So-Called Normal

#21: Steph Guthrie - Filmmaker and advocate on standing up to online harassment

Mark Henick — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:01:05 GMT

Filmmaker and grassroots educator Steph Guthrie joins Mark to talk about her experiences as a feminist advocate who has faced online harassment from the far right and her work with films like the award-winning documentary A Better Man. She discusses what she's learned from legal battles, social media conflicts, and working with men trying to atone for domestic violence.

#11: Neil Pasricha - Best-selling author on how to practice happiness

Mark Henick — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Neil Pasricha, author of wildly successful The Book of Awesome series and "The Happiness Equation" joins Mark to talk about the various ways we can practice happiness every day, find joy in the little things, and how writing a blog on 1000 Awesome Things began his journey from a desk-job at Walmart to an internationally known speaker and author.

#41: Seamus O'Regan - Canadian politician on opening up about his alcoholism

Mark Henick — Mon, 21 Oct 2019 13:08:47 GMT

Mark sits down with Seamus O'Regan, the Minister of Indigenous Services for the Liberal government of Canada. They discuss how Seamus got started in politics and what it was like to share the truth about his alcoholism with his workplace and the support he received from fellow MPs and the Prime Minister himself.

A Little Normal: an SCN short - November 3

Mark Henick — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 17:24:16 GMT

The final installment of the So-Called Normal limited series on treatment resistant depression will continue next week. Mark will speak with Jenn about her complex pathway and recovery from long-term depression. This week, Mark and Dave chat about anxiety, honouring kids' emotions, the role that families play in recovery, and how the medical system handles individual people.

Bell Let's Talk Special Part 2: How a stranger saved Mark's life

Mark Henick — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

In part two of our Bell Let's Talk series, Mark sits down with Mike Richey, the man who saved his life when he was 15 years old, and finds out how he came to be at that bridge that night, and why he decided to help.

Bell Let's Talk Special Part 1: Mark's long night on the bridge

Mark Henick — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:00:00 GMT

In this first part of Mark's special 4-part series in honour of Bell Let's Talk Day (January 29), Mark finally tells his own story on the podcast. When Mark was 15 years old, he tried to take his own life, and was saved by a stranger. Now Mark sits down with that stranger to tell both sides of the story that bound them together forever. Stay tuned for Part 2 tomorrow morning on Bell Let's Talk day.

#55: Bif Naked - Legendary Canadian singer on her rock star life

Mark Henick — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 15:03:57 GMT

Mark is joined by Bif Naked, iconic Canadian singer-songwriter, speaker, and author. They discuss what it was like to be a female rock artist in the 1990s, her philosophy on life, and how she got through breast cancer.

#37: Sharon Hampson and Randi Hampson - "Sharon, Lois, and Bram" star on impacting kids worldwide

Mark Henick — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 14:07:32 GMT

Mark chats with legendary Canadian children's entertainer Sharon Hampson of 'Sharon, Lois and Bram' fame, along with her daughter and now manager of 'Sharon and Bram', Randi Hampson. They discuss Sharon, Lois and Bram's philosophy of respecting and challenging kids with their music and TV programming, and share stories of meeting the children (and adults) who were shaped by their work. Sharon also opens up about her battle with breast cancer and what it was like to make music and live life with Lois Lilienstein, who passed away in 2015.

#26: Paul Nadeau - Crisis negotiator on connecting with people in the most traumatic situations

Mark Henick — Mon, 15 Jul 2019 14:02:17 GMT

Mark is joined by Paul Nadeau, a Business Negotiations and Conflict Resolution expert, former police detective and hostage negotiator. Paul tells incredible stories of talking down teenagers considering suicide and terrorists in Jordan as a UN peacekeeper. He also discusses what we can do to help other people in crisis, even though we can't do recovery for other people.

Aiden - Navigating the transition to university while living with a complex mental illness

Mark Henick — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 12:00:41 GMT

Welcome back to So-Called Normal! This is the first of our five-part mini-series exploring complex care pathways for treatment-resistant depression. On this first episode, we spoke with Aiden. He's been living with mental illness since he was eight years old. Now, he's navigating a new life in university, with new challenges and new opportunities for recovery. We're also joined by psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Swainson and clinical psychologist Dr. Christina Iglesia for their expert opinion on some of the issues Aiden raises in his long journey to redefine his life.

A Little Normal: an SCN short - October 6

Mark Henick — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:20:27 GMT

Mark talks with Dave Trafford about next week's episode of So-Called Normal, featuring Natasha.

#40: Jimmy Rankin - Canadian music icon on how his roots inspire him

Mark Henick — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Jimmy Rankin, a fixture of the Canadian celtic folk and country music scene as both a solo artist and a member of renowned The Rankin Family. They discuss Jimmy's upbringing as the youngest of twelve siblings, the inspiration behind his most recent album Moving East, and what it's been like to play music with his family for several decades.

#3: Tom Regehr - His journey from addiction and homelessness to helping others

Mark Henick — Mon, 04 Feb 2019 16:05:37 GMT

In this week's episode, Mark gets into the gritty, unvarnished story of Tom Regehr, founder and executive director of CAST Canada. Tom holds nothing back: his traumatic childhood, his experiences with homelessness and addictions, his thoughts of suicide. But then, he tells Mark about his point of change, and shares his hard won insights for what might help others in a similar place.

#43: Mary Ann Baynton - Workplace mental health advocate on creating positive workplaces

Mark Henick — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 15:23:25 GMT

Mark is joined by Mary Ann Baynton, an expert consultant on mental health in the workplace. They discuss her work helping to put together the Canadian Mental Health Commission's National Standard, the first national standard for mental health in the workplace in the world. They also go into how Mary Ann helps workplaces, managers, and employees to communicate with each other and work through problems that create a toxic environment.

Thomas - Managing mental health at work and at home

Mark Henick — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 19:39:45 GMT

Thomas was a high-performer in the pressure-packed restaurant industry. He was constantly working, even when he wasn't at work. Then, it all came crashing down. It was a long, unsustainable road that culminated in a severe mental illness. It caused him to reevaluate his life, and to navigate the complex process of becoming more mentally healthy. Thomas's journey taught him many lessons about recovery, resilience, and hope that he now eagerly shares to inspire others.

A Little Normal: an SCN short - October 20

Mark Henick — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 13:03:42 GMT

The next installment of the So-Called Normal limited series on treatment resistant depression will continue next week, in a conversation with Thomas. This week, Mark and Dave have a short chat about the episode to come, stress and mental illness in the restaurant industry, and a bit about the nature of driven, creative types.

#53: Steven Kerzner - Creator of Ed The Sock reveals the real voice behind the puppet

Mark Henick — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 08:30:00 GMT

Mark gets a rare opportunity to speak to Steven Kerzner - the real person behind Canadian TV personality Ed The Sock. Kerzner shares how he got into television, how he created Ed The Sock, and how creativity helped him through depression.

Natasha - Helping, healing, and advocating for yourself

Mark Henick — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 15:28:37 GMT

On this next installment of our limited So-Called Normal series on treatment-resistant depression, Mark speaks with Natasha about her long journey to recovery and the lessons that she learned along the way. Like many, given the confusing and overwhelming mental healthcare system, she learned important skills for both her own self-care and her ability to advocate for herself, as well as to find those who support her.

Bell Let's Talk Special Part 3: Finding the man in the light brown jacket

Mark Henick — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 21:00:00 GMT

In part three of our Bell Let's Talk series, Mark tells the story of trying to find "the man in the light brown jacket" and finds out from the man himself where he went after rescuing him all those years ago.

#54: Don Tapscott - Business and tech expert on innovation in mental health policy

Mark Henick — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mark sits down with Don Tapscott, one of the world's leading authorities on innovation, technology and business, as well as a lifelong mental health advocate and author of Blockchain Revolution with his son Alex. They discuss the little known history of mental health policy in Canada, and how treatment and policy can be brought into the 21st century.

#48: Alexandria Santaguida - Raising our vibrations through sound healing, yoga, and music

Mark Henick — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 11:00:00 GMT

Alexandria Santaguida creates her music to empower people and bring attention to issues that affect us all today. She is a yoga teacher, sound healer, and community wellness event called NULOVE. She brings yoga, live music, meditation, a dance party, and art together with the intention of expanding as a collective and raising our vibration to the highest frequency...love!

#38: Kevin Newman - Renowned former news anchor on how misinformation manipulates us

Mark Henick — Mon, 07 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Kevin Newman, Canadian journalist, former ABC and Global National anchor, now retired from TV and host of the Attention Control podcast. They look back on his long career in journalism following his retirement, and his new passion of exposing how misinformation works to manipulate our psychology and tell us who to vote for.

#35: Pete Bombaci - Founder of the Genwell Project on the importance of face-to-face connection

Mark Henick — Mon, 16 Sep 2019 14:50:58 GMT

Mark is joined by Pete Bombaci, the founder of the Genwell Project, a human connection movement that encourages us to take action to bring people together in our communities. They discuss the project, what inspires and motivates Pete, and why it's important for our health and happiness that we hold onto face-to-face, in person connection.

#24: Andre Picard - Globe & Mail's health reporter on his most affecting stories

Mark Henick — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 07:00:00 GMT

This week, Mark is joined by The Globe & Mail's acclaimed health reporter and columnist Andre Picard. The dive into his storied career, starting as one of the first journalists covering the AIDS crisis, to his work in Rwanda during the genocide and how the most difficult stories can take their toll on the journalists covering them.

#23: Blake Fly - College speaker on gratefulness and appreciation

Mark Henick — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 14:05:51 GMT

Mark is joined by Blake Fly, a motivational speaker who visits universities around the world to help students graduate happy and appreciative. They talk about the many surprising extracurriculars Blake took on in university, how to make a memorable first impression, and the power of a "thank call" over a prank call.

#20: Sickboy - Podcasters on the way we talk about sickness and mortality

Mark Henick — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 14:02:27 GMT

Mark is joined by Jeremie Saunders, Brian Stever, and Taylor Macgillivary from Sickboy podcast, a funny and honest look into what it's like to live with sickness and disease. They talk about how a creative project among friends turned into a hit show, the most impactful guests they've spoken with, and the way the podcast has changed Jeremie's relationship with his cystic fibrosis.

#12: Mandy Stadtmiller - Author/columnist on reinvention and recovery

Mark Henick — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 14:03:08 GMT

Mark is joined by Mandy Stadtmiller, author of Unwifeable and columnist for New York magazine. They dive in deep and discuss Mandy's journey to reinvent herself, her relationship with spirituality, and past struggles that continue to affect her.

#4: Kimberly Moffit - YouTube star on healthy relationships in the digital age

Mark Henick — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mark talks with relationship therapist, media personality and YouTube star Kimberly Moffit. Kimberly has a PhD in Counselling Psychology and is the founder of KMA Therapy, a growing chain of psychotherapy clinics.

#2: Michael Landsberg - Popular sports broadcaster talks mental health #SickNotWeak

Mark Henick — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 14:23:46 GMT

Mark Henick sits down with fellow mental health advocate and speaker, well-known sportscaster, and founder of #SickNotWeak, the unstoppable Michael Landsberg! They talk shop, share experiences, and explore the beliefs that they each bring to advocate for awareness and change.

Bell Let's Talk Special Part 4: Mark comes face to face with his rescuer years later

Mark Henick — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

In part four of our Bell Let's Talk series, Mark and Mike tell the story their first meeting, and what it was like for Mark to say thank you and show Mike the life he's made for himself after that night on the bridge.

#56: Dr. Michael Higgins - Professor of Catholic Thought on being religious instead of pious

Mark Henick — Wed, 08 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by his longtime friend Dr. Michael Higgins, academic, author of over a dozen books, and distinguished professor of Catholic Thought at Sacred Heart University. They discuss the difference between being religious and being pious, and dive into the philosophies of revolutionary thinkers like Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen and how they relate to mental health.

#42: Irwin Elman - Child advocate on what governments can do for children in need

Mark Henick — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 14:34:40 GMT

Mark is joined by Irwin Elman, the former child and youth advocate for the province of Ontario, Canada. They discuss the problems in the child and youth care systems in Canada and around the world, and what governments can do better to help children in foster care, poverty, or abusive situations.

#39: Steve Lurie - Mental health policy expert for World Mental Health Day 2019

Mark Henick — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 07:00:00 GMT

In a special World Mental Health Day episode, Mark is joined by an inspiration and mentor of his, Steve Lurie, the Executive Director of the Toronto branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. They discuss how things have changed across the last 100 years of mental health care in Canada and how hospitals and governments can best help people living with mental health issues.

#13: Rhiannon Rosalind - CEO redefines what it means to be a corporate leader

Mark Henick — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 19:17:27 GMT

Mark sits down with Rhiannon Rosalind; President, CEO, and Owner of The Economic Club of Canada, Founder of The Jr. Economic Club of Canada and CEO & Co-Founder of The Global Institute for Conscious Economics (GICE). Rhiannon is redefining what it means to be a corporate leader in Canada and reflects on her own life as a mother, partner, daughter, and CEO.

#7: Ann Douglas - Parenting expert on the struggles and joys of raising kids

Mark Henick — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 14:56:27 GMT

Mark talks to parenting expert Ann Douglas, author of the massively popular "Mother of All" book series, and more recently "Parenting Through the Storm" and "Happy Parents, Happy Kids". They have a conversation about her own journey growing up with mental illness in her family, how communities can come together to support each other, and raising children while dealing with your own personal challenges.

#32: Anna Mehler Paperny - Reporter on telling her depression story

Mark Henick — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 14:55:23 GMT

Mark is joined by Anna Mehler Paperny, a Reuters reporter and author of Hello I Want to Die Please Fix Me, a new book speaking to her experience with depression and suicide. She and Mark have a deeply personal conversation about the similarities between their stories, Anna's process in committing her struggles to the page, and the various treatments she's tried for depression.

#31: Al Levin - School principal on his experience with depression

Mark Henick — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 16:21:55 GMT

Elementary school assistant principal and mental health advocate Al Levin joins Mark to discuss his experience dealing with depression as a leader, a man, and a pillar of his community and family. They discuss how these roles can affect mental health and our awareness own mental health issues.

Check out Al's podcast, The Depression Files, wherever you found this podcast!

#49: Kalen Allen - YouTube star and regular guest on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show"

Mark Henick — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 09:00:00 GMT

Mark Henick talks to actor, producer, and tv personality Kalen Allen - YouTuber who catapulted into the mainstream media, reaching millions of people worldwide. Discovered in 2018 by renowned talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, Kalen first made a name for himself through his hilarious “Kalen Reacts” videos, giving colourful and witty commentary on culinary concoctions online. Kalen shares how he maintains a positive attitude, how he overcomes adversity, and what he's learned from Hollywood.

#10: Dr. Ian Dawe - Psychiatrist on the Zero Suicide Movement and person-centered care

Mark Henick — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark goes in depth with Dr. Ian Dawe, Program Chief of Mental Health at Trillium Health Partners Foundation on the state of modern psychiatry, Ian's philosophy on mental health care, and the Zero Suicide Movement, a revolutionary campaign to prevent suicide in our communities.

#57: Dr. Javeed Sukhera - Psychiatrist on mental health as a medical and a social issue

Mark Henick — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 14:49:34 GMT

Mark is joined by Javeed Sukhera, Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics at Western University and President of the Ontario Psychiatric Association. They discuss why he chose psychiatry and the stigma that psychiatrists sometimes face, and how he treats mental health as both a social issue and a biomedical one.

#33: Brendan Saye - Ballet dancer's recovery from sudden illness

Mark Henick — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 15:21:53 GMT

Mark talks with Brendan Saye, newly-promoted principal dancer with the National Ballet of Canada. Brendan opens up about his life as a ballet dancer from an early age, his rising prominence in the dance world, and the mysterious symptoms and sudden illness that almost cost him everything. After a long recovery, through periods of darkness and intense retraining, Brendan is poised to continue his dramatic comeback during artistic director Karen Kain’s milestone 50th anniversary 2019/20 season with the company.

#19: Kenzie Brenna - Influencer on her body positivity journey

Mark Henick — Mon, 27 May 2019 14:45:51 GMT

Mark is joined by Kenzie Brenna, actress, creator and advocate for mental health and self-acceptance. They talk about how her family life affected her mental health growing up and how she found a community online to help her learn to embrace body positivity.

#5: Glenn Close, Jessie Close, and Calen Pick - Making a difference with Bring Change To Mind

Mark Henick — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mark has an intimate conversation with seven-time Oscar-nominated Hollywood legend Glenn Close, along with her sister Jessie and nephew Calen. They talk about the impact of mental illness in their family, and how they use it as motivation to make a difference through their organization, Bring Change to Mind.

#30: Rudy Caseres - Speaker on forced psychiatric treatment

Mark Henick — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Rudy Caseres, an award-winning mental health speaker, social media influencer, and host of No Restraints with Rudy Caseres, a weekly Facebook Live interview show. They discuss his life with bipolar disorder, his brief time in the army, and his experience with involuntary commitment to a psychiatric facility and the issues around that practice.

#15: Bob Rae - Former Ontario Premier on mental health in politics

Mark Henick — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 15:20:27 GMT

Mark is joined by Bob Rae, former Premier of Ontario and interim leader of the Liberal Party. They discuss his struggle with depression early in life and how he brought these lessons into the political world, both when dealing with people and the issues that affect Canadians.

#46: Dr. Bill Howatt - Researcher on the psychology of the workplace

Mark Henick — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 20:18:38 GMT

Mark is joined by Dr. Bill Howatt, Chief of Research, Workforce Productivity at The Conference Board of Canada to discuss the psychology of workplace mental health--mental injury, loneliness, depression, and what employers can do to help their employees dealing with these and any other issues.

#6: Brigitte Truong - Social media influencer on life transitions and pity parties

Mark Henick — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 03:39:46 GMT

Mark talks with digital content creator, storyteller, and Cineplex VIP host Brigitte Truong! Brigitte is no stranger to celebrity interviews and big life changes. They talk influencer life, social media, and how to have the healthiest pity parties ever!

#28: Lee Thomas - LGBTQ speaker on challenging the assumptions of advocacy

Mark Henick — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 14:01:10 GMT

Mark speaks with Lee Thomas, a mental health and LGBTQ speaker, on their upbringing in small town Alberta and their early struggles with a mental illness. They also get into how complicated mental health advocacy and mental health issues really are, and the mistakes and assumptions that some forms of advocacy can make.

#60: Paula Allen - Researcher on the human side of employee assistance

Mark Henick — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Paula Allen, SVP of Research, Analytics and Innovation for Morneau Shepell. They discuss the more personal side of employment assistance programs and what the research says about how these programs can meet employees needs and support them to be the happiest and healthiest at work.

A reading and reflection from So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience

Mark Henick — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 18:59:58 GMT

Mark Henick reads an excerpt from his new book, So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression, and Resilience, published by HarperCollins. Mark originally shared this excerpt in print on Psychology Today, in an article titled "My First Night in a Psych Ward". This episode is the first time he has given a public reading and reflection of the book himself.

So-Called Normal is available everywhere now: https://www.amazon.ca/So-Called-Normal-Memoir-Depression-Resilience/dp/1443455032/

#61: Elvira Kurt - Renowned Canadian comic on evolving her comedy and herself

Mark Henick — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 14:58:31 GMT

Mark is joined by Canadian comedian Elvira Kurt for a hilarious and insightful conversation on her personal story and how it's continued to inform her comedy. Anxiety, coming out, family, and parenting--they touch on a wide range of topics, all through Elvira's humorous and honest gaze.

Shelley - Doing the work and travelling the long road to happiness

Mark Henick — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 17:53:19 GMT

Shelley tried more than 20 different medications, and spent considerable resources as she navigated her mental health challenges over the years. She tells us about her road to recovery in this second So-Called Normal episode in our five-part mini-series exploring complex care pathways for treatment-resistant depression. Psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Swainson and clinical psychologist Dr. Christina Iglesia are back with expert commentary on some of the issues we address. Listen in as we explore Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, resetting the brain, and the lengths to which people will go to find relief.

#18: Rona Maynard - Author on crafting your life story

Mark Henick — Mon, 20 May 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Rona Maynard, author of My Mother's Daughter, former editor in chief of Chatelaine, now known for her memoir workshops. They talk about how writing down the story of your life changes your relationship with your past and Rona shares her own experiences.

Coming Soon: So-Called Normal

Mark Henick — Wed, 23 Jan 2019 14:43:17 GMT

“So-Called Normal” podcast launches next Monday. Listen to the deeply personal stories of authors, actors, doctors, and entrepreneurs with mental health advocate and speaker Mark Henick.

A new reading from So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience

Mark Henick — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 08:00:00 GMT

In honour of World Mental Health Day on October 10, and one year since holding the first physical copy of his book, Mark Henick reads a new excerpt from So-Called Normal: A Memoir of Family, Depression and Resilience. So-Called Normal (the book) is published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd and available now worldwide in paperback, ereader, and audiobook formats.

A Little Normal: an SCN short - Limited Series Wrap

Mark Henick — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 13:41:50 GMT

This wraps up our 5-episode limited series on complex care pathways for treatment resistant depression. Mark and Dave chat about what they've learned, the strength of all the participants, and the necessary work of sharing stories. Thank you to Janssen Canada for providing the educational grant which made this possible. So-Called Normal will be taking a little break, but we've got more in-depth conversations coming soon!

Jenn - Anxiously seeking so-called normal

Mark Henick — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:34:51 GMT

Jenn is a storyteller. She shares with Mark the stories of her childhood, her worry and anxiety, and her long journey through mental illness. She continues to navigate her recovery, including both the expense of treatment and the boundaries of family understanding. Still, thanks in part to journaling and eventually finding intervention that worked, she's come a long way.

Dr. Christina Iglesia and Dr. Jennifer Swainson return to examine the complexities of mental health, diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

A Little Normal: an SCN short - September 22

Mark Henick — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 14:46:03 GMT

Mark and Dave have a brief chat about the upcoming episode of So-Called Normal, featuring Shelley! We're continuing our exploration of the complex care pathways for treatment-resistant repression. We get into Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, resetting the brain, and the lengths to which people will go to find relief. Make sure to catch up on Aiden's episode last week, and stay tuned for Shelley's episode coming up next week!

A Little Normal: an SCN short - September 8

Mark Henick — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 07:12:53 GMT

We're back! (For now anyway!) So-Called Normal returns for a 5 episode limited series, focusing on the complex care pathways for treatment-resistant depression. Next week you'll hear Mark's conversation with Aiden about his journey, followed by at least four more conversations every other week. Each episode explores the many challenges of getting help, featuring the stories of people who have lived through the challenge. Between episodes, including this one, Mark talks with long-time SCN producer Dave Trafford about some of the topics raised, and the lessons learned so far.

#59: Stephen Liptrap - CEO of Morneau Shepell on employee assistance for mental health

Mark Henick — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 14:53:13 GMT

Mark sits down with Stephen Liptrap, the President and CEO of Morneau Shepell, a Canadian HR company that specializes in Employee and Family Assistance Programs which provide mental health and wellness support to employees and their families. They discuss the evidence behind their approach to EFAP, the results they've produced and some of the myths that should be dispelled.

#58: Karim Mamdani - CEO of mental health centre on evolving psychiatric hospital care

Mark Henick — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 08:00:00 GMT

Mark is joined by Karim Mamdani, the President and CEO of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Services in Whitby, Ontario. They discuss the evolving nature of mental health services and the driving philosophy and policy behind Ontario Shores.

BONUS EPISODE (#53b): Steven Kerzner - "Sometimes you need to battle rapids"

Mark Henick — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 06:53:40 GMT

Bonus episode with Steven Kerzner! Steven continues his conversation with Mark, he defines depression and what it can feel like, and how he navigated his career.

#52: Ann Dowsett Johnston - Award-winning journalist on the relationship between women and alcohol

Mark Henick — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 08:00:00 GMT

Mark speaks with Ann Dowsett Johnston, journalist of Maclean's fame and best-selling author of Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol. They discuss Ann's own story of recovery from alcoholism, the closing gender gap on risky drinking, and how her passion for this issue caused her to switch careers from journalism to social work.

#51: Silken Laumann - Olympian rower on fighting back from a career-ending injury

Mark Henick — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:54:15 GMT

Mark is joined by retired Canadian rower Silken Laumann, a three-time Olympian and former world champion. She shares what life was like for a world-class athlete and how a horrific collision in 1992 changed her career and life forever. Today, she's the founder of Unsinkable, a story sharing platform for Canadians to open up about their resiliency, courage, and transformation.

#45: Andrew Solomon - Writer on depression and dealing with differences in a family

Mark Henick — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 15:01:39 GMT

Mark is joined by Andrew Solomon to discuss the award winning writer's personal story of depression and coming out to his family. They also talk about Andrew's work with Far From the Tree, his book that became a documentary focused on parents and their children with physical, mental, and social disabilities and differing identities.

#36: Eric Zimmer - Host of "The One You Feed" Podcast on his recovery from heroin addiction

Mark Henick — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 14:09:50 GMT

Mark is joined by fellow podcaster Eric Zimmer, host of the "The One You Feed", a podcast of inspiring conversations. They discuss Eric's personal story of recovering from an addiction to heroin and how he channeled his experience into creating the podcast.

#29: Sarah Schuster - Mental health journalist on building an online community

Mark Henick — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 19:18:48 GMT

Mark is joined by Sarah Schuster, the Mental Health Editor of The Mighty. They discuss Sarah's personal mental health story and The Mighty's person-centric approach to health advocacy. They also discuss the use of online platforms to build a community of people sharing their stories and supporting each other.

#27: Shane Feldman - Leadership speaker on building community everywhere you go

Mark Henick — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 14:42:51 GMT

Mark is joined by 24 year old speaker Shane Feldman to discuss the importance of community in all aspects of life, from work to school to the home. Shane shares how this stems from his own desire for community as a young man, and the things he believes are holding us back from connecting with each other.

#25: Darius Bashar - Photographer on finding his passion

Mark Henick — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 14:04:12 GMT

Mark is joined by Darius Bashar, photographer, speaker, and podcaster. They discuss Darius's philosophy on taking "heartshots" instead of "headshots" and how he went from taking high fashion photoshoots to seeking an intimate, personal connection in his photography. This is a deep, open and raw conversation you won't want to miss.

#17: Jessica Holmes - Comedian on using humour to talk about depression

Mark Henick — Mon, 13 May 2019 13:30:30 GMT

Mark is joined by Jessica Holmes, comedian of Royal Canadian Air Farce fame, mental health advocate, and author of Depression: The Comedy. Jessica tells the story of her bout with depression and discusses with Mark the psychology of comedy and why comedians seem disproportionately affected by mental health issues.

#14: Dr. Brian Goldman - Emergency physician on mental health in the E.R.

Mark Henick — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 15:13:22 GMT

Mark speaks with Dr. Brian Goldman, veteran emergency room physician and host of CBC Radio One's White Coat, Black Art. They discuss the mental health issues doctors battle within their patients and themselves, including the poisonous shame that making mistakes produces and the complex relationship between doctor and patient.

#9: Marci Ien - Canadian journalist on perseverance and helping a community heal

Mark Henick — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark talks to Marci Ien, host of CTV's the Social and former host of Canada AM on CTV. She speaks about her journey through the industry as a female journalist and the story of her work in helping the youth of La Loche, Saskatchewan after the 2016 tragedy.

#8: Drew Dudley - On his journey through recovery and everyday leadership moments

Mark Henick — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 13:38:22 GMT

Mark speaks with author and leadership expert Drew Dudley, about how everyone can be a leader with small acts of consideration and compassion every day, as well as stories from Drew's career and personal journey, and how addiction and bipolar disorder impacted it in some surprising ways.

Click here to watch his "Lollipop Moments" Ted Talk.

#1: Rosie O'Donnell - How she overcomes depression, juggles parenting, and her thoughts on Trump

Mark Henick — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 13:19:54 GMT

Mental health advocate and Top 50 TEDx speaker talks to the Queen of Nice, daytime TV legend Rosie O'Donnell (SMILF, The View, The Rosie O'Donnell Show). Their honest conversation covers everything from mental health, suicide, and parenting, to her longtime feud with Donald Trump. Rosie holds nothing back!

#47: Emily Lyons - Being a CEO, building a business, and facing personal loss

Mark Henick — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 18:00:00 GMT

Mark sits down with Emily Lyons, founder and CEO of Femme Fatale Media Group, North America's top event staffing, media & communications agency. They chat about Emily’s humble beginnings, the early spark to build businesses, and her life atop a media empire. In true So-Called Normal style, they also get into Emily’s struggles with her own mental health, how her sister’s death changed her life forever, and her passion to give back and amplify causes that matter so personally to her.

#34: Dr. Catherine Zahn - How running Canada's largest mental health facilities has changed her

Mark Henick — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 14:07:43 GMT

Mark sits down with the President and CEO of Toronto's Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Dr. Catherine Zahn. They discuss the changes in how health professionals treat mental health and how we can break stigma surround those who need treatment. Listen as she gets candid about her own life and how she is actively working to bring change.

#16: Mark Bowden - Body language expert on how we physicalize emotion

Mark Henick — Mon, 06 May 2019 07:00:00 GMT

Mark Henick chats with Mark Bowden, body language expert, speaker, and author of Truth and Lies: What People Are Really Thinking. They discuss how our body language affects the way we communicate and connect with others, the President of the United States' physicality, and Mark's own journey.

#50: Martin and Farah Perelmuter - Co-founders on entrepreneurship and marriage

Mark Henick — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 14:25:55 GMT

Since starting the business in a little room in their apartment, Speakers’ Spotlight has grown beyond Martin and Farah’s wildest dreams. Today, they have offices in Toronto and Calgary, and have booked 30,000 keynotes in more than 30 countries,. The agency was selected by Profit Magazine as one of the 100 fastest growing companies in Canada and twice the couple has been named finalists for the Ernst & Young ‘Entrepreneur of The Year Award’.

This power couple shares what it's like to grow a company with their spouse, raising a family, how to be an effective speaker, and the importance of balance.

#44: Stéphane Grenier - Decorated Canadian veteran on PTSD and mental health in the Forces

Mark Henick — Mon, 11 Nov 2019 15:13:40 GMT

In honour of Remembrance Day in Canada and Veterans' Day in the US, Mark sits down with retired Lieutenant-Colonel Stéphane Grenier, who served all over the world, including Rwanda and Afghanistan. Stéphane discusses how his own PTSD and depression pushed him to become an advocate for mental health, both within and outside the Armed Forces.

#22: Lynn Keane - Author and former broadcaster on losing a child and suicide prevention

Mark Henick — Mon, 17 Jun 2019 14:42:21 GMT

Mark sits down with Lynn Keane - advocate, speaker, former broadcast journalist, and author of "Give Sorrow Words".

Since the sudden passing of her son Daniel in 2009, she has dedicated her life to sharing her family’s story, educating about the underlying causes of depression and the importance of treating mental illness.

Join Mark and Lynn as they open up about depression, grief, and moving forward.