TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

Rivers are vanishing; not just from our landscapes, but from our imaginations. Acclaimed author and Cambridge University professor Robert Macfarlane explores the deeply moving idea at the heart of his new book, Is a River Alive? He shares stories from Ecuador, India and Canada—where rivers have been granted legal personhood and recognized as living beings and asks us to reconnect with nature in a...

Indigenous women are reshaping the film industry one story at a time. We sit down with filmmaker Jules Koostachin to talk about her new documentary Niimisak: Sisters in Film , a celebration of the women who paved the way and those continuing to break new ground. From cinematic legends to emerging voices, Jules highlights the talent, resilience and creative force of Indigenous women behind the came...

Human trafficking is happening all over Canada and is hidden in plain sight. Filmmaker Viveka Melki shares the stories behind her new documentary Butterfly: Into the Maze of Human Trafficking, which follows three women who survived being trafficked across Western Canada. We dive into the strength it takes to survive, how storytelling can become a tool for healing and how we can recognize when huma...

Feeling overwhelmed, stuck in your head, or ruled by your emotions? Ethan Kross wants you to know there is a way forward. As a psychologist and best-selling author, Ethan shares his practical tips for managing your emotions before they manage you. He dives into science-backed tools to help you calm your mind, reframe your thoughts, and reshape your environment for greater clarity and control.

What can a dead tree teach us about grief? Tessa McWatt shares how the natural world—especially the metaphor of the "snag," a standing dead tree—helped her navigate the slow loss of her mother to dementia. As her mother's memory faded, the forest became a guide for Tessa, showing that death is not an end, but part of a continuous, connected cycle.

What if the key to getting unstuck isn't doing more—but doing differently? Jesse Lipscombe was on track for the Olympics when a mini-stroke changed everything. He shares how that life-altering moment sparked a shift from chasing goals to embracing doing creating a blueprint for moving forward with curiosity, clarity and confidence.

What does it take to turn big dreams into reality — and stay true to who you are along the way? Vogue fashion journalist and author Christian Allaire shares his journey from growing up on a reserve in Canada to becoming one of the most exciting voices in fashion today. We talk about the power of Indigenous representation in style, and how determination, creativity, and cultural pride fueled his ri...

What if the reason you're stuck financially has nothing to do with money? We sit down with financial educator and author Jessica Moorhouse to explore the emotional and psychological roots of our relationship to money. Based on her new book Everything but Money, we unpack how shame, trauma, family history, and systemic inequality shape our financial lives—and why traditional advice like "just budge...

Why does life today feel so overwhelming? Steven Heine wants to answer this question by helping you better understand your own brain. As a social and cultural psychologist, Steven explains why so many of us feel anxious, disconnected and unsure of our purpose. We discuss how our brains are wired to crave meaning, why freedom often brings anxiety, and how we can rebuild a sense of purpose when life...

There's a side of the opioid crisis most people never hear—the view from inside. Garth Mullins is a podcaster and author who has experienced addiction, incarceration and loss, and he wants to shift the focus to saving lives. We explore why harm reduction is essential, how the war on drugs has failed communities, and what a health-based, compassionate response could look like.

Microplastics are found on every corner of the planet – even in our own bodies. Holly Hogan has seen the far-reaching impacts of ocean plastics first hand. She is a seabird biologist with over 30 years of experience and the author of Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches in the Age of Plastic . Holly shares powerful stories about the devastating effects of plastic on marine life, how microplastics...

Christopher Merasty believes that true healing for men could transform entire communities. In 2020, he founded Men Of The North with the goal of providing accessible, culturally-grounded mental health resources for men. We discuss how his programs are changing lives in his community, the urgent funding needs for men's mental health resources and why men's healing is essential for safer, healthier...

Born without an outer right ear, Kate Gies spent the better part of her childhood being told she needed to be fixed. She underwent 14 reconstructive surgeries in the attempt to achieve a "normal" appearance for a non-medical issue. Kate joins us to question the foundation of what we deem acceptable for our bodies, share her experience in the medical system and discuss her new memoir – It Must Be B...

Lung cancer is on the rise, even among those who have never smoked. Dr. Stephen Lam is a respirologist with the BC Cancer Research Centre, and has dedicated his career to lung cancer research and early detection. Stephen dives into the role of AI in predicting lung cancer risk and practical strategies to safeguard your lungs.

Why are women's bodies, particularly breasts, both a source of empowerment and controversy? They are commodified, censored and debated. Sociologist and author Sarah Thornton joins us to explore how women's bodies shape entire industries—from healthcare to fashion. Sarah also dives into her new book Tits Up: What Sex Workers, Milk Bankers, Plastic Surgeons, Bra Designers, and Witches Tell Us about...

Dr. Lori Brotto, renowned women's sexual health expert and UBC professor, joins us to break down the changes menopause brings—and how to navigate them with confidence. From explaining a shifting libido to managing discomfort, Lori shares insights packed with practical advice you won't want to miss.

Did you know women are almost twice as likely as men to develop dementia? Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, neuroscientist and CEO of the Brainwell Institute, dives into the science of brain health. She breaks down why dementia rates are higher in women and, most importantly, what we can do to lower our risk.

What if your biggest craving led to a successful business idea? When Lilian Umurungi-Jung was pregnant, she found it difficult to find nourishing food products and decided to make her own snacks at home. As the owner and founder of Mumgry, Lilian's business makes nut butters that are delicious, nutritious and have simple ingredients. She shares how her Rwandan food traditions shaped the flavors of...

Are you tired of the endless cycle of dieting, guilt and food rules? Shana Spence is a registered dietitian nutritionist and she dives into how to heal your relationship with food to reclaim the joy of eating. Shana breaks down why diet culture is so pervasive, how it harms our mental and physical health, and what we can do to unlearn restrictive food rules.

Social media can distort the reality of life in many different ways – motherhood is no exception. Sara Petersen is an author and culture writer with a love/hate relationship with 'momfluencers', where the private work of mothering is turned into a public performance. The message is simple but fraught: we're all just a couple of clicks away from a better, more beautiful experience of motherhood. We...

More competition among internet providers means more innovation and choice for Canadians. Zainul Mawji joins us to explain how TELUS is standing up for Canadians' right to choose their Internet provider. As the Executive Vice-president of TELUS and President of TELUS Consumer Solutions, Zainul unpacks the federal government's recent appeal asking the CRTC to exclude TELUS from offering home Intern...

For the first couple of weeks of January, we're revisiting some of our most popular episodes from 2024. Take another listen to our conversation with Tanya Talaga. For Tanya, memory is not just about the past. It's a tool for survival and resistance. Remembering and honouring ancestors through stories ensures that their spirits and wisdom continue to guide future generations. Tanya reflects on how...

For the first couple of weeks of January, we're revisiting some of our most popular episodes from 2024. Take another listen to our conversation with Dr. Jen Gunter. She has made it her mission to change how we think about menstrual health as a key component of overall wellness. So much of what we know about menstruation is a myth or simply false. As a renowned gynecologist and author, Jen also div...

Money is more than dollars and cents—it's about strategy. Mark Ting is a life-long entrepreneur who understands that financial planning can be complicated. When it comes to personal finance, Mark says we all need to hope for the best but prepare for the worst. He shares his own tried-and-true personal finance strategies, how to deal with inflation costs and how beginners can grow their investment...

Can we train our immune systems to overcome food allergies? Dr. Edmond Chan is the Head of the Division of Allergy in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and is leading an immunotherapy program to help children overcome their food allergies. We discuss how immunology is reshaping lives and offering hope to many people with life-threatening food allergies.