Dina Bell-Laroche is a death doula, educator, author and educator. So, on this episode, we talk about mental health as it pertains to losing a loved one…or about how to start saying goodbye to your person.

Dina has spoken around North America on the topic, as it pertains to everything from workplace culture to intimate family dynamics. As a trained thanatologist (ya, we had to look up the word, too!), she has helped people transition to a place of peace around loss….whether it has already happened or is about to….

She was motivated by the loss of her younger sister to cancer…who was the mom of a young child. Dina was 31 years old.

We also talk about how Dina has created, together with the Ottawa Cancer Foundation, a Japanese inspired “Wind Phone”...where people can sit in solitude to “talk” to their loved ones on an actual phone connected to the wind. There are thousands of wind phones around the world, inspired by a grieving cousin during a tsunami.

Join us, as we continue to help people get through the tough sh#t in life….and talk about mental health.

In full disclosure, Kimothy helped build the school in Nicaragua in Tracy’s name…though she was terrible working the water pump for cement.

On this episode, we go to Tennessee!

Kesley Rogers is a counsellor with Denney Counselling who discovered, through the near loss of a friend, the difficulties facing farmers – and particularly multi-generational farming families.

It was something Amy and Kimothy had literally, had never heard about, despite having farmers in their original families.

This episode speaks to many things, including being the CEO of an expensive farm, family expectations, isolation, struggling economies, and living in unpredictable environments.

Imagine watching for rain, something you cannot control, to predict your family’s stability. Too much rain could destroy your investment, too. Every single day is a battle with the elements.

Kesley has found a way to help people who don’t always want help, and shares her knowledge.

On this week’s episode, we talk to Heather Desjardins, who talks about the whopping number of children who learn differently, and what that means to the family dynamic. This one hits pretty close to home for our hosts.

“Work harder” isn’t going to cut it. Parents need to learn to work creatively. Your own mental health and that of your child DEPENDS on it!

Learn tips and tricks to help you get there and help nurture a creative learner while keeping the family peace.

Say goodbye to frustration and friction. And, welcome peace and growth after hearing from Heather.

Also, it was shocking to hear the number of families dealing with this and how early intervention is the key to success.

Nancy Morris is truly a pioneer…a champion for one of the most difficult subjects we have yet to discuss on the podcast…sibling sexual assault.

The founder of #SiblingsToo is, herself, a survivor of sibling sexual assault.

You might expect her to be outraged, livid….and wanting to exact revenge. Far from it. She spoke to us about understanding that we don’t tell children about what is or is, definitely not, acceptable behavior in the home.

Around the world she has opened the door on this challenging subject and found out how shockingly common it is…. and how deeply people, often parents, push it into the dark closet.

Kimothy, herself a survivor of sexual assault at 8 years old by a friend’s adult brother (the friend claimed he also did it to her) speaks to that fine line….as to what is childhood behavior and what is predatory and absolutely a crime.

And where the Hell do you start to heal? Who can you speak with… particularly, when people don’t want to talk about such a tough subject.

So here we are…talking the sh#t out of sh#t

Well, if you were ever afraid for the younger generation, this show might give you faith.

Meghan Strauss recently graduated from the University of Ottawa Health Sciences program and is about to enter naturopathic medicine.

While she speaks openly about mental health in her age group, Amy and Kimothy found her to be one of the most enlightened people we’ve ever spoken with.

That’s not to say her age group isn’t struggling. It is. But, her insight blew us away.

In a time when our grandparents never spoke about such things, her age group is throwing a light into dark corners.

Meghan gives TheInnerShiftPodcast the youth voice we so need in these challenging times. And we’re delighted to have her as a regular on the show.

Darpan Ahluwalia never enters a room without heads turning. She’s vivacious and a bit of a vixen who owns her space, and she takes no sh#t. Absolutely no sh#t.

The certified Live Blood Analyst and registered nutritionist is also a herbalist homeopath and author of ‘The Context Eating Method for Women”.

In Ottawa, Canada…Darpan is known as the “go to” for natural treatments and understands women’s bodies and what they need at every stage of life.

She’s also an entrepreneur and mom and knows the art of juggling. On this show Amy and Darpan talk about health – while Kimothy was, ironically, sick and missed this one….

In this one-on-one, Amy and Darpan talk about women’s health…and the things they can control..and that which they can’t….

Jeez, Kimothy lost her sh#t while talking about sh#t on this podcast! We made her cry!! And Amy disclosed something she wasn’t sure she would do…until it happened. And Kimothy cried more….

So, about our guest. Andrea Schade Douglas got “the diagnosis”. Breast cancer. What she did next was totally mind-blowing. She got better after a brutal path and dedicated her life to helping others.

Andrea has coached women through the “what the phuck” stage and helped raise a ton of money for breast cancer research and treatment.

She is raw, real, and resilient. Andrea raised a lot by getting back into the pool with Olympians for a rare “swim meet” fundraiser. Olympink in Ottawa, Canad,a is changing women’s health care but also how women in treatment feel about themselves

Grab a coffee and hang out with us for an hour, as a gift to yourself.

Canadian Olympian Andrea Schwartz Smith joins us to talk the sh#t out of sh#t….from being an elite athlete to a parent, entrepreneur and swim coach.

As a woman, now in her “joyful years”, her perspective is vital when it comes to goals and reasonable expectations. Andrea has some very serious wisdom to share.

What she learned, from the discipline of swimming, has kept her afloat in all areas of her life. We absorbed a lot from Andrea that when it comes to reasonable expectations and to just be #phucking kind to yourself.

What we loved most is that she listens to her body and mind. If she needs to swim, she swims. If she needs time for herself, she takes it. If she needs space, she seeks it.

Grab a coffee and hang out with us for an hour, as a gift to yourself.

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