Living Well with Mark Henick

On this Bell Let’s Talk day episode, Mark catches up with Mary Deacon – Chair of the Bell Let’s Talk initiative for Bell Canada. Fitting for a national initiative with a global reach, Simon Blake joins the conversation from England, and Dr. Christina Iglesia from the US, to explore how stigma impacts people’s lives. #BellLetsTalk

Journalists have found themselves on the frontlines of trauma and crisis time and again. For today’s guests, COVID-19 isn’t the first and won’t be the last. So how do they manage? Mark talks with Canada’s longest serving medical correspondent, Avis Favaro of CTV National News. Crystal Goomansingh, Europe Bureau Chief for Global National, joins with her reflections on how they stories they tell impact journalists personally.

Last spring, many musicians and other performers had not only their livelihoods ripped away, but also their ability to express their art. Many found new ways to connect with audiences, and listeners flocked to the comfort of their creations. Why does music provide so much for both the creator and the listener? Mark explores with music therapist Dr. Joy Allen. UBC president Dr. Santa Ono returns to talk about his passion for cello and sharing songs of comfort.

Few people have experienced the trauma of the last year more acutely than healthcare workers on the frontlines. Dr. Jessi Gold is a psychiatrist who treats healthcare providers. She joins Mark to talk about the mental toll of working on healthcare’s frontline. Then, Mark speaks with popular radio host and emergency room physician Dr. Brian Goldman about what he’s been seeing on the ground.

Mark talks with Cherif Habib from Dialogue Technologies and Jacques Goulet from Sun Life Canada about how the tech sector responded so quickly to making healthcare services more accessible to people in the pandemic. They consider the rapid pace of change, the development of the Lumino Health platform, and how digital health landscape has changed so dramatically.

Jeff King joins Mark to talk about what the music industry is doing to support artists during this uncertain time. Then musician Suzi Kory joins from the road to talk about making it as a working musician, and using this time as a creative reset.

Mark catches up with Rhiannon Rosalind, President and CEO of the Economic Club of Canada. They touch on how corporate environments can better support mental health and well-being, and how she manages both being a mother and an influential corporate leader, all while working from home.

Mark kicks off Season 2 of the Living Well podcast for Morneau Shepell by chatting with Bruce Sellery about financial well-being, and how our spending is changing in this challenging time. Mark also touches base with CTV’s Chief Financial Commentator, Pattie Lovett-Reid, on how the markets are impacting people personally.

As workplaces continue to adapt to a dramatically new reality, employees continue to manage working from home. While many have adjusted, and even prefer it, to others it still feels like they're living at work. We revisit clips of Mark's conversations with Jennifer Fisher, Mary Ann Baynton, Dr. Elia Gourgouris, and Jonny Jacobs to explore issues related to the post-pandemic workplace. 

In late summer, we had a two-part special on parenting through the pandemic. Now, with Halloween approaching, parents are still navigating the challenges of raising kids in an ongoing, and even worsening global pandemic. Mark spoke with four experts and advocates for their perspectives on this. Prolific parenting writer Ann Douglas, mental health advocate and new mom Courtney Taylor, Morneau Shepell psychoeducator Emilie Morasse, and professor of child development Dr. Tonya Bibbs all joined Mark share their thoughts. Here's a bite-sized recap of their conversations.