Join Michelle Miller-Gauthier and Nikki Blake, dynamic members of the Good Neighbours Committee, as they passionately delve into the transformative practice of active witnessing on our latest podcast episode.

Discover the power of actively calling out hurtful remarks and the subtle art of calling someone in, tenderly guiding them to recognize the impact of their words. 

This podcast is your compassionate guide, equipping you with the language you need to become an empathetic active witness and providing insights on how to elevate your engagement in this meaningful process. 

Tune in, and let's cultivate a community where caring is the cornerstone of communication.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Todd Blattner is a teacher and counselor in Vanderhoof, BC with 30 years experience. In this episode, Todd talks with Sylvia about facing conflict and creating safer spaces for your community.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• The Power of Vulnerability with Brene Brown 
• Dr. Harry Stephanakis
• Falling Awake by Todd L Blattner
• Guided Meditation on the Practice of RAIN (Recognize, Accept, Investigate, Nurture) by Tara Brach
• "Metta" is a name for loving kindness meditation. It is a really good way to practice developing a sense of love and caring for yourself and others.  Here is just one example of the many meditation videos available on YouTube.
• Positive Communication with "I" Statements
• 5 Tips to Make Assertive Communication Easier and More Effective

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Steph Sedgwick is a Teacher of Physics, Specialized Science, Astronomy, and Chemistry in the Nechako Lakes School District in British Columbia.  Steph's work with students has taught her the importance of understanding misconceptions and misleading information that is found (far too easily) online. In this episode, Steph shares tools to help us read online articles with a critical eye.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
How to Break Down Misinformation
Test Your Skills - Spotting Deepfakes

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Welcome to the last episode of the first season of The Good Neighbours Committee Podcast.

We are so pleased with the knowledge shared with us throughout this season.

In this episode, Oliver Fitzpatrick shares tips and ways to show compassion for ourselves when confronted with aggression, bigotry, racism, homophobia and/or transphobia.

This mini episode gets right to the point, so get out a pen and paper to jot down these very helpful compassion mechanisms.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
VIU Positive Space anti-racism training referenced by Oliver at 18:11

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

In this episode, host Sylvia Byron speaks with four young people, each of whom are on the rainbow spectrum, who grew up in Vanderhoof, BC. These young adults share their perspectives in this candid conversation about growing up in Vanderhoof and how their experiences and relationships shaped their ideas about their authentic selves.

TW: A homophobic story with aggressive language is shared in this episode.

Here is the link to the Man Enough Podcast which is mentioned in this episode: https://youtu.be/Tq3C9R8HNUQ

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

In this action podcast, guest Michelle Miller-Gauthier explains verbal and non-verbal micro-aggressions that can infiltrate an exchange and how to acknowledge them.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

In this episode, we meet the Blake family. They moved to Vanderhoof from Jamaica in 2015 and have started a life as the few visible minorities in the small, Northern BC town. 

Katanya (Nikki) is the mother of three children: Geraldine, Gabby and Alyssa and in this conversation they share thoughts on Jamaican culture and culture erasure, the difference in schooling and educational expectations from Jamaica to Canada, and why learning about racism (anti-black and anti-Indigenous) should be mandatory learning.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Our guest Sasha Striegler-Iannone discusses language, prejudices, stereotypes, and oppression that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is working to dismantle (and how to build) in Vanderhoof and beyond.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

In this episode of the Good Neighbours Committee podcast, host Sylvia Byron is speaking with Kjerstina Larsen, an active member of the Vanderhoof Queer community about finding your voice among peers and speaking your truth.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Host Sylvia Byron and guest Lisa Striegler work through what discomfort means and some exercises to explore one's own discomfort when societal and personal ideals are challenged.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Welcome to the Good Neighbours Committee Community Conversations series where we tackle biases and stereotypes as well as discover our diversity through a series of honest conversations about living in in our small, northern community of Vanderhoof in British Columbia.

In this episode, host Sylvia Byron is listening to Ernie John and Colleen Erickson as they share their experiences of growing up in Saik’uz First Nation near the predominantly white town of Vanderhoof.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet

Welcome to the Good Neighbours Committee podcast!

Hosted by Sylvia Byron, this series talks with community members in Vanderhoof about their experiences with racism in order to inform this small, northern BC community how to be a good neighbour and challenge their biases using first-hand stories and interviews.

You'll also receive mini "action" podcasts to inform you on ways to make your community more inclusive.

We are so excited to share these stories with you.

Hosted by Sylvia Byron
Produced by Haasen Pod
Royalty-free music by Purple Planet