The Connection Project

TW: The conversations in this episode deal with mental health, mention of suicide and descriptions of physical disabilities. Please take care of your beautiful sacred self when taking part. Lilian Grace is a small-town poet from Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Her poems have been featured in Darling Magazine , and her book " The Vulnerable Truths Of An Anxious Mind " has been sold wo...

TW: The conversations in this episode deal with mental health, suicide and other issues related to mental illness. Please take care of your beautiful sacred self when taking part. Ella Hale is a student at the University of Victoria studying Child and Youth Care. She graduated from the Camosun College Community, Family and Child Studies diploma program and headed to university to further her under...

TW: The conversations in this episode deal with Residential School, The 60's Scoop, Suicide, Sexual/Physical/Emotional Abuse, Substance Use, & Trauma. Please take care of your beautiful sacred self when taking part. In this episode, Theresa Crow Spreading His Wings shares how mental health issues manifested in both her personal and work life due to trauma from the '60s scoop, the effec...

Originally from Singapore, Kagan Goh is a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary Mad Artist: award-winning filmmaker, published author, spoken word poet, playwright, actor, mental health advocate and activist. He was diagnosed with manic depression at the age of twenty-three in 1993. Kagan is a well-known spoken word artist, essayist and poet, a respected and established voice in Vancouv...

William MacPherson is a mental health advocate and activist who currently works as a peer support worker, and also has a position with the Salt Spring Mental Wellness Initiative, which he co-facilitates and is the coordinator for a series of Summits. He is the president of the Chu’an Society, an Arts Society focused on advocacy for marginalized community members. He built his community-building sk...

Natalie Miller is the founder of Positive Relations Media. Originally from Scotland, she now calls beautiful BC, Canada home. Natalie is currently studying for a Professional Certificate in Mental Health & Addictions and works as a Peer Supporter & Group Facilitator. You can find Natalie by the lake or snuggling with 2 chiweenie puppers. Natalie has been challenged by her mental health for...

This Episode is audio from the very first Connection Project Event held in Sidney BC on October 6th, 2018. From Emily Olsen, Founder: 2021 marks the fourth year of the Connection Project Mental Health Storytelling event. Since transitioning to a new job and beginning my pursuit of a Fine Arts Degree, I have not recorded any new podcasts. During the winter of 2020/2021, however, I had the idea to s...

Karen Lee White brings many blessing in this episode. May her wisdom, kindness, and lighthearted energy uplift and heal you. This podcast explores the gifts in everything, the fire within, and the silence where all things are possible.  An Entrepreneur, Karen Lee White has consulted, written, facilitated workshops, taught Aboriginal BEST for 3 years, and regularly appears in writing festivals...

Linda Hunter joins the podcast lineup to talk about death. This interview opens the door to a room we must all enter. Linda's contribution to the death conversation is an important one. She continues to bring together those willing to explore the many ways in which to transition to the next world. Honouring a life with dignity is the best thing we can do for ourselves and our loved ones. Linda wil...

This episode with Daniel Scott is on the topic of suicide. When faced with accounts of suicide, Daniel "dared to look" at this complex subject and realized the importance of finding ways to give voice to suicide. As editor and contributor of an upcoming anthology of suicide poems, Voicing Suicide , Daniel engages this topic in his writing and offers space for others to voice their experiences of s...

In this episode, guest John Pogachar shares the inspiration behind a calling to create the Love on Every Billboard movement.  Love is essential to well-being. It is the way forward, the truth of who we are, and the manifestation of our alignment to self. Love connects us all. John is helping remind people of this worldwide, and is himself a beacon of light and love.  In 2018, when campin...

In this episode, Joey Hauss  shares his knowledge of the benefits of breathwork and various meditative practices to increase levels of wellbeing in daily life. Breathwork can help to identify the sensation of stress in the body. In gaining familiarity with ones own inner physical stress-response, an individual becomes empowered to respond to their needs from a more informed place outside of f...

This episode introduces guest, Sylvia Ferrero as she shares the impact personal experiences of mental health challenges, addictions, and unresolved trauma had on her life. These experiences manifested as both chaos and drama. Through deep personal work, spiritual transformation, and a renewed alignment with her inner world, Sylvia came to embody a life of incredible personal power. Sylvia’s contri...

In this Episode, Adam Olsen talks about embracing a holistic approach to well-being. In finding ways to incorporate self-care and healthy daily practices, Adam shares how these changes improved his capacity to perform at a higher level professionally. He too spoke to the importance of emotional expression and remembering our humanness. This interview was a wonderfully heartfelt conversation and on...

In this episode, Barbara shares her perspectives on joy and poetry and the community she found when leaning into both. Barbara reads her poem "You Could," from her book, Narrow Bridge which sparked some wonderful conversation about well-being.  There are times we are like the pillbug in her poem - a small thing curled-up on the cold floor in an empty room, and there are times we remember there is...

This episode explores the many facets of creativity in relation to well-being. Caleb shares personal experiences with the ebb and flow of productivity, discipline, and deadlines during mania, depression, and the "in-between times." A rich and inviting look into creative work that is unmapped, rickety, and flawed. "It has been a long time for me to start acknowledging and owning  my mental health s...

In this rich and uplifting first episode of season 2, listeners are gifted with the articulate and generous offerings of Joseph Briante. A "warrior of well-being" in his own right, Joseph rolls up his sleeves to share insights about the many aspects of personal growth and healing. The conversation shines a light on the many opportunities to connect with oneself and the natural environment. Joseph'...

We're back after a six-week hiatus to bring you the final episode of Season 1. During this absence, our very first guest, Diane Philipps, passed away.  Jen and Diane have been close friends for many years with a relationship built on love and deep spiritual connections. Humour was also a big part of their friendship as you'll gather from the quote below.  "Diane transitioned from this wo...

In this week's episode, trust is the theme for our discussion about well-being. Our guest Jess Fudge brings great joy to the conversation while simultaneously embodying vulnerability and generosity of spirit.  Jess has admittedly no patience for superficiality and desires honest and meaningful relationships. Her life is lived with adventure in her heart and passion in her soul. Skydiver, Ment...

In this week's episode, responsibility is explored in beautiful ways in this ongoing discussion about well-being.  Pari Gill is our guest this week, she shares how blessed this life can be when embracing our ability to respond to life-circumstance with calm and positivity. She speaks to the responsibility of growing ourselves up and how we owe that to our families and ourselves. Pari was born...

This episode on honesty feels particularly poignant in terms of well-being.  Dan Johnson - musician, friend to many, and lover of Ravens. In this episode our guest embraces conversation about honesty and the importance of our connection to our own inner-being or true self.  As Dan moved through life, he found many successes early on in adolescence and young adulthood but found that money...

In this first recording from isolation, host Emily Olsen interviews her friend, Dr. Jonathan Kalman about his understanding of the coronavirus and the many aspects of well-being. In this episode, Dr. Kalman discusses resilience, mental health, and the need for contrast. Jon talks about the book he's working on, the importance of getting to know your neighbour, and how a friend pushed him toward 'f...

Aimes Gentile came to be our guest on this podcast as a direct result of his truck breaking down. Well that, and the fact he offers listeners incredible insights regarding our theme.  In this episode we discuss well-being through the lens of compassion. Self-compassion was key in his quest for well-being after a combination birth defect and degenerative knee-disease prevented Aimes from pursu...

We welcome to the podcast, the feisty and incomparable 77 years-young, Diane Philipps.  In this Episode we discuss well-being through the lens of 'presence.'  From lip reading to sky diving, Diane uplifts through the very presence of her being. She teaches acceptance and encourages the examination of limiting beliefs. During the interview, Diane was given a nickname and many la...

This introductory podcast welcomes hosts Lisa Bosman, Jen Verscheure, and Emily Olsen to the mic.  Lisa is born for the stage,  Jen is employed by the universe,  and Emily Olsen is endlessly grateful for the lessons learned while visiting the Great Wall of China.