RESILIENT PEOPLE

We all remember being in high school and dating someone new and thinking that that person was all that mattered. When things went south, where were your friends? They would be the ones to lift your spirit, get you drunk to feel better about the break-up and help you move on. For this short episode of the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast, I talk about friends and friendships. In my 53 years of being on thi...

Meet Caitlin Starr . When we spoke for the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast , she was a high school student in Toronto. Now she’s studying at university in Montreal. Caitlin is a competitive dancer and skier, intelligent and a vivacious young woman who also happens to be living with Type 1 Diabetes.  But she is adamant on not being known foremost for her condition. As she says, she is not the label but so...

In this short episode of the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast, Janet Fanaki wants listeners to think about leaving a legacy of kindness. With many of us worried about the current state of the world, kindness matters more than ever. Janet references a recent event that was held in memory of her husband who passed away from brain cancer in 2020. She talks about what he is most remembered for in the legal an...

In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE , I welcome caregiving expert Donna Thomson. Through years of being a family caregiver to turning to advocacy work and research in the area, Donna shares a wealth of knowledge and personal experience.  We spoke about:  her essentials for being a better caregiver how to avoid failure within the healthcare system ways that she maintains her positive mindset and re...

In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE , I'm joined by longtime contributor, Susan Mintz. Two widows talking about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and how to live a happy life. This is an episode that promises to give a new way of looking at life after loss. It may seem unconventional to get advice about keeping a positive attitude from a widow. But that's exactly what listeners wil...

Agnes Chen is the founder of Starlings Community, which addresses childhood trauma from parental addictions. As she has said, "Children do not get a choice in the kind of home environment they are raised in. But as a community, we have a choice in the kind of community environment that supports them." Agnes lives in Calgary, is an energetic mom of four, a registered nurse and the creator of Starli...

Chris DT Gordon is a special education teacher, runner, husband, father and a survivor of flesh-eating bacteria.  When a small scrape to his hand led to months in the hospital and a near amputation, Chris took stock of the important people and things in his life.   He launched the Scar Bearers podcast and committed to doing something kind for someone everyday. He also developed The Attitude of Gra...

Susan Heinrich is excited to be in her mid 50s, taking solo trips and wants to inspire other women to embrace their lives with the same sense of adventure.  She is the Midlife Globetrotter on social media and posts about her travels, food and fashion. She doesn't see age as a obstacle but as an opportunity to reinvent ourselves or just get reaquainted with our passions. Learn more about Susan Hein...

David A. Grant lives with a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a teenage driver while cycling.  People who have a TBI face many issues that in some cases are permanent. Headaches, dizziness, fatigue, depression, irritability and memory problems to name a few.  Living with difficulties like these can cause the people around them to disappear, leaving the affected person with a sense of despa...

How often have you found yourself sitting in your vehicle and wondering about the features around you? The interior trunk release. The rear safety camera? And the switch for your power windows? Janette Fennell is a vehicle safety advocate in the US. Back in 1995 an alarming thing happened to her and her husband when they were kidnapped in the trunk of their car. This experience had Janette dedicat...

Tommy Caulfield and James Whittle are two friends from the UK who decided to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a row boat. The voyage took them 54 days and as you can imagine, it was grueling. But the pair discovered a lot about themselves in that little vessel. Mainly the importance of pushing through their comfort zones and embracing the rewards that come with it. Since that trip, Tommy and James have...

On August 1, 2007 the I35W bridge in Minneapolis suddenly collapsed during the drive-home rush hour. Thirteen people were killed and 145 people injured. My guest on this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE is one of the survivors, Lindsay Walz. Lindsay was a youth worker, primarily helping those who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and trauma. She admitted that this was something that she knew...

Before the pandemic hit, Kyle White weighed over 400 pounds. At 28 years old he was living with high blood pressure, bad eating habits and an inactive lifestyle. He knew that something needed to change.  He began by walking and soon that turned into running. Within 18 months he completed his first marathon and lost over 185 pounds. Kyle credits his mindset and the community around him.  He takes u...

Welcome to Season 2 of the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast. It's great to be back and I'm so happy to have you along with me. This season, we'll be hearing more from regular people around the world who are admired for their resilience. As we heard from previous guests, the power of purpose will continue to be a central theme in the upcoming season. We've learned some terrific lessons for building resilie...

Emily O'Brien made one bad decision that landed her in prison. While spending time with other inmates watching television and making popcorn, Emily also developed a business idea. A gourmet popcorn company called, Comeback Snacks. It not only satisfies cravings but also helps former inmates by giving them a second chance - a comeback.  Emily chatted with Janet Fanaki, the host of RESILIENT PEOPLE...

Father's Day is a time when many are missing their dads, husbands and father-like figures who have passed on. In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE , I offer tips and takeaways to help those who are grieving through this emotionally-charged day. I share advice from those who have lived experience to help the many who will be needing support. Like any special day in the year, Father’s Day can be happ...

In this episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE, I had the pleasure of speaking with extreme adventurer Sean Swarner. Sean has scaled the world’s seven tallest summits, hiked to the south and north poles making him a member of the exclusive Explorer’s Grand Slam. He did all of this with only one lung.  A survivor of 2 children cancers, Sean has proven that anything is possible and aims to inspire cancer patie...

On this short episode of RESILIENT PEOPLE, I introduce you to an easy acronym in building resilience. SHADES. No, I’m not talking about your Ray Bans. SHADES is an acronym that’s been popularized with content creators. I came across it while listening to an interview with Jessica Richey of SheSnaps. Jessica is a creator who is very open about mental health and the importance of taking care of it....

Marnie Hill wrote the book, Daddy's Blue Eyes, following the death of her son-in-law Matthew Leslie. He left behind a young wife and two daughters. A professional communications specialist, Marnie was coping with her own grief while also looking for a way to help her granddaughters to understand their dad's passing. By writing this book, her goal is to also offer parents, grandparents, teachers an...

Resilience is the outcome -- but how do we get there? In this short episode of the RESILIENT PEOPLE podcast, we uncover some methods to building our resilience. My name is Janet Fanaki and I'm the host of RESILIENT PEOPLE .  In a new segment called REVELATIONS , I'll be sharing easy tips and takeaways for you to try. These will drop every two weeks and come from my fantastic conversations with gue...

Registered Dietitian Ashley Koff is a leading expert in nutrition and creator of The Better Nutrition Program. She is also an author, public speaker, and consultant who lives in the US. Ashley's goal is to ensure that patients and clients are receiving the best knowledge to manage their health through food, lifestyle and supplements. She loves talking about "gut health" and joined me on RESILIENT...

Melissa Sheldrick is a Toronto mom, wife and patient safety advocate. She came to this role following the sudden death of her son Andrew. He was only 8 years old when an error in the dispensing by a pharmacist had Andrew take a lethal dose of something other than his medication. Heartbroken but determined, Melissa set out to make it her purpose to ensure that this never happened to another person....

Casey Palmer is an author, blogger, husband and dad from Toronto. Many of his posts are about parenthood and life with his wife and two young boys. Casey created the hashtag #blackdadworries to raise awareness for the double-standards that exist for the Black community and the things he considers in raising his sons. As the trial of Officer Derek Chauvin is currently taking place in Minneapolis fo...

So much of resilience is in being prepared for life's unexpected challenges. How does this relate to money? Doris Belland is a Financial Repair Expert who has witnessed firsthand the power of knowing all about your finances. She was in her 20s when her husband was diagnosed with cancer and then following his death at a young age, she found herself dealing with deep grief but also a large amount of...

The challenges of being a stay-at-home parent are real. There are many rewards but it's a job that is 24/7 and at times very demanding.  For Dale Allen Berg, being a stay-at-home dad to three active young children under the age of 6, is enough to make anyone run away in fear. On top of the regular chores he does at home: cooking, cleaning, driving for last-minute items, appointments, programs - hi...