I am very excited to share a conversation with you featuring two wonderful people who you met a few years ago.

Tennille and Lydia Corbett are mother and daughter who wrote a best-selling memoir in 2024 entitled, ‘(Un)Remarkable: How Cancer and Depression Intertwined Our Stories of Grief and Hope.’

Their 2024 episode focused on Tennille’s cancer journey, Lydia’s mental health challenges, and how they worked together to tell their stories in the memoir. It was a really powerful conversation, and I’ve had many listeners ask me how Tennille and Lydia are doing.

So here is a bonus episode of YXE Underground featuring Tenille and Lydia Corbett sharing an update in their lives, and let me tell you, they have been busy!

Tennille has started a pair of businesses. One is called Apothecare which is Canada’s first cancer support registry, and the other is called Early Shift which features women-only pop-up dance parties that end early and are as much fun as you think they would be!

Lydia has been travelling the world and formed a group in the city called Girls Who Like to Do Stuff, which is all about creating a shared community and friendship for women. 

We talk about their motivations for starting these endeavors and how their lives have changed since the release of their memoir. Tennille also gives listeners an update on her health. 

We met a few Saturdays ago at Jr’s Café on Broadway. The place was busy, as you will hear in our conversation, but we managed to find a table beside the large windows overlooking Broadway Avenue. 

I hope you enjoy our conversation and don't forget to follow and listen to YXE Underground 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

I remember being a kid in Swift Current being glued to the television when the Kinsmen Telemiracle fundraiser was on across the province. I would get my parents' permission to call and make a donation to the fundraiser and then wait for hours for my name to slowly crawl across the bottom of the screen. It was such a big deal to see my name on television, even it lasted for just a few seconds and was quickly followed by someone else donating from Moose Jaw, Enfold or Frontier. 

Telemiracle is woven into the fabric of our province. For the past 50 years, people have picked up their phones and made a donation that would help someone in medical need purchase a piece of equipment or receive financial support that would help them get the care they need. We did an episode in Season Six highlighting Telemiracle's work and taking listeners behind the scenes to discover the work it takes to run the fundraiser, and it's definitely worth a listen. 

Telemiracle turns 50 this weekend and it is pulling out all the stops to mark this milestone. One of the many talented hosts is someone who I have looked up ever since I first saw him on MuchMusic. That would be George Stroumboulopoulos.

I first met George in 2011 at a taping of his CBC Television show, The Hour. It was a quick chat after his show and I was struck by his kindness and how he listened patiently to my questions after taping the show. I remained a fan over the years as he did all the things on television, radio and social media, and it was a thrill to meet him again last October when he spoke at Saskatoon's MemoFest. 

In fact, George came to Sherbrooke Community Centre, where I am the Communications Leader, for a tour of our long-term care home. It was an amazing afternoon as he met a host of residents and staff and listened to how our organization has worked hard for decades to provide residents with full and abundant life. George also took a lot of photos with residents, staff and even some of our animals! The picture for this episode is of George sitting by Sherbrooke's Aviary. The birds loved him! 

Flash forward a few months, and I reached out to George via Instagram when I saw he was in Saskatoon for Telemiracle. I wished him luck and told him how lucky we were to have him back in the city. He wrote back and said, "you gonna have me on the podcast? Haha." Ahhh...yes! 

17 hours later, I met George at his hotel and we sat down for a conversation about how he became involved with Kinsmen Telemiracle and why this provincial fundraiser struck a chord with him. It is always a privilege speaking with George because he is in the moment with you...he listens...and I think that's something all of us could do a better job of these days, myself included! 

I hope you enjoy our conversation, and a big thank you to George for taking time out of his insanely busy schedule to speak with me on the podcast. Best of luck on the fundraiser this weekend, George, and safe travels home. Enjoy that diner meal in the desert! 

• 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

For the past three years, Wanuskewin’s Artist-in-Residence program has welcomed emerging and established Indigenous artists to not only create within its beautiful space, but to share their inspiration and process with visitors to the park. This program is helping our community connect with Wanuskewin in new ways, and you’ll meet some of the people behind the program in this episode of YXE Underground.

Last year, I was at an art opening for Saskatoon’s Brody Burns, an amazing Indigenous artist, hosted by The 525, and I ran into Andrew McDonald. He is the Co-Executive Director of Wanuskewin, and as we marveled at Brody’s art, he shared his passion for Wanuskewin’s Artist-in-Residence program. 

Andrew is a great guy and I loved his pitch, so a few weeks ago, I spent a morning at Wanuskewin meeting people who love this program and want to see it grow and thrive.

In this episode, you are going to meet Olivia and Greg Yuel, along with the current Artist-in-Residence, Chris Chipak, and Andrew McDonald and Marcel Robitaille, who is the curator at Wanuskewin. 

If you would like to learn more about Wanuskewin Heritage Park’s Artist-in-Residence program, please visit their website. 

You can also meet Chris Chipak on Saturday, February 21st, as part of the Nutrien Kona Winter Festival taking place at Wanuskewin. That’s when his work will be debuted in the gallery space, and I have no doubt it will look incredible.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or at yxeunderground.com. Please leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed this episode. Positive reviews really help the podcast get more exposure on apps like Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so your support is greatly appreciated. 

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

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 in Season Eight for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done 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 third 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 Eight 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 lunch, ha ha) and I will start our conversation with this question: "What's on your mind, Lisa?"

In this episode, Lisa uses the current 2016 social media trend as a launching point to discuss why so many people are chasing simplicity in their lives. She also explains how self-reflection can help to shine a light on what really matters in your life. 

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 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

Empathy and compassion are qualities Brynn Service has in spades, and they are enabling her to make a difference the lives of Saskatoon’s homeless population and those who are at risk of homelessness. Brynn is the Saskatoon supervisor of a national program called Coordinated Access, and she shares why this work means so much to her in this episode of YXE Underground.

Saskatoon continues to face the challenges of a growing homelessness population. A point-in-time count conducted on October 16th of last year found that 1,931 individuals were experiencing homelessness. That number is up by 29 percent from 2024. 

Brynn was one of the people who helped conduct the count and knows the need for people experiencing homelessness to get help is high. She also knows there is a large group of people and organizations who are ready to help, and they are working together to reach people in need. 

Brynn became the Supervisor of the Coordinated Access program last August. The program is designed to standardize the intake and assessment process for individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness under one umbrella. It connects individuals and families to the right housing and other support services as efficiently as possible. 

The Saskatoon contract for the Coordinated Access program was awarded to Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and the organization hired Brynn to be the supervisor. 

There are 13 partner organizations in Saskatoon that are a part of the Coordinated Access program alongside Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, and as you will hear in our conversation, Brynn loves working with them to make a difference in the community. 

Those 13 partner organizations are CUMFI, Persons Living with AIDS Network, Saskatoon Crisis Intervention Services, Elizabeth Fry Society, Station 20 West, John Howard Society, YWCA, The Salvation Army, Saskatoon Council on Aging, OUT Saskatoon, EGADZ, Sanctum Care Group, and The Mustard Seed. 

I have been wanting to feature Brynn for quite some time. She is a Social Worker who has worked in the justice system and with people with Intellectual Disabilities. 

Brynn is one of those people who leaves you feeling inspired after a conversation, and that was certainly the case for this episode. 

If you enjoy 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 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 and you will find some lovely photos of Brynn Service taken by Saskatoon photographer and the pride of Abbey, Saskatchewan, Rona Andreas.

A big thank to the wonderful Rob Rongve and his fantastic team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. Rob has been a dear friend for many years, and his support of all things YXE Underground means the world to me. If you are looking for someone to help manage your finances or invest your money, I can’t recommend Rob and his team enough. They have been taking care of me for over a decade and I wouldn’t be able to buy all the LEGO I do without their help. Thanks Rob.

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

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m Eric Anderson and I hope you had a great holiday season.

For 13 years, Swinging with the Stars has paired community leaders with professional dancers for a night of entertainment and raising money for the Saskatoon City Hospital Foundation. 

This year’s event is on Saturday, January 31st at TCU Place, the theme is Broadway, and Chris Sikorsky cannot wait. 

Chris is the Co-Owner of Sikpics Productions and a Swinging with the Stars Alumni. He is also a Swinging with the Stars Committee Member and was kind enough to share his passion for the event with me for the podcast. 

We met at Sikpics headquarters in downtown Saskatoon and I had so much fun listening to Chris share stories of why this event means so much to him and his own experiences of being one of the dancers a few years ago. 

We also touch on why Saskatoon is so great at coming together as a community to support fundraising events like this. 

I want to mention that Chris and the committee have generously donated two tickets to this year’s Swinging with the Stars event to give away to a lucky listener. I am giving them away on Instagram, so make sure you follow YXE Underground for a chance to win a pair of tickets!

And just a reminder that a new episode of the podcast drops Thursday, January 15th, wherever you find your favourite podcasts.

Don't forget to leave a 5-star review of YXE Underground if you like what you hear!

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast 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

In this bonus episode, we are going to learn about a new and innovative project from Elmwood Residences that will make a real difference in Saskatoon’s disability community.

It’s called the Elmwood Community Hub, and you might remember it being discussed in our last episode that highlighted the work being done at Elmwood’s Community Homes throughout Saskatoon. 

The Community Hub, which if everything goes well will open in 2030, will sit on the grounds of the current Elmwood Manor on Arlington Avenue and will feature a variety of amenities including a performance theatre, life skills kitchen and residential units. 

I was lucky to sit down with Dani Carr, Maggie Stevenson and Jackie Smith to learn more about the project. 

Dani is the Executive Director of Elmwood Residences. Maggie is the Manager of Community Engagement for Elmwood.

Jackie is a former Elmwood board member whose brother was cared for by Elmwood for many years. 

I met Dani, Maggie, and Jackie at the Elmwood Manor and we all sat down in one of the board rooms to discuss the Community Hub.

Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy this episode! Oh, and don't forget to listen to our previous episode exploring Elmwood's Community Homes Program. 

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

Kyle Danylyshen is one of four residents living in one of Elmwood Residences' community homes for people with intellectual disabilities. For 56 years, Elmwood has supported individuals experiencing intellectual disabilities with the care and services they need to live full and meaningful lives. 

The organization operates 15 community homes in Saskatoon. These homes have care staff providing 24-hour care, and as you will hear in this episode, the homes are empowering residents with the skills and opportunities to live independently within the greater community.

Kyle’s home is on Preston Avenue near Market Mall. It is a one-story house that is fully accessible for people in wheelchairs, including a ramp to the front door and into a large backyard. Kyle has lived here since 2021, and one of his best friends is his roommate, Tiernan Huber, who moved in last August. They quickly bonded through their mutual love of the Saskatoon Blades and being active in the community. They are quite the pair and were an absolute joy to speak with. 

You will also meet Julien Hendrickson and Linda Boyko from Elmwood in the episode.

My thanks to Kyle, Tiernan, Julien, Linda and the entire Elmwood team for making me feel so welcomed during this whole process. This episode was so much fun to produce, and I think you will really enjoy next week’s bonus episode where we learn more about Elmwood's Community Hub Project and the impact it will have on Saskatoon. That episode drops December 18th.

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

Don’t forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. 

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his colleagues at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode of the podcast. Rob is one of the most generous and kind people I know, and it means a lot to have his support. I am also grateful to Rob and his team for their care in managing my investments for the past 12 years. If you are looking for someone to help manage your money, Rob is the person to speak with!

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

• 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 Saskatoon Fire and Flood. It’s a Friday afternoon and Brennen Mills is showing me and my photographer, Rona Andreas, around the building. It’s a really impressive space full of tools and equipment designed to help people recover from an incident such as a house fire. 

I feel lucky to say I have never had to call on Brennen and his team for their help. In fact, Brennen was not on my radar for podcast guests until his colleague, Candace Chickowski nominated him through the YXE Underground website. Her email was compelling and it really got me thinking of how important communication is in Brennen’s line of work. 

Here is a portion of Candace’s email that really connected with me and got this episode in motion. 

Brennen was born and raised in Saskatchewan’s construction industry. He knows this work inside and out, but what makes him different is his ability to see the human side of it. We deal with people going through some of the hardest days of their lives, fires, floods, and major loss and Brennen never lets us forget that we’re not just fixing buildings; we’re helping people get their lives back. 

Helping those in need and giving back to the community are priorities in Brennen’s leadership style and his personal life. He is the Vice-Chair of the Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation and his willingness is volunteer his time and energy led the SPSF to recognize Brennen and Saskatoon Fire and Flood at this month’s National Philanthropy Day. 

Here's the thing about Brennen; he would rather talk about anything else than himself, which made for some very funny moments in our conversation when I would press him for a story. 

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, 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. That's where you will see some lovely photos of Brennen and his puppy dog taken by Saskatoon photographer, Rona Andreas. My thanks to Rona for her amazing work on this episode. 

Thank you to my cousin, Andrew Dickson, for creating the original theme music for the podcast.

Thank you to Saskatoon’s Danger Dynamite for creating and maintaining the website.

These interviews were gathered on Treaty Six 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. 

• 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 a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson and it has been a busy week for the podcast.

Last Monday, I dropped an episode that took listeners to Beaver Creek Conservation Area to enjoy a Dark Skies event put on by the Meewasin Valley Authority.

On Thursday, I spoke with Katayoon Navabi about the Diaspora Film Festival she was helping organize at the Remai Modern. I saw a great documentary yesterday as part of the film festival called Allihopa: The Dalkurd Story. My congrats to Katayoon and her team for putting on such a wonderful event. 

Today, I am sharing a conversation about an upcoming fundraising event that has raised more than three million dollars since 2007.

Choc’la Cure is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds to purchase cancer treatment equipment used at the Saskaoon Cancer Centre. It formed 18 years ago and has impacted the lives of so many people in Saskatoon and throughout our province.

Choc’la Cure’s annual gala event takes place on November 7th at Dutch Growers, and I learned more about the organization and its impact on the Saskatoon Cancer Centre thanks to Kim Swiatecki, Breanne Cooper and Dr. John DeCoteau. 

Kim is a volunteer on the Choc’la Cure committee and a previous guest on the podcast way back in season one. Breanne is the Chair of Choc’la Cure, and Dr. DeCoteau is the Medical Director of the Advanced Diagnostic Research Lab at the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. 

The goal of this year’s gala is to raise money for a new piece of medical equipment for the Cancer Centre, which Dr. DeCoteau explains in fascinating detail in our conversation. 

I met Kim, Breanne and Dr. DeCoteau at Citizen Café a few weeks ago and learned so much from all of them. Best of luck to the entire Choc'la Cure team on their upcoming fundraiser!

Listen and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Please feel 
free to leave a 5-star review if you enjoyed this episode. I would greatly appreciate it.

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