The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
Episode 119 - Sharon Costanzo
Sharon Costanzo is a relationship & communication coach who specializes in helping women speak up and work through hard conversations so they can feel more confident and connected in their most important relationships. She hosts the Keep Talking Revolution Podcast and Respected + Connected, an online coaching program and community for women who are working on improving their relationships in a more empowered and authentic way. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Sharon and gaining insight into how to effectively communicate with our partners.
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Episode 119 - Brenda Beckedorf
Brenda Beckedorf is the Executive Director of Alberta IoT, a non-profit member-based association established in 2017 to support the growth of all things digital by creating a space for connection, collaboration, and innovation. In her role as Executive Director, Brenda’s focus is to bring our community together to provide a common voice in advancing the knowledge, adoption, and growth of the Internet of Things industry within the province of Alberta and throughout the world. Brenda has a story that is one of resilience and strength. She is a domestic abuse survivor, and I have the honour of speaking to Brenda today to hear her journey through turning trauma into triumph.
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Episode 118 - Shailynn Taylor
Shailynn Taylor is a 27 year old disability advocate and diversity model who calls Calgary home. Receiving her diagnosis of type 2 SMA at only 18 months old, she knew she had to direct her life’s purpose. Today, she has made it her life’s work to educate those she meets on the unique experiences and perspectives of people with disabilities. Whether advocating for life saving treatments, accessible housing or disability representation in media and advertising, Shailynn is committed to making change. When Shai isn’t working (like the true Capricorn she is) she loves to travel, attend concerts and explore Calgary with her friends! This morning I have the opportunity to hear her journey and learn what we can do to help bring awareness to SMA and those living with disabilities.
This episode is sponsored by @hello_relo - Relo is Alberta’s top online real estate school, for the bold and ambitious. Wherever you are at in your career, Relo will help take you to the next level.
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Episode 117 - Michelle Furgiuele
Michelle Furgiuele is a Canadian Human Trafficking Survivor, speaker, consultant and Peer Advocate with Restorations Canada. With over fifteen years of experience in multiple facets of the sex trade, Michelle now uses her story and extensive knowledge to educate and train various sectors on the realities of Human Trafficking. Through her work Michelle has been presenting preventative practices to High Schools, Police Agencies, Service Providers, the Hotel and Hospitality industry, as well as the aviator and travel sector. Michelle has co-written several manuals on how to detect Human Trafficking along with assisting victims in crisis and provides ongoing mentorship. Today I have the pleasure of speaking with Michelle to hear about her journey.
Episode 116 - Moji Taiwo
Moji Taiwo is a wife, mother, grandmother, author, Creator and Host of The Immigrant Experience Show (Tieshow) on Diversity TV YouTube Channel. Tieshow is intended to be a platform to openly discuss matters of importance to our collective Immigrant population (first and second generation), individuals and families. During her 31 years’ service with Alberta Justice and Solicitor General, Young Offender Branch, Moji worked tirelessly to improve, impact, and positively shape the lives of young people and their families. As well, she enjoyed training / mentoring young staff and watched them develop and progress in their chosen careers. Equally, in the community she has delivered Life Skills program classes to youth groups since 1993 and models professionally in her spare time. Moji was a founding and active member of the Nigerian Canadian Association of Calgary (1993), the Yoruba Foundation, Calgary (2004) and founding member/Past President of Women of Vision Society of Alberta (2012 - 2021). She is an an avid volunteer for causes that improves the lives of youth, women, families, and her community. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Moji to hear about her journey of serving her community.
Episode 115 - Ginny Eklund
In this mini Mother’s Day episode Tanya had the pleasure of interviewing her mother, Ginny Eklund. It was truly such a special day. In their interview, Tanya learned more about her mothers life, marriage and motherhood.
Episode 114 - Weam Namou
Born in Baghdad to an ancient lineage called the Chaldeans (Neo-Babylonians who still speak Aramaic), Weam Namou immigrated with her family to the United States at age ten. She is the Executive Director of the Chaldean Cultural Center, which houses the first and only Chaldean Museum in the world. She’s an Eric Hoffer award-winning author of 15 books, a two-time international award-winning filmmaker, journalist, poet, and an Ambassador for the Authors Guild of America [Detroit Chapter], the nation’s oldest and largest writing organization. Her script Pomegranate was chosen as a quarter finalist by Francis Coppola’s Zoetrope and was turned into a feature film. It's currently touring film festivals. Namou hosts a half-hour weekly TV show, and she’s the founder of Unique Voices in Films, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. A keynote speaker, her essays, articles, and poetry have been published by national and international publications. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with her about what it is like to be an immigrant women in them United States and what we can do as a community to encourage individuality, creativity and pursuing one's passion regardless of the where they were born.
Episode 113 - Dr. Naminder Sandhu
Dr. Naminder Sandhu is a born and raised Calgarian and proud daughter of Punjabi immigrants who practices Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor with the University of Calgary and an active educator at the undergraduate and postgraduate medical education levels with over a decade of teaching experience. She is a respected leader having served as PEM subspecialty residency program director for numerous years and more recently as interim section chief. She is an active member of various committees supporting the Department of Pediatrics with her growing professional interests lying in the spheres of equity/diversity/inclusivity; physician mentorship; and burnout/wellness.
She serves as a director on the board of Canadian Women in Medicine, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping women thrive both personally and professionally. As a lifelong learner, Naminder is pursuing training in functional medicine on the side and recently received her certification as a yoga teacher who offers her skills to her colleagues to promote self-care since the COVID-19 pandemic. She was raised to value community engagement and serves as a board member of Between Friends Calgary, a local agency benefiting people with disabilities. A life in medicine thus far has been a challenging one, and the recent pandemic has renewed her mission to find fulfillment and value in our communities, connection, and ourselves. I have the pleasure of sitting down with her today to hear her journey through medicine.
Episode 112 - Ariel White
Ariel White is a Marketing and Communications expert, and Sr. Account Manager at a creative agency. She also serves as a strategic advisor for a global eCommerce retailer, a Community Manager for Toast, a talent partner that helps connect women to tech roles, and is the Founding City Director for the Victoria chapter of WNORTH, an organization dedicated to empowering women to advance into senior leadership positions.
A storyteller by nature, Ariel’s passion for writing led her to start a daily blogging practice in 2017. What began as a fun way to share recipes and outdoor adventures soon became an outlet for her to initiate and engage in deeper conversations around mental health, recovery from food and substance-use disorders, and finally disclose the secret of her childhood sexual trauma. Ariel currently works to amplify the voices of those fighting silent battles through advocacy and education, and leads conversations about trauma-informed practice and how it shows up in our leadership. Today, I have the pleasure of hearing her journey.
Episode 111 - Amy Reding
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