Struggle Creates Strength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Monday Jan 04, 2021

Episode 23: Live Therapy Session with Blaise Kennedy

Monday Jan 04, 2021

STRUGGLE CREATES STRENGTH EPISODES ARE BACK!! We are kicking off 2021 with one of the most vulnerable things I have ever done and by far the most unique thing I’ve been apart of. Today’s podcast features a live Somatic Therapy session run by Blaise Kennedy. Blaise ran me through a number of different exercises which challenged myself to take a step back and acknowledge my state of awareness. Somatic Therapy was completely new to myself, but definitely something I thoroughly enjoyed. I did this for my self benefit, but also to prove that it’s okay to seek professional help. Professional help can be offered in various different ways and it’s something that can be of use to everyone. Professional help builds self strength and it is nothing to shame yourself or others for!

Be sure to utilize the techniques that Blaise used in the podcast and also be sure to check out his website for more useful tools.

Instagram: thislife.blaise

Website: https://www.blaisekennedy.com/meditations

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Monday Dec 21, 2020

Episode 22: Holidays and Mental Health

Monday Dec 21, 2020

Happy Holidays everyone!! Today’s podcast features myself talking about mental health during the holiday season, how Covid-19 is impacting us all through the Holidays, and mental health as a whole. Between now and January 4th I will only be posting one podcast each week. Out of respect for every person who shares their story, I felt it’d be best if I waited until after the chaos of the holidays to post their stories. Sharing the most vulnerable side of yourself is never easy and that is why I believe it is so important to give these strong individuals a day where they can truly be honoured rather than overshadowed by the holidays. This week and next weeks podcasts will be two podcasts that could potentially change your life and help you take the next step in your life. I hope everyone has an amazing holidays and just remember that EVERYONE has a story!

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Thursday Dec 17, 2020

Episode 21: Morgan Skinner

Thursday Dec 17, 2020

Morgan Skinner is 22 years old and has a handful of accomplishments under her belt. She played for Team BC on a few accounts, played on a national platform, and played collegiate hockey for Lindenwood University. Almost any hockey player would love to have the opportunities she has, but she describes the mental health struggles that came with her lifestyle. Constant stress, constant anxiety, and an endless number of standards that had to be met. Being a high level athlete is not always as glamorous as it may seem and Morgan shares how that was also the case for her. Concussions eventually ended her hockey career, but as the cliche saying goes, “When one door closes, another door opens,” and she opened an amazing door. Morgan is now caretaking for disabled children/teens and the benefits she has gained are astonishing. She has found happiness away from hockey and defines strength in an entirely new way. Every hockey player, woman, and person can learn from Morgan’s story.

If you want to talk to Morgan and have some vulnerable conversations with her, you can reach her via:

Instagram: morgskinner

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Thursday Dec 10, 2020

Episode 19: Josh McLoughlin

Thursday Dec 10, 2020

Josh McLoughlin is only 17 years-old, but has the wisdom of someone far beyond his years. His mental health struggles began at age 11 when his step brother took his life. As years passed he started to find himself battling within his own mental health struggles. Anxiety and depression started to consume his life and ultimately take over. His family experienced another great loss when his other step brother other took his life as well. For all Okanagan locals these two suicides shook up several lives and the father of the two teens, Josh’s step-dad, Tom Budd became a massive name in the mental health community. Despite his step-dad’s role in the mental health community, Josh still found himself feeling alone and keeping his struggles to himself. Josh has found himself on the other end of a knife on different occasions, he has contemplated suicide countless times, and he has hidden his struggles from the majority of people. Courage and strength are two characteristics that cannot even begin to describe Josh because his story takes those terms to a completely different level. You truly never know what someone is going through and Josh McLoughlin is a prime example of this.

If you want to talk to Josh and have some vulnerable conversations with him, you can reach him via:

Instagram: joshmcloughlin

Phone Number: 1(778)821-0550

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Monday Dec 07, 2020

Episode 18: Sadie Twidale

Monday Dec 07, 2020

Sadie Twidale, 19 years-old, has a unique story and one that she ultimately can’t escape nor change on her lonesome. Her situation began when she was born into a household with a firefighter for a father. A rare topic of discussion when speaking on firefighters is the PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) that comes from being in the first responder field. Firefighters are first responders to the majority of scenes, but most tend to forget that. Sadie understands the traumatic experiences that firefighters encounter and she unfortunately has seen how it can effect their families as well. She has to live with the fact that she is a main trigger point for her fathers PTSD and it has not been easy on her. She talks about the toll it takes on her and how it effects her every day life. Sadie expresses the struggles of “walking on eggshells” when she is around her dad, but she utilizes a councillor to help her overcome this stressor. She possess great strength and gives us all an insight on what it is truly like living with firefighter who has PTSD. Go listen and remember that you never know what’s someone may be going through.

If you want to talk to Sadie and have some vulnerable conversations with her, you can reach her via:

Instagram: sadiejtwidale

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Thursday Dec 03, 2020

Episode 17: Michaela Jacobsen

Thursday Dec 03, 2020

Michaela Jacobsen is 20 years old and has chosen the brave and vulnerable choice to share her story. Michaela has always been seen with a smile on her face and a life that rather perceived pure happiness. She is the first one to say and admit that what you see on the outside is not always the case on the inside. Michaela has several things to be proud of and be happy about in her life, but in her story she explains the hardships she also encountered. She found herself in a deep depressive state contemplating and creating a plan to take her own life. Every night for two months she talked about her constant thoughts and desires to take her own life. On top of all of her suicidal thoughts, she was also trying to manage her ADHD and severe anxiety. It’s never easy being someone who struggles with mental health and Michaela also describes the role that University has played in some of her struggles. Sharing her story was not an easy task for her but she has proven that she is brave, strong, and beyond inspiring with aspirations of helping others. Thank you Michaela and I encourage everyone to take a page out her book and speak up about your mental health struggles because you are not alone!

If you want to talk to Michaela and have some vulnerable conversations with her, you can reach her via:

Instagram: michaela.jacobsen

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Monday Nov 30, 2020

Episode 16: Luke Shields

Monday Nov 30, 2020

Luke Shields, 18 years-old, has seen and been through things that nobody should every have to, but he acknowledges the fact that he couldn’t have changed the outcome of what he’s encountered. At a very young age he was introduced to the effects that PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can have on a person and a family because of having a father who served in the army. Luke also encountered the loss of his sister due to suicide, witnessed and was first on the scene to a double fatality car accident, and helped pull a young kid out of the lake who drowned. He’s seen what it is like to have life leave someone’s body and he is sharing his story to help prevent the loss of someone struggling. He knows how difficult life can be, but he willingly opens up with tips of advice to manage mental health struggles and ultimately what he did to change his overall outlook on life. He possessed great strength and courage by talking about unspoken struggles all in the hopes of helping someone else. You truly never know what someone has encountered in their life and Like Shields fully exemplifies that EVERYONE has a story.

If you want to talk to Luke and have some vulnerable conversations with him, you can reach him via:

Instagram: photos_from.luke

Phone: 2508951360

Email: lukeshields16@outlook.com

If you want to reach out to me or are interested in being on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: strugglecreatesstrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength and just remember that EVERYONE has a story.

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

Episode 15: Aiden Taylor

Thursday Nov 26, 2020

Aiden Taylor, 21 years-old, is currently playing Varsity soccer at the University of Victoria. From a very young age he was dedicated to the sport. He and his family sacrificed a lot to allow him to get to the level he is at now. Aiden speaks on how his struggles associated with being the best soccer player he could be did not compare to the struggles he encountered away from the field. He comes from a hardworking blue-collar family where men are taught to be tough and essentially disregard their emotional side. As any athlete knows, sometimes parents can get the best of your mental health by being harder on you than your coaches. Parents will coach from home or solely focus on the flaws within your play rather than acknowledging the good things. Aiden experienced several mental warfare’s through a constant standard he was expected to meet, but he also experienced excessive loneliness, anxiety, and for a lack of better words, fear. He has learnt from his past and channeled it into great courage by sharing his story. Aiden’s story is one that is worth hearing and it truly goes to show that EVERYONE has a story.

If you want to reach out to Aiden and have a conversation with him, you can reach him via:

Instagram: aidenjacktaylor

Phone: +1 (807) 464-3956

Email: aidentaylor17@hotmail.ca

If you want to reach me or come on the podcast, I’m always available via:

Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength

Thanks so much for listening to another episode of Struggle Creates Strength. All podcast are posted on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and Facebook. Just remember EVERYONE has a story.

Monday Nov 23, 2020

Episode 14: Tyler Smith

Monday Nov 23, 2020

Tyler Smith is a 22 year-old man who has figuratively been put through hell, but has taken his struggles and used them to make the world a better place. Tyler is 1 of 13 people who lives to tell the gruesome story of April 6, 2018. He was on the Humboldt Broncos hockey team when their bus struck a semi-truck head on. The crash stopped everyone in their tracks and formed an indescribable support system for the players and families effected by the crash. To this day we constantly hear the phrase, “Humboldt Strong” and Tyler Smith exemplifies this by sharing his story. Tyler suffered several physical injuries during the crash and has almost fully recovered from them over time, but one thing that will never heal is the loss of 16 members of his Humboldt family. He possesses courage, vulnerability, and endless strength proven by sharing his story. Tyler continues to share his story with the world to ultimately help others realize that it’s okay to speak up and it’s okay to not be okay. He has created sweaters, hoodies, and shirts reading “Not Alone” and “It’s okay to not be okay.” His brand strikes vulnerable conversations and allows people to wear two powerful messages on their chest proving strength and acceptance. Tyler’s strength to be able to share his story exemplifies that there’s always a way find light in the life you’re living.

If you want to reach Tyler and show him your support you can reach him via:

Instagram: smitty269

If you want to reach out to me or would like to be on the podcast you can reach me via:

Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength