Unapologetic Connections

On today's edit, Anna talks to Diana Bedoya, a Senior Lecturer and teaching fellow at Simon Fraser University, who has taught thousands of undergraduate students to understand their bodies and care for them in a way that doesn't compromise mental health. This edit is a must-listen for anyone who has ever carried around body shame and is looking to start living their best life! Other topics discussed on this edit:  Toxic diet culture  Body acceptance  Body celebration  Having a conversation with your body  Changing your outlook  Living your best life and finding YOUR best weight  Weight-based approaches to health, and non-weight-based approaches to health  Obesity  Ableism and ageism in the body conversation  Body shame and guilt  Nutrition Science  Mental Health  Combatting notions of a “cool girls club”  Is body love necessary or possible? About the Guest: Diana Bedoya dreams of a day when we finally realize that our bodies deserve to be celebrated and loved for the marvels they are. As a senior lecturer and teaching fellow at Simon Fraser University, she has taught thousands of undergraduates to understand their bodies and care for them in an individualized manner -- one that certainly doesn't compromise mental health. She is the author of two nutrition textbooks, delivers one of Canada's only obesity courses and is the co-chair of her department's mental wellness committee. Her mental health advocacy as well as her personal struggles with obesity, binge eating, and poor body image allow her to deliver content in a practical, compassionate and empowering manner; key components of her growing YouTube channel and her upcoming public nutrition and weight courses. By teaching people to love and appreciate their bodies, her ultimate goal is for us to reclaim the joyful life we all deserve to have! Website and social: Website: http://www.dianabedoya.com/ (www.dianabedoya.com)  Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/thedianabedoya (www.instagram.com/thedianabedoya) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYWHR-YLdlZ9HIWyCWKPxQ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvYWHR-YLdlZ9HIWyCWKPxQ) dbedoya@sfu.ca About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On today's edit, Anna talks to successful Dragon's Den candidate, Aeryon Ashlie, who recently secured a $100,000 investment from 2019 Unapologetically Her keynote speaker, Arlene Dickinson, for her line of wellness products and supplements, Aeryon Wellness. We talk all about how Aeryon's challenging life story and journey of overcoming has lead her to become the inspirational entrepreneur and women's empowerment advocate she is today.     Other topics discussed on this edit:  Women's Health  Mental Health  Having Social Support  Why your thoughts are number one! Health Supplements  Entrepreneurship  Business/Women in Business The health and wellness industry  Toxic diet culture  Bulimia  Eating disorders Homelessness The Downtown Eastside Women's Shelter  About the Guest: Aeryon Ashlie is the founder of Aeryon Wellness Supplements, RHNC, Weight Loss Expert, Speaker, #1 Best Selling Author and On-Air Radio personality.  Aeryon's mission is to “Empowering Women with Holistic Health.” Her female focused, support supplements are a result of 20+ years of personal experience with hormonal imbalance, weight management, stress and sleep issues.  She resides in Vancouver, BC with her daughter and 2 Poodles. Dragon's Den Pitch: https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/aeryon-wellness (https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/pitches/aeryon-wellness)  Website: http://www.aeryonwellness.com (www.aeryonwellness.com) Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/aeryonbelaashlie (www.instagram.com/aeryonbelaashlie)  and http://www.instagram.com/aeryonwellness (www.instagram.com/aeryonwellness)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Today's episode is all about learning and practising the art of mind habits and silencing that critical inner voice using the all-new (coming soon!) Today, I Practice app and digital card deck. The advice and recommendations from TEDx Speaker, Author, and Life Strategies Coach Ranbir Puar helps you change the conversation you are having with yourself. We also learn why affirmations don't work and why the brain needs to invest in better tools for wellbeing, particularly during challenging times. This edit is a MUST LISTEN for anyone who has struggled to find self-trust and believe in the power of themselves. Other topics discussed on this edit: > The brain's inherent negativity bias > The law of attraction  > Reframing problematic thoughts  > Overcoming anxiety  > Silencing perfectionism  > The power of a higher calling  > Comparison-itis  > Building self-trust and self-reliance > Meeting Wayne Dyer  About the Guest:  With gentle yet profound guidance, TEDx Speaker, Author, and Life Strategies Coach Ranbir Puar helps you change the conversation you are having with yourself. Her techniques teach you how to incrementally change the tone of your inner voice, and help you reprogram and reset, releasing your inner champion!  Whether you are a stressed-out business owner or student struggling with anxiety, Ranbir offers the tools you need to silence your inner critic, change your life, and unleash your true potential.  Most importantly, Ranbir's work focuses on improving the relationships "Under Your Roof" by helping you Learn To Like Yourself and Like Your Family©.  Ranbir has also been an 20-Time Staff Pick on Insight Timer.  The world's largest community of meditators.  Ranbir is also the creator of the incredibly popular “Today I Practice” mind habits (with the accompanying app launching soon).  https://www.facebook.com/PureAtma/ (https://www.facebook.com/PureAtma/) https://www.pinterest.ca/ranbirpuar/ (https://www.pinterest.ca/ranbirpuar/) https://www.instagram.com/ranbir_puar/ (https://www.instagram.com/ranbir_puar/) https://twitter.com/ranbirpuar (https://twitter.com/ranbirpuar) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week's edit, Anna talks to speaker, activist and the Founder of Broke Budget and Small Step Credit, Bridgette Simpson. A recent graduate of the True Story Talks speaker training program, who spent a decade behind bars, Bridgette now works as a Financial Coach for folks looking to break free from broke mindsets and find liberation after incarceration.  Other topics discussed on this edit:  > Liberation  > Racism, Domestic Violence and Abuse  > Language Justice   > Incarceration and life after incarceration  > Financial + Mindset Freedom   > The Justice + Jail system   > Suicide and Mental Health    > Movement for Black Lives  > Impacts of language, poverty and oppression  > Becoming Oprah 2.0 About the Guest: Survivor. Teacher. Artist. Author. Liberator. Wayfinder. Jamaican Boss Lady.  Those are just some of the ways Bridgette Simpson shows up in her life and in her powerful work.  Formerly incarcerated for a decade, Bridgette is now the host of her own podcast and CEO of the platform Broke Budget, where she works as a Financial Coach for folks looking to break free from broke mindsets, shift into empowerment, and simultaneously break down barriers that imprison marginalized people (physically, socially, financially, and emotionally)— barriers that block them from attaining full liberation.   Website & social media handles: http://www.smallstepcredit.com (www.smallstepcredit.com)  http://www.instagram.com/broke_budget_ (www.instagram.com/broke_budget_) http://www.instagram.com/jamaican_boss_lady (www.instagram.com/jamaican_boss_lady)  About the Host:  http://www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna (www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna)   http://www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna (www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna) http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)    Website: http://www.unapologeticstories.com (www.UnapologeticStories.com)    Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.    She is currently completing her Masters degree in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.      Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week's edit, Anna talks to author and speaker, Aurora Winters, a survivor of familial sex trafficking, incest and abuse. Aurora credits that survival to self-expression, which she now shares with others in her work as a writer, therapeutic horseback instructor, trauma-yoga teacher and creative advocate.  ** Please note that this episode contains disturbing themes and scenarios that explain or depict the harm of children. ** Other topics discussed on this edit:  > PTSD > EMDR  > Repressed Memories > Mental Health  > Incest, Abuse, Trafficking   > Art and the healing properties of creativity  > Somatic body work  > Therapeutic horseback riding  > Finding stillness within  > Answering the creative call  > Listening to your body  About the Guest: Aurora is a writer, poet, speaker, and creative advocate. Her passion is language in all its creative forms. She loves supporting others in learning their creative language through writing, somatics, and other forms of self-expression.   Aurora believes in raw honesty and that true love includes grace and accountability.  She believes that compassion is the foundation of connecting to our tangible essence, that meeting ourselves where we are invites a knowing to all that we have been and are becoming. She holds a degree in psychology and is a trained therapeutic horseback riding instructor, and certified trauma yoga instructor with continuing education in somatics. Some things that bring her joy are reading bedtime stories to her fur kids, the depth of human stories, waterfalls, and the sky in all its glory.  Website & social media handles: Website: http://www.aurora-winters.com/ (www.aurora-winters.com) Instagram: www.instagram.com/@aurora___winters Email: aur.winters@gmail.com  About the Host:  http://www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna (www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna)   http://www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna (www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna) http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)    Website: http://www.unapologeticstories.com (www.UnapologeticStories.com)    Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.    She is currently completing her Masters degree in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to

On this week's edit, Anna talks to author and speaker, Alex Schneider, whose mother was murdered by her step-father when she was only 16 years old. After a decade of healing, Alex has remarkably learned how to find compassion, advocate for the mental health community and navigate the complexities of forgiveness. An inspiring tale of overcoming, Alex's story teaches us that when grief and trauma are at play, the most powerful thing you can do is write your own new story.  Other topics discussed on this edit:  > PTSD, Trauma  > Mental Health  > Psychosis  > Grief + Forgiveness  > Writing a book  > Telling your story, your way   > True Crime Podcasts > Compassion > Group Therapy > The magic of dragonflies  About the Guest:  Alex Schneider is an author, speaker, and advocate from the West Coast of BC. Alex's debut memoir, Dragonfly Tides, explores her adolescent experience of trauma, grief, and her journey of finding hope after the unthinkable has happened.   Website & social media handles: http://www.dragonflytides.com/ (www.dragonflytides.com)  http://www.facebook.com/byalexschneider (www.facebook.com/byalexschneider) http://www.instagram.com/byalexschneider (www.instagram.com/byalexschneider) About the Host:  http://www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna (www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna)   http://www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna (www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna) http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)    Website: http://www.unapologeticstories.com (www.UnapologeticStories.com)   Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  She is currently completing her Masters degree in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

It's all about boudoir, overcoming shame and feeling empowered to own our unconventional paths in this nostalgic edit featuring the very first editor of the Unapologetic Stories podcast. This week, Anna talks to Hayley Loewen about what she's been up to since she left the podcast, returned to nursing, sold her business and dug deep to find a passion she really feels called to.   Other topics discussed on this edit:  > Miscarriage  > Body shame and society's expectations of women  > Eating disorders  > Rejecting “all-in” culture > Working in a crisis centre  > Mental health  > Career change > The power of boudoir photography  > Being uncaged  > Slut-shaming  > People pleasing  About the Guest:  Hayley Loewen's personal portfolio includes an intense range of sexually negative experiences that have inspired her work with women through photography.  Her years of being the focus of slut shaming overexposed her sexuality and created a distorted image of how she should look and behave.  Triggered by society's continued exploitation of sexual negativity, Hayley's traumatic sexual experiences have empowered her to help other women feel comfortable with their own sexual identity.  While capturing boudoir images, she helps women find their inner goddess, reclaim their feminine power, and work towards healing the multigenerational trauma that continues to shame women's sexuality. WEBSITE: http://boudoirwithhayley.com/ (boudoirwithhayley.com) IG: http://www.instagram.com/boudoirwithhayley (www.instagram.com/boudoirwithhayley)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Depression, boundaries, mental health and self-care are just some of the BIG topics we talk about on this week's powerful edit with Stress Management Coach, Justine Sones. Anna and Justine get real about their personal experience with depression and setting boundaries, as well as talk about some of the broader problems with the way society depletes us of our essential needs.    Core topics discussed on this edit:  > Depression > Self Care Practises  > Stress-management  > Post-partum Depression  > Past patterns  > Shame + Fear  > Taylor Swift + Chocolate Fondue Fountains > Boundaries with family, friends and coworkers  > Motherhood  > Revolutions, social justice work, and the power of rest  About the Guest:  Justine Sones is a writer and stress management coach who loves drinking coffee, helping burnt-out humans set boundaries, and talking about things that hurt. During her career as a massage therapist, Justine's practice was dedicated to exploring the roles that stress, pain, and relaxation play in healing the physical body. She came to realize that the support her clients needed required more than a massage, and made it her mission to help them. Justine now spends her time writing about feelings and coaching other over-functioning humans develop healthy boundaries and practice sustainable self-care as they navigate the messy intersections of partnering, parenting, -preneuring, and pandemicking.  Learn more athttp://www.justinesones.com/ ( www.justinesones.com) and followhttps://www.instagram.com/justinesones/ ( @justinesones) on Twitter and Instagram  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week's edit, Anna talks to Cicely Belle Blain, an anti-racism educator working to create communities where everyone matters. That goal requires a wide range of diverse yet intersected topics to be considered; Through this conversation, Cicely introduces us to a powerful array of issues to reflect on with the goal of not only unpacking, but dismantling, harmful systems of oppression. We talk about barriers to access, equity, activism, social justice, mental health, and even dinosaurs!… This edit is a MUST LISTEN for all humans, and particularly those looking to develop or enhance their ally-ship to create inclusive and safe spaces for all.   Other topics discussed on this edit:  > Intersectionality in practise > Black Lives Matter (Vancouver)  > Anti-Racism, Anti-Blackness > Activism vs. Radical Activism  > Inclusion + Liberation Movements  > Ethical, sustainable “good work” vs. White Saviourism  > ADHD + Neuro-divergency  > Mental Health, Chronic Pain + Taboos  > Creating organizational change   > Ripple of Change Magazine  > The Bachelor/Bachelorette  > The amazing Parasaurolophus dinosaur  About the Guest: Cicely Belle Blain is a Black/mixed, queer femme from London, UK now living on the lands of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh people. Their ancestry is a mix of Gambian (Wolof), Jamaican and English. At the heart of all their work, Cicely Belle harnesses their passion for justice, liberation and meaningful change via transformative education, always with laughter, and fearlessly in the face of systemic oppression. They are noted for founding Black Lives Matter Vancouver and subsequently being listed as one Vancouver's 50 most powerful people by Vancouver Magazine in 2018 and again in 2020, BC Business's 30 under 30 and one of Refinery29's Powerhouses. Cicely Belle is an instructor in Executive Leadership at Simon Fraser University, the Editorial Director of Ripple of Change Magazine and the author of Burning Sugar (Arsenal Pulp Press, 2020).   Website & social media handles: https://www.bakauconsulting.com (https://www.bakauconsulting.com) https://www.instagram.com/cicelybelle_xo/ (https://www.instagram.com/cicelybelle_xo/) https://www.instagram.com/bakauconsulting/ (https://www.instagram.com/bakauconsulting/)  About the Host:  http://www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna (www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna)   http://www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna (www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna) http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)    Website: http://www.unapologeticstories.com (www.UnapologeticStories.com)    Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.    She is currently completing her Masters degree in Professional Communication at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this...

On an episode they tried recording once, and almost canceled a second time due to some major life events for both of them, Host, Anna Mullens, and guest, Carolyn Turkington (one half of The MomBabes), tackle the notion that we have to be ‘ready' in order to show up. This very raw edit of the podcast reveals what's really going on behind the scenes for Moms, and discusses the ladies' newest book project, The MomBabes: A Motherhood Anthology.  Other topics in this episode:  > Facing a child's autism diagnosis  > Advocating for your child's wellbeing  > Neuro-divergency in families  > Grieving our former selves (after we enter motherhood)  > Surviving a difficult and traumatic birth story > The power of community   > Self publishing a co-author anthology  > The power of coffee  About the Guest: Christina and Carolyn are Moms, sisters, podcasters, founders of The MomBabes community and authors of their debut book, The MomBabes: A Motherhood Anthology. Co-winners of the World's okay-est Mom award, Christina and Carolyn are the friends every Mom deserves. They aren't parenting experts, they're real women using their personal desires for connection to build a community of women through sharing stories. The sisters keep busy working and wife-ing while chasing their kids and their dreams - all without spilling their coffee.   More from The MomBabes http://www.themombabes.com/ (www.themombabes.com) and http://www.instagram.com/themombabes (www.instagram.com/themombabes)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this powerful edit, Anna talks to Canadian Idol Winner, Theo Tams, about rediscovering his life as an artist after facing tremendous personal and professional challenges, the roller-coaster of sobriety, and cultivating the ability to say YES to new things.  Things we chat about:  Coming out as gay to a strict, reformed Christian family  Accidentally coming out to a Nation on live television  Numbing feelings with alcohol and finding sobriety after years of drinking  The impact of winning Canadian Idol and the aftershocks  Choosing yourself over anything else Making small, but powerful shifts to rediscover contentment  Why therapy is life-saving  Theo's new trilogy album and the magic you can find inside music  About the Guest:  Online: https://theotamsmusic.com (https://theotamsmusic.com)  IG: https://www.instagram.com/theotamsmusic/ (https://www.instagram.com/theotamsmusic/)  FB: https://www.facebook.com/theotams (https://www.facebook.com/theotams)  Theo Tams is rediscovering his identity as an artist. With his upcoming EP, the Canadian singer/songwriter demonstrates a remarkable command of R&B-laced pop music, his silky tenor the unwavering guiding light.Two years since his last record, 2018's Call the Doctor, what is most evident is his fearlessness to cannonball right into fresh sonic waves. “I knew that I really wanted to just dive into this evolution and a different sound. All the new music was an exercise in the spirit of saying yes to new things,” he says. Growing up in a fairly strict reformed Christian household in Coaldale, Alberta, Tams discovered a natural inclination towards music while attending church. Towards the end of the 2000s, Tams' life changed, first through coming out to his parents and then by competing in Canadian Idol and winning that year's competition. Having released his debut album in 2009, as well as several EPs in recent years, Tams struggled navigating a post-Idol image and harboured a desire to branch out in his work. Now, he stands in a new kind of spotlight. Tams is a step-father, a joyful responsibility that has given him a new lease on life and inspired him in his music. Tams' new EP finds him unapologetically embracing his own identity, reflecting on his behaviour and accentuating his strengths as a musician. Through his evolution into the artist he is today, it would seem that Theo Tams has finally found his place in the world. About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean...

On this edit of Unapologetic Stories, Anna talks to Makenzie Chilton, Career Coach and former prison therapist, about how people can find a career they love by drawing on and cultivating their values, motivations and mindset.  Other topics covered on this edit:  How the Columbine shooting inspired Makenzie's first career choice  How to find your core values  How finding your passion is different from having a vision  Job, hobby, or career?   Bubble baths and reality TV  The importance of social justice work   About the Guest: Makenzie Chilton is the founder and head honcho over at Love Your Mondays, she has been helping people figure out WTF they should do with their lives and get happy at work. Since 2013 she has helped people from all over the world find careers that they love.  Social: www.instagram.com/loveyourmondays Website: http://www.loveyourmondays.co/ (www.loveyourmondays.co)  Signature program: http://www.themondaymethod.com/ (www.themondaymethod.com)  #mondaylover About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna chats with Lori Bamber, Writing Coach and Senior Editor with The Self Publishing Agency Inc. about what it takes to truly heal our stories and reframe our perspective to reveal the universality of our unique experiences.  Other topics discussed in this episode: trauma healing, misogyny in the workplace, becoming a writer, employing an editor or ghostwriter, non-binary pronouns, autism, ADHD, and the connective power of true storytelling.  About the Guest:  Lori Bamber is a senior editor with The Self-Publishing Agency. Her decades-long experience in print, radio, TV and online media elevates her primary skillset and mission: helping people tell their stories in ways that connect, heal and reveal the universality of our unique experiences.  Formerly Chatelaine Magazine's Money Expert and a regular contributor to Alberta Venture Magazine and BCBusiness Magazine, she is the author of seven books on personal finance. Along with co-hosting CKNW radio's Moneyline show and guest-hosting the nationally networked Money Talks program, she appeared on television programs across the country, including Marketplace and CBC NewsWorld. Since 2004, she's collaborated on thousands of Globe and Mail special feature articles as a writer and managing editor with RandallAnthony Communications, interviewing Canada's most accomplished leaders about the ways they're changing the world.  She's a bi, Metis, highly sensitive, white-passing mother and grandmother who is working toward the adoption of they/them pronouns and equity for all.    http://www.instagram.com/lorimbamber (www.instagram.com/lorimbamber)  About the Host:  http://www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna (www.instagram.com/unapologeticanna)   http://www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna (www.facebook.com/unapologeticanna)  http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)  http://www.unapologeticstories.com (www.UnapologeticStories.com)    Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Welcome to Season 3 of Unapologetic Stories! On this week's edit, host Anna shares where she has been this past month and what hurdles she has overcome to arrive at the next phase of this movement. Anna also shares some research on the origin of language and storytelling and her plans for the future of The Unapologetically Her Show.  Other topics discussed on this edit:  > The Papaya Podcast > Embodying your spiritual self > Tapping into myths and the collective consciousness > Discovering your purpose > Starting a new brand  > How to get on stage  > The importance of true storytelling  > The evolution of talks events > How to get on stage > Speaker training  About the Guest: Welcome to True Story Talks  Follow us on IG: http://www.instagram.com/truestorytalks (www.instagram.com/truestorytalks)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Closing out a record-breaking Season 2 of the Unapologetic Stories Podcast, Anna shares her learnings from this season's guests as well as her thoughts about the power of true storytelling and how we come to find out purpose through our deepest moments of discovery. She also helps storytellers better understand their motivation and find the compassion needed to stay in service on stage. xx About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

For the last guest-attended edit of Season 2, Anna welcomes profound storyteller and cancer survivor, Trevor Howes, to the show. The pair discuss how cancer can become a through line to your life, the difficulties of facing a personal diagnosis, the challenge of asking for help (and not trying to do it alone), and the legacy of hope that can live on, pushing to us find our very own magical moments of healing. This edit is packed with wisdom, inspiration and - most of all - motivation to continue on, no matter what life throws at you. About the Guest: For years, Nicole Howes lived with cancer, but it was on the morning of February 26, 1999 that she took her last breath. Along with his dad and brother, her young teenage son, Trevor, stood next to her, holding on to her hand as she died.  Though in some way, he always imagined cancer would be part of his own destiny, too, Trevor was still shocked to find out (at the end of 2020) that he, too, was now facing a diagnosis. After hearing the words “malignant Melanoma,” he took a moment to catch his breath and knew he had a decision to make. Does he turn left or right or both?  The morning of his first hospital visit, scared and full of uncertainty, something inside him just said run—And that's exactly what he did. Not away from the diagnosis, but toward his own healing. During that run, something magical happened that changed the way he looked at his own cancer and entire life story. With the help of family, friends and even strangers, he found the courage to move forward and, more importantly, he found the vulnerability needed to embrace the idea that if he was going to get through this, he would need to welcome in support.  And his motto became: “You don't have to go through this alone.”  Social media:  IG: www.instagram.com/trevor_howes About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna talks to Kelly Strongitharm, founder of Ruben's Shoes Society, about her all new book, I am Emmanuel, her life as a farmer, her new role as “Mom” to son Fanelson, and the impact that her organization is making on children across the world. About the Guest: Kelly Strongitharm is the founder of Ruben's Shoes Society and Author of I am Emmanuel. As a child of adoption, Kelly understands the profound need for all children to know belonging and connection. In 2020, Kelly became a new mom to a beautiful boy from Haiti, and her mission to create impact at home as well as abroad became her next great purpose. Her love of animals, mostly her two dogs, has translated into a plant based lifestyle where she hopes to expand this on her new 5-acre property that she was able to manifest into a reality.  IG: www.instagram.com/kellystrong79 www.instagram.com/rubensshoes FB: www.facebook.com/KellyStrongitharm www.facebook.com/RubensShoesSociety Buy the book: http://www.rubensshoes.com/ (www.rubensshoes.com) Personal website: (depending when this airs) http://kellystrongitharm.com/ (kellystrongitharm.com) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

We contemplated “How to NOT be Martha Stewart” as an alternate title for this episode, which should tell you a lot about the nature of our discussion and the raw, real, unfiltered truth you'll be getting with this week's guest, Jeenu Kailey, as she bravely shares her personal story and professional aspirations. From witnessing domestic violence as a child, to breaking South-Asian cultural traditions, launching a human rights complaint against her employer, opting for take-out and paper plates over adopting the “assumed” responsibilities of a wife and mother, and eventually landing in the role of mentor to other women through her brand new platform, JeenuKailey.com, Jeenu shows us how sometimes you have to be the “bad apple” in order to fight the good fight.  About the Guest: Jeenu Kailey grew up in a home filled with domestic violence. Throughout her childhood and young adulthood, she witnessed abuse against her mother, fuelled by her father's alcoholism.  After deciding to move away for university, Jeenu was exposed to "normalcy" for the first time and decided that this would be the last time she would ever live under the same roof as her parents. This was her first step towards shutting down society's expectations and living a brave and unapologetic life.  It was in that choice that her strength and resolve began to shine more brightly. Jeenu wanted to fight for other women who were facing a lack of support—both socially and culturally. Being raised as a Punjabi woman, Jeenu had to question which parts of the culture she was going to pass on to her children, which parts were no longer welcome, and which would be adapted to build equality between men and women. Now, as the owner of http://jeenukailey.com (JeenuKailey.com), the lifestyle and empowerment brand with a focus on amplifying women's voices, addressing women's issues and empowering women's lives, Jeenu aims to make an ongoing impact, for better or for worse, for the next generation of women and all the little girls who knew they were meant for more. Website: http://www.jeenukailey.com (www.jeenukailey.com)  Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/jeenukailey (www.instagram.com/jeenukailey)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

This very powerful edit dives into the widely unexplored and undiscussed topic of adult ADHD, and how to navigate and embrace the discovery of a neuro-divergency later in life. Anna talks to newly diagnosed and recently certified ADHD Coach, Kristy Powers, whose inspirational story helps bring adult women with ADHD together in community and connection. We also see first-hand during our recording time the difficulties ADHD adults have to overcome when they are faced with daily distractions…This edit is a MUST LISTEN for anyone who has ever felt different, alone or overwhelmed.  About the Guest: Kristy Powers is best known for her photography work for the past decade but she has recently been proclaiming herself as semi-retired as she fully embraces her identity as an ADHD Life Coach - a journey that coincidentally started at the same time she was an OG member of Unapologetic Speakers Training program. Now, she has been able to transfer her superpowers as a photographer - holding compassionate space for her clients to be seen and heard - and expand to cultivate connection on a global level for women with ADHD, like herself with a community designed to embrace their identity, focus on wellness AND get things done...together. Host of The Daily Distracted Podcast Website: http://www.thedailydistracted.com/ (www.thedailydistracted.com) IG: www.instagram.com/thedailydistracted  IG: www.instagram.com/kristympowers About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this mind-shifting edit of Unapologetic Stories, Anna talks to Chau Lui - co-owner of Paris Jewellers - who shares her powerful (and sometimes painful) lessons from her childhood, growing up Vietnamese-Canadian with a name most teachers couldn't pronounce, to her role as CEO of a profoundly successful company with over 200 employees across 23 stores in 4 Canadian provinces. While Chau and her sister Trang faced significant anti-Asian racism in their lifetime and encountered considerable self-doubt as a result, they are now speaking up, sharing their story and work, and giving back to vulnerable communities who can benefit from their important messages of hope, unity and celebration. This is a ‘must-hear' edit packed with leadership advice, entrepreneurial vision, soul-centred truths about failure and success, and powerful personal wisdom that will find you shifting your mind, your business and your heart.  About the Guest: Chau Lui is the co-owner, along with her sister Trang, of Paris Jewellers, a proudly Canadian -Vietnamese women-owned and operated jewelry company focused on community partnerships, customer experience and supporting women. The company has a 90% women workforce. Paris Jewellers started in a 400 sq. ft. space in St. Albert, AB and with Chau's leadership has grown to 23 stores across 4 Canadian provinces with over 200 employees. Paris Jewellers aims to spread joy while making a difference in the community.  During the pandemic, they have raised over 100,000 meals for Food Banks Canada and $25,000 for Make-A-Wish® Canada. Chau is on the Board of Directors for The Canadian Jewellers Association, was Global's Women of Vision in 2018, one of Edify's Top 40 Under 40 in 2020 and was a featured speaker at this year's Women + Wealth virtual Gala on International Women's Day. Chau Lui is passionate about the latest jewellery trends, a fierce leader and mother. https://www.parisjewellers.ca/ (https://www.parisjewellers.ca/) https://www.instagram.com/parisjewellerscanada/ (https://www.instagram.com/parisjewellerscanada/) https://www.facebook.com/ParisJewellers (https://www.facebook.com/ParisJewellers) https://www.instagram.com/chautlui/ (https://www.instagram.com/chautlui/) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna welcomes Seryna Myers, Sacred Transformation Mentor and author of the new book, Sacred Anger, to talk all about this outcast emotion. The ladies discuss Seryna's book, her personal history witnessing abuse and addiction in the family, navigating a powerful shift in her marriage to wife Rhea, and how anger came to be such an important part of her life's work.  This edit is like receiving a handbook for emotions, packed with tips, tricks and courageous truths to allow all of us to own exactly who we are.  About the Guest: Seryna Myers is a Sacred Transformation Mentor and Professional Speaker. Her divinely guided coaching inspires recovering people pleasers to explore what they need, how they really feel, and dive into uncomfortable emotions like anger, so they can give themselves radical permission to experience it all.  Seryna's personal and professional commitment to exploring the shadow side of lightwork in safe and sacred spaces are what make her coaching programs have a deep and lasting impact. Her new book Sacred Anger is available wherever books are sold online. Website: http://www.seryna.ca (www.seryna.ca)  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/serynamyers/ (https://www.instagram.com/serynamyers/)  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/serynamyers/ (https://www.facebook.com/serynamyers/)  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/serynamyers (https://www.youtube.com/serynamyers)  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ca/serynamyers/_created/ (https://www.pinterest.ca/serynamyers/_created/)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On today's edit, Anna talks to Rebecca Wilson, author of Rebecca Grows Up (At 40), about her new book, her work in attachment parenting, and her fight to know and re-parent herself after suffering a lifetime of abuse from her narcissistic mother. This conversation uncovers some profound truths about the human experience, our deeper survival needs, the ways in which we relate to one another and how to find compassion for those who have experienced tremendous trauma. Anna and Rebecca also talk about power of storytelling, of speaking out and of creating strong boundaries that allow us to grow ourselves up in the face of adversity. About the Guest: Rebecca grew up in beautiful Vancouver, and now resides in Richmond, B.C. In her youth, she loved individual sport and for several years, competed in rhythmic gymnastics. Rebecca earned a Bachelor of Kinesiology from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and in 2012, a change in professional direction occurred and she furthered her education to receive an Infant Development Certificate, also from UBC. For the past seven years, Rebecca has worked as an Infant Development Consultant, supporting parents and their infants, as a home-based visitor. She is trained in attachment-parenting and co-facilitates educational parent groups and works alongside families to help support them in their child's development. In her memoir, Rebecca shines light on the damaging impact of being raised by a parent with severe psychological issues that not only prevented secure attachment but lead to fear, self-doubt and insecurity that impacted all relationships. By sharing her story, Rebecca hopes to inspire others to work through their trauma and subsequently free themselves. When she is not writing, Rebecca enjoys waking up before the rest of the house, long walks and watching anything house-related on HGTV!  FB: http://www.facebook.com/rebeccagrowsup (www.facebook.com/rebeccagrowsup) IG: http://www.instagram.com/rebeccagrowsup (www.instagram.com/rebeccagrowsup)  Website: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rebeccagrowsup.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C631ada0bdb4244dc632008d910d4633f%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637559326646428620%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=3KN3MUYAE6UgaVpGz9IPziWy0wSxgUm%2FVABMl5%2FGDAY%3D&reserved=0 (www.rebeccagrowsup.com) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple...

Anna goes outside the box on this edit, bringing in friend and Managing Partner of Bespoke Lending Solutions, Shaun Francis, to help explain the “insanity” of the current mortgage and housing market. The two talk all about lending criteria, interest rates, the classic variable vs. Fixed debate, historical patterns and how Covid-19 has skyrocketed our ‘move now' mindset. In this edit, you will learn everything you need to know about working with a broker and whether this market is an opportunity or a risk.  About the Guest:  Shaun Francis M.BA, is a Partner and Senior Mortgage Consultant at Bespoke Lending Solutions based in Vancouver, BC. He is also a proud husband and father, 17-yr. financial-industry veteran and mentor to a team of brokers working in the Lower Mainland. Website: http://www.bespokelending.com (www.bespokelending.com)  Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/shaunfrancis (www.instagram.com/shaunfrancis)  Business Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bespokelending (www.instagram.com/bespokelending)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Back with a solo edit to cap off Mental Health Awareness month (and her birthday week), Anna shares her inspiration from the new Apple TV+ Docuseries, The Me You Cannot See, created by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry. She digs deep on why we have a collective responsibility to validate trauma, to listen and hear stories, and to seek wisdom from those who have experienced the depths of the human experience, no matter how much we hope to avoid it. This edit proves once again that pain and trauma can be a springboard to wisdom and purpose and not a barrier to it. Best of all, we learn the true meaning of STRENGTH.   About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna chats with music-industry marketer and music-education maverick, Gezim Gashi, who talks about his life growing up in war-torn Kosovo, his family’s escape to Sweden, the moment (as a newborn baby) that literally saved his life, and how he took the journey from obscurity to stardom—working with industry giants like Quincy Jones and Dua Lipa. Anna and Gezim talk about the power of aligning with your purpose, doing what you love, putting yourself first, following your intuition and really just doing the darn thing. Most importantly, they talk all about Gezim’s new book, Unlocked: The Power of You, published by The Self Publishing Agency.  Mentions:  ·      Quincy Jones https://www.instagram.com/quincyjones (https://www.instagram.com/quincyjones) ·      Quincy Jones Productions https://www.quincyjones.com/production/ (https://www.quincyjones.com/production/) ·      Asher (It’s Really Asher) http://www.instagram.com/itsreallyasher (www.instagram.com/itsreallyasher) ·      Dua Lipa https://www.instagram.com/dualipa/ (https://www.instagram.com/dualipa/) ·      OCS Institute of Arts + Innovation https://www.instagram.com/ocsiai (https://www.instagram.com/ocsiai) https://www.oakschristian.org/academics/the-institute-of-arts-and-innovation (https://www.oakschristian.org/academics/the-institute-of-arts-and- innovation) ·      NOTD https://www.instagram.com/notd (https://www.instagram.com/notd) ·      The Self Publishing Agency https://theselfpublishingagency.com/ (https://theselfpublishingagency.com/) https://www.instagram.com/theselfpublishingagency/ (https://www.instagram.com/theselfpublishingagency/) About the Guest: Gezim Gashi is originally from Kosovo, but grew up in Sweden as he and his family escaped the up and coming war. Gezim is an entrepreneur, producer and runs his own company, by Gezim Gashi. He’s one of the founding members and partner of the high school institute “OCS Institute of Arts and Innovation” located in Los Angeles and soon to be author with his self-help book, Unlocked: The Power of You. His story has been recognized by Forbes and Huffington Post in America and right before the pandemic, he was a speaker at the very prestigious Harvard University. Guest links:  IG: http://www.instagram.com/thegezimgashi (www.instagram.com/thegezimgashi)  Website: http://www.gezimgashi.com (www.gezimgashi.com)  Mentioned on today’s edit:  http://www.instagram.com/ocsiai (www.instagram.com/ocsiai)  http://www.instagram.com/itsreallyasher (www.instagram.com/itsreallyasher)  http://www.instagram.com/quincyjonesproductions (www.instagram.com/quincyjonesproductions)  http://www.instagram.com/notd (www.instagram.com/notd)  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the...

The Bachelor + Bachelor in Paradise alum, Annaliese Puccini, joins Anna for this week’s edit to discuss her latest project: an art and poetry journal dedicated to love, heartbreak and healing. Annaliese shares intimate details from her experience on reality TV and how being painted into a certain character lead to a difficult identity crisis after leaving the show. As well, the two women talk about fitting in, moving through a break-up, starting over, joining The Chopra Global organization, growing up with neuro-diversity and ultimately un-writing and rewriting your personal narrative.  Love, heartbreak, healing  Reality-TV  Owning your personal story  Self-publishing  Becoming a coach  Neuro-diversity  About the Guest: Annaliese Puccini is an artist and poet, showcasing both in her new book “ap_unwritten”. Known for her time on The Bachelor and Bachelor in Paradise, Annaliese felt locked into other’s judgments and perceptions of her and finally had enough. Deciding to un-write her story and embrace a new chapter of her life, Annaliese has finally become the main character of her life. Through her own love, loss, heartbreak and growth she wants to empower others to take control of their story.  IG @annaliesep and @ap_unwritten  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Becky VanDrunen, author of the new cookbook, Playlist Kitchen: Upbeat Recipes and The Music That Brought Them to Life, joins Anna this week to talk all about the new release, as well as some major life events that brought her to this moment. The two friends discuss motherhood, business, music, food, pop-culture, Britney, Mariah, and - of course - the importance of really owning your personal truth and releasing your authentic self. 90’s Music  Motherhood Parenting through the Pandemic  About the Guest:  Becky Van Drunen is the author of the 90s music-infused cookbook Playlist Kitchen. Upbeat recipes and the music that brought them to life. She is the owner and lead culinary designer behind the award-winning freezer-meal prep company, Basil and Bacon, which provides food delivery, workshops, and education to busy families across the Lower Mainland of BC. Becky is also a classically-trained pianist and vocalist with a degree in music, and a senior leader at Canada's largest music company. When she’s not cooking up a number-one hit, you can find Becky laughing with her friends, dancing around the table with her two daughters, or helping to bring 90s fashion back to life. IG: @beckyvandrunen FB:  @basilandbacon Web: http://beckyvandrunen.com/ (beckyvandrunen.com) + http://basilandbacon.com/ (basilandbacon.com) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this Edit, Anna talks to Elke Babicki, author of “Identity: From Holocaust to Home.” Elke’s book and personal teachings follow the lives of her grandfather, Johann, and her father, Alex, who were both Nazi Concentration Camp survivors. Her father, Alex, survived the camps by hiding under a pile of dead bodies in order to escape what would have been his final train to the gas chamber at the close of WWII. This fascinating conversation explores themes of strength, integrity, resilience and ambition.  About the Guest: Elke Babicki, M.Ed., R.C.C. has been a consultant and clinical counsellor in Toronto and Vancouver for over thirty years. Her workshops and sessions in Europe and Canada have helped thousands of people claim more power in their lives. In 2011, Elke received  the Women of Worth Leader of the Year Award for her work in supporting and inspiring women across the globe.  She lives by the ocean in West Vancouver with her husband, Matt, an engineer and inventor. Her book, Identity: From Holocaust to Hope, was published in Germany as Uebern Ozean in 2017 with great success. For more on Elke go to http://www.elkebabicki.com/ (www.elkebabicki.com) and http://www.historycollectives.com/ (www.historycollectives.com) About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Anna is back with a solo edit this week all around unworthiness — taking and addressing Instagram questions and comments, Anna talks about the ways in which we process our separate existence and fight for belonging, validation and acceptance.  Worthiness  How to feel worthy  Imposter Syndrome Consciousness and our core self Meeting our core human needs How to find belonging How to know acceptance  How to fit in  About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram UnapologeticStories.com Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna talks to publishing partner, Megan Williams, CEO of The Self Publishing Agency in Vancouver, BC about the ins and outs of the self-publishing industry, how to publish your story and how best to navigate the world of entrepreneurial authorship. The discussion is enriched with an open and honest dialogue between these two CEOs about their personal journeys with self-belief, tackling “hustle and flow” culture and pivoting/growing their storytelling businesses together.  Key points:  > How to self-publish a book  > How to become a bestseller  > How to be an author  > Trade publishing vs. Self Publishing  > Book marketing > Self-Belief > Personal Development  > Answering the call  About the Guest: Founder & CEO at The Self Publishing Agency Inc., Megan Williams and her team support indie authors in writing, publishing and marketing their books across North America. Their clients have been featured in The New York Times, The Globe and Mail, US Weekly, Vanity Fair and Global TV (to name a few). TSPA Authors frequent bestseller lists and “staff picks” at Chapters/Indigo. It’s TSPA’s innovative publishing model that got them to the finals of the Small Business BC Awards and have facilitated four TSPA authors to sign agreements with Film/TV producers. Megan Williams is the award-winning author of Our Interrupted Fairy Tale. She is also the co-author of two children's book with her award-winning, 13-year-old step-daughter, Madison. Company TSPA bio:  Based in Vancouver, Canada, The Self Publishing Agency Inc. is the country’s premier indie-publishing house, serving authors around the world. Turning writers into authors, books into bestsellers and stories into screenplays, The Self Publishing Agency Inc. professionally publishes titles of all genres, in all markets. TSPA titles often go on to become national bestsellers, award winners and have their books optioned for tv/movies. Social:  @TheSelfPublishingAgency  @MeganDubs  About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram  UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this edit, Anna speaks to Katie Jameson, blogger and rising instagram star whose journey with storytelling began when she lost her firstborn son mere weeks after his arrival. Katie shares her grief experience—from the mundane to the profound—and helps us to better understand the ways we can really show up and see people in their joy, in their sorrow, in their sadness, and even in their anger. This is a can’t-miss, must-listen, ground-breaking edit that teaches us all how to wear our hearts (and our pins) on our sleeves.  About the Guest: Katie Jameson lives with a broken heart. As a bereaved mother, she writes about the true nature of living with the loss of a child, and how to find unique and profound ways to weave sorrow and joy together. Each day her family builds a new type of life with so much love while cherishing the quiet moments. Katie is a family photographer and writer. She spends her time capturing memories for other families; a gift she happily gives knowing how meaningful ordinary moments truly are. Katie also creates grieving gifts, which are tangible way for those that have experienced loss to wear your heart on your sleeve and have your pain recognized, without having to say anything at all.  http://www.katiejameson.ca/ (www.katiejameson.ca) IG: @katie jameson About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram UnapologeticStories.com Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.   Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories Podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this edit? Leave a comment in the section below! Follow the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast edits, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!    

On this edit, Anna speaks to Nira Arora, host of Virgin Radio’s Morning Show, “Jonny, Holly + Nira.” Nira shares with Anna about her journey this past year, from homeschooling to puppy-rescuing to amplifying melanated voices. Nira candidly opens up about her past experiences with racism and micro-aggressions and teaches us all how to be better consumers of information online. About the Guest:  Nira is a proud Island girl who grew up in Nanaimo and came to Vancouver for SFU and BCIT. Prior to joining Virgin Radio Vancouver, Nira was a host, reporter, writer, and producer for many different television shows and local magazines. She now has 20+ years of experience in the media world, 18 of those as a morning show host. Nira plays an active role in the community, volunteering her time for various charities and speaking events. Nira also keeps herself busy with freelance television and writes a column called Nira’s Hot List. Her and her husband Garry are proud parents to 2 boys and a girl, Shae, Aavi and Jaya, plus their adopted pup Sushi. Nira has a major love for: her Indian heritage, scary movies, vampire shows, spiritual healing books, impromptu living room dance parties, recreational sports, spicy food and red wine. Her personal mantra is ‘Work Hard. Play Hard. Give Back.’ Social Media @niraarora Options Community Services Campaign link: womenofop.ons.ca/niraarora About the Host: About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram UnapologeticStories.com Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.    Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Follow the podcast  If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can follow the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also follow in your favourite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review  Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

On this Edit, Anna talks to Jessika Houston of Glitter N’ Grace Coaching all about her new ‘tiny home’ - a 400 square-foot dream-home she built during Covid to downsize her belongings, realign with herself and discover a whole new set of priorities. This edit is packed with wisdom from ‘how to start a new chapter of your life’ to ‘how to cut down on your stuff and live a more minimalist life.’ Jessika also talks to us about the challenges she has faced living ‘tiny’ and about her all-new coaching program.   About the Guest: Jessika is a Life Coach with Glitter N' Grace Life Coaching who works with women as they are re-establishing who they are and who they want to be for their next chapter in their lives. Having gone through many challenges and transitions in her own life, Jessika uses her lived experiences in conjunction with her certification to support her clients to find their inner sparkle again and to do so with grace and self-love. Additionally, Jessika is the Lead Program Facilitator for Surrey Shares, a program focused on supporting seniors through life skills and storytelling. In her spare time, Jessika loves to travel, enjoys blogging about her tiny home journey and is currently collaborating with 20 women to write an anthology. About the Host:  @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram UnapologeticStories.com Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.    Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast  If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favourite podcast app.   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review  Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

On this Edit, Anna welcomes Taraneh Erfan King, author, speaker + counsellor. Tareneh, a recent Unapologetic Speaker Program graduate recently released her first book, Conscious Grieving: The Path of Awakening Through Loss, with The Self Publishing Agency. She has travelled the world, from her birthplace of Iran to Canadian soil as an 12-year immigrant, to the edge of the amazon in Guyana for an international AIDs mission at 19, and to the paediatrics wing of a cancer hospital in Tanzania with a local NGO. More importantly, she has travelled the road of grief - as a witness, as a ward and as a writer - and has discovered the key to living in awareness with our human feelings and in alignment with our spirit. This episode is packed with advice, wisdom and spirit-led a-ha’s and is sure to leave you feeling enlightened, awakened, affirmed and heavenly…No one talks grief quite like Taraneh! About the Guest:  Taraneh Erfan King is a writer, educator and registered counsellor whose purpose is to offer the safety of a conscious space for those who are longing for peace and clarity. Her work is informed by her deep passion to create opportunities for inward development, and purpose-led transformation. In her private practice and workshops, Taraneh focuses on supporting individuals and teams in cultivating deep awareness, and creating conscious connections which lead to powerful ripples of healing and joy in all areas of their lives. Taraneh is a published author of the book “Conscious Grieving: The Path of Awakening Through Loss”, she speaks and teaches on topics such as mental health, holistic wellness, self and community care, grief and loss and conscious leadership. mindonspirit.com / @mindonspirit Episode About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram UnapologeticStories.com  Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage.  Thanks for listening!  Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.  Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!  Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favourite podcast app.

On this Edit, Anna talks to Mike Johnson, Bachelor Nation fan favourite and - more importantly - bestselling author of the book, Making The Love You Want, published by The Self Publishing Agency in Vancouver, BC, which details Mike’s personal journey to self-love and digs into his painful past to see his path to greater purpose. Mike and Anna talk all about the recent Chris Harrison controversy in Bachelor Nation, how those with platforms can become more conscious influencers, how shame around sex is perpetuated online and offline, the importance of speaking up about mental health, and SO much more. We even get a visit from Mike’s roommate, Connor, who explains what it’s like to live with Mike and what he’s looking for in a future partner…and Mike shares advice for Anna’s daughters about navigating life on social media. About the Guest: Surviving Reality-TV fame, a deployment with the military and countless challenges throughout his life and career, Mike now writes and speaks on how the ability to overcome stems from the power within. With his focus on self-love, the breakout star from ABC's The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise is transforming audiences by showcasing his global influence through brave storytelling and big smiles. Find Mike on Instagram and Facebook at: @mike_johnson + @talkingitoutbn About the Host: https://my.captivate.fm/www.instagram.com/@unapologeticanna (@unapologeticanna) on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe to your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. 

On this Edit, Anna talks to Kasha Mitton and Maggie Aynsley, owners of the MASH Movement, an organization centred around raising funds for Duchenne’s Muscular Dystrophy through the pillars of Movement, Awareness, Service and Health. After the devastating and rare diagnosis Kasha’s family received for her son, Jude, these two powerful women mashed their skills, talents and passions together to begin an advocacy campaign not just for Duchenne’s but for all those who feel alone or lost when faced with life’s biggest challenges. Maggie and Kasha help us to discover our own personal resiliency and cultivate empathy for one another through the sharing of hard truths and Kasha helps us all better understand how to support grieving families as they make their way through the ‘hot soup’ of a rare diagnosis.  About the Guest: Alone they are Maggie and Kasha, together they are the MASH movement. Mashing over 35 years of combined experience in education, healthcare, fitness, and community work, as moms, wives, speakers, authors and change-makers. The MASH stands for movement, awareness, service and health. These core values are the drivers of their social platform and international fundraising events. They aim to help end Duchenne, a rare and fatal neuromuscular disease handed to Kasha’s son. They have inspired people across the globe to move for those who can’t while building a community that helps others physically, mentally and emotionally along the way. They go beyond just connecting people through physical movement, they work to advocate for the social inequities that exist in the arena of rare disease and disability. They believe in hope, not just for those suffering from Duchenne but for anyone who has lost the belief in possibility.  Find them on Instagram and Facebook at @themashmovement  Also mentioned in this edit: Jesse’s Journey (Instagram: @jesses_journey | Website: http://www.jessesjourney.com (www.jessesjourney.com))   About the Host:  https://my.captivate.fm/www.instagram.com/@unapologeticanna (@unapologeticanna) on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.  Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!  Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.

On this Edit, Anna talks to Chervelle Camille, a writer, yoga teacher and meditation facilitator with a serious crush on nature and some serious boundaries around social media. Chervelle shares her wisdom around self-care, rest, authenticity, accessibility, facing fear, returning to nature after reaching her personal rock-bottom, and creating content for social media that has true depth and a real heartbeat. Does social media bring us together? Does it tear us apart? Chervelle lays down the truth for us this week, supporting the bigger conversation about community wellbeing and - most importantly - the wellbeing of black womxn who must also navigate the burden of expectations online. Chervelle is also the curator of Unrre - a new platform for meaningful media rooted in honouring stories that connect. About the Guest: Chervelle is a teacher of slow and yin yoga, mindfulness facilitator, and writer. She is the founder of Unrre, a new online platform that is rooted in honouring stories that connect. After studying interior design, and a career as a wedding and events coordinator, as well as a wardrobe stylist for editorials, Chervelle took a much-needed pause to seek the answers for the importance of mental well-being. Which all begins with self-love. Once we have a great love for ourselves, everything else finds its roots from there. Chervelle life mission statement is to inspire and bring out beauty from the deepest heart of the soul. If she is not outdoors exploring the wilderness and receiving healing from the trees, streams, and all that nature provides, Chervelle can be found at home with a good book, unwinding with a comedic show, or in good company of another. Find on Instagram at @chervelle.camille | @un.rre About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. 

By popular audience demand, Anna is back with another solo episode - this time, explaining how she survived the experience of anxiety and fear by embracing fear as a friend rather than an enemy.  On this edit, Anna explains how she dealt with pushback around this unconventional opinion (and how she was almost pushed off a stage for it). She also tells us how Elizabeth Gilbert and her book, Big Magic, actually changed her life and allowed her to finally build a life she was proud of.  About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week’s episode, Anna talks to Jourdane Lal, sister of the sole target of the infamous 2007 “Surrey Six Murders”, Corey Lal, in her first-ever public interview since the crime. Jourdane talks about navigating the shame surrounding the “Lal” name, the trauma of losing her only two brothers and the debilitating grief that has followed her through her life…and through the trial. We also learn about her new book and the ways in which she is rebuilding her life and legacy for her three children, and what she has to say to the families of the other victims. About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week’s episode, Anna welcomes back two of the original cast members from Season One: Unapologetic Speaker Graduates, Melanie Dawn and Kathy Buchanan. We talk about the struggle to reconnect with friends and colleagues during Covid, and how to navigate the changes and tensions in all of our relationships due to the pandemic. About the Guests: Kathy Buchanan: Company: Balancing Energy Instagram: @balancingenergy.be Melanie Dawn: Company: Melanie Dawn Coaching Instagram: @melaniedawncoaching About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts Review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

On this week’s episode, host Anna Mullens greets you on her own for the very first time, giving you a sneak peek into the new Unapologetic Stories podcast, and a behind-the-scenes look at all the many changes to the Unapologetic platform in 2020…and all the big lessons that will shape the new wave of unapologetic storytelling. About the Host: @unapologeticanna on FB and Instagram http://unapologeticstories.com/ (UnapologeticStories.com) Anna was born with a deep fascination for letters - a fascination that deepened when she discovered those letters could turn into words, those words into sentences and those sentences into stories. Not surprisingly, Anna graduated from The University of Victoria, with a Degree in both English and Gender Studies, fuelling her eventual mission to put the power of words back into the hands of women. Despite multiple other certifications along the way, including one with world-renowned author and personal transformation pioneer, Deepak Chopra, it was ultimately her personal battle with post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety that became the catalyst for the work she does now, as she helps pave the way for others to live with vulnerability and courage whether they are online, offline or on stage. Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to the Unapologetic Stories podcast! If you enjoyed this edit and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or in your favourite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews mean everything to us. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which brings these important stories to more awesome listeners like you. Your time to leave a review on Apple Podcasts is greatly appreciated!

Episode #24   Title: How To Stay Connected During COVID-19   Our Bio:   Nothing connects us faster than being Unapologetically real. Meaning, NOTHING is off limits in this unconventional, conversational girl talk style cast. You will be shown the “HOW TO's” on everything unapologetic, which means we will flip the switch on traditional thinking and unravel the stories that have held women back.   You will be introduced to a community of women speakers, coaches and facilitators repped by the Unapologetic Connections Speaker Agency, in ways you have NEVER heard them before. Topics will span sex, relationships, business, friendship, celebrities, travel, grief, love, loss and so much more.   As Unapologetic Speaker Graduates working the speaker circuit and performing live together, we have been through the trenches with one another, sharing innermost secrets, darkest hours, and greatest joys. That means YOU ALWAYS skip the small talk and get real with this community of badass wise women, who are bonded more than super glue and have one totally unapologetic goal in mind: get real, get to the truth and tell it exactly like it is.   Because connection is everything.   Website: www.unapologeticconnections.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/unapologeticconnectionspodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/unapologeticconnections   Speakers on this episode include:   Anna Mullens https://www.unapologeticallyher.com   Hayley Loewen https://www.hayleyloewen.com   Thanks for listening! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation with us, head on over to www.unapologeticconnections.com.  With this podcast, we are building a community of Wise Women that we hope to inspire to create a future where we are encouraged to align with our individual truths. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us a review We appreciate every bit of feedback to make this a value adding part of your day. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes goes a long way! Thank You!!

Episode #20 Anna introduces the topic “How to Speak Up For Yourself. Anna truly is the best person to be leading this conversation as she is not only a public speaker, but a tireless advocate for courageous vulnerability in service to deeper connection. But speaking up can often be the most difficult thing to do (even for Anna!) because there is no guarantee that we are going to get the result we are looking for, and that can be really scary. To say it made us a little uncomfortable to talk about our own fear of speaking up might be an understatement... this is a tough one - even for the Unapologetic crew! Head over to iTunes or Spotify to subscribe. And follow along with Anna Unapologetically HER Our Bio:   Nothing connects us faster than being Unapologetically real. Meaning, NOTHING is off limits in this unconventional, conversational girl talk style cast. You will be shown the “HOW TO's” on everything unapologetic, which means we will flip the switch on traditional thinking and unravel the stories that have held women back.   You will be introduced to a community of women speakers, coaches and facilitators repped by the Unapologetic Connections Speaker Agency, in ways you have NEVER heard them before. Topics will span sex, relationships, business, friendship, celebrities, travel, grief, love, loss and so much more.   As Unapologetic Speaker Graduates working the speaker circuit and performing live together, we have been through the trenches with one another, sharing innermost secrets, darkest hours, and greatest joys. That means YOU ALWAYS skip the small talk and get real with this community of badass wise women, who are bonded more than super glue and have one totally unapologetic goal in mind: get real, get to the truth and tell it exactly like it is.   Because connection is everything.   Website: www.unapologeticconnections.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/unapologeticconnectionspodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/unapologeticconnections   Speakers on this episode include:   Jessika Houston https://www.glitterngrace.com   Ashley McIver https://ashleymciver.com   Anna Mullens https://www.unapologeticallyher.com   Thanks for listening! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation with us, head on over to www.unapologeticconnections.com.  With this podcast, we are building a community of Wise Women that we hope to inspire to create a future where we are encouraged to align with our individual truths. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us a review We appreciate every bit of feedback to make this a value adding part of your day. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes goes a long way! Thank You!!

Episode #19 Melanie Dawn of Blyss Coaching leads the conversation around “How to Manage Mom Guilt.” Joining the podcast is Lisa Borman. Lisa was one of the most recent graduates from the Unapologetic Speaker Training Program. All being Speaker Training Graduates – we are so excited for the next round of Unapologetic Speakers to take the stage. Training for the next 6 week program starts on April 9/2020. If you have any questions regarding the program please visit A N N A for full event details. Or email unapologeticanna@gmail.com. Momming is hard. And lonely. And so thankless some days. We all put so much pressure on ourselves to be the perfect mom. Let’s face it, there is no such thing as a perfect mom. We ALL do the best we can with what we have. And after chatting about mom guilt we all realized that we are not alone in any these thoughts or feelings. Listen in this week and see if anything that we talked about resonates with you. Let’s open the dialogue with each other so we can openly share the beauty and the struggles of motherhood. Our Bio:   Nothing connects us faster than being Unapologetically real. Meaning, NOTHING is off limits in this unconventional, conversational girl talk style cast. You will be shown the “HOW TO's” on everything unapologetic, which means we will flip the switch on traditional thinking and unravel the stories that have held women back.   You will be introduced to a community of women speakers, coaches and facilitators repped by the Unapologetic Connections Speaker Agency, in ways you have NEVER heard them before. Topics will span sex, relationships, business, friendship, celebrities, travel, grief, love, loss and so much more.   As Unapologetic Speaker Graduates working the speaker circuit and performing live together, we have been through the trenches with one another, sharing innermost secrets, darkest hours, and greatest joys. That means YOU ALWAYS skip the small talk and get real with this community of badass wise women, who are bonded more than super glue and have one totally unapologetic goal in mind: get real, get to the truth and tell it exactly like it is.   Because connection is everything.   Website: www.unapologeticconnections.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/unapologeticconnectionspodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/unapologeticconnections   Speakers on this episode include:   Jessika Houston https://www.glitterngrace.com   Ashley McIver https://ashleymciver.com   Anna Mullens https://www.unapologeticallyher.com   Thanks for listening! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation with us, head on over to www.unapologeticconnections.com.  With this podcast, we are building a community of Wise Women that we hope to inspire to create a future where we are encouraged to align with our individual truths. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us a review We appreciate every bit of feedback to make this a value adding part of your day. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes goes a long way! Thank You!!

Jessika Houston of Glitter N' Grace Life Coaching leads the conversation around “How to add more adventure into your life”. As an avid adventure seeker herself, Jessika starts the conversation around what ‘Adventure’ means to each of us and what steps we can take to create more adventure in our lives. For many of us, life becomes pretty routine. Get up, get ready for work, go to work, come home, make dinner, take kids to activities, get ready for bed and repeat (with some variation of course!). Adding some adventure into your life creates variety, excitement and personal growth!! It can be something small like trying a new recipe or driving somewhere you haven’t been before, or something big like taking a trip alone or starting a new career. Listen in this week to see how you can start increasing the adventure in your life!! Our Bio:   Nothing connects us faster than being Unapologetically real. Meaning, NOTHING is off limits in this unconventional, conversational girl talk style cast. You will be shown the “HOW TO's” on everything unapologetic, which means we will flip the switch on traditional thinking and unravel the stories that have held women back.   You will be introduced to a community of women speakers, coaches and facilitators repped by the Unapologetic Connections Speaker Agency, in ways you have NEVER heard them before. Topics will span sex, relationships, business, friendship, celebrities, travel, grief, love, loss and so much more.   As Unapologetic Speaker Graduates working the speaker circuit and performing live together, we have been through the trenches with one another, sharing innermost secrets, darkest hours, and greatest joys. That means YOU ALWAYS skip the small talk and get real with this community of badass wise women, who are bonded more than super glue and have one totally unapologetic goal in mind: get real, get to the truth and tell it exactly like it is.   Because connection is everything.   Website: www.unapologeticconnections.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/unapologeticconnectionspodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/unapologeticconnections   Speakers on this episode include:   Jessika Houston https://www.glitterngrace.com   Hayley Loewen https://www.hayleyloewen.com   Melanie Dawn https://www.blysscoaching.com   Kathy Buchanan https://www.balancingenergy.ca   Thanks for listening! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation with us, head on over to www.unapologeticconnections.com.  With this podcast, we are building a community of Wise Women that we hope to inspire to create a future where we are encouraged to align with our individual truths. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us a review We appreciate every bit of feedback to make this a value adding part of your day. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes goes a long way! Thank You!!

Body shaming is an epidemic. As a culture, we are simple obsessed with size. Particularly when it comes to women’s bodies.From the early days when rounder ‘fertile’ bodies were more revered, to the flat-flapper twenties, the curvy fifties and sixties, the twiggy seventies, the waif-like nineties, and the athletic two-thousands, there has yet to be time in modern history that women haven’t been dictated to in some form or another.   There has yet to be a time when women aren't being "explained" through media portrayals and social culture.And no body is winning, because the target is ever-shifting. It’s no wonder the majority of women are struggling to find their way and feel worthy, constantly being held in comparison to warped, photoshopped, idealistic images portrayed in media all over the world, that continuously represent less than 2% of the female population at any given time (a two-percent who is, as well, being photoshopped even further so even they can’t live up to the ideal). Is the world changing? In small parts, yes. Thanks to major media role models like @thebirdspapaya, who we are welcoming to the @unapologeticallyhershow stage in March, but we still have a long way to go to find our way through the filters and back to each other.   Anna and the ladies get super personal about body shame, talking about the ways in which women of all sizes are struggling... and attempting to create a new dialogue by bringing the shame out from behind change-room doors. We talk media literacy, personal challenges and - as always - we do our very best to stay courageous in the face of some very hard conversations.   Our Bio:   Nothing connects us faster than being Unapologetically real. Meaning, NOTHING is off limits in this unconventional, conversational girl talk style cast. You will be shown the “HOW TO's” on everything unapologetic, which means we will flip the switch on traditional thinking and unravel the stories that have held women back.   You will be introduced to a community of women speakers, coaches and facilitators repped by the Unapologetic Connections Speaker Agency, in ways you have NEVER heard them before. Topics will span sex, relationships, business, friendship, celebrities, travel, grief, love, loss and so much more.   As Unapologetic Speaker Graduates working the speaker circuit and performing live together, we have been through the trenches with one another, sharing innermost secrets, darkest hours, and greatest joys. That means YOU ALWAYS skip the small talk and get real with this community of badass wise women, who are bonded more than super glue and have one totally unapologetic goal in mind: get real, get to the truth and tell it exactly like it is.   Because connection is everything.   Website: www.unapologeticconnections.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/unapologeticconnectionspodcast Instagram: www.instagram.com/unapologeticconnections   Speakers on this episode include:   Ashley McIver https://ashleymciver.com   Anna Mullens https://www.unapologeticallyher.com   Katherine Buchanan https://balancingenergy.ca   Melanie Dawn https://blysscoaching.com   Thanks for listening! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation with us, head on over to www.unapologeticconnections.com.  With this podcast, we are building a community of Wise Women that we hope to inspire to create a future where we are encouraged to align with our individual truths. If you know somebody who would benefit from this message, or would be an awesome addition to our community, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a note in the comment section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe on the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave us a review We appreciate every bit of feedback to make this a value adding part of your day. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes goes a long way! Thank You!!