Face 2 Face With David Peck

  Listen in on our chat today with Jamie Dagg and Rossif Sutherland talking about their new film River, the Mekong and unintended consequences.   River opens March 13th – 2016. Read more about the film here and it’s World premiere at TIFF and check out it’s trailer here.     Synopsis – River   Accused of murder after intervening in the sexual assault of a young woman, an American volunteer doctor in Laos is forced to go on the run.   One of the most energetic thrillers produced this year; Jamie M. Dagg's debut feature River takes us on a frantic getaway in Laos, from the shores of the Mekong River, up to the mountains in the north.   John Lake (Rossif Sutherland) is an American volunteer doctor working for an NGO in a village in southern Laos. On his way home after an alcohol-soaked evening at a local bar, John intervenes in the sexual assault of a young woman, and the violence quickly escalates. The next day, the assailant's body is pulled out of the water.   All the evidence points to John, who recognizes

Karen Valley Karen talks today about what it means to be “disabled”, our limitations, her social entrepreneurial spirit and why it’s so important to push the boundaries in a variety of ways.  Biography Karen Valley was born missing her left arm below the elbow and was enrolled in The War Amps Child Amputee (CHAMP) Program. As Karen grew up with the CHAMP Program, she embraced the Association’s philosophy of “amputees helping amputees” both as an enthusiastic Champ and later as a Junior Counsellor.  She gave media interviews on behalf of The War Amps, appeared on the Association’s float in a number of parades in the Ottawa area and made presentations to local children’s groups, spreading the PLAYSAFE message and raising awareness about life as an amputee.  In 1993, Karen began her employment at The War Amps, and today she is the Director of the Association’s National Amputee Centre (NAC). In this capacity, Karen ensures that the NAC remains a centre of excellence on the subject of amputation, providing valuabl

Erin speaks passionately today about landmines, cluster munitions and why Canadians have played such a significant role in the campaign against these “indiscriminate inhumane weapons”, why she thinks this problem is 100% solvable and a new kind of diplomacy.   Biography   Since 2003, Erin has been involved in Canadian efforts to ban landmines and cluster munitions and to raise awareness of the rights of survivors to meet their needs while working as a volunteer, an intern, a youth campaigner and a Program Officer.   Originally from Victoria, BC, she holds an M.A. in Human Security from Royal Roads University and has been involved in campaigns to ban landmines and cluster munitions since 2003.    She is currently the Program Coordinator for Mines Action Canada and a member of the Monitor Victim Assistance team.   Previously, she worked on victim assistance programs in Uganda, youth peace building projects and in child welfare services. Erin has a master’s degree in Human Security and Peace building from Royal

 Holly Gordon Listen in as Holly talks about women’s empowerment, the power of storytelling, why education is important, the gap between head and heart and why things change when you create room for conversation. The Film: Girl RisingWatch the Trailer hereBiographyAs Co-Founder and CEO of Girl Rising, Holly determines long-term strategy for the campaign and looks for new opportunities to drive change for girls around the world. Holly is also an Executive Producer of the Girl Rising film. Holly has been selected by Fast Company as a member of the League of Extraordinary Women and named by Newsweek/Daily Beast as one of 125 Women of Impact. Forbes Magazine also named the Girl Rising movement the #1 Most Dynamic Social Initiative of 2012. Prior to Girl Rising, Holly Gordon worked at the Tribeca Film Festival, and before that at ABC News, where she was a producer and booker for the major news broadcasts, covering high-profile stories, including the trial of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, the shootings at

  Doug talks about how you politics is defined by what you see out your front window, why he’s against the death penalty, political satire in the US and his new book President Blog. BiographyDoug Magee is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker living in New York's East Harlem. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Union Theological Seminary. He has had a decidedly checkered career.Doug worked as a freelance photojournalist for a number of years and was published in many major magazines and newspapers, including a New York Times front-page photo of violence in Portugal.He is the author of SLOW COMING DARK, a book of interviews with death row inmates, and WHAT MURDER LEAVES BEHIND, profiles of families of murder victims. In addition, he has written three children's books.His films include the HBO movie SOMEBODY HAS TO SHOOT THE PICTURE and the Showtime movie BEYOND THE CALL.He is married to Mary Hedahl, the director of development at Human Rights First. The eldest of his three sons, Tim Magee, an associate pro

 Karen talks about uncertainty, the frozen smile, anxious attachment, trans-generational trauma, good parenting and about learning how to self regulate.  Biography Karen Dougherty is Toronto-based psychotherapist and documentary filmmaker. In her practice she works to help patients through periods of adversity, transition, and instability to deepen self-understanding, establish emotional regulation, and build resilience. Her key areas of interest are repetitive bad-object relations, trans-generational trauma, and existential issues. She is a Candidate at the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis. As a filmmaker, Karen specializes in psychoanalytic, history, and social issue documentaries. Her current project, funded by PEPweb http://www.pep-web.org/, explores the world of Columbia University Researcher Dr. Beatrice Beebe, whose frame-by-frame video microanalysis of mother-infant communications has revolutionized our understanding of attachment.  Recent collaborations include research and consulting on the CBC P

  Photo credit: Véro Boncompagni   Check out the trailer of their new NFB film Ninth Floor making its world premiere at TIFF 2015.   Synopsis of Film It started quietly when a group of Caribbean students, strangers in a cold new land, began to suspect their professor of racism. It ended in the most explosive student uprising Canada had ever known. Over four decades later, Ninth Floor reopens the file on the Sir George Williams Riot – a watershed moment in Canadian race relations and one of the most contested episodes in the nation’s history. It was the late 60s, change was in the air, and a restless new generation was claiming its place– but nobody at Sir George Williams University would foresee the chaos to come. On February 11, 1969, riot police stormed the occupied floors of the main building, making multiple arrests. As fire consumed the 9th floor computer centre, a torrent of debris rained onto counter-protesters chanting racist slogans – and scores of young lives were thrown into turmoil. Making a soph

Today's conversation is about great ideas, having good instincts, the entrepreneurial spirit, ‎a passion for creating solutions and what problem solving can lead to.  Biography "BaitCloud is a fishing industry start-up out of Mississauga, Ontario that started in 2015 with two first time inventors and entrepreneurs, Cheryl Hopkins and Carl Rudnik. Their growth has been steady and unconventional as they look to re-invent the fish-attractant marketplace forever. For more information about their company visit their site here. ---------- For more information about my podcasting, writing and public speaking please visit my site here. With thanks to producer Josh Snethlage and Mixed Media Sound. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

 Ian talks about leadership, why attitude is so important, why misery is a choice, consistency and why he’s an unapologetic nerd.  Biography Since his years in high school, Ian Tyson has never shied away from the stage. From drama productions to his many years as a student leader, performing and motivating have always gone hand in hand. Ian has parlayed his passion for comedy and entertaining with his desire to inspire change in others into a 25+ year career as one of the top speakers in North America. The middle child of 3 kids, Ian grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario where he still makes his home and is the proud father of two teenagers. Ian draws much of his inspiration from tales of his childhood. From the humorous: Recess! Eating paste, and playing superheroes, to the touching: how we define our friends, and dealing with the loss of his mother at the age of 10. Combine this with his extensive training in leadership and a more than-healthy dose of pop-culture references and you have the recipe for Ian's presen

 Maureen talks about her new film Wasted, alcoholism, compassionate evidence based care, why she might have too much empathy and how the world of medicine is changing when it comes to treating addiction.  Film Trailer Film Synopsis Filmmaker Maureen Palmer set out to make a documentary following her partner Mike Pond - a psychotherapist and an alcoholic 5 years sober - as he searched for the best new evidence-based addiction treatments. The intent was to help others battling substance use disorders. But to the couple’s shock and dismay, shortly after filming began, Mike drank again. In Wasted Mike and Maureen’s attitudes and assumptions about addiction are tested in real time as the couple search for a treatment that will work for Mike. A theoretical journey becomes very real and deeply personal.  There is urgency to their quest. Mike had already suffered one life-threatening trip to rock bottom; he likely wouldn’t survive another. In his past life, Mike spent two decades as a successful therapist in Penticto

  Lawrence talks in this interview about mystery, context, the fear of failure, wonder and the ”business” of art making. He speaks about obstacles to good living, how are is life giving and why philosophy matters more now than ever. Biography   Lawrence Hass, Ph.D., is Professor of Humanities at Austin College and the Associate Dean of the McBride Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas. In 2010 he retired early from college teaching to pursue magic full-time as a performer, teacher, author, and publisher. Lawrence Hass creates magic shows that combine astonishing, artistic magic with ideas that lift the spirit. He performs at theaters, nightclubs, universities, art museums, private parties, medical schools, public conferences, and corporate events all across America and internationally. He performs regularly in Las Vegas and at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood. Dr. Hass has also won multiple awards both as a writer and an inspirational teacher of magic. His expertise in teaching and directing magic

Gavin is a social entrepreneur and talks about opportunities in the global South, the luck iron fish bio medics, the importance of research and ‎the interconnected like nature of it all.  Biography Gavin Armstrong is a dedicated impact entrepreneur who believes that businesses have the resources and power to solve some of the world’s most critical challenges. He is the Founder and President of the Lucky Iron Fish, a social enterprise dedicated to reducing iron deficiency rates around the world using a simple technology. In commercializing the Lucky Iron Fish Gavin took the simple idea of cooking with a piece of iron and turned it into an international success. He has raised over two million dollars in scale-up money for his enterprise, has won numerous awards including the Clinton Hunger leadership Award, Cannes Lions Grand Prix, Edison Foundation Innovation Award, and the Michaelle Jean Emergency Relief Award. He has also developed a commercial model following the ‘buy 1 give 1’ plan that has resulted in ove

 David recently launched his “#No Hair Selfie” campaign to raise funds for Cancer research. Today we talk about magic, “perfect editorial judgement”, what if questions, creativity, uncertainty and his fascination with paradox. Read about the campaign here and check out the video here. And don’t forget to check out the blog here about the initiative. BiographyDavid was born March 5, 1961 and raised in Toronto, Canada. His interest in magic began after receiving the book, The Stein and Day Handbook of Magic by Marvin Kaye from his father in 1973. Ben's childhood interest turned into a lifelong passion after he watched the television special 'Doug Henning's World of Magic (1975). Ben became a frequent visitor to the Arcade Magic and Novelty Company in Toronto, and then Morrissey Magic Ltd. While in high school, Ben worked part-time at Morrissey Magic, learning the craft from store founder and Canadian magician, Herb Morrissey.In 1978, Ben acquired the book The Magic and Methods of Ross Bertram and in 1979, throu

 Alan talks about his new film Hurt about Steve Fonyo. It’s a fascinating, beautiful and tragic story. Alan talks about the project, cognitive dissonance, brokenness and why he made the film. Film SynopsisFirst, Terry Fox turned personal tragedy into triumph, and then back into tragedy, with his 1980 “Marathon of Hope.”  That was followed by Steve Fonyo’s coast-to-coast 1984/85 “Journey for Lives” that kept the spirit alive. Three decades later, we are left with an inspiring memory, a tarnished hero, and a thriving charitable foundation.The stories of Fox and Hansen have been told and retold with no detail left unpolished. Steve Fonyo is different.  He is the discredited hero who kinder souls refer to as the “Canadian Icarus.” Other characterizations are equally vivid, but far less charitable. His step-by-step fall from national grace has been widely documented in the news with all the charm of a police report.But the decline ironically started much earlier, back before his first run.At that time he was a bur

Listen as TJ talks about making a difference, Zimbabwe, the Trillion-dollar bill, the extraordinary versus the ordinary and unexpected outcomes within international development.BiographyTJ Grant has a passion for working with the poor, the lost and the broken and seeking to bring hope and transformation to people’s lives. TJ has worked with World Vision for the past 8+ years in a variety of different roles including Advocacy and Education where he developed World Vision’s Youth Ambassador program and Marketing where he managed the 30 Hour Famine campaign which was the largest youth fundraising and engagement program in Canada.More recently, TJ worked with World Vision’s Zimbabwe office where he led their grants acquisition and management working with donors such as the UN, Global Fund, DFID, etc.  TJ is currently working with World Vision Canada as the Regional Program Manager for Southern Africa. TJ has an Undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo in English and Religious Studies and a Master’s de

Caroline and I talk about her beautiful new film, the complexities of relationships, boundaries and why so many of us are quick to jump to the wrong conclusions.Film SynopsisBeneath The SpaceshipTrailerIMDBThis deeply insightful drama traces the events of one sweltering Swedish summer, when the bond between an adolescent girl and her older neighbour frays as their relationship comes under the scrutiny of those who can’t understand what they share.   BiographyCaroline Ingvarsson is a Swedish filmmaker. She studied at the Sydney Film School and earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from City University in London. She directed the documentary shorts The Dogwalker, I Met a Real Streety Once, and the fiction short Beneath the Spaceship. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Daniel and Emmanuel talk about their new film Je suis Charlie and about the Charlie Hedbo massacre. We touch on issues of freedom, critique ideologies, the truth and chat a great deal about asking better questions.Je Suis CharlieFilm SynopsisTrailerIMDBThis new documentary by the father-and-son directing team of Daniel and Emmanuel Leconte pays tribute to the 11 journalists of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo who were killed in the January 2015 attack by radical Islamic extremists.Audio Player   00:00 00:00 Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.   The January 2015 attacks on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo were appalling in their brutality. But they were not a singular event. In the next two days, eight more people were killed in four separate incidents, one of them involving a Jewish grocery store. In total, twenty people were killed. Paris, and much of the world, was in shock. But the events galvanized a country and fostered a spontaneous outburst of col

Federica and I have a wonderful time together chatting about politics, relationships, “common sense”, art and why she’s not shy of controversy.Film SynopsisExit/Entrance or TrasumanarIMDBA flow of words and images portrays an artist’s journey through a variety of Italian landscapes and interiors, evoking an eminently modern strain of melancholy: the feeling of belonging to two places and being fully at home in neither.   BiographyFederica Foglia was born in Naples and lives in Toronto. She was Deepa Mehta’s assistant on Beeba Boys, playing this year’s Festival. Exit/​Entrance or Trasumanar is her directorial debut.For more info about her look here. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jared talks about leadership development, possibilities, why words matter and why the “content is more important than the container.”BiographyJared spent over a decade as a teaching pastor and professor near Philadelphia, teaching courses and developing curricula in philosophy, ethics, & biblical studies before launching a creative communications company in 2011.In 2013 had the opportunity to partner with a friend to launch Experience Institute, an experience-based graduate school in Chicago. He is currently a lead adviser at DVFBC, a business education and consulting firm north of Philadelphia.Jared is the co-author of Genesis for Normal People (Patheos Press, 2012) with Peter Enns and continues to speak and teach on a variety of topics around creativity, Christianity, & communication.He and his wife, Sarah, are the proud parents of 4 children, Augustine, Tov, Elletheia, and Exodus who constantly help them both see the world with wonder and possibility.Check out his blog here. See acast.com/privacy f

Paul Katis talks about Kilo Two Bravo, why we’re all potentially heroes and why he didn’t start out to make an anti war film.Film SynopsisKilo Two BravoIMDBTrailerRotten TomatoesA patrol of British paratroopers in Afghanistan find themselves caught in the middle of a deathtrap in this remarkable, fact-based war drama from first-time feature director Paul Katis.Director Paul Katis’ extraordinary, based-on-fact first feature is one of the most rigorous, haunting, and riveting war films in recent memory. In the mountains of Afghanistan in 2006, a British platoon is sent to man a hilltop outpost in the country’s rugged interior. While a detachment is on patrol in a local valley, one of the company is injured by a land mine left over from the Soviet-Afghan War nearly two decades previously. Surrounded by mines and the invisible threat of encroaching Taliban fighters, the soldiers struggle to keep their wounded — and themselves — alive as casualties mount and the valley transforms into a deathtrap.“Effectively tens