Claim OwnershipWho Judges The Judge? Hosted By Jordana H. Goldlist
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© 2026 Who Judges The Judge? Hosted By Jordana H. Goldlist
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Jordana H. Goldlist spent her teens as a homeless, high school dropout; a junkie fully entrenched in street life by 17 years old. Today, she runs a boutique criminal law firm, owns property, invests in the market, and travels the world. She built the life she has today by recognizing and using skills she developed during the most trying times of her life, and she believes that some of the most successful people are those that find their strength through struggle and adversity. In “Who Judges The Judge?”, named after her TEDx Talk, Jordana invites listeners to explore the untold stories and unexpected backgrounds of her guests, all successful and productive individuals who have overcome adversity and the stigmas that society attaches to those of us who side step the status quo. From reformed criminals to the falsely accused, from former addicts to refugees escaping war and poverty, each episode will feature an individual who defies stereotypes and expectations and will navigate difficult conversations to highlight the personal journey of each guest.
Jordana’s unique perspective, grounded in her own tumultuous past but developed over a 15 year career in criminal justice, adds authenticity and depth to the conversation. Please join Jordana on “Who Judges The Judge?” a podcast that challenges both guests and listeners to question the way we judge ourselves, others, and the world at large.
37 Episodes
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Shana McCalla, founder of Find Ontario's Missing Boys, discusses the crisis of Black boys aged 12 to 16 disappearing across Ontario and being found in trap houses as far as Thunder Bay and Saskatchewan. She explains how boys from two-parent, high-income households are being lured with job opportunities, gifts, and mentorship, then forced to work 24/7 in drug houses under threat of violence. Shana shares how she traveled to Thunder Bay to rescue a 15-year-old who hadn't eaten or slept in a mon...
Melissa Lantsman, Conservative MP for Thornhill and Co-Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, discusses Canada's crime crisis, bail reform, addiction policy, and why young Canadians are losing hope. She explains the Conservative position on repeat violent offenders, why safe injection sites aren't working, and the $360 million spent annually on programs that keep addicts sick instead of funding recovery. Melissa shares her journey from immigrant family to Parliament Hill, why her father sha...
Staxxx Facts is a mental health advocate, certified life coach, and founder of Black Status Social Network who discusses breaking mental health stigmas, redefining success beyond money, and building authentic community. He shares how he navigated growing up in Toronto's Weston Road surrounded by gang violence, why he stayed out of that life, and what it means to truly put yourself first when your freedom depends on it. Staxxx talks about the power of saying no, why inspiring others is the on...
Marlee Liss, founder of Survivors for Justice Reform (S4JR), shares her experience choosing restorative justice over criminal prosecution after being sexually assaulted by a stranger. She discusses why 94% of sexual assault victims don't report to police, how the criminal court system re-traumatized her at every step, and what happened when she sat in a healing circle with her assailant after he completed seven months of therapy. Marlee explains the difference between restorative justice and...
Markez Graham is 11 years old, in grade six, and he's got a plan to fix Toronto. He talks about lowering taxes to address the cost of living crisis, creating a three-month housing program that transitions people from homelessness to self-sufficiency, and why Canada should prioritize fixing its own problems before sending billions abroad. Markez opens up about the importance of good teachers versus bad ones, why he's grateful his parents restrict his social media access, and how travel ...
Drew James grew up in Mount Olive, Rexdale, where standing up for yourself was the only way to survive a neighbourhood filled with sharks. Today, he is a serial entrepreneur rolling through Palm Beach in a Rolls Royce and accessing rooms at Mar-a-Lago with the 1% of the 1%. This is not just a success story; it is a breakdown of how to navigate a cold business world by building genuine relationships and mastering the power of vocabulary. Drew details his journey from selling 1,000 CDs a month ...
Shantelle Bisson is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of multiple businesses including a marina acquisition that shocked her community. Having experienced childhood sexual abuse and domestic upheaval, Shantelle has built a reputation for transforming trauma into triumph and mentoring women through her charity work. She discusses the systemic failures plaguing domestic violence response, the pressure on families in crisis, and the challenges of maintaining hope in an adversarial world.
Criminal defence lawyer Marco Sciarra explains why the justice system is holding on by a thread, the corruption behind the Maplehurst scandal where murder charges were stayed, and the reality of defending your home in Canada. Marco Sciarra is a criminal defence counsel and the founder of Sciarra Law. A survivor of a cancer diagnosis during his articles, Marco has built a reputation for advocacy in the courtroom and mentorship to young lawyers. He discusses the systemic failures plaguing Cana...
Ex-Bank Robber Chris Seecharan exposes the "Zombie Fold", why Fentanyl withdrawal lasts 30 days, and why standard 7-day detox programs are failing addicts. Chris Seecharan is a survivor of a 10-year heroin and fentanyl addiction who turned to robbing banks to support his habit. After serving a federal prison sentence and achieving 7+ years of sobriety, he now works as a community outreach worker. In this episode, Chris breaks down the terrifying mechanics of the "Fold," the new "Zombie" drug...
Poet, author, and youth mental health advocate KP PARKER exposes how childhood violence, 8 years of probation, and losing his father to gun violence nearly destroyed him - and reveals how poetry became his path from survival to helping incarcerated youth heal.
Nital Gosai, founder of Gosai Law and co-creator of the housing-tech platform Husmates, shares her journey from a turbulent childhood marked by mental-health stigma and family chaos to becoming one of Canada’s leading advocates for inmate rights, personal-injury clients, and access to affordable housing. A civil-rights-driven lawyer and entrepreneur, Nital exposes the human cost of Canada’s broken justice system, how trauma fuels purpose, and what it takes to build a purpose-led firm from sc...
What happens when someone who’s seen the cycle of violence firsthand decides to break it for the next generation? Marcell Wilson joins Jordana Goldlist to share his story of transformation, from growing up surrounded by fear and survival in Toronto to building the One by One Movement, an organization dedicated to preventing violence and creating real community change. Marcell reveals how social media, mental health, and the fentanyl crisis have intensified violence across Canada, why preven...
What happens when you survive attempted murder, have undeniable evidence, and still watch your case collapse in court? Actress and advocate Cait Alexander tells her true crime survival story, from a horrific domestic violence attack in Toronto to being silenced by Canada’s broken justice system under the Jordan Rule. Cait reveals how she nearly lost her life to intimate partner violence, how Crown Attorneys failed her, and why she’s now suing the government alongside other survivors. She ope...
Solitair — Toronto hip hop artist, mentor, and leader with the Forgiveness Project (Project F Word) and TO Wards Peace, co-founder at 4Sound Media Studios — breaks down youth crime, drill/hip hop’s influence vs. reflection, and why incarceration alone doesn’t solve violence. The conversation explores what actually reduces shootings: long-term mentorship, housing, education, employment, culturally relevant support, and city-wide programs funded like essential services, not short election-cycle...
In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Persaud, CEO of A1 Films and founder of The Commitment Program, who grew up in Toronto housing, entered the justice system at 14, and later pled guilty to firearm charges. Instead of letting prison define him, he turned survival into purpose, building a grassroots movement to steer youth away from the cycle of violence and incarceration. Jeremy shares what it feels like to grow up believing “your own existence is illegal.” He opens up about crash-out c...
Nadia Ghanny reveals how surviving family tragedy at 5 days old shaped her mission to transform the criminal justice system from within, working with offenders for over 20 years. In this episode, I sit down with Nadia Ghanny, a University of Guelph-Humber professor teaching community corrections. Born in Guyana, she became an orphan at 5 days old following domestic violence. Raised by adoptive parents, she discovered her traumatic origins at age 11. Instead of seeking revenge, Nadia chose r...
In this episode, I sit down with Elijah "Of The Saint" de los Santos, a young media entrepreneur who transformed himself from a kid in Toronto housing projects into one of hip-hop's most sought-after photographers and videographers. His client list includes Drake, Jesse Reyez, and countless other major artists. Of The Saint opens up about growing up with a single mother and a father struggling with addiction, and avoiding the street life that claimed many of his childhood friends. He reveals...
Richard Miller of Keep Six speaks on police accountability after the death of Chadd Facey and shares how justice system failures continue to impact Black communities and trust in law enforcement. Richard Miller returns to the podcast to speak on one of the most devastating cases in recent memory, the death of 19-year-old Chadd Facey, tackled and fatally injured by an off-duty police officer after selling a fake Apple Watch. The officer, originally charged with manslaughter, was convicted onl...
Sex trafficking survivor Timea Nagy exposes shocking truths about victim vs criminal treatment, trauma healing, prison conditions & why the justice system fails both victims & offenders in this raw talk. In this explosive episode, I sit down with internationally recognized human trafficking advocate Timea Nagy, who survived trafficking from Hungary to Canada and became the founder of Canada's first victim services safe house. After 20 years fighting for trafficking victims, she's exp...
Why she married a man serving life for murder—true crime, criminal psychology, parole denial, love behind bars, forensic justice, and what really happens when you fall for a convicted killer. In this episode, I sit down with B, a fierce advocate, mother, and social media storyteller, who is married to a man serving a life sentence for second-degree murder. Their relationship spans 22 years—through separation, reunion, and everything the justice system could throw at them. B opens up about m...
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