From Here Forward

Loghan Paylor (MFA’20) didn't set out to win CBC's Canada Reads competition. They were just trying to write the book they needed to write. In this episode, the author of The Cure for Drowning —winner of Canada Reads 2026, Giller Prize longlistee, and Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize finalist—opens up about non-linear creative processes, writing queer and trans characters with care, the pros and...

In this episode, UBC's Associate Vice-President, Campus and Community Planning, Michael White, joins Carol and Jeevan to break down the SkyTrain to UBC project—the planned Millennium Line extension to UBC. Michael explains why the Broadway Subway Project is insufficient, how the Arbutus station will already be over capacity on day one, and why completing the line to UBC is the only real solution....

What if the innovation economy has always had a gender problem—and we just couldn't see it? Despite a wave of visibility for women entrepreneurs, the numbers are stark: 90% of inventors in Canada are male, and women-led ventures receive less than 5% of available funding. In this episode, UBC Sauder School of Business assistant professor Angèle Beausoleil (PhD'17)—a researcher, serial entrepreneur,...

What does it take to protect some of Canada's most iconic—and at risk—animals? In this episode, Carol and Jeevan sit down with Mateen Hessami (MSc’22), wildlife biologist and UBC Okanagan master's graduate, to find out. From collaring moose out of helicopters to rediscovering a caribou herd believed to be extinct since 2014, Mateen's work is as thrilling as it is meaningful. He breaks down why car...

In this Valentine’s Day-themed episode, From Here Forward goes beyond conventional ideas of romance to explore love, cooperation, and connection in the marine world. Hosts Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha are joined by UBC professor Dr. Andrew Trites, Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit, to discuss groundbreaking research revealing a surprisingly collaborative relationship between orcas...

In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan sit down with Jonathon Braun (JD’15), Allard Law alum, Legal Director of the Migrant Workers Centre, and winner of Season 11 of The Amazing Race Canada . Jonathon shares the realities facing migrant workers in Canada today—from closed work permits and systemic vulnerability to the human cost of shifting immigration policy—and challenges the myths that contin...

In our final episode of 2025, hosts Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha connect with Dr. Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBC's Okanagan campus, for a conversation about UBC Okanagan’s 20th anniversary. They discuss the extraordinary growth the campus has seen over the past two decades, and talk about the important connections that have been made between the institution and...

Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide statistics. Men’s mental health is getting more attention these days—yet many still struggle to ask for help. Why? For Movember, hosts Carol and Jeevan dive into this issue with Dr. John Oliffe. This UBC professor and founder of the Men’s Health Research program shares insights into the moments that hit men the hardest, why so many avoid seeking su...

In this episode of From Here Forward , hosts Carol and Jeevan sit down with award-winning journalist, author, and UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media Director Kamal Al-Solaylee to examine the state of modern media. From the role of journalism in democracy, to AI, citizen reporting, and the rise of disinformation, Kamal offers candid insights into how the industry is changing—and how journ...

In this special UBC Homecoming episode of From Here Forward , hosts Carol and Jeevan return to the Vancouver campus to visit some of their favourite spots and reflect on how the campus has evolved since they graduated. Along the way, they stop by the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the “Building Magic” party at Homecoming on September 20. They also talk...

We all know we should be returning our bottles, cans, and drink containers to a recycling depot. For many people, however, a 10-cent return just isn’t enough to motivate action. But what if you had a random chance at a much higher payout? In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Jiaying Zhao, associate professor in the UBC Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment,...

With drink spiking an ever-pervasive concern, how can we make nightlife safer for everyone? Thanks to UBC researchers, there’s now a stir stick that anyone can use to detect drugs like GHB and ketamine in their drinks. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan hear all about this innovative new tool — Spikeless — from Dr. Johan Foster, UBC Chemical and Biological Engineering Associate Professor, and Sasha...

What do a Star Wars “making of” documentary, a UBC Film Society membership, and late nights at the Norm Theatre have in common? For UBC alum Greg Ng (BA’05), they sparked a passion for film editing that’s turned into a fascinating career — one that’s enabled him to work on some of the biggest Hollywood horror films of recent years. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan sit down with the award-winning...

More than 15,000 satellites are currently in orbit around our planet, with this number growing every year. For UBC’s Dr. Aaron Boley, this raises some red flags about the problem of space junk. An expert in the field of space sustainability, Boley chats with Carol and Jeevan about the practical risks we face from space junk as well as the politics of space. He also dispels the myths justifying the...

There’s been a lot of talk in the media about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, but what does DEI actually mean? Why do so many people seem to misunderstand its intent? In recent years, many companies moved quickly to implement DEI programs that addressed inequities in recruitment and hiring practices, mentorship, and other opportunities. But just as quickly, backlash arose to these po...

For people living in remote locations and requiring urgent ultrasounds, the best option at the moment is to travel to a major city for the diagnostic test. But a UBC researcher is looking to change that. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan speak to David Black (BASc’21), a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering at UBC about his groundbreaking work on remote ultrasound imaging. Learn ho...

What’s the relationship between love and happiness? The answer is not as simple as you might think. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to UBC alum Carrie Jenkins, a writer and professor of philosophy at UBC, about her research to understand love in all its forms. They discuss the limitations of romantic love, the stigma of singlehood, the realities of non-monogamy, and the social constructs th...

To kick off an exciting new year of From Here Forward , Carol and Jeevan get to know Bill Nikolai (BA’80, MEd’86, MLIS’08), a UBC alum who doesn’t back down from much… including the idea of gliding off mountain peaks. Hear about what drives his paragliding passion, and find out what it takes to conquer fears and embrace the opportunities that arise in your life. LINKS Contact Carol on Bluesky Cont...

In this special year-in-review episode, Carol and Jeevan are joined by their producer Kylé to share some of their favourite From Here Forward moments from 2024. Find out which conversations inspired them, changed their perspectives, and even drove them to change their decision-making. Enjoy this fun throwback to the year that was. FEATURED EPISODES Episode 16: Finding Hope in Climate Activism with...

Did you know that UBC has a glassblower on staff? In this episode, get to know Brian Ditchburn, the scientific glassblower for UBC’s Chemistry Department. Find out what his days in the glass shop look like and why he feels that his job is the best one on campus. Brian shares some of his philosophy about the impermanence of glass and how he sometimes helps students relieve stress with a little dest...

The 2020 US presidential election and the unprecedented events that followed have set the stage for a tumultuous contest in 2024. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Paul J. Quirk, professor and Phil Lind Chair in US Politics and Representation in UBC's Department of Political Science, about the upcoming election and what its outcome could mean for democracy in the US. They delve i...

It’s the start of a new academic year and UBC’s student athletes are back in action. It’s an exciting time, but for some it can be challenging to balance the pressures of being both a student and a high-performance athlete. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Whitney Sedgwick, a licensed psychologist and mental performance/mental health lead for UBC Athletics, and Sam Pritchard, th...

In this special Pride episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Amin Ghaziani, a professor of sociology and Canada Research Chair in Urban Sexualities at UBC, about his new book Long Live Queer Nightlife: How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution . They speak about the evolution of queer nightlife, the nuances of intersectional belonging, and the importance of intentional allyship. Link L...

In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to UBC alum and lawyer Melanie Ash (LLB’96) about her path into the legal profession and her work to support a framework of racial justice and equity for New York City’s government. They also discuss some of the differences in the legal and social justice landscape between Canada and the United States. Links Melanie Ash: LinkedIn   Twitter/X: Carol / Jeevan F...

When UBC acquired a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio in 2021, it was only the first step in an initiative to digitize and improve access to this historic text. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan speak to Dr. Patrick Parra Pennefather, Associate Professor at UBC Theatre and Film in the Faculty of Arts, about why this acquisition was so important to the university and how emerging technologies...