Sport, Social Justice & Development Podcast

In our latest episode, we feature another recorded panel from the Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity, and Climate Action through Sport Symposium. This episode, called 'Exploring Climate Justice and Sport (for Development),' brings together leading scholars working to critically explore and unravel the assumptions that underpin ‘sustainability;’ while also considering what happens wh...

In honour of International Women’s Day, we are sharing one of the most moving conversations from our 'Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity, and Climate Action through Sport Symposium.’ In this powerful dialogue on 'Climate Action and Leisure: Grassroots Perspectives,’ four remarkable women share lived and deeply personal experiences that remind us sport and movement can be more than p...

Today, we are sharing another powerful recording from the 'Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity, and Climate Action through Sport Symposium,' held at York University from October 15–17, 2025. Today’s featured panel - “E-Bikes: Policy Considerations and Environmental Costs” - delves into one of the more challenging mobility debates of our time. This is because  e-bikes are often celebr...

First in the Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity, and Climate Action through Sport Symposium Series, we hear from Carly Gilbert-Patrick, the Global Leader for Share the Road at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). In this role, she works closely with governments and partners worldwide to encourage them to prioritize investment in safe, inclusive infrastructure for cyclists and pe...

We're excited to share the trailer for our Advancing Mobility Justice, Gender Equity & Climate Action through Sport series, a special series of The Sport, Social Justice & Development Podcast. This series is inspired by the inaugural international symposium held October 15-17, 2025, at York University, where leaders, advocates, and scholars came together to explore how movement and spo...

This episode features Harrison Browne and Rachel Browne, who discuss their recent book, "Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes". The discussion focuses on transgender inclusion in sport amidst rising anti-trans sentiment and policy in North America. Harrison Browne (he/him) is the first transgender athlete in professional hockey. He was part of the National Women's Hockey Lea...

This episode features a recorded online panel, from Feb 11, 2025, titled “From Ferguson to Palestine, Occupation is a Crime!” Sport and Black/African-Palestinian Transnational Solidarity: A Black History Month Panel. In this session, the speakers reflect on the historical and contemporary examples and challenges in building Black/African-Palestinian solidarity in sport, and discuss why it should m...

In this episode, Jess (she/they) and Natan (he/they) chat with Dr. Chen Chen (he/him) about the ways in which imperialism and settler colonialism manifest in sport. Chen is an assistant professor of sport management at the Neag School of Education. Chen takes an interdisciplinary approach to explore the intersection of sport with colonialism as well as social, racial, and environmental justice. He...

In this episode, Isra chats with Paola Castañeda and Sergio Montero Munoz about addressing unequal cycling spaces in Latin American cities. Paola is an Assistant Professor in the History and Geography department at the Universidad de Los Andes in Bogotá, Colombia.   Sergio Montero is an associate professor of Geography & Planning at the University of Toronto, Scarborough. Links to Paola and Se...

In this episode, Natan chats with Tim Adams, Tania Cameron, and Linda Flanagan about their work with youth sport programming. Tim is the founder and CEO of FreePlay Sports, an organization providing free sport programming to children and youth in Edmonton, AB. Tania is a sport coach who organizes sporting opportunities for Indigenous youth in Ontario. Linda is the author of Take Back the Game: How...

In this episode, Jess chats with Adam Ali, Michael Dao, and Tavis Smith about their respective research in sport, resilience, and sustainability. Adam is an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology at Western University. Adam's research explores anti-Islamic racism, radicalization and sport in the post-9/11 era. Michael is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology at San José...

In this episode, Julia chats with Adam Kuban about his new book, "Facing Social Justice in Sports", a collaboration between students, athletes, coaches, and sports media professionals. The book highlights topics regarding racism, gender equality, poverty, international-student rights, mental health, disability, and LGBTQ+ challenges in sport. Adam is a professor in the School of Journalism & S...

In this episode, Julia speaks with Ian Kennedy about his new book, "On Account of Darkness: Shining Light on Race and Sport". Ian amplifies the stories of local athletes from his community, and discusses the history and legacies of systemic racism in North American sport. Ian is the founder of the Chatham-Kent Sports Network. He is also a writer for The Hockey News, Yahoo Sports Canada and Yahoo S...

In this episode, we speak with Anika Taylor, Erin Willson, and Neville Wright about their work on addressing athlete maltreatment through Safe Sport research and advocacy. Anika is a Master's Student studying safeguarding sport at the University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Erin Willson is a PhD student studying Safe Sport at the University of Toronto Faculty of Kinesi...

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique about Black sportswomen activism, her chapter in Muhammad Ali in Africana Cultural Memory (Editors James L. Conyers Jr. & Christel N. Temple), and organizing within White-dominated institutions. Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique is Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Sport, Society and Social Change, as well as Associate Pro...

In this episode, we speak with Jason Cipparrone, Lorraine Lam, and Amanda De Lisio about their work with Toronto's unhoused communities. Jason is a director, producer, and photographer who launched the CBC short film series "Generation Homeless". Lorraine is an outreach worker at Sanctuary Toronto, a community housing organization. Amanda is an assistant professor of physical culture, policy and s...

In this episode, we talk with Simon Darnell, Russell Field, and Bruce Kidd. Simon is an Associate Professor of Sport for Development and Peace at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Russell is an Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management. Bruce is a Professor Emeritus of Sport and Public Policy at the...

In this episode, we talk with Nathan Kalman-Lamb, co-host of The End of Sport Podcast and Lecturing Fellow in the Thompson Writing Program at Duke University. Nathan discusses his research in sport, labour, fandom, and capitalism, and debunks "The Great Sport Myth" for us. We also discuss the difficulties of teaching critical thinking in kinesiology spaces. Check out Nathan's work here:  http...

In this episode, we talk with Jeanette Steinmann, a PhD student in the sociocultural group in the School of Kinesiolgy at the University of British Columbia, Canada. Jeanette discusses her Master's research that focused on cyclists experiencing homelessness and her PhD research which explores cycling (in)equity and social justice. We also discuss some of her work on the study of bicycles for devel...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Yuka Nakamura about her work on Asian experiences in physical activity, kinesiology, and sport, including her book  Playing Out of Bounds: “Belonging” and the North American Chinese Invitational Volleyball Tournament.  Dr. Yuka Nakamura is an Associate Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. Featured in this episode:...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Brad Millington and Dr. Brian Wilson about their book, "The greening of golf: Sport, globalization and the environment," including in regard to sociological studies of sport and the environment, environmental and corporate sociology, consumer culture, and social movements, amongst other areas. Dr. Wilson who is a Professor in the School of Kinesiology and Director...

In this episode, we chat with Marika Warner, the Director of Research and Evaluation at Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) Launchpad in Toronto, ON, Canada, about the effects of COVID-19 on sport-for-development programming and how MLSE Launchpad has navigated challenges of the global pandemic. MLSE Launchpad is a sport-for-development facility for youth facing barriers in downtown Toronto...

In this episode, we talk with Janet Otte, who holds a Masters Degree in Development and Security from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom, and has over ten years experience in managing development projects related to refugees, women's rights, gender relations, and clinical research in communities in Uganda. Janet discusses the research she conducted with a number of 'bicycle-for-development'...

In this episode, we talk with Shawn Forde, an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of British Columbia, Canada, and Tarminder Kaur, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies, University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Shawn and Tarminder discuss their research in Bloemfontein, South Africa, that explored the use o...

In this episode, we sit down with Charles Chiu, the Executive Director at Toronto bike shop, Charlie’s Freewheels. Charlie’s Freewheels uses bicycles to "support the development of empowered young leaders, and self-assured young cyclists. They do this by improving youth access to bicycles, facilitating bicycle-related skill development, and inspiring youth to ride with confidence" (CFW, 2020).&nbs...