Beyond the Headlines

Young Diplomats of Canada: UN Commission on the Status of Women 2022

What does it mean to be gender transformative? How can municipal governments contribute to climate action? What’s the difference between passion and power?
In the latest special edition episode from Beyond the Headlines, the Young Diplomats of Canada delegation to the 66th UN Commission on the Status of Women explore topics in climate resiliency, gender equality, and youth engagement in multilateralism alongside experienced YDC alumni. This episode features Carla Guillaume, Julie Segal, Senator Marilou McPhedran, and Anjum Sultana, as well as YDC delegates Sydney Whiting, Paige Percy, Lucie Belzile, and Maitland Shaheen.
Guests:
Carla Guillaume - Commercial Desk Officer, GAC
Julie Segal - Senior Manager of Climate Finance, Environmental Defence
Senator Marilou McPhedran - Senator, Senate of Canada
Anjum Sultana - Director of Youth Leadership and Policy Advocacy, Plan International Canada; Fellow, Public Policy Forum
YDC Delegates:
Sydney Whiting - Communications Coordinator
Paige Percy - Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator
Lucie Belzile - Engagement Coordinator
Maitland Shaheen - Head Delegate
Producers:
Faria Amin - Executive Producer, Beyond the Headlines
Anna Lazaris - Junior Producer, Beyond the Headlines

Evaluating the Risk to Democracy in Canada and the US

The US Capitol Insurrection of January 6, 2021 materialized years of warnings that America’s democracy is approaching a critical juncture that could spiral into violent insurgency and even Civil War. Canadian’s like to portray our national fabric as immune to the same fate. However, the recent Freedom Convoy protests and the emergence of Western Canada’s Maverick Party demonstrate that our union of provinces faces similar threats. In this episode, we explore the strength of democracy and the rise of the radical right in Canada - alongside Hilary Lawson, and the risk of Civil War in the USA, with Professor Thad Kousser. We identify the origins of frustration with governance systems that have proven resilient for centuries. How might these risks be alleviated while building a society that is just and equitable for all? 
Guests: 
Professor Thad Kousser - UC San Diego
Hilary Lawson - Master of Global Affairs Candidate
Produced By:
Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer
Connor Fraser - Senior Producer
Mycala Gill - Executive Producer 

Discussions on Philanthropy and Charities

In the last few years, the validity and reliability of charities and other philanthropic work has been called into question. Topics of whether charity helps resolve greater institutional and systemic issues have arisen. How altruistic is charity? Is there a different lens through which we can view this topic. What is the end goal of philanthropy? This episode features two guests very familiar with charities and not-for-profit work to get their perspectives.
Guests:
Ryo Nakane - CIRA
Serena Purdy - Friends of Kensington Market
Producers:
Sky Shi - Junior Producer
Abdullah Naqvi - Junior Producer
Connor Fraser - Senior Producer
Faria Amin - Executive Producer

The Politics of Basketball

As the native country of its creator, James Naismith, and the location of the very first NBA game in 1946, Canada has deep roots in basketball. And since the first game of the Toronto Raptors in 1995, and their triumphant, game 7 buzzer-beating,  2019 Championship run, Canadian basketball fandom is at an all time high. From driveway basketball nets to Jurassic Park, the Raptors have helped to shape the identity of Toronto and attracted a global fan base. “We The North” has become a multicultural rallying cry. The sheer diversity of Toronto shines through with fans from all walks of life across every race, religion, and culture. Today's episode explores this idea in more depth and take a closer look at the multicultural identity of the Toronto Raptors fan base and the growing popularity of basketball across Canada, and goes further to talk about the global reach of basketball, influenced and part by the Raptors’ success, and discuss where and how the game is expanding, building new bridges, and becoming more equitable. This episode features two journalists covering the Raptors and basketball at large to talk about this unique intersection between sport, culture, diversity, globalisation, and equality.
Guests:
Oren Weisfeld - Freelance Journalist
Alex Wong - Freelance Journalist
Producers:
Thomas Chan - Junior Producer
Michael Kalaparambath - Junior Producer
Abdullah Naqvi - Junior Producer
Mycala Gill - Executive Producer

The End of COVID?: Analyzing Ontario’s Removal of Mask Mandates

Ontario eliminates its mask mandate for a variety of settings including schools, restaurants, gyms, and stores today. While other jurisdictions within Canada and across the world have done away with equivalent or greater public health restrictions, residents of the province are expressing mixed feelings on this policy decision. This episode features two experts who discuss the factors that went into the decision to eliminate the mask mandate, and what implications this may have for Ontario.
Guests:
Dr. Arjumand Siddiqi - Professor and Division Head of Epidemiology at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, Canada Research Chair in Population Health Equity
Dr. Peter Jüni - Scientific Director at Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at the University of Toronto, Director of the Applied Research Centre of St. Michael's Hospital 
Producers:
Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer
Faria Amin - Executive Producer

State of British Politics

It has been a busy few months in British politics, with scandals ranging from illegal lobbying, to misused finances, to the now-infamous series of parties held at the Prime Minister’s residence of 10 Downing Street during COVID lockdown. While police investigations into these parties are ongoing, the Prime Minister and his supporters are attempting to distance themselves from this most recent round of scandals. While the Conservatives are divided, Labour, invigorated by new leadership and a more centrist agenda, seems primed to capitalize on this latest round of missteps by the Prime Minister. Amidst all this, 3 out of 4 Britons polled have a negative view of the state of British politics. Today’s episode features two experts who share their views on how things stand across the British political spectrum and where they’re likely to go.
Guests:
Sir Graham Watson - Former Member of European Parliament and leader of European Union Liberals, current Visiting Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs
Dr. Pat Thane - Professor of Contemporary British History, King’s College London
Producers:
Elliott Coburn - Senior Producer
Annabelle MacRae - Junior Producer
Faria Amin - Executive Producer

Violence in Eastern Europe: Ukraine and Russia

After months of tensions and failure of diplomacy to resolve the crisis, Russia has launched a multi-pronged attack on Ukraine. Today’s episode explores the issue from a defence perspective on the situation - why Ukraine, why now, and what are the stakes for Russia and NATO - and the role played by media and propaganda - how is Russia portraying the situation at home, what have been the impacts of this, and can media be of any help? 
Some of the information recorded for this episode may be outdated as this is a rapidly evolving situation. Listeners are encouraged to stay up-to-date with recent developments.
Guests:
Dr. Maxim Alyukov - King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London
Dr. Tracey German - King’s Russia Institute, King’s College London
Producers:
Marie Ascencio - Junior Producer
Michael Kalaparambath - Junior Producer
Mycala Gill - Executive Producer

Critical COVID-19 Discussions - Part 2: Assessing Canada’s Pandemic Management and Erin O’Toole’s Departure

With the spread of the Omicron variant into Canada, vaccination has been the most effective tool in slowing the spread of the virus and reducing hospitalization rates. However, mixed messaging has prompted some Canadians to question whether vaccinations and social distancing measures are effective or even necessary, which has been exemplified by the Freedom Convoy 2022. This episode will focus on discussing this issue and potential best steps moving forward. 
Guests:
Dr. Peter Loewen (Director, Munk School of Global Affairs) 
John Capobianco (Public Affairs National Practice Lead in FleishmanHillard HighRoad's Toronto Office)
Produced by:
Michael Kalaparambath - Junior Producer
Connor Fraser - Senior Producer
Mycala Gill - Executive Producer

Critical COVID-19 Discussions: Freedom Convoy 2022 & Global Vaccine Equity

The COVID-19 pandemic is approaching the two-year milestone and many people are increasingly alarmed by the drawn-out nature of our battle with the virus, wondering if, when and how our lives can return to their normal cadence. In today’s episode, we sit down to discuss two aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic which at the core reflect different perspectives about how to best move forward with the health response and get society back on track. Professor Drew Fagan of the Munk School and Elizabeth Simmons from Anti-hate Canada discuss how an anti-vaccination mandate protest became a movement dubbed the Freedom Convoy, and Dr. Courtney Howard delves into global vaccine equity and the contributions Canada has both made - and hasn’t made - towards protecting the world's most vulnerable populations.
Guests:
Professor Drew Fagan - Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, McMillan Vantage Policy Group
Elizabeth Simmons - Anti-hate Canada
Dr. Courtney Howard - Canadian Public Health Association
Producers:
Connor Fraser - Senior Producer
Anna Lazaris - Junior Producer
Jessica Pan - Senior Producer
Faria Amin - Executive Producer

Evolving Pedagogies in Global Education Projects

The advancement of global education efforts requires the collaboration of different actors and institutions, especially in light of COVID-19.
According to World Bank data, before the pandemic 258 million children of primary and secondary school age were out of school, and the learning poverty rate in low-and-middle income countries was 53% - meaning more than half of all 10 year old children were unable to read. The pandemic has only exacerbated this learning crisis, with high likelihood of long-term impacts on the human capital of this generation. Educating girls and boys can boost economic growth, reduce poverty and inequality, and contributes to restoring peace and stability within a state. As well, traditional methods of education are “lecture-style,” memorization based and rely on recall examinations to act as absolute measurement of student learning. These traditional methods, though generally supported by parents or teachers, are often met with low retention and high dropout rates, especially in developing countries.
Our discussion covers topics ranging from unconventional methods of education delivery, the impacts of COVID-19 on global education projects and organizations, education provision targeting girls and young women, and impact measurement for education projects and programming.
Guests:
Tracy Evans - Director of Global Partnerships, Right to Play
Mary Ellen Matsui - Development Consultant, Goodwill Industries Ontario Great Lakes
Produced by:
Mycala Gill - Executive Producer