Not So Boring Conversations

Over 10% of women are unable to have children. There are options both medical and non-medical. Having already gone through in vitro fertilization for their first child Jenn's sister and brother in law found that the process could not be repeated for them a second time. Having frozen embryos left from trying in vitro fertilization they decided to take another approach. In this episode Jenn Howson talks about her experience being a surrogate mother and what it is like to help make another family complete.

The World Health Organization calls the current state of antibiotic resistance a "global threat". Each year roughly 2 million people are infected with antibiotic-resistant infections, and of those 2 million nearly 23,000 die. With the abuse of antibiotics by humans for over 60 years we have created a world filled with resistant bacteria or "Superbugs". Scientists see a future where all antibiotics will no longer work and people will die from the simplest of diseases. What can be done? For almost 40 year''s microbiologist Sabah Jassim has been looking into the micro world around us and feels our salvation is to be found in Phage Technologies. Can looking into our past and our own environment save our future?

Note: This episode has some strong language. Writing is hard, do not let anybody tell you otherwise. Some people write for a living and some people write to fill a need. For Anthony Maria writing is a need. Anthony's latest book has taken an almost 10 year trip from a simple idea about a boy and his father to the journey of a man searching for his true love who has gone missing, again. His book titled Dear Me is an example of what can be created when a need is met. However with more writing projects in the works the hardest part about filling the need to write maybe time. Spinning many plates including family man, full time job, and playing guitar in his band Better Weather sometimes the need to write has to wait. Hopefully for not too long.

Every Thursday over 10,000 people in and around Essex County in Southern Ontario are greeted by The Essex Free Press on their doorstep or mail box. Even in a world where our phones give us up to minute news 24 hours a day there is something about a community newspaper created by people, who live, shop, and support that same community. There are no agendas, no wasted space about Kardashian's or Bieber antics. The Essex Free Press provides the news that people in their community want in a format that is liked. For almost 20 years Richard Parkinson has been involved in the newspaper business in Essex. From a humble reporter to the man behind the curtain of the Essex Free Press he has seen the status of the newspaper business fall and rise time again but has never wavered from being honest with his readers and the news itself.

Whenever I listen to people speak of change the old adage "talk is cheap" comes to my mind. Politicians build their whole campaigns on change. Change can be good but it can be hard. Some politicians fight to make change while others do crossword puzzles. Starting with a small grass roots campaign which got him elected as a councillor for Ward 5 of the City of Windsor to being introduced into the House of Commons 13 years later Rick Limoges has had a unique insight into how a city/province work and the people who run it. Now with his political career behind him (for now) Rick and his wife have changed their focus to running their successful restaurant Sandy's Riverside Grill. If you stop by for dinner maybe ask Rick what changes he has in mind next.

From Headaches and upset stomachs to vaccines and cancer treating drugs we live in a medicated world. Since diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis at a young age Samantha knows the roller coaster ride that comes with treating a disease with biological drugs. Balancing a comfortable life with powerful drugs is a challenge and one that takes time, patience, and money. Enbrel, Humaira, Methotrexate, and Celebrex have all been part of Samantha's challenge in her hope of getting better but although these drugs offer a chance at a better life, that better life can also come with side effects. Do we really pay attention to the things that help us feel better for ourselves and the ones we love?

It is argued that the greatest thing we fear is loss. One of the greatest losses we can experience is that of a child. How would this loss change you? Would you break down and blame the world? Lock yourself away and live in the past? Or create something from that loss? This episode we talk to Bryan Bedard about his loss. Diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) at the age of 2 his daughter Katelyn Bedard provided the seed for what would become the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association, a group that would help bring awareness about the importance of joining the bone marrow registry, funding to help similar families in need, and showing us that from a great loss we can create great change.

Beer. When most of us hear that word it brings to mind images of commercials during sports games, clear yellow bubbly liquid being poured slowly into a frosted glass while some man's voice informs us of how smooth and refreshing it is. For a good number of people this is beer. For a large number of people this is but one type of beer in a world filled with many styles. As one of the oldest beverages in the world it may be one of the most misunderstood. Dr. Max Nelson author of The Barbarian's Beverage a History of Beer in Ancient Europe helps us understand the impact beer has had on us over the ages and how beer is much more than just a one minute ad during a commercial break.

In the 90's the music world was changing. Glam rock was shown the door and the Spice Girls and Nirvana were taking center stage. In Windsor, Ontario Canada a unique mix of live bands were playing the bars and festivals. Big bands like The Tea Party and Big Sugar take up most of the conversation when talking about local Windsor talent at that time but other not so big names could be found performing each night. Bands like Racecar, We Wish We Knew, 10 Indians, Luxury Christ and Virginia's Leaf. Oscar Wilde once said "With age comes wisdom, but sometimes age comes alone." This is not the case for Virginia's Leaf. Recently re united Dean Valentino, Sheri McAuley, and Jason Demars return to performing with their catalog of past songs from their album World of Wonders like Remember and You Want along with some new ones ready to remind Windsor audiences that great Canadian music can still be found at home.