RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana cover art

RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana

RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana

By: Blair Kaplan Venables
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Welcome to RESILIENT A.F. with Blair and Alana—a podcast that celebrates the incredible strength of the human spirit and the ability to bounce forward. This is the show where we dive headfirst into the raw, real, and unfiltered stories of people who have faced life’s toughest challenges—and come out the other side stronger. In every episode, we explore the complex journey of resilience: the heartbreaks, the breakthroughs, and the triumphs. Whether it’s navigating personal loss, overcoming mental health battles, or finding hope amidst chaos, RESILIENT A.F. is a safe space to connect with others who have been there. Blair and Alana bring a unique mix of candid storytelling, heartfelt empathy, and expert insights, shining a light on the untold stories of grit and growth. With inspiring guest interviews and conversations with mental health professionals, each episode is designed to empower you to bounce forward, no matter what life throws your way. Why listen? 1. Relatable Stories: Hear real people share their journeys of resilience in their own words. 2. Expert Advice: Gain tools, tips, and insights from mental health experts to support your own healing and growth. 3. Empowerment: Leave each episode feeling inspired, hopeful, and ready to tackle life’s challenges head-on. But we’re not here to sugarcoat it—resilience isn’t always pretty. It’s messy, it’s painful, and it’s profoundly human. We’re here to remind you that while life can knock you down, it also offers the chance to rise again, stronger than before. ⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional if needed. If you’re ready to find hope, strength, and the courage to keep moving forward, hit play and join us on this powerful journey. Because no matter what life throws your way, you are RESILIENT A.F. Subscribe now and keep on strengthening your resilience muscle today.Copyright 2026 Blair Kaplan Venables Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Surviving Narcissistic Abuse with Mia J. Hanks | 084

    Surviving Narcissistic Abuse with Mia J. Hanks | 084
    Jun 16 2026
    In this episode, Blair is joined by Mia J. Hanks and they talk about her experience surviving narcissistic abuse and her memoir. Mia shared her 29-year marriage to a covert narcissist, describing early red flags and the psychological abuse she endured, culminating in her decision to leave the marriage after receiving validation from a therapist. Mia discussed the positive impact of leaving the abusive relationship on her family dynamics, tips and advice and her experience writing a memoir about the experience, which won a Literary Titan award. This is her story, and she is RESILIENT AF.Buy our books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/About the Guest:Mia Hanks is a survivor of narcissistic abuse. She was married to a covert narcissist for 29 years and in 2024, she published an award-winning memoir titled Bride-Made. She is passionate about raising awareness of narcissism and helping other victims find their voices.Links: https://www.tiktok.com/@npdandmehttps://www.instagram.com/npd.andme/https://miajhanks.com⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional if needed.About the Hosts: Blair Kaplan Venables is a British Columbia-based grief and resilience expert and coach, motivational speaker and the Founder of The Global Resilience Project. Her expertise has been featured on media platforms like Forbes, TEDx, CBC Radio, Entrepreneur, and Thrive Global. She is named the Top Grief and Resilience Expert of the Year 2024 by IAOTP. USA Today listed Blair as one of the top 10 conscious female leaders to watch and she empowers others to be resilient from stages around the world. 'MyStory,’ which is a television show available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Google Play, showcases Blair's life story. She is the host of the Radical Resilience podcast and specializes in helping people strengthen their resilience muscle using scientifically proven methods and guides grieving high performers with her Navigating Grief Framework. The Global Resilience Project’s award-winning book series are international bestsellers, and her fourth book, RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Vol 2, will be published in January 2025. In her free time, you can find Blair writing, in nature, travelling the world and helping people to strengthen their resilience muscles. Links:https://www.blairkaplan.ca/https://theglobalresilienceproject.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/blairdkaplan https://www.facebook.com/blair.kaplan https://www.facebook.com/BlairKaplanCommunications https://www.instagram.com/globalresiliencecommunityhttps://www.instagram.com/blairfromblairland/https://www.facebook.com/globalresiliencecommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-global-resilience-project blair@blairkaplan.ca Alana Kaplan is a compassionate mental health professional based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She works in the mental health field, and is a co-host of the Resilient A.F. podcast. Fueled by advocacy, Alana is known for standing up and speaking out for others. Passionate about de-stigmatizing and normalizing mental health, Alana brings her experience to The Global Resilience Project’s team, navigating the role one’s mental health plays in telling their story.Engaging in self-care and growth keeps her going, and her love for reading, travel, and personal relationships helps foster that. When she’s not working, Alana can often be found on walks, working on a crossword puzzle, or playing with any animal she sees.Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section belowSubscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or on yourfavorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.
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    26 mins
  • Hope After Loss: Widowhood, COVID Grief, and Rebuilding Life with Emily Tanner | 083

    Hope After Loss: Widowhood, COVID Grief, and Rebuilding Life with Emily Tanner | 083
    Jun 9 2026
    What happens when your entire life changes overnight and you are left to rebuild from the rubble?In this deeply moving episode of Resilient A.F., Blair sits down with grief coach and widow advocate Emily Tanner, founder of Brave Widow, to talk about loss, resilience, and rebuilding after the death of a spouse. Emily shares her raw and honest story of losing her husband, Nathan, to COVID-19 complications during the Delta variant in July 2021, and how that loss transformed her from a corporate executive into a grief coach supporting widows around the world.Together, Blair and Emily explore the realities of widowhood, the invisible labour of grief, parenting through loss, anticipatory grief, end-of-life conversations, and the complicated emotions that follow sudden loss. This episode offers hope without bypassing pain, practical wisdom without platitudes, and permission to grieve while still believing life can be meaningful again.If you are navigating widowhood, spousal loss, COVID grief, anticipatory grief, or supporting someone who is, this conversation will make you feel seen, understood, and less alone. Widowhood is often misunderstood, minimized, or wrapped in clichés. This episode cuts through all of that.It speaks to the grief that follows sudden loss, the fear of the future, the exhaustion of learning how to do life alone, and the quiet courage it takes to believe that joy is still possible. Emily’s story reminds us that resilience is not about rushing healing. It is about staying present, telling the truth, and choosing hope one breath at a time.If your life feels broken right now, this episode is your reminder that broken does not mean finished. You are still becoming. You are still allowed to hope. And you are far more resilient than you realize.If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to Resilient A.F., leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation today. Grief is heavy, but it does not have to be lonely.Sponsorship opportunities: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15oZsxAigvb6e4wbAmvW_El_1_laeyK4shMY1md6zVWI/edit?usp=sharingSubscribe to our Substack: https://theglobalresilienceproject.substack.com/Buy our books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/About the Guest:Grief Coach Emily Tanner helps widows navigate loss with compassion, clarity, and a practical path forward. As the founder of Brave Widow, Emily has guided hundreds through her proven 4 Seasons of Grief R.I.S.E. framework—Rawness, Isolation, Self-Discovery, and Empowerment—helping them move beyond survival into rebuilding meaningful, joy-filled lives.Emily’s journey began with her own devastating loss. Just days before their 20th anniversary, she was widowed at 37 and became a solo mom of four. What began as a desperate search for healing evolved into a mission to help others rediscover purpose after loss. Through the Brave Widow Academy, podcast, and community, Emily offers heartfelt guidance, memorable stories, and actionable tools that make hope feel possible again—and the next step unmistakably clear.A Certified Faith-Based Life Coach and Grief Recovery Method Specialist, Emily blends compassion with execution. Her approach challenges the status quo: grief isn’t linear, and “time heals” isn’t a strategy.Emily’s warm, grounded energy and powerful storytelling remind audiences that even after unimaginable loss, it’s possible to rebuild something strong, purposeful, and beautiful again.Links: https://www.tiktok.com/@bravewidowhttps://www.youtube.com/@bravewidowhttps://www.facebook.com/bravewidow/https://www.instagram.com/brave_widow/https://x.com/Brave_Widow⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional if needed.About the Hosts: Blair Kaplan Venables is a British Columbia-based grief and resilience expert and coach, motivational speaker and the Founder of The Global Resilience Project. Her expertise has been featured on media platforms like Forbes, TEDx, CBC Radio, Entrepreneur, and Thrive Global. She is named the Top Grief and Resilience Expert of the Year 2024 by IAOTP. USA Today listed Blair as one of the top 10 conscious female leaders to watch and she empowers others to be resilient from stages around the world. 'MyStory,’ which is a television show available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Google Play, showcases Blair's life story. She is the host of the Radical Resilience podcast and specializes in helping people strengthen their resilience muscle using scientifically proven methods and guides grieving high performers with her Navigating Grief Framework. The Global Resilience Project’s award-winning book series are international bestsellers, and her fourth book, RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Vol 2, will be published in January 2025. In her free time, you can find Blair writing, in nature, ...
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    35 mins
  • Trusting Your Inner Knowing with Jess Prudhomme | 082

    Trusting Your Inner Knowing with Jess Prudhomme | 082
    Jun 2 2026
    In this episode of Resilient A.F., Blair sits down with Jess Prudhomme, host of The Great Detour podcast, for a candid conversation about rebuilding a life from the ground up. At 35, Jess walked away from a 17-year relationship, stepped back from a long corporate career, and gave herself permission to question everything she thought she knew about success and identity. What followed was a year-long sabbatical of travel, healing, and rediscovery that reshaped how she shows up in the world. This is Jess’ story and she is RESILIENT A.F.Subscribe to our Substack: https://theglobalresilienceproject.substack.com/Buy our books: https://theglobalresilienceproject.com/books/About the Guest:Jess Prudhomme is the host of The Great Detour, a podcast that explores what happens when life does not unfold the way we once imagined. In her mid-thirties, Jess experienced several major life shifts, including a divorce after a 17-year relationship and later taking a career pause and stepping away from a job she had held for over a decade. Those experiences led her into a period of deep reflection where she began questioning many of the beliefs she had held about success, identity, and the path she thought she was supposed to follow. Through her work and conversations on The Great Detour, Jess explores how life’s detours can guide us back to authenticity, growth, and a more aligned way of living.Links: thegreatdetour.comInstagram: @thegreatdetour⚠️ Content Note: Some episodes may contain themes that could be distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and don’t hesitate to seek support from a mental health professional if needed.About the Hosts: Blair Kaplan Venables is a British Columbia-based grief and resilience expert and coach, motivational speaker and the Founder of The Global Resilience Project. Her expertise has been featured on media platforms like Forbes, TEDx, CBC Radio, Entrepreneur, and Thrive Global. She is named the Top Grief and Resilience Expert of the Year 2024 by IAOTP. USA Today listed Blair as one of the top 10 conscious female leaders to watch and she empowers others to be resilient from stages around the world. 'MyStory,’ which is a television show available on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV+ and Google Play, showcases Blair's life story. She is the host of the Radical Resilience podcast and specializes in helping people strengthen their resilience muscle using scientifically proven methods and guides grieving high performers with her Navigating Grief Framework. The Global Resilience Project’s award-winning book series are international bestsellers, and her fourth book, RESILIENT A.F.: Stories of Resilience Vol 2, will be published in January 2025. In her free time, you can find Blair writing, in nature, travelling the world and helping people to strengthen their resilience muscles. Links:https://www.blairkaplan.ca/https://theglobalresilienceproject.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/blairdkaplan https://www.facebook.com/blair.kaplan https://www.facebook.com/BlairKaplanCommunications https://www.instagram.com/globalresiliencecommunityhttps://www.instagram.com/blairfromblairland/https://www.facebook.com/globalresiliencecommunity https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-global-resilience-project blair@blairkaplan.ca Alana Kaplan is a compassionate mental health professional based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. She works in the mental health field, and is a co-host of the Resilient A.F. podcast. Fueled by advocacy, Alana is known for standing up and speaking out for others. Passionate about de-stigmatizing and normalizing mental health, Alana brings her experience to The Global Resilience Project’s team, navigating the role one’s mental health plays in telling their story.Engaging in self-care and growth keeps her going, and her love for reading, travel, and personal relationships helps foster that. When she’s not working, Alana can often be found on walks, working on a crossword puzzle, or playing with any animal she sees.Thanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section belowSubscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or on yourfavorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review.Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review.
    Show More Show Less
    36 mins
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