Some Assembly Required

Candace Carnahan
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Self-Improvement

Some Assembly Required is hosted by renowned motivational speaker and workplace safety advocate Candace Carnahan, an inspirational individual who turned personal tragedy into global impact after losing her leg in a workplace incident while being very young. Now, Candace is stepping beyond the safety stage to have deeper conversations about what it really means to rebuild after life takes you apart. With her signature mix of grit, humor, and heart, Candace sits down with everyday people and extraordinary changemakers to explore the unexpected lessons hidden in life’s messiest moments. Whether it’s a setback, a pivot, or just the weight of the daily grind, Some Assembly Required is about finding the pieces that still fit and building something even better than before. If you're looking for real talk, meaningful stories, and inspiring takeaways you can use in your own life, this is the podcast for you.

Episodes

  1. 23h ago

    It's Okay to Not be Okay

    In this powerful episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits down with mental health advocate and creator Dani Squires for an honest conversation about abuse, resilience, and what it means to truly “protect your peace.” Dani shares her experience growing up in an unstable, abusive household, being removed from her mother’s care after school staff noticed bruises, and navigating homelessness and poverty while still in high school. She talks about starting work at 13, putting herself through university, and choosing a very different path than her brother, whose life has been marked by addiction and jail. They also dive into online bullying, body shaming, and the myth that choosing a public life means you “signed up” to be attacked. Dani talks about calling out trolls, looking up to creators who stand their ground, and the constant noise of diet culture, Ozempic ads, and unrealistic standards. Together, Candace and Dani make the case for therapy as a neutral sounding board, not a sign of being broken, and for being mindful not to turn friends into full-time therapists. They discuss setting boundaries, ending one-sided friendships, and learning to really live by the mantra: protect your peace. For anyone who has ever felt guilty for struggling, minimized their own pain, or stayed quiet because others “have it worse,” this conversation is a reminder that you are allowed to ask for help, that it’s okay to not be okay, and that everything (good and bad)is temporary. As Dani says, be gentle with people, reach out, ask the hard questions, sit with discomfort, and check in more than you think you need to. You never truly know what someone is carrying behind their smile. If this episode resonates with you, please like the video, subscribe for more conversations like this, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider reaching out to a friend, a therapist, a crisis line, or a local mental health service. 3

  2. Jul 23

    The Messy Middle

    What happens after the big career leap? After you quit, pivot, or admit “this isn’t it anymore”? In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits back down with Jen Warrington, founder of The Warrington Group, to dig into the messy middle of career change: the doubt, the recalibration, and the uncomfortable quiet where you finally ask, “What do I really want?” Jen has helped hundreds of professionals reinvent their careers (often without going back to school) by uncovering their hidden, transferable skills. From trades to corporate, from pastor to COO, she shows what’s actually possible when you stop chasing titles and start building a life that fits. 🔗 Stay ConnectedFollow Some Assembly Required on social media to stay updated on new episodes, guest insights, and behind-the-scenes content.

  3. Jul 9

    Careers Without Boxes

    When a “safe, stable job” ends with a severance package and a polite goodbye, what happens next? In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits down with Jen Warrington, founder of The Warrington Group and one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business. Jen was “packaged out” of her recruiting role after 10 years—right before COVID shut everything down. No warning, no dramatic box-of-stuff exit… just a call, five more weeks of work, and a severance package. What she did next changed everything. 🔔 Subscribe for more real, unpolished stories about rebuilding after life doesn’t go to plan. Connect with Some Assembly Required:Follow the show on social media to stay up to date on new episodes and join the conversation about work, identity, and the moments that break us open.

  4. Jun 25

    Stop Chasing the Perfect Path

    In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits down with Carrie Forbes to explore what it really means to build a Renaissance career and a life that actually feels like your own, not just a checklist of what you’re “supposed” to do. Candace and Carrie dive into what it’s like to feel “behind” in your career or your life, and why no job, degree, or detour is ever really wasted. They talk about how every experience becomes part of your “total package” and how blending your interests can become your unique advantage, not a liability. Carrie shares practical ways to check in with your energy, reassess your path, and make decisions that are aligned with who you are today — not who you thought you “should” be 10 years ago. She talks about the Wheel of Life exercise, trusting your inner voice, and her favorite mindset from martial arts: “I either win or I learn.” If this resonates, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not behind.

  5. Jun 11

    Changing Your Inner Voice

    In this powerful episode, Candace sits down with award-winning veterinarian, entrepreneur, and cancer survivor Dr. Lesley Steele for an unfiltered conversation about women’s health, self-worth, and what it really means to take care of yourself. Lesley shares the story of her shock breast cancer diagnosis, how she treated it like a “business problem” to solve, and the radical life changes she made along the way—from cutting sugar and diving into meditation to facing her own fears about motherhood, mortality, and identity. Together, she and Candace dig into the messy middle of menopause, body image, and that relentless inner critic so many women live with every single day. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt “not enough” in their own body, questioned their choices, or wondered how to be kinder to themselves after living through really hard things. It’s honest, funny, vulnerable, and a reminder that none of us have it all figured out—no matter how put together life looks from the outside. If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @someassemblyrequired.pod for more real conversations.

  6. May 28

    Name It to Tame It

    In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits down with clinical psychologist and bestselling author Dr. Jody Carrington for a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about trauma, connection, burnout, and belonging.  Together, they explore why the opposite of trauma isn’t calm but connection, how childhood stories, family secrets, and generational patterns quietly shape who we become, and what happens when we spend years being the “strong one” or the “connector” for everyone else. Jody shares her journey from a small town in Alberta to becoming a leading voice on trauma and connection, including the shocking discovery of a biological sister in her 30s and how that revelation reshaped her drive, her sense of worth, and her understanding of family.  If you’ve ever felt lonely in a full life, guilty for wanting rest or boundaries, or afraid you’re not getting it “right,” this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @someassemblyrequired.pod for more episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and ongoing conversations about courage, connection, and what it really takes to be human.

  7. May 14

    The Secret Currency of Successful People

    Trust isn’t just a “nice to have” in relationships or business—it’s the one thing that changes everything. In this powerful, honest conversation, Candace Carnahan sits down with her longtime friend and global trust expert Natalie Doyle Oldfield, author of “Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth,” to unpack what trust really is, how it’s built, how it quietly erodes, and how we can start rebuilding it—at work, at home, and within ourselves. This isn’t a fluffy, corporate talk about “values.” It’s raw, real, and deeply human. Candace opens up about how a devastating workplace accident at 21, where “everybody failed” her, reshaped her ability to trust others. If you’ve ever questioned whether you can trust someone again, worried that you’re not trustworthy enough, felt burned by broken promises at work or at home, or simply wanted stronger relationships, more loyal customers, or a safer workplace, this conversation is for you.  Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @someassemblyrequiredpod for more clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and conversations that help you care louder and lead braver.

  8. May 5

    Putting Your Best Face Forward

    In this episode, host Candace Carnahan sits down with Halifax’s queen of beauty, Vicky Mina. A beloved makeup artist and founder of her Canadian-made cosmetics line. Together, they explore what beauty really means beyond the mirror: from aging, confidence, and body image to entrepreneurship, resilience, and the power of women supporting women. Vicky shares her journey from the banking world to building a thriving career in beauty, and how working with women in her makeup chair became her true calling. They talk honestly about hormones, feeling like a stranger in your own skin, and why grace, self-acceptance, and community matter more than any product in your makeup bag. They also dive into the pressures of social media, the “Sephora generation,” and unrealistic beauty standards, while offering a refreshing perspective on authenticity, aging out loud, and redefining what it means to be confident at any stage of life. This conversation is real, raw, and fun. A reminder that beauty is the warmth of your soul, and everything else is just icing on the cake! Follow along on social and be part of the Some Assembly Required community: Instagram: @someassemblyrequiredpodFacebook: Some Assembly Required Podcast

  9. Apr 16

    Sea‑ing Yourself More Clearly

    In the debut episode of Some Assembly Required, Candace sits down with Halifax’s own Saltwater Sean. Ocean diver, content creator, and local legend-in-the-making is here to talk about what happens when you dive headfirst into discomfort and follow what lights you up. Sean shares how a simple hobby turned into a viral platform, how he pieced himself back together through life’s hardest moments, and why getting uncomfortable might be the key to becoming who you’re meant to be. From freezing ocean dips to finding purpose, this episode is all about curiosity, resilience, and rebuilding yourself stronger. Check out more on Instagram and Facebook @ someassemblypod

  10. Mar 30

    Show Trailer

    In Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan invites you into raw, real conversations about reinvention, resilience, and real life. Life doesn’t come with instructions, and this podcast is about embracing the puzzle pieces (our struggles, changes, and successes) that shape who we are and who we’re becoming! Hit play and join Candace on a journey of growth, grit, and purpose-driven conversations in Some Assembly Required.

Trailer

About

Some Assembly Required is hosted by renowned motivational speaker and workplace safety advocate Candace Carnahan, an inspirational individual who turned personal tragedy into global impact after losing her leg in a workplace incident while being very young. Now, Candace is stepping beyond the safety stage to have deeper conversations about what it really means to rebuild after life takes you apart. With her signature mix of grit, humor, and heart, Candace sits down with everyday people and extraordinary changemakers to explore the unexpected lessons hidden in life’s messiest moments. Whether it’s a setback, a pivot, or just the weight of the daily grind, Some Assembly Required is about finding the pieces that still fit and building something even better than before. If you're looking for real talk, meaningful stories, and inspiring takeaways you can use in your own life, this is the podcast for you.

Information

  • Creator
    Candace Carnahan
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Candace Carnahan