Sharon was picked to be in a documentary...cool RIGHT??? So, during the filming, they asked us to record a podcast. Here it is. Sharon and Lauren share their stories of re-invention. It's a candid conversation between two friends that really have been through some significant things in their life. What is cool, is that you have the ability to re-invent who you are with just one decision. Deciding to quit smoking, deciding to call that person that you have wanted to for years, or taking the first steps in a walk towards health. It doesn't have to be a massive event that forces you to change who you are, what you want, and how you want to live this life. As you listen, think about how you have re-invented yourself or maybe how you would want to?

Well, here we are Season 4. We are back in the studio talking to people who have re-invented themselves. In this episode, we have Gloria Joynt-Lang. We both had the pleasure of working with Gloria at EIFW. We talked about her 26-year career in Corrections, all the positions that she held, and her experiences during these years. Gloria always enjoyed writing and when she retired from her job, she realized that she really missed that aspect of it. One day she began putting pencil to paper and before she knew it she had an entire novel. Braking Hard was released in 2018, and she just released another contemporary romance novel called Beyond Circumstances - she also has a few others that she is working on. This conversation was enlightening and also extremely fun. Talk about re-invention. There are some pretty scary statistics out there about corrections officers and life expectancy and retirement, but when you step out of that life - move on, explore and reinvent there are new opportunities, new beginnings, and the ability to do super cool things. We had such a great time with this chat. We hope you enjoy it. You find out more about Gloria and her novels at www.gloriajoyntlang.com

Well, another season has come to an end for us. We had the best time talking to all these incredible humans. There is not a day that goes by that we are not grateful for your time, your story, and your willingness to share. In this episode, we talk about each guest and we let you know what we are living for.We have lots of fun ideas for the next season. We hope you will continue to join us on this ride. Love Sharon and Lauren

Daniela Tsentouros found herself on the receiving end of the call that no corrections officer family ever wants to get. With limited information, all she knew was that her husband had been taken, hostage. Daniela talks about what that day was like - September 14, 2018 - and how their family has managed since that horrific day. They have each individually, and as a family been on a journey to learn how that incident has changed the course of their lives. Daniela writes about her experience in her blog - the often unseen - talking about her trauma, her healing, and her ability and inability to navigate it all! We loved having her!

Grant Ellsworth joins us on the podcast this week. This conversation could have gone on for hours as you can hear how passionate Grant is about mental, physical, and emotional health to sustain a career in corrections. Grant is the founder of Honey Badger Alliance which aims to help create a warrior mindset in the modern era. After serving time in the military, working on the oil rigs, and being a corrections officer he has found the secret to maintaining health and wellness while being surrounded by chaos. He has a few challenges for you and some wicked insight into the small steps that you can take to build resiliency, change the narrative, and move forward when you feel defeated.

One thing most corrections officers don't lack is courage. This episode came to be when Nikki Cloutier sent a brave DM on Instagram. We could not have been more excited to talk with her about her career, her business, and her burning desire to empower and inspire others. It never ceases to amaze us when we hear people talk about coming up from the depths and developing something that feeds their passions and aligns with their purpose. Nikki is the proud CEO of Blue Line Fitness Training - which serves first responders in preparing and training for fitness testing!

Chatting with Karl is always a pleasure. Karl MacPhee is a man of many roles. He entered the military at the age of 19 - and was medically discharged at the age of 21 after being diagnosed with epilepsy. This diagnosis took a huge toll on Karl and his mental health - he began drinking and doing drugs which increased the frequency and intensity of his seizures. The nightmares, the excessive lifestyle, and the disregard for life were too much for him to bear - and he made the difficult decision to radically change his life. Karl is now on a different path- creating the life of his dreams, becoming a nurse, and coaching other people to change the trajectory of their life. Want to know what Karl is living for? You will have to listen.

When creativity, passion, and purpose come together - you get something like Brand 47 Coffee Co. Alex Graham is our guest on this episode. A former first responder, married to her wife Holly who is a first responder, the parents to two young boys that they adopted Jax and Niko both with down syndrome, and the creative minds that wanted to set up their boys with something that would offer them meaningful employment and independence. We were blown away by their story, and we will think you will too. Take a listen. If you want to be a part of the mission to support a small business, support the Canadian Down Syndrome Society, or support a Non-Profit committed to helping first responders - you can go to their website and buy some coffee. www.brand47coffee.com

Chad Kennedy has had his fair share of trauma over the last 13 years as an Alberta Sheriff. He is on a mission to educate others that "it is not weak to speak". After numerous signs that he was struggling with his mental health and some obstacles with the system, Chad took it upon himself to try something different after conventional therapy and medication were not doing what he hoped. Chad began walking, building relationships, connecting with nature, and gaining skills to help him cope with the demons that continued to surface. There is more to this man than "just a guy" (he claims) - as he advocates for others, breaks down the stigma walls, and vows to walk across Canada to raise awareness for PTSD (Sea to Sea for PTSD). we know you will enjoy him as much as we did.

Everyone has a story. In this episode, we get to chat with Trudy about hers. There is power behind each of our stories, and we get to choose where the power is emphasized and whether it keeps us in the past or helps us move forward. Trudy talks about the assault on her while at work, her desire to leave corrections long before she did, her struggle with her decision to stay, and her life after a traumatic brain injury. Trudy has been on an incredible journey that has lead her into a role where she is peer support for other first responders. She finds peace, passion, and purpose in this role. It's incredible where life can take you when you choose to listen.