It's just me and you this week! Feels like a good time to check in with what I've been listening to, reading and loving lately. If you're looking for your new favourite book, podcast or show – I've got you covered. NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Let's connect@kirstimcnabney@thinkingaboutpodcastCheck out the recommendations from the episodeArrae supplementsThe Reading ListThings We Do In The DarkReally Good, ActuallyEmotional EntrepreneurHow to Build A Story BrandSet Boundaries, Find PeaceSlowpreneurOkay SisDream BiggerILYSMNote to SelfPretty SmartJay Shetty's On Purpose

Today we're thinking about some of my favourite topics – marketing, brand building that's unique to you, AND finding/building community. We're joined by Ruha Ratnam – a brand strategist and founder of The Designist Studio. She helps business coaches and consultants discover how to show up online with confidence through her Brand Blueprint, and designs brands and websites that align with their goals, priorities, and unique brand magic. She is passionate about working with historically underrepresented and underserved folks to build sustainable and impactful businesses.In today's business bestie chat, we discuss helping business owners grow their reputation online in a way that stands out but still feels like them, how to create 5-star digital experiences, translating the power you have working with clients into your digital channels, why it's important to show up uniquely as you, how to build trust in yourself, setting up a peer mastermind and more!Connect with RuhaOn her website at thedesignist.studioOn InstagramJoin her Instagram inner circle for content beyond branding and receive exclusive invites to Coffee + Community events where we discuss being human in business Read Ruha's blog post about starting a peer mastermindNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today we're thinking about mindfulness and meditation – and how early practice is influencing the lives of the next generation. Natalie Von Teichman, is the founder of MIINDFULLY, a brand responsible for creating the very first meditation stuffie for kids that offers a full sensory experience.  Natalie’s passion for children’s wellness hit an all-time high when she and her family of four young boys experienced COVID-19 (Natalie being Canada’s 29th confirmed case in Canada). Witnessing the mental-health impact on our communities, children, and young-adults, as well as going through it on a personal level, gave Natalie a wider depth of insight on how to deal with situations that are beyond our control as well as the trauma it can play on us mentally. She founded MIINDFULLY and created mediTATE, the first multisensory meditation stuffie that has changed the lives of many children and parents who are looking for toys to support their children’s mental, emotional, and social health. Her mission is to utilize this cuddly breathing buddy to connect children and young adults to the power of meditation & mindfulness in a unique way that is easy and makes sense for them.“TATE”, helps children with several preventative strategies such as emotional regulation, understanding the immense power of their breath, sleep support and how to feel calm …to name only a few!Natalie is also a certified yoga instructor, trained Crisis Responder for Kids Help Phone, has a diploma in Children’s Mindfulness from the Centre of Excellence, has her CPD certificate in Mindfulness in Children and is a Certified Meditation and Mindfulness teacher.In this episode, you'll hear how Natalie discovered the power of meditation in her own life, the ways you can practice meditation and mindfulness to find something that works for you, and the difference between mental fitness and physical fitness. We also cover how and why she created TATE and the impact it's having on the resilience of children around the world. Connect with NatalieBuy TATE and save 25% on an annual miindfully subscription for Children's Mental Health Awareness (May 2023)Visit the miindfully websiteConnect with miindfully on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTokJoin the miindfully mailing listNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today we're thinking about how habits can empower you to live your fullest life – for both you and the people around you with Valerie Lavigne. Valerie is a Health Coach specializing in Healthy Habits. She helps women who are making an impact prioritize their health and wellness, without adding to their already busy schedule, so that they can feel great in their body and show up powerfully for the people depending on them.In this episode, you'll hear about how a backpacking trip changed her life, her experimental approach to habits, great tips on how to change behaviours to drive your routines, a powerful question to ask yourself when it comes to making routines, how working on yourself becomes a trickle effect to the people in your life and so much more!Connect with ValVisit her websiteListen to the Women's Empowerment Podcast on Apple PodcastsListen to the Women's Empowerment Podcast on SpotifyConnect with Val on Instagram, TikTok and YouTubeGet your Build Better Habits Free GuideNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about social media with Kat from Social Kat Media. Kat Tepylo Murphy is the Head of Strategy (and Memes) at Social Kat Media. She’s also your small business’s #1 fan. Kat helps small & local businesses reclaim their time, feel more confident about their content and grow their business. She believes showing up for your community is about so much more than feeding an algorithm and that social media should not just tolerable—but FUN and EFFECTIVE.Kat is a mom of two, new to rural living with her kids, husband and dog, and is very passionate about mental health. She spends her time offline crafting, chasing her kids around, watching sports, and enjoying country living down by the dock.In the episode, you’ll hear about how Kat got into social media, how to protect your boundaries with social media, Kat's best advice for how to show up on social media, tips for planning and managing social that helps people take action, testing with your content, what you can gain from analytics and so much more. Connect with KatFollow Kat on InstagramSign up for small-biz-specific social media tips delivered straight to your inboxVisit socialkatmedia.comGet your small biz Instagram checklist for FREENEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

We're back with another solo episode! This chat, from a few weeks ago, shares five tips I turn to when trying to find myself when I'm overwhelmed or not feeling at my best. GET MOREBuy Set Boundaries, Find Peace by Nedra TawwabCheck out our cycle syncing episode for more information on how your cycle impacts your moodNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcast

Today we’re thinking about the power of our voices and using them. Sara Giita Flores understands the power of voice, because after experiences with sexual assault – she had to find her way back to what she calls embodying her self-expression. Embodying the transformation of trauma-induced silence and shame into radiant self-expression was the start of Sara’s journey. She’s now a voice coach, speaker and singer/songwriter based near Denver, Colorado. With 16 years of vocal coaching experience, she helps empathic women to deepen their confidence in their voices so they can speak up and share their work with ease. You can find her projects featured on Denver’s 9News, KGNU Radio, Westword Magazine, and more.In the conversation Sara walks us through her journey – the experience of her own voice not being received and what lead to her moment of awakening where she reclaimed her voice. We discuss  people pleasing, living in your body vs your mind, how we come to moments of awakening, setting boundaries, promoting yourself, and more. Connect with SaraCheck out Sara's websiteConnect with Sara on Facebook NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about all things blogging! Blogging is so much more than just a fun pastime for people ­– it can be an outstanding way for business owners to showcase their expertise or for people to create an income that allows people freedom within their life – something our guests today know a lot about. So much so, that they created a business to help other women be able to do that for themselves.With over 14 years of combined blogging experience, Amy Reinecke and Jennifer Draper are passionate about helping women create the blogs they desire to build a business that allows them to live the life they desire. They started Spark Media Concepts to help women use their stories, passion, expertise, and perspectives to share content that adds value to others via their blog. Together they also host the Ultimate Blog Podcast where they share tips and interviews with experts about how to start a blog to further their mission.In the episode we talk about all things blogging, including:- WHY business owners and others should still create a blog in 2023- How to get started- Things to think about when naming your blog- Having a business mindset when it comes to your blog- Why picking a niche is important and what it looks like to change your niche as you grow- What’s changed with blogs over the years/what to do in 2023 - How to distribute your content in a way that is both useful and sustainable. Feeling ready to start blogging? Spark Concepts is hosting a FREE three day challenge starting April 11. The Three Day Blueprint for a Profitable Blog will help you carve out an hour a day to learn the foundations of what you need for a successful set up in blogging, how to create content that connects and learn how to turn your blog into a money making machine. Connect with Amy & Jennifer: Visit the Spark Media Concepts websiteSign up for the Three Day Blueprint For a Profitable Blog Free Course Follow along on Instagram Listen to the Ultimate Blog PodcastNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about empowering women to live their well-thiest life with Huda Alvi. Huda is a real estate agent & self taught investor. Going from broke and unemployed to owning five properties in less than 12 months, Huda shares her journey of perseverance through her social media presence. She is the creator of The Wellthy Women, whose mission is to help women invest in real estate and become financially independent through events, courses and a Masterclass in the pipeline for 2023. She also runs a super cool side hustle called The Girls Trip - a bad ass tour company empowering women to travel more. In the conversation, you’ll hear us talk about why she started her "Brown Girl Bucket List" series on TikTok, the importance of taking time for yourself and how she fits that in as a wife and mother of two, what her bucket list includes and how her vision board helps her break down her themes. We talk about her money journey, where to start including some resources if you’re looking to become financially well – which as you’ll hear for Huda means well on all levels, and we also talk about her recent solo travel to Colombia, how she plans EPIC itineraries, the importance of solo travel and of course, how you can take advantage of her travel planning skills on incredible adventures through the newly relaunched company, The Girls Trip. Connect with Huda: Huda's InstagramHuda's TikTokThe Girls Trip InstagramThe Girls Trip Website (Use code EARLYBIRD to save $100)NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, it's just me and you! We have officially made it to ONE YEAR of the Thinking About Podcast. Listen in as I share five lessons that I've learned from starting my podcast. We'll dive why you should start that thing you're dreaming about, the value of outsourcing, celebrating your wins and more. Plus, I'm giving a sneak peek into what you can expect to see in the second year of the pod.Thank you for tuning in to the first year of the pod and I can't wait to see what the next year will bring!NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about tax season and all things accounting with Martina Morton of GrowCPA. GrowCPA is a digital accounting firm that was founded with a BIG mission:  to empower Canadian business owners with the financial knowledge they need to build a wildly successful business and lasting financial legacy.In the episode, you’ll hear the origin story of GrowCPA, how they’re making accounting accessible for small businesses, starting a virtual company BEFORE the pandemic and what they’ve experienced through the changes, how having a business can help you improve your personal finances, deciding between doing your own taxes or working with an accountant, making bookkeeping fun, useful programs/resources to prepare you for tax season, profit planning and more. Connect with Martina: GrowCPA InstagramGrowCPA WebsiteExplore the Solopreneur AcademyGet the Profit PlannerGuide to Win Tax SeasonNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

In true Thinking About fashion, we're thinking about A LOT this week – from pressing flowers to running a business to mental health and more. We’re joined by Devon Elcomb-Anzit. Devon is the owner of Pressed In Time a beautiful flower preservation business in Niagara, Ontario, Canada. She’s described on her website as a creator and flower enthusiast who has always held a love and appreciation for art. After experiencing flower pressing from two important women in her family and experimenting on her own, Devon eventually created a business of it. Today, she is helping people preserve memories made at their biggest life events in beautiful ways.Join us as we talk about why you should tell people you admire their work, being tea girlies, how she started flower pressing, the birth of Pressed In Time, tips on preserving your wedding flowers, starting and running TWO businesses before focusing her energy on one, business advice, the impact of sharing vulnerably, setting boundaries and so much more. Connect with Devon:Pressed In Time InstagramPressed In Time WebsiteDevon's Instagram Links from this week's episode: Criminal Episode - They Came for the JudgesDonate to Canadian Women for Women in AfghanistanGet Rob Anzit's 2023 Gameplan Journal Get Lady Cottington's Pressed Fairy BookNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about the strategy behind reaching your business goals and making networking less awkward with Hannah Schwartz. Hannah is your Business Strategist. She is dedicated to helping clients achieve success and works with entrepreneurs to integrate strategy into their business to level up or pivot. In the episode, we talk about her signature pillar system that helps business owners and anyone work towards their goals, opportunities to grow within your business or shift away from what you initially thought you wanted, how failure is feedback and tangible tips you can do today to bring your goals to life. She’s also on a mission to have 100 coffees with entrepreneurs this year. We talk about the value of networking, how to foster relationships with people, great questions to ask when it comes to networking and more. She also gives us great tips on journaling – incase you’re like me and need to take some time for internal work after diving deep into your external side. Connect with Hannah: Visit Hannah's websiteFollow Hannah on Instagram and TikTokSign up for 100 cups of coffeeCheck our Hannah's MediumNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about all things freelancing with Jasmine Williams. Jasmine Williams is an award-winning writer, content marketing expert, and the founder of Jasmine Williams Media, a boutique content marketing consultancy serving a global roster of industry-leading companies and visionaries. She’s also the founder of Click-worthy Creatives, an education hub and community for freelance creatives. Jasmine helps creative entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, and growth-stage startups scale their businesses with strategic storytelling.In the episode, Jasmine talks about how she went from a journalism degree to freelancing, all kinds of tips on how to get started, the value of transparency, titling yourself as a freelancer, finding space to market your OWN business while marketing for others, the importance of timing and following up, how to reach out to strangers, the power of mentorship, what to consider when you're creating content that excites your audience, why post-it notes are so important to us, and so much more.Connect with Jasmine: Visit Jasmine's websiteCheck out Jasmine's resourcesFollow Jasmine on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedInNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about the journey of self-publishing your first novel and following your dreams with Elizabeth Monier-Williams. Elizabeth has over 20 years of experience marketing products, companies and ideas within Toronto’s technology and research sectors. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo and a Master of Arts from the University of Guelph, and has held senior leadership positions in several Canadian healthcare start-ups.In 2012, she gave a TedxTalk on women, superheroes, and power. Originally intended to make her past scholarship work more accessible to a wider audience, it inadvertently supercharged her writing. She now publishes fiction as E. M. Williams. Chaos Calling, her first novel, launched in Spring 2022. She is a current member of the Writer’s Union of Canada.In the episode, Elizabeth walks us through her full experience of writing and launching her book. You'll hear about choosing a pen name, why you should never stop believing in your dreams, her writing process, the product and marketing mindset she used for her launch, Toronto's role in Chaos Calling, finding beta readers, the editing process, and so much more.Connect with Elizabeth: Visit Elizabeth's websiteBuy Chaos CallingRead the Journey essayFollow Elizabeth on Twitter, Instagram, and TiktokNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about our creative side and how experimenting with it led Maggie Devereux to launching her own photography business. Maggie is an award winning documentary style photographer and storyteller known for truly seeing her subjects and capturing the beautiful moments of life in between. Her photographs hold layered stories and capture a moment in time that is true and raw, bringing life to any room. You can see it in all of her work, whether visiting her website or Instagram and yesterday – she launched her brand new print shop which allows you to bring her incredible photos into your own home. The print shop is a culmination of Maggie’s work as an artist to date and includes a selection of some of her most cherished images that she has taken. She created the shop in response to growing demand for her images in print form, and she is delighted to now be sharing her work in people’s homes and spaces.In the episode, you’ll have a chance to get to know Maggie – who is a self-described deeply feeling person. We talk all about her journey to creating her photography business, a journey that started with an engineering degree and a job in finance, a very personal story that shaped what she’s doing today and how her background in engineering is still present in her photography work. We discuss how you can be both analytical and a creative, what it means to be a documentary style photographer, getting comfortable with sharing your work online, the importance of being in photos, her experience photographing people at TIFF, what you should think about before heading into a photoshoot and of course, her brand new print shop. Connect with Maggie: Visit Maggie's websiteShop the Print Shop (use code THINKINGABOUT for 10% off at checkout)Follow Maggie on InstagramNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking all about our finances with Tara Murphy. She is a Senior Associate at a Bay Street Investment Bank, a Money Coach and Airbnb Extraordinaire. She has an immense passion for travel and spends half the year in Mexico working remotely, where she truly is living the dream.Tara is a strong believer that our money should be working as hard for us as we work for ourselves, so she has made it her mission to show people that the world of investing, monetizing side hustles, and earning passive is easier thank you think – and the best way to create wealth. Over the last decade, Tara has started her own consulting business, managed 20+ Airbnbs, and taught over 5000 students. Being creative with managing your finances is Tara’s strong suit, where she has developed great courses, offers 1:1 coaching, and provides *FREE* classes, trainings, and resources for her community. In today’s episode we dive into ALL of the things Tara has experienced in her financial life – from how she got started in her financial journey, the shame and guilt some women feel when it comes to their money, the impact money can have on your life once you feel in control of your finances and actionable tips on how to get started with investing, how you should be using your TFSA, what we can be doing during a recession, what to know about real estate and AirBNB investments, and even things to know about long term rentals in other countries if you’re inspired by Tara’s Mexico adventures and want to escape cold winters.Connect with Tara: On InstagramOn TikTokOn her websiteCheck out her RedTag promo mentioned on the pod to save $100 off your vacation package with code TARA100NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today, we're thinking about the overarching theme of the importance of tuning into you with Linh Phan.  Linh is the founder of Bona Fide Life Coaching and a body acceptance and intuitive eating coach. She grew up as a restaurant kid, working in her parents’ Chinese restaurant in small-town Canada from the age of 12. Food was the reason for her family to come together and connect and it was, and always will be, a love language for her. However, Linh realizes that many people have difficult relationships with food and she has made it her mission to raise awareness around diet culture and the harmful effects it has on people’s physical and mental health. Linh works one-on-one with people who struggle with shame and guilt around eating and helps them find joy and peace with food – and with themselves.In the episode, you’ll hear about Linh’s journey to her current business after working in the financial industry, she walks us through diet culture, intuitive eating and her experience with intentional movement. We talk a lot about the changes we’ve seen in our own lives after we stopped living on autopilot. She gives us actionable tips on how to find validation within yourself, again something I’ve been working on heavily for the last while, how not to fall victim to the new year new you craze of January, finding ways to move your body that you actually enjoy, prioritizing yourself even when you’re busy, check in on yourself, and so much more. Connect with Linh: Connect on Instagram Connect on FacebookConnect on LinkedIn Connect on TikTokVisit Linh's websiteNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today we’re thinking about our inner critic and living life in alignment with Gloria Eid. Gloria helps leaders of all kinds embody their innate creativity and become who they need to be to carry out their unique role on the planet. As a transformational leadership coach, she works with rising entrepreneurs, new managers, executives, artists, and students to unlock their creative abilities and become their most loving selves so that they live and work consciously and joyfully towards the fulfillment of their dreams. She draws on her studies in sociology and communication, her research in the art of authenticity and meaning-making, her training in applied depths coaching, and her experience building inclusive educational communities and high-performing teams to help create a world that is full of more inspired and expressive humans. She sees communication as humanity's most important characteristic and the life of every relationship, and believes that what we do for work can, and ought to, make our lives better. We chat about the thoughtful career break she took during what some would see as the height of her previous career, themes facing overachievers and their view of success, what our inner critic is and how to use it to our benefits, and so much more. If you're looking for a mindset shift, a pat on the back to keep going with what you're doing, or permission to try the thing that keeps pulling at your heart strings – this is the episode for you.Connect with Gloria: Listen to Gloria's free mini-memoir and receive her letters on living, loving, and creating by joining her readership at www.gloriaeid.comConnect on LinkedInConnect on InstagramNEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media

Today we’re thinking about the new year – not having to be a new you but still setting intentions and reflections heading into 2023 with our first-ever returning guest, Coach G! Gillian Macgregor-Spur helps people at any level of fitness to achieve their running goals while having fun, building belief in themselves and take the stress off their shoulders. She was inspired to begin running. In an outstanding first year of running that included 5K, 10K, and a half-marathon, she fell in love and soon after started helping others. Eventually, Gillian's love of running blossomed into full-time entrepreneurship as a certified running and nutrition coach helping others on their own journeys.We chat about kindness, burnout, figuring out what works for you, our thoughts on the new year, visualization, manifestation lists, actionable steps for changing your habit and lifestyle, figuring out the steps to get from where you are today to where you want to be, the 31 x 31 challenge and so much more!Connect with Coach G: InstagramFacebookPinterestYoutubeWebsiteGet your guides or connect with Coach G for more supportSign up for 31 x 31 challenge NEW EPISODES EVERY TUESDAY ✨⁠Hosted by @kirstimcnabneyFind links, inspiration and updates @thinkingaboutpodcastThis episode was edited by Amanda Wan of Wan Media