The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
Episode 88 - Sarah Kirkpatrick
I owned a 6-figure digital marketing company for 9 years, working with brands to create digital 'spaces' that represented who they were through their websites and social media. After battling through another case of 'burnout' I decided to close it down, change course, and follow my own motto: 'Figure out what you love to do and find a way to make money doing it. Interior design and home staging became my new career.
Women often stay in careers because the income is good but often don't feel fulfilled. Tune in to Sarah's journey on how she discovered what she was truly meant to be doing.
As an avid traveller with a goal of visiting 1 new country per year (33 and counting), I have stayed in well over 200 Airbnb in the last 10 years, all across the world. This has given me insight into what gets clicked, what gets booked, and what earns those coveted 5-star ratings. My interior decorating business is more successful in its first year than the marketing company was in its last few, and my first retail location is opening up this fall!
Episode 82 - Linda Olsen
Award winning journalist, Linda Olsen, is a proud born and raised Calgarian. She graduated from SAIT in Calgary in 1988 with Honors in Broadcast Journalism and started her career that same year at Global Saskatoon.
Linda joined Global Calgary in 1995 and since then, as a reporter, anchor and producer, has covered some of the biggest events to hit the city, including the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic from day one, bringing audiences the important information they were looking for as the situation unfolded, as well as the 2013 Southern Alberta floods. Linda co-anchored live flood coverage for 10 hours on that first day keeping viewers up to date on the significant event.
Linda was also host and producer of Global’s Woman of Vision series from its inception in Calgary in 1998. For 15 years, she highlighted the stories of inspirational women in the community with monthly television news features and a column in the Calgary Herald. In 2001, the Alberta Media Production Industries Association (AMPIA) nominated the special as Best Public Affairs Program. In 2002, Linda received the AMPIA Award for Best Anchor, and in 2003 she accepted the Best Host award for the Woman of Vision Special. As a senior anchor at Global News, Linda was also part of the team that won RTDNA’s award for Canada’s Best Newscast in both 2018 and 2014. She was named a recipient of Calgary’s Top 40 Under 40 by Avenue magazine and received Global Calgary's Woman of Vision award for her commitment to the program and the community.
An advocate for the community, Linda is a board member with the Calgary Children’s Foundation and an honorary board member of Believe in the Gold, a local charity raising awareness and supporting research for children with cancer. Linda has also been recognized with an Honorary Bachelor of Business Administration Degree from SAIT and the Honorary Fellow Award at Calgary’s St. Mary’s University.
When she’s not on the anchor desk, Linda can be found out in the city hosting a number of charity events or spending time with her three adult children.
Episode 83 - Gloria Di Sabatino
In 2015, Gloria Di Sabatino and her husband started trying for a family. After a few miscarriages later a series of unlikely diagnoses, including a rare balanced translocation found in less than 1% of the world's population leading to recurrent miscarriage and infertility, they soon found out that her husband carried this condition. After losing six babies in 4 years, and breaking clinic records, they decided it was time to go a different route. Gloria touches on the difference between treatments, the cost of treatments and her journey with infertility.
Gloria is a nurse, a pastor and a running enthusiast. She can be found either playing the piano or baking. She’s been married to her teenage sweetheart and the love of her life for 10 years. Together they have three children, ages six, four, and two.
Episode 81 - Vanessa Ferlaino
Vanessa Ferlaino is an author, artist, and activist changing the world one day at a time. She believes that only when we hear ourselves, can we make a difference in our lives and the world around us.
At the age of 27, she has many accolades. She spent 10 years in medtech and tech as an award-winning corporate innovator, investor, executive, and advisor. The headlining speaker for Google x Women Techmakers April 2022 and Authority Magazine's "Social Impact Author" creates impact by challenging what it means to be human. Her book debut, "Human", a read that will inspire you to be your truest self, is available on Amazon and select Chapters Indigo locations. Follow her on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or subscribe to her email list at vanessaferlaino.com so you don't miss the release of her music or the launch of her next big philanthropic project - both coming in summer 2022!
Episode 80 - Darby Lee Young
Darby has over a decade of experience working as an accessibility strategist. She established Level Playing Field in 2015 and is an expert in Universal Design and international accessibility guidelines and standards. Darby has successfully contributed to the removal of barriers at municipal, provincial and national levels, ultimately establishing inclusive environments all across Canada. Darby’s expertise in Universal Design has developed throughout a wide range of public roles including her achievements as a competitive para-alpine skier. She is committed to contributing her unique lived-experience and various political appointments to passionately advocate for lasting inclusive environments that benefit everyone, regardless of age, circumstance, or ability. Darby is both a Top 25 Women of Influence (2021) and Top 40 Under 40 (2021 & 2018) honouree and recipient of the 2016 Calgary Stampede Western Legacy Innovation Award.
Episode 79 - Denise Dubyk
After the loss of her son-in-law Darryl, in an impaired driving crash, Denise Dubyk became a founding member of the MADD Calgary Chapter in 2001. She has been involved with the mission of the Chapter since that time and held the positions of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer currently sitting as a Board Member.
In 2003, Denise was the recipient of MADD Canada Western Region Award and the John G. Bates award for local and national Volunteer of the Year and was nominated and awarded a Diamond Jubilee Year commemorative medal in 2012.
In 2009 Denise took on the role of MADD Canada Regional Director for the Prairie Provinces, North West Territories and Nunavut Region and in 2010-2013 served as National President for a 3-year term.
Denise works passionately at educating and creating awareness about impaired driving and advocates to provincial and federal governments regarding strengthening impaired driving legislation.
Denise believes that stopping impaired driving is everyone’s responsibility. That by working together, with the strength and commitment of the MADD Chapters across the country and under the leadership of MADD Canada, positive changes will continue to be made in our communities to lessen fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving.
Denise is married, with one daughter, two stepsons and five grandchildren. Along with an eclectic nature, interests such as gardening, reading, close friendships and enormous amounts of quality time with grandchildren keep Denise busy.
Note: for reference to the dates mentioned this episode was recorded in October 2021
Episode 79 - Denise Dubyk
After the loss of her son-in-law Darryl, in an impaired driving crash, Denise Dubyk became a founding member of the MADD Calgary Chapter in 2001. She has been involved with the mission of the Chapter since that time and held the positions of President, Vice-President, and Treasurer currently sitting as a Board Member.
In 2003, Denise was the recipient of MADD Canada Western Region Award and the John G. Bates award for local and national Volunteer of the Year and was nominated and awarded a Diamond Jubilee Year commemorative medal in 2012.
In 2009 Denise took on the role of MADD Canada Regional Director for the Prairie Provinces, North West Territories and Nunavut Region and in 2010-2013 served as National President for a 3-year term.
Denise works passionately at educating and creating awareness about impaired driving and advocates to provincial and federal governments regarding strengthening impaired driving legislation.
Denise believes that stopping impaired driving is everyone’s responsibility. That by working together, with the strength and commitment of the MADD Chapters across the country and under the leadership of MADD Canada, positive changes will continue to be made in our communities to lessen fatalities and injuries attributed to impaired driving.
Denise is married, with one daughter, two stepsons and five grandchildren. Along with an eclectic nature, interests such as gardening, reading, close friendships and enormous amounts of quality time with grandchildren keep Denise busy.
Note: for reference to the dates mentioned this episode was recorded in October 2021
Episode 78 - Carol Todd
Carol Todd has impacted the world as an educator, an advocate, parent and leader for social action in speaking openly about the bullying, cyberbullying, exploitation and the mental health challenges that Amanda went through. In 2012, Carol’s daughter Amanda took her own life at the age of 15, following the posting of a YouTube video that detailed the exploitation via an international predator and severe harassment, both by peers and online, that she endured.
From this place of tragedy, Carol has found that by sharing Amanda’s story, she could help others. In memory of her daughter who took her life in response to cyberbullying and online exploitation, Carol founded the Amanda Todd Legacy Society to create further awareness surrounding these important issues that many young people are facing around the world. She currently speaks internationally about her experience, as well as her daughter’s struggles with bullying, cyber abuse, online victimization and mental health, to empower youth and adults with strategies and resources to address these social issues.
“Making a difference by sharing Amanda’s tragic story is important to me as her mother and encourages me, through her voice to prevent others from going through what Amanda went did.” Carol has become a voice of global change and advocacy and is driven by her passion and leadership to change the mindset behind negative behaviours and the challenging barriers of stigma by sharing Amanda’s story.
Website - http://www.amandatoddlegacy.org/
Episode 77 - Lindsay Ell
Singer/songwriter/guitarist, Lindsay Ell, has learned to care a little less about what everybody thinks. She says, “following my gut instinct, truly saying what I want to say—that’s the magic, the elements that make you relatable and real. Before, I was worrying about writing for radio, for fans, but now this is what I know, this is my journey. And the more honest I get, the more effective it is.”
While Ell has earned special recognition for her blistering guitar playing, she notes that she doesn’t want to be defined by any one dimension of her work. She says, “I don’t want to be known as just a guitar player. My favorite artists, like John Mayer and Keith Urban, are great players, but that’s not the only thing you think of. I write, sing, produce and think all the pieces of the puzzle come together to make an artist’s story unique, to paint the full picture. Yes, this is a huge guitar record, but that’s not what I want be the first thing that rings the bell when you listen.”
“I’ve loved doing so much international travel.” she says. “I always wanted to build my career beyond the borders of North America, so it’s incredible to go to New Zealand, Japan, Germany, places where they’re trying to figure out what I’m saying, but they’re so into it. They listen to the catalog, learn the songs, come to the show ready for the experience—they’re the perfect audience, they care so much.”
As Lindsay Ell gears up for a new album and continues to tour around the globe, she embraces this next chapter of her career. “Artists are always scared of the infamous sophomore album,” she says, “but I’m so excited. I’ve done the work, I’ve found the right team, and I’m coming at it from a place of more strength and more honesty. I’m ready to do this, so bring it on.”
Episode 76 - Sarah Harrower
Sarah is a multimedia journalist and youth advocate, and she is currently working in radio with CBC Calgary. She has helped research and create segments for the Eyeopener and the homestretch. It’s been an interesting journey for her as she started working at the beginning of the pandemic. It was definitely interesting and a challenge learning to do everything from home but she is slowly finding her way. She is happy to be working with such a great team of talented journalists. The pandemic has shown me what I am capable of and how easily I can figure out how to adapt. Living life with a disability teaches you a different way of looking at things and working around everyday challenges. There are hard days, but it is essential to believe anything is possible.
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