It's All Good

My friend Sameer Varmani shares his story of going to university in a new city without knowing anyone. He talks about how he made friends and how befriending people that were different from him helped him to grow and evolve. He talks about turning fear and apprehension into curiosity and excitement in pursuit of connecting with others. We had to record this episode remotely - thanks for putting up with our audio :) We mentioned the Wellness Peer Program at UBC, check out more info on the UBC Wellness Centre here: https://students.ubc.ca/health/wellness-centre

A bonus episode with my dear friend Emma Millichamp, who shares the story of why she decided to be her own best friend. We talk about finding joy in moments of solitude and our favourite activities to do when we're alone.

My friend Karina Fabregas and I talk about how to better understand others by learning about different cultural traditions and upbringings. We talk about how culture can shape our ways of living, how learning about different cultures can boost our empathy towards others, and ways to expand our cultural horizons.

My friend Cindy Lin talks about her journey dealing with depression. She talks about the immense pressure to thrive academically, dealing with self-criticism, and coping with feelings of loneliness. From dropping out of high school to becoming a university graduate, Cindy finds support and builds resilience along the way. We talk about the value in sharing our stories and the courage to be vulnerable. Note: The content discussed in this episode regarding mental health is for informational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for individualized professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the Crisis Services Canada line at 1-833-456-4566. If you are located outside of Canada and in crisis, call your local emergency line. Crisis Centre BC: https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/ Mental health resources: https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/

My friend Janyn Zoccoli talks about an experience that prompts her to find personal growth through goal-setting. Janyn walks us through her process of making and accomplishing her goals. We talk about ways to set achievable goals, how to feasibly stick with them, and how we deal with disappointment when we don’t reach them. We also talk about when to give up or restructure your goals.

Today’s guest is Dr. Benjamin Cheung, a professor in the department of Psychology at UBC. Ben joins me to talk about supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing from a faculty perspective. We talk about how he promotes social connection inside and outside the classroom, the role culture plays in instilling belonging and community, and ways to better support racialized students on campus. We also discuss the cultural barriers that deter students from accessing mental health services. Note: The content discussed in this episode regarding mental health is for informational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for individualized professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health. If you’re thinking about suicide, are worried about a friend or loved one, or would like emotional support, call the Crisis Services Canada line at 1-833-456-4566. If you are located outside of Canada and in crisis, call your local emergency line. Crisis Centre BC and more mental health resources: https://crisiscentre.bc.ca/

My friend Rit Charoenpanon joins me to talk about his experience coming out to his traditional, Asian parents. We talk about how the coming out experience differs in North American versus Asian cultures, dealing with parents with different values, and how coming out affects mental health. We talk about how to best support others going through a similar experience.

My friends Marissa and Vanessa join me to talk about our experience quarantining at home with our families. We talk about navigating the challenges of living with others, dealing with anxious family members, and adjusting to new routines. Marissa and Vanessa share how they’ve been maintaining their mental health during quarantine. We filmed us recording this episode! You can watch it on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nsVZlZGfKJU

My friend Harpriya Bagri and I talk about the importance of making time for yourself in times of stress and how we learned to better understand our emotions. Harpriya shares how therapy, understanding emotional regulation in the brain, and describing her feelings helped her cope with stress and anxiety.

My friend Katie Gourlay shares how a piece of life-changing news makes her redefine what it means to live a meaningful life. We talk about figuring out our own versions of happiness, finding joy in the present moment, and choosing to live a life with purpose. We share ways to cultivate more happiness in our day-to-day lives. Note: This episode was recorded in August 2019. #stayathome

Season 2 continues! My dear friend Mel Lee and I talk about how we’ve been feeling during this pandemic, how we’ve been maintaining our wellbeing, and give ways to find joy during an uncertain time. We talk about the power of reconnecting, creativity, laughter, and regaining a sense of meaning.

My friend Stuart Clarke shares his adoption story, meeting his birth mom for the first time, and trying to figure out his identity. We talk about how to deal with uncertainty and feeling lost in university.

My friend Giulia Cecchi and I talk about the fast-paced culture of busyness in North America and how hyperproductivity may be harming our wellbeing. We talk about how mindfulness has helped us to slow down, relieve stress, and gain more self-compassion. Using our yoga teacher training, we share easy and practical ways to start meditating.

My friend Katherine Song joins me to talk about making big decisions and living by your own values. We share our experiences switching majors partway through our university degrees. We talk about external pressures, the fear of failure, and being honest with yourself. Katherine also talks about her experience starting university when she was 14.

My dear friend Emily Sullivan and I talk about what it means to be empathetic and why empathy is so important in our relationships. We share ways to support a friend going through a tough time. Emily shares a time where empathy from a friend helped her cope with stress and anxiety. Listen to the first episode Emily and I recorded about healthy technology use: https://open.spotify.com/episode/19lShJUSUX7ytOVUoTxrwc?si=iToZTJ1BQHaarjlaL0HPvA

Welcome to Season 2 of It’s All Good, a podcast about wellbeing! In this trailer, I share my plans for this season, my fears of vulnerability, and a sneak peek of some future episodes! A special guest makes an appearance! To stay updated with new episodes, make sure to like the Facebook page (facebook.com/listentoitsallgood) and subscribe on Spotify and the Apple Podcasts app. New episodes every Wednesday, starting August 7!

We recap our summers and talk about our wellness goals for the upcoming school year! This will be our last episode for the summer! Thanks to everyone that supported and listened to our podcast, we really appreciate it! We’ve had so much fun making these episodes and we hope that we were able to share a bit more about wellness with you. We hope to make more episodes in the future, stay tuned! Make sure you've liked our Facebook page to find out about future episodes: www.facebook.com/listentoitsallgood

We talk about not knowing what to do with your life and being uncertain about your career path. We also share some stories of interviews that didn’t go so well. Facebook: www.facebook.com/listentoitsallgood

We have another guest! Vanessa joins us to talk about her experience dealing with anxiety. She talks about struggling in silence before reaching out for help. She shares how she copes with her anxiety and highlights the importance of social support. Note: The content discussed in this episode regarding mental health is for informational purposes only. This content is not intended to be a substitute for individualized professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified mental health professional or other qualified health provider with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.

Today’s guest Karina joins us to talk about positivity! We talk about how being positive has helped us in our own lives. We then talk about ways to be more positive. Let us know what you thought of this episode and make sure you liked us on Facebook! New episodes every Sunday :) Facebook: www.facebook.com/listentoitsallgoodEmail: listentoitsallgood@gmail.com