Best Sophia Rae and Jenny Kierstead Podcasts (2025)

1
Moving from loneliness to connection 30:00

Play Pause

2y ago30:00

30:00

In this episode, Sophia and I discuss the epidemic of loneliness, which millions are suffering from around the world. We open with the surprising detrimental effects that loneliness has on our mental and physical health, like how it rewires our brains and increases inflammation markers. What's tricky about loneliness, however, is that we often can'…

1
Repair and Recovery: The key to lasting relationships 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

This stellar conversation is the fourth and final episode (for now) with our champion guest speaker, Sophia's Dad, and my hubby, Blair Abbass. We begin with updates on our lives since we chose to postpone our pod to give our chat with Cindy Thompson from A Resilience Project Podcast its full moment in the sun. It was a difficult one, but a beautifu…

1
Let's talk about our red flags...ft Blair Abbass 35:55

2y ago35:55

35:55

In this third episode of our four part mini series on relationships with therapist, mindfulness teacher and educator, Blair Abbass, we discuss everything from dysfunctional relationships and red flags to healthy connections and green flags. We each share three red flags that arouse a sense of caution in us, such as addiction, criticism and lack of …

1
Foster Healthy Relationships with the Law of Attraction 26:12

2y ago26:12

26:12

In this touching and informative family conversation, we discuss the popular phrase 'law of attraction' with regards to attracting partnerships. I start off by reminding us that our intimate relationships are the most important choice we'll ever make, so it's worth our time and reflection. Our guest, Blair Abbass (my husband and Sophia's father), s…

1
Summer 2023 Wrap up- Camp highlights, Epiphanies, Meeting the Prime Minister.... 41:42

2y ago41:42

41:42

Join us for our Summer 2023 Wrap up and Reflection! The practice of 'recapitulation' is a meaningful way of closing any experience, or season. Reflecting on the last season helps us to deepen our insight and savour the goodness we've enjoyed. This is what Sophia and I discuss in this episode, as we share: 1. A peak experience 2. A lesson learned 3.…

1
Mini series: Let's chat about intimate relationships- an introduction 23:48

2y ago23:48

23:48

In this episode with our repeat guest, the one and only Blair Abbass, we share a surprisingly serious and deep conversation about intimate relationships. After 22 years of being together, we continue to refine and define our partnership, and we share the details of our winning formula. As a witness to our relationship, and a participant within the …

1
Unveiling the Truth about Self Harm 28:32

2y ago28:32

28:32

In this moving and emotional episode, Sophia and I have a very real conversation about the prevalence of self-harm (TW). We want to be clear that we discuss this topic in it's broadest sense, not by what is presented in the DSM-5, which describes self-harm as: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), is defined as the deliberate, self-inflicted destruction …

1
Musicians, Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo, on success in the industry and in parenting. 1:01:13

2+ y ago1:01:13

1:01:13

In this exciting SPARK episode, we chat with the one of a kind duo, singer/songwriter Meaghan Smith and her producer husBAND, Jason Mingo. It's fascinating to hear about them starting out, living and working in LA with the likes of renowned producer Greg Kurstin (who also worked with Pink and Tegan), and how Jason found inspiration in his modest re…

1
How to Think Big and Pursue Your Deepest Dreams 35:37

2+ y ago35:37

35:37

In this moving and frankly, inspiring conversation, this mother-daughter duo discusses the challenges and rewards involved in pursuing your own passions, even and especially when they lie outside of the cultural norm. This topic arose from Sophia's first big keynote speech that she did for the Mental Health Symposium in NB a few weeks ago (at the a…

1
Three Generations- A Mothers Day Special 43:17

2+ y ago43:17

43:17

In this very special Mother's Day episode, we chat with Emily Kierstead, my (Jenny's) mother, Sophia's grandmother and a woman who's lost three of her four children. The three generations discuss Mom's early years when she bravely left NB to attend theological college in Toronto, which women didn't commonly do back then, and how that experience sha…

1
The Courage To Change 34:51

2+ y ago34:51

34:51

In this beautiful conversation on the sometimes frightening yet necessary experience of change, we open with our stories of change and how important they were for our personal growth and alignment of our true path. We then reference and unpack the beloved Jewish, Austrian psychiatrist and nazi concentration camp survivor, Dr. Victor Frankl, who onc…

1
Into the Mind of a Teen- two conversations, a year apart. 45:07

2+ y ago45:07

45:07

In this crazy amazing episode, Sophia and her bestie, Mylene Cormier, share two different conversations, a year apart. The first one is when they were both 15 and the second one was recorded a year later. In these chats, they openly discuss friendship, motivation, body image issues, depression, anxiety and perfectionism and more. Despite their yout…

1
The three forbidden C’s: Conflict, Confrontation and Communication 25:32

2+ y ago25:32

25:32

In this episode, this mother-daughter duo discusses the uncomfortable, yet necessary topic of conflict and confrontation. Sophia starts us off with a quote from the Guardian: “Confrontation is the willingness to address difficult topics, while conflict is the willingness to engage in tense interpersonal relationships” We discuss our relationship wi…

1
The silent devastation of living with an eating disorder 35:07

2+ y ago35:07

35:07

Happy International Women's Day everyone! In this episode, we begin with the IWD mandate: Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that's diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women's equality. From there, we springboard into ou…

1
We're Back!....and Sophia took the Accutane Leap 30:13

2+ y ago30:13

30:13

They're back!!! After a short hiatus from podcasting, this mother-daughter duo comes back together to update you, our listeners, on their lives now. Sophia candidly shares about her struggle to come to the decision to take accutane, the hefty acne medication, and what it was like being on it. She bravely speaks about her experience with therapy and…

1
Beloved educator and member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community gets real- A convo with Colleen Shannon 1:14:40

3y ago1:14:40

1:14:40

In this podcast episode, Jenny and Sophia chat with beloved educator Colleen Shannon. Colleen is an extraordinary educator who commands a lot from her students and gives a lot in return. Sophia knows this well because she was taught by Colleen in grade 9. Colleen shares how yoga changed her perspective on what's possible in the classroom, which spu…

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This 14 year old sees dyslexia as a gift- A convo with Bella Rose 44:06

3y ago44:06

44:06

This very special episode, recorded on Mother's Day, is a candid conversation between hosts Jenny and Sophia AND Sophia's younger sister, Bella Rose. After a few minutes of awe inspiring details of Bella's cooking creations, Bella bravely shares about her dyslexia diagnosis. What for many would be a life changing setback, she's learned to view her …

1
Way of the Peaceful Warrior- with bestselling author Dan Millman 35:02

3+ y ago35:02

35:02

*Potential Sensitive Content Warning* We are thrilled to introduce Dan Millman, who’s been transforming humanity for over 40 years, with his dedicated work on personal development and human potential. Author of PEACEFUL HEART, WARRIOR SPIRIT: the True Story of my Spiritual Quest, Dan is a former world trampoline champion, Stanford University gymnas…

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The Olympic Dream- with 3x Olympian Karen Furneaux 49:38

3+ y ago49:38

49:38

In this episode, Sophia and Jenny share reflections on their public speaking to a school in NB, and have a good chuckle at Jenny’s rather intense approach to health and healing with grade eights. They discuss the training opportunities coming up with Women of Light and Girl on Fire Empowerment, and share some excitement about their upcoming visit t…

1
Life after Tragedy 37:14

3+ y ago37:14

37:14

As the Public Inquiry into the mass shooting of April 18-19th was approaching, the Mass Casualty Commission asked the public how the massacre has affected their lives? Sophia shares honestly about how unrecognizable she was right after the events. She withdrew from socialization for a year and a half and dealt with her feelings of hopelessness and …

1
A Bootlegger's Son - From Trauma to Resilience 59:44

3+ y ago59:44

59:44

In this episode, we interview my husband and Sophia's Dad, Blair Abbass. He's an award winning educator, therapist and mindfulness expert whose survived a trainwreck and many other close calls, leaving him convinced that there is a greater purpose to his life. Blair candidly shares the challenges he faced growing up with a Dad who lived with untrea…

1
Teen Success - with actress Simone Miller 23:41

3+ y ago23:41

23:41

What's it like to be a rising celebrity? In this episode, Jenny and Sophia chat with Simone Miller, an actor in shows such as CBC Detention Adventures and Run the Burbs. Sophia fell in love with Simone's debut single, Dry Eyes, that was featured in the CBC Searchlight competition. Sophia just had to know where this teen gets her drive and confidenc…

1
Q&A: Get to know your Mother-Daughter Duo! 36:51

3+ y ago36:51

36:51

In this episode, we start off with a Q&A so you can get to know us a little better…and with these high octane questions, that’s exactly what happens. We discuss our fears, our dreams, the blocks in the way and somehow, Jenny’s perfectionistic tendencies come into the light. We invite you to curate your own questions or use ours as a framework. Afte…

1
TRAILER 2:24

3+ y ago2:24

2:24

Welcome Everyone to SPARK, A Mother-Daughter Journey. This title just seems to fit with our vision because it ties in so well with the Girl on Fire Empowerment program that I (Jenny) wrote when Sophia was 8. But right now it’s really important to us because we're on a grief journey after losing my sister, and Sophia's Aunt, in the mass shooting her…

Sophia Rae And Jenny Kierstead Podcasts

1
SPARK, A Mother-Daughter Journey

Sophia Rae and Jenny Kierstead

1
Moving from loneliness to connection 30:00

1
Repair and Recovery: The key to lasting relationships 35:55

1
Let's talk about our red flags...ft Blair Abbass 35:55

1
Foster Healthy Relationships with the Law of Attraction 26:12

1
Summer 2023 Wrap up- Camp highlights, Epiphanies, Meeting the Prime Minister.... 41:42

1
Mini series: Let's chat about intimate relationships- an introduction 23:48

1
Unveiling the Truth about Self Harm 28:32

1
Musicians, Meaghan Smith and Jason Mingo, on success in the industry and in parenting. 1:01:13

1
How to Think Big and Pursue Your Deepest Dreams 35:37

1
Three Generations- A Mothers Day Special 43:17

1
The Courage To Change 34:51

1
Into the Mind of a Teen- two conversations, a year apart. 45:07

1
The three forbidden C’s: Conflict, Confrontation and Communication 25:32

1
The silent devastation of living with an eating disorder 35:07

1
We're Back!....and Sophia took the Accutane Leap 30:13

1
Beloved educator and member of the 2SLGBTQ+ community gets real- A convo with Colleen Shannon 1:14:40

1
This 14 year old sees dyslexia as a gift- A convo with Bella Rose 44:06

1
Way of the Peaceful Warrior- with bestselling author Dan Millman 35:02

1
The Olympic Dream- with 3x Olympian Karen Furneaux 49:38

1
Life after Tragedy 37:14

1
A Bootlegger's Son - From Trauma to Resilience 59:44

1
Teen Success - with actress Simone Miller 23:41

1
Q&A: Get to know your Mother-Daughter Duo! 36:51

1
TRAILER 2:24