“I love to fly, and to break all the cages.” - Episode Six (ft. Jannat Ali)

“I love to fly, and to break all the cages.” - Episode Six (ft. Jannat Ali)

“They don’t know that we are seeds; we will grow taller, more beautiful.” In this episode, we’re honoured to host the Toronto-based transgender ‘artivist’ (performance artist and activist), Jannat Ali. Jannat made history as the first trans woman lecturer in Pakistan, founded the country's first transgender Pride, and played a crucial role in passing the Transgender Rights Act into the Senate in 2018. An elected Ambassador of Amsterdam and Toronto Pride, a former TV host, and a performer who has shared the stage with Kim Petras in Australia, Jannat’s story and artivism continue to inspire with messages of healing, strength, and resilience. In this engaging episode, we explore Jannat’s transformative journey, including her recent refuge in Canada through Rainbow Railroad after enduring violence, discrimination, and persecution in Pakistan. She shares her experiences with identity, self-discovery, coming out safely, and the ongoing fight for queer rights and legal protections. Jannat’s hopeful message emphasizes the importance of friendship and chosen family. Tune in for a powerful discussion on overcoming adversity, embracing one's identity, and advancing towards acceptance and understanding. Timestamps: (01:01:55): The importance of dreaming. (00:05:45): “We all want to know: what makes me different?” (00:14:15): Coming out at the right time, with the right information, and the right people around you. (00:19:04): Humanity must come first. (00:23:06): Jannat’s journey from Pakistan to Canada through Rainbow Railroad. (00:33:33): Compromising on gender expression to prepare for the world. (00:40:02): We were not confused, we were waiting for representation. (00:42:06): Cisgender privilege and a hard question. (00:46:35): Jannat’s mental health toolkit and resilience beyond fear and discrimination. (00:49:16): Trans inclusivity in Toronto schools? (00:52:18): Nurturing well-being through “artivism.” (00:57:42): SKOC Exclusive: a focus group and a new Connect Deck. (01:00:46): Jannat and Brandon play the Connect Deck: Pride Edition. (01:03:48): The most misunderstood thing about the trans community. (01:11:14): Transgender lives that inspire Jannat. (01:15:29): A hopeful message for the future. ~ Make a donation to Rainbow Railroad at: www.rainbowrailroad.org [www.rainbowrailroad.org]. Want even more colourful and mindful content? Follow @happytears.ca [https://www.instagram.com/happytears.ca/] on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Discover & shop our bilingual Connect Deck connection game at www.happytears.ca [https://happytears.ca/]!

Sparking wicks and going woo-woo! - Episode Five (ft. Holly Singer of Milk Jar Candle Co.)

Well... this episode is ALMOST as juicy as our new - citrusy and fresh - scented candle, handcrafted in collaboration with Milk Jar Candle Co.! Founded by our guest, Holly Singer, Milk Jar out of Calgary, Alberta, has created massive impact with over $317,000 raised to date for disabled communities in Canada! Holly shares what triggered her journey into exploring her inner world, the magic of intuition and solitude, and learning to respond to life’s twists rather than reacting to them. Holly shares what a gift it has been to create an inclusive, people-driven culture at Milk Jar and how diversity has transformed her work. She spills on her mental health tools, leaning into signs, and how she keeps her adult friendships thriving. Of course, we discuss the HAPPY TEARS x MILK JAR collab, our new Big Feels Bundle, and end with a playful speed round of The Connect Deck! So spark up a candle, slide your headphones on, take a deep breath in... exhale... and enjoy this very special conversation with Miss Holly Singer! Timestamps: (00:02:12) — Paving the way for disabled communities (00:06:09) — HELLO HOLLY! (00:11:20) — Nurturing your intuition, because we all have it (00:18:23) — Going woo-woo! Holly’s entry into discovering her inner world, letting go of feeling responsible for other people’s happiness, and responding, rather than reacting, to life (00:23:47) — Connecting to presence and unconditional love (00:27:34) — Lessons from ‘The Presence Process’ by Michael Brown (00:31:38) — Understanding yourself is a pathway to understanding those around you (00:38:34) — Building a company culture you can feel, and why Milkjarians are a bunch of… (00:42:50) — How diversity at Milk Jar has led to transformative communication (00:46:20) — EXCLUSIVE Summer Teaser for the 2024 Calgary Stampede! (00:49:02) — A message to all employers: you don’t ‘have to’ hire diversity, you ‘get to.’ (00:55:26) — ADHD diagnosis, and using our uniqueness as a superpower (01:01:25) — Holly’s mental health tool kit (01:07:29) — Nurturing friendships in adulthood (01:11:27) — Is it possible to live stress-free? Reframing and responding to stress (01:18:24) — HAPPY TEARS x MILK JAR COLLAB! (01:27:12) — Feels Fam Question on managing financial pressure to keep creativity alive (01:37:07) — Connect Deck speed round! ~ Shop our new ‘Happy Tears’ Scented Candle in the Big Feels Bundle at milkjar.ca [https://milkjar.ca/products/big-feels-bundle-limited-edition]! Available while quantities last. Want even more colourful and mindful content? Follow @happytears.ca [https://www.instagram.com/happytears.ca/] on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Discover & shop The Connect Deck connection game at www.happytears.ca [https://happytears.ca/]!

Emotional bandwidth, why Canadian youth are so unhappy, and explaining polyamory to your mom. - Episode Four (ft. Filippa)

Brandon and Filippa pull their heads out of the clouds and sink their feet firmly into the soil for a grounding, relatable (?), and playful conversation! From market-goer to close friend of Happy Tears, tune into our chat with Filippa as we discuss modern relationships, this year’s World Happiness Report findings, and play another round of The Connect Deck! We also get into… * Delayed adolescence * The new AI = artificial intimacy * Lessons from therapy * Intentional dating * The bird test * Mental health liberation * Tattoos, and more! Timestamps:  (00:05:37): the most important question of all (00:07:10): reminder to self: we are not our jobs (00:09:18): when it comes to self-development, the limit does exist? (00:13:54): American psychoanalyst, Erik Erikson, and why therapy works (00:16:34): queerness and delayed adolescence (00:18:27): intentional dating and realizing “this isn’t friendship; this is a crush!” (00:23:00): communicating in modern relationships (00:26:30): the bird test and making successful bids for connection (00:27:45): the new AI = artificial intimacy (Brené Brown and Esther Perel) (00:31:00): presence and emotional bandwidth (00:35:07): toxic traits and throwing ourselves flowers (00:38:53): why oh why are the kids so unhappy :’( (00:44:36): the promise of hard work for new generations is not promised (00:48:59): does my wokeness hurt my happiness? (00:51:43): mental health liberation (00:57:49): let’s play The Connect Deck! (01:03:20): tattoos (01:06:10): “it’s what built me.” ~ To slide into Filippa’s DMs on any of these topics: @fil_simard [⁠https://www.instagram.com/fil_simard/⁠] Would you like your life question answered by our colourful guests in an upcoming episode? Leave us a voice note below, or write to us with your question at: bonjourhi@happytears.ca. Want even more colourful and mindful content? Follow @happytears.ca [https://www.instagram.com/happytears.ca] on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Discover & shop The Connect Deck connection game at www.happytears.ca [https://www.happytears.ca]!

“I was always a bird for some reason.” - Episode Three (ft. Paula of C’est Paulette)

From roller derby to vinyl rolls, Paula (she/her) is a second-generation Lebanese immigrant who is making her colourful mark on the Montreal creative scene. Paula has overcome imposter syndrome at design school and charted a unique path of creative exploration through her own venture (C'est Paulette), all the while navigating queerness within cultural complexities and staying true to cultivating her authentic self. We also talk about… * Navigating queerness in Lebanese culture * Unlikely yet wonderful paths to creative work * Roses and thorns of entrepreneurship * Mental health and tools of resilience * Why the moms in Indianapolis are not to be messed with * Paula’s current colour era, and more! Don’t miss out on this colourfully creative and laugh-filled chat. Timestamps: (00:02:42): introductions: the artist(E) (00:05:43): navigating queerness in Lebanese culture (00:13:12): an energy chameleon enters design school (00:20:11): triple axel land into creative work at C’est Paulette (00:28:14): intergenerational creativity (00:35:45): nurturing inspiration (00:37:54): rose and thorn of creative work (00:39:49): why “data entry” sometimes means lifting fridges (00:41:03): resilience? (00:44:20): we all have tools (and they’re often universal) (00:52:16): connect deck question: what can sports teach us about relationships? (00:57:24): connect deck question: how often do you spend time with people outside of your race? (01:00:22): how I happy survey: is it worth coming out to family even if it means risking it all? ~ Connect with Paula at cestpaulette.com [http://cestpaulette.com] or @cestpaulette [https://www.instagram.com/cestpaulette] on Instagram. Want even more colourful and mindful content? Follow @happytears.ca [https://www.instagram.com/happytears.ca/] on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. Discover & shop The Connect Deck connection game at www.happytears.ca [https://happytears.ca/]!

[BONUS EPISODE] Embracing our colourful minds. - Episode Two (ft. Pascale of Dear Creative Mind)

Enjoy a BONUS crossover episode with the Dear Creative Mind Podcast [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dearcreativemind⁠] leading up to our first season of Some Kind of Colourful. In this conversation, Brandon jumps into an emotion-filled and colourful conversation with Pascale, a Montreal-based coach for artists, makers and creatives of all kinds. We talk about… * Embracing the full and complete spectrum of emotions * The intentional mission, journey and creative pivots of Happy Tears toward The Connect Deck * Finding the balance between self-improvement and allowing yourself to just ‘be’ * Exciting 2024 collaborations in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community * Pursuing creative curiosities * Mental health (of course), and so much more! Don’t miss out on this cozy chat, and discover more about the history and inner workings of Happy Tears and what continues to drive us. Connect with Pascale at: dearcreativemind.com [http://dearcreativemind.com] Listen to more episodes of Dear Creative Mind: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dearcreativemind [https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dearcreativemind] ~ Want even more colourful and mindful content? Follow @happytears.ca on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/happytears.ca/], Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/happytears.ca/] and TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@happytears.ca]. Discover & shop The Connect Deck connection game at www.happytears.ca!