(w)healthy

Heart disease is the broad term used to describe many conditions — problems that affect the structure and function of the heart or the blood vessels that supply it. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of illness and death in Canada, affecting millions of people and placing enormous demand on our health-care system. But it’s also one of the areas of medicine where prevention, early detection, and rehabilitati...

Multiple Sclerosis, commonly referred to as MS, is a condition that many of us have a limited understanding of. But with Canada having some of the highest rates of MS in the world many Canadians are wanting to learn more. In this episode we are joined by Dr. Scott Meckling, a leading neurologist here in Kelowna who specializes in multiple sclerosis. This conversation is about unpacking both sides of the MS story; what we know, what...

As of 2025, about 8.1 million Canadians are aged 65+, roughly 19.5% of the population. That proportion is expected to rise to about 23–25% by 2040. Meaning that the “oldest old” population is growing fastest! So what can we do to prepare ourselves for aging? In this episode of the (w)healthy podcast we are joined by Dr. Jenn Jakobi, Director of the Institute of Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention and Pro...

April is Parkinson's Awareness Month and we are beyond excited to be introducing a very special new member of the Humphreys Family Movement Disorder Clinic, Dr. Talyta Grippe. Dr. Grippe is a neurologist with specialized training in neurophysiology and Parkinson's disease, and brings with her to Kelowna an extremely specialized knowledge base and emerging therapies. Through a partnership between the KGH Foundation and the Humphreys...

Spring has sprung and with the nicer weather finally settling in to the Okanagan Valley you may have noticed the runners are back! But lots of us wonder what sort of impact running has on our joints? In this episode of the (w)healthy podcast we are joined by JF Esculier, a physiotherapist and co-founder of MoveMed Physiotherapy in Kelowna. Whether you're new to running or a seasoned pro JF answers all the burning questions you're b...

You may recognize Patrick from his former position as a KGH Foundation Board Member but did you know that Patrick's first true connection with KGH was at the beginning of his kidney disease journey? 10 years later and Patrick is the grateful recipient of a kidney transplant and has dedicated his time to community and giving back, wherever possible!

To become an organ donor or to learn more about kidney disease visit https://kidney.c...

In Canada our health care system is labelled as 'universal' but what does that really mean? And what does it look like in practice? In this episode of the (w)healthy podcast we are joined by economist, Dr. Ross Hickey, who breaks it down for us and explains how the 'universal' system actually works in Canada, how other systems are working elsewhere, and the vital role community plays in it all.

No matter how much knowledge you alre...

In our second conversation with Elder Leon Louis, he shares syilx teachings on the true meaning of medicine, not just as something we take when we’re sick, but as a living relationship with land, water, plants, ceremony, and community. Guided by the Medicine Wheel, he speaks to balance across the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual parts of our lives, and the responsibility we carry for the natural world.

In Loving Memo...

Do you have someone in your life who’s routines and day to day activities look a bit different? Or maybe that someone is you, always struggling to catch your tail? In this week’s episode of the (w)healthy podcast, host Shauna Nyrose sits down with adult ADHD specialist Irene Spelliscy to talk about how ADHD can manifest for adults and you may be surprised to learn just how many aspects of one’s life it is affectin...

We’ve all heard the horror stories and seen the movies, but what is med school really like? And what about for those students studying right here in the Okanagan? In this week’s episode of the (w)healthy podcast we are joined by second year medical student, Christine Ashenhurst, to ask the questions we’re all wondering. Christine takes us through a day in her life, the unique challenges of the MCAT, what keeps her...

Everybody poops. But for one in three kids, it’s not easy. And it may be the reason your child is struggling with bedwetting. In this episode, Angus MacKay, a pediatric physiotherapist specializing in pelvic floor health specifically for children, gets into the potty talk, in a good way. Bedwetting and constipation in children is no joke. Learn the causes, warning signs, when to become concerned and what you can to help your ...

Men, turns out the most important muscles for strength and confidence aren’t built in the gym… In this episode, physiotherapist Corrine Wade joins Shauna to talk about men’s pelvic floor health and how it impacts sexual function, back pain, stress, bladder control, and prostate recovery. Nearly half of Canadian men experience erectile dysfunction and one in nine deal with incontinence, yet few realize the pelvic ...

This episode is about honouring different ways of knowing, and of learning through story, honouring Indigenous teachings, and exploring how they can guide how we think about health - as individuals and communities.  Syilx Elder Leon Louis joins Shauna for a conversation that can only be described as thoroughly immersive from start to finish. Together they explore how stories and relationships can guide us toward a more integra...