Today on the podcast we talk with Rachel & Tina from Mom Genes. Rachel and Tina  are colleagues and podcast co-hosts of “Mom Genes the podcast” who both whole-heartedly believe and practice, personally and professionally in their private practices, intuitive eating, weight inclusivity, and promote having a positive relationship with yourself in order to live fully free. Their  duo consists of Rachel Coleman (a Certified Eating Disorder Therapist in CA and body positive advocate) and Tina LaBoy (a Registered Dietitian and Eating Disorder Specialist in TX and health at every size advocate). They have both been treating Eating Disorders and negative body image in their clients for over 15 years and, now that they are both Moms, they also love breaking stigmas of the “mom bod.”

We hope you enjoy this incredibly valuable conversation!

Katie Jameson is a Vancouver mom of four who shares her stories and experiences of grief, advocacy, down syndrome and life –  openly, honestly and beautifully. Katie is a writer, photographer, business owner, mother and a freaking all around amazing human being!

We have followed Katie on her Social Media platforms for years now, run into each other in our neighbourhoods in Vancouver and at Katie and her husband’s restaurants and our admiration, respect and awe for her have continued to grow daily. Katie’s words are gentle and powerful, kind and strong – all at the same time. She moves so many people with her ability to share her stories vulnerably and truthfully in words and images. 

We are grateful to have discovered Katie and her incredible work she is doing not only for our local community but for the community she has built through her online platforms.

@katie__jameson

@katiecrossphotography

http://www.katiejameson.ca

Justine Sones is a writer and stress management coach who loves drinking coffee, helping burnt-out humans set boundaries, and talking about things that hurt. During her career as a massage therapist, Justine’s practice was dedicated to exploring the roles that stress, pain, and relaxation play in healing the physical body. She came to realize that the support her clients needed required more than a massage, and made it her mission to help them. Justine now spends her time writing about feelings and coaching other over-functioning humans develop healthy boundaries and practice sustainable self-care as they navigate the messy intersections of partnering, parenting, -preneuring, and pandemicking. We adored chatting with Justine and learned so many amazing strategies from her. We hope you love this conversation as much as we did! Enjoy!

Learn more at www.justinesones.com and follow @justinesones on Instagram and Twitter

Today on the podcast we welcome Andrea Delf - Vancouver Branch Executive Director for Mamas for Mamas. Mamas for Mamas is a national charitable organization that supports mothers and caregivers in crisis by providing ongoing support to individuals and families facing various poverty-related struggles. Their mission is to change the landscape of poverty through innovative approaches to financial barriers faced by struggling families. On this episode we learn all about this amazing organization and Andrea offers information and suggestions for ways that mamas who may need a hand up can reach out, we also discuss how anyone who would like to help can get involved as well as hopes and dreams for Mamas for Mamas.  We hope you enjoy learning about this incredible group of women and all of the ways they are helping so many people.

Today we talk with Kristine, the co-founder of One Tough Mother, on the podcast! One Tough Mother is a Canadian-made company  by two moms who have been there.

At One Tough Mother, they believe you absolutely can thrive as you enter new parenthood – and it starts in pregnancy! 

In 2017 Kristine had her first baby and the postpartum period was such a struggle. She remembers calling her mom, sobbing, because she didn’t have what she needed for her  recovery. Worst of all, she had no idea about the physical and emotional challenges that were coming.

Kristine believes that when we don’t discuss the reality of pregnancy, birth and postpartum with our sisters, friends, nieces – even our own children...It’s such a disservice to pregnant people everywhere.

One Tough Mother aims to start sharing about the information and resources we need from the beginning: throughout our pregnancies, and before our babies arrive!

Together with Allison, One Tough Mother co-founder (who is a full spectrum doula and childbirth educator), they are   shifting the pregnancy narrative from conversations about diaper cakes... to the ones that empower you.

Jennie Abbot is the Founder and Director of Harmony Kids Yoga. She is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT) and Registered Children's Yoga Teacher (CYA-CYT) with the Canadian Yoga Alliance. Jennie is also a Color Me Yoga Children's Yoga Teacher Graduate, and a Rainbow Kids Yoga Certified Instructor. She has more than 10 years' experience as a children's dance teacher. She has also completed Yoga for the Special Needs Child and Safe Anatomy for Children courses through Marsha Danzig, founder of Color Me Yoga. Jennie has taken Mindfulness Training through Dr. Dan Siegel, Author and Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute. Jennie's life passion is sharing the joy of Yoga with Children!

Jennie started her yoga teacher training in 2010 her daughter began experiencing anxiety and challenges at school. Jennie knew that the practice of yoga, mindfulness and centering were tools she could empower her child and so using her background as a children’s dance instructor and the tools she was learning as a yoga instructor, created a yoga plan for her daughter that provided immediate and immeasurable results.

Harmony Kids Yoga brought together a passion for working with children, and a passion for bringing yoga together in a way that would benefit kids of all physical and mental capacities.

Harmony Kids Yoga was born from this desire, and today, has grown into a company that offers studio classes, in-school programs for kids at the preschool and elementary school levels, as well as teacher’s workshops for educators who want to bring the practice of yoga and mindfulness into the classroom on a daily basis.

Dr. Carley Akehurst works hard to provide compassionate, comprehensive and evidence-based care for her patients. She was first introduced to complementary and alternative medicine through several international study abroad programs. After completing her Bachelors degree at UBC, she expanded her knowledge of the medical field by working with both MDs and NDs. After choosing a career in naturopathic medicine, Dr. Akehurst attended Naturopathic Medical School at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine. 

Dr. Akehurst is educated in the treatment and prevention of chronic disease, immune dysfunction, allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, hormone imbalance and stress and fatigue. She has a strong passion for family medicine, especially fertility, pregnancy, women's health and children's health. During her training at Boucher, Dr. Akehurst completed additional training as a doula, childbirth educator, and breastfeeding consultant. She has been supporting birthing families in the Lower Mainland as a doula since 2010, both at home and in hospitals.

Most recently, she has been a contributor to Let Them Eat Dirt – a book about bacteria and the role it plays in gut health in children. She is also a consultant for a local microbiome testing company. Outside of clinical practice, Dr. Akehurst can be found spending time with her three children, husband and dog. Born and raised in Vancouver, Dr. Akehurst is thrilled to offer care at Mint Integrative Health at Broadway and Granville.

Dr. Ally Power is a Naturopathic Doctor, and a mama to a little boy. She always dreamt of becoming a physician and began her journey volunteering at a local hospital in high school which led to a kinesiology degree and doctorate in naturopathic medicine. Upon graduating and beginning her practice, she honed in on her passion for all things women’s health.

Then, Ally and her husband Dr. Rory Gibbons decided to start a family of their own, and now have a beautiful baby boy. The entire experience of getting pregnant, being pregnant, and adjusting to post-partum life sparked her passion for assisting women through pregnancy and beyond.

Like many, becoming a mom has been such a rewarding, incredible yet challenging time in Ally's life both mentally and physically, and she loves supporting women and families through this transition.

Ally understands that everyone is at different places in their journey through pregnancy and motherhood.

For over a decade Rachel Bailey has helped hundreds of parents bring out the best in their children. In addition to her master’s degree in clinical psychology, she has been an ADHD coach, in-home mentor (helping to improve family dynamics), therapist, and teacher of positive parenting techniques. 

Rachel is also a mom who wants her kids to be able to do what they’re supposed to do (even when they don’t want to!), handle challenges they’re going to face, and feel confident about themselves…. but raising them in this way does not come naturally to her. 

Like some of you, she tried “traditional” strategies — yelling, threatening, even the “positive” ones like rewards and praise. But none of those strategies worked in the long run, and they didn’t feel good for her or her kids. So she learned how to switch from “band-aid parenting” (using strategies that don’t stick after a while) to “long-game parenting,” which led to results that lasted and made her feel more confident and in control.  Rachel has now taught hundreds and hundreds of families how to do the same… how to feel relief and enjoy their kids again. 

And she can teach you too! Listen in to hear Are and Stina talk to Rachel about parenting and the struggles they are facing with their 5 children.

Along with teaching elementary Health and Physical Education in Vancouver, Danica also runs a business with Beautycounter educating about ingredient safety in personal care products, advocating for more health-protective regulations in Canada, and mentoring a team of like-minded passionate women.

Danica hopes to be able to share what she has learned throughout her education and experience about active living, healthy habits, and clean beauty. Join her in living a healthy, active and clean life!