Global Conversations

In this episode, migration policy advocate Christie Ma sheds new information on the ongoing situation of increased global migrations. By combining her experience as a writer and researcher, she uncovers interesting aspects following the Fall 2021 Mexico – United States border crisis in Del Rio, Texas. Using the case of Haitian migrations, she offers unique insights for U.S policymakers and global institutions on how to better serve and protect those seeking asylum.

This segment explores the importance of cooperation at the highest levels of government. Using the European Union as a lens into the gold standard of international cooperation, former Member of European Parliament Sir Graham Watson answers important questions through the use of his wealth of experiences about how we can have a more integrated world strategy.

In this episode, Luca sits down with Dr. Darius Ornston, a professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Toronto, to talk about the welfare state. Luca asks Dr. Ornston what exactly is the welfare state, what his favourite model of the welfare state is, why the government needs to play a strong role in administering it, and if Universal Basic Income should be a part of it.

In this first episode of the 2021-22 school year, podcast contributor Sky interviews Yunny, a Business Major at the Seoul National University in South Korea. Yunny shares some fascinating insights on her background, life in South Korea as a university student, how South Korea tackled COVID-19, what motivates her to stay active, her views on leadership, and the future of technology in the fitness industry. From Canada to South Korea, this episode is as global as it gets.

In this episode, Sky Shi and Prof. Joseph Wong, VP International at UofT, engage in a very timely, personal, and frank conversation about their lived experiences as Chinese-Canadians.

The Covid-19 Pandemic has changed the world as we know it. The way in which we interact with businesses has changed. What role does the digital space play for small businesses making it through the pandemic and eventual recovery? What policies and initiatives have governments put in place to embark on the journey of recovery? In this episode we sit down with a graduate fellow from the Urban Policy lab, Madison Leisk, to discuss how main streets have changed and how the pandemic has brought to light existing weaknesses in policies supporting small businesses, then we’ll speak to Nick Vo, whose family’s small business migrated into the digital space created and a new path for a business that couldn’t otherwise operate during lockdowns.

In this episode, Ella interviews Dr. Christopher Stuart Taylor at the University of Waterloo in the Department of History. They discuss teaching the history of sports in Canada, race, misogyny, and anti-Black racism, as well as writing migrant stories and navigating the academy. Dr. Taylor completed his PhD at Western University in History and Migration & Ethnic Relations, and also works in the Ontario Public Service.

You can find the podcast we discuss, as well as the specific episode about Diego Maradona, here: https://open.spotify.com/show/2uWSN6o13xG2vuKuiCYlvD?si=YhfVS0WGTvKj8kKJ3fpGhQ.

And you can find more about Dr. Taylor and his work at: https://uwaterloo.ca/history/people-profiles/christopher-taylor.

In this episode, Ella interviews Dr. Jinsook Kim, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. They discuss online hate culture and misogyny, global digital media, feminist activism and personal storytelling in contemporary South Korea.

You can find more about Dr. Kim and her work at: https://www.asc.upenn.edu/people/faculty/jinsook-kim-phd.

In this episode, Pitasanna speaks with Francesca Albanese and Dr.Lex Takkenberg - co-authors of Palestinian Refugees in International Law. Francesca P. Albanese is an international lawyer with a specialization in human rights and refugee issues in the Arab world. Lex Takkenberg is the former Chief of the Ethics Office of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.

In this episode, Larissa Chan and Paige Smith speak with Samaa Kazerouni about the role of multilateral organizations and governments in engaging with the private sector to promote the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and in helping to create sustainable business practices. Samaa highlights the power of the private sector through their financial influence, but also through its role in service delivery, innovation, and advocacy. The podcast concludes with some of the challenges of cross-sector collaboration in implementing the SDGs, but also underlines some of the positive shifts in business behaviour. Samaa is a second-year Master of Global Affairs student with experience working in the private sector at UNICEF South Asia and Global Affairs Canada.