Uncomfortable.

In this episode we talk to Lorie Corcuera who back in 2012 called off her wedding. It wasn’t until her partner asked her to marry him, she realized that the relationship wasn’t right for her. Calling off her wedding, and choosing herself over pleasing everyone else, gave her the strength to leave her job, create a successful business and become a coach and a mentor.    About Lorie: Lorie Corcuera is the Co-Founder and CEO at SPARK Creations & Company Inc., a training and development organization that inspires people and companies to create meaningful cultures and workplaces. Over the past 20 years, Lorie has cultivated her people and culture development, community relations, and leadership coaching experience as both a strategic and progressive senior human resources leader and business consultant in the technology, interactive entertainment, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, professional services, and non-profit space. Lorie has a Bachelor of Commerce and Business Administration from the University of British Columbia, is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) with The Coaches Training Institute (CTI), is a Certified Emergenetics Associate with Emergenetics International, an active mentor for Futurpreneur Canada, Dress for Success Vancouver, HR Tech Group, Young Women in Business and Forum for Women Entrepreneurs, and Co-Founder of the social enterprise Enspire Foundation. Lorie is passionate about elevating the life experience at work and cultivating a community that is igniting and enriching our human spirit. To learn more, go to sparkcreationsinc.com.   I hope that you enjoy our conversation but as always there is some adult language so when listening, it’s recommended that you pop your headphones on! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Feel free to connect with Lorie over on social media: Follow Lorie on Instagram @loriec8Follow Lorie on Twitter @loriecorcuera Follow Spark Creations on Instagram @sparkcreationsFollow Spark Creations on Twitter @startyourspark Find out more about Spark Creations by visiting www.sparkcreationsinc.com

In this episode we talk to Julia Kovacs who explains the history and intentions behind Tantra and Tantric Sex. Julia is an intimacy coach who's mission is to change the paradigms of the public’s perception of sex. About Julia Julia is dedicated to empowering everyone to live life orgasmically. She accomplishes this by working with men and women individually, and in groups, to overcome their past conditioning related to intimacy. The goal is to teach people how to live an orgasmic life each moment of their waking hour connected to this potent often unharnessed life force energy. Julia works to change the paradigms of the public’s perception of sex, evolving from shameful junk sex to sacred gourmet sex through creating a bridge between various traditions.    As an intimacy coach, she will give you hands on training, as well as counseling and gently guide you through your own or couple’s sexual blocks to open the door to your  bliss and live in this human body to its best potential.  If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Feel free to connect with Julia over on her websites & social media profiles: www.juliakovacs.com www.soulsexy.life   Join the SoulSexy.Life Facebook group by clicking here.    Check out Julia & Trufelle's upcoming event on June 14, 2019 - Explore your Yoniverse   Other Resources: Orgasmic Meditation: www.onetaste.us   Books: Future Sex: A new kind of free love by Emily Witt Calling in “The One”: 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life by Katherine Woodward Thomas   Got any resources on tantra, orgasmic meditation and/or sex that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

In this episode of Uncomfortable, we chat to Heidi who has been a sex worker for 10 years. Heidi shares details of her life as a sex worker and sugar baby and explains how she has found empowerment, boundary setting and financial independence through the many lessons sex working has provided. About Heidi: Heidi is a 30 year old queer woman and has been a sex worker on/off for the last 10 years. Originally she was drawn to the double life that sex work provided, and found it a useful tool to quit the 9-5 work she had a hard time committing to. Now she uses it as a way to support herself while she grows her photography business. Heidi is lucky to have found empowerment, boundary setting and financial independence through the many lessons sex working has provided. She is currently writing a chapbook of her experiences.    Resources: Read more about the Stop Enabling Sex Traffickers Act (SESTA): https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/1693 Read more about the Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act (FOSTA): https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/1865  Got any resources on sex work that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page!   

In this episode I talk to Shannon MacFarlane. Shannon remembers suffering from endometriosis from as young as 12 years old. Since then she has been diagnosed with three other chronic illnesses. Shannon is also a mother who’s son also suffers from a chronic illness. Shannon shares her journey and what her day-to-day life is like living with illnesses that others struggle to understand.  About Shannon: Shannon lives, loves, and plays in Tacoma, WA, USA, with her husband, son, and kitties. As much as she wouldn’t wish chronic illness on anyone, she’s grateful for the opportunity to rebuild her life around what feels good from day to day and learn to really listen to her body. In this episode, Shannon shares her day-to-day life and explains how chronic illness can be detriment as well as a blessing. If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes! Resources Feel free to connect with Shannon over on her website and Facebook: Website: www.slobberedlens.comFacebook: @slobberedlens This Is Not What I Ordered is a podcast about living with chronic illness. The host, Lauren Selfridge, lives with a chronic illness herself and is a psychotherapist – she brings compassion and insight to her interviews with others. https://laurenselfridge.com/   The Mighty publishes many first-person experiences and resources of many kinds of illness (and different abilities). https://themighty.com/   Got any resources on chronic illness that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page!   

In this episode we explore ethical non-monogamy. I was lucky enough to chat with Tori and Soul of the Torrid Souls podcast. Tori and Soul are a same sex, bi-sexual, ethical non-monogamous couple. They have been together for many years but just recently got married. This was an incredibly fun convo that was highly educational! About Tori & Soul: Tori and Soul are a passionately married couple.  Like many of you they navigate all the normal things of life like family and work.  Perhaps, not so like you, is that they are a same-sex female couple who are both bisexual and are exploring the sexually social and adventurous swinging lifestyle. They happen to have a podcast.  Because they love people and love to try new and different things, they use their experiences to help ignite curiosity and encourage others to open their minds just a wee bit wider.    The Torrid Souls podcast is for couples who are deeply in love with each other and want to explore more ways of being sexually open by using ethical non-monogamy to enhance their relationship. Couples who are curiously considering the swinging lifestyle as well as those completely comfortable in it, can enjoy hearing how they navigate being sexy with each other and sometimes with others.    The intention of their podcast is to inspire other couples to open up to their own torrid soul, to get to know themselves even more, feel more passion, and live a sexier more connected life.  Since joining the lifestyle they say that they are even better together.   This was a really fun conversation to have! I hope that you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Feel free to connect with Tori & Soul over on their website & social media profiles: Website: www.torridsouls.comMake sure to check out the Torrid Souls podcast over on iTunes! Instagram: @TorridSoulsTwitter: @TorridSouls Got any resources on the ethical non-monogamous lifestyle that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Gail was 24 when she unexpectedly fell pregnant. She was in the middle of university, wasn’t in a great financial position, therefore decided to have an abortion. Over 10 years later, she still feels regret over her decision. In this episode Gail shares her story and talks to the lack of education around the topic of abortion.  In this episode I chat with Gail who shares her experience and feelings around having an abortion. Back in 2008 when she was a full-time university student training to become a nurse, Gail fell pregnant. Not really knowing what to do about it she turned to her support network who suggested that she have an abortion due to the fact that she was in school, wasn’t in a financially strong place in her life. Over 10 years later and Gail feels regret over having the abortion. In our conversation Gail talks about the experience she had with medical practitioners at the time, her regret, and the struggles she felt post-abortion. This episode is a very emotional one, but this is a topic that needs to move out of the uncomfortable category! If you have gone through an abortion or a miscarriage, please know that you are not along and that there is help out there. I’ll post some resources on our show notes page. Please make sure to take care of yourself during and after the episode. I hope that you enjoy our conversation but do note that there is some adult language so when listening, it’s best to pop on those headphones! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Post-abortion workbooks: A Season to Heal: Help and Hope for Those Working Through Post-Abortion Stress by Luci Freed and Penny Yvonne Salazar-Phillips Living in Color: The Goal of Post-Abortion Recovery by Jenny McDermid Movie: Vera Drake - a story of a working-class woman in the 1950's who performs illegal abortions. Websites & Helplines: OptionLine - After Abortion Support - they also have a helpline: 1-800-712-HELP and you can use their search function to find centres in your area.  AfterAbortion.org - they have a list of healing programs and articles. National helpline for abortion recovery, toll-free: 1-866-482-5433 If you have any resources on post-abortion recovery that you’d love to share, then please add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

In this episode of Uncomfortable, I chat with Vancouver writer Peggy Liu. Peggy and I discuss how childhood trauma and learned behaviours can affect intimacy and vulnerability in relationships.  About Peggy: Peggy is a writer, story-teller, self-proclaimed bibliophile, and mediocre advice-giver. When she isn't digging her way to the bottom of a peanut butter jar or walking around Vancouver with her camera, she's analyzing and over-analyzing relationship dynamics, cognitive and behavioural patterns, as well as her life choices. She recently completed her undergrad in English Literature at UBC, where she was a mental health columnist for the student newspaper, The Ubyssey. You can find her Mind Your Mind articles on The Ubyssey blog. She's currently working on her first book, to be finished when she can stop overthinking her ideas!   I hope that you enjoy our conversation but do note that there is some adult language so when listening, it’s best to pop on those headphones!   Resources Feel free to connect with Peggy over on her blog & Instagram: Website: www.waxmepoetic.blogspot.com Instagram: @waxmepoetic Make sure to check out Peggy's articles: Mind Your Mind: A recipe for self careMind Your Mind: Self-care doesn't have to mean Netflix aloneSome Days You Are In Pain, And That's OKWhy Highly Sensitive People May Struggle With Codependency   Book Recommendation: Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find--and Keep--Love by Amir Levine and Rachel Heller Vulnerability & Relationships: The Power of Vulnerability - Brené BrownHealthyPlace.com - Relationships CommunityBustle.com - Relationships Mental Health Resources: BC Association of Clinical CounsellorsCanadian Mental Health AssociationJericho CounsellingLifeLine Canada Foundation Got any resources on trauma, intimacy, and vulnerability in relationships that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Andrina Tisi, owner of www.wholelicious.com, is a health & lifestyle coach, yoga teacher & Emotional Freedom Technique practitioner based in Zurich, Switzerland. In this episode We chat with Andrina Tisi about the shame around money and the emotional toll an inheritance can present. Andrina lost her dad when she we just 15, then her brother just a few years ago. Even though she can live comfortable from the inheritance that was left to her, she would give it all back just to spend another 5 minutes with them. ⁣ Andrina had opens about the emotions she felt around receiving an inheritance when her dad passed away and how it brought a lot of guilt and shame. We also chat about how money, regardless of circumstances, can solve problems, create problems and bring about strong emotions and feelings. Please note that this episode contains adult language. We recommend you pop your headphones on while listening!   Resources Feel free to connect with Andrina over on her website & social media profiles: Website: www.wholelicious.com Instagram: @wholeliciousFacebook: @wholeliciousTwitter: @andrinactisi Got any resources on money and shame that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

In this episode we explore Cervical Fluids. I love this topic and am so happy that I found Jessica Roberts-Farina who is an avid fan of tracking her cervical fluids! We chat about the stigma around this topic and go into detail on the types of fluids and what they can mean.   Jessica Roberts-Farina is a communications and marketing professional born and raised in Vancouver. Her journey into tracking her cervical fluid began in May after experiencing a complete breakdown of her health and a decision to take control of her health and wellbeing. When not tracking her menstrual cycles, Jess spends her time dancing, birding, and trying to be best friends with all the dogs in her neighbourhood. In this episode, Jessica and I get into detail about cervical fluids. Please note that neither Jessica or I are medical professionals. We are speaking solely from our own research and experience. If you do feel that there is something abnormal about your cervical fluid, then please consult a medical professional. We do get into some graphic details in this episode, and as always there is some adult language so make sure to pop your headphones on! Enjoy! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources Feel free to connect with Jessica over on her LinkedIn account.  We highly recommend the following apps for tracking your period and cervical fluids (again, we are not being paid by either of these companies): Clue:www.helloclue.comGet the app over on the App Store Flo: www.flo.health.comGet the app over on the App Store Got any resources on cervical fluids that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

In this episode we explore Anal Health. Thanks to Kerin "KB" Berger Founder of Queer MEDucation who answers our questions specifically around Anal Sex, the risks involved, and how to do it safely. Kerin "KB" Berger is the founder of Queer MEDucation, a website and podcast about improving the quality of health care for LGBTQI+GNC people. Kerin is a Physician Assistant licensed under the National Certification Commission of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and the Physician Assistant Board of California. Kerin’s clinical practice includes queer health, sexual health, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), HIV care, and dermatology. The Queer Meducation podcast is a series of interviews with medial experts, mental health professionals, students, advocates, community members and allies that are passionate about improving the health and well being of queer people. I highly recommend that you check it out! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources Feel free to connect with Kerin over on the Queer MEDucation website & social media profiles: Website: www.queermeducation.comMake sure to check out the Queer MEDucation Podcast over on iTunes. Instagram: @QueerMEDucationFacebook: @QueerMEDucation The American Sexual Health Association: ashasexualhealth.org Centre for Disease Control: cdc.gov Got any resources on anal health that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! 

Every parent has their own birthing story. Jackie Chemelli shares her experience birthing her beautiful twin boys Sawyer & Miller and the decisions she had to make during and after the birth. "It's not like in the movies" Jackie assures us.  Jackie Chemelli is the founder and owner of Lace Brick Design, an adventure lifestyle brand for women. She also recently launched an adventure brand for baby girls: Baby Brick Brand! Jackie loves french fries & foggy forests and she never says no to an adventure! She's a partner to one of Canada’s top western leathersmiths, Ben Forster TFB Leather and a new mom to the coolest twin boys, Sawyer & Miller. Jackie thrives on building community & connecting like-minded go-getters. She loves sharing her obsession with entrepreneurship, her accumulated brand building knowledge, & her passion for a creative life. Working hard each day to find a humble balance in love, life, motherhood, and business, Jackie challenges herself to live her best life in a way that inspires others to do the same! If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources Feel free to connect with Jackie over on her website & social media profiles: Website: www.lacebrickdesign.com Instagram: Lace Brick Design: @lacebrickdesign Baby Brick Brand: @babybrickbrandJackie Chemelli: @jaclyn_lisa Facebook:Lace Brick Design: @lacebrickdesign Baby Brick Brand: @babybrickbrand If you are interested in reading about the birthing experiences of other parents then check out this link to thebump.com.  And we found a podcast on birthing stories (and more)! Check out The Birth Hour by Bryn Huntpalmer.  Got any resources on birthing that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! Feel free to share your own birthing story in the comments. We'd love to hear it!

Megan is a Vancouver based graphic designer and creative. She is passionately driven and continuously inspired by the power of story-telling and ability to connect with others through shared experiences. At her final year at Emily Carr University + Design she began Of Loss and Grief, an award winning project exploring the ongoing and very personal process of life after loss. Between her personal projects and working at a local design studio, Megan is a front porch and hammock enthusiast, an avid traveler and gallery-goer. She’s a daughter, older sister, friend, feminist, aspiring boss lady! We talk pretty candidly about loss and grief. If you have lost someone recently then please do listen with care and make sure that you are kind to yourself and take care of yourself during and after the episode. If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Feel free to connect with Megan over on her website & social media profiles: Website: www.megan-kwan.com Of Loss & Grief: www.oflossandgrief.co Instagram: @mkwan.design   References to things we made in the episode:   Books: Smoke Gets Your Eyes: And Other Lessons from the Crematory by Caitlin Doughty What to do when I'm gone: A mother's wisdom to her daughter by Suzy Hopkins The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom   Got any resources on body positivity that you'd love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we'll add them to this page! Thanks!    

Caroline MacGillivray is the founder of Beauty Night Society, a Vancouver based organization that helps build self esteem & change the lives of impoverished women. At the tender age of 3, Caroline began to explore a relationship with movement. Ballet, writing, musical theatre, voice overs and acting classes fleshed out her world. In 2000 while researching an acting role, Caroline founded Beauty Night Society based on an interaction she had with a women who needed help. After 18 years, Beauty Night Society, is an award-winning registered Canadian charity. Beauty Night has given more than 50,000 life-makeovers to women who live in poverty. Her efforts have not gone unnoticed: she is honoured to be a 2002 Flare Volunteer Award (national) recipient, Shakti Public Service 2012 recipient, 2010 Spirit of the Crane Gold Community Award recipient, MetoWe Finalist (National), 2 time Woman of Worth finalist and a five-time YWCA Woman of Distinction Nominee. In addition to wellness and health promotion work, Caroline began teaching classes. Workshops, speaking engagements, dance, qigong, yoga & aerial yoga are some of the offerings she shares. In addition to her work with Beauty Night Society,  Caroline is a Masters in Medical Qi Gong, Yoga Teacher & radio show host. In this episode, Caroline discusses body positivity and self-care and why it’s so important to look after number 1 (that’s YOU!)   If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes!   Resources: Feel free to connect with Caroline over on her website & social media profiles: Website: www.carolinemacgillivray.com Instagram: @caroline_macgillivrayTwitter: @qi_salon Find our more about her amazing work with Beauty Night Society by visiting www.beautynight.org. Caroline is also the host of two local radio shows Sexy in Vancity and Humans of the Downtown Eastside both hosted on Save on Radio. Make sure to check them out! References to things we made in the episode: Caroline mentioned Mike Writing Narrated Blog – where Mike Wright reads out blog posts for those who are too busy to read! Short guided meditations using apps Calm or Headspace. Documentary “Petals – Journey into Self Discovery” based on the book “Petals” by Nick Karras   Got any resources on body positivity that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! Thanks!

It can be difficult enough navigating through life living with one mental health diagnosis. Kirsten Barkved shares her story of living with two. Kirsten suffers from both anxiety and depression. In this episode she explains how one can trigger the other and discusses the things that help her cope – one of which is her adorable dogs. Kirsten Barkved is a writer who thinks that the best way to solve all your problems is to melt some cheese on them. When she isn’t dismantling the patriarchy, petting as many dogs as possible, or trying to finish her first novel, she is exploring the very complicated, very necessary work of breaking apart the stigma of mental illness in her writing. Kirsten is very open about the fact that she suffers from both anxiety and depression. During our conversation she walks me through her journey of coping with not one, but two mental health disorders. We talk pretty candidly about mental health and Kirsten does describe the feelings and experiences that she has so if you are someone who also suffers from a mental health issue then do listen with caution and make sure that you are kind to yourself and take care of yourself during and after the episode. If you enjoyed our intimate conversation then feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of this page or rate us highly over on iTunes! Resources Feel free to connect with Kirsten over on her social media profiles. Twitter: @kirstenbarkvedInstagram: @keerstun BC Association of Clinical CounsellorsCanadian Mental Health AssociationJericho Counselling Got any resources on anxiety or depression that you'd love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we'll add them to this page! Thanks!

Leah Carey is a sexual communication coach who helps women learn to communicate about sex so they can get what they really want in the bedroom.  She is the creator and host of the podcast “Good Girls Talk About Sex.”   Sexual freedom is a subject that is deeply personal to Leah because she spent most of her life being a VERY good girl.  She only had sex inside committed relationships and most of that sex was either boring or painful.   In 2017 she had the opportunity to leave everything behind and travel the United States on a journey she called her “Freedom Tour.”  Little did she know that along the way she would discover her sexual freedom as well.   She is passionate about breaking the silence, fear, and shame around women’s sexuality and pleasure, and redefining what it means to be a “good girl.”   You can find Leah online at www.LeahCarey.com, and on social media channels as @IAmLeahCarey.  The podcast “Good Girls Talk About Sex” is available on all major podcasting platforms.   Resources Feel free to connect with Leah over on her website and social media profiles. Websites: Podcast: Good Girls Talk About SexWebsite: www.leahcarey.com Social Media: Twitter: @IamLeahCareyInstagram: @IamLeahCareyFacebook: @IamLeahCarey Resources: Dr. Evelin Dacker – www.MakeTimeForTheTalk.com Sex Positive Resources Vancouver: Vancouver Sex Positive Society – Meetup.comSex Positive Magazine – Vancouver Events Got any resources on sex positivity that you’d love to share? Add them to the comments or tweet them to us @uncomfy_podcast and we’ll add them to this page! Thanks!