Here is our first-ever collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western’s 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills. GradCast will feature selected students to discuss their research every third Tuesday of the month!

Hosts Meghan Voll and Maris Schneider chat with Charmaine Iormetti, who recently completed her Masters of Music (MMus) in Literature and Performance (Voice) degree in the Don Wright Faculty of Music and is currently a Music Instructor at Riverbend Academy and Sound in Motion Studio. Charmaine’s research looks at how the larynx and vocal tract produce and filter vocal qualities so singers can ensure emotionally compelling performances. Charmaine shares her interest in vocal pedagogy, the discipline of understanding the singing instrument and how it optimizes sound. She also shares her favourite musical repertoires, tips on having a healthy sound and her experiences with Inspiring Minds.

You can find Charmaine on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Here is her work with Inspiring Minds and some of the musical repertoires mentioned: Tosca, La Bohème, Turandot, Madama Butterfly and Wagner's Wesendonck Liede.

Recorded on November 12, 2024

Produced by Maria Khan

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Katie McCoy, a PhD candidate in political science, joins Liam Clifford and Garth Casbourn. She tells us about her research on why people vote how they do, especially in rural communities. She also discusses how MPs from rural areas may differ in behaviour compared to urban MPs.

Recorded on November 6, 2024

Produced by Riya Sidhu

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Host Mark Ambrogio welcomes John Hutchenreuther, a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environment, to discuss the transformative potential of the "15-minute city" in urban planning. John’s research envisions a shift towards walkable cities, where essential amenities are accessible within a short walk or bike ride, making cars a choice rather than a necessity. He delves into the challenges in cities like London, Ontario, and explains how North American urban development, particularly after World War II, heavily favored car infrastructure. This, he notes, often left residential neighborhoods without local stores and services, compelling residents to drive for daily needs. John also discusses the inefficiencies of car-dominated roads, advocating for safer, more pedestrian-friendly environments that prioritize people over vehicles, ultimately fostering more sustainable and inclusive urban spaces.

Recorded on October 29, 2024

Produced by Mohammad Zeraati

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

This week, hosts Garth Casbourn and kirstyn seanor are joined by Eric Scarfone, a Master of Media in Journalism and Communication (MMJC) student in the Faculty of Information and Media Studies. Eric talks about his transition from undergraduate to graduate studies and delves deeper into what the MMJC program entails. He shares his goals in broadcasting and what is a part of good journalistic storytelling. He also talks about his involvement in student government and at Radio Western, hosting “On the Eric” and newscasts. To keep up to date, follow Eric on Instagram @escarf12

Recorded on October 22, 2024.

Produced by Maria Khan

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

For our fifth installment of our book club series, the #BookCast team read Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi. Join us for a discussion led by Garth Casbourn with co-hosts Meghan Voll, Riya Sidhu, and Scott Walters.

We dive into the complex narrative of Gifty, a young scientist getting her PhD at Stanford, attempting to discover secrets behind addictive behavior. This story is one of grief, hope, childhood trauma, conflicts between faith and science, and racism and immigration in North America.

We'll cover many of the books themes and writing devices, its approach at describing science and graduate student life, and talk about the challenges faced by the protagonist both in the lab and her difficult past.

ADVISORY: This book has themes of addiction and overdose that are central to the story. In the second part of our conversation, we dive into these topics. Some listeners may wish to either avoid or prepare for this portion of our episode.

Airing October 31th at 11 AM on Radio Western.

Recorded on October 2, 2024

Produced by Scott Walters

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ Produced by White Hot

This week, hosts Mark Ambrogio and Ryan Baxter are joined by Lauren Jarman, a Masters of Music Education Candidate in the Don Wright Faculty of Music. Her research is focused on the impact of policy, globalization and neoliberalism and how it affects students with disabilities through a windband pedagogy. Lauren explores how AI and technology enable learning for musicians and how it can improve student and teacher experience. She also talks about her involvement in student government and her own experiences with disability as a student.

Recorded on October 15, 2024

Produced by Maria Khan

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot)

Hosts Anthony Cruz and Meghan Voll are joined by Emiko Muraki, a PhD candidate with the University of Calgary, and a visiting PhD student at Western University. Emiko studies how context and differences between people affect how we learn and use concepts, and understand language. She also studied people with aphantasia, who can't form mental images, and found that they may still engage in sensorimotor simulation during semantic processing, even if they lack conscious, voluntary imagery.

Recorded on October 8, 2024.

Produced by Bruno Mesquita.

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Hosts Mark Ambrogio and Meghan Voll are joined by Shengpei (Leslie) Li, a Ph.D. student in Media Studies. Leslie discusses his research on rap music in China and the politics surrounding it.

Recorded on October 1, 2024.

Produced by Riya Sidhu

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).