Our guest this episode is Dr. Chelsea Larsson, a newly minted PHD in Scottish History, who’s also a Writing Specialist with the U of G Library. Chelsea shares what she’s learned about finding balance between academic and work pursuits and her self-care. Her tips? Work in environments that respect your boundaries, find the things that nourish you, and frame every act of self-care as an anti-capitalist, feminist movement. And of course, also visit Learning Services in the Library.

In our second episode of season 3, Marco and Jordie are joined by Farqd, an upper year UoG Wildlife Biology and Conservation student. Over the course of the episode, Farqd takes us through her journey of navigating life and balancing expectations as a young person, a university student, and a daughter. She explains her transition to campus life, molded together with internal battles encompassing identity conflicts, faith, and family dynamics. In an attempt to provide insight into her personal mental health journey, Farqd takes us through a timeline that began with a hesitant and nervous young person that later evolved into someone with the ability to reflect on their experience while learning how to avoid negative self talk, self-blame, and get professional help. Trigger warning: Suicide and self-harm*If you'd like to skip this section around suicidal ideation, we recommend skipping 36:00 to 49:05 min. There will be 3 beeps at 36:00 to prompt you.

In our first episode of Season 3,  Jordie and our new co-host Marco sat down with Bella Mangiapane, a 3rd year U of G student studying Agricultural Science with a minor in Business. Bella gets the conversation started with a struggle that all university students can relate to (especially now) - making social connections. From there Bella shares her story about her on-going mental health journey, and how an unrelated trip to the ER helped Bella to break down her own mental health stigma and begin to get help for what would later be diagnosed as anxiety and manic depression. Join us to hear how Bella has learned to manage her “black and white thinking” and how she has helped her family to learn more about mental health and break down their stigma. Trigger Warning for mention of non-suicidal self-injury 

In the final episode of season 2, we hear from Wing Tse, a University of Guelph student pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Studio Art. In addition to this, he has served in the armed forces and is currently a firefighter. Wing describes his tough upbringing and recalls his struggle with mental health beginning at a very early age - a time where he had limited access to resources and support. He reflects on finally accepting his identity and background, now seeing his story as a chance to be resilient and to extend unspoken empathy. Listen as Wing provides insight into the stigma tainted perception of mental health in male dominated environments, the value of self-development according to a personal definition of what it means to be healthy, and the importance of “prevention and protection rather than isolation and avoidance”.

In this episode we talk with Prof. Matt Demers, an Associate Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Guelph, and streams on Twitch connecting with old friends and students. Matt explains his journey transitioning from high school to university, from his undergrad to his masters, and finally his PhD and professorship. He explores what has helped him through all those changes and the joy he has always had for teaching. He describes his experience with impostor syndrome, social comparison, and managing failure. Through detailing his journey and describing what he did to manage his mental health, Matt shows how experiences of failure are exactly when we learn the most – those are the life changing moments. 

In this episode, we chat with Maryam Maamoun, a University of Guelph student pursuing her Bachelor of Science with a major in Biochemistry and a minor in Microbiology. Beyond her academic focus as a student, she continues to wear multiple hats on campus through her work as a volunteer and as a field hockey player. We hear about Maryam’s experiences with performance over-analyzation leading to anxiety as a goalie, the importance of having a sleep related routine, and some advice she has for all students. Listen to Maryam delve into her journey as an undergraduate juggling a busy schedule and as she opens up about learning to accept the way she’s feeling, even if it isn't “100% awesome and super fantastic” all the time.

In the second episode of the season, we talk to Victoria Fritz, U of G staff* as well as a PhD candidate in Family Relations and Human Development at the University of Guelph. Victoria’s PhD is focused on researching and understanding student’s experiences of academic failure. She tells us about her experience as an undergrad and how her original post-grad plans did not work out the way she thought they would have. We hear about how Victoria managed her emotions throughout her undergrad and learned that it’s okay to be unsure of yourself along the way. Victoria now has a position with the University of Guelph, helping students manage their emotions and reactions to academic failure. She explains how students should avoid comparison with others and stay on their own path.  *This episode was recorded when Victoria was working as a Learning Specialist in the U of G Library. Victoria is now working for Student Wellness Services as the new Mental Well-Being Facilitator.

In this episode, we sat down with Kailyn Brewer, a University of Guelph Student pursuing her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Minor in Family and Child Studies. Kailyn’s mental health journey began at a very young age, and like with most mental health stories, her healing is far from linear. We hear about her experience with coping during times when everything felt out of her control, her struggle to obtain therapy and a diagnosis, and her inspiring path to self-advocacy. Listen to Kailyn share her story with raw honesty as she details the peaks and valleys she has faced with anxiety and depression, and how she achieved facing her mental health on her own terms. 

In our Season 1 finale, we’re talking with Sarah, a clinical counsellor (aka a veterinary social worker) with the Ontario Veterinary College. Sarah shares what exactly ‘veterinary social work’ is and why it’s so important to the field of veterinary medicine. We also discuss what it’s like to deal with grief, how pets truly become members of the family,  how to deal with imposter syndrome in such a small profession, and of course share personal stories around mental health. We'll be back for Season 2 of The Shine Cast in September 2021!Disclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a local medical professional or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you are a student at the University of Guelph, dialing 519 824 4120 ext. 52131 will put you in contact with our health services team. There is urgent counselling available as well as mental health navigators and coordinators to support you further. If you require immediate assistance, call your local emergency number or Good2Talk Mental Health Crisis line by dialing 1 866 925 5454

This episode we’re chatting with Sonia, an undergrad student at the University of Guelph. Sonia is double majoring in Biology and Psychology with the hope of pursuing a career in the mental health field. Sonia’s interest in mental health stems from her own experiences following major surgery to treat scoliosis in high school. Since then, Sonia has learned a lot about her own mental health and how to help others. This episode we also learn about Jack.Org, a great organization which helped Sonia along her journey. You can learn more about Jack.Org by visiting their website or finding your local chapter. Episode Resources for U of G Students:Jack.Org / Jack.Org Guelph ChapterDisclaimer: This podcast is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a local medical professional or healthcare provider if you’re seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. If you are a student at the University of Guelph, dialing 519 824 4120 ext. 52131 will put you in contact with our health services team. There is urgent counselling available as well as mental health navigators and coordinators to support you further. If you require immediate assistance, call your local emergency number or Good2Talk Mental Health Crisis line by dialing 1 866 925 5454