Before I Go

In this episode of Before I Go , Marion and Dani share hopeful news: Marion’s pulmonary hypertension assessment has been reduced to ‘mild'. After years of living with this progressive illness, they reflect on the unexpected emotions that come with such a reprieve—and what it means to begin imagining a future again. They’re joined by Dr. Don Wilson, a Heiltsuk obstetrician-gynecologist, for a conve...

In this episode of Before I Go, Marion and Dani share unexpected hopeful news after Marion’s recent right heart catheterization: she has mild residual pulmonary hypertension and is beginning to imagine a future she once thought she might not have. They’re joined by Dr. Don Wilson, a Heiltsuk physician and obstetrician-gynecologist, for a conversation about Indigenous representation in medicine, sy...

In this episode, Dani and Marion continue their powerful conversation with Esther Armah, a journalist, framework creator, and founder of the Armah Institute of Emotional Justice. Picking up from the previous episode, Esther deepens the exploration of silence, erasure, and emotional inheritance, sharing how growing up in a home where children were seen but not heard shaped her as an observer, liste...

In this episode, Dani and Marion welcome Esther Stanhope, a framework creator and founder of the Amar Institute of Emotional Justice in Ghana. Esther introduces Emotional Justice, a framework for understanding how untreated trauma—and the ongoing legacies of colonialism, racism, apartheid, and other systems of harm—shape how we see ourselves and each other. Together, they explore the importance of...

In this episode, Dani and Marion welcome Natasha Aruliah – a therapist, counsellor, and psychologist who has shifted from traditional one‑on‑one clinical work into JEDI work: Justice, Equity, Decolonizing, Diversity, and Inclusion. Her 25+ years of experience have focused on systemic change, grounded in intersectionality, social justice, cultural humility, emotional intelligence, embodied practice...

Our Episode 3 begins as it often ends with a look what it means to honestly assess how we are, looking at all parts of our lives with a reminder that “we don’t need to always work”, (02:45). Dani and Marion are joined by Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos. (04:54) Jeffery is of Cree descent, and a Professor at U of T in the area of Indigenous Health and Social Policy and the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous S...

In Episode 2, Marion and Dani continue to learn from the experiences of care providers. They welcomed Don Versluis, Educator and one of Canada's first Nurse Practitioners, to provide medical assistance in dying (MAiD) in 2016. Touching on the different attitudes towards MAiD between provinces, the one thing that remains consistent is that over 90% of those using MAiD are affluent white folks. Why?...

Marion and Dani return for S2, after some really honest conversations about the emotional and psychological cost of showing up authentically in this podcast. S1 began as Marion navigated what she understood to be her final year of life. She had chosen MAiD and was getting things in order. This shared podcast with Dani was part of her legacy. At the end of S1, Marion was approved for a miracle drug...

Season 2 of “Before I Go” returns with mother–daughter duo Marion and Dani as they continue to normalize the conversations most people avoid: about death, grief, illness, and the systems that shape our care. Building on the profound impact of Season 1, they go deeper into the emotional cost of caregiving , what it means to be an Indigenous patient and caregiver within a healthcare system marked by...

Dedicated to our brother and uncle, Bill Blue. Hard to fathom that this is the final episode of Season 1…what an incredible journey. Today, Marion and Danielle begin by talking about the illness their brother/uncle is facing, the pain of this reality, and processing difficult emotions. Dani addresses the difficulty of being a caregiver, recognizing the strength it takes to carry that burden. “Why...

Today, in the second part of our conversation, Marion and Dani talk with Myrna McCallum about choices. About the trauma we carry, and how it informs all of our choices. About recognizing that the legacy of being a survivor of trauma means finding the strength to consciously choose to face each day.  Myrna shares her path to making new and better choices, what led her to advocacy work in the legal...

We would like to dedicate today’s episode to the memory of Ty Iron.  Today, Marion and Dani share a no-holds barred conversation with lawyer Myrna McCallum who shares her lived experience with incredible honesty and insight.  Together they discuss residential schools, the resulting trauma and intergenerational trauma - and carrying the grief of our ancestors. Looking at coping with despair and the...

Today’s episode looks at the term ‘environmental justice’, its meaning historically, and the shift to calling it what it truly is - ‘environmental racism’. Dr. Ingrid Waldron is the author of the award-winning book “There’s Something in the Water: Environmental Racism in Indigenous and Black Communities”. It is also a Netflix documentary of the same name, co-produced by Waldron, actor Elliot Page,...

Today’s episode talks about the term ‘reconciliation’, and how including Indigenous voices and involvement is the way to see true change regarding the code of ethics and systemic racism within the Canadian Medical Association. The potential for harm as the only indigenous person in the medical education system and the medical system itself, has informed Dr. Cashin’s activism. From growing up in Co...

In this episode Dani and Marion talk about Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), about the care Marion has received, about advocacy in our medical system. Lisa Kolkman, Nurse Practitioner (NP) in the Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic at Vancouver General Hospital. She supported Marion’s sister, who had PH, and takes incredible care of Marion today, helping her and her family navigate this illness. Lisa talks w...

Today Dani and Marion talk about MAiD with a non-Indigenous medical professional who also has experience in the legal system and a perspective from the UK, his home before moving to Northern BC. Dr Sandell is a MAiD assessor and provider in BC, as well as a medical advisor to the BC Ministry of Health’s MAiD Oversight Unit. But he is also a GP, an ER doctor, a teacher and mentor, is writing a book...

This episode opens up a medical conversation about MAiD and about Indigenous perceptions and feelings about MAiD through the lens of intergenerational trauma and medical racism. Sometimes it is understood as a loving, beautiful humane process, and other times viewed through the experiences of colonial systems around death. Dr. Cornelia (Nel) Wieman , Chief Medical Officer at the First Nations Heal...

This week’s conversation is a difficult one. After caring for and witnessing the illness and death of her mother and sister, Marion has come to a decision regarding the use of MAiD. Everyone listening will have strong feelings and opinions on the subject. Marion and Dani set the tone with a discussion that is gentle, respectful, holding space throughout for authenticity and compassion. They talk a...

Welcome to the first episode of BEFORE I GO…Embracing the Journey of MAiD. Meet our hosts, Danielle Wilson Brown and Marion Brown as they share who they are, their Indigenous heritage and evolution, the story of their family, of loss, pain and lessons that heal. Allowing us to get to know grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and siblings, Dani and Marion tell the story of their family with humour...

“Death is not an ending but a change of worlds.” Indigenous nations have a long history with ceremony and tradition around death. A member of the Gitxaala Nation in BC, Marion Brown has Pulmonary Hypertension (PH). PH is a chronic progressive condition which will, as with other members of her family, eventually take her life. And so, Marion has made the decision to use the MAiD program, when she f...