GradCast

Special Episode | World Suicide Prevention Day

This episode contains discussions of mental health, grad school, the COVID-19 pandemic, and discusses suicide and suicide prevention. If you or someone you know needs help, there are resources available to help you. If you are a graduate student, SOGS.ca/support-resources provides a list of mental health services located on and off campus. Alternatively, the description box contains resources discussed in the episode. Listener discretion is advised. 

In this special episode hosted by GradCast, Francesco Colosimo and Elizabeth Mohler talk with Katrina Zmavc, a PhD student in Philosophy about World Suicide Prevention Day. Imposter syndrome, the COVID-19 pandemic, “publish or perish” mentality, outdated terminology, suicidal ideations and general mental health struggles are discussed from the grad school perspective.

 

If you would like to continue this discussion in a safe space, check out our collaboration with GPS’s Shared Experiences event on Friday, September 16 at 7pm.

 

 

Resources discussed in the episode:

Graduate Peer Support

Student Health Services

SOGS Health and Dental Plan

Learning Development and Success Center for Academic Peer Support

Empower Me

If you are in crisis:
Student Psycological Services
Crisis Lines in London

If you are looking for a therapist, treatment centres or support groups:
Psychology Today 

Recorded on August 16, 2021

Produced by Rhys Paterson

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

342 | Navigating the Literal and Figurative Nature of American Racism

As fervent calls for racial equity have justifiably proliferated within the United States in recent years, it raises the issue of familiarizing oneself with the historical and systemic nature of American racism. One such way to do this is analyzing the literature of the era for greater context, which is the approach English PhD student David Mitterauer is taking. And as hosts Liam Clifford and Elizabeth Mohler learn, David's juxtaposition of 18th and 19th century. Black thought and white supremacist texts demonstrates the abhorrence of racial discrimination within the then-fledging nation. The ensuing conversation highlights the need to understand the deep roots of racism in the U.S. in the hopes that this understanding can promote a better future for all.

To find out more from David, follow him on Twitter @DMitterauer

Recorded on Aug 31, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

Special Episode | There Is No Planet B - Ep.2

In the second episode of our newest series, There Is No Planet B - Rose Giles and Brendon Samuels talk with Courtney Neidig, a second year Masters student in Education and Curriculum studies. She tells us the story of starting out as an ECE in British Columbia, the dissatisfaction in teaching practices when it comes to the environment, and ultimately how she found herself at Western as the head of the Society of Graduate Students’s Sustainability Committee. 

If you would like to get in touch with Courtney, you can email her at cneidig@uwo.ca and check out @sogs.sustainability on Instagram 

If you have question about sustainability on campus or would like to reach out, email sustainability.coordinator@sogs.ca 

Recorded on July 12, 2021

Produced by Rhys Paterson 

Theme song provided by https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/bathtime-funk

License code: B7LBQYKLY9EDAFQ3

341 | Bean There, Done That

Dristy Zaman is a PhD student in Biology studying soybeans, a type of legume. In conversation with Yimin Chen and Ariel Frame, Dristy explains how she is investigating asparagine metabolism. Dristy is on the hunt to discover a particular enzyme in this pathway that is currently unknown. What is asparagine? How will she find this enzyme? What will she name it? Find out the answer to these questions, and more, in this episode.

Recorded Aug 24, 2021

Full video available on YouTube

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

340 | Good Ol' Hockey Game

How does a 1972 hockey tournament between the USSR and Canada lead to the conceptualization of masculinity and the expression of nationalism in Canada? In this episode, host Rose Giles interviews Kaitlyn Carter on her research about how the idealization of the perfect Canadian and the perfect man all ties into a game we all know and love - hockey. 

Correction to claim at 4:59 that Canada won the series by only one goal: Russia actually outscored Canada in the series 32-to-31.

If you would like to contact Kaitlyn, you can find her on Twitter at @cartkait or email her at kcarte46@uwo.ca

Recorded on August 8, 2021

Produced by Rhys Paterson 

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

339 | Read Between the Lines

In the wake of the riots in the United States this past year, History MA Sara Duodu was inspired to dive deeper into historical race relations in the United States. In this episode Rosemary Giles and Liam Clifford talk with Sara about the Red Summer, interracial violence and the framing of race in American newspapers.

To reach Sara, you can email her at sduodu@uwo.ca

Recorded on August 3, 2021.

Produced by Laura Munoz Baena.

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

338 | The Heart Will Go On to Spawn

Have you wondered about the effects of climate change on salmon migration and spawning? In this episode, hosts Elizabeth Mohler and Ana Moyer sit down with Biology PhD candidate Carlie Muir to hear about her research into the thermal physiology of Atlantic salmon. In recent years, climate change has resulted in heat waves that surpass the temperatures salmon can survive at, causing mass die-offs during their spawning migrations. Learn about the potential for salmon to acclimate to higher temperatures, and at the heart of the matter, the cardiac physiology that might allow salmon to survive in the face of climate change. 
To find out more from Carlie, follow her on Twitter @CarlieMuir

Video version available on YouTube

Recorded on July 27, 2021

Produced by Ariel Frame

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

337 | Imposition of Independence: Social-Medical Hybridization in Disability Studies

How do dominant discourses surrounding childhood disability shape rehabilitative practice? That is the core question on the research project of the MSc student Emily Cox. In this episode, hosts Ana Moyer and Laura Munoz find themselves re thinking ideas such as independence, identity and the differences between impairment and disability. Emily's study intend to reveal whether the ways we think about and act on disabilities have an impact on the lives of disabled children.

 

To reach Emily you can email her at ecox29@uwo.ca

Recorded on July 6, 2021.

Produced by Laura Munoz Baena.

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

336 | A Functional Discussion on Dysfunctional Exercise

Ever heard the advice "eat less, move more"? In this episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Amalie Hutchinson sit down with Psychology MSc student Danika Quesnel to hear about her research into dysfunctional exercise, and learn that for some people with eating disorders, "moving more" becomes dangerous. Treatments for dysfunctional exercise are still in their infancy, despite its prevalence and importance, and Danika is at the forefront of the field. Listen in as Danika shares her extensive knowledge of dysfunctional exercise; how it presents, how it is treated, and where to find help if you or a friend is experiencing an eating disorder. 

 

Recorded on July 13, 2021.

Produced by Hira Nadeem.

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

Special Episode: There Is No Planet B

In a new series created by GradCast, There Is No Planet B - the first of many conversations about the definition of sustainability, and how it impacts not only the environment, but economics and sociology. Hosts Danica Facca and Rose Giles introduce Brendon Samuels, a PhD student in the department of Biology, and the Society of Graduate Student's Sustainability Coordinator. 

If you would like to get in touch with Brendon, you can find him on Twitter.

Full video on YouTube

Recorded on June 23, 2021

Produced by Rhys Paterson 

Theme song provided by https://uppbeat.io/t/all-good-folks/bathtime-funk

License code: B7LBQYKLY9EDAFQ3