Season Three - Episode Seven - Jen Rondeau

"If I allow praise to be why I do this job or get wrapped up in that life-saving mentality, I would worry about the job I'm doing. You have to keep some humility."

Jen Rondeau is a very humble and wise woman. As a Critical Care Paramedic, her job is to help those who need immediate medical help. She works with Air Ambulance and Road Ambulance based at Medavie Health Services West in Saskatoon's Stonebridge area. She works with others to save lives. 

What I quickly learned, however, is that accepting praise and then letting it go is really important for Jen and she explains why in this episode.

I met Jen last summer when I walked into her yoga studio, Ivy Yoga House. Two things quickly stood out to me. The first was how welcoming the space was. Sometimes I feel intimidated in a yoga studio because I'm just not that good, but there is a great feeling when you enter the studio that instantly puts you at ease. 

The second was that Jen was there to greet and say hello to everyone. It's a small but I think important example of Jen's kindness and she explains why this is important in the episode.

I've got to know Jen since that first class and after hearing some pretty incredible stories of being on the frontlines of the pandemic, I just had to have her on the podcast. I am grateful she said yes and was game for doing the interview in the back of one of the ambulances at Medavie headquarters.

Jen is a wonderful storyteller and opens up about the highs (the love she and her colleagues received from the public when the pandemic first started) and the lows (watching conspiracy and anti-mask protests take root in Saskatchewan) of being a paramedic during Covid times. She also discusses the challenges that come with having her own family question the science behind vaccines. It's not easy to talk about these things so I really appreciate her sharing so much with listeners.

Thank you to Saskatoon physiotherapist and yoga instructor Adrienne Vangool for her help with this episode! 

A big thank you to City Perks Coffeeshop and Sparrow Coffee for supporting this episode. Both of these locations serve great coffee, great food and are wonderful spots for conversations with friends. Thank you to Coralee and her team for their belief in the podcast!

Follow YXE Underground on Apple Podcasts or wherever you find your podcasts. Stream episodes on Spotify or the website. Please give a 5-star review if you like what you hear! 

Thank you so much for supporting this local, independent podcast! I sure do appreciate it and I know you're going to love getting to know Jen Rondeau. 

Cheers...Eric 

• Host, Producer, Editor: Eric Anderson
• Theme Music: Andrew Dickson
• Website: https://www.yxeunderground.com
• Recorded: On Treaty 6 Territory and the traditional homeland of the Metis