This week on GradCast, hosts Garth Casbourn and Bruno Mesquita are joined by Carlos Eduardo Barzotto, a PhD Student in Western's Department of Education. Carlos investigates how anti-gender movements in Brazil and Canada use transnational rhetoric to undermine inclusive education and LGBTQIA+ rights. Through his research, he reveals how these movements operate across national contexts and highlights ways to foster safer, more equitable educational environments. Listen to learn more!

Recorded on Tuesday, October 28, 2025. Produced by Milan Mammen. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).

This week, hosts Maris Schneider and Anthony Cruz discuss one of the most daunting aspects of being a graduate student, publishing. The team walk through key parts of the publishing process and how speed bumps can occur along the way. The GradCast team have reached out to ask for reviewer comments from the broader graduate student audience to share on this timely Halloween episode. Join us to reflect on the publishing process and discuss reviewer comments in horror.

Recorded on August 5, 2025

Produced by Bruno Mesquita and Maria Khan

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

Sound effects sourced from Scott Arc (Spotted! & Hallowed Ground) and Leigh Haggerwood (Werewolf & The Scarecrow)

This week, hosts Anthony Cruz and Mark Ambrogio are joined by Milan Mammen, a first-year master's student in Western's department of biochemistry. Milan's research focuses on how nonsense suppressor tRNAs may be used to treat Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a severe type of muscular dystrophy that has severe negative impacts on a person's movement capabilities. Listen to learn more about Milan's research!

Recorded on Tuesday, October 14, 2025. Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).

This week on GradCast, hosts Maris Schneider and Milan Mammen are joined by Sydney Brouillard-Coyle, a PhD Student in Western's Department of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. Sydney researches the importance of creative arts to trans and gender-diverse individuals. Sydney also discusses nir activism in the queer community, including the development of Rainbow Allyship and the publication of nir book, A Pocket Guide to Pronouns. Listen to learn more! You can find even more about Sydney's work at nir website, Instagram, or Facebook.

Recorded on Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz. Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot).

What's a better way to start off the school year than with a brand new mini-series! GradCast is teaming up with Learning, Development and Success, out of Western Student Experience. We talk to experts on campus who support graduate students in doing research, writing theses, and have all the tips and tricks to succeed in grad school!

In our last episode, hosts Anthony Cruz and Scott Walters chat with Maggie Kubow, a Senior Writing Advisor at the Writing Support Centre and Heather Ellis, a Learning Specialist at Learning Development & Success, to share everything a grad student needs to know about writing and learning how to balance it all! We chat about the services offered by the Writing Support Centre by Maggie. Then we shift to Heather, who shares resources provided by Learning Development & Success when it comes to writing and project management. Tune in to learn some tips to help with the writing process!

The Writing Support Centre offers free 50-minute one-to-one appointments with a writing advisor. Come in-person to one of our two campus locations or meet with us online. The Writing Support Centre supports undergrads, graduate students, postdocs, and faculty and assists writers with any academic or professional writing, at any stage of the writing process, in any genre, across the disciplines.

You can book an appointment with Learning Development & Success online! Workshops are being hosted with Own Your Future in October/November on sustaining motivation, AI and graduate school, the hidden curriculum/inculturation and project management! Here is the list of events!

Recorded on September 2, 2025

Produced by kirstyn seanor and Maria Khan

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this installment of the #TheScoopOnSOGS miniseries, host Maris Schneider is joined by Saghar Soltanabadi, a fourth-year PhD candidate in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, serving as the Vice President Student Services (VPSS) for the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS) at Western University. In her role, Saghar acts as a main operational role for graduate student support, coordinating across committees, services, and the executive team to enhance student life beyond the classroom and lab. She oversees key areas including mental and physical health initiatives, ancillary fees, orientation programming, recreation, and overall student well-being. Through committees such as Graduate Peer Support, the Health Plan Committee, and the Orientation and Social Committee, Saghar helps deliver essential services like the orientation week, graduate wellness week, health and dental coverage, social and athletic events, buss pass system, and support funds for students. From launching large-scale activities like the SOGS Summer Games to strengthening partnerships with campus partners, she is committed to building graduate community and ensuring graduate students have the resources, opportunities, and support they need to thrive at Western.

Recorded on Tuesday, September 30, 2025 Produced by Mohammad Zeraati Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

What's a better way to start off the school year than with a brand new mini-series! GradCast is teaming up with Learning, Development and Success, out of Western Student Experience. We talk to experts on campus who support graduate students in doing research, writing theses, and have all the tips and tricks to succeed in grad school!

In our third episode, hosts Anthony Cruz and Chrishma Perera chat with Aldean Ellis and Heather Ellis, Learning Specialists at Learning Development & Success, to dive into the hidden curriculum. We explore what exactly is the hidden curriculum in graduate school? Why is it hidden and what are some common hidden curriculum topics Learning Specialists discuss with graduate students? Tune in to learn more about this mysterious hidden curriculum!

You can book an appointment with Learning Development & Success online! Workshops are being hosted with Own Your Future in October/November on sustaining motivation, AI and graduate school, the hidden curriculum/inculturation and project management! Here is the list of events!

Recorded on August 26, 2025

Produced by Mohammad Zeraati and Maria Khan

Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

In this installment of the #TheScoopOnSOGS miniseries, host Maris Schneider is joined by Kirsty Ng, a PhD Candidate in Western's Department of Chemistry who currently serves as the Board Chair at the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). Listen to this episode to learn about Kirsty's research, background, and roles at SOGS.

Recorded on September 23, 2025. Produced by Anthony Cruz & Milan Mammen. Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).