YXE Underground

Since 1981, the Elizabeth Fry Society has supported women across Canada who are criminalized or are at risk of criminalization. In Saskatchewan, the organization is led by Nicole Obrigavitch, and she is helping to grow the Elizabeth Fry Society’s impact in our city, especially when it comes to affordable housing.When Nicole started as the Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society in 2023, the organization had seven staff and focused on helping women who were leaving the prison or were in the criminal justice system. Today, Nicole leads a staff of 31 people who are still providing those services but are also helping women get the supports and services they need to prevent entering the criminal system.Nicole is proud of the work being done by her team and is grateful for the partnerships the Elizabeth Fry Society has formed in the past three years with community and government organizations. Especially when it comes to creating affordable housing opportunities for women in Saskatoon.My friend Brynn Service, who was on the podcast last year, first mentioned Nicole to me as a potential guest for the podcast, and I am grateful she did because, as you are about to hear, Nicole is a passionate advocate for women at risk, and she has a direct style of communication that is leading to positive change in Saskatoon.Empathy is a major theme in my conversation with Nicole. She admires the empathy her team shows to all their clients, even in the hardest of circumstances, and Nicole understands firsthand the impact incarceration can have on women because she has spent in jail.If you ever have the chance to have a conversation with Nicole, take it. She will teach you about our community, the challenges it faces, and how through cooperation and empathy, change can happen. And she will do it in articulate and thoughtful manner.You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the website.Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. It really does make a different in getting the podcast noticed by listeners, so thank you for your help on that front.Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook, and X If you would like to see photos from this episode. Simply search YXE Underground on social media.I would like to acknowledge that these interviews took place on Treaty 6 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 AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. Back in May, I was fortunate to host a book launch at McNally Robinson for my friend, Chelsea Coupal. Chelsea is an incredible poet, and her new collection, entitled 'U Alive', is a powerful read. The collection was published by Saskatchewan's Thistledown Press. I got to speak with the publisher's Publicity and Marketing Manager, Mariah Warriner, after Chelsea's event, and I'm excited to share that I will get to host some upcoming book launches for Thistledown Press. The first of these book launches takes place on Friday, October 16th, at McNally Robinson featuring author, university professor, and wonderful human being, Jeanette Lynes. It starts at 7pm, is free to the public and I hope you can make it because Jeanette is simply wonderful.  Jeanette is a Professor of English and Directory of the MFA in Writing Program at the University of Saskatchewan. She is an award-winning author and poet who has written four novels, and her latest book is a collection of non-fiction essays entitled, 'Apron Apocalypse: Lyric Essays' published by Thistledown Press. I am delighted to host her book launch and to share with you a conversation I had with Jeanette recently at the Yard and Flagon Pub in Saskatoon's Broadway neighbourhood. We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Everything from the importance of the collection's sequence of stories, to Jeanette's appreciation of glowing signs at night, and why university students are going to be alright when it comes to writing original stories in an age of artificial intelligence. Jeanette's book launch, which I am honoured to host, takes place at McNally Robinson on Friday, October 16th, and there might be prizes of immeasurable worth at the book launch. I hope to see you there, and I hope you get a chance to meet Jeanette and buy her book!  Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

In Season Seven of the podcast, I had the pleasure of meeting a Saskatoon nurse named Dominique Paulgaard. She was one of five Saskatoon oncology nurses who started a charity called Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation a few years ago. The purpose of Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation is to preserve the ability for cancer patients to have children. This can either be through sperm or egg preservation, and it can be quite the journey for patients who are undergoing cancer treatments. This episode connected with so many listeners and parts of it were featured in a story I did with CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend that was aired across Canada. Fundraising and awareness continue to be challenges for Dominique and her team, which is why they are hosting a fundraising event on Friday, October 16th at Crossmount Cider Company. It's called Jams For A Cause and features live music from Matt Johner and an impressive silent auction. For this bonus episode of the podcast, I sat down with Dominique and her fellow PCFP board members, Jessica Smith and Katie Nyandwi, to learn more about the event and how their work has been a making a difference in the lives of cancer patients. Thank you to Dominique, Jessica, and Katie for not only taking the time to appear on the podcast, but for the work they are doing. It's really important work, and I hope this episode can help a little bit when it comes to raising awareness on this important issue. Thank you for listening and best of luck on the 16th, Dominique, Jessica, and Katie!Eric   Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

"I never really interview people. I converse with them."Hossein Martin Fazeli is an award-winning filmmaker who calls Vancouver home. His latest documentary, 'I Am Gitxsan,' has led him to Saskatoon for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Hossein's documentary is screening at Wanuskewin Heritage Park at 4pm on September 30th as part of the day's events at the park, and he explains in our conversation why he felt compelled to be in the room for this special screening. 'I Am Gitxsan' has won 33 international film awards, and Hossein shares in this episode why it has connected with audiences around the world. He also explains how he built trust with the people featured in the film, including why speaking with people outside in nature was vital to put them at ease. It was a real honour to speak with Hossein, and I am grateful to Marcel Robitaille and Alex Brown from Wanuskewin for thinking of me and making this conversation happen. There are lots of meaningful events happening throughout our community on September 30th, and I hope you find time to connect with the meaning and importance of this day in some way. If you are interested in watching the documentary, it begins at 4pm in the Greg and Olivia Yuel Gallery at Wanuskewin and includes a question and answer with Hossein afterwards.Thank you, Hossein, for taking time out of your very busy schedule to converse with me for the podcast. I hope you enjoy your stay in Saskatoon and congratulations on the success of your film. Eric  Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

I love Nuit Blanche! I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our community to explore the city, interact with thought-provoking and unique works of art, all under the stars on a Saturday night. The festival also gives local and national artists a chance to create under a theme chosen by the Xiao Han, Nuit Blanche's curator. I was lucky to have Xiao on the podcast last year, and we had a great discussion about festival and why it means so much to her. This year, we met at River Landing to talked about this year's theme...Future. It's a broad theme that gives artists a lot of freedom to create, and as you will hear in our conversation, the future is something Xiao has been thinking about for quite some time. Xiao also discusses how she works with artists throughout the application process and in the months and weeks leading up to the festival. I love learning about how people work, and I think you will find Xiao's process fascinating! Nuit Blanche takes place Saturday, September 19th, from 7pm until midnight. You can learn more about Nuit Blanche by visiting the website, and there is a special launch event taking place on Friday, September 18th, at Gather Local Market. Finally, I want to include Xiao's artist statement for this year's theme in the show notes. I love her writing, and I really think the theme of future captures a lot of what is happening in the world around us right, especially when it comes to technological, social, and environmental change. I hope to see you out exploring the festival Saturday night! Speak from the Future: What Would You Change Now to Build a Brighter World?“The future is not a distant destination. It is shaped by the choices we make today through our technologies, cultures, relationships, and the environments we inhabit.As our world undergoes rapid technological, social, and environmental change, the future can feel both exciting and uncertain. Yet the future is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we actively create.Nuit Blanche Saskatoon 2026 invites audiences to explore the theme of Future through three interconnected lenses: Humanity & Technology, Diverse Futures & Belonging, and Collective Imagination & Action.” - Xiao Han.  Host, Producer, Editor: Eric AndersonTheme Music: Andrew DicksonWebsite: https://www.yxeunderground.comRecorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis