Our guest today is Joanne Vannicola.

Jo is a Canadian artist who’s first prominent role was in the teen drama 9B, for which they received a Gemini Award nomination for Best Actress in 1989. In 1991, they won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in Maggie's Secret,and in 1994 received a Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for the film Love and Human Remains. Their TV credits are too numerous to mention – 71 credits on IMDB - of which many are recurring or regular roles.

Jo’s memoir, All We Knew But Couldn't Say, was published in 2019, and shortlisted for a Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in 2020. Their book was listed as a top 21 non-fiction book by Bustle Magazine, a CBC top 40 pick, and featured on numerous shows.

Jo’s passion for social justice and equity issues led to their founding of Youth Out Loud a not for profit organization to raise awareness of child abuse.

An out lesbian prior to coming out as non-binary, Jo was a prominent campaigner for same-sex marriage in Canada and is the current chair of ACTRA's advocacy and support committee for LGBTQ performers.

Our discussion was rich and covered everything from coming out at a young age, to their abuse as a child, living in fear - to survival - to leaving a legacy and the artistic works they’ve created to do just that.