The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
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.
Episode 63 - Yegana Badghisy
Yegana Badghisy was born in the western city of Afghanistan called Herat. An Oasis city, an ancient civilization on the Silk Road between the Middle East, Central and South Asia serving as a regional hub in the country's west. After the conquest of Tamerlane, the city became an important center of academic, artistic and poetic life in the Islamic world. The love for art, design and poetry (Rumi) has always played a major role in Yegana's daily life, perhaps, it has always been running through her veins, and her soul from the very start.
The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan and this brought Yegana and her family to New Delhi India for a short term before returning home, which never happened as the war continued. Family decided it was time to move to Canada, in 1990 Yegana and her family landed in lovely Winnipeg, and now living in Calgary where it's been home since 1995, the longest place she has ever lived in.
The current crisis in Afghanistan is so incredibly devastating for her and all Afghans around the world, especially for the Afghan women living under these barbaric men who call themselves the Taliban..Yegana is continuously helping Afghan women become liberated, whether it's within the Calgary Afghan community, a conversation with friends, encouraging a stranger back home that “she can do it" or simply raising awareness of the oppression of women period. Uplifting, encouraging and motivating women daily is super important for all of women around the world and so much more for the Afghan women.
Family plays the greatest role in her life. Wife to an outstanding German/Austrian man, a mother to two amazing boys, which is her favorite role to play, a role which is the most important in Yegana's life. During these crazy times, Yegana's key for the betterment of her boys is, teaching them the way of God, of course along with being kind, being affectionate and always showing compassion, and kicking butt in their daily activities doing their very best. Traveling is what feeds her soul, adores jewelry and gemstones (Emeralds, Diamonds, Rubies and Sapphires) and of course retail therapy.
Yegana is a top producing real estate agent, with Yegana Real Estate in Calgary, she has been in this role for the past 11 years. Enthusiastic about connecting entrepreneurs to new business locations around the city thrilled to help with home design along with homeowners, whether preparing to sell, construct or renovate.
Episode 62 - Angie Ostojicv
Angie Ostojic, is a devoted mother, loving wife, visionary leader, entrepreneur, passionate speaker, and friend. She was born and raised in the Philippines, Immigrated to Canada in 1996. Angie is passionate about giving back, she founded Brighter Future for the Next Generation, a foundation that aims to help feed, support children’s education by providing school necessities and daily needs in Canada and abroad, wherever is needed.
She also started AO Magazine where ordinary people share extraordinary Life and Business Success Stories, which inspires many. Angie thrives to create a community of like-minded people working towards the same mission and goal and helped numerous men and women achieved financial and time freedom.
Humbled to be nominated for Immigration of Distinctive Award Finalist 2020 Entrepreneurship & Innovation.
She wishes God's guidance to continue to be a supporter of different communities, a frontrunner in supporting new immigrants find their space as entrepreneurs and provide motivations to be productive citizens of this country.
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