Whoppsie doodle! We took a bit of a break there - unintentionally - but life got busy and we had things on our plate that needed navigating. Welcome to a chat about mental health in a marriage where we talk openly about advocating for yourself, why therapy within your relationship doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong or falling apart, a…

The world seems to be filled with Good Vibes Only stickers and t-shirts with smiley faces on them. What would happen if we made space for emotions? What would be impact be if we leaned into optimism instead of toxic positivity? In this episode, we talk with Diana Fuller-Dupont from Watered Grass. Diana is a Self Care Strategies Coach and an element…

This is a topic we have been wanting to talk about for a long time, but finding the right person to talk to was difficult. There is a lot of stigma surrounding Cannabis use, and an incredible amount of discomfort that we dive in to as we open up this chat with Joanna from Budz&Co. As a recreational user of cannabis, Joanna started to see the holist…

Buckle up friends, we are entering the Spirit Realm today on the podcast! Come along for a chat with Emily Jackson, an incredible human being who has been able to see, feel and hear spirit since she was a young child. Emily talks with us about her experiences, how it all began, and the deep connection she feels when she taps in to this incredible g…

Well then, that was quite the break! In our FIRST official episode of 2022, we talk about our long 4 month hiatus, what's coming up for the Morning Ish, how often to expect new content and all of that jazz. We won't sugar coat it (and you wouldn't expect us to) - life has been chaotic for the past several months. We've both dealt with COVID in our …

Today, we gather to celebrate you. We love you, Rachel! And we hope you have the very best birthday! The Morning Ish will be back with regular episodes this spring, so please stay tuned (and thank you for sticking with us during our hiatus as we've been sitting in burnout land!) xoxo Shannon

In this episode, Michelle continues her story about domestic abuse from where we left off on Episode 61. She discusses what it felt like to find a womens shelter in the middle of the night with her daughter, the process of intake with the police when domestic abuse is concerned, and navigating the family law system in Canada. She also talks about t…

Last year, this little corner of the internet was so new that we didn't do a Year in Review at the end of the year. This year is a whole different ball game! Some of the topics we cover in our Year if Review are.... LGBTQ2+IA voices and how they have gotten louder this year The Muslim family in London, Ontario who was murdered in an act of racism I…

A topic that has been burning for a while - imposter syndrome. Feeling like a burden. Like your worries, concerns, situations aren't quite bad enough and therefore you are a fraud. We talk about Rachel's story with cancer and how she felt like she was a fraud because it was caught so early. We talk about managing kids who are trying to manage all o…

We get deep into the waters of family estrangement as Shannon clears the air and talks openly about how toxic family has impacted her mental and emotional wellbeing. Over the years, really since Shannon's dad passed away, her family has become incredibly fragmented. On the maternal side, she has been demonized and made out to be a monster because o…

TRIGGER WARNING: Domestic violence, abuse Being critical of every move a person makes, an insinuation that things weren't enough. Gaslighting and psychological abuse. Name calling and public humiliation. Then the physical violence. In this episode, we discuss the cycle of abuse with Michelle, a beautiful human being who survived an abusive relation…

Helping your kids navigate grief and the death of a grandparent (or someone they have a close relationship with) is something you can't really prepare for as a parent. You're sitting with your own loss, while also dealing with (potentially) temper tantrums, isolation, and mood swings. You're navigating your own grief, while also trying to be a pill…

In a jawdropping chat, Jessica opens up about her experience with Parental Alienation. We learned things that are ugly and dark - about the psychological manipulation of children, and how sometimes the alienation is so bad that it leads to suicide. We also learned about the warning signs, how important it is to stay present as the alienated parent …

Setting boundaries is one of the most loving things that you can do to protect your own inner peace, but what happens when those boundaries are constantly disrespected? You enforce them. You find your voice and you stand up for yourself. In this episode, we talk about the importance of healthy boundaries, how you don't owe anyone an explanation in …

He's always been the wild one. The one who works with giant horses with no fear, who starts conversations with stranger. The one who repeats facts about NASCAR, horses, and the Blue Jays. The one who has never consistently slept through the night, and seems as though he's driven by a motor. We've always known that Graeme is different, and we starte…

The pressure to get your pre-baby body back after pregnancy is intense. As a first time mom, you're transforming into a new version of yourself - one that you can't imagine until you're even there. We spend so much time wrapped up in the magazine covers and less time listening to our bodies. Dr. Jess talks about the most common things she sees in h…

In today's episode, we talk about Dallas - founder of Reya Health, a Canadian company that is committed to helping you find the best birth control option for your needs be they contraceptive or health related. Long gone are the days where we hush talk of birth control, as if it is something used exclusively in situations of sex to prevent pregnancy…

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day, and today we have the honour of talking with Robyn - a woman (and friend) who is currently navigating the world of fertility treatments. Lean in and listen as she talks about her experience with fertility clinics, IUI (intrauterine insemination), hormones and supplements, micromanaging her care…

For some, Halloween is full of matching family costumes, displays on the lawn and front porch, and gatherings of friends. For others, events like Halloween bring an intense amount of anxiety. And for a few, maybe some memories of grief and hardship. In this episode, we talk about our experiences and memories with Halloween, why some have been easie…

We get a bit fired up in this episode after an experience with a group of entitled teenagers in Blue Mountain Village, which was actually really perfectly timed since we were going to be recording about preteens and the struggles with changing hormones (and attitudes). There seems to be an incredible amount of entitlement and attitude that comes al…

We live in a society that rides the wave of Good Vibes Only, but what happens when a family is hit with the emotional turmoil of a cancer diagnosis? In his book Cycle of Lives, David Richman details his 5000 journey to meet caregivers, doctors, patients, and loved ones as he collects and holds space for their stories and experiences. We talk openly…

When dietary restrictions give way to businesses, and businesses give way to educating communities on evidence based information with regards to Celiac Disease. Gluten issues are something that so many humans experience - both intolerances and allergies. We also talk about dairy issues and intolerances, navigating parenting and noticing the same th…

At what age did we start looking in the mirror and judging the reflection? In this episode, we get really real with you all. We talk about our insecurities - from body hair to the beloved Fupa...we talk about it all. And more than just talk about it, we discuss our emotional connection to these areas of our bodies and why we haven't loved them for …

Well...we talked about tattoos and now we are talking about piercings. Not-quite horror stories of piercing guns going through ear cartilage and noses, how our parents reacted and when we had roommates almost pass out after getting rather sensitive areas pierced. Our word of advice? Always go to a professional piercer, not a shop at the mall or a h…

When we put an open call for topic suggestions out there on Instagram, we were overwhelmed by the interest in our tattoos. So this, our friends on IG...this is for you! From memorial tattoos for family members who have passed away to special pieces for our children, we break down each piece that we have (21 pieces between the two of us!). We talk a…

Why is it that when we become adults, we lose our fun factor? We get into our careers, build families and households, But why do we stand in our own way of having fun? Why are we waiting until we are 30, 40, 50+ to have bucket lists? Why is it only summer that gets a list of things to do before the school year starts? In this episode, we encourage …

Bubbles, rainbows of colour, stories and laughter are what Salwa brings to a podcast dedicated to her story of navigating Autism Spectrum Disorder with both of her children. We laugh, we cry and we feel big things as we lean in and learn about neurodivergence and the beautiful world of Autism. Salwa is the mom of two incredible human beings, and he…

In a very raw and vulnerable chat, Ashley Seeley talks about how a loved ones alcoholism impacted her and her family. From red flags to gaslighting, from fear to entering in legal proceedings to ensure firm boundaries from a place of love. It was not an easy road whatsoever and Ashley talks about how she dealt with it, processed it and where she we…

After not so much as having a cavity growing up, Lisa was diagnosed with Stage 3 B Hodgkin's Lymphoma at the age of 16. She underwent a journey that included not having a normal childhood, the optics of being a teenager in a ward of younger children, undergoing biopsies and chemotherapy. Lisa talks openly about her experience at sixteen years old, …

In a beautiful and funny conversation, Sara Westbrook (Emotional Resilience Strategist) teaches us that emotions are information and carries home the message that there are no bad emotions (a statement that Shannon lives and breathes by!) It all comes down to modelling, and Sara teaches us in a very beautiful way why it's so important to get connec…

After pushing for a diagnosis for 6 years and finally being diagnosed with Endo, Katie talks about her experience with chronic pain, pushback in the medical community, her symptoms and what lead her down the road to explore what was happening inside of her body. 1 in 10 people with a uterus is diagnosed with Endometriosis - a condition where tissue…

From fueling a feeling of emptiness with food via binge eating to raising a daughter without a mother to lean on, we have a very open and emotional conversation with Emilie. What does it look like to raise a daughter after an eating disorder? How do you navigate parenting without traditional support? How does one even go about finding a sperm donor…

What happened when the pandemic started? Mothers and primary caretakers of the world donned their capes and said We'll Just Figure Something Out. We put ourselves last to become chefs, teacher assistants, playmates, problem solvers, emotional therapists, boo-boo doctors, working our regular jobs, getting all of the snacks . Things that we've all do…

We all know that there are limits on screen time suggested by incredible professionals, but what happens when you're in a pandemic, your kids are in virtual learning and you're on conference calls all day? Tech happens. iPads, air pods, laptops. It's a part of their education, and also a part of their socialization right now as they've been more on…

In this mini episode, we wanted to talk about the state of hatred and racism in Canada. 215 Indigenous children, buried in a mass grave at a Residential School Site in Kamloops, British Columbia. A beautiful Muslim family of 5, intentionally run down by a white male with his pickup truck in London, Ontario. Shootings at Mosques Beatings on the stre…

With this episode, we wanted to do a mental health checkin with you all. The world is heavy out there and communities are suffering incredible losses. Mental health, addictions, isolation, suicide...all casualties of the current situation with the pandemic. With this episode, we want to normalize the stress. The anxiety. The darker thoughts. The sa…

Today we welcome Victoria to the podcast, the beauty and brains behind Fly For a Ginger, and wade into the waters of body positivity and acceptance, the modelling industry, health and wellness. Victoria is a coach for creators, with a view that our quirks make us incredible human beings and we all deserve to have access to options that embrace who …

Continuing our conversation about sex and sexuality, we turn to expert Dr. Carlen Costa to discuss orgasms, pleasure, body autonomy, partners and sensuality. We discuss the Orgasm Gap, what it means to look in the mirror and love yourself, and how to embrace your sexuality no matter what stage of life you are in. Carlen is a Clinical Sexologist, Ps…

From chaotic vaginal births to twin cesarean, Rachel and Shannon share openly about the birth stories that made them moms. From complications to hospital stays, healing experiences and compassionate health care professionals - we dig into it all!

Why would someone run, if not from zombies or bears? Well, there's something really amazing that happens when you start doing something you were conditioned to believe that you weren't capable of doing. You start believing in yourself. You change your mindset. You start to see yourself in a different way. So, after doing Insanity...Shannon started …

When a messy home puts you in fits of anxiety and the flip side is perfectionism...which can be a trauma response. Where do we learn these habits, or are they even things that are learned? Are the ingrained in us as human beings? How do we slow the cycle of a constant want and need to be perfect?

In this episode, we welcome special guest Daniel Ortega (founder of Pardon My Kindness) and we have a really open chat about emotional support, awareness of self, personal missions of kindness, mental health and how to ask for help. Daniel is a single dad who is on a mission to make his mark on the world by spreading kindness daily and being a real…

In this episode, we take a deep (and fired up) dive into the waters of privilege and influencer culture. We discuss how the past year has shone a light on people who are using their seat of privilege for their own personal gain and not for good and how they are hurting their communities more than helping. We also call out the influencer culture and…

Sexual assault doesn't necessarily mean rape, and there is a lot of misconception to believe that sexual assault is the drunk girl at the party who gets taken advantage of. Society has conditioned us to think very narrowly about sexual assault, but what is often not considered are the so-called-innocent times where our bodies are touched without co…

As a sufferer of gut issues, Rachel has become very well versed in doing her research, finding resources and talking openly about her struggles with IBS. In trusting her gut, her second brain, she also knew when something was really off and to investigate it with her health care team....leading to her cancer diagnosis. Whether you struggle with blo…

Today, we welcome special guest Brittney Harrison of the Healing Mom Project. Brittney shares openly about how she have navigated a life of trauma while tackling motherhood and marriage. She also talks about being the daughter of an alcoholic, how that has impacted her life and how she navigates things now in adulthood. The Healing Mom Project - ht…

A firm believer that emotions give us a lot of information about the stories we carry, Shannon talks openly about emotional awareness and healing. What happens when you have emotions in a society that has conditioned you to push them away, put them in a jar, and tuck them on a shelf? You face emotional exhaustion, you dissociate, you become a versi…

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - defined as a psychiatric disorder that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event. Today, we dig deep into our own experiences with PTSD and C-PTSD (complex) - the reasons that landed us with those diagnoses, treatment options and plans, CBT group therapy, acupuncture, the understanding …

Using her background in financial services, Rachel talks about all things money related, while Shannon sits in the discomfort of the narratives taught to her about relationships to money. We talk about debt, budgeting, the housing market, credit cards, line of credits...all of the things related to money because it's not how much you make, it's how…

In our guest episode this month, we interview Natasha Cote-Khan - a mom of 6 who reclaimed her life on her own terms. She tells her story of being a child of a child (her mother gave birth to her when she was 14 years old), the experience of not being allowed contact with her father, and what adult relationships looked like with partners and spouse…