Political science PhD candidate Katie McCoy returns to the podcast this week. She chats with hosts Scott Walters and Garth Casbourn about the new directions her research has taken over the past 18 months. She explains how the focus of her dissertation has broadened from the urban/rural divide to place-based identity. We get a sneak peek at some hot-off-the-presses analyses of how the places people grow up and live in shape their perceptions of economic reality, as well as shaping their political behaviours like voting.

Katie has also become a graduate fellow of Western's Centre for Urban Policy and Local Governance.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also want to listen to Katie's previous time on the podcast.

Recorded on Tuesday, April 14, 2025 Produced by Evelyn MacKay-Barr Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

This is the fourth and final episode of the Thinking with the Earth miniseries, 2026. In this episode, hosts Chrishma Perera and Ryan Baxter speak with Haorui Zhou, a second-year Master's student in Geography and Environment.

Haorui shared key insights from his research on mobility patterns in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area, highlighting trends and challenges in urban transportation. He also reflected on his personal experience as an international student at Western, offering a unique perspective on adapting to a new academic and cultural environment. Connecting his research to broader themes of sustainability, Haorui emphasized the importance of individual responsibility in reducing environmental impact and contributing to a more sustainable future.

Recorded on Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 Produced by Chrishma Perera Theme tune "Feelin Good" provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)

PhD student Kailey Cutillo joins hosts Maris Schneider and Mark Ambrogio to talk about her work in Theory and Criticism. Kailey is interested in better understanding the politics of care, particularly within institutions such as universities. The "politics of care" is a framework that examines the social, ecological, and physical welfare of individuals' opportunities within systems, but also considers how these systems seek to profit from the motives of care. She critiques current systemic practices and uses Indigenous Critical Theory and Feminist Theory to conceptualize how we, as a society, can care better. Kailey also discusses her role as the Peer Advisor for Academic Matters for the Society of Graduate Students (SOGS). One of the texts foundational to Kailey's research is The Care Manifesto. Recorded on Tuesday, April 7, 2026 Produced by Mark Ambrogio, with help with Maris Schneider Theme song provided by FreeBeats.io (Produced by WhiteHot)