YXE Underground

For the past 48 years, the Kinsmen Foundation and Telemiracle has been raising money to improve the quality of life and independence of Saskatchewan residents. Their generosity is huge and the province rallies every year to support the Telemiracle fundraising event on television, but you might not know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes, all year round, to connect the Kinsmen Foundation with people in need. 

We learn about this incredible work in this episode of YXE Underground. 

I can vividly remember being 8 years-old, sitting on the living room floor next to my sister, in our home in Swift Current, eagerly waiting for our names to slowly scroll across the bottom screen during Telemiracle. I’m sure I am not the only one who has a memory like this.

I think Telemiracle is one of those Saskatchewan institutions that just seems to bring people together. The fact that this two day annual fundraiser raises millions of dollars to help people in need, whether it’s a piece of medical equipment or to help cover the costs of travel for a medical procedure, is worth celebrating.

However, it’s only been in the past few years that I’ve learned about all the work that happens year round by a passionate group of volunteers that connects people in need with the Kinsmen Foundation. These volunteers are from across Saskatchewan and often meet at the Kinsmen Foundation headquarters in Saskatoon.

I wanted to learn more about these Kinsmen and Telemiracle volunteers and how they work with people and organizations across Saskatchewan, and I was lucky enough to meet Raelynn Nicholson and Tyler Hall.

Raelynn is the Kinsmen Foundation Board Chair and lives in Assiniboine, Saskatchewan. Tyler Hall is this year’s Telemiracle Chair and he lives in Mortlach, Saskatchewan. They are volunteers who love making a difference in the lives of people, and as you will hear, their roots run deep with it comes to Kinsmen and Telemiracle.

I was lucky to catch them both in Saskatoon last month and we met for coffee at the Broadway Roastery on 8th Street. We cover a lot of ground in just over a half-hour...like how the volunteer board decides where to spend its money and what it’s like getting to really know families in need. 

We also discuss why this work means so much to Raelynn and Tyler, and as you’ll hear, they have a lot of fun working together.

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. If you are looking for someone to manage your money and give you thoughtful advice on investments, you should really speak with Rob Rongve. 

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and follow YXE Underground on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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 about to begin 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 episode, Lisa shares her insights into the thoughts and feelings that go into making a major pivot in one's life. Lisa comes at this topic from a very honest place as she is in the midst of a significant pivot in her professional life. Thank you for always being so honest and authentic with listeners, Lisa! 

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 February 15th.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

The final days and moments of a person’s life can be uncomfortable subjects for people to think about, let alone discuss with others. But what I discovered by spending a morning at the Hospice at Glengarda, Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice, is that there is so much room for light, laughter and gratitude when the end is near. 

What I also discovered is how much work it takes from very dedicated and caring staff to ensure those streams of light make their way into the hospice. 

You are about to meet some of those people as we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda.

In January of 2021, the Hospice at Glengarda opened on a quiet residential street in Saskatoon’s exhibition neighbourhood. The hospice has 15 private rooms and is designed for patients requiring end-of-life care. 

The story of how the Hospice went from idea to reality is really amazing and one we covered a few weeks ago in a bonus episode of the podcast featuring Lecina Hicke, CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. I strongly encourage you to give it a listen if you haven’t done so already as Lecina tells the story so well. 

Now, I must admit that before I stepped foot in the Hospice at Glengarda, in my mind, this was going a very serious and perhaps solemn interview because we were going to be talking about death and dying. Well, that quickly changed when I met Robin Stahl, Kristin Hubic and Monique Blom. As I mentioned earlier, there is so much light and energy and laughter in this space and I feel so grateful to have spoken with Robin, Kristin and Monique together as they have amazing chemistry.

They gave my photographer and friend, Molly Schikosky, and I a tour of the Hospice and made us feel so welcomed. 

I maybe asked five or six questions over the span of our two hours together which is wonderful because, as you are about to hear, they fed off of each-other’s energy and traded stories with one-another that illustrate the importance and significance of their work. 

The tour they gave us was very unique. They wanted to place us in the shoes of a person who was arriving into the Hospice, which is why Monique asked if I would lay down on the floor of the back entrance. That’s because when a person arrives to the Hospice, they enter on a stretcher through the back door. As you will hear, this back entrance is a very unique space. 

From there, we visit one of the spa rooms, the main floor kitchen and the smudge room. We weren’t able to go inside of the patient rooms as they were all full but we do talk about what the rooms look like and why paying attention to the little things in so important to patients and families. 

A big thank you to Robin, Kristin, Monique and the entire team at the Hospice at Glengarda for making time for us and making us feel so welcomed in their space. I know you will enjoy this episode. 

Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

A big thank you Rob Rongve and his team at RBC Dominion Securities in North Battleford for supporting this episode. 

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson. Happy New Year to all of you and I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.

I am really excited to begin 2024 with a bonus episode featuring a really kind and passionate person in our community. Her name is Lecina Hicke and she is the CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.

The reason I reached out to Lecina is I wanted to do an episode focusing on the Hospice at Glengarda. As you will hear in our conversation, Lecina has a very strong connection to the Hospice and worked extremely hard for years to ensure its construction and its mission of providing compassionate and meaningful End-of-Life care would be successful.

The Hospice at Glengarda is a 15-bed Hospice located on Hilliard Street East and Melrose Avenue in Saskatoon’s Exhibition neighbourhood. My wife and I used to live on Ash Street and would walk by the construction three times day because our dog Fred loved his walks, and it was really something to see this beautiful building going up in a quiet, old neighbourhood in the city.

The Hospice is governed by Emmanual Health, owned by St. Paul’s Hospital and was Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice.

I feel very lucky to have spent an afternoon with Lecina in her office at St. Paul’s Hospital learning about the work that went into fundraising for the Hospice, why educating the general public was so important, and the impact a gentleman named Gord Engel had on her and the Close to Home fundraising campaign.

Now, the plan is to do an episode where we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda and speak with staff about the work they are doing. We are just working on finding a time that works for everyone. Hopefully that episode will come out in the next few weeks, but I really think knowing the background behind the creation will of the Hospice will make you appreciate the work it is doing for patients and families in Saskatoon even more.

Thank you so much for listening to this bonus episode and don't forget to share it and leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Finding your voice as a young artist can be challenging, especially if you can't find the right space to express yourself creatively. Luckily for young people in Saskatoon, Jody Lerat and her team of students have created a safe and inviting space where young artists are free and encouraged to discover their voice. It's called Future Artistic Minds and you are about to visit this collective here on YXE Underground.

I was able to spend a Tuesday night in late November at the Core Neighbourhood Youth Co-op in Saskatoon's Riversdale neighbourhood. The building is broken up into several different spaces. There's a recording studio down the hall from the kitchen, a silk screening press in the basement, and in the kitchin and dining room area, a group of high school and early 20 something artists are sitting around a long, wide table making art out of felt. 

All of this falls under the umbrella of the Future Artistic Minds collective, also known as FAM. This evening is a drop-in session meaning people can come in and create alongside other artists. 

This is where Jody Lerat spends a lot of her free time. She teaches art at Mount Royal Collegiate here in Saskatoon and is an artist herself. She knows everyone in the room and whenever she enters a different space in the building, young artists light up and say, "hi Jody!" 

It's clear after five minutes that everyone here looks up to Jody.

There's a lot happening at FAM and it's all under the caring and encouraging eye of Jody Lerat. For almost two years, I've been trying to get Jody on the podcast as I think she's a wonderful leader in our community who deserves to be celebrated, so I am excited to feature her and the collective on the podcast. 

Jody is from Cowessess First Nation in Treaty 4 territory but grew up in Saskatoon for most of her life. She talks openly in our conversation about the joy she experiences when she sees young artists collaborating and why encouraging today's youth to pursue careers in the arts is so important. She also talks about the deeply personal role art has played in her life and why it fuels her passion to be the best art teacher she can be.

I also want to give a big thanks to FAM member Sofiya Zhukova who stepped up at the last minute when I couldn't find a photographer for this episode and totally rocked it! Sofiya took incredible photos and was so much fun to work with. She is just starting her own photography and graphic design career and let me tell you, she is good! Thanks so much for all of your help, Sofiya.

Please feel free to give the podcast a 5-star review and tell your friends if you like what you hear. Doing both really does help the podcast reach more listeners so thank you!

I hope you have a safe and wonderful holiday season and can't wait to talk with you in 2024.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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 today works at the University of Saskatchewan, 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 episode, Lisa dives into the challenges we face when it comes to the holiday season. Whether it's pressure to attend work functions or feeling the need to buy the perfect, most extravagant toy for your child, the holidays bring out many unique challenges. Lisa shares her insights on this time of year and how we can keep our minds healthy during such a hectic time. 

These "Walking with Lisa" episodes drop on the last Thursday of 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 December 14th!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

For more than 20 years, Kim Fisher has worked at the Saskatoon YWCA helping women and their families receive the supports they need and doing it with kindness and compassion. 

The YWCA is many things to many people in our community. There is an employment and learning centre that helps people learn the skills to reach their employment goals. The childhood development centre provides daycare to kids from across Saskatoon. And of course there is the gym that many years ago I frequented when I was a university student living a block away from YWCA. 

For this episode, we focus on the YWCA’s Emergency Crisis Shelter, the long term residents and the programming it provides to women and their families in need of help. 

Kim Fisher is the Director of Residential Programs at the YWCA and is a very busy person. She oversees several different support programs, which she talks about in our conversation, and has been helping with the organization’s efforts to expand their capacity through their Hope Lives Here campaign. 

The need for safe housing is high in Saskatoon.

In 2022, the YWCA Crisis Shelter and Residence turned away more than 4000 women, youth and children looking for a safe place to stay in our community. 

Kim shares the wonderful news of the campaign’s success and the expansion happening right now at the YWCA in our conversation. She also explains why it takes so much courage for women to seek out the help and services offered at the YWCA and why this work means so much to her.

Thank you so much for listening and supporting a local, independent podcast. Please leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear and feel free to tell a friend about YXE Underground!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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 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 quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch. 

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, 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?"

Now, for this episode, we might have skipped out on the walking part due to the weather! It snowed on the day we were going to record and I just wasn't ready to walk in the cold and deal with slippery sidewalks yet. So Lisa graciously offered her office instead. I promise we will walk next month no matter how cold it is! 

Our conversation centered around a couple of really interesting themes. The first is the idea of belonging versus fitting in, which is something that really hit home with me in regards to my days as a journalist, and then how that idea fits into what makes a supportive, inclusive community. As always, Lisa shares her thoughts and insights in a clear and honest way. I am grateful for these conversations and I hope you enjoy them too.  

These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts 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 November 9th! 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Literacy is something many of us take for granted, and yet one in three people in Saskatchewan struggle when it comes to things like reading, writing, comprehension numeracy skills. At Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, a dedicated group of staff and volunteers is helping adults who want to improve their literacy skills for free. 

Charlene Siwak is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations and sees the impact literacy has in our community. She takes listeners inside the Adult Literacy Programs offered by Foundations and why this work means so much to her in this episode. 

I think it takes courage for people to admit when they need help and seek out resources that can help them achieve their goals, and when it comes to Foundations Learning and Skills, the goals it helps people reach revolve around literacy.

The organization, formerly known as READ Saskatoon, has been helping people 18 and over in Saskatoon and the province for decades achieve their learning goals.

Charlene Siwak and her colleagues work with learners from all walks of life in Saskatoon to help them reach their goals, and what I found so interesting in speaking with Charlene is just how unique it is working with adult learners compared high school or elementary school students. 

She is passionate about making a difference in peoples’ lives and as you will discover in our conversation, loves working with adults to reach their education goals. I learned so much from Charlene in our conversation and I know you are going to as well. 

Thank you for listening and supporting a local, independent podcasts here in Saskatoon. I really appreciate your support. Don't forget to tell your friends about the podcast and feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

This month, the Broadway Theatre is celebrating 30 years as a community owned and operated theatre in Saskatoon which is an achievement worth celebrating. 

The Broadway is many things to many people. For music lovers, it’s a place where they can see their favourite artists and bands in an intimate setting and discover new and emerging talent from across the world. 

If you love live theatre, then you have no doubt seen the Saskatoon Soaps perform on stage or watched a theatre group perform during the Fringe festival. 

Movie fans flock to the Broadway for classic films, the best in global cinema and independent Canadian movies. I even dragged my wife with me to see a screening of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan at the Broadway…an experience I know she is grateful for!

For the past 30 years, the Broadway has been a hub of cultural and community events in Saskatoon and the future looks bright for the next 30 thanks to strong leadership, community support and an army of passionate volunteers. 

I was fortunate to speak with three amazing people who love the Broadway Theatre. Holly Gilroy is the Broadway's Operations Manager, Aryn Otterbein is its Artistic Director and April Sora is a previous board member and passionate volunteer. Together, they cover everything from the joys of working with the community to ensuring the next 30 years are just as successful for the Theatre.

Thank you so much for listening to this special bonus episode of the podcast. The Broadway is one of my favourite places in Saskatoon and we are really lucky to have such a hub for community events in our city. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

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 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 quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to this pitch. 

Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who today works at the University of Saskatchewan, 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?"

For this episode, I met Lisa on a very sunny afternoon the University of Saskatchewan campus. Our conversation centered on a presentation she had recently given with her friend Adrianne Vangool at the Evoke Conference that focused on comparison versus envy. 

These 'Walking with Lisa' episodes will drop on the last Thursday of every month wherever you find your favourite podcasts 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.

A few housekeeping notes... 

A special bonus episode of YXE Underground will drop on Tuesday, October 3rd, that will take listeners to the Broadway Theatre which is celebrating 30 years as a community owned theatre in October. This was a fun one to record as we look at what makes the Broadway such a unique cultural organization in Saskatoon and what's on tap in terms of concerts and events this fall.

Then on October 12th, a brand new episode drops featuring Charlene Siwak will be released. Charlene is the Adult Literacy Coordinator at Foundations Learning and Skills Saskatchewan, which was formerly Read Saskatoon, and she is such a wonderful person. I can't wait for you to hear how she is making a difference in our community.

Finally, if you have a dog or cat, you definitely need a YXE Underground dog or cat bandana! They are yellow and black, cost 10 dollars and all the money will go to New Hope Dog Rescue's Animal Safekeeping Program, which was the focus of this month's episode of the podcast. It's an incredible program and we are raising money for it through these dog and cat bandanas, so please reach out to me on social media or email: ericandersonyxe@gmail.com if you would like one. 

Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy our walk!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Welcome to Season Six of YXE Underground. Thank you so much for your continued support and I am thrilled to be back sharing stories of people who are making a difference in Saskatoon but are flying under the radar. 

This season's first episode focuses on the Animal Safekeeping Program. It is a partnership between New Hope Dog Rescue and the Saskatchewan SPCA and is helping people and animals who are leaving a domestic abuse or interpersonal violence situation. 

I was fortunate to speak with Sandra Archibald and Laura Zmud to learn more about the Animal Safekeeping Program.

Sandra is the Executive Director of New Hope Dog Rescue and Laura is the Family Ties Coordinator with the Saskatchewan SPCA. They found time in their busy schedule to meet with me at the SPCA office in Saskatoon to share more about the program and its importance in our community. 

I learned so much from speaking with Sandra and Laura and have so much respect for the work they are doing to help people who are experience interpersonal violence and their pets. I know you are going to learn a great deal as well. 

I want to mention that I am doing two podcast merchandise fundraisers for the Animal Safekeeping Program. The first are dog and cat bandanas that are yellow and have a black YXE Underground logo on them. They cost 10 dollars and your pet will look so good wearing them! The second fundraiser is a new round of YXE Underground t-shirts! The shirts are 3/4 length baseball tees that are blue and white with a blue YXE Underground logo. They sell for 25 dollars. All of the money from the sale of bandanas and shirt will go to the Animal Safekeeping Program. You can reach out to me on social media or send an email to ericandersonyxe@gmail.com if you would like some new merchandise and to help people and animals in need. 

Thank you so much for listening to this season's debut episode and thanks again to Sandra and Laura for their generosity and kindness. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Hello and welcome to a special summer bonus episode of YXE Underground. My name is Eric Anderson and I hope you are having a wonderful summer so far. 

I spent the first two weeks of July on a trip to Scandinavia with my Dad and had a really great time there. We spent time in Norway, specifically Oslo and a city called Narvik within the Arctic Circle, which was pretty crazy to experience as the sun just doesn't really go down at all. We would go to bed around 1 am and it was like 7pm here in Saskatoon, so that was pretty neat to see. 

The reason for our trip was to learn more about my Grandpa Anderson's experiences as a member of the Norwegian Resistance in WWII and we really learned a lot. I posted a little bit about it on the YXE Underground social media channels but I did some audio recording during our trip and fingers crossed I'm going to be doing a radio documentary for CBC Radio about our time in Norway and my Grandpa's experiences.

I am also excited to be back in Saskatoon and to be talking about the Saskatoon Fringe Festival! It's one of my favourite times of the year here in the city. There's great live theatre to take in, there's wonderful local vendors to check out, the buskers are great and if you have kids well there's so much to do!

The Saskatoon Fringe Festival is put on by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre. It starts on August 3rd and goes to August 12th. There's so much going on in the festival, including a return to Broadway Avenue on August 5th and 6th, that I felt it warranted a summer bonus episode with one of my favourite people in the world, Anita Smith. 

Anita is the Artistic and Executive Director for 25th Street Theatre and is basically thinking about the Fringe Festival 365 days a year. When I met up with her last week and asked if she was getting any sleep as the festival was getting closer, she told me she was actually dreaming of the Fringe Festival. That's how much Anita Smith cares about putting on a fantastic Fringe Festival for us here in Saskatoon!

Now, before we get to our conversation, I quickly want to mention that Season 6 of YXE Underground will drop on September 14th and I am so excited for this upcoming season! I am going to try some new things this season with more episodes and more online promotion that I am eager for you to hear and see and I have some great new merchandise not only for people but for our four-legged friends as well! I'll share more details as we get closer to September but thank you so much for all of your support and spreading the word on all things YXE Underground.

Have a wonderful time at the Fringe Festival and best of luck to Anita as she attempts to see all 18 plays during the festival! 

I started by asking Anita how she was feeling a few days before the festival kicks off. 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Educating people of all ages and cultures is what drives Elaine Sutherland. 

For nearly 25 years, she taught in schools, mostly as a kindergarten teacher, and helped her peers incorporate Indigenous history and teachings education into their classrooms. Today, you can find Elaine at the Office of the Treaty Commissioner where she is the Director of Treaty Education. 

The history of the Office of the Treaty Commissioner is interesting.

It was created in 1989 by the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations and the Government of Canada to guide both parties through their differing views on Treaties. For those unfamiliar with Treaties, in Saskatchewan they are the formal agreements between the Crown and First Nations with their expectations and obligations.

11 numbered treaties were negotiated after confederation and between 1871 and 1921. They cover the territories from present day Ontario to Alberta as well as parts of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. In Saskatchewan, there are six treaties: Treaty 2, treaty 4, treaty 6, treaty 8 and treaty 10. Saskatoon is in treaty 6 territory. 

The Office of the Treaty Commissioner’s vision in our province is to promote respect and understanding of Treaties, and to support Treaty parties in maintaining and enhancing the Treaty relationship through dialogue, neutral support, assistance with resolving disputes, and commitment to the Treaty principles.

I would strongly recommend spending some time on the OTC’s website as there some great online resources available and it’s just interesting learning about this organization.

Learning is a theme in this episode as it’s something Elaine Sutherland firmly believes we should all be doing no matter where we are in our lives. 

For the past two years, she has been teaching the importance of treaties to people in our city, our province and across Canada. She left a highly respected teaching career to take on this role and it has not always been easy. 

However, you will hear why this work…why sharing the stories of treaties with businesses, organizations and especially teachers, as well as strategies to help on their learning journey, is so meaningful to Elaine. 

You will also hear in this episode how Elaine’s new two day education session called the Treaty Learning Journey is connecting with participants here in Saskatoon and throughout Saskatchewan.

Thank you so much to Elaine for sharing her story on the podcast and to the Office of the Treaty Commissioner for its cooperation and support. 

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

Follow YXE Underground on social media! Simply search 'YXE Underground' on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. 

This is the Season 5 finale of YXE Underground and I can’t thank all of you enough for supporting my podcast. Whether you’re listening to or sharing the podcast, or maybe you’re telling a friend to check it out, or you’re buying podcast swag that support local organizations…thank you so very much! 

I had no idea this podcast would go on for five years and it really is a privilege sharing these stories with you. Thank you for the opportunity to do so. I can’t wait for Season 6 to launch in September and you might hear a summer bonus episode or two between now and the fall. 

If you have any recommendations when it comes to people or organizations that should be featured on the podcast, I would love to hear them. Feel free to send an email to ericandersonyxe@gmail.com or fill out a nomination form on the website. You can also drop me a line on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. I know there are so many people in Saskatoon making a difference in our community who are flying under the radar so let’s get them on the podcast and share their stories. 

I hope you have  a safe and wonderful summer and be on the lookout for a few bonus episodes in July and August before Season 6 begins in September. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

It’s a Thursday night and four people are sparring under the careful watch of Haven Seto.

For years, Haven has worked with athletes of all ages to help them develop their boxing, kickboxing and wushu skills. Wushu is also known as kung-fu, and it’s played an important role in Haven’s life.

I am so excited to introduce you to Haven Seto.

He is the epitome of a community leader. He loves helping others, he is passionate about making his community a better place, and he understands the importance of hard work and kindness.

For the past 15 years, Haven has worked at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association here in Saskatoon. This organization provides programs and services to help newcomers and Indigenous find success in their communities and has been doing this work since 1964.

Haven oversees all of the employment programs and as you will hear in our conversation, he takes so much pride in helping newcomers and Indigenous people find meaningful employment in Saskatoon.

He also owns and operates the Chinese Martial Arts Academy where he is one of several coaches working with athletes of all ages. Mentorship and helping others are key aspects in Haven’s life and he’s able to do both in his role not only at the gym but at the Saskatchewan Intercultural Association.

It was a true pleasure spending time with Haven to not only learn about the many roles he plays in our community but about why all of his work means so much to him. Haven's personal story is compelling and I think one that you will connect with. 

Listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or wherever you find your favourite podcasts. You can also listen to episodes on the YXE Underground website.

Find YXE Underground on social media. Search YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for episode updates and photos from each episode. Don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear!

Thank you for continuing to support a local, independent podcast.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

It has been just over a year since Ukrainians began arriving in Saskatoon, fleeing from war with Russia, and arriving with very little to start their new lives in our community. 

There have been many stories chronicling the efforts of people and organizations to help Ukrainians not only arrive safely but to set them up for success in Saskatoon and all are worth celebrating. 

For this episode, I wanted to highlight the efforts of people you may not know but their work is helping Ukrainian newcomers find safety and security in Saskatoon.

You are going to meet four amazing people in this episode. We will visit Travis Homenuk and Shauna Tilbury at the Saskatoon Public School Division’s Newcomer Student Centre. 

We will find out why Linda Rudachyk is working so hard to find affordable housing for Ukrainian families and we start the podcast with a trip to the Saskatoon Open Door Society to meet Lyudmyla Pastushenko. 

I want to thank all of my guests for sharing their stories and passion for helping others.

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

Follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and don't forget to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear. 

Thank you for supporting a local, independent podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

You can’t help but be in awe when you walk into Child Life Zone at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital. 

First of all, it’s really big. There’s plenty of space for kids to simply play which is a concept Dominique Rust touches on several times in our conversation. There are large windows that encompass the room and allow plenty of sunlight in, the ceiling is high and the space has one of the coolest music rooms I’ve ever seen. There’s even a beautiful kitchen and dining space for families to use. 

The Child Life Zone is part of a North American organization called Teammates for Kids. There are Child Life Zones in various cities across the United States but Saskatoon is the only city in Canada that has a Child Life Zone.

What is the purpose of the Child Life Zone? It offers support and education for young patients and families to help reduce stress and anxiety that go along with hospital stays, tests and procedures. It also offers kids a break from the hospital setting, which I think is something we can all empathize with. In this space are certified child life specialists, like Dominique Rust, along with recreation therapists and a music therapist. 

The Child Life Zone would not exist without a host of community partnerships and sponsors, which Kristina Konchak facilitates in her role with the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation. 

It was a real pleasure receiving a tour of the Child Life Zone from Dominique and Kristina. Dominique is the Manager of the Child Life Zone and she manages a team of recreation and child life therapists, as well as a music therapist.

Kristina is the Hospital and Community Engagement Director for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital Foundation.

What I love about our conversation is that as Dominique and Kristina are describing the many amenities in the space, they share the impact they have on children and their families. I hope you enjoy the tour!

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

A big thank for all of your support these past five years! YXE Underground recently passed the 50,000 download mark and I am so grateful for each and every one of you for getting behind this local, independent podcast. I truly appreciate it!

Here's to the next 50,000 downloads!

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Andrew Baenziger is in his dream job.

As the Adaptive Technologist for SaskAbilities, he is helping people overcome barriers they are facing due to disability or injury through his passion for technology and empathy to help others in need.

Andrew invited us to his workshop to show us how he uses technology, and perhaps a piece or two from his aquarium, to make a difference in lives of people here in Saskatoon.

It was wonderful spending time in his workspace at SaskAbilities for this episode.

The main space, which is a classroom inside an old school, has a few desks which are covered with different devices and creations made by Andrew that are designed to help people in a variety of ways. He calls it his showroom and it’s where most of our conversation takes place…

But his favourite space to spend time is definitely his workshop. It’s attached to the showroom and it’s where Andrew loves to fix things.

As an Adaptive Technologist, Andrew works with people who need help overcoming barriers in their lives. Often times, these barriers revolve around communication. Andrew shares some great examples in our conversation of how he has worked with clients to come up with creative and cost-efficient solutions to barriers they are facing due to disability or injury.

I think one of Andrew’s many strengths is how he combines his passion for technology with a genuine interest in helping people. You will hear a wonderful quote in the second part of our conversation from Andrew where he puts his job into a greater perspective that I think will stick with you.

You will also hear my friend and YXE Underground photographer Rona Andreas ask a few questions to Andrew. Rona is an Occupational Therapy Assistant at Sherbrooke Community Centre, which is where I work, and I wanted to make sure she had a chance to ask Andrew some questions because she would view his work through such a unique lens.

Let me tell you…Rona asks some good questions.

You can listen to YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Apple Podcast, Spotify, Goodpods or the website: yxeunderground.com. Feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Don’t forget to follow YXE Underground on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Thanks so much for listening and I hope you enjoy Andrew’s story.

Cheers…Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground. This episode is a continuation of last week’s episode where we featured an incredible nonprofit organization called Empty Arms. It is a perinatal support group that provides supports to individuals and families who have experienced the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six.

Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop co-founded Empty Arms in 2015 and were the featured guests in last week’s episode. They were amazing to speak with and the feedback I’ve received from listeners highlights their empathy and kindness. I hope you get a chance to listen to their story if you haven’t done so already.

The other voices you heard in last week’s episode belonged to Dax and Sara Irons. They share the story of their son, Everett, who was born on September 22nd , 2018 and passed away at birth. They are grateful for the support Empty Arms provided them during such a difficult time, and in fact it was Sara’s idea to feature Jasmin and Briana on the podcast.

Sara and Dax invited me to their home on a chilly Saturday morning in December to talk about Everett and the supports Empty Arms provided them. It was a really powerful conversation and I can’t thank Sara and Dax enough for their honesty and vulnerability in sharing their story.

I played a few minutes of our conversation in last week’s episode but I want to share with you the entire interview because I just found it so powerful in how it shows the impact Empty Arms has on people like Sara and Dax. 

I also wanted to share it because Sara and Dax gave so much of themselves in telling their story. I’ve known Sara for years through Saskatoon’s yoga community but this was the first time I met Dax, and he just shared so much of his heart in our conversation. I am grateful to both of them.

We did the interview in the living room of their home. Dax and I sat on the couch while Sara sat cross-legged on the floor. On the coffee table in front of us were objects that were part of the Empty Arms care package that you’ll hear them discuss throughout the interview.

Again, I am so grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story with me on the podcast.

Listen to and follow YXE Underground wherever you find your favourite podcasts including Spotify, Goodpods or the YXE Underground website. Please feel free to leave a 5-star review if you like what you hear.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com

Jasmin Herchak and Briana Koop took traumatic and devastating experiences with loss and turned them into something that is helping so many people and families in Saskatoon. I think that deserves to be celebrated.

In 2015, Jasmin and Bri created Empty Arms. It is a nonprofit organization that provides support to individuals and families that experience grief and bereavement due to the loss of a child during pregnancy or up to the age of six. As you will hear in this episode, Jasmin and Bri started Empty Arms because they experienced the loss of a child and quickly noticed the lack of supports for people who experience such a loss. 

The work being done by the staff and volunteers Empty Arms is really incredible. They offer tangible supports to individuals and families when they are in the hospital and help create a supportive community in the months and years following a child's death. Jasmine and Bri explain why this work matters to them so much and how it continues to help them in their respective grieving processes. 

It was also interesting to learn how Jasmin and Bri have forged a wonderful relationship with the staff at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital and the team at the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation. It's wonderful to see a big organization like the Jim Pattison Children's Hospital Foundation recognize the great work of a small, nonprofit organization like Empty Arms.

This episode would not have happened without Sara and Dax Irons who you will hear in this episode. Sara sent me an email last year telling me about the death of their son, Everett, in 2018 and how vital a role Empty Arms played in supporting them through such a difficult time. I am grateful to Sara and Dax for sharing their story and introducing me to Jasmin and Bri. 

A big thank you to Rob Rongve and his team at Rongve Wealth Management Group of RBC Dominion Securities for supporting this episode of the podcast and for being such wonderful fans of all things YXE Underground. You're the best, Rob!
 

Thank you for listening to this episode and I hope you find it inspirational. I sure did in producing it. Feel free to make a donation to Empty Arms as I know they would appreciate it.

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com