Stand Up Speak Up

Death is something we all experience, yet we seem to avoid talking about it until just before we are face to face with death itself. At Stand Up Speak Up, this is a topic close to our hearts. Diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer in October 2019, our co-founder Karla has been actively trying to find peace with the life she has lived and her eventual death. That's why Karla is bringing her listeners along on her NEW series called “What Happens Next?”After three years of living with cancer, Karla has hit a roadblock marked by many questions - What happens next? Why am I still alive? What makes a life worth living? Why are we so hard on ourselves? What stops us from finding love, joy, peace? Why is death not talked about more? What happens after we die?In this series premiere episode, we focus not on death itself, but on preparing for it. We prepare for the arrival of new babies and weddings with showers, and sometimes even throw parties for divorces, so why do we so often leave the plans for commemorating our deaths in the hands of others? Come along as your host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy sits down for the first time with Death Doula, Grief Educator and Celebrant Doreen Thibert, who founded One Thread Consulting and offers services for both those preparing for their own deaths as well as for the loved ones they leave behind.At the age of seven, Doreen experienced her first death: her 80-year-old grandmother. The passing left an immense imprint on Doreen, not only because of the sadness, but because of the community feeling of her loved ones coming together. It was that feeling that would grow into a life-long interest to support others through the dying process and change the narrative surrounding death from one of sadness and fear to one focused on how death is a shared life experience. Throughout her 35-year career, Doreen has made a difference in many lives, including working alongside Mother Teresa and the Sisters of Charity in India, fundraising supplies for orphanages in Romania, and providing medical supplies in Afghanistan. Doreen has also worked as a nurse, in key positions with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, and as Education Coordinator at the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County. Host: Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor: Jonnica HillSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, your host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy will take you along for her first resonance training & relational neuroscience session with Sarah, a neuroscience educator and author.Sarah's dedication to transforming our brains into kinder, cozier places to live began after struggling with depression herself. Before she knew the science, she found herself constantly battling a self-critical inner voice that left her feeling worthless, stupid, unlovable, and thinking it simply meant she was broken. In her early studies of nonviolent communication and neuroscience, she was amazed by how much sweetness and self-compassion was possible when you connect to your body sensations, feelings and needs. She then apprenticed for five years with Susan Skye (a psychologist, long-time NVC trainer, and creator of the groundbreaking New Depths Intensive Program) who pioneered the time-travel empathy process.Now Sarah offers online courses, events, private sessions, as well as meditations, videos and blog posts to help others make sense of their behaviours and get past the stigma that what we've seen as emotional difficulties or character defects are actually very normal reactions to relational, cultural and intergenerational trauma. She has also published three books, Your Resonant Self, Your Resonant Self Workbook, and Affirmations for Turbulent Times, and offers a Practitioner of Resonant Healing Training and Certification Program. Host: Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor: Jonnica HillSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To most people, Brea seemed to have it all. She was a great student and talented athlete who moved from Ontario to New Jersey following high school to play varsity soccer at Princeton University. But, in the years after graduating, Brea's journey would become one of pain, isolation and even homelessness. Brea's health seriously declined with insomnia, exertion intolerance, autoimmunity and significant gut issues. Eventually, her health declined further into severe chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), mould illness (CIRS), mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), food sensitivities and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS). With dozens of debilitating symptoms, including overwhelming fatigue, chronic pain, headaches, face swelling, vertigo and more, Brea was bedridden most days. She never seemed to get any real answers from doctors, despite trying every conventional, holistic and functional medicine treatment available.Brea's health got worse, by 2018, she had moved away from her husband and kids to camp alone in the California desert and chase pristine air. It was during her second time in this desert isolation when her story took an unexpected turn and she was introduced to self-directed neuroplasticity (AKA: brain retraining). Brea learned that her symptoms were not caused by the environment but by her brain overreacting to everyday stimuli, called Limbic System Impairment. Following the Dynamic Neural Retraining System (DNRS) program, she was able to rewire her brain and heal her body. Today, Brea is happy, healthy and reunited with her children - and now she's helping others, including Karla, find the same life-changing healing as a brain retraining coach.This is an inspiring story of resilience, positivity and fighting the odds. This is Brea's Story.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For the past 30 years, Ashleigh Banfield has been consistently one of the most acclaimed anchors in television news, and one of television’s top crime journalists. In her most recent role, Ashleigh hosted Primetime Justice with Ashleigh Banfield on HLN. Just prior to hosting this program on HLN, she anchored Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield on its sister network, CNN. She joined CNN in 2011 as co-anchor of the morning news show Early Start. Over the course of her career, she has covered breaking news from across the country and around the globe. Banfield has reported from the scenes of the bombing at the Boston Marathon in Massachusetts and the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Banfield also reported live from the trials of George Zimmerman, Jodi Arias and Casey Anthony, bringing to light the complicated courtroom proceedings of each case, including questions regarding the death penalty. Banfield was previously a correspondent for ABC News, reporting for Good Morning America, 20/20, World News with Diane Sawyer, and Nightline. Prior to ABC, Banfield anchored and hosted three programs on TruTV (formerly Court TV) including a daily legal news program Banfield and Ford: Courtside; the weekly evening show Hollywood Heat; and the successful prime time special series that she created and co-produced, Disorder in the Court. In 2008, the Gracie Allen Awards named her Outstanding Anchor, recognizing her achievement at Court TV. Her Banfield and Ford: Courtside program coverage of the – Rhode Island Nightclub Fire — earned a Telly Award in 2007. As a correspondent for NBC News from 2000-2004, Banfield reported for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw, and Dateline. Banfield covered the terrorist attacks of September 11th, reporting live from Ground Zero as the events unfolded, which earned her an Emmy Award nomination. After nine consecutive days at Ground Zero, Banfield departed for Islamabad, Pakistan to begin covering the War on Terror. From September 2001 to January 2004, she reported live from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, England, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Saudi Arabia. This work earned Banfield and her team a National Headliner Award. During this time, she also anchored several primetime series on MSNBC, including A Region In Conflict and Ashleigh Banfield: On Location. Her most noted interviews include Yasser Arafat, Israeli Prime Ministers Ehud Barak and Shimon Peres, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, members of the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Saudi Prince Al Faisal, Laura Bush, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Martha Stewart, John McCain, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jane Fonda, Ben Stiller, Rosie O’Donnell, Donald Trump, Kevin Spacey and Bryan Cranston. Prior to MSNBC, Banfield served as the evening news anchor for KDFW-TV, the FOX affiliate in Dallas. While there, she received her first Emmy Award for “Best News Anchor” for her coverage on the “Cadet Killer,” and a Texas Associate Press Award for the series “To Serve and Survive.” Banfield also worked at Canada’s CICT-TV, as a producer from 1992-93 and from 1993-95 as their evening news anchor and business correspondent. In 1994, Banfield earned two IRIS awards for the “Best News Documentary” and “Best of Festival” categories, where she chronicled the life of a homeless man. Before, and during, her tenure at CICT-TV, Banfield freelanced as an associate producer for ABC’s World News Tonight, where she covered the 1991 Bush/Gorbachev Summit in Russia and the 1992 Clinton/Yeltsin Summit in Vancouver. Banfield received a bachelor’s degree in political studies and French from Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada. In 1992, she continued her language education in an Advanced French Studies program at the University of British Columbia. In 2009, she earned a Journalism Law School fellowship from Loyola Law School in California. Support the show: https://www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Support the show: https://www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karla Stephens-Tolstoy, the founder of Stand Up/Speak Up, continues to share her fight in battling Stage 4 cancer.  She courageously shares Karla’s medical journey from all sides of the disease, her life, and her extensive support group of devoted family and friends.   But even as she continues the struggle for her life, Karla also continues her concern for foster care reform, a passionate cause that she can’t let go of. In this episode, Karla reveals both good news and bad news concerning her diagnosis.  She talks about the medication she’s had to endure, the medical trials she’s been a part of and even the use of cannabis as part of her treatment.  And she manages to talk about it all while maintaining her sense of humour throughout.  Also maintaining a sense of humour is her nurse, Erin DeJong, who once again conducts the conversation as it unfolds. Share Youtube:  My Boobs Are Killing Me! Instagram: @myboobsarekillingme Browse the Store: https://www.standupspeakupapparel.com/ Karla’s Cancer Blog: http://myboobsarekillingme.com/ Credits Executive Producer: Karla Stephens Tolstoy Interviewer: Erin DeJong Narrator: Peter Anthony Holder Production Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony Holder Receive our newsletter; contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca Karla's favorite skin line:  https://www.madeforskin.com/ Use promo code "boobs" and save 10% on your order. This is not a promo plug Stand Up Speak Up does not benefit at all from any purchases. Support the show: https://www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to My Boobs Are Killing Me. A podcast brought to you by Stand Up Speak Up founder Karla Stephens-Tolstoy who shares with us the journey of her life with stage four cancer and the amazing individuals that inspire her along the way. Looking at Sandra Doweck, one would think she has it all – a thriving business, a community ambassador, a gorgeous family and looks like she has had an easy life. Sandra does have it all, but it has been hard to get to where she is today. Sandra’s journey to where she is today is nothing short of a struggle. She had a tough childhood – a disciplinarian father, a mother with a disability that was never recognized or diagnosed and a past victim of sexual abuse. Sandra shares with Karla that living by the rule of not blaming anyone and knowing it is up to her to make the necessary changes is why she is where she is today. Despite Sandra’s hardships, she is a motivated go-getter and will not accept anything mediocre in any part of her life. A podcast interview to inspire anyone to not let life’s past challenges determine your future and learn that taking care of yourself is key to leading the life you want. Share Youtube:  My Boobs Are Killing Me! Instagram: @myboobsarekillingme Browse the Store: https://www.standupspeakupapparel.com/ Karla’s Cancer Blog: http://myboobsarekillingme.com/ Credits Executive Producer: Karla Stephens Tolstoy Interviewer: Sandra Doweck Production Editor & Sound: Amanda D'Souza Narrator: Amanda D'Souza Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca Support the show: https://www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karla Stephens Tolstoy believes in revealing the truth and getting the real story out there. For the past two years, her Stand Up Speak Up Podcast has told the stories of those who had been neglected or forgotten by mainstream society. While recording these episodes, Karla was fighting her own battle to be heard against doctors and medical professionals. She knew something was wrong but couldn't get answers beyond "it is all in your head". Finally, in October 2018, Karla was told her own truth - She had Stage 4 Breast Cancer and it had spread throughout her body. The My Boobs Are Killing Me is a no-holds-barred raw account of what it is like to live with cancer. Karla brings her fierceness and no-f*cks-given humour to conversations about the worst and best that this journey has brought to her life. Sit back and enjoy as Karla sips her chemo cocktail and chats with her nurse, Erin DeJong. Karla has told many people’s stories in podcast form.  This story is her’s. Share Youtube:  My Boobs Are Killing Me! Instagram: @myboobsarekillingme Browse the Store: https://www.standupspeakupapparel.com/ Karla’s Cancer Blog: http://myboobsarekillingme.com/ Credits Executive Producer: Karla Stephens Tolstoy Interviewer: Erin DeJong Production Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony Holder Narrator: Peter Anthony Holder Music: Carl England - HitWorksWest / caroline_joy Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca Support the show: https://www.standupspeakup.ca/give/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human trafficking is a hard conversation to have, as most of us would like to think we have nothing in common with people who sell other people or those that exploit humans in any way. But, the reality is that this is a thriving business throughout the world, in every country, state and many communities that otherwise seem safe and quiet. In this episode, we try to get into the minds of the players in the sex trade - from the pimps that find and exploit people, to johns that buy sex, to people involved and forced into the trade.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Co-Host : Matt Cundill Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producers: Danielle Gallagher, Jessica de Bruyn Editors: Cesar Del Castillo & Matt Cundill

Dr. David Bernstein is a well respected, highly educated professional who has held appointments at Yale University School of Medicine, where he completed his doctoral internship, and Harvard University Medical School, where he completed his postdoctoral residency in Forensic Psychology in the Department of Law and Psychiatry.  Anyone who has come into contact with him can be forgiven for thinking that this highly intelligent professional probably grew up in a life of privilege which enabled him to go to the best schools.  But the reality is this strong advocate for working to correct the Foster Care System is himself a product of it.  David’s life started as an abandoned child, discovered on a New York City park bench in his infancy.  He became a Ward of the State, going from foster home to foster home, often running away from the abusive situations where he actually felt safer living on the streets or in abandoned buildings. The Foster Care System is often been referred to as a vicious cycle of abuse and neglect.  It’s known to be difficult to leave the world of poverty, teen pregnancy, sex abuse and crime behind.  Those who manage to escape its harsh grip rarely look back.  But David Bernstein did.  He has confronted his past and is trying to make a better future for those who currently follow in his foster care footsteps. He consults with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.  He’s an expert in threat assessment and violence, able to tap into the instincts he honed as a child growing up homeless. Host: Karla Stephens Tolstoy  Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Jessica de Bruyn Production Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony Holder Narrator: Peter Anthony Holder Music: What You’re Mad Of by Kayla Diamond http://www.slaightmusic.com/music-we-dig#!kayla-diamond

This is the second part of a two part series featuring the charismatic founder of The Club Kids, Michael Alig.  The Club Kids were a group of young, flamboyant New York City underground dance club personalities in the late 1980s and early 1990s, who were also heavily involved in the drug culture. Alig spent 17 years behind bars for his part in a brutal drug induced murder in 1996 when he and roommate Robert "Freeze" Riggs murdered a third roommate, drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez, using a hammer.  They poured drain cleaner down his throat and kept the lifeless body of their roommate in their apartment for days before finally getting butcher knives to dismember him, disposing of the body in separate locations in the river. That murder and the partying lifestyle that led up to it was the subject of the movie, Party Monster, starring Macauley Culkin as Alig.  In this second part Alig recounts his relationship with his mother, discusses what kind of person he would like to be in a relationship with, talks drug use, and also his creative plans for the future. Host: Karla Stephens Tolstoy  Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Jessica de Bruyn Production Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony Holder Narrator: Peter Anthony Holder

Michael Alig is a complex character.  He’s the charismatic founder of the Club Kids, a group of young, flamboyant New York City underground dance club personalities in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They wore outrageous costumes and were on the scene to be seen, setting an artistic standard for the fashion-conscious youth culture.   But they were also part of the drug culture, with many of the Club Kids becoming addicted. The party-hardy heavy drug use caused a spiral in Alig’s life.  In 1996, he and roommate Robert "Freeze" Riggs killed a third roommate, drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez during an argument over drugs.  Alig and Riggs brutally murdered Melendez with a hammer.  They poured drain cleaner down his throat and kept the lifeless body of their roommate in their apartment for days before finally getting butcher knives to dismember him, disposing of the body in separate locations in the river.  But they were eventually caught, partly due to Alig’s bragging about it openly.  He spent 17 years behind bars. Now a free man and back in New York, we catch up with Alig as he tries to rebuild his life.  In this first part of a two show series, Michael discusses the notoriety he’s achieved, both as the founder of the Club Kids and also his incarceration for murder, plus he delves into his life behind bars and his attempts to creatively turn his life around. Host: Karla Stephens Tolstoy  Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Jessica de Bruyn Production Editor & Sound: Peter Anthony Holder Narrator: Peter Anthony Holder Music: Evil I Know by Ascot Royals http://www.slaightmusic.com/music-we-dig#!ascot-royals

We first met Devin Price in Episodes 45 and 46 of the Stand Up Speak Up Podcast, when he took us through his road to addiction, becoming a drug dealer and pimp and his eventual arrest. After serving three years in prison, he had returned to his hometown to start over and we ended on an optimistic note with Devin getting a new job and restarting a relationship with his mother, Linda, who had also started her own recovery.  In this follow-up episode, we speak with Devin after a relapse that put him back into rehab. He tells us how one bad decision lead to slipping back into the world of partying and drugs that he and Linda had both tried to leave behind. As Devin decided to check himself back into rehab, he began keeping an audio diary of his final days before entering treatment and the aftermath once he was released. Devin’s struggle is not over. He speaks to our host, Karla Stephens-Tolstoy, about trying to connect with his children, who have been put into the foster care system and are eligible for adoption. He also speaks to us about Linda’s relapse and how addiction continues to affect all of the members of his family. Host: Karla Stephens Tolstoy  Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Jessica de Bruyn Production Editor & Sound: Cesar Del Castillo Narrator: Matt Cundill  End Music: "The Best Is Yet to Come" by Ascot Royals (https://www.ascotroyals.com)   We want to thank Ascot Royals for the donation of this song, which speaks about overcoming adversity like that Devin has faced. Find their latest single, "Evil I Know" on iTunes, Spotify and places where music is sold.

Kelly Donovan is a whistleblower. Her story begins working for a major bank, marrying a police officer, then deciding to become a police officer.  After only a few years, Kelly began to learn about internal inconsistencies, and unethical and unlawful decisions being made without any guiding policy or legislation.  In 2016, she addressed the issues with the Board, the oversight body of the police service, and as a result faced reprisal and was further silenced. She researched the prevalence of the issues and just how often police whistleblowers are silenced, while police leaders avoid any accountability. After involving all legislated oversight bodies to no avail, Kelly resigned in June, 2017.  Upon her resignation, she released her Report of Systemic Misfeasance in Ontario Policing and the Coordinated Suppression of Whistleblowers; sendin the report to all MPPs and MPs in Ontario and the media. Kelly has since published the report on Amazon in eBook and paperback formats. The she started her own business, Fit4Duty™ to educate employers, policy and lawmakers about the risks of having purely perfunctory vision and mission statements.  Too many Canadians work in a toxic environment due primarily to poor oversight and autonomous decisions made by inadequate management. In this episode - you’ll hear what drove Kelly to start the business and what needs to be done to end the corruption. Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Evan Surminski Editor &Narrator:  Matt Cundill

In the first part of this two part podcast series interviewing Frank, an addict who has abused drugs from the age of 12, he told us the origins of his addiction and how sniffing glue as a child turned into full on heroin addiction as an adult. By his own admission Frank has done some terrible things, including using his child’s stroller to steal from shops so he could fund his addiction. Along the way he has survived attacks from gangs of drug dealers, a punctured lung, septicemia, stab wounds and a knee infection that left him wheeling around, scoring drugs in a wheelchair. Time and time again the need to satisfy his addiction was always powerful enough for him to overcome any illness. Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Kris Mulliah Editor &Narrator:  Dave Wheeler at SafetyNet

Franky Frank runs the My Cold Turkey Detox website where he shares the story and updates about his struggle overcoming drug abuse, primarily heroin and crack. His sister filmed his struggle as he detoxed cold turkey at her place in Sweden after 30 years as a chronic long term addict. Franky Frank - not his real name - is now in his forties, in recovery and is our guest on the podcast to tell us how, despite having fallen many times in the past, cold turkey detox does work for some.   In this first of a two-part series, Frank explains how be became addicted by the age of 12, and how that was the beginning of a lifelong struggle.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Co-Producer: Kris Mulliah Editor: Joel at East Coast Studio   https://www.mycoldturkeydetox.com/

Erica has endured a lifetime of trauma marked by a difficult upbringing, abusive relationships, an addiction to phone sex, attempted suicide, and a number of diagnosed mental health issues.    Recently, we heard of a website called writeaprisoner.com. While Erica is not a prisoner herself, she has turned to the site in what seems to be a way of coping with her own past, and actually fell in love with a man on the inside, who turned out to only be using her.    Erica’s story highlights yet another case of neglect and having nowhere to turn, nobody who believed her, when she needed it the most.   Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Studio   Links:    http://writeaprisoner.com

Rob Rawlings is working hard to break the cycle of drug addiction in his family. Despite his father’s abrasive nature and drug use, Rob continued to seek approval as his son.  At the age of 14, Rob himself was introduced to drugs. It was only a matter of time before he tried opiates, and then heroine. To feed his addiction, Rob was led to a life of crime, he’d even steal from his own family.  Now, at 43 years old, Rob is in rehab for the 9th time, but feeling optimistic - and says he’s in the best recovery home yet.  In this episode, Rob shares his story, and we’ll hear what he’s planning to do with life after recovery.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Links:   https://www.facebook.com/calipalmsrecovery/    https://www.facebook.com/Pottamus 

Recently we’ve featured addiction stories of people who had clear trauma growing up that contributed to the path they took in life. However, these things can happen to anyone.    Danielle McCarron is a recovery advocate, working to shift the stigma of addiction. She had what appeared to be the perfect life. A good home, good parents, good looks, and she was smart.   As some teenagers do, Danielle began experimenting with alcohol in her teenage years. By the time university rolled around, her drinking habits slowly transitioned from normal partying to drinking everyday.    Eventually, it got to the point where, after being hospitalized for over-consumption, Danielle would purchase more alcohol on the way home after release.    Today we’ll learn about her experience with alcoholism and recovery, and learn an important lesson - that you can’t force an addict to stop - you have to wait for them to be ready.    This is an important episode for parents to hear and share with their children. No matter how perfect an individual’s life may appear, or how unlikely a candidate they seem for addiction, it can happen. This story will teach you how to see the signs early and understand how to help.   Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative Links: http://www.daniellemccarron.com   https://www.instagram.com/danimccarron  

Today’s guest has 5 kids from 4 different fathers and was abused as a child.    Rose is an artist with designs in the Stand Up Speak Up apparel store. Growing up, she faced physical, mental, and sexual abuse. She had nowhere to turn and was failed by everybody who should have helped her.    Rose and her brother lived a terribly sad, cruel, and abusive childhood. At the age of 11, Rose was thrown out by her mother. For the next 5 years, she’d spend time in multiple foster homes, moving around as some were only temporary or others were abusive. At the age of 16, she was free from foster care, but was no better off, and had nowhere safe or clean to live. She had also begun seeking the love and attention she craved, from men.   To make a sad story worse, Rose’s brother and best friend would later pass away, leading her to a breakdown.    
Despite everything, Rose doesn’t consider her life to be sad, and leaves us with some inspiring words.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Rose’s Facebook page: https://facebook.com/groups/1902129090005530 

There’s no shortage of content out there on the subject of Scientology. When we decided to tackle it, we knew the episode would have to focus on people, and the lasting effect Scientology has on its members once they leave.   The Church of Scientology has been in conflict with governments and police forces of many countries and is widely criticized. It was founded in the 1950s on a set of psychological principles created by science-fiction author Ron Hubbard.    Controversy over the years includes allegations of criminal behavior by members, harassment of people perceived as enemies, the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson while under the Church’s care, and attempts to force search engines to censor information which criticizes the church.   With today’s media landscape, keeping people quiet hasn’t gotten any easier. More and more people have left Scientology and spoken out about its negative effects, despite the Church’s repeated attempts to shut them up.    Whether it’s the shocking and crazy stories, celebrity involvement, or simple curiosity, something continues to drive pop culture’s obsession with Scientology, and today, we share the stories of 4 people who escaped the Church, and are now speaking out: Lori Hodgson, Jenna Miscavige Hill, Sam Domingo, and Melissa Paris. Some are putting Scientology in the past, and some are still struggling to this day.   Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Links:    http://exscientologykids.com/      https://www.amazon.ca/Beyond-Belief-Secret-Scientology-Harrowing/dp/0062248480    http://escapingscientology.com/    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAVxMII8Dgcw08E0obtbGJA    http://www.scientology-cult.com/the-destruction-of-my-family.html    https://www.aetv.com/shows/leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath   

When Linda Price graduated high school, her dream of the perfect life was with a home, a baby, and a husband.    These all eventually came to fruition, but not in the way she had imagined.    An unfulfilling childhood led to Linda seeking love in the wrong places, getting involved with multiple abusive men, and becoming addicted to drugs. She was always on the run, trying to escape life. After becoming pregnant with Devin, who was featured in our past 2 episodes, all Linda wanted was to give him the love and care she never had.   Sadly, she struggled with this, too, and would later give Devin the painful apology that “the drug was more important than you were.”    From times of using drugs together to Linda refusing to take her only son in when he had nowhere else to go, their lives have been an emotional rollercoaster.    With the mother and son now sober, living under the same roof, and Devin getting his life on track after finishing his prison sentence, we conclude the Price family series with a happy ending and positive outlook. Linda now has the son she always hoped she could raise.   To persevere through so many challenges in life is truly inspirational, and we thank Devin and Linda for sharing their stories.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative  

Devin Price blames nobody but himself for the direction his life took. As a kid, Devin thought his childhood was fairly normal. His dad ran off and his mother became addicted to drugs, but Devin’s grandparents did their best to provide a stable, loving home.   By 17, Devin had gotten into harder drugs, both selling and dealing. But that was only the beginning.    In the coming years, Devin would get an underage girl pregnant, commit crimes, spend time in rehab and jail, make meth, start an escort service, and eventually land himself a serious prison sentence.    At the end of Part 1, Devin had just been pulled over by police, with a car full of drugs, and contemplated suicide in that moment. He faced a long list of charges, all which carried a maximum sentence of life in prison.   Fortunately, Devin didn’t spend that long behind bars. At 29, he’s still young, recently out of prison, has a new outlook on life, a job, and is taking things one day at a time.    Hear how Devin dealt with prison and kept clean, what’s motivating him to stay away from drugs and alcohol now, and some inspiring words for other people who may find themselves in a similar situation.      Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative     HBO Red Onion State Prison Documentary Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eAOzxZNJyE    Write to or help prisoners: http://writeaprisoner.com 

Devin Price blames nobody but himself for the direction his life took. As a kid, Devin thought his childhood was fairly normal. His dad ran off and his mother became addicted to drugs, but Devin’s grandparents did their best to provide a stable, loving home.   By 17, Devin had gotten into harder drugs, both selling and dealing. But that was only the beginning.    In the coming years, Devin would get an underage girl pregnant, commit crimes, spend time in rehab and jail, make meth, start an escort service, and eventually land himself a serious prison sentence.    Looking back, it seemed that Devin had plenty of skills, they were simply misused. Now, at 29, Devin is still young, and recently out of prison. He’s clean, has a new outlook on life, and is ready to share his story.    In this series, Devin takes us through his life from beginning to now, as we hear his story and follow his progress trying to stay clean and get back on his feet.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative  

Howard Heathcote grew up in a house of addicts. Out of 2 parents and 9 children, only one, an older sister of Howard’s, miraculously avoided drugs and alcohol completely. Aside from that miraculous exception, fate was all but sealed for the rest of the family.    There was never a shortage of alcohol, pills, and cocaine at Howard’s home. He became addicted at the kitchen table, with his parents, before his Mom passed away when he was only 10 years old.   As Howard shares his life story during this 2-part series, you’ll hear of one shockingly unfortunate occurrence after another.    By just 13 years old, Howard was a full-blown alcoholic. He remained that way until 7 years later, when he was no longer an alcohol addict, but a heroin addict. His lifestyle inevitably led him to crime, and that led him to spending nearly a decade in prison, beginning in 1997.    Howard is 53 now. And while life isn’t without challenges, he is clean, and doing well. He runs a website and Facebook page with over 6000 likes, called The Opiate Report, which is used to explain opiates in detail, their history, facts about detox, triggers, and more, attempting to be a light at the end of the tunnel for this epidemic.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Shooting Star performed by Linda Nusca

Howard Heathcote grew up in a house of addicts. Out of 2 parents and 9 children, only one, an older sister of Howard’s, miraculously avoided drugs and alcohol completely. Aside from that miraculous exception, fate was all but sealed for the rest of the family.    There was never a shortage of alcohol, pills, and cocaine at Howard’s home. He became addicted at the kitchen table, with his parents, before his Mom passed away when he was only 10 years old.   As Howard shares his life story during this 2-part series, you’ll hear of one shockingly unfortunate occurrence after another.    By just 13 years old, Howard was a full-blown alcoholic. He remained that way until 7 years later, when he was no longer an alcohol addict, but a heroin addict. His lifestyle inevitably led him to crime, and that led him to spending nearly a decade in prison, beginning in 1997.    Howard is 53 now. And while life isn’t without challenges, he is clean, and doing well. He runs a website and Facebook page with over 6000 likes, called The Opiate Report, which is used to explain opiates in detail, their history, facts about detox, triggers, and more, attempting to be a light at the end of the tunnel for this epidemic.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Mary Brett Loroson - Theme From Whatever

It takes a special person to be a leader. One thing historians have questioned for years, is the apparent mental instability of both great and terrible leaders alike.   Do the qualities that mark those with mood disorders also make for a strong leader? What traits are common among them?    Nassir Ghaemi looks at this very topic in his book, A First-Rate Madness: Uncovering the Links Between Leadership and Mental Illness.   Ghaemi is an academic psychiatrist, author, and Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. He’s written a number of books on mental illness and mood disorders, and has contributed to many other published works. Host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy talks with Nassir today, and we’ll hear specifically about 3 leaders and their struggles with mental health: Dr. Martin Luther King, Ghandi, and John F Kennedy. Not only are the stories interesting, but also inspiring, and serve as a reminder to those suffering from mental illness that there’s no limit to what they can achieve in life.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative    https://www.amazon.ca/First-Rate-Madness-Uncovering-Between-Leadership/dp/0143121332    http://www.nassirghaemi.com/    https://www.amazon.ca/Rising-Star-Making-Barack-Obama/dp/0062641832   This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Mary Brett Loroson - Johnson City

Jay Bahadur is an investigator for an international agency. He’s a Canadian, born in Toronto, Ontario, who went on to be a journalist and author, becoming well-known for his reporting on Somalian pirates.   He got an inside look at Somali piracy, after spending months in the country, living with pirates, and venturing into areas that most journalists wouldn’t dare visit. Jay documented his experience in a book titled The Pirates Of Somalia: Inside Their Hidden World, which was released in 2011.   6 years later, in 2017, a movie by the same name was released, which closely follow’s Jay’s story. It’s also known by an alternate title,‘Dabka’ and was directed by Bryan Buckley. Jay is portrayed on screen by Evan Peters, and the film also stars Barkhad Abdi, Melanie Griffith, and Al Pacino.    Listen as Jay tells us what it was like to venture into places that most other journalists would never dare, how he got the pirates to open up, whether or not the movie was true to his book, and more.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative    Links:    Pirates of Somalia trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trFQOslCa6U&ab_channel=FilmTrailerZone    Pirates of Somalia by Jay Bahadur book: https://www.amazon.ca/Pirates-Somalia-Jay-Bahadur/dp/1554686830    Pirates of Somalia movie on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/the-pirates-of-somalia/id1312259861   Jay Bahadur Twitter: https://twitter.com/PuntlandPirates/    ‘Ain’t Never Gonna Let You Down’ performed by Linda Nusca

Since the release of our first episode about Kratom, we’ve had a flood of comments from users telling us how much Kratom has changed their lives. It’s nothing short of shocking and amazing to hear how so many people were lifted from such dark places thanks to this humble plant.   The sad part is that, in the U.S., Kratom is facing even more government push back. On February 6th, the FDA released a statement comparing Kratom to opioids and blaming it for 44 fatalities. You can read the full letter below.   Kratom advocates strongly refute the FDA’s claims. Their belief is that existing science on Kratom does not justify it being placed on any schedule or controlled substances list that would prevent consumer access. They’re encouraging continued lawful access to Kratom, with balanced regulation, proper research, and protecting rather than harming public health.   Based on what we’ve seen, we are 100% on the side of the Kratom advocates. If you’re not, hearing the stories in this episode will likely change your mind. We’ll share with you many of the stories that have been submitted, and our guest Josh (who is now a trusted Kratom vendor) tells us about his struggle with opioid addiction, being discharged from the military, spending 4 years in a maximum security prison, and how he finally built the life he wanted.    Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Links:   FDA kratom announcement: https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm595622.htm   Josh’s kratom store: http://www.soapkorner.com/    Other trusted kratom vendors:  http://www.standupspeakupblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Vetted-Kratom-Vendors-1.pdf   Article on the FDA announcement: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidkroll/2018/02/09/fda-weaponizes-opioid-label-against-kratom-consumers/2/#e68250350079    ‘Landslide’ performed by Linda Nusca and Andrew Hunt, recorded by Mauro Giammarco.

Perhaps the most fascinating and stunning part of our journey learning about Kratom is the real-life stories from its users. It is after hearing these stories that we really understand the effect this plant can have on lives, and why its advocates are so passionate about its acceptance.   Adrian is a 62-year-old mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother in Jamestown, New York. She became medically addicted to pharmaceuticals and eventually lost everything. Although she was not responsible, 2 more generations of her family went on to suffer from addiction as well. After hearing about Adrian’s struggles with pain for years, you’ll be shocked to hear about the effect Kratom has had on her life.   David Derian also joins us again, but this time not to talk about the Botanical Education Alliance. He shares his experience with pain, pharmaceutical addiction, and recovery. David can’t even think about life without Kratom, yet his business, INI Botanicals, has faced repeated challenges for trying to make Kratom accessible to others.    Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Links:  Chanda Lynn: https://www.facebook.com/chandalynn33  More about Adrian & Chanda Lynn:  http://www.post-journal.com/news/page-one/2017/09/a-rally-to-recover/  https://psmag.com/social-justice/three-generations-of-opioid-addiction   David’s U.S. Kratom Legality Map:  http://speciosa.org/home/kratom-legality-map/   

Canada is experiencing record numbers of deaths from opioid overdoses. In 2017, there were an estimated 4000 drug overdose deaths in the country. A substance that may be able to put a dent in that number is worth looking into.   Kratom is a leafy plant from South East Asia, from the coffee family. It’s an ancient drug, traditionally used to relieve pain, increase energy, appetite, and sexual desire. It was also known to be used as an opium substitute in the 18th & 19th centuries.   In 2013, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration said Kratom had no legitimate medical use.  Recently, the FDA issued a health advisory against the plant, which some claim is spreading misinformation about its dangers, and not backed up with any scientific evidence.    Currently, Kratom can be sold legally in Canada in a powdered form, but only for aroma therapy purposes. At this time it has not been approved for consumption by Health Canada.   In the first part of our series on Kratom, we hear from experts such as Dr. Edward W. Boyer of Harvard, and Angela Watson and David Derian of the Botanical Education Alliance.    Later in the series, hear stories from users of Kratom who say it has improved - and maybe even saved - their lives.   Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative     Links:  https://www.botanical-education.org/stop-fdas-misinformation/  https://www.botanical-education.org/our-team/  https://www.facebook.com/BotanicalEducationAllliance/     This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Derek Clegg - Four Walls

When Chris Bergoch writes a movie, he doesn’t shy away from social advocacy topics that can be seen as controversial. At StandUp SpeakUp, we try to raise awareness around important social issues, so when Karla discovered the work of Chris Bergoch, she couldn’t wait to have him on the podcast.   Two of Chris’s biggest credits are Tangerine, a movie about a transgender sex worker who discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her, and his latest, The Florida Project, about a young mom who resorts to prostitution to take care of her daughter. The Florida Project seemed so real that people have actually called the motel where the movie took place, asking how the characters were doing.    Chris gives us a look into his career journey thus far and insight about how the movies came to be.   Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   The Florida Project Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ-NH1rRT4 Tangerine Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU   This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Rupert Blaise - What A Wonderful World

Why does someone get involved in the criminal world? What makes someone interested in joining a motorcycle gang known for brutal activity? In this episode we tell the story of one man who was let down by the Quebec foster care system growing up, and followed his anger down a very dark path. He looks back on his days in the Mongols Motorcycle Club, as he struggles to create a new life on the other side. Host: Karla Stephens TolstoyProducer: Stand Up Speak Up ApparelCo-Producer + Original Sound Design: Drew Penner ​Voice: Marc Oliver ​Music: DJ Philosophy ​“Watery,” “4th Kind,” and “Distance,” our track of the week. -Tanner Feehan (aka Philosophy) is an L.A. musician who has moved to Canada’s West Coast to pursue music production, and was kind enough to lend us a track to go with the story. You can check out his Dropping Knowledge radio show on CFUV 101.9 FM in Victoria, Saturday nights at 7 p.m. ​Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/phil0s0phy​ Radio show: http://cfuv.uvic.ca/cms/?show=dropping-knowledge Bernardo de la Torre – “Boxing Day,” and “Boxing Day v.2” -Bernie is a musician who moved from Guadalajara, Mexico to British Columbia, where he makes music and loves exploring the outdoors. Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bernieff Frequency Horizon “Biker Gang Escape Theme,” “Skip the Prospect Stage,” “Bop on the Head,” “Piano and Horn Muscle,” “Messed Up Bells,” “Fam Seeking / Finding." Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/frequencyhorizon Drew Penner is a journalist based in California whose work has appeared in publications including the Globe and Mail, the Calgary Hearld and the Victoria Times Colonist. He also produces the Frequency Horizon podcast (soundcloud.com/frequencyhorizon) and loves surfing, hiking and random adventures.

Statistically, men commit far more acts of physical violence than women, and that also applies to serial killers. There are far fewer female serial killers than males, but the number is big enough not to be ignored - and may surprise you. Today we’re looking at female serial killers, specifically here in Canada. How they differ from men, their motivations, and some stories of well-known Canadian killers. Our guest, Lee Mellor, is a criminologist and author. We’ll cover the stories of Elizabeth Wettlaufer, Lila Young, Paul Bernardo & Karla Homolka, Stephanie Bird, and Millie Weeks. Content may be disturbing. Host: Karla Stephens-TolstoyProducer: Stand Up Speak Up ApparelEditor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative Links: Lee’s book “Cold North Killers”: https://www.amazon.ca/Cold-North-Killers-Canadian-Serial/dp/1459701240 Karla Homolka & Paul Bernardo Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FP17XnMs0zg&t=1727s&ab_channel=SerialKillersAroundTheWorld http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paul-bernardo-and-karla-homolka-case/ Lee’s Podcast ‘Murder Was The Case": https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/murder-was-the-case/id1327969221?mt=2 

If you’ve listened to Stand Up Speak Up before, then you’ve heard the voice of host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy. Usually, she’s helping tell the story of others, but you might not have known that Karla herself has a led a pretty interesting life!She’s a Canadian born & raised entrepreneur, businesswoman, volunteer, mom… and those are just a few of her titles! Karla overcame learning disabilities, and eventually landed the title of CEO at Vodafone, one of the biggest telecom companies in the world. She’s proven that with hard work, nothing is out of reach.Also on her journey Karla has worked many interesting jobs, hosted a community TV show called “Chit Chat”, started a dating app and website called Tokii, and more. Today, we sit down with Karla to hear her story, and later her son Zach joins to talk about the mother-son team behind Stand Up Speak Up Apparel. Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up Apparel

It’s estimated that illegal trade accounts for one-fifth of the global GDP.In his 2009 book McMafia, Misha Glenny outlined the growth of organized crime around the world, from drugs and sex trades to internet frauds and money laundering, documenting various mafia organisations.McMafia is now serving as inspiration for a big TV show of the same name, being produced by BBC & AMC, and starring James Norton. It’s expected to air in 2018.In Misha’s time as a journalist and writer, he’s seen the inner workings of the dark things that take place in this world. In this episode, he tells Karla about his findings, the mass amount of organized crime that takes place, and what it’s like to sit down and chat with some of the most dangerous people in the world. Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Producer: Stand Up Speak Up ApparelEditor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative   Misha Glenny’s Book McMafia:  https://www.amazon.ca/McMafia-Journey-Through-Global-Underworld/dp/0887848184 This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:Regina Pik - Knots

Most of us have enjoyed a good action movie, but the difference between a movie and Don Mann’s life, although it may sound like something from a movie, is that his life is completely real. No written storyline. No special effects.Don is the author of Inside SEAL Team Six: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors. This book details his experiences as a member of the most elite team in the U.S. Navy, the mental and physical strain needed to join, and the inner workings of the minds of the men who carry out top-secret missions that shape the world.In this fascinating discussion, we hear about:-       The grueling selection and training process for SEALs-       Situations where Don has stared death straight in the eye-       Why there are no women SEALs-       How his life experiences have shaped his political and world viewsHost: Karla Stephens-TolstoyProducer: Stand Up Speak Up ApparelEditor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio CreativeLinks:Why Don’t Black Americans Swim? http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11172054 About Don Mann: http://www.usfrogmann.com/about-don-mann-navy-seal/ This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:Cellophane Sam – Every Cowboy

Prepare for some raw true crime discussion, as we enter part 2 of our chat with Christian Cadieux of Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaners. What’s just another day at work for Christian, could very well be traumatizing for most of us. Christian shares some of the not-so-pleasant about the work that his company does, but we also delve into some pressing subjects. Being on the front lines of death in Canada, Christian sees first-hand some of the problems we’re faced with, such as drug overdose and suicide.Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative Links: http://crimescenecleaners.ca/ https://standupspeakup.podbean.com/e/episode-29-when-tragedy-strikes-christian-cadieux-his-team-are-called-in-to-handle-the-cleanup/ This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Allister Thompson - My Name Is Death

When tragedy strikes, Christian Cadieux and his team at Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaners are called in to handle the cleanup. With crews across Canada, there’s nothing they haven’t seen, and nothing they’re afraid of. Some content in this episode may be disturbing. In today’s Stand Up Speak Up Halloween special, Christian talks with Karla about unwanted entities that can appear at crime scenes and other places. His new venture, Paranormal Contractors, uses what Christian claims to be a 100% effective method for removing these unwanted entities. Christian claims he has seen the unexplainable, and tells us how sometimes his work follows him home. In a never before seen video, which Christian has given Stand Up Speak Up to release, he claims that orbs followed him home from a crime scene and could be seen near his sleeping children. Be sure to check out the video! Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative Links: http://crimescenecleaners.ca/ Crime Scene Paranormal Activity video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zCJV9ENnEoE This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Holy Gol – Devil Do

We trust law enforcement to do the absolute best job keeping communities safe, conducting investigations, and bringing criminals to justice. But, what about when they don’t live up to their duty? As we saw with the Shelley Desrochers case, there appeared to be a lot more to the story than police were able or willing to discover.These occurrences are more common than one might think, and have been for a long time. In this episode, we look at the case of Christine Rothschild, a University of Wisconsin student who was killed in the late 1960s. After police seemed to be no help, Christine’s friend Linda made it her mission to find the killer. While she was able to put together a strong case against one man, police mainly dismissed it and he was never brought to justice. This story is featured in Dr. Mike Arntfield’s new book “Mad City” where he actually speaks with Linda, and his students even contact the alleged killer. Mike also tells us about the Murder Accountability Project which helps track murder data and hold police departments in the U.S. accountable for their performance. You’ll also find out why such a thing does not exist for Canadian police.Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-TolstoryEditor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative Murder Accountability Project: http://www.murderdata.org/ Mike’s Book “Mad City”: https://www.amazon.ca/Mad-City-Campus-Murders-America-ebook/dp/B01M6D8URV/  This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:Eric Eckhart plus Salonband - The One

Maryalice Ashbrook was born into a family that seemingly had it all. Her grandfather was president of a huge company that listed a movie studio among its subsidiaries. Her mother counted Joan Crawford and Jane Russell among her friends. So how did Maryalice end up being sexually abused by a foster carer? Her mother’s pill addiction and divorce from her father led her to give up Maryalice’s brothers up to foster care. Meanwhile her mother’s continuing struggle with pills meant Maryalice spent time at MacLaren Hall Children’s Center before being placed with a foster family. Despite these setbacks and others Maryalice kept her positive attitude and keeps reaching for what she needs from life. Check out the podcast and hear her story about how she has overcome adversity in many forms to find happiness and fulfilment. Host and producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Reporter and co-producer: Kris Mulliah Editor: Cesar Del Castillo This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_2_Tears_for_Lamont http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_3_Fair_Weather_Friend http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_5_Miss_You

After a dramatic episode 8 of Finding Shelley Desrochers, we now bring the series to a close. Karla shares her final thoughts on the case and an update on police involvement. We’ll hear from Dr. Pauline Boss, an educator, and researcher, widely recognized for her research on ambiguous loss –the loss of somebody with no finality or resolution. To close out the series, we’re raising money to establish a memorial bench in Shelley’s honor, with Wearable Therapy by Tokii donating the first $1000. For additional content, Karla talks with Maureen Trask, a mother who is all too familiar with ambiguous loss. Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca GoFundMe:  Shelley’s Bench: https://www.gofundme.com/ShelleyDeroschersMaureen Trask:  https://www.facebook.com/pg/SupportForUs  https://www.facebook.com/Daniel-Trask-is-Found-141269306065266/ This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:Pachyderm – Never Knew Me At All

In the most dramatic episode yet, we call in the London Police after making a gruesome discovery. Karla and Chris Williams P.I. enter dangerous situations while trying to uncover the truth about Shelley Desrocher’s disappearance. At this point in time, we’ve been led to a group of individuals and one theory that seems highly likely. These possible suspects seem to be exhibiting strange behavior after our meddling. The pieces seem to start falling into place after one source becomes hysterical while describing a party that took place on New Year’s Eve, just days before Shelley went missing. Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca Thanks to: Canadian Private Investigation Services http://cpis.ca This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_5_Miss_You

Karla and private investigator Chris Williams of Canadian Private Investigation Services spent an entire day in London, Ontario in the area where Shelley was last seen. They speak with people who live in the neighbourhood, other sex workers, and drug users who live in the crack houses that Shelley frequented. While interviewing, Karla & Chris started hearing a few names mentioned repeatedly, along with eerie stores and rumours about these individuals possibly harming Shelley. You’ll hear an outline of findings from the first trip as the team prepares for a second London visit to dig deeper using this new information. In Part 8, Karla & Chris dig deeper into our leads, and end up in one of the houses where Shelley’s remains are rumoured to be. Look for that episode July 4th. Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca Thanks to: Canadian Private Investigation Services http://cpis.ca My Sisters Place GoFundMe:https://www.gofundme.com/mysistersplacelondonontario This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Amy_Sayer/Amy_Sayers_Songs/Siren_Song

Karla took to the streets of London, with Chris from Canadian Private Investigation Services, to see what they could find out with regards to Shelley’s disappearance. In this mini episode, Karla talks about what that experience was like, visiting crack houses, and talking to people on the street. We also hear two dramatic stories that shed a light on some of the serious things happening in our very own cities that we may not even realize. Next time, a full slate of interviews and updates from the streets of London. Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca Olivia’s Song: https://soundcloud.com/olivia-paige-5/see-you-later-shogun-x-snapzkush-x-redrum-tha-don-x-live  My Sisters Place GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/mysistersplacelondonontario

By now you’ve heard Shelley’s story. You’ve heard about her troubled childhood, her time in the foster care system, how she was trafficked into sex work, and everything we know about Shelley’s disappearance. We now wanted to make the most of all the attention this series has received, so we take a look at the foster care system and programs available today, to see if anything has changed. Plus, Karla finds a private investigator willing to look into some of the leads that we’ve uncovered during our research. Can we find out what happened to Shelley? Does anybody know? Are they too scared to talk? Guests this episode are child & youth welfare expert Jane Kovarikova, Halton Collaborative Against Human Trafficking Coordinator Cindy Stover, and Chris Williams of Canadian Private Investigation Services. http://cpis.ca Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca My Sisters Place GoFundMe: http://www.gofundme.com/mysistersplacelondonontario This podcast contains music used under a creative commons license.http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dazie_Mae/Songs_Matured_in_Oak/12_-_Dazie_Mae_-_The_Winter_Of_My_First_Love

In this mini episode, we take a look at the Finding Shelley Desrochers series so far. You’ll hear some of Karla’s radio interviews, and then get an inside view of what it’s been like behind the scenes working on this podcast and dealing with the flood of information that has come in. Have you seen Shelley Desrochers? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.comLondon Police Missing People: https://www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca This episode contains music used under a Creative Commons License. Great Lake Swimmers - Gonna Make It Through This Year http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Great_Lake_Swimmers/20120127150256228/GreatLakeSwimmers-GonnaMakeItThroughThisYear

Shelley Desrochers hasn’t been seen since January 2016. She’s one of three women who lived a “high-risk lifestyle” to go missing from London, Ontario, Canada in the last decade. In this series, we go beyond the police and news reports to take an in-depth look at Shelley’s life, ask questions surrounding the case and speak with guests and experts such as Mike Arntfield, host of “To Catch A Killer” and former London police officer. Part Three explores the difficult question of “What happened to Shelley Desrochers?” The list of possibilities is long, but you’ll be shocked to hear just what kind of a picture Mike Arntfield can paint using his experience and statistics. We also speak with Shelley’s friends & family who have thoughts of their own, and some eerie comments made by Shelley in the past that may serve as clues. Have you seen Shelley Desrochers? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.com London Police Missing People: https://www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative http://eastcoastradiocreative.ca  This episode contains music used under a Creative Commons License. Kalli - This Is Goodbye http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kalli/Live_at_WFMU_on_Irene_Trudels_Show_on_August_15_2011/Kalli_-_10_-_This_Is_Goodbye Thanks to Mike Arntfield: http://michaelarntfield.com/

Shelley Desrochers hasn’t been seen since January 2016. She’s one of three women who lived a “high-risk lifestyle” to go missing from London, Ontario, Canada in the last decade. In this series, we go beyond the police and news reports to take an in-depth look at Shelley’s life, ask questions surrounding the case and speak with guests and experts such as Mike Arntfield, host of “To Catch A Killer” and former London police officer. Part Two looks at the timeline of her disappearance, the efforts being made to find her, and why Shelley's friends and family are frustrated with the police response. Former London Police officer Mike Arntfield shares his thoughts on the situation, and we speak with Randy Richmond of the London Free Press who has been following this story from the beginning. Randy sheds some light on a London Police officer who spent years of her career trying to keep sex-workers like Shelley safe. Don't miss the end, when Karla shares an amazing gesture aimed at helping gather tips to find out what happened to Shelley. Have you seen Shelley Desrochers? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.com London Police Missing People: https://www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx  Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative This episode contains music used under a Creative Commons License. Kathy Lowe - When I Am No Morehttp://freemusicarchive.org/music/Kathy_Lowe/Above_Water/When_I_Am_No_More

Shelley Desrochers hasn’t been seen since January 2016. She’s one of three women who lived a “high-risk lifestyle” to go missing from London, Ontario, Canada in the last decade. In this series, we go beyond the police and news reports to take an in-depth look at Shelley’s life, ask questions surrounding the case and speak with guests and experts such as Mike Arntfield, host of “To Catch A Killer” and former London police officer. Part One - Getting To Know Shelley features exclusive interviews with Shelley’s sister and two friends. We hear some dramatic stories about Shelley’s troubling childhood, how she was forced into sex-work, and when she was last heard from. Have you seen Shelley? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.comLondon Police Missing People: https://www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx  Host and Producer:  Karla Stephens-TolstoyEditor and Co-Producer:  Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

As a child Michael James knew that life with his parents was not what it was supposed to be. Their drinking was taking its toll on his childhood and it led Michael to approach the police to take him away to a more stable environment. Instead he landed at MacLaren Hall in El Monte, California. This was just one of a series of centers which failed to provide support and eventually a plan for what he would do when he turned eighteen. This started his sad descent into homelessness, drug abuse, suicide and crime before he eventually took stock of what his life had become and reinvented himself. In this episode we’ll hear how Michael has found his calling and enjoys a happier life these days. We’re keen to share Michael’s inspiring story with you. Listen to the podcast and hear how he forged a path out of the darkness for himself. Host and producer: Karla Stephens-TolstoyReporter and co-producer: Kris MulliahEditor: Cesar Del Castillo