Shaping Our World

Dr. Erin Watson is an educator, speaker, author and co-founder of The Expert Talk , a Guelph, Ont.-based provider of mental health first-aid training. Dr. Erin specializes in young women's and girls empowerment with an emphasis on sexuality, identity development, body image, relationships and digital culture. She stopped by the podcast to discuss digital culture and its impacts — both good and bad...

Dr. Lawrence Jackson is a licensed psychotherapist and sports performance coach in the NBA and NFL. He's also a speaker, author, and licensed marriage and family therapist in the states of Nevada and Florida. He stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to share a piece of the P.I.E.: Promoting mental health awareness, Inspiring youth and Empowering others.

After graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism in 2005, a series of random events led Allie Kearns into a career she had never considered: professional nanny. For the past 16 years, Allie has worked for high-profile families in the sports and entertainment world. She has travelled the globe with her nanny families, supporting them in helping raise their young kids on the road. Allie stoppe...

Charmaine Hammond is a highly sought-after keynote and workshop speaker, best-selling author and educator. She was a family mediator for many years, a former registered social worker, and has developed multiple programs for schools, families and organizations that work with families. Charmaine stopped by the podcast to discuss the importance of developing trust and healthy relationships with our c...

Dan Noble grew up around sports. His journey through minor sports landed him a spot on the University of Guelph football team and even took him across the pond to play semi-professional American football in Europe. Today, Dan uses his experience, education and passion to train young athletes. His work as a performance consultant and coordinator has taken him beyond his own company, Noble Sport and...

You've just picked up your kids from Summer Camp at Muskoka Woods. All your questions about how the week was just illicits one-word answers. "Fine," "good," "okay." This episode features staff who run activities and programs and gives you the inside scoop so you can ask the questions that will give you full, rich answers and lead to great discussion.

Obstacles don't scare Sarah Wells. As a hurdler who specializes in the 400 metres hurdles, Sarah earned a reputation for overcoming challenges and achieving the impossible, becoming an Olympic semi-finalist and Pan Am Games silver medallist in the process. You may have also recently seen her pushing her limits on The Amazing Race Canada , where she was able to apply her tactics in a whole new kind...

Charles Roberts is the CEO of LiveDifferent, a Canadian charity that is passionate about making a difference in people's lives. In their work, LiveDifferent has spoken to 1.6 million youth, built over 500 homes and schools around the world and mentored more than 4,500 students, interns and volunteers. Charles stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to chat about LiveDifferent and its humanitarian...

Richard Culatta is an internationally recognized leader in technology and learning. He is the CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which is a non-profit that supports education leaders in 127 countries. Before his time at ISTE, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to lead the US Department of Education's Office of Educational Technology. Richard stopped by the...

An educator for over 20 years, Amanda Yuill made a decision to become a full-time supply teacher. The career move gave her the opportunity to research gaps she saw in the education system and publish three books in the process. She currently works in the Toronto District School Board. Amanda stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to chat about the state of education, its impact on our kids and t...

Ellen Duffield was the Director of the Leadership Studio at Muskoka Woods and is currently the Coordinator of the Paul E Magnus Centre for Leadership Studies and an Associate with the Leader's Village.  As part of her work empowering young women and helping organizations create environments in which both men and women can thrive, she has travelled to many parts of the world, participated in resear...

Johnny Henderson is the Director of Youth Programs for LiveDifferent, a Canadian charity that helps young people embrace a caring lifestyle. Johnny has spoken to hundreds of thousands of high school students across Canada, and is a dynamic communicator with a deep passion to see lives transformed and empowered. He stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to talk about the importance of creating a...

Robin Storfer (MSW, JST Certified Coach) of Take Flight Coaching, helps families who have been impacted by AD(H)D. This direction for her coaching business came after her own son was diagnosed with AD(H)D. Drawing from personal experience, Robin stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to discuss the challenges of parenting a child with AD(H)D along with ways that parents can conquer those challen...

Colin and Judith McCartney are urban ministry veterans who have also co-authored several books on social justice and faith. Both are sought after for their knowledge and insight into innovative and tested ways of raising leaders in their own communities. The pair stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast recently to discuss the importance of community, personal growth and ways that parents can fost...

Aly Pain is a parenting expert who is passionate about empowering parents to build healthy, respectful relationships with their teens. Aly stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to discuss ways that parents can end painful disconnection and emotional blow ups with their teens to create honest, fulfilling relationships.

Jackie Robertson is a Registered Psychotherapist, clinical case consultant, college professor, and a certified child and youth counsellor with extensive experience working with parents, children and youth dealing with various life experiences, personal and familial issues. Jackie is passionate about helping families become healthier. She stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to chat about down-...

Dr. Rob Meeder is a pediatrician with a practice focused on behaviour and mental health issues in children and youth. He visits the Shaping Our World podcast to chat with host Chris Tompkins about some of the common stressors facing children today, along with coping and communication strategies for parents and kids alike.

For 25 years, Plan to Protect has provided the highest standard of abuse prevention and protection for organizations serving children, youth and persons with disabilities. Melodie Bissell , president and CEO of Plan to Protect, stopped by the podcast to chat with host Chris Tompkins about the program's history, its methods, and the ways we can all do our part to safeguard the most vulnerable among...

Dr. William Quinn, Professor and Coordinator of Youth Development Programs at the College of Health, Education, and Human Development at Clemson University & Executive Director of Families4Change, Inc., stopped by the Shaping Our World podcast to talk about the importance of not just communicating with youth, but facilitating experiences and programs that allow them to thrive.

Building confidence in young people in an authentic way requires a degree of intentionality that may not have been as common in previous generations. It's the result of a combination of the shallowness in connection social media provides and the desire for young people to want to be heard and recognized without having the ability to articulate those desires. Mano is the visionary leader of PGC Bas...

Loneliness is something we typically find adults suffering with, but as we adopt more and more online ways of relating and socializing, it's introducing areas where our kids experience loneliness. Youth expert, Brett Ullman dives into this issue on today's episode and how we, as parents and youth workers can help battle this.

It's a time when kids are seeking more independence and starting to define who they are choosing to influence them through their formative teen years. There aren't many experts who look at this unique time in young people's lives, but today's guest, Rachel Naud, has made a career of sourcing great resources and thought leadership for parents and youth workers for this age group.

Shauna Barnes has had decades of experience working with young people in educational settings and in particular where she has served as a high school guidance counsellor.  She speaks about the numbness young people today feel as they experience life through social media apps and how you can find moments of influence for the young people in your life. 

Orlando Bowen is a former professional athlete, community advocate and inspirational speaker. His heart specifically lies in working with young people. He speaks holistically about helping young people truly engage with their community - including their peers and those who are both older and younger than them.  

It's no secret youth development doesn't have a one-size-fits-all solution. But what about kids that have autism? On today's episode, Chris speaks with Erin Butler, a behaviour therapist and specialist in working with students with autism with the Toronto District School Board.