Rediscovering Play Biba

In this episode, our guests are Katie Esmonde & Keshia Pollack Porter. Katie Esmonde recently completed a PhD in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland, College Park, in the Physical Cultural Studies program. Her doctoral research centers on the social significance of digital self-tracking, and how individuals as well as institutions are taking up emerging fitness technologies. Keshia M. Pollack Porter, PhD, MPH, is a Professor of Health Policy and Management and Vice Dean for Faculty. Her work uses injury epidemiology, health impact assessment (HIA), and mixed methods to advance policies that create safe, healthy, and equitable environments where people live, work, play, and travel.

Katie & Keshia speak to us about an article (https://theconversation.com/distance-learning-makes-it-harder-for-kids-to-exercise-especially-in-low-income-communities-146522) they co-wrote that discusses the increased challenges to accessing physical activity that have arose for those children who are distance learning, and how those barriers are disproportionately weighted towards lower income families.

We cover a lot of ground in this super interesting and important conversation, so we hope you enjoy it!

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In this episode, our guests are Dr. Catherine Clase and Dr. Zain Chagla. 

Dr. Clase is an Associate Professor at McMaster University, a kidney doctor at St Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton, and a member of the Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials at McMaster University. In the early pandemic, she and her group started collecting and summarizing evidence on the filtration properties of cloth masks. A plain-language summary of the findings, along with a collection of information on how to wear and clean cloth masks is available in several languages at www.clothmasks.ca. 

Dr. Chagla is a Tutor in the Master of Science in Global Health program at McMaster University. An M.D. specializing in internal medicine, tropical medicine, and infectious diseases, he is Consultant Physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Hamilton Health Sciences, Assistant Professor of Medicine at McMaster University, and adjunct faculty at the University of Namibia in the Department of Medicine.

Dr. Clase and Dr. Chagla talk to us about best practices for staying safe during this back to school season, and ways to avoid increasing the spread of Covid while heading back to class.

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In this episode, or guest is Dr. Karen Wang. Dr. Wang is a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto, and a former educator with the Toronto District School Board.

Dr. Wang talks to us about some of the signs to look out for to see if your children are experiencing increased anxiety during this COVID-era back to school season, and she gives some great suggestions for how to manage these fears both within your kids and yourselves.

Listen in for more great tips!

In today's episode, our guest is Byron Sanders. Byron is a committed advocate for education, economic development, and creating equitable communities throughout Dallas, Texas. As the president and CEO of Big Thought, he works each day to explore innovative ways to narrow the opportunity gap for children. Byron has received myriad awards for his involvement in the community. He has been recognized as a Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau BIG Influencer, in Who’s Who in Black Dallas, Dallas Foundation Good Works Under 40, Innovator in Education from the Alcuin School and as a TEDx speaker. In 2017, he was named a Presidential Leadership Scholar by the program led by the presidential centers of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson. In 2018 he received Parkland Foundation’s Community First award.

Byron talks to us about some of the inherent injustices, barriers and challenges that exist within "homeschooling pods", and some of the opportunity gaps that exist for many communities in the current education system.

It's a super interesting and important conversation, so make sure to listen to the full episode for more!

In this episode, our guests are Jen Leo & Kassi Boyd. JenLeo  is the Director of The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement. With over 15 years of research and community-based experience, she has focused on understanding experiences of inclusion, engagement, and participation in adapted physical activity settings.

Kassi Boyd is the Community Impact Coordinator at The Steadward Centre for Personal & Physical Achievement. Kassi is also a 3rd year PhD student whose research interests centre on the intersections of inclusion, disability, and child-driven culture.

Jen & Kassi speak to us about the works they've been doing at the Steadward Centre and with the Promoting Inclusive Play in Alberta (PIPA) project, and we discuss the ways that communities can come together during this time to create more inclusive and accessible play environments for everyone.

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In this episode, our guest in Jon Solomon of the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Jon is a journalist, storyteller and communicator whose work supports the Sports & Society Program’s mission to convene leaders, facilitate dialogue and inspire solutions that help sport serve the public interest. He oversees the program’s communications platforms, edits and writes reports, develops original content, and manages select projects within Project Play. 

Jon talks to us about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on organized youth sports this summer, and the ways that communities and schools are / aren't figuring out ways to get back to regularly scheduled team sport activities for kids.

Listen in for more!