After Peter Pan: Growing Up to Purpose

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with psychotherapist Cassandra Tenneriello to explore trauma, survival mode, and why so many people feel stuck, anxious, or unable to change. They break down what trauma really is, how it shows up in everyday behaviors like avoidance, numbing, and people-pleasing, and how the nervous system (fight, flight, freeze, and fawn) keeps us in patterns that limit personal growth. This conversation covers trauma healing, emotional regulation, and practical ways to feel safe in your body so real change becomes possible.

What You'll Learn:

• What trauma is and how it affects mental health and behavior

• Why you feel stuck, anxious, or unable to change

• How survival mode impacts your nervous system and daily life
• Common trauma responses: fight, flight, freeze, and fawn
• Why you’re not broken—and how to start healing
• Simple tools to regulate your nervous system and feel safe again

About Cassandra Tenneriello:

Cassandra Tenneriello, is a Registered Psychotherapist and Canadian Certified Counsellor based in Ontario.Cassandra brings over 11 years of experience supporting individuals across the lifespan who are navigating trauma, addiction, sexual assault, intergenerational trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, identity challenges, and more.Her approach is deeply client-centered and integrative, grounded in the belief that the therapeutic relationship is the foundation for meaningful healing. She works collaboratively with her clients to create a safe, compassionate space where they can reconnect with their strengths and move forward in their lives.Cassandra has also provided counselling services in remote and isolated Indigenous communities across the James and Hudson Bay region, where she gained a deep appreciation for the interconnectedness of physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental well-being.Cassandra understands that reaching out for help can be difficult but she believes that even beginning that search is a powerful first step toward healing.

• Email:[email protected]
• Website:https://www.triellocounsellingservices.com/
• Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/triello.counselling.services/?hl=en
• Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/triellocounsellingservices/
• Blog:https://www.triellocounsellingservices.com/blog

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with death doula Paul Simard to explore grief, death, and how to face mortality without avoidance. Paul shares his experience supporting individuals and families through dying, and reflects on how modern Western culture has distanced itself from death—outsourcing it to hospitals, funeral homes, and institutions in ways that leave many of us unsure how to respond when someone dies. Pat and Paul discuss why we struggle to talk about death, the language we use around grief, the fear and discomfort beneath our reactions, and how our beliefs shape the way we approach dying. Together, they explore what it means to be present with someone who is dying, how to support someone who is grieving, and why death may not be a failure—but part of the natural cycle of life.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why so many people feel uncomfortable when someone dies

• How to support someone who is grieving

• Why we avoid talking about death and how that affects us

• What a death doula does and how they help during the dying process

• How reframing mortality as an act of service can change the way we live

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with Austin May—a 23-year-old preparing for pastoral ministry—to explore faith, forgiveness, and the weight of answering a calling. Austin shares his journey from hedonism, anger, and resentment toward a life shaped by conviction, including the pivotal moment he confronted his hatred toward his father and chose forgiveness. Pat and Austin dive into what religion offers beyond self-help and psychotherapy, the difference between self-improvement and surrender, and what it means to take belief seriously when it demands responsibility rather than comfort. Together, they reflect on certainty, doubt, personal transformation, and what “growing up” looks like when faith carries real weight.

What You’ll Learn:

• How forgiveness can become a turning point for personal transformation

• What faith offers that self-help, psychotherapy, and philosophy often can’t

• Why conviction and certainty can feel both freeing and burdensome

• The difference between living for self-improvement and answering a calling

• What growing up really means when belief comes with responsibility

Links:

Booklet - Your Verdict on the Empty Tomb:https://www.amazon.com/Your-Verdict-Val-Grieve/dp/1783971894

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with the Hon. Leela Aheer—Former Alberta Cabinet Minister, Former Deputy Leader of the United Conservative Party, musician, and a leader in healthcare and AI—to explore Minister, Former Deputy Leader of the United Conservative what it means to stand up for your principles when it isn’t safe or popular. Leela reflects on speaking out against her own party during COVID, the personal and political consequences of choosing integrity, and why she believes silence is the greatest threat to democracy. Pat and Leela dive into the loss of nuance in public discourse, the pressures of political life, the viral moment when she jumped in front of a charging bull, and her path of reinvention rooted in resilience, responsibility, and service.

What You'll Learn:

• Why speaking up during crisis moments can reshape a career—and a life
• How integrity, loyalty, and responsibility intersect in public leadership
• What’s driving division and the loss of nuance in modern civic discourse
• How Leela’s journey reveals the nature of courage, resilience, and reinvention
• How AI and precision medicine may transform the healthcare landscape

Episode Description

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with Mads Larsen, a researcher and author who studies the evolution of love, and pair bonding. Together, they explore one of the most uncomfortable questions of our time: What happens when modern dating stops working—and what does that mean for our future?

Mads unpacks the history of human mating, from the rise of monogamy to the Tinder era, explaining how technology, freedom, and shifting gender dynamics have created the perfect storm for a global fertility collapse. The conversation dives deep into how men and women are adapting (or failing to), why we may have become too smart for our own survival, and whether society can find balance between individual freedom and collective continuation.

What You’ll Learn:

• How modern dating apps and social trends are reshaping human pair bonding.

• Why declining fertility rates could represent a deeper cultural crisis.

• The evolutionary roots of attraction, love, and family formation.

• How women’s liberation and technological progress changed mating forever.

• What it might take to rebuild connection in an age of hyper-freedom.

Mads Larsen:

• Research Gate

• Google Scholar 

• Book: Stories of Love from Vikings to Tinder - Link to free download

Photo Credit for Mads: Photo by Øivind Haugen

In this episode of "After Peter Pan," host Pat Tennerello sits down with Matt Luloff, an Ottawa city councillor, Afghan war veteran, and musician. They explore Matt's journey of finding purpose through service, from his military experiences to his role in public office. Matt shares insights on responsibility, resilience, and mental health, including his personal battle with PTSD and the transformative power of exposure therapy. Join us for an inspiring conversation about growth, community, and the impact of service.

What You'll Learn:

• The importance of taking on responsibility and how it leads to personal growth.
• Insights into overcoming the fear of failure and using it as a stepping stone.
• Matt Luloff's personal journey with PTSD and the role of exposure therapy in his recovery.
• The impact of community service and how small actions can create lasting change.
• How Matt transitioned from military service to becoming a city councillor and his motivations behind it.

In this short solo update, Pat shares some exciting news—he’s gone back to school to pursue a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology. He reflects on why this step feels like the natural next chapter in his journey of growth, how it connects to the purpose behind the After Peter Pan Podcast, and what it means for the podcast going forward. Pat also opens up about recommitting to personal routines, the importance of self-care, and his long-term vision of building a community around wellness and mental health.

In this conversation, Pat Tenneriello and Pascal Vicario explore the intricate relationship between physical fitness, mental health, and family dynamics. Pascal shares his journey of maintaining fitness for over 15 years, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's motivations, the role of faith, and the significance of a supportive family. They discuss daily routines, meal prep, and the balance between healthy eating and enjoying life through cheat meals, ultimately advocating for a holistic approach to wellness.

What You'll Learn:

• How finding your “why” fuels consistency and resilience in fitness and life.
• Why obsession with fitness can backfire—and how to create balance instead.
• The 80/20 approach to healthy eating and why it beats cheat days.
• How faith and family keep Pascal grounded through life’s challenges.
• Tips for staying efficient at the gym when time is limited.
• How to develop mind-body connection for better results.
• Strategies for breaking plateaus and making workouts more effective.
• Why selfish time in the morning can make you more selfless throughout the day.
• The ripple effect of discipline across family, career, and personal growth.

Social Media Links:

• After Peter Pan Podcast: 
• Facebook
• Instagram

• Pascal Vicario

In this episode of After Peter Pan, host Pat Tenneriello sits down with Alex Sheen, founder of Because I Said I Would, a nonprofit that has inspired over 15 million people to keep their promises. Alex shares the pivotal moment of watching his father pass away from stage four small cell lung cancer and witnessing some of the the regrets he carried. That loss became the catalyst for the promise card, a simple tool for accountability that spread worldwide. Pat and Alex explore how grief can clarify your priorities, why integrity is built on follow-through, and the sacrifices, self-control, and resilience required to live with purpose.

What You'll Learn:

• How personal tragedy can inspire a global movement.
• Why keeping promises builds trust and personal credibility.
• The origins and impact of the Because I Said I Would promise card.
• How self-control and sacrifice shape long-term character.
• Practical steps to build resilience in everyday life.
• The ripple effect of integrity across relationships and communities.
• How action — not confidence — creates meaningful change.

Social Media Links:

• After Peter Pan Podcast: 
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
• Alex Sheen:
  • Alex's non-profit - Because I said I would
  • Camp Because I Said I Would
  • Become a volunteer
  • Sponsor a grieving family
  • Promise cards
  • LinkedIn

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In this episode, Pat sits down with Fabienne (Fab) Galhidi, therapist, professor and speaker, who shares her journey through childhood trauma, the victimization mindset, and her path to healing and self-discovery. She discusses the importance of self-care, gratitude, and emotional regulation, as well as her work with youth and the impact of trauma. Fab emphasizes the significance of true friendship in personal growth and the need for accountability in the process of growing up.

What You'll Learn:

• Childhood trauma can lead to a victimization mindset.
• Healing requires confronting past traumas and taking accountability.
• Self-care goes beyond basic activities; it involves deeper emotional work.
• Gratitude can shift your mindset and improve your outlook on life.
• Anger is often a secondary emotion that masks deeper issues.
• Building resilience is a gradual process that requires discipline.
• True friendships challenge us to grow and confront our blind spots.
• Growing up means accepting responsibility for your life and choices.
• Emotional regulation is key to managing anger and stress.
• Finding purpose in helping others can be a powerful motivator for change.

Social Media Links:

• After Peter Pan Podcast: 
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
• Fab Galhidi:
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Send a text message to the show!

Support the show