In this episode of Curious Conversations, we’re joined by someone truly inspiring—Ben Fanelli. You might remember him as the former captain of the Kitchener Rangers or the OHL player who defied the odds, returning to the ice stronger than ever after a traumatic brain injury.

But there’s so much more to Ben than just hockey.

Now a Registered Psychotherapist and the founder of Heroic Minds, Ben is changing the way we think about mental health. His message? Embrace the journey. We’re not just the sum of what happens to us—we’re the heroes of our own stories.

This conversation is packed with wisdom for teenagers wondering what’s next after sports or other big commitments, insights into mental health, and tips for embracing life’s challenges as opportunities to grow.

Oh, and yes, we got his Stanley Cup prediction too.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• 🧠 Overcoming Setbacks: Ben shares his experience with a life-changing brain injury and the lessons it taught him about resilience.
• 🤝 The Power of Community: How the people around us can make all the difference in recovery and growth.
• 🗣️ Talking Mental Health: Why open conversations about mental wellness are a game-changer.
• 🔄 Finding New Purpose: Moving beyond an identity tied to sports and discovering new passions.
• 🚀 Heroic Minds: Ben’s mission to make mental health support more accessible and his vision for a brighter future.
• 🏒 Advice for Athletes: Encouragement for young players facing injuries or big life transitions.
• 🌟 Embracing Change: Why challenges can be the key to unlocking new opportunities.

Why This Episode Matters:
Ben Fanelli’s story isn’t just about hockey—it’s about perseverance, growth, and finding strength in vulnerability. Whether you’re an athlete or just navigating the ups and downs of being a teenager, Ben’s insights will leave you feeling inspired and ready to take on whatever comes next.

Resources:
Heroic Minds Website
Instagram
LinkedIn

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

What is a setback?

How do you know you are in one, and how do you get out of it?

Join us as we chat with Amy Shoenthal, a bestselling author, journalist, and marketing consultant for big names like Google. She is here to talk about her book, The Setback Cycle.

Amy breaks down what a setback really is, how to know when you're in one, and introduces us to her 4-step setback cycle —establish, embrace, explore, and emerge. We learn how to identify setbacks and work through the 4 phases by asking key questions like what energizes and disengages you.

Even though her book is mostly about business leaders and how their setbacks helped them succeed, Amy shares how teens can use these steps to tackle their own challenges, whether it's school stress, friendship issues, or other problems. Plus, she opens up about her journey of facing rejection after rejection before landing a publishing deal and becoming a bestselling author.

Amy shows us how we can all learn from our challenges and come out stronger on the other side. It was super inspiring to hear Amy's story and see how we can use her tips in our own lives!

Resources
Amy's Website
Amy's Instagram
Read the Book

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Ever wondered how a background in counselling psychology can transform a personal trainer's approach to fitness?

Join us as we chat with Gabbie Lamm, a dynamic personal trainer and Lululemon ambassador who blends mental and physical wellness and resilience, which leads to empowering transformations, both inside and out.

Gabbie shares behind-the-scenes stories from her famous Fun Friday videos. How does she pick the Fun Friday challenges? Who at DEPTH is most willing to try the challenge each week? What have been some of the hardest challenges? Listen, and all your questions will be answered.

Whether you’re a young athlete or just looking to elevate your fitness game, this episode is packed with valuable advice and inspiration to help you succeed.

What You’ll Learn:

• Gabbie's journey from health science to counselling psychology and how it complements her approach to personal training.
• What it means to be a Lululemon ambassador and the rewarding experiences and community bonds that come with it.
• Practical tips for young athletes who are starting in the gym.
• The importance of a positive internal monologue for athletic success.

Gabbie also shares resources that are available for teenagers if they feel like they need help or need someone to talk to.

Kids Help Phone
KW Counselling Services
Front Door
Psychology Today
Affordable Therapy Network

Connect with Gabbie:
Email: gabriellelammpsychotherapy@gmail.com
Instagram

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Did you know bowling is an Olympic sport?

In this exciting episode, Constable John Burke joins us to share inspiring stories from the Special Olympics, giving us a peek into a world where determination and joy shine through. As we gear up for the Ontario Special Olympic Spring Games, we talk with Constable Burke about the incredible journey these athletes undertake, the different sports included in the Special Olympics, and the Waterloo Regional Police's involvement in this fantastic cause.

Special Olympics Spring Games
Hosted in Waterloo region
May 23-26, 2024

We also ask about what it's like to be a police officer. Constable Burke takes us behind the scenes of what it takes to become a police officer, discussing the rigorous journey of joining law enforcement and the critical role officers play in the community.

Get ready for an engaging conversation that highlights the inclusivity and joy that the Special Olympics bring to athletes, their families, and the community.

Resources
Special Olympics Website
Waterloo Regional Police Services
Waterloo Region Record Special Olympics Feature

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Are you a fan of seafood?

Are you curious about the fascinating world of lobsters?

Then you definitely need to tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring Ron Caudle, the inspiring entrepreneur behind Caudle's Catch. Ron has been a successful and influential business leader in the Kitchener-Waterlo area for over 40 years.

Join us as Ron shares his decades of industry experience, taking us on a journey beyond just seafood. We'll hear about the innovative ways he's navigated the business world pre-social media, and how community connections have been crucial to his success. Plus, Ron tells us his favourite seafood recipes that are sure to make your taste buds dance!

Bake Ron's Easy Seafood Recipe

But it's not all about the food - Ron also has a passion for giving back to his community. From taking an icy plunge to support the Special Olympics to uplifting entire communities through his work with the Grand River Hospital Foundation, Ron shows us the power of giving back.

So, if you're interested in entrepreneurship, community engagement, and, of course, delicious seafood, be sure to listen to our chat with Ron Caudle. You won't want to miss it!

Resources
Caudle's Catch
Grand River Hospital Foundation
The Waterloo Region Record
Special Olympics
Ron's Rare Orange Lobster Story

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Welcome!

We are thrilled to announce the start of a new season of Curious Conversations.

For those of you who are new to our show, we are twins who just turned 14. We are about to finish Grade 8 and are looking forward to starting high school in the fall. We love playing sports, travelling, listening to music, and playing video games.

We are still as curious as ever and can't wait to bring you a season filled with engaging discussions with people from all walks of life.

Have you ever wondered what fuels an artist's creativity or an entrepreneur's drive?

Well, wonder no more! We'll be interviewing the best of the best, including entrepreneurs, educators, athletes, artists and more.

We are eager to learn about their passions and what inspires them. Who knows, our conversations might just inspire you to discover your own passions.

We hope you'll join us on our journey.

Emma and Xavier

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

If you love hockey you won’t want to miss this episode. Today we talk with Laura McIntosh, owner of L.McIntosh Hockey School and head coach of the PWHPA’s Team Sonnet. Join us as we hear about Laura’s hockey experiences, from playing boys minor hockey to playing U18 and U22 for Team Canada and playing Division 1 hockey for Ohio State University.

Laura retired as a player after winning the 2018-2019 Clarkson Cup and started coaching. Her passion now is to grow and develop female hockey players and she works with hockey players who are just starting out, professional players and all the players in between. Laura shares her stories of coaching and inspiring both young girls in minor hockey through her hockey school and professional hockey players as head coach of Team Sonnet.

Click here to find more information about L.McIntosh Hockey School.

Here are some of the fun things we talked about in our conversation today and where you can find them in this episode.

11:17 - All about L.McIntosh Hockey School

12:50 - PWHPA and Team Sonnet

16:22 - Winning the Clarkson Cup

kidsconversations@gmail.com

Twitter: @Curious_Convos

Instagram: @curious__convos

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Do you love outer space? Have you ever wondered where the Earth’s water comes from or how planets die? These are just some of the questions we ask our guest today, Sean Raymond.

Sean is a science fiction-loving astrophysicist who likes blending imagination with science. Sean received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Washington, Seattle and is currently living in Bordeaux, France doing research at the Observatoire de Bordeaux. Today we learn more about what an astrophysicist does. Here is a hint, one of the most important parts of his job is asking questions.

We even learn what the Vomit Comet is and for fun we throw in a little conversation about ultimate frisbee.

Sean is also an authour and recently published a book of Dr. Seuss-style astronomy poems which helps all of us who are not astrophysicists understand the universe a little bit better.

Click here to learn more about Sean on his website.

Click here to buy his book: Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy Poems For All Ages

Here are some of the fun things we talked about in our conversation today and where you can find them in this episode.

6:00 - Sean reads us his latest poem called A Flock of Free Floaters

9:53 - We hear all about how Sean wrote his book called Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy Poems For All Ages. The illustrations were done by his son Owen and the introduction is written by Neil deGrassTyson.

14:19 - We have a fun chat about Star Wars!

15:04 - Where does Earth’s water come from?

19:26 - How do planets die?

20:46 - Can moons have their own moons?

24:18 - The Vomit Comet

25:05 - Ultimate FrisbeeConnect with us!

kidsconversations@gmail.com

Twitter: @Curious_Convos

Instagram: @curious__convos

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.