People First Radio – October 22, 2026People First Radio – October 22, 2026
People First Radio
Derek Starlight shares how a planned month on the streets to write a book grew into years of living among homeless communities, confronting alcohol addiction and trauma. The conversation traces his journey to nine years of sobriety and highlights the links between homelessness, Indigenous identity and the need for honest discussion and support.
0:00•22 Oct 2026
Street Life, Sobriety and a Cowboy Hat: Derek Starlight’s Homeless Journey
Episode Overview
- Street communities can become strong, protective "families" that look out for one another, but they can also trap people in cycles of addiction.
- Access to detox is limited, with waiting lists and full centres often pushing people back towards alcohol to manage withdrawal.
- Loss of Indigenous identity through foster care and social services can contribute to homelessness and addiction for young people.
- Separating people in shelters by whether they’re actively using substances or trying to work and stay sober may better support recovery.
- Long-term sobriety, as Starlight’s nine years show, is possible through self-control, mutual support, and refusing to return to harmful environments.
“"I had to get right in there. I had to live like them, see like them, breathe like them, do everything like them in order to get this story out."”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? People First Radio shares a striking example through the story of puppeteer, comedian, author, and wrestling promoter Derek Starlight of the Tsutina Nation. Starlight talks about spending portions of three years living on the streets of Calgary, Edmonton and other Alberta cities, initially inspired by watching the documentary *Super Size Me*.
Instead of fast food, his experiment centred on homelessness and addiction: "What if I were to stay on the streets for a whole month and learn about our people?" That month stretched into years of shelters, detox centres and hospital visits, all documented in his book *See-Me Street, My Homeless, Indigenous Journey*.
You’ll hear how Starlight moved from curiosity to being deeply entangled in street life, describing his first night in a shelter as "horrifying… like getting on a roller coaster". He explains the street community as a "street family" that looks out for each other – right down to chasing through the city to recover his trademark cowboy hat.
At the same time, he shares harrowing details of people drinking hand sanitiser, Listerine and even hairspray to stave off withdrawal, and the long waiting lists that can block access to detox beds. A big thread in the conversation is Indigenous identity and the impact of foster care and social services.
Through stories of friends like Leonard and Bobby, Starlight links homelessness and addiction to loss of identity, ongoing trauma and what he describes as a modern echo of residential schools.
Now nine years sober, Starlight talks about finding recovery through mutual support, repeated detox stays, and a clear decision: "I didn’t want to be an alcoholic in my lifetime or career." He stresses self-control, second chances, and refusing to go backwards, while urging families and communities to start talking honestly about homelessness and addiction.
If you’re looking for a raw, honest perspective on street life, sobriety, and Indigenous experience, this conversation might be the reminder you need that "there’s always tomorrow" – what could your next step be?
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