this is it actually.

my sister and brother in law gave a camcorder to my husband and i when my oldest daughter was born.

17 years ago, this was a giant GIFT.

two babies born and 1 divorce later, the girls and I stopped using it in 2017, when the tapes ran out.

for years i have been meaning to get the tapes digitized. a million excuses later, i finally found a young woman through facebook who does it as a side project and within a few days of chatting, i was driving 15 mini-dv tapes over to her house.

i was handing over our snippets of time.

it was emotional and so very wild to watch them back.

time is weird & wonderful.

today's episode is just me, moving through a day, creating more snippets.

x.

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i'm a big fan of voicenoting... i mean, have you met this podcast? sending a voicenote is like the updated version of leaving a voicemail with zero time restriction! (which, let's be honest, can be quite problematic when you fancy yourself a storyteller)

i met my friend jess many years ago working on canadian idol. we rekindled our friendship in the pandemic and basically picked up where we left off. don't you love when that happens?

but right as we started to get close again, she up and moved across the country! being on the phone for long periods of time with a 3 hour time difference and actual lives to live, wasn't super realistic, so we started voicenoting just before she left.

it became this ritual between us. to share in each other's journeys and minutia of the days. 2022 was a complete shit show for both of us, but the one thing we knew we could rely on was our voicenotes.

it was like a shared journal. for the ups and downs, but also for gratitude. we wanted to be accountable.

we had no idea what it would end up being, but i can honestly say it became a bit of a lifeline. i mean, we said it all. we lost a lot. we were lonely, separately together. we bore witness to each other’s struggles. we laughed, we cried, we kept going and being thankful.

gratitude was always the connector, but life seeped in.

with special guest, my friend: @jessica.m.wright.

x.

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josee cormier and alicia stafford are doing things their way. and well, your way too actually.

hear me out.

they are two women who needed to heal their relationship with food. it’s a thing, right?

i don’t think i knew until much later in life that all relationships require attention and ya, work. not just love relationships, not just family, but money and health and food and work and clothing and body and and and…

so they decided no meal plans, no cheat meals (they let us know that no one is married to broccoli!) and no calorie counting.

we don’t have a scale in our house, we never talk numbers, even though that’s kind of the way i grew up – i bring this up in my convo with them – and it was so refreshing to talk about health and our bodies from a bright and light perspective.

josee and alicia have helped thousands of women, and they also host the podcast LET'S GET LOUD - which has over 850k downloads – so it's safe to say, they’re on to something.

with special guests: @josee_ywwl & alicia_ywwl

x.

find them on instagram: @yourwayweightloss

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embarrassing & unfortunate things happen in life. we try things and they don’t always pan out. sometimes life happens TO us. i mean, unmentionables are all around. in relationships, at work, parenting, family stuff, just being out in the world.

i loved this conversation because we cover a lot!

from hemorrhoids to broken penises to parenting pitfalls to companies profiting off of women's insecurities to a drunken night out in nyc. like, seriously. we get to it.

josie dye hosts the crap out of radio – in my humble opinion anyway – and cynthia loyst is one of my fave TV hosts - on THE SOCIAL.

she is also a sex expert and has a book and a blog called Find Your Pleasure – which i happen to write for – and i’ve known both of these wonderful women for a long time actually - so i think you're in for a treat.

they have a podcast called CYNTHIA & JOSIE'S UNMENTIONABLES and it's fun and funny and also thoughtful and authentic and full of heart, actually.

i hope you love our conversation.

with special guests: @cynthialoyst & @josiedye.

x.

check out their podcast @cynthiaandjosie

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sharron & i met a million years ago through mutuals. but our relationship really turn a left turn when she saw me on a dating app.

that’s right.

and she swiped right.

ok ok, not in THAT way – but more in the ‘i’ve seen you and now i need to acknowledge that i’ve seen you cuz you’re probably gonna’ see me too’ and then she texted me immediately after to say she wasn’t hitting on me.

from that hilarious interaction, we realized we’re in very similar dating boats. we are politically aligned - trust me, it's a THING these days - we're of a certain age, both divorced and living in the big city. although our lives are very different, we were connecting on so many similarities.

so, we decided to do it together. a dating partner in crime, so to speak. 

we decided to see what would happen for 3 months and actually go out and do things – like, out in the world – with the hope that we would each go on one date. just one. mostly to get ourselves back out there.

tune in to hear who’s the winner and who’s the loser!

my friend sharron is a force.

she’s an artist, actor, singer, producer, writer and comedienne.

she has a fiercely personal and shamelessly irreverent blog – HOW VERY DARE SHE – where she talks perimenopause, aging, sexism, self-love, dating, and f-bombs. no one drops an f-bomb like my friend sharron.

she is PURE JOY and seriously good vibes and easily one of my favourite people. i think you’re going to LOVE this conversation.

with special guest: @sharronmatthews.

x.

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ivanka siolkowsky is a former teacher who is actually certified in the KonMari way of life. that’s right, she’s marie kondo certified.

she’s a professional organizer and de-clutterer, so she totally understands my life with 2 teens.

she’s an author & TV personality. she created and runs a children’s organization program – an online life skills camp for kids. when i told a girlfriend about this, she said “um, where do i sign up?”

oh and also? she walked directly INTO the war in Ukraine, more than once, as a humanitarian aid volunteer and a strong mental health advocate, despite - or maybe because of - her own struggle with mental health.

she’s a helper and a kind human and just really cool and i think you’re going to like her.

cleaning up, clearing out & giving back.

with special guest: ivanka siolkowsky.

x.

you can find ivanka on instagram: @tidymoose

ivanka's website is: tidymoose.com

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hey hey! it's season 4!

tiia is back and i'm so excited about the episodes i've got on the docket.

i'm going to be talking to some amazing people – covering GRIEF, CONNECTING WITH STRANGERS, GIVING BACK, CLEANING UP, DIET CULTURE, DATING AFTER 50 and i'm also going to be chatting with my ex-boyfriend’s ex-wife – we met over grief and his suicide - and my hope this season is just that all of these conversations find their way to the listeners who need them.

today i’m starting right in my very own house. with my teenage daughters.

a little backstory… it’s just the three of us. it’s been that way since they were 11 months and just over 4 years old. they are now 13 1/2 and 16 1/2.

they’ve both navigated bullies, and peer pressure and working through the pain of an absent father.

we’ve had our moments. there was the “incident” that still gets talked about to this day.

i’ve done some questionable parenting, and they’ve each been in some sort of 'big' trouble a handful of times. so that’s not so bad.  

they have great friends, and teachers like them and i think they’re smart and funny and kind.

we talk and we listen and sometimes we ask for space and their rooms drive me crazy and they spend too much time looking at their phones and i spend most days praying that we’re doing just a little better than OK.

with special guests: lola & izzie.

x.

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what can be said in new year rhymes • that’s not been said a thousand times?

the new years come, the old years go • we know we dream, we dream we know.

we rise up laughing with the light • we lie down weeping with the night.

we hug the world until it stings • we curse it then and sigh for wings.

we live, we love, we woo, we wed • we wreathe our prides, we sheet our dead.

we laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear • and that’s the burden of a year.

~ ella wheeler wilcox.

happy new year! today's episode looks a little bit back but mostly ahead. stories of growth, change, vulnerability, loss & loving ourselves.

with special guests: @shitspennysees, @karendeanspeaks @babyreadylgbtq & @katieprentiss.

x.

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i like good laughs. people with kind faces. when i see someone talking to a stranger. a wave from the car if i’ve let you in. goodness. (and that can mean so many things).

humility. grit. compassion. the helpers. big or small, it doesn’t matter.

funny people. i’m not an easy laugh but when you get me – when you find my funny bone – it’s actually the best.

ooh, good manners. so sexy.

good listeners. but also, good storytellers. obviously.

i like people with an edge. i also like being able to sit in silence with someone. comfortable people. in their own skin & who make me feel comfortable.

good swearers. you know what I mean? not swearing for the sake of it, but being able to really hit the right spots with a good swear.

kindness. that goes without saying.

authentic. trusting. giving. brave.

excellent secret keepers.

this episode is a GIANT love letter to the people we LOVE. 

get cozy and all up in your feels. 

with special guests: @coach_muffin, @fromcitytosimcoe, @bencupello, @themichellewolfe & @aliiza.

x.

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a tradition is described as an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behaviour. this can come from religious or cultural practice, social customs or even from family and friends.

i've thought - on more than one occasion - that i've done a pretty crap job of establishing traditions in my wee household. i don't cook big holiday dinners. we're not 'regulars' in any restaurant. we've never been camping.

i know, i know, these are not the things that make a solid family life, but with social media being a consistent unattainable goal, it's hard not to feel bad about ourselves from time to time. 

but once i started thinking about the little things we DO do - ice cream on the last day of school, 'rose, bud & thorn' at dinner, my special 'goodnight' mantra - i realized they more than count.

with special guests: @iamsamyeo, @thealtonator & @sarinarene.

x.

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we grew up with a christian mom and an atheist dad. we said grace before dinner and i prayed before bed. i mostly just asked for stuff, cuz, you know, kids.

it was made very clear that there was a heaven and a hell – they were sold as places that you go – one up, and one down, like we would literally look in those directions when we thought of them – but we never really talked about spirituality or life after death or even death at all actually.

so i’m not sure that i even had my own beliefs until much later in life. i probably started to figure it out for myself after my mom came to say goodbye to me... a  couple days after she’d died.

today's stories are full of love & hope & belief. finding dimes, visitation dreams, spirit guides, near-death experiences, unfinished tasks, mediumship & messages from beyond.

with special guests: @i_spark_change, @rickornelas, @blakepaynethemedium, @kellyfergusonpsychicmedium, @barbbrz & @bigalrobz.

x.

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happy holidays! let’s talk about sex! 

this is my second episode on the subject and there’s obviously more to say, cuz hello, it’s sex.

first times, good times, memorable bad times. friends with benefits, one night stands, long term love affairs. sexologists, sex educators, films about sex.

finding bliss & more than ever imagined on OnlyFans.

talking it out, figuring it out & a call from mom that changed the trajectory of our relationship.

we cover a lot!

let's talk about sex baby... again. (& again)

with very special guests: @homance_chronicles, @rideoutl, @sexwithsuefilm, @sarahjuree & @sexwithdrjess.

x.

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i met a new friend on instagram back in september – we did a deep dive on each other's pages and we were loving what we were seeing so we started complimenting the crap out of one another and then one of us said “it would be great if we could talk to ourselves like this too”.

go figure.

so i suggested we come up with 3 things we love about ourselves before the end of the day and she was like ‘way ahead of you lady’ and she shared with me an ongoing note she keeps in her phone of the things that she thinks make her cool and awesome and loveable. things like being forgiving and resourceful but also that she likes her cute butt.

i was like ME TOO! i love my butt!

so this episode was born from that. i just wanna get everybody in a self-loving, self-appreciating, i’m-the-dreamiest-and-here’s-why state of mind.

shouldn’t be hard right?

we're gettin' all loved up on ourselves for episode 111 baby!

and in the spirit of LOVE and superstar angel numbers - my guest lineup today is nothing short of SPECTACULAR.

with special guests: @spencer.barbosa, @pumpfitnessmtl, @shortpresents & @meredithshaw.

x.

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drag began back during shakespeare times, around the end of the 16th century. 

at the time, the church was super connected to the stage and would only allow men to perform - like honestly, what IS that… ugh, anyway, that’s how the female roles ended up being played by men dressed as women.

the word ‘drag’ itself is believed to have been born in the theatre too. the dresses that the men wore to play the female characters would drag along the floor. and so it goes.

i've been taking my girls to drag shows since they were wee things & sure, it's always insanely fun, a little raucous & sometimes inappropriate - but the same message emerges almost every time. BE who you are & LOVE all. 

with special guests: @lalaluzious & @jemmdoshay from @hausofdevereaux. 

x.

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ok so this probably doesn’t seem like the most uplifting topic to dig into and maybe some people will completely avoid listening to this episode for fear of grief or sad memories or just a general aversion to death talk.

trust me, i get it. i love avoiding tough topics! 

but death is a THING. i mean, right? it's the one thing we cannot steer clear of - no matter how hard we try.

and don't we all want to go with a little grace? 

today's stories are beautiful and hard and sad and sweet and heartwarming.

with special guests: @tilldeathdoulaparts, @dirtbagdanno/@mysonthehurricane, @permission_to_bloom, @marnieandmichael & @johannabethalmond.

x.

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i can’t do impersonations. i’m a terrible actor. i don’t play an instrument and my singing leaves a little bit to be desired. i don’t have 2 different coloured eyes or any cute patterned freckles, and i’ve never had an overly wacky or weird job – though, i was once asked to be a phone sex operator, but i never did it. 

ooh, that would have been good for this episode. 

i thought i'd have to dig deep to find some revealing things for this episode, but it turns out, 'interesting' and 'quirky' come in all shapes, sizes & stories.

with special guests: @sj.snaps, @imorehead, @lolaspeaking, @simplykristyd & @dirtbagdanno.

x.

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meet michelle wolfe! 

she has a podcast - MUVE FORWARD, an activewear line - MUVE LIFE, and a great general philosophy - KEEP MOVING.

we dig into a lot. health and wellness, living without moms, being a responsible but partying teen, how to be a good human and how a simple 'whatchya doin' can change a stranger's day. (& yours too!)

my special guest: @themichellewolfe.

find michelle at www.themichellewolfe.com.

muve life activewear at www.muvelife.com.

*this episode is lovingly brought to you by @1dept - http://www.1department.com. please check them out!

x.

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this is my second episode on FOLLOWING BLISS & it's a hot topic whenever i'm searching for guest stories. everyone wants to talk about their bliss and that makes me very happy.

bliss begets bliss & all that jazz.

following your bliss means trusting that everything is going to work out, even if it’s not in the ‘perfect’ way you imagined. it's all about believing in your happy thoughts & life & dreams, and then following through, sometimes, against all odds - and if you're living it, then bliss is happening anyway. 

which is really how life should be.

with special guests: @81 petals, @jasongeorgephotography, @wildsoulbloom, @margotdaleyphotography & @andytherd.

x.

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ah marriage. it's a funny one. some people are ALL IN, and some won't touch it with a 10 foot pole. some people are one & done, and some people go back again & again. there's the religious and traditional and cultural side of it. there's family pressure. there's second go 'rounds. there's sticking in it far past the point of expiration. oh, and there's love. remember love?! it's a hot topic & i think we cover some good ground.  with special guests: @michellequance, @jennifer_hernandez_coaching, @iamsamyeo & @dr_scottr. book michelle for photos! http://www.michellequance.com/ join jennifer to learn about breathwork! https://www.jenniferhernandez.ca/ x. follow the podcast on instagram: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

i was raised by good people. so, what’s my definition of ‘good’ in this situation? well, it’s kind. generous. hardworking. selfless. humble.

but those seem to be pretty obvious when it comes to what we think of as GOOD & maybe even a little antiquated, 'cuz like everything in life, GOODNESS changes.

as a little girl, i couldn’t possibly have known that later in life, goodness would include just simply being nice to a stranger or looking a person in the eye when you’re speaking to them or saying hello. like, that’s kind of where we’re at, isn’t it?

today's stories will restore your faith in the GOODness of people. 

with special guests: @begoodtopeople, @jasongeorgephotography, & @meet_the_good_ones.

*this episode is lovingly brought to you by @1dept - http://www.1department.com. please check them out!

x.

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ok, so if you’ve been listening to this podcast for any amount of time at all, you’ll know that the idea of doing an episode on the things that no one knows about me seems pretty laughable. it’s going to be a very short episode. 

but for real, as much as i talk a blue streak - my stories & my personal stuff - there's also a lot that i keep to myself. 

some things seem silly to share & some are actual secrets & some are just for the people who are close to me. 

i love shocking people when i tell them i’ve never had a coffee. but i also like that there’s stuff i’ll never tell.

whether we're the oversharing type or we simply write it in a journal or we never speak about it again for the rest of our days, when it comes to the things that no one knows about us, it’s really up to us. & today's episode spills the tea... just a little.

with special guests: @jasongeorgephotography, @macrame.by.freddie, @tythepoetess & @rain.city.jeff.

jason's book, THE WORLD WITH JASON GEORGE: CANADA, can be found at www.jasongeorgephotography.com. 

x.

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this is a story about libraries but it’s also about found things and human connection and love, actually.

it all started in oakland, california, about 10 years ago.

sharon mckellar was a librarian then, and one of her favourite parts of the job was finding things inside the books. things like love letters, recipes, kid’s drawings, photos, receipts, to do lists, anonymous poetry. the list appears to be endless.

when sharon started finding them, she put a call out to her colleagues across the 18 library locations in oakland to send her anything they’d found and she couldn’t believe how many pieces were coming in, so she began to catalogue them.

there are currently over 350 notes – a lot of them post-its, which, if you know me at all, you know i relate to in a big way!
it’s called FOUND IN A LIBRARY BOOK – and it’s delightful.

find it at: oaklandlibrary.org 

instagram: @oaklibraryfound

x.

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twitter: @jenibesworth

hello hello! i hope you had a great summer! my first guest back for the second half of season 3 is lovely. that’s the best way to describe him & i'm thrilled that he agreed to talk to me.

he is a poet & author, he's been writing his whole life & he loves words just as much as i do. 

we talk about our love of words, dealing with anxiety, humans we've met through social, love, heartache & all the things.

blake’s released four books to date and his new book - To Drown As A Cure For Thirst - is out on october 4th.

find him on YT at BlakeAudenPoetry.

instagram: @blakeaudenpoetry.

website: blakeauden.com.

i hope you enjoy our chat!

thanks for being here.

x.

instagram: @thisisitactually

twitter: @jenibesworth

the energy of the number 100 is positive and optimistic. 100 is a perfect square number. there are 100 years in a century & 100 pennies in a dollar.

a person who lives to be 100 is called a centenarian.

there are 100 letter tiles in a scrabble game & 100 sweat glands in one square inch of skin.

'keep it 100' means to be authentic and truthful. keep it real. 

the record number of points scored in one NBA game by a single player was 100 points, set by wilt chamberlain on march 2, 1962.

if you had $100 billion dollars, you could spend $3 million dollars a day, every day, for the next 100 years.

you are currently listening to the 100th episode of this podcast!

with very special guests: mr & mrs greene, corinne & bob, & my childhood neighbour, mrs white.

x.

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when i typed “different types of celebrity crushes” into google, i got quite the mix of results. things like: what to do if you have a big celebrity crush, how do i get a celebrity to notice me, do celebrities fall in love with fans, how can you tell if a celebrity likes you, and - how to get over your celebrity crush obsession haha.

celebrity crushes are fun though right? i mean, hopefully. i think that’s what they’re supposed to be.

today's stories run the gamut! they're so fun. we dig into past crushes, who stands the test of time & of course, the 'laminated list'.

with special guests: @katieprentiss, @aishahashraf, @truthandcoffeetime, @lucasstagg & my daughter @lolabesworth.

x.

check out denise & brian on the TRUTH & COFFEE TIME podcast!

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sometimes things, sometimes people, sometimes places.

it all counts. 

with special guests: @michellequance, @melanieluongo, @alluringartistry_ & errol vas.

x.

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a second act is defined as something a person devotes their life to later in life, after retiring or quitting an original occupation and usually, after a successful career. ok, i think that definition is so limiting!

when i typed 'second act' into google, i got a lot of stories about people who were embarking on a second profitable or successful career after already having had one. and listen, there were some great stories, but i'm way more interested in the second act that happens because of a move across country or a reconnection with an old friend or a marriage or a divorce or a right or left turn.

cuz every single person has had that kind of second act.

sometimes they’re planned but sometimes they completely catch you off guard & the truth is, i don’t think our second act has to automatically come during our second half of life.

and my guest stories today actually prove that.

with special guests: @mindfulspacebyala, @kasv731, @remmistourac & @janet_mcm @secondactactors.

x.

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let’s face it, june is pretty much a write-off when it comes to school. teachers trying to teach, kids muscling through last assignments & quizzes, parents clamouring to make plans for summer so everyone stays sane.

there's the summer clothing shop, the locker cleanout, the extra groceries bought... the countdown is on.

and all the days lead to the last day when the final bell rings and school’s out for summer and there’s nothing more to do than just be a kid.

but on top of a big hill in a little bay town, there was one more thing that had to happen.

with special guests: deb, kathy, brian & my brothers, michael & gerry.

x.

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i'd say that some of the things that have changed my life also get a little twisted up with left or right turns, sliding doors, sometimes regret - it’s a whole cornucopia of feelings and woulda coulda shoulda’s, and the paths that we end up on.

if you think about some of the things that have happened to you that you might consider a life-changer, it’s kind of normal to look back on how you got there.

if you hadn’t gone to the party or taken that job or you hadn’t caught the subway, would it have ended up happening? i mean, those are big ones and there’s listen, there’s NO answer, but sometimes it’s more about the really small things - like the way you treat a person or the way you’ve been treated. because one small ripple can multiply and can ultimately become a giant wave.

with special guests: @livhealthybyjenniferlyall, @themichellewolfe @kamaehamae, @gtayachts & @iambeachan/@sistersinpsychedelics.

x.

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so i came up with this brilliant topic idea and then i was like, uh oh. how DO we make the world better? 

i mean, not that i thought we were going to solve the centuries old mystery in this particular episode but i wasn’t even sure we'd know where to start.

but my guests just went for it & they do not disappoint.

want to live in a better world?

start here. 

with special guests: @jennforgie, @themichellewolfe, @nicole.mccancemethod & @mandeeprai.

x.

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regret can be a joykiller – and a non-mover-forwarder in lots of ways. but we all have it. for one thing or many. is there any good that comes from it? i like to think that it's a lesson-giver. acknowledging it, learning from it, but not living with it, may just be the way to go. 

today's stories are super relatable. 

with special guests: @ospreybeekeeper, @tiffanytrumptherapy, @themichellewolfe & @podcastwithstrangers.

x.

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i love love love life lessons. 

i mean, it kind of makes sense because my whole THIS IS A TIP thing is pretty much based around life lessons & life tips and i inundate you with life quotes on my instagram feed... so, this topic makes sense for a lot of reasons.

it's chock a' block with good stuff from fabulous guests - things they've learned personally & things they've been told.

i give some tips from a 90 year old, from my dad and i share a recent revelation that kind of blew my own mind.

with special guests: @carmelbreathnach, @smileyvivi05, @laurenwalkerlee, @chronically_unshakable & @snackmantha.

x.

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when we think about what 'made' us - we tend to think BIG. but that's not always the way. it doesn't have to be some giant, in-your-face momentous occasion - sure, it CAN be - but it can also be small subtle things that impact us in a big way. sometimes we may not even notice it, until it's passed. but it plays a part in the US of who we are. life is wild hey? and, as it goes, every story is different & everybody's got one. with special guests: @kimatdiosa, @confidentresilientfearless, @justawholething, @revivefunctionalmed & @anniempiperlou. x. follow the podcast on instagram: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

get ready for a lil' 5-parter! this is the first episode in my 5 part mini-series within the podcast called YOUR STORIES. it’s less about me & more about YOU. today we begin with CHILDHOOD. 'cuz it's the one thing we all have in common, right? good, bad, memorable or not, there are stories to be told & nostalgia to be had. i've lined up some of my best storytelling friends & they do not disappoint!  this one's for the kid in all of us.  with very special guests: @thegoodthingspod, @cynthialoyst, @taylorln, @thegiselemishmash & @damhnaitdoylesongs.  x. follow the podcast on instagram: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

tiia's podcast statistics: 

70% of listeners are women, 28% are men & 2% are non-binary.

i'd like to think that a lot of the topics we talk about can resonate with everybody & anybody, but i also acknowledge that we talk about a lot of subjects that maybe are a little bit more female-leaning.

i'm a feminist loud and proud & i believe in equal rights for everyone. i think that we live in a patriarchy & i also believe that if women had been in charge from the beginning, it’s very likely there wouldn’t be war aaaand, it's possible, there might be less narcissism roaming around.

but that’s for another day. ;)

i love men, i have a lot in my life, & today we're gonna' talk about them. the good ones. the important ones. the ones that leave an imprint on our hearts.

with special guests: @remmystourac, @natasha.steer, @alexhaids & @rootedandrise.

x.

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my birth certificate says 'jennifer' but the only person to call me that was my mom when she was mad. (& that stayed true well into my adult life, actually).

i changed the spelling of my name when i was in grade 6, my dad changed his whole last name legally when he was 18 & let's face it, naming our kids can be a stressful & pressure-filled event. today's stories run the gamut! from recycling the family pet's name to facts straight outta' the encyclopedia to embracing the beauty of our uniqueness, it's got it all. the name's the thing on this episode!

with special guests: @hockey_snacks, @mabelslabels, @studiofiftysix, @chynikasworld & @dr.mallory.

x.

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dan fischer was heading out on his surfboard, in his regular everyday way, & he decided he wanted to take his dad - who had passed away - with him.  a simple act of remembrance started a wave – literally – of kindness & healing & paying it forward & connection, & it's become bigger than dan ever imagined it would or could. we chat about love & loss & human connection. finding light in dark places. with special guest: @onelastwaveproject. x. find more info at www.onelastwaveproject.com. follow the podcast on instagram @thisisitactually. follow me & the podcast on twitter @jenibesworth.

being a teen is no picnic but also actually the best. today's stories include: weird teen style, teenage love, teen pregnancy, 80s, 90s & 00s babies & the crystal clear memory of a first not-so-great kiss. it's about to get all teen nostalgic up in here. 

with special guests: @momma.barbosa, @_natandjen & @rebeccagarner_author.

x.

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leisse wilcox is obsessed with relationships. she's an expert in helping people finding truth and beauty in the relationships we have with ourself and others. 

leisse is a TEDx speaker, 2x author, NLP practitioner, top podcast host, cancer survivor, solo parent of three girls…and taco enthusiast.

find leisse @leissewilcox on instagram and on the interwebs at www.leissewilcox.com.

her books: alone, the truth & beauty of belonging and to call myself beloved, a story of hope, healing & coming home, can be found on her site & where books are bought! #shoplocal #shopsmallbusiness 

x.

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i can't believe it's taken me 84 episodes to get to parenting, but let's face it, it's a biggie. 

we barely scratch the surface but this episode is loaded with a bunch of different stories from all different types of parents & parenting situations. same, but oh so different. 

with special guests: @britszc89, @thefeelingslady, @roamandramblephoto, @whyamipod & @sweetpotatochronicless.

x.

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i never owned a pair of penny loafers & i cobbled together looks through the fashion racks at bargain harold’s and bi-way. my hair was my hair – god help me - and it was what it was.

when it comes to fads, i think we’re all just trying to stand out by fitting in and it can be a little bit messy. fads come & go and sometimes they swing back 'round again. 

with special guests: @ellencbateman (twitter), @ellabye (instagram), @thatgirlmaureen01 & @sharronmatthews.

x.

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we're baaaackk! & i can't think of a better guest to kick off season 3 with!

LU has created LULAND - a world of positivity, female empowerment, graciousness, gratitude & community. it all began with a clothing swap & now she’s about to drive across the country in a green leopard print bus named after her mom, stopping in cities to meet new people, talk about liberation, sex, self-love, all while throwing a massive party in each place.

with special guest: @luinluland.

x.

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a little look back with a large look ahead, it's the final episode of season 2! with a beautiful astrology reading from my special guest kesley, @irongypsylife.

x.

find kesley at www.kesleytweed.com

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today's topic could be a million-parter - cuz let's face it, EVERYTHING is a thing that happened. i like to think there's a lesson - or a great story! - in all of it. what do we come out with? how do we learn? or is it just a thing we get to tell over a round of drinks?

with special guests: @bad_girl_camp_, @carolinehabib & @gregkrinoshow.

x.

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i feel fortunate to be able to say i've experienced some pretty momentous holidays in my life. both of the travel & marked-date-on-the-calendar variety. today's stories give me all the feels. and definitely make me want to travel again asap.

with special guests: @eranthomson, @serenaholmesauthor & @melodiejewel.

x.

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not gonna' lie, it wasn't the easiest thing in the world to get people to tell their stories of selflessness but i was determined to get them, 'cuz i know they're out there! these ones do not disappoint. #DoGoodShit 

with special guests: @dylanlockstar, @candace_jongkind, @jayelehm, @afk2pt0 & @bigbikegiveaway.

x.

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my friend sylvia's new podcast YOUR TWO CENTS: the podcast, is not only informative & entertaining - it also boasts some BIGASS NAMES. today we talk about all of that, plus paying it forward & kindness. she doles out some super-duper money-saving tips & i also tell a riveting story about a mop i recently bought.  with special guest: @sylviabeirnes, @canadiancontentstudios. x. follow the podcast on instagram & tiktok: @thisisitactually follow me & the podcast on twitter: @jenibesworth

small town people qualities: hardworking. supportive. interested. (could also be interpreted as 'nosy' :). kind. helpful. opinionated. dreamers. big believers. excellent storytellers.

with special guests: @stampedfrosting, @naawtinokwe, @hopeberf, @_ianmccluskey_ & @dee.clairgardener.

x.

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a movement speaker, an event creator, a yogini & an author of the book NOTHING SEXIER THAN FREEDOM & YOUR INNER EVOLUTION.

helen’s signature talk PROTECT THE THRONE is kind of like a slap in the face. in a good way.

helen's dream is to help women & men free themselves from other people’s opinions & self-judgement & provide them with the basic tools to work towards courage & self-love. yes please.

with special guest: @helofajourney.

x.

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my mom & i sold all my dad's old records in a yard sale & immediately regretted everything we'd ever done. vinyl's the coolest & here's why we love it.

with special guests: @voluntaryinnature, @rebirthofthecool, @janinamariejaninamarie, @i_am_dr._b, @therecordnest

x.

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born in nigeria, dr. omodele ayeni is one of 5 kids. he grew up in a small town in northern ontario & his parents are his heroes. he loves helping people, he’s got a million stories & he loves his family. sound familiar?

x.

with special guest: @ayenipsi

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teenagers are funny & hard to understand & a little bit scary. they're also smart & cool & way more knowledgeable than i ever was.

they have things to say & i wanted to hear them. here's a little then vs now & a whole lotta' understanding. 

x.

with special guests: olivia, madelin, gabby, cameron, brandon, avaleigh, jackson & lola.

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stephanie is a 32 year old dreamer who had big plans for her life, but then got the news that she is dying. i'm so grateful to have heard her important & beautiful stories. with special guest: @stephaniejeanbartolac. please sign stephanie's petition to get the gov't to recognize comfort & care for all canadians at the end of their lives. you can find it at change.org - palliative care pain management & supports for all. 

x. 

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most of my insecurities started from someone telling me that i should be insecure about something. body stuff, too big, too small, job insecurity... sex!

it's all total bullcrap. but it happens to the best of us. 

you are you & thank goodness for that.

x.

with special guests: @sexedwithtim @stacia.aashna @bettertopics @thestretchmarkcode

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darren keefe is an actor, a designer, a woodworking wizard, a kindness junkie & social media's #1 DANCING CARPENTER.

i hope you enjoy our chat!

with special guest: @darrenkeefe

x.

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it's a love/hate thing. but it's also a super human connection, keepin' up with the world kinda' thing. social media brought me to you, so i'm grateful. but some days, i'd like to tell social media where to shove it.

with special guests: @janewareham, @kevinraja, @garybear86 & @veronicarenette.

x.

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when i started talking about my miscarriage, i was stunned at how many similar stories i heard. 

x.

with special guests: @sarahdmcc @joannegallantwrites @mainstreammiscarriage

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ooh summer, you wily minx. you know you're my first love but your commitment to sticking around is less than impressive. so if i had to choose a runner-up, autumn, you're it. 

x.

with special guests: @lexiedee29 @janewareham & @hevd.

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isn't the goal always to be better, smarter & just more in tune when it comes to love & relationships?

i think so! here's my chat with love expert lily walford.

special guest: @lovewithintelligenceofficial.

x.

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it's about to get all name-droppy up in here. celebrities! they're just like us! with special guests: @skottdaltonic, @jenniferpodemski, @craigpew, @jonodowler & @mothershipyoga. 

x. 

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hair's the thing... if you have it or don't, like it or not, everybody has a story about hair.

with special guests: @trieb_entertainment, @kaliflow3r, @charisejuanita, @thequeenjot & sandy @smoothwax.

x.

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i love the newness of spring & i love the crispy smell of fall but summer will always be my absolute favourite. 

winter never stood a chance.

with special guests: @sthompy, @jlkdop, @thenickysmith & @josclynjohnson.

x.

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a healed memory is not a deleted memory, yet forgiveness can be one mothereffer to come to terms with.

with special guests: @jeffadmartin, @pinacoladayoga, @itzy_designs & @narnia272.

x.

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to all the cool dads... happy father's day.

with special guests: @shopblueberrymoon, @jessica.m.wright, @barbbaguley, @1handwonders, @t.howden, @marthakehoe & @somegoons.

x.

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i'm checking in on you... and a little bit on me. i'm really glad you're here & i think you're pretty alright.

*the cold open on today's episode is an excerpt from ethan hawke's 2020 TED talk.

x.

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guilt can show up in a bunch of ways & it can be a soul-sucking spiral. it can linger in our lives & carry a lot of weight, if we let it.

with special guests: @themakersmind, @fatimaoliver1975 & @tracyhornik from @shes.on.top.

x.

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DOGS. come ON. we don't call them human's best friend for nothing. funny, loyal, sweet, weird, smart, ridiculous JOY.

with very special guests: @sylviabeirnes, @zoerabnett, @timrabnett, @jmemccain & @strombo.

x.

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if you had the chance to say something to your younger self – what would you say? do you even know? there’s gotta’ be some potholes you can warn your younger self about & maybe eat more veggies & drink more water but it’s tricky right? 'cuz all those left & right turns brought you exactly here.

there’s so much i want to tell her but where to start?

dear little me...

with special guests: @thecrazyover40slifepodcast, @crystal_nicholls, @bronouveaupod & @pattigrileyatthelake.

x.

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it's INTERNATIONAL NURSES WEEK! 

i didn’t actually know that until my friend ashley asked me if i'd consider doing an episode on nurses. 

oh hells ya!

and especially after this last year - cuz in my opinion, nurses are angels sent from otherworldly places.

x.

with special guests: @lindsaclarke, @amylynnhowson, @jenniedesantis, @williamsorton & @ash_spiegs.

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lottery numbers, lucky numbers, angel numbers, our age, our IQ, our grades, our weight, 12 months of the year, all the days in a month, scoring in sports, rating our crushes, giving out our number, birthdays, anniversaries, the value of a thing, likes on social, how many followers we have, the amount of things we subscribe to – both figuratively and literally, traditional Chinese medicine, feng shui, acupuncture, astrology, science, 666, 11:11, nine lives, lucky pennies, finding dimes. 

numbers are everywhere.

with special guests: @coachrsg, @laurchaps, @intuitionisyourbusiness, & jack via @lindsay.ziervogel.

x.

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our small town's high school is closing its doors & all these decades later, there are still things to say.

GBSS, your colours are green & yellow, but you will always be gold to me.

go vikings!

with special guests: @watsonlucy1, @drewmcivor, @sher_tenz14, @heatbanks, @derekhammond & rusty winters.

x.

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being healthy includes being mentally healthy. it's the core of who we are! i hope this episode resonates, even just a little. you deserve to be happy. 

with special guests: @jennforgie, @arwenhumphreys, @haleyy.bee & @becbourgs.

x.

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the definition of freedom is: having the ability to act or change without constraint. 

& obviously being free means different things to different people... which is pretty cool.

with special guests: @mytvan.adventures, @nicolabee, @steventwigg @varnerprodco @barbnoordover

x.

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when I’m putting the voicemails together for each episode, i laugh & cry & FEEL all the feels 'cuz my guests are the best & their stories are solid gold. so, for this 50th episode, i decided to grab words from some of the most listened-to shows.

i appreciate every single story told.

with special guests: @momma.barbosa, @aragonnfld, @rjcity, @sharronmatthews, @mattawells & poppa hank. 

x.

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along with life, comes loss. that's just the deal. it's kind of all around. i know from experience that it’s ok to feel broken by loss & sometimes being reminded that we're not alone can help in dark days.

with special guests: @kath.films, @julieinthesix, @ferrostudios & @ms.rush.

x.

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i like to think that we get to learn from the people who have made a lasting impression on us and then in a dreamy world, we adopt those good qualities and pay them forward.

with special guests: @jcoopstagram, @michelle_daly1, @jessica.m.wright & willie.

x.

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this is the behind-the-scenes of the behind-the-scenes of a late night talk show. it's larry sanders... but in real life.

working on a late night talk show was pretty much the most fun thing i've ever done & on this episode, myself & some former coworkers lay a few epic stories to rest. 

with special guests: @thatgirlmaureen01, @suebrophey, @tiffanyfrench86, @keithtomasek, greg eckler & orin isaacs.

x.

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tingly hands, vibrating body, loopy lightheadedness... and not in the good way. anxiety is a mothereffer but man, is there strength in numbers.

with special guests: @theoftenunseen, @justbreathemama, @allyse_has_anxiety & shan.

x.

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this will come as no surprise. i love words. especially the good ones.

with special guest: @aceisjoy.

x.

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one sweater, brown cords, a rain jacket, hiking boots, birkenstocks, dress, a bunch of tshirts, shorts & a 'let's go europe'. that's all i packed & it's all i needed.

with special guests: @bcraiganderson, @jonodowler, @haleyy.bee, @samanthajhall, @baybargy.

x.

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valentine’s day. you either love it or hate it. for a sweet little calendar date all about love, It’s kind of a hot button topic. my valentine's story may not be what you think. plus stories about love, roses & being stood up in the 5th grade.

x.

with special guests: @beautifully.monica, @oleander_floral_design, @jonodowler, @davelembke & berenike.

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we talk university life, big cities, small towns, road trips & how jay went from counting pills to hosting one of the biggest shows on TSN.

my special guest: @jayonrait

x.

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yep. i forgot stuff again. here's some stories i failed to mention in episodes 22-40. 

& this is the final episode of season 1! thanks for being here. 

x.

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well 2020. that was it. the year that nothing & everything happened. 

x.

with special guests: @cloudydayclothing_, @beardedbakerto, @ms.rush, @poplarandbirch, @handldtoronto, @torrensjonathan.

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the holidays can be a giant jumble of feelings. funny, sad, heartsick, wonderful. this episode has a little bit of all of it. 

love to everyone. 

x.

with special guests: @jennytryanskycoaching, @pattigrileyatthelake, @_angelayoung_, @schaaptop & @mbesworth.

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music's so nice, i had to talk about it twice. this time it's music festivals & life-changing performances, the lessons learned when writing songs & the year's top artists, with a tip of the hat to nostalgia & remembering the gift that was lilith fair.

 with special guests: @ericaehm, @mattawells, @hannsung, @parkdalepanther & @billwelychka.

x.

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would you change an event of your life if you knew it was all going to turn out the same way anyway? do you dream about a life that didn’t happen based on a turn you didn’t make? and if you got an answer to the what if you’re dying to know about the future, would you really change your course?

x.

with special guests: @catherine.soyoung, @melhore, @kerilovestrees, @theslickestrick & @thatgirlmaureen.

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every day or super. it all counts.

with special guests: michael, willow, lola, izzie, abby, jack, claire, stan & eleanor. thank you to their parents for being my story collectors!

x.

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ok i know. this may be a silly subject. but come on, it's pizza. everyone has a story.

with special guests: @coachrsg, @ms.rush, @hmuir10, @aciggulden & @thosepizzaguys.

x.

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respect your elders. that’s a rule as old as, well, old people. but what about celebrate your elders? enjoy your elders? spend time with the people who have a million stories and lived a zillion lives. that kind of life experience is nothing to shake a stick at. the sweet sweet life of 65+.

with special guests: poppa hank, nana adrienne, bubba roger, mama sue & daddio ken.

x.

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it's a cold hard fact that we need human connection. now, more than ever.

with special guest: @shopblueberrymoon.

x.

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bodies. glorious gorgeous weird wonderful unique beautiful bodies. everyone's got a story.

with special guests: @robnardecchia, @michellemelles, @rjcity, @mellymah, @itsminagerges.

x.

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whether we like it or not - and trust me, i don't always like it - change = growth. 

LEAN IN. 

with special guest: @iamjessejones / @thehouseofkuumba.

x.

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it gives us permission to feel. whether the feelings are happy & high, or lowest of the low, music always meets us there.

music is religion. it's medicine. it's pure magic. 

with special guests: @josiedye, @kim_stockwood, @nubs416, @janinamariejaninamarie, @kid247 & orin isaacs.

x.

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it doesn't cost a thing & it can turn a whole mood. 

kind people are my kinda' people.

x.

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finding balance - especially these days - seems next to impossible. everything is topsy-turvy. i've been asking myself what balance even means to me now? this episode won't have any answers :) but hopefully it will make you feel less alone in your lopsidedness.

x.

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movies make us reflective, hopeful, gutwrenchingly sad. they offer perspective and escapism & sometimes they help us process our own difficult stuff. there are movies that drive social change & there are some that just allow us to appreciate art. there is nothing quite like getting lost in a movie.

x.

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i love stuff & i'm gonna' tell you all about it. PLUS, i'm teaming up with my friend sylvia - from the podcast BEAUTY & STUFF - to get some of our fave things in YOUR hands. 

x. 

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follow beauty & stuff on instagram: @beautyandstuffpod

boobs. jugs. melons. knockers. chest. bosom. bazooms. bazookas.

whatever you call them, however you relate to them & whether you have them or not, there's just a thing about breasts.

x.

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today's stories include celebrities, accidental overindulgence, the pitfalls of online dating & peeing in a bush. & those are just mine! ah, dating.

x.

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dr. jeremy goldberg (LONG DISTANCE LOVE BOMBS) wants you to live a life that would make YOU jealous, get UNstuck & follow your bliss.

x.

find & follow jeremy on instagram: @longdistancelovebombs 

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every summer job has a story. good or bad... they were always memorable.

x.

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sometimes i forget stuff. here's the stories i forgot to tell in episodes 1-20.

x.

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growing up, sex was a non-topic in my house.

no birds, no bees... BUT, there was a book on hamsters. 

let's talk about sex, baby.

x.

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everyone has their own definition of beauty.

inside, outside, it matters to us all in different ways.

x.

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the afterglow is many different things. an italian rock band, magic hour, a taylor swift song. 

liz & julie, co-owners of the afterglow yoga studio in toronto & co-hosts of the afterglow podcast, believe that the afterglow happens in the second half of life and that it gets really good. they want you to believe that too.

x.

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find liz & julie on instagram: @theafterglowpodcastofficial

got a tattoo? want a tattoo? love ‘em? loathe ‘em? don’t really care either way but like good stories?

this episode’s for you.

x.

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both of my parents had cancer. i grew up thinking it was just a part of my DNA.

x.

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there is something so special about a small town's general store. the people, the charm, the feeling of home. 

i grew up with one attached to my house & it is a huge part of who i am today.

x.

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i was born in a small town... & i'll never not love talking about small town life.

x.

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when things don't quite go as planned, you should just do a giveaway! listen for details & good luck!

x.

follow rustic fever on instagram: @rusticfever

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i'm lucky to be surrounded by diverse & beautiful humans who belong to the lgbtq2+ community. here are some of their stories.

happy pride!

x.

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there is no end to the amount we could talk about love & i certainly didn't cover it all in the last 3 episodes but i sure loved talking about it.

it's safe to say we need it now more than ever. all kinds.

x.

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ah new love. the sexy new relationship kind, the exciting fun newlywed kind, the smell of a new baby kind... there's nothing quite like it.

x.

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how often do you find yourself wondering about the left or right turn your life did or didn't take & how you ended up exactly where you are? our lives are full of defining moments, thank goodness for that.

x.

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some moms are dads, some dads are moms, some moms are moms on their own and some moms aren’t even our moms, they’re just special people who fill the role. there's birth moms, adopted moms, stepmoms, and even the moms we inherit through friends or marriage.

this is a love letter to moms. happy mother's day!

x.

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we gossip. we share & exchange stuff. we wave from our front steps.

you can’t choose your neighbours but lucking into good ones is kind of like winning the lottery.

actually, even the wacky ones can be pretty awesome.

x.

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if there were ever a time to practice mindfulness, 2020 may just be it. i chat with my yoga teacher & mindfulness coach, greg klym, to find out what it is, how it helps & why we should all be doing it. deep breath in, long breath out.

x.

find greg on instagram & FB: @gregklymcoaching

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growing up, divorce seemed like a dirty word. i vowed to never let it happen to me. until it did. 

x.

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being raised in a small town, bikes were everything. they represented fun, freedom & a kid's single mode of transportation. so when i grew up, moved to the city & had several bikes stolen, i couldn't believe someone would want to take that away from me. 

x.

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mark groves is a human connection specialist - he connects humans to each other & back to themselves. he's helped me through many a dilemma (debacle?) and he's not afraid to speak & live his truth. he is a modern day love & relationship guru & a dear friend. 

enjoy our chat!  

x. 

find mark on instagram: @createthelove 

find mark on apple podcasts: Mark Groves Podcast 

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maybe you've heard about the magic of discovering dimes & what it means when they cross your path. admittedly, it's a little huh? does it actually mean anything? it most certainly does. here's my 10 cents on finding dimes. 

x.

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in this inaugural episode of TIIA, jeni tells stories about living without parents & gets others to share their stories as well. all the heart stuff. 

x.

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stories told, connections made... that's the hope anyway. 

this is the WHY of THIS IS IT.

x.

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