TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

The average adult checks their phone more than 150 times a day, often without realizing it. Kaitlyn Regehr says it's important to be more intentional about our screen time and studies how technology shapes our minds, relationships and families. We discuss her idea of digital nutrition and being smart about what we consume online.

Guilt is one of the most powerful relationship tools we have. Psychologist and author Chris Moore explains how guilt alerts us when something needs our attention or repair. He also breaks down what healthy guilt looks like and how it guides us toward empathy, accountability and healing. Chris says it's possible to make peace with your guilt and use it to improve your life.

Writer Carla Ciccone grew up believing she was messy and emotional. She actually had ADHD. She was diagnosed at 39, after years of masking, perfectionism and exhaustion. We explore the "lost generation" of women who grew up undiagnosed and misunderstood. Carla shares what ADHD really looks like in women, how gender bias kept so many girls invisible and why diagnosis can be the first step to healin...

Food banks across Canada are under more pressure every day. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank now supports 16,000 people every week and distributes millions of pounds of food each year. CEO David Long joins us to share how his team is fighting hunger with innovation. David explains the food bank's efforts to turn surplus produce into healthy food and partner with farmers to exchange food across prov...

How well do we really know our pets? Science broadcaster and author Jay Ingram explores what's going on in the minds and bodies of the animals who share our homes. Jay explains why humans have been drawn to animals for tens of thousands of years, how that instinct shapes modern pet-keeping and what research can tell us about our pets.

What if menopause was a chance to reset your health? Dr. Kelly Casperson believes understanding your hormones is the key to feeling better and living longer. Tamara and Kelly break down significant myths about menopause and share how to approach midlife with confidence. If you've ever needed guidance for discussing menopause symptoms with your doctor, Kelly has great advice for you.

When financial planner and journalist Beth Pinsker became her mother's caregiver, she quickly realized she was unprepared for the maze that came with financial caregiving. Beth shares what she learned about managing a parent's finances with compassion and grace. We talk about what you can do before a crisis hits, how to organize caregiving duties and why the hardest conversations can actually be a...

We often eat to escape instead of nourishing our bodies. Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Judson Brewer says overcoming cravings is not about willpower, it's about habit. He explains how our brains learn to crave comfort and how awareness can break that loop. We discuss the difference between hunger and emotion, why diets fail and how mindfulness can rewire your relationship with food.

Young Canadians are being squeezed like never before, facing rising costs, unaffordable housing and a changing climate. Dr. Paul Kershaw, founder of Generation Squeeze, believes it's time to "squeeze back." He joins us to explain what generational fairness really means and how smart policy can create a future where every generation thrives. We discuss what it means to build intergenerational solid...

What does it mean to survive the night and look toward dawn? Writer and filmmaker Julian Brave NoiseCat joins us to talk about his new book We Survived the Night and his Oscar-nominated documentary Sugarcane . Julian shares how storytelling and art become acts of survival amid colonial violence and displacement. He reflects on his family's history, the legacy of residential schools and how Indigen...

Pepper Stetler's daughter Louisa, who has Down syndrome, was required to take IQ tests to access an education. Pepper began to question what these numbers really measure. Her search uncovered the complex history of the IQ test and how it shaped who was seen as capable. We discuss Pepper's deeply personal relationship to IQ testing and the systems that often miss the full humanity of the people the...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping work, creativity and healthcare. But how does AI actually work? Oxford neuroscientist Christopher Summerfield joins us to explore how it's impacting our daily lives. He explains what it takes for a machine to think and what we need to consider as this technology becomes part of our future. We also dive into his new book These Strange New Minds: How AI Learned t...

Millions live with back pain, migraines, digestive issues or anxiety and are often told there's no cure. But psychotherapist and author Nicole J. Sachs says chronic pain relief lies in the mind-body connection. Nicole introduces JournalSpeak, her practical method to release repressed emotions, retrain the nervous system and unlock true healing.

Julie M. Green was diagnosed with autism at 44, nearly a decade after her son's diagnosis. In her new book Motherness: A Memoir of Generational Autism, Parenthood, and Radical Acceptance , Julie shares her story about raising an autistic child while coming to terms with her own neurodivergence. She opens up about the challenges of motherhood, myths surrounding autism and the dangers of chasing per...

The Indian Act has controlled Indigenous lives for nearly 150 years. Bob Joseph, author of 21 Things You Need to Know About Indigenous Self-Government , explains how Nations are breaking free from dependency, restoring culture and building thriving governments on their own terms. We explore the difference between self-administration and true self-government, the role of hereditary leadership and w...

Menopause affects half the world's population, yet too often women are left without support or real solutions. Andrea Berchowitz is the co-founder of Vira Health, a menopause telemedicine clinic. She discusses how technology is improving access to menopause care and how personalized digital care can empower women everywhere.

For Dr. Sami Timimi, the future of mental health is not about labels. As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Sami challenges the idea that every struggle needs a diagnosis and a treatment plan. He explains how our approach to mental health can sideline the real social and cultural roots of suffering. We explore why mental health diagnoses keep multiplying, how culture shapes what we see as normal...

Life can change in an instant. At just 20 years old, Terry Healey's life was turned upside down by a rare cancer diagnosis and an 11-hour surgery that changed his appearance forever. Terry shares how he created a framework to help others tackle challenges, rebuild confidence and find purpose after setbacks. Terry's new book, The Resilience Mindset: How Adversity Can Strengthen Individuals, Teams,...

Mental health tools often leave queer people out of the conversation. Rahim Thawer, a social worker, psychotherapist and author of The Mental Health Guide for Cis and Trans Queer Guys, wants to change that. Rahim shares why inclusive mental health care matters for queer men and their allies. We talk about breaking cycles of shame, healing from trauma and building the confidence to be yourself.

Community is built in the small, everyday ways we show up for each other. Author Casey Plett joins us to talk about the real work of building connections. Drawing from her book On Community, Casey shares stories from Mennonite towns to queer art collectives and explains why lasting relationships take effort and care. She offers practical ideas for finding your people, showing up with intention and...

Too many women are running on empty and Shannon Watts is here to challenge that. She is the founder of Moms Demand Action and author of Fired Up: How to Turn Your Spark into a Flame and Come Alive at Any Age . Shannon joins us to talk about living with purpose and power, how to protect your energy and why reinvention is essential. If you feel your fire flickering, this conversation will help reign...

You can work full time, follow all the rules and still be unable to afford a place to live. Brian Goldstone is a journalist and anthropologist who has spent years reporting on the rise of the "working homeless." His new book, There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America , is an intimate look at five families in Atlanta and how the housing system has failed them. Brian explains why hom...

What makes a truly fulfilling life? Psychologist and author Shige Oishi says it's about more than happiness and meaning. He introduces us to psychological richness as the third dimension to a good life. Shige explores how curiosity, exploration and diverse experiences can create more satisfying experiences. We discuss why chasing happiness can backfire, how meaning can become a trap and why embrac...

Scientists have been studying airborne diseases for centuries but their warnings were often overlooked. Carl Zimmer is an award-winning New York TImes columnist and the author of 15 books about science. He helps us unpack the history of airborne diseases, how public health can cling to outdated beliefs and how history predicted our response to COVID-19. Carl reveals the hidden story of airborne tr...

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 matt...