People First Radio - Full Episodes

Featuring the personal stories behind two shows at this year’s Nanaimo Fringe Festival: Ali Gaul and Grace Martin share the story of their father/grandfather John Gaul, and the legacy he left behind on cassette. Bennet Caffee shares the story behind the story of Orange You Glad to Be in Miami, which chronicles his first manic […]

Simon Katterl explores harms in the mental healthcare system in Victoria, Australia. Carolyn Whitzman discusses Canada’s federal housing history, and Ali Gaul shares the story of her dad, which informs Lucky Casanova, her daughter’s upcoming show at the Nanaimo Fringe.

In conversation with Nick Blomley on research into people’s experience of dispossession, and Will Small on increasing rates of involuntary psychiatric hospitalization in British Columbia.

Featuring conversations with author Eric Walters and supportive housing CEOs Carolina Ibarra and Kathy Stinson.  

Featuring a conversation with Nathan McLean and Corey Williams of the Recovery Machine Podcast.    

Featuring coverage of Jessica Michalofsky’s arrival in front of the legislature in Victoria following a nearly 900 kilometre run in memory of her son Aubrey, who died due to toxic drug poisoning.

“The Lived Experience of Eviction in Canada” with David Wachsmuth of McGill University. Cheyenne Johnson of the BC Centre on Substance Use explains the Road to Recovery Initiative.

VIU’s Carmen Lavoie on the new end of life doula course coming to Vancouver Island University. Angie Bisset shares her experience facilitating the Cultivating Abilities program from the Nanaimo Foodshare.  

Featuring a visit to the Cultivating Abilities Program from the Nanaimo Foodshare, and a conversation with Kix Citton of the Nanaimo Brain Injury Society.

A visit to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Nanaimo Overdose Prevention Site to talk drug checking with Patrick Cools and Destiny Herman. A conversation with Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes about person centred care in addiction medicine and public health.    

Karen Engle uses language to explore her experiences with chronic pain in Chronic Conditions. Piotr Burek of Substance Drug Checking in Victoria shares the in and outs of substance testing.

Exploring mental health crisis response teams, in conversation with Kim Mackenzie of CMHA BC, and Lacey Mesley and Dreanna Picard of AVI in Victoria. Also featuring excerpts from a lecture given by UBC Law Professor Benjamin Perrin, entitled From Crime and Punishment to a Compassionate and Evidence Based Approach.  

Punk Rock Saved My Life – in conversation with Jason Schreurs about his punk journey through mental health, as told in his new book Scream Therapy. And a conversation with Kathy Stinson and Carolina Ibbara, CEOs of The Victoria Cool Aid Society and Pacifica Housing.

Chris Anderson roller-blades across Canada in support of mental health awareness, York University Joel Goldberg shares findings from a new study into the stigma experienced by close relatives of people with serious mental health conditions, and a conversation from 2022 with Dr. Daniel Chorney on Caretoons, and child anxiety.

Jordan Reems discusses learning his late brother Anthony’s songs to stage a concert chronicling Anthony’s journey with schizophrenia. Natalie Frandsen of The University of Victoria discusses ways online courses could better support student mental health.

Featuring a visit to Operation Freedom Paws, a conversation with Doctors of BC President Dr. Joshua Greggain on walk-in clinics, and a discussion with Natalie Senik on recovery in the face of serious mental health challenges.

Featuring an Island Health Public Forum, B.C. Premier David Eby’s announcement on hubs to address repeat offenders, and an interview with Nicole Klementis, a student in the psychedelic assisted therapy program at Vancouver Island University.

Focusing on individuals taking action to make a difference in their communities. Featuring conversations with Guenther of the Wiseland Humanitarian Association in Courtenay B.C, Brigida Crosbie of Tydel Foods in Chilliwack, and Nanaimo’s Clay Johnson. Plus a profile of Nanaimo’s best kept secret – Superette Foods.

Exploring Vancouver Island University’s Inside-Out program, as well as the Beyond Blame program from the Nanaimo Family Life Association. Featuring the voices of Joanne Falvai, Joey Cramer, Natasha Karod, Josh Drummond and Alex Schiebel.

Exploring a pair of clinical trials involving psychedelic assisted therapy. Featuring the voices of VIU Psychedelic Assisted Therapy program chair Shannon Dames, Dr. Valorie Masuda, Dr. Pamela Kryskow, and Nicole Klementis.    

Featuring conversations with Leif Gregersen, who works with the Schizophrenia Society of Alberta, and John McCormick, incoming executive director of Nanaimo’s new Systems Planning Organization.

MARCH 9 2022 This month nearly one hundred people gathered at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre to discuss solutions to the toxic drug poisoning crisis in Nanaimo. Among the voices included on the episode are Central Island’s Medical Health Officer Dr. Sandra Allison, Community Action Team co-chair Sarah Lovegrove, Lanae Silva, Sarah Doyle, and Nanaimo […]