Living Proof: Experience as Evidence in Pain Research

Episode 3 , Part 2: Cultural Pathways to Meaningful Engagement

In part 2 of episode 3, co-hosts Desmond Williams and Emerald Asuncion continue the conversation with Dr. Vanessa Ambtman-Smith. They talk about honouring relationality and lived expertise as evidence while going deeper into Vanessa’s research on what happens when Indigenous healing spaces open within Western healthcare. They discuss the medicine wheel as a metaphor for imbalance and how bringing culture into care can “reinflate” spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical wellness. Desmond shares his own chronic pain experience and the need for safe, non-triggering spaces, along with the nervous-system practices rooted in the four directions. Vanessa explains imperatives in Indigenous health research, reciprocity, and protocols, emphasizing participants as sacred knowledge holders. What do YOU think? How do we meaningfully build spaces where the medicine wheel can move smoothly? PEPR (Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research) is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Episode 3, Part 1: Cultural Pathways to Meaningful Engagement

Co-hosts Desmond Williams and Emerald Asuncion welcome Dr. Vanessa Ambtman-Smith to the PEPR podcast. This episode delves into Vanessa's work connecting Indigenous communities with healthcare systems and her pursuit to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into pain research. Highlighting her research on 'Weaving Indigenous Knowledge into Pain Research: Cultural Pathways to Meaningful Engagement,' Vanessa shares her personal healing journey and the importance of creating culturally safe spaces within healthcare institutions. The conversation emphasizes the power of traditional medicine, relationality, and the need for reciprocal approaches in pain research. This insightful discussion offers valuable perspectives on integrating cultural wisdom into modern research and healthcare practices. PEPR (Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research) is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Episode 2, Part 2: Why Do We Need an EDID Lens in Pain Research?

Inclusive Language, Structural Violence, and the Power of Community. In this engaging episode of 'Living Proof: Experience as Evidence in Pain Research,' co-hosts Desmond Williams and Emerald Asuncion continue a rich conversation with guests Mehmoona Moosa-Mitha and Jenny Lorca. They discuss the importance of inclusive language, the impact of structural violence related to colonialism and racism, and the significance of community-based participatory action research. Through personal anecdotes and detailed discussions, the panel explores the evolution of terms like BIPOC and the challenges faced by minority communities in academic and healthcare settings. This episode provides an insightful look into the complexities of inclusivity and the power of collective knowledge. PEPR (Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research) is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Episode 2, Part 1: Why Do We Need and EDID Lens in Pain Research?

Co-hosts Desmond Williams and Emerald Asuncion welcome Jenny Lorca and Dr. Mehmoona Moosa-Mitha to the PEPR podcast. Together they delve into the critical need for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Decolonization (EDID) in pain research. Our guests share their expertise and lived experiences, highlighting the intersection of chronic pain with social inequities and structural violence. Join us as we explore the systemic failures in healthcare, the importance of decolonizing pain research, and the role of unconscious bias in perpetuating inequities. This enriching conversation is a call to recognize pain as not just a biomedical issue, but a profound social justice challenge. PEPR (Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research) is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

Episode 1: Exploring Meaningful Engagement with Fiona Webster, Kate Rice, and Laura Connoy

Co-hosts Desmond Williams and Emerald Asuncion welcome Dr. Fiona Webster, Dr. Kathleen Rice, and Dr. Laura Connoy to the PEPR podcast. Together they introduce their work on meaningful engagement of people in pain research and how the PEPR Partnership came to exist. PEPR (Partnership for the Engagement of People in Pain Research) is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We are grateful to partially film this podcast at Tahanan Studio https://www.tahananstudio.com/ [https://www.tahananstudio.com/]