People First Radio

Bára Hladík speaks about her debut novella “New Infinity”.  The story follows a woman grappling with the philosophical and societal implications of autoimmune disease, and blends narrative prose and poetry.  “New infinity” is published by Metatron press and releases June first.   First Broadcast May 26 2022.

Pat Gervais, owner of Pondersmith Games, speaks about “Surviving Opioids”, a video game he’s currently developing.  The game is informed from by Gervais’ experience with and recovery from opioid addiction, which he also addresses in the interview.  First broadcast May 26 2022.

Basic income has been viewed by some as a way to reduce poverty while simplifying existing welfare programs. That sentiment isn’t universal however. In a Globe and Mail op ed, Canadian senator Diane Bellemare recently argued that basic income would be costly and complicated. In response, Jiaying Zhao, associate professor in the department of psychology […]

Some doctors in Canada are now prescribing food. But it isn’t as simple as telling a patient to eat their broccoli. As Dr. Matthew Little explains, Food is much more than just something we put into our bodies to stay healthy. Little is an assistant professor in the school of public health and social policy […]

PJ Patten shares the story of his experience with homelessness and addiction, which is also told in his graphic novel Tower 25.  More information on Tower 25 is available here: https://www.cloudscapecomics.com/product/tower-25-the-graphic-memoir/ First broadcast May 19 2022.      

Andrea Paquette, President of Stigma Free Society, speaks about the organization and her lived experience with Bipolar disorder.  First Broadcast May 12 2022.

Eris Nyx, co-founder of the Drug User Liberation Front(DULF) speaks about Health Canada’s recent rejection of the DULF’s application for a section 56 exemption to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The exemption would have allowed DULF to legally operate a compassion club model in which they would test methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin for the […]

Heather Cowie, National Project Manager for Dementia Friendly Canada, speaks about the stigma surrounding dementia, and everyday actions people can take to combat it. First broadcast May 05, 2022.

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau speaks about empathy, the theme of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week. Grégoire Trudeau is a national volunteer with the Canadian Mental Health Association, and more information about this year’s mental health week can be found at mentalhealthweek.ca First broadcast May 05 2022.  

Julia Woodhall-Melnik, principal investigator of the University of New Brunswick’s Housing, Mobilization & Engagement Research Laboratory (HOME-RL), discusses housing affordability and affordable housing in the province, what she’s found in her work at HOME-RL, and recent measures taken by the provincial government. First Broadcast April 28 2022.

Nathan Lauster responds to the UBCM’s recent position paper on housing, and discusses housing supply, zoning and the role municipalities play in our housing situation. Lauster is an Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology at the University of British Columbia, and author of The Death and Life of the Single Family House: Lessons from […]

Craig Hodge, Coquitlam City Councillor and Executive with the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM), discusses the information contained in a position paper on housing released by that organization in March. First Broadcast April 07 2022.

Christiana Bratiotis, Associate Professor at the University of British Columbia’s School of Social Work, speaks about hoarding.  First Broadcast April 28 2022.

A visit to Project Rise, an employability program for people who’ve experienced homelessness, run by Island Crisis Care Society. Featuring interviews with Project Rise Participant Don Crisp and Project Rise coordinator Stephen Cochrane. First Broadcast April 21 2022.

Penny Gurstein, lead researcher at the University of British Columbia’s housing research collaborative, speaks about affordable housing in the province. First Broadcast April 14 2022

Melissa Giles, project lead with BC Rent Bank discusses rent banks in the province, which help people facing temporary financial emergencies with loans that enable them to stay housed. For more information on a rent bank in BC, you can visit: bcrentbank.ca First Broadcast April 14 2022.

Francois Richer, professor in the department of psychology at the University of Quebec at Montreal, speaks about where our thoughts come from, the link between our thoughts and our emotions, and how we can use this information to be more conscious of our mental state. First broadcast April 07 2022.

Laura Misener, director of the department of Kinesiology at Western University, and a former university level gymnast, judge, and coach, speaks about the need for a cultural shift within gymnastics and other sports. First Broadcast April 07 2022.

Kiah Ellis-Durity speaks about a new online course by youth for youth on cannabis and mental health.  Ellis-Durity was the project facilitator for the course, which can be found at  cannabisandmentalhealth.ca First Broadcast March 31 2022.  

Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, registered psychotherapist and certified music therapist discusses how music is used as a healing tool in clinical settings. Mitchell is also the coordinator of the bachelor’s of music therapy program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo Ontario. First Broadcast March 31 2022.

Eris Nyx, co-founder of the Drug User Liberation Front (DULF), speaks about the Vancouver based organization, which tests and distributes heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine to drug users as a form of harm reduction. First Broadcast March 24 2022.

Sheila Malcolmson, British Columbia’s Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, discusses the province’s new complex care program, following the recent announcement that 100 complex care spaces would be coming to the Greater Victoria area. First Broadcast March 31 2022.

Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux and Steve Koptie discuss the concept of ‘Reconciliation Social Work’, which they have previously outlined in a paper of the same name. Wesley-Esquimaux is the chair for truth and reconciliation at Lakehead University and chair of the governing circle for the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation in Winnipeg. Koptie is a […]

Megz Reynolds, executive director of the Do More Agriculture foundation, speaks about mental health within the world of agriculture. Also discussed is access to free mental health counselling for BC producers and their families. More information on that initiative can be found here: https://www.domore.ag/bc-support First Broadcast March 17 2022.

Dr. Daniel Chorney, Clinical Child Psychologist, discusses Anxiety Canada’s “Caretoons” – short cartoons to teach kids and youth about anxiety. The conversation also touches on social anxiety: what it is, what the signs are, when it might be something to seek help with, and how to do that. First Broadcast March 17 2022.