Who Cares: A podcast about caregiving in Canada

A mother leaves her career to care for her son with cerebral palsy full-time.

An adult sibling spends their days navigating the complexities of caregiving for their brother with a disability.

A personal support worker ends a grueling overnight shift, only to begin another at home, caring for their mother battling cancer.

These are just three of the millions of caregiving stories that shape the lives of over eight million Canadians. These experiences are at the heart of Who Cares, a new podcast from CCCE and Snack Labs Productions.

Hosted by sibling caregiver Melissa Ngo, the eight-part series shines a spotlight on the unseen realities of caregivers and care providers across Canada. It reveals how caregiving acts as the linchpin of Canadian society, holding together our healthcare systems and economy, while also offering policy solutions to address them.

Episodes will be released weekly between January 8 and February 19, 2025. Who Cares is available on all major podcast streaming networks.

Listen to Who Cares

Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Orange background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: Who Cares?

Episode 1: Who Cares?

In the first episode, host Melissa Ngo shares her personal caregiving journey and delves into the challenges facing caregivers across the country. With 1 in 4 Canadians already caregivers and half of all Canadians expected to be one, this issue, whether you know it or not, will come knocking at your doorstep. It is a unifying force for all Canadian families and the linchpin of Canadian society.

Green background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: I Never Went Back

Episode 2: I Never Went Back

In this episode of Who Cares, we’ll look at the opportunity that COVID-19 provided to change the caregiving landscape, and how we didn’t take advantage of it. We’ll also take you on a journey into the experience of Jennifer Johannessen, who, after what should have been a routine pregnancy check-up, never returned to work. When you’re obligated to leave the workforce to care for someone full-time, it leaves a black hole in your ability to provide for yourself financially. Let’s change that.

Light blue background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: My Brother's Keeper

Episode 3: My Brother's Keeper

When your sibling has a chronic illness or a disability, childhood, and your whole life, can look quite a bit different than what you might expect. In this episode, we talked to Helen Ries, cofounder of Siblings Canada, on how an empty desert of support inspired her to create the resources for other siblings that she never had. We’ll also hear from Terrence Ho, a caregiving advocate and author who cared for his younger brother Torrence, for over 30 years.

Yellow background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: A Heavy Secret

Episode 4: A Heavy Secret

Growing up with a parent who needs care can give a lot and take a lot. When Rosie Paulyk was young, her mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. While she shared an incredible bond with her mother, her caregiving duties remained a secret to the outside world. In this episode of Who Cares, we’ll look at how young caregivers need more support, and spaces to share what can often be an isolating experience.

Orange background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: Righting Wrong

Episode 5: Righting Wrongs

Canada’s dark history of discrimination continues to cast a shadow in clinics and hospital rooms across the country.  Join us as we talk with Grant Bruno about Indigenous perspectives on Autism and the impact of generational trauma on accessing and trusting healthcare. We’ll also hear from Sherron and Clovis Grant, who share how their experience as a Black family raising a son with Autism led them to create Sawubona Afrocentric Circle of Support.

Green background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: I Care. You Care. We Care.

Episode 6: I Care. You Care. We Care.

In this episode of Who Cares, we explore caregiving from the perspective of caring for someone with dementia, and the waves of grief caregivers experience through their journey. But caregiving isn’t one-size-fits-all— we’ll also get a glimpse into the obstacles and challenges that people in the 2SLGBTQI community face as they give and receive care in a changing world.

Light blue background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: Looking Ahead

Episode 7: Looking Ahead

In this episode, we look at how Canada stacks up against global leaders in caregiving policy. When the U.S. launched its National Caregiving Strategy in 2022, other countries like the U.K. and Denmark offer forward-thinking models of care that Canada can look to for inspiration. What lessons can we learn, and how can we better support caregivers here at home?

Yellow background with abstract shapes of silhouettes and a logo that says, Who Cares, a podcast about caregiving. Text: The Strategy

Episode 8: The Strategy

In the words of one of Canada’s most beloved national treasures, Gord Downie, it’s been a long time coming. What does a National Caregiving Strategy need to be the catalyst for change that we need it to be?  In this episode, we explore the essential components of a successful strategy and the transformative impact it could have on caregivers nationwide.