Jeehye Choi, a registered social worker, shares the incredible work that she is doing as one of the therapists that the Edmonton based BIPOC Healing and Wellness Centre, a place where racialized people can heal. As a person that is pasionate about culturally sensitive counseling, she shares her personal journey as an immigrant, stepping away from cultural expectations and how choosing what makes her happy has allowed her to be a healing force for others. We touch on all things therapy and how she is bringing new perspective by specializing in Asian family dynamics and trauma-focused therapy for racialized communities facing displacement, racism, and discrimination.

This week we pick up where we left off with Calvin Yan. We dive even deeper into our "child of immigrant parents" experiences, how those experiences have made us who we are today and what we are doing in each of our lives to break the cycle, seeing our parents for who they are, and letting go of the past.

Calvin Yan, a Personal development, mindfulness and executive coach joins me to share how his traditional Chinese upbringing in Canada has influenced his coaching practice that focuses on uncovering and addressing generational trauma and the conflict that many Asian individuals feel when trying to navigate honoring their Asian values and expectations while adopting western culture. He shares his own coming out story, the support he received from unexpected places within his family, and how he became the antithesis of his experiences and was still able to use what he learned along the way to break the cycle. Our converstation really resonated with me as much of his own experiences with his family mirrored my own which we were both surprised by. It continues to evidence the level of commonality within the minority experience.

Today I am speaking with Shamelle Pless, a former track athlete turned marketing professional that has been at the helm of some incredible marketing teams for various organizations here in Edmonton. Having focused on promoting home-grown innovation, entrepreneurs, and their stories, we talk all things marketing including trends, diversity in marketing, where the marketing industry is excelling and the areas in which it still needs to grow. She shares her experiences being beautiful Black woman in today's world and how those experiences have influenced what she brings to the table for different marketing projects.

Dr. Helen Coe, the Senior Partnership Lead at Canadian Institutes of Health Research, joins me to share her experiences being mixed race, navigating her way to understanding her identity, the power of the Joy Luck club, and what she is doing with her own family to bring the DEIB conversation to her children. Now, incase that wasn't enough, we also talk about her passion for science, why she thinks it is so cool, and the challenges/disparities that women face in the industry.

This week I am speaking with Bobbie Tyndale. He specializes in creating resonant content for diverse audiences, extending his passion through the Record in Color community that he created, his YouTube channel, podcast, and Melanistic Magazine, a publication celebrating the local Black community. We talk about the intersectionality of digital marketing, story telling, and self reflection. We dive deep into how one is needed to effectively do the others in order to wield the transformative power of narratives to connect, educate, and inspire diverse audiences.

This week on the podcast I am speaking with fellow podcaster Halima Hussein. We are talking about all the things, from her experiences as a Indo-Guyanese Muslim woman in Alberta, the culture, Ramadan, and being a space creator as the host of the What's Your Hustle Podcast. She shares with us the impact that stepping into her passion, talking to people about what drives them to be their best selves and bring about a positive change while finding points of healing, has had on her life.

This week we pick up the rest of my conversation with Ashely Allen, talking about Truth & Reconciliation, what it looks like, and if we will ever truly get there. We also discuss Lily Gladstone, her history making moments in the acting industry, and what it means to have representation in Hollywood.

This week I speak with Ashley Allen, a Cree Metis advocate with over a decade of experience working in healthcare and houselessness supports. She specializes in Indigenous Entrepreneurship, championing economic empowerment while advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She shares her experience navigating the world as a white passing Indigenous women, connecting with her culture, and learning the truth of Indigenous history.

Today we reflect on the impact of the stories being shared and the strength they inspire. In honor of International Women's month, I share my story of navigating the intersectionality of being a Black woman seeking support from the health system, encountering stereotypes, and the lasting, unseen, impacts of discrimination. I speak to the emotional impact of my experience and how I allowed it to influence my allyship, this podcast, and using my most powerful weapon, my voice.