People First Radio - Full Episodes

The program revisits a conversation from earlier this year on social prescribing with New York based journalist Julia Hotz, as well as a conversation with Dalhousie prof Laura Eramian about people who identify as having no or very few friends.

Revisiting a pair of conversations featuring stories of perseverance from Nanaimo residents. Kate Walker speaks about the path that led her to pursuing a career in counselling, a path that started from a traumatic incident in the family. Highschooler Rocky Sloan speaks about being inspired to become a doctor after surviving a severe car crash […]

Victoria filmmaker Raymond Dimmit talks plans to explore the existential hardships that come with being an athlete and dealing with failure in an upcoming documentary about the University of Victoria Men’s Soccer Team. Revisiting a 2024 conversation with retired boxer Charlie Cavanagh of Saint John.

Psychedelic Capitalism authors Jamie Brownlee and Kevin Walby explore some of the themes in their book, which takes a critical look at the what’s been termed the “psychedelic renaissance”. The program also speaks with Shannon Dames, chair of psychedelics at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.

Exploring brain injury with Cole Kennedy of the University of Victoria. Also featuring conversations with Adele Rogers, Lelah Manson, and Lance Point, first heard on the program in summer 2024.

Longtime journalist, communications strategist, and SOLID Outreach board member Jody Paterson speaks about involuntary care and Pandora Avenue in Victoria. Footage and takeaways from a panel of people with experience of substance use and addiction speaking about ways they would address the toxic drug crisis. A story from Iona Coe of Local 107.3 FM, CFMH, […]

Journalist Luke Galati shares some of his experiences with and work about bipolar disorder, including a radio documentary he put together on the subject and a first person piece for CBC chronicling his experience of a 3 month hospital stay. Lisa Lapointe, who served as B.C.’s chief coroner for more than twelve years, spoke with […]

Janel Van Dongen speaks about founding 100 Kids For Change Oceanside. Lacey Mesley, Danielle Martyniuk, and Jill Alley speak about the CRCL (Crisis Response, Community Led) team in Victoria.

Laura Eramian of Dalhousie University shares insights into friendlessness, gleaned from a series of 21 interviews with Atlantic Canadians  who identified as having no or few friends. You can find more info on that study by clicking here. Joanna Pozzulo runs the Reading For Well Being Community Book Club. She shares some tips for picking […]

Investigative journalist Rob Wipond visited Nanaimo to speak about the ideas contained in his book Your Consent Is Not Required, which takes a critical look at involuntary psychiatric commitment.

Elaine Uskoski shares the story of how a personal experience led to her becoming a coach, speaker, and author whose work focuses on video game addiction. Plus, stories from Iona Coe of CFMH(Local 1073 FM) and Jesse Wentzloff of CJSF, courtesy of the local journalism initiative.  

In conversation with Jessica Ward-King, AKA The Stigmacrusher, who spoke about ‘unmasking mental health’, the theme of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Mental Health Week for 2025. A conversation with Nanaimo secondary student and Loran scholar Rocky Sloan, who speaks about his work helping seniors in the community. You can find Ward-King’s article on unmasking [&#8...

Sooke based musician Opal Dar talks about putting together debut album Birds Hurting Birds Who Hurt Birds, as well as the experience of trying to be heard while making art as a critically ill disabled person living below the poverty line. Comments on the toxic drug crisis, harm reduction, and involuntary care from Corey Ranger, […]

A conversation with Dr. Kelsey Roden, an addictions medicine physician in Victoria who was at a pop-up overdose prevention site near Royal Jubilee Hospital. Speakers from an event hosted by Canadian current affairs magazine The Walrus, called Reimagining Volunteerism.

Featuring a fireside chat about mental health and resilience with Andrew Harris, Warren McCarty and Sean Arabsky, leaders within the Vancouver Island Raiders of the Canadian Junior Football League. The event was moderated by Kerrian Coady, CEO of the Canadian Homebuilders Association Vancouver Island. Her organization cohosted alongside the Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce, the chat […]

Leigh Joseph shares insights from her work as an ethnobotanist. Retired CFL star Andrew Harris shares perspective ahead of a fireside chat in Nanaimo about mental health and resilience in leadership.

Hal Newman and Chris Curtis of The Rover share insights from a story exploring the intersections of poverty and justice in Quebec. Evelyn Thompson-George talks sharing her father’s experiences at the Alberni Indian Residential School in a new book.

Researcher and educator Yasmine Simone Gray shares perspectives on mental health, mental illness, trauma, labeling, lived experience, and more. Show notes and extended podcast edition pending.

Barrister Nick Bano explores some of the themes covered in his book Against Landlords. An excerpt from a lecture on youth mental health at Vancouver Island University by Dr. Shahana Alibhai.

Social prescribing in the spotlight: In conversation with journalist and author Julia Hotz, who visited Nanaimo as the keynote speaker at an event on social prescribing. Multi-faith educator Harold Rosen speaks about the development of justice across a wide variety of faith practices, ahead of leading a series of seminars on the same subject in […]

Exploring new analysis on the potential impacts of basic income in Canada. In conversation with authors of a report from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer, as well as Royal Roads professor Tracy Smith Carrier. Sharing an excerpt from a recent webinar on basic income hosted by Waterloo Ontario based charity The Tamarack Institute.

A clinical trial in Nanaimo is offering access to psilocybin treatments for depression. The program revisits a conversation with Dr. Pamela Kryskow from 2023 about using MDMA in treatments for chronic pain, as well as one with Vancouver psychologist Christine Korol, who spoke about social media self diagnosis in 2024.

Kate Walker tells the story of coming to a career in counselling following a traumatic incident in her family, Gene Miller makes the case for a new centre for community to come together and make positive change in Victoria

Camilo Aybar used the covid-19 pandemic as the inspiration for a symphony, While he was a teenager living through it in Victoria. Jospeh Boutilier told that story in a new documentary The Sound of A Pandemic. They both joined People First Radio to speak about finding art in isolation. Iris Balodis of McMaster University spoke […]

Conversations with Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud, the incoming senior advisor on ending chronic homelessness to Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, and Laetitia Satam, who is co-chair of the board of directors at Kids Help Phone, as well as co-chair of the organization’s National Youth Council.