TURN it up!

We connect caste to the music we stream and the pride we carry, tracing how power moves through South Asian culture from temple traditions to Punjabi pop. We sit with Sikh commitments to equality, name how caste discrimination shows up in Canada, and look at how Dalit artists use music to document life and fight back. 

• Defining caste as a system of birth-based hierarchy and why the four-varna model misses lived reality 

• Naming Dalit as a reclaimed identity and why caste persists despite being outlawed 

• Linking Sikh Heritage Month to the gap between equality in doctrine and caste in social practice 

• Explaining how caste travels into the diaspora through migration, capital, and community institutions 

• Pointing to Canadian and US examples where caste discrimination is formally recognised 

• Outlining Brahmin gatekeeping in Carnatic music and how access to instruments and spaces is policed 

• Highlighting Dalit music as resistance through folk traditions and projects like The Casteless Collective 

• Tracking Punjabi pop’s global rise and the normalisation of Jatt identity as “just Punjabi” 

• Questioning what caste signalling does to listeners seeking identity in Canada and beyond

• Sharing ways to listen differently by asking who is centred and who gets erased 

Thank you for listening, you can hear Ravia every Thursday on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We celebrate Vaisakhi with Alberta’s Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi and dig into what the day means beyond the festivities. We connect seva to leadership, community resilience, and the choice to push back against division with steady acts of service. 

• Vaisakhi as a time to reconnect with faith, family, and shared values 
• Seva as the foundation of community life and public service 
• Nagar Kirtan as a religious procession that builds neighbour-to-neighbour connection 
• A story of a bird fighting a forest fire as a guide for responding to racism and hate crimes 
• The Guru Nanak Free Kitchen and what food insecurity reveals about Calgary 
• Sikh Heritage Month in Alberta and what celebration can teach about belonging 
• Canadian unity, Alberta separatism concerns, and choosing to “put out the fire” 

Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We explore hobbymaxxing as a practical way to reduce stress, build joy, and make life feel like it has real chapters again. We define what a hobby is, why it works on the brain and body, and how to start even if time and money feel tight. 

• Hobbies as privilege of time and energy 
• Separating hobby from job or passing interest 
• Journaling prompt to name what feels stressful 
• Intentional hobbies vs passive leisure like scrolling 
• Permission to be bad and still benefit 
• Research links to happiness and lower depression symptoms 
• Cortisol reduction through art-making and leisure 
• Nature time and micro breaks for mood and focus 
• Hobbies as a complement to therapy and professional care 
• Flow state as a mental reset and creativity boost 
• Social hobbies to reduce loneliness and build community 
• Long-term brain health through neuroplasticity and consistency 
• Starting with curiosity and making small time blocks 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We sit down with Anmol Magic to trace his path from learning magic during months of bed rest to landing major stages with his Out Of This World Tour. 

We also get into the real mechanics behind his success, from restaurant gigs in Canada to the psychology and storytelling that make audiences come back. 

• Turning an accident into a focused practise period 
• Choosing to never be average and chasing big stages 
• The pressure and payoff of India’s Got Talent auditions 
• Navigating family concerns about cards and perception 
• Performing hundreds of shows then facing shutdowns 
• Restarting in Canada with Wendy’s work and restaurant magic 
• Building a family-friendly theatre experience 
• Why every crowd changes the outcome of a trick 
• The magician skill stack: mechanics, presentation, psychology 
• Capturing ideas in notebooks and testing new routines live 
• Growing through collaborations and filming a magic series 
• Touring mindset, manifestation, and preparing for arenas 

Tune in to The Universal Radio Network daily on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

I geek out over South Asian superheroes, from Marvel trailblazers to homegrown comic legends, and why seeing ourselves as heroes actually changes how we move through the world. The big takeaway is that power does not come from erasing our identity, it comes from embracing our heritage and showing up for our communities. 

• Why representation in superhero stories matters for South Asian kids and the diaspora 
• Bollywood superhero films that shaped the genre and the questions they raise 
• Ms. Marvel as Kamala Khan and the impact of a Pakistani American Muslim lead 
• What makes the Disney Plus series feel real, from code-switching to Eid to family dynamics 
• Dr. Faiza Hussain as an NHS doctor superhero who wields Excalibur with dignity 
• Nagraj as a myth-rooted Indian comic icon and proof of homegrown worldbuilding 
• Super Commando Dhruva and heroism built on intellect and moral courage 
• DC’s Solstice and a teen hero origin linked to travel, archaeology and friendship 
• Priya Shakti and using comics to fight gender-based violence 
• Team Muhafiz and redefining heroes as everyday people in solidarity 
• Enigma as Marvel’s Bangladeshi superheroine and the Dhaka Comics Universe as local storytelling 

Thank you for listening, you can hear Ravia every Thursday on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We unpack what the research actually says about video games and mental health, including when gaming can support focus, mood, and connection and when it starts to work against your wellbeing. Dr. Veen Wong joins us to explain how her Bold Sky project uses a video game to challenge harmful gender norms as a prevention tool for gender-based violence.

• Why we built Wellbeing Wednesday to make hard mental health topics easier to hold
• A journaling prompt centred on what your best self does today
• Why cost and access push us to look for scalable mental health supports
• Evidence on cognitive benefits from commercial video games
• How role-playing games can challenge rigid thinking patterns
• The real risks of overuse including injury, sleep disruption, and addiction concerns
• Why prevention matters in intimate partner violence work
• What gender transformative approaches mean in practice
• How a single-player game can reduce stigma and improve access
• The meaning behind the name Bold Sky and what it signals about change

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We connect Irish Heritage Month to a bigger story about diaspora, resilience, and how communities build belonging across borders. We travel from South Asians in Ireland to Delhi To Dublin’s genre-blending sound, then land in Canada’s music scene with a practical primer on the Junos and who to watch.

• Irish Heritage Month as celebration and reflection on diaspora
• Irish migration to Canada and the racism Irish communities faced
• Early South Asian presence in Ireland through sailors and medical schools
• Anti-colonial solidarity between Ireland and South Asia
• Yeats and Tagore as a cultural bridge across empires
• Modern South Asian life in Ireland including community growth and anti-racism needs
• Leo Varadkar and what representation signals about belonging
• Delhi To Dublin as proof you can hold multiple cultures at once
• Why the Junos exist through CanCon and Canadian music policy
• South Asian Music Recording Of The Year nominees and why it matters
• Alberta shout-outs including Noella Charles and other local nominees

Thank you for listening, you can hear Ravia every Thursday on 97.9 FM or through our live-stream at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We talk about how racism can shape mental health outcomes even when race itself isn’t biological, and why the harm is still measurable in the body and in healthcare systems. We connect research, lived experience, and practical reflection to name racial trauma, unpack mistrust, and hold on to resilience while pushing for systemic change. 

• Springtime grounding and noticing how nature affects mood 
• Journaling prompt on doing something purely for yourself 
• Pacing the conversation and taking breaks when needed 
• Race as a social construct and racism as observable harm 
• Racial trauma and allostatic load as chronic stress buildup 
• Why data matters when communities say care feels unequal 
• Evidence on disparities in inpatient psychiatric restraint 
• Workforce gaps and the value of cultural match in therapy 
• Medical mistrust and the Chapati study as an ethics warning 
• Intergenerational trauma, epigenetics, and famine examples 
• DSM-5 not formally recognizing racial trauma and the risk of misdiagnosis 
• Limits of individual therapy for systemic racism 
• Social determinants of health and the need for top-down policy change 
• Resilience, cultural connection, and the science of repair 
• Practical ways to challenge bias in daily life 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio

We sit down with Myrna Khan, Executive Director of the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation, to talk about immigrant roots, career risks, and what it takes to lead inside hockey culture. We dig into women’s hockey growth in Edmonton, practical ways to open doors for girls and newcomers, and why speaking up is one of the simplest forms of support. 

• Myrna’s path from Edmonton to McGill University then CN Rail and corporate sustainability 
• Returning home for community, family, and a more grounded life 
• Navigating a male-dominated hockey industry through confidence and competence 
• Work-life balance during the season with strong family support 
• Career advice that sticks: be bold, be curious, be kind 
• Women’s Hockey Advisory Committee and efforts to grow women in hockey business 
• PWHL excitement in Edmonton and what representation feels like in the arena 
• Even Strength programming and building a hockey pathway for girls 
• Making hockey less intimidating for new Canadians and underrepresented communities 
• A simple ally move that changes rooms: speaking up when a remark crosses the line 

Remember to follow us across socials @theuniversalradio. Tune in daily on 97.9 FM in Edmonton and worldwide through our streaming platform at  www.theuniversalradio.com.

IG: @theuniversalradio

We explore what healthy friendships look like and why social circles matter for happiness, mental health, and the long game of life. We get practical about choosing relationships that feel safe and supportive, while also learning how to show up better for others. 

• Friendships as a key part of well-being and life satisfaction 
• Recognising different friends for different seasons of life 
• A simple prompt to reach out and reconnect 
• Everyday human connection beyond close friends 
• Research on social support, depression risk, and longevity 
• Signs of high-quality friendship like trust, safety, and time 
• Checking your own habits and practising clear communication 
• The value of acquaintances and weak ties 
• Easy ways to start small talk and connect with strangers 
• Perfectionism and judgement as a barrier to closeness 
• Loneliness trends before and after the pandemic 
• Why friendships still matter when you are partnered 

Tune in weekly to Wellbeing Wednesday with Gurjeet Gill on The Universal Radio Network, 97.9 FM in Edmonton, or globally at www.theuniversalradio.com

IG: @theuniversalradio