For the Season 3 finale of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, we’re going somewhere we haven’t gone before.

My guest is Laura Agresta — Registered Nurse, psychotherapist, Reiki Master and founder of Healing With Love — and, fun fact, the woman responsible for my very first Reiki experience! And yes... I had questions. 😂

Laura spent more than a decade working across healthcare — including prenatal and postpartum care, NICU, mental health and palliative care — before reaching a point where the limitations of the system no longer aligned with how she believed people needed to be supported. Eventually, she bet on herself and began building a practice that brings together psychotherapy, Reiki, somatic work, Brainspotting and more.

In this conversation, we get curious about the space between understanding what happened to us and actually healing from it.

We spill the tea on:

• What the hell Reiki actually is — including Laura’s brilliant “it’s like Wi-Fi” explanation
• How trauma and stress can show up in the body even when our brains think we’ve “dealt with it”
• Somatic healing, Brainspotting and why talking isn’t always enough
• Laura’s journey from nurse to entrepreneur — and why she walked away from a secure career
• The stigma around energy work and navigating the “woo-woo” factor
• What it really means to hold space for someone instead of trying to “fix” them
• And, of course, we unpack my first Reiki session with Laura — including the anger, physical sensations and eventual deep calm and clarity I experienced.

Laura also offers an important reminder: Reiki isn’t a magic wand or one-size-fits-all answer. Different modalities work for different people, and the training, ethics and fit of the practitioner matter. Whether you’re fully into energy work, Reiki-curious, or sitting there thinking “Sarah, girl, this sounds woo-woo” - this episode is for you.

Come curious. I certainly did!

🎙️ Season 3, Episode 10 — Beyond the Woo-Woo: Laura Agresta on Reiki, Trauma & What the Body Remembers is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Connect with Laura: Find Laura and learn more about psychotherapy, Reiki, somatic work, Brainspotting and her services through Healing With Love at healingwithlovetherapy.ca or find her on Instagram @healingwithlovetherapy. You can also connect with Laura by e-mail at healingwithlovebylaura@gmail.com

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 9 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I’m sitting down with Sasha Page - entrepreneur, mom, community champion and the force behind Hollow Valley Spirits.

Sasha’s story is about a whole lot more than cocktails.

We talk about how a former fitness leader with zero beverage-industry experience found herself building a Canadian spirits brand from the ground up - learning as she went, hearing plenty of “no’s,” competing against major brands and discovering that her greatest business advantage might just be her ability to connect with people.

In this raw, funny and deeply vulnerable conversation, we spill the tea on:

• Building a business when you have no idea what you’re doing
• Betting on yourself and learning through the mistakes
• Why relationships have become Sasha’s entrepreneurial superpower
• Building a business with your partner - and surviving it 😂
• Competing with massive brands without massive marketing budgets
• Why Sasha says YES to community, charity and giving back
• Motherhood, boundaries and refusing to apologize for how she parents
• The parts of entrepreneurship nobody sees behind the finished product

Sasha opens up about her difficult journey to motherhood, including IVF, multiple pregnancy losses and a traumatic childbirth experience that nearly took her life. We talk about the realities of infertility women too often whisper about, what motherhood changed in her, and why she’s officially done apologizing for the choices that feel right for her and her son.

We’re spilling the tea on betting on yourself, building a business with your partner, rejection, relationships, community over competition, giving back, motherhood, boundaries and what happens when life teaches you to stop giving a damn about everyone else’s expectations.

Because sometimes the path you never planned becomes the one that changes everything. Grab a Hollow Valley cocktail and hit play. This one gets real. 🍹🔥

Connect with Sasha: Follow Hollow Valley Spirits on Instagram @hollow_valley_spirits and Facebook to follow the journey, discover where to find the cocktails and connect directly with Sasha. Learn more at hollowvalleyspirits.com

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 8 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with my friend Cindy Chang - two-time founder, CEO of Evolve Consulting Co. and Dabbl’, host of Fearless Entrepreneurs, wife, mom, and a woman determined to rethink the future of work.

Cindy immigrated to Canada from Taiwan at five years old, growing up in an entrepreneurial family and learning early what hard work, resilience, and ambition looked like. She was also the talkative, outgoing little girl who didn’t fit the mould others expected of her - and that experience helped shape the unapologetic woman she is today.

After more than 20 years in talent and recruitment, Cindy built a successful corporate career—but becoming a mother changed everything. She found herself apologizing for having a child while trying to remain the ambitious businesswoman she had always been. When she was laid off in 2023, she finally made the mental shift from side-hustling entrepreneur to fully betting on herself.

In this raw, funny, and unapologetic conversation, we spill the tea on:

• Growing up as an immigrant and how Cindy’s parents shaped her ambition
• Being labelled “too much” and learning not to shrink herself
• The reality of entrepreneurship—fear, failed deals, cash flow, and difficult clients
• Why Cindy refuses to work with people who give her “the ick”
• Motherhood, ambition, and why women should stop apologizing for wanting both
• Whether women really can “have it all”—and why Cindy believes we can, if we define what all means
• Her fear of failure, fierce work ethic, and the intensity she sees as both a strength and a challenge

Then we get into the future of work.

Cindy gives us a front-row view of today’s employment market: layoffs, post-COVID over-hiring, an oversupply of talent, and a workplace culture that still too often forces people into outdated models.

She calls out the power imbalance between employers and employees, even describing modern hiring as an “abusive relationship” when fear, baggage, and control drive the process instead of alignment and humanity.

That frustration is exactly why she built Dabbl’—to connect experienced professionals, especially moms who have left corporate careers, with companies looking for flexible talent and meaningful support.

Because flexible work isn’t just a women’s issue.

It’s a human issue.

And maybe the answer isn’t eliminating the 9-to-5. Maybe it’s finally giving people other fucking options. Season 3, Episode 8 — Fuck the Box is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Learn more at evolveconsultingco.com and dabble.ca, or connect with Cindy on Instagram and LinkedIn at @evolve_consulting_co. She says her DMs are always open!

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 6 of What's The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Lester Coloma - award-winning mural artist, visual storyteller, entrepreneur, and proud Hamiltonian whose work has transformed communities across North America for nearly three decades.

Born and raised in Hamilton to Filipino immigrant parents, Lester's love of art began at home alongside his father, an architect who unknowingly sparked a lifelong passion for creativity. What started as childhood sketches grew into a remarkable career creating murals that don't simply decorate buildings - they tell the stories of the people, history, and communities that surround them.

In this thoughtful, reflective, and deeply inspiring conversation, Lester spills the tea on:

• Growing up as a first-generation Filipino Canadian and the lessons his father taught him about art and life
• Discovering mural painting through an unexpected opportunity that changed the course of his career
• Why he sees himself as a visual storyteller rather than simply an artist
• The responsibility creatives have to shape communities, preserve history, and spark conversation
• How grief following the loss of his mother found its way into his artwork and became part of his healing journey
• Building a creative business over nearly 30 years while navigating self-doubt, perfectionism, and entrepreneurship
• What success looks like today and the importance of embracing mistakes to grow as both an artist and a human being
• His dream of creating more personal, emotionally expressive work that reflects his own story

Lester also shares something deeply personal: despite decades of recognition and success, he's only recently begun to understand how profoundly his work impacts the people and communities who experience it every day. It's a beautiful reminder that sometimes we never fully realize the ripple effect of the gifts we share with the world!

This episode is about creativity, legacy, vulnerability, and finding beauty in both the cracks and the masterpiece. Season 3 – Episode 6 - Painting Stories That Last is streaming now on What's The Tea with Sarah E.

Connect with Lester Coloma and explore his portfolio: lestercoloma.com or follow along his journey on Instagram @lestercolomaart

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 5 of What's The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Danielle Zucchet, CEO of Kemp Care Network, fundraiser, leader, mother, and the visionary helping bring Keaton's House to life - the first dedicated pediatric hospice serving Hamilton, Halton, Niagara, Brant, and surrounding communities.

Danielle's journey wasn't one she ever imagined.

After losing her son, Keaton, in 2010, she found herself searching for purpose amidst unimaginable grief. While attending a grief and bereavement seminar hosted by Kemp Care Network, she learned about the enormous gap in pediatric hospice care... and everything changed. What began as a career in fundraising evolved into a calling to help build something that families across our region have deserved for decades.

Today, Danielle is leading a transformational $25 million capital campaign to build Keaton's House - a home-like pediatric hospice that will provide respite care, pain and symptom management, grief and bereavement support, and end-of-life care for children and their families. With more than $14 million already raised, this dream is becoming a reality, with doors expected to open in 2027.

In this deeply moving conversation, Danielle spills the tea on:

• The life-changing loss that transformed her purpose and career
• The heartbreaking gap in pediatric hospice care and why families deserve better
• The vision behind Keaton's House and how it will redefine care for seriously ill children and their loved ones
• Leading one of the region's largest capital campaigns and the lessons she's learned along the way
• Building a team, embracing community, and why "it takes a village" isn't just a saying—it's the strategy
• The importance of creating spaces where families can simply be together, make memories, and feel at home—even during life's most difficult moments

Danielle also shares the story of Keaton - the joyful little boy who loved to dance, made everyone laugh, and continues to inspire a legacy of compassion that will impact generations of families. Through Keaton's House, his light will continue to shine in every family who walks through its doors.

This episode is about resilience, purpose, courageous leadership, and the extraordinary things that happen when a community comes together to build hope.

Season 3 – Episode 5 — More Than a Building is streaming now on What's The Tea with Sarah E.

Connect with Kemp Care Network at kempcarenetwork.org and learn more about Keaton's House at kempcarenetwork.org/capital-campaign/

Follow Kemp Care Network on Instagram @kempcarenetwork and Facebook to stay connected with the campaign and upcoming community initiatives.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 4 of What's The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Abrar Mechmechia, Syrian-Canadian refugee, mental health advocate, and Founder & CEO of ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health Services.

Abrar's story begins in Syria, where she spent her childhood surrounded by family, community, creativity, and dreams of one day pursuing medicine like her father. But life had other plans. After witnessing the devastating impacts of war and eventually fleeing Syria, Abrar arrived in Canada carrying not only her own trauma - but a deep desire to help others heal.

What she discovered upon arrival was something she never expected: a system that often lacked the cultural understanding, compassion, and support newcomers desperately needed. Rather than allowing those experiences to define her, Abrar transformed them into purpose. In 2020, she founded ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health Services, creating culturally responsive, community-led mental health supports for newcomers, immigrants, refugees, women, and youth.

In this powerful and deeply human conversation, Abrar spills the tea on:

• Growing up in Syria and the values that shaped her leadership
• The realities of displacement, migration, and rebuilding a life in a new country
• Why lived experience matters in mental health care
• The gaps she encountered as a newcomer and how they inspired the creation of ABRAR
• Building culturally safe spaces where people feel seen, heard, and understood
• The launch of ABRAR's first-ever public fundraising initiative, Healing Happens Here
• The importance of dignity, representation, and belonging in mental health support
• Responding to the tragic loss of Nabil and creating long-term solutions that center youth voices and community healing
• What it means to advocate for uncomfortable truths, even when it comes at a personal cost

Abrar also shares a powerful perspective on trauma: that people are more than their diagnoses, their circumstances, or the hardships they have endured. Healing happens when people are treated as whole human beings - with culture, identity, history, and hope.

At the heart of this episode is a simple but profound message: Healing doesn't happen in isolation. Healing happens in community.

This episode is a conversation about resilience, belonging, courage, and what becomes possible when people choose compassion over judgment and action over indifference.

Season 3 – Episode 4 - Healing Happens Here is streaming now on What's The Tea with Sarah E.

Learn more about Abrar, ABRAR Trauma & Mental Health and the Healing Happens Here campaign at abrarmh.ca or find them on Instagram at @abrar.tmh and @abrar_mechmechia.

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Season 3, Episode 3 of What’s The Tea with Sarah E, I sit down with Laurie Macintyre, Executive Director of Jaycee Homes, housing advocate, community builder, and a leader who is proving that affordable housing is about so much more than bricks and mortar.

Laurie’s journey into housing was anything but planned. What began with a leap into property management evolved into a mission-driven career focused on creating safe, stable, and dignified housing for those who need it most. Today, she is leading one of the most significant projects in Jaycee Homes’ history - a new 24-unit affordable housing development for women and women-led families fleeing violence, set to open in 2026.

In this thoughtful, honest, and inspiring conversation, Laurie spills the tea on:

• Why stable housing is one of the most important determinants of health and success
• The surprising path that led her into socialprofit leadership and leading organization through its first-ever capital campaign
• What authentic leadership really looks like and why being yourself is your greatest advantage
• Learning to say no, set boundaries, and lead with intention
• The importance of board engagement, collaboration, and collective impact

Laurie also shares her belief that leadership isn't about titles or status - it's about showing up with integrity, building relationships, and leaving things better than you found them. Her perspective on housing, social impact, and community-building offers a powerful reminder that every person deserves a safe place to call home.

Beyond housing, we explore the future of the social profit sector, the importance of measuring impact, and why communities must come together to tackle complex challenges that no organization can solve alone.

At the heart of this episode is a simple but profound truth: Housing changes everything.

Season 3 Episode 3 - Building More Than Homes is streaming now on What’s The Tea with Sarah E.

Learn more about Jaycee Homes and their affordable housing initiatives at https://jayceehomes.ca/

That’s today’s tea! If you loved this conversation, don’t forget to rate, review, and share the show with a friend.

Join the Tea Party! New episodes drop every second Tuesday, so hit that subscribe button on your favorite podcast app. And for the latest episodes, behind-the-scenes clips, and even more bold conversations, follow me on Instagram at @sara_ernest.

A Reminder - The views and opinions expressed by guests on What’s the Tea with Sarah E are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host. This podcast is a platform for diverse voices, stories, and perspectives - sometimes unpolished, always unapologetic.

Until next time, keep stirring the pot.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.