Podcast or Perish

What difference does it make whether you say “I” or “you”?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Grant Packard, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business. He talks about his research on the way saying “I” or “you” when talking to customers changes how they feel about the interaction. Do they feel acknowledged and heard, or did you make it all about you? Do they feel like you took responsibility for the situation, or did you put the blame on them? Pronouns are short words with long consequences.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-056-grant-packard***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

‍ ‍What does it mean to be a critical scholar in an academy obsessed with metrics?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Erin Twyford, Senior Lecture in Accounting at the University of Wollongong. She describes her experience of a recent academic conference as a "fever dream." She sees her academic role as profoundly relational - to her family, to her colleagues, to her students, and to the Indigenous country on which she lives. She talks about finding hope as an academic despite pushing the mythical boulder of Sisyphus up the hill every day.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-055-erin-twyford***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Who should get the next MRI scan?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Adam Diamant of the Schulich School of Business, York University, who studies waiting lists using complex models and artificial intelligence. We discuss the ethics of waiting lists for scarce resources, such as MRI scans and life-saving surgeries. Adam says we can improve on the “first come, first served” model that we often default to.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-054-adam-diamant***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can we make our money last as long as we do?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Moshe Milevsky of the Schulich School of Business, York University, a leading expert on pensions and financial planning. We discuss “longevity risk,” which is all about what happens if you outlive your retirement savings. We look at the origins of pensions in the Church of Scotland, the psychology of retirement, and how Moshe’s research bridges economics and human behavior to design safer financial futures.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-053-moshe-milevsky***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What drives people to start businesses that matter?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Eileen Fischer, the Anne & Max Tanenbaum Chair in Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise at the Schulich School of Business, York University. She studies the cultural and emotional dimensions of entrepreneurship, exploring how meaning and identity motivate business creation beyond profit.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-052-eileen-fischer***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do brands shape who we think we are?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk once again with Dr. Ela Veresiu, Associate Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her research in consumer culture theory examines how markets reproduce social inequality through everyday consumption. We discuss gender, class, and the hidden power of marketing in defining citizenship and belonging.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-051-ela-veresiu***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What makes one product seem more authentic than another?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Maxim Voronov, Professor of Sustainability and Organization Studies at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Drawing on his paper “Distilling Authenticity: Materiality and Narratives in Canadian Distilleries’ Authenticity Work,” we discuss how industries craft credibility through storytelling, material culture, and emotion—and what that reveals about change inside organizations.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-050-maxim-voronov***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Do the beliefs of people who live near a company’s head office affect the company’s actions on climate change?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Giri Kanagaretnam, Ron Binns Chair in Financial Reporting, Banking, and Governance at the Schulich School of Business, York University. We explore his work on whether local beliefs about climate change are related to corporate tax behavior, specifically when firms take advantage of green tax incentives. Giri’s data says that firms in counties with strong climate-change norms tend to have lower effective tax rates. Giri says this means that social beliefs—not just financial incentives—shape corporate action. I take some convincing.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-049-giri-kanagaretnam***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can climate change reshape how banks see risk?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Olaf Weber, CIBC Chair in Sustainable Finance at the Schulich School of Business, York University. His research connects environmental risk to financial stability. We discuss how credit ratings, lending policies, and investor decisions are being transformed by the realities of a warming planet—and what sustainable finance can do to manage those risks.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-048-olaf-weber***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can business help rebuild relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Irene Henriques, of the Schulich School of Business, York University. A sustainability economist, her collaborative research examines Indigenous entrepreneurship and the economics of reconciliation. We discuss how communities and corporations can co-create value by dismantling colonial institutions and advancing economic self-determination.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-047-irene-henriques***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What makes a workplace truly inclusive—and not just diverse?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Winny Shen, Associate Professor of Organizational Behaviour at York University’s Schulich School of Business. Her research on bad bosses explores the nuances of leadership, mental health, and diversity in organizations. We discuss how identity, empathy, and systemic change can help build workplaces that value people as much as performance.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-046-winny-shen***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do pictures and words help children imagine the world anew?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Alison Halsall, Associate Professor of Humanities at York University. She researches children’s literature, comics, and graphic novels, tracing how visual storytelling shapes childhood imagination and social awareness. We explore the artistry of the illustrated page and its power to teach empathy and wonder.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-045-alison-halsall***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can democracy survive in the age of algorithms?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Susan Dieleman, Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at the University of Lethbridge. She studies democratic theory and the ethics of online discourse, examining how social media and digital platforms affect deliberation and civic trust. We discuss what philosophers can teach us about power, participation, and public reason in a networked world.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-044-susan-dieleman***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can finance ever serve the public good?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Emily Rosenman, Assistant Professor of Geography at Penn State University. Her research investigates how financial systems shape inequality and urban life—from disaster recovery to affordable housing. We explore the politics of financialization and what justice-oriented economies might look like.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-043-emily-rosenman***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can ancient artifacts rewrite women into history?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Elizabeth Greene, Associate Professor of Classical Studies at Western University. Her archaeological research at Roman military sites uncovers the overlooked roles of women and families on imperial frontiers. We discuss how small finds—sandals, jewelry, writing tablets—reveal the hidden texture of ancient life.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-042-elizabeth-greene***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Do our shopping habits reflect our values or do our values reflect our shopping habits?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Markus Giesler, Professor of Marketing at York University’s Schulich School of Business. A cultural sociologist of markets, he studies how moral ideas—like sustainability and fairness—get built into consumer culture. We explore why consumption is a site of identity, conflict, and social change.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-041-markus-giesler***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Does gene editing change what it means to be human?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Françoise Baylis, University Research Professor Emerita at Dalhousie University and a leading voice in bioethics. We discuss her work on reproductive technologies and genome editing, the global ethics of CRISPR, and why public engagement must shape how science rewrites the human future.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-040-francoise-baylis***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can the mud at the bottom of an Arctic lake tell us about the planet’s future?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Josh Thienpont, a paleolimnologist from York University’s Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change. By analyzing ancient sediments, he reconstructs the history of northern freshwater ecosystems to trace the accelerating impacts of climate change. We discuss fieldwork in extreme environments and why the Arctic’s past is key to understanding its rapidly changing present.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-039-josh-thienpont***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Who gets to feel at home online?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Alison Harvey, Associate Professor of Communications at York University. Her research examines gender, race, and labor in digital gaming and online communities. We discuss how inclusion efforts sometimes reproduce exclusion, and how critical media scholarship can make digital spaces more equitable.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-038-alison-harvey***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can beams of light save sight?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Ozzy Mermut of York University’s Centre for Vision Research. Her pioneering work in biophotonics uses lasers and optical imaging to study and treat age-related eye diseases. We explore how light reveals the structure of the retina, how multidisciplinary science drives discovery, and why she calls the eye “the window to the brain.”***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-037-ozzy-mermut***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Who bears the cost of Canada’s green transition?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Dayna Scott, Canada Research Chair in Environmental Law and Justice at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School. She examines how Canada’s push for critical minerals and renewable energy development intersects with Indigenous rights and environmental governance. We discuss what a just transition really means, and how law can either reinforce or resist extractive power.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-036-dayna-scott***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How has feminist theory transformed our understanding of motherhood?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Andrea O’Reilly of York University. She studies motherhood. We explore how decades of feminist scholarship have challenged cultural myths about mothers, caregiving, and equality—and how storytelling itself becomes a form of resistance.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-035-andrea-oreilly***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How did teachers balance care, conviction, and exhaustion during the pandemic?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Sarah Barrett, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education, York University. We discuss her research on how educators’ personal beliefs and values shaped their response to online learning, and how empathy and integrity guided classrooms through crisis.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-034-sarah-barrett***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can a camera capture the soul of a dancer?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Patrick Alcedo, Chair of Dance at York University and an award-winning documentary filmmaker. Drawing on his fieldwork in the Philippines, he shows how movement, ritual, and film come together to tell stories of faith, resilience, and community—and how scholarship itself can move between art and advocacy.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-033-patrick-alcedo***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do everyday products make their way to store shelves—and what happens when that journey breaks down?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Johnny Rungtusanatham, Canada Research Chair in Supply Chain Management at York University. We discuss how climate disasters, pandemics, and policy decisions ripple through supply networks, what the B.C. floods reveal about Canada’s economic resilience, and how research can help build systems that recover faster from crisis.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-032-johnny-rungtusanatham***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do doctors cope with the emotions of life-and-death decisions?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Leeat Granek of the School of Health Policy and Management, York University. Her research brings psychology and medicine together to explore how grief, empathy, and moral distress shape clinical judgment—and how acknowledging emotion can make healthcare more humane.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-031-leeat-granek***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do we detect pollutants that hide at parts per trillion?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Satinder Brar, James and Joan Love Chair in Environmental Engineering at the Lassonde School of Engineering, York University. She explains what “emerging contaminants” are, how her lab tracks them in wastewater, and how collaboration across science, engineering, and policy is essential to keeping our water safe.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-030-satinder-brar***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can bees and dragonflies tell us about a warming world?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Jeremy Kerr and doctoral candidate Catherine Sirois-Delisle from the University of Ottawa. Drawing on massive datasets and fieldwork, they show how climate change reshapes the ranges of pollinators and other species—and what those shifts mean for conservation, ecosystems, and humanity’s future on a changing planet.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-029-jeremy-kerr-and-catherine-sirois-delisle***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

When does corporate negligence become a crime?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Steven Bittle, Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of Ottawa. We explore how Canada’s for-profit long-term-care system left seniors vulnerable during COVID-19, and what his research on corporate crime reveals about accountability, policy failure, and justice in the face of mass harm.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-028-steven-bittle***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can we learn from early-career academics about how to communicate research results?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I interview three outstanding emerging scholars from Concordia University in Montreal. Dr. Bettina Forget works at the intersection of art and science, using image‑making to communicate science and encourage girls’ participation in STEM. Dr. Sylvie Ouellette is a chemist/biochemist who studies how bacteria scavenge iron—an essential nutrient—inside the human body. Dr. Erica Pimentel researches how accountants’ work and public presence are being reshaped by technology and online platforms. They are participants in Concordia’s Public Scholars Program, which prepares scholars for communicating about their impactful research.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-027-public-scholars***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can newly minted scholars tell us about academic research?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I interview three award-winning graduate degree recipients from York University in Toronto. Dr. Siobhan Angus is an art historian whose work explores how images shape our values, linking environmental harm and economic inequality. Dr. Athina Peidou is an earth and space scientist who builds gravity‑field maps of the planet from satellite data to better understand Earth systems. Stephanie Raposo is a psychologist who studies how people’s implicit theories of sexual satisfaction influence relationships. All three were recent winners of the Governor General’s Gold Medal for graduate student scholarship.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-026-gold-medallists***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do comics and literature reshape how we think about African society and its global audiences?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Fatoumata Seck, Assistant Professor of French and Francophone Studies at Stanford University. She studies African and diasporic literature, with special attention to Senegalese graphic comics and their intersections with journalism, translation, and social critique. We discuss her analysis of Ousmane Mendy’s satirical comics, the politics of cultural translation, and how graphic texts create new possibilities for African storytelling.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-025-fatoumata-seck***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can medieval art teach us about the politics of work and representation?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Lamia Balafrej, Associate Professor of Art History at UCLA. Her research focuses on image-making, materiality, and labor in premodern Islamic art. We explore how artistic practices reflected hierarchies of craft, race, and gender, and what those histories reveal about value and creativity.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-024-lamia-balafrej***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can robots teach us about the human body and how to teach engineering?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. James Smith of the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University. A mechanical engineer and innovative educator, Dr. Smith designs robotic models of the human cervix and quadrupeds to study how biological systems move and adapt. We explore how biomimetic design challenges traditional engineering assumptions, why hands-on learning matters, and how his “renaissance engineering” philosophy connects creativity with technical rigor.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-023-james-smith***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can research partnerships empower marginalized communities?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Uzo Anucha, Associate Professor of Social Work at York University and the founding Director of the Applied Social Welfare Research and Evaluation Group. Her work promotes community-engaged approaches to issues such as youth development, immigration, and housing. We explore her belief that authentic research collaboration requires trust, reciprocity, and long-term commitment.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-022-uzo-anucha***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do family photographs shape our understanding of identity and belonging?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Thy Phu of the Department of English and Writing Studies at Western University in London, Ontario. Her research explores the social life of photographs, particularly how images of families, refugees, and diasporic communities convey care, trauma, and resilience. We discuss her exhibition at the Royal Ontario Museum, which reexamines personal archives and challenges cultural assumptions about family representation.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-021-thy-phu***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can research and advocacy change the justice system from within?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Senator Kim Pate, an independent senator for Ontario and longtime advocate for criminal justice reform. Drawing on decades of work with marginalized women, she reflects on systemic inequities in sentencing, incarceration, and rehabilitation. We discuss her transition from activist to policymaker and how evidence-based advocacy can create lasting social change.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-020-sen-kim-pate***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What can the history of accounting tell us about race and imperialism?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Marcia Annisette, Associate Dean of Students and Professor of Accounting at the Schulich School of Business, York University. A leading critical accounting scholar, she examines how the profession has been shaped by colonial histories and global institutions like the World Bank. We talk about her experiences as editor of Accounting, Organizations and Society and her commitment to mentoring new scholars.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-019-marcia-annisette***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What does it mean to make harm reduction a matter of social justice?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Bernie Pauly of the School of Nursing at the University of Victoria and scientist at the Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research. She discusses her community-based research on housing, substance use, and public health, and the importance of embedding harm reduction into broader policies addressing poverty and inequality.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-018-bernie-pauly***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can accounting serve democracy instead of capital?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Lord Prem Sikka, Emeritus Professor of Accounting at the University of Essex and a member of the UK House of Lords. A long-standing critic of corporate power, he exposes how accounting practices enable inequality, tax avoidance, and corruption. We explore his vision for socially responsible accounting and his work to reform corporate governance for the public good.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-017-prem-sikka***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How does marketing shape our moral understanding of consumption?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Ela Veresiu, Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Schulich School of Business, York University. Her research examines how consumers are taught to see themselves as moral actors responsible for solving global problems like poverty and climate change. We discuss her influential paper “Creating the Responsible Consumer,” co-authored with Schulich colleague Markus Giesler, which analyzes the World Economic Forum’s efforts to position consumers as partners in global governance.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-016-ela-veresiu***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What would it take to end youth homelessness in Canada?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Stephen Gaetz, Director of the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Homeless Hub at York University. A leading advocate for housing first policies, he brings decades of experience connecting academic research with government and community practice. We discuss his efforts to build national policy frameworks, the ethics of social research, and how universities can act as partners in social transformation.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-015-steve-gaetz***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Do women make better board members?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Marie-Soleil Tremblay of the École nationale d’administration publique (ENAP) in Québec. A specialist in corporate governance, she studies auditing and ethics in both the public and private sectors. We discuss her work on financial accountability, the gender composition of boards of directors, and what its like for an academic to work with the media.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-014-marie-soleil-tremblay***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can research challenge the ways schools talk about gender and sexuality?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Jen Gilbert, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at York University. A gender theorist and sex-education scholar, she leads the Beyond Bullying Project, working with students to understand how identity and power shape everyday school life. We explore her research on adolescence, desire, and education, and how she bridges academic insight with real-world activism.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-013-jen-gilbert***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How do assumptions about money and finance change what climate-economy models tell us about decarbonization?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. Jean-François Mercure, Senior Lecturer in Global Systems at the University of Exeter, and Hector Pollitt, Head of Modelling at Cambridge Econometrics. We compare mainstream models used by environmental economists, explore how different assumptions about the financial sector and the nature of money yield starkly different predictions, and consider the political and ecological stakes when those models inform policy.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-012-mercure-and-pollitt***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How does speaking more than one language shape the mind?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Distinguished Research Professor Ellen Bialystok of York University. A psychologist, she studies how bilingualism influences cognitive development across the lifespan, from infancy to old age. We discuss her findings on attention and executive control, the policy implications of her work in a multilingual world, and why language research matters for education and aging.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-011-ellen-bialystok***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

Can corporate sustainability reporting really address ecological collapse?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Prof. Markus Milne, a critical accounting scholar at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand. His research explores how corporate social and environmental reporting reflects, and often masks, the impacts of consumer capitalism. A mountaineer and environmental advocate, Prof. Milne reflects on the contradictions of growth-driven economies and what it means to teach ethics amidst a planetary crisis.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-010-markus-milne***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

What do children’s relationships teach us about aggression and kindness?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Distinguished Research Professor Debra Pepler of York University, a psychologist and leading authority on bullying and child development. Her pioneering work uses video recordings and observational research to study children’s real-time interactions. We discuss how social relationships influence bullying behaviour, the long-term effects of aggression, and what can be done to foster empathy and resilience in schools.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-009-debra-pepler***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How can accounting reveal—or obscure—power in society?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Prof. Christine Cooper of the University of Edinburgh Business School, a leading critical accounting scholar. Drawing on Marxist and feminist theory, she studies how accounting practices sustain capitalist hierarchies and gendered inequalities. We discuss her research on the social consequences of accounting systems and her activist commitment to linking theory with real-world change.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-008-christine-cooper***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.

How does the brain coordinate movement as we age — and what happens when it falters?In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I speak with Prof. Lauren Sergio, a neuroscientist at York University’s School of Kinesiology and Health Science. Her research examines how the brain plans and executes complex movements, combining insights from sports science and neurology. We talk about her studies of athletes, aging populations, and people recovering from brain injuries, and what her findings reveal about neuroplasticity and motor learning.***Full transcript, photos, and related resources:https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-007-lauren-sergio***Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.