So-Called Normal

Mark Henick  talks to actor, producer, and tv personality Kalen Allen - YouTuber who catapulted into the mainstream media, reaching millions of people worldwide. Discovered in 2018 by renowned talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Kalen first made a name for himself through his hilarious “Kalen Reacts” videos, giving colourful and witty commentary on culinary concoctions online. Kalen shares how he maintains a positive attitude, how he overcomes adversity, and what he's learned from Hollywood. 

Alexandria Santaguida creates her music to empower people and bring attention to issues that affect us all today.  She is a yoga teacher, sound healer, and community wellness event called NULOVE. She brings yoga, live music, meditation, a dance party, and art together with the intention of expanding as a collective and raising our vibration to the highest frequency...love!

Mark sits down with Emily Lyons, founder and CEO of Femme Fatale Media Group, North America's top event staffing, media & communications agency. They chat about Emily’s humble beginnings, the early spark to build businesses, and her life atop a media empire. In true So-Called Normal style, they also get into Emily’s struggles with her own mental health, how her sister’s death changed her life forever, and her passion to give back and amplify causes that matter so personally to her.

Mark is joined by Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research, Workforce Productivity at The Conference Board of Canada to discuss the psychology of workplace mental health--mental injury, loneliness, depression, and what employers can do to help their employees dealing with these and any other issues. 

Mark is joined by Andrew Solomon to discuss the award winning writer's personal story of depression and coming out to his family. They also talk about Andrew's work with Far From the Tree, his book that became a documentary focused on parents and their children with physical, mental, and social disabilities and differing identities. 

In honour of Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans' Day in the US, Mark sits down with retired Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Grenier, who served all over the world, including Rwanda and Afghanistan. Stéphane discusses how his own PTSD and depression pushed him to become an advocate for mental health, both within and outside the Armed Forces. 

Mark is joined by Mary Ann Baynton, an expert consultant on mental health in the workplace. They discuss her work helping to put together the Canadian Mental Health Commission's National Standard, the first national standard for mental health in the workplace in the world. They also go into how Mary Ann helps workplaces, managers, and employees to communicate with each other and work through problems that create a toxic environment. 

Mark is joined by Irwin Elman, the former child and youth advocate for the province of Ontario, Canada. They discuss the problems in the child and youth care systems in Canada and around the world, and what governments can do better to help children in foster care, poverty, or abusive situations. 

Mark sits down with Seamus O'Regan, the Minister of Indigenous Services for the Liberal government of Canada. They discuss how Seamus got started in politics and what it was like to share the truth about his alcoholism with his workplace and the support he received from fellow MPs and the Prime Minister himself. 

Mark is joined by Jimmy Rankin, a fixture of the Canadian celtic folk and country music scene as both a solo artist and a member of renowned The Rankin Family. They discuss Jimmy's upbringing as the youngest of twelve siblings, the inspiration behind his most recent album Moving East, and what it's been like to play music with his family for several decades.