Forks
by Alexis Hood & Amie Plourde
Vanessa Vakharia — From Failing Math to becoming The Math Guru, a…
About this podcast
Forks is a podcast about what happens when life doesn’t go as planned — and how we find our way forward.
🎧 New here? Start with our intro episode: on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Each week, longtime friends and hosts Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde sit down with people who’ve faced tough situations: mental health struggles, addiction, incarceration, divorce, job loss, grief, identity shifts — and chose to build something honest and meaningful in the aftermath.
Whether you’re standing at your own crossroads or simply curious about how others rebuilt their lives and navigated life, you’ll find stories of resilience, reinvention, and raw humanity.
Real people. Real pivots. The moments that ask: how the fork did I get here?
Follow Forks
• Website (apply to be on the show!) - forkspod.com/contact
• Instagram - @forkspod
• Facebook - The Forks Podcast
• LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/forkspod
Copyright
All content, including audio, transcripts, and other materials, is owned by the podcast creators (Alexis Hood and Amie Plourde) and cannot be reproduced or redistributed without permission.
Disclaimer
The Forks podcast, available at forkspod.com, is for informational and entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. The content provided is not a substitute for professional advice, and the hosts are not liable for any actions taken based on podcast discussions. By participating as a guest, individuals consent to the recording and sharing of their stories. Listener privacy is respected in line with our privacy policy, and any data collected will be handled in accordance with applicable laws such as GDPR and CCPA. For full terms and policies, please visit forkspod.com/disclaimer.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 30 episodes
- Vanessa Vakharia — From Failing Math to becoming The Math Guru, a Rock Star, and a Mission to Heal Math Trauma · 40 minIn this episode of Forks, we sit down with Vanessa Vakharia, founder of The Math Guru, bestselling author of Math Hacks and Math Therapy, and frontwoman of the indie rock band…
- Beyond the Job Title: Career Coach Lynn Unger on Mindset, Change, and Redefining Success · 43 minWhen career coach Lynn Unger decided to retire, she thought she was closing one chapter — but instead, she found herself facing some of the same questions she’d helped her…
- Beyond the Court: Rae Swire on Identity, Change, and Life After High-Performance Sport · 38 minWhat happens when a professional athlete retires — and their identity goes with it? In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Rae Swire, a former Team Canada volleyball player…
- From the ER to a New Era: Sheila Early and the Birth of Forensic Nursing in Canada · 49 min · Episode 24It was supposed to be an ordinary shift in the emergency room. Instead, it sparked a revolution in healthcare. When rookie nurse Sheila Early treated her first sexual assault…
- Dr. Becky Whetstone: Marriage Crisis, Childhood Trauma, and How Humility Heals Relationships · 50 min · Episode 23What if the fight in your marriage isn’t just about dishes, distance, or desire — but something deeper you haven’t yet faced? In this revealing episode, therapist and author Dr…
- Dana Felske: Single Mom by Choice, Entrepreneur by Vision · 43 min · Episode 22What does it take to walk away from a stable career, start a business with your dad, and then choose motherhood on your own terms? In this moving and empowering episode, Dana…
- Yash Preswalla on Skateboarding, Sobriety, and Building Impact from the Inside Out · 50 min · Episode 21In this episode of Forks, we talk with Yash Preswalla, founder of Toronto's Impact Skate Club, about how skateboarding became his path to purpose, sobriety, and social change…
- Christie Tait, NP: Migraine and the Journey from Sufferer to Specialist · 57 min · Episode 20A Nurse Practitioner specializing in headache and concussion care, Christie Tait has worked in Emergency Medicine at Toronto’s SickKids and Mount Sinai, led the Headache Program…
- Shannon Gallagher of Smithery Style: From Burnout to Business Owner · 49 min · Episode 19In this episode of Forks, we sit down with Shannon Gallagher, the powerhouse entrepreneur who took a leap of faith to acquire Smithery Style, a Canadian online boutique…
- Emma Plourde-Doran: Championing Inclusive Education for Students with Autism · 45 min · Episode 18In this episode of Forks, Alexis and Amie sit down with Emma Plourde-Doran, an educator who faced a defining fork in the road: follow a traditional teaching path or build a…
- Terry Pirovolakis: A Father’s Incredible Mission to Treat His Son’s Rare Disease, SPG50 · 38 min · Episode 17When Terry and Georgia Pirovolakis received the devastating news that their 15-month-old son, Michael, had been diagnosed with Spastic Paraplegia Type 50 (SPG50), a rare…
- Poetry, Perseverance, and Second Chances with Anne Hood, The Wild Geese Poet · 50 min · Episode 16Raised in Yorkshire in the 1950s and 60s, today’s guest—known as The Wild Geese Poet—grew up in a loving but challenging home, shaped by her mother’s undiagnosed schizophrenia…
- Forensic Nursing, Justice and Sexual Education with Hannah Varto · 59 min · Episode 15In this eye-opening episode of Forks, we sit down with Hannah Varto, a nurse practitioner and forensic expert dedicated to supporting survivors of violence. From her journey into…
- How To Have A Good Day (and How To Have a Bad One) - Frank's Back! · 54 min · Episode 14What if the key to having a good day—or a bad one—was entirely within your control? In this episode, we welcome back Frank, an addictions counsellor and expert in human…
- Hots & Nots: Our Current Icks & Obsessions · 39 min · Episode 13🎧 In this episode of Forks, Alexis and Amie dive into what they see as hot and not in their world. From celebrity comebacks and self-care trends to bizarre corporate habits and…
- Alexis’ Update: Losing your job can be a gift + advice for navigating unemployment · 34 min · Episode 12In this episode of Forks, we explore Alexis’ journey from job loss to career clarity and why losing your job might actually be the best thing to happen. Discover why job loss can…
- Adenike Charles: Fitness, Faith, and Finding Your Path · 51 min · Episode 11In this episode, Alexis and Amie are joined by Adenike Charles, founder of Just2Sweat, a fitness and wellness brand that combines exercise, mindset, and faith to inspire…
- Looking Back: Our Favourite Lessons from Our Guests So Far · 29 min · Episode 10In this episode, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible wisdom and insights shared by our guests since we launched the podcast in October 2024. From navigating life’s…
- Jessica Diamond, Child Therapist, on Navigating Ontario's Mental Health System and Parenting Neurodivergent Children · 54 min · Episode 9What happens when a seasoned child and family expert finds herself unable to help her own child in crisis? That’s the reality Jessica Diamond, mother of three and founder of The…
- Nadine Sookermany: CEO of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network on Humility, Equity, and Navigating Life’s Crossroads · 1 h 0 min · Episode 8What does it take to lead with humility, foster equity, and inspire transformative change? Nadine Sookermany, CEO of the Ontario HIV Treatment Network, joins us to share her…
