From the Field by the NSCDA

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Chris Shupe speaks with his son Elliot, an 18-year-old transgender man in his first year of university. Together, they explore career aspirations, identity, and what the future can look like when you’re just starting out and learning to navigate the world as your authentic self.

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Lisa Strong speaks with Sam Madore, Marketing Communications Manager with the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and host of the podcast Keep Talking. Together, they explore the emotional weight many professionals carry at work and why conversations about mental health are so important.

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Teresa Francis sits down with Randy Lindsay, Executive Director of Futureworx, to explore why Social and Emotional Skills matter more than ever. Randy shares how workplace shifts have made these skills essential - and why they’re critical for both employees and managers.

In this episode of From the Field, Mitchell Tempro is joined by Ann and David Divine to discuss the collaborative work behind the NSCDA’s Afrocentricity course. Together, they explore what Afrocentricity means, why it matters today, and how centering African-descended peoples’ histories, cultures, and lived experiences challenges dominant Eurocentric frameworks in justice, health, economics, and e...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Lisa Strong speaks with Marcus Jamieson, Executive Director of TEAM Work Cooperative, about Work Without Barriers and what meaningful inclusion really looks like in career development. Marcus shares insights from more than 30 years of advocacy and employment support, reframing disability as part of human diversity rather than deficit.

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA team member, Teresa Francis, speaks with Holly Rye, Career and Employment Counsellor at the Halifax and Region Military Family Resource Centre, supporting Canada's largest military base. Holly shares insights from over two decades of helping military spouses/family members navigate their own meaningful career transitions. She speaks of the unique needs and...

Kick off the new year with intention and clarity in this special episode of From the Field. Host Michael Bohan sits down with Autumn Grant of Flo Meditation, a long-time wellness partner of the NSCDA, to explore what it truly means to start the year well. Together, they unpack why the New Year is such a powerful moment for personal reset, how to avoid all-or-nothing resolutions, and simple, sustai...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Lindsay Guitard sits down with Taruna Goel, Senior Consultant at North Pacific Metrics and a leading expert in competency development and assessment. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience, Taruna breaks down what competencies are (and aren’t), why context matters so deeply, and how competencies help make learning and performance visible in a rapidly...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA team member, Teresa Francis, talks to Michelle Thomason, PhD, kindness scholar and author, about a rarely addressed topic - Kindness at Work. Michelle shares with us her story of how she came to study kindness in organizations, along with some of the lessons learned from her experiences and research. Together, Teresa and Michelle explore the meaning of kind...

In this episode of From the Field, host Kathy McKee and career development practitioner Connie Corse revisit the enduring principles of Recovery-Oriented Practice (ROP) - a framework for inclusive and effective service delivery. Drawing from the Career Services Guide: Supporting People Affected by Mental Health Issues (by Neasa Martin & Kathy McKee, published by CERIC in partnership with NSCDA...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA Training Manager Connie Corse sits down with Teresa Francis to explore the power of reflection and the unexpected ways learning shows up in our lives. Through Teresa’s touching story of The Dylan Plant: a resilient houseplant that bloomed after twenty years, where they uncover deep lessons about growth, timing, and the human capacity for renewal. Together,...

NSCDA’s Kathy McKee and Teresa Francis explore how blended learning is transforming professional training across Nova Scotia. Using the NSCDA’s award-nominated Case Management Training program as a model, they unpack how combining online autonomy, instructor support, and in-person engagement helps learners move from awareness → competence → confidence. Hear how intentional design, adult learning p...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Michael Bohan and Mitchell Tempro explore the future of learning in career development. Together, they dig into how personalized learning, microlearning, and “learning in the flow of work” are reshaping professional growth. From AI-powered tools that provide instant support, to snack-sized learning that fits seamlessly into the workday, Michael and Mitche...

In this episode of From the Field, two of our own voices from the NSCDA take center stage. Host Tara Deveau, Program Assessor and Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP), sits down with her colleague Lisa Strong, a Career Services Specialist and CCDP, to share Lisa’s journey into the field of career development. From her start in education to case management and now mentoring practitioner...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Mitchell Tempro is joined by Dr. Cindy Hamon-Hill, a research psychologist and manager of a neuroimaging lab at Dalhousie University. Together, they explore empathy as more than just “understanding someone’s feelings” - unpacking its layers, its role in uncovering client needs, and how it builds trust in career development relationships. Drawing on their...

In this episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Connie Corse and Teresa Francis explore the rise of microcredentials and their impact on today’s job market. With insight and practical examples, they unpack what microcredentials are, why they’re gaining attention, and how they help job seekers, career practitioners, and employers alike. From stackable learning to skills-based hiring, this conversation s...

In this debut episode of From the Field, NSCDA’s Kathy McKee and Connie Corse explore the quiet but powerful role of hope in career development. With warmth and insight, they reflect on how hope shows up in client conversations, how practitioners hold and foster it, and why it might be one of the most important tools in the field. If you work in career services—or care about the human side of work...