Narrative Shift

Episode 6: The Pond Squad: Mimi Dejene, Aden Abebe, Amber Clarke & Darion Trotman

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 19:38:20 GMT

In the season finale of Narrative Shift, Natasha sits down with the “Pond Squad” — Mimi Dejene, Aden Abebe, Amber Clarke, and Darion Trotman — four Black creatives who first connected at the Black Futures Retreat. They reflect on retreat as rest, regeneration, and creative fuel, and share what it means to find belonging, freedom, and community in their work. Gathering with intention proves that rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a force for change.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e6-the-pond-squad

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 5: Building a Sanctuary with Clinton Cuddington and Jon Reed

Tue, 05 Aug 2025 15:00:00 GMT

In this episode of Narrative Shift, Natasha connects with longtime friend and Principal of Measured Architecture, Clint Cuddington, and his design partner Jon Reed to talk about the early stages of Elevate House—and where it's headed. They reflect on what it means to design with care, honour a site’s history, and co-create with trust. This conversation blends vulnerability with artistic process and offers a glimpse into what happens when personal history meets creative vision. It’s a love letter to friendship, place, and process.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e5-clinton-cuddington-jon-reed

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4: Affinity with Khari Wendell McClelland and Dawn Pemberton

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 15:36:53 GMT

Rest as resistance. Music as medicine.

In this episode of Narrative Shift, award-winning musician Khari Wendell McClelland and multiple Juno-nominated soul vocalist Dawn Pemberton join host Natasha Tony to support her in envisioning Elevate House—a retreat where creativity, belonging, and music have the power to inspire collective healing.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e4-khari-mcclelland-and-dawn-pemberton

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3: Histories of Community Care with Elmer Dixon

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 13:30:00 GMT

How do we build community through care, creativity, and shared responsibility? Elmer Dixon reflects on his life before, during, and after co-founding the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party. Drawing from his memoir Die Standing, Elmer and Natasha discuss growing up in politically aware households, launching survival programs that addressed urgent community needs, and the profound connection between activism and creative expression through storytelling.

This episode is a reminder that in honouring the past and reflecting in the present, we are empowered to continue to build sustainable movements for future generations.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e3-elmer-dixon

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2: Taking the Leap with Jodie Tonita

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Natasha Tony speaks with Coach and Impact Strategist Jodie Tonita about moving from uncertainty to vision. Together, they explore the leap behind Elevate House and how a deep connection with nature, self, and community can shape the future. If you’ve ever stood on the edge of your dreams, ready to take the leap, this conversation is for you.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e2-taking-the-leap-with-jodie-tonita

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1: Elevate House: Past, Present & Future with Kaisha Brown

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:53:04 GMT

In its second season, Narrative Shift, hosted by Natasha Tony, chronicles the creation of Elevate House, a retreat space Natasha is building on Salt Spring Island. Kicking off with a conversation between Natasha and her daughter, Kaisha Brown, this season explores the unexpected journey of acquiring the property, its layered history as a former YWCA camp and communal living space, and the often-overlooked Black history of Salt Spring Island dating back to the 1850s.

Show Notes

https://www.elevate-inclusion.com/s2-e1-elevate-house

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 6: Floyd Kane, Follow Your True Calling

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 21:55:14 GMT

After a long period as a lawyer, Floyd Kane actualized his true calling to become the writer and producer he'd always wanted to be. In this episode, Floyd, creator of the acclaimed Diggstown series, describes how he overcame the roadblocks that have typically frustrated the careers of Black creatives and the factors and people that helped propel him forward. All too aware of the many people whose careers have been stymied by racism over many decades, Floyd also shares his personal commitment to opening doors and empowering others.

Aspiring Black creatives and senior executives who want to support greater inclusion in film and television will gain much from Natasha and Floyd's frank and encouraging conversation.

Show Notes

https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-06/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 5: Ella Cooper, The Joy of Creation!

Wed, 06 Dec 2023 03:14:42 GMT

Get ready to be inspired by Ella Cooper, award-winning filmmaker, photographer, community builder, and founder of ground-breaking Black Women Film! Canada. In this beautiful conversation with Natasha, Ella reflects on her own journey to filmmaking, the vision behind her photography, why she founded Black Women Film! and how the organization is changing lives. She also shares her creative and healing process, which is both intentional and open to receive from the universe. This conversation will move and encourage anyone who creates art in any form, as well as those who want to spur inclusive change through storytelling and creative expression.

Show Notes

https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-05/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 4: Prem Gill, A Leader for Change

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 20:05:29 GMT

A trip to the UK in the early 1990s profoundly affected Prem Gill’s understanding of the power of storytelling and how it can shape and change identity. Since then, through her past work creating and launching Telus’ Storyhive Program and as CEO of Creative BC, she’s championed the development of pathways for many filmmakers from diverse communities to tell their own stories and build their careers.

In this thoughtful and personal podcast, Prem shares her journey as a leader who both navigates and promotes culture shift within an industry in flux. She also describes her experience of being a racialized leader - including being told she was a diversity hire and having to outperform others’ expectations. If you are a creative industry leader, emerging or established, listen up and gain insights on today’s creative industries from Prem and Natasha, and find out what exactly happened on that UK trip.

Show Notes

https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-04/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3: Palexelsiya (Lorelei) Williams and Julia Taffe: Choreographing Change

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 20:33:16 GMT

Ten years ago, Indigenous activist Palexelsiya (Lorelei) Williams felt a deep calling to create a dance to honour Canada’s missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and Two Spirited people. That one-off dance sparked a partnership between Palexelsiya’s dance troupe Butterflies in Spirit and Julia Taffe’s Aeriosa Dance Society. This collaboration continues to heal and inspire — they describe their dances as more ceremonies than performances. This deeply moving episode honours all MMIWG2S, their ancestors, the power of creative collaboration, and these two remarkable dance groups. Palexelsiya’s aunt, Belinda Williams, is still missing. Her cousin Tanya Holyk was murdered in 1996.

Show Notes

https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-03/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2: Donald L. Sparks, Legendary Assistant Director

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 03:18:32 GMT

Natasha’s conversation with legendary Assistant Director Donald L. Sparks is a masterclass on how to be an inclusive leader. Don is a filmmaker who understands the value of respect, building trust, excellent communication and collaboration, and the importance of power sharing. Don, who has the perfect left and right brain mix to be a consummate AD, also shares the importance of pursuing every new learning opportunity – even after 30 years in the industry. If you want to build a successful and inclusive career in film, regardless of department, but particularly as an AD, tune into this episode of workplace wisdom.

Show Notes

https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-02/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 1: Lillian E. Benson, A Film Editor's Reflections

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 19:01:53 GMT

From an early age, Emmy-nominated Lillian E. Benson has been an acute observer of people and her surroundings. She brings that quality, and many others, to her remarkable work as an acclaimed film editor. Lillian was the first African-American female editor selected for membership in the American Cinema Editors. Her life’s mission has been to contribute to the world through telling authentic stories. In this episode, she shares her approach to storytelling with Natasha and how her experience as a Black working-class woman influenced her journey. This candid and wise conversation about Lillian’s journey in life and the art of editing offers important insights for every filmmaker.

Show Notes https://elevate-inclusion.com/episode-01/

Podcast page https://elevate-inclusion.com/podcast/

Sponsored by Elevate Inclusion Strategies

Connect with Natasha on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.