Women on Wisdom

Sandra Boyd sits down with Chris Coulter to share his personal journey following the loss of his daughter Maddie, and the work he is now doing to support families navigating youth mental health.

Through Chris’s personal story and lived experience, this episode opens up an honest conversation about the pressures young women face today and the challenges parents encounter in recognizing when something is truly wrong. Together, they explore the gaps in support systems and what it takes to create earlier, more meaningful intervention for both youth and families.

We talk about:

Whether you are a parent, leader, or someone supporting families, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective on how to better understand and respond when something feels off.

Chris Coulter is the founder of The MentorWell, an online youth mentoring platform designed to bridge the gap between parenting and therapy by providing young people with access to trusted, non-judgmental mentors. Following the loss of his daughter Maddie, Chris has dedicated his work to supporting families navigating youth mental health challenges and improving early access to support.

He also created the When Something Feels Off Parent Support Group, a community designed to help parents connect, share experiences, and access practical guidance during difficult times. Chris brings both lived experience and professional insight to his work, helping organizations, parents, and communities better understand how to support young people.

Chris’s LinkedIn can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscoultermentorwell/

We often think of culture shifts as loud, obvious moments. But some of the most impactful ones happen quietly. 

In this week’s Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd reflects on the growing influence of online anti-feminist groups and how these narratives are moving beyond digital spaces into real-world impact. What starts as content, commentary, or “just opinions” can quickly evolve into normalized behaviour that shapes how people are treated and how safe they feel to use their voice. These narratives against women are not just frightening for their presence, but in the way they ripple out into society. When these ideas become normalized in public discourse, and women self-censor out of fear of retribution, culture shifts in ways that are hard to reverse. 

Leadership today requires not just awareness, but active, critical engagement. That can take the form of asking better questions, understanding what people in your life are being exposed to, and creating space for real conversations, both at work and at home.

In this edition of Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd shares a personal story that brings a powerful leadership lesson to life. What began as frustration in a long hotel line during a challenging moment abroad quickly turned into a reflection on how easily we make assumptions about others and how wrong we can be. 

Sandra walks through how quickly judgment can take hold, how it can influence those around us, and how a single act of unexpected kindness completely shifted her perspective. It is an honest reminder that we rarely have the full picture of what someone else is experiencing. 

This episode explores the importance of pausing before reacting, choosing patience over immediacy, and leading with empathy even in everyday moments. 

If you have ever caught yourself making a snap judgment or reacting before understanding the full story, this conversation will resonate. Because leadership is not only about what we do. It is about how we show up, especially in the moments that test us most.

Sandra Boyd sits down with Ranya Elan, executive coach and leadership advisor, to explore a topic that is often misunderstood and frequently missed in women: ADHD.

In this conversation, they unpack how ADHD presents differently in women, why it is often diagnosed later in life, and how it intersects with career, identity, and hormonal changes. Together, they explore the lived experience of navigating work, relationships, and expectations while managing an often invisible neurodivergence.

We talk about:

Whether you are navigating ADHD yourself, supporting someone who is, or leading teams in today’s workplace, this episode offers a clearer understanding of how ADHD shapes women’s lives and careers.

Our guest this week:

Ranya Elan is an executive coach and leadership advisor who specializes in supporting professionals and leaders with ADHD. She is the founder of the Tomato Crushers Community, a global community for ADHD professionals and entrepreneurs focused on productivity, accountability, and practical strategies.

Ranya brings a combination of lived experience and coaching expertise to her work, helping clients design ways of working that align with how their brains function. She is known for translating ADHD challenges into actionable strategies while also highlighting the strengths and potential of neurodivergent leaders.

Ranya's LinkedIn can be found here.

Menopause affects over a billion women worldwide — yet in many workplaces, it remains largely invisible.

In this episode, Sandra Boyd sits down with Dr. Nadine Cyr, ND, naturopathic doctor and founder of Santé Femina Health, for a direct conversation about perimenopause, menopause, and midlife burnout. Together, they examine how hormonal shifts intersect with stress, sleep, performance, and identity — and why this stage of life has broader implications for women’s health and workforce participation.

We talk about:

Whether you are navigating this transition yourself or leading others through it, this episode offers a clear discussion of how hormonal change shapes women’s health, work, and wellbeing.

Our guest this week:

Dr. Nadine Cyr, ND is a licensed Naturopathic Doctor with over 25 years of clinical experience in functional and root-cause medicine and the founder of Santé Femina Health. She works extensively with women in perimenopause and menopause, integrating functional medicine and polyvagal-informed care to support hormone balance, nervous system regulation, and midlife health. Dr. Nadine is known for translating complex science into practical guidance that helps women make informed decisions about their health.

Sandra Boyd sits down with Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley, clinical psychologist and researcher, and Patricia Polischuk, executive coach and HR leader, to unpack a topic that affects over a billion women worldwide yet remains largely invisible in workplaces: menopause. Together, they break the silence on symptoms, stigma, and the intersection of health, leadership, and psychological safety

We talk about:

• The surprising range of menopause symptoms—and why most go unrecognized
• How stigma and bias in medicine and workplaces leave women unsupported
• The psychological toll of perimenopause: anxiety, self-doubt, and emotional shifts
• Practical strategies to manage brain fog, sleep issues, and emotional regulation
• How leaders and workplaces can create menopause-inclusive environments
• The power of psychological safety and open conversations in retaining top female talent
• Why normalizing menopause benefits everyone—not just women

Whether you’re navigating menopause yourself, leading others through it, or simply ready to understand it better, this episode blends science, real stories, and workplace wisdom to help us create a more supportive and inclusive future—one conversation at a time.

Our guest this week:

Patricia Polischuk is the Co-Founder and COO of TalentWise Collective, a boutique firm that curates leadership development, coaching, and HR advisory solutions through a trusted network of experts. She leads the firm’s strategy, operations, and community of coaches, shaping high-impact programs for clients across sectors. Recognized for her leadership and community contributions, Patricia has received a Distinguished Governor’s Award from Wilfrid Laurier University and multiple nominations for community leadership and internal recognition awards. She is a trusted advisor and connector, known for her human-centred approach and commitment to helping people and organizations thrive.

Patricia's LinkedIn can be found here.

Dr. Dayna Lee-Baggley is a Registered Psychologist with two decades of professional experience in clinical psychology, health psychology, and organizational psychology. She has extensive applied experience and research knowledge on burnout, psychological safety in the workplace, behaviour and organizational change, and wellness leadership. She is an internationally recognized expert in human behavior. She conducts innovative research at Dalhousie and Saint Mary’s University, with a distinguished track record of 60 peer-reviewed publications and over 155 scholarly presentations. She is the author of "Healthy Habits Suck: How to Get Off the Couch and Live a Healthy Life. . . Even If You Don't Want To".

Dayna’s LinkedIn can be found here.

In this edition of Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd is joined by Kirsten Stanger, co-founder of TalentWise Collective, for an honest and practical conversation about career management and taking ownership of your professional journey.

They explore why so many people spend years managing their jobs but never their careers, the unique challenges women face around self-promotion and visibility, and why reflection, reputation, and networking are essential for long-term success.

This episode offers actionable insights for anyone navigating uncertainty, career transitions, or simply wanting to be more intentional about where their career is headed.

Listen to more conversations that support clarity, confidence, and career ownership on the Women on Wisdom podcast.
https://linktr.ee/womenonwisdom

In this edition of Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd examines the growing tendency to label people as narcissists in online discourse and everyday conversation. While narcissistic behaviour exists on a spectrum, true Narcissistic Personality Disorder affects only a small percentage of the population.

Sandra reflects on how casually applied labels oversimplify complex human behaviour, contribute to mental health stigma, and disproportionately harm women, especially female leaders, mothers, and women who are speaking up and setting boundaries.

This conversation is a call for greater awareness, responsibility, and care in how we talk about mental health, power, and behaviour.

Listen to more conversations that challenge assumptions and invite deeper wisdom on the Women on Wisdom Podcast:

https://linktr.ee/womenonwisdom

What happens when three senior women leaders leave corporate life and build a business from scratch?

Sandra Boyd, Patricia Polischuk, and Kirsten Stanger reflect on their first year as co-founders of TalentWise Collective, sharing the lessons no one talks about.

From burnout and self-doubt to healing professional relationships and finding new confidence, this conversation explores what it really means to start an entrepreneurial journey.

You’ll hear about:

• The courage it takes to step out of corporate security
• The hidden emotional toll of entrepreneurship
• Navigating grief, caregiving, and exhaustion while building a company
• Why trust and psychological safety matter more than titles
• The myth of “having it all figured out”
• When to let go, and when to lean into leadership
• Why it’s never too late to begin again

This episode is a reminder that entrepreneurship isn’t a straight line, it’s a deeply human journey. One built on resilience, reflection, and the decision to keep moving forward, even when the path isn’t clear.

Our guests this week:

Patricia Polischuk is the Co-Founder and COO of TalentWise Collective, a boutique firm that curates leadership development, coaching, and HR advisory solutions through a trusted network of experts. She leads the firm’s strategy, operations, and community of coaches, shaping high-impact programs for clients across sectors. Recognized for her leadership and community contributions, Patricia has received a Distinguished Governor’s Award from Wilfrid Laurier University and multiple nominations for community leadership and internal recognition awards. She is a trusted advisor and connector, known for her human-centred approach and commitment to helping people and organizations thrive.

Patricia's LinkedIn can be found here.

Kirsten Stanger is a seasoned people strategist and Co-Founder of TalentWise Collective, where she helps organizations and leaders unlock their full potential. With more than 25 years of experience spanning corporate and not-for-profit sectors, Kirsten’s career has focused on leadership development, culture transformation, change management, and career transition. Known for her genuine, empowering, and engaging approach, Kirsten brings curiosity, humour, and heart to every room she’s in. She designs and delivers programs that turn insights into real-world results—helping teams strengthen trust, collaboration, and performance. 

Kirsten's LinkedIn can be found here.

In this episode of Wisdom Moments, Sandra Boyd explores the growing influence of the manosphere and the online rhetoric shaping how many young men understand masculinity, power, and gender roles.

What often begins as content about confidence, success, or self-improvement can quietly shift into messaging that frames women as a problem and equality as a threat. Sandra reflects on why this trend matters for leaders, parents, educators, and organizations and why she believes this form of internet discourse represents an invisible war on women.

This conversation is about awareness, responsibility, and how we respond with clarity and care in a digital age.

Listen to more leadership and culture conversations on the Women on Wisdom podcast: ⁠https://linktr.ee/womenonwisdom