Mind of Her Own
45 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsMind of Her Own is hosted by Julie Trites, a passionate women’s mental health advocate known for speaking her mind about her own struggles with postpartum depression and generalized anxiety disorder. On each episode Julie shares inspiring conversations with women who are breaking down the stigma and busting through the shame of mental illness. With equal parts humour and heart, Julie and her guests take a fresh look at the world – news, pop culture and everything in between – through the lens of women’s mental health.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Ep 44: Acupuncture, panic attacks and grounding strategies for 2020
February 01, 2020 14:49 - 35 minutes - 31.5 MBMichelle Tadique is back to discuss her first experience with cosmetic acupuncture and how it inspired her to explore the mental health and overall wellness benefits of the traditional Chinese treatment. They also chat about Julie’s upcoming 40th birthday, the benefits of stepping away from social media, and some grounding strategies that Julie has learned to help manage anxiety and decrease panic attacks. Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s he...
REPLAY: Merry, Merry Mental Health!
December 08, 2019 23:43 - 36 minutes - 32 MBEnjoy this encore episode from December 2018 featuring Julie and Michelle Tadique checking in on their mental health, sharing tips for coping with holiday stress and suggesting some ideas for giving the gift of self-care and better mental wellness. Thanks for tuning into Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favourite episodes on social media ...
Ep 43: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) with Tara Mandarano
November 17, 2019 14:54 - 31 minutes - 28.2 MBJulie talks to writer, editor and mental health advocate, Tara Mandarano, about living and parenting with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) – a more severe, darker form of PMS she was diagnosed with after the birth of her daughter. Connect with Tara Mandarano Taramandarano.com Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Resources mentioned: More than PMS: How premenstrual dysphoric disorder affects my parenting – Tara Mandarano, The Washington Post Canadian Association of Mental Health ...
Ep 42: Opting out of alcohol with Allison Garber
September 22, 2019 14:57 - 45 minutes - 39 MBAllison’s world was turned upside down when her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer last summer, and she began self-medicating with alcohol. Like so many women, Ally found herself taking the edge off her anxiety and OCD, and numbing her pain, with wine. Next week Ally will mark 12 months of sobriety – one full year of figuring out how to manage her mental illness and grieve the loss of her mom – all while navigating the pervasive drinking culture surrounding her. She’s learned a lot al...
Ep 41: Journaling for your mental health with Meryl Cook
April 07, 2019 19:21 - 29 minutes - 26.2 MBJulie talks to Meryl Cook, an author, speaker and artist who specializes in connecting people with their creativity and helping them get unblocked when they find themselves mentally stuck or completely overwhelmed. Meryl shares how she reinvented herself during her recovery from breast cancer, how she uses journaling and sketching as a form of self-care and some really practical tips for tapping into your creativity and holding space to take care of yourself and your mental health. Connect...
Ep 40: New job stress and crying at work with Michelle Tadique
March 11, 2019 09:30 - 34 minutes - 30.7 MBJulie and Michelle are back together and chatting about Julie’s new job and all the anxiety and discomfort that goes along with being the new person at work. They also share some of their most cringe-worthy crying at work memories. Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favourite episodes on social media and subscribe to the sh...
Ep 39: Inside the calculating mind of Anja Burcak
February 26, 2019 02:07 - 21 minutes - 20.1 MBJulie talks to mental health advocate and blogger Anja Burcak. Anja was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 as a college student and she started her blog called “The Calculating Mind” during her first manic episode in 2015. Her own lived experience with mental illness has given her valuable insight into the struggles that many others face finding the right diagnosis and treatment and she hopes that sharing her story will create more open conversations about mental health. Connect with A...
Ep 38: Real talk about mental health with Traci Melchor
January 29, 2019 10:30 - 33 minutes - 29.4 MBJulie talks to Canadian broadcasting trailblazer Traci Melchor, one of the original co-hosts of CTV’s daytime talk show The Social and current senior correspondent for the entertainment news show eTalk. Traci opens up about mental health challenges she faced in 2016 that forced her to take a six-month break from her successful career in order to take better care of herself so that she can stay mentally healthy for life. Connect with Traci Melchor: Traci Melchor on Instagram Traci Melch...
Ep 37: Lawyer and stigma fighter Beth Beattie
January 28, 2019 10:30 - 30 minutes - 24.3 MBJulie talks to Toronto-based lawyer Beth Beattie who is one of the Friends of the Bell Let’s Talk campaign – Canadians from all walks of life sharing their personal stories about living with mental illness. Beth spent years hiding her Bipolar Disorder from almost everyone in her life - partly because she was worried about how clients and co-workers would treat her if they knew about her illness. But that all changed two years ago when she decided to open up to a couple of co-workers who were...
Ep 36: Mental health advocate and writer Charlotte Underwood
January 22, 2019 03:16 - 23 minutes - 21.8 MBJulie talks to Charlotte Underwood, a 23-year-old mental health advocate and writer who opens up about her experiences with anxiety, depression and addiction. As a teenager Charlotte was an outsider who didn’t fit in and for years she was the target of school bullies who didn’t like that she was different. At the age of 14 she was self-harming and abusing alcohol and was generally living a pretty reckless life trying desperately to feel like she belonged. She’s come a long way since then – u...
Ep 35: Overcoming obstacles with the Bipolar Blonde Shivonne Lewis
January 07, 2019 10:30 - 26 minutes - 23.7 MBJulie talks to Shivonne Lewis who writes very candidly about living with mental illness on her blog called The Bipolar Blonde. Shivonne is an outgoing and fun mother and teacher, but shortly after her marriage fell apart, so did she. Her bipolar diagnosis is fairly new and she’s very much on a personal journey to discover who she is now that she’s taking care of herself, managing her mental illness and using her voice and her story to help others. Connect with Shivonne Lewis: TheBipolarB...
Ep 34: Merry, Merry Mental Health!
December 18, 2018 02:43 - 36 minutes - 32 MBWith Christmas only one week away Julie and Michelle are checking in with their mental health, sharing tips for coping with holiday stress and suggesting some last minute ideas for giving the gift of self-care and better mental wellness. Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If you enjoyed this week’s episode, head over to Apple Podcasts and leave a rating and review. Don’t forget to share your favourite episodes on social media and subscr...
Ep 33: Maternal mental health with medicated mommy Jen Schwartz
November 19, 2018 10:30 - 38 minutes - 33.8 MBJulie talks to Jen Schwartz, creator of The Medicated Mommy Blog and founder of MOTHERHOOD | UNDERSTOOD, a social media platform that specifically talks to the 20 per cent of moms who experience maternal mental health issues like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and a ton of other brain chemistry issues that hinder women from feeling like successful moms. Jen is committed to taking the taboos around maternal mental health public and empowering moms everywhere to make self-care a pri...
Ep 32: That's what friends are for
November 05, 2018 10:30 - 36 minutes - 31.6 MBGood friends are great mood boosters and social connections do wonders for your overall well-being. That’s why Julie and Michelle are a focusing on all things friendship in this episode – what they look for in a friend, the challenges of meeting new friends when you're an introverted, anxious adult who likes to stay home in sweatpants and the importance of staying connected with friends as a form of self-care. They also respond to a listener email about how to talk to a friend who may be str...
Ep 31: Busting the stigma of mental illness with Amy Keller Laird
October 09, 2018 00:05 - 28 minutes - 25.6 MBJulie talks to award-winning lifestyle journalist Amy Keller Laird. She's SELF’s wellness correspondent, previous Editor-in-Chief of Women’s Health and Beauty Director of Allure, and founder of @club_mental, a new Instagram brand that looks at women’s lives and wellbeing through the lens of mental health. They chat about Amy’s OCD diagnosis, and the changes she’s witnessed during her career in the way that women’s mental health and wellness are reflected in traditional and social media. Co...
Ep 30: Mental health setbacks & duck syndrome defined
September 19, 2018 01:03 - 38 minutes - 30.8 MBJulie and Michelle are back for some real, relatable talk about their own mental health. Julie is doing a self-care reset after a stressful few weeks led to an anxiety setback and scary panic attack while Michelle is relating to “duck syndrome” – a tendency to appear calm, cool and collected while in reality you’re frantically trying to keep up with the demands of life. Resources mentioned: What TF is Duck Syndrome? (And how to cope with it) – Girlboss.com Thanks for tuning in to Mind...
Ep 29: Mental Health within the Black Community with Stacy-Ann Buchanan
September 13, 2018 02:48 - 37 minutes - 30.3 MBJulie talks to actress, producer, filmmaker and mental health advocate Stacy-Ann Buchanan. Her award-winning documentary, The Blind Stigma, focuses on mental health within the black community and was inspired by her own personal experience with anxiety and depression. Connect with Stacy-Ann Buchanan: Stacyannbuchanan.com Stacy-Ann Buchanan on Twitter Stacy-Ann Buchanan on Facebook Stacy-Ann Buchanan on Instagram Resources mentioned: The Blind Stigma: Mental Health within the Bl...
Ep 28: Borderline Personality Disorder with Lydia Giles
September 04, 2018 02:32 - 29 minutes - 23.8 MBJulie talks to Lydia Giles about her experience living with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), a mental illness that can make managing emotions and maintaining healthy relationships extremely difficult. Lydia is a wife, mother and Chartered Professional Accountant in Calgary. She was diagnosed with BPD at a young age but didn’t fully accept her illness until many years later when she discovered the benefits of Dialectal Behaviour Therapy. Connect with Lydia Giles: lydiajgiles@gmail...
Ep 27: Back to school. Back to reality.
August 29, 2018 01:44 - 24 minutes - 19.9 MBThe easy, breezy days of summer are coming to an end which means that parents and kids are getting back into routines, schedules and the dreaded task of making school lunches. Julie and Michelle chat about keeping their anxiety in check during the transition into fall and all the hectic chaos this time of year can bring. Grab your coziest sweater, curl up with a pumpkin spice latte and enjoy the show! Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If...
Ep 26: Talking about mental health at work with Melanie McGregor
August 20, 2018 09:30 - 44 minutes - 36 MBHow do you talk about your mental health at work? What do you say to a co-worker who may be struggling with mental illness or a mental health issue? Julie talks to Melanie McGregor from the Halton Region branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association about how she opened up to her boss about her anxiety, and how her own personal experience with mental illness makes her passionate about helping people and workplaces learn how to encourage and support mental wellness, balance and recovery. ...
Ep 25: Hormone remix – periods, PMS and perimenopause
August 16, 2018 02:21 - 41 minutes - 33.3 MBJulie and Michelle are back together and sharing their reactions to the last MOHO episode featuring hormone expert Nicki Williams. PMS, heavier periods, hair loss, weight gain, brain fog, anxiety spikes and more – the ladies get real about all of it. They also chat about a new initiative that will see first-year students at the University of Waterloo receive mental health first aid kits and Olay’s new Face Anything campaign featuring Elyse Fox, mental health advocate and founder of the Sad G...
Ep 24: Hormone havoc on mental health with Nicki Williams
August 06, 2018 12:32 - 39 minutes - 31.5 MBJulie talks to Nicki Williams, award-winning nutritionist, hormone expert and author. After failing to find any medical help for her symptoms of exhaustion, weight gain and hormone issues in her early 40’s, she discovered that she could turn things around using diet, lifestyle and natural supplements. She started her own business called Happy Hormones for Life which focuses on helping women in their 40’s and 50’s address hormone imbalances and she sees a lot of women who are struggling with...
Ep 23: Tapping into your creativity to help your mental health with Jenipher Lyn
July 23, 2018 09:30 - 22 minutes - 18.4 MBJulie talks to Jenipher Lyn, an artist and illustrator on a mission to encourage and inspire young girls and women who are struggling with negative thoughts about themselves and low self-esteem. After spending years feeling depressed, lonely and not good enough, Jenipher began a nightly drawing routine to help her deal with her depression and anxiety. Her whimsical doodles caught the attention of others who appreciated her honesty, and now she has a new book for young girls called Find Your ...
Ep 22: Self-care Session – summer state of mind
July 19, 2018 10:21 - 24 minutes - 19.5 MBJulie and Michelle are back for their second Self-care Session chatting about getting outdoors, the search for their next summer reads, vacation time and taking advantage of the longer days to slow down and enjoy life. Julie talks about getting back into yoga to stay active, and the ladies share their Bright Spot for the week - Serena Williams’ inspiring speech following her Wimbledon loss. Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets inside a woman’s head! If you enjoye...
Ep 21: Depression doesn't define me with Stephanie Graham
July 16, 2018 09:30 - 28 minutes - 22.5 MBJulie talks to Stephanie Graham, owner of a successful boutique consignment store in Nova Scotia who has struggled with depression on and off for most of her life. Stephanie opens up about how she’s learned to cope with her depression while navigating a very public divorce, a job layoff and a significant career change – all while raising her three daughters. Her mental health journey has led her to embrace her vulnerability, influenced the way she runs her store and inspired her to develop ...
Ep 20: Worried sick – life with generalized anxiety disorder
July 10, 2018 02:45 - 46 minutes - 37.1 MBJulie and Michelle discuss Julie’s generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and what it’s like to have a mind that loves to ruminate on negative, irrational thoughts and jump to the worst case scenario. Julie also talks candidly about struggling with anger when her anxiety is at its worst and the journey she’s taken to find a medication that helps her manage her thoughts, which included genetic testing through the CAMH IMPACT Study. They also discuss a new peer support program for TTC workers who ...
Ep 19: Self-care Session – the skin we’re in
July 05, 2018 00:01 - 34 minutes - 27.9 MBIn the first Mind of Her Own Self-care Session Julie and Michelle take a deep dive into one of Michelle’s favourite topics – skin care! They share their favourite products, walk through their routines and chat about why it’s so important to take care of the skin you’re in. Products and resources mentioned: Arbonne Calm Gentle Daily Cleanser Pixi Glow Tonic Origins Original Skin Essence Lotion NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG Origi...
Ep 18: Autism, mental health and moving beyond awareness with Patricia George Zwicker
July 02, 2018 16:39 - 36 minutes - 29.3 MBJulie talks to Patricia George Zwicker, an autistic disability rights and mental health advocate from Nova Scotia. Autism is not a mental illness, but autistic people often struggle with co-occurring mental health conditions including anxiety, PTSD, OCD and depression. Patricia shares what it’s like to face the negative stigma and bias surrounding autism, the toll it takes on her mental health, and the urgent need for society to move beyond just talking about autism awareness to understandin...
Ep 17: Women, wine and why we drink with Michelle Tadique
June 25, 2018 09:30 - 27 minutes - 21.9 MBJulie and Michelle enjoy a glass of wine as they reflect on last week’s episode featuring Ann Dowsett Johnston, a recovering alcoholic who raises some alarming concerns about rising rates of women developing alcohol addictions. They chat about drinking culture, self-medicating with alcohol, their own drinking habits, gender differences related to alcohol use, the ways marketers promote drinking to women and why we should be talking about this issue more. They also discuss recent mental healt...
Ep 16: The intimate relationship between women & alcohol with Ann Dowsett Johnston
June 18, 2018 09:30 - 23 minutes - 16.6 MBOn this week’s episode Julie talks to Ann Dowsett Johnston, bestselling author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol. Ann is a journalist who spent most of her career at Maclean’s magazine before taking on the role vice-principal of McGill University in 2006. From the outside looking in, Ann appeared to have it all together. But behind closed doors she was battling an addiction to alcohol that would ultimately unravel everything and land her in rehab. Now 10 years sob...
Ep 15: Talking out a tough week with Michelle Tadique
June 11, 2018 09:30 - 25 minutes - 20.2 MBMental illness and suicide made news headlines last week following the tragic deaths of fashion designer Kate Spade and famous chef and TV personality Anthony Bourdain. Julie and Michelle share their reactions to the news and discuss how high-profile celebrity suicides can impact and sometimes trigger others. They also review a new online women’s mental health self-check tool recently launched by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in partnership with Shoppers Drug Mart. Re...
Ep 14: Navigating the ups and downs of bipolar disorder with Rebecca Lombardo
June 04, 2018 09:30 - 24 minutes - 19.5 MBOn this week’s episode Julie talks to mental health advocate and author Rebecca Lombardo. Rebecca was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when she was 19 years old and has battled with that illness as well as several other conditions for more than 20 years. After the death of her mother, her depression was just too much for her to take and she attempted suicide in 2013. Grateful that she survived, Rebecca started writing about her experience and decided to share her story in the hopes that she c...
Ep 13: Mental health mashup with Michelle Tadique
May 28, 2018 09:30 - 36 minutes - 29 MBIt’s a mixed bag of mental health topics on this week’s episode. Julie and Michelle discuss the television return of 13 Reasons Why and its impact on teens and their parents as well as two very different raw, honest and humourous portrayals of motherhood in the movie Tully and in Ali Wong’s latest Netflix comedy special. They also chat about a recent Globe and Mail column questioning how many Canadians actually suffer from mental illness. Resources mentioned: 13 Reasons Why Tully – off...
Ep 12: Overcoming negative body image with Lisa Staples
May 21, 2018 09:30 - 20 minutes - 16.2 MBOn this week’s episode Julie talks to Lisa Staples, a former accountant turned health coach and wellness advocate who says she spent three decades feeling fat, sick and depressed. Teased about her weight as a child, Lisa spent years obsessively dieting and exercising because she believed the only way to be happy was to be thin. But when she reached her goal weight, Lisa was still depressed. Realizing that her negative thoughts about her appearance were distorting her perception of reality, ...
Ep 11: Mama, you need to mind your mental health
May 13, 2018 22:55 - 34 minutes - 27.3 MBIn honour of Mother’s Day Julie and Michelle focus their conversation on topics related to maternal mental health. They reflect on their own first-time experiences of becoming moms and discuss the challenges they faced including postpartum depression and anxiety, the shame of not being able to breastfeed, guilt about going back to work and the very real struggle of rediscovering their lost identities after bringing babies into the world. Michelle joins Julie every other week to discuss how...
Ep 10: Postpartum depression and intrusive thoughts with Kay Richardson
May 07, 2018 09:30 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBOn this week’s episode Julie talks to Kay Richardson, a successful business mentor, author and speaker from Miami, Florida. Shortly after having her second child seventeen years ago she began having intrusive, scary thoughts about harming her baby – a common symptom of postpartum depression. But because she was so ashamed and frightened, she never told anyone. Now she’s speaking out and sharing her story to shine a spotlight on maternal mental health and help other mothers. Connect with Ka...
Ep 9: Coffee and concealer: self-care routines and mental health must-haves
April 30, 2018 09:00 - 31 minutes - 25.1 MBOn this episode Julie and Michelle tackle self-care – from beauty products and bra fittings to working out and winding down – they discuss what self-care means to them, the things they do to stay mentally healthy and the things they need to work on. Spoiler alert: there’s plenty of room for improvement. Michelle joins Julie every other week for a very honest and real conversation about how women’s mental health issues play out in the media, pop culture and in the everyday lives of women ev...
Ep 8: Talking OCD with Allison Garber
April 23, 2018 09:30 - 34 minutes - 27.4 MBOn this week's episode Julie talks to her friend Allison Garber who was diagnosed in her early 20s with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She struggled her entire life, but didn’t appreciate the severity of her issues until she began an internship in Toronto and her symptoms began to rapidly escalate. She reached out for help and went back home to Halifax to live closer to her family after her diagnosis, and was able to manage the impact of OCD and anxiety on he...
Ep 7: Reflecting on the week that was with Michelle Tadique
April 16, 2018 10:00 - 22 minutes - 18.1 MBOn this episode Michelle Tadique joins Julie to chat about how they’re feeling now that the podcast is officially out in the world for all to hear. They also discuss several big news events of the week related to mental health including the Humboldt Broncos tragedy and Mariah Carey’s public announcement that she has Bipolar Disorder. Michelle joins Julie every other week for a very honest and real conversation about how women’s mental health issues play out in the media, pop culture and i...
Ep 6: When postpartum packs a punch with Kristina Cowan
April 08, 2018 11:00 - 33 minutes - 27.1 MBHaving a baby and becoming a mother is supposed to be joyful – but what if it’s not? On this episode Julie talks to Kristina Cowan about her experience with postpartum depression which was triggered by a traumatic birth experience. Kristina is a journalist and her brush with postpartum depression compelled her to use her writing skills to comfort and empower other people battling mood disorders. Her first book is called When Postpartum Packs a Punch: Fighting Back and Finding Joy. Connect ...
Ep 5: Social media: the good, the bad and the ugly with Michelle Tadique
April 08, 2018 10:30 - 41 minutes - 30.1 MBMichelle Tadique is back to chat with Julie about staying mentally healthy and happy on social media. They tackle the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of using Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and they consider some tips for cutting down on mindless scrolling and avoiding the content that tends to trigger their anxiety. Michelle joins Julie every other week for a very honest and real conversation about how women’s mental health issues play out in the media, pop culture and in the everyda...
Ep 4: Staying mentally fit with hockey goaltender Kendra Fisher
April 08, 2018 10:00 - 21 minutes - 16.9 MBOn today’s episode Julie talks to Kendra Fisher. In the summer of 1999, Kendra was on the brink of achieving her dream of becoming a goaltender for Canada’s national women’s ice hockey team. She was invited to tryout camp, but didn’t get far before suffering a mental breakdown that would change everything. Kendra was diagnosed with a Severe Anxiety Disorder along with Severe Panic Attacks, Depression and Agoraphobia; forcing her to leave the national hockey program and walk away from her d...
Ep 3: Mental health mid-life crisis with Michelle Tadique
April 08, 2018 09:00 - 25 minutes - 18 MBOn this episode Julie welcomes Michelle Tadique to the show to talk about anxiety, aging and whether or not she’s going through a mental health mid-life crisis. Michelle joins Julie every other week for a very honest and real conversation about how women’s mental health issues play out in the media, pop culture and in the everyday lives of women everywhere. Resources mentioned: 13 signs you’re having a mid-life crisis Thanks for tuning in to Mind of Her Own – the podcast that gets ...
Ep 2: Laughing in the face of depression with Jessica Holmes
April 08, 2018 08:30 - 19 minutes - 15.6 MBThere’s nothing funny about depression. Or is there? On this week’s episode Julie talks to Jessica Holmes, a Canadian comedian, actress and author who just released a new book called Depression the Comedy. It’s a very funny, honest and uplifting memoir that describes how Jessica eventually came to terms with, and learned to live alongside, clinical depression. Jessica is best known for her work on CBC’s Royal Canadian Air Farce – a comedy sketch show that used to be on CBC television. ...
Ep 1: Welcome to Mind of Her Own
March 30, 2018 13:16 - 7 minutes - 6.22 MBStories are powerful and so are women’s voices. Mind of Her Own is a podcast that features inspiring conversations with women who are breaking down the stigma and busting through the shame of mental illness. In this debut episode host Julie Trites talks about the power of personal stories and the power of women’s voices. She shares how her own experience with postpartum depression and generalized anxiety inspired her to publicly share her story of recovery and encourage other women to spea...