Sport can be a turning point and a lifeline for so many young people. Taylor McPherson knows firsthand how powerful that lifeline can be. From a wrestling mat in Calgary to co-founding initiatives that bring sports to rural communities, Taylor is making sport more accessible for Indigenous youth. She believes sport can build identity, confidence and connection. We dive into why representation matters, how we can continue breaking barriers and what’s possible when young people are given the space...
Jun 17, 2025•31 min•Season 13Ep. 256
Rivers are vanishing; not just from our landscapes, but from our imaginations. Acclaimed author and Cambridge University professor Robert Macfarlane explores the deeply moving idea at the heart of his new book, Is a River Alive? He shares stories from Ecuador, India and Canada—where rivers have been granted legal personhood and recognized as living beings and asks us to reconnect with nature in a deeper way.
Jun 10, 2025•32 min•Season 13Ep. 255
Indigenous women are reshaping the film industry one story at a time. We sit down with filmmaker Jules Koostachin to talk about her new documentary Niimisak: Sisters in Film , a celebration of the women who paved the way and those continuing to break new ground. From cinematic legends to emerging voices, Jules highlights the talent, resilience and creative force of Indigenous women behind the camera. We explore what meaningful representation looks like, the systemic barriers that still exist, an...
Jun 03, 2025•28 min•Season 13Ep. 254
Human trafficking is happening all over Canada and is hidden in plain sight. Filmmaker Viveka Melki shares the stories behind her new documentary Butterfly: Into the Maze of Human Trafficking, which follows three women who survived being trafficked across Western Canada. We dive into the strength it takes to survive, how storytelling can become a tool for healing and how we can recognize when human trafficking is happening in our own communities.
May 27, 2025•38 min•Season 13Ep. 253
Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your head, or ruled by your emotions? Ethan Kross wants you to know there is a way forward. As a psychologist and best-selling author, Ethan shares his practical tips for managing your emotions before they manage you. He dives into science-backed tools to help you calm your mind, reframe your thoughts, and reshape your environment for greater clarity and control.
May 20, 2025•32 min•Season 13Ep. 252
What can a dead tree teach us about grief? Tessa McWatt shares how the natural world—especially the metaphor of the “snag,” a standing dead tree—helped her navigate the slow loss of her mother to dementia. As her mother’s memory faded, the forest became a guide for Tessa, showing that death is not an end, but part of a continuous, connected cycle.
May 13, 2025•31 min•Season 13Ep. 251
What if the key to getting unstuck isn’t doing more—but doing differently? Jesse Lipscombe was on track for the Olympics when a mini-stroke changed everything. He shares how that life-altering moment sparked a shift from chasing goals to embracing doing creating a blueprint for moving forward with curiosity, clarity and confidence.
May 06, 2025•27 min•Season 13Ep. 250
What does it take to turn big dreams into reality — and stay true to who you are along the way? Vogue fashion journalist and author Christian Allaire shares his journey from growing up on a reserve in Canada to becoming one of the most exciting voices in fashion today. We talk about the power of Indigenous representation in style, and how determination, creativity, and cultural pride fueled his rise. Whether you dream of breaking into fashion or chasing any big goal, Christian’s story will leave...
Apr 29, 2025•29 min•Season 13Ep. 249
What if the reason you’re stuck financially has nothing to do with money? We sit down with financial educator and author Jessica Moorhouse to explore the emotional and psychological roots of our relationship to money. Based on her new book Everything but Money, we unpack how shame, trauma, family history, and systemic inequality shape our financial lives—and why traditional advice like “just budget better” often falls short.
Apr 22, 2025•27 min•Season 13Ep. 248
Why does life today feel so overwhelming? Steven Heine wants to answer this question by helping you better understand your own brain. As a social and cultural psychologist, Steven explains why so many of us feel anxious, disconnected and unsure of our purpose. We discuss how our brains are wired to crave meaning, why freedom often brings anxiety, and how we can rebuild a sense of purpose when life feels chaotic.
Apr 15, 2025•28 min•Season 13Ep. 247
There’s a side of the opioid crisis most people never hear—the view from inside. Garth Mullins is a podcaster and author who has experienced addiction, incarceration and loss, and he wants to shift the focus to saving lives. We explore why harm reduction is essential, how the war on drugs has failed communities, and what a health-based, compassionate response could look like.
Apr 08, 2025•43 min•Season 13Ep. 246
Microplastics are found on every corner of the planet – even in our own bodies. Holly Hogan has seen the far-reaching impacts of ocean plastics first hand. She is a seabird biologist with over 30 years of experience and the author of Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches in the Age of Plastic . Holly shares powerful stories about the devastating effects of plastic on marine life, how microplastics are impacting human health and how we can reduce plastic in our everyday lives.
Apr 01, 2025•34 min•Season 13Ep. 245
Christopher Merasty believes that true healing for men could transform entire communities. In 2020, he founded Men Of The North with the goal of providing accessible, culturally-grounded mental health resources for men. We discuss how his programs are changing lives in his community, the urgent funding needs for men’s mental health resources and why men’s healing is essential for safer, healthier communities.
Mar 25, 2025•29 min•Season 13Ep. 244
Born without an outer right ear, Kate Gies spent the better part of her childhood being told she needed to be fixed. She underwent 14 reconstructive surgeries in the attempt to achieve a “normal” appearance for a non-medical issue. Kate joins us to question the foundation of what we deem acceptable for our bodies, share her experience in the medical system and discuss her new memoir – It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished .
Mar 18, 2025•35 min•Season 13Ep. 243
Lung cancer is on the rise, even among those who have never smoked. Dr. Stephen Lam is a respirologist with the BC Cancer Research Centre, and has dedicated his career to lung cancer research and early detection. Stephen dives into the role of AI in predicting lung cancer risk and practical strategies to safeguard your lungs.
Mar 11, 2025•28 min•Season 13Ep. 242
Why are women’s bodies, particularly breasts, both a source of empowerment and controversy? They are commodified, censored and debated. Sociologist and author Sarah Thornton joins us to explore how women’s bodies shape entire industries—from healthcare to fashion. Sarah also dives into her new book Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers, and Witches Tell Us about Breasts .
Mar 04, 2025•31 min•Season 13Ep. 241
Dr. Lori Brotto, renowned women’s sexual health expert and UBC professor, joins us to break down the changes menopause brings—and how to navigate them with confidence. From explaining a shifting libido to managing discomfort, Lori shares insights packed with practical advice you won’t want to miss.
Feb 25, 2025•33 min•Season 13Ep. 240
Did you know women are almost twice as likely as men to develop dementia? Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, neuroscientist and CEO of the Brainwell Institute, dives into the science of brain health. She breaks down why dementia rates are higher in women and, most importantly, what we can do to lower our risk.
Feb 18, 2025•34 min•Season 13Ep. 239
What if your biggest craving led to a successful business idea? When Lilian Umurungi-Jung was pregnant, she found it difficult to find nourishing food products and decided to make her own snacks at home. As the owner and founder of Mumgry, Lilian’s business makes nut butters that are delicious, nutritious and have simple ingredients. She shares how her Rwandan food traditions shaped the flavors of Mumgry and how she built a purpose-driven, Canadian brand from the ground up.
Feb 11, 2025•29 min•Season 13Ep. 238
Are you tired of the endless cycle of dieting, guilt and food rules? Shana Spence is a registered dietitian nutritionist and she dives into how to heal your relationship with food to reclaim the joy of eating. Shana breaks down why diet culture is so pervasive, how it harms our mental and physical health, and what we can do to unlearn restrictive food rules.
Feb 04, 2025•29 min•Season 13Ep. 237
Social media can distort the reality of life in many different ways – motherhood is no exception. Sara Petersen is an author and culture writer with a love/hate relationship with ‘momfluencers’, where the private work of mothering is turned into a public performance. The message is simple but fraught: we’re all just a couple of clicks away from a better, more beautiful experience of motherhood. We discuss how momfluencer culture impacts women psychologically as consumers, as performers of their ...
Jan 28, 2025•36 min•Season 13Ep. 236
More competition among internet providers means more innovation and choice for Canadians. Zainul Mawji joins us to explain how TELUS is standing up for Canadians’ right to choose their Internet provider. As the Executive Vice-president of TELUS and President of TELUS Consumer Solutions, Zainul unpacks the federal government’s recent appeal asking the CRTC to exclude TELUS from offering home Internet services to consumers in Ontario and Quebec and how this could impact Canadians.
Jan 21, 2025•42 min•Season 13Ep. 235
For the first couple of weeks of January, we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes from 2024. Take another listen to our conversation with Tanya Talaga. For Tanya, memory is not just about the past. It’s a tool for survival and resistance. Remembering and honouring ancestors through stories ensures that their spirits and wisdom continue to guide future generations. Tanya reflects on how reclaiming Indigenous family histories opens the door to understanding the real, often untold, histo...
Jan 14, 2025•32 min•Season 13Ep. 234
For the first couple of weeks of January, we’re revisiting some of our most popular episodes from 2024. Take another listen to our conversation with Dr. Jen Gunter. She has made it her mission to change how we think about menstrual health as a key component of overall wellness. So much of what we know about menstruation is a myth or simply false. As a renowned gynecologist and author, Jen also dives into the history of why so many people are afraid to talk about their periods.
Jan 07, 2025•38 min•Season 13Ep. 233
Money is more than dollars and cents—it's about strategy. Mark Ting is a life-long entrepreneur who understands that financial planning can be complicated. When it comes to personal finance, Mark says we all need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. He shares his own tried-and-true personal finance strategies, how to deal with inflation costs and how beginners can grow their investment portfolio.
Dec 10, 2024•35 min•Season 12Ep. 232
Can we train our immune systems to overcome food allergies? Dr. Edmond Chan is the Head of the Division of Allergy in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and is leading an immunotherapy program to help children overcome their food allergies. We discuss how immunology is reshaping lives and offering hope to many people with life-threatening food allergies.
Dec 03, 2024•38 min•Season 12Ep. 231
For R. Renee Hess, a chance encounter with Pittsburgh Penguins fans led to a lifelong passion for hockey. She has become a passionate advocate for Black women in hockey through education, representation and community building. Renee discusses her new book Blackness is a Gift I Can Give Her: On Race, Community and Black Women in Hockey and how she’s making hockey a safe space for Black women and girls.
Nov 26, 2024•33 min•Season 12Ep. 230
Quit the seemingly endless cycle of online outrage and unproductive arguments. Aftab Erfan is the executive director of the SFU Centre for Dialogue and she is passionate about constructive conflict resolution and helping people build their communication skills. We discuss the art of constructive dialogue and how we can build space for healthy conversations in our own lives.
Nov 19, 2024•34 min•Season 12Ep. 229
On the outside, David A. Robertson has a loving family, a successful career as an author, and a platform to promote Indigenous perspectives, cultures and concerns. On the inside, he lives with “little monsters”: chronic, debilitating health anxiety and panic attacks accompanied, at times, by depression. David shares his mental health journey and his brand new book All the Little Monsters: How I Learned to Live with Anxiety . This episode contains a discussion of potentially distressing topics, s...
Nov 12, 2024•34 min•Season 12Ep. 228
First Nations, Inuit and Métis people in Canada have a long tradition of military service. The challenges they faced often extended to their post-service life, as many Indigenous war veterans didn’t receive equal treatment compared to other veterans in Canada. Clarence Wolfleg Sr. is a deeply respected veteran and Elder from the Siksika Nation and he joins us to discuss his decades of work building financial and community support for Indigenous veterans.
Nov 05, 2024•24 min•Season 12Ep. 227
