What a dying tree teaches us about grief: Tessa McWatt

What can a dead tree teach us about grief? Tessa McWatt shares how the natural world—especially the metaphor of the “snag,” a standing dead tree—helped her navigate the slow loss of her mother to dementia. As her mother’s memory faded, the forest became a guide for Tessa, showing that death is not an end, but part of a continuous, connected cycle.

What if the key to getting unstuck isn’t doing more—but doing differently? Jesse Lipscombe was on track for the Olympics when a mini-stroke changed everything. He shares how that life-altering moment sparked a shift from chasing goals to embracing doing creating a blueprint for moving forward with curiosity, clarity and confidence.

What does it take to turn big dreams into reality — and stay true to who you are along the way? Vogue fashion journalist and author Christian Allaire shares his journey from growing up on a reserve in Canada to becoming one of the most exciting voices in fashion today. We talk about the power of Indigenous representation in style, and how determination, creativity, and cultural pride fueled his rise. Whether you dream of breaking into fashion or chasing any big goal, Christian’s story will leave you inspired to dream bigger.

What if the reason you’re stuck financially has nothing to do with money? We sit down with financial educator and author Jessica Moorhouse to explore the emotional and psychological roots of our relationship to money. Based on her new book Everything but Money, we unpack how shame, trauma, family history, and systemic inequality shape our financial lives—and why traditional advice like “just budget better” often falls short.

Why does life today feel so overwhelming? Steven Heine wants to answer this question by helping you better understand your own brain. As a social and cultural psychologist, Steven explains why so many of us feel anxious, disconnected and unsure of our purpose. We discuss how our brains are wired to crave meaning, why freedom often brings anxiety, and how we can rebuild a sense of purpose when life feels chaotic.

There’s a side of the opioid crisis most people never hear—the view from inside. Garth Mullins is a podcaster and author who has experienced addiction, incarceration and loss, and he wants to shift the focus to saving lives. We explore why harm reduction is essential, how the war on drugs has failed communities, and what a health-based, compassionate response could look like.

Microplastics are found on every corner of the planet – even in our own bodies. Holly Hogan has seen the far-reaching impacts of ocean plastics first hand. She is a seabird biologist with over 30 years of experience and the author of Message in a Bottle: Ocean Dispatches in the Age of Plastic. Holly shares powerful stories about the devastating effects of plastic on marine life, how microplastics are impacting human health and how we can reduce plastic in our everyday lives.

Christopher Merasty believes that true healing for men could transform entire communities. In 2020, he founded Men Of The North with the goal of providing accessible, culturally-grounded mental health resources for men. We discuss how his programs are changing lives in his community, the urgent funding needs for men’s mental health resources and why men’s healing is essential for safer, healthier communities.

Born without an outer right ear, Kate Gies spent the better part of her childhood being told she needed to be fixed. She underwent 14 reconstructive surgeries in the attempt to achieve a “normal” appearance for a non-medical issue. Kate joins us to question the foundation of what we deem acceptable for our bodies, share her experience in the medical system and discuss her new memoir – It Must Be Beautiful to Be Finished.

Lung cancer is on the rise, even among those who have never smoked. Dr. Stephen Lam is a respirologist with the BC Cancer Research Centre, and has dedicated his career to lung cancer research and early detection. Stephen dives into the role of AI in predicting lung cancer risk and practical strategies to safeguard your lungs.