About Today's Show In this episode we revisit all of our conversations this season, and explore how it was that our alumni could use Seneca as such a powerful launchpad to their successful careers. How is it that a single conversation in a classroom can inspire a student to change the direction of their life; or find the courage to enroll in a program that speaks to a dream that had previously lay dormant? What kind of place can have such an impact on our lives? In revisiting conversations with ...
Jun 13, 2023•34 min
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 8, Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! Question: What do you do with the clothes you no longer wear? If you're like me, you try to donate them when you can, but what if they're tattered? For me, I probably throw them into the garbage, which of course goes straight to the landfill. Turns out, textile waste is a big problem, both globally, and in Canada as well. Here are some statistics, courtesy of Earth.org: 92 Million Tonnes of Textiles Waste is Produced Ever...
May 29, 2023•37 min•Season 5Ep. 8
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 7, Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! Today's episode features Seneca College graduate Colin D'Mello, who is also the Queen's Park Bureau Chief for Global News. As Queen's Park Bureau Chief, Colin is responsible for gathering and reporting on our provincial leaders, and holding them accountable on our behalf, which often means asking the tough questions. This episode is a master's class in how determination, positive self-criticism, and focus can combine to t...
May 09, 2023•45 min•Season 5Ep. 7
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 6, Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! In this episode, I speak with three professors who have created a regular, weekly online roundtable that has proven to be something quite special. Borne out of the need for connection we all felt during the COVID lockdowns, these weekly roundtables have become an opportunity for Seneca Faculty of the Arts to connect, share common experiences as educators, and simply hold space for each other, and for themselves, and as su...
Apr 25, 2023•31 min•Season 5Ep. 6
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 5, Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! I have a question for you. Have you ever been set on a life-plan, and then something happens outside of your control, or maybe someone whispers something in your ear, which causes you to fully reconsider your plan, and pivot to a different life direction? What do you do? Do you decide to take the risk, and pivot to that new direction? Or do you cling to your original plan that doesn’t make as much sense as it once might h...
Apr 12, 2023•39 min•Season 5Ep. 5
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 4 Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! In this episode our guest, Neil Hetherington, Seneca graduate, and CEO of the Daily Bread Food Bank, talks about how each of us can take steps to help end food insecurity in Toronto, and across Canada. In this episode Neil shares his journey from student at Seneca College, to the youngest CEO in the history of Habitat for Humanity in Toronto and New York, and then to his role as CEO of Daily Bread Food Bank. In this episod...
Mar 28, 2023•33 min•Season 5Ep. 4
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 3 Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! In this episode of the #SenecaProud podcast, we talk TikTok, TV, and chasing your dreams with Seneca College graduate Isabel Kanaan. Isabel shares her story of moving to Canada from the Philippines when she was a teenager, and what it was like to have to finish out her final year in high school in a completely new country. And while she dreamed of going into entertainment in the Philippines, the thought of her realizing th...
Mar 14, 2023•33 min•Season 5Ep. 3
About Today's Show Welcome to episode 2 Season 5 of #SenecaProud Podcast! In this episode we talk about sustainability, and Seneca's role as a signatory in the UN Global initiative known as PRME. PRME is an acronym that stands for "Principles for Responsible Management Education." The mandate of PRME is to bring the concept of sustainability into every management classroom, regardless of the subject. Our guest in today's episode, Shahrzad Farzinpak, is not only the Chair of the School of Human R...
Feb 28, 2023•28 min•Season 5Ep. 2
About Today's Show Welcome to the first episode of #SenecaProud Season 5! As in previous seasons, we launch Season 5 with an interview with Seneca College President, David Agnew. There's a lot that's changed in the year or so since President Agnew was on the podcast. While last year we were still in lock-down, this year, in-person classes are in full swing, students and teachers fill the hallways, and students are studying in the libraries. But it's definitely not the same as it was pre-pandemic...
Feb 14, 2023•35 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Today's episode revisits the conversations of Season 4. I've selected key moments of each conversation that, when heard together, form a uniquely Seneca tapestry of determination, grit, and a commitment to a better future. Every conversation demonstrates two very distinct, related themes: One theme is around working for a better future, and the other them is "Challenge Accepted." You'll hear how each guest is on their respective journey to live the mantra of "Challenge Accepted." Every one of ou...
Apr 05, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Seneca College recognizes the importance of making sustainable choices in everything we do, from food services, to construction projects, to how Seneca keeps its sidewalks safe for walking during the winter, and even to curriculum design. To help formalize the processes for making sustainable choices, Seneca College has created the newly established Office of Sustainability. Working with curriculum planners, procurement, professors, and more, the Office of Sustainability provides consultation an...
Mar 22, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 9
About Today's Show One of the big changes that’s happening at Seneca College is the teaching modality. While traditional classes have all been in person, and during COVID classes have just about entirely been online, as we return to Seneca we have more options. One of those options is called Flex, or HyFlex. In this kind of class, the professor will always conduct the class in a classroom, and students can either attend the class in person, view the class online, or watch the recorded class when...
Mar 09, 2022•39 min
About Today's Show In today's show we talk about Skoden, which is not only an Anishenawbe word that means, “Let’s go, then!” It’s also the name of a 12 week program at Seneca for faculty to begin to understand how to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into their course materials. The Skoden course is an intense 12 weeks, co-facilitated by our guest, and others from the Indigenous community at Seneca College, who share personal stories, colonial history, treaty history, and ultimately our collec...
Feb 23, 2022•38 min•Season 4Ep. 7
About Today's Show Today's episode takes us behind the scenes of Seneca College, with our guest, Vice-President, Academic, Marianne Marando. In "normal" times, VP Academic is a very tricky role. But these days, with so much change happening, it’s never been trickier, or more important. In this episode we'll hear about how Seneca is continuing to be a leader in providing flexible, accessible education and student experience. Also in this episode we talk about: 1. What will Seneca College look lik...
Feb 09, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 6
About Today's Show In this episode we meet the President of the Seneca Student Federation, Ritik Sharma. We review the role the Seneca Student Federation plays in the lives of all Seneca Students (click here for the website), and we also talk about the Seneca College Food bank (click here to visit the Food Bank's web page). Also in this episode, we also talk about: 1. Ritik's journey from volunteering, to wanting to do more for the student population at Seneca. 2. Some of the specific initiative...
Jan 25, 2022•23 min•Season 4Ep. 5
About Today's Show In this episode we sit down with Seneca College graduate Eunice Kays Yeboah, whose list of accomplishments since graduation include co-founding both the Canadian Black Policy Network, and the Toronto Black Policy Network. In her current role as Anti-Racism Policy Consultant with the TTC, Eunice provides key leadership for the integration and application of anti-racism and an anti-Black racism lens to systems, policies, and practices at the TTC. Also in this episode, we also ta...
Jan 11, 2022•42 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In this episode we sit down with two of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs in the spa industry and take a close look a how each of them responded to the COVID-19 lockdowns, discovered new ways to innovate, and emerge from the worst of the pandemic lockdowns ultimately stronger than they were pre-lockdown. Today’s Guests: Celine Tadrissi, and Elena Zinchenko Celine Tadrissi is the founder / owner of Hammam Spa by Céla . With 2 locations in Toronto, Hammam Spa has been one of Toronto’s most beautiful ...
Dec 16, 2021•42 min
About Today's Show Today's episode focuses on the SMILE Mentoring program at Seneca College. Smile is a mentorship program that puts new students in touch with a senior student mentor within a similar program area or identity who can support them in their transition to Seneca. And our guests today – we have two guests - are both students who participate in the SMILE program in different ways. Also in this episode, we also talk about: 1. Specifically how the SMILE mentors can help new students re...
Dec 14, 2021•29 min•Season 4Ep. 3
About Today's Show This episode is specifically directed to the students of Seneca who might be wondering about "life after "Seneca College." And that’s why we're so excited about our guest for this episode - Seneca Graduate, Joseph Osei Bonsu, who joins the podcast to talk about how he succeeded at Seneca, made friends, and learned what he needed for a career as a professional artist and illustrator. Also in this episode, we also talk about: 1. What it was like at Seneca, and how he overcame so...
Nov 30, 2021•28 min•Season 4Ep. 2
About Today's Show This episode is the first episode of #SenecaProud Season 4! And we kick off the season with an interview with Seneca College President, David Agnew. When we last spoke with President Agnew, things were a lot different. While Seneca College was completely closed with the exception of some key programs that absolutely required in-person teaching, there was still a lot going on. The transformative project, Au Large, was ramping up. (for more on what that project was about, you ca...
Nov 16, 2021•28 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Few would argue that the luxury spa industry requires among the highest standards of guest experience in the world, in which every detail is (or should be) designed not just to please you, or relax you, but to transform you into your better self. Our guest today, Jean-Guy de Gabriac, is one of the world’s foremost authorities on luxury spas. In this episode we discuss: The role of “flow” in every spa How designing the “guest experience” can begin at the architecture level The secret of creating ...
Jul 21, 2021•51 min
Super glad to be back with you! I took some time away from the podcast during this pandemic. And now that I’m back and this is going to be a GREAT show for you! Now that COVID is becoming part of our history, things are OPENING UP! We have the pandemic on the run! People are thinking about what it’s all going to be like when we can start calling things “normal.” One of those things is going to be weddings! Remember those? Lots of people, two of whom are pledging their life-long love and devotion...
Jul 07, 2021•35 min
About Today's Show In this episode, like we’ve done in previous sessions, we’re revisiting this season's conversations and taking a look at some common themes. While many themes emerged, such as returning to campus safely, the impact of the pandemic on how we live and work at Seneca, and of course the Au Large, one theme was present in every conversation. Each and every one of these conversations featured someone’s commitment to make things better. And beyond asking the difficult question, "How ...
Apr 06, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 10
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with Jo Gomes, Professor in the Social Service Worker Program, and Maureen Bornbaum, former Seneca Student (now faculty), co-authors of the ground-breaking study, The Experiences of LGBTTGNCQ+ Homeless Youth in York Region. (click here for a link to the report) According to some research, upwards of 40% of homeless youth belong to the LGBTTGNCQ+ community, yet, in 2017, how well this community is served by supporting agencies in York Region had rec...
Mar 23, 2021•55 min•Season 3Ep. 9
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with the Andrew Wickham, Professor, and Green Citizen Project Manager in FASET (Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering Technology). What does it mean to be environmentally sustainable? This is an important question, particularly in light of how we can live our lives as "Green Citizens." As well, as Seneca College plots a course for the future with the Au Large project, how does sustainability factor into that future? Also in this episode, we ta...
Mar 09, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 8
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with two guests: Dr. Frank Merante, Professor & Applied Research Coordinator at Seneca’s School of Biological Sciences and Applied Chemistry; and Chad Leaver, Director of Applied Research in Seneca Innovation. Seneca College, along with Seneca Innovation, and industry partners, are involved in some leading edge applied research that have amazing, practical outcomes that help save lives. In today’s show, we’ll look at a couple of those innovatio...
Feb 23, 2021•37 min•Season 3Ep. 7
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with the Professor Caroline Grammer, professor at the Social Service Worker – Gerontology (SSWG) Program. It’s no secret that this pandemic has impacted different people differently. While some people are experiencing the pandemic in a comfortable home, with easy access to technology and a job we can do remotely, for others, having a reliable Internet connection is a big deal. But what about the elderly? Providing even adequate care to that vulnera...
Feb 09, 2021•48 min•Season 3Ep. 6
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with the Dean of Students and Indigenous Education, Mark Solomon. What can Seneca do differently to foster an overarching culture of equity, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the College? What are those aspects of the Seneca process that exclude cultures, or genders, or abilities, because those processes evolved without the input of everyone who should have been at the table, so to speak, but weren’t. That's a really big question, and Senec...
Jan 26, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 5
About Today's Show In today's episode, we speak with the Seneca College Chief Information Officer, Radha Krishnan. Because of the pandemic, just about everything to do with Seneca College is online. So, whether you’re a student, staff member, or faculty member of Seneca College, you’ve been working with, and benefiting from, the work our guest and his team does. Whether that's sending an email, logging on to a course, or uploading an assignment, just about everything involves IT. This episode ta...
Jan 12, 2021•40 min•Season 3Ep. 4
SHOW NOTES Traditional retail has been on a slow, but steady decline for probably the last decade. So much so that retailers were getting super creative to find a way to bring you into the store. In-store mini concerts, dining options like great coffee shops or pop-up kitchens, were becoming a trend in some of the higher-end stores. And then – you guessed it – COVID-19 hit and the way we used to shop is pretty much history.So, since you probably can’t go to that favourite store of yours, or mayb...
Dec 08, 2020•30 min
