Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

When you travel - there are so many things that could happen. Being on a cruise ship, which is really more like being on location than truly travelling, or going to a resort, which while ticking the boxes of "getting away from it, having some downtime and relaxing" doesn't really allow for a true experience of wherever you are. Truly travelling provides so many opportunities to live like the locals. To be able to see things on the beaten path and off. To let go of ideas that might have their origins in what others have said, shows you've seen or things you've read. You get to create your own ideas and reality of a place when you go there, see and experience things. Travel can change your perspectives, and in many ways travel can change your life. Giving you the clarity to see things in a new way, that a change of scenery is sometimes the catalyst of or for. So if you get the opportunity. Take it. Do it. As often as you can. A world of amazing adventures is out there waiting for you. 

Music for this episode is by Clear Sky by Hartzman courtesy Uppbeat.

https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/clear-sky

License code: ZXLJLJ32BP5V3XNP)

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

Friends - we hopefully all have 'em. We need to have those people in our lives that keep us grounded, call us out on our BS and are there when things hit the fan. Whether near or far, old or new, casual or close, friends are the glue that keep our humanity together. In this episode I consider the types of friends we have, how we can make them and how they make our lives better. Thanks Judy Garland and Jonny Mercer for the inspiration.  And thanks everyone out there who I'm lucky enough to call a friend.

Here's the link to the article about the 7 types of friendship:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifetime-connections/202111/the-7-types-friends-and-which-is-most-essential-our-happiness

And here's the YouTube link to the song:
https://youtu.be/NZY5b9kC8YE

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

If you think that you customer service is a thing of the past, then I would challenge you to pay more attention to not only what you bring to the interaction, but what the people that you are interacting with are dealing with and how if you look a little deeper, there are probably lots of examples of people doing a great job, in potentially the weirdest or least expected of places.

If you would like to learn more about the history of the mammography equipment here's a link https://www.ramsoft.com/history-of-mammography 

Gentlemen - if you want to find out more about how to take care of all your bits, check this great website https://menshealthfoundation.ca/mens-health-check/ and their awesome podcast ``Don`t Change Much`` https://menshealthfoundation.ca/dont-change-much-podcast/ 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

It's not about religion - so don't be put off by the title. I gave up church during the pandemic...long story. But I still believe that there is an inherent responsibility that all people have regardless of any spiritual affiliation or lack thereof. So when people who by virtue of a position they find themselves in, don't abide by the idea of doing right by people, it makes me...well...cross. So this is me sharing my indignation sparked by a bad move (in my opinion) by one of my (former) favourite podcasters. No names no pack drill...cause that wouldn't be cool. Enjoy:)

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

We've all heard that word. Been called it. Maybe used it - to describe someone or possibly ourselves. Why do we so often find ourselves in situations where maybe we feel like we've had one pulled over on us? Maybe it's just me. There are definitely charlatans, hucksters and snake oil salespeople out there but not everyone is as susceptible, but there are also people out there just doing what they can, hoping it will lead to a change, a break, or make a difference. That's what I tackle in this episode, the up and downsides of being a sucker. 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

The last little while there seem to have been all these little hints or clues that I needed to be a little more connected - in my mind and body, more mindful, more present, more able to respond rather than react. And let's be clear, it's still a work in progress, but this most recent experience really cemented for me that there is great benefit in trying to be a little more aware, a little more mindful day to day, because you just never know when you're going to have call upon that ability to be still and in the present.
If you are not someone who likes to or is "good at" mindfulness, don't quit trying. There are so many great books out there that can help you find a way and a place to start that is not overwhelming and really approachable. Like finding the right mattress or that perfect pair of boots, sometimes you just need to try a bunch out before you find the one that really fits you.

Here is a link to some books that might "fit the bill":
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14096 (I have no affiliation to Goodreads, buy the books wherever you like to get your books!!!!)

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

I was thinking about this for a long time, when I realized that maybe it's not so much an either/or as a both/and, which was confirmed for me in this conversation with my good friend Trina Mansour. We talk about how life changes, or how perhaps, we need to change, to keep up with or fully embrace life. It's a great reminder that we can be whoever and whatever we choose to be - and that at the end of the day, it's a choice.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

It's amazing how doing something everyday, multiple times a day can give you moments of clarity or inspiration. Luna and I spend a lot of time walking. In the neighbourhood, in the ravine, and I'm always amazed at her zeal at sniffing the same fence, patch of grass or bush. Every. Single. Time. So it dawned on me that there might be some lessons there - and here are a couple that came to mind the last few times I was out my little houndly. 

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

So I clearly don't know what season I am working on - but it doesn't matter, new year, new season and I'm calling it 5 and I'm excited to kick it off with a conversation that ties in mental health, because that's always important to talk about, with things that we do that help us to feel better, unwind, relax or in some way stay sane. Michelle Beeson joins me again to talk about her "habit" and how it has helped her through good times and bad and we have a great time talking about passions and staying well and pushing boundaries - all the good stuff. Hope you enjoy and hope maybe you pick up a craft, activity or hobby that helps to fulfill all those things for you by the end of the episode.

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks

Have thoughts or ideas? Please share here!

Well - here we are. Another Holiday Season upon us, another year almost ready for the archives, and what have we learned? Hope that you all have an amazingly restful break (if that's in the cards for you) and that you all find what you need to fill your cup and to fortify you so that you can fill the cups of others. Thanks for listening, and as always, if you have a story that you would like to tell, or a thought, idea or jumping off point for a conversation, I'm open to any and all!!! Conversations are best when they involve more than one person:)

Here are the links to the videos on YouTube of the three videos that inspired this episode. Enjoy as a walk down memory lane or for the first time - you will be amazed at the faces and voices that you see and hear!

BandAid - https://youtu.be/bjQzJAKxTrE

Northern Lights - https://youtu.be/o6OqvHNcuTk

USA for Africa - https://youtu.be/9AjkUyX0rVw

Happy Holidays everyone!

Listen wherever you get your podcasts - you can find Walking Alongside on Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Deezer, Player FM, Tune-In and of course Spotify, Google Player and Apple Podcasts - where if you can leave a comment or throw me some ideas of topics you'd like to hear about, that would be great. 

Walking Alongside is written, recorded and produced by me - Charissa McKay (aka CharCharBinx) in my awesome basement home office/studio/craft room on Treaty 6 lands known originally as amiskwaciy-wâskahikan, meaning Beaver Hill House, in Nehiyawewin (Cree). There are other names, equally as meaningful, and I am grateful to those who were here before me, for the ability to call this place my home. 

Thanks for listening - follow me on Instagram @CharChar_bincks