Best Alumni UBC Podcasts (2025)

1
The truth about DEI and what backlash against it really reveals 23:08

22d ago23:08

23:08

There’s been a lot of talk in the media about diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, but what does DEI actually mean? Why do so many people seem to misunderstand its intent? In recent years, many companies moved quickly to implement DEI programs that addressed inequities in recruitment and hiring practices, mentorship, and other opportunitie…

1
Scanning from afar: How a UBC innovation is improving ultrasound access 23:11

2M ago23:11

23:11

For people living in remote locations and requiring urgent ultrasounds, the best option at the moment is to travel to a major city for the diagnostic test. But a UBC researcher is looking to change that. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan speak to David Black (BASc’21), a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering at UBC about his groundbr…

1
Beyond “happy ever after”: The truth about love 28:42

3M ago28:42

28:42

What’s the relationship between love and happiness? The answer is not as simple as you might think. In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to UBC alum Carrie Jenkins, a writer and professor of philosophy at UBC, about her research to understand love in all its forms. They discuss the limitations of romantic love, the stigma of singlehood, the reali…

1
The adventurous life of a paragliding librarian 28:52

4M ago28:52

28:52

To kick off an exciting new year of From Here Forward, Carol and Jeevan get to know Bill Nikolai (BA’80, MEd’86, MLIS’08), a UBC alum who doesn’t back down from much… including the idea of gliding off mountain peaks. Hear about what drives his paragliding passion, and find out what it takes to conquer fears and embrace the opportunities that arise …

1
The Highlight Reel: Looking back at 2024 29:47

5M ago29:47

29:47

In this special year-in-review episode, Carol and Jeevan are joined by their producer Kylé to share some of their favourite From Here Forward moments from 2024. Find out which conversations inspired them, changed their perspectives, and even drove them to change their decision-making. Enjoy this fun throwback to the year that was. FEATURED EPISODES…

1
The stress-relieving benefits of breaking glass 22:54

5M ago22:54

22:54

Did you know that UBC has a glassblower on staff? In this episode, get to know Brian Ditchburn, the scientific glassblower for UBC’s Chemistry Department. Find out what his days in the glass shop look like and why he feels that his job is the best one on campus. Brian shares some of his philosophy about the impermanence of glass and how he sometime…

1
What’s at stake in the 2024 US elections? 27:08

6M ago27:08

27:08

The 2020 US presidential election and the unprecedented events that followed have set the stage for a tumultuous contest in 2024. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Paul J. Quirk, professor and Phil Lind Chair in US Politics and Representation in UBC's Department of Political Science, about the upcoming election and what its outcom…

1
How UBC is prioritizing the mental wellbeing of its varsity athletes 31:01

8M ago31:01

31:01

It’s the start of a new academic year and UBC’s student athletes are back in action. It’s an exciting time, but for some it can be challenging to balance the pressures of being both a student and a high-performance athlete. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Whitney Sedgwick, a licensed psychologist and mental performance/mental he…

1
Queer nightlife and the pursuit of joy 31:35

9M ago31:35

31:35

In this special Pride episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Amin Ghaziani, a professor of sociology and Canada Research Chair in Urban Sexualities at UBC, about his new book Long Live Queer Nightlife: How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution. They speak about the evolution of queer nightlife, the nuances of intersectional belonging, a…

1
Behind New York City’s vision for racial justice 36:21

10M ago36:21

36:21

In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to UBC alum and lawyer Melanie Ash (LLB’96) about her path into the legal profession and her work to support a framework of racial justice and equity for New York City’s government. They also discuss some of the differences in the legal and social justice landscape between Canada and the United States. Links M…

1
The Bard goes digital: Emerging technologies and Shakespeare’s First Folio 42:38

10M ago42:38

42:38

When UBC acquired a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio in 2021, it was only the first step in an initiative to digitize and improve access to this historic text. In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan speak to Dr. Patrick Parra Pennefather, Associate Professor at UBC Theatre and Film in the Faculty of Arts, about why this acquisition was so importa…

1
The hidden benefits of a daily dose of physical activity 29:00

11M ago29:00

29:00

In this episode, Carol and Jeevan speak with Jordyn Rice and Sarah Heath from UBC's Aging, Mobility, and Cognitive Health Lab about the impacts of exercise in preventing cognitive and mobility decline. They discuss common barriers to exercise, the value of health coaching, and emphasize the point that even a little bit of physical activity is bette…

1
How To Be Your Own Personal Assistant 12:59

1y ago12:59

12:59

In this episode, Student Alumni Council members Xya Parashar and Ruby Kramer chat with UBC Arts Undergraduate Society President Emma Martin-Rousselle. This episode aims to help UBC students understand "How To Be [Their] Own Personal Assistant" by interviewing a UBC Student Leader on how she manages all of her extracurricular activities with her bus…

1
Bringing a start-up mentality to environmental conservation 28:55

1y ago28:55

28:55

In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan speak to UBC alum Dax Dasilva (BA’23), CEO of the commerce company Lightspeed and the founder of the environmental alliance Age of Union. Dasilva shares his entrepreneurial origin story, discusses his early acts of environmental activism, and explains why he thinks it’s critical for the next generation to get…

1
What is UBC Senate? 26:26

1y ago26:26

26:26

In this episode, Student Alumni Council members Romina Hajizadeh and Tanisha Kadia chat with UBC Student Senators Laia Shpeller, and Emmanuel Cantiller. This episode will help UBC students understand what Senate is, and how it serves them! -- Music Credits: quartet Gordy Smurf • Tenor Sax: Gordy Li • Keys: Quincy Mayes • Bass: Piyotr Kao • Drums: S…

1
Finding hope in climate activism 33:21

1y ago33:21

33:21

When UBC economics student Abul Bashar Rahman was in ninth grade, he learned that one-third of his country, Bangladesh, would be underwater by 2050 as a result of climate change. This realization set him on a path towards climate action that took him as a UBC delegate to COP27 in Egypt in 2022 and inspired him to cycle across Bangladesh to see the …

1
Highlighting the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program 12:18

1y ago12:18

12:18

In this episode, Student Alumni Council member Xya Parashar chats with Scholar Lena Hart, and Program Manager Aida Mwanzia of the Beyond Tomorrow Scholars Program. The award is offered annually to Black Canadians and supports Scholars with funding up to $20,000/year entering an undergraduate degree. This Black History Month, learn about the program…

1
Reimagining the dating experience for Gen Z 29:06

1y ago29:06

29:06

Have you ever found love on a dating app? In this special Valentine’s Day episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan connect with UBC student and entrepreneur Connor Rose, who co-founded an app IRLY that offers a unique Gen Z spin on making a match. They discuss the app’s early days in the e@UBC program, share the Cameron Dallas connection, and attempt to unc…

1
Career 180: Breaking into the Tech Industry 36:34

1+ y ago36:34

36:34

In today's episode, Student Alumni Council alum Will Oxtoby speaks with UBC alum, Louie Dinh. This episode will give listeners an idea of what it is like to enter into the field of technology, simplify the process for some, and inspire others. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or requests for future podcast episodes, please email them to ubc.sac@…

1
From pharmacy to farming: One UBC alum’s adventures as an entrepreneur 21:20

1+ y ago21:20

21:20

Join hosts Carol and Jeevan in conversation with UBC pharmacy alum Avi Gill (BSc’12, BPSc’16), one of the owners behind Farming Karma, a “farm to can” soda-making company based in the Okanagan. Discover the brand's evolution from a family farm to a thriving enterprise that produces award-winning fruit sodas, and hear insights from Gill as he reflec…

1
Career 180: Breaking into the Photojournalism Industry 26:30

1+ y ago26:30

26:30

In today's episode, Student Alumni Council member Zoe Wagner speaks with UBC Alum, Stefan Labbé, about his journey entering the photojournalism industry, and his work within it. Stefan completed his Bachelor of Arts in Geography, and Master's degree in Journalism from UBC. Reach out to Stefan on X (Twitter) @StefanLabbe If you have any ideas, sugge…

1
Sipping, savouring, and safeguarding BC wine 20:11

1+ y ago20:11

20:11

Join Carol and Jeevan as they sip their way through today’s episode on BC wine. Hear how wine makers in the province are navigating the impacts of climate change, and the ways in which UBC research is helping to boost their resilience and adaptation during these challenging times. Plus, learn about the alumni UBC Wine Club and its December 2023 off…

1
Risky genes: Uncovering the genetic basis of breast and ovarian cancers 19:04

1+ y ago19:04

19:04

Join Carol and Jeevan as they explore advances in cancer detection and prevention with UBC alum Dr. Steven Narod (BSc’75, MD’79), a leading expert in breast and ovarian cancer genetics research. Dr. Narod was among a team of researchers in the 1990s who made the groundbreaking discovery of BRCA1 and BRCA2 — two genes which, in mutated form, are clo…

1
Wildfires, climate change, and the future of forest management 40:55

1+ y ago40:55

40:55

Join Carol, Rumneek, and new co-host Jeevan Sangha as they dive deep into the world of wildfires with award-winning UBC researcher, Dr. Lori Daniels (MSc’94). From the phenomenon of “zombie fires” to the fascinating paradox of using fire to suppress fire, Dr. Daniels explains what’s behind BC’s increasingly severe wildfires, how climate change is a…

1
Campuses of the future: An inside look at campus planning at UBC 31:06

1+ y ago31:06

31:06

Discover the fascinating changes coming to UBC's campuses — from a deepening commitment to Indigenization to groundbreaking sustainability initiatives — with Ben Johnson, Director of Campus Planning for UBC Okanagan, and Michael White, Associate Vice-President of Campus + Community Planning and the university’s chief planner. Whether you're a passi…

1
Storytelling that sticks: A conversation with a Vancouver journalism icon 33:05

1+ y ago33:05

33:05

Carol and Rumneek chat with UBC alum and the CBC’s Justin McElroy (BA’11) on his path to journalism, the changing nature of the industry, and his love of niche topics (and charts!) that have helped him connect with audiences in creative and captivating ways.By alumni UBC

1
Dr. Gail Murphy: On the frontlines of research and innovation at UBC 16:45

2y ago16:45

16:45

Carol and Rumneek speak with Dr. Gail Murphy, Vice-President of Research & Innovation, about UBC’s evolution into a world-class research powerhouse over the past quarter century. Dr. Murphy highlights several recent projects that reflect UBC’s innovative and collaborative approach to research, and shares her top tips for thriving in both leadership…

1
Career 180: Becoming a Lawyer with Sabrina Spencer (Allard Law Alum) 41:29

2y ago41:29

41:29

In today's episode, Student Alumni Council members Jiayi Li and Will Oxtoby speak with Peter A. Allard School of Law Alum, Sabrina Spencer, about her journey entering the field of law. Sabrina completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta in Economic and German Language and Literature. She went on to pursue a masters degree in Env…

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Alumni UBC Podcasts

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