Human First Podcast

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by sex therapist, counsellor, and writer, Erin Davidson (@erin.e.davidson). Erin talks about her Christian upbringing and unpacking her relationship with sex. After being sexually assaulted, Erin discusses her battle with shame and self-doubt, and her raw journey towards empowerment. Now practicing as a registered clinical counsellor with a focus in sex and relationship therapy, she was fuelled by her own healing to support others going through similar experiences. In addition to her counselling work, she has since written a book “Break through the Breakup” where she provides a guide for those navigating the end of a relationship and taking on the next steps towards a new chapter. Find Erin on her website: https://erinedavidson.com/ Or purchase a copy of her book: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1648768172?geniuslink=true

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcat), Alia is joined by Nikhil Sanka (@niksanka), joining in all the way from India. Nikhil shares with us his journey growing up with dyslexia and the hurdles he had to face as someone with a learning disability in the asian culture. He opens up about his drive to learn and study at the same level as everyone else, in an effort to show his worth, but turning around to recognize that despite what the cultural stigma was telling him, he was always worthy. Now pursuing a passion in film, Nikhil inspires how to embrace our identities and follow our dreams.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Megan Chambers (@msegallybpd). Megan was first diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in early 2017. After breaking her tailbone, losing her job, and the pandemic, Megan found herself to be hit hard emotionally, and lost many relationships due to her BPD and the most recent incidents. Megan walks us through what it means to split, the idea of favourite personism, and what helps her to emotionally regulate. Megan now works as a lawyer where she finds herself advocating for mental health within the profession.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Kevin Clark (@kevinmacnevinclark). Growing up with big and loud emotions and the trauma of specific childhood experiences, Kevin found substances as a protective mechanism to escape thoughts, feelings, and intrusive memories. After a spiritual awakening in the woods and physically being separated from substances while being in prison for 11 months, Kevin surrendered to his new found path of sobriety. Kevin takes us through his healing process with the 12-step program and where he now uses his lived experience to help others as a counsellor and in writing his own book “The New Prophet”. Check out Kevin's new book and counselling services: https://www.thenewprophet.org/ https://excelsioraddictionservices.wordpress.com/

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Cristina Ferreira (@cristinaaif). At the beginning of 2020, Cristina suffered a tonic clonic seizure and was later diagnosed with epilepsy. The week after her diagnosis, BC went into complete lockdown due to COVID-19. Cristina shares with us the state of her mental health during this time as she noticed depression settle in all while working as a registered nurse at the peak of pandemic. Cristina highlights the need to slow down, listen to the body, and put the self first to heal.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Chapmann Cheung (@coach_chappy). In 2019, Chapmann's life changed when he received the diagnosis for kidney cancer, and found himself fighting for his life. With the power of family, he was able to find the strength and inspiration to carry forward. Now as a cancer survivor and with Terry Fox as his role model, Chapmann is a leader in his community and advocate for those battling cancer, and makes it his intention everyday to live with purpose and hope.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Madison Desjarlais (@madisondesj). As a protective mechanism against family trauma, Madison found herself leaning heavily on her partner at the time and falling into codependency. Waking up one morning hungover with self-harm wounds, she was admitted into hospital and found herself facing her trauma for the first time. With the help of her mom and her spiritual mentor, she made the decision to leave the hospital as she realized she needed more to heal. Madison shares her experience after leaving the psychiatric ward when she prioritized herself through emotional and spiritual therapy, and how reseting her life allowed her to look back at her past with love and move forward as her best self.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Ameri Dy to discuss Body Dysmorphic Disorder, also known as BDD. Through her personal experience, Ameri shares with us the effects social media and family culture had on her thoughts, and how difficult it was to shift her perspective on her self appearance. By setting up boundaries and allowing herself to open up to her support system, Ameri saw hope and took steps into her healing journey toward self-compassion.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by nutritionist and therapist, Brendan Callaghan (@bdlc_cognition_and_wellness), for a second time in a special Q&A episode. Together we talk all things mental health, therapy, resources and tools. Thank you to everyone who sent in these amazing questions! 1. I've never been to counsellor before. What can I expect? (2:10) 2. How often should I be going to see a therapist? (5:31) 3. What if I want therapy but have trouble pinpointing/explaining an exact problem/goal? (7:47) 4. There are so many therapists/counsellors. How do you find the right one? (8:42) 5. Why did you both choose to become counsellors? (14:20) 6. What's your favourite part about being a counsellor? (17:15) 7. Is it not painful talking to people struggling every day? (20:30) 8. How do you see clients back-to-back? (24:12) 9. What happens if you're having a bad day as a counsellor? (27:35) 10. What kind of homework do you give to clients? What happens if they don't want to do it? (31:30) 11. I feel guilty about telling my therapist I don't want to continue sessions. Help? (33:54) 12. How do you meditate? (35:34) 13. How does an impatient person practice mindfulness? (40:18) 14. Is there any problem that cannot be fixed? (41:54) 15. What are your thoughts on medication? (44:04) 16. What are some ways to deal with intrusive thoughts? (46:46) 17. Why can't I stop my mind from waking me up with bad memories at night? (49:35) 18. Any tips on self-love? (53:05) 19. Pandemic fatigue when working and affecting mental health (56:01) 20. How can I set boundaries with parents while living at home? (58:57) 21. Should married couples go together or separately? (1:02:50) 22 .Can what I eat affect my mental health? How does food contribute to a healthy brain? (1:04:58)

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Brenna McDonnell (@bmcdcoaching_). Naturally being very athletic, Brenna found herself living under high expectations and intense stress, striving to be the best in the world in her sport during her high school years. While training 20 hours a week and also going to school full-time, she began to feel the pressures of these expectations and caught herself experiencing significant periods of anxiety and depression. After attempting suicide twice, Brenna sought help and began her journey towards prioritizing her mental health. Brenna takes us through her path of being diagnosed with Bipolar II, her trials finding the right medication to feel like more like herself, and the benefits dialectical behavioural therapy (DBT) gave to her. She shares with us how working on your mental health is lifetime journey and how there is beauty in accepting all parts of the experience.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Romeo Monte (aka Junior). Growing up in an environment and culture where life was framed as one big to-do list, checking one milestone off at a time, Romeo found himself questioning his purpose in life. After experiencing periods of anxiety and panic attacks, Romeo sought help and was told he was going through an existential crisis. In the midst of purchasing property, another checklist item, Romeo turned down the opportunity and decided to travel Europe instead. It was there that his passion in videography began, and his purpose in life grew clearer. In this episode, Romeo discusses the importance in discovering passions that excite you and the significance in living a life that is unique and meaningful to you.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast) Alia is joined by new mama Abby Hildebrand (@wellnesscreek). After miscarrying a baby she did not know she was even pregnant with, prenatal anxiety set in as she began to question her body and her fertility. Once she had gotten pregnant and given birth at the end of 2019, Abby's mental health continued to be a challenge to navigate as she managed through postpartum anxiety and depression, all during the pandemic. Abby gets raw and real with us as she discusses the balance between being energized by your baby and the exhaustion of the long days, and how admitting you need help does not make you any less of a parent. She has now taken her experience to support other parents in a similar position through writing a chapter in a book “Mama's gotta grow”, coming out later this year, and hosting virtual classes through a collective called Motherwell, to introduce prenatal and postpartum women to wellness tools that will support their emotional health. The Motherwell Collective was designed to empower families (prenatally and postpartum) by introducing them to a variety of wellness practitioners and tools. They are hosting a week long virtual class series (March 22-26, 2021) designed to introduce prenatal and postpartum women to wellness tools that will support their emotional health. For more information, please visit: http://bit.ly/Motherwell2021

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Alex Charleton (@alex_charleton). After the death of her friend and the end of a relationship, Alex found herself finding control in her life through restricted eating. After a year of restriction, she then moved from one end of the spectrum to the other where she spent 3 years of her life coping through binging. Alex takes us through her suffering and the moment in her life when she experienced her wake up call to make a change. Now working as a therapist supporting others working through a similar struggle, she discusses the importance in making the self a priority and shifting the relationship with the body in order to heal. To book with Alex: https://www.alexcharleton.com/ To sign up for Alex's Course - "Embrace Your Body": https://www.canopyeds.co.nz/online-course

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Natalie Chow. At a young age, Natalie, her older sister, and her mother were left by her father, and found themselves navigating a new normal. Natalie discusses her relational trauma, and how the impact of her father leaving shaped the way she approached her own relationships. In this episode, Natalie tells us about her experience with anxiety and depression, her journey towards self-awareness, and the blessing friendships have been in helping Natalie find her way back to her resilient self.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by her older sister, Wyncel Chan, MD (@wjoy.fit.corgimama.md). Now practicing as a pediatrician in Indiana, USA, Wyncel reflects back on her medical journey and how the pressure to be successful played a big role in her self-worth. Through numerous tests and examinations, her fear of failure escalated and Wyncel had to work through high test anxiety to finish her schooling. In this episode, Wyncel speaks to us about her experience in therapy and hypnosis, how exercise keeps her grounded, and why being kind to ourselves is important to our growth.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), I am joined by therapist and nutritionist, Brendan Callaghan (@bdlc_cognition_and_wellness). Brendan and I had a fun and very insightful conversation about party culture, drugs, alcohol and the effects all of this can have on one's well-being in the long term. After experiencing major changes in his hormones, liver, and the ability to feel emotions, Brendan shares his own personal journey with drugs and alcohol and how looking inwards allowed him to take back his life.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Vanessa Boutilier. At the age of 21, Vanessa experienced a mental disruption that admitted her into the psychiatric ward. Upon her admittance, Vanessa was diagnosed with schizophrenia (now revised to schizoaffective bipolar disorder), a diagnosis that is now very much intertwined into her life. On this episode, Vanessa walks us through her experience with schizophrenia, and how with support, self-love and a strong will to live, has enabled her to live a rich and meaningful life.

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Megan Livesey. Megan takes us through her mental health journey, beginning with an eating disorder at a young age. Following her struggles with anorexia and an unplanned pregnancy, Megan opens up about her decision to terminate and the grieving process that came after. She shares her honest experience with loss, and how self-love and support from others has allowed her to honour her choice and heal.

It is no secret that life has its challenges, so why don't we talk about it more? On Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia Chan will talk to inspiring people about their mental health journey in an effort to help increase mental awareness, normalize struggle, and end stigma. With the help of her guests, Alia's intention is to embrace hope and celebrate all parts of the human experience.