Episode 21: Kathy Barnard, Melanoma Survivor and Advocate

Guest Titan: Kathy Barnard, Melanoma Survivor and Advocate.

What we cover: I have had an on-again, off-again relationship with melanoma, for more than half of my life. And one of the things that most frustrates me is how blasé people are, generally speaking, when they think about skin cancer. There are three types of skin cancers, and melanoma is the one that kills. You might be one of the people right now, walking around living your life, knowing you have a suspicious mole that you’ve been “meaning to get checked out”. Something that itches a little. Or bleeds a little. Or just looks a bit off. Or, in Kathy Barnard’s case — a weird little lump on her elbow. Or you might know someone who fits this bill. Please listen to my chat with Kathy — and then, take action.

Melanoma spreads like wildfire, and Kathy’s was no different. It spread to her lungs, her kidney, her liver, her adrenal glands, her abdomen, and her bones. She was given three to six months to live. That was 11 years ago. Today, she is cancer free and the founder of the much-respected Save Your Skin Foundation.

In the summer of 1994, I was a flight attendant. It was a brief interlude for me, in between my Bachelor of Arts and my Bachelor of Education. But ultimately, that short career in airline travel would be a life-changer and a life-saver. During take off and landing, I would sit in my jump seat, and because my uniform sleeves were short, I would stare at my arms. And I noticed this one mole. It wasn’t witchy and hairy and weird — it was just sort of different. It had a couple pieces of what looked like ground pepper dotted in the center. I showed it to my GP, and she said it was nothing but if I wanted, I could see a dermatologist. Three months later, in October, the dermatologist looked at it and said the same thing: It was probably nothing. But if I wanted, she could remove it. I figured that since I was there, I might as well. I didn’t hear anything back for all of November and into December so figured it was fine. One night, I was at my apartment in Halifax, N.S., on the east coast of Canada and the phone rang. A receptionist had found my file, and had seen that I had yet to be notified – it was in fact melanoma. I was immediately scheduled for plastic surgery and that began what has now been a 23-year recurring presence of melanoma in my life. I have had melanoma two times since. Once in 2002, which my dermatologist found on my back. And again, and most seriously, in 2012 which I found on the bottom of my foot. I was 7 months pregnant at the time, and found this wee little red dot on my toe. My dermatologist at the time assured me it was a “blood blister” and that we should just “monitor it for six months”. Chad encouraged me to get a second opinion. I did. It was melanoma again, and it had started to spread. If we had monitored it for six months, I’m not entirely sure I’d be here today.

Kathy’s story is a reminder too that we need to take it upon ourselves to not just float in the dreamy space of “oh really – it’s nothing.” If you feel it’s something, don’t stop until you know what it is. Melanoma is not something you just cut out and move on from – it spreads and it appears everywhere and anywhere. Your brain, your eyes, your lymph nodes – so really, do not wait. Hey – we go to the dentist twice a year. So go to a dermatologist while you’re at it.

Kathy’s story is one of determination and rising from the ashes, unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She will inspire you to appreciate the little details in our big lives – and to take huge action when it comes to preserving your life span.

How you can learn more:

Web: The Save Your Skin Foundation

Episode 071: Dr. Russ Kennedy — The Anxiety MD

What we cover: “In this moment, we are safe.” —Dr. Russ Kennedy Today’s guest is Dr Russ Kennedy – someone I have known since 2004, when I launched my brief stint into the stand up comedy world. Russ was a fellow comic, and I got to know him then, and I always really liked him. […]

Episode 070: Stacey Shand — Ultra-distance athlete and adventurer

What we cover: “I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference.” —Robert Frost Today’s guest is Stacey Shand. If there is a woman more easy to have a Girl Crush on that Stacey Shand, I have yet to meet her. Stacey is an ultra-extreme endurance athlete and adventurer. She […]

Episode 069: Kevin Reynolds — Olympic Figure Skater

What we cover: “Take the past for what it is. And then, focus on moving forward.” —Kevin Reynolds Today’s guest is Kevin Reynolds. He is, of course, the Canadian figure skating super star who won silver at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, as part of the mixed team event. According to the official […]

Episode 068: Sherry Strong — Chef, Nutritionist, Food Philosopher

&lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”&gt;&lt;/span&gt; Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “Addiction is the body’s way of telling you that you’re not listening to your soul.” —Sherry Strong Today’s guest is Sherry Strong – and strong she is. She is a woman who, after 35-years […]

Episode 067: Mary-Jo Dionne — writer/speaker/performer/podcaster

Tea supplier: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House In the interest of full disclosure, I have been ridiculously spread thin – as we all can get from time to time – and completely run down, wrapping up deadlines before I shut the office down until the new year. I have been up late into the night with […]

Episode 066: Anna Rice — Two-time Olympic badminton player

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “The most important things I’ve learned in life, I’ve learned on the badminton court.” —Anna Rice Today’s Guest Titan is two-time Olympian, Anna Rice – a woman who admits that, as far as life goes, everything she’s learned so far, she’s learned on the badminton […]

Episode 65: Mary-Jo Dionne — Learning to let it go

<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span> Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House What we cover: “You have to lose sight of the shore to discover new lands.” (paraphrased) —André Gide For those of you who listen to the show on a regular basis, it’s not news that I am […]

Episode 064: Karin Fortin Jackson — Part Two (“After”) Triathlete / Weight loss success story

What we cover: “For temporary results, commit to temporary changes. For permanent results, commit to permanent ones.” —Karin Fortin Jackson, 3-time Ironman finisher, who lost 120 pounds In 18 months of conversations with people I admire, this might rank as my most favourite chat yet. And I say that with the full admission that I […]

Episode 063: Karin Fortin Jackson — Triathlete / Weight loss success story (Part One: Before)

&amp;lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;gt; What we cover: “For temporary results, commit to temporary changes. For permanent results, commit to permanent ones.” —Karin Fortin Jackson, 3-time Ironman finisher, who lost 120 pounds In 18 months of conversations with people […]

Episode 062: Rhian Wilkinson — Three-time Olympic Soccer Player

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “If you want something badly enough, you don’t make sacrifices. You make choices.” —Rhian Wilkinson Today’s Guest Titan chat is a wee bit of a deviation from the norm – and I am so glad about it. Today, I have a guest co-host in the […]

Episode 061: Mike Shaw — Freestyle Skier, Coach, Entrepreneur, Speaker

Tea of choice: We opted for Vega shakes instead! What we cover: “Boom! Gratitude.” —Mike Shaw This week’s Guest Titan – Mike Shaw — is beyond inspiring. I have thought about our chat daily since it happened. He is just that impressive. I don’t want to give too much away, his story is incredible, and […]

Episode 060: Terri Tatchell — Oscar-nominated screenwriter

What we cover: Reinvention. I have been calling myself a writer since I was 5 years old. I’ve had a fun and memorable career as an ad copywriter in agencies in Vancouver, as an editor, as a features writer for various magazines. I’ve written my one-woman show and am currently working on the sequel. I […]

Episode 059: Jeff Symonds — Professional Triathlete (mini-episode)

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. This is a mini-episode. Just a wee one. It’s sort of Part Two in my chat with the unbelievably well-respected professional Ironman triathlete, Jeff Symonds Asia Pacific Ironman Champion, the year before last. But it’s also a stand-alone. So I’m not really thinking of it as a continuation […]

Episode 058: Jeff Symonds — Professional triathlete

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “A diamond is a lump of coal that did well under pressure.” —Henry Kissinger This week’s Guest Titan is flipping amazing. I have loved him from afar for many years now – not like as a stalker, dressed as a plant, hiding in a corner. […]

Episode 057: Teryl Rothery — Actor, Stargate SG-1, Cedar Cove, Best in Show, The Good Doctor

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “A fall doesn’t have to be perceived as a fall. It can be a trip. Or a stumble.” —Teryl Rothery This week’s Guest Titan is flipping amazing. I first met Teryl Rothery, about 18 years ago – I’ll tell you how I know it was […]

Episode 056: Mary-Jo Dionne — host, Tea with a Titan

Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “Where will we be 5 years from today?” Welcome to Season #2 of Tea with a Titan: Conversations Steeped in Greatness. This is the series where I get to sit down and have tea with entrepreneurs, athletes, entertainers, artists, philanthropists, thought-leaders, difference makers, — those […]

Episode 055: Pamela Martin — Broadcasting icon and philanthropist

Guest Titan: Pamela Martin, Broadcasting icon/philanthropist. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson A few weeks ago, I was speaking on a panel for the organization called Dress for Success. […]

Episode 054: Wendy Williams-Watt — Activist / Artist / Designer

Guest Titan: Wendy Williams-Watt, Activist/Artist/Designer. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “What the world needs now is love, sweet love.” —Burt Bacharach & Hal David About three weeks ago, my four-year-old, JouJou had her first ballet recital with North Vancouver’s stellar organization Pink Petal Ballet, designed less to teach young girls […]

Episode 053: Mary-Jo Dionne — host, Tea with a Titan

Guest Titan: Mary-Jo Dionne, Walking through the discomfort. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it. Oh no, we have to go through it.” —Michael Rosen JouJou very recently has taken to riding her bike up and down the carpeted hallways of our […]

Episode 52: George Shapiro — Legendary Hollywood Manager and Executive Producer of Seinfeld

&amp;lt;span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;gt; Guest Titan: George Shapiro, Talent manager/Executive Producer (Seinfeld). Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. We talk: Jerry Seinfeld, Andy Kaufman, Elvis Presley, and the importance of bombing on stage. (And really, in life.) I’m a big believer that every once in a while, […]

Episode 51: Ashley Wiles — Brooks Running 2016 Inspiring Coach of the Year

Guest Titan: Ashley Wiles, Brooks Inspiring Coach of the Year. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.” —Napolean Hill This is a conversation about running. But not in the way we typically equate talks about running. It’s not about encouraging […]

Episode 050: Elle Wild — Award-winning novelist

Guest Titan: Elle Wild, Award-winning novelist. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “Ever tried? Ever failed? No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.” —Samuel Beckett I have known Elle Wild for the better part of the last two decades. She and I were ad copy writers together in Vancouver. And […]

Episode 049: Matt Hill — Run for One Planet, runner and environmentalist

Guest Titan: Matt Hill, Run for One Planet. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “Just take one small step — every day.” —Matt Hill There are some people on this amazing planet who you just know when you meet them are the ones who are on a mission to make it […]

Episode 048: Gary Robbins — Ultra-runner, The Barkley Marathons

Guest Titan: Gary Robbins, Ultra-runner: The Barkley Marathons. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “You can do this. You will do this.” —Gary Robbins Every once in a while you have a conversation with a person — a person so exceptional, that’s the only word for it — that the stories […]

Episode 047: Jennifer Heil — Three-time Olympic skier

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Episode 046: Mary-Jo Dionne — host, Tea with a Titan

Your host: Mary-Jo Dionne, Just say “yes!” Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House. What we cover: “It is not our job to ask ‘how?’ It is our job to say ‘yes!’” —anonymous A few years ago, a friend of mine made me a mixed CD. One of the songs was Snow Patrol’s “Just Say […]

Episode 045: Mary-Jo Dionne — host, Tea with a Titan

Four-time Stanley Cup winner and Original Six NHL Hockey legend, Ab McDonald shares insights about what separates the good from the great.

Episode 044: Nancy Johnston — Entrepreneur, Founder/CEO of Tengri

Four-time Stanley Cup winner and Original Six NHL Hockey legend, Ab McDonald shares insights about what separates the good from the great.

Episode 043: Melissa Haynes — Author / Adventurer

Four-time Stanley Cup winner and Original Six NHL Hockey legend, Ab McDonald shares insights about what separates the good from the great.

Episode 042: Shaun Frankson — Social Entrepreneur, Co-Founder The Plastic Bank

<span data-mce-type=”bookmark” style=”display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;” class=”mce_SELRES_start”></span> Guest Titan: Shaun Frankson, Entrepreneur, The Plastic Bank. Tea of choice: Vancouver’s Steam Tea House What we cover: To say that guest titan Shaun Frankson and his business partner David Katz are thought-leaders would likely be one of the bigger understatements of our time. […]

Episode 041: Jacqueline Way — Philanthropist, Founder of 365give

Guest Titan: Jacqueline Way, Philanthropist, Founder of 365give. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Earl Grey Lavender What we cover: “If we all create a daily habit of giving? Holy Hell, we’ll change the world.” —Jacqueline Way On her son Nick’s 3rd birthday, Jacqueline Way decided to consciously turn her back on the idea of wrapping […]

Episode 40: Jody Vance — TV and Radio broadcaster

Guest Titan: Jody Vance, TV and Radio Broadcaster. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Earl Grey Lavender What we cover: “No matter what happens, I have me.” —Jody Vance I have loved Jody Vance for the better part of a decade. She was instrumental in introducing me to my first regular role in an on-air segment […]

Episode 039 Part Three: Brent Johnson — football star (and still all-round great guy)

Guest Titan: Brent Johnson, football star (and all-round great guy). Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Steam Tea Nuts and Spice What we cover: “You cannot synthetically produce passion.” —Brent Johnson Every once in a while, you have a conversation with someone who is legitimately hilarious. Legitimately insightful. And legitimately fascinating. And you want to bottle […]

Episode 038 Part Two: Brent Johnson — football star (and still all-round great guy) DETAILS

Episode 037 Part One: Brent Johnson — football legend (and all-round great guy)

Episode 036: Betty Jean McHugh — 89-year-old world record marathoner

Guest Titan: Betty Jean McHugh, 89-year-old world record marathon runner. Tea of choice: Steam Tea What we cover: “Don’t let age get in your way.” —Betty Jean McHugh Betty Jean McHugh was born in 1927 in small-town Canada, never knowing that after a childhood that took place in the depression, teen years that took place […]

Episode 035: Krista Guloien — Olympic rower, speaker, and author

Guest Titan: Krista Guloien, Olympic rower and author. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Organic Earl Grey Lavender What we cover: In the seven months that this series has been my Labour of Love — my Love Child — we’ve been fortunate to chat with a number of those fine human specimens who fall under the […]

Episode 034: Michelle Tremblay — black belt and empowerment advocate

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Episode 033: Natasha Wodak — Olympic runner

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Episode 032: Roy McBeth — elite cyclist and triathlete and organ donor advocate

Guest Titan: Roy McBeth, elite cyclist and triathlete and organ donor advocate. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Cherry Kyoto Rose Green Tea What we cover: The one thing we all have in common is that no one is immune. We will all go through periods of adversity. That fact is the great equalizer. What sets […]

Episode 031: Liz Rose — 2nd youngest Canadian to summit Mt Everest

Guest Titan: Liz Rose, 25-yr-old climber who summited Mount Everest. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Liquid sunshine What we cover: On May 23rd, 2016, Liz Rose became the 17th Canadian woman to climb Mount Everest, the 2nd youngest Canadian overall to summit, and she’s on track to becoming the youngest Canadian to climb all Seven […]

Episode 30: Jenn Dawkins, firefighter, philanthropist, mentor, ultra-athlete, dog-mom

Guest Titan: Jenn Dawkins, firefighter, philanthropist, mentor, ultra-athlete, dog-mom. Tea of choice: Steam Tea’s Liquid sunshine What we cover: What’s it like to transform from a non-athletic background as a serious punk rocker with multi-coloured hair in the 1980s to a trailblazing visionary in her adult years? What does that look like, what does that […]