Accidental Intellectual

Jaclyn A. Siegel, M.S. Psychology, joins us to discuss her research on gender, bodies and social justice, how her personal mental health journey has influenced her work, learning to balance the demands of academia with her values and relationships, and so much more!

Jaclyn Siegel is a doctoral fellow in the Network for Economic and Social Trends at Western University, where she is a Ph.D. candidate in Social Psychology. Her research explores a variety of topics related to gender roles, sexual objectification, eating disorders, body image, stigma, and collective action. Jaclyn is also a science communicator, and she hosts a podcast for which she interviews feminist scholars about their gender-related research. Through her research, advocacy, and activism, she is committed to making the world a better, safer place for women.

Follow Jaclyn on Twitter! Check out her website for more information about her research, great resources, Jaclyn’s blog, and to learn more about The Feminist Academic Podcast.

If you or someone you know is struggling with food, weight, body image, or an eating disorder, resources are available at the National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) website or NEDIC helpline (1-866-NEDIC-20 and 416-340-4156).

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Holly Boyne, Manon Feasson, Lauren Goldberg, Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Carolyn Lennox, Ph.D., C.Psych., joins us to discuss the changing landscape and importance of school-based mental health services, her career trajectory into School Psychology, the value of following your passion and interests, and so much more!

Dr. Carolyn Lennox is a registered Clinical and School Psychologist, and current Manager of Psychology Services in the Toronto District School Board, West Region, Learning Centre 4.   She received her M.Phil. in Clinical Psychology at the University of London, England, and completed her Ph.D. in Clinical-Developmental Psychology at York University. She is a member of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA), as well as the Executive Committee of the Psychology in Education section of OPA. Dr. Lennox is the president of the Association of Chief Psychologists with Ontario School Boards and co-chair of the Cross-Sectoral Psychology Working Group on Learning Disabilities. Her clinical interests include Autism, Learning Disabilities, dyslexia, and the reading process, and resilience. 

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Holly Boyne, Manon Feasson, Lauren Goldberg, Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Lesley A. Tarasoff, Ph.D., joins us to discuss her research and why it is so meaningful to her, boundary setting in academia, the importance of and wonderful things that come from sharing one’s story, and so much more!

Dr. Tarasoff is a CIHR-funded Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Health and Society at the University of Toronto Scarborough and the Azrieli Adult Neurodevelopmental Centre at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Primarily using qualitative methods, her program of research is concerned with understanding and addressing sexual, reproductive, perinatal, and mental health and health care disparities and inequities experienced by populations that have been historically overlooked and often stigmatized, namely women with disabilities and sexual minority women. She holds a Ph.D. in Public Health Sciences from the Dalla Lana School of Public at the University of Toronto. Dr. Tarasoff also holds an M.A. in Women and Gender Studies from the University of Toronto and a B.A. in History and Women’s Studies from Bishop’s University. She grew up in the beautiful Slocan Valley in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia.

Follow Lesley on Twitter and check out her website, here. 

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Holly Boyne, Manon Feasson, Lauren Goldberg, Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Rachel Cooper, B.A, joins us to discuss her path to academia, the importance of diverse voices in bioethics, her decision to speak publicly about her mother's medically assisted death, the ups and downs of virtual learning at the graduate level, and so much more!

Rachel is a Master of Bioethics candidate at Harvard Medical School, and a Fulbright Canada Student award recipient. She received her Honours BA in social development studies from the University of Waterloo. Rachel’s academic interests include psychiatric ethics, medical education, patient engagement, and qualitative research. She has been involved in many mental health initiatives across Ontario as an educator, researcher, advocate, and leader. Rachel is energized by the pursuit of information and knowledge in all forms, but she particularly enjoys podcasts and documentary films. Beyond her work, Rachel spends most of her free time with her toddler nephew, who is teaching her new ways to be curious about the world. 

Follow Rachel on Twitter. Find her open-access CMAJ article “Complicated gratitude: a letter to my mother’s physician” online.

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Holly Boyne, Manon Feasson, Lauren Goldberg, Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Tiyondah Fante-Coleman, M.A., joins us to discuss her work with the Pathways to Care project, barriers to care that exist for Black youth, her hopes for a more inclusive and equitable future, and so much more!

Tiyondah Fante-Coleman recently completed her MA in Community Psychology (2019) and her B.Sc. in Health Sciences (2016) at Wilfrid Laurier University. She currently works as a Researcher at the Pathways to Care project, an initiative that aims to increase access to mental healthcare services for Black youth in Ontario. Passionate about social justice and health equity, Tiyondah's research interests include exploring access to health care, mental health, and the cultural influences of sexuality, especially among young African, Caribbean, and Black people. In September 2021, Tiyondah will begin her Ph.D. at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health. In her spare time, Tiyondah can be found hanging out on the couch with her puppy, Sambuca.

Follow Tiyondah on Twitter. Find out more about the Pathways to Care project, here, and learn about the Black Health Alliance, here.

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Holly Boyne, Manon Feasson, Lauren Goldberg, Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com.

This special episode is our last for the season. There’s no guest interview; instead, we’ve selected the very best soundbites from the season and took some time as a team to reflect on all of the conversations we had with the wonderful guests on the podcast over the past year. Although each guest brought different expertise, opinions, and backgrounds from their corners of the health-world, we found that many of the themes that emerged shared similar lessons on failure, building community and connection, shaping a professional identity, enacting meaningful change, and how to take action. 

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Health journalist, André Picard, joins us to discuss his accidental journey into a journalism career, solving big problems with pragmatism and patience, the responsibility to listen to and share stories, and so much more!

André Picard is a health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail, where he has been a staff writer since 1987. André is a graduate of the University of Ottawa and Carleton University and has received honorary doctorates from six universities, including UBC and the University of Toronto. He is also the author of five bestselling books, including “Matters of Life and Death: Public Health Issues in Canada.” André is an eight-time nominee for the National Newspaper Awards, Canada’s top journalism prize, a past winner of the prestigious Michener Award for Meritorious Public Service Journalism, and received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, for his dedication to improving healthcare.

Follow André Picard on Twitter. Read his articles at The Globe and Mail and check out his website for other published work.

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Diana Burchell, MA, OCT, joins us to discuss her transition from a teaching career to a doctoral research program, her personal experiences with disability and accessibility services, her involvement in starting a virtual peer support community amidst COVID-19, and so much more!

Diana is a doctoral student in Developmental Psychology and Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. She is the project coordinator for the International Bilingual Education project at the University of Toronto, which is developing new interventions and assessments in four different languages. Her current research focuses on assessing at-risk and multilingual learners in French as a Second Language programs using dynamic assessment methods. Diana is a certified teacher in French (Immersion, Extended and Core), English and Special Education. She also has experience working with the exceptionality community. Diana is highly passionate about the intersection of French as a Second Language, Exceptionalities and Mental Health as a marginalized population. She previously obtained her International Bachelor of Arts in French Studies and English Studies at Glendon College (York University) as well as her teaching degree in French.

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Todd Cunningham, Ph.D, CPsych, joins us to discuss his research in assistive technology and academic interventions, his journey into the field, his reflections on using technology to make the field of psychology more equitable and accessible, and so much more!

Dr. Cunningham is a clinical and school psychologist, Assistant Professor (Teaching Stream) and Chair of the School and Clinical Child Psychology program at the University of Toronto. He also provides psychological services through his private practice. His research investigates the support of students with learning difficulties from assessment to interventions. Projects involve looking at new techniques in psychological assessments, evaluation of assistive technology, professional development in literacy and numeracy, and telepsychology. Dr. Cunningham has shared his expertise with parents, students, educators, school boards, and other professionals across North America.

Follow Dr. Todd Cunningham on Twitter. Find out more about his lab and research here!

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com. 

Jonathan Weiss, Ph.D., CPsych, joins us to discuss connectedness, listening carefully to your inner compass, the tremendous value of giving one's time for volunteerism, and so much more!

Dr. Weiss is a clinical psychologist and an associate professor in the Department of Psychology at York University. His research focuses on mental health in people with autism or with intellectual disabilities across the lifespan. He conducts studies on how people with developmental disabilities access mental health care and is interested in their service needs, use, and experiences. His work is also focused on understanding and supporting family wellness when at least one family member has a developmental disability. He is interested in program development and evaluation, and in particular on the impact of Special Olympics on the psychological well-being of participants, and of psychosocial interventions to promote resilience and improve the mental health of children and adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Weiss currently holds the York University Research Chair in Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disability Mental Health.

Follow Dr. Jonathan Weiss on Twitter. Find out more about his research program at York University, here, and more about the Canadian Special Olympics, here.

This episode of Accidental Intellectual is produced by Bronwyn Lamond, Rachael Lyon, Harrison McNaughtan, Stephanie Morris, Lee Propp, and Ariana Simone. Our theme music is by Alexandra Willet and our branding by Maxwell McNaughtan.

To learn more about the Accidental Intellectual podcast and get full show notes and a transcript of this episode, visit our website at www.accidentalintellectual.com.