The Conversation Piece

By The WalrusSociety & Culture News Technology

The Conversation Piece episodes

December 29, 2021 Natalie Bull: A Hope and a Prayer for Places of Faith
According to Statistics Canada, being a person of faith, or at least admitting to being a person of faith is becoming less popular. That might just be about the ebb and flow of our culture, and history may cycle again to make religion popular again, but in the meantime, the places that were built at the height of “worship culture” sit in disrepair and worse. And according to Natalie Bull, that is sad for more than just those who worship there. Bull is the Executive Director at The National Trust for Canada, and she spoke at The Walrus Talks Spirituality in 2016.
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10 min
December 15, 2021 Kerri Martin: Gratitude for Nature and Access to its Beauty
Immersing yourself in your subject is not a new concept. Actors do it. Engineers do it. Writers do it. But why is it important? According to wildlife photographer Kerri Martin, sometimes in pursuit of accurate representation, you can discover a deeper meaning in why you do what you do. And doing it in a conscious way has all kinds of benefits.

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8 min
December 01, 2021 Devyani Saltzman: Our Culture is at a Tipping Point
There are days when it may seem like we have solved the diversity issue in the arts here in Canada. When you look around and you finally see Indigenous books winning the biggest awards, and Black poets sharing the stage with their literary peers it starts to feel like hope. But according to Devyani Saltzman, who has led programming at the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Banff Centre, while we are getting better at promoting the individual people, we don’t do enough to create a safe space for true systemic change in our culture.

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9 min
November 17, 2021 Mark Henick: Surrendering to Discomfort
Many of us have experienced isolation over the past 18 months, which has taken a toll on our collective mental health. During these restless times, it’s natural to fight the feelings of loneliness, grief, and sadness. But as mental health advocate Mark Henick has learned, these feelings can be an excellent teacher if we’re willing to just … sit with them. Henick is an author and mental health advocate and he spoke at The Walrus Talks at Home: Mental Health in 2021.
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7 min
November 03, 2021 Carly Ziter: The Ecosystems in Our Cities
When you think of the natural world, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? To some, it might be National Park forests, the Great Lakes, or the Rocky Mountains.Carly Ziter spoke about the ecosphere that often receives less attention: the one living within our cities. Carly Ziter is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at Concordia University and member of the Smart, Sustainable, and Resilient Communities and Cities Research Group. She spoke at The Walrus Talks: Living Better in 2020.
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7 min
October 20, 2021 Roberta Jamieson: I Honour You by Giving, You Honour Me by Receiving
Canada has a lot of work to do to improve relationships with Indigenous communities. But how will we get there as a country? According to Roberta Jamieson, the solution goes beyond charity. It requires philanthropy based on Indigenous reciprocity. Roberta Jamieson is a Mohawk woman from Six Nations of the Grand River, Ontario. She is the former president and CEO of Indspire and is on the board of directors for RBC. She spoke at The Walrus Talks: Philanthropy in 2015.
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14 min
October 06, 2021 Steve Shih: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
In the midst of a pandemic, cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in Canada, so it makes sense that we have large laboratories for conducting cancer research. But according to Steve Shih, when it comes to building research facilities, bigger is not always better. This might be a moment (strategically) to think small. Shih is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Concordia University and he spoke at The Walrus Talks: Disruption in 2017.
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9 min
September 22, 2021 Damian Rogers: World Alzheimer's Day
Caring for a sick loved one is one of the hardest things a person can go through. But as Damian Rogers found out, it can also be an opportunity to learn how to live a more meaningful life. Damian Rogers is a poet, author, and teacher. She spoke at The Walrus Talks: Living Better in 2019.

A transcript of this episode is available on our website.
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9 min
September 08, 2021 Prerna Singh: Nationalism Is Not Always Bad for Democracy
Nationalism has become a bad word for many on the political spectrum, but according to Prerna Singh, it is a word people who believe in democracy should fight to take back from those who would use it to divide. It can be empowering. It can build nations and activate citizens. And most of all, it can motivate social change. Singh is a Mahatma Gandhi Associate Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Brown University and she spoke at The Walrus Talks: Boundaries in 2019.
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10 min
August 25, 2021 Vanessa Tait: Reclaiming Our Place in the Teepee
Indigenous women are among the most marginalized in Canada. In her talk, Vanessa Tait speaks about how the sacred roles they previously held in their communities have been dismantled through colonialism and how all Canadians need to work together to support them. Vanessa Tait is a Two-Spirit Cree woman from O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba. She is a Queen Elizabeth Scholar and has obtained a master’s in Indigenous development at the University of Winnipeg. She spoke at The Walrus Talks: We Desire a Better Country in 2017.
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10 min

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