The Best You - A Coaching Podcast: Personal Growth Through Real Conversations

Gary Gillan
  • 5.0 (3)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT

Feeling stuck or unsure how to unlock your full potential? Here's the truth: you are the best person in the entire world at being you - even if you don't quite believe that yet. Through real conversations with innovators, coaches, and everyday people navigating their own personal growth journeys, this podcast helps you gain self-awareness, build confidence, and create lasting change. Each week, we explore the breakthroughs, struggles, and insights that help you understand what makes you tick and how to become the best version of yourself. New episodes every week. Start your journey with our latest episode on innovative learning and personal growth.

  1. 6D AGO

    The Raw Truth About Trauma Recovery: Why Healing Requires More Than Just Showing Up with Bianca Thomas

    Send a text Trauma recovery is not about feeling ready. Bianca, mental health counsellor and co-founder of Evolve Ventures, shares the honest truth about healing from trauma that most therapists won't tell you.  From facing severe borderline personality disorder to nearly losing her business partnership, Bianca reveals why there's never a 'right time' to start therapy and why the work will be harder than you imagine - but worth it. Discover why trauma is actually a memory disorder, how your narrative shapes your healing, and why pretending to be confident will sabotage your personal growth faster than admitting you're struggling. Perfect for: Anyone struggling with mental health challenges, seeking authentic self-improvement, or looking for innovative approaches to trauma recovery. Your transformation: Shift from waiting for the 'right time' to heal to understanding that the best time was yesterday - and the next best time is today. Key takeaways: There is never a "right time" to start therapy.Trauma is better understood as a memory disorder shaped by the narratives and beliefs you create in the aftermath of events.Real confidence comes from doing the internal work.Deep journaling that explores patterns and cycles creates lasting change.Expecting therapy to be comfortable means you're probably not getting good therapy.You can see more from Bianca here: Website: Evolve VenturesLinkedIn: Bianca Thomas Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    45 min

  2. FEB 9

    Breaking Autism Stereotypes: Celebrating Neurodiversity for Inclusion with Sam Mitchell

    Send a text Struggling to understand how to support neurodiversity in your workplace or community? Sam Mitchell, autism advocate and host of Autism Rocks and Rolls podcast, shares his personal journey navigating a world that often misunderstands autism.  From facing bullying in mainstream schooling to becoming a Davy Award-winning podcaster and TEDx speaker, Sam reveals why people with autism don't need to be "fixed" - they need opportunity. Perfect for: Leaders, educators, employers, and anyone seeking innovative approaches to inclusion, personal growth, and celebrating human differences. Your transformation: Shift from viewing autism as something to 'cure' to recognizing neurodiversity as a valuable asset in your community and workplace. Key takeaways: Autism exists on a spectrum with vastly different experiences and capabilities across individuals.85% of people with autism lack full-time employment due to workplace stigma and misunderstanding.Society needs to adapt and create space rather than expecting individuals with autism to conform.Media representation often portrays autism negatively, perpetuating harmful stereotypes.You can see more from Sam here: Website: Autism Rocks & Rolls Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    23 min

  3. FEB 2

    Loss, Endurance, and Living Deliberately: How Grief Creates Purpose and Personal Growth with Kevin Crowe

    Send us a text Think you'll start living deliberately "someday"? Your dying friend would tell you that day needs to be today. Kevin Crowe, founder of Give A Mile, shares the profound lessons learned from walking alongside his best friend through terminal brain cancer. From that heartbreak came a charity that's provided over 1,400 flights to connect dying people with their loved ones for final goodbyes. Discover why the hardest moments reveal what truly matters, how a 650-kilometer Arctic ultra-marathon in -50°C teaches you about yourself, and why designing your life with the end in mind creates the clarity most people never find. Perfect for: Anyone seeking to live with intention, build meaningful impact, achieve personal growth, and embrace self-improvement. Your transformation: Shift from sleepwalking through life waiting for "someday" to deliberately designing each day around what truly matters. Key takeaways: The best time to start living deliberately is today, not six months from now.Presence matters more than perfection.Writing your obituary and working backwards creates deliberate life design most people never attempt.Time is your greatest enemy and most precious resource - use it deliberately.You can see more from Kevin here: Website: Give a MileLinkedIn: Kevin Crowe Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    42 min

  4. JAN 26

    The Business of Being an Olympian: Balancing Athletic Excellence with Personal Growth with Courtney Hoffos

    Send us a text Note: This episode was recorded as Courtney was preparing for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games. Unfortunately, Courtney suffered a tibial plateau, medial collateral ligament, and meniscus injury competing prior to the Olympics and will miss the games. 💔 Think becoming an Olympian means automatic sponsorships and financial security? Think again. Courtney Hoffos, Canadian Olympic ski cross athlete and World Championship medalist, reveals the hidden business side of elite sport that most people never see. Courtney shares the real cost of chasing Olympic glory. Discover why athletes need entrepreneurial skills as much as athletic talent, how to balance life with World Cup competition, and the power of the three C's - confidence, calm, and compassion - in achieving personal growth both on and off the snow. Perfect for: Athletes, aspiring Olympians, entrepreneurs, and anyone seeking innovative approaches to balancing multiple priorities while pursuing excellence and self-improvement. Your transformation: Shift from viewing athletic success as purely performance-based to understanding the critical business and personal branding skills required to thrive as a modern athlete. Key takeaways: Building a personal brand and securing sponsorships requires the same hustle as athletic training.Finding purpose and intention in every training session transforms mundane work into meaningful progress.The three C's - Confidence, Calm, and Compassion - create the foundation for peak performance and personal growth.Taking time away from your primary focus can actually enhance performance by providing essential mental breaks.You can see more from Courtney here: Instagram: Courtney HoffosLinkedIn: Courtney Hoffos OLYWebsite: Courtney Hoffos Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    54 min

  5. JAN 19

    Why Humour Matters in Leadership: Your Essential Tool for Personal Growth and Connection with Karyn Buxman

    Send us a text Do you struggle to connect authentically with your team or feeling burned out as a leader? This could be caused by a humour deficiency in your life. Karyn Buxman, neuro-humorist and founder of The Human Lab, reveals why humour isn't just about entertainment - it's a powerful tool for influence, wellbeing, and personal growth.  We discuss Karyn's three purposes of humour, how to use it without being "the funny one," and why starting your day with humour can rewire your brain for resilience. Karyn teaches us the competencies that prevent humour from falling flat, how to create psychological safety through levity, and why coaches and leaders who embrace humour build stronger connections and drive better results. Perfect for: Leaders, coaches, and professionals seeking innovative approaches to authentic leadership, team connection, and self-improvement through the science of humour. Your transformation: Shift from viewing humour as frivolous to leveraging it strategically for influence, wellbeing, and genuine human connection. Key takeaways: Humour serves three distinct purposes: entertainment, influence, and wellbeing.You don't have to be funny to leverage humour effectively in leadership and coaching.A daily practice of seeking and sharing humour rewires your brain for resilience and connection.There are seven competencies that determine whether humour lands or falls flat (bond, context, authenticity, safety, timing, content, and delivery).You can see more from Karyn here: Website: Karyn BuxmanLinkedIn: Karyn Buxman  Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    49 min

  6. JAN 8

    Is Life Balance Only for Other People? with Warren Miles-Pickup

    Send us a text What if you were on the verge of losing it all? How willing would you be to face your reality and make the required changes to your life? My guest, Warren Miles-Pickup, experienced this very situation. He used it as a catalyst for life and career changes that have helped him establish balance where previously there was none.  Perfect for: Anyone struggling to find balance between career and family life.Your transformation: You will see a path to a life that will allow you to enjoy your balance, your way.Key takeaways: Balance in life is not a static 50-50 but a dynamic process.Community and social life are crucial for personal well-being.Curiosity and education are key in client relationships.Personal growth reflects in business practices and values.You can see more from Warren here: Website: PixelTrueLinkedIn: Warren Miles-Pickup Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    39 min

  7. JAN 6

    Leading with Impact: Empowering Teams for Personal and Professional Growth with Jana Mosley

    Send us a text Are you struggling to lead authentically while driving real organizational change? Jana Mosley, President and CEO of Toronto Hydro, shares her career journey from a small mining town in Northern Manitoba to leading one of Canada's largest utilities.  You'll discover why your most important team isn't the one reporting to you, how intentionality transforms leadership impact, and why gratitude is her secret weapon for staying grounded. Perfect for: Emerging and established leaders seeking innovative approaches to personal growth, team empowerment, and authentic leadership. Your transformation: Shift from individual contributor mindset to transformational leader who delivers results through people. Key takeaways: Your peer group across the organization is more important than your direct reports.Intentionality before conversations transforms how you show up as a leader.Speaking up for others when they're not in the room is a critical leadership responsibility.Gratitude journaling resets your mindset and helps you give your best even on difficult days.You can see more from Jana here: LinkedIn: Jana Mosley Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    40 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    Why Traditional Learning Fails (And How An Innovative Approach Unlocks Personal Growth) with Patrick Boylan

    Send us a text Are you frustrated trying to learn something new, but traditional methods just aren't working? Patrick's personal growth journey started with one question: why does learning music have to be so hard? His answer is transforming music education and reveals a breakthrough approach to self-improvement that applies far beyond music.  Discover why inspiring play beats forcing discipline, and how gamification unlocks lasting change. Perfect for: Anyone stuck with traditional learning methods or seeking innovative approaches to personal growth and skill development. Your transformation: Embrace the possibilities of a methodology that makes learning feel engaging instead of exhausting. Key takeaways: Why perfectionism in traditional methods creates frustration (and what works instead).How gamification keeps you engaged without relying on willpower.The power of feedback in breakthrough learning experiences.Why leadership requires patience and understanding team dynamics.And that's not all - Patrick has generously provided listeners of the podcast a 50% lifetime discount! Use the promo code 'BestYou50' at the checkout process to enable this discount! Visit https://www.museflow.ai  You can see more from Patrick here: Website: MuseFlowInstagram: MuseFlow  Gary's Website | LinkedIn | Facebook

    55 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Feeling stuck or unsure how to unlock your full potential? Here's the truth: you are the best person in the entire world at being you - even if you don't quite believe that yet. Through real conversations with innovators, coaches, and everyday people navigating their own personal growth journeys, this podcast helps you gain self-awareness, build confidence, and create lasting change. Each week, we explore the breakthroughs, struggles, and insights that help you understand what makes you tick and how to become the best version of yourself. New episodes every week. Start your journey with our latest episode on innovative learning and personal growth.

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