Responsible Disruption

We’re diving into a topic that’s sparking a lot of conversation in organizations and the non-profit sector, what is the role Augmented Intelligence in innovation and grant writing. Our guest is Mina Demian a startup advisor, ecosystem builder, and social innovation strategist with over a decade of experience in fund development, grant writing, and strategic fundraising. Before moving into the star...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, we kick off our season by exploring how the arts sector is recovering from a challenging period marked by low attendance and funding struggles. Host Monique Blough is joined by Alex Sarian, to discuss his book, The Audacity of Relevance: Critical Conversations on the Future of Arts and Culture.     As we witness the impacts of the pandemic on cultural ins...

Welcome to the third season opener of Responsible Disruption! Join our hosts—Monique Blough, Beth Ed, and Melissa Skowron—as they introduce themselves and give a sneak peek into all the interesting conversations in store for this year.             In the spirit of our journey to promote reconciliation, we would like to honour the truth of our shared history and acknowledge Treaty 7 territory and t...

In this season finale, all three hosts—James, Monique, and Sydney—come together to reflect on an incredible year of conversations, learning, and growth. Over the past year, the podcast has explored a wide range of topics aimed at fostering innovation and driving positive change, both within organizations and in the broader community. From inspiring guest interviews to practical tools and methodolo...

In the last episode of our design series, Sydney Johnson sits down with Tim Chen, Team Lead at J5 Design and co-founder of local community Service Design YYC, to discuss the Delivery phase of the Double Diamond framework. This critical stage involves transforming developed design solutions into impactful, real-world applications. Tim shares his extensive experience, reflecting on the complexities...

In this episode, host Monique Blough is joined by James Gamage, Director, Innovation and The Social Impact Lab at United Way of Calgary and Area , and Michael Procee, a Calgary-based energy professional at TC Energy , DBA student, innovation sessional instructor at MRU , and founder of the Calgary Innovation Peer Forum on the topic of internal innovation—how organizations can foster creativity and...

In this episode, host James Gamage delves into digital government transformation with guests Fouad Jallouli and Sheldon Bauld, who are instrumental in The Government of Alberta's digital initiatives. They discuss their roles, Alberta's digital service delivery choice, and its implications for other provinces. The conversation explores how the Government of Alberta solves the challenges of balancin...

In this episode, host Sydney Johnson is joined by co-founders Shahr Savizi-Smed and Amanda Ovaici as they take us through the journey of creating Fuckup Nights YYC , a platform dedicated to destigmatizing failure in entrepreneurship. They delve into the origins of their friendship and how it fueled the inception of Fuckup Nights YYC. Through insightful discussions, they explore the mission and its...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, host Monique Blough is joined by Claire Reid, Chief Impact Officer, and Heather Senecal, Director of Learning and Evaluation, both from United Way of the Greater Capital Region in New York State, USA. Together, they explore the concept of systemic change and its critical role in addressing complex social challenges. The conversation delves into how innova...

In the third installment of the Design101 series, host Sydney Johnson interviews Julie Kuhn, a UX Designer from J5 Design , about the Develop phase of the design process. Julie shares insights on prototyping, gathering feedback, and collaborating with development teams. With a focus on iterative design and problem-solving, she offers practical strategies and personal stories from her work in desig...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, host James Gamage is joined by Erin Kaipainen, the Director of Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning at the Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, University of Calgary. Erin advocates for experiential learning, striving to make transformative educational opportunities accessible to all students. Throughout the conversation, Erin delves into ex...

In this episode, host James Gamage interviews Amanda MacIntyre-Steel, a Complementary Curriculum Specialist with the Calgary Board of Education (CBE). Amanda is a strong advocate for design thinking in teaching and shares her extensive background in Career and Technology Foundations (CTF) and Career and Technology Studies (CTS). She discusses her initiatives, including the Calgary Career and Techn...

In this episode, James Gamage sit down with Margeaux Montgomery, an educator at the Innovative 2School program in Calgary. 2School brings the classroom into vibrant community settings, challenging students to think differently about their city and their role within it. Margeaux shares the history and core philosophy of the program, explaining how it integrates design thinking and a sense of commun...

In this episode, Monique Blough speaks with Crystal Fernando, founding partner of WhatBox Innovation Partners , a company dedicated to helping leaders and teams navigate the complexities of the modern world. With over twenty years of experience in strategy activation and innovation, Crystal shares insights into the intersection of brain science and leadership coaching, emphasizing the importance o...

In the second installment of our Design 101 series, we delve into the define stage of the double diamond framework. Host Sydney Johnson sits down with Kristofer Kelly-Frere, Creative Lead at J5 Design , to explore the intricacies of problem definition and user persona creation. They discuss Kristofer's journey into service design and his experiences in the field. They share anecdotes highlighting...

In this episode, Karen Ramchuk, President & CEO of WINS , shares the journey of WINS as a charity operating a social enterprise. She discusses WINS' innovative approach to achieving social impact and financial sustainability through the operation of thrift stores in Calgary. Karen highlights the organization's recruitment practices, the role of its Board members, and its significant contributi...

In this episode, Monique Blough hands over the reins to Daisy Giroux, Woodland Cree from Driftpile First Nation and Strategy Lead for United Way's Akaks'timan Indigenous Strategy . Daisy leads a profound discussion on land-based teachings, exploring their meaning, impact, and value with two distinguished guests. Chantel Large, the Cultural Services Manager at Miskanawah and a Sessional Instructor...

Join us in this episode as we explore the dynamic world of community hubs and startup communities with Ken Bautista, co-founder at Makespace and Flightpath Ventures , and Maria Topolnyski, manager of Community Hubs at United Way of Calgary and Area . We delve into the essence of these spaces as third places, fostering a sense of belonging and community identity. Ken shares examples from the innova...

In this episode of Design 101, join host Sydney Johnson and guest Rhea Kachroo, a seasoned Service Designer from J5 Design , as they delve into the essential "Discover" phase in the design process. Rhea shares her journey as a designer, highlighting how she found her niche in service design. She shares key lessons from her career that have shaped her approach to design and the evolving role of ser...

In this episode, we delved into the critical topic of protecting innovation, spotlighting the compelling journey of Local Laundry , founded by Connor Curran, and the challenges they faced in safeguarding their intellectual property when a larger company used their image. With the invaluable support of Brett Colvin, CEO of Goodlawyer , Local Laundry navigated the legal complexities and realized tha...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, Monique Blough hosts Dr. Douglas MacLeod, Chair of the Centre for Architecture at Athabasca University . Dr. MacLeod shares his journey and experiences at a distance learning institution, leading to a discussion on the crucial intersection of architecture and human-centred design, focusing on sustainability and social responsibility. He discusses his role...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, Sydney Johnson welcomes Julia MacGregor, the host of the Now Innovating podcast at the University of Calgary . The conversation unfolds with insights into the power of storytelling as a catalyst for connecting academic research with broader audiences. Julia provides an overview of the Now Innovating Podcast, profiling its mission to showcase innovation wo...

In this episode of Responsible Disruption, our host, James Gamage, welcomes Jeff Couillard, a change catalyst and advocate for youth mental health. The episode delves into Jeff's transformative life experiences, his journey from his work in addiction treatment to entrepreneurship, and the evolution of data-driven evaluation approaches in social change. Jeff is now Co-CEO at The Ally Co ., a team o...

In this episode of 'Responsible Disruption,' host Monique Blough engages in a dynamic conversation with Liz Weaver and Danya Pastuszek, Co-CEOs of the Tamarack Institute . The discussion delves into Tamarack's innovative Co-CEO model, tracing its origins, impact, and practical implications. Liz and Danya offer valuable insights into how Tamarack applies collaborative leadership principles internal...

Welcome to the second season opener of Responsible Disruption! Join the trio of hosts—Monique Blough, James Gamage, and Sydney Johnson—as they guide you through a thrilling journey into the realms of social innovation and design. With an infectious enthusiasm, the hosts offer a sneak peek into the diverse topics awaiting exploration this season. From redefining grief and mental health solutions th...