From Politics to Medium: Rima’s Journey
- Tony Chapman
- Sep 18
- 3 min read
Give Good a Chance: Rima Berns-McGown on Belonging, Spirituality, and Listening for Good
Exploring Identity, Inclusion, and the Journey from Politics to Mediumship
In this truly inspiring episode of Chatter That Matters, host Tony Chapman sits down with Rima Berns-McGown, a former Ontario MPP, award-winning academic, and intuitive medium. From her early days fleeing apartheid South Africa to the halls of Canadian politics and now practicing as an evidential medium, Rima shares her life journey focused on purpose, empathy, and the quest to make the world a better place.
The Power of True Inclusion
Rima draws on her lived experience and research to discuss what authentic inclusion means in Canada. Having grown up in Montreal with a layered identity spanning Jewish, Cape Colored, and Afrikaner ancestry, she explains the challenges and transformative potential our diversity holds. “Being Canadian is, in fact, being open to integration of people who come from somewhere else at a very deep level,” Rima states, emphasizing that true belonging goes well beyond multicultural festivals—it’s about making room for everyone at the table.
From Academia and Politics to Spiritual Connection
After a successful academic and political career dedicated to advocacy and equity, Rima describes her courageous shift into intuitive mediumship—a calling that surprised even her. Her powerful intuition, which once helped her connect with constituents and students, now enables her to bring messages and healing from loved ones who have passed on. Speaking to both skeptics and believers, she says, "There are a series of steps that I go through to say, okay, spirit, I'm ready to work." She stresses the deep ethics required for her spiritual practice and the profound hope that comes from connecting people across realms.
Why Listening—and Giving Good a Chance—Matters More Than Ever
Tony and Rima delve into society’s growing polarization, arguing that the antidote is found in deeper listening and connection. Rima powerfully observes, “If we just all were able to be still and quiet and feel inside for that good, it is there. All of us are capable of it, and we’re capable of connecting to it. And there is a greater good. I am absolutely convinced of it.”
This episode challenges conventional thinking about inclusion, spirituality, and what it means to truly listen—to ourselves, to each other, and to those who have come before us.
Episode Highlights
Rima’s family legacy of leaving South Africa for a more just life in Canada
Her research on Somali integration and what Canada can learn from it
Insights on how real inclusion fuels society and economy
Why she left politics for spiritual work, and what being an intuitive medium means
Moving stories of healing through spirit connection
Practical ideas for building more harmonious, inclusive communities
Don’t miss this compelling conversation with a changemaker who blends wisdom, courage, and compassion—reminding us all to “give good a chance.”
About Chatter That Matters and Host Tony Chapman
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Chatter That Matters is one of Canada’s top-rated podcasts, showcasing stories and lessons from a diverse range of guests, including entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and everyday change-makers. Each episode illustrates how individuals transform challenges into triumphs through mindset and resilience.
Hosted by Tony Chapman—a renowned marketing strategist and three-time inductee into the Marketing Hall of Fame—this acclaimed show ranks among the top 0.5% of podcasts globally. Tune in weekly as Tony converses with guests who share invaluable wisdom on living a meaningful life.
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