Podcasts about Vancouver Island

Jenny Palmer is a Vancouver-born artist and potter based on Vancouver Island. An Emily Carr graduate (BFA, 2008) in Photography, Jenny spent years working her way through breweries and children's art studios before running a home-based childcare program. In 2019, she discovered clay and began exploring pottery as a creative outlet in the evenings. When Covid hit, the world slowed down and that pause helped push Jenny to grow her late night pottery hobby into something bigger. Working from her cozy home studio, she creates vibrant, textural, functional stoneware that brings color, warmth, and joy to everyday life, reflecting her love of process, play, and the beauty of handmade craft. https://ThePottersCast.com/1184

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Thomas Sewid, a renowned Sasquatch investigator and proud member of the Kwakwaka'wakw First Nation from northeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. With decades spent as a commercial fisherman navigating the rugged, isolated waters of the Broughton Archipelago, Thomas has forged a unique bond with the wild—leading to multiple personal encounters with the elusive Sasquatch, known in his tribal traditions as Dzoonakwa, a revered crest symbolizing strength and mystery.Thomas is the driving force behind the thriving Sasquatch Island community—a vibrant Facebook group and YouTube channel where he shares Indigenous perspectives on Bigfoot, blending ancient oral histories from Potlatch ceremonies with modern research. As a half-Cree descendant and former Chairman of Aboriginal Tourism British Columbia, he draws on his deep cultural roots and bushman expertise to educate enthusiasts worldwide. From guiding immersive Sasquatch expeditions along coastal beaches and estuaries to authoring Sasquatch Island Magazine—a treasure trove of factual research, eyewitness accounts, and referenced lore—Thomas challenges us to rethink the "wild man" not as a monster, but as a migratory guardian of the Pacific Northwest.Join us as Thomas recounts spine-tingling close encounters, reveals ethical ways to connect with these relict hominoids. Connect with Thomas Sewid:  - Facebook: Sasquatch Island Group  - Website: sasquatchisland.com  - Email: tom.sewid@gmail.com- YouTube: ​⁠ We are thrilled to announce the official launch of Let's Get Freaky merchandise! Our collection includes hoodies, t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and more. Explore the full range at http://tee.pub/lic/aQprv54kktw.Do you have a paranormal or extraordinary experience to share? We'd love to hear from you! Contact us to be a guest on the Let's Get Freaky podcast. Email us at letsgetfreakypodcast@mail.com or reach out via social media on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, or YouTube at @tcletsgetfreakypodcast. Connect with us at https://linktr.ee/letsgetfreaky.Psst! The Folium Diary has something it wants to tell you - please come a little closer...YOU can change the world - you do it every day. Let's change it for the better, together.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Burnout shows up quietly, and in this conversation, I think you will hear just how deeply it can shape a life. When I sat down with Kassandra Hamilton, she opened up about building a meaningful career in global and Indigenous health while struggling with exhaustion, anxiety, and the pressure to look like everything was fine. Her turning point came when she finally stopped long enough to ask what she truly needed. Kassandra talks about people pleasing, giving her power away, and the inside out process she now teaches to help others realign their lives. We walk through the RAIN method, the importance of boundaries, and the small daily choices that help you rebuild trust in yourself. My hope is that you walk away feeling grounded, encouraged, and ready to take one step toward a more aligned and Unstoppable life. Highlights: 01:12 – Learn how early purpose can quietly shape the path you follow. 02:51 – See how a wider view of global health reveals what truly drives burnout. 06:56 – Understand how systems and technology can add pressure when they overlook human needs. 12:50 – Learn how hidden emotions can surface when you slow down and pay attention. 17:37 – Explore how reclaiming your power shifts the way you respond to stress. 24:23 – Discover how emotional regulation tools help you move through difficult moments. 41:18 – Learn how small, steady changes rebuild energy and direction. 47:36 – Understand why real burnout recovery starts with alignment, not escape. About the Guest: Kassandra Hamilton is an alignment life coach, bestselling author in 3 categories, musician, healer, and facilitator.  She is dedicated to helping others find inner alignment and live from the inside out, rather than in a burnout state or in autopilot mode. After completing a degree in biology and international development, and then completing a Masters of Science, she wanted to pursue a career in medicine.  She has always wanted to be of service to others, and as a child she literally had dreams of holding her hands towards people and visualizing light being sent to them. only way it made sense in terms of a traditional career trajectory while she was in school was to pursue medicine.  After completing her Masters degree, she decided to work alongside doctors to see what their day to day was like and how they were creating a positive impact in their communities.  What she actually saw was a lot of burnout, paperwork, and dissatisfied lives of people that were once passionate about medicine. She was working for Doctors of BC in Vancouver, with a high end office and apartment, when she collapsed one day in her apartment from an overwhelming sense of anxiety, burnout and grief.  She had lost her dog, her boyfriend, and both her grandparents all within three months.  On top of that, she was in a career that looked good on paper, but wasn't actually fulfilling her purpose of being of service to others. She no longer wanted to pursue medicine and didn't know how she got to a dead end if she had followed all the “right” steps according to society's blueprint for success. She spent the next few years really learning about her inner world and what her purpose in life was. She became dedicated to her own healing and coping with anxiety and burnout.  For the next decade, she began working with First Nations across Canada. She witnessed and learned about the importance of looking at the whole person, from a spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical lens.  Everything seemed to be connected.  As someone with a science background, she had always been fascinated with the intricacies and magical elements of everything that comes together in one singular cell.  Our emotions are energy in motion, and if they don't move through, they get stuck.  We decide if we allow our emotions to flow or not.  Kassandra also realized how powerful our minds are.  With one thought, we create a story.  That story becomes our reality.  With all of these realizations, she came to understand that we are literally magicians of our own realities. Kassandra has learned and experienced, time and time again, that health and happiness stems from our internal world first and is a combination of our mental, spiritual, physical, and emotional realms.  Once we deal with our inner worlds and live in state of awareness over how we are operating in the world, we can project that version of ourselves out into the world to create positive change.  In a world that constantly pulls us outward - with notifications, expectations, distractions “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” is about bringing us back home to ourselves.  Through deeply personal storytelling, scientific insights, and soul-centres practiced, Kassandra invites readers to reconnect with their inner compass.  This is a guidebook for anyone longing to move from autopilot to alignment and discovering what it truly means to live with intention, purpose, and clarity. Because the answers aren't out there, they HAVE to start from within.  We weren't meant to just get through the day. It is exhausting trying to fix and control everything “OUT THERE.” And the thing is, we have no control over what's happening out there anyways, We were meant to thrive and share our gifts with the world.  This is how positive ripple effects are made.  This is Kassandra plans to leave the world a better place, and support others to do the same.   With the external chaos, political mess, climate change, and growing tensions worldwide, She decided it was time to start creating some positive changes. She now has started a coaching practice committed to sharing her work with others, and her book compliments her work, outlining a 4-phase approach to moving from anxiety, fear, burnout, to living in alignment and inner power.  After a very successful book tour showcasing her bestseller (in 3 categories) “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” – she is going on tour.  But this isn't just any book tour – it is centred around creating community connections.  She will be doing wellness workshops and talks in local libraries, bookstores, and wellness venues around burnout prevention, boundaries, resilience, and authentic leadership, leveraging my book as a tool for this. She is currently in the planning stages and open to support in making this happen. Kassandra is dedicated to sharing stories that inspire personal development and growth. She brings a unique perspective to storytelling, blending data-driven insights with narrative. With years of experience in health information management projects with First Nations communities in Canada, she has become fascinated with the power of sharing compelling stories through complex qualitative data.  Her book is titled “The Magic of Realigning From the Inside Out” and is now available on Amazon and 50+ more platforms. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, dancing, hiking, paddleboarding, and putting on community events that promote inner healing and connection.  She also provides sound healing sessions, Ayurvedic Head Massage, and Bio-Energy Healing sessions at a local wellness establishment in her community.  She volunteers at Connective Society as a restorative justice mentor for youth who are struggling with a lack of leadership or role models in their life. Lastly, Kassandra is a singer/songwriter and a musician.  You can find her playing at local open mics, hosting backyard community jam sessions, or at gigs around Vancouver Island. She put out an EP under the artist name “Kazz” in 2018 called “Reflections” and has released 4 singles under this title since.  This year (2025), she started a new collaborative label with her partner who is a music producer, and they have released two songs under the artist name “Cyphyr & Myraky.” Her mission is this: So many people believe the answers are "out there" and feel helpless in the current state of the world environmentally, politically, economically etc. Instead of feeling helpless, paralyzed by fear, or living under the influence of external circumstance and chaos, we can create real change by first realigning from the inside out to reconnect with our inner power and creativity. Imagine a world where people took responsibility for their life, knew their purpose, and felt like they were living life in full alignment with this.  Imagine what our communities would look like then? Above all else, Kassandra wants to inspire others to create positive ripple effects out into the world.  Ways to connect with Kassandra**:** Instagram: @kassandra hamilton  Facebook: Coaching with Kassandra TikTok: coachingwithkassandra LinkedIn: Kassandra Hamilton Website: www.kassandrahamilton.com Linktree with all my info: https://linktr.ee/kassandra.hamilton Spotify: Under name "Kazz": https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gpUecr9VkVJMmVIyp1NFt?si=byM7VdL9QDeezl5-666XKQ&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=9a801d5edc774e1d Under name "Cyphyr & Myraky" - new collaborative label https://open.spotify.com/artist/3xUxZGxTseXQB2G9PVolMn?si=In3BLhX3SMK_c-3ukTlCfQ&utm_medium=share&utm_source=linktree&nd=1&dlsi=d369f571e6384062 Amazon Link to Book: https://a.co/d/2yWISSu Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDKW9ZNrsvA Rogers TV Community News Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0eOnQ2DAdg Nanaimo News Bulletin Story: https://www.nanaimobulletin.com/local-news/nanaimo-health-and-life-coachs-new-book-guides-inner-alignment-8182386 About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ 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 subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset . 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. Transcription Notes: Michael Hingson  00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. Michael Hingson  01:21 Well, hi everyone. I want to welcome you to another episode of unstoppable mindset. We're really glad that you're here with us today. Our guest today is Kassandra Hamilton, from up in British Columbia, way, and she has, I think, a lot to talk about. She's a coach. She talks about burnout and but also about her many talents. She sings, she's a musician, and on top of everything else, she's an author, and she just wrote a book that has just come out. So we've got lots to talk about, or she has lots to talk about, and we'll talk about it with her. So, Kassandra, welcome to unstoppable mindset. We're glad you're here. Kassandra Hamilton  02:08 Thanks for having me, Michael. I'm really grateful to be here today. Michael Hingson  02:12 Well, I'm excited. There's obviously a lot to talk about, I think so. Tell us a little bit about the early Cassandra growing up, and all the usual things. You know, you got to start at the beginning somewhere, Kassandra Hamilton  02:22 absolutely, yeah, so as a kid, I mean, I've always been curious. My mom used to get very puzzled by me as a child, because I would always ask, like, who is God and how is the world made? And I just had all these questions. And it just never really stopped. When I was six, I had a vision of helping people and healing them with my hands, and I just saw this light between my hands and other people, and it was this recurring dream I kept having, and I didn't understand it in the practical sense. So I pursued a very traditional, you know, career in medicine, because that's what made sense to me, and the social conditions that we had in front of us, and that didn't really pan out for me. I just it wasn't resonating. I felt like the system was very rigid. And I just have always been fascinated with more of a holistic picture of someone you know, like their physical, emotional, spiritual selves, and so the just focusing on the physical alone just wasn't cutting it for me. I knew there was so much more, and I was so curious about all of that. So yeah, I've gone through different sort of journeys on my path, and come back to a place of really wanting to be of service and share some of the tools and strategies that I've learned along the way. Michael Hingson  03:47 Well, you started down the road of going into medicine, didn't you? Mm, hmm. And what was your master's in? Because I know you had your your master's degree, and then you started working with doctors. What did you get your master's degree in? Kassandra Hamilton  04:02 Yeah, so I completed a master's of science because it was in the stream of global health. And so I was really fascinated by the multifaceted aspect of that. And not just looking at physical impact in the world. We looked at, you know, political and economic, geographic indicators of health really gave me that sort of overall vision of what health looks like from from that bird's eye view. And then I wanted to pursue medicine after that, because, again, I wanted to be of service to others, but I ended up working with doctors to see if that's actually what I wanted to do, and I just saw the amount of burnout that doctors were experiencing and how 80% of their workload was paperwork. Michael Hingson  04:56 And so what did. You do. Kassandra Hamilton  05:02 So I left that work. I was there for two years, and it just I wasn't buying it. So I left. I started my own company as a consultant, and realized that a lot of the issues I was seeing abroad, I actually we had a lot of gaps here in Canada, especially with our indigenous communities, the disparities there were just huge, and so I focused my energy for the last decade on working with indigenous communities and unlearning a lot of sort of colonial ways of doing things and really integrating the holistic health model that is presented from from that culture that I was working with, and it's really, really been transformative and instrumental in the way that I approach health now, Michael Hingson  05:51 well, I'm curious about something sort of off the wall. I appreciate what you're saying about paperwork, and I'm sure there are all sorts of legalistic reasons why there has to be so much paperwork and so on in the medical world, especially when everybody's so concerned about things like malpractice and all that. But do you think any of that has gotten any better? Or how has it changed as we are progressing more to a paperless or different kind of charting system where everything is done from a computer terminal. I'm spoiled. My doctors are with Kaiser Permanente, and everything is all done on wireless, or at least on non paper chart. Types of things that they're just typing into the computer, actually, as as we're communicating and we're talking and I'm in visiting and so on, but everything is all done online. What do you think about that? Does that help any Kassandra Hamilton  06:53 so very great question. So when we're talking about accessibility, I'm going to say no, not for indigenous communities, at least here in Canada, I'll speak from my experience, but things have gone digital, and actually what I was doing was working as a digital health consultant to bridge health gaps in digital systems. Because what was happening and what still happens is there's systems that are quite siloed, and so a lot of health centers that are remote will be using paper still, or they'll be using system for that and another system for this. And so there's no wrap around, diligence around the client. And so there is this huge accessibility issue, which is what I've been working on for the last 10 years. Michael Hingson  07:41 Well, do you think that as well? Hopefully you'll see more paperless kinds of things go into play. But do you think in areas where the paper quantity has decreased, in the online or digital chart systems have come into play. Does that help burn out at all? Do you think again? Kassandra Hamilton  08:08 You know what? It really depends. Like you're you're only as good as your as your system allows, and so if you haven't allowed for inclusivity, and for example, a lot of the work that was funded in the first couple years that I was doing, there was no due diligence to figure out whether or not these remote areas even had internet. So without internet, they were pumping money into all of these systems that were super high tech, not culturally appropriate. A lot of elders don't even own a computer, let alone a smartphone or anything like that, or have service. So it was there was a huge disconnect there, and so part of the work I've been doing is a lot of advocacy and helping government agencies understand the connecting pieces that are are instrumental in the success of digital health implementation. Yeah, well, Michael Hingson  09:09 you know here, I know a fair amount about the whole digital chart system, because my sister in law was a critical care unit nurse at Kaiser, and then she managed several wards, and then she was tasked to be the head nurse for on the profit side, to help bring digital charts into Kaiser and and so I heard a lot about it from her and especially all the doctors who opposed it, just because they didn't want any change. They wanted to just do things the way that they had always done them. Yeah. And so the result is that they kind of got dragged kicking and screaming into it a little bit. But now I hear people mostly praising the whole system because it makes their job a lot easier. On the other hand, the other thing that happens, though, is they the system crams more patients into a doctor's appointment schedule every day, and so I'm not sure they're always seeing as much of patients as they should of any given patient, but I guess they have more doctors that specialize in different things. So no matter what happens, the doctors can all see whatever there is to see, because everything is in the chart, right? Kassandra Hamilton  10:41 And so Absolutely, in theory, and in urban areas where that works, you know, the digital systems are set up properly, absolutely. But in terms of going back to your question about burnout, if there's one nurse for one community, and she's a chart in five different, you know, systems that it's actually going to add to her burnout at the end of the day. Yeah? Michael Hingson  11:04 Well, yeah, and I appreciate that. I mean, so clearly, there's still quite a disparity, but it does, it does sound like in areas where they're able to truly bring digital charts and capturing information digitally into the system where, where that does exist, it can make people's lives, doctors, lives and so on, a little bit easier, and maybe contribute a little bit less to burnout. Kassandra Hamilton  11:34 Yeah, absolutely. And of course, that's the hope, and that's you know, why we continue to do the work to bring it into this, especially with AI too, like bringing more efficiency into the workplace, and it's all part of it. So yes, absolutely there's, there's definitely some, some hope, and some, you know, leaner, leaner ways of doing things for a lot of people. So yeah, yeah. Michael Hingson  12:01 I'll hope it will continue to get better, and that the influence will expand so that the more rural areas and so on will be able to get the kinds of things that the more urban areas have. Now I live in an area that's fairly urban, but we don't have a Kaiser hospital up here. We have clinics, but we don't have a hospital. And apparently there's now, finally some movement toward making that happen. But it's interesting, where we used to live, in Northern California. We lived in a very what was, although we weren't, but was a rich County, and there were 200,000 people or so in the county, and there was a Kaiser hospital in the county. There was a Kaiser hospital about 30 miles away in San Francisco, and there were Kaiser hospitals going north, 1520, miles further north, in Petaluma. So there are a lot of hospitals, but we are in an area where there are over 400,000 people now, and there isn't a Kaiser hospital here, and that just has always seemed kind of strange to me. And the response is, well, the doctors don't want to move up here. I mean, there are all sorts of different reasons that are given, but it just seems strange. So if you really need to go to the hospital, they do have contracts that sort of work sometimes, or you have to go about 50 miles to get to the nearest actual Kaiser hospital, right? So it's strange. Kassandra Hamilton  13:38 It is strange. And there's a lot of things. Who knows who made the last call on decision? Right? So, right, yeah. Michael Hingson  13:48 Well, again, so the rumor goes they're going to be building a hospital here, and I think that will be a good thing. So we'll see. We'll see how it goes. But you experienced burnout, Kassandra Hamilton  14:00 didn't you? I did? Yes, I tell us about that, if you would. Yeah, absolutely so when I was 27 and I went, that was Michael Hingson  14:13 last year, right? Kassandra Hamilton  14:14 Yes, thank you. It was 10 years ago, but on the outside, I was thriving. Michael, I was like, working for doctors of BC, I had an apartment on the ninth floor. I had an ocean view. I had the apartment downtown. I was, you know, dating. I was like, doing all these things. I was achieving, pushing and showing up. And inside I was running on empty, and I was very disconnected from my purpose, from myself, and that breakdown became eventually a breakthrough, but in the process, you know, I lost all my grandparents and my dog, and I didn't have tools for dealing with my anxiety. Yeah, and social media sort of just amplified that sort of comparative feeling, and I just started to slow down and like really realign, and I realized how many people were living on autopilot and surviving instead of thriving. And that's really when I wanted to become committed to helping others reclaim their purpose and their authenticity, and not just bounce back from burnout, but like rise into something greater, and like reconnect with themselves and their why of their purpose of being here. You know, Michael Hingson  15:33 yeah, because you you thought you were thriving, but you really weren't. Yeah, exactly which is, which is unfortunate, but still, those kinds of things happen. So what did you So, how did you go from experiencing burnout to moving forward and realigning? What? What did you learn? How did you discover it and what actually happened. Kassandra Hamilton  16:01 So I, you know, I, for a long time, went through my own inward journey. And I, you know, I went to counseling, I sought other ways of healing, through energy work, I tried all the different tools and modalities, and I realized over time, it meant flipping the script, and most of us live from the outside in, and we're chasing expectations and people pleasing, letting circumstances dictate our worth, and living from the inside out to me meant connecting with who I was and my values and and the truth of finding my like finding my purpose, and letting that be the driver, and that means having boundaries. It means speaking up when you're when you're scared or you have fear. I know you've done a lot of work with fear and how to leverage that for a more positive outcome, rather than letting it stop you. So in my life, that shift has really helped me stop outsourcing my power and allowed me to show up authentically in my work and my relationships and creativity, and that's where my freedom and vitality really lives, and I really want to share that with others. Michael Hingson  17:12 That's interesting. Way that you put it, you're outsourcing your power. What do you mean by that? Kassandra Hamilton  17:18 I was giving my power away. I was waiting for someone else to approve of something that I did. I was showcasing my, you know, achievements, and that was how I attached value to my identity and who I was. Michael Hingson  17:34 And of course, what that really meant is that you, as you said, it was all about people pleasing and so on. And how did you change all that? Kassandra Hamilton  17:43 It wasn't overnight, I'll bet it wasn't, yeah, and so I changed all that by getting curious and by going inside. And I have a four step process that I share in this book that I've now written. And the first step is to observe yourself, like, how are you showing up? What kind of patterns are coming up for you? And then starting to understand, like, why, where did those come from? And then starting to re tune that part of yourself, like, Okay, so that's how I'm showing up. How do I want to show up? And how can I change my patterns, and how I react to things, to do that, and that's how you start to, sort of like flip the narrative and limp from the inside out. Michael Hingson  18:26 How do people do that? Because we're, because we're, I think we're really trained to behave that way. We're we're trained to as, as you would put it, all too often, give your power away or outsource your power. And how do we change that mentality? Kassandra Hamilton  18:48 Yeah, well, we have to first observe ourselves. We have to look at, you know, how are boundaries being used in your life? Or are they even there? Are you showing up for yourself as much as you're showing up for other people? Are you being authentic in what really is, in alignment with your own values? Are you living on purpose? So these things are what we look at, and then I have tools and frameworks and questions to help people really start to observe themselves from an outside perspective and ask themselves, Is this really how I want to be living right now? Is this allowing me to live the life that I want? Michael Hingson  19:34 Yeah, and is it, is it helping me grow Exactly? And that's that's a lot of the issue that that we face. I know, in my my book live like a guide dog that wrote was published last year. We we talk a lot about the fact that people need to learn, or hopefully will learn, how to be much more introspective and. And analyze what they do every day, and really put that analysis to work, to to learn. What am I afraid of? What is going on? Why am I worried about this? Because I don't have any control over it and and people just don't grow up feeling that way, because we don't really teach people how to learn to control fear and how to be introspective, which is part of the problem, of course, right? Kassandra Hamilton  20:27 Or even how to manage our emotions, right? Like emotion is energy in motion, and if we do not allow it to move through us, it gets stuck, and it shows up in our bodies as a physical ailment, yeah. And that's the mind, body, spirit connection. That's why physical, mental, emotional health is so important to look at as as a whole, not just in silo. Michael Hingson  20:51 So how do you how do you teach people to take a different view than what we typically learned how to do well? Kassandra Hamilton  21:01 So once we've observed what people what people are, how they're operating, we then start to understand where it comes from. So a lot of people are programmed either by society or early childhood experiences, and then they are just operating on autopilot from those patterns. But they don't know that. So once you start like, awareness is everything, and once you see something, you can't unsee it. So at that point, it's like, okay, how can we move from this place to where you want to be? And so I have a lot of tools for understanding and processing your emotions in real time. I have tools for understanding and managing nervous like your nervous system, I look at it from a science and health background as well as a spiritual background. So it's like blending the tool to and understanding that healing isn't just physical and mindfulness and slowing down and journaling and just taking the time to actually try and understand yourself. Michael Hingson  22:03 So how has all of this changed how you live your life? Kassandra Hamilton  22:08 Well, I since I started operating in a different way, I bought a house. I bought another house, about another house, I, you know, wrote a book. I changed careers. I am coaching people now I'm just like really living in my element, in my my full purpose, which is have this written on my wall that I want to help others rediscover their magic, so we can all fly together. So it's really about spreading positive ripple effects in the world, you know, but starting at home and in our communities. And I believe that that inside out ripple effect is so much more powerful than anything we can do out there, Michael Hingson  22:56 just so that we get it out there. What's the title of the book? Kassandra Hamilton  22:59 It's called the magic of realigning from the inside out. Michael Hingson  23:04 Since we, we talked about it, I figured we better get the title out there. Yeah, thank you. And there is a picture of the book cover and so on in the show notes. But I just wanted to make sure that you, you did tell people the title. Well, tell me, is there an incident or a moment where you realize that your work could really create change in someone's life? Kassandra Hamilton  23:32 Yeah, you know, that's an interesting question. I've been asked that a few times, and the answer is that I just have a very strong morning practice where I journal. And throughout that journaling the last few years, I realized my process of integrating all of these tools and what it's done for me, and it just became like again, me observing myself through the pages and recognizing that I you know, it was my responsibility to share this, this work that I had done with other people, and not from a place of of ego, but really from that place of wanting to share stories and experiences in hopes that it will inspire others to, you know, take the time to Get curious and courageous about their own lives. Michael Hingson  24:22 Did you have any kind of an aha moment or a moment with anyone besides yourself that really caused you to realize, Oh, I'm really making a difference here. I'm really able to do this, and it makes a lot of sense to do what I'm doing. Kassandra Hamilton  24:38 Well, it's so funny, because informally, all of my friends will come to me for, you know, advice or coaching or reframing or whatever, and then eventually I was like, Man, I should get paid. And Michael Hingson  24:53 they're not your friends anymore, because now you're charging them, right? Kassandra Hamilton  24:58 So it's something that I've. Always really wanted to do, and I've always been fascinated by people and how their brains work, and what their resistance to change is, including my own. And yeah, I guess I just sort of had this moment a few years ago when I was like, I want to really focus my time on and energy to help other people have these moments of insight, or aha moments, or realizing they can pivot and actually start creating what they want in their lives. Michael Hingson  25:29 So what kind of tools do you use in your coaching process to help people do that? Kassandra Hamilton  25:34 Yeah, I lean on a lot of work from Gabor Mate and Deepak Chopra. I use tools that I've learned through Tara Brock. So my favorite tool, actually, that I, that I use, and I, I encourage people to try, is rain. And so if I could leave one sort of tool for people here today, it would be rain. And rain stands for recognize, acknowledge or accept, investigate, and then nourish. And so anytime people are in an activated emotional state or a negative emotion, they can sit away from their current situations, whether it's you go to the bathroom, or you sit alone for a few moments and you just recognize, okay, what is it that I'm feeling anxiety? Alright, we've named it. I recognize it. I'm accepting and acknowledging that I feel anxious. And then I is investigating, why do I feel anxious? What is the reason I feel anxious? And once you have figured out why, you can start to comfort yourself from a place of compassion, like it's okay to feel this way, you know Michael, like emotions are just children that want to be seen and heard, and the more you shove them down, the more chaos ensues. So when you comfort those emotions and you understand them, they move through you, naturally, emotion energy in motion. That's how we can assist ourselves in getting better at letting the emotions move through us. Michael Hingson  27:08 Yeah, and something that comes to mind along that that same line is the whole issue that you've already talked about, some which is talking about what what you feel, whoever you are, and be willing to express emotions, be willing to be honest with yourself and with other people. And again, I just think that we so often are taught not to do that. It's so unfortunate. Kassandra Hamilton  27:36 Absolutely, absolutely, we're not taught about anything. And I have a long list for the education curriculum, let me tell you, yeah, boundaries, you know, emotional regulation, emotional intelligence, yeah, reframing, Like there's just so many things, so many things. Michael Hingson  28:03 So you've, you've helped a lot of people, primarily, who do you do you coach? Who are your your typical clients? Or does it matter? Kassandra Hamilton  28:14 So I typically coach people between ages 25 to 40, but I actually recently had a senior reach out to me after she found an article in the paper, and so I'm not excluding people from who I work with, but generally speaking, that's sort of the age range is 25 to 45 people who maybe have reached a, you know, the career they thought they were always going to do and get there, and they're like, this, isn't it? This isn't it for me, I'm burnt out. I'm tired. It's not what I thought it was going to be. Or maybe they're in a relationship and they're stuck and feeling burnt out from that. So yeah, that's the age group that I work in. Because regardless of what issue you're working on, career, relationship, sense of self, these tools will help you pivot to really realign with your purpose. Michael Hingson  29:03 So how do you help people go from being stuck to realigning and empowered Kassandra Hamilton  29:10 through my four step process? So I don't want to give too much away, but people will just need to read the book to find out. Michael Hingson  29:19 Well, if you can describe maybe a little bit in general, just enough to Yeah. Kassandra Hamilton  29:24 So just like I was saying before, like first getting really clear on how people are operating, so that's the observed part, and then starting to understand themselves through the different patterns that are coming up on a weekly, daily basis. So it's a lot of investigating and getting data in the first couple weeks, and then after that, we start to understand how to rewire things through different tools that I introduce, and we do it in small, manageable steps. My coaching programs are either six weeks or two. 12 weeks long. And throughout that process, we try things, and everyone's different. So some tools stick, you know, more than others, and that's okay. I just have a the approach that I've moved them through, and by the end, people are having amazing experiences and feeling like it's life changing. And I have, you know, a lot of people reaching out with testimonials that I just, you know, really helped fuel me to continue this work. Michael Hingson  30:26 Have you done this at all with children? I Kassandra Hamilton  30:30 haven't, but it's so interesting that you asked that because I really love working with youth. I work in a restorative justice volunteer program here in my community, and it's all about providing mentorship and being a role model for for youth that have maybe lost their way. And that's definitely an area I'm curious about. It's funny that you mentioned that. Michael Hingson  30:55 Well, it just, you know, the the reality is that the earlier we can get people to think about this and change and go more toward the kind of processes that you promote, the better it would be. But I also realize that that's a it's a little bit different process with with youth, I'm sure, than it is with older, older people, adults and so on. But I was just curious if you had done any, or if you have any plans to maybe open any kind of programs more for youth to help them the same way, because clearly there are a lot of stuck youth out there. Kassandra Hamilton  31:37 Yeah, very much so. And to be honest, like with the amount of technology and information overload and state of the world, like the amount of overwhelm and anxiety among youth right now is just through the charts, yeah, yeah. So definitely something that's been on my mind, and I I'm very curious as to what sparked you to ask that, because it's definitely something I've been exploring so Michael Hingson  32:02 well, it just popped into my head that that's an interesting thing to think about. And I would also think that the earlier we can and in this case, you can, reach children, the more open they probably are to listening to suggestions if you can establish a rapport with them. The reality is that that at a younger age, they're not as locked in to ways of doing things as they might be later on, my wife was my late wife was a teacher for 10 years, then she loved teaching second and third graders, and she said even by the time you're getting to fourth graders, they're starting to be a little bit more rigid in their mindsets. And so the result was that it was harder sometimes to reach them. And I think that's true, and I and I know that everything I've ever read or heard younger the child, the more open they are, and the more they're able to learn. Like younger children are better able to learn more than one language and so on. And the earlier you can get to children, probably the better it would be all the way around. Kassandra Hamilton  33:19 Absolutely, absolutely, yeah, yeah, definitely, an avian Avenue. I've been curious and exploring myself. So, yeah, Michael Hingson  33:28 I wonder, I wonder what the techniques would be, because I'm sure that the techniques are going to be a little bit different than than what you face with older people, Kassandra Hamilton  33:37 not necessarily like I think at any age, it's good to learn about boundaries and why they're important and understanding what we think they are versus what they actually are. And same with, you know, seeking validation outside of ourselves. Like I don't think, I don't think it's quite I think it might be a little bit more stuck when we're older, but I don't think it's very different. Yeah, I guess it just depends. Just depends. Michael Hingson  34:07 Well, you talk a lot about boundaries, authenticity, authenticity and purpose. How does all that really go into your whole coaching program? Kassandra Hamilton  34:22 Sorry? In what sense, like, can you ask that it may be a different a different way? Michael Hingson  34:29 Well, um, you talk, you've you've mentioned boundaries a number of times, and authenticity and so on. So I'm just curious, how do they fit into what you do and what you want people to do okay? Kassandra Hamilton  34:41 So people will come to me and they're, you know, feeling burnt out. They're constantly on. They're juggling family relationships, digital overload. They don't have space to breathe, let alone, you know, connect with themselves. And underneath that, there's often a lot of people pleasing or fear. Not being enough or living by other people's expectations, and so so many of them are feeling exhausted, unfulfilled, lack of worth when they come to me and they're just like, I don't know what else to do. And often, a misconception about burnout is that you need to work harder for things to get better, or you just need a small break to reset, and then you're fine. But if we don't change anything in that, in the mind, in the mindset, then people are just going to go back to the way, the way they were. Michael Hingson  35:33 How would you really define burnout? Kassandra Hamilton  35:38 I would define burnout as people feeling helpless, feeling like they're living on autopilot, exhaustion, feeling like there's just so much to manage and they don't have the time or the energy again, feeling like they can't or don't know about boundaries, and yeah, they're unfulfilled. They're not feeling like themselves. And so what I would suggest for anyone who's feeling that way is one of the things you can do is just just pause, create a moment of space for yourself, even if it's just five minutes a day, ask yourself what you really need, and it sounds simple, but most of us are so disconnected or needs that we don't even ask the question. But that pauses our power. It can be the doorway to listening to yourself again, and from there, you can start making choices that really align with what you actually want? Michael Hingson  36:43 One of the things that I suggest, and we do it in live like a guide dog, and I suggest it to people whenever we get in these discussions, is, no matter what you say about not having time, you absolutely have time, especially worst case at the end of the day, when you're starting to fall asleep, take the time to analyze yourself, take the time to become more introspective, because you have that time because you're in bed for heaven's sake. So you're really not supposed to be doing anything else, or shouldn't, but it's a great time to start to think about yourself, and I think that's a great time to deal with all the things that you're talking about here as well. Kassandra Hamilton  37:20 Oh yeah, absolutely, yeah. And people have time for what they prioritize. That's that's the truth. And whether that's something people want to accept, it's absolutely the truth. You will make time for the things that are important to you. Michael Hingson  37:35 Yeah, well, and that's what it really comes down to does, isn't it that you're always going to make time for the things that you find are important to you, and the reality is that you'll be able to progress when you discover that some of the things that are important to you are the kinds of things that we're talking about here that will avoid burnout or get you away From that absolutely we just have to really neck us back to boundaries and authenticity and purpose. It just gets back to knowing what you really need, and ultimately, no one can know that better than you about yourself. Kassandra Hamilton  38:16 Absolutely, we have to reconnect to what matters and build the life that gives energy instead of only draining it. Michael Hingson  38:23 Yeah, and we can, we can do that, but we do need to take the time to make that happen, and that's why I really suggest do it at the end of the day. It's quiet and or you can make it quiet, and you can really learn by doing that you don't have to watch TV until an hour after you've fallen asleep, and then you wake up and discover the TV's on. You can take the time to become a little bit more introspective and learn more about yourself that way. And that's exactly what will happen if you really think about it Kassandra Hamilton  38:55 100% and you know, at my book launch, people were asking, like, how did you write a book, and it was like, it's not it's not hard in the sense that it's hard, it's hard because you have to show up every day. But that consistency, whether it's five minutes or an hour, like the consistency is everything. So showing up for yourself in small ways or whatever feels manageable at first, will naturally give you more energy to wake up early and give yourself more time. You know, it's just happens that way. Michael Hingson  39:25 Yeah, yeah. Well, I agree. What's your favorite tool that you use with clients? Kassandra Hamilton  39:31 So it would be the one I shared with you earlier rain. It has been very instrumental for people in transforming how long it takes them to go from from a place of fear or anxiety or resentment to just processing it and being neutral. And it's amazing. Michael Hingson  39:53 And again, just to reiterate, it rain stands for, Kassandra Hamilton  39:57 recognize, accept or acknowledge. Manage, investigate and nourish, Michael Hingson  40:05 that's cheating. You get both both spellings of rain in there. That's that works, but it makes perfect sense and and I'm assuming that you've felt you've had pretty good success with people. Have you had anyone that just resists, even though they come to you and they say, Oh, I'm burned out and all that, but you start to work with them and they just resist? Or do you find that you're able to usually break through? Kassandra Hamilton  40:35 So it's funny, because a lot of people that come to me are very resistant to it, because of the nature of burnout, where people feel like don't have the time or the energy right at the beginning, a lot of people are very resistant, and they say so in their testimonials. No, at first I felt resistant, but then I didn't know that these things were actually going to give me exactly what I what I needed. So I've worked with a couple nurses. I worked with a woman who was managing, like, working four jobs, and she was super burnt out. But eventually, probably by like two or three weeks in, people are starting to feel the differences, and they're, they're all in. So yeah, it does take a bit to get them there, but once they're there, they're they're flying so, Michael Hingson  41:22 yeah, oh, that's that is so really cool, because you're able to break through and get people to do exactly what we've been talking about, which is so important to do, Kassandra Hamilton  41:34 yeah, yeah. And you know the moments for me that just feel like, Oh, this is the work I meant to do, is seeing someone go from that place of burnout or defeat because they're working a job they don't enjoy to starting their own business that's leveraging their creativity and their passion, or they've repaired a relationship, or they're finally feeling confident in themselves like there's No better gift to me than to see that change in somebody. Michael Hingson  42:06 What are some of the most common struggles that you see in people? I know we've probably talked a lot about it, but you know, it's good to summarize. But what are some of the kind of the most common struggles that you find in people? And why do you think that people are experiencing so much burnout? And I'm assuming that those two are related, Kassandra Hamilton  42:27 yeah, yeah. So, okay, so if we were talking about career, people that are managing a career that is very demanding, and that is all they do, and they have no energy for time like for things outside of work. What they say is that they're feeling numb, or they're living on autopilot, or they don't recognize themselves anymore. Another shared that she was really scared of leaving because of a financial aspect. And so I think at that point, you just start to flip the narrative and ask, well, what are you sacrificing by staying right? So like, maybe we need to get a part time job while we're exploring our creativity and building a new business for ourselves, but it's 100% possible, and these programs are not meant to make these drastic changes overnight. They're small, incremental, consistent changes that over time bring you to a place of alignment with what you actually want to create in life. Do you Michael Hingson  43:34 find that there are some people who feel I can't stay here, I've got to leave or this boss isn't good, or whatever, when, in reality, it's it's something different, and that a mindset shift makes them discover that they really are in a good well, they're in a good position, or they have a good career, or whatever, but their perspective has just been off. Kassandra Hamilton  43:56 Yeah, absolutely. So someone said something to me the other day that it stuck with me at the time, but it was something like, If you can't, if you can't get out of it, you better get into it. Yeah, that's a good point. It's like, yeah, sometimes it's just with how you're showing up for yourself and for the people around you. And that's the shift that needs to happen. So it's not necessarily about leaving a job. Thank you for bringing that up. It is about changing your life from the inside, and a huge part of that is mindset and the energy that you're bringing to a situation. Because how you do one thing is how you do everything. So, yeah, Michael Hingson  44:41 it's it's like, well, one of the things that I constantly tell people is there are a lot of times that something occurs to you or that you're involved with you have no control over, because you're not the one that that did it, or you're not the one that directly made this happen. And but you always have the choice of how you deal with whatever happens. So even if you don't have any direct influence over something occurring, you have always the opportunity to determine how you're going to deal with it. And that's always something that I think is so important for people to analyze and think about. But I think all too many people don't Kassandra Hamilton  45:21 absolutely the power is in our pause. And that's something I tell people all the time, the power is in your pause. Slow down, take a second, don't respond right away. And then come from a place of power, and you know that it changes everything. Michael Hingson  45:38 Well, the reality is that the more of that that you do, the more you pause, the more you think about it. The fact is, the quicker, over time, you'll be able to make a decision, because you're teaching yourself how to do that Kassandra Hamilton  45:54 truly. Yep. Michael Hingson  45:56 And so for a while, you may not be able to or you you are not confident enough to be able to make a decision right away, which is fine, you should pause. But the fact of the matter is, I think what I really describe it as, and I think it's so true, is you need to learn to listen to your inner voice, because your inner voice is going to tell you what you need to do. And you just need to really learn to focus on that, but we don't. We always say, Oh, that's too easy. That can't be the right answer when it really is. Kassandra Hamilton  46:26 It really is. And so again, that pause is also about space, right? So when I feel triggered by something, I will take the space to let myself come back down from that and then ask myself what I really want, or again, coming back to boundaries, if someone asks me if I want to do something, and I'm a very social person, and I love connection, so right away, I want to say yes, I'll, you know, do that thing with you. Now I have a really beautiful way to still show that it's like something I want to partake in, but honor myself as well. By saying I love this idea, I need a little bit of time to figure out if I can fully commit to this, and I'll get back to you at this time so it shows integrity, not only to myself, but to to that person as well, and showing up in a way that it like, if I have capacity to do that, then I will, yeah. Michael Hingson  47:25 Well, if somebody listening to this kind of feels unfulfilled or stuck exhausted, what's the very first step that you would suggest that they take? Kassandra Hamilton  47:37 Just like I was saying, just take a pause. Michael Hingson  47:40 I knew you were going to Kassandra Hamilton  47:41 say that create a moment of space. Ask yourself, what's really going on and what you really want, and then ask yourself if your actions are all the choices that you're about to make align with that, yeah. Michael Hingson  47:56 And the reason I asked the question was, was really just to get you to reiterate that and to get people to hear it again, because we have to really come together in our own minds and decide what we want to do, and we shouldn't have knee jerk reactions. There's no need to do that, if we think about it and really take the time to ponder what makes the most sense to do. Can we'll get the right answers if we work at it Kassandra Hamilton  48:22 100% you just have to put in a little bit of curiosity and time to figure it out. Yeah, yeah, absolutely. Michael Hingson  48:33 What do you think is one of the greatest misunderstandings about burnout and what is the truth that you really wish more people knew? Kassandra Hamilton  48:46 People think burnout is just about being tired or needing a vacation, but it's so much deeper than that. And you know, it's a sign that we've been living out of alignment with ourselves, and that rest alone isn't going to fix it real, real recovery is is coming from changing the way that we live and setting boundaries and reconnecting with what matters and building a life that gives energy instead of strain. Michael Hingson  49:16 Yeah, again, it gets back to that authenticity thing. Kassandra Hamilton  49:19 Yep, that thing, yeah. Michael Hingson  49:26 What are some of the biggest transformations that you've seen from your clients that you're really pleased about? Kassandra Hamilton  49:33 I've seen clients go from anxious and depleted to, like I said, starting businesses that they love. And that wasn't even something that we worked on together, it was like just a few tweaks, you know, simple but not easy, shifts that they made. And then I get emails or comments about how they're starting businesses that they love, and they're full time booked in that so like that. That's been a big transformation. Question for a few of my clients. One woman was trying to find a relationship, and she had tried everything, and from all different angles, and it wasn't working, and truthfully, she needed to come back to herself and align with herself, and when she did that, you know, nine months later, she found the love of her life, and one client said she stopped feeling numb for the first time in years. Another shared that she actually laughed and felt joy again. And these transformations are powerful because they're not just surface change or changes. They're they're life changing shifts in how people see themselves and what they what they feel like they can create in the world. Michael Hingson  50:46 And ultimately, isn't most of this transformation or shift really a change in one's mindset. Kassandra Hamilton  50:54 Yes, it is mindset, and it is also taking the time, taking the time, having the courage and having awareness of how we are operating in our daily lives, and why, yeah, and then shifting that. Michael Hingson  51:12 Well, tell us all about the book. When did it launch, and what's happened, and what do you see coming down the line for it and so on? Yes, I know you have a lot to talk about, so tell us. Kassandra Hamilton  51:27 So the magic of realigning from the inside out is very much in line with what I coach about, which is about bringing us back home to ourselves. And I share a lot of personal storytelling and scientific connections and soulful practices that I've tried that have worked really well for me, and I really invite readers to reconnect with with themselves. So it's sort of like a guidebook like the first the first half of the book is a lot of stories, the second half is more tools and strategies. And overall, it's the idea that, you know, the answers aren't out there. They have to start within. And we weren't meant to just get through the day. It's exhausting to try to fix and control everything out there. The thing is, we have no control over what's happening out there anyways, and so we have our one wild and precious life, and it's like, what are we going to do with that, especially in a world that's constantly pulling us outward with notifications and expectations and distractions? Yeah, I really believe this is how we show up to make a positive difference in the world by working on ourselves and spreading that upward. Michael Hingson  52:40 So when did the book launch? Kassandra Hamilton  52:43 August 21 was my book launch here on Vancouver Island, and I'm actually organizing a little book tour. Yeah, across the province here. So yeah, that's stay tuned. It'll be next month. I think so. Michael Hingson  53:01 Have you had any kind of book tours, or what kind of publicity Have you had so far for the book? Kassandra Hamilton  53:06 So I was working with a publicist, which was very new to me, and I was able to connect with some press. So a couple newspapers came to my book launch. There was, I think it was like 50 people that showed up, and the mayor came to give a speech, and he wants to meet with me for lunch next week and talk more about what I could do with the book, which is great, because I really think I can use it as a tool for helping in my own community and maybe even offering organizations some opportunities to explore strategies to get their their employees out of burnout. Yeah? So that's kind of what's happened so far, and a lot of bookstores have taken it up. So I've got all the local bookstores here. Have it. It's not available on Amazon, yeah, and it's actually a bestseller. I reached bestseller status in three categories. What categories, personal development, personal growth, and I think anxiety was the third one I have to look back at it. Michael Hingson  54:14 Well, definitely congratulations are in order for doing that. Though. Thank you. Thank you. So that's that is definitely kind of cool to to have that kind of situation and that kind of status happening with the book. It makes it very exciting and certainly gratifying in so many ways. When did you start coaching? Did you when did you actually start your company? Kassandra Hamilton  54:37 So I started coaching. Let's see two, two, no, a year and a half ago. So honestly, formally, not that long, but it's already just something I'm so passionate about and getting more and more positive feedback on. So yeah, I guess in the grand scheme of things, I'm just getting started. Michael Hingson  54:59 Well, that's fair. That's fine. Yeah, we, we think you're going to go far at least. I think you're going to go quite a, quite a distance with all of this. Do you just coach people directly, one on one? Do you do virtual coaching? Do you coach outside of British Columbia and all that? Kassandra Hamilton  55:18 Yeah, you know, I mostly work virtually, because then I can be accessible to more people. So that's how I actually prefer to work, is virtually, but I'm open to, you know, meeting people where they're at and however they want to communicate. So I've been doing phone calls with with one person and then zoom with another, and if people do want to do in person, I'm open to it. It's just a little bit more restrictive in terms of reach. But I'm also going to be doing some wellness workshops and talks around these tools and strategies I've learned, and using my book as a tool as I go through the province next month. So it's not just going to be about the book. It's going to be presenting and giving workshops and talks around this work, and then presenting my book as a tool to use in in helping people get back to a place of alignment and energy again. Michael Hingson  56:20 Well, on your on your website, we haven't talked about that yet, but on your website, do you have any videos of talks or anything like that that you've done? Kassandra Hamilton  56:31 Not of any talks. I think my first one, to be honest with you, is, was at the book launch, but it went so well that I'm just sort of, I'm I'm adding fuel to that fire, you know, and I'm just gonna keep going, yeah. So I haven't done any talks beyond that one yet, but I have some testimonials and things on my website. So those are the videos that are there. Michael Hingson  56:55 Well, for people who are listening to this today, who feel like they want to do. So, how can they reach out to you and connect with you, and what? What happens? Kassandra Hamilton  57:05 Yeah, so the best way is to reach out to me through my website or my I have a link tree link that I think I might have sent you, Michael, but it has all my different links for working on with coaching or reaching out in different ways and contact information. So link tree, Instagram are my main ones, but also obviously email and my website. So what is your website? It's www, dot Kassandra with a K Hamilton, which is my last name.com, Michael Hingson  57:40 so that's easy. Www, dot Kassandra Hamilton com, Kassandra Hamilton  57:44 yeah, and on Instagram, it's at Kassandra with a K underscore Hamilton, so Michael Hingson  57:50 Okay, yeah, have you? Have you done much with LinkedIn? Kassandra Hamilton  57:55 I have, yeah, I also have LinkedIn, yep. And I have Tiktok, and I have Facebook, Michael Hingson  58:00 all the things, all the different suspects, all the usual suspects, yes, yeah. Well, that is, you know, that is really pretty cool. I hope that people will reach out, because you've off, you've clearly offered a lot of very useful and relevant information. And I think that it's extremely important that people take it to heart, and I hope that maybe we're going to be able to have contributed to your getting some more people in the business too. Kassandra Hamilton  58:30 I really appreciate that, Michael and I know you've done so much work with people as well, and inspired others, you know, astronomically. So I really appreciate and feel grateful for the time that you've given me today. Michael Hingson  58:46 Well, this has been a lot of fun, and we'll have to do it again. You'll have to come on and some point in the future and let us know how things are going and how the book is doing, and how everything else is happening. But I, but I really do value the fact that you've spent so much time with us today. Kassandra Hamilton  59:03 Thank you so much. At least we're in the Michael Hingson  59:06 same time zone. That helps. Yes, that's true. Well, Kassandra, I want to thank you for being here, and I want to thank all of you out there for listening to us and being with us and watching us, whichever you do. I'd love to hear from you as well. I'd like to get your thoughts and your opinions. Please reach out to me. At Michael H i, that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I, at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, i, b, e.com, I'd like to get your thoughts. Like to know what you thought of today's episode, wherever you are experiencing the podcast, please give us a five star review. We value your reviews highly, and we would really appreciate you giving us reviews of this episode and the podcast in general, and for anyone out there, including you, Kassandra, who might know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable. Mindset and tell their own story. Please reach out. Let

Elaine and Cam, the founders behind Not Too Sweet Drinks, join Phil and Kenny to share their journey of creating a sparkling beverage brand that's actually not too sweet. Recording from Phil's car during CHFA prep with special guests Lara and Christine from Munching on Molecules, this episode captures the authentic story of Vancouver Island entrepreneurs who are redefining the sparkling drink category.From their backgrounds in engineering and graphic design to launching a beverage company during a pandemic, Elaine and Cam discuss the challenges of building distribution across BC, managing cash flow with direct store delivery, and staying focused on sustainable growth. They open up about their mentorship with industry veteran Greg Tolazzi, the decision to stay local rather than rush into broader retail expansion, and why they're committed to keeping manufacturing on the island.With products ranging from lychee to ginger beer, Not Too Sweet has built a loyal following through farmers markets, independent retailers, and word-of-mouth. This conversation covers the realities of beverage entrepreneurship, the importance of community support, and why sometimes the best growth strategy is knowing when not to scale too fast.Find Not Too Sweet at @not2sweetdrinks on Instagram or visit www.not2sweetdrinks.cathank you to Field Agent Canada for supporting the podcast https://www.fieldagentcanada.com/ 

Joining me is Shay Brown, co‑founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, freedom‑lover and business strategist extraordinaire. We dig into how she's built a purpose‑driven, multi‑6‑figure business without burning out; how she works roughly 25–30 hours a week; and how you can choose the right business model for your season too.Whether you're curious about whether to do a course, a membership or high‑ticket ‘done‑with‑you', this chat is for you.What you'll learn:Why your business model should start with “What does your niche want?” The trap of low‑ticket courses vs the power of high‑ticket offersThe “trash - trim - transfer” framework: how to reclaim time and scale your businessHow to map your energetics + lifestyle to your business modelBoundary setting, rhythms and the beautiful reality of working 25 hours a week on purposeTimestampsIntro 0:00Interview 2:05Wrap-up 41:27ABOUT SHAY:Shay is the Co-Founder and COO of Bucketlist Bombshells, a purpose-driven business coaching company that empowers women to build successful service-based online businesses – specifically in graphic design, branding & website design, digital & content marketing, social media management, public relations, and business operations. Originally from Vancouver Island, Canada, Shay's holistic business coaching style blends her expertise in sales, operations, and financial management with a compassionate focus on mindset development. Over the past 10 years, she has helped grow Bucketlist Bombshells to generate over $6 million in revenue and serve over 10,000 women worldwide, achieving recognition in Forbes, BBC and CNBC. When she's not coaching women inside their business programs Bucketlist Bombshells Launch Camp™, She's Fully Booked® and Scale With Purpose Mastermind™, you can find her co-hosting their top-charting podcast, The Freedom Filled Life™ Podcast, inspiring entrepreneurial women. Shay now enjoys a balanced life with a part-time 4-day workweek, allowing her to travel, pursue her hobbies, and focus on her personal wellness!CONNECT WITH SHAY:Your FREE Dream Client Playbook to consistently land more clients & grow your revenue: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/seriouslyinbusinessGet booked out in your business and start generating $5k+ months: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/shesfullybookedHit 6 figures and ready to scale? Join our small group coaching program: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/mastermindTune into the Freedom Filled Life Podcast: https://bucketlistbombshells.com/podcast/Connect with Shay directly in the DMs here: https://www.instagram.com/bucketlistbombshells/Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DxQeWzmH_nQRead on the Blog: https://whitedeer.com.au/ep242/WORK WITH JACQUI:// DIY Design My Biz: The best course for business owners DIYing their own brand and graphics in Canva. Learn more: https://whitedeer.com.au/diy-dmb// The Co+Creation Design Club: Design WITH the help of a professional designer in this high-touch coaching space: https://whitedeer.com.au/designclub// Design Studio: If you're after fully done-for-you design services my studio team can help! https://whitedeer.com.au/designstudio

In this episode of Edible Valley, we dive into one of the most comforting, universal, and endlessly creative dishes in the culinary world: soup. From rustic broths to silky purées, hearty stews to bright, modern bowls, soup is a vessel for culture, technique, and the stories behind the ingredients we choose. Jonathan and William explore why soup holds such a special place in kitchens across Vancouver Island and beyond. We talk about how the seasons shape the bowls we crave, the ingredients that thrive on our local farms and in our coastal waters, and the professional techniques that make even the simplest broth shine. We recorded this a little while ago, but we're finally getting it up — and it's worth the wait. Whether you're a home cook stirring your first stock pot or a seasoned chef looking for fresh ideas, this episode celebrates the art, science, and soul of soup. Warm up, grab a spoon, and join us in the Edible Valley kitchen.

Conservatives are calling on Carney to divest from Brookfield and disclose the nearly 1,900 other Brookfield companies he profits from that are exempt from ethics screening. Alberta's government is introducing sweeping healthcare reforms, which would allow physicians to work in both public and private systems, in the hopes of shortening medical wait times. A feature on X revealed a prominent environmental activist account protesting on Vancouver Island actually has U.S. origins. Tune in to the Daily Brief with Isaac Lamoureux and Walid Tamtam! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to another episode of the Sustainable Clinical Medicine Podcast! In this episode, Dr. Sarah Smith explores the challenges of balancing mental load and domestic labor, particularly for women in medicine. She is joined by Dr. Pip Houghton, a family physician, facilitator, and advocate for women's wellness. Dr. Houghton shares her expertise in mental health and her personal journey with the Fair Play Method, offering practical strategies for creating more equitable and joyful lives at home and at work. Together, they discuss how open communication, trust, and small changes can lead to big results for busy professionals and families. Listeners will gain valuable insights into sharing responsibilities, building supportive partnerships, and lightening the mental load—making this episode a must-listen for anyone seeking balance and sustainability in their personal and professional lives. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: The Fair Play Method Empowers Equitable Domestic Labor Pip Houghton shares how the Fair Play Method helps families clearly define, distribute, and take ownership of household tasks. This system reduces mental load, prevents resentment, and creates more space for joy, self-care, and professional fulfillment—especially for women physicians. Open Communication and Trust Are Essential Successful implementation of Fair Play and equitable labor requires honest conversations and mutual trust between partners. Letting go of micromanagement and allowing each person to fully own their responsibilities is key to reducing stress and building a supportive partnership. Small Changes Lead to Big Results Pip emphasizes starting with one small task—like managing garbage or backpacks—to build momentum and confidence. Gradually, these small wins can transform household dynamics, involve children in responsibilities, and even improve teamwork in professional settings. Meet Dr. Pip Houghton: Dr Phillippa "Pip" Houghton is a family physician on Vancouver Island providing addiction, mental health and primary care to adults and youth in her community. Dr Pip completed a B.Sc. in Kinesiology from the University of Victoria (2011), medical school at The University of Wollongong (2015) and family practice residency through the University of British Columbia in 2019. In addition to her formal education, Dr Pip is particularly supporting families in navigating the many challenges that we all face when it comes to balancing the demands of the three P's (partner, professional, parent). Dr Pip has pursued additional education in the areas of perinatal Mental Health, digital health and wellness and most recently as a Fair Play Facilitator. In addition to her assigned roles, Dr Pip is also a mother to three boys, wife to an amazing husband, house hippo owner, new-ish CrossFit enthusiast, creative writer, book club enthusiast and cut-flower garden newbie. Connect with Dr. Pip Houghton:

#realconversations #singersongwriter #Canada #guitar#hospice #resilience #miracles #folk #countryCONVERSATIONS WITH CALVIN WE THE SPECIES hosted by CalvinSchwartzMEET ABBY GRACE: “My most poignant, warm, introspective, andemotional interview (all these journalism years) with singer-songwriter AbbyGrace (in hospice care) and her new record label, producer Jesse Roads. Nearthe end of our interview, Abby said, “I've seen too many miracles not tobelieve in them.”  Hours later, this isstill reverberating. Thanks to Kayden Gordon for bringing Abby into my visionand now, soul. Today was a privilege to spend time with a remarkable soul, AbbyGrace. Last night I listened to her music and words for hours (her websitebelow). Totally enamored for real. Meaningful, provocative, gleeful, abundantlife, and elevation. As I've come to learn, Abby has lived a life with a guitarin her hands. Even now, in hospice care, she continues to shine with the samewarmth, humor, and musical magic that touch hearts. My time with Abby was notonly about music-it is about courage, creativity, and resilience, and thisbeautiful way she shares her light with the world. And Abby mentioned Peter,Paul, and Mary, which sealed the deal for me. Abby is a gift. You'll see.”Calvinhttps://www.youtube.com/c/ConversationswithCalvinWetheSpecIEs667 Interviews/Videos  9200 SUBSCRIBERSGLOBAL Reach. Earth Life. Amazing People.  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE**ABBY GRACE: Singer-Songwriter, (folk, country, easy); Words:courage, creativity, resilience, hospice; LIVE from Canada with Deer CityRecords Exec, JESSE ROADS.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XAf79Rsrx0BIO: Bio:  “Puttingthe living room back in the music” – Emmylou HarrisWhen Abby heard this saying, it spoke to her heart and soul,and her belief that music is made to be shared. Coupled with a strong visionthat music can bring peace to the world, her songs are her contribution to thiscause to which she is deeply committed.  Growing up in a small town in Northern Canada, Abby didn'thave a lot of access to the world of music and only latently decided to followher musical passion in 2013.  She taughtherself how to play guitar- a hand-built cigar box model to boot, and heroriginal material is unfailingly upbeat, jaunty and celebratory, projectinginclusive messages of hope and joy. On a visit to Nashville in 2014, Abby was discovered in alittle honky tonk bar open mic by Rojo Marlowe, who loved her songs and askedif she wanted to record them.  Always upfor fun and adventure, she said sure, and a recording artist was born.   Abby's debut release was the Abby's AmblingsEP (2016) The songs attracted the attention of circles within Nashville'spublishing and songwriting communities, and in turn that of Paul Bezooyen ofThe Hermit's Music on Vancouver Island, BC. As a consequence of The Hermits involvement, a second EP,Senses of the Sea -August  2017 wasThe next, and current step in her whimsical journey happenedwhen she met Juno nominated Marc Atkinson, LINKS  https://www.facebook.com/share/1DBNHWef3P/https://open.spotify.com/album/3uSIU48G2tVnGFKOJ1BF3R?si=WDo2ldFWQfaNjbccZeUF2ghttps://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mDb73UWdFsyFPfVeRhDUVBf30TkO-xOVQ&si=RiuMBJTAS46ra3fMhttps://abbygrace.bandcamp.com/album/boots-beer-blueshttps://www.abbygrace.ca/www.abbygrace.ca/epk**WE ARE ALSO ON AUDIOAUDIO “Conversations with Calvin; WE the SpecIEs”ANCHOR https://lnkd.in/g4jcUPqSPOTIFY https://lnkd.in/ghuMFeCAPPLE PODCASTSBREAKER https://lnkd.in/g62StzJGOOGLE PODCASTS https://lnkd.in/gpd3XfMPOCKET CASTS https://pca.st/bmjmzaitRADIO PUBLIC https://lnkd.in/gxueFZw 

Discover an incredible story of survival and thriving on the Heal Yourself podcast as I interview 84-year-old John A. Brink, who went from surviving Nazi-occupied Holland to becoming a CEO, philanthropist and the oldest competitive bodybuilder in North America. John reveals his secrets to health, longevity and a powerful mindset, including the daily routines and diet that keep him thriving and why he considers his late-in-life ADHD diagnosis a "superpower." This is a must-listen for inspiration on resilience, health and aging without fear.Time Stamps 11:04 A Daily Gratitude Mindset: John starts every day at 5:30 AM by going outside and declaring, "I'm in paradise." He emphasizes that counting his blessings and maintaining a positive, grateful attitude is a critical part of his mental and emotional wellness.13:55 A Life-Threatening Wake-Up Call: A severe case of diverticulitis in 2008 became a major turning point for his health. The condition breached, causing toxins to spread and his doctor later told him he "came this close" to death. He took this as a "message" to get serious about his health.15:17 Proactive Diet Transformation: Following his health crisis, John became more proactive, adopting his wife's more vegetarian-focused lifestyle and moving from an "80/20" to a "90/10" approach to healthy eating.15:41 Embracing Fitness in His Late 60s: John became serious about personal fitness. He hired a trainer and began working out 3-4 times a week, proving it's never too late to start. This new passion eventually led him to bodybuilding.23:34 Finding His "Superpower" in ADHD: At age 62, John discovered a book called "Driven to Distraction" and realized he had ADHD. Instead of seeing it as a liability (which had caused him to fail school), he reframed it as his "superpower," crediting it for his strategic thinking and success.26:34 The Importance of Downtime: John schedules downtime and flies to Vancouver Island every Friday afternoon to spend the weekend relaxing with his wife and their seven horses, emphasizing that recovery is crucial.31:52 Overcoming Addiction: John shares that in 1992, his wife "hit him with a 2x4 across the head" (metaphorically) and "dumped him" as a wake-up call. This event prompted him to stop drinking, smoking and taking prescribed Xanax all within one week.36:48 John's tip for healthy ageing is to understand your body and have a good mindset.John's Bio Born in 1940 in Nazi-occupied Holland, John A. Brink survived war, hunger, and hardship before emigrating to Canada in 1965 with just $25.47. He founded Brink Forest Products in 1975, now North America's leading value-added wood manufacturer. At 84, he leads the Brink Group of Companies and hosts ON THE BRINK, a top 1% global podcast. A fierce advocate for ADHD awareness, John is also a philanthropist, pledging $1M to the College of New Caledonia. His achievements earned him the Order of B.C., an Honorary Doctorate, and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2025. Connect with John www.johnabrink.comwww.facebook.com/johnbrinkceoWho am I?Sarah Dawkins is a passionate Holistic Health and Healing Coach, international speaker and author of Heal Yourself. She's also a multi-award-winning entrepreneur and the award-winning host of the uplifting podcast Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins.With over 20 years' experience as a Registered Nurse, Sarah combines her deep understanding of conventional medicine with her own powerful self-healing journey to create a truly integrative approach. Having overcome multiple chronic health challenges herself, she now supports others in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, helping them restore balance, reclaim their energy and create lasting, vibrant wellness.www.sarahdawkins.com#ageingwell #ageisjustanumber #oldage #agingwell #agingsecrets #agingtruths #agingreversal #agingsmart #livingyourbestlife #livingyourdream #livingyourbest

This episode is brought to you by Villa Carina Apartments in beautiful Bonaire. In this episode, we sit down with Sascha Lange, the 41-year-old German windsurf coach, personal trainer, and author of the brand-new wind bible called "Never Not Windsurfing – Defeat Age & Keep the Stoke Alive". Fresh off a one-year writing marathon (and still hand-packing and shipping every single copy himself), Sascha joins us to talk about why he poured his soul into the ultimate fitness and longevity guide for windsurfers over 40 – and why even the youngest PWA pros are already using it.From his beginnings as a passionate windsurfer in 1997 to becoming one of the most sought-after coaches in the sport, Sascha explains how analyzing YouTube clips of his clients at midnight led to hyper-specific training programs that fix exactly what's holding riders back on the water. With contributions from over 50 of the biggest names in windsurfing – Björn Dunkerbeck, Sarah-Quita Offringa, Marcilio Browne, Ricardo Campello, Victor Fernandez, Gollito Estredo, and an epic foreword from Captain Paul Watson, plus extra-long contribution from the godfather himself, Balz Müller – this isn't just another fitness book.Why “Never Not Windsurfing”? Turning 40 sparked the idea: Sascha is fitter now than ever and wanted to prove age is just a number if you train smart.Book Structure & Philosophy: From decade-specific body changes to mobility, functional strength, balance & coordination, breathing techniques, biohacking (sleep, sunlight, cold plunging), and a full chapter on designing your own success plan – pick what you need, when you need it.Who It's For: Primarily the 40+ crew (weekend warriors, parents, people with real jobs and no trade winds), but young pros are already stealing the advanced stability, endurance, and mental-game tools. Works for wing foiling too.Real-Life Impact: How 10–15 minute targeted sessions beat three-hour gym marathons, why your core is the “transmission” between sail and board, and how small consistent wins stop you starting every season from scratch.Cold Plunging, Breathing & Biohacking: Sascha's daily reset rituals, why nasal breathing through an ice bath is the new meditation, and how to use cold exposure without freaking out.The Captain Paul Watson Foundation: €1 from every book goes straight to ocean protection – plus Paul Watson himself wrote the foreword because the oceans are our playground and the animals' living room.Behind-the-Scenes Madness: Self-publishing both English and German editions, hand-writing dedications, midnight post-office runs, and why the book is stitched (not just glued) so it literally lasts forever.What's Next: Online “Fit for Surfing” programs, windsurf retreats (Vancouver Island anyone?), and maybe… a wing-foiling version one day.Whether you're chasing your first solid gybe, still ripping at 60, or a pro looking for that extra edge, *Never Not Windsurfing* is built to keep you on the water longer, stronger, and stoked for life. Follow Sascha → https://www.instagram.com/langepersonaltraining/Captain Paul Watson Foundation → https://www.paulwatsonfoundation.org/ 

Send us a textMahaya is an experienced healer specializing in transformational modalities such as yoga, body work, breath work, and the unique relational practice known as "circling." Based on Vancouver Island, Canada, Mahaya's journey in the healing arts began in her twenties as she sought relief from a personal life of suffering. For more than two decades, Mahaya has embraced a wide range of disciplines, including spiritual community living and exploration of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. Now, she creates spaces of intimacy and connection to aid others on their self-discovery paths.Visit Mahaya here: https://www.mahayahealingarts.com/Key Takeaways:Mahaya's journey highlights an evolution from personal suffering to becoming a healer through exploration of various modalities such as yoga and breath work.The practice of circling emphasizes authentic relating, creating a safe space for individuals to understand how they connect with others.The pandemic brought Mahaya face-to-face with authentic relating online, catalyzing her growth and reducing her social anxiety.Mahaya's work now integrates presence and mindfulness into everyday life, transforming professional interactions into an extension of her mindfulness practice.Her story is a powerful testament to the potential for healing and transformation when individuals are open to exploring diverse methodologies.Thanks for listening to this episode. Check out:

A Richmond City Councillor is putting forward a motion at Richmond council that calls on the province and federal governments to mitigate the effects of the Cowichan court ruling. Perched on the waterfront of scenic northern Vancouver Island and one of the most remote pubs in British Columbia, Scarlet Ibis Pub is officially up for sale. How B.C.'s Attorney General is reacting to social media platform, 'X', challenging an order to remove a non-consensual intimate image. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two beloved BC fondos disappeared this year — and not because riders lost interest. We sit down with veteran organizer and Panache Cycling Sports CEO Jon Watkin to unpack the real reasons: traffic control costs spiralling to double-time rates, six-hour minimums, and newly required engineered traffic plans that turn a single intersection into a budget breaker. Jon explains where safety policy helps, where it overreaches, and how a one-size-fits-all approach can sink small, community-driven rides.From there, we pivot to what's thriving: gravel. Jon lays out why gravel cycling has become the most welcoming doorway into the sport, and how municipalities and tourism boards, eager to rebuild after the pandemic, are partnering to bring high-quality events to Vancouver Island and beyond.Learn more about Jon's races at www.panachecyclingsports.comSign up for the BC Gravel Series 2026! https://www.bcgravelseries.comSpeed traps on Bowen Island: https://rcmp.ca/en/bc/careers/volunteer-programs/speed-watch (To set up a speed watch program, contact your local RCMP.)Support the show***********************************************The Bike Sense podcast with Peter Ladner is produced by the BC Cycling Coalition – your voice for safer and more accessible cycling and active transportation in British Columbia. Membership in the BCCC is now FREE! The future of this podcast depends on people like you becoming members at BCCycling.ca. Please join us. Got feedback or ideas for future episodes? Please drop us an email at admin@bccycling.ca.

Energy healer and spiritual teacher Cheryl Stelte joins Rich to unpack why so many high-achieving women feel stuck even when life looks “successful” on the outside. From her Vancouver Island spiritual awakening to her Azarius Energy Healing method and “receive what's offered” practice, Cheryl explains how early-rooted wounds, especially around the throat chakra, block fulfillment—and how to release them. You'll hear practical tools, powerful stories, and a life-changing exercise to make better decisions now by asking what will matter on your deathbed. Sponsored by Harford County Health Department Guest Bio:  Cheryl Stelte is a spiritual coach, author, and founder of Star of Divine Light, known for her Azarius Energy Healing system and chakra readings. Drawing from her own transformation—from divorce and depression to deep spiritual work—she helps purpose-driven leaders clear subconscious blocks, reclaim their voice, and step into authentic, soul-aligned success.  Main Topics: ·         The Vancouver Island moment: a direct experience of divine connection that redirected Cheryl's life and work. ·         Why success ≠ fulfillment: the “plateau” where nothing works like it used to—because deeper wounds are surfacing to be healed. ·         Root → Throat: how early conditioning (even in the womb) creates a throat-chakra bottleneck that stifles voice, visibility, and receiving. ·         The receive practice: hand on heart, “Thank you, I receive that,” breathe it in—rewiring overgiving and people-pleasing. ·         AzariusSend us a textJoin us in spreading holiday cheer and making a child's Christmas magical! Agape Projects is hosting a special fundraising drive for our annual Toy Run, aiming to brighten the lives of children in need. Your generous contribution will help us bring joy and laughter to little hearts this holiday season. Together, let's make a difference and create unforgettable memories for the children in our community.

IMMERSIVE - Hornby Island, British Columbia - A White Sand + Warm Clear Water Paradise

In the third and final part of our conversation about MailMaven, developers Scott Morrison, Scott Little, and Beth Wall discuss the creation of Joe Kissell's Take Control of MailMaven, documentation, support, and pricing. They cover how the Take Control book complements built-in help, their quick responsiveness to user feedback, and ongoing feature development. The team also explain the 15-day free trial, annual maintenance plan, and customer-friendly model. That all adds up to a powerful yet accessible email client that can and will address your email challenges.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Get access to the MacVoices Slack and MacVoices After Dark by joining in at Patreon.com/macvoices. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Opening and documentation overview[1:44] Writing the built-in help and Take Control book[2:55] Balancing overlap between docs and guide[4:43] Making MailMaven approachable for new users[6:43] Development philosophy and user feedback[8:45] Responsiveness and monthly updates[10:38] Comparing Apple Mail and small-team support[12:52] Human connection and philosophy of design[13:08] Trying MailMaven and 15-day free trial[14:23] Maintenance plan, updates, and sync details[16:49] Pricing model vs. subscriptions[18:32] Why ongoing support matters for daily email[19:03] The Take Control book goes free[21:41] Power user features and editor reactions[23:03] Customization and color themes[24:26] Developer insights and delight in discovery[28:05] Closing thoughts and special offer Links:   SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests:   Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

We kick off a special in-depth discussion with the development team from SmallCubed about of MailMaven, and new, “information rich” email client, and Joe Kissell, the author of both the MailMaven documentation as well as Take Control of MailMaven. “Chief spelunker and instigator” Scott Morrison, “Programmer and back-end wizard” Scott Little, and “Websie and cat hearding” Beth Wall start off by discussing how MailMaven grew out of the end of Apple Mail plug-ins and how they address metadata, advanced rules, keyboard-driven workflows, thoughtful UI decisions, approachable onboarding, and more. (Part 1) MacVoices is supported by SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/macvoices or use code “macvoices" at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Part 1 setup and topic overview[0:11] What MailMaven is and who it's for[0:25] Guest introductions and project background[4:34] Origins: from MailTags/MailSuite to a full client[6:42] Apple ends plugins → building a foundation[8:26] Why a mail client is hard; “viable” feature set[11:54] Why switch: customization and control[14:17] Unique tools: metadata, outbound rules, quick filing[15:47] Feel, fluidity, and philosophy[24:46] Onboarding for non-power users[26:24] “Stuck-in-the-mud” UI choices and shortcuts[31:45] Spam strategy: SpamSieve + server filters[37:20] Training spam on iOS; closing notes Links: SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests: Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The second part of our conversation with Scott Morrison, Scott Little, and Beth Wall of MailMaven and Joe Kissell of Take Control Books,  explores token-based search, a separate global search window, and smart mailboxes/rules with nested criteria. They explain how the conversation map tames complex threads, while a keyboard-first design speeds filing and actions, and detail a privacy-by-design approach—local data, encrypted metadata sync, and built-in PGP—and explain onboarding, documentation, and dynamic, scriptable signatures. (Part 2)  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Part 2 intro and setup[0:49] Token-based search with suggestions[2:11] Power user search syntax and filters[4:04] Mailbox filter vs. global search window[5:31] Advanced tokens menu and options[7:38] Smart mailboxes with nested criteria[8:50] Nested rules and complex logic[10:17] Conversation threading pain points[10:55] Conversation map and full-thread view[13:20] Per-message vs. whole-thread actions[16:34] Security model and local-only email data[17:23] Encrypted metadata sync and keys[19:53] Built-in PGP vs. extensions; S/MIME plans[23:09] Limits of email security in the real world[28:08] Docs vs. Take Control book: how to start[30:05] Dynamic signatures and real-world examples Links: SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests: Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon     http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:     http://macvoices.com      Twitter:     http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner     http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:     https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:     http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:     https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:     https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes     Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

The second part of our conversation with Scott Morrison, Scott Little, and Beth Wall of MailMaven and Joe Kissell of Take Control Books,  explores token-based search, a separate global search window, and smart mailboxes/rules with nested criteria. They explain how the conversation map tames complex threads, while a keyboard-first design speeds filing and actions, and detail a privacy-by-design approach—local data, encrypted metadata sync, and built-in PGP—and explain onboarding, documentation, and dynamic, scriptable signatures. (Part 2)  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by the MacVoices Dispatch, our weekly newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on any and all MacVoices-related information. Subscribe today and don't miss a thing. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Part 2 intro and setup [0:49] Token-based search with suggestions [2:11] Power user search syntax and filters [4:04] Mailbox filter vs. global search window [5:31] Advanced tokens menu and options [7:38] Smart mailboxes with nested criteria [8:50] Nested rules and complex logic [10:17] Conversation threading pain points [10:55] Conversation map and full-thread view [13:20] Per-message vs. whole-thread actions [16:34] Security model and local-only email data [17:23] Encrypted metadata sync and keys [19:53] Built-in PGP vs. extensions; S/MIME plans [23:09] Limits of email security in the real world [28:08] Docs vs. Take Control book: how to start [30:05] Dynamic signatures and real-world examples Links: SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests: Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

In the third and final part of our conversation about MailMaven, developers Scott Morrison, Scott Little, and Beth Wall discuss the creation of Joe Kissell's Take Control of MailMaven, documentation, support, and pricing. They cover how the Take Control book complements built-in help, their quick responsiveness to user feedback, and ongoing feature development. The team also explain the 15-day free trial, annual maintenance plan, and customer-friendly model. That all adds up to a powerful yet accessible email client that can and will address your email challenges.  This edition of MacVoices is brought to you by our Patreon supporters. Get access to the MacVoices Slack and MacVoices After Dark by joining in at Patreon.com/macvoices. Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Opening and documentation overview [1:44] Writing the built-in help and Take Control book [2:55] Balancing overlap between docs and guide [4:43] Making MailMaven approachable for new users [6:43] Development philosophy and user feedback [8:45] Responsiveness and monthly updates [10:38] Comparing Apple Mail and small-team support [12:52] Human connection and philosophy of design [13:08] Trying MailMaven and 15-day free trial [14:23] Maintenance plan, updates, and sync details [16:49] Pricing model vs. subscriptions [18:32] Why ongoing support matters for daily email [19:03] The Take Control book goes free [21:41] Power user features and editor reactions [23:03] Customization and color themes [24:26] Developer insights and delight in discovery [28:05] Closing thoughts and special offer Links:   SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests:   Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support:      Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon      http://patreon.com/macvoices      Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect:      Web:      http://macvoices.com      Twitter:      http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner      http://www.twitter.com/macvoices      Mastodon:      https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner      Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner      MacVoices Page on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/      MacVoices Group on Facebook:      http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice      LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/      Instagram:      https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes      Video in iTunes      Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher:      Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss      Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

We kick off a special in-depth discussion with the development team from SmallCubed about of MailMaven, and new, "information rich" email client, and Joe Kissell, the author of both the MailMaven documentation as well as Take Control of MailMaven. "Chief spelunker and instigator" Scott Morrison, "Programmer and back-end wizard" Scott Little, and "Websie and cat hearding" Beth Wall start off by discussing how MailMaven grew out of the end of Apple Mail plug-ins and how they address metadata, advanced rules, keyboard-driven workflows, thoughtful UI decisions, approachable onboarding, and more. (Part 1) MacVoices is supported by SurfShark. Go to https://surfshark.com/macvoices or use code "macvoices" at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN! Show Notes: Chapters: [0:00] Part 1 setup and topic overview [0:11] What MailMaven is and who it's for [0:25] Guest introductions and project background [4:34] Origins: from MailTags/MailSuite to a full client [6:42] Apple ends plugins → building a foundation [8:26] Why a mail client is hard; "viable" feature set [11:54] Why switch: customization and control [14:17] Unique tools: metadata, outbound rules, quick filing [15:47] Feel, fluidity, and philosophy [24:46] Onboarding for non-power users [26:24] "Stuck-in-the-mud" UI choices and shortcuts [31:45] Spam strategy: SpamSieve + server filters [37:20] Training spam on iOS; closing notes Links: SpamSieve Take Control of MailMaven by Joe Kissell (free!) Guests: Beth Wall is perhaps the main ingredient in the glue that has formed SmallCubed. Beth brings experience in systems' adminstration, databases and networking. Beth streamlines our SmallCubed workflows, builds websites, maintains our support systems and stores and cracks the whip. She has also played a key role in the organization of the Çingleton conferences in Montreal Scott Little is based in Gdansk, Poland and the founder of Little Known Software. He has worked in software development for over 20 years and has specialized in the development of plugins for Apple's Mail.app for over 10 years. Scott has collaborated with other prominant Mail Plugin companies, such as Creative In Austria, and Feingeist Software and brought Little Known's products SignatureProfiler and Tealeaves to SmallCubed. He is our back-end wizard an server go-to guy. Scott Morrison of Vancouver Island, Canada, developed Mail Act-On in 2004 and MailTags in 2005 and hasn't looked back. The product suite of MailTags, Mail Act-On and MailPerspectives is use by thousands of Mac users daily to bring sanity and fluidity to their email workflows. Scott Morrison has also been actively involved in the Mac Indie Developer Community as a speaker at several conferences and a co-founder of the Çingleton Conference in Montreal. Support: Become a MacVoices Patron on Patreon http://patreon.com/macvoices Enjoy this episode? Make a one-time donation with PayPal Connect: Web: http://macvoices.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chuckjoiner http://www.twitter.com/macvoices Mastodon: https://mastodon.cloud/@chuckjoiner Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/chuck.joiner MacVoices Page on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/macvoices/ MacVoices Group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/macvoice LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuckjoiner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chuckjoiner/ Subscribe:      Audio in iTunes Video in iTunes Subscribe manually via iTunes or any podcatcher: Audio: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesrss Video: http://www.macvoices.com/rss/macvoicesvideorss

Welcome to Life in a Schell! I'm your host, Christina Schell. In this episode, I chat with the amazing ⁠Taylor Hui⁠ — founder of the BeaYOUtiful Foundation, a Canadian charity dedicated to empowering girls to build confidence through mentorship. I also asked listeners to Call Me on My Schell and share their answers to the question: “If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?” The responses were so heartfelt and moving. This episode will leave you feeling inspired, and full of love! The featured song and musical artist on this episode is Breaking Free by Rebecca Sichon. Enjoy!Thanks for tuning in! Follow on Spotify + Apple Podcasts, share with your friends and come say hi on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@christinaschell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ + ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@lifeinaschell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Feliks Banel's guest on this BONUS EPISODE of CASCADE OF HISTORY is Graeme Menzies, whose book "Trading Fate: How a Little Known Company Stopped British Columbia from Becoming an American State” was released earlier this year by Heritage House Publishing of Victoria, BC. Mr. Menzies recounts the Nootka Crisis – a clash between the Spanish and the British on the northern coast of what's now Vancouver Island - in the late 18th century. But, he also focuses on the somewhat forgotten business venture of “Trading Fate's” subtitle – the King George's Sound Company - which was deeply entwined with what happened at Nootka, and with what ultimately happened between diplomats sorting things out between Madrid and London. For more information on "Trading Fate: How a Little Known Company Stopped British Columbia from Becoming an American State”: https://heritagehouse.ca/products/trading-fate Mr. Menzies will give a presentation about "Trading Fate" at Indigo Books on Robson Street in Vancouver, BC on Saturday, November 22, 2025. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/store-locator/vancouver-indigo-robson.html CASCADE OF HISTORY is broadcast LIVE most Sunday nights at 8pm Pacific Time via SPACE 101.1 FM in Seattle and gallantly streams everywhere via www.space101fm.org. The radio station broadcasts from studios at historic Magnuson Park – located in the former Master-at-Arms' quarters in the old Sand Point Naval Air Station - on the shores of Lake Washington in Seattle. Subscribe to the CASCADE OF HISTORY podcast via most podcast platforms and never miss regular weekly episodes of Sunday night broadcasts as well as frequent bonus episodes.

How do you find the perfect podcast host to share airtime with? If a podcast is your passion project but you don't have a technical background, an audio-savvy partner could help make your dream a reality. That's what Darren Dukes, a Vancouver Island physiotherapist and running enthusiast, discovered when he convinced fellow runner and former radio broadcaster Jamie Weiss to be his co-host. Darren's vision and Jamie's recording prowess have resulted in a podcast that's drawing in avid runners and jogging-curious listeners alike.  Darren and Jamie chat with Mary about podcast partnerships, the importance of strong show structure, and the challenges and skill-building opportunities they've already encountered as they forge a new touchpoint for the vibrant West Coast running community.  Keep your show—and your motivation—running smoothly: The benefits of a local focus: a strong start without limiting your potential for growth; Maintaining positive momentum through feedback; The unexpected wins of shared airtime; How strong audio cues and a consistent structure help your audience keep up. Links worth mentioning from the episode: Listen to Island Miles Episode 1: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4jFuseQLPK5ia5KM9jhg4t  Engage with Jamie and Darren: Follow Island Miles on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/islandmilespodcast/ Connect with Mary! Leave a voice note with your feedback at https://www.speakpipe.com/VisibleVoice or email visiblevoicepodcast@gmail.com Get the full transcript of the episode at http://www.visiblevoicepodcast.com Read up on more secrets with the Visible Voice Insights Newsletter https://www.organizedsound.ca/newsletter To learn more or work with Mary, check out https://www.organizedsound.ca Link up on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marychan-organizedsound/ Engage on Instagram @OrganizedSoundProductions https://www.instagram.com/organizedsoundproductions Show Credits: Podcast audio design, engineering, and editing by Mary Chan of Organized Sound Productions Show notes written by Shannon Kirk of Right Words Studio Post-production support by Kristalee Forre of Forre You VA Podcast cover art by Emily Johnston of Artio Design Co.

It's a rainy day in Birderland. It's October 30, 2025 and I am writing this on night before Halloween.  I won't claim that this is going to be a spooky episode, but there are one or two scary birding stories from our guest Liam Ragan.  Liam broke the record for a Vancouver Island, British Columbia Big Year, but beyond that, he does a lot of fine conservation work out west, for the Rocky Point Bird Observatory.  His job gave him the freedom to travel around the island while also allowing him to go after his Vancouver Island Big Year record. But enough about Liam.  Time to get back to me. As you may have ascertained, I just love talking about birds and myself, not necessarily in that order.  If I didn't cut out all of my personal stories, these podcasts would be twice as long, and nobody wants that.  That being said, and the reason for a two month gap between episodes, is that I have been on the road birding nearly every day since the end of August.  On August 29, I finally got my first Wilson's Warbler of the year at Long Point and later that afternoon a Buff-breasted Sandpiper at in the sod fields of Brant County.  A week later I was back at the Long Point Field Staton for a very rare Townsend's Warbler. That same afternoon I rushed to Staynor, Ontario for a Ruff. All the while I was planning my trip out west to see the Whooping Crane migration for the first time, in Saskatchewan.  That had been a dream trip of mine since beginning birding in 2012.  I had seen Whooping Cranes where they winter in Texas, in Wood Buffalo National Park, where they breed in Northern Alberta and in between, a couple of others in Florida and Michigan.   Finally, on September 30, 2025, after a four day drive, I saw my first flock of migrating Whooping Cranes in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, just north of Saskatoon.  I met up with my friend Gavin McKinnon and his birding group and we all got to enjoy these marvelous, but endangered birds.  I then headed down to Grasslands National Park, but made a stop in Swift Current for a Broad-billed Hummingbird that had been visiting feeders and Josie's back yard.  This bird went north instead of south and was enjoying the cool autumn weather of southern Saskatchewan.  Alas, it's fate is unknown, as it likely never found its way back to the southern United States.  The next morning I got to Grasslands National Park as the sun was coming up and after an hour found what might have been the last remaining Burrowing Owl in the park.  The rest had headed south for the winter.  Back in Ontario, I've been seeing fall specialties like Red Phalarope and Nelson's Sparrow and chasing rarities like Purple Gallinule, Western Cattle-Egret and Little Blue Heron.     With those birds I surpassed my best Ontario species count ever.  We also had two super rare birds, a Graces Warbler, which I was a day late for in Algonquin Provincial Park and a Gray Kingbird in Chatham-Kent.  I wasted no time with that one and raced down the highway to see it.  A new Lifer for both my Ontario,(386) and Canada,(496) lists.   I am exhausted from all the driving, chasing and even just recounting of these stories, not to mention editing this very podcast.  So, it's time to relax, clear your mind of birds and chases and lists and such and listen to Liam Ragan's story of his Vancouver Island Big Year, where he will recount his stories of birds and chases and lists and such on this very podcast.  He even has a few scary tales from the west coast of Canada, as is fitting for a Halloween episode.  So, Happy Halloween, happy birding, and may the Ravens and crows stay away from your eyeballs, while you enjoy yet another episode of The Big Year Podcast. Links: https://friendsofmidway.org/explore/wildlife-plants/birds/albatrosses/laysan-albatross/wisdom-the-albatross/ https://www.birdability.org https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/06/21/that-time-the-us-almost-went-to-war-with-canada-218881/

Chanchal is a medical herbalist and has been in clinical practice since 1987 with a specialty in holistic oncology for over 20 years. She is the author of multiple books, with her latest titled, Holistic Cancer Care: An Herbal Approach to Preventing Cancer, Helping Patients Thrive during Treatment, and Minimizing the Risk of Recurrence. For over 10 years, she was faculty chair in Botanical Medicine at the Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine in New Westminster and she publishes widely in professional journals and lectures internationally on medical herbalism, nutrition and health. Chanchal is also a certified Shinrin Yoku (forest bathing) practitioner, a certified Master Gardener and a certified Horticulture Therapist. Chanchal lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia where she and her husband manage Innisfree Farm and Botanic Garden, a 7 acre internationally registered botanic garden specializing in food and medicine plants. The farm hosts Gardens without Borders, a federally registered not-for-profit society established to run the botanic garden and provide horticulture therapy. To connect with Chanchal: www.chanchalcabrera.com facebook.com/chanchal.cabrera instagram.com/chanchal.cabrera/ YouTube: @chanchal.cabrera ___________ To learn more about the 10 Radical Remission Healing Factors, connect with a certified RR coach or join a virtual or in-person workshop visit www.radicalremission.com.   To watch Episode 1 of the Radical Remission Docuseries for free, visit our YouTube channel here.  To purchase the full 10-episode Radical Remission Docuseries visit Hay House Online Learning. To learn more about Radical Remission health coaching with Liz or Karla, Click Here Follow us on Social Media: Facebook  Instagram YouTube _______________ Why does Dr. Linda Isaacs, M.D., a board-certified internist, offer an enzyme-based nutritional program for cancer patients? Decades of seeing people have much better outcomes than expected. The approach she uses is not an easy answer and it's not a guarantee. It involves a lot of capsules and big lifestyle changes. But for the right patient, it can be transforming. For more information about her work, please visit her website at www.drlindai.com/radical You can also listen to her interview on the Radical Remission podcast: https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-7v5kr-1546ad9

The Island Taste Trail is back - and this year, it's bringing together the flavours of the Comox Valley and Parksville Qualicum Beach in one delicious celebration of local food and community.   In this episode, we head to the Comox Valley Visitor Centre to chat with Samantha Scholefield, one of the driving forces behind the Island Taste Trail. She shares how the program connects local restaurants, producers, and communities while inspiring diners to explore the best of Vancouver Island cuisine. We talk about why initiatives like this are so important for our region — because when you dine local, you truly make a difference. In fact, for every $100 spent at a BC-owned restaurant, $68 stays right here in our local economy, supporting farmers, suppliers, and countless small businesses that make up the heart of our food culture. Join us as we discover what's new this year, which restaurants are participating, and how you can taste your way through the Island this fall! Tune in, get inspired, and support local — one bite at a time.    

What if you didn't know them that well and they asked you inside their home? It could be a safety concern! However, it could also start your neighbourly relationship on the wrong foot. Plus: How ready are you for Halloween? Louvre arrests are finally happening And, Vancouver Island is the best in the world! That and more on today's Nat & Drew Show!

Kevin Spicer, a high school teacher on Vancouver Island, discusses his book "Anchored Teens." Kevin emphasizes the importance of helping teens develop an internal locus of control, resilience, and grit. He notes a decline in teens' self-reliance and confidence, exacerbated by over-scheduling and technology addiction. Kevin advocates for clear standards, consistent consequences, and fostering responsibility. He shares practical strategies, such as setting boundaries, encouraging effort over talent, and using sports to build resilience. The book aims to facilitate dialogues between parents and teens, promoting emotional and social health.I love his quote: "Ability gets us in the room; effort keeps us in the room." www.anchoredteens.comhttps://a.co/d/iIwzEwNanchoredteens1@gmail.com@Anchored.Teens

There are unhoused people living in communities across Vancouver Island, but not every community has a place for them to go on nights when winter weather is so bad that it's dangerous. The province provides funding for winter shelter, so why doesn't everyone apply for it? Host Kathryn Marlow and CBC reporter Maryse Zeidler look at three areas with three different levels of support: Campbell River, Sidney, and the Cowichan Valley.

Send me a Text Message!New York Times bestselling author Chevy Stevens pulls back the curtain on what separates a good thriller from an unforgettable one. And it might not be what you think. In this episode, Chevy reveals her unconventional process for crafting antagonists that readers love to hate. She also shares the exact mindset shift that helped her sustain an eight-book career.If you are... struggling to create believable villainsfeeling stuck in your thriller's plotwondering how to build a lasting writing career in today's marketThis conversation will give you the tools to break through. What Listeners Will Learn:• How to create antagonists that traditional publishers love• The "enough juice" test for evaluating thriller concepts• Why your second book matters more than your firstConnect with Chevy:WebsiteTwitterInstagramChevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she isn't working on her next book, she's spending time with her family and their two dogs. Her books, including Still Missing, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, have been published in more than thirty countries.Episodes I think You'll Love:Author Liz Alterman Reveals Her Weekly Writing Ritual That Transforms First Drafts Into Gold And How to Know When Your Story Idea Is Worth WritingLiterary Agent Amy Nielsen on How to Fix Your Opening Pages Literary Agent Jessica Berg Shares How to Catch an Agent's EyeHow to Write an Opening Chapter that Keeps Readers Reading with Author David McCloskey Get the list of 125+ Literary Agents who rep Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, and Crime Fiction Study the Opening Paragraphs of the Top Authors Writing Thrillers Right Now

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome Culinary Team Canada to the Comox Valley and Campbell River for two incredible culinary events! Host Chef Jonathan sits down with Chef Ronald St. Pierre, one of the team managers, and Chef Lesley Stav, who shares insight into the Senior National Team and their exciting journey toward international competition. We talk about what it takes to represent Canada on the global culinary stage, the precision and passion behind their craft, and what guests can expect from these two extraordinary dinners showcasing the very best of Canadian cuisine. Join us as we celebrate world-class talent, local connections, and a taste of Team Canada right here on Vancouver Island! Looking for tickets try Eventbrite  (Culinary Team Canada)

On the Rhythm Changes Podcast, Nick Peck talks about coming from England to BC, machine learning and the textures and forms that technology produces in collision with the arts, and guitars versus keyboards. Nick is an English composer, pianist, and computer programmer among other things. He is known on the scene for playing in bands with Len Aruliah, Jared Burrows, Nick Hempton, and more diverse artists while being based on Vancouver Island.

In this episode, I shine the spotlight on The Unfaithful Servants through a conversation with singer, guitarist, and songwriter Dylan Stone From Vancouver Island's roots scene to a week immersed at IBMA in Chattanooga, the Servants have built a sound that slips past easy labels: tight three- and four-part harmonies, fearless arrangements, and a blend of bluegrass, folk, alt-country, and Americana that still feels unmistakably like one band.Dylan walks me through the Servants' arc: his partnership with mandolinist Jesse Cobb (a founding member of The Infamous Stringdusters), the jolt of energy when fiddle phenom Quinn Etheridge-Peddon joined, and the final puzzle piece in bassist Mark Johnson. We discuss the chemistry that's palpable onstage and how trust enables them to push beyond genre boundaries while always prioritizing the song.Their new album, Fallen Angel (out October 17), captures that identity. The band converted Quinn's basement into a studio. It brought in producer Adrian Dolan to keep it honest and alive, arrangements evolving in real time, performances that breathe, and the raw cohesion of a working band. We also explore their next steps: incorporating listening-led improvisation into writing (akin to jazz school rather than “endless solo”) and planning U.S. runs in 2026 from the Pacific Northwest down the coast and inland.The title track “Fallen Angel” is out now on all platforms.Band lineupDylan Stone — vocals, guitar, songwritingJesse Cobb — mandolin, instrumental writing, vocalsQuinn Etheridge-Peddon — fiddle, vocalsMark Johnson — bass, vocalsTo learn more about The Unfaithful Servants, visit their website.Music from the Episode:Fallen Angel (The Unfaithful Servants)Real to Touch (The Unfaithful Servants)Thank you for listening! If you have any questions, feedback, or ideas for the show, please contact me at brad@thebandwichtapes.com.

Interview with  Sam Lee, CEO of Northisle Copper & GoldOur previous interview: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/posts/northisle-copper-gold-tsxvncx-district-scale-is-the-prize-8032Recording date: 6th October 2025Northisle Copper & Gold is advancing one of British Columbia's most significant undeveloped copper-gold assets at a pivotal moment when political alignment, commodity fundamentals, and strategic capital partnerships have converged to enable accelerated development. The company controls a major porphyry project hosting over 7 million ounces of gold and 3.5 billion pounds of copper on Vancouver Island.Since CEO Sam Lee joined in October 2020, the company has systematically addressed the critical questions defining success in large-scale porphyry development. Exploration success at Northwest Expo and West Goodspeed delivered higher-grade zones that dramatically reduced capital intensity while improving project economics, culminating in what Lee characterizes as "one of the strongest PEAs I've seen in the market in the last decade."The company's recent $40 million financing marked a transformational milestone, bringing Wheaton Precious Metals as cornerstone investor alongside nine institutions. This partnership establishes a pathway to exceptionally low-cost capital, with streaming arrangements expected to provide financing at 0-4% cost when finalized. Combined with potential Asian strategic partnerships offering 2% export credit financing, Northisle expects blended capital costs of 2-3% for project development.A distinctive feature of Northisle's project is its substantial gold component, which serves as a financial bridge to larger copper production. "We have a very high margin gold project upfront in phase one that allows us to bridge into a big capital intensive copper project," Lee explained. This structure provides execution advantages over copper-only projects while reducing financing risk.The company has assembled a world-class technical team including Kevin O'Kane as Chief Operating Officer, bringing 37 years of BHP experience, and Dr. Pablo Mejia as VP Exploration from Ero Copper. Lee emphasizes unprecedented political alignment across First Nations, provincial, and federal governments as creating an optimal window for accelerated permitting. "In my 30 years of being in the mining industry, I've never seen such political alignment for natural resource development projects like ours," he stated.With favorable copper market dynamics including negative treatment charges and institutional backing secured, Northisle is positioned to advance rapidly toward production while maintaining district-scale expansion potential across a 30-year mining horizon.Learn more: https://www.cruxinvestor.com/companies/northisle-copper-goldSign up for Crux Investor: https://cruxinvestor.com

The ceasefire in Gaza is in place. Now, thousands of people are on the move, trying to return to their homes, their lives. Aid groups are ready to bring in as much aid as possible, as soon as possible. And in Israel, the families of hostages are waiting to hear when their loved ones will come home. But still, there is fear and worry the deal won't hold.And: The mail will start moving again. Postal workers say they will shift from a total strike to rotating work stoppages.Also: The winner of this year's Nobel Peace prize is… not U.S. President Donald Trump — despite the fact he openly campaigned for the honour. It went instead to Maria Corina Machado, known as Venezuela's Iron Lady.Plus: Letitia James indictment backlash, Canada adds 60,000 jobs, a small city on Vancouver Island is emerging as a new epicentre in Canada's toxic drug crisis, Taiwan's National day, and more.

Chevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she isn't working on her next book, she's spending time with her family and their two dogs. Her books, including Still Missing, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, have been published in more than thirty countries.Killer Women Podcast is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network#podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #chevystevens #stmartinspress

Chevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she isn't working on her next book, she's spending time with her family and their two dogs. Her books, including Still Missing, a New York Times bestseller and winner of the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel, have been published in more than thirty countries. Killer Women Podcast is copyrighted by Authors on the Air Global Radio Network #podcast #author #interview #authors #KillerWomen #KillerWomenPodcast #authorsontheair #podcast #podcaster #killerwomen #killerwomenpodcast #authors #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram #authorinterview #writingcommunity #authorsontheair #suspensebooks #authorssupportingauthors #thrillerbooks #suspense #wip #writers #writersinspiration #books #bookrecommendations #bookaddict #bookaddicted #bookaddiction #bibliophile #read #amreading #lovetoread #daniellegirard #daniellegirardbooks #chevystevents #stmartinspress

New York Times bestselling author, Chevy Steven, discusses her fantastic new release, THE HITCHHIKERS. Unaware of the sinister secret they are hiding, a couple offers a ride to two nice, young hitchhikers. As one horror after another unfolds on the road, the couple must decide how far they are willing to go to make it home alive. "…frightening and viscerally chilling ..." –Karin Slaughter, New York Times bestselling author Listen in as we chat about when we begin to trust strangers, how Chevy captured the exact feel of the 1970s, and who has a special cameo in this story! (NOTE: Yes, I am laughing that hard in this pic. In addition to being a fantastic thriller author, she's also hysterically funny!) https://www.mariesutro.com/twisted-passages-podcast https://chevystevens.com ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Chevy Stevens lives on Vancouver Island with her husband and daughter. When she's not working on her next book, she's hiking with her two dogs on her favorite mountain trails and spending time with her family. Chevy's current obsessions are vintage airstreams, Hollywood memoirs, all things mid-century modern, and stand-up comedians--not necessarily in that order. Her debut novel, STILL MISSING, was a New York Times bestseller and won the International Thriller Writers Award for Best First Novel. Her books, including THOSE GIRLS which Stephen King called "incredibly scary", have been published in more than thirty countries. Her novel, DARK ROADS, will be released summer 2021. Please visit her at www.ChevyStevens.com.

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer “Boiler” Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described “pro-yapper”, improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker.  Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Island Trail—journeys that brought him face-to-face with some incredible wildlife, from bears to whales to the elusive sea wolf.  We also dive into his recent hike on the PCT—how he broke the record for pies per mile, the notoriety that earned him on trail, navigating people's perceptions as a plus-sized hiker, how his trek deepened his connection to his queer identity, and, of course, his unapologetic hatred for gear talk (which I make him do). We wrap the show with news on New Zealand's most famous thru-hike getting a whole lot pricier, tackle the age-old question of which liquids we'd want to dispense from our fingers, we do the  Triple Crown of tummy aches, and hear a listener's compelling pitch for taking this circus to the Pacific Northwest. Gossamer Gear: Use code "LT520" for 20% off LT5 Trekking Poles at gossamergear.com.  Ombraz: Use code “BACKPACKER30” for $30 off at ombraz.com/discount/backpacker30. [divider] Interview with Spencer “Boiler” Dunn Spencer's Instagram Spencer's Youtube Spencer's Substack Time stamps & Questions 00:03:00 - Apply to blog for the Trek, take the 2025 AT Thru-Hiker survey, and listen to our episodes ad-free on Patreon! 00:06:25 - Introducing Boiler 00:08:50 - How did you get your trail name? 00:10:20 - What's your outdoors origin story? 00:12:30 - What is Parks Canada? 00:15:40 - What's the difference between national parks in the US and Canada? 00:17:10 - What is the outdoors culture like in Canada? 00:20:15 - Is there a community around the Bruce Trail? 00:23:10 - Do you think there's a hunger for more long trails in Canada? 00:25:00 - How did you end up on the PCT? 00:26:00 - What gear did you start with? 00:32:00 - Discussion about Boiler's PCT hike 00:32:53 - Tell us about making pies on the PCT 00:41:55 - What was your favorite town? 00:43:20 - More pie talk 00:45:38 - Discussion about being a fatter hiker 00:56:50 - Do you have any advice for someone who wants to follow in your footsteps? 00:58:45 - Discussion about differences between men and women on the trail 01:01:10 - Did you have any uncomfortable situations on trail? 01:06:50 - Do you feel more or less of a stigma in Canada? 01:09:12 - Life on trail as a BNOT 01:12:01 - Did you ever put yourself in a situation for the story? 01:14:17 - Discussion about being a BNOT 01:15:30 - Tell us about your hiking on Vancouver Island 01:24:55 - Discussion about campsites on Vancouver Island 01:26:45 - Tell us about seeing wolves 01:32:40 - Fuck Marry Kill: The West Coast Trail, North Coast Trail, and Nootka Trail 01:35:05 - How do the 3 trails compare to each other? 01:40:25 - Differences between Americans and Canadians 02:04:00 - Where can people keep up with you? Segments Trek Propaganda: The Hardest Thru Hike in the World is About to Get a Lot More Expensive by Lisa Slutsken QOTD:  If you could dispense different liquids from each finger on one hand, which liquids would you choose? Triple Crown of tummy aches Mail Bag 5 Star Review [divider] Check out our sound guy @my_boy_pauly/ and his coffee. Sign up for the Trek's newsletter Leave us a voicemail! Subscribe to this podcast on iTunes (and please leave us a review)!  Find us on Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Play. Support us on Patreon to get bonus content. Advertise on Backpacker Radio Follow The Trek, Chaunce, Badger, and Trail Correspondents on Instagram. Follow Backpacker Radio, The Trek and Chaunce on YouTube. Follow Backpacker Radio on Tik Tok.  Our theme song is Walking Slow by Animal Years A super big thank you to our Chuck Norris Award winner(s) from Patreon: Alex and Misty with NavigatorsCrafting, Andrew, Austen McDaniel, Bill Jensen, Brad & Blair Thirteen Adventures, Bryan Alsop, Carl Houde, Christopher Marshburn, Clint Sitler, Coach from Marion Outdoors, Eric Casper, Erik Hofmann, Ethan Harwell, Gillian Daniels, Go Bills, Greg Knight, Greg Martin, Griffin Haywood, Hailey Buckingham, Matt from Gilbert, AZ, Patrick Cianciolo, Rebecca Brave, Rural Juror, Sawyer Products, SPAM, The Saint Louis Shaman, Timothy Hahn, Tracy ‘Trigger' Fawns A big thank you to our Cinnamon Connection Champions from Patreon: Bells, Benjy Lowry, Bonnie Ackerman, Brett Vandiver, Chris Pyle, David, David Neal, Dcnerdlet, Greg Floravanti “Lumberjack”, Jack Greene, Jeanie, Jeanne Latshaw, Luke Netjes, Merle Watkins, Peter, Quenten Jones, Ruth S, Salt Stain, and Spencer Hinson.

Former FBI director James Comey is indicted for allegedly lying to Congress. Our guest says when it comes to political interference by the Trump administration, the case is already setting a dangerous precedent. Bullets with inscriptions seem to keep showing up at shootings in the U.S. as an often cryptic kind of manifesto. But as the messages get coverage, our guest worries it's giving other shooters more ammunition. Dozens of delegates walked out en masse as the Israeli Prime Minister addressed the U-N General Assembly today. And Benjamin Netanyahu had much to say about the countries, including Canada, that recognized Palestinian statehood this week.It's do or die for Canada at the finals of the Women's Rugby World Cup. A Canadian Olympic medalist says tomorrow will be the country's best chance to show it can beat the dominant England team -- after a string of losses. When she first purchased a butterfly sanctuary on Vancouver Island, our guest was winging it. But nearly a decade later, she says she's loved every minute...and is looking for a new owner to take over. An 80-year-old Nashville man tells us about his storied barefoot runs, and what it means to have his grandson join him. As It Happens, the Friday Edition. Radio that wouldn't want to be in their shoes ... you know, if they wore them.

What would you sacrifice to bring back someone you've lost? How far would you go to preserve a love that defies death itself? These are the questions at the heart of Corina Halley's mesmerizing psychological thriller, "Grave Matter."When Sydney arrives at the remote Madrona Foundation on Vancouver Island, she's eager to participate in groundbreaking scientific research that could revolutionize treatments for neurological conditions like the Alzheimer's that took her grandmother. The isolation doesn't bother her – she's focused on the work and the opportunity to prove herself after losing her Stanford scholarship. But from the moment her fellow passenger Amani mysteriously vanishes upon arrival, Sydney senses something deeply wrong with the foundation.The cult-like atmosphere becomes increasingly unsettling – surrendered phones, ironclad NDAs, and a disturbing mantra: "Don't try to change the lodge, let the lodge change you." When Sydney encounters Professor Wes Kincaid, the brooding lead researcher who also serves as the mandatory psychologist for all participants, their immediate attraction creates a dangerous complication. Their relationship evolves from tense therapy sessions to forbidden romance, all while Sydney experiences increasingly terrifying phenomena – visions of a girl hanging from a tree, a half-rotted wolf with a still-beating heart covered in fungus, and the persistent feeling that her reality keeps glitching.The truth, when it finally emerges, is more horrifying than Sydney could have imagined. The Madrona Foundation's experiments with the mysterious "excandesco amanita" fungus aren't just about curing disease – they're about conquering death itself. And Sydney isn't experiencing these events for the first time; she died on the island and was brought back, her memories reset multiple times as part of an ongoing experiment orchestrated by the foundation's ruthless leaders.As Sydney pieces together her fragmented reality and fights to expose the truth, she must decide if the love she's found with Wes is worth the terrible price they've both paid. Can something beautiful grow from such darkness? And when you've been rewritten by science that defies nature, can you ever truly trust yourself again?Dive into this haunting tale of science gone wrong, the lingering power of memory, and a love that refuses to die. Your perception of reality will never be the same.Support the showEditing done by Connor Luther @clfilms.coMusic by @thundercatlouisMerch Here

Originally from Vancouver Island, Russell Floyd has called Prince George, British Columbia home since 2014. He is the owner and operator of Backcountry Blacksmiths, a mobile farriery business serving equine athletes and working horses across Northern BC. A 2003 graduate of the Olds College Farrier Program, Russell began his career balancing horseshoeing with guiding hunting expeditions in BC's wilderness—a passion that eventually led him north.Russell is among only three Canadians to earn the prestigious Associate of the Worshipful Company of Farriers (AWCF) designation. He is also a Certified Journeyman Farrier with the AFA and holds the Advanced Skills Farrier certification through the Farrier International Testing System. A seasoned competitor, Russell has represented Canada as a three-time member of the Canadian Farrier Team, led the inaugural North 49 season in 2022, and continues to compete in the Western Canadian circuit and the World Championship Blacksmiths (WCB) series.Education is central to Russell's mission. He contributes regularly to the Anatomy Corner of the FAWS newsletter, serves as an examiner for the AFTC apprenticeship program, and shares his expertise through clinics, dissection labs, and mentorship on topics including limb anatomy, case studies, competition preparation, business development, and professional mindset. As a six-time past president of the Western Canadian Farriers Association, he remains dedicated to raising industry standards.Russell and his wife, Anya, an equine veterinarian, aspire to open a collaborative clinic integrating farrier and veterinary care. He proudly supports local equine events, including Rodeo PG and North Central BC CADORA shows, and continues to guide part-time through the Guide Outfitters Association of BC. Prince George provides the perfect backdrop for his outdoor lifestyle, which includes fishing, hunting, camping, skiing, hiking, and snowmobiling. Recently, Russell graduated from the Western College of Auctioneering, donating his time to help local clubs and associations fundraise through auctioneering.Passionate about financial literacy, business development, and skilled trades, Russell believes trades are the backbone of strong communities. His goal is to keep learning, keep building, and achieve the Fellowship of the Worshipful Company of Farriers, while mentoring the next generation of tradespeople to build sustainable, fulfilling careers.

Episode 500 ~ September 18, 2025 Podcast Info / Topics Alan Drummond of Kingdom Outdoor Products joins us to chat about Fat Bear Week, Paddlepalooza, kayak camping on Georgian Bay, paddling to Mohawk Island on Lake Erie, and a man that circumnavigated Vancouver Island on a standup paddleboard (and a few other topics)

Diane Michelin is a Canadian watercolour artist whose work is deeply rooted in the spirit and subtleties of fly fishing. Born in Montreal, she now lives on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Diane draws inspiration from the landscape, water, wildlife, flies, rods and reels, and the human moments that make up the fly-fishing experience. Over her career, she has built a global presence, with her work housed in private collections, fishing lodges, and museums around the world. In this episode of Anchored, Diane offers a personal glimpse into her life and artistic journey, sharing how rivers and reels became her canvas, and how she continues to capture the soul of angling through brush and watercolour. Looking to go deeper with your learning? Come see what we've been working on at AnchoredOutdoors.com. We've built a library of 30 in-depth, sequentially organized Masterclasses taught by past guests of this podcast — and we've watched over 1,000 members grow their confidence and skills on the water. Want to check it out for free? No money down, no strings attached. Just head to anchoredoutdoors.com/premium-insiders/ Anchored listeners can get 10% off their first order with Skwala by using the code “anchored10” at check out. See for yourself at skwalafishing.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suave Golf's Kyle Surlow and Steve 'Beige' Berger reunite to discuss the Walker Cup at Cypress Point Club and Rory McIlroy's impressive win at the Irish Open, before previewing the tournaments at Wentworth and Silverado. They delve into the differences between match play and stroke play, highlight emerging talents in the sport, and share personal anecdotes from recent golf trips. The conversation also touches on the latest golf news, including Bryson DeChambeau at Cypress Point and Tyrrell Hatton's candid press conference. Finally, they recount the fun and competitive spirit of the Penny Cup and touch on Vancouver Island as a golf destination. Support those who support us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SUAVE GOLF⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - world-class golf sabbaticals and fine goods ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hot Drops⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ fermented & flavorful condiments ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Golf Guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ - purveyors of discounted greens fees across Northern California WATCH - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Like & Subscribe to Nice Grass Nice People⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTube Email us! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠nicegrassnicepeople@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From salmon leaping along the Vancouver Island coast to fake bands on Spotify, this episode explores the divide between the physical and digital economy, and what lumber markets, managed forests, and everyday life teach us about staying connected to the real.Topics covered include:How timber investing works and why it is reflective of how industries evolveWhat percent of economic output is physical versus digital, and how has that changed over the past fifty yearsHow households spend their leisure timeWhy live events stand out in an AI-infested worldDoes it matter if ad images, videos, and podcasts are fake?Why we need to stay connected to the realSponsorsClaude.ai - Sign up for Claude today and get 50% off Claude ProDelete Me – Use code David20 to get 20% offShow NotesLumber Prices Are Flashing a Warning Sign for the U.S. Economy by Ryan Dezember—The Wall Street JournalLumber Price—Trading EconomicsJ.Crew used A.I. to counterfeit their own vibes—Blackbird SpylaneAmerican Time Use Survey Summary—U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsRelated Episodes535: Six Principles for Thriving Under Uncertainty and How Big Tech Is Doing the Opposite 531: Will AI Wipe Out Half of White Collar Jobs or Is There an AI Bubble?60: Are You Hoarding Or Investing?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sarah Boon joins Let's Talk Memoir for a conversation about allowing elements of a memoir to reveal themselves, radical acceptance of what we need as a writer and what we can feasibly accomplish with the resources we have, getting to know who we are as creatives, publishing with an academic press and the peer review process, navigating refusals, struggling with narrative arc, her experience as a woman and a scientist doing research in remote locations, breaking away from science writing to write a science memoir, living with bipolar II and anxiety, the effect of mental illness on creative process, being gentler with ourselves, pivoting from working alone to sharing a personal story, and her new memoir Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist.   Also in this episode: -writing groups -living with an invisible illness -discovering the trajectory for your book   Books mentioned in this episode: The Solitude of Open Spaces by Gretel Ehrlich The Only Woman in the Room  Eileen Pollack  Mean and Lowly Things: Survival: Snakes, Science, and Survival in the Congo by Kate Jackson   Sarah Boon, PhD, has published essays, book reviews, and author interviews for the LA Review of Books, Hippocampus, The Rumpus, Brevity Blog, Science, Nature and other outlets. Her first book, Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist, came out with University of Alberta Press in June of 2025. She lives on southern Vancouver Island with her husband and dog, and is working on her next book.   Connect with Sarah: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHjQHnRpPTG/ BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/snowhydro.bsky.social FB: https://www.facebook.com/sarah.boon.31 www.melt-down.ca www.watershednotes.ca Get the book:  For Canadians: https://www.indiebookstores.ca/book/9781772127911/ For Americans: https://bookshop.org/p/books/meltdown-the-making-and-breaking-of-a-field-scientist-sarah-boon/21630061?ean=9781772127911   – Ronit's writing has appeared in The Atlantic, The Rumpus, The New York Times, Poets & Writers, The Iowa Review, Hippocampus, The Washington Post, Writer's Digest, American Literary Review, and elsewhere. Her memoir WHEN SHE COMES BACK about the loss of her mother to the guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh and their eventual reconciliation was named Finalist in the 2021 Housatonic Awards Awards, the 2021 Indie Excellence Awards, and was a 2021 Book Riot Best True Crime Book. Her short story collection HOME IS A MADE-UP PLACE won Hidden River Arts' 2020 Eludia Award and the 2023 Page Turner Awards for Short Stories.  She earned an MFA in Nonfiction Writing at Pacific University, is Creative Nonfiction Editor at The Citron Review, and teaches memoir through the University of Washington's Online Continuum Program and also independently. She launched Let's Talk Memoir in 2022, lives in Seattle with her family of people and dogs, and is at work on her next book. More about Ronit: https://ronitplank.com Subscribe to Ronit's Substack: https://substack.com/@ronitplank Follow Ronit: https://www.instagram.com/ronitplank/ https://www.facebook.com/RonitPlank https://bsky.app/profile/ronitplank.bsky.social   Background photo credit: Photo by Patrick Tomasso on Unsplash Headshot photo credit: Sarah Anne Photography Theme music: Isaac Joel, Dead Moll's Fingers