The Sanctuary

In this episode of the podcast, Courtney gets raw about the loneliness, shame, and societal judgment she’s faced while living a “monogamous-looking life” in a small military town in Germany. She shares the psychedelic trip that made her realise she was polyamorous (after finding poly people “so annoying”), how opening her marriage completely reshaped her relationship with herself and her body, and...

Danielle Narveson is a writer, content creator, and the voice behind  Openly Committed , where she shares honest stories about marriage, motherhood, and ethical non-monogamy. With a background in strategy and storytelling, she brings a fresh, deeply personal perspective to topics such as jealousy, boundaries, identity, and long-term partnerships. Her videos and essays reach millions of people...

In this captivating episode of The Sanctuary,  rising Nigerian artist OG Mage dives deep into his incredible journey from software engineer to full-time musician. OG Mage opens up about the viral success of his breakout hit "Head of State," revealing how a simple Instagram reel with a flute sample turned into one of the most talked-about drill songs. He shares the wild story of shooting the m...

In this explosive episode of The Sanctuary, host Israel sits down with Dwayne Marcial, former Director of Artists and Industry Development at the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA), for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred account of what really happened behind the scenes of one of Atlantic Canada's most important music organizations. Dwayne pulls no punches as he reveals the shocking reality of organisatio...

In this candid conversation, Melissa Shadows opens up about her journey from traditional marriage to embracing non-monogamy, polyamory, and BDSM. She shares how photography and erotic art became both a creative outlet and a form of healing, and how trust, vulnerability, and the right partners shaped her evolution as a submissive. There is a dive into topics of jealousy, compersion, building meanin...

Mark Gane, the multi-talented musician, songwriter, visual artist, designer, and gardener best known as a founding member of Martha and the Muffins. Mark opens up about his latest experimental project, "Garden Music" - an ambient album that blends decades of collected sounds with evocative plant names as inspiration. We explore Mark's creative origins, growing up surrounded by music and art throug...

On this episode of The Sanctuary, Pedro, the electrifying lead singer and guitarist of the band Black Budget, opens up about the band’s origins as a lockdown project, their evolution into a powerhouse trio, and the deep camaraderie that fuels their music. Dive into the desert-punk sound of Black Budget, a thrilling mix of Queens of the Stone Age grit and early Green Day hooks and discover how Pedr...

In this episode, Jennifer Roe, the executive director of Folk Alliance International, discusses her journey in the folk music industry, the importance of community and networking, and the upcoming Folk Alliance Conference in Montreal. Jennifer shares insights into the organization's mission, the significance of building relationships within the music community, and tips for artists preparing to sh...

Lola Loops is a passionate multi-disciplinary artist residing on the unceded and illegally occupied territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nation, Aka Vancouver, BC. Her journey into the world of performance art began with a simple Hoop, where she found a captivating medium for exploring her body's movements in spiral form. This initial fascination blossomed into a diverse skill...

Bethany is an indie-rock experimenter who sets introspective lyrics against innovative instrumentation, resulting in music that stirs and swings in equal measure.   As a longtime member of Halifax’s venerable music scene, Bethany has led multiple outfits, wielding a Jaguar in art-rock bands and breaking it down neo-soul style in her solo project Shadow, which released a pair of concept EPs (T...

Papa started in Public Health as a volunteer HIV and STI tester, counsellor and PrEP navigator at an outreach centre in the heart of downtown Denver, CO around fifteen years ago. He quickly became known as a safe space for LGBTQIA+ people, and people that practiced alternative sexualities such as non-monogamy and BDSM/Kink. Throughout his career Papa Bear has worked in HIV and STI Prevention for A...

Andrew Moyes, the VP of Fan Expo, discusses the preparation and highlights of the upcoming Fan Expo event. In this episode of the podcast, we cover topics such as the logistics of organizing the event, the involvement of key partners, the two buildings of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, the importance of the app for attendees, Andrew Moyes' background and role in Fan Expo, the role of volunte...

Avid Liongoren, a writer, producer, and director, discusses his animated film project, Zsazsa Zaturnnah, which is based on a Filipino graphic novel. The film follows the story of a gay man who becomes a flamboyant female superhero after swallowing a magical rock. Avid talks about his journey in the world of animation, his work in advertising, and the challenges of making an animated film. He also...

As a successful woman, Shymilfkitty has built a thriving career. Outside of her professional life, she is a devoted mother of three grown children and a proud grandmother to her precious baby granddaughter. Balancing work and family, she finds joy in moments spent with loved ones and cherishes the laughter and memories they create together. Her personality is a blend of extroverted charm and intro...

Connie Wang is an award-winning actress with two Canadian Screen Award nominations for Best Lead Performance. She is a comedian, and producer with over 20 film and TV credits and has received 12 screen nominations. She won Best Lead Actress at the Apulia Web Festival for her role in Tokens the webseries. Some of her film/TV credits include Amazon's The Boys, Tokens, and CBC's One More Time. Y...

In this episode, Sam, Carolyn, and Jamie Collicut talk about their experience with Dravet syndrome, a rare form of epilepsy. They discuss the challenges of managing the syndrome, including triggers and medications. Jamie shares her journey of studying disability studies and her passion for helping others with disabilities. The family also talks about their initiative, Seize the Day, Hike, which ra...

Adeb Arianson, a survivor from Afghanistan, has faced immense challenges but has emerged stronger and more determined. His passion for acting and unwavering activism have defined his journey. As an orphaned queer youth, Adeb faced significant adversity, yet he stood firm against many odds, making his way alone to a brighter future. Currently, Adeb is the Founder of Global Intergenerational Democra...

Tim Tkachenko is a software engineer,  CTO, CPO, Team Lead and IT Manager. He has worked in fintech, big tech and startups. A 3x Founder (Founders Running Club, Squadefi.xyz and Qure. Fi), looking for the first exit.   He discovered running in 2018 and became a 2:41 marathoner at the Chicago Marathon in 2022. He is looking forward to completing 6 major journeys and running a 2:30 maratho...

Andrew Jackson is a Juno Award-winning trombonist and composer based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His versatility and unique sound have made him one of the Maritime's first-call players. The conversation with Andrew Jackson, artistic director of the Halifax Jazz Festival, covers topics such as booking artists, selecting venues, and the importance of donations. The main highlight is the upcoming perfor...

Born on the East Coast, LNebraska is now making his mark in the Omaha metro area, and beyond, as a rising content creator, photographer and ruthlessly honest lifestyle writer.   His collaborative content, witty photo captions and relatable writings have grown to define his midlife journey in the lifestyle and kink world.  His overall intent is to inspire others to do the same, exploring...

Jing Xia is a professional guzheng artist, producer, and ethnomusicologist based in Newfoundland, Canada. Born and raised in Hunan, China, Xia started to study the guzheng at six years old and holds degrees in Music Performance (B.A.), Arts Management (M.A.), and Ethnomusicology (Ph. D.).   Xia's recent accolades include winning the 2023 East Coast Music Award "Roots/Traditional Recording of...

Elohor Thomas is an impact-driven Tech Entrepreneur.   She is currently the CEO and co-founder at CodeLn.com, a startup that supports innovative companies to hire and pay African-based Programmers.   She has been actively involved in the tech and startup ecosystem for over a decade, assisting software engineers and early-stage startups in different capacities.

Omar Dill is a dedicated advocate for the homeless with a rich and diverse background in community service. Beginning his career working with children on the autism spectrum, Omar has always been passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of others. His experience as a residential care officer provided him with valuable skills in supporting and guiding young people. Omar's journey also...

Violette Addiah is from the Seattle area and holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and Theater. She has enjoyed the majority of her professional career in public service as a social worker. Violette considers herself primarily an edge player in the realm of her BDSM play. Edgeplay is a subjective term for activity (sexual or mentally manipulative) that may challenge the conventional Safe, Sane an...

With an eye for detail, a mind for systems and an ass for the masses Ararity is making waves in the femboy space! Content creator, deep thinker and occasional erotic writer, hear them share their journey of and advice on getting into content creation, self-acceptance, writing, outsourcing, systems for organising content, keeping on top of fan messages and much more in this insightful 50-minute con...