People First Radio - Full Episodes

In conversation with Kathy Wagner, who shares her journey finding hope and healing as she experienced her son Tristan’s addiction, recovery, relapse, and death. Her story is also recounted in the memoir Here With You. Greg Dorval of Guelph, Ont. shares perspectives from a year experiencing homelessness, which has led him to stand in solidarity […]

In conversation with Danya Fast about The Best Place: Addiction, Intervention, and Living and Dying Young in Vancouver.

In conversation with Nicole Luongo of the Canadian Drug Policy Coalition, Danielle Sabelli of Community Legal Assistance Society, Deborah Hollins of Nanaimo Family Life Association, and Katherine Tamminen of The University of Toronto.

In conversation with Myrna McCallum, host of the podcast The Trauma Informed Lawyer

Sarah Pump shares the story that led her to start Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo. The University of Calgary’s Gabrielle Wilcox explores the relationship between academic success and mental health in children.  

Tracy Smith-Carrier, Canada Research Chair in Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, explores ideas she says are preventing society from addressing poverty. Malé Fofana of Bishop’s University and L’Université de Sherbrooke shares his love of languages, his experience living in three distinct French speaking environments, and some reflection on the idea of accentism – dis...

Pamela Steen shares the details behind her Bling-A-Thon in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association, and we revisit a trio of our favourite conversations from the second half of the year.

In conversation with John McCormick, Don Bonner, and Andrew Thornton, of the Nanaimo Systems Planning Organization (SPO). The SPO began operations in April and is intended to coordinate the community’s response to homelessness.

In conversation with Dr. Kevin Patterson, and a visit to Coco Cafe in Cedar.

In conversation with Kelsie Kilawna, creator of a media kit designed to help communities in crisis, and Carmen Lavoie, Vancouver Island University professor, who discusses the school’s first ever end of life doula course, and the taboo around talking about death.  

Featuring speakers from a public hearing related to the establishment of an Island Health addiction treatment centre in Parksville, and a conversation around a new end of life guide from the BC Humanist Association.    

In conversation with Chrystal Toop, founder of Blackbird Medicines.

In conversation with death educator Susan Srigley. Remembering Jan Coleman, co-host of the first episode of People First Radio, who helped shepherd the show through its early years.

Tara Sidhoo Fraser shares her experience recovering from a stroke and the loss of her memories, as recounted in her memoir “When My Ghost Sings”. Health historian Matt Smith of The University of Strathclyde provides some insight on community mental health interventions from decades past.

In conversation with Victoria Maxwell who shares her experiences with bipolar and psychosis. Marla Zucht of the Whistler Housing Authority shares details about the municipally owned corporation’s efforts to affordably house Whistler’s workforce.  

In conversation with Paul Chapman of the Nanaimo and Area Land Trust (NALT) and Stephanie Merrill, CEO of the Nature Trust of New Brunswick.    

In conversation with Daniel Snyder, chair of the Langley Community Action Team. Snyder shares his personal journey recovering from heroin addiction.

UBC law professor Ben Perrin puts the criminal justice system on trial in his book Indictment. Journalist Carlyn Zwarenstein shares some of her work looking  into a backlash against harm reduction.

In conversation with Re-Threading Madness host Bernadine Fox, who shares her experiences surviving trauma, including therapy abuse, as well as how she’s hoping to change the conversation around mental health.

Aron Lee Rosenberg talks his year offline, as chronicled in Jacking Out. Tate Ryan-Mosley shares how her father’s throat cancer took her down an online rabbit hole of grief.

Spenser Smith talks turning prejudice into poetry in A Brief Relief From Hunger. John Oliffe of The University of British Columbia shares insights into research exploring the different types of masculinity in relationships.

In conversation with outgoing Nanaimo Community Action Team coordinator Sarah Lovegrove. And exploring a UBC study that offered people experiencing homelessness $7500 with no strings attached.  

Coverage of the event held in Nanaimo’s Maffeo Sutton Park to mark International Overdose Awareness Day.

In conversation with Canada’s Federal Housing Advocate Marie-Josée Houle, as well as Rachel Herron, Canada Research Chair in rural and remote mental health.

Exploring The Village, a supportive housing site in Duncan, B.C. that’s attracting attention across the country for the right reasons. In conversation with Duncan Mayor Michelle Staples, and Lookout Housing and Health Society’s Vancouver Island Director of Operations, Lee King.