TURN it up!

Sogand brings back the joy of school supplies and show how colour, texture, and simple crafts can make your brain feel safer, steadier, and more engaged. In this episode, Sogand connects nostalgia to real psychology and give you a low-cost way to reduce stress and build focus without chasing perfection. 

• Back-to-school supply nostalgia as a doorway to play and comfort 
• Colour psychology and visual novelty that boost attention and motivation 
• Childhood associations through autobiographical memory and sensory cues 
• Distinctive effect and colour-coding for stronger recall and learning 
• Dual coding theory and why visual notes feel more satisfying 
• Neuroplasticity benefits of coordinating hands, senses, and emotion 
• Flow states through creative focus and why time feels different 
• Stress relief through interrupting rumination with 15 to 20 minutes of making 
• Affordable ways to start with supplies you already have or buy second-hand 

Tune in to Wellbeing Wednesdays with Sogand on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com.

IG: @theuniversalradio

Sapreet sits down with Dr. Sunny Singh to talk about how a childhood vision challenge grew into a career in optometry and a multi-city clinic expansion. We also dig into the real work behind entrepreneurship, why giving back matters, and how cultural representation shapes confidence for the next generation.

• How early eye health struggles shaped Sunny’s path into optometry
• What it takes to run an optometry clinic beyond patient care
• Expanding practices across Calgary and Edmonton while managing growth
• Building Harmani and why the team believes in Alberta real estate
• Delayed gratification, reinvestment, and paying your staff first
• Choosing passion that lasts, with optometry as the anchor
• Giving back through time, support, and community sponsorship
• Cultural pride, representation, and why the signed jersey mattered

Stay connected with us on socials at the Universal Radio, and remember to follow us and stream us wherever you get your podcasts.

Book an appointment with Dr. Singh at Optical Warehouse Edmonton West, 8628 175 St NW, Edmonton, AB T5T 0M7, Across from West Edmonton Mall
Telephone: 587-400-7299

IG: @theuniversalradio

Ravia sits down with Kanwar Sandhu and Sonny Sekhon to explain why the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament at West Edmonton Mall feels like the loudest, most electric week in youth hockey. We share the traditions, the history, and the new push to build leadership and inclusivity alongside elite U10 competition. 

• What The Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament is and why it’s best on best U10 hockey 
• The shock factor of watching 9 and 10 year olds play at a pro level 
• How 472 alumni reaching the NHL changes how you see the rink 
• Favourite memories from the tournament including meeting NHL players and collecting signatures 
• What makes the experience special for kids and parents from swag to theme days 
• Where the tournament started and how it became a 37 year Edmonton tradition 
• What’s new this year including more teams and a skills combine 
• BRICK Leadership and why respect inclusivity character and kindness are taught on purpose 
• How parents are brought into the leadership work and why that matters 
• The When They Were 10 book and where to find it 

Tune in weekly on Mondays & Thursdays to TURN it up with Ravia on 97.9 FM or live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We talk with Edmonton City Councillor Keren Tang about what record rainfall reveals about stormwater capacity, flood response, and what residents can do before the next surge hits. We also connect everyday local issues in Ward Karhiio from schools and safety to transit operations, fireworks rules, disability policy anxiety, aging in place, and the realities of infill redevelopment. 

• How Edmonton’s drainage system works day to day and why surge events overwhelm it 
• Where residents can report flooding concerns and how the city and Epcor respond 
• Homeowner prep basics like sump pumps, downspouts, and clearing eavestroughs 
• What city council can and cannot do on school capacity and education policy 
• School zone safety limits after photo radar changes and what design can still do 
• Why a youth-focused violence prevention approach needs a community-wide lens 
• What constituents fear about the AISH to ADAP transition and why clarity matters 
• Why centralized fireworks shows reduce illegal backyard fireworks risks 
• How to enforce fireworks bylaws while pushing back on racist online narratives 
• Why the Valley Line Southeast operations change to ETS opens a chance to fine-tune signals 
• What aging in place looks like through transit, FCSS grants, and senior supports 
• How infill concerns break down and what the construction accountability program aims to fix 

Tune in weekly on Mondays & Thursdays to TURN it up with Ravia on 97.9 FM or live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We sit down with Edmonton artist JR Rhodes to unpack the meaning behind Awaiting King and why he’s ready to share a more personal, culture-rooted sound. We talk perfectionism, faith and family, plus the real behind-the-scenes work that turns singles into an EP people can live with. 

• The idea of being “chosen” while still waiting for the moment 
• Taking control of production and mixing to protect authenticity 
• Learning when to stop chasing perfect and actually release the art 
• Drawing inspiration from South Asian heritage, God, and his grandmother Elvira 
• Journaling and writing from different perspectives to shape each song 
• Going from sports kid to music nerd to taking the career seriously 
• Balancing long-term goals with small wins like nominations and placements 
• Testing songs through listening parties and consumer feedback 
• What’s next for the release timeline and his new single “Trying” 

Tune in weekly on Mondays & Thursdays to TURN it up with Ravia on 97.9 FM or live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We talk about climate anxiety as a real, complex response to climate change, and we name the grief, anger, guilt and dread that can come with it. We also focus on why this lands differently for the South Asian diaspora and share practical ways to cope without slipping into hopelessness. 

• Defining climate anxiety as an umbrella term that includes more than anxiety 
• Explaining why it is not a DSM diagnosis while still being legitimate and measurable 
• Personal triggers like adult allergies, rising pollen and wildfire smoke 
• Research snapshots on prevalence and who reports higher levels 
•The South Asian lens, including UNICEF risk rankings and wet bulb temperature 
• How floods, heat waves, monsoon shifts and air pollution shape daily life and future planning 
• Compounding stressors like school pressure, job markets and limited mental health supports 
• Coping tools: name it, set news boundaries, take small actions, find community 
• Grounding and body-based techniques for acute moments 


Tune in weekly with Gurjeet on Wellbeing Wednesdays at 6 PM on 97.9 FM or live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

Music is a direct line into memory, emotion, movement, and focus because the brain encodes sound alongside our life experiences. We connect the research to real life tools, from rhythm for rehab to playlists and nature sounds for nervous system regulation. 

• How the hippocampus links songs to autobiographical memories and strong emotions 
• What research suggests about music and memory recall in Alzheimer’s and dementia 
• Why rhythm activates motor networks and supports social bonding 
• How rhythmic auditory stimulation can help movement after stroke and in Parkinson’s 
• How music listening can boost creative thinking and cognitive flexibility 
• How music therapy supports mood, anxiety reduction, and emotional awareness 
• How tempo and sound frequencies can shift arousal, sleepiness, and attention 
• Simple self care playlist ideas for breathwork, journaling, comfort, and workouts 
• Why playing instruments supports executive control and neuroplasticity 
• How nature sounds and ASMR can reduce stress and restore attention 
 

Stay up to date with our podcasts on our socials at the Universal Radio and stream us wherever you get your podcasts. 

IG: @theuniversalradio

Ravia traces how Mendhi moves from a humble desert plant to one of the most meaningful wedding rituals across South Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and the diaspora in Canada. I also dig into what modern Mendhi nights look like now, and what respect and safety should mean when henna goes global. 

• The rise of new wedding add-ons like Y2K parties and what that says about changing culture 
• What henna is, how lawsone stains skin, and why the plant lasts for weeks 
• Henna’s history from ancient Egypt to the Indian subcontinent and beyond 
• How trade routes, religion, and migration spread henna across continents 
• What a South Asian Mendhi night looks like, from timing to paste ingredients to hidden initials 
• The meaning of songs, grief, joy, and a women-centred space 
• Regional styles like Moroccan geometric patterns and Gulf Khaleeji designs 
• Modernization through Instagram trends, Pinterest aesthetics, and professional wedding industries 
• Appreciation versus appropriation, plus the dangers of PPD “black henna” 


Tune in weekly on Mondays & Thursdays to TURN it up with Ravia on 97.9 FM or live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

IG: @theuniversalradio

We look at gratitude through neuroscience and psychology, and why it can feel like a lifeline when the world gets heavy. We share evidence-backed reasons gratitude works, plus simple practices you can use in minutes to shift attention without pretending problems do not exist. 

• Evidence that regular gratitude supports well-being and optimism 
• How gratitude engages brain networks tied to reward and moral cognition 
• Negativity bias and how mindfulness helps us notice good 
• Gratitude as a relationship-strengthening emotion that builds trust and reciprocity 
• Links to resilience, less rumination, better sleep quality, and healthier patterns 
• How grief and gratitude coexist and create psychological breathing room 
• Practical tools like gratitude journals, letters, mental subtraction, and exceptions 
• Short mindfulness practices like breathing pauses, body scans, and savour exercises 
 
Stay up to date with our podcasts on our socials at the Universal Radio and stream us wherever you get your podcasts. 

IG: @theuniversalradio