Stand Up Speak Up

Latest Episodes:

An Activist Filmmaker's Story Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

When Chris Bergoch writes a movie, he doesn’t shy away from social advocacy topics that can be seen as controversial. At Stand Up Speak Up, we try to raise awareness around important social issues, so when Karla discovered the work of Chris Bergoch, she couldn’t wait to have him on the podcast.

Two of Chris’s biggest credits are Tangerine, a movie about a transgender sex worker who discovers her boyfriend and pimp has been cheating on her, and his latest, The Florida Project, about a young mom who resorts to prostitution to take care of her daughter. The Florida Project seemed so real that people have actually called the motel where the movie took place, asking how the characters were doing.

Chris gives us a look into his career journey thus far and insight into how the movies came to be.

Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

The Florida Project Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwQ-NH1rRT4

Tangerine Trailer: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALSwWTb88ZU

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Rupert Blaise - What A Wonderful World

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The Stand Up Speak Up Story: Special Edition with Founders Karla and Zach Dec 26, 2017

Show notes

If you’ve listened to Stand Up Speak Up before, then you’ve heard the voice of host Karla Stephens-Tolstoy. Usually, she’s helping tell the story of others, but you might not have known that Karla herself has led a pretty interesting life!

She’s a Canadian-born & raised entrepreneur, businesswoman, volunteer, mom… and those are just a few of her titles! Karla overcame learning disabilities, and eventually landed the title of CEO at Vodafone, one of the biggest telecom companies in the world. She’s proven that with hard work, nothing is out of reach.

Also on her journey Karla has worked many interesting jobs, hosted a community TV show called “Chit Chat”, started a dating app and website called Tokii, and more.

Today, we sit down with Karla to hear her story, and later her son Zach joins to talk about the mother-son team behind Stand Up Speak Up.

Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

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Burst the Bubble: Organized Crime Dec 12, 2017

Show notes

It’s estimated that illegal trade accounts for one-fifth of the global GDP. In his 2009 book McMafia, Misha Glenny outlined the growth of organized crime around the world, from drugs and sex trades to internet frauds and money laundering, documenting various mafia organizations.

McMafia is now serving as inspiration for a big TV show of the same name, being produced by BBC & AMC, and starring James Norton. It’s expected to air in 2018. In Misha’s time as a journalist and writer, he’s seen the inner workings of the dark things that take place in this world.

Misha tells Karla about his findings, the mass amount of organized crime that takes place, and what it’s like to sit down and chat with some of the most dangerous people in the world.

Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Misha Glenny’s Book McMafia: www.amazon.ca/McMafia-Journey-Through-Global-Underworld/dp/0887848184

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Regina Pik - Knots

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A Navy SEAL Team Six Story Nov 28, 2017

Show notes

Most of us have enjoyed a good action movie, but the difference between a movie and Don Mann’s life, although it may sound like something from a movie, is that his life is completely real. No written storyline. No special effects.

Don is the author of Inside SEAL Team Six: My Life and Missions with America's Elite Warriors. This book details his experiences as a member of the most elite team in the U.S. Navy, the mental and physical strain needed to join, and the inner workings of the minds of the men who carry out top-secret missions that shape the world.

In this fascinating discussion, we hear about: - The gruelling selection and training process for SEALs - Situations where Don has stared death straight in the eye - Why there are no women SEALs - How his life experiences have shaped his political and world views

Host: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Links:

Why Don’t Black Americans Swim? www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-11172054
About Don Mann: www.usfrogmann.com/about-don-mann-navy-seal

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Cellophane Sam – Every Cowboy

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

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Burst the Bubble: Murder and Trauma Clean Up Nov 14, 2017

Show notes

Prepare for some raw true crime discussion, as we chat with Christian Cadieux of Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaners. What’s just another day at work for Christian, could very well be traumatizing for most of us.

Christian shares some of the not-so-pleasant about the work that his company does, but we also delve into some pressing subjects. Being on the front lines of death in Canada, Christian sees first-hand some of the problems we’re faced with, such as drug overdose and suicide.

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Links:

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Allister Thompson - My Name Is Death

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

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Unwanted Entities Story: The Halloween Edition Oct 30, 2017

Show notes

When tragedy strikes, Christian Cadieux and his team at Crime & Trauma Scene Cleaners are called in to handle the cleanup. With crews across Canada, there’s nothing they haven’t seen, and nothing they’re afraid of. Some content in this episode may be disturbing.

In today’s Stand Up Speak Up Halloween special, Christian talks with Karla about unwanted entities that can appear at crime scenes and other places. His new venture, Paranormal Contractors, uses what Christian claims to be a 100% effective method for removing these unwanted entities.

Christian claims he has seen the unexplainable, and tells us how sometimes his work follows him home. In a never before seen video, which Christian has given Stand Up Speak Up to release, he claims that orbs followed him home from a crime scene and could be seen near his sleeping children. Be sure to check out the video!

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Links:

www.crimescenecleaners.ca
Crime Scene Paranormal Activity video on YouTube: www.youtu.be/zCJV9ENnEoE

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Holy Gol – Devil Do

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Burst the Bubble: Finding and Convicting Serial Killers Oct 13, 2017

Show notes

We trust law enforcement to do the absolute best job keeping communities safe, conducting investigations, and bringing criminals to justice. But, what about when they don’t live up to their duty?

As we saw with the Shelley Desrochers case, there appeared to be a lot more to the story than police were able or willing to discover. These occurrences are more common than one might think, and have been for a long time.

We look at the case of Christine Rothschild, a University of Wisconsin student who was killed in the late 1960s. After police seemed to be no help, Christine’s friend Linda made it her mission to find the killer. While she was able to put together a strong case against one man, police mainly dismissed it and he was never brought to justice.

This story is featured in Dr. Mike Arntfield’s new book “Mad City” where he actually speaks with Linda, and his students even contact the alleged killer. Mike also tells us about the Murder Accountability Project which helps track murder data and hold police departments in the U.S. accountable for their performance. You’ll also find out why such a thing does not exist for Canadian police.

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Editor and Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Murder Accountability Project: www.murderdata.org

Mike’s Book “Mad City”: www.amazon.ca/Mad-City-Campus-Murders-America-ebook/dp/B01M6D8URV

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Eric Eckhart plus Salonband - The One

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/

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Maryalice Ashbrook: Hollywood Kids to Hollywood Hell Aug 16, 2017

Show notes

Maryalice Ashbrook was born into a family that seemingly had it all. Her grandfather was president of a huge company that listed a movie studio among its subsidiaries. Her mother counted Joan Crawford and Jane Russell among her friends. So how did Maryalice end up being sexually abused by a foster carer?

Her mother’s pill addiction and divorce from her father led her to give up Maryalice’s brothers up to foster care. Meanwhile her mother’s continuing struggle with pills meant Maryalice spent time at MacLaren Hall Children’s Center before being placed with a foster family.

Despite these setbacks and others Maryalice kept her positive attitude and keeps reaching for what she needs from life.

Check out the podcast and hear her story about how she has overcome adversity in many forms to find happiness and fulfilment.

Host and producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy

Reporter and co-producer: Kris Mulliah

Editor: Cesar Del Castillo

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license:

www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_2_Tears_for_Lamont

www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_3_Fair_Weather_Friend

www.freemusicarchive.org/music/Kadhja_Bonet/Live_at_WFMU_for_Sophisticated_Boom_Boom_with_Sheila_B_10212016/Kadhja_Bonet_5_Miss_You

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finding Shelley Desrochers: Part 9 – Honouring Shelley Jun 20, 2017

Show notes

After a dramatic episode 8 of Finding Shelley Desrochers, we now bring the series to a close. Karla shares her final thoughts on the case and an update on police involvement. We’ll hear from Dr. Pauline Boss, an educator, and researcher, widely recognized for her research on ambiguous loss –the loss of somebody with no finality or resolution.

To close out the series, we’re raising money to establish a memorial bench in Shelley’s honour, with Stand Up Speak Up donating the first $1000. For additional content, Karla talks with Maureen Trask, a mother who is all too familiar with ambiguous loss.

Have you seen Shelley Desrochers? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.com

London Police Missing People: www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Editor

Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

GoFundMe:

Shelley’s Bench: www.gofundme.com/ShelleyDeroschers
Maureen Trask: www.facebook.com/pg/SupportForUs www.facebook.com/Daniel-Trask-is-Found-141269306065266

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Pachyderm – Never Knew Me At All

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Finding Shelley Desrochers: Part 8 – New Year’s Eve 2015 Jun 15, 2017

Show notes

We call in the London Police after making a gruesome discovery. Karla and Chris Williams P.I. enter dangerous situations while trying to uncover the truth about Shelley Desrocher’s disappearance.

At this point in time, we’ve been led to a group of individuals and one theory that seems highly likely. These possible suspects seem to be exhibiting strange behaviour after our meddling. The pieces seem to start falling into place after one source becomes hysterical while describing a party that took place on New Year’s Eve, just days before Shelley went missing.

Have you seen Shelley Desrochers? E-mail findshelleynow@gmail.com

London Police Missing People: www.londonpolice.ca/en/about/Missing-People.aspx

Host and Producer: Karla Stephens-Tolstoy Editor

Co-Producer: Joel at East Coast Radio Creative

Thanks to Canadian Private Investigation Services

This episode contains music used under the CreativeCommons license: Kadhja Bonet - Miss You

Receive our newsletter, contribute show ideas and feedback by emailing: karla.tolstoy@standupspeakup.ca

Support the show: www.standupspeakup.ca/give/

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.