The Hard to Stomach podcast explores stories of food insecurity across Ontario

CBC's Hard to Stomachpodcastfocuses on real people facing - and fighting against - food insecurity in communities across Ontario from north to south.

In Season 1 of the series, CBC's Nana Aba Duncan exploredwhat food insecurity feltand soundedlike through the stories of people who experienced it firsthand.

Season 2 explores the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic

The second season,hosted by CBC's Jason D'Souza, examinesthe interconnected issues of economic uncertainty, affordable housing and access to food amidst a global pandemic.

Listen now

All episodes of Season 2 are available on all podcast platforms and CBC Listen.

Episode 1: Appetite for Change

Hard to Stomach14:44Appetite for Change

2020 is a year marked by change. For people who already faced hunger, the pandemic made a bad situation worse. So who stepped in to help?This episode explores how food banks are working to meet increased demand, and asks hard questions about systemic issues causing food insecurity. Youll also hear from grassroots community groups taking matters of food access into their own hands across the province.

• London Food Bank

• PROOF - Food Insecurity Policy Research

• Caribbean African CanadianSocial Services - CAFCAN

• 519 Pursuit

• Matawa First Nations

• Wapekeka First Nation

Episode 2: A complex puzzle

Hard to Stomach12:47A Complex Puzzle

For some, CERB was a financial lifeline. It meant that for the first time in a long while, recipients could afford to keep a stocked fridge. For other Ontarians, the $500 weekly installment didnt go quite far enough. In this episode you'll hear, firsthand, the impact government assistance can have and what happens when that support changes.

• ACORN Ottawa
  
• Government of Canada - CERB
  
• RFDA
  
• Feed Ontario Emergency Food Boxes Program
  
• Article:The CERB benefit is over here's what you need to know now
  

Episode 3: Food for (future) thought

Hard to Stomach10:28Food For (Future) Thought

How do you decide between putting food on the table and buying much-needed medication? In this episode, the focus is on organizations working towards food sovereignty by proposing a new way forward. A future where people don't have to choose between skipping meals or taking care of their health.

Mentioned throughout the episode:

• Feed Ontario
  
• Black Creek Community Farm
  
• Indigenous Food Circle
  
• Sustainable Food Systems Lab at LakeheadUniversity
  
• Red Rock Indian Band
  
• Northern Ontario Indigenous Food Sovereignty Collaborative
  
• PikangikumFirst Nation

Season 2 Research, Reporting and Writing by:

Kate McGillivray

Audio Production and Research by:

Mac Cameron

Produced and created by:

Melissa Haughton and Hayley Zimak

Executive producer:

Amanda Margison

Season 1

Episode 1:Who's Hungry?

There were more than three million visits to food banks across Ontario at last count. Who are the people behind the numbers?

We explore what it's like to grow up hungry in a food-rich province, and its lasting effects on parents and children. We also dive into how the cost of living can impact every aspect of a person's life, from Toronto to London, Ontario.

Mentioned during the episode:

• Daily Bread Who's Hungry Report 2019
  www.dailybread.ca/research-and-advocacy/whos-hungry-report/

• Feed Ontario 2019 Report
  https://feedontario.ca/hunger-report/

• Elgin Street Mission
  http://themission.ca/

• Sudbury Food Bank
  www.sudburyfoodbank.ca/

• London Food Bank
  www.londonfoodbank.ca/

• One on One with Markus: Brad Hale
  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sudbury/one-on-one-with-markus-brad-hale-1.4974601
  

Episode 2:Fresh Out

Frozen pizzas and boxed mac and cheese might seem like a treat...until they're your only option. What happens when your access to fresh food is limited by how much money you have, or how far north you live? We talk about why food accessibility issues persist across Ontario, and hear from dedicated people in Leamington and Mississauga putting fresh produce into the hands of people who need it most.

Mentioned during the episode:

• Southwestern Ontario Gleaners
  https://swogleaners.ca/

• The The Regional Food Distribution Association
  http://www.foodbanksnorthwest.ca/

• Windsor Essex Food Bank Association
  http://wefba.ca/

• The Mississauga Food Bank ReclaimFRESH program: www.themississaugafoodbank.org/learn/reclaimfresh-2/

• Kasabonika Lake
  https://www.canada.ca/en/indigenous-services-canada/news/2019/08/grand-opening-of-expanded-nursing-station-and-funding-support-for-education-facilities-in-kasabonika-lake-first-nation.html

• Sandy Lake
  sandylake.firstnation.ca/?q=profile

• 2018 Northern Policy InstituteReport
  www.northernpolicy.ca/upload/documents/publications/commentaries-new/comm
  

Episode 3:Hard to shake

Food bank use is growing, particularly among working people. So with more people in need of help than ever, why is it still so hard to talk about? Nana aba examines why the stigma around food insecurity still exists, and how misconceptions about hunger impact the lives of half a million people across Ontario.

Mentioned during the episode:

• "It's next to impossible to pay the rent working full time for minimum wage, new report calculates" www.cbc.ca/news/business/ccpa-rents-minimum-wage-1.5216258

• Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative Program
  www.niisaachewan.ca/programs/health/aboriginal-diabetes-initiative-program/

• Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region - SASC
  www.sascwr.org/

Episode 4: That One Thing

Food insecurity doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's often connected to factors like where you live, your source of income and even your race. While there's no instant fix for these interconnected issues, solutions have to start somewhere.

So we asked the people we've heard from throughout the series: what's the one thing that can help you now, or that could have helped you then?

Mentioned during the episode:

• Ontario Bill 60
  www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-60

• Grace Place, Thunder Bay
  https://graceplacethunderbay.com/

• The Food Bank of Waterloo Region
  https://www.thefoodbank.ca/

• Parkdale Activity-Recreation Centre
  http://parc.on.ca/

Season 1 Reporting by:

Liny Lamberink

Markus Schwabe

Haydn Watters

Matt Fratpietro

Matt Galloway

Gill Deacon

Mary Wiens

Produced by Katie Jensen, Hayley Zimak, Melissa Haughton and Jennifer Williams.

Sound design and mixing by Katie Jensen.

Artwork by Pascal Chiarello.