Conversations That Matter

Jonathan Manthorpe - A Career That Matters

Ep 8 Jonathan Manthorpe -MP3

International Journalist, Commentator, Author

 

The author of “Claws of the Panda” has been reporting to Canadians since 1965. His career has taken him around the world, interviewing and telling stories that affect Canadians. He is widely respected as a thoughtful and insightful reporter. 

 

He digs deep; he finds the elements of the story that matter when others either don’t have the time, the resources or the inclination to find information or identify trends that tell meaningful stories – stories that provide readers, listeners and viewers with insights that allow them to make informed decisions.

 

Jonathan Manthorpe shares his career path with us and provides us with a glimpse into the world. 

Dr Alessio Fasano - Careers That Matter

Ep 9 Dr Alessio Fasano

1. Allan Walker Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Massachusetts General Hospital 

 

Dr Fasano was born and raised in Italy, where he studied pediatric gastroenterology. He was determined to cure diarrhea – an elusive goal, one he failed to achieve. However, that failure led him on a path to new research that revealed zonulin, which regulates intestinal permeability. 

 

Then, in 2003, he published the results of an epidemiological study that demonstrated the scale of celiac disease in the United States. His work also includes the pathophysiology of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. 

 

Alessio Fasano shares his remarkable career in this episode of Careers That Matter.

Dr Valentina Zharkova, PhD, Solar Scientist on Careers That Matter

Ep 10 Dr Valentina Zharkova, PhD

Solar Scientist

Professor: Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering

 

Dr Zharkova’s work in examining the sun as it moves into a solar minimum in the late stages of solar cycle 24 and into solar cycle 25 has captured the interest of an international audience. Her work suggests the long range forecast for the sun in the next two or possible three solar cycles will lead to a dramatic decrease in the volume and intensity of solar radiation in our solar system.

 

The reduction in solar intensity has already allowed for an increase in cosmic rays entering our solar system and earth’s atmosphere. 

 

How does someone become an expert in solar polarity? How do you develop the skills to interpret solar activity with Parker’s two layer solar dynamo model as well as pattern recognition and classification?

 

Professor Zharkova shares her career path in this episode of Careers That Matter.

Amanda and Jeff Lee - Bee Keepin is the life for me

Ep 11 Amanda and Jeff Lee

Bee Keepin is the life for Me

 

Amanda and Jeff Lee were a Vancouver BC power couple, both key members of the Vancouver Sun and Postmedia newspaper group. Then one day, Amanda took a “Science of Fear” challenge put on by one of her clients. That challenge was to experience what is known as a “bee beard” – that’s where the queen bee was placed on a string around her neck and thousands of worker bees were released to climb up her throat and onto her face.

 

That was the beginning of an incredible journey that transformed her and Jeff’s lives. Goodbye newspaper business. Goodbye big city. And in the words of Green Acres theme song, “Farm Living Was the Life for Me” – bee keepin’ as a career is the place to be, land spreadin’ out so far and wide, Keep Vancouver, just give me that countryside. It was and is an adventure in agriculture and entrepreneurialism.

 

Amanda and Jeff share their career path in this episode of Careers That Matter.

Mark Selman - Indigenous Business

Ep 266

Guest: Mark Selman

Indigenous Business 

 

In his book “Resource Rulers,” Bill Gallagher points out that the key to Canada’s economic future is in the hands of indigenous organizations and individuals. He goes onto say that opportunities are boundless for anyone who chooses to engage with First Nations businesspeople, community leaders and governments.

 

Like all business relationships, the dynamics and the particulars of how to succeed are wrapped up in the intricate web of human relationships – relationships that take into account the culture, the rules and regulations, and the meeting of minds in the pursuit of a common objective.

 

We are on new ground in Canada. Moving forward, First Nations and non-indigenous organizations will be working together to develop resources and capitalize on opportunities in a manner that will bring employment, revenue and prosperity to territories that have languished in poverty under the Indian Act.

 

How then do we move forward? What are the business and cultural first-through 100 steps that need to be realized to ensure success? These are the questions being asked by everyone in business, be they First Nations or not.

 

We invited Mark Selman, the founding director of the Executive MBA program in Indigenous Business and Leadership, Beedie School of Business, to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the wealth of potential in doing business as or with indigenous organizations and individuals. 

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

 

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs 

Shauna Sylvester: Is Canadian Democracy in Trouble?

Ep 265

Guest: Shauna Sylvester

Is Canadian Democracy in Trouble?

 

The numbers are in and support for democracy in Canada is lower than you would expect. It's rebounding from a low of 65% in 2017 to 77% now. It is so low the Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue at SFU launched a study to figure out what is going on and why.

 

Back in 2005, it looked as if democracies around the world were thriving. Since then, the sense that a democracy is the best form of government has been slipping.

 

When support for democracy slips, other forms of government are often proposed. If and when there is an openness to another type of governance, that in turn can open the door to anti-system candidates or parties.

 

Trump and Brexit are two examples of anti-system responses. A party, an ideology or an individual will suggest there is another way to make the country great – and that other way is them.

 

We invited Shauna Sylvester of the Centre for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the state of democracy in Canada. 

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Morris J Wosk Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs

Jonathan Manthorpe - Claws of the Panda

Ep 264

Guest: Jonathan Manthorpe

Headline: Claws of the Panda

 

Does Canada have a distorted sense of its relationship with the government in Beijing? According to distinguished foreign correspondent and author Jonathan Manthorpe, we mistakenly think the government of the People’s Republic of China actually cares about what we think.

 

Wrong, says Manthorpe. They care what is said about them by foreign governments because they want to portray a utopian image of the economic miracle that continues to unfold in their country. Any criticism is quickly challenged internationally and silenced within their borders.

 

What is equally concerning to the government in Beijing, according to Manthorpe, is criticism from expats. In his book, “Claws of the Panda,” Manthorpe points out the ruling party keeps tabs on vocal opponents and lets them know they are watching and they are more than willing to include extended family members in their campaign to silence the voices they do not want to hear.

 

When our Prime Minister says he is going to talk to the government in Beijing about human rights and the rule of law, Manthorpe says all that does is irritate the Chinese government and throws a chill on government-to-government relations. Then add in the arrest of Meng Wanzhow of Huawei and the relationship turned icy cold with far reaching consequences that affect anyone who travels to or does business with China.

 

We invited Jonathan Manthorpe to join us for a Conversation That Matters about our distorted view of our relationship with China and how we might get it on track to accurately reflect its true nature – that being, we are a pawn in China’s North American strategy and we own natural resources their overheated economy requires.

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Morris J Wosk Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs

Valentina Zharkova - What does a Solar Minimum Mean to Temperature?

Ep 263

Guest: Valentina Zharkova

Headline: What does a Solar Minimum Mean to Temperature?

 

The sun is going through a stage known as a solar or Maunder Minimum. This is where the solar activity that ignites solar flares or sun spots has decreased. It’s a normal cycle and one that has been linked to the mini ice age that lasted more than 50 years starting in the mid-1600s.

 

According to space weather since 2015, the number of days without a recordable sun spot has been rising year over year. NOAA, NASA and others all appear to agree the sun is entering a solar minimum phase.

 

What it means is open to interpretation because as Professor William Happer pointed out when I asked him about the growing number of people and agencies that suggest a solar minimum could lead to a cooling off period, he directed me the Danish proverb: “It is difficult to make predictions, especially about the future.”

 

It has been suggested that mathematics can establish patterns and back them up with empirical evidence to support a prediction. We reached out to Professor of Mathematics Valentina Zharkova of Northumbria University, one of the first people to raise awareness of the decrease in solar activity, for a Conversation That Matters about the sun, its reduced activity and her reading of the impact it will have on temperatures on earth.

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs

Mario Canseco: Election Crystal Ball

Ep 262

Guest: Mario Canseco

Headline: Election Crystal Ball

 

The environment was supposed to dominate the 2019 election in Canada. However, long before the news of the Prime Minister in brownface broke, pollster Mario Canseco was saying he doubts climate will dominate. In fact, he says it is very difficult to say that one issue will resonate across the country. In Quebec and BC, yes, the environment is high on the agenda. In Alberta, resistance to climate policies top the polls. Ontario, the Maritimes and the Prairies all have different top issues.

 

Who do you see as your Prime Minister? This may be the polarizing question that will make people rally behind one leader or the other. The current prime minister has been battered and bruised by environmental decisions that are at odds with one another. On one hand, he wants to build a pipeline; on the other, he wants to stop the use of fossil fuels. He’s twice been found to have acted outside the ethics of the office he holds and still, he probably stands the best chance of calling Sussex Drive home for the next four years.

 

The challenge for voters is they don’t hate him the way they despised Steven Harper and they don’t love anyone else.

 

We invited Mario Canseco to join us for a Conversation That Matters about the myriad issues in play for the federal election in Canada and why picking a winner is becoming harder and harder.

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs

Luminaries

Ep 261

Guest: Ryan Beedie

Headline: Luminaries

 

The distribution of intelligence in society is fairly even, regardless of socio-economic circumstances. The distribution of educational resources at the primary and secondary school levels in British Columbia is relatively good albeit unevenly shared. Access to post secondary education is anything but even – in most circumstances, the difference is money.

 

What if money wasn’t an object? What if industrious students with drive and determination could find the money and get to university? These are questions Ryan Beedie pondered as he looked at the lost opportunity when students, and society as a whole, are denied access to post secondary education.

 

Ryan decided to do something about it. He created Luminaries, a scholarship program designed to fund the post secondary education of students of potential who are facing financial adversity. In addition to funding, Ryan went three or four steps further by engaging mentors who will support and encourage recipients. He worked with employers to find summer employment and he created an on-going network for luminaries, mentors and business leaders.

 

We invited Ryan Beedie to join us for a Conversation That Matters about ensuring promising young women and men can reach their full potential and why that is important to all of us.

 

Conversations That Matter is a partner program for the Center for Dialogue at Simon Fraser University. The production of this program is made possible thanks to the support of the following and viewers like you.

 

Please become a Patreon subscriber and support the production of this program, with a $1 pledge https://goo.gl/ypXyDs