Existential Relish

This episode reveals not only the details about a world-renown researcher, who is a scholar in emerging tech and the first Black woman to be President of a Canadian university, but the radiant human who embodies fearlessness and inspires so many. Friends for two decades, Host C-A Granatstein and  Dr. Rhonda Mc Ewen cover a range of topics, like Rhonda's move to middle America from Trinidad as a te...

The episode starts out as a story about a broken down vintage Austin-Healey and a chance encounter with a real life superhero. It evolves into stories about helping others, being part of the fabric of the community, and aslo a big surprise for host C-A's friend Mike. 

It's the stuff of movies, mystery and faraway places. Records show that as early as 2,000 BC falcons were used to hunt and feed communities, for sport, and as highly effective pest control.  C-A has a fascinating conversation about falconry with the hard-working falcons Bullet and Petey, and Falconer Keith Everett from Falcon Environmental.  

C-A speaks to Steve Paikin, journalist, author, documentary producer, podcast co-host and host of TVO's flagship current affairs program,  The Agenda with Steve Paikin.  The conversation focuses on interviewing, but Steve breaks out into song, recalls great moments, surprising moments, being starstruck and a few personal - but not too personal - nuggets.

Fashion rentals, refurbishment and resale is just about the easiest and most enjoyable way to support local businesses, save money, reduce the carbon footprint of your clothing and rescue clothes from the landfill which pollute water systems and through their decomposition process and incineration, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. C-A talks to Common Sort owner Nicole Babin about her three...

This conversation with Dr. Kasra (Kas) Khorasani is about a unique approach that he developed for his inpatient psychotherapy groups using LEGO Serious Play methodology. Learn why group therapy is such a valued tool in for psychotherapy and how building with LEGO in Kas's sessions empowers further connection, allowing people to become authentic, genuine, non-judgemental, curious and kind. Show hos...

In March 2021, Glenna Gosewich became an non-directed living organ donor. 62% of her liver went to a stranger who was in need of a vital transplant. Glenna sees this as a form of charity, a good deed —   something she can do because she's able, despite the risks, post-op recovery and even judgement from others. Glenna is also a wealth of information on the topic as well as about blood donation. Th...

Just when you think all teenagers spend every waking moment on TikTok, there's Naila Moloo. At 15 years old, this STEM researcher's drive to contribute to a sustainable future, her stellar networking tips and her ability to handle rejection with grace in order to get exactly what she wants... is so totally boss. You are guaranteed to learn one life tip from this episode, or at the very least, make...

Close to home: Stories of neighbourhood businesses in the COVID economy are conversations with six business owners in the St. Clair West community, in midtown Toronto.  Part one was published a year ago this week. Like so many things in the last 14 months, the conversations with Cocoa Latte, The Rushton, Ecoexistence, Playfulminds, Philosophy and Koko & Co were scheduled, cancelled, rescheduled, c...

Ed Lawrence is THE Gardening expert. He was the Chief Horticulturalist for six consecutive Governors General and has been a regular on CBC's Ontario Today show for the last 40 years. Whether you are a beginner gardener or you are well versed in the ways of plants, Ed is a joy to listen to and learn from. In this episode Ed's got plenty to say about growing food, the importance of getting kids' han...

The activity level of humans is generally at an all time low as people work from home, spend countless hours on devices and endure waves of lockdowns. Sitting is stressful on the back, hips, neck and shoulders. The lack of movement is being linked to a decline in mental health and an increase in injury. Dr. Waj Hoda is back on the show with preventative solutions and insights towards a pain free e...

Smut, trash, beach read. All terms used to describe the romance novel. This genre often gets a bad rap despite it being a massive industry. C-A speaks to romance author Victoria Denault about writing sex scenes, an unexpected review from comedian Paul Scheer and #Bridgerton fever. As people dream of adventures while shut in, locked down and cut off from finding their needle in the haystack—their p...

Dog loves you. Dog wants to teach you about love and presence and patience and forgiveness and gentleness and benevolence. Dog wants to cherish you, wants you to be a certain way and is always there to teach you. Dogs are meditation masters. Master dog trainer, mindfulness teacher, meditation instructor and soon-to-be author, Jesse Sternberg provides a ton of insight on becoming the peaceful alpha...

Just in time for winter, second waves and lockdowns, C-A learns how to make chicken soup, also known as "Jewish Penicillin", with help from her mother. Bones or meat? Gloves or no gloves? Turnips or parsnips? Together, but in different cities, mother and daughter get all of these questions answered and more. Check out the Show Notes for the full recipe.

C-A is ready to forget about what's happening in the world and wonders if it's possible for a mentalist to do a show over Zoom.  Mysterion the Mindreader, who is one of few to fool Pen and Teller, proves that yes, it is possible! Mysterion blows her mind with a few tricks and they also talk about the mindreading biz during the pandemic. "It's about fun. If I can take you out of that skeptical, hea...

C-A speaks to Kathy Hay, President and CEO of Kids Help Phone, Canada's only 24/7, national support service that offers professional counselling, information and referrals, and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people in both English and French. C-A is a volunteer crisis responder with Kids Help Phone. She talks to Kathy about her experience on the texting platform, the spikes in demand a...

In this episode, C-A talks to Sandy Carlton, owner of Arcadian Daylilies , an urban farmer in midtown Toronto in his backyard garden, where he grows about 300 different varieties of daylilies and other plants that perform well in a northern climate. Sandy offers up a wealth of garden wisdom like what chicken fat has to do with daylillies, how to get 400 blooms over the course of a season from one...

Six entrepreneurs from the St. Clair West neighbourhood in midtown Toronto talk candidly about running their businesses over the past nine weeks since the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, how they are innovating and what people can do to ensure this community, and communities like St. Clair West, thrive in the new COVID economy. Very special thanks to Playful Minds , COCOALATTE,  The Rushton, Philosop...

C-A talks to her childhood friend, Dr. Daniel Labow, Chief of the Surgical Oncology Division and Vice Chair of Outpatient Services for the Department of Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City about the tough decisions he's had to make as a doctor, husband and father during COVID-19. They also discuss his toughest day on the job and the good that's come out of the chaos while working on t...

C-A turns to Wendy Lund from Ep. 2, Has Mindfulness Lost its Meaning to see if there is a meditation that could help cultivate a sense of peace in this time of uncertainty. Wendy walks listeners through Metta, or compassion meditation, to help send loving- kindness to the people in our lives and to ourselves. 

Dr. Waj Hoda, chiropractor extraordinaire from episode 15 - Your body knows, listen to it talks about how he's helping clients virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic, his simple triangle approach to maintaining good health and things you can do to regain a sense of control in a time when everything feels pretty out of control. Visit @drwajhoda on Instagram for daily posts on health and wellness. H...

C-A checks in to see how Alan's doing during the Covid-19 pandemic and how the music industry is faring. Alan's of course got a few band recos plus some thoughts on the emergence of art when society is upside down. C-A gets an answer to a burning question she didn't ask Alan on Ep. 8 - Midlife Playlist.  Hint: Turkeys.

Change is hard, but is it more difficult than waking up every day with a feeling that you're living the wrong life? From ad guy to futurist, ethics coordinator to horticulturist, and winemaker to senior leader in gene therapy commercialization, three people share their inspiring stories about reinvention, re-imagining and career shifting — also known as bravery, honesty and personal agency.  

"I knew coming to an oncologist, I wasn't here for hemorrhoids," is just one of the many Warrenisms in this episode about gratitude, whack-a-mole and living life to its fullest, every single day. We all have bad moments, throw ourselves the occasional pity party and hold onto angst longer than we ever should. This conversation with Warren, a person living with Stage 4 Cancer, is beyond worthy pers...

Camp Walden in Palmer Rapids Ontario is a very special place. Built by some very special people in 1970 it has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of kids. In this episode, Elaine Cole, Camp Director, nurse, head cook and camp mother talks about about running a summer camp for 35 years, the music and the man who started it all, her late husband Ted.