Episodes

On swearing – Do you ever wonder why some people use profanity and others do not? Linguistics professor Darin Flynn leads us through a fascinating discussion on the taboo topic of swearing, including types of swear-words, how swear words change over time, personality types that are more likely to use profanity, and the risks associated with profanity. (Note this is the CLEAN version of this podcast episode. There is also an EXPLICIT version). References & Links Professor Darin Flynn University...

(EXPLICIT) Do you ever wonder why some people use profanity and others do not? Linguistics professor Darin Flynn leads us through a fascinating discussion on the taboo topic of swearing, including types of swear-words, how swear words change over time, personality types that are more likely to use profanity, and the risks associated with profanity. (Note this is the EXPLICIT version of this podcast episode. There is also a CLEAN (bleeped out) version). References & Links Professor Darin Flynn ...

Yes, you can learn to be funny! Do you appreciate humour? Do you ever imagine what it’s like to be on the stand-up comedy stage? Listen as stand-up comedian Hillary Anger Elfenbein (also a fully tenured business school professor) shares her insights on learning comedy, and compares that experience to her experience teaching in the business school classroom. References & Links Hillary Anger Elfenbein Washington University faculty page – https://artsci.washu.edu/faculty-staff 6 minutes of stand-...

How do you know whether to trust someone? How do you communicate that you are trustworthy? Trust is imperative. If you don’t have trust, you have nothing. And that goes for both interpersonal relationships as well as for brands. Baron Manett, marketer and founder of Per Se Brand Experience shares his insights on the significance of trust. References & Links Baron Manett, Per Se Brand Experience, & Ensemble Baron on LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/in/baronmanett/ Per Se Brand Experience – h...

Dr. Joshua Tepper, CEO of North York General Hospital, shares advice on how to talk to your doctor, including: come prepared with a list; ask lots of questions; if you’re Googling your symptoms, consider the quality of your sources; and lots more! We have all felt unsure, and some of us have felt awkward around our doctor. Here is our chance to learn how to optimize our communication with our doctors so we can receive the best medical care. References & Links Dr. Joshua Tepper & North York Gene...

Beyond condolences, how can we best support a grieving friend? Grief counsellor Andrea Warnick tells us what to say and do, and what to avoid. For example: yes, use the “D” word; and do not try to “fix” it. The grieving process is not linear. Rather, it is like a squiggly line. So what should a good friend do? Most importantly, “show up”! References & Links Andrea Warnick AndreaWarnick.com – Grief counselling – https://andreawarnick.com/ Andrea’s affiliations The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Prog...

Fonts are on our screens, on paper, on the products we buy, and on signs everywhere! When used effectively, fonts can significantly improve our communication. Patrick Griffin (“the font guy”) shares his advice about choosing the ideal font, considering the white space, and emojis! References & Links Patrick Griffin Canada Type – https://canadatype.com Font references – https://typedrawers.com https://slashdot.org Fonts Referenced in this Podcast On Fonts The Unicode Consortium – https://un...

What do our possessions say about us? Award-winning marketing professor Russell Belk talks about how our possessions (including our clothing, cars, people, collections, gifts, social media pages,…) become part of our identity –or our extended self. Professor Belk highlights the significance of the sharing economy and de-materialization, cultural differences, and our evolving identities in relation to our possessions. References & Links Professor Russell Belk Schulich School at York University ...

What’s your personal style? Carolyn Quinn, executive director of Toronto Fashion Week provides us with insights on fashion trends, environmental sustainability in the fashion industry, and tips on purchasing clothing and pulling together a great outfit! References & Links Carolyn Quinn, executive director Toronto Fashion Week Toronto Fashion Week – https://torontofashionweek.to/ Recommendations: Retail Insider – https://www.retail-insider.com/ The Daily Beast – https://www.thedailybeast.com/ ...