Who Judges The Judge? Hosted By Jordana H. Goldlist

CHLOE BROWN says Torontonians should treat their tax dollars like shares in the city and show up like owners: at elections, community consultations and their councillor’s office.

Chloe Brown is a policy analyst who started at Toronto City Hall in 2012 as an unpaid intern while working nights as a security guard. She has run for mayor of Toronto twice and was running for city council in Etobicoke when this episode was recorded.

She shares:
◼ How she says applying for apartments at 22 showed her what politics means for everyday life
◼ What she says growin...

AANCHAL VASH came to Canada at 17 with her twin brother, carrying the dream of an older brother who passed away before he could come. After her twin brother passed away, she says she saw a gap in how people recognize and respond to declining mental health, and decided to fill it.

Aanchal Vash started Reach Out Together, which began with free monthly Mental Health First Aid workshops. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid through the Mental Health Commission of Canada and says she has written five books.

She explains:
 ◼ What she did rig...

Toronto has spent billions on shelters and harm reduction, so why is the drug crisis getting worse? Ward 13 candidate Daniel Tate and criminal lawyer Jordana Goldlist debate it.

DANIEL TATE is the executive director of IntegrityTO, a Toronto non-profit whose social accounts document addiction, homelessness and disorder on the city's streets. He is running for city councillor in Ward 13 Toronto Centre in the October 26, 2026 municipal election. In early 2024 he co-organized a petition against renaming Yonge-Dundas Square to Sankofa Square that he says drew 35,000 signatures, and in March 2026 Toronto's Integrity Commissioner found that Councillor Chris Moise breached council's...

QUINTON JACOBS grew up in subsidized housing in Scarborough, raised by a single mom, and was suspended and nearly expelled as a teenager. Today, he works full time in the nuclear industry while running two community initiatives that cook thousands of meals a year and have taken him running across South Africa with a community of strangers who became family.

Quinton Jacobs is the founder of Ubuntu, a Toronto not-for-profit that cooks and delivers hundreds of meals a month to organizations across the city, runs a major holiday initiative with over 200 volunteers, and recently launched Pathways, a...

JAPJI ANNA BAS says the systems meant to protect her failed her as a child. She says Children's Aid Society granted her father unsupervised access despite documented warnings, and the abuse continued for years. Decades later, she earned a PhD and sued the organization she says failed her.

Japji Anna Bas is a researcher and founder of Flourish Energy, where she works with senior social-purpose leaders on nervous system regulation, thought patterns, and behaviour change. Her doctoral research focused on children's well-being, and she has shared her work with federal policymakers. She has also helped train frontline...

Alejandro Vivar spent much of his youth and early adulthood involved in Toronto's drug trade, eventually serving the equivalent of 16 years in prison. Today, he works as a tourism and travel coach, helps others build online businesses, and hopes to begin mentoring at-risk youth in the community he grew up in.

Alejandro grew up in Toronto's Christie Pitts neighbourhood in a stable, hardworking family, but was drawn into the drug trade as a teenager. He was acquitted of first-degree murder as a young man, tried briefly to leave the life behind, and ultimately built a...

AT 19, HARVEY BROWNSTONE told his parents he was gay. They cut him off completely, financially and emotionally. He went from a comfortable home to stealing food from wedding receptions to survive. Nineteen years later, he became one of the youngest judges in Canadian history, and Canada's first openly gay judge.

Harvey Brownstone practiced law for 12 years before being appointed to the bench at 38. He served as a judge for 26 years across Toronto and Niagara, including a stretch as senior administrative justice, before leaving to build a media career that now reaches 10 million viewers a week through Harvey...

Cassandra Harvey is a survivor of human trafficking turned advocate and aspiring criminal defence lawyer. Raised by a mother who struggled with addiction from a young age, she entered the foster care system as a child and aged out of it as a teenager. She was trafficked by three different men over the following years before finally getting out with the help of a lawyer, a detective, and a support group. She now shares her story publicly and advocates for a side of the conversation that rarely gets airtime: addressing why men become traffickers in the first place.

Orlando Da Silva is a lawyer of over 30 years, former president of the Ontario Bar Association, and one of the first people in the Canadian legal profession to publicly disclose his struggle with treatment-resistant depression and generalized anxiety. When he became OBA president in 2014, he spent two years working up the courage to go public, eventually sharing his story in a Law Times interview that was picked up by the Toronto Star. He is the author of Thank God I Failed, a memoir about depression, meaning, and what it took to build a life worth living after a childhood...

SARAH TURNEY grew up in London, Ontario oscillating between working poor and just poor, using a food bank, navigating real instability at home, and never once imagining she would become a lawyer.

Sarah Turney is a partner at Fasken, one of Canada's largest law firms, where she heads up the real estate and property litigation practice, a niche she built from the ground up. In 2024, she argued and won a 5-4 decision at the Supreme Court of Canada on behalf of a Toronto family whose backyard the City of Toronto claimed was public parkland, a...

DR. ROBYNE HANLEY-DAFOE is an educational behaviorist, bestselling author of I Hope So, and international speaker who teaches resilience and well-being.

She shares her journey from struggling with undiagnosed ADHD as a child to dropping out of high school, being institutionalized at 16, and surviving a near-death car accident—and how her mother's question "how do you want to feel?" instead of "what are your goals?" changed everything.

She explains:
◼ How undiagnosed ADHD in young girls can lead to rejection sensitivity, self-harm, and addiction
◼ The difference between hope and optimism—and why hope is what mak...

Christophe Lewis was 20 years old when he made a decision that cost him the next decade of his life. Convicted of second-degree murder in 2011, he was handed a life sentence with a 12-year parole ineligibility period and sent to Millhaven Institution.

In November 2012, he refused a strip search being conducted by a female guard — illegal under CSC protocol. Thirty guards responded. What followed was caught on CCTV. Then CSC said the footage was lost.

Years of grievances were dismissed at every level. When his case finally reached the national level, CSC upheld the complaint for ex...

Audrey Hyams Romoff's mother was one of the youngest children to survive the Auschwitz concentration camp, liberated at just 8 years old — and that childhood trauma shaped four generations of women in ways Audrey never fully understood until decades later.

Audrey Hyams Romoff is the founder of Overcat PR and author of The Ripple Eclipse, a memoir tracing four generations of women in her family and the inherited trauma that runs through all of them. She recently traveled to Auschwitz with PBS NewsHour for the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
She explains:

- How profound ch...

Shana McCalla, founder of Find Ontario's Missing Boys, discusses the crisis of Black boys aged 12 to 16 disappearing across Ontario and being found in trap houses as far as Thunder Bay and Saskatchewan. She explains how boys from two-parent, high-income households are being lured with job opportunities, gifts, and mentorship, then forced to work 24/7 in drug houses under threat of violence.

Shana shares how she traveled to Thunder Bay to rescue a 15-year-old who hadn't eaten or slept in a month, what the inside of these trap houses actually look like, and why a 14-year-old missing for 10 months...

Melissa Lantsman, Conservative MP for Thornhill and Co-Deputy Leader of the Conservative Party, discusses Canada's crime crisis, bail reform, addiction policy, and why young Canadians are losing hope. She explains the Conservative position on repeat violent offenders, why safe injection sites aren't working, and the $360 million spent annually on programs that keep addicts sick instead of funding recovery.

Melissa shares her journey from immigrant family to Parliament Hill, why her father shaped her political worldview, and what needs to change for skilled immigrants arriving in Canada today. She also breaks down the Stand Your Ground bill, the...

Staxxx Facts is a mental health advocate, certified life coach, and founder of Black Status Social Network who discusses breaking mental health stigmas, redefining success beyond money, and building authentic community. He shares how he navigated growing up in Toronto's Weston Road surrounded by gang violence, why he stayed out of that life, and what it means to truly put yourself first when your freedom depends on it.

Staxxx talks about the power of saying no, why inspiring others is the only real measure of wealth, and how the internet spreads dangerous misinformation that people believe without...

Marlee Liss, founder of Survivors for Justice Reform (S4JR), shares her experience choosing restorative justice over criminal prosecution after being sexually assaulted by a stranger. She discusses why 94% of sexual assault victims don't report to police, how the criminal court system re-traumatized her at every step, and what happened when she sat in a healing circle with her assailant after he completed seven months of therapy.

Marlee explains the difference between restorative justice and the traditional court system, why she fought Crown prosecutors to pursue this path, and what her assailant revealed during their eight-hour facilitated...

Markez Graham is 11 years old, in grade six, and he's got a plan to fix Toronto. He talks about lowering taxes to address the cost of living crisis, creating a three-month housing program that transitions people from homelessness to self-sufficiency, and why Canada should prioritize fixing its own problems before sending billions abroad. 

Markez opens up about the importance of good teachers versus bad ones, why he's grateful his parents restrict his social media access, and how travel has taught him to see the world from multiple perspectives. He's not just thinking about being mayor—he's got his...

Drew James grew up in Mount Olive, Rexdale, where standing up for yourself was the only way to survive a neighbourhood filled with sharks. Today, he is a serial entrepreneur rolling through Palm Beach in a Rolls Royce and accessing rooms at Mar-a-Lago with the 1% of the 1%. This is not just a success story; it is a breakdown of how to navigate a cold business world by building genuine relationships and mastering the power of vocabulary. Drew details his journey from selling 1,000 CDs a month in high school to out-earn his teachers, the fluke that landed him a contract...

Shantelle Bisson is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of multiple businesses including a marina acquisition that shocked her community. Having experienced childhood sexual abuse and domestic upheaval, Shantelle has built a reputation for transforming trauma into triumph and mentoring women through her charity work. She discusses the systemic failures plaguing domestic violence response, the pressure on families in crisis, and the challenges of maintaining hope in an adversarial world.

Criminal defence lawyer Marco Sciarra explains why the justice system is holding on by a thread, the corruption behind the Maplehurst scandal where murder charges were stayed, and the reality of defending your home in Canada.

Marco Sciarra is a criminal defence counsel and the founder of Sciarra Law. A survivor of a cancer diagnosis during his articles, Marco has built a reputation for advocacy in the courtroom and mentorship to young lawyers. He discusses the systemic failures plaguing Canadian courts, the pressure on the judiciary, and the challenges of maintaining integrity in an adversarial system.

Ex-Bank Robber Chris Seecharan exposes the "Zombie Fold", why Fentanyl withdrawal lasts 30 days, and why standard 7-day detox programs are failing addicts.

Chris Seecharan is a survivor of a 10-year heroin and fentanyl addiction who turned to robbing banks to support his habit. After serving a federal prison sentence and achieving 7+ years of sobriety, he now works as a community outreach worker. In this episode, Chris breaks down the terrifying mechanics of the "Fold," the new "Zombie" drug sweeping Kensington and Toronto, and the controversial reality of involuntary treatment.

Poet, author, and youth mental health advocate KP PARKER exposes how childhood violence, 8 years of probation, and losing his father to gun violence nearly destroyed him - and reveals how poetry became his path from survival to helping incarcerated youth heal.

Nital Gosai, founder of Gosai Law and co-creator of the housing-tech platform Husmates, shares her journey from a turbulent childhood marked by mental-health stigma and family chaos to becoming one of Canada’s leading advocates for inmate rights, personal-injury clients, and access to affordable housing.

A civil-rights-driven lawyer and entrepreneur, Nital exposes the human cost of Canada’s broken justice system, how trauma fuels purpose, and what it takes to build a purpose-led firm from scratch. Her work spans prison reform, mental-health awareness, and social-impact entrepreneurship, proving that real change starts with those who refuse to look away...

What happens when someone who’s seen the cycle of violence firsthand decides to break it for the next generation?

Marcell Wilson joins Jordana Goldlist to share his story of transformation, from growing up surrounded by fear and survival in Toronto to building the One by One Movement, an organization dedicated to preventing violence and creating real community change.

Marcell reveals how social media, mental health, and the fentanyl crisis have intensified violence across Canada, why prevention works better than punishment, and how government funding often fails the people most at risk. He opens up ab...

What happens when you survive attempted murder, have undeniable evidence, and still watch your case collapse in court? Actress and advocate Cait Alexander tells her true crime survival story, from a horrific domestic violence attack in Toronto to being silenced by Canada’s broken justice system under the Jordan Rule.

Cait reveals how she nearly lost her life to intimate partner violence, how Crown Attorneys failed her, and why she’s now suing the government alongside other survivors. She opens up about domestic abuse, coercive control, PTSD, justice denied, and founding End Violence Everywhere (EVE) to support othe...

Solitair — Toronto hip hop artist, mentor, and leader with the Forgiveness Project (Project F Word) and TO Wards Peace, co-founder at 4Sound Media Studios — breaks down youth crime, drill/hip hop’s influence vs. reflection, and why incarceration alone doesn’t solve violence. The conversation explores what actually reduces shootings: long-term mentorship, housing, education, employment, culturally relevant support, and city-wide programs funded like essential services, not short election-cycle pilots.

Key topics: media narratives vs. on-the-ground realities; why longer sentences often harden people; how “right to defend your household” talk is growing in Canada; when rap lyrics show up in court...

In this episode, I sit down with Jeremy Persaud, CEO of A1 Films and founder of The Commitment Program, who grew up in Toronto housing, entered the justice system at 14, and later pled guilty to firearm charges. Instead of letting prison define him, he turned survival into purpose, building a grassroots movement to steer youth away from the cycle of violence and incarceration.

Jeremy shares what it feels like to grow up believing “your own existence is illegal.” He opens up about crash-out culture, recidivism traps, and why so many youth feel forced to carry guns just to s...

Nadia Ghanny reveals how surviving family tragedy at 5 days old shaped her mission to transform the criminal justice system from within, working with offenders for over 20 years.

In this episode, I sit down with Nadia Ghanny, a University of Guelph-Humber professor teaching community corrections. Born in Guyana, she became an orphan at 5 days old following domestic violence. Raised by adoptive parents, she discovered her traumatic origins at age 11.

Instead of seeking revenge, Nadia chose rehabilitation over punishment. She shares how she shifted from wanting justice through harsh sentences to helping offenders transform their lives. Now...

In this episode, I sit down with Elijah "Of The Saint" de los Santos, a young media entrepreneur who transformed himself from a kid in Toronto housing projects into one of hip-hop's most sought-after photographers and videographers. His client list includes Drake, Jesse Reyez, and countless other major artists.

Of The Saint opens up about growing up with a single mother and a father struggling with addiction, and avoiding the street life that claimed many of his childhood friends. He reveals how sports and his mother's entrepreneurial spirit shaped his hustle mentality from an early age.
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Richard Miller of Keep Six speaks on police accountability after the death of Chadd Facey and shares how justice system failures continue to impact Black communities and trust in law enforcement.

Richard Miller returns to the podcast to speak on one of the most devastating cases in recent memory, the death of 19-year-old Chadd Facey, tackled and fatally injured by an off-duty police officer after selling a fake Apple Watch. The officer, originally charged with manslaughter, was convicted only of simple assault and received one year probation and a three-year firearms ban.

Richard, founder of...

Sex trafficking survivor Timea Nagy exposes shocking truths about victim vs criminal treatment, trauma healing, prison conditions & why the justice system fails both victims & offenders in this raw talk.

In this explosive episode, I sit down with internationally recognized human trafficking advocate Timea Nagy, who survived trafficking from Hungary to Canada and became the founder of Canada's first victim services safe house. After 20 years fighting for trafficking victims, she's exposing uncomfortable truths about trauma, healing, and systemic failures.

Timea doesn't hold back—she challenges victim mentality, explains why trauma never fully heals, and reveals how bo...

Why she married a man serving life for murder—true crime, criminal psychology, parole denial, love behind bars, forensic justice, and what really happens when you fall for a convicted killer.

In this episode, I sit down with B, a fierce advocate, mother, and social media storyteller, who is married to a man serving a life sentence for second-degree murder. Their relationship spans 22 years—through separation, reunion, and everything the justice system could throw at them.

B opens up about meeting her husband at 18, navigating public judgment, facing off with the parole board, and why she...

How to build a beauty brand from nothing, escape addiction, redefine clean cosmetics, and disrupt the industry with sustainability, purpose, and Indigenous leadership—this story has it all.

In this episode, I sit down with Jenn Harper, the founder of Cheekbone Beauty, an Indigenous-owned cosmetics brand now sold in Sephora stores across North America. Jenn shares how a dream two months into sobriety sparked a mission to create a brand rooted in cultural pride, environmental sustainability, and representation.

She opens up about her childhood in St. Catharines, discovering the legacy of residential schools in her fa...

In this episode, I sit down with Deluxson Yogarajah, a youth violence prevention worker and psychotherapy student who went from committing fraud while studying criminology to mentoring the very kids he once could’ve become.

Deluxson opens up about growing up in Jane and Finch, witnessing domestic violence, navigating poverty, and stepping into criminal life after years of staying on the right path. He shares how being falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit led him to double down on the ones he did—and why getting arrested became the wake-up call that change...

In this episode, I sit down with Stanislav Kravtchouk—known worldwide as Mr. Raptors—who transformed from street life to building a million-dollar car wrapping empire.

Stanislav opens up about immigrating to Canada at age 11 from Russia, growing up in welfare housing, and surviving the violent streets of Ottawa. He shares how getting stabbed 11 times became the turning point that led him away from crime and toward entrepreneurship. Despite having no experience in the automotive industry, he built North America's largest car wrapping business with locations across Canada, USA, Dubai, and South Africa.

Key Take...