TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

On the outside, Dr. Shefali Tsabary looks like she has it all: a full family life, and a thriving career as a renowned psychologist and bestselling author. But she had a radical awakening when she realized she had been living her life in response to external pressures and validation. She shares her journey to living a more authentic life, her insights on conscious parenting, and dissects the messaging and narratives that hold women back from living fully and freely.

When his nine-year-old daughter started displaying symptoms of anxiety during the pandemic, Dr. Matthew Chow’s work in child and adolescent psychiatry took on a whole new level of urgency. In this frank discussion, the former president of Doctors of BC opens up about his family’s mental health journey, his passion for supporting young people and his optimism about the resiliency and open mindedness of the next generation.

Getting ready for a job interview is full of stress, but for a young adult with ADHD, says our guest Dr. Elisabeth Hall, the anxiety can be compounded by the challenges of misplacing items on the way out the door – and then missing the bus. Dr. Hall, a psychiatrist and founding medical director of the Vancouver Coastal Health Adult ADHD Clinic, shares insights on recognizing and supporting kids and adults with ADHD, what to do if you’re concerned – and how to find help if you need it.

With a background in the arts and sciences, and steeped in the traditions of both Anishinaabe and European cultures, Dr. Lisa Richardson brings a unique perspective to her role as a clinician-educator and associate Dean of Inclusion & Diversity at the University of Toronto. A tireless advocate for equal access to health care, she explores how traditional teachings and artistic principles can provide a more holistic perspective of the patient experience.

When it launched in March 2020, the RepresentAsian Project quickly attracted attention as a voice for the frustrations and joys of being Asian in North America. Its founder, journalist and therapist Madelyn Chung, a second-generation Chinese Canadian, discusses why she felt moved to create the online platform, the emotional and psychological impacts of anti-Asian racism – and why now, more than ever, we need to celebrate the diversity and pride of the Asian diaspora.

Medical device engineer Derek Sham was shocked that no one was properly addressing the pelvic floor disorder his grandmother experienced. As she went through failed treatments and surgeries, he vowed to prevent more women suffering the same fate. With his company Cosm, Sham is using data-driven diagnostics to create personalized prosthetics for pelvic floor disorders. He discusses the high prevalence of the issue, his grandmother’s legacy, and why we must address the stigma around gynecological health.

In her book, Kiss the Red Stairs, Marsha Lederman wrestles with the dark history of the Holocaust that haunted her childhood, uncovering details about her parents’ survival and the ways their trauma lives on in her own life. In this week’s episode, Lederman discusses the miracle of her own existence, the real impacts of intergenerational trauma, and why the memory of the Holocaust must be kept alive.

In 2015, award-winning photographer, activist and entrepreneur Maayan Ziv had a eureka moment after confronting stairs at a restaurant. Maayan, who has muscular dystrophy, was forced to navigate her wheelchair through a back alley filled with garbage bins to join her group. That experience inspired her to create Access Now, a popular app for finding and rating accessibility in cities around the world. She shares her journey from artist to entrepreneur, and why accessibility matters for everyone.

At the age of 8, Lex Gillette received devastating news: he was going blind. Over the course of a few months, he lost all of his sight – but not his vision. Thanks to the support of his mother and grandmother, he not only defied expectations, but surpassed them. The athlete, author and motivational speaker discusses his path to becoming one of the world’s most decorated Paralympians, and shares his powerful message for how everyone can soar to great heights.

Chenny’s picked a big challenge for herself…creating a more equitable healthcare system. In this episode, Tamara joins CEO of Gotcare, Chenny in a conversation about how virtual healthcare providers are transforming how home care is delivered. It isn’t just systems that need to change but the culture that surrounds them. Learn how Gotcare utilizes patent-pending technology to enable increased patient access, reduce the cost of delivery, pay frontline workers.