Career Buzz

My guest today is Evan Jones, a high school English teacher at Petitcodiac Regional School in New Brunswick, and winner of a  2026 New Brunswick Book Award for his book,  What to Do if You Don’t Know What to Do .    For the first part of our conversation, we’re joined by Angelica Welner, a Grade 9 student at Petitcodiac Regional School and one of the test readers of Evan’s book. Angelica brings a...

 In 2004, Robert Ketchin and his partners launched Georgian Hills Vineyards to pioneer a sustainable cool-climate wine industry along Georgian Bay.  Following extensive soil testing beginning in 1998, the team established vineyards in Beaver Valley, utilizing the Niagara Escarpment's unique microclimate to grow experimental grape varieties.  By 2010, they had successfully converted a historic barn...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guests share thought provoking statements. Sonny Wong said, “if we have a strong and healthy career identity during career transitions, we’re able to maintain our wellbeing”. My question to you, how clear are you on your career identity? Dr. Emily Bullock Yowell asked, “In our work, whatever it may be, I encourage us all to consider — is...

On this episode of Career Buzz, we hear from  Dena Jackson , comedian, speaker, creator of  Self Help Me . Dena’s career story moves from theatre and stand-up comedy to corporate public relations, from personal upheaval and divorce to yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, and wellness practice.   Along the way, she discovered that self-help doesn’t have to be precious or perfect. It can be practical, fun...

Environmental and Social (E&S) risks refer to the potential negative impacts of a project on ecosystems—such as air, water, and biodiversity—and on communities, including effects on livelihoods, health, labor rights, and cultural heritage.  These risks are central to global project risk management, as unaddressed E&S issues can lead to financial losses, legal liabilities, reputational dama...

On this episode of Career Buzz, Mark Franklin is joined by Anthony CK Thomas, entrepreneur, business builder, and founder of Banditos , a Canadian-made “Mexi-CAN” lager. It was created to challenge both the beer market and some of the cultural assumptions around branding, identity, and who gets to build something bold.  Anthony is a “fixer, breaker, closer.” Without traditional educational pathway...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Dr Seth Hayden reminded us that “Each person has their journey and sometimes we gotta be with the journey and see where it takes us and reach out for help when needed”. Guest Uli Schild adds to this and tells us, “The world is yours. You own it. You’re the boss of your own destiny and you should go for it”. Do you agree with Uli? Do you...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guest John Suarez shares his interesting career path and reminds us that “It’s ok if you don’t know, but you can’t do nothing. What are you going to do? Where is your point B? It doesn’t matter if it’s not the last step. You don’t have to have everything figured out but just figure out that next step”. Can you clearly describe your next...

On this episode of Career Buzz, Mark Franklin is joined by Teri Hart—television and radio host, producer, content creator, and now the creator and host of The Hart of It All podcast.  Teri spent years on air with Bell Media, Corus, and Rogers, building a career in broadcasting—until a sudden job loss in her late 40s disrupted what had been a steady path forward. In our conversation, Teri shares he...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. Guest Emer O’Donnell shares, “When you have a real sense of purpose and this is why you’re here, then you can’t help but follow your heart”. Do you have a real sense of purpose? Sharon Vandermeer follows with a statement about why she values stepping out of her comfort zone, “If I’m ever in a position where I’m uncomfortable that means t...

On this episode of Career Buzz, host Mark Franklin interviews  Dr. Maria  Milland , a Danish obstetrician and gynecologist whose humanitarian work has taken her to some of the world’s most challenging environments. Drawing on her experience working in the al-Hol refugee camp in northeast Syria, Maria shares powerful insights from her new book, * Born at the Gates of Hell *, offering a rare and dee...

Aerospace engineering sits at the intersection of advanced science, complex systems design, and the timeless human ambition to fly. From the earliest aircraft to today’s highly sophisticated jets and emerging sustainable aviation concepts, the field continues to push the boundaries of innovation and engineering precision. Behind every aircraft is a multidisciplinary effort involving structural des...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Dr Brian Hutchison shares, “Particularly in the west we can get this idea of individualism in our head and I think that that’s an inaccurate idea”. Do you agree? Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest Bio Dr Brian Hutchison, also known as Global Career Guy, Dr Brian Hutchison Ph. D., LPC, CCSCC is Core...

Canada is accelerating toward an electric future—but are we truly ready for the EV transition? Beyond the headlines, this shift raises real questions about infrastructure, affordability, and grid resilience. Today, we ask what’s working, what’s missing, and whether Canada is prepared for what comes next. In this episode, Stephen Armstrong is joined by guest Andre Mech.   Guest Bio Andre Mech is an...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. One quote that stands out in this episode, is by Ahmed Mostafa Kamal who shared many useful career and life tips staying in our “comfort zone is killing our dreams”. Do you agree? Next, Ruth challenges us by stating “you can move anything that you do from exclusion to inclusion”. Comment and share your thoughts and experiences.   Guest 1...

On Career Buzz, we’re stepping into one of the biggest questions facing Canada, the U.S., and every advanced economy navigating digital transformation: How do we redesign the bridge from education to employment? Ryan Craig , is a Managing Director at Achieve Partners, a US firm investing in the future of learning and earning. Ryan has been tracking and forecasting these shifts for more than a deca...

We explore the plight of the homeless in downtown Toronto with Stephen Armstrong and Bob Duff, by focussing on the St Simons Shelter in Cabbagetown. “The measure of a society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens”…. Abraham Lincoln. “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.” ~ Mahatma Ghandi   Guest Bio Our guest today is Bob Duff who was...

On this episode of Career Buzz, host Mark Franklin interviews  Max Robinson , a lifelong wind enthusiast, water athlete, and coach who turned his early spark for windsurfing into a world-class career. From the shores of Georgian Bay to the Wingfoil World Tour, Max has flown across oceans, competed at the highest level, and returned home with a mission: to coach the next generation of riders and he...

AI is rapidly transforming the aerospace industry, with Boeing recently deploying over 70 generative AI applications across engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance, positioning AI as a “co-pilot” to support human decision-making under supervision.  This shift marks a significant step in integrating AI into core aerospace operations, enhancing productivity, safety, and innovation across the val...

Join Hoda for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Manana Jaworska shared, “I believe it’s possible for everyone to find a career that enables them to live a life that they want”. Do you agree? Dr Alan McAlpine told us how he finds value in writing his goals down and checking on them regularly. Do you think writing your goals down will help you accomplish them?   Guest 1...

Humans have difficulty knowing what to want. Have you ever wanted something - a certain food, a job - gotten it, then realized you don't like what you wanted? There's a technical term for that - it's called "Miswanting." According to researchers Dan Gilbert and Tim Wilson, Miswanting happens when we poorly forecast what we'll actually like. "Wanting" is a prediction we'll like what we want, but so...

In this episode with Hoda Kilani, the guests shared spectacular stories that showed them stepping out of their comfort zones. You could almost feel Nerel’s passion to support every student transitioning from high school to college or career. What did you think of his approach? Katherine reminded us that we have more strengths, we’ve achieved more than we give ourselves credit and it’s important th...

When you lose your job, do you need resume-writing tips & job interview best practices?   Or, do you need an empathetic sherpa to guide you through the stages of grief, so that when you land your next job, you are prepared for success?   Born and raised in sunny San Diego,  Steve Jaffe  began his writing journey at San Diego State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism a...

Stephen Armstrong and Fail Vanstone explores how a humanities education can help us understand not just the systems we live in, but what it means to live well within them. From art and literature to ethics and philosophy, we’re looking at how stories, emotions, and imagination connect us- to each other, to our world, and to ourselves.  So, if the Humanities help us understand what it means to be h...

Join Hoda and her guests for conversations that boost your career literacy. In this episode, Dr Marilyn Maze suggested that we should “just ask AI” during our job exploration. Do you use AI in your career exploration? Dr Steve elaborated on the statement, “if you want to change performance, change the audience”. Did his explanation help you envision how you can enhance the work you do? Share your...