What is your reaction when you hear the term — porn addiction? Does it make you feel uncomfortable? Does it make you giggle? Or does it not even bother you? Many porn addicts are scared by the reaction you may have if they open up about their addiction. As a consequence, many will often suffer in silence because of the shame and embarrassment they feel. On this episode of “Pieces of Us” I talk with Steve who openly discusses his battle with porn addiction and he bravely explains the negative effects it has had on his life.

Andrew Haley was a young child when he was diagnosed with a life threatening cancer which claimed one of his legs. Andrew did not allow this to be an excuse for not being able to accomplish his goals and dreams. His mindset allowed him to push himself to his limits and he achieved his goal of becoming a Paralympian.

This week on “Pieces of Us” Owen Rigby shares his experience of being a transgender man. He shares the journey of his transition but also the transition to acceptance his family had to go through. Owen’s story sheds light that transitioning is much more than one simple decision: it is hundreds of hours of therapy; it is years of personal growth and change; and it is the difficult road to acceptance for family and loved ones. Owen’s story is ultimately about the importance of not only accepting yourself but also the importance of truly being yourself.

In part two, of “One Act of Healing”, Majd continues to share his story about the difficult journey from Syria, to Lebanon, and then to Canada. He talks about his one act play that become much more than a project to improve his language; it became his therapy to process the trauma he had experienced. His hope is that people understand the importance of finding a space and a safe audience to share their story.

Storytelling is an innate human instinct. Stories help connect us; bring us to the past; allow us to learn; help shape us; and help us heal. Storytelling crosses all cultures; it is what makes us human. This week on “Pieces of Us” I talk with Majd Al Zhouri, who is a Syrian refugee; he discusses what his life was like in Syria, how he left this war-torn country, the struggles he had as a refugee in Lebanon, and his new beginnings in Canada. Majd shares how one simple project of writing his story became his therapy; it became the root of his healing.

Our mindset is wired in self-doubt and fear and often controls what we do. Fear is part of our inner dialogue, a common emotion that can hold us back. Why do we let fear and self-doubt guide our decisions? This week on “Pieces of Us” I talk with Stephanie Allen; a massage therapist, a published author, and an award winning speaker. She tells us how she did not let fear and self-doubt guide her decisions when she faced difficult adversity. She shares how she reprogrammed her inner-dialogue to motivate herself to push through her fears; and how life-changing events helped perpetuate her into a life full of purpose.

On this episode of “Pieces of Us” I talk with Alex Godbold who discusses his addictive relationship with alcohol and the pathway to his sobriety. He challenges the stereotype of alcoholism and challenges listeners to seriously reevaluate their own relationship with alcohol.

Growing up in the small town of Antigonish was not idyllic for Keith Barkhouse. Keith discusses what it was like being raised in a small Catholic town and how he had to constantly struggle with his upbringing and being gay. Keith describes the cruelty of his peers and the consistent torment he faced at school, for being who he was. He shares the struggles that many in the LGBTQ+ community face. Keith explains that it does get better. He talks about his love for his husband, Brandon; and shares how they are fostering two little boys, with view to adopt.

Most people carry worries and concerns. We worry about our children, our partners, our parents, our career, our friends, our bills, our house... Sometimes it is a struggle to balance every aspect of our lives. We simply cannot give 100% to everyone and everything 100% of the time. On this episode, Rachel Lockhart shares her struggle of balancing being an eductor, loving her two children, and caring for a mother living with early onset dementia. She poses the difficult question: How do you balance your responsibilities between your children, your mom, and students who need you?

On this episode of “Pieces of Us” I talk with Ben Roberts. He describes how life threw him a curveball and how his life became richer and more gratifying than what he had originally planned. Ben shares his story of being a father of an incredible little boy, Curren; and how this ended up being one of the most amazing and fulfilling experiences of his life. Ben openly discusses the struggles, the love, the hardships, and the ultimate rewarding experience of raising a child with Down syndrome.