The Stumbling Spirit

Transportation planner, Anthony Smith, is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete. Eight years ago, while doing a long ride north of Toronto, the course of his life took a near fatal turn. He unavoidably crashed his bike into a pick-up truck. Miraculously, he survived but not without injury. The impact dislocated his neck and fractured his spine, which needed two surgeries to fuse back together. And, the driver at fault got off on a measly fine. In this episode, Anthony talks about the rights of cyclists, his long road to recovery, and how he has grown personally and spiritually since his accident.Guest information:Email: anth42@gmail.comInstagram: @anthonynsmithTwitter: @safestreetsto

Heidi Bornstein is one of the founders of Mindfulness Everyday - a Toronto-based organization offering accessible and practical mindfulness education to improve the well-being of her local community. A key focus for Heidi and her team of trainers is delivering flexible yet effective mindfulness curriculum to youth who are in dire need of support in these uncertain and divisive times. In this episode, Heidi discusses her important work and explains why mindfulness is needed more than ever to address the unique challenges of today. Guest Information:https://mindfulnesseveryday.org/Email: heidi@mindfulnesseveryday.org

At fourteen, Anthony Patrick Manieri bought his first camera. What started off as a hobby taking pictures, soon became a profession. With a successful career in media spanning more than three decades, Anthony’s sought after shots have graced the pages of some of the world's most popular magazines. In recent years, Anthony has focused his lens on a passion project. "Arrested Movement" is the name of his internationally acclaimed portrait series, which aims to shatter the mold of the perfect adonis with his subjects baring all for the camera while showcasing the beauty and diversity of men's bodies. Anthony opens up about his work and the importance of men's body positivity.Guest Information:https://anthonypatrickmanieri.comEmail: anthony@anthonypatrickmanieri.comInstagram: @anthonypmanieri and @arrestedmovement

In recent times, church leaders, such as Bishop Mariann Budde and Reverend Munther Isaac, have attracted global attention with their impassioned sermons calling for compassion on those suffering from oppression. While from two different denominations, their words reverberated across the Christian world with the weight of a papal address. Reverend Gary van der Meer is a minister and interfaith officer with the Anglican Church of Canada. In this episode, Gary opens up about the role of the pulpit in the face of populism, annexation, tariffs and war crimes.Guest Informationhttps://www.stjohnsottawa.com/Email: rector@stjohnsottawa.caInstagram: @garyvandermeer

This is a special retrospective of Season 2 of The Stumbling Spirit Podcast, where I explore two key themes that emerged from this year’s show:Identity being one of the facets of resilience;And, the real and metaphorical mountains we climb.Special thanks to all of my guests who shared their stories and insights on cultivating resilience. Ep 01: Merel van der Wouden (https://merelvanderwouden.com/)Ep 02: Debra Williams (churchhatthefilm.com)Ep 03: Stephen D’amico (https://www.stephendamico.com/)Ep 04: Darryl Tracy (Alpha Health Services)Ep 05: Bobby Wain (https://www.dundalkdogrescue.ie/)Ep 06: Donna Armstrong (Email: armstrong_d@rogers.com)Ep 07: Mike Power (https://mpower-strategy.com/)Ep 08: Lucille Joseph (https://lucillejoseph.ca)Ep 09: Belinda Bannerman (https://www.belindabannerman.com/)Ep 10: Jaisa Sulit (Instagram: @decolonialmamalove)Ep 11: Noel Scully (Email: scullynoel8@gmail.com)Ep 12: Sharleen Beaumont (https://bravenewending.com/)Ep 13: Nancy Horvath (Email: nancy.horvath@sickkidsfoundation.com)Ep 14: Heather Harris (https://www.harrisandwalker.com)Ep 15: Dave Bradley (Email: thebothylife@gmail.com)Ep 16: Paulo Steinberg (https://www.paulosteinberg.com)Ep 17: Jackie Dennison (https://www.jackiedennison.com)Thank you for listening and for your ongoing support. Season 3 will air in March, 2025. Stay tuned!

Renowned psychic-medium, Jackie Dennison, is one-half of the clairvoyant duo on the popular Canadian paranormal show, “Rescue Mediums.” For 7 seasons, Jackie and her partner-in-crime visited haunted houses to bring peace to both homeowners and lingering spirits. Rescue Mediums was one of the first in a wave of psychic-medium reality shows which now seem commonplace. Jackie explains why souls hang back, offers tips on developing our own spiritual gifts, and, she talks about the impact and legacy of her groundbreaking show.Guest Informationhttps://www.jackiedennison.comInstagram: @jackie.dennison

When most people think of Brazilian music, what might come to mind are bossa nova and samba, but apart from these popular genres, Brazil also has a rich history in classical music. Dr. Paulo Steinberg is a professor of piano, and a virtuoso at his craft who has performed as a soloist in some of the finest venues in the world including, The Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. In 2017, he recorded a solo piano album called, Alma Brasileira - Brazilian Soul, which is a collection of classical pieces by some of Brazil’s most beloved composers. Paulo discusses his rhythmic album, gives us a lesson in Brazilian musicology, and opens up about his painful childhood and distinguished career.*Guest InformationInstagram: @paulosteinbergEmail: steinbpr@jmu.eduWebsite: https://www.paulosteinberg.com*Dr. Paulo Steinberg has granted permission to The Stumbling Spirit Podcast to use his piano performance recordings in this episode.2025 SOCAN Licence (Tariff 22.C) gives this podcast the right to communicate to the public by telecommunication any or all of the musical works in SOCAN's repertoire by means of certain internet transmission or similar transmission facilities by a site ordinarily accessed to listen to audio-only content. SOCAN stands for Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada.

Psychedelic Therapy involves the use of mind-altering drugs, such as psilocybin, to help those who suffer from mental health conditions like depression and addiction. Still highly experimental and somewhat controversial, only a few countries have either legalized or decriminalized this therapeutic practice. Last year, Dr. Dave Bradley was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to explore both contemplative and psychedelic-assisted approaches to the existential well-being of patients within palliative care settings. Based in Scotland, Dave opens up about his journey to becoming both a palliative care doctor and mindfulness practitioner, and he offers key insights about his research to help improve the lives of those who are approaching death.Guest InformationInstagram: @thebothylifeEmail: thebothylife@gmail.com

In 2001, Heather Harris experienced complications during childbirth after thirty-one hours of labour. It was a mother’s worst nightmare. Her baby’s life was at risk. Oxygen deprivation caused her firstborn son immediate seizures and a permanent brain injury that would forever impact his motor control. He was later diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. Heather opens up about her journey as a parent to support her disabled and exceptionally gifted son.Guest informationInstagram: @heatherharrishomes and @harrisandwalkerWebsite: https://www.harrisandwalker.com