Podcast

Personally: Agent Layla

Documentary, Society & Culture

When she was 20 years old, something terrible happened to Vienna Luke. And for more than a decade, the truth of that night remains buried. But when Vienna becomes a mother, she realizes she must confront the past and uncover the truth – whatever the consequences for her family. Her sister Shawnessy comes aboard in the role of dogged detective and Vienna plays the secret agent in a relentless search for answers and justice. Personally: Agent Layla is a gripping true story about memory, family and how far one woman must go to set the record straight. Hosted by Jodie Martinson.

Episode one is available wherever you get your podcasts, September 21.

---ABOUT PERSONALLY---

Get lost in someone else’s life. From a mysterious childhood spent on the run, to a courageous escape from domestic violence, each season of Personally invites you to explore the human experience in all its complexity, one story — or season — at a time. This is what it sounds like to be human.

Documentary chart
#54
Episodes
72
Releases
Weekly
Typical length
38 min
On air since
2022
Latest episode
3 weeks ago

Episodes

72 episodes, from the first

Season 1

  1. Introducing Run, Hide, Repeat Trailer

    Show notes

    Best-selling author and journalist Pauline Dakin takes you on an immersive journey into a childhood spent on the run, one where unexplained moves and disturbing events took place under a shroud of secrecy. When Pauline was finally told what her family was running from, she was left with more questions than answers.

    3 min
  2. Run, Hide, Repeat, Episode 1: Don't Tell

    Episode 1

    Show notes

    It’s 1971 and Ruth Dakin is going through a messy divorce and fears for the future of her young children, Pauline and Ted. She meets Stan Sears, a United Church Minister, a man who offered comfort and safe harbour. But the encounter would change her life – and the lives of her children – forever. Soon, odd, unexplained things start to happen and the young family is suddenly on the run, uprooted from their cozy home in North Vancouver to Winnipeg and then eventually to New Brunswick. The children are told not to tell anyone, and there are no goodbyes — not even to their father. Also on the move? Stan and his wife Sybil. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/run-hide-repeat-transcripts-listen-1.6682766

    33 min
  3. Run, Hide, Repeat, Episode 2: On The Run

    Episode 2

    Show notes

    Now a teenager living in Saint John, the secrecy and unexplained moves wear Pauline down. Eventually she graduates and starts a career in journalism thinking she can start to live a normal life. That changes in February 1988 when her mother Ruth says she’s finally ready to tell Pauline everything. Sitting alongside Stan, Ruth’s secret shocks Pauline. Pauline realizes her life is in danger — and she will never look at her past the same way. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/run-hide-repeat-transcripts-listen-1.6682766

    36 min
  4. Run, Hide, Repeat, Episode 3: The Weird World

    Episode 3

    Show notes

    Based on her mother and Stan’s stunning revelations, Pauline and her brother Ted start sifting through their childhood memories and matching them to the once unexplained events. Stan and Ruth, now openly a couple, are going deep undercover — and they want Pauline to join them. Pauline must choose between joining her mother in the unknown and leaving behind everyone else she loves in the world she knows. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/run-hide-repeat-transcripts-listen-1.6682766

    55 min
  5. Run, Hide, Repeat, Episode 4: Saving Mom

    Episode 4

    Show notes

    Pauline is struggling with doubts — the details of her family’s secret seem outrageous. But why would Stan and her mother lie to her? Pauline sets up a sting to find out once and for all if Stan and Ruth are telling the truth. And what she discovers changes her relationship with Ruth forever. Pauline, desperate to reconcile what Ruth has done to her, turns to understanding her mom’s troubled past. For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/run-hide-repeat-transcripts-listen-1.6682766

    42 min
  6. Run, Hide, Repeat, Episode 5: Stan's World

    Episode 5

    Show notes

    Pauline sets out to understand Stan’s mind and motives. She meets up with his son, John, who has some very strange stories of his own. And Pauline finally comes across a potential answer – something that could explain all of Stan's actions. But will it be enough to forgive him? For transcripts of this series, please visit: https://www.cbc.ca/radio/podcastnews/run-hide-repeat-transcripts-listen-1.6682766

    52 min

Season 2

  1. Introducing Welcome to Paradise Trailer

    Episode 1

    Show notes

    As one of Canada’s most respected journalists, Anna Maria Tremonti has a reputation for being fearless. She’s reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. But there’s one story she’s never made public: when she was 23 years old, she married a man who beat her. Their marriage only lasted one year but the consequences of that abuse lasted a lifetime. Now she's telling her own story. This is Welcome to Paradise.

    If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources at cbc.ca/WTPresources.

    2 min
  2. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 1: One of Those People You Hear About

    Episode 1

    Show notes

    Ready to reveal her longest-held secret, Anna Maria Tremonti talks to her therapist about a trauma from 40 years ago that’s the source of shame and self-loathing. She’s reported on gender-based violence many times as a journalist, including from war zones – but this time, she’s telling her own story. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Click here for transcripts of this series.

    30 min
  3. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 2: See What You Made Me Do

    Episode 2

    Show notes

    Pat seems charming, funny and worldly – the perfect husband. But shortly after their wedding, Anna Maria discovers the man she’s married is an entirely different person behind closed doors. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Find transcripts of this series here.

    30 min
  4. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 3: L is for Love

    Episode 3

    Show notes

    Anna Maria is living a double life. In public she and Pat seem like the perfect couple. At home, he’s becoming increasingly violent. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Find transcripts of the series here.

    33 min
  5. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 4: The Long Tail

    Episode 4

    Show notes

    Getting out is only half the battle. After separating from her abusive husband, Anna Maria faces the most dangerous period of the relationship… and long-term emotional fallout that follows her for years. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Find transcripts of the series here.

    29 min
  6. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 5: The Message

    Episode 5

    Show notes

    As Anna Maria prepares to contact Pat, she makes a startling discovery. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Find transcripts of this series here.

    31 min
  7. Welcome to Paradise, Episode 6: The Visitation

    Episode 6

    Show notes

    Anna Maria makes a trip to find out more about Pat's past and confirms something she’d suspected. If you or someone you know is affected by intimate partner violence, you can find a list of resources here. Find transcripts of the series here.

    33 min

Season 3

  1. Introducing Short Sighted Trailer

    Show notes

    Graham Isador is losing his vision. Through Short Sighted's mini episodes, he situates listeners in the everyday experience of a blind or low vision person for an intimate and irreverent look at accessibility and its personal impacts.

    A five-part series from CBC’s Personally. New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays, starting Nov. 19. Don't want to wait? Binge the whole season via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.

    1 min
  2. How to be a TV host when you can't see?

    Episode 1

    Show notes

    Writer and journalist Graham Isador has a degenerative eye disease. It’s started to impact his day-to-day and his work prospects. He’s been looking for the best way to talk about it.

    New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Don't want to wait? Binge the whole season right now via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.

    16 min
  3. Short Sighted, Episode 2: How to tell people you're losing vision

    Episode 2

    Show notes

    Because there are no visual identifiers for Graham’s condition, people don’t think he’s losing his sight. They think he’s an asshole. Graham talks to his friends about why they think he has problems in social situations.

    Special thanks to Dan Barra-Berger, Yvonne Felix, Steven Aquino, Steven Scott, and Erica Peck.

    New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Don't want to wait? Binge the whole season right now via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.

    14 min
  4. How to dance for people who don’t see

    Episode 3

    Show notes

    Graham talks to blind artist Devon Healey, who makes dance shows for people who don’t see and explores the world of audio description.

    Special thanks to Justin Miller, Tarragon Theatre, Outside The March Theatre company and Vanessa Smythe.

    For more on Devon Healy’s “Rainbow on Mars” visit https://outsidethemarch.ca.

    New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Don't want to wait? Binge the whole season right now via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.

    15 min
  5. How to be photographer when you can’t see

    Episode 4

    Show notes

    After an unsuccessful eye surgery, Graham feels estranged from his camera. Blind photojournalist Samantha Hurley offers a different perspective before she leaves to photograph the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.

    Special thanks to Sam Hurley.

    For more about Sam Hurley’s work visit https://samanthahurley.myportfolio.com/

    New episodes will be released weekly on Tuesdays. Don't want to wait? Binge the whole season right now via CBC Stories Premium on Apple Podcasts.

    14 min
  6. Short Sighted, Episode 5: How to surf when you're going blind

    Episode 5

    Show notes

    Graham faces his fears and travels to Vancouver to learn how to surf from blind screenwriter Ryan Knighton.

    Special thanks to Ryan Knighton.

    14 min

Season 4

  1. Introducing Sorry About The Kid Trailer

    Show notes

    How do you forget your favourite person in the world? Alex remembers everything about the day a speeding police car killed his brother. But his brother, alive? Those memories are lost – and he wants them back. Sorry About the Kid is an emotional, deeply personal meditation on the losses that define us. Hosted by Alex McKinnon. Produced with Mira Burt-Wintonick (WireTap, Love Me).

    2 min