The Stumbling Spirit

For more than 20 years, Anna Beaumont has helped people connect to their authentic voice through singing. With an extensive performance background in musical theatre and jazz, Anna is a voice-based somatic teacher who runs her own practice and leads worldwide vocal retreats to promote self-regulation, emotional healing and overall wellness. In this episode, Anna opens up about her illustrious career and explains how the tone, pitch and vibration of our voice can foster wellbeing and elevate our spirit.*Guest information:Website: https://www.annabeaumont.com/Email: anna.beaumont@gmail.com*Correction: Please note that while Anna Beaumont received training in integrative body psychotherapy, she is not a psychotherapist.2026 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.

In the summer of 2020, Rondalyn Whitney’s husband of more than 30 years tragically died in a car accident. Bill was the love of her life. A sudden widow, Rondalyn grappled with heartache while navigating the jarring bereavement process and mundane routines of life. In her memoirs, Habits of Widows and Lies in the Afterlife, Rondalyn diarizes her healing journey through grief as a widowed mother and offers tips on how to forge ahead after loss. In this episode, Rondalyn shares her story and explains how her background in occupational therapy and narrative medicine helped her through grief.Guest information:Website: https://www.rondalynwhitney.com/

Dating back to the 18th century, Nova Scotia is home to the oldest Black community in Canada. Most fled northward after the American Revolution and The War of 1812. While most found freedom in the former British colony, many were enslaved. For generations, Black residents encountered systemic racism and, in some cases, cultural erasure. Based in Halifax, DeRico Symonds is a certified counsellor, community leader and government advisor on anti-racism. He is also an eighth generation African Nova Scotian. In this episode, DeRico Symonds tells us about his important work in building a more equitable, inclusive and racism-free society.Guest information:Website: https://www.dericosymonds.ca/Email: dericosymonds@gmail.com

Based on the latest data, teachers around the world are struggling at their jobs. Some of the reasons include low salary, excessive workload, student needs and burnout. Helping to support K-12 school professionals is Catalina Andrade, a doctor of education in organizational leadership and a holistic health practitioner with a specialization in mindfulness. As an author and consultant, Catalina defines a six phase approach to help educators connect back to their heart and each other. In this episode, Dr. Catalina Andrade discusses her game-changing book and she opens up about how her intuition paved the way for a successful career.Guest information:Website: https://www.doctorcatalina.com/

Originating in India, yoga is an ancient somatic practice with roots in Hinduism. This methodology of mindful movement and sustained postures, called asanas, is meant to connect our physical, mental and spiritual nature through the body. Niya Bajaj is a certified holistic yoga therapist who helps women enhance their self-image and personal power at all stages of life from burnout to menopause. In this episode, Niya opens up about her past struggles with chronic pain and disordered eating, and explains the restorative benefits of yoga therapy for women.Guest information:Instagram: @holisticyogatherapistWebsite: https://holisticyogatherapy.ca

Truth and Reconciliation carries a painfully indelible meaning in Canada, least of which for Indigenous peoples who endured unspeakable treatment in residential schools at the hands of the state and church. From 2008 to 2015, a national commission documented the traumatic stories of Indigenous survivors of this abusive system that lasted more than 160 years. Aanishinaabe of the Ojibwe Nation James Darin Corbiere is a multidisciplinary artist and creator of the educational board game, The Truth in Truth and Reconciliation. In this episode, James talks about his groundbreaking game and he opens up about his personal journey through darkness to see light and colour again.Guest information:Website: https://easternwoodlandart.ca/

Glossophobia is the fear of public speaking. According to various online sources, this oratory anxiety is prevalent in roughly 75% of the global population to varying degrees of intensity. Despite this overwhelming statistic, most of us are expected, if not required, to verbally communicate to groups in both academic and professional settings. For more than 30 years, Dr. Doreen Downing has dedicated her practice to helping people overcome their public speaking phobia. As a psychologist, Doreen applies a unique approach to helping her clients break through their anxiety and heal their wounded voice. Fearless speaking coach Dr. Doreen Downing shares her tips on transformational speaking and opens up about her journey to find her true voice.Guest information:Website: https://doreendowning.com/Instagram: @drdoreendowning

After tragically losing his father as a teenager, Mi'kmaq Shawn Leonard had a profound spiritual awakening that ignited his psychic abilities and life’s purpose. With more than 25 years of experience, Shawn is a renowned Indigenous psychic medium, spiritual teacher and star of Spirit Talker whose mission is to help people heal from loss and develop their own psychic gifts. In this expansive interview, Shawn talks about death, grief and the sacredness of life, and he imparts traditional Indigenous teachings and ancestral wisdom to help us on our spiritual path.Guest information:Instagram: @indigenousmediumshawnleonardWebsite: https://shawn-leonard.com/

Clinical psychologist and mindfulness advocate Chris Germer once said, “A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life.” All season long, I am exploring the connection between compassion and resilience. Someone who knows a lot about this topic is Markus Bohlmann. Markus is a practitioner and certified teacher of the renowned research-based Mindful Self-Compassion program created by Chris Germer and his esteemed colleague Kristin Neff. Markus is also an energy worker in the heart-based Brazilian shamanic tradition called Fogo Sagrado. In this episode, Markus Bohlmann shares his insights on the essence of compassion and he explains its relationship to resilience.Guest information:Website: https://markusbohlmann.comInstagram: @markusbohlmannEmail: markuspjbohlmann@gmail.com