What does it take to protect some of Canada's most iconic—and at risk—animals? In this episode, Carol and Jeevan sit down with Mateen Hessami (MSc’22), wildlife biologist and UBC Okanagan master's graduate, to find out. From collaring moose out of helicopters to rediscovering a caribou herd believed to be extinct since 2014, Mateen's work is as thrilling as it is meaningful. He breaks down why caribou are disappearing, why hunters might be conservation's greatest allies, and why the most important voice in wildlife management often belongs to the communities who've lived on the land for generations. Whether you're a nature lover or someone who's never left the city, this conversation will change the way you think about the wild world around you.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company
• Mateen Hessami
• UBC Okanagan Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Club
• The Indigenous Guardians Program

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:33) - Meet Mateen Hessami
• (04:46) - What does a community-based wildlife ecologist do day-to-day?
• (05:53) - Why hunting matters for conservation
• (09:27) - Moose vs. caribou
• (15:02) - Career highlights
• (16:58) - Why centering Indigenous knowledge changes wildlife work
• (20:30) - Building trust with communities vs. extractive science
• (22:52) - What impact do you hope your work has moving forward?
• (24:42) - What listeners should consider
• (26:41) - Are you more like a caribou or a moose?
• (28:07) - Conclusion

In this Valentine’s Day-themed episode, From Here Forward goes beyond conventional ideas of romance to explore love, cooperation, and connection in the marine world. Hosts Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha are joined by UBC professor Dr. Andrew Trites, Director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit, to discuss groundbreaking research revealing a surprisingly collaborative relationship between orcas and dolphins. From dolphin “scouts” and killer whale teamwork to physical touch as a love language, this episode reimagines companionship through the eyes—and sonar—of our marine mammal cousins.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• The Truth About Love - From Here Forward's Valentine's 2025 Episode
• Podium Podcast Company
• Dr. Andrew Trites
• Marine Mammal Research Unit
• Orca and Dolphin Cooperative Foraging Research
• UBC Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (01:44) - Meet Dr. Andrew Trites
• (03:13) - Romantic Facts From the Marine World
• (03:51) - The Orca–Dolphin Foraging Study and How It Began
• (06:38) - Discovering Cooperation Underwater
• (10:07) - What the Data Revealed About Communication and Teamwork
• (12:28) - The Team Behind the Research Project
• (15:48) - Watching the Footage and Seeing Through a Whale’s Eyes
• (19:27) - Physical Touch, Bonding, and Social Life in Orcas
• (20:42) - Andrew Trites’ Journey into Marine Science
• (22:55) - Climate Anxiety, Optimism, and Ocean Ambassadors
• (24:31) - Lessons on Communication, Perspective, and Love
• (25:40) - Conclusion

In this episode, hosts Carol and Jeevan sit down with Jonathon Braun (JD’15), Allard Law alum, Legal Director of the Migrant Workers Centre, and winner of Season 11 of The Amazing Race Canada. Jonathon shares the realities facing migrant workers in Canada today—from closed work permits and systemic vulnerability to the human cost of shifting immigration policy—and challenges the myths that continue to fuel anti-immigrant sentiment.

Later, Jonathon pulls back the curtain on his The Amazing Race Canada experience. He shares how the pressure, strategy, and surprising authenticity of reality TV, as well as his lifelong love of games, performance, and community, helped carry him through both law school and the race itself.

🔗 Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company
• Jonathon Braun
• The Migrant Workers Centre
• Amazing Race Canada
• The Greatest Survivor Scene

• (00:00) - Welcome and Intro
• (02:34) - From UBC Law to Migrant Justice
• (07:56) - The Reality Facing Migrant Workers
• (13:54) - Correcting Misconceptions
• (15:30) - Winning Amazing Race Canada
• (17:36) - The Fun & Games That Make a Better Lawyer
• (20:48) - What the Amazing Race Is Really Like
• (24:35) - Community, Purpose, and Why This Work Matters
• (26:34) - How Survivor Prepped Jonathon for the Amazing Race
• (28:28) - Reflections and Wrap-Up

In our final episode of 2025, hosts Carol Eugene Park and Jeevan Sangha connect with Dr. Lesley Cormack, Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBC's Okanagan campus, for a conversation about UBC Okanagan’s 20th anniversary. They discuss the extraordinary growth the campus has seen over the past two decades, and talk about the important connections that have been made between the institution and the region it calls home.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• alumni UBC
• UBC Okanagan
• Dr. Lesley Cormack
• Podium Podcast Company

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:32) - Reflections on five years at UBCO
• (04:11) - Research highlights
• (06:16) - How the geography shapes campus life
• (08:15) - Key milestones in UBCO’s 20-year history
• (10:48) - Growing pains of a rapidly expanding campus
• (11:55) - UBCO’s Future goals
• (13:29) - Where to decompress on campus
• (14:01) - UBCO through the five senses
• (18:40) - The Unique Joy of a Small Campus
• (20:03) - Outro

Note: This episode includes discussion of suicide statistics.

Men’s mental health is getting more attention these days—yet many still struggle to ask for help. Why? For Movember, hosts Carol and Jeevan dive into this issue with Dr. John Oliffe. This UBC professor and founder of the Men’s Health Research program shares insights into the moments that hit men the hardest, why so many avoid seeking support, and what can truly help men open up.

If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide and in Canada, call or text the 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline. If you’re at immediate risk, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency department.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company
• UBC Men’s Health Research Program
• Dr. John Oliffe
• Heads Up Guys
• Next Gen Men

In this episode of From Here Forward, hosts Carol and Jeevan sit down with award-winning journalist, author, and UBC School of Journalism, Writing, and Media Director Kamal Al-Solaylee to examine the state of modern media. From the role of journalism in democracy, to AI, citizen reporting, and the rise of disinformation, Kamal offers candid insights into how the industry is changing—and how journalism schools are preparing the next generation. They also explore the tension between free press and financial pressures, diversity in newsrooms, and why media literacy matters more than ever in a world of information overload.

Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company
• UBC School of Journalism, Writing and Media (JWAM)
• Kamal Al-Solaylee
• Intolerable: A Memoir of Extremes
• Brown: What Being Brown in the World Today Means (to Everyone)
• Return: Why We Go Back to Where We Came From
• The Guardian

• (00:00) - Intro
• (00:53) - Who is Kamal Al-Solaylee?
• (01:17) - Media’s Role in a Healthy Democracy
• (02:41) - What Is a Free Press Today?
• (06:40) - When a Free Press Is Compromised
• (08:11) - Citizen Journalism & Labels
• (13:29) - Rebuilding Trust & Newsroom Diversity
• (16:41) - Training Journalists, Careers & the Gig Economy
• (20:16) - Propaganda vs. Disinformation & Media Literacy
• (27:31) - Most-Trusted Newspaper
• (29:10) - Host Reflections
• (30:31) - Closing & Credits

In this special UBC Homecoming episode of From Here Forward, hosts Carol and Jeevan return to the Vancouver campus to visit some of their favourite spots and reflect on how the campus has evolved since they graduated. Along the way, they stop by the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary with the “Building Magic” party at Homecoming on September 20. They also talk with Matthew Roddis and Joanne Proft (MA[Planning]'97, MLArch'00) from UBC Campus & Community Planning to explore the transformation of campus life and the bold ideas shaping its future through Campus Vision 2050.

LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company

UBC HOMECOMING

• Learn more about UBC Homecoming
• Interactive map: How much has UBC Vancouver changed in the past decade?

CAMPUS RESOURCES

• Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre
• UBC Campus & Community Planning
• Campus Vision 2050

• (00:00) - Intro: September, Homecoming, and Thunderbird Memories
• (01:48) - Nostalgia Hits at the AMS Nest & Blue Chip Café
• (03:04) - Visiting the Robert H. Lee Alumni Centre
• (03:56) - Playing with the Interactive Alumni Wall
• (05:30) - Chatting with Alumni
• (06:49) - Off to the Rose Garden: A Favorite Alumni Spot
• (09:39) - Intro to Campus & Community Planning Segment
• (10:34) - What Campus & Community Planning Actually Does
• (12:25) - UBC Planning Wins: Main Mall, Housing, & Sustainability
• (14:35) - The Alumni Centre as a Landmark and Beacon
• (16:47) - Campus Vision 2050: Personal Favorites from the Pillars
• (21:18) - What Makes UBC Planning Unique
• (23:18) - Timelines: From Planning to Completion
• (25:26) - What Reaction Do Planners Hope Alumni Will Have?
• (27:47) - Outro

We all know we should be returning our bottles, cans, and drink containers to a recycling depot. For many people, however, a 10-cent return just isn’t enough to motivate action. But what if you had a random chance at a much higher payout? In this episode, Carol and Jeevan talk to Dr. Jiaying Zhao, associate professor in the UBC Department of Psychology and the Institute for Resources, Environment, and Sustainability, and Jade Radke, a PhD student in UBC’s Behavioral Sustainability Lab about an innovative solution that uses psychology and gamification to encourage recycling.

LINKS

• Contact Carol
• Contact Jeevan
• From Here Forward
• From Here Forward is on LinkedIn
• Podium Podcast Company

ADDITIONAL LINKS & RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Professor Jiaying Zhao (JZ)
• Jade Radke
• Return-It BC Program
• Prospect Theory (Kahneman & Tversky)