Human First Podcast

Welcome back to the Human First Podcast! Alia and Maddie chat about their busy weekend and milestone celebrations. They recount the vibrant panel discussion at Mango Mental Health's two-year anniversary event and they explore the difference between goals and expectations, emphasizing the importance of living in the now and building trust in yourself.

On this episode, Maddie and Alia reflect on the tragedies of the Lapu Lapu Festival, held in Vancouver on Apr. 26. They move through a deep conversation on grief and healing, and how is there no timeline on moving forward. They share the differences between self-help books and therapy, and their holy grail, go-to resources. Upcoming event: An Evening with Mango (May 31)

Feels good to be back! Alia and Maddie pick up their microphones for the first episode of the new season of Human First Podcast. If you're new here, this is a good place to start. On today's episode the gals do a quick catch up, re-introduce themselves (or... each other), and end the episode with an introspective question (of course).

Well, we can’t believe it’s already the end of the year! On this episode, Maddie and Alia sum up their favourites from the year and discuss their plans for the upcoming season of HFP. This episode is the finale of the current season of HFP, and we’re so excited to usher in another new era in 2025! Comment here and rate our show! Follow us on Instagram (@humanfirst.podcast) and TikTok (@humanfirst....

Maddie and Alia are back, and this time they’re letting their guts do the talking—figuratively, of course. They dive headfirst into the wild world of intuition — why your inner voice sometimes goes on vacation, how to invite it back, and why it’s the ultimate decision-making sidekick. From big life choices to the eternal dilemma of “should I order dessert?” (spoiler: the answer is always yes), the...

… it’s that time of year again folks! The days are shorter, and yet they feel longer. Here on Human First we are obsessed with taking care of ourselves - but how do you actually do this? How do we find a balance between prioritizing our wellness, and it becoming a burden? Well, Maddie and Alia are here to talk it all through. Join us for a deep dive into self-care, the Olson twins and how we take...

A trip to Portugal, Nepal, and the Cali coast later, Maddie and Alia are back to discuss what they learned from their travels and the new found need for routine. They dive into how to prep yourself to better enjoy your vacay, removing guilt from the pressure to "do it all", and what settling back into home life can look like. We missed you beautiful humans - enjoy!! Don't forget to follow us &...

This week on the pod we dive deep into female friendship with real life friend-of-the-podcast Hayley Hart! (@wellnesswithhayls). We learn a lot about ourselves through the relationships we engage in, especially our friendships. This episode discusses platonic and romantic love, the concept of being a girl’s girl, and what it means to feel safe in a friendship. Join Alia, Maddie and Hayley while th...

Imagine chatting with your friends over dinner or drinks and then someone asks that one deep question that changes the entire vibe … in a good way. Well folks, that’s what this episode feels like. Join Maddie and Alia while they explore failure, success, self-image and the experience of “growing up”. This Q&A episode is packed with moments of vulnerability, cheeky laughs and of course, deep ch...

This week on the podcast Alia and Maddie explore their own individual relationships with alcohol and being the “fun” one. They scratch the surface of how we use alcohol in social settings, the cultural context of alcohol use in Canada, and the feelings that arise when a relationship becomes mindless vs. intentional. For further resources on substance use and support please see below: https://www.c...

This week on the pod we’re so excited to have Dr. Emma Furze (@dr.emmafurze) joining us to discuss her personal and professional experience in naturopathic medicine, women’s health, and reality television. If you’re like us, and only recently started understanding what the Luteal phase is - you won’t want to miss this episode. Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @...

Alright beautiful humans, get ready for a silly-turned-serious episode. Alia and Maddie explore topics around play, horoscopes, and eventually the meaning of existence and human connection. We’re so glad you’re here. Join us at our next community event in Vancouver, BC on Saturday Sept. 7th: Sound & Ground: A Sound Bath Experience for Restorative Rest Buy tickets here! Don't forget to follow us! I...

It’s time. You guessed it, we’re talking all things Anxiety this week. Alia and Maddie share their personal experiences with anxious thoughts and anxious attachment, they offer strategies that work for them and, of course, things get deeper than expected! (But what else is new). If you’re a person who overthinks, feels deeply and just wants to be everything for everyone - this might be the episode...

On this week's episode, Alia and Maddie are joined by their first guest and fellow RCC, Andy Park! Together they chat about relationships, marriage, and Andy's experience being a male in the mental health field. Enjoy!! Don't forget to follow us! Instagram: @humanfirst.podcast Tiktok: @humanfirst.pod www.mangomentalhealth.com

In this episode Alia and Maddie discuss body image and self esteem, the impact of social media on our mental health and doing what you need to do to protect your peace. CW: This episode explores sensitive material around disordered eating, body dysmorphia and negative self-image. Please use discretion when listening to this episode and utilize support if needed.

Maddie and Alia get into spending quality time with yourself, becoming regulated extroverts, inherent value, and the realization that it's not that deep - except for us, it is.

Join Maddie and Alia as they chat about the Olympics, a mascot girl summer, trusting yourself during times of change, and why we should all be a bit more like Snoop.

Maddie and Alia finally reunite after a busy start to the summer to record their first episode together! They discuss how and why they became therapists, the origin story of their friendship, and vision for the new era of HFP.

Maddie Skidmore and Alia Chan, registered counsellors, talk about all the experiences that connect us - the silly, the difficult, and everything in between. Together we'll discuss various mental health topics through deep chats and funny banter, all while exploring what makes us human, first. Maddie and Alia invite you to join them on Mondays to celebrate all parts of the human experience.

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by sex therapist, counsellor, and writer, Erin Davidson (@erin.e.davidson). Erin talks about her Christian upbringing and unpacking her relationship with sex. After being sexually assaulted, Erin discusses her battle with shame and self-doubt, and her raw journey towards empowerment. Now practicing as a registered clinica...

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcat), Alia is joined by Nikhil Sanka (@niksanka), joining in all the way from India. Nikhil shares with us his journey growing up with dyslexia and the hurdles he had to face as someone with a learning disability in the asian culture. He opens up about his drive to learn and study at the same level as everyone else, in an effort to show his worth, but t...

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Megan Chambers (@msegallybpd). Megan was first diagnosed with borderline personality disorder in early 2017. After breaking her tailbone, losing her job, and the pandemic, Megan found herself to be hit hard emotionally, and lost many relationships due to her BPD and the most recent incidents. Megan walks us through what it means...

Today on Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Kevin Clark (@kevinmacnevinclark). Growing up with big and loud emotions and the trauma of specific childhood experiences, Kevin found substances as a protective mechanism to escape thoughts, feelings, and intrusive memories. After a spiritual awakening in the woods and physically being separated from substances while being in p...

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Cristina Ferreira (@cristinaaif). At the beginning of 2020, Cristina suffered a tonic clonic seizure and was later diagnosed with epilepsy. The week after her diagnosis, BC went into complete lockdown due to COVID-19. Cristina shares with us the state of her mental health during this time as she noticed depression sett...

On this episode of Human First Podcast (@humanfirst.podcast), Alia is joined by Chapmann Cheung (@coach_chappy). In 2019, Chapmann’s life changed when he received the diagnosis for kidney cancer, and found himself fighting for his life. With the power of family, he was able to find the strength and inspiration to carry forward. Now as a cancer survivor and with Terry Fox as his role model, Chapman...