The Reflect-On Podcast

Trevor Stooke began in a world where "Saying yes and doing the right thing was more important than saying no and doing your thing." And yet, his starvation of authenticity was the gift that led to his pursuance of radical creativity. This and more is what led to him to create Agenda Marketing, a company that celebrates what he calls the "soul of creativity."Trevor's journey exemplifies how entrenched various external influences in our modern lives have become. And though its perpetual challenge creates some of our greatest unconscious fears, leaning toward the discomforts of uncertainty, nothingness, silence, and not winning can become the catalysts to the truest version of life we never knew we sought.Whether it's addressing the pernicious boundaries that have risen in social interaction, seeking the passion to connect instead of compete, or truly respecting the forces of technology whilst celebrating the love for human potential, Trevor is on a mission to create life using the blank canvass he held long ago.CLICK HERE to support and learn more about Trevor and his journey.Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Mahlon Head was forced into foreign mental territory when he suffered the tragic loss of his mother in 2021. Although he experienced seemingly insurmountable levels of hardship, he learned to look inward during his Grief Journey, which catalyzed lessons in loneliness, vulnerability, and our universal connectivity.This and more led to the co-founding Friends of Felix, a brand that seeks to support challenging conversations and increase awareness of the unexpressed tragedies and traumas we face.Expect to learn more of Mahlon's difficulties, how to be tactfully vulnerable, why happiness is not the only thing worth striving for, and how compassionate empathy is perhaps the most under-appreciated practices of our time.This conversation truly embodies much of the spirit that describes this podcast, so thank you for engaging and attempting to move forward. If there is someone you think is struggling deeply or may benefit from more inspiration, please don't hesitate to share this episode with them.To support Friends of Felix and Mahlon:WEBSITE or INSTAGRAM @friendsoffelixbrandThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Christopher Warren is a board member, coach, and inspiring entrepreneur. His combination of curiosity, honesty, and drive are most recognizable in his creations of life. Expect to learn how recalibration can afford opportunities never seen before, including the frameworks that Chris employs and is trying anew. As well, he discusses how to be honest with yourself, where service to others lies in perpetuation of a better life, and how we can consider the restoration of trust in ourselves to trust the people and institutions around us. To support and learn more about Chris, visit this link! Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may help. @kevin.p.murphy on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Dr. Adrienne Shnier is a professor, mother, lawyer, and owner of Apply Yourself Global. In this conversation we understand how Adrienne finds more value in truly respecting her time rather than simply scheduling it. This leads to tactful thought experiments that can help ensure every reflection of time spent is a successful one. We also discuss the forces of trust, and who to trust most in order for us all to move forward. This episode is a continuation of Part 1 with Adrienne, so if you'd like to learn more, please don't hesitate to retreat back to the previous conversation.To support Adrienne and learn more about her companies:@applyyourselfglobal on Instagram, this link, or this link for the company websiteThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Dr. Adrienne Shnier is a mother, professor, founder of her own law firm and Apply Yourself Global. Her entrepreneurial spirit is a shining example of what can be achieved with a true understanding of one's values and the determination to maintain their truth while acting in service.Expect to learn how Adrienne's personal drive was fostered through periods of hardship in her earlier life, and how she still strives to maintain it today. She also discusses the potential paths of the educational systems and what students of academia and life need to succeed.Adrienne also explains her theory that rebuttals the classical sense of "work/life balance" with a proposal to carry success in all areas of life without nurturing unwanted conflicts.To support Adrienne and learn more about her companies:@applyyourselfglobal on Instagram, this link, or this link for the company websiteThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Alison Fung is an Investigator who recently transitioned from a traditional lawyer's path and is still unpacking her newest decisions. Perhaps most catalytic to her changes was Alison's drive for equity and giving a voice to those who have become more silenced in our modern world, all while attempting to remain as true to herself as possible.In this conversation, expect to learn learn about some of Alison's greatest inspirations in her early life, which leads to a deep reflection on family and common generational and societal differences. In a simultaneous adventure of dissecting Alison's motivations and understanding her path to take the legal route, we discover some of the true rewards of introspection and vulnerability when encountering difficult decisions in life.Also, we interrogate the biases that that are often held (by many of us), including ones the come with the potential prestige (or not) of what someone does "for a living". This leads to the admission of where a lot of our fears come from and Alison's opinion on the one thing that's needed to face those fears....Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Michael Kostka is a former National Hockey League Player who had perhaps a more difficult path to his peak athleticism, but also a most rewarding one. Growing up, Mike was enthralled of his introversion and used it to propel introspection; A skill that blossomed so many of his other passions, notwithstanding his hockey, golf, and constant mental improvements. His path has led him to now serve other high performers and athletes in the ever-so valuable arena of mental performance coaching.Expect to learn more about Mike's journey as he reflects on who his biggest influences are and how he learned to love his underdog story, even how part of his life was "in shambles" when he first made it to the NHL. This, among many of his tales, act as shining examples of Mike believing in presence as a practice.Mike also reflects on the biggest misconceptions of mental toughness, the distillation of resilience, and what he believes is the most powerful thing to carry us forward....Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

"I was free to create. There was no roadmap...And you just take risks."Though being in the relative middle-class, Yahaya Baruwa grew up in an impoverished part of Nigeria where materialism was scarce, but creativity was not. Whether it was creating toy cars out of bottle caps and milk cans, or using plastic bags or socks for soccer balls, Yahaya chooses to feel grateful for being so free in his early life. And he believes that these freedoms from childhood allowed him to create, to take risks, and to trust himself to do what is right along the way, which correlated highly to writing his own book and starting his own publishing company in his early twenties.Yahaya opens up about the struggles of his journey to writing his book - Struggles of a Dreamer - with intentions of inspiring one million people. What was once a disapproval from his own father became one of the biggest catalysts to his creations. Yahaya also reveals why he wrote in secrecy, how he left home with no plans and learned one of the most important lessons of his life, and why earning his first million dollars came as a complete surprise.In a story of taking risks, we learn through Yahaya that perhaps the biggest risk of all is not pursuing your own dreams and freedoms. But not merely for yourself. Rather for the service you provide and the people you will inspire to chase their dreams along the way.To be more inspired, please consider Yahaya's book; Struggles of a Dreamer: A Battle Between a Dream and Tradition. It can also be found on the Indigo website.To support Yahaya and learn more, please visit https://strugglesofadreamer.ca/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

"The times where I didn't get the outcome that I wanted, and I sensed those were missing...Those are the hardest moments to accept."Jonathan Viscosi is a professional football (soccer) player that has lived his childhood dreams in ways he never actually envisioned. From playing locally in Ontario to representing his country during collegiate years, to playing in Europe and obtaining a Master's Degree in Emotional Psychology, his journey possesses a myriad of learnings that go beyond the academic and athletic realms.And yet, some of Jon's biggest successes are those where no trophy - or external glory - were involved.Jon reflects on the most rewarding parts of his professional career before sharing how one of his most impactful moments came at a peak when nearly nothing went according to plan. He also contrasts identity and outcomes and what the best solution may be to separate the two for optimal performance.We dive deeper into Jon's academic research on how high performance can be achieved through self-regulation and the Multi-States Theory. And as the reflections continue, he shares how it's more than self-talk in addition to simple tactics that allow one to achieve their best performances in sports, and in life.To view some of Jon's powerful published work and blog posts, visit this link.To support Jon and his journey, or if you're interested in obtaining high-performance coaching, visitJon's SocialsThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

"One thing that reflects life in cycling is that once you stop pedaling, you'll stop."John Barry is a small-town-born entrepreneur that gains his biggest fulfilments in life through spending time with family, providing dedicated care to his clients, and living a life in purpose for something greater than himself. By following his early childhood aspirations and entering in as a third-generation real estate representative, John learned what in means to strive for a state of constant, never-ending improvement. As he reflects on his countless professional awards and career accolades, we discuss the "chase" that so many have for those awards and the fallacy behind it. In this episode we explore just how important the little things in life, how and why challenging yourself is so critical, and understanding when it makes sense to acknowledge perfectionism to "let off the reins", amongst several other ideas. Much of this is centred in the lessons John has learned from his cycling and fundraising days. To date, he has raised well over $100,000 in support of cancer research and initiatives by enduring long distance cycling challenges. His most recent one being the 7 Days in May, where he bikes nearly 1,200km over 7 days for pancreatic cancer. Should you have any funds or time to spare, please consider checking out more of John's story as 100% of the proceeds go directly to fund research.To learn more about John's journey and to support his initiatives, you can visit THIS LINK for more information.Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Stephanie Iannacchino grew up dreaming about photography while being inspired by her entrepreneurial parents. Naturally, the pressures of societal success measurements drew her into the corporate world before deciding to go all-in on her fears.While hearing about Stephanie's journey, we discuss the fear of failure and how it manifests into ignorance of the childhood self. She reflects on where her artistry was truly born and how to keep it alive with a uniquely wonderful tradition. But whether it's tear-inducing experiences while travelling the world or capturing the "in-between moments" of people's lives, Stephanie admits that the battle of authenticity is a never-ending one.Going "all-in" on one's dreams and the realities behind it, what authenticity means for art and for life, the interconnectedness of our world, and so much more. Stephanie's flair and energy inspired me, and I hope it does for you as well.To support Steph and see her AMAZING photography;@stecchinoo on Instagram or SEE HEREThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

This episode is meant to embody the spirit of what The Reflect-On Podcast is about. From finding your worth and building perspectives to celebrations we can all share, some of the most impactful lessons are summarized from the start of this journey.Expect to gain a culmination of the conversations had over the 10 episodes along with some uncut thoughts and experiments to help move you forward. None of which would be possible without those among us that are willing to engage in manners such as this.Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

Imrun Texeira is a highly sought-after chef that is trailblazing a path of uniqueness in the culinary industry. He has trained at the former #1 ranked restaurant in the world, competed on the TV series Top Chef and Chopped, and been recognized as one of Canada's Top 30-Under-30 in the Hospitality Leader's space. Inspired by his fondest memories, multicultural roots, and teachings that all span around the world, Imrun brings forth culinary adventures that embody the art of cooking in its truest forms.In this episode, Imrun discusses how the emotionality of his artistry is what makes it beautiful, how he deals with the perpetual conflict between authenticity of art and pleasing external influences, and how food is a universal language that can inspire cultural togetherness rather then cultural separation. We also discuss how uniqueness and disruption are required for progress and that a sustainable world is where invest in the betterment of people.Imrun also gives back to his local communities by sharing his life's journey, teaching youth about and the culinary industry, and supporting initiatives like The Burnt Chef Project. During this discussion, he opens up on the realities and challenges of holistic health in the hospitality industry and how his journey has led him to believe that the best way to move forward is to inspire those around you.To support Imrun and his initiatives;Explore more [email protected] on Instagram or click [email protected] on Instagram or click here@theburntchefproject on Instagram or click hereThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

"It was one thing that somebody couldn't take away from me..."***If you have yet to listen to the first Part, please navigate back to WARCHILD: PART 1 - A STORY OF SURVIVAL WITH HELGA FLOWER.***Helga Flower was a child of war, Born German in 1939 and residing in Czechoslovakia near the Austrian border, her and her family had to fight to survive in countless ways.In this episode, Helga reflects more on her life's journey and where her inspiration for art came from. She also provides unique views on war itself and humanity's struggles for power. Helga speaks to her younger self and reflects deeply on her mother, who was continuous beacon of hope for her family during terrible times. Finally, we hear some inspiring words of wisdom from Helga and the importance of living life.To become more inspired and to hear more of her message, consider purchasing her book HEREThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

A story of survival, a plethora of perspectives gained, and an ability to reflect on what war brings to humanity.Helga Flower was a child of war, Born German in 1939 and residing in Czechoslovakia near the Austrian border, her and her family had to fight to survive in countless ways. This episode contains first-hand accounts of what Helga's journey was like growing up during World War II: Being fired upon, crawling and travelling miles for refuge, building a habit of not knowing where her next meal was coming from, and much more.Helga also speaks about the inspirations to her book, Warchild: World War II and its aftermath as seen through a child's eyes. This creates a powerful discussion of why she believes going into past traumas is necessary. Helga also reflects on what true courage is, and what it isn't.To become more inspired and to hear more of her message, consider purchasing her book HEREThank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or LEARN MORE HERE

This is PART TWO of a two-part mini-series with Aatik Chopra.In this episode, Aatik describes his unique experiences on his 10-Day Vipassana Meditation Course, including how severe pain, numbness, and failures led to the biggest lessons translatable to life. As well, Aatik reflects on the key differences between psychedelic and severe meditative experiences which leads to the discussion of how powerful pausing can be in our busy lives. In the spirit of being authentic as possible, he also reflects on feelings of self-worth and how to break the "trance of unworthiness" in addition to how to value time best, incredible methods to challenge your assumptions with "what if" thinking, and much more.Aatik Chopra is an introspective powerhouse who had the traditional paths to success ready for him in his early twenties. Instead of taking the conventional routes, Aatik changed career paths, cities, and his mindset in ways that cultivated the purest forms of life. Whether it's interaction with formerly-incarcerated individuals for assisted re-emergence, inspiring the youth of today in innovative ways with The Knowledge Society (TKS), or creating the life for him and his family, Aatik is consistently tactful in how he approaches he life by design. But as he describes, these endeavors are perpetual in nature and can be impossible without the ability to look inward.To see more of Aatik's inspiring messages, visit:@aatik.life on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/aatik.life/https://aatik.life/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Aatik Chopra is an introspective powerhouse who had the traditional paths to success ready for him in his early twenties. Instead of taking the conventional routes, Aatik changed career paths, cities, and his mindset in ways that cultivated the purest forms of life. Whether it's interaction with formerly-incarcerated individuals for assisted re-emergence, inspiring the youth of today in innovative ways with The Knowledge Society (TKS), or creating the life for him and his family, Aatik is consistently tactful in how he approaches he life by design. But as he describes, these endeavors are perpetual in nature and can be impossible without the ability to look inward.This is PART ONE of a two-part mini-series with Aatik. In this episode, he reflects on the "Seed of Awareness" and how it requires daily cultivation for ultimate progress. As well, we discuss the friction between curiosity and fear, and a unique way to consider your life's experiences (as a simple statistical analysis). Aatik then reflects on how the ego's craving for stability can create constant fear, but that one must search for AND face the mental baggage in order to move forward. He then comments on absolution-based thinking and how the exponential "lenses" of life can cause us to see things unclearly.To see more of Aatik's inspiring messages, visit:@aatik.life on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/aatik.life/https://aatik.life/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Craig O'Neill is currently the CEO of IWave, an organization that empowers nonprofits to engage in deeper philanthropic pursuits for a greater societal impact, amongst several other things. He is also a loving family member, an expert in the fintech field, and plays an inspiring role in his community.Craig substituted the life of a career-musician for one of an entrepreneur, and he truly believes it's one of the best decisions that he has ever made. As he theorizes, it is important to understand what your motivations behind your greatest pursuits in life are rather than merely the pursuits themselves.Interestingly, one of Craig's childhood qualities that he disliked the most was in fact the most rewarding to him. By finding the gift in his introverted nature, he was able to turn shyness into an introspective superpower. We also reflect on what the most powerful business-to-life skills are, what financial wealth is (and isn't), and the power of giving.To understand more about the impact of giving and IWave, visit:https://www.iwave.com/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Kirsi Maharaj loves bringing people together and challenges the boundaries of traditional Human Resources. She has been awarded as Canada's top Human Resources rising star, amongst several other professional accolades, but she is perhaps more motivated by her personal progress in life.We discuss how perfectionism can lead to procrastination, how a key to moving forward is actually to connect your failures and successes, and Krisi's 8-year journey of ignoring her body and what it did to her before quitting her job. This journey includes the "Money-Doom Loop", the true costs of false pursuance, and the liberation we can feel by being vulnerable with ourselves and listening to our bodies.To see more of Kirsi Maharaj's inspiring messages, visit:@kirsimaharaj on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kirsimaharaj/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Christopher Warren's professional role is the Executive Director for Sustainability Leadership. He is also a member of multiple boards ranging from sports to governmental travel regulations. A worldwide traveler himself, Chris is also a coach, a former Head Scout for Scouts Canada, and a fantastic critical thinker.That said, Chris often practices disassociation with a single identity and instead opts for learning, humility, and integrity. This shows in our raw conversation.Chris reflects on how craving discomfort can create deeper fulfilment, what the exploration of nature and the diversity we all share can bring us, and the concept of cultural acuity.He also shares his thoughts on what sustainability truly is and gives experimental thoughts to challenging one's biases in order to invoke greater empathy, deeper learning, and less judgement.Finally, we discuss the benefits and challenges we have in a society of incredible information. The theories of informational distortion are included alongside AI talks and how we use the technological tools we have to move forward as one.To support and learn more about Chris, visit:https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-warren-62b8ba92/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Dr. Taylor Thurston is a Naturopathic Doctor that uses her own experiences to empower the conversation and treatment of her clients. Among several anecdotes, she opens up about her journey of mental health which leads to the understanding that how vulnerability is strong, but also scary. We also reflect on the current graces, challenges, and opportunities within a developed healthcare system, and that some of the best ways to help yourself is to help others.Dr. Thurston also shares thoughts on the prevention versus treatment methodologies in healthcare and what her opinion of the most important aspect of holistic wellbeing is.To see more of Dr. Thurston's inspiring messages, visit:@drtaylorthurston on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/drtaylorthurston/https://www.drtaylorthurston.com/Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected] on Instagram or https://www.instagram.com/kevin.p.murphy/

Jim Roche is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who is the CEO of Stratford Consulting Group, Think RF, and the Chairman of the Board for Ballard Power Corp. Perhaps more impressive than Jim's entrepreneurial accolades is his character.He is incredibly dedicated to the concepts of curiosity, community, and fulfilment. But as Jim explains, these traits and more are a result of nature and nurture, successes and failures, and the learned ability to look inward, especially when times are more difficult or painful.We converse deeply on how greatest failures can lead to the greatest lessons, the concept of how traditional retirement can create a delusion of happiness, exercises on how bringing death closer to you can bring you closer to life, and how fulfillment is a subjective experience that is based on how you perceive your daily activities, big or small.Thank you for your attention and interest! Enjoy this episode and please share it with those you think it may [email protected]