GradCast

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview GradCast's own Garth Casbourn, a PhD candidate in Biology.  In his research, Garth studies how an animal's internal physiology shapes its behaviour, looking at the influence of testosterone on the song sparrow, a migratory bird.     The changes in behaviour that Garth studies are chiefly migration-related, looking at both adult males and juvenile sparrows.  Garth is studying two related hypotheses:  First, the gonadal hypothesis is the idea that sex hormones, including testosterone, are actually what causes migratory behaviour to develop.  Secondly, it is hypothesized that migration in sexually mature birds may have evolved from the dispersal behaviour of juveniles.   During his PhD, Garth has been an active member of GradCast, serving as both a host and as a producer.     Garth's research has been conducted through Western's Advanced Facility for Avian Research and the Centre for Animals on the Move.     Recorded on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 Produced by Anika Bushra Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week on GradCast, hosts Anthony Cruz and Milan Mammen are joined by Jordan Sellers, a PhD student in Library & Information Science (LIS). Jordan researches sustainable digitization practices in community archives, challenging the traditional narrative that full digitization is the only way to accessibly and sustainably archive materials. Her long-term goal is to create an online toolkit to help community archivists figure out the best way to steward their knowledge. Tune in for a fun conversation about the way we store information! Recorded on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, host Mark Ambrogio interviews GradCast alumna Amalie Hutchinson, a PhD candidate in Biology. Amalie was a GradCast host and producer, ultimately serving two terms as Chair and Managing Editor. She returns to GradCast as she prepares to enter the fourth year  of her program (after a maternal leave – congratulations, by the way!). In her research, Amalie studies how hummingbirds use torpor, a state of inactivity characterized by a lowered body temperature and decreased metabolic rate, to preserve energy at night. While this phenomenon is not entirely unique to hummingbirds, the extreme temperature they lower their body to is. Amalie is currently looking at the energy demands of migration, using the wind tunnel at Western's Advanced Facility for Avian Research to study how hummingbirds consume energy over long-distance flights. In their conversation, Amalie and Mark also discuss their shared history with GradCast as well as ways of staying grounded as graduate students. Anyone interested in Amalie's research may contact her at: [email protected]     Recorded on Tuesday, July 28, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)  

This week, PhD candidate Mila Strelnikova gives a crash course into adapting the scientific spirit, and exploring problems in electrochemistry with a basic science focus (and pioneering steps towards making novel, state-of-the-art microscopy approaches usable across Ontario’s nuclear ecosystem!).  What is pitting corrosion? Why is it something that’s harder to catch when we’re inspecting metal equipment breaking down, and why is this important? How are these problems being tackled and broken down in the lab? Join Chrishma Perera and Victor Lau as they hear more on Mila’s journey in learning about and building at the edge of this field. Come to hear about the electrochemistry and how she’s been supported by a great group of lab mates, and stay a bit longer to hear about her involvements as a grad student outside her research. People can reach out to Mila via LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/liudmila-strelnikova/ ; And find more about the Gateman lab at https://sites.google.com/view/gatemanresearchgroup/home . Recorded on Tuesday, July 21st, 2026 Produced by Anika Bushra Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview John (Jack) Kausch, who recently completed his PhD in Library and Information Science, formally graduating in June. In his research, Jack looks at past attempts to establish a universal language, as a way of communicating knowledge and ideas across linguistic and cultural divides. Attempts to establish a universal language can be said to go back to ancient Egypt and continued with Francis Bacon and the quest for a "perfect language." Using Real Language Character ontology, Jack built, in his dissertation, a knowledge organization system which is a work of art intended to provoke questions concerning our assumptions about the cross-linguistic universality of knowledge, and also demonstrate expanded potentials for information retrieval in the era of machine learning. You can find the web-art implementation of Jack's work  here: https://realcharacterlanguage.world *The episode title is a reference to John Wilkins' famous 1668 essay "An Essay Towards a Real Character and Philosophical Language."   Recorded on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 Produced by Bruno Mesquita Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview GradCast's own Scott Walters, a long-time host and producer. Shortly after his successful PhD defence on June 11, Scott's thesis was​ published on the Western website. Scott's research explored how the feeding patterns of water-associated birds are reflected in the levels of omega-3 fatty acids in their bodies. Surprised by the results, Scott talks the hosts through some of the prevailing hypotheses that contextualized his research and talks through an explanation for his findings. In their conversation, Ryan and Mark also listen as Scott recounts his journey from the West Coast to Western. With Scott's time at GradCast winding down, they reminisce about collaboration with Radio Western, playing analogue music (vinyl and CDs) live on air, and the importance of family and friends to a well-rounded graduate experience. Scott's PhD thesis: https://uwo.scholaris.ca/items/59896d8f-a9c8-457f-b087-81ecdfc25065 Recorded on Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Produced by Kuljeet Chohan Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week’s episode, Anthony Cruz and Maris Schneider are joined by our newly reappointed international commissioner, Lucas Ferreira Marques dos Santos. Lucas is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry, but today he is telling us all about his experience moving to Canada, conducting research as an international student, and sharing the exciting new opportunities he pours his heart and soul into to help make Western a welcoming community for all. Tune in and get ready to think about how your soul is doing! Check our Lucas' work here: https://www.instagram.com/sogs.international/ https://www.instagram.com/westernuinternational/ https://www.instagram.com/lucas_forgeron/   Recorded on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 Produced by Anika Bushra Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)  

In this week's episode, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter interview Kelly Wang, a first-year PhD Student in Education. Kelly is exploring how digital media tools can enhance English language learning to support learners who are older adults and seniors. With her research, Kelly aims to contribute to a field that heavily emphasizes supporting children and youth, and less on older adults and seniors in their English language learning journey. The goal of her research is to support older newcomers in English-speaking regions to learn the language more efficiently and with greater confidence. Tune in to hear Mark, Ryan, and Kelly’s conversation about her family’s immigration story, how it influenced her research, and how she’s preparing for her upcoming comprehensive exam. Recorded on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)  

In this week's episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Mark Ambrogio interview Pilar Rodriguez Mata, a PhD Student in Digital Humanities and Hispanic Studies. Pilar is studying Spanish-language tweets written from 2009 to 2022. Rooted in the humanities, Pilar studies the digital form, utilizing coding – to study the more than 3.5 million tweets she collected, with a focus on learning what enormous amounts of data can tell us about feminism in the Spanish-speaking world. Chrishma and Mark talk with Pilar about what brought her to Western, her journey learning computational tools for her research, and how therapeutic music and reading can be for graduate students. UWO Cultureplex Lab:  https://cultureplex.ca Pilar's linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pilarrodriguezmata?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_android Recorded on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Produced by Kuljeet Chohan Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

Doing science is never about a single approach. Join hosts Bruno Mesquita and Rafaela Platkin as they chat with guest Camdyn Holmes, a MSc student in Biochemistry whose research compares two different approaches in examining what makes us human. Most people know that our DNA is an important part of who we are, but not all genes are active everywhere in our body. How do scientists study and measure the different ways our genes express throughout our cells?   Recorded on Friday, June 9, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen and Zoe Kallenekos Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

Hosts Garth Casbourn and Milan Mammen are joined this week by psychology student and member of the Psychobiology of Eating and Related Disorders (PEAR) Lab, Taylor Nicole Breddy.   Taylor is in the first year of her Master of Clinical Psychology, though she already has multiple years under her belt as a member of Western’s research community. We learn first about her current focus on individual approaches to exercise and how these might relate to mental health issues. The conversation then expands to Taylor’s other, wide-ranging research interests, and the links between psychology and other fields like neuroscience and forensics.   To learn more about the PEAR Lab and their research, visit: pearlabuwo.wixsite.com/mysite Instagram handles: @uwopearlab @taylorenicolee Recorded on Friday, June 5, 2026 Produced by Victor Lau Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Jasmine Proctor, a PhD candidate in Media Studies, in Western's Faculty of Information and Media Studies (FIMS).  Jasmine ("Jazz") is interested in how queer K-pop fan communities negotiate gender and sexuality through transcultural networked fan labour across digital platforms.  Ryan and Mark ask Jazz about the emergence of K-pop and the interesting phenomenon of K-pop's mass appeal to a North American audience.  More broadly, they discuss fandom, popular music, and popular culture.   Jasmine also discusses the PhD program in Media Studies and helpful ways of de-stressing, including running, listening to music (of course), and reading. For further information on Jasmine's research:  Jasmine Proctor Profile  Jasmine's doctoral supervisor is Dr. Norma Coates, cross-listed between FIMS and Western's Faculty of Music. Recorded on Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio, with help from Ryan Baxter Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

GradCast heads to the Western Research Forum! Get a glimpse into Western's largest multidisciplinary graduate research conference as hosts Chrishma Perera, Victor Lau, Maris Schneider, Milan Mammen, and Anthony Cruz conduct short interviews with the graduate student presenters. This year's conference featured over 100 different presentations from across Western's 11 faculties. See below for timestamps. Funding for the 40th Annual Western Research Forum was provided by Western's Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (SGPS). The venue and technical support were graciously provided by Western Libraries. Recorded on March 6, 2026. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot). Timestamps: 01:00 - Joey Butler 02:26 - Reshika Rohan 04:20 - Seth MacKenzie 05:50 - Kelly Wang 09:36 - Alessandra Walsh 11:26 - Abdul Moiz Noqui 12:28 - Alejandra Varela 13:24 - Aditi Satsangi 14:42 - Robyn Lewis 16:08 - Rameeza Rashed 17:06 - Emma Tassinari 18:40 - Mark Kwok 19:59 - Sara Varón Echeverri 21:11 - Sohini Chatterjee 24:01 - Haiyi Yan

This week, hosts Anthony Cruz and Mark Ambrogio are joined by Marc Lalonde, the longtime manager of The Grad Club and recent recipient of the Western Award of Excellence. For over 20 years, Marc has played a central role in shaping The Grad Club as a community space for graduate students, faculty, and staff. In this episode, Marc discusses his journey from Canadore College to Lake Louise, the West Coast, and finally to London. Listen to learn about Marc’s career, how The Grad Club has evolved over the past two decades, and maybe even a few teasers about what’s coming to The Grad Club this summer.  Follow The Grad Club on Instagram: @uwogradclub The Grad Club The Grad Club Western News Keri Ferguson Western Award of Excellence recipients support campus community –... Seven individuals and one interdisciplinary team are recipients of the 2025 Western Award of Excellence, a top honour for Western University employees.     Recorded on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 Produced by Anika Bushra Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week, PhD candidate (Nursing) Azmat Jehan shines a light on older adults and their experiences in long-term care. How are they supported by family, or by other care partners? How do cultural practices intersect with the healthcare system to make individuals feel more heard, cared for, and respected? What are some of the potential barriers that remain, hindering the realization of what's been termed culturally safe care? Join Kelly Wang and Victor Lau as they learn more about Azmat’s journey in interviewing and hearing stories from this age-friendly community. Discover a bit more about how communication can make a difference - both within, and outside of the time spent with individuals making up an important part of our community. You can find Azmat on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/azmat-jehan-928399309 Recorded on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 Produced by Garth Casbourn Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In honour of International Nurses' Day (on Tuesday, May 12), hosts Chrisma Perera and Mark Ambrogio interview Mehtab Jaffer, a PhD candidate in Nursing here at Western University.  While many topics of study are divided between practitioners and researchers, Mehtab is uniquely positioned as both, as she is a registered nurse here in Ontario studying the place of Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) in Ontario hospitals. In their conversation, Mehtab speaks to her use of in-depth interviews with both IENs and key informants in Ontario hospitals. They discuss Mehtab's research into the lived experiences of IENs, as they navigate their journey into the Canadian healthcare system, touching upon topics such as the influence of organizational culture and identity orientation, capturing the professional, cultural, social, emotional, and psychological aspects that define and shape IENs' journeys.   Mehtab's Social Media Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mehtab.jaffer/ LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/mehtab-jaffer Instagram @mehtab.jaffer   Other links from the episode Western University Arthur Labatt Family School of Nursing PhD Society Of Internationally Educated Nurses (SIENNA)  Registered Nurses of Ontario (RNAO) International Nursing Interest Group (INIG)  Trent University (Alumni IENs)  Aga Khan University School of Nursing, (AKU-SONAM)- Karachi, Pakistan    Recorded on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 Produced by Ella Siciliano Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

BookCast is an ongoing series where we delve into novels set in an academic context.  For the 10th edition of BookCast, Garth Casbourn, Milan Mamman, and Mark Ambrogio discuss the 2006 novel Special Topics in Calamity Physics, by Marisha Pessl. Special Topics in Calamity Physics is a darkly hilarious coming-of-age tale and a richly plotted suspense story, told with dazzling intelligence and wit.  This novel won the inaugural John Sargent, Sr. First Novel Prize in 2006. In their discussion, Garth, Milan and Mark share their analysis of the novel, combined with some first-hand experience of academic life. Recorded on Friday, February 27, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, PhD student Hannah Corenblum joins hosts Rafaela Platkin and Spencer Schmitz to talk about her research on abstract mental state concepts. Hannah is interested in understanding the individual differences in mentalizing abilities and how these relate to people's capacities to process cognitive concepts. Mentalizing is the ability to understand one's own and others' mental states. Hannah hopes her clinical research will help improve how mentalization is measured, with the goal of identifying impairments and developing ways to better target and treat them across a wide range of clinical populations. Recorded on Tuesday, April 26, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

How do artistic and scientific ways of thinking meet, overlap, and challenge each other? In this special Arts & Sciences mini-series episode of GradCast, hosts Ryan Baxter and Riya Sidhu are joined by Rebekka Lagace Cusiac, a PhD student in Psychology studying music and numerical cognition, and Seyed Mohammad Tonkaboni, a DMA student in music composition whose work engages with Persian literature and Iranian musical traditions. Together, they explore how different disciplines approach the study of music, and how creative and analytical perspectives can inform one another.   Recorded on August 12th, 2025 Produced by Bruno Mesquita Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

PhD candidate Catherine George joins hosts Milan Mammen and Mark Ambrogio to discuss her research on falls and their risk factors among stroke survivors aged 30–65 living in the community. Guided by supervisors Joy MacDermid and Janelle Unger, Catherine uses a community-based participatory action research approach to center the voices of individuals with lived experience of stroke. Listen to this episode to find out more!    To learn more about Catherine, explore the links below:   Catherine’s LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-george-262168221   Dr Joy MacDermid, HULC Clinical Research Lab: https://www.sjhc.london.on.ca/research/hulc/meet-the-team   Dr Janelle Unger, RED Neuro Lab: https://junger61.wixsite.com/redneuro Recorded on Tuesday, April 21st, 2026 Produced by Victor Lau Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

Political science PhD candidate Katie McCoy returns to the podcast this week. She chats with hosts Scott Walters and Garth Casbourn about the new directions her research has taken over the past 18 months. She explains how the focus of her dissertation has broadened from the urban/rural divide to place-based identity. We get a sneak peek at some hot-off-the-presses analyses of how the places people grow up and live in shape their perceptions of economic reality, as well as shaping their political behaviours like voting. Katie has also become a graduate fellow of Western's Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance. If you enjoyed this episode, you may also want to listen to Katie's previous time on the podcast. Recorded on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This is the fourth and final episode of the Thinking with the Earth miniseries, 2026. In this episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Ryan Baxter speak with Haorui Zhou, a second-year Master's student in Geography and Environment.  Haorui shared key insights from his research on mobility patterns in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area, highlighting trends and challenges in urban transportation. He also reflected on his personal experience as an international student at Western, offering a unique perspective on adapting to a new academic and cultural environment. Connecting his research to broader themes of sustainability, Haorui emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in reducing environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable future. Recorded on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 Produced by Chrishma Perera Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

PhD student Kailey Cutillo joins hosts Maris Schneider and Mark Ambrogio to talk about her work in Theory and Criticism. Kailey is interested in better understanding the politics of care, particularly within institutions such as universities. The "politics of care" is a framework that examines the social, ecological, and physical welfare of individuals' opportunities within systems, but also considers how these systems seek to profit from the motives of care. She critiques current systemic practices and uses Indigenous Critical Theory and Feminist Theory to conceptualize how we, as a society, can care better. Kailey also discusses her role as the Peer Advisor for Academic Matters for the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). One of the texts foundational to Kailey's research is The Care Manifesto. Recorded on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio, with help with Maris Schneider Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This is the third episode of the Thinking with the Earth miniseries. In this episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Ryan Baxter interview Javier Ponce de Leon Eyl, a PhD student in Hispanic Studies. Javier also serves as the Sustainability coordinator for the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) sustainability committee and shared a lot of insights into how the Western student community can engage in sustainability activities on campus. Recorded on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Produced by Chrishma Perera Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)  

This is the second episode of the Thinking with the Earth miniseries. In this episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Spencer Schmitz speak with Dharma Raj Dhakal, a second-year PhD student in Civil and Environmental Engineering.  Dharma shares insights from his research on how landfills can contaminate groundwater, the water we rely on but rarely see. Beyond his research, Dharma also reflects on his journey as an international student in Canada and invites listeners to take part in Earth Day activities on April 22. Recorded on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 Produced by Kuljeet Chohan Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Bruno Mesquita and Zoe Kallenekos are joined by Samantha Hopkins, a PhD candidate from the department of biology who is investigating the exciting and complex world of carbon fluxes in dryland ecosystems. Outside of her studies, she is also a student athlete for the Team Canada Football team and is one of the top 24 scouted players in Canada. Listen to learn more about carbon flux towers, peak productivity days, and what it's like in the competitive world of national level football. Samantha Hopkins Instagram: sam.hopkins_     Recorded on Tuesday, March 31, 2026 Produced by Anika Bushra and Bruno Mesquita Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week’s episode, hosts Maris Schneider and Kelly Wang are talking with Yuhan Zhao, a MA student in the department of Education. Yuhan looks at how adults who learned English as their second language use derivatives when they are writing. For those who need an English refresher, a derivative is a word formed from another word (like actor, which is derived from the word act). Yuhan hopes that her research will help in classrooms where ESL speakers are struggling to learn the complex aspects of English grammar. https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhan-zhao-5225aa367/ Recorded on Tuesday, March 24th, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Cruz and Rafaela Platkin are joined by Alex Muth, an MSc student in the Psychology department at Western University. Alex shares an in-depth look at his research on the communication systems of two chickadee species, like did you know birds have accents just like humans?! He also reflects on his experience at the intersection of psychology and biology, explaining how his curiosity about human behaviour leads him to study animals as a way of exploring those questions from a different perspective.  Click on the link to learn about the Centre for Animals on the Move (the research centre that Alex is a part of) and to watch their recent movie titled Making Peace with Canada Geese. Recorded on Tuesday, March 17th, 2026 Produced by Ella Siciliano Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This is the first episode of the Thinking with the Earth miniseries. In this episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Garth Casbourn interview Madison Robinson, an MSc student in Biological Sciences, about her research on butterflies and her involvement in collaborative specialization of environment and sustainability at Western University. From studying the ecology of butterfly populations to contributing to the interdisciplinary program and helping organize the Climate Hope Conference 2026, she shared insights into her research and experiences working at the intersection of ecology and environmental engagement. Recorded on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)  

This week, Purvaja Karthikeyan, a PhD candidate from Electrical and Computer Engineering is joined by hosts Mark Ambrogio and Victor Lau. Purvaja is supervised by Dr. Jayshri Sabarinathan, and is focusing on improving optical chip function for eventual deployment into space.. within ultra-small satellites known as CubeSats! Listen to hear more about Purvaja’s work, and how it contributes to a bigger ecosystem (referencing the ‘nature’ of things and the Western Skylark project). Here are some links accompanying’s Purvaja’s project, alongside hobbies outside of her research work! https://space.uwo.ca/research/Missions%20and%20Instruments/Skylark.html  https://www.instagram.com/root_cycle?igsh=cTMxY2J3aHF1eHE0  Recorded on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week’s episode, hosts Kuljeet Chohan and Rafaela Platkin interview Jake Daigle, a MSc student in bioinformatics, about his research on modelling mutation accumulation (buildup of genetic mistakes) in viruses. From a bachelor's degree in math to starting a masters in bioinformatics, he discusses insights on his day-to-day life researching mathematical models that can hopefully be applied to the real world. Listen to find out the importance of asking "who cares" when formulating research questions and if you can ever know when you get something "right"? Recorded on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 Produced by Scott Walters and Milan Mammen Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Milan Mammen and Chrishma Perera are joined again by Varsha Vasudevan, a PhD candidate in the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences department at Western University, in the Health Promotion stream. Varsha went into depth in her work in a previous episode. Here, she goes more into her life outside her research, expanding on her journey as a Peer Advisor and the services available to help one market their skills in the job market and how peer advising can even empower oneself.   Click on the link to learn about the services offered by the Peer Advising team. Check out Western Connect it you would like to apply to become a Peer Advisor (Western Connect > Job Postings > Western Peer Leader Program > Job ID 126956 (Peer Advisor - Career Education).     Recorded on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr and Anika Bushra Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Maris Schneider and Mark Ambrogio talk to Jessica Holmes. Jessica is completing a combined MCISc/PhD in Speech-Language Pathology and Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Her work focuses on how children respond when hearing the sound of their own voice subtly shifted, and what that reveals about speech development. Jessica explains how altered auditory feedback is used to study children’s speech adjustments, what it's like to work with children in the lab, and what it’s like to balance clinical training with research.       Recorded on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 Produced by Kuljeet Chohan and Victor Lau Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week’s episode, hosts Kelly Wang and Scott Walters interview Sorcha Rountree, a PhD student in Earth Science, about their journey from archaeology to geology and what studying ancient skull shapes can tell us about identity in the past. Sharing insights from their MA research on cranial modification in Prehispanic Peru, Sorcha explains how geometric morphometric methods help researchers study shape and cultural practices, what their results revealed about identity and social status, and how their interdisciplinary background opened the door to a new path in Earth Science.   Recorded on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week, French studies PhD candidate Kaitlyn Gagnon takes hosts Garth Casbourn and Mark Ambrogio into both the literary and theatrical worlds of mid-nineteenth-century France. Her research focus is the short-lived foray of Émile Zola into writing comic works for the stage. We learn about the various pitfalls and opportunities this work afforded him, and how it fit into the broader picture of his life and career. Follow the links below to learn more about Kaitlyn's research, and about that of her supervisor, Dr. Geneviève De Viveiros. https://www.instagram.com/zolaspy?igsh=Y3R4MnJrbnpxbDZh&utm_source=qr https://www.uwo.ca/french/people/faculty/deviveiros.html   Recorded on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2026 Produced by Garth Casbourn Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Garth Casbourn and Bruno Mesquita interview Jessica Lammert, a fifth year PhD student in the Cognitive, Developmental, and Brain Sciences research cluster in Psychology, to talk about her work studying narrative processing and storytelling in children. Jessica also shares past projects bridging the arts and science to facilitate scientific communication and the importance of open science practices. Recorded on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Milan Mammen and Kuljeet Chohan interview Emilie Potts, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, to talk about what we still don’t fully understand about concussions, brains, and biological sex differences. Sharing what it's like to bridge engineering and neuroscience, Emilie explains what surprised her most about female vs male brains and the life lessons she took from her PhD. Recorded on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Cruz and Bruno Mesquita interview Shahnaz Shahid Ali, a PhD student in Nursing under the supervision of Dr. Panagiota Tryphonopoulos. Shahnaz's research explore midwives' experiences providing physical and mental health care to women during pregnancy, childbirth, and afterbirth. Tune in to learn how sociocultural factors shape midwifery practice, where gaps exist in screening and referral pathways, and how improved training and structured mental health care systems can lead to better outcomes for mothers and families. Follow this link to learn more about Shanaz. Recorded on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 Produced by Milan Mammen Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Ran Jiang, a PhD candidate in Music Education, in Western's Don Wright Faculty of Music.  In her research, Ran explores how certain norms sometimes go unquestioned in music; especially, by non-disabled people.  Music-making is sometimes associated with an "ideal" body, such as having above-average dexterity.  In her field work, Ran works with secondary school students in China who use computer software and DIY electronics to expand what musical instruments are and who they are for. In their conversation, Ryan, Mark, and Ran also discuss piano music and what it is like at Western's music faculty, as a place for research in music, music-making, and as a community.  Ran's supervisor is adam patrick bell, who, in addition to teaching at Western, is also the Canada Research Chair in Music, Inclusion, and Accessibility.   Recorded on Tuesday, January 6, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Anthony Cruz and Milan Mammen interview Evelyn MacKay-Barr, a third year PhD student in Physical/Analytical Chemistry. Evelyn is studying the effects of oxidation on protein structures and dynamics. Though her lab studies small model proteins, their findings have big implications for larger protein therapeutics! Tune in to learn how they use mass spectrometry and other techniques to study protein behaviour. Evelyn, Anthony, and Milan also discuss finding the right research group for you and the importance of having a supportive research environment. Follow these links to learn more about Evelyn's research and her supervisor, Dr. Lars Konermann, and his research group!  Recorded on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this week's episode, hosts Kelly Wang and Mark Ambrogio speak with Marina de Oliveira Emerick, a PhD candidate in Neuroscience. Marina's research looks at the relationship between music and cognition; more specifically, how music and non-invasive brain stimulation can affect walking patterns (gait) in healthy older adults and those with Parkinson's Disease.  Although walking feels automatic, it relies on brain systems that help us start moving and keep a steady rhythm, which can be disrupted by aging and Parkinson’s. Early studies with young adults show promising improvements in step rhythm when people synchronize their steps to music. Marina is now expanding this work to older adults and those with Parkinson's, which means she is working directly with a clinical population. In addition to being found on LinkedIn, Marina has a ResearchGate profile. Marina's supervisor is Dr. Jessica Grahn, a cognitive neuroscientist who studies music. Those in the broader London area may find more information and community support from the Parkinson Society of Southwestern Ontario. Recorded on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio and Kelly Wang Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week, hosts Garth Casbourn and Maris Schneider speak to Sarah Capellaro, a master's student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. Sarah is developing methods to reduce bias against autistic people seeking to enter the workforce. Her particular focus is on promoting a growth mindset amongst hiring managers via carefully prepared infographic interventions. She studies how viewing these interventions affects managers' attitudes towards autistic applicants.   Sarah has been able to recruit a very impressive 400 participants in her experiment and shows us that it is possible to change, or at least momentarily influence, people's biases to create more fair hiring practices. Recorded on Tuesday, December 2, 2025 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot)  

In this week's episode, hosts Milan Mammen and Kelly Wang interview Denise Bedard, a PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Health and Aging). Denise shares with us her immense professional and academic experience in long term care, including reimagining person-centered care in small home service areas. Denise also kindly shares the difficult lessons learned about long term care through the COVID pandemic and its many impacts, especially on older adults in long term care; please consider this a content warning if this is a particularly sensitive subject for you. Denise is part of the Caregiving Research (CARE) Lab at Western University.   Recorded on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Produced by kirstyn seanor. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).

For this edition of #BookCast, your hosts Garth Casbourn, Meghan Voll, and Scott Walters cover the unique writing of People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks, a tale based on a real and highly important Jewish prayer book told through fictional vignettes of its history. Hanna is a book conservator tasked with restoring a famous (and very real) copy of the Haggadah Jewish text that has experienced a tumultuous past. Blending actual history with fictional accounts of the text's origins and mysterious migrations through time, and telling the stories of the people, both real and imagined, that brought it to the present. We discuss the uncommon structure of this novel, the historic foundations of Brooks sweeping epic, and several of the principal themes. Join us in exploring what has been described as "an erudite Davinci Code". This episode was recorded on June 4, 2025 Produced by Scott Walters Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Natasha Beaudoin, a student in the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program.  The MFA has both academic and production elements, which enables Natasha to pursue her interests, mixing traditional painting techniques with influences from social media, gaming, and digital culture.  Natasha is inspired by the use of light in the works of the Italian renaissance painter Caravaggio (1571- 1610).  While portraiture is sometimes associated with the past, Natasha would like to see this tradition continue. Natasha can be found on Instagram and her website is:  https://tashaskates.wixsite.com/mysite  Some of Natasha's paintings will be featured at Western's McIntosh Gallery, from June 6 to July 4, 2026.   Recorded on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week, hosts Anthony Cruz and Mark Ambrogio interview Aoife Hawthorne, a master's student in Western's Curriculum Studies program in the Faculty of Education. Aoife's research focuses on teacher attrition and how different factors like courses taught, funding, and even postal code affect likelihood to remain in a teaching position.  On top of her research, Aoife, Mark, and Anthony discuss their experiences in elementary and high school, the Irish teaching system, and how getting involved on campus can lead to a greater sense of belonging in our own educational environments. Tune in to learn more! Recorded on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by White Hot) 

In this week's episode, hosts Ryan Baxter and Mark Ambrogio interview Meghan Voll, a PhD candidate in Media Studies here at Western University. GradCast listeners will recognize Meghan's voice, as Meghan served as a long-time host and Social Media Manager for this show.  This is Meghan's second time with us as a guest, as she approaches the conclusion of her doctorate, for those interested, Meghan's first episode, as a guest, can be heard here. Meghan studies the interaction between economic value and values on mobile dating platforms such as Tinder, Hinge, and Coffee Meets Bagel, drawing from the political economy of communication, mobile dating studies (MDS) and critical data studies (CDS). Ryan and Mark engage with Meghan on these ideas, asking about the intersection between so-called "soft values" (such as honesty and loyalty) and economic value ($). They also ask Meghan about her field research, interviewing human subjects, and the steps involved in obtaining ethics approval. Recorded on Tuesday, November 5, 2025 Produced by Mark Ambrogio and Kelly Wang Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This week on GradCast, hosts Garth Casbourn and Bruno Mesquita are joined by Carlos Eduardo Barzotto, a PhD Student in Western's Department of Education. Carlos investigates how anti-gender movements in Brazil and Canada use transnational rhetoric to undermine inclusive education and LGBTQIA+ rights. Through his research, he reveals how these movements operate across national contexts and highlights ways to foster safer, more equitable educational environments. Listen to learn more!  Recorded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Produced by Milan Mammen. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).  

This week on GradCast, hosts Maris Schneider and Milan Mammen are joined by Sydney Brouillard-Coyle, a PhD Student in Western's Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Sydney researches the importance of creative arts to trans and gender-diverse individuals. Sydney also discusses nir activism in the queer community, including the development of Rainbow Allyship and the publication of nir book, A Pocket Guide to Pronouns. Listen to learn more! You can find even more about Sydney's work at nir website, Instagram, or Facebook. Recorded on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).

This week, hosts Maris Schneider and Anthony Cruz discuss one of the most daunting aspects of being a graduate student, publishing. The team walk through key parts of the publishing process and how speed bumps can occur along the way. The GradCast team have reached out to ask for reviewer comments from the broader graduate student audience to share on this timely Halloween episode. Join us to reflect on the publishing process and discuss reviewer comments in horror. Recorded on August 5, 2025 Produced by Bruno Mesquita and Maria Khan Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot) Sound effects sourced from Scott Arc (Spotted! & Hallowed Ground) and Leigh Haggerwood (Werewolf & The Scarecrow)