Sticks & Stones - Roots & Bones: Exploring the Power of Words in a Polarized World

Two years ago, I underwent open-heart surgery at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. What stayed with me, beyond the procedure itself, was the extraordinary level of care I received—from the cardiac team, nurses, and support staff. It felt deeply human, attentive, and intentional. When I later circled back to thank them, many of those I spoke with credited their approach to the teachings of Jean Wat...

In this episode of Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones, we sit down with Liz Stewart, a Defend Our Homes organizer with Neighbours United in British Columbia. Liz shares how deep canvassing, a powerful tool rooted in empathy and storytelling, is helping bridge divides in forestry towns where proposed biodiversity legislation is sparking debate. With curiosity and care, Liz opens up about what i...

This is one of my favorite conversations with David Whyte, renowned poet, philosopher, and speaker. It was one of my greatest on air learning moments as we dove into the transformative power of dialogue—from how vulnerability and authenticity can redefine our personal narratives to the role of creative thinking in sparking growth and connection. I had to get rid of my notes and hang on! Whether yo...

Ian Williams is a poet, novelist, and essayist whose work explores themes of race, identity, and social complexity. Born in Trinidad and raised in Canada, Williams has developed a distinctive voice that combines lyrical sensitivity with sharp cultural insight. His debut novel, Reproduction, won the 2019 Giller Prize and was celebrated for its inventive structure and moving exploration of familial...

barbara findlay is an old white cisgender queer lawyer with disabilities who was raised working-class and christian on the prairies. In this episode, we explore barbara's extensive career and contributions to social justice, her involvement in fighting against oppression, and her continuous advocacy work. The conversation touches on significant topics such as the challenges of navigating difficult...

Corey Nathan is the Executive Producer and Host of the Talkin Politics & Religion Without Killing Each Other podcast. In this podcast, we discuss the importance of words and conversations in various aspects of life. Corey Nathan shares his background as a stockbroker and theatre conservatory student, as well as his experiences as an entrepreneur and podcast producer. We emphasize the need to b...

Nick Enfield is a Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney and a co-director of the Sydney Centre for Language Research. His recent books include Language vs. Reality, Consequences of Language, and How We Talk. In this podcast, we discuss the importance of language. Nick emphasizes the need to understand language in its broader context, including its cultural and societal implications....

Held is a partnership of facilitators, culture creators, and practitioners building a world liberated from oppressive systems, dynamics, and relationships. In this episode, one of their founders, Vanessa Faloye explains how with the help of co-founders, Alex and Pria, how they hold people, organizations and movements to build relational skills and cultural practices rooted in collective liberation...

Naomi Oreskes is a Professor of the History of Science and the author or co-author of 9 books, 150 articles, essays and opinion pieces. In this episode, we talk about the latest book that she worked on with Eric Conway, The Big Myth: How American Business Taught Us to Loathe Government and Love the Free Market. If you want to know why we are so polarized and have so many differing beliefs you shou...

In this episode of Sticks & Stones, Jason talks about the interconnectedness of environmental history, capitalism, and social theory in our current social dynamic. He highlights the urgency of the planetary crisis, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and inequality. We discuss the impact of ideologies on various global issues, such as gender, race, religion, and culture. Moore explain...

Tzeporah Berman, an environmental activist and campaigner, talks about her work at Stand.earth and her role in campaigns to stop fracking, protect forests, and clean up the fashion industry. She emphasizes the need to replace fossil fuels and prevent their overproduction, as they contribute to climate change. Berman reflects on her journey as an activist and the challenges of finding common ground...

Bob Joseph has spent more than twenty years training corporations and government organizations to work effectively and respectfully with Indigenous communities through his business, Indigenous Corporate Training. He has been an associate professor at Royal Roads University and a guest lecturer at other academic institutions. He is the author of the Canadian best-seller 21 Things You May Not Know A...

In this episode, we catch up with Jessie Sutherland. Jessie developed Intercultural Strategies and the Belonging Matters framework to provide the knowledge, processes and tools that can bridge the gap between people with lived experience and system influencers in order to create lasting and sustainable personal and community change. We talked about many things, but I'm still thinking about naming...

I've started a new series here and I'm calling it Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones. It's part of my dissertation research project with the University of British Columbia as I explore the power of the words we use in a polarized world with experts who research, and study how to navigate difficult conversations. In this episode, we're joined by Teun van Dijk. Teun is a Dutch linguist who studi...

Connie Zweig is a retired Jungian psychologist and therapist, author, Climate Reality Project Leader, and Citizens Climate Lobbyist. In this episode, we talk about her latest book, Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening and how our "shadow" affects the conversations we have.

This is the trailer and introduction to Sticks & Stones, Roots & Bones. A new podcast produced at the conversation lab with a focus on the words we use and the hope that we will learn how to change hearts and minds one conversation at a time.

Naomi Klein is an award-winning journalist, columnist, filmmaker, and author. I had the opportunity to speak with her a few years ago when she wrote No Is Not Enough. While this conversation was a few books ago, when I went back to listen to it I found it eerily relevant as she discusses the political climate and the rise of Trump as a brand. She highlights the dangers of equating wealth with wisd...