Existential Relish

This episode reveals not only the details about a world-renown researcher, who is a scholar in emerging tech and the first Black woman to be President of a Canadian university, but the radiant human who embodies fearlessness and inspires so many.

Friends for two decades, Host C-A Granatstein and Dr. Rhonda McEwen cover a range of topics, like Rhonda's move to middle America from Trinidad as a teenager; her research that informed the creation of Julia, the first Sesame Street Muppet on the autism spectrum; managing a student protest that evolved into a full-on occupation; and her vision for inclusivity at the University of Victoria in the University of Toronto.

The episode starts out as a story about a broken down vintage Austin-Healey and a chance encounter with a real life superhero. It evolves into stories about helping others, being part of the fabric of the community, and aslo a big surprise for host C-A’s friend Mike. 

It’s the stuff of movies, mystery and faraway places. Records show that as early as 2,000 BC falcons were used to hunt and feed communities, for sport, and as highly effective pest control. 

C-A has a fascinating conversation about falconry with the hard-working falcons Bullet and Petey, and Falconer Keith Everett from Falcon Environmental.

C-A speaks to Steve Paikin, journalist, author, documentary producer, podcast co-host and host of TVO’s flagship current affairs program, The Agenda with Steve Paikin. 

The conversation focuses on interviewing, but Steve breaks out into song, recalls great moments, surprising moments, being starstruck and a few personal - but not too personal - nuggets.

In a follow-up to Episode 17, C-A speaks to Warren Kotler again, who is not only a guest this time around, but her husband, who lives with Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

They talk about the unique conversations considerations that took place when they started dating and why they asked family and friends to donate to the OCTANE research project to mark the occasion of their marriage. C-A speaks with Warren’s lead oncologist, Dr. Philippe Bedard, who is also the principal researcher of the Princess Margaret-led OCTANE study.

To learn more about Warren's story and to make a donation to this research that helps expand options for personalized cancer treatment please visit: https://supportthepmcf.ca/ui/WarrenKotler

Fashion rentals, refurbishment and resale is just about the easiest and most enjoyable way to support local businesses, save money, reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing and rescue clothes from the landfill which pollute water systems and through their decomposition process and incineration, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

C-A talks to Common Sort owner Nicole Babin about her three thriving resale clothing locations in Toronto, her business model, the challenges that come with growth and about her long-time employees who are happy and fulfilled because they get to work in fashion, in a sustainable and accessible way, for a boss that has embedded social responsibility into her operation.

Fashion rentals, refurbishment and resale is just about the easiest and most enjoyable way to support local businesses, save money, reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing and rescue clothes from the landfill which pollute water systems and through their decomposition process, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

After listening to Nicole, as well as one of her employees and a 20-something consumer/seller, you will want to give resale a try.

This conversation with Dr. Kasra (Kas) Khorasani is about a unique approach that he developed for his inpatient psychotherapy groups using LEGO Serious Play methodology.

Learn why group therapy is such a valued tool in for psychotherapy and how building with LEGO in Kas's sessions empowers further connection, allowing people to become authentic, genuine, non-judgemental, curious and kind.

Show host, C-A Granatstein also does a little building with Kas to understand the process of these sessions.

Music: Romance for Piano and Cello by Martijn de Boer (NiGiD) (c) copyright 2015 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/NiGiD/50238 Ft: AT

In March 2021, Glenna Gosewich became an non-directed living organ donor.

62% of her liver went to a stranger who was in need of a vital transplant.

Glenna sees this as a form of charity, a good deed —  something she can do because she’s able, despite the risks, post-op recovery and even judgement from others. Glenna is also a wealth of information on the topic as well as about blood donation.

This episode will no doubt get you thinking about different ways you can help others. 

Just when you think all teenagers spend every waking moment on TikTok, there’s Naila Moloo. At 15 years old, this STEM researcher's drive to contribute to a sustainable future, her stellar networking tips and her ability to handle rejection with grace in order to get exactly what she wants... is so totally boss.

You are guaranteed to learn one life tip from this episode, or at the very least, make you think about reaching just a bit further for your own dreams. 

Close to home: Stories of neighbourhood businesses in the COVID economy are conversations with six business owners in the St. Clair West community, in midtown Toronto.  Part one was published a year ago this week.

Like so many things in the last 14 months, the conversations with Cocoa Latte, The Rushton, Ecoexistence, Playfulminds, Philosophy and Koko & Co were scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled, cancelled and rescheduled. Naïvely or optimistically, C-A wanted everyone to have a happy story to tell – that their businesses were fully open, but the pandemic just doesn’t work this way.

Though the conversations are with six really different businesses, what’s universal are their strong feelings of accountability to a supportive community, and a real yearning to get back to serving them the way they know best.

Ed Lawrence is THE Gardening expert. He was the Chief Horticulturalist for six consecutive Governors General and has been a regular on CBC's Ontario Today show for the last 40 years. Whether you are a beginner gardener or you are well versed in the ways of plants, Ed is a joy to listen to and learn from.

In this episode Ed's got plenty to say about growing food, the importance of getting kids’ hands in the dirt and how it always starts with the soil.

Stay safe, and get into the garden!

The activity level of humans is generally at an all time low as people work from home, spend countless hours on devices and endure waves of lockdowns. Sitting is stressful on the back, hips, neck and shoulders. The lack of movement is being linked to a decline in mental health and an increase in injury.

Dr. Waj Hoda is back on the show with preventative solutions and insights towards a pain free existence.

Smut, trash, beach read. All terms used to describe the romance novel. This genre often gets a bad rap despite it being a massive industry. C-A speaks to romance author Victoria Denault about writing sex scenes, an unexpected review from comedian Paul Scheer and #Bridgerton fever. As people dream of adventures while shut in, locked down and cut off from finding their needle in the haystack—their partner, lover, soulmate—the romance genre is on fire. Actually, it always was.

Check out Victoria's collection at http://www.victoriadenault.com/ 

Dog loves you. Dog wants to teach you about love and presence and patience and forgiveness and gentleness and benevolence. Dog wants to cherish you, wants you to be a certain way and is always there to teach you. Dogs are meditation masters.

Master dog trainer, mindfulness teacher, meditation instructor and soon-to-be author, Jesse Sternberg provides a ton of insight on becoming the peaceful alpha your dog needs and respects; how to tune into your dog’s world; have a deeper connection; more ease, more joy and more fun…all by being a better communicator.

A treat to listen to if you have a dog, and even if you don’t.

Jesse’s online course for pets and their humans can be found at peacefulalpha.com

Just in time for winter, second waves and lockdowns, C-A learns how to make chicken soup, also known as “Jewish Penicillin”, with help from her mother.

Bones or meat? Gloves or no gloves? Turnips or parsnips?

Together, but in different cities, mother and daughter get all of these questions answered and more.

Check out the Show Notes for the full recipe.

Here's the recipe C-A and her mother used during this episode:

2 packages of chicken bones and 1 package of thighs
OR

1 x 3-4 lb. chicken (preferably organic or free range)

Water just to cover chicken, approximately 10+cups

1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon salt
2 large stalks celery
2 large carrots, scraped, cut into chunks
2 parsnips scraped, cut in chunks
1 medium onion peeled and halved
1 turnip peeled and cut in chunks
1/2 cup parsley
1/2 cup fresh dill chopped OR tie stems together at the top with cooking string

Rinse the chicken well. Place the chicken and extra parts in a 12- quart stock pot. Cover with cold water that should just cover top of chicken.

Bring water to a boil skimming off any foam that forms.

Reduce to a medium simmer and add the peppercorns, salt,celery, carrots, parsnips, onion, parsley, and dill.

Cover partially and simmer for 2 to 3 hours.

When the soup is done, taste for salt and pepper and add more if required.

Let the soup cool one hour before straining.

Strain off everything but the soup.

Save choice chicken pieces for chicken salad or to add back smaller strips or pieces of soup chicken to the pot.

Add in the carrots, parsley and dill.

When cooled completely, place in fridge overnight and in the morning, skim off excess fat and discard (or use as you wish!)

Eat, freeze, enjoy!

C-A is ready to forget about what's happening in the world and wonders if it's possible for a mentalist to do a show over Zoom.  Mysterion the Mindreader, who is one of few to fool Pen and Teller, proves that yes, it is possible!

Mysterion blows her mind with a few tricks and they also talk about the mindreading biz during the pandemic.

"It's about fun. If I can take you out of that skeptical, headspace and put you into a headspace of wonder, then my job has been successful." - Mysterion

Get in touch with Mysterion to book him for your next private or corporate event - in person or via Zoom:

Instagram: @drmysterion

Website: thesentimentalists.com

Ticktock: drmysterion

C-A speaks to Kathy Hay, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone, Canada’s only 24/7, national support service that offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French.

C-A is a volunteer crisis responder with Kids Help Phone. She talks to Kathy about her experience on the texting platform, the spikes in demand and about the organization's commitment to anti-racism from recruitment policies to training to active rescues for black and indigenous youth.

In this episode, C-A talks to Sandy Carlton, owner of Arcadian Daylilies, an urban farmer in midtown Toronto in his backyard garden, where he grows about 300 different varieties of daylilies and other plants that perform well in a northern climate. Sandy offers up a wealth of garden wisdom like what chicken fat has to do with daylillies, how to get 400 blooms over the course of a season from one plant and the number one secret to growing healthy plants. 

Six entrepreneurs from the St. Clair West neighbourhood in midtown Toronto talk candidly about running their businesses over the past nine weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, how they are innovating and what people can do to ensure this community, and communities like St. Clair West, thrive in the new COVID economy.

Very special thanks to Playful Minds, COCOALATTE,  The Rushton, Philosophy Fitness, EcoExistence, and KOKO + CO