GRADCAST

In this week's episode, hosts Garth Casbourn and Mark Ambrogio interview Zoltan Richter-Bisson, a PhD candidate in Chemistry.  Zoltan is studying the interaction between proteins, abundant in the human body, and the breakdown of implanted medical devices.  While there are a large number of such devices, Zoltan is specifically interested in hip and knee implants.  Tune in to learn about efforts to minimize the deleterious effects of device breakdown inside the human body. Zoltan, Garth, and Mark also discuss science communication and the benefits of being involved in the graduate student community. To learn more about Zoltan's supervisor: Dr. Yolanda Hedberg and her lab. Recorded on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 Produced by Garth Casbourn & Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot)

Hosts Garth Casbourn and Kirstyn Seanor are joined by Rawan El Moghrabi, a student in the master's program in computer science. How can human attitudes, behaviors, and expectations influence the internal representation and behaviors of AI? In this quite topical episode, Rawan offers some insight into the behind-the-scenes of large language models, as well as discussing her research project on AI safety and alignment.    Recorded on May 27, 2025. Produced by Bruno Mesquita. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).  

Hosts Maris Schneider and Mark Ambrogio interview Taylor Northwood, a Master's student in Public History.  Taylor is interested in exploring the experience of teens in the past, particularly teens living in Windsor, Ontario, during the 1950s.  Taylor shares her insights into how teens navigated a postwar world shaped by shifting cultural values, emerging youth identities, and the growing influence of American media just across the border.  She uses oral histories, a method of research that focuses on the perspective of her interviewees, which offers a uniquely personal insight into the lived experiences of people from the 50s. To learn more about Taylor's work, be sure to check out her project: https://tnorthwo.wixsite.com/thearchivedive Recorded on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot)

In this week's episode, hosts Riya Sidhu and Ryan Baxter interview Catherine Birt, a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) candidate in Performance and Literature.  Catherine is studying collaborative piano -- this, though, is just the tip of the iceberg!  In addition to her interest in piano, Catherine explores the emerging interplay between climate activism and classical music.  Intriguingly, Catherine points out that there has been a growing presence of environmental themes in classical music -- one example being the interplay of whale vocalizations ("whale songs") with some classical music in the late 1970s and early 80s, coinciding with the anti-whaling campaign. Catherine plans on doing case studies and interviews with prominent musicians to better explore this interplay.  Tune in for more! Recorded on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot)

In this week's episode, Maddie Hertz, a PhD candidate in Anthropology, is interviewed by hosts Garth Casbourn and Mark Ambrogio.  Maddie's research touches upon the intersection of aging and physical activity.  More specifically, her research looks at bone loss in menopausal women, to see how physical activity may mitigate bone loss, comparing the effects of swimming and running.  Garth, Mark, and Maddie compare notes on research methods and discuss how even graduate students need to enjoy some outdoor activity! Those interested in learning more may read about the PAVE Lab (Phenotypic Adaptability, Variation, and Evolution Laboratory) here:  https://pavelab.ca/ Maddie's doctoral supervisor is Professor Jay Stock. Recorded on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot)

In this week's episode, hosts Maris Schneider and Meghan Voll interview Carly Charron, a PhD candidate in Biology, and previous GradCast host!  Carly breaks the news about the dangers of eating raw chicken and eggs (say goodbye to that cookie dough batter!) as she researches how to make food safer for consumption, starting at the source – chickens.  She is designing a plant-based vaccine to administer to chickens to induce immunity against Salmonella.  Carly has just finished her first round of chicken trials, administering her vaccine to a group of chickens who will be studied in various ways to test their immunity.  Join us as we talk about her research, her experience patenting her vaccine, and all the educational outreach she does along the way. Recorded on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

This follows up on a previous “Chairs Chat” from March 2021 Special Episode: Chairs Chat | GradCast, which commemorated 500 episodes. This “Chairs Chat” commemorates another milestone; namely, over 600 episodes, with specials, and hitting 500 regular episodes, wherein we interview individual graduate students about their research. In this episode, Amalie Hutchinson, Anthony Cruz, and Mark Ambrogio chat in the Radio Western studio, while Ariel Frame joins from Sheffield, England via Zoom. Together, they share fond memories of GradCast and discuss some of the history of the radio show and podcast. Recorded on Friday, April 25, 2025 Produced by Amalie Hutchinson and Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).  

Hosts Anthony Cruz and Garth Casbourn sit down with Jenny Richmond-Bravo, an EdD candidate and coordinator of Western's Own Your Future program, to discuss how she is helping PhD students identify, build, and market their skills for career success beyond academia. Recorded on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 Produced by Riya Sidhu Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

GradCast heads to the Western Research Forum! Get a glimpse into Western's largest multidisciplinary graduate research conference as hosts Liam Clifford, Mohammad Zeraati, Riya Sidhu, & Mark Ambrogio conduct short interviews with attendees, presenters, and organizers. This year's conference featured over 60 different presentations from across Western's 11 faculties. See below for interview questions and timestamps. Funding for the 39th Annual Western Research Forum was provided by Western's Society of Graduate Students (SOGS), Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, and the Academic Joint Fund, a partnership among Western Research, SOGS, and Western's School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS). Recorded on March 14, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).   Interview Questions & Timestamps What's the biggest takeaway from your presentation? What inspired you to pursue this research? What is the effect of your research on real life? 01:00 - Jeremias 02:57 - Caitlin 04:47 - Elisabeth 06:24 - Rafaela How has presenting here helped you refine your ideas? What's one skill that has helped you succeed in your research? What's your best networking tip for first-time conference attendees? 07:37 - Sid 09:51 - Lauren 11:10 - Xavier 13:10 - Liam Summarize your research in one sentence. What has been the highlight of the WRF? How has AI influenced your research? 14:36 - Chloe 15:49 - Saghar 16:34 - Reza 19:29 - Andrew 20:16 - Aranya 21:25 - Anthony 22:12 - Ashley 23:09 - Olivia

In his fourth time with us, Alex Mayhew joins his fellow office-mates in Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS), hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll, as he rapidly approaches the finish line. By the time this episode airs, Alex may officially have his PhD in Library and Information Science! Alex discusses what is involved in the final weeks of one's PhD, such as his forthcoming public lecture. He also shares the experience of receiving feedback from his students (in the Master of Library and Information Sciences program) to some of his ideas around Aging Justice. And how feedback is not always a bad thing. EDIT: Alex successfully defended his dissertation on Tuesday, April 22.  Congratulations, Dr. Mayhew! Recorded on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).  

In the second episode of #GlobalGrads, hosts Liam Clifford and Anthony Cruz are joined by Eva Deligiannis — a MSc student in Neuroscience and the PSAC610 Communications Chair. Eva shares her background in research, her journey through activism, and highlights key contemporary developments affecting international students at Western. Shifting from the personal to the political, the conversation explores Navitas — a private education company whose proposed international student pathway was previously rejected by the Western community. Eva breaks down what Navitas is, how the proposal could impact international student prospects, and how both the union and broader campus community are organising in response. Tune in for insight on how institutional policy affects our international colleagues and how domestic students can show solidarity. For updates on the matter, follow @stopcutsatwesternu and the union @PSAC610 on Instagram. You may find additional information on the local's and UWOFA's respective websites. Recorded on April 8, 2025 Produced by Liam Clifford Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, join us for the 5th episode of our collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western's 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills.  Hosts Maris Schneider and Anthony Cruz sit down with guest Lisa Zhu, a master's student in clinical psychology, to explore the psychological impacts of today's fitness trends that idealize muscularity. Lisa's research investigates the often-overlooked connection between fitness ideals and food-related behaviours, revealing how disordered eating can be masked as "healthy" habits. She sheds light on how these unrealistic muscular ideals perpetuate harmful perceptions of health, especially among men, whose experiences with body image and disordered eating are frequently ignored. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation that challenges conventional ideas of fitness and wellness. Check out Lisa's Inspiring Minds showcase here! Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of body image and disordered eating. Recorded on April 8, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Liam Clifford and Ryan Baxter meet with Rafaela Platkin, a MSc student in Cognitive, Developmental and Brain Sciences Psychology. Her research looks at how engaged children become with different story themes, and how this may influence broader cognitive domains (listening effort, attention, load, etc). She discusses studies with behavioural dual task to measure listening effort through reaction time, gaze and EEG brain activity. The hope is to better understand how children engage with auditory-only narratives and general stimuli and see how their listening effort and/or fatigue are affected. Rafaela talks about how she became charmed by the field of Psychology and her future plans for her PhD, to look at hearing aid users to see whether there is a disproportionate increase in listening effort.   Recorded on April 1, 2025 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

And yes, he's back!  Liam Clifford and Mark Ambrogio are joined, for the third time, by William Laur, a PhD candidate at Western in Biology, as he shares how he is making good progress on his doctoral research. William discusses his research on snakes; more specifically, he is interested in the human reaction towards snakes, which he studies by looking at both the scientific literature and social media posts.  Topics discussed include threat perception, human-animal conflict, and the importance of ecological diversity.  Snakes are not as dangerous as commonly perceived; indeed, it is possible, as William discusses, for us to learn to live alongside them.   Recorded on Mark 25, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

For this edition of #BookCast, we dive deep into The Secret History by Donna Tart, the origin of the dark academia genre. Join us as we discuss the book, which follows a student at a prestigious New England College, where he experiences new friends, an eclectic professor, and murder. The Secret History is a novel heavily laced with classical symbolism, and we discuss some of the central themes as well as engage in a breakdown of the main characters. This episode was recorded on March 5, 2025 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

#GlobalGrads is back! In this episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Riya Sidhu sit down with Deepmala Rana Bhat, a PhD student in Epidemiology from Nepal and the International Commissioner for SOGS at Western. As an international student herself, Deepmala shares insights into Nepal's rich culture, fun facts, and her experiences advocating for international students. They also dive into the evolving landscape of international student policies in Canada and how these changes impact students like Deepmala. Tune in for a lively and informative conversation about culture, advocacy, and student life! This episode was recorded on March 18, 2025  This episode was produced by: Jessica Eblie Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/  Produced by White Hot

On our fourth episode of our collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western's 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills.  Our hosts Riya Sidhu and Ryan Baxter are joined by Dennis Osei-Nimo Annor, a PhD candidate in the Department of Kinesiology, under the Faculty of Health Sciences. His research examines the ways in which sport can be used as a toolkit to address physical and sociocultural challenges faced persons who experience disability (PWEDs). By addressing this gap, he hopes to use sports as a tool for social inclusion to address harmful cultural stereotypes and perceptions about disability in Ghana. Dennis also talks about his journey to his PhD and his work in sports journalism. Check out Dennis' Inspiring Minds Showcase here! Recorded on March 11, 2025 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

In this week's episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Bruno Mesquita interview Niki Sinha (they/them), a PhD candidate in Neuroscience. Niki's research delves into the processes by which, when we read, we connect letters with sound and words with meanings.  As an example, the word "lead" has a very different meaning (and a very different pronunciation!) in the context of "lead singer," as opposed to "lead pipe." These cognitive processes are so quick as to almost appear automatic.  In this interview, we learn, from Niki, that making connections between visual information and language isn't something that our brain is programmed to do by itself (unlike recognizing faces for instance), but it is something almost all of us learn to do anyways.  Do tune in for a very erudite and engaging conversation!  Recorded on Mark 4, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Maris Schneider and Meghan Voll welcome Sarah Bidinosti to discuss her research on adapting traditional bone analysis methods for the digital age using CT scans. Sarah explains how techniques for estimating age, biological sex, and stature—commonly used in forensic and archaeological studies—must be refined when applied to digital scans. By creating a standardized methodology, she aims to improve accuracy and repeatability in osteobiography, the process of identifying unknown individuals based on skeletal characteristics. Our conversation explores the advantages of CT scans, which allow researchers to study bones non-invasively, preserving remains in forensic cases and with cultural artifacts like mummies. Sarah highlights challenges in translating physical bone analysis to the digital realm, as scan parameters and software algorithms can alter bone appearances. Sarah's work bridges archaeology, forensic science, and medical imaging, offering applications across cultures and time periods. Recorded on February 25, 2025 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll welcome Alanna Acchione, a PhD student in Media Studies at Western University, to discuss her research on data harms and the role of algorithms in curating hate engagement on social media. Alanna explores how platforms intentionally foster ideological clashes by amplifying content that triggers emotional responses, ultimately driving user engagement and platform profitability. Drawing from Wendy Chun's "Discriminating Data", Alanna explains how users are categorized into marketable groups, often pushed into ideological echo chambers that reinforce extreme narratives. She shares how these algorithmic structures fuel anti-feminist and anti-minority rhetoric, shaping online discourse in ways that can have real-world consequences. The conversation also delves into rhetorical silence—the act of disengaging from online debates—as a potential resistance strategy. Alanna discusses the effectiveness of "feed cleansing" to disrupt harmful engagement patterns and considers whether quitting social media entirely is the only true form of protest against these platforms' exploitative models. Recorded on February 25, 2025 Produced by Mohammad Zeraati Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).  

  Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter welcome back Kian Esmailian, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering at Western University, to discuss his research on ultrafast ultrasound imaging and Doppler applications. Kian shares his journey from Iran to Western, detailing his passion for merging engineering and medicine. He explains how ultrasound imaging plays a crucial role in diagnostics due to its affordability, safety, and real-time capabilities, making it a preferred choice over MRI and CT scans. The conversation dives into Doppler ultrasound applications, which allow for velocity estimation in blood vessels, helping doctors detect abnormalities like clogged arteries and aneurysms. Kian breaks down the trade-offs between frame rate and accuracy, highlighting how ultrafast ultrasound improves speed but requires balancing image quality. He discusses how his research focuses on optimizing transmission techniques to achieve both high-speed imaging and precise velocity estimation, ultimately improving diagnostic accuracy. Recorded on February 19, 2025 Produced by Mohammad Zeraati Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot).

This week, we engage in the third episode of our collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western's 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills.  Our hosts Garth Casbourn and Ryan Baxter are joined by Temitope Osifeso, a PhD Candidate at the School of Physical Therapy in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. Temitope's research explored how firefighters manage shoulder injuries and what they need to recover effectively by interviewing firefighters in North America. We chat about potential gender differences, what made Temitope engage with this research area and what can be done to minimize and treat these shoulder injuries in a high-risk occupation. Recorded on February 11, 2025 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

Just in time for Valentine's Day, GradCast hosts Anthony Cruz, Riya Sidhu, and Liam Clifford discuss all things love in graduate school. The hosts review a series of would-you-rather questions centered around dating within academia, planning a wedding during graduate school, and balancing research-related and romantic demands. Recorded on February 4, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

For our seventh episode of #BookCast, we discuss “The Book of Two Ways” by Jodi Picoult—a story that explores whether we make our choices—or our choices make us. Our story begins with a plane-crash, where our main character, Dawn Edelstein is faced with the choice to return home to her life as a death-doula, or continue on to Egypt to complete her doctoral studies researching the coffin-texts and “Book of Two Ways”, a map of routes souls can take to the afterlife. Join Riya Sidhu, Garth Casbourn, Scott Walters, resident Egyptologist: Maris Schneider, and Meghan Voll as we dive into the book's main themes and quirks, such as it's non-linear writing style, the duality of life and death, the nature of choices, and selfless versus selfish action. This podcast edit features a reveal of the next title in our ongoing series.  Aired February 6th, 2025 at 11 AM on Radio Western, 94.9 FM in London, Ontario. Recorded on January 28, 2025 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, hosts Garth Casbourn and Ryan Baxter speak with GradCast's own Mohammad Zeraati, a third-year PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering about some of the real-world implications of his research into the “Instability behaviour of granular soil and tailings and particle cementation.”  Some of the topics discussed include mining regulation, computational methods, and the environmental effects of mining, through mining waste.    Recorded on January 28, 2025 Produced by Jessica Eblie, Scott Walters, Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Maris Schneider are joined by Sananda Sahoo, a Postdoctoral Associate at the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. In Sananda's PhD dissertation, her research extrapolated how mainstream English-language Indian newspapers represent Muslims in the context of cow violence. She discusses the tension between the Muslims and other communities, mainly Hindus from colonial India and contemporary settings. Now, in Sananda's post-doctoral research, she is looking into the government's usage of AI and facial recognition technology in the public sector in India and how it impacts human behaviour and surveillance. She also shares her academic joinery and her work at a newspaper and radio station. Content disclaimer: This episode touches upon religious lynching and violence against Muslims in India.  Recorded on January 21, 2025 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Liam Clifford are joined by Jessica Eblie, a student in the professional master's program in Media, Journalism, and Communications. Jessica shares her fascinating journey from a music background to journalism and communications, discussing how her experience as a musician brings valuable skills and perspectives to her work as a journalist.     Recorded on January 14, 2025. Produced by Bruno Mesquita. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Scott Walters are joined by Aloa Alota, a PhD Candidate in Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies. His research focuses on political journalism in Nigeria following the June 12 Crisis, the annulment of a presidential election that plunged the country into a political turmoil. Listen to learn about the guerilla journalism that ensued while Nigeria worked its way back to Democracy. Recorded on January 7, 2025. Produced by Scott Walters. Edited by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, we engage in the second episode of our collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western's 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills.  Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter converse with Joeana Cambranis, who is pursuing her PhD in Biomedical Engineering. Joeana's research focuses on developing augmented and virtual reality tools to help surgeons practice and improve procedures related to the treatment of liver cancer. She also shares her thoughts on life as an international graduate student from Yucatán, Mexico, what Western means to her, and discusses her next steps.  Want to know more about Joeana's work? Take a look at her page on the Inspiring Minds website. Recorded on December 10, 2024 Airing at 11am on December 17, 2024 on Western Radio, 94.9 FM Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).  

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Liam Clifford are re-joined by William Laur, PhD Candidate in the Biology Department. His research focuses on exploring representations of and attitudes towards snakes in online media, through an ethnozoological approach. He was previously in the GradCast studio over the summer (Episode 470). This time around, William completed his written scoping review and qualitative analysis of the snake and bear-specific scientific literature. William chats about human perspectives and attitudes towards snakes and bears, the theological perspectives, how snakes are charismatic and the importance of snake conservation.  Recorded on December 3, 2024 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

In our sixth installment of our #BookCast mini-series, we discuss Fifth Business, by Robertson Davies. The novel builds upon childhood events and grows into a personal epic spanning decades of national and world history, centered through the perspective of an older academic looking back over his life. The story begins, and the main characters all originate from, Deptford, a fictional town based on the real community of Thamesville, Ontario.  Join us as your hosts Garth Casbourne, Meghan Voll, Mark Ambrogio, and Scott Walters dive into some of the book's main themes, including spirituality, ageing & changing perspectives, and socioeconomics. The podcast edit features an extended discussion by Mark on the concept of unreliable narrators, and Meghan reveals the next title in our ongoing series. Aired December 5th at 11 AM on Radio Western, 94.9 FM in London, Ontario. Recorded on November 27, 2024 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

Hosts kirstyn seanor and Maris Schneider interview our own Bruno Mesquita, a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Western and a member of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Communication and Hearing Lab. Topics discussed include how experience shapes our perception of auditory stimuli, voice familiarity, and speech intelligibility. For the discerning listener, they even discuss “selective hearing”!   Recorded on November 26, 2024. Produced by Mark Ambrogio. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

In this installment of #TheScoopOnSOGS, host Liam Clifford is joined by Andrew Grgas-Svirac, a PhD Candidate in Western's Department of Civil Engineering who currently serves as the Chair of the Academic Committee at the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). Listen to this episode to learn about Andrew's research and all of the amazing initiatives led by the Academic Committee, including the 125th Scholarship and the Western Research Forum. The 39th annual Western Research Forum, with the theme Interdisciplinary Research in the Digital Age, will take place on March 14, 2025. Abstract submissions are due on January 6, 2025. We hope to see you there!

Hosts Meghan Voll and Liam Clifford are joined by kirstyn seanor, as she talks about her research on how the design and navigation systems of pornography websites influence users' exposure to content. Along the way we will also discuss how to define pornography, and how access and availability of this content has changed over time. Check out Kirstyn's s research Instagram Here!   Recorded on November 19, 2024. Produced by Bruno Mesquita. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Here is our first-ever collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western's 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills. GradCast will feature selected students to discuss their research every third Tuesday of the month! Hosts Meghan Voll and Maris Schneider chat with Charmaine Iormetti, who recently completed her Masters of Music (MMus) in Literature and Performance (Voice) degree in the Don Wright Faculty of Music and is currently a Music Instructor at Riverbend Academy and Sound in Motion Studio. Charmaine's research looks at how the larynx and vocal tract produce and filter vocal qualities so singers can ensure emotionally compelling performances. Charmaine shares her interest in vocal pedagogy, the discipline of understanding the singing instrument and how it optimizes sound. She also shares her favourite musical repertoires, tips on having a healthy sound and her experiences with Inspiring Minds. You can find Charmaine on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Here is her work with Inspiring Minds and some of the musical repertoires mentioned: Tosca, La Bohème, Turandot, Madama Butterfly and Wagner's Wesendonck Liede.  Recorded on November 12, 2024 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).  

Katie McCoy, a PhD candidate in political science, joins Liam Clifford and Garth Casbourn. She tells us about her research on why people vote how they do, especially in rural communities. She also discusses how MPs from rural areas may differ in behaviour compared to urban MPs. Recorded on November 6, 2024 Produced by Riya Sidhu Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Host Mark Ambrogio welcomes John Hutchenreuther, a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environment, to discuss the transformative potential of the "15-minute city" in urban planning. John's research envisions a shift towards walkable cities, where essential amenities are accessible within a short walk or bike ride, making cars a choice rather than a necessity. He delves into the challenges in cities like London, Ontario, and explains how North American urban development, particularly after World War II, heavily favored car infrastructure. This, he notes, often left residential neighborhoods without local stores and services, compelling residents to drive for daily needs. John also discusses the inefficiencies of car-dominated roads, advocating for safer, more pedestrian-friendly environments that prioritize people over vehicles, ultimately fostering more sustainable and inclusive urban spaces.   Recorded on October 29, 2024 Produced by Mohammad Zeraati Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Garth Casbourn and kirstyn seanor are joined by Eric Scarfone, a Master of Media in Journalism and Communication (MMJC) student in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. Eric talks about his transition from undergraduate to graduate studies and delves deeper into what the MMJC program entails. He shares his goals in broadcasting and what is a part of good journalistic storytelling. He also talks about his involvement in student government and at Radio Western, hosting “On the Eric” and newscasts. To keep up to date, follow Eric on Instagram @escarf12 Recorded on October 22, 2024. Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

For our fifth installment of our book club series, the #BookCast team read Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi.  Join us for a discussion led by Garth Casbourn with co-hosts Meghan Voll, Riya Sidhu, and Scott Walters.  We dive into the complex narrative of Gifty, a young scientist getting her PhD at Stanford, attempting to discover secrets behind addictive behavior. This story is one of grief, hope, childhood trauma, conflicts between faith and science, and racism and immigration in North America. We'll cover many of the books themes and writing devices, its approach at describing science and graduate student life, and talk about the challenges faced by the protagonist both in the lab and her difficult past. ADVISORY: This book has themes of addiction and overdose that are central to the story. In the second part of our conversation, we dive into these topics. Some listeners may wish to either avoid or prepare for this portion of our episode. Airing October 31th at 11 AM on Radio Western. Recorded on October 2, 2024 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter are joined by Lauren Jarman, a Masters of Music Education Candidate in the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Her research is focused on the impact of policy, globalization and neoliberalism and how it affects students with disabilities through a windband pedagogy. Lauren explores how AI and technology enable learning for musicians and how it can improve student and teacher experience. She also talks about her involvement in student government and her own experiences with disability as a student. Recorded on October 15, 2024 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot)  

Hosts Anthony Cruz and Meghan Voll are joined by Emiko Muraki, a PhD candidate with the University of Calgary, and a visiting PhD student at Western University. Emiko studies how context and differences between people affect how we learn and use concepts, and understand language. She also studied people with aphantasia, who can't form mental images, and found that they may still engage in sensorimotor simulation during semantic processing, even if they lack conscious, voluntary imagery.     Recorded on October 8, 2024. Produced by Bruno Mesquita. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll are joined by Shengpei (Leslie) Li, a Ph.D. student in Media Studies. Leslie discusses his research on rap music in China and the politics surrounding it. Recorded on October 1, 2024. Produced by Riya Sidhu Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter are joined by Elisabeth (Libby) Roberts, a Ph.D. candidate in the music cognition specialization at the University of Western Ontario, Don Wright Faculty of Music. Libby discusses her research in music-evoked autobiographical memory and how she combines methods from behavioural sciences, sociology, and music theory. She discusses how social media, a space of interaction, memory, and, importantly, hearing and playing music, influences the way we remember popular music. Check out Libby's research, composition and performances here! Recorded on September 24, 2024. Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

In this installment of the three-part #TheScoopOnSOGS miniseries, host Liam Clifford is joined by Jasmine Proctor, a PhD Student in Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies who currently serves as the Vice-President Advocacy at the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). Listen to this episode to learn about Jasmine's research, background, and roles at SOGS, as well as what she enjoys about being a student leader. Recorded on September 10, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Maris Schneider and Garth Casbourn are joined by writer, curator and visual culture PhD candidate at the Department of Visual Arts, Ashar Mobeen. Ashar studies ancient and indigenous civilizations and the manifestation of astronomical understanding within their art and architecture. He explores the stories of groups marginalized by Eurocentric ideologies. Ashar chats about his love for the cosmos, working to implement new pedagogical methods in the classroom, sustainable curatorial projects and managing the Ecologies in Practice podcast (launching this Fall)! Here are links to the curatorial projects: In the Heart of the Bronze: A Liu Shiming Experience and of many worlds in this world (featured at Western's artLAB Gallery!)  Recorded on September 17, 2024. Produced by Maria Khan. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).  

In this installment of the three-part #TheScoopOnSOGS miniseries, host Liam Clifford is joined by Cherin Chung, a PhD Candidate in Western's Department of French who currently serves as the President of the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). Listen to this episode to learn about Cherin's research, background, and roles at SOGS, as well as what she enjoys about being a student leader. If you would like to learn more or get involved, check out sogs.ca and follow SOGS on Instagram @westernsogs! To get in touch with Cherin, you can contact her by email (president@sogs.ca) or follow her personal Instagram @cherinchung. Recorded on August 27, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Garth Casbourn and Riya Sidhu are joined by Kevin Young, a PhD Candidate in Western's Department of Biology. Kevin researches how the omega-3 fats in the diets of migratory shorebirds help them regulate their body temperature and save energy during their long journeys. Listen to learn about some of the amazing avian research happening at Western!   Recorded on September 10, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

In this installment of the three-part #TheScoopOnSOGS miniseries, host Liam Clifford is joined by Evan Sauve, a PhD Candidate in Western's Department of Economics who currently serves as the Vice-President Finance at the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). Listen to this episode to learn about Evan's research, background, and roles at SOGS, as well as what Evan enjoys about being a student leader. Follow Evan on Instagram, @EvanSauve_SOGS! Recorded on August 20, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Garth Casbourn are joined by Astronomy PhD student Sami Lambier. Sami researches ultracool dwarfs, some of the smallest stars in the Universe. Sami also discusses her work at the Cronyn Observatory. Listen to learn some ultra-cool facts about the night sky! Recorded on September 3, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

For our August book of the month, the #BookCast team tackled The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood, the discussion led by Meghan Voll and joined by Mark Ambrogio, Garth Casbourn and Maria Khan. The team looks at the writing style, character development, accuracy to real-life academia and problematic elements in the storyline. Will this experiment combust in our protagonist's face? Airing September 5 at 11 AM on Radio Western. Recorded on August 22, 2024 Produced by Maria Khan Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, join hosts Ryan Baxter, Mark Ambrogio, and Anthony Cruz as they discuss graduate student life at Western. Topics include Summer travel, musical performance, and the hosts' various research interests.    Recorded on August 27, 2024. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).