The Sanctuary

She grew up in Germany, competed as a figure skater, and now she's teaching Cuban salsa on a small island in Canada. Meet Victoria, the founder of Salsa con Victoria and the woman who's making Cuban dance accessible to everyone. In this episode of The Sanctuary, Victoria opens up about her journey: from the rigorous discipline of competitive figure skating to the joy of reconnecting with her Peruv...

Elliot Justin, MD, FACEP, is a physician, entrepreneur, inventor and healthcare executive with extensive experience across emergency medicine, telemedicine, predictive cardiovascular risk management, clinical operations and digital health innovation. He is the Founder, Inventor and Chief Executive Officer of FirmTech, a company focused on advancing sexual and cardiovascular health through smart we...

What does it really mean to love more than one person at a time with everyone's knowledge and consent? How do you build relationships that are intentional instead of default? And what's the difference between a boundary, an agreement, and a rule? In this episode of The Sanctuary, Heidi, a therapist, polyamory coach, and the voice behind Steady Polyamory, shares her personal journey into polyamory,...

Jessica Reeves is CEO and Board Member of Axoniq, where she leads the company's mission to enable enterprises in complex and regulated industries to integrate AI and distributed systems in a controlled, transparent, scalable way. She brings extensive experience scaling open-source technology companies and building profitable, high-growth businesses in the enterprise software sector. Prior to joini...

What happens when two friends in Berlin decide to turn their love for electronic music into a full-fledged production duo? Meet Theatrophone, Nico and Jonathan, the creative minds behind some of the most exciting remixes coming out of Germany right now. In this episode of The Sanctuary, Theatrophone talks about their musical journey: from Nico's late introduction to guitar and Jonathan's childhood...

Seth Abstract is bringing classic poems to life as modern-day songs. His goal is to make poetry accessible to a larger audience and, hopefully, encourage more people to pick up a poetry book. He is an artist in many fields, from making videos and digital collages to game development and more. His latest project, these poetry songs, is based in AI. As someone with experience in art and computers, S...

A raw and unfiltered conversation with Sarah, a bodybuilder, competitor, and self-described sexual explorer who lives life fully on her own terms. She breaks down her journey into bodybuilding, starting competitively at 50, cutting 40 pounds in under six months, and navigating the discipline, intensity, and structure of prep life. From training routines to stage presence, she shares what it takes...

Goddess Venyx shares how she got her start in BDSM, why she's drawn to the psychology of dominance and submission, and what it's like to hold space for clients who have been denied their authentic selves for years. She breaks down the difference between kink and fetish, explains why tributes are about more than money, and opens up about her own ADHD and why neurodivergent folks often find a home i...

Steve Holt received his first JUNO nomination back in 1984 for The Lion’s Eyes in the Jazz Album of the Year category, and launched an international career performing with artists such as Archie Shepp, Eddie Henderson, Larry Coryell and James Moody. But like many jazz musicians, Holt’s recording career eventually slipped out of the spotlight. His last album appeared in 2002, and for more than two...

Sochi Azuh is a communications strategist, storytelling coach, and podcast host dedicated to exploring the power of narrative to inspire connection and change. Through his podcast, Lead with Storytelling, he facilitates thoughtful conversations that bridge literature, culture, leadership, and social impact — creating space for ideas that shape how we live and lead. Find out more @sochiazuh

Dr Catalina Lawsin, PhD, is a licensed psychologist with over two decades of experience supporting individuals and couples in strengthening their relationships and enhancing sexual well-being. With a speciality in psycho-oncology, Dr Catalina’s work has centred around the unique challenges faced by cancer survivors and those who have undergone stem cell transplants (SCT) and CAR T-cell therapy. He...

Reequal Smith is a multidisciplinary artist, choreographer, and cultural leader from the Bahamas, now based in Prince Edward Island. She is the Founder and Artistic Director of Oshun Dance Studios, where she fuses Caribbean traditions with contemporary movement to create spaces of celebration and reclamation for Black and Caribbean communities. An alumna of Holland College’s School of Performing A...

Alex, a writer, woodworker, and licensed therapist with over a decade in the BDSM community, pulls back the curtain on the world of dominance and submission. He shares his unexpected journey from a “vanilla” life to building his own home dungeon, revealing how his professional background as a therapist fundamentally shaped his approach to kink. He delves into the intricate ethics of power exchange...

Echo shares her personal "kink origin story," tracing her journey from childhood curiosity to becoming an event organiser. She recounts how early online research led to virtual workshops, mentorship, and eventually local munches, all while navigating the initial overwhelm of discovering the "Fet-verse." She opens up about her motivations for starting her own events: a desire to combat the pressure...

daniika is a writer, event organiser, and aspiring educator in the BDSM community. She’s a collared neurodivergent slave and leathergirl that lives in a 24/7 total power exchange Master/slave dynamic. Her writing focuses on her lived experience as a consensual slave, and on the knowledge she’s gained under her Master’s guidance. daniika is also the leader of Spokane’s Power Exchange Together chapt...

Damir Fisher , the founder and creative force behind DF Media , shares his unconventional journey from streaming video games in his mom's basement to becoming a sought-after photographer and videographer. He reveals how a job as a restaurant server became his unexpected business school, teaching him the human connection skills that are now the foundation of his brand. He pulls back the curtain on...

In this episode of the podcast, Courtney gets raw about the loneliness, shame, and societal judgment she’s faced while living a “monogamous-looking life” in a small military town in Germany. She shares the psychedelic trip that made her realise she was polyamorous (after finding poly people “so annoying”), how opening her marriage completely reshaped her relationship with herself and her body, and...

Danielle Narveson is a writer, content creator, and the voice behind  Openly Committed , where she shares honest stories about marriage, motherhood, and ethical non-monogamy. With a background in strategy and storytelling, she brings a fresh, deeply personal perspective to topics such as jealousy, boundaries, identity, and long-term partnerships. Her videos and essays reach millions of people...

In this captivating episode of The Sanctuary,  rising Nigerian artist OG Mage dives deep into his incredible journey from software engineer to full-time musician. OG Mage opens up about the viral success of his breakout hit "Head of State," revealing how a simple Instagram reel with a flute sample turned into one of the most talked-about drill songs. He shares the wild story of shooting the m...

In this explosive episode of The Sanctuary, host Israel sits down with Dwayne Marcial, former Director of Artists and Industry Development at the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA), for an unfiltered, no-holds-barred account of what really happened behind the scenes of one of Atlantic Canada's most important music organizations. Dwayne pulls no punches as he reveals the shocking reality of organisatio...

In this candid conversation, Melissa Shadows opens up about her journey from traditional marriage to embracing non-monogamy, polyamory, and BDSM. She shares how photography and erotic art became both a creative outlet and a form of healing, and how trust, vulnerability, and the right partners shaped her evolution as a submissive. There is a dive into topics of jealousy, compersion, building meanin...

Mark Gane, the multi-talented musician, songwriter, visual artist, designer, and gardener best known as a founding member of Martha and the Muffins. Mark opens up about his latest experimental project, "Garden Music" - an ambient album that blends decades of collected sounds with evocative plant names as inspiration. We explore Mark's creative origins, growing up surrounded by music and art throug...

On this episode of The Sanctuary, Pedro, the electrifying lead singer and guitarist of the band Black Budget, opens up about the band’s origins as a lockdown project, their evolution into a powerhouse trio, and the deep camaraderie that fuels their music. Dive into the desert-punk sound of Black Budget, a thrilling mix of Queens of the Stone Age grit and early Green Day hooks and discover how Pedr...

In this episode, Jennifer Roe, the executive director of Folk Alliance International, discusses her journey in the folk music industry, the importance of community and networking, and the upcoming Folk Alliance Conference in Montreal. Jennifer shares insights into the organization's mission, the significance of building relationships within the music community, and tips for artists preparing to sh...

Lola Loops is a passionate multi-disciplinary artist residing on the unceded and illegally occupied territories of the Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh, and Musqueam Nation, Aka Vancouver, BC. Her journey into the world of performance art began with a simple Hoop, where she found a captivating medium for exploring her body's movements in spiral form. This initial fascination blossomed into a diverse skill...