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Jay Bahadur is an investigator for an international agency. He’s a Canadian, born in Toronto, Ontario, who went on to be a journalist and author, becoming well-known for his reporting on Somalian pirates.
He got an inside look at Somali piracy, after spending months in the country, living with pirates, and venturing into areas that most journalists wouldn’t dare visit. Jay documented his experience in a book titled The Pirates Of Somalia: Inside Their Hidden World, which was released in 2011.
6 years later, in 2017, a movie by the same name was released, which closely follows Jay’s story. It’s also known by an alternate title, ‘Dabka’ and was directed by Bryan Buckley. Jay is portrayed on screen by Evan Peters, and the film also stars Barkhad Abdi, Melanie Griffith, and Al Pacino.
Listen as Jay tells us what it was like to venture into places that most other journalists would never dare, how he got the pirates to open up, whether or not the movie was true to his book, and more.
Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative
Links:
‘Ain’t Never Gonna Let You Down’ performed by Linda Nusca
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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Since the release of our first episode about Kratom, we’ve had a flood of comments from users telling us how much Kratom has changed their lives. It’s nothing short of shocking and amazing to hear how so many people were lifted from such dark places thanks to this humble plant. The sad part is that, in the U.S., Kratom is facing even more government pushback. On February 6th, the FDA released a statement comparing Kratom to opioids and blaming it for 44 fatalities. You can read the full letter below.
Kratom advocates strongly refute the FDA’s claims. Their belief is that existing science on Kratom does not justify it being placed on any schedule or controlled substances list that would prevent consumer access. They’re encouraging continued lawful access to Kratom, with balanced regulation, proper research, and protecting rather than harming public health. Based on what we’ve seen, we are 100% on the side of the Kratom advocates.
If you’re not, hearing the stories in this episode will likely change your mind. We’ll share with you many of the stories that have been submitted, and our guest Josh (who is now a trusted Kratom vendor) tells us about his struggle with opioid addiction, being discharged from the military, spending 4 years in a maximum-security prison, and how he finally built the life he wanted.
Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative
Links:
‘Landslide’ performed by Linda Nusca and Andrew Hunt, recorded by Mauro Giammarco.
Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: [email protected]
Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Perhaps the most fascinating and stunning part of our journey learning about Kratom is the real-life stories from its users. It is after hearing these stories that we really understand the effect this plant can have on lives, and why its advocates are so passionate about its acceptance.
Adrian is a 62-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in Jamestown, New York. She became medically addicted to pharmaceuticals and eventually lost everything. Although she was not responsible, 2 more generations of her family went on to suffer from addiction as well.
After hearing about Adrian’s struggles with pain for years, you’ll be shocked to hear about the effect Kratom has had on her life.
David Derian also joins us again, but this time not to talk about the Botanical Education Alliance. He shares his experience with pain, pharmaceutical addiction, and recovery. David can’t even think about life without Kratom, yet his business, INI Botanicals, has faced repeated challenges for trying to make Kratom accessible to others.
Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative
Links:
Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: [email protected]
Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Canada is experiencing record numbers of deaths from opioid overdoses. In 2017, there were an estimated 4000 drug overdose deaths in the country. A substance that may be able to put a dent in that number is worth looking into. Kratom is a leafy plant from South East Asia, from the coffee family.
It’s an ancient drug, traditionally used to relieve pain, increase energy, appetite, and sexual desire. It was also known to be used as an opium substitute in the 18th & 19th centuries. In 2013, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said Kratom had no legitimate medical use.
Recently, the FDA issued a health advisory against the plant, which some claim is spreading misinformation about its dangers, and not backed up with any scientific evidence. Currently, Kratom can be sold legally in Canada in a powdered form, but only for aromatherapy purposes. At this time it has not been approved for consumption by Health Canada.
In the first part of our series on Kratom, we hear from experts such as Dr. Edward W. Boyer of Harvard, and Angela Watson and David Derian of the Botanical Education Alliance.
Later in the series, hear stories from users of Kratom who say it has improved - and maybe even saved - their lives.
Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy
Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative
Links:
This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Derek Clegg - Four Walls
Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: [email protected]
Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
We explore the difficult realities for marine workers, telling the story of an Indian teen named Kshitij who died on his third day working on an international cargo ship. We speak with his twin, Sagar, who must decide how to make sense of an all-too-common tragedy.
Story Editing – Erin Linn McMullan, Fresh Horses
Recording – Vancouver Public Library’s Inspiration Lab
https://www.vpl.ca/inspirationlab
Waichiay Friendship Centre’s WAMM studio
http://www.wachiaymultimedia.com/about
Podshare Hollywood
podshare.co/
Music -
アーネスト ASAMOAH “Fantasy” – Thans to Ernest Owusu Asamoah
https://soundcloud.com/messages/111693781:2801192
Bitter Lake “Distortions in Sombre,” “Class War”
https://soundcloud.com/officialbitterlake
Dave Swindell “Friday Night In”
Bad Decisions “Yeah Boi”
https://soundcloud.com/makebaddecisions
From the publisher's feed
Tune in for the Stand Up Speak Up Podcast, with more than fifty inspiring stories from people who have beaten the odds and persevered through trauma and discrimination. Why listen? Because in…