TELUS Talks with Tamara Taggart

Many parents worry that every anxious moment will shape their child's future. Clinical psychologist Dr. Meredith Elkins says anxiety itself is a normal human emotion and the real issue is avoidance. When parents rush to remove discomfort, they may unintentionally make anxiety stronger. We explore why kids need manageable challenges to build confidence and resilience.

For years, concussion recovery advice was: rest in a dark room and wait. Science is now telling a very different story. Concussion researcher Dr. Shelina Babul explains what actually happens in the brain after a head injury and why recovery guidelines have changed. We talk about why gradual activity can help healing, why symptoms can appear days later and what parents, coaches and teachers should know to help prevent long-term problems.

Before he became a household name, David Suzuki was a scientist chasing questions. He joins us to reflect on his journey from geneticist to one of Canada's most trusted science communicators. David shares the moments that shaped him and why curiosity has guided every chapter of his story. From the laboratory to television screens across the country, David explains why making science accessible matters.

Canada's housing crisis is about more than rising home prices and affordability. Journalist Jessica Barrett says the real issue may be our definition of home itself. From Vancouver's soaring housing market to innovative housing models in cities like Vienna and Harare, we explore how community shapes our wellbeing. Jessica explains why building more homes hasn't solved affordability and what happens when we design housing around people.

Children are telling us they want to feel safe in the digital world. Online harms are growing more complex, from cyberbullying to exploitation, and many young people are asking adults to take action. Sara Austin of Children First Canada and advocate Farah Nasser discuss what kids are asking for and how families, educators and leaders can help build digital spaces where young people can thrive.

Our emotions are powerful forms of energy shaped by the brain. Neuropsychologist Dr. Julia DiGangi says emotional pain and emotional power are two sides of the same system and avoiding difficult feelings actually keeps us stunted. Julia breaks down the neuroscience behind stress, anxiety and confidence, and how to work with emotional energy instead of fighting it.

Medical science is advancing faster than ever, and science writer Mary Roach has seen it up close. We explore the breakthroughs transforming modern medicine, from lab-grown skin and organ preservation to advanced prosthetics and bioprinting. We also look at how these innovations are changing recovery, extending lives and reshaping what's possible for the human body.

Your brain does its most important work when you stop working. Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli says that when we pause, daydream or simply stare into space, the brain activates a hidden network that boosts creativity, memory and emotional wellbeing. Joseph shares the science of slowing down and why small moments of rest can change how you think, feel and move through the world.

You can't build a healthy country without stable and affordable homes. Urban planner and author Carolyn Whitzman breaks down why homes have become so hard to find, afford and keep. She explains why mismatched supply, rising costs and outdated assumptions are putting pressure on every generation. We explore solutions that actually work, from non-market housing to stronger renter protections.