Women In Media

Host Sarah Burke interviews Riley Nimens, an award-winning media professional, freelance events and television producer. They discuss Riley's career from working with the CBC and CTV's W5 to her freelance work in news, live events, and documentary production. Riley shares insights on the challenges and rewards of freelancing, her work at major events like the Olympics and FIFA World Cup, and her p...

Host Sarah Burke interviews Cristina Howorun about her journey from traffic reporter to award-winning journalist at City TV, despite her health challenges. Cristina discusses kidney disease and her experience getting a kidney transplant which eventually began to fail. She finds herself going through the same search to find a living donor as she faces kidney failure again. Cristina emphasizes the i...

Host Sarah Burke catches up with Alicia Chirrey, the Series Producer of Dragon's Den. They discuss Alicia's journey from intern to series producer, the evolution of female entrepreneursip on the show, and the inspiring stories of resilience from Canadians. Alicia shares insights into the casting process for the upcoming 20th season, the role of the 'Dragons', and the importance of supporting Canad...

Host Sarah Burke and journalist Karen S. Pugliese sit down in Chicago's Midway airport to test out some new mini mics and discuss the state of media, journalism & podcasting after attending the Podcast Movement Evolutions conference and speaking on a panel about opportunities in Canadian podcasting. Karyn shares her journey in journalism, highlighting her experiences in both broadcasting and podca...

Host Sarah Burke discusses the recent elimination of the Minister for Women and Gender Equality in Canada with guests Jacqueline Neapole and Debbie Owusu-Akyeeah, two feminist leaders fighting to reinstate the position and better support the advancement of women and gender equality around the world. They reflect on the implications of this decision amidst the backdrop of the UN Women's Rights Summ...

Host Sarah Burke brings light to some important conversations recently brought forward by media colleagues. Kudos to Erica Ehm for writing this straight-up article for International Women's Day about the 'echo-chamber' problem. Thank you to Rachel Gilmore for speaking up and sticking with journalism, despite those who have tried to intimidate her to stop sharing important Canadian perspectives. Th...

Host Sarah Burke speaks with Red, a popular Toronto radio personality. Red takes us back to the beginning, being part of the launch of Canada's first Black-owned radio station and the excitement as artists like Jay-Z and Rihanna came through the doors at the old Flow 93.5. Red shares memorable experiences, the challenges of transitioning through career changes, and the importance of authenticity i...

Sarah Burke interviews Sherley Joseph, the co-founder of The Chonilla Network and the woman behind the 'Black Canadian Creators" Podcast and community. Graduating from broadcast school alongside the likes of Sid Seixeiro and George Stroumboulopoulos, Sherley always enjoyed working behind the scenes in production. More recently she stepped into power creating a dedicated community for Black Canadia...

Host Sarah Burke reflects on the great conversations, special guests, and lessons learned through one hundred episodes of the Women in Media Podcast. She discusses the purpose behind her podcast, its evolution, and the empowerment that comes from independence in content creation. Throughout the episode, Sarah shares memorable moments and insights from listeners, friends and colleagues who have pla...

Host Sarah Burke speaks with Dr. Leslie Dobson, a clinical and forensic psychologist turned media personality. She talks about everything from working with psychopathic individuals in prisons to working with lawyers representing A-list celebrities. She tells Sarah about her upcoming podcast 'Intentionally Disturbing, which aims to explore the psychology behind disturbing experiences, including car...

On the last episode of 2024, host Sarah Burke shares some network reflections & new initiatives kicking off 2025, and is then joined by rock radio sister, Carly Rae Meyers. Carly was recently laid off from one of her favourite radio gigs at Sonic in Vancouver, so she takes us on a journey back in time to her first radio job, growing up on the airwaves, bouncing back and forth between provinces and...

Host Sarah Burke officially welcomes Mary Jo Eustace to the Women in Media network with a conversation about the importance of embracing aging, taking risks, and MJ's recent experience on the reality show Traitors. Sarah and MJ also swap dating stories sharing their disdain for dating apps and the complexities of dating in the modern world and the humorous yet frustrating experiences that come wit...

*Episode disclaimer: today's episode contains discussions about violence against women, including sensitive topics which some listeners may find triggering. Listener discretion is advised.* According to the UN, Every 10 minutes, a woman is killed. Globally, almost one in three women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both, at le...

In this episode of the Women in Media podcast, host Sarah Burke interviews Dr. Riley Kirk, a cannabis research scientist and educator who also hosts the Bioactive Podcast on the Women in Media Network! They explore the intersection of cannabis, science, media, and the evolving perception of cannabis in society, especially as it pertains to women. They question some of the advertising challenges th...

Host Sarah Burke and guest Jess Knights record an impromptu episode of the Women in Media Podcast. They discuss the implications of the American election as the polls begin to close in real time. They discuss the evolving role of podcasts in political discourse, and the impact of media on voter behaviour. They explore how younger audiences are gravitating towards podcasts for authentic conversatio...

From one founder to another, host Sarah Burke interviews Angel Nicole, the founder of the ALIVE Podcast Network. Angel Nicole transitioned from radio to podcasting after 25 years in the industry, creating the ALIVE Podcast Network to amplify Black voices in media. Angel's background in journalism informs her approach to content creation, although the idea was born out of some misfortune during her...

On a special edition of the Women in Media Podcast, host Sarah Burke hosts a panel of incredible music industry women to discuss their challenges and most defining moments. Panelists: Cristina Fernandes Music PR & Publicity @ Listen Harder, established in 2004. Happy 20th anniversary! Listen Harder Inc. is a Canadian independent publicity company specializing in music publicity. Clients include Al...

In this episode of the Women in Media podcast, host Sarah Burke interviews Shayla Ouellette Stonechild, founder of Matriarch Movement. They discuss the importance of amplifying Indigenous voices, Shayla's journey of healing and wellness, and the impact of personal loss on her mission to support Indigenous youth. She also shares some thoughts on mindfulness and her daily practices that foster spiri...

In this solo episode, host Sarah Burke discusses her experience with AI and social media, specifically focusing on an Instagram trend where ChatGPT roasts your Instagram feed. She shares her identity crisis on social media and the struggle to find her authentic online presence. Sarah explores the use of AI tools in podcasting and the importance of balancing AI-generated content with human finesse....

On this episode, host Sarah Burke sits down with Saroya Tinker with a live audience at the Queen Street Knix Store in Toronto, in partnership with Monday Girl. Saroya Tinker is a former professional hockey player who recently transitioned to join the Professional Women's Hockey League’s broadcasting team, both on panel and color commentary. She is also the league's Manager of Diversity, Equity & I...

Host Sarah Burke revisits a conversation with Olympian Alysha Newman from August 2021, shortly after the Tokyo 2020 olympics didn’t go as planned… Alysha Newman went to Tokyo only three months after suffering a concussion. She had some recalibrating to do dealing with both the physical and mental effects of her brain injury. The now 30 year old from London Ontario is smiling ear to ear three years...

Sarah Burke interviews Erika Ayers Badan about her new book, Nobody Cares About Your Career: Why Failure is Good, The Great Ones Play Hurt and Other Hard Truths. They discuss the timing of writing the book, the challenges of transitioning between creative and corporate chapters, and the importance of vulnerability. They also touch on the experiences of being a woman in the media spotlight and the...

As entertainment news outlets continue to shrink, two industry powerhouses found themselves with a decision to make: sink or swim. Katie Colley and Laura Ward, television personalities, discuss their new venture E Dose Daily, their experiences in media, and the challenges and triumphs they have faced along the way. They share insights on content production, industry shake-ups, and the value of own...

Sometimes singers sing about singing, writers write about writing, and podcasters podcast about … yes, podcasting. This episode was recorded live off the floor at Taco Taco as part of the first Soundwave Summit in Toronto, a new indie podcast conference! Things may sound a little different because there is a live audience. Maureen Holloway and Wendy Mesley were previously on the Women in Media Pod...

Host Sarah Burke (top left) welcomes a diverse panel of music industry experts to discuss the recent landmark music research study SHARE THE AIR which examines the representation of women, trans artists, black artists, indigenous artists, and artists of colour in radio airplay. The panelists include Dr. Jada Watson (top middle), the lead researcher on the study with Songdata; Bronwin Parks (bottom...