Unsilencing Stories

This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, are used to invite participants to reflect on their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. You’ll hear Giorgia Ricciardi interview Ryan Nielsen about two pieces of art produced by the researcher, Thomas Chanyungco, and one piece of art created by Ryan, to represent concepts inspired by Ryan ’s story. Ryan describes what the art represents to him and how the images reflect specific experiences in his life.

This interview was recorded on July 20th, 2023.

To see the art discussed in this graphic elicitation, please watch the interview on YouTube: //youtu.be/GGuk_FY4rg4

This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, is used to invite participants to reflect on their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. Caitlin Burritt talks to Taija McLuckie about two pieces of art Caitlin created based on Taija’s interviews. Taija discusses how the art makes her feel, and what seeing the art makes her recall about those moments in her life. 

This episode was recorded on June 22, 2023.

To see the art discussed in this graphic elicitation, please watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/waYxb4UDDD4

This episode is a graphic elicitation, which is a research method in which art produced by researchers or participants, are used to invite participants to reflect on  their lived experiences, beliefs, or behaviours. You’ll hear Caitlin Burritt and Chloe Burritt interview Daniel Snyder about three pieces of artwork Chloe created based on Daniel’s interviews. Daniel describes how each piece of art reminds him of a season of his life, and reflects on the important roles the concepts of hope and duality have played in his life. 

This interview was recorded on June 28th, 2023.

To see the art discussed in this graphic elicitation, please watch the interview on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WXw5MdCloqQ

In this episode, you’ll hear Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung interview Daniel Snyder for the last time. Daniel talks about a recent overdose death in the community, and the trauma peers face due to high turnover from death and burn out. He discusses which stressors have changed and which have stayed the same over the course of the interview process.

This interview was recorded on December 14, 2022.

In this episode, you’ll hear Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung interview Daniel Snyder about exposure to death and trauma and how he copes with it. Daniel describes outlets he uses to deal with stress, the importance of taking breaks to avoid burnout, and steps he is taking to maintain boundaries between his peer work and his personal life.

This episode was recorded on December 6, 2022.

In this episode, you’ll hear Daniel Snyder speak to Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung about the financial realities of peer work and his future career aspirations. Daniel describes the lack of permanent, full-time positions for peers, and how pursuing a career involving only peer work could impact him financially. Daniel also discusses the importance of counter-narratives about substance use, as not all drug experiences are negative.

This episode was recorded on November 29, 2022.

In this episode, you’ll hear Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung interview Daniel Snyder about financial security and the lack of standard payment practices across agencies for peer workers. Daniel discusses how many peers do gig work rather than engaging in salaried employment, and the importance of making peers feel valued by compensating them fairly. 

 This episode was recorded on November 29, 2022. 

In this episode, you'll hear Daniel Snyder talk to Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung about differing viewpoints in approaching harm reduction work, the limits of policy solutions, and the importance of human connection for people who use drugs.  

This episode was recorded on November 22, 2022.

In this episode, you'll hear Daniel Snyder talk to Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung about referring individuals to resources in his community. Daniel suggests that recovery option should be person-centred and tailored to the individual needs of the person seeking treatment. Daniel explains the importance of keeping those struggling with substance use disorder around their support systems and the importance of including them in community. 

This episode was recorded on November 15, 2022.

In this episode, you'll hear Daniel Snyder talk to Lucas Akai and Esther Cheung about different responses he encounters while doing community outreach, the presence of cynicism in peer spaces in response to the death and trauma peers face in their work and the importance of client centred treatment for those experiencing substance use disorder.  

This episode was recorded on November 15, 2022.