Katie Begley is on a mission to help others become the best versions of themselves – mind, body, and spirit – through her podcast, Heart in Home Living.
The long-time University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH) Early Childhood Studies instructor (who’s been teaching at the University for almost 15 years) decided to combine two of her passions – holistic lifestyle content and supporting children – in the podcast that she launched earlier this year.
“The main goal that I'd like for the podcast is to ensure that people are constantly learning and growing and improving themselves,” Begely said.
The inspiration for Heart in Home Living came in 2021 when she opened the doors to her boutique, Heart in Home. Begley’s interests in guiding others to “live with intention” (making purposeful, empowering decisions to take control of your life) and to make their house a home led to the store’s creation – and eventual development of her podcast. Thus, the Heart in Home Living podcast was born, creating a space to talk about topics such as relationships, parenting, health (including women’s and children’s health), faith, and more. And at the heart of the podcast is intentional living and providing listeners with information about how to become their optimal selves.
“In order to best support [the children in your life], you need to be intentional about yourself, about your lifestyle, about your home, about your own health and wellness. You have to be the best version of yourself in order to show up in the best way for your children,” she said.
Also, Begley invites guests onto the podcast to share their expertise with listeners. Guests have included registered dietician Tori Wesszer, author and entrepreneur Kelly Childs, naturopathic doctor Brittany Burrows, and ECS Acting Chair Dr. Elena Merenda. For example, Begley and Dr. Merenda spoke about how to best support grieving children and about their personal experiences with grief.
Begley has big plans for the podcast and is hard at work planning upcoming content and considering future guests. She said Heart in Home Living will release several series, which are a group of episodes on one topic.
An upcoming series she’s planning is on children, development, and technology. With the help of an expert in education and technology, Begley wants to delve into questions like: How can we be intentional about the types of technology children are exposed to and at what age? And how much technology is too much for kids?
Another series Begley is planning for is about supporting children and families on an overall wellness journey, in a way that reflects her faith. She’d like to explore the questions: How do I teach my children about faith, something they cannot see? How can I navigate raising spiritual children amid the rise of technology?
And as Begley gears up for exciting future episodes, she’s also launched a book club. At the start of each month, a book will be selected and by the end of that month, the book will be dissected on Heart in Home Living with a vibrant discussion, either with the author or simply by Begley, herself.
“[My podcast] casts a wide net [of topics]; some episodes will appeal to some people and some episodes won't,” she said. “People can take what they need from it.”
You can listen to Heart in Home Living on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.
