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Breaking the Silence on Men’s Mental Health — Calvin Fernandez on Why Men Don’t Ask for Help and What We Can Do About It Men make up over 75% of suicide cases in Canada, yet remain underrepresented in mental health care. So what’s actually stopping them from reaching out and what can we do about it? In this episode, Tim sits down with Calvin Fernandez, a fifth-year PhD candidate at UBC’s School of Population and Public Health and a trainee with the Reducing Male Suicide Research Program. Calvin’s research takes a strength-based approach to understanding how men experience mental health distress, including racialized men, queer men, and men with intersecting identities and what strategies genuinely help. In this episode: Why men don’t ask for help, and why it’s not because they don’t want to The role of masculinity, stigma, and mental health literacy in keeping men away from support Why therapy isn’t just for crises, and how that misconception is costing lives The value of peer support and community connection in reducing suicidality Canada’s first-ever federal men’s health strategy, and why it matters Boys, young men, and the growing threat of the Manosphere online The role of male role models in schools and communities How service dogs are changing the mental health conversation Calvin’s message to anyone who’s thinking about reaching out but hasn’t yet Resources: Calvin and his team at MHR have resources available for anyone wanting support or wanting to learn more. If today’s episode resonated with you, please share it with one person who needs to hear it. That one share could change someone’s life. Follow, like and share so you never miss an episode and leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. It takes less than a minute and helps more people find the show. Paws on Point is brought to you by Pawsabilities Service Dog Society, a non-profit society advocating for, educating and supporting service dog teams across Canada. This episode is sponsored by Helmcken Veterinary Clinic.

Meet Sierra: Service Dog Handler, Apprentice Trainer and the New Co-Host of Paws on Point Paws on Point has a new voice. In this special episode, Tim introduces Sierra, the show’s new co-host, and she shares how she went from a dog-loving daycare employee to a service dog handler and apprentice service dog trainer. In this episode: Why Sierra thought service dogs were only for people who are blind or deaf, and what changed her mind What it’s really like to work with 30 to 40 different dogs in a day, and why dog body language is a whole second language How a life-changing moment led to a conversation about a service dog, and how her service dog Cosmos came into her life The juggling act of being both a handler and a trainer, and learning to “flip the switch” between the two Why vests alone don’t make a service dog, and how that perception affects working teams in public What Sierra hopes to bring to the podcast, and why the service dog community has more to say than it’s been given room for Paws on Point exists to lift the veil on the service dog world, and with Sierra on board, you’ll hear more perspectives from handlers, trainers, families and experts each week. Have a story to share? If you’d like to come on the podcast, get in touch with us at Pawsabilities Service Dog Society. Follow, like and share so you get a notification when each new episode drops. It takes three seconds and helps us more than you’d think. Paws on Point is brought to you by Pawsabilities Service Dog Society, a non-profit society advocating for, educating and supporting service dog teams across Canada.

What happens when a hurricane hits and you're evacuating with a service dog and a wheelchair user in the car? That's the world Catherine Mann brings to life in her novel The Sweet Tea Odyssey, a dual timeline story that weaves a present day hurricane evacuation with the true history of the Wheels of Justice march that propelled the Americans with Disabilities Act into law in 1990. But Catherine isn't just a novelist. She's a ten year volunteer with PAALS, Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, an Assistance Dogs International affiliated service dog training organisation in South Carolina. She's fostered dogs, taken them into hospitals, schools and public spaces, and watched firsthand as dogs find their destiny with the people they're partnered with. In this episode Catherine and Tim cover: The real history behind the ADA, and the moment people crawled up the Capitol steps that changed everything What hurricane evacuation actually looks like when you have a service dog and a disability Practical tips every service dog handler and pet owner needs before disaster strikes Why so many dogs don't complete the two year training journey, and what that means for demand The financial case for service dogs that insurance companies need to hear How to spot a legitimate service dog organisation, and the red flags to watch for Why regulation of the service dog industry matters globally, not just in North America This episode is for anyone who loves dogs, believes in disability rights, or wants to understand the world behind the vest. 🎧 Follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast 🐾 Learn more or donate: pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 [email protected] #PawsOnPoint #ServiceDogPodcast #CatherineMann #SweetTeaOdyssey #ServiceDogs #DisabilityRights #ADA #AccessRights #CanadianPodcast #Pawsabilities #ServiceDogCanada #DisabilityAdvocacy #HurricaneEvacuation #ServiceDogTraining #BCServiceDog

Some conversations change you. This is one of them. Steve Serbic spent decades as a firefighter and Fire Chief, responding to suicides, talking people back from ledges, removing guns from homes, and holding space for first responders at their lowest. He became one of Canada's most recognised voices on mental health, spoke to 26 countries at the European Council, delivered a TEDx talk, and wrote two books about his journey through depression. And yet. The chaplain who got Steve to stand on a stage and talk openly about his depression, the man who convinced him that vulnerability wasn't weakness, took his own life. In this episode, Steve sits down with Tim to talk about what that moment did to him, what it took to come back from it, and why he believes the conversation around men and mental health is still the most important one we're not having loudly enough. This episode covers: Growing up in the care system and finding purpose through the fire service Multiple suicides within his department including close friends His brother's suicide - and the phone call the night it happened The chaplain Ken Gill - the man who changed everything, and what happened to him Living with depression and anxiety as a senior leader Crisis intervention work - the Golden Gate Bridge, jumpers, removing guns, driving people to emerge Why 75% of all suicides are men - and what Heads Up Guys is doing about it Goose - and why this dog has been there through every dark moment Why service dogs open doors for men that nothing else can This episode is dedicated to every first responder and member of the armed forces who puts themselves in harm's way so that we don't have to. We see you. We hear you. Thank you. If you're struggling right now - please reach out. You are not alone. 🇨🇦 988 — North America 🇬🇧 116 123 — United Kingdom 🇦🇺 13 11 14 — Australia 🎧 Follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast 🐾 Learn more or donate: pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 [email protected] #PawsOnPoint #ServiceDogPodcast #MentalHealth #FirstResponders #FireChief #Depression #PTSD #ServiceDogs #MensmentalHealth #Pawsabilities #CanadianPodcast #SuicidePrevention #988 #SteveSerbic #GooseTheFireDog #FirstResponderMentalHealth #BCServiceDog

One year ago, Tim pressed record for the first time with no idea who - if anyone - would listen. Today, Paws on Point has been heard in 32 countries, is sitting in the top 20% of podcasts globally, and has charted in Canada, the United States, France, and Macau. In this special first birthday episode, Tim reflects on a year that far exceeded every expectation - 18 episodes, extraordinary guests, and a service dog community that showed up from every corner of the world. To celebrate, Tim does something no other podcast has done -  saying thank you to all 32 countries in their own language. From Canada to Macau, Singapore to the Dominican Republic, Uzbekistan to the United Kingdom - this one is personal. Topics covered: One year of Paws on Point — what's happened, what it means, and what's coming 32 countries, top 20% globally, and charting internationally in year one A thank you to every country in their own language What's ahead in year two — Paws Unleashed, new guests, listener stories, and more How you can be part of the mission — follow, share, and write in This episode is for every listener in every country who found this podcast and stayed. You made this possible. 🎧 Follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 Share your story: [email protected] #PawsOnPoint #ServiceDogPodcast #CanadianPodcast #ServiceDogs #PawsAbilities #ServiceDogCanada #DisabilityAdvocacy #AccessibilityRights #PodcastBirthday #Top20Percent #ServiceDogCommunity #PodcastMilestone #32Countries #ServiceDogAwareness #BCServiceDog

For decades, patients with POTS have been told the same thing - it'll go away. You'll grow out of it. Just wait. The research tells a very different story. In this episode of Paws on Point, Tim sits down with Dr Satish Raj - cardiologist, POTS researcher, and professor at the University of Calgary - and Kate Bourne, MD/PhD candidate at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine and POTS patient herself - to discuss the most comprehensive long-term POTS outcome study ever conducted. With a median follow-up of 23 years, their research published in the Journal of Internal Medicine is the longest known study of its kind. And the findings are clear - 98% of participants continued to experience POTS symptoms decades after onset. Only 2% reported being fully recovered. This episode covers: Why POTS is a lifelong condition for the vast majority of patients The average diagnostic delay of 5 years - and why it's still happening The psychiatric myth - what the research actually shows Why treatment can improve quality of life even without an FDA approved drug The comorbidities that predict worse long-term outcomes How service dogs are changing daily life for POTS patients What patients can do when their doctor doesn't recognise POTS Where POTS research is heading next Kate brings something rare to this conversation - the lived experience of a 12 year diagnostic delay, combined with the scientific credibility of someone who has dedicated their career to understanding the condition that changed her life. This is the episode POTS patients, their families, and their healthcare providers need to hear. 🐾 Paws on Point is the podcast of Pawsabilities Service Dog Society -  amplifying credible voices in the service dog and invisible illness community. #POTS #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #Dysautonomia #InvisibleIllness #ChronicIllness #POTSAwareness #ServiceDogs #ServiceDogPodcast #MedicalResearch #ChronicPain #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #MCAS #POTSSupport #InvisibleDisability #PawsOnPoint #PawsabilitiesServiceDogSociety #HealthPodcast #PatientAdvocacy #ChronicIllnessAwareness #MedicalMyths

What if a sunflower could change the way the world treats you on your hardest day? In this episode of Paws on Point, Tim Land sits down with Clare Kumar - Canadian Director of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme - to explore one of the most quietly powerful movements in accessibility and invisible illness awareness happening right now. The Sunflower Scheme began at Gatwick Airport in 2016 as a simple idea: a recognisable symbol that anyone with a hidden disability could choose to wear, signalling to those around them that they might need a little extra patience, kindness, or assistance. Today it's present in nearly 350 airports worldwide and has spread across retail, healthcare, transit, banking, events, and municipalities - and it's growing fast in Canada. Tim and Clare talk about why bias makes the sunflower necessary, what it actually feels like to wear the lanyard, the incredible ripple effect of one small symbol on an entire environment, and why Uruguay and Brazil have already made the sunflower legally recognised as a symbol of non-visible disability. Clare also shares her own personal journey - including her late diagnosis of autism and ADHD - and why that experience deepened her commitment to making the world more inclusive for everyone living with something you can't see from the outside. Whether you're living with an invisible illness, caring for someone who is, or simply want to understand how to make the world a kinder place - this conversation is for you. 🌻 Find the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme in Canada at hdsunflower.com/ca 🎙️ Listen to Claire's podcast: Happy Space 🎙️ The official Sunflower podcast: Sunflower Conversations Conditions discussed in this episode include: POTS, EDS, PTSD, autism, ADHD, MS, and other hidden disabilities. Paws on Point is produced by Pawsabilities Service Dog Society - a Canadian nonprofit advocating for service dog handlers and shining a light on invisible illness. Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and more.

What happens when two groomers hit breaking point, walk away from everything they knew, and rebuild from scratch — on their own terms? In this episode Tim sits down with the founders of Calm Dog Studio — Victoria's pioneering dog grooming and conditioning studio built on a radical idea. That a calm dog and a calm groomer aren't separate goals. They're the same goal. From burnout and breakdown to building something entirely new during COVID, Kelsey and Kayla share the story behind Calm Dog Studio, why the traditional grooming industry needed to change, and what happens when you decide to put the dog's nervous system first — every single time. This is a conversation about consent, collaboration, humble pie and the moments that change how you see dogs forever. And yes — there are puppies. Woofability puppies specifically. And Bruce flying over a coffee table. Topics covered: How Calm Dog Studio was born out of burnout and a garden shed during COVID Why the traditional grooming industry is at a crossroads Consent based grooming — what it means and why it matters Nervous system co-regulation between dogs and humans The Woofability connection and the magic of working with future service dog puppies Why knowing your strengths makes you a better professional The humble pie moments that change everything This episode is for: Dog owners, groomers, trainers, handlers and anyone who has ever wondered what really happens behind the scenes when a fearful or reactive dog walks through a grooming studio door. This is Part 1 of a two part conversation — Part 2 coming soon. 🎧 Listen now and follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast. 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 [email protected] Paws on Point is proudly supported by Trupanion Pet Health Insurance and Helmcken Veterinary Clinic.

What happens when a baseball stadium opens its gates to dogs, service dog teams, and a community that just wants to come together? In this episode, Tim sits down with Jim Swanson - of the Victoria HarbourCats - to talk about one of Victoria's most loved community events: Bark in the Park, happening Sunday July 19th at Wilson's Group Stadium at Royal Athletic Park. Jim shares how Bark in the Park began over 12 years ago, why it's become one of the most asked-about dates on the HarbourCats calendar, and why he believes it has the potential to grow into something even bigger. From the symphony of barking dogs set off by the stadium sound system, to the merging of baseball, pet and service dog communities in one incredible afternoon - this is a conversation about what community really looks like when everyone is welcome. And this year, Bark in the Park falls on the same day as the World Cup Final - so the HarbourCats have moved the 3pm start time to make sure nobody has to choose. Bring your dog, watch some baseball, and be part of something special. Bark in the Park 2026: 📅 Sunday July 19th ⏰ 3pm start 📍 Wilson's Group Stadium, Royal Athletic Park, Victoria BC 🎟️ Tickets and info at victoriaHarbourCats.com 🐾 Learn more about Pawsabilities at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 [email protected] Paws on Point is proudly supported by Trupanion Pet Health Insurance and Helmcken Veterinary Clinic.

What happens when a hospital pharmacist gets a $3,000 vet bill for eye drops — and discovers they were just human drugs? For Wendy Chui, founder of Pets Drug Mart, that moment changed everything. What started as one prescription at a time in a medical building became Canada's national pet pharmacy — serving every province and territory, delivering medication directly to your door. But the journey wasn't straightforward. Wendy took on 16 pharmaceutical companies, fought her own professional college, went to the Globe and Mail, CBC's Fifth Estate, and the federal government's competition bureau — alone — to ensure Canadian pet owners had the right to access affordable pet medication through a pharmacy. In this episode of Paws on Point, Tim sits down with Wendy for a conversation that's as much about courage and patient advocacy as it is about pet prescriptions. They get into: 🐾 Why your dog's medication costs significantly more at the vet than at a pharmacy — and why that's by design 🐾 The $3,000 eye infection bill that started it all 🐾 How Wendy took on 16 pharmaceutical companies as a lone pharmacist and won 🐾 What prescription portability means for Canadian pet owners and service dog handlers 🐾 The simple thing every pet owner with a chronic medication prescription should do at their next vet appointment 🐾 How service dog handlers can get both their own medication and their dog's medication delivered to their door through one platform This is a genuinely practical episode — by the end of it you'll understand your rights as a pet owner and know exactly how to save money on your dog's long-term medication. Find Pets Drug Mart at petsdrugmart.ca Support Pawsabilities Service Dog Society at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca — 100% of donations fund life-changing service dog partnerships for people who need them most.

What if anxiety isn't a thinking problem at all — but a feeling problem that traditional medicine has been getting wrong for decades? In this episode of Paws on Point, Tim sits down with Dr. Russell Kennedy — physician, bestselling author of The Anxiety Rx, and anxiety specialist — for one of the most honest and unexpected conversations the podcast has ever had. Dr. Kennedy has spent 30 years challenging the way medicine treats anxiety. His core belief: most people think anxiety is a thinking problem with a feeling component. He believes it's the other way around — and that distinction changes everything about how we heal. What makes this episode particularly powerful for the Paws on Point community is how naturally Dr. Kennedy's framework connects to the world of service dogs. The unconditional trust, the body-based comfort, the way a dog can walk into a room and completely shift its energy — it all maps directly onto the neuroscience of how humans heal anxiety at its root. In this conversation they get into: 🐾 Why traditional psychiatry keeps people coping rather than healing 🐾 The moment that shifted Dr. Kennedy's entire understanding of anxiety 🐾 Why dogs give people access to love they couldn't trust from humans 🐾 The case for dogs in every doctor's office in Canada 🐾 Why connection — not medication — is the most powerful healing force we have 🐾 What 30 years of treating anxiety actually teaches you about yourself This is one of those conversations that makes you see something completely familiar in a brand new way. Find Dr. Russell Kennedy at https://www.dr-russ.com and look for The Anxiety Rx wherever books are sold. Support Pawsabilities Service Dog Society at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca - 100% of donations fund life-changing service dog partnerships for people who need them most.

Hypoallergenic dogs don't exist. And someone in the pet industry has been very happy for you not to know that. The word hypoallergenic sells dogs. It appears on breeder websites, in pet store marketing, and in well-meaning advice from friends. But the science tells a different story — and if you or someone you love has allergies, that story matters. In this episode, Tim breaks down one of the most persistent myths in the dog world — what hypoallergenic actually means, why no dog is truly allergen-free, and what science says you should actually be paying attention to when allergies are part of the equation. Because making the wrong choice doesn't just cause sneezing. For service dog prospects, families with allergies, and handlers whose health depends on getting this right — it can derail an entire partnership before it begins. Topics covered: Why the term hypoallergenic is misleading — and what it actually means in practice How dog allergies really work — dander, saliva, shedding and the science behind reactions Why some breeds seem better for allergy sufferers even if none are truly safe The role of grooming, environment and individual sensitivity in managing allergic reactions Common marketing myths versus medical reality Practical considerations for families, service dog prospects and allergy-aware owners This episode is for: Anyone researching breeds, considering a service dog, or trying to make an informed decision about dogs and allergies based on evidence rather than labels. 🎧 Listen now and follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast. 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 Questions or stories: [email protected]#HypoallergenicDogs #DogAllergies #ServiceDog #PawsOnPoint #Pawsabilities #CanadianPodcast #DogBreeds #PetAllergies #ServiceDogCanada #DogScience #AllergyAwareness #ServiceDogTraining #BCServiceDog #DogHealth #PetHealth

When a service dog joins a family, one person's life changes. But that's never where it stops. The ripple effect is real. And in this episode, you're going to hear it firsthand. Tim sits down with a remarkable family who share their journey with complete honesty — the challenges that led them to a service dog, the moments they weren't sure they could keep going, and the profound transformation that happened when their dog finally arrived. Not just for the handler. For everyone. For the parent who could finally sleep at night. For the sibling who watched their family member rediscover confidence. For the relationships that were strained by daily uncertainty and slowly rebuilt through the steady presence of a dog who simply showed up, every single day, and did their job. This is one of those episodes that stays with you. Topics covered: The real journey of a family navigating disability, advocacy and the service dog process How a service dog changes daily routines, emotional stability and family dynamics The impact on siblings, parents and relationships that nobody talks about What independence actually looks like from inside a family living it The honest truth about what life looked like before — and after This episode is for: Families considering a service dog. Handlers who want to feel understood. Anyone who has ever wondered whether the impact is really as profound as people say. It is. This family proves it. 🎧 Listen now and follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast. 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 Share your story: [email protected] #ServiceDog #ServiceDogFamily #RippleEffect #PawsOnPoint #Pawsabilities #CanadianPodcast #DisabilityAdvocacy #ServiceDogCanada #FamilySupport #DisabilityInclusion #ServiceDogHandler #ServiceDogLife #InvisibleDisability #BCServiceDog #ServiceDogAwareness

A service dog doesn't change one life. It changes every life connected to it. And most of those people never get thanked. Behind every handler who walks confidently into the world with their service dog is a network of people who made that moment possible. Trainers who spent months shaping every behaviour. Puppy raisers who loved a dog through their most formative weeks and then let them go. Families who opened their homes not for recognition — but because they believed in something bigger than themselves. This episode is for them. In this episode of Paws on Point, Tim shines a light on the village behind every successful service dog partnership — the dedication, the sacrifice, the emotion, and the quiet community spirit that the world rarely sees but handlers feel every single day. Topics covered: Why puppy raisers are the foundation everything else is built on What trainers actually carry — the patience, precision and purpose behind every command How volunteer families keep the mission alive between the headlines The emotional reality of pouring yourself into a dog you'll eventually hand to someone else Why community support isn't just helpful — it's what makes service dog partnerships possible at all This episode is for: Everyone who has ever wondered how a service dog actually comes to exist. And everyone who has played a part in that journey — seen or unseen. 🎧 Listen now and follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast. 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 Share your story: [email protected]#ServiceDog #PuppyRaiser #ServiceDogTraining #ServiceDogCanada #PawsOnPoint #Pawsabilities #CanadianPodcast #DisabilityAdvocacy #ServiceDogCommunity #UnsungHeroes #ServiceDogHandler #Volunteers #DisabilityInclusion #BCServiceDog #ServiceDogAwareness

What does it actually feel like to live and work alongside a service dog every single day? Not the Instagram version. The real one. In this special community episode, Tim sits down with real service dog handlers for an honest, unfiltered conversation about life behind the harness. The moments nobody photographs. The challenges nobody prepares you for. And the community that makes it all possible. Because the service dog world is full of inspiring stories — but it's also full of hard days, misunderstood moments, and battles for basic dignity that most people never see. This episode gives those experiences a voice. Topics covered: The daily realities of living and working with a service dog — the good, the hard, and the unexpected Navigating public spaces, stigma, and the constant need to educate strangers Why visibility and advocacy matter beyond individual experience The power of community for handlers who often feel isolated and misunderstood Real voices, real stories, real impact This episode is for: Handlers who want to feel seen. Trainers who want to understand their clients more deeply. Allies who want to listen before they speak. And anyone who has ever wondered what life with a service dog is really like. 🎧 Listen now and follow Paws on Point — Canada's service dog podcast. 🐾 Learn more or donate at pawsabilitiesservicedogs.ca 📩 Share your story: [email protected]#ServiceDogHandler #ServiceDogLife #ServiceDogCommunity #PawsOnPoint #Pawsabilities #CanadianPodcast #DisabilityAdvocacy #LivedExperience #ServiceDogCanada #Accessibility #DisabilityInclusion #ServiceDog #RealStories #BCServiceDog #ServiceDogAwareness