Many of us lately, for a few months now, haven’t been sitting in rush hour traffic and juggling work, errands, carpools and extracurricular activities. Stress levels, aside from the fact we are living through and coming out of a world pandemic, will likely set back in- and maybe we will find we return to the craziness with a new perspective and focus. I know my focus and perspective on life changed a few years ago leaving the world of television behind in search of personal growth and new challenges. My guest today experienced something very similar. Traci Shepheard was enjoying an incredibly successful 20 plus year career in the corporate world. Mingling with celebrities, jetting off to new destinations, travelling, running the show and keeping up with every mover and shaker in her industry. - And then her mission changed, and it really slowed down, down to the point, where breath, a simple breath became her focus. Traci created Meditation Works Mindstream, Canada’s first mobile meditation studio with the mission of sharing the benefits of meditation with Canadians, positively disrupting their day. Traci’s concept gained national exposure when she pulled up to hospital driveways in her iconic Airstream bus during Covid and gave the staff a much-needed reprieve from the craziness inside. 

You can find more information at https://meditationworks.com/

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For many of us- life is still somewhat on pause and for others things only got busier. However, for many professional athletes- life came to an uncomfortable and scary standstill.

Such has been the case for RedBlacks running back Brendan Gillanders. Hand him a hockey stick- and he can shoot, a pair of running shoes and he will spring from the blocks, throw him the football and he’ll run into the endzone- and then celebrate while playing on his guitar- essentially he’s what my friends and I used to call “The Man Of All Seasons”. 

But- that’s not the reason why Brendan Gillanders is joining us on the podcast- this homegrown talent and former Ottawa U Gee Gee’s player and Kinesiology major, is a fan favourite with the CFL's RedBlack. With a season on hold, a life on hold, Brendan is going back to his roots and his education helping others stay on track with their health and wellness goals and giving young athletes an added advantage for their own uncertain futures. We are talking nutrition, fitness and recovery, staying top of mind, on top of your game even when the finish line is not quite known. Our chat goes far beyond athletes and can resonate with even the couch potato :)

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We are coming out of a time when those who cared for others became our new heroes- those in the medical profession, from the doctors to the nurses, the long term care home staff, the janitors, chefs, cooks and cleaners. These jobs finally acknowledged and recognized for their real value and putting their own health at risk to care for others.

Prior to COVID, this health care worker also came in the form of a caregiver- the reality is however, not all caregiver are given that title- they are family members and close friends often finding themselves in a new role. It's not always the easiest thing to balance- someone elses well being as well as your own.

Dawn Renee is the founder of Traveling Caregivers, a pioneer holistic caregiver herself, complimenting her work by integrating herbal medicine, ayuerveda, energy work and emotional guidance. She bridges the gap between balance of life while navigating a multitude of caregiving concerns with health, a holistic lifestyle, administration and advocacy.

Over the past decade she has been instrumental in helping individuals reclaim their health and lives on their own terms, in their own way. Dawn joins us from Nashville Tennessee.

You can learn more about Dawn and her work at http://travelingcaregivers.com/

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So often I hear from woman who are going through transformation- looking to find themselves, be healthier, engage in more meaningful relationships, remove the limiting beliefs and the roadblocks that seem to turn up at every corner - And even If we are strong, powerful woman, why is it that sometimes we feel disconnected, empty and incomplete.

Cherie Burton is a pioneering spiritual psychologist whose evolutionary "STAND SPEAK SHINE" method transforms women into authentically embodied and empowered feminine leaders. As a mother of six, author, international speaker and host of "The Women Seeking Wholeness Podcast" she is passionately driven to guide women to heal, express and create, using the “new feminine leadership paradigm.”

I also get, from this intro that it would seem life has been nothing but rainbows and unicorns for this former beauty queen. However, for decades, she battled feelings of shame, insignificance & depression. She comes from a family pedigree riddled with addiction & mental illness. She lost a sister to suicide and lost her own daughter at just 4 days old. Cherie’s journey, life experience, coaching and emotional healing methods is what I hope will inspire you over the course of the podcast. Cheris is based out of Utah. l healing methods is what I hope will inspire you over the course of the podcast. Cheris is based out of Utah.

You can find more information at: https://cherieburton.com/

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For months I didn’t spend a cent on gas. I had a tank that seriously lasted me almost four months and my credit card saw very few purchases. I wore the same outfit days at a time, the shampoo and conditioner lasted longer-(I mean I never did my hair) and I rarely ate a meal that wasn’t cooked and prepared in my home. Which brings me to the totally absurd amount I spent on groceries- never had I seen the bills look that way- or the food in the fridge disappear as fast as it came in. All meals were eaten at home, all snacks, late night snacks, bored eating snacks emotional eating snacks, everything…was part of our new normal. I have a family of four- two daughters- I can’t imagine what the grocery bill was like for my friends with teenage sons. 

So, while much of the stranded at home is behind us- we are still struggling with food- snacks, eating, budgeting, healthy foods, healthy snacks and meal planning through the summer. I've brought in some help to give you some additional resources, tips, tricks and inspiration and she’s even handing over her top 15 healthy Costco snack list.

Melanis Reid-Woodcock is a mom of 4, a registered Holistic Nutritionist and the founder of Balanced Plate Nutrition and The Balance Mama Method. Melanie had four kids in 8 years, struggled to bounce back, struggled to find her new sexy, and in time managed to find her ways to optimize her time and the families schedule and routine.It’s possible to achieve your optimal health in a way that fits your current lifestyle and have Simplicity, Vitality & Balance.

For more information: https://balancedplatenutrition.com/

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I had heard the name Jana Webb circulating in my cirlces for quite some time- either through the athletic world or the TV world, but we had never actually met or crossed paths. Then in the span of two weeks Jana was a guest on two different virtual events I was hosting and the timing was perfect for have her on as a guest.

Some of you may be familiar with her name if you are a fan of The Real Housewives of Toronto or maybe you have heard of JOGA or JOGA House. Jana created JOGA which is yoga for athletes, a popular training tool for professional sports teams and you may have seen her on youtube, entertainment tonight, TEDTalks, on the cover of fitness magazines….and the list goes on.

Her success training professional athletes all around the world is amazing and the concept behind JOGA is something I was eager to learn more about- movement and breath. But that's just a sliver of the story- it's her miraculous recovery from a horrible car accident a few years ago that really puts into perspective the power of the body to heal itself, and the power of the mind to be the greatest asset. Jana is still recovering from a broken back in three places and serious concussion symptoms but is living in the present moment and using our authentic voice to do so. There is plenty to learn from her story and inspiring tools and outlooks to bring into your own life. 

You can find more about Jana on Instagram and twitter under @jogajana

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We are three months down of dealing with COVID. Some of you have taken advantage of the isolation and invested in your physical and mental health, using the extra time to get in a workout, a walk or something active. Some of you have had more difficult things to deal with and this just wasn't the time to add more to stress, or something new to the day- either way- you did what was right for you. My mission however, is to keep you inspired to chose a journey towards physical and mental health and its never too late to start. I have brought in a powerhouse to kickstart the conversation- and he’s seen and heard it all working with thousands of clients to overcome their personal hurdles. Selected twice as one of Canada's Top Fitness Trainers, and a National Champion for the Canadian Men’s Health Foundation, Tommy Europe is one of Canada’s most recognized fitness personalities. He is an "Award Winning Fitness Coach, Grey Cup Champion, Best Selling Author and known as the tough love television host of the “The Last 10 Pounds Bootcamp” and “Bulging Brides". Tommy Europe Fitness has grown from one-on-one personal fitness training to include a suite of services, including corporate wellness programs, online training sessions, personal appearances, lead actor training, professional speaking and more. In our conversation we talk about his SHRED philosophy that has nothing to do with "shredding" your body. It brings in all components to our physical and mental well being.

You can find more about Tommy at https://www.tommyeurope.tv/

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It's a buzz word we seem to hear often enough and yet it's actually not an accepted medical diagnosis. It is a lay term applied to a collection or a cluster of nonspecific symptoms, such as body aches, fatigue, brain fog, nervousness, stress, sleep disturbances, cold hands and feet, digestive problems and the list goes on. Marek Doyle, a British Functional Nutrition Therapist has spent the last 13 years looking through data, patient outcomes and the disconnect between scientific literature, medical standard of care and real life outcomes. This was a personal mission for Marek having to face his own metabolic issues as well. Featured in a number of media publications like Men's Health and the Daily Mail, this Londoner, prior to covid, was a popular attraction at numerous conferences including the Health Optimization Summit in which he spoke about the Adrenal Immune Cycle. We talk about his personalized approach to each individual and how their body thrives or misfires, the mechanisms that link stress, inflammation and energy metabolism, organic acid tests and so much more.

For more information about Marek check out http://www.marekdoyle.com

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Keeping our children in mind, I figured this was a great time to bring in Lindsay Sealey. Lindsay is an educator, consultant, mentor and facilitator. She is the author of Growing Strong Girls and Rooted, Resilient and Ready and she’s the CEO and founder of Bold New Girls and Brave New Boys. Bold New Girls is a unique teaching and coaching company, merging academic, social and emotional support, while emphasizing empowerment. Right now we are having difficult conversations, cancellations of plans and opportunities, online schooling, endless screen time, limited social interaction, or worse- sexting, the challenges of healthy eating, daily movement and the list goes. Not only are we as parents exhausted- I can only imagine the educators are as well- juggling their own families while being online with ours. We have gone through periods of focus and attention with school work to more recently total agitation and frustration of it as well. Socially we are all adapting- although not necessarily for the better. Lindsay helps us understand what might be happening with their maturing brains. For any of you past these growing pains, well past puberty, or childhood and into your adult years- you might recognize how maybe - had topics or events been handled or discussed differently with your parents – the way you see things or the experiences you had may have been different. Lindsay, considers herself a difference-maker, a social activist intentional about promoting local and global social change joined us from Vancouver.

For more: https://www.lindsaysealey.com/ 

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It started with the acceptance of the grey hairs, then the COVID haircuts became a trend moving to the " At Home" grooming kits, the "Do It Yourself" lash and nail removals and the list goes on. Many of you out there have been pleading for the beauty industry to be considered an essential services- this podcast – I hope – will give you a new sense of beauty from within! Throughout the years, Melody Iafelice and I have spent a lot of time talking on TV about beauty, products, techniques and the ever elusive "Fountain Of Youth". If she wasn’t talking to me, she was on other Canadian broadcast channels chatting about similar topics, working on national campaigns and lending her expertise on The Shopping Channel. She is an incredible makeup artist with her work in a number of high-profile publications, but its what lies underneath the foundation, mascara and eye liner that has clients and companies lining up. Melody explains it best " I am a master at coaxing the confidence out of women, a nerd when it comes to age-defying skincare, and have a passion for teaching women how to feel their best without buying into the latest beauty craze". After 25 years in the makeup and beauty industry Melody shares her daily tips and tricks for both men and women and how we can best care for ourselves during this surreal time in life without the amenities and professional services- and also for many, with limited financial resources. Self care is not selfish- its essential! Enjoy this fun and light-hearted conversation that will have you tossing items from your makeup bag and making different decisions at the drugstore.

For more on Melody: http://www.melodyiafelice.com

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