Existential Relish
49 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsIn every conversation, stories, insights and perspectives finding joy and purpose in the human experience.
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Episodes
She Who Dares Wins: Meet the Dynamic Dr. Rhonda McEwen
August 16, 2023 12:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBThis episode reveals not only the details about a world-renown researcher, who is a scholar in emerging tech and the first Black woman to be President of a Canadian university, but the radiant human who embodies fearlessness and inspires so many. Friends for two decades, Host C-A Granatstein and Dr. Rhonda McEwen cover a range of topics, like Rhonda's move to middle America from Trinidad as a teenager; her research that informed the creation of Julia, the first Sesame Street Muppet on the ...
Encounters with a Superhero: In Conversation with Batman
July 12, 2023 10:21 - 38 minutes - 53 MBThe episode starts out as a story about a broken down vintage Austin-Healey and a chance encounter with a real life superhero. It evolves into stories about helping others, being part of the fabric of the community, and aslo a big surprise for host C-A’s friend Mike.
Predators and Partners: Tales from a Falconer
June 07, 2023 12:00 - 27 minutes - 38.6 MBIt’s the stuff of movies, mystery and faraway places. Records show that as early as 2,000 BC falcons were used to hunt and feed communities, for sport, and as highly effective pest control. C-A has a fascinating conversation about falconry with the hard-working falcons Bullet and Petey, and Falconer Keith Everett from Falcon Environmental.
Interviewing the Interviewer with Steve Paikin
May 17, 2023 12:00 - 32 minutes - 45.4 MBC-A speaks to Steve Paikin, journalist, author, documentary producer, podcast co-host and host of TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. The conversation focuses on interviewing, but Steve breaks out into song, recalls great moments, surprising moments, being starstruck and a few personal - but not too personal - nuggets.
Forget the pickle dish: Wedding gifts that helped fund breast cancer research
October 23, 2022 00:00 - 35 minutes - 80.9 MBIn a follow-up to Episode 17, C-A speaks to Warren Kotler again, who is not only a guest this time around, but her husband, who lives with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. They talk about the unique conversations considerations that took place when they started dating and why they asked family and friends to donate to the OCTANE research project to mark the occasion of their marriage. C-A speaks with Warren’s lead oncologist, Dr. Philippe Bedard, who is also the principal researcher of th...
Resale therapy - Sustainable Fashion is all the rage
November 09, 2021 15:30 - 32 minutes - 45.5 MBFashion rentals, refurbishment and resale is just about the easiest and most enjoyable way to support local businesses, save money, reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing and rescue clothes from the landfill which pollute water systems and through their decomposition process and incineration, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. C-A talks to Common Sort owner Nicole Babin about her three thriving resale clothing locations in Toronto, her business model, the challenges that come wi...
Building trust and human connection through LEGO
August 11, 2021 14:30 - 1 hour - 83 MBThis conversation with Dr. Kasra (Kas) Khorasani is about a unique approach that he developed for his inpatient psychotherapy groups using LEGO Serious Play methodology. Learn why group therapy is such a valued tool in for psychotherapy and how building with LEGO in Kas's sessions empowers further connection, allowing people to become authentic, genuine, non-judgemental, curious and kind. Show host, C-A Granatstein also does a little building with Kas to understand the process of these s...
Out of the goodness of my liver: A story of living organ donation
June 23, 2021 15:00 - 35 minutes - 49.4 MBIn March 2021, Glenna Gosewich became an non-directed living organ donor. 62% of her liver went to a stranger who was in need of a vital transplant. Glenna sees this as a form of charity, a good deed — something she can do because she’s able, despite the risks, post-op recovery and even judgement from others. Glenna is also a wealth of information on the topic as well as about blood donation. This episode will no doubt get you thinking about different ways you can help others.
Teenage musings on sustainability, getting published and having a boss mentality
May 27, 2021 14:30 - 28 minutes - 39.1 MBJust when you think all teenagers spend every waking moment on TikTok, there’s Naila Moloo. At 15 years old, this STEM researcher's drive to contribute to a sustainable future, her stellar networking tips and her ability to handle rejection with grace in order to get exactly what she wants... is so totally boss. You are guaranteed to learn one life tip from this episode, or at the very least, make you think about reaching just a bit further for your own dreams.
Close to home Part 2 - Stories of neighbourhood businesses in the COVID economy
May 05, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 101 MBClose to home: Stories of neighbourhood businesses in the COVID economy are conversations with six business owners in the St. Clair West community, in midtown Toronto. Part one was published a year ago this week. Like so many things in the last 14 months, the conversations with Cocoa Latte, The Rushton, Ecoexistence, Playfulminds, Philosophy and Koko & Co were scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled, cancelled and rescheduled. Naïvely or optimistically, C-A wanted everyone to have a happy story...
Get in the garden - With Ed Lawrence
April 08, 2021 15:00 - 38 minutes - 52.8 MBEd Lawrence is THE Gardening expert. He was the Chief Horticulturalist for six consecutive Governors General and has been a regular on CBC's Ontario Today show for the last 40 years. Whether you are a beginner gardener or you are well versed in the ways of plants, Ed is a joy to listen to and learn from. In this episode Ed's got plenty to say about growing food, the importance of getting kids’ hands in the dirt and how it always starts with the soil. Stay safe, and get into the garden!
Desk Stress, Inactivity and the Joy of Movement
March 03, 2021 16:00 - 41 minutes - 57.2 MBThe activity level of humans is generally at an all time low as people work from home, spend countless hours on devices and endure waves of lockdowns. Sitting is stressful on the back, hips, neck and shoulders. The lack of movement is being linked to a decline in mental health and an increase in injury. Dr. Waj Hoda is back on the show with preventative solutions and insights towards a pain free existence.
Happily ever after: Embracing the romance novel
February 10, 2021 16:30 - 28 minutes - 41.6 MBSmut, trash, beach read. All terms used to describe the romance novel. This genre often gets a bad rap despite it being a massive industry. C-A speaks to romance author Victoria Denault about writing sex scenes, an unexpected review from comedian Paul Scheer and #Bridgerton fever. As people dream of adventures while shut in, locked down and cut off from finding their needle in the haystack—their partner, lover, soulmate—the romance genre is on fire. Actually, it always was. Check out Victo...
The dog is your guru: Become the peaceful alpha your dog needs and respects
December 30, 2020 16:00 - 42 minutes - 58.3 MBDog loves you. Dog wants to teach you about love and presence and patience and forgiveness and gentleness and benevolence. Dog wants to cherish you, wants you to be a certain way and is always there to teach you. Dogs are meditation masters. Master dog trainer, mindfulness teacher, meditation instructor and soon-to-be author, Jesse Sternberg provides a ton of insight on becoming the peaceful alpha your dog needs and respects; how to tune into your dog’s world; have a deeper connection; mor...
Chicken Soup 101 - Cooking up elixirs during lockdown
November 25, 2020 16:00 - 20 minutes - 28.6 MBJust in time for winter, second waves and lockdowns, C-A learns how to make chicken soup, also known as “Jewish Penicillin”, with help from her mother. Bones or meat? Gloves or no gloves? Turnips or parsnips? Together, but in different cities, mother and daughter get all of these questions answered and more. Check out the Show Notes for the full recipe.
SHOW NOTES: Ep 27 - Chicken Soup 101
November 25, 2020 15:30Here's the recipe C-A and her mother used during this episode: 2 packages of chicken bones and 1 package of thighs OR 1 x 3-4 lb. chicken (preferably organic or free range) Water just to cover chicken, approximately 10+cups 1 tablespoon black peppercorns 1 tablespoon salt 2 large stalks celery 2 large carrots, scraped, cut into chunks 2 parsnips scraped, cut in chunks 1 medium onion peeled and halved 1 turnip peeled and cut in chunks 1/2 cup parsley 1/2 cup fresh dill chopp...
Get out of my head - Zooming with Mysterion the Mentalist
October 13, 2020 19:21 - 26 minutes - 20.7 MBC-A is ready to forget about what's happening in the world and wonders if it's possible for a mentalist to do a show over Zoom. Mysterion the Mindreader, who is one of few to fool Pen and Teller, proves that yes, it is possible! Mysterion blows her mind with a few tricks and they also talk about the mindreading biz during the pandemic. "It's about fun. If I can take you out of that skeptical, headspace and put you into a headspace of wonder, then my job has been successful." - Mysterio...
Kids Help Phone: Game changer life saver - With CEO Kathy Hay
August 19, 2020 13:00 - 51 minutes - 41.5 MBC-A speaks to Kathy Hay, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only 24/7, national support service that offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French. C-A is a volunteer crisis responder with Kids Help Phone. She talks to Kathy about her experience on the texting platform, the spikes in demand and about the organization's commitment to anti-racism from recruitment policies to training to...
Lilies of the alley - an urban gardening story
July 29, 2020 15:52 - 30 minutes - 71.1 MBIn this episode, C-A talks to Sandy Carlton, owner of Arcadian Daylilies, an urban farmer in midtown Toronto in his backyard garden, where he grows about 300 different varieties of daylilies and other plants that perform well in a northern climate. Sandy offers up a wealth of garden wisdom like what chicken fat has to do with daylillies, how to get 400 blooms over the course of a season from one plant and the number one secret to growing healthy plants.
Close to home: Stories of neighbourhood businesses in the COVID economy
May 13, 2020 15:14 - 52 minutes - 73.8 MBSix entrepreneurs from the St. Clair West neighbourhood in midtown Toronto talk candidly about running their businesses over the past nine weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, how they are innovating and what people can do to ensure this community, and communities like St. Clair West, thrive in the new COVID economy. Very special thanks to Playful Minds, COCOALATTE, The Rushton, Philosophy Fitness, EcoExistence, and KOKO + CO
My childhood friend is a hero - With Dr. Daniel Labow
April 29, 2020 15:30 - 29 minutes - 68.5 MBC-A talks to her childhood friend, Dr. Daniel Labow, Chief of the Surgical Oncology Division and Vice Chair of Outpatient Services for the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City about the tough decisions he's had to make as a doctor, husband and father during COVID-19. They also discuss his toughest day on the job and the good that's come out of the chaos while working on the front lines in the epicentre of the US's COVID-19 outbreak.
Loving Kindness during COVID: Metta Meditation
April 15, 2020 16:00 - 23 minutes - 30.9 MBC-A turns to Wendy Lund from Ep. 2, Has Mindfulness Lost its Meaning to see if there is a meditation that could help cultivate a sense of peace in this time of uncertainty. Wendy walks listeners through Metta, or compassion meditation, to help send loving- kindness to the people in our lives and to ourselves.
Loving Kindness during COVID: Metta Meditation
April 15, 2020 16:00 - 23 minutes - 30.9 MBC-A turns to Wendy Lund from Ep. 2, Has Mindfulness Lost its Meaning to see if there is a meditation that could help cultivate a sense of peace in this time of uncertainty. Wendy walks listeners through Metta, or compassion meditation, to help send loving- kindness to the people in our lives and to ourselves.
Physical Intelligence during COVID-19 - With Dr. Waj Hoda
April 01, 2020 15:31 - 18 minutes - 43 MBDr. Waj Hoda, chiropractor extraordinaire from episode 15 - Your body knows, listen to it talks about how he’s helping clients virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, his simple triangle approach to maintaining good health and things you can do to regain a sense of control in a time when everything feels pretty out of control. Visit @drwajhoda on Instagram for daily posts on health and wellness. He covers topics like Physical Intelligence, Preventing Running Injuries and Posture and Sleep ...
Musings of a Musicologist during a global pandemic - with Alan Cross
March 24, 2020 16:15 - 12 minutes - 29.3 MBC-A checks in to see how Alan's doing during the Covid-19 pandemic and how the music industry is faring. Alan's of course got a few band recos plus some thoughts on the emergence of art when society is upside down. C-A gets an answer to a burning question she didn't ask Alan on Ep. 8 - Midlife Playlist. Hint: Turkeys.
Unstuck: Midlife career moves
March 04, 2020 16:30 - 53 minutes - 77 MBChange is hard, but is it more difficult than waking up every day with a feeling that you're living the wrong life? From ad guy to futurist, ethics coordinator to horticulturist, and winemaker to senior leader in gene therapy commercialization, three people share their inspiring stories about reinvention, re-imagining and career shifting — also known as bravery, honesty and personal agency.
Glass half full: A user's guide to thriving in adversity
January 29, 2020 16:00 - 30 minutes - 46.8 MB“I knew coming to an oncologist, I wasn’t here for hemorrhoids,” is just one of the many Warrenisms in this episode about gratitude, whack-a-mole and living life to its fullest, every single day. We all have bad moments, throw ourselves the occasional pity party and hold onto angst longer than we ever should. This conversation with Warren, a person living with Stage 4 Cancer, is beyond worthy perspective. If you're ready to listen. Sound mastering and music by Heavy Reverb
W that's the way it begins: With Elaine Cole
December 30, 2019 21:00 - 24 minutes - 35.9 MBCamp Walden in Palmer Rapids Ontario is a very special place. Built by some very special people in 1970 it has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of kids. In this episode, Elaine Cole, Camp Director, nurse, head cook and camp mother talks about about running a summer camp for 35 years, the music and the man who started it all, her late husband Ted.
Your body knows. Listen to it: With Dr. Waj Hoda
December 11, 2019 17:00 - 37 minutes - 55 MBThis episode with Dr. Waj Hoda gets into the many different ways the body signals what's really going on with you if you listen, what happens if you repress these signs, stress and the pelvic floor, and staying mobile in a time when we are allowing technology to turn us into sedentary beings.
Is spiritual astrology the new Myers-Briggs?
November 27, 2019 17:00 - 40 minutes - 56.7 MBThere are life coaches, psychologists, astrologists and family counsellors. What if there was a way to draw on all of these disciplines to help you understand your best qualities and also make you aware of those personality traits that can trip you up, leading you to a happier, healthier and more purposeful life? The patterns and cycles of the stars and planets are for the most part non-debatable. Spiritual Astrologist Donna Flood talks about their effect on us according to our own uniqu...
SHOW NOTES: Is spiritual astrology the new Myers-Briggs?
November 20, 2019 17:00Jane Fonda's Ted Talk: The three phases of life The big holy s**t around the age of 50 aka The Chiron Return To reach Spiritual Astrologist Donna Flood at Unwrap your Soul to get your natal chart done: https://www.unwrapyoursoul.com/ Info on Donna's Moroccan Retreat Please consider showing your support and becoming a patron of Existential Relish on Patreon.
I am woman, let me sleep: A conversation about menopause and sleep
November 06, 2019 16:30 - 29 minutes - 44.1 MBThis episode is for people out there who are experiencing poor quality sleep because they are women, women who are in that life stage leading up menopause and beyond. Many are hanging on for dear life when it comes to not just getting a decent night’s rest but actually falling asleep. This conversation with Dr. Sara Nowakowski, a clinical psychologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston whose research focuses on sleep and women’s health, covers long-term solutions like Cognitive Behav...
I am woman, let me sleep
November 06, 2019 16:30 - 29 minutes - 44.1 MBThis episode is for people out there who are experiencing poor quality sleep because they are women, women who are in that life stage leading up menopause and beyond. Many are hanging on for dear life when it comes to not just getting a decent night’s rest but actually falling asleep. This conversation with Dr. Sara Nowakowski, a clinical psychologist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston whose research focuses on sleep and women’s health, covers long-term solutions like Cognitive Behav...
SHOW NOTES: I am woman, let me sleep
November 06, 2019 15:30Here is a list of the resources mentioned in the episode: Quiet the Mind and Get to Sleep and other books by Dr. Colleen Carney National Institutes of Aging (NIA) - Menopause Information NIA free pamphlets on menopause North American Menopause Society VA Path To Better Sleep free online automated CBT-I program Improve Your Sleep - VA Self-help management workbook Check out Dr. Sara Nowakowski's web page for articles, resources, studies and more. ...
Why's a nice girl like you shooting guns?
October 16, 2019 15:00 - 35 minutes - 26.3 MBScientist, Psychiatrist and hunter Dr. Albert Wong provides the rational approach on the topic of why shooting guns and hunting is a mental holiday much like yoga is for some, how this form of technical mastery allows humans to be humans in the completely artificial environment that we’ve created for ourselves and how we should save the hysteria for the criminals toting unlicensed weapons.
Insomnia, sleep apnea and getting the winks you need
September 25, 2019 15:30 - 41 minutes - 27 MBThere are so many things that affect the quality and quantity of our sleep and many ways people go about to try and improve their sleep, from THC and CBD to sleeping pills and aromatherapy. With Dr. Michael Grandner, Director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine Clinic, this episode explores some key issues around sleep: how to recognize when the Land of Nod is officially off the map and you've crossed into sleep disorder territory, myths about medication and tips to get this vital, yet elusive ...
SHOW NOTES - Insomnia, sleep apnea and getting the winks you need
September 25, 2019 14:30When you have enough of it life is grand. If you're not getting enough of it, so much can suffer including your health, your decision making and your overall outlook on life. Here are a few key things that Dr. Grandner mentions in this interview and links so you can explore them further: [18:23] The rule of 3s for Insomnia 30 minutes: Does it take you 30 minutes to fall asleep at the beginning of the night or you are awake for 30 minutes in the middle of the night or you are waking up ...
Parents helping other parents cope - Show Notes
September 10, 2019 15:40No matter where you are in the parenting journey, there are going to be bumps. The band-aid kind and the kind that keep you up many a night wondering what you did wrong and how you are going to get your child back on track. Information, compassion and support will help you, as a parent, and in turn your child, because if you are not coping - if you are not healthy - it will be tough for you to help your child. Even if you think it's not your thing...the sharing, the discussion among stra...
Parents helping other parents cope
September 10, 2019 15:05 - 32 minutes - 74.9 MBDealing with a troubled teenage or adult child can be overwhelming. The kids need help and resist any interference in their lives. Parents feel like the only way to remedy the situation is to be "the enforcer," and make their child comply. Things escalate from there and when parents aren’t able to cope, it can make progress seem impossible, and everyone spirals. There’s good news. There’s help out there for parents. In this episode two parents talk about one example of a peer support grou...
Got a life? Get a will - with lawyer Caroline Abela
August 28, 2019 15:30 - 25 minutes - 59.9 MBWhat makes more sense? Doing a bit of paperwork or letting your family duke it out with each other for decades, spending ridiculous amounts of money on lawyers fees as they fight over your stuff after you die? On this episode, we learn why getting a will done by lawyer - for your children, for your spouse or partner, for the people you leave behind - is the only way to go. Got a life? Get a will.
Midlife Playlist with Alan Cross
August 14, 2019 16:00Why can't you and your friends move on from the tunes you listened to in high school? Music journalist and industry veteran Alan Cross talks about the stickiness of the music we attach ourselves, his own music journey, breakup tunes, the power of soundtracks and how both age and access to so much music may actually be getting in the way of broadening our music experience.ce. Episode Playlist Brian Eno music to work by: Music for Airports Thursday Afternoon Break-up music: We belo...
Midlife Playlist with Alan Cross
August 14, 2019 16:00Why can't you and your friends move on from the tunes you listened to in high school? Music journalist and industry veteran Alan Cross talks about the stickiness of the music we attach ourselves, his own music journey, breakup tunes, the power of soundtracks and how both age and access to so much music may actually be getting in the way of broadening our music experience.ce. Episode Playlist Brian Eno music to work by: Music for Airports Thursday Afternoon Break-up music: We belo...
Going Grey - A social experiment about hair and aging
July 31, 2019 14:54 - 33 minutes - 48.2 MBGoing Grey author Anne Kreamer talks about dating, the corporate experience and personal transformation as she embraced and documented the journey of returning to her natural hair colour. Maria Petrou from Little Bird Salon talks about how to transition to your natural colour.
Eco Anxiety is a thing - with Adria Vasil
July 17, 2019 14:00 - 37 minutes - 87.1 MBThere's a new anxiety in town. For real? Real enough that the American Psychological Association published a 69 page guide about the effects of climate change on mental health. In this interview, C-A speaks with Adria Vasil, the Managing Digital Editor at Corporate Knights and bestselling author about her experience dealing with this strange state of being as she faces environmental issues head on, different ways to cope and the choices she would make in a game of Would You Rather. Defini...
Sandra Shamas: On comedy, tractors and carrying the torch
July 02, 2019 18:00 - 34 minutes - 53.4 MBIn this farmside chat with one of Canada's favourite comedic performers, C-A talks with Sandra Shamas about the application for a waitressing job that changed Sandra's life, the rewards of climbing menopause mountain, her experience as a woman in comedy, teaching moments on stage and so much more. This is intimate conversation is filled with wisdom, honesty and of course a few laughs along the way. Please visit Sandrashamas.com to learn more about Sandra and to access her brilliant sho...
Hot Flash: Symptoms, mindset and why Human Resources should care
June 18, 2019 16:00 - 33 minutes - 77.2 MBThis episode to about What to Expect when you're not Expecting to enlighten people about the symptoms of perimenopause, became an eye-opener about the retention of women in senior roles in the workplace. With 4.3 million women in the UK over the age of 51 in the workplace, corporate UK has recognized that should they neglect the health and well-being of this demographic, they will lose valuable talent who are at the top of their game. According to my guest Sally Leech, Founder of UK-base...
A Millennial schools a Gen Xer on the gig economy
June 01, 2019 16:22 - 32 minutes - 41.3 MBThe gig economy is defined as part-time or contract work for more than one employer for under 30 hours a week. It is estimated that more than a third of workers in the US are working in the gig economy. The HBR article, Thriving in the Gig Economy stated that 150 million workers in North America and Europe across demographics are working in the gig economy, also known as freelancing, consulting and precarious employment. No benefits. No guaranteed hours. No guaranteed nuthin. Generati...
Has Mindfulness lost its meaning?
June 01, 2019 15:41 - 36 minutes - 45.4 MBAn industry to commoditize or should we pay closer attention? Guest Wendy Lund is one of about three people in North America with a Masters of Science in Mindfulness studies and about one of 100 globally who hold this degree. Wendy has helped pioneer programs for those who engage trauma in their work to help reduce their risk of psychological injury in the line of duty and recently, with her company Wellth Management, she has created programs for the corporate sector - also a place where peo...
I love you, please sleep in the other room
May 30, 2019 22:56 - 23 minutes - 30.7 MBIs an awkward conversation worth a good night's sleep? In this first episode of Existential Relish, C-A and her partner at the time, talk about their decision to sleep in separate bedrooms. If you value your sleep and your relationship, and both are showing signs of strain, or before they do, then this episode is for you. Music and editing by Dave at Heavy Reverb