As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

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Canadian Mental Health Association - Calgary Region

9 episodes

1 month ago

What happens when a childhood dream meets lived experience? In this episode of As I, A Peer, Jeff Turner speaks with Priscilla Cherry, the force behind The Oratory. Priscilla shares her story of growing up with big dreams, facing the realities of childhood PTSD and ADHD, and discovering the life-changing power of peer support. From helping shape Recovery College to creating a groundbreaking show that blends entertainment with mental health dialogue, Priscilla shows how personal struggle can s...

Mental Health

Health & Fitness

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Mental Health

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Episodes (9/9)

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Where Art Meets Mental Health

1 month ago

29 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Breaking Cycles: Bruce on Recovery and Resilience

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we meet Bruce, now a Peer Support Practice Lead, whose journey reflects loss, resilience, and the power of community. Growing up in Calgary, Bruce experienced early loss, family challenges, and the weight of feeling different. As a teen, substances became a way to cope, leading to years of struggle that carried into adulthood. His turning point came in 2004, when he chose to change his lifestyle and began rebuilding his life one step at a time. Thr...

2 months ago

29 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Reclaiming Space: Melanie Vernon on Pain & Growth

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we sit down with Melanie Vernon, a chronic pain peer support worker, mental health advocate, and CMHA Calgary School of Peer Support alum. Melanie shares her deeply personal story of growing up in a household where everything looked perfect from the outside, but inside was a world shaped by trauma, neglect, and survival. As the “good kid” in a family consumed by chaos, Melanie learned to shrink her needs, bury her pain in novels and food and seek validat...

3 months ago

28 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Finding Home in the In-Between: Sadaf’s Story of Identity and Healing

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re excited to sit down with Sadaf, a thoughtful peer, mental health advocate, and former Peer School Facilitator with CMHA Calgary. Sadaf shares her powerful journey of navigating identity, culture, and mental health — from growing up in Calgary as a child of Pakistani immigrants to finding her voice in spaces that didn’t always make room for her full self. Struggling to blend in while holding on to her heritage, Sadaf opens up about the challenges of...

5 months ago

30 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Writing Toward Wellness: The Journey of Wakefield Brewster

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Wakefield Brewster, a celebrated poet, wellness practitioner, and Calgary’s 2022- 2024 Poet Laureate. Wakefield shares his journey of healing, shaped by early life challenges, substance use, and the ongoing process of navigating mental wellness. Growing up in Toronto as the child of Barbadian immigrants, Wakefield often felt misunderstood and disconnected in systems that weren’t built to support his unique needs or creative spir...

6 months ago

29 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Finding Connection: Kyla Ricard’s Path Through Lived Experience to Peer Support

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Kyla Ricard, a dedicated Peer Support Worker from Calgary, Alberta. Kyla Ricard’s path to peer support was shaped by her personal experiences of being unhoused, mental health struggles, and the search for connection. After working in a remote tree-planting camp, she found herself navigating the realities of being unhoused in both Edmonton and Calgary, facing isolation, sleep deprivation, and the toll of unmanaged mental health s...

7 months ago

29 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

A Lifetime of Advocacy: Dr. Michael Trew on Psychiatry, Policy, and Peer Support

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re honoured to welcome Dr. Michael Trew, a distinguished psychiatrist whose career has spanned over four decades. Dr. Trew’s journey in mental health began with his education at the University of Saskatchewan, Calgary, and Manchester, leading to his certification as a psychiatrist in 1982. His dedication to the field saw him leading the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service at Foothills Medical Centre and serving as Alberta’s Chief Addiction and Mental He...

8 months ago

22 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Nova McGillivray: Bridging Compassion and Community in Peer Support

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we’re thrilled to welcome Nova McGillivray, a dedicated peer support facilitator from Calgary, Alberta. Nova’s journey into peer support began in 2013, when she struggled to find any support groups in the city for postpartum depression. Motivated by this gap, she took matters into her own hands, starting to facilitate group sessions herself. Since 2018, she has been offering one-on-one support, always driven by a deep passion for helping others. Her dedication...

9 months ago

21 minutes

As I, A Peer | A podcast presented by CMHA Calgary

Art, Advocacy, and Resilience: Kamika Bianca Guerra-Walker's Journey to Inspire Change

In this episode of As I, A Peer, we are thrilled to welcome Kamika Bianca Guerra-Walker, a visionary multidisciplinary artist of Jamaican and Chilean heritage, who has been named Calgary’s 2024 Emerging Artist of the Year. Kamika is a filmmaker, producer, writer, and mental health advocate whose work has earned recognition from renowned organizations such as Netflix, Telefilm, the Canadian Academy of Cinema & Television, and many more. We delve into Kamika’s remarkable journey, exploring ...

10 months ago

21 minutes