Episodes
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People First Radio, November 05, 2026
Focusing on social connection as The City of Nanaimo observes “Social Connection Month”. Featuring conversations with Cora Leschert of the Nanaimo Family Life Association, who speaks about social prescribing, librarian Casey Stepaniuk on the role of libraries in fostering social connection, and...
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People First Radio, October 29, 2026
Revisiting a conversation from 2024, with Patricia, Beatriz, and Constanza Morén. The three sisters living in Spain joined People First Radio to share memories of their father, who had died the previous year. “He was the best father a daughter could have,” Constanza said. “My father worked as an...
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People First Radio – October 22, 2026
Puppeteer and actor DerRic Starlight speaks about living rough on the streets of Calgary and Edmonton around a decade ago, a project he embarked on with the intention of writing about the experience. The resulting book, See-Me Street, My Homeless, Indigenous Journey was published earlier this year.
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People First Radio – October 15, 2026
Grace Iarocci of Simon Fraser University speaks about research into ADHD and social camouflage. Revisiting a conversation from February 2024 with Dr. Alex Nataros on ADHD.
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People First Radio – October 8, 2026
Kelly McKowen, assistant professor of anthropology at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, speaks about his experiences studying unemployment in Norway, the subject of his book Down and Out in Utopia.
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People First Radio – October 01, 2026
Filmmaker Petra Volpe speaks about Frank & Louis, a film that follows the story of a prison inmate who joins a program taking care of other inmates with dementia. It’s inspired by the Gold Coat program at the California State Men’s Colony Prison. Conversations from an event held in Qualicum Beach...
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People First Radio – September 24, 2026
Touching on a trio of local stories heading to the screen this fall. Seventeen filmmaker Justin Ducharme talks about his debut feature that offers a window into a day in the life of queer Indigenous sex work in a Vancouver. Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse speaks at an event celebrating…
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People First Radio – September 17, 2026
Corey Bialek explores how strolling a Winnipeg Labyrinth was therapeutic for his mental health. Bialek talks public space, biophilia, and dealing with persistent depressive disorder and major depressive disorder. The conversation was inspired by Bialek’s essay Minding The City, appearing in the...
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People First Radio – September 10, 2026
Jillian Halladay of McMaster University speaks about a study that explored the prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders in Canada. Stories shared at International Overdose Awareness Day events in Nanaimo and Courtenay.
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People First Radio – September 03, 2026
Featuring stories shared at events held in Parksville and Courtenay to mark International Overdose Awareness Day. Support resources referenced in the program: Moms Stop The Harm Resources Page: https://www.momsstoptheharm.com/support-resources Healing Hearts info:...
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People First Radio – August 27, 2026
Saint John based journalist Rob Csernyik speaks about his work exploring gambling related harms and the history of the gambling industry in Canada, a subject covered in his recent book A Losing Hand. Drug user group organizer Ann Livingston speaks about International Overdose Awareness Day and an...
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People First Radio – August 20, 2026
Members of PEERS Victoria Resource Society speak about the orgnaization’s pilot supporting sex workers in the capital region who are not proficient in English. Chandni Sondagar, a senior knowledge broker with the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction speaks about the organization’s...
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People First Radio – August 13, 2026
Revisiting conversations around mental health and working in the Canadian music industry, as well as a conversation on retired judge Philip Seagram’s cross-Canada busking tour.
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People First Radio – August 06, 2026
The program revisits a conversation with Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk, AKA Street Dr. Jill, who talks social media influencing on topics related to health and homelessness. Also featuring a portion of a segment on the history of the Weyburn Mental Hospital, featuring author and University of Saskatchewan...
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People First Radio – July 30, 2026
Tim Richter, President and CEO of the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, speaks about his organization’s call for a Canada Housing Benefit designed using the Homelessness Income Cut-Off(HICO) measure developed at the University of Calgary. Martha Paynter of the University of New Brunswick...
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People First Radio – July 23, 2026
Craig Jones, associate director of UBC’s Housing Assessment Resource Tools (HART) project, speaks about a new, interactive B.C. Public Land Map that identifies publicly owned land parcels across the province and scores them based on potential suitability for housing. Shea Wood, senior knowledge...
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People First Radio – July 16, 2026
Sharon Karsten, Christopher Hauschildt and Cory Cliffe have been helping with various aspects of a community engaged research project in the Comox Valley called Walk With Me. One initiative has seen the program look to understand and address stigma that people who use substances can face when…
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People First Radio – July 09, 2026
Psychiatrists Bob Maunder and Jon Hunter, who are both professors at the Univresity of Toronto, share insights on coping with stressful experiences. The topic is also the focus of a recent book authored by the two – Coping: Fix Problems, Find Meaning, Feel Better. The program revisits a...
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People First Radio – July 2, 2026
A trio of members of The Dais Youth Champions program speak about their experiences with tech in schools. The program works with students from across Canada to understand how tech design impacts attention, behaviour, and mental health. From there, the champions are trained to lead conversations…
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People First Radio – June 25, 2026
Journalist and author Jessica Barrett speaks about a sense of home and the housing crisis, themes she explored in her recent book No Place Like Home. The cast of a Reconciliation Theatre production of Women of The Fur Trade speak about preparing a stage show in the tranquility of a forest.
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People First Radio – June 18, 2026
The Bylaw State co-author Alexandra Flynn speaks about the interplay between municipalities, homeless encampments, and the courts. Kevin Chow and Marvel Hariadi speak about research into how neurodivergent people use distraction blockers, and argue in favour of more inclusive focus aids.
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People First Radio – June 11, 2026
Cory Herzog-Fequet speaks about his work around boredom and substance use among people experiencing homelessness. The topic was the study of Herzog-Fequet’s thesis, and he worked on a review of literature on the subject that appeared in the International Journal on Homelessness. The second half…
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People First Radio – June 04, 2026
University of British Columbia Assistant Professor Lianping Ti speaks about a study into people’s behaviour after using drug checking services and finding unexpected active ingredients. Salvation Army Centre of Hope Executive Director Bern Muller speaks about a new building in Nanaimo where they...
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People First Radio – May 28, 2026
Bill Collins of Radio Sidney speaks about the 10 part radio drama Beware Mysterious Mark, which tells a story of elder financial abuse. Yo Bro Yo Girl co-founder Joe Calendino speaks about sharing his life story with youth in an effort to help prevent them from experiencing gang related harms....
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People First Radio – May 21, 2026
University of Saskatchewan History Professor and Canada Research Chair in the History of Health and Social Justice Erika Dyck speaks about the history of the now demolished Weyburn Mental Hospital in Saskatchewan. Caitlin Shane, a staff lawyer with Pivot Legal Society, argues society is sending...
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People First Radio – May 14, 2026
Retired B.C. Judge Philip Seagram speaks about his experience going on a cross Canada busking tour, a journey which he chronicled in the book No Judgement.
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People First Radio – May 07, 2026
Victoria based Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk speaks about her work as an influencer under the handle Streetdrjill. University of Saskatchewan PhD student Maryellen Gibson speaks about dogs, overdose, and naloxone.
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People First Radio – April 30, 2026
Douglas King of Together Against Poverty and Carolina Ibarra of Pacifica Housing speak about evictions from supportive housing. Staff and residents at Boundary Supportive Housing in Nanaimo speak about the impact of the site during a 10th anniversary BBQ.
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People First Radio – April 23, 2026
Erin Dej, associate professor in the department of criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University, speaks about helping develop a curriculum to teach Canadian highschool students about homelessness. That project was inspired by a documentary Dej worked on about homelessness in mid-sized Canadian…
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People First Radio – April 16, 2026
Bernie Pauly of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research and the University of Victoria speaks about how the toxic drug crisis has unfolded over 10 years as a declared public health emergency. Also featuring the voices of Amanda Farrell-Low, Stephanie Harrington, and Sarah Lee.
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People First Radio – April 09, 2026
Crackdown author Garth Mullins speaks about his experiences covering drug policy issues. Carleton University’s Holly Shannon talks problematic social media use. A trio of independent musicians from around coastal B.C. share perspectives on substance use in the context of work in the music industry.
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People First Radio – April 02, 2026
VIU Postdoctoral Researcher Trevor Wideman and Walk With Me Operations Coordinator Christopher Hauschildt speak about the intersections between the toxic drug crisis, homelessness, and municipal governance. Frank Moher speaks about his show Boy Player, that tells the story of being orphaned in…
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People First Radio – March 26, 2026
Nanaimo Area Network of Drug Users organizer Ann Livingston speaks about an upcoming author talk at Nanaimo’s Harbourfront library. The talk will see Crackdown podcast host Garth Mullins speak about his memoir, also titled Crackdown. Nurse and University of Victoria PhD student Jenise Finlay…
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People First Radio – March 19, 2026
Jordan Kawchuk speaks about his experiences with alcohol use disorder ahead of a free community event on the subject in Nanaimo, taking place March 25th at VIU’s Malaspina Theatre. University of Victoria psychology professor Colette Smart speaks about complex post traumatic stress disorder.
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People First Radio – March 12, 2026
Independent musicians from around coastal B.C. speak about mental health in the industry, following on the heels of a report from music industry leadership consultancy Revelios that identified significant challenges faced by Canadians working in music. The episode features Revelios president and...
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People First Radio – March 05, 2026
The Guardian’s Canada correspondent Leyland Cecco speaks about sharing his experiences with Tourette syndrome in a first person story for the paper. Nanaimo company Cueva Homes President Bill Xing speaks about looking to bring made in China prefabricated tiny homes to the Canadian market.
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People First Radio – February 26, 2026
Queen’s University professor and Hungry Stories Project member Elaine Power speaks about food insecurity, and an upcoming graphic novel that attempts to talk to children about the issue. Statistics Canada data on food insecurity:...
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People First Radio – February 19, 2026
Rob DeClark of Victoria company Home Based Recovery speaks about the idea of translating the in-patient treatment experience into an online course. People First Radio visits the Ethics Bowl regional competition at Vancouver Island University that took place Sunday, February 15, speaking with...
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People First Radio – February 12, 2026
Paul Tedeschini and Nicole Natrass speak about the upcoming run of Clown Fish, a theatre performance based on Tedeschini’s life being mounted in Nanaimo. Filmmaker Cory Thiebert speaks about Mildlife, his Victoria set film that played at the Victoria Film Festival, in which he aimed to show a...
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People First Radio – February 05, 2026
Recovery Tails Society co-founders Priya Sharma and Kayleigh Bush speak about the Vancouver Island non-profit that helps people attending addiction treatment arrange free, temporary care for their pets. North Cowichan Resident Royce Warren talks sustainability and his decision to write a book on...
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People First Radio – January 29, 2026
A visit to 1030 Old Victoria Road, a supportive housing site in Nanaimo operated by Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.
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People First Radio – January 22, 2026
Medical Psychiatrist Dr. Alexandre Hudon of l’Université de Montréal speaks about the potential interplay between generative AI and psychosis. Clinical Councillor Lexie Morgan speaks about Mountain Muscox, an organization that brings community together to support people who have experienced…
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People First Radio – January 15, 2026
Toronto based freelance journalist Zahra Khozema speaks about her relationship with the gym and her decision to cancel her membership, a story she originally shared in a first person piece for the CBC. Playwright Joëlle Rabu shares the creative process behind I Don’t Belong Here: Stories and…
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People First Radio – January 08, 2026
A new exhibit in Cowichan explores the intersection of art and mental health. Cowichan Valley Arts Council President Elizabeth Croft speaks about the effort that’s bringing 5 different arts councils together. Participating artist Philip Mix shares his experiences with art as coping mechanism and...
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People First Radio – January 1, 2026
Revisiting memorable conversations from the second half of 2025. Francis Baptiste speaks about his Lived Experience in East Vancouver – full segment: click here Lawyer Nicole Letourneau speaks about recovery from alcohol addiction – full segment: click here Cripping The Archive editors Stefanie...
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People First Radio – December 25, 2025
Revisiting a trio of segments from the first half of the year. You can find the full version of each linked below: From February, Kate Walker speaks about her family’s resilience in the face of a traumatic experience: A mom’s journey to helping others following family trauma From April, Opal Dar...
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People First Radio – December 18, 2025
Exploring the issue of youth aging out of care, which was the subject of a recent senate committee report. The program features conversations with Jacqueline (Jacquie) Gahagan, Associate Vice-President of Research at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, Melanie Doucet, executive director of...
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People First Radio – December 11, 2025
Excerpts from an event about the toxic drug crisis hosted by BC Human Rights Commissioner Kasari Govender. The talk featured a video message from Guy Fellicella, as well as a conversation between Govender, former B.C. Chief Coroner Lisa Lapointe, and Johnny Morris, CEO of the Canadian Mental…
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People First Radio – December 04, 2025
Angela Moran of the Victoria Cool Aid Society speaks about the model for a recently announced sober housing facility. Trevor DenHartogh of Undercurrent Youth Society speaks about adapting an Icelandic Prevention Model to a Cape Breton Context. Everett Watson and Dr. Ricardo Manmohan of The...
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People First Radio – November 27, 2025
Carolina Ibarra, CEO of Pacifica Housing, speaks about the model being planned for the yet to open Sparrow supportive housing site in Nanaimo, which includes an emphasis on people looking to minimize their exposure to substance use. Sarah Crago, Stephanie Bagri and Cianthelle Amistad, a group of...