Shows
GradCastChairs Chat 2This 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 Hu...2025-05-0129 minGradCast#BookCast 3 | Lucky Jim by Kingsley AmisFor our July book of the month, the #BookCast crew reads Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis. Tune in a discussion of the novel led by Garth Casbourn featuring hosts Scott Walters, Meghan Voll, Mark Ambrogio, and special guest Helen Button! We discuss the literary format of the novel, its relation to our experiences as academics, and the historical context behind this witty work of fiction! Airing August 29 at 11am on Radio Western.
Recorded on August 13, 2024
Produced by Scott Walters, Edited by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced b...2024-08-221h 01GradCast472 | The Light at the End of the TunnelJoin GradCast Hosts Meghan Voll and Mark Ambrogio as they chat with our favourite repeat guest, Alex Mayhew. This time, Alex discusses what it's like in the final few months of a PhD, from wrapping up to writing to deciding when to defend, there IS light at the end of the tunnel.
Recorded on August 13, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-08-2030 minGradCast#BookCast 2 | The Dreamers by Karen Thompson WalkerJoin us for our second edition of #BookCast where we discuss The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker. Your hosts for this episode are Mark Ambrogio, Amalie Hutchinson, Meghan Voll, Scott Walters and Garth Casbourn. Note for listeners, this episode contains many spoilers! Sweet dreams....
Recorded on July 16, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-07-231h 02GradCast#GradLifeXX | Summer AdventuresWhat do graduate students get up to during the summer? Tune in to hear what Amalie Hutchinson, Meghan Voll, and Mark Ambrogio have planned this summer.
Recorded on July 2, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot)
2024-07-0930 minGradCast465 | Categorizing the VibesThis week, GradCast hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Anthony Cruz chat with Maddie Bloomberg, a Master's student in the department of psychology. Maddie shares her research into category learning and individual differences that can arise between neurotypical and neurodivergent fish-categorizers.
To find out more about Maddie's work, check out her linkedin
Recorded on June 18, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).
2024-06-2529 minGradCast462 | A Study of Nostalgia as an Act of NostalgiaThis week, GradCast welcomes Ameena Abid back to the interview table to follow up on her independent study project within her Master's of Social Work. Join hosts Mark Ambrogio and Anthony Cruz in their discussion with Ameena into her own family history - an autoethnography - and explore topics of nostalgia, the connection between grandparents and grandchildren, and how a story that seems like an outlier case may well comprise a whole story on its own.
To get in contact with Ameena, check out her Linkedin
Recorded on May 28, 2024
Produced by...2024-06-0429 minGradCast461 | Pulling an Architect out of HistoryThis week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter interview Benjamin Vazquez, a student at Huron here at Western working on a master of arts in theology. They chat about the work of Gordon Lloyd, a local architect who lived and worked in the late 19th century. Benjamin follows Lloyd's career and spends, in his words, altogether too much time in old churches - but he loves it!
Recorded on May 21, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).
2024-05-2829 minGradCast460 | Desk Purple Yellow Blue: The Best (Worst) Way to End a StoryThis week, hosts Liam Clifford and Amalie Hutchinson are joined by Alexander Sallas, a PhD candidate in Western's Department of English and Writing Studies. In his dissertation, Alexander talks about the Deus Ex Machina, a special, unpredictable way to end a story. Some people believe that this is not a great way to end a story, but Alexander strongly disagrees. Unpredictable events happen all the time in real life, so why can't they happen in a story?
Recorded on May 14, 2024.
Produced by Anthony Cruz.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io...2024-05-2131 minGradCast#BookCast 1 | The Idiot by Elif BatumanFor our first #BookCast recording, hosts Scott Walters, Amalie Hutchinson, Mark Ambrogio, Garth Casbourn, and Meghan Voll discuss The Idiot by Elif Batuman. Join our book club for a discussion about writing style, dissociation with the world around you, and how we can all relate to being a bit of an idiot.
Note: no spoilers, so if you've read the book already or haven't yet, you'll be able to enjoy this podcast.
Recorded on April 9, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Ho...2024-04-2549 minGradCast457 | Power House of the SquirrelJoin hosts Carly Charron and Liam Clifford in their chat with biology MSc student Lauren Rego. Studying how mitochondria change during hibernation in thirteen-lined ground squirrels, Lauren shares her expertise in squirrel trapping and care, the physiology behind hibernation and what ground squirrels really do all winter.
To learn more about Lauren's work, check out her twitter @laurenrego3
Recorded on April 16, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Ground squirrel audio from youtube
Ground squirrel photo available here
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced b...2024-04-2328 minGradCast#PostDocsTalk 4 | High Ideals, Low Expectations with Dr. Ariel FrameFor this special #PostDocsTalk episode, former GradCast managing editor Dr. Ariel Frame joins hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Carly Charron to share his stories and advice on all things post-doc. We chat about finding a position, dealing with setbacks, how to defend work/life balance, and the trick of striving for your ideals while keeping expectations low (or at least manageable).
To find Ariel on social media--though don't expect any comments--look for @arielframe on everything.
Recorded on April 9, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced b...2024-04-1847 minGradCast456 | Shelf Care: A Tale of Book Preservation, Library Accessibility, and More!This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Liam Clifford interview MLIS student Aleesa Prendergast. Aleesa shares about some exciting projects she's done for her coursework, including investigating old tomes of fairytales and determining how libraries can be made more accessible for all.
Recorded on April 9, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-04-1627 minGradCast454 | Happy and Healthy in Mind, Body, and SoulThis week, Amalie Hutchinson and Anum Anjum are joined by a fellow GradCast host, Apurva Desai. A Master's student in Health Promotion here at Western, Apurva shares about the three components of health, how qualitative research methods fit his goals of connecting with people, and general wisdom to create healthy habits.
To find out more about Apurva's research journey, check out his LinkedIn profile linked here: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/apurva-desai-uwofans4285091
Recorded on March 26, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by...2024-04-0229 minGradCast451 | Hear ye, hear ye!This week, Scott Walters and Meghan Voll interview one of our own producers, Maria Khan. Maria shares about her master's program in clinical science and audiology. She tells GradCast what a degree in audiology looks like and what an audiologist actually does. Maria is involved with other research activities at Sick Kids, and discusses her research with infant screening tests for hearing, and more.
Check out Maria's other producing efforts, the Hear Here podcast at Sick Kids at this link.
Recorded on March 5, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song p...2024-03-1229 minGradCast448 | Bouncing Back with Mindfulness in MindThis week, GradCast hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Apurva Desai are joined by two guests: Varsha Vasudevan and Mani Ahluwalia, both studying topics in Health Promotion. We chat about holistic health, how graduate students experience resilience, and what mindfulness can do for many aspects of success in university.
Recorded on February 13, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-02-2030 minGradCast#GraduatedLife 5 | Can I print this? with MA in Library and Information Sciences Matt SkidmoreFor this special #GraduatedLife episode, Meghan Voll and Garth Casbourn are joined by MLIS alumnus Matt Skidmore. Matt tells how his grad degree at Western helped him get his current job as a librarian in Mississauga, and how the things he learned during the degree and on-the-job experience prepared him for what he does now.
Recorded on February 8, 2024
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-02-1530 minGradCast446 | Disjuncture & Disruption: Queer Experience, Identity, and the HolocaustIn our first episode of 2024, Amalie Hutchinson and Meghan Voll interview Jacob Evoy, a PhD student in the Women’s Studies program at Western University. Jacob tells us about their oral history research investigating the stories of queer children of Holocaust survivors. Jacob talks to us about what queer experience is, the effects of the Holocaust on these individuals, and how narrative is constructed.
Recorded on January 16, 2024
Produced by Maria Khan
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot
2024-01-2331 minGradCast445 | Pianos & Pedagogy: a journey into the Doctor of Musical Arts programOne of GradCast's own, host Ryan Baxter, is interviewed about his studies as a doctoral student in the Doctor of Musical Arts program at the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Ryan chats with us about his program, the balance between research and musical practice, and performing both on campus and in the community. We also discuss Ryan’s diverse passions, including education, distance learning, and truth and reconciliation with the Memegwaanh Indigenous Learning Honour program here at Western. Join hosts Mark Ambrogio and Amalie Hutchinson for this week’s special and insightful episode.
UWO Faculty of Music Even...2023-12-1929 minGradCastThe Scoop on SOGS 4 | CouncilIn our last episode from the special miniseries "The Scoop on SOGS", GradCast host Mark Ambrogio speaks with two other SOGS councilors, Kayla Davies and Evan Sauve. They chat about how council functions for SOGS, how they found their way to their roles and what they enjoy most about them.
To learn more about SOGS council, visit their webpage https://sogs.ca/council/
To follow Kayla's academic journey, you can find her on LinkedIn, and to follow some cool economic tweets, follow Evan on Twitter/X @econ_ev
Recorded on November 29, 20232023-12-0728 minGradCast443 | Website Wonders: User Experience at Western LibrariesThis week, Meghan Voll and brand-new host Garth Casbourn interview one of our very own producers, Suzy Lee. Suzy shares her experiences in the master of library and information science (MLIS) degree program. The conversation delves into Suzy's co-op placement with the user experience and assessment librarians at Western Libraries.
Recorded on November 28, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-12-0527 minGradCastChair Chats: Connectivity and Community at the CCUBC ConferenceIn this special mini field-trip episode, managing editor Amalie Hutchinson travels to the Canadian Council of University Biology Chairs (CCUBC) annual conference in Banff Alberta to receive their Science Promotion Award and give a talk about what GradCast does. She also interviews some of the chairs about what graduate students are doing in their own universities to create connectivity and community.
Recorded on November 3, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-11-1609 minGradCast440 | Sing me a Poem: Seventh Century SpartaThis is Sparta…and it’s not at all abs and Gerard Butler. In this episode, Meghan Voll and Mark Ambrogio interview Stephanie Dennie, PhD student and instructor at Western’s department of Classical Studies. Stephanie debunks common misunderstandings about Sparta, and discusses her research examining the lyrical poem Eunomia, and obstacles to finding resources depicting authentic accounts of the Greek city-state.
See Stephanie’s faculty page if you'd like to get into contact with her.
Recorded on November 7, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White...2023-11-1430 minGradCastThe Scoop on SOGS 3 | VP Student ServicesWe are back with our final episode of The Scoop on SOGS miniseries! Amalie Hutchinson chats with VP student services Kesavi Kanagasabai about her role on SOGS, how she balances a very busy schedule, her proudest moments as a student leader, how to deal with large problems, and more.
Recorded on October 30, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-11-0924 minGradCast436 | Past in the Present: Nazi Trials in Novels, Films, and PlaysThis week, Amalie Hutchinson and Mark Ambrogio sit down with PhD candidate Pascal Michelberger. Studying comparative literature, Pascal tells us about his research into recently published fictional accounts of Nazi trials in West Germany during the 50s and 60s. We chat about transitional justice, how complex legal themes are translated into fiction, and what they teach us about the past and present.
Recorded on October 10, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-10-1727 min
Sports Day Tampa BayLightning Season Is Here, Rays Front Office Searching For Answers & Luke Goedeke Says He's Faced Better Than HutchinsonRick Stroud and Steve Versnick on the Tampa Bay Lightning's season opener tonight at Amalie Arena and why many are writing this team off but there is a lot to like about the team. Plus the Rays front office has no answers as to why they can't score in the postseason and Luke Goedeke says he's faced better than Aiden Hutchinson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2023-10-1049 minGradCast#JarringQuestions3: Amalie, Anthony, and AnumWe're back for another episode of #JarringQuestions, where you get to know three of your GradCast hosts as we answer funny questions pulled out of a jar. This week, Amalie Hutchinson, Anthony Cruz, and Anum Anjum chat about the personalities of colours, fashion trends they're never letting go of, childhood fears and more.
Recorded on October 3, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-10-1029 minGradCastThe Scoop on SOGS | 2This is the second installment of our mini-series: the Scoop on SOGS! In this episode, hosts Brittany Melton and Ryan Baxter speak with Hannah Litchfield, the current SOGS Racial Equity & Inclusivity Commissioner. Hannah shares about her important work and some upcoming events to bring together the diverse cultures at Western.
Check out their Instagram page: @sogs.reic
Recorded on September 11, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson, edited by Jordan VanderBurgt
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-09-2129 minGradCast433 | Four Heads are Better than One: Exploring the Complexities of Maternal Nutrition in UgandaIn this unique episode, hosts Apurva Desai and Meghan Voll interview 4 MA Students from Western’s Master of Global Health Systems: Jiaxin (Cathy) Huang, Alyssa Ramsammy, Vishva Shah, and Rachel Baran. Having completed a research practicum in Mbarara, Uganda for 2.5 months investigating the relationship between maternal and nutritional health, our guests share some insights of their journey, and obstacles Uganda faces towards improving nutritional health for women.
Recorded on September 12, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-09-1929 minGradCastThe Scoop on SOGS | 1Welcome to our newest mini-series: the Scoop on SOGS! In this episode, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler chat with Heidi Kellett, Communications & Promotions Manager, and Nick DeSumma, Governance & Policy Manager. We chat about the resources SOGS has for graduate students, including the bus pass and health plan, how to get involved with your Western community and more.
Recorded on September 6, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-09-1428 minGradCast432 | Panic! from the Sand-SuckersThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Amalie Hutchinson interview History MA Mary Baxter. Mary tells your hosts about an unheard-of moment in Canadian Dredging History: the "sand-sucker panic". We learn about what dredging is, the ecological impacts, and the historical connotations behind it!
Find Mary on Twitter here: @MaryBword
Recorded on September 5, 2023
Produced by Suzy Lee
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-09-1230 minGradCast430 | Weird Flex but OK!This week, GradCast hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Apurva Desai are joined by Joel Seigel, a student in the master's of physical therapy program. Joel shares his experiences in the clinic and some advice for keeping your muscles healthy.
Recorded on August 29, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-09-0528 minGradCast428 | Carrots and Dangerous Sticks: Ancient History of the Qin StateThis week, hosts Charan Mandur and Anthony Cruz interview Jacob Vanderhoeven, a master's student in the history department. Jacob tells GradCast about the rise and fall of ancient Chinese dynasties. Tune in for Game-of-Thrones-esque takeovers, innovation, and leadership in war and peace.
Recorded on August 15, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-08-2228 minGradCast426 | Library LoversGradCast is joined by Arathy Sivasubramaniam, a master's student in the library and information sciences program. Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Amalie Hutchinson learn about all things library: community, programming, online resources and more.
Recorded on July 31, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-08-1029 minGradCast425 | A Course, of CourseThis week, GradCast's Anum Anjum comes on the show to tell hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler about her graduate program: a course-based MSc in interdisciplinary medical sciences. We chat about academic integrity, science communication, and how AI can be used as a tool in science.
Recorded on August 1, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-08-0828 minGradCast424 | Leaking Live, Way Back WhenThis week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Amalie Hutchinson are joined by Sierra LeBlanc, a master's student in the FIMS department. Sierra studies the Iraq war in the context of unsensored media sharing platforms, and tells us how live footage shapes the perception of war and how the Way Back Machine can help probe the internet through time.
Recorded on July 27, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-08-0328 minGradCast#JarringQuestions1: Scott, Amalie, and ElizabethToday, join hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler, along with your producer Scott Walters, as they begin a new mini-series that has them answering unexpected questions. Some may be slightly controversial, most only light-heated, but all will help you get to know your GradCast team better as they tackle questions pulled from the studio jar!
This week we talk food, life mottos, pet peeves, and a lot more during a jovial discussion that kept us laughing over the radio waves.
Recorded on July 11, 2023
Produced by Scott Walters
Theme song p...2023-07-1828 minGradCast423 | To Vee or Not to Vee: Phonology and PhoneticsThis week, GradCast hosts Mark Ambrogio and Anum Anjum are joined by an MA student in linguistics: Jillian Warman. Jill studies the letter "v" in Russian and uses sound to tell us all about sound: vibrations in the mouth, frictious letters, accents, learning a new language, and more.
To learn more about Jill's research, you can find her linkedin page, or send her an email at jwarman2@uwo.ca
Recorded on July 4, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-07-1127 minGradCast421 | A Soft-Rock Hard-Core EncoreThis week, former GradCast host Rhys Paterson returns with an update on her Master's research. Hosts Charan Mandur and Scott Walters learn about all things rocks: coring, libraries of stone, and rockin' drawings cumulating in a 3-gig thesis.
Recorded on June 20, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-06-2729 minGradCast420 | Super Suberin and Franken-PotatoesThis week, hosts Scott Walters and Ariel Frame are joined by PhD candidate in the department of Biology, Jessica Sinka. Jessica studies plant biochemistry with a focus on the role of a super molecule called "suberin" in potatoes during wound healing. We learn how potato scabs form, some interesting lab techniques, Jessica's favourite potato recipe, and some great advise for grads.
Recorded on June 13, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-06-2027 minGradCast419 | We’ve Got Your Back (Pain)Sore back? This episode is for you! This week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Charan Mandur interview Taylor Shelton, an MSc student from the department of physiology and pharmacology. Taylor studies the protein TRPV4, an important cell receptor that when knocked-out, has different and interesting effects on the interverbal disc.
Recorded on June 6, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-06-1329 minGradCastSpecial Episode: 5 Second Interviews at Science RendezvousIn this special episode, GradCast heads out into the field - literally! Hosts Amalie Hutchinson, Scott Walters, Jordan Vanderburgt, Carly Charron, Brittany Melton, and Mark Ambrogio do 5-second interviews with kids attending Science Rendezvous. They share what they want to be when they grow up, what the like most about science, and their favourite class at school.
Recorded on May 13, 2023
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
2023-05-2625 minGradCast415 | Next Stop: Station Science FictionThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Amalie Hutchinson interview Library and Information Sciences Ph.D. Candidate Mark Ambrogio. Analyzing Station Eleven, Mark discusses his research in readership typologies, who defines genre, and how science fiction can be thought of as an event, rather than static writing tradition. Listen to the end for some bonus SF book recommendations from Mark.
To find out more about Mark’s research visit his student profile at this link
Recorded on May 2, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by...2023-05-0929 minGradCast414 | Ultrasound Unveiled: Tracing Blood Velocity in Imaging TechniquesThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Amalie Hutchinson interview bio-medical engineering PhD candidate Kian Esmailian. Kian talks about his research on spread-spectrum ultrasound techniques, the Doppler effect, and how researching blood velocity can be applied to new medical detection methods.
To find out more about Kian’s research visit his LinkedIn at kian-esmailian.
Recorded on April 25, 2023
Produced by Jordan VanderBurgt
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-05-0227 minGradCast#GradLife XVIII | Campus Escapes: Discovering Hidden Gems for De-StressingIn this edition of #GradLife, your hosts Amalie Hutchinson, Charan Mandur, and Scott Walters discuss how they de-stress from graduate studies both on and off campus. Get ready to hear about Western campus exhibits, markets, and natural spaces, as well as lively talks on their favorite games and shows.
Recorded on April 18, 2023
Produced by Scott Walters
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-04-2530 minGradCast412 | Light, Strong, and Impactful: Simulating Polymer CompositesThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Scott Walters interview returning guest, Navid Afrasiabian. Now a Ph.D candidate in Physics and Astronomy, Navid talks about his new project investigating fibre-reinforced polymer composites, how we can improve their properties, and his project’s applications in the automotive and aerospace industries.
To find out more about Navid’s research, visit his Twitter at: @nafrasia
Recorded on March 28, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-04-0427 minGradCast#PostDocsTalk 3 | Interested & Interesting with Dr. Yimin ChenFor our third #PostDocsTalk episode, hosts Brittany Melton and Meghan Voll interview Dr. Yimin Chen, a postdoctoral fellow at Royal Roads University in BC, formerly a PhD from Western’s FIMS department. In this episode, Yimin talks about how to build your postdoc community by being social, gives us some tips and tricks for how to build your academic community, and use that as leverage to find your eventual postdoctoral fellowship.
To find out more about Yimin’s postdoctoral research, visit: @Shinypants0 on Twitter.
Recorded on March 21, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freeb...2023-03-3031 minGradCast#GradLife XVI: Saying Yes and No, Getting Involved During Your Grad DegreeIn this special #GradLife episode hosts Amalie Hutchinson, Brittany Melton, Facundo Lodol, and producer Jordan VanderBurgt talk about getting involved in extracurriculars and how that impacts our grad experience. We chat about colour-coded calendars, if Jordan ever gets any nights off, and why saying "no" to some activities is just as important as saying "yes".
Recorded on March 21, 2023.
Produced by Jordan VanderBurgt.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-03-2829 minGradCast410 | Welcome to Canada: Reviewing Experiences for Better Newcomer IntegrationThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Amalie Hutchinson interview Farheen Meraj, an MA in Western’s Research for Policy and Evaluation program. Learn about Farheen’s newcomer integration research, where she pursues integration issues, attempts to close gaps, and provide a softer landing for new immigrants entering Canada.
To learn more about Farheen's work, visit this link:
Research Gate
LinkedIn
Recorded on March 10, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-03-1630 minGradCast#PostDocsTalk 1 | Navigating an Ideal Postdoc Situation with Dr. Roberto BudzinskiOn this new special series called #PostDocsTalk, your hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Meghan Voll interview Dr. Roberto Budzinski, a post-doctoral fellow from the department of mathematics. Roberto shares what it was like finding a position, what he was looking for when choosing a supervisor, and shares tips and advice for creating a winning CV.
To find out more about Roberto's research, check out these links
ResearchGate
Google Scholar
Lab Website
Recording on March 7, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-03-1432 minGradCast409 | Photo-Bombing GalaxiesTwinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder how old you are.... This week, hosts Carly Charron and Ariel Frame chat with almost-Dr. Hadi Papei, a PhD candidate from the department of astronomy. Hadi tells us about the code he wrote for determining the age of the stars in a galaxy, how he persevered through setbacks and was able to change track during his degree.
Recorded on February 21, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-02-2830 minGradCast408 | Diplomacy, Duolingo, and Deals: Canada’s Relationship with Chile and ArgentinaThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Charan Mandur interview History PhD Candidate Thomas Stroyan. We chat about Thomas's work looking at the relationship between Chile and Argentina during the time of Pierre Trudeau's administration. Listen in to hear about what archives actually look like, how we almost sold a second nuclear reactor to a country with a dictatorship government, and more.
Recorded on February 7, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-02-1428 minGradCast407 | I Work, Therefore I AmThis week, hosts Meghan Voll and Carly Charron interview PhD student in Theory and Criticism, Shubhayan Chakrabarti. In this episode, we talk to Shubhayan about his research on anti-work politics and the relationship between work and guilt, as well as how philosophical ideas of Descartes can be applied to examine this relationship on multiple societal levels.
To find out more about Shubhayan's work, you can email him at schakr52@uwo.ca
Recorded on January 24th, 2023
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2023-01-3128 minGradCast405 | Which Witch is Which? The Power of Representation in the Salem Witch TrialsThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Meghan Voll interview PhD candidate Caroline Diezyn about their dissertational research on three plays depicting the Salem Witch Trials. In this episode, Caroline talks about the myths and facts about the Salem Witch Trials, and the ways real historical character Giles Corey is represented. Caroline also talks about why these representations matter today, and what they say about how we remember the history and events of Salem.
For more information on Caroline and their work, go check out their Twitter (@phdwitch), Instagram (@moonofretribvtion), or website (https://carolinediezyn.com/).
2023-01-2429 minGradCast403 | Turning Up the Heat in the Boreal ForestThis week your hosts Ariel Frame and Scott Walters speak with master's student Julia Hammer about how climate change may impact basic life function of trees. Julia discusses her research on how rising temperature and carbon dioxide levels affect boreal trees' capacity to photosynthesize and what this might mean for these species with projected climate trends. We learn about rooftop greenhouses, forest laboratories with scaffolded trees, what photosynthesis really is, and a whole lot more.
To learn more about Julia's research, follow her on Twitter @julfacts
Recorded on November 29, 2022.
P...2022-12-0628 minGradCast398 | Till the Venture do us PartThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Brittany Melton sit down with PhD candidate Audra Quinn. Audra is studying entrepreneurship at Ivey Business School. We talk about one branch of her work: the interactions between co-founders. So, before you choose your business parter, give this episode a listen!
To find out more about Audra and her work, go check out her Twitter (@AudraQuinn) and website (https://audraquinn.com).
Recorded on November 1, 2022.
Produced by Jordan VanderBurgt.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-11-0829 minGradCast397 | Slurping Shorebirds and Diving DippersThis week, our newest member of the Editorial Board, Scott Walters, joins host Ana Moyer and Charan Mandur to talk about his PhD research in the biology department. Scott talks about his work looking at how nutrition on mudflats and rivers affects the water-associated birds living there and their migrations. We learn about mist nets, biofilm, and more.
To get into contact with Scott for more questions, email him at swalte42@uwo.ca
Recorded on October 25, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by W...2022-11-0129 minGradCast395 | Behind the Scenes of Swiping RightThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Ariel Frame speak with FIMS PhD candidate Meghan Voll about her research on the economics of dating apps. Meghan is interested in how these companies use value conflation to influence their business platforms and is aiming to map out the data flows of how these companies use, exchange, and monetize user data.
To find out more about Meghan's research, go check out her Twitter at @meghan_voll9
Recorded on October 11, 2022.
Produced by Jordan VanderBurgt.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by W...2022-10-1828 minGradCast394 | Bubbles: The Only Thing Between Me and a DissertationThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Charan Mandur interview our very own SOGS VP Academic, Kevin Moore. In addition to his role on the Society of Graduate Students advocating for and making grad student's voices heard, Kevin is a PhD Candidate in the department of Medical Biophysics where he studies blood flow. We chat about what his lab days look like, learn a bit more about how blood flows through our veins, hear about the best part about Kevin's grad experience: friendships made along the way. How very heart (..and the blood flowing through it..) warming.
2022-10-1130 minGradCast390 | Something’s Fishy in Lake OntarioPeter Baker speaks with Ariel Frame and Charan Mandur about his ongoing Biology MSc research on lake trout from Lake Ontario. Peter explains how he studies lake trout to determine how a thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency, caused by the consumption of invasive prey fishes, impacts fish health and behavior. Moreover, Peter discusses aspects of fishing which influence ecosystem conservation.
Recorded on September 13, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-09-2027 minGradCast388 | Don’t Make Life Decisions at 2amIn this episode, Gradcast's new managing editor, Amalie Hutchinson, talks with hosts Laura and Brittany about her PhD studies in hummingbird physiology. Specifically, daily torpor and mitochondria. Tune in to learn about how birds cope with cold winter temperatures and get a glimpse of the day of a Biology grad student.
Recorded on August 30, 2022.
Produced by Laura Muñoz Baena.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-09-0629 minGradCast#GraduatedLife 4 | Career Equilibrium with Chemistry PhD Christina BookerOn this episode of #GraduatedLife, hosts Charan Mandur and Amalie Hutchinson chat with Dr Christina Booker. Christina graduated with her PhD in Chemistry in 2012, and now works as a faculty member at Western, developing new teaching strategies. She shares with us ways to balance work and family life, advice for making career connections, and more.
Recorded on August 22, 2022
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-09-0126 minGradCast387 | We’ve Got Legs: A Joint EffortThis week, hosts Ana Moyer and Amalie Hutchinson interview Reese Gartly. Reese is completing her M.Sc. in the biology department. We discuss her work making computer models for spider body-size, and learning more about how spiders perceive the world around them using eight of their body parts... not the eyes, the legs! Listen in for some cool facts about spiders, how your stiff knee probably won't help you predict the weather, and how to catch a spider, if that's what you're after.
To learn more about Reese's research, you can follow her on Twitter @rgartly
2022-08-3029 minGradCast#GraduatedLife 3 | The Student Becomes the Teacher with Biology MSc Patrick LangilleOn this episode of our #GraduatedLife series, hosts Jordan VanderBurgt and Carly Charron chat with Patrick Langille. Patrick finished his MSc in biology in 2016. After deciding that research wasn't for him, he took off to New Zealand, completed teacher's college, and became a science teacher. Patrick shares how his career took shape, gave advice for current grads who might not be loving what they're doing now, and how he was able to persevere and find the job he was meant for.
Recorded on August 17, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by h...2022-08-2528 minGradCast#GraduatedLife 2 | From the Ground(water) Up, with Geography MA Tara SaabTo continue our #GraduatedLife series, hosts Jordan VanderBurgt and Claire Bottini interview Tara Saab. Tara graduated with her MA in geography in 1999. We learn that even a grad degree in geography won't necessarily keep you on the map you started on! Tara now works as a project manager at a hospital in Ontario, and she shares how skills she learned at UWO helped her navigate a somewhat off-road career trajectory.
If you have more questions for Tara, you can send her an email at tsaab@gbhs.on.ca
Recorded on August 8, 2022
Produced by A...2022-08-1825 minGradCast#GraduatedLife 1 | ..And the Rest was History! with Geoffrey HayesFor the first episode of #GraduatedLife, Charan Mandur and Ariel Frame interview Dr. Geoffrey Hayes. Dr. Hayes completed his PhD in history at UWO in 1992. He shares with GradCast how he found his way to Western, what brought him to his current faculty position at the University of Waterloo, and life and grad school advice from someone who's been there.
Recorded on August 4, 2022
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-08-1129 minGradCast385 | Ready to Reproduce? Song Sparrows vs. MethylmercuryThis week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Carly Charron interview fellow Gradcast member Claire Bottini, who is a PhD candidate in Biology. In this episode, Claire shares some fun facts about birds, and discusses a recent project she completed assessing whether exposure to methylmercury, an environmental contaminant, impacts song sparrow reproduction.
Recorded on August 4, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-08-0631 minGradCast383 | I’m not a pessimist.. I’m philosophical!This week, hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Yousuf Hasan interview Ignacio Moya about his PhD work in philosophical pessimism. Our conversation touches on the views of Schopenhauer, anti-natalism, ancient Greek stories, and more. Life may be meaningless and full of suffering.. but "you're here, I'm here, let's make the best of it".. and listen to a podcast.
To find out more about Ignacio's work or to contact him, check out his twitter @ignaciomoyaa
Recorded on July 19, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Ho...2022-07-2630 minGradCast382 | First-generation Feminist KilljoyThis week, join Amalie and Elizabeth as they talk with Alessia Servin (she/they) a master's student in the department of gender, sexuality, and women's studies. Alessia discusses her current research which looks at the experiences of first-generation students at post-secondary institutions and how they are constantly being left culturally homeless within these walls. She also shares her own personal experiences navigating the institution first-generation student herself.
To know more about Alessia, find them on Instagram at @alessiaservinn. If you have any questions about her research, please feel free to email alessiaservin@hotmail.com
2022-07-1928 minGradCast379 | These Plants Seem a Little Parched: The Genetics of Drought StressOn this episode of the GradCast hosts Claire Bottini and Charan Mandur sit down with PhD candidate Sufyan Tahir to discuss the world of plant biology. Sufyan shares his research to improve drought tolerance in crops through plant genetics.
Recorded on June 21, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-06-2829 minGradCast376 | T-test: Sex Hormones and Sparrow MigrationGarth Casbourn speaks with Ariel Frame and Claire Bottini about his research on song sparrows he is doing for his PhD in Biology. Garth explains how his experiments will tell us how testosterone functions in male birds and what relevance this hormone might have for bird migration.
Recorded on May 31st 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-06-0730 minGradCast375 | A Single-sensory Podcast on Multi-sensory IntegrationThis week, Carolynn Hare joins hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Ana Moyer. Carolynn is a PhD student in the department of psychology studying ADHD and multisensory integration. A person with ADHD herself, Carolynn has a unique perspective, and plans to use her position to study how kids with ADHD use sensory input to process their world, how that may differ from neurotypical kids. If you find yourself wishing podcasts had subtitles, this one is for you!
To watch a cool video about ADHD and grad school made by Carolynn, follow this link
Recorded on M...2022-05-3029 minGradCast373 | History Shocks: Shell Shock and EugenicsJoin hosts Elizabeth Mohler and Amalie Hutchinson in their chat with Brigette Farrell, PhD student in history. Brigette shares about her interesting research into the history of science, medicine, and culture. We discuss shell shock in World War I soldiers, the impacts of eugenics on Canadian and French history, and how politics snuggles closer to science than we sometimes like to admit.
Recorded on May 3 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-05-1024 minGradCast370 | Stimulating Simulations: Where Math and Biology MeetJoin hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Michelle Krasovitski as they sit down with Tedi Ramaj, PhD student in applied mathematics. How can math help with understanding invasive species proliferation, cancer cell growth, or COVID trajectories? Tedi shares with GradCast all that and more, introducing us to the power of simulations, some helpful advice for grad school and life, and his love of the simple beauty of math.
To get in contact with Tedi, you can email him at tramaj@uwo.ca
Recorded on April 12th, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
2022-04-1828 minGradCast365 | Reddit and Weep: Gender and Dating in Online CommunitiesThis week, we interview one of our own, Brittany Melton, PhD student in media studies! Brittany tells hosts Ana Moyer and Amalie Hutchinson about her research into some interesting communities on Reddit, and shares how dating and gender are represented, posted, and discussed online.
To hear more from Brittany, check her out on Twitter @realbritmelton or Instagram @britfitmeltfelt
Recorded on March 8th, 2022.
Produced by Amalie Hutchinson.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2022-03-1529 minGradCast361 | Strike a Chord: Composing a PhDDo you believe electric guitar has no place in classical music? Think again! Hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Michelle Krasovitski are joined by PhD candidate Andrew Noseworthy, who introduces them to the field of music composition. Andrew challenges the notion that Mozart and Jimmy Page exist in two separate worlds, explaining how classical instruments find harmony with their electric counterparts.
To hear more from Andrew, follow him on Twitter or Instagram @anmusiccomposer and listen to his music on Band Camp, SoundCloud and his website https://www.anmusiccomposer.com/
Recorded on Feb 10, 2022
Produced b...2022-02-1530 minGradCast359 | For the (Musical) RecordJoin hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Elizabeth Mohler as they sit down with musicology PhD candidate Lydia Wilton. Sharpen your ears and get ready to hear about Lydia's research in record production. We learn how horror movies manage to make you feel so unsettled, and what really goes into making a record—from the technical to the poetic. So, listen up, it's time to press "play" on this fascinating episode.
To hear more from Lydia, follow her on Instagram @LydiaTheClaire or Twitter @LydiaTheClaire and check out some of her work with bands Nameless Friends and Older Siblings
2022-02-0129 minGradCast357 | A Bird Watcher’s ParadiseThis week, Amalie Hutchinson and Brittany Melton are joined by guest Soren Coulson, a PhD candidate in Biology. Together, they discuss Soren's research on the mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in migratory birds and its role in energy metabolism in muscle. Soren shares with the Gradcast a day in the lab and his best advice for those interested in a PhD in Biology.
Recorded on December 14th, 2021.
Produced by Hira Nadeem.
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot.
2021-12-2528 minGradCast352 | Space Rocks! From Craters to CareersJoin hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Laura Munoz-Baena as they sit down with recent PhD grad Gavin Tolometti to learn about how space rocks, rock! Gavin shares how he uses remote sensing techniques and field research here on Earth to figure out how impact craters and lava flows affected the landscape of the moon. In addition to rocks beyond our planet, our conversation flowed into some impactful advice about life beyond the degree.
To hear more about Gavin, you can find him on twitter as @GavinOnTheMoon, visit his website, or listen to his podcast The Diaries of Space E...2021-11-2430 minGradCast348 | There and Back AgainJoin hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Yimin Chen as they chat with PhD grad and MLIS candidate, Brooke Brassard. Our conversation follows Brooke's slightly unorthodox (pun intended) journey from a PhD in religious studies to life after graduation, to her return to grad school. She shares about her experience and life advice about doing field work, navigating the post-grad experience, and what life is like beyond the degree.
To find out more from Brooke, follow her on Twitter @BrookeBrassard or listen to her on the So What? podcast
Recorded on Oct 12, 2021
Produced...2021-10-1928 minGradCast345 | Clickbait for Mice and How to Change the Structure of your BrainEver see a link on your phone that you just HAVE to click? As it turns out, so do mice! Join hosts Amalie Hutchinson and Laura Muñoz Baena as they chat with aspiring neuroscientist Esmin Unaran and learn about how learning itself can change the structure of your brain. Esmin explains how she uses myelin concentration of mouse brains to study how much they learn using touch-screen operant chambers. Might want to grab yourself a strawberry milkshake before you click "play" on this episode!
To learn more about Erin's research, find her on her Twitter as @e...2021-09-2829 minGradCast336 | A Functional Discussion on Dysfunctional Exercise
Ever heard the advice "eat less, move more"? In this episode, hosts Liam Clifford and Amalie Hutchinson sit down with Psychology MSc student Danika Quesnel to hear about her research into dysfunctional exercise, and learn that for some people with eating disorders, "moving more" becomes dangerous. Treatments for dysfunctional exercise are still in their infancy, despite its prevalence and importance, and Danika is at the forefront of the field. Listen in as Danika shares her extensive knowledge of dysfunctional exercise; how it presents, how it is treated, and where to find help if you or a friend is experiencing an e...2021-07-2328 minGradCast324 | Sleepy Squirrels and the Metabolics of HibernationWe often think of hibernation as simply going to sleep in the wintertime, but hibernating animals aren't actually sleeping at all! It's really a special type of dormancy or torpor. This week, hosts Yimin Chen and Laura Baena speak to Masters of Biology student Amalie Hutchinson about what the cute little thirteen-lined ground squirrel of Manitoba can teach us about the cellular processes that occur while these animals are snoozing under the snow.
Recorded on April 27, 2021
Produced by Laura Munoz Baena
Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White...2021-05-0529 min