Neighbourly

Hosted by CareImpact

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170

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Neighbourly is a warm, story-driven podcast hosted by Shannon Steeves. Every two weeks, Shannon sits down with a guest to share honest stories of ordinary people offering extraordinary care. Each episode also includes a short Neighbourly Headlines reflection, highlighting a Canadian story of neighbours showing up in meaningful ways. You’ll leave encouraged, grounded, and equipped with one simple step you can carry into your own life.

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60 recent

June 10, 20265 min

Summer Speedos | Field Notes: Empty Chair

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionSummer Speedos is Neighbourly’s short in-between-season series while Shannon takes a break from regular interviews. Hosted by producer Johan Heinrichs, these episodes mix outdoor field notes and story-driven reflections that help us notice the ordinary ways care, faith, courage, and community show up around us.In this first field note, Johan reflects on an empty chair he notices while walking through the neighbourhood. It may mean nothing, but it also raises a gentle question: who used to be part of our rhythm, and now seems to have quietly disappeared?This episode is an invitation to notice the people who have gone quiet, stepped back, or faded from view, not with suspicion, but with care. Sometimes a simple check-in can remind someone that their absence was noticed and their presence still matters.One Small StepThink of one person who has been less present lately, then send a simple, no-pressure message to let them know they are noticed and not forgotten.Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

May 27, 202634 min

Curious Instead of Furious | With Alicia Freeman

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateCurious Instead of Furious: Creating Safety in Overwhelming MomentsWhat does it look like to care for someone well when their emotions feel bigger than the moment?In this episode of Neighbourly, Shannon sits down with Alicia Freeman, a CareImpact trainer whose journey through foster care, adoption, and trauma-informed learning has shaped the way she understands safety, presence, and compassion.Alicia shares why trauma care is not only for foster and adoptive families, but for everyone, everywhere, especially those who want to care well in their homes, churches, and communities.Together, Shannon and Alicia talk about what it means to stay curious instead of furious, how to respond when someone is overwhelmed, and why sometimes the most loving thing we can offer is not a solution, but our steady presence.In this conversation, Alicia reflects on a recent training at a pregnancy resource centre, where a moment of disagreement became a deeper opportunity for listening, humility, and shared learning. She also offers practical ways to help children, youth, and adults feel safer when they are dysregulated or overwhelmed.This episode is a gentle reminder that care does not have to be perfect to be powerful. It just has to be present.In This EpisodeWhy trauma-informed care matters beyond foster and adoptive familiesHow curiosity helps us move from defensiveness to empathyWhat it means to create emotional safety in a roomWhy the urge to fix can get in the way of true carePractical ways to support someone who is overwhelmedHow churches can care well without rushing people toward easy answersWhy presence, patience, and dignity matter in the messy middleA Small Step This WeekThink of one person in your life who may be carrying more than you can see.Before offering advice, try starting with curiosity. Ask a gentle question. Listen a little longer. Resist the urge to fix it too quickly.Sometimes the most neighbourly thing we can offer is simply to stay present.Time Stamps04:17 Starting foster care and adoption journey07:41 Training at the Pregnancy Resource Center10:57 Navigating overwhelming emotions workshop14:25 Staying confident and calm during discussions17:27 Helping people find their personal why23:13 Importance of Curiosity and Empathy27:16 The power of just being present29:43 Role of Church in Trauma CareGuest Linkscareimpact.ca/aliciaOther LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

May 13, 202631 min

The Stories We Tell Ourselves

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat happens when the story we tell ourselves about someone keeps us from seeing the person in front of us?In this reflective episode of Neighbourly, Johan and Shannon step back from the regular guest interviews to talk about assumptions, the quick judgments we make, and the stories we build about people before we really know them.Together, they explore how easy it is to reduce someone to one moment, one behaviour, one request, or one struggle, and how neighbourly care invites us to slow down, stay curious, and protect dignity. From parenting moments in public, to CarePortal requests, homelessness, school experiences, and the story of Zacchaeus, this conversation gently reminds us that there is almost always more going on beneath the surface.This episode is not about ignoring harm or pretending everything is fine. It is about learning to ask better questions before our assumptions become labels.This week’s simple step:When you notice yourself forming an assumption about someone, pause and ask, “What might I not know?”Time Stamps01:35 CareCreatives Company04:37 Struggling with small talk09:23 Practicing self-awareness and empathy12:50 Understanding community assumptions and needs14:25 Understanding homelessness complexities16:58 Discussing the damage of assumptions21:05 Biblical examples of looking beyond labels23:58 Reflecting on Zacchaeus story28:46 Being a good neighbourOther LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

April 29, 202628 min

Making Generosity Part of Everyday Life | Tammy Kyte

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat if generosity wasn’t something you reacted to… but something you actually built into your life?In this episode, Shannon sits down with Tammy Kyte, one of the people behind GiveWise, a platform designed to make giving simpler and more consistent. But this conversation goes beyond tools and systems.Tammy shares how her journey from building homes to building a giving platform was shaped by a deeper question, how do we make generosity part of everyday life, especially when life feels busy, unpredictable, and full?Together, they explore the tension many of us feel, wanting to give, but struggling to do it consistently. From the realities of fluctuating income to the challenge of staying organized, this conversation offers a grounded and practical look at what it means to live generously.You’ll also hear how small, consistent acts of giving can shape not just communities, but our own hearts. Because generosity isn’t just about what we give, it’s about who we’re becoming.Time Stamps04:20 Balancing family life and business07:01 Incorporating generosity into daily life11:21 Setting aside money for charity13:50 Managing a charitable fund18:38 Learning generosity from family20:30 Family account money transfers23:33 Making intentional financial decisionsGuest LinksGiveWise: https://www.givewise.ca/Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

April 15, 202629 min

The Village We All Need | Deb Richards

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat happens when dreaming feels out of reach because daily life is so heavy?This conversation sits with the steady, sometimes invisible work of walking alongside young parents who carry more than meets the eye. Their stories invite us to pay attention to the small gestures that build real community—the quiet courage to trust, to stay, and to share even when nothing feels easy.Time Stamps03:45 Starting a teen moms program09:12 Moms supporting each other10:07 Building and relying on community13:36 Learning to build trust19:39 The importance of choice and dignity22:14 Supporting new moms and babies25:25 Giving and receiving in communityGuest Linkshttps://yfc.ca/winnipeg/program/young-parents/Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

April 1, 202633 min

The Way Care Changes Us

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionHow do you respond when your offer of care goes unreturned, and you’re left waiting with more questions than answers?This story invites us to consider what’s happening beneath the surface—both in ourselves and in those we hope to help. Through honest moments and unexpected pauses, a simple act of care reveals how seeing one another can change us, even when things don’t go as planned.Time Stamps05:48 Made for connection and community08:56 Dropping off car seat and stroller11:26 Learning compassion through perspective15:31 Connecting a dad with neighbours17:54 Building cross-sector partnerships22:35 Building relationships through consistent care24:33 Helping a mom in need28:21 Encouraging churches to care locallyOther LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

March 18, 202632 min

How Good Work Gets Seen

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionHow do stories change the way we see our neighbours, and how does sharing them connect us across differences?This conversation gathers around ordinary memories and messy moments, reflecting on why the stories we tell—and how we tell them—matter for deeper community. From childhood neighbours and community sewing circles to the challenges of communicating care, the voices in this story invite us to step in with humility, listen closely, and notice the sacred in everyday lives.Time Stamps06:07 "CarePortal: Connecting Needs Through Stories"08:51 "Power of Story Through Podcasting"12:57 "Vulnerability and Seeing Christ"14:51 "Making Community Work Accessible"17:53 "Get Curious, Get Involved"20:55 "Storytelling Through Quality Podcasts"25:46 "CareCreatives: Stories with Purpose"28:21 Power of Podcasts for BusinessGuest Linkshttps://carecreativesco.caOther LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

March 4, 202634 min

I Thought Rest Was Betrayal | Vanessa Parra

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat if the drive to be resilient is really a lifelong survival mode, and rest feels more like betrayal than healing?This story follows Vanessa, a Latina migrant and writer, as she navigates migration from Colombia to Montreal, wrestling with safety, guilt, and the unseen weight of beginning again. Around Shannon’s table, conversation opens up about what it means to seek belonging when your body won’t let its guard down, and how little moments of rest and connection can look holy—especially when rest feels out of reach.Guest LinksBuy Vanessa's Book: https://a.co/d/0aNK00i8Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

February 18, 202628 min

She Didn’t Forget About Me | Ashley & Chantel

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat happens when someone actually follows through?In this episode of Neighbourly, Shannon sits down with Ashley and Chantel to share a story that began with a simple CarePortal request for a wagon and children’s clothes. Chantel was navigating grief, recovery, and isolation. Ashley and her small group simply said yes.Months passed. Chantel assumed the connection had ended.But Ashley called.What followed was more than practical support. It became friendship, community, and a reminder that being a good neighbour often starts with something small, and consistent.This is a story about keeping your word, rebuilding trust, and discovering that you haven’t been forgotten.In This EpisodeThe power of simple follow-throughWhy consistency matters more than grand gesturesHow community support changes the trajectory for single mothersWhat it looks like when faith is lived out in everyday lifeHow saying “yes” to one small request can ripple outwardA Simple Step This WeekThink of one person you told, “Let’s connect.”Follow through.Ordinary care has extraordinary impact.🔗 Full Show Notes & TranscriptRead the full blog post, access the complete transcript, and find additional resources here:👉 https://neighbourlypodcast.caAbout NeighbourlyNeighbourly is a weekly podcast sharing real stories of ordinary people offering extraordinary care across Canada. Interview episodes alternate with Neighbourly Headlines, short reflections on neighbourly acts making a difference in our communities.Subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.Guest LinksLiving Bible Explorers: https://www.livingbibleexplorers.com/Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate

February 11, 20267 min

HEADLINES | For Those Who Run Toward Trouble, Not Away

Partner with work of CareImpact and Neighbourly!https://careimpact.ca/donateDescriptionWhat happens when ordinary moments push us to care for each other in unexpected ways?This story weaves through small-town gatherings and urgent rescues, quiet lawn disputes and spontaneous hospitality. As neighbours choose presence over comfort and conversation over complaint, we’re invited to wonder what it really means to love the people around us—even when it’s messy, complicated, or quietly courageous.SourcesLumby Seniors Build Food, Friendship, and Practical SupportOriginal story: “Lumby seniors dig into food, friendship and community solutions,” BC Healthy Communities (Nov 27, 2025). https://bchealthycommunities.ca/index.php/2025/11/27/lumby-seniors-dig-into-food-friendship-and-community-solutions/Surrey Neighbours Pull Man From Burning Home After ExplosionOriginal story: “I would do it again’: Surrey neighbours drag man from burning home after explosion” by Jack Rabb, CityNews Vancouver (Jan 12, 2026). https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2026/01/12/surrey-neighbours-save-from-burning-home-after-explosion/Gander Residents Drive Stranded Passengers to HotelsOriginal story: “Gander, N.L., residents drop everything to drive stranded air passengers to hotels,” The Canadian Press via CityNews Halifax (Jan 8, 2026). https://halifax.citynews.ca/2026/01/08/gander-n-l-residents-drop-everything-to-drive-stranded-air-passengers-to-hotels/👀 Neighbourhood WatchOriginal complaint: Neighbours complained to the City of Mississauga about tall grass over 20 cm and “nuisance weeds” in a naturalized front yard (public reporting summary).Source: INsauga (Jan 14, 2026). https://www.insauga.com/man-wins-court-battle-over-un-mowed-natural-lawn-in-mississauga/Other LinksJoin The CareImpact Podcast Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1PgzJWfkq9/Reach out to us! https://neighbourlypodcast.caEmail: podcast@careimpact.caAbout the CarePortal: careimpact.ca/careportalDONATE! Help connect and equip more churches across Canada to effectively journey well in community with the most vulnerable: careimpact.ca/donate