The Happy Soul Podcast

Well, you know us. We just like to wrap up our seasons with a ridiculous banter. So that is what we are bringing you today. It's messy but we had fun and we hope you enjoy! When recording, Sammi made a comment that, if anyone made it to the end of this episode, and told us, We'd send them a $5 gift card... assuming hardly anyone would listen. But, then we second guessed ourselves and worried that...

Zara is a Child & Adolescent & Family Psychotherapy. She has a Master's in Counselling & Psychotherapy. Zara has spent 7+ Years working in schools offering art and play therapy to primary and secondary school pupils and 9+ Years working with adults struggling with domestic violence, trauma, anxiety, depression & attachment issues. She is a Mum to a 5 yr old a 1 year old with the mo...

As Andrea would say, her book, The Gift of Infidelity is not really about infidelity itself. Her book is really about her own personal growth and self discovery that she embraced after finding out about infidelity in her relationship.  Calling infidelity a Gift. Would you ever say that? If not, then that is why you need to hear this episode and read her book. It's about growth, embracing the unexp...

** trigger warnings: Suicidal thoughts, drug use, child loss, grief, foul language, homelessness, sexual conduct, eating disorders** Going through Detox. Getting out of Rehab. Overcoming Alcoholism Overcoming Meth Addiction Overcoming Eating Disorders Coming out of Homelessness. Grieving through the Loss of 2 Babies And now. A stable income. Clean living. Running her own thriving business. Flouris...

** trigger warnings: Suicidal thoughts, drug use, child loss, grief, foul language, homelessness, sexual conduct, eating disorders** At the end of Part 3, Aly finds out she is unexpectedly pregnant. This new information gives her the insight she needs to really focus on getting to addictions under control. Taking a FULL STOP on drugs, Aly takes on the incredible role that is, becoming a mother. Af...

** trigger warnings: Suicidal thoughts, drug use, child loss, grief, foul language, homelessness, sexual conduct, eating disorders** If you've tuned into parts 1 & 2, you've heard how much life and overcoming Aly has already gone through. In Part 3, Aly makes it into detox and rehab and started to take more control of her own life and her decisions. On her way to her dealers house, Aly...

** trigger warnings: Suicidal thoughts, drug use, child loss, grief, foul language, homelessness, sexual conduct, eating disorders** After things she had planned to achieve didn't work out, Aly's addictions took hold of her in unimaginable ways. She began diving deeper into the world of hard drugs to try to lose weight and believing, at that time, there was no going back. A dangerous encou...

** trigger warnings: Suicidal thoughts, drug use, child loss, grief, foul language, homelessness, sexual conduct, eating disorders** Recorded almost a year ago, life has grown and change a bit since this 5 part Mini series was recorded, but the back end details are accurate. In part 1, we go through Aly's growing up years. Life with her Mom coming in and out, and the heart break of when her Mo...

Why this title? I don't know. We think we're hilarious. Jumping from Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and into our next mini series, which is a very different vibe, we just felt we needed something in the middle to break it up. In todays episode, we talk a little bit about our up-coming mini series with Aly, with a rollercoaster of ups and downs, you HAVE to make it to the end of this mini...

Join us as we get a little fired up while we wrap up, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. There is SOO Much we learned during this month, listening to these stories, hearing these parents who are not only fighting so dang hard to help their kids thrive, and honour their lost children but are ALSO choosing to go even deeper, to fight even harder, to advocate for and make an impact for not just their...

A re-release episode from Feb 15 2024. While her 6 year old daughter Sloane was in the hospital, undergoing high dose chemo treatments, Claire Masikewich chatted back and forth with us, via whatsapp voice messages to help us raise awareness about this incredible cause that deserves more funding and research. Claire graciously gave us her time and knowledge to help us put together this episode. Ful...

In our episode today, we asked Season what was on her heart to share about. The topic of choice? How a healthy relationship with your spouse can drastically impact your childs mental health and overall ability to thrive through cancer.  A beautiful episode that we know will add value to not just families going through cancer treatment, but anyone, with any family dynamic and health journey can ben...

Kristin's son Rhett was diagnosed at 4 years old with Rhabdomyosarcoma. Kristin shares with us how this story started.... what were Rhett's first signs and symptoms, how did the family respond and what were his treatments. And, have you ever wondered how to show up for someone during a traumatic event? Or, what all the GoFundMe money might go towards? Kristin does an amazing job answering these co...

All the way from Australia, Ashton's Mother, Dominique shares with us how, life with a child diagnosed with Cancer, is very similar to life here in Canada. With the treatments for children being incredibly harsh, and seeing her son struggle so much, Dominique has become determined to raise funds and awareness around Childhood Cancer, not just in Australia, but globally. Dominique shares an inc...

Helping Families Handle Cancer pretty much sums up this episode in entirety. Carie's heart is HUGE. After being a childhood cancer survivor herself and listening to her Mother speak about how hard it was to be a single mom, caring for a 1 year old with cancer and a new baby, Carie had a massive desire to remove some of the burden from future families. Carie was diagnosed at 13 months old with...

If you're local to Calgary, then you have probably heard of Penn the Brave, bubble gum skies and Made By Marcus. But, if you haven't heard. Then it's about time. Catherine is not only a Brain Cancer Canada Ambassador but also the main voice and face behind Penn the Brave, alongside her husband Sheldon. We were honoured to be able to speak with Catherine about the story of Penn's li...

Hold on tight for part 2 of Heather's story. This is going to knock you over with how much heart, passion and drive this amazing woman has. She is a true example of turning pain and loss into purpose and triumph. As she watched and listened to her daughter going through cancer treatments, Heather has taken those experiences, and is working hard to make major changes and shifts for how other ki...

A conversation with Heather Roy, about her daughter Evelyn's cancer diagnosis. A story that after a long road, came to a point of Evelyn's passing. It is raw, real and full of emotion. Heather shares with us how, after her daughter complained of stomach pains for a couple of days, they ended up taking her to the ER. After an ultrasound, Heather was fairly confident it was appendicitis, but...

Buckle up because we are FIRED up. We are so ready for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, it's not even funny. In our opening episode we are highlighting how we got started down this path, who we have to thank for it (and how damn grateful we are), some mental checks we had to make along the way, and a brief overview of the upcoming guests. Childhood Cancer research does not get enough funding...

Get Ready. Melissa and Sammi rapid fire through what they learned through this SMA mini series. (well, okay, maybe not rapid fire because we banter a lot...) Honestly, for us it was a privilege to speak with and hold space for each and every one of our guests to share what was sitting heavily on their hearts about their lives and experiences with SMA. This disease has impacted the lives of hundred...

Timing. Timing impacts EVERYTHING in this story. Their daughter Aubrey, was diagnosed at 2 months old with SMA Type 1. If you heard Jessica Janzen's story, this is also the same age that her son was diagnosed with SMA Type 1. The difference? Timing. Just 3 years, almost to the day later, from the day Lewiston was Diagnosed to the day Aubrey was diagnosed and there was a massive shift in the po...

When she was first diagnosed, her parents were told that she likely wouldn't survive beyond the first few years of life. Now, at over 40 years old, Candisse is working hard to fight for her own rights to medical treatments. As we learn more and more about SMA and the many ways it impacts the nerve cells in the human body, we learn what a continuously changing world, those living with SMA are i...

A beautiful conversation with Tori deep dives into her amazing heart and desire to help others that are living with SMA. As a travel blogger, and working in the film and media industry by advocating for those living with disabilities, Tori is sharing all of her tips and tricks about how she lives life to the fullest. When she was born, her parents were told that she likely wouldn't live past h...

A beautiful conversation with Tori deep dives into her amazing heart and desire to help others that are living with SMA. As a travel blogger, and working in the film and media industry by advocating for those living with disabilities, Tori is sharing all of her tips and tricks about how she lives life to the fullest. When she was born, her parents were told that she likely wouldn't live past h...

A speaker, author, coach, mother of 3, wife and Co-founder is making massive waves in the world of SMA, Jessica Janzen shares with us about, how SMA originally entered her life (Which unless, you've read her book, is not what you think) and how, even before the loss of her son, she was making a big difference in the lives of people who were living with SMA. A huge gut wrenching moment, the los...