Life By Design

In this week’s episode, Dr. Robyne welcomes Dr. Ross Ellenhorn, psychotherapist, social worker, and CEO of one of the most robust community integration programs in the United States, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about hope, mental health, and human connection. Together, they explore the fear of hope and how repeated disappointment can make hoping again feel vulnerable and risky, leading people to protect themselves by staying the same.

Drawing from decades of experience supporting individuals navigating psychiatric diagnoses, addiction, and recovery, Dr. Ellenhorn challenges the narrative of “brokenness” and highlights the importance of rebuilding social connection, self-worth, and faith in oneself and others. They also reflect on why embracing different ways of being, cultivating belonging, and caring for each other are not only essential to healing, but acts of resistance and hope in an uncertain world.

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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:
How We Change (And Ten Reasons Why We Don’t) by Ross Ellenhorn, PhD

Connect with Dr. Ellenhorn:
Website: https://www.ellenhorn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellenhornPACT

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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Today on Life by Design, Dr. Robyne sits down with community builder and champion for youth Stu Saunders for an uplifting conversation about nurturing the next generation, the magic of creating community, and the courage to dream big, even when you don’t know how things will turn out. Together, they explore the ripple effects of student leadership, the importance of helping young people connect beyond screens, and the life-changing impact of encouragement, belonging, and healthy risk-taking. Through heartfelt stories, from youth conferences and summer camps to documentary filmmaking and a childhood pitch to the Toronto Argonauts, Stu reminds us what becomes possible when people feel seen, supported, and believed in.

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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: 
Ward Bingham – Mondonation

Connect with Stu:
Website: https://peregrineleadership.ca/
Website: https://theepiccommunity.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stu_saunders70/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-saunders-2783ba137

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 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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