A former Black Press Media reporter is set to debut a new video podcast series about reuniting with people he wrote about nearly ten years earlier.
Greg Laychak reconnects with several subjects in Revisited, a six-episode series that premieres Sept. 24. His subjects include a wheelchair basketball player, a senior who helped spay and neuter 8,500 cats, and a gourmet chef.
Revisited came from an idea he had to combine his two passions of community storytelling and photography.
“Iʼm excited to elevate these important community voices once more,ˮ Laychak said. “In the series we talk about when we first connected, find out about what each person is doing now, and then we collaborate on a photo project about their story that will live on in the future.ˮ
To create those photography projects, Laychak combined analog, digital and experimental processes, using them as a way to enhance each story. The participants then return to discuss the outcomes and meanings of their project.
The first episode features Adria Roberts, whom Laychak wrote a feature story about in The Chilliwack Times in 2015. Roberts was in psychosis recovery when they first met, and was ready to speak publicly about her experiences.
“Talking about it made me realize how raw and vulnerable I was in the original story,ˮ she said. “I had so much shame and fear, that first time was such a brave step for me.ˮ
Roberts said it was interesting to take a step back and reflect on what has changed in her life.
“So much gratitude, I'm proud of the growth I've had,ˮ she said. “To visualize the community and people who gave space and resources to help me recover from my struggles. I was really excited to connect with Greg again – he has a big heart.ˮ
The other episodes include: Team Canada wheelchair basketball player Ben Hagkull and his goals today; metal band Medevil that lost their drummer to cancer and are now poised to release a new album; Noma-trained chef Hiro Takeda who ran a high-end restaurant in Hope and is now living in Estonia as head chef of another gourmet eatery; Steve Esau, Pacific Community Resources Society director of operations for Fraser East, who talks about how homelessness and available services have changed over the past decade; and Ena Vermerris who was pivotal in helping to control Chilliwack's pet population. Vermerris died in 2023, and in this episode Laychak interviewed Marieke Heaps and Collette Kolodychuk with Ena's Community Cats about Vermerris, and their continued efforts after her passing.
Laychak and his subjects also touch on the pandemic and how it affected their individual journeys through that timeframe.
Revisited was made possible with the support of Telus Storyhive Voices. All six episodes will be available for free on Telus Optik TV channel 9, Stream+ and Storyhiveʼs YouTube channel.
All episodes will be released on Telus Optik on Sept. 24. However, Storyhive's YouTube channel releases are gradual: Sept. 24 - episode 1 (Adria Roberts) and episode 2 (Ben Hagkull); Oct. 1 - episode 3 (Medevil); Oct. 8 - episode 4 (Hiro Takeda); Oct. 15 - episode 5 (Steve Esau); Oct. 22 - episode 6 (Ena Vermerris).
The episodes are between 25 and 30 minutes in length.
For more information and updates about the series, follow @glaychak on Instagram.