An image of "What's the big idea?" podcast logo.

Listen now: The future of Hudson Bay with Feiyue Wang

As UM president, I want to invite our community to think big, and support the big ideas that move us forward. In my podcast, we explore what ignites a big idea and the courage to act upon it.
Michael Benarroch University of Manitoba

Episodes

Subscribe to the series and watch for a new episode each month.

Upcoming episodes

More about Amanda Lang

Amanda Lang is an award-winning business journalist who has been covering North America’s top business stories for over 25 years. She is currently the host of Taking Stock, a national show on CTV. She was previously an anchor for Bloomberg Television Canada, and CBC’s senior business correspondent, regularly appearing on the flagship program The National and on her daily show, The Exchange with Amanda Lang, CBC’s daily business program.

She is the author of The Power of Why, and The Beauty of Discomfort and a Senior Fellow at the Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. She understands business and politics from a variety of intimate angles as both her father and stepfather were federal cabinet ministers, and she will join UM President Michael Benarroch in a compelling conversation that provides insights you won’t want to miss.

Episode archive

Season 2

Episode 01: Menopause, menstruation and the weaponization of women's health with Dr. Jen Gunter

This episode features guest host, UM Chancellor, Anne Mahon in conversation with Dr. Jen Gunter, talking about misinformation in women’s health, despite the fact accurate information is readily available. In 2023, women’s health is still being weaponized for profit. 

Dr. Jen Gunter is a UM alum and New York Times best-selling author of the Vagina Bible and the Menopause Manifesto. As a board certified OB/GYN in both Canada and the United States, she is a candid advocate for women and science.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts 

Episode 02: Climbing the mountain of Reconciliation with Niigaan Sinclair

Listen in to President Benarroch and special guest Dr. Sinclair as they unpack "the big idea" that we are all deeply invested in Reconciliation, whether we recognize it or not.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 03: Feeding the world without costing the Earth with Associate Dean (Research), Nazim Cicek

Tune in to UM researcher, Nazim Cicek talking about how agriculture practices are connected to the health of the entire planet and how UM research is advancing agriculture to produce food that can both nourish and sustain our world.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 04: How leaders can remain relevant in the changing global context with Suzanne Gagnon

As the inaugural Director of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, an Associate Professor in Leadership and Organization, and the Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education at the Asper School Business, Gagnon’s big idea is that leaders need to lead from the outside in – that you cannot lead effectively in today’s world without knowing you are embedded in a deeply interconnected, global system.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 05: How talking about mental illness can help us thrive featuring Dr. Joss Reimer

Dr. Joss Reimer is a two-time UM alum, President-Elect of the Canadian Medical Association, Chief Medical Officer for the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, and she led Manitoba's COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force. In this episode, she candidly shares about her mental health and the depression she has managed throughout her adult life. Through the lens of her personal and professional experience, she speaks to how we need to invest in the proper supports to ensure everyone can thrive.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 06: Why breastmilk matters to all of us with Dr. Meghan Azad

Dr. Azad and President Benarroch discuss how UM is leading globally unique work on the significance of infant nutrition and how this impacts policy decisions and our understanding of human health. Dr. Azad is a professor of pediatrics and child health and a Canada Research Chair. She holds a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Developmental Origins of Chronic Disease and her research program is focused on the role of infant nutrition and the microbiome in child growth, development and resilience.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts 

Episode 07: What you need to know about climate change with sea-ice expert, Julienne Stroeve

The story of climate change is going to unfold differently than many people assume. That, professor Julienne Stroeve will argue, is because scientists and policymakers have been too conservative in their language. Climate change will make Canada a different country in 20 years, for better and worse.

Dr. Stroeve is a Canada 150 Research Chair at the University of Manitoba and a global expert on sea ice and climate change.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Season 1

Episode 01: Cosmology and Beyond with Dr. James Peebles

The first episode in this podcast series features President Benarroch in conversation with leading astrophysicist, Nobel Laureate and the Albert Einstein Professor Emeritus at Princeton, Dr. James Peebles [BSc(Hons)/58, DSc/89].

Together, they'll unpack some of Dr. Peebles's groundbreaking work that has been vital to our understanding of the universe, including topics like the Big Bang Theory and dark matter. We'll also hear from a UM student and aspiring astrophysicist, and hear Dr. Peebles take questions from our live audience.

Bonus content: Watch a behind the scenes sneak peek of Episode 01.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 02: Anti-Racism in Medical Education with Dr. Marcia Anderson

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with vice-dean of Indigenous health, social justice and anti-racism at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, and Doctors Manitoba 2022 “Physician of the Year” Dr. Marcia Anderson [MD/02].

Together, they’ll discuss how the University of Manitoba can further ground medical education in anti-racist practices and provide greater health equity for Canada’s Indigenous, Black and racialized communities.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 03: Cultivating Deep Inclusion with Queer Education Researcher Dr. Robert Mizzi

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Canada Research Chair in Queer, Community, and Diversity Education and associate professor in the Faculty of Education, Dr. Robert Mizzi. Together, they’ll discuss Dr. Mizzi’s ideas around “deep inclusion,” and how the University of Manitoba can continue to make strides in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 04: Creating a Home for Survivors’ Stories with NCTR director Stephanie Scott

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with executive director of the National Center for Truth and Reconciliation, Stephanie Scott. Together they discuss the lasting effects of Canada’s residential school system and the forced separation of Indigenous families. They explore how we as a university can help heal these wounds and plot a path forward to true Reconciliation.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 05: How Canada Can Become a Global Public Health Leader with Dr. James Blanchard

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with executive director of the Institute for Global Public Health Dr. James Blanchard. Together they’ll discuss how the University of Manitoba can be at the center of engaging the academic sector in global public health and how Canada can become a world leader in this field.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 06: Understanding Indigenous Self-Determination and Water Rights with Dr. Nicole Wilson

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with Indigenous peoples' water rights researcher Dr. Nicole Wilson. Together they’ll discuss how Canada can better understand, govern and enhance Indigenous self-determination over water rights.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Episode 07: Why Guaranteed Income is Affordable, Effective and Just with Economist Evelyn Forget

This episode features President Michael Benarroch in conversation with economist and academic director of Manitoba Research Data Centre Evelyn Forget. Together they’ll discuss how a basic income guarantee is not only possible and affordable, but an effective and just way to reduce poverty in Canada.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts

Where to find "What's the big idea?"