Blind Spots with Gail McDonald

What happens when competence becomes camouflage — when being capable, driven, and dependable keeps you moving so fast you can no longer see what’s quietly running your life? In this episode of Blind Spots , Gail McDonald sits down with Erin Treacy , Owner/President of Erin Treacy Coaching , to explore the unseen patterns that shape how high performers lead, work, and live. Erin brings a grounded,...

Sometimes your body starts sending signals long before anyone can explain them. Dizziness. Disorientation. A sense that something is deeply wrong, even when tests come back “normal.” In this episode of Blind Spots , Charles Young shares what it was like to live inside that uncertainty, and how listening to his instincts ultimately saved his life. Host Gayle MacDonald sits down with Charles Young t...

What if the key to better leadership, emotional regulation, and resilience isn’t willpower but understanding how your brain actually works? In this episode of Blind Spots, host Gayle MacDonald sits down with Dr. Lisa Riegel to explore how self-awareness, brain biology, and perception shape the way we think, feel, and behave, often without us realizing it. Using a powerful “brain as a corporation”...

Gail McDonald sits down with Lisa Purcell to explore a career journey shaped by curiosity, courage, and a willingness to move forward without having everything figured out. From leaving Canada at 23 with a suitcase and a backpack, to working as a nanny and English teacher in Spain, joining the United Nations Development Programme in Geneva, navigating international banking in London, and eventuall...

In this special year-end episode of Blind Spots , host Gail McDonald offers an unscripted, reflective conversation about gratitude, boundaries, and easing the pressure we place on ourselves during the holidays. Recorded just days before Christmas, this episode isn’t about doing more — it’s about letting go. Gail reflects on the power of gratitude, the gift of time, and why perfection is often the...

Gail McDonald sits down with Dr. Joel Rothaizer, MCC, ABPP . He’s a Board Certified Psychologist, a Master Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation, and a long-time executive coach. Together we explore the surprising overlap between coaching and psychology — and why coaches can safely borrow powerful techniques without crossing ethical lines. With more than 30 years of experie...

Gail McDonald takes listeners inside one of her favourite personal-development books of all time: 17 Lies That Are Holding You Back and the Truth That Will Set You Free by Steve Chandler . In this reflective solo episode, Gail explores two powerful lies many of us repeat without realizing the impact they have on our confidence, our relationships, our habits, and our future: “That’s just the way I...

Gail McDonald sits down with sisters Daria and Shawna Balas, the powerhouse founders behind SHE-Canada, a coast-to-coast platform built to support, celebrate, and elevate women-led businesses. What began as a simple acronym, Support Her Enterprise, has grown into a national movement giving women greater visibility, confidence, and community in entrepreneurship. In this heartfelt conversation, Gail...

Gail McDonald sits down with Ed Brenegar , leadership thought leader, writer, podcaster, and social catalyst, to explore what leadership really means in a time when old systems are breaking down and new models are emerging. Ed, author of eight books and writer of The Future of Leadership on Substack, shares why leadership has nothing to do with titles and everything to do with initiative, clarity,...

Gail McDonald sits down with Dayna Haig-Conway , Registered BC Clinical Counsellor, Certified K-12 Educator and founder of CAMP Mental Health , to explore the real stories and lived experiences that shaped her work in resilience, motivation, and belonging. Dayna shares her nonlinear path, from outdoor education to youth care to school counselling, and the earthquake in New Zealand that changed eve...

In the previous episode, we uncovered how invisible scripts—our assumptions—can quietly derail connection. This week, Gail returns to close the loop. In Part 2 of Assumptions: The Unseen Saboteurs of Connection , Gail goes deeper into how we can notice and neutralize those knee-jerk reactions that keep us stuck. From the “lizard brain” to the 90-second rule, she explores the neuroscience of emotio...

A listener shared: “At my mom’s house, visiting meant nonstop talking. At my husband’s, it meant quiet companionship.” Same moment. Different meanings. This episode on Blind Spots, Gail unpacks the invisible scripts we carry into relationships—those default settings shaped by family, culture, and experience. What happens when our assumptions clash with someone else’s? For example, how do we stop i...

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Blind Spots , host Gail McDonald sits down with Colin Smith , known as The Listener , to explore what it truly means to listen — not just with our ears, but with our whole being. Colin, a specialist in listening skills and psychological safety, shares his insights on why hearing and listening are not the same thing, how being fully present can tra...

In this inspiring conversation, host Gail McDonald sits down with Paul Haury , leadership consultant and founder of Heart-Based Leading, to explore one of our greatest blind spots: belonging. Paul shares why loneliness is less a personal condition and more a symptom of disconnection—and how true belonging is a conscious choice, not just a feeling. Drawing from personal stories, his years as a teac...

In this episode of Blind Spots , host Gail McDonald welcomes Andy Vargo —professional speaker, author, life-change coach, podcast host, comedian, and the creator of the “Own Your Awkward” movement. Once described as “Red Bull for your heart,” Andy shares his journey of embracing authenticity after navigating divorce, coming out, and starting over at 40. Together, they explore why owning your quirk...

In this deeply moving episode of Blind Spots , host Gail McDonald sits down with her longtime friend, award-winning actress, and career coach Susan for a raw, heartfelt conversation on navigating the “unfathomable” territory of grief after the loss of a child. Both women share their personal journeys—just months apart—of losing their sons, exploring what it means to grieve with resilience, find me...

In this powerful Blind Spots episode, host Gail McDonald speaks with Dr. Amy Kirkham, an exercise and cardiovascular health expert, and Dr. Carla Prado, a leading nutrition researcher, about their groundbreaking collaboration at the intersection of cancer recovery, heart health, and lifestyle medicine. Together, they share why women’s cardiovascular health remains under-researched, how cancer trea...

In this introductory episode of Blind Spots , host Gail McDonald shares the heart behind the podcast and why uncovering our blind spots is so important for personal growth, relationships, and decision-making. Drawing on over 20 years of coaching experience, Gail explains what blind spots are, how they quietly shape our thoughts and behaviors, and why building self-awareness and emotional intellige...