The Intention Sessions Podcast

This is a big conversation, so I hope you’re sitting down!  We talk with the very passionate and wise Reiki Master, Clare Kenty.

Clare shares so much of her personal journey and the way reiki has become such an interwoven thread of everything she does.

This episode was recorded in the Spring of 2020 and Clare offers rich insights on what is happening energetically – both on macro and micro levels – and how this is a significant time in our collective evolution.

With change as a constant, she reminds us to trust ourselves and to intentionally create daily practices that are meaningful to us – that connect us to our deepest knowing and our highest sense of purpose.

If you are interested in Clare’s work, I wholeheartedly encourage you to find her online (or in person).  Her wisdom and body of work are fascinating and continually changing with our times.  She is a powerful and radiant energetic resource.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Clare’s bio

(05:52) Clare’s background and how she’s always believed in magic

(08:00) Clare tells us about reiki

(10:00) Clare’s own reiki journey and how it’s changed her life

(10:40) How reiki helped Clare navigate her father’s passing

(16:14) Adrienne shares her first reiki experience

(17:40) How are difficult times are catalysts for our questioning what is

(19:15) Clare’s take on what – energetically – is happening right now on a macro level

(24:35) What is happening in the world right now on a micro level

(28:00) This is a heart chakra activation for everyone

(31:00) The massive energy shift we are experiencing and how to be present

(38:40) Simple ways to connect to yourself and cultivate awareness

(44:25) The roots of a personal spiritual and/or intentional practice

(49:55) Change will be a constant and how we can navigate

(51:50) Exploring reiki further (whether for personal or professional reasons)

(55:13) Clare’s offerings

Mentioned in This Episode:

About Reiki

Natoya Hall

Reiki for the Times Course

More About This Guest:

A Reiki Master Teacher, Coach and Facilitator, Clare Kenty has been working with folks for over 15 years. Clare offers tangible ways to heal, grow and evolve through Reiki and supports both clients and students in cultivating a relationship with energy, reconnecting to their magic and remembering their purpose. 

Clare is passionate about creating experiences and facilitating events that challenge the status quo and inspire change and growth through healing with the intention to not only heal ourselves, but heal the collective and the planet. 

Website: www.clarekenty.ca

Instagram: @clarekenty

Facebook: Clare Kenty

I am thrilled to talk to Julie Skirving in this episode.  Julie owns a store called Logan & Finley which is on trendy Queen West in Toronto. She is a retail partner of mine.  She has also become a friend and a source I turn to as I try to continually shift to a more mindful and sustainable lifestyle.

What I admire about Julie is her passionate dedication to the items she curates in her store and to her customers’ real needs.  She is a curator, ally and educator. 

Julie offers a powerful and insightful perspective on intentional and sustainable living, shopping and consumerism.  Unlike many retailers, she wants you to buy sustainable pieces and less often.  She wants to help people create sustainable lives through creating mindful habits and wardrobes.  She reminds us that an important aspect of our intentional living is also here – in choosing mindfully what we bring into our lives, our homes and our closets.

Julie curates beautiful items that are well-made, thoughtful and functional.  Julie lives it to give it.  If you are inspired to consume and live more mindfully, check out Logan & Finley’s website or Instagram feed for lots of awesome inspiration.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Julie’s Bio

(02:38) Inspiration for Logan & Finley

(04:38) How the concept of Logan & Finley emerged and the running store example

(05:55) How Julie’s lifestyle influenced her approach to her customers’ experience

(06:55) How Julie’s upbringing influenced her dedication to practicality & sustainability

(08:50) Creating a sustainable wardrobe

(13:07) How Julie helps people get started and gives them a meaningful experience

(16:40) How Julie’s products and services are evolving to the online experience

(22:30) The ‘Surprise Me’ Boxes and the role of thoughtfulness

(27:25) Building a life that is simple, beautiful, sustainable and what we love

(30:00) Spend less time and money to live more sustainably

(31:50) Specialty businesses help people interpret their needs

(33:18) Shop small businesses are integral to communities for so many reasons

(36:00) Changing our lives and the world through consistent small actions

(41:38) An invitation from Julie to reach out for her skills and services

(43:33) A message for the people who don’t like shopping

Mentioned in This Episode:

Wardrobe Consultations

‘Surprise Me’ Boxes

Simple Luxuries Self Care – Surprise Box

Low Waste Home – Surprise Box

Low Waste Kitchen – Surprise Box

Low Waste Bathroom – Surprise Box

Less Waste Solutions

More About This Guest:

Julie Skirving is the creator of the Logan & Finley brand and retail store located on Queen Street West in Toronto, Canada.  You will often find her sharing her enthusiasm and product expertise with customers in the store. Julie started Logan & Finley after 20+ years in leadership roles in the outdoor apparel industry. It blends her professional expertise of telling really interesting brand stories with her love of nature, travel and living a healthy lifestyle. 

Having her own store had been a dream for a long time and it has allowed her to put down some roots in a community she calls home. Her practical sensibility is what she brings to the store. Everything she does is done with a purpose and that is reflected in Logan & Finley. She has hand-selected every single item in the store for a reason.  She believes that using products that you don’t need to replace all the time is a key part of living a more sustainable lifestyle. 

Julie creates a safe space where people feel comfortable learning about ways to live more sustainably.  In a nut shell, she introduces them to cool products that they will really enjoy using in their everyday lives.

Website: www.loganandfinley.com

Instagram: @loganandfinley

Facebook: Logan and Finley

Twitter: @loganandfinley

In this episode, we cover a lot of ground with Rusul Alrubail who is the Executive Director of the Parkdale Innovation Centre in Toronto.

Rusul shares how her journey to Canada created a deep need to have and create a sense of belonging.  We talk about authenticity, finding your voice and creating community.

We also talk about entrepreneurship, diversity, inclusion and explore the concept of intentional leadership.

Rusul is an inspiring leader who is committed to learning, creating change and expanding opportunities. While she may not have recognized it as is was unfolding, Rusul’s passion, commitment and dedication are such a beautiful example of intentional living.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Intro and bio for Rusul

(04:45) About intentional living

(05:15) On social justice

(05:38) Rusul shares her background and shares about having a sense of belonging

(07:42) Starting the Parkdale Centre for Innovation

(09:55) How diversifying a work environment is full of opportunities

(13:55) Female entrepreneurship

(15:15) All about the Parkdale Centre for Innovation

(19:35) Rusul’s intention to be a teacher and her journey beyond that

(23:00) The struggles that come with finding our voice

(24:50) What changes Rusul would like to see & measuring success

(27:45) How we grow and flourish in ecosystems

(29:03) What does intentional leadership look like

(36:35) Advice for finding your voice and amplifying it

(39:14) Handling judgement, obstacles and failure

(48:47) Parkdale Centre is bringing their programs online

(49:33) What brings Rusul Joy

(52:09) How to follow Rusul on Twitter and connect with her in other ways

Mentioned in This Episode:

Rusul’s Tedx Talk – Systems of Adversity for the Love of Teaching

A Clip from Rusul’s Panel Discussion at the Collision Conference

Parkdale Centre – For Start Ups

Parkdale Centre - Media Incubator

Parkdale Centre - Women in Leadership

Partner with the Parkdale Centre

Start with Why – Simon Sinek

 

More About This Guest:

Rusul is the Executive Director and one of the founders of Parkdale Centre.  The centre opened in 2017 with a mission to fill the accessibility and inclusivity gap to innovation, tech and entrepreneurship, especially for underrepresented groups: women, newcomers and those from low-income backgrounds. 

Before Parkdale Centre, Rusul co-founded The Writing Project, a student publishing platform used in the U.S. by educators and students to amplify student voice and help students become better writers. During that time, she worked as an Educator-in-Residence at Ci. Strategy+Design, supporting community engagement at a design thinking agency that works with organizations on strategy and design. 

Prior to this, she taught English composition and literature at Ryerson University and Seneca College for 10 years. She has written for Edutopia, Education Week, The Guardian, PBS Newshour, The International Literacy Association, EdWeek Teacher, Teaching Tolerance, ASCD's Educational Leadership, Edsurge, Annenberg Learner Foundation, and Medium which I helped to grow its largest education community from 7000 to 47000 readers! 

She is a 3x published author, sought-after keynote speaker and a social media influencer on equity and inclusion.

Website: www.parkdaleinnovates.org

Twitter: @rusulalrubail

@parkdalecentre

Instagram: @rusulalrubail

@parkdalecentreforinnovation

In this episode, our conversation with Madeleine Marentette is rich in inspiration and insight.

We talk about navigating tough times and while this period may seem incongruent with manifesting, it is an essential time for self-care, moving forward and for dreaming.

Madeleine also shares the inspiration behind her Four Season of Manifesting methodology.  She walks us through the thought process and provides tips on how to implement this powerful practice.  It’s an annual practice but, you can start at any point and she tells you how.

I think there is something for everyone here and I hope you will be inspired to use this content for your own grounding, self-reflection, dreaming and, of course, intentional living.

 

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Madeleine’s Bio

(04:50) Manifesting is all about creation and loving life

(06:38) When the heart cracks open and the excitement for new things

(08:15) The COVID-19 pandemic and how this is like a cracking open

(09:45) How do we move forward in tough times?

(11:25) It’s not a time to stop dreaming but, rather use this incubation period

(12:20) Calming the mind is essential

(13:45) Tips for how to ground and get centred

(16:29) Finding solutions to move forward

(20:22) Madeleine provides background for her manifesting teachings

(36:20) The 4 seasons of manifesting explained

(42:20) How the 4 bodies (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual) relate to the 4 seasons

(43:36) Spring (mental)– this is the time for seed planning and birthing new ideas

(44:58) Summer (physical) – this is the time for nurturing, energy and celebration

(46:06) Fall (emotional) – a time for reaping rewards, abundance  and gratitude

(50:05) Winter (spiritual) – a time for active silence and self-reflection

(54:00) Creating an intentional year

(55:24) Where to start right now

(1:04:36) Madeleine’s New Year’s Eve super manifesting ritual

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Grail Springs Retreat Information (at home during COVID-19 and onsite once re-opened)

Four Seasons of the Soul

 

More About This Guest:

Madeleine Marentette is the founder and CEO of Grail Springs Retreat Centre for Wellbeing, Canada’s leading holistic wellness destination. Bestselling author, educator, soul coach and healer, she continues to illuminate the path for individuals seeking personal transformation and life fulfillment. 

For over twenty-five years Madeleine has dedicated herself to the study and processes of the human-soul-energy-connection, this awareness she feels, relevant more than ever to today’s changing and challenging world. A dedicated life of service to people, planet and our sacred animal kingdom, has her working relentlessly taking action, co-creating with others, and hosting wellness retreat programs at Grail Springs. Madeleine holds a series of lectures and retreats throughout the year both at Grail Springs and abroad. 

She is presently working on her next book on the human condition as it relates to the sacred, and the evolutionary track of soul consciousness and destiny.

Website: www.grailsprings.com  

www.madeleinemarentette.com 

Instagram: @grailsprings

@madeleinemarentette

Facebook: Grail Springs

Twitter: @grailsprings

 

I met Chef Kim at his sushi making school, Sushi for the Soul.  It was a gift to my son and we were excited to learn how to make sushi together.  As the class got underway, Chef Kim shared his story, his philanthropy, his culinary precision and his passion.  He also mentioned the importance of gratitude.  I beamed and my son shot me a look thinking that must be the ‘real’ reason I’d brought him there.

In this episode, Chef Kim shares about his unexpected journey to and through the culinary world.  He is wise, smart, witty and so talented.  I admire the way he intentionally contemplates life and his story is rich in the awareness of our human complexities.  He is open to life’s experiences and also plays a valuable role in creating rich experiences for others. 

I’m grateful that we had this conversation and I hope you enjoy it too.  If you’re in Toronto, his sushi classes sell out fast but, there’s a good reason for that – they’re awesome.  I also recommend following him on Instagram.  His musings, humour, beautiful perspectives and great writing are a complete gift.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Sang’s bio

(04:20) The journey started with stealing a can of Chef Boyardee

(05:37) Sang’s first job at Pizza Hut and experience of gratitude

(06:48) Community work and going door-to-door to make people dinner

(11:05) The unexpected journey of a chef and his struggle with this path

(13:25) Time at Nami and lessons about people and Japanese/Korean social relations

(16:13) His training and complex relationship with all things Japanese

(17:40) His relationship with his grandmother 

(24:21) What his last meal would be

(25:50) What words he’s thinking about these days (essential and gather)

(32:10) Navigating COVID-19 life 

(35:50) All about Sushi Marking for the Soul (it’s amazing, funny and inspiring)

(45:50) The ‘gaze’ exercise and the great social experience it creates

(51:33) What brings Sang joy

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Sushi Making for the Soul

Nami Japanese Restaurant

 

More About This Guest:

Sang Kim a chef, restaurateur and writer.

Sang has been behind some of the most iconic modern Asian restaurants in the city of Toronto. He was profiled in the New York Times #1 bestselling business book, Better and Faster, by Jeremy Gutsche, for his innovative approach to restaurant marketing and Asian cuisine. He operates Canada’s most popular sushi making school, Sushi Making For The Soul, with over 19,000+ “graduates” since its inception in 2010. 

He is the regular Asian food correspondent on CTV’s popular national daytime talk show, The Social and national breakfast show, Your Morning. He also does his rounds on all of the other networks.

He is an award-winning author of two books. He has won the Gloria Vanderbilt Prize for Short Fiction, Third Prize for Grain Magazine’s Short Grain Fiction Contest, finalist for the CBC Short Story Competition. His next two books, Woody Allen Ate My Kimchi, a memoir about his restaurant and food journey, and his collection of short stories, Eating Dogs, will both be released in 2020.  

Website: www.sushimakingforthesoul.com

Instagram: @chefsangkim

@sushimakingforthesoul

Facebook: Sushi Making for the Soul

In this episode, we have a rich conversation with Asha Frost who is a Native Medicine Woman, Spiritual mentor and an individual I admire deeply.  Asha has played an integral role in my own personal journey, so to share her wisdom and teachings with you is an honour and a gift.  In this episode we explore how navigating chronic illness, reclaiming her ancestral teachings and finding her voice has all been woven into her most intentional living.

We talk about the book she is writing which is all about connecting with our own medicine.  We also talk about her blog post, Dear White Woman Who Wants to be Like Me which went viral.  We talk about the messages shared in that letter, what inspired it, the conversation it sparked and how she personally navigated the response.

Finally, Asha takes us on a beautiful journey.  If you’re able to listen to this part in a quiet place where you can close your eyes and take in the fullness of the experience, you will be grateful you did.

Asha’s personal journey and ancestral wisdom are a gift.  I look forward to her first book and I invite you to check out her website, social media and her membership, Sacred.  This is soul food.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Asha’s bio

(03:00) Asha talks about the book she’s writing and her medicine

(05:39) About trusting our medicine

(06:50) Asha’s personal journey with Lupus and her ancestral teachings

(09:49) Discussion about Asha’s viral ‘Dear White Woman’ blog post

(10:50) How to use sacred teachings respectfully

(17:15) Asha’s personal journey having shared this blog post

(24:27) About our truth, being brave and healing

(26:35) The wholeness of our experiences and sharing them

(28:10) Intro to the journey Asha will lead us in

(29:00) Asha leads us in a beautiful journey (close your eyes & breathe it in)

(35:50) Adrienne shares how she experienced the journey

(36:35) Resources for looking up animal spirits

(38:30) Asha shares how you can connect with her & offers closing thoughts

Mentioned in This Episode:

Dear White Woman Who Wants to be Like Me Blog Post

 

More About This Guest:

Asha Frost, is an Anishinaabe (Ojibway) Medicine Woman, Healer and Spiritual Mentor. She is a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. As a Soul Seer and Visionary, Asha believes that we can all reclaim our roots and deepest medicines. 

Asha has facilitated healing with thousands of people through the use of Indigenous Based Ceremony, teachings and sacred circle. As a teacher and leader, her purpose is to help women connect to the magic of spirit within their lives so they can root down and be of service to the world.

Asha is working on her first book and has a popular and beautifully curated membership called Sacred.

Website: www.ashafrost.com 

Instagram: @asha.frost

Facebook: Asha Frost

Sacred Membership: Sacred Membership Details & Sign-Up

Robert Sturman is an incredible artist and photographer.  I wanted to interview Robert because his work is so captivating and I admire the way he captures the rawness and beauty of the human experience.  

In this episode, he shares with us that his art is a creative expression of his most intentional living.  He shares stories of photo sessions with BB King, inmates at San Quentin, women with breast cancer and people on the front lines of COVID-19.

While Robert shares so much in this conversation, what has really stayed with me is the beauty he sees in all things.  He also talked about how essential it is to see people, be in the moment and care.

I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.  I also hope you’ll follow Robert on Instagram and take time to enjoy his portfolios.  You will be grateful you did.

Key Takeaways:

(00:50) Robert’s bio

(04:05) The yoga of seeing

(05:21) On being present

(06:08) On paying attention and caring

(06:40) Photography of yoga classes at San Quentin

(10:25) COVID-19 photography

(11:50) About Robert’s father

(16:15) Seeing the beauty of this world

(18:05) The start of the Italy story

(20:40) Re-writing the story of being an artist

(21:20) The artist in St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy

(25:03) A story from San Quentin

(27:15) Photography of breast cancer survivors

(30:40) It’s an honour

(31:44) Story about BB King

(34:46) Where to check out Robert’s work

(36:28) What brings Robert Joy

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Prison Portfolio

COVID-19 Photography

• Emergency Room First Responder – Suicide and Prevention Assessment
• Robert’s father

Photo from St. Mark’s Square

Scars are Beautiful (Breast Cancer) Portfolio

Portrait of Musician with Guitar Over Shoulder

BB King Portrait

 

More About This Guest:

A dedicated yoga practitioner, photographer Robert Sturman has increasingly focused on capturing the timeless grace and embodied mindfulness of asana in his work. 

His portraits, whether set in the lively streets of Manhattan, the expansive beaches and canyons of Malibu, the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, the timeless elegance of Walden's New England, or the bleakness of San Quentin Prison, remind us that there is beauty everywhere. 

His stunning repertoire runs the gamut from yogis perched on rocks surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, to African orphans practicing yoga in Kenya, to breast cancer survivors, bare-chested and scarred. In addition, Sturman has worked extensively photographing war veterans who have embraced the practice of yoga to heal PTSD, in an effort to help change the heartbreaking statistics of veteran suicides each day. 

In Sturman's own words, "I often think of Rumi's words 'I can't stop pointing to the beauty.' That feels right to me." Sturman's honors include Official Artist of the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, 2010 FIFA World Cup Artist Representing America, and Official Artist 2008 United States Olympics. Sturman has been the subject of two separate New York Times articles celebrating his photographs of yoga from around the world. 

Website: www.robertsturmanstudio.com

Instagram: @robertsturman

Facebook: Robert Sturman

Twitter: @RobertSturmanStudio

 

Welcome – from your host, Adrienne Enns   Description:     I want to welcome you to the Intention Session podcast.     This brief welcome will give you a feel for what inspired this series, my own intentions and what I hope you will experience.   Much of my work is about our daily intention setting practices.  With this podcast, I wanted to create a much larger conversation.  I wanted to interview an incredible cross-section of remarkable people living intentionally.  Not only are they inspiring but, they remind us that tough moments can be wise teachers and that intentional living can manifest itself in an infinite number of ways.   I enjoy creating these podcasts immensely and I hope that you enjoy listening to them.   Key Takeaways:   (00:32) My own intentional living through my recovery from addiction   (01:11) How The Intention Sessions started   (01:32) I aspire to create a much greater conversation through these interviews   (02:17) What is intentional Living   (02:30) I’m inspired and hope you are too   (02:57) Creativity, COVID-19 and what I remembered   (03:38) Our intentional living is essential and my hopes for you   Let’s Connect and Share   I welcome you here.   I hope you listen, share and enjoy.   If you want more daily inspiration, you can find me here:   On Instagram @mayyouknowjoy   Facebook at May You Know Joy   Check out the Intentional Days Membership if you want to be inspired and cultivate your own intentional living practice.   If you’re enjoying the podcast, please feel free to show your love.  You can do this by:

• Subscribing to the podcast
• Writing a review 
• Sharing with your friends

Thanks for joining me on this journey.  I’m thrilled to have you here.