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Uncertainty tends to make us hesitate. We overthink. We stall. We imagine worst-case scenarios. But what if uncertainty wasn’t something to avoid—but something to work with?

In this week’s episode of Bite Size Fridays, we unpack the fear of uncertainty through the lens of the contrarian mindset. I share James’s story—a seasoned financial professional whose desire for stability kept him stuck. Through coaching, reflection, and deliberate skill-building, James learned to stop resisting uncertainty and start engaging with it as a space for discovery and growth.

Here are the contrarian strategies James used to reshape his relationship with the unknown:

• Embrace uncertainty – start with low-stakes experiments to build comfort and confidence
• Let go of fixed outcomes – practice flexibility and open-mindedness toward different results
• Focus on objective reality, not emotional bias – separate facts from fear through journaling and reality-checking techniques
• Practice courage – take small, brave steps daily, even in the face of fear
• Counter rumination and overthinking – write it out, then interrupt thought loops with action

James’s transformation didn’t come from eliminating fear—it came from building a stronger relationship with it. This episode explores how you can use the same mindset to face uncertainty with resilience, flexibility, and growth.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

This is Part 7 in a 15-part Contrarian Mindset series that helps you confront hidden fears and mental habits that hold you back—one mindset at a time.

🔹 Part 1 – Facing the Fear of Vulnerability
🔹 Part 2 – Breaking Free from Perfectionism
🔹 Part 3 – Moving Through Imposter Syndrome
🔹 Part 4 – Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Good Enough
🔹 Part 5 – Replacing Reactivity with Response
🔹 Part 6 – Embracing Change Instead of Resisting It
🔹 Contrarian Skills Series (Season 7) – Scroll back to January 2025 for individual deep dives on each skill

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“You don't know how strong you are until you're faced with a crisis. I never thought I could survive being kidnapped and thrown into a hole. But somehow, you find the strength in you to get through it.” - Mellissa Fung

In this powerful episode, I sit down with veteran journalist, author, and filmmaker Mellissa Fung, whose work spans war zones, survival, and the untold stories of women living through conflict. Mellissa shares her personal journey—from her early reporting days at CBC to being kidnapped while on assignment in Afghanistan, and how that experience reshaped her understanding of trauma, agency, and the power of narrative.

We discuss how she transformed her experience from victimhood to resilience and why she continues to shine a light on the lives of women and girls affected by war—especially in Afghanistan and Nigeria. From her acclaimed books Under an Afghan Sky and Between Good and Evil, to her documentary Captive, Mellissa’s storytelling centers empathy, courage, and the fight for dignity in forgotten corners of the world.

This episode is about more than journalism. It’s about finding strength through pain, the responsibility to amplify unheard voices, and the resilience it takes to keep caring in a world overwhelmed by conflict and complexity.

What We Talk About:

• Melissa’s early career and what drew her to stories of women and overlooked communities
• Her harrowing 2008 kidnapping in Afghanistan—and how she mentally and emotionally survived
• The process of reclaiming her story and identity through healing and writing
• Her powerful return to Afghanistan and what it taught her about trauma recovery
• Why she chose to document the stories of girls abducted by Boko Haram
• The growing global indifference to women's suffering in conflict zones—and what we risk by looking away
• Reflections on resilience, agency, faith, and post-traumatic growth
• The shifting landscape of women’s rights around the world in 2025

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience isn’t about being unshaken. It’s about staying present, accepting pain, and finding strength even when broken.
• Storytelling is a form of resistance. When the world looks away, telling the truth becomes an act of care and courage.
• Healing isn’t linear. Melissa’s journey reminds us that trauma can be transformed, but not rushed or erased.
• Human rights must remain universal. The rollback of women’s freedoms globally is not just a regional issue—it’s a shared responsibility.

Featured Works by Mellissa Fung:

• Under an Afghan Sky: A Memoir of Captivity
• Between Good and Evil: The Stolen Girls of Boko Haram
• Captive (Documentary Film)

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Change often knocks when we least expect it—and rarely when we feel ready. This week on BiteSize Fridays, we explore one of the most common and quietly limiting fears: the fear of change.

In this episode, I share William’s story—a seasoned marketing leader with decades of experience and deep confidence in traditional ways of working. When his company underwent a major strategic shift, it pushed him into unfamiliar territory. And like many of us, William initially resisted. Not because he lacked skill, but because he feared letting go of what he knew.

Through coaching and applying strategies from the Contrarian Playbook, William began to see change not as a threat, but as an opportunity—to grow, to lead differently, and to reconnect with curiosity.

William used these contrarian strategies to shift his mindset:

• Embrace obstacles as opportunities – reframing discomfort as the doorway to growth
• Practice courage – facing vulnerability head-on and acting despite uncertainty
• Focus on progress, not perfection – seeing mistakes as data, not failures
• Build social bridges – creating space for open dialogue, curiosity, and collective problem-solving
• Let go of fixed outcomes – focusing on action and effort, not rigid expectations

William’s journey reminds us that change is rarely comfortable—but it doesn’t have to be feared. With the right tools and a shift in mindset, we can transform it into fuel for leadership, innovation, and personal evolution.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

This is Part 6 in a 15-part Contrarian Mindset series where we confront the fears and mental habits that quietly limit our growth—and learn how to think differently.

🔹 Part 1 – Facing the Fear of Vulnerability
🔹 Part 2 – Breaking Free from Perfectionism
🔹 Part 3 – Moving Through Imposter Syndrome
🔹 Part 4 – Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Good Enough
🔹 Part 5 – Replacing Reactivity with Response
🔹 Contrarian Skills Series (Season 7) – Start in January 2025 for deep dives into each mindset strategy.

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“Dementia is not inevitable. Small, intentional changes in lifestyle can significantly reduce your risk.” - Jay Ingram

Have you ever wondered how much control we have over our brain health? Can lifestyle choices, education, and sleep patterns influence cognitive longevity and prevent conditions like dementia? In this episode, I sit down with Jay Ingram, a renowned science communicator, broadcaster, and author, to explore these critical questions.

Jay has dedicated his career to making complex scientific concepts accessible to the public. He has hosted Canada's premier science radio program, Quirks and Quarks, and Daily Planet on Discovery Channel Canada. With over 20 books published and translated into 15 languages, Jay has been a key voice in public science awareness. He is a member of the Order of Canada and has co-founded Beakerhead, an initiative that blends arts and engineering to engage people in science.

In this insightful discussion, we dive into Jay’s extensive research on dementia, including what it truly is, why it's often misunderstood, and what steps we can take to mitigate its risks. Whether you're looking for ways to keep your brain sharp or simply want to better understand how cognitive decline works, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dementia Is Not Just Alzheimer’s – Dementia is an umbrella term for various cognitive decline conditions, including Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and frontotemporal dementia. While Alzheimer’s is the most common, understanding the different types can help in prevention and management strategies.
2. Genetics vs. Lifestyle – While genetics plays a role in dementia risk, lifestyle choices can significantly impact outcomes. Research suggests that nearly 40% of dementia cases could be preventable with the right habits.
3. The Role of Lifestyle in Prevention – Healthy habits such as eating a nutritious diet (favoring whole foods and minimizing processed sugars), regular physical activity, and maintaining social connections can significantly reduce dementia risk.
4. The Importance of Sleep – Deep sleep plays a crucial role in brain health, helping to flush out harmful proteins that contribute to Alzheimer’s. Establishing good sleep hygiene, such as maintaining a consistent bedtime and avoiding artificial light before sleep, is essential.

Bio

Jay Ingram has hosted both the premier radio science program in Canada, CBC’s Quirks and Quarks, and its TV counterpart, Discovery Channel Canada’s Daily Planet.

Ingram has written 20 books, many of which have been best-sellers. His books have been translated into 15 languages. He wrote a science column for The Toronto Star for 12 years, and was a contributing editor to Owl magazine.

From 2005-2015, he was Chair of the Science Communications Program at the Banff Centre. He is also co-founder and board member of the arts and engineering smashup called Beakerhead, which began in September 2013 in Calgary.

In 2010, Ingram was appointed as a member to the Order of Canada for a lifetime of service in science communication.

Contact

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay.ingram.315/

X: https://x.com/jayingram

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This week, we’re tackling a mindset many of us fall into without realizing it—the reactive mindset.

Reactivity isn’t always bad. In life-or-death situations, reacting fast keeps us safe. But in daily work, relationships, and emotionally charged conversations, reacting without reflection can lead to poor decisions, conflict, and regret.

In this episode, I share Allison’s story. A seasoned project manager, she once believed fast responses meant strong leadership—until it cost her clarity, connection, and team trust. Her journey offers a powerful reminder that slowing down internally, even in high-pressure moments, can change the trajectory of how we lead, communicate, and relate to others.

Allison’s shift to a contrarian mindset included key strategies like:

• Separating emotion from reality – creating space to reflect before reacting
• Practicing equanimity – finding calm in the storm to lead with clarity
• Building social bridges – responding with curiosity and empathy, even during conflict
• Embracing obstacles as opportunities – reframing tension as a chance to grow
• Letting go of fixed outcomes – allowing solutions to unfold through thoughtful dialogue

Allison’s story reminds us that choosing how we respond—especially under pressure—is one of the most powerful forms of leadership. The contrarian mindset doesn’t reject emotion; it integrates it with intention.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

This is Part 5 in a 15-part series where we confront the hidden fears and reactive patterns that hold us back—and build resilience by rewiring how we think.

🔹 Part 1 – Facing the Fear of Vulnerability
🔹 Part 2 – Breaking Free from Perfectionism
🔹 Part 3 – Moving Through Imposter Syndrome
🔹 Part 4 – Overcoming the Fear of Not Being Good Enough
🔹 Contrarian Skills Series (Season 7) – Begin in January 2025 in the episode feed for deeper dives into each mindset strategy.

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“Happiness isn’t something you chase. It’s a byproduct of suffering less.” – Tim Tamashiro

Have you ever hit a point where you’ve achieved what you thought would make you happy, only to feel like something’s still missing? Or perhaps you’ve found yourself caught in a cycle of frustration, burnout, or lack of direction? In this episode, I sit down with Tim Tamashiro, a jazz musician, author, and former CBC radio host, who has dedicated his life to discovering what it means to live with purpose.

Tim is the author of How to Ikigai, a book that introduces the Japanese philosophy of finding meaning in the everyday by aligning our passions, skills, and values. His search for deeper meaning led him to study Buddhism in Thailand, exploring the roots of suffering and how we can move beyond it.

In this episode, we dive into the principles of Ikigai, explore the three roots of suffering, and discuss how to live with more intention and awareness. By the end of the episode, you’ll walk away with practical insights on identifying your own Ikigai, managing suffering, and shifting from a life of autopilot to one of purpose and fulfillment.

Key Topics Covered:
Understanding Ikigai – The four pillars of finding your purpose: what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be rewarded for.
The Three Roots of Suffering – Anger, greed, and delusions, and how they shape our happiness.
Living with Intention – How meditation and mindfulness can help you move from default to design in your life.
The Power of Meditation – Practical tips for starting a meditation practice and using mindfulness to create space for clarity.
Suffer Less, Happy More – A philosophy for reducing suffering by letting go of attachments and increasing self-awareness.
Buddhism for Modern Life – How ancient teachings can be applied to our current challenges to find greater peace and happiness.
Equiluminance – How compassion for yourself and others can bring balance and light into your life.

Bio

Tim Tamashiro is a Canadian jazz singer, author, keynote speaker, and former national radio host. He is best known for hosting "Tonic," a nightly jazz program on CBC Radio 2, from 2007 to 2017. After leaving CBC, Tim pursued studies in positive psychology and ikigai, an ancient Japanese philosophy meaning "life's worth." He authored the Amazon bestselling book "How To Ikigai," which explores this concept. Tim's personal ikigai is "to delight," and he shares this through speaking engagements, musical performances, and storytelling.

Contact

Website: https://www.timtamashiro.ca/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timtamashiro/

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This week, we’re taking on a fear that hides in plain sight—the fear of not being good enough.

In this episode, I share Gail’s story, a talented construction engineer working in a high-pressure, fast-paced industry. Despite a strong track record of success, Gail was driven by anxiety, relentless perfectionism, and constant self-doubt. One critical moment on a high-stakes project became a turning point—not just in her work, but in how she saw herself.

We explore how Gail shifted from chasing perfection to embracing progress, using tools from the Contrarian Playbook to build real confidence from the inside out.

Gail applied several contrarian strategies to reframe her thinking:

• Focus on progress, not perfection
• Challenge unrealistic standards
• Reframe how feedback is received and processed
• Document achievements to shift self-narratives
• Use mindfulness to manage stress and negative self-talk
• Broaden identity beyond professional success
• Adopt a growth mindset rooted in curiosity and development

Gail’s story is a reminder that you don’t need to be flawless to be worthy. It’s not about proving yourself—it’s about knowing your worth, even when the stakes are high.

Additional Resources:
Interested in building a contrarian mindset for resilience, fortitude, and psychological strength? Check out the other episodes in this series linked in the show notes, and subscribe to It’s an Inside Job for more insights on resilience, well-being, and personal growth.

Part 1 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

Part 2 – Discover the Power of The Contrarian Mindset: A New Approach to Rewiring Your Brain for Resilience and Growth

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“Your desire to know cultivates their willingness to tell.” – Jeff Wetzler

In this episode of It's an Inside Job, I sit down with Jeff Wetzler, author of Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You, to explore the transformative power of asking the right questions. Jeff shares how curiosity, psychological safety, and deep listening are essential for meaningful conversations and effective leadership.

Why You Should Listen: If you've ever left a conversation feeling like something was left unsaid, this episode will equip you with practical tools to ask better questions, listen more deeply, and build stronger relationships. Whether you're a leader, coach, or simply someone who wants to communicate more effectively, Jeff’s insights will transform the way you approach conversations.

Key Takeaways:

1. Curiosity is a Choice, Not a Trait – Jeff emphasizes that curiosity isn't something you either have or don’t. Instead, it’s a mindset shift that we can intentionally cultivate, especially in emotionally charged moments. By choosing to be curious, we invite deeper understanding and create a foundation for trust and learning.
2. The Art of Psychological Safety – People often hold back valuable insights due to fear or discomfort. Jeff breaks down practical ways to make it safer for others to share their true thoughts—whether it's through choosing the right setting, exposing our own agenda transparently, or demonstrating resilience in handling difficult truths.
3. The Quality of Our Questions Determines the Quality of Our Learning – Many of us unknowingly ask ‘clumsy,’ ‘sneaky,’ or ‘attack’ questions that shut down dialogue rather than open it up. Jeff walks us through his five-step Ask Approach, offering specific strategies for crafting open-ended, neutral questions that foster honest and insightful conversations.
4. Deep Listening is More Than Just Hearing – Too often, we listen to respond rather than to understand. Jeff introduces techniques like ‘pulling the thread’ and ‘echoing’ to actively engage in conversations, ensuring we fully grasp both the words and emotions behind what someone is saying.
5. Turning Insights into Action – Learning doesn’t stop at hearing—it requires reflection and follow-through. Jeff shares his ‘Sift It and Turn It’ method, a structured approach to processing information, extracting key insights, and translating them into meaningful change.

Bio

​Jeff Wetzler is a co-founder and co-CEO of Transcend, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting school communities in creating extraordinary, equitable learning environments. Prior to co-founding Transcend, Jeff served as Executive Vice President of Teacher Preparation, Support, and Development, and Chief Learning Officer at Teach For America, where he focused on optimising the training and ongoing support of thousands of corps members nationally.

In 2024, Jeff authored the book "Ask: Tap Into the Hidden Wisdom of People Around You for Unexpected Breakthroughs in Leadership and Life," which explores the power of asking questions to uncover insights and foster breakthroughs in leadership and personal development.

Contact

Website: https://www.askapproach.com/

LinkedIn:

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