The Human Challenge

Vanessa Ferlaino

Hosted and produced by multi-award-winning author, artist, and activist, Vanessa Ferlaino, The Human Challenge combines topical issues, interviews, wellbeing, and human-interest stories to break down barriers and reinvigorate humanity. Airing exclusively on Youtube, explore the human challenges in today’s world, the challenges of being human, and how we can challenge ourselves to be more human for the greater good. Catch the replay on Youtube or on-demand on all major podcast sites.

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Episodes

Ep 30 Impact in Media / Chief Impact Officer at Waterbear
03-05-2024
Ep 30 Impact in Media / Chief Impact Officer at Waterbear
Have you ever felt so passionate about a cause that it made you swim the English channel?Well, Poppy Mason-Watts, Chief Growth and Impact Officer of WaterBear, has! What is WaterBear? It is more than a streaming platform; it is a community! WaterBear is the home of captivating films and thought-provoking series that empower you to lead a meaningful life. You can watch this powerful social good content for free (always!) and without ads.Poppy joins The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" and shares all about WaterBear's impact in diversity, film, media, and technology from both their content and business operations; their first time at Sundance.Poppy also gets personal, divulging the challenges of being a woman in tech, media, and impact; the project that inspired her to swim the English channel to bring awareness to refugees; and some of her other favourite female protagonistShe is most excited about the upcoming series from United Nations Women called “Unsilenced” - a docu-series (3x20') about gender based violence that will be exclusively released on WaterBear!Be welcome to review the trailer about Unsilenced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNLvecL6vVkLearn more about Waterbear here: https://www.waterbear.com/Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com and Poppy at https://www.linkedin.com/in/poppy-mason-watts-b7753219/Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 27 Period Equity in Remote Communities with Nicole White / Moontime Connections
04-04-2024
Ep 27 Period Equity in Remote Communities with Nicole White / Moontime Connections
Nicole White, founder of Moontime Connections, joined Vanessa on "The Human Challenge", an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023" to talk about period inequities in the remote communities. Moontime Connections, along with their partner True North Aid, collects and distributes period products for women in remote communities across Canada.Nicole also talks about their new research, completed in partnership with the Department of Psychology at the University of Saskatchewan, a first-of-its-kind study offers vital and much-needed insights into menstrual-related needs in remote northern communities as well as the experiences of Indigenous menstruators. Moon Time Connections (MTC), with the help of USask and Dr. Karen Lawson (PhD, Professor and Head) and Adriana Cashwell (Masters student researcher) of the Department of Psychology and Health Studies, surveyed menstruators 15 years old and over in remote northern communities across the country to collect data on the experiences of menstruators in the north, and generate a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by these communities.Key among the findings is the glaring stat that 74% of Indigenous respondents living in remote communities and 55% of Indigenous respondents living in non-remote communities “often” or “sometimes” have issues accessing menstrual products. Read the report here.Moontime Connections is the first charity partner of "The BeHuman Collective: a mindfulness circle", a donation-based mindfulness program led by Vanessa Ferlaino, part of The Being Human Foundation.Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.comWatch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featuredw grace Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 26 JUNO 2024 nominee Jah'Mila and her reggae roots: from Jamaica to Atlantic Canada
21-03-2024
Ep 26 JUNO 2024 nominee Jah'Mila and her reggae roots: from Jamaica to Atlantic Canada
This week on The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa Ferlaino sits down with JUNO nominee for "Reggae Recording of the Year 2024", Jah'Mila.In this episode, Jah'Mila shares her journey from Kingston, Jamaica to Halifax, Nova Scotia, touching on her religious and cultural influences in all aspects of her life, from her music to her own personal philosophies. She also talks about balance between her artist world and corporate world, offering a unique perspective on how the two spheres are more blended than we realize.Jah'Mila is a reggae singer originally from Kingston, Jamaica, now based in Atlantic Canada. She blends traditional Jamaican roots reggae with jazz and modern soul. She has shared the stages with renowned reggae musicians like The Wailers, Black Uhuru, and Groundation. Her award-winning debut album "Roots Girl" was released in November 2022, focusing on reggae soul with a message of social justice. She has worked with various institutions and special projects, including the National Arts Centre, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Nova Scotia, and more.Tune in to the JUNO's on CBC Saturday March 23rd and Sunday March 24th to catch Jah'Mila live! Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com or Jah'Mila at https://www.jahmilamusic.com/or https://www.instagram.com/jahmilasings/?hl=enWatch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 25 Stripping down society and economics for justice with Victor Beausoleil, Executive Director of SETSI
05-03-2024
Ep 25 Stripping down society and economics for justice with Victor Beausoleil, Executive Director of SETSI
Vanessa co-hosts episode 25 of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, with Victor Beausoleil, Executive Director of SETSI, in their first co-branded episode.Vanessa and Victor talk about shining light cross-sectionally in society from capital flow, equitable communities, the relationship between values and what is considered valuable, and framing what prosperity and abundances from looks like from a colonial, capitalistic, and imperialistic lens.They talk about historical context around money, economy, settler colonialism, and gratitude, compassion, mercy, etc, -- topics that are often not talked about together. Moving into a final discussion around survival of civilization, they weave in spiritual concepts and practices, including Buddhism, knowledge of Self, cultural imperatives, across current events and other social dynamics."The moral arc of the universe bends towards justice," says Victor, quoting MLK, and its ties to equity, and hopes for humanity. "There is no way we came this far to come this far; there will be the point where the right people come together in the right circumstances to defeat the things that have been holding us back for centuries, which are not just people, but an ideal of hoarding."How can we embody our intentions to bring civilization and humanity together? The Social Economy through Social Inclusion (SETSI) model aims to tell a story, change minds, shift perspectives, and grow communities. Our coalition was developed as a response to some of the emerging trends and challenges we have collectively witnessed in the social economy, social finance, impact investing and cooperative ecosystems. We are a broad coalition of young executives, social entrepreneurs, community organizers, economists, researchers, lawyers, and social justice advocates.The Being Human Foundation is a 501c3 in Los Angeles, founded by Vanessa Ferlaino, combining mindfulness, arts/culture, and community engagement to create a more "human" world. Visit vanessaferlaino.com/thebeinghumanfoundation to learn more.Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com or Victor on LinkedIn or www.setsi.ca.Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 25 Purposeful chocolate with Kristyn Carriere, founder of Seven Summit Snacks
27-02-2024
Ep 25 Purposeful chocolate with Kristyn Carriere, founder of Seven Summit Snacks
In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa speaks to Co-founder and Chocolate Scientist of Seven Summit Snacks, Kristyn Carriere.Getting ready for International Women's Month, Kristyn shares the 4 year journey of Seven Summit Snacks and their NEW FLAVOURS; what it's like to start a business with your sister and partner; and navigating starting a business, while starting a family.Learn about the science of chocolate for both endurance athletes (like Kristyn, who is heading off to Japan for business and to "squeeze in" the Tokyo Marathon, and her sister and co-founder Leanna, who is training for a 30K bike ride to raise awareness for bird migration) and regular every day people like Vanessa who just need to get past that "afternoon low" :) And if you haven’t yet pre-ordered your NEW flavours (Dark Chocolate Espresso Vanilla and Dark Chocolate Mint), now is the chance to get on the list! Backers will receive their new flavours before they are released in-stores, so this truly is an exclusive product drop! Pre-order now! https://igg.me/at/Z6bSa1nNDYI/x/36693073#/Be welcome to follow 7 Summits Snacks at:https://sevensummitssnacks.com/https://www.instagram.com/7summitssnacks/https://www.facebook.com/7SummitsSnacks/be welcome to follow Kristyn on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyncarriere/be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.comWatch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 24 Grammy-nominated artist, Valerie June, bestselling author of "Light Beams"
20-02-2024
Ep 24 Grammy-nominated artist, Valerie June, bestselling author of "Light Beams"
"When you can live in the outer world, but also marry that with the inner world, than you're a new space, a new world."These are the wise words of Grammy-nominated artist, Valerie June, hailed by the New York Times as one of America's "most intriguing, fully formed new talents". Hailing from Tennessee, Valerie is a musician, songwriter, poet, illustrator, and author, who honourably served as a "Turnaround Artist" working with students for the President's Committee for the Arts and Humanities, and continues serving through The Kennedy Center. She has recorded three critically claimed best selling solo albums and has also written songs for legendary artists such as Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama. She just published "Light Beams" an interactive workbook that builds upon themes of mindfulness and authentic connection presented in her debut poetry collection, Maps of the Modern World. Be inspired to choose a path of kindness and love in every moment, every dark day, on every page. In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, Valerie offers invaluable insights around "radical imagination" and its power to create a new humanity. Touching on her new book, "Light Beams: A Workbook For Being Your Badass Self", she shares how we can harness both softness and hardness in our light, the light of the spirit that we embody, and the lightness to just being a human, and standing and speaking in your truth, in your power. Lastly, we learn how the practice of staying grounded contributes to what she calls "Joy Activism", bringing people together to have constructive spaces for disagreement, with R-E-S-P-E-C-T (like Aretha Franklin says!), and to do so mindfully."We have to be alchemists," she says. "We have that power."Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com, and Valerie June @thevaleriejune on Instagram or https://www.valeriejune.com/.Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 23 90MIN SPECIAL FEATURE with Moroccan/Yemeni singer AŸA
08-02-2024
Ep 23 90MIN SPECIAL FEATURE with Moroccan/Yemeni singer AŸA
AŸA's story is one unlike any other.As a Moroccan/Yemeni "Arab&B" artist growing up in Israel-Palestine, AŸA, who describes her childhood like "being a nomad", faced family trauma, abuse, mandatory military service, and assault, all before the age of 20, when finally, she found herself the runner-up of a music competition.In a true moment of synchronicity, after headlining a show for a shelter who once supported her, she was offered an opportunity in Berlin -- and has not look backed since!She shares how she found inner peace in Berlin, flourished as an artist, and continues to heal, including how, having served her mandatory time on the Israeli army as a singer to entertain the soldiers, the recent aggression since Oct 7th has allowed her to heal her own family trauma as she slowly learns of her own Palestinian roots. Being in the middle of both offers a balanced perspective; she believes healing on both sides is crucial for peace.Vanessa is honoured to hold space with AŸA in this 90min special feature episode, learning in this authentic discussion how AŸA still copes with the long-term ramifications of abuse; how she finds peace with family friction; and how her artistry is influenced by her unfolding culture -- and of course how this all relates to her new single, "Greenlight".Don't miss her upcoming PIANO + STRINGS show in Berlin on Feb 8th and 9th! RSVP at https://framed.berlin/events/framed-80-aya-einat-dan/And her new single "Greenlight" drops Feb 9th on all major platforms!The Human Challenge was an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" in 2023.Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com; and AŸA at @aya.loveyou on Instagram or https://www.ayasmusic.com/Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 22 Worldviews + Climate Justice / Osprey Orielle Lake
02-02-2024
Ep 22 Worldviews + Climate Justice / Osprey Orielle Lake
In this episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier 2023", Vanessa speaks to author, speaker, and activist, Osprey Orielle Lake.Osprey Orielle Lake is the Founder and executive director of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey writes about climate justice, relationships with nature, women in leadership, and other topics as featured in The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, Ms. Magazine and J U S T released her new book with New Society Publishers, "The Story Is In Our Bones" on Jan 30th 2024.In this episode, Orielle tells us about patriarchy, colonialism, the shift to matriarchy, the power of women, the ties between gender-based violence and climate justice, and closed this discussion with its relevance to what we are witnessing in Gaza today.Vanessa says Osprey's "The Story is in Our Bone" reads like a documentary. Weaving in her own experiences & explorations, historical context, and cultural learnings, Osprey offers readers an opportunity to reflect on our own healing within the realms of worldviews, the limitations of current dominant culture, and through the interconnectivity of many social injustices. Ultimately, she invites us inward for the sake of collective healing and the purpose to remake our world."The Story is in Our Bones is available where all books are sold.Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.com Watch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 20 Wings of Survival / Leanna Carriere and Timm Dobert
18-12-2023
Ep 20 Wings of Survival / Leanna Carriere and Timm Dobert
In June 2024, ecologist Dr. Timm Döbert and endurance athlete Leanna Carriere (Canada's first female Decathlete and co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks) will embark on a pioneering 30,000km self-powered expedition across the Americas. Following the westernmost migratory bird flyway, their journey aims to highlight the biodiversity crisis and inspire environmental conservation efforts.We celebrate the 20th episode of The Human Challenge, an Amazon Music x ACAST "Indie Podcast Amplifier" 2023, with both Leanna and Timm, who share their fascinating journeys that crossover between extreme athletics and ecology. We will learn about migratory birds, flyways, and "citizen science", and how their expedition, "Wings of Survival", sponsored by TREK (amongst many others), came to be.More about Leanna and Timm:Leanna Carriere is an endurance athlete, personal trainer and entrepreneur. For nearly a decade, she competed internationally in women’s pole vault and is recognised as Canada’s first female decathlete. Since shifting to endurance sports, she has completed several Ironman events, the Mt. Everest Marathon and the Patagonman Xtreme triathlon. She is the co-founder of Edmonton-based chocolate company 7 Summits Snacks. Leanna has been featured in various podcasts, news articles, radio and TV. As a motivational speaker, she advocates for the deep connection between human and planetary health. She loves exploring the outdoors with her 6-year-old daughter Adalynn.Dr. Timm Döbert is an explorer with a PhD in global change ecology. He researches the human footprint on wildlife and wild spaces from tropical to temperate biomes. His life across continents culminated in a five-year immersion into Southeast Asia’s tropical forests. He communicates science through books, scientific journals, magazines, newspapers, podcasts, radio and more. An avid wildlife photographer, he has photographed over 700 animal species, many rare and threatened. Explorers Club membership and a meeting with Sir David Attenborough are personal highlights. His athletic resume includes several university rowing titles and completion of the Patagonman Xtreme triathlon.Be welcome to support Wings of Survival here and @wingsofsurvival on Instagram; follow Leanna Carriere on Instagram @leannacarriere and Timm on Instagram at @10milionreasons.Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.comWatch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep 16 Accessible Mental Health Services / Jackie Lamoureux / Summits for Serotonin
03-12-2023
Ep 16 Accessible Mental Health Services / Jackie Lamoureux / Summits for Serotonin
A deep and honest discussion with Jackie Lamoureux, CEO/Founder of Summits for Serotonin, founded after her own peace-making journey with the help of nature -- specifically the mountains. Realizing nature isn't always accessible with all of the equipment and gear needed, Jackie sought to change that through her non-profit.We discuss how nature supports us in times of emotional turmoil, the persistence of acceptance, the challenges of society with mental health, and ofc, Jackie's ambitious undertaking of the Explorers Grand Slam -- an adventurers challenge to reach the North Pole, the South Pole and all of the Seven Summits (no big deal) to raise awareness for her cause."Jackie, I am grateful for your openness and authenticity in our discussion; may you inspire all of us to live in this openness for the betterment of ourselves, individually, as well as for each other as a collective, in society. " -- Vanessa Ferlaino** pls be invited to watch/listen with care, mindful of sensitive subject matter including suicidal thoughts, depression, and sexual assault ** we graciously offer the below services for any support [via Summits for Seratonin] If you're in immediate danger or need urgent medical support, call 911.If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, call Talk Suicide Canada at 1-833-456-4566. Support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. For residents of Quebec, call 1-866-277-3553 (24/7) or visit suicide.ca/enBe welcome to stay in touch with Jackie on Instagram @jackie.summits or https://www.summitsforserotonin.org/Be invited to stay in touch with Vanessa on Instagram @vanessaferlaino or vanessaferlaino.comWatch this full episode on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@vanessaferlaino/featured Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.