WOW: Politics and Leadership

Unifor Women's Director and former NDP Member of Parliament Tracey Ramsey joins Jessica and Melinda to talk about why we run for office.  Great stories ensue including playing the game of "who's got the baby?" in the House of Commons.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

What is Disability Pride and how does it differ from anodyne terms like handicapable or differently abled?   Evelina Baczewska, advocate, activist, academic, and all around awesome person walks us through the ways language drives change (and eliminates capitalism).   Find out more about Evelina and her work at www.feministlimns.ca Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where...

In June 2025 we recorded one of our most popular episodes: a rollicking ride with women campaign managers.  We got great stories and advice for any campaign.  Nominations are open.  If you are thinking of running or of supporting a candidate, this is a must listen.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwi...

The Welcome Centre has been at the centre of some unwelcome political attention.  Lady Laforet, Executive Director joins our current affairs panel to talk about what's going on, how it connects to larger political narratives and why it is even more urgent for women to get involved in local politics.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  S...

Leigh Vachon of Assisted Living Southwestern Ontario (ALSO) and Lauren Hedges of Hackforge join us to talk about National AccessAbility Week (May 31 - Jun 6).  They are hosting workshops and events for the community to identify accessible places, both virtual and physical.  See what they are up to here:  https://www.hackf.org/news/national-accessability-week-2026/ Please like and follow our podcas...

The Ontario municipal elections are underway.  Nominations opened on May 1.  If you are running, are you ready? We are joined by two seasoned pros - a candidate, Kristen Siapas, and a campaign manager, Valerie Bonasso.  They have great advice for what to be thinking about now, what to start planning for and how to pace yourself.  October is still a ways away.  Don't peak too soon.   Please like an...

We are in Jane's Walk season and we were joined by four amazing guests to talk about why women's history is not recorded in our built environment and how we can restore lost histories.  Join us and Julie Rae Tucker, Phillipa von Zeigenwelt, Irene Moore Davis and Nicole Baillergeon.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at...

Wen Teoh has been helping entrepreneurs make their ideas real in Windsor for over a decade.  She joins Jessica and Melinda to talk about her path to leadership and her newest project: Sisters in Business.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

The panel welcomed a new correspondent, Evelina Bacewska to talk about Trump, women and invading spaces traditionally reserved for men.  Pat Papadeas, Leslie McCurdy and Evelina joined Jessica and Melinda for a fun and funny reflection on how Trump's comments about women athletes is a symptom of something much bigger when it comes to women in politics.     Please like and follow our podcast.  We a...

Joyce Zuk served two terms on Windsor City Council and over 30 years in human services in the community.  She talks to Melinda about Windsor's latest approach to panhandling and how approaches based in service and help are the only way we make change.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics....

Fresh off renewing her contract with Art Windsor Essex, Executive Director Jennifer Matotek joins Jessica and Melinda as the first guest in the WOW: Leadership series.  She digs into the daily life of being a not-for-profit leader.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

Alicia Higgison is the Councillor for Ward 1 in the Town of Tecumseh.  One of the 'class' of 2018, she and was elected twice for School Board Trustee before switching gears into municipal politics.   We talk about how she balances being a single parent of three daughters, a busy job and the obligations of being an informed councillor.  She also has tips for any listeners getting ready to start a m...

The City of Windsor heard from the community this week about the proposed 2026 budget.  Municipal budgeting is sometimes called the superbowl of local politics.  Darcie Renaud joins us to talk about her experience delegating to Council on behalf of mothers and families who are being hit with significant user fee increases for camp programs and transit.  Turns out the user fee impact on families wi...

Today we launch the WOW:Leadership series of WOW:Politics.  Jessica and Melinda introduce listeners to the reasons why we need more women in leadership outside of politics as well as in.  This series will alternate with our regular politics programming.  Let us know what you think on our Facebook Page WOW:Politics Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful sh...

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!  The panel debate whether Ms. Claus is a feminist and how women's holiday work keeps the lights on.   Join, Darcie, Leslie, Kristen, Jessica and Melinda for our first holiday special, complete with sleighbells!   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com...

Greenshield Cares and Equal Voice Canada have partnered to create on demand mental health supports for women and gender diverse individuals running for office!  Lindsay Brumwell and Sabrina Ladha, join us to share how they decided to address a long standing issue for women in politics.  Women participating in campaign schools across Canada regularly report concern about mental health and harassmen...

On November 11, 2025 Amber Czech, a 20 year old welder, was murdered in her workplace by a co-worker who didn't like the way she looked at him.  Melinda asked Nour Hachem and Delaney Krieger of Build-A-Dream to help her understand the dangers women face on the job.  They described the feeling of having to put on armour before going to work.  The conversation touches on violence in the workplace an...

Women won landmark elections across the US on Tuesday November 4, and the transition team for the NYC mayor is all women.  What does this mean for women locally?  Darcie Renaud and Anastasia Adams join us for a great conversation.  We also talked about how even the President of Mexico is not safe from men thinking they have the right to touch her in public.  Do women in positions of authority have...

Leigh Vachon was so moved by the decision of the Alberta Government to direct school boards to limit access to books that she wrote an impassioned Facebook post about it.  That prompted Jessica to invite her to WOW Politics to talk about how the debate about access to books is really a debate about access to understanding the other. When politicians limit our ability to understand our neighbours,...

Ward 2 watchers Sheila Wisdom, Caroline Taylor and Lady Laforet join us to talk about how the current slate of 15 candidates in the by-election responded to our questions about what is important to women in the area and how they plan to encourage women to vote.  We had a lot of fun.  Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at...

Krystalynn Singh is running for City Council in Ward 2.  She talked to Melinda about her life long dream of being Prime Minister and how she decided to take her career in property management and apply it to politics.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

Christie Nelson cut her teeth in politics winning a seat on the Greater Essex County District School Board.  She is running for the open seat in Windsor's Ward 2.  We talked about why she is jumping into the deeper political pool and how her experiences have led her to this decision.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us a...

Tory McKay is running in the Lasalle by-election.  We talked to her about her career, her family and her ideas for the community.  Take a listen.   Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

Kate Paddon is running in the Lasalle By-election to replace the late Sue Desjarlais.  We interviewed her to find out what motivated her to try and knock on 12,000 doors before October 20.   You can learn more about Kate here . Please like and follow our podcast.  We also have a substack where we post useful show assets.  Subscribe to us at https://womenofwindsorpolitics.substack.com/

Is taking the bus a gendered issue?  Darcie Renaud, Leslie McCurdy and Valerie Bonasso join WOW politics to talk about whether cancelling the Transit Windsor School Extras will have a greater impact on women (moms) than men (dads).   I want confirmation on my information about my transportation from Massey station (She wants confirmation on her information on her transportation from Massey station...