Can We Talk About That?

This week’s Reddit Reaction episode is a wild one. I bring back Brooke McCoy, Natasha McMillan, and Czarina Garcia to unpack a real post where a woman gets an unexpected knock at her door — from her neighbour — asking her to dress more modestly in her own home because her husband keeps watching her clean through the window...We dig into what’s really going on here: gender-based violence culture, v...

In this episode, I sit down with OPP Detective Lisa Narancsik to explore what happens when someone reports sexual assault. We talk about how police support survivors, what to expect during the process, and how trust is built between communities and law enforcement. Lisa offers an inside look at trauma-informed policing, common misconceptions about reporting, and how survivors can make informed cho...

In this episode, I sit down with Brooke McCoy, Child and Youth Worker at Ingamo Homes, to explore how gender-based violence impacts children and youth. We talk about the ways kids experience and understand violence in their homes and communities, what supports can make a difference, and how caregivers and service providers can help break the cycle. Brooke brings years of front-line experience supp...

Human trafficking isn’t always visible — and it isn’t always what people imagine. In this episode, I sit down with Krystal Snider, who brings both lived experience and years of frontline work in the anti-trafficking field. Krystal shares her personal journey, unpacks the myths that keep trafficking hidden, and explains how it shows up in everyday communities like ours. She also offers insight into...

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Kelly, Manager of the Family Violence Counselling Program at Oxford County’s Children's Aid Society (CAS), to explore what it looks like to support men in breaking the cycle of violence. Tim shares insights from his years of experience working directly with men who use violence, offering a nuanced look at accountability, healing, and change. Together, we di...

Employment is more than just a way to pay the bills—it can be a lifeline, a source of independence, and sometimes, a barrier for those experiencing gender-based violence. In this episode, I sit down with Deidre MacDonald, Executive Director of the Women’s Employment Resource Centre (WERC), to explore the powerful link between work and safety. We talk about the challenges survivors face when employ...

In this episode, I sit down with guests from DASO and Ingamo Homes for another real-time Reddit reaction — and this one is as unforgettable as it is heartbreaking. A mother-in-law decides to “teach a lesson” about what it means to be a man. Her tactic? Destroying her son-in-law’s cherished Millennium Falcon Lego set. What might look like “tough love” is actually something far more dangerous: emoti...

Going to court is hard for anyone — but for survivors of gender-based violence, the system often feels overwhelming, intimidating, and deeply unprepared to meet their needs. In this episode, I sit down once again with Mary Anne Da Costa (Intake Coordinator) and Joanna Parker (Transitional Support Worker) from Ingamo Homes. Together, we unpack what it looks like for survivors navigating the court s...

Workplace violence and harassment are far more common than most people realize — and often rooted in subtle but powerful dynamics. In this episode, I sit down with Margaret MacPherson, Research Associate at the Western University Centre for Research and Education on Violence Against Women and Children, to talk about power literacy — understanding how power operates in the workplace and how it can...

In this episode, I sit down with Lisa Narancsik, Detective Constable with the Ontario Provincial Police, to unpack what actually happens when someone calls the police about abuse.⁠We talk about what information officers look for when responding to calls, how decisions around charges are made, and what support can look like during and after police involvement. ⁠If you've ever wondered, "Wh...

In this episode, I sit down with Stephanie Butt and Jacqueline McGann, Service Managers from the Children's Aid Society Oxford, to talk openly about what CAS really does—and what it doesn’t.⁠We unpack some of the biggest misconceptions about working with CAS, what happens when a concern is reported, and how their work supports families, not just investigates them.⁠If you’ve ever felt unsure or...

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Ferguson from Oxford Sexual Assault Services (OSAS) to talk about what sexual violence is, what reaching out for support can actually look like, and how healing isn’t one-size-fits-all. We unpack what happens when someone contacts OSAS, what supports are available and why it’s okay that many survivors take time before they're ready to talk about what happ...

In this episode, I sit down with our amazing guests from DASO and Ingamo Homes for a real-time reaction to a Reddit post you won’t forget. A sister (and Maid of Honour) tells the bride just 2 days before the wedding:“You’re making the biggest mistake of your life.”We dive into the tough conversation around bystander intervention — what this sister did right, what missed the mark, and how things co...

In this episode, we sit down with two Ingamo Homes staff, Joanna Parker, Transitional Support Worker, and Mary Anne Da Costa, the Intake Coordinator, to explore the critical—but often overlooked—role of second-stage housing in supporting survivors of gender-based violence. Together, Joanna and Mary Anne share powerful stories from their work at Ingamo Homes, a second-stage housing program that pro...

What actually happens when someone calls a women's shelter for help? In this episode, we speak with Eden Foster-Martin from Domestic Abuse Services Oxford (DASO) to walk through what support looks like from that very first phone call. Whether you’re reaching out for yourself or someone you care about, this conversation is all about breaking down fear and building trust. We cover what to expect...

What did support for survivors of gender-based violence look like 50 years ago — and how did we get to where we are now? In this episode, we sit down with Brenda Boswell, a longtime advocate and frontline worker, to look back on the early days of GBV services in Oxford County. From grassroots beginnings to today’s coordinated community response, Brenda shares stories, lessons, and the growing pain...

In this episode, I’m joined by three incredible guests working on the frontlines of gender-based violence support: Czarina Garcia (Manager of Programs and Outreach at Ingamo Homes), Natasha McMillan (Outreach Worker at DASO), and Brooke McCoy (Child and Youth Worker at Ingamo Homes). Together, we live-react to a Reddit post that starts out like a lot of relationships do—loving, supportive, even “p...

You’ve probably seen terms like GBV (gender-based violence) or IPV (intimate partner violence) popping up more and more online — but what do they really mean? And why does the language matter? In this kickoff episode, we sit down with Ashley Brown, Executive Director of Domestic Abuse Services Oxford, to unpack the acronyms, and how they show up in real life. This episode is about making the conve...