Colleagues for Life

Megan sits down with her friend Laura Doney, Canadian Certified Counsellor, trauma therapist, and founder of Larchwood Counselling in Calgary. In this Origin Stories episode, the conversation that goes deep fast. They talk about the body's "smoke detector" for inauthenticity, the courage it takes to name what doesn't feel congruent in a room, and why weak ties so often turn out to be the most valuable relationships we have. Laura also shares what's next for Larchwood Counselling: a newly expanded clinic on Macleod Trail with therapists specializing in family and trauma therapy, plus somatic practitioners offering massage, Reiki, TCM, and acupuncture. Laura is also excited about a supervision course that's launching her into mentoring the next generation of therapists. Follow Laura @thelarchwoodway.

Have you ever noticed the right side of my face moves differently than the left? On this episode of Side Chat, host Megan Hunter opens up about the 2022 head injury that changed how her brain — and body — work, and the diagnoses that came after: ADHD and a cognitive processing disorder. Megan shares what it was like to hit her head on a sharp metal edge while camping with her one-year-old, the recovery that followed, and the moment she saw herself on camera and realized something had shifted for good. She talks candidly about being performance-managed for spelling and grammar in a workplace that didn't understand her disability, what it's like to communicate for a living while living with a learning disability, and why no one — leader or entrepreneur — is meant to do it all alone. This is a story about vulnerability, self-awareness, and the colleagues who show up for you when you need it most.

Megan's making a confession this episode: a career mistake she made — and one you've probably made too, without realizing it. It's the difference between trusting a leader and relying on one. They sound the same. They are not the same. And mixing them up quietly builds complacency, kills psychological safety, and creates the exact bottlenecks leaders say they're trying to avoid. In this Side Chat solo episode, Megan unpacks what it actually means to trust someone to be human (including yourself), why over-reliance on leadership erodes professional judgment on a team, and the two questions every leader and every person being led needs to sit with: where are you unnecessarily relying on someone else, and where are you not trusting yourself enough?

Gordon Ramsay yells. Ted Lasso believes in you. Both win. So which leadership style is actually working — and which one's quietly costing you your best people? In this Side Chat solo episode, Megan breaks down two leadership archetypes we all recognize (and maybe low-key copy) — the Hell's Kitchen approach and the Ted Lasso approach — and asks the real question: does how we lead matter as much as what we produce? This one covers shame vs. guilt, why "tough love" isn't always the flex it looks like, the psychosocial cost of harsh feedback, and how to tell if you're the kind of leader making a hard job harder... or easier. If you've ever wondered whether being direct means you have to be brutal, this episode's for you.

Meet Daena Douglas of Cadence Wellness Consulting — creator of Reclaimed, a healing program for corporate women who've achieved success but still feel disconnected from themselves. In this Origin Stories episode, Megan and Daena dig into people-pleasing, perfectionism, nervous system regulation, and why healing isn't about eliminating your patterns — it's about choosing when they serve you. A raw, real conversation about burnout, identity, and reclaiming the woman underneath the coping strategies.

Nobody has ever described their favorite colleague as "the one who never makes typos." In this Side Chat solo episode, Megan breaks down what actually makes someone a colleague for life — pulled straight from the Origin Story series. Kate and Megan realizing they both had 500 copies of a children's book sitting in their basements, and turning it into a collab instead of a competition. The colleague who taught her "ubuntu" — I am because we are. And Kolbi, the director who could tell Megan "this is crap" and somehow make it the best compliment she's ever gotten. Megan's list: radical honesty, co-creating without keeping score, knowing whose idea was whose, repair after rupture, and remembering everyone's just human. Five things. Zero of them show up on a performance review.

Ever feel like you have nothing to say — even when it's your own platform? Megan starts Side Chat with that exact moment, and it turns into a rich conversation about something she loves to dig into: the difference between psychological safety and psychological health and safety. Spoiler: they're not the same thing. In this first episode of Side Chat, Megan unpacks how psychological safety shifts depending on context, environment, and the people in the room, and what that actually means for teams and leaders at work. She also shares a story about one of the most formative workplaces of her career, a place where the CEO showed up on day one with a binder, a room full of experts, and a statement that's stuck with Megan ever since. If you've ever wondered why some teams just work , or why engagement surveys sometimes do more harm than good, this one's for you. Got questions or topics you want Megan to dig into on a future Side Chat? Send them her way. This is the place for it.

What happens when two women meet at a safety conference, end up flipping pennies at the ceiling of an Oregon pub, and realize they've found something rare? In this episode, Megan sits down with Lindsay, a safety professional whose career literally chose her — and whose healing journey revealed exactly why. Lindsay opens up about hitting rock bottom, two weeks at a mental health retreat that changed everything, and what it means to finally do the work instead of just surviving it. They talk about psychological health and safety on job sites and in our own nervous systems, breaking generational cycles in organizations and in ourselves, the real cost of being a chronic yes-person, and why sharing your story might be the most powerful safety tool you have. This one goes deep. It also goes real. ⚠️ This episode contains mention of suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. Call or text 988 (Canada & US).

Megan's guest this episode is Yangyang — and their story starts the way the best ones do: a cold LinkedIn message at 2 AM, a shared curiosity about meaningful work, and a first coffee that somehow turned into a full life exchange within the first two minutes. Together they explore what draws people to inclusion and belonging work, why work-life balance is a myth worth retiring, and how a simple design principle reframes what accessibility actually means. They also talk about the pings we send into the world, the asks that are hardest to make, and what it feels like to meet someone and just know they belong in your circle. Honest, unhurried, and full of the kind of connection this podcast was made for.

Ever wonder what makes a friendship last a lifetime? In this episode, we dive into the incredible 40+ year friendship between two lifelong friends from Edmonton. From meeting in elementary school to unexpected reunions across continents, hear the remarkable story of how a chance friendship became the foundation of a lifetime of memories. In this conversation, they share:• The unexpected moment they first met that changed everything• How they stayed connected through carpools, moves, and major life changes• A serendipitous reunion during a summer camp in Switzerland• The dinner club tradition that brought their extended friend group together• The challenges and victories they've supported each other through• What it really means to have a "colleague for life" Whether you're looking to deepen your own friendships or just love a good story about human connection, this episode is a heartwarming reminder that the best friendships are the ones we invest in over time. Perfect for: Listeners who value meaningful relationships, stories of lifelong friendships, personal growth, and real conversations about connection. Topics covered: Friendship, nostalgia, personal stories, life milestones, community, loyalty, and what keeps friendships strong across decades.

What makes a good colleague? In this episode of our Origin Stories series, host Megan and her guest Kinya Baker explore the philosophy behind "colleagues for life"—those meaningful connections that start in professional spaces but evolve into lifelong friendships. Recorded in Montreal, Megan and Kinya reflect on how they met during the pandemic at a virtual community of practice. What began with one thoughtful comment in a meeting led to a coffee shop conversation in Calgary that neither wanted to end—and a friendship that's spanned across the country and transformed their lives. They dive deep into what builds genuine colleague relationships: leading with empathy, the African concept of Ubuntu ("I am because we are"), creating spaces where people feel valued, and the reciprocity of lifting others up. They also discuss the "send down the elevator" philosophy—making sure you help pull others up as you climb. Through warm conversation and vulnerable storytelling, Megan and Kinya discuss the beauty of seeing colleagues as whole humans, the power of hospitality, and how the everyday moments we create together become the magic that sustains us through life. Perfect for anyone looking to build more meaningful workplace relationships and friendships.

One book launch. One introduction. One spark — and suddenly, life looks completely different. In this episode of the Colleagues for Life Podcast , host Megan Hunter sits down with Montana Lautamus: photographer, personal branding specialist, and someone who knows firsthand how a single human connection can set an entirely new life in motion. Recorded in the breathtaking mountains of Banff National Park, this conversation is a testament to what happens when you say yes to the moment in front of you. Montana's story begins with movement — literally. Growing up constantly relocating between Saskatchewan and British Columbia taught her early that home isn't a place, it's the people and moments you collect along the way. That restlessness led her to photography, photography led her to a business bursary, the bursary led her to a book launch, the book launch led her to Megan, and Megan led her here — to Banff, to this microphone, to you. That's how connection works. One spark leads to another, and another, and another.

Join host Megan Hunter as she kicks off the "Origin Stories" series with her first official guest, Kate Goodwin. In this heartfelt conversation, they trace the unexpected journey of how they reconnected—from a initial business opportunity in 2024 to a serendipitous LinkedIn reunion that reignited their friendship. Discover how two professionals navigated career transitions, found their voices, and discovered the magic of human connection in the workplace. From Elizabeth Gilbert's "Big Magic" to pressing flowers at their first coffee date, Megan and Kate explore what it really means to be a "colleague for life." In this episode: How Megan & Kate first met through a health and wellbeing product partnership Reconnecting on LinkedIn after years apart—the one job posting that changed everything The significance of their first coffee date and pressing flowers as a metaphor for growth Kate's diverse career path: from yoga teaching to journalism to counseling psychology Why the podcast "Colleagues for Life" exists—celebrating human connection and community What makes a good colleague for life: authenticity, genuine care, and storytelling Finding success while navigating generational expectations and societal narratives Perfect for anyone who: Values meaningful professional relationships Is pursuing their own entrepreneurial journey Wants to hear authentic conversations about career, growth, and human connection This is the first official episode of a series exploring origin stories and the power of "colleagues for life" relationships.

Welcome to Colleagues for Life: Origin Stories This is the prep episode for our brand new podcast exploring the power of human connection and professional relationships that last a lifetime. Join host Megan Hunter, and her first podcast guest, Kolbi Cameron, as they kick things off with their own origin story of how they met, the adventures they've shared, and what it truly means to be a "colleague for life. "In this episode:How Megan and Kolbi met through a mutual connection Their wild adventures together: from a prison visit in Grand Cache to an unexpected training opportunity in Belize. What makes a good colleague and why authentic connections matter in the workplaceBuilding a business and life together based on trust, support, and genuine friendship. About the Podcast: Colleagues for Life is on a mission to celebrate the magic of human connection, those special people we meet at work who become lifelong friends, and the friends who become our colleagues. This series dives into origin stories: where we've met, where we are now, and where we're heading next. Listen here or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to stay updated with new episodes!

Megan shares the news of her new podcast, Colleagues for Life. In classic Megan form, she's recorded on a whim and posting a concept sketch instead of the logo. So, stayed tuned for when the good stuff gets uploaded. Until then... Welcome to the club.