Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Life By Design

Education EN ↓ 97 episodes

Welcome to Life by Design with Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe. This podcast is a space for real conversations about well-being, resilience, performance, leadership, and everyday life – and how the small choices you make each day shape the quality of your life. Living a big, beautiful life isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s built in the ordinary moments, the routines that ground us, the acts of self-care that restore us, and the intentional decisions that align us with what matters most. Each week, we take big ideas and turn them into practical habits, tools, and practices you can actually use. Tho...

Author

Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Category

Education

Podcast website

drrobyne.ca

Latest episode

Jul 8, 2026

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Episodes

Just Get to the Shore 26.02.2025

In today’s episode, Dr. Robyne explores how emotions shape our experiences and how we can support ourselves when they become overwhelming. Instead of trying to problem-solve or force solutions in moments of distress and heightened emotions, she encourages us to first focus on “just getting to the shore”—a place of steadiness and regulation. This conversation will help you recognize how self-awaren...

Social Comparison: Wired into Us, But Not in Control of Us 19.02.2025

Why do we compare ourselves to others? It’s wired into us for survival—but in today’s hyper-connected world, it often leaves us feeling like we’re never enough. In this episode, Dr. Robyne unpacks the evolutionary roots of social comparison and why it’s both a natural instinct and a modern challenge. She shares strategies for how to recognize when it’s hurting rather than helping, what we can do t...

Love, Connection, and the Relationships That Are Good for Your Nervous System 12.02.2025

In this Valentine’s Day-inspired episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne is talking about love. She dives into the science of attachment, exploring how our earliest relationships shape the way we connect with others throughout our lives and why we’re drawn to certain people. She also discusses how the nervous system signals safety and trust, the importance of showing up for the relationships...

When Life Is a Lot 05.02.2025

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or like you need a break from your own life or even yourself? In this episode, Dr. Robyne explores the reality of resilience when life feels relentless and the curveballs keep coming. She unpacks the importance of leaning into self-care—even when it doesn’t feel like it’s working—addresses how social comparison adds to overwhelm, and offers strategies for honoring your...

From Vulnerability to Strength: How to Cultivate a Sense of Safety 29.01.2025

What does it mean to feel safe? In today’s episode, Dr. Robyne unpacks the concept of safety as it relates to psychology and stress—what it looks like, feels like, and how we can cultivate it in our lives. She discusses how our attachment styles shape the ways we seek or create safety, the importance of tuning in to our nervous system and trusting our instincts, and how to foster a sense of ease a...

Bridging the Knowing-Doing Gap 22.01.2025

In this episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne explores the “knowing-doing gap”—the space between knowing what’s best for us and actually putting it into practice. Using relatable examples, she unpacks why we sometimes struggle to follow through, how all behaviors serve a purpose, and how self-awareness, curiosity, and intentionality can help us bridge the gap. Plus, the power of “feeling-se...

The Stress Bucket Concept: Understanding Your Limits and Finding Balance 15.01.2025

Is your stress bucket overflowing? From big rocks like grief and illness to life’s daily stressors, our buckets can feel perpetually full, leaving us overwhelmed and depleted. In this episode, Dr. Robyne explores the concept of the stress bucket and shares compassionate, research-backed practices for finding relief. Discover how to identify your most pressing stressors and cultivate physical, emot...

Navigating Life's Transitions: Embrace the Discomfort 08.01.2025

How do you transition from hustle to rest, from holidays to routine, or from work to home life? Transitions can often feel daunting, but in today’s episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne shares personal insights and actionable strategies to help you navigate them with greater ease and compassion.    Get in Touch with Dr. Robyne:    Watch episodes on YouTube   Get Dr. Robyne's book: Calm With...

Calm Seas Don’t Make Strong Sailors 03.01.2025

In this episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne challenges the common narrative around self-care, stress, and resilience in the face of systemic and organizational challenges. Plus, she tackles the big question: Do we need to experience adversity to build resilience? Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or helping others do the same, you’ll find something meaningful to take away from...

No “New Year, New You” This Year 26.12.2024

As we step into a new year, many of us feel the pressure to set lofty resolutions—only to abandon them weeks later. In this episode, Dr. Robyne challenges the “New Year, New You” mindset and explores a fresh approach to setting goals. Rather than chasing perfection or rigid resolutions, she invites you to focus on how you want to feel in 2025 and to start by finding the micro-habits that will trul...

Holiday Hoopla 18.12.2024

For some, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. For others, they’re fraught with big emotions, complex expectations, and invisible labour. In this special listener-requested episode, Dr. Robyne shares practical tips for managing holiday busyness, setting healthy boundaries, and creating meaningful experiences. Whether you thrive on the hustle or feel weighed down by grief or the in...

Your Life Moves in the Direction of Your Strongest Emotion 18.12.2024

In this episode, Dr. Robyne dives into the world of emotions—their power, purpose, and how they shape our lived experiences. From the 90-second shelf life of many emotions to the challenges of unprocessed emotions lingering in our bodies and the profound impact of grief, this episode is packed with wisdom to help you identify, process, and navigate big emotions in a way that fosters resilience and...

Breaking Down Stigma and Rewriting the Narrative 11.12.2024

In today’s episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne dives into a critical barrier to living a resilient life: stigma. She explores the origins of stigma, its societal consequences, and its deeply personal impact, revealing the powerful ways labels shape the narratives we carry about ourselves and others. With compassion and insight, Dr. Robyne shares her personal experiences with learning disa...

Betting on Yourself and Moving Forward with Fear 04.12.2024

Fear wears many faces—fear of rejection, judgment, failure—but ultimately, it is a survival mechanism designed to keep us safe. In this episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne reflects on how fear has shaped pivotal moments in her life, including the launch of her first book, a career shift, and the launch of this podcast. She shares personal stories of playing it safe, the ways unchecked fea...

Stress as a Barrier to Resilience 27.11.2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Robyne unpacks one of the biggest barriers to resiliency: stress. If you’ve ever felt like your ability to bounce back ebbs and flows depending on your circumstances, this conversation is for you. Dr. Robyne explains how stress, particularly distress caused by high cortisol levels, can overwhelm our nervous system and diminish our capacity to cope. Join Dr. Robyne as she sh...

Hope: A Strategy for Resilience 27.11.2024

The world feels heavy right now, and in this episode, Dr. Robyne invites us to see hope as our throughline. Drawing from personal experience and stories of resilience, she explores how small, intentional hope practices can protect your inner pilot light, keeping your spirit steady even in times of darkness and uncertainty. If you’re feeling tender-hearted or weary, this conversation is a powerful...

Acceptance: What It Is and What It Isn’t 27.11.2024

In this episode, Dr. Robyne untangles common misconceptions about acceptance and explores why it’s an essential pillar of resiliency. Through real-life stories and practical tips, Dr. Robyne helps us understand the “why” questions that can keep us stuck, how to move forward with “how” questions, and what it means to work within our controllables. Plus, how sometimes letting go of the need for answ...

Perspective: An Alignment Between the Head and the Heart 27.11.2024

In today’s episode, Dr. Robyne dives into the transformative power of perspective—not just as a mindset, but as a full-bodied alignment between intuition and intellect. Through personal insights and a touching story about her daughter, she illustrates how our experiences, connections, and curiosity shape the way we see and feel the world. Join Dr. Robyne as she helps you see the value in bridging...

The Rough First Draft 27.11.2024

Welcome to the very first episode of Resiliency Redefined , a space to explore human resiliency, well-being, and the beauty of embracing life’s challenges and joys. In this debut episode, Dr. Robyne shares her journey of starting messy, trusting the process, and leaning into her voice. She reveals how she overcame doubts to launch this podcast after years of the idea being in her head and heart an...

The Five Pillars of Everyday Resiliency 27.11.2024

In this episode of Resiliency Redefined, Dr. Robyne breaks down the five pillars of her Everyday Resiliency framework—belonging, perspective, acceptance, hope, and humor—and how they can transform the way we navigate life’s challenges. She shares that resilience isn’t about being superhuman or something reserved only for a select few; it's accessible to each and every one of us. Join Dr. Robyne as...

Belonging: Finding Your Home Team 27.11.2024

In this episode, Dr. Robyne dives into the profound impact of belonging—both with others and within ourselves. She explores why community is critical to resilience, how one caring adult can change a child’s future, the difference between fitting in and truly belonging, and why finding your “home team” is vital at every stage of life. Dr. Robyne also addresses the complexities of making friends in...

Humor: The Power of Not Taking Ourselves Too Seriously 27.11.2024

In this episode of Resiliency Redefined , Dr. Robyne reveals the surprising role humor plays in helping us bounce back from life’s challenges. Through personal anecdotes and research-based insights, she uncovers how moments of merriment, joy, lightheartedness, and a good laugh can create powerful reprieves, even during the darkest times. She also revisits the other four pillars of Everyday Resilie...

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