By Eric Anderson
5
33 ratings
The podcast currently has 97 episodes available.
The ability to slow down, take a deep breath and be present in the moment in something I think most of us take for granted. For Brandon Wicks, developing and growing this ability through yoga has helped him overcome his mental health issues. Now, he and Jen Rondeau are working with the Royal University Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit to empower patients on their road to recovery.
If you’re looking for Brandon Wicks, there’s a good chance he’s here at Rise Strength Lab. Brandon is not only a personal trainer at the gym but he owns Rise Strength Lab.
Every time I see Brandon at the gym, he has a smile on his face and is talking with staff or members. He’s caring man with a big heart who has battled through some pretty challenging mental health issues in recent years.
You’ll hear Brandon share his personal story in this episode, but there was a point during his story where he needed professional help. In January of 2023, Brandon spent two weeks at the Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit at Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon.
There was no gym equipment for him to access during his two week stay, but there was a yoga mat! So Brandon would spend an hour every evening on a mat stretching and breathing and trying to ground himself in the present moment. It helped him immensely.
When Brandon left the hospital, he shared his story with Jen Rondeau. Jen is a full time paramedic and also the owner of Ivy Yoga House who has had her own mental health challenges.
Brandon wanted to give the gift of yoga back to the mental health short stay unit, and with Jen’s help, was able to do so earlier this year. The story behind this innovative yoga program is, I think, inspiring and you’ll hear it shared with great emotion by Brandon and Jen.
The program also inspired Jennifer Molloy. She the CEO of the Royal University Hospital Foundation which is now backing the yoga program for an additional two years. So far, the yoga program at the mental health short stay unit has been running one class a week, but thanks to the RUH Foundation’s support, there will be two classes a week starting in 2025.
I want to thank Brandon and Jen for sharing so much in this episode and I know their efforts are truly making a difference in our community.
You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com
Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. I really do appreciate it!
Cheers...Eric
Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!
If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.
I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.
We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support.
Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.
She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us in Season Seven of the podcast.
The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk (or sit down for coffee, ha ha) and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"
In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa reflects on a very busy summer and how fall brings back the joy of routine and schedule. She also shares a fascinating story about a family meeting she had with her husband two young children this summer that set the tone for how they would enjoy the summer months. Lisa's an incredible communicator and this family meeting story really shines a light on the importance of clear and empathetic communication. I know you will take a lot away from this story.
Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
Thanks so much for listening and welcome back to the podcast, Lisa!!
Cheers...Eric
Hello and welcome to Season 7 of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson and in this episode, we take listeners to the TCU Stage where the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is preparing for a show!
It’s a celebration of Fleetwood Mac’s career and so the symphony will be performing alongside a rock and roll musicians playing all of Fleetwood Mac’s hits. There is a great energy in the room and that extends out into the lobby where we find Mark Turner.
Mark is the CEO and Creative Producer of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and seems to know everyone in the lobby. He’s shaking hands, having quick chats with people and sharing his enthusiasm for tonight’s show.
Mark has gone through this lobby routine hundreds of times in the past 10 years with the SSO. His leadership and passion for connecting the symphony with different parts of our community has helped make the SSO one of the most successful symphonies in Canada.
I’ve been a fan of Mark’s from afar for many years so it was a thrill to meet him in his office a few weeks ago to talk about his the incredible growth of the SSO and why connecting with diverse communities means so much to him.
We also discuss the challenges of standing out in a very competitive entertainment market and how the symphony could potentially evolve to include more audience participation in shows.
You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or on the website: yxeunderground.com
Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
You can follow YXE Underground on social media. Simply search YXE Underground on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
A big thank you to Saskatoon's Mutt Hutt Grooming for its support of this episode. If your dog or cat needs a haircut, Nikki and her team at the Mutt Hutt is the place to take them! We have been taking our dogs to the Mutt Hutt for more than 10 years and they are an exceptional group of people.
Thank you for listening to this episode and for continuing to support a local, independent podcast in Saskatoon.
Cheers...Eric
"It's not enough to have a great Fringe show...You have to sell your show!"
The world of Fringe Festivals is truly fascinating. Artists from around the world work hard all year round writing, performing and promoting their shows at festivals across the world. It's a labour of love and a world that many local artists learn about at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival.
Our city's Fringe Festival is produced by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and its Executive and Artistic Director, Anita Smith, can't wait for it to begin. She takes listeners behind the scenes of this year's festival to highlight some of the amazing artists who will be performing in theatres and as buskers, as well as other events taking place during the 10 days including the Thelma Pepper Art Walk and the Baby Busker Program.
Anita is one of my favourite people in the world and I know her passion for the arts and our community will connect with you! I hope this bonus episode gets you excited for the Fringe and maybe see you at a play...or most likely the Food Trucks:)
Listen and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!
Season Seven of YXE Underground launches in September and I am so grateful for your continued support of this local, independent podcast.
Cheers...Eric
Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!
If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.
I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig has joined us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.
In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch.
Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.
She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.
The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"
In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, Lisa turns her attention to the workplace. She discusses the importance of open and honest communication in a workplace culture and why it is important for organizations to invest time and energy in the well-being of employees. I always learn so much from Lisa but this conversation REALLY struck a chord as I have been doing some coaching exercises at my work recently and I am grateful to be part of an organization that invests in people. I think you'll have so many takeaways from this episode!
These Walking With Lisa episodes will continue next season, which drops in September, and I am grateful to Lisa for sharing her insights and wisdom and especially time with YXE Underground listeners. Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
Thanks so much for listening and have a great summer!
Cheers...Eric
I think it takes a lot of courage for anyone to share the challenges, traumas and uncertainties in their life with the rest of the world. What Tennille and Lydia are doing with their mother-daughter memoir, '(Un)Remarkable: How Cancer and Depression Intertwined Our Stories of Grief and Hope' is worth celebrating.
The first time I met Tennille Corbett was in May of 2023 in the Tommy Douglas Collegiate theatre in Saskatoon. She was in the audience, sitting in a special wheelchair called a Broda Chair, about to watch her daughter, Lydia, perform in the school's production of Mamma Mia. Lydia was the lead in the musical and there was no way Tennille was going to miss this show.
A few weeks earlier, Tennille had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometrial cancer and quickly had surgery. The diagnosis sent her on a life-changing path many in our community have travelled in regards to cancer.
It forced Tennille to take a leave from work as she underwent treatment, which meant she had a lot more time with her husband, Shane, her son Aidan, their dog, Remmy, and of course, Lydia. What was she going to do with all of this time?
Write a book of course! This wouldn't be just any type of book. Tennille wanted to write a mother-daughter memoir as she noticed there were very few book like this on the market.
I spoke with Tennille and Lydia in the attic of their home which has been converted into a beautiful space where Tennille writes and soon will be starting her own podcast. I really wanted to know how they were able to make this book happen and so we drill down pretty deep into the process. It's through this process that you will discover how hard but rewarding writing this book was for Tennille and Lydia.
This is the Season Six finale of the podcast and I want to thank you for your continued support of all things YXE Underground. Whether you're listening to and sharing episodes, buying shirts and dog bandanas to raise money for local charities, or leaving reviews of episodes, your support means so much to me. I think we've managed to created a really vibrant little community around this podcast and that's just amazing in my opinion...so thank you!!
I will have a few bonus episodes dropping throughout the summer but mostly I'll be gathering interviews for next season. As always, if you know of someone or perhaps an organization, which is doing great things in our community but is flying under the radar, let me know. Send me an email: [email protected] or reach out through social media or my website.
Have a wonderful summer and we'll talk soon!
Cheers...Eric
Welcome to Beaver Creek Conservation Area.
This area, which is about 15 minutes south of Saskatoon, is home to beautiful prairie landscapes, rare and threatened species at risk, and it’s where you’ll find Saskatoon’s Kelton Braun most days.
Since 2020, Kelton has been an Environmental Educator for the Meewasin Valley Authority out at Beaver Creek. He does incredible work with Saskatoon students teaching them about this beautiful and fragile ecosystem. Kelton also teaches the general public about the plants, wildlife and especially pollinators that call Beaver Creek home through specially designed hikes called Wildflower Walks.
I met Kelton for the first time last summer when I signed up for one of these walks. His passion for nature and ability to connect people to the outside world is worth celebrating, and after spending a few hours with him last year hiking around Beaver Creek, it was clear he needed to be on the podcast.
We met a few Fridays ago at Beaver Creek to learn more about the work he does teaching people about conservation and our prairie surroundings. I also wanted to discover where Kelton’s passion for nature comes from.
We also talk about what those of us living in Saskatoon can do to protect our prairie plants and the pollinators who have called our community homes for many years.
It’s so much fun hiking with him because he sees things that most of us would never pay attention to and then he’s able to tell you all about those things in a way that will stick in your head.
Myself, Kelton and photographer Chelsea Klette hit the Red Trail at Beaver Creek shortly after 9am. It was a bit windy and the air was crisp, but the sun was shining and Kelton was eager to hit the trail.
Follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also listen to episodes on the website. Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
Thank you for listening and continuing to support a local, independent podcast.
Cheers...Eric
Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!
If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar.
I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking With Lisa episodes.
In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch.
Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.
She has a true gift of explaining mental health issues and sharing insights in a clear, honest and compassionate way and I am thrilled that she will be sharing her wisdom with us this season.
The premise of these Walking With Lisa episodes is simple. Lisa and I will go for a walk and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"
In this 'Walking With Lisa' episode, social worker and mental health advocate Lisa Greig joins Eric to talk about the importance of taking time and giving careful thought when making important decisions. Lisa also talks about the importance of setting boundaries in different aspects of our lives. The context for this discussion is the recent interview I did with Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
These Walking With Lisa episodes drop every month wherever you find your favourite podcast including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can Follow YXE Underground on your favourite podcast app so that you won't miss a single Lisa episode and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.
Thanks so much for listening and don't forget that a new episode of YXE Underground drops April 11th.
Cheers...Eric
It has been a weird week.
Last Thursday, I received an email in my YXE Underground inbox from a gentleman named Mohammad Hussain. He said he was the Lead Press Secretary for the Prime Minister of Canada and wondered if I would be interested in having Prime Minister Trudeau on my podcast to talk about the importance of community leaders and why celebrating their work is important in building community. He also said this was not a scam email and that I should call him back.
I thought it was a scam email so I deleted it and continued on with my day at Sherbrooke Community Centre where I work as Communications Leader.
About an hour later, I received an email from my friend and former CBC colleague, David Shield, saying some guy from the Prime Minister's Office was trying to track me down. So I thought maybe I should call this Mohammad guy back. He didn't answer so I really thought it was a scam.
Then he called me back and explained that the Prime Minister would be in Saskatoon on Tuesday, April 23rd, and would I be interested in having him on YXE Underground as a guest. Mohammad said he likes to do different types of media when the Prime Minister visits smaller cities. He came across my podcast and thought it was really good and wondered if I would be interested in having a conversation with the Prime Minister through the lens of YXE Underground.
I asked if I could sleep on it and he said yes. I spoke with a couple of close friends to get their thoughts on what I should do. I was very sensitive to the fact that the Prime Minister does not fit the mandate of the podcast (he lives in Ottawa and is slightly above ground) and that he is not overly popular in our city and province. I also didn't want him to just come on the podcast and read talking points about the federal budget or all the things the government is doing.
After speaking with these two friends, I was leaning no and called my dad to basically confirm what I was thinking. My dad is definitely right of centre on the political spectrum, but much to my surprise, he said I would be a fool not to do this and that I should get out of my comfort zone and interview the Prime Minister because when in your life would you ever get this opportunity again to speak with the Canadian Prime Minister one on one?
I emailed Mohammad the next day and said I would do it under one condition: I wanted this to be a conversation about community and the importance of community leaders, and that if the interview didn't meet the standards I set for myself for the podcast or became an avenue for the Prime Minister to become overly political, I would not publish the episode. He agreed and then I started worrying about what questions I should ask the Prime Minister in the 25 minutes I was given with him.
I am very aware of how polarizing Prime Minister Trudeau is in our city, province and country. I certainly do not agree with everything his government has done and continues to do, but I honestly thought that my podcast listeners would be curious to hear what our Prime Minister thinks of our Saskatoon community and the leaders who are making a difference.
I think we had a good conversation about the importance of community leaders in Saskatoon and why having community organizations work together on issues is so important.
I am very proud of the fact that YXE Underground caught the attention of the Prime Minister's office and am grateful to everyone who has supported the podcast and continues to support it along with the people and organizations featured on it.
The interview took place at Wanuskewin Heritage Park this past Tuesday, April 23rd, in one of their beautiful gallery spaces. Two chairs and a small table were set up for us and we spoke for just over 20 minutes.
I want to thank the Prime Minister for taking the time to meet with me and to his team for making me feel comfortable throughout the process.
I especially want to thank Mohammad Hussian, who is a real person, for being a really wonderful person to work with, for listening to my concerns and answering my questions. Mohammad, I promise I will not delete your email if you ever send me one again.
I also want to thank Saskatoon photographer Liam Richards for not only taking photos of the interview but for telling me to eat some lunch when I got to Wanuskewin to help calm my nerves. I appreciate you, Liam!
If this is your first time listening to YXE Underground, welcome. There are six years worth of amazing people and organizations in Saskatoon who are doing amazing work but are flying under the radar. People like Kim Fisher and Kindergarden teacher, Mindy Macdonald. So please feel free to follow and listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your podcasts or visit yxeunderground.com to meet some wonderful community leaders here in Saskatoon.
And a new episode drops May 9th featuring one Kelton Braun from Meewasin Valley Authority. He’s such a great guy and you’ll love his episode.
Thank you for listening and for allowing me the space to explain my decision making in this unique circumstance.
Cheers...Eric
It’s a Thursday night in late March and I am surrounded by people in orange shirts and sweaters, as well as people who are working hard to earn the right to wear these orange shirts and sweaters, in an old Fire Hall near Aden Bowman Collegiate.
Specifically, I’m in a meeting room where large maps are spread out on tables and new Saskatoon Search and Rescue trainees are learning how to read these maps.
It’s training day for new recruits of Saskatoon Search and Rescue. It’s an intense process. Whether you are a trainee or a veteran member of the team, you are put through scenarios and taught skills that will empower you to help find people when they go missing in all types of situations.
It really does amaze me that these people commit so much of their time and energy to this group. Since 2019, Saskatoon Search and Rescue have responded to 86 missing person’s activations, mostly at the request of the Saskatoon Police Service.
Searches can take place in neighbourhoods throughout Saskatoon, along the South Saskatchewan, or in thick forests of northern Saskatchewan.
As you will hear in this episode, Saskatoon Search and Rescue work closely as a team in order to do their job.
Sheri Denis and Carla Egan are the two featured guests in this episode. Carla is the Communications Director with the group and is training to be a Saskatoon Search and Rescue Manager.
Sheri Denis is a volunteer searcher who is also the Director of Project Lifesaver. This unique program protects people who are at risk of wandering in our community. Participants wear personalized wristbands that emit a radio-frequency tracking signal. If a person with a wristband becomes lost, Saskatoon Search and Rescue can use this tracking signal to locate them.
The program started thanks to a very generous donation from the Saskatoon Police Service and the Saskatoon Police Service Foundation, and has grown thanks to the generosity of the community.
Sheri, who works as an Educational Assistant, puts her heart into this work and I think that comes through in our conversation. She even demonstrates how her sophisticated equipment works!
By day, Carla Egan works in a long-term care home here in Saskatoon as a recreation coordinator. Tonight, she is proudly wearing an orange Saskatoon Search and Rescue shirt and jacket.
Carla worked really hard to earn her place on the team.
In the fall of 2020, she saw a social media post from Saskatoon Search and Rescue looking for new members. Her kids were becoming more independent and her background of working with people with dementia gave her the confidence to think she could help.
Nearly four years later, Carla says she has grown in so many ways thanks to her training and made friends with people from all walks of life.
Carla shares some very powerful stories in our conversation and how her colleagues are always there to support each-other when the job gets difficult.
I want to mention that Saskatoon Search and Rescue is a non-profit organization and relies on donations and grants for its funding. The organization’s biggest fundraising event takes place on Monday, April 22nd at the Broadway Theatre. It is hosting the Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival which is made up of some amazing films celebrating unique outdoor films.
Tickets are 20 dollars each and you can purchase them on the Broadway Theatre’s website or at the door. I have my tickets and hope to see you there!
Thank you so much for listening to this episode and for continuing to support a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and please share this episode and the podcast with your friends!
Cheers...Eric
The podcast currently has 97 episodes available.
179 Listeners
192 Listeners
12,386 Listeners
84,907 Listeners
110,022 Listeners
24,074 Listeners
13,950 Listeners
9,315 Listeners
14,439 Listeners
112 Listeners
161 Listeners
87 Listeners
39,906 Listeners
12,780 Listeners
41 Listeners