In this episode of Some Assembly Required, Candace sits down with certified sexologist and relationship expert Serena Haines for an honest, judgment-free conversation about sex, shame, communication and human connection. Serena shares how she entered the world of sexology, why so many people struggle to talk openly about intimacy and what it really takes to build a healthier relationship with ourselves and our partners.

From desire and long-term relationships to breaking down stigma around pleasure, this episode tackles the questions many of us have—but are often too nervous to ask.

Learn more about Serena: https://serenahaines.com/

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Louie shares how he went from running a weight loss blog to realizing that losing weight and “doing everything right” didn’t make him happy or more authentic. A simple Instagram reel about a map exhibition became a turning point, helping him find his true voice and a message rooted in joy, self-acceptance, and resisting the pressure to constantly self-improve. Candace and Louie explore the responsibility creators have to be safe spaces for their audiences, the difference between rage-bait and genuine connection, and why Louie now chooses curiosity over judgment when it comes to everything from pronouns to people struggling with addiction.

They also dive into Louie’s winding path through many different jobs before finding purpose in nursing, what he’s learned from being with people at the end of their lives, and why most regrets are about what we didn’t do, not what we did. Louie shares the story of a stranger who handed him a flower and a simple note during a dark time, and how that tiny act of kindness helped him understand his purpose: to be seen, to see others, and to spread joy in the smallest everyday moments.

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This conversation is for you if:

-You’re questioning your career path or purpose
-You care about inclusion, justice, and Canadian identity
-You love CBC, storytelling, or behind-the-scenes media journeys
-You’re learning to live with (or suspect you have) ADHD or anxiety
-You just want to hear two people have a real, unhurried, human conversation

🧩 Some Assembly Required is about the messy, beautiful process of becoming who you are—without an instruction manual.

👉 If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and leave a review. It helps more people find these conversations and join in.

They also dive into online bullying, body shaming, and the myth that choosing a public life means you “signed up” to be attacked. Dani talks about calling out trolls, looking up to creators who stand their ground, and the constant noise of diet culture, Ozempic ads, and unrealistic standards. Together, Candace and Dani make the case for therapy as a neutral sounding board, not a sign of being broken, and for being mindful not to turn friends into full-time therapists. They discuss setting boundaries, ending one-sided friendships, and learning to really live by the mantra: protect your peace.

For anyone who has ever felt guilty for struggling, minimized their own pain, or stayed quiet because others “have it worse,” this conversation is a reminder that you are allowed to ask for help, that it’s okay to not be okay, and that everything (good and bad)is temporary. As Dani says, be gentle with people, reach out, ask the hard questions, sit with discomfort, and check in more than you think you need to. You never truly know what someone is carrying behind their smile.

If this episode resonates with you, please like the video, subscribe for more conversations like this, and share it with someone who might need to hear it. If you or someone you know is struggling, consider reaching out to a friend, a therapist, a crisis line, or a local mental health service. <3

In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits back down with Jen Warrington, founder of The Warrington Group, to dig into the messy middle of career change: the doubt, the recalibration, and the uncomfortable quiet where you finally ask, “What do I really want?”

Jen has helped hundreds of professionals reinvent their careers (often without going back to school) by uncovering their hidden, transferable skills. From trades to corporate, from pastor to COO, she shows what’s actually possible when you stop chasing titles and start building a life that fits.

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In this episode of Some Assembly Required, host Candace Carnahan sits down with Jen Warrington, founder of The Warrington Group and one of Atlantic Business Magazine’s Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business.

Jen was “packaged out” of her recruiting role after 10 years—right before COVID shut everything down. No warning, no dramatic box-of-stuff exit… just a call, five more weeks of work, and a severance package.

What she did next changed everything.

🔔 Subscribe for more real, unpolished stories about rebuilding after life doesn’t go to plan.

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Candace and Carrie dive into what it’s like to feel “behind” in your career or your life, and why no job, degree, or detour is ever really wasted. They talk about how every experience becomes part of your “total package” and how blending your interests can become your unique advantage, not a liability.

Carrie shares practical ways to check in with your energy, reassess your path, and make decisions that are aligned with who you are today — not who you thought you “should” be 10 years ago. She talks about the Wheel of Life exercise, trusting your inner voice, and her favorite mindset from martial arts: “I either win or I learn.”

If this resonates, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not behind.

Lesley shares the story of her shock breast cancer diagnosis, how she treated it like a “business problem” to solve, and the radical life changes she made along the way—from cutting sugar and diving into meditation to facing her own fears about motherhood, mortality, and identity. Together, she and Candace dig into the messy middle of menopause, body image, and that relentless inner critic so many women live with every single day.

This episode is for anyone who has ever felt “not enough” in their own body, questioned their choices, or wondered how to be kinder to themselves after living through really hard things. It’s honest, funny, vulnerable, and a reminder that none of us have it all figured out—no matter how put together life looks from the outside.

If this conversation resonates with you, please like, subscribe, and share the episode with someone who needs to hear it.

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Together, they explore why the opposite of trauma isn’t calm but connection, how childhood stories, family secrets, and generational patterns quietly shape who we become, and what happens when we spend years being the “strong one” or the “connector” for everyone else. Jody shares her journey from a small town in Alberta to becoming a leading voice on trauma and connection, including the shocking discovery of a biological sister in her 30s and how that revelation reshaped her drive, her sense of worth, and her understanding of family. 

If you’ve ever felt lonely in a full life, guilty for wanting rest or boundaries, or afraid you’re not getting it “right,” this episode will make you feel seen, understood, and a little less alone.

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @someassemblyrequired.pod for more episodes, behind-the-scenes content, and ongoing conversations about courage, connection, and what it really takes to be human.

In this powerful, honest conversation, Candace Carnahan sits down with her longtime friend and global trust expert Natalie Doyle Oldfield, author of “Trusted: The Proven Path to Customer Loyalty and Business Growth,” to unpack what trust really is, how it’s built, how it quietly erodes, and how we can start rebuilding it—at work, at home, and within ourselves.

This isn’t a fluffy, corporate talk about “values.” It’s raw, real, and deeply human. Candace opens up about how a devastating workplace accident at 21, where “everybody failed” her, reshaped her ability to trust others. If you’ve ever questioned whether you can trust someone again, worried that you’re not trustworthy enough, felt burned by broken promises at work or at home, or simply wanted stronger relationships, more loyal customers, or a safer workplace, this conversation is for you. 

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Vicky shares her journey from the banking world to building a thriving career in beauty, and how working with women in her makeup chair became her true calling. They talk honestly about hormones, feeling like a stranger in your own skin, and why grace, self-acceptance, and community matter more than any product in your makeup bag.

They also dive into the pressures of social media, the “Sephora generation,” and unrealistic beauty standards, while offering a refreshing perspective on authenticity, aging out loud, and redefining what it means to be confident at any stage of life. This conversation is real, raw, and fun. A reminder that beauty is the warmth of your soul, and everything else is just icing on the cake!

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