In Season 9, Episode 1 of The Root of It All with Tree, Tree Ryde sits down with Taylor Smeenk, CEO and Founder of Empact Wellness, to discuss health, functional medicine, root-cause approaches, and the importance of trusting your body.

Drawing from her professional background in chiropractic care and functional medicine, as well as her personal experiences, Taylor offers insight into understanding the body beyond its symptoms and taking a more informed, proactive approach to personal wellness.

This conversation explores health awareness, self-advocacy, personal responsibility, and the value of asking better questions when it comes to our well-being.

Join Tree and Taylor for a thoughtful discussion about reclaiming confidence in your health journey and recognizing the power of being an active participant in your own care.

BIO:

Taylor Smeenk is the CEO and Founder of Empact Wellness. Educated as a chiropractor and advanced as a Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, her career sits at the intersection of root‑cause medicine, systems thinking, and whole‑body care.

Her path was forged through personal experience: after suffering five concussions in a two‑year period, she developed and then healed herself from cervical cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, PMDD, chronic pain, eczema, and acne. When she and her own family fell through the gaps in the conventional healthcare system, she realized the world needed a different kind of clinic — one where mental, physical, and integrative health are understood as one connected whole.

That realization became Empact Wellness: a collective approach to whole‑body health. Built from one team, one roof, and one clear plan. What began as a commitment to her local Burlington community has grown into a model designed to help people move beyond symptom management worldwide – to empower people with an understanding of the underlying drivers of chronic, complex disease and build proactive, long‑term strategies without endless referrals, fragmented care, or the frustration of the broken system.

Connect with Taylor Smeenk:

Social media links: @taylor.smeenk and @empactwellness

Website: drtaylorsmeenk.com and empactwellness.com

Business: Empact Wellness

In this episode of The Root Of It All With Tree, Tree Ryde sits down with Lorri Fleming, CEO and Co-Founder of The WOMB, for a conversation about women's health, healing, and the power of connection.

Drawing on Lorri's extensive experience supporting women and families, this episode explores the value of compassionate, collaborative care and the importance of meaningful relationships throughout life's different stages.

Tune in for a thoughtful discussion about women's wellness, family support, and the connections that help us grow together.

BIO:

Lorri Fleming is CEO - Creative Executive Orchestrator and Co-Founder of The WOMB , a wellness organization dedicated to providing exceptional, multidisciplinary, collaborative care for women and their families across all stages of life. With a professional foundation as a doula, childbirth educator, and parent educator for decades, Lorri brings extensive frontline experience in women’s health, pregnancy, birth, and family support. This clinical and educational background has informed her leadership approach and the development of The WOMB’s integrated care model, which emphasizes both excellence in hospitality and customized, relationship-based care. As C.E.O. Lorri is responsible for the strategic direction and operational oversight of The WOMB, including the development of organizational culture, service standards, and scalable programs that nurture consistent, exceptional guest experiences across wellness centre environments. Her work includes designing systems for managing multidisciplinary wellness centres while maintaining the integrity, values, and client-centred ethos upon which the organization was founded.

Lorri is particularly passionate about women’s healthcare, personal development, and the creation of nurturing spaces, rooted in love, connection, and meaningful contribution. She is committed to advancing care models that prioritize professional excellence that support practitioners and franchise partners, offering high-quality, values-aligned services within communities.

Connect with Lorri:

https://www.thewomb.ca/

What happens when confidence comes from understanding your options and having the right support?

In Season 8, Episode 9 of The Root Of It All With Tree, Tree Ryde and Dale Stoneman explore the role legal support can play in helping people feel more informed, prepared, and confident when navigating important situations.

This conversation offers an opportunity to look at legal support from a practical perspective and consider how having the right guidance can influence the way we approach challenges and decisions.

BIO: Family is the most important thing in my life, and I am incredibly proud to have raised four amazing humans as a single mom. I spent 18 years in banking, working in a variety of roles. I discovered LegalShield in October 1998 and I was proud to help bring LegalShield to Ontario in June 0f 1999. Today, I am passionate about helping individuals, families, and small businesses gain affordable access to legal protection. I love connecting with people, helping others, and continuing to learn and grow. I believe personal development is one of the keys to living a fulfilling life—and I’m grateful to be doing work that allows me to make a difference in the lives of others.

Connect with Dale:

LinkedIn-linkedin.com/in/dale-stoneman

Facebook-Dale Stoneman

My website- https://dalesusan.legalshieldassociate.com

"My podcast experience with Tree was very comfortable and felt like a conversation. She is an amazing interviewer and has a gift of asking all the right questions. "- Dale Stoneman