05/01/2026
KickBack 2026
Today’s interviews brought us together for another powerful day of KickBack conversations, and once again, we were reminded just how layered, complex, and human mental health truly is.
Across an incredible group of guests, one truth echoed throughout the day:
Mental health doesn’t look the same for anyone, but it touches all of us, in every season of life.
Our guests showed up with honesty, courage, and lived experience that made these conversations deeply meaningful:
We explored the balancing act of leadership, business ownership, parenting, and partnership, and the quiet pressure to hold it all together
We heard about long-term sobriety, self-improvement, and how mental health evolves over years of intentional work
We reflected on seeking therapy at different stages of life and how support can look different as we grow and change
We talked about protecting resilience while living in the public eye and navigating the mental load of leadership in a social media world
We held space for personal diagnoses and the complexity of supporting children while still learning to support yourself
We sat with grief, loss, and how experiences in our teens can quietly shape how we move through the world as adults
We listened to a young person share what it’s like to live with ADHD and anxiety, and how understanding and support can make life feel more manageable
We explored perinatal mental health and what truly helps parents who are in the thick of it
We witnessed how creativity can become a lifeline, transforming grief into expression and legacy through art
Today was about:
Acknowledging that no one role defines us
Asking for help without waiting for crisis
Letting grief be part of the story, not something to rush past
Understanding how mental health shows up differently across ages and stages
Creating space for honesty, whether you’re a parent, leader, youth, or caregiver
Honouring the ways people find healing, through therapy, community, medication, creativity, and connection
Each guest reminded us that behind every title, parent, politician, artist, youth, or professional, there is a human navigating invisible challenges. By sharing their stories, they make it easier for others to feel seen, understood, and less alone.
If today feels heavy, or hopeful, or somewhere in between, spend it with us.
KickBack returns Monday, January 19th, 2026 on Rogers TV.
KickBack is proudly presented by the Canadian Mental Health Association,
Brant Haldimand Norfolk Branch
♥️
Hosted by: Ben Strasser
Captured by: Angela DeSalvo
