VoV Podcast

Andrew McDougall, University of Toronto political science professor, breaks down Canada’s rapidly shifting political landscape following Mark Carney’s rise to power. The conversation explores Pierre Poilievre’s political challenges, Donald Trump’s influence on Canadian politics, and the growing uncertainty surrounding Canada’s economy, identity, and future. From Alberta separatism and nationalism...

What happens when you suddenly realize your country doesn’t feel the same anymore? In this solo episode, Carter Ponce breaks down the real, unfiltered challenges of building a business at 22 while navigating bigger questions about identity, culture, and the future of Canada. From dealing with payment failures and running a one-man media company to reflecting on immigration, nationalism, and what i...

Jack Mason (@longevitypenguin) shares how he went from a university student experimenting with different ideas to building a high-profit online business—after months of failure with no results. In this conversation with Carter Ponce, they break down the realities of betting on yourself, the mindset needed to push through uncertainty, how content and personal branding turn into paying clients, and...

After nearly a year off, Carter Ponce returns to the mic with the raw truth behind his biggest reset yet. In this comeback episode, Carter breaks down how VoV started from a failed university dating app idea, the risks he took to launch the podcast with borrowed money, the lessons from producing 110 episodes, and why he’s reinventing the show for ambitious young Canadian men chasing bigger goals....

Justin Spears is a 5th-year Physics student and President of the UofT Fitness Club. He talks about Mark Carney as Canada's newly elected Prime Minister, the perplexing state of post-secondary education, and how a lack of masculinity is leading to the declining birth rate. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Jay Laskar is a 3rd-year Environmental Science student. He talks about the 2025 Canadian election, how emotions can negatively affect men, and how he recovered from a bad ping pong injury. Check out Jay's socials: @stlawrence.cafe on Instagram @st.lawrence_tax_and_accounting on Instagram @jayfortress101 on Instagram Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Hrid Patel is a 4th-year Computer Science student. He talks about applying his UofT education to move up the ranks in his job at the City of Brampton, the pre-requisites of doing what you're passionate about, and why every iPhone is not the same year over year. Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic

Tina Simpson is a 2nd-year Mechanical Engineering student. She talks about sending a satellite to space with the UofT Aerospace team, starting her own business, and why peppermint tea with a shot of Jagermeister will help you study! Check out Tina’s organic makeup brand on Instagram: @seine.cosmetics Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Roy Han is a 1st-year Master's student and Founder of the UTM Martial Arts Club. He talks about joining the military at 18, acting in ad campaigns for RBC and Petro Canada, and which fighting style might fit you best. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Tarek Dennaoui is a 4th-year Physics student at UTSC. He talks about the birth and growth of his freelance photography business, why it’s important to overcome lust, and how to get people to like you fast. Follow Tarek’s photography page: @tndvisuals Follow us on Instagram ​⁠ Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Jamie Yu is a 4th-year Mathematics student. He shares his best tips for job interview prep, talks about how to regain passion for your field of study, and discusses why Chinese students score better. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Daniel Star is a 3rd-year Political Science student and upcoming DJ. He shares stories of landing his first paid nightclub gig, Toronto nightlife and cheating culture, and why it’s important to keep promises you make to yourself. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Simon Katkov is a 3rd-year Psychology student, Varsity Rower, and Founder of UofTearless. His brand focuses on helping you learn more while studying less. In this episode, he talks about how he went from a failing student with ADHD to the top 4% of his class while growing his Instagram page to 30,000 followers helping students do the same. He talks about morning vs nightly routines (and why he doe...

Victoria Gracie is a 4th-year Psychology student and 4-time TEDx speaker. She talks about the realities of body dysmorphic disorder both according to research and her personal experience, why body positivity works as a mindset and not a movement, and which celebrity women are seen as the ideal in 2025. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Dr. Leigh Revers is a professor at the Institute of Management & Innovation at the University of Toronto Mississauga with a cross-appointment in the Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences. He graduated from Oxford University in 1996 with doctorates in philosophy and physical sciences. He is the CEO and co-founder of D5 Pharma Inc. and has spoken on several podcasts about the current state of a...

Jayda Amer is a 4th-year Political Science student. She talks about living in Yellowknife, how baseball can be an exciting sport, and what people don't understand about Canadian politics. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Aman Yadhav is a 2nd-year Computer Science student and fashion influencer at UTM. He talks about growing his fashion page to over 14,000 followers, why you should keep your dreams to yourself, and what your style says about you. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Maeve Ellis is a 4th-year Economics student and Managing Online Editor at The Varsity Publications. She talks about how to build trust in journalism, reporting on cases of voyeurism at the University of Toronto, and which academic units rank amongst students’ favourites. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Aaron Hall is a 4th-year Psychology student and ex-LGBT Netflix actor who quit his career in Hollywood to pursue his faith. He shares personal experiences from the dark side of the entertainment industry, explains why he abandoned homosexuality, and talks about Jordan Peterson being the best UofT professor he’s ever had. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Ibrahim Awal is a former UofT Scarborough student. He talks about the obstacles of a young entrepreneur, how to bounce back from betrayal, and what he learned from his travels to Vegas and Phoenix. See more of Ibrahim: He stars on Episodes 31 and 50! Follow Ibrahim on Instagram: @milli.in.air and @gwork.official Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Snoopmesh Karthi is a 4th-year Computer Engineering student and former Teaching Assistant. He talks about being accepted as a TA despite his 1.9 GPA, how to abuse LinkedIn to land quality internships, and what it means to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

David Antonio Pop is a 1st-year Biochemistry student at UTM. He talks about his first impressions of Toronto after arriving from Spain, his research interests in life sciences, and attempts to answer 9 of the toughest philosophical dilemmas. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!

Josh Lunger is a 4th-year Computer Science student and Project Lead for the UofT Machine Intelligence Student Team. He dives deep into the intersection of philosophy and artificial intelligence, talks about taking a snapshot of the mind, and shares stories from his experience fighting cancer. Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

Dan Rodo is a social media creator with more than a decade’s worth experience and over 4 million followers across all platforms. He is the creator and host of the series Shot & Forgot which sees him reunite families with their lost photographs from as far back as the 1950s. In this episode, he talks about how to achieve longevity in a social media career, the power of optimism, and what it was lik...

Paul Phanachet is a 4th-year Political Science student. He talks about the degradation of Canadian culture, taking lessons from the Western political system to bring back to Thailand, and why he moved across the world to cut loose from his home country’s restrictive educational system. Good audio starts at 48:56 Follow us on Instagram @voicesofvic Watch on YouTube!