UN-Faqs

Her personal brand journey, like so many entrepreneurs you met in Season 1, involved a pivotal point and a traumatic life experience that helped shape who Kristen is today. Experiences that also help her endure through the pandemic by having a resilient mindset and the tenacity to thrive in a pandemic environment to reach her goals and excel in her purpose.

In this episode we talk about some great books, as always. Kristen shares two of her favourites:

Here are two key take-aways from this episode:

"Alter Your Perspective," a key to Mastery, as explained in Robert Greene's book by the same name. When we operate in the Conventional Mind to solve problems we become enslaved to a mental shorthand relying on patterns or past experience. Creative people resist this mental shorthand and look deeply at the situation with a kind of wonderment. Katherine Johnson and her fellow mathematicians are examples of this mindset at work.

More about mindset can be found on Kristen's blog at moorethanjustx.com. You can find her on IG & Twitter @moorethanjustx

Un-Faqs is a podcast original. If your are enjoying the show, be sure to like, share, subscribe on your favourite listening app. I am your host Mary Lee of MGG Communications Inc. 

Another series of candid interviews with entrepreneurs who share their tales of wisdom, lessons learned and lived experience from the pandemic as they grow, thrive, transform, and manage brand success amid all the challenges that keep coming their way. 

We live in interesting times, says Confucius, so why not redefine ourselves to be a better version of who we truly are and were always meant to be. Never thought you'd be asked so much about resilience and vulnerability, now did you? That's why this is the one and only podcast platform for those un-frequently asked questions because there has never been a time like the here and now!

UnFaqs is an original podcast by MGG Communications Inc., a PR strategy firm that builds brand authenticity by sharing the individual's backstory. Get real and be relatable and relevant to your clients and customers. We are all in this together so let's create those deeper more meaningful connections because some where in there is a unique solutions to someone’s problem.

Episode 14 - My next guest is a wonderful, deeply caring and charismatic man of faith. Daniel Smith is a pastor and teacher in the Comox Valley, British Columbia who currently serves on staff at both Northgate Church and Phil & Jennie Gaglardi Academy.

Daniel and his wife, Mariah, are passionate about working with and empowering young leaders, caring for the needy, and ensuring that everyone in the Comox Valley and beyond has the opportunity to discover their best selves. 

Daniel is currently working on his Master's Degree in Christian Studies at Regent College, a UBC-affiliated school of Theology, and desires to see the world become a better place through the love of Jesus and inspiring leadership. 

By way of hobbies, Daniel loves going for runs and playing sports, hanging out on a patio on a sunny day with Mariah, and taking in a good podcast or book. Indeed we talk mention a few including:

Many wonderful takeaways from this episode. Here are five worth sharing. I hope you also get some more great takeaways to apply right away in your life.

No matter where you are in life, what your spiritual journey may be, the team at North Gate invite you to come explore your faith. Join their Sunday service  online or watch on-demand throughout the week. Visit www.ngate.ca.

In the episode I mention The VIA Survey of Character Strengths, a free self-assessment that in less than 15 minutes provides intriguing results too help you understand your best qualities. Visit https://www.viacharacter.org

I am your host Mary Lee. You can find episodes and more on my website at mggcommunications.ca/un-faqs-podcast and follow me on IG at mary_mgg_inc.

Episode 13 - Jodi-Ann Smith, owner and founder of Abundance of Jo is a Personal Finance Coach. Her perfect client and niche market is young women who are starting off on their own and are learning techniques to save and make money so they can live an abundant life.

She arrived in Canada from Jamaica only a few years ago to pursue an MBA a an international student at University of British Columbia (UBC). As her story goes, she needed to organize her finances and get on top of her money life. In doing so, she quickly came to realize that there was not enough personal finance information for some very key groups in society – young women fresh out of school and immigrants.

She launched her business,  Abundance of Jo, in 2020 to teach young women and immigrants, like herself, to to become money-wise, beginning with the right mindset. She is a self proclaimed Personal Finance Geek and loves  consuming content on saving money, investing and all things related to smart money management.

Her experience and knowledge gained from Business School taught her how to operate a successful business of her own - a foundation that has changed the trajectory of her career from retail and Public Relations (PR).

Jodi herself became for ingrained on the topic of finances by following podcasts. Three she mentioned are:

In this episode we talk books. Here are her top two:

If you are like me, you wish you had more time to read the stories and verses of the Bible. To get my daily dose I rely on handy apps. Today, there are so many out there. My personal favourite that I have been using for several years now is YouVersion. Each morning  there's a new verse that I can lament over for the rest of the day. You can also subscribe to any number of plans from a few days to 30 days. It's also a platform to connect, share a profile and the plans and readings you are following.  I often share them on Instagram. IG has many you can follow as well such as @verseoftheday.

Jodi writes a blog, which is on her website abundanceofjo.com  with each article full of great advice regarding money from financial planning and budgeting to mindset work and learning to be in control of what you make and spend. She also shares in her blog some valuable money podcast worth tuning into. You can find Jodi on and on Facebook and IG at @abundanceofjo, Pinterest at pinterest.ca/AbundanceofJo/ and Twitter at twitter.com/JoAbundance

Thank you for tuning in. I am your host Mary Lee. You can find episodes and more on my website at mggcommunications.ca/un-faqs-podcast and follow me on IG at mary_mgg_inc.

Episode 12 - This character is describe as compassionate, caring, stubborn, opinionated, highly competitive, and outgoing. Fearless and focused on her objectives, she prefers to avoid conflict but if pressed she will engage in battle.    

I've just given you the description of a true warrior princess - Princess Diana - the superhero that is, not the one we fondly remember as part of the monarchy. Also known as Wonder Woman. Who is lucky enough to have a living breathing superhero on a podcast episode? If there is anything close to that, my bets are on my next guest. Once you listen to her story, you will agree. She is unstoppable in her tracks, has the strength and personal fortitude of a genuine fighter and will do whatever she can to support society - specifically, local  businesses and non profits in her community.    

Linda Thomas, also known -  to herself - as batshit crazy and loving every minute of it, is a gal's best girlfriends, a guy's best gal friend, a devoted mom and a deeply committed and immensely integrated member of her community.    

By day, she is the Promotions Director for the Jim Patterson Media group, which, among many stations, owns The Eagle FM in the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island, B.C. By night, weekends and any free hours in between, Linda is a student pursuing her Master's Degree in Communications through Royal Roads University. And then there are her ambitious athletic pursuits in marathon races and conditioning training with CrossFit. The list isn't done. She is also a member of the Auxiliary police force for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.    

Coincidently, her fiancé is Steve Trevor. For those of you who know the most revered female superhero icon created in 1941 by William Moulton Marston will know that Trevor is the famed love interest Wonder Woman. Of course he is! Humbly, Linda will not fess up to being all these amazing things we her colleagues and friends will describe her as.   

There is no doubt, Linda is a woman of wonder. Wonder what she will say next. Stick around for this episode to find out. A word of caution, you will laugh and you may even cry. You will probably be shocked and will most certainly be inspired.    

In this episode we talk books, a must for all my guest's questions. Linda's all-time favourite read is:  How I became the Fittest Woman on Earth, by Tia-Clair Toomey   

We also briefly mentioned, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. 

Wondering where to find this amazing woman? Linda is on Instagram @linda.thisis40ish   

If you don’t see Linda hitting the pavement training for her next 1/2, she’s hitting stuff at 30-Minute Hit or hauling heavy stuff at StrongHearts Fitness both located in Courtenay, BC. 

UN-Faqs in a Spotify original podcast created by MGG Communications Inc. with your host Mary Lee. If you are enjoying these episodes, like, share, subscribe. You can also leave a review on Apple Podcast. You can find me on Instagram @mary_mgg_inc

Episode 11 - Terri Kozlowski, is a Native American Athabascan of the Gwich’in Tribe - Raven Clan and now resides in Woodstock, Georgia, discovered her true path in life only by coming to terms with a painful childhood. Today, she is a successful life coach with a certification from the Academy of Modern Applied Psychology and helps many others overcome limiting beliefs and fears. In her podcast, Soul Solutions, launched in August 2020 during the pandemic, Terri delves into the soul to teach us how to take control of our ego and emotions to create the life we desire.  Her show recently reached a milestone 1,000 downloads. You can find her on Apple Podcasts.

Among the fascinating feats that Terri has overcome from childhood trauma and abuse, she can now add published author to the list. Her book, Raven Transcending Fear, is part memoir, part self-help guide; Terri's raw and personal story of diving deep into her past, dealing with the terror before ultimately getting comfortable with fear and transcending it. 

Episode Notes

There are so many take aways from this conversation that I don't even know where to begin but one thing is certain, the more I sat and listened to Terri's backstory of childhood abuse, abusive parenting and neglect from her mother during her upbringing to the spiritually strong and vibrant women, author, educator, and healer she is today, I was in complete awe. To take in so much hate and deliver so much love is, in itself, a miracle.

This is one episode you mustn't miss. As I stated in the episode, Terri's message of hope, spiritual growth and compassion ate mindset is like a warm blanket wrapped around our bodies giving reassurance and hope that everything will be okay.

Here are just a few key lessons I took from Terri; important rules for life:

Learn more about Terri at https://terrikozlowski.com

In this episode, we mention a few books, one of which is Terri's favourite and played a poignant role in her road to self love and healing:

And finally, Raven Transcending Fear, now available on Amazon. Terri's book has also been nominated for the "Cover of the Month" contest on AllAuthor. Throughout the month of April you can cast your vote online at allauthor.com

UN-faqs is a podcast original by MGG Communications Inc. If you enjoy these conversations with entrepreneurs sharing their stories of resiliency, authenticity and courage, I would love that you leave a review on Apple Podcast. Share with your friends, and subscribe. You can find me on Instagram at mary_mgg_inc 

Episode #10 - My next guest hails from Brooklyn, New York and, like many of us entrepreneurs did and are still doing, has redesigned herself, pivoting from one career to another.   

One year ago this month, Christine Terrio was furloughed from her job. She had worked in the hotel industry for 18 years after pursuing her undergrad studies, a BA in Hotel Management. The announcement and shift happened so quickly and with one week's notice that the hotel would be closing it doors temporarily. Around the same time, she had taken interest in learning about autoimmune disease because, at the time, a friend had recently been diagnosed and Chris was eager to find a solution to help her friend avoid thyroid surgery. The journey led Chris down a path of holistic health and wellness, something she had always been interested in. Chris enrolled at the Institute of Integrative Nutrition (IIN) to earn a certification in health and nutrition coaching. She soon created a business, Simply Living Journey, and began to offer 1:1 wellness programs to help women take a holistic approach to nutrition and health, prioritize themselves, and build healthier and happier lifestyles. 

The pandemic was a game changer. Chris reignited a passion, pivoted and pursued her own personal development discovering nutrition coaching and the fascinating connection between foods we eat and the health of our brains. It was her silver lining. COVID gave Chris permission and opportunity to get grounded, reconnect with her purpose, build a wellness tribe, and help others do the same.  

So, how does one go from hotel management to health and healing? Christine Terrio will explain that it was simply about being led by the gut, figuratively and literally, and having the right mindset.   

Each episode of UN-Faqs comes with a healthy dose of references to great authors and a chat about books. I

n this episode, we mention: 

You can find Christine on her website at www.simplylivingjourney.com. On her site you will find a very informative blog, some delicious breakfast, lunch, dinner, and treat recipes. Yes, there is chocolate and peanut butter included.  

Her social media is @simplylivingjourney on Instagram and Facebook. You can also drop in to Clubhouse @christineSLJ and listen to one of her chats with a panel of Health Coaches every Wednesday at 8 a.m. ET.

Episode #9 - In this episode, I have the delightful experience of sharing similar stories about our career beginnings with Blythe Reimer, co-owner of an award winning new restaurant here in the Comox Valley, the Tidal Café. It is a wonderful breakfast eatery that opened November 2019 and survived 2020 because of the strength of its founders Blythe and husband Kurt.  It’s really rather serendipitous and I can’t wait for you to sink your teeth into our conversation over food, flight suits, ethics, and a little Italian flare mixed in to spice it up.  

Blythe is not just an owner and manager of Tidal Café . She is also the mother of three boys, a wonderful wife, a fantastic friend, a certified nutritionist, and was the first woman in the Canadian Armed Forces to fly the Sea King helicopter. Evidently, at one time, she commanded an all-female crew. How cool is that!! 

As always, we talk books and so, If you are or once was a young fiction fanatic like Blythe and I, you also won’t want to miss our chat about Meg Murry, the beloved and determined main character in the novel, A Winkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle.  

If you are enjoying listening to stories of entrepreneurs and learning how they are enduring through a pandemic always staying true to their why, then please, go ahead and like, subscribe and share with friends. UN-FAQs podcast can be listened to on several platforms including Spotify and Apple Podcast.  

Thank you for tuning in! I am your host, Mary Lee of MGG Communication Inc. Support the show with a small donation on Patreon. Visit patreon.com/MGGInc

Episode #8 with Alan Frew.  

Would you believe there was a time when Alan was terribly afraid of performing on stage. So afraid he was violently ill before each performance. Today, he’s a  multi-platinum selling singer/songwriter, a public speaker, a podcaster, and the author of The Action Sandwich - A Six Step Recipe to Success by Doing What You’re Already Doing. 

In this episode, I’m talking with the man who is best known as the lead singer of Glass Tiger, the iconic five time Juno Award winning Canadian band that also earned a Grammy nomination and five Canadian Classic Awards. In his 2007 best seller, Alan lays out six steps to find one's success - receptivity, desire, belief, intention, and then the action sprinkled with a heavy dose of passion. Steps to finding your mastery, as I call it. Alan is no different than you and I and his book as well as this conversation is a reminder we are all impacted by the same things - fear and uncertainty. It's how we respond to these emotions that defines our greatness and help us rise above it all. 

Alan begins his debut book with the line, "My Life is a true success story."  But Alan measures success in far simpler terms than what you might think. Not necessarily the rise to stardom. Success by Alan’s definition is the attainment of that which you set out to attain no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it may appear. Small victories as told by someone who overcame a big obstacle to attain that which he desired - to entertain others. Alan not only overcame stage fright but he made a full recovery after suffering a stroke in 2015. Glass Tiger went on to release to more albums, 31 and 33, a 2020 Holiday special album and took on several show tours including their most recent with Corey Hart - Never Surrender. Absolutely remarkable and how apropos! 

The Action Sandwich is a must read if for no other reason but to enjoy Alan’s witty storytelling. And now the book is available in electronic version so you can have it in your hot little hands right away. Visit alanfrewworld.com to get your copy, and take advantage of the Frew The Looking Glass special. You can also follow Alan on Instagram to watch his live performances and subscribe to his podcast, Frew the Looking Glass on Apple Podcasts. 

If you are enjoying these episodes with COVID Crusaders, share and subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts! Thank you for tuning in! I am your host, Mary Lee of MGG Communication Inc. Support the show with a small donation. Visit https://www.patreon.com/MGGInc