What sparks someone to create something meaningful and what happens when they follow that spark even before they feel fully ready? For me, this question has been circling for years. As a mom of three teenagers and someone who has spent much of her life in teaching and learning, I’m continually struck by how much wisdom, courage, and clarity young people carry especially when they’re given the space to explore, try, stumble, and keep going. Mercedes and Anastasia Korngut, two Calgary sisters who began their journey with business and podcasting in the midst of their childhood and teen years discovered something powerful about happiness, connection, and sharing your voice. Their story weaves together the science, art, and heart of learning - what happens when curiosity meets action and when two teenagers decide to simply begin. In this conversation, recorded live at PodSummit YYC 2025, we explore where their journey started, what they’ve learned from interviewing world-class guests, the challenges and joys of creating as sisters, and what it means to build something with purpose. I invite you to consider your own spark: What first nudged you toward creating or sharing your voice and how has it shaped the heart of what you do now?   Listen in as we talk about: 2:02 Finding happiness in hard seasons 4:45 Beginning a podcast before feeling ready 7:16 Insights from remarkable guests 9:32 Growing together as sisters  12:12 The thoughtful work behind the mic 14:19 The power of a sincere ask 17:04 The heart behind each episode 21:02 Moments and messages that stick 23:21 Seeing the impact firsthand 25:20 Growing with each episode 28:08 The road ahead   Connect with Mercedes and Anastasia: Website: https://smallbitsofhappiness.com/  LinkedIn: Small Bits of Happiness Instagram: @small.bits.of.happiness TikTok: @smallbitsofhappiness YouTube: Small Bits of Happiness Podcast: Hack Your Happiness Retail Collection: ShopBits   Connect with Tiana: Website: https://tianafech.com LinkedIn: Tiana Fech Instagram: @tianafech  Facebook: @tianafech  Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course    FINDING HAPPINESS IN HARD SEASONS When Mercedes and Anastasia began Small Bits of Happiness, they were navigating something we were all moving through together - the uncertainty, loneliness, and disrupted rhythms of the pandemic. Like many young people, they were juggling school from home, friendship changes, and the swirl of big feelings that come with growing up. What helped them most wasn’t a dramatic shift but a quiet practice: paying attention to the small, steady moments that still felt good. These included walks outside, shared meals, and funny movies with their family. Those simple touchpoints reminded them that even in a challenging season, there were still moments worth noticing. Their business grew from this idea - that small bits of happiness can make a real difference, especially when life feels uncertain.   BEGINNING A PODCAST BEFORE FEELING READY Their podcast, Hack Your Happiness, started the way many meaningful things do - with curiosity and a willingness to try. Mercedes and Anastasia didn’t wait to feel fully prepared or confident. They began with what they had: a desire to connect, questions they cared about, and an openness to learning out loud. In those early recordings, they were still finding their rhythm, but each episode taught them something new about their voice, their approach, and the kind of conversations they wanted to have. Their start is a reminder that readiness often comes after we begin, not before.   INSIGHTS FROM REMARKABLE GUESTS Talking with authors, athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators has given the sisters a front-row seat to the stories behind success. What stands out most isn’t the accomplishments, but the common threads that appear again and again: resilience, curiosity, and the willingness to keep learning. Whether it’s a magazine editor, a bestselling author, or an Oscar-winning designer, so many guests return to the same core ideas about growth and fulfillment. Hearing these themes echoed by people from such different worlds has shown Mercedes and Anastasia that meaningful lives are often built through everyday choices, not perfect paths.   GROWING TOGETHER AS SISTERS Working together as co-founders has brought Mercedes and Anastasia even closer. They’ve learned each other’s strengths, found ways to navigate stress, and built a shared language around communication. They’re honest that disagreements happen, especially during busy school seasons or deadlines, but they’ve learned to pause and name what’s really going on rather than reacting to it. Just as importantly, they make space to simply be sisters - dinners without phones, shared movie nights, time spent together that has nothing to do with the business. Their partnership highlights how meaningful work can strengthen relationships when care and connection stay at the centre.   THE THOUGHTFUL WORK BEHIND THE MIC Behind every episode is a mix of preparation, creativity, and intention. Mercedes finds joy in the editing process - shaping a conversation, creating an inviting introduction, and hearing the interview again with fresh ears. Anastasia lights up when she talks about researching guests and crafting questions that feel thoughtful and relevant. Together, they approach each episode as an opportunity to create something that feels genuine and useful. Their process underscores a simple truth: podcasting is part science, part art, and part heart and all three matter.   THE POWER OF A SINCERE ASK When it comes to inviting guests, their approach is refreshingly simple. They look for people whose work they admire and genuinely want to learn from. Then they reach out. They do this with honesty about who they are, why the conversation matters, and the impact they hope it will have. One piece of advice they now carry with them came from NASCAR driver Julia Landauer: “Don’t tell yourself no”. Instead of assuming someone won’t respond or won’t have time, they send the email and let the person decide for themselves. That mindset shift has opened doors to conversations they once couldn’t imagine having.   THE HEART BEHIND EACH EPISODE “You don’t have to have the same expectation of success as everyone else. It can be different and you can aspire to do different things.” ~ Anastasia Korngut At the heart of Hack Your Happiness is a desire to offer something practical and encouraging. Mercedes and Anastasia want listeners, be it teens, parents, educators, and anyone navigating life’s questions, to walk away with ideas they can try, reflect on, or build into their routines. Over time, they’ve also learned that happiness and success aren’t one-size-fits-all. Hearing so many varied stories has shown them that changing your mind, trying new things, and shifting direction are not signs of uncertainty. They’re signs of growth. They hope their podcast helps people feel less pressure to follow a straight line and more freedom to explore what feels right.   MOMENTS AND MESSAGES THAT STICK Certain moments from their conversations linger long after the episode ends. They often return to ideas that helped them rethink their own expectations such as how confidence grows, how opportunities unfold, and how success can look different from person to person. Some lessons have shaped the way they approach decisions; others have simply offered comfort on tough days. What stands out most is how often guests share advice they wish they could give their teenage selves, especially around giving yourself permission to grow at your own pace. These reminders have become steady touch points for the sisters as they navigate school, business, and life.   SEEING THE IMPACT FIRSTHAND While much of their work happens behind a screen or a microphone, some of the most meaningful moments come from hearing how their episodes have helped others. Parents have shared how an interview sparked an important conversation at home. Teens have shared that an idea made them feel understood. Community members have come up to them at events just to say thank you. These moments remind Mercedes and Anastasia that the work they’re doing is reaching real people in real ways. And - sometimes one message, at the right moment, makes all the difference. GROWING WITH EACH EPISODE Looking back on their early recordings, Mercedes and Anastasia are proud of how far they’ve come. They’ve learned to give themselves grace, to improve one step at a time, and to trust conversations enough to let them unfold naturally. They now follow their curiosity more freely, explore ideas beyond their prepared questions, and allow the unexpected to shape the episode. Their reflections offer a reassuring truth. Growth is gradual and every creative journey is built through practice, patience, and staying open.   THE ROAD AHEAD Whether they’re designing new products, preparing to launch their Connection Journal in Indigo stores, or planning future podcast episodes, Mercedes and Anastasia speak about the road ahead with genuine excitement. They’re committed to continuing to learn, to keep refining their craft, and to stay connected to the heart of why they began. Their plans aren’t driven by pressure but by passion. They have a desire to create things that feel meaningful, helpful, and human. That’s exactly what makes watching their journey so inspiring.   --- Today’s episode is produced by VOLT Productions, a full-service podcast production agency helping creators and entrepreneurs launch, grow and monetize their shows. You can learn more about the agency’s founder Simona, their work and team by going to www.voltproductions.co.