Hard Beautiful Journey

EP 35 - Lessons I Learned In Season 2 (Part Two)

Continuing on from last episode, I am excited to recap episodes 26 to 33 and talk about the lessons that I have learned from these guests!
First up is EP26….have you ever ugly snot cried when hearing someone’s story?  Well, let’s just say my guest for this episode got to see a whole bunch of snot crying on our zoom call!  My beautiful friend Alison joined me to talk about her love story with her late husband Chuck and the grief process since his death.  Their love transcends this earth and I know that Chuck is with her while she now travels the country in her pink car and trailer, her Odyssey of Love…in  Pink.  Alison has an incredible Lovumentary coming out this spring that I am so incredibly excited to see…..I will be sure to spread the news when it is released….Alison reminded me how important love is, not just in a marriage but in everything that we do.  Love is it…..when we have that in our lives, anything is possible.
On EP27 I had the honour and privilege to interview Theoren Fleury.  One day I gathered allll the courage I could muster up and I made the decision to ask him if he’d be on my podcast to talk about his hard beautiful journey.  And obviously he said yes and yes, I screamed OUT LOUD in the Starbucks drive through line when I got the news.  And yes, it’s true I legit almost passed out right before hitting the Admit button on our Zoom call.  But Theo is someone that makes you feel comfortable and is such an amazing person to talk to.  His journey has been more than hard, he’s had immense trauma in his life.  But what he has taught me is that even in your darkest times, there is a way out and there is a way to ask for help.  He reminded us all that people with mental health challenges are not in the minority, we are the MAJORITY.  And it’s time ta stand up for the 5 out of 5.
On EP28 my very dear friend Shawna was here to talk about her very difficult struggle with Anxiety and mental health and how she had to continually advocate for herself until she found the strategies that worked for her.  Shawna shared so much great insight, please be sure and check out that full episode if you haven’t already.  Shawna reminded me that not everyone has lived your experience so they may not know how to support you the way you expect them to.  That hit me hard and made me rethink some relationships I have and I am so grateful for that reminder.
On EP29 I had the absolutely beautiful soul and musician Leah Campbell on the show to talk about her song “Won’t Let You Fall”.  If you’ve been listening since the beginning of Season 2 you would have heard this song a few times.  I needed to know how that song came to her and unfortunately it came from the death of her friend committing suicide.  What Leah taught me is that even in the depths of grief and pain, God is there to show you the next best step and in Leah’s case, he put a pen in her hand and gave her the words to help heal so many people around the world.
On EP30 I had the privilege of interviewing Karen Simba of Livings Works.  Living Works is the world leader in suicide prevention training solutions.  She summarized the training programs that Living Works offers to train and prepare individuals like me and you, as well as organizations and communities to make a difference, to help save lives. Karen taught me that there are even more ways that one person can help save a person from taking their own life and every one of us can be that life preserver, they are here to help so please consider reaching out to them.
  On EP31 my beautiful friend Tyler was here to talk about her journey to finding a mediation and wellness practice that fills her soul and gives her such profound peace, and her mission to help others discover this in their own lives.  Tyler taught me a way of thinking about meditating that I hadn’t tried before our interview and since we’ve talked I have implemented and it’s made a huge difference in how long I can now meditate and the quality of my sessions has greatly improved, so thank you friend!
On EP32 my soul sister and beautiful friend Shannon was on the show and yeah, I have so much that I could say about this woman and our conversation.  She radiates love and light and I couldn’t be more proud of the work that she is doing and preparing to do.  Shannon has a beautiful gift of being able to truly SEE people, to their core and help them realize their full potential.  Can you imagine a greater gift than having Shannon as your coach….
On EP33 the incredibly beautiful and joyful Jessica Janzen was on the podcast.  Jess radiates PURE JOY and every time I am in the same space as Jessica you can FEEL how passionate she is about so many dang things but most importantly is wanting people to show up in their lives…..show up now, and don’t wait for the tradgedy or wake up call…..wake up now and live your life to the fullest.  She also taught me that you can bring joy to other people’s lives by acting on nudges from your heart - you never know whose life you are impacting for the better when you follow those nudges.
When I return in mid April, I will have more great guests as well as episodes where it will just be little ole me giving you my thoughts on a variety of topics.  I have a lifetime of stories and experiences that I’d love to share with you.  I believe when you use your voice, you ignite your soul to your true purpose.  I hope you will consider sharing your story with me and my listeners.  If you are interested, please be sure and check out my website at www.mstiffvaughan.com/podcast to submit your story.
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EP 34 - Lessons I Learned In Season 2 (Part One)

Over the next two episodes I thought it would be fun to go back through the interviews that I did from this season and pull from them the lessons that I have learned from all of my incredible guests. I have always said and believe that there is something to learn and be grateful for every single day, and doing this podcast has proven that to me over and over again. Everyone has a story, their own hard beautiful journey and by telling these stories and our journey's, we may be lifting someone up that really needed it but didn't know how to ask.
 
For this episode I will be discussing episodes 17 to 25 and I can't wait to dive in!!
 
On EP17 my friend Stacey joined me to talk about her experience with divorce and finding out her husband was having an affair and what that journey looked like for not only her but also for her two girls. Stacey helped me remember that even though these things can happen, it doesn't have to be the end of your happiness....that you can move on and still live your life to the fullest.....
 
On EP18 my beautiful friend (and neighbour) Chenoa joined me to share her journey of giving her son up for adoption at birth and then reconnecting with him in 2020 and the rollercoaster of emotions that took place. Chenoa reminded me that there is always two sides to a story, and in the case of a child, both the birth mother and birth father's feelings need to be considered. That was a big aha for me with my ongoing search for my half sister.
 
On EP19 I invited my therapist and "my Jenna" onto the podcast to talk about her role in helping me through one of the darkest times of my life. It was with Jenna that I was asked for the first time - what are you going to do with these struggles - you've shown what you can do for yourself and your family - what can you do to help others with what you've learned. Jenna was the one who first knew that I was supposed to use my voice and find a path and a way to connect with and guide other people. It was through her encouragement and others close to me that I decided to be vulnerable and put our story out there.
 
On EP20 my incredible cousin James was here and I loved every minute of our conversation....James was here to talk about his own management of his mental health and what that has looked like for him over the past few years. James taught me that men, teachers, athletes....all go through the same mental health battles as everyone else, and if you are a boy, a young man, a grown man - that it is OK to ask for help and it's ok to not be ok.....and it's MOST definitely ok for you to cry - Vulnerability can be your strength.
 
On EP21 I had my sweet friend Tina on the show to talk about her hard beautiful journey and wow....she has been through some things for sure. From going through two divorces as a young woman, to an infertility battle, to then losing two of her sisters to breast cancer, Tina taught me that you can take matters into your hands when it comes to preventing cancer, especially when it has had such a devastating impact on her families life.
 
On EP22 I had my mentor and soul coach Bree-Anna Vincent on the podcast to give my listeners an insight into what it is I am currently working on and what soul coaching is all about. I could go on literally for HOURS about what lessons I have learned from Bree-Anna but the number one would be that we are Human BEINGS, not Human DOINGS. That it's absolutely critical that we learn to connect with ourselves and understand who we are at our core.
 
EP23 - On EP23 I had the wonderful Tonya Woolford on my podcast and I LOVED our conversation about what she is doing as a Death Doula or Death Walker. It is such an important role that she fills in the lives of those people that are nearing the end of their human experience and to help them transition. Not only does she provide comfort to the dying person, she is also there to support the family and friends of her clients. What I learned from Tonya is that by becoming more comfortable with the idea of death (because really, none of us can escape it), you can actually learn to enjoy your life more and it not be a source of dread your whole life and experience joy more deeply.
 
On EP24 I had the lovely Mandy Balak here with me and she was incredible to talk to. Mandy and I talked about the RISE Lake Louise conference that her company ACE Collective put on, in the middle of a pandemic no less, and how that experience was from both of our perspectives. What I learned from Mandy is that even in the middle of a global pandemic, with all things stacked against you, it is possible to rise, it is possible to get back up and succeed in whatever you want to achieve.
 
On EP25 I had the absolutely HILARIOUS and beautiful soul Jenny B here with me.....what a blast. Besides being so incredibly funny, she has a heart of gold and I loved getting to know her better. Jenny taught me that it is ok to be vulnerable and share your story in front of a large group of people and even ugly snot cry too.....because there is going to be someone else in the room that has felt the same way (like she did for me). And she taught me that it is always critical for a woman to carry a set of car tweezers with them at all times.
 
On the next episode I will share the lessons I learned from episodes 26 to 33!
 
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EP 33 - Follow The Nudges That Bring The Joy - with Jessica Janzen

Have you ever met someone and you instantly felt Pure Joy radiating from them - like there was a giant ball of sunshine surrounding them and lighting everyone up who was in their presence?  I have and wow, it’s pretty damn special when you get these opportunities.  My opportunity came about 1.5 years ago when I attended a videography & photography workshop.  There was this woman in the class with me who I just knew was pretty damn special….
This woman was Jessica Janzen.  She came up to me and introduced herself and asked me a couple questions about myself, including about my family and she told me about her three kids, including one in Heaven…..and then she dropped a love bomb on me….She said she had been watching me doing the filming outside and that I had something special….I mean, I just met this person and she made me feel like a million bucks. 
I learnt a valuable lesson that day from a complete stranger - you can bring joy to other people’s lives by acting on nudges from your heart to say something kind to someone, to give a smile to a stranger that may need it, to hold the door open for someone, or to just be there to listen when someone needs to talk. 
There are so many ways to Bring The Joy and follow the nudges in your heart and Jess is here to talk with us about how she is doing this after experiencing the PROFOUND LOSS from the death of her son Lewiston at 6 months old.
You can follow Jessica on Instagram HERE.  You can buy Jessica's book HERE!  And don't forget to check out the amazing apparel line at Love For Lewiston and support an amazing foundation HERE
 
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EP 32 - Conversation With My Intuitive Soul Sister - with Shannon Pinkston

Today’s guest is my soul sister and beautiful friend Shannon Pinkston. 
She has a 25 year career as a casting director, journalist and writer.  In 2015/2016 Shannon experienced a health crisis that was one of the catalysts for truly realizing her intuitive gifts and exploring them more.  These gifts are now being used to help heal years of trauma and has set her on a path of helping other people (like me) know what they are capable of, what their gifts are and to explore and nurture those.
Shannon's Podcast is called "Adventures of the Airstream Oracle" and can be found HERE.  And check out her Facebook Group called "Dragonfly Energy Wellness and Empath Support" and can be found HERE.  Shannon's IG account is @airstream_oracle.
 
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EP 31 - Mindful Meditation & Finding Peace - with Tyler Gravley

Can we talk about 2020 for a minute….what an absolute dumpster fire it was in some ways right?!  I think it’s safe to say everyone went into 2020 with so many amazing goals and visions for an epic year.  When the world started shutting down in March and it continued on and on….I was not in a good head space….but then I made one of the best decisions of my life.  I joined a program called Made To Do This….and that is where I met so many people that I now call dear friends. 
 
I have had a few of them on my podcast already, and this week I have two more, including this beautiful soul Tyler.  Tyler is here to talk with me about her journey to finding a very meaningful meditation practice, one that brings her so much fulfillment.  She even did a 10 day silent retreat, which I found very intriguing, and you’ll find out what she wanted more than anything once she was done - I wasn’t expecting it that’s for sure!
 
Tyler's Podcast is called "How Do U Meditate: The Podcast" and can be found HERE.  And check out her Facebook Group called C(OM)munity" and can be found HERE.
Show sponsor:
Website - Simply Counselling Services
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EP 30 - LivingWorks Suicide Prevention - with Karen Simba

The topic I am bringing to you today is soooo incredibly important.  The world population is experiencing epidemic levels of mental health and suicide struggles. 
As Covid-19 increases isolation and anxiety around the world, suicide prevention skills are needed more than ever.  There is something we can do to help, each of us can play a role in preventing even one person from taking their life.
I am honoured and so grateful to have Karen Simba here with me today who is from Living Works.  Living Works is the world leader in suicide prevention training solutions.  She is here to discuss the training programs that Living Works offers to train and prepare individuals like me and you, as well as organizations and communities to make a difference.
Living Works Website
Distress Centre - 24-hour crisis line 403-266 - HELP (4357)
Crisis Services Canada - text or call - 833-456-4566 or text 45645
Centre for Suicide Prevention to access LW training - https://www.suicideinfo.ca/workshops/ 
 
Show sponsor:
Website - Simply Counselling Services
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EP 29 - The Story Behind Won’t Let You Fall - with Leah Campbell

Have you ever heard a song and it stops you in your tracks?  Or makes you smile, or cry, or feel all the feelings with every single word? 
One day I was sitting at work, listening to Spotify like I usually do and this song came on - it was like the air was sucked out of the room, and all the everyday sounds of working in an office went away and all I could hear was this song.  And I got the chills so I knew my peeps above were telling me to pay attention.  And I did.
The song I am talking about is “Won’t Let You Fall” by Leah Campbell.  It was like the song was written for my podcast.  I followed the additional nudges I was given to reach out to Leah and ask her if I could license the song from her to use on some of my podcast episodes.  And she so graciously said YES! 
It was only after I reached out to her that I discovered the meaning behind the song.  Leah is here to talk to me today about that story and I’m so grateful.  
Check her out here!  
Leah Campbell Instagram
Leah Campbell Faceboook
Leah Campbell YouTube
 
Show sponsor:
Website - Simply Counselling Services
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EP 28 - Mental Health, Anxiety and Being Your Own Health Advocate - with Shawna Griscowsky

Have you ever had an anxiety attack?  If you’ve ever had one, you know that they are ABSOLUTELY terrifying.  While you are having one you feel like you’re legit going to die from not breathing.  And afterwards they can leave you feeling drained, exhausted, emotional and shivering uncontrollably.  It does feel like your body wants to shut down.   I am so thankful that I have only experienced one anxiety attack in my life.  But it was soooo bad, that I will never forget it….and I now have endless compassion for those that struggle with them. 
 
My guest today is a very dear friend of mine from high school.  Shawna is here to talk about her very painful struggle with anxiety amongst other very difficult health challenges that left her on her knees begging God to help her.  And wow, did he ever.  I can’t wait for you to hear her story as it left me in awe of what can happen when you put your faith in something greater than yourself….and surrender.  This is Shawna's journey with mental health, anxiety and being her own advocate for her health.
Show sponsor:
Website - Simply Counselling Services
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EP 27 - Sharing Your Pain Heals You & Others - with Theo Fleury

Theo Fleury is here and I couldn’t be more GRATEFUL.  Theo has achieved incredible success on the ice, winning a Stanley Cup in 1989 with the Calgary Flames, an Olympic Gold Medal for Canada in 2002, and many, many other things.  
Theo has written two books, Playing With Fire and Conversations With a Rattle Snake.  I just read Playing With Fire and I couldn’t put it down. 
We talk about many things in this interview but the through line is the importance of Using Your Voice and that moment you make the decision to do something with your pain.  Theo’s Hard Beautiful Journey and his pain are not the same as mine, but what we do share in common is that we both made the decision to tell our stories - and by doing that has changed the trajectory our lives for the better.  We are both LIVING proof, that to heal you need to talk….you need to use your voice.
Theo’ s Website
Theo’ s Instagram
 
Show sponsor:
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EP 26 - An Odyssey of Love...In Pink - with Alison Miller

Happy New Year Everyone!  Welcome 2021 :)
I chose to air this episode on January 1st very intentionally.  Because the message of this episode is LOVE.
My friend Alison Miller is here to talk about her Hard Beautiful Journey and every time I hear her tell it, I am in awe of her spirit.  I met Alison in the Made To Do This business group I was part of and was DRAWN to her by some unexplained force - you will find out what that ended up being in this episode, and it's so incredibly beautiful.
I am warning you now, go get a warm, cozy blanket, your favorite beverage and a box of Kleenex may come in handy as well!
This quote sums up this interview to a tee:
"My love for you is a Journey;  Starting at Forever and Ending at Never."
Alison's Website
Trailer - Odessey Of Love In Pink Loveumentary
 
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