What's the Tea with Sarah E

To wrap up Season 2 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I once again bring on the one woman who knows me best - my mother, Cindy (aka Mummy).This bonus episode is the official Season 2 Stir The Pot Special, where we revisit every bold, thought-provoking question asked throughout the season by guests. This time, Mummy and I answer them together - honest, reflective, silly as always, and always unfiltered. And for the record, no... I am not planning murdering my mom.Recorded from two provinces - me in Ontario and Mummy in Nova Scotia - this conversation turns into a deep dive into life, growth, success, and the lessons that shape who we become. Of course, there are stories, laughs, a few glasses of wine and a bourbon along the way. We recorded on a Friday and needed something a little stronger than tea.In this heartfelt Season 2 finale, Sarah and Cindy spill the tea on:How the definition of success changes as we grow olderWhy happiness and peace eventually matter more than material thingsMy time living abroad and how it unlocked my ability to show up fully and unapologeticallyBig questions about life, spirituality, energy, and the divineThe wisdom Cindy learned from her father (Grampy Gene!) and why credit and financial literacy mattersThe importance of living life boldly and not being afraid to try thingsThe hard truth that sometimes… you simply cannot fix everybodyAnd so much more.It’s thoughtful, funny, deeply human, and the perfect way to close a powerful second season.Season 2 “Stir The Pot” Questions & Guest CreditsThese are the questions that fueled the season - each one answered by the guest below, and now answered by Sarah and Cindy together. Try them as journal prompts or chats with friends!Tanis Crosby - “How do you define success and how has this changed for you as you’ve gotten older?”Joseph Apps - “Looking back on your personal growth, what was the turning point that shifted how you lead yourself - and how did that experience shape the way you show up in life today?”Adam Ivy - “If you could define success over the next 10 years, what does it look like?”Malaysia Harrell - “If nothing was stopping you from packing everything up, relocating and starting fresh - where would that be and why?”Kat Dobson - “If you had to ask a question to God or the Divine, what would it be and why?”Michael Valchuk - “Who was the hardest person on you when you were a child and how has that shaped you?”Mical Ndelela - “When everything is stripped away - titles, money, success - what do you want people to feel because they crossed paths with you?”Layne The Auctionista -“What is one thing that you wished more women understood?”Anuja Varghese - “What dream are you committed to protecting, even if the world is telling you to be more realistic?”Daniel Guest - “What’s one thing that took you too long to learn or that you had to learn the hard way?”All answered with heart, humour, wisdom, and a few spicy opinions. Bonus Episode - What’s The Tea with Sarah E (And Mummy!): The Season 2 Stir The Pot Special is streaming now wherever you get your podcasts.Season 3 launches April 7, 2026. ☕🔥

To close out this episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Daniel Guest, Visionary and President of Guest Plumbing & HVAC - one of Hamilton’s fastest-growing companies and a powerful example of what it means to build success from the ground up.Daniel’s journey didn’t start with a polished business plan or a clear path to entrepreneurship. In fact, when he first chose the trades over university, he was considered the “black sheep” of the family. But what began as labor work and an apprenticeship quickly turned into a career that would shape not only his life - but the future of an entire industry.Daniel built Guest Plumbing & HVAC into a thriving company with 40 staff across Hamilton and Toronto, proving that the trades are not just jobs... they are pathways to leadership, entrepreneurship, and long-term impact.In this honest and insightful conversation, Daniel spills the tea on:Why choosing the trades changed the trajectory of his lifeThe mentors who shaped him and why mentorship is everythingThe hardest moments of growth - from lawsuits to navigating COVIDWhat he had to unlearn to become a better leaderThe realities facing the trades industry and the misconceptions that still existWhy women can and should thrive in the tradesThe origin story behind Tradesmart College, his mission to bridge the gap between students and real careers in the trades, and more!Daniel also shares a powerful truth he learned the hard way: “Nobody cares what people think of you as much as you think they do.” Instead of shrinking to fit expectations, Daniel chose to build his life and his business - unapologetically. This episode is a conversation about grit, mentorship, leadership, and redefining what success looks like in industries that quite literally build our world.Season 2 – Episode 10 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E is streaming now.Learn more about Dan Guest and his podcast on Instagram and online at guestplumbing.com. Explore the good work of Trade Smart College and pathways into the trades at tradesmartcollege.com

To kick off this powerful episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with award-winning Hamilton-based author Anuja Varghese - a literary force whose work centers women of color, queer characters, and stories that challenge who gets to be the hero!Anuja is the author of the Governor General’s Literary Award-winning short story collection Chrysalis, and her highly anticipated romantasy novel A Kiss of Crimson Ash releases May 26, 2026. But beyond the awards and accolades, Anuja is a storyteller committed to making sure people like her - and people like so many of us - see ourselves reflected back with power, desire, and complexity. In this bold, layered conversation, Anuja spills the tea on:Growing up without seeing herself in the books she loved - and choosing to change thatWhat it cost (and liberated) her to write openly as a queer feminist woman of colorWhy romance and erotica are not “fluff”... but resistanceBuilding a medieval India-inspired fantasy world after being told her character “didn’t fit”Balancing midnight writing sessions with motherhood and a full-time role in the social profit sectorHow grant writing is storytelling and why funders need to trust the people on the ground (hello trust-based philanthropy!)Protecting the dream of being a writer in a world obsessed with securityAnuja speaks candidly about choosing authenticity over palatability - and the overwhelming response from readers who finally felt seen. When asked what she hopes her work gives people, her answer was simple and profound, “I hope they feel seen. And maybe a little turned on.”This episode is a love letter to representation, creative courage, and the audacity to build worlds where you belong.🎙 Season 2 – Episode 9 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.Connect with Anuja on Instagram @anuja_v and learn more about her books, upcoming novel release, and events at anujavarghese.com. Pre-order A Kiss of Crimson Ash wherever books are sold.

To kick off this electrifying episode of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with a force in the philanthropic world - Layne The Auctionista (they/them), one of North America’s most sought-after fundraising auctioneers and a bold advocate for equity in the nonprofit sector.With over $70 million raised for charities, Layne has built a reputation for transforming galas from predictable programs into emotionally charged, high-impact experiences that move people to give - generously and unapologetically.But their journey into auctioneering didn’t begin with a microphone. It began with a deeply personal moment - sitting in a ballroom, watching an auction that missed the emotional mark, while knowing firsthand what it meant for their family to rely on community support. Six months later, Layne was in auction school. The rest? Record-breaking history.In this powerful and unfiltered conversation, Layne spills the tea on:Turning personal pain into professional purposeThe fundraising industry’s biggest blind spotsWhy fear of “no” is killing nonprofit revenueHow authenticity drives generosityNavigating discrimination and leadership as a non-binary professionalThe emotional intelligence required to move a roomWhy nonprofit boards need to stop playing smallAnd how fun, energy, and strategy can co-exist in serious fundraisingWe also dive into Layne’s advocacy for equity in the charitable sector, their bold critiques of outdated fundraising models, and why they believe the future of philanthropy demands courage, transparency, and better storytelling. This episode is a masterclass in impact, inclusion, and raising both money and standards. If you care about nonprofit leadership, community change, or doing good without playing by broken rules - this one is required listening.Season 2 – Episode 8 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Layne The Auctionista on Instagram @theauctionistaLearn more about their work and booking information at https://layneofficial.com/

On Season 2 - Episode 7 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I spend time with the brillant Mical Ndelela - Miss DRC-Congo World Universal 2025–2026, Girls Girl Award Winner, recent Honours Bachelor of Commerce graduate, and purpose-driven advocate - for a deeply moving conversation about resilience, representation, and bold dreaming.Mical’s story is one of faith, strength, and rebuilding across borders. After experiencing xenophobia in South Africa, losing her mother in 2019, and stepping into the role of raising her younger brother at just 19 years old, Mical has turned unimaginable hardship into fuel for impact. Her journey has shaped her into a leader committed to being the woman she once needed in her own lifeIn this heartfelt episode, Mical spills the tea on:How resilience, faith, and purpose became her foundationDiscovering her voice through pageantry and realizing she could use it for changeWhy modern pageantry is no longer about beauty alone, but about leadership, advocacy, and communityWhat being a true “girl’s girl” means - and why women supporting women is revolutionaryThe power of representation and why young girls must see themselves in leadershipNavigating job searching as an international graduate while holding onto big dreamsHer long-term vision of becoming a diplomat and launching a foundation to support orphans in Congo and South AfricaMical reminds us that leadership is not about titles - it’s about impact. When asked what she wants people to feel after crossing paths with her, she answered simply: kindness, wisdom, and unforgettable presence.This episode is an invitation to rebuild, to rise, and to believe that young women have the power to shape their futures - even when the odds might say otherwise.🎙 Episode 7 - Crowned With Purpose: Mical Ndelela on Resilience, Representation, and Raising the Next Generation is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.Connect with Mical Ndelela on Instagram @luxemiah on LinkedIn: Mical Wa Mbaya Ndelela and follow her pageant journey as she represents DRC-Congo internationally in Kenya.

On Season 2 · Episode 5 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Katherine “Kat” Dobson - media executive, relationship-builder, advocate, and mother - for a candid, no-filter conversation about longevity, integrity, and what it really takes to survive (and thrive) as a woman in media.Kat’s journey began at just 16 years old, when she auditioned for (and won) a high school anchor role that launched a 22-year career in broadcasting, journalism, and media sales. From on-camera work to becoming a powerhouse Account Executive at CHCH / Channel Zero, Kat has seen the industry from every angle and has never lost her voice in the process.In this deeply honest episode, Kat spills the tea on:Why fear has always been a signal to lean in, not backNavigating a male-dominated industry and protecting herself, her integrity, and her boundariesWhy authenticity (not tactics) is the real secret sauce in media salesThe evolution of media and why TV isn’t dead, but trust is fragileWhat’s broken in modern journalism and the cost of bias, fear-based reporting, and sensationalismHer transition from a difficult relationship to manifesting healthy love and finding her fiancéKat also answers one of the most emotional Stir The Pot questions of the season - reflecting on faith, injustice, and her heartbreak over the historic and ongoing trauma experienced by Indigenous peoples. This episode is for anyone who has ever had to choose between fitting in and standing firm - and chose truth instead.🎙 Episode 5 - Using Your Voice Without Losing Yourself: Kat Dobson on Media, Motherhood, and Integrity is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Follow Kat on Instagram or learn more about her work at CHCH TV.

On Season 2 Episode 4 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Malaysia Harrell - board-certified psychotherapist, spiritual transformation coach, veteran, entrepreneur, speaker, and author - for a profound conversation about healing, alignment, and remembering who you were before the world told you who to be.Malaysia’s journey is an “against all odds” story rooted in survival, faith, and radical transformation. From growing up in a traumatic and emotionally unsafe environment, to building a decorated career in highly structured systems - including working with the White House and receiving the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Biden (no big deal..) Malaysia learned early how to perform excellence. But it wasn’t until she nearly lost her life that everything changed.In 2020, following a traumatic deployment during COVID and a near-fatal sepsis diagnosis, Malaysia experienced what she describes as a spiritual reckoning - a moment that stripped away titles, accolades, and identity masks, forcing her to confront who she truly was beneath the armorIn this deeply moving conversation, Malaysia spills the tea on:Losing herself while building an empire, and the journey back to her authentic selfWhy healing requires allowing your old life to die before a new one can emergeThe truth about manifestation: you must become before you receiveWhere high-achieving women still shrink themselves, especially around money and visibilityBoundaries, self-respect, and why she is no longer willing to tolerate subtle disrespectMalaysia also shares her boldest truth: that healing is not about fixing what’s broken - it’s about unfolding into who you already are. Through her work at Blissful Life Consulting LLC and the Malaysia Harrell Foundation, she now helps women align their lives, businesses, and relationships with their divine assignment - not perfection, but freedom.This episode is an invitation to stop striving, stop performing, and start living in alignment... even when it costs you comfort, familiarity, or approval.🎙 Episode 4 - Becoming Before Receiving: Malaysia Harrell on Healing, Identity, and the Courage to Live AlignedStreaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.👉 Connect with Malaysia Harrell🌐 Learn more about her work and programs: malaysiaharrell.com📲 Follow Malaysia on Instagram for teachings on healing, alignment, and spiritual leadership🤍 Explore Blissful Life Consulting LLC and support holistic mental health and mindset work

On Season 2 · Episode 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Adam Ivy - award-winning music producer, professional YouTuber, marketing strategist, and founder of sellmusic.com - for a deeply honest conversation about reinvention, resilience, and redefining success on your own terms.Adam’s journey began long before viral fame. Growing up in a low-income household, surrounded by side hustles and survival creativity, he learned early that the traditional path wasn’t built for him. From selling granola bars in school and flipping cars as a teenager to barely graduating high school with a 1.8 GPA, Adam’s education happened in real time - through action, failure, and persistence.At just 23, during the 2008-2009 financial crisis, Adam lost his job and went all-in on a side hustle - investing $800 into selling music beats online. What started as a last-ditch effort to avoid eviction became the foundation of multiple seven-figure businesses and an accidental masterclass in digital marketing, branding, and trust-buildingAs an early adopter of YouTube, Adam bet on visibility before it was fashionable. A viral video in 2011 opened doors to national media, radio, and television - eventually landing him in a media director role at a tech company he helped grow from $5M to $20M in under two years. But exposure alone wasn’t enough. Adam learned the hard truth that attention without trust is empty, and that authority is built through resonance, not reach.In this conversation, Adam spills the tea on:Turning visibility into authority, and why trust matters more than algorithmsLosing hearing in one ear in 2016 and how that “ending” became a redirection into education and coachingThe difference between distracted attention and focused attention - and why long-form content still winsReframing imposter syndrome as a sign you’re becoming who you’re meant to beWhy systems - not hustle - prevent burnoutRedefining success as the freedom to say no, protect your integrity, and build with intentionAdam also opens up about fatherhood and how becoming a dad to two young children shifted his priorities from trophies and possessions to presence, legacy, and giving back to causes supporting underprivileged children - a full-circle moment rooted in his own childhood experienceThis episode is a reminder that reinvention isn’t failure - it’s mastery! And that real success isn’t about being seen everywhere… it’s about being trusted where it matters.🎙 Episode 3 - From Hustle to Legacy: Adam Ivy on Visibility, Reinvention, and Building Authority That Lasts is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.👉 Connect with Adam Ivy🌐 Website: https://adamivy.com▶️ YouTube (Business & Growth): THE Adam Ivy▶️ YouTube (Music Archive): youtube.com/AdamIvy📲 Social: @AdamIvy across platforms