Permission To Be Human - the podcast

This episode goes out to all of the mothers out there who are feeling the pressure to do, do, do. You have a big, audacious dream, you want to build a business or a project and you are keen to get going. So you sign up to some programs, some courses. you did in. Then you get overwhelmed. You pressure yourself to push through and go faster. "why can't I get this done?" you might think.  In thi...

Sometimes, we're not sure what our big, audacious dream is until we simply start. In this episode, Elspeth Fimpel shares her story of leaving her corporate job before knowing exactly what she wanted to do. Instead, she followed her gut and did what felt good. Today, 2 years later, Elspeth runs Joyful Outdoors, where she works with businesses and individuals to get out into the British nature, expl...

This mini episode is an insight into what can happen when we think of mothering as a verb, as well as a noun. What if mothering is exactly who we are meant to be and what we are meant to do...but not only our children but our family, friends, community and yes, ourselves.

In this episode I speak with Sarah Ariaudo about her journey into motherhood, how she managed to avoid a panic attack during birth, and how the simple act of breathing can be monumentally helpful in our self care routines. Sarah Ariaudo has moved from helping cancer patients in oncology cope with the emotions of their journey to helping moms use simple tools such as breathing to help through birth...

When we dream big, when we dream audaciously, there are bound to be people, many of which are those who love us most, who will worry for us or think we are thinking too big. In this episode, Mel Findlater digs into why this is and how we can still believe in ourselves and our dreams, even when the people around us think we are crazy.

When we feel stuck, it's hard to see possibility. When our brains are so full of, well everything, it's hard to see possibility. When we are in fight or flight, it's hard to see possibility. But what we want and crave oh so much? To see what could be possible, and then believe that we can get there. In this episode we dig into tangible steps that you can take to get your brain into the space of cr...

Permission Granted Series: Do you ever feel like you are exhausted? Like your brain isn't working anymore? Overwhelmed? There's a reason, and I call it The Motherload. Have a listen to what it is, why you could be feeling this way, and some things that might help you get back to feeling more like you.

This is a behind the scenes interview with Catherine Edsell, whose TedX talk inspired Mel at exactly the right moment in her journey through motherhood. Catherine speaks of the shift into this new role and how she manages having 2 kids while running incredible expeditions around the world. Catherine has a big, audacious dream of helping women take the space to be. Prepare to be inspired. You can f...

This is the first in our new series of Permission Granted. Have you ever stopped and thought about why you are hesitating to do something? Or why you feel guilt? So often it's because we as women have been taught to wait for permission. Well in the interest of our podcast's title, Permission To Be Human, Mel has decided to do a new series of episodes entitled Permission Granted. Today, you are giv...

In this episode we hear from Louisa Jewell about all things wellness, even in hard times, dreaming big, not caring what others think and so much more. Louisa Jewell is one of Canada’s leading experts on the science of well-being and human thriving. Jewell founded the Canadian Positive Psychology Association in 2012 and is the host of The Awesome Project, a new Audible Originals Podcast. Jewell is...

In this episode I speak to Emily Felt about her journey into motherhood, living the two country life, and how to come back and learn from burnout. Emily says: My dream is to learn to live wholeheartedly in the present moment. How can we honor life? By being in it. By serving others. By recognizing its beauty and letting ourselves feel good. I'm a writer and coach, here to share my own journey and...

In this episode we hear from Michelle DeKeyser - mother and founder of Connecting Mamas. Michelle envisions connecting mamas by building a support system to remove the loneliness and isolation that can be felt in motherhood. In our conversation we talk about anything from the identity crisis that so many moms feel, through to shedding the should on our list of to dos, and then of course about comm...

In this episode your host, Mel Findlater, updates you on her experience at the International Positive Psychology Association's World Congress, which was recently held in Vancouver, BC.  Positive Psychology is the science of wellbeing, and to get 1000 people in the same space who are researching and or applying this work was pretty magical. As someone who will soon have her forest school certi...

In this expert interview with Kari Gormley, we not only hear about her incredible story as a mother being resilient and pursuing her big, audacious dreams, but we also get some really practical, researched back ways to improve our own wellbeing.  Kari Gormley helps leaders focus on energy management, emotional intelligence, and using their strengths to do the work that truly matters. She...

Lina Braun is such a gentle and loving mom who is so easy to identify with. Having taken care of everyone for so long and neglected herself, she has a complete transformation of mind and body and starts to dream big again. Join us for an honest conversation about her journey. You can connect with Lina and cheer her on with her creative dreams over on instagram @linabraunsocial

In this episode I interview Jenelle Wakeman, a mom who overcame many challenges to get back to her best self and find a new big, audacious dream in the process. Jenelle is a working mom of two young kids who is chasing her dream of helping others gain strength, confidence and sense of self. She is a group fitness coach who works with a community focused on a holistic approach to overall well being...

In this episode I talk about how so many of us mothers, myself included, have this often secret desire, craving, a whisper even, to be mom and more. We discuss mattering, purpose, meaning, and why it is so important that each of us listens to that little voice in our head telling us what we need.  We explore some of the writings by Isaac and Pro Prilleltensky in How People Matter and use it t...

If you like this episode on nature, be sure to check out episode 9's micro episode and join us in the #permissiontonoticenature challenge. Meet Jena Jauchius, mom of twins and a landscape architect and owner of N is for Nature Play. Jena's big, audacious dream is to have an ultra successful business and support as many children and families as I can with health, happiness, and connection through s...

In this first of many micro episodes, we have a look at a piece of research that was completed on noticing nature and leave you with a 10 day challenge of a super simple but oh so worthy task to do throughout your day for 10 days in order to increase your feelings of connectedness, awe, and so much more!   Will you join us in the #PermissionToNoticeNature challenge over on fb and instagram? C...

In this episode with see the seemingly impossible in action. We interview Darci Hawxhurst, M.S.Ed. who is a founding member of certified MAF Method Health Coaches, a member of the Conscious Feminine Leadership Academy, and the mother of a previously brain injured child (who is now an independent college student and entrepreneur). She is the creator of the Vibrant Woman Program - a paradigm-shiftin...

In this episode Mel talks you through 3 steps to connecting with your big, audacious dream.....because here's the thing, we can say it and believe it sounds great all we want but how do you actually do it? In this episode you will hear the exact steps that you can take to start to feel more connected to you, and to your big audacious dreams.

Anna Wolfman of Femunify chats to us about what it has been like to know she wants something different and to pursue it even though she wasn't sure exactly what the idea would be. We talk about fears, taking the leap - or more like little steps that move you forward - and the importance of community. Anna also talks about why, as a mother, she felt she needed to follow her dreams and curiosity, to...

In this episode we will dig into the stories we tell ourselves, explore whether they are serving us, and how to shift them if they are not. You will get a description of the ever important self care triangle, which notes the key things that we are usually missing when we think of self care. This is the perfect episode to listen to before or after episode 4, where we explore the havening.

Today we interview Caryl Williams Love, a having practitioner who is seriously like magic. Her knowledge of the brain and how to rewire it and our unhelpful stories to serve us better astounds me and is so so useful. In this interview you will find out all about a tool that you can go away and use right now to help calm your mind and body and rewire your brain. Check it out. 

Today's episode is a really juicy one! I interview Dr. Crystal Morrison who went from being a corporate scientist to building her own world changing business. I  absolutely love how real we get in how this came about, what its like to be a mother taking action on her dreams, and the impacts that it has had on her and her family.  If you are debating starting up your own project or b...