S3 Episode 4 - Abrar Mechmechia

S3 Episode 4 - Abrar Mechmechia

On Season 3, Episode 4 of What's The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Abrar Mechmechia, Syrian-Canadian, mental health advocate, and Founder & CEO of ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health Services. Abrar's story begins in Syria, where she spent her childhood surrounded by family, community, creativity, and dreams of one day pursuing medicine like her father. But life had other plans. After witnessing the devastating impacts of war and eventually fleeing Syria, Abrar arrived in Canada carrying not only her own trauma - but a deep desire to help others heal. What she discovered upon arrival was something she never expected: a system that often lacked the cultural understanding, compassion, and support newcomers desperately needed. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Abrar transformed them into purpose. In 2020, she founded ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health Services, creating culturally responsive, community-led mental health supports for newcomers, immigrants, refugees, women, and youth. In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Abrar spills the tea on: * Growing up in Syria and the values that shaped her leadership * The realities of displacement, migration, and rebuilding a life in a new country * Why lived experience matters in mental health care * The gaps she encountered as a newcomer and how they inspired the creation of ABRAR * Building culturally safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and understood * The launch of ABRAR's first-ever public fundraising initiative, Healing Happens Here * The importance of dignity, representation, and belonging in mental health support * Responding to the tragic loss of Nabil and creating long-term solutions that center youth voices and community healing * What it means to advocate for uncomfortable truths, even when it comes at a personal cost Abrar also shares a powerful perspective on trauma: that people are more than their diagnoses, their circumstances, or the hardships they have endured. Healing happens when people are treated as whole human beings - with culture, identity, history, and hope. At the heart of this episode is a simple but profound message: Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Healing happens in community. This episode is a conversation about resilience, belonging, courage, and what becomes possible when people choose compassion over judgment and action over indifference. Season 3 – Episode 4 - Healing Happens Here is streaming now on What's The Tea with Sarah E. Learn more about Abrar, ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health and the Healing Happens Here campaign at abrarmh.ca [https://abrarmh.ca/] or find them on Instagram at @abrar.tmh [https://www.instagram.com/abrar.tmh/] and @abrar_mechmechia [https://www.instagram.com/abrar_mechmechia/]. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S3 Episode 3 - Laurie Macintyre

On Season 3, Episode 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Laurie Macintyre, Executive Director of Jaycee Homes, housing advocate, community builder, and a leader who is proving that affordable housing is about so much more than bricks and mortar. Laurie’s journey into housing was anything but planned. What began with a leap into property management evolved into a mission-driven career focused on creating safe, stable, and dignified housing for those who need it most. Today, she is leading one of the most significant projects in Jaycee Homes’ history - a new 24-unit affordable housing development for women and women-led families fleeing violence, set to open in 2026. In this thoughtful, honest, and inspiring conversation, Laurie spills the tea on: * Why stable housing is one of the most important determinants of health and success * The surprising path that led her into socialprofit leadership and leading organization through its first-ever capital campaign * What authentic leadership really looks like and why being yourself is your greatest advantage * Learning to say no, set boundaries, and lead with intention * The importance of board engagement, collaboration, and collective impact Laurie also shares her belief that leadership isn't about titles or status - it's about showing up with integrity, building relationships, and leaving things better than you found them. Her perspective on housing, social impact, and community-building offers a powerful reminder that every person deserves a safe place to call home. Beyond housing, we explore the future of the social profit sector, the importance of measuring impact, and why communities must come together to tackle complex challenges that no organization can solve alone. At the heart of this episode is a simple but profound truth: Housing changes everything. Season 3 Episode 3 - Building More Than Homes is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Learn more about Jaycee Homes and their affordable housing initiatives at https://jayceehomes.ca/ That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S3 Episode 2 - Marisa Mariella

To continue Season 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with the vibrant and deeply soulful Marisa Mariella - culinary creator, educator, storyteller, and the heart behind Marisa’s Easy Kitchen. More than a cook, Marisa is a passionate believer in the power of food to connect people, preserve culture, support mental wellness, and create community. Raised in an Italian-Canadian household by immigrant parents from Calabria, Italy, Marisa grew up understanding that food was never just food - it was love, identity, resilience, and deep care. In this warm, heartfelt, and inspiring conversation, Marisa spills the tea on: * Growing up in a home where food, faith, family, and friends were everything * The lessons she learned from her mother about creating abundance from very little * Why respecting food (and not wasting it) became a lifelong value * Her 30-year career as a teacher and guidance counsellor and how that work shaped her purpose * Creating the iMatter teen mental health and suicide prevention program * Overcoming self-doubt to launch a television show and step into entrepreneurship later in life * Building a business rooted in authenticity, culture, and connection * Why she refuses to dim her light to make others comfortable Marisa also reflects on the deeper meaning behind gathering around a table - and why she wants every person who experiences her food to feel loved, accepted, and at home. (I can now say that I've experienced this thanks to the homemade biscotti delivery!) At the heart of this episode is a beautiful reminder: Food feeds more than hunger - it feeds connection, healing, memory, and community. This episode feels like sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of wine, a plate of pasta, and someone who reminds you what really matters. Season 3 – Episode 2 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Marisa Mariella online at https://marisamariella.com [https://marisamariella.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com] and on Instagram @marisamariella for Marisa’s Easy Kitchen for recipes, events, culture, and community storytelling. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S3 Episode 1 - Jacqui Childs

To kick off Season 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with the vibrant, fearless, and wildly authentic Jacqui Childs - entrepreneur, best-selling author, influencer, ghostwriter, and mental health advocate who has spent over a decade building a platform rooted in truth, vulnerability, and unapologetic self-expression. With more than 2.5 million followers across social media, Jacqui has seen the highs and lows of influence - but behind the curated feeds is a story of survival, reinvention, and radical honesty. From living on her own at 15, to navigating early motherhood, to stripping on 8-Mile in Detroit and Naked News, to becoming a media personality, advocate and creator - Jacqui’s journey is anything but conventional. This Hells Angel in Heels wouldn't have it any other way! In this raw, bold, and deeply human conversation, Jacqui spills the tea on: * Growing up in survival mode and how her first son changed the trajectory of her life * Her bipolar diagnosis and why she sees it as her superpower, not a limitation * The decision to stop medication and fully experience life - the highs and the lows * Why women struggle to take up space and the data-backed reality of how differently men and women are received online * Turning 40 and stepping into a new level of confidence, power, and self-acceptance * Navigating judgment, hate, and criticism - especially from other women * Why she continues to show up boldly, even when she knows she won’t be for everyone Jacqui also shares deeply personal reflections on relationships, motherhood, identity, and what it means to be truly seen - not just online, but in real life. At the heart of this episode is a powerful truth: You don’t have to be palatable to be powerful. This conversation is messy, honest, funny, and at times confronting - a reminder that the most powerful thing you can be is fully yourself.🎙 Season 3 – Episode 1 is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E. Connect with Jacqui on Instagram at @jacquichilds or @childs.jacqui or search Jacqui Childs on Facebook or LinkedIn. That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S2 Bonus Episode - What’s The Tea with Sarah E (And Mummy!)

TO WRAP UP SEASON 2 OF WHAT’S THE TEA WITH SARAH E, I ONCE AGAIN BRING ON THE ONE WOMAN WHO KNOWS ME BEST - MY MOTHER, CINDY (AKA MUMMY). This bonus episode is the official Season 2 Stir The Pot Special, where we revisit every bold, thought-provoking question asked throughout the season by guests. This time, Mummy and I answer them together - honest, reflective, silly as always, and always unfiltered. And for the record, no... I am not planning murdering my mom. Recorded from two provinces - me in Ontario and Mummy in Nova Scotia - this conversation turns into a deep dive into life, growth, success, and the lessons that shape who we become. Of course, there are stories, laughs, a few glasses of wine and a bourbon along the way. We recorded on a Friday and needed something a little stronger than tea. In this heartfelt Season 2 finale, Sarah and Cindy spill the tea on: * How the definition of success changes as we grow older * Why happiness and peace eventually matter more than material things * My time living abroad and how it unlocked my ability to show up fully and unapologetically * Big questions about life, spirituality, energy, and the divine * The wisdom Cindy learned from her father (Grampy Gene!) and why credit and financial literacy matters * The importance of living life boldly and not being afraid to try things * The hard truth that sometimes… you simply cannot fix everybody * And so much more. It’s thoughtful, funny, deeply human, and the perfect way to close a powerful second season. SEASON 2 “STIR THE POT” QUESTIONS & GUEST CREDITS These are the questions that fueled the season - each one answered by the guest below, and now answered by Sarah and Cindy together. Try them as journal prompts or chats with friends! 1. Tanis Crosby - “How do you define success and how has this changed for you as you’ve gotten older?” 2. Joseph Apps - “Looking back on your personal growth, what was the turning point that shifted how you lead yourself - and how did that experience shape the way you show up in life today?” 3. Adam Ivy - “If you could define success over the next 10 years, what does it look like?” 4. Malaysia Harrell - “If nothing was stopping you from packing everything up, relocating and starting fresh - where would that be and why?” 5. Kat Dobson - “If you had to ask a question to God or the Divine, what would it be and why?” 6. Michael Valchuk - “Who was the hardest person on you when you were a child and how has that shaped you?” 7. Mical Ndelela - “When everything is stripped away - titles, money, success - what do you want people to feel because they crossed paths with you?” 8. Layne The Auctionista -“What is one thing that you wished more women understood?” 9. Anuja Varghese - “What dream are you committed to protecting, even if the world is telling you to be more realistic?” 10. Daniel Guest - “What’s one thing that took you too long to learn or that you had to learn the hard way?” All answered with heart, humour, wisdom, and a few spicy opinions. Bonus Episode - What’s The Tea with Sarah E (And Mummy!): The Season 2 Stir The Pot Special is streaming now wherever you get your podcasts. Season 3 launches April 7, 2026. ☕🔥 That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.  Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest [https://www.instagram.com/sara_ernest/].  A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic. Until next time, keep stirring the pot. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.