Crohn’s Disease, Leadership, and Breaking Stigma - Ted Fleming, Founder of Partake Brewing
“I'm doing this for my community… I'm doing this because it's important to me and it's important to my community to serve them and give them something that the rest of the market isn't doing for them. And so we built the business based on that.”
Ted Fleming
Ted Fleming - Bio
Ted Fleming didn’t just create Partake Brewing—he defied the naysayers and revolutionized the non-alcoholic beer industry. In 2017, when critics doubted that a great-tasting, low-calorie beer could stand up to the best, Ted didn’t just prove them wrong—he redefined the game. Today, Partake is celebrated as a leader in the non-alcoholic beer world, known for its best-in-class brews that continue to push boundaries and set new standards.
Ted’s journey started with a Crohn’s disease diagnosis, a challenge that pushed him to give up alcohol and ignited his drive to craft something extraordinary. From his breakthrough appearance on Dragon’s Den to becoming a trailblazer in low-calorie craft non-alcoholic beer, Ted transformed personal adversity into a pioneering force that defies expectations and sets new benchmarks.
Since launching Partake Brewing, Ted has turned the non-alcoholic beer landscape on its head. His vision created a brand that’s more than just a low-calorie option—it’s a taste experience for those who refuse to be held back. Partake’s B-Corp certification is a testament to Ted’s commitment to using business as a force for good. His influence has earned him a spot on the Globe & Mail’s Changemakers list, the Maclean’s Power 100, and as a finalist for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year. And, of course,
Partake’s beers have garnered multiple World Beer Awards, cementing Ted’s legacy as a true innovator.
Summary
Imagine being diagnosed with a chronic condition that changes your entire life—and instead of letting it hold you back, you use it as fuel to build a successful company. That’s exactly what Ted Fleming did. As the founder of Partake Brewing, Ted turned his experience with Crohn’s disease into a driving force behind a non-alcoholic beer brand that’s redefining the industry.
In today’s episode, Ted shares his journey of entrepreneurship, balancing his health with the pressures of leading a fast-growing business, and the lessons he’s learned about vulnerability, resilience, and self-awareness. He opens up about how he embraced his condition, used it to create a community around his brand, and turned his challenges into opportunities.
Ted’s story isn’t just for entrepreneurs—anyone living with a chronic illness will find inspiration in how he managed stress, found support, and built a business that empowers others facing similar battles. For workplaces, Ted offers valuable insights about creating inclusion for employees with invisible conditions, highlighting the importance of creating open, supportive environments where people can thrive.
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn adversity into success, or how to create a more inclusive workplace, this episode is for you. Ted Fleming’s story is a powerful reminder that vulnerability is a strength, and that true success comes from leading with authenticity and compassion. Tune in to learn how Ted has broken the stigma around invisible conditions, built a thriving business, and what lessons you can take into your own life or workplace.
Takeaways
Vulnerability as Strength: Ted emphasizes the importance of being open about living with Crohn's disease and diabetes, which has helped him build empathy within his business and connect with others who face similar challenges.
Self-Awareness and Boundaries: Recognizing personal limits, especially regarding health, is crucial for managing stress and preventing burnout, even as a business leader.
Authenticity in Business: Ted's personal health journey influenced the creation of Partake Brewing, and authenticity has been a key differentiator for the brand in the competitive non-alcoholic beverage market.
Community and Support: Building a supportive community, both personally through sports and professionally, plays a vital role in managing life with an invisible condition.
Creating Inclusive Workspaces: Ted highlights the power of creating open, supportive environments where employees feel comfortable sharing their health challenges, leading to greater inclusion and stronger team dynamics.
Impact of Sharing Your Story: Sharing personal stories of overcoming health conditions can inspire others, break stigma, and foster more understanding and inclusive spaces.
Crohn’s Disease - Defined:
Crohn’s disease is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation in the digestive tract. It can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly impacts the small intestine and the beginning of the colon. Symptoms vary but often include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, fatigue, and malnutrition. Crohn’s is an autoimmune condition, meaning the body's immune system attacks healthy cells in the digestive tract. While there is no cure, treatments can help manage symptoms and reduce inflammation.
Example Accommodations for Crohn’s Disease:
Example Workplace Accommodations for Crohn’s Disease:
Flexible Work Hours: Allowing the employee to adjust their start time or take breaks as needed, particularly on days when symptoms are severe or when medical appointments are required.
Remote Work: Offering the option to work from home can reduce the stress of commuting and provide a more comfortable and controlled environment to manage symptoms.
Accessible Restrooms: Ensuring quick and easy access to restrooms can reduce anxiety for employees who may need to use them frequently.
Modified Duties: Adjusting tasks or physical demands of the job to accommodate fatigue or discomfort from symptoms.
Time Off for Medical Needs: Providing flexible sick leave policies or allowing for time off to manage flare-ups, attend doctor’s appointments, or receive treatment without penalizing the employee.
Private Space for Medication Management: If an employee needs to administer medication or injections during the workday, offering a private, quiet space can help them manage their condition with dignity.
Example School Accommodations for Crohn’s Disease:
Extended Time for Exams: Allowing students extra time on tests or exams to accommodate restroom breaks or fatigue that might slow down their work.
Flexible Deadlines: Providing flexibility with assignment deadlines when a student experiences flare-ups or hospitalizations.
Homebound Instruction: Offering the option of home instruction or virtual learning if flare-ups prevent the student from attending school regularly.
Access to Restrooms: Ensuring the student has a restroom pass to leave class when necessary without drawing attention or needing to ask.
Modified Class Schedule: Allowing the student to attend part-time, adjust their class schedule to avoid long days, or opt for fewer physically demanding courses.
Nutritional Accommodations: Permitting students to eat snacks or meals during class to manage symptoms or the side effects of medication.
Crohn’s Disease Resources:
Crohn's and Colitis Canada
Website: www.crohnsandcolitis.ca
Provides comprehensive resources, support groups, advocacy programs, and educational materials for people living with Crohn’s and colitis in Canada.
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation (US)
Website: www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
Offers information on managing symptoms, clinical trials, support groups, and a patient education program.
IBD Support Canada
Website: www.ibdsupport.ca
A community forum offering peer support and advice from others living with IBD in Canada.
Mayo Clinic – Crohn’s Disease Information
Website: www.mayoclinic.org
Provides in-depth medical information, treatment options, and patient care recommendations for managing Crohn’s.
Global Healthy Living Foundation
Website: www.ghlf.org
Focuses on improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses, including those with Crohn’s disease. They offer education and advocacy support.
Gutsy Walk (Canada)
Website: www.gutsywalk.ca
A national fundraising event hosted by Crohn's and Colitis Canada to raise awareness and support for those living with Crohn's and colitis.
Invisible Disabilities Association
Website: www.invisibledisabilities.org
Offers tools, resources, and advocacy for individuals with invisible conditions, including Crohn’s disease, focusing on how to navigate work and life.
Transcript
Tim Reitsma
Well, Ted, I'm excited to have you on. This is the power of social media. Usually I've seen people come through different platforms aside from LinkedIn, but here we are recording on LinkedIn. We've got a mutual connection and I found out we also share a mutual condition. But before we get into this episode, why don't you just tell us a little bit about who you are, what you're up to, and what I like to ask guests is,
What makes you want to tell your story on a podcast or even publicly?
Ted Fleming
Sure. Well, thanks for having me on first of all. Yeah, my name is Ted Fleming. I am the founder and former CEO, but board member today of Partake Brewing. make non-alcoholic craft beer. One of the pioneers and innovators in the space going back to actually to 2013 when I started the first non-alcoholic bottle shop in North America. And that was related to a condition I had, Crohn's disease going back.
almost 10 years prior to that. Just a little bit more about me on a personal level. I'm a father, I'm a dad of three fantastic young girls between the ages of eight and 14. They play a big role in sort of some of the transformations that I've gone through as an individual and becoming a parent's a huge motivator to get your life into a good spot and be a great role model for...
those young kids and now young adults making their way in the world. So that's a big part of my story. And then also I'm an avid sports enthusiast. I think our mutual connection came through a sports club that I'm a member at here in Calgary, growing up playing squash, but also like a lover of playing ice hockey, playing pickleball as well that I'm trying to get into as I get a little older in age and some of those other sports are a little harder on the body. So, you know, that's just the...
The 101 about me.
Tim Reitsma
I appreciate you sharing. Yeah, that's the comment of kids. You know, I've got two kids and you know, when you've got kids and you want to maybe run around with them or even just have enough energy to read a story to them, it really just reshapes how we think about our health and life. you know, someone who lives with Crohn's, that's the condition we mutually live with, there can be complications and there can be struggles with that.
And before we maybe get into that, I'm curious, you know, we were connected through a mutual connection on LinkedIn and my friends said, hey Tim, you got to talk to Ted and you were very vulnerable and you have been quite open on social media as a CEO of a company and a growing company and a fast growing company, balancing how much you share versus, you know, talking about that business.
Talk to me through that. What makes you want to share this aspect of your life?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, like early on, know, my journey into the non-alcoholic space was really, it was really around two things. It was around Crohn's disease and wanting to eat and drink healthier, live a healthier life. And it was also motivated by becoming a father, as I said before. So I had two really strong motivating factors. And, you know, for me,
my journey with Crohn's started back in 2005 and I was in my mid-20s when I was diagnosed and you know for people that may not know there's sort of two, you you can be diagnosed with Crohn's disease at any age but there's two general age ranges where most people are diagnosed and that's in your early teens and also in sort of your mid to late 20s, early 30s and you know I consider myself lucky that I got through my teen years and my early 20s without the condition. I really feel for those that end up with it earlier and I can't imagine going through high school and all the things that a teenager would have to go through to manage Crohn's in addition to all the other challenges of being at that age. So in some ways I consider myself fortunate for it to have manifest itself later in my life. That being said, it was still several years of...
trying to figure out what that meant. the first few years were me being somewhat in denial about, I'm a top flight athlete, I'm strong, I'll just ignore it like I do most other things and most other aches and pains or injuries, you just kind of play through it. That was the mentality back at that time. And I kind of took that approach to Crohn's and it was a very bad approach for...
something like that and I didn't make some of the changes that I maybe should have, but again, becoming a father, having some more acute issues for me, particularly around fistulas in my disease, they motivated me to make some of the changes. And to your question about becoming more vulnerable, that story has always been part of my business narrative since 2013 when I started that non-out bottle shop and then
Ted Fleming
evolving into partake. It is still today a point of differentiation. So there's a marketing benefit for that. And we used to have the story, at least an abbreviated version of the story on our package. And I got some great feedback from people that were going through similar things, whether it was with Crohn's or colitis. But we had a lot of great feedback from people, or I wouldn't say great, thankful feedback from
people that were going through other health conditions and saw my product as a way for them to keep some degree of normal in their life when all this other stuff was changing for them from a health perspective. But I think, you know, more recently, as I've been able to open up on social, the feedback loop on that is so much faster and I'm getting everyday feedback of people who want me to share more of their story, who are telling me that, hey, that's a motivator.
I didn't realize that you've been dealing with this, being a father, dealing with this health condition. I also have diabetes as well now, unfortunately. So dealing with quite a few things on a personal level and still being able to grow a very successful business and have a lot of impact as an entrepreneur. So just that more recent and more frequent feedback I'm getting is opening up my mind to how I can tell that story.
even more, more frequently and in different ways that, you know, just support people.
Tim Reitsma
When we first connected, we had a first chat just planning for an episode. You one of the things that really stood out to me was, hey, I don't want to use this story just to say, look at me. And you see it as that self-serving of like, look what I've overcome and make yourself the center of the story. And I think that that stood out to me because I have heard from others who also struggle or try to balance that of, I want to tell my story and I don't want it to say, well, look at all the things that I've accomplished and
But I also feel like we need to let go of that pride a little bit and say, yes, this is what I've overcome and this is a struggle and use that as a motivator. And so, how do you balance that?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, it's a good question and something that, you know, it's an evolution for me right now. I think it will change over time. But I think for me, just the feedback I'm getting more recently on social is telling me, hey, do say more of that. Tell more of that story. Go deeper. Tell us about when you were in the hospital and what you had to do. Tell us about what you had to give up. Tell us about the hard choices you had to make about, hey, I can't go to this conference because I'm just, you know, I'd love to go, but.
I'm just not feeling up to it. And for me, one of the most stressful periods as a founder of a fast growing company is we've had to do quite a few financing rounds and those are extremely stressful. And I think for me, a big tool was the self-awareness that, look, this is an extremely stressful time for anybody, let alone people that have underlying conditions, hitting conditions.
just taking some preemptive steps to say, this is the extent of the role I can play and I need the help around me to do this effectively or else I'm just gonna burn myself out or I'm gonna set myself back from a trigger, a health episode. And so as I've gone on, I've just developed more awareness around when do I need help and being willing to ask for it.
Tim Reitsma
Yeah, that self-awareness, that vulnerability. I think it's, for me, it's key. And I've done now over 50 podcast episodes, multiple interviews. And that's common theme is getting to that place of self-awareness. And it takes work and it takes, I believe telling your story maybe a couple of times over and over and embracing that. I say often and even on my website that
that this is my normal. My normal looks different than your normal. And so why shouldn't I be able to share my normal with people? And you live with Crohn's and as you said, now diabetes, your normal is different. And even though we share the same condition, your normal is different than my normal. And be able to step into that, embrace that and use that to fuel in your case, your business.
Ted Fleming
Yeah, and actually I had this conversation with someone yesterday that we were talking about gluten and celiac disease and how you can go down a fairly prescriptive path in terms of how do treat that and deal with it? And she asked me about Crohn's, is it the same? And I said, no. What works for me could be very different from that next person that also has Crohn's. And it's a very individualistic condition. And I imagine colitis is as well.
Yeah, you have to, it's a tricky disease for that reason that there has to be a lot of self experimentation. There's not one prescriptive path that you can go down and say, is gonna work and I know it's gonna work and it's tried and true. There's a lot of experimentation that you need to do as an individual with Crohn's and that in and of itself creates a lot of stress because you don't often, you don't always know what's gonna work and what's not and sometimes what doesn't work.
It doesn't work in a way that's negative to you. So, you know, I'm over 20 years having Crohn's at this point. I think I have a pretty good handle on what works for me and what doesn't. you know, just being in the industry I'm in, people say, should people not drink? Is that a big factor? And I'd say it's probably a benefit to not drink for just overall health. It's been a big impact for me on my individual condition.
For sure, huge correlation between alcohol consumption for me and flare ups of my condition. However, I'm not going to say that that's going to be the same experience for the next person. So that's sort how I approach it of, we've all got to figure out what works for us. And that takes some time and it takes some focus to get there.
Tim Reitsma
It's embracing your story and being able to share your story. encourage, that's how we're gonna end the stigma. That's how I'd encourage anyone with a condition. If you're struggling to share your story, don't even know where to start. I said this to somebody yesterday, I was coaching somebody and said, just start in the mirror, just practice it. And because you don't know who your story is going to impact. I think watching your journey is specifically on LinkedIn and now watching your business.
it has an impact and it opens up conversations that others might be afraid to enter into. Maybe because they don't know the questions to ask or don't know where to start. But that's the power of a story and sharing our story. And you're absolutely right. What works for you is likely different than what works for me. And I had somebody just recently trying to prescribe me their own thing that they found on social media. It's like, this will cure your Crohn's.
think so, but I appreciate your effort. And you touched on one thing. I just want to shift a little bit because you said a word that I think we need to explore and that word is stress. You are a founder, former CEO, board member now of Partake Brewing. Multiple fundraising rounds, building a business. I saw you on, what was it? Dragon's Den, which is like the Canadian version of Shark Tank.
an incredible amount of stress. And for me, like since my latest, my last surgery, any little bit of stress feels like I'm just like, no, something bad is happening. So what's your secret? And I know it's, you we can't prescribe something here, but how do you manage and how do you level set that stress level to ensure that you're still, you know, quote unquote healthy?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, that's a great question. I wouldn't call myself a guru. I've gone through multiple bouts of burnout over the 11 plus years I've been a entrepreneur. I think some of the learnings though are kind of being aware of what's coming down the pipeline and taking some preventative measures around that
I had a really tough year in 2022, just like that first year after COVID kind of opened up. There was a lot of pressure to travel both for business and for personal, just having not seen a lot of relatives and been sort of cooped up for the prior couple of years. So that took its toll on me. So today, like just understanding like, hey, I got to manage my travel load. I got to be comfortable saying no to stuff. I've said no to a few things that I...
I have a tendency to say yes, as do many entrepreneurs, to pretty much anything that comes across your pipeline. And you start looking at your weeks ahead and saying, do I really need to do that thing or this thing that I committed to? Being more comfortable saying no and just kind of being able to ease things back, albeit I got to get better at not saying yes quite as much as I have before. But I'd say overall, the...
The big thing for me is exercise. And I think, you know, for me, that's twofold because I enjoy, I get my exercise largely through playing sports, playing squash, playing hockey, playing pickleball. And I think the benefit of sports versus, like I swim and I bike as well, which are, you know, sort of solo endeavors, but I find the sports are really great because A, you get the exercise, you get those endorphins.
from that, but it's also very social. And as an entrepreneur, your time is at a premium. As a father, your time is at a premium. So I find that, you know, your social life gets very, very small. gets, it's very focused on family and it's focused on business. And then, you know, without sports, I don't think I would have much of a social connection outside of those two groups. So I think it's, that's been an incredible.
Ted Fleming
an incredible tool for me in my toolbox to manage stress. So I'd say that's the main thing. And I'd say even those solo endeavors, they're great to just take your mind off of things or to maybe even if you have your mind on a problem, you're kind of able to look at it differently if you're doing a 10K run than if you are just sitting at your desk spinning on something. So exercise has been a huge component of my stress management.
ability and then yeah, I would say I'm getting better at it but am no means perfect in just managing my schedule and saying no to things. But I think that, you know, being able to prioritize and not overcommit yourself I think is a component that I'm getting better at but it's still a work in progress.
Tim Reitsma
Yeah, protecting that time. I'm terrible at it. My wife often will say like, why are you so stressed? I just open up my calendar and she's like, why did you say yes to all this stuff? Like stop saying yes. And, and, but I don't know about you, but for me, you know, if I'm feeling good, if I feel like my, guts are behaving and my energy level is up, I just, I just got to go. And then it's that cycle of almost burnout where you're feeling good. So you just push and then.
you don't feel good and then you gotta cancel everything. And so finding that balance and it works differently for everyone. But I like that when you say playing group sports or sports with other people, the word community pops in my mind. And again, that's another theme that has emerged out of all these episodes is having that strong community. And I'm curious with the people that you play sport with, are you open?
about living with Crohn's disease and diabetes and how you've navigated that.
Ted Fleming
Yeah, I generally am. It's open in public, it's on social, it's part of the marketing story of the brand because it is truly part of that brand story and why it's important to me and a lot of our customers. I am open about it, you're trying to always walk that line of like, don't want it to be in your face. I don't want it to define me. It's part of who I am, but it's not.
all of who I am. And, you know, I find a lot of people, if I'm going out to a social event, they'll ask me, okay, what are your dietary restrictions? What restaurant should we go to as a group because we know you have some limitations. you know, I find the community aspect is really inclusive and encouraging and a lot more so than it was when I started, I would say 10 years ago.
not with my existing friends and family, but with new people I would meet. I'd say, okay, I don't drink or they'd see that I wasn't drinking at a social event. you know, oftentimes people would, you know, they would think they were being humorous and they'd say, you know, are you an alcoholic? And no, I wasn't. But at the same time, it seemed like that's a very weird and forward question to ask anyone anyways. Is it that strange not to be drinking? And it...
I think for most people it was strange to be around people that weren't drinking when they were. So I think we've come a long way as a society. I think we're much more inclusive in terms of community. I can go out without even telling them that this is a part of my life and part of my business. And if I'm not drinking, instead of that question of, you an alcoholic? I'll get the question or the comment of like, yeah, I did dry January. I was feeling great. Good for you for not drinking.
I did Sober October and we're recording this in October today. You know, I did that. That was great. Good for you. Like it's it's more, you know, you'll sometimes still get a derogatory comment, but on balance, they're positive and they're aspirational and, you know, supportive. So it's it's the community today is so much bigger than it was before. But I would also say that community of people who didn't drink for various reasons.
Ted Fleming
I was an important part of building that community for them through my online store and really building that first iteration of sort of the non-op community that's much more vibrant and inclusive today.
Tim Reitsma
Yeah, you go to restaurants now and you see a lot of menus, a lot of drink menus now include non-alcoholic options. it's people like yourself who wanted to, know, no pun intended, partake, but to participate, to be involved. And maybe they've given up alcohol for a specific reason, but still enjoyed that social aspect, the flavor, the taste, the different profiles of beers. And you came in and filled that gap. So let's, I just want to...
pivot because I think it'd be a disservice to not talk about, you know, the business and the passion you have for this space. And, you know, you've seen this market evolve. You've got your story, your health journey story to support that business. And where do you see Partake going from here?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, good question. yeah, like I'll talk a little bit first about sort of my transition out of being CEO and now being a board member. Like that does have something to do with my health and the addition of diabetes to Crohn's and the stress that comes from growing a 30 plus person business with a lot of expectations and a lot of growth around it.
We're obviously in a more competitive category now. When we started, it was like Partake and maybe one or two other brands across North America. And today you're seeing a new brand pop up every week. And I think the origin story of Partake just by itself is a huge differentiator. We've been in the category since day one. We were almost a creator of the category. And we're in the category for the right reasons.
I was in the category when people said, this isn't gonna work. There's no market for it. And my response was, well, I'm doing this for my community. I'm not doing it about the money. If the market evolves, which I do expect it will, that's great. We'll benefit from that. But I'm doing this today because it's important to me and it's important to my community to serve them and give them something that the rest of the market isn't doing for them. And so we built the business early based on that really.
really small but passionate community. And then as we went through COVID and people probably over drank quite a bit, at least that's the story I'm hearing. And then as we came out of COVID, people started to recognize, hey, maybe I'm drinking too much. I've got an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Health and wellness became a much bigger theme. And we started to see people explore non-alcohol. And a lot of people came to partake and saw
Tim Reitsma
Mm-hmm.
Ted Fleming
hey, this is a brand that's been here for a while. It has pedigree. It's in the market for the right reasons. Like consumers today, they can see through all the kind of celebrity branding and all these other tools and tricks that big, big multinational companies can bring to market. So they're looking for brands that are authentic, we're as authentic as they come in terms of why we're in the marketplace. We have some of the best product in the marketplace, having one world.
beer awards for multiple years, awards in Germany and Asia for the quality of our product. then also like we're doing it at a 10 to 30 calories per can level, which is pretty much unheard of in the category. Most of our competitors are, you know, 60 to 100 calories a can. So our customers like to joke, we can drink a six pack of Partake for the calories that are in one of these other non-alch beers. that's.
That's a lot of fun and it wasn't actually a consideration when I developed the product early on. Obviously now that I have diabetes, it's a great benefit because with low calories come low carbs. But yeah, as a consumer, it's a great time because there are a lot of new options out there and it's a great time for exploration. I think a lot of customers...
Tim Reitsma
you
Ted Fleming
They always seem to bi-partake as part of that exploration as being sort of one of their go-tos and there's a lot of reasons why.
Tim Reitsma
Well, thanks for sharing that. you know, it's with transition comes different opportunities. And so I'm excited to see where this takes you as you transition out of CEO. And yeah, it's a highly competitive market where you go to any grocery store, even your pharmacy now, and you know, you see partake in other non-alcoholic beers. But for me, what drives me to you and the
and the product is the story behind it. I think that's in this whole landscape of products out there, drawing yourself to that story makes an impact. And for me, it makes me want to support businesses like yours who aren't just there for greed, right? Money's a byproduct of creating a product for people like yourself or people who may have that unhealthy relationship with alcohol. As a leader of
of a big organization or a growing organization, you have to balance that sharing like, hey, I live with Crohn's disease and now I live with diabetes with like, hey, we got to lead this company. And how have your team embraced your condition, but also as a leader, how have you created space for others to open up about their conditions if they live with one?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, within the team, I think it's valued by, you know, I don't know necessarily what every condition that every person in my organization has. I know a few. I think my openness makes them feel comfortable about their own situation and being able to be open about that. And I think we're an organization, because of my story and my situation, that has a lot of empathy for people that
have hidden conditions. So I'm open about that. I hope that opens the door for others to be open about that and say, look, hey, manager, I'm not feeling it today. I've got, you know, I have this condition. Can I take a half day or, you know, stuff like that? think we are a more open organization because of that. And, you know, going outside of the organization, I hear that from other
Tim Reitsma
Mm-hmm.
Ted Fleming
other people on social that, you they feel more empowered to talk about their condition and be open about, hey, today I'm great, let's do it, pile on the work. And other days it's like, hey, I just need to slow it down or take the day off to recover. you know, there's the physical component of that, but there's also the mental health component of that, which is obviously a big issue in business today.
yeah, it's, you know, I draw a parallel in sports to, you know, the NFL and concussions, like it just the mentality. And I was talking about my mentality when I was first diagnosed to being, okay, just suck it up and, and push through. today it's like, yeah, you get a minor concussion. It's concussion protocol, sit out a few games, sit out a week. and I think that that approach is coming to business, but
I don't think it's fully there yet where people may be burnt out and the mentality I think in business is still pushed through. I think me sharing my story about my conditions, but also maybe a little bit more on burnout. And I've seen some other founders open up about that online. think we'll eventually change the conversation and make businesses and business leaders more aware of the harms and impacts of that.
Tim Reitsma
Yeah, the number one thing that I believe in, it's also, I think, backed by some research reports out of Accenture and a few of the big ones is, is that when we create a space for people to feel comfortable to share, if they want to share, if they choose to disclose, know, people with disabilities outperform those without. People with disabilities stay longer. People with disabilities, if we employ people with disabilities or conditions, know, disability use as an inclusive term, organizations actually,
The data shows that they'll perform their competitors. They'll perform the market in terms of revenue and profit. And so there's a business case for it. And then I get organizations now reaching out to me and saying, how do we start? And it's by sharing your own story. Sure, I could come in and I could tell story, but think of the impact organizations can have if somebody, a CEO, somebody on the C-suite, a senior leader.
will come up and just say, hey, this is what I live with and this is what works for me. So if you live with something, come talk to me, come talk to us. We wanna support you. Creating that type of environment is wildly impactful, not just for your own, if all you care about is revenue and profit, it's good for that, but just as a great place to work. so, I appreciate you sharing your story and not.
not just a story to say, I live with Crohn's, but also like, hey, this is how I've managed it in my business and building a business. And, you know, as we look to wrap up, I'm curious, a couple of questions here is, you know, we think about the stigma of invisible conditions and invisible disabilities. How are we going to end this? You know, we think, for me specifically, I think of my kids and I think if they live with grow up and if they live with something or develop something, how do we create a
place for our kids to not feel shame and judgment and fear for sharing.
Ted Fleming
Yeah, I think in my journey, you know, earlier on when I was diagnosed, I wasn't an entrepreneur. I was working in a corporate setting. yeah, there was certainly fear about what that, you know, there's fear about what it means, you know, big picture. There's fear about what it means career wise. Do you want to disclose it? Do you want to hide it? Will it? You know, I felt like, and this might be more perception than was reality, but it was perception nonetheless was that
hey, this is gonna impact my career. There is a promotion that I had applied for that I didn't get. And in my mind, that was because of, yeah, Ted's missed three weeks in the last year because of medical conditions. So I think opening up about it and making it a safe conversation for both managers and employees, I think is really important. I've seen some organizations that, they have a lot of great DEI.
language in their hiring practices, but there's only a few that I've seen that have said explicitly, or if you have a disability, whether a visible one or not, and just acknowledging that there are a lot of conditions out there that are not visible and you can't just say, you can't just point to because you see it. I think that's an important element of HR culture and business culture that I think needs to
needs to evolve and you're starting to see the shoots, the early shoots of it, but it's not broad-based from what I've seen. So I'm encouraged by that, but these types of conversations will certainly help. And I also think that there's a lot of great transformational stories. My story is one of transformation. I hear it every day about people who've given up alcohol for months to years and how transformative it is in their lives.
I think opening up this conversation for people with invisible conditions, I think will be transformative for them in the long run. And I encourage anyone listening, any business leader, any employee to help with the cause and bring this up as an open conversation within your organization.
Tim Reitsma
Yeah. Bring it up, open through that lens of curiosity and authenticity and starting the conversation is where change happens. Right. I think that's where, you know, understanding your story and partake of you're not drinking, you still want it to be involved and you created this whole category for yourself to, be in a product for your community, which now has, you know, entered across the nation into lots of different stores. And, and I just see that as just.
incredible inspiration, right? We, I was talking with somebody just recently about, and we wake up in the morning, we can either choose to, I'm simplifying this and somebody might not agree with it. We wake up and we can choose to say, you know what, I live with this condition, that's it, my life is done. Or we could say, I live with this condition, what's next? And I know that's very simplistic and there's a lot of factors that play into it, but
saying for me at least, hey, I live with this condition. It's not going away anytime soon. So what's next? How can we embrace it? What kind of change can we start? What kind of conversations can we have? And somebody who's listening to this specifically, somebody who's maybe afraid to tell their story or who wants to tell their story or afraid to, how could somebody start to share?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, I think it's important also to recognize that, you know, given what you said, even for me and I'm sure for yourself, like you can go through many months where you wake up with that, hey, let's work through this, let's conquer this condition, it's not going to hold me back. But there are going to be times where it does physically hold you back. And I think we all need to give ourselves grace around that and space and time to heal when
when the time warrants. And that's not, you know, I've looked at that as a weakness, but you know, I'm trying better to not look at it as a weakness. It's just a reality of my condition and embrace it and have it as part of my narrative of overcoming that, yes, even though in general I'm overcoming, there are going to be challenges along the way and those need to be faced with new.
new rigor and resolve and new ways of doing things. you know, I think that's part of the story is just being able to give ourselves the grace we need and acceptance that we're going to have good days and we're going to have bad days. And that's not a function of us and our willingness and our desire to achieve. It's just our reality. So I think that's an important part of all of our stories.
to your question of like, do we start to tell that story? And social is a great place to do it. But before that, before going kind of broadly public, start telling it to your friends, family, maybe that next layer of acquaintances you know and become more comfortable telling your story. I've been doing it for many, many years. So I think it's hard for me to tell someone, just to go out and tell your story and put it on social media. don't...
think that's for everyone. But I think it's important to kind of start to tell your story and develop your own narrative and what it means to you and start with your friends and your family and your closer acquaintances and build out from there. And not everyone will do it publicly like I've done, but if you at least have your close supporters on board, I think you'll get a lot of support from there and you can see where it goes.
Tim Reitsma
That's an idea that's been in my mind for quite some time now is just even that story framework. Where do I start? How do I start this? So, you know, it's kind of rekindled that idea in my mind and something I took a note on and put some effort into. Ted, I really appreciate you coming on. Your story has captured me and has made me just want to keep pushing. And I appreciate that. And I appreciate your raw honesty.
Hey, for someone who is new to non-alcoholic beer, Partake particularly, specifically, which one should we try? Which one is like, hey, you've got to try this non-alcoholic beer.
Ted Fleming
Yeah, great question. Well, I love them all. They're all my babies. But you know, our IPA was our first ever product. It's pretty widely available. So, you know, if you're an IPA lover, that's obviously a fit. Our blonde is a great sort of entry level beer, light lager in style. And then for people who don't like beer, you know, there's a few of those out there. We have a peach gozo, which drinks actually more
little bit more like a seltzer and it's a really well received product, particularly when it's nice warm weather out, unfortunately we're moving away from here in Canada. But if you're in the US South, they're traveling down there. It's a great product too.
Tim Reitsma
I love that. Ted, where can people find you? If people have questions, people want to hear a little bit more, want to connect with you, where's the best place for people to find you?
Ted Fleming
Yeah, I'm really active on LinkedIn, as you mentioned. So I'm pretty responsive there. Happy to connect with anyone, happy to be a sounding board, whether it's for business or for health conditions. There's definitely lots of people I talk to about things personal or business. I'm happy to help in many circumstances. So please get in touch with me there. From a business perspective, drinkpartake.com is...
is the website for the business. You can get our products across North America through that and through major retailers across North America as well.
Tim Reitsma
I appreciate that. I'll have all the links in the show notes. And yeah, if business leaders are listening to this, or maybe you're an employee and you want to subtly pass a great episode to your business leader, pass them this one and have them reach out to Ted and really specifically on how to build a great business that embraces disability inclusion. so with that, Ted, appreciate you coming on. And for those who are listening,
I appreciate you all. I appreciate for all the comments that continue to come in. But I have a favor to ask. Could you send this episode to one or two people in your network? And if possible, have them subscribe to the show. That just gets Invisible Condition podcast into more and more people's ears. So we are on all major streaming platforms as well as on YouTube. And so, that's just kind of my selfish ask at the end. And with that,
I hope everyone has an amazing day and Ted, thanks again for coming on.
Ted Fleming
Thank you, Tim.
