Expert Advice From Helpmesara

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Andrea Garson. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What are some of the traits or behaviours that employers find most valuable in their employees? What are some of the traits or behaviours that employers find most worrisome in their employees? What are some of the warning signs that your employer may not be happy with your performance or that you're at risk of losing your job? How can you best handle talking to your employer if you're unhappy with the tasks you're being assigned, but want to keep your job? What are some of the most common reasons that employees lose their jobs

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Heidi Barrett. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What gender fluidity/gender non conforming means Whether a child should be a certain age or reached a certain level of maturity before listening to their beliefs about how they want to express themselves (regarding their gender) Whether gender non conforming children are born "who they are" or become non conforming as a result of being raised by non conforming parents (gender or otherwise) How we can model acceptance, sensitivity and increased tolerance towards people who are gender non conforming What happens if a parent imposes certain gender stereotypes when raising girls and boys What happens at school/in other environments where children are not encouraged to be "who they want to be" Whether being gender fluid/non conforming is just trendy or whether it has been suppressed over the years and in certain cultures until now How to advocate and educate on behalf of your gender non conforming child (a

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Janyce Lastman. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The difference between a quiz, test and exam and how to prepare differently for each How standardized tests (such as EQAO in Ontario) are different from "regular" tests and why they are important The amount of time and how often students need to study in order to see a successful outcome How students can make the best use of their time and what to do when preparing to study (and how parents can help too) How to avoid experiencing test anxiety and why it happens Whether cramming pre test or exam is ever a good idea How and where (in bed or at a desk, for example) to study for tests and exams Whether one can study well with music or other distractions around them How lack or disruption of sleep impacts studying effectiveness and how to manage this Things to keep in mind for the night before, day of the test or exam and afterwards What "accommodations" are, who they are given to and why  

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Janyce Lastman. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The best age at which to begin helping children develop successful work habits How work habits and styles develop and change over the years and why this is important How to best model "good" work habits to students How to determine what works best for your child Whether every student needs to sit at a desk or in a structured environment in order to be successful The "bad" consequences when "good" work habits are not established  

In this episode, Sara chats with Domenico Capilongo. Over the course of this episode, you will learn more about: The role that teachers play in preparing kids for life post secondary school Whether this is different to the role that parents play and if so, how? How students can help prepare themselves for life post secondary school What life after secondary school looks like What constitutes a successful launch into life post secondary school and what makes the difference  

In this, part 1 of 2 related to putting your best foot forward, Sara chats with Andrea Garson, Human Resources consultant on how to make a good impression at a job interview. Over the course of this episode, you will learn how to prepare for a job interview, including: Preparing your resume - tailoring/editing/layout Choosing what you'll wear/how to look Thinking about answers and examples to possible questions How to behave in an interview - do's and don'ts How to prepare for a "not in person" interview (e.g. via Skype/phone) Preparing questions for your interviewer in advance Preparing references in advance Following up after an interview Part 2 of this series coming soon.

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Laura Plant, Director of Student Banking at RBC. Over the course of this episode, you will learn more about: What financial literacy means and why it's so important The steps that parents can take, at various ages and stages of their children's lives, to model becoming and being financially literate The value of giving your child an allowance The ways in which parents can prepare their teenagers and young adults towards becoming more financially independent Resources to help families on their journey  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Brenda Whiteside. Over the course of this episode, you will learn more about: The biggest changes or challenges students face when transitioning from high school to a post secondary school program How living away from home - on residence, for example - affects the way in which a teen manages the transition to a post secondary program How students and parents can expect to feel at first How long the transitional phase typically lasts Resources and programs most Universities and Colleges have in place to assist the student What students can look forward to once he or she is more settled into residence or in their program of choice Do's and don'ts for parents to consider - prior to, during and following the adjustment phase  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Endre Gabori. Over the course of this episode, you will learn more about: How going on a date once you have been living together or a married couple for a while, is different to single life dating The roadblocks to organizing a date with your living together or married partner Why its so important for living together or married couples to go on dates with one another What may happen to their relationship if they don't Some points to keep in mind when planning a date with ones partner What else it might mean when married couples don't find the time to go out on dates with one another  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Michael Gibben. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Whether parents' concern about their kids' brains going to mush during long breaks from school is a valid concern Ways for kids' brains to remain active during long breaks from school How parents can use every day items and toys/games that they have around the house in order to encourage thinking and learning "Essential" every day items/games to help Whether there is any value to video gaming/computer play and whether this should be restricted How parents help inject fun into learning How parents can continue with all of the above after kids return to school  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Sarah Lindsay. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Sarah's personal journey before and after being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder How she is helping others learn from her experience Ways to monitor one's own mental health Ways to get assessed and treated How to advocate on behalf of your mental health needs  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with author Robin Rinaldi. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The definition of open marriage What happens when one partner wants an open marriage and the other does not Why couples adopt this lifestyle The benefits and negative effects of an open marriage on a couple's relationship How society tends to view open marriage  

Sara Dimerman in conversation with Ann Douglas. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What inspired Ann Douglas to write Parenting Through the Storm What parenting through a storm means Ann's personal journey and where she and her family are at today The dangers of not taking care of oneself as you parent through the storm and ways in which you can be kinder to yourself How stress and difficulties within a family affect a couple and how they can work together at making things better  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Gary Hyman. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The most commonly used social media applications including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn What makes them more popular than others and why The power of social media to help grow a business or brand Time saving tips when using social media The best way to approach getting your business noticed on social media Whether social media is really free How advertising works on social media How to measure your return on investment on social media How to grow an email list and generate leads from social media For great information to helpful links and tools, visit http://www.garyhyman.com/helpmesara/

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Author Robin Rinaldi. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: Whether or not most women share a basic maternal desire to bear and raise children Why some people (male or female) may not want to have children of their own The impact that having or not having children has on a couple (as a couple and for each individual) What happens when one partner wants children and the other does not How society tends to view people who choose childlessness  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Meagan Solomon. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The age at which many children begin experimenting with drugs and/or alcohol? Some of the reasons this happens Signs that they may be using drugs or drinking alcohol The best way for a parent to approach his or her child about their concerns so as to encourage open, ongoing communication Whether it is realistic for a parent to expect compliance after forbidding his or her child from using drugs or alcohol Whether or not its ever a good idea for parents to allow their under age children to drink in their homes with them? Their friends? How parents can access information to share with their children about the dangers of drinking and using drugs, and how to go about doing so What parents can do if they feel that their children are addicted to drugs and/or alcohol Supports and programs to help  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Lana Feinstein, Executive Director of LOVE (Leave Out Violence). Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The organization, Leave out Violence (LOVE), and the services they offer to youth How to define bullying and it's different forms (physical, emotional and relational) Whether bullying is rampant (especially in schools) and why this is What causes someone to act like a bully and why The effects of bullying on children and what parents can do to help What "bystander" means and how bystanders can be helped to be become witnesses instead The role that schools and communities need to play in preventing and resolving bullying behaviour and ways in which they can be most effective  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Dr. Laurie Betito. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: What's normal? What's not? in the sex dept of a relationship and who cares anyway? The definition of a "sexless" marriage The difference between a lack of interest and low sexual desire Whether or not women are really not as interested in sex as men The real reasons people avoid having sex with one another How to create an environment that will stimulate desire and enhance sexual experience Whether its possible to re ignite a flame thats gone out and if so, how The importance of foreplay and what it means Physical and physiological changes to our body that affect sex over time and how we can accept and help ourselves rather than fight them The benefits to having regular sex Which relationships are most vulnerable to infidelity  

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with family law lawyer, Lisa Gelman. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: First steps towards formalizing a separation Whether the process is different depending on whether the couple is legally married versus living common law What separation means and whether a couple actually needs to be living in separate places in order to be considered legally separated Whether there is a period of time that has to lapse before a couple can file for divorce and whether they need lawyers in order to do this Some of the most common issues that couples need to work through on the legal front once separated or divorced eg. child custody, division of assets What lawyers will typically ask each of the partners to provide in order to create a legal document The difference between a mediator and a lawyer and when to use one or the other What collaborative law means and when its best to work with a collaborative lawyer Some good questions to ask a lawyer when making the

In this podcast Sara Dimerman chats with Goldie Plotkin. Over the course of this episode you will learn more about: The laws of Yichud Whether these laws are explicitly shared with children as they are growing up or woven into the parenting fabric Whether these laws actually have to be presented as such or if they can just be applied as common sense rules when guiding your children as teens or young adults How, when applying these rules, girls and women, in particular, are kept safer Whether these laws also protect boys and men Whether now, more than ever before, we need to be considering ways to protect ourselves and our children from unwanted sexual advances The incidents have have raised our consciousness and gotten us talking about these concerns