The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
Episode 21 - Helen Youn
Helen Youn is a professional organizer specializing in the KonMari Method™. Helen found this method as an overwhelmed new mom after reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” by Marie Kondo and decided to make a change.
After experiencing life-changing results firsthand, Helen felt compelled to pursue extensive training with Marie Kondo and became one of the first Certified KonMari Consultants in the world. Helen is currently a Master-level KonMari Consultant, as well as the only Canadian KonMari Consultant Speaker for KonMari Media Inc. Using the principles of the KonMari Method™, Helen guides and supports people through this life-changing journey to live more joyfully and mindfully while transforming their homes into a clutter-free and easy to maintain space.
Episode 20 - Diana Thomas
Diana‘s journey into surrogacy started about eight years ago when a friend of hers approached her about being an egg donor. It was an experience that completely opened her eyes. A few years later she had the opportunity to donate her eggs again to another friend and business partner.
After helping these two couples build their family, she was inspired to try surrogacy. She had a friend introduce her to a couple who had been searching for a surrogate for 7 years. This couple has now become family and she is currently carrying their second child for them.
Diana is a wife and busy mother of 3. She is from eastern Canada, but has been in Calgary for 15 years. She is a singer with the Dino Martini’s band, a dental hygienist and loves to live an active life. In the last 4 years, she has built a successful, full time Network Marketing business allowing her the flexibility to help families.
Episode 19 - Kerri Cust
Kerri Cust is a Self Love & Intimacy coach offering workshops and individual coaching in the areas of Belonging, Intimacy and Pleasure. She helps her students and clients discover and live a life that is truly theirs, not one where they are simply 'checking the boxes'; she works with people to heal, open their hearts and get their “mojo” back.
Kerri has studied and trained under guru's, and master teachers in the areas of intimacy, tantra, sacred sexuality, yoga, spirituality, emotional intelligence and deep emotional release.
Kerri guides her clients towards knowing themselves, embodying and experiencing true fulfillment and pleasure - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Only by knowing and becoming intimate with yourself will you have the intimacy, connection and belonging you are so deeply seeking.
Episode 18 - Aya Mhana
Aya Mhana is a Syrian-born singer, songwriter and oud player. Now a proud Canadian citizen, Aya moves easily between English and Arabic, writing lyrics with a poet’s sensibilities.
Since emigrating to Calgary, Canada, in 2016 , Aya has performed at the Calgary Stampede and Globalfest, and with the Kensington Sinfonia. Also, got invited to Folkfest.
In 2020, for her outstanding commitment to the community and art she received the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society New Canadian Artist Award and the Portail De L,immigrant Assosiation (PIA) award. She formed a band called HYMM, a seven-piece ensemble that often graces Calgary coffee houses with its Middle Eastern fusion repertoire.
Aya’s musical journey is deeply influenced by her Syrian roots. Which was obvious in her album (Homeland) the combination of two homelands that she has Canada and Syria, Hailing from Sweida, she taught herself to play the oud (a string instrument similar to the lute) during high school, and graduated from the University of Damascus with a degree in education. She volunteered with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, working with families displaced during the Syrian war.
Inspired by her volunteer work, Aya used her music to explore the human capacity for hope during wartime, and performed her compositions in her home city. In Canada, she translates the rich culture of her homeland for audiences who often know little of Syria, but are eager to embrace her soulful melodies.
As an artist who inhabits the crossroad between nations, Aya is committed to speaking out about issues on exile and diaspora, and to celebrating the importance of home. She hopes that her music helps shape Canada’s vision for a peaceful and vibrant cultural mosaic.
Episode 17 - Shashi Behl
Shashi’s first foray into entrepreneurship was as a partner with Body Blocker Co, a manufacturer of state-of-the-art sun wear for children, which dramatically decreased the effects of the sun’s UV rays. This business set the course for her to pursue her own business and later opened Twisted Goods, retail stores that specialize in fun and eclectic personal and home accessories, with storefronts in key malls in Calgary and Saskatoon. She has since sold that retail banner.
This knowledge and love of retail has launched various niche retail banners. Shashi is the Owner and Founder of Joydrop, Partner and Co-founder of Fernweh, and Founder of Twisted Goods.
She has been on the W100 profit list, P200 list, represented Canada at the G8 Young Business Summit, been awarded Calgary Leader of Tomorrow and was named Retailer of Year for Canada.
She is passionate about the retail business and a strong advocate for women in business. She champions women in her current role as Chair of Board for AWE, Board member with EO, and former Board member of Futurpreneur as well as being a judge on various panels and was the Entrepreneur in Residence for SAIT in 2019. She Invests in and mentors women in all industries of business.
Shashi loves travelling with her family, meeting new people, road biking, practicing yoga, and reading. Here motto is get comfortable with being uncomfortable and looks to have a YES moment in every day!
Episode 16 - Annette Stanwick
Annette Stanwick considers herself an ordinary woman with lots of extraordinary experiences that have molded her, changed her and given her a passion to help others just like you to overcome your struggles, heal your wounds, improve your life and relationships and to forgive yourself and others, so you can live your very best life. She is no stranger to tough times.
She has risen above trials, trauma, terror, and tragedy, but despite those difficulties she is a confident, happy and passionate woman. Positive choices, faith and fortitude empower her to rise above difficult situations. The most profound was the murder of her brother. Never could she have dreamed she would publicly forgive his killers in the courtroom in the US.
As a result, she developed a passion to help others overcome painful experiences, and she is eager to help you in your troublesome times.
She is the best-selling and award-winning author of FORGIVENESS: THE MYSTERY & MIRACLE.
With a nursing background, decades of experience as a health care executive and having coached hundreds and spoken to thousands, she has a strong platform of experience, wisdom, stories and tools to help you, regardless of your situation.
Episode 15 - Monsy Lopez
Monsy is a 33 year old single mother of two girls ages 6 and 4. Her story is one of inspiration and resilience as she battles through building a career in the mortgage industry while raising her young children on her own. She began her career at one of the big 5 banks and quickly built her reputation as a ‘go -getter’. Motivated by challenges and never afraid to take risks, she is now one of the top mortgage producers at her brokerage, a proud homeowner and a landlord to more than 5 rental properties. Monsy tells her story about how she didn’t let being a single mother stop her from reaching her goals. She is currently a Mortgage broker at Mortgage Connection as well as an Insurance Broker at Insureline Complete, and lives inner-city with her daughters.
Episode 14 - Lesley Hutcheson
Lesley is the former President of Hopewell Residential, a land development and housing company headquartered in Calgary . Having spent over 35 years in the real estate industry, she now serves on several Boards including The Calgary Stampede and The Calgary Health. Lesley and her life partner, Scott Hutcheson have four children Cole (26), Syd (24), Parker (23) and Avery (21). She enjoys skiing, cycling, yoga, reading, watching the Kansas City Chiefs and travel.
Episode 13 - Heather Heasman
Heather Heasman is a senior business leader with over 20 years experience in strategy development, change management and leadership development in the profit and non-profit sectors. She has worked internationally and has most recently provided management consulting and executive coaching services to privately held start-ups and foundations in Alberta and British Columbia.
As an experienced instructor, Heather has taught at both the Haskayne School of Business and the Bissett School of Business in business strategy, business communications and entrepreneurship.
An avid community volunteer, Heather has a wide variety of governance experience and has served on a number of boards from being the current Chair of the Board of Wood’s Homes to being a Past President of Kicking Horse’s Freeride team.
Episode 12 - Corinne Lyall
Corinne Lyall is the broker and owner of Royal LePage Benchmark, and has worked in some capacity in the real estate industry for over 30 years. She is the 2015 Past President of CREB® (Calgary Real Estate Board), was on the Royal LePage Canada's National Advisory Council, and is the current Chair of Pillar9 (the Alberta One MLS Board). Corinne was also President of CREB®’s Charitable Foundation in and helped create partnerships to build the 60-unit Crestwood Affordable Housing project. Other non-real estate boards she has been involved in are Doors Open YYC, WEDO (Women's Entrepreneurship Day), and is currently on the EO (Entrepreneurship Organization) Calgary Chapter board. Corinne is passionate about being involved in the real estate industry, and loves having the opportunity to have leadership roles in organizations where she can influence better relationships and collaboration for positive change and outcomes.
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