Welcome to RAGE: Rural Advocacy on Gender Equality, the podcast where fierce feminists from Lanark County Interval House take on big conversations that matter. Erin, Emma, and Jess are advocates with a passion for justice, equity, and truth-telling.
We created this podcast as an outlet for our RAGE, but also because the world needs more bold, unapologetic voices speaking up for women, especially in rural Canada. From local stories to global movements, we dig into how gender impacts everything, why it matters, and what we can all do about it.
Honest. Insightful. Canadian. This is RAGE.
This season of RAGE explores violence against women and girls in Canada — not as isolated incidents, but as patterns shaped by power, control, and systems that too often fail to intervene early.
We’re not just talking about what happens at the end of the story. We’re looking at everything that leads there — the language we use, the warning signs we miss, and the myths that stop us from recognizing harm clearly.
Across Canada, a woman or girl is killed roughly every two days. Many of these deaths are preventable. But prevention starts with recognition.
In this first episode, we explore the meaning of the word femicide and why naming gender-related killings matters in Canada. We examine how terms like “domestic dispute,” “family tragedy,” and “crime of passion” can minimize violence and shift focus away from patterns of coercive control, misogyny, entitlement, and escalating abuse.
The episode explores the realities of femicide in Canada, including the warning signs that are often present long before lethal violence occurs and the disproportionate impact on Indigenous women and girls. It also challenges the common belief that these deaths “came out of nowhere,” examining how many cases are preceded by identifiable patterns of control and escalation that are too often overlooked or dismissed.
Because language doesn’t just describe violence — it shapes whether we recognize it at all.
If we don’t name the pattern, we can’t interrupt the pattern. And if we can’t interrupt it, we can’t prevent it.
In the next episode, we examine how violence escalates — and why the warning signs are often there long before the moment of crisis.
8 Jan 2026
“Why Did She Stay?”: Breaking the Cycle of Violence and the Myths We Still Believe
In this episode of RAGE, hosts Jess and Emma are joined by Hanna, a Crisis Counsellor with Lanark County Interval House and Community Support, to unpack what it really means to break the cycle of violence.
Together, they explore how intimate partner violence is rarely a single incident — it’s a pattern shaped by power, control, fear, love, survival, and systemic barriers. The conversation takes on one of the most common — and harmful — questions survivors face: “Why did she stay?”
Hanna helps break down why this question misses the point, places responsibility on survivors instead of perpetrators, and ignores the very real risks and constraints people face when trying to leave. From emotional manipulation and financial dependence to safety concerns and community pressures, this episode challenges the myths that continue to shape public understanding of abuse.
This is a necessary conversation about accountability, compassion, and what breaking the cycle of violence actually requires — from individuals, communities, and systems.
15 Sept 2025
Raging Perspectives: Take Back the Night
In this episode of RAGE, we explore the history, significance, and ongoing impact of Take Back the Night—a global movement that began in the 1960s to challenge sexual violence and reclaim public spaces for women and marginalized communities. We’ll break down why this movement is still vital today, especially in light of rising intimate partner violence, high-profile cases like the Hockey Canada trial, and proposed cuts to WAGE funding that threaten the survival of women’s organizations across Canada.
We also discuss how local actions, like the Carleton Place Take Back the Night march on September 18, connect to national advocacy efforts, including the “Take Back the Budget” campaign. Join us as we highlight the importance of community, solidarity, and standing up for women’s rights—because the fight against sexual violence is far from over.
Event Details:
📅 Thursday, September 18 | 5–8 PM
📍 Town Hall Square Park, behind Carleton Place Town Hall
🚌 Free bus to Parliament Hill to show support for women’s programs nationwide
Whether you march locally or head to Ottawa, this episode emphasizes why showing up matters and how collective action can make a difference.
20 Aug 2025
Inquests and Justice: Renfrew County and Beyond with Pamela Cross
What is an inquest, and why does it matter in the fight against gender-based violence? In this episode of RAGE, we break down the purpose and process of inquests, exploring how they uncover systemic failures and lead to recommendations for change.
We take a close look at the CKW (Renfrew County) Inquest, which examined the 2015 murders of three women—Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk, and Nathalie Warmerdam—by a man known to them. The inquest’s 86 recommendations shone a spotlight on Ontario’s urgent need for action to prevent intimate partner violence and femicide.
We are honoured to be joined by Pamela Cross—lawyer, author, and long-time advocate for women’s equality and safety. Pamela brings invaluable insight, drawing on her decades of work in law reform and violence against women advocacy.
Learn more about Pamela’s work:
Her latest book: And Sometimes They Kill You
Her blog: pamcross.ca/blog
Learn more about the inquest:
Overview of the Renfrew County Inquest (https://lcih.org/renfrewcountyinquest/)
Read the 86 Recommendations (https://lukesplace.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/CKW-Inquest-Verdict-Recommendations-SIGNED_Redacted.pdf)
Read the Rural Roots pamphlet (https://www.neighboursfriendsandfamilies.ca/pdf/rural_roots_pamphlet.pdf) to learn how rural realities impact gender-based violence and community safety.
15 Jul 2025
Meeting Women Where They're At: Realities and Complexities of Harm Reduction & Gender-Based Violence
In this episode of RAGE, we dig into what harm reduction really means — and why it matters far beyond substance use. Often misunderstood or reduced to needle exchanges and naloxone, harm reduction is a philosophy rooted in dignity, safety, and autonomy.
We explore how harm reduction shows up in the context of gender-based violence, sexual health, safety planning, and systems that too often punish rather than protect. From crisis work to community care, harm reduction offers a roadmap for meeting people where they’re at — without judgment.
This episode challenges narrow assumptions and expands the conversation around what it means to reduce harm, especially in a world that doesn’t always offer real choices.
3 Jul 2025
Raging Perspectives: Naming the Violence -- Understanding Femicide in Canada
This episode explores femicide in Canada, defining its meaning, examining recent statistics, and emphasizing the importance of accurate reporting to better understand and address this critical issue.
19 Jun 2025
Raging Perspectives: Voices Missing, Voices Raised — Justice for MMIWG2S
This episode highlights the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people, examining systemic violence and the need for accountability.
12 Jun 2025
This is Pride: Queer Joy, Queer Love, and the Violence We Don’t Talk About
This episode explores gender-based violence within LGBTQ+ relationships, highlighting unique barriers, systemic erasure, and the necessity of inclusive services in Canada.
26 May 2025
From Scandal to Systemic: The Bigger Picture of Sexual Violence
Experts discuss the complexities of power, prevention, and consent in relation to sexual violence, examining the Diddy trial and the Hockey Canada case.
Podcast Authority Score: 31 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Contact RAGE
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
