People First Radio - Full Episodes

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.

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.

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 cities. Tim Naimi, Director of the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, speaks about […]

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.

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.

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 his youth and moving across the continent. It’s the third in a series […]

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 speaks about her research into people with chronic pain’s experiences of […]

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.

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 founder Catherine Harrison, as well as musicians Jeff Cancade AKA Devours, NEAVV, and […]

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.  

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: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/hub-carrefour/quality-life-qualite-vie/prosperity-prosperite/food-security-securite-alimentaire-eng.htm

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 participants and organizers.

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 family like his on screen. Thibert’s parents […]

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 the subject after a lifetime spent working in various resource industries.

A visit to 1030 Old Victoria Road, a supportive housing site in Nanaimo operated by Vancouver Island Mental Health Society.

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 trauma in the back country.

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 Songs at the Edge of Forgetting, a stage […]

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 catharsis. Heather Cooke of the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia speaks […]

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 Hunt Kennedy and Jen Barclay talk disability, history, and power – full […]

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 speaks with the show […]

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 the National Council of Youth in Care Advocates, and Jessica Knutson, a […]

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 Health Association’s B.C. Division. The full event is […]

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 Nuu-Chah-Nulth Youth Warrior Family Society speak about their work over […]

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 4th year nursing students at VIU speak about […]

Colwood Mayor Doug Kobayashi speaks about a model used to attract family doctors to the community. Bernice Rahm speaks about the Sidewalk Talk project in Victoria, which sees volunteers head out to a public location once a month to offer a listening ear to anyone interested. Liubov Nazarenko shares how a family story that helped […]

Ottawa pediatrician Dr. Shawn Kelly expands on an editorial he co-authored in the Canadian Medical Association journal calling for a more robust response to youth opioid use. Victoria children’s author Kathleen Arnason speaks about her writing and how she credits a workshop into appreciative inquiry with changing her life.

Nurse Practitioner Adam McInnis speaks about his experiences with addiction and how they inform his work in addictions medicine. Caitlin Shane, staff lawyer for Pivot Legal Society speaks about the implications of a recent Supreme Court of Canada decision in which the court ruled that people who stay at the scene of an overdose cannot be […]

Stephen Lewis of the University of Guelph speaks about a self injury and a documentary featuring people’s lived experience with the subject. Lead author Charlotte Lee speaks about takeaways from a study into weight trajectories following diagnosis of a mental illness from a group including schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.   Resources: Self Injury Outreach and […]

Julia Gruson-Wood, author of the forthcoming Autism and The Culture of Therapy speaks about her work interviewing people involved in the world of applied behavioral analysis. Patty Douglas speaks about the concepts outlined in her book Unmothering Autism.

Exploring Opioid Agonist Treatment (OAT) with Nanaimo based addiction medicine specialist Dr. Jess Wilder and Dr. Paxton Bach, co-medical director of the BC Centre on Substance Use and an addictions medicine specialist at St Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver.

Joshua Black and Stephanie Laing are co-producers and directors of the documentary No Fixed Address: The White Cart Memorial, which explores grief and homelessness. They spoke with PFR about the issues in the documentary, as well as an upcoming screening in Nanaimo that will be followed by a discussion with the filmmakers. Shirley Chen with […]

Cripping The Archive editors Jenifer Barclay and Stefanie Hunt-Kennedy speak about disability in the historical record. Renata Roma of the PAWSitive Connections Lab at the University of Saskatchewan talks about the interplay between the mental health of pets and the humans they live with.

Shannon Donohoe-Simpson shares her experiences as a cancer survivor, including a recent experience involving art and community. Vinson Shih, staff lawyer with First United, speaks about the organization’s recently released law reform platform that calls for changes to the Residential Tenancy Act in B.C, including an end to pet bans in rentals. Resources: Health Canada […]

Dr. Shannon Charlebois speaks about an editorial she co-authored in the Canadian Medical Association Journal on the subject of gambling advertising and youth. Vancouver Island author Meg Todd speaks about her upcoming debut novel Most Grievous Fault, which tells a story of inter-generational violence.  

Olivia Peters speaks about her research into Canadian women’s experiences of intimate partner stalking. Comments from addictions medicine specialist Dr. Kelsey Roden, speaking in front of the legislature in Victoria at an event related to International Overdose Awareness Day. Resources: Olivia Peters webinar on stalking: CLICK HERE Canadian Anti Stalking Association website: CLICK HERE Women’s […]

An event in Parksville marking International Overdose Awareness Day featured Greg Hemminger, who works with the Tailgate Toolkit program, and shared his story of opioid addiction and recovery, as well as Cory Ranger, President of the Harm Reduction Nurses Association. The event was organized by the Oceanside Community Action Team and Moms Stop the Harm.

Sleep Country Canada co-founder Gordon Lownds speaks about his experience with cocaine addiction, as chronicled in the memoir Cracking Up. Mcreary Centre Society Executive Director Annie Smith speaks about a new report into youth gambling and gaming in B.C.

Francis Baptiste speaks about his experiences with addiction and how they’ve informed his upcoming album Lived Experience in East Vancouver. Previewing a conversation with Lawyer Nicole Letourneau, on moving through recovery from alcohol addiction.

Trevor Botkin shares his experience of recovery and talks about The Forge, an initiative that aims to bring peer support to the world of construction. Botkin is among those working to turn an old biker clubhouse in Langford into a physical space for The Forge. Part two of a conversation with Cindy Blancher who shares […]

Cindy Blancher shares her experiences with severe clinical depression, and the story of her recovery from a period in 2020 in which she was unable to take care of herself or count to five. McMaster University social work faculty member Mary Vaccaro shares insight from her time working in the women’s shelter system since 2012.

Exploring a report into people being released directly from jail into homelessness from the John Howard Society of Ontario. People First Radio speaks with the author of that report Safiyah Husain, the organization’s director of policy, as well as Manj Toor, Executive Director of the John Howard Society of Victoria. Nova Scotia resident Michael Sellick […]

The program revisits a conversation from earlier this year on social prescribing with New York based journalist Julia Hotz, as well as a conversation with Dalhousie prof Laura Eramian about people who identify as having no or very few friends.

Revisiting a pair of conversations featuring stories of perseverance from Nanaimo residents. Kate Walker speaks about the path that led her to pursuing a career in counselling, a path that started from a traumatic incident in the family. Highschooler Rocky Sloan speaks about being inspired to become a doctor after surviving a severe car crash […]

Victoria filmmaker Raymond Dimmit talks plans to explore the existential hardships that come with being an athlete and dealing with failure in an upcoming documentary about the University of Victoria Men’s Soccer Team. Revisiting a 2024 conversation with retired boxer Charlie Cavanagh of Saint John.

Psychedelic Capitalism authors Jamie Brownlee and Kevin Walby explore some of the themes in their book, which takes a critical look at the what’s been termed the “psychedelic renaissance”. The program also speaks with Shannon Dames, chair of psychedelics at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo.

Exploring brain injury with Cole Kennedy of the University of Victoria. Also featuring conversations with Adele Rogers, Lelah Manson, and Lance Point, first heard on the program in summer 2024.

Longtime journalist, communications strategist, and SOLID Outreach board member Jody Paterson speaks about involuntary care and Pandora Avenue in Victoria. Footage and takeaways from a panel of people with experience of substance use and addiction speaking about ways they would address the toxic drug crisis. A story from Iona Coe of Local 107.3 FM, CFMH, […]

Journalist Luke Galati shares some of his experiences with and work about bipolar disorder, including a radio documentary he put together on the subject and a first person piece for CBC chronicling his experience of a 3 month hospital stay. Lisa Lapointe, who served as B.C.’s chief coroner for more than twelve years, spoke with […]

Janel Van Dongen speaks about founding 100 Kids For Change Oceanside. Lacey Mesley, Danielle Martyniuk, and Jill Alley speak about the CRCL (Crisis Response, Community Led) team in Victoria.

Laura Eramian of Dalhousie University shares insights into friendlessness, gleaned from a series of 21 interviews with Atlantic Canadians  who identified as having no or few friends. You can find more info on that study by clicking here. Joanna Pozzulo runs the Reading For Well Being Community Book Club. She shares some tips for picking […]