Well, we can’t believe it’s already the end of the year! On this episode, Maddie and Alia sum up their favourites from the year and discuss their plans for the upcoming season of HFP. This episode is the finale of the current season of HFP, and we’re so excited to usher in another new era in 2025! Comment here and rate our show! Follow us on Instagram (@humanfirst.podcast) and TikTok (@humanfirst.pod) for more content.
Maddie and Alia are back, and this time they’re letting their guts do the talking—figuratively, of course. They dive headfirst into the wild world of intuition — why your inner voice sometimes goes on vacation, how to invite it back, and why it’s the ultimate decision-making sidekick. From big life choices to the eternal dilemma of “should I order dessert?” (spoiler: the answer is always yes), they unpack how trusting your gut can boost your confidence and self-worth. They share all the laughs, ...
… it’s that time of year again folks! The days are shorter, and yet they feel longer. Here on Human First we are obsessed with taking care of ourselves - but how do you actually do this? How do we find a balance between prioritizing our wellness, and it becoming a burden? Well, Maddie and Alia are here to talk it all through. Join us for a deep dive into self-care, the Olson twins and how we take care of ourselves (or try to at least!) As usual, comment here and rate our show! Follow us on Insta...
A trip to Portugal, Nepal, and the Cali coast later, Maddie and Alia are back to discuss what they learned from their travels and the new found need for routine. They dive into how to prep yourself to better enjoy your vacay, removing guilt from the pressure to "do it all", and what settling back into home life can look like. We missed you beautiful humans - enjoy!! Don't forget to follow us & give us feedback! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod www.mangomentalhealth.com...
This week on the pod we dive deep into female friendship with real life friend-of-the-podcast Hayley Hart! (@wellnesswithhayls). We learn a lot about ourselves through the relationships we engage in, especially our friendships. This episode discusses platonic and romantic love, the concept of being a girl’s girl, and what it means to feel safe in a friendship. Join Alia, Maddie and Hayley while they explore their own experiences with female friendship, and have some laughs in between. Don't forg...
Imagine chatting with your friends over dinner or drinks and then someone asks that one deep question that changes the entire vibe … in a good way. Well folks, that’s what this episode feels like. Join Maddie and Alia while they explore failure, success, self-image and the experience of “growing up”. This Q&A episode is packed with moments of vulnerability, cheeky laughs and of course, deep chats. Don't forget to follow us & give us feedback! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @h...
This week on the podcast Alia and Maddie explore their own individual relationships with alcohol and being the “fun” one. They scratch the surface of how we use alcohol in social settings, the cultural context of alcohol use in Canada, and the feelings that arise when a relationship becomes mindless vs. intentional. For further resources on substance use and support please see below: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/get-help-with-substance-use.html Don't forget to fo...
This week on the pod we’re so excited to have Dr. Emma Furze (@dr.emmafurze) joining us to discuss her personal and professional experience in naturopathic medicine, women’s health, and reality television. If you’re like us, and only recently started understanding what the Luteal phase is - you won’t want to miss this episode. Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod www.mangomentalhealth.com...
Alright beautiful humans, get ready for a silly-turned-serious episode. Alia and Maddie explore topics around play, horoscopes, and eventually the meaning of existence and human connection. We’re so glad you’re here. Join us at our next community event in Vancouver, BC on Saturday Sept. 7th: Sound & Ground: A Sound Bath Experience for Restorative Rest Buy tickets here! Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod www.mangomentalhealth.com...
It’s time. You guessed it, we’re talking all things Anxiety this week. Alia and Maddie share their personal experiences with anxious thoughts and anxious attachment, they offer strategies that work for them and, of course, things get deeper than expected! (But what else is new). If you’re a person who overthinks, feels deeply and just wants to be everything for everyone - this might be the episode for you 🫶 Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod ww...
On this week's episode, Alia and Maddie are joined by their first guest and fellow RCC, Andy Park! Together they chat about relationships, marriage, and Andy's experience being a male in the mental health field. Enjoy!! Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod www.mangomentalhealth.com
In this episode Alia and Maddie discuss body image and self esteem, the impact of social media on our mental health and doing what you need to do to protect your peace. CW: This episode explores sensitive material around disordered eating, body dysmorphia and negative self-image. Please use discretion when listening to this episode and utilize support if needed.
Maddie and Alia get into spending quality time with yourself, becoming regulated extroverts, inherent value, and the realization that it's not that deep - except for us, it is.
Join Maddie and Alia as they chat about the Olympics, a mascot girl summer, trusting yourself during times of change, and why we should all be a bit more like Snoop.
Maddie and Alia finally reunite after a busy start to the summer to record their first episode together! They discuss how and why they became therapists, the origin story of their friendship, and vision for the new era of HFP.
Maddie Skidmore and Alia Chan, registered counsellors, talk about all the experiences that connect us - the silly, the difficult, and everything in between. Together we'll discuss various mental health topics through deep chats and funny banter, all while exploring what makes us human, first. Maddie and Alia invite you to join them on Mondays to celebrate all parts of the human experience.
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by sex therapist, counsellor, and writer, Erin Davidson (@erin.e.davidson). Erin talks about her Christian upbringing and unpacking her relationship with sex. After being sexually assaulted, Erin discusses her battle with shame and self-doubt, and her raw journey towards empowerment. Now practicing as a registered clinical counsellor with a focus in sex and relationship therapy, she was fuelled by her own healing to sup...
Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcat), Alia is joined by Nikhil Sanka (@niksanka), joining in all the way from India. Nikhil shares with us his journey growing up with dyslexia and the hurdles he had to face as someone with a learning disability in the asian culture. He opens up about his drive to learn and study at the same level as everyone else, in an effort to show his worth, but turning around to recognize that despite what the cultural stigma was telling him, he was always wort...
Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Megan Chambers (@msegallybpd). Megan was first diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in early 2017. After breaking her tailbone, losing her job, and the pandemic, Megan found herself to be hit hard emotionally, and lost many relationships due to her BPD and the most recent incidents. Megan walks us through what it means to split, the idea of favourite personism, and what helps her to emotionally regulate. Megan now wo...
Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Kevin Clark (@kevinmacnevinclark). Growing up with big and loud emotions and the trauma of specific childhood experiences, Kevin found substances as a protective mechanism to escape thoughts, feelings, and intrusive memories. After a spiritual awakening in the woods and physically being separated from substances while being in prison for 11 months, Kevin surrendered to his new found path of sobriety. Kevin takes us through his...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Cristina Ferreira (@cristinaaif). At the beginning of 2020, Cristina suffered a tonic clonic seizure and was later diagnosed with epilepsy. The week after her diagnosis, BC went into complete lockdown due to COVID-19. Cristina shares with us the state of her mental health during this time as she noticed depression settle in all while working as a registered nurse at the peak of pandemic. Cristina highlights the need ...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Chapmann Cheung (@coach_chappy). In 2019, Chapmann’s life changed when he received the diagnosis for kidney cancer, and found himself fighting for his life. With the power of family, he was able to find the strength and inspiration to carry forward. Now as a cancer survivor and with Terry Fox as his role model, Chapmann is a leader in his community and advocate for those battling cancer, and makes it his intention ev...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Madison Desjarlais (@madisondesj). As a protective mechanism against family trauma, Madison found herself leaning heavily on her partner at the time and falling into codependency. Waking up one morning hungover with self-harm wounds, she was admitted into hospital and found herself facing her trauma for the first time. With the help of her mom and her spiritual mentor, she made the decision to leave the hospital as s...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Ameri Dy to discuss Body Dysmorphic Disorder, also known as BDD. Through her personal experience, Ameri shares with us the effects social media and family culture had on her thoughts, and how difficult it was to shift her perspective on her self appearance. By setting up boundaries and allowing herself to open up to her support system, Ameri saw hope and took steps into her healing journey toward self-compassion....
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by nutritionist and therapist, Brendan Callaghan (@bdlc_cognition_and_wellness), for a second time in a special Q&A episode. Together we talk all things mental health, therapy, resources and tools. Thank you to everyone who sent in these amazing questions! 1. I’ve never been to counsellor before. What can I expect? (2:10) 2. How often should I be going to see a therapist? (5:31) 3. What if I want therapy but have tr...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Brenna McDonnell (@bmcdcoaching_). Naturally being very athletic, Brenna found herself living under high expectations and intense stress, striving to be the best in the world in her sport during her high school years. While training 20 hours a week and also going to school full-time, she began to feel the pressures of these expectations and caught herself experiencing significant periods of anxiety and depression. Af...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Romeo Monte (aka Junior). Growing up in an environment and culture where life was framed as one big to-do list, checking one milestone off at a time, Romeo found himself questioning his purpose in life. After experiencing periods of anxiety and panic attacks, Romeo sought help and was told he was going through an existential crisis. In the midst of purchasing property, another checklist item, Romeo turned down the op...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast) Alia is joined by new mama Abby Hildebrand (@wellnesscreek). After miscarrying a baby she did not know she was even pregnant with, prenatal anxiety set in as she began to question her body and her fertility. Once she had gotten pregnant and given birth at the end of 2019, Abby’s mental health continued to be a challenge to navigate as she managed through postpartum anxiety and depression, all during the pandemic. Abby gets raw and real...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Alex Charleton (@alex_charleton). After the death of her friend and the end of a relationship, Alex found herself finding control in her life through restricted eating. After a year of restriction, she then moved from one end of the spectrum to the other where she spent 3 years of her life coping through binging. Alex takes us through her suffering and the moment in her life when she experienced her wake up call to m...
On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Natalie Chow. At a young age, Natalie, her older sister, and her mother were left by her father, and found themselves navigating a new normal. Natalie discusses her relational trauma, and how the impact of her father leaving shaped the way she approached her own relationships. In this episode, Natalie tells us about her experience with anxiety and depression, her journey towards self-awareness, and the blessing frien...
