This episode we're joined by Ercole Perrone, CEO of Ignite at Humber College & University of Guelph-Humber, to talk about how the COVID-19 pandemic has created new challenges for students in 2021-22, how student associations can adapt to address these issues, and how you can take a leadership role on issues that impact college students. 

For more information on Ercole's work, check out Ignite's website.

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Fateha Hossain, Good Food Markets Facilitator at FoodShare Toronto, for a conversation on food insecurity, barriers to food access, and why communities need culturally-accessible foods.

Episode Time-stamps:

1. Intro (0:45)
2. Fateha's Inspiration for Advocating for Food Security (2:57)
3. Why Stigma is Such a Difficult Barrier for Accessing Food (12:40)
4. International Students (22:54)
5. Why Communities Need Culturally-Accessible Foods (23:51)
6. Outro (28:47)

Resources:

• FoodShare: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
• Good Food Markets
• Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Rossen Lee, Networking Co-Lead at the Toronto Youth Food Policy Council, for a conversation on food insecurity, green spaces, and how to impact our communities through food and human connection.

Episode Time-stamps:

1. Intro (0:26)
2. Rossen's Background (1:41)
3. What Makes Toronto Great at Food, Culture & Community (4:07)
4. The Role of Food Festivals in Celebrating Identity (8:16)
5. How to Engage Youth in Food Insecurity Activities (11:39)
6. What is Universal Basic Income? (17:09)
7. What Do Partnerships Matter? (23:08)
8. Why Green Spaces Matter (26:55)
9. Why Farmers' Markets Matter (33:00)
10. Story from Jean-Talon Food Market (38:40)
11. Soapbox (40:40)
12. Rossen's Resources (45:26) 
13. Outro (46:26)

Resources:

• Toronto Youth Food Policy Council: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook
• We Own These Streets, We Are Our Festivals
• Our Concrete Garden podcast 

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Darla Oja, Director of Health at the Oshki Anishnawbeg Student Association (OASA) at Confederation College & Lieutenant Colonel of the 38th Service Battalion of the Canadian Armed Forces, for a conversation on career transitions, finding new purpose and identity, and how learning about the past can impact the present.

Episode Time-stamps:

1. 0:28 (1:14)
2. Darla's Journey Through the Military (2:54)
3. How to Get Involved in Community (10:30)
4. How to Navigate a Career Transition (12:53)
5. Interlude (15:58)
6. Advice for Career Changes & Barriers (17:11)
7. Rediscovering Identity in a New Career & Through Your Family Culture (19:42)
8. How Social Work Can Impact Communities (23:12)
9. An Exercise in Privilege (26:43)
10. Why Self-Improvement is the Key to Helping Others (28:09)
11. How to Have Meaningful Dialogue (30:48)
12. The Soapbox: Be Curious! (32:06)
13. Darla's Recommended Resources (34:48)
14. One Final Call to Listeners (35:39)
15. Outro (35:54)

Resources:

• Get Connected with Oshki Anishnawbeg Student Association (OASA)
• Indigenous Programs at Confederation College

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're featuring a special podcast of our live event: Hungry for Change: Campus Food Insecurity. This panel event brings together food experts, provincial politicians, and food stakeholders across the province to address the ongoing challenges and solutions for campus food insecurity.

Our Panelists are:

• Mike Schreiner, Leader of the Green Party of Ontario & MPP for Guelph
• Suman Roy, Executive Director of Meal Exchange
• Lindsay Walker, Associate Director of the Office of Sustainability at Humber College
• Rossen Lee, Networking Co-Lead at Toronto Youth Food Policy Council
• Meshanda Phillips, Lakeshore Campus Student Engagement Coordinator at IGNITE
• Kristine Galvan, Manager of Leadership & Advocacy at IGNITE
• Fateha Hossain, Good Food Markets Facilitator at FoodShare
  

Resources:

• Hungry for Change portal

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Brenda Small, Vice President at the Negahneewin Research Centre at Confederation College, for a conversation on the power of Indigenous learning in generating equitable partnerships, and improving our college education systems. 

Episode Time-stamps:

1. Intro (1:14)
2. Brenda's Journey towards Negahneewin Research Centre (2:03)
3. How to Start Meaningful Dialogue & Engage with Partners (6:50)
4. What the Name Negahneewin Means (11:43)
5. How to Access Knowledge from Stakeholders (15:42)
6. How to Turn Priorities into Research, Toolkits & More (20:56)
7. How to Generate Change Within the Community (27:00)
8. The Current State of Provincial Engagement (35:33)
9. What are ILOs? (43:41)
10. The Soapbox: How to Take Ownership Of Your Learning (50:27)
11. Resources for Students (55:30)
12. Outro (56:46)

Resources:

• Negahneewin Research Centre
• Get Connected with Oshki Anishnawbeg Student Association (OASA)
• Indigenous Programs at Confederation College
• Contact NRC Here!

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Steve Joordens, Cognitive Psychologist and Professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough, for a conversation on mental health, EdTech, and how we can cultivate a Growth Mindset to boost our social connections.

Episode Time-stamps:

1. Intro (1:14)
2. Steve's Journey towards EdTech (2:00)
3. Lessons Learned Before and During COVID-19 (4:36)
4. What is EdTech? (6:59)
5. How Formative Peer Assessment Works (8:48)
6. The Growth Mindset (11:00)
7. How Peer Scholar Works (12:42)
8. How Coursera Helps Professionals Deal with Mental Health Challenges (14:45)
9. Why COVID-19 Has Helped Our Conversations Around Mental Health (20:33) 
10. The Physiology of Anxiety (21:21)
11. How To Combat Anxiety (25:49) 
12. Why Sleep Hygiene Matters (32:52)
13. The Foundations of Mental Health (35:14)
14. Why We Need Emotional Connection  (37:55)
15. How to Improve Your Connections (40:26)
16. The Reflected Self (41:16)
17. How to Improve Your Deep Relationships and Daily Interactions (43:12)
18. Steve's Soapbox (46:46)
19. Extra Resources (48:36)
20. Outro (49:20)

 Resources:

• How to Win Friends & Influence People
• Steve Joordens' Youtube channel
• Coursera Classes

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.

This week we're joined by our good friend, Eddy Avila, Executive Director of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA), to discuss how provincial advocacy impacts key issues, including financial aid, OSAP clawbacks, and stakeholder engagement.

Timestamps:

1. Intro (1:10)
2. What is OUSA? (1:55)
3. How COVID-10 Has Impacted Student Issues (3:43)
4. What is the Current OSAP Situation? (9:28)
5. How Provincial Advocacy Works (15:05)
6. How to Turn Ideas into Policies (15:46)
7. Approaching Stakeholder Relationships (23:41)
8. How OUSA has Adapted to Changes in Communication (27:13)
9. Why Students Need to Engage with Politicians (29:54)
10. Why We Need Provincial Collaboration (34:25)
11. Why We Need to Prioritize Racial Equity (35:18)
12. Extra Resources for Students (37:09)
13. Outro (37:54)

Resources:

OUSA Website

OUSA Twitter: @OUSAhome

Theme music by Bensound.

Writing & Post-production by Trevor Potts.