Hikma Collective Podcast

“Saying ‘no’ does always feel like a risk because you're wondering: is another opportunity going to come along? And the answer is always yes. It just takes time to trust it and to recognize the opportunities when they come your way.” In this special episode, we launch the publication of Erica Machulak’s book, Hustles for Humanists: Build a Business with Purpose ! Joined by panelists Crystal Moten,...

“On the one hand, I was reading the literature and, on the other hand, I was also talking to people in the field, different stakeholders.. . and what I realized was that there was a very strong disconnect between what I was reading in the journal articles and what I was seeing in the field.” In this episode, T.S. Krishnan discusses his book, Untapped Knowledge in India’s E-Waste Industry: A Roadma...

“Having good support networks, working with compassion, working with honor, working with humility, working with love–I think those are the ways forward. And I think as soon as you begin to think in those ways, doors start to open. That's how you know you're going in the right direction.” In this episode, Shannon Leddy and Biz Nijdam discuss their SSHRC Partnership Development Grant (2025), "Visual...

“We, the humanities, always have to be defending our existence. . . because we are being threatened more than ever, we are more relevant than ever.” In this episode, Franciso Pena, Francisco Gago, and Katie Brown, share insights about collaborative humanities looks across disciplines and borders gleaned from winning a SSHRC Partnership Grant for their project, “The Confluence of Religious Cultures...

“What does being a scholar mean to you?” How do we create learning communities that offer participants the agency to thrive? This question is at the heart of our “Beyond the Academy” research initiative in partnership with researchers Andrea Webb and Jillianne Code at the University of British Columbia. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, we have gathered insights from professional learn...

"Everybody wants to be heard. They have a story to tell." Music is a universal language that can activate a community. In this episode, Dwandalyn Reece discusses her work examining the material culture of music, telling stories across contexts, and making knowledge accessible to general audiences.   Topics covered in this episode include:  Telling the stories behind the objects of m...

"It's that interconnectedness that really defines Indigenous ways of knowing." In this episode, we share highlights from our Hikma Office Hours event about Indigenous ways of knowing and how to work with partners and collaborators in a meaningful and respectful ways to drive change. Camille Callison brings expert knowledge and lived experience to our conversation about Indigenous knowledges, recon...

"I don't break things without consequence." In this episode, Brittany Brathwaite discusses her willingness to break the rules in order to change the world, our society, or ourselves for the better. Brittany shares insights from her work interrupting health inequality for women and girls of color, supporting women and non-binary owned businesses, and creating a community of practice for youth...

“The practice of entrepreneurship is the ‘how,’ and the social is the ‘why.’” In this conversation, author and social entrepreneur Madeleine Shaw invites us to reimagine the landscape of entrepreneurship. She shares insights about how we are all unlearning something, how flexibility is the new balance, and how we can create the conditions for social change using empathy, storytelling, and communit...

“It’s a way of honoring the knowledge and experience that’s in the room.” Generative questions are a way of entering a conversation with a new or existing partner and honouring the knowledge and experience that’s in the room. To kick off Season 3, Hikma’s founder Erica Machulak shares 3 tips for asking generative questions to spark authentic conversations with your potential partners and collabora...

In this episode, Dr. Farinaz (Naz) Havaei discusses her research in the long-term care sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. She shares some of the findings that emerged from a series of dialogues with key stakeholders about new policies that were implemented during the pandemic. She also shares recommendations for improving these policies to help build resilience in the sector and improve quality...

In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Brian Hunt about his research with herring around Denman Island, how microplastics can enter the food web, and why tackling microplastics requires a multi-directional approach and all levels of action. Brian also shares his story about how an obsession with fish and an opportunity to join an Antarctic voyage helped shape his career, and how he (somew...

Erica Machulak, founder of Hikma, shares three of her top tips for planning an effective and manageable funding strategy for the next year. This episode provides a taste of what you can expect in Hikma's 'Funding Strategy' masterclass. For more information visit www.hikma.studio/masterclass

A conversation with Bill Neill about building relationships, keeping your work in perspective, opportunities in the tech sector, and what we mean when we say "coding." Topics discussed in this episode include: Finding the right career path based on what things you enjoy doing and defining what you are good at. Insights, tips, and questions to ask yourself when starting a business. How to ask for a...

A conversation with JP Baker about asking the right questions, organizational structures, and scarcity vs. abundance thinking. Topics discussed in this episode include: The art of facilitation, appreciative inquiry, and cultivating a spirit of collaboration. Redefining ‘not-for-profit’ away from economic/negative terms and toward social benefit, debunking myths about not-for-profits, and the roles...

A conversation with Nadia Sasso about being an unconventional scholar, what it means to have an entrepreneurial spirit, and how to ask for what you deserve. Topics discussed in this episode include: How identity impacts the work that you do. The importance of finding the right people and creating space for yourself. Knowing what you bring to the table, ripping up the script, and advocating for you...

A conversation with Aaron Mitchell Finegold about the language of entrepreneurship, social media culture, and taking the long view in your career path. Topics discussed in this episode include: Translating/defining business terminology (rapid fire vocabulary lesson) Working across frameworks/disciplines/functions How academic training in the humanities can be translated into and beneficial for the...

A conversation with Crystal Moten about storytelling, authenticity, and the realities of pursuing a career that sustains you intellectually, emotionally, and financially. Topics discussed in this episode include: Archival work as a transferable skill from academia to museum work. Insights on what it means to be a scholar outside the academy. Uncovering/recovering the hidden/untold/forgotten storie...

A conversation with Stacy Hartman about curiosity, mentorship, and how to ace your LinkedIn profile. Listen in for some great stories, actionable tips, and insightful words of encouragement. Topics discussed in this episode include: Cultivating curiosity and openness, following your nose, and embracing distraction. The role of serendipity and luck in job searches and career paths beyond the academ...

Sneak preview of our first-ever season, the Art of Alternatives.  Throughout this season, you’ll hear conversations with higher ed administrators, startup founders, and social sector leaders about the creative power of ‘in-betweenness’ and the many different pathways through which ideas take shape, travel and thrive.  Visit www.hikma.studio  to be the first to know when new epi...