Jeff Newman and Stephanie Scott learned a lot while working on their show First Contact. The reality style TV show brought Canadians from similar backgrounds together to learn about Indigenous culture and attempted to shatter their racist beliefs.

As filmmakers, their goal is to educate not only the participants on the show, but people worldwide by shining a light on prejudice, stereotyping, and racism across our country.

I sat down with both Jeff Newman and Stephanie Scott, Director and Executive Producer on First Contact, to talk about the trials and tribulations in making the show, Canada’s long history of individual and systemic racism, and the importance of listening to one another, to learn and grow.