The Bad Academy Podcast

What does it really mean to hold power, and why do so many of us run from it? In this episode, we sit down with Andrea Reimer, former Vancouver City Councillor and affordable housing champion, for a deeply honest conversation about power, identity, and making change from the margins. Learn more about Andrea here: https://www.citizenandrea.ca/ ABOUT YOUR HOST Amanda Kao (she/her) is the founder and...

What does drug policy have to do with human rights? Everything, according to Ann Fordham, Executive Director of the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC), a global network of NGOs advocating for evidence-based reform. Joining us from Amsterdam, Ann traces her unlikely path into drug policy advocacy: from a master's degree in human rights to a chance conversation about harm reduction that...

In today's episode, Amanda sits down with butcher Taryn Barker. What does it take to open a butcher shop at 22 with zero business experience? Just ask Taryn Barker. Growing up in Langley, BC in a family that cooked everything from scratch, Taryn started working the counter of a local butcher shop at 15 and never really left the industry. Thirteen years later, she's still cutting, still bui...

Writer and essayist Mandy Catron joins us to talk about what it means to turn your most vulnerable experiences into art. Best known for her viral New York Times "Modern Love" essay; the one that sparked a book, a media whirlwind, and, spoiler, a real-life relationship. We dig into her path from aspiring visual artist to creative nonfiction writer, the moment she realized fiction wasn&#39...

In today's episode, Amanda sits down with AI educator and advocate El Wong to unpack the complicated, fascinating, and sometimes terrifying world of artificial intelligence. From gender bias in AI systems to fears about privacy, job loss, and misinformation, El explains why women and underrepresented communities need to be part of shaping the future of technology instead of resisting it altoge...

Welcome to The Bad Academy. In our first episode, Tracy Theemes joins the podcast for an honest conversation about money, confidence, and the emotional baggage so many women carry around finances. Tracy shares how her experiences shaped the way she thinks about wealth, power, and self-worth. The conversation dives into why money is way more about psychology than math, how social conditioning impac...

Welcome to The Bad Academy! Each week, Founder Amanda Kao sits down with women who break rules, challenge expectations, and build careers on their own terms. From financial advisors and AI experts to butchers, our guests share the real stories behind their careers: the risks they took, the obstacles they faced, and the lessons they learned along the way. Join us on June 5! And follow along on soci...