Better Me

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The Better Me Podcast delves into how people navigate through life’s challenges and live as the best people they can be. Coach, writer, and educator Heather M. Ross chats with guests about how they’ve gotten past life’s bumps in the road, from potholes to sinkholes. She also shares her own stories of living with a mental illness while striving to pursue her dreams. Visit Heather's website at http://betterme.ca

Heather Ross


    • May 12, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 21m AVG DURATION
    • 170 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Better Me

    EP 170 Changing Perspectives on Bears and Life (with guest Claire Cameron)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 25:19


    Best-selling author Claire Cameron joined me to discuss her latest book, How to Survive a Bear Attack. We talked about an infamous bear attack, how much bears and humans are alike, and how her life has changed since a cancer diagnosis.

    EP 169 Self-care as Community (with guest Renee Hess)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 45:09


    Once Renee Hess discovered the game of Hockey, she was hooked. But as a black woman, she found that she and women and girls like her weren't always welcomed into that space as fans, players, or the families of players. Out of that came the founding of the Black Girls Hockey Club. Renee joined me to talk about her journey into the hockey world, what BGHC is and does, and the role that individual self-care has on a community.

    EP 168 Being True to Yourself (with guest Noelle Podar)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2025 37:04


    Noelle Podar was finally living as the person she truly is, but as a trans woman, she couldn't keep silent anymore about what the U.S. government and others are doing to the trans community. She joined me to talk about her journey and becoming a reluctant activist.

    EP 167 Trying to Regain Some of What Depression Has Taken

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 6:06


    Depression can mean missing out on years or experiences. In this episode, I talk about that and how I'm trying to make up for some of what I missed out on.

    EP 166 5 Years of Better Me

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2025 3:35


    Welcome to the new season! It's hard to believe that it's been five years and 166 episodes. Here's a bit of a preview of what's coming up. Oh, and be sure to follow me on Bluesky: @mctoonish

    EP 165 Caring For Yourself During the Holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2024 14:28


    This is the final episode of 2024. In it, I shared some of the things I'm trying to keep in mind to care for myself and things I'm hoping you will take to heart as well.

    EP 164 Why is Change So Hard (with guest Najwa Zebian)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2024 39:12


    Dr. Najwa Zebian, my guest for episode 64, joins me 100 episodes later to talk about her latest book The Only Constant and to talk about why change can be so challenging for people.

    EP 163 Choice, Consequences, and Comfort Zones (with guest Oliver Burkeman)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 23:14


    Best-selling author Oliver Burkeman and I discussed the fact that we all have choices in life as long as we're willing to deal with the consequences and that what is often called our "comfort zone” may not be all that comfortable.

    EP 162 What She Said- Conversations About Equality (with guest Elizabeth Renzetti)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2024 24:39


    Bestselling Canadian author and journalist Elizabeth Renzetti joined me to discuss her new book What She Said: Conversations About Equality. We talked about the way victims of intimate partner violence and sexual assault are treated and about the shifting attitudes of young men toward the gains women and members of marginalized groups have made.

    conversations equality elizabeth renzetti
    EP 161 Every Little Thing She Does is Magic (with guest Michelle Hébert)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 23:08


    Author Michelle Hébert joins me to discuss her debut novel Every Little Thing She Does is Magic, which is a story of a quirky and intriguing family in Nova Scotia dealing with grief and ghosts. It's also filled with lots of fun 80s references.

    EP 160 Telling the Story of Jack Whalen

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 28:08


    Bestselling author Lisa Moore joined me to discuss her latest book, Invisible Prisons: Jack Whalen's Tireless Fight For Justice. Moore co-authored the book with Whalen, who spent four years in the Whitbourne Training School for Boys in Newfoundland, half of which he spent in solitary confinement.

    EP 159 Why Trees Could Save Humanity (with guest Diana Beresford-Kroeger)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2024 35:14


    Best-selling author and award-winning scientist Dr. Diana Beresford-Kroeger joined me to talk about her latest book Our Green Heart: The Soul and Science of Forests, the benefits of forest bathing, and why we should all be planting more trees (and what kinds we should plant).

    EP 158 Privilege and Productivity

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2024 28:13


    Loleen Berdahl joined me again, and we talked about how so much of the productivity advice out there is by and for people in positions of privilege for whom saying “no” and setting their own schedule can be much easier than it is for others.

    EP 157 Kicking Off the Fall 2024 Season

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2024 10:49


    Welcome back for the new season! In this episode, I talk about the change to our schedule and the importance of making informed decisions when voting.

    EP 156 Signing Off for The Summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2024 11:48


    I'll be back in the fall, but I took a few minutes to talk about why I do this podcast, the importance of taking breaks, and having boundaries that protect you and others from being pushed too hard. Find me on Instagram at @heathermross

    Episode 155 What, So What, Now What?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 10:45


    At a time when I'm hearing so much from people about feeling burned out, asking simple questions can help you see how what you may have learned matters and what matters for you to focus on in your life right now.

    EP 154 Setting an End-Time for Your Workday

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024 4:17


    For a lot of us, especially those working from home, the end of your workday can be hard to spot. In this episode, I share some thoughts on tips recently shared in a video by Todoist.The video can be found at https://youtu.be/jiWKdb-4sDE?feature=shared.

    EP 153 Give Yourself Time for Ideas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2024 5:39


    If we're always racing around or staring at a screen, our brain doesn't have the chance to ponder what we've been consuming. Give yourself time to let ideas come to the forefront and capture them before they're gone. 

    EP 152 Women and Mental Health- The Problems Aren't All in Our Heads (with guest Misty Pratt)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2024 40:53


    Writer Misty Pratt joined me to talk about her new book “All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women's Mental Health.”

    EP 151 Take a Pause

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 4:56


    This is a reminder that pausing from the chaos of our days, even just five minutes, can bring a lot of benefits.

    EP 150 Domestic Violence - One woman's story and the need for change (with guest Denise Chong)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2024 19:55


    Writer Denise Chong joined me to talk about her latest book *Out of Darkness*, domestic violence, and the troubling way many victims are still perceived.If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship, please see the resources below.https://sheltersafe.ca/ - Sheltersafe - Canadahttps://kidshelpphone.ca/need-help-now-text-us/ - Kids Help Phone - Canadahttps://www.ctvnews.ca/w5/here-s-who-to-contact-if-you-need-help-dealing-with-domestic-violence-in-canada-1.5188182 - see this article for more support broken down by province.https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/programs/family-violence-prevention-services/programs/ndvh#:~:text=Accessibility,and%20the%20U.S.%20Virgin%20Islands. - National Domestic Violence Hotline - US

    EP 149 How Awareness and Heritage Months Connect to Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 6:41


    Our mental health can be harmed by how others treat us, which is why  Awareness and Heritage Months are important to our mental health.

    EP 148 You Have Choices

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2024 4:41


    Sometimes we tell ourselves “I have no choice” because it's easier than having to consider what can happen if you choose

    EP 147 Why Do You Do That?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2024 6:47


    Sometimes you need to ask yourself the question, “Why do I do that?”

    EP 146 Individuals Make a Difference (with guest Sally Armstrong)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2024 22:11


    Award-winning Canadian journalist Sally Armstrong joined me to discuss the new book she co-authored, some amazing women who have made a difference and what drives her to cover war zones and oppression.

    EP 145 In Consideration of Future You

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 6:18


    What are you putting off today that you'll have to deal with tomorrow? What are you doing that you'll pay for a decade from now? In this episode, I address these considerations and disclose my issue with shoe laces. 

    EP 144 Distractions

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2024 13:17


    We have lots of distractions in our lives and they come from a variety of sources. How can you block them out? Which ones should you let distract you?

    EP 143 What You Consume Matters

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2024 6:12


    What you eat and drink is important to your health, but so is the content you read online, listen to on the radio, and share on social media. In this episode, I talk about making changes to lower your stress and fuel your ability to solve daily problems.

    EP 142 Self-care is About Doing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2024 10:14


    Self-care takes many forms, but what you do to care for yourself in the moment, shouldn't come at the expense of your long-term well-being.

    EP 141 Clearing the Deck With a Weekly Review (with guest Loleen Berdahl)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2024 21:36


    Frequent guest Loleen Berdahl joined me to talk about how we each take time on Fridays to prepare for the following week, and beyond.

    EP 140 The Brave Habit (with guest Todd Henry)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2024 30:03


    Writer, speaker, and podcaster Todd Henry joined me for our third conversation on the Better Me Podcast. We spoke about his latest book, The Brave Habit, and the major change he made to his podcast after 18 years.You can find Todd and The Daily Creative Podcast at https://www.toddhenry.com/

    EP 139 Sunlight, Bravery, and What's Coming Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2024 9:41


    This episode includes a bit about how I'm trying to improve my wake-up routine, a challenge for you around bravery, and a preview of some of the upcoming guests.

    EP 138 The Mocking of Trauma and Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2024 8:50


    For this episode, I took a few minutes to share some thoughts on Larry David, Elmo, and the mocking Will Wheaton received for sharing about his own trauma and PTSD.

    EP 137 Habits and Encouragement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2024 17:31


    In this episode, I talk a bit about what I've been reading, what I learned from Katy Milkman's book How to Change, and putting courage into others.

    EP 136 The Interview (with guest host Kelly S. Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2024 39:11


    To kick off a new season of the Better Me Podcast, Kelly S. Thompson took over the podcast and interviewed me. We talked about why I do the podcast, why we need to talk about mental health, and that we both Bullet Journal.

    EP 135 Wrapping Up 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2023 10:58


    This is the final episode of 2023. I talked a bit about wrapping up the year and preparing for 2024. I also shared some information about getting help if you're struggling mentally during this holiday season and beyond. Suicide Crisis Hotline (U.S. and Canada) 988List of Suicide Crisis Lines from around the world - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_suicide_crisis_lines

    EP 134 It's Never Too Late to Tell Our Stories (with Fran Eldridge)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2023 21:37


    Fran Eldridge joined me to talk about her debut book A Moment of Clarity, a collection of short fiction stories based on her own experiences growing up in Nova Scotia and her life in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

    EP 133 Books, Chocolate, and Other Holiday Traditions (with guest Kelly S. Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2023 35:11


    Author Kelly S. Thompson joined me again to talk about our recent in-person visit, setting intentions for 2024, and holiday traditions. You can find Kelly online at https://kellysthompson.com/

    EP 132 Writing to Process Tragedy (with guest Stephanie Kain)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2023 27:11


    Writer Stephanie Kain joined me to talk about her latest book Lifeline: An Elegy in which she uses a variety of writing styles and perspectives to tell the story of caring for a friend intent on taking her own life.

    EP 131 The Year of Heather

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 5:57


    Birthdays often get people thinking about their lives and the coming year. In this episode, I talk a bit about some recent travels and some thoughts on how I plan to spend my 53rd year around the sun.

    EP 130 Finding Some Joy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 7:57


    As days turn grey and the temperature drops for many of us, it's important to look for some joy. In this episode I talk about finding joy for yourself and doing things to bring a bit of joy to others.

    EP 129 Caring For Yourself When You're the Caregiver (with guest Kelly S. Thompson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 25:53


    Author and all around great person Kelly S. Thompson joined me to talk about the importance of caring for yourself when you're a caregiver.

    EP 128 Finding Your Sense of Belonging (with guest Ritu Bhasin)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 28:00


    Writer, entrepreneur, and leader Ritu Bhasin joined me to talk about her new book We've Got This: Unlocking the Beauty of Belonging, having empathy for yourself and others, listening to your body, and caring for yourself when you're a caregiver.

    EP 127 Returning to Musical Roots to Withstand the World (with guest Jesse Daniel Edwards)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 21:54


    Singer/song-writer Jesse Daniel Edwards joined me to talk about his latest album Violensia, our mutual California connection, and how he returned to his musical roots to write about how people have been feeling in these hard times.

    EP 126 When Others Try to Define Your Identity (with guest Charlotte Gill)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2023 32:08


    Author Charlotte Gill joined me to talk about her latest book, Almost Brown: A Mixed Race Family Memoir, how others try to define our identities, and how change in higher education won't come from individual instructors, including elements of equity and inclusion in their syllabi.

    EP 125 Bullies and Besties

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2023 15:15


    In this episode for Canadian Thanksgiving, I talk about the bullying I experienced growing up and finally being at a place with friends who love me and respect me for who I am.Kids Help Line (Canada) - 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868Trevor Project (U.S.) - https://www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help/

    EP 124 When the World is Heavy (with guest Loleen Berdahl)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2023 31:22


    Loleen Berdahl returns to the podcast to explain the Canadian Notwithstanding Clause and talk about how to cope with the very heavy times.

    EP 123 Doing the Work of Mental Health for Ourselves and Others (with guest Rowan Jetté Knox)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 29:26


    Author, speaker, and human rights activist Rowan Jetté Knox and I sat down to talk about his new book One Sunny Afternoon: A Memoir of Trauma and Healing. We dove into the struggles we've each had with our mental health, the importance of ending the stigma of mental illness, and why self-care is as important when you're well as when you're deep in the muck.You can find Rowan on Instagram and Twitter at @rowanjetteknox.

    EP 122 Fall 2023 Kick-Off

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2023 14:50


    Welcome to the new season of the Better Me Podcast. In this episode I give a quick summary of the guests coming up and talk about the importance of belonging, a theme that will run through many of the episodes this season. I also take a few minutes to talk about how new education policies are denying a sense of belonging to some of our students.

    EP 121 That's a Wrap on Winter-Spring 2023

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2023 8:49


    It's time for me to take a break so this is the last episode until late summer or early spring.

    EP 120 Cleansing Your Mental Palate

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2023 8:21


    As we move between meetings and other activities, we should take a few minute to reflect and prepare. Like having a bit of cracker or a sip of water to cleanse our palate between tastings of two different wines, we need to cleanse our mental palate as well.

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