Millennial 911

Our first responders this week are Calgary artists Michelle Atkinson and Billie Rae Busby. These two have done what many deem impossible, making art their full-time job. Wow, did we cover some territory: Can your heart’s work really be your 9-5? Do creations lose their authenticity or intrinsic value when we monetize them? Can we even appreciate “good art” when we are inundated with content? Strap in and enjoy this worthwhile ride with two incredible women! 

3:08 - The journey taken to becoming full time artists

7:52 - How they became artists that could generate income

17:43 - Has our access to art via social media affected how we appreciate it?

26:05 - Do you risk losing authentic joy when seeking monetary compensation?

35:26 - The value of setting your own goals and metrics for success

38:34 - Making it happen as an artist: multiple income streams

55:57 - Opinions around having a financial safety net before making the leap

1:04:41 - Making things happen for themselves because they actually like what they do

Learn more and follow our guests!

Michelle Atkinson

Billie Rae Busby

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This week’s first responder is Laura Silver, a certified death doula. We tackle the paradox, as Laura says, that “death is often mentioned subtly and in hushed tones, and yet it is life’s one absolute guarantee.” This conversation was enlightening, heartfelt, and at times downright delightful. She shared the transcendent elements of death but also the practical steps that make all the difference. 

2:08 - Laura explains what a death doula is

2:40 - How Laura became a death doula

7:26 - The growing need for death doulas

11:03 - Topics Laura covers in her dying and death workshops

15:38 - What a day in the life of a death doula looks like

28:08 - What she’s learned and how she manages her own grief

32:49 - Her experience with the “other side”

37:04 - Misconceptions she’d like to clear up

46:10 - Where you can find Laura

Get in touch with Laura: https://www.deathdoulalaura.ca/

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Our first responder this week is Matt Widmer, co-founder of Wild Life Distillery. Although Matt’s distillery creates delicious bevies, our topic of conversation was the friendship agreement that he authored. Although it started as a lark, this ‘contractual agreement’ ensures Matt and his business partner Keith Robinson keep their friendship of primary importance. It turns out it’s a beautiful representation of not only how they run WLD, but live their lives.

2:12 - How Wildlife Distillery came to be

8:23 - Benefits of going into business with a friend

9:31 - Co-owner Keith’s impromptu take on the friendship agreement

11:21 - Matt shares what the friendship agreement is about

16:43 - How their business philosophy reflects in day-to-day life

21:45 - Matt’s advice for friends considering going into business together

24:43 - What Matt thinks they got really right and really wrong

27:29 - The benefits of growing up as a “restaurant kid”

30:40 - Where you can find Wildlife products

Learn more about Wild Life: https://wildlifedistillery.ca

Follow them on IG: @wldspirits

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This week’s first responders are The Danish Girls, Ali Larsen and Gillian Bell, two members of a  Calgary real-estate team. The current state of the real-estate market is anxiety inducing for many, but Ali and Gill quell worries with enduring truths that will never change, regardless of current mortgage rates. They also share how they approach the real-estate game a little differently and empower our listeners to do the same. 

2:34 - How Ali and Gill got into real estate

5:14 - Why the “Danish Girls”

11:15 - What differentiates their team

20:43 - Is real estate a wise investment?

36:19 - Enduring truths about real estate

42:11 - Why do realtors leave their business cards behind?

41:21 - Funny/weird things they’ve experienced in their profession

47:58 - Advice to aspiring realtors

Resources and links:

https://thedanishgirls.com/

Personality test they refer to: True Colours

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Our first responder this week is Angell Kelly, intuitive and spiritual coach. Angell makes the abstract concept of tapping into our intuition concrete as we discuss what it is and what it’s not and where to start if you have no clue. Join us as we experience some major ‘ahas’ in the presence of Angell — we’re confident that that you will too. 

2:50 - How Angell arrived at being someone who offers spiritual guidance

9:20 - Balancing her 9-5 with spiritual coaching

12:35 - Angell’s definition of intuition

14:55 - Instinct vs. intuition

17:16 - Distinguishing your intuition vs. the other voices

19:50 - Is intuition more in the body vs. mind?

22:26 - How Angell approaches “forks in the road”

30:43 - Common intuition blocks

37:35 - How Angell’s life has shifted since tapping into her intuition

43:05 - Tips for finding a spiritual practitioner

46:12 - Services Angell offers

Find Angell: https://www.angellkelly.com/

Insta: @angelllkelly

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Our first responder this week is Jivanya Reddy, Calgary divorce lawyer and family law specialist. She answers our questions about cohabitation and prenuptial agreements. Many people avoid them because they seem unromantic, but we end up finding something pretty hot about the whole thing! We also talk about the importance of wills and how to start seeing them as more than just morbid.

2:34 - Jivanya’s path to becoming a lawyer

5:14 - WTF is an “adult interdependent relationship”?

9:38 - Difference between prenuptial, postnuptial and cohabitation agreements

11:29 - Is a lawyer required for a cohabitation agreement?

14:14 - How much does an agreement typically cost?

21:16 - What if you’re already cohabitating and don’t have an agreement in place?

26:39 - The importance of having these conversations early

28:35 - Who needs a will and why?

38:23 - Jivanya’s final words of wisdom when it comes to prenuptial/cohab agreements

Learn more and connect with Jivanya: https://www.rtfamilylaw.ca/calgary-divorce-lawyers/jivanya-reddy/

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The decision to have kids is a big one and thankfully it's becoming less common to assume that it's a 'yes'. Megan and her husband don't have kids and aren't planning to. They were lucky enough for it to be a choice and she talks about whether or not she always knew this would be her decision.

2:55 - The difference between “child-less” and “child-free”

5:35 - How Megan came to the decision to be child-free

8:35 - Prevalence of auntie culture

11:46 - Fear around being child-free

16:50 - Megan’s advice for those on the fence

20:55 - Examples of child-free celebrities 

23:19 - Why Alyssa’s on the fence

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Our first responder this week is here to help ease the nerves around one of life’s biggest hurdles: a career change. Victoria Morneau, a career strategist and founder of Career Development 101, walks us through our own career worries and reminds us that our career choices can, and maybe should, match the season of life that we are in. Victoria offers questions to ask yourself when thinking about a shift in your career, how our values should guide our job searches, and that we all have our own personal brand.

4:00 - How Victoria became a personal branding and career strategist

9:14 - How personal branding is for everyone

10:49 - Commonalities amongst those looking for assistance with their careers

13:54 - Questions those hoping to make a career shift should be asking themselves

18:29 - Applying your values and interests into your job search

21:39 - How Victoria would approach our individual career challenges

30:28 - The problem with pensions

35:24 - Words of wisdom when it comes to our relationships with our careers

41:34 - Victoria’s 3 final tips

43:06 - Services she offers and where you can find her

44:27 - How Victoria helped a near retiree realize her value after being laid off

Resources:

Career Development 101: https://www.careerdevelopment101.ca/about-1

Follow Victoria on IG: https://www.instagram.com/careerdevelopment101/

Career coach recommendations for those transitioning out of teaching: https://www.instagram.com/teachercareercoach/
https://www.instagram.com/holly.acre/
https://www.instagram.com/teachertransition/

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Our first responder this week is Kristyn Snell, founder and CEO of MODERNSPEAK, a global creator management agency and Digitote a project management software for influencer managers. Kristyn understands the wild ride of becoming your own boss and the toxicity of “hustle culture”. She provides a survival kit for entrepreneurs that includes finding your failure, finding your worth and finding your people.

3:10 - Kristyn’s “accidental” path to entrepreneurship

7:10 - Kristyn’s educational background 

8:52 - Addressing the control or lack thereof in entrepreneurship

13:20 - Delegating, imposter syndrome and sustainability

16:30 - The value of having a support system

18:58 - Kristyn’s experience in the tech space

21:45 - Hustle culture, the birth of Digitote, burnout and balance

31:12 - Finding that support system and practicing trusting her gut

39:30 - Gushing about Vanessa from Platform Calgary 

41:54 - Local resources and support system cont’d

45:08 - Managing the emotional highs and lows that come with entrepreneurship

48:08 - Can negative emotions be a driving force for success?

53:41 - Final words of wisdom/lessons

Resources:

Platform Calgary - https://www.platformcalgary.com/

Venture Mentoring Services Alberta - https://www.vmsalberta.org/ 

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Brigitta Catinean of Style by Brigitta is a Calgary based personal stylist and this week's first responder. Brigitta helped us to understand what sustainability really means when it comes to our wardrobes, that when we keep settling we keep shopping, and that finding our personal style is so much more than simply liking our clothes. If you've ever had a meltdown before a special event or felt like you have nothing to wear, this episode is for you!

3:41 - How Style by Brigitta came to be

16:08 - Brigitta’s philosophy around personal style

22:35 - Intuitively integrating trends 

28:55 - Using sustainability and ethics as a lens for personal style

39:09 - How to curate a wardrobe with sustainability in mind

41:30 - What a “key piece” is

52:08 - Wardrobe/pantry analogy

Find Brigitta @stylexbrigitta

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