2018-09

The long awaited, much anticipated Brigitte episode is finally here! Listen in as Shawn discusses the relationship from its very beginnings right to the end.  Remember, these are Shawn's memories, and are accurate to the best of his ability to recall the events mentioned.
Topics include how Shawn and Brigitte met, where they worked, and the start of a very interesting friendship. There will be talk about subconscious attraction and how that manifested and developed.
What did a Christmas parade conversation have to do with setting things in motion?  Getting to know someone beyond the superficial can certainly have some long lasting repurcussions. And that brings us to the break-up of Shawn's relationship with Trish, the mother of his son Bishop.
Next we talk about the progression of the relationship with Brigitte and how that came to be.  Complications and guilt become a factor in everything that comes after.
Shawn and Brigitte get married. They have a second fake marriage with their friends in attendance. Instead of a honeymoon, they renovate their house. 2014 sees them throught many dramatic moments. These moments lead to a communication breakdown and an eventual split. Naturally, like the relationship at its core, the split is unconventional.
We conclude the episode with the soundtrack of heartache. Also, Shawn falls into a deep funk, but with the help of his son, he eventually bounces back. And we part with some final thoughts and feelings.
This week's podcast promo: We Podcast and We Know Things

Hallowe'en is just around the corner and that means pumpkin spice is in the air!
This episode is a friendly chat between Shawn and Tracy about local events, the pumpkin spice season, favourite podcasts, and a bit of Brigitte stuff.
Our Hallowe'en talk includes such topics as the proper age for Trick 'r Treating, and the types of candy we do or do not enjoy.  In a surprise twist, we do not mention anything about costumes or parties.
Shawn had an encounter with a bear this week.  We talk a bit about that, the Facebook reaction to the bear video, as well as dog attacks.
Both hosts had a brief encounter with Brigitte recently and we discuss that, plus we tease the topic for next week's episode.
Our main topic is podcasts and podcasting habits.  There is a great discussion on some of our favourite podcasts, and our listening habits are talked about also.  Included in our chat are the following podcasts: My Favorite Murder, WTF with Marc Maron, Mission Log, Movie Crush, Behind the Bastards, and Someone Knows Something. 
Of course, no discussion would be complete without talking about all the Star Trek episode review shows that are out there in podcast-land.  The true crime rabbit hole is another major topic!
This week's podcast promos:  Transmissions from Atlantis, The Classic Original Show
 

What will you do?  Choices.  Decisions.  Deliberations.  Choose your own adventure! 
This week, Shawn and Tracy pose a series of questions to each other.  These queries range from the philosophical to the downright silly.  One thing all the questions have in common is that they will make you stop and think.  Is there a better option?  Why would someone pick that choice over another, perhaps more advantageous option?
Join the Soul Forge this week and ask yourself the same questions.  We would love to hear your answers.  You can always contact the show by email at soulforgepodcast@gmail.com
Or Tweet us!  We're on Twitter with the handle @soulforgepod
And remember, like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SoulForgePodcast
Of course, you can follow Shawn on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/darthvaderloo/
We can be found on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/3JXWZDq6CXqrWTI5yYx04B
And if you would, please leave a 5 star review for the podcast in your chosen podcast app.  Our app of choice in iTunes, which you can follow this link for the Soul Forge Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/1-soul-forge-introduction/id1265658912?i=1000390465638&mt=2
This week's podcast promo: The Monster SciFi Show

Kids. Children. Offspring. Yours, mine, and ours. 
This week we tackle the topic of living with kids that aren't biologically yours . We are going to use the term step-parent even though many of the stories and situations do not necessarily involve marriage between the couple.
Buidling a relationship with a step-child,
Blended families and becoming a step-parent,
How do these kids react and behave?
The Brady Bunch Illusion - expectations versus reality 
Gender:
How a man bonds with kids,
How a woman bonds with kids,
The gender of the child in relation to the gender of the step-parent,
The age of the child/children will have a great impact on the relationship between the other person's kid(s) and the new step-parent.
Discipline styles also differ and this can have an affect on the child. Supper, homework, and bedtime routines can be vastly different.
Remember: communication, tolerance and understanding.
This week's podcast promo: The Nerdy Laser Podcast