Alright, Now What?
Society & Culture
About
Gender equality and justice, where we live, work, learn, and play is the goal, and it makes life better for everyone. Our podcast, Alright, Now What?, remains a space where we ask How do we move from awareness to action?, but this season we’re also Shifting the Story. Through powerful storytelling, expert interviews, and bold conversations, we’ll highlight community-based solutions, uncover systemic barriers, and explore what true equity can look like, especially for those who are too often silenced or overlooked.
Episodes
- Rethinking Truths and Meaningful Conflict Transformations With Somia Sadiq
Somia Sadiq, a planner and founder of Narratives, discusses her work in engagement, conflict transformation, and amplifying unheard voices. She also founded Kahanee and Ravayat, a non-profit for peacebuilding through storytelling.
- Storytelling as a Tool for Connection With Hailey Hechtman
Hailey Hechtman, Executive Director of Unsinkable, discusses storytelling as a tool for connection and its role in building more compassionate systems of care. She shares her experience in leading Unsinkable, a mental health storytelling o…
- From the archives: Call it abuse
This episode revisits a discussion with Bernadette, a survivor of intimate partner violence who now works as a court advocate. She shares her experiences with emotional, verbal, and physical abuse, and discusses the importance of language…
- Learning, Unlearning, Rest, and Reclamation With Selam Debs
Selam Debs, an antiracism educator and social justice advocate, discusses themes of learning, unlearning, rest, and reclamation. She also advocates for 2SLGBTQ+ and disability rights.
- Building Confidence Through Sport With Olivia Ho
Olivia Ho, founder of The Give and Grow, joins the podcast to discuss her work in using sport to build confidence and transform lives, particularly for women and girls. She shares her experience in designing sport programs and community in…
- Bonus episode: In conversation with Diana Fox Carney
In this bonus episode of "Alright, Now What?", Mitzie Hunter of the Canadian Women's Foundation interviews Diana Fox Carney. They discuss Carney's work as an economist and climate expert, focusing on climate action, economic decision-makin…
- Impact On and Off the Pitch With Farkhunda Muhtaj
Farkhunda Muhtaj is an Afghan-Canadian football player and social activist. She discusses her role in the 2021 evacuation of the Afghan Youth Women’s National Football Team and their families.
- Intersectional, Anti-racist, and Feminist Leadership With Esther Enyolu
This episode features Esther Enyolu, who discusses leadership from an anti-racist, anti-oppression, and feminist perspective. She has over 30 years of experience in the human services field and has held various leadership roles.
- The Power of Storytelling and Hope with Angela Sterritt
Angela Sterritt, an award-winning investigative journalist and author, discusses storytelling and hope. She is known for her work as a journalist and her national bestselling book, Unbroken.
- Curiosity, Care and Values-based Change with Paul Taylor
Paul Taylor, an anti-poverty activist and former Executive Director of FoodShare Toronto, is featured in this episode. He discusses curiosity, care, and values-based change.
- Gender Equality and Economic Justice With Meseret Haileyesus
Meseret Haileyesus, a leader in advocacy, discusses gender equality and economic justice. She shares her insights on preventing economic abuse in Canada and highlights the importance of financial safety for survivors. The discussion explor…
- Grounding, alignment and healing With Jolene McDonald
In this episode, Jolene McDonald, an Indigenous wellness practitioner, discusses grassroots care and methods for reconnecting with self and community. She explores integrating practices such as yoga, Reiki, and life coaching.
- Consistency, Care and Connection With Michelle Osbourne
Michelle Osbourne, an Empowerment Speaker and Self-Image Activist, discusses themes of confidence and taking up space. She is also the founder of Michelle Osbourne & Co.
- Shifting the Story on Gender-Based Violence With Jana Pruden
Jana Pruden, an award-winning journalist, discusses her work reporting on gender-based violence and how these cases navigate the justice system. She highlights the critical role of accurate and ethical storytelling in journalism today.
- Authentic Entrepreneurship with BleSsed Brooks
BleSsed Brooks, founder of Canada's first Yoni Spa, shares her entrepreneurial journey, including inspirations, challenges for feminist entrepreneurs, and the solutions she has developed. She also discusses the importance of taking action…
- Season Finale: Indigenous Entrepreneurship with Jenn Harper
Jenn Harper, Founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cosmetics, is an award-winning social entrepreneur. She built Cheekbone Beauty into a B. Corp Certified brand sold at Sephora Canada and JC Penney, known for its commitment to sustainability…
- Disability and Gender Justice
Jenna Barnable, a disability inclusion advocate and educator, discusses disability and gender justice. She focuses on empowering disabled people and building anti-ableist allies, highlighting issues at the intersection of disability discri…
- Reshaping Maternal Care with Kimberley Okafor
Kimberley Okafor, a researcher and advocate for maternal health equity, is pursuing a Master of Science in Management at Toronto Metropolitan University. She is committed to addressing systemic challenges in maternal care globally, with he…
- Bleeding with Dignity
Leisha Toory, founder of the Period Priority Project, discusses menstrual equity and gender justice. She is the winner of the 2025 Feminist Creator Prize.
- Emergency Preparedness and Gender with Alex Valoroso
Alex Valoroso, a Gender Equity Advisor, discusses emergency preparedness and gender. She specializes in equity, diversity, and inclusion strategies, with a focus on gender and disaster. Alex Valoroso helps organizations build more inclusiv…
- Seeing Humanity in One Another with Fallon Farinacci
Fallon Farinacci, a Red River Métis survivor and winner of the 2025 Feminist Creator Prize, shares her experiences and advocacy for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2S+ individuals. She discusses her involvement with The N…
- Challenging Gendered Digital Harm with Suzie Dunn
Suzie Dunn, Interim Director of the Law and Technology Institute and assistant professor at Dalhousie University, discusses gendered digital harm. Her research focuses on technology-facilitated gender-based violence, artificial intelligenc…
- Creating Inclusive Online Communities with Monica Bancheri
Monica Bancheri, known as Gay Italian Nonna, focuses on creating inclusive online communities. Her talk show, "unMASCed," highlights trans icons, LGBTQ+ leaders, and inspirational women, fostering connection and belonging within these grou…
- Trade Gaps & Women Entrepreneurs with Marwa Abdou
Marwa Abdou, Senior Research Director at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, discusses trade gaps and women entrepreneurs. Her work includes research on trade facilitation, gender equity, equality, and social and financial inclusion.
- Humanizing Urban Planning with Leslie Woo
Leslie Woo, CEO of CivicAction, shares her insights on urban planning and cultivating sustainable communities in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. She also highlights leadership development programs aimed at fostering the next generat…
- Deconstructing Colonial Gender Roles with Dr. Ruth Green
Dr. Ruth Green, an urban Indigenous person and Director of the School of Social Work at York University, discusses colonial gender roles. She also teaches about Indigenous resistance to social issues in Canada.
- Feminist Entrepreneurship with Frances Meyer
Frances Meyer, Program Coordinator and Team Lead at the Women’s Business Hub, discusses feminist entrepreneurship. She organizes business programs for immigrant women entrepreneurs and specializes in trauma-informed mindset and business me…
- Interview with MP Jagmeet Singh
This episode features an interview with MP Jagmeet Singh. He is a lawyer, human rights activist, and the Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party.
- “What She Said” with Elizabeth Renzetti
Elizabeth Renzetti, a journalist and author, discusses her book "What She Said: Conversations About Equality." She was awarded the Landsberg Prize for her reporting on gender equality.
- A Healing Poet with Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa
Dr. Chika Stacy Oriuwa, author of "Unlike The Rest: A Doctor’s Story," is featured in this episode. She discusses her work as a physician, poet, and advocate for equal opportunity and wellness. Dr. Oriuwa is currently completing her psychi…
- Sharing the Underspoken with Hillary LeBlanc
Hillary LeBlanc, a winner of the 2024 Feminist Creator Prize, is featured. She discusses her work in the non-profit sector, sharing stories from marginalized communities, and her podcast, BlackLantic, which focuses on East Coast voices. Th…
- Feminist Journalism with Lindsay Jones
Lindsay Jones, a Halifax reporter for The Globe and Mail, discusses her award-winning work in feminist journalism. Her work includes investigations into sexual assault, abuse of power by police officers, sex worker rights, and online bully…
- Gender Equality Leadership with Mitzie Hunter
Mitzie Hunter, President and CEO of the Canadian Women’s Foundation, is featured in this episode. She shares insights from her decades of leadership in the nonprofit sector, private sector, and government, where she has advocated for diver…
- Big Data on Women’s Health
This episode of Alright, Now What? features Liza Vityuk from McKinsey & Company. She discusses the McKinsey Health Institute’s 2024 report, "Closing the women’s health gap: A $1 trillion opportunity to improve lives and economies," which e…
- Women’s Heart and Brain Health
Carissa Gravelle discusses women's heart and brain health, highlighting the impact of discrimination and social determinants on healthcare. The episode covers how gender affects healthcare access and medical research, in honor of Internati…
- Dementia and Gender
Dr. Saskia Sivananthan, a healthcare leader and Affiliate Professor at McGill University, discusses the relationship between dementia and gender. She highlights how gender influences healthcare treatment, access to services, and funding fo…
- The Federal Budget and Gender Equality
This episode features Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada, discussing the 2024 Federal Budget. The conversation focuses on the budget's impact on women and gender-diverse individuals and its role in advancing gender equality.
- Endometriosis and Misogyny
This episode features Tracey Lindeman, author of "BLEED: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care." The discussion centers on how gender-based discrimination impacts health outcomes, particularly in endometriosis care and access…
- Feminist Climate Action
This episode of "Alright, Now What?" features Catherine Abreu discussing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women, girls, and gender-diverse people, especially those marginalized by racism and poverty. The conversation highl…
- Becoming Water Literate
This episode features cave diver and climate advocate Jill Heinerth, who discusses the importance of water literacy and conservation in the face of climate change. The discussion covers the disproportionate impact of climate change on wome…
- Defamation Law and Sexual Assault
This episode features Mandi Gray, author of "Suing for Silence: Sexual Violence and Defamation Law," discussing the legal aspects of defamation lawsuits against individuals who have made sexual assault accusations. The conversation examine…
- The Model Minority Myth
This episode of Alright, Now What? explores the model minority myth with author Prachi Gupta. It discusses how this stereotype can divide communities, overlook disparities, and trivialize racism, and examines its differential impact based…
- Talking Gender and Climate Change
This episode discusses the intersection of gender and climate change, highlighting how marginalized women, girls, and gender-diverse people are disproportionately affected. It features Katie Harper from Project Neutral, who shares her work…
- The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence (Part 2)
This episode of Alright, Now What? presents speakers from The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence, covering topics and solutions related to gender-based violence. The discussion includes how individuals can support survivors and contribute…
- The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence (Part 1)
This episode of Alright, Now What? features speakers from The Walrus Talks Gender-Based Violence, presented by the Canadian Women’s Foundation. The discussion addresses issues and solutions to end gender-based violence, with contributions…
- Being Young and Facing Gendered Digital Abuse
This episode of Alright, Now What? features Amanda Arella from YWCA Canada, who discusses the increased risks of gendered digital abuse for young people. The conversation highlights how young women are particularly targeted by online abuse…
- Taking Action on Online Hate
This episode features Leigh Naturkach from the Mosaic Institute, discussing the ongoing issue of gendered digital hate and the public's desire for safer online spaces. The conversation covers the need for change and accountability from soc…
- Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence
This episode features Rhiannon Wong from Women’s Shelters Canada, discussing technology-facilitated gender-based violence. It explores how technology is used to harm or control, citing statistics on online intimidation and harassment in Ca…
- Rising Extremism and Gendered Digital Abuse
This episode features Barbara Perry, who discusses rising extremism and gendered digital abuse. She shares insights into the increase of hate crimes in Canada and the impact of online harassment against various groups.
- Misogynoir in Digital Spaces
This episode explores misogynoir in digital spaces, noting that Black women are disproportionately targeted by online abuse. It examines how this issue manifests and discusses potential solutions.