The Forks Podcast

✨ How do you rebuild after losing the career you thought defined you?” Charlotte Schwartz turned a major career setback into an opportunity for growth and transformation. After losing her long-standing role as a senior legal clerk at a prestigious downtown law firm—a job she loved—while raising a child with disabilities and then navigating co-parenting after divorce, Charlotte has redefined success on her terms. Now a co-parenting expert and author, Charlotte has written Your Place or Mine?, an empowering guide for navigating co-parenting after separation. Her story is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of reframing life’s challenges. 🎧 Tune in to this episode of Forks for a heartfelt conversation about overcoming challenges, finding strength, and discovering new possibilities at one of life’s most pivotal forks in the road. Then pick up Charlotte’s book! Your Place or Mine?, published by Dundurn Press, is available on Amazon and at local bookstores. 🎙️ What You’ll Learn in this episode: 💼 Identity and Career: The emotional aftermath of job loss and redefining self-worth beyond professional roles. 👨👩👧 Parenting and Co-Parenting: Insights into navigating co-parenting with flexibility, respect, and prioritizing children’s emotional well-being. 🌍 Advocacy and Change: How Charlotte uses her personal and professional experiences to create systemic awareness and guide others through complex family dynamics. 📲 🎉 New Episode Available Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favourite platform. Alexis Hood Amie Plourde #ParentingWithPurpose #CoParenting #Resilience #RedefiningSuccess #CareerPivot #DisabilityAdvocacy #PodcastEpisode #ForksPodcast

💸New Episode Alert! Are Your Financial Goals Social Media-Proof?💸 Financial Literacy Champion, TEDx Speaker & Bestselling Author Nelson Soh, joins us on the Forks Podcast to discuss mastering money, mindset, and living true to your values. 🌱 Does your scrolling affect your spending? You’re not alone. Nelson Soh, a dedicated financial literacy advocate and CPA—who shared in his TEDx Talk, Financial Literacy & The Social Media Generation, explains why it’s crucial to rethink our financial habits in a world driven by instant gratification and curated lifestyles. Nelson’s journey revealed that his financial literacy, personal money management, and mindset needed an overhaul despite years of success as a CPA. Embracing vulnerability, he made this journey public and committed himself to helping others reshape their relationship with money. Today, Nelson is a passionate educator, bringing financial literacy to the next generation through impactful school visits, keynote speeches, and his bestselling book, Life Literacy. His mission is to equip people of all ages with essential financial skills to live confidently and independently. 📚 Whether you’re just starting or starting over, this episode will inspire you to embrace new possibilities for your financial future. 💪✨ 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify Amie Plourde Alexis Hood Nelson Soh, CPA, CA #FinancialLiteracy #MoneyMindset #FinancialFreedom #PersonalFinance #YouthEmpowerment #FinancialEducation #NelsonSoh #ForksPodcast #LifeLiteracy #TEDxSpeaker #Inspiration #NeverTooLate #FinancialConfidence #MoneyManagement #SocialMediaInfluence #FinancialEmpowerment

🌟 New Episode Alert! From Corporate Leader to Relationship Therapist: Finding the Courage to Change with Kathleen Killen 🌟 How many of us dream of making major changes — in our careers, relationships, or as parents — but feel unsure of where to start? In our latest episode, we sit down with Kathleen Killen, a psychotherapist who shares her tips on going after the life you want and achieving better relationships. Kathleen’s story begins with a traumatic divorce that led to single parenthood, a journey through sobriety, and the upheaval of the pandemic. Despite these challenges, she tapped into her core value: courage, leaving a successful corporate career to pursue a new calling as a therapist. Kathleen shares how she turned personal crisis into purpose, using grit and strategy to rebuild her life. Listen as Kathleen explores the mindset shifts, emotional resilience, and daily practices that helped her navigate life’s hardest challenges. Her journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we dare to start over. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever else you listen to podcasts. Be sure to check out Kathleen’s podcast, Sisters in Sobriety, where she and her former sister-in-law, Sonia, share inspiring stories of personal growth, wellness, and recovery, offering honest insights into their journeys and the power of resilience. #ForksPodcast #CourageToChange #CareerTransformation #Resilience #MentalHealth #PurposeDriven Kathleen Killen Alexis Hood Amie Plourde

🌿 New Episode Alert! The Balancing Act: Bipolar, Parenting & Work 🌿 In our latest episode, we talk with Mookie about her journey navigating bipolar 1 disorder, parenting a neurodivergent child, and the impact that mental health challenges can have on every aspect of life—including work. Her story is a powerful reminder that mental health struggles don’t just end when you log in for the day. They shape how we show up, our energy levels, and often our career paths. Let’s normalize open conversations about mental health in the workplace. Understanding and support can make a real difference—not just for individual wellbeing, but for team productivity and morale as well. Check out this episode, and let’s start rethinking what mental health accommodations could look like in every workplace. 💼💙 If you found this episode thought-provoking, we’d be grateful if you left a 5* review and followed the podcast on your preferred platform. 🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. If you’re interested in sharing your own story on Forks, feel free to reach out via DM or submit your story at forks.com/contact. #Podcast #NewEpisode #ForksPodcast #MentalHealth #Forgiveness #Resilience #SecondChances #Inspiration #Leadership #WorkplaceWellness #OvercomingAdversity @amieplourde

🌟 New Two-Part Episode Alert! 🎙️ We’re excited to share a powerful two-part conversation with the incredible Tania Lindo. In these episodes, Tania opens up about her journey of aging boldly, challenging stereotypes, and navigating the realities of parenting as a Black mother. Part 1: From becoming a model at 46 to advocating for diversity in corporate spaces, Tania has challenged societal expectations and broken barriers every step of the way. We explore the courage it takes to face age-related stereotypes, navigate career shifts, and find strength in self-acceptance. Part 2: Tania shares the challenges she faces as a Black mother raising her son to navigate safety dynamics that differ from those experienced by White men. Against the backdrop of the “racial reckoning” of 2020 and more recent backlash, Tania candidly discusses the fears, hopes, and lessons that come with raising a Black boy. These episodes are about courage, resilience, and defying expectations. We hope you find inspiration, empathy, and new perspectives through Tania’s story. 🎧 Listen to both episodes everywhere you listen to podcasts. #AgingBoldly #Racism #Empowerment #Resilience #Parenting #PodcastEpisode #Transformation #Inclusion #SelfAcceptance

🚨 The Forks Podcast: New Episode Alert! From Incarceration to Inspiration with Comeback Snacks CEO Emily O’Brien 🚨 In our latest episode of Forks, we were thrilled to sit down with Emily O'Brien, who transformed her life from a four-year prison sentence to founding Comeback Snacks, a gourmet popcorn company that creates delicious snacks while helping formerly incarcerated individuals rebuild their lives. The Forks Podcast shares real-life stories of individuals who have faced situations they never imagined and how they built something new. Emily’s story exemplifies how the most powerful transformations often begin at the most unexpected crossroads. 🎙️ In this candid conversation, Emily shares: -How she ended up with a four-year prison sentence, the red flags she missed, and the lessons she learned. -Why hiring former inmates can be a smart business decision. -How she found the confidence to start a business against all odds. -How Comeback Snacks is driving social impact and supporting reintegration. -The advice she would give her past self, knowing what she knows today. Why does this conversation matter? Over 4 million Canadians have a criminal record, and securing employment is a critical step toward successful reintegration. A recent report from the John Howard Society revealed that 73% of Canadian hiring managers have never hired anyone with a criminal record, and 42% would automatically discard applicants with one. This episode sheds light on why giving second chances isn’t just compassionate—it’s good business. Listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, YouTube and more. Alexis Hood Amie Plourde #ForksPodcast #Resilience #Reinvention #SecondChances #Leadership #Entrepreneurship #SocialImpact #ComebackSnacks #Inspiration #Incarceration #HiringForGood

🎙️ New Episode Alert! The Forks Podcast: Forgiveness & Freedom: From Addiction to Recovery 🎙️ Imagine being able to say that you’ve helped over 10,000 people change their lives? In this powerful episode of Forks, Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde sit down with “Frank,” an addictions counsellor with 25 years of experience in a men’s residential treatment program, who recently celebrated 30 years of sobriety. Frank shares his journey from hitting rock bottom to transforming his life and helping over 10,000 men do the same. This episode isn’t just for those struggling with substance abuse, it’s for anyone who has faced fear, shame or the need to forgive and find freedom. If you’ve ever felt stuck, hopeless or in search of a new path (which let’s face it, applies to all of us), this episode is for you.  In Canada, it’s estimated that 21% of the population (about 6 million people) will experience addiction in their lifetime (CMHA). Additionally, 75% of the 4,000 people who die by suicide each year are men (CAMH). For leaders and employers, this episode provides a reminder of just how prevalent addiction and mental health challenges are—often affecting those around us in ways we might not see. Frank’s story offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to understand and support those who may be struggling. We hope this helps a few of you out there. Stay up to date with the pod: We hope you’ll tune in every Tuesday when we launch new episodes. Follow us on your favourite podcast platform (we’re on all of them), share this post, and please give us a 5-star rating (it really helps). PS: If you or someone you know has a great story you think would be right for Forks, you can DM us here or submit via forkspod.com/contact. #Podcast #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #Forgiveness #WorkplaceWellness #Resilience #Leadership #EmpathyInAction #SecondChances #OvercomingAdversity

🎙️ Introducing The Forks Podcast – New Episodes Every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts🎙️ If you’ve ever asked yourself  “How did I get here?” this podcast is for you. Hosted by Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde, Forks dives deep into the pivotal moments that shape our personal and professional lives—those unexpected “forks in the road” where change and transformation often begin. The podcast was inspired by co-host Alexis Hood’s own career turning point earlier this year when her role was eliminated during a major corporate restructuring. As Alexis connected with others who had faced their own unexpected challenges, the idea for Forks was born—a space to share stories of resilience, reinvention, and navigating life’s various (often challenging) crossroads. Each week, Forks explores real stories of people who faced everything from job loss and career transitions to mental health challenges and beyond. Through these conversations, we aim to break down the stigma around life’s toughest moments and offer valuable insights for personal and professional growth. Episode 1: Job Loss & Reinvention, with Lynn Unger Lynn Unger, the career coach who supported Alexis during her transition, shares her journey through job loss and how it ultimately led to a new, fulfilling career path. In this episode, she opens up about the challenges she faced, the lessons learned, and best practices she’s developed for building a fulfilling life “post-fork.” If you’ve ever had to rethink your path, Lynn’s story will offer valuable insights into resilience and reinvention. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes on all major podcast platforms, hosted by Acast! Follow Forks for inspiring stories and actionable insights to help you navigate your own forks in the road. #ForksPodcast #Resilience #CareerTransitions #PersonalGrowth #PodcastLaunch #HostedOnAcast #Acast #Podcastle #Podcaster #NewPodcast #Reinvention