Intentifiers: Recent Episodes
Jodi Rai
The Intentifiers podcast explores how being intentional can help people create solid human connections in their work and beyond.
Guests are individuals of all walks of life, who have unlocked doors for themselves and others by discovering what influences their root intent. From founders, entrepreneurs, and team leads to creatives, healers, and coaches, these stories will inspire, delight, teach, and remind us that we are all human.
I'm very excited to be sharing a podcast with you dedicated to human connections! Each episode will feature a cool human being sharing their story of intent. I've become fascinated with intent, so much so that I've been working with a construct called Intentification™. The idea is that in order to have meaningful impact on ourselves and others we need to identify our intentions, digging deep to know where they come from and what influences them. When we do that, the strategies we create and execute will be that much more focused and aligned.I believe at the end of the day "we are all searching for the same thing ... to have happy and fulfilling lives". To share your story of intent, please connect with me!
Joel Solomon is a Founding Partner of Renewal Funds, Canada's largest mission venture capital firm, at $240 million assets under management. Investing in climate tech and organic foods in Canada and the USA, Renewal Funds is GIIRS-rated, a founding Canadian B Corp (5x “Best for the World”), a “1% for the Planet” member, recognized as ImpactAssets “Top 50 impact fund managers.” Joel is also 2021 Clean50 Canada lifetime achievement honoree, frequent public speaker, board member of the University of British Columbia, co-producer of the Just Economy Institute, and co-author of The Clean Money Revolution: Re-Inventing Power, Purpose & Capitalism.
I saw it’s power, and also its ability to define and control humanity, in turn our effect on all life, human society, and experimentation with how it may be used more fairly and generatively for a better future for all.
Joel's Story of Intent stems from his curiosity and drive for a more intelligent and long term perspective on the great societal questions around how money could be used to shift economic activity to a generative, more fair, and powerful force - one that could create a better future for humanity and ecology. While at the same time opening up the possibility of how money (and how we spend it) might having a more enlightened human influence on society, a long term evolution for a more just, safe soft landing for civilization and future generations. This is Joel and his Story of Intent connected to intentional spending.
Trixie Ling was born in Taipei, Taiwan and grew up in many places from Taiwan, Singapore, United States of America, and Canada. She launched Flavours of Hope in March 2018 as a labour of love, stemming from her passion for creating intercultural spaces, o learn together, break down barriers, and build bridges between cultures through food, stories, and entrepreneurship.
In Trixie's Story of Intent she speaks to her hope of people being intentional in thinking about their identity, culture, power and privilege, and the connection between food and race. This is Trixie and her Story of Intent.
Abneet Sandhar is a trained classical Indian yoga guide, receiving her 300hr teacher training with Master yoga lineage holder: Maitreyi Yogacharini from the Arkaya foundation in 2019. She is also a Feminine Embodiment Coach receiving Woman's Temple facilitation training with Awakening Women in 2017, and also is a certified Holistic Nutritionist + Chef.
Abneet is OBSESSED with guiding women back to their inner healing capability and reclaiming inner power. She knows that the healing of the world takes place as the Sacred Feminine is brought back into balance. A former burlesque model, nude art model and life-long sacred arts dancer, she encourages women in her practice to enter their bodies more fully in order to show up more deeply in every aspect of their lives; in intimate relating, communication, money and sex.
Her Story of Intent is about how after years of studying spiritual self-healing techniques, meditation, classical tantric yoga and dance, she curated "The Nourished Woman" - a safe space for women of all walks of life to come together in community to celebrate and express their most honest raw selves. She shares how defining Sankalpa has helped shaped her personal spiritual journey and the work I do with my clients. This is Abneet and her Story of Intent.
Originally born in Montreal, Melissa was influenced by her mother who worked in factory garment production for large scale clothing distributors in that city. She can remember sitting at the foot of her mother's industrial sewing machine organizing buttons into their respective categories and playing with remnant scraps of fabrics to create colorful collages.
Melissa established Adhesif Clothing in 2003 in Vancouver, BC Canada where she resided for 27 years before making the leap over to Europe. She currently operates a permanent studio & showroom in the beautiful countryside of Königstein im Taunus, just outside of Frankfurt Germany with plans to expand to an Atelier in 2022.
Melissa’s Story of Intent is about her belief in the power of self manifestation, the law of attraction and that what you put out into the world is inevitably what you will receive back to you. She shares how she tries her very best everyday to live with an acute consciousness of her actions and how those actions impacts the world around her. She believes in “sustainability and quality over quantity” and explains how this is her way of being. This is Melissa and her Story of Intent.
Lystra, is invested in the success and amplification of my QmooniTi at every intersection and on a global scale. She/They is a multitalented human due to her curious nature which has driven her to access a multidisciplinary education and career. She/They is deeply invested in healing from the generational trauma(s) collected by my ancestors due to wyt supremacy and it’s deadly systemic culture. She/They has developed strong opinions in order to show up as her/their whole self and does so unapologetically.
Lystra’s Story of Intent is about how she leads with integrity and intuition to inspire her/they in all things life, love, business, community building, healing, and relationship building! She shares what she means by 'community capacity containers' and the impactful work that comes from them. Often called audacious, this is Lystra and her/their Story of Intent.
Sharon is Métis/Cree originally from Treaty Six Territory, is founder, and LEO of Cree8iv Collaboration Inc, doing business as DEVA Training & Staffing Solutions. Sharon is also a member of The Braid, an active member of PowHERhouse, a founding member of Impact Arts Co-operative, and a member of Zebras Unite Co-operative. Sharon is pursuing an MBA through Royal Roads University, and is writing her first book. Sharon’s Story of Intent is about how she spent most of my life running away from herself. She was ashamed of being Indigenous because of her upbringing and denial of her ancestry.
She shares that in her 40’s she realized that a big part of herself was missing and how she started to explore her Indigenous ancestry and come to terms with it. “Everything I experienced throughout my life has led me to here”, she shares and has bought her to a life purpose of helping other Indigenous women believe in themselves and find their voices. This is Sharon and her Story of Intent.
Dr. Ami Patel, a pharmacist and Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist, is passionate about raising awareness about menstrual health, mental health, infertility and PCOS, especially in the South Asian community where these are all taboo subjects. Going through her own challenges with PCOS and feeling ashamed and alone, she now wants to build a community for fellow women diagnosed with PCOS to have a safe space to communicate, ask for help, and be understood. She is raising awareness through Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube through the handle @PCOShealingadventure.This is Dr. Patel and her Story of Intent.
Bhavana is the lead designer and CEO of BHAV, a Chicago based women's wear clothing line. A pharmacist by profession (and still currently practicing) she decided to pursue her dream of fashion design. She launched her debut line three years ago and has not looked back since. Bhavana is inspired with her own Indian cultural identity and seeks to empower women to find unique ways to embrace their cultural heritage.
Bhavana’s Story of Intent is about how she found herself in the journey of entrepreneurship and how her past experiences in life brought her to create BHAV. She shares how she sees heritage as a piece of us - not the sole thing that defines us - and how she is inspired by women who have authentically incorporated their multicultural identity into their lives, whether it's related to career, motherhood or otherwise. This is Bhavana and her Story of Intent.
Sangeetha Kowsik was born in Fremont, CA, a Parsons School of Design grad, is an NYC-based designer, interfaith chaplain, educator, and established gallery artist. The only person in the world doing this: A Hindu, Indian American woman who's an Islamic/Arabic calligrapher. Sangeetha is the Hindu Chaplain/Spiritual Advisor of NYU/Columbia Universities, founder of NYU Hindu Center, founding member of NAHCA (North American Hindu Chaplain Association), and awarded “Chaplain of the Year” for her interfaith initiatives by Chelsea Clinton.
Horrified by the animosity/negative perceptions as seen on media and that plague South Asian Hindu and Muslim communities, IhsanIshan was initially launched to celebrate both faiths, its shared traditions, educate to remind the world that India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and parts of Iran were all one landmass before colonization/partition.
Sangeetha's Story of Intent one where she shares her belief that through intentional art and design diverse communities can be brought together - it is a way to heal past traumas, phobias, and fight stereotypes. Her mission is to engage all people interested in knowing about the diversity of this world with intentionally crafted products meant to convey meaningful messages and provoke powerful conversations. This is Sangeetha and her Story of Intent.
JoAnna Haugen is a writer, speaker, and solutions advocate who has worked in the travel and tourism industry for nearly 15 years. She is also the founder of Rooted, a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable tourism, social impact, and storytelling. Her mission through Rooted is to responsibly document, support, celebrate, and share sustainable travel-related initiatives that prioritize local communities and the planet – and to help others do the same. A returned U.S. Peace Corps volunteer, long-term expat, international election observer, and intrepid traveler, JoAnna currently lives in Carthage, Tunisia.
JoAnna's Story of Intent focusses on the intentionality she believes is required to create the conditions for a safer, more sustainable, more equitable future in relation to when we travel - that is we need to be intentional when leaving our homes and visiting someone else's. This is JoAnna and her Story of Intent.
Brenda Rigney coaches business leaders and start-up entrepreneurs up to something BIG in their life. She hosts a weekly podcast called #3UNIQUES to learn what makes people unique.
Brenda has spent 25+ years consulting with CEO's, entrepreneurs and family-businesses on scaling business solutions, or steps in as a fractional executive team member to support strategic planning, organizational design and executive and leadership development.
Brenda's Story of Intent focusses around what makes people unique and how through being intentional about our unique we can drive our life purpose. This is Brenda and her Story of Intent.
Farah Nazarali, she has been teaching and studying yoga and mindfulness for 15 years. She brings a wealth of practical experience in teaching, breathing, wellness, conflict resolution, and non-violent communication in a variety of settings. As well, Farah is the founder of Drishti Point, a yoga podcast that has recorded hundreds of podcasts with fascinating individuals in the yoga and meditation space. Farah’s Story of Intent is connected to the power of yoga and meditation and how it can enable us in living an intentional life. This is Farah and her Story of Intent.
Natasha is an experienced change practitioner and project professional with a proven track record in systems implementations, organizational change initiatives, and large scale transformation. She also uses her change super powers as an advocate for asylum seekers and refugees. Natasha’s Story of Intent centers around her lived experiences with change and looking to provide support to organizations so that they can thrive. This is Natasha and her Story of Intent.
Jill Valentine's Story of Intent is about the power of travel and volunteering abroad can become tools to really help people gain clarity, confidence a sense of community. She shares how by integrating travel, being of service to others with her coaching practice she believes in fellow humans living happy and fulfilling lives while becoming lifelong change makers.This is Jill and her Story of Intent.
Neha Mohan's Story of Intent is a precious one detailing how her mental health declined after the end of her marriage. She shares her lived experience of South Asian stereotypes and misunderstandings of mental health and what she is doing to combat them. Neha's Story of Intent is one that exemplifies self-compassion, strength, and empathy for others.
Brett Elmgren’s Story of Intent comes from a place of real authenticity. Brett describes why and how he fell in love with the idea of values being core drivers for how humans and organizations treat each other. Brett elaborates on his work experience and leap of faith in venturing out on his own to continue supporting leaders while enhancing his own growth and development.
Veronica Vukusic's Story of Intent is about living and breathing every step in life with intention. Veronica describes how through yogic practice and scriptures she tries to live her live with intention while teaching this way of being in her yoga classes. Her embodiment of intentional living is inspirational as she helps others in viewing yoga as a means to be intentional.
Susanne Heaton's Story of Intent is one of sadness and triumph. Susanne shares how her personal health battles and the passing of her daughter led to her intention of helping others find health through the beauty of nature. She shares her passion about helping by being a is a huge advocate for the benefits of connecting with nature for the body, mind, and spirit.
Manpreet Dhillion's Story of Intent is all about being intentional about setting an intention and the things she has done to see that intention come to life. She shares two very cool examples of intentions she set and describes concepts related to why she believes these intentions came true for her.
Alexis Dean's Story of Intent is one that centers around building communities that nourish and support the individuals within the community. It’s a story that speaks to Alexis’s intention to build a community of women entrepreneurs in support of them living their purpose and vision.
Sanj Rai’s story of intent is linked to finding her value and discovering her self-worth. She speaks to the ideas and lived experience of self-confidence, pain and wellness. Sanj describes her intentions in finding and being in a supportive relationship and how as the opposite started to manifest the impact it had on her. This story of intent is one of reclamation, strength, and discovery.
Cultivating, sustaining, and elevating organizational cultures of belonging is something Lorie Corcuera is passionate about. So passionate that she was the co-founder of Spark Creations, an organization dedicated to supporting the creation of belonging cultures. In this episode Lorie shares her intention to support organizations in this way and gives insights on the things to try to create a sense of belong within your organizations.
Jodi shares a poem she wrote during the pandemic about her life-changing moment leading her towards a life on her on terms and in her own way.
Gavin Bains shares a story of intent related to a story he told himself when in elementary school and how it shaped his way of being as an adult. Gavin describes this experience, the actions he took to change his narrative, and the impacts these actions have had on him and
Dr. Joti Samra, a Clinical Psychologist, based in Vancouver, with two consulting companies, a clinical practice group in British Columbia and a national practice which focuses on workplaces, shares her depth and breadth of experience and insight on workplace wellness and what drew her to the practice of psychology. Throughout this episode I was truly inspired by Dr. Samra for many reasons. She candidly shares personal experiences and reasons for her way of being and the work that she does. She has tremendous clinical acumen and research experience which is heard in the episode as she sheds light on mental health and workplace wellness issues in 2020 - 2021. Dr. Samra’s down-to earth friendly and engaging style made for a lovely and insightful dialogue where I learned so much, and I believe you will definitely have some solid takeaways, as you listen to Dr. Samra and her story of intent.
In this episode, I’m speaking with Kristin Bower a diversity and inclusion expert. This timely conversation about diversity, inclusion, mental health, and anti-racism tugged at my heart because of my personal and professional lived experiences. Kristin openly shares how her mental health led her to becoming passionate about diversity and inclusion work. This is a very raw and real conversation, where Kristin beautifully articulates how hard it can be to work in this space. She’s got a great empathetic lens and provides insights in the impact she feels she is having as a diversity and inclusion enthusiast. This is Kristin and her story of intent.
In Roy's story of intent, he shares the literal geographic journeys he has taken, combined with his life experiences of gangs, fatherhood, physical and mental triumphs, and his current work with youth in British Columbia. Roy's number one goal in life is to inspire others to live a life that they have always wanted in spite of adversity, or the life-curveballs throws at you. I found Roy to be so inspiring when I met him that I wanted to share his story with all of you, this is Roy and his story of intent.
The mental, physical, and spiritual benefits of a plant-based lifestyle, with Nivi Jaswal, president and founder of the Virsa Foundation.
Maryann is the Chief Happiness Officer with the Medalist Group. Maryann’s story of intent stems from her life experiences in the various roles she has in her life, including a career professional in the “social profit” sector. She shares how specific instances in her career, led her to truly embodying personal leadership through her values. She is dedicated to “mending the world” by supporting organizations in creating “kind, collaborative, and intentional” work places. Listen to why “happy” forms part of her way of being and why she believes “all leadership begins with knowing yourself” - Aristotle. This is Maryann, and her story of intent.
Vindy is a professional life and divorce coach supporting people in recognizing and fulfilling their highest potential. Listen to her story of intent where she shares how pivotal experiences in her life catapulted her on a questioning quest for answers to find “her happy”, culminating in her book, YOLO - Essential Life Hacks for Happiness. She authentically shares practical tips on communication, self-reflection, and how “helping others also results in helping yourself”. She fearlessly digs deep on the complexity of being human and how critical it is to have a “degree of honesty with yourself” in order to find “your happy”. This is Vindy and her story of intent.
Ramita is one of my closest friends and honestly one of the most kindest human beings I have ever met. She has led a life of perseverance starting with losing her mom at the age of 13 and having a beautiful son with learning difficulties. Her story of intent is a powerful one as she candidly shares how her earlier life experiences and Indian culture influenced the perception of who she was and the type of life she was supposed to lead. After an unexpected incident where she realized she needed professional support, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery leading her to confidently be vulnerable and resulting in a new found “destination” to a life filled with joy. This is Ramita’s story of intent connected to the cycle of grief and acceptance.
Jessica O’Dowd is a change leader, design thinking and purpose purveyor. Her story of intent includes beautiful analogies of how she is discovering her life purpose by visioning what she wants her life to look like in the next 10 and 20 years. Jessica skillfully articulates concepts such as strength being “what lights you up”, finding your personal life values, and having the courage to explore. As a mom, she wants to ensure that when she leaves her “little human” to head to work, that meaningful impact is created for both her and those within her community. This is Jessica’s story of intent on discovering purpose. Jess was kind enough to provide her thoughts on purpose given our current climate.
Neil Pretty, from Modern Success, collaborates with organizations by helping to create self-aware leaders and teams. He shares how specific experiences in his life shifted is career and family-life intentions. He wonderfully articulates his philosophy of all humans having unique strengths, which when leveraged, create value driven behaviours and contribute to clarity around life purpose. He shares his “paradigm of hard and soft skills” and openly shares what drives him in the work that he does. This is Neil’s story of intent.
This first episode means a lot to me because it's with one of my closest friends. It took courage for Lara to share such a personal story of pain and triumph. I am grateful to her for trusting me to share her story.Lara is mom, HR Consultant, and a self-described "control-freak.” She candidly shares an inspiring story of intent, where she had to draw inner-strength to perseverance through her divorce. She speaks to how hard it was to let go of perfection and ask for help. Balancing self-care while doing the best for your children is not easy, especially when the “life you built” no longer exists. This heartfelt story is shared by Lara, who feels that by hearing it, perhaps others going through similar circumstances, can have "a candle of hope lit in them.”
I'm very excited to be sharing a podcast with you dedicated to human connections! Each episode will feature a cool human being sharing their story of intent. I've become fascinated with intent, so much so that I've been working with a construct called Intentification™. The idea is that in order to have meaningful impact on ourselves and others we need to identify our intentions, digging deep to know where they come from and what influences them. When we do that, the strategies we create and execute will be that much more focused and aligned.I believe at the end of the day "we are all searching for the same thing ... to have happy and fulfilling lives". To share your story of intent, please connect with me!