Today on Curious Conversations, we take our microphones inside the historic armoury in Cambridge, Ontario to meet Lieutenant‑Colonel Jason from the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada. He tells us how he went from a twelve‑year‑old cadet to the highest‑ranked soldier in Waterloo Region, what a reservist actually is, and why his regiment is one year older than Canada itself.

We hear about his first summer of real army training (including shooting a gun for the first time and rappelling off a cliff), his deployment to Bosnia during Operation Palladium, and a powerful story about a woman pushing a wheelbarrow full of money just to buy one bag of groceries. Jason explains what daily life is like for part‑time soldiers, how teens in grade 11 can get started in the reserves, and why leadership, initiative, and appreciating what you have matter so much in and out of the military.

Kids will learn:

• What the Canadian Army Reserve is and how it’s different from full‑time soldiers
• How Canadian troops helped people in Bosnia after a civil war
• What it takes to become a leader in the military
• Why Canadian military history helps us understand who we are today

Links & Resources

Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada

Rockway Mennonite Collegiate

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Enjoy another curious conversation for teens by teens!

Today, we have an insanely cool guest Krista DuChene, aka Canada’s Marathon Mom! She’s a Canadian Olympian, a Registered Dietitian, and one of the toughest runners out there.

And when we say tough, we mean it. She once finished a race with a broken leg. Yeah, you read that right! We had to hear the full story—what happened, why she kept running, and how she bounced back to crush even bigger goals (like making it to the Olympics!).

We also got into what it takes to train for a marathon, the best pre-race snacks (spoiler: bagels are involved 🥯), and why fueling your body the right way is so important. Plus, Krista tells us how she went from playing university hockey to becoming one of Canada’s best long-distance runners.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to push through pain, keep going when things get tough, or just want to know what marathon runners actually eat mid-race, this episode is for you!

Enjoy another curious conversation for teens by teens!

Links and Resources

Krista’s Instagram

CBC Sports

Team Canada

University of Guelph Hockey

Saucony

Podcast Recommendations

Chef Over Your Shoulder

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Enjoy another curious conversation for teens by teens!

In this episode, we sit down with Kattie Laur, a podcaster, podcast producer, and a well-known voice in the Canadian podcasting space. Kattie is also the author of Pod the North, a must-read newsletter that explores the Canadian podcast ecosystem, featuring interviews, podcast discoveries, and the latest industry news.

Kattie shares insightful stories, valuable advice, and her passion for podcasting, along with some of the challenges she’s faced along the way. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, this episode is packed with great takeaways.

In This Episode, We Discuss:
🎙 Kattie’s journey into podcasting and what inspired Pod the North
📢 The state of Canadian podcasting and what makes it unique
💡 Advice for new and aspiring podcasters
🎧 Common challenges in podcasting and how to overcome them

Connect with Kattie Laur:

Website

Pod The North

Instagram

Podcasts mentioned in the episode:

Tech Won’t Save Us

Normal Gossip

Canardian

Rooked: The Cheaters' Gambit

What did you think of today's episode? We want to hear from you!

Thanks for tuning in to Curious Conversations! We hope you enjoyed listening as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. Don't forget to stay connected with us on our website and Instagram for more exciting content. Also, make sure to hit that follow/subscribe button and leave us a rating to help us grow and reach more people like you.

Enjoy another curious conversation for teens by teens!