opportunity to get to know Dave a little bit then and, and, and much better since then and terrific friend and colleague, and I really, really enjoyed that experience. 

Dave Veale  8:09  
Slickster from the West, I love it, that's a fourth time I've heard that, oh, my gosh.

Emily Rodger  8:15  
I want to photos, I want to see photos.

Dave Veale  8:17  
I can show you some. I had a great hairline back then too so that probably helped to slickster look, it's not quite the same. In fact, the column was running long enough that I had decided to shave my head. And people would say, Dave, you gotta change the picture in the paper, you know what I mean? So, but it actually it was a great way to meet people. And like, you know, it was kind of pre pre podcast and it was, so you get to know people really well through the interview process and, you know, I'd get, you know, often become friends with them after they do business together or whatever. So it was it was just, it was a real neat opportunity that was that Dave gave me, which I really appreciate. 

Dave Stonehouse  9:02  
It was terrific. You know, Dave, because I, you're right, I was skeptical because as a journalist, you often run into problems or issues and talking to people particularly in a place like New Brunswick, where folks tend to be more modest and not want to grab the spotlight. And with my experience with the newspaper in New Brunswick, I interviewed quite a few business leaders and political leaders and all that sort of thing and they, they're, they really have, you know, they're on guard, they don't know you or they know you by reputation. But the beauty of what you did through that column was that you brought your own background and sensibility and approach and and quite often people knew you or knew of you and so there was a trust there. And I think as a result of that people, you know, and you have a warmth about you as well and people are really really wanting to open up to you and trust that you're going to tell their story in the right way and I think that's what made it so successful over a decade.

Dave Veale  10:09  
Kind words. He doesn't usually keep it on like this, I believe so. I'll just take it. I'll just take that's very kindly, but but it was, yeah, it was nice to have to prove yourself. And then Emily, you would have been had you been living in New Brunswick at the time would have been on the front page for sure. 

Emily Rodger  10:26  
Oh, my God. 

Dave Veale  10:27  
Because I was just trying to I was trying to just interview really interesting, cool people, similar to what we're doing here right. So what's your first impression to date, Emily? Because we three of us have worked together and collaborated and stuff. So yes, there's no I mean, we have, I think, a great friendship, and you have your own relationship with Dave, what was your first impression of immediate? 

Emily Rodger  10:52  
Yeah, well, and you know, when I first met Dave, which would have been a couple of years ago now and knowing a little bit about Dave's background, at that time of being an expert in journalism, in communications, in public relations in all of these areas that I feel like I am not an expert in and, and just kind of having such admiration for him. And in like I spoke about initially, when before we kind of brought him on as to just how well spoken, Dave, is that immediately, without even kind of knowing this, like I have always looked at Dave Stonehouse as a mentor, and someone who I've been able to learn so much from and in every conversation that I have with him, I am able to just kind of like, pull such value in so many different areas and I really see him as someone who he's able to see potential in not just like businesses and and for leaders, but really for people and being able to draw out each individual person's potential, which I feel like he's done for me. So Dave stone has thank you for that. 

Dave Stonehouse  12:04  
Well, well, thank you, Emily, that's very kind of you to say and, and do well, surprising to me, I hadn't heard that before. And I'm glad you know, one of the really positive benefits of launching my own business, the Stonehouse Agency, about five years ago now is that I it's really given me an opportunity to, to work with folks like yourselves, who share the same values as I do, who, who want the same kind of outcomes. And as a result, you know, I've met so many wonderful people who've, who have become clients and who I get to work with on a regular basis, who really care about helping other people who really care about having an impact on the community, who really care about telling stories that are important and positive and moving organizations and individuals forward. When I first envisioned creating this company, I did not know that it would come with such great benefits, which and the biggest benefit is these relationships that I'm talking about. You know, I can see in that how clients are able to move themselves forward or move their organizations for through clear communication through communication strategy through understanding audiences and engagement and so on. It's been, it's been the best move I've I've made in my lifetime, other than marrying my wife, Kara.

Emily Rodger  13:48  
She is so phenomenal.

Dave Stonehouse  13:51  
She is a winner. Yeah. 

Emily Rodger  13:52  
Well, and with that, and before we kind of dive more into that, for the listeners who are not familiar with the stone house agency, can you explain a little bit about your company and what it is that you do and the services that you provide?

Dave Stonehouse  14:06  
Oh, perfect. Yes. I'd be happy to Emily. So one of the let me actually back up a little bit more because the Stonehouse Agency I, you know, the shorthand is a public relations consultancy, which is based in St. John, New Brunswick, where David I live. And I'm not perfectly happy with the PR agency label because I think what we do is more and deeper and better in many ways and let me explain what I mean by that so typically, a PR agency would be brought in to help an organization develop a plan around publicizing something that they feel as important to them, a strategy would be built tactics would be built in they would be executed. In our case, we do some of that and we we also help clients with media relations. Given the background that I have, and some of my colleagues have in, in the media, but I think for us, what's most important for us is, is to be able to take the time to understand the organization that we're working with, to understand that the goals that they have, and to help them come up with strategies and tactics to achieve those goals, so that they can meet with success. Really, again, I think the secret to our success has been those meaningful relationships that we work to build first, so that we really understand what they're trying to do. And we can design tactics and strategies that are most effective at reaching those goals and, you know, I'm really lucky to and that when I started this business, it was just me. And then as I built these relationships with clients that I really valued, I was having a hard time keeping up. So, you know, over time, I've expanded on the theme. I've have other writers, other strategists, people who work in writing, editing, in blogs, in social media, in strategy. And these are all people that most of these people are professionals that I've worked with, over my career in journalism. And I feel very fortunate to bring back these people that I trusted over that period of time, and enjoyed working with and bringing into the Stonehouse Agency to help help us help our clients. It's really been terrific.

Dave Veale  16:40  
Dave, you make a really good case for entrepreneurship and I remember the conversations initially when you were considering it, because, you know, your first kind of foray into entrepreneurship would have been when we started the telehealth agency, I believe, is that correct?

Dave Stonehouse  16:56  
Well, I had a little freelance business earlier in my career, but it wasn't it certainly wasn't to the scale, and it was a completely different animal. So I had a bit of a taste, but I, I had never actually launched a company and tried to market a company and, and gathered clients in such a, as big way, for sure. 

Dave Veale  17:16  
And an interesting stage in your life to where, you know, you want to provide for your family and, and it seemed to me that it was, and there is for everyone, there's a lot of nerves, right when you go into but just, I'm just curious about, you know, where you are now. And in the way you describe it. I mean, it just seems like it was one of the best decisions you could have made. Getting out of the work the kind of being employed for advice by life by an organization, like one organization, you know, like having that, that employee number into the world of entrepreneurship, it seems when you're describing it, I'm like, wow, it seems like the best movie ever made.

Dave Stonehouse  17:52  
Absolutely. It was, you know, I, I look back at it and wonder why I didn't start much earlier. But when I reflect back on my career, and the jobs that I had, before launching this company, they were all integral to where I'm at today and the experience that I can bring in the skills that I can bring a strategy that I can bring, and, and as I said, the team members who are now working with me, you know, so I have absolutely no regrets about being part of those, those organizations that I was a part of before I started the Stonehouse Agency. I think what was really interesting to me, Dave, and Emily's that because I think a big part of my success today has to do with the fact that I launched this business in St. John in New Brunswick. And I think that this is something that's common here and perhaps on a wider scale to Atlantic Canada, where, where there's a really supportive infrastructure ecosystem for entrepreneurship. You know, you were one of the first people I talked to about this, but I talked to quite a number of people for I made the big leap just to see, hey, you know, as I said, I had to support a family. I had been receiving, you know, good benefits and good pay and my previous job and I was ready to give all this up. But geez, I still needed support my family and and so I spent a lot of time talking to people within the communications and public relations industry and St. John and Fredericton, within New Brunswick and to see whether or not there was room for a guy like me in that space, you know, was there a niche that I can seize on that wasn't already been seized? Because there are plenty of Marketing and Communications and Public Relations companies in the province. What really encouraged me thing move ahead is that the these people that I was meeting with really strictly speaking competitors in the space, right, but they were so so very encouraging. They were like they if yes, you can do this, you know, this might be your niche, but there's plenty of room in the space. And in fact, one of the people that I was talking to who owned his own agency at the time, he was so encouraging, you know, he met with me and a number of occasions and even invited me to work in his office space. If I wanted to launch from there, which, you know, I'm not too sure I could be wrong, but I'm not too sure that you get back on him support and encouragement in a large urban area in Canada or the United States. These are people that I knew as a result of working in journalism, or earlier on in communications, who were really interested in, in seeing me succeed. And that I think, was really what convinced me to give it a try. 

Emily Rodger  20:51  
And so with your I mean, gosh, like you've had over 25 years in journalism. So that means you must have graduated Ryerson when you were 10. Like the youngest graduate ever? And then so yeah, going from journalism. I'm curious as to like, journalism into communications. What kind of piqued that transition for you?

Dave Stonehouse  21:17  
I think, really, and we've seen a lot of this even more accelerated over the last 10 years since I've been out in journalism. But at the time, journalism was going through a big transformation, right. At the time I was leading, we had been transformed the newsroom at the telegraph journal from print only organization to print and online and, you know, we had moved in, in a big way in those final years into an online news operation, which really meant a new way of working for everybody, and then turning the newsroom upside down, to do those things. And at the time, you know, because the business model was being challenged, a lot of the young people in particular, that I worked with the reporters and editors who come on to the newspaper, who, who has moved up into mid level leadership positions, or game aid, some measure of responsibility to in helping with this transformation, they were under a lot of stress and strain at the time. And it felt to me like these young folks didn't see a positive future for them within the industry and some of them left to go to communications or something else. And it really gave me pause to reflect these folks are getting out of the business. You know, am I in the right business? Is this future for me for another 20 years, I really hated to see those young people get so discouraged and move out. And so that really started me thinking, Okay, well, you know, I've had a terrific career in journalism, I've done a lot of things, not really afraid of the business model changing, but is it headed in the right direction and we're going to be happy working another 10 or 20 years? And the answer I came to is no, you know, and I still have a huge regard for people who work in the news media. Maybe we'll have some time to talk about that later. But for me, it was like, okay, so if I'm not going to do journalism, which is all I really knew, what, where can I take my skills next. And I think I had kind of a laser focus on a particular couple of organizations that I really wanted to work with in a communications capacity. And I worked very hard behind the scenes to to land a job at one of these organizations. And I spent two whole years trying to get into one particular organization that I, I failed that that so that was a, you know, they they chose someone else in the end. So that was a big setback, but then I set my sights on another organization that I really had a high regard for, and a leader at that organization and that was the University of New Brunswick. And I really saw what I felt a lot of excitement and potential in going to the university and helping them tell stories and share the impact that they're having, that they were in are having an innovation in research in building a brighter future for students. That's something that really excited me at the time. The President Eddie Campbell was someone that I had huge regard for and wanted to work for. And so I ended up, you know, applying to a job in communications and getting the opportunity to work directly for him at the University for a couple of years and then run media relations for the university for another couple of years. And that really was something that showed me the power of communications Because the successes that I was able to share about the university with the wider world, it gave me a great sense of reward. And there's no doubt that, that, you know, it was very helpful to the organization at time. So I felt very good about that.

Dave Veale  25:19  
Parlayed all these skills and these amazing things you do into work outside of, you know, Stonehouse Agency, and you know, in your you have a, you know, a huge part of you is how you give back. One of you talk a little bit about L'Arche, and, you know, we've had people on, L'Arche in the past and so we've we've done, I think, a pretty good job of promoting large you've been in, you've been mentioned in that. And I've been fascinated by kind of what L'Arche in New Brunswick has become, from what it was and I'd love for you this kind of tell listeners about why the passion for L'Arche and what you're doing there, what L'Arche is.

Dave Stonehouse  26:01  
Oh, thanks, Dave, I'd love to talk about that. So, you know, another interesting story there and that I had never, to be honest, even though L'Arche is an international organization that builds inclusive communities and with people with intellectual with and without intellectual disabilities, even though it was international. And even though it had been there'd been a local large community in St. John for close to 20 years now. Up until five years ago, when a friend convinced me to join the board of directors, I had never, I had no real awareness of what L'Arche was and what it does. And it was only through this friend, Jim cacci, who I met through another organization called Toastmasters. He was chair of the board at the time five or six years ago. And because of my friendship with him, he's like, oh, we have a new community leader coming in, can you help me write the press release? And so I did that. And then it went fairly well and he's like, well, how about joining the board. And then that intrigued me too, because I had spent my entire career in journalism, without getting involved in community organizations, because I was afraid that that would create a conflict for me, and, you know, as very busy in doing journalism at a time, and so it would have been challenging to find the time. But now that I had my own company, and was doing my own thing, and could set, you know, have some flexibility in my schedule, I thought this would be a really interesting opportunity for me to get involved in the community and serve on the board of directors and so I did that and then I just kind of fell in love with the community. So both of you have been involved in various ways with L'Arche, which I really appreciate it I know, L'Arche really appreciate. So you have some understanding of you know, when I first joined and was first helping them because of my association, in some of the communications I wouldn't describe. The organization is serving people with intellectual disabilities and their families. But I, I came to discover that that description wasn't entirely correct, that it's much more than, than providing services. It's about building relationships. So the staff, and the volunteers that that work with flourish, really get to know the people that they're working with. So for example, on the west side of St. John McKim, house, five adults with intellectual disabilities, live life with three assistants who are also tied to the house. And then there's 2025 people at any given time that are involved in the day, our program involved with L'Arche and the staff there and the volunteers there. This isn't just a day job for them. They're they're really investing in building relationships. So it really is about an inclusive community that includes folks with intellectual disabilities and without as well and so not surprising, I'm sure to either of you that reward that the ritual award and in the relationships there really compelled me to stay involved. And eventually him tapped me on the shoulder and said, I think it's time that I stepped down as chair and maybe you can take over and I'm thankful that I did because that the rich reward has just grown. It's just grown.

Emily Rodger  29:27  
Looking at these these positions, sometimes as being in service of others that that just have reciprocal, those services are in kind of giving back to us as well. And the reward that we do get from being a part of such incredible organizations.

Dave Stonehouse  29:46  
Really has it's been, you know, again, it's one of those things that I've discovered as a result of going out on my own, that that had I known how enriching something like this could have been to me, I would have gotten involved a lot earlier and the same goes with my association with Toastmasters, which you know is about, you know, most people see Toastmasters, which is another international organization with local clubs, as something that just helps you conquer your fear of public speaking. But my own experience has taught me that it teaches you to become a more effective communicator. Yes, it teaches you leadership skills that you probably don't already have, yes, but at its core, what it really does is help build your self confidence. So that as a result of learning how to become someone who doesn't fear public speaking, but embraces it, it really boosts your your own self confidence in your ability to deal with people even on a personal level, right? I was someone, I've been involved in Toastmasters for five years, and I was someone prior to that, who, even in the leadership positions I had in journalism, I would do everything in my power to avoid holding large staff meetings, because I didn't want to be the guy up front. You know, I didn't want to be the guy trying to tell people what they needed to know, I wanted to hide in the background or have one on one or two on one conversations with people. And again, you know, this transformation that has happened because of Toastmasters has shown me you know, how much more powerful my leadership could have been. And perhaps is today, because I'm no longer afraid of public speaking, I'm no longer afraid of small talk in the elevator and all those kinds of things.

Dave Veale  31:48  
This is funny, like I'm listening, and I, I haven't heard Dave talk this much, because he's usually in service to others listening and didn't even like, and so I just kind of, it's great, you know, like, but usually, you know, well, I'm because in a lot of our interactions, you're supporting, communication, division coaching. And just a quick comment on that. But you know, they originally sent this to Stonehouse Agency said, Well, I'll do a project for you. And we'll see how it goes. And I was thinking, I don't know, if I got, we really kind of need what he's off. You know, like, I can see the need, I just wasn't sure if there was, surprisingly now but think about anyhow, then it got to the point where I'm like, geez, like, I'm in trouble if they fired me as a client, right, or fires in coaching as a client. I think it's turned into like almost Salem dependency, which is, but it didn't start that way. You know, he's just just said, let me do a couple projects. And then it just morphed into, like, basically, you know, a, how much it's been, what, four years or five years now. It's just quite incredible. But so so in an even in our friendships, everything Dave's really good listener, and he's, he's, you know, so to hear, you'd be in an Express, and it's pretty awesome. And I can I can tell that you can just listen to today. 

Emily Rodger  33:04  
Well, and even with that, Dave Veale, what would you say, because you are a client of Stonehouse Agency? What would you say for you some of the values that Dave has been able to bring to you to bring division coaching?

Dave Veale  33:21  
Smartly, he hired someone, Mark Regehr, who has been on the podcast before to do some work for him. And basically, you know, answer this question like, what is what are those things, so that same same day, and so I, I work directly with Dave, and it's it, there's so many things described, but he really protects your brand, right? And like, he'll tell you, if things are all planned, like you'll, you know, there'll be the kind of benign old newspaper guy will come over, like, quite often, right? And like, yeah, I don't think that's a good idea, Dave, I'm, like, really, like I thought, you know, like, I'm picking up like, I'm pitching ideas to him to write on extra projects, and he'll shut them down, because it's like, I don't think it's on brand. Or you won't even use that language necessarily, but just I don't think that's a fit. So he's very kind of Dave, you're very protective of what we're presenting and how we're presenting it and I really admire that. So it's like, almost, and so as I was telling mark as your This and other things only I told a story about and I got all emotional and I was like, so emotional block, I guess I know why. But and Mark, Mark got emotional too, but it was like when it's actually goes back to Bruce McCloud and when Bruce passed away, I was asked to do one of the people at spoken funeral and this is a kind of this kind of friend David, but it's also how he treats his clients, which is he was going to cottage country in Ontario, and he made a point of driving. I don't know what it was five additional hours after you'd already driven 18 hours to come support me assembled to attend the funeral and support me speaking at the funeral, and like that's pretty neat. is like how many people you get back from. So I think that's friendship, but that was, you know, and that's also how he shows up to business. So we had, I think we have a unique combination of both friendship and also knowing how to do work together, which is really fun and it's really amazing thing. That was a that was an amazing experience for me. Because I would say, mister, someone else you were a little worried about me collapsing, not making it through my speech and that was wonderful support as a friend, and also as someone you work with.

Emily Rodger  35:35  
Yeah and gosh, I mean, I feel so lucky to have him just fortunate to have the both of you because I feel that way from both of you in so many times, of just being able to, yeah, professionally and on a friendship level just having both of your supports. And, you know, Dave Stonehouse you you talk about the Toastmasters and you're the Division Director for Toastmasters International and have just had such a integral role of responsibility for the success of Toastmasters within New Brunswick and Pei and Newfoundland. What would you say are the main reasons why people join Toastmasters to begin with?

Dave Stonehouse  36:22  
Thanks, Emily. I just want to back up there because I well, there's a couple of things you can say about that this the division rule that I have a Toastmaster say I've taken on for a year. And I've done that because I've really felt like I need to pay the organization back for, you know, you pay membership dues, and so on. But really what Toastmasters has done for me in the five years that I've been a member has been remarkable, and I'm very grateful and so I've stepped up for a year to become this division leader to help others achieve some of them the milestones or successes that I've I've seen I've been able to achieve through it. And but the the real beauty of stepping up is that you're getting to meet so many other people elsewhere, outside of the clubs in St. John, that I'm familiar with last night, I traveled to Fredericton, to be at an open house for one of the clubs there and, and it was really great to see the members that were there and have been there. But because it was an open house, so many other guests there and people who are very interested in how Toastmasters can help them become better public speakers, better presenters, and can help them be more comfortable in their own skin and as somebody pointed out last night, the fear of public speaking is so great and some people that they fear public speaking more than they fear dying, you know, I can relate to that. And so when you think about an organization, whether it's Toastmasters, or something else that can help you conquer that fear. It's really powerful. And so, in becoming and division director, one of the benefits has been meeting those people and helping them build their clubs and seeing people progress. But cross those provinces, I've really been fortunate to have a really strong team of area directors who work much more closely with the clubs than I do and and that's our real reason why our division has been so successful, at least so far this year and I think to circle back to your question, I think Toastmasters is really for anybody who wants to be able to become more confident in the way that they present themselves, who wants to become a more effective storyteller or communicator and when you think about that, that's not just business leaders, such as myself, that's people who have you know, a big thing these days is to present PowerPoints are present during an online meeting. That's for all of those folks. But interestingly, in my own club, St. John Toastmasters, we tend to attract quite a number of newcomers to Canada, who have settled in St. John and see Toastmasters as a way for them to become more comfortable in speaking a second language in English. You know, and you really have to admire those people, but the other members who decide they're going to commit to improving themselves in this way. And I think really, Toastmasters can be a benefit to anybody because, you know, if you're more confident in your dealings with other people, you're going to be happier, you're going to be more successful. So it's not, it's not just about doing a better job and presenting in your own job. It's not about getting up at the podium, it's just about being more confident in building communication skills that will help you in your personal and your professional life. I

Dave Veale  40:20  
I was just thinking, I don't come into the end of the interview. If you're comfortable, you know, you've had your own like journey, in terms of overcoming adversity, I wonder if you'd be comfortable speaking to it, because it's pretty impressive. Your own backstory?

Dave Stonehouse  40:35  
Oh, well, thanks, Dave. Sure, I'll tackle that. If it's of interest, we can keep it in.

Dave Veale  40:41  
It'll be of interest. Because just your, you know, like, I just want to make sure you're comfortable talking about it.

Dave Stonehouse  40:46  
Yeah. So thanks, Dave. You know, anybody who's met me face to face or in person, these days, we'll see that I use mobility aids, either a walker or a wheelchair to get around and that's a fairly new development for me in the last few years, as a result of some health issues that I've been dealing with. But, you know, throughout my life, I've I've had this disability called cerebral palsy, which is, which is really a mobility disability, it's a, it's something that afflicted me at birth. But, you know, I've never really thought much of thanks to my parents who were very adamant that I, I live my life as much as anybody else. You know, they they fought for me, in the 60s and 70s, to be accepted into regular schools and regular school programs. Because It's unfathomable to think about today, but, you know, 50, some years ago, folks with mobility disability like cerebral palsy, typically the solution that society had at the time was to take kids like me, or adults like me, and put them into institutions are special schools and we all know how terrible that's worked out for a lot of folks. And so I'm very grateful to my parents for having the fortitude to fight that have me enrolled in regular schools and regular classes and you know, Dave, I've never really thought much about my disability over over the entirety of my lifetime. I think there might have been a few occasions in my life where I didn't get jobs. And I suspected I didn't get those jobs, because the potential employer feared what they might be getting into by hiring me, but I'm grateful for my journalism career, because I think newspaper editors are very practical, right? If if you know how to interview and you know how to write, which I knew I knew how to do those things. And I immodestly I can say, I worked really hard at those things, and worked hard to prove myself on both of those fronts. And I think newspaper editors who interviewed me or who saw my resume package, we're like, wow, you know, this guy knows how to write these stories are really good. You know, we need him on our team and so my disability was never a barrier, I don't think in my newspaper career, and unfortunate as I, as I get older and more experience, and as society has changed, people don't automatically see the disability and read all sorts of restrictions or fears or assumptions into it. I think, my age with the folks that I work with a see they see the the things that I might be able to provide in, in working with me, and and I'm very grateful for that, because that hasn't always been the case. But I've never, I've never really allowed my disability to hold me back from and pursue my goals.

Dave Veale  44:21  
You definitely have it and it's yeah, I appreciate you speaking to it, because it's when people go through tough things, they can take a totally different approach to it. So I really, thank you for speaking to a and yeah, like, I've learned a lot about accessibility, or is it illegal and I've learned like, through our experiences with like, oh my gosh, there's so many places that are accessible, right? And that's just only if you got experienced, you'd never mentioned about it, but I noticed like I kind of get frustrated with it on your your bad or anyone's bad, you know, and but outside of that, you know you're in You've, you've overcome some things when we've worked together in terms of surgeries and stuff. And Emily, you've never even know behaved as, like, you did what we had seen. And he just, he's just, he's amazing. It's incredible. Very remarkable. So I'm inspired by.

Dave Stonehouse  45:18  
Thanks, David, and, you know, just quickly, you know, because of my experience, I think I am because of, you know, a lot of the work that comes to me nowadays, a lot of it is word of mouth, you know, clients who, who say to others, oh, you should, you know, maybe you should talk today if he could help you. And you know, the Stonehouse Agency does this and that, but as a result of that word of mouth, and because of my own personal experiences, of having a mobility disability, you know, Dave, I want to quickly add there that one of the most rewarding things also that I has come about during my time at the stones agency, is it another client, and I know they wouldn't mind me mentioning them at all. But it is ability in New Brunswick, which is an organization in New Brunswick that advocates for people with mobility disabilities, and early on, I got to know them because I thought with the progression of things that I'm facing on the mobility front, that really, I can use their help, because I was frustrated. I wanted to work from Uptown St. John, but the parking situation, Uptown St. John, all sorts of barriers to someone like me and others with mobility disabilities, so I, I got involved personally with Haley flair, or the executive director, they're trying to advocate for some better accessibility in Uptown St. John. And then that eventually progressed into an opportunity to do writing for them on a regular basis. And they're, you know, I have a huge amount of admiration for, for Haley in the, in the work that the organization does, in promoting accessibility and more powerfully, and in helping to advocate for people with mobility disabilities, so they can live a fuller life. 

Emily Rodger  47:16  
Yeah, Dave, you're an amazing, man. 

Thank you, Emily.

Both Daves, but as far as referring to Dave Stonehouse. 

Dave Veale  47:26  
No, I agree. 

Emily Rodger  47:27  
Yeah. And Dave, you know what, like, I just, I love how honest you are. And I love how even you express to me how, like, even just coming on this podcast was a little out of your comfort zone. And I appreciate hearing that, because you are someone who I certainly view as so well spoken and someone who I mean, obviously, yeah, you are an expert in public speaking in communications, yet even coming on and speaking in this way, you said is out of your comfort zone. So thank you for doing that and for just continuing to show your humaneness to all of us. 

Dave Stonehouse  48:12  
Thank you, Emily, it really was a delight to be on here with both of you and in sharing, sharing some things that I you know, as a as a closing on my part, you know, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to work with both of you and vision coaching. And, you know, this is part of what I see is the reward of having my own companies. To some extent, I've had the luxury of being able to choose my clients, you know, and I feel very fortunate to have the slate of clients that I do, because typically, I work with them for years and it's really been a deeply rewarding experience for me to work with those organizations and people within them, including you guys.

Emily Rodger  49:06  
And so with that, you know, for Dave and I being your clients, and you're getting to choose your favorites, like to like the next time we have you on. Hopefully you have some time to think about it.

Dave Veale  49:25  
Thanks for all the great work to do. Thanks for being you. Really good friend. And as much as I want a lot of people to listen to this. I don't want everyone to know about Stonehouse Agency because that's I kind of, I kind of feel like hopefully being one of the OG's. It will always have a place you know, to, for us to continue to collaborate, but you do amazing work and keep up the great work and thanks for being such a good friend.

Dave Stonehouse  49:53  
Thank you guys. It's really been a delight to be on here today. Appreciate it.

Emily Rodger  49:59  
Thank you for listening. Follow or subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast app or visit boilingpoint podcast.com for more.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai