Armed with a microphone, a Guelph woman is bringing local health leaders and the community together through a new podcast called Health in Guelph.
The show covers all facets of health from mental, spiritual, financial and more. Host of the podcast, Amanda Gazzola, said there is no one size fits all when it comes to working on yourself.
“There’s not just one thing, there are many different things people are going through,” said Gazzola, who is also a pre-and-post natal coach and lifestyle coach. “I’m here to learn just as much, so why not learn together?”
Since launching the podcast in February, each episode has focused on a different topic not usually discussed when talking about health. Gazzola lists such topics as pelvic floor health, aging and moms connecting through Instagram groups. Future episodes will also talk about video game addiction.
“I think this is what leads to change, bringing up stuff you’re not even aware of and you start becoming aware of all these resources around us in our home city," she said.
Gazzola came up with the concept for the podcast a year and a half ago while going through a pregnancy. She recalls feeling very isolated from her community during that experience.
“I think that going through IVF, and going through pregnancy all in a pandemic, it’s just been so isolating,” said Gazzola. “Luckily, I had a lot of appointments booked with my health team around, like my midwives, my fertility clinic, seeing my chiropractor, and that’s what’s gotten me through the pandemic because of those conversations.”
As an entrepreneur and host of another podcast, The RELOVE + RISE Show, Gazzola decided to tap into her contacts and skills to create this new podcast to help connect community members and learn from them.
“The one thing I know how to do is podcasting, so I thought, ‘Why not be able to do something?’ because I know I need it," said Gazzola.
“I brought it up to my husband and he was like, ‘Oh my gosh, that’s a great idea! Why not call it this?’ and I said, ‘That is a really great name! It has a nice ring to it.’”
Throughout the experience, Gazzola said she is very proud of the podcast and the response from residents about it. She hopes to invite more guests from outside of her social circle, as word about the podcast spreads.
“It has been amazing, I’m getting a lot of DMs these days, which hasn’t happened, and it just makes you feel like you’re on the right track,” she said.
“I think that because we’re all wanting to feel some change, and feel differently, I think everyone has responded really well to it, and it feels easy.”
As a woman in podcasting, Gazzola adds she is seeing a rise in women working together and becoming stronger through teamwork.
"Collectively, we can be more vulnerable and there’s so much for acceptance for each other’s journeys,” Gazzola said learning from other women. “Being together as a team, collectively as women, it feels fun. It feels like you have your sisters around you.”
Health in Guelph can be found on Spotify, Stitcher, Apple Podcast, Podbean and other online platforms.