RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana

In this episode of Resilient AF, hosts Blair and Alana interviewed Dr. Tasha Faruqui and her daughter, Soraya, about their experiences with Mr. Main, a beloved teacher who passed away from illness. Soraya shared her ability to communicate with spirits and her close relationship with Mr. Main, who provided her support during a difficult time at school. Tasha discussed Soraya's unique gifts and thei...

In this deeply honest and unexpectedly funny episode, sisters and co-founders Blair and Alana kick off 2026 by unpacking the emotional hangover of 2025. From grief anniversaries and health scares to TV obsessions, bowel updates (yes, really), and big audacious dreams, this conversation is a reminder that resilience is rarely tidy and never boring. They talk about honouring their late mother, navig...

In this year-end podcast episode, Blair and Alana reflected on their personal and professional highlights and challenges of 2025. They discussed their successful book launches, including two Times Square billboard campaigns and international bestseller status, while acknowledging logistical difficulties with shipping and event planning. Alana shared her medical challenges and recovery, including e...

Chelsea Pegue’s dad died suddenly from addiction and she had to learn to live without her best friend. This journey also led her to learn why addiction takes so many lives. This is her story and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ About the Guest: Chelsea Pegues is a freelance writer, proofreader and editor based in the Hudson Valley region of New Yor...

In this episode, Blair Kaplan Venables and Alana Kaplan pull back the curtain on what life looks like when creativity, grief, business, and resilience all collide at once. The conversation starts in heavier territory. Blair and Alana reflect on the devastating attack at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Australia, and talk openly about what it means to hold grief, fear, and resilience at the same...

Suzanna Fisher lost her Grammy, who was her best friend. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ About the Guest: Suzanna Fisher is a tattoo artist and Seattle local. Links: w ww.bellwethertattoo.com https://www.instagram.com/suzannafisher/ ⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care...

Sara was living her dreams in Latin America with her husband Brian when a bus accident turned everything upside down; Sara broke her leg and lost five teeth, and tragically, Brian died, just one week after his 44th birthday. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ About the Guest: Sara Clark is a facilitator, trainer, and team coach...

Alana and Blair met in Los Angeles to attend End Well and Grieftastic. End Well is a grief conference and is considered “A Day About Death & Life: For the Curious and Courageous.” The day was full of inspirational speakers, deep connections and all of the feelings. The following day was Grieftastic, a book fair with grief books, panels, networking, and a lot of laughing. This episode is a dige...

Rachel lost her dad when she was 27 years old and turned to travel as a way to heal her heart. She built an online community as a way to express her feelings, which quickly grew. Shortly after, she started leading Grief Trips around the world to show others the beauty in travelling while grieving. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/bo...

Deb Drummond is an author in the forthcoming book about tattoos of resilience, RESILIENT A.F. Skin Deep Stories, launching December 2025. Dr. Parul Dua Makkar is an author in the upcoming book, RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Volume, launching in March 2026. Deb Drummond joins us to talk about balancing various projects, life, and everything in between. They talk about health, abundance and...

The Kaplan sisters catch up on Shayne’s health, Alana’s experience with a cat psychic, a new way to communicate their mental health superpowers, and what they've both been up to.  Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ Grief and Resilience Expert Certification Program with Blair Kaplan Venables, information and registration: https://blairkaplan.ca/grief-resilience-expert...

Heather Marianna is back on the podcast to chat with Blair about adult friendships, betrayal and a new way to make genuine adult friends. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ Camp Manifest: https://sunshinesecretofoc.com/camp-manifest-retreat About the Guest: Heather Marianna is a powerhouse entrepreneur and the visionary founder...

Big changes happened in the Kaplan sisters lives and they dive deep into what has been going on. This episode explores life changes and medical trauma and how both sisters are navigating it all. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ ⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to...

This episode dives into the stories of two coauthors featured in RESILIENT A.F. Skin Deep Stories, Helga and BB. Helga Magdalen had to be resilient when both her mom and sister had terminal cancer diagnoses in the same time period. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. BB Gabriel shares the story of the tattoo that she got to represent the relationship with her sisters, Tara and Bryanne and...

Kimberly Rich went from surviving to thriving after the sudden death of her mother by turning her loss into her purpose. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ About the Guest: Kimberly Rich received her doctoral degree from Creighton University with a research focus in grief and bereavement. Her journey with grief started followin...

Barri Leiner Grant was the caretaker for her dad. This is her story and she is RESILIENT A.F.   Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ Griefy Gals on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@griefygals   About the Guest: Barri Leiner Grant is a well-respected grief specialist. author and founder of The Memory Circle: for those learning to live with loss. As coach, educator a...

Blair and Alana sit together, literally, and share a recap of their experience at their second Emmys week gifting lounge, how the gratitude challenge unfolded and what else is going on in their RESILIENT A.F. worlds.  Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/   ⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself whi...

In this episode, Blair Kaplan Venables interviews Sarah Edmondson, an actress and whistleblower of the NXIVM cult, about her journey and experiences. Sarah joined NXIVM in 2005, believing it was a personal development program, but later discovered its darker, cult-like nature. She describes the red flags she encountered, including high-pressure sales tactics and the eventual branding with cult lea...

Kari Berridge and Aly Rice, two authors in the forthcoming book about tattoos of resilience, RESILIENT A.F. Skin Deep Stories are RESILIENT A.F. Kari Berridge’s daughter found out about a secret that she had been carrying and is now estranged from her, including her three grandkids. This is her story. Over four years, Aly Rice lost both of her parents, her dog, her career and her sense of safety a...

Blair and Alana officially kick off season two with a deep dive on their viral TikTok video about grief, chatted about being tatted, and what is to come this season. The sisters are about to begin their publicity tour with their first stop at Harvest, a luxury gifting suite celebrating Emmys week, followed by a “family reunion” in Winnipeg. You can follow their adventures on social media (Instagra...

August is wrapping up, and Blair and Alana have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you a life-changing tool. What if a simple, daily practice could change your brain so that you see the world more positively? Well, it CAN, and we are going to do it together. Welcome to the RESILIENT A.F. 21-Day Gratitude Challenge starting on September 1, 2025. You will be guided through a daily practice...

Joseph Allen Maldonado called Blair Kaplan Venables while incarcerated to talk about his childhood, and complex grief and shared the truth behind the the show “Tiger King.” This is his story, and he is RESILIENT A.F.  About the Guest: Joseph Allen Maldonado (né Schreibvogel; born March 5, 1963), known professionally as Joe Exotic and nicknamed "The Tiger King," is an American media personalit...

Adrienne Harris learned that her husband was having an emotional affair with his running coach. This is her story and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ Be featured in RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Vol. 3: https://blairkaplan.kartra.com/page/RAF26   About the Guest: Adrienne Harris has alchemized her personal journey of transcending chal...

Dr. Tanya English found resilience with the stillbirth of her first child. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT A.F. Buy the books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/ Be featured in RESILIENT A.F.: Skin Deep Stories: https://blairkaplan.kartra.com/page/tattoo Be featured in RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Vol. 3: https://blairkaplan.kartra.com/page/RAF26     About the...

Blair and Alana debrief on Alana’s surgery, her recovery, her first rave, Blair’s upcoming birthday and a community update for The Global Resilience Project. This is the final new episode before their summer break, and they will be back with fresh episodes and a 21-Day Gratitude Challenge in September 2025. Happy Grieving Australia Grief Trip November 2026: https://grieftrips.com/australia Buy the...