Conversations With Corliss- A Real Leadership Podcast

What does it really mean to be brave when life brings challenges you never imagined facing?

In Episode 095 of Conversations With Corliss, Corliss Rassyle sits down with Kyla Thomson, the mom of Bella Brave, for a deeply moving conversation about courage, motherhood, resilience, advocacy, and finding the strength to keep going through life's most difficult moments.

Kyla Thomson and her daughter, Bella Brave, captured the hearts of millions around the world as they openly shared their journey through life, love, and extraordinary medical challenges.

But this conversation goes beyond the story so many people followed online.

Together, Kyla and Corliss explore what it really means to be brave, the importance of advocating for those we love, and how our most difficult life experiences can become opportunities to make a difference in someone else's life.

Through heartfelt stories, laughter, tears, and honest reflection, Kyla shares powerful lessons about courage, personal strength, love, and the impact one person can have on the world.

In this episode, we explore:

What it really means to be brave, even when you're afraid

The power of a mother's love and advocacy

Finding courage and resilience through life's hardest challenges

How sharing our stories can inspire and help others

Recognizing the strength and personal power we hold within

What life's most difficult experiences can teach us about living fully

This is more than a conversation about overcoming adversity. It's a reminder of the power of love, the importance of living with intention, and the difference we can make simply by showing up for others.

MEET KYLA THOMSON AT LEAD CONFERENCE CANADA 2026

Kyla Thomson will be joining us on stage at LEAD Conference Canada, November 13–14, 2026, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, sharing her powerful story and the lessons that have shaped her life.

LEAD Conference Canada is an immersive two-day personal growth and self-leadership experience designed to help you own your power within and recognize what's possible for your life.

Learn more and get your tickets:

ABOUT CONVERSATIONS WITH CORLISS

Hosted by Canadian speaker, author, and personal power expert Corliss Rassyle, Conversations With Corliss features real people, meaningful conversations, and powerful life lessons to inspire you to LEAD your life with greater awareness, courage, and purpose.

If this conversation touches your heart, please share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Subscribe for more inspiring conversations about personal growth, resilience, self-leadership, purpose, and the power we all hold within.

Own Your Power. LEAD Your Life. Live With Purpose.

#KylaThomson #BellaBrave #ConversationsWithCorliss #HowToBeBrave #LEADConferenceCanada

What happens when someone truly listens to you—without judgment, advice, distraction, or trying to fix you?

In a world filled with noise, loneliness, disconnection, and constant distraction, genuine human connection and active listening have become more important than ever.

Paul Jenkinson is known across Canada for his **“You Are Not Alone” listening tour**, where he sits with complete strangers and offers something surprisingly rare: a safe space to talk, be heard, and feel seen.

In this meaningful conversation, Paul and Corliss explore the **power of listening**, why authentic connection matters, and how being truly heard can support **mental health, emotional well-being, self-acceptance, and personal growth**.

Paul also shares what he has learned about human nature through countless conversations with people from all walks of life—and why sometimes we don't need someone to give us the answers. We need someone willing to listen long enough for us to hear our own.

At its heart, this episode is about **belonging, loneliness, human connection, self-worth, and the universal desire to be seen, understood, accepted, and free to be ourselves.**

If you've ever felt unheard, disconnected, lonely, or simply wondered how you can become a better listener for the people in your life, this conversation is for you.

Join us at LEAD Conference Canada 2026 to learn more from Paul here:

https://www.corliss.ca/LEAD2026

What if the life you’re creating is being shaped by the story you believe about yourself?

In this powerful episode of Conversations With Corliss, Robyn Thompson shares her remarkable journey from growing up on welfare to becoming one of Canada’s trusted voices in financial education and wealth building. But at its heart, this isn’t a story about money. It’s a story about belief.

Robyn shares how she made an early decision that her circumstances would not define her future, learned to train her brain to see opportunity instead of limitation, and eventually faced the shame she had carried about her past.

Together, we explore the connection between mindset, identity, self-belief, resilience, and the stories we tell ourselves—and how owning your story can help you create a different future.

If you’ve ever felt limited by your past, struggled with self-doubt or limiting beliefs, or wondered what’s truly possible for your life, this conversation will inspire you to see your story—and your future—through a whole new lens.

Come hear Robyn speak at LEAD Conference Canada 2026: https://www.corliss.ca/LEAD2026

Learn more about Robyn here: https://robynthompsonspeaks.com/

Tom Watson’s life began in circumstances that could have defined him forever.

Growing up in foster care and described as a “wild animal” at just five years old, his future looked anything but promising. Then one retired couple made a choice to love him, believe in him, and show him a different way to live.

In this deeply moving conversation, Tom shares the simple wisdom that changed the course of his life and has since impacted thousands of people around the world, including his powerful formula:

My Choice + My Actions = My Life.

Together, we talk about the seven zones of life, the importance of self-leadership, why learning to love yourself changes everything, and what it really means to live a life worth remembering — one where, when your time here is over, there’s standing room only at your funeral.

Tom’s story is proof that where your life begins does not have to determine where it ends.

This conversation will challenge you to take ownership of your life, invest in becoming the best version of yourself, and then use who you become to make life better for someone else.

And if Tom’s message moves you as much as it moved me, you’ll have the opportunity to experience it in person when he takes the stage at LEAD Conference Canada 2026.

https://www.corliss.ca/LEAD2026

What if joy isn't something you find... but something you choose?

In this inspiring episode of Conversations with Corliss, I sit down with bestselling author, speaker, and joy advocate Jessica Janzen, author of Bring the Joy, to explore one of the most life-changing mindset shifts you can make: joy is not something that happens to you—it's something you choose to bring.

Through deeply personal stories of heartbreak, resilience, gratitude, and hope, Jessica shares how life's greatest challenges became the foundation for a life filled with purpose, meaning, and joy. Together, we unpack practical strategies to help you shift your mindset, build emotional resilience, and intentionally create more happiness—regardless of your circumstances.

If you've been feeling overwhelmed, stuck, discouraged, or simply longing for more peace and fulfillment, this conversation will remind you that while you can't always control what happens to you, you can always choose how you show up.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why joy is a choice—not a feeling you have to wait for

This is more than a conversation about happiness. It's an invitation to lead your life with greater intention, embrace gratitude, and discover the power you have to create more joy—starting today.

If you're ready to experience more joy, resilience, purpose, and personal growth, this episode is for you.

Come hear Jessica speak at LEAD Conference Canada: www.corliss.ca/LEAD2026

Follow Jess on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejessicajanzen/

What happens when your life looks successful on the outside, but you're quietly struggling on the inside?

In this powerful episode of the Conversations With Corliss Podcast, I sit down with Ben Nemtin, New York Times bestselling author, co-creator of The Buried Life, one of the stars of the hit MTV series, and keynote speaker at LEAD Conference Canada.

Ben shares the deeply personal story behind the success so few people know.

After years of chasing achievement and performing under constant pressure, anxiety and depression began to take over his life. He found himself withdrawing from the people around him, losing hope, and wondering how he would ever find his way back.

But instead of giving up, Ben made one small decision at a time.

He intentionally surrounded himself with people who inspired him, challenged him, and believed something bigger was possible. Along the way, he rediscovered a dreams he had buried for years and a list of things he wanted to do before he died.

That decision became the beginning of a movement that inspired millions around the world.

In this episode, you'll discover:

* Ben Nemtin's personal journey through anxiety and depression

Whether you're navigating mental health challenges, searching for purpose, rebuilding your confidence, or simply looking for inspiration to take the next step, this conversation will remind you that your circumstances do not have to define your future.

Ben's story is proof that impossible is often just a story we tell ourselves until we decide to take the first step.

If this episode inspired you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs the reminder that incredible things are possible.

About Ben Nemtin

Ben is a New York Times bestselling author, motivational speaker, and co-creator of The Buried Life. His message has inspired millions around the world to dream bigger, take meaningful action, and live a life with fewer regrets. Ben will also be joining us as a keynote speaker at LEAD Conference Canada, where he'll inspire attendees to own their power, embrace possibility, and create lives they are proud to live.

Secure your seat at LEAD Conference Canada here: www.corliss.ca/LEAD2026

What if becoming "badass" had nothing to do with being fearless, and everything to do with trusting yourself enough to keep going?

In this episode of Conversations With Corliss, Corliss sits down with entrepreneur, esthetician, and lifelong learner Kinga Angel for an honest conversation about reinvention, resilience, and creating a life you're proud of.

Life rarely unfolds the way we expect. But sometimes our biggest disappointments become the very moments that shape who we're becoming. Together, Corliss and Kinga explore what it means to embrace change, step into new opportunities, and continue growing... no matter your age or stage of life.

With more than 20 years in the beauty industry, Kinga has built multiple businesses, trained hundreds of professionals, and continues to pursue new passions in health, wellness, travel, and personal development. Her story is a powerful reminder that you're never too late to reinvent yourself.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Why your setbacks don't have to define your future

If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to start over, chase a new dream, or become the person you're meant to be, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Corliss:

Follow Kinga on Facebook @kingaangel

In this episode of *The Conversation You Need to Hear*, I sit down with Krista Lee Curtis for a conversation that feels like a breath of fresh air. Together, we explore how the energy we bring into our lives influences the experiences we have, the opportunities we see, and the way we show up in the world.

Krista shares her journey through a difficult season of life and the intentional choices that helped her find her way back to herself. We talk about the power of surrounding yourself with people who inspire you, letting go of what no longer serves you, creating habits that energize you, and learning to trust your inner guide and the quiet voice within that often knows exactly what you need.

This conversation is a reminder that creating a life you love isn't about waiting for the perfect circumstances. It's about becoming intentional with your thoughts, your energy, and the choices you make each day.

If you've been craving more positivity, more joy, or simply a reminder of what's possible, this may be the conversation you need to hear.

Welcome back to a brand-new season of Conversations With Corliss!

It's been a few months since I last sat behind this microphone, and in this solo episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of what life, business, and personal growth have looked like over the last five months.

There have been some exciting wins, meaningful lessons, unexpected challenges, and a few moments that have changed the way I think about purpose, leadership, and life itself.

Consider this a catch-up conversation between friends. I'll share where I've been, what I've been learning, what's next, and why I'm more excited than ever to be back having these meaningful conversations with you.

I'm so glad you're here with me. Thank you for joining the journey. 

Welcome back to the Conversations With Corliss

Today’s episode is called Leading From the 1% Different by Design, and it is a powerful conversation about something we all wrestle with at different points in our lives, owning who we truly are.

That 1%, the part of you that makes you uniquely you, is often the very thing that sets you apart. And yet, for so many of us, it is also the hardest thing to fully embrace.

In this episode, you will hear one woman’s story of choosing to see her worth, live into it, and lead her life both personally and professionally in a way that is deeply aligned with who she is and what truly matters to her.

I am joined by Sarah Johnstone, CEO and co-owner of Atlas York Insurance, a leading women-owned, full-service brokerage here in Saskatchewan. With over 20 years in the insurance industry, Sarah is known for her genuine, people-first approach and her ability to help individuals, families, and business owners feel informed, confident, and supported through every stage of life.

Before leading Atlas York, Sarah held senior leadership roles across major Canadian organizations and has been recognized twice as one of the Elite Women in Business, as well as a two-time Excellence Awardee for CEO of the Year by Insurance Business Canada.

But what I love most about this conversation is not just what Sarah has accomplished; it is how she leads. With authenticity. With heart. And with a deep commitment to staying true to herself.

We talk about embracing your uniqueness, leading differently by design, and why owning who you are might just be the most powerful leadership move you will ever make.