YXE Underground - SoundSage

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Anita Smith is wearing purple work gloves and has a walkie talkie clipped to shirt when I meet her at W.E. Graham Park a few days before the Saskatoon Fringe Festival is set to begin. She and her team of staff and volunteers are setting up for the festival and are not letting city construction get in the way of hosting another wonderful festival.

It has been another busy year for Anita. As Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre Company, she has overseen a year of innovative and engaging theatre productions. She also found time to direct a Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan production of Much Ado About Nothing this summer. Anita is pulled in many different directions, and I am always grateful for the time she makes to appear on the podcast.

This year's Fringe Festival is bringing theatre productions from across North America, around the world, and in our own backyard, to four theatres in the Broadway neighbourhood from July 30th to August 8th. The festival is also creating community through innovative programming including a local theatre company made up of teens who are producing their own fringe play!

Anita shares stories and details about this year's festival, along with the challenges posed by another year of construction in the Broadway neighbourhood, in our conversation. She also shares why this will be her final year at the helm of the Fringe Festival.

I hope to see you at one of the plays during the festival and thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon! Don't forget that Season 9 of YXE Underground launches on September 10th wherever you find your favourite podcasts!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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There is always something happening in Saskatoon during the summertime. From Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and the Fringe Festival, to the Saskatoon Ex and Rock the River, there is something for everyone to enjoy in our community.

Last week, my wife and I went for a walk on the Train Bridge on a beautiful afternoon. We don't often walk in that area of the city, and reminded me of how beautiful the views are of the South Saskatchewan River standing on the Train Bridge. It also gave me an idea for a summer bonus episode of the podcast: hidden gems to experience during a Saskatoon summer. Not that the Train Bridge is a hidden gem, but it's not a place I frequent.

I reached out to my friend, and one of Saskatoon's greatest ambassadors, Darby Sutherland, to see if she would like to be on the podcast to share some ideas and give some suggestions of hidden gems in our community this summer. Darby is the Destination PR and Earned Media Manager for Discover Saskatoon. She works with media from across Canada and around the world who wish to experience all that Saskatoon has to offer. If there is something cool and interesting happening in Saskatoon, it's a safe bet Darby knows about it.

When I emailed Darby to pitch this idea, I suggested we do it at the TD SaskJazz Fest before the Modest Mouse concert. I was hoping she would be going, and as you will hear in the episode, she did indeed have a ticket (as did 4,500 other people...it was a fantastic show!).

Darby shares a host of great locations and experiences listeners should check out this summer. I'll put the list with links below. A big thank you to Darby for turning this idea into reality. I hope you enjoy this episode and have a wonderful summer here in Saskatoon! Cheers...Eric

Darby's List:

Prairie Lily Coffee Shop
Sulu Takeaway Lunch Window
Meewasin's Beaver Themed Walking Tour
Pokey's Pinball Cafe Patio
Black Fox Live Music Weekends
Champetre County
Glamping at Blackstrap Provincial Park
Par 3 Course on Valley Road
Burritos at Shelter Brewing
Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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When was the last time you felt free to be creative? To just let loose and tap into your creativity in an inviting and supportive space?

I was thinking about these points when I took in the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing Only event in January.

This gathering comes from the wonderful mind of Jaymie Raefta, a Saskatoon illustrator and artist who has become one of my favourite people in the past few years.

Once every few months in a warehouse space in Riversdale, Jaymie hosts a gathering of people who love to draw, no matter their ability, and encourages them to draw badly. Very badly.

Jaymie, who uses they/them pronouns, emcees the evening. They embrace the role with the vigor and charm of a late-night television talk show host. Jaymie’s quick wit and humour, along with quirky musical selections, create the perfect vibe for people to draw.

The drawing comes from specific prompts which Jaymie comes up with. My favourite was the following: draw your favourite co-worker as a cold baked potato.

You have two minutes to complete your drawing, and at the end of each round, the table votes on the best bad drawing.

What I love about these Something Sketchy nights is the creative community they are forming in Saskatoon. The room was packed with more than 30 people who giggled and laughed throughout the night while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

The people came from all walks of life: artists, graphic designers, potters, and even a mailman. You will hear from these people how much it means to them to have a devoted set time and space to be creative in this episode, and you will hear why these Something Sketchy nights mean so much to Jaymie.

This has been an amazing season of YXE Underground, and I am so thrilled to end it with such a fun and meaningful episode.

If you want to learn more about the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing events, look up Plastic Salad on Instagram. This is an illustration collective created by Jaymie to promote illustration in Saskatchewan, and there’s a Something Sketchy event happening on Wednesday, June 17th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm that you should totally check out!

A big thank you to Jaymie and everyone at the Something Sketchy for letting me share their stories on the podcast.

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

A big thank you to all of you listeners for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. It means the world. I will drop a few bonus episodes this summer, but Season 9 will launch in September. I can’t wait to share more stories of people and organizations who are making a difference here in Saskatoon. If you have someone who you think should be on the podcast, send me an email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

I would like to acknowledge these interview were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to Season 8, Episode 9 of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson, and welcome to OUT Saskatoon’s Newcomer Support Group.

It is a snowy, bitterly cold Thursday night in April, but in the OUT Saskatoon’s headquarters, their main gathering space is packed with people from across the world.

This support group started last May and offers LGBTQ newcomers and refugees a safe space to not only learn about Saskatoon and Canada, but as you will hear in this episode, the group is providing community and friendship to those who come.

Once a month, Iris Akbar welcomes people to the group and leads them through different topics and activities. It could be an art activity or a discussion on how best to survive a Saskatchewan winter. On this night, Iris has invited two-Spirit Elder Shelley Belhumeur, to speak and share about Indigenous knowledge and history.

Shelley begins the night by asking people to introduce themselves and share where they are from. Most people in the room are from African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana.

The person behind this Newcomer Support Group is Iris Akbar. Iris, who uses he/she pronouns, immigrated to Saskatchewan with his partner from Singapore; a country where same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognized.

Iris started working at OUT Saskatoon in 2019 and was passionate about helping LGBTQ newcomers and refugees get the supports they needed in our city. He was about to start a Newcomer Support Group when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and put that on hold.

When the pandemic ended, Iris continued to help helping newcomers and refugees at OUT Saskatoon in a volunteer capacity; not only in terms of finding supports in Saskatoon, but to make connections and friendships in the community.

Iris started the Newcomer Support Group in May of 2025. As you will hear, what started as a small gathering has now grown into a vibrant collection of people who are eager to learn about their new home and make meaningful connections.

The episode features a conversation I had with Iris a few weeks after I met him at the Newcomer Support Group. We met at Tastebuds Café on Lorne Avenue on a beautiful sunny day; so nice in fact we sat out on the patio!

You will also meet people who were at the Newcomer Support Group that chilly April evening and hear why this group means so much to them.

If you want to learn more about the important work being done at OUT Saskatoon, please visit their website at outsaskatoon.ca

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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"Every day is a new, exciting challenge. I am having a great time doing it, but it is a challenge."

Anita Smith has been creating live theatre for nearly 30 years. She is the Executive and Artistic Director of the 25th Street Theatre Company and loves providing Saskatchewan artists the opportunity to tell their stories and showcase their skills.

The company's latest production, however, is pushing Anita and her team to their limits.

Behind Closed Doors takes people to six different sites across Saskatoon to explore unseen conversations and gives them a chance to experience in a performance in a unique venue specific to the story. Each play is 20 minutes, has limited capacity (we're talking 6-8 people per venue), and will no doubt make the impression on audience members.

Anita and 25th Street Theatre is committed to supporting Saskatchewan playwrights and Behind Closed Doors is giving six playwrights the chance to share their voices with our community.

I am a huge fan of Anita as an artist and a person, and any opportunity to talk with her on the podcast is one that I will take. She graciously took time in-between her many duties to speak with me on the University of Saskatchewan campus to tell listeners about Behind Closed Doors and why people will never forget watching a play in a bathroom!

Here are the six plays and their locations in Saskatoon, and you can purchase tickets on the 25th Street Theatre website.

Historical “Friends” by Kaydence Banga. At The Senator Hotel. Directed by Jennifer Brewin.
Fallen Women by Marley Duckett. In Kirk Hall, USASK. Directed by Pamela Haig Bartley.
Hiring by Mitchell Larsen. At The Two Twenty. Directed by Murray Utas.
First On, Last Off by Clare Middleton. On a bus at Louis’ Pub, USASK. Directed by Pamela Haig Bartley.
Another Day on the Diamond by Drew Mantyka. At Gordie Howe Sports Complex. Directed by Murray Utas
This Is It by Cheyenna Sapp. At Louis’ Pub, USASK. Directed by Jennifer Brewin

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to the YWCA Saskatoon's Hopeful Hearts Home program.

The program takes place in a four-story building that opened last year and is a transitional housing wing attached to the main YWCA building.

The Hopeful Hearts Home program provides women and their families with a safe home in a nurturing environment to heal from experiences of interpersonal violence. There are 35 suites in the building that can house up to 75 people, and it is truly making a difference in the lives of the women and children who call it home.

Mirna Funes-Klaasen is the Manager of Hopeful Hearts, and as you will hear in this episode, is passionate about helping women and children in need access the many services provided by the YWCA.

Whether it’s the Employment and Learning Centre in the YWCA, or the cultural supports offered within the Hopeful Hearts Home that you will hear about in the episode, Mirna wants women to feel supported and cared for when they enter the program.

I first heard of Hopeful Hearts Home in October of 2023. That’s when I interviewed Kim Fisher for the podcast. Kim is the Director of Residential Programs at the YWCA, and in her episode, she talked about looking out her office window and imaging a building that could meet the transitional housing needs of the community. It took years of fundraising and hard work behind the scenes, but that dream is now a reality, and Kim is so happy that her long-time colleague, Mirna, is managing Hopeful Hearts Home.

A big thank you to Mirna for taking the time to share her passion for the Hopeful Hearts Home program with me on the podcast. If you want to learn more about the program, and how you can become a volunteer, please visit the YWCA Saskatoon's website.

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or the website.

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to check out photos and videos from the podcast.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Growing up in Swift Current, I never saw the infamous Great Buffet of China television ad that aired all the time from 1996 to 1998, but Craig Silliphant and Don Sparrow sure did.

They remember seeing it in the mornings before university, at supper during the news, and into the wee hours of the night.

The story of how this advertisement came to be, the impact it had on those involved in the production of the advertisement, and why it became a viral hit in China, are all touched on in Craig's new documentary film, 'How Chee.'

The film debuts at the Broadway Theatre on Thursday, April 2nd, at 7pm, but Craig was kind enough of take time out of his busy schedule to join me at the Yard and Flagon Pub to give YXE Underground listeners a preview of the documentary and why he wanted to tell this story.

Saskatoon artist Don Sparrow, who designed the documentary's poster, joined us at the Yard and Flagon to share his memories of the advertisement and why it is such a memorable piece of nostalgia for so many people in Saskatoon.

I am lucky to call Craig and Don my friends. They are both gifted storytellers and two of the most creative people I know. They also recognize how lucky we are in Saskatoon to have such a passionate community of creative people who support each-other in their artistic endeavours. It was a blast speaking with them and learning about this truly unique slice of Saskatoon pop culture.

You can visit the Broadway Theatre website to get your tickets for Thursday night's screening, which includes a special Q&A after the film featuring Craig and several of the characters in the film.

Thank you for listening and hope to see you Thursday night. Congrats on the film, Craig!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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It’s a Tuesday afternoon and the commercial kitchen at Mount Royal Collegiate is filled with grade 11 and 12 students preparing a restaurant quality meal under the careful and encouraging eye of Wayne Pilon.

Wayne teaches the commercial cooking program, along with the high school’s food skills and sewing classes (he is also the school's Athletic Director), and today he is dividing up the students into three stations: protein, vegetables, and sauces.

The kitchen has everything students would expect to see in a restaurant kitchen. Stoves and ovens are turned on and ready for use, knives are sharpened, and supplies are stored in large, walk-in freezers.

This is one of Wayne Pilon’s happy places.

Wayne grew up in restaurant kitchens. He loves the controlled chaos and communication of a busy kitchen, and he brings that passion every day to his students.

Wayne is teaching his students more than just the joys and challenges of cooking. He’s instilling them with confidence and showing them the benefits of teamwork and communication; qualities that will reach far beyond the kitchen for these students.

I spoke with Wayne in his classroom over his lunch break before his commercial cooking class got going in the kitchen. Wayne is such a personable guy and a gifted storyteller, and I really loved learning about his commitment to connecting students to Saskatchewan’s natural pantry of ingredients.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review of YXE Underground if you like what you hear, and don't forget to tell your friends to like and follow YXE Underground on their favourite podcast app.

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you listen to podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the YXE Underground website.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I really do appreciate it.

Best of luck to Wayne and his students on the rest of their semester! They prepared a heck of a meal in this episode!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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I am very excited to share a conversation with you featuring two wonderful people who you met a few years ago.

Tennille and Lydia Corbett are mother and daughter who wrote a best-selling memoir in 2024 entitled, ‘(Un)Remarkable: How Cancer and Depression Intertwined Our Stories of Grief and Hope.’

Their 2024 episode focused on Tennille’s cancer journey, Lydia’s mental health challenges, and how they worked together to tell their stories in the memoir. It was a really powerful conversation, and I’ve had many listeners ask me how Tennille and Lydia are doing.

So here is a bonus episode of YXE Underground featuring Tenille and Lydia Corbett sharing an update in their lives, and let me tell you, they have been busy!

Tennille has started a pair of businesses. One is called Apothecare which is Canada’s first cancer support registry, and the other is called Early Shift which features women-only pop-up dance parties that end early and are as much fun as you think they would be!

Lydia has been travelling the world and formed a group in the city called Girls Who Like to Do Stuff, which is all about creating a shared community and friendship for women.

We talk about their motivations for starting these endeavors and how their lives have changed since the release of their memoir. Tennille also gives listeners an update on her health.

We met a few Saturdays ago at Jr’s Café on Broadway. The place was busy, as you will hear in our conversation, but we managed to find a table beside the large windows overlooking Broadway Avenue.

I hope you enjoy our conversation and don't forget to follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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I remember being a kid in Swift Current being glued to the television when the Kinsmen Telemiracle fundraiser was on across the province. I would get my parents' permission to call and make a donation to the fundraiser and then wait for hours for my name to slowly crawl across the bottom of the screen. It was such a big deal to see my name on television, even it lasted for just a few seconds and was quickly followed by someone else donating from Moose Jaw, Enfold or Frontier.

Telemiracle is woven into the fabric of our province. For the past 50 years, people have picked up their phones and made a donation that would help someone in medical need purchase a piece of equipment or receive financial support that would help them get the care they need. We did an episode in Season Six highlighting Telemiracle's work and taking listeners behind the scenes to discover the work it takes to run the fundraiser, and it's definitely worth a listen.

Telemiracle turns 50 this weekend and it is pulling out all the stops to mark this milestone. One of the many talented hosts is someone who I have looked up ever since I first saw him on MuchMusic. That would be George Stroumboulopoulos.

I first met George in 2011 at a taping of his CBC Television show, The Hour. It was a quick chat after his show and I was struck by his kindness and how he listened patiently to my questions after taping the show. I remained a fan over the years as he did all the things on television, radio and social media, and it was a thrill to meet him again last October when he spoke at Saskatoon's MemoFest.

In fact, George came to Sherbrooke Community Centre, where I am the Communications Leader, for a tour of our long-term care home. It was an amazing afternoon as he met a host of residents and staff and listened to how our organization has worked hard for decades to provide residents with full and abundant life. George also took a lot of photos with residents, staff and even some of our animals! The picture for this episode is of George sitting by Sherbrooke's Aviary. The birds loved him!

Flash forward a few months, and I reached out to George via Instagram when I saw he was in Saskatoon for Telemiracle. I wished him luck and told him how lucky we were to have him back in the city. He wrote back and said, "you gonna have me on the podcast? Haha." Ahhh...yes!

17 hours later, I met George at his hotel and we sat down for a conversation about how he became involved with Kinsmen Telemiracle and why this provincial fundraiser struck a chord with him. It is always a privilege speaking with George because he is in the moment with you...he listens...and I think that's something all of us could do a better job of these days, myself included!

I hope you enjoy our conversation, and a big thank you to George for taking time out of his insanely busy schedule to speak with me on the podcast. Best of luck on the fundraiser this weekend, George, and safe travels home. Enjoy that diner meal in the desert!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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For the past three years, Wanuskewin’s Artist-in-Residence program has welcomed emerging and established Indigenous artists to not only create within its beautiful space, but to share their inspiration and process with visitors to the park. This program is helping our community connect with Wanuskewin in new ways, and you’ll meet some of the people behind the program in this episode of YXE Underground.

Last year, I was at an art opening for Saskatoon’s Brody Burns, an amazing Indigenous artist, hosted by The 525, and I ran into Andrew McDonald. He is the Co-Executive Director of Wanuskewin, and as we marveled at Brody’s art, he shared his passion for Wanuskewin’s Artist-in-Residence program.

Andrew is a great guy and I loved his pitch, so a few weeks ago, I spent a morning at Wanuskewin meeting people who love this program and want to see it grow and thrive.

In this episode, you are going to meet Olivia and Greg Yuel, along with the current Artist-in-Residence, Chris Chipak, and Andrew McDonald and Marcel Robitaille, who is the curator at Wanuskewin.

If you would like to learn more about Wanuskewin Heritage Park’s Artist-in-Residence program, please visit their website.

You can also meet Chris Chipak on Saturday, February 21st, as part of the Nutrien Kona Winter Festival taking place at Wanuskewin. That’s when his work will be debuted in the gallery space, and I have no doubt it will look incredible.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or at yxeunderground.com. Please leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed this episode. Positive reviews really help the podcast get more exposure on apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so your support is greatly appreciated.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you! If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us in Season Eight for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's third season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us in Season Eight of the podcast.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk (or sit down for lunch, ha ha) and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this episode, Lisa uses the current 2016 social media trend as a launching point to discuss why so many people are chasing simplicity in their lives. She also explains how self-reflection can help to shine a light on what really matters in your life.

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Empathy and compassion are qualities Brynn Service has in spades, and they are enabling her to make a difference the lives of Saskatoon’s homeless population and those who are at risk of homelessness. Brynn is the Saskatoon supervisor of a national program called Coordinated Access, and she shares why this work means so much to her in this episode of YXE Underground.

Saskatoon continues to face the challenges of a growing homelessness population. A point-in-time count conducted on October 16th of last year found that 1,931 individuals were experiencing homelessness. That number is up by 29 percent from 2024.

Brynn was one of the people who helped conduct the count and knows the need for people experiencing homelessness to get help is high. She also knows there is a large group of people and organizations who are ready to help, and they are working together to reach people in need.

Brynn became the Supervisor of the Coordinated Access program last August. The program is designed to standardize the intake and assessment process for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness under one umbrella. It connects individuals and families to the right housing and other support services as efficiently as possible.

The Saskatoon contract for the Coordinated Access program was awarded to Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and the organization hired Brynn to be the supervisor.

There are 13 partner organizations in Saskatoon that are a part of the Coordinated Access program alongside Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and as you will hear in our conversation, Brynn loves working with them to make a difference in the community.

Those 13 partner organizations are CUMFI, Persons Living with AIDS Network, Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services, Elizabeth Fry Society, Station 20 West, John Howard Society, YWCA, The Salvation Army, Saskatoon Council on Aging, OUT Saskatoon, EGADZ, Sanctum Care Group, and The Mustard Seed.

I have been wanting to feature Brynn for quite some time. She is a Social Worker who has worked in the justice system and with people with Intellectual Disabilities.

Brynn is one of those people who leaves you feeling inspired after a conversation, and that was certainly the case for this episode.

If you enjoy this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground and you will find some lovely photos of Brynn Service taken by Saskatoon photographer and the pride of Abbey, Saskatchewan, Rona Andreas.

A big thank to the wonderful Rob Rongve and his fantastic team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. Rob has been a dear friend for many years, and his support of all things YXE Underground means the world to me. If you are looking for someone to help manage your finances or invest your money, I can’t recommend Rob and his team enough. They have been taking care of me for over a decade and I wouldn’t be able to buy all the LEGO I do without their help. Thanks Rob.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson and I hope you had a great holiday season.

For 13 years, Swinging with the Stars has paired community leaders with professional dancers for a night of entertainment and raising money for the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation.

This year’s event is on Saturday, January 31st at TCU Place, the theme is Broadway, and Chris Sikorsky cannot wait.

Chris is the Co-Owner of Sikpics Productions and a Swinging with the Stars Alumni. He is also a Swinging with the Stars Committee Member and was kind enough to share his passion for the event with me for the podcast.

We met at Sikpics headquarters in downtown Saskatoon and I had so much fun listening to Chris share stories of why this event means so much to him and his own experiences of being one of the dancers a few years ago.

We also touch on why Saskatoon is so great at coming together as a community to support fundraising events like this.

I want to mention that Chris and the committee have generously donated two tickets to this year’s Swinging with the Stars event to give away to a lucky listener. I am giving them away on Instagram, so make sure you follow YXE Underground for a chance to win a pair of tickets!

And just a reminder that a new episode of the podcast drops Thursday, January 15th, wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of YXE Underground if you like what you hear!

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast in Saskatoon.

Cheers...

Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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In this bonus episode, we are going to learn about a new and innovative project from Elmwood Residences that will make a real difference in Saskatoon’s disability community.

It’s called the Elmwood Community Hub, and you might remember it being discussed in our last episode that highlighted the work being done at Elmwood’s Community Homes throughout Saskatoon.

The Community Hub, which if everything goes well will open in 2030, will sit on the grounds of the current Elmwood Manor on Arlington Avenue and will feature a variety of amenities including a performance theatre, life skills kitchen and residential units.

I was lucky to sit down with Dani Carr, Maggie Stevenson and Jackie Smith to learn more about the project.

Dani is the Executive Director of Elmwood Residences. Maggie is the Manager of Community Engagement for Elmwood.

Jackie is a former Elmwood board member whose brother was cared for by Elmwood for many years.

I met Dani, Maggie, and Jackie at the Elmwood Manor and we all sat down in one of the board rooms to discuss the Community Hub.

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! Oh, and don't forget to listen to our previous episode exploring Elmwood's Community Homes Program.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Kyle Danylyshen is one of four residents living in one of Elmwood Residences' community homes for people with intellectual disabilities. For 56 years, Elmwood has supported individuals experiencing intellectual disabilities with the care and services they need to live full and meaningful lives.

The organization operates 15 community homes in Saskatoon. These homes have care staff providing 24-hour care, and as you will hear in this episode, the homes are empowering residents with the skills and opportunities to live independently within the greater community.

Kyle’s home is on Preston Avenue near Market Mall. It is a one-story house that is fully accessible for people in wheelchairs, including a ramp to the front door and into a large backyard. Kyle has lived here since 2021, and one of his best friends is his roommate, Tiernan Huber, who moved in last August. They quickly bonded through their mutual love of the Saskatoon Blades and being active in the community. They are quite the pair and were an absolute joy to speak with.

You will also meet Julien Hendrickson and Linda Boyko from Elmwood in the episode.

My thanks to Kyle, Tiernan, Julien, Linda and the entire Elmwood team for making me feel so welcomed during this whole process. This episode was so much fun to produce, and I think you will really enjoy next week’s bonus episode where we learn more about Elmwood's Community Hub Project and the impact it will have on Saskatoon. That episode drops December 18th.

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or the website.

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his colleagues at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode of the podcast. Rob is one of the most generous and kind people I know, and it means a lot to have his support. I am also grateful to Rob and his team for their care in managing my investments for the past 12 years. If you are looking for someone to help manage your money, Rob is the person to speak with!

I would like to acknowledge that these interviews were gathered on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to Saskatoon Fire and Flood. It’s a Friday afternoon and Brennen Mills is showing me and my photographer, Rona Andreas, around the building. It’s a really impressive space full of tools and equipment designed to help people recover from an incident such as a house fire.

I feel lucky to say I have never had to call on Brennen and his team for their help. In fact, Brennen was not on my radar for podcast guests until his colleague, Candace Chickowski nominated him through the YXE Underground website. Her email was compelling and it really got me thinking of how important communication is in Brennen’s line of work.

Here is a portion of Candace’s email that really connected with me and got this episode in motion.

Brennen was born and raised in Saskatchewan’s construction industry. He knows this work inside and out, but what makes him different is his ability to see the human side of it. We deal with people going through some of the hardest days of their lives, fires, floods, and major loss and Brennen never lets us forget that we’re not just fixing buildings; we’re helping people get their lives back.

Helping those in need and giving back to the community are priorities in Brennen’s leadership style and his personal life. He is the Vice-Chair of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation and his willingness is volunteer his time and energy led the SPSF to recognize Brennen and Saskatoon Fire and Flood at this month’s National Philanthropy Day.

Here's the thing about Brennen; he would rather talk about anything else than himself, which made for some very funny moments in our conversation when I would press him for a story.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. That's where you will see some lovely photos of Brennen and his puppy dog taken by Saskatoon photographer, Rona Andreas. My thanks to Rona for her amazing work on this episode.

Thank you to my cousin, Andrew Dickson, for creating the original theme music for the podcast.

Thank you to Saskatoon’s Danger Dynamite for creating and maintaining the website.

These interviews were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. Thank you so much for listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson and it has been a busy week for the podcast.

Last Monday, I dropped an episode that took listeners to Beaver Creek Conservation Area to enjoy a Dark Skies event put on by the Meewasin Valley Authority.

On Thursday, I spoke with Katayoon Navabi about the Diaspora Film Festival she was helping organize at the Remai Modern. I saw a great documentary yesterday as part of the film festival called Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story. My congrats to Katayoon and her team for putting on such a wonderful event.

Today, I am sharing a conversation about an upcoming fundraising event that has raised more than three million dollars since 2007.

Choc’la Cure is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to purchase cancer treatment equipment used at the Saskaoon Cancer Centre. It formed 18 years ago and has impacted the lives of so many people in Saskatoon and throughout our province.

Choc’la Cure’s annual gala event takes place on November 7th at Dutch Growers, and I learned more about the organization and its impact on the Saskatoon Cancer Centre thanks to Kim Swiatecki, Breanne Cooper and Dr. John DeCoteau.

Kim is a volunteer on the Choc’la Cure committee and a previous guest on the podcast way back in season one. Breanne is the Chair of Choc’la Cure, and Dr. DeCoteau is the Medical Director of the Advanced Diagnostic Research Lab at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre.

The goal of this year’s gala is to raise money for a new piece of medical equipment for the Cancer Centre, which Dr. DeCoteau explains in fascinating detail in our conversation.

I met Kim, Breanne and Dr. DeCoteau at Citizen Café a few weeks ago and learned so much from all of them. Best of luck to the entire Choc'la Cure team on their upcoming fundraiser!

Listen and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Please feel
free to leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed this episode. I would greatly appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I am excited to share with you an interview with Katayoon Navabi.

Katayoon is the Program Director for the Paivand Society, which is a non-profit organization in Saskatoon that promotes cultural dialogue, and is on the organizing committee of the Saskatoon Diaspora Film Festival.

This film festival, now in its third year, shows movies that tell stories of migration, immigration, and of people settling into their new homes while trying to create community.

It’s taking place this weekend (October 24th-26th) at the Remai Modern’s beautiful theatre, and you can learn more by visiting paivand-society.ca.

I was introduced to Katayoon by our mutual friend and amazing human being, April Sora, and I am so glad she made this interview happen because, as you are about to discover, Katayoon is simply wonderful.

She is originally from Iran where she grew up in a family that loved to tell stories. Whether it was reading, listening, or cinema, Katayoon, was surrounded by rich storytellers. She attended university in Edmonton before moving to Saskatoon in 2010, and is passionate about sharing stories of migration and immigration with our community.

I hope you enjoy this conversation and hopefully see you at the film festival!

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the YXE Underground website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Cheers...

Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson, and if you are listener of the podcast, you probably know I am a big fan of the Meewasin Valley Authority.

The organization does an incredible job of protecting and enhancing our beautiful river valley, and its conversation efforts are always worth celebrating.

Meewasin also puts on really great events, and in this episode, we are highlighting one that takes place at Beaver Creek Conservation Area.

Dark Skies at Beaver Creek gives people the chance to explore the wonders of the night sky along with learning how to photograph constellations, galaxies and if you’re lucky, like I was in this episode, the Northern Lights.

These Dark Skies events sell out quickly. I know this because I’ve been trying for a few years to get a ticket. It finally happened in late August on a beautiful and clear Friday night. I wanted to do a bonus episode to share with you the joy and wonder of a Dark Skies event, and I hope that comes through in what you are about to hear.

The next Dark Skies event at Beaver Creek will take place on Saturday, November 1st, starting at 7:30pm.

A big thank you to the Meewasin team, especially the great Sam Cowan, for making this episode possible. I also want to thank Tim Yaworski, also known as the Living Sky Guy, for sharing his knowledge of the sky and photography with all of us at the event. Be sure to check out Tim's YouTube page to learn more about the stars and how to capture them on your camera.

Enjoy the Night Sky, Saskatoon!

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to Christy Morrissey's acreage.

We're about 15 minutes west of Saskatoon on a gorgeous Friday fall morning. The sun is rising and the grass is wet as Christy points a Hairy Woodpecker on an Aspen Tree.

Christy Morrissey is an ecotoxicologist and professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Saskatchewan who loves prairie grasslands and wetlands. She is doing important research to protect and preserve these beautiful but fragile ecosystems in Western Canada, which she talks about in this episode.

Christy also discusses why is hopeful to see more women in scientific and research roles.

I love prairie grasslands, which is kind of ironic because I'm allergic to grass, but I love their subtle beauty, and I think we are so fortunate to have access to beautiful grasslands in and around Saskatoon. I hope that sense of gratitude comes through in this conversation.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. That's where you will see some lovely photos of Christy and that woodpecker you heard at the beginning of the episode taken by Saskatoon photographer and emerging birder, Chelsea Klette.

I would like to acknowledge that these interviews were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much for listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Nuit Blanche is one of my favourite nights of the year in Saskatoon. The festival brings together talented artists from all walks of life to showcase their talents and express themselves under the darkness of a prairie night. There's something about seeing public art in the dark that makes the works unique and special.

Xiao Han expresses the uniqueness of Nuit Blanche Saskatoon way better than I can. She is an artist and photographer here in Saskatoon, and is this year's curator of Nuit Blanche. She sees our community through a special lens, and I think that comes through in our conversation. Xiao explains what listeners will experience on the night of September 20th, why the festival is spread out over three locations (Broadway, River Landing and Downtown) and how this year's theme of "Living In Between" has inspired artists this year.

It was such a pleasure speaking with Xiao! We met on a Saturday morning at the large steps that overlook the K.W. Nasser Plaza in River Landing, and it was wondering hearing why this location means so much Xiao.

You can learn more about this year's Nuit Blanche Saskatoon by visiting the website and give it a follow on Instagram as well!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I hope to see you out and about on Saturday night!

Cheers...

Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to Season Eight debut of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson and welcome to the University of Saskatchewan’s Physical Activity for Active Living, or PAAL, program.

It’s a Wednesday night in late August. I’m in the gymnasium room of the Physical Activity Complex on the UofS campus. There are children and teenagers running and jumping on different obstacles set up throughout the space, and they’re joined by high school and university student volunteers who are helping them make the most of their time tonight.

PAAL is a program for individuals of all ages who are experiencing physical and or intellectual disabilities. Its mission is to provide quality physical activity focusing on fun, skill development and social interaction.

On this night, the child/teen PAAL program is wrapping up its summer session for youth ages 5 to 18. Half of the class is here in the gymnasium while the other half is downstairs in the pool…which we will visit later on.

It’s hard to articulate just how much positivity and joy are taking place in these two spaces, but I hope by the end of the episode, you will be able to feel just how impactful PAAL is for the participants, the student volunteers, and the parents of the children.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the YXE Underground website, and I am excited to say that you can now listen to the podcast on YouTube! It only took eight years. Simply search YXE Underground on YouTube and you will find all 116 episodes of the podcast.

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

A big thank you to Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas for taking amazing photos for this episode, which you can see on Facebook, Instagram and X. Simply search YXE Underground.

Thank you also to Saskatoon’s Danger Dynamite for creating and maintaining the website and to Saskatoon’s Vita Beauty Bar for supporting this episode.

Before I go, I would like to acknowledge that these interviews were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

Thank you so much for listening and for your continued support!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. I hope you are having a wonderful summer!

One of the highlights of my summer is always enjoying the Saskatoon Fringe Festival. It is put on by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and features artists not only from Saskatoon and Canada, but from around the world as well. The Fringe Festival attracts amazing live theatre productions to our community and brings people together in very unique ways that Philippa Williams explains in this episode of the podcast.

Philippa Williams has been with 25th Street Theatre for years, and this year is one of the leaders who is ensuring the festival runs smoothly. I met with Philippa at the Fringe Festival site in W.E. Graham Park in the Broadway neighbourhood to learn more about this year's festival and discover why fringe performers continue to choose Saskatoon as a place to share their talents. Philippa also shares her passion for ensuring the Fringe continues to make a difference in our community. I think you will love our conversation and hopefully it sparks an interest in checking out this year's Saskatoon Fringe Festival!

Click here to learn more about the shows being performed at this year's festival and to purchase tickets. The Fringe Festival runs from July 31st to August 9th, and I hope to see you at one of the shows!

Don't forget that Season 8 of YXE Underground launches in September!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us in Season Seven for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.

This episode focuses on summer and how so many of us get caught up in trying to do everything during July and August. Lisa shares her wisdom on how we can have a wonderful summer but still feel refreshed by the time September rolls around. She also explains why it's ok for us, and especially our kids, to feel bored, and argues why the word linger should be on the top of our minds as summer begins here in Saskatoon.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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It’s a Saturday night and emerging Saskatoon artist Rowen Dinsmore is hosting her exhibition entitled, “What Gave You That Impression (?)”

Friends, family and art enthusiasts are here to check out Rowen’s stunning paintings, which she has been working on in this space for the past two months thanks to the Bridges Art Movement artist collective, also known as BAM.

BAM was formed 11 years ago by a group of University of Saskatchewan Fine Arts graduates who were looking for a space to work and showcase their art. Dave Stonhouse was one of those graduates and today he not only leads BAM but works closely Saskatoon artists to help develop their skills and find their artistic voice.

At a time when local artists are working hard to find spaces to share their talents, Dave and the BAM collective are ensuring these emerging voices are being heard. I've known Dave for years as he used to teach at Mount Royal with my wife. He currently teaches at Nutana Collegiate and sees the world through such a unique lens, which I think comes through wonderfully in our conversation.

We also discuss why working with emerging artists is so fulfilling and how being a father to a very busy 3 year-old boy has changed is relationship with art.

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the website: yxeunderground.com

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

This is the final episode of Season 7 of the podcast and I really want to thank all of you listeners for your incredible support this season. We shared a really wide variety of stories this season; everything from yoga for patients in the Adult Short Stay Mental Health Unit at Royal University Hospital to the emphasis put on community by the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra. From EAL teachers in elementary and high schools to learning how to safely administer naloxone to a person in distress. We even hosted a movie night at the Remai Modern which was so much fun!

We covered a lot this season and I am grateful you can along for the ride. I am also grateful to all of the people who took the time to share their stories and passions with listeners. It’s not easy talking into a microphone and I really do appreciate their courage in telling their stories.

I will be taking July and August off to gather interviews for Season 8, which will drop in September, but be on the lookout for a bonus episode or two this summer!

And if you know someone or an organization who you think would be a wonderful guest on the podcast, let me know. There is a nomination form on the website or you can email me directly at ericandersonyxe@gmail.com. You can also get in touch with me through social media.

Thank you again for all of your support and I hope you have a wonderful summer.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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This episode features a very special guest star, Ross Neilsen, who happens to be married to Lisa! The three of us discuss the evolving relationship between fans and artists in a social media age. This conversation stems from a recent Jason Isbell concert we attended in Saskatoon (it was an amazing show!) and got Lisa and Ross thinking about the relationships we have with our favourite artists.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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For more than 50 years, Saskatchewan’s Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathologist communities have advocated for a university program in our province that would educate and train students in these professions.

That dream will soon become a reality at the University of Saskatchewan.

You will meet Kara Broks and Tami Turner in this episode of YXE Underground. They are designing the province’s first Master’s program in Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Pathology and share with listeners why this work means so much to them.

For decades, if you were interested in becoming an Occupational Therapist or Speech Language Pathologist, you had to leave the province. That will change in September of 2026 when the University of Saskatchewan launches Master’s of Speech Language Pathology and Master’s of Occupational Therapy programs. Both of these programs will fall under the School of Rehabilitation Science at the University of Saskatchewan.

How these new Master’s programs will work together to meet the demand in our province is just one of the questions I had for Kara Broks and Tami Turner.

Kara is an SLP, creator and owner of the Speech Language Network business in Saskatoon, and is the Speech Language Pathology Implementation Coordinator with the UofS. She was also the third ever guest on this podcast in 2018.

Tami is an Occupational Therapist who has worked with universities across Canada developing OT programs and recruiting students and is the Occupational Therapist Implementation Coordinator with the UofS.

They have worked together for the past year building these new Master’s programs from scratch, with the help of many new colleagues, and are so excited for the positive impact it will have on people throughout Saskatchewan.

Kara and Tami are passionate about making a difference in our communities and I love how they have become dear friends through this process. You would never guess they didn’t know each-other until the university tasked them with creating two new Master’s programs.

I met with Kara and Tami last week in the University of Saskatchewan’s Health Sciences building to learn more about how all of this came to be and the impact their work is going to have in our communities.

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the YXE Underground website.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Positive reviews really do make a difference in getting the podcast discovered by more people so thank you in advance for your help!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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It’s an overcast Saturday morning in late March and Station 20 West, located on 20th Street West and Avenue L South, is buzzing with activity.

People have gathered to learn more about Naloxone, how to safely administer it to someone overdosing from opioids, and to talk about what can be done to help our community get through this difficult point in time.

Saskatoon’s drug and overdose crisis has been all over the news. A CBC story notes the Saskatoon Fire Department has responded to 935 overdose incidents or suspected opioid poisonings since the start of the year. That’s compared to 376 incidents in the same time period last year.

The Saskatoon Library closed two branches for a month over safety and overdose concerns, and Prairie Harm Reduction, which we have featured on the podcast several times, temporarily paused its operations in March to give its staff an opportunity to deal with the trauma they are seeing every day in our city.

I think the local media and the Hard Knox Talks podcast have done an exemplarily job of telling the stories amidst this crisis, and I struggled to find a way to get into the crisis through the podcast.

Then I learned about this gathering at Station 20 West and thought there might be some people who would be willing to share their stories. So my wife and I went on this Saturday morning and we met some pretty incredible people. We also learned how to administer Naloxone, which you will hear in this episode.

We met Colleen Christopherson-Cote, Board Chair for Station 20 West, University of Saskatchewan doctoral candidate, Maryellen Gibson, and Assistant Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Saskatchewan, Barbara Fornssler. My sincere thanks to them for sharing their passion for helping others and their community in this episode.

You can listen and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or on the website.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like you what you hear. These reviews help the podcast get into more podcast feeds so I really do appreciate the support.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground featuring a really wonderful person named Kyle Zurevinski. He is the Digital Media Program Assistant at the Remai Modern Museum and one of his largest responsibilities is curating and facilitating the film program at the museum. I have had the pleasure of working with Kyle on a few community projects in my role at Sherbrooke Community Centre over the past few years and he's just really great guy who loves his community and loves bringing people together.

Kyle brings people together by selecting thought-provoking, interesting and compelling films to the Remai, and we discuss how he chooses the movies in this episode. He also talks about the role movie theatres can play in forming community in Saskatoon and what it feels like to experience watching a film in a packed theatre.

I am so excited to be partnering with Kyle and the Remai Modern for a special community screening of the Pixar classic film, Wall-E, on April 17th. The show is free to the public (bring the entire family!) and will be screened at the Remai's theatre which you can find on the second floor. It starts at 7pm and I will be giving away free YXE Underground swag to everyone who comes! I love Wall-E and I think it connects in so many meaningful ways to the mission and values of the podcast. We will also be screening the short film that Saskatoon videographer, Molly Schikosky, and I made last summer to celebrate all things YXE Underground. I can't wait to see it on the big screen!

I hope to see you on April 17th and a big thank you to Kyle for not only being on the podcast but for making this community screening event happen. You are awesome, Kyle!!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to Valerie Veillard’s sitting room. There’s tea and snacks on the coffee table in front us and she’s flanked on her couch by Nathalie Baudais and Twyla Yobb. Between the three of them, they have decades of experience in sponsoring refugees and helping them settle in Saskatoon.

Valerie, Nathalie and Twyla are part of a sponsorship group working with the Mennonite Central Committee to bring a refugee family from Afghanistan to our city. The Jamili family has been waiting for months to learn if they will begin a new life in Saskatoon, while Valerie and the team have been working behind the scenes to ensure they will get to Canada safely. That means filling out forms, fostering relationships with organizations like the Saskatoon Open Door Society, and fundraising…lots and lots of fundraising.

The group has already sponsored the settlement of two adult children from the Jamili family, and it is hoping to soon reunite the family here in Saskatoon.

The world of refugee sponsorship is new to me, and I am grateful to Valerie, Nathalie and Twyla for walking me through the process of how it works, and why they commit so much of their time and energy to helping others in this way.

If you would like to help bring the Jamili family to Saskatoon, please click the link below.

DONATE

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or on yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. These positive reviews help the podcast show up in more podcast feeds so I really do appreciate the support.

You can follow the podcast on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

I want to thank Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. Rob has been an incredible supporter of the podcast since day one and I really appreciate his continued generosity and kindness. If you need someone to manage and invest your money, you need to meet Rob and his team at RBC Dominion Securities.

The Remai does this with other community organizations who select a movie for the public to watch for free and it’s really cool to partner with the gallery in this way. Plus, it’s free to attend!

So I would love to see you on the night of Thursday, April 17th, to celebrate the podcast and watch one of the best films of the past 20 years. Oh, and there will be free podcast swag if you come!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers,

Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us in Season Seven for Walking With Lisa episodes.

We've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa and I met for brunch at Hometown Diner and we explore the complex topic of forgiveness. We do this through the lens of the popular television show, Shrinking, and Lisa shares so many wonderful insights and reflections on a topic that can be hard for people to grasp at times. I struggle with forgiveness and so I really appreciate Lisa showing me its benefits, and how long the road can be to forgiveness, in our conversation.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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A cancer diagnosis at any age is scary and life changing, but receiving this news the you are at a point in your life where having children, starting a family or growing your family is on your mind, raises a different set of challenges. Saskatoon's Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation charity supports cancer patients when it comes to fertility challenges.

Helping patients navigate fertility issues during a cancer diagnosis is something Dominique Paulgaard and Lierin Baerg do in their roles as nurses at Royal University Hospital and with their charity, Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation. The charity was started three years by a group of oncology nurses in Saskatoon and today features Jessica Smith, Taylor Huang, Lierin Baerg and Dominique Paulgaard as its members.

The purpose of Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation is to preserve the ability for cancer patients to have children. As I learned from Lierin and Dominique, this can either be through sperm or egg preservation, and as you are about to hear, it can be quite the journey.

Lieren as been a Registered Nurse at Royal University Hospital’s Inpatient Cancer and Stem Cell Transplant unit for the past 10 years. Dominique has been a nurse in the same unit for 13 years. They both have families with young children and find the time to run this charity.

How the charity works, why it means so much to them, and what conversations are like with their patients when it comes to fertility are topics we cover in our conversation. We also discuss how overwhelming it is for someone who has just received a cancer diagnosis to think about if they want to preserve their ability to have children in the future and the financial challenges that come with their decision.

Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation has a fundraising event on Saturday, March 15th at Crossmount Cider Company. Tickets are 50 dollars and Saskatoon’s Ross Nielsen will be playing live sets of music. You can learn more by following Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation on Facebook and Instagram, or click this link to purchase tickets.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or on yxeunderground.com. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. These positive reviews help the podcast show up in more podcast feeds so I really do appreciate the support.

I also want to let you know of an exciting event I am working on with the Remai Modern. Please mark April 17th on your calendar as that’s when YXE Underground will be presenting a movie at the Remai Modern’s lovely theatre beginning at 7pm. This is thanks to Kyle Zurevinski, who runs the theatre programming at the Remai, and his generous spirit.

We will be showing the short film Molly Schikosky and I made last summer celebrating the podcast followed by the Pixar classic, Wall-E because it’s one of my favourite movies of all time and I think it connects nicely to YXE Underground in meaningful ways. The Remai does this with other community organizations who select a movie for the public to watch for free and it’s really cool to partner with the gallery in this way. Plus, it’s free to attend!

So I would love to see you on the night of Thursday, April 17th, to celebrate the podcast and watch one of the best films of the past 20 years.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE underground. I first met Tammy Forrester four years ago when we did an episode focusing on the work being done at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.

Tammy is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Saskatchewan and leads a wonderful team that provides a safe, secure and welcoming environment for families whose children are undergoing medical challenges. I would highly recommend you listen to our Season Three episode if you would like to learn more about the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon.

The Saskatoon House is filling a gap in the health care system and Tammy is hopeful new Ronald McDonald Houses in Regina and Prince Albert will do the same.

For the past few years, Tammy and her team have been fundraising to build these new homes and she gives listeners an update in the episode. Tammy also shares why having employees and volunteers pulling in the same direction is vital for an organization to achieve success.

Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. These reviews help listeners discover the podcast and the amazing people who are making a difference in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us in Season Seven for Walking With Lisa episodes.

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa and I met for lunch at Pique Café in downtown Saskatoon (she had tomato soup, I had a chicken apple brie sandwich) and she dives further into the issue of capacity and how we can support our colleagues, friends and family who are struggling with capacity issues in their lives. Lisa also talks about the "Goldilocks" zone when it comes to communicating with people struggling in their lives and why acknowledging their challenges is so important. As always, I learned so much from Lisa and I know you will too.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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For students arriving in Saskatoon with very little knowledge of the English language, one of the first people they will meet in school is an English as an Additional Language teacher. These teachers not only guide students on their journey through the language, but as I discover in this episode, they provide a safe and nurturing space for students who have been through a lot in their young lives.

You are going to meet two incredible EAL teachers in this episode of YXE Underground.

Megan Chan and Laura Jorgenson share many qualities. They are passionate about teaching the English language in the Saskatoon Public School Division. They work hard to create a classroom where newcomer and refugee students feel secure and supported, and they both find their work as EAL teachers incredibly rewarding.

Megan teaches elementary students at W.P. Bate School and Laura teaches high school EAL classes at Tommy Douglas Collegiate. Together, I believe they give you a clear picture of the challenges EAL teachers face as Saskatoon continues to become a more diverse community and school populations continue to rise, and why their jobs are so fulfilling.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. If you are looking for someone to manage your money and investments, Rob Rongve and his team are the first people you should talk with!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I really do appreciate it and I hope your 2025 is off to a great start.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk (or sit down for coffee, ha ha) and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa and I met for lunch at the Park Cafe (she had fish and chips, I had a burger) and she discusses the importance of finding some balance during a busy holiday season. Lisa, as always, touches on many interesting subjects including the importance of establishing boundaries, the difference between self-care and self-soothing, and what we can do to increase capacity in our lives. This is such a timely conversation and Lisa shares her knowledge in such a compassionate manner. I hope you take plenty of wisdom away from this conversation because I sure did!

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and we'll talk with you in 2025, Saskatoon!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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It’s been a busy year at the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. The organization has seen a 25 per cent increase in the use of its services in 2024, which works out to around 23,000 people a month coming to the Food Bank. Of those 23,000 people, 43 per cent are children.

These numbers, along with the Food Bank’s plan to open a new facility in August 2025 in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, makes the organization’s Light It Up fundraising campaign all the more critical.

One of the many unique spaces in the Food Bank is the Community Test Kitchen. This is where you can often find Kate Lasiuk and her team leading community cooking classes as well as preparing food for the greater community. Kate is the Nutrition Program Manager with the Food Bank and a big believer that food can bring people together from all walks of life.

The Nutrition Program at the Food Bank has been in operation since 2019, and under Kate’s guidance, it is teaching people not just the basics of cooking but the joy that comes with preparing a meal. The cooking classes, whether they are in person or online, are also bringing people from diverse backgrounds together. I think that’s definitely worth celebrating.

It was a pleasure sitting down with Kate to talk about the difference the Nutrition Program is making in Saskatoon, and why this work means so much to her.

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or the YXE Underground website. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Follow YXE Underground on social media and our new YouTube page. I promise to get some more episodes on the YouTube page in the days and weeks to come!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and talk with you in 2025.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground.

A few nights ago, my wife and I were able to attend a really wonderful event hosted by artist group called The 525.

It was the closing reception to a group photography and video exhibition called Unbecoming…held in an empty business space on Third Avenue.

The exhibition was co-curated by Saskatoon’s Rowen Dinsmore and Molly Schikosky. Now, if Molly’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she has worked with me on many episodes of the podcast taking photos, as well as creating the YXE Underground video that was released a few months ago. Molly is amazing and we really wanted to support her…

And I must say the evening was so much fun!

The exhibition featured 10 female identifying artists from Saskatoon:

Leo Lauren Conquergood
Hannah Alex
Xiao Han
Berit Johnson
Emily Johnson
Mona Khan
Molly Schikosky
Darby Sutherland
Tammy Zdunich
Emma Zuck

Each artist had their own space within the exhibition showcasing their photography and videography talents. All 10 artists also shared with a packed crowd the motivation behind their works, and you’ll hear from some of the artists in this episode.

You will also meet a gentleman named Kehun Fu, who is The 525’s Principal Director. This was my first time attending a 525 exhibition and Kehun shares how this local group is bringing original art to unique spaces across Saskatoon.

Before I take you the event, which as I just mentioned, was full of people, I want to share to you the exhibition statement as I think it will get you in the right frame of mind before meeting some of the artists.

“Unbecoming challenges and reclaims the phrase weaponized against women and act a certain way can be viewed as ‘unbecoming,’ and also references the idea of unpacking and unravelling generational impact left on women by women. Central to this exhibition are themes of evolving womanhood across generations, everyday moments that shape and celebrate female experiences, diverse expressions of femininity, and personal narratives that reveal intimate, transformative stories of empowerment.”

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and share the podcast with all your friends. You can also follow YXE Underground on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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There is an organization in Saskatoon that works to strengthen the economic and social conditions of our city’s core neighbourhoods. It’s called Quint Development Corporation and it’s an organization full of amazing leaders like Kristen Thoms and Julia McCormick.

Kristen is Quint’s Executive Director and has been with the organization for 18 years. Julia is the Director of Operations with Quint and has called it home for 11 years. Together, they oversee a team that is helping people in the core neighbourhoods find meaningful employment, move into safe and affordable housing, and spark a sense of pride in their neighbourhoods.

How are they doing this you ask?

I found out when Kristen and Julia took for me a walk through neighbourhoods like Riversdale and Pleasant Hill where they showed me the different ways Quint is helping people. We ended our walk in Optimist Park where you will hear the pride Kristen and Julia have in their work and why it means so much to them.

They are both kind and warm people who love helping others and are truly invested in helping people who call the core neighbourhoods home improve their lives in meaningful ways.

I learned so much in this conversation and I know you will too.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also now find YXE Underground on YouTube, which is very exciting and long overdue. Right now, there’s just one thing on the YXE Underground YouTube channel and that’s a video Molly Schikosky and I created with the help of many YXE Underground guests that celebrates six seasons of the podcast and this wonderful city we call home. I am so proud of how it turned out. A huge thanks to Molly for her work in creating it and to all of the guests who took time to help us out.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon! I truly appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa focuses on how politics are all around us here in Saskatoon. Our community is in the midst of a municipal and provincial election, and with the American election taking place next month, it seems like we can't escape the world of politics these days. Lisa discusses how that is impacting our lives these days and how the act of listening to understand seems to missing in our political conversations. That phrase...Listening to Understand...really stood out to me from our conversation and I hope it gets you thinking about how we listen to one another in our daily lives.

Thanks so much for listening and for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. And please get out and VOTE!!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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The ability to slow down, take a deep breath and be present in the moment in something I think most of us take for granted. For Brandon Wicks, developing and growing this ability through yoga has helped him overcome his mental health issues. Now, he and Jen Rondeau are working with the Royal University Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit to empower patients on their road to recovery.

If you’re looking for Brandon Wicks, there’s a good chance he’s here at Rise Strength Lab. Brandon is not only a personal trainer at the gym but he owns Rise Strength Lab.

Every time I see Brandon at the gym, he has a smile on his face and is talking with staff or members. He’s caring man with a big heart who has battled through some pretty challenging mental health issues in recent years.

You’ll hear Brandon share his personal story in this episode, but there was a point during his story where he needed professional help. In January of 2023, Brandon spent two weeks at the Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.

There was no gym equipment for him to access during his two week stay, but there was a yoga mat! So Brandon would spend an hour every evening on a mat stretching and breathing and trying to ground himself in the present moment. It helped him immensely.

When Brandon left the hospital, he shared his story with Jen Rondeau. Jen is a full time paramedic and also the owner of Ivy Yoga House who has had her own mental health challenges.

Brandon wanted to give the gift of yoga back to the mental health short stay unit, and with Jen’s help, was able to do so earlier this year. The story behind this innovative yoga program is, I think, inspiring and you’ll hear it shared with great emotion by Brandon and Jen.

The program also inspired Jennifer Molloy. She the CEO of the Royal University Hospital Foundation which is now backing the yoga program for an additional two years. So far, the yoga program at the mental health short stay unit has been running one class a week, but thanks to the RUH Foundation’s support, there will be two classes a week starting in 2025.

I want to thank Brandon and Jen for sharing so much in this episode and I know their efforts are truly making a difference in our community.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I really do appreciate it!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa reflects on a very busy summer and how fall brings back the joy of routine and schedule. She also shares a fascinating story about a family meeting she had with her husband two young children this summer that set the tone for how they would enjoy the summer months. Lisa's an incredible communicator and this family meeting story really shines a light on the importance of clear and empathetic communication. I know you will take a lot away from this story.

Thanks so much for listening and welcome back to the podcast, Lisa!!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello and welcome to Season 7 of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson and in this episode, we take listeners to the TCU Stage where the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is preparing for a show!

It’s a celebration of Fleetwood Mac’s career and so the symphony will be performing alongside a rock and roll musicians playing all of Fleetwood Mac’s hits. There is a great energy in the room and that extends out into the lobby where we find Mark Turner.

Mark is the CEO and Creative Producer of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and seems to know everyone in the lobby. He’s shaking hands, having quick chats with people and sharing his enthusiasm for tonight’s show.

Mark has gone through this lobby routine hundreds of times in the past 10 years with the SSO. His leadership and passion for connecting the symphony with different parts of our community has helped make the SSO one of the most successful symphonies in Canada.

I’ve been a fan of Mark’s from afar for many years so it was a thrill to meet him in his office a few weeks ago to talk about his the incredible growth of the SSO and why connecting with diverse communities means so much to him.

We also discuss the challenges of standing out in a very competitive entertainment market and how the symphony could potentially evolve to include more audience participation in shows.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A big thank you to Saskatoon's Mutt Hutt Grooming for its support of this episode. If your dog or cat needs a haircut, Nikki and her team at the Mutt Hutt is the place to take them! We have been taking our dogs to the Mutt Hutt for more than 10 years and they are an exceptional group of people.

Thank you for listening to this episode and for continuing to support a local, independent podcast in Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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"It's not enough to have a great Fringe show...You have to sell your show!"

The world of Fringe Festivals is truly fascinating. Artists from around the world work hard all year round writing, performing and promoting their shows at festivals across the world. It's a labour of love and a world that many local artists learn about at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.

Our city's Fringe Festival is produced by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and its Executive and Artistic Director, Anita Smith, can't wait for it to begin. She takes listeners behind the scenes of this year's festival to highlight some of the amazing artists who will be performing in theatres and as buskers, as well as other events taking place during the 10 days including the Thelma Pepper Art Walk and the Baby Busker Program.

Anita is one of my favourite people in the world and I know her passion for the arts and our community will connect with you! I hope this bonus episode gets you excited for the Fringe and maybe see you at a play...or most likely the Food Trucks:)

Listen and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Season Seven of YXE Underground launches in September and I am so grateful for your continued support of this local, independent podcast.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig has joined us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch.

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa turns her attention to the workplace. She discusses the importance of open and honest communication in a workplace culture and why it is important for organizations to invest time and energy in the well-being of employees. I always learn so much from Lisa but this conversation REALLY struck a chord as I have been doing some coaching exercises at my work recently and I am grateful to be part of an organization that invests in people. I think you'll have so many takeaways from this episode!

These Walking With Lisa episodes will continue next season, which drops in September, and I am grateful to Lisa for sharing her insights and wisdom and especially time with YXE Underground listeners. Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and have a great summer!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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I think it takes a lot of courage for anyone to share the challenges, traumas and uncertainties in their life with the rest of the world. What Tennille and Lydia are doing with their mother-daughter memoir, '(Un)Remarkable: How Cancer and Depression Intertwined Our Stories of Grief and Hope' is worth celebrating.

The first time I met Tennille Corbett was in May of 2023 in the Tommy Douglas Collegiate theatre in Saskatoon. She was in the audience, sitting in a special wheelchair called a Broda Chair, about to watch her daughter, Lydia, perform in the school's production of Mamma Mia. Lydia was the lead in the musical and there was no way Tennille was going to miss this show.

A few weeks earlier, Tennille had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometrial cancer and quickly had surgery. The diagnosis sent her on a life-changing path many in our community have travelled in regards to cancer.

It forced Tennille to take a leave from work as she underwent treatment, which meant she had a lot more time with her husband, Shane, her son Aidan, their dog, Remmy, and of course, Lydia. What was she going to do with all of this time?

Write a book of course! This wouldn't be just any type of book. Tennille wanted to write a mother-daughter memoir as she noticed there were very few book like this on the market.

I spoke with Tennille and Lydia in the attic of their home which has been converted into a beautiful space where Tennille writes and soon will be starting her own podcast. I really wanted to know how they were able to make this book happen and so we drill down pretty deep into the process. It's through this process that you will discover how hard but rewarding writing this book was for Tennille and Lydia.

This is the Season Six finale of the podcast and I want to thank you for your continued support of all things YXE Underground. Whether you're listening to and sharing episodes, buying shirts and dog bandanas to raise money for local charities, or leaving reviews of episodes, your support means so much to me. I think we've managed to created a really vibrant little community around this podcast and that's just amazing in my opinion...so thank you!!

I will have a few bonus episodes dropping throughout the summer but mostly I'll be gathering interviews for next season. As always, if you know of someone or perhaps an organization, which is doing great things in our community but is flying under the radar, let me know. Send me an email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com or reach out through social media or my website.

Have a wonderful summer and we'll talk soon!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

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Welcome to Beaver Creek Conservation Area.

This area, which is about 15 minutes south of Saskatoon, is home to beautiful prairie landscapes, rare and threatened species at risk, and it’s where you’ll find Saskatoon’s Kelton Braun most days.

Since 2020, Kelton has been an Environmental Educator for the Meewasin Valley Authority out at Beaver Creek. He does incredible work with Saskatoon students teaching them about this beautiful and fragile ecosystem. Kelton also teaches the general public about the plants, wildlife and especially pollinators that call Beaver Creek home through specially designed hikes called Wildflower Walks.

I met Kelton for the first time last summer when I signed up for one of these walks. His passion for nature and ability to connect people to the outside world is worth celebrating, and after spending a few hours with him last year hiking around Beaver Creek, it was clear he needed to be on the podcast.

We met a few Fridays ago at Beaver Creek to learn more about the work he does teaching people about conservation and our prairie surroundings. I also wanted to discover where Kelton’s passion for nature comes from.

We also talk about what those of us living in Saskatoon can do to protect our prairie plants and the pollinators who have called our community homes for many years.

It’s so much fun hiking with him because he sees things that most of us would never pay attention to and then he’s able to tell you all about those things in a way that will stick in your head.

Myself, Kelton and photographer Chelsea Klette hit the Red Trail at Beaver Creek shortly after 9am. It was a bit windy and the air was crisp, but the sun was shining and Kelton was eager to hit the trail.

Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also listen to episodes on the website. Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thank you for listening and continuing to support a local, independent podcast.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, social worker and mental health advocate Lisa Greig joins Eric to talk about the importance of taking time and giving careful thought when making important decisions. Lisa also talks about the importance of setting boundaries in different aspects of our lives. The context for this discussion is the recent interview I did with Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.

These Walking With Lisa episodes drop every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops April 11th.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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It has been a weird week.

Last Thursday, I received an email in my YXE Underground inbox from a gentleman named Mohammad Hussain. He said he was the Lead Press Secretary for the Prime Minister of Canada and wondered if I would be interested in having Prime Minister Trudeau on my podcast to talk about the importance of community leaders and why celebrating their work is important in building community. He also said this was not a scam email and that I should call him back.

I thought it was a scam email so I deleted it and continued on with my day at Sherbrooke Community Centre where I work as Communications Leader.

About an hour later, I received an email from my friend and former CBC colleague, David Shield, saying some guy from the Prime Minister's Office was trying to track me down. So I thought maybe I should call this Mohammad guy back. He didn't answer so I really thought it was a scam.

Then he called me back and explained that the Prime Minister would be in Saskatoon on Tuesday, April 23rd, and would I be interested in having him on YXE Underground as a guest. Mohammad said he likes to do different types of media when the Prime Minister visits smaller cities. He came across my podcast and thought it was really good and wondered if I would be interested in having a conversation with the Prime Minister through the lens of YXE Underground.

I asked if I could sleep on it and he said yes. I spoke with a couple of close friends to get their thoughts on what I should do. I was very sensitive to the fact that the Prime Minister does not fit the mandate of the podcast (he lives in Ottawa and is slightly above ground) and that he is not overly popular in our city and province. I also didn't want him to just come on the podcast and read talking points about the federal budget or all the things the government is doing.

After speaking with these two friends, I was leaning no and called my dad to basically confirm what I was thinking. My dad is definitely right of centre on the political spectrum, but much to my surprise, he said I would be a fool not to do this and that I should get out of my comfort zone and interview the Prime Minister because when in your life would you ever get this opportunity again to speak with the Canadian Prime Minister one on one?

I emailed Mohammad the next day and said I would do it under one condition: I wanted this to be a conversation about community and the importance of community leaders, and that if the interview didn't meet the standards I set for myself for the podcast or became an avenue for the Prime Minister to become overly political, I would not publish the episode. He agreed and then I started worrying about what questions I should ask the Prime Minister in the 25 minutes I was given with him.

I am very aware of how polarizing Prime Minister Trudeau is in our city, province and country. I certainly do not agree with everything his government has done and continues to do, but I honestly thought that my podcast listeners would be curious to hear what our Prime Minister thinks of our Saskatoon community and the leaders who are making a difference.

I think we had a good conversation about the importance of community leaders in Saskatoon and why having community organizations work together on issues is so important.

I am very proud of the fact that YXE Underground caught the attention of the Prime Minister's office and am grateful to everyone who has supported the podcast and continues to support it along with the people and organizations featured on it.

The interview took place at Wanuskewin Heritage Park this past Tuesday, April 23rd, in one of their beautiful gallery spaces. Two chairs and a small table were set up for us and we spoke for just over 20 minutes.

I want to thank the Prime Minister for taking the time to meet with me and to his team for making me feel comfortable throughout the process.

I especially want to thank Mohammad Hussian, who is a real person, for being a really wonderful person to work with, for listening to my concerns and answering my questions. Mohammad, I promise I will not delete your email if you ever send me one again.

I also want to thank Saskatoon photographer Liam Richards for not only taking photos of the interview but for telling me to eat some lunch when I got to Wanuskewin to help calm my nerves. I appreciate you, Liam!

If this is your first time listening to YXE Underground, welcome. There are six years worth of amazing people and organizations in Saskatoon who are doing amazing work but are flying under the radar. People like Kim Fisher and Kindergarden teacher, Mindy Macdonald. So please feel free to follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts or visit yxeunderground.com to meet some wonderful community leaders here in Saskatoon.

And a new episode drops May 9th featuring one Kelton Braun from Meewasin Valley Authority. He’s such a great guy and you’ll love his episode.

Thank you for listening and for allowing me the space to explain my decision making in this unique circumstance.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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It’s a Thursday night in late March and I am surrounded by people in orange shirts and sweaters, as well as people who are working hard to earn the right to wear these orange shirts and sweaters, in an old Fire Hall near Aden Bowman Collegiate.

Specifically, I’m in a meeting room where large maps are spread out on tables and new Saskatoon Search and Rescue trainees are learning how to read these maps.

It’s training day for new recruits of Saskatoon Search and Rescue. It’s an intense process. Whether you are a trainee or a veteran member of the team, you are put through scenarios and taught skills that will empower you to help find people when they go missing in all types of situations.

It really does amaze me that these people commit so much of their time and energy to this group. Since 2019, Saskatoon Search and Rescue have responded to 86 missing person’s activations, mostly at the request of the Saskatoon Police Service.

Searches can take place in neighbourhoods throughout Saskatoon, along the South Saskatchewan, or in thick forests of northern Saskatchewan.

As you will hear in this episode, Saskatoon Search and Rescue work closely as a team in order to do their job.

Sheri Denis and Carla Egan are the two featured guests in this episode. Carla is the Communications Director with the group and is training to be a Saskatoon Search and Rescue Manager.

Sheri Denis is a volunteer searcher who is also the Director of Project Lifesaver. This unique program protects people who are at risk of wandering in our community. Participants wear personalized wristbands that emit a radio-frequency tracking signal. If a person with a wristband becomes lost, Saskatoon Search and Rescue can use this tracking signal to locate them.

The program started thanks to a very generous donation from the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service Foundation, and has grown thanks to the generosity of the community.

Sheri, who works as an Educational Assistant, puts her heart into this work and I think that comes through in our conversation. She even demonstrates how her sophisticated equipment works!

By day, Carla Egan works in a long-term care home here in Saskatoon as a recreation coordinator. Tonight, she is proudly wearing an orange Saskatoon Search and Rescue shirt and jacket.

Carla worked really hard to earn her place on the team.

In the fall of 2020, she saw a social media post from Saskatoon Search and Rescue looking for new members. Her kids were becoming more independent and her background of working with people with dementia gave her the confidence to think she could help.

Nearly four years later, Carla says she has grown in so many ways thanks to her training and made friends with people from all walks of life.

Carla shares some very powerful stories in our conversation and how her colleagues are always there to support each-other when the job gets difficult.

I want to mention that Saskatoon Search and Rescue is a non-profit organization and relies on donations and grants for its funding. The organization’s biggest fundraising event takes place on Monday, April 22nd at the Broadway Theatre. It is hosting the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival which is made up of some amazing films celebrating unique outdoor films.

Tickets are 20 dollars each and you can purchase them on the Broadway Theatre’s website or at the door. I have my tickets and hope to see you there!

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and please share this episode and the podcast with your friends!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this episode, Lisa discusses the idea of indifference and how it's not the worst thing in the world if there are people who feel indifferent about you. The people pleaser in me was fascinated by this and I know you will be as well!

Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops April 11th.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Music plays so many roles in our lives.

It brings us together through live concerts…

It can help us change our mood or amplify how we are feeling in a certain moment…

And as you will hear in this episode, music has the power to form meaningful relationships and spark joy in people with physical and cognitive challenges.

Candace Ukrainetz shares her passion for forming those relationships in this episode of YXE Underground. She is the music therapist at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long term care home in Saskatoon.

Full disclosure...I work at Sherbrooke as its Communications Leader and I have had the privilege of watching Candace for the past eight years create well-being in the lives of residents in her role.

Candace grew up playing all sorts of instruments. She took piano and cello lessons as a kid and today can often be seen sitting next to a resident with her guitar or auto-harp in her hands.

What Candace really loves to do, however, is sing. She would sing as a kid all through her house and says that singing gets out all of her emotions.

Her love of music led down the path of music therapy and the 263 residents at Sherbrooke are the beneficiaries of her gifts.

One of the many things I love about this episode is that not only are we shining a light on Candace’s work at Sherbrooke but also the role music therapists can play in other settings such as hospitals.

It turns out March is Music Therapy month.

I wish I could say I planned it this way to share Candace’s story this month, but I am not that organized. However, I am hopeful this episode will spark a conversation in our Saskatoon community about the benefits music therapy has on people.

I met with Candace in Sherbrooke’s greenhouse a few days after Valentine’s Day. She brought a cart full of musical instruments with her and you’ll hear a few during our conversation. You’ll also hear some powerful stories when it comes to music making a difference in the lives of people with physical and cognitive challenges and of course why this work means so much to Candace.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and don't forget to follow YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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For the past 48 years, the Kinsmen Foundation and Telemiracle has been raising money to improve the quality of life and independence of Saskatchewan residents. Their generosity is huge and the province rallies every year to support the Telemiracle fundraising event on television, but you might not know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes, all year round, to connect the Kinsmen Foundation with people in need.

We learn about this incredible work in this episode of YXE Underground.

I can vividly remember being 8 years-old, sitting on the living room floor next to my sister, in our home in Swift Current, eagerly waiting for our names to slowly scroll across the bottom screen during Telemiracle. I’m sure I am not the only one who has a memory like this.

I think Telemiracle is one of those Saskatchewan institutions that just seems to bring people together. The fact that this two day annual fundraiser raises millions of dollars to help people in need, whether it’s a piece of medical equipment or to help cover the costs of travel for a medical procedure, is worth celebrating.

However, it’s only been in the past few years that I’ve learned about all the work that happens year round by a passionate group of volunteers that connects people in need with the Kinsmen Foundation. These volunteers are from across Saskatchewan and often meet at the Kinsmen Foundation headquarters in Saskatoon.

I wanted to learn more about these Kinsmen and Telemiracle volunteers and how they work with people and organizations across Saskatchewan, and I was lucky enough to meet Raelynn Nicholson and Tyler Hall.

Raelynn is the Kinsmen Foundation Board Chair and lives in Assiniboine, Saskatchewan. Tyler Hall is this year’s Telemiracle Chair and he lives in Mortlach, Saskatchewan. They are volunteers who love making a difference in the lives of people, and as you will hear, their roots run deep with it comes to Kinsmen and Telemiracle.

I was lucky to catch them both in Saskatoon last month and we met for coffee at the Broadway Roastery on 8th Street. We cover a lot of ground in just over a half-hour...like how the volunteer board decides where to spend its money and what it’s like getting to really know families in need.

We also discuss why this work means so much to Raelynn and Tyler, and as you’ll hear, they have a lot of fun working together.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. If you are looking for someone to manage your money and give you thoughtful advice on investments, you should really speak with Rob Rongve.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and follow YXE Underground on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking with Lisa episodes.

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is about to begin a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these Walking with Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this episode, Lisa shares her insights into the thoughts and feelings that go into making a major pivot in one's life. Lisa comes at this topic from a very honest place as she is in the midst of a significant pivot in her professional life. Thank you for always being so honest and authentic with listeners, Lisa!

These Walking with Lisa episodes drop every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops February 15th.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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The final days and moments of a person’s life can be uncomfortable subjects for people to think about, let alone discuss with others. But what I discovered by spending a morning at the Hospice at Glengarda, Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice, is that there is so much room for light, laughter and gratitude when the end is near.

What I also discovered is how much work it takes from very dedicated and caring staff to ensure those streams of light make their way into the hospice.

You are about to meet some of those people as we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda.

In January of 2021, the Hospice at Glengarda opened on a quiet residential street in Saskatoon’s exhibition neighbourhood. The hospice has 15 private rooms and is designed for patients requiring end-of-life care.

The story of how the Hospice went from idea to reality is really amazing and one we covered a few weeks ago in a bonus episode of the podcast featuring Lecina Hicke, CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. I strongly encourage you to give it a listen if you haven’t done so already as Lecina tells the story so well.

Now, I must admit that before I stepped foot in the Hospice at Glengarda, in my mind, this was going a very serious and perhaps solemn interview because we were going to be talking about death and dying. Well, that quickly changed when I met Robin Stahl, Kristin Hubic and Monique Blom. As I mentioned earlier, there is so much light and energy and laughter in this space and I feel so grateful to have spoken with Robin, Kristin and Monique together as they have amazing chemistry.

They gave my photographer and friend, Molly Schikosky, and I a tour of the Hospice and made us feel so welcomed.

I maybe asked five or six questions over the span of our two hours together which is wonderful because, as you are about to hear, they fed off of each-other’s energy and traded stories with one-another that illustrate the importance and significance of their work.

The tour they gave us was very unique. They wanted to place us in the shoes of a person who was arriving into the Hospice, which is why Monique asked if I would lay down on the floor of the back entrance. That’s because when a person arrives to the Hospice, they enter on a stretcher through the back door. As you will hear, this back entrance is a very unique space.

From there, we visit one of the spa rooms, the main floor kitchen and the smudge room. We weren’t able to go inside of the patient rooms as they were all full but we do talk about what the rooms look like and why paying attention to the little things in so important to patients and families.

A big thank you to Robin, Kristin, Monique and the entire team at the Hospice at Glengarda for making time for us and making us feel so welcomed in their space. I know you will enjoy this episode.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

A big thank you Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

I am really excited to begin 2024 with a bonus episode featuring a really kind and passionate person in our community. Her name is Lecina Hicke and she is the CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.

The reason I reached out to Lecina is I wanted to do an episode focusing on the Hospice at Glengarda. As you will hear in our conversation, Lecina has a very strong connection to the Hospice and worked extremely hard for years to ensure its construction and its mission of providing compassionate and meaningful End-of-Life care would be successful.

The Hospice at Glengarda is a 15-bed Hospice located on Hilliard Street East and Melrose Avenue in Saskatoon’s Exhibition neighbourhood. My wife and I used to live on Ash Street and would walk by the construction three times day because our dog Fred loved his walks, and it was really something to see this beautiful building going up in a quiet, old neighbourhood in the city.

The Hospice is governed by Emmanual Health, owned by St. Paul’s Hospital and was Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice.

I feel very lucky to have spent an afternoon with Lecina in her office at St. Paul’s Hospital learning about the work that went into fundraising for the Hospice, why educating the general public was so important, and the impact a gentleman named Gord Engel had on her and the Close to Home fundraising campaign.

Now, the plan is to do an episode where we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda and speak with staff about the work they are doing. We are just working on finding a time that works for everyone. Hopefully that episode will come out in the next few weeks, but I really think knowing the background behind the creation will of the Hospice will make you appreciate the work it is doing for patients and families in Saskatoon even more.

Thank you so much for listening to this bonus episode and don't forget to share it and leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Finding your voice as a young artist can be challenging, especially if you can't find the right space to express yourself creatively. Luckily for young people in Saskatoon, Jody Lerat and her team of students have created a safe and inviting space where young artists are free and encouraged to discover their voice. It's called Future Artistic Minds and you are about to visit this collective here on YXE Underground.

I was able to spend a Tuesday night in late November at the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op in Saskatoon's Riversdale neighbourhood. The building is broken up into several different spaces. There's a recording studio down the hall from the kitchen, a silk screening press in the basement, and in the kitchin and dining room area, a group of high school and early 20 something artists are sitting around a long, wide table making art out of felt.

All of this falls under the umbrella of the Future Artistic Minds collective, also known as FAM. This evening is a drop-in session meaning people can come in and create alongside other artists.

This is where Jody Lerat spends a lot of her free time. She teaches art at Mount Royal Collegiate here in Saskatoon and is an artist herself. She knows everyone in the room and whenever she enters a different space in the building, young artists light up and say, "hi Jody!"

It's clear after five minutes that everyone here looks up to Jody.

There's a lot happening at FAM and it's all under the caring and encouraging eye of Jody Lerat. For almost two years, I've been trying to get Jody on the podcast as I think she's a wonderful leader in our community who deserves to be celebrated, so I am excited to feature her and the collective on the podcast.

Jody is from Cowessess First Nation in Treaty 4 territory but grew up in Saskatoon for most of her life. She talks openly in our conversation about the joy she experiences when she sees young artists collaborating and why encouraging today's youth to pursue careers in the arts is so important. She also talks about the deeply personal role art has played in her life and why it fuels her passion to be the best art teacher she can be.

I also want to give a big thanks to FAM member Sofiya Zhukova who stepped up at the last minute when I couldn't find a photographer for this episode and totally rocked it! Sofiya took incredible photos and was so much fun to work with. She is just starting her own photography and graphic design career and let me tell you, she is good! Thanks so much for all of your help, Sofiya.

Please feel free to give the podcast a 5-star review and tell your friends if you like what you hear. Doing both really does help the podcast reach more listeners so thank you!

I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and can't wait to talk with you in 2024.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for "Walking with Lisa" episodes.

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these "Walking with Lisa" episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this episode, Lisa dives into the challenges we face when it comes to the holiday season. Whether it's pressure to attend work functions or feeling the need to buy the perfect, most extravagant toy for your child, the holidays bring out many unique challenges. Lisa shares her insights on this time of year and how we can keep our minds healthy during such a hectic time.

These "Walking with Lisa" episodes drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops December 14th!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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For more than 20 years, Kim Fisher has worked at the Saskatoon YWCA helping women and their families receive the supports they need and doing it with kindness and compassion.

The YWCA is many things to many people in our community. There is an employment and learning centre that helps people learn the skills to reach their employment goals. The childhood development centre provides daycare to kids from across Saskatoon. And of course there is the gym that many years ago I frequented when I was a university student living a block away from YWCA.

For this episode, we focus on the YWCA’s Emergency Crisis Shelter, the long term residents and the programming it provides to women and their families in need of help.

Kim Fisher is the Director of Residential Programs at the YWCA and is a very busy person. She oversees several different support programs, which she talks about in our conversation, and has been helping with the organization’s efforts to expand their capacity through their Hope Lives Here campaign.

The need for safe housing is high in Saskatoon.

In 2022, the YWCA Crisis Shelter and Residence turned away more than 4000 women, youth and children looking for a safe place to stay in our community.

Kim shares the wonderful news of the campaign’s success and the expansion happening right now at the YWCA in our conversation. She also explains why it takes so much courage for women to seek out the help and services offered at the YWCA and why this work means so much to her.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and feel free to tell a friend about YXE Underground!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

If this is your first time listening, welcome! YXE Underground is local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for 'Walking with Lisa' episodes.

In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these 'Walking with Lisa' episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

Now, for this episode, we might have skipped out on the walking part due to the weather! It snowed on the day we were going to record and I just wasn't ready to walk in the cold and deal with slippery sidewalks yet. So Lisa graciously offered her office instead. I promise we will walk next month no matter how cold it is!

Our conversation centered around a couple of really interesting themes. The first is the idea of belonging versus fitting in, which is something that really hit home with me in regards to my days as a journalist, and then how that idea fits into what makes a supportive, inclusive community. As always, Lisa shares her thoughts and insights in a clear and honest way. I am grateful for these conversations and I hope you enjoy them too.

These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops November 9th!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Literacy is something many of us take for granted, and yet one in three people in Saskatchewan struggle when it comes to things like reading, writing, comprehension numeracy skills. At Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, a dedicated group of staff and volunteers is helping adults who want to improve their literacy skills for free.

Charlene Siwak is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations and sees the impact literacy has in our community. She takes listeners inside the Adult Literacy Programs offered by Foundations and why this work means so much to her in this episode.

I think it takes courage for people to admit when they need help and seek out resources that can help them achieve their goals, and when it comes to Foundations Learning and Skills, the goals it helps people reach revolve around literacy.

The organization, formerly known as READ Saskatoon, has been helping people 18 and over in Saskatoon and the province for decades achieve their learning goals.

Charlene Siwak and her colleagues work with learners from all walks of life in Saskatoon to help them reach their goals, and what I found so interesting in speaking with Charlene is just how unique it is working with adult learners compared high school or elementary school students.

She is passionate about making a difference in peoples’ lives and as you will discover in our conversation, loves working with adults to reach their education goals. I learned so much from Charlene in our conversation and I know you are going to as well.

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcasts here in Saskatoon. I really appreciate your support. Don't forget to tell your friends about the podcast and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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This month, the Broadway Theatre is celebrating 30 years as a community owned and operated theatre in Saskatoon which is an achievement worth celebrating.

The Broadway is many things to many people. For music lovers, it’s a place where they can see their favourite artists and bands in an intimate setting and discover new and emerging talent from across the world.

If you love live theatre, then you have no doubt seen the Saskatoon Soaps perform on stage or watched a theatre group perform during the Fringe festival.

Movie fans flock to the Broadway for classic films, the best in global cinema and independent Canadian movies. I even dragged my wife with me to see a screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at the Broadway…an experience I know she is grateful for!

For the past 30 years, the Broadway has been a hub of cultural and community events in Saskatoon and the future looks bright for the next 30 thanks to strong leadership, community support and an army of passionate volunteers.

I was fortunate to speak with three amazing people who love the Broadway Theatre. Holly Gilroy is the Broadway's Operations Manager, Aryn Otterbein is its Artistic Director and April Sora is a previous board member and passionate volunteer. Together, they cover everything from the joys of working with the community to ensuring the next 30 years are just as successful for the Theatre.

Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of the podcast. The Broadway is one of my favourite places in Saskatoon and we are really lucky to have such a hub for community events in our city.

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!

I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for 'Walking with Lisa' episodes.

In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch.

She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.

The premise of these 'Walking with Lisa' episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

For this episode, I met Lisa on a very sunny afternoon the University of Saskatchewan campus. Our conversation centered on a presentation she had recently given with her friend Adrianne Vangool at the Evoke Conference that focused on comparison versus envy.

These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes will drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

A few housekeeping notes...

A special bonus episode of YXE Underground will drop on Tuesday, October 3rd, that will take listeners to the Broadway Theatre which is celebrating 30 years as a community owned theatre in October. This was a fun one to record as we look at what makes the Broadway such a unique cultural organization in Saskatoon and what's on tap in terms of concerts and events this fall.

Then on October 12th, a brand new episode drops featuring Charlene Siwak will be released. Charlene is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, which was formerly Read Saskatoon, and she is such a wonderful person. I can't wait for you to hear how she is making a difference in our community.

Finally, if you have a dog or cat, you definitely need a YXE Underground dog or cat bandana! They are yellow and black, cost 10 dollars and all the money will go to New Hope Dog Rescue's Animal Safekeeping Program, which was the focus of this month's episode of the podcast. It's an incredible program and we are raising money for it through these dog and cat bandanas, so please reach out to me on social media or email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com if you would like one.

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy our walk!

Cheers...Eric

Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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Welcome to Season Six of YXE Underground. Thank you so much for your continued support and I am thrilled to be back sharing stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar.

This season's first episode focuses on the Animal Safekeeping Program. It is a partnership between New Hope Dog Rescue and the Saskatchewan SPCA and is helping people and animals who are leaving a domestic abuse or interpersonal violence situation.

I was fortunate to speak with Sandra Archibald and Laura Zmud to learn more about the Animal Safekeeping Program.

Sandra is the Executive Director of New Hope Dog Rescue and Laura is the Family Ties Coordinator with the Saskatchewan SPCA. They found time in their busy schedule to meet with me at the SPCA office in Saskatoon to share more about the program and its importance in our community.

I learned so much from speaking with Sandra and Laura and have so much respect for the work they are doing to help people who are experience interpersonal violence and their pets. I know you are going to learn a great deal as well.

I want to mention that I am doing two podcast merchandise fundraisers for the Animal Safekeeping Program. The first are dog and cat bandanas that are yellow and have a black YXE Underground logo on them. They cost 10 dollars and your pet will look so good wearing them! The second fundraiser is a new round of YXE Underground t-shirts! The shirts are 3/4 length baseball tees that are blue and white with a blue YXE Underground logo. They sell for 25 dollars. All of the money from the sale of bandanas and shirt will go to the Animal Safekeeping Program. You can reach out to me on social media or send an email to ericandersonyxe@gmail.com if you would like some new merchandise and to help people and animals in need.

Thank you so much for listening to this season's debut episode and thanks again to Sandra and Laura for their generosity and kindness.

Cheers...Eric

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Hello and welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson and I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far.

I spent the first two weeks of July on a trip to Scandinavia with my Dad and had a really great time there. We spent time in Norway, specifically Oslo and a city called Narvik within the Arctic Circle, which was pretty crazy to experience as the sun just doesn't really go down at all. We would go to bed around 1 am and it was like 7pm here in Saskatoon, so that was pretty neat to see.

The reason for our trip was to learn more about my Grandpa Anderson's experiences as a member of the Norwegian Resistance in WWII and we really learned a lot. I posted a little bit about it on the YXE Underground social media channels but I did some audio recording during our trip and fingers crossed I'm going to be doing a radio documentary for CBC Radio about our time in Norway and my Grandpa's experiences.

I am also excited to be back in Saskatoon and to be talking about the Saskatoon Fringe Festival! It's one of my favourite times of the year here in the city. There's great live theatre to take in, there's wonderful local vendors to check out, the buskers are great and if you have kids well there's so much to do!

The Saskatoon Fringe Festival is put on by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre. It starts on August 3rd and goes to August 12th. There's so much going on in the festival, including a return to Broadway Avenue on August 5th and 6th, that I felt it warranted a summer bonus episode with one of my favourite people in the world, Anita Smith.

Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director for 25th Street Theatre and is basically thinking about the Fringe Festival 365 days a year. When I met up with her last week and asked if she was getting any sleep as the festival was getting closer, she told me she was actually dreaming of the Fringe Festival. That's how much Anita Smith cares about putting on a fantastic Fringe Festival for us here in Saskatoon!

Now, before we get to our conversation, I quickly want to mention that Season 6 of YXE Underground will drop on September 14th and I am so excited for this upcoming season! I am going to try some new things this season with more episodes and more online promotion that I am eager for you to hear and see and I have some great new merchandise not only for people but for our four-legged friends as well! I'll share more details as we get closer to September but thank you so much for all of your support and spreading the word on all things YXE Underground.

Have a wonderful time at the Fringe Festival and best of luck to Anita as she attempts to see all 18 plays during the festival!

I started by asking Anita how she was feeling a few days before the festival kicks off.

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Educating people of all ages and cultures is what drives Elaine Sutherland.

For nearly 25 years, she taught in schools, mostly as a kindergarten teacher, and helped her peers incorporate Indigenous history and teachings education into their classrooms. Today, you can find Elaine at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner where she is the Director of Treaty Education.

The history of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner is interesting.

It was created in 1989 by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Government of Canada to guide both parties through their differing views on Treaties. For those unfamiliar with Treaties, in Saskatchewan they are the formal agreements between the Crown and First Nations with their expectations and obligations.

11 numbered treaties were negotiated after confederation and between 1871 and 1921. They cover the territories from present day Ontario to Alberta as well as parts of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. In Saskatchewan, there are six treaties: Treaty 2, treaty 4, treaty 6, treaty 8 and treaty 10. Saskatoon is in treaty 6 territory.

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s vision in our province is to promote respect and understanding of Treaties, and to support Treaty parties in maintaining and enhancing the Treaty relationship through dialogue, neutral support, assistance with resolving disputes, and commitment to the Treaty principles.

I would strongly recommend spending some time on the OTC’s website as there some great online resources available and it’s just interesting learning about this organization.

Learning is a theme in this episode as it’s something Elaine Sutherland firmly believes we should all be doing no matter where we are in our lives.

For the past two years, she has been teaching the importance of treaties to people in our city, our province and across Canada. She left a highly respected teaching career to take on this role and it has not always been easy.

However, you will hear why this work…why sharing the stories of treaties with businesses, organizations and especially teachers, as well as strategies to help on their learning journey, is so meaningful to Elaine.

You will also hear in this episode how Elaine’s new two day education session called the Treaty Learning Journey is connecting with participants here in Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan.

Thank you so much to Elaine for sharing her story on the podcast and to the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for its cooperation and support.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or the the YXE Underground website.

Follow YXE Underground on social media! Simply search 'YXE Underground' on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

This is the Season 5 finale of YXE Underground and I can’t thank all of you enough for supporting my podcast. Whether you’re listening to or sharing the podcast, or maybe you’re telling a friend to check it out, or you’re buying podcast swag that support local organizations…thank you so very much!

I had no idea this podcast would go on for five years and it really is a privilege sharing these stories with you. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. I can’t wait for Season 6 to launch in September and you might hear a summer bonus episode or two between now and the fall.

If you have any recommendations when it comes to people or organizations that should be featured on the podcast, I would love to hear them. Feel free to send an email to ericandersonyxe@gmail.com or fill out a nomination form on the website. You can also drop me a line on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I know there are so many people in Saskatoon making a difference in our community who are flying under the radar so let’s get them on the podcast and share their stories.

I hope you have a safe and wonderful summer and be on the lookout for a few bonus episodes in July and August before Season 6 begins in September.

Cheers...Eric

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It’s a Thursday night and four people are sparring under the careful watch of Haven Seto.

For years, Haven has worked with athletes of all ages to help them develop their boxing, kickboxing and wushu skills. Wushu is also known as kung-fu, and it’s played an important role in Haven’s life.

I am so excited to introduce you to Haven Seto.

He is the epitome of a community leader. He loves helping others, he is passionate about making his community a better place, and he understands the importance of hard work and kindness.

For the past 15 years, Haven has worked at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association here in Saskatoon. This organization provides programs and services to help newcomers and Indigenous find success in their communities and has been doing this work since 1964.

Haven oversees all of the employment programs and as you will hear in our conversation, he takes so much pride in helping newcomers and Indigenous people find meaningful employment in Saskatoon.

He also owns and operates the Chinese Martial Arts Academy where he is one of several coaches working with athletes of all ages. Mentorship and helping others are key aspects in Haven’s life and he’s able to do both in his role not only at the gym but at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association.

It was a true pleasure spending time with Haven to not only learn about the many roles he plays in our community but about why all of his work means so much to him. Haven's personal story is compelling and I think one that you will connect with.

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website.

Find YXE Underground on social media. Search YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for episode updates and photos from each episode. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast.

Cheers...Eric

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It has been just over a year since Ukrainians began arriving in Saskatoon, fleeing from war with Russia, and arriving with very little to start their new lives in our community.

There have been many stories chronicling the efforts of people and organizations to help Ukrainians not only arrive safely but to set them up for success in Saskatoon and all are worth celebrating.

For this episode, I wanted to highlight the efforts of people you may not know but their work is helping Ukrainian newcomers find safety and security in Saskatoon.

You are going to meet four amazing people in this episode. We will visit Travis Homenuk and Shauna Tilbury at the Saskatoon Public School Division’s Newcomer Student Centre.

We will find out why Linda Rudachyk is working so hard to find affordable housing for Ukrainian families and we start the podcast with a trip to the Saskatoon Open Door Society to meet Lyudmyla Pastushenko.

I want to thank all of my guests for sharing their stories and passion for helping others.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods, or the YXE Underground website.

Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Cheers...Eric

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You can’t help but be in awe when you walk into Child Life Zone at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital.

First of all, it’s really big. There’s plenty of space for kids to simply play which is a concept Dominique Rust touches on several times in our conversation. There are large windows that encompass the room and allow plenty of sunlight in, the ceiling is high and the space has one of the coolest music rooms I’ve ever seen. There’s even a beautiful kitchen and dining space for families to use.

The Child Life Zone is part of a North American organization called Teammates for Kids. There are Child Life Zones in various cities across the United States but Saskatoon is the only city in Canada that has a Child Life Zone.

What is the purpose of the Child Life Zone? It offers support and education for young patients and families to help reduce stress and anxiety that go along with hospital stays, tests and procedures. It also offers kids a break from the hospital setting, which I think is something we can all empathize with. In this space are certified child life specialists, like Dominique Rust, along with recreation therapists and a music therapist.

The Child Life Zone would not exist without a host of community partnerships and sponsors, which Kristina Konchak facilitates in her role with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

It was a real pleasure receiving a tour of the Child Life Zone from Dominique and Kristina. Dominique is the Manager of the Child Life Zone and she manages a team of recreation and child life therapists, as well as a music therapist.

Kristina is the Hospital and Community Engagement Director for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

What I love about our conversation is that as Dominique and Kristina are describing the many amenities in the space, they share the impact they have on children and their families. I hope you enjoy the tour!

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen on the YXE Underground website.

A big thank for all of your support these past five years! YXE Underground recently passed the 50,000 download mark and I am so grateful for each and every one of you for getting behind this local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it!

Here's to the next 50,000 downloads!

Cheers...Eric

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Andrew Baenziger is in his dream job.

As the Adaptive Technologist for SaskAbilities, he is helping people overcome barriers they are facing due to disability or injury through his passion for technology and empathy to help others in need.

Andrew invited us to his workshop to show us how he uses technology, and perhaps a piece or two from his aquarium, to make a difference in lives of people here in Saskatoon.

It was wonderful spending time in his workspace at SaskAbilities for this episode.

The main space, which is a classroom inside an old school, has a few desks which are covered with different devices and creations made by Andrew that are designed to help people in a variety of ways. He calls it his showroom and it’s where most of our conversation takes place…

But his favourite space to spend time is definitely his workshop. It’s attached to the showroom and it’s where Andrew loves to fix things.

As an Adaptive Technologist, Andrew works with people who need help overcoming barriers in their lives. Often times, these barriers revolve around communication. Andrew shares some great examples in our conversation of how he has worked with clients to come up with creative and cost-efficient solutions to barriers they are facing due to disability or injury.

I think one of Andrew’s many strengths is how he combines his passion for technology with a genuine interest in helping people. You will hear a wonderful quote in the second part of our conversation from Andrew where he puts his job into a greater perspective that I think will stick with you.

You will also hear my friend and YXE Underground photographer Rona Andreas ask a few questions to Andrew. Rona is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Sherbrooke Community Centre, which is where I work, and I wanted to make sure she had a chance to ask Andrew some questions because she would view his work through such a unique lens.

Let me tell you…Rona asks some good questions.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or the website: yxeunderground.com. Feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Don’t forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for listening and I hope you enjoy Andrew’s story.

Cheers…Eric

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Welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. This episode is a continuation of last week’s episode where we featured an incredible nonprofit organization called Empty Arms. It is a perinatal support group that provides supports to individuals and families who have experienced the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six.

Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop co-founded Empty Arms in 2015 and were the featured guests in last week’s episode. They were amazing to speak with and the feedback I’ve received from listeners highlights their empathy and kindness. I hope you get a chance to listen to their story if you haven’t done so already.

The other voices you heard in last week’s episode belonged to Dax and Sara Irons. They share the story of their son, Everett, who was born on September 27th , 2018 and passed away two days later. They are grateful for the support Empty Arms provided them during such a difficult time, and in fact it was Sara’s idea to feature Jasmin and Briana on the podcast.

Sara and Dax invited me to their home on a chilly Saturday morning in December to talk about Everett and the supports Empty Arms provided them. It was a really powerful conversation and I can’t thank Sara and Dax enough for their honesty and vulnerability in sharing their story.

I played a few minutes of our conversation in last week’s episode but I want to share with you the entire interview because I just found it so powerful in how it shows the impact Empty Arms has on people like Sara and Dax.

I also wanted to share it because Sara and Dax gave so much of themselves in telling their story. I’ve known Sara for years through Saskatoon’s yoga community but this was the first time I met Dax, and he just shared so much of his heart in our conversation. I am grateful to both of them.

We did the interview in the living room of their home. Dax and I sat on the couch while Sara sat cross-legged on the floor. On the coffee table in front of us were objects that were part of the Empty Arms care package that you’ll hear them discuss throughout the interview.

Again, I am so grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story with me on the podcast.

Listen to and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Cheers...Eric

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Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop took traumatic and devastating experiences with loss and turned them into something that is helping so many people and families in Saskatoon. I think that deserves to be celebrated.

In 2015, Jasmin and Bri created Empty Arms. It is a nonprofit organization that provides support to individuals and families that experience grief and bereavement due to the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six. As you will hear in this episode, Jasmin and Bri started Empty Arms because they experienced the loss of a child and quickly noticed the lack of supports for people who experience such a loss.

The work being done by the staff and volunteers Empty Arms is really incredible. They offer tangible supports to individuals and families when they are in the hospital and help create a supportive community in the months and years following a child's death. Jasmine and Bri explain why this work matters to them so much and how it continues to help them in their respective grieving processes.

It was also interesting to learn how Jasmin and Bri have forged a wonderful relationship with the staff at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital and the team at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation. It's wonderful to see a big organization like the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation recognize the great work of a small, nonprofit organization like Empty Arms.

This episode would not have happened without Sara and Dax Irons who you will hear in this episode. Sara sent me an email last year telling me about the death of their son, Everett, in 2018 and how vital a role Empty Arms played in supporting them through such a difficult time. I am grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story and introducing me to Jasmin and Bri.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities for supporting this episode of the podcast and for being such wonderful fans of all things YXE Underground. You're the best, Rob!

Thank you for listening to this episode and I hope you find it inspirational. I sure did in producing it. Feel free to make a donation to Empty Arms as I know they would appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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If you ever get a chance to talk with Adrianne Vangool, take it. Jump at the opportunity to talk with her because you will find yourself talking with someone who is wonderfully honest and I think truly wise about the world around her. She comes by her wisdom through hard work, curiosity and reflection and its reflected in her debut book, 'The Journey of Self-Care to We-Care.'

Adrianne is a physiotherapist and owns her own business, Vangool Wellness. She is also a fantastic yoga instructor who incorporates yoga into her physiotherapy practice, and she explains the many benefits of yoga for a person's physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health in her book.

She also shares her own personal story in her book. I really admire Adrianne's honesty in sharing some of the struggles she has experienced in her life. I think it shows a great deal of bravery and it's something we talk a lot about in this conversation.

We also talk about Adrianne's creative side as well. As you'll discover in her book, Adrianne loves writing poetry and she writes some beautiful poems that connect with different themes. I think the poems give the reader a better sense of who Adrianne is as a person and why writing this book was so meaningful to her.

Adrianne was kind enough to ask if she could be featured on the podcast to help promote the book. Of course I said because, well, just read the first paragraph of these show notes! We met at Vangool Wellness and sat crosslegged in her yoga studio to talk about the many themes in her debut book. I am very grateful to Adrianne for the opportunity to interview her and I am so excited for her book to launch in January of 2023.

Speaking of book launches, Adrianne is having a book launch on January 22nd at Ivy Yoga House from 1-3pm. The amazing Lisa Grieg is hosting the event and will be asking Adrianne questions about the book. The book launch is free to attend but you do have to register online.

Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of YXE Underground! I hope you enjoy our conversation and be sure to buy Adrianne's book. You will love it!

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Danielle Hoffart's determination and compassion is ensuring kids at St. Mary's Wellness and Education Centre in Saskatoon are getting the supports they need when it comes to food security. She is St. Mary's Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator and is a true liaison between her school and the greater Pleasant Hill community.

St. Mary's is home to 300 students with more than 90 percent being Indigenous. The school, which was built in 2012 and is part of the Greater Catholic School Division, also has a nutrition program, wellness centre, Indigenous Elders, social workers, psychiatrist and a pediatric centre. It is a hub for the community and Danielle is one of its leaders.

Danelle has been involved with food security challenges for many years in Saskatoon. She has a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from the University of Saskatchewan and really developed a passion for the city's core neighbourhoods through working at places like Quint, the Saskatoon Friendship Inn, and CHEP Good Food.

For the past 14 years, she has worked within the Greater Saskatoon Catholic School Division, first as a Community School Coordinator and now as an Aboriginal Student Achievement Coordinator.

I came into this interview wanting to focus on Danielle's work in helping students struggling with food security, and it's something we definitely cover in our conversation, but what became clear as Danielle was touring Rona and I through St. Mary's is just how much she loves her students.

It was a real pleasure speaking with Danielle and I know you're going to love her story.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode of the podcast. I sure appreciate your support, Rob!!

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and follow the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for supporting the podcast and a reminder that I have new YXE Underground zipups for sale! Feel free to contact me through social media if you would like a zipup.

Cheers...Eric

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Take a walk through downtown Saskatoon, River Landing, Riversdale or the University of Saskatchewan campus and you will see public works of art. These pieces reflect our community’s history, they tell important stories and some even become landmarks. Alejandro Romero is passionate about the many positive impacts public art brings to Saskatoon and he shares his convictions in this episode of YXE Underground.

This past summer, my wife and I spent a few weeks in Tennessee visiting places like Nashville, Knoxville and the Great Smoky Mountains. Everywhere we went, we saw really stunning displays of public art. Whether it was a statue or a vibrant mural, there were pieces of art that told stories of their communities and certainly made for an interesting photograph.

These pieces also made me think of Alejandro Romero. I first met Alejandro in February of 2020, just before the pandemic arrived in Saskatoon, at a podcasting workshop for newcomers. He was one of the organizers and we instantly hit it off because Alejandro is just such a warm and inviting person.

Alejandro has called Saskatoon home for the past 20 years. He was born in Puerto Rico and became a professionally trained artist. Since 2012, Alejandro has been the public art consultant with the City of Saskatoon and works closely with artists, businesses, community leaders and city officials to help create and install public pieces of art in Saskatoon. Overall, Saskatoon has 80 pieces of public art.

When I reached out to Alejandro to see if he would be on the podcast, I asked if we could do the interview at one of his favourite pieces of public art in the city. He expanded on that idea and chose four pieces that hold a special place in his heart.

Alejandro takes you on a public art tour in this episode and I know you’re going to love it.

I want to say a special thank you to Saskatoon photographer Ali Mehdi for his amazing photographs and for being such a wonderful collaborator. Please follow Ali on Instagram because the man can really do some incredible work behind the lens.

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

I also want to let you know that new YXE Underground shirts have arrived and they are selling quickly! They sell for 30 dollars and all of the money goes to the Saskatoon Friendship Inn which is doing important work helping our city’s most vulnerable when it comes to food security. Please reach out to me on social media or my email address…ericandersonyxe@gmail.com…if you would like a shirt.

Cheers…Eric

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Spend some time with Charmaine Panko and you will quickly realize how important meaningful and empathetic discussion is to her.

Charmaine is a Saskatoon lawyer who takes a lot of pride in helping couples and families who are going through the divorce process. She worked in a corporate law firm for 10 years after graduating from the University of Saskatchewan's law program but was always intrigued by family law.

She started a niche practice in our community focusing on conflict resolution and uses collaborative law and mediation when working in family law.

Charmaine explains how collaborative law and mediation can help couples going through a divorce make sure their priorities are in the right place while being kind and respectful to one-another in this episode. She also shares her motivation for helping others and why getting people in a room to talk through their concerns is often the best way to reach a solution.

You will also hear from Colleen Mpofu-McBride in this episode. Colleen is a clinical social worker and works in private practice as a therapist with women, couples and families. She knows Charmaine well and has taken her mediation training. Colleen offers her unique insights into the advantages mediation and collaborative law offers couples going through a difficult time.

I really learned a lot from Charmaine in our conversation. She is a warm and generous person who really wants to help people in our community. I really admire that.

I hope you enjoy this episode and please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear! Don't forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook and listen wherever you find your podcasts including the YXE Underground website.

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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Every superhero has an origin story. For hydrologist Phillip Harder, who I consider a water superhero, his origin story traces back to when he first saw a culvert sticking straight up in the air near his farm at the age of seven.

Phillip wanted to know why there was fresh water at the bottom of that odd-looking culvert when there was an alkali body of water nearby. To a seven year-old kid growing up on a farm southeast of Saskatoon, this question needed an answer.

The answer to this question, and the great story that surrounds it, is in this episode of YXE Underground.

Season 5 of YXE Underground begins with Phillip Harder. He is a hydrologist and a Research Associate for the Centre for Hydrology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is also a member of a national team called the Global Water Futures research project.

Phillip is helping communities on the prairies, and especially farmers, learn to best use their fresh water resources. He’s doing this through careful research, flying expensive drones and engaging with people on social media.

I really admire the work Phillip is doing for our communities. I think the issue of fresh water will become more prominent in the years to come here in Saskatoon as we continue to see the impact of climate change and how it impacts the South Saskatchewan River. We rely so much on the South Saskatchewan River here in Saskatoon, but as Phillip points out in the podcast, so do many people in Saskatchewan and Alberta. We are going to need to share this valuable resource and Phillip’s research will help guide us in how best to do so.

You will also hear from Jay Famiglietti in this episode. Jay is the Executive Director for the Global Institute of Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan and hosts a wonderful podcast called What About Water which is produced here in Saskatoon. Jay does an excellent job of putting Phillip’s work into a larger context and discusses the challenges of sharing research with people who are set in their ways when it comes to using water.

This was such a fun episode to produce! I spent a very hot August afternoon with Phillip on his family’s land just south of Clavet, Saskatchewan, which is about 15 minutes southeast of Saskatoon. He not only took me to the infamous vertical culvert but also to a research site where some of his work is taking place. Phillip is passionate about educating people on issues surrounding fresh water and is gifted at explaining things in clear and understandable ways.

I hope you enjoy the Season 5 debut of YXE Underground and I want to thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! When I started this podcast in September of 2018, I had no idea it would find such a caring and engaged audience, and I sure didn’t think I would make it to a fifth season! Thank you so much for your continued support as I really love sharing the stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar.

Cheers…Eric

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Anita Smith is one of my favourite people and it was wonderful to have her back on the podcast for this special summer bonus episode.

Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and a fierce advocate for the arts in our community. When she's not directing and acting in plays, Anita empowers local artists from all backgrounds to tell their stories on local stages. That's one of the many reasons why she is so excited for the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.

25th Street Theatre puts on the Fringe Festival which means Anita and her team are busy all year preparing for the 10 day festival in Saskatoon's Broadway District. This year's festival features the return of international theatre companies to Saskatoon as well as some fantastic local and national companies.

Anita was kind enough to swing by my house on a Sunday morning to offer a preview of this year's Fringe Festival for the podcast. We also discuss the importance of getting kids interested in the arts at a young age and why she feels so strongly about our community supporting local artists.

You can learn more about this year's Fringe Festival and purchase tickets to any of the festival performances by visiting the 25th Street Theatre website.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer and don't forget that Season 5 of YXE Underground drops on September 8th! I have started gathering interviews for the new season and can't wait to share them with you!!

Thank you, as always, for supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it. Have a great rest of your summer and maybe see you at the Fringe!

Cheers...Eric

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It's easy to spot a Science Trek student in Saskatoon. Just look for their bright yellow backpack cover!

To be a member of the Science Trek means you are a part of a family. This is one of the many things I learned about the program after spending a beautiful June day with the class as it prepared for an upcoming canoe trip. It makes a lot of sense.

Students apply to be a part of this unique Saskatoon Public Schools program from across the city and then are chosen from a lottery. Most of the students didn't know each-other on their first day of school, but through a variety of experiences (both inside the classroom and out in the community) they come together to form a family. And this family loves science!

Science Trek teaches students to view the world around them through the lens of science. It is taught by two amazing teachers: Brian Gurney and Ashley Son. Together, they empower their students to discover how science impacts our community in places the northeast swale and the South Saskatchewan River. How they go about doing this is fascinating and I think you'll really admire their approach to teaching.

I had so much fun with the Science Trek class and I think it's a fantastic way to wrap up Season Four of the podcast.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode.

And a big thank you to all you listeners for supporting local, independent podcast this season! I truly do appreciate it.

I hope you have a great summer and I can't wait for Season Five to launch on September 8th!

Talk to you soon, Saskatoon...

Eric

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Megen Olfert smiles thinking about the backyard treehouse her father designed for her when she was a kid.

It was wide enough for a motorised wheelchair to manoeuvre inside, and a cement path wound its way through the backyard up to the treehouse instead of stairs or a ladder.

“I felt like I was on equal ground as a kid,” said Megen, “because sometimes when you’re disabled it means you have to do things differently even though you can do the same thing. It made me feel included.”

Megen was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at nine months old. It became clear to her parents, Charles and Leila Olfert, that their daughter would need a wheelchair and their house would not meet Megen’s needs. So, Charles began designing a new home for the family.

This is an excerpt from a story I wrote for the CBC Saskatchewan website based on this episode. I love the story of Megan's treehouse!

Charles and Leila have been living in this fully accessible home for the past 36 years. Charles is an architect with AODBT architecture and interior design and is passionate about accessibility. He shares that passion in this episode and I am grateful to him for it.

I am also grateful to have met Megen at her condominium at Cheshire Homes of Saskatoon, along with her service dog, Que. He makes a few appearances in this episode.

What you are going to hear is the story of a young woman who was not going to let her disabilities prevent her from living a full and abundant life and the father who used his architectural and design knowledge to ensure she had access to everything she needed.

Charles was kind enough to give me a tour of his house before introducing me to Megen at her condo. In between the tour and meeting Megen, I sat down with Charles to learn more about his passion for accessibility, how he is working with local businesses and organizations to make accessibility a priority, and his belief in the Rick Hansen Foundation's certification course.

I had so much fun spending time with Charles and Megen and I hope you enjoy listening to their story.

Thank you so much for continuing to support a local, independent podcast and don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. Oh, and there are some wonderful photos of Charles and Megen taken by Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas on the website and social media sites.

Thanks again for listening!

Cheers...Eric

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Knowing where your next hot meal is coming from is a luxury most of us take for granted, but there are people in our community from all backgrounds who struggle to find their next breakfast or lunch. The Friendship Inn has spent the past 50 years helping vulnerable people in our community struggling with food security get the supports they need.

Every morning and lunch, 365 days a year, the Friendship Inn serves a free breakfast and lunch to people who need it. What's really amazing to me is that the organization never missed a meal in the pandemic.

I was able to spend a morning at the Friendship Inn on a sunny Thursday in late March. I feel very lucky to have met a wonderful group of people who care for our community's most vulnerable with compassion and empathy. In this episode you'll meet Sandra Kary (Executive Director), Laura Herman (Development and Engagement Manager), Jenna Gull (Chef) and Tracy Block (Staff Member) and they do a fantastic job of sharing how the Friendship Inn is able to support so many people.

Food security is an ongoing challenge in Saskatoon and there are many organizations who are working hard to meet this challenge. The Friendship Inn is certainly playing a vital role and I think that point will become clear to you after listening to this episode.

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of the podcast if you like what you hear and you can see some great photos from this episode simply by checking out YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode.

Thank you again to the Friendship Inn for welcoming me with open arms!

Thanks for supporting a local, independent podcast! It really does mean a lot.

Cheers...Eric

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"Everybody in the pandemic has seems more friendly and more open. I've seen so many more people during the pandemic actually engaging in eye-contact and actually stopping and saying hello."

I love this statement from Frances Sreedhar! If anyone knows how people are acting on the Meewasin trails, it's Frances.

Frances has walked more than one million steps on the Meewasin Valley trails since the pandemic started back in March of 2020 here in Saskatoon. She started walking for many different reason, which she explains eloquently in this bonus episode of the podcast, and realized that she had the opportunity to help two organizations close to her heart through her daily walks on the trails.

In 2021, Frances raised thousands of dollars for the Meewasin Valley Authority and the Canadian Mental Health Association and is at it again in 2022. She has done a marvellous job of sharing her story with the local media (CTV Saskatoon, CBC Saskatchewan, Global Saskatoon) and I feel very lucky that she is appearing on the podcast to talk about the joys of walking and why fundraising for these two organizations is so important to her.

If you would like to help Frances reach her 2022 fundraising goal, please check out her Facebook Page.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast and hope to see you on the MVA trails this spring!

Cheers...Eric

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Two years ago, Saskatoon was preparing to host the Juno Awards. Covid-19 was definitely in the news, but it had not reached our community yet. All systems were ready to go celebrate the best in Canadian music.

For myself, I was excited to release a pair of YXE Underground episodes highlighting the behind the scenes work it took to bring the Juno Awards to Saskatoon and to host the JunoFest concert series.

All of that changed when the first case of Covid-19 was confirmed in Saskatchewan. The Junos were cancelled. School was quickly moved to online learning at home, and my job as Communications Leader at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long term care home in Saskatoon, quickly focused on crisis communications.

We are now two years into the pandemic and I wanted to tell that story through the lens of registered nurses in this episode. Every day, I see the incredible work performed by nurses and I know the positive impact they are having on residents, patients and families in our community and across the province.

I also know this pandemic has been especially challenging for all health care workers…nurses included. What I really appreciate about these guests you are about to meet is how honest they are about the challenges they have faced throughout the past two years.

Jenna Isley, Lana Mayerle and Jamie Coates are the three nurses you will meet and I think hearing their stories will give you a new appreciation for the work they do and the impact the pandemic has had on them.

I want to thank Jenna, Lana and Jamie for sharing their stories on the podcast and for all of the work they, and all of their health care colleagues, have done throughout the pandemic caring for others.

This episode was supported by Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford. Thank you for always supporting the podcast, Rob!

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of YXE Underground if you like what you hear.

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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It's 9:30 on a cold January morning at the Saskatoon Field House and 85 year-old George Parchomchuk is right where he wants to be. He is walking on the track!

For the past 20 years, George has been a member of the Coronary Artery Rehabilitation Group. He suffered his first cardiac event in 2001 and is grateful for the education and support he has received in the group. I know this because George Parchomchuk is my uncle and he sparked the idea to do this episode.

CARG is a non-profit, peer support group for people who have experienced a cardiac event. It offers supervised exercise and educational programs to its members and does an excellent job of creating community here in Saskatoon.

Members are easy to spot on the Field House track thanks to their bright red shirts. The significance of these red shirts is explained by Al Sather in the episode. Al, who was a member of the Saskatoon Police Service, became a CARG member in 2016 after undergoing open-heart surgery.

Al is joined in the episode by CARG President, Dennis Johnson. Dennis, who was a highly regarded professor at the University of Saskatchewan, became a CARG member in 2005 after a series of heart incidents including open-heart surgery.

Al and Dennis share their personal stories in the episode and explain how CARG continues to benefit hundreds of people in Saskatoon. They are honest, sincere and I think are amazing ambassadors for the organization.

Follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5 star review if you like what you hear.

Thank you so much for listening and support a local, independent podcast and thanks again to Al, Dennis and my Uncle George for their help in making this episode such a success!

Cheers...Eric

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“It’s the hardest thing for them to walk through the door because nobody wants to be in that position. It’s their reality now. They are a bereaved by suicide person. So when they rip off that first Band-Aid and they come in, they’re just met with such warmth, caring and a level of understanding. It sort of gives them a place where they now belong. That community of belonging is so special.”

This is one of the many quotes from Jill Cowan that stuck with me after our conversation. She is compassionate, full of empathy and not afraid to talk about a subject that many, myself included, feel uneasy to discuss.

In 2015, Jill's 16 year-old son Max died by suicide. It was a devastating loss for Jill and her family and they looked for support to help them with their grieving. This proved to be very difficult.

Jill experienced a gap in services many families in Saskatchewan have experienced when looking for support after a death by suicide. This experience sparked her to co-create, along with her friend and social worker, Anjeanette Corbeil, a program called Healing to the Max.

Healing to the Max offers a 12-week intensive group session for adults where a facilitator works with participants to understand and work through their grief in a variety of ways including journaling and art therapy. There are also sessions available for teens ages 11-19.

Jill, who is also a group facilitator, opens up in our conversation about why she co-created the program and explains how families come together in the group sessions. She also touches on her grieving for Max and how that empathy allows her to truly connect with families in the program.

Jill also has big plans for growing Healing to the Max that I think you will find inspiring.

I am very grateful to Jill for putting me at ease during our conversation. As you'll hear in the episode, Jill went to extraordinary lengths to make me feel comfortable and I think that really helped to set the tone for a wonderful conversation.

You can find YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

You can also follow the podcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Thank you so much for supporting a local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode.

Cheers...Eric

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When I think of a fire department, I think of red fire trucks with ladders reaching towards the sky and fire fighters who are willing to sacrifice themselves to save the lives of others.

All that is true with the Saskatoon Fire Department, but there is another side to this department that is making a difference in our community through empathy, dignity and respect.

This episode looks at the work of the Saskatoon Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Team. This group is lead by Assistant Chief Yvonne Raymer and supported by Chief Morgan Hackl. They are the featured guests in this episode and do an outstanding job of articulating how important this team's work is in Saskatoon.

The Community Risk Reduction Team focuses on issues such as homelessness, addictions and mental health challenges. It engages our most vulnerable population through meaningful conversations and then works with other community groups such as CUMFI to ensure people who need help finding safe housing or mental health supports do not fall through the cracks.

I learned so much from Yvonne and Morgan during our conversation and have a greater appreciation for the work being done by the Saskatoon Fire Department in our community. I hope you feel the same after listening to this episode.

Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify or the website. Don't forget to leave a five-star review if you like what you hear!

Thank you so much to Yvonne and Morgan for taking the time to speak with me on the podcast and for the work they are doing in our community.

Thank you again for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and we'll talk with you again in 2022!

Cheers...Eric

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For Nahanni Olson, the best way of reaching Indigenous youth in our community is through meaningful relationships, and that’s why I think she is the perfect person to lead this new University of Saskatchewan mentorship program called BIRM. She is all about relationships!

BIRM stands for Building Intercultural Resilience Mentorship. The program is in the pilot stage and is partnering with two local high schools, Mount Royal Collegiate and Bedford Road Collegiate, to connect Indigenous high school students with university students.

I think it's a wonderful program with so much potential to make a meaningful difference not only in the lives of high school students but in the university mentors as well.

Nahanni has been making a difference in our community for years. She has been a teacher in the Saskatoon Public School Division since 2008 and spent the past four years as Bedford Road Collegiate's first Indigenous Student Advocate before taking on this new role with the University of Saskatchewan. Educators can have such a positive impact on their students and as you'll discover in this episode, Nahanni has left her mark on many students in Saskatoon.

Nahanni is someone who has been on my radar for the podcast for the past few years thanks to my wife, Jen. She taught with Nahanni at Mount Royal for years and cannot say enough amazing things about her. I have to admit that I was slightly nervous when I first met Nahanni on a very warm November afternoon on the UofS campus. This was THE Nahanni Olson I had heard so much about that I was speaking with and I didn't want to mess it up.

Honestly, I don't think I could have messed up a conversation with Nahanni because she is so easy and wonderful to speak with. She is an excellent listener and passionate in her beliefs. She wants Indigenous youth to think beyond what is expected of them and see that they can make a difference in the world.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! I know you are going to love listening to Nahanni (I sure did) and hopefully you'll learn as much as I did from her.

You can listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Best of luck to Nahanni and all the students in the BIRM program!

Cheers...Eric

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"In rural-speak: head out of the city on 22nd Street and stay on Highway 14 for about 10km."

This is how Katie Suek started an email this summer when we were coordinating this podcast episode. Despite the fact that it's a short drive from Saskatoon to the Suek acreage, as soon as you step foot on Restoring 71, you do feel like you are light years away from the city.

In 2015, the Suek family purchased an 80-acre acreage west of Saskatoon as a way to reconnect with nature and offer their children the opportunity to spark a love for the natural world. They used nine of those acres to build a home and left the remaining 71 in the hands of mother nature.

Today, those 71 acres have become an incredible conservation and restoration project, and the really cool thing is that Katie wants you to come visit her backyard for free! Since the Covid-19 pandemic started in March of 2020, Restoring 71 has hosted hundreds of visitors, including elementary and high school students, seeking to connect with nature in a meaningful way.

What I love about Katie's story is that she is encouraging people to come visit her home; to visit Restoring 71; to learn about conservation and simply enjoy a space that nature has reclaimed after generations of farming.

I feel very lucky to have spent a beautiful August evening with Katie and her husband, Aaron, exploring the trails of Restoring 71 and hearing their passion for this unique project. I think what they are doing with Restoring 71 makes them community leaders when it comes to understanding our relationship with nature, and I hope you are able to experience their 71 acres and soak in its beauty.

A big thank youto Saskatoon's Escape Sports for supporting this episode of the podcast! If you're looking for outdoor gear in Saskatoon, be sure to check out Escape Sports.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast. If you like what you hear, don't forget to tell a friend and leave a 5-star podcast review.

Follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the website or wherever you find your podcasts.

Thank you so much for listening and I hope you enjoy your time at Restoring 71.

Cheers...Eric

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Welcome to Season Four of YXE Underground. I am very grateful for your support of this local, independent podcast and I am excited to be sharing another season of stories with you.

We begin Season Four with an in-depth look at safe and affordable housing in Saskatoon. This is an issue that has come up time and time again throughout the podcast. Whether it is looking at mental health issues in our community or focusing on addictions, the lack of safe and affordable housing in our community comes up as a root cause of these issues.

I have been looking for a way to approach the issue on the podcast for over a year now but was struggling with finding a way into the story. Luckily, I received an email from Sheri Benson this past summer. Sheri is the CEO of the United Way Saskatoon and a YXE Underground listener. She told me I should do an episode on safe and affordable housing and I said, "sure...but I will need your help!"

We met for lunch and came up with three people who we thought would make great guests on the podcast and could bring unique perspectives to the issue. I am thrilled they all said yes to being on the podcast.

Priscilla Johnstone is the Homelessness Action Plan Manager with Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership. She works with community organizations to deliver funding for various housing projects. Priscilla also works directly with Saskatoon's homeless population and does so through an Indigenous lens.

Jordan Mills is the Director of Clinical Services at Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services. He helped to start an innovative housing program in 2014 called Housing First. It is a unique program and one that Jordan passionately discusses in this episode.

Chelsie Fulton is the Pride Home Manager for OUT Saskatoon. Pride Home is a house that provides 2SLGBTQ youth between the ages of 16 and 21 a safe place to live open and free lives. It opened five years ago and is serving an important role in Saskatoon.

All three guests bring passion, empathy and years of experience to their roles, and it was a real pleasure speaking with them for this episode.

You can follow and listen to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also listen to every episode on the website. Don't forget to follow to YXE Underground on social media and feel free to leave a review if you like what you hear.

Thank you so much for supporting this local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode.
Cheers...Eric

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I’m very excited to share with you a conversation I had last month with a really insightful and caring person named Lisa Grieg. Lisa is a social worker by trade and has worked as a therapist in the past. Currently, she works as a Student Affairs Professional at the College of Dentistry at the University of Saskatchewan and is about to have her second child.

Lisa also has a wonderful podcast called Highlighting Real as well as a great Instagram Page with the handle Lisa Grieg Wellness. Through her Instagram account and podcast, Lisa shares stories and sparks conversations centering on mental health and wellness, but what I love about Lisa is she does this in a very authentic and genuine way.

In no way does Lisa try and tell people how to feel or sell them something as a quick fix to mental health challenges. Instead, she shares what is going on in her busy life...Lisa has a husband with great musical tastes named Ross and a son, Holden…and the challenges they all face. I really admire how Lisa discusses mental health and wellness and I wanted to know more about how she’s able to spark so much interest and discussion in our community through her podcast and Instagram account.

We met at Sparrow Coffee shop on 2nd Avenue and sat down outside to talk. It was the day after Saskatchewan’s public health orders were lifted and you’ll hear that mentioned a few times in our conversation. You’ll also hear Lisa discuss why she wants to connect with people in our community, how wellness has become so commodified in recent years, and if she ever feels like she shares too much on social media.

I loved speaking with Lisa and I hope you find the time to find her podcast and Instagram accounts as they are both worth your time.

Don't forget that Season Four of YXE Underground drops on September 9th. Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts or the website. Thank you for all of your support and talk with you soon!

Cheers...Eric

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Welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. I hope you are having a great summer so far and are managing to stay cool in what has been a sweltering summer here in Saskatoon.

I want to share with you a conversation I had a few weeks ago with a really amazing young man named John Langan.

John is a member of the Canadian Military and the Saskatoon Police Service, and on July 21st, he will make his debut as an author. John has written a memoir entitled Iskoces Tipiskak.

It is a remarkable look at his life, the role indigenous spirituality and culture plays in everything he does, the impact of residential schools on his family and the role indigenous peoples will play in our country’s future.

In the last few months, we have all been reminded of the terrible atrocities committed on Indigenous peoples across Canada. The discoveries of unmarked graves on the grounds of residential schools in Kamloops, BC and Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan are a terrible legacy of colonization that will impact Canadian society for generations to come.

It’s something John and I discuss in the episode and how his book can further that conversation.

John is a joy to speak with. He is charismatic, kind, passionate and determined to bring about change in so many different. You will hear him laugh lots in our conversation, but as he explains, don’t let that fool you in thinking he is not serious about his role as a leader in his community. It’s simply a way he manages the trauma and pain he encounters and feels.

John and I met for coffee here in Saskatoon on a Sunday morning and covered a lot of ground in just a half-hour. That's probably because he’s so easy to speak with. We talk about why he wanted to write a memoir now and what he hopes to accomplish with his book. We also discuss how it connects to the tragic news coming out of Kamloops and Cowesssess.

I want to warn you that we bring up some very difficult subjects and John shares some deeply personal and heartbreaking stories.

If any of these stories are triggering for you, please know that supports are available for anyone affected by the lingering effects of residential schools and those are who are triggered by what is happening in Canada right now. The Indian Residential School Survivors Society can be contacted toll free at 1-800-721-0066.

A national Indian Residential School Crisis Line has been set up to provide support for former students and those affected. You can access emotional and crisis referred services by calling the 24-hour national crisis line at 1-866-925-4419.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge that this interview was done on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

Please feel free to follow and like YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website.

Thank you again to John for sharing his story on the podcast.

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When you walk into Saskatoon's Prince Philip School, a wave of hospitality and community hits you. It's a small elementary school tucked away in the city's south end and it holds a special place in Mindy's Macdonald's heart.

Mindy attended Prince Philip as a child and now teaches kindergarten in a carefully classroom to ensure her students are kept safe during the pandemic. Seriously, I just stood in amazement at the amount of empathy and creativity Mindy put into her classroom this year. She does a wonderful job of explaining why she had to organize the space in this way during the first few minutes of the episode.

My nephew, Everett, was the first person to tell me about Mindy Macdonald. He is six years-old and is in her class. He loves how enthusiastic Mrs. Macdonald is and the fact that she allows animals and plants in the classroom. After spending an hour with Mindy, I can see why my nephew thinks so highly of her.

I am biased in my support of teachers. I had a brief two year career as a teacher and my wife teaches high school in Saskatoon. I know how hard the profession is and the insane amount of work that good teachers put in for their students. Mindy Macdonald is one of those teachers.

In this episode, you'll discover how Mindy has done an incredible job of creating a sense of community with her students and their parents despite the fact that Covid-19 prevented so many of those little interactions between teachers and students. Hearing Mindy describe how she has taught proper speech even though she couldn't see the mouths of her students due to masks was so interesting. There are plenty of WOW moments in our conversation and I think you will really connect with Mindy's passion.

This is the final episode of Season Three of YXE Underground and I want to thank you, the listener, for all of your support! The podcast reached a new level of listenership and engagement this season and I am grateful for it. I also want to thank all of the guests who appeared on the podcast this season. It takes courage to share your story in such a public way and all of my guests did an amazing job.

I also want to thank all of the local businesses who supported the podcast this season. For this episode, the great team at Ivy Yoga House offered their support and I am so grateful. The community that Jen Rondeau and her teachers have created is something special. I have been practicing there for almost a year now and I am getting closer to getting my heels to the ground in downward dog!!

I'll be spending the summer gathering interviews for Season Four which will drop in September, but I'll be dropping some bonus episodes in July and August so be sure to subscribe to the podcast so that you don't miss an episode.

I hope you have a safe and wonderful summer and thank you again for all of your support this season!!

Cheers...Eric

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Jordan Stovra's character cannot be contained behind a mask and a hairnet.

For the past eight years, the 24 year-old former football player has worked pretty much every job you can imagine at the Varsity Common Sobeys on 8th Street and Cumberland in Saskatoon. Whether it's cutting halibut steaks in the seafood department, collecting carts in the parking lot, checking lottery tickets or even trying his hand in the produce section, there's nothing Jordan can't do in his store. He loves his job and is a joy to be around.

I've seen Jordan every weekend for the past year. My wife gives me a shopping list and off I go to the Sobeys to purchase groceries. I love doing it. It gives me purpose and makes me feel like I am in control of at least one part of my life when so many other things are no longer within my grasp. I wouldn't be able to do this without essential workers like Jordan coming into work every day to make sure the shelves are stocked.

I wanted to recognize the work of grocery store workers in this pandemic and Jordan seemed like the perfect person to feature on the podcast. I am grateful he said yes and I am also grateful the local and national managers at Sobeys felt the same way! It can sometimes be tricky navigating the corporate structure of a big company to get an interview request answered, but Sobeys was great to work with and I think listeners are really going to love this episode.

Jordan talks about the challenges posed by the pandemic and just how crazy the first few weeks were when Covid-19 arrived in Saskatoon. "Every day felt like December 23rd which was our busiest day. It was like that for two straight weeks," explains Jordan in the episode.

He talks about how the pandemic has brought his colleagues together in some ways but he also discusses the things Covid-19 has robbed him of. Jordan might give off a rough and tough vibe when you first meet him but he's a really sweet and kind person with a big heart who cares for those around him.

Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas and I were able to spend a Saturday morning in mid-April with Jordan just as the store was opening up. You'll hear people shuffling up and down the aisles, busy checkout stations and Jordan smiling as he cuts halibut steaks for customers to enjoy. It was so much fun spending time with Jordan and seeing how much he truly cares about his job.

A big thank you to Ivy Yoga House for supporting this episode of YXE Underground. I think it's the best yoga studio in Saskatoon and I hope you get the chance to check it out!

Don't forget to follow and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your podcasts. Stream episodes on the website as well. Please rate and review YXE Underground if you like what you hear.

Thank you for supporting this local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate all of your support and I hope you're all staying well and healthy.

Cheers...Eric

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On a December evening in 2017, Andrea Schick's life was thrown into chaos.

The health of her four and a half year-old son, Sebastian, quickly took a turn for the worse. Doctors in Regina didn't know what was wrong and because Saskatchewan didn't have a children's hospital at the time, Andrea and her family were forced to travel to Edmonton so that Sebastian could receive care.

It was in Edmonton that Andrea and her family relied on the Ronald McDonald House organization to provide the structure and support they desperately needed during Sebastian's time in the hospital.

Sadly, Sebastian's story did not have a happy ending. He passed away and as you'll hear in this episode, the loss will forever stay in Andrea's heart.

What will also stay in her heart is her support of the organization that helped her family through such difficult circumstances.

In this bonus episode of the podcast, Andrea shares her son's story and explains how the Ronald McDonald House supported her and her family when they needed it most. She also explains why she has become involved with the Ronald McDonald House here in Saskatoon and the importance of supporting those families whose stories do have happy endings.

I want to thank Andrea for agreeing to be on the podcast. Andrea lives in Regina (but grew up in Saskatoon and even worked at McDonalds when she was a teenager) and we connected through Zoom. It's not easy to share a story like this in any situation, let alone over Zoom with a podcast host you've never met. So Andrea, thank you for opening up the way that you did, and I know your story is going to leave its mark on so many listeners.

This bonus episode stems from the last episode of the podcast where we took listeners inside the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon to meet the staff and discover how they have continued to support Saskatchewan families with sick children during the pandemic. The response to this episode has been amazing and it's clear the organization has impacted so many families across the province.

Thank you for supporting this episode and don't forget to subscribe for free to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also stream all episodes on Spotify or the website.

A brand new episode drops May 13th and I think you will love it!

Stay safe, keeping washing your hands and thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast.

Cheers...Eric

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Spend some time in the Ronald McDonald House here in Saskatoon and you will feel a lot of things.

You will feel the kindness of staff as they work to serve the families that are calling the house home while going through extremely challenging times.

You will feel creativity as you discover all the big and little things within the house designed to make a family's stay as pleasant as possible.

And I think you will feel the strength of an organization that has people pulling in the same direction to serve families.

I feel fortunate to have spent a morning back in February in the Ronald McDonald House and that I get to share that experience with you in this episode.

The Covid-19 pandemic, as you will hear, has made the mission of the Ronald McDonald House (which is to provide programs for families with sick children that positively impact the health and wellbeing of the entire family) a bit more challenging to fulfill.

What you will also hear are people who love what they do at the house and are working together to ensure families are taken care of.

You will hear from the following team members in this episode, and each provide a unique perspective on the organization and what the past year has been like.

Tammy Forrester - CEO
Karen Linsley - Director of Development and Communications
Kim Gilbert - Director of Human Resource Development
Stephanie Turner-Chiasson - Director of Finance
Marcelline Zimmer - Director of Operations

You will also hear from Regina's Andrea Schick who shares her family's experience of staying at a Ronald McDonald House.

I can't imagine a more harrowing experience as a parent than rushing your child to the hospital, especially if you have no idea what is wrong with them. Some Saskatchewan families in this situation travel to Saskatoon in search of answers at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital and often they end up spending time at the Ronald McDonald.

I hope this episode gives you a sense of what happens inside the house and how not even a global pandemic can get in the way of this team fulfilling its mission for Saskatchewan families.

Follow and subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Don't forget to leave a review if you like what you hear.

A big thank you to the Ronald McDonald House team for welcoming Rona and I with open arms! We both appreciate your kindness and generosity.

Special thanks to Saskatoon's Michelle's Flowers for supporting this episode.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast! It means a lot.

Cheers...Eric

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March 20th was the first day of spring and it felt like a day to be outside.

I woke up early to go for a haircut and run a few errands, including picking up lunch for my wife who was at home participating in an all day zoom conference. I think seeing her sitting in front of her laptop inspired me to make the most of the afternoon and headed out for a walk.

I parked off of 14th Street close to Broadway and headed towards the Broadway Bridge. I knew I wanted to end at the Remai Modern and enjoy the Meewasin Trail and River Landing, but as I approached the Broadway Bridge, I wanted to get away from the sound of cars. So I veered left towards the Traffic Bridge.

I haven't walked that bridge in months and you'll hear more people and bikes in this part. I forgot how great the views are of the river on the Traffic Bridge. I also saw lots of lovely puppy dogs and it took all my strength not to walk up to them and say hello...Social distancing played a role in that decision as well!

Once I hit the Meewasin Trail, I headed west towards River Landing and the Remai Modern. You'll hear snippets of conversations from people walking by and one very excited kid who couldn't throw enough rocks in the river.

The end was my favourite part of the walk. The birds were really singing near the Remai and you can hear a bit of the echo coming off the building. You will also hear a group of eight young adults who belonged to a church youth group and were handing out free lunches to members of our community.

One of the members had an acoustic guitar so I motioned for him to strum as I approached them. What I didn't expect was for the group to burst out into song but they sounded wonderful and I appreciate them playing music for an absolute stranger holding a microphone.

I've been listening to a podcast called Field Recordings which features sound from audio-makers from around the world. I just think it's so neat to hear real life in your headphones and so I wanted to capture a little bit of that in this bonus episode.

I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy and safe these days. A brand new episode drops on April 8th featuring the team at the Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon. I think you'll really enjoy it!

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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"If I allow praise to be why I do this job or get wrapped up in that life-saving mentality, I would worry about the job I'm doing. You have to keep some humility."

Jen Rondeau is a very humble and wise woman. As a Critical Care Paramedic, her job is to help those who need immediate medical help. She works with Air Ambulance and Road Ambulance based at Medavie Health Services West in Saskatoon's Stonebridge area. She works with others to save lives.

What I quickly learned, however, is that accepting praise and then letting it go is really important for Jen and she explains why in this episode.

I met Jen last summer when I walked into her yoga studio, Ivy Yoga House. Two things quickly stood out to me. The first was how welcoming the space was. Sometimes I feel intimidated in a yoga studio because I'm just not that good, but there is a great feeling when you enter the studio that instantly puts you at ease.

The second was that Jen was there to greet and say hello to everyone. It's a small but I think important example of Jen's kindness and she explains why this is important in the episode.

I've got to know Jen since that first class and after hearing some pretty incredible stories of being on the frontlines of the pandemic, I just had to have her on the podcast. I am grateful she said yes and was game for doing the interview in the back of one of the ambulances at Medavie headquarters.

Jen is a wonderful storyteller and opens up about the highs (the love she and her colleagues received from the public when the pandemic first started) and the lows (watching conspiracy and anti-mask protests take root in Saskatchewan) of being a paramedic during Covid times. She also discusses the challenges that come with having her own family question the science behind vaccines. It's not easy to talk about these things so I really appreciate her sharing so much with listeners.

Thank you to Saskatoon physiotherapist and yoga instructor Adrienne Vangool for her help with this episode!

A big thank you to City Perks Coffeeshop and Sparrow Coffee for supporting this episode. Both of these locations serve great coffee, great food and are wonderful spots for conversations with friends. Thank you to Coralee and her team for their belief in the podcast!

Follow YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Please give a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Thank you so much for supporting this local, independent podcast! I sure do appreciate it and I know you're going to love getting to know Jen Rondeau.

Cheers...Eric

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How are you doing?

It's a question I have asked my friends, my family, my colleagues and plenty of strangers during the last year. It's been a hard year for many in our community due to the pandemic. I think it's fair to say we've all had to deal with various mental health challenges.

As we approach one year of the Covid-19 pandemic here in Saskatoon, it seemed like the right time to see how we are all doing in terms of our mental health. I am grateful that Samantha Horswill and Colleen McBride agreed with the timing and to appear on the podcast.

Dr. Samantha Horswill is a Registered Psychologist at Chartier Arnold Shimp and Associates here in Saskatoon. Colleen McBride is a registered social worker and counsellor who has a private practice called The Practice. You might remember Colleen from a Season One episode looking at cancer care in Saskatoon.

Samantha and Colleen share not only their experiences throughout the pandemic, but so much wisdom and insight when it comes to mental health. You will hear me say several times in this episode, "I am learning so much from you" because, well, it's true! They both explain complex emotions in clear and articulate ways, and I really think you will learn lots from them.

This episode is a bit longer than most YXE Underground episodes but I really encourage you to listen all the way to end as there are pearls of wisdom sprinkled throughout. I ended up taking two pages of notes when I listened back to our conversation because Samantha and Colleen share much knowledge!

Thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review of the podcast on your favourite podcast app and don't forget to subscribe for free to the podcast wherever you find your podcasts. You can also stream episodes on Spotify or at www.yxeunderground.com

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast! I really do appreciate it.

I hope you are all doing well.

Cheers...Eric

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I love speaking with Scotty Dicks.

In Season One of YXE Underground, Scotty appeared on the podcast to talk about his work in growing Saskatoon's culinary scene. A wonderful chef who loves collaborating, Scotty worked with different restaurants and pubs in the city developing their menus while teaching classes at The Local Kitchen and running his own catering company. He was influential in educating our community where our food was coming from and why that was important to know.

At the end of that episode, Scotty revealed he was ready to get back in the kitchen and was set to open a new restaurant called Odla. In the span of a few years, it has become a staple in Saskatoon's culinary scene and has garnered national attention.

Scotty and his team were really hitting their stride when Covid-19 arrived in Saskatoon. In the span of a few days, everything at the restaurant changed. The menu was revamped, a website was created and Scotty was suddenly left wondering what the future had in store.

What you will hear in this episode is Scotty telling the story of the last ten months at Odla, and what I really love about our conversation is how his leadership style and character comes through as clear as the distinct flavours in his cooking.

I was expecting a bit of doom and gloom from Scotty when recapping his pandemic experience. Instead, I left our conversation inspired and thinking that his leadership style could be applied to so many different businesses and organizations.

What you will also hear are some wonderful sounds from Odla's kitchen on a Saturday night. Seriously, it was so much fun spending an hour with Scotty and his team gathering sound and watching them in action. I was so pumped up after my time in the kitchen and all I did was hold a microphone!

I want to thank Scotty, Lacey Sellinger and the entire Odla team for allowing me some really great access to produce this episode. I hope you can hear the joy because it was so much to make.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for sponsoring this episode. Rob and his team have been managing my money for nearly a decade and they are wonderful to work with! Thanks for believing in the podcast, Rob.

Thank you for supporting YXE Underground and for supporting local restaurants like Odla. Stay safe and keep washing your hands!

Cheers...Eric

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I have had the pleasure of knowing Dr. Jodi Grant for the past four years. Jodi is a resident at Sherbrooke Community Centre, which is where I work, and her life has been full of challenges. However, one of her constant sources of joy has been reading stories out loud to students.

At Sherbrooke, Jodi reads to grade six students as part of the iGen program. iGen, which is short for Intergeneration Program, is a unique partnership between Sherbrooke and the Saskatoon Public School Division. I have seen how much joy Jodi receives from reading to the students and how captivated those students are with Jodi's flare and grace for storytelling.

I think reading out loud is a real art. A person can truly bring a story to life with their voice, their energy and understanding of the text. Jodi is a master storyteller and I am very grateful she said yes to my idea of having her read a Christmas story this year for the podcast.

It has been a challenging year for Jodi in terms of reading out loud to this year's iGen class. Due to the pandemic, the class is not allowed in Sherbrooke. Instead, Jodi has used a microphone and portable speaker to read to the students through a fence at Sherbrooke when the weather was mild. She is now using Zoom to read to the students every day at 1pm to their classroom at Ecole College Park. It has been inspiring seeing her overcome the challenges posed by Covid-19 to continue reading to students.

I also want to say thank you to my friend, Jodi's friend, and iGen lead teacher, Keri Albert for her support in making this episode happen! You're amazing, Keri!!

I hope Jodi's reading brings you a bit of joy this holiday season. Listening to it again sure brought a smile to my face. Thank you so much for all of your support this past year and I really hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season!

See you in 2021...

Eric

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Yulissa Campos has a wonderful presence to her. It's a mix of confidence and conviction, fuelled by a lot of passion to tell and share stories on a stage before an audience.

At the age of 26, Yulissa has accomplished a great deal in Saskatoon's local theatre scene. She has written and performed plays that are uniquely her own and has started her own theatre company, Ay Caramba! Theatre. She takes pride in telling diverse stories and sharing them with people of all backgrounds, and she is working hard to ensure that newcomer and diverse voices are being heard and celebrated in Saskatoon.

I felt Yulissa's presence this past summer when I was hosting a television series focusing on important issues in Saskatchewan's theatre scene. Yulissa was one of the guests for a diversity panel and right away I was just hit with her energy and insights. I knew I had to get her on the podcast!

Yulissa and I met in mid-November, a few weeks after a big dump of snow. I mention this because Yulissa is from Ecuador and is no fan of our chilly winters, but she has made friends in her seven years living in Saskatoon, and is determined to bring more diversity to our city's theatre scene...not only in terms of the actors on stage but those writing the stories.

Right now, Yulissa is getting her play, I, Frida, ready for the Singapore Fringe Festival. She was preparing to travel to Singapore to perform it in person, but due to Covid-19, she will record it in Saskatoon and then have it streamed by the festival. It's a really exciting time for Yulissa and she can't wait to see where her career takes her next!

I loved getting to know Yulissa during our conversation and her stories about growing up as a kid in Ecuador (and how she came to love theatre) were so interesting! I still can't believe how young she is, and I am so impressed with the impact she is having in Saskatoon in so many different ways. I know you're going to love her story!

Thank you for listening and supporting YXE Underground. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website.

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and stay safe and healthy!

Cheers...Eric

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I was very excited and nervous for this interview. I mean, how often do you get to meet people who are literally trying to save the world? In my mind, Andrea Kroeker and Jill Van Kessel are superheroes and it was a real thrill to speak with them.

Andrea and Jill are Research Technicians at Saskatoon's VIDO-InterVac, an organization located on the University of Saskatchewan that has been researching viruses and developing vaccines for decades. This year, VIDO-InterVac has been thrust into the global spotlight because of its work on developing a Covid-19 vaccine.

I have loved reading and listening to stories about the work being done at the VIDO-InterVac facility. I think it's wonderful that national and international news organizations are paying attention to what is happening at VIDO-InterVac, and I also think the local media have done a great job of explaining why the work is so important. My friend and former CBC colleague Alicia Bridges wrote a really interesting story in August that you must read, and The Saskatoon Star Phoenix's Zak Verscera has written several great stories highlighting the work being done at VIDO-InterVac.

I didn't want to copy their stories, but I was curious about what it must be like to be a member of a team working towards such an important goal.

I mentioned how I think Andrea and Jill are superheroes. I think what makes them so interesting and such a perfect fit for the podcast is that if you ran into them say at the grocery store, and didn't know where they worked, you would have no idea they spent their days working on solving a global pandemic that has impacted all of our lives in so many different ways.

I feel very lucky to have met Jill and Andrea. It took about four months to arrange a time to have our conversation, and it almost didn't happen due to a massive snow storm that effectively shut down Saskatoon last weekend. We actually recorded the interview two days before it was released and they were amazing to speak with! They are humble, kind, passionate about their work and genuinely excited to be part of a global effort to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.

We cover a lot of topics in this episode (while wearing masks and at a safe physical distance, which is why Andrea and Jill sound a little distant compared to my voice). Everything from the nature of their work and why they love doing it, to how they deal with the pressure that comes with their jobs. They were very open and honest with me and I really do appreciate that.

There are so many WOW moments in this episode and it was a lot of fun to listen to it again while editing. I hope you enjoy it as well!

A big thank you to Trenna Brusky, VIDO Inter-Vac's Marketing Coordinator, for making this episode happen. We exchanged many emails these past few months and a lot of texts last weekend coming up with Plans A, B and C due to the blizzard. You're amazing, Trenna!

I also want to thank Saskatoon photographer Rona Andreas for stepping in at the last second to take some really wonderful photos of Jill and Andrea.

This episode is sponsored by Uncle Mike's All Natural Products. Mike Zimmer is the owner of Uncle Mike's and in my opinion, he makes the best darn soap in the country! I love that this episode is sponsored by a company that makes great soap because we all need to wash our hands...wash our hands...wash our hands! Visit his website to learn more about his products and I bet you'll find a stocking stuffer or two while you're there.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. If you like what you hear, please leave a 5-Star review and tell your friends!

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. I really appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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The Broadway Theatre holds a lot of meaning for people in Saskatoon.

Some people go to the Broadway for live theatre, others come for movies, and if you're like me, you buy a seat to one of the many of the great concerts hosted by the venue. It really is a hub for Saskatoon's artistic and creative community and like many other venues in our city, it has been hurt by the pandemic.

Kirby Wirchenko is the Executive and Artistic Director of the Broadway Theatre. Our relationship goes back to when I was a journalist at CBC and he was kind enough to let me know of a fundraising campaign that was going to be launched today to help the Broadway pay some bills. I thought a conversation with Kirby about how the Broadway has been impacted by Covid-19 and why now was the right time to ask the community for help would make a nice bonus episode of the podcast.

I miss live music. I miss it so damn much. What worries me is by the time life returns to some sense of normalcy and artists are ready to tour again, there won't be venues for them to play. The Broadway Theatre is one of my favourite places to see a show in Saskatoon and I am confident our community will rally to help Kirby and his team reach their goal.

I hope you enjoy this bonus episode, and if you want to learn more about some of Saskatoon's smaller live music venues, give this YXE Underground episode a listen! It takes you to several smaller venues that were set to be hosts for last April's Junofest music series. The festival didn't happen due to the pandemic, but you'll get a sense of how vibrant Saskatoon's music scene is and why it's important to so many people.

Thanks to Kirby for reaching out to me and thank you for listening! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. A brand new episode of YXE Underground drops November 12th.

Stay safe and healthy, Saskatoon!

Cheers...Eric

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About halfway through our conversation, Natalya Mason describes why she took part in this summer's Black Lives Matter protests in Saskatoon, and I love it when she says, "this wasn't my first protest."

It offers you a hint of Natalya's character. She is passionate, caring, determined and not afraid to say what's on her mind and in her heart.

Natalya is the Education and Outreach Coordinator for Saskatoon Sexual Health. For the past six years, she has worked with different groups in Saskatoon, from elementary and high school students to newcomers and people with disabilities, on all things relating to sexual education. It turns out that this is her dream job and she tells a wonderful story at the beginning of our conversation about how her Mom set her down this path.

Good storytelling is a theme in this episode. Natalya shares some insightful and humorous stories about her time in school classrooms and also opens up about being a black, queer woman in Saskatoon. Her past experiences, as well as the experiences of her family, really fuelled her passion to speak up during Saskatoon's Black Lives Matter protests. I am grateful to Natalya for sharing these stories as it's never an easy thing to do.

I learned so much from Natalya during our conversation and I hope you do as well. She really is one of our community's strongest leaders and I am excited to see how she continues to impact people across Saskatoon.

Thank you for listening and supporting this local, independent podcast. If you like what you hear, please give the podcast a five-star review and tell your friends! Subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website.

I hope all of you are staying healthy and safe. Thank you again for listening and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Natalya!

Cheers...Eric

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You don't forget a person like Julia Holliday-Scott.

Julia is Director of Support Services at Prairie Harm Reduction (formerly AIDS Saskatoon). She is caring, passionate, and is able to articulate her thoughts in a way that makes you think, "yeah, I can get behind that!"

Julia first appeared on the podcast in December of 2019. That was when the safe consumption site was nearing completion. The issue of funding the site, however, was still up in the air. It remains so today.

However, Julia and her Prairie Harm Reduction colleagues were not going to let a little thing like money get in the way of opening the only safe consumption site between Lethbridge and Thunder Bay. They rallied their community to raise enough money to open the site on October 1st...which is today!

I wanted to speak with Julia at the end of day one to see not only how the day went but how she felt about the doors finally opening. We sat down in her office and she went through not only how the first day went but also what this site means to her.

I hope you enjoy our conversation and my thanks to Julia for staying late to speak with me.

Don't forget to subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or at www.yxeunderground.com.

If you like what you hear, please give a review!

Thank you for listening and don't forget that a brand new episode of YXE Underground drops on October 8th.

Cheers...Eric

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There are so many moments from this episode that stand out to me, but one of my favourite is when Tara Janzen and Honey Constant walked up to the massive wire fence to see the bison. They both instinctively reached for the fence and wrapped their fingers around the wires in order to get as close to as possible to the bison. Or as Honey calls them, 'my cousins.'

This episode features two young women who are making a difference in their community through their work at Wanuskewin Heritage Park. Tara is the Director of Development and works with numerous stakeholders and groups sharing the story of Wanuskewin. She is also one of the key players in Wanuskewin's efforts to achieve UNESCO status. Tara is a wonderful storyteller who is committed to ensuring her community understands the importance of Wanuskewin and indigenous history.

Honey is a Senior Interpreter Guide at Wanuskewin with enough personality and warmth to fill the entire park! She has designed a unique program for students that teaches them the cultural and spiritual significance of the bison, and now that the park is once again open to the public, she can't wait to deliver it. The bison hold such meaning for Honey and she explains why in such an eloquent way in the episode.

I really believe that Wanuskewin is doing a wonderful job of educating our community when it comes to Truth and Reconciliation and indigenous culture and history, and the roles Tara and Honey are playing in conveying that knowledge to the public is vital. I think that comes across in this episode.

A big thank you to Andrew McDonald at Wanuskewin for making Rona Andreas, my photographer, and I feel so welcomed at the park. Andrew allowed us access a few weeks before the park opened and made sure we were able to see the bison during our time.

This episode was pure joy to put together. From recording my voice at Wanuskewin when it opened to the public on September 5th to the bison soundscape you'll hear halfway through the episode, it was a lot of fun to immerse myself in the park and hopefully tell Tara and Honey's story in an honest way.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting this episode of YXE Underground. It's great kicking off Season Three of the podcast with such a dynamic episode and I hope you enjoy it. Feel free to leave a review if you really dig it and don't forget to tell your friends!

Cheers...Eric

This episode is sponsored by the great team at Citizen Cafe and Bakery in Saskatoon. Their Douglas Sandwich might just be my favourite sandwich on Earth!

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company.

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When Anita Smith pitches you an idea, it's pretty hard to say no!

Anita is the Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre Company. It is a company rich in history and best known for producing the Saskatoon Fringe Festival every year. This year, due to Covid-19, 25th Street was forced to switch gears and do something different than the Fringe Festival.

Enter the This Is Not That Festival. It's an all encompassing, multi-disciplinary festival running from July 30th to August 8th featuring live theatre, online plays and even...wait for it...a podcast.

Anita, who I am very lucky to call my friend, asked if I would be interested in producing a podcast episode looking at the history of 25th Street Theatre and where it plans to go. As I said earlier, it's hard saying no to Anita because of her passion and energy. I didn't know anything about 25th Street beyond the fact that it produces the Fringe every summer. What I discovered in making this episode is how important this theatre company has been to not only our city but our province's theatre scene.

In this episode, you'll hear some great stories from award-winning author, Dwayne Brenna, about the early days of 25th Street Theatre. You will meet Maria Campbell, an award-winning Metis playwright who shares some strong opinions on the role theatre should be playing in Saskatoon. You'll visit Cynthia Dyck's home in Saskatoon and discover how watching a 25th Street production in high school set her down the theatre path. And finally, you'll hear from Anita Smith about why she wanted people in our community to learn about 25th Street's compelling and eclectic history.

This episode would not have been possible without the hard work of 25th Street summer student, Megan McDonald. Megan booked all of the great guests for this episode and answered so many of my emails throughout the past six weeks. Thank you, Megan!

I hope you enjoy this episode. I had never really partnered with an organization in this way to tell a story like this before, but I sure had fun doing it and learned so much about the important role 25th Street has played in bringing compelling and challenging stories to Saskatoon and Saskatchewan stages.

I also hope you enjoy the This Is Not That Festival. It would have been so easy for Anita and her team to just throw in the towel due to Covid-19, but instead they have gone above and beyond to bring an innovative theatre experience to our community. I think that's something worth celebrating!

Thank you for listening and supporting this independent podcast. Season Three launches in September and it's going to be the best season yet!!

Stay safe, keep washing your hands, and talk soon.

Cheers...Eric

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Candace Gabriel really is the perfect person to run Saskatoon's Summer Snack Program. For the past 33 years, this program has provided children and their families with free and nutritious meals in parks across the city during the summer months. Candace has been the program's coordinator for the last nine years and has seen the positive impact something as simple as a sandwich can have.

When Candace and her family first moved to Saskatoon, their financial situation was challenging. Her daughters made the most of the the Summer Snack Program in their neighbourhood park, but Candace had to overcome feelings of embarrassment before she felt comfortable asking for help. That experience has given her a profound sense of empathy which helps her in so many ways.

My friend Hailey Burnett texted me last December after seeing Candace speak at a United Way of Saskatoon event and said "you need to have this woman on your podcast!" She was right. Candace opens up in this episode about her experiences struggling to put enough food on the table for her family and how those times have made her a better leader for the Summer Snack Program. She also talks about the meaningful connections made with the kids who show up every day to the park for a meal and how Covid-19 will impact this summer's programming.

I have lived a very sheltered and privileged life. I can't remember a time as a kid when I was worried about where my next meal would come from. Spending a morning with Candace and hearing her story has opened my eyes to the local food security challenges many families face in our community.

I feel very lucky to have spoken with Candace. Her kindness and incredible empathy make her a community leader. I think these two qualities really come through in this episode.

This is the final episode of Season Two. I want to thank all of you for listening, subscribing and supporting this local, independent podcast! It really does mean the world to me and I feel honoured to have spoken with so many incredible people this season. I'll be taking July and August off to gather interviews and prepare for Season Three which launches on September 10th.

Don't forget to subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website.

If you know someone who is doing great things in our community but is flying under the radar, please let me know! Send me an email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

Thank you again for all of your support! Have a safe and wonderful summer and we'll talk with you soon.

Cheers...Eric

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The first few days of the Covid-19 pandemic are a blur for Chris Randall.

Chris is a housing advocate who has been working for years with Saskatoon's most vulnerable people. When the pandemic arrived in our city, he was working on a project that tracks the number of homeless people in Saskatoon. That quickly changed when it became clear how vulnerable the homeless population would be to this virus.

Chris immediately reached out to his friends and colleagues in organizations like AIDS Saskatoon and Quint Saskatoon to see how they could work together to help people. With shelters restricting their numbers and local non-profits closing their doors to help curb the spread of the virus, it became clear there was a gap in services for homeless people. He quickly found support in community organizations and the result was the opening of two hubs (White Buffalo Youth Lodge and The Salvation Army off of 8th Street) that would serve as a one-stop shop for people who needed help during the pandemic.

You'll hear the story of how these hubs went from idea to reality in a very short period of time. Chris tells the story well and is very humble in his role in creating these hubs, but after listening to this episode, I think you'll agree that his passion and drive were crucial in making these hubs open.

Chris has been doing this type of work for years. He genuinely cares for people who, for whatever reason, are searching for a safe and affordable place to call home. He is persistent in helping people and is not afraid to stand up for what he views is right to those in our provincial government who have control over affordable housing in our communities.

Speaking with Chris was a breath of fresh air for me. The past few weeks have felt like a grind as we settle into this new Covid-19 normal. I miss my life of four months ago, which I know is a very privileged thing to say because, as Chris reminded me in our conversation, there are a lot of people in Saskatoon who are far worse off than I am. What they need is our empathy, our compassion, and our energy to help them during this time. Chris is offering all of those qualities and I truly admire him for it.

I hope you enjoy this episode and learn as much as I did! If you want to learn even more about the work Chris and many of his friends are doing in Saskatoon to help homeless people, visit the Saskatoon Interagency Response website. It is inspiring to see so many people come together and help those in need.

Subscribe to YXE Underground for free on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the YXE Underground website.

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please give the podcast a review and share this episode with all your friends!

Keep washing your hands and stay safe, Saskatoon.

Cheers...Eric

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What does Saskatoon sound like during a global pandemic?

For the first weeks of our city shut down due to Covid-19, I couldn't get over how quiet the city was. There were fewer cars on the road during my morning commute to work. The trails along the riverbank were sparse and neighbourhoods like Broadway and Riversdale were empty of people. Everything slowed down and it felt like a hush went over the city.

I wanted to capture that feeling on the podcast for a few reasons.

The first was I thought it would be interesting to look back on this time a year or two from now and remember just how different life was. How a bustling avenue like Broadway could become so calm due to a virus. I really like what the Western Development Museum is doing by collecting photos of life in the pandemic and I thought it would be neat to try something similar with sound.

The second reason was that I am really loving an American podcast created by author Jon Mooallem called The Walking Podcast. The podcast consists of Jon going out on different hikes in Oregon and recording them. That's it. There's barely any talking and no gimmicks or sound effects. Just the hypnotic rhythm of a person going for a walk. I find the podcast calming and it allows my mind to let go over the daily challenges we're all dealing with and just...drift away. I wanted to try something like what Jon does on his lovely podcast.

A journalism professor once told me that radio is the most visual of all the mediums. Her reasoning was that a great piece of audio will make you close your eyes and picture what's happening in your mind. When I listened to Janelle and I walking, I closed my eyes and could see the young guys playing basketball behind Ecole Victoria School. I could see how crowded the Meewasin trail was underneath the Broadway Bridge. I could see how empty the Yard and Flagon pub was.

To be honest, I thought our walk was going to be quieter. It was a gorgeous Wednesday night and just a few days before Saskatchewan begins to open up again, so maybe that's why there were so many people in certain spots of our walk. But you will hear how quiet our city has become due to pandemic. How that makes you feel is entirely up to you.

One more thing...Janelle's photos are stunning! You can see them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. As you'll discover at the end of this episode, Janelle is moving in a few weeks and I am truly going to miss working with her.

YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast. You can subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on the website or on Spotify.

Thank you for listening to this little sound experiment. Please let me know what you think by leaving a review or shoot me an email. ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

Stay safe and keep washing your hands!

Cheers...Eric

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This is probably the most personal episode of YXE Underground I have done. For the past three years, I have worked at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long-term care home in Saskatoon's east side, as its Communications Leader. It is an incredible place to come every day because of the people who live in the home and the dedicated staff who care for its residents.

There is a rhythm to life at Sherbrooke. Our 263 residents interact with one-another and staff in so many different ways and in so many different venues. It could be while working on a painting in the Arts Studio or doing physical therapy in the pool. It might be tending to a herb garden in the greenhouse or taking a trip around the world through the magic of the International Coffee Club.

A full and abundant life is what we try and do for each and every resident.

On March 15th, COVID-19 threw Sherbrooke off rhythm. We saw what was happening in other parts of the country, and when the virus made its landing in Saskatchewan, we took steps to keep our residents safe. We closed our doors to families and visitors, we restricted residents to their respective neighbourhoods and houses, and we closed the spaces where residents and staff congregated.

I'm typing this on April 8th and so far, we have had no cases of COVID-19 at Sherbrooke. We are working hard to keep it that way, but we know there is a chance the virus could make its way into our community. When I watch the news (I am watching too much news right now), I am devastated to see what's happening in other care homes in places like Ontario and Quebec. Staff across the country are doing the best they can to keep their residents safe, and I think you'll hear that dedication from Sherbrooke staff in the episode.

The changes we have made at Sherbrooke were difficult but necessary. That doesn't mean everyone is thrilled about it. It's a challenging time for residents and staff. You will hear that throughout the episode, but you'll also hear a resolve to keep the community safe and that inspires me.

Wherever you are listening to this episode, I hope that you are safe. It's a surreal time and I know at times in the last month, I have felt overwhelmed with everything that is happening. Maybe you'll draw a little bit of strength and inspiration from this episode. Maybe you'll just laugh at how Dave, one of the residents at Sherbrooke, somehow works in the story of why my nickname at Sherbrooke is JIGGLYPUFF. It's a pretty funny story!

Thank you for listening and supporting the podcast. Don't forget to leave a review of the podcast and to subscribe for free on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on the website or Spotify.

Stay safe. Keep your physical distance from one-another. Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!

Eric

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The best part of the Juno Awards when Saskatoon first hosted in 2007 was, in my opinion, Junofest. The two-day music festival had artists and bands playing all over the city, and it felt like a competition to see how many great bands you could see in one night. There's a picture of my cousin, Troy Weppler, and I standing in the cold out in front of Amigos taken by sister after we had just seen Rob Baker of The Tragically Hip, who was watching a band called Jets Overhead, and we look so darn happy!

I wanted to do a podcast episode on Junofest, the work it takes to pull off this festival, and what it means to local venues to host Junofest shows because I love live music. I believe live music is one of the few things in life that can bring people together and that we should celebrate it every chance we get.

That's why Janelle and I braved the frigid temperatures on a Saturday morning in February to meet up with Aryn Otterbein of The Broadway Theatre. She opened up the theatre special for us and explained why it was important for the Broadway to be involved in something like Junofest. We also met her amazing dog, Dolly. You can see pictures of Dolly on the YXE Underground Instagram page! You must see these photos!!

Then we drove down to 9 Mile Legacy Brewery where CEO and co-founder, Shawn Moen, poured us pints of delicious beer and talked about why music means so much to him and his family. He also makes a really strong argument as to how music and beer are two things that bind Canadians. It's a pretty compelling argument!

The last stop was The Underground Cafe, which is tucked away on 20th Street. To be honest with you, I didn't realize it was a music venue until Junofest officials listed it on their website. My wife and I go the Underground Cafe on weekends to eat their waffles, but now I want to see shows there! It's a long, narrow and cozy space that owner Dallyn Guenther notes is perfect for acoustic shows. Dallyn gives some really heartfelt answers about why it means so much that the Junofest folks selected his cafe as a venue. You'll enjoy his interview.

We also hear from Dan Clapson from the Eat North food blog because he's bringing his Bluejay Sessions to the Somewhere Else Pub and Grill.

As you can see, we put a lot of work into this episode, but it really was a labour of love. There's nothing better than live music and Saskatoon is about to experience a very healthy dose of it in the next few days!

A big thanks to Janelle for working so hard and capturing some stunning photos and to my cousin Troy for being such a kickass co-host and saving a table for us at Amigos. Who knew the restaurant was also hosting a Girls Rock Camp Saskatoon dance party?? We certainly didn't!

If you like what you've heard, please give the podcast a 5 star rating, subscribe for free and tell your friends.

Enjoy all the Juno festivities and thanks to all the local venues to being so easy to work with!

Cheers...Eric

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In 2007, when Saskatoon last hosted the Juno Awards, I was using an LG flip phone to stay in touch with friends during the festivities. Things have changed a bit in 13 years.

When I heard the Junos were returning to Saskatoon, I was excited! I have been lucky to attend two Juno Award weeks and had an absolute blast both times.

I wanted to learn how our city was able to convince the Juno folks to return to Saskatoon. I reached out to my friend at Tourism Saskatoon, Darby Sutherland, and she was kind enough to introduce me to Todd Brandt and Sarah Berger. Todd is the President and CEO of Tourism Saskatoon while Sarah is the Director of Media. They are part of the Tourism Saskatoon team that has worked for years with Juno officials in Toronto and the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences to show that Saskatoon was ready and able to host Canada's biggest music night once again.

Janelle and I met with Todd and Sarah at Tourism Saskatoon's offices on 4th Avenue and had a great conversation in Todd's office. We cover everything from how Saskatoon's culinary scene played a vital role in their pitch to how Todd was able to bring more planes to our city to ensure artists were able to get home on time. Todd's a pretty powerful guy!

I love the fact that the Juno Awards moves across the country every year, and I know that Saskatoon is going to put on a wonderful show! I also know you're going have a new appreciation for the work it takes to bring something like the Junos to our city after listening to this episode.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on the website or Spotify.

YXE Underground is also a proud member of the Saskatchewan Podcast Network.

Thank you for your continued support of this local, independent podcast. I really do appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric

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Beth Cote shares a wonderful story at the end of this episode that illustrates the potential of a new downtown library in Saskatoon.

Now, I'm not saying you should skip to the end of the book (or podcast in this case) because there's plenty of good stuff in the first 43 minutes, but when you hear Beth's story of a conversation she has with a Halifax baker and the pride he had in his city's new library, you'll understand why her work means so much to her.

Beth Cote is the Director of Public Services for the Saskatoon Public Library. She oversees all the Library's frontline programming and ensures it connects with the organization's goals and vision.

She has also played an important role in the organization's efforts to secure funding for a new downtown branch that would replace the Frances Morrison Library, which was built in 1966.

I've been following the SPL's efforts to build a new downtown branch for months and wanted to know more about the role the Frances Morrison Library plays in our community. I feel very lucky to have met Beth because her passion for libraries and community is really inspiring, and her ability to clearly articulate a vision of what a downtown library should be is impressive. I left our conversation so darned excited for what this new space will be!

This episode of YXE Underground is sponsored by the great folks at Congress Beer House in downtown Saskatoon. It's one my favourite places to grab a great meal and enjoy a pint from anywhere in the country! A big thank you to the entire Congress team for supporting the podcast.

Subscribe to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts and please leave a review!

YXE Underground is a proud member of the Saskatchewan Podcast Network.

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast! And a big thank you to the Saskatoon Public Library for being so wonderful to work with. Go visit your local library!!

Cheers...Eric

CORRECTION: In the first part of our conversation, Beth says that research shows kids need to have 10,000 books read to them to build the skills to be ready to learn to read. She messaged me a few days later that the number is actually 1,000. That's about one book a day for the first three years of life.

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Thursday night was special and meaningful for many people here in Saskatoon. The Surviv(her) cancer support group, founded by Amy Morris, hosted an event called 'Portraits of Surviv(her)s.' It paired local photographers with Saskatoon women who are cancer survivors and fighters. It also created a wonderful sense of community.

The portraits were displayed throughout the event room at LB Distillery. Beside each professional portrait was a 5x7 photo selected by the subject of the photo along with a write-up describing what that small photo meant to them. The stories served as a window into each person's battle against cancer and put into perspective what it meant for them to be in the room on that night.

Alyssa Noonan was one of those cancer fighters who shared their story and had their portrait taken. The local photographer she was matched with was our very own Janelle Wallace! I am so proud to work with Janelle on every episode of YXE Underground and it was wonderful to see her talents and character celebrated. You'll hear Alyssa and Janelle in this bonus episode.

You will also hear from Amy Morris and Kim Swetecki, who you may remember from Season One of the podcast where we took an in-depth look at cancer support in Saskatoon. Amy is the founder of Surviv(her) and Kim organizes the events for the support event. Both are cancer survivors and both had their portraits featured at the event. They were kind enough to share their thoughts on the evening in this episode.

Two things really hit home for me while attending the event. The first is the power of photographs. You will hear Alyssa and Kim share some really raw and powerful emotions of their cancer journeys sparked entirely by their photos. I know it's cliche to say that a picture says a thousand words, but that thought kept running through my mind while talking with the women featured in the event.

The second is how strong the sense of community was in the room. Everyone there had some connection to cancer and where there to support for one-another. Amy and I talked at the end of the night about how necessary it is to have that community in Saskatoon. I have been told many times by cancer survivors and fighters that your life gets put on hold when battling the disease, which I think makes being a part of a community being created by Surviv(her) all the more important.

For the women who took part in the event and showed up on a frigid January evening, the sense of understanding and camaraderie in Surviv(her) is real and important. I hope that comes through a bit in this bonus episode.

Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe and leave a review of YXE Underground.

Cheers...Eric

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There's nothing like a compelling story to prove a point. That is certainly the case in this episode of YXE Underground which focuses on the work being done at the Global Gathering Place in Saskatoon.

The stories shared in this episode will make you realize the important work being done at the Global Gathering Place in helping newcomers and refugees settle into their new lives in our city.

Afton Tolley and Sol Barrones are the featured guests. I have known Afton for several years. She is the Program Coordinator and has been with the Global Gathering Place for 11 years. Afton has seen her organization adapt and grow as Saskatoon has become more diverse. She is also seeing more local businesses realize the potential when it comes to hiring newcomers.

Sol was once a client of the Global Gathering Place. She and her family arrived from Mexico 10 years ago. A lawyer by trade, Sol attended classes at the Global Gathering Place to improve her English. She quickly fell in love with the sense of community present in the organization and eventually started volunteering. Sol is now the Life Skills Coordinator and works closely with government-supported refugees helping them navigate their first few months in Saskatoon.

Both Sol and Afton share some very personal and meaningful stories in this episode that show the important role the Global Gathering Place serves in Saskatoon. What I also love about this episode is the voices of newcomers scattered throughout. Their stories are worth celebrating and might just make you want to volunteer at the next Coffee and Conversation!

This episode of YXE Underground is sponsored by 13 Pies restaurant in downtown Saskatoon. If you're looking for an incredible slice of pizza and a great cocktail, be sure to pay 13 Pies a visit! A big thank you to Blair and Brad for their support of the podcast.

This episode was an absolute blast to assemble. The stories will be stuck in your head for days (in a good way!) and the sounds will give you a sense of what life is like at the Global Gathering Place.

Thank you for your continued support of a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

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Begin a conversation with Julia Holliday-Scott and you'll quickly notice a few things: She is always looking to help people who need it the most, which makes her a perfect fit as Support Services Coordinator for AIDS Saskatoon. She is also very articulate and can raise several compelling arguments and opinions in the span of a few seconds. She definitely kept me on my toes during our conversation at the new headquarters for AIDS Saskatoon on 20th Street!

I wanted to learn more about the organization and specifically the Safe Consumption Site. Julia's came highly recommended by Jessica Fisher from OUT Saskatoon (who was featured in an earlier episode of YXE Underground) and it's easy to see why. Julia's passion for helping our city's most vulnerable is inspiring. Her work ethic and kindness make her well-suited to help those people who visit the drop-in centre at AIDS Saskatoon seeking advice and guidance.

We cover a lot of ground in our conversation. Julia explains why our city needs a Safe Consumption Site and why it's a project she wanted to become involved in. She discusses her experiences as a frontline support worker and the impact it has on the community. Julia also opens up about the importance of self-care and why it's a necessary part of her life.

I learned so much from Julia; not only about the importance of the Safe Consumption Site, but about how we are treating people in our community who desperately need supports. Julia doesn't seek any kind of spotlight for her work so I feel very lucky that she agreed to share her story and knowledge on the podcast!

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Subscribe for free to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Stream this episode on the website or Spotify.

This episode is sponsored by Hometown Diner. If you're looking for a heck of a breakfast or brunch...or donut...go visit Hometown Diner on 20th Street! A big thanks to their crew for supporting the podcast.

If you know of anyone who is making a difference in #Saskatoon but is flying under the radar, please send me a note on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or by email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com

Have a happy and safe holiday season, a Happy New Year, and we'll chat in 2020!

Cheers...Eric

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In June, I received an email from Lauryn Kronick, who is the Education and Prevention Coordinator at AIDS Saskatoon. They asked if I wanted to take part in National HIV Testing Day, which is on June 27th.

My first thought was yes, of course. HIV rates in Saskatchewan are incredibly high compared to the rest of the country. Maybe if I tweeted about it and did something for the podcast, people might learn something, was my thinking.

But then I started to come up with reasons why I shouldn’t do the test. Many reasons. Reasons that, when I look back on it, I feel kind of embarrassed about. So, I called Lauryn and we talked. Actually, I talked a lot and she patiently listened. Lauryn is a good listener.

A few weeks after our conversation, I met Lauryn and a lovely registered nurse named Mel at Saskatoon Sexual Health on 2nd Avenue to receive an HIV test. You are about to hear that test as well as a conversation with Lauryn about some of the fears I had. We also discuss the importance of testing and why this means so much to Lauryn.

This bonus episode leads into next week's brand new episode of YXE Underground. It features Julia Holliday-Scott, who is the Support Services Coordinator for AIDS Saskatoon. In the episode, we discuss Saskatchewan's first Safe Consumption Site, the stigma surrounding HIV, and why she wanted to be involved in the creation of the Safe Consumption Site.

Subscribe to YXE Underground for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favourite podcast app. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website.

I learned so much doing this HIV test. I hope you do too.

Thanks for supporting a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric

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Spend five minutes with Bayani Trinidad and Forrest Eaglespeaker and several things become clear. One, they are passionate about their work. Two, they thrive on seeing people change and grow when it comes to their thoughts on Truth and Reconciliation. Three, they have way too much fun together!

Bayani and Forrest work for a non-profit organization called Canadian Roots Exchange. It was formed in 2008 as a way to bring indigenous and non-indigenous youth together to work towards Reconciliation. In 2016, the organization opened an office in Saskatoon, which is where you will find Bayani and Forrest, working hard in their office at Saskatoon's The Two Twenty.

The work Bayani and Forrest are doing when it comes to Truth and Reconciliation focuses on Saskatoon's youth. When I say youth, I mean mostly people who are university age. People who have learned about the horrors of Indian Residential School System in school and recognize the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and now want to learn more and be involved in making Reconciliation a reality in Canada.

In this episode, you will learn what Bayani and Forrest are doing with to help young people achieve these goals. You'll discover how they use education and leadership to empower youth, and you'll find out why they are so passionate about the work they do.

What I love about Bayani and Forrest is they themselves are young people who have stepped into leadership roles in our community and are embracing the challenges that come with Truth and Reconciliation. As Forrest states in the podcast, "I think change starts on a personal level. You don't see entire societies and entire communities change all at once. You see it in individuals. In that aspect, I definitely see it happening. It makes me feel good because any change in the right direction should be celebrated and should be looked at as a huge success."

You're going to love Bayani and Forrest! They chemistry and passion is inspiring and the work they're doing in Saskatoon is really important. Plus, you'll get to hear an original song by Forrest...aka...The North Sound, at the end of the episode! How cool is that?!?!

Subscribe to YXE Underground for free on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on Spotify, the I Heart Radio app, or the website.

This episode of YXE Underground is sponsored by ACE Burger. If you love cheeseburgers and milkshakes as much as I do, you need to visit ACE Burger on the corner of Broadway Avenue and 9th Street cause I am telling you, they make a mean burger and shake! Thank you to ACE Burger for their financial support of this local, independent podcast.

Enjoy listening to Bayani and Forrest and thank you for all of your support!

Cheers...Eric

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Matt Ingrouille wants to see change in Saskatoon when it comes to drug and addiction issues, and he realizes the best way to bring about this change is at the grassroots level. It's one of the reasons why Matt, a Constable with the Saskatoon Police Service, started the non-profit organization, Say Know.

Say Know is a drug education project that is doing incredible work raising drug and addiction awareness in Saskatoon. The Say Know website states its mission is, "to tackle the illicit drug trade through education. For far too long, our society has been fighting gate wrong end of the war. It's time to reduce the demand of drugs, rather than focusing, wasted efforts, on the supply."

Matt was kind enough to meet me in Riversdale on a hot July afternoon this past summer and we went talked about the current state of drugs and addictions while walking throughout the neighbourhood.

Matt is articulate and passionate with his words. He also one of the most empathetic people I have ever met, and that comes through in the last half of this episode when we focus on why he started Say Know.

In no way does Matt hold back in this episode. We look at how crystal meth is destroying so many lives in Saskatoon and why it is the drug of choice for so many people. We discuss some of the innovative ways different organizations could work together to solve our drug and addiction issues, and Matt explains how is own personal challenges have fuelled his passion to bring change through Say Know.

I know you will learn a lot about what is happening in our core neighbourhoods here in Saskatoon in this episode. I also hope you will realize just how fortunate we are to have someone like Matt Ingrouille to help get our community out of this crisis.

Thank you so much for listening to YXE Underground. Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on Spotify, the I Heart Radio app, or the YXE Underground website.

Cheers...Eric

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Do you know where your food comes from? It’s a question Arlie LaRoche is very passionate in answering. Arlie and her family own and operator Farm One Forty, a holistically managed farm about twenty minutes southwest of Saskatoon. As Farm One Forty's website states, “we are a local, sustainable and natural choice for Saskatoon’s ethical eaters.”

What stands out about Arlie is how passionate she is in educating people, not only in Saskatoon but across the province, about where their food comes from and how her animals are cared for.

Arlie takes YXE Underground host Eric Anderson on a tour of her farm (storm free!) and discusses her love of animals, why she chooses to farm in a holisitc way, and how she copes when it's time to say goodbye to her cows, pigs, chickens and sheep. Arlie also explains what led her and her husband to open Odla, a new restaurant in Saskatoon's Broadway neighbourhood.

This episode also features insight on the Farm-to-Table movement currently taking place in Saskatoon and the province by freelance reporter and author, Jenn Sharp.

It's really exciting to begin a new season with Arlie's story. You will quickly connect with her caring and selfless nature, as well as her passion and humour. Please subscribe to the podcast on your favourite podcast app or stream episodes on the YXE Underground website or Spotify. Please feel free to leave a review of the podcast if you have time.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast, and thank you for listening to Arlie's story.

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Janelle and I were really excited to visit Arlie LaRoche at her farm, Farm One Forty, southwest of Saskatoon last Thursday. Arlie is doing some really great things for Saskatoon's food and culinary scenes and she is a fantastic talker. We were also excited because the skies were really dynamic last Thursday, which would make for some great photographs (if you follow us on social media, you'll see some amazing pictures).

There was a tornado watch in the area but the scariest looking clouds were to the northwest and we were heading southwest, so we thougth we were fine.

We were wrong.

In this episode, you'll hear how a massive storm grinds our interview with

Arlie to a quick hault and how quickly a calm situation can drastically change.

When I was listening to the tape of our Farm One Forty adventures last week, I knew I wanted to share it with you right away. So that's where the idea for this bonus episode came from.

You'll also hear an update on Season Two of YXE Underground, which launches in September, and an exciting new initiative called the Saskatchewan Podcast Network (of which this podcast is proud to be a part of.)

Thank you for your continued support of this local, independent podcast and I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer. Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, or wherever you find your podcasts. You can also stream episodes on the website and Spotify. And please tell your friends about YXE Underground...word of mouth really makes a difference!

Have a great rest of your summer and talk to you in September.

Cheers...Eric

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Constable Derek Chesney has a way of communicating that makes him perfect for his job with the Saskatoon Police Service. It’s direct, respectful, and full of empathy.

He credits his style from growing up on a ranch in southeast Saskatchewan surrounded by cowboys.

“I got to listen to a lot of old guys BS back in the day, and they tell stories of humanity and people,” explains Chesney.

The veteran police officer is a member of the Saskatoon Police Service’s Cultural Relations Unit. It’s job is to help forge relationships and build connections between the police force and different communities within the city.

The unit started in the early 2000’s as an attempt to repair the disconnect between the indigenous population and the SPS. While that remains an important focus, Chesney says the scope of his work has changed thanks to Saskatoon’s growing diversity.

This is the final episode of Season One. Thank you so much for listening, subscribing and supporting this local podcast. YXE Underground will return for Season Two with new episodes this September. If you know of someone who is doing something great in our community but is flying under the radar, please let Eric know. Email him at ericandersonyxe@gmail.com or fill out a nomination form on the website.

Thank you again for all of your support and have a wonderful summer!

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Michael McLachlan vividly remembers the moment he made the conscious decision to disconnect his mind and his body during his battle against cancer.

It was two in the morning. He was on all fours on his hospital bed overlooking the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon. An aggressive form of cancer had invaded McLachlan’s central nervous system and formed a tumor at the base of his spine.

“I had a conversation with myself, which was rather simple,” explained McLachlan. “My mind couldn’t take what was happening. So I made the separation between my body and my mind because I knew my body would be strong enough to take whatever it had to take, but upstairs I couldn’t do it. So I made a disconnect and then I couldn’t reconnect afterwards.”

McLachlan was diagnosed on September 16th, 2016, with Non-Hodgkin’s Burkitt Lymphoma, an extremely aggressive form of cancer. The next day, he had surgery to remove the tumor on his spine.

His battle left him cancer free but traumatized. Physically, McLachlan was fatigued and wouldn’t let anyone touch his back. Mentally, he was shattered and struggled to find peace with what had just happened.

Luckily for McLachlan, Colleen McBride was there to help put the pieces back together.

McBride is a Registered Social Worker who first met McLachlan while working at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. She specialized in trauma therapy and was asked to help McLachlan with his physical and mental recovery.

McLachlan calls what McBride did with him, “magic.”

This episode is co-hosted by cancer survivor, activist and author, Amy Smith-Morris. Please subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. You can also stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Don't forget to leave a review!

Thank you to Colleen, Michael and Amy for sharing their stories with listeners.

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Say the word CANCER and each of you will have something different come to mind. It might involve a loved one who had cancer or perhaps is going through treatments right now.

When it comes to cancer care, there are gaps in the system, but there are also people in Saskatoon working hard to fill in those gaps. Part One of Episode 12 introduces you to three of these individuals.

Kim Swetecki is a cancer survivor and co-hosts a support group called Chai and Chat. Jennifer Fisher is a registered dietitian at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre and Nora Yeates is the CEO of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan.. They share their stories and insights with Eric and special co-host, Amy Smith Morris.

Amy is a cancer survivor, advocate and author who shares her unique insights throughout the episode.

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or your favourite podcast app.

You can also stream episodes on Spotify or the website.

Thank you for listening and don't forget to leave a review!

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When Carrie Hart got the call that her son Lucas was accepted into the Little Tots program, she didn’t know what to do.

“I remember that day. I was with my friend at The Forestry Farm. I was in the car and I think I started crying and then I probably did laps in my car because I was so excited. It was an instant sense of relief.”

Relief because her son was about to get the help he needed to overcome some pretty big challenges.

Lucas was diagnosed with autism shortly after turning two. Hart knew he needed a type of therapy that would allow him to catch up on the speech and social skills he was struggling to develop.

She wanted her son in the Little Tots program because of its sterling reputation.

Little Tots is an early intensive intervention program for children between 18 and 48 months. It is run by Autism Services of Saskatoon and provides one-on-one therapy for autistic children. It is also the only program of its kind in Saskatchewan.

This episode explores the Little Tots program through Lucas. Eric interviews Carrie and Desirae Boutin. She is the interim director of Little Tots.

It takes a lot of people pulling in the same direction to help an autistic child. Carrie and Desirae are wonderful examples of this.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did creating it. Thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast.

Cheers...Eric

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A veterinarian feeling overworked due to a difficult caseload. A student feeling overwhelmed with exams. A family feeling crushed because of the loss of their pet. All are scenarios Erin Wasson confronts at the University of Saskatchewan’s Western College of Veterinary Medicine.

Wasson is a social worker at the WCVM. She provides counselling services to students, faculty and staff, as well as clients who are using the College’s small and animal clinics.

It’s an uncommon position within the veterinary and animal science world, but an important one as

studies are now showing the mental health challenges veterinarians and animal protection workers face.

“I think a lot of veterinarians and animal protection officers will tell you that they don’t have a lot of people that they can talk about their day with that wants to hear about their day,” Wasson explains in the episode.

Wasson discusses the mental health challenges veterinarians encounter in their jobs, how she is able to balance personal and professional life, and why she finds her work so fulfilling.

You will also hear from Saskatoon veterinarian, Dr. Sarah Bater. She shares some of the challenges that come with the job and why Erin's role at the Vet College is so important.

Thank you for listening and subscribing to the podcast and don't forget to leave a review!

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“My name is Jessica Fisher and I am a cisgender, queer woman who is both Metis and a settler.” That is how Jessica Fisher introduces herself to elementary and high school students in Saskatoon and around the province.

Fisher works with OUTSaskatoon, bringing gender and sexual diversity education to students, teachers and administrators. She does this by explaining the building blocks of identity, what terms like bisexual and transsexual mean, and highlighting the negative impacts of homophobia.

“The purpose of my presentation is to help folks understand that their language and their actions have consequences. That can be positive, where people feel comfortable to say and be who they are, or they can be negative consequences -- that is, when people are afraid to exist in the world as they are.”

I feel very lucky to have met Jessica. She taught me a lot during our conversation and I know you will connect with her engaging and caring nature.

Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast, give it a rating, and feel free to share with all your friends!

Cheers...

Eric

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Saskatoon's EcoQuest Program is a grade eight class that uses nature in place of a traditional classroom. This unique outdoor education program is full of incredible students who are learning to see the world around them in new ways.

In Part Two of Episode Eight, Eric spends a very cold December day exploring Saskatoon with the 28 students that make up the EcoQuest class. The students walk more than 15 kilometres, from The Lighthouse Shelter and Saskatoon Farmer's Market, to the Meewasin Valley river trails, learning what services make up a healthy community. They also share what skills they have learned in the program and how it's allowing them to grow into future leaders in our community.

These students are hard working, insightful and a lot of fun to be around. They also have two fantastic teachers that put them in situations to succeed and learn on their own.

Subscribe and download this episode and take an entertaining trek through Saskatoon with this year's EcoQuest class.

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When you think of a typical grade 8 classroom, you probably envision a space filled with rows of desks and a blackboard at the front of the room. Saskatoon's EcoQuest class is definitely not your typical classroom.

EcoQuest brings 28 grade 8 students together from across the city and allows them to learn in the natural world. It's an outdoor experiential program that not only encourages students to embrace the natural world, but gives them the opportunity to grow as individuals and especially as leaders.

In part one of Episode Eight, Eric speaks with Tyler Rittinger, who has been teaching the EcoQuest program for the past eight years. He also meets some of the students who are embracing this unique opportunity. Part two will follow the students as they weave their way through Saskatoon working on an assignment. It will drop on January 17th.

Thank you for listening and remember to subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

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Scott Dicks is a very busy man. The Saskatoon chef has worked in some of the finest restaurants in Western Canada and learned from award winning chefs. Now, Chef Scotty is giving back to Saskatoon's food scene by consulting with local businesses like Collective Coffee and 9 Mile Brewery, teaching cooking classes at The Local Kitchen, and even cooking for people in their homes. Scotty believes that food and cooking should bring people together and he's spreading his joy and passion throughout Saskatoon one meal at a time.

In Episode Seven of YXE Underground, Scott sits down with Eric to explain how he ended up in Saskatoon, why he loves the growing food scene in our city and how he's become a better chef thanks to cooking for people in their homes. Scott also explains why now is the perfect time for him to get back into Saskatoon's restaurant scene.

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I take a lot of pride in being the most enthusiastic person in a room. But when I meet Erin McCormick for the first time in her riding arena, I quickly realize that I don’t hold a candle next to her.

Erin owns Therapeutic Equilibrium Riding. Every week, she teaches 110 children and adults with varying degrees of physical and cognitive challenges therapeutic horseback riding.

In this episode, Erin explains the incredible benefits of horseback riding therapy and where her passion comes from. She also talks about the sacrifices she has made as a woman entrepreneur and what she loves most about horses.

After hearing our conversation, you'll probably be left with one question...

"Why aren't we all riding horses?"

Thanks for listening...

Eric

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Kenton Lysak is a Senior Interpreter for Saskatoon's Meewasin Valley Authority and a lover of all things nature. All Kenton wants to do is teach you about the Meewasin Valley's natural beauty, and he will do it in a way that will inspire to go out and explore! He is also a brand new father.

In this episode of YXE Underground, Kenton takes host Eric Anderson to Peggy McKercher Conservation Area and describes how Saskatoon is walking a tightrope between urban growth and protecting sensitive ecosystems. Kenton also explains where his love of the natural world came from and how his new son Benjamin has changed his career for the better.

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Episode Four of YXE Underground focuses on a pair Saskatoon women who are helping put the city on the map. Aviva Kohen is Tourism Saskatoon's Director of Media and has been working incredibly hard to get Saskatoon national and international attention. DonnaLyn Thorsteinson helps Saskatoon entrepreneurs achieve their goals through her work with SREDA and the Square One program.

Eric sits down with Aviva and DonnaLyn to find out why they are so passionate about their careers and how they balance work and family life.

You can subscribe to YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher. You can also stream and download episodes on the website.

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Communication is something most people take for granted. Kara Broks helps people in Saskatoon who struggle to express themselves, especially when it comes to verbal communication. She is a speech pathologist and owner of the The Speech Language Network.

In this episode of YXE Underground, Eric visits Kara at The Speech Language Network to learn more about the work she does with people of all ages in Saskatoon and why it's so important. Kara shares some incredibly heartfelt stories of challenging cases and why she continues to cheer for her clients long after they say goodbye.

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Sarah Friesen is a registered psychologist with Saskatoon's Alvin Buckwold Child Development Program. Jacqueline Lavallee is a teacher at Saskatoon's Oskayak High School and an Assistant Coach with the University of Saskatchewan's Women's Basketball team. Their jobs are different but their goals are the same. To help children and their families become valuable members of their communities!

Host Eric Anderson sits down with Sarah at her office to learn more about the work she does with children and why it's so crucial for so many Saskatoon families. Jacqueline and Eric meet over coffee and discuss why Oskayak High School is such a meaningful place for Jacqueline to teach.

Both of these women are making a meaningful impact in the community and deserve to have to their stories shared. Thank you for listening and enjoy!

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Mike Fisher is one of the nicest and most sincere guys you will ever meet. He is the co-creator of The Saskatchewan Entertainment Expo, which is a Comic-Con style event that brings people from all over Saskatchewan to Saskatoon every year in September.

This interview covers a lot of ground. Mike opens up about how creating The Expo got him through some challenging personal times and why Saskatoon's comic book community means so much about him. He also shares some amazing stories of previous Expo guests, including legendary Star Wars actor, Carrie Fisher.

You will laugh during this interview, you might cry a bit in this interview, and you will for sure learn lots in this interview. Enjoy!

YXE Underground: Recent Episodes

Eric Anderson