The Voice of Women Podcast Episodes: Women's Interesting and Inspiring Real Life Stories
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.
Episode 75 - Megan Gelmon
Megan fell in love with learning about the brain from a young age, as she was diagnosed with epilepsy. The onset of epilepsy changed her demeanor, her life, and her identity. Let’s just say that life got messy! She started to study more about the mind and brain, in 2015 and went on to pursue a Masters in Counselling Psychology shortly thereafter. In 2017, Megan chose to learn more about somatic (body) work, and began to explore yoga more rigorously. She genuinely believes that working with counselling modalities that integrate the exploration of the body and the mind are life-changing. She works with populations who have complex trauma, relationship difficulties, people in periods of transition, epilepsy, and of course, individuals who experience anxiety. She is currently working in Vancouver, BC running a full-time practice that offers 1-1 counselling and online courses.
Episode 74 - Fania Wedro
Fania Wedro was born Fania Hellman in Koretz, Poland on August 25, 1927. When she was fourteen years old, the Nazis took away her father and the other men living in the village. Fania then spent six months in a work ghetto in Koretz, where she escaped two mass killings by the Nazis. After escaping the second mass killing, she lived in hiding in the forest for eighteen months. After being liberated by the Russians in 1944, Wedro was smuggled across various borders and eventually reached a displaced persons camp in Linz, Austria. She became a teacher in the camp and met and married her husband Leo (Leib) Wedro. In 1948, the couple immigrated to Canada and became successful business owners.
Be A Part Of The VOW Movement
The VOW is a community of diverse voices with stories to tell. To be part of a community of inspiration and impact, join us as a guest or as a sponsor and lend your voice to a growing movement of empowerment with The VOW.
To be a guest click here. To be a sponsor click here.