YXE Underground

Since 1981, the Elizabeth Fry Society has supported women across Canada who are criminalized or are at risk of criminalization. In Saskatchewan, the organization is led by Nicole Obrigavitch, and she is helping to grow the Elizabeth Fry Society’s impact in our city, especially when it comes to affordable housing.

When Nicole started as the Executive Director of the Elizabeth Fry Society in 2023, the organization had seven staff and focused on helping women who were leaving the prison or were in the criminal justice system. Today, Nicole leads a staff of 31 people who are still providing those services but are also helping women get the supports and services they need to prevent entering the criminal system.

Nicole is proud of the work being done by her team and is grateful for the partnerships the Elizabeth Fry Society has formed in the past three years with community and government organizations. Especially when it comes to creating affordable housing opportunities for women in Saskatoon.

My friend Brynn Service, who was on the podcast last year, first mentioned Nicole to me as a potential guest for the podcast, and I am grateful she did because, as you are about to hear, Nicole is a passionate advocate for women at risk, and she has a direct style of communication that is leading to positive change in Saskatoon.

Empathy is a major theme in my conversation with Nicole. She admires the empathy her team shows to all their clients, even in the hardest of circumstances, and Nicole understands firsthand the impact incarceration can have on women because she has spent in jail.

If you ever have the chance to have a conversation with Nicole, take it. She will teach you about our community, the challenges it faces, and how through cooperation and empathy, change can happen. And she will do it in articulate and thoughtful manner.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the website.

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. It really does make a different in getting the podcast noticed by listeners, so thank you for your help on that front.

Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook, and X If you would like to see photos from this episode. Simply search YXE Underground on social media.

I would like to acknowledge that these interviews took place on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much for listening, and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. 

Back in May, I was fortunate to host a book launch at McNally Robinson for my friend, Chelsea Coupal. Chelsea is an incredible poet, and her new collection, entitled 'U Alive', is a powerful read. 

The collection was published by Saskatchewan's Thistledown Press. I got to speak with the publisher's Publicity and Marketing Manager, Mariah Warriner, after Chelsea's event, and I'm excited to share that I will get to host some upcoming book launches for Thistledown Press. 

The first of these book launches takes place on Friday, October 16th, at McNally Robinson featuring author, university professor, and wonderful human being, Jeanette Lynes. It starts at 7pm, is free to the public and I hope you can make it because Jeanette is simply wonderful.  

Jeanette is a Professor of English and Directory of the MFA in Writing Program at the University of Saskatchewan. She is an award-winning author and poet who has written four novels, and her latest book is a collection of non-fiction essays entitled, 'Apron Apocalypse: Lyric Essays' published by Thistledown Press. 

I am delighted to host her book launch and to share with you a conversation I had with Jeanette recently at the Yard and Flagon Pub in Saskatoon's Broadway neighbourhood. 

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation. Everything from the importance of the collection's sequence of stories, to Jeanette's appreciation of glowing signs at night, and why university students are going to be alright when it comes to writing original stories in an age of artificial intelligence. 

Jeanette's book launch, which I am honoured to host, takes place at McNally Robinson on Friday, October 16th, and there might be prizes of immeasurable worth at the book launch. I hope to see you there, and I hope you get a chance to meet Jeanette and buy her book!

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

In Season Seven of the podcast, I had the pleasure of meeting a Saskatoon nurse named Dominique Paulgaard. She was one of five Saskatoon oncology nurses who started a charity called Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation a few years ago. 

The purpose of Prairie Cancer Fertility Preservation is to preserve the ability for cancer patients to have children. This can either be through sperm or egg preservation, and it can be quite the journey for patients who are undergoing cancer treatments. 

This episode connected with so many listeners and parts of it were featured in a story I did with CBC Radio's Saskatchewan Weekend that was aired across Canada. 

Fundraising and awareness continue to be challenges for Dominique and her team, which is why they are hosting a fundraising event on Friday, October 16th at Crossmount Cider Company. It's called Jams For A Cause and features live music from Matt Johner and an impressive silent auction. For this bonus episode of the podcast, I sat down with Dominique and her fellow PCFP board members, Jessica Smith and Katie Nyandwi, to learn more about the event and how their work has been a making a difference in the lives of cancer patients. 

Thank you to Dominique, Jessica, and Katie for not only taking the time to appear on the podcast, but for the work they are doing. It's really important work, and I hope this episode can help a little bit when it comes to raising awareness on this important issue. 

Thank you for listening and best of luck on the 16th, Dominique, Jessica, and Katie!

Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

"I never really interview people. I converse with them."

Hossein Martin Fazeli is an award-winning filmmaker who calls Vancouver home. His latest documentary, 'I Am Gitxsan,' has led him to Saskatoon for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Hossein's documentary is screening at Wanuskewin Heritage Park at 4pm on September 30th as part of the day's events at the park, and he explains in our conversation why he felt compelled to be in the room for this special screening. 

'I Am Gitxsan' has won 33 international film awards, and Hossein shares in this episode why it has connected with audiences around the world. He also explains how he built trust with the people featured in the film, including why speaking with people outside in nature was vital to put them at ease. 

It was a real honour to speak with Hossein, and I am grateful to Marcel Robitaille and Alex Brown from Wanuskewin for thinking of me and making this conversation happen. There are lots of meaningful events happening throughout our community on September 30th, and I hope you find time to connect with the meaning and importance of this day in some way. If you are interested in watching the documentary, it begins at 4pm in the Greg and Olivia Yuel Gallery at Wanuskewin and includes a question and answer with Hossein afterwards.

Thank you, Hossein, for taking time out of your very busy schedule to converse with me for the podcast. I hope you enjoy your stay in Saskatoon and congratulations on the success of your film. 

Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

I love Nuit Blanche! I think it is a wonderful opportunity for our community to explore the city, interact with thought-provoking and unique works of art, all under the stars on a Saturday night. 

The festival also gives local and national artists a chance to create under a theme chosen by the Xiao Han, Nuit Blanche's curator. 

I was lucky to have Xiao on the podcast last year, and we had a great discussion about festival and why it means so much to her. This year, we met at River Landing to talked about this year's theme...Future. It's a broad theme that gives artists a lot of freedom to create, and as you will hear in our conversation, the future is something Xiao has been thinking about for quite some time. 

Xiao also discusses how she works with artists throughout the application process and in the months and weeks leading up to the festival. I love learning about how people work, and I think you will find Xiao's process fascinating! 

Nuit Blanche takes place Saturday, September 19th, from 7pm until midnight. You can learn more about Nuit Blanche by visiting the website, and there is a special launch event taking place on Friday, September 18th, at Gather Local Market. 

Finally, I want to include Xiao's artist statement for this year's theme in the show notes. I love her writing, and I really think the theme of future captures a lot of what is happening in the world around us right, especially when it comes to technological, social, and environmental change. 

I hope to see you out exploring the festival Saturday night! 

Speak from the Future: What Would You Change Now to Build a Brighter World?

“The future is not a distant destination. It is shaped by the choices we make today through our technologies, cultures, relationships, and the environments we inhabit.

As our world undergoes rapid technological, social, and environmental change, the future can feel both exciting and uncertain. Yet the future is not something that simply happens to us. It is something we actively create.

Nuit Blanche Saskatoon 2026 invites audiences to explore the theme of Future through three interconnected lenses: Humanity & Technology, Diverse Futures & Belonging, and Collective Imagination & Action.” - Xiao Han.

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Welcome to the Season Nine debut of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson, and I am so excited to begin this season of the podcast with the CHAMPS Summer Camp.

CHAMPS is pretty incredible. It is an annual week-long day camp held in July primarily for children between the ages of seven and 17 with congenital or acquired heart disease. For 11 years, CHAMPS (which stands for Children’s Healthy-Heart Activity Monitoring Program in Saskatchewan), has been a safe and welcoming space for children to not only learn about their heart conditions and overall health, but a place to play, form friendships, and simply enjoy being a kid. The camp is free for every kid thanks to community donations and the Mending Little Hearts Fund of Saskatchewan.

Joy was the word that kept coming to mind as I met with children, camp counsellors, parents, and organizers at the camp this summer. I think that joy comes through in this episode.

The CHAMPS camp takes place at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Kinesology, and I was lucky to spend a morning at the camp where I met so many interesting people. I came on the last day, and the energy was off the charts.

We started the day in the gymnastics room, then went to the Climbing Wall, and finished up with lunch in one of the Kinesology classrooms.

In this episode, you are going to meet the founders of this camp, who started it because they recognized a need in the community thanks to their own children. You will meet camp counsellors who attended CHAMPS when they were younger and loved it so much, they wanted to give back in some way. You will meet university professors researching the impact the camp is having on participants and marvelling at the community CHAMPS has created over the past decade. And finally, you will meet some amazing kids whose joy and resiliency will inspire and hopefully bring a smile to your face.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or the website: yxeunderground.com

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. It really does make a different in getting the podcast noticed by listeners, so thank you for your help on that front.

Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook, and X If you would like to see photos from this episode taken by my wife, Jennifer Nairn. Simply search YXE Underground on social media.

Thank you to Saskatoon’s Danger Dynamite for creating and maintaining the website. Thank you to my cousin, Andrew Dickson, for creating the original theme music for YXE Underground. It was great seeing you this summer, Andrew, and I hope life is treating you well in beautiful Los Angelas.

And finally, a huge thank you to my friend and wonderful human being, Adrianne Vangool, for supporting this episode.

Adrianne owns Vangool Wellness here in the city, a place my wife and I have gone to when our bodies are in need of physiotherapy and just some overall TLC.

Vangool Wellness is passionate about supporting the whole family. They provide peri-natal physiotherapy for new and not-so new moms, supporting them through their pregnancy and postpartum journey. Vangool Wellness also provides pediatric physiotherapy in Saskatoon to support children of all ages in building strength, mobility, and confidence—so they can enjoy every stage of growing up. 

Pediatric physiotherapy focuses on the unique needs of children’s growing bodies. Their therapists help kids with developmental delays, autism, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, injuries, or movement difficulties. The pediatric physiotherapy sessions are fun, engaging, and family-centered, making sure both children and parents feel supported every step of the way. Every child develops differently, but sometimes extra guidance is needed. 

I would like to acknowledge that all of these interviews took place on Treaty 6 territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis.

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. Thank you so much for listening, and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.

Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Anita Smith is wearing purple work gloves and has a walkie talkie clipped to shirt when I meet her at W.E. Graham Park a few days before the Saskatoon Fringe Festival  is set to begin. She and her team of staff and volunteers are setting up for the festival and are not letting city construction get in the way of hosting another wonderful festival. 

It has been another busy year for Anita. As Artistic and Executive Director of Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre Company, she has overseen a year of innovative and engaging theatre productions. She also found time to direct a Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan production of Much Ado About Nothing this summer. Anita is pulled in many different directions, and I am always grateful for the time she makes to appear on the podcast. 

This year's Fringe Festival is bringing theatre productions from across North America, around the world, and in our own backyard, to four theatres in the Broadway neighbourhood from July 30th to August 8th. The festival is also creating community through innovative programming including a local theatre company made up of teens who are producing their own fringe play! 

Anita shares stories and details about this year's festival, along with the challenges posed by another year of construction in the Broadway neighbourhood, in our conversation. She also shares why this will be her final year at the helm of the Fringe Festival. 

I hope to see you at one of the plays during the festival and thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon! Don't forget that Season 9 of YXE Underground launches on September 10th wherever you find your favourite podcasts!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

There is always something happening in Saskatoon during the summertime. From Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan and the Fringe Festival, to the Saskatoon Ex and Rock the River, there is something for everyone to enjoy in our community. 

Last week, my wife and I went for a walk on the Train Bridge on a beautiful afternoon. We don't often walk in that area of the city, and reminded me of how beautiful the views are of the South Saskatchewan River standing on the Train Bridge. It also gave me an idea for a summer bonus episode of the podcast: hidden gems to experience during a Saskatoon summer. Not that the Train Bridge is a hidden gem, but it's not a place I frequent.

I reached out to my friend, and one of Saskatoon's greatest ambassadors, Darby Sutherland, to see if she would like to be on the podcast to share some ideas and give some suggestions of hidden gems in our community this summer. Darby is the Destination PR and Earned Media Manager for Discover Saskatoon. She works with media from across Canada and around the world who wish to experience all that Saskatoon has to offer. If there is something cool and interesting happening in Saskatoon, it's a safe bet Darby knows about it.

When I emailed Darby to pitch this idea, I suggested we do it at the TD SaskJazz Fest before the Modest Mouse concert. I was hoping she would be going, and as you will hear in the episode, she did indeed have a ticket (as did 4,500 other people...it was a fantastic show!). 

Darby shares a host of great locations and experiences listeners should check out this summer. I'll put the list with links below. A big thank you to Darby for turning this idea into reality. I hope you enjoy this episode and have a wonderful summer here in Saskatoon! Cheers...Eric

Darby's List:

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

When was the last time you felt free to be creative? To just let loose and tap into your creativity in an inviting and supportive space?

I was thinking about these points when I took in the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing Only event in January. 

This gathering comes from the wonderful mind of Jaymie Raefta, a Saskatoon illustrator and artist who has become one of my favourite people in the past few years. 

Once every few months in a warehouse space in Riversdale, Jaymie hosts a gathering of people who love to draw, no matter their ability, and encourages them to draw badly. Very badly. 

Jaymie, who uses they/them pronouns, emcees the evening. They embrace the role with the vigor and charm of a late-night television talk show host. Jaymie’s quick wit and humour, along with quirky musical selections, create the perfect vibe for people to draw. 

The drawing comes from specific prompts which Jaymie comes up with. My favourite was the following: draw your favourite co-worker as a cold baked potato. 

You have two minutes to complete your drawing, and at the end of each round, the table votes on the best bad drawing. 

What I love about these Something Sketchy nights is the creative community they are forming in Saskatoon. The room was packed with more than 30 people who giggled and laughed throughout the night while making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

The people came from all walks of life: artists, graphic designers, potters, and even a mailman. You will hear from these people how much it means to them to have a devoted set time and space to be creative in this episode, and you will hear why these Something Sketchy nights mean so much to Jaymie. 

This has been an amazing season of YXE Underground, and I am so thrilled to end it with such a fun and meaningful episode. 

If you want to learn more about the Something Sketchy – Bad Drawing events, look up Plastic Salad on Instagram. This is an illustration collective created by Jaymie to promote illustration in Saskatchewan, and there’s a Something Sketchy event happening on Wednesday, June 17th, from 6:30pm-8:30pm that you should totally check out! 

A big thank you to Jaymie and everyone at the Something Sketchy for letting me share their stories on the podcast. 

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

A big thank you to all of you listeners for continuing to support a local, independent podcast. It means the world. I will drop a few bonus episodes this summer, but Season 9 will launch in September. I can’t wait to share more stories of people and organizations who are making a difference here in Saskatoon. If you have someone who you think should be on the podcast, send me an email: [email protected]

I would like to acknowledge these interview were gathered on Treaty Six territory and the traditional homeland of Metis. 

YXE Underground is a production of the Salthammer Production Company. My name is Eric Anderson. Thank you so much listening and we’ll talk to you soon, Saskatoon.  

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis

Hello and welcome to Season 8, Episode 9 of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson, and welcome to OUT Saskatoon’s Newcomer Support Group.

It is a snowy, bitterly cold Thursday night in April, but in the OUT Saskatoon’s headquarters, their main gathering space is packed with people from across the world.

This support group started last May and offers LGBTQ newcomers and refugees a safe space to not only learn about Saskatoon and Canada, but as you will hear in this episode, the group is providing community and friendship to those who come. 

Once a month, Iris Akbar welcomes people to the group and leads them through different topics and activities. It could be an art activity or a discussion on how best to survive a Saskatchewan winter. On this night, Iris has invited two-Spirit Elder Shelley Belhumeur, to speak and share about Indigenous knowledge and history. 

Shelley begins the night by asking people to introduce themselves and share where they are from. Most people in the room are from African nations such as Nigeria and Ghana. 

The person behind this Newcomer Support Group is Iris Akbar. Iris, who uses he/she pronouns, immigrated to Saskatchewan with his partner from Singapore; a country where same-sex marriage and civil unions are not recognized. 

Iris started working at OUT Saskatoon in 2019 and was passionate about helping LGBTQ newcomers and refugees get the supports they needed in our city. He was about to start a Newcomer Support Group when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and put that on hold. 

When the pandemic ended, Iris continued to help helping newcomers and refugees at OUT Saskatoon in a volunteer capacity; not only in terms of finding supports in Saskatoon, but to make connections and friendships in the community.

Iris started the Newcomer Support Group in May of 2025. As you will hear, what started as a small gathering has now grown into a vibrant collection of people who are eager to learn about their new home and make meaningful connections. 

The episode features a conversation I had with Iris a few weeks after I met him at the Newcomer Support Group. We met at Tastebuds Café on Lorne Avenue on a beautiful sunny day; so nice in fact we sat out on the patio!

You will also meet people who were at the Newcomer Support Group that chilly April evening and hear why this group means so much to them. 

If you want to learn more about the important work being done at OUT Saskatoon, please visit their website at outsaskatoon.ca

If you have enjoyed this episode and are a fan of the podcast, please feel free to leave a glowing 5-star review and share it with your friends. Word of mouth is, I think, the best way to share podcasts, and so I really do appreciate your support in spreading the word about YXE Underground.

You can find the podcast on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Simply search YXE Underground.

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. 

Cheers...Eric  

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis