I came across Miik’s Instagram account earlier this year. Whether it was a shared hashtag or a comment from a friend, or some algorithm, I landed on his profile and was intrigued immediately. Miik Wells is an absolute force.

Katie is a Yoga teacher and a Psycho-Practitioner, mixing traditional psychology practices with holistic and spiritual healing modalities. She works with veterans, first responders and their families. She also travels across Ontario as a guest speaker and teacher offering her teachings and messages through a trauma sensitive/ trauma informed lens.

From spinal surgery, not feeling in control, to feeling outrageous trust in the unknown, and seeing connections to everything. From experiencing resentment towards her ailments and conditions to establishing a gratitude practice, entering a true journey of self discovery, and dedicating her life to help others.

Shayda’s Dad, Amir, is an Iranian immigrant. His story is captivating, raw, and full of emotional moments that have been shared recently on a podcast called The Hopeful, on the Frequency Podcast Network.

In total transparency, I didn’t listen to The Hopeful before my conversation with Shayda. I wanted to be able to speak with her entirely about her perspectives on her Dad’s story and what being the daughter of immigrant parents has been like without knowing anything about the story in advance. I wanted my reactions to be as authentic as possible. After we recorded, I downloaded the five episodes that had released up to that point, and sat in on the Watch Party for the finale on Monday. To say I’m blown away by the work that went into this podcast is a massive understatement. I could hardly find the words to describe how quickly I fell into this story and the vulnerable recount of Amir’s life.

Deborah was always into fashion, dressing up and style, and was often assumed to work in the creative industry. Most of her working career was spent behind a desk, working in tech, and modelling had never really crossed her mind. As her hair slowly started to turn silver, she decided to embrace it, and people began to notice.

Mady and Scout are sisters and creators of an online space and podcast called “Okay Sis.” Their contrasting and complementary personalities make for entertaining, funny, engaging, relatable and sometimes serious conversations about their lives. They welcome guests into their community and onto their podcast to discuss topics of all kinds.

Arvin moved to Canada from the Philippines eleven years ago, and came to live with his Mom, who had moved here several years prior. Leaving his life in the Philippines behind, Arvin worked through his transition into life in Canada with his Mom’s support and encouragement to dream big.

Valentina moved to Canada from Colombia eleven years ago to study. After her studies and settling into life in Kamloops, Valentina started thinking about ways in which she could take on business working for herself. A favourite purse of hers from Colombia was getting so many compliments, she wondered how she could bring these products made in Colombia to Canada to support herself, and the artisans from back home.

Bradford and Bryan Manning are brothers, entrepreneurs and business partners. They both share a degenerative retinal eye disease called Stargardt Disease, where you lose your central vision over time.

Five years apart in age, both Brad and Bryan started losing their central vision around 5 years old. Today, Brad and Bryan explain that they really don’t know much different than living life with a visual impairment.

Kenzie Brenna is a self and body love enthusiast, a mental health advocate and an extremely engaging and thought provoking influencer on Instagram. Although even Kenzie rolls her eyes at the title influencer, she’s created a platform that is safe and brave, comforting to most and confronting to some. She’s educated, extremely well spoken, and incredibly inviting. Kenzie is also an Atheist.