DCO Discourse...
Episode Archive
Episode Archive
347 episodes of DCO Discourse... since the first episode, which aired on January 9th, 2019.
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Episode 346: On the “Grumpy Monkey”
August 18th, 2025 | Season 3 | 8 mins 24 secs
on the “grumpy monkey”
This week, on DCO Discourse… we’ve done something a little bit different. In this episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at DCO, sat down with her young son to read the book “Grumpy Monkey” by Suzanne Lang.
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Episode 345: On How Crisis Lines Can Better Support Queer Callers
August 11th, 2025 | Season 3 | 39 mins 43 secs
on how can crisis lines better support queer callers?
In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with master's student Tristan, Dr. Monica Sesma-Vazquez, and Dr. Tara Collins, academic researchers involved in a study looking at queer callers in crisis line settings.
The discussion focused on the challenges faced by queer service users in crisis lines, highlighting the significant mental health disparities within the LGBTQ+ community. Tara and Tristan shared alarming statistics, such as 27% of LGBTQ+ youth experiencing major depressive episodes and 40% having lifetime suicide ideation, while emphasizing the impact of discrimination and the importance of gender-affirming care. Monica noted that while statistics are crucial for strategic decisions, they cannot fully capture the callers lived experiences, and the team aims to use these numbers to transform crisis response by addressing the underlying social conditions. The conversation also touched on the politicization of LGBTQ+ issues, which can hinder support and implementation of effective interventions.
To connect with support related to this episode, or for anything else going on in your life, please visit www.dcontario.org/locations to find your nearest Member Centre. Many of our centers operate 24/7. Thank you for joining us, and we hope this episode encourages you to continue the conversation. If you have feedback or future content requests, please use the following link: https://forms.gle/o8yUPMss6wo8dP1X8 -
Episode 344: On Back-to-School Parenting
August 4th, 2025 | Season 3 | 22 mins 1 sec
on back-to-school parenting
On this week’s episode of DCO Discourse… Caitlin Plant is joined by her brother, a teacher with six years of experience, to explore how parents can prepare for back-to-school season with intention.
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Episode 343: On Loneliness in the Summer: When Everyone Else Seems Fine
July 28th, 2025 | Season 3 | 39 mins 58 secs
on loneliness in the summer-when everyone else seems fine
This week on DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Caitlin Plant to talk about the hidden emotional weight of summer. From FOMO and disrupted routines to grief triggers and social media comparison, we’re holding space for the parts of summer no one talks about.
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Episode 342: On Self-Care Isn’t Selfish—It’s Survival
July 21st, 2025 | Season 3 | 12 mins 38 secs
on self-care isn’t selfish—it’s survival
This week on DCO Discourse, podcast host Christina Droumtsekas, is speaking about reimagining self-care—not as bubble baths or luxury escapes, but as everyday survival.
Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s maintenance, nourishment, and coming home to yourself in a world that constantly pulls you away. -
Episode 341: How Do We Support 2SLGBTQIA+ Students on Campuses?
July 14th, 2025 | Season 3 | 1 hr 6 mins
how do we support 2slgbtqia+ students on campuses?
In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Vijay talks with Dr. Michael Woodford and Dr. Tin Vo, two academic researchers involved in Thriving On Campus, an Ontario-wide study of 2SLGBTQ+ university students’ experiences, wellbeing, and academic development.
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Episode 340: On Parenting Tips for Summer Learning
July 7th, 2025 | Season 3 | 11 mins 12 secs
parenting tips for summer learning
This week, in a miniature solo episode, Caitlin Plant, Director of Operations at Distress and Crisis Ontario, shares some research on parenting over the summer. Specifically, this episode explores strategies to support their summer experience including trying new things, fostering supportive relationships, providing opportunities for learning, managing screen time, and encouraging boredom.
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Episode 339: On The Coming Out Experience: 3 Questions about Identity.
June 30th, 2025 | Season 3 | 44 mins 47 secs
on the coming out experience: 3 questions about identity.
In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, Co-hosts Vijay Moonilal and Caitlin Plant, talk about the experience of coming out to wrap a bow around the end of Pride month.
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Episode 338: On Brain Injury Awareness Week with Regan Roberts
June 23rd, 2025 | Season 3 | 35 mins 18 secs
on brain injury awareness week with regan roberts
In this powerful episode of DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas, and guest advocate Regan Roberts shed light on the lived experience of traumatic brain injury (TBI) during Brain Injury Awareness Week. Roberts, a student intern, writer, and survivor of a life-altering car accident in 2021, shares her deeply personal journey—from a seven-day coma and relearning basic functions to a delayed diagnosis nearly two years later.
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Episode 337: On Men’s Mental Health & Why It Matters pt 2
June 16th, 2025 | Season 3 | 39 mins 13 secs
on men’s mental health & why it matters pt 2
In this second of the 2 part series, episode of DCO Discourse for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with registered psychotherapist Carlton Brown to explore the
unique challenges men face regarding mental health. -
Episode 336: On Men’s Mental Health & Why It Matters pt 1
June 9th, 2025 | Season 3 | 40 mins 21 secs
on men’s mental health & why it matters pt 1
In this 2 part series, episode of DCO Discourse for Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with registered psychotherapist Carlton Brown to explore the unique challenges men face regarding mental health. Together, they unpack how masculinity, stigma, and silence can impact men's emotional well-being and how therapy can be a space for healing, vulnerability, and growth.
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Episode 335: On Healing Beyond Words: Understanding Art Therapy’s Impact
June 2nd, 2025 | Season 3 | 41 mins 53 secs
on healing beyond words: understanding art therapy’s impact
In this episode of DCO Discourse, host Christina Droumtsekas sits down with Melanie Brakel, a professional art therapist and registered psychotherapist, to explore the
world of art therapy—a practice that uses creative expression to support mental and emotional healing. -
Episode 334: On Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Minds: Teen Consent & Mental Health Wellness
May 26th, 2025 | Season 3 | 46 mins 7 secs
healthy minds: teen consent & mental health wellness, on healthy boundaries
As we continue with Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Minds: Teen consent and mental health, Sex Educator Sandra Allen joins host Christina Droumtsekas to dive into what consent looks like, and mental health. We will unpack what it means to support teens through one of their most formative – and often confusing times. Together, we explore how to talk about consent in language that resonates with teens,
navigate the complexities of identity and shame, and understand the impact of digital culture on sexuality. -
Episode 333: On Self-Worth in the Age of Social Media: Self-Esteem and the Selfie
May 19th, 2025 | Season 3 | 17 mins 54 secs
on self-worth in the age of social media: self-esteem and the selfie
In this solo episode, Christina Droumtsekas reflects on how digital culture—and the constant stream of filtered images—shapes our self-esteem. Drawing from her personal experiences and art therapy research, she explores how selfies and self-portraiture can serve as tools for reflection, healing, and reclaiming one’s identity.
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Episode 332: The Loss That Lingers: Holding Space for Grief
May 12th, 2025 | Season 3 | 18 mins 30 secs
the loss that lingers: holding space for grief
In this solo episode, podcast host Christina Droumtsekas reflects on the kind of grief that lingers—the kind that reshapes who we are and how we move through the world. She opens up about the recent passing of her grandmother and the end of her marriage, sharing honest stories about how loss can show up in unexpected ways.
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Episode 331: On “Stressed Out: How to Cope Before You Burn Out”
May 5th, 2025 | Season 3 | 48 mins 21 secs
on “stressed out: how to cope before you burn out”
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and in this episode of Stressed Out: How to Cope Before You Burn Out, host Christina Droumtsekas is joined by Registered Psychotherapist Tracey Sebastian for an honest conversation about one of the most common mental health struggles we all face—stress.