Digging In With Allison Dore

Fashion designer Izzy Camilleri joins me to talk about the many MANY obstacles she has overcome in her career, the book that changed her life, and the new direction she is going in now. Her new book Izzy's Eating Plan is about how she came to terms with food, and a simple plan for eating healthy. Please check out her website izzycamilleri.com and see her beautiful designs and collections over the years.  I really hop Izzy will come back on the show, as I really feel there is much more to talk about with her!

Quite some time ago, Courtney Gilmour made a post about a book she said changed her life. Intrigued, I read the book. It changed my life. In this episode we come together and discuss it. The book, you will probably be unsurprised to hear, is You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero.  I know, I know, I've mentioned it a lot, but Courtney and I talk specifics about how it has affected us, and improved our lives. And it is not the only thing we talk about! We also have a very important conversation about how to approach visibly different or impaired people. Even the most well meaning of people can sometimes be accidentally offensive. Oh, and we discuss wether or not God can make hands grow back.  Courtney is a hilarious comedian, you can check her out on YouTube or follow her on Twitter @courtgilmour

In 2015 I had the chance to interview Judy and Dennis Shephard, parents of Matthew Shephard and founders of the Matthew Shephard Foundation. They were in Toronto to receive the International Icon Award from the Inspire Awards, and we talked about how they created a legacy for their son after his brutal murder. This amazing couple tells me about why we all need to support kids, how a hug from Judy can change a kid's life, and how we could all do better. Find out more at www.matthewshepard.org and follow on Twitter and Instagram @mattshepardfdn

Rob Pue is a very funny comedian. He is also an angry man. I've always wondered where that anger comes from, and how he thinks about it and lives with it. So I finally just asked. This conversation was a challenge for both of us, but I think a great conversation comes out of it.  Rob's album Puegilist is available on iTunes, and you can follow him on Twitter @robpue_

Micah Barnes is not only a former Nylon and current world renowned jazz musician, but also just a really fun, lovely human being. In this conversation we find out we have the same drug of choice, and talk the different tools we used to quit doing drugs. Micah talks about his unconventional childhood, being the kind of artist he wants to be, and how being positive can change your life. You can find out more about Micah on his website micahbarnes.com, follow him on Twitter @micahbarnes, or Facebook micahbarnesmusic. His latest album, New York Stories is available anywhere music is sold!

What happens when you have TWO really hard to achieve dreams? Well if you have the drive and focus of Jeff "Boomer" Phillips - you become a firefighter and an actor. Boomer is one of the happiest, hardest working people I know and no matter what the people surrounding him said, he knew if he had the vision he could make it come true. He has a great attitude about failure and learning, and we have a lovely chat. In it he mentions a speech by Arnold Schwartzenegger and here is the link as promised: Speech link. You can follow Boomer on twitter @Boomer_Phillips

Kate Drummond left a secure job and home to take a chance on becoming an actor...in her mid 30's. Against all odds she has carved out a lovely career, after dealing with set backs and self doubt, and continues to chase her truth. She is a truly GOOD human being, always looking to be of service to the world and her fellow man. You can not get to know Kate without completely falling in love with her, so enjoy the fall! You can follow Kate on Twitter@KateDrummond_

Comedian, motivational speaker, crafty lady and super mom Lori Gibbs joins me for a lovely and often emotional conversation about planting seeds of goodness now that will blossom in your life later, the ripple effect of good deeds, and how to top up your sparkle bank when you just aren't feeling sparkly. Lori is candid about her depression and anxiety, and what it means - both mentally and physically - to lose 120 pounds. You can follow Lori on Twitter @lorigibbs and check out her website lorigibbs.ca

Interior designer, artist, and human ball of joy Tiffany Pratt joins me to talk about personal style, the paper bag on your energy ball, and why she's basically a hokey ass hippy. "If you are not feeling joy, you're not on the path." a great quote from Tiffany in this conversation about giving to the world, and living the life creative. Tiffany has a beautiful books of DIY projects called This Can Be Beautiful. She can also be seen on the HGTV show Home To Win, or you can check out her website tiffanypratt.com.    

Tad Milmine is a police officer in Calgary, Alberta, and is the founder of www.bullyingendshere.ca He began going and speaking to kids after being profoundly affected by the suicide of teen Jamie Hubley - a boy he had never met, but whose story he could relate to. Tad goes to schools all over Canada to share his difficult childhood and let kids know there is support out there. He has written a book about his life, called Bullying Ends Here: My Life, a great read about overcoming hardship and being a positive and productive adult. This is the fifth time I have interviewed Tad, and he just gets more interesting. You can follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

Avi Federgreen is an independent film producer and distributor, who just produced his 50th film. He is also refreshingly honest and candid about the struggles in his life including a childhood spent being bullied, a suicide attempt and lifelong depression. It is an amazing conversation.  A couple of years ago Avi decided to expand into music as well, starting the indie label Indiecan Records to help up and coming musicians get a boost in the industry. To find out more about Avi and his films check out his website federgreenentertainment.com and follow him on Twitter.

HE'S BACK! Jay Brody is here and has even more amazing stories to tell! Well, first we actually dig in with me a bit; on the day we recorded this episode I was a little bit blue about love and Jay counsels me out of it. We talk about Jay's new old relationship, growing up with a father addicted to drugs, and coming to terms with a new step dad. You can hear Jay on his podcast The Dumb Show with Roddy Colmer, and follow him on Twitter @thejaybrody

Author. Comedian. Brick wall. Ward Anderson and I talk together for 3 hours a day, Monday to Friday, and yet he's a hard guy to get to know. We talk about how walls get built up in a life, and how hard it can be to tear them down. And why it might be worth it. You can hear Ward on Ward and Al, SiriusXM 167, Monday to Friday, 1-4pm ET. You can buy his novels here and here, and follow him on Twitter here.

Comedian Dave Hemstad and I have our first real conversation! Is he an Alpha Male? Is American college like it seems in the movies? DO WE BOTH ALMOST CRY IN THIS INTERVIEW? Listen to find out! You can learn more about Dave at his website www.davehemstad.com and you can follow him on Twitter@davehemstad

Arthur Simeon is not only a hilarious comedian (you can buy his album Born & Raised here), but he is also one of my favourite people to talk to. In this episode we talk about moving to another country alone when you are 17, why you should be suspicious of your charity, the catholic church, and why his mom sometimes needs him to be "a little LESS Arthur". Check him out on all the social meeds @ArthurSimeon.

Motivational speaker, author, and comedian - does happily married, mother of 3 Kate Davis have it all? Well, probably not. But she has figured a few things out: why you need to work on yourself, getting over your ego, and having a good time.  She cowrites and costars in the web series Best Before, and you can follow her on Twitter @katedaviscomic or on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=636525650.

Host, band member, and all round music expert Gina K. joins me to talk about changing your life, energy in the universe, and so much more! Gina hosts her own podcast Radio Somewhere, where she talks a lot about the Canadian music scene, but also anything that she finds interesting. You can check out her band Altered By Mom, or follow her on Twitter @gnakennedy and follow her podcast @somewhereradio

Comedian Shawn Hogan also happens to be my roommate! We happened to get really into self improvement and designing your life around the same time, and so have a lot to talk about when it comes to changing your life. Shawn in particular has done a lot of work on himself in the last few years. We talk about admitting to yourself when you have a problem, learning to ask for help, how to gather the tools you need to become the person you want to be. We also talk about how you will FOR SURE fall down. You just gotta make sure you get back up again. You can follow Shawn on Twitter @shogancomedy

Arlene Bynon is the host of The Arlene Bynon Show from 4-6pm ET on SiriusXM channel 167, Canada Talks, and then from 6-7pm she hosts #Politics. As a well known journalist, Arlene has done it all in the broadcast world - including hosting and producing her own award winning television show - but always seems to find her way home to radio. Not surprising since she has one of the best voices in the business. We talk about some of her most memorable interviews, standing your ground in the broadcasting world, and doing what you love. We discuss one interview that had always stayed with her, and could remember the name of the book written about it - that book is On South Mountain by David Cruise and Alison Griffiths. It is a very disturbing true story. I discovered through this conversation that Arlene and I have much more in common than I thought, and that the woman who presents us with stories of what's happening in the world has stories of her own to tell. You can follow her on Twitter and Facebook @ArleneBynonS

This episode starts with the legend of how I met comedian Matt Davis, but then shifts to more honest topics of conversation. Matt is one of the smartest people I know, and knows too much about too much, so clearly he's going to have to come back next time he's in town. We talk life with chronic pain, religions, philosophies, the mystery of why Pythagorus avoided beans, and so much more! Matt has technically been homeless for a year as he's been travelling the world telling jokes with nothing but a carry on bag. You can see more about his travels at his website World In Jest and you can follow him on twitter @MattDavis or find him on Facebook @ComedianMattDavis