Next Big Thing

Perushka Gopalkista interviews Actress, Ann Pirvu. 

Ann Pirvu is a Toronto-based actress who has continued to make strides in the Canadian film industry. After arriving in Canada at the age of 12, her curiosity for directing and producing only grew stronger. With a journalism degree from Ryerson University, she produced lifestyle television all while creating “Pep Mag”, a digital magazine educating millennials about different aspects of positivity and emotional intelligence.  Since then she has also starred in many hit-television shows such as the CW’s “Reign”, CBC’s “Workin’ Moms” and Global TV’s “Remedy.” This October, fans can catch Ann Pirvu in her first feature film, “Learning to Love Again” on the W Network.

She is also the host of a weekly podcast talk show called Soul Sunday PepLive with Ann Pirvu.

Grace McGrenere speaks to Dr. Pamela Newkirk. 

In her latest book, “Diversity Inc.,” which was published in 2019, Dr. Pamela Newkirk, a journalist, author, multi-disciplinary scholar, and professor at New York University, examines how American institutions do little to address systemic racism within their own structures. Newkirk discusses how the term diversity has become too broad, eclipsing the issue of racial diversity all together. Diversity now encompasses marginalities like sexual orientation, gender, mental and physical incapacities.

Perushka Gopalkista speaks to singer/actress, Deborah Joy Winans for the Cover Story. 

Known for her role as Charity Greenleaf in the TV series, Greenleaf, Deborah Joy Winans continues to share her many gifts with the world. At a young age, Winans discovered a passion for acting. But later on, she was reminded of her innate musical abilities. She has starred alongside her brother, Juan Winans, in the musical, Born For This. With the release of her new single, I Won’t Stop Breathing, Winans is set to release an EP later this year. As an actor, she continues to use her time to grow and reflect,  all while staying rooted in her faith.

Perushka Gopalkista speaks to actress, Jennifer Sears. 

Since her role in Madea’s Family Reunion, Jennifer Sears has been working in Hollywood for fifteen years. In 2020, she’s also earned a role on the hit television show, Greenleaf and now Sears is coming to an even bigger screen. This December, she is set to star alongside Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy in Coming 2 America, the sequel from the 1988 film. Despite her success, Sears continues to devote her time to charity work, giving back to her community, as well as remaining humble and down to earth.

In this episode, Asha Swann speaks to Linda McQuaig, a Canadian non-fiction author, social critic, and journalist. She was called “Canada’s Michael Moore” by National Post. McQuiag is best known for her books which question massive privatization, corporate greed, Canadian economics, and how the super-wealthy corporate class harms the public interest. In 2010, McQuaig teamed up with Neil Brooks, a professor of tax policy at the Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto to write ‘The Trouble With Billionaires.’ The book received excellent reviews while debunking claims that billionaires earn their way to the top based on merit alone. McQuaig’s latest book, ‘The Sport and Prey of Capitalists,’ also received high reviews. The book critiques the privatization of Canadian public enterprises, making a compelling argument that in times of uncertainty, it is vital to depend on the public sphere and question the super-capitalist way of life.