HUM Zinger

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Hajela to explore the concepts of unity, diversity, interconnectedness and how to stay in the flow of life. Dr Hajela shares his perspective of how unity and wellness are connected and the importance of seeing what we have in common with others vs our differences. During this episode, we discuss consciousness, meditation, the connection between yoga and meditation, and how we can learn to let go and stay in the flow of life.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Julia Gill who shares more about the benefits of intravenous therapy. There is nearly 100% absorption rate with IV therapy so beneficial for stress management, fatigue, inflammatory disorders, gut issues, withdrawal management and hydration as well as to boost the immune system, increase energy and vitality. Dr Gill discussed the benefits of the various water-soluble vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants that are part of the solutions and she individualizes the IV treatment depending on a person’s needs. Both Sue and Mike have had IV therapy with Dr Gill and can attest to it being painless, relaxing, and rejuvenating. Dr Gill also shares her tips for those who are fearful of needles. Please tune in if you are interested in learning more about this treatment modality.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Shannon Gordon who shares a very personal story growing up with two parents in active addiction. In this episode, Shannon shares many of her challenges and how she finally recognized she couldn’t save her mother and had to save herself. Shannon’s story is a powerful recount of her experiences mostly with her mother who ended up living on the streets for many years. We are grateful for her willingness to share her grief, vulnerabilities, struggles, gratitude and acceptance and how she went from feeling like a victim to a survivor. Her story is a gift for others who have experienced active addiction in their family and a reminder that we aren’t alone.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Kaylie, a registered psychologist on the HUM team and founder of YYC psychology. As a mother and psychologist, Kaylie shares some of her insight and recommendations including how to role model healthy dialogue, providing support versus fixing, having emotional awareness, and understanding of our beliefs to help support our children and teens. Kaylie also talks about some issues and challenges parents face when having difficult conversations and the value of focusing on feelings, having open and honest dialogue that is age appropriate.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Hajela and Kaylie Rodriguez who co-authored the book The Matrix for Life. This book is a matrix or series of 9 windows which guides readers through the ABCs of Awareness, Action, Acceptance, Beliefs, Boundaries, Balance, Compassion, Caring and Contentment. The team talks about these concepts in more detail and how you can move from awareness to contentment. Our hope is this book will inspire you to re-examine your ideas that may be keeping you stuck or trapped in the past or worrying about the future. It will help expand your perspectives through practical ideas and exercises to embrace life’s journey in a meaningful way as you take responsibility for your own health, well-being, and personal growth.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Ian, a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) and person in long term recovery. Ian shares his insight on how addiction can manifest with finances and how money/finances can be influenced by both addiction and recovery. He talks about how budgeting is like a goal or financial boundary that supports health and recovery vs. feeling a sense of deprivation. Benefits, challenges, and key take aways are alls discussed throughout the podcast. If we want to make changes in our lives, we need to know where we are today. Everyone can benefit from a personal budget, not just those struggling financially.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Hilary MacAulay, the owner of MasterworX Music Therapy and an Accredited Music Therapist (MTA). She has a Bachelor of Music Therapy from Acadia University, and completed her clinical internship in Calgary, working with a wide variety of ages and abilities.

Hilary talks about the benefits of music therapy in the brain from a biological perspective. Research has demonstrated how music helps increase dopamine and serotonin, decreases cortisol so is a therapeutic modality for mental health and addiction. Music also activates cognitive, motor, and speech centers in the brain so is beneficial with autism, dementia, brain injuries to name a few.

Hilary shares her approach to music which is a humanistic or client centred approach and she meets people where they are at. With this approach, it provides a safe space to explore feelings, memories, traumas that people might not be able to access through talk therapy or other modalities. Hilary focuses on playing for fun to strip away the focus on performance based music which can activate judgement and shame. Hilary shares her passion and experience of music and music therapy with individuals and groups with people of all ages. At HUM, in her group sessions she guides people create their own “campfire songs.”

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Jenne Newman, the Co-founder of Blackbird Healing Arts Collective. She holds a Master’s degree in Creative Arts Therapies from Concordia University. Jenne is a Certified Canadian Counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association, and a Registered Art Therapist with the Canadian Art Therapy Association.

Jenne shares her passion and experience with art from a young age and how art and creativity, imagination is such a great way to make meaning in the world. Art therapy is the marriage between psychology and art. This methodology engages both sides of the brain and helps build new neural pathways and connections in our brain to deal with stress, trauma, mental health, and addiction issues. Art therapy engages the body, emotions, as well as the spiritual self. The role of an art therapist is to hold space in a therapeutic setting and guide the therapeutic process to support healing and growth. There are many benefits of art therapy such as getting in touch with inner strengths and resilience, building empathy, self-compassion, and expression, letting go of self-judgement, fear, and shame. Jenne is a very skilled therapist’ whose approach is person centred, strength based, and trauma informed.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Kaylie Rodriguez to talk about The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. This book explores how self-limiting beliefs rob us of joy and creates needless suffering.

The four agreements are based on ancient Toltec wisdom and with awareness, we can experience more happiness, freedom, and love in our lives. In this podcast, we will discuss the agreements in more detail and how we can reframe self-limiting beliefs for ourselves and others.

The four agreements include: 1. Be impeccable with your word; 2. Don’t take anything personally; 3. Don’t make assumptions and 4. Always do your best.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Raju Hajela for the 3rd part of the series focusing on relationships and communication.

We talk about The Karpman drama triangle with the victim, rescuer and perpetrator roles. How we can get off the drama triangle and be in a healthier Recovery triangle which includes the roles of helper, protector and survivor.

We also touch on inter-dependence, love with and without boundaries. As usual, the podcast ends with a Humzinger question.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Siobhan O’Sullivan, a Registered Natural Health Practitioner of Canada. Siobhan shares some of her personal journey that unfolded to her becoming a professional Natural Health Practitioner.

Are you feeling overwhelmed, stressed out, need to let go of some emotional baggage or just want to increase your vitality? Siobhan offers a variety of self-healing modalities that can be experienced by anyone. Siobhan shares some details about Transformation breath and Energy work, individual (private) or group work depending on where people feel most comfortable. Siobhan fosters a safe, relaxing environment injected with some fun and a sense of humour so we don’t take ourselves and life too seriously.

Currently she is in year 2 of a 4-year Ayurvedic Health program to become a Dr. of Ayurveda.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Justin B. the current chair of FAMH. Justin has been involved with FAMH for several years as a group moderator and vice chair. Justin shares his vision for FAMH and his hope to build a bigger community for those needing support with mental health and addiction issues. FAMH is a grass roots community based charitable organization based in Calgary, Alberta. It is committed to sharing the reality about addiction and mental health, building awareness and support in Calgary and beyond.

FAMH was founded in 2013 by members of the community; including persons in recovery, family members, friends and professionals, whose experience with addiction and mental health and recovery has been different from the prevailing societal perceptions, professional opinions and government policies. Their experiences in active addition and recovery clearly indicates that addiction and mental health problems are a health condition, that addiction and mental health problems are not a choice. Addiction and mental health problems can be prevented, assessed and treated. Addiction is always a primary health condition, whereas mental health problems can be primary or secondary health conditions. If you are interested in learning more about FAMH, please visit their website at www.famh.ca



In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Kaylie Rodriguez, a Registered Psychologist on the HUM team who also has her own private practice. Kaylie shares more details about two modalities she incorporates regularly into her clinical practice and how they complement psychotherapy. She provides details about the benefits of both and what these techniques are useful for.

Accelerated resolution therapy (ART) is an evidenced based form of psychotherapy that utilizes back and forth eye movements. It is not the same as EMDR, however they both use eye movements. The brain, while focused on a problem and concurrently using eye movements, makes new connections with a person’s strengths and problem-solving abilities.

Hypnotherapy is a more passive process and helpful for those who are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or stressed. Hypnotherapy helps the brain calm and settle down as well as general relaxation.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Blake Ausmus, a Registered Psychologist in Alberta. He is the owner of Sano State Health Clinic and has clinics in both Calgary and St. Albert. Blake has been practicing biofeedback and Neurofeedback therapy in Calgary since 2014. Blake is passionate about technologies and how they can be implemented in therapy. He has been trained in several different types of Neurofeedback and, as a result, clients of Sano State have access to cutting-edge therapies that are non-invasive, but very effective, to support treatment.

This past year (2021), HUM has introduced neurofeedback and biofeedback therapy for mental health, addiction and chronic pain issues. The goal of neurofeedback is to give you the tools you need to re-establish neural equilibrium, diminish unhealthy thought patterns, and help you retrain your mind. In short, it helps you and your brain self-regulate more efficiently and effectively. When your brain cells (neurons) convey information to one another, they generate electrical impulses called brainwaves. When there is optimal balance of low-frequency brainwave patterns and mid-to-high-frequency patterns and your brain wave patterns are balanced, you’re more likely to feel centered, clear and calm. When your brain waves are off balance, the effects will have an impact on your brain and give rise to any number of mood problems, behavioral issues, and functional challenges such as increased anxiety, rumination, “busy brain”, difficulty with focus/attention, feelings of depression, and memory issues.

Are you an extravert or introvert or are you unsure? In this episode, Mike and Sue chat with each other about the difference between introverts and extraverts. They talk about some misconceptions, common traits and some potential challenges with these personality types first introduced by Carl Jung in the 1920s. Jung suggested that everyone has both an extraverted side and an introverted side, with one being more dominant than the other.

Both share their personal experiences with being an introvert or extravert, some challenges they encounter and the importance of knowing oneself and ultimately acceptance.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Raju Hajela to chat about dealing with conflict in relationships which is something many people find challenging. Dr Hajela shares some ideas on resolving conflict in a healthy way, celebrating differences versus being attached to being right. We explore some common challenges that come up during conflict such as beliefs, filters, expectations, and assumptions. Tune in to find out more about how to deal with conflict in a healthy way as conflict is part of life and not a bad thing to be avoided.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Kristy from Lighthouse Sound Studio in Calgary, Alberta. Kristy is a Registered Nurse, a certified Yoga Teacher & Sound Healer. As an Integrative Health Practitioner, Kristy uses a variety of tools for health and healing and sound baths are a part of her offerings. She also offers yin yoga, qigong, meditation and breathwork as part of her practice. Her area of specialty is working with clients who are addressing Addiction, Recovery, Chronic Health Conditions, End of life, Trauma/PTSD & those undergoing oncology treatments, however everyone can benefit from sound baths.

Kristy talks about the healing benefits of sound, the experience of a sound bath and her use of gongs, crystal bowls and chimes to increase the vibrational frequency of participants. Kristy shares some of the science of healing through sound with the impact on brain waves, the immune system, blood pressure, heart rate and overall physical and brain health. Based on her own experience, Kristy provides the opportunity for people to work though the “issues in their tissues” and release whatever comes up as there is no right or wrong way to experience a sound bath.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Jayne Sandilands, owner and director of Refresh Active Aging. Jayne currently lives in Cochrane, Alberta, she offers both virtual and in person active aging support. As a qualified, accredited Life Coach and Certified Personal Trainer, she helps and motivates people to get back on track with activity/exercise to become a better version of themselves.

Jayne talks about the importance of staying active while we age. "We have to move to be fit, we don’t have to be fit to move." She emphasizes the importance to start anywhere and meets people where they are at. Jayne focuses a lot of her classes on functional movement to move our bodies in ways that will benefit us in real life. Jayne talks about different types of exercise, how much exercise is recommended to stay active and working out in your target heart rate zone. based on your age. Jayne has lots of different options for staying active, her focus is building community around fitness. Hopefully Jayne has inspired you to stay active.

In this episode, Sue and Mike interview Mark Kalinowski, a financial educator with the Credit Counselling Society. This is a non-profit, charitable organizational that provides free consultations for people wanting support with their finances. Mark talks about some common issues people have with money, the importance of budgeting, prioritizing needs. He also provides some insight about credit scores, bankruptcy, consumer proposals and statute of limitations on debt. This episode is beneficial for those struggling with debt, are wanting some support and guidance with their finances, help with a budget and for those looking for additional resources. As usual, the podcast ends with a Humzinger question for Mark.

In this episode, Sue interviews Mike about his Addiction that manifested at a very young age and his recovery journey which started in January 2008. Mike shares openly and honestly about his struggles, how he hit rock bottom many times and what made him surrender and get into recovery. Mike’s lived experience and personal journey in recovery has inspired many people and demonstrates resilience, hope, compassion, self -awareness and much more. HUM is truly grateful to have Mike as part of our clinical team. The podcast ends with a Humzinger question for Mike.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Raju Hajela, a chronic pain, mental health and addiction specialist in Calgary, Alberta. Dr Hajela has been a physician in Canada since 1982 and currently works full time in a clinical capacity. Dr Hajela shares some of his background and interests, provides more details about pain that we can experience holistically. He provides some examples of emotional pain and how it is central in all pain including chronic pain. Dr Hajela discusses treatment of chronic pain and the importance of not just focusing on medication management. He also shares some ways people can help themselves to reduce the experience of pain. The podcast ends with a surprise Humdinger question for Dr Hajela to add some fun and humour.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Deana Lee, a certified yoga teacher in Calgary who has been leading yoga classes to students of all ages since 2010. Deana shares about how yoga has been a profound tool that has enabled her to deepen her level of connection to herself, her body, her breath, and connection to others. Her hope is that her teaching guides others to find that same connection that has helped her so much.

Deana is certified in Critical alignment yoga therapy (CAT) after experiencing chronic back pain for many years. She is also a certified Yoga of 12 Step Recovery (Y12SR) leader having struggled with Addiction involving alcohol and has recently celebrated 4 years in recovery. Y12SR combines the wisdom of yoga with the practical tools of 12 step programs and anyone is welcome. The podcast ends with a surprise Humzinger question for Deana to add some fun and humour.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Dr Julia Gill, a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor in Calgary, Alberta. Dr Gill believes that good health is the cornerstone of ultimate happiness and fulfillment in life and her practice focuses on nutrition, hormone balance and digestive health. She also has a special interest in the organ detox/cleansing and natural weight loss as well as treating pain, injuries and promoting relaxation and overall wellness. Growing up in the rural parts of South Korea as a child with natural village medicine influenced Dr Gill in a profound way to later become a Naturopathic Doctor.

In this podcast, Dr Gill discusses the importance of nutrition as c cornerstone to a healthy mind and body, macronutrients and micronutrients. She helps people understand why the quality of our food is important, the gut-brain relationship and foods that fuel a healthier brain. The podcast ends with a surprise Humzinger question for Dr Gill to add some fun and humour.

In this episode, Sue and Mike are joined by Registered psychologist Kaylie Rodriguez who provides insight about when and why boundaries are needed in our lives. Kaylie has been in the psychology field for the past 14 years and a HUM team member since 2013. She is highly skilled at helping people become unstuck as they become more aware of what they need to do to have a happier and healthier life.

Are you feeling tired or overwhelmed? Maybe it’s time to revisit some of your boundaries so you can carve out more time for yourself? Tune in to find out about the different types of boundaries and why they are important. Also learn about some common traps when trying to implement boundaries. Ultimately, boundaries are required for all of us to have healthy relationships.