John Francis Leader is a psychologist and cognitive scientist at University College Dublin. He’s the director of the Mixed Reality Therapy research project where they use virtual reality as a therapeutic tool with their patients. Leader describes the approach as “theme park meets therapy.”

Fay Nugent had a serious fear of heights for years. The simple act of getting on an escalator was terrifying. Nugent heard about a clinical trial for virtual reality therapy at Oxford University and gave it a try. Could a four hour virtual reality session really ease her fears and change her life?

Anis Mojgani is the poet laureate of Oregon and the creator of the Tele-poem Hotline, a phone line that through April, delivered a new poem each day through the phone lines. Anis and several Canadian poet laureates discuss that feeling of receiving and finding poetry in the real world — and what we lose when we ignore poetry.

Until now, a lot of forays into genderless fashion have been subdued and shapeless, featuring neutral colours and boxy silhouettes. The author and activist behind the #DeGenderFashion movement says a truly gender-fluid approach to dressing could allow room for a much more expressive wardrobe.

It’s one of the most beguiling and mysterious objects in all of human storytelling, and it has been inspiring people for centuries. But if you come across the words "Holy Grail" today, chances are someone's been shopping. But it can mean so much more. Later we hear from the NakedPastor.

As we near the end of Ramadan, Tapestry gets a glimpse into an important experience during one of Islam's holiest months: watching television.

Ahmad Hayat, an assistant professor of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, says watching television is a common leisure activity after iftar — the fast-breaking meal after sunset.

Later, Tapestry’s Sameer Chhabra visits a mosque in Toronto to talk about fasting survival tips. And we revisit a conversation with writer Abdullah Shihipar on the popularity of the word "inshallah," meaning “God-willing.”

CBC Ottawa’s Halima Sogbesan shares the story of one woman’s experience of memorizing the Qur’an.

Whenever that feeling of uncertainty about the life we've created creeps in, it can be easy to try to solve it with quick fixes like getting a new haircut, ending a relationship, finding a new job, or moving to a new city. But what if those uncomfortable periods are actually an opportunity?

Casey Tygrett, author of The Gift of Restlessness: A Spirituality for Unsettled Seasons, has been examining the very human state of being restless. He says that, although it can be intensely uncomfortable, it can also be a kind of gift.

Tricia Hersey thinks grind culture is an assault on your basic humanity. Hersey, also known as The Nap Bishop, is the author of the book Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto. She says resting is a deeply spiritual act.

You might find Oorbee Roy wearing a sari when she heads over to her local skate park in Toronto. The 48-year-old mother of two shares how she picked up skateboarding — and why she's not putting her board down any time soon.

Why are people still drawn to paper planners in such a digital age? Rowena Sunga owns a stationery store in Toronto’s west end and meets a lot of people who are looking for ways to tame the chaos of life by writing it all down.

The calligrapher Salman Khattak shares why he believes the act of doing something with your hands is a profound human experience.

Andrew Jamieson had so much going for him: a loving family and a successful business. But when Andrew hit midlife, midlife hit back! He did get through it with the help of a lot of therapy. Now a therapist himself and the author of the book Midlife: Humanity’s Secret Weapon, Andrew shares how the midlife crisis can be a kind of rebirth — a desperately needed stage in the evolution of the human being.

Wherever the word ‘parenting’ is found, judgment and guilt and stress won’t be far behind. Dorsa Amir is a development scientist and postdoctoral researcher at the UC Berkeley department of psychology. And as a parent herself, she’s been offering what she calls “anti-advice” to parents - because someone has to say it: “You can ease up a little bit. You’re doing fine!”