99 episodes
- What stories have been quietly shaping your life for years without you even realizing it?
Today on Life by Design, Dr. Robyne is joined by leadership keynote speaker, author, and joy expert Amanda Gore for a conversation about joy, fear, and the stories we tell ourselves. Together, they explore how childhood beliefs continue to influence our adult lives, why fear often sits beneath our reactions to change, and how awareness, gratitude, and compassion can help us rewrite the narratives that no longer serve us.
If you've ever struggled with people-pleasing, self-judgment, or the feeling that you need to hold everything together, Amanda offers thoughtful perspective and practical tools for moving toward greater joy and inner peace.
Additional Resources:
Joy Is an Inside Job by Amanda Gore & Lenore Lewis
Your Erroneous Zones by Wayne Dyer
Connect with Amanda:
Website: https://amandagore.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandagorejoy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandalgore/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/amandagoretv
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/
Disclaimer From the Streets to One of Canada's Leading Criminal Defence Lawyers with Jordana Goldlist
2026/07/15 | 51 mins.Today on Life by Design, Dr. Robyne is joined by criminal defence lawyer Jordana H. Goldlist. From surviving addiction and living on the streets as a teenager to becoming one of Canada's leading criminal defence lawyers, Jordana's journey shows that reinvention happens one courageous step at a time and that creating distance from the environments that keep us stuck can open the door to a different future.
Together, they discuss the realities of addiction, recovery, and the criminal justice system. It's a conversation about the power of hope, support, and honest dialogue, and recognizing that a person's hardest season does not erase their potential or define their entire story.
Additional Resources:
Jordana’s Podcast: Who Judges the Judge?
Jordana’s TEDx Talk: Who Judges the Judge?
Dr. Robyne on Who Judges the Judge?
Connect with Jordana:
Website: https://www.jhgcriminallaw.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanagoldlist
LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jgoldlist
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/
DisclaimerFinding Lightness in the Hard: Humor, Hope, and Wholehearted Living with Jessica Holmes
2026/07/08 | 43 mins.In this uplifting episode, Dr. Robyne welcomes comedian and mental health and well-being expert Jessica Holmes for a conversation about the power of humor and wholehearted living. Together, they explore why joy can feel so out of reach during difficult seasons, and how simple practices like sharing a laugh, telling a story, or looking at a challenge through a different lens can offer real relief.
Through personal rituals, family moments, and the science behind noticing the funny, the hopeful, and the simply kind, they share practical ways to lighten hard days without minimizing them. You'll also hear why asking our loved ones what they truly need can strengthen our relationships and why we were never meant to carry life's challenges alone.
Additional Resources:
Depression the Comedy by Jessica Holmes
I Hope So by Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe
Connect with Jessica:
Website: https://www.jessicaholmes.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/happyfunholmes/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-holmes-50ab90202/
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/
Disclaimer- In this episode of Life by Design, Dr. Robyne sits down with nationally syndicated radio host, former CFL player, and media personality Brad Smith for a thoughtful conversation about growth, reinvention, and owning your story. Together, they explore how to embrace the opportunities in front of you, learn from the past without being defined by it, and navigate the complexities of life with ADHD. They also discuss handling criticism, the power of self-awareness, and why so many high performers find themselves chasing a feeling they can never quite recreate.
Additional Resources:
Brad’s Podcast: No BS with Brad Smith
Previous episode with Dr. Ross Ellenhorn: The Fear of Hope
Why Does Everybody Hate Me? by Alex Partridge
Connect with Brad:
Website: https://www.nobswithbs.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bradcsmith/
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/
Disclaimer - Feeling weary, overwhelmed, or caught in a never-ending stress cycle?
In this solo episode, Dr. Robyne introduces the Four R's of Nervous System Recovery: Restoration, Regulation, Reflection, and Reimagining. She explores why restoration must come before regulation and shares practical insights to help listeners tune into what their body, heart, mind, and community truly need. Through reflective questions and relatable stories, she encourages a balanced self-awareness that honors both challenge and progress while helping you close stress loops, rebuild capacity, and reimagine what is possible on the other side of hard seasons.
Ready, Set, Rest Workshop: Nervous System Recovery for Educators
Ready to move from exhaustion to restoration? Join Dr. Robyne for Ready, Set, Rest, a one-hour live workshop designed to help educators recover from a demanding school year, restore their nervous system, and step into summer with greater intention, spaciousness, and well-being. Offered live on June 26 or June 29.
Register here: https://drrobyne.ca/ready-set-rest-workshop/
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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About Life By Design
Welcome to Life by Design with Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe. This podcast is a space for real conversations about well-being, resilience, performance, leadership, and everyday life – and how the small choices you make each day shape the quality of your life. Living a big, beautiful life isn’t reserved for a select few; it’s built in the ordinary moments, the routines that ground us, the acts of self-care that restore us, and the intentional decisions that align us with what matters most. Each week, we take big ideas and turn them into practical habits, tools, and practices you can actually use. Those everyday choices are what allow you to be steady, capable, and even extraordinary when life calls on you. If you’re ready to be intentional about how you show up, what you prioritize, and the life you’re building over time, you’re in the right place. Together, we’ll explore what it truly takes to live well and be well by design. We’re so glad you’re here.
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