Tell Me More with Amanda Nielsen

Hi Friends! I'm back! I have been a little quiet for the past few months, but I haven't gone anywhere. I started a new podcast with my friend Monica, called "It's Really None of Our Business", and it's been so much fun. Today I chat a little bit about what the new show is all about, and you'll be able to hear a clip of what you can expect from it. Go check it out anywhere you listen to podcasts, and it's even on YouTube! https://itsreallynoneofourbusiness.podbean.com/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkZ-BZNkO_pImzBsXfsYlLghttps://www.noneofourbusinesspod.com/https://www.instagram.com/itsreallynoneofourbusinesspod/https://www.facebook.com/None.Of.Our.Business.Pod  

Join me as I chat with Bianca about how an impulse decision to become a surrogate helped her to deal with the trauma of losing her son's father. We discuss the ENTIRE process. From making the decision to giving birth to the babies, and everything in between. Go check her out on Instagram @custardcups and follow me on FB and Instagram too! @tellmemorepodcast_

Today I chat with two entrepreneurs who looked at the dating app culture and saw room for improvement.  We discuss how superficial dating has become with all the swiping and messaging, and how it's almost impossible to create an actual connection. They've created a new app that aims to solve this issue and it's launching at the end of Nov 2020. Go check them out at www.theblinkdate.com and follow them on Instagram @theblinkdate 

This is what happens when a guest cancels on me, and I happen to have a group of people at my house. Listen to me pass the mic around my living room and interview my neighbours, friends, and a 9-year-old. Let me know what you think. 

Monica drops by the home studio to save the day and be my guest. We talk about my last episode, and what she thinks about how to "not f%$k up our kids". We also tell each other what we were like in Grade 8, she was coolest kid around and I was a big nerd. Eventually, we end up talking about how and when to talk to our kids about their bodies. It's a nice short one, but Monica is the best. If you want more of her, go check out her podcast everywhere you listen to podcasts. Front Seat - The Road Back To You. Or scroll down and listen to my other episodes with her. 

When I started this podcast, I wanted to have real conversations and let you eavesdrop on them. This is truly that type of episode. Carly and I chat about all sorts of things, but mainly how to raise our kids and not screw them up. Can it be done? Tune in to hear what we think. Let me know if you have any comments on anything we discussed. Check out the Tell Me More Podcast Facebook group, or email me at tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com

In this episode, you'll hear me chatting with my dad about a variety of topics. He walks us through some fertility struggles, which eventually ended with my adoption and surprise pregnancy with my sister. He talks about being in the army and having to be away from his family for long periods of time. He tells us the secret to a 40-year marriage, and how the "spark" isn't the most important part of a relationship. I loved everything about this episode, other than the crap audio. Sorry about that guys. Let me know if you have any questions, reach out at tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com.

I got my sister to join me this week, and we spend a lot of the episode chatting about what it was like to grow up together. It's funny because we actually have pretty different memories of what life was like as children. We talk about how much of a dick I was as a teenager, and how she got into art. Take a listen and check her out on Instagram @heart_stamp_art

Listen to me try to explain to myself why I don't have a guest for this episode, and how I need to stop over-committing myself to so many things. I talk about what's been going on in my head this week and complain about running. It's a short one. Let me know what you think! 

Tune in to hear my conversation with Mack on his journey to become his true self. We talk about his life growing up as a girl in a religious home inside of a fairly small community. He explains how he always knew something was different but didn't know what it was, or even have the vocabulary to describe his thoughts. This is an amazing conversation, where Mack is incredibly open and honest about everything involved in his transition, and I am so excited for everyone to hear it. Let me know if you have any direct questions for Mack, and I'll pass them along! tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com If you need any graphic design or media work done, check him out at https://www.mogulmedia.co/ 

Karsten is back for the third time! This time he's here to talk with me about the idea of Free-Range parenting and Lenore Skenazy's article entitled "The World's Worst Mom". After letting her 9-year-old ride the subway alone, and writing an article about it, she got a lot of criticism from the media and her community. Listen to me chat with my husband about how much we think we should be involved in our kids lives, and whether or not everything has to be a "teachable moment". 

Today I chat with one of my closest friends about her struggle with addiction in her early 20's. Jodi walks us through what caused her to start using in the first place, what happened in her life, and how she was able to recover. She talks about how addiction doesn't discriminate, and how anyone can fall victim to it. Take a listen to the episode, and if you have any feedback or questions for her, let me know. I'll put you in touch. tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com 

Today, my brother from another mother (aka Karsten's brother) joins us to "Tell Me More" about the crazy stuff that's been going on in his life lately. When he and his wife PJ decided to start trying for a baby, they had no idea that it would take two years to conceive. They also didn't think that by the time she was born, there would be a worldwide pandemic going on. Dan tells us about their struggle with getting pregnant, the 90-hour labor which ended in c-section, the health issues after birth, and parenting a newborn in the middle of COVID. Somehow this craziness only made their marriage stronger, and that's why I love them. You might have heard similar stories before, but not from a male perspective. Take a listen, and send me some feedback. Follow me on FB and Instagram, or email tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com

Krystal joins us to "Tell Me More" about how she uses Cannabis to manage her chronic illness. She lives with Crohn's disease and after discovering that cannabis helped manage the symptoms, she started dabbling in making her own products. In 2017, she started a Cannabis health and wellness company with her husband, where they focused on topicals and other non-intoxicating products. Krystal is definitely a cannabis expert, and she helps explain ways that we can end the stigma surrounding it. Did you know that you can treat things like sore muscles with a cannabis balm? Or that you can treat anxiety with an oil? You can use these products without actually getting high (unless you want to!). Follow Krystal on Instagram #candidlykrystal.

Michelle from the Native Calgarian podcast joins me to talk about systemic racism in Canada. We talk about the Indian Act and what actually happened when the white man stole the natives land. Michelle shares some specific calls to action that we can use in our everyday life to work towards reconciliation, and we discuss the systemic issues and laws that have really hurt our indigenous population. Check out her podcast for more information @Native Calgarian and follow her on FB and Instagram.----more----Michelle Robinson is:a facilitator for Mending Broken Hearts: Healing Unresolved Grief through the White Bison, Wellbriety Training InstituteA volunteer on the Calgary Police Service Indigenous Justice Committee the volunteer Indigenous liaison for 12 Community Safety Initiative that runs the only open to the public Indigenous book club, Chapters and Chat for over three yearsa cochair of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls & Two-Spirit Calgary committeeAssistant Producer for Calgary Animated Objects Society (CAOS) to encourage youth to go to post-secondary through opening an RESP, and encouraging folks with low income to utilize the Canada Learning Bond. -a co-founder of VOICES, a group advocating for the Two-Spirit, and queer people of colour in Calgaryis the Calgary Chair for the Indigenous Peoples’ Commission in Alberta.Lwas the 1st First Nation to run for the city council of Calgary and ran as the candidate for the Alberta Liberal Party for Calgary East April 16, 2019.  Michelle is a proud mom and volunteers in her daughter’s activities. Michelle also has a podcast called Native Calgarian. 

Nick is an actor, singer, and dancer who also happens to be gay. We talk about the universal experience of love and self-acceptance, and how it's not any different for the Queer community. Nick tells us about how he didn't actually feel the need to "come out" and we also talk about why it's not ok to assign gay stereotypes. Listen to Nick's podcast "Queer Queeries" anywhere that you listen to podcasts, and you can find more information on www.nickeibler.com

Today I talk with Kirsten about leaving the security of a well paying corporate job, to follow her dreams. Her journey has not been a straight line, and it took a lot of courage to leave comfort for fulfillment. We talk about how it's never too late to make a career change, and how you're never too old to fail at something and try something new. A lot of us are living our lives constantly wondering what would happen if we took a risk, but we are too scared to make the change. Kirsten did just that and tells us all about it. Listen to the episode to hear how she went from a corporate downtown working lady to an actress who is about to film her first movie. Follow her on Instagram @Kirstenstyles and go check out her production company website www.anyroadproduction.com 

Shane is back again for the third time! We spend this episode chatting about how important life insurance is, and why we should all have it. If you pass away suddenly, will your spouse be able to continue paying all the bills without your income? I would guess not, especially if they are dealing with the grief of losing you. In order to avoid these terrible situations, we need to have a plan. Shane talks about different options to make sure you're covered. Follow him on LinkedIn and Facebook at Shane Harrington or Advise Owl. 

Today I welcome back Monica and Timm, both previous guests of the Tell Me More Podcast. You'll hear us question each other on Canadian stereotypes, as we try to educate Timm on all things Canada. Timm currently lives in Austin, TX, and has limited experiences in our country. so Monica and I go through a series of questions aimed to see what he knows about Canadian culture. If you like what you hear, go check out Monica's podcast @Front Seat, the road back to you, and Timm @Ten Items Or Less. Follow us all on FB and Instagram, and reach out to me if you have any questions or comments! 

True Crime stories seem to be everywhere these days. Whether it's podcasts, movies, or documentaries, someone is always bringing up some sort of True Crime story. For some reason, that's one genre I could not get into... until Carol opened my eyes. We chat about how society seems to be obsessed with stories of strange, scary, and unusual people, and why we are all so fascinated with exploring the darker side of humanity. She explains how Jack the Ripper started her initial obsession, and how she has spent her entire academic life learning about people like him. She also tells me a bit about The Golden State Killer, and if anyone wants to check out the story, read "I'll be Gone in the Dark - by Michelle McNamara", or check out the HBO/Crave series of the same name. 

Shane is back! Go back and listen to Episode 21 to hear our first conversation. Today he joins me again to have a short conversation on everyday chequing accounts and the bank fees that go along with those accounts. How many of us actually review our accounts to make sure we aren't paying enormous and unnecessary bank fees? I actually called my bank to look into reducing my fees after this conversation, and you can hear what happened at the end of the episode. Go find Shane on Linkedin and on Facebook @Advise Owl. Send me any feedback on my facebook, Instagram, or email at tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com

It's easy to tell that Madison has a passion for real estate. Today I talk with her about how COVID has changed the way people buy and sell their homes, and what she predicts for the future of real estate. We discuss what happens when dealing with foreclosure properties, and how she handles the egos of other agents. You can find her at www.madisonjager.ca and on FB @Madison Jager and Instagram @jagermadison. Let me know if you have any comments or questions. Send to tellmemorepodcast@outlook.com

Today I talk to Sarah about living with debilitating migraines for her entire life. She goes through what her life was like, and the way she attempted to handle the symptoms. After trying almost every solution presented by doctors, she eventually stumbled upon a miracle cure. Listen to the episode for details on dosage, but the secret recipe is made up of supplements that you can easily find at the grocery store. Since discovering it, she went from having a migraine a few times a week to none at all.  If you or anyone you know suffers from migraines, please check out this episode. You never know if this simple solution will work for you too. Check out the Tell Me More Podcast Facebook group and follow me on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ 

This episode tackles the uncomfortable topic of money. How we spend it, how we save it, what we do when we don't have enough? Shane has worked in the banking industry for most of his adult life and has some advice on how to start the conversations that will help you reach your goals financially. He explains that not everyone has the same idea of how they should be saving and spending and that some people just don't understand or know how to ask for help when they need it. Take a listen to the episode to hear some tips on creating a realistic and automated system that takes care of your money so you don't have to spend too much time on it. Join Shane's Facebook group: Advise Owl 

Ayik Chut shares his remarkable story with me on this episode. Growing up in war-torn Sudan, he was eager to get a gun, fight for his country, and avenge his brother's murder. He witnessed horrific violence and endured unimaginable torture. Eventually, he was able to escape Africa and settle in Australia as a refugee. The story only gets more interesting from there - his PTSD was misdiagnosed as schizophrenia and he was improperly medicated for 8 years. You have to hear this one. Read Ayik's book, it's called The Lost Boy and is available anywhere you get your books. Follow him on Instagram at @chutactor. Rate and Review my podcast on Apple Podcasts, and follow on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

Listen to Julie walk us through her story of Breast Implant Illness. After having implants for 22 years, she finally had them explanted and 90% of her unexplained illnesses disappeared. Breast Implant Illness can present itself in so many symptoms, and it's hard to believe these little bags in our bodies aren't the cause. I have implants, and I only got them a year and half ago, so I went into this conversation with an argumentative stance, and I wanted to prove her wrong. Listen to our conversation, and you'll hear that it didn't exactly go that way. Check out www.healingbreastimplantillness.com for more information. Follow me on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt 

Jess stops by the virtual podcast studio to tell us about her health journey and life transformation. She reminds us that a healthy lifestyle is made up of a lot of small changes, and lifestyle changes don't all have to be made at once. Jess is a certified health coach and she wants to remind us all that health is about more than diet and exercise, it involves many other aspects of your life. Stop putting chemicals in your body! Take a listen, follow her on Instagram @coach_jess_84 and check out her website www.jessthecoach.com 

Timm from the Ten Items or Less Podcast joins me to share his failures and success stories. He defaulted on a million-dollar loan in his early twenties, divorced his wife, and moved across the country with the babysitter (well, sort of... tune in to hear the whole story). He also satisfied all of my reality TV needs by telling me a hilarious story involving two separate shows, and gives us some insider info that we all kind of knew, but didn't want to believe. HINT - when they show us that they fix up a car or a house in 24 hours, it's likely been a lot longer... sometimes MONTHS! This episode is sure to make you laugh, and sometimes cringe. It's a good one! Check out his podcast anywhere you get your podcasts and follow him on Facebook and Instagram @Tenitemsorlesspodcast.

Listen to Sarah explain how she took a good idea and turned it into a business. She encourages parents to teach kids how to save, spend, give, and invest their money. We talk about how we can teach our kids the value of money and perhaps get them to quit asking us to buy them everything they see. She discusses her opinion on attaching allowance to chores and tells me a great analogy involving monopoly. Let's empower children, help them build good habits, and let them make mistakes at an early age! I loved this conversation and I know you will too! Even if you don't have kids, the topics that we cover can apply to all money management. Check her out at www.4pocketallowance.com and on Facebook and Instagram.

Today I talk to Kendra Warren. In 2013, the entire town of High River flooded, and Kendra's house was completely destroyed. Weeks after losing everything, she found out she was pregnant - with twins! Listen to us go through the day of the flood, and finding out she was pregnant. Kendra is an artist, a maker, and a creator. We talk about how she balances having two young children and her own identity, and how important it is to fill your own cup before the cups of your family. Follow her on Instagram @DaM_RaD_Designs and Facebook @DamRaDDesigns and @damvoge_designs

Listen to my chat with Ernest on a variety of topics. He tells me all about how he went from an overweight smoker with a bad back to a two time Iron Man Canada finisher. We talk about the addiction to training, and how certain people are always searching for the next extreme activity. He did a triathlon called "Escape from Alcatraz", where he jumped in frigid cold water with 1400 other people and he spent the whole swim scared of being attacked by a shark.Ernest is a Certified Financial Planner, and he gives some insight on how to build a great team. We spend some time talking about passion for working hard, and the ability to endure hardships in order to succeed. He talks about the need for suffering and how instant gratification isn't beneficial to success. Listen to me try to explain a study about marshmallows and delayed gratification, and see if you can understand what I'm trying to explain. Let me know what you think!Follow me on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt   

Nic from @tonightslineup joins me to chat about COVID19 predictions, and we have a discussion about how people will behave when things eventually return to "normal". We didn't prepare for this recording at all, so the conversation wanders all over the place. I tell him about having a miscarriage at the farmers market, and he tells me about one of his awkward dates. If you like eavesdropping on two strangers having a conversation, this is the episode for you!Go check out his podcast Tonights Lineup, and follow him on Instagram @tonightslineupInstagram @tellmemorepodcast_Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt 

In this episode, I answer questions that listeners sent me. I discuss advice I would give my younger self, what my bucket list items are, why I'm in accounting, how I'm surviving COVID19 and more! If you want to listen to me talk to myself for 40 minutes, this is the episode for you! Follow me on Instagram @ tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @ tellmemorepodcastt 

Chelsey and I discuss how she left city life behind and moved to a farm. She tells me about how the plan was to sell food for profit, but Mother Nature had other ideas. So, they switched gears and now have more of a Homestead lifestyle. Listen to us chat about raising kids on a farm, the COVID19 situation, and how both of us strive to improve communication with our husbands.Follow her on Instagram @twenty7acresInstagram @tellmemorepodcastFacebook @tellmemorepodcastt

He's back! Unfortunately, I had to re-schedule all of my guests until the world gets back to normal, so Karsten is super lucky and got to come back on the podcast! Listen to us talk about what we've been up to this past week while self-isolating, and he gives homeowners some quick tips on how to easily fix various plumbing issues that we all run into. We also tell a couple of stories involving puke and pee - the joys of being a parent. Check out his Youtube channel @theplumbinggurusLet me know what you think and rate/review on Apple Podcasts. Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

She's back! Monica is back for a second conversation, where we discuss many things you all might have been wondering about. We chat about what happened at the end of her marriage, and how she always chose to put her children first - but maybe that was a mistake. She tells me about having a sexless marriage, and how important she thinks sex is to a healthy relationship. I also think I might be convincing her to let me be her maid of honor when she marries Greg, so keep following the saga to see if she finally caves! Follow on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ 

Listen to Jamie and I discuss how a Rugged Maniac competition inspired her to reclaim her active lifestyle after having a baby. We talk about how she decided to go back to school after having two kids and is now working towards becoming a DOCTOR. Jamie tells a story about morning sex, and the tactics her husband uses to keep the kids out. We also bond over being innocently boy crazy, and how we think we yell at our kids too much. Let me know what you think! Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

Monica and I chat about putting her husband's needs before her own, manipulation in relationships, and feeling like another person's happiness is dependant on our actions. She explains how she lived in a bus while her husband built their dream dome (I mean, home). Take a look at Instagram for a picture of the dome in all its glory. We get into topics such as the purpose of life, and what she keeps on her nightstand. Let me know what you think, and comment/leave a review. Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

Colton had no school, so I spent the day at home with him. Listen to our conversation about what he spent his piggy bank money on, and what he thinks I do when he's not around. Sorry about the crap quality, it's really hard to get a 5 year old to sit in front of a microphone properly. Follow on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

Listen to me chat with Naz about moving to Canada from Iran when she was 8 years old, and the pressure that immigrant parents put on their kids to get a university education. We spoke about how women feel like they need to choose between their family and having a career, and why she loves her job so much. Naz also expresses that she still doesn't understand what curling is, or why Canadians do it. Comment on Instagram if you have any comments or opinions on anything we talked about (or if you're a curling enthusiast and want to give her a piece of your mind!)Follow on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ or Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt

Listen to me chat with my friend Becky about balancing her life as a mom and a junior high teacher, all while maintaining a healthy relationship with her husband. We discuss asshole children who bully, teenagers who think they're smart, and whether or not a hot dog should be classified as a sandwich. Take a listen and let me know what you think. Is a hot dog a type of sandwich? Follow me on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt 

Listen to me chat with an old friend about a five-hour first date, trying to make friends in Northern British Columbia, and whether or not our bodies start to self clean themselves after 2 weeks of not showering. Tasha and Ian were very honest with me about a hiccup in their relationship,  being able to work through it and come out the other end stronger and happier. Enjoy! Subscribe & Rate/Review the episodes. Follow me on Instagram for updates @tellmemorepodcast_ Follow me on Facebook for less frequent updates @tellmemorepodcastt 

On this episode, you can listen to Karsten and I chat about how we knew it was the right time to get married. Spoiler alert - there might have been an ultimatum. We also talk about how our relationship might be built on lies, and how it's usually us against our children. About halfway through we switch lanes and begin discussing how Karsten went from plunging poopers (his words, not mine!), to owning his own business and trying to become famous on YouTube.Youtube channel @theplumbinggurusTake a glimpse into our world, and listen to me chat with the person that I spend the most time with.Follow me on Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_ and Facebook @tellmemorepodcastt 

This first episode is a chance for me to introduce myself and chat about why I'm starting a podcast. Take a listen and let me know what you think! Instagram @tellmemorepodcast_Facebook @Tellmemorepodcastt