Dare to be us! Podcast

What happens when you leave the place that shaped you—but never fully felt like you belonged there? In this episode of Dare to Be Us , Ruth sits down with artist, curator, and visual storyteller Nahom Assefa for a conversation that goes far beyond art. Together, they explore what it means to carry multiple identities, navigate life as an immigrant, and question the stories we've inherited about cu...

What happens when you stop trying to fit in and start embracing the way your mind naturally works? This week, Ruth sits down with filmmaker, artist, historian, and fellow neurodivergent Daniel MacNeil to explore creativity, ADHD, dyslexia, burnout, history, spirituality, and the unexpected ways curiosity can shape a life. From spending over 500 hours reconstructing the original Fortress of Louisbo...

What happens when trauma becomes identity? In this deeply vulnerable episode of Dare to Be Us , Ruth and Joe sit down with Dr. Stephen Paul for a raw conversation about healing, masculinity, authenticity, relationships, survival personas, and the stories we build around ourselves. Before the interview, Ruth investigated Dr. Stephen Paul’s public image, business claims, and online persona not to ex...

In this powerful and deeply vulnerable episode of Dare to Be Us , we sit down with Keonte, singer, speaker, author, and community leader, to explore what it truly means to turn pain into purpose. Growing up in North Preston, Keonte shares how music, community, and lived experience shaped his identity… but also opens up about one of the darkest moments of his life when, at just 12 years old, he beg...

In this episode of Dare To Be Us , we welcome Shawn Leonard for an open and thoughtful conversation on spirituality, lived experience, and the mysteries many people carry privately. Shawn shares parts of his personal journey, how spirit first began speaking in his life, and how those experiences evolved into a path of service, teaching, and responsibility. We discuss the Seven Grandfather Teaching...

Have you ever felt like you’re doing everything to heal… and still feel stuck? In this episode of Dare to Be Us , Ruth sits down with Joe for a real, honest conversation about something many people experience, but rarely talk about: Why healing alone doesn’t fully work. We explore the gap between awareness and transformation, the role of the nervous system, and why so many people feel like they’re...

In this episode, I sit down with Denika, author of Broken Secrets , a deeply personal and powerful memoir about surviving childhood sexual abuse, breaking decades of silence, and reclaiming power after trauma. This is not an easy conversation… but it is an important one. Denika shares her journey through grooming, manipulation, and the long lasting impact of trauma, while navigating life as a moth...

A grounded conversation about trauma, healing, and what it means to truly hold space. In this episode, our guest shares her journey from skepticism to spiritual work, moving from not believing in spirit at all to experiencing moments of synchronicity that shifted everything. We talk about how life’s challenges opened the door to deeper listening, and how healing often goes beyond the mind. She als...

In this episode, we sit down with Adrian former Naval Officer specializing in diving and explosives, now renovator, theology student, and devoted admirer of the cosmos. What begins with humor and playful identity quickly deepens into a raw conversation about life inside military structure, the impact it leaves on mental health, and what happens when the uniform comes off. Together, we explore how...

What starts as small changes in the body slowly turns into something impossible to ignore. In this episode of Dare to Be Us, we sit down for an honest conversation about what it’s like when your body begins to fail you and no one has answers. From pushing through symptoms as an athlete, to being dismissed by doctors, to finally reaching a breaking point that led to a diagnosis of Myasthenia Gravis...

In this deeply moving episode of Dare to Be Us , Lisa Dawn shares her extraordinary journey through neurodivergence, loss, medical trauma, and spiritual awakening. From growing up with undiagnosed ADHD in Canada to surviving a devastating car accident that left her mother in a coma, Lisa reflects on the moment that first introduced her to spiritual medium Shawn Leonard, a turning point that change...

In this episode, Kelly opens her heart and her history, from surviving a painful marriage and raising her children alone, to walking through the deepest challenges of addiction, mental health, and grief within her family. Through it all, she found her path as a medium, a healer, and a woman guided by spirit. We talk about the moments that shaped her gifts: the visions, the messages, the connection...

In this powerful episode, Ruth sits down with Lisa Doucette and Elaine for a deeply honest conversation about healing, spirit, and the unseen support that guides us through life’s hardest moments. We explore Reiki as a pathway of awakening , how ancient teachings connect to the present, and Elaine’s unique experience receiving messages from spirit while navigating the structure and discipline of m...

In this episode, Elaine reveals how grief, spiritual sensitivity, and years of unexplained paranormal activity guided her toward her purpose as a clairvoyant, hypnotherapist, and paranormal investigator. https://www.youtube.com/@daretobeus Guest: Elaine Hale https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1HE2RUh83R/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/17ThLx4Ewx/

Lisa opens the door to her life story — from cross-cultural marriage and immigration struggles to motherhood, trauma, and the moment her soul demanded something more. You’ll hear the truth behind: • Moving to Cuba after a denied visa • Living in traditional gender roles, she never chose • Returning to Canada and rebuilding from zero • Struggling to become pregnant at 40 • Emotional and physical ab...

When life forced her to stop remembering, she started truly listening. In this episode, Simone shares how her neurological condition, what many might see as a limitation, became the doorway to her spiritual awakening. Losing her memory didn’t end her story; it rewrote it. We talk about how adversity can open unexpected space for intuition, how surrender can reveal purpose, and what it means to ser...

In this episode, we sit down with Anne as she opens up about her spiritual awakening, one that didn’t begin in adulthood, but in childhood. From hearing and sensing spirits without understanding why, to shutting down her gifts out of fear, Anne shares the journey of rediscovering who she really is. She takes us through her time in home nursing, where she witnessed powerful transitions between life...

In this episode of Dare to Be Us , we sit down with Leanna Todd, mom, massage therapist, and theatre director in Nova Scotia, to hear her story of resilience, advocacy, and creativity. Leanna shares the challenges of raising her daughter, Moira, who is autistic, while navigating a health and education system that often falls short. From delays in assessments to gaps in support services, she opens...

When a loved one is dying, who guides you? In this episode of Dare to Be Us , we sit with Shona , a Death Doula who brings light and understanding to one of life’s most misunderstood transitions: death. Shona shares what it means to hold space for the dying and their families, offering comfort, presence, and compassion when words fall short. Together, we explore grief, love, and the quiet power of...

In this episode of Dare to Be Us , Mary shares her journey of navigating life while feeling different, from moving across cultures to embracing her ADHD and autism, to discovering how society shapes our experiences. She reflects on finding inner strength, understanding the science behind our minds, and creating a space where being unapologetically yourself is celebrated. Join us as we explore: Why...

For our very first episode of Dare to Be Us , I’m so honored to have Danika join me. It truly means so much that she’s part of the beginning of this journey. Danika is a mom of six, five of whom are neurodivergent and she opens up about the everyday chaos, the challenges, and the deep love that come with navigating life in her world. From sleepless nights and endless advocacy to the moments of lau...