universityofcalgary

The things we love to do often become a core part of our identity, forming a foundation of who we are as people and how we see ourselves in the world. Most of us never have to choose between those things and our identity.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Ari Agha, a choral singer and researcher with the City of Calgary, about the dilemma they faced when they embarked on testosterone therapy as part of their gender transition. They knew they'd be risking their singing voice, yet there was next to no research on the subject to help make their decision. They share their experiences and what they found out over the course of taking T.   

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

Waiting is a major part of everyone's daily lives, whether we like it or not. It can be a time of intense anticipation, or it can be excruciating and tedious. But as the world gets faster and our lives get busier, we have less patience for waiting. That's not necessarily a good thing.

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Peter Toohey, a professor of classics and author of the new book Hold On: The Life, Science, and Art of Waiting, about how we can better understand waiting, get better at doing it, and lead happier lives as a result.  

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

2020 has been a challenging year for everyone around the world, to say the least. A raging pandemic, political chaos, civil unrest and climate catastrophes are all contributing to major stress on mental health.

In this episode, we talk with Debbie Bruckner, senior director of student wellness at the University of Calgary's Student Wellness Centre. Ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, Debbie discusses some of the problems and challenges we're all facing, warning signs to watch out for, and what we can do to take care of our mental wellness.  

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

Orange Shirt Day is a day to acknowledge the intergenerational trauma of residential schools, as well as taking steps toward healing and reconciliation. It symbolizes the story of Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, whose brand-new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day at a residential school, when she was just six years old.  

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Yvonne Poitras Pratt, a Métis scholar who specializes in Indigenous education. Yvonne gives us some of the background on Orange Shirt Day and how this event can help spark broader conversations about Canada's history with Indigenous peoples and the brutal legacy of residential schools.  

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

For our students, the coronavirus pandemic has been an especially tough time. They've been dealing with questions about living arrangements, moving to online classes, research delays and uncertainty about when things will return to normal. Dr. Kevin Baird (BSc ’00, MSc ’02, MD ‘05), a psychiatrist in our Student Wellness Centre, talks about providing mental health support for students, some of the issues they're facing, and what supports are available for students during the pandemic and when they return to campus.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

For kids with ADHD, coping with daily routines and social interactions can be challenging at the best of times. The social isolation and loss of routine over the past few months has added a whole new layer of complexity. Dr. Emma Climie (MSc ’08, PhD ‘12), an associate professor in the Werklund School of Education, talks about some of the issues faced by kids with ADHD and their parents, strategies for managing things like learning, sleep and physical activity, and what a return to school might look like.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

"Fake news" has been an issue of public interest for years, with the Internet flooded with blatantly false information that gets widely shared using social media. We talk to Dr. Ray Patterson, PhD, a professor of business technology management. Ray and a team of fellow scholars have discovered a method to detect fake news sites by analyzing their digital supply chains.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way people interact in countless ways, from physical distancing to moving work relationships online. In the episode, we talk to Dr. Cara MacInnis, PhD, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, who's been watching people's behavioural changes as we navigate "the new normal." Cara shares her observations about behavioural shifts she's noticed that affect all of us.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

COVID-19 is a disease we haven't seen before, one which seems to disproportionately affect older people. But why is that? In this episode, Dr. Jacqueline McMillan, a clinical assistant professor in our Department of Health Sciences, talks about how and why older people are more vulnerable to COVID-19 and what we can learn from this pandemic so we're better prepared for next time.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca

Sheltering in place is wreaking havoc on many people's sleep patterns, which can cause associated problems like substance use and depression. We talk to registered psychologist Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, about the importance of getting proper sleep, especially in stressful times, and what people can do if sleep is an issue for them.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

Calgary's economy has taken a beating in recent years, but the coronavirus pandemic doesn't have to be the knockout blow. We talk to Mary Moran, president and CEO of Calgary Economic Development, about Calgary's new economic realities and the challenges of restarting an economy that's been battered on all sides.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

Even before COVID-19, Alberta was facing tough economic times. Coronavirus prevention measures haven't made things any easier. In this episode we talk to Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, about re-imagining Alberta's revenue model and economic landscape, and how to set ourselves up for long-term prosperity when all the decks seem to be stacked against us.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been the shock of a lifetime to our economic systems, the effects of which will be felt for years to come. We talk to economist and policy researcher Lindsay Tedds about what economic recovery might look like and what policies we can put in place to soften the blow. *Recorded on April 2, 2020.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

All over the world, domestic violence rates are rising during the coronavirus pandemic. Many victims are trapped at home with their abusers. We talk with Kim Ruse and Lana Wells, two leaders in domestic violence prevention, about rising rates of domestic violence, what various agencies are doing about it, and how people can still access supports and services.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

With the pandemic closing parks around the world, wildlife has gotten some much-needed breathing room. But is that a good thing? We talk to award-winning naturalist and wildlife expert Brian Keating about how coronavirus is affecting the animal world, from poaching to tourism to zoos — and maybe helping us better appreciate our natural surroundings.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

With the coronavirus pandemic, organizations around the world have had to move their work online — and fast. In this episode we hear from two of our experts about learning and working online, some of the challenges people are facing, how to change our mindsets, and how an organization as large and complex as a university can quickly change its entire way of doing things.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

While we stay home to slow the spread of the illness COVID-19, we're also exposing ourselves to other health issues that can stem from isolation, like anxiety and depression. In this episode we talk to renowned psychologist Dr. Keith Dobson about staying mentally well during the pandemic, ways to tell if something isn't right, and strategies for support if people aren't doing well.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

In a time of stress like most of us have never experienced before, it's natural for many people to turn to substances to escape. But one of the dangers of physical distancing and self-isolation is that people can develop substance use disorders. These measures also make it more difficult for those in recovery to access treatment and services. We talk to Dr. Jacqueline Smith, PhD, an assistant professor in our Faculty of Nursing, about how the coronavirus pandemic is affecting people with substance use disorders as well as some strategies people can use to take care of their mental health.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.

From grains and pulses to fruits and vegetables to beef and pork, on the world stage, Alberta is a major producer of food. How has coronavirus impacted our agribusiness sector? In this episode we talk to a panel of experts about every aspect of our food systems, from production to supply to retail, and what our supply chains and priorities might look like once we get past the COVID-19 pandemic.

Have an idea for a future episode? Email podcasts@ucalgary.ca.