Fascinating Women

Send us Fan Mail Wow, Michaela is a driven young woman who is just now starting to explore work life balances. She has a relentless, unstoppable internal drive that is plunging into the chaos of real life. She grew up doing morning chores in -30 degree blizzard because that was not an excuse with animals waiting. Michaela talks about the value of having unfiltered friends providing ruthless, lovin...

Send us Fan Mail Mark chats with Sam Shackleton, a boldly independent woman. She talks about how travelling to Thailand and Australia fundamentally changed her.  Nearly as much as being a mother of two.  They talk about handling rejections, getting the nerve to charge what you are worth as an artist. It's a personal conversation as Sam exposes how personal turmoil made her resilient. She expr...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful special edition of Fascinating Women , host Mark Laurie sits down with Elizabeth Gil to walk through her unexpected journey with breast cancer. What started as routine blood work led to a life-altering discovery and a series of choices that challenge societal norms of femininity. Elizabeth shares the raw details of her diagnosis, the emotional anchor provided by h...

Send us Fan Mail Elizabeth is a leap first kinda woman. She is a granddaughter of Spanish refugees and an immigrant from Venezuela at 18, leaving her family behind. With no English but driven by a dream, her positive mindset makes it work. She is stubborn. Failure is “a first attempt in learning.” Strong women and gentle men shaped her view. Her North Star is always choosing kindness. Her story of...

Send us Fan Mail Roberta Nickel shares insights with Mark about her 18-plus years in the Canadian Navy, as the only woman in her unit. Her time as her mom’s caregiver led to her discovering a love of belly dancing. Into the mix was embracing the Society for Creative Anachronism, a medieval live events group, which was interestingly paired with her entry as a practising Wiccan. She relates dancing...

Send us Fan Mail Jackie Rainforth is full of fresh insights and joy. She discusses her life, emphasizing her belief in living life to the fullest and her tendency to push boundaries. She is a disruptor and encourages it. She shares a story about defying her father's wishes to marry at 14, leading to a brief marriage and subsequent divorce. Jackie highlights her inspirations, particularly peop...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Erin shares her insights with Mark on how art mirrors society, the hidden influence of women’s history, and the importance of staying curious rather than judgmental. With heartfelt stories about her pioneering grandmothers, she illustrates the power of taking risks and finding true purpose. Erin’s thoughtful reflections on self-doubt, incremental progress, and the...

Send us Fan Mail Mark’s chat with Krista where the values of authenticity and resilience has gotten her, how her curiosity from a young age shifted society’s momentum from fear and seriousness to lightness. She explains what being a big thinker is and how she got there. Krista shares how her value of lifelong learning gave her continuous personal growth.  Krista gets into her parenting style, part...

Send us Fan Mail Mark’s chat with Holly reveals a dynamic woman whose big blended family, with all its drama, has shaped her into an inspiring, resilient, and intuitive leader.  The universe shifted from a nursing to a bold candle business. Her rallying cry is progress over perfection.  Holly talks about experimenting with a four-day workweek and then moving it company-wide. She found that even sh...

Send us Fan Mail Catherine Brownlee discusses her journey from a young introvert to a successful, extroverted professional. Influenced by her father's wisdom and mentorship, she entered the oil and gas industry through volunteering. Catherine emphasizes the importance of authenticity, networking, and constant learning. She shares her beliefs in optimism, human goodness, and the search for lov...

Send us Fan Mail The Rose of Tralee - shared by Katie Dooley the Western Canadian Chair.  Any Irish blood in your veins? Even if it is a small %,  you can enter. Katie tells us about the event, from firsthand experience. It starts with a wild March weekend with the winner going to Ireland. It is a pretty big deal. Take a listen. Let anyone with some Irish blood know About The Rose of Tralee,  As o...

Send us Fan Mail Jane Duncan, a 67-year-old dancer and educator, shares insights on her life and careers. She always knew she was a dancer, starting when she was 11. For her, dance was a healing and power source. While she cherished it, always seeing herself as a dancer, she changed careers, got degrees and flourished. She shares her mentors and how they changed her life.  She now volunteers with...

Send us Fan Mail Henriette shares how being an introvert made immigrating from Holland at 35 with young children a bigger challenge than for most. She had language issues and job difficulties. Her family stepped away from religion, to the disapproval of her Holland family. She talks about how naive they were about Canada. The evolution of beliefs, personal growth and resilience. Her passion for ca...

Send us Fan Mail Katie shares some personal insights with Mark. She tells about life advice a babysitter gave her 10-year-old self that still guides her. How a dancing instructor became a role model for a designer. Her love and advice on travelling as a single woman. Katie shares the power of being nice, giving back, and working hard. The personality traits she cherishes and those she wishes she h...

Send us Fan Mail Mark chats with Jennifer Keable, a heart-led entrepreneur passionate about redefining success and a work-life balance that avoids burnout. Jennifer shares her journey from corporate burnout to being life-centred in her most exciting new version of her.  Jennifer shares her terror and the power of saying no to reclaim control of her time and energy.  Mark explores how her daily bre...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Fascinating Women, Mark chats with Laura Watson, a business coach, competitive ballroom dancer, and expert communicato. She shares her journey of personal growth, driven by her desire to serve and lead others. She reflects on the guiding beliefs that shape her life, including the importance of service and walking her talk, even in difficult conversations. Laura...

Send us Fan Mail In this captivating episode of *Fascinating Women*, Mark Laurie sits down with his long-time friend, Lara Jickles, for a heartfelt and inspiring conversation. Lara opens up about the profound experiences that have shaped her, including the tragic loss of her baby sister and how it fueled her rebellious spirit. From her adventures as an international nude model and high-wire suspen...

Send us Fan Mail Jennifer discusses personal growth, inspiration, and mindfulness. Shes shared experiences on embracing challenges, taking risks, and overcoming imposter syndrome. Jennifer emphasizes the value of education and healing, going deeply into her yoga philosophy and Buddhist teachings. She discusses navigating the gray area of life and business, with a focus on self-confidence and mindf...

Send us Fan Mail Michelle shares her approaches to overcoming fear and cultivating discipline in pursuit of goals. She emphasized the importance of purpose, self-improvement, and embracing uncertainty. Michelle relates her experience transitioning from athlete to entrepreneur, highlighting the value of creative outlets and community involvement. We discuss the challenges of being an artist and ent...

Send us Fan Mail Keziah Arsenault's journey is one of resilience, transformation, and fire—literally. In this captivating episode of the Fascinating Women podcast, Keziah shares how she evolved from a controlled upbringing to embracing her true passions. With a background in biological sciences, psychology, and veterinary medicine, she discovered her love for fire performance and became a pro...

Send us Fan Mail Mark chats with Dr. Sandra Shur. She talks about discovering her ability to read aura fields and how she went from a Chiropractor to an entrepreneur and then aura fields. She lays out the struggles, the forces that shaped her and how she came to embrace her gifts. She gets into challenges and high points. Why she likes it so much Sandra Schur bio Dr. Sandra Schur, an auric field c...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to another episode of "Fascinating Women" with Mark Laurie. In this engaging conversation, Mark sits down with Claudia Martens, a dynamic public speaker and mentor with a rich background in empowering voices. Claudia shares her journey from a second-generation Chinese-Canadian navigating early life challenges in Calgary, to becoming a powerful advocate for confid...

Send us Fan Mail Niki is a woman who arrived the hard way. She does not back down; she goes forward with her rules. Niki sees challenges rather than failure. Her version of success is not money-based but goal-based. She constantly goes against the grain, succeeding in places most said she should not even try. Her resume is international, and she is recognized for a variety of accomplishments. She...

Send us Fan Mail In this riveting episode of "Fascinating Women," Mark Laurie invites Luann Horobin, a seasoned expert in personal and career transformation, to share her journey of resilience and empowerment. With her roots in Alberta, Luann's spontaneous plunge into the stock market and her transformative experiences in healthcare and personal life shine a light on the power of em...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a riveting journey with Phoenix Starchild, a woman whose resilience shines through a tapestry of life trials and profound transformations. From a secluded, small-town upbringing to a life marked by trials and revelations, Phoenix's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of truth. Discover her courageous transition from facing personal turm...