In this episode of Let’s Not Sugarcoat It, Bella and Lee sit down with Ian Chisholm, founder and partner of Roy Group, a Victoria based leadership development firm that helps organizations build stronger leaders, deeper mentorship cultures, and more resilient teams.

Ian is also the author of Quiet Champions: A Way Forward for Mentors in Turbulent Times, a book about mentorship, presence, leadership, and the quiet people who help others become who they are meant to be.

This conversation explores leadership beyond titles, mentorship beyond advice, and why the leaders who matter most are not always the loudest people in the room. Ian shares what it means to work with your partner in business and life, how leaders can use reflection, inquiry, pause, and action, and why mentorship is one of the oldest and most powerful ways humans develop each other.

Bella, Lee, and Ian also talk about vulnerability in leadership, emotional honesty, the difference between reacting and responding, why leaders need trusted people around them, and how mentors help others make sense of their experience without taking over their path.

In this episode of Let’s Not Sugarcoat It, Bella sits down with Amy Nicole Cohen, founder of The Chic Experience, to talk about The Summit, a two day Business and Leadership Festival happening June 4 and 5, 2026 at Sandhill Wines in Kelowna, BC.

Use code FRIENDS15 for 15 percent off your ticket.

Event details:

The Summit by The Chic Experience

June 4 and 5, 2026

Sandhill Wines, Kelowna, BC

Tickets and details: The Chic Experience website

Amy shares the vision behind The Summit, why she created an immersive business festival instead of a traditional conference, and why community, collaboration, leadership, and intentional connection are still some of the most powerful drivers of business growth.

The Summit is designed for entrepreneurs, executives, founders, small business owners, professionals, and leaders who want to think bigger, lead stronger, build meaningful relationships, and grow with intention. The event includes two stages, keynote sessions, expert panels, breakout sessions, curated networking, hot seat coaching, professional headshots, a marketplace, business activations, outdoor happy hour, live music, and more.

Bella and Amy also discuss why showing up in the right room matters, how relationships become real business opportunities, why networking should go deeper than exchanging business cards, and how local business communities can create momentum when people are willing to connect with heart, purpose, and strategy.

The Chic Experience was founded by Amy Nicole to create elevated events and immersive experiences that bring ambitious people together to connect, grow, and up level personally and professionally.

In this episode of Let’s Not Sugarcoat It, Bella and Lee sit down with Katharina and David Kunz for a raw and grounded conversation about functional mushrooms, psilocybin, natural wellness, personal growth, and the healing intelligence of nature.

They discuss the difference between functional mushrooms and psilocybin mushrooms, why mushrooms have been used in traditional wellness practices for generations, and how mushrooms like lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, turkey tail, shiitake, and maitake are being explored for focus, energy, immune support, gut health, stress support, and overall wellbeing.

This conversation also explores psilocybin from a personal growth perspective, including intention, set and setting, guided journeys, integration, surrender, control, emotional healing, and the importance of not treating the experience as a quick fix.

Bella also shares her personal experience with a guided psilocybin journey, what it revealed about control, loneliness, and connection, and how integration became the real work after the experience.

Katharina shares the story behind Liquid Aura, her functional mushroom blends, and why she created a product experience that combines mushroom education, wellness support, meditation, and inner work.

David shares the science behind full spectrum mushrooms, mycelium, mushroom fruiting bodies, cordyceps, lion’s mane, adaptogens, and why sourcing and quality matter when choosing mushroom supplements.

Topics covered in this episode:

Functional mushrooms versus psilocybin mushrooms

What full spectrum mushrooms mean

Lion’s mane, reishi, chaga, cordyceps, turkey tail, shiitake, and maitake

Mushrooms and gut health

Mushrooms and immune support

Cordyceps for energy and stamina

Lion’s mane and brain health research

Turkey tail and cancer related research

Adaptogens and stress support

Why mushroom quality and sourcing matter

Psilocybin, intention, and guided journeys

Set and setting

Integration after a psychedelic experience

Letting go of control

Personal growth and inner healing

Nature, wellness, and reconnecting with yourself

How mushrooms can affect relationships and self awareness

Disclaimer: This episode is for education and personal storytelling only. It is not medical advice, legal advice, or a recommendation to use psilocybin. Psilocybin laws vary by location, and in Canada psilocybin remains a controlled substance except through limited legal pathways such as clinical trials and Health Canada’s Special Access Program. Always speak with a qualified health professional before using supplements, functional mushrooms, or exploring psychedelic assisted therapy.