Here is our first-ever collaboration with Inspiring Minds, a campus-wide partnership between Western Research, the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, the Writing Support Centre, Western Libraries, Student Experience and Western’s 11 faculties. Inspiring Minds seeks to broaden awareness and impact of graduate student research while enhancing transferrable skills. GradCast will feature selected students to discuss their research every third Tuesday of the month!

Hosts Meghan Voll and Maris Schneider chat with Charmaine Iormetti, who recently completed her Masters of Music (MMus) in Literature and Performance (Voice) degree in the Don Wright Faculty of Music and is currently a Music Instructor at Riverbend Academy and Sound in Motion Studio. Charmaine’s research looks at how the larynx and vocal tract produce and filter vocal qualities so singers can ensure emotionally compelling performances. Charmaine shares her interest in vocal pedagogy, the discipline of understanding the singing instrument and how it optimizes sound. She also shares her favourite musical repertoires, tips on having a healthy sound and her experiences with Inspiring Minds.

You can find Charmaine on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Here is her work with Inspiring Minds and some of the musical repertoires mentioned: Tosca, La Bohème, Turandot, Madama Butterfly and Wagner's Wesendonck Liede.

Recorded on November 12, 2024

Produced by Maria Khan

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Katie McCoy, a PhD candidate in political science, joins Liam Clifford and Garth Casbourn. She tells us about her research on why people vote how they do, especially in rural communities. She also discusses how MPs from rural areas may differ in behaviour compared to urban MPs.

Recorded on November 6, 2024

Produced by Riya Sidhu

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).

Host Mark Ambrogio welcomes John Hutchenreuther, a PhD student in the Department of Geography and Environment, to discuss the transformative potential of the "15-minute city" in urban planning. John’s research envisions a shift towards walkable cities, where essential amenities are accessible within a short walk or bike ride, making cars a choice rather than a necessity. He delves into the challenges in cities like London, Ontario, and explains how North American urban development, particularly after World War II, heavily favored car infrastructure. This, he notes, often left residential neighborhoods without local stores and services, compelling residents to drive for daily needs. John also discusses the inefficiencies of car-dominated roads, advocating for safer, more pedestrian-friendly environments that prioritize people over vehicles, ultimately fostering more sustainable and inclusive urban spaces.

Recorded on October 29, 2024

Produced by Mohammad Zeraati

Theme song provided by https://freebeats.io/ (Produced by White Hot).