Episode 24: The Discipline of Hope. Frontline Lessons from Canada’s Overdose Crisis with Kim Ritchie
In this deeply moving episode, host Rebecca Foster sits down with Kim Ritchie—cofounder of the National Overdose Response Service (NORS), social worker, advocate, and Community Champion award recipient.
From 15 years on the streets of Hamilton to leading one of Canada’s most impactful harm-reduction initiatives, Kim’s story is one of resilience, truth, and purpose. Her lived experience has helped shape a service that has supported over 20,000 calls and saved hundreds of lives.
This conversation goes beyond the headlines, diving into the reality of Canada’s overdose crisis, the power of peer-based support, and why stigma and outdated systems continue to fail people, while highlighting how compassion and community can truly save lives.
This episode is raw, eye-opening, and necessary—it challenges how we think about addiction, care, and responsibility, and reminds us that behind every statistic is a human being.
Available now on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Substack!
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