The Human Challenge

"When you can live in the outer world, but also marry that with the inner world, than you're a new space, a new world."

These are the wise words of Grammy-nominated artist, Valerie June, hailed by the New York Times as one of America's "most intriguing, fully formed new talents".

Hailing from Tennessee, Valerie is a musician, songwriter, poet, illustrator, and author, who honourably served as a "Turnaround Artist" working with students for the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and continues serving through The Kennedy Center. She has recorded three critically claimed best selling solo albums and has also written songs for legendary artists such as Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. She just published "Light Beams" an interactive workbook that builds upon themes of mindfulness and authentic connection presented in her debut poetry collection, Maps of the Modern World. Be inspired to choose a path of kindness and love in every moment, every dark day, on every page.

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, Valerie offers invaluable insights around "radical imagination" and its power to create a new humanity. Touching on her new book, "Light Beams: A Workbook For Being Your Badass Self", she shares how we can harness both softness and hardness in our light, the light of the spirit that we embody, and the lightness to just being a human, and standing and speaking in your truth, in your power. Lastly, we learn how the practice of staying grounded contributes to what she calls "Joy Activism", bringing people together to have constructive spaces for disagreement, with R-E-S-P-E-C-T (like Aretha Franklin says!), and to do so mindfully.

"We have to be alchemists," she says. "We have that power."

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com, and Valerie June @thevaleriejune on Instagram or https://www.valeriejune.com/.

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

AŸA's story is one unlike any other.

As a Moroccan/Yemeni "Arab&B" artist growing up in Israel-Palestine, AŸA, who describes her childhood like "being a nomad", faced family trauma, abuse, mandatory military service, and assault, all before the age of 20, when finally, she found herself the runner-up of a music competition.

In a true moment of synchronicity, after headlining a show for a shelter who once supported her, she was offered an opportunity in Berlin -- and has not look backed since!

She shares how she found inner peace in Berlin, flourished as an artist, and continues to heal, including how, having served her mandatory time on the Israeli army as a singer to entertain the soldiers, the recent aggression since Oct 7th has allowed her to heal her own family trauma as she slowly learns of her own Palestinian roots. Being in the middle of both offers a balanced perspective; she believes healing on both sides is crucial for peace.

Vanessa is honoured to hold space with AŸA in this 90min special feature episode, learning in this authentic discussion how AŸA still copes with the long-term ramifications of abuse; how she finds peace with family friction; and how her artistry is influenced by her unfolding culture -- and of course how this all relates to her new single, "Greenlight".

Don't miss her upcoming PIANO + STRINGS show in Berlin on Feb 8th and 9th! RSVP at https://framed.berlin/events/framed-80-aya-einat-dan/

And her new single "Greenlight" drops Feb 9th on all major platforms!

The Human Challenge was an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" in 2023.

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com; and AŸA at @aya.loveyou on Instagram or https://www.ayasmusic.com/

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa speaks to author, speaker, and activist, Osprey Orielle Lake.

Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey writes about climate justice, relationships with nature, women in leadership, and other topics as featured in The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, Ms. Magazine and J U S T released her new book with New Society Publishers, "The Story Is In Our Bones" on Jan 30th 2024.

In this episode, Orielle tells us about patriarchy, colonialism, the shift to matriarchy, the power of women, the ties between gender-based violence and climate justice, and closed this discussion with its relevance to what we are witnessing in Gaza today.

Vanessa says Osprey's "The Story is in Our Bone" reads like a documentary. Weaving in her own experiences & explorations, historical context, and cultural learnings, Osprey offers readers an opportunity to reflect on our own healing within the realms of worldviews, the limitations of current dominant culture, and through the interconnectivity of many social injustices. Ultimately, she invites us inward for the sake of collective healing and the purpose to remake our world."

The Story is in Our Bones is available where all books are sold.

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.L. Fizzell grew up in smalltown Timmins in Northern Ontario, and now currently resides in Sault Ste Marie.

J.L. wrote her fourth book, Human. Nature., after three other books that were written with the intentionality of honouring her trauma. But now, Human. Nature. examines the interconnectedness between human beings and nature, through poetry.

Touching on her experience growing up as a second generation Canadian and her husband's Anishinaabe culture, J.L. speaks to Vanessa about our human connection to nature, how we can dismantle our own beliefs about humanity, and ultimately asks:

"How can we humanize nature? How can we take the human out of us and relate to ourselves as nature."

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com and J.L. Fizzell @jlfizzel on Instagram.

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 2024, ecologist Dr. Timm Döbert and endurance athlete Leanna Carriere (Canada's first female Decathlete and co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks) will embark on a pioneering 30,000km self-powered expedition across the Americas. Following the westernmost migratory bird flyway, their journey aims to highlight the biodiversity crisis and inspire environmental conservation efforts.

We celebrate the 20th episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, with both Leanna and Timm, who share their fascinating journeys that crossover between extreme athletics and ecology. We will learn about migratory birds, flyways, and "citizen science", and how their expedition, "Wings of Survival", sponsored by TREK (amongst many others), came to be.

More about Leanna and Timm:

Leanna Carriere is an endurance athlete, personal trainer and entrepreneur. For nearly a decade, she competed internationally in women’s pole vault and is recognised as Canada’s first female decathlete. Since shifting to endurance sports, she has completed several Ironman events, the Mt. Everest Marathon and the Patagonman Xtreme triathlon. She is the co-founder of Edmonton-based chocolate company 7 Summits Snacks. Leanna has been featured in various podcasts, news articles, radio and TV. As a motivational speaker, she advocates for the deep connection between human and planetary health. She loves exploring the outdoors with her 6-year-old daughter Adalynn.

Dr. Timm Döbert is an explorer with a PhD in global change ecology. He researches the human footprint on wildlife and wild spaces from tropical to temperate biomes. His life across continents culminated in a five-year immersion into Southeast Asia’s tropical forests. He communicates science through books, scientific journals, magazines, newspapers, podcasts, radio and more. An avid wildlife photographer, he has photographed over 700 animal species, many rare and threatened. Explorers Club membership and a meeting with Sir David Attenborough are personal highlights. His athletic resume includes several university rowing titles and completion of the Patagonman Xtreme triathlon.

Be welcome to support Wings of Survival here and @wingsofsurvival on Instagram; follow Leanna Carriere on Instagram @leannacarriere and Timm on Instagram at @10milionreasons.

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are locked and loaded in this big episode of The Human Challenge, an AmazonMusic x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, featuring four major players in the accessibility space:

Lee Anne Reuber - CEO/Founder of Sekond Skin Society (accessible health and fitness app)

Jolene MacDonald - Founder of Accessibrand (digital accessibility) and Accessibrand Academy course, "Best Practices for Accessibility in Marketing" here

Erica Cole - Founder/CEO of Nolimbits (US-based adaptive apparel brand)

Julie Sawchuk - Accessibility Strategist of Sawchuck Accessible Solutions (physical accessibility spaces)

We are joined by these powerful women shaping spaces, conversations, and apparel in accessibility, extending our beliefs of inclusivity, and sharing their personal stories about what this means to them.

In this episode find out:

• what does accessibility do for people?
• what does it mean to see big brands creating more accessible products and services?
• how should we be thinking about accessibility?
• how we can make a difference as individuals?

As Vanessa always says: be inspired, be empowered, be you, be human.

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"What happens in the newsrooms is only a reflection of how institutions work." - Zahraa Al-Akhrass, former journalist for Canadian national broadcaster, Global News

Canadian immigrant from Jordan/fourth generation Palestinian, Zahraaa Al-Akhrass, who just received Canadian citizenship, shares her story of being terminated from Canadian national broadcaster, Global News, after being accused of making "unbalanced claims" on social media about the recent aggression against Palestine -- all while on maternity leave.

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST Indie Podcast Amplifier feature, Zahraa shares the realities of being a non-white journalist, the power, influence, and dominance of the Western media, and how Global News offered her money to not go public with her termination. Zahraa and Vanessa make parallels to other organizations and causes, including the Canadian Indigenous communities.

Be welcome to stay in touch with Zahraa on Instagram @zahraa.alakhrass

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"The only way we can truly connect with each other is if we're vulnerable with each other," - Robert, multidisciplinary artist, aspiring art therapist, and CEO of Batuo Inc.

From Cameroon to Montreal, QC to Halifax, Nova Scotia, multidisciplinary artist, aspiring art therapist, and CEO of Batuo Inc, takes us through a journey of what it means to live our soul path or soul mission. Montreal was part of the journey, and Halifax was his destiny.. he shares how Batuo started, how it aims to empower people through culture, and how it has led him to arts therapy.

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST Indie Podcast Amplifier feature, Vanessa and Robert touch on the human condition, the challenge of staying truthful while having to face some hard realities (ex. supporting Palestinian artists). Robert is here to remind us of the transformative power of art and that we are connected through our vulnerability.

Be welcome to stay in touch with Robert on Instagram @R.O.B.E.N.G.A or https://batuo.ca/

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A deep and honest discussion with Jackie Lamoureux, CEO/Founder of Summits for Serotonin, founded after her own peace-making journey with the help of nature -- specifically the mountains. Realizing nature isn't always accessible with all of the equipment and gear needed, Jackie sought to change that through her non-profit.

We discuss how nature supports us in times of emotional turmoil, the persistence of acceptance, the challenges of society with mental health, and ofc, Jackie's ambitious undertaking of the Explorers Grand Slam -- an adventurers challenge to reach the North Pole, the South Pole and all of the Seven Summits (no big deal) to raise awareness for her cause.

"Jackie, I am grateful for your openness and authenticity in our discussion; may you inspire all of us to live in this openness for the betterment of ourselves, individually, as well as for each other as a collective, in society. " -- Vanessa Ferlaino

** pls be invited to watch/listen with care, mindful of sensitive subject matter including suicidal thoughts, depression, and sexual assault ** we graciously offer the below services for any support [via Summits for Seratonin]

• If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.
• If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For residents of Quebec, call 1-866-277-3553 (24/7) or visit suicide.ca/en

Be welcome to stay in touch with Jackie on Instagram @jackie.summits or https://www.summitsforserotonin.org/

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The big question for Miranda Ayim, 3X Olympian for Team Canada, was, "How do I want to show up in the world?'

The answer?

Cultivate Co

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST's Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023 feature, Miranda, recently inducted into London's Sports Hall of Fame, offers a frank discussion about her transition from life after sports. She candidly shares how her own journey inspired her to support other athletes, and even all of us in general, navigate the many parts of who we are to find our intentionality.

Be welcome to stay in touch with Miranda on Instagram @mirandaayim or https://mirandaayim.com/

Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com

Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured

The Human Challenge is an award-winning podcast, hosted and produced by Vanessa Ferlaino.

The Human Challenge recognized by Amazon Music and ACAST as an Indie Podcast Amplifier.

Tune In: Youtube Amazon Music Spotify Apple Podcasts iHeart Radio | Airing on Rogers TV

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.