Curated Conversations

What if better cities and better workplaces start with the same question: what helps people truly thrive?

In this episode of Curated Conversations, host Sheliza Jamal sits down with Bo Aganaba — urban planner, founder of Good Being, and systems thinker — for a rich conversation on sustainability, leadership, play, and reimagining how we live and work.

Bo reflects on his journey from urban planning to building Good Being, unpacking how green spaces, biomimicry, community engagement, and a diasporic lens have shaped his approach to designing healthier environments. Together, Sheliza and Bo also dig into the limits of overused DEI language, the role of psychological safety and mindfulness at work, and why play may be one of our most underrated tools for creativity, learning, and well-being.

From workplace autonomy to ecological responsibility, this episode offers a thoughtful blueprint for anyone interested in more human-centered leadership, more joyful work, and more sustainable futures.

🔗 Connect with Bo Aganaba

Website: www.goodbeing.ca

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/biboye-bo-aganaba/

Instagram: @bo_aganaba

Email: [email protected]

What does it really cost to stand unapologetically in your identity and truth?

In this powerful episode of Created Conversations, host Sheliza Jamal sits down with award-winning author and storyteller Zain Bandali for a deeply candid conversation titled "The Cost of Being a Queer Muslim Author".

Zain opens up about the friction of navigating multiple identities and the realities of modern censorship. From his debut children’s book, Mehndi Boy, being banned in Little Rock, Arkansas, to facing prejudice and school pushback closer to home in Mississauga, Zain shares what happens when you refuse to pander to superficial labels.

If you are passionate about authentic storytelling, equity in publishing, and breaking down rigid social constructs, this is an episode you cannot afford to miss!

🔗 Connect with Zain

Website: www.zainbandali.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/Zenbanda

Buy Mehndi Boy: Available anywhere books are sold, including Annick Press and Amazon.

In this episode “A Therapist’s Blueprint to Humanizing Therapy”, we are joined by Sarah Ahmed, The POC Therapist, and founder of Leena, a mental health service by people who look like you. 

Sarah speaks about culturally relevant therapy, the humanization and decolonization of therapy practice, the importance of humour in life, and finding joy from our younger selves.

Learn more about Sarah and her work:

Hello Leena Online therapy in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia

IG: @ThePOCTherapist The POC Therapist 

IG: @helloleena_ Hello Leena

LinkedIN: Sarah Ahmed

🎙️ Season 3, Episode 24! 🎧

In this episode “It’s Just Lunch”, we are joined by Nadine Woods, Creative Director and CEO of Mayana Genevière™ Inc, the founder and executive director of Maternal Goddess® and developer of the patented ALUXTRA™. 

✨ Nadine gives insight on the changes and challenges that women experience post-birth. She speaks on the transition from birthing to motherhood and how there is a lack of focus on a mother’s needs. She also explains the stigma behind breastfeeding in public. 

Want to get in touch with Nadine?

• bustthestigma.com to sign the petition to take to Parliament

Listen to past episodes of Curated Conversations: https://open.spotify.com/show/4KEFVThjFai9wHJLvp8V72

Visit our website to learn more about Curated Leadership:  www.curatedleadership.com

In this episode we speak with Sandra Helou, CEO and Co-Founder of MetaMinds Group, a pioneering Metaverse and spatial web company.  Sandra talks about all things tech!  Listen to hear her thoughts on accessibility of technology, end-user awareness and responsibility, and self-governance of identity on the internet.  Find out what web3 actually even is!

Learn more about Sandra and her work:

LinkedIn

Metaminds Group Website

In this episode, we speak with Beisan Zubi, founder of antipalestinianracism.com

✨ As an advocate of anti-Palestinian racism in public education, Beisan discusses liberation, equality, futures, and hopes of Palestininans, anti-Semitism and active Jewish voices in the struggle, the current growing movements, and the importance of solidarity.

Want to learn more and connect with Beisan?

antipalestinianracism.com - Learning through resources and examples

LinkedIn 

In this episode, Sheliza speaks with Pardeep Singh Nagra, a multi-hyphenate Canadian.  As a lover of sport, human rights advocate, and action-based volunteer, Pardeep discusses his personal value as a citizen of Canada, responsibility towards civic engagement and reconciliation, human rights and racism in sports, and other topics important to all Canadians.  Pardeep also connects his Sikh heritage and faith to what it means to be “Canadian”.

Check out curatedleadership.com to learn more!  Don't forget to review and Rate our podcast.

Want more of Pardeep?  Visit his website:  www.pardeep.ca

In this episode, Curated Leadership founder, Sheliza Jamal, speaks with Omme-Salma Rahemtullah, Interim Executive Director of FoodShare South Carolina.

In this podcast, Sheliza and Omme discuss how food system are created, who has access to healthy choices, food apartheid, and how our grocery stores affect us without even knowing it!

Omme works on building advocacy and energy around state-wide policies such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) expansion and Healthy Bucks and assists regional Hubs to engage with their elected officials at all levels.  Join us to learn more about the Taste of Food Justice!

Want to learn more about Foodshare South Carolina?

Foodshare South Carolina

Omme-Salma's LinkedIn

Episode 19: The Cost of Volunteerism - This month, listen to our new episode of Curated Conversations where we speak with Faiza Venzant, Executive Director of the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration.  Faiza and Sheliza talk about who gets to volunteer, what it means to be able to give your time and resources to others and at what cost!

Nadia Bennett, the founder and CEO of When Brown Girls Lead, talks about the importance of leadership in developing anti-racist educational programs and schools. This conversation dives into Nadia's lived experiences as a student, educator and black woman. It raises many questions: how we can challenge the status quo in education, create psychologically safe and brave workplaces for women of colour, and what the future of equity, diversity, and inclusion in education could look like?

With over fifteen years of experience serving school districts, Nadia Bennett has successfully overseen the processes of change management, teacher and leader coaching, diversity, equity, & inclusion and building anti-racist school environments. As a school turnaround strategist for multiple charter organizations that serve communities of color, her work has produced consistent increases in student achievement, staff retention, and college acceptance rates. Now, as an Executive Leader, she supports districts both nationally and internationally.

https://www.nadiabennett.com/

https://www.instagram.com/whenbrowngirlslead/