Death is something we all experience, yet we seem to avoid talking about it until just before we are face to face with death itself. At Stand Up Speak Up, this is a topic close to our hearts. Diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer in October 2019, our co-founder Karla has been actively trying to find peace with the life she has lived and her eventual death. That’s why Karla is bringing her listeners along on her NEW series called “What Happens Next?”After three years of living with cancer, Karla has hit a roadblock marked by many questions - What happens next? Why am I still alive? What makes a life worth living? Why are we so hard on ourselves? What stops us from finding love, joy, peace? Why is death not talked about more? What happens after we die?In this series premiere episode, we focus not on death itself, but on preparing for it. We prepare for the arrival of new babies and weddings with showers, and sometimes even throw parties for divorces, so why do we so often leave the plans for commemorating our deaths in the hands of others? Come along as your host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy sits down for the first time with Death Doula, Grief Educator and Celebrant Doreen Thibert, who founded One Thread Consulting and offers services for both those preparing for their own deaths as well as for the loved ones they leave behind.At the age of seven, Doreen experienced her first death: her 80-year-old grandmother. The passing left an immense imprint on Doreen, not only because of the sadness, but because of the community feeling of her loved ones coming together. It was that feeling that would grow into a life-long interest to support others through the dying process and change the narrative surrounding death from one of sadness and fear to one focused on how death is a shared life experience. Throughout her 35-year career, Doreen has made a difference in many lives, including working alongside Mother Teresa and the Sisters of Charity in India, fundraising supplies for orphanages in Romania, and providing medical supplies in Afghanistan. Doreen has also worked as a nurse, in key positions with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and as Education Coordinator at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. Host: Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor: Jonnica HillSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, your host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy will take you along for her first resonance training & relational neuroscience session with Sarah, a neuroscience educator and author.Sarah’s dedication to transforming our brains into kinder, cozier places to live began after struggling with depression herself. Before she knew the science, she found herself constantly battling a self-critical inner voice that left her feeling worthless, stupid, unlovable, and thinking it simply meant she was broken. In her early studies of nonviolent communication and neuroscience, she was amazed by how much sweetness and self-compassion was possible when you connect to your body sensations, feelings and needs. She then apprenticed for five years with Susan Skye (a psychologist, long-time NVC trainer, and creator of the groundbreaking New Depths Intensive Program) who pioneered the time-travel empathy process.Now Sarah offers online courses, events, private sessions, as well as meditations, videos and blog posts to help others make sense of their behaviours and get past the stigma that what we’ve seen as emotional difficulties or character defects are actually very normal reactions to relational, cultural and intergenerational trauma. She has also published three books, Your Resonant Self, Your Resonant Self Workbook, and Affirmations for Turbulent Times, and offers a Practitioner of Resonant Healing Training and Certification Program. Host: Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor: Jonnica HillSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To most people, Brea seemed to have it all. She was a great student and talented athlete who moved from Ontario to New Jersey following high school to play varsity soccer at Princeton University. But, in the years after graduating, Brea’s journey would become one of pain, isolation and even homelessness. Brea’s health seriously declined with insomnia, exertion intolerance, autoimmunity and significant gut issues. Eventually, her health declined further into severe chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), mould illness (CIRS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), food sensitivities and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). With dozens of debilitating symptoms, including overwhelming fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, face swelling, vertigo and more, Brea was bedridden most days. She never seemed to get any real answers from doctors, despite trying every conventional, holistic and functional medicine treatment available.Brea’s health got worse, by 2018, she had moved away from her husband and kids to camp alone in the California desert and chase pristine air. It was during her second time in this desert isolation when her story took an unexpected turn and she was introduced to self-directed neuroplasticity (AKA: brain retraining). Brea learned that her symptoms were not caused by the environment but by her brain overreacting to everyday stimuli, called Limbic System Impairment. Following the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) program, she was able to rewire her brain and heal her body. Today, Brea is happy, healthy and reunited with her children - and now she’s helping others, including Karla, find the same life-changing healing as a brain retraining coach.This is an inspiring story of resilience, positivity and fighting the odds. This is Brea’s Story.Editor: Jonnica HillSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Karla Stephens-Tolstoy, the founder of Stand Up Speak Up, continues to share her fight in battling Stage 4 cancer. She courageously shares Karla’s medical journey from all sides of the disease, her life, and her extensive support group of devoted family and friends. But even as she continues the struggle for her life, Karla also continues her concern for foster care reform, a passionate cause that she can’t let go of.Karla reveals both good news and bad news concerning her diagnosis. She talks about the medication she’s had to endure, the medical trials she’s been a part of and even the use of cannabis as part of her treatment. And she manages to talk about it all while maintaining her sense of humour throughout. Also maintaining a sense of humour is her nurse, Erin DeJong, who once again conducts the conversation as it unfolds.Executive Producer: Karla Stephens TolstoyInterviewer: Erin DeJongNarrator: Peter Anthony HolderProduction Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony HolderReceive our newsletter; contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.caKarla's favourite skin line: https://www.madeforskin.com/ - This is not a promo plug, Stand Up Speak Up does not benefit at all from any purchases.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to My Boobs Are Killing Me. A podcast brought to you by Stand Up Speak Up founder Karla Stephens-Tolstoy who shares with us the journey of her life with stage four cancer and the amazing individuals that inspire her along the way.Looking at Sandra Doweck, one would think she has it all – a thriving business, a community ambassador, a gorgeous family and looks like she has had an easy life. Sandra does have it all, but it has been hard to get to where she is today. Sandra’s journey to where she is today is nothing short of a struggle. She had a tough childhood – a disciplinarian father, a mother with a disability that was never recognized or diagnosed and a past victim of sexual abuse.Sandra shares with Karla that living by the rule of not blaming anyone and knowing it is up to her to make the necessary changes is why she is where she is today. Despite Sandra’s hardships, she is a motivated go-getter and will not accept anything mediocre in any part of her life.A podcast interview to inspire anyone to not let life’s past challenges determine your future and learn that taking care of yourself is key to leading the life you want.Executive Producer: Karla Stephens TolstoyInterviewer: Sandra Doweck ProductionEditor & Sound: Amanda D'SouzaNarrator: Amanda D'SouzaReceive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.caSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Karla Stephens Tolstoy believes in revealing the truth and getting the real story out there. For the past two years, her Stand Up Speak Up Podcast has told the stories of those who had been neglected or forgotten by mainstream society. While recording these episodes, Karla was fighting her own battle to be heard against doctors and medical professionals. She knew something was wrong but couldn't get answers beyond "it is all in your head". Finally, in October 2018, Karla was told her own truth - She had Stage 4 Breast Cancer and it had spread throughout her body.My Boobs Are Killing Me is a no-holds-barred, raw account of what it is like to live with cancer. Karla brings her fierceness and no-f*cks-given humour to conversations about the worst and best that this journey has brought to her life.Sit back and enjoy as Karla sips her chemo cocktail and chats with her nurse, Erin DeJong. Karla has told many people’s stories in podcast form. This story is her’s.Executive Producer: Karla Stephens TolstoyInterviewer: Erin DeJongProduction Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony HolderNarrator: Peter Anthony HolderMusic: Carl England - HitWorksWest / caroline_joyReceive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.caSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.