Perfect timing for this episode to be released since it's almost time that a lot of our fresh grads are looking for jobs and their career paths after graduation. In this episode, Raven and Tosin discussed how we can examine and speak up about racial injustice, tokenism, EDI and delve deeper into why black employees are sometimes hesitant to open up in corporate settings, how to help employees overcome challenges, and ways we can all strengthen allyship in the workplace.

Visit Tosin's start up company, Welkom-U: https://www.welkom-u.ca | The focus is about providing tailored solutions to improve settlement and integration experiences for immigrants.

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

Welcome back to Talk of the Hill Podcast! It's been a whirlwind year but now we've returned with an important conversation along with our amazing guest speakers, Shogonya, Kola and Harmony. Following the death of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, an unarmed black man who pleaded that he couldn’t breathe while he was held down with a knee by a police officer, America is on fire. All across the US as well as Canada, thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in demand for justice and police accountability.

Social media activism is a form of protest or advocacy for a cause that uses social media channels. Because hashtags play a central role in mobilizing movements, the term is often used interchangeably with hashtag activism.It includes promoting awareness and showing solidarity through the use of hashtags, posts, and campaigns. Genuine social media activism is supported by concrete actions, donations, and measurable commitments to change but there have also been a lot of performative activism in media and arts. 

In this episode, we discuss how social media users interact with #BLM and, thus, modify the framing of the movement. And everyone reflects on their perspective as newcomers of Black Lives Matter and shares their new knowledge and point of view and how we can move forward from here. This episode is the first in a two-part series on Black Lives Matter. 

Check out Harmony's music album via this website https://www.przmlabel.com/press/all 

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

In this episode, we invited Disha Bisto who's a UNB alumna to share with us about her journey unlocking her intersectional identity after she arrived in Canada and how this journey has helped her to fully integrate who she is with the needs of this world.

Learn more about Disha's non-profit organization 'Written Support Ecrit SB Foundation' | https://www.writtensupportecritsbfoundation.org 

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

In this episode, we sat down with Ty MaGee (President of St. Thomas University Student's Union), Sofia Mehlitz (Internal Coordinator of the 203 Centre) & our favourite drag queens in the Fredericton area, Freeda Whales and Succubus to deep dive into the topics around 2SLGBTQIA+ communities, being queer in New Brunswick, coming out and the ongoing issues in these spaces including racism and transphobia. Freeda and Succubus also opened up about their experiences in the drag community and shared some tips on how people can get involved as a performer - "show up to our shows and have fun, we want to get to know you", said Freeda. 

Queer spaces in Fredericton area:

Social media handles:

The 203 Centre | Facebook | Instagram

Freeda Whales | Instagram

Succubus | Instagram

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

In this episode, co-hosts Xiuming and Niko chat with Hayden Richardson and Caen Squires from UNB’s Human Rights and Positive Environment Office (HRPEO). Their conversation highlights important resources and collaborative initiatives, including the new Chosen Name and Gender Identity Policy and EDI (Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) framework, that contribute to building a more compassionate, inclusive, and diverse campus community. HRPEO and their initiatives have a vital role to play in all of this and so do you; in fact, it all starts with you.

https://www.unb.ca/initiatives/equity-diversity-inclusion/index.html

https://ccdi.ca/ - UNB is an employer partner

With Halloween right around the corner, TOTH Podcast comes out with a short episode focused on this spooky holiday. We’ll explore the Celtic origins of Halloween and Jack-o-lanterns and hear the classic ghostly tales and legends from Vietnam and China. We recommend you to listen to this episode in the dark. 

You can follow the timestamps below for each one of the story:

Halloween and Jack-o-lanterns - 0:54

Beijing No.375 Bus - 5:37

The ghost of the empty can (a spooky children’s game) - 10:00

Sources:

Harrison’s Pumpkin Sacrifice: https://thebruns.ca/2021/10/11/pumpkin-sacrifice-tradition-spans-over-four-decades/

Roman God Janus: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus

Stingy Jack https://www.history.com/news/history-of-the-jack-o-lantern-irish-origins

The Story of the Jack-o-lantern (Jessica Traynor) https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/abroad/the-story-of-jack-o-lantern-if-you-knew-the-sufferings-of-that-forsaken-craythur-1.4065773

Mummering https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummering

Trick or Treating https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trick-or-treating

What is Samhain? (Cady Lang) https://time.com/5434659/halloween-pagan-origins-in-samhain/?utm_source=pocket_mylist

Samhain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samhain

The 5 most famous urban legends in China  https://pandayoo.com/2021/01/17/the-5-most-famous-urban-legends-in-china/ 

3 thrilling spooky games in Vietnam https://saigoneer.com/saigon-culture/2556-3-thrilling-vietnamese-games-to-play-during-the-month-of-ghosts 

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

We have an announcement to make - Tabatha and Hillary will be retiring from their roles as co-hosts for Talk of the Hill Podcast. However, we're thrilled to introduce you to our brand new co-hosts who will be taking over the stage, bringing more perspectives and continuing the enlightened conversations starting from...now! Listen to this short episode to learn a little bit about Ridhi, Niko and Xiuming.  

Niko Coady (She/Her/Hers), she's a fifth year arts student doing a double major in psychology and gender & women’s studies, and a certificate in family violence issues.

Xiuming "Xiu" Shi (She/Her/Hers) is a 2021 graduate from Renaissance College. She's the co-founder and co-president of Shades of Change—an organization that creates initiatives to fill the gaps for racism and discrimination education.

Ridhi Sharma (She/ Her/ Hers) is in her third year of Nursing. As a co-host, she wants to facilitate and collaborate on candid conversations that bring light to issues seen in our community but haven't received their due limelight yet.

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

Music used in this episode:

By The Light of the Silvery Moon by E's Jammy Jams Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...Music provided by FreeMusic109 https://youtube.com/FreeMusic109

Track: We Were Young — Vendredi [Audio Library Release]

Your co-hosts decided to mix things up this summer with a book review! We read Nghi Vo's magical realism retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Both stories are set in the hazy heat of a New York summer in the 1920s making for excellent summer time reading. Nghi Vo's reimagining of the classic is told through the eyes of Jordan Baker, an enigmatic side character in the original. Vo expands Jordan character to explore themes of race, sexuality, class, and magic with the hot and uproarious setting of New York becoming a literal underworld of intrigue. Listen in to hear our thoughts! Note - there will be spoilers so keep that in mind if you haven't yet read the book.

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

Music used in this episode:

By The Light of the Silvery Moon by E's Jammy Jams Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...Music provided by FreeMusic109 https://youtube.com/FreeMusic109

Track: We Were Young — Vendredi [Audio Library Release]

What does it mean to indigenize and decolonize our communities? How about our universities and academic disciplines? With the recent (and heartbreaking) discovery of hundreds more unmarked graves containing the remains of children taken by the Canadian state and placed in residential schools, these questions are being given increasing and long overdue attention across Turtle Island (and Canada). In this episode, our guests explore their own perspectives on indigenization & decolonization through the lens of their experiences as students in Forestry and Environmental Management at UNB.

Resources: 

Native Land Digital - https://native-land.ca/

The Wabanaki Collection -  https://www.wabanakicollection.com/

4020 Capstone Projects - https://www.unb.ca/fredericton/forestry/current-students/hands-on-learning/4020-capstone-projects.html  

The Medicine Walkers: A Guide to Indigenous Plants at the UNB Woodlot - https://medicinewalkers.wixsite.com/projectdescription

Meskeyi ("to make it right" - a word used in both Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqey) Working Group - https://www.facebook.com/UNBMeskeyiStudentSociety

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].

Music used in this episode:

Track: We Were Young — Vendredi [Audio Library Release]

Anti-Asian discrimination and racism have a long history in the U.S. and Canada and tend to worsen during periods of tension and fear. In honor of Asian Heritage Month this May, we’re hosting an array of diverse voices discussing their experiences and thoughts on historical events that highlight the challenges and struggles Asian immigrants and Asian Canadians have experienced for decades in Canada. By sharing these perspectives, we hope to promote understanding of others’ experiences to help celebrate and advocate for Asian communities. Let’s continue to educate, speak out, and uplift.

Trigger warning: Some audiences may find this episode upsetting. Please listen at your own discretion. 

Special thanks to Shades of Change and our guest speakers in this episode:

Xiuming Shi

Sohan Kobiri

Jharana Luitel

Bhavya Pratap Malhotra

Sue Tran

Anna Lee Leblanc

Gurleen Bansal

Tashi Yangzom Dorji

Shina Hoang

Tram Ngo

Zainab Salman

Wenxin Xue

Ella Nguyen

Winnie Shi | The Voice Podcast (Voice of Immigrant Canadians)

Shifa Taj

Duc Le

Ankita Menon

Nina Long

Asian Heritage Month Resources:

Questions about our podcast? Email [email protected].