The Lesley Hawkins Podcast

Life-altering change doesn’t always come in a single pivotal moment. For our guest, it was a long five-year period that changed everything. It began with the end of a marriage. Then came a parent’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis and the long, emotional journey of caregiving.  In the midst of it all, she sensed something wasn’t right with her own health, and by advocating for answers, discovered a rare form...

On the outside, she was doing everything right. A healthy lifestyle, fitness at the core of how she managed stress and showed up every day. Then her body started sending signals she couldn’t ignore. What began as stomach issues turned into a diagnosis of C-difficile, a highly contagious intestinal virus, and weeks spent in and out of the hospital, including Christmas Day. And then an alarming disc...

As the year comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the conversations that shaped Season One of this podcast. These episodes were about the moments that change us, the questions that force clarity, and the courage to choose a different path. This season, you heard from athletes, founders, and leaders who shared what happens behind the scenes through loss, reinvention, and self-belief. Today is a...

He built an apparel business from the ground up. The business was booming, new partners joined the venture, and success felt endless. He was on top of the world. Until the partnership collapsed. Everything fell apart and the business shut down.  But his story doesn’t end there.  He got back up and decided to start a business in an industry that was teeming with competition. But surrounded by a com...

Managing the emotional toll of a tough divorce with three young children, led today’s guest to turn to triathlons, to cope.  Then a horrific bicycle accident changed everything. A traumatic head injury forced her to stop, slow down, and focus on one thing at a time. Suddenly, every aspect of her life — raising her kids, managing her business, and simply moving through each day — became a challenge...

She built a jewelry brand from passion and purpose. But the business began to stall. Then a cancer diagnosis, followed quickly by the arrival of a global pandemic.  Everything changed. What began as a moment of crisis became a powerful reset. A chance to move closer to family, refocus on what truly mattered, and rebuild with intention. While others closed their doors, she doubled down. And in doin...

You’re an entrepreneur dedicated to helping leaders on their professional journey.  You join a coaching group to sharpen your skills. At the same time, you are navigating the dating world, hoping to find a life partner. Then, within months of each other, your personal and professional worlds come crashing down. Betrayal of confidentiality. Emotional abuse.  You have to relearn how to trust your in...

He built his life around the game of hockey. Living the life of a true bachelor.  Then everything changed.  Marriage. A family. A new set of responsibilities. As a broadcaster, he traveled across North America chasing breaking stories, always ready to jump on a flight at a moment’s notice. A bag always packed at the front door. Balancing life on the road with life at home, he discovered that true...

Sometimes, you see the writing on the wall.  The business is moving in the wrong direction.  Life is too busy; you’re being pulled in too many directions at once. For our guest today, the decision was clear – step away from their career to become a full-time caregiver for aging parents. Along the way, learning how to navigate the complexities of our healthcare system, finding strategic allies, and...

Walking away from corporate life is never easy.  Our guest made that leap. Choosing to start a business of their own.  But the early days were anything but certain.  Four months of questioning: Am I doing the right thing?   A lack of confidence, and the constant search for direction. What followed was a journey of finding a niche, being intentional with time, and choosing the right people to work...

What if your job required you to be outside every single day?  And the more successful you were, the more sun exposure you got. And then one day, it all comes crashing down with three dreaded words: ‘You have cancer.’ Not just anywhere—but on the one place that is your identity, your brand, on your face. This is the story of our guest’s journey through 9 facial reconstructive surgeries to rid him...

Imagine this: You do everything right.  You play by the rules.  You travel across the continent, competing in every event, collecting the points you need.  And then, when it should all pay off, your association makes a subjective decision, and you don’t make the team for a worldwide event being hosted in your home country. What would you do? Walk away? Accept it? Not this athlete. She took it to c...

Imagine being adopted and deciding to search for your birth parents. You order a DNA test kit from 23andMe.  It sits on your desk for two months.  Every day, you stare at the box and wonder: What will it mean if I send this in? One afternoon, you finally do. And everything changes. What felt like a long shot, suddenly turns into a reunion with your birth father, and an entire extended family you n...

From the earliest days, the dream was clear: to become a professional athlete.  Every waking minute was spent honing the craft – practicing, competing, excelling. But there was another side too.  Writing for Sports Illustrated Kids at just eleven years old.  Hosting Hockey Night in Canada alongside Christine Simpson at fourteen years old. Interviewing idols like John Tavares and Mitch Marner of th...

When was the last time you asked yourself, ‘Am I happy? Truly happy?’ Our guest today asked that question 16 years ago— and he didn’t like the answer.  So, he did something bold.  He defied convention and changed everything: his personal life, his professional life, his lifestyle. This is the story of his journey of self-discovery. Of how one daring phone call to Bell Media became a template for s...

Imagine you’re at the top of your sport. An Olympic athlete. But you are living a lie; denying the mixed emotions inside of you. And then one day, in a moment of clarity, you finally say the words “I’m gay”. Explore the journey of a two-time Olympian, wrestling with her identity, confronting anxiety, and battling her mental health.  Along the way, leaning on a community of strong, compassionate me...

Hello and welcome to my Podcast.  As your host, it doesn't feel genuine to ask my guests about their pivotal moment, without sharing my own.  This is my story - a story of loss, change, and deep reflection. It is my personal journey of learning about who I am, what I value, and discovering how to be my true authentic self. Please Enjoy, Lesley Send us Fan Mail Lesley Hawkins is a keynote spea...