I Have My Reasons

In this episode of I Have My Reasons, Deandra Dey sits down with Tamara Lich. Tamara is a Metis grandmother, musician, author and activist. Tamara is well known for her involvement with the Freedom Convoy Protest, a massive national protest movement that took place in February 2022 calling for the end to vaccine and lockdown mandates imposed during the COVID 19 pandemic. 

When this podcast was recorded Tamara was still awaiting the verdict for charges pressed against her by the Crown. While the media has portrayed a very specific story about who Tamara is and what the Freedom Convoy protest was all about, Tamara is here on this podcast sharing pieces of her story.

In this podcast we discuss:

- The misconceptions of the freedom convoy movement

- Some of the finer details of the protest 

- How she became involved in the movement 

- Tamara personal experience and life as she awaits her verdict 

- Her take on politics now 

... And more!

Show Links:
Military Propaganda Testing- Ottawa Citizen

Hold the Line- Tamara Lich

Judge Rules Use of The Emergencies Act Violation of Protesters Charter of Rights and Freedoms 

Connect with Deandra 

Grit and Growth Wellness
Deandra’s Instagram
Deandra Website 

In this episode of I Have My Reasons, Deandra sits down with Anishinabe Elder Bev Rita Jones. Bev is a non traditionalist Elder who is from Keeseekoowenin First Nation in Manitoba Canada. In this episode Deandra and Bev discuss Bev's documentary "Policy Baby" where is which she shares her remarkable journey growing up in- between two worlds deeply impacted by colonial policy. Bev also shares heartfelt stories about her healing journey as well as some really important upcoming initiatives such as her Annual Water Walk and her ceremony planned for June 21st in Riding Mountain National Park.

Get in touch with BevRita Jones:
Anishinaabe Ikwe Water Walk June 13-17
Policy Baby Trailer
Email: [email protected]

Connect with Deandra:
Grit and Growth Wellness
Deandra’s Instagram
Deandra Website

In this episode of I Have My Reasons Deandra sits down for the second time with Astrologer and Jungian dream analyst Martin Comtois. Martin was visiting Manitoba on his journey across Canada to care for his mother during the last weeks of her life. Deandra and Martin recorded this podcast during the April solar eclipse, an auspicious time!  In this conversation, they are talking specifically about Dreamwork!

Connect with Martin:
Healer Dreamer Astrology
Youtube
Email

Connect with Deandra:
Grit and Growth Wellness
Deandra’s Instagram
Deandra Website

In this episode of I Have My Reasons Deandra sits down with Juno nominated singer- songwriter and guitarist extraordinaire Cara Luft. As a Folk heroine Luft deserves her solid reputation as one of Canada’s finest live performers whose engaging, down-home style comes wrapped in a warm and delicious sense of humor.

In this episode Deandra and Cara discuss:

Cara’s childhood steeped in music and community
Being a woman in the changing and evolving music industry
The archetype of the artist and landing in trust
The beginning of the crowd funding and patreon era
Life performance and community connection

And more!


Connect with Cara Luft:
Website
Instagram
Spotify

Connect with Deandra:
Grit and Growth Wellness
Deandra’s Instagram
Deandra Website

In this episode of I Have My Reasons, Deandra and Karli sit down with Sarah Salter Kelly who was visiting and offering workshops in Erickson Manitoba this past spring. Sarah is a talented writer, healer and speaker.

Her wisdom is authentic, embodied and hard won – generated through years of integrating the tragic homicide of her mother and learning to forgive the perpetrator – alongside 30 years of studying personal growth, mysticism, restorative justice, and earth-based healing traditions.

Over the past 16 years she has run a private healing practice, facilitated retreats in Canada and in Peru, taught trauma-focused and shamanic healing workshops, and presented at conferences/public events. Most recently she has authored her first book Trauma as Medicine.

In this episode Deandra and Karli sit down with Sarah and discuss:
- The conception and birth of her book “Trauma as Medicine”
- Trauma healing as a self led empowered journey
- Living an embodied life
- Psychedelic therapy
- Healing and motherhood
- And so much more!

Connect with Sarah Salter Kelly:
Website
Instagram
Facebook

Connect with Deandra and Karli: 

Grit and Growth Wellness
Deandra’s Instagram
Deandra Website

Youtube Video:

In this episode Deandra sits down with singer song-writer Alana Levandoski.  Alana has a remarkable way of transforming complex concepts and experiences into songs that speak to your heart and bones.  Her recent work, CIANALAS/TÃSKNOTA is being released under a new name MEDIATRI XXX. This Folk Opera resonates deeply with listeners as its story is both our history and our present.  Alana, a scholar at heart, has so much to offer and yet they are just breaking the surface in this conversation.

In this episode they discuss:

- Living the life of an artist and mother in a non conventional way
- Her journey in the music industry and her eventual exit
- Her time in a monastery which birthed a new musical path   
- Western Mysteries versus state religion
- The importance of nuance in these cultural and political times
- The creation of art  without an agenda
- The loss and then the remembering of our stories
- Her Folk Opera: CIANALAS/TÃSKNOTA

ALANA:
MEDIATRI XXX Spotify
Instagram: @themediatrix
MEDIATRI XXX Facebook
Alana Levandoski Spotify
Alana Levandoski Facebook
SUBSTACK

DEANDRA:
Spotify
Instagram: Deandra.dey.music
Counselling at Grit and Growth Wellness

RESOURCES:
Ever-Present Origin by Jean Gebser

In this episode of I Have My Reasons Deandra sits down with Kate Joyer. Kate is an artist, an activist and an alchemist of eros. She created The Dancing Serpent Mystery school, a temple of individual and collective awakening. Kate is passionate about supporting women in awakening their lost feminine through mentorship, deep feminine meditation dance and group work.

In this episode we discuss:
- How Kate came to this work
- Reclaiming the lost feminine, Eros and our deepest love as part of our collective path       forward
- Soul initiation, and soul-centered living
- Connection to earth and nature as part of our awakening and more!

The song Deandra spoke about in the podcast: https://open.spotify.com/track/5dRp6ChkPy9UGP8RzNK33S?si=07fda518e8734e57

Connect with Kate:
Website: https://dancingserpent.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancing.serpent/
Radio Show/Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3eEOnOPlUunWk1UeQdgIgw?si=f4e9c5bce83a4b45

Connect with Deandra: 

Website www.deandradey.com
Counselling: www.gritandgrowth.center
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deandra.dey.music/

In this episode of I Have My Reasons Deandra sits down with Gord Oaks. Gord is a Musician and Certified Shiatsu Acupressure Therapist (a relative of Acupuncture). He has been exploring, studying, and applying Qi Gong, Yoga and Meditation in his life and work since 1991, and is a firm advocate for the empowering and Universal nature of the internal healing arts.  This episode was recorded outside, so along with our conversation, you can hear the wonderful sounds of the Manitoba spring.

In this episode Gord and Deandra share in conversation about:

• Gord's story and his journey of monastic lifestyle
• Mindfulness practises as a way of healing and cultivating our attention 
• The impact of clinging to things and the idea of right effort 
• The middle path as described in Buddhism as the inclusive path 
• Creativity and music

You can connect with Gord here:
www.patreon.com/gordoaks

Gords Music:
Love Uprising album on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Love-Uprising-Gord-Oaks/dp/B016TEUME4

Love Uprising on Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/gord-oaks/1050481837

Or on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/530qYcjx1xjmCCk3FRA7GU

Resources Shared by Gord:

• The Power of Now” by Eckhart Tolle
• “The Tao of Pooh” book. 
• “The Tao Te Ching” translation by Stephen Mitchell
• “Peace is Every Step” by Tich Nhat Hahn
• “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran
• Any book by the western Ajahn Chah Sangha found at https://forestsangha.org/teachings/books

In this episode of I HAVE MY REASONS Deandra sits down Annie Brees. Annie is a women's health coach and co-founder of both Balance 365 and Raise The Bar Initiative. In this episode she is hilarious, honest, and shares her practical yet wise approach to showing up as yourself for yourself and others. 

                                                               In this episode they discuss:  

• The nuances of relationships- managing our expectations and ideals of who someone is
• Annie’s weightlifting journey- being a women in a male dominated space  
• Habits as a continual recommitment to self 
• Balance 365- a women's health coaching company 
• Reclaiming exercise and nutrition for balanced health 
• The “all or something” approach to wellness 
• Letting go of outside expectations of who we are supposed to be as women 
• Trusting yourself, your desires, your experience and your emotions 
• Connection to self is a unique journey 
• Living your values of out choice not obligations

                                                                              Resources:

Annie Brees 

Instagram: @annie.brees

Balance 365: https://www.instagram.com/balance365life/

Instagram: @balance365life

Raise The Bar Initiative: https://raisethebarinitiative.com/

Instagram: @raisethebarinitiative

Deandra Dey 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1uMKb5lj24r8Y7hDyWSYd2

Instagram: @deandra.dey.creative

Counselling Website: gritandgrowth.center

IHMR YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRxrRT-5NkCJhVNyla3auA