Shows
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastHosts Check In 3 -Episodes 14 to 32Angela and Trevor are back for a check in episode, and there is so much ground to cover! We start with exciting updates from Trevor’s entrepreneurship journey and book readings, and Angela begins holding her breath for a “Polar Bear and Walrus” sequel. Then it’s time to delve into big themes that came up this season as 20 wonderful neighbours shared their varied, interesting, and truly inspiring stories. We learned about people overcoming self-doubt and pursuing their dreams, lessons of remarkable resilience in the face of tragedy and challenging circumstances, and totally refreshing perspectives on gratitude, empathy, forgiveness, and conf...
2023-05-3156 min
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMatthew Jensen - Loving ActionAt the age of five, Matthew Jensen had already begun displaying signs of the powerful confidence, dedication, and intuition with which he would obsessively pursue a multitude of dreams and careers. From a performing magician to a recording rap artist, graphic designer, marketing innovator, and social media creator…a common thread is his tendency to inject humor and joy into everything he does. It’s no wonder why we have too much fun in this episode, hearing stories from Matt’s life and delving into watershed moments that forever changed things for him. Along the way, he reflects on making...
2023-05-231h 27
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastSteve Foran - Practicing GratitudeSteve Foran speaks on the importance of gratitude to help us lead happier, more energetic lives and organizations. After completing research on the topic during his MBA, the potential benefits struck Steve as so compelling that he decided to leave electrical engineering behind and make it his literal business to coach leaders on the skill of gratitude. In the 15 years since he’s engineered practical tools and processes that help people show up as the best version of themselves, improving engagement and resilience. We are so grateful for Steve’s openness as we discuss the early days of building his...
2023-05-161h 25
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastRobbie Song - Empowering MovementRobbie Song has a history of pursuing business opportunities that bring him and others joy, but he never expected this would lead him to transition from a career in engineering to become the owner and lead instructor of a pole dance studio. In this lively chat, Robbie shares why he decided to “run away to join the circus”, stories from intense training all over the world, and the resulting growth of a deep passion and a mission to spread joy. The impact is clear. In just a few years, he’s built a large and growing community that empowers people...
2023-05-101h 38
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastGayathri & Anshu - Empathic LivingGayathri Shukla & Anshu Stephen are making the world a better place by practicing and teaching empathy. In this special conversation, we get to learn about Empathy Week - a unique Calgary-wide (and online!) event that cannot be missed, how Gayathri and Anshu came to be part of it, and the most challenging and rewarding parts of empathy work. As a certified trauma-informed coach, Anshu helps individuals better understand their own stories to become whole, empowered, connected, and healthy. Gayathri has guided thousands of leaders in the use of storytelling, empowering individuals to discover their strengths while building...
2023-05-0351 min
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastJacqueline Conway - Mastering ClarityJacqueline Conway has loved to explore her many passions as a dancer/fashion enthusiast/music festival promoter/branding strategist and more, but she‘s also struggled with spreading herself too thin. In this episode, she shares how shifting to a goal-oriented mindset has empowered her to focus on what matters most and truly thrive. At the center of this conversation is the challenge of letting go of activities and ideas that no longer serve us - in Jacq’s case, this meant leaving behind everything from dance and the fashion association she’d founded to some limiting ideas around money...
2023-04-261h 17
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastDanielle Gaucher - Liberating EmotionDanielle Gaucher has felt the powerful impact that processing repressed emotions can have on well-being. From her full life as a married mother of five, experienced counsellor, and certified fitness trainer, it was possible for her to think she’d left all the trauma of her past behind… yet her body kept finding ways to tell her otherwise. In this insightful chat, Danielle opens up about her journey into emotional work and the many tools she’s found to process intense feelings in a healthy, authentic, and graceful way. We discuss how she’s applying this knowledge to support others...
2023-04-191h 27
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMerritt Minnemeyer - Cultivating PurposeMerritt Minnemeyer coaches purpose-driven leaders to build full lives of meaning and positive impact. In this episode, we explore the winding journey that helped her gain a deep understanding of her own soul purpose, from an early start in acting and founding a theatre company through starting to settle into family life, all before the tragic passing of her husband left her a single mom of three at 35. Merritt speaks candidly about the transformational day when she finally found herself back in her body, and how she has been charting her own course ever since. A refreshing conversation ensues...
2023-04-111h 30
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastGeorgina De Caigny - Wild InstinctAs founder and director of the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary, Georgina De Caigny has made it her life mission to protect wolfdogs- both rescuing them and educating visitors about these majestic and often misunderstood animals. In this episode we follow the totally uncharted path that led her to start a non-profit and shape her life around this wild calling. Georgina’s story is definitely unique, but there are universal lessons in her instinct to follow her heart, her unrelenting courage and faith, and the grounding power of her connection to nature. Whether you are looking to better understand your canine fr...
2023-04-041h 42
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastAlex Lang - Living WellAlex Lang has an extraordinary ability to get the most out of life. This was already evident when he worked as a mining engineer, disregarding comfort and convenience for the sake of adventure, and seizing every opportunity to travel the world. It has become even more obvious in his current life, as he’s overcome severe health challenges to become a brain cancer survivor, family man, and Masters student. How does he do it!? Alex’s charming Aussie wit permeates the conversation as he shares insights about the power of practiced resilience, importance of support networks, and the study of p...
2023-03-281h 27
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastSteve Barendregt - Rising AboveSteve Barendregt faced unfortunate life challenges from an early age, yet a remarkably positive mindset allowed him to overcome the odds and ultimately forgive, gathering significant wisdom and allies along the way. We are thrilled to hear fascinating anecdotes that span such an interesting life, from using humour and cleverness to cope through a deprived and abusive childhood to becoming the caring community leader and entrepreneur he is today. Steve credits an unwavering belief in himself for fuelling a “success instinct” that motivated him even through the most difficult times, along with lessons about strategic planning, win-win thinking, and the...
2023-03-212h 00
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastDiana Rocca - Communicating PurposeAs Founder of DREROC Marketing Strategy, Diana Rocca helps companies of all sizes to communicate genuinely through branding that is rooted in purpose. Her calm self-awareness shines through in this conversation as we explore her path into this field, how she guides businesses to identify their why, and strategies for seeking external validation without compromising on authenticity. It says something that her recent year-long experiment to find the best place to live makes committed self-discovery (and moving!) sound so attractive.To connect with Diana, visit her website here!Follow Inspiring Neighbours Podcast for more and le...
2023-03-141h 17
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMatteo Esposito - Challenging PerceptionsMatteo Esposito, a playwright, student, and avid fan of theatre, is on a mission to make people think. In this chat, he shares his passion for telling stories that put a mirror up to society, inviting audiences to step out of their comfort zone and try on a new perspective. As a person with autism, he feels a particular responsibility to challenge misconceptions of those living with disabilities. His award-winning play “Sorting It Out” is an example of his talent for turning personal struggles into moving experiences of care and hope. We could say the same about this episode, in w...
2023-03-071h 05
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastStephanie Olivella - Shaping SelvesStephanie Olivella has had a rollercoaster journey through the education system. In this chat, she opens up about developing resilience through challenging early school years and the huge difference that a more flexible environment had on her learning. We are fascinated by the winding path that brought her to become a teacher, her experiences with neurodiversity and mental health challenges in the classroom, and how she’s transformed deep insights into passion to celebrate and foster individuality in her students. If it’s true that “you teach who you are”, then the joy of learning that she’s igniting in their y...
2023-02-281h 30
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMaliyah Chung - Crafting ImpactMaliyah Chung - high school student, entrepreneur, and budding philanthropist - has become an expert at helping others by doing what she loves. In this episode, we host Maliyah and her mom Farah and learn how they transformed a basic school project into a full jewellery shop that is beautiful both inside and out. Today, Maliyah continues to bring joy to a rapidly expanding fan base while supporting a long list of amazing causes through her work. Oh, and she reminds us, she also makes time for homework! The spirit of giving throughout this chat is contagious, and it’s...
2023-02-1442 min
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastRyan Bicknell - Joyful LivingRyan Bicknell has so very many stories to tell as he graciously takes us on a whirlwind tour of his extraordinary life. We start with his family history in Uganda with characters ranging from Mother Teresa (literally) to dictator Idi Amin, come to learn of the serious lifestyle change created by his family’s move to Canada when he was young, and delve into his incidental start and longstanding career as a commercial realtor. No matter the topic, what stands out the most is Ryan’s deep enjoyment of life - from small details and random acquaintances to major even...
2023-02-071h 25
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastZachary Champoux - Compassionate LivingZachary Champoux is a vegan, entrepreneur, and animal rights activist, so its no surprise that the conversation turned deep quickly when he joined INP for one of our richest episodes yet. Zach’s passion for preventing the cruel treatment of non-human animals is transparent, and in this chat we experience it through his enthusiasm for creating awareness, willingness to engage in difficult topics head-on, and gentle manner of expressing strong convictions with a deeply empathic demeanour. He also has much wisdom to share when we delve into his journey through entrepreneurship, from the hard lessons he’s learned to how...
2023-01-311h 47Inspiring Neighbours PodcastHosts Check In 2 - Welcome Forward!Angela and Trevor return after the holiday break and find that there is so much to catch up on. There have been some very exciting developments in Trevor’s life, and they don’t even include the official launch of his first book! Yes - the much awaited “Polar Bear and Walrus Find Their Hearts” is now available for purchase, and with this huge milestone they get to delve into the perspective of Trevor Doram the author - including a peek at his sources of inspiration, the publishing process, and what creative projects of his we can look forward to next...
2023-01-2446 min
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMasoud Shahanaghi - Thoughtful LivingMasoud Shahanaghi works as a massage therapist, though this is just the latest of many positions he’s held in his life including software developer, night watchman, auditing intern, project manager, sales rep, and business owner. In this conversation we wonder at the thoughtful approach that he’s applied to find meaning in his occupations, allowing them to transform him and, in turn, applying his unique signature onto each one. As he shares his philosophy, it’s clear that a peaceful surrender to concepts like universal timing and destiny have allowed him to go with the flow and focus his en...
2022-11-301h 34
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastKaren Kessler - Leading ChangeKaren Kessler - Leadership Coach, Author, and Community Builder - stuns us with the frequency of truth bombs dropped in this episode. It’s immediately clear that her intensive research and decades of experience have developed into real wisdom as Karen shares striking ideas from her book, “Stop Flocking Around: What Alex the Albatross Can Teach You About Navigating Change” and reminisces about the various ways (advisable and not) that she has taken on major shifts through her life. We take this opportunity to dive into burning questions about managing change, what makes a good leader, and practical techniques to bet...
2022-11-151h 47
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastNick Blais - Earning ConfidenceNick Blais, award-winning Theater Designer, sets a compelling stage indeed as he joins us in this episode. We begin with curiosity about just how he found himself in this elite field, and find a great opportunity to reflect on topics like confidence (moving from faux to borrowed to earned), the ebbs and flows of passion, and the hunt for inspiration. We deeply enjoy this behind the scenes tour, which showcases how his raw talent cultivated and empowered by collaboration from others has brought immersive productions, and a fascinating career, to life.
2022-11-081h 41
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastDr. Kim Mayville - Realizing PotentialDr. Kim Mayville imparts some serious wisdom in this call as we delve deep into her impressively diverse experience through life in the medical field. Following a crushing reality check of Grey’s Anatomy, Kim shares insightful and fun stories about what working in a hospital has really been like through her experiences as a nurse, medical student, and anesthesiologist. The challenging nature of this work is not surprising, but Kim’s intellectual passion, genuine care and dedication, and talent for building support networks help to shed light on a powerful approach to life that can conquer all - even...
2022-11-011h 30
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastHosts Check In - 1 to 12Angela and Trevor take this moment to reflect on the first 14 weeks of Inspiring Neighbours Podcast. They marvel at the remarkable guests they’ve hosted and pause to appreciate them for opening up and sharing their stories so generously. As they reminisce about impactful takeaways from these conversations, a few hints are dropped about the future of Inspiring Neighbours. All this follows after Trevor’s impromptu impression of Gandalf, which he’s still regretting as a missed opportunity to showcase his accent skills.
2022-10-251h 05
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastValentina Gonzalez - Creating MagicValentina Gonzalez has a wonderful way of looking upon daily life, infusing meaning, warmth, and wonder into her own experience and the experience of those around her. In this cozy chat, we get to hear about the powerful sense of unity she enjoyed as a child and remark upon how love, loss, and distances have only made it stronger. In fact, we find Valentina has become a force for spreading this feeling, employing her remarkable talent for fostering community and cultivating strong personal relationships in almost every area of her life. We are left to reflect on our own...
2022-10-181h 32
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMarcy Barbaro - Maximizing VitalityMarcy Barbaro, writer and co-founder of Working Writers Co, joins us in this whopper of an episode full of insights on the writing process, positive aging, body positivity, and some (fun!) strategies for managing conflict. A storyteller from an early age, Marcy’s path has taken many turns to make her into the deeply empathetic, confident and sincere writer she is today. We are thrilled to listen as she shares some hard-earned wisdom about how living our truths can unleash creativity, how she’s found her way to her dream job, and how she prioritizes building a productive and crea...
2022-10-111h 55
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastAlex Morin - Living FullyAlex Morin has lived many distinct lives, and grown all the wiser by fully experiencing every one. We’re enthralled with the wonderful stories he shares in this warm chat, as we imagine the boy soprano performing at the Opera, growing into a renegade student with a love of literature, transforming into a budding rock star, becoming a leader in the corporate world… and then, leaving that world behind with a firm decision to focus on what matters most. We reflect on the determined pursuit of self discovery that followed, and how it’s led him to build a variet...
2022-10-041h 39
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastRichard Saad - Embracing CuriosityWe are thoroughly intrigued and entertained by the one-of-a-kind Richard Saad as we take this opportunity to investigate his pure, lifelong passion for learning. Richard reminisces on the deep curiosity he developed for movies at an early age and we’re amazed at his dedication even then to discover more about this magical art form. We reflect on the various ways that passion and work have intersected through his life, and wonder at how he continues to prioritize the pursuit of topics that interest him and bring him joy, even (and especially) outside his job. Ultimately, Richard invites us to...
2022-09-271h 32
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMalu Satyro - Avante (Part 2)Malu Satyro regales us with the story of her life in this rich two-episode series. We discuss her talent for building community and the positive impact this had on company culture, as well as the devastation she felt leaving the company she’d helped to build. Then, just as she was starting to shift her dreams once again, she was faced with the traumatic and sudden loss of her husband. Malu bravely delves into her experience with overwhelming layers of grief - coming to terms with sorrow as part of daily life while embracing the moments where joy and be...
2022-09-201h 02
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMalu Satyro - Avante (Part 1)Malu Satyro regales us with the story of her life in this rich two-episode series. We start from her early life in Brazil, where big dreams fueled her to pursue a career in dance against all odds. Her passion and determination only grew from there, but the dream shifted as her love carried her to Canada, where she and her husband would start a family and a very special company. We found ourselves on the edge of our seats as Malu shared her beautiful adventure through life - candid with all its joys, challenges, victories, and heartbreak....
2022-09-131h 20
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastEdna Keep - Transformational LivingEdna Keep has created remarkable success in her life by taking on multiple transformational leaps: the latest, from Real Estate Investor and Wealth Coach to full-time Mindset Mentor. Her powerhouse personality comes through in this chat, as she shares her journey from young motherhood with limited employment options to building and exiting multiple businesses. A testament to the power of strategic learning, it’s clear that above any specific end goal she seeks continuous growth for herself and others. Watch out for this firecracker, as she continues to demonstrate just what “a nice little Canadian” is capable of.Foll...
2022-09-061h 28
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastSilvana Echeverri - Building JoyWe have the wonderful pleasure of meeting Silvana Echeverri, pediatric physiotherapist and owner of multiple Kids Physio clinics. Silvana’s passion for leveraging physiotherapy to improve the lives of children, parents, and her colleagues is energizing. She shares how she came upon her calling unexpectedly, then went out of her way to open her own doors to pursue a life in it. Silvana’s positivity stands out immediately as we notice that no matter the challenge, she continues to absorb only the best from every situation and move forward with joy. The world is clearly all the better for it a...
2022-08-301h 37
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMalcolm Fletcher - Meditative LivingMalcolm Fletcher walks us through his compelling life-long journey with meditation in this serene, thought-provoking episode. He contemplates the passion that drove him to take risks as an earnest student from “down under”, travelling far to learn from master teachers, and the unexpected turning point that would lead him to become the Founder of Streamline Meditation decades later. Malcolm describes the importance of a centred approach to life beautifully, graciously addressing our questions about the impact of meditation on his daily life. We are also surprised to discover a shared admiration for a particular rockstar.
2022-08-231h 22
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastAlex Solano - Unconventional LivingAlex Solano joins us remotely from the city of dreams, indulging our quest to unravel the mystery of her powers. Angela has long been a fan of her younger sister’s determination to live life on her own terms, consistently amazed at her ability to make the unlikely happen. In this call we explore how these special qualities have led Alex down a challenging yet often serendipitous path, building a life and career in Hollywood while making plenty of room for fun and adventure.
2022-08-161h 18
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastD'Arcy Henneberry - Living FearlesslyD’Arcy Henneberry, entrepreneur behind Imagine Consulting and Mortgage Pal, graces us with a visit to the studio. He shares many fun stories as we investigate his joyful approach to life and the amazing ease with which he makes big decisions- finding that even as a child, D’Arcy knew better than to sweat the small stuff. He reflects on the importance of vulnerability and the interesting journey that’s helped him gain ever stronger clarity into who he is, what he wants, and all he’s capable of.
2022-08-091h 29
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastLaura Cepeda - Intentional LivingLaura Cepeda, spiritual center and motivating force behind Inspiring Neighbours, bravely joins us as our very first guest. We delve deep and laugh often, exploring how her unique blend of wild energy and old wisdom have led her to soak up the best of life (and push others to as well!). We listen in awe as she opens up completely about how family life and growing responsibility have challenged her to make more conscious choices and develop a stronger sense of self.
2022-08-021h 17
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMeet the Hosts 2 - Trevor DoramTrevor Doram, Co-Host and Creator of Inspiring Neighbours Podcast, reflects on the challenges and the power of staying true to yourself. Angela asks about his recent quest to say yes to everything, and uses this opportunity to extract the pros’ secret to being funny. We find out the childhood book that Trevor just couldn’t bury.
2022-07-221h 05
Inspiring Neighbours PodcastMeet the Hosts 1 - Angela SolanoAngela Solano, Co-Host of Inspiring Neighbours Podcast, takes the hot seat as our first ever guinea pig / interviewee. As Trevor asks about her travels growing up and her responsibility being the oldest sibling, Angela recounts proud moments in her high school career and highlights how worried she was about Trevor before they even met.
2022-07-151h 15