Rachel Thexton Connects

About Rachel Thexton Connects

Rachel Thexton Connects hosts conversations that bring us together for authentic discussion on everything Vancouver. Hosted by Thexton PR Principal, Rachel Thexton, guests include media, bloggers and digital content creators, in addition to local business and political leaders, and under-represented voices who must be heard. With a focus on learning, connecting, and inclusion, Rachel is also focused on breaking down stigmas and stereotypes related to mental health and substance use. Rachel Thexton Connects presents dynamic discussions on issues affecting Vancouver. Be Kind and Truly Connect!

Publisher

Rachel Thexton

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Jan 2023

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

181 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Oct 2026

   Saving Children's Hearts: The Joys and Personal Cost | Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi on Rachel Thexton Connects

   What does it cost to dedicate your life to saving children's hearts? Pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi joins Rachel Thexton to discuss his memoir, Brave Cuts, the joys and realities of life-saving surgery, and why he ultimately stepped away from the operating room.A clinical professor of surgery at the University of British Columbia and former head of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at BC Children's Hospital, Dr. Gandhi shares the experiences behind a career devoted to infants, children, and their families.Together, Rachel and Dr. Gandhi explore operating on tiny hearts, congenital heart defects, infant heart transplantation, and his perspective on both Canadian and American healthcare. They also discuss personal loss, physician mental health, the difficulty of finding balance, and what writing Brave Cuts helped him understand about his own life.In a moving closing moment, he reads from a letter written by a patient's mother and addressed to his children, recognizing the time they lost with him so their father could save someone else's child.CHAPTERS00:00 Introducing Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi01:36 The joys of saving children's hearts03:20 How he became a pediatric heart surgeon08:30 Brave Cuts: Why he wrote the memoir14:05 His son's response to his sacrifices17:52 Operating on a heart the size of a walnut20:07 Surgical training, mentorship, and self-doubt23:58 Why a surgeon still gets nervous25:21 Congenital heart defects: Every heart is different27:56 Heart transplantation and the infant transplant story33:36 Canadian vs. American healthcare40:12 The challenges facing Canadian healthcare44:14 Grief, patient loss, and physician mental health50:13 Protecting his health and stepping away from surgery51:15 Breaking down mental health stigma55:29 What he misses about being a surgeon58:55 Family, work-life balance, and regrets01:02:44 Vulnerability and the lessons of Brave Cuts01:04:19 The difference he made to patients and families01:05:43 The patient letters he will never forget01:08:03 A parent's letter to his children01:11:07 What the letter meant to his family01:13:36 Advice for young people considering medicine01:14:38 Closing reflectionsWhat stayed with you most: his son's response, the discussion about mental health, or the letter to his children? Share your thoughts below.Subscribe for more conversations with Rachel Thexton that encourage kindness and genuine connection.Get your copy of Brave Cuts by Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi for a deeply personal look at the joys, sacrifices, and unforgettable stories behind a life devoted to saving children’s hearts. https://www.bravecuts.com/https://www.amazon.ca/Brave-Cuts-Surgeons-Journey-Conviction/dp/1038354463#SanjivGandhi #BraveCuts #PediatricHeartSurgery#SanjivGandhi #BraveCuts #PediatricHeartSurgery

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Are Childhood Beliefs Running Your Life? | Suzanne St. John Smith joins Rachel Thexton RTC S7-03

   Could beliefs you absorbed as a child be shaping your self-esteem, relationships and decisions today—even without you realizing it?In this episode of Rachel Thexton Connects, Rachel sits down with psychotherapist and author Suzanne St. John Smith to explore Childhood Myths: What They Are and How to Shed Them. Suzanne explains how early messages such as “I’m not smart enough,” “I don’t matter” or “I’m not good enough” can become a “silent operating system” that influences adult life.Suzanne shares her own experience of questioning a belief that had held her back for years—and starting university at 40 as a single mother. Together, Rachel and Suzanne discuss how childhood beliefs can show up through people-pleasing, conflict avoidance, fear of abandonment and recurring relationship patterns.They also explore what makes couples therapy productive, the connection between anger and feeling powerless, and how to begin examining the stories you carry about yourself. Suzanne offers a thoughtful perspective on personal growth: old beliefs may resurface, but recognizing and challenging them can help you make different choices.In this conversation, you’ll hear about:• How childhood experiences can influence self-esteem and identity• Why people-pleasing can lead to resentment• What lies beneath communication problems in relationships• How to question limiting beliefs using your adult experience• Why meaningful change takes courage—and remains possible later in lifeSuzanne is also the author of Overcome Your Fear of Conflict: How to Build Healthy Relationships When the Going Gets Tough and Willy Earns His Wings.What belief about yourself have you started to question? Share your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Rachel Thexton Connects for more thoughtful conversations.Chapters00:00 Meet Suzanne St. John Smith01:26 Starting university at 40 and changing direction04:24 How “I’m not smart enough” holds us back06:37 Relationships, money and midlife changes09:24 Couples therapy: moving from blame to accountability12:08 How therapists protect their own mental health14:07 What are childhood myths?16:17 The “silent operating system” shaping your choices18:26 How adults shape a child’s self-esteem19:15 Identifying and challenging childhood beliefs21:48 Why old beliefs can resurface23:29 Suzanne’s Childhood Myths course24:13 Relationship patterns and feeling heard26:28 People-pleasing, abandonment fears and resentment29:33 Understanding anger, fear and powerlessness32:02 How childhood myths can limit your choices33:41 Finding hope and the courage to change36:14 Suzanne’s book and closing reflectionsFind out more https://www.stjohnsmith.ca/#ChildhoodMyths #SelfEsteem #Relationships

3. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Vancouver mayoral candidate Muhammad Ahmad joins Rachel Thexton RTC S7-02

   Muhammad Ahmad on Vancouver 2026: Housing, Affordability & Safety | Rachel Thexton ConnectsVancouver mayoral candidate Muhammad Ahmad joins Rachel Thexton for a wide-ranging conversation about Vancouver’s future and the issues shaping the **2026 Vancouver municipal election**.The founder of Bright Future Vancouver discusses his journey from Lahore, Pakistan to British Columbia, his experiences with community leadership and immigration, and what led him to enter Vancouver politics.Rachel and Muhammad explore some of the biggest issues facing Vancouver residents, including housing affordability, cost of living, public safety, homelessness, mental-health and addiction response, employment, skills training, transit and the role of City Hall.Muhammad also shares the experiences and values that he says have shaped his approach to leadership, from community advocacy and humanitarian work to raising a family in Vancouver.This is a candid conversation about the person behind the campaign, the ideas he is bringing to the 2026 election, and his vision for Vancouver.Rachel Thexton Connects brings together political, media, community and business voices for thoughtful conversations about the issues that affect our communities — including subjects where people may disagree.The views and statements expressed by the guest are his own. This interview is presented for informational and discussion purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate, political party or policy position.This episode includes brief, non-graphic discussion of discrimination, substance use, religion and international conflicts.Subscribe to Rachel Thexton Connects for more conversations, interviews and stories.https://www.brightfuturevancouver.com/https://www.brightfuturevancouver.com/muhammad-ahmad00:00 Welcome to Rachel Thexton Connects – Season 701:40 Meet Muhammad Ahmad | Vancouver Mayoral Candidate02:46 From Pakistan to British Columbia03:30 Early Leadership, Faith & Community Service06:33 Standing Up for a Christian Student in Pakistan08:03 Humanitarian Work, Environment & Giving Back10:01 Immigration, Identity & Starting Over in Canada13:25 Building Community in Cranbrook16:11 Racism, Discrimination & Equality in Vancouver21:21 “Talent Is Everywhere, Opportunity Is Not”23:19 Introducing the Aurora Skills Academy24:35 Housing, Recovery & Pathways to Employment28:33 Why Muhammad Ahmad Entered Vancouver Politics30:27 Why Run for Mayor?32:47 Housing Affordability & the Roots Project34:22 Mental Health, Substance Use & the Downtown Eastside37:28 A New Emergency Response Approach38:18 Family, Vancouver Life & Extreme Sports41:22 Muhammad Ahmad’s Priorities for Vancouver44:00 Final Thoughts#MuhammadAhmad #VancouverElection #Vancouver2026 #RachelThextonConnects #VancouverBC #HousingAffordability #PublicSafety

Who has been a guest on Rachel Thexton Connects

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Kareem Allam
• Pete Fry
• Arlene Panganiban
• Jesse Gouchey
• Smokey Devil

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

38,514

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 70 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

82

Social presence

0

YouTube

85

Engagement

60

Contact Rachel Thexton Connects

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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

Questions about Rachel Thexton Connects