What makes a successful person? Passion? Optimism? Strong business acumen? It is the question Lisa Bagshaw hopes to find the answer to, with new show Bold Leaps.
The CHEK television program, which started in October and runs until March, sees the West Vancouver-born, North Vancouver-raised host sit down with notable names from varying fields to discuss their career trajectories.
“The whole idea is to inspire people to pursue their dreams,” said Bagshaw, who left a role in media sales at CTV in 2021 to begin the project.
“I always had this passion project to interview people about what makes really successful people different from the rest of us, in terms of their psychology. The idea being that people like Trevor Linden and Kendall Gender have self doubt, and all those responses are perfectly normal,” she said.
The former Canucks captain opened the series, and Bagshaw promises that the show will continue to put big names in the hot seat. She teases a “wide swathe” of guests that include notable names from all fields of work, checking off bakers, athletes, jewellers, comedians, artists and screenwriters.
There is a former dancer who worked with the likes of Christina Aguilera and Janet Jackson in L.A., a former firefighter who always dreamed of becoming a painter, and a woman who left her hippie counter culture family at the age of 13 to start a modelling career in New York. There is even a medium, should anyone be looking for inspiration in the paranormal realm.
What ties all the guests together, said Bagshaw, is the shared experience of overcoming adversity.
“Many have struggled with alcohol or drug addiction, some have had life-changing illnesses that changed the trajectory of their life. There are all kinds of different things that show no matter what you’ve been through, you can succeed,” she said.
Among the local appearances is West Vancouver-based Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) artist Xwalacktun (Rick Harry), one guest who has been on an “incredibly spiritual journey,” said Bagshaw.
“We sat down with him and he told us about how he became a man, and how he became committed to his art and helping and teaching others. Now he educates people about the importance of the environment, and our ancestors, and how art comes through that.”
Bagshaw said it had been a priority to ensure the roster of guests was diverse, showcasing people from all walks of life as an example that success comes in many shapes and sizes.
“This show is to inspire everyone,” she said.
“The biggest takeaway here is, if they can do it, then I can do it. Whether it’s taking a course, joining an association, or taking your art to a gallery. It’s learning that it is OK to have that fear and self-doubt, but to do it all anyway.”
Bold Leaps runs on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:20 a.m. on CHEK, with viewers also being able to watch via YouTube and the show’s website boldleaps.ca.
Mina Kerr-Lazenby is the North Shore News’ Indigenous and civic affairs reporter. This reporting beat is made possible by the Local Journalism Initiative.
