STRONG LIKE a GIRL – Details, episodes & analysis

STRONG LIKE a GIRL is a podcast hosted by a girl named Tanya LaBuick - an entrepreneur, a powerhouse C-suite leader who's led teams on the world stage, and scaled start-ups into multimillion-dollar companies. STRONG LIKE a GIRL will explore how we uncover the wisdom gained through adversity—and the tools used to overcome it. We’ll unpack it, sit in it, likely cry about it, and hopefully laugh a little—or a lot. So, chin up, chest out, here we go! Connect with Tanya LaBuick: ⁠https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/⁠ ⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠ ⁠https://labuick.co/

In this episode of Strong Like a Girl, host Tanya LaBuick sits down with Janet McMahon, the first female CEO of Sport Manitoba, for a powerful and inspiring conversation about leadership and the transformative power of sport. Janet shares her journey to her groundbreaking role as CEO, reflecting on over 40 years in sports. She offers insight into the challenges and rewards of sports management, her experiences at major sporting events, and what it means to lead with authenticity and purpose. The conversation dives into the evolving landscape for women in sports, gender dynamics in leadership, and the complexities surrounding inclusion in athletics. Janet also opens up about her personal health journey with ALS, discussing how it has reshaped her perspective on life and leadership. Connect with Janet McMahon: Janet has worked in Sport Administration for 40 years playing various roles.  Currently, she is the President and CEO of Sport Manitoba.  In addition to attending many Games regional, provincial, national to international as Mission staff, she also worked for the Host Societies of the 1999 Pan Am Games and the 2017 Canada Summer Games.  More recently, she was diagnosed with ALS and is now focused on bringing closure to her work and responsibilities with purpose. https://www.sportmanitoba.ca/team/janet-mcmahon  Connect with Tanya LaBuick: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://labuick.co/

In the inaugural episode of the Strong Like a Girl podcast, host Tanya LaBuick shares her journey, career highlights, and the inspiration behind the podcast. Inviting her producer Sarah Burke along for the conversation, she speaks about working with community programs and managing large-scale events, including the Olympics. Tanya reflects on her personal challenges and the lessons learned throughout her life, aiming to empower listeners to overcome self-doubt and embrace their strength. She also discusses the importance of mentorship, the challenges of self-promotion, and the power of authenticity in a male-dominated industry. The dialogue also touches on the significance of courage, and the meaning behind the phrase 'Strong Like a Girl.' She emphasizes the importance of community, resilience, and the power of women coming together. Connect with Tanya LaBuick: ⁠⁠https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://labuick.co/

In this episode of Strong Like a Girl, host Tanya LaBuick speaks to Heather Stefanson about her journey in politics, discussing the challenges women face in the male-dominated field. They touch on the importance of mentorship and health challenges and how they intersect with her leadership role, advocating for women to prioritize their health and well-being. They reflect on their experiences in the political arena, emphasizing the significance of unity in divisive times and the importance of creating a safe environment for women in politics. The discussion also highlights the need to encourage future generations of women to get involved in public policy and leadership roles. More About Heather Stefanson: The Honourable Heather Stefanson has dedicated over 25 years to public service across federal, provincial, and international levels. She made history as the 24th Premier of Manitoba and the first woman to hold the position, where she led major fiscal reforms, balanced a $21 billion budget, and achieved one of Canada’s highest provincial fiscal performance rankings. As Premier, Heather championed economic development, Indigenous economic reconciliation, and healthcare innovation — including launching Manitoba’s Diagnostic and Surgical Recovery Task Force, which cleared pandemic surgical backlogs for more than 85,000 patients. Her leadership also helped secure a landmark national healthcare funding agreement during her tenure as Chair of the Council of the Federation. https://www.gov.mb.ca/legislature/members/info/stefanson.html  Connect with Tanya LaBuick: ⁠⁠https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://labuick.co/⁠

Host Tanya LaBuick speaks with Sarah Peto, a trailblazer in the Brandon, Manitoba fire and emergency service. She shares her journey as one of the first women in the fire and emergency service in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, discussing challenges faced by women, the evolution of gender dynamics, and the importance of mental health and support networks. Sarah highlights the impact of her community work, and her aspirations for the future, emphasizing the need for advocacy and empowerment for women in fire and emergency services. More About Sarah Peto: Sarah Peto is a Lieutenant with Brandon Fire & Emergency Services, where she has proudly served her community for 24 years as both a firefighter and paramedic. A leader for change in the fire service, Sarah is the founder and President of Fire Service Women Central Provinces, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advocacy, empowerment, and advancement of women in the fire service throughout Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. Sarah is a strong advocate for mental health and resiliency. She serves on her department’s Peer Support Team and is a board member of Project Resilience 911, which provides Westman-area first responders with access to mental health resources, resiliency training, and CISM debriefs. Nationally, she contributes her expertise through the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs’ Mental Health and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committees, working to foster a more inclusive and supportive fire service culture across Canada. www.fswcp.ca https://www.instagram.com/fswcp/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BBNBtnnsT/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-peto-5589613a/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/fire-service-women-central-provinces Chapters (00:00) Introduction and First Impressions (01:52) Journey into Emergency Services (05:47) Challenges of Being a Woman in Fire Services (11:24) Evolving Attitudes Towards Women in Fire Services (17:20) Establishing Support Networks for Women (23:30) Future Goals for Women in Fire Services (26:41) Supporting Women in Fire Services (28:39) Recognition and Awards for Community Service (31:01) Navigating Community Connections in Emergency Services (36:56) Advice for Fire Chiefs on Supporting Women (38:04) Future Aspirations in Fire Service Leadership (41:24) Rapid Fire Questions: Insights and Reflections Connect with Tanya LaBuick: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠https://labuick.co/⁠

In this heartfelt conversation, host Tanya LaBuick and colleague-turned-friend Amy Hyatt explore their deep friendship, the challenges of navigating life after their work together during the Salt Lake City Olympics, and the profound impact of grief and loss in her life. Amy shares her journey of caregiving for her husband Ben, who faced mental health challenges and ultimately succumbed to cancer, alongside the loss of her mother. The discussion delves into the complexities of grief, the importance of vulnerability, and the strength found in shared experiences. Amy reflects on her life lessons and the meaning of resilience, ultimately emphasizing the power of acceptance and the necessity of embracing both joy and sorrow in life alongside your friends and support system. More About Amy Hyatt: As a seasoned event manager, Amy Hyatt has worked for high-profile organizations including the 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2002 Salt Lake Olympics, the University of Minnesota and currently for 21+ years with Minnesota Public Radio and American Public Media. linkedin.com/in/amyelizabethyatt                 Connect with Tanya LaBuick: https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://labuick.co/⁠

Host Tanya LaBuick reconnects with her high school friend Karen Lam, an accomplished filmmaker known for her work in the horror genre. They discuss Karen's journey from a small town in Manitoba to becoming a celebrated director, exploring themes of cultural identity, representation, the feminine edge, and the impact of grief on storytelling. Karen shares her insights on the role of empathy in horror, the importance of authentic storytelling, and her current projects that address socio-political issues.  More About Karen Lam: Karen has worked full-time in the film and television industry since 2000. Starting her career as a producer and entertainment lawyer, Karen was one of the architects of the British Columbia tax credit program before being recruited by PwC accounting firm to assist with creating tax shelters for the US studio clients.  Since leaving the world of film finance, Karen has written and directed ten short horror films, three music videos, series directed two seasons of the true crime series Very Bad Men for Discovery+, a web series Mythos (2015) for TELUS, and five feature-length films, including Stained (2010), Evangeline (2013) and The Curse of Willow Song (2020), which premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival in September 2020.  The film won the award for Best British Columbia Feature Film, and Karen received a Best Director award at the British Columbia Leo Awards (2021).  Karen has also written television scripts for SYFY and Netflix on the premiere seasons of Van Helsing and Ghost Wars, where she was able to help create and create the characters for each series.  In 2021, Karen directed the seventh instalment in the Bring It On cheerleading franchise, a Halloween horror special titled Bring It On:  Cheer Or Die (2022) that premiered on SYFY in October, and is available for viewing on Crave in Canada (Amazon and Hulu in the rest of the world.).  The Curse of Willow Song is available for viewing worldwide, released jointly by Red Water Entertainment (Canada) and Uncork’d Entertainment (world). Karen just directed two projects in 2024 based on her original scripts:  Armageddon Road is a darkly comedic supernatural road trip, set in 1970s Las Vegas, with a sly riff on the Biblical Book of Revelation.  The feature film was shot almost entirely in the volume wall and with miniatures, using a unique combination of retro and cutting edge technology.  The second project is Karen’s tenth short horror film, Mrs. Chang’s Perfect Teeth, which won the Director’s Guild of Canada BC “Established Director Greenlight Award” in late 2023.   Both films are premiering in film festival screenings in the fall of 2025 and will be distributed internationally in the spring of 2026. www.karenlamfilms.com  https://youtu.be/IdEOC0oUilg?si=yfe9wUWnui3uEC1I  Connect with Tanya LaBuick: https://www.stronglikeagirlpodcast.ca/ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://stronglikeagirl.ca/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://labuick.co/⁠ Chapters (00:00) Reconnecting Through Memories (02:16) Karen Lam: A Multifaceted Career (11:21) Cultural Identity and Growing Up in Brandon (22:11) Navigating Grief and Storytelling (23:05) The Unique Perspective of Women in Horror Films (25:39) The Final Girl and Feminism in Horror (27:48) Desexualizing Rape Revenge Tropes (30:32) Exploring Socio-Political Themes in Horror (31:56) Microaggressions and Cultural Representation (36:33) Empathy in Horror Filmmaking (38:35) Writing Process and Creative Flow (42:53) Advice for Aspiring Women Filmmakers