Writing Memoir, Identity and the Courage to be Real. Author Erin Steele on Rachel Thexton Connects

Writing Memoir, Identity and the Courage to be Real. Author Erin Steele on Rachel Thexton Connects

Writing a memoir takes courage. Writing an honest one takes something more. In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Rachel sits down with Erin Steele Canadian author, writer, and self-described low-key philosopher — to talk about her debut memoir Sunrise Over Half-Built Houses: Love, Longing and Addiction in Suburbia (Caitlin Press / Dagger Editions). Set in Surrey, BC, the book is unlike any memoir in its genre. Its a deeply personal reckoning story, with compulsive behaviour and the search for identity, and a meditation on what it truly means to fill the space inside yourself with honesty rather than escape. In this conversation, Rachel and Erin explore:→ How Erin went from lifelong writer to published author — and got abook deal fast→ Why this memoir breaks the usual storytelling formula for this genre→ The theme of external fulfillment and seeking validation outsideyourself→ How she navigated writing honestly about people still in her life→ The empty space inside — and what it really means to stop trying tofill it→ Stillness, self-compassion, and finding peace after years ofcompulsive behaviour→ A personal path to wellness that didn't follow traditional programmodels→ A late-in-life ADHD diagnosis and the clarity it brought→ True self-acceptance — not performing it, actually living it→ Stigma, housing, and the call for more compassion in how we treatone anotherGet the book: https://erinsteele.comErin on Substack (On Being Human): Search Erin Steele SubstackSunrise Over Half-Built Houses is available now at independentbookstores and online.Get the book: https://erinsteele.com🔗 Learn more about Erin Steele: https://erinsteele.com📝 Read On Being Human on Substack: https://substack.com/@erinsteele─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────ABOUT RACHEL THEXTON CONNECTSReal conversations. Human stories. The courage to live withauthenticity.New episodes every season on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.Follow the podcast:Instagram: @racheltextonconnects [https://www.instagram.com/rachelthextonconnects/]TikTok: @racheltextonconnectsFacebook: Rachel Thexton Connects Youtube: Rachel Thexton Connects [https://youtube.com/@rachelthextonconnects?si=jVcKJf_5yBX4ZkTF] ───────────────────────────────────────────────0:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Erin Steele1:33 – About the Memoir: Sunrise Over Half-Built Houses3:58 – The Journey to Getting Published5:16 – What Makes a Memoir Stand Out to Publishers6:14 – Why This Book Breaks the Genre Formula9:31 – The Non-Linear Path to Healing10:49 – Writing About Real People in Your Life14:00 – The Void Within: Seeking Fulfilment Externally16:37 – Running, Movement & Replacing One Compulsion with Another19:22 – Sitting With Yourself: Stillness as a Practice22:43 – Sensitivity as a Superpower, Not a Flaw23:02 – The 'Come Down' Passage & What It Really Means29:42 – On Searing Honesty & Not Holding Back in Writing35:33 – Personal Path to Wellness — Without a Traditional Program40:22 – Late ADHD Diagnosis & the Clarity It Brought44:00 – Learning to Fully Accept Who You Are47:46 – Secondary Emotions & Finding Your Grounded Centre49:07 – What Erin Is Proud of in Her Life Today51:15 – Stigma, Housing & Where Is Our Humanity56:08 – Where to Get the Book & Closing Thoughts#ErinSteele #SunriseOverHalfBuiltHouses #RachelThextonConnects#MemoirWriting #CanadianAuthors #QueerStories #SelfAcceptance#HealingJourney #HarmReduction #MentalWellness #CaitlinPress #Podcast

BC's First Indigenous Red Seal Chef on the Crisis No One Talks About | Chief Andrew George.

What does it mean when food isn't just fuel — it's governance, identity, and survival? In this episode, Rachel sits down with Chief Andrew George — Hereditary Wing Chief of the Wet'suwet'en Bear Clan, BC's first Indigenous Red Seal certified chef, Apprentice Advisor at SkilledTradesBC, and Director at Dan's Legacy Foundation — for a conversation that will change how you see food, culture, and reconciliation in Canada. Chief Andrew takes us from growing up off-reserve in the Bulkley Valley, following salmon cycles, and cooking over an open fire in the mountains — all the way to representing Indigenous cuisine at the 1992 World Culinary Olympics, Expo 86, the 2010 Winter Olympics, and the FIFA World Cup. His mother's salmon bannock, first created at Expo 86, is making a comeback on the world stage. But this episode goes far deeper than food. Chief Andrew unpacks how Indigenous food systems weren't simply lost — they were deliberately destroyed. From fishing rocks blown up in the Hagelget Canyon to buffalo wiped out on the prairies, he connects this history directly to why Indigenous households in BC today experience food insecurity at 2 to 6 times the rate of non-Indigenous households. From Dan's Legacy Foundation's trauma-informed culinary training in New Westminster, to Tea Creek's food sovereignty model in Northern BC — Chief Andrew shows us what real reconciliation looks like: not in a corporate boardroom, but sitting around a fire with a cup of tea. This episode is essential listening for anyone who cares about food justice, Indigenous rights, and the future of our communities. ABOUT DAN'S LEGACY FOUNDATION Dan's Legacy provides no-cost trauma-informed counselling and wrap-around support programs for at-risk youth, including culinary job-skills training through Dan's Diner in New Westminster. 🔗 Website: https://danslegacy.com [https://danslegacy.com/] 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danslegacybc/ [https://www.instagram.com/danslegacybc/] 👍 Facebook: https://facebook.com/danslegacy [https://facebook.com/danslegacy] 🐦 Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/DansLegacyBC [https://twitter.com/DansLegacyBC] 0:00 Introduction & land acknowledgement 2:23 Chief Andrew's journey into professional cooking 3:15 Growing up off reserve in the Bulkley Valley 4:33 The Salmon People: Wet'suwet'en identity & traditions 6:34 The Feast Hall & Potlatch: Food as governance 7:26 The Grease Trails: A kinship economy 9:43 How cooking found him: An open fire in the mountains 16:33 His grandfather & reconciliation 19:32 Indigenous cuisine on the world stage: Culinary Olympics, Expo 86, FIFA 20:28 The deliberate decimation of Indigenous food systems 22:14 The food insecurity crisis: 2–6× higher for Indigenous households 31:08 Culinary Diplomacy Tour & the DC Central Kitchen model 34:13 Dan's Legacy Foundation: Therapy, cooking & changing lives 36:09 Tea Creek: Food sovereignty & trades training 38:02 Burn the boardroom table: Reconciliation around the fire 39:08 The elder's tea wisdom 56:47 Treat people how you want to be treated 57:41 Food as shared culture: Pow Wows, Potlatches & giving 58:57 Where to find Indigenous food in Greater Vancouver 1:01:00 Closing: Salmon Bannock from Expo 86 to the FIFA World Cup.

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.