Podcast University Of Calgary Alumni

Shawna Cunningham talks about truth and reconciliation in Canada and why it’s so important to build a cultural bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

As mental health awareness continues to grow, career experts and researchers chime in about how to integrate wellness into the workplace to combat potential or existing toxic behaviours.

Failure is trending, but is that a good thing? We ask six alumni what they think about failure and what advice they’d give their younger selves. Featuring: Whitney Rockley, MBA’97 Ben Cannon, BA’14 Christine Dagenais, MBA’11 Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, BA’99, BA’01 Patrick Lor, BA’90, MBA’01 Bridget Casey, MBA’15…

Bridget is the founder and content creator of Money After Graduation. From paying off debt to investing in the stock market, Bridget provides clear, actionable advice that will transform your finances. Bridget holds a BSc from the University of Alberta and an MBA in finance from UCalgary. She is regularly featured as a millennial finance expert as …

Simon is a palliative physician in Calgary and a member of the O’Brien Institute for Public Health at the University of Calgary. He divides his time between inpatient and community practice and, in 2016, helped to found the Calgary Allied Mobile Palliative Program (CAMPP) with Rachael Edwards of Calgary Urban Project Society (CUPS). CAMPP was estab…

How do people recover from addiction? Amber Hedges, MA’17, explains how stigma can be more of a barrier than the substance itself.

In the world of #MeToo, #TimesUp and the recently exposed “incel” community, we talk to masculinity experts about what men and boys are thinking and what we can do to nip “toxic masculinity” in the bud.

When applying for a job, should you include a cover letter? Do you have to customize each resume? What headings should you use? Everyone has their own style when it comes to applications, but Brian Palmer, BComm’06, has some not-so-secret tips and best practices.

Scholarships, transformational experiences, and health and wellness are key contributors to student success — and these extraordinary alumni are proof.

If you’ve visited the UCalgary Native Centre, attended any local marches or participated in a KAIROS Blanket Exercise, there’s a good chance you’ve heard Cheryle Chagnon-Greyeyes, BA’99, BA’01. In this episode, Cheryle explains how to be an activist and why it’s important to give back in a good way.

How do you get work experience without having any work experience? According to Reg Tiangha, BSc’04, volunteering is an easy way to diversify your skills, increase your employability and find a sense of purpose in your life.

Spoofing Jerry Seinfeld’s Netflix series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Ben Cannon, BA’14, discusses mental illness, addiction and striving to earn a living as an up-and-coming comedian. We may have hit a few potholes along the way, so listener discretion is advised.

From the thrill of 100 asks to get one “yes,” to the restlessness of watching TV after his company is bought, the co-founder of iStock, Patrick Lor, BA’90, MBA’01, discusses the perks and burdens of serial entrepreneurship.

Christine Dagenais, MBA’11, is an expert when it comes to personal and professional branding. In 2005, Christine founded Creative Coaching, a consulting practice focusing on three key areas: executive and career coaching, management consulting, and professional speaking. Her specialization spans business administration, Myers-Briggs, change managem…

One of few female senior leaders in venture capital, Whitney Rockley, MBA’97, decided it was time to upgrade her education at UCalgary back in the 1990s when she was told she wasn’t bright enough to work as a bank teller. Knowing she was on the wrong career path, Rockley pursued a graduate degree in entrepreneurial thinking and took part in a presc…

This week on Peer Review, we’re joined by YMCA Calgary CEO and President Shannon Doram, and Vice-President of Marketing & Communications, Ken Lima-Coelho. Shannon holds a Bachelor of Kinesiology and, as a student athlete, captained the very first Dinos ringette team. Ken earned a Bachelor of Arts at UCalgary and during his time here was active with…

Jim Gray holds an Honourary Doctorate from UCalgary, but his list of achievements is much longer than that. He is an Energy Person of the Year Award recipient from the Energy Council of Canada, was inducted into the Canadian Petroleum Hall of Fame, the Calgary Business Hall of Fame and the Canadian Business Hall of Fame. He is a Member of the Alber…

We caught up with three different Calgary brewery owners to talk specifically about cooperation and collaboration in the craft beer scene. Legislative changes have made starting a brewery accessible for home brewers, and the popularity of craft beer has made opening a brewery more relevant than ever. We dive-in and discuss this current trend with t…

Calgary Arts Development President & CEO, Patti Pon, discusses the new creative economy. She makes arguments for the current Calgary arts scene as well as the facts and figures that stand behind the economical impacts of a thriving creative sector. We discuss the Alberta Ballet, Calgary Folk Fest, the Calgary Stampede, One Yellow Rabbit and many ot…

Dr. Niven received his MD, his Master of Science and his PhD from the University of Calgary. He is an intensive care physician but is also a health researcher, who focuses on helping doctors ditch outdated technologies, tests and treatments for cutting-edge patient care. In 2016, Dr. Niven was awarded the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIH…

Natalie Panek is a rocket scientist, explorer and speaker. She has completed internships with NASA, helped engineer and drive a solar powered car across the continent, and has been featured on popular TED Talks. Natalie is an advocate for women in leadership roles in science. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has recently featured Natalie on his Instag…

The Idea Exchange series has been happening in regions across North America, bringing alumni, donors and UCalgary supporters together to connect and talk big ideas… and now it’s coming to Calgary. The first event in Calgary is November 22 and we’re going to be talking energy innovations for today and tomorrow. One of panelists for this is alumnus I…

Melanee Thomas joined the department of political science at Ucalgary in 2012. Her research focuses on the causes and consequences of gender-based political inequality in Canada and other post-industrial democracies, with a particular focus on political attitudes and behaviour, and policy feedback. Her current projects include an edited collection …

Russell Reimer, President of Manifesto Sport Management, discusses humble beginnings in Steinbach Manitoba, Miriam Toews, and community minded Mennonite roots. He tells stories about his beach volleyball days and covering multiple olympics for NBC and learning the value of story along the way. Russell talks about pioneering his business, his connec…

Peer Review Live: Going for Gold is a live recording of a special edition of our podcast that took place during Alumni Weekend on Sept. 23, 2017. It features Olympic wrestler Erica Wiebe, BKin’12, BA’16, who won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, four-time Olympic speed skating medallist Kristina Groves, BSc’04, MSc’15, and Kyle Sh…

Andrew Mosker (President and CEO of the National Music Centre and 2017 Arch Award recipient) talks about musical epiphanies, transformative winters as a ski bum in Jasper, his favourite UCalgary professor, and he drops enough rock ’n’ roll references to satisfy even the most devout audiophile — the Rolling Stones, Daniel Lanois, Feist, Jim Cuddy, U…

Listen to clips from some of the more popular Peer Review conversations from the past 12 months.

Clem Martini, BFA'80, Drama professor in the School of Creative and Performing Arts at the University of Calgary, explores the importance of live performance in the digital age.

Chris Olbey, BA'92, MA'96, English instructor, University of Calgary uses classic literature to help students better understand today’s world of pop culture.

Kevin Davies, BComm' 14, founder and CEO of HOP Compost, has created a fertilizer alternative that is certified organic and non-GMO.

Patricia Rowbotham, BEd'75, LLB’81, justice of the Court of Appeal of Alberta, explains what it is like working as a judge in the province.

Ian Brodie, MA’92, PhD’97, UCalgaryLaw & Society professor, and former Chief of Staff to Stephen Harper, examines North America's political landscape.

Andrew Buckley, BSc’16, quarterback, Calgary Stampeders, reflects on his remarkable UCalgary Dinos football career and discusses his future as a quarterback in the CFL.

Shannon Murray, MA'08, PhD'15, and Stampede historical specialist explains why Guy Weadick would be proud of 2016’s rendition of the "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth".

Stampede Queen Maggie Shortt and Princess Chelsey Jacobson reveal what it's like to travel the world representing the Calgary Stampede.

Entrepreneur and UCalgary Business grad, Louisa Ferrel, BComm’04, leaves the recruitment world of start True Büch Kombucha.

Fresh off his return from Cannes Film Festival, Benjamin Ross Hayden, BA’12, discusses his award winning sci-fi film, The Northlander.

Kodi Hutchinson, BComm’95, award-winning double bassist, host of CKUA's A Time for Jazz, and artistic director for JazzYYC, discuses Calgary’s jazz music festival.

Nina Kharey, BSc’07 is the founder and creative director of the Calgary-based luxury women’s clothing label, House of Nonie.

Jasmine Mian, MSc’15, Canadian Olympic wrestler, reflects on qualifying for Rio 2016, and looks ahead to the upcoming summer games in Brazil.

Jodi Scarlett, MBA’02, president, ProStar Cleaning and Restoration Inc., was recently named to Profit/Chatelaine W100 ranking of Canada's top female entrepreneurs.

Andrew Obrecht, BComm’09, partner, spin motivator, YYC CYCLE - Spin Studio, helps forge strong community connections through his patrons, the biker gang.

Emma Climie, MSc’08, PhD’12, assistant professor, School and Applied Child Psychology, Werklund School of Education, and lead researcher, Carlson Family Research Award in ADHD, discusses her research focusing on a strengths-based understanding of children with ADHD.

UCalgary Alumni Podcast records live at Alumni Weekend withbusinessmen and philanthropists Geoff Cumming, BA’74, and DickHaskayne.

Kandrix Foong, BA’00, founder and eventdirector, Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo, explains howLeonard Nimoy helped the Calgary convention reach new heights.

Mark Blackwell, BComm’11, senior manager, SolarWinds, explains why Calgary's startup community needs to set higher goals.

Mike Landry, BSc'89, detection lead scientist, LIGO Hanford Observatory, explains his role in the discovery of gravitational waves.

Annalise Klingbeil, BA’11, Calgary Herald city reporter, discusses the rapidly changing world of print journalism.

For Laura Lucier, BSc'99, moving the Canadarm2, installing new experiments and preventing systems failures are all a part of her everyday routine.

Ian Chiclo, BA’91, VP Business Development, Corkscrew Media, remembers the life and death of Calgary’s first alternative weekly, FFWD.