Ep 44: The importance of joy in hard times

Ep 48: Let's Get Lit with Dr. Tom Bourdon

We are fired up to be in conversation this week with Dr. Tom Bourdon, organizational leadership coach and author of the newly released book It Lit A Fire! Tom's book is being released at the perfect time when many of us are looking for inspiration to take action and make the world a better place. With decades of work in social impact, DEI, and leadership development, Tom shares his Firestarter Model with us which outlines the three forces of good that are required to make positive change: Pull, Passion, and Courage. He also shares highlights with us from some of the very inspiring real-life stories of change makers/contributors in the book. If you want to be inspired, ignite your inner fire and make positive change in the world, tune in to our conversation with Tom. His insights are powerful and his book is a great guide. It Lit A Fire is available now wherever you buy books online! To learn more about Tom and his work, visit https://thenextlevelimpact.com To connect with Tom, you'll find him on IG @drtombourdon

Ep 47: Navigating the Chaos of our Times

We are living in very challenging times that call on us to show up with courage and love. In this episode, we are talking about some of the poor leadership that we are seeing around the world along with the tactical manipulation of media and women. If you feel exhausted, triggered, and disgusted by the ongoing methods of mass confusion (and destruction), you are not alone! We’re feeling it too and taking this opportunity to connect and share some self-care practices to help keep you safe, strong and grounded during these times. If you have self-care practices to share, we'd love to hear from you. Join us in the spirit of strength, love, community and conversation. Meet us in the Soul Net! References in this episode: The Map of Consciousness Explained by David R. Hawkins Offerings include: Try a 5-minute H Drill technique (H-Pattern Eye Movement Test) recommended by Dayna Try a 5-minute breathing exercise offered by Islena Try a 5-minute sensory writing exercise offered by Megan: pick a sense to explore. Write one sentence describing what you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch. 🎧 Episode Timeline: 00:00 – 03:30 Naming the Collective Weight Returning after a pause, the hosts acknowledge the emotional toll of recent global events and open a space for collective reflection, care, and reconnection. 03:30 – 07:00Information Overload, AI, and the Erosion of TrustA conversation on misinformation, AI-generated content, and how confusion is shaping our sense of reality and safety in the world. 07:00 – 10:30Finding Ground in ChaosThe importance of surrounding yourself with people and communities that help regulate your nervous system and bring you back to steadiness. 10:30 – 14:00Women, Triggers, and Collective MemoryExploring how current events activate deep wounds—especially for women—and the historical normalization of harm now being seen more clearly. 14:00 – 17:30Stepping Back from the NoisePractical self-care: reducing media intake, recognizing doom-scrolling, and creating internal safety to stay grounded and present. 17:30 – 21:00Regulation Through Nature, Touch, and JoyFrom “less gym, more joy” to sensory grounding—how reconnecting with nature, the body, and simple pleasures restores vitality. 21:00 – 24:30Feeling It All Without Numbing OutWhy allowing ourselves to feel collective grief and discomfort is part of growth—and how to move through it without overwhelm. 24:30 – 28:00Community, Belonging, and Healing Hyper-IndependenceThe power of finding your “tribe” (human or otherwise) and recognizing hyper-independence as a trauma response we can evolve beyond. 28:00 – 31:30Raising Your State: Books, Music, and Micro-PracticesAccessible ways to shift your internal state through conscious inputs—what you read, listen to, and surround yourself with. 31:30 – 34:30Simple Nervous System Tools (Sensory + Neural)Practical exercises—from sensory awareness to neural drills—that build safety in the body and brain in just minutes. 34:30 – 36:00Closing Breath + Returning Home to YourselfA guided breath practice to settle the nervous system and a gentle reminder: you’re not alone—come back to your body, again and again. In a world that feels increasingly chaotic and uncertain, we explore how to stay grounded, connected, and emotionally regulated amidst information overload, collective anxiety, and shifting global dynamics. With simple, embodied practices, this episode offers a steadying reminder that coming back to yourself—and to each other—is both your anchor and your power. Xo

Ep 46: Surviving (& thriving) in Holidays

Join Dayna, Megan, and Islena in what it really means to “gather without expectations.” Inspired by the Ram Dass quote, “If you think you’re enlightened, spend a week with your family,” we bring light to emotional literacy, generational conditioning, and how family gatherings—especially during the holidays—can awaken our oldest, most defaulted patterns. We bring warmth & humor towards how chosen family, boundaries, and self-awareness help us stay grounded and compassionate amid old dynamics. 🕰️ Timeline 00:00 – 03:30 | Opening reflections on Ram Dass quote03:30 – 06:00 | Emotional literacy in families of origin—generational differences and survival values.06:00 – 09:00 | Chosen family vs. family of origin—finding safety and emotional intelligence in friendships.09:00 – 14:00 | Dayna’s story: her father’s visit triggers old patterns; witnessing her younger self and re-parenting through awareness.14:00 – 17:00 | Healing through ritual—how writing, yoga, and Vedic chanting restore self-connection.17:00 – 20:30 | Inner child work, “bids for connection,” and how unmet needs resurface during gatherings.20:30 – 23:30 | Boundaries, chosen family, and learning to stay regulated around triggering relatives.23:30 – 26:30 | Mirroring in relationships—how our parents reflect our unhealed parts and opportunities to reformulate connection.26:30 – 29:30 | Recognizing triggers as invitations to awareness; managing expectations with compassion.29:30 – 33:00 | Closing insights—releasing expectations, witnessing loved ones with grace, and blessings for presence during the holidays. Memorable Quotes: "May your holidays be blessed with no expectations!"

Ep 45: Getting Witchy!

In this episode of Soul Net Sessions, we share some of the ways we celebrated this year's Autumn Equinox with rituals welcoming change, honouring the light within the dark, and bringing warmth into our homes and bodies. We get witchy as we explore life and death, new moons, tarot cards, and the fire within! ✨ Cold plunges contrast therapy • Ayurveda • Feminine energy • Ritual & rebirth ✨ As the wheel turns to Fall, seasonal rituals reconnect us to nature, body, and spirit. From cold plunges and candles to sacred boredom, cozy up with us and slow down to find the magic in the mundane. Timestamps: 00:00 – 02:00Soul Net Sessions at Henry’s Studio in Vancouver, BC. during Autumn Equinox and the meaning of seasonal transitions. 02:00 – 04:00Islena shares her ritual of ocean plunges in Point Roberts as summer wanes. Body memory, climate, and menopause in changing seasons. 04:00 – 06:00How cold plunges affect midlife women, Ayurvedic perspectives on vata and pitta doshas, and finding your personal window of tolerance in ritual. 06:00 – 08:00Ritual as play and honoring your body’s edge. Using sunrise swims and moments of stillness to reconnect with life force energy. 08:00 – 10:00Autumn rituals for warmth and grounding: lighting candles, fire, sun symbolism, and the power of gentle contrast therapy for the nervous system. 10:00 – 12:00Dayna shares her inward Equinox rituals: journaling, meditation, rest, and “sacred boredom.” How spirituality evolves from external gatherings to inner quiet. 12:00 – 14:00When commercialized wellness doesn’t align — trusting your felt sense. Discovering the magic in the mundane and creating ritual through simple acts. 14:00 – 16:00Everyday rituals: fire-lighting, washing dishes, greeting the sun, and connecting to primal elements of Earth, warmth, and ancestry. 16:00 – 18:00What feels truly aligned in ritual? Discerning authenticity, resonance, and what actually regulates the body versus what overstimulates. 18:00 – 20:00Reflections on connection — from youthful ecstatic experiences, to sacred choices like Islena purchasing her burial plot. Joy, death, and belonging to place. 20:00 – 22:00Death rituals and personal agency: choosing how to leave, death doulas, and assisted dying as acts of consciousness and ceremony. 22:00 – 24:00Letting go as seasonal practice. Humor and heart in shadow work — Islena's “Dr. Death” moments and embracing life through awareness of mortality. 24:00 – 26:00Megan shares her Autumn ritual: tarot with the Empress card, embodying feminine energy, and rebalancing emotional boundaries. 26:00 – 28:00Honoring self, releasing energy drains, and choosing relationships and environments that nurture intuition and soul connection. 28:00 – 30:00Ritual as personal and evolving. Preview of next episode on gratitude and community.

Ep 44: The importance of joy in hard times

In our newest Soul Net Session, we delve into making time for joy amid life’s challenges. We discuss how continuous growth and learning can reshape our narratives at any age. Megan shares uplifting stories of joy found in nature and a rainy-day swim, while Dayna recounts returning to a sport she loves after a hiatus, detailing the joy and pain that followed. The sisters recognize the recurring themes of joy and pain, light and dark, as they navigate new experiences and revisit the old. Episode Timeline: 00:00 – Welcome, Soul Net community intro 03:30 – Podcast growth, learning new skills, new beginnings 06:00 – Early autumn reflection, fresh starts, world events 09:00 – Coping with uncertainty, finding levity, joy snacks 12:00 – Nature nourishment, sit spot club experiences 15:00 – Adventures: swimming in rain, embracing mystery 18:00 – Rediscovering travel, feminine inspiration 21:00 – Quebec City drag brunch, gender reflections 24:00 – Beach volleyball, athlete archetype, aging & change 27:30 – Sport adaptations: resilience and menopause 30:00 – Honoring personal growth, closing life loops 33:00 – Memoir writing, integrating trauma and creativity, invitation for next episode, shout-out to cohost Islena 36:00 – Joy and pain coexistence, wisdom for balance 39:00 – Roots, autumn equinox preview, closing thoughts Join us as we explore how to find joy amidst global uncertainty and personal growth. Broadcasting from Henry’s studio, we celebrate new beginnings, the value of community, and the power of “joy snacks”—small, nourishing moments—from nature walks to adventures in beach volleyball and drag brunches. We reflect on honoring the athlete archetype, embracing change in midlife, and integrating pain with creativity and purpose. With resilience, balance, and honoring the inner child, we invite you to seek levity and meaning—especially as autumn approaches and the world feels heavy. ----- Available wherever you stream podcasts, or watch on YouTube to see our smiles. If you enjoy the episode, don’t forget to follow, like, and share.