The MindSpa Podcast

Batten Media House
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  • MENTAL HEALTH

The MindSpa Podcast is your go-to space for meaningful conversations around mental health, healing, and personal growth. Hosted by Michelle Massunken RSW and Tina Wilston RP, co-founders of MindSpa Mental Health Centre, each episode explores key mental health topics through expert interviews and thoughtful roundtable discussions. From managing stress and building stronger relationships to navigating invisible challenges, the MindSpa Podcast offers grounded, professional insights in a warm and accessible way. Tune in weekly for supportive, real-world conversations to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered on your wellness journey.

  1. 4D AGO

    Ep 1 - Healing, Stigma, And Arab Family Dynamics

    Send us a text A single high school careers test bent the arc of a life, nudging Renad from architecture toward psychology, and eventually into a therapy room where time, trust, and cultural nuance matter more than titles. We open up about false starts in university, the pressure to pursue medicine, and the unexpected detours through research that led to a published paper and a deeper respect for evidence-based care. From there, the conversation moves into the heart of Renad’s practice: supporting children of divorce. We talk about why kids interpret adult conflict through a “me lens,” how early therapeutic tools protect self-esteem, and why respectful co-parenting often beats a home full of tension. You’ll hear practical language for reframing blame, building resilience, and modelling calm when families shift under everyone’s feet.We also take on stigma and community pressure in Arab culture, where therapy is changing from crisis-only to a proactive choice, yet shame still lingers around reputation and marriageability.  Renad offers a grounded view of collectivist values: the village can heal when reciprocity is real, and boundaries can coexist with respect. We challenge the myth of the instant “spark,” explore how option overload short-circuits good matches, and make the case for community matchmaking as a safer, values-aligned path. The question that stays with us: are you choosing a partner, or the future parent of your children? That lens transforms standards, priorities, and the everyday work of love.If you care about mental health, cultural context, and raising confident kids, this conversation will give you language, perspective, and practical steps.  Listen, share with a friend who needs a thoughtful take on therapy and relationships, and subscribe to get more episodes that connect psychology, culture, and real life.

    42 min

  2. JAN 12

    Ep 30 Slow Gains, Strong Results Part 2

    Send us a text Looking for fitness that actually sticks? Coach Phil Green joins us to share a practical map for steady gains: start smaller than you think, choose movements you enjoy, and focus on signals that prove you’re improving long before the scale moves. We dig into why strength training and metabolic conditioning are the backbone of sustainable change, how to use protein to protect muscle while losing fat, and the simple way to blend cardio without burning yourself out. We bust the most persistent myths head-on: “go hard or go home,” “hours of cardio for weight loss,” and “drop 20 pounds by the weekend.” Phil explains why the body adapts on its own clock, how to set expectations that match biology, and what to do when you hit a plateau. You’ll learn how small program tweaks every four to five weeks keep progress alive—swap a variation, change the rep range, nudge the volume—without blowing up your entire routine. We also zoom out from the scale to smarter metrics like sleep quality, energy, mood, and everyday strength, which tell a far clearer story of transformation. Supplements come up, and we keep it honest. Most people don’t need a cabinet full of powders. Phil’s short list is whey protein isolate to reach realistic protein targets and creatine monohydrate for well-researched performance and potential cognitive benefits. We address the misconception that creatine is only for men or bodybuilders and outline how women can train through hormonal shifts by avoiding drastic changes, building gradually, and paying attention to how their bodies react. If you want a simple starting point with real accountability, we walk through Phil’s six-week Kickstarter challenge that combines coaching, community, and structure to build habits that last. Subscribe for more clear, tested guidance. If this helped, share it with a friend who’s tired of quick fixes, and leave a review so we can keep these conversations coming.

    24 min

  3. JAN 5

    Ep 29 Building Strength, Community, And A Life That Fits Part 1

    Send us a text A single decision can change a life, and Phil’s started with a late-night triathlon signup that pulled him from grief into purpose. We sit down with the founder of Bodies by Phil to trace the arc from backyard boot camps to a thriving Ottawa studio built on one clear promise: serious fitness in a not-so-serious environment. No drill sergeants, no “trainer voice,” just coaches who show up as people and help you work hard without the pretense. Phil walks us through the four pillars that shape long-term results—fitness, nutrition, accountability, and community—and explains why the hardest battles often happen outside the gym. Nutrition is loaded with history and emotion, so he favours empathy over absolutes. Accountability only works when you communicate, so ghosting your coach is off the table. The payoff is a room where people push, laugh, and stick around long enough to see real change. Some members have trained with him for over a decade; a few even met their partners between sets. We also get into the realities of time. As a new dad and business owner, Phil had to guard workouts like meetings, delegate more, and choose moments that matter—like being home for bedtime. For parents and founders trying to start or restart, his advice is simple: begin with one weekly session, then earn the second. Build around strength training and use metabolic conditioning—sled pushes, ski erg, kettlebell circuits—for engaging, joint-friendly cardio that actually fits a busy life. And yes, we talk favourites: why the deadlift delivers outsized returns and how to structure sessions that keep you consistent. If you’re ready to trade all-or-nothing plans for something you can live with, this conversation is your reset. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and tell us: which pillar—fitness, nutrition, accountability, or community—will you focus on this week?

    30 min

  4. 12/15/2025

    Ep 28 Compassion Beats Control: Choosing Connection Over Being Right

    Send us a text Four degrees on a thermostat. A green dress. A “just a cake” anniversary. Tiny choices can carry a lot of meaning, and when they collide with stress, money, or mixed expectations, they snowball into fights that feel bigger than the moment. We dig into wedding rules that shift midstream, the blurry lines of “make yourself at home,” a parent’s birthday trip sacrificed to soothe a child’s tears, and a store-bought cake that lands like indifference instead of love. Hosted by Michelle Massunken, MSW, RSW and Tina Wilston, RP, CRPO Supervisor. We walk through practical ways to set expectations without sounding rigid, including how to write a guest-friendly dress code that honours budgets and avoids last-minute rule changes. For house guests, we offer a reset script you can use today: state what works, what doesn’t, and what changes from now on—without shaming anyone. With parent guilt, we map a plan that protects attachment and adult needs by separating the celebration into two rituals so both connection and rest get their moment. And for the thermostat standoff, we propose layered compromises, baseline temps, personal warming tools, time blocks, and a real middle number, so comfort doesn’t become a power struggle. The heart of the episode is repair. When a partner says “it’s just cake,” they miss the message: I want to feel chosen, seen, and remembered. We model how to swap defensiveness for curiosity, turn apologies into action, and build traditions that actually fit your life. Listen for concrete language, calm boundaries, and small changes that lower drama while raising trust. Send your scenarios or questions to media@themindspa.ca and tell us which story sounded like your life.

    39 min

  5. 12/08/2025

    Ep 27 How High-Performing Couples Reconnect When The House Goes Quiet

    Send us a text When the house goes quiet, many successful couples discover a louder problem: they can run a company, but struggle to run their relationship. In this episode, we sit down with Benslyne Avril, registered psychotherapist, mental health speaker, and University of Ottawa professor, to explore why high-performing empty nesters often begin to feel like roommates, and how a strategic, time-bound coaching model can help couples reconnect without getting lost in years of backstory. Benslyne explains the critical differences between psychotherapy and coaching, and why some couples need the depth, safety, and trauma-informed pace of therapy, while others thrive with clear milestones and direct accountability. We walk through her 90-day relationship framework, starting with a relationship audit across emotional connection, family dynamics, intimacy, and individual interests, followed by 30/60/90-day goals designed to create measurable change. Along the way, we unpack real-world frictions many couples face in midlife: shifting power dynamics when one partner leads professionally, identity loss when a stay-at-home parent loses their “team,” and what happens when two high achievers move forward without a shared north star. We also explore modern curveballs that quietly intensify distance. AI-driven advice can flatten nuance and fuel certainty that doesn’t match a partner’s lived experience. Menopause can influence libido, sleep, and mood in ways that are often misunderstood. Attachment patterns still matter, and avoidant or anxious tendencies can derail even the best plan if actions don’t align with each person’s nervous system. Benslyne shares how to spot early warning signs, “roommate energy,” stalled conversations, dates that feel like interviews, and practical ways to protect connection long before the kids move out. If you’re weighing therapy versus coaching, this conversation helps you decide based on your goals, readiness, and the type of support that fits your current season. Ready to design the next 15 to 20 years with intention instead of autopilot? Listen now, subscribe to the MindSpa Podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs it. 🔗 Guest: Benslyne Avril — Links & Resources Instagram Benslyne's Website: Therapy With Empathy Psychology Today Profile LinkedIn

    45 min

  6. 12/02/2025

    Ep 26 When Boundaries Meet Culture, Feelings, And Real Life, How Do You Decide Who’s In The Wrong?

    Send us a text What if doing the healthy thing makes you look like the villain? We dive into real “Am I the a-hole?” scenarios and unpack why good boundaries can still spark backlash—especially when culture, grief, or health are in the mix. From a no-drop-in rule that clashes with collectivist norms to a sister who calls “therapy talk” manipulative, we examine how delivery, timing, and respect shape whether limits land as care or contempt. We also take on privacy at a therapy clinic where cameras are framed as safety but risk trust and confidentiality. You’ll hear how to challenge policies without blowing up your job: document concerns, propose alternatives, and push for clear written standards. In a family dispute over a promised heirloom locket missing from the will, we map a path that preserves dignity—honour the relationship, clarify facts, and, where possible, trade wins for grace. Then comes the heartache: a partner with severe pet allergies and an 11-year bond with a senior dog. We talk practical mitigation—HEPA filters, zoning, textiles, grooming—and when separate living makes more sense than resentment. And for parents navigating teen insomnia, we share science-backed sleep hygiene and the one thing that actually gets buy-in: collaboration. Replace screens with low-arousal routines, step change the cutoff, and measure success by daytime energy, not compliance. If you’re wrestling with boundaries at home or work, this conversation offers scripts, strategies, and a kinder way to hold the line. Follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review—what scenario challenged you the most?

    43 min

  7. 11/24/2025

    Ep 25 Become More, Do Less: The Sustainable Path To Growth

    Send us a text If growth feels like a grind, you might be solving the wrong problem. We sit down with business and mindset coach Maria Cherkasskaya to map the path from clarity to execution, blending practical marketing systems with inner work that actually sticks. Maria is a multi-passionate entrepreneur who builds soul-aligned strategies that attract clients without the constant hustle, and her approach is refreshingly direct: many founders don’t have a mindset issue—they have a skill and plan gap. We start with a simple audit that turns “what I don’t want” into a clear north star, then translate that vision into daily actions that support long-term goals. Maria breaks down imposter syndrome for both seasoned experts and newcomers, showing how to use proof, practice, and community to move through fear. We dig into social visibility, sharing how to show up online without losing yourself, and why surrounding yourself with entrepreneurs, coaches, or therapists can quiet the noise and speed up learning. Manifestation gets a reality check. Visualization is powerful when it primes your brain to spot opportunities—but it only works when you act. Maria’s concept of inspired action helps you prioritise the ideas that carry energy and align with your values, so progress feels sustainable. We also tackle burnout as an internal conflict between competing values and share practical grounding tools, from presence drills to meditation habits that train your attention. Maria’s 10-day Vipassana retreat offers vivid lessons on creating space between trigger and response, translating mindfulness into everyday leadership. We close with what’s next for Maria—scaling her marketing agency, growing Manifest Change Society, and staying open to pivots that keep work aligned with purpose. If you want growth that feels like you, not like a schedule owning you, this conversation is your playbook. Subscribe, share with a founder friend, and leave a review with your favourite takeaway so we can keep these deep dives coming.

    45 min

  8. 11/17/2025

    Ep 24 Part 2 Rebuilding Family After Separation With Law, Therapy, And Money Wisdom

    Send us a text Separation doesn’t have to feel like free fall. We dive straight into what actually reduces chaos in the first weeks: simple interim agreements that get you into stable living arrangements, a workable parenting schedule, and a clear plan for bills so negotiation can start from calmer ground. We bust the stubborn myth that moving out means losing your kids or your home, and we explain the real risks and obligations that follow if you leave without a basic plan. From there, we open up the toolbox. You’ll hear how to document agreements the smart way, when emails are enough to start, and when to formalize with lawyers. We unpack prenups and cohabitation agreements in Ontario—what they clarify, what they can’t touch around parenting, and why behaviour clauses make headlines but rarely hold up. Living near the Ottawa–Gatineau border? We map the hidden jurisdiction traps where property rights follow Quebec’s civil law while parenting disputes unfold in Ontario. One of the toughest moments comes when a child refuses to go to the other parent. We walk through the best interests test, the child’s voice, and the line between reasonable consequences and issues that need therapy, voice‑of‑the‑child reports, or a court‑order review. Practical tips on exchanges, school‑based handovers, and communication keep the focus on the child’s stability, not parental scorekeeping. Our vision is holistic and human. Legal strategy works best alongside therapy, financial planning, and real‑world logistics. That’s why we connect clients with trusted professionals who can answer, Should I keep the house? How do I set boundaries? What support does my child need to feel safe? Separation is not just an ending; it’s a redesign of family life. Press play to learn how to steady the ground, make informed choices, and rebuild with care. If this helped, subscribe, share with a friend who needs clarity today, and leave a review so others can find it.

    28 min
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About

The MindSpa Podcast is your go-to space for meaningful conversations around mental health, healing, and personal growth. Hosted by Michelle Massunken RSW and Tina Wilston RP, co-founders of MindSpa Mental Health Centre, each episode explores key mental health topics through expert interviews and thoughtful roundtable discussions. From managing stress and building stronger relationships to navigating invisible challenges, the MindSpa Podcast offers grounded, professional insights in a warm and accessible way. Tune in weekly for supportive, real-world conversations to help you feel seen, supported, and empowered on your wellness journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Batten Media House
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The MindSpa Podcast
  • Show Website
    The MindSpa Podcast