berrygrounds

About berrygrounds

With an eye to power, host Justin Brake takes a closer look at key issues facing Newfoundland and Labrador. A podcast from The Independent.

Publisher

Justin Brake

Category

news · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Jan 2023

Latest episode

15 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   15 Oct 2026

   A Losing Hand (Ep. 18)

   In late 2024, award-winning journalist Rob Csernyik brought readers across the country an important investigation into the role legalised gambling is playing in suicides across the country. In the course of his work, Csernyik found that Newfoundland and Labrador was one of the only provinces which couldn’t provide data on the role gambling was playing in suicides in this province — despite the massive growth of legalised gambling, and despite efforts by families of those whose lives ended too soon after struggling with gambling addiction. A year after The Independent first published Csernyik’s investigation, Newfoundland and Labrador’s Office of the Chief Medical Examiner began gathering data on gambling-related suicides. Csernyik has now published a book, A Losing Hand: The Human Cost of Canada's Gambling Epidemic (https://sutherlandhousebooks.com/product/a-losing-hand/). He joined berrygrounds host Justin Brake at the Rotary Arts Centre in Corner Brook on Oct. 5, 2026 for a wide-ranging conversation about gambling and gambling-related suicides in Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada. Host: Justin Brake Guest: Rob Csernyik Music: Shane Iver, Silverman Sound Studios Further Reading: Preventing deaths like Susan Piercey’s (https://theindependent.ca/news/investigation/preventing-deaths-like-susan-pierceys/) (The Independent / Dec. 18, 2024) Learning lessons from Susan Piercey’s death (https://theindependent.ca/news/investigation/learning-lessons-from-susan-pierceys-death/) (The Independent / Dec. 19, 2024) Dying to win: Canadian provinces are expanding legal gambling despite one death every nine days (https://ricochet.media/justice/dying-to-win-canadian-provinces-are-expanding-legal-gambling-despite-one-death-every-nine-days/) (Rirochet Media / Dec. 17, 2024) The Michener-Deacon Fellowship for Investigative Reporting (https://www.michenerawards.ca/the-fellowships/info/) (Michener Awards Foundation) If you haven’t already, sign up for The Independent’s free email newsletter (https://theindependent.ca/newsletter/). If you like berrygrounds and would like to support the show, please consider becoming a monthly donor to The Independent (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). berrygrounds is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network. The show is hosted, produced and edited by me, Justin Brake.

2. 

   29 May 2026

   Access to Information Under Attack (Ep. 17)

   Freedom of Information laws are under attack across Canada, most notably in Ontario, where the Doug Ford government has stripped journalists' and the public's right to obtain records from the premier's office and some of the highest levels of government. In this episode, Justin Brake speaks with Newfoundland and Labrador Information and Privacy Commissioner Kerry Hatfield, who says what's happening in Ontario is a travesty, not just for that province but for the entire country. Hatfield explains what makes Newfoundland and Labrador's access to information laws unique, and why we need to protect in the forthcoming statutory review of the province's 2015 ATIPP Act. If you haven’t already, sign up for The Independent’s free email newsletter (https://theindependent.ca/newsletter/). When we learn more about the statutory review of the province’s access to information legislation, including the process and timelines for gathering public input, we’ll let you know. If you like berrygrounds and would like to support the show, please consider becoming a monthly donor to The Independent (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). berrygrounds is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network. The show is hosted, produced and edited by me, Justin Brake. Music in this episode is thanks to Shane Iver at Silverman Sound Studio (https://www.silvermansound.com/free-music/sailor-vee).

3. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Ready or not, AI is HERE (Ep. 16)

   Tech journalist, author and podcast host Paris Marx joins Justin Brake for a wide-ranging discussion about Artificial Intelligence and the ways AI is impacting our lives and the environment. Recorded live April 25, 2026 at the Rotary Arts Centre in Corner Brook, with Paris Marx joining virtually from St. John’s. berrygrounds is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network. Visit Harbinger (https://harbingermedianetwork.com/) for more progressive Canadian podcasts. Music in this episode, Gravitational Collapse (https://www.silvermansound.com/free-music/gravitational-collapse), courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios. Further Reading: Major N.L. healthcare report contains errors likely generated by A.I. (https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/major-n-l-healthcare-report-contains-errors-likely-generated-by-a-i/) (The Independent / Nov. 22, 2025) PCs to review A.I. use in government-commissioned reports (https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/pcs-to-review-a-i-use-in-government-commissioned-reports/) (The Independent / Nov. 24, 2025) Province updated public procurement process days after Deloitte AI scandal exposed (https://theindependent.ca/news/lji/province-updated-public-procurement-process-days-after-deloitte-ai-scandal-exposed/) (The Independent / March 18, 2026) Generative AI is a societal disaster (https://disconnect.blog/generative-ai-is-a-societal-disaster/) (Disconnect / Paris Marx / Oct. 24, 2025) 'Disgraceful' deep-fake AI video condemned by presidential candidate (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czxkn504lqpo) (BBC / Oct. 22, 2025)

4. 

   13 Nov 2025

   The Lobster Trap (Ep. 15)

   It's a fishery buzzword — a lifeline for many coastal communities and a luxurious menu item driving a global seafood craze. Lobster—one time once considered a poor man's food—now fuels a multi-billion-dollar machine. But investigative journalist Greg Mercer's book, The Lobster Trap: The Global Fight for a Seafood on the Brink (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/729061/the-lobster-trap-by-greg-mercer/9780771006326), tells a different story—one unfolding both above and below the ocean’s surface. In Ep. 15 of berrygrounds, Seasplainer authors Jenn Thornhill Verma and Leila Beaudoin interview Mercer, a reporter with the Globe & Mail, about the time he spent with fishermen in Atlantic Canada and what he learned about lobster in the process of writing his book. A very special thanks to Kelly Russell and Pigeon Inlet Productions (https://kellyrussell.bandcamp.com/) for sharing with us Lem Snow's recording of The Great Lobster Boil (https://kellyrussell.bandcamp.com/album/the-great-lobster-boil). If you like berrygrounds and would like to support the show, please consider becoming a monthly donor to The Independent (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). berrygrounds is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network (https://harbingermedianetwork.com/).

5. 

   30 Jan 2024

   Lessons from the Pitcher Plant (Ep. 14)

   Have you ever wondered why and how the pitcher plant became a symbol of Newfoundland and Labrador, and of our collective identity? “The pitcher plant is unique, creative and resilient. It is beautiful and tenacious, tough and adaptable. It has thrived throughout all regions of our province for centuries, just as our people have done," Premier Danny Williams said in 2006 at a launch for the province's new "brand" signature. “It is an important part of our history and a true symbol of who we are and what we’re made of. It is the symbol by which the world will know us.” Sarracenia purpurea "really is resilient and creative," Sara Swain writes in her new essay for The Independent, Lessons from the Pitcher Plant. "But the source of its celebrated qualities is not its carnivory; it is its mutual hospitality, collaboration, and cooperation. This living reality makes it an auspicious symbol for Newfoundland and Labrador after all, just not for the reasons we’ve come to expect." In Ep. 14, Swain reads her full essay for our listeners. And she tells host Justin Brake about how reflections on her own identity as a Newfoundlander, and a chance encounter with a pitcher plant near her favourite St. John's swimming hole, led her to writing the essay. Lessons from the Pitcher Plant was originally published Jan. 24, 2024 at TheIndependent.ca. Click here (https://theindependent.ca/longread/lessons-from-the-pitcher-plant/) to read the full essay. Very special thanks to All The Wiles (Katie Baggs, Jared Klok, Ben Rigby, Billy Nicol and Jake Nicol) for their song "Handful of Sand". If you like berrygrounds and would like to support the show, please consider becoming a monthly donor to The Independent (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). berrygrounds is a proud member of the Harbinger Media Network (https://harbingermedianetwork.com/) and Unrigged.ca (https://www.unrigged.ca/).

6. 

   23 Oct 2023

   Project Nujio'qonik & the Environmental Assessment "Act" (Ep. 13)

   Did we learn anything from Muskrat Falls and the public inquiry that followed? Surely, a multi-billion dollar project with significant resistance from locals wouldn't be pushed through without a social license...again? That's exactly what residents of the West Coast say is happening with World Energy GH2's Project Nujio'qonik, a proposed wind-to-hydrogen megaproject that would see hundreds of windmills scattered across the Port au Port Peninsula and the Codroy Valley. Residents are watching in horror as the company and the province appear to be rushing the project through the approvals process in order to be first to market. In this episode, we speak with Port au Port resident Duran Felix, a retired analyst who spent his career reviewing documents for Canada's military and has reviewed World Energy GH2's 4,000-plus page environmental impact statement. We also speak with Camille Ouellette-Dallaire, an assistant professor of environmental science at Memorial University's Grenfell campus in Corner Brook who once worked for the federal government reviewing environmental impact statements. For some backstory, listen to berrygrounds Episode 2: Port au Port and the Wind Industry Acid Test (https://theindependent.ca/podcasts/berrygrounds/port-au-port-and-the-wind-industry-acid-test/). If you like our show and would like to support berrygrounds' coverage of the province's emerging wind-to-hydrogen industry, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). The songs "Depth of Focus" and "Fearful New World" are courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

7. 

   30 Sept 2023

   Truth Before Reconciliation (Ep. 12)

   Innu children have been taken from their families, communities and culture for decades. But now, after a years-long fight for change, Innu are sharing their stories and truths through the Inquiry Respecting the Treatment, Experiences and Outcomes of Innu in the Child Protection System. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we speak with Simeon Tshakapesh and Anastasia Qupee, two of the Innu leaders who fought for the inquiry. For more information on the inquiry, visit www.inniuna.ca (https://www.inniuna.ca/). If you like our show and would like to support berrygrounds' coverage of the climate crisis and other important stories, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). The songs "Snowdrops" and "Spark of Inspiration" are courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/). "Oh Canada" was performed by Jully Black at the 2023 NBA All-Star Game.

8. 

   23 Sept 2023

   Swept by the Sea (Ep. 11)

   In this episode of berrygrounds, we debut a short documentary from journalist Monica Kidd, who visited Channel-Port aux Basques on the eve of the one-year anniversary of post-tropical storm Fiona. In "Swept by the Sea," Monica speaks with residents and leaders from the community, as well as NTV Chief Meteorologist Eddie Sheerr, who made a phone call the night before Fiona hit that saved people's lives. In the second half, host Justin Brake speaks with Canadian Hurricane Centre Warning Preparedness Meteorologist Bob Robichaud, who explains what storm surge is and tells berrygrounds that the federal government is developing a new program to better predict the impacts of extreme weather events. If you like our show and would like to support berrygrounds' coverage of the climate crisis and other important stories, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). Music from "Swept by the Sea" is from the Creative Commons: Residuum by Silver Maple, Who’s there by Peter Sandberg, Twire by Christophe Gorman, and Sentient by Gavin Luke. And for berrygrounds, The Wonders of Science is courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

9. 

   18 Sept 2023

   The Foreseeable Fall of Fossil Fuels (Ep. 10)

   With Bay du Nord on hold, Newfoundland & Labrador is at a critical juncture on energy policy and climate change. Despite the grim outlook for oil and gas, and amid climate breakdown, the Andrew Furey government continues to champion fossil fuel development. As an investigation by The Independent unearthed, the Liberals have also quietly adopted an energy transition policy developed by consulting firm that seeks to prolong the life of the fossil fuel industry. We speak with author and climate/energy policy researcher Angela Carter, Conor Curtis of the Sierra Club Canada, and listen to a speech from the Sept. 15 student-led climate march in St. John's organized by Fridays for Future. If you like our show and would like to support us, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber (https://theindependent.mystagingwebsite.com/support-us/). Songs Corrupted, One With Everything, and Against Time courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

10. 

    27 Jul 2023

    An Introduction to Seasplainer (Ep. 9)

    In Newfoundland and Labrador, there are two things without which we probably wouldn’t be here: the sea, and the fish. But how much do we really know about them? In an era of offshore oil, mega hydro dams, and now an impending wind energy industry — have we become indifferent to the fisheries? What we do hear about them seems so unrelatable: quotas and metric tons, prices per pound, licensing regulations. How did something so important to our economy, and our identity, become so hard to understand? In Episode 9 of berrygrounds we speak with award-winning journalists Jenn Thornhill Verma and Leila Beaudoin, who have teamed up with The Independent to create something that we didn't have in Newfoundland and Labrador: an explainer series about the fisheries and the sea. You can find the Seasplainer series on The Independent's website (https://theindependent.ca/commentary/seasplainer/). Click here (https://theindependent.ca/support-us/) to support The Independent with a monthly donation. The song "Sunsetter" courtesy of Shane Ivers at Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com).

11. 

    14 May 2023

    May Day & The Changing Face of NL's Labour Movement (Ep. 8)

    On May 1, hundreds of workers marched in the streets of St. John’s and rallied at Harbourside Park. May Day hasn’t been a huge deal in Newfoundland and Labrador, or even in Canada, where we mark Labour Day in September. But the growing number of workers and allies joining the annual event in St. John’s tells us something important about this province’s labour movement, says journalist Rhea Rollmann. In Episode 8 of berrygrounds, we speak with Rollmann about what changes are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador's labour movement. Rollmann, who also has a background in labour organizing and queer and trans activism, also shares some insight into her forthcoming book, "A Queer History of Newfoundland". Read Rhea Rollmann's full article, "May Day Rally Shows New Face of Today’s Labour Movement (https://theindependent.ca/news/may-day-rally-shows-new-face-of-todays-labour-movement/)". The song Eyesplit is courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

12. 

    3 May 2023

    Pay Equity for Some Isn't Equity At All (Ep. 7)

    Women and gender diverse workers have been fighting for decades to be paid the same as men for equal work of equal value. In the face of mounting pressure, the Liberals finally brought in their version of pay equity legislation. But there's a problem. I\it doesn't apply to most workers in the province, and it's missing critical details. In this episode, we speak with Telegram reporter Juanita Mercer, whose work around pay equity in Newfoundland and Labrador has landed her on the shortlists of two prestigious national journalism awards. We also hear from Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour President Jessica McCormick, who tells us exactly what's missing from the legislation and why government needs to scrap it altogether and start over. If you dig our show, please consider becoming a monthly subscriber. You can do that by clicking the 'Support Us' button at TheIndependent.ca. Songs Womp and Save Us Now courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

13. 

    10 Apr 2023

    The Smouldering Tensions at Memorial University (Ep. 6)

    Vianne Timmons may be gone, but the controversy around her claims of Indigeneity have brought two key issues at Memorial University to the fore. Race-shifting, as it's become known: the growing phenomenon of settlers seeking out Indigenous ancestry to claim an Indigenous identity today. And the crisis in governance at Newfoundland and Labrador’s only university. In the first half of Episode 6, a conversation with Métis lawyer Jean Teillet, who wrote a report last year for the University of Saskatchewan on race-shifting and Indigenous identity fraud in Canadian universities. In the second half, we speak with two faculty leaders from MUNL, Robin Whitaker and Ash Hossain, about the years-long push for a more open and transparent hiring process for senior administrators. Then we go back to 2019 and uncover an alarming fact about how Vianne Timmons was hired. Read Teillet's full report, "Indigenous Identity Fraud" (https://news.usask.ca/articles/general/2022/report-offers-guidance-for-post-secondary-efforts-on-indigenous-citizenshipmembership-verification.php). Listen to Episode 5 of berrygrounds: "Vianne Timmons and the Race-Shifting Conundrum" (https://theindependent.ca/podcasts/berrygrounds/vianne-timmons-and-the-race-shifting-conundrum/). Songs Xenon Sentry, Pop Rocks, and Reach the Top courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

14. 

    27 Mar 2023

    Vianne Timmons and the Race-Shifting Conundrum (Ep. 5)

    Memorial University President Vianne Timmons says she has always been clear that she has Mi'kmaw ancestry, or heritage, and that she's not Mi'kmaw. But in a settler colonial society like Canada's, claiming Indigenous ancestry in professional biographies or on resumes is anything but clear, says Cree journalist Michelle Cyca. In a new article for The Walrus, Cyca argues that for settlers Indigenous ancestry is "an accessory" that "offers people like Timmons an advantage over both non-Indigenous and Indigenous people: the insinuation of having overcome an obstacle that was never in their way. The cumulative effect is an impression of Indigeneity as a marketable asset, divorced from its historical, political, and cultural significance. The essential power structure of whiteness remains intact, and the sprinkle of artificially flavoured Indigeneity covers up the bad taste of settler guilt." In Episode 5, we speak with Cyca about the Vianne Timmons scandal, and about race-shifting more broadly. Whose responsibility is it to keep race-shifters in check? And how should people respond when they are questioned about their identity? That and more in "Vianne Timmons and the Race-Shifting Conundrum". Read Michelle Cyca's full article "Why Are More People Claiming Indigenous Ancestry?" (https://thewalrus.ca/why-are-more-people-claiming-indigenous-ancestry/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Why+Are+More+People+Claiming+Indigenous+Ancestry%3F&utm_campaign=weekly) in The Walrus. Listen to Episode 4 of berrygrounds: "Ktaqmkuk — a personal story of Mi’kmaw ancestry, identity & belonging" (https://theindependent.ca/podcasts/berrygrounds/ktaqmkuk-a-personal-story-of-mikmaw-ancestry-identity-belonging/) Read Justin Brake's 2021 essay "KTAQMKUK" (https://maisonneuve.org/article/2021/06/29/ktaqmkuk/) in Maisonneuve magazine. Songs Synapse, Liturgy of the Street, and Diaphanous courtesy Shane Ivers of Silverman Sound Studios (https://www.silvermansound.com/).

15. 

    12 Mar 2023

    "Ktaqmkuk" — a personal story of Mi'kmaw ancestry, identity & belonging (Ep. 4)

    Learning of his Mi’kmaw ancestry came as a surprise to Justin Brake, who always considered himself a Newfoundlander. What might it mean, he asks, to ethically explore the question of his identity? In this episode, Justin reads a personal essay published in Maisonneuve Magazine in summer 2021. The songs Yearning, Pagan Cross and Sailing Away are by Shane Ivers at sivermansound.com. The original essay and accompanying artwork by artist Jay White can be found here: https://maisonneuve.org/article/2021/06/29/ktaqmkuk/

16. 

    6 Mar 2023

    Port au Port and the Wind Industry Acid Test (Ep. 3)

    A billionaire-owned company with ties to Premier Furey is first out of the gate in the province's wind-to-hydrogen industry. But residents on the Port au Port Peninsula—many of them Indigenous—are pushing back, saying the proposed megaproject threatens their land, water and way of life. After blocking road access to contractors doing preliminary work near the community of Mainland, land defenders found themselves on the receiving end of a court injunction. Like their Muskrat Falls predecessors, they're now caught up in litigation. But theirs may not be the only costly battle in the province's wind rush. World Energy GH2 now has to try to mitigate the negative publicity associated with criminalizing Indigenous people. And the rest of the emerging industry is watching closely, says our guest, Alex Bill, editor with allNewfoundlandLabrador.com. We're also joined by University of PEI energy justice researcher Nick Mercer, who says that for the things John Risley's company has done right, it is repeating mistakes of the past and risks losing public support for the wind industry as a whole. A special thanks to Tara Manuel for sharing excerpts of her "Heart to Heart with Little Premier" performance, available on the artist's YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@taramamaful). And also to Kelly Russell for sharing music from Émile Benoit's 1979 album "Émile's Dream". You can stream or purchase the album from Pigeon Inlet Productions' bandcamp page (https://kellyrussell.bandcamp.com/album/emiles-dream). Music "Sports FM" is courtesy Shane Ivers (https://www.silvermansound.com). Are you listening on Apple, Spotify or Amazon? If so, please give us a five-star review to help us reach more people. And if you want to keep berrygrounds going, please click the "Support Us" button at TheIndependent.ca (https://theindependent.ca/) and donate directly to our show.

17. 

    20 Feb 2023

    Anti-Racism and the White Moderate Government (Ep. 2)

    Black Lives Matter brought anti-racism to the mainstream. In Newfoundland and Labrador, four cabinet ministers have been tasked with reviewing policies to address institutional and systemic racism in the province. But almost two years later, has anything actually changed? Something Martin Luther King Jr. wrote 60 years ago in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail” offers us critical insight into today’s anti-racism efforts. On berrygrounds this week, Dr. Paul Banahene Adjei tells us why politicians—and all of us—should heed King’s caution about "moderate" white allyship in the fight to end racism.

18. 

    6 Feb 2023

    The corporatization of Memorial University (Ep. 1)

    The tuition freeze is over. Anger is growing over how the university is being managed. And now faculty members are on strike. The crisis at Memorial University cannot be understood without considering the institution's slide into corporatization. Former Provost and Vice President Academic Noreen Golfman gives us an inside look at how deeply entrenched is the idea that MUNL exists first and foremost to serve corporate interests and the economy.

19. 

    27 Jan 2023

    Introducing berrygrounds!

    Welcome to berrygrounds. With an eye to power, host Justin Brake takes a closer look at key issues facing Newfoundland and Labrador. Subscribe now and tune in to our first episode on February 6, 2023.

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.