Rachel Thexton Connects

Writing a memoir takes courage. Writing an honest one takes something more. In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Rachel sits down with Erin Steele Canadian author, writer, and self-described low-key philosopher — to talk about her debut memoir Sunrise Over Half-Built Houses: Love, Longing and Addiction in Suburbia (Caitlin Press / Dagger Editions). Set in Surrey, BC, the book is unlike any memoir in its genre. Its a de...

What does it mean when food isn't just fuel — it's governance, identity, and survival?

In this episode, Rachel sits down with Chief Andrew George — Hereditary Wing Chief of the Wet'suwet'en Bear Clan, BC's first Indigenous Red Seal certified chef, Apprentice Advisor at SkilledTradesBC, and Director at Dan's Legacy Foundation — for a conversation that will change how you see food, culture, and reconciliation in Cana...

Street Doctor Jill (Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk) is an addiction medicine physician, emergency room doctor, and one of Canada’s most important voices on the substance use public health crisis. In this episode of the Rachel Thexton Connects Podcast, Dr. Jill breaks down evidence-based treatment, compassionate care, the contaminated street supply, stigma in healthcare, and why policy makers need more courage to act on the research.🔔 Su...

Rachel Thexton sits down with Howard Chai, one of British Columbia's most respected real estate journalists, to talk about what it's like covering Vancouver's number one news beat. Howard shares the story behind his transition from computer science at SFU to journalism — eventually landing at Storeys.com, where he spent three years establishing himself as a go-to voice on BC's housing market. When Storeys paused operations, h...

In this raw and timely episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Rachel sits down with Sarah Blyth, the Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society (OPS). Three years after first joining Rachel on the podcast, Sarah returns to discuss why the overdose crisis remains a dire health emergency despite falling out of the media spotlight. Sarah also details the variety of vital services that OPS provides to one of Vancouver's most vu...

In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, I am joined by Amanda Sayfy, the Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, the oldest affiliate of the global organization.We dive deep into the realities of women in Vancouver today, discussing how the organization has evolved from its grassroots origins in a church basement to a multi-faceted support system. Amanda shares startling data on the intersecting barriers women face, ...

Is corporate media abandoning your community? 📢 Journalism is undergoing a massive shift, and Freshet News is at the forefront of the movement.Discover how veteran journalists are fighting back against corporate media closures. Janice Cleugh joins Rachel Thexton to discuss the "revival" of local news through the journalist-owned co-op, Freshet News."We could not believe that they were closing three major urban outlets in the middl...

What does it truly mean to forgive when the systems meant to protect you have failed? In this powerful episode, I sit down with national bestselling author and award-winning journalist Angela Sterritt (Gitxsan Nation) to discuss her groundbreaking book, Unbroken: My Fight for Survival, Hope, and Justice for Indigenous Women and Girls.Angela shares her "beautiful journey" from the streets to the newsroom, redefining forgiveness as a...

Why is it so easy to start drinking and so hard to stop? In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, I sit down with William Porter, lawyer and author of the bestselling book “Alcohol Explained,” to explore how alcohol really impacts anxiety, sleep, mental health, and addiction recovery.​William explains how alcohol, a chemical sedative, triggers an equal and opposite reaction of anxiety in the brain, and why so many pe...

Venezuela is more than just the headlines." To launch our new season, I am privileged to welcome Meriely Arias to the podcast. While the capture of Nicolas Maduro has the world talking, Meriely born in Puerto Cabello, joins me to share the story of a people who remain joyful and resilient despite decades of turmoil.From the "production line" of the traditional Christmas Hallaca to the struggle of families sending money home, Meriel...

A Discussion about Involuntary Treatment in British Columbia- Guy Felicella speaks from experience and support expertise.International Speaker, Advocate, and Consultant, Guy Felicella joins me to discuss BC's recent announcement around involuntary treatment and how to best support those living on Vancouver streets. Guy's valuable expertise comes from 30 years of lived experience, from working within the support services field, and ...

In this episode, Rachel sits down with the incredibly talented pastry chef and owner of Mann & Co Bake Shop Surrey BC, Jujhar Mann. From his early days watching "Cake Boss" to becoming a Netflix baking champion on "Is It Cake," Jujhar shares his inspiring journey of overcoming cultural expectations and pursuing his passion. He opens up about the challenges he faced, the unwavering support from his family, and the moments that m...

My uneasy stomach, and what I know to be true about substance use and mental health, led me to talk about the BC Premier's recent announcement that beds are being allocated for involuntary treatment in BC. I feel that it's wrong for many reasons, but mostly, I feel like this has more to do with the public's discomfort with seeing people unwell and doing drugs on Vancouver streets, than on truly supporting those who will be "helped"...

Are you desperate to support your child's wellbeing as everything around us is after their attention and we are facing a mental health crisis? Dr. Vanessa Lapointe provides incredible insight and advice, empowering you as a loving parent.Psychologist, Parenting Educator, Author, and International Speaker, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe joins me to discuss children, families, challenges we face in 2025, and where we may consider focusing to i...