Judy Croon

How has Covid-19 effected you? Cara Coulson is a Meditation Coach. Many people are wondering what is going to happen to them, where is their life going, is Covid going to end? Through meditation and mindfulness, Cara helps them 'reset and reframe'. Cara Coulson has worked in education since 1993. In 2008, she completed a 200 hour yoga teacher certification through Yoga Alliance, and for the next 3 years ran a successful private yoga education company. In 2011, Cara began working as a contract faculty member at Durham College, and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology. In 2015, she completed a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on the mental health of post secondary students. Cara specialized in student anxiety, and tested if 4 weeks of meditation for ten minutes a day would create a perception of anxiety reduction in self identified college students with anxiety. The results were overwhelmingly positive. Throughout the past years of teaching and learning Cara has developed a deeper unde

The Gift of Humour 2020. Let’s face it. It’s been a challenging year. Covid has forced us to mask up, distance and sanitize our hands until they are raw. We’ve had to isolate, bubble and some of us have had to learn so much new technology, we could probably talk Apollo 13 down. We’ve faced more ZOOM meetings that we care to think about. Thank goodness for the front line and essential workers who have done everything to keep the rest of us safe. Without them, we would be lost -or worse. Compared to other global catastrophes - war, earthquakes, tsunamis- Covid asked the majority of us to do one thing: stay home. Watching Netflix is not a hardship. It has brought us gems like the latest season of the Crown, and of course, the Queen’s Gambit. If you haven’t seen The Queen’s Gambit, may I say it has renewed my passion for tranquilizers. I mean chess. I’m not good at chess. I have to take a nap after four moves, but this mini-series has inspired me to become a better player as well as, step up my wardrobe g

Sylvia and I chat about visiting the Akasha - a spiritual form of reading that has been around for thousands of years. Sylvia Plester-Silk, RSW is an intuitive Social Worker who integrates traditional therapy with Akhashic Readings and energy work to help individuals transform to a life that is fully On Purpose. Way back in ancient history, in 1998, she graduated from the Social Work program at Ryerson University. While working for multiple community agencies, she has assisted thousands of individuals through addictions, mental health and trauma to finding their way. While she was powerful in this work, her results became exponential when she added energy therapies to her work. In the mid-1990’s Sylvia brought energy work into the hospital she worked in and into mental health agencies to assist individuals to heal with ease. Since 2004, she has been working independently with individuals, groups and more recently, since 2010, organizations. During the fall of 2019, she embarked on a life changing trip t

Is the world going to end? I know…not exactly the most hilarious, side- splitting way to open a conversation or a comedy show, for that matter. Ah, remember the good old days when we used to do comedy shows??? Relax, Chicken Little. I bring some good news, even as I write this after a see-saw US election that still hasn’t been completely resolved. This good news comes in the form of two amazing books that coaxed me out from underneath my comforter and back into the real world. Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism and Progress by Canadian psychologist Steven Pinker, and Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About The World – And Why Things Are Better Than You Think by Swedish physician and statistician Hans Rosling. Both books are really uplifting and perfect for the challenging times that we are going through. Maybe it’s all fake news? I don’t think so. These books are based upon facts. Remember when we used to care about facts? Also, each book comes with a heavy hitter list of end

Humankind by Rutger Bregman: Part Two A few more examples to show you just how awesome humans really are. Covid, the economy, the un-presidential debate, Tiger King’s Carole Baskin competing on Dancing With The Stars - there is a certainly a lot of frightening news lately. Are things just getting worse?? Last month, I reviewed the book Humankind by Rutger Bregman. It gave me hope. Bregman provided examples throughout history that proved the awesomeness of humans in times of distress. If you’ve got six and a half months of Zoom, mask and sanitizer burn-out, perhaps a few more of the author’s stories will help lift your spirits. During grade school, you were probably asked to read William Golding’s Lord of The Flies. It is the story about a group of boys stranded on an island. Over a period of time, they end up turning on each other and supposedly displaying the worst of mankind. Bregman actually found a real-life Lord of the Flies example in 1966. Six schoolboys from the island of Tonga stole a boat

Space Odyssey 2020: Covid, technology and virtual presentations. Admit it. How many of you got dragged into the virtual presentation world, kicking and screaming? How many of you had nightmares of sweat dripping down your forehead one minute before the green light came on in front of a virtual roomful of clients? How many of you felt like Dave from Space Odyssey 2001? “HAL, open the pod bay doors!!” “I’m sorry Judy, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” “All right, HAL. I’ll go in through the emergency airlock.” “Without your space helmet, Judy, you’re going to find that rather difficult.” Okay, so maybe this was my imagination going overboard. For the past few years, I have been encouraged by friends and clients to do more video presentations. As a comedian and motivational speaker, I have always enjoyed live presentations and conferences. In the past, I had been speaking and coaching virtually with some of my clients but then Covid hit. The game changed overnight. There wasn’t an option to do conferences

Recently, I read a terrific book – Humankind by Rutger Bregman. Bregman asked, ‘What did Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt have in common?’ They all read a book called The Psychology of the Masses by French author Gustave Le Bon. Le Bon’s main premise is that when all hell breaks loose, humans turn into barbarians. We turn on each other. Chaos is created and as a result, an enemy’s attack is made easier. The flames of fear are good for the oppressor. Though this ‘survival- of- the- fittest’ mentality may be the case for a small percentage of people, Bregman gives numerous examples throughout history that prove the contrary. His stories and statistics prove that overall, the kids are alright – humans are pretty darn amazing. Bregman provides the example of the bombing of England during the second World War. In 1940, Hitler sent 348 Luftwaffe bombers to London. He probably hoped panic and chaos would make the English more vulnerable and easier to overthrow. British authorities wo

Hey Brain, Is Your Pilot Or Flight Attendant Talking To You? At the beginning of the year, I started with 12 resolutions – one for each month. Then COVID-19 struck. My journal became more about coping during a pandemic vs a ‘things to do’ blog. I have to admit that, like everyone else, I freaked out. Conferences and comedy clubs were shut down. I know this is nothing compared to what a lot of people are dealing with but for me, it was my way of life for many years. As I faced the abyss of unknowing, a very obvious answer smacked me right in the face. What was I teaching others for years??? ‘Relieving stress with HUMOUR’!!! Uh- should I not take my own advice?? So, I found myself leaning on all the funny people around me. Yes, the humour was dark at times but I know now that that was all part of our right, bright, creative brains trying to get us to calm down. Laughter is a great way to trigger our right, bright, creative brain and parasympathetic nervous system. Our parasympathetic nervous system is t

Comedy, Creativity & Crisis The Beginning At the beginning of 2020, I decided that I was going to make twelve resolutions (one per month) instead of one big resolution at the beginning of the year that ran the risk of fizzling out by January 3rd. In January and February, I got a couple of good things done. Then Covid-19 struck and suddenly, like everyone else, I waited and wondered, ‘What was going to happen next?’ The world hit ‘pause’ and my yearly ‘things -to – do’ list turned into more of a personal survival guide. After a few months though, something rather unexpected happened. Creativity kicked in. I probably should have panicked more but, instead, I took a deep breath and I started to write. I started working again on jokes and writing projects that I had put off for years. There must have been something in the air because so many people that I knew felt the same way. They were writing. They were creating. They wanted to collaborate. Caveman Brain Since the beginning of time, creativity and

8 Months 8 Resolutions – Play Your Pan with a Smile At the beginning of this year, I committed to making 12 resolutions – one per month. Then Coronavirus struck. I actually managed to keep up my monthly goals but suddenly, it seemed more important to replace a regular list of ‘things to do’ with ‘things that were getting me through’ a global pandemic. One of my pandemic survival ‘go to’ tools has been carving out a new routine. Part of my new daily routine includes an evening tradition of banging pots with my neighbours. There’s a regular gang of us who step out every night for two minutes at 7:30 pm to bang pots, pans, drums and whatever other loud utensils we can get our hands on. You would think that, after all these weeks we would be able to take our show on the road. No, we are NOT perfect (in fact, some nights we are probably ear- shatteringly awful) but, like many other neighbourhoods across the globe, it is our small token of appreciation for all the front-line workers who are doing their best to

Recently, I chatted with Pam Maguire about a group she created called Masks For Meals. Masks for Meals has been kind enough to be making masks for our street friends at http://www.CityStreetOutreach.org MasksforMeals is a local initiative inspired by friends in the Mississauga/Oakville area who were moved to help during COVID 19. Three women began sewing masks for friends and families after Dr. Theresa Tam suggested they may help limit the spread of infection. At the same time, they were struck by the growing need for food banks as people lost their jobs and food supply diminished. Rather than charging for the masks, they asked for a donation to local food banks. Word soon spread through social media and the goal is to expand the effort across Mississauga and Oakville. MaskforMeals primary objective is the health and well being of our community during this unprecedented time. ​http://www.masksformeals.org #MasksForMeals info@masksformeals.org

​​ What image comes to mind when you think of a psychic medium? Dark rooms, crystal balls, strange shady characters? Well then you have not met Ursula Darby. Ursula is changing the way people think of psychics and mediums. There is nothing mysterious or strange about her. She is straightforward, honest and a whole lot of fun! Ursula has been a medium and a psychic since she was very young. Experiences with spirit started as a child and have shaped her into an effective and conscious communicator with the other side. She delivers messages to loved ones from people in spirit. Using her psychic abilities, Ursula reads her clients' past, present and future in detail. All sessions with Ursula are filled with compassion, understanding and her wonderful sense of humour. Her dynamic, outgoing personality coupled with her sharp wit makes all of her sessions insightful and entertaining. ​ ​Ursula resides in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Check out Ursula's website at http://www.UrsulaDarby.com Email BookwithUrsula

9 Months 9 Resolutions – Covid Continues At the beginning of this year, I committed to making 12 resolutions – one per month- rather than one big, ominous resolution for the whole year. So far, so good. I have been slowly checking little things off my big list, even when a global pandemic called Coronavirus reared its ugly head earlier this year. But that’s not the story. This month I was looking for something inspirational…something comforting in this time of unknowing. I found it in the form of 60’s music! I watched some incredible documentaries that made me feel great. These films feature music that helped me forget about Coronavirus -albeit temporarily. The list is endless… Once Were Brothers (Robbie Robertson and The Band), The Last Waltz (directed by Martin Scorsese and hailed as one of the greatest documentary concert films ever), David Crosby: Remember My Name, Echo in the Canyon ( a documentary about the ‘California sound’ featuring The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas

10 months 10 resolutions - Surviving COVID19 I decided at the beginning of 2020 that I was going to make 12 smaller resolutions – one per month- rather than one resolution for the whole year. I started off the year with a small goal. I was going to watch less CNN. I know. Reach for the stars, Judy. Then COVID 19 hit. Lately, I’ve been watching so much CNN, Wolf Blitzer should have me on as an expert guest. Like many, I was in shock. The self-quarantining didn’t help. Everything I tried to do, I felt like I was in a spacesuit. Daily life seemed heavy and cumbersome. Being asked to do nothing was like being asked to do everything. Where to start? How to start? Did it really matter? Slowly, the confusion started to clear. Like Sandra Bullock in Gravity, I found a manual. Everyone’s manual is different. Here’s what’s working for me – so far. Ask me in ten minutes. Step 1 Give Yourself a Break Be patient to yourself. Be kind. Our minds have funny ways of turning on us. You know you’ve got demons

www.JudyCroon.com Welcome to my monthly 5 minute Shelf Help Podcast Review. This month, I'm reviewing an awesome book called The Productivity Project by Chris Bailey.

http://wwwSpeakingOfDogs.com is an amazing organization for dogs that need to be fostered or adopted. They are based out of Toronto. They are having a big fundraiser Sat. March 5th. Check them out! http://www.SpeakingofDogs.com for tickets.

Nikki is known all over the world. Some of her clients include well-known movie stars, politicians, people from the sports world and business world, as well as the world of entertainment. Nikki's famous clients include Shirley MacLaine, Cher, Rod Stewart, Matt Dillon, Tom Cruise and many others. Check out Nikki's predictions for 2016 at http://www.PsychicNikki.com She can be reached at 416 961-7976 Nikki's next live performance will be in St. Catharines at The Showtime Comedy Bar Jan 28th. For tickets go to http://www.showtimecomedy.com

Judy interviews Karin Lindner- author of 'How Can We Make Manufacturing Sexy'. Karin is the founder and owner of Karico Performance Solutions. She has found her calling and her true passion in helping individuals and manufacturing companies to become the best they can be. An author, corporate coach and reputed keynote speaker, Karin enjoys working with leadership teams to increase their personal and organizational effectiveness by fully engaging the energy, talent and intelligence of the workforce. With more than 25 years of international corporate experience, Karin has acquired the knowledge and developed the tools to make a positive impact on her clients’ lives. Karin is a passionate promoter of the manufacturing industry. She is determined to help people discover the sexiness of the manufacturing industry – an industry that is critical to the wealth and prosperity of any country. Karin can be reached at http://www.karicosolutions.com/keynotes/ 647-401-5274

Judy interviews Ann Vautour about the Myers Briggs Test. Ann is a certified Neuro-Linguistic Practitioner, Negotiation and Conflict Management Specialist, and Open Space Technology Specialist. She is qualified to administer the renowned Myers Briggs Type Indicator personality inventory, used in team building, conflict management and other areas of human development. Ann Vautour is an inspiring, dynamic and motivational consultant, facilitator and trainer who captivates audiences with her passion and humour. Through tailored workshops, programs and client sessions, she helps participants to go beyond conventional thinking, while sparking creativity and achieving organizational goals. Ann Vautour's website is http://www.annv.org Ann's email is info@annv.org

http://www.14DaysAMemoir.com 14 Days - A Memoir: A Mother. A Daughter. A 2-Week Goodbye. By Lisa Goich. With a special foreword by Mitch Albom. When Lisa traveled home to visit her parents in December 2011, she never expected an ordinary three-day weekend to turn into an extraordinary 14-day observance of her mother’s life – and ultimately – death. 14 DAYS – A MEMOIR, is a story of parental loss, and how to lovingly, bravely and gracefully let go of a hand you’ve been holding your entire life. From a child’s first breath, to a mother’s last, this memoir shows how closing that circle can be a celebration of this unbreakable bond. Lisa Goich-Andreadis is an award-winning copywriter, major market talk radio host, blogger, journalist and former stand-up comedian. Graduating from Central Michigan University in 1984 with a Bachelor Of Applied Arts Degree in Journalism, she has spent her life dedicated to the written word, the spoken word and the arts. Lisa has worked for some of the biggest names and corporat