Hi, my name is Angelo Gio Mateo.

I am a storyteller, advocate, and community builder. I am a proud Filipino-Canadian immigrant from Toronto. I am an aspiring policy professional, but I dream about being a creative and a filmmaker, or maybe open up my own coffee shop.

This is my new podcast: At The Corner. This is my own loving tribute to the old “Speakers’ Corner” at Queen and John Street in Toronto, a space where I can record my own thoughts and ideas.

This episode is a prologue, a promise of things to come. This is my story and I’m letting myself be vulnerable. I want to tell you about who I am, what I’m passionate about, what I’m curious about, what I’m angry about, what I’m anxious about, and ultimately, what I’m hopeful for. This story is about my journey with mental illness, about not feeling enough, about feeling insecure, but also about being determined to make a difference and earn a seat at the table.

I’m not that person I was almost a decade ago. I’m not that person I was 5 years ago. I’m a better person. I know who I am and what I stand for. And I’m determined to bust down those doors I once thought were shut to me.

On this podcast, I plan to rant about whatever I’m thinking about at that time, whatever I watched or listened to recently. I’ll keep it a little shorter, maybe 15-30 minutes. Whenever I can, I’ll try and bring on friends and guests, and have some fun conversations.

I don’t know. Maybe no one will listen to this. Maybe you don’t care for my thoughts. Maybe I’m just screaming into the void. But like Speakers’ Corner, I’m getting my thoughts out there. And you can agree or disagree. But this is me and I’m putting myself out there, making myself vulnerable. And if you’re listening to me and my stories, thank you. 

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