Living Well Today Show

It was delightful and refreshing to speak with Christian McNeil up close and personal about her encounter with addiction. And, more importantly, her ability to reach an understanding that all is well in life even if or when one may dip in and out of chaos at certain points along the way. The important precursor to change, shift, transformation, or whatever terms suits you best, always comes back to inner awareness. As the old saying goes …once we know better than we do better. Knowing Your Propensities Christian is a long-ago recovering alcoholic and later in life, at age 50, she was diagnosed with ADHD. I loved how Christian referred to these experiences and labels as propensities. Propensities are defined as having an inclination or natural tendency to behave in a particular way. This suggests to me that Christian has an understanding that while a  behaviour may come to mind she does not have to act upon it. Addiction, like other conditions, are shared amongst the great universe that we all enjoy and yet,

Allan Flood is from Oregon and has lived with MS for some thirty-five years. Now retired, in theory, he continues to work with the La Pine Community Health Center, as a grant writer. When Allan speaks you can’t miss his gentle nature; he exudes calmness. The kind of calm you might experience when you sit under a tree on a bright sunny day.  The Old Days Allan’s previous work has far-reaching ripples. He worked as an addiction counselor, human responsibility trainer, life coach, back in the ’70s before it was a ’thing’. He worked alongside trainers such as (late) Dr. Roger Mills and Dr. George Pransky, to name just two. In1978 he first encountered the work of Sydney Banks and learned about The Three Principles , an understanding about life-based on mind, thought and consciousness. Much to his surprise, Allan tells us he experienced something profound during that meeting. As he listened to Syd talk, Allan felt as though his heart opened for the first time. He admits, however, it wasn’t because Syd was a polish

Brittney Clouse lives in Pennsylvania and is a health and wellness writer. I came across several of her articles and really enjoyed her honest and yet uplifting writing tone. Disability Advocate Brittney writes about all things disability related and speaks from her personal experience living with Cerebral Palsy. As a student at Penn State University, she studied digital print media and graduated with a BA in Journalism. It seems writing has always served as a solace for Brittney. By the age of 18 she found herself in a wheelchair in order to attend her studies and that’s when she started blogging and created www.mylifeasbrittney.com Her goal was to reach out to people with Cerebral Palsy, as well as other disabilities, in the hopes that she could find a solution to the intense pain she experienced. Brittney uses Botox injections for pain and spasticity, it helps but it does not produce long-term results. Medical Marijuana Now in her early twenties, Cerebral Palsy continues to challenge Brittney’s mobility

Christa Couture joined me on the show to talk about a maternity photo shoot she did in 2017, that highlighted the beauty of being pregnant and having a disability. Since the inception of my doing the Living Well Today show, Christa is now the third person I have had the pleasure of encountering in the flesh. It’s not so much that I actually met her, it’s more I often see her at a music-related conference we both attend. Musician Just to clarify, I am not a musician in any way, but my partner is involved in radio. Therefore, we attend a provincial music industry conference (Folk Music Ontario) each year. I do, however, provide a training presentation on accessibility to encourage festivals to be universally inclusive by removing as many physical barriers as possible. Other than that - for three days I get to be an audience representative. It’s pretty amazing to experience musicians up-close-and-personal and enjoy their performances. Christa Couture, on the other hand, is an award-winning musician, recording

Jeremy Mank joined me on the show to talk about the importance of Sleep Apnea, a condition that can impact your ability to achieve restorative sleep. There are, actually, a lot of medical conditions that can directly effect sleep, but Sleep Apnea is by far the most common. Jeremy Mank owns and operates an online store called CPAP Supply.ca. This virtual store is an excellent resource that you should know about if you use a CPAP or a BiPAP breathing device. In complete disclosure, this is where I purchase supplies for my BiPAP breathing device. I first learned about Jeremy’s store from my respiratory therapist, so I felt it was a good referral. Buying Online Initially, I was apprehensive about buying supplies online. Don’t get me wrong - I love the convenience of online shopping for most products, but I felt nervous about purchasing expensive medical supplies online. I was in a bit of a pickle though because I recently moved to a new city and did not know where to find what I needed. Therefore, I took my t

Mary Wallace joined me on the show to talk about Lifestyling Wellness, which happens to be the name of her new book. Although Mary and I met online through another program, sometimes synchronicity is at play when you least expect it. It just so happens about 2 weeks before we met, my partner and I decided to make some dietary changes. At first, I thought Mary’s book focused only on eating healthy. However, once I spent some time reading it, I quickly learned that is only part of the equation to achieve an overall shift in wellness. It’s not only what you eat, it’s also what you do - or the lifestyle routines and habits you practice daily. Go Green The first thing that we did to adjust our diet was to include a salad with every dinner. Luckily for me, my partner likes to chop and cook. We thoroughly enjoy our new love for salads and they’ve gotten more interesting by adding new items. Avocados, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, eggs ...I just never know what delights I’ll find in my bowl. Personally,

Dr. Joe Bailey joined us on the show to talk about his experience with Lyme Disease and the import work he is doing in educating about mental health and wellbeing. It’s difficult to know exactly where to start with all that I have learned about Joe Bailey, his work history is nothing short of amazing. However, his recent work aimed to impact the burnout effect for physicians certainly caught my eye. If anyone knows about burnout, it would be Dr. Joe Bailey. In fact, Joe is currently writing a book that will be called The Burnout Solution, and he is working directly with the Mayo Clinic of Arizona. Joe’s work at the clinic is to develop a burnout prevention programme for those working in the medical profession. Doctors, nurses, technicians - all face unique challenges, as do others who work in various helping capacities. Although, suicide rates for physicians, in particular, are shockingly high, so burnout prevention strategies are really needed. In the United States, it’s estimated 400 doctors die by sui

Molly Gordon never meant to become a life coach - it happened by accident, and certainly wasn’t something she purposefully set out to do. During her work career she’d developed an eclectic set of skills, and by the late 90’s she’d worked as an editor, writer, business manager and full-time mixed media artist. Getting started as a coach just happened when she agreed to help a few friends with their businesses, and from there it grew into a regular thing. Molly wasn’t sure what to call her new vocation until someone mailed her a copy of a Newsweek article on “coaching”. What Is Coaching Anyway? Even though I never played team sports, I understand the importance of the role of a coach. A coach sets the barometer for its team and brings out the best of each individual player. In short, a coach provides consistent leadership and helps others while doing so. The ICF (International Coaching Federation) defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process, one that inspires them

If you have an aging parent, then you will definitely benefit from listening to our interview with Rhonda Caudell, who is a self-styled expert in dealing with the aging parent. This interview is chocker-block full of great advice about a topic, that for many adult carers can be an emotional nightmare. Sandwich Generation For more than twenty years, Rhonda worked as a registered nurse and certified case manager specializing in geriatrics. Her role was to help seniors plan their aging years and manage their changing health needs. Like many of us, she also became a member of what is termed 'the sandwich generation’. While working full time and juggling the responsibilities of family life, Rhonda also became the care provider for her own aging parents. According to Rhonda, learning first hand what it feels like to try and help an aging parent who ignores your input, was a real eye-opener. It was frustrating to find her expertise fell on deaf ears. A gap exists between the aging parent and the adult child. Pu

There are many times in life when we feel lost and unable to move forward. This is particularly apparent when a chronic illness is presented to you - when the idea of looking forward to the future, can often feel really bleak. Finally A Diagnosis Pamela Brown Wilkinson has experienced frustrating health symptoms since the 1970’s, at a time when she was juggling family life while working as a high school teacher and counselor. Some thirty years later she required an MRI and an MS specialist finally diagnosed her with Multiple Sclerosis. Suddenly her mysterious longstanding symptoms made sense. Suddenly her mysterious longstanding symptoms made sense. Fortunately for Pamela, she has a mild form of MS that has not impeded her physical mobility. However, when she was first diagnosed Pamela felt frightened because she had a friend with MS who, as a result, lost a great deal of mobility and independence. This was not the future vision Pamela had imagined for herself. Time Out Everything at that point came to a

Learning how to live well with an invisible illness like Crohn's disease doesn't come easy but it can be done and Sheela Masand is living proof. As a successful business coach, Sheela Masand works with heart-centered service professionals. She helps solopreneurs hone in on their zone of genius to uncover their uniqueness. The reality is that a cookie cutter approach to business, or life, for that matter, just doesn’t work. Sheela believes that once a business owner is in alignment with what is true (for them), then success will naturally unfold. This same fundamental truth can easily be carried into living well with an illness. Go-Getter Originally from the UK, Sheela now lives on the Costa Blanca, Spain and has for the past 32 years. When I asked how this came about, Sheela explained, that starting out as a travel representative she wrote letters to a host of travel companies and eventually secured a post in Spain. According to The World Health Organization, Spain, and in particular, the area of Javea in

In this profound interview, Joel Peters shares his raw and honest insights surrounding the experience of living and dying. What’s In A Name? Joel is known to many by his Sanskrit name, Satyajit, which translates to mean 'Victor of Truth'. This is a name he certainly lives up to. The Sanskrit language is the traditional language of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism and Sanskrit literature has been used in ancient poetry, drama, and sciences, as well as in religious and philosophical texts. The roots of yoga run deep in Northern Indian culture, which is why the language of yoga is steeped in Sanskrit. Joel Peters graduated from The Kripalu Centre for Yoga and Health in 2005 and it continues to be a big part of his life. As a Victor of Truth, Joel has the ability to look within and share what is discovered. Not only through words but by generating a deep connected feeling. A deep communicator -  that sums up Joel very nicely. Not Defined By Illness Now approaching his mid-sixties, Joel is undergoing

In this episode I had the pleasure of speaking with George Carver, a soften spoken gentleman who knows a lot about innate courage and cancer. George embodies the kind of courage that lets him face each day with resolve, no matter what is presented. What Matter's To George Married and the father of grown-up children, George said when his diagnosis of throat cancer actually sunk in, he realized he was okay, no matter what the outcome. What mattered most to him was the deep connection he shared with his wife Kathy, of 26 years and their children. Relationships with friends and relatives are central to George’s life. He was able to see that with acute clarity. George felt peaceful and at ease most of the time when dealing with his cancer, and when fearful thinking did surface he broke through it by becoming curious. Authentic engagement is the base of George’s communication style, both in his personal and professional life. For thirty years George worked in the field of business and finance. He also performed

It was an absolute joy to chat with Victoria, BC based, video firecracker, Sue Ferreira. It’s not every day that you meet someone brave enough to launch a second career in their seventies. Sue spent many years working as an anesthesiologist. In layman terms, this is a medical professional who specializes in putting people to sleep for surgery. Personally, I’ve encountered a few over the years but have no memory of them. I think that is a good sign. Meaning, on the countdown from 10, I don’t think I ever got past the number six. Clearly, this is an important job and during her 45-year tenure, Sue saw her fair share of people at various stages of illness. Big Life Changes However, over the past few years, and now in her seventies, Sue underwent some BIG life changes of her own. For example, she now lives as a single woman after 30 years of marriage, and, having retired from her medical career, she started an online video training business. To top that, she was also recently diagnosed with breast cancer and

What a delight to talk with Wendi Saggese from San Diego, California. Wendi lives with stage four cancer and is a great example of someone who taps into a deep sense of joy and is not stopped by her current health circumstances. Life is much easier when you remain neutral, this is something Wendi discovered the hard way. Wendi admits to a 40-year history of searching to fix herself. As an adult, she wrestled with not feeling like she was enough. Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, Wendi explored a variety of new-age self-help therapies. She even worked for Tony Robbins and Byron Katie along the way. Some techniques helped but in the end, she never felt satisfied. Frustrated, Wendi reached a point where she gave up trying to fix herself. She let herself be miserable. The Diagnosis During the first two years of living with her cancer diagnosis, Wendi Saggese admits she had a hard time dealing with emotional suffering. A lot of fear surfaced whenever she was scheduled for scans and consultations. It was a rough t

If you have health challenges and want to skip the cold Canadian winter weather, then you’ll be pleased to meet Tarita Davenock of Travel For All. A one-time social worker, who is fluent in Hindi and Punjabi, Tarita has carved out a unique niche in the travel industry. Her business is based on her personal philosophy - that travel should be Inclusive and not exclusive. At age 29, Tarita was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). This made her work as an on-the-road social worker difficult. Clearly, this unexpected blow changed her life; a new direction was in order. Tarita loves to travel, so she concluded this might be the perfect time to pursue new horizons in the tourism industry. Go For It She happened to see an employment ad for a travel agency, she fit all the qualifications except for lacking an academic travel diploma. Tarita liked what she read and thought, that’s it ...I want to go for it! Tarita met with the owner and shared her real-life travel education. Impressed, and captivated by her spar

It is an honour to have Jacquie Forde, all the way from Scotland, as a guest on this episode of Living Well Today. Ours, was a conversation of the heart, in the truest sense. When I first came across Jacquie’s website, her initial statement immediately caught my interest. She states, “Our lives are meant to be lived with joy, clarity, and love, yet as human beings, we often get caught up in worry, anxiety, and stress due to the busyness of our lives which can have a terrible impact on our health, relationships and our personal lives.” This statement rang true for me personally, and for the many clients, I work with who experience significant health changes and challenges. I love the way Jacquie talks (with her lovely Scottish accent), about our humanness. It reminds me that, although we are all unique as individuals, we are also alike as human beings. I find comfort in that reminder. We all experience love, pain, joy, grief, sickness, health, and more. It’s all a part of the beauty of being human. All too

In this episode, we talk with vocalist, artist, and all around creative thinker, Kari Lynn Hewett. Kari Lynn resides in Ontario, Canada and is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Like most life experiences for Kari Lynn, this too is an opportunity to explore and express herself artistically. On her website, Kari Lynn states, “Music and art, to me, have always been natural and necessary to a deeper exploration of the human experience.” I first came to know Kari Lynn as a talented singer-songwriter. She has a lovely jazz infused voice and sings accompanied by a pianist, who happens to be her husband, Roger. There is no shortage of talent in their household! A cancer diagnosis in the spring of 2017 led to a treatment plan and a round of chemotherapy. This meant, as is often the case, a loss of hair for Kari Lynn. Less Is More Karri Lynn Hewett did not interpret her lack of hair as a loss. Instead, to her way of thinking her baldness presented her with a unique canvas. One which beckoned a whims

Dale Reardon is from Australia and is the founder of My Disability Matters. A website that offers both information and social connections. The dot (.) news area provides highlights of relevant disability related news worldwide. While the dot (.) club area of MDM offers a free social network for the disability community. Dale has been blind since the age of 17; he knows a thing or two about discrimination in the work force. He has a law degree and is an active disability advocate. Early on in his career, Dale pivoted away from law and into technology and internet marketing development. Dale saw a gap in support for people with various disabilities online. This spurred the idea to create a website to bring people together. Along with his wife, Dale runs this important and very active online community network. Strength lies within people Believing that strength lies within people, MDM is a unique site that offers members encouragement in a variety of ways. People support one another and can also find advice ab

In this episode, we talk with Steven Claeys who is wheeling in style with his cleverly designed wheelchair adapted trousers. Steven is from Antwerp, Belgium and is in the process of reinventing “pants” for men who use wheelchairs. Steven is a classic case of someone who is frustrated by a problem - but not stopped. In fact, when he did not find a good solution, he got busy. He talked with other wheelchair users and learned what he already knew; he is not alone. Other men struggle trying to change their trousers independently and suffer because of the discomfort of sitting for long periods of time. This propelled Steven to create a solution for himself and others. What Now? In this episode, Steven talks about his journey as a newly disabled man and his acceptance of facing “what now?” After receiving a bachelors degree in Law he took some time to go backpacking in Australia (2014). To earn some travel money, Steven took a job working on a farm. Unfortunately, an accident left Steven a quadriplegic. Once in