Inside BC's Real Estate Beat Freelance Journalist Howard Chai on Housing, Headlines & Hustle

Rachel Thexton Connects. Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk: Substance Use, Stigma & Canada's Public Health Crisis.

Street Doctor Jill (Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk) is an addiction medicine physician, emergency room doctor, and one of Canada’s most important voices on the substance use public health crisis. In this episode of the Rachel Thexton Connects Podcast, Dr. Jill breaks down evidence-based treatment, compassionate care, the contaminated street supply, stigma in healthcare, and why policy makers need more courage to act on the research.🔔 Subscribe for honest, compassionate conversations on substance use, mental health, and public health in Canada.📲 Follow Dr. Jill Wiwcharuk: Instagram & Facebook: @streetdrjill 📲 Follow Rachel Thexton Connects:  @rachelthextonconnects  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCbBnPUg07mfgyiAF0x4yqUA] [https://www.instagram.com/rachelthextonconnects/?hl=enTOPICS COVERED SECTION• How Dr. Jill went from violin & Spanish to street medicine• Why all Canadian doctors should have substance use disorder training• Barriers to care for unhoused & marginalized communities• How stigma in clinics, pharmacies & the ER costs lives• Why she started @streetdrjill on Instagram & Facebook• Evidence-based care strategies and why they save millions of dollars• Prescription medications contaminating Canada’s unregulated street supply• Why emergency response medications don’t always work — and why that matters• The reality of withdrawal — why “just stopping” isn’t that simple• Recovery: why there’s no one-size-fits-all approach• What policy makers must do to end the public health emergency• Indigenous communities and the preventable deaths crisis in BC#AddictionMedicine #SubstanceUseDisorder #PublicHealth #StreetDoctorJill #CanadaHealthCrisis #RecoveryIsPossible #MentalHealth #EvidenceBasedCare #CompassionateCare #BCHealthCrisis #RachelThextonConnects #DrJillWiwcharuk 0:00 Introduction — Meet Street Doctor Jill1:15 Dr. Jill’s Journey: From Violin & India to Medicine3:30 Emergency Medicine + Addiction — More Than One Label4:15 Should All Canadian Doctors Have Substance Use Training?7:00 Barriers to Care: Homelessness, Stigma & Marginalized Communities8:30 How Stigma in Healthcare Costs Lives13:20 The Numbers: 21% of Canadians Will Face Substance Use Disorder14:00 Sadness & Rage: Rolling Back Public Health Progress17:30 Safe Supply, the Diversion Debate & Political Pressure18:00 Why Dr. Jill Started @streetdrjill on Social Media22:30 Evidence-Based Care: What It Actually Means26:35 The Financial Case: Why Preventive Care Saves Millions27:00 Prescription Medications Contaminating the Unregulated Supply29:30 Why Emergency Response Medications Sometimes Fall Short33:45 Understanding Withdrawal — It’s Not Just Stopping36:45 Medications That Support Recovery & Stability38:10 Recovery Looks Different for Everyone41:40 What Policy Makers Must Do to End the Crisis43:35 Indigenous Communities & Preventable Deaths in BC45:25 Closing Thoughts & Where to Follow Dr. Jill

Inside BC's Real Estate Beat Freelance Journalist Howard Chai on Housing, Headlines & Hustle

Rachel Thexton sits down with Howard Chai, one of British Columbia's most respected real estate journalists, to talk about what it's like covering Vancouver's number one news beat. Howard shares the story behind his transition from computer science at SFU to journalism — eventually landing at Storeys.com, where he spent three years establishing himself as a go-to voice on BC's housing market. When Storeys paused operations, he created Substack real estate content, and media outlets started calling. Howard now writes for The Globe and Mail, RENX, Western Investor, The Tyee, and Storeys.com (now under Site Media).The discussion digs into the state of BC's real estate market — from the downturn in pre-sale developments and declining rental prices, to developer insolvencies and the hidden costs that drive up housing prices. Howard offers his perspective on housing affordability for professional families, the "missing middle," and whether the market may be approaching a turning point. Howard also shares what grabs his attention in a story pitch, how he stays objective on divisive housing topics, the value of exclusives, and his competitive edge as a breaking-news reporter.This episode is a must-listen for real estate developers, realtors, PR and communications professionals, and anyone following the BC housing market.The Worst Market They've Ever Seen?Will Families Ever Afford a Home in Vancouver?0:00 — Intro: Welcome to Rachel Thexton Connects0:22 — Meet Howard Chai, Freelance Real Estate Journalist1:16 — What Happened When Storeys.com Shut Down3:04 — Starting a Substack & Staying in Journalism4:40 — How Substack Works for Independent Journalists5:34 — Why Newsletters Are the Future of Digital Media6:02 — Competitors Came Calling: Landing Freelance Work7:25 — Real Estate: BC's Most Clicked News Beat7:57 — Howard's Background: From Computer Science to Journalism9:25 — Covering Vancouver's COVID Era at Daily Hive 60410:03 — Joining Storeys & Covering BC's Real Estate Market11:01 — Why Housing Affordability Matters So Much12:53 — The Market Shift: From Sellouts to Slowdowns13:10 — "The Worst Market They've Ever Seen"14:00 — Are We Near Rock Bottom? Signs of a Turning Point14:30 — How Rental Prices Have Dropped in Vancouver14:56 — Staying Objective on Divisive Housing Topics16:46 — How Howard Keeps Reporting Balanced & Fact-Based17:43 — What Grabs a Journalist's Attention in a Pitch18:56 — Being Selective: Competing with CBC & Bigger Outlets20:11 — The Value of Exclusives in Real Estate Reporting22:02 — Writing for Globe and Mail, RENX, Tyee & Storeys22:46 — The Globe and Mail Feature: A Career Milestone24:00 — Biggest Challenges Covering the Real Estate Beat25:58 — What Howard Loves Most About the Job27:00 — The Competitive Drive Behind Breaking News27:42 — Will Families Ever Afford a Home in Vancouver?28:24 — Howard's Take: Townhouses as the Realistic Path29:30 — The Hidden Costs Developers Pay (CACs & Municipal Fees)31:00 — Future Goals: Maclean's, Walrus & Long-Form Features32:51 — Howard's Substack & Inspiring Self-Publication33:00 — Pet Peeves from PR Pitches & Email Threads34:20 — Why Howard Always Responds to Pitches (Even to Say No)35:47 — Closing: Howard Chai's Impact on BC Real Estate Journalism36:24 — Be Kind, Truly Connect — Outro

The Reality of Vancouver’s Largest Health Crisis: Sarah Blyth (OPS)-Rachel Thexton Connects Podcast.

In this raw and timely episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Rachel sits down with Sarah Blyth, the Executive Director of the Overdose Prevention Society (OPS). Three years after first joining Rachel on the podcast, Sarah returns to discuss why the overdose crisis remains a dire health emergency despite falling out of the media spotlight. Sarah also details the variety of vital services that OPS provides to one of Vancouver's most vulnerable communities. Sarah pulls back the curtain on the daily operations at OPS—a site that sees up to 600 visits a day. She debunks myths about harm reduction, explains the shift from fentanyl to even more dangerous toxic substances, and shares deeply personal experiences that fuel her advocacy.In this episode, we cover:The Toxic Supply: Why the current unregulated supply is taking the lives of 225,000+ British Columbians. More Than Harm Reduction: How OPS provides food, clothing, housing support, and recovery meetings. The Human Cost: The over-representation of Indigenous peoples in toxic drug overdoses. A Legacy of Compassion: Why Vancouver must choose empathy on the world stage (FIFA 2026). How you can support OPS:Sarah mentions that OPS is always in need of blankets and clothing for their overnight shelter. Visit vancityops.com to learn more.0:00 - Introduction: The Rachel Thexton Connects Podcast 1:10 - The Magnitude of the Crisis: 225,000+ at Risk 3:10 - Catching up with Sarah Blyth (3 Years Later) 4:40 - Frontline Realities: 600 Visits a Day at OPS 6:15 - The Changing Supply: From Fentanyl to "Tranq" 8:40 - Accountability in Drug Testing & "Green" Drugs 10:50 - More Than a Site: Recovery Navigators & Basic Needs 13:10 - The Dimming Spotlight: Why We Can't Ignore the Emergency 15:30 - Politics vs. People: The Funding & Advocacy Gap 18:10 - The Harm of Exploitative Filming in the DTES 21:30 - The Power of Lived Experience & Empathy 23:45 - On-Demand Recovery: How the Process Actually Works 26:30 - How to Support OPS: Blankets & Compassion 28:40 - Vancouver’s Legacy: FIFA 2026 & Global Perception 30:30 - Closing: Walking the Talk with Sarah Blyth.

How Dress for Success Vancouver Supports Women in Breaking Barriers and Navigating 2026 Challenges.

In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, I am joined by Amanda Sayfy, the Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, the oldest affiliate of the global organization.We dive deep into the realities of women in Vancouver today, discussing how the organization has evolved from its grassroots origins in a church basement to a multi-faceted support system. Amanda shares startling data on the intersecting barriers women face, including the cost-of-living crisis, the impacts of shifting immigration policies, and the "national epidemic" of gender-based violence declared in 2025.https://dfsvancouver.ca/https://thextonpr.com/Amanda Sayfy is a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience in resource development and advocacy. As the Executive Director of Dress for Success Vancouver, she focuses on creating equity and opportunity for those experiencing intersecting barriersLinkedIn: Amanda SayfyTimestamp Chapter 00:00,Intro The Reality of the Living Wage,Amanda discusses the gap between Vancouver’s living wage ($28/hr) and the reality for clients making less than $30k/year.01:12,Introduction: Amanda Sayfy,Rachel welcomes Amanda Sayfy and introduces the mission of Dress for Success Vancouver.02:19,A Calling to Advocacy,Amanda shares her 20-year journey in the non-profit sector and what led her to this work.06:43,Beyond the Suit: DFS Origins,The grassroots history of the Vancouver affiliate and how its services have evolved.08:49,Programs for Empowerment,"Exploring the ""Working Women’s Group,"" mentorship, and employment readiness workshops."11:01,Diversity & Intersecting Barriers,"A look at the demographics served, including newcomers, BIPOC individuals, and survivors of violence."16:13,The Link to Gender-Based Violence,How financial independence serves as a critical—yet complex—pathway to safety.21:01,Shifting Trends in 2026,Analyzing why demand for peer support is rising while dressing services requests have shifted.22:19,The BC Labor Market & AI,The impact of infrastructure-heavy job growth and the threat of AI on entry-level roles.26:54,The Pulse of Philanthropy,How global economic events affect donor feelings and the importance of human storytelling.29:03,Personal Motivation,Amanda shares her family’s history as displaced persons and her own lived experience.31:09,How to Support: The Best Ways,"Specific needs for donations (blazers, handbags, plus sizes) and volunteer opportunities."33:57,The Future: Building Social Capital,"Amanda’s vision for creating ""champions"" and deeper connections for the women of Vancouver."Dress for Success Vancouver, Amanda Sayfy, Rachel Thexton Connects, Living Wage Vancouver, Gender-Based Violence Support, Women’s Employment BC, Non-profit Leadership, Social Capital, Newcomer Support Vancouver.

The "Industry Disruptor" Is the Future of Journalism a Co-op? Journalist-Owned Media Revolution.

Is corporate media abandoning your community? 📢 Journalism is undergoing a massive shift, and Freshet News is at the forefront of the movement.Discover how veteran journalists are fighting back against corporate media closures. Janice Cleugh joins Rachel Thexton to discuss the "revival" of local news through the journalist-owned co-op, Freshet News."We could not believe that they were closing three major urban outlets in the middle of a federal election."In this episode, we sit down with Janice Cleugh, a 35-year veteran journalist and co-founder of Freshet News. After the sudden closure of several Tri-City and Burnaby publications by Glacier Media, Janice and three colleagues took a "superhero" leap to revive local news as a worker-owned cooperative.Visit and support freshetnews.ca for local news BC.Key Takeaways from this Episode:The News Co-Op Model: Learn how Freshet News operates as a non-profit, worker-owned collective to remain independent and impartial.Community Demand: Why local readers are hungry for "hyper-local" reporting on school boards, city halls, and local arts.The Maverick Mindset: How these journalists transformed from employees to business owners, publishers, and distributors overnight.The Future of Journalism: Janice shares her "bold prediction" for the Fraser River communities and why trust is the secret weapon for modern media.0:00 Intro: The Value of Community Journalism1:54 The Crisis: Closing Major Outlets During an Election3:15 What the Community Actually Wants in a Newspaper5:50 Janice Cleugh’s Journey: From England to BC7:52 Scaling Up: From Monthly to Weekly Print Editions10:00 The "Maverick" Story: Why We Created Our Own Jobs12:50 Disrupting the Corporate Media Landscape15:00 How a Worker-Owned Co-Op Actually Functions20:18 The Daily Mission: Fairness, Accuracy, and Truth21:14 Why We Do This as VolunteersBC News 2026 Vancouver Media Co-opBurnaby Local Journalism