Kelly and Company

Are you the average of the five closest people to you? If yes, is that an answer you’re okay with? For our last few visits with Fern Lulham, we’ve been debating mental health quotes that have been around forever, and get used a whole lot. What’s a good fat? Nutritionist Julia Karantjas tells us what the most important fat is for our diets, and how we can find it, and consume it on a daily basis. Michael Babcock is back to follow up about reaper Tips from our December 16th Show. He’s answering all our Reaper Production questions.

If winter weather is keeping you more indoors than outdoors, online trivia might be just what you are looking for. The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, BC Affiliate, is hosting a trivia fundraiser to raise money for their national scholarship program initiative. AEBC, BC President, Chantal Oakes is here to tell us all about it. And we find out what happens when you combine exercise with engaging dramatized audio as Michael Feir reviews the ZRX app.

Christine Malec is back! Today she tells us what she found out while researching about blind musicians in history, and a project she’s hoping to get funded that will help us all learn more. Mary Mammoliti is here and we’re spicing things up—literally. She’s dishing on 2025’s flavour trends, from boozy sweets to TikTok’s latest obsessions.

We’re all full-grown adults here, but that doesn’t mean we can count on doing adult things right. Leanne Baarda’s here to set the record straight on how we should be doing laundry. A new Robert Half Canada survey reveals how workers want their careers to evolve in 2025. We discuss the findings with our friend, Michael French. How do the pro athletes, like Jennie Bovard, prepare to travel for games? She lets us in on the particulars. 🛠️ Career Goals in 2025 A fresh survey from Robert Half Canada reveals what professionals are prioritizing this year—higher salaries, more flexibility, and career growth. Michael French joins us to break it all down and share actionable tips for negotiating raises and workplace flexibility. ✈️ Athletic Travel Secrets Ever wondered how pro athletes handle travel for competitions? Contributor Jennie Bovard spills her travel prep secrets, from skipping airplane coffee to why she avoids sharing hotel rooms. Don’t miss her must-know hacks for staying healthy and organized while traveling! 🧺 Laundry Masterclass Think you know how to do laundry? Think again! Expert Leanne Baarda stops by to school us on proper laundry techniques. Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, you’ll want to hear this! 🔥 TikToker vs. Wildfire Idiocy In a gripping story, a TikToker confronts partiers launching illegal lanterns near a nature preserve as wildfires rage in Southern California. It’s a chilling reminder of the dangers of carelessness during fire season. 🥪 Cheese and Better Sleep? Can cheese lower your risk of sleep apnea? We explore recent research linking cheese consumption to improved sleep biomarkers, but doctors weigh in with a reality check. 🎙️ Join the Conversation Share your thoughts by emailing us at kellyco@ami.ca or calling 1-866-509-4545. Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram and Twitter at KellyandCoAMI for updates! 📢 Catch the Podcast Love what you hear? Find the Kelly and Company podcast on your favorite platform and leave us a review! 👉 Hit that Subscribe button and tune in now for a lively mix of career insights, travel tips, laundry mastery, and more! About Kelly and Company Kelly and Company is a lively podcast hosted by Kelly MacDonald, featuring contributors from the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities. The show delves into arts, entertainment, and lifestyle topics that resonate with its audience. The podcast is updated daily, ensuring fresh content for its listeners. Kelly and Company is produced by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through the offering of relevant original content. For those interested in engaging discussions on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle issues pertinent to the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities, Kelly and Company is a must-listen.

It’s halfway through January. Is your New Year’s resolution already feeling out of reach? Marco Pasqua’s helping us out with the power of setting SMART goals and intentional plans that he says will set us up for success in 2025. On Para Sport Nation, the brand new AMI Sports show, Alex Smyth spotlights upcoming para sport events in Canada and abroad, pulls back the curtain on how para sports are played and interviews para sport athletes, coaches and trainers.

On today’s show, we explore how to make popular resolutions (like fitness, travel, and learning) accessible to all, with Matisse Hammel Nelis. Describer and traveller JJ Hunt takes us on a virtual tour of some of his favourite beaches. And what does it mean to eat more plant-based, and are we doing it right? Nutritionist Julia Karantjas answers our questions on the topic.

Painting, hammering, drilling, prop sourcing and decorating, these things typically require you to be in person to build a set for a play, but Realwheels Theatre, in Vancouver, is inviting you to join in the build of a new play in development, called Faye’s Room. I want to know how I can build a set in Vancouver from here in London! AMI Communications Specialist Greg David joins us to discuss how Popeye and Mickey Mouse are headed to public domain, and what that might mean for the beloved characters.

As an artist and a lover of the arts, Amy Amantea encourages us all to kick off the new year with looking for ways to get more involved in the arts. We find out what Markus McCracken has been up to in finding accessible video games over the holidays. Spoiler Alert: he found a few. And Mary Mammoliti has us covered in the kitchen with tips on returning back to our routines after the holidays.

After the holidays, the realization hits that it’s still winter and the weather outside is enough to make one want to hibernate indoors. That's why Frances Wong thought it would be a great idea to talk about hygge. Kevin Shaw stamps the businesses that said goodbye last year, and we discuss the legacies they’ve left behind. Lucia Bellafante is back, with the motivation of helping us create parenting and family goals for 2025.

On today’s show, Alicia Grace Chenier joins us to review “Blink”, a documentary on Disney+. Climate change is on the mind of trailblazing artist Persimmon Blackbridge, with her solo exhibition “Speak No emergency,” featuring items created from found, reclaimed and recycled objects. Plus, let’s find out how AMI’s Para Sport Nation is kicking off the year, when we check in with Host Alex Smyth.

On today’s show, Psychotherapist Fern Lulham joins us for part 3 of whether personal development top tips are really tip top. What is a snack and what makes a good one? Nutritionist Julia Karantjas tells us. And we chat with Michael Babcock about what tech tools to use to document your year.

On today’s show, Financial Planner Ryan Chin sheds light on what we (Canadians) are saying about how exactly rising prices are impacting our ability to meet day-to-day expenses. Michael Feir’s been deeply enjoying a unique accessible game from Rascal Magic Studios called Bardcard. It combines memory card matching with an adventure roleplaying game in a way that's uniquely inclusive of blind players.

When was the last time you threw out your sponges, washed your dish towels, or replaced your pillows? We’re starting 2025 with a fresh take on home organization and the habits that keep our spaces in check. Christine Malec has been doing some thinking and experimenting around the relationship the Blind community can now choose to have with photos, and today we’re going to hear about one of her experiments. Rebecca Dingwell is a writer and editor interested in online trends and pop culture. And we get into Celebrity Worship.

🎉 Join us for the final live edition of KellyCo in 2024! We’ve packed this episode with expert insights and lively debates: 👉 Psychotherapist Fern Lulham returns for part two of her personal development tips debate. Are classic self-help quotes truly impactful or just overrated? We’re diving into: • “Fake it until you make it” – Confidence booster or deception? • “Happiness depends upon ourselves” – The role of internal vs. external factors. • “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with” – How much do those around us shape our lives? 👉 Nutritionist Julia Karantjas unpacks the pros and cons of protein powders: • Myths about who should use them. • Benefits for immune health and energy. • Tips for choosing clean, natural options tailored to your dietary needs (vegan, lactose-free, and more). 👉 Mark Rankin shares his top Orientation and Mobility gift ideas: • Reflectivity aids. • Traction tools. • Lights, earbuds, and sunglasses to help your loved ones stay independent and safe. 🗓 Don’t miss this jam-packed episode as we wrap up 2024 with a bang! Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 1:15 – Fern Lulham: Debating personal development advice. 15:45 – Julia Karantjas: Should you use protein powder? 28:30 – Mark Rankin: Orientation & Mobility gift guide. 📌 Subscribe for more engaging content, and hit the 🔔 to get notified for our upcoming shows in the new year! About Kelly and Company Kelly and Company is a lively podcast hosted by Kelly MacDonald, featuring contributors from the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities. The show delves into arts, entertainment, and lifestyle topics that resonate with its audience. The podcast is updated daily, ensuring fresh content for its listeners. Kelly and Company is produced by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through the offering of relevant original content. For those interested in engaging discussions on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle issues pertinent to the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities, Kelly and Company is a must-listen.

Celebrate the season with this holiday-themed episode of Kelly and Company! Hosts Ramya Amuthan and Brock Richardson bring you inspiring stories of music and magic. ✨ Eileen Laverty - Angels in the Snow: A Magical Christmas Irish-Canadian singer-songwriter Eileen Laverty talks about her enchanting music career, including collaborations with icons like Kenny Rogers and Tom Cochrane. She also gives a preview of her magical Christmas concert at Saskatoon’s Broadway Theatre and performs her original holiday song, Maybe This Christmas. ✨ Michael Feir - The Box of Delights (Big Finish Audio Drama) Michael Feir shares why The Box of Delights, a modernized adaptation of a Christmas classic, is a must-listen for the holidays. With themes of bravery, magic, and top-notch production, this Big Finish drama is perfect for the whole family. About Kelly and Company Kelly and Company is a lively podcast hosted by Kelly MacDonald, featuring contributors from the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities. The show delves into arts, entertainment, and lifestyle topics that resonate with its audience. The podcast is updated daily, ensuring fresh content for its listeners. Kelly and Company is produced by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through the offering of relevant original content. For those interested in engaging discussions on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle issues pertinent to the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities, Kelly and Company is a must-listen.

Christine Malec is a fiction writer, and recently she tried an experimental collaboration with an Audio Describer, who contributed the kind of physical descriptions that can be challenging for a Blind author to create. Lawrence Gunther joins us to talk about different types of assistive technology that can be of value in the outdoors, and which ones will leave you wanting more. Plus, Chef Mary Mammoliti, Ramya and I tried baking celebrity cookie recipes, and we will be taste testing our creations with you on the show.

How can we make the holidays more inclusive and sensory friendly? ILS Specialist Leanne Baarda shares her tips. Plus we get into the latest Robert Half Canada survey, on the state of hiring in Canada right now, with Michael French. About Kelly and Company Kelly and Company is a lively podcast hosted by Kelly MacDonald, featuring contributors from the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities. The show delves into arts, entertainment, and lifestyle topics that resonate with its audience. The podcast is updated daily, ensuring fresh content for its listeners. Kelly and Company is produced by Accessible Media Inc. (AMI), a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through the offering of relevant original content. For those interested in engaging discussions on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle issues pertinent to the blind, partially sighted, and disability communities, Kelly and Company is a must-listen.

On this episode of Kelly and Company, Ramya Amuthan explores topics that will keep you informed, entertained, and smiling—literally! Certified Dental Assistant Gail Ritter shares essential holiday dental hygiene tips to help you enjoy those tasty treats without sacrificing your teeth. Plus, we celebrate a Canadian hero as Terry Fox is set to appear on the $5 bill, honoring his inspiring legacy in cancer research. And for sports fans, Alex Smyth gives us a sneak peek of Para Sport Nation, featuring blind hockey player Tristan Lindberg and a spotlight on the growth of blind hockey.

On today’s show: Ramya Amuthan, Nisreen Abdel-Majid and Jacob Shymanski find out what the most Googled questions by Canadians are this year. We find out how Michael Babcock creates, produces, and publishes podcast content with the combination of Reaper, Auphonic, Chat GPT, and Pinecast. Plus, we chat with Nutritionist Julia Karantjas, she has the best protein-packed snacks for the season.

On today’s show, Kelly MacDonald shares an article on how the “warm” spices we often associate with the holidays not only fill the kitchen with comforting aromas, but they also may literally have a warming effect on the body. Plus, which TV Shows made your top list this year? Greg David has his picks for what he considers top TV for 2024, and we weigh in.