It’s Not A Straight Line

Publicly listed emails

jjwharding@substack.com

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Moneyball for HR: Building Better Teams - Matt Hopkins

August 28, 2026

In this episode, I sat down with Matt Hopkins, Executive Director, People at the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC).We start with an interesting idea: what can business leaders learn from the movie and real-life story of Moneyball? Aside from creating winning baseball teams, how can a similar way of thinking build better teams for our organizations?For Matt, it’s about looking beyond the traditional resume and asking a different question: How do you assemble a team of people whose strengths com...

Owning the Narrative: Whitney Bell (CMO, Toronto Tempo)

January 15, 2026

In Episode 50 of It’s Not a Straight Line, I sit down with a longtime friend: Whitney Bell, Chief Marketing Officer of the Toronto Tempo — Canada’s first WNBA franchise, tipping off in May 2026.We talk about motherhood, building Canada’s first WNBA team, and why women’s sports is a movement — not just a moment.Whitney takes us behind the scenes of launching a brand-new franchise, including the moment the Tempo name leaked early and the team had to pivot fast to truly “own the narrative.” We e...

Kendra Fisher: From Olympic Dreams to Mental Health Advocate

July 31, 2025

Kendra Fisher was on track for Olympic greatness—a standout goaltender with Team Canada’s hockey program who once heard the words every athlete dreams of: You made the Olympic team. But during those tryouts, her mental health had a different plan and her life changed directions.In this episode of It’s Not A Straight Line, Kendra opens up about the five-year stretch that nearly broke her, and the moment she decided to take giving up off the table. From working tirelessly just to survive the da...

The Founderz Lounge - Business Podcast · Low booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

Dream Worthy · Low booking difficulty · 100 - 1,000 listeners

How do I get in touch with It’s Not A Straight Line?

It’s Not A Straight Line is hosted by JJ Wharding. Its publicly listed email is jjwharding@substack.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for It’s Not A Straight Line?

The publicly listed email for It’s Not A Straight Line: jjwharding@substack.com.

How many listeners does It’s Not A Straight Line have?

Podseeker estimates It’s Not A Straight Line reaches 100 to 1,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for It’s Not A Straight Line?

It’s Not A Straight Line typically books industry leaders. Typical guest background: publicly recognized leaders in business or sports with measurable impact and compelling personal narratives. Common among recent guests: executive leadership; brand building; sport governing roles. Recent guests include Whitney Bell, Kendra Fisher, and Michael Downey.

How hard is it to get booked on It’s Not A Straight Line?

High. It mostly books established leaders in its field.

What topics does It’s Not A Straight Line cover?

Recent episodes cover Leadership, Resilience, Branding, Career Transitions, and Entrepreneurship. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.