The Long & Winding Road: Recent Episodes
Efe Fruci
Welcome to The Long and Winding Road podcast hosted by Efe Fruci.
This is a place for authentic and honest conversation about life, faith, relationships, business, self-love, and everything in between. Nothing is off the table as me and some special guests share our stories, life experiences, lesson learned and valuable insights to help you navigate your road ahead.
Have a topic or message you want to address together? Connect @fearlessandempowered Love listening? please rate & review. We appreciate all your feedbacks as we continue to add motivation & value into your life.
2020 has been a year - As the world seems to go from one crisis to another, I sat down and spoke with 5 people of different ages, living in different countries and varying upbringings to talk about what it means to be in the midst of a crisis and working through it with God by your side. Ams, Moses, Helen, Gift, and Osama share their personal accounts of crisis and how they got through them with God and how without Him it would not have been as easy.
This week we welcome Dr. Renee Ortega onto the pod:
Renee is a Board Certified Dance Movement Therapist (BC-DMT) and Licensed Creative Arts Therapist (LCAT). In addition, she is a certified occupational therapy practitioner.
She has worked with the adult and pediatric population providing both dance/movement therapy (DMT) and occupational therapy (OT) services.
Utilizing the principles of these professions and her BFA in dance to manage self-care, well-being, and connection through daily dancing to connect mind, body, and soul.
You can find Renee over on Instagram @movewithrenee or get in contact via email roatherapy@gmail.com
This week I welcome my good friend Velma onto the pod who went through a pregnancy during the height of COVID 19. We talk:
Motherhood during a pandemic The life of pregnant women and the many stages she went through in her body and mind Dealing with health and baby in lockdown Self-isolating in pregnancy Advice for newly pregnant women
Velma's story truly is inspiring and she speaks from the heart about her journey into motherhood.
This week we welcome Renae Regehr from Free to be and we talk all things Body positivity.
A couple of questions to get started:
Do you love your body?
How do you view yourself?
Renae dives into her journey of Free to be and how her long and winding road started and why being free can be the most powerful gift you can ever give yourself.
To connect with Renae visit her website freetobetalks.com and connect with her on Instagram here.
This week we go Italian! We welcome the amazing Langauge teacher Ivana Critelli onto the Pod where we talk about the importance of learning a language and the doors that it opens in life both personally and professionally.
We look at Ivana's long and winding road with English, how she dealt with Lockdown as well as trying our hand at a quick Italian lesson.
If you are looking to learn Italian get in contact with Ivana at ladydianaenglishschoolczlido@gmail.com
This week on the Pod we welcome Laura Harries and her story is unique!
From losing her job in January, uprooting from home (Vancouver), and moving to Amsterdam without a job to finding her groove and then a global pandemic hitting!
Stay to the end as we catch up with Laura a month after the initial recording to see how she is getting on with her job search...
We cover:
How she became unemployed and what the first few weeks were like!
Meeting new people and being asked what you do for work and how to answer it.
Moving to Amsterdam - How was that like, the reason behind the move, her experience when you got there?
What it was like relocating without a job in a new country?
Advice to someone with or without a job who is considering relocating to a new country
Be sure to rate review and subscribe to the podcast and stay connected with us on Instagram @thelongandwindingroadpod
This week we welcome shop owner Setareh Bateni of One Thing Lockets
We Discuss:
All things lockets and where the passion stems from with One Thing Designs
What is it like starting a business and owning your own store in 2020!
How she navigated and adapted to life in the pandemic
Why supporting local is more important than ever
Advice to other small businesses looking to start or grow and so much more! We also follow up with Setareh after her shop successfully reopened after the lockdown.
Connect with Setareh on Instagram and Facebook and be sure to check out her store online or go visit her in the New West River market for those of you in BC.
This week we welcome Psychotherapist Megan Watson who works in Dialectical Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and so much more!
We discuss:
Her long and winding road of how you became a psychotherapist
What area she specializes in and some helpful tips from each.
What is it like to be a black woman in 2020
Understanding Empathy, and how as individuals we can continue to improve on that?
Some words of wisdom to avoid burnout?
Encouragement to black girls who want to get into this line of work.
You can find all about Megan and her practice by clicking here and connecting with her over on Instagram.
On this week's episode, we speak with Karina Popovich who is the founder of Makers for Covid where she creates PPE for medical staff using 3D Printing and is currently studying at Cornell University. She is also the founder of Wear Alpha 3D Printing clothing line!
We talk:
- What is 3D printing?
- What got you into 3D printing?
- How she came about launching Maker of Covid-19
- What her aspiration/goals for the future?
- Advice to young girls who are passionate about being a changemaker.
- What the future holds for Makers of Covid and Wear Alpha and how you can support it.
Enjoy the episode and be sure to connect with Karina on LinkedIn.
This week on the podcast we are joined by Stefan Palios a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and advocate for working from home and remote work.
We talk:
About his long and winding road in business, the ups, downs, and learning curves!
The pros and cons of remote working and his experiences with both.
Advantages of why a business deciding whether remote works in the long term should make the jump.
Employees being forced to work from home during the pandemic and how to adapt.
Words of encouragement for someone new to remote work life.
You can find Stefan on twitter @stefanpalios and be sure to check out his newsletter Remotely inclined which is a great source for everything working from home.
On Season 2 Episode 1 we welcome Vinasia Miles of Forbes the Culture to the podcast.
We discuss:
- How she became a consultant for Forbes
- Discuss how as a black woman, what were and are the challenges faced climbing up the corporate ladder.
- As a woman of faith - How has God showed up in her life.
- Being a black and educated woman in America right now
- Creating a pathway for people of color and what inspired her
- and so much more!
Connect with Vinisia on Instagram on her personal page here or connect and see what she is doing as a change-maker with @culturemakersinc and @forbestheculture.
On this special bonus episode, I sat down with Alex to discuss family life, his faith, marriage, and what it is like growing up in a broken home and learning to turn everything around so he can be a better father, husband, and friend.
Alex recently launched his own podcast The Men's Line to encourage more men in their own journey and starting conversations that were once difficult for men to address. I don't know about you but I am all about encouragement so go check out The Men's Line over on Apple and Spotify.
We close this episode with a beautiful song which Alex wrote for his Daughter so I encourage you to stay tuned until the end.
Join me on today's podcast conversation with Nataizya. I too have noticed how Vancouver has a very small black population that is also unequally dispersed and that is why I am grateful to see a community like Black Women Connect Vancouver which is a collective of women who come together to inspire, empower, leverage our strengths and embrace our diverse experiences. It’s a community where women can build meaningful relationships, and celebrate the beauty of black womanhood.
Connect with Nataizya on the BWCV link above and on Instagram.
Sending love and germ-free hugs
Wonderful Ida is a self-taught photographer and professionally trained videographer, Ida has a passion for telling very authentic and honest stories and can combine both types of mediums for the best storytelling results. She has an amazing eye for detail and has a passion for using her skills to turn your ideas into beautiful moments.
Looking for a videographer or photographer for your next event? Connect with Ida on Instagram or LinkedIn.
Sending love and germ-free hugs
What a pleasure speaking with Betty, a business coach, and career executive with core competencies in business development and strategy across a broad range of industries. Betty is skilled in analyzing opportunities and developing, implementing, and achieving both short-term and long-term strategic business plans and goals. Join us as we dive into her long and winding road story as she encourages and motivates us onward in our journey.
Connect with Betty on LinkedIn and Instagram
Sending love and germ-free hugs
Oge is a talented fashion designer (Fashion Voice) that educates and empowers others through fashion. She is a Nigerian sister paving the way for others passionate about fashion from right here in Vancouver as she juggles life as a podcaster, YouTuber and fashion creator.
I am grateful to have her as one of my fashion designers and stylist for my upcoming wedding celebration. Want to learn more about fashion or have a style in mind you want to bring to live, connect with Oge on Instagram and find out how you can collaborate with her and also support her at her next fashion show.
Sending love and germ-free hugs
This podcast was recorded from the workshop 'Smashing Limiting Beliefs'
Do you feel like you're not quite reaching your potential?
Do you fear failure?
Are you often critical when you self-talk?
Struggle with a lack of courage?
Are you selling yourself short?
Do you speak or think negatively about yourself?
Do you allow yourself to believe you are not deserving of the opportunities that come your way?
Do you limit yourself to what you believe you can do?
Do you allow the opinions of others to limit your beliefs?
Do you find yourself often questioning your decision, choices, and aspirations?
Do you want to envisage the possibilities?
What you choose to believe you can achieve, that means GOOD and BAD.
This interactive talk and virtual workshop will help you understand the power of your own beliefs and how they were created and look at the effect they can have on our lives and our ambitions. So, if you answer 'yes' to one or a few of the questions above, then it's time to change the narrative and limiting stories you tell yourself.
Topic areas to cover include:
• Where our beliefs resonate from
• Exploring key blockers that get in the way
• The implications of limiting beliefs
• Managing your beliefs practical tips & strategies
• Nurturing empowering thoughts and making them the LOUDEST!
Join my conversation with Glorie as we dive into her long and winding road story that lead her to start her own multiple businesses including 'My CEO' supporting other women in tech through coaching and Peer Group Masterminds
Stay connected with Glorie on LinkedIn and Instagram as she helps you discover new ways to work ON your business, not just IN your business.
Sending love and germ-free hugs
Join me as I dive into a conversation with Laura about her Long and Winding Road stories and find out more about how you can continue to learn, grow and MAXIMIZE on all your possibilities. Laura is an author and her upcoming book It’s Not Them It’s You. (Why employees “break up” with their managers and what to do about it.) is set to release this coming May and will be available in-store and online. Because you are amazing, go and show her some love and support and connect with her from one of these platforms: C-Change Learning and Development, Email, Linkedin and Instagram Sending you love and a germ-free hug.
Our guest today is Nuria, an inspiring woman who reminds us that self-drive, hard work and faith in yourself can go a long way. Moving from Mexico to Vancouver with her two daughters, rebuilding her life and settling her family in a new country with no friends or allies at the time, her long and winding road journey will leave you encouraged and motivated knowing everything is possible if you do the self-work required to get there.
Support and connect with Nuria on LinkedIn and Instagram and reach out to her to collect your free gift to find out how she can support you onward.
Sending love and germ-free hugs
Happy Good Friday. With the good vibes of today join me for a conversation with Phebe Trotman, a former professional women's soccer player for the Vancouver White Caps, the founder of Send Out Cards and a phenomenal woman.
In light of everything good and finding silver linings, Phebe has gifted us with a treat, so be sure to listen to the very end to find out how you can bring joy to someone in your life today.
Because you are amazing support and connect with Phebe on Linkedin, Sendoutcards, and Facebook
Sending you love and germ-free hugs.
A conversation with Emerald a young and bright aspiring teacher and musical artist. Join us as we talk all things music, teaching and coping with self-isolation.
Be sure to show her your love and support on Apple & Spotify Music Brvidz on Instagram @emeraldd_u and on Tiktok - emeralddu.
Join me on today's episode with Victoria Cubbon, a Vancouverite Designer, Marketer and Illustrator as we dive into her Long and Winding Road, Mental Health, her business and more.
You can connect and support Victoria by clicking on these links on Instagram @victoria_cubbon and website Victoria Cubbon.
As a lot of us transition into working from home I want to share my top 5 tips for working at home and the many challenges and joys I have with working from home. Tom Fruci and I have been working from home for over a year and share our experiences and hopefully help you all with the change.
Rate, review and subscribe and don't forget to follow me on Instagram @fearlessandempowered
Reflecting on all the long and winding roads that have lead me to this moment in time as I welcome in a new earth year today on March 20th, 2020. Celebrating my thirty-three birthday with you all as I am reminded to never take ANYTHING for granted. Remember to Inhale Courage. Exhale Fear.
I had a sit down with my friend and the founder of Hervana Coworking Collective, Meredith Garrritsen to find out more about her business journey and all the roads that have lead her to where she is today. I am excited for you to listen to this interview and I hope it motivates, inspires and empowers you to continue working on your goals and aspiration.
Check out her coworking space right at the heart of DT Vancouver and connect with her on Instagram
Sharing my experience of IWD 2020 and why I think it is so important for us to celebrate this day and support each other.
A quick look at my winding road and how I got to where I am today. I scratch the surface on my journey and give you a glimpse of my life and why I started the podcast.
A place for honest conversation around Life, relationships, self love and business. Nothing is off the table!