PODCAST · health
ReThreading Madness
by Bernadine Fox
Bernadine Fox brings a rare and powerful combination of lived experience, long-term disability rights advocacy, and creative insight to her role as host and producer of ReThreading Madness, the award-winning radio show and podcast that dares to shift how we think about mental health. A recipient of the 2022 Courage to Come Back Award, Bernadine is a white settler of Scottish, Irish, and French heritage with a familial connection to the Tsuut'ina nation. She has spent over 30 years advocating for those with lived experience of mental health challenges including survivors of trauma and therapy harm. She is an intersectional feminist, artist, and author of Coming to Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist—a memoir that confronts the devastating misuse of power in therapeutic relationships. Bernadine is not a clinician, but she is a deeply informed mental health advocate with firsthand knowledge of trauma, CPTSD, and disability. Her background incl
Episodes
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Stories That Carry Us: Wanda John-Kehewin and Ying Wang on Trauma, Art, and the Weight We Inherit
Stories That Carry Us: Wanda John-Kehewin and Ying Wang on Trauma, Art, and the Weight We Inherit In this episode of ReThreading Madness, Bernadine Fox speaks with two artists whose work refuses to look away. Wanda John-Kehewin is a Cree poet, author, and storyteller from Kahwin Cree Nation who...
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The Lens Changes: Two Poets on Identity, Trauma, and Reinvention Through Art
The Lens Changes: Two Poets on Identity, Trauma, and Reinvention Through Art Two BC artists. Two very different entry points into the relationship between making things and surviving your own life. Sherry Duggal is a Vancouver-based multidisciplinary artist, actor, writer, poet, and dancer whose...
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Loosening the Lock: A window into Borderline; A Door into Psychedelic Therapy
Loosening the Lock: A window into Borderline; A Door into Psychedelic Therapy Two conversations. Two very different entry points into the same territory: what happens when your nervous system, your brain chemistry, or your relationship to your own thoughts puts you outside the frame of what the...
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They Sent Her Home Five Times: Aaisha Alvi on Postpartum Psychosis and the Lindsay Clancy Case
They Sent Her Home Five Times: Aaisha Alvi on Postpartum Psychosis and the Lindsay Clancy Case This episode was recorded on August 30, 2026, the day the jury was still deliberating in the Lindsay Clancy trial. Clancy is the Massachusetts mother whose defense argues she was experiencing postpartum...
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Language Lives in My Wounds: the Politics of Vulnerability
Language Lives in My Wounds: Personality Disorders, Structural Violence, and the Politics of Vulnerability Ahana Mulgaonker is an independent scholar and writer based in Austin, Texas, who writes outside the margins of academia on a blog called Tenderly Borderline. This is the first time she has...
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You Are Not Broken: Reclaiming Yourself After Trauma with Jenna Rae McWatters
You Are Not Broken: Reclaiming Yourself After Trauma with Jenna Rae McWatters Trigger warning: this episode talks about experiences around human trafficking and child exploitation What happens when a child grows up surrounded by violence, sexual abuse and instability—and later has to untangle…
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Unmasked: Autism, Burnout, and the Daughter the System Failed
Unmasked: Autism, Burnout, and the Daughter the System Failed Samia McCall came to advocacy the hard way. A former attorney and law professor, she spent thirty years cycling through mental health diagnoses, medications, and therapists, none of which helped, because none of them were looking for…
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Writing Through It: Indigenous Voices, Trauma, and the Art of Telling Without Breaking
Writing Through It: Indigenous Voices, Trauma, and the Art of Telling Without Breaking This episode brings together two writers whose work does something precise and difficult: it tells the truth about trauma without weaponizing it, reaches into the hardest parts of lived experience and finds a…
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Title: Pulling the Canoe to Shore: Healing, Mad Movements, and the Stories That Set Us Free
Title: Pulling the Canoe to Shore: Healing, Mad Movements, and the Stories That Set Us Free This episode brings together two very different voices connected by a single thread: what it means to reclaim your own story when the world has tried to define you.Randy Tate, Indigenous artist and healer...
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Leaving the Faith, Finding Yourself: Life After Mormonism with Audra Phelps
Leaving the Faith, Finding Yourself: Life After Mormonism with Audra Phelps What happens when leaving a religion means risking the loss of your community, your identity, and even your closest relationships? In this powerful conversation, Bernadine Fox speaks with Audra Phelps about her experience...
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Intersectionality Mental Health, MAID, and Suicidality with Rebecca Deutsch
The Intersectionality of Mental Health, MAID, and Suicidality with Rebecca Deutsch Bernadine Fox sits down with Rebecca Deutsch, PhD candidate in Gender, Feminist and Women's Studies at York University, for a conversation that refuses to stay on safe ground. The topic is Medical Assistance in…
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People, Place and Purpose: Jim Gottstein on Dismantling a Mental Health System That Harms the People It Claims to Help
People, Place and Purpose: Jim Gottstein on Dismantling a Mental Health System That Harms the People It Claims to Help Jim Gottstein is an Alaskan lawyer who, at 29, found himself jumping out of a second floor window in his underwear at 1am after days without sleep. He was hauled off to a...
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David Roche on Reclaiming Humanity Beyond Appearance
David Roche on Reclaiming Humanity Beyond Appearance What happens when the thing the world notices first about you becomes the very thing that teaches others how to see? In this deeply moving conversation, Bernadine Fox sits down with David Roche, a celebrated storyteller, disability arts…
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Standing Up in a World That Tried to Break You
Trigger Warning: This program talks about sibling violence and suicide ideology. This week on ReThreading Madness, Bernadine Fox speaks with three individuals - Sandra Yuen, Penny Marie, and Venge - about survival, identity, creativity, and what it means to keep living in a world that often...
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A Conversation with Jonathan Rogers at 89 on Getting Old and Dying
A Conversation with Jonathan Rogers at 89 on Getting Old and Dying Host Bernadine Fox is joined by Jonathan Rogers — animator, artist, former supervising producer at Disney and Marvel, stand-up comedian, and the man she was once engaged to — for a rare and honest conversation about aging, dying,...
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The Marks We Miss: Forensics, Trafficking, and the Path to True Trauma-Informed Justice
The Marks We Miss: Forensics, Trafficking, and the Path to True Trauma-Informed Justice Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussions regarding human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual assault. It includes forensic descriptions of non-fatal strangulation, and the trafficking...
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BiPolar Princess: Victoria Maxwell
BiPolar Princess: Victoria Maxwell What happens when a spiritual awakening is mistaken for psychosis? And what if the difference between harm and healing is simply being listened to? In this powerful and often funny conversation, Victoria Maxwell joins ReThreading Madness to talk about bipolar...
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Systemic Trauma and the Indian Act with Bob Joseph
In this powerful and grounded conversation, Bob Joseph, author of 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, joins Bernadine Fox to unpack the law that has governed Indigenous lives in Canada since 1876. The Indian Act was not simply administrative policy. It was a system of control. It...
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Historical Mad Voices from Inside the Asylum with Michael Rembis
Historical Mad Voices from Inside the Asylum with Michael Rembis What happens when we stop telling the history of psychiatry from the doctor’s perspective and start listening to the people who lived it? In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, historian Michael Rembis, author of Writing…
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RedThunderwoman/MichellevRobinson on Reconciliation
Racial Battle Fatigue: Truth, Treaties, and Mental Health with Red Thunderwoman Write Up: In this powerful episode of ReThreading Madness, Bernadine Fox sits down with Michelle Robinson, also known as Red Thunderwoman — a Sahtu Dene activist, political organizer, and host of the Native Calgarian...
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After My Mother Died: In Conversation with Christa Ovenell, Funeral Director and End-of-Life Doula
After My Mother Died: In Conversation with Christa Ovenell, Funeral Director and End-of-Life Doula In this episode of ReThreading Madness, Berni Fox is joined by Christa Ovenell, funeral director, end-of-life doula, and founder of Death’s Apprentice, for a deeply honest conversation about death,...
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Choosing to Breathe with author Emma Stevens
Choosing to Breathe with Emma Stevens In this episode, Emma Stevens joins Bernadine on ReThreading Madness to talk about what it means to choose life, truth, and selfhood after years of silence, fragmentation, and survival. An adult adoptee raised to feel gratitude rather than grief, Emma…
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Al Galves on MindFreedom Shield and Human Rights in Mental Health
In this week’s episode of Rethreading Madness, Bernadine speaks with psychologist and long-time MindFreedom International board member Al Galves about the deep systemic issues in contemporary mental health care. Drawing from decades of clinical practice and activism, Al challenges the dominant…
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A Word About Mental Health with Isabella Mori
A Word About Mental Health In this episode, we turn the spotlight on the power of creative expression and shared dialogue. Host Bernadine Fox speaks with three remarkable guests who have helped shape and sustain this ongoing community conversation: A Word About Mental Health Isabella Mori, MEd —...
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From Bunny Hugs to Transgression: Conversations on Healing and Identity with Todd Rennebohm
From Bunny Hugs to Transgression: Conversations on Healing and Identity with Todd Rennebohm Todd Rennebohm is a Canadian mental health advocate, author, public speaker, and host of the podcast Bunny Hugs and Mental Health, where he creates a free, open space for honest conversations about mental...
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Homecoming: Ovid Thomas Reclaims History on the Poundmaker Cree Nation
Homecoming: Ovid Thomas Reclaims History on the Poundmaker Cree Nation This week on ReThreading Madness, Bernadine speaks with Ovid Thomas, a Sixties Scoop survivor and social media creator known for his educational content on Cree history and the Poundmaker Cree Nation. Taken from his family at...
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Theo Cuthand, TherapyToo, and Venge Dixon on Art, Neurodiversity, Therapy Harm vand Survival
Theo Cuthand, TherapyToo, and Venge Dixon on Art, Neurodiversity, Therapy Harm and Survival This episode brings together three voices working at the intersections of madness, creativity, survivorship, and resistance, each approaching mental health from lived experience rather than abstraction.…
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Don’t Kill Yourself Yet: Michael McTagg on Depression, Life Force, and Surviving the Mind
Beyond “Don’t Kill Yourself… Yet”: Practical Tools for Survival with Michael McTeique Content note: This episode discusses suicidal ideation in a non-graphic, supportive, and prevention-focused context. What happens when depression stops being a passing feeling and becomes a constant internal…
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Fifty Years After I Fled: Rural Alberta is Still Failing to Protect Its Children
Fifty Years After I Fled: Rural Alberta is Still Failing to Protect Its Children In this extraordinary solo episode of ReThreading Madness, host Bernadine Fox steps out from behind the mic to share one of the most personal stories she has ever told on air. Fifty years ago, as a 16-yr old teenager...
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Kevin Jesuino Reveals the Magic of Theatre Terrific and Richard Lett Let’s Us in on what Makes Magic for Him
Kevin Jesuino Reveals the Magic of Theatre Terrific and Richard Lett Let’s Us in on what Makes Magic for Him. Kevin Jesuino is a first-generation Portuguese settler, performance-maker, director, choreographer, artist educator, and community arts organizer. He is a passionate advocate for the arts...
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In Memoriam of JD Derbyshire, comedian, theatre-maker, innovator.
In Memoriam of the incredible JD Derbyshire, writer, comedian, mad activist, performer, playwright, theatre maker, director, inclusive educator and innovator. Tonight on ReThreading Madness we re-air JD Derbyshire talking with Bernadine about being mad and the need for individuals who live with...
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Meditation and Mindfulness with Alan Murdock & Impact of CPTSD with Charlene Hellson
Meditation and Mindfulness with Alan Murdock & Impact of child sexual abuse survivors with Charlene Hellson Since 1992, Alan Murdock has immersed himself in Soto Zen practice, seeking the stillness and clarity meditation can bring. But as a survivor of child sexual abuse, Alan also knows that...
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Mental Health and the Post-Secondary Experience with Angela Sterritt
Mental Health and the Post – Secondary Student with Angela Sterritt A few weeks ago, Angela Sterrit, an award-winning investigative journalist, TV, radio, and podcast host, and national bestselling author from the Wilps ‘Wii K’aax of the Gitanmaax community (Gitxsan Nation on her dad’s side and...
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Forrest Lang, Author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption talks about his journey through trauma
Forrest Lang, Author of Angel Blue: A Song of Redemption, talks about his journey through trauma Trigger Warning: We talk about childhood trauma in this program. Please make sure you do what you need to to take care of yourself. Meet Forrest. With an artist’s hands and a life forged in…
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Heidi Little and Her Journey to Heart-based Learning and Education
Heidi Little and Her Journey to Heart-based Learning and Education For 30 years Heidi Little hails out of Regina Saskatchewan before she moved to Mexico and then to Austin Texas. She has been teaching and using music to give people the sacred space to explore and decide who and what they are here...
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Changing your Life with Improv and Speaking out about Therapy Abuse
Cass Freeman is an Improviser, Activist, Journalist and all-round funny person. She joins us to talk about the benefits of Improv theatre for our mental health. She teaches Improv and is setting up class starting in September specifically for folks with mental health challenges. She chats with...
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Courage to Come Back: Theresa Duggan’s Journey and Richard Lett chats about his Art
Courage to Come Back Winner in Mental Health: Theresa Duggan’s Journey From childhood trauma to becoming a beacon of hope for others, Theresa Duggan’s story is one of resilience and transformation. After surviving years of sexual abuse and a suicide attempt 12 years ago, she struggled with...
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Off the Map (part 2)
Off the Map 2 In this episode of ReThreading Madness, Bernadine has the joy of talking to four more writers from Off the Map: Vancouver Writers with lived experience of mental health issues. Seema Shah was the powerhouse behind Off the Map. She along with Betsy Warland and Kate Bird compiled and...
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Exploring Transference with Amy Avalon
Exploring Transference with Amy Avalon Trigger Warning: discusses therapy abuse Have you ever felt an inexplicable pull toward your therapist? Or found yourself reacting to them with emotions that seemed too big, too personal, too charged to make sense? That's transference. It's one of the most...
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Outsiders and Others with Redrum Sticker Artist
Art at Outsiders and Others with Redrum the Sticker Artist “Outsiders and Others is a non-profit art Society with a focus on bringing non-traditional artists to the forefront. Their artists identify as outsider, folk, self-taught, visionary, intuitive, and artists with disabilities.” Outsiders…
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Off the Map and its Writers
Off the Map with writers Angela J. Gray, Venge Dixon, Mary O’Toole with music by Ren Trigger Warning: Song by Ren Gill includes foul language May 1st 2025 saw the release of Off the Map an anthology of prose and poetry that has to do with mental health. ReThreading Madness had privilege of…
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The 2017 and 2025 Winners of the Courage to Come Back Award in Mental Health: Rachel Fehr and David Chalk
Courage to Come Back: Rachel Fehr (2017) and David Chalk (2025) The most obvious thing about Rachel Fehr and David Chalk is that they are not defined by diagnoses and for both of them they have carried several labels. All of which are important only in that they defied them all. Rachel is the…
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Therapy Harm Resistance Project with Natalie Russ
Therapy Harm Resistance Project with Natalie Russ Natalie Russ is a psychologist and psychotherapist, with a background in dialogue and deliberation, training pedagogy, and community organizing. She was harmed in a twelve-year psychodynamic therapy beginning in adolescence, as well as in…
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Wildflower Alliance and the Power of Peer Support with Caroline Mazel-Carlton
Wildflower Alliance and the Power of Peer Support with Caroline Mazel-Carlton What happens when people who have survived the mental health system begin building alternatives to it? In this powerful episode of ReThreading Madness, Bernadine Fox speaks with psychiatric survivor and peer support...
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Mad Pride Art Café 2025 with Richard Lett, CR Avery, and Lea Taranto
Mad Pride Art Café 2025 with Richard Lett, CR Avery, and Lea Taranto Trigger Warning: some of the language used in creative material may be offensive to some people. These three artists performed live at the Mad Pride Art Café at the Gathering Place in downtown Vancouver, BC. Richard brought his...
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Living Your Truth w Tavares and Bernadine
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/rethreading-madness--5675300/support. www.rethreadingmadness.ca
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Building Self-Worth with Tavares Garrett
Building Self-Worth with Tavares Garrett Tavares A. Garrett CNC, CPT, BCS is a “Health & Transformation Educator, Motivational Speaker, Mentor, Author, Servant Leader, Energy Giver/Healer, Podcast and TV Host. He's certified by NASM (National Academy Of Sports Medicine) and is the owner of The…
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Raising Drug-Resistant Kids with Elisa Fortes Christiansen
Raising Drug Resistant Kids with Elisa Fortise Christiansen Elisa Fortise Christensen joins RTM to discuss her 30-year history of addiction with prescription drugs which she developed after a back injury. She has been clean for many years but that addiction spurred her on to examine how to…
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Judy and I on Dissociative Identities
Judy and I on Dissociative Identities This program comes out of seeing one more untrained therapist postulate that folks with dissociative identities (formerly known as multiple personalities) are rare and dysfunctional or simply do not exist. Judy and I are here to push back against this...
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ADHD, PTSD, and Autism with Randi-Lee Bowslaugh
ADHD, PTSD, and Autism with Randi-Lee Bowslaugh Randi-Lee Bowslaugh is a fellow warrior out there around the issue of mental health awareness fighting the inappropriate stigma we face as folks who live with mental health challenges. Randi-Lee is an author and outspoken advocate for mental health....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Bernadine Fox brings a rare and powerful combination of lived experience, long-term disability rights advocacy, and creative insight to her role as host and producer of ReThreading Madness, the award-winning radio show and podcast that dares to shift how we think about mental health.
A recipient of the 2022 Courage to Come Back Award, Bernadine is a white settler of Scottish, Irish, and French heritage with a familial connection to the Tsuut'ina nation. She has spent over 30 years advocating for those with lived experience of mental health challenges including survivors of trauma and therapy harm. She is an intersectional feminist, artist, and author of Coming to Voice: Surviving an Abusive Therapist—a memoir that confronts the devastating misuse of power in therapeutic relationships.
Bernadine is not a clinician, but she is a deeply informed mental health advocate with firsthand knowledge of trauma, CPTSD, and disability. Her background incl
HOSTED BY
Bernadine Fox
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does ReThreading Madness have?
ReThreading Madness currently has 140 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is ReThreading Madness about?
Bernadine Fox brings a rare and powerful combination of lived experience, long-term disability rights advocacy, and creative insight to her role as host and producer of ReThreading Madness, the award-winning radio show and podcast that dares to shift how we think about mental health. A recipient of...
How often does ReThreading Madness release new episodes?
ReThreading Madness publishes regularly with 140 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to ReThreading Madness?
You can listen to ReThreading Madness on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts ReThreading Madness?
ReThreading Madness is created and hosted by Bernadine Fox.
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