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Struggle Creates Strength started solely off of my internal drive to help people facing mental health struggles. I have personally struggled with mental health my entire life, so it is a subject that I hold close to my heart. By no means am I an expert on the topic of mental health, but through various personal encounters I have become a very knowledgeable mental health advocate. I am someone who constantly has a smile engraved on my face, but for a long time it was not genuine. My smile was used to mask the emotional struggles and distress that I encountered on an every day basis. Ultimately, I created Struggle Creates Strength to prove that EVERYONE HAS A STORY. No two stories are the same, but every story has the potential to help someone else. Through the podcasts I have filmed thus far I have learnt more about myself and realized that I can rate to certain extents with so many more people than I thought. I’m so excited to start a movement that has the potential to shake the world with the power of speech! Share your support and join the movement and help someone else’s today
Episodes
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
Thursday Nov 19, 2020
Katherine Pineda is only 17 years old, but she has persevered through more struggles than most could comprehend. From being caught in the middle of her parents divorce at a young age, life continued to throw her more obstacles than she anticipated. Katherine encountered several family feuds, homelessness at age 15, and multiple abusive relationships. She encountered depression, severe anxiety and excessive troubles to focus. Her schooling started to get away from her, but as anyone’s would in her situation. During her high school years not only did she battle homelessness, but she also discovered one of her sisters was living on the streets and addicted to hard drugs. Katherine is constantly desired to fixing people and their problems, so despite how she’s been treated or how big someone’s problems are, she tries to fix them. She tried to fix her sister and she’s tried to fix people who are broken, but she realized she needs to fix herself up first. She has now self-funded moving to Victoria, she has started a business that will embrace women and their body confidence, and now she continues to pursue her studies. She courageously shares her story and proves that you never know what someone’s story may be. Katherine defines that EVERYONE has a story.
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If you want to reach out to Katherine and show her the support she deserves you can reach her via:
Instagram: katherinepineda._
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If you want to reach out to me or come on the podcast I’m always available via:
Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Email: Lucas@StruggleCreatesStrength.ca
Thank you for listening and remember, EVERYONE has a story.
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Billy Cawthorn is a 22 year-old from Vernon, BC. Billy did not have a typical upbringing, and by no means was it an easy one. At age 15 Billy was forced move out because of his moms abuse of alcohol and live with multiple different families in Vernon. In his teenage years he found himself falling into a similar lifestyle by abusing his use of alcohol and other recreational drugs, but he hit a turning point when he chose to play college hockey and pursue Christianity. He realized some of the mistakes he made in the past, but even more so he learnt from them. Billy has reflected on his past and instead of resenting his mom for some of the mistakes she made, he realized the sacrifices she made to allow him to pursue his passion of hockey and put a roof over his head. In the past 7 years, he has rebuilt a strong relationship with his mom and now possesses a sense of maturity and wisdom that very few people have. He continues to expand his beliefs in Christianity and live out his dream as a hockey player. Billy transparently shared his story in hopes of helping someone who has gone through or is going through something similar to his past. He acknowledges the importance of being vulnerable about your mental health struggles, but not letting them define who you are.
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If you want to reach out to Billy and show him the support he deserves or want to have a vulnerable conversation with him, you can message him via:
Instagram: Billy Cawthorn
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If you want to talk to me or potentially come on the podcast you can reach me via:
Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Email: Lucas@strugglecreatesstrength.ca
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If you want to purchase a Struggle Creates Strength T-Shirt you can go to www.Raincoastclothing.com 100% of proceeds are donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Thursday Nov 12, 2020
Thursday Nov 12, 2020
Katie MacDonald, 24 years-old, is from Merritt, BC and has a story you need to hear. Her story stems from the age of 4 when she suffered her first of 18 concussions. Her extensive number of concussions forced her to quit the sport she had always and will always love; hockey. Being forced out of hockey kickstarted her mental health struggles, but it wasn’t the end of it. In school she was bullied to the point where her only option was to move to multiple schools in multiple towns. Her depression and anxiety kicked into overdrive, but it got the worst at age 19. Katie was sexually abused by someone who she considered her uncle and it forced her to shut down completely. She didn’t talk about it, didn’t seek help, and ultimately shut out out the world for over a year. When she finally spoke up and leaned on her support system it began her journey of strengthening her mental health. Now, she is here sharing her story and embracing vulnerability. She has the hopes of helping as many people as possible with her story, but she claims, "As long as I help one person, then I have done my job." She is a selfless and caring individual who is trying to help others with her story. It truly goes to show that EVERYONE has a story and you never know what someone may be going through.
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If you want to reach out to Katie, show her the support she deserves, or seek help from her wisdom then you can reach her on Instagram: _katiemacdonald
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If you want to reach me or are interested in coming on the podcast you can do so via:
Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Thursday Nov 05, 2020
Thursday Nov 05, 2020
Michael Nolan and Rebecca Steinhubl are the founders of ‘You Are Collective’ and they have made their mark on the community. Their mental health advocacy began upon arriving in Kelowna, BC from Spruce Grove, AB back in 2016. Both have dealt with mental health struggles in their life, but they have courageously channeled their struggles and transformed them into creating a their mental health platform. They have created a campaign within You Are Collective called the ‘1 Million Campaign’ which provides one million counselling sessions to people struggling with with mental health. Both, Rebecca and Michael, have created such a successful platform die to being transparent with their mental health struggles and taking action on pursuing the crucial change to end the stigma surrounding mental health. In the podcast they speak up about their personal mental health struggles and they also give valued tips on ways to help your own mental health. They are both very wise and sustain hearts of purity. Thank you Rebecca and Michael for sharing your story and embracing vulnerability. Remember, EVERYONE has a story!!
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If you want to reach out to Rebecca and Michael you can message them on Instagram: You Are Collective
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If you want to reach out to me and share your story you can reach me via Instagram: Struggle Creates Strength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Thursday Oct 29, 2020
Paige McLaren, 28 years-old, has not had an easy life in the slightest, but she is the first one to say that her past was the teacher which helped her get to where she is today. Paige courageously narrowed in on topics such as living with a mother addicted to drugs, sexual abuse, toxic relationships, suicidal thoughts, and self-confidence. Her mother’s addiction forced her family to move countless times and attend 13 different schools. On top of moving around all the time, her mothers boyfriend was also sexually abusing her. When she was 13 she brought the sexual abuse to her mother’s attention, but she shrugged it off and left Paige in a state of hopelessness. When she was just 17 she was forced to leave her house and find her way in the world. Unfortunately, she was stuck in another toxic relationship with the boyfriend she moved in with. Fortunately, at 19 her life changed forever and gave her a fighting chance to a better life, her daughter was born. Paige explains how her daughter has been her saving Grace and biggest motive to keep her mental health in check! I highly suggest that everyone goes and listens to her story, but even more so show her the support she deserves! It’s not easy to be vulnerable and speak up, but those that do are helping everyone around them. Just remember, EVERYONE has a story!!
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If you want to reach out to Paige and show her the support she deserves you can reach her via Instagram : Paige McLaren
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If you want to share your story on the podcast or just need someone to talk to you can reach me anytime on:
Instagram :Struggle Creates Strength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Monday Oct 26, 2020
Brandon Bergado is not your average 22 year-old living in California. He has experienced unexpected struggles, but he is the first one to say that his struggles formed him into the man he is today. Brandon started his path of self-betterment two years ago when he was forced to isolate for 5 months due to severe concussions. No phone, no Netflix, no screens, but a dark room and an abundance of thoughts. Brandon is not like most, he knew that he could either look at the next 5 months as a blessing or a curse; he chose blessing. He devoted his days to reading books, light yoga, and studying himself. He built a routine and reprogrammed his brain and his life. After 5 long months of isolation he came out on top and continue to stress positive vibes and learning. Learning what works best for you, but also learning more about who YOU are. Brandon has implemented diversification in the way he connects with others and changed the “What’s up” talk to further thought provoking questions allowing himself to connect with others on a more personal level. He encourages everyone to change up their conversations and embrace digging deep and getting vulnerable with each other. EVERYONE HAS A STORY, so why not learn someone else’s rather than learning what they had for lunch!
If you want to reach out to Brandon today and show him the love and support he deserves, you can reach him on Instagram at: brandonberg_
Also look out for Brandon’s new initiative “Small Talk” that will be released in the near future!
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If you want to reach out to me or be on the podcast you can reach me me via:
Instagram: Struggle Creates Strength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Email: lucas@StruggleCreatesStrength.ca
Thanks so much for listening and just remember, EVERYONE has a story!!
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Friday Oct 23, 2020
Grace Graham is a 21 year-old with the mindset of a 40 year-old. Her wisdom and maturity came from a life filled with abuse, suicidal attempts and behaviours, absent parents, and severe bullying. Despite encountering these negative aspects of life, she persevered and continues to grow. Grace is currently working two jobs and has taken time off school, but she embraces it and recently moved into her dream place. Grace is a smart, kind, strong girl who does not let her past define her future. She is hopeful that people will listen to her story and discover that they are not alone! Grace is an inspiration to not only myself, but every individual she comes across, so I highly suggest messaging her and having a conversation with her or just showing her the support she deserves! I hope everyone enjoys her story, learns from her experiences, and build enough courage to be confident in YOUR story. Just remember that EVERYONE HAS A STORY!
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If you want to reach out to Grace and show her the love and support she deserves you can reach her via Instagram at: graacegraham
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If you want to reach out to me or want to share your story then you can reach me on:
Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Monday Oct 19, 2020
Monday Oct 19, 2020
Josiah Brears’ mental health struggles began at the age of 13 when his parents kept their divorce a secret from him and his siblings. Life never got easier, but in fact it got exceptionally worse. Josiah resorted to taking a shot or two before bed for a total of a year by the time he was 15 years-old. He also experienced depersonalization, out of body experiences, because of his severe anxiety and panic attacks. His near future plans were uprooted because of Covid-19, but he has not let any of his past struggles define him. Josiah Brears is a strong individual who is embracing his vulnerability in pursuit of helping others who are struggling just like he once did. I promise you, you will be moved by his story and be sure to show him the support he deserves!! I hope you enjoy and remember EVERYONE HAS A STORY!💚
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josiah_brears/?hl=en
Phone: (250)801-7435
Reach out to Josiah if you ever feel like you need someone to talk to and show him the support he deserves!
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You can also reach out to Struggle Creates Strength and share your story or utilize me as a safe person to talk to!
Instagram: StruggleCreatesStrength
Facebook: Struggle Creates Strength
Website: www.StruggleCreatesStrength.com
Saturday Oct 17, 2020
Saturday Oct 17, 2020
Tristen Nielsen is 20 years-old from Fort St. John, BC and currently playing hockey for the Vancouver Giants in the Western Hockey League. Tristen talks about the mental stressors that come along with playing at such a high level of hockey. He uprooted his life and left the majority of his family behind in Fort St John to pursue his passion of making hockey his career. Tristen knows better than most about what it takes to make it to the next level and the sacrifices that need to be made in order to achieve his goals. Despite his continued success, he is the first one to admit that he has hit a few bumps in the road along the way. He is currently finishing a cycle of serotonin boosters and utilizes professional help to make sure he can perform at his best and leave his mental health struggles behind. Tristen is one of the most down to earth teammates I’ve ever had and he believes that everyone in hockey struggles with mental health to some extent, but he’s making a change and speaking up! Tristen is a prime example that EVERYONE HAS A STORY!! 💚
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Tuesday Oct 13, 2020
Karlee Appel is a 21 year-old attending Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. She's wise, beautiful, kind, and ultimately seems to have live a life that most can only dream of. But, as Karlee explains in this episode, what you see on the outside is not always the same as what's on the inside. Karlee was diagnosed with Bipolar 2 disorder when she was in her first year of university. She experienced episodes of extreme hypomanic episodes and also suffered from severe depression. She encountered several months of ups and downs and a stage of utter euphoria prior to being diagnosed with Bipolar 2. Karlee spent nights in the hospital, she lived months without recollection, and ultimately hit rock bottom. But, Karlee is not defined by her past and she lives to tell the tale of Bipolar 2 and how it has and continues to effect her. I hope you enjoy her story and remember; EVERYONE HAS A STORY.E