We know the news cycle is a lot. So this week, we're doing something about it.

In this episode of Canadian Salad, Andrea and Hostion bring you six stories of real, hard-won progress — from Scotiabank fully divesting from Israeli arms manufacturer Elbit Systems after years of sustained public pressure, to the Musqueam First Nation signing landmark land rights agreements with the federal government after a decade of negotiations.

They also cover Brazil's indigenous communities successfully blocking the privatization of three Amazon rivers, the first Inuit university coming to Nunavut by 2030, the Washoe Tribe reclaiming 10,000 acres near Lake Tahoe, and Croatia's extraordinary 31-year journey to becoming landmine-free.

Plus: the science-backed 5:1 good news ratio your brain needs, a quiz about the Canada Lynx, and the story of how Andrea got played by a guitar player. Literally.

This is a dose of good news we all need.

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.z

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does grief need permission?

In this episode, we explore racialized grief, disenfranchised loss, and the politics of mourning. Why are some lives publicly grieved while others are minimized? What happens when grief is denied or policed?

From racial trauma and white fragility to the emotional economy of Western culture, we unpack how grief extends beyond death — and why validation matters for healing.

Grief is universal. But whose grief is believed?

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

White supremacy.

It’s a term that sparks discomfort, denial, and defensiveness. But what if we’re not defining it correctly?

In this episode, Andrea and Hostion explore the idea of racial empire logic — a framework that explains how systemic racism operates beyond individual hatred and into the structures of power that shape hiring, masculinity, climate policy, national identity and so much more.

We examine Canada’s hidden history, unpack internalized racial hierarchies, and ask the bold question: Can racism actually end?

This conversation is reflective, challenging, and ultimately hopeful.

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is blood really thicker than water?

In this deeply honest conversation, we explore chosen family: the people we build relationships with for emotional safety, belonging, and survival. From immigration and identity to estrangement, healing, and joy, we share personal stories and research on why chosen family matters more than ever in modern life.

This episode blends humour, vulnerability, and social science to unpack how chosen family shapes mental health, resilience, and the way we live and love.

If you’ve ever built family beyond biology, this one will feel like home.

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if Black History Month isn’t just about remembrance but about the blueprint for a better future for everyone?

In this deeply honest and wide-ranging conversation, we explore why Black history matters in Canada and how Black liberation is inseparable from collective liberation. From environmental justice to economic equity, rural poverty to global climate impacts, this episode unpacks the truth: when Black communities rise, everyone rises.

We discuss the legacy of Africville, the power of solidarity economies, and how systems of oppression harm not only Black communities but all communities. This episode is part history lesson, part truth-telling, and part invitation to imagine a more just, joyful, and cooperative future.

Because liberation isn’t a niche project. It’s the foundation for a society where everyone can breathe, thrive, and belong.

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Love is universal. The way we express it is not.

In this episode of Canadian Salad, we explore how culture shapes love. From love languages and public displays of affection to family expectations, language, and tradition, Hostion & Andrea unpack how affection, intimacy, and commitment look different across the world.

You’ll hear stories about intercultural relationships, why saying “I love you” doesn’t mean the same thing everywhere, and how misunderstandings often come from cultural mismatches rather than a lack of care.

Perfect for listeners interested in culture, relationships, migration, identity, and human connection.

Topics include:

• Cultural expressions of love
• Love languages vs. cultural context
• Intercultural relationships
• Individualism and collectivism
• Public vs. private affection
• Language and emotional expression

Go to https://www.canadiansalad.ca/ for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Disability is often framed as something to fix, hide, or overcome. But what if that story is incomplete or harmful?

In this episode of Canadian Salad, Andrea and Hostion explore the culture of disability across the globe, examining how different societies understand disability through spiritual, social, economic, and colonial lenses. From African and Asian cultural frameworks to Latin American economic realities and Canada’s own legacy of eugenics and forced sterilization, this conversation reveals how deeply systems shape who is considered “worthy.”

The episode also introduces an Indigenous worldview of disability, where people are seen as whole, relational, and gifted, not broken. Disability, through this lens, is not a deficit but part of a sacred design that calls communities into care, connection, and responsibility.

This episode is honest, raw, and deeply human. It challenges productivity-based worth, questions independence as the ultimate goal, and invites listeners to imagine a world built for belonging instead of efficiency.

If you care about disability justice, cultural perspectives, decolonization, or redefining what it means to live well together, this episode is for you.

Go to Canadian Salad Website for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

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Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pronouns are everywhere. We use them daily. And yet, they’ve become one of the most misunderstood topics of our time.

In this episode, Hostion and Andrea explore the culture of pronouns through history, linguistics, and lived experience. From genderless languages and hierarchy-based speech to colonial influences and modern identity movements, they unpack how pronouns evolved and why they carry so much emotional weight today.

With warmth, humour, and a few “wait… what?” moments, this conversation reframes pronouns not as a battleground, but as a doorway to empathy, understanding, and shared humanity.

Grab a drink, bring your curiosity, and come along for a pronoun world tour.

Go to Canadian Salad Website for all sources cited in this episode. And please refer us to your friends, family and that racist uncle that just doesn't get it.

Follow us on TikTok and Instagram

Theme music by Nver Avetyan from Pixabay.

A Janklin Production.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.