Are you living your life to fit the expectations of others, or are you living it for yourself, your joy, and your passions?

Feeling obligated to live up to the expectations and demands of those around you is a mindset that so many people fall victim to. Scott Blasken joins me on the podcast today to share how he was able to break free from that and truly begin living a life he enjoys. For many this may sound like an unattainable dream, but Scott believes that this is a potential everyone can achieve if they have hope as an active component in life.

Listen in and take Scott’s advice to stop apologizing for where you’ve been, and begin living your life looking forward to where you want to be.

Scott Blasken grew up a big dreamer, who wanted his head in the clouds by flying airliners, but was forced to live on terra firma by being partially colorblind. After having his wings clipped by his colorblindness, he spent his youth and adult years chasing the goals he thought would satisfy others, and happily lived his life for other people. He followed the idyllic life of school, a successful corporate career, a wonderful marriage, a nice house, and amazing children. He spent a decade working with top-level business coaches, and with them he “accidentally” figured out he hadn’t been his true self.

After a quarter century at the same company, he was given the golden handshake, with a boot in the backside for good measure. Scott took his experience from an exciting and challenging career all through his life, and with insight from a circle of professional supporters, he peeled back the layers to rediscover that childhood excitement, wonderment, and love of life. Inside his head and heart lies the opposition of needing everything black and white, but loving when his world was full of color.

As a commercial photographer, Scott loves that his crazy, creative mind and heart are allowed to run free within the confines of project scheduling, budgeting, and execution. Scott loves insightful conversations with others about the journey of chasing a self imposed set of goals to please others, because many others often say, “Yeah, me too!”

He’s humbled by the place, the time, and the circumstances he was born into. The wonderful life he’s led to this point is exactly what was needed to continue to grow, expand his photography business, and the mindblowing trajectory he has planned, prepped, and manifested.

To learn more, you can connect with Scott on LinkedIn.

Do you have a relationship with your neighbors? Likely, you know a couple of them, and maybe even say hello in passing, without actually having a connection with them. But it wasn’t that long ago that people really depended on their neighbours and immediate communities for support in daily life.

Community advocate Evan Spencer joins me on the podcast today to discuss why it is still so important to intentionally build up those relationships and create a united vision of community. It may involve stepping outside of your comfort zone, especially after a year in quarantine. But by cultivating these connections, we can foster genuine care and hope in our neighborhoods and cities.

Ready to change the narrative in your community? Listen in!

Evan Spencer is a passionate and experienced community advocate, emerging policy nerd, family man, and a great neighbour. He lives and plays in Ward 12 in Calgary as a father to two kids, husband, neighbour, and volunteer. He has a passion for building outstanding communities.

To learn more, visit his website and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

Where‌ ‌there’s‌ ‌a‌ ‌will,‌ ‌there’s‌ ‌a‌ ‌way.‌ ‌

‌It’s‌ ‌a‌ ‌popular‌ ‌saying,‌ ‌but‌ ‌as‌ ‌today’s‌ ‌guest‌ ‌proves,‌ ‌it’s‌ ‌also‌ ‌totally‌ ‌true.‌ ‌Kelly‌ ‌Strongitharm‌ ‌believes‌ ‌that‌ ‌there’s‌ ‌‌always‌ ‌‌a‌ ‌way‌ ‌to‌ ‌reach‌ ‌your‌ ‌goals.‌ ‌You‌ ‌just‌ ‌need‌ ‌to‌ ‌figure‌ ‌out‌ ‌how‌ ‌and‌ ‌make‌ ‌it‌ ‌happen.‌ ‌Today‌ ‌she‌ ‌shares‌ ‌her‌ ‌incredible‌ ‌story‌ ‌of‌ ‌hope‌ ‌with‌ ‌us,‌ ‌detailing‌ ‌the‌ ‌risks‌ ‌and‌ ‌opportunities‌ ‌she‌ ‌seized‌ ‌in‌ ‌order‌ ‌to‌ ‌make‌ ‌her‌ ‌vision‌ ‌a‌ ‌reality.‌ ‌Her‌ ‌ambition‌ ‌and‌ ‌trust‌ ‌in‌ ‌her‌ ‌own‌ ‌ability‌ ‌to‌ ‌take‌ ‌on‌ ‌big‌ ‌challenges‌ ‌is‌ ‌not‌ ‌only‌ ‌inspiring,‌ ‌but‌ ‌has‌ ‌allowed‌ ‌her‌ ‌to‌ ‌accomplish‌ ‌amazing,‌ ‌seemingly‌ ‌impossible‌ ‌things‌ ‌time‌ ‌and‌ ‌time‌ ‌again.‌ ‌

‌You‌ ‌can‌ ‌do‌ ‌the‌ ‌seemingly‌ ‌impossible‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌own‌ ‌life.‌ ‌Believe‌ ‌in‌ ‌yourself,‌ ‌believe‌ ‌in‌ ‌your‌ ‌goals,‌ ‌and‌ ‌take‌ ‌action‌ ‌on‌ ‌your‌ ‌dreams.‌ ‌Listen‌ ‌in!‌ ‌

About‌ ‌Kelly‌ ‌Strongitharm:‌ ‌

Kelly‌ ‌Strongitharm‌ ‌is‌ ‌the‌ ‌founder‌ ‌of‌ ‌the‌ ‌‌Ruben’s‌ ‌Shoes‌ ‌Society‌‌ ‌and‌ ‌the‌ ‌author‌ ‌of‌ ‌‌I‌ ‌am‌ ‌Emmanuel‌.‌ ‌As‌ ‌a‌ ‌child‌ ‌of‌ ‌adoption,‌ ‌Kelly‌ ‌understands‌ ‌the‌ ‌profound‌ ‌need‌ ‌for‌ ‌all‌ ‌children‌ ‌to‌ ‌know‌ ‌belonging‌ ‌and‌ ‌connection.‌ ‌In‌ ‌2020,‌ ‌she‌ ‌became‌ ‌the‌ ‌mom‌ ‌to‌ ‌a‌ ‌beautiful‌ ‌boy‌ ‌from‌ ‌Haiti,‌ ‌and‌ ‌her‌ ‌mission‌ ‌to‌ ‌create‌ ‌impact‌ ‌at‌ ‌home,‌ ‌as‌ ‌well‌ ‌as‌ ‌abroad,‌ ‌became‌ ‌her‌ ‌next‌ ‌great‌ ‌purpose.‌ ‌Her‌ ‌love‌ ‌of‌ ‌animals,‌ ‌mostly‌ ‌her‌ ‌2‌ ‌dogs,‌ ‌has‌ ‌translated‌ ‌into‌ ‌a‌ ‌plant-based‌ ‌lifestyle,‌ ‌where‌ ‌she‌ ‌hopes‌ ‌to‌ ‌expand‌ ‌on‌ ‌this‌ ‌on‌ ‌her‌ ‌new‌ ‌5‌ ‌acre‌ ‌property‌ ‌that‌ ‌she‌ ‌was‌ ‌able‌ ‌to‌ ‌manifest‌ ‌into‌ ‌reality.‌ ‌

‌To‌ ‌learn‌ ‌more,‌ ‌you‌ ‌can‌ ‌connect‌ ‌with‌ ‌Kelly‌ ‌on‌ ‌‌LinkedIn‌.‌ ‌

Mentioned‌ ‌in‌ ‌This‌ ‌Episode:‌ ‌

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

Chiropractic care is often seen as cracking backs to help relieve pain. And while that can be true, that is only a small part of what a chiropractor can really do.

Dr. Madelyn Plett joins the podcast today to shed light on how chiropractic care has evolved over the years and how it truly contributes to your holistic wellbeing. Called to her career early in life after a transformative chiropractic experience of her own, Madelyn shares the importance of this care in proactive health care, healing trauma, and bringing a stronger balance to the connection between your body and mind. She has seen first hand the transformation this has brought to her patients of all ages, and is passionate about helping others be able to live deeper, more hopeful lives.

Listen in to learn more about this pathway to hope!

Dr. Madelyn Plett was born and raised in Calgary. She has 3 siblings and is lucky to be a part of a big chaotic loving family. When I was 16, she saw her first chiropractor. It changed her life and she knew at that age it was what she wanted to be. She completed her bachelor of science at the University of Calgary and then moved to San Francisco Bay Area for chiropractic college. There, her passion for chiropractic was catapulted.

She began acquiring additional training to better care for pregnant and pediatric populations, which has become her focus in practice. Madelyn and her partner have started their own office in Calgary called Connected Chiropractic, where they work to bring high quality, heart-focused care to Calgary’s individuals and families.

To keep up with them, follow them on Instagram.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

If you were asked to write down a story from your life, what would you write? If you just thought, “I don’t have any stories to share”, you’re wrong. We all have moments from our lives that are worth writing down and sharing.

Stories are emotion. Our stories build who we are. And, as today’s guest teaches, our stories connect us to hope. Not only hope for ourselves, but hope for others as well. The things you experience in your day to day life, even small snippets of meaning, can carry inspiration to others who may read about it.

Do you want to capture your stories and share your legacy? Tune in to learn more from Lea’s expertise as she shares why writing is important and how you can begin doing it yourself.

Lea Storry writes, edits, and publishes your stories - from memoirs, to corporate histories, to blogs, and websites. She’s written family stories about war brides from England heading to the Banff backcountry with their husbands, as well as stories about doctors who have met Saddam Hussein. She’s also written about companies that started with a spark of an idea and now have locations spread out across the province.

Lea is an author and a writing coach, too, and offers people who want to write their stories some guidance in the process.

To learn more, you can find Lea on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

You know that there is an end in sight, but you don’t know what it looks like. Or... do you? No, you can’t see into the future, but as today’s guest teaches, you can create a vision of the future you desire, and guide your life in that direction.

Taher Dawoodi joins the podcast today to talk about intention, resilience, and compassion as you craft yourself and your life into what you want it to be. It’s not always easy, but Taher teaches us that doing the “easy” thing just guides us further away from the future we want for ourselves. You must be intentional to keep control of your destiny and design a life you love.

Tune in, and start creating a vision for your future!

Taher Dawoodi is a chemical engineer turned marketer. He is a father of three lovely daughters, a husband, the founder of Basar Optimization, and a geek at heart. He has lived in India, Dubai, the United States, and is now settled in Canada.

To learn more, you can follow him on LinkedIn.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

Many believe that joy is something that certain people are just born with, or that it is a feeling only afforded to the privileged. Today’s guest firmly disagrees and has made it her mission to help everyone find the spots of joy in their lives.

Leona deVinne joins us today to share how she found joy during times of immense trauma and difficulty, and how she now helps others experience more of it. It’s not simply an emotion for the privileged, but a lens through which we can all see the opportunities ahead. Leona teaches us that joy and hope work hand in hand by helping us to see the possibilities and then drawing us forward through trials.

Listen in to hear her research backed method for finding joy in life and begin finding the spots of joy in your own.

Leona deVinne is a certified coach and facilitator at deVille Partners, Chief Joy Injector, and Sock Broker at Joy Socks. In her professional life as a leadership coach and consultant, she provides leaders across the globe with the research backed tools to lead with exquisite expertise that creates teams and thriving organizations.

Leona is someone who needed three years of coaching to gain the courage to write her first blog, only later to be personally invited by Arianna Huffington to blog for the HuffPost. In her book, Finding Your Joy Spot, Leona draws upon her personal experiences from living with a life-threatening illness and healing after a heart-breaking divorce, to learning how to discover more joy in her life than she had ever known.

Leona knows that Joy is found in the simplest of moments and also experienced when one lives from a deeply rooted place of living with purpose, and it's her mission to have people experience more of it. She believes that Joy is the juice that nourishes a thirsty world. Her mission is to help people find more joy by bringing their gifts and talents to the world. By sharing her expertise as a joy guru, professional coach, and facilitator, Leona helps others live their best lives and supports them as they turn their ideas into reality.

To learn more, visit her website and connect with Leona on Facebook and Instagram, and sign up for the pre-release list for her book.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

We all have dreams and goals we are motivated to achieve. But sometimes when we finally achieve those goals, we find they don’t align with what we actually want in life. Maybe your priorities changed or the lifestyle just doesn’t end up meeting your needs. How can you move forward from that?

This is something today’s guest is all too familiar with. Eric Wiehler got the opportunity to experience his dream job, but he soon learned that it wasn’t everything he thought it would be. His mindset shifted and he reevaluated what was important and real to him, and he was able to transition into a new stage in his life without any regrets for what he had experienced.

Tune in to hear how he was able to move forward through this transition. If you feel like your current situation isn’t all you expected, know that you gave it your all. You got to experience your dream, and if it’s not for you that’s okay. There is still more for you.

Eric is the current operations manager of Wiehler Mechanical, a company specializing in solving problems in the plumbing and HVAC trade.

A lover of sports, Eric previously spent 4 years living in Toronto working his dream job at TSN as a writer. He enjoys travelling, playing pretty much any sport, and drinking a good Old Fashioned. He is also enjoying the humbling experience of being a father to his 4 month old son, Jackson.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

Your mental and physical well-being is like a big tree with many branches. There are so many moving parts that all work together to help us feel healthy and whole. Vitamins, medicine, therapy, massage and more help to support you in different ways. So, when looking at the big picture of your well-being, what is supporting your spiritual wellness and re energizing you to reach your purpose?

Geneva Robins joins us today to talk about Reiki as the perfect complementary therapy and support you may be looking for to fill that need. Backed by science and positive results, Reiki works to help create a bridge between where you are and where you want to go so that you can move into a fuller aspect of your life.

By feeling, holding, and aligning your energy and focusing with intention, you’ll find that anything is possible for you. Tune in to learn more and support the spiritual wedge of your well-being.

Geneva Robins is a Reiki master, an author, and the founder of LunaHolistic: Calgary’s Reiki Centre. Reiki is an energy therapy that helps people feel centered and peaceful. Geneva is a teacher of meditation and Reiki with over 28 years of spiritual study. She’s also the author of The Secret Art of Happiness: How to Change Your Life with the Reiki Ideals, as well as journals, planners, and oracle card decks. She loves her work because she gets to help people connect to their purpose and re energize their lives.

To learn more, you can visit her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.

Long-time listeners of this podcast know that addiction is a topic close to my heart. It’s also very misunderstood. Addiction doesn’t discriminate. No matter your walk of life or your standing in society, you are susceptible to it and its effects.

But today’s guest is here to tell us that it doesn’t have to be this way. Your life and habits can be different. Dennis Shinski has walked the crooked path of recovery, and now works to help others do the same. In today’s episode, Dennis shares his journey and the choices he has had to continually make along the way.

If addiction has impacted your life, tune in to learn more about how you can take back control and have a future brighter than today.

Today’s guest is Dennis Shinski, a 4th year Social Work student at the University of Calgary. Dennis worked in the Trades & Industry for 14 years with many different roles from labourer to supervisor, before transitioning out of Oil and Gas Industry and into Grande Prairie Regional College to work towards getting accepted into the UofC’s Social Work program. He has worked and volunteered in the mental health field for over 7 years, and has been helping people in recovery from addiction for over 8 years. He was also in a documentary called “Digging in the Dirt” that aired on CBC. The documentary focuses on men’s mental health and the crisis in the Trades & Industry sector around suicide and addiction.

Currently, Dennis works at a high school as a Youth Advocate and a FNMI liaison where he shares his lived experience to make a difference in the lives of others, inspiring hope and the courage to change. Follow him on Instagram to learn more.

Love scrolling social media? You can find me on FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, and INSTAGRAM. If you're interested to learn more about my other programs, find additional podcast episodes and my most popular experience, Wellness Webinars, check it all out on my website, Expert in Hope as well.