The Human Challenge

As we mark National Indigenous Languages Day on Turtle Island, Shirley Horn shares her residential school story, growing up in not one, but two residential schools. She would return years later to Shingwauk Hall after it became a university to pursue her education, become first chancellor, and then Chief of The Missanabie to help return land back to her community. In this touching episode, Shirley talks about her life healing the trauma that came with the residential school system, reconnecting with Indigenous culture, and her longing for Indigenous language. Learn more about her life in a new children’s book, “Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story,” written by Joanne Robertson. Available now!Special thank you to Children Of Shingwauk Alumni Association and Algoma University. This episode was recorded in The Elder Room at Shingwauk Anishinaabe Students Lounge at Algoma University.Cinematography by Shae Mclurg.

“I just never felt safe,” says Jessica Compton, after running away from a young life of kidnapping, abuse, and sexual assault. Deciding it was best she take care of herself, she lived on her own at the age of 16, working and paying her bills. During this time, drugs and alcohol numbed the pain, but lead to arson, assaults, and eventually, incarceration.“The cell saved me,” she says. “I saved myself.”After prison, she graduated college to be a correctional officer, and spent almost fourteen years as a youth worker, supporting aggressive youth, before founding Trees Of Stars, an arts and culture non-profit. But because of her criminal record, she worked in construction for almost eleven years before being able to work in her profession, while she waited for her pardon. Her new book, Bits And Pieces, is a peer-support memoir, and available now.It took Jessica eleven years to be pardoned.Eleven years of putting the Bits And Pieces together again.Eleven years to find freedom.

Since childhood, Sara developed maladaptive behaviours growing up in a tiny shack with no electricity and an abusive father who sold her to the sex trade at the age of three. In and out of foster care for much of her life, it was finding herself in prison where Sara finally decided it was time to seek support and services for her mental health. Initially denied, she fought for access to services, and for what she couldn’t receive, she taught herself. Since her release, nothing has stopped her from fighting for justice. In her role at Northpine Foundation, Sara has served over 7500 formerly incarcerated people, reduced homelessness by 86%, lowered recidivism to 4.7%, and saved taxpayers over $1.13 billion of incarceration fees per year, over $68 million per year in hospital stays, and over $43 million in emergency visits. She also raised median income for formerly incarcerated people from $14,000 to $58,000. But her biggest impact has been looking into the eyes of the prison guard who sexually assaulted her and countless women in prison, and saying that she believed in him and forgave him. In this episode, Sara tells her story from the greater thread of social justice — from the effects of colonization on the prison system, the programming of society, and the political system. For Sara, social justice looks like changing the system; specifically, it’s rebuilding the house from the very foundations.

Cheri Chafin Norris was 16 years old when she became addicted to methamphetamine — and her father’s drug dealer. She wrote to God through her journals for 20 years, recently digging through them to put together her new book, ​The Purpose of Abundance​, re-discovering her own connection to God, the miracles that were always in front of her, and religion's reflection in modern society. She sifts through experiences dealing with addiction, recovery, and relationships, dismantling shame along the way. Now, a speaker, entrepreneur, and investor, Cheri helps incarcerated people find jobs, reminding us the wisdom of God is always available, even when it feels like He isn’t there.Get your copy of The Purpose of Abundance on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Purpose-Abundance-40-Day-Guide-Hearing/dp/196425193100:00 - Episode Primer01:22 - The Purpose Of Abundance03:16 - Becoming Dad's Drug Dealer06:20 - Miracles09:04 - Relationship & Addiction14:06 - God In Modern Society19:15 - Don't Stay The Shame28:45 - Changing The Past30:30 - God's Final Answer36:09 - End Credits

In this episode, I talk about headlining Transform The Night and how it all came to be with opening act, DJ Seith, and speaker, Karen Bird, Founder of Nakehndan.Transform The Night was a benefit concert held on Sunday, September 28th, 2025. With a contribution from Northern Credit Union, we were able to contribute $3,000 CAD to our community spotlight partner, Nakehndan, supporting Indigenous survivors of abuse across Northern Ontario.Headliner: Vanessa Ferlaino Opening Artist: DJ SeithCommunity Spotlight: Nakehndan Speaker: Vanessa FerlainoSpeaker: Karen Bird / NakehndanVenue: The SpeakeasyVideo: Rogers

On Sunday, September 28th, award-winning artist, Vanessa Ferlaino, headlined Transform The Night. With a contribution from Northern Credit Union, we were able to contribute $3,000 CAD to our community spotlight partner, Nakehndan, supporting Indigenous survivors of abuse across Northern Ontario.00:00 - Headliner Speaker: Vanessa Ferlaino26:21 - Community Spotlight Speaker: Karen Bird, Founder of Nakehndan33:44 - Headliner Performance: Vanessa Ferlaino1:21:55 - Closing & CreditsHeadliner: Vanessa FerlainoCommunity Spotlight: NakehndanSpeaker: Vanessa FerlainoSpeaker: Karen Bird / NakehndanVenue: The SpeakeasyVideo: Echotech and Rogers