Women Don't Do That (WDDT)

Some guests come with headlines before they even speak. In this episode, Stephanie sits down with Catherine McKenna, climate advocate, former cabinet minister, and author of Run Like a Girl, for a candid conversation about leadership, resilience, and staying human in high-pressure roles. From motherhood and boundaries to climate advocacy and politics, Catherine shares what she learned the hard way and what she still believes is worth fighting for.

This episode covers:

• Why Catherine wrote Run Like a Girl and what she hopes women and young people take from it
• What it was really like being a woman in politics, including public scrutiny and staying authentic
• How to protect your energy in demanding seasons, including the decision to turn off her phone at night
• What perseverance looks like when the work is hard and progress feels fragile
• Why advocacy takes time and teamwork, including the shared story behind Thaidene Nëné National Park Reserve
• A moment that shaped her perspective on platform and bravery, including lessons from the Obamas

If you are leading, parenting, advocating, or simply trying to get through the day, this episode is a reminder that you can do meaningful work without losing yourself and that you are allowed to do things your own way.
Books mentioned

• Run Like a Girl by Catherine McKenna
• No Logo by Naomi Klein
• An Inconvenient Truth by Al Gore
• Dubliners by James Joyce
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

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January can feel heavy before it even begins. In this episode, Stephanie shares a real-life update as she reflects on Christmas, chronic migraines, motherhood, and stepping into 2026 without pressure or perfection.

This episode covers:

• Why choosing a word for the year can be more helpful than resolutions
• What it means to choose brave when it feels uncomfortable
• How chronic illness changes rest, work, and recovery
• A simple January reset for anyone feeling behind or overwhelmed
• What’s coming up on the podcast in 2026

If you’re starting the year tired, uncertain, or stretched thin, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a full plan. You just need the next right step.

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This week's vault episode, tune in to hear a thought-provoking conversation about being childfree with teacher Jessica Hawk. Jessica candidly shares her personal journey of choosing a childfree lifestyle and the challenges she faced along the way. As we dive deeper into this topic, you'll hear Jessica's perspective on societal pressure and misconceptions surrounding childfree living. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and hear from a woman who is living a life she loves, without children. Join us for a fascinating conversation that will challenge your assumptions and open your mind. Don't miss out, tune in now! More about Jessica: Jessica Hawk is a teacher in Gloucester County, NJ. She has two master's degrees and a doctorate. Her second job is as an International College Counselor for top-tier students in Saudi Arabia. Her third job is creating content on social media. How to find Jessica: Tiktok Instagram Book recommendation (s): The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom by Don Miguel Ruiz

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In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of work with Dr. Helen Ofosu, a leading Industrial/Organizational Psychologist and the mind behind I/O Advisory Services. Renowned for her expertise in HR processes and psychology, She offers unmatched insights into navigating the complexities of the workplace. Our discussion spans a gamut of crucial topics, including HR best practices, career advancement, navigating toxic work cultures, setting professional boundaries, and tackling underemployment. Join us as we uncover her expert advice on overcoming these challenges and fostering resilience and success in any career path.

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https://www.womendontdothat.com/post/confidence-is-an-advocacy-tool-what-selena-rezvani-taught-me-about-speaking-up-and-being-heard

https://www.womendontdothat.com/post/her-story-her-books-2025

https://www.womendontdothat.com/post/i-don-t-do-resolutions-i-do-this-perfect-for-busy-women

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Self care? Not something host Stephanie has been very good at prioritizing. But that changed when she made a plan and FINALLY got a gym membership to improve her health. As a busy working mom, how did she find time in her busy life to make it happen? How do her kids feel about it? In this episode, Stephanie shares the principles she applied in a to do list to help you take care of yourself too. Think you don’t have time to priorities yourself? She doesn’t either! As an entrepreneur and mom with a podcast and blog on the side, life is full! So, dive in to the episode to hear more about her self care journey and how you can do it too!

Our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/womendontdothat
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Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at [email protected]

Produced by Duke & Castle

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In this episode, we have the honour of speaking with the multi-talented Shreya Patel, an actress, filmmaker, and mental health advocate who has left an indelible mark in the realms of entertainment, activism, and mental health advocacy. Recognized as one of the Top 100 Most Powerful Women of Canada and a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient, Shreya's incredible journey has been characterized by her unwavering commitment to creating positive change. Through her groundbreaking projects, including 'Girl Up,' the music video 'Freedom Dance,' and the Unity- #LOVESPREADS Faster Than Virus documentary, she has captivated global audiences and united people from 66 countries. Having showcased her work at renowned film festivals such as Toronto and Munich, Shreya has also graced the pages of Vogue and Grazia as a model. Join us for an inspiring conversation as Shreya shares her career path, insights on empowering the underdog, the importance of mental health and human rights, and invaluable advice for aspiring individuals seeking to make a difference in the world.

How to find Shreya:

LinkedIn

Instagram 

Twitter 

www.windowdreams.ca 

Book recommendation(s): 

Podcast recommendation(s):  Huberman Lab Podcast

How to find WOMENdontDOthat: Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker 

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In this solo episode host Stephanie Mitton shares her "Holiday Hacks" to simplify the festive season without overwhelm. She acknowledges the mixed feelings the holiday season can bring, with common stressors like financial strain and family dynamics. Stephanie emphasizes the importance of finding your own way to celebrate holidays and establish personal traditions. She provides practical tips, including: - Defining your own holiday traditions and blending old and new - Prioritizing must-do and like-to-do activities to reduce stress - Starting holiday planning early to manage finances and time - Managing stress by embracing flexibility and involving others - Involving kids in traditions and setting boundaries with family - Focusing on what brings you joy and evaluating traditions - Building in restful moments and staying present during the season Stephanie's relatable and actionable advice aims to help listeners navigate the holiday season with more ease and enjoyment.
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Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at [email protected]

Produced by Duke & Castle

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In this annual reflection episode, I sit down with WOMENdontDOthat co-founder and former host, Myrrhanda Novak, to look back on 2025 and talk about what is ahead for the podcast and blog. We begin with what life looks like for Myrrhanda right now, including the upcoming tenth birthday of her son Brody, who passed away. She shares honestly about how this milestone feels heavier and how important it is to be gentle with yourself when grief comes in waves.

We talk through the best risks we took this year. For Myrrhanda, it was joining a gym for the first time, redoing their backyard and trying new recipes. For me, it was welcoming a friend to live with us for part of the year, getting out more, gardening, boxing and finding pieces of myself again. We also share the things that scared us this year, like being a conference panelist or trying boxing and even dog sledding. Our words for the year were brave for Myrrhanda and focus for me.

We also celebrate meaningful moments from 2025 including girls trips to Montreal and Quebec City, a castle wedding in Scotland, my daughter starting high school, Beacon North turning five and reaching 200 podcast episodes.

Your top picks from the year:
Most listened to episode: Leadership, Loss and the Courage to Keep Showing Up (Episode 196)
Episodes I hope you revisit: Camryn Rogers Olympic journey (Episode 182) and Bella Brave’s story with Kyla Thomson (Episode 185)
Most read blog: Dancing Through Time: What a Castle Wedding in Scotland Taught Me
Myrrhanda’s favourite episode: Make It Stick with Katie Faloon Drew
Looking ahead to 2026, you can expect vault episodes over Christmas, more of the topics you tell us you want and conversations with Selena Rezvani on quick leadership and Catherine McKenna on her book Run Like a Girl. You may also hear more from Myrrhanda as a guest host.

As we close out the year, thank you to our listeners, readers, Patreon supporters, guests, sponsors, the Beacon North team and everyone who believes in WomenDontDOthat.

A few invitations as you listen

Leave a review with your favourite episode of 2025
Start thinking about your word of the year
Sign up for the blog to get our annual book list
Thank you for being here in 2025. See you in the New Year.

Episode where Myrrhanda shares more of Brody’s story and what helped her through his loss.
Episode 196: Leadership, Loss and the Courage to Keep Showing Up
Episode 182: Hammering Through Barriers: Camryn Rogers’ Olympic Journey
Episode 185: Bella Brave’s Legacy: Kyla Thomson on Resilience, Advocacy, and Finding Hope in the Face of Loss
Make It Stick: Building Lasting Habits with Katie Faloon-Drew
Blog: Dancing Through Time: What a Castle Wedding in Scotland Taught Me

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Recommend guests: https://www.womendontdothat.com/
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beaconnorthstrategies.com
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Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at [email protected]

Produced by Duke & Castle

Our Latest Blog:
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Marina Middleton, CEO & Partner at Create & Cultivate, joins Stephanie to talk about how building a powerful personal brand can change your life and career. A first-generation Egyptian immigrant and former single mum, Marina shares the journey from corporate roles at Yahoo, Yahoo News, and Tumblr to co-owning Create & Cultivate and founding Empowered Confidence. Together, they unpack what a personal brand really is, why it matters in 2025, how to decide what you want to be known for, and simple first steps you can take today to be seen, trusted, and chosen for bigger opportunities.

Books Mentioned
Building a StoryBrand by Donald Miller
How to Make a Few Billion Dollars

Podcasts Mentioned
WorkParty Podcast — hosted by Jaclyn Johnson and Marina Middleton (Create & Cultivate)

Marina Middleton is the CEO & Partner at Create & Cultivate, the largest events and media platform for ambitious women — the go-to place to connect, learn, and grow. A first-generation Egyptian immigrant and former single mum at 23, Marina started sharing her story online over a decade ago. That honest storytelling became a personal brand, a community, and eventually Empowered Confidence, a personal brand development company helping women leverage their stories and authenticity to build stronger brands, businesses, and communities. Marina Middleton+3Apple Podcasts+3jamieratermann.com+3
After building digital media campaigns for major global brands at Yahoo, Yahoo News, and Tumblr, Marina went on to co-own Create & Cultivate with its founder, Jaclyn Johnson. As CEO & Partner, she has raised just under $3M in venture capital and is leading the company’s expansion into large-scale experiences like the world’s largest festival for women in business and CONNECT, an AI-powered matchmaking program that helps women meet exactly who they need to meet. She is also the co-founder of The Blueprint Mastermind, a six-month program for women entrepreneurs, and the host and co-host of multiple podcasts focused on women, work, and ambition. iHeart+4Create & Cultivate+4PR Newswire+4

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beaconnorthstrategies.com
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Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at [email protected]

Produced by Duke & Castle

Our Latest Blog:
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In this episode, Stephanie talks with Meghan Spilka O’Keefe, a vice president of government relations and communications, an officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, a mother, and a long distance runner who has pushed through serious health challenges. Meghan shares what motivated her to join the military, what she has learned in male dominated environments, and how culture change is shaping the future for women in uniform.

She explains what life looks like with two careers, how she and her partner manage the mental and physical load of parenting, and what military family life really feels like from the inside. Meghan also talks about her heart surgery as a child, her autoimmune disease, several concussions, and how recovering from injury forced her to rethink ambition, rest, and boundaries.

Her story gives women a real picture of how big careers, service, family, and health can coexist, and why women belong in defence, leadership, and every space that needs their voice.

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beaconnorthstrategies.com
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Interested in sponsorship? Contact us at [email protected]

Produced by Duke & Castle

Our Latest Blog:
https://www.womendontdothat.com/post/confidence-is-an-advocacy-tool-what-selena-rezvani-taught-me-about-speaking-up-and-being-heard

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