Episode 25 - Feeling Lost & Uncertain About My Future

In this episode we talk to content writer and blogger Philip Volna who at a very young age, felt lost and uncertain about his future. When Philip was just 14 years old, he struggled with depression as he felt that he needed to have his career path all figured out. 

About Philip:

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources

Feel free to connect with Philip over on his website & social media profiles:

www.lifetomake.com

Follow Philip on Twitter @PhilipVolna
Follow Philip on Facebook @Philip.Volna

Episode 24 - Calling Off Your Wedding

In this episode we talk to Lorie Corcuera who back in 2012 called off her wedding. It wasn’t until her partner asked her to marry him, she realized that the relationship wasn’t right for her. Calling off her wedding, and choosing herself over pleasing everyone else, gave her the strength to leave her job, create a successful business and become a coach and a mentor. 

About Lorie:

Lorie Corcuera is the Co-Founder and CEO at SPARK Creations & Company Inc., a training and development organization that inspires people and companies to create meaningful cultures and workplaces. Over the past 20 years, Lorie has cultivated her people and culture development, community relations, and leadership coaching experience as both a strategic and progressive senior human resources leader and business consultant in the technology, interactive entertainment, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, and non-profit space. Lorie has a Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration from the University of British Columbia, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with The Coaches Training Institute (CTI), is a Certified Emergenetics Associate with Emergenetics International, an active mentor for Futurpreneur Canada, Dress for Success Vancouver, HR Tech Group, Young Women in Business and Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, and Co-Founder of the social enterprise Enspire Foundation. Lorie is passionate about elevating the life experience at work and cultivating a community that is igniting and enriching our human spirit. To learn more, go to sparkcreationsinc.com.

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources:

Feel free to connect with Lorie over on social media:

Follow Lorie on Instagram @loriec8
Follow Lorie on Twitter @loriecorcuera

Follow Spark Creations on Instagram @sparkcreations
Follow Spark Creations on Twitter @startyourspark

Find out more about Spark Creations by visiting www.sparkcreationsinc.com

Episode 23 - Tantric Sex

In this episode we talk to Julia Kovacs who explains the history and intentions behind Tantra and Tantric Sex. Julia is an intimacy coach who's mission is to change the paradigms of the public’s perception of sex.

About Julia

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources:

Feel free to connect with Julia over on her websites & social media profiles:

www.juliakovacs.com

www.soulsexy.life

Join the SoulSexy.Life Facebook group by clicking here. 

Check out Julia & Trufelle's upcoming event on June 14, 2019 - Explore your Yoniverse

Other Resources:

Orgasmic Meditation: www.onetaste.us

Books:

Future Sex: A new kind of free love by Emily Witt

Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life by Katherine Woodward Thomas

Got any resources on tantra, orgasmic meditation and/or sex that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 22 - Sex Work

In this episode of Uncomfortable, we chat to Heidi who has been a sex worker for 10 years. Heidi shares details of her life as a sex worker and sugar baby and explains how she has found empowerment, boundary setting and financial independence through the many lessons sex working has provided.

About Heidi:

Heidi is a 30 year old queer woman and has been a sex worker on/off for the last 10 years. Originally she was drawn to the double life that sex work provided, and found it a useful tool to quit the 9-5 work she had a hard time committing to. Now she uses it as a way to support herself while she grows her photography business. Heidi is lucky to have found empowerment, boundary setting and financial independence through the many lessons sex working has provided. She is currently writing a chapbook of her experiences. 

Resources:

Read more about the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA): https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1693

Read more about the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA): https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1865 

Got any resources on sex work that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 21 - Living with Chronic Illness

In this episode I talk to Shannon MacFarlane. Shannon remembers suffering from endometriosis from as young as 12 years old. Since then she has been diagnosed with three other chronic illnesses. Shannon is also a mother who’s son also suffers from a chronic illness. Shannon shares her journey and what her day-to-day life is like living with illnesses that others struggle to understand. 

About Shannon:

Shannon lives, loves, and plays in Tacoma, WA, USA, with her husband, son, and kitties. As much as she wouldn’t wish chronic illness on anyone, she’s grateful for the opportunity to rebuild her life around what feels good from day to day and learn to really listen to her body. In this episode, Shannon shares her day-to-day life and explains how chronic illness can be detriment as well as a blessing.

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources

Feel free to connect with Shannon over on her website and Facebook:

Website: www.slobberedlens.com
Facebook: @slobberedlens

Got any resources on chronic illness that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 20 - Ethical Non-Monogamous Lifestyle

In this episode we explore ethical non-monogamy. I was lucky enough to chat with Tori and Soul of the Torrid Souls podcast. Tori and Soul are a same sex, bi-sexual, ethical non-monogamous couple. They have been together for many years but just recently got married. This was an incredibly fun convo that was highly educational!

About Tori & Soul:

Tori and Soul are a passionately married couple.  Like many of you they navigate all the normal things of life like family and work.  Perhaps, not so like you, is that they are a same-sex female couple who are both bisexual and are exploring the sexually social and adventurous swinging lifestyle.

Resources:

Episode 19 - Moving past the feeling of shame after having an abortion

Gail was 24 when she unexpectedly fell pregnant. She was in the middle of university, wasn’t in a great financial position, therefore decided to have an abortion. Over 10 years later, she still feels regret over her decision. In this episode Gail shares her story and talks to the lack of education around the topic of abortion. 

In this episode I chat with Gail who shares her experience and feelings around having an abortion. Back in 2008 when she was a full-time university student training to become a nurse, Gail fell pregnant. Not really knowing what to do about it she turned to her support network who suggested that she have an abortion due to the fact that she was in school, wasn’t in a financially strong place in her life.

Over 10 years later and Gail feels regret over having the abortion. In our conversation Gail talks about the experience she had with medical practitioners at the time, her regret, and the struggles she felt post-abortion.

This episode is a very emotional one, but this is a topic that needs to move out of the uncomfortable category! If you have gone through an abortion or a miscarriage, please know that you are not along and that there is help out there. I’ll post some resources on our show notes page. Please make sure to take care of yourself during and after the episode.

I hope that you enjoy our conversation but do note that there is some adult language so when listening, it’s best to pop on those headphones!

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources:

Post-abortion workbooks:

A Season to Heal: Help and Hope for Those Working Through Post-Abortion Stress by Luci Freed and Penny Yvonne Salazar-Phillips

Living in Color: The Goal of Post-Abortion Recovery by Jenny McDermid

Movie:

Vera Drake - a story of a working-class woman in the 1950's who performs illegal abortions.

Websites & Helplines:

OptionLine - After Abortion Support - they also have a helpline: 1-800-712-HELP and you can use their search function to find centres in your area. 

AfterAbortion.org - they have a list of healing programs and articles.

National helpline for abortion recovery, toll-free: 1-866-482-5433

If you have any resources on post-abortion recovery that you’d love to share, then please add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 18 - Trauma and Intimacy

In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Vancouver writer Peggy Liu. Peggy and I discuss how childhood trauma and learned behaviours can affect intimacy and vulnerability in relationships. 

About Peggy:

Peggy is a writer, story-teller, self-proclaimed bibliophile, and mediocre advice-giver. When she isn't digging her way to the bottom of a peanut butter jar or walking around Vancouver with her camera, she's analyzing and over-analyzing relationship dynamics, cognitive and behavioural patterns, as well as her life choices. She recently completed her undergrad in English Literature at UBC, where she was a mental health columnist for the student newspaper, The Ubyssey. You can find her Mind Your Mind articles on The Ubyssey blog. She's currently working on her first book, to be finished when she can stop overthinking her ideas!

I hope that you enjoy our conversation but do note that there is some adult language so when listening, it’s best to pop on those headphones!

Resources

Feel free to connect with Peggy over on her blog & Instagram:

Website: www.waxmepoetic.blogspot.com

Instagram: @waxmepoetic

Make sure to check out Peggy's articles:

Mind Your Mind: A recipe for self care
Mind Your Mind: Self-care doesn't have to mean Netflix alone
Some Days You Are In Pain, And That's OK
Why Highly Sensitive People May Struggle With Codependency

Book Recommendation:

Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep--Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Vulnerability & Relationships:

The Power of Vulnerability - Brené Brown
HealthyPlace.com - Relationships Community
Bustle.com - Relationships

Mental Health Resources:

BC Association of Clinical Counsellors
Canadian Mental Health Association
Jericho Counselling
LifeLine Canada Foundation

Got any resources on trauma, intimacy, and vulnerability in relationships that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 17 - Death, Money and Shame

Andrina Tisi, owner of www.wholelicious.com, is a health & lifestyle coach, yoga teacher & Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner based in Zurich, Switzerland.

In this episode We chat with Andrina Tisi about the shame around money and the emotional toll an inheritance can present. Andrina lost her dad when she we just 15, then her brother just a few years ago. Even though she can live comfortable from the inheritance that was left to her, she would give it all back just to spend another 5 minutes with them. ⁣

Andrina had opens about the emotions she felt around receiving an inheritance when her dad passed away and how it brought a lot of guilt and shame. We also chat about how money, regardless of circumstances, can solve problems, create problems and bring about strong emotions and feelings.

Please note that this episode contains adult language. We recommend you pop your headphones on while listening!

Resources

Feel free to connect with Andrina over on her website & social media profiles:

Website: www.wholelicious.com

Instagram: @wholelicious
Facebook: @wholelicious
Twitter: @andrinactisi

Got any resources on money and shame that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Episode 16 - Cervical Fluid

In this episode we explore Cervical Fluids. I love this topic and am so happy that I found Jessica Roberts-Farina who is an avid fan of tracking her cervical fluids! We chat about the stigma around this topic and go into detail on the types of fluids and what they can mean.

Jessica Roberts-Farina is a communications and marketing professional born and raised in Vancouver. Her journey into tracking her cervical fluid began in May after experiencing a complete breakdown of her health and a decision to take control of her health and wellbeing. When not tracking her menstrual cycles, Jess spends her time dancing, birding, and trying to be best friends with all the dogs in her neighbourhood.

In this episode, Jessica and I get into detail about cervical fluids. Please note that neither Jessica or I are medical professionals. We are speaking solely from our own research and experience. If you do feel that there is something abnormal about your cervical fluid, then please consult a medical professional.

We do get into some graphic details in this episode, and as always there is some adult language so make sure to pop your headphones on! Enjoy!

If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!

Resources

Feel free to connect with Jessica over on her LinkedIn account. 

We highly recommend the following apps for tracking your period and cervical fluids (again, we are not being paid by either of these companies):

Clue:
www.helloclue.com
Get the app over on the App Store

Flo: 
www.flo.health.com
Get the app over on the App Store

Got any resources on cervical fluids that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page!