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People Interacting with People

People Interacting with People

Written by: Pippa Hirst
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About this listen

A podcast about People Interacting with People. In April 2015, I became homeless. I decided to embrace this homelessness and what followed was five years of nomadic life, over 250 moves in Canada and the United States, on an average budget of roughly $22 a day.

While sitting in a 24 hour diner in Toronto on my first two homeless nights, a young man sat beside me and when I told him about my experience - spending 9 hours each night at the diner, getting a free coffee and a brownie on my second night - he turned to me and asked:

"Do you think you'd be having the same experience if you were Black?"

Over those next five years, I had a series of "chance" encounters with Black people and had some very interesting conversations. I documented some of them in writing but when I compiled them into a 300 page script during the pandemic, I realized that - in writing it myself - I had lost the authenticity of the other person's voice.

And so, I decided to hit the road and reconnect with some of these wonderful people while also leaving myself open to meeting new ones. These are our conversations.

© 2025 People Interacting with People Relationships Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • S3 EP7: Spotlighting Unsung Heroes, Meeting Madeleine, Breaking Out of the "Black Box", Learning to Laugh, & Bringing Balance w/ Kesha in Atlanta

    S3 EP7: Spotlighting Unsung Heroes, Meeting Madeleine, Breaking Out of the "Black Box", Learning to Laugh, & Bringing Balance w/ Kesha in Atlanta
    Nov 22 2023

    In this episode, I sit down in conversation with Kesha in Atlanta. We had a very serendipitous meeting when I sat down at the bar where she works after visiting Gadsden, Alabama where my friend, Madeleine, was arrested for her participation in a Freedom Walk alongside Martin Luther King Jr.

    Before I could share this, Kesha was telling me about the podcast she wants to create which spotlights white people who have put their lives and reputations on the line in support of civil rights and equality.

    How about that for serendipity and synchronicity.

    We talk about this and more in this episode.
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    55 mins
  • S3 EP6: Selling Real Estate, Brokering Car Deals, Navigating Canada's Healthcare, Making Music, & Working with Celebrities w/ Destiny in Miami

    S3 EP6: Selling Real Estate, Brokering Car Deals, Navigating Canada's Healthcare, Making Music, & Working with Celebrities w/ Destiny in Miami
    Nov 15 2023

    In this episode, I sit down with Destiny who lives and works in Florida. Destiny and I met at the Fort Lauderdale Airport earlier this year and discovered we had a few things in common including being born and raised in Toronto.

    We stayed in touch with the intention of connecting again and sat down at her condo in Miami a little while ago to talk about her business selling real estate, her experience selling luxury cars and the reality show she is creating around that, her music career, working with celebrities, and we even touch on our experiences with both Canada and Mexico's health care systems.
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    46 mins
  • S3 EP5 Part 2: Pursuing Artistic Endeavours, Finding the Right Support, Understanding the Black Man, Having the "Black Talk" & Moving with Grace w/ Anna in Fort Lauderdale

    S3 EP5 Part 2: Pursuing Artistic Endeavours, Finding the Right Support, Understanding the Black Man, Having the "Black Talk" & Moving with Grace w/ Anna in Fort Lauderdale
    Nov 8 2023

    In this episode, I continue my conversation with Anna who tells me about some of her artistic endeavours which include having a published book, writing for a documentary, and creating music. We talk about the need to be selfish and find the right support while pursing these creative things.

    Anna also shares her perspectives about raising a daughter, understanding Black men, the dynamics of the Black family, and having the "Black Talk".
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    34 mins
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