The Flourish Feed Podcast

Gillian Stovel Rivers
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A series of curiosity driven deep dives into the nature of flourishing through wealth.

  1. #32 - The Science of Her

    4 DAYS AGO

    #32 - The Science of Her

    What if the science guiding our health - our training, nutrition, even longevity - was built on incomplete data? In this powerful and eye-opening conversation, I sit down with world-renowned muscle physiologist Dr. Stuart Phillips to unpack a truth that is reshaping modern health science: for decades, research has largely been built around male physiology, leaving critical gaps in how we understand women’s bodies, especially through menopause and aging. Key Topics: 🏋️‍♀️Why women were historically excluded from research and how that shaped today’s health narratives 🧬The overlooked importance of muscle as a longevity asset, not just a performance metric 🏋️‍♀️What really matters for aging well: resistance training, recovery, and protein (in that order) 🧬The misunderstood relationship between exercise, hormones, and the menopausal transition 🏋️‍♀️Why “under-recovering” may be the real epidemic behind burnout culture 🧬The truth about protein: what works, what’s hype, and what most people get wrong 🏋️‍♀️How to navigate a world flooded with health misinformation and what scientific literacy really means now 🧬The role of AI in advancing research, reducing busy work, and elevating human potential Quotes: • “The system is clearly one that’s derived… it’s a patriarchal system… built around men.” • “Why are we not studying more women… why can’t we do a better job?” • “If men had to go through that, we’d have commissioned an international task force and it would have been done by lunch.” • “Bar none… the foundational behavior would be to be physically active.” • “Muscle pulls on a tendon, tendon pulls on a bone… bone is a mechanically responsive tissue.” • “All the good stuff actually happens in recovery.” • “I could call it overtraining… or I could call it under-recovering—and it’s the same thing.” • “Exercise is what bakes the cake… protein is the thin layer of icing on top.” • “It’s really, really difficult… the algorithm rewards bold headlines, not necessarily truth.” • "Connective tissue remodeling is a future moonshot." • "Trust how you feel, not just wearable data." Chapters: 00:00 The Evolution of Science and Women's Health 03:02 Understanding Muscle Health and Aging 05:55 The Impact of Menopause on Women's Health 08:50 The Importance of Resistance Training 11:53 The Role of Community in Fitness 14:56 Investing in Health: The Compound Interest of Fitness 17:57 The Connection Between Muscle and Bone Health 20:57 Recovery: The Key to Effective Training 27:04 The Importance of Sleep and Recovery 32:40 Understanding Protein Needs and Gender Differences 39:51 Training Around the Menstrual Cycle 41:43 Navigating Information in the Digital Age 47:09 The Role of AI in Academic and Research Settings Learn more about Stuart and his work! McMaster University Profile Twitter / X  Instagram  Women on Weights Program and more by Alysha D'Souza #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    53 min
  2. #31 - The Economics of Ability

    30 APR

    #31 - The Economics of Ability

    In this episode, Christine Brunsden shares her innovative approach to creating an integrated system she calls an Ability Ecosystem that connects policy, technology, finance, and social services to empower individuals with disabilities. Her platform called Benefits2 aims to transform fragmented systems into seamless, accessible support networks, ultimately fostering a society where ability diversity drives innovation and inclusion. If today’s conversation resonated with you, Christine is building the infrastructure the disability community was never given. Join the waiting list here. Takeaways: 🪴Personal and professional experiences shaping a vision for an ability ecosystem 🧬The fragmentation of disability support systems in healthcare, finance, and government 🪴Challenges families face navigating complex bureaucratic processes 🧬The importance of early data collection and medical record management 🪴How AI can revolutionize understanding and access to benefits 🧬The staggering $15 billion unclaimed Disability Tax Credit (DTC) annually 🪴Barriers created by misconceptions and gatekeeping within medical systems 🧬The potential of the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP) for long-term financial stability 🪴The role of advocacy, community, and technology in closing gaps for disabled populations Quotes: “We all feel like we’re in a camouflage maze, hunting for hidden doors and keys.” “Chance is not going to fix this. It’s not just inclusion. It’s system redesign.” “Experience intelligence is lived experience plus professional experience plus contextual understanding.” “Why are we leaving it up to chance to connect the dots?” “We need to start taking agency over our own medical records from day one.” “There are 200+ benefits, and no one is guiding people to them.” “Fifteen billion dollars a year is left unclaimed - just from one credit.” “Gatekeepers, often unintentionally, keep people away from the support they need.” “I don’t feel like this is work I chose - I feel like it chose me.” Chapters: 00:00 - Introducing the need to rethink system design for disability inclusion 02:16 - Christine’s background and motivation rooted in personal experience 03:04 - Signals indicating systems weren't designed for people with disabilities 04:31 - Navigating fragmentation: The maze of benefits, forms, and programs 10:40 - The challenge of uncoordinated EMR systems and need for early agency 12:26 - The transition from childhood to adulthood and medical record continuity 15:23 - How CRA’s medical record requests complicate benefit access 16:51 - The importance of medical record management from day one 19:13 - The enormous unclaimed benefits: $15 billion in DTC alone 20:23 - The gap in healthcare professional knowledge about disability benefits 21:17 - The negligible training hours on disability criteria for medical professionals 22:40 - The impact of barriers on everyday expenses and quality of life 23:50 - Economic multiplier effects of unlocking unclaimed benefits 24:34 - The societal benefits of enabling access and reducing gatekeeping 26:04 - Misconceptions among doctors about disability and eligibility 27:14 - The critical role of early diagnosis, records, advocacy in financial planning 30:48 - The untapped potential of AI in identifying eligibility through medical data 32:39 - Harnessing AI for clarity, access, and advocacy in medical records 34:48 - Addressing the we Send TFFP your thoughts!

    42 min
  3. #30 - The Power of Knowing Your Numbers

    23 APR

    #30 - The Power of Knowing Your Numbers

    In this episode, Gillian interviews Kristine Beese, founder and CEO of Untangle Money, explores how emotional clarity around money can unlock time, energy, and attention, leading to a more flourishing life. She discusses gendered financial equity, the emotional triggers of money, and practical tools for women to improve their financial confidence. What’s fascinating that came out of this conversation is the extent to which financial planning tools, investment solutions and traditional savings trajectories completely miss the oscillating nature of the typical woman’s earning pattern. As a result of time away from earning to bear and raise children, and or care for parents and family members, there is an additional “tax” on women’s ability to create financial freedom in addition to the existing pay equity gap.  This is an excellent episode to gather valuable intel to help women assess and create systems to start working around this reality instead of wondering why the journey to wealth independence seems stacked against.  Key Topics 😌Emotional triggers of money and their impact 💰Gendered financial experiences and systemic biases 😌Practical tools for financial confidence and planning 💰The role of side hustles in wealth building 😌The potential of AI to personalize financial advice Quotes  • “There’s so much going on before you’ve even looked at the numbers that money becomes triggering.” • “Women have a different financial lived experience, and the tools weren’t designed for that.” • “If the algorithm assumes money you’ll never earn, the plan is going to fail you slowly.” • “The biggest competitor we have is doing nothing—avoiding looking at the money.” • “Avoidance eats up time, creates anxiety, and turns money into something bigger than it is.” • “Once people actually look at their numbers and understand them, everything starts to change.” • “We don’t tell people what to do—we show them the trade-offs so they can decide.” • “Most people are doing really great—they just haven’t been given the tools to see it.” • “When you feel calm and clear about money, you improve all the other areas of your life.” Chapters 00:00 Money and Emotional Well-being 00:58 Introducing Christine Beze and Untangle Money 02:08 Why Money Triggers Emotions and Stories 03:19 Gendered Financial Experiences and Biases 05:37 Designing Financial Tools for Women 06:09 Life Stages and Financial Data Points 07:37 Women’s Career and Earnings Patterns 09:08 Pay Gaps in Male-Dominated Fields 10:46 Societal Value and Early Money Lessons 11:42 How Untangle Money Works 16:12 Iterative Process and Confidence Building 20:14 The Power of Writing Down Numbers 21:08 Outsourcing Trust and the Google Effect 22:06 Side Hustles as Wealth Building Tools 27:14 Self-Sabotage and Avoidance in Finances 30:00 Changing Perspectives on Housing and Lifestyle 35:43 The Role of Self-awareness and Embodiment 38:12 Values, Trade-offs, and Joy in Spending 40:18 The Future of AI in Financial Planning Check out Kristine’s work! Untangle Money - https://untangle.money  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinebeese/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristine.beese/  #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    42 min
  4. #29 - The Ecosystem of Excellence

    16 APR

    #29 - The Ecosystem of Excellence

    This conversation with David Clancy explores how elite sports systems can be redesigned to foster human flourishing, sustainability, and collective flow. We discuss signals of high-performance environments, trust, leadership, and the potential for sports to serve as laboratories for cultural change beyond the stadium. David is a good friend of mine from Dublin, Ireland, with a long history of work, knowledge and development at the nexus of sport, positive psychology and flow. His experience improving the ecosystems of excellence for Premiere League soccer teams, NHL, NFL, NBA and numerous other sports gives him a unique perspective on what it takes for teams to thrive, and his views on how to shift athletes from being seen as “assets” to being treated as valued humans is both refreshing and insightful. Key Topics ⚽Signals of high-performance environments ⭐Trust and leadership in sports teams ⚽Sustainable athlete development and well-being Quotes "All the small things say all the big things" "Energy and attention are interconnected" "Scale with strong systems and routines" “High performance environments aren’t built on intensity alone - they’re built on clarity, trust, and sustainable energy.” “The second you walk into a team, you can feel it - alignment or ambiguity lives in the air.” “All the small things say all the big things. No small thing is ever a small thing in a great culture.” “Where attention goes, energy flows - and ultimately, performance follows.” “Most systems in sport are built to extract performance, not to sustain the human producing it.” “If you want long-term success, stop treating athletes like assets and start treating them like ecosystems.” “The best teams don’t eliminate pressure - they create safety inside of it.” “Clarity and communication come before collaboration. If you miss those, everything else fractures.” “Scaling performance isn’t about adding more people - it’s about tightening systems and repeating what works.” Chapters 00:00 The Influence of Professional Sport on Human Development 02:42 David Clancy: A Catalyst for Change in Sports 06:10 Assessing Team Environments: Signals of Performance 10:46 Transforming Athlete Well-being: A Systemic Approach 15:56 Sustainable Models in Sports: Long-term Success vs. Short-term Gains 19:13 Collective Flow: The Power of Team Cohesion 22:17 Leadership and Its Impact on Team Dynamics 25:39 Mapping Energy and Trust in Teams 26:59 Understanding PERMA: A Framework for Well-Being 28:20 The Intersection of Energy and Attention 31:58 Protecting Cognitive Bandwidth in Teams 37:27 Creating Change at Scale in Professional Sports 40:33 The Need for Well-Being Standards in Sports 45:46 Leveraging AI for Enhanced Performance Check out David’s work and other sources discussed! The Nxt Level Group LinkedIn Harvard Study of Adult Development Amy Edmondson's Psychological Safety PERMA Model by Martin Seligman Reid Hoffman's Masters of Scale Podcast  #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    49 min
  5. #28 - The Architecture of Human Connection

    9 APR

    #28 - The Architecture of Human Connection

    Explore how intentional gatherings around food and shared experiences can restore human connection, with insights from Brady Lowe, a visionary hospitality entrepreneur. Discover the power of food as a technology for trust, the importance of relationship networks, and innovative approaches to sustainability and AI in event design. This is a fun, engaging and incredibly insightful conversation about the ancient technology of breaking bread, and how the answer to deeper social connections in your world are literally on your front porch and your backyard.  Key Topics 🥘The role of food and shared experiences in building trust 🫶Brady Lowe's journey and innovations in hospitality 🥘The concept of the 'red thread' in event design 🫶Relationship equity and network building in the food ecosystem 🥘Sustainable practices and the future of experiential marketing Quotes “Food tastes better when you know where it’s from.” “The event begins when someone accepts your invitation, not when they walk through the door.” “Take someone from trust to telling someone else - that’s how you build real connection.” “We’ve reduced the center of the table to ‘put your phone down and eat.’ That’s not enough anymore.” “The best experiences have a red thread—from the moment you arrive to the moment you leave.” “If you’re not growing food in your yard, at least grow relationships there.” “People don’t want to be sold they want to be seen.” “We didn’t build a business - we built relationship equity.” “It stopped being the ‘me show’ and became the ‘we show.’ That’s when everything scaled.” “It takes a lifetime to build a brand and minutes to unravel it.” Chapters 00:00 The Power of Connection Through Food 02:21 Brady Lowe: A Visionary in Hospitality 04:47 The Evolution of Culinary Experiences 06:28 Psychology of Gathering: The Red Thread 10:21 Designing Memorable Events 13:22 Scaling Culinary Experiences 16:24 Passion Behind the Culinary Mission 18:34 The Dynamics of Leadership at the Table 20:06 Building Relationships in Culinary Networks 25:06 Nourish: A Sustainable Culinary Experience 32:06 Creating Community Through Simple Gatherings 34:01 Leveraging AI for Enhanced Engagement 36:48 NEWCHAPTER Check out Brady’s work here! Taste Network - https://tastenetwork.com/ Global Fire - https://globalfire.com/ Piggy Bank - https://piggybank.org/ Peach Fest - https://peachfest.com/ Nourish Project - https://nourish.com/ Brady Lowe - https://bradylowe.com/ #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    37 min
  6. #27 - The Biases Standing Between Us and Our Wealth

    2 APR

    #27 - The Biases Standing Between Us and Our Wealth

    In this first episode of Season 3, Gillian Stovel Rivers and Preet Banerjee delve into the complexities of financial stress faced by Canadians, exploring the intersection of behavioral science, decision-making biases, and the role of financial advisors. They discuss how present bias affects financial choices and the importance of having a structured financial plan. The conversation also highlights innovative approaches, including the use of AI to enhance financial literacy and connect individuals with their future selves. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for a more human-centered approach to financial planning that addresses emotional and psychological aspects. Be sure to check out Preet’s incredible contribution to wealth advice in Canada: Your Money Degree is the premiere self-paced practical guide to saving, investing and building wealth in Canada 🇨🇦 Let’s dig deep, tap into amazing resources like this and raise the floor for everyone.  Takeaways 💸Financial confidence remains elusive due to complex systems. 😌Present bias leads to poor long-term financial decisions. 💸Behavioral science plays a crucial role in money management. 😌Having a financial advisor can help mitigate decision-making biases. 💸Cognitive load can be reduced through structured financial planning. 😌Stress and uncertainty can derail financial plans. 💸AI tools can help visualize future financial goals. 😌Social media can negatively impact financial confidence. 💸Financial education is essential for all income levels. 😌Understanding personal values is key to effective financial planning. Quotes "Why does money still feel stressful?" “We’re kind of hardwired to make bad decisions about money because we’re wired to think in the moment.” “Every financial decision is a long-term trade-off, but our brains are built for short-term survival.” “It’s not just a literacy problem — it’s a behavioral and emotional problem.” “When you can make decisions in advance, you’re more likely to make choices in service of your future self.” “Money is really in service of your life and your values—not the other way around.” “If you don’t have a sense of purpose, you’re less engaged in the strategies that improve your financial life.” “The best thing you can do is often nothing—but emotionally, people need to feel that something is being done.” “Financial planning isn’t really about money—it’s about life planning.” Chapters 00:00 Understanding Financial Stress in Canada 02:24 The Role of Behavioral Science in Financial Decisions 04:32 The Impact of Present Bias on Financial Choices 09:10 Strategies to Overcome Decision-Making Biases 10:31 The Importance of Financial Advisors 12:00 Cognitive Load and Financial Planning 13:33 Navigating Stress and Uncertainty in Financial Markets 19:07 Using AI to Connect with Future Self 23:04 Challenges in the Financial Ecosystem 26:41 Your Money Degree: A New Approach to Financial Literacy 31:32 The Global Need for Financial Education 34:11 The Broader Impact of Financial Planning 36:44 Engaging the Emotional Side of Financial Planning #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    41 min
  7. #26 - The Hope Episode: Wishes Are Medicine

    26 MAR

    #26 - The Hope Episode: Wishes Are Medicine

    In this conversation, Gillian Stovel Rivers speaks with Meaghan Stovel McKnight, CEO of Make-A-Wish® Canada, about the profound impact of wishes on children with critical illnesses and their families. They explore the science behind hope and resilience, the role of wishes as a form of medicine, and the ripple effect that wishes have on communities and healthcare workers. Meaghan shares personal stories and insights into how wishes not only uplift children but also provide essential support to families during challenging times. The discussion emphasizes the importance of community engagement, philanthropy, and the need for a more integrated approach to healthcare that includes emotional and psychosocial support. Click here for details about how you can get involved and support our mission through partners, as it houses our ongoing national partner campaigns. Both Make-A-Wish and The Flourish Feed Podcast would like to make a special shoutout about Rocky Mountain Chocolates who have partnered to create a special collection of five limited-edition chocolate bars with wrappers illustrated by wish kids themselves, inspired by their imagination, joy, and dreams. 100% of proceeds from this collection will be donated to Make-A-Wish Canada to help grant life-changing wishes for children living with critical illnesses across Canada. You can experience these very special treats by placing your own order at Make-A-Wish® Canada Chocolate Bars x Rocky Mtn Chocolate – Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory here. Takeaways 🕊️Hope is a force that shapes how we cope with adversity. 🧬Wishes provide measurable medical impact and improve mental health. 🕊️The journey of a wish is carefully curated to complement medical treatment. 🧬Wishes uplift not just the child but the entire family and community. 🕊️The ripple effect of a wish impacts healthcare workers positively. 🧬Wishes are essential to a child's treatment journey, not just a nice-to-have. 🕊️Community support is vital for the success of Make-A-Wish. 🧬Philanthropy plays a crucial role in funding healthcare and support programs. 🕊️Emotional wellbeing is as important as physical health in treatment. 🧬Engaging with charities can provide a sense of purpose and connection.  Quotes “Hope isn’t just an emotion - it’s a forward-moving force that shapes healing.” “Wishes aren’t moments of joy. They’re carefully curated journeys that complement medical treatment.” “When hope increases, cortisol decreases - and sleep, pain, and resilience improve.” “Wishes stimulate endogenous opioids - real chemistry that reduces pain and anxiety.” “A wish gives a child a positive future to focus on when everything else feels uncertain.” “Hope is not a nice-to-have. It’s essential to coping, engagement, and recovery.” “The goal isn’t just survival - it’s helping families flourish through adversity.” “When systems are designed around hope, behavior and healing change.” Chapters 00:00 The Power of Hope 02:14 Understanding Make-A-Wish Canada 02:52 Wishes as Medicine 06:26 The Ripple Effect of Wishes 10:32 Curating the Wish Journey 13:08 The Science of Emotional Wellbeing 17:01 Wishes Are Medicine Platform 20:52 Community Engagement and Corporate Partnerships 25:53 Lessons from Families Facing Adversity 29:09 Imagining a Better Healthcare System 33:36 The Essential Nature of Wishes #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSub Send TFFP your thoughts!

    39 min
  8. #25 - The Resilience Episode: It’s a Team Sport

    19 MAR

    #25 - The Resilience Episode: It’s a Team Sport

    This episode explores the true nature of grit and resilience, emphasizing their trainability and importance in team dynamics, leadership, and personal growth with Mark Gasparotto, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, resilience trainer, and founder of immersive field-based programs that help individuals and teams build capacity under pressure. Drawing on decades of military experience, expedition leadership, and entrepreneurial work, Mark specializes in teaching grit as a trainable skill - not a personality trait. Mark shares insights from military experience, practical programs like Outside the Wire, a 1,000km experiment in the Canadian wilderness, and the science behind overcoming adversity individually and in teams. Takeaways 🪖Resilience as a trainable skill, not innate 💪The importance of shared challenge and trust 🪖The role of friction and struggle in growth 💪Psychological safety and vulnerability in teams 🪖The 'Outside the Wire' program for experiential learning 💪The four pillars of resilience: body, mind, heart, and soul 🪖The cross-stressor adaptation hypothesis and its applications 💪The significance of recovery, sleep, and gratitude Quotes “There is no growth in comfort. There is only growth in struggle.” “Resilience is not an innate trait - it can be learned, practiced, and forged in adversity.” “The number one factor for resilience, longevity, and happiness is the quality of our relationships.” “Nothing builds trust like chewing the same dirt together.” “You can’t click your way to resilience - you have to do hard things.” “Recovery isn’t the reward for hard work - it’s what allows you to do hard things again.” “If you don’t train all parts of your humanity, stress will expose the weakest leg.” “Psychological safety is built through vulnerability, and trust is built on top of that.” “Discipline equals freedom - because systems take over when pressure hits.” Chapters 00:00 Understanding Grit and Resilience 04:13 The Military Perspective on Resilience 08:59 The Importance of Struggle for Growth 13:58 Navigating Psychological Safety Under Pressure 18:39 Building Trust Through Vulnerability 21:35 Chewing the Same Dirt: Shared Experiences 23:14 The Paddle for Resilience Experiment 26:02 Phases of Resilience: Preparation, Performance, and Recovery 32:41 The Importance of Community in Resilience 37:35 Outside the Wire: Stepping Out of Comfort Zones 43:25 Moments of Bliss and Daily Gratitude #flourish #wealth #wealthmanagement #investing #advisor #KnowThyWealthKnowThyself  Connect with Gillian:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-stovel-rivers-ma-cfp%C2%AE-cea-997094124/?originalSubdomain=ca    https://x.com/GillianStovelR  https://www.instagram.com/gillianstov...  https://flourishfamilywealth.com/ Send TFFP your thoughts!

    45 min
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About

A series of curiosity driven deep dives into the nature of flourishing through wealth.

Information

  • Creator
    Gillian Stovel Rivers
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    33
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Flourish Feed Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Flourish Feed Podcast