Bill Simpson joins me to share how the pandemic and chronic illness changed the way he sees his work, how a pilgrimage to his ancestral town put his career in law in perspective, and how he’s come to learn that friendships and fatherhood are the true beacons of happiness in his life.

We sat on the shores of Georgian Bay at the Meaford Harbour for this one and watched the water while the sun set behind us. The views are worth watching the video version of this episode.

https://sophialemon.com/pplcast/with-bill-simpson/

Bill's Instagram

https://instagram.com/wagsimpson

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https://instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl

Talk to Soph

https://sophialemon.com

My friend and fellow photographer Brandyn Hollands joins me to talk about the things we're told we shouldn’t say out loud, but absolutely do, anyway! We’re getting into the juicy stuff: reality TV dynamics (hello, red flags and rosé), coming out to family and the internet, the absolute circus that is dating on the apps, and how we’re both learning to show up in our businesses as our whole selves rather than watered down versions.

More open, unfiltered, and unrushed conversations like this one are coming this fall. Subscribe in your podcast app of choice.

Brandyn's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brandynhphoto

Savage Lovecast: https://savage.love

Todd Rose video: https://youtu.be/BD_Euf_CBbs?si=V6AanF3gQ5ECDsyo

Soph's Instagram: https://instagram.com/ridiculouslyhappyppl

Talk to Soph: https://sophialemon.com

After a brief hiatus, the pod is back! And it's better than ever thanks to Victoria from Vectoria Creative, the design genius and creative problem solver behind the new Ridiculously Happy Ppl visual identity.

In this episode, we get into what inspired Victoria to pursue graphic design, leave her career, and launch her freelance design company. And if you grew up in the 1990's and early 2000's, this episode is filled with all sorts of nostalgia!

What sets Victoria apart is her intentional decision to keep her business small. It allows her to manage costs effectively and offer competitive pricing tailored to small businesses and start-ups. her clients prefer hiring her over an agency because she provides high-quality work at a lower cost, bridging the gap between Fiverr and expensive agencies. Additionally, she can deliver logos and websites to market faster, a crucial advantage for smaller businesses that can't afford to wait.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Get the full show notes for this episode here:

https://happyp.pl/30

Get the Go Brand Yo'self Workbook

https://happyp.pl/brandpod

Help build this diverse community offering relief for listeners struggling with mental health in our current cultural climate. Subscribe, like, rate, review, and share the show wherever you're listening.

What makes you ridiculously happy? Be my guest! Nominate yourself here:

https://happyp.pl/guest

Share your ridiculous or happy story and we’ll play it on a future episode:

https://happyp.pl/record

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https://happyp.pl/talktosoph

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Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network:

Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast

Be yourself. That’s the first piece of advice I want to give you. And the second is not to judge a book by its cover. When I first came across Vanessa’s Instagram, I laughed. She has a flare for the ridiculous, and I love that. And when I reached out to her to ask her if she would be a guest on this show, she was so warm and open. I’ll admit I didn’t expect that, which is only proof that I don’t always follow my own advice. Vanessa Stubbs has transformed her creativity and flare for the ridiculous into a cheeky, sometimes vulgar business. Subversive Sisters makes her clients laugh and challenges everyone who meets her and her work to open their minds.

Subversive Sisters
Facebook / Instagram

Get the full episode notes here.

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Have a story that will inspire the Pplcast listeners? Nominate yourself as a guest here.

Tell us something big or small that has made you ridiculously happy here for a future episode.

Talk to Soph about proposal, wedding, family, and branding photography.

Connect with Soph on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network
Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast

When you're listening to this, Nikki and her family have added a 3rd bundle of joy to their family. And it's got me thinking about raising kids... Lots of them. And no one knows how to raise a bunch of kids better than Nikki's mother, Nancy Lee. So here she is!

The top pieces of advice that I'm taking from chatting with Nancy is that it's important to set clear ground rules and boundaries and to make sure that your kids feel comfortable talking to you about everything. But first, you're going to need to accept that your kids are different and so they need to be parented differently.

And that's not all she had to say. Listen to this jam-packed episode with this fascinating woman!

Negro Creek was once the site of a vibrant Black settlement, but its history has been unwritten and buried. This digital archive was compiled by direct descendants and community friends, and is a project near and dear to Nancy's heart.

https://negrocreek.community

Get the full episode notes here.

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Have a story that will inspire the Pplcast listeners? Nominate yourself as a guest here.

Tell us something big or small that has made you ridiculously happy here for a future episode.

Talk to Soph about proposal, wedding, family, and branding photography.

Connect with Soph on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network
Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast

How do you feel about change? Sometimes change is great. But sometimes, despite how much we may be ready to welcome that change with open arms, change can cause some unexpected detours.

In this episode, I'm talking to Rebecca Ogilvie from The Detour Co about how her baby brought an unexpected detour in her life that brought her North to Muskoka and to a whole different way of living.

If you've ever felt lost or stuck or empty... this is the episode for you.

The Detour Co is a truly natural skincare brand created out of a desire for something different. After making her own skincare products for over a decade, Rebecca moved to Muskoka and went looking for skincare that met her standards. She couldn't find anything locally and decided to start selling her own creations. To her surprise and excitement, there was a great deal of interest in the mission of this brand: to create great skin products with earth-grown ingredients from the land, not the lab.

The Detour Co
Facebook / Instagram

Get the full episode notes here.

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Have a story that will inspire the Pplcast listeners? Nominate yourself as a guest here.

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Connect with Soph on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network
Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast

Want to be Mr. T when you grow up? This is not the episode for advice on how to become Mr. T, but what Julia has for us is so much more important: how to be your own Mr. T.

After job hopping for years, Julia has finally found a career that helps her feel creative and fulfilled while allowing her the flexibility she needs to be a wife, a mom, and a whole human being. We talk about imposter syndrome, learning curves, and the reticular activating system.

Julia Walsh is the creative genius behind J Walsh Social Co., a boutique digital marketing agency, who most commonly answers to “Jules” or “Mum”—she’s got many names and talents! For the past five years, Julia has been honing her skills at amplifying the intersection of branding and social media. With her supercharged communication skills and passion for building relationships (and new friendships), she’s busy connecting clients with their ideal audiences. Armed with proven strategies and artistic creativity, she has a solid record of helping brands stand out online.

J Walsh Social Co.
Facebook / Instagram

Get the book One Decision Away: https://a.co/d/8hCgxUW

Get the full episode notes here.

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Have a story that will inspire the Pplcast listeners? Nominate yourself as a guest here.

Tell us something big or small that has made you ridiculously happy here for a future episode.

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Connect with Soph on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network
Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast

What theme should our wedding be? Do we need to think about being eco-friendly? What if we can't get everything we want for our budget? These are the questions that Melissa Twist and I are tackling in this episode.

Forget the but-you-have-to's from your family! In this episode, Melissa and I decode some questions you might have about planning your dream wedding. We talk about venues, themes, and entertainment, the vows, the environment, and all the tech you might need.

Melissa Twist is an expert in events and wedding styling, boasting over 20 years of combined work and educational experience. Her extensive background has honed her creativity, allowing her to infuse each event she organizes with a unique flair. When not immersed in work, Melissa can be found meticulously planning her next adventure. With travels spanning six continents, she has cultivated a deep passion for exploration that remains an integral part of her life, promising to never cease her globetrotting pursuits.

Melissa Twist Events
Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

Get the full episode notes here.

Please subscribe, like, rate, review, and share the show wherever you're listening.

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Have a story that will inspire the Pplcast listeners? Nominate yourself as a guest here.

Tell us something big or small that has made you ridiculously happy here for a future episode.

Talk to Soph about proposal, wedding, family, and branding photography.

Connect with Soph on Facebook / Instagram / YouTube / Pinterest / LinkedIn

Bruce Grey Simcoe Podcast Network
Small Towns, Big Dreams Podcast / Lauren's Best / Clean It Club Podcast