Artists can’t give you a vaccine or tell leaders how to reopen the economy. But they do give you Netflix to binge-watch, music for your daily walks and books to distract you.

Janice Price, president of the Banff Centre, talks about why we turn to the arts in times of crisis. 

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These are some of our Walrus Talks that remind us of the powerful role mothers play and how their love can shape our future. Writer Lisa Moore talks about conversations between mothers and daughters, musician Pierre Kwenders reflects on the power of the matriarchs in his life and with her baby in her arms, artist Lido Pimienta describes the future of the arts.

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Dr. Kamran Khan is the founder of BlueDot, a tech company that works with doctors, engineers, scientists and AI to predict outbreaks and track the spread of infectious disease. 

Khan is a physician at St Mike’s Hospital in Toronto and the founder of BlueDot and he spoke at The Walrus Talks Disruption, presented by Concordia University. 

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When Margaret Atwood’s dystopic worlds begin to appear in our real lives, we know we’re in trouble. Canada’s oracular writer has written some of the scariest scenarios for our future. But she herself has hope. Something that we need when confronted with a worldwide pandemic with no end in sight. We’re not quite in Gilead, but some days, it feels too close for comfort.

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Physical distancing has real-world repercussions, and sometimes that comes out in expressions of fear or hate. Concordia University's Vivek Venkatesh lost his cousin in the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985 so he understands why people embrace extremism and hateful rhetoric. He also understands what it takes to become accepting and compassionate.

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How well do you know your neighbours? Probably way better than you did a few months ago. According to Concordia's Jennifer Mcgrath, your neighbourhood can have a surprising impact on your health. And she should know. She's an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and Director of the Pediatric Public Health Psychology Lab.

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Christa Couture wants to turn the idea of "getting better" on its head. 

Everywhere we go, we’re confronted by the language of betterment. Everything in your life needs to be optimized. Your Insta stories, your smoothies and even your days off need to be filled with wellness. But what about for those who are chronically ill, or grieving, or working from home, anxious about a spreading pandemic?

This is Christa Couture spoke at The Walrus Talks Living Better in November, 2019. 

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Physical distancing has become our new normal —standing metres apart, avoiding public spaces and large gatherings has become crucial to flattening the curve of COVID-19. But in a time where we’re all intentionally avoiding other humans, it’s now more important than ever to be listening to each other.

Shelagh Rogers is a Canadian treasure who has made a career out of listening to others. In the Talk you’re about to listen to, she explores one specific example of listening that goes beyond regular conversation. As an Honorary Witness for Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Rogers works tirelessly to listen to and document the stories of the survivors of Canadian residential schools.

In a time when we’re confining ourselves to our homes to stop a quick-spreading virus, we need to stay tuned in to what our communities are saying.

Shelagh Rogers spoke at The Walrus Talks National Tour: We Desire a Better Country. 

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We tend to think of loneliness as a state of mind. But what if we thought of it as a health issue? 

Andre Picard spoke at The Walrus Talks Healthy Cities in 2016 in Hamilton, Ontario. Watch all The Walrus Talks at youtube.com/walrustelevision

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