Radio Totally Normal Toronto - Episodes

RTNT LIVE ON CJRU JAN 9, 2019 - HOLIDAY, MENTAL HEALTH & TEA

1/11/2019

Happy New Years' to all! Hope everyone had an excellent Holiday season. Radio Totally Normal Toronto is back at it again ready for 2019. This January 9th show was hosted by Toby with Kam and Ryan working tech.

The first part of this show talks about the meaning of National Hot Tea Month. RTNT's Elliada interviewed Carina, a tea enthusiast about history, traditions, culture, benefits and fun facts about tea!

A warm, steaming cup of tea is welcome at any time of day especially during the cooler months. Whether as an alternative to coffee in the morning, or as a quiet cap to the end of the day, settling your nerves with Chamomile and Lavender, tea is amazing. We can drink it with lemon, sugar, honey, milk and/or creamer. However we do it, having tea is a great way to celebrate the holidays, mental health and National Tea Month, that can warm our hearts and bodies.

In case you missed it in our December show, you will also hear from members of Progress Place who were interviewed about the holidays. Tara, Dan and Julie talked to various members, exploring how they maintain their mental health during the holiday season.

This episode originally aired on January 9th, 2019 on CJRU 1280 AM and  www.cjru.ca. Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff of Progress Place Clubhouse.

RTNT: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org/

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/radiototallynormaltoronto

For more information about Progress Place please visit:  www.progressplace.org

RTNT LIVE ON CJRU DEC 12, 2019 - HOLIDAYS AND MENTAL HEALTH

12/18/2018

This month’s RTNT show was hosted by Clinton as we discuss the holiday season.

First up you will hear Johnny from RTNT interview Megan Kee, the executive director of TwentyTwenty Arts. TwentyTwenty Arts is united by a shared belief that art can influence social change and is a powerful tool for erasing stigma and improving access to care. 20/20 is used to refer to visual acuity and a sharpness and clarity of vision, a sentiment closely aligned with their goals and strategy. From November 19th, 2018 to January 6th, 2019, TwentyTwenty Arts is presenting “Life on the Line,” which is a mental health awareness campaign on the TTC that is raising awareness, visibility and funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association Toronto’s (CMHA) Holiday Gift Program.

One-hundred posters will be exhibited on the TTC Subway from November 2018 to January 2019. Twenty unique designs are available for sale on the TTC Shop website; 80% of all sales will be donated to the CMHA Toronto’s Holiday Gift Program. CMHA Toronto created the Holiday Gift Program over 60 years ago for people living with mental health issues who are isolated during the holidays. The program buys gifts and necessities that are assembled by hundreds of volunteers and delivered by front-line workers.

You will also hear from members of Progress Place who were interviewed about the holidays. Tara, Dan and Julie walked around the clubhouse and talked to various members, exploring how they take care of themselves during the holiday season.

This episode originally aired on December 12th, 2018 on CJRU 1280 AM and www.cjru.ca

Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff
of Progress Place Clubhouse

RTNT Website www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org

For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org

RTNT LIVE ON CJRU NOV 14, 2019 - MOVEMBER

11/28/2018

This month’s RTNT show was in support of Movember’s movement towards increasing awareness about men’s health. Movember is the annual event involving growing mustaches to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s mental health and suicide prevention. The show featured Frank, a student, and Mitch Hermansen, the Development Director at Movember Canada in separate interviews.

First up, Richard, from RTNT, interviewed Frank, a Neuroscience student from the University of Toronto. Frank is involved at Progress Place for a Health and Wellness Initiative as a student placement. Frank discussed neuroscience and the growing awareness in men’s mental health.
In the next interview, we heard RTNT’s Bobby interview Mitch Hermansen, the Development Director at Movember Canada who called in via Skype from British Columbia!

Movember is the leading charity changing the face of men’s health. They understand what works for men, and how to find and fund the most innovative research to have both a global and local impact. The Movember Foundation continuously challenges the status quo and invests quickly in what works. In 15 years they’ve funded more than 1,200 men’s health projects around the world.

Globally, the rate of suicide is alarmingly high, particularly in men. Around the world, on average we lose a man to suicide every minute of every day. Six out of ten suicides are men. Too many are toughing it out and struggling alone. Movember Canada is working towards a world where men and boys take action to be mentally healthy and well, and are supported by their friends, family and community during tough times.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact 911 for immediate help. If you live in Ontario and are thinking about suicide, please call 416-408-HELP. For friends or family who suspect someone who needs suicide prevention please visit ontariosuicidepreventionnetwork.ca or your local emergency services.

For those outside Ontario please visit International Association for Suicide Prevention’s Crisis Centres at www.iasp.info

This episode originally aired on Wednesday, November 14th, 2018 on CJRU 1280AM and cjru.ca.

More information about Movember Canada can be found: ca.movember.com/?home

Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff of Progress Place Clubhouse

RTNT Website: www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org

For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org

RTNT LIVE ON CJRU OCT 10th 2018 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY SPECIAL 1 HOUR SHOW

10/16/2018

This month’s episode of RTNT is a one hour special for World Mental Health Day. Vincent and Annie are our hosts while we explore impact on young people and mental health in a changing world.

In this episode you will also hear from three different Clubhouses across Canada; Progress Place based in Toronto , Montreal’s Donald Berman Up House and Potential Place in Calgary, Alberta.
First up, RTNT’s Belke explains what a Clubhouse is and the model it follows.

Caitlin, Joey and Cal from Potential Place, a Clubhouse based in Calgary, Alberta, discuss Social Media and Cyber bullying and how it affects our Mental Health. Joey and Caitlin express how social media has impacted their lives and how they manage stress created by social media.
You will also hear an interview with James and Christine from Donald Berman Up House, a clubhouse in Montreal. They share their personal story and their experience with suicide.
This podcast also explores the Transitional Employment Program (TEP) offered by Clubhouses. Progress Place’s Sana shares her experience while working at Minden Gross law firm. This interview ends with three staff members expressing their experience with the TEP program.
Throughout the show you will hear from RTNT’s Bobby, who went to the streets of Toronto and asked various individuals about common myths about Mental Health. For more information about these myths and facts, please visit www.cmha.ca

This episode originally aired on October 10th, 2018 on CJRU 1280 AM and www.cjru.ca

For more information regarding Clubhouse International please visit www.clubhouse-intl.org
For more information about Potential Place, please visit: www.potentialplace.org
For more information about Donald Berman Up House,
please visit: www.uphouse.org
To listen to Up House’s radio show please visit: www.radio-up.org
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact 911 for immediate help If you live in Ontario and are thinking about suicide please
call 416 408 HELP
For those outside Ontario please visit International Association for Suicide Prevention’s Crisis Centres at www.iasp.info.com
For more information regarding Cyber Bullying please visit World Federation for Mental Health
For more information regarding bullying please visit www.stopbullying.org

Radio Totally Normal Toronto is produced by the members and staff of Progress Place Clubhouse
RTNT Website www.radiototallynormaltoronto.org
For more information about Progress Place please visit: www.progressplace.org

Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) & Furthering Our Community (FOCUS)

7/17/2018

On this episode of RTNT, hosted by Julie, we explored mental health and crisis. In this week's episode we interviewed members of the Mobile Crisis Intervention Team (MCIT) and a member of FOCUS Toronto.
First up, RTNT's Lou sits down with Constable Paul Regan and his partner, nurse Leona Anthony, from MCIT. We gained great insight about the creation, purpose, and benefit of MCIT. The Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams are collaborative partnerships between participating Toronto area hospitals and the Toronto Police Service (TPS). The program partners a mental health nurse and a specially trained police officer to respond to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Coverage is now available throughout the City of Toronto.
Next, we had RTNT's Jerry sit down with Evon Smith of Furthering Our Community by Uniting Services (FOCUS) Toronto to learn about their organization. FOCUS Toronto is an innovative Community Safety and Well-Being Initiative led by the City of Toronto, United Way Toronto and Toronto Police Service that aims to reduce crime, victimization and improve community resiliency and well-being.
This episode originally aired on July 11, 2018 on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca.
More information about the Mobile Crisis Intervention Teams can be found: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/community/mcit.php
More information about FOCUS Toronto can be found: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/public-safety-alerts/community-safety-programs/focus-toronto/
Songs used can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZnwLamCia4

The Toronto Writer's Collective: Expressive Writing and Mental Health

6/29/2018

On this episode of RTNT, Jerry hosts as we dive deep into The Toronto Writers Collective. The TWC was founded in 2012 to encourage voice and illuminate undiscovered strength in Toronto’s most vulnerable communities.

First up, RTNT’s Julie sits down with Erdine Hope, a TWC Facilitator to gain insight into the inner workings of the workshops. Next, Luis speaks with Roberta Taylor, a longtime member and a newly trained facilitator. Roberta also shares a few wonderful pieces she has created through participating in the TWC workshops, with a bit of sound design by the RTNT team. Our final interview is with Dr. Kelly McShane, a professor and researcher from Ryerson University. Emily and Dr. McShane explore the role of measuring the effectiveness of community based mental health programs. As always, immense thanks to our guests and everyone who helped us put together this episode.

This episode originally aired on June 13 2018 on CJRU 1280AM and cjru.ca

Find the Toronto Writer's Collective on Facebook and Twitter

Music on this episode is by Broke for Free

Sounds used can be found on freesound.org
- freesound.org/people/haldigital97/sounds/241824/
- freesound.org/people/videog/sounds/149190/
- freesound.org/people/listeningto…les/sounds/323048/
- freesound.org/people/mario1298/sounds/181255/

Healthy Food and Mental Health

3/14/2018

Jerry, Paul Taylor, Mickey and Vanessa, post interview

FoodShare is a non-profit organization that works with communities and schools to deliver healthy food and food education. FoodShare's Executive Director Paul Taylor joins Jerry Gluckowsky to discuss food justice and the implications on one's mental health. Rae hosts this episode, which originally aired on March 14th on CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca.

At first glance, healthy food and mental health might not have clear links. But while researching and recording our Mental Health and Money episode, the cost of food became a topic of conversation for the RTNT crew. As well, Jerry, who interviewed Paul Taylor, had picked up a Good Food box at St. James Church. All of this led us to FoodShare and a deeper understanding of food insecurity here in Toronto. If you are not sure what food insecurity is, check out this month's episode and the helpful infographic below.

We hope you enjoy the episode , and thank you to our guest, Paul Taylor, and all the members and staff of Progress Place who made this show possible.

Mental Health, Youth and Homelessness: A conversation with Yonge Street Mission's Jesse Sudirgo

2/14/2018

Since October 2017, Radio Totally Normal has expanded to have a live radio show on Ryerson University's CJRU 1280 AM and cjru.ca.
The Yonge Street Mission is an organization in the downtown sector that aims to help support Toronto's most susceptible population. They aid families, children, youth, and even communities existing in daily poverty. Jerry from RTNT sat down with Jesse Sudirgo, Director of Street Involved Services, to discuss mental health, homelessness, and youth. Hosting the show is RTNT member Chris but, as alway, this episode was made possible by a large number of members and staff of Progress Place.
We love this episode and we hope you enjoy it too!

Episode 4 : Circus Arts and Mental Health

9/25/2017

On today's episode of RTNT we jump into CIRCUS!! And how it relates to mental health, of course. RTNT member Julie speaks with Rachel, Izzy and Dai (pictured above) about Social Circus Circle or SoCirc, for short.

SoCirc is a Toronto based non-profit organization, that uses circus to provide social development and support through the physical activity and creativity of circus arts, for young people living on the margins, 14-29 years old. Social Circus is a concept that uses circus arts as a tool for social change.

The reason we at RTNT hooked onto this topic in the first place is because RTNT member Gaetan is a circus performer and began his practice through a social circus program located in Montreal, Quebec, called Cirque Hors Piste. He shares some of his experiences throughout the episode as well, and he put together a list of youtube videos that demonstrate various circus arts in today's episode. Click on the photos ion the slideshow below to see the videos he chose.

Enjoy!

Below is a performance Gaetan took part in in 2014 in Quebec City with Cirque Hors Piste

Music in today's episode is by:

Candy Nail by Keith Holmes
Big Blue, Biplane, A Gentleman, and Onward by Podington Bear
Original piano compisitions by Gaetan Genesse
Piano Loop #1 by Freesound user ispeakwaves
Sing Sing Sing by Louis Prima
Entry of the Gladiators by Julius Fucik

Visit the SoCirc page for info about their community partners mentioned in this episode.

Episode 3: Mental Health and Money

5/18/2017

Photographs by Rick Miller, a guest on this episode. Click here for more of his work.
Model: Ardani Particle

Inspired by the idea of red tape, Radio Totally Normal Toronto brings you an episode about money and mental health. Living with a mental illness sometimes means having a reliable and sufficient income can be challenging. In this episode, we'll be talking about social assistance, health, poverty and stigma. It's an eye opener.

Our guests are:

(4:28)
John Stapleton, a writer and instructor who worked in the areas of social assistance policy and operations.

(23.20)
Songs in the Key of Social Assistance: A Parody written by Gaetan Genesse, with additional voice work by Belke Fray

(25.03)
Rick Miller, a photographer and filmmaker who speaks to us about his experiences with mental illness, social assistance and advocacy

(37.45)
Bobby Giles and Joel Klassen from Yonge Street Mission's Friends Helping People End poverty, who speak to us about the Basic Income Pilot Project

Links to resources and sites discussed in this episode:
John Stapleton's website, including his report on The Cost of Poverty in Toronto. Other links pertinent to his interview include:

Information Page on applying for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
Specific information on Working When Receiving ODSP, including Rapid Reinstatement, the $100 Work Related Benefit, the $500 Employment and Training Benefit, and the Extended and Transitional Health Benefits
The Metcalfe Foundation
Toronto Sun article about changes coming to ODSP in January 2018 including raised asset limits

Rick Miller's artwork can be found on his Vimeo and Flickr pages. He is currently the media artists in residence at Workman Arts. The current version of his pamphlet about ODSP and artist grants can be found at the following links:

Other resources Rick talks about:

The Social Benefits Tribunal, which is where you would appeal a decision made by Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program
Legal Aid Ontario
ODSP Action Coalition, an organization that works towards improving ODSP
Ontario Arts Council Deaf and Disability Arts Grant and the Ontario Arts Council Deaf and Disability Arts: Materials for Visual Artists Grant

Joel Klassen is the Community Capacity Builder at Yonge Street Mission. He and Bobby Giles speak about the Basic Income Pilot Project.
Links about the Basic Income Pilot Project:

To download the full paper by Hugh Segal entitled Finding a Better Way: A Basic Income Pilot Project For Ontario
The launch of the basic income pilot project: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/5-questions-on-basic-income-as-ontario-launches-its-experiment-1.4084967

Music in this episode:
Scott Holmes: we used Big Apple and Inspiring Corporate
Podington Bear: Little Black Cloud, Vanagon, Trundle, Ideas, Sunbeam, Skeptic, Down and Around, We Make A Good Time
Jason Shaw: Acoustic Meditation
David Szesztay: Waiting
Dave Depper: Acoustic 1, Marimba Motivation
Gaetan Genesse: Acoustic Composition