TAKING THE HELM with Lynn McLaughlin

When Elaine Uskoski received a chilling email from her son, she knew something was deeply wrong. He had stopped attending university classes, missed deadlines, was sleeping all day, barely eating, and had been gaming for up to 16 hours a day. What began as a fearful drive to pick him up from campus became the beginning of a life-altering journey, not just for her son’s recovery, but for Elaine’s new purpose: helping families across...

Dr. Teri Rouse holds a doctorate in behaviour management. She is an international speaker, autism reading specialist and creator of the REAL Peaceful Parenting program. She is on a mission to help families and ed build stronger relationships through empathy, empowerment and emotional intelligence. Whether you are navigating tantrums or teacher burnout, Dr. Teri offers real world strategies that are practical, heartfelt and deeply h...

When Rita Miceli received her son Giaci’s autism diagnosis, her world shifted - but it didn’t break. In the second part of this heartfelt conversation on Taking the Helm, Rita shares how her family navigated the uncertainty, fear, generational and cultural beliefs by building an unshakable foundation of love, support, and understanding.

Rita also reflects on sibling connection, self-care, the steps they took to build their son'...

Rita Miceli is a mother of four and a contributor to the international bestselling book "Ambitious Women Rise: The Amazing Stories of Women Overcoming Obstacles and Creating the Life of Their Dreams."

Living in Windsor, Ontario, with the love of her life, John, Rita is the proud mother of three daughters and her autistic son. She was honoured with the Best New Canadian Manuscript award from the Word Guild for her manuscri...

Assistive technology is more than just a tool—it’s a game-changer for students of all abilities, helping to bridge gaps in learning and create equitable opportunities.

Erin Plumb is a leader in assistive technology with 20+ years of expertise in accessibility, accommodations, and inclusion. She has influenced policies and technologies across public, private, and nonprofit sectors, championing digital equity to ensure all learners h...

Dr. Christine Daigle is a child and adolescent clinical neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist whose work includes brain-computer interface, translating brain signals into commands to control technology. 

Lindsey Frank, M.Ed., CEO of The Butterfly Within and President of the Coalition of Schools Educating Mindfully (COSEM), joins us to explore how cultivating presence through heart-centered practices can transform schools and communities. With over 13 years of experience as an educator and now a global changemaker, Lindsey shares her courageous journey of stepping out of the classroom to embrace a broader mission of empowering other...

Guest Host Kathryn Collins continues the conversation with JackieSavi Cannon. For the past 15 years, Kathryn held the pivotal role of Educational Coordinator, coordinating special education services and collaborating with community agencies to provide comprehensive support for students from kindergarten through grade 12.

Introducing our first Guest Host on Taking the Helm, Kathryn Collins! She has dedicated over 30 years to supporting and educating students from grade school through high school. Her distinguished career has focused on enhancing emotional and social well-being. Kathryn's first guest is Jackie-Savi-Cannon, who has specialized in stress management education for over 30 years, providing services to corporations such as CIBC, TD, RBC,...

Radhika (aka: Rad) Lakhani Esq., LLM JD, is an expert in human conflict resolution and relationship dynamics. She has thousands of hours of experience as a divorce lawyer, mediator, children’s lawyer, court appointed dispute resolution officer, and educator.  

Renata Chubb is a registered Expressive Arts Therapist and Arts Facilitator, working with groups and individuals, from young children to seniors whose backgrounds include a variety of needs and experiences. Whether you are looking to find your way through a challenging situation (e.g., grief, anxiety, substance abuse, medical conditions, relationship issues) or whether you want to rediscover your joy and aliveness, expressive arts ...

Educational technology should play a critical role in fostering both academic achievement and behavioral health. Our children need us more than ever. But has it? Michael Bates has designed a groundbreaking framework to help tech founders understand the challenges faced by our children and youth and their social responsibility to develop products that prioritize student wellness while supporting academic performance. How can these c...

Haze Schepmyer is a Life-Event Transition Consultant dedicated to helping individuals transition from surviving to thriving through life events. Following the unexpected loss of her dream job in 2019, Haze founded Grow My GRIT to spark powerful conversations about facing life's challenges with resilience.

𝑯𝙤𝒘 𝒄𝙖𝒏 𝒂 𝒑𝙚𝒓𝙨𝒐𝙣 𝙬𝒉𝙤 𝙡𝒂𝙘𝒌𝙨 𝙪𝒏𝙙𝒆𝙧𝒔𝙩𝒂𝙣𝒅𝙞𝒏𝙜, 𝒂𝙬𝒂𝙧𝒆𝙣𝒆𝙨𝒔 𝒂𝙣𝒅 𝒔𝙚𝒏𝙨𝒊𝙩𝒊𝙫𝒊𝙩𝒚 𝒎𝙤𝒗𝙚 𝙩𝒐 𝒂 𝒑𝙡𝒂𝙘𝒆 𝒐𝙛 𝙧𝒂𝙙𝒊𝙘𝒂𝙡 𝙚𝒎𝙥𝒂𝙩𝒉𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙨?

Kristi is a woman who broke free from toxic patterns after becoming a mother. She empowers both herself and the teens she now supports. From battling low self-confidence and self-worth to finding a new sense of purpose through motherhood, our guest shares her deeply personal story of growth and resilience.

Angela Legh is best known as the author of her children’s fantasy book series, The Bella Santini Chronicles, which gives children and their parents tools and techniques for emotional balance. For over 50 years, Angela experienced abuse, bullying, and belittlement, and through that exposure, she developed emotional management methods. Angela has been featured in USA Today; she is a Los Angeles Tribune newspaper and magazine columnis...

Jim White is an author, coach and founder of the Family Enrichment Academy. He has spent the last 40 years studying the topics of personal development, marriage and parenting. More importantly, he has also spent those 40 years applying these lessons and living his life as a husband, a father to 6 children and a grandfather to 12 … Papa Jim. What's Jim's connection to the classic storytelling technique of heroes embarking ...

When community members come together and unite through volunteerism, the impact can be profound. How can individuals turn their passion for mental health advocacy into a meaningful impact?

Our guest Ann Coleman shares her intimate insights as she turned the challenges of raising a teen struggling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD into a journey of powerful reflections and growth.