The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
Episode 73 - Mandy Balak
Mandy Balak is the Found and Creator of ACE. She brings entrepreneurial experience to the table having built three purpose-based businesses in the media, events, personal growth and community-building space. It was in pounding the entrepreneurial pavement that Mandy found her truth - her greatest desire is to see others win and her purpose is to make sure they withness themselves along the journey. Mandy offers over 10+ years of wisdom in business building, mindset and personal growth.
Episode 72 - Eva McKenzie
Eva McKenzie was born and raised on Vancouver Island where she would meet her future husband Corey at the age of 17. They would marry on August 3, 1996 and give birth to their daughter, Sydni in March of 1999. In 2002 the family moved to Calgary for Corey to continue working in his construction trade. Eva always had an ambition to be a make-up artist and in 2003 she would pursue that dream and attend Blanche MacDonald in Vancouver, BC. She began working in T.V. and film on her return to Calgary after completing her make-up diploma. In 2006 her father would fall ill to cancer. She would fly back and forth from Calgary to Vancouver Island a couple times a year to care for her. She would temporarily leave Calgary and her family at the end of June 2009 to care for her palliative father at his home.
Her dad’s nurses would ask her “have you ever thought about being a nurse”? But it is when her father’s words prior to his death would really impact her. He said to her “Evey you really need to become a nurse”. This is when she realized that her nurturing spirit, empathetic heart and compassion could help others. She went back to school at the age of 35 to pursue nursing. She would obtain her first and only nursing job in 2012 where she still works. Eva’s mother would shortly be diagnosed with early onset Dementia, so once again Eva was flying back and forth from Calgary to Vancouver Island to oversee her mother’s care at the facility her mom was living at.
Tragedy hit multiple times in 2020 for Eva, in May her husband’s brother passed away, in August her husband completed suicide at the age of 49 and in September her mother would pass from Dementia. Eva still resides in Calgary as well as her daughter and they both are continuing down their journey of healing and learning to laugh and smile again.
Episode 71 - Nicole Jensen
Nicole Jensen is a 23 year-old, Calgary based woman who has embraced her passion for writing, authentically showing up for herself and sharing her ongoing journey with body positivity in a time when social media is so prevalent.
As a recent Mount Royal University Public Relations graduate, Nicole is using her passion of writing and connection to foster meaningful relationships with others through the power of the written word. By sharing her personal story of overcoming an eating disorder, Nicole hopes to encourage and inspire women of all ages and backgrounds to embrace every part of who they are and live a life that is authentic to them.
Nicole recently started a blog called “Fill Your Cup,” which primarily focuses on inspiring readers to find the things, people, experiences and places that bring them complete happiness, peace and enjoyment. To fill your cup is to invest, love and care for yourself. Filling your cup is not about anyone else, it is about you. In this podcast, Nicole reminds listeners to continue showing up for themselves and working towards the goal of personal happiness.
Episode 70 - Maddison Krebs
Maddison has worked with some of the music industry’s best producers and songwriters including Jeff Trott (Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks) and Tony Martin (Tim McGraw, Keith Urban). Her single “Real Real Thing: hit Top 40 on the Radio Disney Country Chart; and her independently released EP “Bulls-Eye” reached top 6 on the iTunes Country charts. She has performed at major venues and stages across North America including: The Bluebird Cafe, The Listening Room, Big Valley Jamboree, Folk Alliance International, The Calgary Stampede, amongst many more. And in 2015 she was one of six across Canada nominated for the Canadian Country Music Association’s Discovery Program.
As a woman of heart, she often finds herself involved in her community volunteering for organizations including Big Brother Big Sisters Calgary as a part of the All-Star Campaign. She’s performed for the residents of The Calgary DI Centre in downtown Calgary, as well as donated her time to the Okotoks Country Hospice, singing in the hallways to patients and their families. One of Maddison’s most memorable and impactful experiences was her contribution to the Make A Wish Foundation when she was able to help a Make A Wish Child fulfil their dream of writing and recording their own song. Maddison co-wrote the song, and the two went to a Nashville recording studio to record it. They performed their song alongside one another for an audience of family and supports at the live-music venue Analog in Nashville, TN.
Episode 69 - Dr. Goska Nowak
Dr. Goska Nowak has been practicing dentistry in Calgary for over 23 years, helping thousands of patients enhance their smiles and greatly improve their oral and systemic health. As a general and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Nowak recently opened the doors of her new practice, Sanitas Dental Health and Facial Aesthetics, located in northwest Calgary in the heart of Kensington.
She is deeply committed to staying on the leading edge of dental sciences, constantly upgrading her clinical skills and training her team on a daily basis. Dr. Nowak prides herself on her keen attention to detail and customized approach with patients. She strives to build trusting, long-term relationships to help patients achieve their health needs and goals. Dr. Nowak completed her Dental Medicine Degree at the University of Saskatchewan and moved to Calgary shortly after completing her studies.
Episode 68 - Linda McLean
Linda McLean currently serves as the Executive Director of The Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence. She brings to the role more than twenty-five years of experience in the non-profit sector, where she has worked in leadership positions within a broad range of organizations including United Way of Calgary, The Calgary Homeless Foundation, Inn from the Cold and the City of Vancouver. Prior to entering the non-profit sector, Linda lived and worked in remote northern Indigenous communities with a focus on participatory action research and community development. She has extensive experience in working with mental health, addictions and community-based health and housing programs.
Linda holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Social Anthropology and Education and has worked with widely diverse populations, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalized. She is a firm believer that all challenges can be met through creativity, commitment, and dedication to an ethic of care. When not at work or volunteering Linda spends time with her five children, husband Tim, and a menagerie of pets.
Episode 67 - Carol White
In the early 2000s, Carol White was married and with two sons. At that time, commercial and residential development was booming. She discovered a major gap in the market that needed to be filled quickly. Calgary had a shortage of concrete pumps causing delays for concrete delivery companies and contractors. She researched and wrote a business plan, leased the pump and equipment and began cold calling all contracting companies in the city. Her husband would do all of the physical labour. They were booked solid from the first week of business. It went on like that for the entire year. By that time, her marriage had deteriorated and she left it and the business and moved on.
Carol has always dreamed of being a full-time artist. She created Carol White Fine Art & Stationery and developed a few lines of product. After some time, it became clear that the company didn’t have potential for growth without a large infusion of capital. Since there wasn’t enough evidence that it would grow as she would like, she chose to focus all of her efforts on the restaurant that she and her partner opened in Kensington after selling Coyote T-Shirts. The restaurant is called PB and J YYC and, just as the name suggests, it’s a peanut butter and jam sandwich restaurant with a focus on freshly ground nut butters. It was a concept that Carol and her partner mulled over and researched during their time at Coyote T-Shirts. It’s growing beautifully and they have worked tirelessly toward improving it.
It’s not likely this will be her last business, so keep your eyes peeled for her future adventures.
Episode 66 - Humaira Falak
Humaira Falak has been living in Calgary since 2013. She has a Master in English Literature, a diploma in Human Services and is a community development practitioner working in ward 5 and 10. She is also the co-chair for Ethno-cultural Diverse working group of Calgary Domestic Violence Collective and sits on advisory committee of various organizations. Humaira has led domestic violence and mental health initiatives and currently leading research on topics impacting the well-being of racialized communities in collaboration with other agencies and universities.
Humaira has volunteered with agencies like United Way, Calgary Immigrant Women’s Association, Women Centre, Calgary Seniors’s Resource Society, Calgary Court House and many Ethno-ulCtural organizations. She was one of the finalist for the Community Service Award (Immigrant Services) and was also declared CTV's Inspired Albertan.
Humaira is a mother of two beautiful girls, and her cat, Bella. She is currently working towards a Masters in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Community Development from Athabasca University.
Episode 65 - Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens
Dr. Deinera Exner-Cortens is an internationally-recognized adolescent dating violence researcher. She began working in the area of domestic violence research during her undergraduate studies at the University of Calgary, and since then has conducted numerous research projects in the areas of domestic, sexual and dating violence, holding over $2.3 million in research funding to date.
Today, she works alongside school, community and youth partners across the country to co-create innovative research on promoting healthy youth relationships and preventing dating violence. Her work has been recognized by a Canada Research Chair appointment, an Early Career Award from the Society for Prevention Research, a Leadership in Family Violence Prevention Innovation Award from the Government of Alberta, and a Top 40 Under 40 Award from Avenue Magazine Calgary.Deinera holds a PhD in Developmental Psychology from Cornell University and a Master of Public Health from Boston University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Calgary.
She is also the director of the HOPELab (www.hopelab.ca), and Scientific Co-Director of PREVNet (https://youthdatingviolence.prevnet.ca).
Episode 64 - Brooke Garcia
As the CEO of 4Seasons Transportation, Brooke leads the organization’s vision to affect change in the lives of students with disabilities by being the leading accessible school bus company. She oversees all operations of the company and creates connections with schools, parents and communities, making sure every child receives an equal opportunity to a nurturing educational experience.
Brooke is a thought leader in the transportation industry and regularly speaks at national and international forums. In 2018, she accepted the Accessible Transportation Award and Commerce Award from the City of Calgary on behalf of 4Seasons.
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