This week on Cynthia and Josie’s Unmentionables, we get real.

Cynthia shares what it’s been like carrying grief through the holidays and how loss has a way of showing up when you least expect it. We talk honestly about grief, what helps, what doesn’t, and how you keep going when things feel heavy.

And because this is our show, it’s not all serious. Somehow the conversation drifts into relationships, intimacy, and yes, even lesbian sex, proving that humor and connection can exist right alongside hard moments.

It’s thoughtful, heartfelt, a little unexpected, and very us. If you’ve ever needed a reminder that laughter and healing can coexist, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Cynthia and Josie’s Unmentionables, we speak with award winning journalist and TSN reporter Rick Westhead about Canadian hockey culture and the systems that shape young boys in sport.

Rick Westhead is the journalist who broke the 2022 Hockey Canada World Junior sexual assault allegations story. His book, We Breed Lions Confronting Canada’s Troubled Hockey Culture, examines junior hockey in Canada, locker room dynamics, hazing rituals, and the lack of accountability that has allowed harmful behaviour to persist.

We discuss how hockey has become deeply tied to Canadian identity, particularly in Ontario, Toronto, and communities across Canada, and why questioning hockey culture can provoke such intense backlash. Rick also reflects on social media harassment, power, masculinity, and the personal cost of investigating sport at the highest levels.

The conversation explores how minor hockey and elite junior leagues operate, how secrecy and humiliation are normalized, and why real change has been so difficult. At the same time, Rick highlights programs in Hamilton Ontario and across Canada that are teaching consent, healthy masculinity, and leadership through sport.

Proceeds from We Breed Lions support organizations including the London Abused Women’s Centre, the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre, and Canadian Tire Jumpstart, helping combat gender based violence and improve access to sport.

This episode is essential listening for parents, coaches, athletes, and anyone invested in the future of hockey in Canada.

Cynthia and Josie sit down for an honest, feel-good conversation about parenting, growth, and figuring it all out as they go. They share stories about big kid emotions, favourite mantras, and lessons from the past year; plus why empathy, reflection, and soaking up time with loved ones matter more than ever. It’s real, relatable, and full of heart.

Takeaways

• Cynthia's son expressed a profound realization about time and relationships.
• Listening to children during moments of distress can lead to meaningful conversations.
• Mantras can serve as guiding principles in life.
• Confusion does not equate to being lost or behind in life.
• Reflecting on the past year can reveal unexpected accomplishments.
• Teaching children about empathy and giving is crucial.
• Conversations about difficult topics can strengthen parent-child relationships.
• Personal growth often comes from navigating grief and loss.
• Finding joy in everyday moments is essential for happiness.
• The importance of self-awareness in managing ambitions and expectations.

Questions To Ask Yourself:

1. If this past year was a movie, what was the genre and what was the basic synopsis?

2. What moments in 2025 made me feel most alive?

3. Where did I grow the most?

4. How did I really spend my time and energy?

5. Who shaped this year with me?

6. If I had to name the one thing I’m most proud of this year, what would it be and why?

7. On a scale of 1-10...how would I honestly rate my happiness or sense of contentment this year and what influenced that number most?

8. What surprised me the most this year?

9. As I look toward the year ahead, what would be the highest, wisest use of my talents and attention?

In this episode, we sit down with W5’s Avery Haines to talk about her powerful investigation into a global online network of men who secretly drug, assault, and film their own partners and then share that abuse with others. Avery walks us through how she infiltrated this hidden world, what she uncovered, and the shocking truth about predators operating in plain sight.

Links:

W5

CTV NEWS

TIFF season means red carpets, champagne, and… high school flashbacks? We spill on the not-so-glam side of “exclusive” parties, social awkwardness among celebs, and why we’re fine never being the cool kids, because you can always sit with us.
SEO keywords: celebrity events, TIFF, influencer life, red carpet stories, social anxiety


Recently, The New York Times profiled a woman who fell in love with her ChatGPT persona - a charming digital guy named Leo. Which got us thinking: are frictionless AI relationships the future?
Meanwhile, we’re over here navigating very real relationship friction. So we’re sharing our best (and weirdest) strategies to smooth things out - including why treating your partner like a tiny child might actually… work? We can’t wait to hear what you think.

Link to NYT article: NYTIMES ARTICLE 

According to Self magazine, work should only take up 25% of our time. Cute idea… but how does that actually work for ambitious people like us? Is it possible to hustle with intention? Or do we all just need a full-on ambition detox given the state of… well, everything?
In this season four kickoff, we explain why it’s taken us so freaking long to come back, how you can reclaim your 5–9, and yes - we’re also talking about the Blue Jays (because balance).

Recently actress Jamie Lee Curtis shared some pretty strong feelings she has regarding cosmetic interventions that have become increasingly prevalent among women of (practically) all ages. So we decided to share our thoughts on what we will or won’t do, and whether these advancements are progressive or regressive. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this!

As many of you know, we had a hard time putting this podcast out…first Josie got hit by a rogue baseball and ended up with a concussion. When she was finally feeling okay, we sat down together and somehow ended up in a conversation about the state of the world. If you’re feeling heavy and unsure about how to help in these complicated times, we are right there with you.

Here are some places we are donating to:

Save The Children:

https://donate.savethechildren.ca/site/Donation2?3580.donation=form1&df_id=3580&mfc_pref=T&s_src=google_pmax&s_subsrc=gaza_pmax_ad&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21020103255&utm_term=&utm_content=gaza_googlepmax&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22665097113&gbraid=0AAAAADyLAB-QbBmjmVP6-Ho3j9sg-nxmu&gclid=CjwKCAjwqKzEBhANEiwAeQaPVf7LGP-y4_MW2cFKvit2iqAn-vdM0CJf3kvBLVXTYLR_TrwwHtWkmBoCNdMQAvD_BwE

The Palestine Children’s Relief fund:

https://www.pcrf.net/about-us

World Central Kitchen:

https://wck.org/news/gaza-update-7-25?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL4QRlleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp-8FpzIaa-FzEP7h0B2qZ8M9reMuEyZkmaeZQLFCh-xJkAM9I3mviSiagyae_aem_XUQVnX44lCxu7RXW8lTbqQ

Beyond Borders:

https://beyondborders.ie/?fbclid=PAQ0xDSwL4Qe5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABp3EgF8whYRkFQwNphR2d7Ga8SJlNQSX31EKTrKl69SG5OodPPlSPwGvhFqmY_aem_d7M6UXWe7Bp6UTaBs6-jCg.

Donate To Plan International

If you’re like us, you’re probably thinking about time in a big way these days. If you are juggling midlife and aging children/parents - rest assured you are not alone. In this episode we discuss how our attempts at trying to make everyone else happy leaves us feeling deeply unsatisfied, whether or not marital crushes are a deal breaker, and why it’s not too late to figure out what you want the rest of your year (and life) to feel like.