*Episode disclaimer: today's episode contains discussions about violence against women, including sensitive topics which some listeners may find triggering. Listener discretion is advised.*

According to the UN, Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at least once in their life.

Annually, November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and this year, the date marks the launch of the global UNiTE campaign (Nov 25- Dec 10) — an initiative which kicks off the annual 16 Days of Activism. This is an opportunity to revitalize commitments and call for accountability and action from decision-makers, concluding on the day that commemorates International Human Rights Day on December 10th.

All of the panelists you’ll be hearing from have lived experience as it relates to violence against women, as survivors or loved ones of survivors, and those who are in supporting roles within their communities. While this panel is based in Southwestern Ontario, the topics and themes that will be discussed are far reaching here in Canada, and around the world. 

More about the panelists:

Carlen Costa will moderate this discussion, but brings a lot of support to this conversation as a registered psychotherapist who has herself, been a victim of violence. She is the host of the Spicy Fat Podcast on the Women in Media Network.

https://www.carlencosta.com/

https://www.spicyfat.com/

Amy Birtch is a Sergeant with London Police and the At Risk Coordinator. She had been in that role since 2016 and has 22 years of service with London Police Service. Sergeant Birtch has experience in patrol, community-based policing, and criminal investigations.

https://slwar.ca/meet-the-team/

Fartumo Kusow is the mother of the late Sahra Bulle, who was found dead in Windsor on June 6, 2023. She is one of the honourees of this year's Shine the Light on Woman Abuse campaign. She is the host of the Break the Silence, Build a Future Podcast.

https://fartumokusow.com/about/

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/break-the-silence-build-a-future/id1726679190

Jennifer Dunn is the Executive Director of the London Abused Women’s Centre, a feminist, abolitionist agency that provides abused and exploited women and children over the age of 12 with hope and help.

https://www.lawc.on.ca/

https://www.lawc.on.ca/shine-the-light-on-woman-abuse-campaign

RESOURCES:

Government of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Find family violence resources and services in your area:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/stop-family-violence/services.html

Shelter Safe: A resource to finding all shelters across Canada

https://www.sheltersafe.ca/

Resources in Canada for Family and Intimate Partner Violence

https://www.casw-acts.ca/en/resources/family-and-intimate-partner-violence

The Assaulted Women’s Helpline: A free, anonymous telephone line for women in Ontario experiencing any form of abuse.

https://www.awhl.org/donate

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In this episode, host Carlen Costa explores the question she senses many women grapple with: Why do we feel the need to be so thin? She reflects on societal expectations and the lack of representation of fuller-figured women in the media. She discusses how she came to have a better understanding of her body and the impact of ADHD and executive dysfunction on her relationship with food. She also shares her experience with histamine intolerance and the importance of self-compassion and self-acceptance.

Chapters

(00:00) Exploring the Need to Be Thin

(03:28) The Impact of Societal Expectations and Media Representation

(08:30) The Cumulative Effects of Societal Pressure

(12:11) ADHD and Executive Dysfunction in Relation to Food

(34:50) Embracing Self-Compassion and Self-Acceptance

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Host Carlen Costa welcomes Meredith Shaw, a television and radio host, style expert, and advocate for all bodies, to discuss her career and inspirations. Shaw shares her morning routine, including a gratitude practice, and her experience working on Breakfast Television. She also talks about her admiration for role models like Jann Arden and other female music heroes who inspired her as a singer-songwriter. They discuss the significance of fashion and style in empowering individuals and shares her excitement about designing a fashion-forward line for fuller-sized bodies. She highlights the importance of inclusivity and body positivity in the fashion industry through her experience designing inclusive fashion and her collaboration with Penningtons.

As a host of Canada’s most popular morning show, Breakfast Television, Meredith wakes up the country with her signature wit, warmth, and wardrobe. She has graced magazine covers, appeared in the pages of Vogue, walked Toronto Fashion Week’s runways and worked alongside global supermodels such as Ashley Graham. At the heart of everything she does, Meredith is fiercely passionate about inspiring and motivating people of all sizes to embrace their power and feel sexy, confident, and fabulous in their own skin. 

Check out Get Dress'd with Meredith for Pennington's here:

https://www.penningtons.com/en/as-seen-on-social-media/meredith-shaw

Get to Know Meredith, Breakfast Television:

https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/get-to-know-our-new-cohost-meredith-shaw/

Produced by: Sarah Burke, The Women in Media Network https://www.womeninmedia.network/

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Host Carlen Costa discusses the significance of Pride and its historical roots in the LGBTQ+ community. She explains the difference between gender and sex, and highlights the importance of recognizing and respecting diverse gender identities while addressing current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community, such as proposed legislation in Alberta that would require parental consent for transgender kids to use their preferred names and pronouns. She emphasizes that Pride is not just a celebration, but a political movement for equality and inclusivity.

Some Resources you can explore in reference to today's episode:

Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/women-gender-equality/pride-season.html

Pride Toronto: https://www.pridetoronto.com

Stats Canada: https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/4192-pride-canada

Queer Events: https://www.queerevents.ca/canada/pride/history

History.com: https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/the-stonewall-riots

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Host Carlen Costa interviews Dr. Riley Kirk, a cannabis research scientist and educator. They discuss the intentional and informed use of psychedelics and cannabis for mental health and wellness. Dr. Kirk shares her experiences as a cannabis researcher and the challenges she faces in obtaining funding and conducting research. They also explore the importance of communication and education in the cannabis industry, particularly in relation to women's health and pregnancy, wellness, and healing. They touch on topics such as the safety of cannabis use, the importance of harm reduction, and the potential benefits of cannabis and psychedelics for neurodivergent individuals. They also discuss the importance of understanding one's own body and using plant medicine intentionally. Riley shares her ongoing research on the chemistry of cannabis smoke and the factors that contribute to the smokeability of cannabis. They emphasize the need for education and informed decision-making when it comes to using cannabis and psychedelics.

More about Dr. Riley Kirk:

She obtained her Ph.D. in pharmaceutical sciences, specializing in natural product chemistry where she studied the traditional and contemporary uses of hundreds of medicinal plants. She has worked as an immunology scientist in the biotech industry, currently is an assistant associate professor at the University of Rhode Island and has worked in the cannabis industry studying the chemical complexity of cannabis smoke. 

Riley is passionate about making Cannabis science accessible through social media channels and hosts an educational podcast called Bioactive which disseminates the chemistry and pharmacology of natural products. Riley is the co-founder of the cannabis research and education non-profit organization called the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP). NAP is using science as advocacy to research and communicate findings that highlight the unique power of natural products. The goal of Riley’s work is to unite people in the Cannabis industry, academia, and consumers to further the reach of Cannabis education and reduce harm.

Listen to Dr. Riley Kirk's Bioactive Podcast: https://www.bioactivepodcast.com/

Follow Dr. Riley Kirk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cannabichem/

Follow Dr. Riley Kirk on Youtube: https://youtube.com/@cannabichem?si=LF7p_KOkCXcaOoZK

Chapters

(00:00) Exploring the Intentional and Informed Use of Psychedelics and Cannabis

(04:31) Challenges and Opportunities in Cannabis Research

(11:53) The Importance of Communication and Education in the Cannabis Industry

(33:43) Exploring the Use of Cannabis and Psychedelics for Wellness and Healing

(41:30) Cannabis and ADHD

(49:38) Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder

(53:07) Set and Setting for Psychedelic Experiences

(57:41) Hormones and Cannabis Use

(01:02:08) The Science of Smokeability

(01:05:14) Connecting with Riley Kirk and Additional Resources

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Have you ever been sold a course or experience that promises to connect you to your authentic self? In this episode, Carlen reflects on the grifting culture that can often convince you that you aren’t good enough and need to be more authentic. She discusses the concept of "finding one's authentic self." While exploring her own journey, she reflects about authenticity in society; it is not just about when we feel happy or powerful. She concludes that when it's implied that people aren’t authentic in their everyday lives, it can negatively impact our mental health. Carlen explores some common themes that seem to be recurring in recent sessions within her psychotherapy practice. Carlen challenges the idea that authenticity is something to be sought after, emphasizing that we are already authentic in our responses and experiences. She encourages listeners to embrace all aspects of themselves and make choices that align with who they are. Carlen leaves listeners with a few exercises for embracing your already authentic self.

Takeaways

In this episode, Carlen mentions her book: https://www.carlencosta.com/thelovebook

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Sarah Nicole Landry, also known as The Bird’s Papaya, joins the Spicy Fat Podcast to discuss her journey through body image, motherhood and radical self-love. She discusses her perspective on sharing personal moments of her life on social media and creating a space for followers to connect and find inspiration. The conversation explores authenticity on social media, the impact of negativity, and the importance of empathy and humanity when we interact online.

Carlen and Sarah also discuss finding joy within yourself and the process of reinvention. Sarah speaks about both the challenges and rewards of being an influencer and entrepreneur, and her experiences with the right partners in designing clothing collections. 

Sarah Nicole Landry aka @TheBirdsPapaya is a divorced and remarried mom of four (babies to teens) who loves cultivating powerful social media conversations around life and our experiences in it. Sarah is a body confidence advocate, speaker, writer, 6x cover girl and weekly podcast host. Recent notable career achievements include the 2020 Iris Awards “Instagrammer of the Year”, as well as one of Today’s Parent’s “Most Influential Parents”. Her lifestyle includes approximately 22,000 unanswered emails, 14 empty cups in her car, and peanut butter straight from the jar. She wrote this bio about herself.

As Sarah says on her website: I am a body confidence advocate, speaker, writer, occasional model, and weekly podcast host and an ongoing student of life. If you like what you see, I hope you’ll grab a snack, sit down and stay a while.

Topics:

Find out more about Sarah Nicole Landry: https://thebirdspapaya.com/

Listen to her podcast: https://thebirdspapaya.com/the-papaya-podcast/

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Disclaimer: In this episode, Carlen will discuss sexual assault and violence. Host Carlen Costa shares her personal experience of sexual assault and discusses the many impacts it can have on victims. She provides statistics, definitions, and examples of different types of sexual assault while providing support for both survivors and their friends and family. She also highlights the need for systemic change and encourages listeners to take action and support organizations that help survivors.

Takeaways for victims:

If you’re a friend/family member of someone who has recently experienced this type of assault, some affirmative things you can say are: “I believe you. / It took a lot of courage to tell me about this.” It can be extremely difficult for survivors to come forward and share their story. They may feel ashamed, concerned that they won’t be believed, or worried they’ll be blamed. Leave any “why” questions or investigations to the experts—your job is to support this person.

“It’s not your fault. / You didn’t do anything to deserve this.” Survivors may blame themselves, especially if they know the perpetrator personally. Remind the survivor, maybe even more than once, that they are not to blame.

“You are not alone. / I care about you and am here to listen or help in any way I can.” Let the survivor know that you are there for them and willing to listen to their story if they are comfortable sharing it.

For immediate assistance, please call one of the following 24-hour helplines:

Human Trafficking Helpline: 1-833-900-1010

Assaulted Women’s Helpline: 1-866-863-0511

Anova 24-Hour Crisis and Support Line: 519-642-3000

Resources:

https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/sexual-assault-harassment/

https://sexualassaultsupport.ca/statistics-sexual-violence-in-canada/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/scc-condom-use-case-decision-1.6535127

https://bcsth.ca/what-to-do-if-someone-has-shared-or-threatened-to-share-your-intimate-image/

https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/cj-jp/victim/rr14_01/p10.html

https://www.gov.nl.ca/vpi/tips-and-tools/tips-to-help-a-friend-who-has-been-sexually-assaulted/

Find out more about Carlen Costa and her practice: https://www.carlencosta.com/

April is Sexual Assault Awareness month; a month of solidarity dedicated to sexual assault victims. It’s meant to raise awareness about the prevalence of sexual assault and violence while sharing information and resources to foster a great understanding of consent.

Some statistics from www.sexassault.ca:

1 in 4 women in North America will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. For every 100 incidents in Canada, only 6 are reported to police. Over 80% of sex crime victims in Canada are women.

Resources in Canada for Family and Intimate Partner Violence

A note from the Women in Media Network: The WIMN is proud to support organizations that provide relief and guidance to women and girls who have been subjected to violence, trafficking, and/or homelessness. Proceeds from Women in Media Network launch merchandise will support the London Abused Women's Centre: https://www.womeninmedia.network/. Access the London Abused Women's Centre: https://www.lawc.on.ca/

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This conversation is about aging and the experiences of women as they grow older. Host Carlen Costa reflects on her own aging process and the changes she has noticed in her body and mindset. She discusses societal pressures to remain youthful and the impact of media representation on aging women. The conversation also touches on the experiences of elderly individuals, including social isolation and the challenges they face. The host's 97-year-old grandmother, Avo Luisa, shares her own experiences growing up in Portugal and immigrating to Canada. Together, they cover topics like living without electricity, marriage, and the journey to Canada. Luisa shares her journey from Portugal to Canada, her experiences as a mother and grandmother, and her perspective on life. Luisa emphasizes the importance of kindness, taking care of others, and living in peace. She also talks about her health challenges and her passion for crocheting and helping those in need. Luisa's wisdom and positive outlook on life serve as an inspiration for future generations.

Topics:

Find out more about Carlen's work:

https://www.carlencosta.com/

https://www.spicyfat.com/

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Carlen shares her personal journey of uncovering her ADHD diagnosis and reflects on how it was missed for so long. She discusses the impact of ADHD on her academic and personal life, as well as the role of social media in her discovery. Carlen sheds light on the diagnosis gap in women with ADHD and the need for a shift in the model of diagnosis. She also explores the effects of trauma and ADHD on hunger cues and shares her experiences with coffee and smoking. Carlen's desire to support women with ADHD is just beginning! She's excited to create tools, resources, and support for neurodivergent individuals in the near future; she'll keep you posted.

Takeaways

Chapters

(00:00) Introduction and Episode Purpose

03:20) Uncovering the Diagnosis of ADHD

06:10) Managing ADHD in School and Personal Life

07:30) ADHD in Women and the Influence of Social Media

10:43) The Diagnosis Gap in Women with ADHD

11:02) ADHD Symptoms and Coping Mechanisms

12:07) Discovering the Impact of Weight Loss Surgery

13:27) Practicing Embodiment Work and Feeling Fullness

15:24) The Effects of Trauma and ADHD on Hunger Cues

20:50) Finding Support and Connection with NeuroSpice Goblins

21:36) Exploring ADHD and Anger in Women

22:31) Creating Tools, Resources, and Support for NeuroSpice Goblins

23:14) Embracing Self-Worth and Deservingness

25:06) Closing Remarks and Call to Action

Find out more about Carlen's work:

https://www.carlencosta.com/

ADHD Resources

ADDitude Editors. “Famous People with ADHD.” ADDitude, 28 Nov. 2016, www.additudemag.com/slideshows/famous-people-with-adhd/.

“Is ADHD Hereditary or Genetic? Yes and No.” ADDitude, ADDitude, 15 Jan. 2009, www.additudemag.com/is-adhd-hereditary-yes-and-no/.

“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).” The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, www.camh.ca/en/health-info/mental-illness-and-addiction-index/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder.

Chhabra, Sameer. “Adults Who Don’t Know They Have ADHD Can Struggle. Here’s How a Diagnosis Can Help.” CBC, 20 Jan. 2024, www.cbc.ca/radio/whitecoat/adults-undiagnosed-adhd-1.7087547.

Vear, Emily. “New Manulife Data Shows Spike in Adult ADHD Diagnosis | Manulife.” Www.manulife.ca, 21 Sept. 2023, www.manulife.ca/business/news/group-benefits-news/health-insights-press-release.html#:~:text=According%20to%20CADDRA%2C%20the%20Canadian.

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