Defying Silence with Amal Elsana Alh'jooj

Alison Myrden: Fighting Pain and M.S with Psilocybin & Cannabis

In this episode, legendary Canadian drug policy reform advocate Alison Myrden shares why patient advocacy and scientific research are vital for chronic pain care using medical cannabis and psilocybin. Living with multiple sclerosis and severe chronic pain from Trigeminal Neuralgia (often dubbed the "suicide disease"), Alison became one of the first people in Canada to receive a federal exemption to legally use medical cannabis. In this episode, we explore:  • The State of Research: Why psilocybin trials for pain management must catch up to cannabis.  • Legal & Regulatory Barriers: The institutional hurdles researchers face under current drug policies.  • Alison's Journey: Decades of pioneering compassionate healthcare, harm reduction, and reform. Episode Timestamps:  00:00 Why Legal Research Matters  00:33 Podcast Intro  01:22 Meet Alison Myrden  02:32 Early Cannabis and MS Symptoms  05:10 Diagnosis Delays and Mislabels  08:09 Gary’s Support and Surgeries  10:48 Meds vs Cannabis Relief  11:33 Supplements and Vitamin D Regimen  15:27 Website and Advocacy Origins  16:25 Work, Mobility, and Staying Positive  19:49 Trigeminal Pain and Psilocybin Discovery  22:43 From Opioids to Drug Law Reform  29:50 Psilocybin Dosing and Rapid Relief  31:24 Suicide Level Pain  32:05 Trauma After Episodes  32:58 Beating MS Mobility Odds  34:29 Advocacy Origins and LEAP  38:27 Exoneration from Cannabis Records  41:00 Protest and Key Organizations  43:37 Podcasts and Sharing the Message  45:52 Treatment Advice and Dosing  49:02 Legal Fight for Access  52:50 From Opioids to Natural Relief  54:50 Supplements and Liver Protection  59:41 Closing Thoughts on Support Connect with Alison Myrden: ⁠https://alisonmyrden.ca⁠ [https://alisonmyrden.ca/]  Theme Music: “Hold You” – Q-Black (licensed) Disclaimer: This content is for educational and historical documentation purposes only. It depicts federally authorized medical cannabis administration in Canada for chronic pain management. This channel does not encourage or promote the illegal use of regulated substances.

FTKWellness @ The FOLD 2025 RECAP | Disability & Healing Stories Series Finale

Celebrate 10 years of ⁠The FOLD⁠ [https://thefoldcanada.org/] with Freedom To Know Wellness in the series finale of Disability & Healing Stories – FTKWellness at The FOLD! Experience The FOLD 2025 like never before, from virtual workshops and global networking to in-person panels, cultural events, and career-boosting sessions. This milestone festival celebrates diverse Canadian and immigrant authors, highlights inclusive storytelling, and honours literary diversity across Canada—all while showcasing how the art of writing can be a powerful healing modality. Inside the Recap: * Virtual Experience: Accessible workshops, interactive sessions, and global networking opportunities. * In-Person Highlights: Powerful panels and discussions at Brampton’s Rose Theatre, including the “Critical Conversations” panel. * Eat the Books: Literary and cultural dining adventures that bring the stories to life. * Community Fun: Laughter, connection, and festival energy between sessions. Accessibility Notes: Transcription link [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kePAtuh9ufuMlId_T6ynBqx4G6Ml36qP/view?usp=sharing]for the episode. Special thanks to The FOLD team, Executive Director Jael Richardson and Program Coordinator Hudson Lin, for giving FTK Wellness access to cover The FOLD’s 2025 10th anniversary. 📍Follow and Subscribe to Freedom To Know Wellness ⁠freedomtoknowwellness.substack.com⁠ [https://freedomtoknowwellness.substack.com/]

Defying Silence with Amal Elsana Alh'jooj

In this series finale of "Disabilities & Healing Stories," Freedom To Know Wellness sits down with feminist and peace activist Amal Elsana Alh'jooj at the 2025 FOLD Festival ⁨ @TheFOLDCanada  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCywyd2d0z5jBASnRYNjsViA] In the episode “Defying Silence,” Amal reflects on her memoir, Hope Is a Woman’s Name, and shares how storytelling becomes a powerful tool for personal, familial, and collective healing—especially in the context of the ongoing Israel–Palestine war. Special Thanks to Amal for this moving interview, and to The FOLD [https://thefoldcanada.org/] for welcoming Freedom To Know Wellness. Featured in this Series: * Amanda Leduc – Author of Wild Life * Morgan Campbell – Author of My Fighting Family * Tanya Talaga – Author of The Knowing * Amal Elsana Alh'jooj – Author of Hope is a Woman’s Name * Farzana Doctor – 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life and The Beauty of Us 📍 The FOLD 🌐: www.thefoldcanada.org 📢 Follow  The FOLD [https://thefoldcanada.org/]for event updates and podcast episodes. Connect with Freedom To Know Wellness: 🌐 Website: https://freedomtoknowwellness.substack.com 📧 Inquiries: info@freedomtoknowwellness.ca 💜 Follow #FTKWellness for more Healing Stories. 🎥📸 Special Thanks to Lara Tai for video footage and images Timestamps 0:00 Introduction 01:17 The Meaning Behind the Name 'Hope' 03:45 Writing a Memoir: Family Healing 06:56 Working from Love, Not Anger 09:59 The Power of Collective Action & Healing 13:16 Liberating the Oppressor 16:00 Breaking the Cycle 16:55 True Liberation: Mindset Over Land 17:05 Special Thanks | Info on FTKWellness

Generational Healing with Tanya Talaga

In Part 3 of Disabilities & Healing Stories, Freedom To Know Wellness, along with guest freelance entertainment journalist ⁠Lara Tai⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/lara_tai1/], speaks with award-winning Anishinaabe journalist and author Tanya Talaga at the 2025⁠ The FOLD Festival ⁠ [https://thefoldcanada.org/]. Tanya discusses her book The Knowing and explores how her storytelling fosters Indigenous generational healing.  She reflects on her acclaimed work, including Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Relations, highlighting how uncovering the truth fosters community resilience and drives social justice. Connect with Tanya Talaga: web: makwacreative.ca Instagram: @tanyatalaga_author TikTok: @tanyathewriter Featured in this Series: Amanda Leduc – Author of Wild Life and Disfigured Morgan Campbell – Author of My Fighting Family Amal Elsana Alh'jooj – Author of Hope is a Woman’s Name Tanya Talaga – Author of The Knowing, Seven Fallen Feathers and All Our Revelations Farzana Doctor – Author of 52 Weeks to a Sweeter Life and The Beauty of Us Special Thanks to Lara Tai for The FOLD's video footage  Audio edits by Photographs by Shaun J  Follow Shaun J on Instagram & YouTube @photographybyshaunj Music: “Hold You” – Q-Black (licensed) Timestamp 00:00 Intro 00:24 Alt-Text Description Tanya Talaga 01:18 Lara Tai - Intro to Guest Interviewer 01:39 Why She Wrote The Knowing 01:59 First Nations Perspective 03:20 Persevering to Find the Truth 04:21 Healing Generations 04:42 Healing & Closing Thoughts 05:17 Outro & Contact Info

Bridges & Bloodlines with Morgan Campbell

Part 2 of our FTKWellness at The Festival of Literary Diversity, Disabilities and Healing Stories series features an intimate conversation with Canadian sports journalist and memoirist Morgan Campbell at the 2025 Festival of Literary Diversity (The FOLD). ⁠⁠ @TheFOLDCanada ⁠⁠ [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCywyd2d0z5jBASnRYNjsViA] Morgan reflects on his memoir "My Fighting Family: Borders and Bloodlines and the Battles That Made Us" and explores how telling the truth about family, identity, and generational trauma can become an act of healing. In this conversation: • The courage of honest storytelling • Reframing family beyond trauma • Writing as a pathway to emotional freedom Series guest authors include: * Amanda Leduc (2025) * Tanya Talaga (2025) * Amal Elsana Alh’jooj (2025) * Farzana Doctor (2026)