The Human Challenge

Lama Cynthia Jurs' commitment to healing Mother Earth began in the 1990s in the Himalayas, visiting a a 106 year-old Tibetan Buddhist in the Himalayas where she was told to bury Earth Treasure Vases. Since then, Cynthia has buried almost 100 vases across the world, including Libya, Congo, Australia, New Mexico, and more! The journey is meticulously documented in her new book, "Summoned by Earth",...

They're baaaaack! On this episode of The Human Challenge , an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Leanna Carriere and Timm Döbert are back to talk about their recent cycling trip across Canada to support the 30x30 initiative, a United Nations goal of protecting 30% of land and water by 2030. You might remember them (how could you forget this dynamic duo, Canada's First Woman Decat...

With over 2.11 million people incarcerated as of 2018, almost 600,000 people per year reenter society from incarceration with little re-integration support, leading to over 66% of formerly incarcerated people rearrested within three years of reentry. Kylie Hwang saw this firsthand while working at a background check company, and noticed that most solutions focused on supporting formerly incarcerat...

It took 6 years for Petra Molnar to write "The Walls Have Eyes", a book showcasing the use of technology in immigration and migrant affairs. As a lawyer and anthropology specializing in human rights, the book documents both research and true stories of people on the move that she herself has supported in their own journeys to freedom. Petra joins Vanessa on The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x A...

On this episode of The Human Challenge , Leah Rampy, award-winning author of "Earth & Soul: Reconnecting Amid Climate Chaos", talks about the story of separation and "otherness" we have a society have been living in a predominant Western culture. To her, the biggest human challenge is that "being human is not about being separate... being human is about being part of that incredibly family tre...

Jessica Gonzalez is one of the most prominent entrepreneurs in New Jersey. Jessica was EY Entrepreneur of the year award runner up 2019 + 2021, 50 Best Women in Business NJ, Women, Minority, & Small Business Enterprise Certified, NGLCC® LGBTBE® Certified, and has been published over 100 times in Forbes, Huffington Post, and INC. Magazine. Jessica is the CEO of Happen Ventures, a latina-owned s...

There are two main narratives we are told about welcoming immigrants into our countries: that they harm society by taking jobs or that it is our "moral responsibility" to support immigrants. But are these truly representative of the value immigrants offer our society? Is there a third narrative that tells us otherwise? Zeke Hernandez, Professor at Wharton School of Business and author of "The Trut...

Have you ever felt so passionate about a cause that it made you swim the English channel? Well, Poppy Mason-Watts, Chief Growth and Impact Officer of WaterBear, has! What is WaterBear? It is more than a streaming platform; it is a community! WaterBear is the home of captivating films and thought-provoking series that empower you to lead a meaningful life. You can watch this powerful social good co...

On this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, Vanessa speaks with producer, author, activist, Frank Barat; Yara Jamal, co-founder of Free Palestine Halifax; and Paula Sahyoun, founder of the Palestine Impact Collective to learn about how we can move toward collective liberation. Touching on their own endeavours to support the Palestinian cause, the...

After witnessing her son's challenges with reading, Canadian Olympian-turned-entrepreneur, Julia Rivard, started Shoelace Learning to create engaging applications to improve reading. Julia shares about her upbringing from Northern Ontario, her journey to the Australian Olympics, and how she approached her "athlete retirement" as an opportunity to reinvent herself -- which led to Shoelace Learning....

Nicole White, founder of Moontime Connections , joined Vanessa on "The Human Challenge", an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023" to talk about period inequities in the remote communities. Moontime Connections, along with their partner True North Aid, collects and distributes period products for women in remote communities across Canada. Nicole also talks about their new research, co...

This week on The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa Ferlaino sits down with JUNO nominee for "Reggae Recording of the Year 2024", Jah'Mila. In this episode, Jah'Mila shares her journey from Kingston, Jamaica to Halifax, Nova Scotia, touching on her religious and cultural influences in all aspects of her life, from her music to her own personal&nbs...

Vanessa co-hosts episode 25 of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, with Victor Beausoleil, Executive Director of SETSI, in their first co-branded episode. Vanessa and Victor talk about shining light cross-sectionally in society from capital flow, equitable communities, the relationship between values and what is considered valuable, and framing what prosper...

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa speaks to Co-founder and Chocolate Scientist of Seven Summit Snacks, Kristyn Carriere. Getting ready for International Women's Month, Kristyn shares the 4 year journey of Seven Summit Snacks and their NEW FLAVOURS; what it's like to start a business with your sister and partner; and navigating s...

"When you can live in the outer world, but also marry that with the inner world, than you're a new space, a new world." These are the wise words of Grammy-nominated artist, Valerie June , hailed by the New York Times as one of America's "most intriguing, fully formed new talents". Hailing from Tennessee, Valerie is a musician, songwriter, poet, illustrator, and author, who honourably served as a "...

AŸA's story is one unlike any other. As a Moroccan/Yemeni "Arab&B" artist growing up in Israel-Palestine, AŸA, who describes her childhood like "being a nomad", faced family trauma, abuse, mandatory military service, and assault, all before the age of 20, when finally, she found herself the runner-up of a music competition. In a true moment of synchronicity, after headlining a show for a shelt...

In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa speaks to author, speaker, and activist, Osprey Orielle Lake. Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) . She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for...

J.L. Fizzell grew up in smalltown Timmins in Northern Ontario, and now currently resides in Sault Ste Marie. J.L. wrote her fourth book, Human. Nature. , after three other books that were written with the intentionality of honouring her trauma. But now, Human. Nature. examines the interconnectedness between human beings and nature, through poetry. Touching on her experience growing up as a second...

In June 2024, ecologist Dr. Timm Döbert and endurance athlete Leanna Carriere (Canada's first female Decathlete and co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks) will embark on a pioneering 30,000km self-powered expedition across the Americas. Following the westernmost migratory bird flyway, their journey aims to highlight the biodiversity crisis and inspire environmental conservation efforts. We celebrate the...

We are locked and loaded in this big episode of The Human Challenge, an AmazonMusic x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, featuring four major players in the accessibility space: Lee Anne Reuber - CEO/Founder of Sekond Skin Society (accessible health and fitness app) Jolene MacDonald - Founder of Accessibrand (digital accessibility) and Accessibrand Academy course, "Best Practices for Accessibil...

"What happens in the newsrooms is only a reflection of how institutions work." - Zahraa Al-Akhrass, former journalist for Canadian national broadcaster, Global News Canadian immigrant from Jordan/fourth generation Palestinian, Zahraaa Al-Akhrass, who just received Canadian citizenship, shares her story of being terminated from Canadian national broadcaster, Global News, after being accused of maki...

"The only way we can truly connect with each other is if we're vulnerable with each other," - Robert, multidisciplinary artist, aspiring art therapist, and CEO of Batuo Inc. From Cameroon to Montreal, QC to Halifax, Nova Scotia, multidisciplinary artist, aspiring art therapist, and CEO of Batuo Inc, takes us through a journey of what it means to live our soul path or soul mission. Montreal was par...

A deep and honest discussion with Jackie Lamoureux, CEO/Founder of Summits for Serotonin , founded after her own peace-making journey with the help of nature -- specifically the mountains. Realizing nature isn't always accessible with all of the equipment and gear needed, Jackie sought to change that through her non-profit. We discuss how nature supports us in times of emotional turmoil, the persi...

The big question for Miranda Ayim, 3X Olympian for Team Canada, was, " How do I want to show up in the world? ' The answer? Cultivate Co In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST's Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023 feature, Miranda, recently inducted into London's Sports Hall of Fame, offers a frank discussion about her transition from life after sports. She candidly shares h...

Is it really that much harder to make friends as we age? Why? And why is this something we don't talk about? Award-winning author, artist, and activist, Vanessa Ferlaino, gets the answers -- and some much needed feedback -- in her discussion with Lane Moore, comedian, musician and author of "You Will Find Your People" and good friend, Annie Cathryn, author of bestselling book, "The Friendship Brea...