Life By Design

In this special episode, Dr. Robyne sits down with Canadian writer, journalist, and longtime Saturday Night editor Ernest Hillen. At 92, he reflects on a life shaped by hardship and resilience, from years in internment camps as a young boy during the Second World War to building a new life in Canada.

At the heart of this conversation is a powerful tribute to his mother, a woman whose strength, wisdom, and gift for turning anything into an adventure became a guiding light for her sons, even in the darkest of times. Through his stories, Ernest offers a perspective on what it means to keep going: to find humor where we can, hold onto hope, and move forward when so much is outside of our control.  

This episode is a reminder of the legacy we carry, the power of the stories that shape us, and the small, steady choices that carry us through. 

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Feeling stretched thin or stuck in constant output mode? Join Dr. Robyne’s Day in Quarters workshop and learn how to design your days with intention, so you can show up fully at work, at home, and in life.

May 7 & 8 | Two live 55-minute sessions. 
Save your spot: https://drrobyne.ca/day-in-quarters-workshop/

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If you’re ready to show up for your work, your people, and yourself in a genuinely well way, come hang out, learn, and build better days inside Dr. Robyne's Good Day by Design Community.

Visit: https://drrobyne.ca/membership/

Additional Resources: 
The Way of a Boy: A Memoir of Java by Ernest Hillen 
Small Mercies: A Boy After War by Ernest Hillen 
A Weekend Memoir by Ernest Hillen

Connect with Dr. Robyne: 
Website: https://drrobyne.ca/  
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_robynehd/  
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobynehd/  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_robynehd  
Newsletter: https://drrobyne.ca/newsletter/

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This week on Life by Design, Dr. Robyne sits down with high-performance coach Justin Mize – someone who knows what it means to push limits, face adversity, and rebuild when everything changes in an instant.

From discovering his passion in the adrenaline-fueled world of freestyle motocross to surviving a catastrophic injury that shattered not just his body but also his identity, Justin shares what it really takes to come back physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Together, they explore what happens when your sense of worth becomes tied to achievement and external validation, the power of perspective and self-trust, and how to redefine what progress really looks like, especially when you can’t measure it on a scoreboard.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that resilience is built in the quiet, consistent reps of showing up for yourself, and that shared hope and encouragement can make all the difference.

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If you’re ready to show up for your work, your people, and yourself in a genuinely well way, come hang out, learn, and build better days inside Dr. Robyne's Good Day by Design Community. Founding Member pricing ends April 30th.

Visit: https://drrobyne.ca/membership/  

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Feeling stretched thin or stuck in constant output mode? Join Dr. Robyne’s Day in Quarters workshop and learn how to design your days with intention, so you can show up fully at work, at home, and in life.

May 7 & 8 | Two live 55-minute sessions.
Save your spot: https://drrobyne.ca/day-in-quarters-workshop/ 

Additional Resources: 
Books by Justin Mize
I Hope So by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe

Connect with Justin:
Website: https://www.justinmize.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justinmize/

Connect with Dr. Robyne:
Website: https://drrobyne.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_robynehd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobynehd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_robynehd
Newsletter: https://drrobyne.ca/newsletter/

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In today’s episode, Dr. Robyne sits down with Melanie Deziel, a Creative Systems Architect, author, keynote speaker, and award-winning branded content creator, for a conversation on unlocking creativity and deepening self-understanding in all areas of life.

Together, they explore how our systems and environments can stifle or support creative thinking, why the best ideas rarely happen at boardroom tables, and the importance of intentional spaciousness in our days to think, wonder, and reflect. They also talk about how the very imagination that fuels our worries and catastrophizing can just as powerfully be used to envision positive possibilities.
 
Melanie also shares her experience of being diagnosed with autism in adulthood, the clarity it brought, and the freedom that comes from understanding and accommodating how your mind works, and from meeting yourself with grace. 

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If you’re ready to show up for your work, your people, and yourself in a genuinely well way, come hang out, learn, and build better days inside Dr. Robyne's Good Day by Design Community. Founding Member pricing is available for a limited time.  

Visit: https://drrobyne.ca/membership/ 

Additional Resources: 
The Content Fuel Framework by Melanie Deziel
Prove It by Melanie Deziel
Creative Constructs Newsletter
Late Diagnosed Diaries Newsletter

Connect with Melanie: 
Website: https://www.melaniedeziel.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/meldeziel
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/melaniedeziel

Connect with Dr. Robyne: 
Website: https://drrobyne.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_robynehd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobynehd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_robynehd
Newsletter: https://drrobyne.ca/newsletter/

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In this episode of Life by Design, Dr. Robyne welcomes Phil M Jones, a globally recognized expert on influence, persuasion, and communication, and author of Exactly What to Say®.

Together, they explore the true nature of sales, challenging stereotypes and outdated tactics, and reframing it as the art of helping people move from where they are to where they want to be.

Phil shares how asking the right questions and seeking useful truth can build deeper relationships and align solutions with people’s real needs, whether you’re selling a product, pitching a service, or coaching. Plus, the value of business education, learning in the classroom versus the real world, and why being able to confidently recommend against yourself can be just as important as recommending for yourself.

If you’ve ever felt uneasy about selling or want to build a life and business rooted in service and authenticity, this episode will equip you with the strategies and perspective shifts to transform your impact and sell and serve with integrity.

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If you’re ready to show up for your work, your people, and yourself in a genuinely well way, come hang out, learn, and build better days inside Dr. Robyne's Good Day by Design Community. Founding Member pricing is available for a limited time.  

Visit: https://drrobyne.ca/membership/

Additional Resources:  
Exactly What to Say by Phil M Jones
They Ask, You Answer by Marcus Sheridan

Connect with Phil:  
Website: https://philmjones.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/philmjonesuk
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philmjones/

Connect with Dr. Robyne:  
Website: https://drrobyne.ca/
Community: https://drrobyne.ca/membership/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_robynehd/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drrobynehd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dr_robynehd
Newsletter: https://drrobyne.ca/newsletter/

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Today on Life by Design, behavior change expert Brian Ford joins Dr. Robyne for a conversation about the realities behind personal development and how we truly transform our lives.

They explore why consuming self-help content leads to little change without consistent action, how setting clear standards, rather than relying on lofty goals alone, can help close the gap between intention and behavior, and how self-sabotage often shows up in subtle ways.

Together, they highlight the importance of recognizing your impulses, adapting commitments to match your capacity, and practicing honest self-reflection so you can build consistency, strengthen self-trust, and reinforce the identity you want to embody.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between who you are and who you want to become, this episode will give you the clarity and tools to help you create lasting change.

Additional Resources: 
Brian's Podcast – Self Improvement Daily
Dr. Robyne on Self Improvement Daily
The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
For Purpose Foundation
21 Day Super Habits Challenge (Starts April 13th)

Connect with Brian: 
Website: https://www.selfimprovementdailytips.com/  
Instagram: @bford.purpose 
LinkedIn: Brian Ford 

Connect with Dr. Robyne: 
Website: https://drrobyne.ca/  
Instagram: @dr_robynehd  
LinkedIn: drrobynehd  
YouTube: @dr_robynehd  
Newsletter: https://drrobyne.ca/newsletter/  

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