Send us Fan Mail In what ways have you evolved as an educator throughout each stage of your career? To what extent has reflection played a role in moving you forward in a way that helps to embrace the change needed to deepen your pedagogy and practice? In today’s episode, I interview Jon Davidson, currently working as curriculum coordinator at the King Abdul University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. Jon is a leader in the field of education who continually strives for excellence in d...
Oct 18, 2016•1 hr 6 min
Send us Fan Mail Life is so incredibly precious but very fragile at the same time. Without question every single one of us experiences hardship and obstacles that can impede our growth and development in life. When faced with such roadblocks, what is our default setting in regards to how we respond to these challenges? Does the way in which we respond to crisis help to empower or disempower our own narratives? In today’s episode, Cory Weissman and I discuss his moving story and the major life le...
Oct 13, 2016•1 hr
Send us Fan Mail Life offers us many opportunities for growth and development from both a personal and professional perspective. When we remain open to what these experiences can teach us, we ultimately provide ourselves with the tools necessary to see our work and purpose through a different lens. In today’s #RunYourLife episode, Dr. Martha James-Hassan shares her major life lessons learned throughout her 25 years in education and how these lessons continually help to shape her professional pra...
Sep 16, 2016•1 hr 12 min
Send us Fan Mail When trying to better understand what mindfulness means and the powerful role it plays in education, it is important to continually search for resources that can help us learn more about it. In celebration of the 10th episode of ‘4 X Mindfulness’, Andy and Neila take the time to share their top ten go to resources that have helped to shape their mindfulness practice. Included in this top ten list are inspiring people, books, Ted Talks, and online resources that Andy and Neila ho...
Sep 14, 2016•37 min
Send us Fan Mail What is your formula for success when it comes to deepening your learning of things that you are passionate about? What role does reflection play in this process? How often do you take the quiet time necessary to recharge your own batteries in order to be at your best both personally and professionally? What types of patterns and routines present themselves when eating each meal/snack of the day? To what degree do our emotions cloud the decisions that we make when trying to over...
Sep 06, 2016•38 min
Send us Fan Mail Gratitude, Reflection and Being PresentCapturing more time in our lives to better develop our sense of well-being is no easy task. When trying to integrate more mindfulness practice into our lives, we must adapt and modify these strategies in a way that best suits who we are and our level of comfort with putting these approaches into action. There certainly is no ‘one size fits all’ when it comes to employing more mindfulness in our lives. Some things will resonate more greatly ...
Aug 24, 2016•35 min
Send us Fan Mail To what extent do the roles of creativity and innovation play a factor in your personal and professional development? In what ways do you learn best and how does this learning apply to the work that you do? In today’s episode, Denise Rosetto, the Creative Director at BBDO Toronto shares her work, her journey, and major life lessons learned over the 20 years that she has worked in the advertising industry. Our productivity and levels of success are often a result of drawing upon ...
Aug 22, 2016•1 hr 7 min
Send us Fan Mail What do new beginnings really mean? Our 7th episode of ‘4 x Mindfulness’ is devoted to change and new beginnings which occur on multiple levels within our lives. Each seed of mindfulness that is discussed in today’s episode is about becoming more present and aware when approaching our life and work but doing so in a different manner. Looking at change and new beginnings through a different set of lenses allows us to become more fully cognizant of things we wouldn’t normally pay ...
Aug 08, 2016•25 min
Send us Fan Mail In the 6th installment of ‘4 X Mindfulness’, Neila and Andy record this episode live at Blue Mountain Ski Resort in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. Neila shares specific strategies related to mindful walking and hiking that are immediately applicable in your own environment wherever it is you may live. As well, she also shares an excellent breathing strategy (called the ‘stoplight breath’) that helps to reduce anxiety and stress that you may experience while driving. Andy shares a...
Jul 25, 2016•38 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, best selling author, Michael Bungay Stanier and I have an in-depth discussion about his latest book entitled The Coaching Habit: Say Less, Ask More & Change the Way You Lead Forever. Michael provides a rich insight into the power of questioning and the role it plays in empowering those around us. Although Michael’s work is deeply rooted and directed toward the corporate world, there is excellent takeaway value for all educators who listen to this podcast. Gr...
Jul 15, 2016•48 min
Send us Fan Mail The 5th installment of ‘4 X Mindfulness’ was recorded live at Manhattan Bar and Grill in Nanjing, China. This is the last podcast that Neila and Andy recorded while living in China, so this episode took on a special meaning as they are saying good bye to the life they’ve known for the past five years. Neila shared her two seeds of insight and inspiration for the past week with the first one being rooted in the idea of non-attachment and the nature of impermanence in our lives. S...
Jun 27, 2016•39 min
Send us Fan Mail As educators, we can sometimes entrench ourselves in certain ways of thinking when it comes to what is best for students to be able to know, understand and do. In today’s episode, Tom Johnson and I have an in-depth discussion about the importance of removing ourselves from these entrenched positions and to approach teaching and learning differently. The journey of learning is a noble pursuit that both teacher and student must be equal stakeholders. However, in order to create th...
Jun 22, 2016•1 hr 17 min
Send us Fan Mail In the 4th installment of our 4 X Mindfulness series, Neila shares a specific strategy that helps to put stressful situations into better perspective in our lives through the 10-10-10 approach. This approach can easily be modified in multiple different ways, but what is most important to realize is that it is all about better coping with stress. Added to this Neila also shares another strategy that she playfully puts into pratice in her life which is called the 20-second hug. Ev...
Jun 20, 2016•38 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Craig Harrison shares his work and research related to helping young people to find a love of movement and physical activity through sport and other recreational endeavours. Craig is highly committed to ensuring that all young people have an opportunity to connect with movement and understand the positive impact that it can have in their lives. His interpretation of the ‘student athlete’ is different than you would imagine. Craig and I deconstruct what it me...
Jun 15, 2016•1 hr 8 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Neila and Andy record live from downtown Shanghai, China. 4 x Mindfulness is all about sharing weekly go to sources of inspiration and insight in regards to mindfulness. Neila starts this episode by sharing how mindfulness can play a pivotal role in helping to set intentions with more focused attention. She also describes a very useful breathing technique that she puts into practice. This breathing technique called ‘54321 Breath’ works to calm stress levels and ...
Jun 13, 2016•28 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Dean Kriellaars and I deconstruct the key fundamentals necessary in order to design the very best learning experiences possible in physical education. We delve into what it means to be physically literate and the critical importance of allowing every young person to find a specific movement pursuit that they fall in love with and strive to master. Mastery is not about medals and championships, nor is it about standing on podiums celebrating. Every young pers...
Jun 10, 2016•1 hr 4 min
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Neila and I share our go to sources of insight and inspiration for the week that are rooted in the seeds of mindfulness. Neila does a reading of her all-time favorite poem written by Max Ehrmann entitled ‘The Desiderata’ and explains why she is so deeply moved by this piece. She discuses specific connections made to mindfulness in this poem and challenges the listeners to reflect on the signifance that the poem may play in their lives. Neila also discusses a ...
Jun 06, 2016•34 min
Send us Fan Mail An Artist’s Dent in the UniverseIn this episode, I interview Jane Roos, the Founder of CAN Fund, an organization set up to help fund Canadian athletes in their pursuit of representing their nation on the Olympic stage. Jane embodies exactly what it means to take action and initiative to strive for both personal and professional excellence through the work that she does. Through hardship and adversity, Jane has had to overcome many obstacles in her life in order to find her true ...
Jun 03, 2016•59 min
Send us Fan Mail Neila Steele and I are rolling out an additional podcast each week that will still fall under the umbrella of my Run Your Life series. 4 x Mindfulness is about Neila and I sharing our go to sources of mindfluness inspiration each week. It is a way for us to document the big ideas or themes related to mindfulness that have really resonated with us for that particular week. If you are really into mindfulness or a complete beginner with this practice, we sincerely hope that you wil...
May 30, 2016•38 min
Send us Fan Mail Today’s Run Your Life podcast is really a two-part series that was recorded live back in Toronto a few weeks ago with my good friend Joey Feith. We took the time to really dig deep into our own teaching practice to draw out core beliefs that we hold about good pedagogy and instruction. In this episode, Joey shares his unique journey and path that has led him to being one of the most sought after speakers in the arena of physical education worldwide.Today’s show is not just about...
May 27, 2016•1 hr 34 min
Send us Fan Mail What are the key components to better understanding leadership and becoming more proactive in taking the lead in our own personal and professional lives? In today’s episode, my guest, Kasson Bratton, an insightful leader from Nanjing International School, helps me to deconstruct the fundamental building blocks of leadership in an effort to more deeply understand what great leaders do in order to empower those around them and to focus on ‘giving’ rather than ‘taking’ control. Muc...
May 25, 2016•1 hr 9 min
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, my guest, John Rinker, and I have an in-depth discussion about what design thinking means from our own perspectives and the role that it plays in education and in life. John has been teaching internationally for 25 years and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience when it comes to design thinking. An avid cyclist and tinkerer, John shares his thoughts about the importance of working with our hands, as well as the need to be physically active in t...
May 20, 2016•1 hr 18 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Conrad Leinemann, a former Canadian Olympic athlete, about his journey in sport and the major life lessons that he has learned about resilience, hard work, and pursuing excellence, both personally and professionally. Performing at our best requires a specific mindset, as well as putting certain strategies to work with regularity in our lives. Conrad shares what he learned from being coached by some amazing mentors throughout his athletic career. As ...
May 18, 2016•36 min
Send us Fan Mail Nicole “Coco” Daignault’s passion to change lives through yoga began 20 years ago when she was first introduced to it in Canada. As Nicole states, she was hooked for life and knew in her heart that yoga would forever remain with her and committed herself to sharing it with others. After several years of training in various parts of the world, Nicole returned to her roots in Windsor, Canada to set up her own yoga practice and began to teach others how to transform their physical ...
May 13, 2016•58 min
Send us Fan Mail Nicole Daignault’s passion to change lives through yoga began 20 years ago when she was first introduced to it in Canada. As Nicole states, she was hooked for life and knew in her heart that yoga would forever remain with her and committed herself to sharing it with others. After several years of training in various parts of the world, Nicole returned to her roots in Windsor, Canada to set up her own yoga practice and began to teach others how to transform their physical bodies,...
May 13, 2016•58 min
Send us Fan Mail Sir Ranulph Fiennes, British explorer and world record holder, describes today’s #RunYourLife podcast guest as having ‘Enormous determination, lateral thinking, and a love for life and adventure’. Whether it be circumnavigating the globe by bicycle over 4 straight years, rowing 3000 miles across the Atlantic, running the Marathon des Sables which is one of the most gruelling footraces on earth, walking across Iceland pulling a sled, or inspiring others to embark on adventures of...
May 11, 2016•47 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Doug Gleddie, from the University of Alberta, digs deep into what he feels to be a few of the critical elements necessary for improving upon our pedagogy and practice in physical education. Among a few of the big themes discussed in this podcast are questioning protocol, critical partners, the difference between fun and joy in PE, educative vs. miseducative experiences, and the meaning of work. Doug shares a few useful teaching strategies that are sure to pr...
May 06, 2016•1 hr 16 min
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Tim Fletcher and I discuss key elements to consider when trying to engineer and construct meaningful experiences in physical education. Tim, an assistant professor at Brock University in Canada, has put loads of time and energy into researching how best to engage young people in physical activity through a meaning-making framework that has guided his teaching and learning over the past few years. He shares the specifics behind this framework and how he appli...
May 04, 2016•46 min
Send us Fan Mail In today’s episode, Jarrod Robinson, who is known to many educators around the globe as the PE Geek, shares the behind the scenes work that has helped shape him into one of the world’s most renown presenters in the field of physical education. For Jarrod to be at his very best, he pushes himself to look well beyond the arena of physical education in order to hone his craft and to strive for both personal and professional excellence in his life. Although his work is firmly rooted...
Apr 27, 2016•49 min
Send us Fan Mail Today’s Run Your Life episode was recorded live at the East Asia Region Council of Schools conference being held at the International School of Manila in the Philippines at the end of March. Well-known PE consultants from Canada, Ted and Carolyn Temertzoglou, and Dr. Ashley Casey from the University of Loughborough in the UK all share their perspectves about what a quality physical education experience should offer students.Although Twitter has brought together countless PE teac...
Apr 22, 2016•36 min
