Secret Heart Broadcasting

The Click

Powerhouse. Trailblazer. Creative force. Leader. Director. Visionary. Gardener. These are all words I would use to describe Glynis Leyshon. Glynis is a respected theatre and opera director, whose career started at a time when there were very few women directors. Her reputation for excellence and honesty has created an extraordinary body of work. Actors trust her, audiences appreciate her ability to take risks with great artistic reward. She spent most of her career travelling the country and is now contemplating travelling for pleasure with Richard, her partner of many years. But first there’s the garden, a grounding passion for both of them. Glynis will tell you OK is not good enough, that the best is possible. And it begins with The Click. If you resonate with independence, creativity, and honesty, this episode is for you.

MOTHERLOVING Rooted in Resistance

On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting, we’ll look at the history of Mother’s Day, and how we came to celebrate women one day a year. We’ll talk about the role of mother figures in our lives, their wisdom and their legacy. We all come from mothers, what did your mother teach you?
It does not matter if your own mom is living or not, if you are close or not, what matters is the spirit of the feminine, that mothering principle that nurtures and unites. This energy needs to be in balance with the masculine energy in our lives. To quote Rilke in Letters to a Young Poet “In the man too there is motherhood.”
I’m freestyling this time. No formal guests, just me and my own curiosity about the wisdom of mothers, the power of the feminine, and what’s unearthed when we tug the mother root.
If you’ve be wondering when I was going to let my freak flag fly and explore what’s going on in my own Secret Heart, have a listen. And if you’ve ever had a mother, this episode is for you.

The Book of Everything and Nothing

Lorna Crozier is an Officer of the Order of Canada, winner of the Governor General’s award for poetry and is a Canadian literary icon.
She’s written 20 books, including “Small Beneath the Sky” which Amazon calls one of the 100 books you should read in your lifetime. A professor Emeritus at the University of Victoria, her work has been translated into many languages. Her last book “After That” is a beautiful meditation on living after loss. Upcoming writing explores new love, and familiar objects.
If you're interested in hearing from someone who is a master of living the creative life, and is a wise and generous teacher, then this episode is for you.
WHY LORNA:
In my early 20s my Mom told me about a Canadian Poet, Lorna Crozier. Her book had just won the Governor General’s award for poetry. I did not read the book right away, but when I did I was hooked.
Lorna Crozier’s words are like medicine. Whatever you need, her poems are a pharmacy. Feeling grateful? Humble? Sexually frustrated? Longing? Grief? Looking for a poem about everyday objects? Lorna Crozier has a poem for that.
She’s not just a brilliant writer, she is a wise and generous teacher, whose mentored some of the brightest on the CanLit scene.
She’s also honest, frank and very funny.
I cannot believe Lorna accepted my invitation to be on the podcast. I hope you love her as much as I do.

Inconceivable: the History of IVF (in the US)

The first baby conceived through IVF was Louise Joy Brown, 1978, in England. Louise’s birth was global front page news. Today 2.6% of new babies in the US alone are conceived through IVF.
Dr. Lisa Harris MD, PhD., has just completed a manuscript about the history of IVF in the United States. Over her impressive career, she’s seen many advancements in technology, witnessed inequity in terms of who can access the treatments, and worked to neutralize the polarization surrounding IVF. She believes it is possible to hold that two differing beliefs can be true, which she refers to as “the tension of opposites,” and encourages us all to flex that muscle.
If you are curious about in vitro fertilization and the History of IVF, interested in a courageous conversation about science and reproduction and know that multiple points of view can be true at the same time, then this episode is for you.

Secrets of the Heart: With art historian Dr. Jennifer Salahub

If you are curious and love to ask why, then you will love Dr. Jennifer Salahub. An art historian and self described detective, Jennifer Salahub investigates how the heart came to represent love and fidelity through the ages. What is literally a muscular pump has become the seat for romance, true love and emotional wisdom. How did this happen?
Jennifer Salahub brings her love of art, and insatiable curiosity, as we dive back to uncover the secret of the heart. This is a conversation that sizzles with insight and fun facts, tracing the history of the heart from ancient times to modern emojis.
There’s a reason why Dr. Salahub was such a beloved art history professor, and we’re so lucky to have her indefatigable insight as we answer questions about the heart in art.
If you love art history and the meaning behind images, this episode is definitely for you.

From Anxiety to Empowerment: The Money Episode

What if money wasn’t a source of anxiety? Jodi McLaughlin is a senior wealth advisor who says the first step when it comes to money is asking, “What are the goals for my own life?” (Jodi cautions this question is not a group exercise.) Knowing what you are working toward is the most important step. Budgeting doesn’t have to be this negative thing says Jodi.
On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting we’re talking about financial goals, how women have traditionally faced vulnerabilities around money that men just have not, and how to create a powerful plan based on your own life goals. It takes time, but it is possible to convert money from a source of anxiety to a source of empowerment.
I met Jodi when I was looking into financial planning for the future. I am entrepreneurial by nature, so I was a risk taker (starting up a new company for example) but I had inherited some of my mother’s practicality (saving for taxes). I had not spent a great deal of time planning for the future, as I was focused on the now and had never sat down to talk about what my personal goals were. Here’s Jodi’s approach in a nutshell: goals, budget, saving, investing. Simple, right? But without starting at the very beginning, it’s impossible to map the way. The map is different for everyone. Jodi is fierce about asking people about goals as a first step. Once you know where you’re going, the path forward becomes clearer. With less anxiety. And more purpose. Jodi’s wisdom is timeless, practical, and empowering.
Blue Monday, the third Monday of January, is sometimes referred to as the most depressing day of the year. Why? Well, it’s mid-January, and the bills from the holidays are arriving. You can’t change the weather, but what if you could change attitudes around money? Jodi McLaughlin, Senior Wealth Advisor with the Susan O’Brien Group Wealth Advisory at Richardson Wealth is our guest on this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting. When you have more knowledge about money, you’ll make better decisions.

Palma's Magical Emporium A Celebration of the Senses

At the darkest time of the year, have faith in the return of the light. Mystery and magic abound on this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting as we step into the magical world of Palma Cafolla to learn about the power of flowers, the science of scent, and the beauty and challenges of life on earth. Palma grew up near Dublin, the daughter of an Irish mother and an Italian father. Her history is rooted in the natural world, faerie folk, fragrant flowers, intoxicating botanicals, and the ritual of the catholic church. Educated by nuns (including one compassionate woman who changed the trajectory of her academic life), Palma found peace in her mother’s backyard, and in the redolent herb garden of her paternal grandmother. Palma’s spirit is rooted in the earth.
From florist to designer, entrepreneur to master perfumer, Palma’s life maps what it is to trust your inner knowing and follow the heart, where ever it leads — from the glamour of London to the darkest winters in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This enchanting interview takes us from rural Italy to the harbour city of Victoria, Canada, and the creation of Zingaro Floral and Perfumery. Palma believes we are—all of us—given gifts. Bringing those gifts into the world is the essence of life.
“Bloom where you’re planted” the wise women say. Palma Cafolla is living proof that blooming is possible, life is evergreen, and no matter how dark things may seem, the light will always return. Let’s celebrate this light.

The I Don't Care Club

On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting, Kerrie Penney and Heather Dyer explore how to free yourself from the expectation of perfection. “The I Don’t Care Club” is a wide-ranging conversation about letting go, curiosity and what is possible when you do. (Even if it’s not perfect). Heather is the founder and co-host of the Three Kitchens Podcast and is a generous home cook who shares her successes and failures. Like many of us, she is also navigating the world as an adult orphan, and parenting when her own parents aren’t physically able to help. In life, we learn by doing. If you are hesitant to begin something new because of a need to do everything perfectly, this episode is for you. Enjoy!

Crows in a Row

On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting, Kerrie Penney speaks with Janine Violini, a second generation Canadian of Italian heritage whose family stayed true to their cultural fervor for funerals. She recalls feeling worried when, at the age of six, she had not yet seen a dead body. This normalization of death within her community fostered in her a curiosity about the impermanence of life.
Janine has a deep interest in thanatology—the study of death dying and bereavement— and is co-founder along with Jamie Whittaker, of Crows in a Row. Janine helps people think about end of life in a way that is engaging and full of love, including advice on meaningful rituals, or how to prepare complementary or alternative funerals. She brings death to life.
In this compelling conversation, Kerrie and Janine explore grief and letting go, leaving a legacy and honouring the people we love. If you’ve been curious about how to talk about end of life planning, or are thinking about getting your own Crows in a Row, this episode is for you. 

A Simple Offering

On this episode of Secret Heart Broadcasting, Kerrie Penney speaks with poet, community leader, mother, grandmother, activist and mentor Susan Wismer. We’ll explore how to live life as a simple offering, and publish your first book at 74!
Susan always knew she was a poet. Her first book Hag Dances is filled with wisdom and beauty and light. Susan’s words will remind you that you can live the truth of who you really are. She leads and lives by example.
Susan challenges what it is to grow old and paints a vibrant and honest picture of what is truly possible. A sage and a magician, her wisdom will inspire. If you are a creative soul (and aren’t we all) who struggles to make sense of the world, A Simple Offering is for you.