People First Radio – February 12, 2026People First Radio – February 12, 2026
People First Radio
A radio conversation highlights two Vancouver Island projects: a men’s mental health–focused solo show about substance use, grief, and life transitions, and a semi-autobiographical film about family, disability, and finding your own path. Through theatre and film, the episode looks at art as a kind of ‘medicine’ that helps people feel less alone in their struggles.
0:00•14 Feb 2026
Island Stories, Men’s Mental Health and Disability on Stage and Screen
Episode Overview
- Art and storytelling can act as ‘good medicine’ for mental wellness, helping people process substance use, anxiety, grief, and depression.
- Community connection and mutual support are presented as essential for healthier minds, especially for men who may struggle to speak openly.
- Moving away from big-city competition toward a slower, more nature-centred lifestyle can create space for self-care and reflection.
- Clown Fish blends immersive sound, projections, and solo performance to share one man’s life story while reassuring audiences they are not alone.
- Mildlife aims to portray disability without clichés, giving parents with cerebral palsy complex, three-dimensional roles rather than stereotyped ones.
“We need good medicine, right? Like we need medicine. So what is medicine for your mental wellness? What is medicine for your family? What is medicine for your community?”
Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? People First Radio’s 12 February 2026 episode shines a spotlight on local art that tackles mental health, substance use, grief, disability, and community care – all through honest, often funny storytelling. First up, theatre-maker Paul Tedeschini puts his own life on stage in *Clown Fish*, an autobiographical solo show about moving from Edmonton to Toronto and eventually to Vancouver Island.
The piece is part of a men’s mental health series and touches on substance use, anxiety, death, and grief. Paul’s wife, actor and playwright Nicole Natras, directs the show. Their long relationship and mutual respect give the project a deeply human feel. As Paul puts it, community and connection are central: “We need each other.” Nicole adds, “We need good medicine… what is medicine for your mental wellness? And art has that ability.
Good storytelling has that ability.” You’ll hear how big-city ‘rat race’ pressure fuelled stress and poor mental health, and how a slower, coastal life opened space for reflection, self-care, and community-based support. The pair also talk about post-show conversations and having resources on hand for anyone who finds the themes triggering – a thoughtful touch for those in recovery or living with mental health challenges. The episode then shifts to film with Victoria writer–director–actor Corey Tiber and his feature *Mildlife*.
The story centres on Lawrence, a young man with two parents who have cerebral palsy, juggling family responsibilities and his own dreams. Corey talks about avoiding common disability clichés and making the parents “just as three-dimensional” as any other character. Set firmly on Vancouver Island, both *Clown Fish* and *Mildlife* show how local stories, humour, and shared experience can make you feel less alone in your struggles.
If you’re interested in recovery, mental health, or disability – and like your stories honest, messy, and a bit wry – this one’s worth your time. What kind of art feels like ‘good medicine’ in your life right now?
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