Send us a text What a ride! In this final episode of A Resilience Project, we celebrate the incredible journey of the past 3 ½ years. The stories of remarkable resilience, overcoming, healing and discovering one’s strength. As individuals around the world held space for these stories and found comfort in realizing they too can bounce back even stronger than before. Join us for this episode as we meet the incredible - team some of whom have supported this vision from the beginning and those who j...
Jul 29, 2024•55 min•Ep. 117
Send us a text Have you ever wondered what courage, strength, or fortitude you might have if faced with a life-changing adversity? This week’s guest, Sarah de Lagarde, faced such a challenge in 2022 when an accident on the London Underground that resulted in her becoming a double amputee. Sharing the intimate thoughts and emotions she experienced during the hardest moments of her life, Sarah provides a candid lens into the resilience practices she relied on to bounce back and heal. Sarah’s journ...
Jun 24, 2024•51 min•Ep. 116
Send us a text Can Life's Greatest Adversities Become Our Strongest Triumphs? In this episode, we delve into the incredible story of J.R. Martinez, a true testament to turning life's greatest adversities into powerful and inspiring narratives. J.R. Martinez, a former U.S. Army soldier, will not forget the harrowing roadside bomb explosion that left him with severe burns on 34% of his body. Enduring 34 months of recovery and 33 surgeries, J.R.'s journey of healing forged an unbreakable spirit and...
Jun 10, 2024•55 min•Ep. 115
Send us a text What does it take to transform life's most challenging seasons into a story of hope and inspiration? In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary journey of Patricia Morgan, author of "Love Her as She Is." Patricia's story is a testament to the unpredictable, heartwarming, and often heartbreaking journey of motherhood. When Patricia and her husband adopted their daughter Kelly at 6, they embarked on a journey of profound love, unique challenges and endless fears. After years o...
May 27, 2024•45 min•Ep. 114
Send us a text “You're not focused enough unless you're mourning some of the things you're saying no to." When Cindy first read these poignant words from James Clear, it felt like they were written just for her. For 30 years, Cindy has helped folks grow, heal, and reach for their potential as a clinical counsellor, executive coach and host of A Resilience Project. Yet counsellors and coaches are humans, too—and we ALL can easily overextend ourselves (even with the activities we love most). In th...
May 13, 2024•37 min•Ep. 113
Send us a text Have you ever stopped to consider the emotional toll on those who are committed to the unique lifestyle of farming and the agriculture industry? In this episode we are digging deep into the roots of mental health challenges in the field of agriculture and the families impacted by this lifestyle. Our guest, Lewellyn Melnyk, plants seeds of insight as she shares her journey from journalism to cultivating resilience as a farmer. As the author of "Rooted: How I stay small town strong ...
Apr 29, 2024•42 min•Ep. 112
Send us a text In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary life of Janet Applefield, whose journey through adversity began during the invasion of Poland in 1939. Separated from her parents at the age of 7 during the upheaval of the Holocaust, Janet endured years of uncertainty and danger, learning the necessity of silence to protect her cultural identity. Generously giving us a glimpse into her memoir, "Becoming Janet: Finding Myself in the Holocaust” and no longer content to remain silent,...
Apr 15, 2024•36 min•Ep. 111
Send us a text Ever since she was two years old, Debra Atlas felt like she was living behind a mask. It wasn’t until later in life that she was treated for depression – a diagnosis that has brought her tremendous insight, empathy, and strength. As an environmental journalist, author, professional speaker, blogger and workshop leader, Debra is widely celebrated as a thought leader, driven by her desire to inspire and empower her readers and clients. An expert communicator, she was also a radio pe...
Apr 01, 2024•34 min•Ep. 110
Send us a text In this episode, we delve into the transformative power of embracing life fully, even amidst challenges. Our guest, Jocelyn Dettloff, shares her remarkable journey from adventurous escapades to unexpected setbacks and the resilience that emerged. Jocelyn, author of "It Rained in the Desert," exemplifies living without regret by following her passions and trusting that inner voice that whispers “keep moving”. From daring escapades in Namibia, Africa, to overcoming unforeseen challe...
Mar 18, 2024•38 min•Ep. 109
Send us a text In this compelling episode of A Resilience Project podcast, Cindy Thompson engages in a rich conversation with her daughter, Breanna Thompson, a counselor, and Claire Miller, a youth pastor and social worker both serving as missionaries in Nairobi, Kenya. This episode delves into their experiences of living and working in a foreign culture, offering profound insights and wisdom. Breanna's journey, starting as a teacher at an international school seven years ago, and now completing...
Mar 04, 2024•49 min•Ep. 108
Send us a text Brace yourself for a powerful narrative that explores pivotal moments in the life of author Brandi Cox. On the heels of her newly released memoir "In Better Hands," Brandi reflects on her formative years shaped by sorrow, growth, and overcoming. As her remarkable story unfolds, Brandi recalls one pivotal, traumatic day that could have altered the course of her life – if she had let it. As Brandi courageously discusses sensitive topics like depression and suicide, it serves as a be...
Feb 19, 2024•44 min•Ep. 107
Send us a text In his late twenties, Justin’s life changed when he was hit by a car on his newly purchased Vespa—while on the way to buy a helmet. Initially, as Justin recovered from his coma, he was unable to talk and had limited mobility. Yet Justin has learned to live with the internal scars and physical manifestations of a traumatic brain injury, refusing to let it stand in the way of his success. Today, Justin works as a neuroplastician, behavioural science professor, TEDx speaker, author, ...
Feb 05, 2024•42 min•Ep. 106
Send us a text As a child, Bayley Russell would sit with her grandfather as he told her about Mt. Everest—its marvel and majesty, its terrifying danger, its haunting call to adventure-seeking climbers. Years ago, Bayley was finally able to see Nepal for herself on a mission trip. She fell in love with the people, culture, and breathtaking landscape, which sparked a dream of hiking to the base camp of Mt. Everest one day. With extensive preparation and research, Bayley and her husband, Corey, pla...
Jan 22, 2024•44 min•Ep. 105
Send us a text In this poignant episode of A Resilience Project, Cindy Thompson welcomes Debbie McCulloch, a retired pharmacist and host of the podcast "Older & Bolder." Drawing from personal tragedy, Debbie discusses the traumatic loss of her youngest sister to homicide, an unsolved case that continues to haunt her family. Delving into the lasting impact of traumatic loss on co-victims and shedding light on the emotional toll they face, Debbie shares the unique perspective of those left to ...
Jan 08, 2024•44 min•Ep. 104
Send us a text Have you noticed how easy it is to focus on the adversities or inconveniences in your day? If you are someone who feels like the world is against you, or that nothing ever seems to go your way you are not alone. In a world saturated with negative news and overwhelming events, it is easy to succumb to a mindset that constantly anticipates risks and dangers. Join Cindy Thompson as she delves into the “What is Going Well” practice, inspired by Dr. Martin Seligman’s positive psycholog...
Dec 11, 2023•24 min•Ep. 103
Send us a text Why is finding our purpose in life so important to our wellbeing? If we are not clear on what fulfills us, we might find ourselves wandering through life feeling empty and unmotivated. Once we click into our purpose and meaning, we discover what truly fills our cup. In this episode, Cindy Thompson, host of A Resilience Project is the guest of Peter McCully on the PQB Beat podcast. Drawing on her own life lessons and professional insights, Cindy delves into the heart and soul of “A...
Nov 27, 2023•19 min•Ep. 102
Send us a text Can you recall the last time you had a long stretch of challenges, back-to-back with no end in sight? When this happens, do you find yourself wondering” why me?” It is natural to feel like this season will never end, and it is especially difficult to recognize the opportunities hidden within the adversity. The good news? When life is confronting you with challenges, and testing the outer edges of your strengths, you have a choice. Will you live in fear or embrace what is serving y...
Nov 13, 2023•43 min•Ep. 101
Send us a text How can you live with resilience and well-being in a world filled with stress, fear, and endless demands? Dr. Susan Biali Haas is here to show us it’s possible to break the cycle of overwhelm and exhaustion using simple, science-based shifts that restore joy, health, and meaning to your work and life. An award-winning medical doctor, Dr. Susan is internationally recognized for her expertise in mental health, stress management, burnout prevention, and resilience. In addition to 20 ...
Oct 30, 2023•44 min•Ep. 100
Send us a text If you reflect on some of the major adversities in life, who are the people who picked you up and encouraged you to carry on? Whether it is friends, family or significant other, having someone walk you through is critical for bouncing back. But what if it isn’t easy to connect with others? Amid the early challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the Kierstead family, like many others, were simply trying to navigate these uncertain times. Little did they know that they were abou...
Oct 16, 2023•47 min•Ep. 99
Send us a text Do you have a first aid kit tucked away in your car or home? Have you ever purchased insurance of some kind? Or created a plan in case of an emergency? For many of us, we don’t think twice about preparing for disasters. But how often do we think about building our own personal resilience plan to weather times of uncertainty, chaos, or distress? Exploring the idea of a resilience plan is often on the mind of Dr. Marie-Helene Pelletier, a bilingual and award-winning workplace mental...
Oct 02, 2023•41 min•Ep. 98
Send us a text Does it feel like an increased number of people around you are experiencing burnout? Since the start of the pandemic, burnout levels have been increasing across all levels of organizations. At the end of 2022, the data showed that 33% of Canadians reported feeling burned out, while that number doubled among workers in healthcare. Why is this happening? What is burnout and how do we recognize it? More importantly, what do we do about it? Julia Somody, psychologist, and leadership c...
Sep 18, 2023•50 min•Ep. 97
Send us a text When you have a really challenging day at work, what helps you through? What if that really hard day turns into several hard days in a row or even months? What would motivate you stay committed to the job and show up fully? In 2020 while the world was reeling from the pandemic, COVID-19 was also sweeping through Vancouver Island, targeting some of the most vulnerable individuals. As the Chief motivator and Executive director at Eden Gardens long-term care home, Erin Beaudoin could...
Sep 04, 2023•50 min•Ep. 96
Send us a text A diagnosis can change everything. For Taryn Nergaard, hers was the missing piece to her lifelong story of struggle and resilience. After being diagnosed with ADHD and autism later in life, Taryn felt like she could finally stop wearing the masks she’d always hidden behind and begin a new journey toward authenticity, self-compassion, and peace. Driven by a deep passion for helping people thrive, Taryn is now a certified trauma-informed personal development and soul care coach for ...
Jul 17, 2023•49 min•Ep. 95
Send us a text As a high achiever, Joanne Greene would suggest she spent most of her life needing to be in control. Finding value in productivity, and perfection over vulnerability, she preferred to be in the driver’s seat. It wasn’t until Joanne was in a fluke accident, sustaining severe injuries that she discovered her true power. Joanne never bought the adage “little girls should be seen and not heard.” She's used her voice on San Francisco radio and television, to explore the issues of our t...
Jul 03, 2023•44 min•Ep. 94
Send us a text How can we re-calibrate our connection with others? What role do relationships play in our well-being—and our resilience? Dr. Jody Carrington’s reverence for connection is deeply embedded in her work as a psychologist, best-selling author, and public speaker. In her book, Feeling Seen: Reconnecting in a Disconnected World, Dr. Jody suggests we’ve never been as disconnected as we are now. But when we create connection, we re-discover joy. Dr. Jody has a strong affinity for helping ...
Jun 19, 2023•45 min•Ep. 93
Send us a text Can you recall a time when you witnessed the remarkable achievements and success of someone and considered them to be fortunate, blessed, or lucky? If we want to find the true essence of one's success, we might take a closer look at the habits, discipline and fortitude that were the pillars of resilience. Colleen Jones has a list of successes, notoriety, and awards. Whether she is known as a TV personality and first female sports reporter with CBC Halifax, her role as the skip of ...
Jun 05, 2023•43 min•Ep. 92
Send us a text As a two-time melanoma cancer survivor, Lorie knows the challenges of navigating the choppy waters of life all too well. After her experience with cancer and recovery, Lorie set sail on a new voyage and became a certified mindfulness and meditation teacher, helping her clients build resilience through their own storms. Speaking with us from her sailboat on the coast of Florida, Lorie is also host of the podcast “Sailing Through Life,” which is anchored in the stories of inspiring ...
May 22, 2023•43 min•Ep. 91
Send us a text Many of us understand that being involved with sports has several benefits, but how does it grow our Resilience? Ask anyone who played or continues to be involved with sports, and they will likely tell you some of their best connections and long-time friendships originated from playing on a team. Aside from growing our community, learning to play a sport offers countless opportunities to grow our Resilience. As a soccer player, Adam Lang had learned to work hard, celebrate the win...
May 08, 2023•44 min•Ep. 90
Send us a text Welcoming a child into the world is a monumental moment in a parent’s life. But for Nikki Holekamp and her husband, amidst the joy and celebration of her son’s birth, it was also a time of heartache, confusion, and fear. Their son Asher was born with Distal Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a rare genetic condition. One in a million people will have this diagnosis. At less than two years, and limited mobility in his lower body some specialists suggest Asher may never walk. Months of search...
Apr 24, 2023•43 min•Ep. 89
Send us a text Have you noticed that sometimes the very thing that lights us up can become the very thing that can burn us out? After a long career as a first responder in his hometown community of Salt Spring Island, Arjuna George was on a silent yet destructive path to burnout. In this inspiring podcast episode, a retired firefighter and author, he shares his journey toward healing from chronic stress, moral injury, and trauma. Drawing on the extensive inventory of self-care strategies in his ...
Apr 10, 2023•44 min•Ep. 88
