Listening Beyond

Adiel Cohen, an Israeli influencer and activist, shares his insights on the challenges and potential pathways for reconciliation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also offers his perspective on the rise of pro-Palestinian protests and the BDS movement in Western countries. 

On a Friday morning in a small Milton-Parc appartment, we gratefully interviewed Maïtée Labrecque-Saganash. Maïtée is an activist, author, animator, political figure and proud community member of Waswanipi First Nation. She grew up in Quebec city, but spent most of her summers connecting with community and the land where she feels most at home in Waswanipi, which is situated around the middle of Quebec. She now writes for The Nation magazine, which addresses Cree news. Her father, Romeo Saganash was a federal MP for the New Democratic Party in the Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou riding in northern Quebec, serving the party between 2011-2019. Beyond her writing and political work, Maïtée is actively involved in the wellness and advocacy for her nation, along with that of other Indigenous nations in Canada and around the world.

In this episode, Lina, Zack and Yussif sit down with Zeyad Abisab, former General Coordinator of SPHR Concordia (Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights), to discuss his journey as an activist and the impact of grassroots movements. Zeyad reflects on his upbringing, the role of family and mentors in shaping his activism, and the ongoing challenges faced by the Palestinian youth movement. From mass mobilizations to strikes, Zad highlights the importance of storytelling, community solidarity, and media in combating misconceptions. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the fight for justice and how young activists continue to push boundaries for change.

In this episode, Antonio, Tania and Camila interview Nelly from climate justice Montreal. She discusses what Climate Justice Montreal does and her role in this movement. She also gives activist advice, from her experience in the activist world. 

This interview, hosted by Saraluz Barton-Gomez, Naia Ballman, and Samuel Gold, introduces Montreal activist, SCPA alum, and law student, Jay Sallos-Carter, exploring their story as an activist. The conversation touches on a variety of movements and moments that have been fundamental to their work. We begin by exploring their initial forays into activism through the Occupy Wall Street movement and its manifestations across Canada and make our way through their experience in Queer spaces and, most importantly, their work on Defund-Fest and abolitionist projects much more broadly. With moments of laughter, contemplation, and reflections on society, this podcast highlights the impact that one person can have on their community, and that community can have on a person. 

This episode features Mia Kennedy for an episode “Food for thought,” where we take a deep dive into the pressing issue of food insecurity Canadians are facing. Kennedy takes us through some of her inactivates she has participated in such as “Atwater Community Pantry” project, and a new start up campaign “fed-up”, as well as how she got to where she is today. Student life is a hot topic and how other activists can get involved while maintaining commitments to other aspects of their lives. The group also digs up some interesting conversations around policy and future movements towards this issue. Join us as we explore policy and activism, we hope to inspire others to take action on social issues.  

Anna Kryzynzki is a beacon of positivity, with a lifelong commitment to various activist movements. Beginning with feminism and student activism, she has since embraced anarchism. Her fervor for political engagement is contagious, motivating those around her. Batiment 7 stands as a prime example of a community-driven effort to reclaim what was rightfully theirs, demonstrating the power of grassroots organizing and resistance. While this project highlights her contributions to Batiment 7, Anna's journey throughout her career remains an inspiring story of dedication, growth, and unwavering commitment to justice. 

Description: Angelica Antonakopoulos is the academic coordinator at the Arts and Science Federation of Associations (ASFA) here at Concordia University. In this role, Angelica was originally tasked with campus upkeep, planning fun spirit week activities, and coordinating writing workshops. However, in October 2023, everything changed as Quebec announced its plan to massively increase tuition for out-of-province students. Within this podcast, Angelica discusses how her role at ASFA shifted entirely as she jumped into mobilizing against these tuition hikes. Here, Angelica delves into her activism before university, her motivations for participating in student mobilization, and the impact these efforts had on her goals, perceptions, relationships, and activism.  

Mostafa Henaway is a community organizer and advocate for migrant and temporary foreign workers' rights at the Immigrant Workers Center in Montreal. With over two decades of experience, he has tirelessly fought for social justice and labor equity. A researcher, PhD candidate at Concordia University, and author of Essential Work, Disposable Workers: Migration, Capitalism and Class, Mostafa brings a critical lens to the challenges faced by migrants under Canada’s Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP). In this interview, he discusses the systemic struggles these workers endure, the exploitation they often face in the workplace, and the campaigns aimed at securing their labor rights.

In this episode, we sit down with Koby Rogers Hall, an artist and activist whose journey has been profoundly shaped by her upbringing as a "dip brat," traveling extensively in her youth. These experiences, exposing her to diverse cultures and injustices from a young age, ignited her passion for performance arts and migrant justice. It led her to working with the Immigrant Justice Center, building artist-run spaces, and pursuing interdisciplinary work. Now, as an advocate for radical mothering and collective care, Kobycreates spaces for resilience and solidarity, offering a unique lens into the intersection of creativity and social change.

Our interviewee is Samuel Vanzin, graduating student of the school of community and public affairs who was an activist during the Quebec student protests of 2012 while studying at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal. This interview discusses a look back at the 2012 Quebec student protests, their impact on Quebec politics and education, as well as where the movement is today. He also touches on recent and past struggles with keeping the movement alive to this day, despite COVID making it harder to gather.

Finally, we learn about Samuel's life and activist journey and what led him to become the activist he is today.

Join us for an insightful episode delving into the life experiences of Michael Frakas, a creative individual who uses his music and education to fuel activism within the Little Burgundy community, known for its crucial role in black culture in Montreal, Quebec.

Please be aware that this interview is done in French and English, covering sensitive topics like race, identity, drugs, and violence.

CONTENT WARNING: this podcast contains swearing and language concerning race that some may find offensive.

In this episode, Adam Yahav, and Sawyer Kiernan-Parsons interview Concordia University PHD student T Braun to discuss the expression of gender identity in virtual reality spaces. The interview also takes a dive in Braun’s extensive history in drag performance, using drag as a resistance to the gender binary and as a vessel for their activism.

This interview sheds light on the career of Suzan Simatos, a lifetime of learning, educating and empowering. She used her personal experience to become an educator fighting against human rights violations specifically related to children, First Nation, Inuit, and Metis people. Sue spent her career at LBPSC where she created a legacy that inspired many generations to learn, grow, and build meaningful reciprocal relationships. She created a framework for integrating indigenous history in the across the schoolboard by practicing gratitude, teaching the Great Law of Peace, and educating students about the Indigenous way of life. Sue participated in the Truth and Reconciliation commission process with her students and is passionate about implementing the 94 Calls to Action as a way of reconciliation and healing the generational trauma of Indigenous people. 

In this episode, we share with you our guest’s story as an inspiring force for change, challenging norms and fostering social justice in our community. We had the pleasure and great opportunity to meet and get-to-know John Davids, a dynamic individual that is consistently keen to expand his knowledge base and demonstrates a genuine passion for learning. Having grown up in countries around the world, he is now putting his capabilities into a push for positive change in Montreal; John is currently working to contextualize the lives and experiences of Black anglophones at the Black Community Resource Center in Côte-des-Neiges. Without further ado, here’s our enlightening conversation with John Davids.

In this episode, Silvia, Paula, and Martin have the pleasure of interviewing Carlos Arco. Through a series of questions regarding his life experience, the interviewers are able to explore how Carlos Arco carries out his activism through his passion for art. This conversation is a reminder that there is more than one way to be an activist and make a difference in one's own community. It also helps shed light on how activism can be part of one's own passion.

In this episode, we talk to Alexandra Pierre, activist and author of Empreintes de Résistance - a book of interviews with nine women of colour activists in Quebec - about her experiences within Quebec’s activist sector. In particular, we discuss the performative intersectionality of the province’s feminist movement, tensions within the Black activist community, and ancestries of resistance. This is a bilingual episode. 

In this episode, interviewers Tamiah Bourgeois, Jelian Alcos and Anitha Sivaginesh will be interviewing Gisela Frias, a professor at Dawson College and doctor of geography, earned from McGill University. Gisela Frias shares her difficulties, achievements and hopes for the future generation in this insightful interview. As a second-generation activist, Gisela Frias has gained insight from her father, who was imprisoned in her early life for his activism. Born in Chile, Frias was born in 1969, where mobilisations for system change, in an effort to break free from imperialism, were prominent. Her father, involved in unions and movements, was imprisoned under dictatorship.  Naturally, this was very hard for her as a child, however, this did not stop her from devoting her life to the greater good. When in university, Frias was engaged in sustainability action. She has also travelled back to Chile for her activism, aiding in social activism.

Now, Gisela Frias is a professor at Dawson College and a big part of the Dawson North South Studies program. This is how she helps the new generation become active in change. This program sends students to Cuba to learn more about the issues at hand. Frias has also created works of embroidery depicting her hard work which can be seen here. She hopes to share her gained knowledge with her students and spark meaningful impacts in their lives.

Below is some of the embroidery made by Giselas Frias;

Jean Hogue is the founder of the grocery store chain Co-op Alentour. Co-op Alentour are grocery stores that sell organic local products . Hogue, Co-op of Alentour’s president, has long been considered an activist for all the effort he puts into producing healthier products for people. As a niche farmer, it is difficult to compete with larger companies but Jean Hogue has maintained his ideology. His inspirations of producing local products started  in Saint-Jerome, Laurentides, where he was exposed to agriculture at a young age. Jean Hogue and his siblings used to work with their parents and grandparents from a very young age in their farms. Their farms delivered local products to grocery stores.

We invited Jessica Quijano to Concordia's Webster Library, to talk about the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit people. She has been involved in community work and activism for over two decades. Among her many roles she coordinated the Iskweu Project, which aims to reduce the number of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, & Two-Spirit people of Quebec by filing a missing person's report, following up with police investigations, assisting family and friends in their search for loved ones, and much more. Jessica shares her views on activism, allyship, identity, the challenges she faced, and how people can get involved. 

Content warning: This episode discusses violence against Indigenous women and may be disturbing for some listeners.

L'action militante en matière d'éducation: Une entrevue avec Julie Robert par Arianne Chagnon, Melissa Spiridigliozzi et Shinder Virdi

Julie Robert est une enseignante de secondaire 5 en Monde Contemporain et en Droit, à l’école Polyvalente Sainte-Thérèse. Dans cette entrevue, Julie partage avec nous son univers en tant que militante pour le progrès social. Elle nous fait part de ses expériences professionnelles et ses méthodes d'enseignement qui permettent de développer l’esprit critique des jeunes; un aspect très important de son travail. Cet épisode explore la façon dont elle concilie ses idéologies sociales avec l’impartialité que requiert son titre d’enseignante dans le système éducatif.

On Militant Action in Education: An Interview with Julie Robert, by Arianne Michaud, Melissa Spiridigliozzi, and Shinder Virdi

Julie Robert is a secondary 5 Contemporary World and Law teacher at Polyvalente Sainte-Thérèse. In this interview, she draws from early exposures to Quebec sovereignty movements and her participation in anti-war protests, as she reflects on her identity as a “militante” for social change. This episode will explore how she reconciles her radical values with the implications of working within the education system, all while emphasizing the radical nature of education through instilling capacities for critical thinking.

In this episode, Cassandra, Milan and Lukas interview Ana Amaya, a member of a food security organization called Chic Resto Pop, a social economy enterprise. We begin the interview with a brief description of her childhood growing up in El Salvador and her family life, which has greatly contributed to her outworld paradigm and critique of political and economic systems.

Scott Adams & Abigail Lalonde interview lawyer and former CSU president Lex Gill, where she reflects upon her activism during Quebec's 2012 Student Strike. As we approach its ten-year anniversary, our conversation centres the strike and touches on opportunity in differences, lessons learned from SCPA, and the importance of grounding oneself in community.

Mr. Alix Adrien, advocate for educational reform for the English-speaking Black community, discusses collectivization and policy. We spoke to Mr. Adrien about his upbringing, mentorship with youth and involvement as the President of the Quebec Board of Black Educators (QBBE) as well as his earlier work with the Negro Community Center of Montreal (NCC). Throughout the interview Mr. Adrien highlights the various challenges and systemic barriers Black and other racialized students face in Primary & Secondary schools in Quebec, and what changes need to be made in order to achieve equity for these groups, focusing heavily on the importance of collective action. Mr. Adrien has a longstanding history of empowering and supporting youth to take on action and leadership roles in their own communities, coming from an upbringing that encouraged these same teachings and support.

Carolyn Gehr, better known as Ms. Gehr, is an Orthodox Jewish woman and teacher at a public English school in Montreal who took a stand against Bill 21 when it was proposed in 2019. Ms. Gehr shares what type of environment she fosters for her students, how she got involved in this movement, and her experience advocating for religious freedom in Quebec.

In this episode, Daniel Pungaru and Valérie Séguin meet Nakuset, a Cree Indigenous advocate from Lac la Ronge, Saskatchewan, and the executive director of the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. They interview Nakuset about her practice as an advocate and about systemic racism in Quebec healthcare’s system.

Director and screenwriter Sophie Deraspe's characters inspire us with their force of will and their righteous path in the face of repression. We sat down with Deraspe to talk about her celebrated heroine Antigone and her documentary, The Anima Profile. Though she doesn’t self-describe as an activist, Sophie’s catalogue of work moves us to act for fairness, challenge the status quo and break down divisions in our own community and beyond. With generosity, she shares her process, responds to her critics and gives thoughtful advice to the next generation of artists.

In this episode, we interview Elysha Del Giusto-Enos on the intersections between activism, journalism, communications, and women’s rights. We discuss the process of creating a platform for communication and the implications this has for trying to make the world a better place. As women, we are often discouraged from speaking up and taking a stand against uncomfortable situations. Whether it’s at work, in school, or in any other setting, women have the right to feel safe and supported. Elysha’s communication campaigns and consultations over sexual violence response demonstrate the importance of working towards collective support for women, which we consider an essential aspect of activism.

Izzy Kamikaze grew up in a rural Catholic trade union household in the 1960s and spent the next five decades hellraising in and out of civil rights movements in Ireland. From the origin of the Pride marches in Ireland to the popular movement that successfully overturned the criminalization of abortion, Izzy talks about the constraints of institutionalizing activism and invites us to play “a few more wild cards” through her stories of provocative direct action.

Episode cover image by: Clodagh Boyd