Drunken Fun - 110

It's drunken fun with Shawn and Stephanie. And Karen. And Jason. This is the fifth of the 5 episodes in the Stephanie cycle. At the end of February, my old pal Stephanie came for a visit and we recorded 5 episodes back to back to back. Starting with episode 90 these shows have been released every 5 weeks. So for the complete experience, you'll want to listen to episodes 90, 95, 100, and 105 before listening to this, episode 110. However, you do not need to have heard the other shows to enjoy this one.

As we recorded, we tried several craft beers that Stephanie brought with her. This episode, unlike the other 4, does not have a coherent theme. You could almost consider it pure chaos, except for the fact that it is hilarious. It turns out that when I (Shawn) am drunk, I become a raving loon. There is a certain amount of structure to the episode, but most of it is people trying to keep me on topic. Enjoy this episode for what it is. Raw and unedited.

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Booze, Babies and Motorbikes

What do booze, babies, and motorbikes all have in common? They fill out the background of this very special episode. Our friend Whit returns for his third time on the Soul Forge. He's already talked with us about sex and virginity. Now he has a few things to tell us about his life before podcasting.

The first thing we do is get an update on where Whit is currently, and what he's been up to lately. This episode was recorded just a couple of days before the birth of his first child. You will get to hear about his thoughts and feelings on the upcoming birth. Learn about his fears and his excitement. I will provide you with all the baby details at the end of the episode.

2016 was the worst year of Whit's life. After years of people who were close to him dying, he had had enough and was completely over life. Too many deaths lead to depression and feelings of helplessness. Whit had been working out and trying to lose weight. After a particularly difficult death, he began drinking heavily.

Drinking lead to some drug use. Destructive behaviour was on Whit's menu. He tells the story of his drinking and drugging and how he heard the wake up call. Almost trying Meth snapped him out of his dark behaviour. Find out all the details on what Whit learned.

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Now Entering High School - 108

Grade 8 graduation and entering high school is a major milestone in a young person's life. On this week's Soul Forge I sit with my son Bishop to get his take on this life changing time. We do this episode in two parts. We recorded the first half before he graduated, and before he went on his year end trip to Toronto. We then followed this up with a second recording after his return, and after the graduation ceremony. These two conversations are melded together into this podcast.

You will learn what Bishop's thoughts and hopes and fears are. He will regale you with stories from his Toronto trip. Toronto is a big place and the school kids went to many places and experienced many events. And we top it off with his hopes for the future, and how he felt about graduation day. Grade 9 is only two months away, and he has a few thoughts about this as well.

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Lisa Beere - Author, Poet, Brain Injury Survivor

On episode 107, Shawn has a chat with Lisa Beere. She is a children's author, song writer, poet, and a brain injury survivor.

On Writing: the challenge of longer stories vs stories meant for children; paying attention to the details in long format writing. Lisa talks about the writer's routine and what she does daily.

The publishing industry can be difficult to navigate. Two useful resources for aspiring writers are Writer's Market 2019: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published and Guide to Literary Agents 2019: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published.

We learn about Lisa's website and some of her book events. She tells us about some currents and upcoming works, as well as a few things about the people who have illustrated her books, such as Stephanie Daze who drew the picture used in the cover art for this episode.

Brain Injury: Lisa recounts her story and how she came to acquire a brain injury. She talks about concussions, impact areas and the factors of recovery. She goes over the positive effects from her injury. We will also discuss mindfulness and slowing down to focus on the moment.

You will also learn about the extent of Lisa's brain injury, her speech issues and hearing problems. And you will find out about what happens when listening to music, the radio, telephone sounds and what she has learning about noise desensitization therapy.

Find Lisa's website at http://lisa.beere.ca/ and catch her on Twitter https://twitter.com/LisaBeereAuthor

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Weirdest Guest Ever - 106

Get ready for the weirdest guest the Soul Forge Podcast has ever had!

Following up on the recent existential crisis episode, our guest this week touches on 3 emotions that everyone is familiar with...that being fear, anger and anxiety. Interestingly, these emotions are not, by definition, linked to depression in all cases.

We dive into the loss of both a wife and a mother within a year of each other, and what that can do to a person's mental health. These events become linked. It becomes difficult to separate one from the other and find a healthy way to deal and heal.

Many of us have a strong desire to help others at our own expense. As such, we tend to surround ourselves with a variety of friends with poor mental health. Let's call these people Mental Illness Friends. It is easier to help others than it is to deal with our own issues.

Loss leads to feelings of impermanence. Nothing feels like forever. Walls of emotional isolation are built and fortified. We must face our expectations of reality and what actually is. How do we deal with our anger and other feelings?

Find us on YouTube by going to this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCataaeTRQltObb7n1GHW_qw/videos

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Time Slice Witnesses - 105

What if you could send your mind through history and witness a slice of time? Where would you go? What would you see?

On this episode of the Soul Forge, Shawn and Stephanie use this thought experiment to discuss their dreams and desires. Starting off with a brief discussion about what super powers they would have, and why, the duo dive into the past. Join them and recreate your own mind adventures. In this scenario, your consciousness is sent back in time. You cannot change any event you are a witness to. You can experience the feelings of the people you see. You can watch from above like a flying drone camera, or you can be inside the head of a person living at that time. Where will you go?

In this episode, Shawn discusses going back and seeing what the Woodstock music festival of 1969 was really like. It's like being there without all the mess.

Stephanie wants to see the crucifiction of Jesus firsthand. What really happened and what were the people thinking? Did the events really go as reported in the Bible? Was Jesus even a real person? The only way to know for certain is to be a time slice witness.

The death of Socrates, the first few meetings of your grandparents, and the first time you made love are further ideas discussed in this episode. Shawn's earliest memory is just after his baptism at approximately 9 months old. The memory is vivid. Did the event really occur as in his memory? The only way to know for sure is by becoming a time slice witness.

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Wanna Start A Podcast?

If you wanna start a podcast, there are some things you gotta know!

Okay, so, here it is; I'm going to tell you the basic outline on how to start a podcast of your very own. I'll be going over some of the basic facts, and I'll be sharing my story and what I have learned from my five and a half year journey. Keep in mind that this is my own perspective and other people have gone about things in different ways.

The first thing you will need is an idea to base your show around. In this episode, I tell you what went into my thought process. What knowledge did I already have that would help me to create a show that I would enjoy producing week after week? Remember that the name of your show is extremely important for your branding purpose. And episode titles are likely the hardest part of the whole enterprise.

Equipment is important but there are many different kinds and set ups. Depending on your level of experience, income and passion, your equipment set-up will be unique to you. You're going to need some kind of microphone. These range in price from $10 to several hundreds or more. You need software to record your voice onto. You need editing software. And you are going to need a host in which to upload your finished episodes. Post your episode to as many different places as possible including TuneIn, Stitcher, and iTunes.

Social media can be your friend. Post to as many places as possible and interact with everyone you can. Cross promote with similar podcasts. Make connections. Use Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and any other platforms you feel comfortable with.

Almost everything I have learned about podcasting is included in this episode. I've made many mistakes, and made many friends along the way. The number one thing to remember is that if you have a passion for something, podcast about it. If not, podcasting may not be for you.

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Road Trips & Rock Walls

Shawn is back from all the road trips and has stories to tell. Enter the Soul Forge for all the details.

You'll hear what it is like on a road trip in an old RV with fathers and sons. Listen in for the what it's like in the north eastern part of the United States. Did Shawn ever track down Stephen King? How many break downs occurred? What are the Reversing Falls? Bear and Deer and Moose, oh my!

Robin gives us an update on his working situation and tries to contain his laughter.

Any further show notes would just spoil the episode.

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The Happiness Ninja - 102

The Happiness Ninja visits the Soul Forge Podcast!

Meet Lisa Wilson. She wears many hats as a successful life coach. She is known as a transformation champion, the happiness ninja, and a communication guru. Being a life coach brings with it many responsibilities and as such requires many differents kinds of skills.

You will learn exactly how and why Lisa entered into life coaching as a profession. Her Human Resources experience was a definite asset to her new career. The whole thing really got started when she was laid off from work. Most people would see being let go as a negative experience. But not Lisa. She viewed this change as a gift, and as a push to start anew.

Transformation services: we learn how this works as a career or a job. When someone is laid off from work, Lisa will come in as part of what is called transiition services. She helps the former employee as they are leaving their work for the last time.

Life coaching: we hear about the specifics of the job as it relates to personal and corporate clients.

No. The word 'no' can be a complete sentence. We are over extended in our personal and professional lives and sometimes just saying no is the best option. No explanation or excuses needed.

Communication. It is important to learn how to communicate with others, but it is more important in some cases, to communicate with ourselves. We need to get to know who we are as people, and we need to listen to when our bodies tell us we need to slow down.

Be comfortable with yourself. The happiness equation. Society is always telling us that we need more stuff to be happy. We are always chasing happiness. Society tells us that DO + HAVE = BE HAPPY.  But that equation is wrong and needs to be looked at another way. We need to be happy and do things that are fulfilling and then we will have what we need. BE + DO = HAVE.

Find Lisa on the web at lmwcoaching.ca and on all social media at @lmwconsultation

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Existential Crisis - 101

It's time for an existential crisis! We were all just about due for one anyway. Just like clock work, here is a nice big one for you all to digest.

This week on the Soul Forge Podcast, I will be going over the details of my partial mental breakdown. Mind you, this is not a complete collapse. I still retain my sanity and self-awareness; as well as my self preservation instincts. Some times people need help. This is one of those times.

You will be hearing about how I have been crying at commercials and television shows. I am not one to express emotions very easily, and yet, they seem to be leaking from me beyond my powers to control them. The irrational anger and irritibilty may just be one of the most intensely annoying aspects of this crisis.

Worrying about things that will never or can never happen is exhausting. It is especially bad when you make up scenarios without realizing you are even thinking about them. I suppose it is normal to worry about a road trip where you will be in a motorhome for a week with family members that do not always get along so well. I have that to look forward to in the coming week!

I have learned I need to stop putting other people first. I need to take care of my own needs. And I need to stop being afraid of ending up alone. Time to stop taking the unhealthy relationships just because they are there.

Other concerns of mine include the collapse of civilization, the extinction of the orangutan within the next 10 years, the garbage in the oceans, and all the money we are wasting which could be better spent on saving the world from human misconduct.

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