Adrian Nadler joins the Soko team with a Bachelors degree in professional writing and psychology from York University. He has at times worked as a construction worker, art show clerk, baker, grocery clerk, door-to-door salesperson, telemarketer, court transcriber and book store clerk. He brings his eclectic experience and skill at giving unsolicited advice to the areas of health, men's style and travel. When he gets a day off, he enjoys mixed martial arts, writing horror fiction, meditation and reading voraciously.
Dan Grant is an internationally recognized body transformation coach certified through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is the owner of Dan Grant Fitness Coaching Services. He currently trains (in person and online), lectures in the USA and Canada, and writes. His professional webpage is http://www.dangrantfitness.com.
Dave Gabriele has been a practitioner and a teacher of martial arts for over ten years. His expertise falls within the Chinese systems of kung fu, qigong qnd taiji. Through years of practice and calisthenics, accumulated experience from teaching and extensive applied research in martial arts, general health and nutrition, Dave Gabriele feels he can contribute to a reader's understanding of such topics. In 2006, he received a B.A. from York University and he is currently studying at TSTCM to become a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Elena Rojas is devoted to living the healthiest lifestyle possible without giving up ice cream and is convinced many of our society’s problems could be solved if everyone started and ended their day with a brisk walk. When she’s not writing or studying, Elena is usually flying down a muddy trail on her mountain bike, trying not to think about bears. A physics student at Dalhousie University, she is studying hurricanes because they scare her.
Jenny Lee Ferguson has been writing since she learned not to eat the crayons. She currently attends Toronto's York University and is looking to support her Cracker Jack habit with her pen. She lives and loves in the GTA, but would consider trading in for a steer wrestler with a llama farm.
Jessica Bianchi is a newbie here at The Soko, so be kind. When she is not busy procrastinating, she is working tirelessly on the cure for small talk. During her free time she loves to hang out at Chapters and flip through magazines she could never consider purchasing. Jessica is in her final year studying Professional Writing and the vast selection of smoothies at the Booster Juice kiosk.
Justine Kim is a proud alumnus of Ryerson University's Journalism program, 2004. She then went on to achieve her Bachelor of Education at Queen's University. Her love of writing and teaching others come together in her work for The Soko, as she is able to inform readers of the newest trends in health and nutrition. Although she has no formal education, she is a self-professed health aficionado. Whenever she has free time, she is at the gym running on the treadmill or trying out the latest dance, step, or yoga class.
Laura Hart is a fashion business student at George Brown College with a B.A. in English from Queen’s University. She has been working with The Soko for about three years, first as an intern and now as a staff writer for Her Style. In addition to writing, Laura acts as a stylist for fashion shows, has participated in L’Oreal Fashion week and enjoys being part of the visual merchandising team at her current job.
Lychee Fan (yes, Lychee like the fruit) has worked as a freelance fashion journalist, a stylist, a fashion model and a stiletto-slave. Lychee enjoys making use of pen and paper; being surgically attached to her DJ headphones; the life of a hardcore footie fangirl (that's soccer to you); and jamming on any guitar she can find. A student of English Literature, Film Theory and Creative Writing, she can usually be found writing or singing.
Lisa Xing is a fourth year journalism and psychology student at Carleton University. She has covered everything from politics to social issues to arts in her academic journalism. Dating back to her toddler years, Lisa has had an inherent love of and interest in style and unique fashions (namely, making her own).
Lua Farnoush is a student at York University, studying for degrees in Business Administration as well as the Concurrent Education program. She is a self-proclaimed addict of footwear, Facebook, and her fussy Chihuahua named Zoë. Comfortably settling into her 20s, Lua lives with her dog in a quiet neighborhood of North York.
Based in Toronto, Lyra Pappin is a columnist for The Soko and a staff writer at PopMatters.com, with work published on CBC.ca and in the Chicago Tribune. She has an English degree from Queen's University. She enjoys reading, traveling, writing, running and drinking wine... but not at the same time. Contact Lyra at lyra (at) thesoko (dot) com.
Matthew Stefanson is a young man with big dreams. A man who thinks that ghosts may or may not exist and an avid supporter of Canadian music. A man who firmly believes that writing about himself in the third person narrative is the most fun he has ever, or will ever, have. The sort of fellow that you wouldn't want in your corner during a barfight, but one that you'd love to have at your sporting event or box social.
Natasha Leitao is a writer and consultant living in Ontario. Originally from Saskatchewan, her educational background is in psychology. Her interests include statistical analysis, travelling, cocktail hours and of course, dating. Look for Natasha in the local cable channel hit series "What's in Your Garage".
As a self-proclaimed music junkie, bookworm and grammar nerd, Nicole Stevenson spends much of her time going to concerts, reading and playing Text Twist online. She loves swimming, travelling and musicals, and cannot live without The Office, SNL or Big Brother (just don’t tell anyone about that last thing). Nicole is a graduate from York University, with a degree in English and Professional Writing.
Niki Naderi is an English and Communications major at York University and aspiring novelist. Her inspirations include Don DeLillo, Carrie Bradshaw and Winnie-the-Pooh. Niki loves random walks, ranting and being up north, but also spends a lot of her time observing the dating rituals of our species (in a non-creepy way), giving her a plethora of relationship advice to share with one and all.
Peter Liu is busy finishing a BA in English at York University. He has been a vegetarian for six months (and counting!) and is devoted to living a healthy lifestyle while sharing his accumulated knowledge with Soko readers. In his spare time, Peter loves scouring the internet for good food recipes, and can usually be found in old bookstores looking through comics and taking in that old book smell.
Reine Gammo is a fourth year Communications and English major at York University. She aspires to have a career in Journalism, reporting on various issues from entertainment to politics. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising and having a laugh with her closest friends. Originally from Jordan, she has been living in Ontario for the past 3 years and is enjoying it. Reine loves makeup and fashion and is always experimenting to discover new styles and beauty secrets.
Sam Stilson currently lives in downtown Toronto where he works as a writer and musician. A graduate from York University's Creative Writing program, Sam has produced articles for several magazines both online and print. Providing the 'everyman' take on men's fashion and grooming, Sam uses his dapper fashion sense to produce a patchwork guide to hair, clothes, and toenails.
Sarah Stefanson is Lead Editor and a weekly columnist for The Soko. She is also Editor of Livedress.com, DriverSense.com and DailyTakeoff.com and Assistant Editor of Cahoots Magazine for which she writes a sex column called Sense and Sensuality. She is a regular contributor to Suite101.com and AskMen.com. Sarah lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan with her perfect fiancé, their adorable newt and robotic baby dinosaur. She has done more than her fair share of dating and is much better at giving relationship advice than taking it. Contact Sarah at sarah (at) thesoko (dot) com.
Shanda Stefanson has lived in Scotland and Italy, travelled France and Greece and is currently working as an ESL teacher in South Korea. From reporting for the local newspaper in her home town in rural Saskatchewan to writing, directing and starring in plays at University, her experience is varied and vast. She is now working toward her goal of seeing every continent before settling down to "real life."
Stacey Noronha, a graduate of the University of Windsor’s Women’s Studies program, is giving her passion for writing a second chance. While taking classes at York University, teaching piano, writing and cooking up a storm, she also finds time to devour fashion magazines and Jane Austen classics. Notorious for her shopping skills, her addiction to text messages and her enormously large jewellery collection, Stacey is also an avid traveller. Regardless of all these strengths, she has a tragic weakness for milk chocolate, Calla Lilies and strongly believes that you hear Puccini when you fall in love.
Safana Zahili reads the newspaper religiously and thinks going to the library is a field trip. With a passion for exploring historic sites in the Middle East and Europe, you can often find her reading history books and sipping mochas at Timothy’s. Safana currently lives in North York with her hubby and her ridiculously large shoe collection. She is also studying Professional Writing, Political Science, and Magazine Publishing.
Vanessa Agosta is a Can Fit Pro certified personal trainer and the general manager for an on-site fitness company called G Force Home Training. Vanessa advocates a lifestyle that balances health education, exercise, healthy eating, and meditation. She creates fun and effective workout programs for her clients, and specializes in weight loss, posture correction, and sports performance exercise. The trainer keeps herself in shape by running, dancing, practicing martial arts, lifting weights, and eating 5 to 6 small, healthy meals throughout the day.
