What happens when workplaces stop treating wellbeing like a checkbox and start treating people like humans?

In this Faces of Atlantic conversation, I sat down with Elizabeth Eldridge, psychological health and safety expert, speaker, and founder, to explore what it really takes to build workplaces where people feel safe, seen, and supported.

Elizabeth has spent years helping organizations move beyond surface-level wellness initiatives and into meaningful, measurable change. From mental health first aid training to organizational consulting, her work is grounded in one core belief: people perform better when they feel like they belong.

We talked about the shift happening across workplaces, why leaders must model vulnerability, and what separates performative efforts from real impact.

In this episode:

→What psychological safety actually means and why it is directly tied to performance
→ Why traditional wellness efforts often fall flat and what organizations are getting wrong
→ The difference between performative initiatives and real, sustainable change
→ How leaders can build trust by modeling vulnerability and authenticity
→ Why belonging at work starts with creating space for people to show up as their full selves
→ The role of transparency and accountability in rebuilding trust within teams
→ The reality of entrepreneurship and why balance is something you build, not something you find
→ Simple boundaries and daily practices that help protect energy in a constantly connected world
→ A powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when organizations and people work together, not in silos

Links and Resources:

Follow Elizabeth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabetheldridgeconsulting/

Follow Elizabeth Eldridge Consulting: https://www.elizabetheldridge.com/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode made you rethink what a healthy workplace should actually feel like, share it with a leader or organization ready to move beyond surface-level change.

Subscribe, leave a review, and take a moment today to check in with the people around you. Real leadership starts with creating spaces where people feel safe to be human.

Let’s keep showing up with intention, one honest conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:45) - Elizabeth's 90th birthday party
• (00:01:17) - Elizabeth Bennet on Falling for You
• (00:02:33) - How to Become a Dog Owner
• (00:03:48) - What Do You Do For Fun?
• (00:08:56) - The Need for Vulnerability in Leaders' Lives
• (00:11:10) - Have We Lost Trust in Our Wellbeing Programs?
• (00:13:58) - How to Stabilize Your Work Life
• (00:19:27) - Taking Back Control of My Phone
• (00:19:46) - Grow: Where Do You See Yourself in the Next Two to
• (00:21:51) - Faces of Atlantic: Sarah

What happens when the words we use to describe ourselves start to limit who we believe we can become?

In this Faces of Atlantic conversation, I sat down with Carla, TEDxUNB Lead Organizer and advocate for human potential, to explore how the labels we carry and the language we use can quietly shape our identity, our confidence, and the way we show up in the world.

We talked about the power of words, the danger of shrinking ourselves with phrases like “just,” and what it really takes to break out of the boxes we have been placed in or have placed ourselves in.

This is a conversation about awareness, growth, and reclaiming the fullness of who you are.

In this episode:

→ Why using the word “just” can diminish your identity and flatten your potential
→ How labels, even well-meaning ones, can quietly shape the way we see ourselves and others
→ The moment we start to question the boxes we have been placed in and what it takes to step outside of them
→ Why leadership begins with self-awareness and the language we use internally
→ How to expand your identity beyond roles, titles, and expectations
→ The ripple effect of how we describe others and the impact it has on their confidence and growth
→ What it looks like to show up fully without minimizing who you are
→ A powerful reminder that you are always more than any single label

Links and Resources:

Follow Carla: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlaaacarvajal/

Follow TEDxUNB: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tedxunb/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode made you pause and rethink the way you describe yourself or others, share it with someone who needs the reminder that they are more than the box they have been put in.

Subscribe, leave a review, and take a moment today to notice the language you use. The words you choose shape the life you lead.

Let’s keep showing up fully, one honest conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:48) - TEDx Fredericton
• (00:04:39) - What's Up With TEDx GMB?
• (00:06:41) - Carla on Managing All of Her Deputies
• (00:11:24) - What Do You Want To Do In Your Life?
• (00:14:48) - Marc Gaspardi on Podcasts and Reading
• (00:17:26) - TEDxMI: Taking a Risk
• (00:18:54) - Faces of Atlantic

What happens when leadership stops being about titles and starts being about how you show up for people?

In this Faces of Atlantic episode, I sat down with James Doucher, fractional CFO, community builder, father, and advocate for leading with kindness and authenticity. James shares a deeply human perspective on leadership shaped by family, career pivots, and a commitment to being genuinely helpful in every room he enters.

We talked about what it means to lead without ego, why connection matters more than networking tactics, and how empathy and presence can shape stronger teams, communities, and lives.

In this episode:

→ How James transitioned from corporate leadership to fractional CFO work and why flexibility changed everything

→ Why networking is not about selling yourself but about being genuinely curious and helpful

→ Lessons learned from moving across borders, rebuilding community, and starting over more than once

→ What parenting has taught him about empathy, courage, and unconditional support

→ Why authenticity is the most underrated leadership skill in business today

→ The importance of creating safe, inclusive environments at home, at work, and in community

→ How small daily resets like walking, unplugging, and being present protect long-term wellbeing

→ A guiding principle that shapes how James leads and lives: look back and be grateful, look ahead and be hopeful, look around and be helpful

Links and Resources:

Follow James Doucher: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jdoucher/

Follow James Doucher CFO Consulting, Inc.: https://www.jdoucher.com/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode reminded you that leadership is less about authority and more about humanity, share it with someone who believes in building community through care and connection.

Subscribe, leave a review, and take a moment today to reach out to someone in your circle. Sometimes leadership looks like simply showing up and being helpful.

Let’s keep showing up as real humans, one honest conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:41) - What Do You Do For Fun?
• (00:02:16) - CFO Consulting
• (00:03:41) - Being a Full-Time CFO and a Fractional C
• (00:05:22) - Have You Work in an Occupation?
• (00:05:54) - Your Other Things Outside of Your Role
• (00:08:50) - How to Manage a Full-Time Team
• (00:10:33) - What Has Been The Lessons Learned As A Human Being?
• (00:12:34) - What Kind of Human Skills Did You Lean On During the Trans Transition
• (00:15:06) - In the Elevator With Steve Jobs
• (00:17:28) - How to Network effectively?
• (00:21:44) - Be Authentic
• (00:24:03) - Have You Made an Impact on Others?
• (00:26:17) - Atlantic Canada's Biggest Challenges
• (00:30:32) - How to Manage Your Stress
• (00:35:56) - Faces of Atlantic

What happens when grief becomes the teacher and storytelling becomes the way forward?

In this Faces of Atlantic conversation, I sat down with Teri Kingston, speaker coach, storyteller, widow, and guide for leaders learning how to show up more fully as human beings. Teri’s journey through anticipatory grief, loss, and rebuilding life after the death of her husband reshaped not only how she lives, but how she helps others find their voice.

We talked about why grief belongs in the workplace, how leadership begins with self-awareness, and why authenticity on stage and in life is what truly moves people to action.

In this episode:

→ Teri’s journey through anticipatory grief and what it taught her about presence, leadership, and love

→ Why grief is not a personal problem but a human reality that belongs in workplace conversations

→ The cost of ignoring grief at work and how organizations can better support their people

→ What makes a great speaker and why authenticity always lands more powerfully than performance

→ How storytelling becomes a tool for healing, influence, and meaningful change

→ Why not every story belongs on a stage and how to know when one is ready

→ The importance of serving the audience rather than performing for them

→ A life mantra that reframes loss and creates space for hope: being surprised by joy

Links and Resources:

Follow Teri Kingston: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terikingston/

Follow Real Impact Speaking: https://realimpactspeaking.com/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode encouraged you to embrace more of who you are — at work, at home, or in leadership — share it with someone who needs that same reminder.

Subscribe, leave a review, and give yourself a moment today to consider:
What part of you have you been leaving at the door — and what would change if you brought it with you?

Let’s keep showing up with honesty, courage, and humanity, one conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:48) - Faces of Atlantic: The Widows
• (00:03:22) - Your Journey Through Grief
• (00:06:10) - How to Cope with a Caregiver's Alzheimer's
• (00:09:38) - The Need for Grief in the Workplace
• (00:17:16) - Disrupting HR: The Multiplying Human Body
• (00:19:11) - Toastmasters Canada Business Interview
• (00:25:51) - What Makes a Great Speaker?
• (00:29:14) - What Advice Would You Give to Public Speaking?
• (00:33:13) - Widow Moves From St. Andrews To Atlanta
• (00:35:29) - Q&A
• (00:35:43) - What is your happiness ritual?
• (00:36:09) - "Surprised by Joy"
• (00:37:14) - Faces of Atlantic: Terianne Richards

What happens when a leader decides that gratitude is not a soft skill, but a strategy for changing the world?

In this Faces of Atlantic interview, I sat down with Steve Foran, founder of Gratitude at Work, engineer turned global gratitude ambassador, and a leader whose mission is as bold as it is simple: 1 billion happier people.

We talked about the power of small daily practices, why gratitude is more than a feeling, and how choosing awareness over autopilot can reshape your life, your leadership, and the people around you.

In this episode:

→ The family roots, grandkids, and community that keep Steve grounded and remind him what really matters

→ The moment he realized his life was handed to him on a silver platter, and how that flipped his entire worldview

→ Why gratitude is the number one predictor of flourishing, and the surprising reason most people fail to maintain the practice

→ How a simple daily trigger can transform well-being, leadership presence, and the culture inside any organization

→ The unlearning Steve had to do around judgment, self-reliance, and seeing people through a more compassionate lens

→ The biggest opportunity he sees for Atlantic Canadian leaders today

→ His one piece of advice for leaders who want to shift their business in the next 12 months

Links and Resources:

Follow Steve Foran: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveforangratefulceo/

Follow Gratitude at Work: https://www.gratitudeatwork.ca/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode encouraged you to embrace more of who you are — at work, at home, or in leadership — share it with someone who needs that same reminder.

Subscribe, leave a review, and give yourself a moment today to consider:
What part of you have you been leaving at the door — and what would change if you brought it with you?

Let’s keep showing up with honesty, courage, and humanity, one conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:04:15) - What's Your Purpose in Your Work?
• (00:05:28) - Lessons in gratitude for your life
• (00:13:55) - One Simple Practice Can Make You Happier
• (00:16:37) - Steve Jobs on Being Judgmental
• (00:20:27) - MCACIO Atlantic Canada: The Big Picture
• (00:26:56) - Favorite Book of All Time
• (00:27:44) - What is Your Happiness Ritual?
• (00:28:22) - A Day in the Life With Teriann
• (00:28:58) - Faces of Atlantic

What happens when a leader finally gives themselves permission to show up as their whole, honest, human self?

In this Faces of Atlantic episode, Terri-Ann sits down with Colum Connolly, Founder of Bloom Funding, an organization helping companies access funding, measure what matters, and create meaningful social impact across Atlantic Canada.

Together, they unpack identity, leadership, and the emotional weight of building something that truly reflects who you are — not just what you do.

In this episode:

→ How Colum’s path from medical genetics to entrepreneurship reshaped his understanding of leadership, hard work, and purpose

→ Bloom Funding’s journey to returning $26M to clients — and how their work is strengthening communities through nonprofit fundraising, impact measurement, and initiatives like youth housing and urban heat resilience

→ The shift that changed everything: embracing authenticity, queerness, and the courage to show up fully in professional spaces

→ What Colum had to unlearn about leadership — including the instinct to overanalyze and assume negative intent

→ Why he believes Atlantic Canada is uniquely positioned to lead the world in empathetic AI

Links and Resources:

Follow Colum Connolly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colum-connolly-phd-bloom-funding/

Follow Bloom Funding: www.bloomfunding.ca

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this episode encouraged you to embrace more of who you are — at work, at home, or in leadership — share it with someone who needs that same reminder.

Subscribe, leave a review, and give yourself a moment today to consider:
What part of you have you been leaving at the door — and what would change if you brought it with you?

Let’s keep showing up with honesty, courage, and humanity, one conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:44) - The Search for Who Is Your Real Self
• (00:02:24) - What does Bloom Funding do for Canadians?
• (00:04:24) - St. John's First Aid
• (00:04:53) - Ontario Wealth Management's focus on nonprofits
• (00:05:20) - Local Business Leader
• (00:07:57) - The quest for leadership in the world
• (00:12:43) - In the Elevator With Leaders
• (00:13:57) - How to manage stress in the workplace?
• (00:18:21) - Bring Your Whole Self to Work
• (00:22:03) - Atlantic Canada's growth potential
• (00:24:38) - A Legacy of One Person

What happens when a leader chooses to honor humanity, protect their health, and lead through crisis with compassion and clarity?

In this Faces of Atlantic interview, I sat down with Jennifer Russell, Executive Director of the Institute of Population Health at the University of New Brunswick, former Chief Medical Officer of Health, and a lifelong learner who blends science, art, service, and community into every chapter of her leadership journey.

We talked about holding onto your humanity in the hardest moments, leading under pressure, and why self-care is not selfish, even when the world is watching.

In this episode:

→ The early influences that shaped Jennifer’s leadership, from Northern New Brunswick to medicine to the military

→ The servant leader who changed everything and showed her what real inclusion and humility look like in practice

→ What it felt like to stand in front of the province during the height of COVID, when every word was permanent, and the stakes were impossibly high

→ The toll leadership took on her health, and why she now refuses to lead at the expense of her well-being

→ A reminder every leader needs: it is never too late to redefine yourself and choose a healthier, more aligned way of showing up

Links and Resources:

Follow Jennifer Russell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colette-martin-689039207/

Follow University of New Brunswick: http://www.unb.ca/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7JMbDzSUrjMh0wfwXCAR0h

If this episode gave you permission to slow down, set a boundary, or rethink how you show up as a leader, share it with someone who needs that same reminder.

Subscribe, leave a review, and take a moment today to do one thing that supports your own well-being. Leaders who take care of themselves lead better.

Let’s keep building this new season of leadership, one grounded conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:44) - Jennifer Ehle on Leadership
• (00:03:01) - What is your day to day at UNB?
• (00:04:43) - Leaders in the military: Catalyst moments
• (00:09:54) - Leaders of New Brunswick's Big Moments
• (00:17:17) - What Keeps You Together During the Pandemic?
• (00:21:36) - In the Elevator With Terry Ann
• (00:29:15) - Gen X on College and the Future
• (00:30:19) - Faces of Atlantic: Terianne Richards

What happens when a story that was once whispered in secret becomes the voice that saves lives?

In this powerful Faces of Atlantic episode, I sat down with Colette Martin, advocate, survivor, mother, and voice for those who have been silenced by domestic violence. Nearly 28 years ago, Colette survived an attempted murder. Today, she stands as a courageous advocate for change, pushing for policy reform, education, and awareness so that others may never walk the path she had to walk alone.

We talked about the moment healing turned into advocacy, why silence protects the abuser, and how sharing our stories can protect lives. We talked about faith, courage, purpose, and what happens when one woman decides that enough is enough.

In this episode:

→ The night Colette’s life changed forever, and how she found strength on the other side of survival

→ Why silence is not an option, and how storytelling becomes a lifeline for those who feel unseen, unheard, and alone

→ The passing of Bill 17, giving survivors the right to ask about a partner’s history of intimate partner violence, and what it could mean for future prevention

→ What needs to change in government, policing, education, and community if we truly want to save lives

→ The emotional cost of advocacy, how she manages naysayers, and the fuel that keeps her pushing forward

→ Why survivors must have a seat at the table and be recognized as the real experts in shaping policy and support

→ A beautiful moment with her late mother that became the spark for her mission and purpose

→ The documentary, her upcoming book, and why this movement is becoming global

Links and Resources:

Follow Colette Martin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colette-martin-689039207/

Follow Colette Martin Empowerment: https://www.empowermentcolette.com/

Follow Terri-Ann Richards: https://terriannrichards.com/

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TerriAnnRichards

Follow Faces of Atlantic on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/faces-of-atlantic

If this conversation moved you, share it with someone who needs to remember that silence does not heal, and hope often begins with one brave voice.

Subscribe, leave a review, and take a moment today to check in on someone quietly fighting a battle you cannot see. Stories like Colette’s are not meant to be whispered. They are meant to light the way.

Let’s keep showing up with courage, one real conversation at a time.

• (00:00:00) - Faces of Atlantic
• (00:00:57) - You're an advocate for domestic violence
• (00:04:50) - Several changes in the culture of domestic violence in New Brunswick
• (00:06:36) - What Keeps You Going?
• (00:13:58) - Naysayers Give Me Fuel
• (00:21:47) - Tamara Jones on Terri's Work
• (00:24:32) - Faces of Atlantic