46. Melanie: Her Evolution into a Psychic Medium

In this conversation, Jodie shares her experience as a nurse and mother during the pandemic — the fear, the grief, and ultimately, the deep reflection that followed.We explore the intensity of those early days: the fear in the paramedics' eyes and the heartbreak of watching young and healthy patients deteriorate. But beyond the chaos, Jodie found clarity. The crisis became a mirror — revealing cracks in the healthcare system, limiting beliefs around parenting and education, and the cost of always doing what’s expected.From rethinking school for her children to choosing not to vaccinate them, Jodie opens up about how COVID led her to embrace intuition over fear and boundaries over conformity. She reflects on the the nuanced conversations around vaccines, and the journey of choosing a different path for her kids — and eventually for herself. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Sarah was a rule follower, doing everything “right” — corporate job, three kids, non-stop hustle — until COVID forced her to pause. A missed promotion and the loss of her brother sparked deep reflection, grief work, and a powerful shift: from pushing to flowing, from performing to asking What do I want? She shares how intuition, healing, and self-love led her to a more aligned life — and a bold new path forward.Highlights from our conversation:* Life pre-COVID: Managing chaos at work and home: three kids, leading a team of 70, and climbing the corporate ladder.* Self-described rule follower, she followed all the rules early on in the pandemic until she could no longer make sense of it all* The breaking point: A missed promotion sparked deep reflection and opened the door to coaching, self-discovery, and a mindset shift that changed everything.* Learning to trust her intuition: Daily journaling, grief recovery work, and spiritual connection guided her to a more fulfilling, self-loving life.Quote to carry with you:“I was climbing the corporate ladder because it was what I was supposed to do — not what I actually wanted to do.”Thanks for reading Finding ME: Unstuck & Inspired! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

In this conversation, Laura shares how both the pandemic and motherhood profoundly reshaped the course of her life. Her desire to better understand her highly sensitive daughter sparked a journey inward—one that led her to explore inner child work and the emotional complexities that make us human. Along the way, she experienced a spiritual awakening that expanded her perspective, deepened her empathy, and opened her heart to a new path in energy work.Together, we explore the power of collective intention in times of crisis, the importance of embracing the full spectrum of emotions, and the search for meaning amid global uncertainty. This episode invites us to reflect, stay open, and trust that even in chaos, the universe is unfolding exactly as it should. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Kinndli (Power Yoga Canada and Power Yoga Collective) shares the rollercoaster of leading a small business through the pandemic—from frustration and financial strain to unexpected growth. She also opens up about her existential crisis and how that journey brought her to profound realizations about identity, compassion, and what it really means to live fully.One of the many things I admire about Kinndli is how deeply she reflects on the big questions: Who am I? What matters? How do I show up for others and myself in a world that often demands we fit into boxes? Her wisdom shines throughout in this conversation—from the philosophical to the practical, and everything in between. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

In this conversation, I’m joined once again by the wise and wonderful Melanie Huestis for a deep, expansive, and honest dialogue about the ways we make meaning in times of chaos and change. Together, we explore the emotional and spiritual impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including what it revealed about our relationships, our values, and ourselves.Melanie shares her personal journey navigating social ostracism, grief, and healing—and how her work as a psychic medium and energy worker helped her stay grounded through it all. We talk about the courage it takes to ask big questions, to stay curious when it's easier to judge, and to hold space for differing perspectives without losing ourselves.One idea that stayed with me long after we stopped recording is the concept of neutrality—not as indifference, but as a way of witnessing with presence instead of reacting from fear or old stories. But that’s just one layer of what we unpack here.This conversation is an invitation to soften, to question, and to remember that even in times of deep disconnection, there’s always a path back to understanding. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Marlene and I cover so much: the transformative impact of the pandemic on our lives, the decisions we made during lockdowns and vaccinations and the emotional toll it all took. We discuss the importance of community and connection in a divided world, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding. We reflect on the Canadian trucker convoy, shifts in our perspectives on health and authority, our deepening spiritual beliefs and more.Marlene is such a beautiful example of actively choosing love and curiosity even in difficult times. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Season 6 of Finding ME is a bold return to the roots of why this podcast began—seeking understanding, healing, and purpose through honest conversations. This season explores how women found themselves stuck during the COVID-19 pandemic, what they did to move forward, and why curiosity is the key to compassion, connection, and getting unstuck. It’s time to use our voices, ask brave questions, and humanize the experiences we’ve all lived through. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Lisa’s journey to midlife is not uncommon. She checked all the life boxes - education, marriage, kids, career - only to find she still felt lost. Somewhere along the way she’d lost that curious, confident and excited-about-life young girl.   Lisa’s dark night of the soul happens when her mom dies very quickly and unexpectedly and her job as a teacher becomes unbearable. Change feels like her only option. She shares all the trials and tribulations of navigating this new phase of midlife, starting a career over again, dealing with menopause, becoming an empty nester (or bird launcher as I like to call it) and allowing herself to dream of bigger and better things. Lisa is such a beautiful example of bringing energy and inspiration to midlife.  Lisa is the host of Transforming 45 where we recorded another conversation with her as the host interviewing me. Listen here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.  You can also find Lisa on Instagram here.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

This conversation is personal. I invited Shirlee to have a conversation about Covid because I feel deeply that healing is needed from this period when our lives were turned upside down and fear became the foundation for a lot of decision making. And I can’t think of a better way to facilitate this healing than through conversation.   Covid has changed me. It changed how I see the world and how I show up everyday. That time was particularly challenging for me because my perspective and choices clashed with what was considered “right”. For the first time in my life I did not follow the “rules”.  This experience has deepened my commitment to leading conversations from a place of love and curiosity with other open-hearted women like Shirlee. I want to humanize our individual experiences—including those that are different from my own —and encourage deeper reflection of that period.  If you’re a curious and heart-centered individual and want to share your experience from Covid, I’d love to hear from you. DM me on Instagram at FindingMEpodcast.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com

Melanie’s journey from childhood abuse to becoming a psychic medium and embracing her gifts is an incredible rollercoaster ride.  For many years Melanie was driven by a desire to control her experiences for a sense of security but she’s learned to surrender to a deep knowing that life is happening FOR her, rather than to her. This perspective grounded in curiosity and compassion permeates our entire conversation.  Melanie shares so many insights from her own healing journey. We discuss: processing emotions trauma trust death grief marriage parenting FOPO (Fear of Other Peoples Opinions) This conversation has challenged my thinking and I absolutely loved every minute of it.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit leithmckay.substack.com