Breaking Brave with Marilyn Barefoot

Amal Masri is a purpose-driven executive with 15 years of experience driving business growth strategies in the financial services industry. She is also the Founder of #FixTheBrokenRung, the only campaign that addresses the combined impact of racial and gender bias in the workplace by targeting the first level promotion. In both roles, Amal mobilizes teams to anticipate the needs of underserved mar...

In 2017 Luan Lawrenson-Woods was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was absolutely devastated to learn she needed a mastectomy. She had no idea about the different types of reconstruction and didn't know anyone who'd had a reconstruction. As a result, Luan created a community that supports and empowers women who want to know more about reconstruction after a mastectomy so that they can feel confide...

Catherine Choi is the founder of SoYoung, a heart centred consumer products brand which offers beautiful and functional bags for life on the go. What is unique about SoYoung is that it has also become a voice for healing and transformation, where Catherine shares her story of turning pain into purpose, starting with her recovery from drug addiction over 25 years ago to now living a life that is pu...

Francine is the Founder and Strategic Leader of Mothers to Daughters (M2D), a for-impact organization focused on helping bridge the intergenerational gap between younger women and more experienced women and spark lasting personal and professional relationships among them. Launched in 2020, the organization has hosted over 30 virtual events and offers two flagship programs that support all self-ide...

On July 10th 2023, Steven Matthew Clark will be the first person to start a PhD program from a maximum-security prison. Since he was first incarcerated, Steven began taking responsibility for the choices that landed him in prison; Steven's been involved with education and programs that have transformed his life. He has earned an Associate's degree and two Bachelor's degrees, graduating at the top...

A suicide in your social circle can be jarring. When suicidal ideation hits closer to home, it can change your world. It happened to TERRY STUART. A senior partner at Deloitte Canada, he had experienced his own challenges with anxiety and depression, but nothing prepared him for the realization that someone he loved was considering ending their life. Contemplating the traditional, pharmaceutical a...

Dr. Deena Kara Shaffer helps learners of all ages experience less suffering and more motivation in their learning—whatever it is they want to learn. Deena supports parents and chosen families to learn how to help their kids—of all grades and years—struggle and suffer less in school. Deena helps educators, advisors, and administrators re-approach how to facilitate and foster transformative learning...

Mat Bowtell is the founder and CEO of Free 3D Hands, an Australian charity that designs and 3D prints hands and assistive devices. The hands are provided for free, to children and adults all around the world and they even pay the postage! Mat freely shares his designs under an open-source licence so others can make and repair their own devices and to encourage further innovation. Mat's goal is to...

BARRI COHEN is an award-winning writer, director and producer of documentary films. Among her awards and nominations are those for her feature doc, Toxic Trespass: Children’s Health and the Environment (WGC winner), and the recently co-produced Phyllis Ellis film, Toxic Beauty – which garnered an International Emmy nomination and several CSA awards. Cohen’s latest film, Unloved: Huronia’s Forgotte...

Deborah's life has two parts: the first in Canada, where she grew up, and the second in Connecticut, where she lives with three children, two doodles, and one husband. Both places feel like home for her, and in both she's been lucky enough to pursue her passion: story-telling. Back in Toronto, Deb attended the Royal Conservatory of Music and the University of Toronto.  She penned the tra...

Shantelle Bisson is a published author, small business owner, and author of three books; two of which are Best Sellers. Shantelle's books include tips to help readers get through life with more calm, and teach them how to relate, communicate, and get closer to their kids, life partners, and themselves. Shantelle strives to help people feel empowered to heal their past so they can be diff...

This episode of Breaking Brave is brought to you by: SOULSNACKS! Soul snacks are single ingredient, eco conscious dog and cat treats! Sourced directly from farms in Ontario and wrapped in fully compostable packaging. Treating your pets never felt so good. Head to https://soulsnacks.ca/ and use coupon code BREAKINGBRAVE for 15% off your purchase!!! ​ & CRANK COFFEE the newest member of the Neal...

Stan Edwards is an Ironman competitor. He had a massive heart attack while out for a bike ride.. He was clinically dead for 33 minutes and has made a full recovery. His story is incredible. Since Stan was in a coma for several weeks, his wife Tammy and their two sons, Logan and Zac are a great addition to the conversation, adding details and perspective to the fight for Stan's life and t...

This episode of Breaking Brave is brought to you by: SOULSNACKS! Soul snacks are single ingredient, eco conscious dog and cat treats! Sourced directly from farms in Ontario and wrapped in fully compostable packaging. Treating your pets never felt so good. Head to https://soulsnacks.ca/ and use coupon code BREAKINGBRAVE for 15% off your purchase!!! ​ & CRANK COFFEE the newest member of the Neal...

Kate Hammond is a teacher, writer, and the forever mama to Miles, her one-year-old son who passed away in February 2021. Kate & Kent Hammond live in ON, Canada and we are thrilled to share that they have recently expanded their family, with the birth of their brand new baby mere months ago. For more from Kate & Kate Hammond, please connect via: www.thisgrievingmama.ca Socials: @this.grievi...

Andrea Dalzell is a phenomenal and passionate Registered Nurse, a highly active Healthcare Advocate, Disability Rights Influencer, and most importantly, a strong Survivor! Andrea Dalzell was born and raised in the heart of the hustle and bustle of Brooklyn, New York. At the early age of five, Andrea was diagnosed with transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord that causes pain, muscle...

From broken bones and shredded muscle to Olympic glory… Silken's story is one of courage, perseverance and the triumph of the human spirit. In May 1992, just 10 weeks before the Olympic Games, Silken Laumann was injured in a brutal rowing accident that left her right leg shattered and useless. Reigning world champion in Single Sculls rowing, Silken was told by doctors she might never row again. Tw...

Jill Bodak is a Manual Osteopath, Writer, Speaker and Anatomy Educator in Toronto, Ontario. Her debut non-fiction work, "Loved Into Being" is a brave and honest depiction of life after stroke through the eyes of a daughter. In it we learn about the ways that the sharp and clinical elements of her personality bump up against her softer, feeling self. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Bodak i...

A brief holiday message for our cherished listeners directly from host, Marilyn Barefoot - Happy Holidays! -- This episode of Breaking Brave is brought to you by: SOULSNACKS! Soul snacks are single ingredient, eco conscious dog and cat treats! Sourced directly from farms in Ontario and wrapped in fully compostable packaging. Treating your pets never felt so good. Head to https://soulsnacks.ca/ and...

Today's episode features an in-depth conversation on a wide range of topics with Award-winning Actress, Writer, Director & Author, KATIE BOLAND. Chosen by Elle Canada as one of the three Canadians to watch, as an actress she has more than 80 credits to her name. A multiple award winner, she’s won a Canadian Screen Award, was a TIFF Rising Star, a Birks Diamond Woman In Film, named Best Emergin...

Neil Hetherington joined Daily Bread Food Bank as CEO in January 2018. Daily Bread Food Bank supplies fresh and shelf-stable food to more than 130 member agencies across Toronto, supports 175 food programs, and is a national leader in research that examines the causes and impacts of food insecurity. Neil began his career in project management at Tridel Construction, Canada's largest condomini...

Author Daniel Kalla produces engrossing novels with an intensity that matches the challenge of his other role as an ER physician at a major downtown teaching hospital. His medical thrillers focus on themes that lie at the heart of his professional life, delving into topics as diverse as pandemics, superbugs, addiction, DNA evidence and patient abuse. His most recent trilogy – The Far Side Of The S...

ALANNA NATHANSON and NATALIE ARMATA are the CO-CEOs AND CHIEF CREATIVE OFFICERs at G&G Advertising. Alanna is one of those rare creatives that actually loves business, so… she started one. Pre-G&G, she’s grown brands in every category, while winning a multitude of top industry awards. Today, she’s proud to have helped build G&G into an A-list indie shop, which has won both creative acc...

Named one of “Top 10 Creative Canadians” by Marketing Magazine... A best-selling author, speaker, producer, and entrepreneur, Ron Tite has always blurred the lines between art and commerce. He has been an award-winning advertising writer and creative director for some of the world’s most respected brands including Air France, Evian, Fidelity, Hershey, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, Intel,...

Samantha M. Bailey is the  USA TODAY  and #1 nationally bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, which has sold in eleven countries to date. Her psychological thriller debut received a starred review from  Publisher’s Weekly  and was a  PW Best Books Pick of the Week.  It was also the December Fiction Book of the Month at  Indigo Books  and the  Shopper...