The Stumbling Spirit

You might have recently come across various social media ads showing people on mats rhythmically panting followed by scenes of them sobbing and receiving emotional support with a gentle hand. Celebrity appeal has popularized this practice, which is part of a mindfulness industry worth billions of dollars. I’m talking about Breath Work - one of the top wellness trends at the moment. This body-based approach is said to release and tr...

Arguably the greatest scientific mind who ever lived, Albert Einstein once said, “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.” And, iconic musician, David Bowie, once linked his drive to write songs to his “malevolent curiosity.” This inquisitive quality seems to not only spark new ideas and insights but also inspire creativity and growth. But what is curiosity? Why is it central to the human experience? And, why do ...

When it comes to genetics, some might say that Andy Campbell drew the short end of the stick. Born predisposed to cancer-causing mutations to the BRCA1 gene, Andy has seen his mother and all three of his aunts die of breast cancer, and in 2018, he was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. As if life wasn’t challenging enough, a few years into his chemo treatment Andy’s youngest son tragically ended his life. Despite his heartbr...

Set in the spring of 1973, "Lost Village" is a riveting story of what happens when a displaced Canadian town, robbed of its identity, is confronted with its fakeness and deadly secrets. It’s about the inhabitants who struggle to be themselves and tell the truth, and those who are determined to ruin and silence them - including blackmail and murder. Inspired by true events of his upbringing in rural Ontario, Michael Saver reimagines...

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (or DEI) policies were originally devised to ensure equal opportunities and protections for everyone in the workplace and in higher education. However, such programs are under attack by the current US administration and many multinational corporations and prominent universities have followed suit by ending or rolling back their DEI initiatives. In Canada, there are efforts to protect and improve DEI ...

Qi is the universal life force. It is the cosmic energy that flows through all things. This concept is present in several Asian holistic modalities including Feng Shui. With origins in China, this ancient divination practice dates as far back as 4000 BCE and is still in use today. Drawing upon elements of the natural and celestial realms, Feng Shui is said to influence the flow of energy in our physical world to clear out blockages...

The Asian diaspora has made countless contributions to the growth, success and tapestry of nations around the world. For example, in Canada, Chinese immigrants helped to build the railway which has since become a symbol of Canadian unity. Asians make up 20% of the Canadian population, yet racism persists and anti-Asian hate crime is on the rise. Helping to raise awareness of these issues is Emily Gong, co-founder of Asian Arts...

Since ancient times, astrologers have studied the stars and planetary cycles to offer celestial explanations for earthly events, energy shifts and life circumstances of the past, present, and future. Tarot card reading is another form of divination which came into prominence in the 18th century. And today, if you scroll through your social media feeds, chances are you have seen a multitude of content creators who have combined both...

A few years ago, an American scientist simulated the sound of the big bang - the beginning of all creation in our universe. Early civilizations understood the importance of sound and integrated it in their religious rituals. This custom continues today in many traditions around the world which use instruments, song and chants in ceremonies for healing purposes. In more secular wellness settings, it’s better known as sound bathing. ...

Indian yogi, Sadhguru, once said, “Karma is your survival and your bondage. And if you handle it right, it can also be your liberation.” For holistic therapist, Edit B. Kiss, this quote might well be her mission. Born in communist Hungary, she grew up at a time when spiritual expression was suppressed. As a young woman, Edit did what was expected - she went to university, got her engineering degree and started a family. However, du...

They say that homo sapiens emerged sometime between 300 and 200 thousand years ago. One of the lead scientists in this field of research is award-winning molecular anthropologist, Dr. Himla Soodyall, whose groundbreaking work has traced back some of the oldest DNA linking modern day humans to our origins in Sub-Saharan Africa. In this episode, Himla tells us what our genes can teach us about our earliest ancestors and how our roots...

It’s estimated that there are over 3 trillion trees on this planet, with 842 million hectares of forest in South America alone. One of these gentle giants is said to be the oldest in the world - nearly 5,500 years old. “Gran Abuelo”, or the great-grandfather, is a Patagonian cypress located in Chile. As a child, Jonathan Barichivich marvelled at it, and now as an environmental scientist, he studies it and other trees like it, not o...

A solopreneur is someone who is self-employed and runs their own business by themselves. Although the number of businesses operated by one person is on the rise, many of these ventures fail. Helping to drive down these shutdowns and inspire owners to stay in the game is business coach, Niiamah Ashong. In this episode, Niiamah talks about the advantages of solopreneurship and he explains why being an outlier is essential to building...

Transportation planner, Anthony Smith, is an avid cyclist and endurance athlete. Eight years ago, while doing a long ride north of Toronto, the course of his life took a near fatal turn. He unavoidably crashed his bike into a pick-up truck. Miraculously, he survived but not without injury. The impact dislocated his neck and fractured his spine, which needed two surgeries to fuse back together. And, the driver at fault got off on a ...

Heidi Bornstein is one of the founders of Mindfulness Everyday - a Toronto-based organization offering accessible and practical mindfulness education to improve the well-being of her local community. A key focus for Heidi and her team of trainers is delivering flexible yet effective mindfulness curriculum to youth who are in dire need of support in these uncertain and divisive times. In this episode, Heidi discusses her important w...

At fourteen, Anthony Patrick Manieri bought his first camera. What started off as a hobby taking pictures, soon became a profession. With a successful career in media spanning more than three decades, Anthony’s sought after shots have graced the pages of some of the world's most popular magazines. In recent years, Anthony has focused his lens on a passion project. "Arrested Movement" is the name of his internationally acclaimed por...

In recent times, church leaders, such as Bishop Mariann Budde and Reverend Munther Isaac, have attracted global attention with their impassioned sermons calling for compassion on those suffering from oppression. While from two different denominations, their words reverberated across the Christian world with the weight of a papal address. Reverend Gary van der Meer is a minister and interfaith officer with the Anglican Church of Can...

This is a special retrospective of Season 2 of The Stumbling Spirit Podcast, where I explore two key themes that emerged from this year’s show:

• Identity being one of the facets of resilience;
• And, the real and metaphorical mountains we climb.

Special thanks to all of my guests who shared their stories and insights on cultivating resilience. 

Ep 01: Merel van der Wouden (https://merelvanderwouden.com/)

Ep 02: De...

Renowned psychic-medium, Jackie Dennison, is one-half of the clairvoyant duo on the popular Canadian paranormal show, “Rescue Mediums.” For 7 seasons, Jackie and her partner-in-crime visited haunted houses to bring peace to both homeowners and lingering spirits. Rescue Mediums was one of the first in a wave of psychic-medium reality shows which now seem commonplace. Jackie explains why souls hang back, offers tips on developing our...