alumni UBC Podcast Archives

Canada has a reputation for being a welcoming destination for new immigrants and refugees. However, this reputation is not always reflected in the reality these newcomers face in British Columbia. Gaps exist in terms of education, healthcare, employment and social services, and new immigrants often face real struggles accessing the support they require. Hear from our panel of UBC and community experts online as they discuss the barriers that exist for new Canadians and explore the ways that BC and Canada can better support these individuals and families. Moderated by Michelle Eliot, BA’98, Host, BC Today, on CBC’s Radio One. Panelists The Honourable Janet Austin, OBC – Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Chris Friesen, BA’88 – Director, Settlement Services, Immigrant Services Society of BC (ISSofBC) Amira Halperin – Sessional Lecturer, UBC Department of Sociology Guofang Li – Professor and Canada Research Chair in Transnational/Global Perspectives of Language and Literacy Education of Children and Youth in the Faculty of Education, UBC Danny Ramadan – Author, Public Speaker, LGBTQ- Refugees Activist Presented in partnership with the UBC Faculty of Education. Recorded November 2, 2020.

On March 10, 2020, Dean Blye Frank, UBC Faculty of Education, hosted a special talk and panel discussion on mental health, featuring Humble The Poet. Humble The Poet (Kanwer Singh) is a former school teacher turned into a best-selling author, hip-hop artist, designer, filmmaker, influencer and public speaker in the area of education, leadership and self-development. He has authored two best sellers that are thematised around mental wellbeing. Recorded March 10, 2020, at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, BC. Presented by the UBC Faculty of Education.

In December 2019, alumni UBC launched a year-long series that will connect and engage alumni around the theme of leadership. The series kicked off in Vancouver with an evening where UBC alumni gathered to network and learn from high-profile industry leaders. The evening began with a panel discussion where the leaders shared some of their learning and advice, as well as challenges they’ve faced in their career journeys.HostShelina Esmail, BA'93 - Partner, PFM Executive Search; alumni UBC board memberModeratorRobin Gill, BA'93 - Global National BC Correspondent & Weekend AnchorPanelistsZack Eberwein, BASc'17 - Chief Executive Officer, StokoCarmen Lee, BA'01 - Associate Director and Global Workday Alliance Marketing Lead, DeloitteRyan Spong, BA'99 - Co-Founder and CEO, Foodee; Co-Founder and Owner, TacofinoMarsha Walden, BCom'80 - President and CEO, Destination British ColumbiaRecorded December 4, 2019, at the Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver, BC.Career Development Program Sponsor: ManulifeSupported by: BMO alumni UBC Mastercard and TD Insurance

One million species around the world are at risk of extinction—many in the next few decades. British Columbia is home to more biodiversity than any other place in Canada. But from our caribou herds to southern resident killer whale pods and from our whitebark pines to Behr's Hairstreak butterflies, we're struggling to safeguard our natural heritage. Hear from world-class researchers, hosted by 2011 MacArthur Fellow Sarah Otto, as they outline the recent science and pinpoint conservation approaches that work. They’ll look at how BC and Canada can help lead the transformational change needed to preserve Earth's threatened biodiversity.Presented by UBC Faculty of Science.Panelist - Dr. Sarah Otto - Professor, UBC Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology; UBC Biodiversity CentrePanelist - Dr Cole Burton - Assistant Professor, UBC Faculty of Forestry; Canada Research Chair (Tier 2) in Terrestrial Mammal ConservationPanelist - Dr. Jeannette Whitton - Associate Professor, UBC Faculty of Science, Department of Botany; Director, UBC HerbariumRecorded October 8, 2019, at UBC Robson Square in Vancouver, BC.

Margaret Trudeau is a Canadian icon, celebrated both for her role in the public eye and as a respected mental-health issues advocate. From becoming a prime minister’s wife at a young age, to the loss of both her son and her former husband, to living with bipolar disorder, Margaret tirelessly shares her personal stories to remind others of the importance of nurturing the body, mind, and spirit.Presented by the UBC Faculty of Education, in partnership with alumni UBC.Recorded June 5, 2019, at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, BC.

Wildfire is an essential process in forest ecosystems, but can be incredibly destructive in the wildland-urban interface. Wildfire is driven by climate, weather and fuels that vary among ecosystems and through time. The combination of land-use change, fire exclusion and global warming have made many forests highly susceptible to intense fires that are difficult to control and contain. Revolutionizing forest and fire management will improve ecosystem resilience to climate change, but we will not stop future fires from burning. Successful adaptation must also include individuals and communities learning how to coexist with wildfire. What does this mean for the upcoming fire season in British Columbia? Are there specific fire risks we need to pay attention to in the Capital Regional District?Hear a presentation from the UBC Faculty of Forestry’s Professor Lori Daniels, MSc’94, followed by a Q&A that was moderated by UBC’s President & Vice-Chancellor, Professor Santa J. Ono.Presented in partnership with the UBC Faculty of Forestry.

What is the basis of addiction? Hear from internationally renowned UBC alumnus, author, speaker, and leading expert on addictions and trauma, Dr. Gabor Maté, CM, BA’68, MD’77, as he presents “The Hungry Ghost: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Addiction, from Heroin to Workaholism“. The presentation is followed by an audience Q&A. Moderated by Mike Killeen, co-host of CBC Vancouver News at 6 pm.Recorded February 28, 2019, in downtown Vancouver, BC. The contents of this recording is © Dr. Gabor Maté (https://drgabormate.com)About the Talk - The Hungry Ghost: A Biopsychosocial Perspective on Addiction, from Heroin to Workaholism (Based on the book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction)For twelve years Dr. Maté was the staff physician at a clinic for drug-addicted people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where he worked with patients challenged by hard-core drug addiction, mental illness and HIV, including at Vancouver Supervised Injection Site. In his most recent bestselling book In The Realm of Hungry Ghosts, he shows that their addictions do not represent a discrete set of medical disorders; rather, they merely reflect the extreme end of a continuum of addiction, mostly hidden, that runs throughout our society. In The Realm Of Hungry Ghosts draws on cutting-edge science to illuminate where and how addictions originate and what they have in common.Contrary to what is often claimed, the source of addictions is not to be found in genes, but in the early childhood environment where the neurobiology of the brain’s reward pathways develops and where the emotional patterns that lead to addiction are wired into the unconscious. Stress, both then and later in life, creates the predisposition for addictions, whether to drugs, alcohol, nicotine, or to behavioural addictions such as shopping or sex.Helping the addicted individual requires that we appreciate the function of the addiction in his or her life. More than a disease, the addiction is a response to a distressing life history and life situation. Once we recognize the roots of addiction and the lack it strives (in vain) to fill, we can develop a compassionate approach toward the addict, one that stands the best chance of restoring him or her to wholeness and health.

Throughout his career, including his three terms as mayor of the City of Calgary, Naheed Nenshi has always emphasized the importance of civic engagement. Hear his talk "Creating the Cities and Country We Deserve." Moderated by Anita Bathe - Reporter, CBC VancouverThe Master Mind Master Class speaker series is an alumni UBC program that offers an unprecedented look into the minds of modern thinkers making a unique impact on the world, and the lessons they’ve learned.Recorded November 1, 2018, in Vancouver, BC.

Ensuring sustained economic growth while minimising environmental impact is a global challenge. Access to affordable energy has reduced poverty by more than a half since 1990, and yet approximately 1 billion people still live without access to the most basic energy services. Moreover, the rest of us need to face the mounting evidence on the negative impacts of our energy use (poor air quality, climate change, geopolitical instability, etc.) However, and despite the bad news, there is cause for optimism: UBC is the first Canadian university with a sustainability policy, and its research and innovation are leading the way to a low-carbon economy.The energy transition will require political will, significant investment, and above all, clarity of thought. In this talk, Walter Mérida, Director, UBC's Clean Energy Research Centre;  Associate Dean of Research and Industrial Partnerships; Professor, UBC Department of Mechanical Engineering, will describe the challenges and opportunities in sustainable energy systems. He will provide a few examples of UBC’s world-leading research on some of the enabling technologies including renewable energy, hydrogen technologies, and advanced electric vehicle infrastructure. These new technologies can enable urban assets to become active participants in city-scale energy management schemes. The new technologies, services and business models may enable cities to go beyond zero impact: providing a net benefit to human and planetary wellbeing.Recorded November 1, 2018, at The Royal Society in London, UK.

The world seems more divided than ever. Social media has made it easy to follow like-minded individuals, creating echo chambers where dissenting opinions can be filtered out. As our viewpoints have grown more polarized, conversations between opposing sides – online or in person – have become more heated. This environment has enabled populist movements to rise and hashtag activism to thrive. Are these divisions new, or have they just become more visible? How can we overcome the most cynical manifestations of anger, such as name-calling and tribalistic thinking? Is it still possible to express differences of opinions in a respectful and constructive way?Moderator - Stephen Quinn – Host, CBC Radio One’s The Early EditionPanelist - Bridgitte Anderson – General Manager, Edelman VancouverPanelist - Cicely Blain, BA’16 – Writer, Facilitator, Activist, Artist; Founder, Black Lives Matter VancouverPanelist - Catherine Corrigall-Brown – Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, University of British ColumbiaPanelist - Alfred Hermida – Director and Associate Professor, School of Journalism, University of British Columbia; Co-founder, The Conversation CanadaOfficial Broadcast and Online Media Partner: CBCRecorded October 15, 2018, at UBC Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, BC.

Headlines have linked the decline of Southern resident killer whales to just about everything—noise, shipping, toxins, whale watching and fishing. But are these the real threats to the survival of this iconic species? Hear from UBC marine mammal researcher Andrew Trites as he separates facts and research from popular assumptions. British Columbians care deeply about killer whales and feel responsible for protecting them.Presented in partnership with UBC Faculty of Science.Recorded September 27, 2018, in Victoria, BC.

We can all identify the qualities that have traditionally defined masculinity. Of course there's strength, contribution, independence, and assertiveness, but also emotional detachment, dominance, and violence. These traits are so entrenched in our culture that they have become normalized. However, in light of the #MeToo movement and the increasing understanding of the influence patriarchy, rape culture, and toxic masculinity have on our societal norms, ideas around what it means to be "a man" have been questioned. What would a healthier and more respectful view of masculinity look like? What will it take to change attitudes and behaviours in the current generation and what steps do we need to take to ensure our children develop healthy ideas around masculinity?Hear from our panel of UBC and community experts in the Okanagan as they discuss the changing societal views of masculinity in the 21st Century.Recorded September 5, 2018, in Kelowna, BC.Official Broadcast and Online Media Partner is CBC.

Want a preview of what your future may look like? How are your aging parents or grandparents living their elder years?  Will you age the same way? While aging is inevitable for us all, there are steps we can take to help our loved ones, and ourselves, lead longer, healthier, and more independent lives. Hear from UBC Faculty of Medicine Executive Associate Dean Roger Wong and Professor Janice Eng, as well as UBC alumni and friends in Hong Kong, as they have an important conversation about healthy aging. Learn about new technologies that can make homes safer, as well as simple solutions for improving socialization and combating loneliness in seniors.Recorded June 19, 2018, at Club Lusitano in Hong Kong.

In April 2016, BC declared a public health emergency in response to the rapid rise of fatal and non-fatal drug overdoses in the province. Since then, the problem has only worsened, with the number of overdose deaths in 2017 exceeding 2016’s totals by a significant margin. What are the factors contributing to this crisis and what are the consequences of this increase in drug use and addiction? How can we support individuals at higher risk and can changes to policy mitigate overdose risk?Hear from four top UBC researchers and clinicians from UBC Faculties of Medicine, Dentistry, Arts and Pharmaceutical Sciences as they present their research in a series of short MEDtalks.Recorded April 19, 2018, at UBC Robson Square in downtown Vancouver, BC.

Vancouver has developed a reputation as a difficult place to raise kids. The high cost of childcare - for those who can find a spot - and the difficulty finding suitable housing have led many prospective parents to delay starting a family or explore alternatives, such as life in the suburbs. Those who choose to have kids in Vancouver often end up making sacrifices in their careers, lifestyles, or financial situations to make it work. Given these challenges, as well as the risks posed by the proliferation of unlicensed childcare facilities, how can government, employers, developers and community groups work together to build a more child-friendly Vancouver?Recorded September 26, 2017, at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre in Vancouver, BC.