The Well Endowed Podcast

The Well Endowed Podcast

The Well-Endowed Podcast is a production of Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). If you live in Edmonton, chances are you’ve been touched by the work facilitated by the support ECF provides to the city’s shakers, movers and doers. As a bridge between donors and charitable causes, ECF helps donors create endowment funds that will continue giving for generations. With that kind of support, those movers and doers can do a lot! On the Well Endowed Podcast, you will hear stories about donors, and what inspires their generosity. And you will hear about the people who use our support to build and sustain social initiatives, empower youth, strengthen arts and culture, and so much more. Edmonton is full of passionate people dedicated to building a vibrant community. The Well Endowed Podcast explores the impact that these municipal champions are having on our city.

  1. Jun 1

    EPISODE 208: Forging Ahead

    What does it take to build a career in a field that wasn’t built with you in mind?  Women Building Futures has been helping women enter the trades and transportation since 1998 — not just with job training, but with the wraparound supports that make it possible to actually get there: childcare plans, housing support, fitness training, and a food pantry. Since the beginning, more than 3,000 women have come through their programs. Their work is supported in part by the JudyLynn Archer Fund, an endowment held at Edmonton Community Foundation.  In this episode, we hear from WBF CEO Carla Madra and Red Seal welder Natalie Bak — a graduate who went from a nineteen-year-old with no experience to a welder who’s worked across Western Canada and up into the Northwest Territories.  Show Notes: Our guests today were Carla Madra, CEO of Women Building Futures, and Natalie Bak, WBF graduate and Red Seal welder.  Read the companion article, “Forging Ahead,” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine.  Learn more about Women Building Futures  Learn more about the JudyLynn Archer Fund  ECF Happenings:   Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.   Read the latest issue of Thrive.   Read the latest on  our blog.   Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.    ECF Youth Grants:   Youth Grants  Upcoming Student Awards:  Al Maurer Awards Click here to find details for all of our student awards!  Alyssa Noel’s interview with Carla Madra and Natalie Bak was produced by Odvod Media.  The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation. The post EPISODE 208: Forging Ahead appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    37 min

  2. May 15

    EPISODE 207: Independence Through Cooking

    What does it mean to truly live independently? For AiLA — the Autism Independent Living Association — independence isn’t just about having a place to live. It’s about having the skills, confidence, and support to navigate daily life on your own terms.  In this episode, we hear about AiLA’s new cooking program: a series of hands-on workshops teaching autistic adults to prepare nutritious meals, manage a grocery budget, and build real kitchen confidence. The program runs out of The Kitchen at the Stanley A. Milner Library, and was made possible through a $15,000 Community Grant from Edmonton Community Foundation. Show Notes: Our guest is Leanne Carr, President of AiLA.  Read Justin Bell’s companion article, “Independence Through Cooking” in the Spring 2026 edition of Thrive Magazine.  Learn more about AiLA. Read ECF’s full $20 million affordable housing announcement. ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! Justin Bell’s interview with Leanne Carr was produced by Odvod Media.  The Well-Endowed Podcast is produced by Edmonton Community Foundation.  The post EPISODE 207: Independence Through Cooking appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    17 min

  3. May 4

    EPISODE 206: A Space to Grow

    What happens to the artists who fall through the gap between school and a professional career? In this episode of The Well-Endowed Podcast, we catch up with alumni of Pro Coro Canada‘s Emerging Artist Program — a free, professional-level training program for singers, conductors, and composers that’s been quietly building something in Edmonton for over a decade.  Ramy Abdel-Keriem is joined by Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian, also known as hundredmillionthousand.  Together, they explore what it looks like to come up through a program like this — and where it can take you. From launching a youth-led nonprofit choir to collaborating on a live performance that fuses choral sound, electronics, and audio-visuals, this conversation is a window into the ecosystem Pro Coro has been building for the next generation of choral artists in Edmonton.  Show Notes: Our guests today were Michael Zaugg, Artistic Director of Pro Coro Canada, Maddy Douglas and Taylor McDonough of Sóley Singers, and Noel Fanaeian (hundredmillionthousand). Learn more about Pro Coro Canada’s Emerging Artist Program.  Explore Sóley Singers’ upcoming season.  Follow Noelle / hundredmillionthousand for updates on upcoming performances.  ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The post EPISODE 206: A Space to Grow appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    37 min

  4. Apr 22

    EPISODE 205: Protecting Life on Land

    What does it really take to protect the land beneath our feet — and the wildlife that depends on it — as our city continues to grow? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore how volunteers are shaping a more sustainable future right here in Edmonton, in recognition of the United Nations’ International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. Ramy Abdel-Keriem and co-host Scott Lundell from ECVO are joined by Sheila Campbell from Edmonton and Area Land Trust and Dale Gino from Wild North. Together, they unpack what environmental volunteerism really looks like — beyond the stereotypes — and how meaningful, long-term contributions are helping protect ecosystems, care for injured wildlife, and strengthen our connection to the natural world. From stewarding conservation lands to rehabilitating thousands of animals each year, this conversation highlights the critical role volunteers play in balancing growth with sustainability — and why that work is more urgent than ever. Show Notes: Our guests today were Sheila Campbell, Executive Director of Edmonton and Area Land Trust, and Dale Gino, Executive Director of Wild North, in conversation with Ramy Abdel-Keriem and Scott Lundell from Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO). Learn more about volunteering with Edmonton and Area Land Trust. Explore volunteer opportunities with Wild North. Find your next volunteer opportunity at ECVO’s Edmonton Volunteer Fair 2026 on April, 25th. ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The post EPISODE 205: Protecting Life on Land appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    33 min

  5. Apr 1

    EPISODE 204: Improving the Odds

    What happens when the odds of survival depend on something as simple — and as complex — as who’s in the system? In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, we explore the story of Ezra Marfo — and how one family’s search for a stem cell match has grown into a national movement to increase diversity in donor registries. Jacob Marfo, Ezra’s father and founder of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, shares the journey of navigating his son’s leukemia diagnosis, the urgent search for a donor, and the reality that for many patients, a match may never come. We also hear from filmmaker Sandro Silva, whose documentary The Perfect Match brings this story to life and is helping raise awareness about the need for more diverse donors. Together, their work is creating change to encourage more people to register, break down barriers, and build a future where more lives can be saved. Show Notes: Our guests today were Jacob Marfo, founder of the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation, and filmmaker Sandro Silva, in conversation with Renato Pagnani from Odvod Media. Learn more about blood and stem cell donation Watch The Perfect Match, premiering at Northwest Fest on April 11 Learn more about the Ezra Marfo Cancer Foundation ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards: Hilltop Awards & Bursaries Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards! The post EPISODE 204: Improving the Odds appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    41 min

  6. Mar 3

    EPISODE 203 – Rooted in Water, Guided by Community

    How do we protect the waters that sustain our communities — and what does it take to turn a personal passion into a lifelong career? In this episode of The Well Ended Podcast, we head to the banks of the North Saskatchewan River for a conversation with Kirsten Letendre, a proud Métis scientist whose journey from Lac Ste. Anne to a career in lake management has been shaped by culture, community, and support. Kirsten shares how her connection to land and water began early in life, and how receiving a Belcourt Brosseau Métis Award (BBMA) through Edmonton Community Foundation helped her pursue post-secondary education and build a path in environmental science. Now working with the Alberta Lake Management Society, she helps protect Alberta’s lakes through monitoring, research, and public education. Her story is a powerful reminder that when students are supported, communities benefit — and the impact can ripple far beyond the classroom. Show Notes: Our guest today was Kirsten Letendre, who shared her journey as a Métis scientist and water steward, and how support from the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards helped shape her path. Read Kirsten Letendre’s story, From Lures to Legislation, in the Fall 2025 edition of Thrive Magazine. Learn more about the Belcourt Brosseau Métis Awards Learn more about the Alberta Lake Management Society ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards:  Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards!  The post EPISODE 203 – Rooted in Water, Guided by Community appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    30 min

  7. Feb 18

    EPISODE 202 – Where We Came From (and where we go from here)

    What does it mean to carry a refugee story across generations, and how do we keep those memories alive? In this special Lunar New Year episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, guest hosts Jessica Truong and Linda Hoang, co-founders of Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau (“We Are Together”), lead a heartfelt conversation about identity, belonging, and the Vietnamese Canadian experience in Edmonton. Marking the 50th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon in 2025, this episode reflects on the journeys of Vietnamese boat people and their descendants who rebuilt their lives in Edmonton. Linh Vu shares her memories of escaping Vietnam by boat at six years old and being rescued at sea. David Nguyen speaks about interviewing his parents and uncle to document their family’s refugee story for the next generation. Together, they explore cultural traditions, intergenerational expectations, gratitude, and the importance of preserving family history before it’s too late. Show Notes: Our guest hosts today were Jessica Truong and Linda Hoang, co-founders of Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau. Learn more about their work and upcoming gatherings Our guests were: Linh Vu, owner of Mai Mai Vietnamese Street Kitchen, who shared her family’s journey to freedom as a Vietnamese boat refugee. David Nguyen, co-founder of Agnt, who shared reflections from documenting his family’s story. ECF Happenings:  Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards:  Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards!  Credits Photo credit: David Thao Nguyen At ECF, building meaningful relationships with communities across Edmonton is central to our work. Our connection with the Vietnamese community is one we’re proud of. Through our grants, we’ve supported local organizations, including the Edmonton Viets Association, and have had the privilege of joining the community at a Chúng Ta Cùng Nhau event in November and at the Tết New Year celebrations on February 7. These connections help us better understand the hopes and aspirations of diverse communities so we can support what matters most to them. If you’re part of a community you’d like us to connect with, or want to explore how ECF can support your work, please reach out to Sherilyn Trompetter, our Manager of Equity Advancement. We’d love to hear from you. The post EPISODE 202 – Where We Came From (and where we go from here) appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    40 min

  8. Feb 1

    EPISODE 201 – Clearing a Path

    What does meaningful support look like when hoarding disorder is approached as a mental health issue, not a personal failure? Hoarding disorder affects thousands of people in Edmonton, yet it is often misunderstood and deeply stigmatized. Rooted in anxiety, trauma, and strong emotional attachment, the disorder can impact health, safety, relationships, and overall wellbeing when left unsupported. In this episode of The Well Endowed Podcast, Tom Ndekezi from Odvod Media speaks with Terri Bailey, counselling therapist and co-founder of the Hoarding Disorder Foundation of Alberta, and Trina, who shares her lived experience. Together, they explore why quick fixes can cause harm, how trauma-informed, peer-based support helps people move toward safer, more functional living spaces, and how collaboration across community organizations is shaping a more compassionate response in Edmonton. Show Notes: Our guests today were Terri Bailey of the Hoarding Disorder Foundation of Alberta and Trina, who shared her lived experience with hoarding disorder. Read Tom Ndekezi’s companion story in the Winter 2025 edition of Thrive Magazine. ECF Happenings:  Apply to join our Free to Play Committee Find out how to create an Endowment Fund of your own.  Read the latest issue of Thrive.  Read the latest on  our blog.  Check out some of the amazing funds our donors have created.  ECF Youth Grants:  Youth Grants Upcoming Student Awards:  Ranald & Vera Shean Memorial Scholarships Winspear Fund Scholarships for Advanced Classical Music Click here to find details for all of our student awards!  Tom Ndekezi’s interview with Terri Bailey and Trina was produced by Odvod Media. The post EPISODE 201 – Clearing a Path appeared first on Edmonton Community Foundation.

    42 min
See All (220)

About

The Well-Endowed Podcast is a production of Edmonton Community Foundation (ECF). If you live in Edmonton, chances are you’ve been touched by the work facilitated by the support ECF provides to the city’s shakers, movers and doers. As a bridge between donors and charitable causes, ECF helps donors create endowment funds that will continue giving for generations. With that kind of support, those movers and doers can do a lot! On the Well Endowed Podcast, you will hear stories about donors, and what inspires their generosity. And you will hear about the people who use our support to build and sustain social initiatives, empower youth, strengthen arts and culture, and so much more. Edmonton is full of passionate people dedicated to building a vibrant community. The Well Endowed Podcast explores the impact that these municipal champions are having on our city.

Information

You Might Also Like