Tapestry

Author and parenting expert Ann Douglas offers her signature blend of compassion and practical advice to parents struggling to care for their children during COVID-19 isolation. Sikander Hashmi is an imam and community leader in Kanata, ON. He shares how he is guiding his community through Ramadan celebrations despite physical isolation.

Dr. Alice Chen warns that isolation and physical distancing, while necessary now, could lead our social muscles to atrophy. She offers simple tips to keep those muscles strong and prevent a social recession. Sophie Châtillon is a pharmacist outside Montreal who’s pregnant with her second child. She shares the two songs that are helping her through this strange time.

Rugby commentator Nick Heath does funny play-by-play on everyday life. Psychiatrist Nel Wieman offers practical advice for staying centred during the pandemic. Plus four new additions to Tapestry’s Soundtrack for the Soul.

Introvert Jessica Pan reflects on her ‘nightmarish’ quest to live like an extrovert for a year. American freelance writer Dan Brooks cautions against typecasting yourself. And, a Moncton couple recommends a song for our Soundtrack for the Soul that made them “laugh out loud.”

These are difficult days all over the world, so it’s a good time to hear from two wise elders. It's part of our continuing series Tapestry@25, celebrating our most-requested and most memorable interviews from the archives.

Buddhist scholar Joanna Macy and gardener Marjorie Harris will offer guidance on finding the sublime in the smallest of things. This episode is all about hope, gratitude and slowing down enough to let a little joy catch up with you.

Tapestry launches its Soundtrack for the Soul, a collection of songs to lift your spirits and calm your nerves during the COVID-19 pandemic; and rabbi Denise Handlarski leads SecularSynagogue.com, an online Jewish community.

In 2020, Christians in England are rededicating their country as the "Dowry of Mary," an event that hasn’t happened since 1381 under King Richard ll. Monsignor John Armitage says reinstating this medieval tradition is an act of joy for the 21st century. Plus journalist Talia Lavin is a supporter of Bernie Sanders for many reasons, including the fact that he reminds her of a zaydie - the Yiddish term for grandfather. Lavin reflects on what it would mean to have a Jewish president and wonders if America is ready.

Bina Venkataraman, author of The Optimist’s Telescope: Thinking Ahead in a Reckless Age, studies the art of looking ahead for solutions during dangerous times. It's a skill she honed while working on the Ebola Task Force for former U.S. president Barack Obama.

Guest host Laurie Brown speaks to 2020 Juno nominees Frank Kadillac of Neon Dreams and singer iskwē about finding their voices changed the way they make music.

We bring you a bonus episode from Chosen Family. Hosts Thomas Leblanc and Tranna Wintour are Montreal comedians, artists, and best friends. Each week they talk to established artists and up-and-coming makers, about pop culture, all facets of identity, and how to make great art.

In this episode, they spoke to Lisa Grushcow, who is gay, a mother of three, once-divorced, and a rabbi. Rabbi Grushcow talked to Thomas and Tranna about reconciling same sex desire with her calling, looking at Tinder through the lens of Judaism, what a modern shabbat could look like, and more.

Chosen Family, from CBC Podcasts, is out now. Subscribe at smarturl.it/chosenfamilycbc