Yxe Underground

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a

It’s been a busy year at the Saskatoon Food Bank and Learning Centre. The organization has seen a 25 per cent increase in the use of its services in 2024, which works out to around 23,000 people a month coming to the Food Bank. Of those 23,000 people, 43 per cent are children. These numbers, along with the Food Bank’s plan to open a new facility in August 2025 in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood, makes the organization’s Light It Up fundraising campaign all the more critical.One of the many unique spaces in the Food Bank is the Community Test Kitchen. This is where you can often find Kate Lasiuk and her team leading community cooking classes as well as preparing food for the greater community. Kate is the Nutrition Program Manager with the Food Bank and a big believer that food can bring people together from all walks of life. The Nutrition Program at the Food Bank has been in operation since 2019, and under Kate’s guidance, it is teaching people not just the basics of cooking but the joy that comes with prepa

Hello and welcome to a special bonus episode of YXE Underground.A few nights ago, my wife and I were able to attend a really wonderful event hosted by artist group called The 525.It was the closing reception to a group photography and video exhibition called Unbecoming…held in an empty business space on Third Avenue. The exhibition was co-curated by Saskatoon’s Rowen Dinsmore and Molly Schikosky. Now, if Molly’s name sounds familiar, it’s because she has worked with me on many episodes of the podcast taking photos, as well as creating the YXE Underground video that was released a few months ago. Molly is amazing and we really wanted to support her…And I must say the evening was so much fun! The exhibition featured 10 female identifying artists from Saskatoon: Leo Lauren ConquergoodHannah AlexXiao HanBerit JohnsonEmily JohnsonMona KhanMolly SchikoskyDarby SutherlandTammy ZdunichEmma ZuckEach artist had their own space within the exhibition showcasing their photography and videography talents. All 10 artists al

There is an organization in Saskatoon that works to strengthen the economic and social conditions of our city’s core neighbourhoods. It’s called Quint Development Corporation and it’s an organization full of amazing leaders like Kristen Thoms and Julia McCormick. Kristen is Quint’s Executive Director and has been with the organization for 18 years. Julia is the Director of Operations with Quint and has called it home for 11 years. Together, they oversee a team that is helping people in the core neighbourhoods find meaningful employment, move into safe and affordable housing, and spark a sense of pride in their neighbourhoods. How are they doing this you ask?I found out when Kristen and Julia took for me a walk through neighbourhoods like Riversdale and Pleasant Hill where they showed me the different ways Quint is helping people. We ended our walk in Optimist Park where you will hear the pride Kristen and Julia have in their work and why it means so much to them. They are both kind and warm people who love he

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a

The ability to slow down, take a deep breath and be present in the moment in something I think most of us take for granted. For Brandon Wicks, developing and growing this ability through yoga has helped him overcome his mental health issues. Now, he and Jen Rondeau are working with the Royal University Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit to empower patients on their road to recovery. If you’re looking for Brandon Wicks, there’s a good chance he’s here at Rise Strength Lab. Brandon is not only a personal trainer at the gym but he owns Rise Strength Lab. Every time I see Brandon at the gym, he has a smile on his face and is talking with staff or members. He’s caring man with a big heart who has battled through some pretty challenging mental health issues in recent years.You’ll hear Brandon share his personal story in this episode, but there was a point during his story where he needed professional help. In January of 2023, Brandon spent two weeks at the Adult Mental Health Short Stay Unit at Royal Un

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig is once again joining us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. We've done many several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the seven seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. This is Lisa's second season on YXE Underground and I am grateful for her support. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who now works for Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a

Hello and welcome to Season 7 of YXE Underground. I’m your host, Eric Anderson and in this episode, we take listeners to the TCU Stage where the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra is preparing for a show!It’s a celebration of Fleetwood Mac’s career and so the symphony will be performing alongside a rock and roll musicians playing all of Fleetwood Mac’s hits. There is a great energy in the room and that extends out into the lobby where we find Mark Turner.Mark is the CEO and Creative Producer of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra and seems to know everyone in the lobby. He’s shaking hands, having quick chats with people and sharing his enthusiasm for tonight’s show. Mark has gone through this lobby routine hundreds of times in the past 10 years with the SSO. His leadership and passion for connecting the symphony with different parts of our community has helped make the SSO one of the most successful symphonies in Canada. I’ve been a fan of Mark’s from afar for many years so it was a thrill to meet him in his office a

"It's not enough to have a great Fringe show...You have to sell your show!"The world of Fringe Festivals is truly fascinating. Artists from around the world work hard all year round writing, performing and promoting their shows at festivals across the world. It's a labour of love and a world that many local artists learn about at the Saskatoon Fringe Festival. Our city's Fringe Festival is produced by Saskatoon's 25th Street Theatre and its Executive and Artistic Director, Anita Smith, can't wait for it to begin. She takes listeners behind the scenes of this year's festival to highlight some of the amazing artists who will be performing in theatres and as buskers, as well as other events taking place during the 10 days including the Thelma Pepper Art Walk and the Baby Busker Program. Anita is one of my favourite people in the world and I know her passion for the arts and our community will connect with you! I hope this bonus episode gets you excited for the Fringe and maybe see you at a play...or most likely

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that the wonderful Lisa Greig has joined us every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within our community.

I think it takes a lot of courage for anyone to share the challenges, traumas and uncertainties in their life with the rest of the world. What Tennille and Lydia are doing with their mother-daughter memoir, '(Un)Remarkable: How Cancer and Depression Intertwined Our Stories of Grief and Hope' is worth celebrating. The first time I met Tennille Corbett was in May of 2023 in the Tommy Douglas Collegiate theatre in Saskatoon. She was in the audience, sitting in a special wheelchair called a Broda Chair, about to watch her daughter, Lydia, perform in the school's production of Mamma Mia. Lydia was the lead in the musical and there was no way Tennille was going to miss this show.A few weeks earlier, Tennille had been diagnosed with Stage 4 Endometrial cancer and quickly had surgery. The diagnosis sent her on a life-changing path many in our community have travelled in regards to cancer. It forced Tennille to take a leave from work as she underwent treatment, which meant she had a lot more time with her husband, Sha

Welcome to Beaver Creek Conservation Area.This area, which is about 15 minutes south of Saskatoon, is home to beautiful prairie landscapes, rare and threatened species at risk, and it’s where you’ll find Saskatoon’s Kelton Braun most days.Since 2020, Kelton has been an Environmental Educator for the Meewasin Valley Authority out at Beaver Creek. He does incredible work with Saskatoon students teaching them about this beautiful and fragile ecosystem. Kelton also teaches the general public about the plants, wildlife and especially pollinators that call Beaver Creek home through specially designed hikes called Wildflower Walks. I met Kelton for the first time last summer when I signed up for one of these walks. His passion for nature and ability to connect people to the outside world is worth celebrating, and after spending a few hours with him last year hiking around Beaver Creek, it was clear he needed to be on the podcast. We met a few Fridays ago at Beaver Creek to learn more about the work he does teaching

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within

It has been a weird week.Last Thursday, I received an email in my YXE Underground inbox from a gentleman named Mohammad Hussain. He said he was the Lead Press Secretary for the Prime Minister of Canada and wondered if I would be interested in having Prime Minister Trudeau on my podcast to talk about the importance of community leaders and why celebrating their work is important in building community. He also said this was not a scam email and that I should call him back.I thought it was a scam email so I deleted it and continued on with my day at Sherbrooke Community Centre where I work as Communications Leader. About an hour later, I received an email from my friend and former CBC colleague, David Shield, saying some guy from the Prime Minister's Office was trying to track me down. So I thought maybe I should call this Mohammad guy back. He didn't answer so I really thought it was a scam.Then he called me back and explained that the Prime Minister would be in Saskatoon on Tuesday, April 23rd, and would I be

It’s a Thursday night in late March and I am surrounded by people in orange shirts and sweaters, as well as people who are working hard to earn the right to wear these orange shirts and sweaters, in an old Fire Hall near Aden Bowman Collegiate. Specifically, I’m in a meeting room where large maps are spread out on tables and new Saskatoon Search and Rescue trainees are learning how to read these maps.It’s training day for new recruits of Saskatoon Search and Rescue. It’s an intense process. Whether you are a trainee or a veteran member of the team, you are put through scenarios and taught skills that will empower you to help find people when they go missing in all types of situations.It really does amaze me that these people commit so much of their time and energy to this group. Since 2019, Saskatoon Search and Rescue have responded to 86 missing person’s activations, mostly at the request of the Saskatoon Police Service. Searches can take place in neighbourhoods throughout Saskatoon, along the South Saskatch

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking With Lisa episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is a few months into a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within

Music plays so many roles in our lives. It brings us together through live concerts…It can help us change our mood or amplify how we are feeling in a certain moment…And as you will hear in this episode, music has the power to form meaningful relationships and spark joy in people with physical and cognitive challenges. Candace Ukrainetz shares her passion for forming those relationships in this episode of YXE Underground. She is the music therapist at Sherbrooke Community Centre, a long term care home in Saskatoon. Full disclosure...I work at Sherbrooke as its Communications Leader and I have had the privilege of watching Candace for the past eight years create well-being in the lives of residents in her role. Candace grew up playing all sorts of instruments. She took piano and cello lessons as a kid and today can often be seen sitting next to a resident with her guitar or auto-harp in her hands. What Candace really loves to do, however, is sing. She would sing as a kid all through her house and says that sing

For the past 48 years, the Kinsmen Foundation and Telemiracle has been raising money to improve the quality of life and independence of Saskatchewan residents. Their generosity is huge and the province rallies every year to support the Telemiracle fundraising event on television, but you might not know about all the work that goes on behind the scenes, all year round, to connect the Kinsmen Foundation with people in need. We learn about this incredible work in this episode of YXE Underground. I can vividly remember being 8 years-old, sitting on the living room floor next to my sister, in our home in Swift Current, eagerly waiting for our names to slowly scroll across the bottom screen during Telemiracle. I’m sure I am not the only one who has a memory like this.I think Telemiracle is one of those Saskatchewan institutions that just seems to bring people together. The fact that this two day annual fundraiser raises millions of dollars to help people in need, whether it’s a piece of medical equipment or to help

Hello, I'm Eric Anderson and welcome to YXE Underground. If you are a long time listener of the podcast, thank you!If this is your first time listening, welcome. YXE Underground is a local, independent podcast here in Saskatoon that shines a light on people who are doing incredible things but are flying under the radar. I am so excited that this season, we will have the wonderful Lisa Greig on every month for Walking with Lisa episodes. In the past few seasons, we've done several episodes focusing on mental health and they have become some of the most listened to episodes in the six seasons of the podcast. It got me thinking that it would be great if we could do a quick mental health check in every month and luckily Lisa said yes to the pitch. Lisa Greig is a mother of two young children, a social worker who is about to begin a new role with Saskatoon's Rock and Bloom, the author of a best selling children's book entitled 'Scream! Shout! Let's Feel Our Grief Out' and a trusted mental health advocate within ou

The final days and moments of a person’s life can be uncomfortable subjects for people to think about, let alone discuss with others. But what I discovered by spending a morning at the Hospice at Glengarda, Saskatchewan’s first stand-alone hospice, is that there is so much room for light, laughter and gratitude when the end is near. What I also discovered is how much work it takes from very dedicated and caring staff to ensure those streams of light make their way into the hospice. You are about to meet some of those people as we take you inside the Hospice at Glengarda.In January of 2021, the Hospice at Glengarda opened on a quiet residential street in Saskatoon’s exhibition neighbourhood. The hospice has 15 private rooms and is designed for patients requiring end-of-life care. The story of how the Hospice went from idea to reality is really amazing and one we covered a few weeks ago in a bonus episode of the podcast featuring Lecina Hicke, CEO of the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. I strongly encourage you