Flourish with Floriana

Welcome to a special episode of our podcast where we're joined by Maddie Dougherty, a dedicated MSc Candidate specializing in Health Promotion at Western University. Together, we're peeling back the curtain on the master's experience, revealing five invaluable insights we wish we had known before embarking on this academic journey. From navigating research to balancing work and study c...

In this insightful podcast episode, we delve into the journey of pursuing a PhD with Varsha Vasudevan, a passionate PhD candidate. Varsha shares her firsthand experiences, challenges, and triumphs on the pathway to obtaining a doctorate. We explore the decision-making process behind embarking on a PhD, the academic and personal growth along the way, and the invaluable lessons learned. Join us as w...

In this episode, join us for an inspiring journey with Demo Kaltabanis as he shares the keys to soaring beyond socioeconomic challenges and realizing academic dreams. Discover the resilience, determination, and transformative mindset that propelled Demo to overcome obstacles and reach new heights in education. Get ready to be uplifted and motivated as we delve into his empowering story of triumph...

In this episode, I speak with the lovely Boshra Bahrami. Originally from Iran, Boshra served as a dedicated Speech-Language Pathologist, working with children and adults facing various communication impairments. Boshra decided to move to Canada two years ago, where she pursued her Master's of Science Degree in Speech-Language Sciences at Western University. I came across Boshra's work thro...

As a first-year graduate student, I wanted to take this episode to share my tips & advice on how to prepare yourself for grad school. If you're thinking about attending, or if you have been accepted & about to attend, or if you're currently in the midst of your program, I hope you learn something useful from this episode. I know it's not easy, but I share with you my biggest lessons on how...

In this episode, I chat with Dr. Tim Pychyl on procrastination. A faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), Dr. Pychyl and his students devote their attention to understanding why and how we can sabotage our best intentions with needless delay. In addition to numerous journal articles, conference presentations and edited books such as Procrastination,...

Welcome back to Season 2 Episode 1 of Flourish with Floriana!! Season 1 was truly great and iconic. For my return, I have brought one of my best friends, Tamara (aka TAM), to discuss all things SUMMER. What do we need to implement into our lives to truly flourish this year? We give you a 5-step guide to follow to be THAT PERSON for the summer time (and all the time of course). Love you!! Follow me...

Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) Shauna Wallace joins me in a discussion about how food and fitness have become methods of self-punishment. Founder and Clinical Director of Equilibrium Psychotherapy, Shauna’s practice uses a holistic and trauma-informed approach to compassionately address which thoughts and actions around food, body and movement are keeping individuals stuck. In this episod...

What transforms an ordinary day into an extraordinary one? You do. Your mindset. Your eyes. Your gratitude. Your appreciation for life. Our limited time on Earth is reason enough to find little moments of happiness for yourself within your ordinary routine. What’s ordinary about waking up to a new day? It’s EXTRAordinary because you have been blessed with a new opportunity to live in this world. T...

In this episode, I have Pirouz Kiani discuss his experiences with being a Masters of Chemistry student in Calgary. He provides some insight into how he had to let go of familial pressures and find his true passion. Pirouz gives great tips on how he stays focused in grad school and on top of his student game through some techniques, self-awareness and a productive routine. Let us know how you enjoy...

In this episode, I have Senada Kiani join me in a discussion about imposter syndrome. She shares her experiences with imposter-like feelings in the workplace and how they affected her mental health. We share stories about the workplace and offer solutions to overcoming these imposter feelings. Whether you are a working professional, student and/or in a relationship, this episode will resonate with...

In this episode, I discuss the negative impacts of mindlessly scrolling on social media (also known as zombie scrolling). We spend so much time swiping and scrolling through an abundance of online content, but we are learning so little. In this day and age where technology is at our fingertips, if not used appropriately, it can become harmful. When used in healthy doses and with intention, social...

In this week’s podcast episode, I chat with Social Media Marketing Manager, Brittany. She is the business owner behind SociallyHer which is a boutique social media agency based in Dallas, Texas. Brittany chats all about her social media tips and tricks for small business owners and for those who are looking to grow their presence online. Make sure to follow her on Instagram @sociallyher. We also r...

In this episode, I chat with Mental Health Professional & Advocate, Nedrita Shemshedini on her new business, Spill the Tea Wellness Cafe. Nedrita talks about her passion for providing mental health support to the community, her “why” behind it all, and she explains the power that lies within being authentic and vulnerable. She discusses the barriers to mental health services and how she plans to o...

In this episode, I invited Arta Sherifi to speak about her expertise in Human Resources. Arta is the Vice President of Human Resources at Herjavec Group and she has 10+ years of experience in the field. She provides incredible insight into her role, and she discusses the impact of mentorship and the challenges she faced throughout her career. She also encourages job applicants to be themselves in...

This episode is part of my new mini-series called, What Albanians Don’t Talk About. This mini-series is dedicated to cover taboo-topics that Albanians do not publicly share. Many of us are still carrying childhood experiences into adulthood. Growing up in an Albanian household, it was evident that dating outside of the culture was not encouraged. While many may argue, “Hey it’s 2021 - times have c...

The holiday season is upon us my friends, and it’s time to get merry and bright. This season is all about gift-giving, which I love to do, however when was the last time you ever gifted yourself something during the holiday season? When was the last time you ever scheduled a nice date for yourself during this time? We are always the first to give, to take the shirts off our back, to put our sweat...

My friends, why do we feel so uncomfortable when it comes to discussing our wins? Are you aware of the positive impact that you make on a daily basis? Why is it so easy for us to support our loved ones but shrink ourselves? I’m tired! I deserve, you deserve, we ALL deserve to take up more space. In this episode, I discuss some practical ways that you can positively reflect on your accomplishments...

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes baby in a baby carriage. But what about me? Where do I fit into this mix? More often than not, our identity gets entangled in the roles of wife and mother, forgetting the person that we were before. In this episode, I chat with Emma Lumani Strazimiri about marriage, motherhood and the importance of putting oneself first. The only way that you can b...

In this episode, I talk about the evolution of marriage and what it has transformed into today. How much are we expecting out of our partners, and at what point should we start expecting ourselves to show up? I talk about some of my own flaws and the moments where I had to stop and take accountability for my own ridiculous expectations. No human is perfect and it takes real self-awareness and self...

Why were our dreams only the biggest and the brightest when we were kids? What happened along the way, and why are we undermining the value of creativity? In this episode, I dive into these questions and provide some insight on ways that we can all give ourselves the time and space to explore our creative side, let the juices flow, and get immersed in the process. I hope you find something so enga...

The relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship in your life. It is the most important and it needs to be nurtured. The same way that you check in with your best friends and family members is the same way you need to check in with yourself. Even more so. In this episode, I shed some light on how I incorporate daily check-ins with myself and how much it has helped me. I ho...