In this podcast, Andrea McTague and Zac Erickson dissect the human brain to explain why we often act against our own interests and how to get back in the driver’s seat.

Solutions for Seasonal Affective Disorder to Grinch Like Grumpiness, and Everything in Between!

Why do we let diet and exercise sabotage our well-being? Zac and Sarah point some fingers and round up some solutions.

Ah, Halloween - the time our society brings our love of scaring ourselves to light, in the funnest possible way. Overgrown pumpkins, tricked out yards, and all-you-can-eat candy. A chance to slap on a wig, paint your face, and glimpse the horrors that lurk inside your neighbour's’ foyer.Chime in to hear what we have to say!Disclaimer:  Please note that this podcast is a re-release and that after this episode we will begin releasing our podcasts once a month!

Zac and Sarah Explain How the Great Outdoors Makes Us Happier -- and Why We Should Leave Our Phone at Home

In Andrea and Zac’s 360 on porn compulsion, they discuss what the real problem is (spoiler alert: it’s not the sexy bodies), how it’s compounded by modern-day society, and what to do if you or a loved one is struggling with it.

Defy Gravity, Embrace Yourself: Floating Entrepreneurs Matthew Smith and Jamie Phillips Twelve inches of water, half a ton of salt, 34-degree water, that’s all. No sound. No light. No sensory input. Just you and your thoughts.Whether that sounds divine or demonic, this conversation with Modern Gravity founders Matthew Smith and Jamie Phillips, Shift Clinician Zac Erickson, and Shift Operations Manager [Name…?] offers new perspectives on the experience of floating -- the good, the weird and the downright trippy.Smith and Phillips discuss the history of floating, its myriad health benefits, and the scientific studies supporting the glowing results they’ve witnessed first hand in their Edmonton center.While many tout the physical benefits of floating that make it a go-to recovery treatment for athletes, its real power lies in the opportunity it offers for deep introspection. Like other forms of mindfulness-based self-care, such as meditation and yoga, floating offers a safe environment in which you can face your limiting beliefs, stressors and fears.Plus: Hang around for the final segment and discover what it was like for Zac to experience his first float.

The Holy Grail of emotions, happiness is everywhere -- and yet so hard to see. Everything from a pleasant sunny afternoon to a once-in-a-lifetime winning lottery ticket could sit under the umbrella of happiness. The problem is, wanting to be happy without knowing what that means, is a recipe for unhappiness. In the first episode of this new series, Shift’s Zac Erickson, Andrea McTague and Sarah [...?] poke around under the blanket of happiness to demystify it from a physiological, psychological and evolutionary perspective. As they do so, they ask two questions that will recur throughout this upcoming series: What is happiness for you as an individual and what is happiness for humans in general?

It’s ADHD’s moment in the spotlight. Thanks to Tiktok, today there’s an unprecedented level of interest around ADHD. But so many of the symptoms of this neurodevelopmental disorder can also be caused by lifestyle factors -- diet, sleep, exercise, social activity -- exacerbated by the pandemic. In other words, if you’re bouncing off the walls after a year and a half of being cooped up, it’s probably more an environmental issue than a clinical one.In this episode, Shift’s Zac Erickson and Andrea McTague discuss ADD/ADHD from the inside out, bringing to bear their personal and professional experiences with the disorder. After defining the three types of ADD/ADHD and running Andrea through a screening questionnaire, the two discuss why a diagnosis matters (and why it doesn’t), and how to build a life that works with, not against, your instinctual nature. Bottom line: regardless of label, it’s all about knowing yourself, what makes you tick and what throws you off the rails. Listen closely and you’ll learn: Why you wouldn’t ask your chihuahua to herd sheep, how a box of yarn saved Andrea’s grey velvet couch, and why not all screen-time is created equal.

“Is My Boss Serving Kool Aid?”Sarah Lerner of And Together Discusses the Cost of Toxic Workplaces -- and Maps the Way ForwardToxic workplaces cost big. If you’re cowering in your cubicle or dodging bullies, you aren’t bringing your “A”-game to the office. You’re probably waist-deep in a job search.If that’s you, you’re not alone: According to a 2020 study, 20% of all U.S. employees reported fleeing a toxic workplace over the previous five years, at an estimated price tag of $220 billion in lost productivity -- to say nothing of missed opportunities for creativity and innovation.Shift’s Zac Erikson hashes out this pervasive problem with Sarah Lerner, Shift client and founder of And Together, an organization that strives to create more inclusive workplaces by consulting on collaborative solutions. In this episode, they tackle questions like: How do you know if you’re in a toxic workplace? (Hint: Is there Kool Aid on tap?)How can organizations disrupt unhealthy dynamics and foster inclusivity -- and what’s in it for them? (Five letter word, starts with ‘m’ and rhymes with funny.)How can we as individuals participate in difficult conversations and respond to feedback that might make our neck hair stand on end? (Get ready to dust off your yoga mat.)