Alex is a mom, speaker, certified coach, writer, and co-host of the Let’s Not Sugarcoat It Podcast. After navigating a two decade roller coaster of a relationship with booze, she embarked on a journey to discover what life looked like on the other side of the bottle. Follow her recovery journey @ontheothersideofthebottle or hear her unfiltered take on life on this podcast.

In this episode we ‘get into it’ with Alex about:

-Boozing 

-Addiction

-Her relationship with alcohol 

-Her marriage

-Alex and Bella’s friendship and 

-Hemi’s Holistic Healing Society

💡 Ready to share your own story? Join our course and Unleash Your Story to the world: letsnotsugarcoatit.com/courses.

Trisha Vergo is the reigning Mrs. Canadian World 2024/2025, with 14 years of experience in pageantry as a contestant, judge, and emcee. Trisha has spent her career breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, returning to university at 35 to pursue project management and now leading teams across North America.

A former Bachelor Canada contestant and City TV entertainment host, Trisha is passionate about empowering women and youth. She volunteers with the Uncles and Aunts Organization, advocates for youth through Mentorship Matters, and serves on the board of the Sinatra Aldea Foundation. Trisha was honored with Edmonton's Sizzling 20 Award for her community service.

In this episode we ‘get into it’ with Trisha about: 

-Mrs. Canadian World

-The pageantry business

-Stereotypes and shame around pageantry 

-Working in a male dominant industry 

-Reality TV and the pressures it brings 

-Her experience on the Bachelor Canada

-Her passion for mentoring and more.

Visit Trisha on IG to learn more. 

Ready to share your story with the world? Our next Book and Speaker Series starts April 2025. Visit our website to fill out an application. Let’s unleash your story to the world.

Lori Stevenson is the Executive Director for Dress for Success, She is an accomplished leader and manager with more than 25 years success in business management; organizational and team leadership; program and revenue development; and financial administration. Lori is a  results-oriented, collaborative team player passionate about bridging the gap between strategy and success through the coaching and mentoring others, with the proven ability to efficiently and effectively align a group to a common purpose. 

In this episode we ‘get into it’ with Lori about:

-Her move to BC

-Her passion for Philanthropy 

-Doing what you love

-Following your joy and 

-Dress for Success and all that they do! 

Find Lori on IG, and visit Dress for Success to learn more about their initiatives. 

💡 Ready to share your own story? Join our course and Unleash Your Story to the world: letsnotsugarcoatit.com/courses.

Adrienne Harris is a Numerologist and Relationship Coach dedicated to empowering women on their journey to self-discovery and meaningful relationships. With a unique approach that blends emotional intelligence, numerology, and spiritual insight, I guide my clients—especially divorced or married women—through transformative experiences that align them with their divine purpose and personal power. 

In this episode we 'get into it' with Adrienne about

-Numerology 

-Your divine purpose 

-Surprise numerology readings for Alex and Bella 

-Soul Path’s 

-Relationships and more

Follow Adrienne on her website or on IG. 

💡 Ready to share your own story? Join our waitlist and Unleash Your Story to the world: letsnotsugarcoatit.com/courses.

Tori is a registered dietitian, tech startup founder, food and lifestyle blogger and cookbook co-author of “Fraiche Food, Full Hearts” and the newly released “Fraiche Food, Fuller Hearts” with her cousin Jillian Harris. She is a busy entrepreneur and mom of two young boys residing in the picturesque wine region of Kelowna, British Columbia with my hubby Charles.  

In this episode we ‘get into it’ with Tori about:

• Motherhood
• Her blog
• Meal planning 
• Marriage 
• The mental load and more!

We hope you enjoy this exciting 100th episode! Follow Tori on Instagram and use the discount code SUGARCOAT to get a 20% discount off the first payment of a Fraiche Table membership, any membership type (monthly, annual).

Kyla is a teacher, turned medical mom, and bereaved momma. She has her husband Lyle and son Waylon by her side, and they miss their Brave Bella beyond measure. Currently she’s navigating life after her 10y old daughter’s passing and all the ways her 10 incredible years impacted her life as her mom. 

In this episode, we ‘get into’ it with Kayla about: 

-Losing her daughter Bella

-Becoming a medical mom

-The stress of navigating the medical system 

-Becoming an advocate for medical families

-Growing a platform and a following 

-Being heart centered

-Doing things for good

Learn more about the Bella Brave Legacy here and follow us Kyla on Instagram.  

Beyond Brave Podcast website:

https://beyondbrave.buzzsprout.com/

BellaBrave site + merch:

https://bella-brave.com/en-cad/

Tiktok

https://www.tiktok.com/@kylact?_t=8ryHtzwzJR9&_r=1

💡 Ready to share your own story? Join our waitlist and Unleash Your Story to the world: letsnotsugarcoatit.com/courses.

In this raw and unfiltered episode filmed over a year ago, Bella opens up about her marriage breakdown—a story she kept hidden for fear of judgment and unraveling the "perfect" narrative she once clung to. Through deep reflection and inner work, Bella has embraced the reality of life not always being as it seems.

We often build protective stories around ourselves, but true freedom lies in sharing our truth. Having shared her story several times since then, most recently at our book and speaker series, Bella reflects on how her perspective has evolved since recording this episode—and why it feels different unleashing it to the world now.

🎙 Listen now: pod.link/1664218499

Watch her most recent talk on KNEKT TV

💡 Ready to share your own story? Join our waitlist and Unleash Your Story to the world: letsnotsugarcoatit.com/courses.

Neera Opal is an intuitive life coach and Reiki Master. She lives in Kelowna

And is an entrepreneur and Mom to 3 kids. After her separation, she began to question who she was, it led her on a self-discovery journey where she found herself being guided by her intuition. Through her intuitive guidance, she found herself trying new things and feeling confident, loved and connected to peace. Through the process of transformation from grief and pain to love and acceptance,she learned many lessons. SHe decided to share that wisdom to empower others to connect and align with their authentic selves by trusting their intuition. Remembering who they are.

In this episode we ‘get into it’ with Neera about:

-Co-dependency 

-Finding yourself 

-Authenticity 

-Life after separation 

-Learning to adult for the first time at 40, and 

-The importance of self-love.

Visit Neera on her website or on Instagram. 

For more information on how you can get involved or support our community, visit our website and sign up for our newsletter. 

Episodes you might like:

Trusting Your Intuition as an Entrepreneur 

Letting go of old Stories 

Living Your Best Life with Ana Lozano 

Don’t forget to follow us on social. If you have have a story you want to share email us at [email protected]. 

Applications are open! Be part of our next Book and Speaker Series, apply today.

Episode 96: Unchartered Territory With Michelle Hooey

Michelle Hooey spent 18 years in corporate leadership. Then, she reached burnout and faced life’s toughest challenges: multiple pregnancy losses and welcoming her daughter, Goldie, who was born in 2023 with complex medical needs. That experience reshaped her world and led her to a deep spiritual journey. She became a certified Quantum Coach, now helping others shift from stuck to thriving, just as she did. Today, Michelle is committed to creating a purpose-driven life, both for herself and her family, and guiding others to do the same.

In this episode, we ‘get into it’ with Michelle about:

-Burnout 

-Pregnancy loss 

-The birth of her daughter Goldie

-The lessons she’s learned when life felt out of control 

-Her coaching business

-The beauty in life’s lessons

-Grief, sadness, relationships, and loss. 

Follow Michelle on Instagram or visit her website where you can get 20% her Future Me Program and the Big Shift program using the code: LETSNOTSUGARCOATIT. 

**TRIGGER WARNING CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

Jessalyn grew up very alone and experienced many forms of trauma. She spent most of her life feeling ashamed and burying everything she had experienced and was feeling. 

Through therapy, she started to process 3 decades of pain and trauma, from physical, mental, and emotional abuse, to time spent in Foster care and women’s shelters. She realized that there was one major experience She had been hiding from since the age of 10. She was a victim of the Child Sexual abuse/ Child porn case from Willow River BC in 1998.

After decades of being silenced she knew she wanted to share it with the world to give hope to anyone who is suffering from the effects of trauma and prove that no matter where you came from or what your story is, there can be beauty on the other side of pain.

In this episode we get into it about:

-Jessalyn’s story and the Willow River Case 

-Trauma 

-Forgiveness 

-Processing trauma decades after it happened

-Letting go of the pain we’ve been carrying and holding onto

-Healing energetically 

Follow Jessalyn on Instagram and listen to her podcast.