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Data is, by definition, the facts, statistics and information we gather for research and analysis. In our digital age, data is being produced, analyzed and used in volumes and ways that are difficult to imagine. Among other things, data is the stuff that health and public policies are made of;  the information that often decides where the money goes. We were curious to know where the data is coming from, who is looking at it, how it is being used, and what we're missing in the quest for equity and ethics in our society.  Dr. Maya Gislason gave us all that and more! As Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, (home of the Big Data Hub),  Dr. Gislason's integrated approach to research, teaching and engagement,  organized around the common thread of critical enquiry related to social inequities in health, opened our eyes to the myriad ways that the data we produce, on an ever increasing scale, influences our lives and shapes the society we live in.  Established in 2016, SFU's Big Data Hub enables the convergence of data-driven expertise linking computing science to gender studies, statistics to climate change modelling, criminal justice to mathematics, epidemiology to policy and more.About Dr. Maya Gislason Dr. Gislason joined the Faculty of Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University in September 2014 as an Assistant Professor with a focus on health equity. Prior to this, she was a Banting Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Northern British Columbia, Canada with a focus on researching the intersections between public health and intensive resource extraction. Dr. Gislason holds a doctorate in Sociology (Medical Sociology) from the University of Sussex, UK, a Masters in Sociology and a double major in Sociology and Women’s Studies both from the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. A longstanding champion of ecosystem approaches to health, Dr. Gislason works upstream on public health issues by addressing the interconnection between human, animal and ecosystem health alongside her colleagues and community partners, including the First Nations Health Authority. She teaches on and guides research teams in developing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) informed evidence generating tools, is a Sex and Gender Champion on tri-agency funded research, and is actively engaged in the dynamic space of intersectionality research and Gender-based Analysis Plus approaches to policy formation and evidence building. Dr. Gislason applies these tools and process to research on the impacts of climate change on diverse populations, addressing the environmental and community health impacts of intensive resource extraction on rural, remote, northern and Indigenous communities in Canada, and ultimately to advance the shared goal of Planetary Health.Maya Gislason SFU Big Data Hub Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Trigger Warning:In this episode, we discuss mature themes, including issues of violence, indigenous traumas and more. Please consider whether this conversation is appropriate for you and/or others in your environs before pressing play.This episode is Part 2 of our in-depth conversation about trauma with  Registered Clinical Counsellor, Tyler Milley.  We pick up where we left off last time; as Tyler walks with us through the aftermath of a violent incident in North Vancouver, and the ways that experience affected a community.   With clarity and compassion, Tyler Milley provides perspective and gives us tools to  begin to  understand the challenges of trauma; in the context of a single event, and with a glimpse into the kind of trauma that crosses generations and affects entire peoples.  How do we create safe, open environments with empathy and humility that might illuminate a path toward healing the trauma in our communities?  Join us to explore the possibilities...About Tyler MilleyTyler Milley is a registered clinical counsellor in Vancouver with over 25 years of experience working with people of all ages. He has supported people with various experiences, expressions, and degrees of anxiety - including individuals and families suffering the effects of trauma. Tyler was born and raised on the North Shore of Vancouver but only recently bought his first mountain bike. He continues to happily live there, injury free for now, with his wife, Emma, and their three incredibly intelligent, good-looking children.www.tylermilley.comDiscover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Trigger Warning: In this episode, we discuss mature themes, including issues of violence, indigenous traumas and more. Please consider whether this conversation is appropriate for you and/or others in your environs before pressing play. Trauma can be acute. Trauma can be chronic. Trauma is always overwhelming.  In today's episode, we're digging into what trauma is, how it manifests, and how it affects us, and the people around us.  With clarity and compassion, registered clinical counsellor Tyler Milley helps us understand this complex response, particularly with reference to a violent incident in the community of Lynn Valley, North Vancouver in the spring of 2021.  About Tyler Milley Tyler Milley is a registered clinical counsellor in Vancouver with over 25 years of experience working with people of all ages. He has supported people with various experiences, expressions, and degrees of anxiety - including individuals and families suffering the effects of trauma. Tyler was born and raised on the North Shore of Vancouver but only recently bought his first mountain bike. He continues to happily live there, injury free for now, with his wife, Emma, and their three incredibly intelligent, good-looking children.www.tylermilley.com Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Lost Immunity is the latest explosive thriller from international bestselling author and physician Daniel Kalla. In a story with some uncomfortable parallels to the Covid19 pandemic, an experimental vaccine is deployed to battle a lethal outbreak - until patients start dying of unknown causes. Are the deaths due to bad science, or is there something more sinister going on?Join us for a conversation about the book,  and for some frank perspectives about the Covid-19 Pandemic from a physician working in the thick of it all.  Our discussion ranges from  his latest medical mystery to Covid19 vaccines, herd immunity,  the anti-vaxx movement and compassionate conversations about vaccine hesitancy.   About Dan KallaBorn, raised, and still residing in Vancouver, Daniel has worked as an ER Physician at St. Paul’s Hospital for the past twenty years. He is also the author of twelve published novels, which have been translated into thirteen languages. Two of his novels have been optioned for film, and his Shanghai trilogy is being developed for a TV series. In his twelfth novel, LOST IMMUNITY, Daniel tackles the issue of vaccine hesitancy and the potential impact on a global outbreak, applying his real-life experience working on the frontlines through the COVID pandemic.Daniel received his B.Sc. and MD from the University of British Columbia, where he is now a clinical associate professor. He is the proud father of two girls and a poorly behaved but lovable mutt, Milo.www.danielkalla.comDaniel Kalla on Facebook @DanKalla on IG and TwitterDaniel Kalla's Globe & Mail Op/Ed - May 7, 2021CBC's White Coat Black Art with Dr. Brian Goldman : The Vaccine Whisperer: March 6, 2021

When was the last time you thought about the food you eat  - beyond "what's for dinner?" In this our final episode of Season 3,  we have a HUGE conversation about food systems and food security with Dr. Tammara Soma, Assistant Professor in the School of Resource Management at Simon Fraser University.  We dig deep into food systems, food waste, food security and a circular economy. Dr. Soma takes things way beyond a simple food supply chain to help us understand the vast complexities of our food systems, and how food security is really an issue of social justice.  About Dr. Tammara SomaDr. Tammara Soma holds a Ph.D. in Planning (2018) from the University of Toronto and is the Research Director and Co-Founder of the Food Systems Lab. She is an Assistant Professor at the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University where she conducts research on issues pertaining to food system planning, community-based research, waste management and the circular economy. Prior to SFU, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Geography and Planning at the University of Toronto, and the Food Equity Coordinator at New College (University of Toronto). Her dissertation investigated the factors that influence urban household food consumption and food wasting practices in Indonesia, and the ways in which food systems consideration can improve urban planning decision-making. She has published her work in the journals International Planning Studies, Local Environment, Built Environment, Indonesia, Journal of Agriculture, Food System and Community Development. She is a co-editor with C. Reynolds, J. Lazell, and C. Spring of the Routledge Handbook of Food Waste. Beyond academic publications, she has also written for the Huffington Post, Policy Options, Alternatives Journal, and is frequently interviewed by media such as the BBC, Global News, Toronto Star, Globe and Mail, CBC, TVO The Agenda and more. She is a 2014 Pierre Elliott Trudeau Doctoral Scholar, a Joseph Armand Bombardier SSHRC CGS Doctoral Fellow, an International Development Research Centre Doctoral Award recipient, and a SSHRC Top 5 Storyteller finalist.Dr. Soma’s research projects are funded by the SSHRC New Frontiers, SSHRC Trans-Atlantic Platform, SSHRC Insight, and Weston Foundation Seeding Food Innovation Grant. She co-led a tri-country team (U.S, Mexico and Canada) on a Commission for Environmental Cooperation project to develop toolkits for youth engagement in food loss and food waste reduction.Dr. Soma was selected as a committee member of the US National Academies of Science “A Systems Approach to Reducing Consumer Food Waste” and contributed to the publication of the consensus study A National Strategy to Reduce Food Waste at the Consumer Level.The Food Systems LabFoodWasteStudies.comThe Routledge Handbook of Food Waste Edited By Christian Reynolds, Tammara Soma, Charlotte Spring, Jordon LazellFind Dr. Soma on Social Media! @TammaraSoma 

Do you love to play outside? How much do you know about the skilled volunteers who jump into action to help when things go south for us in the wilderness? Part outdoor adventurers, part community-minded volunteers, Search and Rescue members offer an extra layer of safety for anyone exploring the outdoors in beautiful BC.  Join us for a conversation with Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue Search Manager Dave Steers about how search and rescue groups are managed and funded, how teams are trained,  how call-outs work and what life is like for a SAR volunteer.  Listen in for the inside scoop!  About Dave Steers Dave Steers has been an avid outdoor enthusiast for his entire life. While living in Pemberton BC,  and working in the ski industry, Dave was a founding member of Pemberton Search and Rescue, and served there as Search Manager for more than 20 years. When he retired, Dave and his wife moved to Sechelt, BC where he now serves with Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue.  (And yeah, in case you were wondering, Dave is Susannah's brother.)Important Links:BC Search & Rescue Association (BCSARA)Emergency Management BC (EMBC) BC AdventureSmart on InstagramBC AdventureSmart Trip Plan AppThe Search and Rescue Series: North Shore Rescue (Knowledge Network)Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

A conversation about the readiness of British Columbia NICU's to employ a model of  care imported from Columbia called Kangaroo Care with the project coordinator and an Independent Consultant working for Perinatal Services. BIO: Sarah Coutts - Independent Consultant, Kangaroo Care ProjectSarah is a lactation consultant, neonatal nurse and the mother of 4 kids. She has a passion for Kangaroo Care (continuous skin-to-skin contact) with preterm infants and their parents while in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She believes Kangaroo Care can lead to improved outcomes and better experiences for parents of preterm infants. Kangaroo Care helps maintain parents as the primary caregivers and ensures they can be with their baby during their stay in the NICU – promoting zero separation is essential.Her most recent position at Perinatal Services BC in the Kangaroo Care research and implementation project team has been a highlight for her and hopefully leads to supporting BC NICUs to fully embrace Kangaroo Care as a model of care.Sarah is hoping to continue to promote and research Kangaroo Care locally and internationally and reduce separation between mothers and their infants after birth and while in the hospital.Alix Woldring - Project Coordinator, Clinical Systems and Quality Improvement, Perinatal Services BCI currently coordinate the Kangaroo Care program at Perinatal Services BC. In 2016, I completed my Masters in International Development from the University of Sydney in Australia and found myself working in the agriculture and natural resources sector on projects related to sustainability and climate change adaptation in the Asia Pacific region. My background in sociology meant that while surrounded by environmental scientists, agriculture specialists and engineers, I was always curious about the social, cultural and political conditions that contributed to the disparities that were being addressed by these projects.Once I started at Perinatal Services BC, the Kangaroo Care program immediately caught my attention.  There was a simple, low cost, low tech intervention, started in Colombia, that was hugely backed by evidence for both mother and infant. More than that, the Kangaroo Care project was about not only about the context of care in the NICU, it’s also about the context of people's lives. Involving families in the care of the infant as part of the care team involves a fundamental shift in the role of families, how they are seen by healthcare providers and how families see their own role. Maximising parental presence and participation in the NICU requires looking at the conditions that shape people's lives and the barriers and challenges they face to being in the NICU.Discover Alix and Sarah;Coutts, S., Woldring, A., Pederson, A. et al. What is stopping us? An implementation science study of kangaroo care in British Columbia’s neonatal intensive care units. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 21, 52 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-03488-5http://www.perinatalservicesbc.ca/health-professionals/professional-resources/kangaroo-careDiscover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Concussion is a confusing, somewhat misunderstood diagnosis that impacts many individuals every day. We have an in-depth conversation about Concussion, to discuss what it is, what happens to individuals who have one and what kinds of things help to cure concussion. One intervention that can really make a difference for those who suffer concussion is Vision Therapy, and the growing field of Behavioural Optometry.  We discuss how athletes who play sports with high risk of concussion can be assessed by a Behavioural Optometrist to see how well their visual systems and movement systems are coordinated, before an injury happens. This may indicate concussion suseptibility and may help to decrease the impact of a concussion on this individual. BIO: Dr. Meuller is an Optometrist in Vision Development and Rehabilitation. She is the founder of NeuroVision Clinic, which uses neuro-optometric assessment, optometric vision therapy, and NeuroDevelopmental Movement. She is a Fellow with the College of Optometrists in Vision Development and Board Certified in Rehabilitative Optometric Vision Therapy. She is a Clinical Associate with the Optometric Extension Program Foundation, Neuro Optometric Rehab Association, and a member of Vision Therapy Canada. Dr. Mueller completed her Doctor of Optometry with Honours from the University of Waterloo in 2001. In 1997 she graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Bachelor of Science, double major in Physiology and Psychology, with Distinction. Throughout her university career she was involved in vision research.Discover Dr. Mueller online:Neurovisiontherapy.comFacebook: NeuroVision TherapyInstagram: @neurovisiontherapyDiscover more about Concussions and Screening Concussions here: cattonline.comDiscover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Homelessness is a pervasive and growing problem in Canada.  It is both a cause and a consequence of many serious problems around a person's health and wellbeing. When homelessness strikes for our youth, those problems can be amplified exponentially, and can have impacts that last a lifetime.  Katie Heggtveit is the Founder and Director of Impact,  Bootcamps for Change, an organization dedicated  to improving  fitness, health, self-efficacy, confidence and employment prospects for youth living in homeless shelters. We talked to her today about  youth homelessness, and the very impressive work she's doing to make a difference. Have a listen and be inspired! About Katie HeggtveitKatie Heggtveit is the founder of "Bootcamps for Change" #SweatierForTheBetter, an organization that shows how fitness can break the cycle of poverty through better health and a foundation for sustainable livelihood. She’s run over 15 sold-out fitness events in Toronto, Thunder Bay, and Halifax, sharing her passions as a TEDx speaker and facilitator of entrepreneurship and homelessness workshops for thousands of high-school and post-secondary students. In 2020, she was named to The Future of Good’s Top 21 New Founders to Watch, 30 Nonprofit Founders That Will Impact the World by CauseArtist, a Top 100 Health and Fitness Influencer in Canada by OptiMYz Magazine, Emerging Leader in Ontario by the Government of Canada, and was the recipient of a national $20,000 scholarship for student leaders. She is currently pursuing her Master of Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Queen’s University, and will be pursuing her DrPH. Always keen for adventure: traveling to nearly 40 countries at the age of 24 - riding camels, hiking with locals, and jumping out of airplanes!Katie Heggtveit at TedX:  Failure is for the PrivilegedBootcamps for Change on Social Media@BootcampsforChange Katie Heggtveit on Instagram  katie.heggtveit

Endometriosis is a diagnosis that many women in Canada and globally struggle with. It can take many years to be diagnosed, leads to serious health issues and creates significant economic impacts. Endometriosis is present in 50% of women with infertility and often results in chronic pain. There are many myths and much misinformation about endometriosis. We brought Canadian Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Jill Mueller, on the podcast for a stark conversation on the truth about endometriosis, a discussion of how to manage the pain of endometriosis successfully and why to make an endometriosis fertility plan early in life.  BIO:Jill has been a physiotherapist for almost 20 years, but became interested in the pelvic side of therapy after experiencing her own fertility and pain challenges linked to endometriosis. She wanted to share with clients the evidence-informed techniques that she learned and has used on herself to help her get out of her own monthly pain.Jill is currently designing an online course for physiotherapists and their role for endometriosis, and hopes to have that completed for next fall through Reframe Rehab and Pelvic Health Solutions.She currently assists for those companies with their Biopsychosocial Approach to Pain course.Discover Jill Mueller, PTWEB: jillmueller.ca           hbpw.caSocial Media: @jillmuellerpt    @oakvillephysio Keep an eye out for online endometriosis course for patients, and pelvic physios!Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian. 

We may not always connect the dots, but our social environment has a massive impact on our health and wellbeing. Social Determinants of Health involve a list of things that are proven to directly influence health outcomes. They include sex, gender identity, race, the level of education of your parents and of yourself, where you live, how much money you make, and a host of other factors. We reached out to Kristy Kerr, Executive Director of the BC CDC Foundation for Public Health to ask her about the Social Determinants of Health, and their impact on our health. She talked to us about some of the great initiatives this one-of-a-kind foundation is involved in, in efforts to address these social realities. About Kristy Kerr Kristy Kerr is the Executive Director of the BCCDC Foundation, a registered charity,  working in partnership with the BC Centre for Disease Control, as well as other stakeholders, in order to improve public health outcomes in BC. She’s responsible for leading strategic direction, organizational development, and the consistent achievement of the mission, vision, and mandate of the BCCDC Foundation. Kristy believes that our best way forward to create a truly healthy society is to increase public health awareness  and investment, and she is leading the Foundation with these goals in mind. Passionate about health promotion, prevention, health equity, and the social determinants of health, Kristy believes we need to shift our focus to upstream actions, that is, addressing root causes of issues and emphasizing positive and holistic health. Upstream thinking will shift our current primary focus on the acute care system toward an investment in stopping problems before they need to be fixed, resulting in a reduction in the burden on our healthcare system, and thereby improving it in the process. Prior to joining the BCCDC Foundation, Kristy worked in different research management and grant- writing roles within the academic world. She also worked in international  development and global health, spending time in Zambia and Kenya working with local stakeholders on various community-based initiatives. Kristy has a Master’s degree in Public Health with a specialization in Health Promotion, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology, and an Associate’s degree in Creative Writing. A BCCDC Foundation Call to ActionThe BCCDC Foundation needs advocates to spread the message that we all have a role to play in population health: individual actions can have a population impact. By working together to shift how we see health and how we engage with our healthcare system, we can protect the health of our communities now and for future generations. Are you interested in hearing more about the work of the BCCDC Foundation? Want to join our battle cry and Activate Health by becoming a health ambassador in your community? Learn more at www.bccdcfoundation.org and join us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @BccdcFoundation. If you’d like to support the BCCDC Foundation’s initiatives to address COVID-19, the overdose crisis, or other priorities, you can donate online or reach out to donate @bccdcfoundation.org Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Last year on the podcast, we learned that health and security are a lot more closely linked than we ever imagined. The Covid19 pandemic amplified that fact exponentially.  We realized that we had some big questions about systemic racism, misogyny and intolerance in Canadian policing.  We also wanted a better understanding what it might actually mean to defund the police.  We reached out to  BC RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan for her take on things, and for a Canadian, and  an historical context. In the aftermath of the Bastarache Report, Jennifer brought us her perspectives on where the RCMP has been, where the organization is now, and where it's headed. Join us for this wide-ranging conversation that explores everything from RCMP training, to police handling of culturally sensitive issues, to intolerance within the force, and what's being done to make things better.  For PDF copies of the Rainbow Project Initiative and the RCMP Guide to Supporting Transgender, Non-Binary and Two-Spirit Employees, mentioned in this episode, email us at info@smallconversationspodcast.ca and we'll send you the PDFs. About Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan With 32 years in policing, D/Commr. Jennifer Strachan spent 14 of those in a broad range of front-line policing roles in British Columbia. She has also worked in administrative duties at the Provincial and National level, in addition to completing a Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti in 1996. She also served as the desk officer responsible for peacekeeping deployments to the Former Yugoslavia.Her frontline policing experience started with her first posting in Whistler, BC and then Westshore Detachment. She was commissioned in 2002 to the role of Executive Officer to the Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Management & Comptrollership and since then some of her postings have included: Officer in Charge of the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre; Detective Inspector in Charge of Montreal Drug Section; and, Officer in Charge of Operational Policy and Programs in Contract & Indigenous Policing at National Headquarters. She served as a District Commander, Criminal Operations Officer, and as the Commanding Officer in "O" Division, Ontario, and the Deputy Commissioner responsible for Specialized Policing Services.D/Commr. Strachan holds an Undergraduate degree from the University of Ottawa as well as a Master's degree from Royal Roads University. She is a graduate of the Canadian Police College Executive Development in Policing program and is an Alumni of the Leadership in Counter Terrorism Association. With a passion for supporting others in realizing their career goals, D/Commr. Strachan is a proud recipient of the 2014 Ontario Women in Law Enforcement - Mentor of the Year award as well as the 2014 International Association of Women Police - Mentor of the Year award. In 2016, she was invested as an Officer of the Order of Merit for Police Forces (O.O.M) by the Governor General of Canada.She manages competing demands between work and home, thanks to the unwavering support and commitment of her husband and son.BC RCMP (English)GRC en CB (Français)Find D/Com Jennifer Strachan on Twitter: @RCMP_GRC_EDIVCOFind BC RCMP on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @bcrcmp (English) ; @grcencb (French)Find The Small Conversations for a Better World Podcast on Social Media Facebook: @smallconversationsforabetterworldpocastInstagram: @smallconversationspodcast Twitter: @SmallConversat1

The Small Conversations for a Better World Podcast is officially one year old!  And on January 1st, 2021, we're launching our third season. We can't wait! With a global pandemic as a backdrop, 2020 was a rollercoaster ride on an epic scale. The interconnectedness of things became even more apparent. Cracks in the foundation were revealed, and we realized it was even more important to talk about the things we see and experience around us that influence, and are influenced by our health. With that in mind, we've curated another fabulous lineup of authorities  who can expand perspectives on our central theme: What is Health?As we launch Season 3, we thought we'd take a few moments to re-introduce ourselves, and share what we've learned so far, and what we're planning for this year. There is so much to talk about! We're kicking off on New Year's day with an in-depth conversation with BC RCMP Deputy Commissioner Jennifer Strachan, who answered our questions about systemic racism and intolerance in Canadian policing. That's just the tip of the iceberg! We'll talk about food security with Dr. Tammara Soma; about the social determinants of health with Kristy Kerr,  Director of the BC CDC Foundation for Public Health. We'll talk about fitness and homelessness, and how they link in ways you might not expect. We'll dive deep into endometriosis, concussions, and Kangaroo Care. And we'll get an insiders perspective about Search and Rescue in BC.  Subscribe to the podcast -  and Season 3, episode 1 will drop into your playlist on New Year's Day.  After that, look for new episodes every Friday for the duration of the season.  Check out the great conversations you may have missed from Seasons 1 & 2.  Follow us on social media to share your thoughts on the things we're talking about, to ask questions, and to let us know about things you think we need to talk about! Small Conversations for A Better World Podcast www.smallconversationspodcast.ca Small Conversations Socials : Facebook   /  Instagram  /  Twitter Gillian McCormick, PT www.physiogillian.com Socials: @physiogillian Susannah Steers  www.movingspirit.ca Socials : @themovingspirit, @susannahsteersnv 

Discover The Embodiment Conference, a 10 day, free, online conference about all things Embodiment. We talk to Mr. Embodiment himself, the charismatic Mark Walsh about what it is and why the people and the planet need this more than ever right now. Mark's Bio: I’m Mr Embodiment! 😉 I run the Embodiment Conference, wrote the embodiment book, and make the embodiment sandwiches for lunch daily. But you knew that already, so what’s the story? I have loved body-mind arts like yoga, conscious dance, meditation, and martial arts my whole adult life; and also been saddened that these can stay “on the mat” and not really impact the day-to-day lives of people. I did years of aikido before I ever took the principles into a conversation, and found that while I got very still on meditation retreats, afterwards that stillness barely lasted past my first Facebook update. I’ve also spent the last 15 years working with “normal” busy practical people, who just want quick wins and practical tools, and don’t have the time or the energy to take on a whole philosophy. I’ve found what works best in the real world, with business people, soldiers, single mums, aid workers, NHS staff, etc, and I can teach it to you. I’ve realized that while embodiment is great, there needs to be a bridge between formal arts and the realities of our lives. With that in mind I have put this accessible, pragmatic course together to help ordinary people who want to get this stuff without the woo-woo trappings. Experienced practitioners who want more life integration are going to love this too. I filmed it in my own house, and shared the actual things I use daily, as I wanted to show the REAL way to use this work. This felt a bit personal actually, but that’s the point (don’t judge my messy kitchen!).I’m really proud of this one, not because it’s some leading-edge craziness, but just because I’m confident that it will work for people. I’m also happy that it’s an accessible price and format, as the world really needs this stuff. As ever, I’m not for everyone, but if your cup of tea isn’t chai-spiced bullshit, I’m your man.Find Mark Walsh on the web: https://theembodimentconference.org/https://embodiedfacilitator.com/https://embodiedfacilitator.com/the-embodiment-podcast/https://www.embodiedyogaprinciples.com/https://www.theembodimentbook.com/Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

In this final interview of Season 2 we dive deep with the always gracious, Dr. Lori Brotto, because sometimes, we have to talk about having better sex. Solutions for women with low sexual desire are few and far between. Unlike men, the 'little pink pill' is not a game-changer. Dr. Brotto has spent her career investigating ways to help women achieve better sex lives using non-pharmaceutical interventions. Her research in mindfulness has been ground breaking for women everywhere (and for some men, too). She didn't stop there, however. Her research is accessible to all, her knowledge translates well into book format, and she spearheads the Women's Health Institute of BC, home to all research conducted at BC Women's Hospital. About Dr. BrottoDr. Lori Brotto is a Professor in the UBC Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and a Registered Psychologist in Vancouver, Canada. She is the Executive Director of the Women's Health Research Institute of BC located at BC Women's Hospital. Dr Brotto holds a Canada Research Chair in Women's Sexual Health. she is the director of the UBC Sexual Health Laboratory where research primarily focuses on developing and testing psychological and mindfulness-based interventions for women with sexual desire and arousal difficulties, and women with chronic genital pain. Dr. Brotto is an Associate Editor for the Archives of Sexual Behaviour, has more than 170 peer-reviewed publications, and is frequently featured in the media on topics related to sexuality. Her book, Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Can Cultivate Desire (2018) is a trade book of her research demonstrating the benefits of mindfulness for women's sexual concerns. She is a strong advocate for empowering women to take on leadership roles. Find Dr. Brotto at www.brottolab.com, on Social Media @DrLoriBrotto, @UBCshr, @womensresearch. Find her book, "Better Sex Through Mindfulness: How Women Cultivate Desire" HERE. Don't forget to check out #debunkingdesire!   Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

Dr. Sally Thorne is a Professor of Nursing at the University of British Columbia and a researcher who conducts qualitative studies into how patients and families experience and manage chronic and life limiting conditions. She also studies end of life care, including the complexities surrounding medical assistance in dying, and the complex conversations around the expanding array of options that are now available to Canadians facing that stage in their lives.Find Dr. Thorne on Twitter. She can be found at https://nursing.ubc.ca/our-people/sally-thorne.Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

When and where does someone's personal health story and science meet? How can a clinician listen deeply to hear between the words used in the telling of the story? Why would a patient wish to have a health practitioner use Narrative Medicine skills in their patient interactions? Lissanthea is a fascinating combo of Physiotherapist and Entrepreneur that challenges herself to listen deeply. Here's why. Bio: Lissanthea Taylor, Co-founder and teacher at narrativerx.com, author at PainChats, clinical director and co-founder at Brain Changer.  Lissanthea is a physiotherapist by trade, and a writer, educator and entrepreneur by design. She describes herself as a reluctant clinician, always cautious about the certainty that she was expected to have in judging people's health and healing. Her love of literature and art made narrative medicine a natural fit for teaching skills to re-humanize healthcare. She's resisted the seductive pull of academia in favour of using technology, business and clinician education to apply interdisciplinary research to the massive social and economic challenge of chronic pain.Find Lissanthea on Social MediaTwitter LinkedInInstagramCheck out Brain Changer Digital Pain Recovery Program www.brainchanger.io.Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

In navigating her own way through a severe chronic pain condition, Dr. Leslie Wicholas experienced for herself the role of inflammation in both pain and mood disorders. She is now at the fore in the burgeoning field of Nutritional Psychiatry. Join us as we dive into the many ways that inflammation and microbiome affect mood, pain and health. Diet is the foundation for healing. About Dr. Leslie Wicholas Dr. Leslie Wicholas graduated from the University of Calgary Medical School in 1998, and completed her specialty training in Psychiatry at UBC in 2003. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at UBC Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Wicholas practiced on the Provincial Child Inpatient Unit at BC Children's Hospital until 2016, working intensively with children and families facing a wide range of psychiatric and medical challenges. In her role as Clinical Director, she introduced and piloted a new model of trauma-informed care, transforming the way psychiatric care is delivered to patients. Most recently, Dr. Wicholas' interests have focussed on the burgeoning field of Nutritional Psychiatry and the role of inflammation in both mood and pain disorders. She has trained with the Institute of Functional Medicine which utilizes a unique, mechanism-based approach to identifying and treating the root causes of chronic disease. Dr. Wicholas designed the food as Medicine program to treat depressive mood disorders and fibromyalgia at the Mood Disorders Association of BC. She and naturopath Dr. Caroline Coombs first piloted this program in July 2016. Dr. Wicholas has continued to deliver this service at MDA since then. More About Food As MedicineMood Disorders Association of BC (MDABC)MDBAC's Food As Medicine Program The "Smiles Trial:" A Randomized Controlled Trial of Dietary Improvement for Adults with Major Depression

Diversity and inclusive schools, companies and communities are key as 1/3 of our youth identify as not-heterosexual. Divine Diversity joins us to discuss privilege, pronouns, gender, sexuality, and the current human rights revolution. Baby Boomers and Gen Z and beyond need to bridge the communication gap about gender and queerness so we can move forward together. Michele FogalMichele is a diversity educator, communications consultant and business coach on the North Shore. She has a BFA in Creative Writing, is a traditionally published author of 3 books, and speaks internationally about diversity at writing conferences. She was Small Business BC’s social media expert for 4 years and now works for the West Vancouver School Board. She has begun a master’s program in Interdisciplinary Studies, with a focus on equity and education. Michele is a queer woman, a parent and a lover of story. Her pronouns are she/her.Caroline WedderspoonCaroline is a diversity educator and a registered clinical counsellor. She works on the North Shore, in several different environments. She is in private practice at Alyson Jones and Associates, and works as a therapist at WorkBC and at CMHA (The Canadian Mental Health Association). Until recently, she worked at Qmunity, Vancouver’s LGBTQ+ Resource Centre. One of her areas of specialization is working with the LGBTQ+ community. Caroline is a queer, cisgender woman and a parent of four. Her pronouns are she/her.About Divine DiversityMichele and Caroline first created the Divine Diversity team to support their own community on the North Shore. They provide diversity presentations, workshops, consultation and strategy. Their clients include non-profit societies, community organisations, governmental departments and schools. Their goal is to facilitate an evolution beyond tolerance, through acceptance, and into celebration of the divine wealth diversity brings.Find Divine Diversity on the Web:divinediversity.comFind Divine Diversity on Social Media:InstagramDiscover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian

The way we move is a tool for communication, how we embody our thoughts and emotions. Moving well is an art that takes time and involvement, requires learning and support. Our wellness can be profoundly affected by how well we move and yet practitioners who address movement are not adequately covered by our Medical System. So, perhaps we have conceptualized our medical system on the wrong premise. Instead of only healing us when we are sick, perhaps we should consider greater financial support for keeping us well. BIO: Paul Cramer, Registered Massage Therapist and Movement Educator, Founder of Movement Spark. Paul has worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker's apprentice, an English as a Second Language teacher and curriculum developer. He pursued the study of Linguistics and obtained a BA (Spec. Honours) degree. He has previously worked in IT and its implementation in schools throughout the Northwest Territories. He lived and worked in Yellowknife, Inuvik as well as Whitehorse in Canada's far north. He currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta with his wife and two children. Discover Paul @movementspark.Find the Movement Spark Wellness Clinic right here.Here's a link to Paul's Facebook Post we like to call "The Bicycle Mechanic".Discover Small Conversations on Social MediaInstagramFacebookTwitterFind Susannah Steers at www.movingspirit.ca and on social media @themovingspirit.Find Gillian McCormick at https://physiogillian.com/ and on social media @physiogillian.