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From Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S6.E8. - Sharon and Lauren Well, friends, it has been a hot minute! We are back. After a little hiatus, the loss of some of the episodes, and re-aligning with our goals and vision for the podcast we are ready to move forward. This is just a brief chat to add context and insight into where we were, where we are, and where we are going with this! 2024-05-2322 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S6.E7. - Dr. Brigitta We always feel so fortunate to be able to have these conversations - and this one was no exception. Dr. Brigitta, is a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor and former Primary Care Paramedic of 10 years, as well as a quantum energy healer and medical intuitive who focuses on helping individuals braving concussion recovery, chronic pain, mental and cognitive decline reclaim and optimize their resilient brains - naturally. Her experience as a paramedic, really allowed us to chat about what first responders experience physiologically as a result of their jobs - and she shares some great tips, ideas, and strategies to mitigate that...2023-03-3052 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S6.E6 - Brandi Benson Brandi Benson is an American award-winning cancer advocate, author of acclaimed book 'The Enemy Inside Me', entrepreneur and Iraqi war veteran. Her desire to join the Army in 2008, stemmed from an act of kindness that was initiated from the military towards her family during a very difficult time. She wanted to give back to the people and the organizations that supported them when they were at low point.Her battle - at war and with cancer is a true inspiration of what you can accomplish when you choose to believe, push through, and build a support system...2023-02-2348 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S6.E5 -Sharon and Lauren Update We did not get the chance to close out last season - and we found ourselves with no guest this week, so you just get us. As we try to navigate getting fully immersed back into pre-pandemic life - and juggling all the things we are finding it a little difficult to keep it all together. We love the podcast and what it brings to this community - so it is definitely still high up there on both of our priority lists. Sharon has been working full time, writing, and creating a journal for corrections officers all while running...2023-02-1028 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S6.E4 - Autumn Clifford Autumn Clifford's mission has always been to make an impact in other people lives. To her it was the natural choice to go into policing. Autumn shares that she never had a solid role model in her life, and that is what she wanted to be for others. A PSTD and anxiety diagnosis along with a significant bad back injury took Autumn out of full-time policing. Her back injury had her couch ridden for 6 months where she sunk into a depression and felt extremely lost. It was Tony Robbins that convinced her that her mission did not have to...2023-02-0247 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S6.E3 - Janice Landry Janice Landry has been a storyteller for as long as she can remember. The daughter of a fire fighter, a journalist/reporter, and the author of 9 books that touch on an array of topics - from resiliency, gratitude, hope, love, and awareness for ourself and others.As a child, Janice can fondly remember her father making up bedtime stories. She also recalls witnessing her mother reading all the time, mostly suspense and mystery novels. Janice eventually made the choice to pursue journalism and become a reporter - sharing stories continued to bring Janice joy.Her...2023-01-2653 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S6.E2 - Mo Shaukat Meet Mo. Mo Shaukat invaded our radar when we saw a bunch of our former guests posting about him and his initiative to bring Boots on the Ground to Alberta. Without knowing much about him - his personality drew us to ensure that we got him on the show. A corrections officer with CSC by day - and the President of Boots on the Ground Peer Support for First Responders Alberta in his spare time - Mo shared with us his journey, his desire to openly talk about mental health, and the driving force behind his initial...2023-01-1955 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S6.E1 - Terri JonesSometimes you have to take matters in your hands. Terri Jones is a mother of two boys, the wife of a police officer, and an occupational therapist that suffered with chronic pain, debilitating migraines, and long process of trying to figure out what was going on mentally and physically. On a whim Terri made a decision to sign up to be a yoga teacher - something that she contemplated for a long time, but this gave her the extra push in an attempt calm herself when she was feeling out of control. In addition to her yoga training, Terri...2023-01-1255 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E11 - Cynthia Hamilton Urquhart"Extra-ordinary people doing extra-ordinary things". This is how Cynthia describes first responders and the people that love them. Cynthia served as a RCMP for 25 years - and is married to an RCMP member. Throughout those years she raised a blended family, moved all over the country, and did her best to fit in. As a female, in a predominately male career Cynthia share how she spent years "acting like a guy". She talks about all the events that lead to her being diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI - and how her husband (also diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI) was the one...2022-11-0355 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E11 - Cynthia Hamilton Urquart"Extra ordinary people doing extra ordinary things". This is how Cynthia describes first responders and the people that love them. Cynthia served as a RCMP for 25 years - and is married to an RCMP member. Throughout those years she raised a blended family, moved all over the country, and did her best to fit in. As a female, in a predominately male career Cynthia share how she spent years "acting like a guy". She talks about all the events that lead to her being diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI - and how her husband (also diagnosed with PTSD/PTSI) was...2022-10-2750 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E10 - Wendy Lund We are constantly in AWE of the people that we get to chat with on the podcast. Wendy Lund was no exception to this. She is the CEO/Founder of Wellth Management Inc. A nurse by trade for 23 years with a passion for helping First Responders. How do we promote wellness for our first responders and front-line workers? Wendy is a "wellth" of knowledge when it comes to mental health and wellness for those that have the tendency to put their own on the back burner. This episode is packed with so much great information - tools and strategies...2022-10-2050 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E9 - Cindy WeirWe hear it a lot in the Veteran and First Responder world - my dog saved my life. PTSI service dogs are extremely hard to come by, and they are very expensive. Our guest this week, Cindy Weir experienced this firsthand when she searched for years to get assistance to train her dog GRACIE to be a service dog for herself after being diagnosed with PTSI. Cindy is a military veteran who was faced with numerous barriers and obstacles when attempting to get support to on her healing journey. Cindy's mission led her to the US where she was...2022-10-1449 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E8 - Dr. Jody Burnett We know that part of the reason that first responders don't reach out is because of the stigma attached to struggling with your mental health. We also know that there are significant barriers that stop first responders from seeking necessary treatment to due to limited access, long wait times, and finances. Dr. Jody Burnett is hugely committed to serving first responders through PSPNET - and dedicating to giving her very best to the people that serve our communities. Her knowledge, her passion, and her ability to connect with first responders is inspiring.In this conversation, Jody shares...2022-10-0652 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E7 - Melissa Scheltgen You know that we love first responders, but we also have a special place in our hearts for those that love them too. Melissa is the spouse of a former corrections officer who had to leave his career due to PTSI. She is also a Clinical Social Worker that works with PSPNET to help Public Safety Personnel manage their mental health with access to FREE online therapy programs and clinicians to assist in mental health intervention and prevention. There are also offer FREE online programs for current and former spouses of PSP as well. Melissa's path towards...2022-09-2951 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E6 - Cindy Burns Courageous Cindy. With 25 years in the service - women's units, men's units, IERT team, CISM, maximums, mediums, minimum, and Security Intelligence positions this episode has it all. This conversation could not have been more fun and interesting. Cindy talks about being assaulted the first day on the job - and shares her experience with responding to a staff hostage taking where 4 inmates had an officer for 4.5 hours. Her career took her on many different paths, but for the last 13 years she has been the SIO at Sask Pen. Cindy talks about find work life balance just in the last 2...2022-08-1853 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5. E5-Gillian Welton This episode is full of ups and downs. Gillian shares her incredible story, her path through some pretty difficult situations, and her resiliency to keep going. Gill openly talks about her own battle with mental health during her career - and opens up about the loss of her brother to suicide in 2015. You will never be who you were before you experience trauma - your brain is different, your experiences are different, and you see things differently. Acceptance and self compassion help Gill navigate the toughest times. She also has some great tips on she maintains her mental health...2022-08-1152 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E3 - James Lee From the military to corrections - James Lee went from one extreme career to the next. Hired as a CX2 at Edmonton Institution for Women in 2005, James loved his career, the people, and working with the inmates. Unfortunately, this fondness did not last long. After working 2 years at the penitentiary things began to slide - James knew that he was battling something but was unsure how to get help. He felt very unsupported by the institution and the people that were in positions to assist him. Struggling with a beast that he knew nothing about took a toll on...2022-08-041h 00From Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5. E2. Sammy Like most people that choose corrections as a career, Sammy was on a mission to help people. Little did she know that she would have to sacrifice herself in the process. A single mom who was trying do it all: hold down a career, manage her family, and suppress the negative emotions that were taking over - she turned to alcohol to mitigate the stress, and the pain. In October 2021, Sammy was diagnosed with PTSD, depression, and severe anxiety disorder. Her absence from work led her down the path of self-discovery where she learned that in addition to helping...2022-07-2844 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S5.E1 - Colette and Gary Beniot You can't help but gravitate to people that are like you. Colette and Gary are a first responder couple that were forced to navigate some uncharted territory when Gary was involved in a shooting while at work. They talk about the incident, the negative affects it had on both of them, and the steps that took to dig themselves out of the hole that was dug because of this extremely impactful experience. They are extremely passionate about helping other first responder families build resilience, create peace after chaos, and find passion and purpose to live their most amazing lives.2022-07-2149 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4. E11 - Season Finale Just a candid conversation with Sharon and Lauren talking about what has been going on for them and their lives. As the world begins to open back up, kids activities ramped up, passion projects and jobs have taken over time - they just wanted to share their current lives and touch based before closing out season #4!2022-03-0344 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E10 - Dr. Jody Carrington There was so much excitement building for this one - and she did not disappoint. We were just 3 friends talking, sharing, and working through some of the things that we are all very passionate about. We could have gone on for hours, but we jammed a bunch of goodness into this one! Over the past 15 years, Dr. Jody Carrington has assessed, treated, educated and empowered some of our most vulnerable and precious souls on the planet. She is a child psychologist by trade, but Jody rarely treats kids. The answer lies, she believes, in the people who...2022-02-0349 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E9 - Sachin Latti We know that movement and physical fitness play a huge part in boosting our mental health. Sachin is no exception to this rule. Sachin Latti is a a law enforcement officer who struggles with anxiety and depression. After his divorce he began to realize that he was not okay - mentally and physically. Running became the outlet that allowed him to manage, cope, and reflect. Sachin has completed a bunch of running milestones but none as a great as the one that he has set to accomplish in 2025 - Run Across Canada - 6000km to raise awareness, break the...2022-01-271h 00From Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E8 - Carol Link What an absolute pleasure to spend some time with the gem! Carol retired from her career in Corrections in 2020 after serving 25 years. She shares her experience as a female in a predominantly male environment. The wisdom that Carol brings to this conversation is one that needs to heard by all those that choose a career of service. This is one of those episodes that you don't want to skip. 2022-01-2059 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E7 - Kalimba Edwards Kalimba may not have been the winner, but just listening to her story - you will hear that she is Tough as Nails. In this episode, we got the opportunity to chat with the Fire Captin of the Minneapolis Fire Department Kalimba Edwards. Serving her community for 21 years as a firefighter, the mom of two boys, and 11 years sober - Kalimba has quite the story. Overcoming obstacles is just what Kalimba does. She shares her experience as a participant on the TV series Tough as Nails, her journey to becoming the Captin of her Fire Department, and her advice...2021-12-2344 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E6 - Sean ConohanResourcefulness is a quality that is learned, sought after, and highly desired. Resourcefulness is when you choose to figure it out, keep trying, and believe that you will find a way. Sean Conohan is definitely one of the people that possess this. After leaving his 17-year career as a paramedic, Sean was presented with numerous roadblocks as he struggled with that departure but knew he had to keep going to support his family and attempt to find purpose in his life again. Uptalk Podcast (Sean's Podcast) was started with a desire to get himself help as he navigated a...2021-12-1649 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S4.E5 - Mark MeinckeLife is all about the curveballs. The unexpected, the unbelievable, and the things that change our perspective on why we are here. Mark Meincke has definitely had his fair share of twists and turns - but he uses his experiences, trajectories, and trials to create conversations with others to shed light on this crazy thing called life. In Mark's podcast - Operation Tango Romeo - The trauma recovery podcast, Mark is very open about his time in the military, and how his training taught him to "kill problems" this mentality ultimately created turmoil in civilian life. Mark...2021-12-0951 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E4 - Rachael Dent FlynnThere is nothing greater than learning from people that serve with their whole hearts. Rachael Dent Flynn is a volunteer firefighter and the owner/operator of FLAR Equine Experience in Nova Scotia. As someone who loves to help people - Rachael recognized quite quickly how her life was positively impacted by being around horses. She explains how horses have the ability to pick up on your emotions - your mood is mirrored in the horse's body language. Changing your state, re-aligning, and re-connection with self is what must happen around horses to be able to get close to them...2021-12-0239 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E3 - Neil MacLean When you have stories like the ones that Neil MacLean does, you write them down. Neil worked in a variety of correctional institutions during his 25 years as an officer. He shares a few stories in this podcast, but if you want all the dirt you will have to pick up one of his books. Serving Life 25: One guard's story is a collection of stories. Beyond the Gates of Hell is a collection of interviews with inmates and staff. Prison Tales from the West Coast is all about prisons in BC.Neil was so cool to talk to...2021-11-2552 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E2 - The Unicorns Sharon was picked to be in a documentary...cool RIGHT??? So, during the filming, they asked us to record a podcast. Here it is. Sharon and Lauren share their stories of re-invention. It's a candid conversation between two friends that really have been through some significant things in their life. What is cool, is that you have the ability to re-invent who you are with just one decision. Deciding to quit smoking, deciding to call that person that you have wanted to for years, or taking the first steps in a walk towards health. It doesn't have...2021-11-1841 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S4.E1 - Gloria Joynt-Lang Well, here we are Season 4. We are back in the studio talking to people who have re-invented themselves. In this episode, we have Gloria Joynt-Lang. We both had the pleasure of working with Gloria at EIFW. We talked about her 26-year career in Corrections, all the positions that she held, and her experiences during these years. Gloria always enjoyed writing and when she retired from her job, she realized that she really missed that aspect of it. One day she began putting pencil to paper and before she knew it she had an entire novel. Braking Hard was released...2021-11-1146 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E14 - Season Finale Well, another season has come to an end for us. We had the best time talking to all these incredible humans. There is not a day that goes by that we are not grateful for your time, your story, and your willingness to share. In this episode, we talk about each guest and we let you know what we are living for.We have lots of fun ideas for the next season. We hope you will continue to join us on this ride. Love Sharon and Lauren2021-09-1645 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E13 - Daniela Tsentouros Daniela Tsentouros found herself on the receiving end of the call that no corrections officer family ever wants to get. With limited information, all she knew was that her husband had been taken, hostage. Daniela talks about what that day was like - September 14, 2018 - and how their family has managed since that horrific day. They have each individually, and as a family been on a journey to learn how that incident has changed the course of their lives. Daniela writes about her experience in her blog - the often unseen - talking about her trauma, her healing, and...2021-08-2656 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E12 - Grant Ellsworth Grant Ellsworth joins us on the podcast this week. This conversation could have gone on for hours as you can hear how passionate Grant is about mental, physical, and emotional health to sustain a career in corrections. Grant is the founder of Honey Badger Alliance which aims to help create a warrior mindset in the modern era. After serving time in the military, working on the oil rigs, and being a corrections officer he has found the secret to maintaining health and wellness while being surrounded by chaos. He has a few challenges for you and some wicked insight...2021-08-191h 01From Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E11 - Nikki Cloutier One thing most corrections officers don't lack is courage. This episode came to be when Nikki Cloutier sent a brave DM on Instagram. We could not have been more excited to talk with her about her career, her business, and her burning desire to empower and inspire others. It never ceases to amaze us when we hear people talk about coming up from the depths and developing something that feeds their passions and aligns with their purpose. Nikki is the proud CEO of Blue Line Fitness Training - which serves first responders in preparing and training for fitness testing!2021-08-1259 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E10-Karl MacPhee Chatting with Karl is always a pleasure. Karl MacPhee is a man of many roles. He entered the military at the age of 19 - and was medically discharged at the age of 21 after being diagnosed with epilepsy. This diagnosis took a huge toll on Karl and his mental health - he began drinking and doing drugs which increased the frequency and intensity of his seizures. The nightmares, the excessive lifestyle, and the disregard for life were too much for him to bear - and he made the difficult decision to radically change his life. Karl is now on a...2021-08-0551 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E9- Alex Graham When creativity, passion, and purpose come together - you get something like Brand 47 Coffee Co. Alex Graham is our guest on this episode. A former first responder, married to her wife Holly who is a first responder, the parents to two young boys that they adopted Jax and Niko both with down syndrome, and the creative minds that wanted to set up their boys with something that would offer them meaningful employment and independence. We were blown away by their story, and we will think you will too. Take a listen. If you want to be a part of...2021-07-2956 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E8 - Chad Kennedy Chad Kennedy has had his fair share of trauma over the last 13 years as an Alberta Sheriff. He is on a mission to educate others that "it is not weak to speak". After numerous signs that he was struggling with his mental health and some obstacles with the system, Chad took it upon himself to try something different after conventional therapy and medication were not doing what he hoped. Chad began walking, building relationships, connecting with nature, and gaining skills to help him cope with the demons that continued to surface. There is more to this man than "just...2021-07-0848 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3E - Trudy Dover Everyone has a story. In this episode, we get to chat with Trudy about hers. There is power behind each of our stories, and we get to choose where the power is emphasized and whether it keeps us in the past or helps us move forward. Trudy talks about the assault on her while at work, her desire to leave corrections long before she did, her struggle with her decision to stay, and her life after a traumatic brain injury. Trudy has been on an incredible journey that has lead her into a role where she is...2021-07-0148 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3E6 - Dr. Shelly Bernard and Naomi PatonWell, it took a little coaxing but we were able to. get this dynamic duo to come and chat about what it is like to be psychologists at a women's federal institution. Dr. Shelly Bernard and Naomi Paton love the work they do with women in corrections, they are never bored with their job, and they find it incredibly fulfilling. There have been some difficult challenges surrounding the pandemic that had them dedicating more time to their own mental health and setting boundaries around work and home. They are amazing humans, moms of boys, and women who are dedicated...2021-06-2446 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3E5 - Steve Morrissey Seriously, this was such an incredible conversation. Steve is an RCMP member with numerous positions under his belt and those experiences have brought on some adverse effects. One of the biggest takeaways from his own personal PTS journey is that we have to be educated to be aware of and combat the stigma that is so strongly attached to emotional trauma. Steve is all about music. He plays in a band, writes his own music, and recently wrote a song called "The Road" after his daughter was asking about the Nova Scotia incident in 2020. "Music is pure medicine"...2021-06-1756 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E4 - Dan McCaughanThere is nothing greater than connecting with old friends. Dan McCaughan sits down to talk to us about his career in corrections, his mission to reconstruct his identity from grumpy CX to Triathlon competitor and Iron Man racer, and some of the things he has learned from stepping out of his comfort zone and setting goals for himself to keep leveling up. Dan has traveled worldwide, met the coolest people, and learned a ton along the way. He is full of wisdom, information, and he's kind of funny.2021-06-1051 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E3 - Jon Archambault In this episode we with chat with Jon Archambault. This guy is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to advocating for first responders and the military with PTSD. In the military for 11years, and then right into policing after that. Jon talks about the difficult transition and the effects that all his experiences had on his mental health. After picking up numerous books on trauma to learn more about his diagnosis, he realized that his story needed to be told to connect with others who are struggling with trauma from their careers. Jon has taken something...2021-06-031h 03From Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E2 - Brett MacIntosh We had the most incredible conversation with Brett in this episode. If you are not lucky enough to know this man - that sucks for you. Brett has faced tons of adversity from being assaulted by an inmate only a few months after starting his corrections career, his wife being diagnosed with severe dementia and the build-up of medical bills, to struggling with his mental health. Brett has a positive attitude but admits that it is something that he has had to work at consistently to overcome. We are so grateful that he took the time to share his...2021-05-2753 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S3.E1 - Combat Diva's Welcome to Season 3 of From Uniforms to Unicorns. It was a natural decision to start this season off with the Divas and the Unicorns. We were lucky enough to be on the Combat Diva podcast and we were just waiting to have them on ours. The wait was well worth it. These two incredible women share their stories, their traumas, and their triumph as women serving in the US military. Tonnisha and Tiffany have very different experiences with trauma related to their service. They are women of bravery and I can't wait for you to...2021-05-2049 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsIntro to Season 3 We are excited about Season 3. We are talking about Mental Health. We decided to have a little fun. We invited our children to come on and tell us what they do to support their mental health. It's a short little intro to the season! 2021-05-2003 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E12-Finale Sharon and Lauren take a few minutes (okay 45mins) to talk about how incredible this season was, thank our guests, and be grateful for all the people that listened, shared their stories, and messaged us.This little passion project is morphing into something that we are so excited about - and we hope that you will continue to follow us on this journey! We can't thank you enough.2021-04-0842 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2S11 - Janet CraigenWe had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Janet. Sharon and Janet worked together briefly at Bowden Institution. Janet speaks about her experience at Kingston Penitentiary, what brought her to Alberta, and her career at Bowden. She has taken a few breaks from Corrections over her 19-year career and attributes those personal breaks to the longevity of getting through some of the tough times.2021-04-0150 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E10 - Susan HayreWe got the chance to interview Susan Hayre for this episode. We had no idea how much we would laugh. Susan has been in Corrections for 21 years - she has worked at both male and female facilities, has a hilarious story about how she came to learn about a career in corrections, and was a contestant on the Amazing Race Canada. It's a gooder! 2021-03-2550 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2E9 - Amanda HolmIn this episode we had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda Holm - who was a mentor to both of us at EIFW. Amanda started as an EMT and transitioned into Corrections seamlessly with the skills that she brought. She has taken on numerous roles, tasks, and positions in Corrections. She does this crazy job with poise, confidence, and the biggest smile on her face. Thank for being you Amanda! 2021-03-1846 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E8 - Colleen Layton Colleen Layton made a drastic career change from Massage Therapist to Corrections Officer. She shone at the job from the moment she arrived. Colleen is also the wife of a Corrections Officer, so she had an idea of what she was getting herself into, but admitted you never really know. Colleen was physically injured on the job, and she talks about what that recovery process was like - and realizing that she could never be an officer again due to the limitations that existed due to her injury! She is a rock star human with the shittiest wifi! 2021-03-1152 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E7 - Betty NgThere is no one quite like our Betty-budski! She is a Ninja and an incredible builder of forts - you will have to listen to understand! Betty became interested in Corrections after working as a security guard at a local hospital. She started her career in 2000 at Edmonton Max and transferred too Edmonton Institution in 2004. Betty discusses the difference between the facilities, her experiences, and what ultimately lead her to resigning. 2021-03-0554 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S2.E6 - Shawna Boisson We both feel lucky to have spent our entire Corrections careers with this doll. Shawna is a little spit fire, a dedicated athlete, a Emergency Response trainer, the wife of a corrections officer, and the mom of two! Shawna career in Corrections is extensive - through the ups and downs she has found the secret to making it all work! Lead with passion, find the wins, and become better all the time! 2021-02-2553 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E5 - Angie Costea We had talked about bring Angie on the podcast a couple of times before we actually reached out to her to ask if she would be willing. It was a Facebook Group message between the three of us. The message read "we want you!" - the response from Angie "oh, Fuck". The knowledge, her work ethic, and her dedication to the people that she loves only begins to scratch the surface of this wonderful human. We were honoured that she agreed to chat with us - she definitely has a story to share. 2021-02-1847 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E4- Laurie Staniforth (Nogier) Our cheeks and stomachs hurts when we were done recording this episode. Laurie is an amazing story teller, extremely funny, and absolutely loves people. Her career in law enforcement has taken her from Corrections to Sheriff's. If you don't know Laurie personally get ready because she is sharing all the stories, coming with "spin off podcasts", and just being Nogier!2021-02-1152 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E3- Jill Joseph This episode can be described best with a Brene Brown quote " what makes you vulnerable makes you beautiful". Jill opens up about her career, her experiences, and her leave from corrections due to trauma. We know that talking and sharing stories - has the ability to heal the story teller and the listener. Jill is very open about her journey through trauma, grief, and self discovery - and we are so grateful that she stepped out of her comfort zone to share her story with us and all of you!2021-02-0453 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E2 - Brendan CheungSeason 2 is all about gratitude and we could not have been more grateful that this guy agreed to be on the podcast. We both worked with Brendan at EIFW for the entirety of our careers. Brendan always brought a light, fun, and cheerful vibe to every single shift. With 21 years in the service Brendan brings so much experience to this conversation. And a ton of laughs.2021-01-2853 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S2.E1 - Jaimee GreeneWe are so excited to be back for another season.Season 2 is all about gratitude.Sharon and Lauren are interviewing Corrections Officers that they worked with Edmonton Institution for Women.First up - "The Brave" Jaimee Greene. Jaimee started at EIFW in 2006 and transferred to Fraser Valley Institution in 2013. She loves what she does. We can't wait to share her story with all of you!2021-01-2147 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S1.E10 - Finale For the finale we chat about the idea behind the name - from Uniforms to Unicorns. This conversation is all about COVID, mental health, and how we have all been affected by the events of 2020. Focus on the positive things and let go of the shitty things. We choose what we are carrying. What are you choosing?2020-12-2846 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1.E9 - What is a typical day as a Prison Guard at a Women's Prison? Get ready to laugh. Seriously - this one is good. A typical day in the life of a female corrections officer at a federally sentenced women's prison. You won't believe some of the things we had to do. From buckets of chicken and NA meetings in the community to heimlich maneuvers during a Christmas social. 2020-12-2150 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1.E8 - Why did you leave? What are we doing now? Lauren and Sharon have a candid conversation about transitioning out of prison to being business owners. They talk about how their skills from the jail have assisted them with starting, running, and creating successful businesses. Sharon and her mom own a very successful business in Calgary Medic Laser & Aesthetics Center. Lauren has a life coaching business that focuses on Self Care for First Responder Spouses - Break Complacency. She also runs a Non-Profit - To Serve and Connect for First Responders and Spouses. We talk about Transformation Weekend - the weekend that Lauren attended that...2020-12-1450 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2u.S1.E7- What we wish we knew? Lauren and Sharon discuss what they wish they knew before they became Corrections Officers. They could talk for hours about this. There is all this stuff that goes around saying "you knew what you signed up for" - when in in fact, you just can't prepare for what you are about to be involved in, witness, and carry with you through out your career and beyond.2020-12-0752 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E6.FE- Blame Game One of the things that we have learned through this journey is that when you blame for the crap in your life - you also have to blame it for good. We talk about how there were so many negatives that came out of our time at the prison, but we also are able to see the positives. The people, the strength and the resilience. It's is not something that comes - it is something that you have to work at that builds resiliency. 2020-11-3042 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E5.FE - Mom's and Officers Sharon & Lauren both became mother's while they worked as Corrections Officers. Shift work, child care and lifestyle are just a few of the things that become difficult to juggle as a First Responder. We absolutely love this episode. It was easy for us to open about the struggles that plagued two moms just trying to make it all work! 2020-11-2350 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E4.FE - Women's Prisons Part 2Women's Prisons Part 2 - focuses on the years that Sharon and Lauren were employed at the prison 2002-2014 - they saw the introduction of male officers in female federal institutions, handcuffs, maximum security unit, OC spray, management protocols and so much more. We know a lot has changes since we left - we are working on talking to someone in the next season that can shed some more light on how things have changed and evolved since 2014. 2020-11-1640 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E3.FE - Women's Prisons Part 1 Lauren & Sharon talk about the evolution of Women's Prisons in Canada. There is a bunch of history around why women's prisons exist the way that they do. We talk about the events, task forces and reports that contributed to the structure, living arrangements and re-integration supports that are specific to female offenders.2020-11-0933 minFrom Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E2.FE - Interview with LaurenNow, let's get to know Lauren. In this episode Sharon interviews Lauren. It's super cool to sit back and re-hash out a life in an hour episode. There is just so much to share. Lauren discusses her career in corrections, her desire to be a business owner, having babies, beating cancer and her purpose going forward.2020-11-021h 01From Uniforms to UnicornsU2U.S1E1.FE - Interview with Sharon Let's get to know Sharon Fernandes.In this episode Lauren interviews Sharon. Everyone has a story - so sit back and enjoy learning all about Sharon. She's funny, brave and excited to share some of her journey in this episode.2020-10-241h 15From Uniforms to UnicornsFrom Uniforms to Unicorns - Trailer Sharon and Lauren introduce their new podcast!2020-10-2212 min