Resilience, Recovery, and Relationships: A Conversation with Adam Woodward
S2 E35 • Jul 24, 2025 • 59 minsIn this episode, Lisa McGrath is joined by Adam Woodward as they explore the intricacies of personal growth, recovery, and the impact of relationships. Adam shares his early life and family struggles, detailing his transition to adulthood and the challenges faced during college and his early career. They discuss his journey with alcoholism while working at Cowboys and his steps towards sobriety. The conversation highlights self-acceptance, personal growth, and the vital role of support systems in recovery. They delve into reframing negative experiences, the dynamics of relationships, and the influence of social media. The episode wraps up with insights into resilience across generations and a preview of what's next.
Navigating Trades, Technology, and Generational Dynamics
S2 E34 • Jul 18, 2025 • 51 minsIn this episode, Lisa McGrath and Michael The Podcast Guy introduce "Devils Advocate: Trades Edition," exploring their journey to independent podcasting and future plans. They discuss launching a new website, global expansion, and the role of psychic insights in business. The episode covers management dynamics, job changes in trades, and entrepreneurship. A guest shoutout for Kevin, technology nostalgia, and political impact on relationships are included. Communication evolution, generational perspectives, and parental influences are analyzed. They highlight a trades-focused app and training challenges, wrapping up with gratitude to listeners and a teaser for future episodes.
Roofing Insights, Trades Humor, and Balancing Work-Life Challenges
S2 E33 • Jul 9, 2025 • 71 minsIn this episode, Lisa McGrath and John Roberts dive into the roofing trade, contrasting flat and sloped roofs while tackling leak detection challenges. They touch on work-life balance, mental health, and community support, drawing from Lisa's podcasting experiences. The discussion covers team management, hiring, labor shortages, and transitioning from fieldwork to office roles. They explore roofing complexities, safety, and financial pressures, advocating for tradespeople starting businesses and podcasting. Humor's role in trades is highlighted with comedian recommendations and funny stories. Parenting, cultural discipline differences, and women's roles in trades are also discussed. Guest Lori shares her work with missing children, wrapping up with investiga
Exploring Positive Psychology and Self-Awareness with Alfredo Burdowski
S2 E32 • Jul 2, 2025 • 43 minsIn this episode, Lisa McGrath introduces Alfredo Burdowski, who shares his journey from rabbi to facing a public crisis and arrest. They discuss bipolar disorder, Alfredo's strengths through positive psychology, and his background in consultancy and coaching. The episode explores the VIA (Values in Action), comparing it with other psychological tests and highlighting its scientific backing. They introduce The Purpose Factor tool and discuss overcoming public scrutiny through self-awareness. Identifying strengths, the safety of text-based resources, and mental health themes in biographies are examined before wrapping up with a teaser for the next episode.
Exploring Martial Arts, Men's Mental Health, and Relationship Dynamics with Kyle Craik
S2 E31 • Jun 26, 2025 • 77 minsIn this episode, Lisa McGrath welcomes Kyle Craik to explore the intersection of podcasting, wellness coaching, and martial arts. They delve into how martial arts impart life lessons across ages and discuss sports injuries and pop culture's role in martial arts interest. The conversation highlights the "Good Grief" book launch and its unique stories, navigating identity, grief, and the significance of Men's Mental Health Month. They examine evolving men's roles, gender dynamics, and the importance of raising emotionally intelligent boys. Topics include traditional masculinity versus emotional intelligence, relationship challenges, therapy, and online dating. Kyle shares insights on his podcast, dojo, and the promotion of "Good Grief."
Engineering Stories, Cultural Insights, and Leadership with Humor
S2 E30 • Jun 25, 2025 • 63 minsLisa McGrath welcomes a guest to discuss their experience in race engineering and writing. They share personal stories from life in Europe and explore themes of forgiveness, caregiving, and grief, including a touching story about the guest's father's passing. The conversation covers cultural identity, family dynamics during COVID, self-advocacy, and cultural differences. They also discuss regional friendliness, language nuances, and the guest's current work and professional development. Insights on public speaking, educational outreach, communication, team building, leadership, and challenging stereotypes in engineering are shared, along with a discussion on Reiki. The episode wraps up with encouragement for social media engagement.
Men's Mental Health, Leadership, and Empathy in Trades
S2 E29 • Jun 18, 2025 • 39 minsIn this episode of "Devils Advocate: Trades Edition," Lisa McGrath delves into the importance of networking and figures like Adam Woodward. Focusing on men's mental health month, she tackles issues such as toxic masculinity, leadership, and societal influences on men's emotions. Lisa reflects on Father's Day, parenting, body image, and emotional development, emphasizing empathy, supporting friends, and problem-solving, especially in emergencies. Workplace challenges, overqualification, and safety in trades are discussed, underscoring mental health's vital role. The episode wraps up with insights on men's mental health and a sneak peek at future topics.
Exploring Leadership, Relationships, and Growth with Irina Jiltsova
S2 E28 • Jun 11, 2025 • 58 minsIn this episode of "Good Grief," Lisa McGrath welcomes Irina Jiltsova to discuss her journey through marriage and growth. They explore the impacts of infidelity, leadership, company culture, and women's evolving roles. Key topics include HR challenges, workplace ethics, and the importance of communication beyond financial incentives. They emphasize continuous education and understanding human psychology in business. Parenting insights cover raising teenagers, respect, and boundaries. The episode also highlights upcoming book projects and the value of employee input in shaping culture, concluding with reflections on personal development and gratitude to guests.
Politics, Leadership, and Societal Reflections in Trades
S2 E27 • Jun 4, 2025 • 25 minsLisa McGrath opens the episode with a reflection on the show's milestones before engaging in a discussion on politics and housing with Olivia Chow. Production updates and the impact of government on everyday life are also touched upon. A sponsor segment introduces Sparkling Ice Starburst Strawberry. The conversation shifts to workplace safety and experiences from a recent podcast summit. Wellness, societal roles, and the dynamics of relationships in political leadership are examined. Lisa shares personal reflections on influencers and the nature of influence, followed by a debate on intimidation and embracing diverse opinions. The episode wraps up with a preview of future episodes.
Exploring Trades, Mental Health, and Consulting Insights
S2 E26 • May 28, 2025 • 20 minsLisa McGrath discusses the intersection of trades, mental health, and safety, drawing from personal experiences in consulting across Canada. The episode delves into the nuances of consulting, particularly in website development for diverse sectors. Lisa shares insights on addressing mental health within the trades, emphasizing the importance of safety and well-being. The discussion includes a preview of upcoming guests, offering listeners a glimpse into future episodes. The episode concludes with reflections on the topics covered and closing notes.
Navigating Trades, Gender Roles, and Industry Insights with Nicole Doiron
S2 E25 • May 21, 2025 • 96 minsLisa McGrath welcomes Nicole Doiron to explore the podcast's evolution and dive into a Redox conversation. They discuss HVAC systems, politics, and the challenges women face in male-dominated industries. Nicole shares insights from her experience in the moving industry and compares Albertan perceptions with other provinces. They touch on migration trends, construction ethics, and client support. The conversation shifts to narcissistic abuse, emotional regulation, and communication strategies. They also explore AI predictions, electric vehicles, and gender roles in vehicle maintenance, concluding with reflections on feminism, work-life balance, and memorable Stampede experiences.
Workplace Insights, Personality Development, and Mentorship with Sonia Perron
S2 E24 • May 13, 2025 • 58 minsLisa McGrath welcomes Sonia Perron to discuss her innovative business model focusing on mental health and the mind's three parts. They explore decision-making, the Myers-Briggs framework, and how workshops boost productivity. Sonia shares insights on emotional intelligence, personality assessments, team collaboration, and managing entitlement. The episode also covers accelerated onboarding, job fit, and reducing turnover. They highlight cognitive assessments in personal relationships and philanthropy in neurodevelopmental disorders. Sonia's impactful workshops and therapeutic approaches are summarized. The episode concludes with Sonia's contact information and closing remarks.
Mentorship, Resilience, and Life Lessons: A Conversation with Sue Meyer
S2 E23 • May 7, 2025 • 86 minsLisa McGrath welcomes Sue Meyer to explore the trades, focusing on professional relationships and Sue's career journey. They discuss mentorship, overcoming challenges, and clairvoyant abilities, sharing insights on support systems and spiritual perspectives. The conversation addresses relationship stigmas in the trades, wisdom through a parable, modern parenting, and educational challenges. They cover diverse student issues, parenting dynamics, and energy healing. Reflections on age differences, adversity, and gratitude wrap up the episode.
Alberta Politics, Trade Dynamics, and Industry Insights with Lisa McGrath
S2 E22 • May 4, 2025 • 25 minsLisa McGrath begins the episode by sharing her perspectives on Alberta politics, focusing on Danielle Smith's influence. She explores gender dynamics within trades and politics, examining the implications of Bill 54 on the trades industry. Lisa shares her experiences from Edmonton, including insights from a condo expo and the challenges faced by condo boards regarding Occupational Health and Safety. She acknowledges industry professionals and highlights key moments from recent events. Lisa teases upcoming guests and emphasizes the podcast's commitment to diversity. The episode wraps up with closing thoughts and a preview of future episodes.
Canadian Politics, Emotional Insights, and Healing Discussions
S2 E21 • Apr 29, 2025 • 24 minsLisa McGrath opens the episode with reflections on the recent election, exploring the political landscape in Canada with a focus on resilience and the dynamics in Alberta and Quebec. She emphasizes the importance of respectful discourse and acknowledges the emotional manipulation often present in politics. The conversation shifts to relationship advice, particularly on dealing with narcissism and the healing process. Lisa discusses the role of personality tests and their impact on mental health. The episode concludes with thoughts on valuing diverse voices in light of the election results, and Lisa invites the audience to engage with the podcast in future discussions.
Navigating Roads and Challenges: Insights into Pilot Car Driving and Trucking
S2 E20 • Apr 22, 2025 • 60 minsJoin Lisa McGrath, Victoria Horne, and Greg Levy as they explore the intricacies of truck driving across the lower 48 states and Canada, focusing on oversized loads. They discuss the life of a pilot car driver, tackling topics like height clearance, specialized equipment, log requirements, load shifts, and road closures. The episode delves into the impact of politics, astrology, safety measures like dash cams, and US-Canada relations. They compare piloting with semi-driving, the differences for owner-operators, and sleep deprivation risks. The importance of trucker alliances and radio communication is highlighted before wrapping up with guest appreciation.
Behind the Wheel: Challenges, Perceptions, and Realities of Trucking with Greg Levy
S2 E19 • Apr 16, 2025 • 74 minsLisa McGrath and Greg Levy delve into the misunderstood world of trucking, addressing misconceptions and the skills required for the profession. They discuss language barriers, legalities, Greg's road experiences, and the Humboldt Broncos tragedy. Topics include weather challenges, truck accidents, regulations, owner operators vs. company drivers, and the impact of COVID-19, trade wars, and border issues. They also touch on diversity, the Highway of Tears, Ontario infrastructure, the public image of drivers, the convoy movement, and vaccination debates, comparing US and Canadian highways. The episode concludes with a sneak peek of what's next.
Travel Reflections, Safe Journeys, and Trucking Insights
S2 E18 • Apr 13, 2025 • 17 minsLisa McGrath opens with reflections on travel experiences and parenting, touching upon the nuances of online behavior and providing updates on the podcast. She commends WestJet for their service and emphasizes the critical role of maintenance in travel safety. Expressing gratitude for her family's safe journeys, she transitions to introducing a guest to discuss the trucking industry. The conversation includes a lighthearted encouragement to participate in elections, peppered with political humor. The episode concludes with closing remarks and acknowledgments.
Women in Trades and Workplace Dynamics: Insights with Darci Dagg
S2 E17 • Apr 9, 2025 • 64 minsJoin Lisa McGrath and Darci Dagg as they delve into Darci's international career experiences, highlighting challenges in mental health, work environments, and role transitions within the health and safety industry. They explore gender dynamics, workplace hookup culture, and the significance of gender-specific workwear. The discussion includes travel, personal growth, parenting, and values, celebrating women in trades and their 17-year friendship. They also address dog safety, fostering, pack mentality, and breed-specific legislation. The episode wraps up with final thoughts and reflections.
Frostfire's Vision: Innovation, Networking, and Leadership in Trades
S2 E16 • Apr 2, 2025 • 86 minsWayne Kavanaugh from Frostfire joins Lisa McGrath to discuss her journey in property management and her introduction to Frostfire. They highlight the company's technology, expansion plans, and focus on efficiency in trades. The episode delves into the political environment, Canadian market, and challenges for small businesses. They explore industry events, networking, client education, and sponsorship strategies, while addressing the impact of COVID-19, Canadian culture, and workplace mentality. The integration of AI tools in business is also discussed. The episode wraps up with closing remarks on Frostfire.