Living with chronic pain is something most people are doing quietly and calling something else. Nagging. Stiff. Just how it is. Desmond Williams did that for twelve years. He knew his condition was hereditary. His mother had already been diagnosed. He kept going to work at the warehouse anyway.

The morning he couldn't get down the stairs was the moment. Not the decade of pain before it. Not the lifting of two hundred pound boxes without help. The stairs. That is how long most people wait and that specific gap is what nobody in pain research was measuring until PEPR started asking who was actually missing from the conversation. The people at the table making decisions about pain care in Canada have tended to be white, highly educated, and often detached from the systems being designed. Desmond Williams sits at that table now as a co-director, chairs his own research committee of people with lived experience, and his thirty years of pain is the credential.

Stats Canada says functional health in Canadian adults is declining. What the stat does not contain is what it actually feels like to reach the stairs and stop.

Topics: living with chronic pain Canada, PEPR pain research, chronic pain care access, Desmond Williams, Stats Canada health decline

GUEST: Kathleen Rice and Desmond Williams | http://pepr-partnership.org

Originally aired on 2026-04-10

Living with chronic pain is something most people are doing quietly and calling something else. Nagging. Stiff. Just how it is. Desmond Williams did that for twelve years. He knew his condition was hereditary. His mother had already been diagnosed. He kept going to work at the warehouse anyway.
The morning he couldn't get down the stairs was the moment. Not the decade of pain before it. Not the lifting of two hundred pound boxes without help. The stairs. That is how long most people wait and that specific gap is what nobody in pain research was measuring until PEPR started asking who was actually missing from the conversation. The people at the table making decisions about pain care in Canada have tended to be white, highly educated, and often detached from the systems being designed. Desmond Williams sits at that table now as a co-director, chairs his own research committee of people with lived experience, and his thirty years of pain is the credential.
Stats Canada says functional health in Canadian adults is declining. What the stat does not contain is what it actually feels like to reach the stairs and stop.
Topics: living with chronic pain Canada, PEPR pain research, chronic pain care access, Desmond Williams, Stats Canada health decline
GUEST: Kathleen Rice and Desmond Williams |<a href="http://pepr-partnership.org"> http://pepr-partnership.org</a>
Originally aired on&nbsp;2026-04-10

Shane Hewitt & The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world—always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.

From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane’s signature style—thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.

If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt &amp; The Nightshift is your late-night companion for real talk, bold ideas, and unfiltered conversations that matter. Hosted by Canadian radio veteran Shane Hewitt, each episode dives into the headlines, human stories, and hidden truths shaping our world&mdash;always with curiosity, compassion, and a sharp edge.
From politics and pop culture to mental health, technology, and everyday life, this podcast is where night owls, deep thinkers, and curious minds come to connect. Featuring expert guests, passionate callers, and Shane&rsquo;s signature style&mdash;thoughtful, fearless, and refreshingly real.
If you crave meaningful dialogue, smart perspectives, and late-night radio energy in podcast form, subscribe now and join The Nightshift.

Shane Hewitt and The Nightshift

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.

Shane Hewitt is known for his engaging and relatable on-air personality, which captivates listeners. His ability to blend insightful commentary with humour and empathy creates a genuine connection with listeners.  Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift provides relatable content, informative discussions and expert insights – along with a balance of anecdotes and entertainment.