The highlight of my recent trip to Louisiana was filming at the Dew Drop Social and Benevolent Hall in what is now Old Mandeville.

This place is famous! It is believed to be the world's oldest unaltered rural jazz hall. Early greats Buddy Petit, Kid Ory and a young Louis Armstrong played there.

I was thrilled to film with Grammy award winning New Orleans musician, actor and author Chris Thomas King.

He's said to be "one of the worlds greatest blues guitar players." Chris also was in the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? and played a character named Tommy Johnson who describes selling his soul to the devil to play guitar.

I also learned so much from Andrea Fulton who is part of the Friends of the Dew Drop organization.

You'll be able to hear Chris' music and learn all about the rich history of the Dew Drop in my new travel documentary series Brandy Yanchyk Sees the World. It will be airing on public TV stations in the USA including PBS.

#BrandyYanchykSeestheWorld #VisitTheNorthshore #arcteryx

Holy smokes! January was so busy I’m just catching my breath.

One of the exciting things I did was go to New York City to do 24 speed pitches at TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace. It was an incredible networking experience.

I was there promoting my new travel documentary series Brandy Yanchyk Sees the World.

I can’t wait to share it all with you.

“TravMedia's International Media Marketplace (IMM) is the leading global networking event connecting the travel industry with editors, journalists, broadcasters, and influencers.”

#IMMNYC #IMM2024

Happy New Year.
I have some exciting plans in the works for 2024 and Brandy Y Productions!

Firstly, I am thrilled to announce that seven episodes of my travel documentary series "Seeing the USA with Brandy Yanchyk" are now available to watch on your smart TV on the PBS Passport video streaming App.
Just download the PBS App and search for the title "Seeing the USA".

You can also watch season one of my other travel series "Seeing Canada" on the PBS Passport App and all four seasons will be available soon.

About the PBSPassport App:
Currently, Passport is available through web browsers on your desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile devices. It is also available through the PBS video App for users on the below devices:
• Roku
• Apple TV 4
• Amazon Fire TV
• Amazon Fire Tablet
• Android TV
• Android mobile devices
• Apple iPhone and iPad

What an incredible evening.

Thank you so much Vancouver Food Runners and Food Stash Foundation for organizing a wonderful screening and event in Vancouver on Tuesday, December 5th at Food Stash.
Tammara Soma Ph.D. and I were thrilled to share our new documentary "Food is my Teacher" with such an engaged audience.

We have tremendous gratitude to the following organizations and individuals for their support:
Event venue & planning support: Food Stash Foundation
Financial partners: Vancity and Fresh Prep
Panelists: Dr. Tammara Soma, Brandy Yanchyk, and Christina Lee (hua foundation)
Food & beverage donation partners: TJ Conwi and Reroot , purebread, Greenhouse, Legacy Liquor Store, Whole Foods Market
Reusable cups & containers: ShareWares
Chairs: Vancouver Food Networks (Kitsilano Neighbourhood House)

If you missed the screening you can watch the documentary on CBC Gem.

Monday night’s screening of “Food is my Teacher” in Banff was a wonderful success. Around 70 people came to the community potluck, screening and panel.

The food was excellent and it felt so great to share Dr. Tammara Soma and my documentary with everyone.

El Torro Restaurant donated so much food and it was delicious! Thank you.

A big shout out to the Bow Valley Food Alliance and the Filipino Organization in the Rocky Mountains who attended the event and are also in the film.

You can watch it now on CBC Gem!

Thank you Rocky Mountain Outlook for promoting the event in this article.

We can't wait to share our new documentary ""Food is my Teacher" with those living near Banff, Alberta!

Come and join us for a screening & potluck.

Dr. Tammara Soma and I will be there as part of a discussion panel after the documentary.

Register for the potluck and screening here.

You can watch it now on CBC GEM.

#FoodismyTeacher

I am thrilled to announce that my episode Seeing Canada - "Black History in South Western Ontario" has won FIRST PLACE in the Virtual storytelling category in the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) 7th Annual Canadian Chapter Awards.

The judge said "This was an interesting episode sharing meaningful stories that we as Canadians should be familiar with. This is a sort of journalistic storytelling that I'd like to see more often, travel media stories that turn the camera outwards, shining a spotlight on the local people and their stories as shared by them. I learned a lot from this and enjoyed Brandy as a host, particularly when she was connecting with her subjects in a more relaxed and human way. Congratulations, everyone.”

You can watch the episode "Seeing Canada" - BLACK HISTORY IN SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO online on CPAC-TV.

Here is the description:

Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk explores Southwestern Ontario where she learns about the Underground Railroad and the history of the Freedom Seekers who came to Canada and helped build a large, vibrant Black community in the country.

Brandy visits The Amherstburg Freedom Museum, the Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, the Chatham-Kent Black Historical Society & Black Mecca Museum and Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site now called the Josiah Henson Museum of African-Canadian History.

Brandy also meets with Teajai Travis, a Descendant of Underground Railroad Travellers, and with Educator, Irene Moore Davis, at the Tower of Freedom in Windsor.

This Sunday join host Brandy Yanchyk when she travels to British Columbia's Cariboo Chilcotin Coast in her travel series "Seeing Canada" season four.

You can catch this new episode on CPAC-TV (Cable Public Affairs Channel) at 9:30 pm ET and then it will be online. The series will also be airing on PBS and Create TV soon.

Here is a description of episode 404:

Exploring British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Region.

Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk travels to the Cariboo Chilcotin Region in British Columbia where she learns how to make cinnabon buns at The Historic Chilcotin Lodge in Riske Creek.

Then Brandy learns how to trim a horse's hooves at the Terra Nostra Guest Ranch in Kleena Kleene.

In Clinton, Brandy meets David Arlen Park, a Musician and Owner of The Junction Cafe, who teaches her how to be a barista.

I am thrilled to announce that the first new episode of my travel series Seeing Canada season four will air this Sunday on CPAC-TV at 9:30 pm ET.

There are eight new episodes in total and they will air each Sunday for the next eight weeks on CPAC-TV.

Season four will also air on PBS stations and Create TV in the future.

Thank you to everyone who was part of "Seeing Canada" season four!

Here is a description of Seeing Canada episode 401:

Indigenous Tourism and Art in South Eastern Ontario

Canadian journalist Brandy Yanchyk meets the rare and endangered Ojibwe Spirit Horses and makes a corn husk doll at the Madahoki Farm in Ottawa’s Greenbelt. Then Brandy travels to Akwesasne where she makes traditional Mohawk cornbread. In Kingston she learns to paint with artist Francisco Corbett at the Agnes Etherington Art Centre.

For a more in depth description of the new Seeing Canada season four series click here: https://vimeo.com/855173823?share=copy

You can stream the new documentary Food is my Teacher here on CBC GEM.

Lots of great articles have been coming in for Dr. Tammara Soma and Brandy Yanchyk’s new documentary Food is my Teacher.

Read them here:

Article by the Edmonton Journal “Local award-winning filmmaker's latest Food is my Teacher premieres Friday

Brandy Yanchyk's new documentary follows food systems expert Dr. Tammara Soma as she explores the human connection with food”.

Article by Edify “The Best Teacher of All”.

Article by AlbertaPrimeTimes.com “Food as teacher and healer, the focus of new documentary”.

Article by SFU NEWS “SFU’s Tammara Soma explores the healing power of food in new documentary.”

Article by CBC “Professor, filmmaker travel across B.C., Alberta to explore the healing power of food”.

CBC Edmonton AM interview “Food as a healer and educator”.

You can stream the new documentary Food is my Teacher here on CBC GEM.

It's great to see these articles and interviews about my new documentary Food is My Teacher with Dr. Tammara Soma about the healing power of food.

Article by the Edmonton Journal “Local award-winning filmmaker's latest Food is my Teacher premieres Friday

Brandy Yanchyk's new documentary follows food systems expert Dr. Tammara Soma as she explores the human connection with food”.

Article by Edify “The Best Teacher of All”.

Article by AlbertaPrimeTimes.com “Food as teacher and healer, the focus of new documentary”.

Article by SFU NEWS “SFU’s Tammara Soma explores the healing power of food in new documentary.”

Article by CBC “Professor, filmmaker travel across B.C., Alberta to explore the healing power of food”.

CBC Edmonton AM interview “Food as a healer and educator”.

Tune in when “Food is My Teacher” starts streaming on CBC Gem this Friday, August 25th and premieres on CBC TV in Alberta and BC on Saturday, August 26th, at 7 p.m. local time.

Thank you to the wonderful team who helped put this together:
Dr. Tammara Soma: Co-writer/co-director, Brandy Yanchyk: co-writer/co-director and producer, DOP: Mitch Fraser, Camera in BC: Thomas Dudley Productions, Editor: Sarah Taylor Editor, Colour Correction: Michael McIntosh, Post Production Sound: Johnny Blerot and Executive Producer: Sheila Peacock.

#FoodismyTeacher

Whatcha doing on Sunday nights in August?
Hope you’re watching season three of Brandy Yanchyk’s travel documentary series “Seeing Canada”.
For those of you with cable it is available across Canada on CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble)
Eight new episodes of #SeeingCanada will start airing in September in season four. Yahoo.

"Food is My Teacher" will now air on August 25th and 26th on CBC!

The airing date has changed for my new documentary "Food Is My Teacher".

Food is my Teacher starts streaming on CBC Gem on Friday August 25th, and premieres on CBC TV in Alberta and BC, on Saturday August 26th, at 7 pm local time.

Here is the synopsis of this new documentary:

Food can teach us love and bring people together. But for Tammara Soma, a food professor, food was originally a source of pain. Join her journey to learn about the healing power of food from the perspective of Indigenous, Muslim, Chinese, Filipino, Sikh and Polish Canadian experts.

Food is my Teacher was co-written and co-directed by myself and Dr. Tammara Soma.

I was the producer of the film and Sheila Peacock from CBC was the Executive Producer. It was edited by Sarah Taylor Editor.

The documentary was filmed in Alberta and British Columbia.

Visit the documentary’s website here.

On Canada Day (July 1st) , join me, Brandy Yanchyk for a marathon of my travel documentary series "Seeing Canada".

Embark on a journey of discovery across Canada as I showcase fantastic experiences everywhere I visit in season THREE!

Watch the "Seeing Canada" marathon July 1 at 7 am & 1:30 pm ET / 4 am & 10:30 am PT on CPAC (Cable Public Affairs Channel / Chaîne d'affaires publiques par câble).

Also, on Canada Day, if you live in Toronto or Buffalo from 3pm to 6pm tune into the TV station WNED PBS to watch a Seeing Canada Marathon! The station will be airing six new episodes from season three of #SeeingCanada!

Here’s a description of the episodes: https://brandyyanchyk.com/seeing-canada-s3
#seeingcanada #canadasightseeing #canada #travel

My latest Brandy Y's newsletter is out!
If you are interested in keeping up to date on what I'm working on or you want to learn about some of my past documentaries please click and subscribe.
Thank you for all your support.

The URL for this newsletter is: https://mailchi.mp/3c552f54a4a8/thank-you-for-signing-up-to-brandy-ys-newsletter-8863114

Journalist Brandy Yanchyk had 20 speed pitch meetings at #IPW23 in San Antonio, Texas.

This IPW event included four days of networking .

Brandy was there looking for more stories for her travel documentary series Seeing the USA which airs on PBS stations, Create TV and on different airlines.

5,000 delegates from 60+ countries conducted 90,000+ face-to-face appointments at IPW.

This event is all about travel to the U.S.

We are thrilled to announce that Brandy Yanchyk and Dr. Tammara Soma’s new documentary "Food is my Teacher" will be released on CBC Gem on Friday August 25th, and will premiere on CBC TV at 7 pm on Saturday August 26th in Alberta and BC.

Here is the synopsis of this new documentary:

Food can teach us love and bring people together. But for Tammara Soma, a food professor, food was originally a source of pain. Join her journey to learn about the healing power of food from the perspective of Indigenous, Muslim, Chinese, Filipino, Sikh and Polish Canadian experts.

Follow the Facebook page for Food is My Teacher here.

"Food is my Teacher" was co-written and co-directed by Brandy Yanchyk and Dr. Tammara Soma. It was produced by Brandy Yanchyk and Sheila Peacock from CBC was the Executive Producer. It was edited by Sarah Taylor Editor.

The Director of Photographer was Mitch Fraser and filming in BC was by Thomas Dudley.

Rory Lee Design is the Art Director and Graphic Designer. Sound Mix by Johnny Blerot and Colour Correction by Michael McIntosh.

#FoodismyTeacher

The rough cut of the new documentary “Food is My Teacher” is done! The film focuses on the healing power of food.

Thank you to our editor Sarah Taylor for your hard work on this new documentary.

“Food is My Teacher” is co-directed and co-written by Dr. Tammara Soma and filmmaker Brandy Yanchyk.

Brandy produced the documentary working with Executive Producer Sheila Peacock.

This new film will air on CBC TV and on CBC Gem in the summer of 2023.

Thank you Banff National Park!

You were the perfect destination for the Canadian Chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) conference.

Journalist Brandy Yanchyk attended and gained lots of new story ideas for her travel series Seeing Canada.

A huge shout out to Kim Logan and John Doherty at Banff & Lake Louise Tourism, the SATW Sites Committee, the Fairmont Banff Springs and Flora Fioritti from Rare Indigo for putting it all together.

This photo was were taken at the top of the Banff Gondola from the Sulphur Mountain summit.

#SATW #SATWBANFF #banffsprings #mybanff #SeeingCanada

Travel Alberta

On Thursday, January 26th, 2023 along with other international travel journalists Brandy Yanchyk had 24 Speed Pitching meetings at TravMedia’s International Media Marketplace (IMM).

It's the leading global networking event connecting the travel industry.

She can’t wait to make more episodes of her travel series “Seeing Canada”, “Seeing the USA” and more shows in different destinations.

Her series are airing on PBS stations, Create TV, CPAC-TV and on Amazon Prime.

#IMMUSA #IMMNYC #IMM23!
#SeeingCanada #SeeingtheUSA #BrandyYProductions #travel

It started airing on Monday, January 23rd, 2023.
The six new episodes will air on Mondays at 10:30 am ET and repeat at 5:30 pm ET.
Here's their website and more information about Create TV: https://createtv.com.
- Create is currently available in 26 of the top 30 markets in the USA
- Aired by 111 licensees representing 240 stations / 83% of the country
- Reached 40.2M P18+ viewers (in 2020-2021)
- Over-indexes the U.S. average with African Americans and other ethnicities
- Attracts viewers from all income ranges with 47% having HH income of $50,000 or more
- In primetime, Create's average household audience is comparable to long-time cable networks like FYI and FX Movie Channel; and exceeds others such as Great American Channel, Ovation and Vice
- Active presence on five social platforms (250k fans)
You can find out more about #SeeingCanada season three here: https://brandyyanchyk.com/seeing-canada-s3

Filmmaker, Brandy Yanchyk, is looking forward to connecting with you in her new Brandy Y Productions Inc. email newsletter.

If you are interested in learning more about Brandy's upcoming documentary films, her travel series Seeing Canada/ Seeing the USA and other reflections please sign up for the new Brandy Y Productions Inc. newsletter here:

https://mailchi.mp/4779389a56c3/brandy-y-newsletter

Thank you to everyone who has reached out to journalist, Brandy Yanchyk, by email or direct message about her travel series Seeing Canada! One of the comments we hear all the time is how much you love learning about Indigenous tourism in Canada.

Coming up in season four of #SeeingCanada Brandy visits with Stephen and Florence Paul from Firstnationstourism. In this episode Brandy learns about the activities you can do when you visit the Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag in New Brunswick.

This new episode is part of season four which is in editing now and will start airing in 2023 on PBS stations, Create TV and on CPAC in Canada starting on Canada Day which is July 1st!

We can't wait to share it with you.

Learn more about visiting Stephen and Florence Paul here:

https://www.spfirstnationsoutdoortours.com

#ExploreNB

Editing is in full swing for season four of Seeing Canada.

One of the fascinating people journalist Brandy Yanchyk met in New Brunswick while filming season four is Cornel Ceapa. He is a scientist with a PhD in sturgeon biology and owns Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc!

Brandy tasted three types of Canadian sturgeon caviar and lots of other delicious sturgeon treats.

You can learn more here: https://www.acadian-sturgeon.com/en/products/

These new episodes of #SeeingCanada will be available for PBS stations in time for Canada Day which is July 1st.

#ExploreNB

Thank you to the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers for another great networking event.

This year’s conference in Glasgow was so inspiring.

Climate change, how we tell that story, how we want the world to be in 2030 and where the money is for programming were themes Brandy Yanchyk was particularly interested in at the conference.

Thank you so much Edmonton Screen Industries Office for giving Brandy Yanchyk a Market and Event Access Grant to come Glasgow to learn and pitch her films.

World Congress of Science and Factual Producers (WCSFP) is a member-driven organization formed by science and factual producers, broadcasters and content providers from around the world.

Each year, members gather for an annual conference in a different country to connect with colleagues through meetings and social events, learn about new industry trends as well as celebrate and be inspired by the smart content we produce and distribute.

#WCSFP22 #SmartContentMatters #Glasgow #filmmaker #documentary
VisitScotland Brandy Y Productions

What a fun night filled with fascinating people.

I even took a selfie with former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien who helped to create many national parks in Canada.

I also had a chance to chat and be inspired by so many Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows.

I’m so happy I travelled to Ottawa for the #RCGS 2022 Fellows Annual Dinner at the Canadian War Museum. Thank you to the organizers.

#RCGS22 Seeing Canada

#RCGS Fellow

For the last week Journalist Brandy Yanchyk has been reporting and field producing on a short film called “A New Climate” for ITN Business.

Brandy’s team filmed trainees from 5 different Métis settlements in northern Alberta who are part of a forest carbon inventory training programme developed by Anew.
It is airing on the New Scientist and International Emissions Trading Association websites and was created just in time for the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, also known as #COP27.

ITN Business writes: “One week since we were filming in Alberta, Canada with Anew. We learned how Canada are working toward achieving its commitment to Net Zero emissions by 2050 through land management approaches, working with several Métis communities who are leading the way by developing Forest carbon Offset projects within their settlement lands. Brandy Yanchyk spoke with Martin Baker, Senior Director, Natural Climate Solutions at Anew, Scott Cardinal, Kikino Métis Settlement Councillor and Taylor Gladue, a trainee from the Elizabeth Métis Settlement, to find out more.
'Net Zero: The Integrity Pathway' will be available to watch on the International Emissions Trading Association website tomorrow, and will also be featured on the New Scientist website.
ITN Business Producer: Pamela Emerson.”
#TheIntegrityPathway #NetZero #ITNBusiness ICROA
#AnewClimate #climatechange #alberta

Last week journalist Brandy Yanchyk filmed at Mādahòkì Farm in Ottawa! It is located on the traditional and unceded territory of the Anishinabe Algonquin people.

Mādahòkì Farm focuses on Indigenous tourism experiences and Brandy Yanchyk learned about the Ojibway Spirit Horses and how to make a corn husk doll from Maggie Downer.

Brandy can’t wait to share this story with you in “Seeing Canada” season four. It will start airing on PBS stations in July 2023 just in time for Canada Day!

Thank you to all our viewers for their continued support.

#SeeingCanada #MyOttawa

Travel Journalist, Brandy Yanchyk, had sixteen speed pitching appointments at the SATW 2022 Annual Convention in Bogotá, Colombia.

She is meeting with tourism destinations looking for new stories to make more TV travel series about.

There are 262 attendees including associates, digital publishers, freelancers and editors attending the SATW convention in Bogota, Colombia.

SATW is a professional organization comprised of the travel industry’s most experienced journalists, photographers, editors, broadcast/video/film producers, bloggers, website owners, public relations experts and hospitality industry representatives from the United States, Canada and beyond.

#satw #seeyouinbogota #SATWBOGOTA

#visitcolombia

Filmmaker Brandy Yanchyk has a new documentary she is producing, co-writing and co-directing with Tammara Soma Ph.D.

It's about the healing power of food and it will air on CBC next summer.

Here's some behind the scenes photos from their filming in Lake Louise, Calgary and Exshaw in Alberta this summer.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Right now the working title is "Sustaining Food".

This is Brandy Yanchyk’s second film project with Dr. Tammara Soma.

Dr. Tammara Soma is an award-winning food scholar, educator, a mother of three children and a Muslim Canadian woman born in West Java Indonesia. She is an Assistant Professor who teaches food systems planning and the Research Director of the Food Systems Lab at the School of Resource andEnvironmental Management at Simon Fraser University. The Food Systems Lab is widely recognized for being an innovative women led research lab in Canada. She is also a member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and is the first and only hijabi Professor at Simon Fraser University.