Stories Within Us

This conversation with designer, observer, and fellow creative Crystal Reynolds was sparked from a recent post where Crystal wrote, "...I’m on the lookout to find the helpers amongst the chaos." I was intrigued.

In this episode, Crystal and I discuss her journey as a creative, her design work with Mayor Jyoti Gondek's campaign and how Crystal is finding individuals who help her make sense of the world that we are currently navigating. Crystal shares how we can stay grounded—both as parents and as creatives—during times of chaos. 

This was such a healing conversation! I invite you to listen and share with the helpers in your world.  

About Crystal Reynolds

Crystal is a Kick Ass Marketing and Communications Designer. She works with organisations that choose to take the lead in their own story. They avoid, or at least question, the latest marketing trends, and create opportunities to account for social and technological changes. She doesn’t focus on sticking to what worked in the past, but instead on how we can translate skills and resources in new directions.

Crystal story in design has had quite a few chapters experienced over the past 25 years. She has lasted this long because of her desire to learn, think outside as well as inside the box. Gaining insights that have taught her that as long as she brings her experience and insight to the table while also ensuring her clients’ needs are the core focus is a recipe for a successful partnership.

Crystal considers herself lucky to have worked with local, national, and more recently international clients. She believes that visuals are an integral part to communicate messages with clarity. Every day she creates, she feels like she is living her best life.

As a mother and partner, Crystal wrote, "Being part of this family dynamic has taught me how to listen to varying views, account for differing expectations, and bring people together by focusing on common goals."

Connect with Crystal  Reynolds:

Web: https://www.crystalink.ca

Twitter: @crystalinkca

IG: @crystalinkca

Activist and Advocate of Racial Equity, Mifrah Abid explains the meaning of home.  Mifrah challenges my beliefs on home and identity—and if there is one thing I love, it's a conversation that expands my thinking! We discuss our thoughts on nationalism and Mirfah explains the concept of jingoism and how it relates to us now. This is such an important conversation for us to be having; I cannot wait for you to listen to and learn from the stories the Mifrah shares. 

About Mifrah Abid:

Mifrah Abid is the creator, producer and host of Across Her Table which features the remarkable stories of Canadian women with immigrant roots. Mifrah is the Coordinator, of the 'Together Against Islamophobia' program at the Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchner Waterloo. The coalition's mandate is to empower Muslim women and girls to be leaders and change makers. It provides opportunities for personal and professional growth, and leadership and skills. 

 Mifrah is an advocate of racial equity. She has also been a lecturer of English (Language, Literature and Applied Linguistics) for over 6 years. Mifrah is a TESL Ontario certified ESL trainer. She is a published writer. Her latest story, "Islamophobia 101: How to be a meaningful ally in the wake of a tragedy'' was featured in Toronto Star and Waterloo Chronicle.

Connect with Mifrah Abid:

Web: Across Her Table Podcast 

Twitter: @acrosshertable

IG: @acrosshertable

Today, I speak with proud introvert and gentle disrupter, Shahzia Noorally. Shahzia shares her story of showing up authentically in her career and unapologetically taking up space. Shahzia is the host of the Colour Gap Podcast, which I listen to and love, and speaks to how this has been an outlet to share her experiences and offer unconventional career strategy and advice for women of colour.

About Shahzia Noorally:

Shahzia Noorally is a proud introvert, natural observer, and gentle disrupter. She has spent nearly 10 years of her career in HR. She is a Diversity, Inclusion & Culture professional based in Calgary, Alberta, and founder of the Colour Gap podcast.

Shahzia believes our stories are our superpowers. Our unique lived experiences and the things we need to thrive at work shouldn’t be ignored. She also believes that conventional career advice isn’t always right for Black, Indigenous, Women of Colour (BIWOC). Her work on the Colour Gap podcast and beyond is set in the intention to empower, uplift and support BIWOC to own our stories, step into our power, and take up all the space we desire and deserve.

Connect with Shahzia Noorally:

Twitter: @shahzianoorally 

The Colour Gap Podcast:

Web: https://www.thecolourgap.com

Twitter: @ColourGap 

IG: @thecolourgap 

HR, We Have A Problem: by Susy Ko & Shahzia Noorally | DisruptHR Talks

This episode with educator, mother and one of my favourite people in the world, Kate Cordell. In this episode Kate and I reflect back on our 20's when we first met each other and give our younger selves advice. This is a conversation about forgiveness, self compassion—and most of all—laughter and joy.

About Kate Cordell

Kate Cordell is an educator, a mother, a teacher, and a very dear friend of mine. Kate holds a bachelors of science in Elementary education from Minnesota State University, Morehead. And a masters in Education in Curriculum and Instructions, Integration of Technologies in Schools from George Mason University.

Kate Cordell has worked in education for the past 16 years. Kate has served as a mentor teacher, an advanced academics resource teacher as well as an elementary and middle school classroom teacher in the US and abroad. She has taught in the public school systems in Georgia and Virginia and the international school in Athens Greece.  

Kate is a mom of two, a wife, a lover of traveling, and my go-to person when I need perspective or a good laugh, or good cry. Or all of the above. 

Resources:

Want to make City Hall your next book club read? Download the free Reading Club Guide here. 

The Working Mom Wellness Guide to Asking your Partner for Help. Download your free 10 page guide here. 

Special thanks:

Working Mom Wellness design was created by Dr. Milena Radzikowska  and Chris Shaddock of Two Hot Soups Consulting 

Post production and sound editing is done by East Coast Studio. 

In this two-part series, I take on my first ever solo podcast to discuss a few practices for moms looking to lighten their workload. These are five simple practices that you can use year-round but are especially helpful over the holidays. To the moms who are feeling overloaded or like you are drowning in the mental load of coordinating and planning for your family—this episode is for you. 

Resources:

Want to make City Hall your next book club read? Download the free Reading Club Guide here. 

The Working Mom Wellness Guide to Asking your Partner for Help. Download your free 10 page guide here. 

Special thanks:

Working Mom Wellness design was created by Dr. Milena Radzikowska  and Chris Shaddock of Two Hot Soups Consulting 

Post production and sound editing is done by East Coast Studio. 

In this two-part series, I take on my first solo podcast to discuss a few practices for moms looking to lighten their workload. These are five simple practices that you can use year-round but are especially helpful during times of transition or over the holidays. 

To the moms who are feeling overloaded or like you are drowning in the mental load of coordinating and planning for your family—this episode is for you. 

Resources:

Want to make City Hall your next book club read? Download the free Reading Club Guide here. 

The Working Mom Wellness Guide to Asking your Partner for Help. Download your free 10 page guide here. 

Special thanks:

Working Mom Wellness design was created by Dr. Milena Radzikowska  and Chris Shaddock of Two Hot Soups Consulting 

Post production and sound editing is done by East Coast Studio. 

Madame Premier owner Sarah Elder-Chamanara explains what the future of work needs to look like for women. Sarah and I give our thoughts what is currently going well and what needs to change so that women can thrive in their careers. 

About Sarah Elder-Chamanara

Sarah Elder-Chamanara is the founder, creative director, designer and owner of Madame Premier, a feminist and political clothing company based in Calgary, Alberta. With the underlying principle of seeing more women and diversity in politics, elected and in back rooms, at every level, Sarah and Madame Premier create opportunities for conversations about why politics needs to change. 

Madame Premier is a one woman-owned and operated small business empowering women through the intersection of politics, feminism, advocacy and fashion. With the goal of amplifying the lack of women and marginalized communities in politics and the need for a variety of voices at decision making tables, Madame Premier is committed to not only helping women break the glass ceiling of politics but completely shatter it.

Sara holds a Bachelors of arts in Justice Studies. She has previously served as a Communications & Event Organizer for Calgary Confederation Liberal Riding Association. She also volunteered as Executive Vice President for Canadian Women Voters Congress in Calgary, as well as a Vice President and Communications and Event Organizer for Ask Her, a Calgary Based organization working to advance the principles of inclusive and equitable representation in municipal government. Sarah is also the mother of two young children. She lives and works on treaty 7 land here in Calgary. 

Connect with Sarah:

IG: @sarahelderchamanara

Twitter: @Sarah Elder-Chamanara

Madame Premiere:

Web: https://www.madamepremier.com

IG: @madamepremier

Ellected Podcast:

Web: https://www.madamepremier.com/blogs/ellected

IG: @ellectedpodcast

 Resources:

Want to make City Hall your next book club read? Download the free Reading Club Guide here. 

The Working Mom Wellness Guide to Asking your Partner for Help. Download your free 10 page guide here. 

Special Thanks:

Working Mom Wellness design was created by Dr. Milena Radzikowska  and Chris Shaddock of Two Hot Soups Consulting 

Post production and sound editing is done by East Coast Studio. 

For many of us, curiosity is a paradigm shift. We take great pride—as a collective—of knowing. Of being able to classify right versus wrong, good versus bad. But as we discuss in this episode, there is something very humane, very life-giving about asking questions and being open to the answers. 

In this episode, I speak with writer, poet, and mother Jill Yancey about embracing curiosity. Jill uses curiosity in her work, her writing, her parenting, and in very concrete ways in her life. As Jill and I discuss in this episode, curiosity is something that we can incorporate into understanding ourselves better. Curiosity is something that we can incorporate into our parenting. Curiosity is something that you can use to guide you in your life and career choices. So I Invite you to open your mind and listen to Jill share her story on embracing curiosity. 

 About Jill Yancey

As full-time mother to four kids under twelve, a published writer, and Community Manager for Tell(h)er Co, Jill Yancey has had to learn the delicate alchemy of combining passion with parenthood. 

Whether she is partnering with poet and entrepreneur Azure Antoinette to amplify the voices of hundreds of female writers across the globe, or working to instill her values of curiosity, justice, compassion, and truth-telling in the children she is tending at home, Jill believes in the value of a good idea, and the power of a good idea shared. Most early mornings or late nights, she can be found writing in the fleeting quiet of her crowded-but-joyful South Carolina home. 

Her first novel, a careful examination of the mother-daughter relationships that have always captured her curiosity, is currently in production.  Her recently published essay and poems, Quilt of Thousands, Body Talk and Painted, can be found in the upcoming Generations issue of Motherscope Magazine. She invites you to say hi on Instagram and join in her #dailymemoir practice @jillwritesabook 

Connect with Jill Yancey:
IG: @jillwritesabook

Connect with Tell(h)er Co:
IG: @tellherco

Resources:
The Working Mom Wellness Guide to Asking your Partner for Help. Download your free 10 page guide here. 

Working Mom Wellness design was created by Dr. Milena Radzikowska  and Chris Shaddock of Two Hot Soups Consulting .

Post production and sound editing is done by East Coast Studio. 

In this episode, author Chandra Blumberg and I look behind the scenes of novel writing. We pull the curtain back and reveal the quiet work, the messy work, and the process that results in the final product of a novel. We look at the fluidity that occurred for both of us when writing while parenting. Chandra speaks to the importance of embracing our humanity and leaning into seasonality both as writers and as mothers. She offers insight on finding what works for you. 

So to the moms listening that might have a dream—You might want to create or make something. You might want to try something new. You might be ready to take a leap of faith. But don't know if you have the time. Or you aren't sure if you are talented enough to be successful. This episode is for you. 

About Chandra Blumberg:

Chandra Blumberg grew up in Michigan. After receiving a BA in English from Michigan State University, she moved with her husband to the Chicago area, where she enjoys the natural beauty of Lake Michigan and exploring museums. 

Chandra's essays on motherhood have appeared in Her View From Home and Mothers Always Write. Chandra writes funny, heartwarming love stories where getting to happily-ever-after is half the fun. Her debut novel, Digging up Love is out January 1, 2022. It's currently available for preorder—I will include all of the links in the show notes. Stirring Up Love will be published later next year.

She is an avid reader and loves to travel, but since becoming a mother her journeys are mostly domestic, rather than global. Chandra also enjoys reading during breakfast, making a mess of the kitchen while baking new recipes with her kids, and lifting heavy barbells at the gym.

Connect with Chandra Blumberg:

Web: https://chandrablumberg.com

IG: @chandrablumberg

Twitter: @ChandraBlumberg

Pre order Digging Up Love 

In this episode, I speak with Story Coach and storyteller, Jilliane Yawney. Jilliane shares her story about how a road trip with a stop in Detroit, Michigan changed the trajectory of her life and instilled in her a love for storytelling. 

Jilliane explains what it takes to be an excellent storyteller—but possibly more importantly—she provides insight on why we need to tell our stories. Finally, for those of you wondering, Do I even have a story to tell? Yes, you do. 

Listen to find out more about the power of your own story. 

About Jilliane Yawney:

Jilliane Yawney has helped over 1,000 people get onstage to share their story. She is a Story Coach and the creator of the Core 7 Stories for Business™ framework. Jilliane has worked with the likes of Shark Tank winners, board game creators, and multinational real estate managers to change lives and grow brands.

Jilliane’s undergrad and graduate degrees both focused on storytelling, and her thesis work explored the motivational power of story. She has been working as a storyteller and Story Coach for 20 years and is committed to helping individuals and teams grow their confidence and communication skills with story.

Jillian believes self expression supports happiness and human connection. She believes learning and growth is best achieved through a positive, supportive approach. She strives to foster and create beauty in all that she does – and that means helping you tell your story. 

Connect with Jilliane Yawney:

Web: https://www.jillianeyawney.com

IG: @jillianeyawney

Related Articles: 

Who won’t shut up in meetings? Men say it’s women. It’s not:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/02/18/men-interrupt-women-tokyo-olympics/

How Not to Be 'Manterrupted' in Meetings:

https://time.com/3666135/sheryl-sandberg-talking-while-female-manterruptions/

Female Supreme Court Justices Are Interrupted More by Male Justices and Advocates:

https://hbr.org/2017/04/female-supreme-court-justices-are-interrupted-more-by-male-justices-and-advocates