Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 I'm wondering for Macquarie wood, Buffalo and the rest of the world. You've tuned into the Mac CD morning show. I am your host Elliot, Pierre. We're going to start the show off the same way we start every show off with a moment of gratitude. I know you could be a million other places and doing a million other things. So the fact that you spend it with us truly does mean the world to me. So thank you on that note, Tanner hit him with the intro
Speaker 5 00:00:31 Hey everybody, Keith Simpson here from their Alta, we support the El veterans. We've joined the drive-in movie theater. We're involved in the marathon here in Fort McMurray, and that's what makes this community such an amazing place to live.
Speaker 0 00:00:45 Okay. And we're back. I'm excited about today's guest because it's round two last time, the sound didn't work this time. We've triple checked. It does work. So as you guys know, I don't introduce my guests. I let them do that themselves. So can you please tell everybody at home who you are and what you're about?
Speaker 6 00:00:59 I am Carla white and I am, uh, let's see what I'm all about. I'm a mom of a proud mom of three adult children. I know I don't look old enough because I had them like when I was ten-ish. Okay. I have been married as long as I've lived in Fort McMurray, which is over half my life. So I've been here for 30 years. My husband would tell you that it's only been about 16 glorious years, but it's been 30. There's been 30. And, uh, what else am I about? Uh, well, I'm an author. I'm a humorist and I'm an, uh, happiness catalyst.
Speaker 0 00:01:35 Okay. Okay. Let's uh, you've hit me in 10 or probably on the best day possible on the way here we were talking about, like, I don't think I could have, I don't think I could be in a better mood if I tried. Like, I'm so happy right now, which I'm happy every day, but sometimes it's a little bonus and Tanner's doing extremely well today too. So what does a happy catalyst? What, like, elaborate on that for us, because maybe we can go up another notch that I'm unaware of.
Speaker 6 00:02:03 Well, I work with people and their feelings and so, um, it it's been a long journey for me too. I was once the known as the angry housewife, right as I was, that was my comedic persona, but it was also a time in my life when I struggled with depression and mental health issues and just some self-esteem. So I was on this path to try and figure out how I could be happier. That was what I was searching for was how can I be happy? And, um, I really, I had like the picture perfect life. I had this amazing home and husband and healthy children. I'd had a lot of work, um, accomplishments and I inside, I just was not happy. I was, um, so I spent a lot of time. I spent about 10 years being treated for depression. And, um, really from there, I started to do some work on how, how do I heal this? How do I find that happiness? And I, I studied with coaches. I studied with it, went to therapy. I did all of these things. Right. And, um, to try and find my happy and I managed to succeed. Um, so now what I say is I'm a happiness catalyst because I can't make you happy. Right. And I can't, I can't make anybody but myself happy. Correct. And so all I'm doing is helping to facilitate that process for people. Nice is creating the experiences, creating the, the teachings to help them to find their happy.
Speaker 0 00:03:38 Right. And so I have things that like helped me be happy and like be mindful and then put me in that direction. What are some things for people at home that you would suggest? I know it's not a one size fit, one size fits all. What are certain things that you've, you've seen that hel have helped others in the happiness journey?
Speaker 6 00:03:58 Well, I kind of went a different approach than, than some of the gurus out there, or, um, I wanted to go to a holistic approach and really dig into what is it that is causing this unhappiness. So you can't talk about happiness without talking about what's preventing us from getting there. And it's, uh, it's an inside job is really what it boils down to is your thoughts and your beliefs that create the stress and anxiety in your life. And, um, we, we often think that it's the external environment. And one of the biggest lessons that I learned is actually a very simple equation. It's not a mathematic equation cause they don't do mental math. Yeah. He plus R equals O okay. So there's an event in your life and it's your response to it that creates the outcomes. Right. So when we take a look at all of that, it's okay. So what's going on outside. Isn't really the problem. It's usually what's going on inside.
Speaker 0 00:05:09 Right.
Speaker 6 00:05:10 So that's where I work with people on that inner the inner critic, which is, you know, the happy or the angry housewife. That was my inner critic was, uh, she was really, really nasty, very nasty to me because
Speaker 0 00:05:23 You're not a nasty person at all.
Speaker 6 00:05:25 No, but I was, it was, um, I really turned it in on myself and it's the, the, I set expectations for myself that were so high, like unachievable high and, um, you know, that's what we find. I find with a lot of high achievers and people that had coached with me is that, um, we've got these beliefs and we made decisions often times, like when we were kids made decisions based on something that happened and our interpretation of it created a thought. And then the thought that we think over and over becomes a belief. And then that in turn impacts our behaviors and how we respond to life or write or react to life.
Speaker 0 00:06:12 Yeah. Yeah. When you're sitting with people and talking to them about that and even yourself, like, were you able to go back that far to figure out like what that first initial seed was when you were a child or is it just, you can't figure out what the seed was, but you get pretty close to it.
Speaker 6 00:06:28 I've done a number of healing processes that really did get into the subconscious and, and, uh, the energy that is involved in those. And so I have memories of the feeling and not necessarily all the time, the actual event, but I have had some sort of, they call it regression therapy where, and, and the, the first time I did it was like, okay, I'm just making this shit up. Right? Like this, this didn't really happen. And, and then, uh, years later I worked with a hypnotherapist and he said, well, the thing is, is that the subconscious is in there and it's, it's pulling information and it, it, yes, you are making it up, but you're, you're not making it up from a place of this didn't happen that there was something that happened. And then your filter that you have on, on it interpreted it. So I always say that, um, our mind believes whatever. We tell it
Speaker 0 00:07:30 A hundred percent
Speaker 6 00:07:31 And that our body always tells the truth. So when we're dealing with emotions, it's, what are you feeling? And we focus on the feeling and how do you want to feel? And so there's a whole process, a whole healing process that I work people through.
Speaker 0 00:07:47 Yeah. It's one of, um, I do this course, I'm at Kiano college and that father Merck, when I could go on high schools, maybe, Hey, next semester, things are changing. Um, but it's all about asking like good open-ended questions. Um, because especially in this generation, the communication skills face to face aren't there. Um, and one of them that I say is like, it's a good question to ask somebody in their childhood, like, what was like a car ride for you in regards to like, was there music playing was there? And if there wasn't music, was it radio, was there silence? Like, what does that kind of lead you back to? And then most people don't think that far back, and it puts them on a pause and I'm like, huh. And then more often than not, there's a happy memory. That's connected to it of some sort, because it's like that seed of their childhood. And it just, it grows from there. But I don't feel that most people really think back to like their youth at that stage. Right. So if you're looking for that jam of whatever or the nugget of like, what started you on this path, that'd be a fun thing to actually sit down and talk to people about to see like the, the wheels starting to turn. Yeah.
Speaker 6 00:08:53 Well, I had a memory of, um, standing, I was about six years old and this is a memory that I believe happened in the way that it happened or the way that I sort of saw it when I was walked through the process. And it was my, um, where we lived, the cemetery was right behind our house. So you could see it from their
Speaker 0 00:09:19 Neighbors,
Speaker 6 00:09:21 Very quiet. Um, but I remember my parents being at my grandmother's funeral and I remember pushing the, uh, stool up so I could see them. And I had that thought. I just wanted people to feel better. I wanted to be there to make them feel better. And that, that was probably the first memory I had of wanting to help people. Okay. Um, you know, progressed from there.
Speaker 0 00:09:49 There we go. Now, listen, there's one guy that helps me all the time. His name is Tanner. He gave me the signal right there that he's got his questions ready. But before we get into the questions, there is a sponsor for this segment. And I think you're a great guest for this sponsor. Uh, cause you have beautiful teeth, nice white smile and anybody at home, if you want a nice white smile as well. There's the Fort McMurray denture center, right. Tenor center
Speaker 7 00:10:15 Is
Speaker 0 00:10:15 Correct. And so, uh, if you, uh, need help with it, they're a great place to go to. So thank you for sponsoring the Mac city minute. Now that note tenor here with max any minute.
Speaker 7 00:10:26 All right. Question number one. What is one thing that you think everyone could do to be more happy?
Speaker 8 00:10:35 Uh,
Speaker 6 00:10:37 Decide
Speaker 0 00:10:39 Deep.
Speaker 6 00:10:40 It's a choice that we make. And I remember, uh, when I was in the depths of my depression, my husband saying to me, you just decide Carly, you just wake up and choose to be happy. And I really wanted to just punch him in the nose, but it, it really that's what it comes down to is making that decision that I want to be happier. And I'm deciding in this moment that that's what I'm going to choose. And there's, there's a path to it. If, if you're feeling like you're a long ways away from it. Right. But it is a choice
Speaker 7 00:11:14 Question. Number two, what is one guilty pleasure you have when it comes to making yourself happy?
Speaker 6 00:11:22 Uh, I don't, I don't have guilt anymore about pleasure. Um, that is one of my life lessons was that there was a lot of, I carried a lot of guilt as a, as a mom and as a woman. And, uh, as a, a girl that was brought up on the farm, that was like, we got to work hard and you're going to do this. And life is hard. And all of those lessons that I learned, um, I decided that that really wasn't going to work for me. Um, and feeling guilty about it is guilt is actually one of the things that I help people work through. Um, because guilt is that we feel like we're doing something wrong and when it comes to pleasure, we're never doing anything wrong.
Speaker 0 00:12:02 There we go.
Speaker 7 00:12:04 Question number three. Uh, if not doing what you do now, how would you want to apply your knowledge in another field?
Speaker 6 00:12:14 If I wasn't doing what I'm doing now,
Speaker 7 00:12:17 How would you want to apply your knowledge in another field?
Speaker 6 00:12:23 I don't even know what field I would do. Um, that's a tricky question, Tanner. I don't, I don't think I have an answer for that.
Speaker 0 00:12:31 Here we go. I love it. That's the first. And that's awesome. When you said that question out loud, I'm just like, how did you string words together like that? So nicely, like that was like a really articulated deep question. And I was thinking, I don't know how she's going to answer. I don't know how that I'd answered that.
Speaker 6 00:12:48 You know, there, there would be a time when I would stress and try and start it as like, no, I don't know. I don't know I'm going to have a drink.
Speaker 0 00:12:54 Okay. There we go.
Speaker 7 00:12:56 Question number four. What is your favorite change you've seen in yourself from your time as the angry housewife to now
Speaker 6 00:13:07 My ability to laugh at myself and the ridiculous, some of the ridiculous thoughts and, and things that I had going on. And, um, just the fact that I truly, truly, and deeply love myself now, which was a huge, huge epiphany for me.
Speaker 0 00:13:29 That's awesome. That's awesome.
Speaker 7 00:13:32 And your final question, what is one story of a time you felt you truly helped change some way?
Speaker 6 00:13:44 Uh,
Speaker 6 00:13:48 I have people tell me all the time that spending time with me, especially when I'm, um, having fun and we're just relaxing in the moment. My friends always talk about me changing them and I don't change anybody. Right. Um, they, they change themselves and, and sometimes it's, um, you don't even realize it until after the fact that we've experienced a moment. Um, and, and that's what it comes down to is there's these milestones and moments that we experience in life. And often we don't even know, actually it just reminded me, um, 30 years. Well, no, it'd be more like 40 years ago. Um, I had somebody reach out to me on Facebook and, um, say that I had a conversation with them
Speaker 0 00:14:39 40 years ago,
Speaker 6 00:14:40 40 years ago that changed their life.
Speaker 0 00:14:43 Oh, cool.
Speaker 6 00:14:44 And I don't remember the conversation, but I remember it was after my brother had been, and this was a friend of his and, um, I don't know exactly what, what sort of transpired, but he said that that conversation changed his life.
Speaker 0 00:15:00 There you go. And those have been your five questions. It's funny how words can affect people. I've been fortunate enough. Like when I moved back to Fort Murray, I never thought I was going to spend any time back at school, like at father mercury or like any school that I went to for that matter. But, uh, I've been lucky enough that I actually have spent like an overwhelming amount of, of time back at school while the Merck in particular more so as an adult then as a kid for being a hundred percent honest with you, but I got to build relationships with my old teachers and some of them have been instrumental in who I am now. And I've been able to say like, Hey, there was this one time in social studies class. You said this. And boy, like the ramifications of those words, that encouragement to me meant the world.
Speaker 0 00:15:49 And every time I tell a teacher that like a past teacher, they just look at me and like, Elliot, I don't remember that moment. Like, because they have so many of those interactions. Right. Um, and like, I'm just like, yeah, it meant something to me because a lot of them are legitimate friends. Now they have taken that away and be like, wow, I need to be more mindful of what I am saying, because that sentence, would've never like registered with me that that could have meant anything to anyone. Right. So you never know the words are coming out of your mouth. Can sometimes be pretty powerful dependent on where the person is in their life and what they're hearing. Right. Yeah.
Speaker 6 00:16:25 Yeah. And, and for me, it's really about spreading kindness and love and, um, you know, being very, having integrity with your word because you do not know how, how it will impact somebody and that, um, we can hear messages over and over and over, and then whatever space that we're in at that time, it just lands. And it can be the same message that we've heard from anybody else. And it just has an impact because that's where we are in our life. And so, yeah, it's, it's profound when it happens. And, um, I think teachers are probably the, you know, the biggest, um, I mean, I love the teachers at other Merck. They, they raised my kids and, and I know that some of them, you know, the kids had, um, it takes a, it takes a village. It really does to, to raise happy, well adjusted children. And, um, I consider the teachers as sort of partners in helping, helping raise my kids.
Speaker 0 00:17:29 Uh, speaking of a village, you, uh, had a little bit of a, a village going on a few weekends ago, you had a, a bit of a gathering. What was that about? How did it go? Tell me all about it. I knew about you doing it, but I don't know the outcome of them because it was a ladies event. So I couldn't,
Speaker 6 00:17:44 Yeah, it was a lady too. W we didn't, we didn't invite the guys. Um, I asked, you know, I said that there's some guys that want to come to these events and there was a lady in the audience and said they can't come. And I always say the only, the only male that can't come is my husband, because, you know, um, but, um, it was connection circus. So it was the annual international women's day celebration. And, um, the, the feedback has been amazing. We had a great turnout and so much fun. There was a moment for me that just made all of the planning and all of the, the, you know, bringing it all together, just so powerful was, um, I was, I had finished my, my talk and I was standing at the back and I went to get a drink at the bar and I turned around and I'm like, okay, where am I going to, who made it go and talk to?
Speaker 6 00:18:37 And there was nobody sitting at the tables, they were all at the games. So we had created a carnival and, um, they would just fun games like bra pong. And, uh, there was some boxing with nine round and, uh, there's a catapult, it was supposed to be panties, but apparently that didn't work very well. Okay. There was just fun stuff. And to see the women engaged in fun and laughing. And I know for a fact that, um, there was at least two people that I know of who have really struggled in the last two years with the lockdown and with personal tragedies that have they've experienced. And, um, they were out and they were laughing and they were doing the hula hoop and there was laughter and there was connection. And that's really, um, that's what I do with my events. That's what I always wanted to create is that atmosphere, a safe space for people to connect and laugh and have fun and to grow and really experience.
Speaker 6 00:19:43 So that's when I, I talked about, uh, and actually I got a little emotional on stage, um, which is, I mean, I'm, I'm usually the, Hey, let's do the humor piece. Um, but I talked about, uh, the movement that I'm starting, which is healing with humor. And, um, it really resonated with people because that's where a lot of people are at they're fatigued. They're frustrated, they're, they're burned out from the energy of the last couple years. And, um, everything that Fort McMurray has been through, um, what I saw that night was a group of strong, resilient, amazing women, having fun and connecting and awesome. That was, that was what it was all about for. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:20:26 Great. Well, I'm glad the event went well. Cause I saw some pictures. It was very well attended. So, and this is one of the first things that people go out and do again. So I have no doubt. People were just like starving for that night out and that kind of like a fun environment. Right. So that's very cool. Well, listen, our 20 minutes is Tanner gave me the watch tap a while ago. So listen, thank you for coming. Thank you for coming back again. Let's please make this a regular thing, which I think we are going to do. So because what we talked about last time was very far from what we spoke about this time. So obviously there's a lot of topics that we can cover now, before I cut you loose. So everybody gets a shameless shout out or plugs. So you have the mic lights and the camera have fun.
Speaker 6 00:21:10 Perfect. I want to tell you about my retreat, the reignite, your spark retreat, which is kind of the founding piece of the healing with humor movement. It is April 1st to third Jasper park lodge. The early bird pricing is still on and we are closing sales on that on the 23rd of March.
Speaker 0 00:21:31 Okay, cool. So just around the corner here. Yeah. Okay. Cool. Well, thank you very much for coming in. Appreciate it. All right. For Macquarie wood, Buffalo and the rest of the world. That's been another episode of the Mac city morning show. Thank you for tuning in big shout out to our key sponsor, uh, Norelle Toyota, key fad number, all the boys and girls down there. Thank you very much. I think everybody saw their ad at the beginning of the show and big shout out to Fort McMurray denture center, helping your smile. Look that much better for sponsoring the Mac CT minute. Hope everybody's having a great day and we'll see you tomorrow. Peace.
Speaker 9 00:22:05 Hey guys, cram here with Rick Bray down to center, a lot of people are surprised to hear this, but I'm born and raised here. So as this company, we're local, just like you come on in, we'll help you out.
Speaker 10 00:22:16 Y Dalio Wade and another morning show later by us.
Speaker 12 00:22:33 Talk about quenching your ugly thirst.
