This is a heartfelt conversation about family, culture, and the ways our environment shapes who we become.

Social worker Olayinka Madimadola brings her global perspective—born in Nigeria, now supporting people navigating trauma, crisis, and mental health challenges—to every conversation. We talk about the unique joy of raising children and grandchildren, the lessons learned from different parenting cultures, and how empathy, accountability, and community support can help us all grow.

Olayinka shares how childhood, culture, and circumstance shape our choices; why personal responsibility matters alongside compassion; and how connection to family, community, and ourselves can create lasting change and ridiculous happiness.

Olayinka’s Website

https://www.familymattersplus.com/

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Book a Photo Session

https://sophialemon.com/

Follow Me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be a Guest on the Pplcast

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

This is a grounded, thoughtful conversation about rewriting expectations, trusting your instincts, and working for your own version of happiness.

Firefighter and entrepreneur Mike Teeple doesn’t do things by the book. In fact, he burnt the book when he chose firefighting over policing. Then he did it again when he started a business with his family—despite everyone saying he shouldn’t.

In this episode, we dive into why social rules around relationships don’t always make sense; how he learned to stop lying to himself and trust his gut; and why honesty, connection, and a little rebellion can build confidence stronger than any blueprint.

Urban Carpentry’s Website

https://urbancarpentry.ca/

Urban Carpentry’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/urbancarpentry.ca/

Mike’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/michaelteeple/

Collingwood Entrepreneurs Group Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/collingwoodentrepreneursgroup/

Lying by Sam Harris

https://a.co/d/hCE2F9n

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Book a Photo Session

https://sophialemon.com/

Follow Me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be a Guest on the Pplcast

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

This is a comically honest and down-to-earth conversation about creative flow, hormonal health, and connection in a world beyond our screens.

Holistic nutritionist Hannah Greig brings her whole-person perspective to everything from perimenopause to purpose. We talk about the unreasonable expectations on parents; the happiness that comes from meaningful work; and why community, play, and presence matter more than ever.

Hannah shares how creativity and health are deeply intertwined and how tuning into both your body and your passions can make life feel a whole lot more balanced, energized, and ridiculously happy.

Hannah’s Instagram

http://www.instagram.com/naturally_well_by_hannah/

Hannah’s Books

https://www.amazon.ca/stores/author/B0DPR5JH23

The Holistic Goddess Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/0BlGy2wzStfBeKzLwlOxbP

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Book a Photo Session

https://sophialemon.com/

Follow Me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be a Guest on the Pplcast

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

We share some stories, life lessons, and laughs about creativity, identity, and being big-time introverts. I’m talking with ghostwriter Fran Kruse about growing up in a strict household, her commitment to growth and self-discovery throughout life, and how we’ve made our mutual fascination with people our careers.

Fran’s website

https://www.sidekickcreative.ca/

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Book a Photo Session

⁠https://sophialemon.com/⁠

Follow me on Instagram

⁠https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/⁠

Be a Guest on the Pplcast

⁠https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

We’re talking about how fear fuels anger, how empathy can defuse both, and how planting seeds of gratitude on good days can carry us through the bad ones. It’s a funny, deep, and refreshingly real chat about growth, healing, and being human.

In this episode, leadership expert and bestselling author Drew Dudley joins me for a wildly honest conversation about what it really means to be happy. We dig into self-forgiveness, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and the messy business of learning to give ourselves grace. Drew shares how slowing down his mind helped him see people—and himself—more clearly, and why happiness isn’t the goal, but strength is.

Drew’s Website

https://www.drewdudley.com/

Drew’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/dayonedrew

Neil Pasricha’s The Happiness Equation

https://www.amazon.ca/Happiness-Equation-Nothing-Anything-Everything/dp/0425277984

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Book a Photo Session

https://sophialemon.com/

Follow Me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be a Guest on the Pplcast

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

I’m talking with professional dominatrix Dana Pharant. We’re getting into the importance of pleasure on our physical and mental health, how Christianity has influenced how we speak about sex in our culture, and, of course, surrendering.

Obviously, we’re talking about sex. So if you’re not into it or you happen to my mother, maybe skip this one!

Dana’s Website

https://danapharant.com/

Dana's on LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danapharant/

Dana’s Substack

https://substack.com/@danapharant

My Orgasmic Life Podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/46giTEeGFbyG4TwLMFSKaB

I’m Sophia Lemon, and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

Talk to me about photography at my website

https://sophialemon.com/

Follow me on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be my guest

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

Wildlife artist Angela Boucher joins me to discuss her family, her Druidic roots, and her love of animals. We go deep into body language and communication, being neurodivergent, nature-based religion, and emotion.

Angela’s Website

https://abartstudioonline.com/

Angela’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/studioabart/

The Telepathy Tapes

https://thetelepathytapes.com/

I’m Sophia Lemon and I photograph oddballs, underdogs, and rebels in Bruce, Grey, Simcoe, and Muskoka. I help my clients create visual triggers that literally make them more Ridiculously Happy Ppl.

https://sophialemon.com/

My Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl/

Be a guest on Ridiculously Happy Pplcast

https://sophialemon.com/podcast/be-my-guest/

Bill Simpson joins me to share how the pandemic and chronic illness changed the way he sees his work, how a pilgrimage to his ancestral town put his career in law in perspective, and how he’s come to learn that friendships and fatherhood are the true beacons of happiness in his life.

We sat on the shores of Georgian Bay at the Meaford Harbour for this one and watched the water while the sun set behind us. The views are worth watching the video version of this episode.

https://sophialemon.com/pplcast/with-bill-simpson/

Bill's Instagram

https://instagram.com/wagsimpson

Soph's Instagram

https://instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl

Talk to Soph

https://sophialemon.com

My friend and fellow photographer Brandyn Hollands joins me to talk about the things we're told we shouldn’t say out loud, but absolutely do, anyway! We’re getting into the juicy stuff: reality TV dynamics (hello, red flags and rosé), coming out to family and the internet, the absolute circus that is dating on the apps, and how we’re both learning to show up in our businesses as our whole selves rather than watered down versions.

More open, unfiltered, and unrushed conversations like this one are coming this fall. Subscribe in your podcast app of choice.

Brandyn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandynhphoto

Savage Lovecast: https://savage.love

Todd Rose video: https://youtu.be/BD_Euf_CBbs?si=V6AanF3gQ5ECDsyo

Soph's Instagram: https://instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl

Talk to Soph: https://sophialemon.com

After a brief hiatus, the pod is back! And it's better than ever thanks to Victoria from Vectoria Creative, the design genius and creative problem solver behind the new Ridiculously Happy Ppl visual identity.

In this episode, we get into what inspired Victoria to pursue graphic design, leave her career, and launch her freelance design company. And if you grew up in the 1990's and early 2000's, this episode is filled with all sorts of nostalgia!

What sets Victoria apart is her intentional decision to keep her business small. It allows her to manage costs effectively and offer competitive pricing tailored to small businesses and start-ups. her clients prefer hiring her over an agency because she provides high-quality work at a lower cost, bridging the gap between Fiverr and expensive agencies. Additionally, she can deliver logos and websites to market faster, a crucial advantage for smaller businesses that can't afford to wait.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Get the full show notes for this episode here:

https://happyp.pl/30

Get the Go Brand Yo'self Workbook

https://happyp.pl/brandpod

Help build this diverse community offering relief for listeners struggling with mental health in our current cultural climate. Subscribe, like, rate, review, and share the show wherever you're listening.

What makes you ridiculously happy? Be my guest! Nominate yourself here:

https://happyp.pl/guest

Share your ridiculous or happy story and we’ll play it on a future episode:

https://happyp.pl/record

Talk to Soph photography for your proposal, wedding, family, or business:

https://happyp.pl/talktosoph

Connect with Soph on social media:

Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network:

Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast