Awaken The Awesome

One of the things I really feel a lot of us are really struggling with these past few years is the fact that we do not take the necessary time to really - and I mean REALLY - get to know and appreciate ourselves. ‘Self-Love’ has really become a buzzword as of late and in the grand scheme of things, as is often the case, I realize that a lot of people simply toss it around cause it sounds nice. That’s unfortunate. If people truly realized how much power lies in harnessing the beauties as well as imperfections that make up the sum of their wonderful being, they would probably spend a bit more time catering to that.  I say this wholeheartedly because I am witnessing a lot of people I care about sluggishly dragging their feet in the sand when it comes to their journey simply because they’re being admittedly weighed down by other people’s opinions of them. I call Foul. Fortunately, today’s guest is a person whom I’ve long admired for her deep-rooted sense of self-wor...

I was pretty much convinced that this conversation was going to be about Fitness, Nutrition, Breath Work and healthy habits. Seeing as how my next guest's expertise revolves around these topics, you'd be forgiven for assuming that it'd be an easy fit for a conversation. However, as these things do, 5mn into it...those assumptions took a Swan Dive out the window. This is why I'm always honest when I tell people I never really know where these conversations are gonna go even when I hit Record. And today's exchange can serve as yet another example as to why that's actually a good thing. As High Performance, Breath & Strength Coach, Cam MacDougall and I had never actually met or exchanged before this call. But as soon as we got into it, I was introduced to a guy with a troubled past, a colourful journey, some pretty liberating truths as well as a sense of purpose I had never experienced before. Filled with an honest, vulnerable account of hi...

Solo Episode. Reaching out to everyone who's dealing with all the stress, anxiety and uncertainty that the past week has brought as the COVID-19 pandemic continues its course. We're all in this together. We're gonna get though this. #StayAwesome You can download the MP3 for this episode by  right-clicking here  and choosing "Save As" Stay up to date - Subscribe to the podcast and get the latest episodes as soon they're published. ( RSS ) ( Apple Podcasts ) ( Google Podcasts )  ( Spotify )   ( T uneIn )   ( Stitcher ) Remember to leave a comment and let us know how we're doing. Either on the blog of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

Solo Episode. There's a virus out there. It's name is COVID-19. It's making a lot of people uncomfortable. My personal take on this very real concern. #StayAwesome You can download the MP3 for this episode by  right-clicking here  and choosing "Save As" Stay up to date - Subscribe to the podcast and get the latest episodes as soon they're published. ( RSS ) ( Apple Podcasts ) ( Google Podcasts )  ( Spotify )   ( T uneIn )   ( Stitcher ) Remember to leave a comment and let us know how we're doing. Either on the blog of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

© Hughe-Robert Marsan (IG:  @hrmarsanphoto ) - All Rights Reserved I always try to learn something from these conversations. One of the issues I'd been dealing with recently is how to properly reconnect with my Haitian heritage. Leaving home is never easy but keeping in touch with your roots is, I believe, a  necessary part of stepping into your authentic self. Which is why I felt it was such a necessity to have my next guest on the program. As one half of the creative duo she forms with her incredibly talented husband, Monvelyno, Riva Nyri is one of those incredible souls that are on such another level of personal truth and empowering magic, that all you can do is listen. Talented dancer, choreographer, children's author, jeweler, mother...as well as a truly incredible singer...Riva's body of work is a manifestation of what we often speak about on this podcast in regards to owning your personal tru...

© Steve Donaldson (IG:  @stevedonaldsonphotography ) - All Rights Reserved We're all trying to achieve a certain level of balance when in comes to the various facets of our lives. Career. Health. Finances. Spirit. Relationships. When it comes that last one, and more specifically, marriage, I'm definitely an advocate for putting in the work towards making the necessary commitment for the long run. But let's not kid ourselves - marriage is not easy. And when things don't work out and two people have to call it quits, there are some very real repercussions, emotional or otherwise that result from that. My guest, Stephanie Delpe, is all but too familiar with this uncomfortable fact.  And it's with a sense of openness, vulnerability and reflection that she bravely chose to return and share her thoughts on this often overlooked truth. On this episode, we discuss cultural u...

As we near our 100th episode, I wanted to take things back to the beginning and reach out to one of the first guests who, in their own special and gracious way, said 'Yes' to being on the program and sharing their story. Jessica Cantave is a special being to say the least. With a sense of mindfulness and truth that has always inspired me and fueled our lifelong friendship over the years, it's always a welcome treat to have her on the podcast. Special side note - when your guest is also your cousin, chances are very good that you'll hit a certain level of intimacy and vulnerability that can only help towards a better understanding of your own personal growth. On this touching episode, we touch on lot of personal insights and individual perspectives on Life, Laughter, Love and even Loss... You never have to look to far for an amazing conversation. This one was totally unplanned, unrehearsed and got...

There are a myriad of reasons why one choses to venture towards his or her dream. Throughout these conversations, I've had the opportunity to take notes and realize that, despite their various backgrounds, individual journeys, respective challenges and personal struggles...a common and undeniable keystone to their relentless pursuit boils down to a very simple word : Love. Love - simply and unapologetically put - is the guiding compass that has consistently kept my next guest on her path and allowed her to keep growing as a talented singer and songwriter. With a bubbly personality and warm energy that you just can't help but get a kick out of, Solara and I had the opportunity to share a great conversation, as we often do on this program, where she gave us a gracious tour of Life from her vantage point. From her coffee addiction, to her family roots, to her incredible love for Haitian culture, to her commitment...

When they say 'you should check on your strong friend', that is very true. Immediate family, relatives, close friends...do we ever really know how the other person is doing or what they're going through? This is a close description of how one text from me to my long-time friend, Emmanuelle Elie , led to this very emotionally-charged episode. When all I did was send a random, fun-filled 'Hi/How're you?'...I wasn't prepared for the reply. Emmanuelle sent me a photo from her hospital bed. With a short comment that went along the lines of : "...when we give everything to our children ...and neglect our own health...been in the hospital for 3 days..." That shook me. In more ways than one. A lot of them having to do whith the fact that Emma, stands on her own as a dedicated, nurturing and tireless mother. The thing about parenting and having kids, is that you hear a lot about the love, p...

Purpose is a truly precious thing. The word gets thrown around a lot but, in my experience, it's rather elusive from how often misunderstood it happens to be. My next guest, Brad Bodnarchuk , just happens to know a thing or two about this very common yet decisive intersection in one's journey towards growth and purpose. With a love for both people and food dating back as far as he can remember,  suffice to say that Brad is a veteran of the food industry. Having since switched gears of sorts, his current mission has him working alongside restaurateurs as an established restaurant consultant  specializing in Team management, Branding, Marketing, and Planning, bridging the obvious yet often overlooked gap between a food service operation's unique set of challenges and opportunities. As a successful Entrepreneur, Business owner, father and host of the very successful Half A Dozen Hospitality podcast, Brad has set a cours...

On this short solo episode, perspective is a heartwarming mentor. Especially when you have to take a look over your shoulder and realise how far the two of you have come...as well as the some of the defining moments that have manifested along the way. Enjoy. You can download the MP3 for this episode by  right-clicking here  and choosing "Save As" Stay up to date - Subscribe to the podcast and get the latest episodes as soon they're published. ( RSS ) ( Apple Podcasts ) ( Google Podcasts )  ( Spotify )   ( T uneIn )   ( Stitcher ) Remember to leave a comment and let us know how we're doing. Either on the blog of via email : awakentheawesome@gmail.com #StayAwesome

Passion - Genuine, authentic passion is infectious. You can feel it from the words and emotion that resonate from the person sitting across from you and you can't help but take notice. My next guest has the kind of dynamic thirst for life that will give you a run for your money. Just upon our initial connection, I could tell right out of the gate that his was the kind of spirited and uplifting personality that I believe we should take notes from. As the host of The Music Shindig, a weekly broadcast on UK's Spire Radio,  Dino Bedrocker  has demonstrated how one shouldn't wait around for permission or invitation to make your goals a reality. As he puts ever so plainly : "...go for it." I learned a lot from this next conversation - from letting go of the fear, to doing away with the outside noise and naysayers, to simply setting a goal and seeing it through...and of course, having fun along the way. You can co...

When you see people you respect and admire accomplish great things while living their purpose along the way, it matters that you not only let them know but to also genuinely celebrate these accomplishments along with them. It is admittedly amazing to witness all the great new things my next guest has been up to since her last appearance on the podcast. On this energy-filled episode, we take the time to not only catch up, but also cover a variety of topics ranging from the power of affirmation to the importance of prioritizing one's self...something she's more than qualified to speak on. As a Certified Life Coach , Speaker, Dance Instructor, Podcaster , Activist, Wife and Mother, Emmanuelle Georges is an example of what powerful ambition and purpose-driven action can lead to. Emmy is a woman of tremendous energy and kindness and it was thrill to have her back on on the program. You can connect with Emmanuelle via her Instagram pa...

What I love about these exchanges I have the opportunity and privilege to share with these amazing individuals is the impactful truth and vulnerability that often resonates from their individual stories. The fact that these are some of the brightest and most dedicated souls I get to chat with is also something to mark as noteworthy. I could've taken this recording in quite a few familiar directions and had my next guest talk about his career, beginnings, accolades, awards, achievements, etc... but that's not why I reached out to him. Thing is, this recording happened purely by drop of coincidence as I was catching up on one Chef Alain Lemaire 's recent episodes from his Chef Talk podcast and the topic of the episode, which in itself was a very short one, was not one I would have brushed over. You can hear it for yourself by clicking below to get a sense of what I mean... I've never been shy about talking my personal...