TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

Residential school denialism doesn't always mean denying the schools existed. It can mean questioning Survivors, distorting evidence or minimizing the harm residential schools have caused. Historian Sean Carleton examines how denialism takes hold, how history gets misrepresented and why Indigenous voices must be at the centre of truth-telling.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is more than a need for things to be clean or organized. It can affect a child's routines, relationships and time at school. Dr. Evelyn Stewart is a child psychiatrist and researcher at BC Children's Hospital. She explains how OCD can develop, why it can be hard to recognize in young people and what parents should know. We also explore treatments that can help childre...

Behind every dementia diagnosis is a family caregiver navigating a maze of medical jargon and overwhelming choices. When D. Grant Campbell's parents were both diagnosed with dementia, he decided to dive into research. Grant unpacks the realities of dementia caregiving and shares strategies to help families thrive.

We all know that friendship and community are essential pillars of life. So why can it be so hard to build and maintain new connections? Lee Arden is a writer and community organizer who argues that hyper-individualism is keeping us apart. In their new book, The Politics of Lonely: Why Is Friendship So Hard? , Lee says a less lonely world is possible.

Human hair is about more than looks. It's also an evolutionary survival tool that shapes communication and empathy. Judy Wearing is an expert in evolutionary biology. Her new book, Anxious and Hairy: The Evolution and Culture of Human Hair , answers some big questions and we discuss the science, history and emotion behind why we care so much about our hair.

Most single-use period products carry a hidden environmental footprint. Biomedical engineer Rashmi Prakash saw this problem and began developing her own completely compostable menstrual pad. We unpack the critical difference between "biodegradable" and strictly regulated "compostable" materials and discuss the chemical processing behind cotton and bamboo products.

As more people actively choose a single life, Yuthika Girme wants to understand why people are delaying getting into romantic relationships. As an associate professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University, Yuthika studies how our mindset around singlehood shapes our daily experiences and happiness. We discuss how those who view being single as an opportunity for self-expansion may be more likel...

Embracing some healthy inconvenience might be the secret to maintaining your attention span and building a stronger sense of community. Gabe Bullard is a journalist and author who has spent the last several years researching the hidden costs of endless convenience. Whether it's through delivery apps or buying your favourite author's new book, anything we want is only a few clicks away. Gabe argues...

We often believe wellness means the absence of illness, or that the goal of mental health is to permanently delete "bad" feelings like anxiety, grief and stress. Psychotherapist Louis Busch argues the exact opposite. Wellness is about changing your relationship to pain. By weaving together Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with teachings from Cree, Anishinaabe and Coast Salish Elders, Louis offers...

Traditional talk therapy gives us a language to reframe our thoughts, but cannot undo the deeply embedded survival patterns our bodies carry. Therapist and author Simone Saunders wants to help you understand what your nervous system is trying to tell you through physical symptoms. We explore why you can't simply think your way out of trauma, how "functional freeze" causes us to live on autopilot a...

When food writer Naomi Hansen first started her sustainability journey, she was overwhelmed by conflicting advice, shiny advertisements and unrealistic recommendations. Her solution was to write a solutions-focused guide to help cut through disinformation and greenwashing to make your kitchen truly sustainable. We discuss achievable changes that can make a real impact.

Our concrete jungles are also thriving ecosystems where wildlife is evolving at breakneck speed. Award-winning writer and epidemiologist Dan Werb unpacks how animals are adapting to urban life and reshaping the natural world.

Navigating the early signs of perimenopause can feel like a guessing game. Dr. Jennifer Tomas wants to demystify the complex transition leading to menopause. As TELUS Health's Menopause Clinical and an OB/GYN, Jennifer helps people understand their hormone fluctuations, sleep disturbances and mood changes. We debunk the myth of one-size-fits-all treatment and explore practical strategies for optim...

Women are often imprisoned for protecting themselves from abuse. Justine van der Leun is an investigative journalist and she spent seven years researching how survivors are often targeted for persecution. In her new book Unreasonable Women: Three Stories of Violence, Imprisonment, and Extraordinary Survival , Justine unpacks the concept of "criminalized survival" and what can often happen to women...

Viewing time as a ticking clock or a constant inconvenience disconnects us from life's natural rhythms. Distinguished jurist and Indigenous law scholar John Borrows says we should redefine our relationship with the hours. He explains why we should stop managing time and start living with it as a companion. When we think about time as a friend, we create more opportunities for vulnerability, healin...

We often think of hearing loss as a physical condition, but it's also a social one that can shape someone's confidence, identity and relationships. Filmmaker Brian Ceci spent much of his youth trying to hide his hearing loss in an attempt to "fit in." In his new TELUS Original film, HEARD , Brian explores how the vulnerable act of embracing your identity can bring healing, community and belonging.

GLP-1 medications are reshaping the conversation around weight management and metabolic health. Physician Dr. Lisa Ma moves beyond the hype to explore how GLP-1s work and discusses the biological drivers of weight resistance and food noise while dispelling common myths.

Sports betting has become a normal part of being a fan. Gambling ads appear on jerseys, in broadcasts, on social media and throughout the games we love. Sociologist and author Darragh McGee explains the rise of online betting, the psychology behind modern gambling products and how sports fans are being targeted. We discuss the future of sports betting and how we can begin reclaiming fandom from on...

The signs of autism in women are often hiding in plain sight. Neuroscientist Gina Rippon says many autistic girls learn to copy, rehearse and camouflage their way through social situations. Their struggles become virtually invisible to others. Gina explains the mental health impacts of constantly trying to fit in, how autism research was shaped around male stereotypes and why many autistic women a...

Streaming has made music more accessible than ever. Rapper, producer and writer Rollie Pemberton believes algorithms are actually reshaping our music taste. He argues that convenience has come at a cost, making it easier to consume music but harder to build a meaningful relationship with it. We discuss streaming algorithms, record collecting and the lost art of discovery. Rollie shares why intenti...

Almost 30 years as a judge teaches you a lot about people. Harvey Brownstone witnessed thousands of family and criminal cases and shares what those experiences taught him about conflict, relationships and forgiveness. Harvey explains why he believes family court often fails people and why so many Canadians struggle to access justice. We also reflect on his personal journey as Canada's first openly...

With irregular periods, fatigue, acne, anxiety and weight changes, polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) can affect nearly every part of the body. These symptoms are often dismissed or treated separately instead of connected back to a hormonal condition. UBC endocrinologist and expert Jerilynn Prior explains what's actually happening in a body with PMOS and why the condition is so misund...

Drinking feels harmless for many of us. For others, alcohol is also a powerful substance that changes the way the brain processes reward and emotion. Dr. Charles Knowles says a drinking habit that starts as a way to relax or connect with others can gradually become much harder to manage. We discuss the neuroscience of alcohol, why some people are more vulnerable to dependence and how genetics infl...

Stress, anxiety and burnout are often treated as personal problems to fix. But psychiatrist Joanna Cheek says many mental health symptoms may be reasonable responses to the world around us. As rates of anxiety, depression and emotional exhaustion rise, Joanna says we need to look beyond the individual and examine the systems shaping our lives. We discuss why so many people feel overwhelmed, how me...

Caring for patients is a responsibility that stays with you. Nurses see people at their most vulnerable and are often a steady presence through fear, illness and loss. After decades in healthcare, Tilda Shalof offers a deep perspective into the emotional reality of nursing and managing high-pressure situations. Tilda is joined by Lisa Mochrie, a newer nurse navigating the same work in today's heal...