Vancouver City Councillor Rebecca Bligh joins Rachel to discuss her recent announcement that she is running for Mayor. Rebecca shares the personal journey that shapes her political vision, from immigrating from New Zealand to her experiences as a young single mom at 21. She discusses the need for "calm, competent, collaborative" leadership to overcome division at City Hall.
It's not "housing first," it's "housing with the proper resources". This teaser delves into why access to addictions and mental health counseling is critical for a housing strategy to succeed, and what British Columbia can learn from other regions that are getting it right.
A Discussion about Involuntary Treatment in British Columbia- Guy Felicella speaks from experience and support expertise.International Speaker, Advocate, and Consultant, Guy Felicella joins me to discuss BC's recent announcement around involuntary treatment and how to best support those living on Vancouver streets. Guy's valuable expertise comes from 30 years of lived experience, from working within the support services field, and from helping families with a loved one who is struggling with substance use dependency. Go listen to the prevoius episode with to know more about his story.https://youtu.be/9lMWSfnxPnw?si=9NSZZ1p9tsmL7I5h
In this episode, Rachel sits down with the incredibly talented pastry chef and owner of Mann & Co Bake Shop Surrey BC, Jujhar Mann. From his early days watching "Cake Boss" to becoming a Netflix baking champion on "Is It Cake," Jujhar shares his inspiring journey of overcoming cultural expectations and pursuing his passion. He opens up about the challenges he faced, the unwavering support from his family, and the moments that motivated him to prove doubters wrong. Jujhar also gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the pressures of competing on television and offers valuable advice for anyone daring to follow their dreams. https://mannandcobakeshop.com/https://www.gnfb. https://makeawish.ca/https://discoversurreybc.com/surrey-signature-experiences/
What motivates a Netflix baking champion after the competition is over?In this sneak peek of the next Rachel Thexton Connects episode, Netflix cake contest winner Jujhar Mann reveals what truly drives him. For him, the ultimate reward is simply "putting a smile on one's face.Full episode coming soon.
My uneasy stomach, and what I know to be true about substance use and mental health, led me to talk about the BC Premier's recent announcement that beds are being allocated for involuntary treatment in BC. I feel that it's wrong for many reasons, but mostly, I feel like this has more to do with the public's discomfort with seeing people unwell and doing drugs on Vancouver streets, than on truly supporting those who will be "helped" against their will.
Are you desperate to support your child's wellbeing as everything around us is after their attention and we are facing a mental health crisis? Dr. Vanessa Lapointe provides incredible insight and advice, empowering you as a loving parent.Psychologist, Parenting Educator, Author, and International Speaker, Dr. Vanessa Lapointe joins me to discuss children, families, challenges we face in 2025, and where we may consider focusing to improve the health and happiness of our children, and ourselves as parents!https://tinyurl.com/24phrrr3 (Click tickets movie Seen) https://drvanessalapointe.com/https://thextonpr.com/
As host of the podcast, Rachel Thexton shares more about herself, speaking to a topic that is rarely discussed publicly- faith.
What kinds of discussions and content do I discuss with guests on the podcast? What types of guests join me for meaningful conversations? We designed the podcast with heart and purpose, and you will feel this as you listen to every episode.
Can two people with opposing views on divisive issues have a fair and respectful discussion? This episode highlights that it's essential to discuss difficult topics with respect, even when we disagree. In the final episode of season #4, I'm joined by longtime VancouverSun Journalist Pete McMartin, whose recent opinion column sparkedintense debate. We discuss Pete’s journey into journalism and his recentopinion piece, which brought up topics such as Vancouver’s Downtown East Side community, social services, substance use, homelessness, and expressing one’s opinion on challenging topics. What are your thoughts on these issues? We invite you tojoin this important dialogue and share your perspectives respectfully. I wantto hear from you!https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/the-law-protects-the-rights-of-the-most-vulnerable-among-us-to-live-in-filth-and-despair
Rachel Thexton chats with Chris Campbell, a journalist with over three decades of community news experience. Currently leading The Surrey Citizen, a new digital news publication in BC's fastest-growing city, Chris discusses his journalism career and shares personal insights into the world of community news. https://www.alsbc.ca/https://www.dsrf.org/https://saveourlocalnews.ca/Co-Produced by Rachel Thexton and Angel Araujo.Proudly Canadian.
At 14, Randy Taylor was homeless. Today, he’s helping others overcome trauma, addiction, and anxiety—not by revisiting pain, but by building something new. In this deeply personal episode, Randy shares the moment a single sentence from a guidance counselor changed everything, and why it’s time we rethink therapy.https://freefromtherapy.com/https://thextonpr.com/
Kareem Allan has led successful political campaigns, including the campaign for the current Mayor of Vancouver, Ken Sim. We learn more about who Kareem is, outside of politics, and what his hopes are for the direction of Vancouver. https://www.vancityops.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kareem-allamhttps://thextonpr.com/Co-produced by Rachel Thexton and Angel Araujo
In this powerful episode, Vancouver City Councillor Pete Fry joins me for an honest conversation about the city’s evolving identity, his personal journey, and those who shaped his life. We explore his deep Vancouver roots , the complex realities of the Downtown Eastside, and the importance of empathy in leadership. Councillor Fry shares stories of the moments that changed his life—and perhaps the future of our city.https://wholewayhouse.ca/https://www.crossourpawsrescue.com/@PtFry@ThextonConnectsCo-Produced by Rachel thexton and Angel Araujo.
In this episode, we chat with Arlene Panganiban, the owner and publisher of VancouverMom.ca , an essential online hub for mothers in Metro Vancouver. Arlene shares her journey to taking over the influential platform after being laid off and discusses her mission to create a space for authentic motherhood, moving beyond the curated perfection seen online. We explore how the platform provides hyper-local resources—from summer camps to birthday party ideas—tailored to the unique experience of raising a family in Greater Vancouver. #podcast #bc #vancouvermom #motherhood https://www.mamasformamas.org/vancouver/https://burnfund.org/https://www.vancouvermom.ca/Co-Produced by Rachel Thexton and Angel Araujo
During this candid in-person episode with Indigenous Artist, and Co-Founder of Miska Creative Society, Jesse Gouchey, and DTES Graffiti Legend and Advocate, Smokey Devil, we discuss art, Vancouver's Downtown Eastside Community, Indigenous culture, and the memory of the late Vancouver Superhero, Trey Helten.Miska Creative Society (https://www.miskasociety.com/)ACCESS - Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services (https://accessfutures.com/)VanCity OPS (https://www.vancityops.com/)Heart Tattoo Society (https://hearttattoosociety.com/)Greater Vancouver Food Bank | Providing fresh food to those in needhttps://www.ncanuel.com/ (https://foodbank.bc.ca/)
Ever feel like you're the only one juggling it all and that you are always falling short? In this teaser for the next episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Arlene Panganiban shares a vital message: "I'm not alone, and I can do this, and get extra help." Arlene discusses common struggles, joys, and the power of connecting with other moms. If you're ready to ditch the "super mom" myth and embrace support, tune into the full episode, streaming soon. Discover why it's okay to say you "can't do it all" and find your strength in shared experiences. https://www.vancouvermom.ca/
Raising Anti Racist Children- Moms Against Racism Founder and President Kerry Cavers shares her story and the organization's missionMoms Against RacismDiverse books basketMy Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma And The Pathway To Mending Our Hearts And Bodies Book By Resmaa Menakem, (Paperback) | IndigorachelthextonconnectsCo-Produced By Rachel Thexton and Angel Araujo.
Go listen to the full episode with Kerry Cavers from Moms Againts Racismmomsagainstracism
Only two days after an unspeakable act of violence against Vancouver's Filipino community, Culture Advocate, Storyteller, and Podcast Producer & Host of Filipino Fridays, Archierose Natividad joins me on the first episode of Season 4. Archierose speaks about healing and pain, but also shares the beauty of the Filipino culture, its history, and what we can learn as non-Filipino Canadians, both about the community and how we can help in meaningful ways.VS Creative Lab - https://vscreativelab.com/Mabuhay House Society - https://www.mabuhayhouse.ca/Filipino BC - https://filipinobc.com/Kamayan Feast - https://kulinarya.ca/vancouver/#kamayanCo-Produced by Rachel Thexton and Angel Araujo