In this extended interview, Shannon Dames - Visioning and Development Lead, RTT Innovations Co‑Chair, and founder of Roots to Thrive - reflects on her personal and professional journey toward healing. Drawing from her training in nursing, public health, adult education, and psychedelic‑assisted therapies, she speaks about bringing Western science into respectful dialogue with spirituality and ancient wisdom. Shannon shares a formative experience with ayahuasca that reshaped her understanding of self‑compassion and wellness and discusses how Roots to Thrive challenges medicalized models of care in favour of approaches that promote resilience, healing, and harm reduction.

This interview was filmed as part of Quiet the Sirens which follows three firefighters confronting PTSD as they pursue healing through an innovative ketamine‑assisted group therapy program, offering an intimate look at trauma, recovery, and the evolving future of mental health care.