Worry Less & Live More
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we had the opportunity to sit down with not one, but two guests, Carl and Shelly — two humans who truly embody the essence of connection in all its forms. I first met Carl and Shelly when I was just 15 years old and a friend and I decided to participate in the ‘Weekend to End Cancer’ — a 60km walk across Ottawa. Over a decade later, we’re revisiting the very first time our paths crossed, and diving into their journey of love, connection, and shared purpose. Carl and Shelly open up about how they met and navigated a long-distance relationship in the days before...
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Enjoy the Moment
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we sit down with Josh and we get to share a wonderful, and open conversation. Josh takes us back to his younger years, sharing on his experience of moving around frequently before settling in Ottawa about 15 years ago. From a young age, Josh was building connections and meeting new people on the regular. Josh turned to poetry as a way to express himself, and that love and enjoyment of writing has evolved over the years into playwriting, even leading him to stage a handful of plays. It wasn’t until Josh discovered improv that he truly found his creative home. Josh...
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I'm Ryan Too!
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we pull Ryan out from behind the camera and into the guest seat as we chat all about Ryan’s love of comedy, film and movies from a very young age and how he grew up making videos with friends. That passion eventually led Ryan to a career in video production and editing where he’s dabbled in a variety of exciting and different projects. Ryan’s world is full of connections through not only his work and career but also through his hobbies like comedy and games. He shares what it was like stepping out of his comfort zone and performing stand up for the first time...
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Everything's Coming Up Megan
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we’re joined by Megan and we have a conversation filled with laughter, reflection, and plenty of real talk. She’s such an easy conversationalist, and our chat takes some fun and unexpected twists. We dive deep into Megan’s personal journey, from choosing to start therapy to her dreams of marriage, starting a family, and buying a house with her partner, she offers honest insight into what it’s been like navigating it all. We also explore the big difference between university and college, and how each of us found our own path to success with our education. Megan...
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Perfection is a Myth
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we’re joined by Stefanie, a psychotherapist, wonderful human and new connection who brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to our conversation. We dive deep into the art of goal setting, the importance of understanding our values, and how to live our lives intentionally and in alignment. We chat about how writing can unlock creativity and self-expression, we explore the power of gamifying tasks as a tool to stay motivated and on track and we talk about the influence of technology in our daily lives, both its challenges and its potential to enhance personal growth...
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Ricky Martin Memories
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we sit down with Alexa, a longtime friend, a true nature enthusiast and all-around remarkable human. We've known each other since childhood, so you can imagine how many memories we’ve racked up over the years! Together we take a trip down memory lane, revisiting cottage weekends, dancing to Ricky Martin and how we built a friendship and sisterhood outside of relationships that predated us. Together we dive deeper into the transformative power of therapy, how ‘doing the work’ can be challenging, but SO worth it and how truly protecting your energy has become a...
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Shrek FTW
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode we sit down with Samantha — a colleague turned friend, passionate animal lover, and talented event planner. We cover a lot in only an hour, chatting about personal growth, getting comfortable in our own skin and the importance of finding joy in life's simple pleasures, like spending time in nature and with loved ones. Sam shares insights from her career in event planning, in higher-education, highlighting how thoughtfully planned events can leave a lasting impact on students and how they remember their post-secondary experiences. We also don’t miss a beat, talking...
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We Should Go Climb Kilimanjaro
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode we chat with Steve, a sports enthusiast with an extensive background in marketing and advertising. Steve's journey has led him to some incredible opportunities, including studying in Australia and working on the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. During our conversation we talk about the challenges he faced living on the west coast away from his family, the hustle of working on the Olympics and how no one talks about the ‘low’ that comes after months and years of working on a global project, and the personal growth that comes from career transitions and overcoming obstacles....
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Boundary Building Blocks
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode, we sit down with Lianne, for an insightful and heartfelt conversation that takes us all the way back to high school. We explore her journey of moving to a new city and starting at a new school right before graduation. From navigating the social dynamics of making new friends to finding a sense of belonging through sports teams, Lianne shares how these experiences shaped her understanding of connection. We take a deep and vulnerable dive into the topic of boundaries — how setting them can be incredibly difficult, why they're so important, and why keeping them is a...
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Balloon Drop or Confetti Cannon
Simply Connected
🎙️In this episode we chat with Sophia, a seasoned event professional with a wealth of knowledge and a passion for the industry. We dive into why we love events and how they are the ultimate way for bringing people together, building relationships and creating unforgettable memories. Whether it’s a small gathering or a large-scale production we explore what makes an event truly *successful*, the crucial role teamwork plays in pulling everything together and the importance of pushing the envelope and trying new things. Plus, we chat about some of our personal favourite event elements and...
info_outline🎙️In this episode, we sit down with Josh and we get to share a wonderful, and open conversation. Josh takes us back to his younger years, sharing on his experience of moving around frequently before settling in Ottawa about 15 years ago. From a young age, Josh was building connections and meeting new people on the regular. Josh turned to poetry as a way to express himself, and that love and enjoyment of writing has evolved over the years into playwriting, even leading him to stage a handful of plays.
It wasn’t until Josh discovered improv that he truly found his creative home. Josh talks about the transformative first class that reignited his sense of play and freedom, and how it’s shaped both his personal and professional life. What started out as looking for a hobby outside of his day job turned into a beautiful new world where he gets to perform improv on the regular and play a key role in running a local improv school in Ottawa, fostering a community of creatives.
Join us as we dive into Josh’s journey, his passion for expression, and how improv continues to shape his world. This episode is all about finding your voice, embracing play, enjoying the moment, and the power of creative connection.
Connect with Josh:
Instagram: / joshimayo
Catch Josh co-directing the 2025 Ottawa Improv Festival May 29-31. The fesitval will have a curated selection of local talent, out-of-town acts and amazing headliners!
Don't miss out! For more information visit: https://www.ottawaimprovfest.com
Connect with us:
Instagram: / simplyconnectedco
Simply Connected Playlist:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4YabEPcBrpGaOmTTjqgKQ2?si=1ruAUQiBQ4Kmq5WPQrD0oA
Music by: New Swears | IG: / newswears
Logo and artwork by: Liz Pearson
Produced by: Ryan Mullin