Some moments in life change everything.

At just 17 years old, Susan Nash survived a devastating head-on collision that left her with a brain injury, memory loss, and a long road to recovery. What could have become a story of defeat became an extraordinary journey of resilience, healing, and hope.

In this heartfelt conversation, Susan shares how movement, gratitude, neuroscience, and trusting her intuition helped her rebuild not only her body, but her life. Together, we explore the powerful connection between the brain, body, emotions, and nervous system, and why healing isn't about perfection, but taking one small step at a time.

You'll also discover simple practices you can begin today to calm your nervous system, reconnect with yourself, and build resilience in everyday life.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed, stuck, or wondered whether healing is possible, this episode is a beautiful reminder that anything is possible. Find out more about Susan Nash @ https://bodyinnovations.org/ 

🎧 Listen, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who could use a little more hope today.

Midway through the year, Doris and Paula revisit their Words of the Year, Clarity and Awareness and reflect on the powerful lessons these intentions have revealed.

From learning to let go of overcommitment and creating space for what matters most, to navigating fear, self-doubt, and the unexpected challenges of life, this heartfelt conversation explores how awareness and clarity can guide us back to ourselves.

Paula shares surprising lessons from learning to sail, including how courage, breath, and nervous system regulation help her navigate uncertainty on the water and in life. Doris reflects on "unhamstering" her world, trusting her decisions, and discovering that mistakes may be some of our greatest teachers.

The episode concludes with a gentle guided reflection to help you celebrate your growth, embrace your learning, and move into the second half of the year with greater intention, joy, and authenticity.

Because life isn't about getting it perfect. It's about trusting yourself enough to keep moving forward. Take a breath, pause, and join us for this inspiring conversation.

Summer often arrives with promises of rest, freedom, and joy. Yet many of us find ourselves carrying the same busy schedules, endless to-do lists, and pressure to be productive into the season meant for renewal.

In this episode of Stress Less, Joy More, Paula and Doris explore what summer can teach us about slowing down, reconnecting with nature, and reclaiming the playfulness we often leave behind in childhood.

Together, they reflect on favourite summer memories, discuss the hidden guilt many people experience when they pause to rest, and challenge the belief that work must always come before joy.

You'll discover how nature invites us into presence, why play is an essential part of well-being, and simple ways to balance energy expenditure with energy recovery. Paula also guides listeners through a beautiful summer savouring practice designed to cultivate peace, gratitude, and joy in the present moment.

This episode concludes with a powerful Summer Well-Being Challenge that will inspire you to create a season filled with more of what nourishes you and less of what drains you.

Take a deep breath, step outside, and join us as we explore how to stress less and enjoy more this summer.

What if the way we welcome babies into the world shapes future generations?

In this heartfelt conversation, midwifery pioneer Ava Vösu shares her extraordinary journey from personal loss to helping transform midwifery in Ontario.

Ava shares the personal experiences that inspired her life's work, and why compassionate, family-centered care matters for mothers, babies, and communities.

Together, we explore birth, informed choice, postpartum support, connection, and the powerful role midwifery plays in helping families thrive.

If you've ever welcomed a child, supported a loved one through pregnancy, or wondered how we can create a more compassionate world, this conversation is for you.

Join us for this powerful conversation and discover why the way we welcome babies matters.

What if the life you've been chasing is actually waiting for you in the present moment?

In this deeply expansive and heart-opening episode, we sit down with Jenn Walker, adventurer, coach, and powerful perspective shifter who invites us to rethink everything we've been taught about success, burnout, and what it truly means to live. From summiting mountains and running ultramarathons to navigating deep burnout and healing, Jenn shares her journey from pushing and proving to surrendering and trusting.

Together, we explore the difference between living in your mind versus being fully present in your body, and how that single shift can change absolutely everything. We dive into the hidden cost of performance-based worthiness, the profound wisdom of the body, and how burnout can become a powerful initiation into a more aligned, joyful way of being.

You'll also walk away with simple, practical tools to regulate your nervous system, reconnect with your intuition, and gently move out of overwhelm, starting with something as beautifully simple as noticing.

This conversation is an invitation. To slow down. To soften. To trust. And to remember that you don't have to push so hard.

Learn more about Jenn Walker @ diveheartfirst.com 

In this heart-centered conversation, Paula and Doris sit down with counselor and artist Tanya Levy to explore the powerful connection between creativity, emotional healing, and being truly seen.

Tanya shares how art, in all its forms, writing, movement, nature, even everyday rituals can help us process life’s hardest moments. From working with students navigating anxiety and trauma to her own experiences with grief, she reminds us that healing doesn’t have to be big or overwhelming… sometimes it’s as simple as noticing a tree, holding a stone, or making your favourite tea.

Together, they explore why creativity is such a powerful tool for emotional release, and how it can help us gently “thaw” when we feel stuck or frozen. Through this conversation, Tanya highlights the healing power of authentic connection, being truly seen, heard, and human with one another. Tanya also shares simple, grounding tools to support nervous system regulation, reminding us that healing doesn’t have to be complicated. Tanya reveals how adding just 5% more joy into your day can begin to shift everything.

This episode is a gentle invitation to slow down, get curious, and reconnect with yourself, one small, compassionate step at a time. Learn more about Tanya @ https://linktr.ee/heartladyinspiration

In this special Podcasthon episode of Stress Less, Joy More, we spotlight the inspiring work of Wellspring Stratford Cancer Support Centre.

Our guest, Lisa Stacey, is a yoga and meditation instructor, Reiki master, and the manager of Wellspring Stratford. For over 15 years, she has supported individuals and families navigating the cancer journey with compassion, connection, and practical tools for well-being.

Together, we explore how healing goes beyond medical treatment. Through meditation, breath, gentle movement, and community support, Wellspring offers a safe space where people facing cancer can find hope, calm, and meaningful connection.

Lisa also shares touching stories from the community and guides us through a grounding breathing practice you can use anytime stress or fear arises.

At its heart, this episode is about something we all need— presence, compassion, and the reminder that no one has to face life’s hardest moments alone. 

If this conversation touches you, we invite you to learn more about Wellspring Stratford and support their work. 
 https://wellspring.ca/london-region/locations/stratford/
 https://www.instagram.com/podcasthon_en 

What if one word could gently guide your entire year?
In this heartfelt episode, Paula and Doris explore the power of choosing a Word of the Year. Doris shares why she chose clarity. Paula shares why she chose awareness.
Together, they reflect on how intention shapes our well-being, beyond goals, beyond hustle.
They dive into:
• Letting go of the “hamster wheel”
• How clarity creates emotional safety
• How awareness brings peace to the nervous system
• Childhood patterns that disconnected us from our needs
• And how less truly can become more
Paula guides a simple grounding awareness practice to support your well-being right now!
This episode is your invitation to pause, breathe, and choose a word that supports your growth, peace, and joy this year. This is your invitation to stress less. Enjoy more!
Learn more about Doris @ dorispolakkuder.com and Paula @ paulanowakwellness.com 

In this deeply grounding episode of Stress Less, Joy More, Paula and Doris are joined by Lubna Forzley, Certified Compassionate Inquiry® Practitioner and founder of Stories. Lubna shares her extraordinary journey growing up in a war-torn country and how resilience, faith, and self-awareness shaped her path. Together, they explore stress as a trauma response, the difference between survival and sustainable well-being, and why managing energy not time is the true foundation of living well. This conversation weaves trauma-informed insight with practical wisdom on parenting, purpose, and inner peace. If you’re seeking clarity, balance, and a deeper understanding of what it truly means to stress less and live with joy, this episode is a must-listen. Learn more about Lubna at https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubnaforzley/

Movement Is Medicine: Qigong Helps Us Heal, Breathe & Transform with Munira Jiwa

In this deeply nourishing episode of Stress Less, Joy More, we are joined by Munira Jiwa, a passionate Qigong teacher, former physical therapist, and global spreader of Qi Joy. 

Munira shares her powerful healing journey from chronic pain, fatigue, and depression to a life rooted in vitality, presence, and joy through the practice of Spring Forest Qigong. With warmth and wisdom, she helps us understand how energy flows through the body, why emotions play a central role in our health, and how slowing down is often the most powerful medicine.

 Together, we explore: 

• Why less is more when it comes to healing 
• How breath, gentle movement, and awareness calm the nervous system 
• The connection between emotions, energy blockages, and physical pain 
• Parenting, caregiving, and the art of letting go 
• How simple daily practices can ripple healing through families and generations 

Munira also gently guides us through short, accessible Qigong and breathing practices, inviting listeners to feel the shift.
 
This episode is an invitation to pause, soften, breathe, and remember the innate wisdom within your body. A perfect listen if you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, stuck, or simply longing to feel more at home in yourself.
Learn more about Munira: www.munirajiwa.ca