Better Me
Heather Ross
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The Better Me Podcast delves into how people navigate through life’s challenges and live as the best people they can be. Writer and educator Heather M. Ross chats with guests about issues affecting mental health, and how they’ve gotten past life’s bumps in the road, from potholes to sinkholes. She also shares her own stories of living with a mental illness while striving to pursue her dreams.
Visit Heather's website at http://betterme.ca
Available episodes
Newest first
Oldest first
6 days ago
EP 112 - On Repentance and Repair (with guest Danya Ruttenberg)
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg and I talked about her latest book On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in An Unapologetic World. We discussed how apologies without real change will continue to damage all involved, how the current U.S. justice system's punitive approach does nothing to help victims of wrong-doing, and why we need to be tenacious and hold onto hope to bring about real change in the world.
You can find Danya at https://danyaruttenberg.net/ and on social media at @TheRaDR (Twitter) and @rabbidanyaruttenberg (Instagram)
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Mar 13, 2023
EP 111 Writing to Tell Your Stories and to Help Others Heal (with guest Kelly S. Thompson)
Retired Canadian Forces officer and writer Kelly S. Thompson joined me to talk about her latest book Still, I Cannot Save You, a book about her relationship with her sister who died of cancer in 2018. We also talked about healing through writing and how your writing can help others to heal.
You can find Kelly at https://kellysthompson.com/ and on social media as @KellyS_Thompson (Twitter) and @kellysthompsonwriter (Instagram)
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Mar 6, 2023
EP 110 Chronic Stress, Burnout, and the Temptation of Dopamine (with guest Chris Bailey)
Best-selling author, speaker, podcaster, and all-around-cool guy Chris Bailey joined me to talk about his latest book How to Calm Your Mind: Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times. We chatted about burnout and it's counterpart engagement, how dopamine makes promises it can't keep, and what we can do for ourselves and our organizations to reduce chronic stress.
You can find Chris, his books, and his podcast at https://chrisbailey.com/
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Feb 27, 2023
EP 109 Priorities and Creativity (with guest Loleen Berdahl)
Loleen Berdahl returns to the show for the 5th time to talk about prioritizing the things that matter, including creativity. We also talked a bit about artificial intelligence and about how we both pretend to talk for our pets.
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Feb 20, 2023
EP 108 Every Family Has a Story (with guest Julia Samuel)
British psychologist and writer Julia Samuel returns to the Better Me Podcast to talk about her latest book, Every Family Has a Story. In this conversation, we dove into how trauma can be passed down through generations and how families can work through it to break the continuing cycle.
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Feb 13, 2023
EP 107 Welcome to 2023
I'm back with a preview of what's coming up in the new season. It's going to be a good one with some fabulous guests.
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Nov 28, 2022
EP 106 We’re Talking Baseball … and Education and Podcasts (with guest Stephen Hurley)
I had a great conversation with Stephen Hurley, the founder of VoiceEd Radio, talking about baseball, education and podcasts.
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Nov 21, 2022
EP 105 Meaningful Things Aren't Meant to Be Automatic
In this episode I talk about why it's good that we do some things automatically, but that more meaningful things aren't meant to be memorized and recited without some thought and feeling.
In this episode I referenced my manifesto and land acknowledgements. The links below will provide more information.
My Manifesto (blog post) - http://betterme.ca/habits/my-manifesto/
Better Me Podcast EP 22 My Manifesto - https://www.spreaker.com/user/voicedradio/my-manifesto
Land Acknowledgements - https://teaching.usask.ca/curriculum/indigenous_voices/land-acknowledgements/module.php
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Nov 14, 2022
EP 104 Being Ready for Your Found Time (with guest Loleen Berdahl)
The ever popular Loleen Berdahl returned to the podcast for the fourth time to talk about the concept of "found time" and how to make the best use of it.
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Nov 7, 2022
EP 103 Setting and Upholding Boundaries (with guest Melissa Urban)
Best-selling author Melissa Urban joined me to talk about her latest book, The Book of Boundaries. We discussed why boundaries aren't just good for you, but also those around you, upholding boundaries with yourself using a "boundary integrity" model, and how we all should stop setting ourselves on fire to warm other people.
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Oct 31, 2022
EP 102 Freeing Yourself of Subscriptions
In this episode I share some advice on dealing with subscriptions that are taking more from you than they're giving.
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Oct 24, 2022
EP 101 Being Prolific, Brilliant, and Healthy (with guest Todd Henry)
Writer, podcaster, and speaker Todd Henry returned to the show to talk about his new book Daily Creative: A Practical Guide for Staying Prolific, Brilliant, and Healthy. We talked about the importance of routines, how he gets started on new projects, and some of the lessons he's learned throughout the pandemic.
Learn more about Todd on his website - https://www.toddhenry.com/
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Oct 17, 2022
EP 100 Trauma, Illness and the Myth of Normal (with guest Gabor Maté)
Addiction expert, speaker and author Dr. Gabor Maté was my guest for the 100th episode of the Better Me Podcast to talk about his new book The Myth of Normal: Trauma, illness & health in a toxic culture.
You can find out more about Gabor on his website - https://drgabormate.com/
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Oct 3, 2022
EP 99 Yes, Things Have Been This Bad Before (with guest Shaylyn Romney Garrett)
Author and social entrepreneur Shaylyn Romney Garrett joined me to talk about her book The Upswing: How America Came Together A Century Ago and How We Can Do It Again (co-authored with Robert D. Putnam). We spoke about how America has faced the problems it’s now facing more than 100 years ago, how individuals help to drive change, and the mistakes they made that we can learn from.
You can find out more about Shaylyn on her website - https://shaylynromneygarrett.com/
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Sep 26, 2022
EP 98 Don’t Forget to Have Fun (with guest Isabeau Iqbal)
Dr. Isabeau Iqbal, who was my guest for Episode 92, returned for a conversation about fun, including trying to figure out what that looks like for each of us.
You can find Isabeau at:
website: https://isabeauiqbal.com/
subscribe to monthly newsletter: isabeauiqbal.com/subscribe
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Sep 19, 2022
EP 97 The Earned Life (with guest Marshall Goldsmith)
I spoke with best-selling author Marshall Goldsmith about his new book "The Earned Life" and the importance of finding the right balance in how much focus and time we give aspiration, ambition, and action in our lives.
Find out more about Marshall and the book at https://marshallgoldsmith.com/.
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Sep 12, 2022
EP 96 Fall 2022 Preview
Tune in to hear about what guests are coming up on the Better Me Podcast through the fall, including Marshall Goldsmith and Gabor Maté.
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Jul 4, 2022
EP 95 We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Program ...
I’m taking a break for a couple of months, but first I want to thank a few people.
There's some distortion of the sound in this episode. I think I got a bit too close to the mic in all my excitement.
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Jun 27, 2022
EP 94 Avoiding Overwhelm in a Time of Crisis
It's hard to focus, to feel like you can do what needs to be done when there's chaos around you when you're living in a time of crisis, but we can’t just bury our heads in the sand. So how do we avoid overwhelm and keep moving forward?
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Jun 20, 2022
EP 93 Starting Points
It doesn’t matter how good your map or your plan is, if you don’t know where you’re starting from.
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Jun 13, 2022
EP 92 What Can We Do About Imposter Syndrome (with guest Isabeau Iqbal)
Dr. Isabeau Iqbal joined me to talk about “imposter syndrome” including where it comes from, how we can deal with our own, and how we can make wider changes to reduce the impact.
You can find Isabeau at:
website: isabeauiqbal.com
subscribe to monthly newsletter: isabeauiqbal.com/subscribe
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Jun 6, 2022
EP 91 The Benefits of Doodling (with guest Giulia Forsythe)
Educator and visual note-taker extrodinair, Giulia Forsythe joined me to talk about how doodling helps her be a better listener, problem solver and communicator. She also explains why she shares her doodles openly and freely.
Check out Giulia’s amazing doodles on her web site https://gforsythe.ca/visual-notes/ and her Flickr account https://www.flickr.com/photos/gforsythe/albums
For more on visual note taking, see these resources that Giulia shared:
Sketchnote Handbook is a great physical book to reference.
Mike Rhodes has a few video webinars online so something like this might be just as good: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZZq5W8FY2A
Also wonderful is Dave Gray's Visual Thinking Basics page (http://www.xplaner.com/2012/12/07/visual-thinking-basics/)
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May 30, 2022
EP 90 - Kangaroos, Courage, and Baseball (with guest Laney Jones)
Song-writer and recording artist Laney Jones joined me to talk about her new album Stories Up. We also chatted about our out-of-the ordinary family pets while growing up, putting yourself out there to take advantage of opportunities, and about our mutual love of baseball.
You can find out more about Laney and listen to her music on her website at http://www.laney-jones.com/
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May 23, 2022
EP 89 The Many Benefits of the Culture of Open (with guest Lena Patterson)
Lena Patterson, the President of Open Education Global joined me to talk about the challenges and responsibilities of women in leadership roles, doing leadership transitions with care, and the role of the open movement in supporting Ukrainian refugees.
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May 16, 2022
EP 88 My Pillars of Mental Health
There is no one thing that keeps me mentally healthy. There is no one set of things that will work for everyone. In this episode I talk about the 8 pillars of my mental health. Have a listen and make your own list.
Link to blog posts I mentioned in this episode:
No More Waking Up To ‘Oh crap, I forgot to …” http://betterme.ca/tools/no-more-waking-up-to-oh-crap-i-forgot-to/
Reviewing Your Week - http://betterme.ca/habits/reviewing-your-week/
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May 9, 2022
EP 87 Starting Small
What small steps could you be taking to make your life, or even just your day, better?
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May 2, 2022
EP 86 Avoid Anxiety Over What You Can’t Control
In this episode I talk about a quote from Khail Gibran and the Serenity Prayer, and avoiding anxiety about things you can’t control. You also may hear my dog snoring.
As mentioned in the episode:
Sign up to receive a weekly email with a summary of the latest content - http://betterme.ca/weekly-email/
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Apr 25, 2022
EP 85 Lessons I’ve Learned From My Dogs
We had to say goodbye to one of our dogs last week. As a tribute to her, this episode is about some of the lessons I’ve learned from our dogs over the years.
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Apr 11, 2022
EP 84 Protect Your Boundaries From Yourself
We can set all the boundaries we want, but often we’re the first ones to violate them.
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Apr 4, 2022
EP 83 Success, Failure, and Boring Days
We should celebrate our accomplishments, including thanking those who helped us. We need to share our failures to help others and fight our own imposter syndrome. And we need to relish the boring days. Have a listen to hear how all of this helps with mental health.
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Mar 28, 2022
EP 82 Things That Make Me Happy
Here are some of the things that are making me happy right now. How about you?
1000 Awesome Things (website I mentioned in this episode)
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Mar 21, 2022
EP 81 With Self-Care, One Size Doesn’t Fit All (with guest Jorden Cummings)
Professor, clinical psychologist, and co-founder of Teach Me Self Care (http://www.teachmeselfcare.com) Jorden Cummings joined me to talk about not only the importance of self-care, but also finding real self care that works for each individual person.
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Mar 14, 2022
EP 80 Having the Right Words
Having the right words is vital to good communication. Having the right words to describe our emotions is necessary for our well-being
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Mar 7, 2022
EP 79 Students Helping Students (with guest Terry Greene)
Terry Greene, the host of the Gettin’ Air podcast and the Senior eLearning Designer at Trent University, joined me to talk about our mutual love of podcasting and two new projects where students acted as co-designers to create materials to help other students succeed in higher education.
Gettin’Air Podcast - https://voiced.ca/project/gettin-air/
Liberated Learners Project - https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/learner/
Learning to Be Human Together - https://ecampusontario.pressbooks.pub/onhumanlearn/
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Feb 28, 2022
EP 78 EASY Goals, Motivation, and Time to Think (with guest Loleen Berdahl)
Professor and writer Loleen Berdahl was back on the podcast to talk about dumping SMART goals for EASY goals, why we need to act before we feel motivated and why it’s not selfish to just take time to think.
You can read her blog / newsletter at https://loleen.substack.com/
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Feb 21, 2022
EP 77 Books, Book Banning, History and The Green Room (with guest Jennifer Diehr)
My good friend Jennifer Diehr joined me again to talk about books, this time focusing on book banning, the importance of learning about history, and Judy Blume. Plus, we talk about how the Green Room for the Better Me Podcast is seriously lacking.
You can follow Jennifer on Instagram at @jendiehr
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Feb 14, 2022
EP 76 The Teen Perspective (with guest Sydney B.)
My daughter Sydney joined me on the show for the third time, this time to talk about going from being a tween to a teen, starting high school in a few months, book banning, and baseball. This was a fun and interesting conversation.
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Feb 7, 2022
EP 75 Don’t Be Trashy (with guest Tara McKenna)
It’s episode 75! To celebrate I spoke with the founder of the Zero Waste Collective, Tara McKenna about her new book Don’t Be Trashy: A Practical Guide to Living with Less Waste and More Joy. This was a great conversation about buying less, decluttering, and why recycling isn’t the answer to our trash problem. I always publicly commit to making February a “no buy” month for me.
The Zero Waste Collective - https://www.thezerowastecollective.com/
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Jan 31, 2022
EP 74 You Can’t Buy Happiness (with guest Michael Harris)
Michael Harris joined me to talk about his new book All We Want: Building the Life We Cannot Buy. We chatted about how social media platforms and advertisers make use of our dopamine, why the GDP isn’t a good way to measure how well a nation is doing, and how supporting others through hard times can give you better perspective on life.
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Jan 24, 2022
EP 73 Consistently, With a Few Mulligans
In this first episode of 2022, I talk about taking mulligans in golf, habits, and life in general.
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Dec 6, 2021
EP 72 Letting Go of Embarrassment
In this final episode of 2021 I tell a funny story and offer some advice.
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Nov 29, 2021
EP 71 Laughter, Grief, and Community (with guest Shawn Hitchins)
Canadian comedian Shawn Hitchins joined me to talk about his latest book the Light Streamed Beneath It: A Memoir of Grief and Celebration. We chatted about loss, the importance of community, and how scary it can be to start therapy, but how great it can be when you find a good therapist.
Find out more at https://shawnhitchins.com
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Nov 22, 2021
EP 70 Using Poetry to Talk About Mental Illness (with guest Sabrina Benaim)
The incredibly talented spoken word poet Sabrina Benaim joined me to talk about metal health, relationships, and her new book of poetry I Love You, Call Me Back.
Her website is https://www.sabrinabenaim.net/home where you can find information about her, her books, social media profiles, and more.
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Nov 15, 2021
EP 69 Midlife Transitions (with guest Dr. Kristina Dervatis)
I had a great time talking with gynaecologist / singer-songwriter Dr. Kristina Dervatis about her recently released album Overdue, telling stories through music, and the increased demand for birth control during the pandemic.
Website - https://kristinadervaitis.com
Music YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2iffk4BLlZ0nyYl2YiiOtQ/featured
Her Medical YouTube Channel (complete with a song about IUDs) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk5RWzabWjv4zmrvlrwTo-g/featured
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Nov 8, 2021
EP 68 Living Through Tragedy with Help from Family, Laughter, and Pharmaceuticals (with guest Donna Morrissey)
Award winning Canadian author, Donna Morrissey joined me to talk about her new memoir Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist. We had a great conversation about family, the importance of laughter, and how pharmaceuticals have helped both of us through our mental health struggles.
Award winning Canadian author, Donna Morrissey joined me to talk about her new memoir Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist. We had a great conversation about family, the importance of laughter, and how pharmaceuticals have helped both of us through our mental health struggles.
Award winning Canadian author, Donna Morrissey joined me to talk about her new memoir Pluck: A Memoir of a Newfoundland Childhood and the Raucous, Terrible, Amazing Journey to Becoming a Novelist. We had a great conversation about family, the importance of laughter, and how pharmaceuticals have he…
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Nov 1, 2021
EP 67 Integrity
For this episode I took just a few minutes to talk about some thoughts on integrity and being true to yourself.
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Oct 25, 2021
EP 66 Stepping Back to Breathe (with guest Kirsteen MacLeod)
Writer Kirsteen MacLeod joined me for a conversation about her new book In Praise of Retreat: Finding Sanctuary in The Modern World. We chatted about definition and key features of a retreat and how breathing connects us and shows how alike we all are.
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Oct 18, 2021
EP 65 Lessons Learned From Music, Parenting, and Life (with guest Emm Gryner)
Canadian singer / song writer and singing teacher Emm Gryner joined me to talk about her new book The Healing Power of Singing: Raise Your Voice, Change Your Life - What Touring with David Bowie, Single Parenting and Ditching the Music Business Taught Me in 25 Easy Steps. This was a fun and inspiring conversation about what she learned from working on the first music video made in space, teaching singing, and giving up drinking just before the start of a pandemic
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Oct 11, 2021
EP 64 Welcome Home (with Guest Najwa Zebian)
Lebanese Canadian activist, author, speaker, and educator Najwa Zebian joined me to talk about her new book Welcome Home: A Guide to Building a Home for Your Soul and how you can find your home within yourself, instead of seeking it out in others.
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Oct 4, 2021
EP 63 Stay on Top of Things, Without Burning Out (with guest Loleen Berdahl)
Loleen Berdahl, the author of the popular Academia Made Easier blog/newsletter, which provides easy tips for teaching, productivity, and work-life balance in academia, joined me to talk about how she gets things done without compromising her health. We also talked about how that can be more challenging for women than for men.
Find her newsletter at https://loleen.substack.com and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/loleen_berdahl
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Sep 27, 2021
EP 62 Higher Ed Gig Economy in the Time of COVID-19 (with guest Christina Katopodis)
When we think of the “gig economy” we often picture Uber drivers, but it also exists among positions that require advanced degrees and experience. In the first episode of season 3 of the Better Me Podcast, Dr. Christina Katopodis joined me to discuss the challenges such workers in education face (including physical and mental health challenges) and what changes need to be made for the benefit of instructors and students.
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Jul 19, 2021
EP 61 Productivity and Mental Health - Part 4
Self-care, whatever that looks like for you, is key to both good mental health and productivity. This is the fourth and final episode of this series, as well as the last episode of the season.
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Jul 12, 2021
EP 60 Productivity and Mental Health - Part 3
It’s all well-and-good knowing what you need to get done, but how do you make sure you have the time to do it. In the third episode in this series, I talk about how I use block time to get stuff done.
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Jul 5, 2021
EP 59 Productivity and Mental Health - Part 2
In part two of this series on productivity and mental health, I talk about the importance of saying ‘no’ (when you can) to things to that align with your priorities.
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Jun 28, 2021
EP 58 Productivity and Mental Health - Part 1
When I'm dealing with depression or anxiety, my memory suffers and I can be horribly disorganized. Over the years I've developed ways to help prevent important tasks from falling through the cracks. This episode is the first in a series on the connection between me being productive and my mental health.
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Jun 21, 2021
EP 57 Viewing Food and Myself Differently
I've long struggled with emotional eating and how I view my body. In this episode I talk about how I'm trying to change that through working with a dietician and showing myself some kindness.
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Jun 14, 2021
EP 56 Being a Fine Wine
I'm turning half a century this year. I could look at time gone by or time to come. I'm capable of both, but only one option makes me uncomfortable. I also talk about the wisdom of James Clear and Daniel Brereton, and my grandmother.
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Jun 7, 2021
EP 55 Asking For Help Is a Sign of Strength
In this episode I talk about Naomi Osaka and the need to remove the stigma associated with mental illness.
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May 31, 2021
EP 54 Self-Care, Hope, and Connection (with guest Reverend Daniel Brereton)
The first guest on the Better Me Podcast, Reverend Daniel Brereton, returns to chat about maintaining hope and staying connected during a pandemic, plus what lessons he's learned that he'll take with him beyond these challenging times.
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May 24, 2021
EP 53 A Conversation About Mental Health (with guest Amanda Coolidge)
I turned the podcast over to the amazing Amanda Coolidge to host this week and interview me. We chatted about mental health, morning routines, and the importance of feeling like you're making a difference.
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May 17, 2021
EP 52 Marking Another Milestone - 400+ Days of Meditation
That's right, I've meditated for more than 400 days in a row. In this episode I talk about why and how I do this. Don't forget to subscribe and share this with your friends and family.
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May 10, 2021
EP 51 Being Open to Being Wrong
These days people cling to their views often with little to support them. This can be bad for us as individuals, others in our lives, and society. Why do we do this and how can we change?
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May 3, 2021
EP 50 - Celebrating A Milestone (with guest Dave Hemstad)
The first episode of the Better Me Podcast went live just as many of us in North America were going into lockdown in March 2020, and here I am, 50 episodes later. Canadian comedian Dave Hemstad returned to the show to help me celebrate, to talk about the past 14 months, and of course, to chat about golf.
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Apr 26, 2021
EP 49 The Joy of Music (with guest Darlene Langston)
I was joined by jazz and blues singer Darlene Langston to talk about her career, the importance of music in her life and in the world, and about the time we met at a club in San Francisco. Check out Darlene playing with the Buena Vista Jazz Band on YouTube including at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awATlNSlb8g
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Apr 19, 2021
EP 48 Mental Health and Evening Routines
Listen to me talk about the importance of evening routines for my overall well-being while acknowledging that I'm failing miserably at being consistent. If you haven't already done so, please subscribe, share the podcast with others, rate, and review the Better Me Podcast.
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Apr 12, 2021
EP 47 Mental Health and Morning Routines
In this episode I talk about the role that my morning routine plays in helping to keep me mentally healthy, and why you should find your own unique morning routine that includes what works for you. I mentioned Jessica Morey who was my guest for episode 26 and Todd Henry who spoke with me for episode 27.
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Apr 5, 2021
EP 46 Life in a Fire Tower- Looking out and looking in (with guest Trina Moyles)
Trina Moyles will be heading up to a fire tower in Northern Alberta in a few weeks for her sixth season as a smoke spotter. She joined me to talk about her new book Lookout: Love, Solitude, and Searching for Wildfire in the Boreal Forest, plus mental health, climate change, and the role dogs and creativity play in helping us through life.
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Mar 29, 2021
EP 45 Small Adventures and Chance Encounters
You just never know what the day may bring. In this episode I tell the story of being invited to a party by strangers and meeting new friends in a hotel lobby.
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Mar 22, 2021
EP 44 Hockey, Addiction, and Gratitude (with guest Brantt Myhres)
Brantt Myhres played for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators, Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins. Throughout his career he was suspended four times by the NHL for failing drug tests and was eventually banned from the league for life. After becoming clean and sober and studying substance abuse behavioral health at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Myhres was hired by the Los Angeles Kings in September 2015 as the team’s player assistance director. Brantt joined me on the Better Me Podcast to talk about his new memoir "Pain Killer: A Memoir of Big League Addiction".
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Mar 15, 2021
EP 43 I Don't Know What You Mean
In this episode I talk about the importance of admitting when we don't know something and then asking questions. I also sing the praises of Adam Grant's new book Think Again: The Power of Knowing What you Don't Know.
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Mar 8, 2021
EP. 42 Teaching During COVID-19 (with guests Kate Harding and Marla Rosenthal)
I sat down with two teachers, one in Saskatoon and the other in Southern California to talk about their experiences teaching during the pandemic. We touched on the challenges they've faced, the challenges their students have faced, and how they think education may change as a result of this collective experience.
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Mar 1, 2021
EP 41 Designing For Everyone (with guest Jess Mitchell)
Jess Mitchell joined me to talk about inclusive design. She describes her perspective as having always wondered why some and not others, why us and not them, and how that perspective has led her to "see ethical lines drawn through decisions manifested throughout our world - in the design of everyday experiences and expectations for behaviour, and how we could do it all differently."
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Feb 22, 2021
EP. 40 This Too Shall Pass (with guest Julia Samuel)
Bestselling author, Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, and a leading British psychotherapist Julia Samuel joined me to talk about her latest book This Too Shall Pass: Stories of Change, Crisis and Hopeful Beginnings. We discussed the importance of connection and how people are grieving in isolation, plus her own vulnerability in writing this book.
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Feb 15, 2021
EP. 39 Should I Really Worry About That? (with guest Timothy Caulfield)
I sat down with best-selling author Timothy Caulfield to talk about his latest book Relax, Damit: A Users Guide to the Age of Anxiety. In this conversation we managed to cover everything from foreplay to how we can get people to wear masks to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
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Feb 9, 2021
EP. 38 Welcome to 2021
Welcome to the first episode of the Better Me Podcast for 2021. In this brief episode I talk about some upcoming guests and ponder the importance of remembering the good things that happen in the midst of dumpster fires.
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Dec 21, 2020
EP. 37 I Did the Best I Could Do
In this final episode of 2020 I thank all of the guests who gave their time to be on the podcast this year, plus I talk about asking yourself "Did I do the best I could do, given the circumstances?", and remind listeners to stop beating themselves up about their answer to it.
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Dec 14, 2020
Ep. 36 Dead Mom Walking (with guest Rachel Matlow)
Rachel Matlow's mom was diagnosed with Cancer, but refused conventional treatments. Rachel's boss at the CBC, Jian Ghomeshi, was a nightmare to work with. She took these two devastating experiences that were happening in tandem with each other, and wrote a touching and honest memoir about this time in her life. Rachel joined me to talk about her newly released first book Dead Mom Walking: A Memoir of Miracle Cures and Other Disasters.
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Dec 7, 2020
Ep. 35 Talking to Strangers (with guest Marianne Boucher)
Marianne Boucher went to Los Angeles in 1980 for a tryout with the Ice Capades. She never made it to her audition after being approached and recruited by two members of a cult. Marianne joined me to talk about her experience and her new book Talking to Strangers: A Memoir of My Escape From a Cult.
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Nov 30, 2020
Ep. 34 A Radiant Life (with guest Merle Massie)
Historian Merle Massie joined me to talk about her latest book A Radiant Life: The Honourable Sylvia Fedoruk - Scientist, Sports Icon, and Statewoman.
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Nov 23, 2020
Ep. 33 The Problems With Diet Culture and Mental Health (with guests Angela Erickson and Jackie Reimche)
Angela Erickson and Jackie Remieche, the women of the Happy Body Health Company joined me to talk about the role that fitness and nutrition played in improving their mental health, and the harm that the diet industry has on our mental and emotional wellbeing.
The Happy Body Health Company can be found at https://happybodyhealthco.com/
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Nov 16, 2020
Ep. 32 Books, Books, and More Books (with guest Jennifer Diehr)
For this episode, my long-time friend Jennifer Diehr joined me again to catch up and talk about the books we've been reading since our previous podcast (episode 17) and what's in our ever-growing stack of "to-reads".
I also talked about the short film and book The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.
You can find the short film at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ad3CMri3hOs&feature=youtu.be
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Nov 10, 2020
EP. 31 Supporting Instructors and Students Alike Through Mental Health Challenges (with guest George Siemens)
While I received incredible support from my supervisors and colleagues through my own depression, that isn’t always the case. Professor George Siemens and I spoke about the struggles post-secondary instructors, but also others in their workplaces, who often don’t receive the same support and why depression and anxiety are such a big problem for so many in higher education.
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Nov 2, 2020
Ep. 30 Leadership Self-Care and Team-Care (with guest Mary Burgess)
Good leaders care for their teams, while also taking care of themselves. Mary Burgess, the Executive Director of BCcampus, and I chatted about her leadership style and the role that’s played in supporting her team through these tumultuous times.
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Oct 26, 2020
EP 29 Nothing Much Happens (with guest Kathryn Nicolai)
I had the opportunity to speak with writer and podcaster Kathryn Nicolai about her very success podcast, Nothing Much Happens, and her new book of the same name. We talked about sleep, story telling, and how knowing you’re making a difference can bring joy to you.
Kathryn’s website is nothingmuchhappens.com where you can find more information about her, the podcast, and the book, as well as some stories to get you started on a good nights sleep.
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Oct 19, 2020
EP 28 Role Models
In this episode I explain why it's important to me to be a good role model for those around me, and why it should be important to you too.
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Oct 12, 2020
EP 27 The Motivation Code (with guest Todd Henry)
I had the honor of sitting down with author and speaker Todd Henry to talk about his latest book The Motivation Code: Discover the hidden voices that drive your best work. We discussed why anyone who solves problems as part of their work is "a creative", how individual creatives and their managers can best support them during these tumultuous times, and we delved into the results of my own Motivation Code Assessment to look at what fuels me to do what I do.
Todd Henry can be found at http://toddhenry.com/ and on Twitter at @toddhenry.
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Oct 5, 2020
EP 26 Mindfulness For You and Your Family (with guest Jessica Morey)
To launch the second season of the Better Me Podcast, I was joined by Jessica Morey, co-founder of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education. We talked about a range of topics including how mindfulness can help children and young adults through these trying times, as well as helping their parents, plus the importance of self-care for people with leadership roles.
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Aug 15, 2020
EP 25 Gratitude - The Role of Gratitude in Helping Us Feel Better
In this season finale episode, I talk about how thinking about what we’re grateful for and showing acts of kinds to others can make us feel better mentally and physically.
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Aug 8, 2020
EP 24 Changing Minds and Hearts to Make the World a Better Place (with Heather Fenyes)
In this episode I chat with my good friend Heather Fenyes about her work through various education initiatives to foster critical thinking and civil conversations about the challenging issues the world is facing.
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Aug 1, 2020
EP 23 Moving Forward When Things Go Sideways (with Shelby Edwards)
For this episode I had the privilege of speaking with retired U.S. Army Major and “expert on things going sideways“, Shelby Edwards. Shelby and I had a wonderful and, frankly fun conversation about how what she learned while in the military, the poetry of Mary Oliver, and dogs have been instrumental in not only helping her get through the difficult times, but also to strive to make the world a better place.
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Jul 25, 2020
EP 22 My Manifesto
A few years ago I read a blog post from writer Todd Henry (The Accidental Creative, Die Empty, Louder Than Words, and Herding Tigers) in which he talked about his manifesto, a list of the principals that guide him in life. In this episode I explain my own manifesto, which I created after reading that blog post. Tune in to hear me explore the principals behind who I want to be as a person, how I want to show up for those in my life, and how I want to make a difference in the world.
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Jul 18, 2020
Ep 21 The good, the bad, and the advice for parents (with Sydney)
I was lucky enough to have my favourite guest on again. My daughter Sydney joined me to talk about the importance of establishing good habits, breaking bad ones, and how parents can help their children to work on these.
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Jul 11, 2020
EP 20 Who You Eat With May Be Just As Important As What You Eat (with Marta Zaraska)
In this episode I chatted with science journalist Marta Zaraska from her home in France about research showing that our connections with each other, including sharing meals, may be just as important in determining our longevity as what we eat and how much we exercise.
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Jul 4, 2020
EP 19 Entitled to Nothing, Grateful for Everything (with Lisa Thomaidis)
For episode 19, I had the privilege of speaking with Lisa Thomaidis, coach of both the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Canadian National Womens’ basketball teams. We talked about the tumultuous year she’s had, the reputation she and her players have for their kindness toward fans and opponents, and what it was like coaching superstar Sabine Dukate who moved from Latvia to play for Thomaidis and the Huskies.
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Jun 27, 2020
EP 18 The Importance of Students ‘Fitting In’ (with Angela DeBarger)
Angela DeBarger, the Program Officer in Education with the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. In this episode, we talked about Angela’s own experiences of feeling the need to “fit in” in school and the importance of students seeing representation in their learning experiences.
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Jun 20, 2020
EP 17 Read Any Good Books Lately (with Jennifer Diehr)
Reading has been one of the tools in my toolbox of protecting my mental health. In this episode I’m joined by my good friend Jennifer Diehr to talk about books we’d recommend to each other and to listeners.
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Jun 13, 2020
EP 16 The Role of Meditation in My Mental Health
I went solo for this episode to talk about why I started the podcast and about the role that meditating has played in helping me through my most recent bout of depression, and how it helps me to stay well now.
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Jun 6, 2020
Ep 15 The Quest to Make Education More Human (with Robin DeRosa)
I sat down with Professor Robin DeRosa to talk about how universities and colleges can support student learning during the pandemic and beyond by becoming “more human”. We also talked about the Salem Witch Trials so be sure to check this one out.
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May 30, 2020
EP 14 Feeling Fear (with Eva Holland)
Writer Eva Holland joined me to talk about her new book “Nerve: A personal journey through the science of fear”, the importance of support networks, and what inspired her to share these stories about some of her most difficult struggles.
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May 23, 2020
EP 13 Living With the Unknown (with Greg Johnson)
More than a decade ago Greg Johnson gave up his job at the communications, marketing, and advertising firm he founded to pursue his passion for capturing nature’s most beautiful and deadly displays of severe weather. In this episode, we talk about tornado chasing and the unpredictability of life.
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May 18, 2020
EP 12 Increasing Access to Education (with Hugh McGuire)
Recently my friend Hugh McGuire, the co-founder and Executive Director of the Rebus Foundation chatted about something we’re both passionate about - increasing access to education and improving the learning experience for students of all ages through open educational resources.
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May 9, 2020
EP 11 Slowing Down with Carl Honoré
I recently chatted with Canadian journalist and writer Carl Honoré from his home in London. We talked about his best selling book In Praise of Slow, why slowing down is good for us, and how to be mindful of this both while staying at home and when our communities start to reopen.
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May 4, 2020
EP 10 John Boyer
For this episode I sat down with John Boyer to hear his advice on staying informed about, but not overwhelmed by world events.
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Apr 25, 2020
EP 09 Laughter is Good Medicine with Guest Dave Hemstad
I chatted with Canadian actor and comedian Dave Hemstad about the time he was struck by lightening and how laughter can get your though some tough times. Learn more about his latest comedic venture at https://offthehozzle.com/
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Apr 19, 2020
EP 08 'Light a Fire' with Jeffery Straker
Award-winning singer / songwriter Jefferey Straker joined me to talk about his upcoming album, the death of his mother, and how that experience has inspired him to try to be the best person that he can be. Listen to his new song “Light A Fire” co-written and produced by Royal Wood.
https://youtu.be/tTsP_cfQRVk
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Apr 12, 2020
EP 07 A Tween Perspective ft Sydney B.
For this episode, Heather sat down with her 11-year-old daughter, Sydney, to get her take on getting through all of this physical distancing and why she’s the “super-fan” for the University of Saskatchewan women’s basketball team.
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Apr 9, 2020
EP 06 Life is a Verb’ Even During a Pandemic ft Patti Digh
In this episode, Heather spoke with writer, speaker, and social justice educator Patti Digh about how the elements within Digh’s book “Life is a Verb: (“say yes”, “be generous”, “speak up”, “love more”, “trust yourself”, and “slow down”) are so relevant in these difficult times.
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Apr 4, 2020
EP 05 Remember Your ‘Why"’ ft Loleen Berdahl
How can you get through the pandemic while taking care of yourself, your family, and your team? Heather spoke with Professor Loleen Berdahl, Head of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan about what Berdahl sees as the key that helps her get through this while looking out for her family, her colleagues, and the students - remember “why” you’re doing it.
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Apr 1, 2020
EP 04 - Getting Past Your ‘Mego’ (Guest Ted Mouradian)
Heather sits down with author, speaker, entrepreneur, and president of The 2% Factor Inc., Ted Mouradian to talk about his Law of Cooperative Action and getting past your “mego” during these difficult times.
For more information about Ted, the Law of Cooperative Action, and The 2% Factor, see the2percentfactor.com or email Ted at Ted@the2percentfactor.com
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Mar 20, 2020
EP 03 Putting On Your Oxygen Mask
In this episode, I talk about the importance of taking care of yourself in these chaotic times, plus my hope that we all come out of this with an attitude and position to make the world a better place.
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Mar 12, 2020
EP 02 Self-Care For Those Who Support Others (Guest Reverend Daniel Brereton)
In this episode, Heather chats with Reverend Daniel Brereton about the importance of self-care for those whose job it is to support others through their struggles. Also, learn about what Daniel would do to help his 12-year-old self, and what advice the adolescent Daniel would have for his grown-up version.
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Mar 12, 2020
EP 01 Welcome the Better Me Podcast
In this introductory podcast, host Heather Ross talks about the importance of being honest about our struggles.
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