GradCast

This week, hosts Carly Charron and Anthony Cruz sit down with Alec Mullender, a Library and Information Science PhD student and a part-time library assistant at Weldon Library. Alec teaches us all about the harm that library cataloguing systems can cause, as well as the challenges that come with trying to organize knowledge in a comprehensive way. Recorded on October 31, 2023 Produced by Suzy Lee...

In this episode, we delve deep into the world of social work and psychotherapy with our guest, Bansi Javiya, a dedicated student pursuing her Masters of Social Work (MSW) at King's College. We embark on an exploration of Bansi's academic and experiential journey, shedding light on her coursework in the master's program and her current role as a student therapist in a real-world placement. Bansi's...

This week, hosts Meghan Voll and Mark Ambrogio interview Ameena Abid, our first guest from King’s College’s Master of Social Work program. Ameena tells us about her research on Second-Generation Immigrants and the identity conflicts these individuals feel existing “between” cultures. Framing the longing and pain of wanting to belong in the context of nostalgia, we delve into deep discussions about...

This week, Amalie Hutchinson and Mark Ambrogio sit down with PhD candidate Pascal Michelberger. Studying comparative literature, Pascal tells us about his research into recently published fictional accounts of Nazi trials in West Germany during the 50s and 60s. We chat about transitional justice, how complex legal themes are translated into fiction, and what they teach us about the past and presen...

We're back for another episode of #JarringQuestions, where you get to know three of your GradCast hosts as we answer funny questions pulled out of a jar. This week, Amalie Hutchinson, Anthony Cruz, and Anum Anjum chat about the personalities of colours, fashion trends they're never letting go of, childhood fears and more. Recorded on October 3, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provide...

This week, hosts Carly Charron and Meghan Voll interview Maris Schneider, a master's student in bio-archaeology. Maris examines the mummified remains of animals like birds to understand the role they played in ancient Egypt and the afterlife. Tune in to learn about the rich culture of the Ancient Egyptians, and how animal mummies actually made up a very profitable ancient industry! Recorded on Sep...

This week, hosts Anum Anjum and Mark Ambrogio are joined by master's student Kristen Jeanveau to discuss their work examining the stories of the London Underground Subway shelters during World War II through the eyes of shelter-specific newletters. Tune in for discussions of unreliable narrators, the power of communities, and the struggles of accessing primary sources.  Find Kristin on Twitter and...

This is the second installment of our mini-series: the Scoop on SOGS! In this episode, hosts Brittany Melton and Ryan Baxter speak with Hannah Litchfield, the current SOGS Racial Equity & Inclusivity Commissioner. Hannah shares about her important work and some upcoming events to bring together the diverse cultures at Western.  Check out their Instagram page: @sogs.reic Recorded on September 1...

In this unique episode, hosts Apurva Desai and Meghan Voll interview 4 MA Students from Western’s Master of Global Health Systems: Jiaxin (Cathy) Huang, Alyssa Ramsammy, Vishva Shah, and Rachel Baran. Having completed a research practicum in Mbarara, Uganda for 2.5 months investigating the relationship between maternal and nutritional health, our guests share some insights of their journey, and ob...

Welcome to our newest mini-series: the Scoop on SOGS! In this episode, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler chat with Heidi Kellett, Communications & Promotions Manager,  and Nick DeSumma, Governance & Policy Manager. We chat about the resources SOGS has for graduate students, including the bus pass and health plan, how to get involved with your Western community and more.  Recorde...

This week, hosts Meghan Voll and Amalie Hutchinson interview History MA Mary Baxter. Mary tells your hosts about an unheard-of moment in Canadian Dredging History: the "sand-sucker panic". We learn about what dredging is, the ecological impacts, and the historical connotations behind it!  Find Mary on Twitter here: @MaryBword Recorded on September 5, 2023 Produced by Suzy Lee Theme song provided b...

This week, GradCast hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Apurva Desai are joined by Joel Seigel, a student in the master's of physical therapy program. Joel shares his experiences in the clinic and some advice for keeping your muscles healthy. Recorded on August 29, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.

Join hosts Charan Mandur and Brittany Melton as they chat with recent PhD graduate Laura Munoz Baena. Laura's research focused on virus evolution using bioinformatics. In this episode, they discuss essential tips for graduate students, including maintaining a healthy work-life balance through physical activity and navigating the uncertainties that come with graduation. To find out more about Laura...

In this week's episode, Mark Ambrogio and Anum Anjum are joined by Amber Matthews too discuss her work and research working with Black youth in Canada to better understand their experiences with public libraries and how they perceive them.  Amber identifies aspects of libraries that act as structural barriers and speaks on how representation and inclusion seen in community-based programs can infor...

This week, hosts Charan Mandur and Anthony Cruz interview Jacob Vanderhoeven, a master's student in the history department. Jacob tells GradCast about the rise and fall of ancient Chinese dynasties. Tune in for Game-of-Thrones-esque takeovers, innovation, and leadership in war and peace.  Recorded on August 15, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produce...

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Brittany Melton interview kinesiology PhD candidate Thomas Irish. Thomas works from his own experiences to examine the sociocultural impacts of sports on the Deaf community. He also describes his path to Western, the impact sports have had on him, and how he uses storytelling to get his voice out into the world.  Follow this link  to learn more about Thomas, keep...

GradCast is joined by Arathy Sivasubramaniam, a master's student in the library and information sciences program. Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Amalie Hutchinson learn about all things library: community, programming, online resources and more.  Recorded on July 31, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.  

This week, GradCast's Anum Anjum comes on the show to tell hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler about her graduate program: a course-based MSc in interdisciplinary medical sciences. We chat about academic integrity, science communication, and how AI can be used as a tool in science.  Recorded on August 1, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produ...

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Amalie Hutchinson are joined by Sierra LeBlanc, a master's student in the FIMS department. Sierra studies the Iraq war in the context of unsensored media sharing platforms, and tells us how live footage shapes the perception of war and how the Way Back Machine can help probe the internet through time. Recorded on July 27, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme...

Join the GradCast team in another episode of #GradLife were we discuss the realities, joys, and pitfalls of academic life here at Western. In this episode, hosts Scott Walters, Mark Ambrogio, and new team member, Ryan Baxter, chat about libraries.  More than only a repository for books, they inspire and provide resources beyond what is often recognized and we discuss their role in academia and els...

For the second installment of this mini-series, hosts Carly Charron and Charan Mandur answer some interesting questions with your producer Jordan VanderBurgt. We dive head first into topics such as the Barbenheimer premiers, unacceptable clothing choices, and mac and cheese. As an added bonus, listen in to find out what bird and Disney character these three GradCast members most relate to, and mor...

Today, join hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler, along with your producer Scott Walters, as they begin a new mini-series that has them answering unexpected questions. Some may be slightly controversial, most only light-heated, but all will help you get to know your GradCast team better as they tackle questions pulled from the studio jar!  This week we talk food, life mottos, pet peeves, a...

This week, GradCast hosts Mark Ambrogio and Anum Anjum are joined by an MA student in linguistics: Jillian Warman. Jill studies the letter "v" in Russian and uses sound to tell us all about sound: vibrations in the mouth, frictious letters, accents, learning a new language, and more.  To learn more about Jill's research, you can find her linkedin page , or send her an email at jwarman2@uwo.ca   Re...

This week, hosts Charan Mandur and Carly Charron interview neuroscience master's student Ashlyn Hersey. Ashlyn describes her work developing a touchscreen-based task for assessing cognitive judgement bias and how our emotional state influences the way we interpret the world around us. She also explains how mice can be trained to perform and validate these tasks, especially when rewarded with tasty...

This week, former GradCast host Rhys Paterson returns with an update on her Master's research. Hosts Charan Mandur and Scott Walters learn about all things rocks: coring, libraries of stone, and rockin' drawings cumulating in a 3-gig thesis.  Recorded on June 20, 2023 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.